The 280-metre Toowong-to-West End Bridge will be the last bridge delivered under the Schrinner Council’s Bridges for Brisbane program.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has announced the final bridge under the program – which would link St Lucia to West End – will not proceed due to rising costs and Council’s commitment to keep costs down for residents.
The Toowong landing site for Brisbane’s next active transport bridge has been secured by the Schrinner Council on the former ABC headquarters site.
Council is seeking funding from the Federal Government for a business case for the Toowong-to-West End bridge, which will require support from all three levels of government to proceed.
The Toowong-to-West End Bridge was one of 18 key transport projects identified by Council which should be delivered by 2032 in The Race to Gold: Brisbane’s Games Transport Legacy plan.
Three new active transport bridges have opened in Brisbane this year, significantly improving connectivity for residents and visitors.
The Schrinner Council has delivered the stunning Kangaroo Point bridge, which will be a must-do destination and includes Brisbane’s first above-water restaurant.
Council also opened the new Breakfast Creek bridge, which significantly enhances connectivity and safety between the busy Lores Bonney Riverwalk and Newstead House.
A third bridge, the privately-funded Neville Bonner Bridge was opened in August and links the new Queens Wharf precinct to South Bank.
Active transport bridges, such as the Goodwill and Kurilpa bridges, have traditionally been delivered by the State Government however the former Labor administration refused to support the Bridges for Brisbane program.
Council announced in 2020 that a bridge between Bellbowrie and Moggill would not proceed due to very low community support for the proposed alignment.
The original Bridges for Brisbane program proposed the construction of five bridges over 10 years funded by all three levels of government.
However, the Schrinner Council has committed to maintaining a balanced budget and made putting downward pressure on the rates and rents of Brisbane residents its top priority.
Since the announcement of the Bridges for Brisbane program in 2019, Council has endured significant cost impacts, including:
- $220 million wiped from Council budget due to coronavirus pandemic
- Over $400 million during Brisbane’s biggest-ever rebuild following the 2022 flood
- $60 million reduction in infrastructure charges due to the housing crisis
Ongoing cost-shifting from the State and Federal governments, such as childhood immunisations, fire ant management and regulating botox and filler services
$6.7 million decline in forecast rates revenue in 2023-24, and another $2.1 million so far in 2024-25, due to investors transferring their properties to owner-occupiers
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner:
“Our Council stepped in to deliver new active transport bridges because we recognised how important they were to improving connectivity in a river city like ours.
“While state governments have traditionally delivered this kind of infrastructure, the former Labor administration refused to support the Bridges for Brisbane program.
“Regardless, we’ve been able to deliver a new bridge at Breakfast Creek to significantly improve safety, as well as the iconic new Kangaroo Point Bridge which will become one of Brisbane’s must-do destinations.
“The private sector has also stepped in with the new Neville Bonner bridge linking the Queens Wharf precinct to South Bank, and it’s a fantastic addition to our city.
“We’re keen to progress the Toowong to West End Bridge next in partnership with the other levels of government before the 2032 Games.
“However, we have to be realistic and due to rising costs, lower-than-expected revenue and changing community expectations we’ve made the decision not to proceed with the West End to St Lucia Bridge.
“By not building this bridge, we can invest more in critical projects in the future, like better roads and better transport to keep Brisbane moving.
“Our strong budget position means we’ve been able to endure a number of significant financial hits in recent years, including the pandemic, flood, housing and inflation crisis.
“However, we promised Brisbane residents that keeping costs down would be our top priority and reducing the number of bridges we will deliver will help us keep that commitment.
“I’m incredibly proud we have delivered the Kangaroo Point and Breakfast Creek bridges and I’m determined to see the Toowong the West End bridge completed by 2032.
“However, we promised residents we’d maintain a balanced budget and keep costs down, so it would be irresponsible to pursue this final bridge at any cost.”
