Colleges Crossing Bridge Upgrade, Important Thoroughfare Between Brisbane and Ipswich
- van: Lisa New
- ontvanger: QLD Premier
College's Crossing (also known as Colleges Crossing) is a low level bridge that crosses Brisbane River at Chuwar, a suburb of Ipswich in South East Queensland, Australia.
The location is the point where the tidal influences no longer affect the waters of the river.The road across the bridge is Mount Crosby Road. During major floods or frequent pre-emptive water releases from the Wivenhoe Dam the road becomes impassable due to Colleges Crossing bridge flooding. Located here is a park, known as Colleges Crossing Recreational Reserve, which is a popular picnic and tourist spot for the residents of Brisbane and Ipswich from the early 1920s. It was completely destroyed during the 2010-11 floods, which saw a rise in the water level of over 17 metres with strong currents. After a $14 million upgrade, it was again partially destroyed twice in a two month period from January to February 2013.
A comprehensive history of Brisbane river floods demonstrates that Colleges Crossing Bridge has been unpassable on an almost yearly basis for substantial periods of time (one week and more) since records began in the 1800's. See the record at http://reg.bom.gov.au/qld/flood/fld_history/brisbane_history.shtml
Colleges Crossing bridge is used by hundreds of commuters daily to get to work in Ipswich and Brisbane, to access basic services, and to get children to and from school: Evidence of these commuters' frustration with the frequently flooded bridge and their concerns about the dangers of using the alternative one way Mount Crosby Weir over the fast-flowing flooded river and Allawah pot-holed dirt road can be seen at Facebook pages ''Karana Downs Residents'' and "Build a higher bridge for Colleges Crossing''.
This situation is untenable, and has artificially been prolonged by disputes between City Councils about geographical boundary related accountability and responsibility. It is a tragedy waiting to happen.
Please sign the petition for a flood-resistant bridge upgrade at Colleges Crossing in the interest of commuters' human rights for access to safe and accessible roads.
Dear Premier of QLD, Mr Campbell Newman
RE: Urgent upgrade of the Colleges Crossing Bridge between Brisbane and Ipswich
Despite almost yearly inundations of the Colleges Crossing Bridge between Brisbane and Ipswich at Chuwar, QLD, of periods more than a week at a time, this bridge is still a low-water bridge that aims to serve commuters as a main thoroughfare between Brisbane and Ipswich. The situation is untenable, due to dangerous and lengthy alternative routes. We need our human right to safe access to basic and emergency services, including work and schooling, to be addressed, as an urgent priority of tax-expenditure. We point out the non-democratic expenditure of $14 million on Colleges Crossing Recreational Reserve park facilities in contrast to tax-payer prioritisation of the Colleges Crossing Bridge upgrade in 2012, and its recent re-expenditure despite public outcry for a bridge upgrade in January and February 2013. A comprehensive flood history, as referenced in the petition, demonstrates the futility of expenditure on park facilities vs. bridge access. We are asking for our human rights to safe roads to access basic and emergency services, to work and to school our children. Please prioritise our Collected Voice as per this Petition to Build a higher bridge for Colleges Crossing, that is flood-proof and reliable.
Yours sincerely,
The Build a higher bridge for Colleges Crossing Action Group Petitioners
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