BCC Elections 2020

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Greens' free public transport for Brisbane plan

OFF-PEAK travel on Brisbane's buses, ferries and CityCats would be free for everyone under a big spending pre-election pledge from the Greens in their bid to win key marginal seats.

The minor party will today unveil the big ticket pledge – a major extension of the current free travel scheme for seniors – which they believe will cost ratepayers about $80 million a year.

The Greens' lone Brisbane councillor Jonathan Sri said the move would reduce overcrowding on popular bus routes during peak hour by encouraging commuters to catch buses and ferries during off-peak.

"School students heading home at 3pm will also be able to catch the bus for free, which will help reduce school-related traffic congestion," he said.

The announcement will put pressure on Labor to reveal their public transport plan after the LNP this year unveiled free off-peak travel for seniors in their pre-election Council Budget.

While it is unlikely either major party will adopt the Greens' policy, the minor party believes the plan will be particularly popular in key inner-city wards on its target list for the looming March election, including Paddington, Central and Coorparoo.

Under their plan, off-peak travel on buses, ferries and CityCats would be free during off-peak for all commuters during a two-year trial.

They have also called for detailed public consultation into the possible introduction of peak hour bus lanes in the most congested bus corridors.

The party's candidate for Paddington Ward, Donna Burns, predicted the move would take thousands of cars off the road.

"It's about making sure everyone can enjoy all the great opportunities Brisbane has to offer," she said.

"The flow-on benefits to tourism and small business are likely to be huge. We can't afford not to do this."

The Greens overcame Labor in Paddington Ward in the last election in the primary vote, reducing incumbent councillor Peter Matic's margin to less than 6 per cent.

Labor's lord mayoral candidate Patrick Condren has previously said he would consider making fares free for school kids travelling on buses and ferries if he wins the March poll.

WHERE EACH PARTY STANDS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES

LNP: Unveiled free off-peak travel for seniors on buses, ferries and CityCats in their pre-election Budget. New scheme came into effect in October.

LABOR: Yet to announce a policy. Have previously suggested they would make travel free for school kids on buses and ferries.

GREENS: Free off-peak public transport for everyone travelling on buses, ferries and CityCats under a two-year trial.

[ozbob]

Bus lanes very good .. 

Free off peak travel .. not so much ...

[#Metro]

Green Team need to give up on this 'free' PT, which is NOT free, you pay when the rates notice comes in.

I expect the others will butcher the fare policy as well.
Easy & lazy policy.

[verbatim9]

Green Team need to give up on this 'free' PT, which is NOT free, you pay when the rates notice comes in.

I expect the others will butcher the fare policy as well.
Easy & lazy policy.

That's so true rate and taxes will go up to pay for it. It's just Polytricks.

[aldonius]

The total Brisbane City Council budget for 2019-2020 is 3.15 billion, so 80 million is 2.5% of that. Not insignificant, but not a huge amount either. Rates go up by about that much every year anyway. (At least some of the rates increases are in conjunction with increased property values. Much the same as a land value tax.) 

I would prefer generally increasing the off-peak fare discount, but it's a lot messier to do that on a region-by-region basis.

[#Metro]

What is the policy aim of this discount?

Is it to increase patronage?

If that is the case, why not spend that on bus reform and new BUZ routes?

What green team have proposed is a solution to the wrong problem.

Fix the bus network and patronage will go up.

People are prepared to pay for quality. It's why they own cars and drive them even when PT is often cheaper.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1196252353327820801

[verbatim9]

Money best spent on better services and local infrastructure e.g. Bus lanes, segregated cycle infrastructure and priority approach at intersections for buses, cyclists and pedestrians.  A discussion and implementation around weekly caps and better off peak discounts would be more appropriate and a sustainable approach to this issue.

[SurfRail]

This free fares stuff is silliness in the extreme.  If you are going to have it, then it needs to be system-wide. 

