One of Brisbane’s busiest bikeways, which was smashed to pieces and washed away during last year’s devastating flood, has been fully reopened to residents.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner thanked workers who had undertaken the highly technical and environmentally sensitive task of rebuilding Kedron Brook and its bikeway.
“The 2022 flood was Brisbane’s biggest-ever three-day rain event and our Council has been undertaking Brisbane’s biggest-ever clean up,” Cr Schrinner said.
“Images of the destroyed Kedron Brook Bikeway are some of the most symbolic to emerge from the flood and graphically demonstrate the brutal force of the event that Brisbane residents endured.
“The rebuild and recovery has been a massive task and to get to get this important 20-kilometre bikeway back up and operating within a year is just an incredible achievement by everyone involved.”
During the peak of the event in late February, the force of the water resulted in Kedron Brook carving a new path through the landscape.
Five different locations along Kedron Brook were severely damaged and required significant rebuilding efforts.
Major retaining works along the Kedron Brook banks have also been undertaken.
Cr Schrinner said more than 4000 native plants had been used in one section as part of the new creek bank retaining works.
“The Kedron Brook catchment covers more than 110 square kilometres across 14 northern Brisbane suburbs and is a clean and green natural part of Brisbane we must cherish,” he said.
“That’s why we were determined to build it back better.
“Rather than using concrete, our Council opted for a clean and green approach to rebuilding the creek bank by incorporating thousands of plants.
“Not only will this greenery make Kedron Brook look better, plant roots will help retain the bank and guide the water flow during future weather events.”
Cr Schrinner said a similar approach using plants is being planned for when more resilient replacement sections of bikeway are completed next year.
“We will now work with experts to make Kedron Brook and the bikeway more resilient in the long-term using natural solutions and increased height,” he said.
“By using rock, compacted earth and native water tolerant plants along the embankments of the brook we have already dramatically increased resilience for the bikeway, creek and surrounding green spaces.”
Civic Cabinet Chair for Transport Ryan Murphy said more than 600,000 cyclists and pedestrians use the Kedron Brook Bikeway annually.
“Our active transport corridors aren’t just great lifestyle infrastructure, they’re a key part of our transport network,” he said.
“We have cleaned, restored and rebuilt more than 170 kilometres of our bikeways since the flood, including working with the State Government to get the dilapidated Drift Restaurant off the Bicentennial Bikeway.
“Having Kedron Brook Bikeway back is an important milestone given the role it plays helping northside residents get around.
“Our plans to green Kedron Brook’s banks and make the bikeway more resilient for residents will be an important investment.”
Cr Murphy encouraged residents to get out and explore the newly reconnected Kedron Brook Bikeway.
“The Brook is a fantastic place to go and explore and now that it’s reconnected residents can walk through multiple suburbs across 20 kilometres,” he said.
“Residents will continue to see work in the area through to 2024 as we continue to improve resilience and rebuild following the floods.”
