Brisbane City Plan - articles discussion etc.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Labor blasts City Plan timing

Labor blasts City Plan timing
November 23, 2012 - 3:00AM
Bridie Jabour

A key document which will guide the next 20 years of Brisbane's development and growth is already causing controversy with claims it will be impossible to review it properly before debate.

Brisbane's City Plan will be handed down at by council this morning and opposition councillors have complained the few hours they are being given to look at it before debate is not enough.

Their concerns have been brushed off by Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, with a spokesman saying they are following the same procedure they use for the release of the budget.

Brisbane's draft City Plan is a blueprint for how the city will grow and what it will look like in 20 years.

This morning, it will be released to councillors via iPads and they will be able to review to prepare for the official debate at 2pm.

But opposition leader Milton Dick has argued the time they are being given to review such a significant document is not adequate.

"I'm disappointed that the Lord Mayor and LNP administration have taken this position, because they have denied councillors the right to talk to their local residents before going into the council chamber to debate the draft City Plan," he said.

"Opposition councillors will have only three short hours to have a quick look at the new City Plan before we're expected to begin formal debate in the council chamber.

"I've been advised that opposition councillors will have only a few minutes notice of how they can contribute to debate on the new City Plan before the debate begins.

"At this point, I don't know if I'll be able to ask the Lord Mayor or Neighbourhood Planning Chairperson questions about the City Plan or if I'm expected simply to speak about the planning.

"This isn't a good way to lead on open and accountable council."

Amendments will be able to be made to the City Plan following the debate and after it is passed by the council it will go to the state government for approvement.

Cr Quirk's spokesman said the timeframe is similar to council budget which is presented to all councillors, reviewed and debated for a further four days.

"The format also reflects what occurred in 1999 when City Plan was initially debated," he said.

Cr Quirk said he had decided to launch the City Plan on iPads to save on paper costs, boost the city's digital credentials and make it easier for people to access.

"It makes the draft new City Plan an accessible and easy to understand document for all residents who want to know about our city's planning rules," he said.

"The use of the online version and iPad is a more sustainable and environmentally responsible way of presenting information, and gives residents and councillors an improved viewing experience."

Residents will get their first glimpse of the draft plan when it is made available on council's website in early December after amendments are made following council debate and decision.

The draft new City Plan, once endorsed by the council next week, will be sent to the Queensland government for review.

Once returned, it will be released for formal public comment.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/labor-blasts-city-plan-timing-20121122-29sus.html

[ozbob]

Can hardly wait ..

[colinw]

I've been through that monstrosity a couple of times.

Didn't strike me as too bad ... because I was on the train that passes under it all. 

Mind you, doesn't look that different to the area around Mayne now that Airport Link is open.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane's City Plan 2012 Revealed

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane City Council draft City Plan flags suburbs for future housing growth

[Mr X]

I've been through that monstrosity a couple of times.

Didn't strike me as too bad ... because I was on the train that passes under it all. 

Mind you, doesn't look that different to the area around Mayne now that Airport Link is open.

How about this for good old French engineering 

[HappyTrainGuy]

I've been through that monstrosity a couple of times.

Didn't strike me as too bad ... because I was on the train that passes under it all. 

Mind you, doesn't look that different to the area around Mayne now that Airport Link is open.

How about this for good old French engineering 

**** me what a layout. I'd imagine everyones GPS would be having a heart attack with that... haha.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> An evolving city reflected in its master plan

... Opposition criticisms

Council opposition leader Milton Dick's major gripe was a lot of the information in the draft City Plan was up to seven years old.

In some cases, where neighbourhood plans have not started, some of the proposals are based on information that is even older.

"It's a cut and paste job," Cr Dick said.

"I just don't think it is 21st Century thinking."

Cr Dick says some residents will not be aware that there suburbs will see more high density living and says there should be a six-month consultation period.

"Places like Aspley, Inala, Carina, Nundah, Enoggera, Yeronga, Fairfield," he said.

Cr Dick said Labor is also concerned the Priority Infrastructure Plan for the city does not get the transport links to the regions identified as fast-growing.

The end result he believes could be "satellite suburbs".

"I don't believe they had got the infrastructure right to match the city's growth," he said.

Cr Dick said his own Richlands ward was an example, identified as part of the city's southwest jobs growth area, where transport was a problem.

"Major roads in my area – Oxley and Harcourt roads – are already at capacity," he said.