It kind of worked on the Gold Coast prior to July 2014:
- Able to be implemented without actually changing the go card system in any way (you just get a foil on your go card to show the driver who hits "count")
- Train patronage is minuscule in the off-peak by comparison and wouldn't involve a lot of seniors undertaking multi-modal trips
- Only one bus operator to deal with for the most part with 2 exceptions:
-- The stretch of the 728-729 from Beenleigh station to Martens Street (which is the Beenleigh station terminus stop plus the closest 2 pairs of bus stops) shared with Logan City Bus Service, but the LCBS service is more frequent in general so negligible impact
-- NSW section of Surfside's operations overlaps the TransLink services between Miles St Kirra and Tweed Mall on routes 601 and 608, but the NSW services have $2.50 RED tickets anyway


Following July 2014 the light rail became an integral part of the network and the free travel does not include it (and probably won't). 

Rolling it out in Brisbane is even worse given the overlap between BCC's buses and everybody else's around the joint, and the fact train patronage is a higher portion of the total mix in Brisbane.  This is just a macrocosm of the free Cityhopper vs parallel ticketed ferry issue.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> New ban on Brisbane townhouses, apartments

Brisbane City Council is about to rezone a massive parcel of land, effectively shutting down new plans for townhouses and apartments in some areas.

THE construction of apartments and townhouses in Brisbane's low-density neighbourhoods is set to be officially banned under a range of sweeping changes that will also protect the heritage-listed Lamb House.

The council will move to introduce a raft of reforms to the City Plan at today's meeting as it pushes ahead with a bid to safeguard the character of neighbourhoods and protect parts of Brisbane's heritage.

The Courier-Mail can reveal that this will include rezoning a massive 40ha of land across the city so that its primary use is for low-density residential buildings, preventing apartments from being built on the land. The rezoning will make it harder for ­developers to apply for commercial developments.

The 40ha, which is ­currently classified as "emerging community", is spread across 54 parcels of land in suburbs such as Kenmore, Mansfield, Belmont, Carindale and ­Sunnybank.

City Planning chair Matthew Bourke told The Courier-Mail they wanted to give residents certainty that they could expect one or two-storey homes on those blocks of land.

Not all emerging community land will be rezoned.

The council will also today vote to ban townhouse and apartment developments in all low-density residential areas across Brisbane.

It follows months of ­consultation, where some concerns were raised about the impact that the reforms could have on housing affordability and diversity.

Cr Bourke said they had received "very strong feedback" from residents that they wanted less townhouses in areas that were meant for one or two story homes.

"They want areas in those outer suburbs in particular that are one and two-storey homes to remain that way with that particular character and feel," he said. "They'd like to see density and growth in the city happening around major transport corridors and transport nodes."

Lamb House at Kangaroo Point is also to be given ­better safeguards, with the land it sits on to be rezoned so that it reflects current temporary protections.

More than 60 significant trees and 27 newly identified pre-1911 home are set to be added to the City Plan as well.

Carparking space requirements in suburban areas will also be adjusted, making it mandatory for apartments with two bedrooms to have two carparking spaces – up from the current requirement of 1.25 spaces. A three-bedroom unit will also require two car spaces while units with four or more bedrooms will need 2.5 spaces.

Several other changes, including the rezoning of emerging community land, will require further community consultation, as well as State Government approval before they can formally be introduced to the City Plan. Council Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy described the changes as the "longest mea culpa in Brisbane's planning history" and said that they were an attempt from the LNP to reinvent themselves before an election.

Cr Bourke hit back, claiming the Opposition had "no ideas and no vision".

Alderley mother of eight-year-old twins Alexis and ­Oliver Taylor, Naomi Dorland said preserving back yards was vital for children's health and development.

"I'm all about back yards," she said. "We're lucky to have one as big as we do."

Having already lost some view due to development in her suburb, she said the changes were more than welcome.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

19th November 2019

BCC Election 2020 - Free off peak travel comment

RAIL Back On Track agrees with the Greens proposal (1) to divert more of the roads budget towards public transport, but we don't believe the Greens proposal for free off peak public transport is the right use of the funds.  We support strongly the dedicated peak hour bus lanes policy.

At present, the most you'll pay on a bus or ferry off peak in within the BCC area is $3.22, or $1.61 if you are entitled to a concession. When the new ' smart ticketing ' fare system is implemented we think there is the opportunity for a larger universal off peak discount (presently 20%) and the re-introduction of periodical options such as weekly, monthly ticketing, in SEQ and regional Queensland.

