Latest news with #Schrinner
7NEWS
7 days ago
- General
- 7NEWS
Tensions mount between cyclists and Brisbane City Council ahead of Story Bridge peak hour protest
Mounting tensions between cyclists and council are reaching a crescendo, as the courts rule planned protests across the aging Story Bridge will not go ahead. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he was 'relieved' to hear the courts had opposed the protests and is hoping 'protestors take that ruling seriously'. The 85-year-old bridge has come under scrutiny in recent months after key sections of its pedestrian and cycle paths were closed to the public due to safety concerns. An independent report into the condition of the bridge found it to be in an accelerated state of disrepair. Story Bridge footpaths which were closed in March ahead of Cyclone Alfred were never reopened after an assessment revealed they had 'deteriorated at an accelerated pace', with metal corrosion and water leaking through the concrete. Brisbane City Council is fast-tracking protective netting to contain concrete spalling and to 'mitigate potential safety issues', the report said. A Facebook group with over 400 supporters 'demanded' that Brisbane City Council allocate one car lane to pedestrian, cyclist and scooter traffic. A protest by the group across the bridge was set to take place on Friday, where organisers had planned to stop car traffic on the bridge and use all six lanes to 'walk safely across' in protest of the council's decisions. 'For well over two months there has been no timeframe given to the public as to when the footpaths will reopen,' they said. While the group acknowledged that the footpaths over the bridge were unsafe to travel on, they said the lack of communication from council and the lack of a suitable detour had left thousands of bridge users frustrated. 'Unfortunately, the court has determined that the protest is not authorised to go ahead,' they said on Thursday. 'This is a disappointing outcome, but we will not give up the fight for an active transport lane.' While the council regularly maintains the bridge — at a current cost of $3 million per year — a full restoration is needed. Council maintains it cannot cover the significant costs alone, and state and federal government funding was needed. Schrinner said that closing a lane to traffic had been something council had investigated, however, he maintained one lane would be insufficient due to safety reasons, and two lanes would be required to be closed. The Brisbane mayor also took a swing at the Greens, saying the protest had been backed by the party. 'This is a Greens back protest ... they were willing to put 96 per cent of users of the bridge off site to make a political point,' he said. 'We need to stop promoting it.' Trina Massey, Greens Councillor for the Gabba Ward, took to social media on Wednesday, saying it was easier for council to attack her and the Greens than to 'admit the LNP has failed at even the most basic responsibilities'. 'The real issue isn't the protest — poor planning, unsafe infrastructure, and a refusal to adapt have left everyone worse off — whether you're walking, riding, rolling, catching a bus, or driving,' she said. A petition to restore pedestrian access to the bridge was organised by Massey and has amassed over 1200 signatures. 'If a peaceful protest upsets them more than a crumbling bridge, their priorities are broken,' she said. Carrying more than 100,000 vehicles every day, Story Bridge has the third-highest daily vehicle volume of any of the city's river crossings.
The Age
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Story Bridge protesters hit back at ‘illegal' claim as dispute heads to court
After mediation last week failed to resolve the issue, a magistrate will on Thursday be asked to decide whether to keep or change the protest's time or location, and whether it should go ahead. In a post on social media, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said experts ruled out closing lanes on the Story Bridge for cyclists and pedestrians because the footpaths were about three metres wide on both sides, meaning about six metres would be required to carry the normal volume of pedestrians, cyclists and scooter users. 'The traffic lanes on the bridge are only 3.1 metres wide, and if you add water-filled barriers [required for safety] this would take up at least 0.6 metres and leave only around 2.5 metres available for pedestrians, cyclists and scooter users travelling in both directions,' the post read. 'As a result, two traffic lanes would need to be closed.' Schrinner said closing two of the bridge's six lanes would cause widespread traffic issues on the Riverside Expressway, Inner City Bypass, Wynnum and Gympie roads, and Stanley and Vulture streets. The Space 4 Cycling group has claimed while the footpaths were three metres wide on blueprints, they had been narrowed by the safety railing, and parts of the footpath were between just more than two metres and 2.4 metres wide at several points. They said if one of the 3.1-metre outer lanes was turned into an active travel path, a row of 560mm barriers would leave a 2.54m shared path 'which would be wider than what we have been using for decades'. Good said protesters would comply with any court orders made. In April, cyclists protested by riding across the Story Bridge in one traffic lane, escorted by police cars, on a Saturday, but Good said it 'didn't work – there was no response from council'. 'What we're trying to point out with this protest is how much of a disparate response there is between closing the bridge for one hour for cars versus closing the bridge for months on end, with no end in sight for active transport users,' she said. Loading Just two days after their planned protest, the Story Bridge will be closed to all traffic on Sunday for seven hours – from 4am to 11am – so people can run across it during the Brisbane Marathon. There is no date for when the footpaths will reopen, although Schrinner said the first stage would be footpath repairs, with a potential temporary structure floated, and former users are directed on a lengthy detour via the Kangaroo Point Bridge and busy CBD streets, or a bus or ferry. A business case for the full bridge restoration is not due until 2027. Good said the proposed detour through the city was 'really unsafe' and much longer, and she had heard of two crashes. 'The section along the Riverwalk is pretty narrow at points, there's usually crowds of pedestrians trying to get on and off ferries, trying to go in and out of restaurants – it's just a nightmare to get through,' she said.
