Ann Aitken

Stephen of Better Streets for Ashgrove and his littlest advocate met with Ann Aitken – The Greens candidate for The Gap Ward early Friday on the childcare run. We had originally arranged to meet for a bike ride along Ithaca and Enogerra Creeks, but Stephen’s work commitments required a change of schedule, so we enjoyed a walk instead.

Ann believes that pedestrians on our streets—which should be distinct from our roads—should be prioritized ahead of all other modes of transport. This provides benefits for health, climate, pollution, and social connection. Ann also wanted to highlight The Green’s extensive plans for bikeways (aligned with user group requests), pedestrian facilities, and the true urbanization of the core Brisbane CBD with reduced speed limits, pedestrianization, and shade planting.

Stephen showed Ann the causeway at Quandong Park, which was still damp from recent flooding, a regular feature in this location as even moderate rain overwhelms the causeway. Ann asked about the banana bars at the entrance to the park; they have a dual purpose to keep cars off the bikeway and to calm cycle traffic, but in reality they just create a conflict point and a hazard for new riders and children. Ann was surprised to hear of the traffic calming along this section of the bikeway which targets riders, with lots of chicanes and 90-degree turns. That’s an engineering technique that Stephen would prefer to see on a nearby neighbourhood street; a rat run which carries 5,000 cars a day!

Stephen pointed out that traffic calming and reduced speed limits on side streets either side of Ashgrove Avenue would enhance the existing informal quiet-way used by cyclists to reach Red Hill and thereon to the CBD, South Brisbane and other urban centres. Ann agreed that aligns with Greens policy to support communities in requesting such schemes. Brisbane City Council lists countless examples of community requests for traffic calming which have been refused or delayed indefinitely. In recent years, Stephen asked for calming of the McLean Parade and Gailey Street rat run, but a speed limit review was turned down on the basis that not enough people have been hurt! The area remains on a wait list of potential Local Area Traffic Management schemes.

Next we looked at Quandong Street, a 400m stretch of cul-de-sac which is wide and straight like an airstrip and has a 50km/h speed limit. Streets like Quandong are resurfaced at considerable expense on a regular basis, and Stephen would like to see opportunities like this used to reduce the paved area and introduce trees to mitigate heat island effects. That would else help create a welcoming environment where the neighbourhood kids could play together near home.

Finally, we relocated to the recently developed Ashgrove Sanctuary, and looked at the effects of the creek at this location. There appears to be recent significant water flows over this area evidenced by silt and debris, and there was one area of beach covering more than half the width of the bikeway. We discussed the new retaining walls at the development, and Stephen reflected on the swift water rescues that took place in that part of Ashgrove Avenue during the February 2022 flood event. Hopefully, the new retaining walls survive the next major flood event…

Stephen reflected on how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful riverine environment surrounded by nature, but that the infrastructure is not befitting a city of our wealth. Really, the bikeway at this location is great for walkers and recreational cyclists to relax and enjoy that experience. But most people cycling for transport will bypass the meanders of the creek and follow the road network either direct from Ashgrove to Red Hill or via Edmonstone St into Windsor. Sadly, there is no provision or consideration for cycling on either of those options.

Thanks Ann for taking the time to catch up with us, and for your commitment to consulting with community and prioritising walking and cycling if you are elected to Council in March.