But despite those low prices, most people choose to drive.

Why?

Time and time again, Brisbane public transport users raise the following issues:

- Long journey times on buses in traffic.
- Poorly timed connections between buses.
- Long waits between buses caused by a lack of frequency.
- Most trains at each station not having a frequent bus connections (People choosing to park at stations instead).
- Indirect "Cook's tour" routes that waste time.
- Having to travel via the CBD to get to the suburb next door.
- Unreliability.

RAIL Back on Track members firmly believe the best way to increase usage during off peak is to provide more connected services off peak, so residents can feel confident a service is coming soon and it will get them there quickly.

A $3.22 discount will not encourage people to use a service they don't like. Rotten apples are still rotten apples, even if free.

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

1. Free Off-Peak Buses and Ferries for Everyone!
https://www.jonathansri.com/freeoffpeak

[ozbob]

Latest: BCC Election 2020 - Free off peak travel commenthttps://t.co/NIXTSxHmIX#bnepol #qldpol@QldGreens @team_schrinner @PatrickCondren
" Rotten apples, are still rotten apples, even if free .. "@MarkBaileyMP @SteveMinnikinMP @TransLinkSEQ pic.twitter.com/nhY7yWO7oq

— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) November 19, 2019

[AnonymouslyBad]

Couriermail --> New ban on Brisbane townhouses, apartments

Wow. Where even to begin?

The 40ha, which is ­currently classified as "emerging community", is spread across 54 parcels of land in suburbs such as Kenmore, Mansfield, Belmont, Carindale and ­Sunnybank ... Cr Bourke said they had received "very strong feedback" from residents that they wanted less townhouses in areas that were meant for one or two story homes.

"Meant for" one or two storey homes. That's funny. I guess this is true of Carindale or Sunnybank, but Kenmore? Belmont? These places aren't really "meant for" suburbia at all, there's almost no infrastructure. Developers just wanted to build on them, and council of course was more than happy to oblige.

Carparking space requirements in suburban areas will also be adjusted, making it mandatory for apartments with two bedrooms to have two carparking spaces – up from the current requirement of 1.25 spaces. A three-bedroom unit will also require two car spaces while units with four or more bedrooms will need 2.5 spaces.

...you have got to be kidding me.
Have council completely lost their mind? Have we gone back in time?
This has got to be one of the most ridiculous things I've read.

Alderley mother of eight-year-old twins Alexis and ­Oliver Taylor, Naomi Dorland said preserving back yards was vital for children's health and development.

Of course she's from Alderley, one of the many middle-north suburbs that has no idea what's going on in the rest of the world, or anything that's happened since 1973 really.
To be fair, there's nothing wrong with liking a backyard, and CM has clearly asked some peripherally related question because it's the only way they'd get a positive answer.

---

Look. It's true that there's been some truly idiotic apartment blocks put up by opportunistic developers. Even somewhere like Chermside: "LOOK BIG ROAD, WE BUILD THERE". That's not smart development, and it's not what anyone means when they talk about 'building up'.

But of course, BCC don't care about that: the buck ultimately stops with them on development approvals, and boy is it a long list of idiotic approvals. They're just pandering to the NIMBYs here.

.......minimum 2 carparks for 2 bedroom apartments. I'm still lost for words.

[#Metro]

Alderley mother of eight-year-old twins Alexis and ­Oliver Taylor, Naomi Dorland said preserving back yards was vital for children's health and development.

Sure... but did you hear about the development out at Yarrabilba? 

Plenty of backyards there.

Developers build townhouses and duplexes etc because there is demand for them. People will pay to buy them.

And the whole backyard argument is bunk. This is not about a law the makes the backyard mandatory. You can have a two apartments on

top of each other and still have a backyard.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Council approves major changes to Brisbane's planning laws

Brisbane City Council has voted for a ban on townhouses in low-density suburbs, one of a host of changes to the city's planning legislation.

The law changes were brought through council in a set of reforms that city planning chairman Matthew Bourke said were some of the biggest in a decade.

Council's controversial townhouse ban was one of many legislative changes to go through the chamber on Tuesday.

