The North West Transport Network area extends from Bald Hills to Toowong and considers surrounding areas such as the Moreton Bay region. This business case study aims to help reduce traffic congestion through Brisbane’s north-west.
A recent poll conducted by Brisbane City Council as part of this study concluded that the community desires public transport improvements as the most important way that transport can be improved for this part of Brisbane.
Community consultation report (Stage 1)
https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-and-transport/roads-infrastructure-and-bikeways/bridges-tunnels-culverts-and-transport-links/north-west-transport-network
There are significant opportunities to develop this North West Transport Corridor in a manner that develops a liveable and functional public realm that meets the needs of local communities and businesses, while ensuring natural landscapes and environments are enhanced and managed over the long term.
Active Travel
All levels of government are encouraged to strongly consider large components be dedicated to Active Travel infrastructure with good connections to surrounding facilities.
Australian cities are car dominated and low in density with close to the world’s highest per capita carbon footprint. Cycling, walking and use of public transport will become increasingly important factors in moving towards greater sustainability and live ability of Australian towns and cities.
The benefits of active transport are significant. Some of these include:
- reduced transport congestion, leading to better use of time and greater productivity
- less fossil fuel use, leading to fewer greenhouse gas emissions and less air pollution
- improved health and well-being from walking and cycling, which means reduced public health costs from a more active population
- less household cost through reduced expenditure on fuel and maintenance of cars.
The design of active transport systems as an integral component of new and redeveloped urban structure, ensuring that they are fully integrated into the network of travel modes to efficiently meet the needs of the community.
Green Infrastructure
Green infrastructures (GI) are the strategically planned networks of natural and semi-natural areas in urban and regional settlements that provide environmental, social, and economic benefits to society.
All levels of government are encouraged to:
- Establish a Green Infrastructure framework for this project that will interact with the built environment, underpin urban ecosystem functions, and improve the performance of conventional urban and infrastructure systems.
- Support natural systems to reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy which is essential in progressing towards a carbon neutral economy.
- Improve the ecological function of new and existing conventional infrastructure to improve their performance and reduce the negative environmental impacts of conventional infrastructure systems in construction and operation.
Green Infrastructure should be treated as components of an infrastructure system that interact with a range of other urban systems (transport, storm-water, ecological communities) that perform certain functions and provide ecosystem services that contribute to the sustainable operation and enhancement of urban and regional settlements.
Parts of this article were developed by the QLD AILA Advocacy Team in response to Brisbane City Council’s request for comment.