Sydney Morning Herald
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Story Bridge protesters hit back at ‘illegal' claim as dispute heads to court
After mediation last week failed to resolve the issue, a magistrate will on Thursday be asked to decide whether to keep or change the protest's time or location, and whether it should go ahead. In a post on social media, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said experts ruled out closing lanes on the Story Bridge for cyclists and pedestrians because the footpaths were about three metres wide on both sides, meaning about six metres would be required to carry the normal volume of pedestrians, cyclists and scooter users. 'The traffic lanes on the bridge are only 3.1 metres wide, and if you add water-filled barriers [required for safety] this would take up at least 0.6 metres and leave only around 2.5 metres available for pedestrians, cyclists and scooter users travelling in both directions,' the post read. 'As a result, two traffic lanes would need to be closed.' Schrinner said closing two of the bridge's six lanes would cause widespread traffic issues on the Riverside Expressway, Inner City Bypass, Wynnum and Gympie roads, and Stanley and Vulture streets. The Space 4 Cycling group has claimed while the footpaths were three metres wide on blueprints, they had been narrowed by the safety railing, and parts of the footpath were between just more than two metres and 2.4 metres wide at several points. They said if one of the 3.1-metre outer lanes was turned into an active travel path, a row of 560mm barriers would leave a 2.54m shared path 'which would be wider than what we have been using for decades'. Good said protesters would comply with any court orders made. In April, cyclists protested by riding across the Story Bridge in one traffic lane, escorted by police cars, on a Saturday, but Good said it 'didn't work – there was no response from council'. 'What we're trying to point out with this protest is how much of a disparate response there is between closing the bridge for one hour for cars versus closing the bridge for months on end, with no end in sight for active transport users,' she said. Loading Just two days after their planned protest, the Story Bridge will be closed to all traffic on Sunday for seven hours – from 4am to 11am – so people can run across it during the Brisbane Marathon. There is no date for when the footpaths will reopen, although Schrinner said the first stage would be footpath repairs, with a potential temporary structure floated, and former users are directed on a lengthy detour via the Kangaroo Point Bridge and busy CBD streets, or a bus or ferry. A business case for the full bridge restoration is not due until 2027. Good said the proposed detour through the city was 'really unsafe' and much longer, and she had heard of two crashes. 'The section along the Riverwalk is pretty narrow at points, there's usually crowds of pedestrians trying to get on and off ferries, trying to go in and out of restaurants – it's just a nightmare to get through,' she said.
