In the video below posted by councillor Jonathan Sri, critics raised the subject of prioritising bikeways over public health. Jonathan Sri’s remarks address his responsibilities as a BCC councillor and should not be taken as “prioritising traffic flow over public health” as one commentator claims.
On the topic of public health and safety, the Coronial inquiry into death of Rebekkah Meyer on Annerley Road, Wooloongabba, only a few metres from a proposed development of a private hospital, had this to say about public safety of bike lanes:
“It is trite to remark that paint on the surface of a shared road does not provide any physical safety to cyclists. Only physical separation of cyclists in dedicated exclusive bikeways achieves improved safety.”
Christine Clements – State Coroner
Cycling is a public health issue.
A local news site ‘Your Neighbourhood‘ reports:
The Development proposal seeks a Residential Care and Retirement Facility and Centre Activities (Health Care Service, Shop, Office, Food and Drink Outlet) integrated within two (2) buildings that form one combined tower, with an overall maximum building height of 12 storeys.
Aged Care and Wellness Centre, located Annerley Road, Woolloongabba @ Your Neighbourhood
This private development seems to be taking advantage of the proximity of the Aged Care Centre to the Mater Public Hospital across the road.
No risk in a health portfolio with an ageing population during a global pandemic.
Is the Pikos Group yet another developer taking advantage of money to be made in aged care? The project is being backed by Sydney-based property fund manager Heathley, which has a 40% interest under its Medical Development Fund No. 1 that launched in April last year promising investors: “superior risk adjusted returns”.
Increasing safety?
An email dated Wednesday, 8 June 2016 from Jordan Holman, Senior Planner, for the applicant to council
“Crossovers – The existing property incorporates 3 vehicular crossovers of which 2 are to Annerley Road (Arterial Road). The proposal removes 2 crossovers from the Annerley Road frontage and provides a large crossover to the Heaslop Street frontage (see attached plan) which is a Neighbourhood Street.
Email dated Wednesday, 8 June 2016 from Jordan Holman for the applicant
The crossover has been purposely designed to allow service vehicles and staff/patients to enter and exit separately to increase safety.” –
Note: the development was DA approved in 2016.
In response to a query on facebook stating “The carpark entrance is on Heaslop St, so not sure why they’d need to change the bike lane or bus stop on Annerley Rd.” Councillor Jonathan Sri says: “That’s not what the development approval shows unfortunately.”
So what is going on in Annerley Road? Will the developers claim that the proposed vehicular access and driveways are “to increase safety”. Or will we discover that cyclists and pedestrians will fall victim to yet another ‘trite remark’ on a DA application. On what basis does a for-profit developer build a private hospital in such proximity to hospitals built at such public expense?
Ian Curr
20 Jan 2021
My reading of the Council’s development approval differs to that which councillor Jonathan Sri gave in his video on site at 52-64 Annerley this week.
“Remove the redundant existing vehicle crossings on the frontages of the site and reinstate the kerb and channel, road pavement, footways and footpaths in accordance with the relevant Brisbane Planning Scheme Codes”. – See https://pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au/MasterViewUI/Modules/documentmaster/viewdocumentftp.aspx?key=p4j9mRT%2fiFY%2fJp6axApe%2fj24c6F7pvEogkQe%2f6jKOEqY5CAmJdCdFw%3d%3d
If the developer follows this direction by council there should be no need to remove the dedicated bikeway on Annerley Road nor to interfere with the floating bus stop out front.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3629804013770215
Subject: New Hospital Development at 52-64 Annerley Road Wooloongabba
To: Deputy Premier Steven Miles, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning
Re: Hospital development at 52-64 Annerley Road Wooloongabba
Dear Mr Miles,
I am writing concerning the proposed development by Piokos at 52-64 Annerley Road Wooloongabba. I understand the development was approved by Brisbane City Council (BCC) some time ago.
An email to Senior BCC Senior Urban Planner, Maryanne Thornley, dated Wednesday, 8 June 2016 from Jordan Holman, Senior Planner, for the applicant stated:
“Crossovers – The existing property incorporates 3 vehicular crossovers of which 2 are to Annerley Road (Arterial Road). The proposal removes 2 crossovers from the Annerley Road frontage and provides a large crossover to the Heaslop Street frontage (see attached plan) which is a Neighbourhood Street. The crossover has been purposely designed to allow service vehicles and staff/patients to enter and exit separately to increase safety.”
Cycling is a public health issue
Will there be vehicular access to the proposed development from Annerley road?
Will the existing driveways be altered in any way? If so, how?
What impact, if any, will the development and increased traffic have on the dedicated bikeway?
I remind you of the judgement by state coroner, Christine Clements, investigating the death of Rebekkah Meyer killed nearby by a truck in 2014 on Annerley Road prior to introduction of dedicated bike lanes:
“It is trite to remark that paint on the surface of a shared road does not provide any physical safety to cyclists. Only physical separation of cyclists in dedicated exclusive bikeways achieves improved safety.”
– Christine Clements – State Coroner.
Why another hospital in the Gabba?
What steps have you taken as the relevant Minister to ensure that the statement on behalf of the developer [“allow service vehicles and staff/patients to enter and exit separately to increase safety”] is not just a trite remark?
On what basis does your government support a for-profit hospital as an appropriate development when it is in such proximity to hospitals built at public expense?
If you have any queries concerning this correspondence please contact me via email or at the number below.
Please acknowledge receipt of this email indicating a timeframe in which I may receive an answer to my questions.
Yours sincerely,
Ian Curr
Thursday, 21 Jan 2021
Automated reply from Steven Miles office on Friday 22 Jan 2021
The Deputy Premier’s email inbox Deputy.Premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au is monitored during business hours Monday to Friday. Please note that if you are sending an email outside of these hours it will be reviewed promptly on the next business day.
We should keep things in perspective … what a great story of courage and determination …
https://www.facebook.com/iancurr1950/posts/1799662816865782