NEWS
Angry residents and business owners in Brisbane’s inner north have called on Lord Mayor Campbell Newman to halt his new CityCycle bike hire plan due to start late this year.
About 60 people from the Valley, New Farm, Teneriffe and adjoining suburbs gathered outside Petersen’s Butchers on the corner of James and Kent streets in New Farm last Sunday morning, with many claiming a total lack of consultation from City Council as to how the bike stations and associated illuminated advertising signs would affect their homes and businesses.
Some residents claimed they had not been consulted about bike stations planned for outside their homes, while others expressed concern that some station sites would put riders at risk of injury. They signed petitions calling on the bike plan to be put on hold until all concerns could be addressed.
Local councillor David Hinchliffe (Central Ward) told the meeting: “There has been far more ‘con’ than “consultation over this plan. “Businesses were not consulted. People who will have illuminated signs in front of their premises were not consulted. “It’s been mishandled right from the beginning. Council will meet only with individuals and not with groups. I wonder why?”
Several residents at the meeting denied they had been consulted at all, even though they had tried for months to find out more about the plan.
Narelle and Roger Shera, residents of Merthyr Road, New Farm, face a bike station taking up three car spaces outside their home. “It’s offensive to be told we have been visited and consulted when we haven’t,” Narelle said.
Roger said of the illuminated signs: “What happened to councils getting rid of all this advertising? Visual pollution is coming in a big way.”
More than 100 on-road parking spaces will be lost in New Farm and surrounding suburbs to make way for the CityCycle scheme.
The scheme is primarily designed for Brisbane residents to make short trips, and according to a recent council pamphlet extolling the project, work on bike stations and “installation signage” has already begun.
The residents had invited Lord Mayor Campbell Newman and Cr Jane Prentice to attend the Sunday meeting but staff for both said they had prior commitments.
Protest organisers Stacey Holland and Liliana Santone say residents are concerned about the following:
. carparking spaces outside homes and businesses will be lost – and they say many residents and businesses weren't even advised about this.
. large illuminated commercial advertising signs will be erected in front of homes and businesses - once again without consultation.
. late-night re-stocking of bike stations will be loud and disruptive.
. safety concerns for cyclists entering and exiting on-road bike stations.
