The recent State budget contained no funding for the Kenmore Bypass (aka Stage 1 of the Warrego to Centenary Motorway Freeway). This year, the State Government has delivered the Park’n'Ride at Kenmore with 200 car park spaces for $2 Million to encourage public transport use, and an exclusive right turn into Witton Road from Moggill Road at Chapel Hill has been delivered at a cost of around $1 Million. This is on top the $40 Million spent on upgrading Moggill Road from Pullenvale Road to Kilkivian avenue and monies expended on integrated traffic lights signalling on Moggill Road and expanded funding for bus services.
Clearly, there has been action, and that has resulted in improved trip times, but there is more that the State Government can do. We continue to advocate for fixing the roundabout at Kenmore Village to give direct access for Brookfield Rd, and to reconfigure the shopping centre entrance. We would like to see pedestrian overpasses to keep our kids safe and keep traffic moving. Similarly, we would like to see the service road cutting across Marshall Lane traffic closed. These measures are affordable (less than $10 Million in total), could be delivered quickly, and would improve safety. Yes, there is more that Council could do. An off-road bikeway network connecting our local schools would give our kids a healthy and safe alternative for school transport, as well as taking strain off of road infrastructure. We are hoping the appointment of local Councillor Margaret de Wit to Public and Active Transport Chair of Council will see some real headway on this.
In the Brisbane City Council budget, there is allocation of just over $250 Million (out of $1.7 Billion) to commence construction of Northern Link. There is also money allocated for improvements to bikeways links at Cubberla to the Centennial bikeway. Council modelling shows Moggill Road congestion between Marshall Lane and the Western Freeway onramps clearing. As I have said many times, this is the bulk of the problem on Moggill Road. Travel speeds progressively drop down to 13 km/h with the entry of thousands of cars from the Western freeway. If Council traffic modelling is correct, traffic on Moggill Road will be cut by over 30% and trips into the city will be cut by over 20 minutes by delivery of this infrastructure. That would cut a trip to the city down to 1/2 hour from Kenmore in peak hour. Why the elected Liberal Members and candidates do not promote Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s congestion plan is simply bizzarre. Maybe it is easier to carp rather than to target the less glamour quick win solutions ?
In comparison, the Main Roads traffic modelling shows that peak hour trips to the city would be cut by just 3 minutes. That modelling was predicated on Northern Link not being built (and in fact includes the Goodna Bypass being built). Based on the Council Modelling, Northern Link would eat into that already anemic saving. Outside of the section of Marshall Lane, the only other segment of Moggill Road which moves below 30 km/h during peak times is the 400 metres stretch from OLR to the Kenmore Village Roundabout which achieves 27 km/h. A few small improvements would clearly address that small segment.
By way of comparison, the speed on the Centenary Motorway from Fig Tree Pocket Road to Moggill Road is 17 km/h.
The State Government now has the Study report and is considering the Bypass for affordability and priority. We of course to continue to advocate for all options to be on the table.
Potential long term plans include:
- Mooted bus lanes along the Western Freeway (matched with sufficient bus services) along the Western Freeway, connecting to the committed Northern Link tunnel have the potential to see bus commute times slashed to under 1/2 hour in peak time from Chapel Hill. Giving commuters quicker alternatives will get enough commuters out of cars to get roads flowing.
- A local bridge to the South to give direct access to rail and freeway networks, as well as to community services.
- A local high school for Karana Downs (and other similar change of land use plans)
- A light rail or rail link from UQ Pinjarra Hills to UQ St Lucia, should any decision be taken to open this as an educational precinct, after extensive local consultation.
- Continue to restrict sprawl in the area with sensible development.
What can you do ? Write to the Premier, thepremier@premiers.qld.gov.au with your suggestions.
We will be in touch again soon, and thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring that quicker, better and cheaper alternatives to the Kenmore Bypass are adopted.
44 Comments to “Update about State Budget 2010”
Donetta
Read in the Moggill Monitor that “The advice given to me is that the dept have
delayed advice to the Minister whilst the
“Departmental Investment Committee” assess
financial viability relative to other competing
projects.”
