Jamboree LNP

Cr Sarah Hutton

The life of a councillor is very busy, particularly during an election, so while she couldn’t come for a ride, Cr Sarah Hutton, the LNP candidate for Jamboree Ward, met with Chris from West BUG at her office for an open and broad ranging discussion.

Sarah did go for a ride with Chris before the last election in 2020, and since then purchased a new bike which she loves taking on holidays, riding with her family along the Coastal Pathway on the Sunshine Coast. Busy schedules limit her riding time at home, but with her son riding a scooter to school via the train, Sarah’s very aware of how important safe pathways in the suburbs are.

While “Team Schrinner” (the LNP campaign) are highlighting green bridges, riverwalks and bikeways in higher density inner city areas as part of their 4 point transport plan for Brisbane, Chris was keen to point out that 40% of trips in the suburbs are 5km or less – an easy bike ride – but the vast majority currently taken by car. While big investment in bridges and riverwalks in the inner city is valuable, enabling cycling to local destinations like Mount Ommaney Shopping Centre, Jindalee pool, Centenary High School and the various primary schools is just as important and potentially much, much cheaper, and something that can be achieved at the same time as those bigger, city shaping projects.

Brisbane’s culture and attitude toward cycling was discussed, and Chris pointed out that Brisbane City Council has a big role to play in promoting cycling, walking and scooting positively – not just when talking up the benefits of major projects, but as a serious part of Brisbane’s transport mix, and a crucial part of the solution for “busting” congestion. Every person leaving their car at home makes it better for those who don’t have that option, but unless the environment is perceptibly safe, direct and intuitive, people are less likely to ride.

Chris praised the design of the Dandenong Road, Central Avenue and Sirocco Street intersection upgrade which includes new light controlled pedestrian crossings on all 4 legs, and while it retains one slip lane, adds a wombat crossing. Sarah noted that she had to push for that outcome, but that witnessing people trying to cross busy Dandenong Road without a safe crossing was something she couldn’t accept. We wholeheartedly agree with that!

The widened Amazons Place bikeway, and under construction, better aligned, more flood resilient Kooringal Drive bike bridge adjoining the soon-to-be realigned Centenary Bikeway are good achievements in the current term of Council, and Sarah hinted that improvements to Sinnamon Road outside the Bowls club to adjoin the Centenary Bikeway are in the planning stages.

Sarah highlighted that a priority in the next term if she’s re-elected is to provide off road paths in the industrial areas of Wacol to facilitate the increasing number of people who travel to work locally by e-scooter. While they use the road now, the presence of heavy vehicles makes that a risky situation, and Sarah is keen to address that safety issue. Similarly, pedestrian improvements in precincts like Curragundi Road shops are a high priority. Chris noted that Yallambee Road in Jindalee would be a high priority for a lower speed limit and modernisation project. Currently 60kph, the road goes from Jindalee Pool and Bowls Club to Centenary State High School and to Mount Ommaney Special School and is quite hostile for locals getting to those destinations by bike, scooter or walking.