By Jillian Goh
Plans for Stage 5 of the North Brisbane Bikeway between Price Street in Wooloowin and Kedron Brook are underway again, after being put on hold in 2022.
The Brisbane City Council selected a ‘community working group’ of 20 people to consult on the project in April.
Despite feedback from members of the working group that only one route has been discussed in the meetings, Hamilton Ward Councillor Julia Dixon has said no final decision has been made on the bikeway route.
“This consultation has included feedback from previous concerns about the project,” Cr Dixon said.
“The working group is being run by an independent facilitator which was secured by my representations, as requested by the community.”
The proposed route discussed would continue from the previous stage of the bikeway along Dickson Street, Junction Road, Sydney Street and Jackson Street.
The council said local schools including Kedron State High School (KSHS) were invited to provide feedback on the project, but suggestions by residents for the route to include KSHS seem to have been ignored so far.
Kattya Bassingthwaighte has been running KSS Aquatics on Dickson Street since 2008 and was invited to participate in the group.
She said: “I was the only business that was selected for the working group.”
“I voiced my objections, because I was the one business out of everyone on the road that were not represented.”
Ms Bassingthwaighte noted that businesses would face revenue losses during construction, with some at risk of closure due to parking spaces being removed for the bikeway.
Aside from KSS Aquatics, 37 businesses that will be impacted on Junction Road and Dickson Street were not invited for community consultation.
“We tried to propose a number of possible options of getting a bikeway and keeping our parking at the same time, but they were all rejected,” Ms Bassingthwaighte said.
Another business owner in the area, Penelope Hind, said: “There should be a bikeway, but not on Dickson Street. There are other alternatives that don’t interfere with any businesses and have a minimal impact on residents as well.”
Concerns about accessibility have also been brought up.
Robert Birch, who runs Accounting and Taxation Pty Ltd., said: “There’s a YoungCare sharehouse behind us. They look out for young disabled people, and they need the parking nearby, for the residents, the staff, and visitors.”
Ms Bassingthwaighte shares similar worries for her swim school.
“We provide swimming lessons for children, six months to eight years of age. And some of these children have disabilities, intellectual and physical. They need to easily access the property and the parents need to park close to the property,” she said.
“We serve 150 students, including children with autism, ADHD, as well as deaf and hearing-impaired children. These specialty lessons are not available everywhere.”
“I did a customer survey and 80 per cent of my clients said if they could not park outside the property, they wouldn’t want to continue lessons here.”
Aquariums R Us owner Darren Leighton also spoke about the potential loss of customers.
His business deals with heavy glassware, with some pieces being over a hundred kilograms. They would face several transportation issues without on-site parking.
He said: “The bikeway should be towards a school or a shopping mall.”
The intergenerational business was passed onto Mr Leighton from his father, and his sons also work for Aquariums R Us.
“After 30 years, my sons are not going to be taking over the business – at least, not here,” he said.
To sign the petition for Council to review the bikeway route, visit: https://www.epetitions.brisbane.qld.gov.au/petition/view/pid/1326.