Possibly good news?
D
Grant
As we have been saying all along, there are quicker, better and cheaper alternatives.
I am told informally that costings are now in the order of $800 Million for the project.
The trip time savings modelled did not include an assumption that Northern Link would proceed – which it will. Northern Link’s traffic forecast so show Moggill Road east of Marshall Lane near free flow (the key issue on Moggill Road).
What was already a small cut to trip times to the city (a few minutes) is likely to halve.
In short, if they have done their numbers right – they come to the same conclusion as us – it doesn’t stack up.
As Mr Flegg notes, work has not begun on the planning/consultation process for upgrading the Western Freeway, which clearly carries more people and is a main road rather than a feeder road, has not commenced.
Clearly, there are more urgent needs.
The Government would be right to be targeting money to where it will deliver real relief, and to ignore options that quite clearly the sums do not add up on.
The initial literature was right – this is a difficult and costly route, before you even consider the profound impact on local families or the local environment.
Will let you all know if there is anything more concrete than whispers or the State member putting words in the Government or the Department’s mouth.
Grant Muller
Penny Behan
Hi all,
It may appease the guilt of some to think that Main Roads have bought the homes of poor people unable to sell on the corridor of this freeway. However, what about the waste of Government funds to do this and what about the poor people who live next to the corridor who Main Roads CANNOT acquire because they don’t need their land to build the freeway.
I can’t get over politicians sending the message that this is all happy families. I can tell you it is not for mine, as I am sure it is not for yours!
And, by way of update, members of my family will likely have their ashes spread in our land in Kersley Road = so Main Roads will build their freeway over our dead bodies!
… but they will have to contend with the living first.
Laugh out loud!
Penny
mark defina
PROIR TO MAN INVETING CARS THEY BUILT UNDERGROUND RAILWAYS IS IT POSSIBLE PLANNERS CAN ? DO THIS IN BRISBANE ?
Victoria
I have found several frogs in my pool and I have transferred them to a pond in my front garden – there are grogs in this area and if the road goes through where will the frogs go? Not only are there koalas there are frogs too let support them.
Mark
Is there anybody out there reading this website???????
Grant
Yes Mark
anon72
yes i always read the posts too.
the qld govt has proposed an underground railway to run from CBD to southside (possibly to Yeerongpilly). However, this does not help the Western Suburbs at all
ive asked for light rail through the bypass corridor, but the official response was that there is not sufficient population to support light rail through the west (which I don’t think is entirely accurate, given the rapid development of moggill, bellbowrie, fig tree pocket etc)
Grant
Yes we do need to have viable public transport alternatives to give people a real choice. Yes further development should occur where infrastructure can be delivered affordably to service it.
A busway down the Western Freeway linking to the committed Northern Link tunnel and direct into King George Square station would get the buses out of the traffic, and would have the capability to transport 30,000 people per hour. Main Roads forecasts (for what they are worth) show that would cost about $800 Million, which then gets you 10 km from Western Moggill Road right into the city.
That would service right out to Forest Lake, Mt Ommaney, Jindalee, as well as our local suburbs.
In 2007 on Moggill Road at Chapel Hill there were only 4389 morning peak inbound and 4879 evening peak outbound vehicle trips on Moggill Road.
The proposed Kenmore Bypass Freeway is only forecast to carry 1881 inbound peak and 2033
outbound peak, for the same money. At full capacity, the Bypass Freeway could carry about 4000 vehicles per hour for 3 km.
Mark
to anon 73 love the term “sufficient population” I think BCC is actively working on this and some …..
Nellie
Would be interesting to know the stance of Ryan candidates re Bypass. One assumes the Greens is a given against. Going by the flyers, Miles does not mention environment, Prentice makes a big deal of it and the central photo is of her holding a koala. I do hope this means she is committed to saving them in the wild and therefore if elected would (a) support having them federally declared endangered, (b)use her influence against the Bypass and if not, like wise as a Councilor. Would love to know.
chrissy
Speaking to a friend this morning who has emailed the LNP candidate about her stance on the Kenmore Bypass, there has been no reply!!