Sydney Morning Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Brisbane news live: Lord mayor promises to review medium density planning laws
Go to latest Schrinner promises to review Brisbane's medium density planning laws Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has told developers his council will review the low-to-medium density residential zone in a bid to facilitate higher-density projects. Loading At a Queensland Property Council lunch on Wednesday, Schrinner said the review was 'about delivering more homes sooner, and where they're needed most'. 'We're going to focus on areas with existing infrastructure – close to public transport, shops, schools, and jobs – where modest, well-designed increases in housing density can have the greatest impact,' he said. Queensland Property Council executive director Jess Caire welcomed the move, saying 'Brisbane's low-to-medium density residential zone covers 14 per cent of Brisbane but in 2023 only 445 new dwellings were delivered in these areas'. Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie told parliament the state government had approved 1631 new housing lots in the Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area, and intended to fast-track another 3700 lots at North Harbour through a PDA. The area covered by the North Harbour PDA has yet to be made public. 7.11am Man dies after trailer rolls down hill near Gold Coast By Catherine Strohfeldt A man has been killed after a trailer rolled down a hill and pinned him to a lamp post in the Gold Coast hinterland yesterday afternoon. Police were called to Bushmead Street, in Nerang, shortly after midday and found the 48-year-old suffering from significant internal injuries. Paramedics treated the man, but he died at the scene. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances leading up to his death. 6.47am Schrinner promises to review Brisbane's medium density planning laws By Sean Parnell Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has told developers his council will review the low-to-medium density residential zone in a bid to facilitate higher-density projects. Loading At a Queensland Property Council lunch on Wednesday, Schrinner said the review was 'about delivering more homes sooner, and where they're needed most'. 'We're going to focus on areas with existing infrastructure – close to public transport, shops, schools, and jobs – where modest, well-designed increases in housing density can have the greatest impact,' he said. Queensland Property Council executive director Jess Caire welcomed the move, saying 'Brisbane's low-to-medium density residential zone covers 14 per cent of Brisbane but in 2023 only 445 new dwellings were delivered in these areas'. Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie told parliament the state government had approved 1631 new housing lots in the Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area, and intended to fast-track another 3700 lots at North Harbour through a PDA. The area covered by the North Harbour PDA has yet to be made public. 6.44am Today's weather: A place in the sun Another mostly sunny day with a comfortable top temperature in the mid-20s is the forecast for the River City today, with much the same predicted all the way into this weekend. Here's the seven-day outlook: 6.43am While you were sleeping Here's what's making news further afield this morning: Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is remaking the Liberal Party, which could deliver a seismic shift from old Coalition policies. Former Australian tennis star Jelena Dokic has confirmed her controversial father, Damir, has died. A secretive investigation into disgraced soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has uncovered damning fresh evidence as well as video of him drinking from a prosthetic leg, which he denied under oath. An online post about a death cap mushroom sighting was accessed on a computer seized from Erin Patterson's home, a court has heard. when it comes to the new cost of aged care being rolled out from July 1. In another extraordinary Oval Office confrontation, US President Donald Trump showed his South African counterpart a video alleging the state-sanctioned murder of white farmers, and said they were fleeing to Australia. By the Reserve Bank's own words, Trump is more of a threat to the global and domestic economy than the COVID pandemic and the global financial crisis combined. 6.33am The top stories this morning Good morning, and welcome to Brisbane Times' live news coverage for Thursday, May 22. Today we can expect a mostly sunny day and a top temperature of 26 degrees. In this morning's local headlines: The Triffid live music venue has forced the redesign of a $1.5 billion tower development at Newstead after it took the developers and Brisbane City Council to court. One of Brisbane's leading psychiatric hospitals has entered voluntary administration amid a funding crisis that threatens the viability of private hospitals nationwide. Police are now unsure whether a 17-year-old girl who reportedly vanished after being dropped off in Bundaberg for a flight ever made it to the airport. Australian cities are building up. But in today's Perspective column, Courtney Kruk questions whether developers are designing spaces people actually want to live in. One of the city's most cherished casual restaurants, Red Hook, will flip its last burger patty next month after announcing its imminent closure on social media. Skip making dinner and instead savour delicious street food as night-market season returns to Brisbane. And there's one near you. In sport, Maroons superstar Kalyn Ponga is adamant the concussion woes that threatened his career are behind him, and he harbours no fears of stepping back into the State of Origin furnace as the state's number one fullback. And one of Australia's most influential players, Harry Wilson, has revealed the changes he's made to avoid a repeat of his injury curse
