Possible 'Green Bridge' for Moreton Bay

Only seven days left for the public to give the Department of Transport and Main Roads input on the construction of a new Bribie Island Bridge.

Mayor Peter Flannery has launched a campaign to save the old Bribie Island Bridge, by transforming it into Moreton Bay's first 'Green Bridge'.

“The mayor believes that the old Bribie Bridge has the potential to become an icon in contemporary landscape architecture and could be converted into a foot and cycle bridge or greened with plants to resemble New York's High Line.”

Mayor Flannery has urged locals to get involved and encourage the government to build a new crossing for vehicles and convert the old bridge into a dedicated pedestrian space.

The need for a new bridge is clear, and a brand new four-lane bridge will service Bribie's growing popularity. However, the old bridge could be given a new lease on life as a place where people can enjoy fishing, gardens, and beautiful views across the Pumicestone Passage. The mayor believes that the old Bribie Bridge has the potential to become an icon in contemporary landscape architecture and could be converted into a foot and cycle bridge or greened with plants to resemble New York's High Line.

Currently, Bribie Island welcomes 827,000 visitors every year, the highest visitation for any statistical area in Moreton Bay region, according to Tourism Research Australia. Mayor Flannery believes that a pedestrian bridge and green link from the mainland to the island would be an invaluable investment, putting Bribie on the map ahead of the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

Sandstone Point Hotel Owner Rob Comiskey agrees, stating that tourists who know Bribie's beauty come back time and time again, and a better link between the mainland and the island is needed to attract more visitors. The current bridge is too small and unsafe, and has passed its use-by date. President of the Sandstone Point Community Association John Gollan agrees that a pedestrian bridge should be separate to the new bridge, to avoid the need to construct a large 6-lane bridge to keep pedestrians safe from vehicles.

Before COVID, the Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism (MBRIT) had grown the local tourism economy to $1 billion and overseen an impressive increase in visitation numbers of around 4.5 million tourists a year. To have your say on the State Government's plan, visit the Department of Transport and Main Roads website before February 27.