Penny
Heaps of you have approached me since the Federal Election was announced to see what the position of the candidates are. In particular some of you remembered what I had said of the LNP candidate and I can’t in good conscience let you have the wrong information prior to the election.
I attended a meeting a few weeks ago where Cnr Jane Prentice announced she was fully in favour of the Kenmore Bypass and Bruce Flegg and Margaret de Wits actions on this.
Please disregard my previous reports regarding the position of Cnr Jane Prentice who is now running for the LNP for Ryan. You will note on my previous blog and youtube posts what she had told reps from SAVE OUR SUBURBS – KENMORE TO KARALEE.
I should have advised you sooner but have been extremely busy. I apologise.
I would be interested in hearing what the other candidates formal positions are.
Penny
KT
If you have a look at recent state government infrastructure plan (SEQIPP) it notes that the Kenmore Bypass whilst in planning phase will not be built until 2021-25. So there seems to be much time to mount a good argument why it should not be built
Mark
7 days out!!
Need physical help on the day big time!!!
South Kenmore School.
7:00 AM +
Regards Mark
Mark
WE ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO HEAR OUR CONCERNS
21st AUGUST 2010
BE THERE STH KENMORE SCHOOL
7.00 AM +
Mark
I will be at South Kenmore State School to help achieve all your wishes to stop the Kenmore Bypass – anyone who wants to help is most welcomed.
Kind regards
Mark
Mark
BY PASS JANE
PM
I check these comments regularly – Who is co-ordinating the election response and handouts this year?
I’m sure many people would help out if they knew who to contact.
Mark
THE KENMORE BYPASS IS NOT OVER!
(as many think)
FACT: MRD this month August 2010 has surveyed properties east of Kenmore Road to join up with Centenary Highway.
FOR WHAT REASON WOULD THEY DO THIS IF ITS OVER???
KENMORE BYPASS IS ACTIVELY ON THE BOOKS!
Mark
i will be at south kenmore all day please show your support in any way mark
Mark
to PM . ALL I CAN SAY IS IF YOU AND FRIENDS CAN HELP BY WEARING -NO KENMORE BYPASS – NO POLITICAL PARTIES SUPPORTED AT ALL !
WE BECOME A PROTEST GROUP
NON ALIGNED
RADICAL
( LIKE THE 70′s )
NO KENMORE BYPASS
Mark
BEST WISHES in our quest
hope to see you all @
KENMORE SOUTH SCHOOL
kindest regards mark
Philip Machanick
Here’s another campaign that if it fails will add more traffic to Moggill Road: opposition to turning the Karana Downs Golf Course into a housing estate: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126862953698
Post some messages of support on their Facebook page and submit an objection to council as described here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=126862953698#!/topic.php?uid=126862953698&topic=130918
You don’t have to live in Karana Downs to object, and you have a perfectly good reason to complain about adding to the traffic problem in the outer suburbs.
Let’s all start working together to save each other’s suburbs from inappropriate development. This stuff is all connected: mess up one suburb, and the next one along starts to suffer.
Mark
went to go to buy some stuff from kenmore via chapel hill servo (to get the 4 ct disc )
only to find I HAD RED
LIGHTS at almost every set of lights
maybe they could co ordinate the traffic lights for a START
anon
i thought the govt had co-ordinated the traffic lights on moggill rd a few months back?
i avoid woolies and coles petrol stations this is so as not to contribute to their eventual monopoly of fuel and food
Mark
hope the clem 7 goes belly up at what cost via etol will it cost to go via kenmore ?
Mark
to annon try the lights yourself or trust the govt co-ordinated outcome best wishes! mark
anon77
are many ppl in support of either a rail line or subway system instead of the KB?