The ban stops the amalgamation of numerous lots into more than 3000-square-metre lots that could then have townhouses constructed on them in low-density zoned suburbs.

Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner said city planning "continues to evolve" and needed to be responsive to the community's needs.

"We regularly see amendments to the plan come through and the plans are a living, breathing thing, so we will continue to see changes going forward based on the changing needs of the community, based on feedback, and also based on the need to provide more housing in Brisbane as our population grows," Cr Schrinner told the chamber.

"It is my belief that low density should be low density, and that is exactly what we are putting forward."

Opposition leader Jared Cassidy said the LNP's original 2014 City Plan had "wrought the damage" on the city's planning laws and the amendments were further proof of the administration's efforts to correct damage.

"[The lord mayor] has never shown leadership when it comes to these things and this administration only moved ... when they could see people out in those communities standing there with baseball bats waiting to punch them in the next election," Cr Cassidy said.

Labor voted for the amendments.

The townhouse ban will now go back to the state for the final tick of approval, more than a year after first being announced, and without any changes to the original proposal after community consultation was completed.

The council noted that postcards objecting to the amendment were sent around to the public, with gift cards reportedly offered to university students who collected the most signed postcards. A "significant number" of objections were received by postcard.

About 1400 submissions were made on the proposed ban, of which 1189 were made by residents within the Brisbane LGA.

More than 731 supported the townhouse ban from those Brisbane LGA submissions, 455 did not support it, and three were classified as other.

Issues around design and character, diversity, choice, and affordability were some of the concerns raised around the proposed amendment.

A second major amendment to protect important local sites and key city vistas, such as Lamb House at Kangaroo Point and the area from Anzac Square across to Post Office Square, was also approved.

That amendment also identified and protected more pre-1911 houses across the city, particularly within inner-city suburbs, and added 128 new sites to heritage mapping.

Cr Schrinner said the new sites were added through systematic mapping and nominations from residents.

Growing suburban regions are also expected to be rezoned from emerging community to low-density residential land, including 54 parcels of land Eight Mile Plains, Belmont, Boondall, Carindale, Kenmore, Tingalpa, Wishart, Mansfield, Robertson, Runcorn and Sunnybank.

The change will keep those areas of land re-zoned, more than 40 hectares, available only for single homes rather than apartments.

Council will have to take that proposed amendment back to the state for approval to begin public consultation.

Another major amendment approved will require new apartment developments to have a minimum of one car park per bedroom, and 2½ car parks for apartments for four or more bedroom apartments.

Cr Cassidy cited several examples of streets "parked out" each day due to council's earlier removal of parking requirements for new developments, saying the amendment was "too little, too late" for many residents left without parking.

Greens councillor Jonathan Sri (The Gabba) said there had been a "failure" from the LNP administration to conduct adequate community consultation.

He said he would abstain from voting on the amendments, arguing he had not had enough time to read through and comprehend the significant changes, having only been given the amendment documents a few days ago.

[#Metro]

 

Wow, looks like 10x more Yarrabilbas coming.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

19th November 2019

BCC Election 2020 - Free off peak travel comment

RAIL Back On Track agrees with the Greens proposal (1) to divert more of the roads budget towards public transport, but we don't believe the Greens proposal for free off peak public transport is the right use of the funds.  We support strongly the dedicated peak hour bus lanes policy.

At present, the most you'll pay on a bus or ferry off peak in within the BCC area is $3.22, or $1.61 if you are entitled to a concession. When the new ' smart ticketing ' fare system is implemented we think there is the opportunity for a larger universal off peak discount (presently 20%) and the re-introduction of periodical options such as weekly, monthly ticketing, in SEQ and regional Queensland.

But despite those low prices, most people choose to drive.

Why?

Time and time again, Brisbane public transport users raise the following issues:

- Long journey times on buses in traffic.
- Poorly timed connections between buses.
- Long waits between buses caused by a lack of frequency.
- Most trains at each station not having a frequent bus connections (People choosing to park at stations instead).
- Indirect "Cook's tour" routes that waste time.
- Having to travel via the CBD to get to the suburb next door.
- Unreliability.

RAIL Back on Track members firmly believe the best way to increase usage during off peak is to provide more connected services off peak, so residents can feel confident a service is coming soon and it will get them there quickly.

