Article: Indooroopilly's future: Tall buildings, outdoor dining and ...

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Indooroopilly's future: Tall buildings, outdoor dining and possibly a new bridge
Tony Moore
December 7, 2011 - 8:12AM

Buildings up to 20 storeys will be allowed near Indooroopilly shopping centre and Indooroopilly train station under a draft neighbourhood plan passed by Brisbane City Council last night.

The western side of Witton Barracks, the Defence-owned site near the Indooroopilly train station and the Walter Taylor Bridge, is also set aside for "future transport infrastructure" under the plan.

Tennyson Ward councillor Nicole Johnston questioned whether that meant a possible future bridge to Chelmer because Brisbane City Council owns land directly across the river.

"I note that the revised plan still includes a mention of the western side of the army barracks being retained for a possible road link from the southside for a possible new bridge," she said.

"I think that is something that Council needs to make clear to residents as to its priority.

"At this stage the only advice that I have been able to get from this council in the entire term is that it will be considered sometime in the future."

Brisbane City Council owns the land directly across the river on the southside, which has been continually suggested as a landing for a possible bridge to help ease traffic congestion on local roads.

"I suspect there will be residents in Indooroopilly who will be concerned about that as well," Cr Johnston said.

Indooroopilly-based councillor Julian Simmonds said Witton Barracks would be preserved as "future green space" when the Defence Department moved out.

And he would only support park activities on the Witton Barracks site.

"There is opportunity for growth on the opposite side of Indooroopilly, directly across the other side of the Indooroopilly railway station," he said.

"That is what Cr Johnston is referring to, but I will not support anything but green space on that site and that is what this plan reflects."

The plan divides the Indooroopilly region into three main precincts: the Indooroopilly multi-purpose centre between the rail line and Moggill Road; the business region along Station Road; and the riverside Witton Barracks, which is on the St Lucia side of the train station.

Station Road, which runs up to Indooroopilly Shopping Centre from the train station, is set to be "streetscaped" and "traffic calmed" into an outdoor dining area.

Cr Simmonds said there was big hopes for the Station Road precinct.

"This area could be so much more and I am very excited at the provisions the plan contains to make this an outdoor dining and mixed use area," he said.

Indooroopilly is planned as one of Brisbane's principal "regional activity centres", meaning it is designated for medium population growth because it is close to a train line.

The draft plan will now go to the state government for final approval.

Council received 123 submissions on the Indooroopilly neighbourhood plan, of which 115 were able to be taken into account as part of the planning process.

The new $50 million traffic intersection at the "roundabout" where Moggill Road meets Coonan Street is also covered in the neighbourhood plan.

Cr Johnston reiterated her concerns about the new intersection.

"Any changes to that roadway are certainly going to impact heavily on residents on the southern side of the Walter Taylor Bridge," she said.

Cr Simmonds rejected her concerns, saying the new traffic lights would improve the situation.


Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/indooroopillys-future-tall-buildings-outdoor-dining-and-possibly-a-new-bridge-20111207-1ohso.html