Mark
to anon77
ppl vision is in short suppy at every level
what happens to the boring machines when the finish the northern link?
scrap metal ?
build the bne underground
would be a good start
Grant
60,000 people per peak hour = equivalent of 30 lanes of motorway. Cost $10 Billion.
4 hours of peak, 200 days the year.
Equivalent cost per peak hour commute per annum: $3140 – twice per day $6280. 200 days per year – that is $15 per peak hour trip.
We all know how much two lanes of peak motorway for 3km can cost to carry a little over 1000 cars per hour(with about 1100 people)- $800 Million today .
Equivalent cost per annum per peak hour commute: $15,120, twice a day $30,240. That is $75 per peak hour trip.
20% of the price. Still expensive, but think how much the new motorways would cost.
anon77
I think the next project after northernlink tunnel is another toll tunnel from buranda to toowong.
Im worried that if the KB goes ahead, a rail or underground railway won’t be able to proceed because the KB freeway is above.
anon77
Rafting Ground Rd – 4.3 million dollars washed away:
http://westside-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/rain-ruins-rafting-ground-rd/
If the bypass proceeds – let’s hope they can get their plans correct and not have it wash away on to our homes!
Mark
Swiss celebrate longest tunnel breakthrough – we may only have 3kms but lets look at a tunnel.
Victotria
Why is there only a one way in and one way out from Karana Downs to get to Ipswich – especailly now the Moggil Ferry is closed to due debris in the Brisbane River and Colleges Crossing is flooded???
Medical emergencies have proven that only a helicopter can get you out of there.
mark
does anyone know when a decision will be made ????
no money
no funding
but a beautiful plan
bring on the decision!
anon77
last week i saw a protest sign along kenmore road “no quarry not now not ever”.
anyone know what this is all about? is it about the kholo quarry?
mark
I don’t know what the “quarry” thing is about but I have seen that sign too. It seems the bypass has been put on hold once again – I think we should all write to anyone who will listen that we need a bridge at Belbowrie. Its a one road in and one road out and with all the new subdivisions it will only make the traffic worse. Last I heard from Main Roads is there is no plan, no funding just unescessary stress for all of us who live with this black cloud hanging over our heads. Maybe its time we started to really work the campaign and get those signs up NO KENMORE BYPASS just so those who have the power to prevent this will perhaps listen and take note of what the majority of the community want. By the way has anyone ever had any contact with our local memeber who is supposedly our there for all of us in the Pullenvale Ward?
anon77
thats the frustrating thing: the bypass won’t relieve the ‘one road in, one road out’ situation, as it only joins at Pinjarra Hills – way before Bellbowrie and Moggill where most residents are.
is it feasible to build a bridge (or a green bridge) from bellbowrie across to Sumners Rd: direct access to Ipswich Motorway, Centenary Motorway and Darra Railway Station?
anon77
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/is-this-the-end-for-the-moggill-ferry-20110214-1atke.html
Brisbane Time article about replacing Moggill Ferry with a bridge
Laetitia
Does anyone know the latest? What are the predictions regarding the bypass? Do you ever think they would go ahead with something so useless when there are clearly better, cheaper, more effective options?
Julie Hagans
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY
Sunday 6th March 9am – 11am
Come along and clean up Atkinson and Kingfisher Parks. We are meeting at the Rotunda or whats left of it from the floods. Catch with some old friends and meet some of your neighbours.
Don’t forget to wear closed in shoes, hats, sunscreen and bring a water bottle. We will have drinks and a snack afterwards.
Hope to see as many of you there as possible, we have lovely parks and they need your help.
We also have our own page on the Clean Up Australia Day website we have 7 helpers already. Looking forward to seeing you all.
Regards Julie
Penny
Good on you Julie!!! Would love to help especially because we were away during the floods. See you all then.
Julie Hagans
Clean Up Australia Day
Postponed due to wet weather and parks extremely wet and muddy.
New Date following Sunday 13 March
0900-1100 hrs
Rotunda on Sunset rd
Hope to see you all then.
Regards
Julie Hagans