A $3.22 discount will not encourage people to use a service they don't like. Rotten apples are still rotten apples, even if free.

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

1. Free Off-Peak Buses and Ferries for Everyone!
https://www.jonathansri.com/freeoffpeak

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 20th November 2019 page 17

No wonder people choose to drive

[ozbob]

Wow, looks like 10x more Yarrabilbas coming.

Pretty much a lost cause now.  Eventually terminal gridlock and cost escalations will force change. 

Until then, the present political self interest (looming council elections) with healthy doses of NIMBYism will override proper policy. 

In short, brisBANE is pretty much fuked!  (personal opinion) ... 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/StuartBDonovan/status/1196896920712564736

https://twitter.com/StuartBDonovan/status/1196899628911751168

[verbatim9]

Couriermail.com.au---> Lord Mayor candidate pledges segregated CBD bike paths

Labor's lord mayoral hopeful will announce his vision for how CBD workers will commute under his administration, saying on-street parking could be replaced by dedicated bike lanes.

ON-STREET parking in Brisbane's CBD would be removed to get more city-slickers back on their bikes, in a move that would be considered by a Labor administration.

Lord mayoral candidate Patrick Condren will announce this morning that Labor will fund a planning study to dedicate more road space for dedicated bikepaths if elected, saying cars were a "crazy" option for commuting around clogged city streets.

The man who could give Brisbane a climate emergency

Brisbane Mayor hopeful reveals stance on key issues

"Cities across the globe are reaping the rewards as they move away from car-centric centres in favour of segregated cycle lanes and pedestrian-friendly streets," Mr Condren said.

"That's where I want to take Brisbane."

The study would look at more active transport within the city, potentially at the expense of on-street parking. "Our approach to traffic in our CBD has changed little in the past 100 years," he said. "You have empty cars cluttering up streets that could be filled with cyclists and pedestrians."

Mr Condren, who describes himself as an avid cyclist, argued local businesses would experience economic benefits from more office workers making their commute by bike.

"They'll spend more money in the CBD," he said.

"The benefits for traders in places that have made the move to inner-city bike lanes are well proven."

Among options to be considered would be a proposal by a cycle enthusiast group to put bike lanes in a grid along George, Herschel, Edward and Margaret streets.

Space for Cycling Brisbane says the grid of lanes would put every bike rider within one-and-a-half blocks of their destination within the CBD.

[verbatim9]

^^No doubt this will spark a response from the current LNP Council in regards to segregated Bikeways in the CBD.

[#Metro]

Excellent news.

He's going for areas blue team have an aversion to.

Maybe we'll even have a chance to get CentenaryGlider through on this one and connect the 480 Mt Coot-tha to rail?

[ozbob]

This is the sort of stuff they should be running with.  Forget ' Fare Free Fridays ' and other such similar nonsense ...

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane councillors' life pass for bus travel set to be axed

FREE bus rides for life for current and former Brisbane councillors could be scrapped under a flagged crackdown on the council privilege.

The Sunday Mail can reveal Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has asked for a review of a 47-year-old policy that allows councillors who serve three terms to be given free bus travel for life on the city's public transport network.

Council's public and active transport committee chairwoman Krista Adams said the Lord Mayor had requested council CEO Colin Jensen launch a review into the policy, which was introduced under Labor lord mayor Clem Jones in 1972.

She said he had made it clear his intent was for the practice to end for both current and former councillors.

"The Lord Mayor directed that the issuing of the passes should cease immediately pending the outcome of the review," Cr Adams said.

"While I do not believe it is widely used, I support the Lord Mayor's decision to suspend the issuing of life passes pending a review."

Labor's lord mayoral candidate Patrick Condren said the pass was just another perk that needed to go, insisting he did not need a review to know that free bus travel for councillors wasn't a good use of ratepayer dollars.

The free bus rides are the latest councillor privilege to be reviewed since Cr Schrinner became lord mayor.

In September, he requested a review of councillor taxi privileges after it was revealed councillors had spent almost $14,000 on cab fares since March 2016.

The 36-year-old guidelines have since been updated to make it clear that councillors can only use ratepayer funded cab charges when travelling on official business.