"They just don't have the infrastructure to meet the growth."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/an-evolving-city-reflected-in-its-master-plan-20121123-29z09.html

[#Metro]

Brisbane CityShape

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-building/current-planning-projects/neighbourhood-planning/neighbourhood-planning-and-urban-renewal/listening-to-the-community/brisbane-cityshape-2026/index.htm

LOL, in the Moving Brisbane section, they still don't get it. The roll-out of a bus grid as part of the CFN will be super-important, but most people in Brisbane live near a train station. There are 85 train stations within BCC boundaries, compared to about 20 busway stations - trains have 4x more stations and these are class A row. BCC is still living in modal bias land. They don't seem to see that if a person wants to go from A to B the LINE and NETWORK matters, not whether the vehicle has steel or rubber tyres.

Busways and priority bus lanes are a less
expensive and more flexible option for
Brisbane than extending railway lines.
Although the Queensland Government
will continue to invest in train services
in Brisbane, the bulk of public transport
investment within the city will be in buses
and the infrastructure required to support
them. The Queensland Government
has planned new busways to the north
and east of the CBD. Better connections
will be provided between bus and train
stations, making it easier to move across
the city

The reality- busways are just as expensive to extend as train lines because the major cost is Class A row acquisition (earthworks, house demolition). For the Northern and Eastern Busway extensions, houses must be bulldozed and huge expense made on digging the ground or pouring concrete for elevated sections. None of this needs to happen on the train system - just pay for more trains to existing stations because the network is already very comprehensive within the BCC boundaries. In fact, Brisbane has more train stations (85) than the entire City of Toronto, Canada (69).

A good example is the 2 year train upgrade of the Ferny Grove line which cost $18 million dollars (and the gov't made a huge deal about hanging on to every last cent of that and scrooged on the evening and weekend services) versus 1 km busway upgrade extension at Buranda which cost $465 million - spending on buses thus cost 26x more than busway extension, and you probably could have done CFN service upgrades to all the inner city lines which would have HUGE citywide impact and move massive numbers of people rather than that tiny 'big concrete' extension.

Draft City Plan http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-building/current-planning-projects/brisbanes-new-city-plan/index.htm

[Jonno]

Criteria to judge the new plan on

1. Walkability

-Most things within a 10-minute walk of home and work
-Pedestrian friendly street design (buildings close to street; porches, windows & doors; tree-lined streets; on street parking; hidden parking lots; garages in rear lane; narrow, slow speed streets)
-Pedestrian streets free of cars in special cases

2. Connectivity

-Interconnected street grid network disperses traffic & eases walking
-A hierarchy of narrow streets, boulevards, and alleys
-High quality pedestrian network and public realm makes walking pleasurable

3. Mixed-Use & Diversity

-A mix of shops, offices, apartments, and homes on site. Mixed-use within neighborhoods, within blocks, and within buildings
-Diversity of people - of ages, income levels, cultures, and races

4. Mixed Housing

A range of types, sizes and prices in closer proximity

5. Quality Architecture & Urban Design

Emphasis on beauty, aesthetics, human comfort, and creating a sense of place; Special placement of civic uses and sites within community. Human scale architecture & beautiful surroundings nourish the human spirit

6. Traditional Neighborhood Structure

-Discernable center and edge
-Public space at center
-Importance of quality public realm; public open space designed as civic art
-Contains a range of uses and densities within 10-minute walk
-Transect planning: Highest densities at town center; progressively less dense towards the edge. The transect is an analytical system that conceptualizes mutually reinforcing elements, creating a series of specific natural habitats and/or urban lifestyle settings.  The Transect integrates environmental methodology for habitat assessment with zoning methodology for community design.  The professional boundary between the natural and man-made disappears, enabling environmentalists to assess the
design of the human habitat and the urbanists to support the viability of nature. This urban-to-rural transect hierarchy has appropriate building and street types for each area along the continuum.

7. Increased Density

-More buildings, residences, shops, and services closer together for ease of walking, to enable a more efficient use of services and resources, and to create a more convenient, enjoyable place to live.
-New Urbanism design principles are applied at the full range of densities from small towns, to large cities

8. Green Transportation

-A network of high-quality trains connecting cities, towns, and neighborhoods together
-Pedestrian-friendly design that encourages a greater use of bicycles, rollerblades, scooters, and walking as daily transportation


9. Sustainability

-Minimal environmental impact of development and its operations
-Eco-friendly technologies, respect for ecology and value of natural systems
-Energy efficiency
-Less use of finite fuels
-More local production
-More walking, less driving

10. Quality of Life

Taken together these add up to a high quality of life well worth living, and create places that enrich, uplift, and inspire the human spirit.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Labor opposition blasts City Plan as a "shame"

[#Metro]

I don't know what everyone is mooing about. I went to the website and it still isn't uploaded!

