Storied bridge on starting block for pre-Olympic refit
Laine Clark |
The restoration of a landmark bridge has been backed by Australia’s biggest council amid fears it may not cope with a looming Olympics.
The Brisbane City Council has budgeted almost $20 million for the Story Bridge over the next 12 months after a report issued a dire warning about the 85-year-old structure.
Replacement footpath decking will be made for the bridge as part of essential maintenance while a long-term restoration plan is developed.
More than $18 million has been allocated to the bridge under the 2025-26 council budget unveiled on Wednesday including $6.9 million for the new decking.
Another $6.2 million will be spent on urgent repairs and the remainder on a business case into a long term upgrade with the Brisbane 2032 Games on the horizon.
A council report in May revealed the Story Bridge was deteriorating under an unprecedented volume of traffic and may close in 20 years if action wasn’t taken.
It warned the structure would not be able to cope with increased use in its condition, sounding alarm bells before the Brisbane Olympics.
The bridge’s footpaths have been closed since March following Tropical Cyclone Alfred after they had deteriorated.
Brisbane lord mayor Adrian Schrinner said the new decking would take 17 weeks to make but hoped at least one of the bridge’s two footpaths would reopen by the end of 2025.
“This budget confirms we will continue to undertake essential maintenance on Story Bridge while also planning for its long-term restoration,” he said.
The $5 million bridge restoration business case – jointly funded by the commonwealth – would be completed in 2026, the lord mayor said.
“This is a long-term project. The bridge is 85 years old and … restoration will ensure it can serve our region another century and much more,” Mr Schrinner said.
The council has invested $120 million in bridge maintenance in the last 20 years.
Mr Schrinner has called for the federal and state government to help restore the bridge, with the council report proposing introducing a toll for the first time since 1947 to assist the project’s funding.
Protesters were on Wednesday reportedly ejected after yelling “don’t toll the Story Bridge” during Mr Schrinner’s budget speech, with Labor opposition counsellors holding up signs backing their stance.
Brisbane City Council – Australia’s biggest with a population of about 1.3 million – on Wednesday announced a $4.1 billion 2025-26 budget with a $298 million surplus.
Average rates will increase 3.87 per cent this financial year – or $1.14 a week – above the city’s 2.7 per cent annual inflation rate.
The budget also revealed a 21 per cent reduction in debt, from $3.7 to $2.9 billion by 2028-29.
AAP