Generous superannuation payments of 20 per cent for councillors was also slashed to 12 per cent after Cr Schrinner ordered a review into councillor salaries this year.

Cr Adams claimed a former councillor – who she says is "believed to be advising" Mr Condren – recently contacted the council requesting a replacement life pass.

"The former councillor was advised that the issuing and reissuing of life passes has been suspended, pending the review," she said.

"Current Labor councillor Peter Cumming has also previously applied for a replacement of his lost life pass."

Under the current pricing scheme, a bus ride from a zone 2 suburb to the city and back will cost about $8 in peak time when using a go card.

Mr Jensen's review is due back early next year.

OTHER PERKS UNDER REVIEW

■ Taxi privileges for councillors was reviewed this year after it was revealed councillors had spent almost $14,000 on cab fares since 2016. Updated guidelines make it clear that ratepayer-funded cab charges can only be used when travelling for official business.


■ Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner reconvened the independent Councillor Remuneration Tribunal in October amid revelations councillors were being paid 20 per cent superannuation. The recommendations from the tribunal led to councillor super being slashed to 12 per cent.


■ Expense-of-office allowances were reviewed, but they remain in place.


■ Free bus travel privileges for current and former councillors will now be reviewed. Councillors who serve three terms are entitled to a lifetime pass.

[#Metro]

How about remove the council car and give them a go card?
Let's hope they don't try to travel between Toowong and Mt Coot-tha

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/CrKaraCook/status/1215035896300335104

[verbatim9]

https://twitter.com/CrKaraCook/status/1215035896300335104

What a mess!

Off peak capping is the way to go Not free travel.

Plus the ability to touch on and off with an Amex card along with MasterCard and Visa. Good for tourists helpful for locals.

[Gazza]

It would be good if the go card system could be adapted that any journey between stops on opposite sides of the river are automatically free, eg
Guyatt Park to west end.
Norman Park to New Farm
Tennerrife Bulimba
Eagle St to KP
Dockside to Sydney St

The Southbank to North Quay probaby shouldn't be included because bridges are available (with another one coming soon) and they are already overloaded at those stops.

In Amsterdam it was well done, I rode the Buiksloterweg Ferry.
https://reisinfo.gvb.nl/en/lijnen/901

It was a shuttle between Centraal and Noord Amsterdam, every 5 mins, was a ro-ro ferry but on foot. Hundreds got on at a time, no fares, then everyone pours off at the other side.



I think free cross river ferries are a different kettle of fish to other forms of free public transport
. For other parts of Brisbane, you can always walk or ride for free, you cannot do this if you must cross the river where the government refuses to build a bridge, so this is the next best thing in terms of allowing free movement.
It's also different to being lazy and riding a bus for one stop when you could have walked.....you cant walk on water.

[verbatim9]

I wonder when LNP will come out with their war chest of pledges and ideas for the March Council election?

[ozbob]

I wonder when LNP will come out with their war chest of pledges and ideas for the March Council election?

No doubt on the way, and further fragmentation of PT policy. 

[Gazza]

So can someone explain to me why you are cool with the Moggil ferry having different fares to the rest of the SEQ network?

[aldonius]

The Moggill ferry?

https://www.stradbrokeferries.com.au/transport-options/moggill-ferry

Cars are $1.90 and pedestrians are free, that Moggill ferry?

[Gazza]

Yes that moggil ferry.

Nobody complains its free for pedestrians.

And to lug your 2 tonne car across is only $1.90


But apparently for providing the same amenity in inner Brisbane it's super important we charge pedestrians $2.70 to cross the river?

[red dragin]

Is it government subsidised?

[Gazza]

It is, it's a TMR contracted service, Stradbroke Ferries are the operator.
https://www.data.qld.gov.au/dataset/dtmr-queensland-government-investment-portal-qgip/resource/a7007f88-ecb3-4914-91e2-d9baf9791463?view_id=a40a2114-d669-4027-93a3-6a88bd1785bb

"Expenditure relates to a contract for a vehicular ferry operating as a road replacement service crossing the Brisbane River at Moggill. "
$998,000

And thats the way cross river ferries should be thought of.
People are thinking of it as a fare freebie type thing.

