On a rainy Sunday in December 2006, most of Brisbane rushed to finish their Christmas shopping. But at the same time, on a quiet stretch of river a few kilometres from the CBD, the layout of the city changed dramatically.
In the autumn issue of Queensland Property & Lifestyle, the impact of the Eleanor Schonell Bridge – affectionately known as the 'Green' Bridge – on the inner south’s property market is explored.
The bridge opened to the public three months ahead of schedule on December 17 2006; an elegantly-curved, cable-stayed span that connects the south-side suburb of Dutton Park with the University of Queensland (UQ) campus at St Lucia. The first buses started rolling over it the following day. Even now, locals are still adjusting to the fact that UQ is really only a few blocks from The Gabba.
The 'Green' Bridge is ‘green’ in that it’s the first public transport bridge to be built in Australia for the best part of a century – and thus, it’s hoped that it will cut pollution and congestion by taking cars out of the city and by increasing public transport options for south-siders.
Increasing public transport options for south-siders.With the arrival of the car in the early 1900s, the focus of bridge engineering turned to the motorist, and both the Captain Cook Bridge and the Gateway make no concessions for pedestrians or pedallers. The 'Green' Bridge, however, as well as being the terminus point of three new bus services (one which started in December 2006, and two of which began in the middle of February this year), welcomes bicycle and foot traffic, too.
And it’s expected that traffic across the bridge will be constant, especially during university term-time as more than 30,000 students travel to and from UQ’s St Lucia campus. The bridge will allow students coming from the south-side to avoid the city and ease the pressure on Coronation Drive.
As with all changes in infrastructure, property values will indubitably change; the beginning of the rise in demand for properties close to the bridge, even at this early stage, has already been noticed.
Queensland Property & Lifestyle acting editor Lauren Cameron said proximity to the 'Green' Bridge is appearing as a selling point for properties in the inner south – particularly in Dutton Park, Fairfield, Yeronga and Annerley.
To find out more about the 'Green' Bridge, pick up a copy of Queensland Property & Lifestyle, which also includes features on the secret of Southern Queensland, the rise of green roofs , and the borrowing process.
And of course, Queensland Property & Lifestyle has the latest REIQ Queensland property statistics suburb by suburb. Pick up your copy at newsagents state-wide or online at www.propertylifestyle.com.au.
