Save Bribie Bridge - turn it green!

A campaign has been launched to turn the Bribie Island Bridge into Moreton Bay’s first ‘green bridge’.

Mayor Peter Flannery, who started the campaign, says it would give the region “a new icon”.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is seeking public input on construction of a new Bribie Island Bridge. Consultation is open to February 27.

Mayor Flannery has urged residents to go online and support a new vehicle crossing so the current bridge can become a dedicated pedestrian space.

He said we would have the “best of both worlds” - a four-lane bridge to Bribie and a new icon for fishing, gardens and views across Pumicestone Passage.

“Bribie Island welcomes 827,000 visitors every year, the highest visitation for any statistical area in Moreton Bay region according to Tourism Research Australia,” the Mayor said.

“If we’re ambitious I believe the old Bribie Bridge can become an icon in contemporary landscape architecture, but first we need to save it from demolition.

“I would love to see the old bridge remain as a foot and cycle bridge as an amenity to locals and visitors for recreation like fishing, or it could be ‘greened’ with plants to resemble something like New York’s High Line.

“It would be terribly wasteful to tear-down an expensive piece of infrastructure rather than giving it an exciting second lease on life.”

Councillor Brooke Savige (Div 1) said when the Bribie Bridge was first built in 1963, the Island was home to roughly 600 people. Today it is 20,612.

“They all know how painful it can be when an accident shuts down the bridge,” she said. “This is not only a major inconvenience but it’s a serious safety issue.

“The largest cohort of residents is between 70-74 and more than half is above 60, which sees Queensland Ambulance Service averaging 17 responses to the island every day.”

Sandstone Point Hotel owner Rob Comiskey says: “We definitely need something like this to put us on the map ahead of the Olympics and Paralympics.

“We cannot allow tourism dollars to go driving past Moreton Bay to the Sunny Coast. The current bridge is too small and unsafe, it’s passed its use-by date.”

Sandstone Point Community Association President John Gollan says two bridges makes sense.

“Otherwise, they’ll need to construct a big six-lane bridge to keep pedestrians safe from vehicles, which is probably too expensive and impractical,” he said.

To have your say on the State Government’s plan click here