My mindset is essentially stop thinking of it as a conventional route, and think of it as a public access road/bridge replacement, until such time as bridges are built in these locations.

[verbatim9]

The pedestrian patronage on that ferry is very limited though. Due to the distance away from the station at Riverview and the urban developments  of Moggill and Bellbowrie. It does get a few cyclists crossing at that point. It's basically a State road with no bridge, hence a ferry service has been in place and subsidised for many years.

[ozbob]

Couriermail  --> Condren to keep predecessor's plan to axe footpath dining tax, wants new 'taskforce' for shopping strips

LABOR'S lord mayoral candidate Patrick Condren has announced his administration would scrap the footpath dining tax, recycling his predecessor Rod Harding's plans in a bid to revive Brisbane's struggling high streets.

Mr Condren said he also wanted to create a new 'suburban taskforce' that will report a swath of recommendations dealing with parking and tree planting within 100 days.

Brisbane's ghost towns: The high streets on road to ruin

Why this busy strip is defying retail trend

However, mayoral hopeful Patrick Condren refused to reveal the cost of the plan, insisting it would come from existing council resources.

The announcement comes after The Courier-Mail last year reported that Brisbane's historic shopping strips were becoming ghost towns, with shops struggling with high rents and low foot traffic.

Paddington's Latrobe and Given terraces were the worst off, with property searches revealing 75 retail spaces were for lease in December.

Mr Condren said the removal of footpath dining laws, which can cost hundreds of dollars per square metre, would save small businesses millions of dollars.

"I've been talking to small business owners all over Brisbane and our plan will give them the support they need to flourish and thrive," lord mayor hopeful Patrick Condren said.

"People want better access, more parking and more shade and that my suburban taskforce will investigate."

Mr Condren said the new taskforce would provide recommendations for improvement works within the first 100 days of taking office if he wins the battle for city hall in March.

"Many of our unique suburban shopping villages suffer from a chronic lack of parking and poor walking and cycling access," he said.

"The key to attracting people is to give them plenty of reasons to stick around or come back."

Other priorities include more support for small businesses by expanding council's Business hotline.

The promise to scrap footpath dining taxes is a carry-over from previous Labor lord mayor candidate Rod Harding, but Mr Condren described his policies as a "bigger suite."

Under the current legislation for footpath dining, businesses pay $116.60 to apply for or renew a footpath dining permit.

Approved outdoor dining in Brisbane City must pay an annual $467.95 per square metre 'occupation fee,' while restaurants along prominent precincts like Racecourse Rd, Hamilton and Oxford St, Bulimba pay $223.80 per sqm annually.

Small businesses are granted a 50 per cent reduction on these fees for new applications and 10 per cent reduction for footpath dining renewals.

The LNP administration committed $500,000 in this year's budget to a suburban renewal taskforce aimed at rejuvenating rundown precincts.

The promise to scrap footpath dining taxes is a carry-over from previous Labor lord mayor candidate Rod Harding, but Mr Condren described his policies as a "bigger suite."

Under the current legislation for footpath dining, businesses pay $116.60 to apply for or renew a footpath dining permit.

Approved outdoor dining in Brisbane City must pay an annual $467.95 per square metre 'occupation fee,' while restaurants along prominent precincts like Racecourse Rd, Hamilton and Oxford St, Bulimba pay $223.80 per sqm annually.

Small businesses are granted a 50 per cent reduction on these fees for new applications and 10 per cent reduction for footpath dining renewals.

The LNP administration committed $500,000 in this year's budget to a suburban renewal taskforce aimed at rejuvenating rundown precincts.

[verbatim9]

With less than five weeks until Brisbane residents head to the polls, the campaign for Lord Mayor is officially underway. Today, @Schrinner's focus was on the budget while @PatrickCondren plans to invest in the outer suburbs. https://t.co/VZ3A1cpmr5 @EmArnold_7 #7NEWS https://t.co/yKBgIOWPZ0

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1231497490735591424

[verbatim9]

^^"Don't get conned by Patrick Condren"

Love it!

[#Metro]

Outer suburbs hey? Does that mean the GCL is going to be upgraded to BUZ standard and reworked?