[Old Northern Road]

Brisbane CityShape

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-building/current-planning-projects/neighbourhood-planning/neighbourhood-planning-and-urban-renewal/listening-to-the-community/brisbane-cityshape-2026/index.htm

LOL, in the Moving Brisbane section, they still don't get it. The roll-out of a bus grid as part of the CFN will be super-important, but most people in Brisbane live near a train station. There are 85 train stations within BCC boundaries, compared to about 20 busway stations - trains have 4x more stations and these are class A row. BCC is still living in modal bias land. They don't seem to see that if a person wants to go from A to B the LINE and NETWORK matters, not whether the vehicle has steel or rubber tyres.

Busways and priority bus lanes are a less
expensive and more flexible option for
Brisbane than extending railway lines.
Although the Queensland Government
will continue to invest in train services
in Brisbane, the bulk of public transport
investment within the city will be in buses
and the infrastructure required to support
them. The Queensland Government
has planned new busways to the north
and east of the CBD. Better connections
will be provided between bus and train
stations, making it easier to move across
the city

The reality- busways are just as expensive to extend as train lines because the major cost is Class A row acquisition (earthworks, house demolition). For the Northern and Eastern Busway extensions, houses must be bulldozed and huge expense made on digging the ground or pouring concrete for elevated sections. None of this needs to happen on the train system - just pay for more trains to existing stations because the network is already very comprehensive within the BCC boundaries. In fact, Brisbane has more train stations (85) than the entire City of Toronto, Canada (69).

A good example is the 2 year train upgrade of the Ferny Grove line which cost $18 million dollars (and the gov't made a huge deal about hanging on to every last cent of that and scrooged on the evening and weekend services) versus 1 km busway upgrade extension at Buranda which cost $465 million - spending on buses thus cost 26x more than busway extension, and you probably could have done CFN service upgrades to all the inner city lines which would have HUGE citywide impact and move massive numbers of people rather than that tiny 'big concrete' extension.

Draft City Plan http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-building/current-planning-projects/brisbanes-new-city-plan/index.htm

Toronto has 131 train stations if you count both the Subway and the Go Trains plus over 100 light rail stations.

The number of train stations is irrelevant as Brisbane's commuter rail system was primarily built for freight and doesn't serve many of the areas it needs to. You can't say that most of Brisbane lives near a train station when most of Brisbane's densest suburbs (Kangaroo Point, New Farm, Spring Hill, West End etc) have no station nor do most of the major destinations outside of the CBD (UQ, RBH, Chermside, Carindale, Upper Mt Gravatt).

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Draft Brisbane City Plan focuses on road upgrades in growth hubs

[ozbob]

Twitter

3h Cr Milton Dick ‏@CrMiltonDick

I asked the Lord Mayor to post the City Plan online so ratepayers could give Crs their views. He said no! #brisbane http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/labor-opposition-blasts-city-plan-as-a-shame-20121126-2a3f7.html ...

[Jonno]

CrMiltonDick is claiming there are not enough roads!!!   Both major politics cannot see the forest becasue of the trees.   When will a political leader stand up and say "We need transit to be the first, second and third priority".  Not some wishy washy "balanced approach" which realy means "roads first".

[Gazza]

On the Cityplan, one thing that appeals to me is the 9.5 m height limit...Means 3 storey houses will become more feasible, which means less of the site is covered, more green space on each plot, and more space for air circulation and solar access between houses themselves.

[Jonno]

Likely to just get 3 storeys with same site coverage goven recent house building practices.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane's vision for the future

[Golliwog]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane's vision for the future

This seems to have some decent information in it. Do like that they're proposing increased development around transport corridors (including rail), though I expect that it's going to be more of the same from council when it comes to the funding side of things. More than happy to benefit from a better rail network, but still not going to contribute money to it.

[Golliwog]

The Draft has now been made available online: http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/planning-building/current-planning-projects/brisbanes-new-city-plan/index.htm

[Jonno]

New Plan fails in many places. Zoning, Development Controls, Car Parking, Street Design, etc.  Will post my feedback.

[Jonno]

Ahhhh You forgot Just encourages existing population to drive more!

[Jonno]

Provide the right network with right frequency then no one is stuffed around. In fact the are benefited.