The Age
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Brisbane news live: Lord mayor promises to review medium density planning laws
Go to latest Schrinner promises to review Brisbane's medium density planning laws Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has told developers his council will review the low-to-medium density residential zone in a bid to facilitate higher-density projects. Loading At a Queensland Property Council lunch on Wednesday, Schrinner said the review was 'about delivering more homes sooner, and where they're needed most'. 'We're going to focus on areas with existing infrastructure – close to public transport, shops, schools, and jobs – where modest, well-designed increases in housing density can have the greatest impact,' he said. Queensland Property Council executive director Jess Caire welcomed the move, saying 'Brisbane's low-to-medium density residential zone covers 14 per cent of Brisbane but in 2023 only 445 new dwellings were delivered in these areas'. Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie told parliament the state government had approved 1631 new housing lots in the Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area, and intended to fast-track another 3700 lots at North Harbour through a PDA. The area covered by the North Harbour PDA has yet to be made public. 7.11am Man dies after trailer rolls down hill near Gold Coast By Catherine Strohfeldt A man has been killed after a trailer rolled down a hill and pinned him to a lamp post in the Gold Coast hinterland yesterday afternoon. Police were called to Bushmead Street, in Nerang, shortly after midday and found the 48-year-old suffering from significant internal injuries. Paramedics treated the man, but he died at the scene. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances leading up to his death. 6.47am Schrinner promises to review Brisbane's medium density planning laws By Sean Parnell Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has told developers his council will review the low-to-medium density residential zone in a bid to facilitate higher-density projects. Loading At a Queensland Property Council lunch on Wednesday, Schrinner said the review was 'about delivering more homes sooner, and where they're needed most'. 'We're going to focus on areas with existing infrastructure – close to public transport, shops, schools, and jobs – where modest, well-designed increases in housing density can have the greatest impact,' he said. Queensland Property Council executive director Jess Caire welcomed the move, saying 'Brisbane's low-to-medium density residential zone covers 14 per cent of Brisbane but in 2023 only 445 new dwellings were delivered in these areas'. Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie told parliament the state government had approved 1631 new housing lots in the Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area, and intended to fast-track another 3700 lots at North Harbour through a PDA. The area covered by the North Harbour PDA has yet to be made public. 6.44am Today's weather: A place in the sun Another mostly sunny day with a comfortable top temperature in the mid-20s is the forecast for the River City today, with much the same predicted all the way into this weekend. Here's the seven-day outlook: 6.43am While you were sleeping Here's what's making news further afield this morning: Opposition Leader Sussan Ley is remaking the Liberal Party, which could deliver a seismic shift from old Coalition policies. Former Australian tennis star Jelena Dokic has confirmed her controversial father, Damir, has died. A secretive investigation into disgraced soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has uncovered damning fresh evidence as well as video of him drinking from a prosthetic leg, which he denied under oath. An online post about a death cap mushroom sighting was accessed on a computer seized from Erin Patterson's home, a court has heard. when it comes to the new cost of aged care being rolled out from July 1. In another extraordinary Oval Office confrontation, US President Donald Trump showed his South African counterpart a video alleging the state-sanctioned murder of white farmers, and said they were fleeing to Australia. By the Reserve Bank's own words, Trump is more of a threat to the global and domestic economy than the COVID pandemic and the global financial crisis combined. 6.33am The top stories this morning Good morning, and welcome to Brisbane Times' live news coverage for Thursday, May 22. Today we can expect a mostly sunny day and a top temperature of 26 degrees. In this morning's local headlines: The Triffid live music venue has forced the redesign of a $1.5 billion tower development at Newstead after it took the developers and Brisbane City Council to court. One of Brisbane's leading psychiatric hospitals has entered voluntary administration amid a funding crisis that threatens the viability of private hospitals nationwide. Police are now unsure whether a 17-year-old girl who reportedly vanished after being dropped off in Bundaberg for a flight ever made it to the airport. Australian cities are building up. But in today's Perspective column, Courtney Kruk questions whether developers are designing spaces people actually want to live in. One of the city's most cherished casual restaurants, Red Hook, will flip its last burger patty next month after announcing its imminent closure on social media. Skip making dinner and instead savour delicious street food as night-market season returns to Brisbane. And there's one near you. In sport, Maroons superstar Kalyn Ponga is adamant the concussion woes that threatened his career are behind him, and he harbours no fears of stepping back into the State of Origin furnace as the state's number one fullback. And one of Australia's most influential players, Harry Wilson, has revealed the changes he's made to avoid a repeat of his injury curse
