FAQ

The Australian Government has provided Brisbane City Council with funding to develop a business case to help reduce congestion in Brisbane’s north-west. The business case will consider potential transport infrastructure ideas across the north west transport network.

The Australian Government has committed up to $10 million to the development of the business case. Funding through the Major Project Business Case Fund is supporting Council to investigate the transport needs of this growing region, to inform future government investment in road, public and active transport.

The business case is being prepared in line with the Infrastructure Australia Assessment Framework for initiatives and projects to be included in the national Infrastructure Priority List. The Infrastructure Priority List is a prioritised list of nationally significant investments.

The north west transport network business case considers many of Brisbane’s north-west suburbs, extending from Toowong to Bald Hills. The business case is also considering surrounding areas including the Moreton Bay region. A map of the area is available to download on Council’s website.

During the north west transport network business case development, three overarching problems were identified. These reflect the feedback provided by the community as well as analysis undertaken by Council:

• increasing travel demand within, to, from and through Brisbane’s north-west
• a high reliance on private vehicles
• cost, coverage and accessibility of transport options.

South East Queensland’s population is expected to almost double over the next 20 years to more than 5.3 million people. Brisbane is expected to continue to be the region’s largest employment centre as well as providing professional, health and education services. This will only lead to an even greater pressure on the existing inter-regional transport networks to move people, goods and services around South East Queensland. 

Brisbane’s north-west is already experiencing transport, land use and amenity impacts from wider regional growth. Council intends to manage these impacts by ensuring transport networks are robust and support the liveability, amenity and urban and natural environments for Brisbane residents.

Council is considering a range of potential transport infrastructure ideas as part of the north west transport network business case including roads, rail lines, busways and active transport corridors. It is important that Council considers all possible transport solutions before excluding or including any ideas as part of the final business case.

The ideas currently being presented for feedback as part of the business case development will help us understand the types of transport infrastructure the community would like to see. From community feedback and further investigations, Council will refine the transport ideas as part of the business case development.

A large volume of community and stakeholder feedback was received during community consultation and this feedback has been important in informing business case option development, assessment and refinement by:

• informing which ideas were considered further
• informing the criteria used to select and refine ideas for continued investigation in options assessment
• influencing greater use of tunnelling for options utilising the NWTC to minimise environmentally sensitive and natural areas of community value such as the Chermside Hills Reserve
• acknowledging higher support for options that increase public transport and active transport choices.

The transport ideas included in the final business case may not be the same as the ideas presented in the community consultation. In the business case development, Council will develop a recommended shortlist of projects and initiatives, which will have been informed by community feedback, environmental assessment, technical feasibility and cost/benefit analysis.

To be kept up to date with the north west transport network business case, register for email updates.

The nine-kilometre North West Transport Corridor extends from Carseldine to Everton Park. Is has been preserved by the Queensland Government for strategic transport purposes since the 1980s. Development of the business case will include consideration of how the Queensland Government’s North West Transport Corridor may contribute to the future transport network.

 Potential property and environmental impacts from utilising the corridor will be considered and carefully managed in future stages of the business case development. 

All transport ideas, including those within the Queensland Government’s North West Transport Corridor, are not currently funded or committed. 

The north west transport network business case is in development, with transport ideas still being investigated. There is currently no commitment to fund or deliver an infrastructure project as a result of this business case and therefore potential property impacts are not known. Potential property impacts will be considered and managed as part of future stages of the business case development, and when the Australian Government considers future funding.

The north west transport network business case is in development, with transport ideas still being investigated. There is currently no commitment to fund or deliver an infrastructure project as a result of this business case and therefore potential environmental impacts are not known. Potential environmental impacts will be considered and managed as part of future stages of the business case development, and when the Australian Government considers future funding.

Brisbane Metro and Cross River Rail are being delivered separately to the north west transport network business case. Brisbane Metro is being delivered by Brisbane City Council and Cross River Rail is being delivered by the Queensland Government. Council is investigating a range of potential transport infrastructure ideas to address transport needs in the Brisbane’s north-west, which may have the potential to connect with Brisbane Metro and/or Cross River Rail networks in the future, should any infrastructure be funded and delivered.

All levels of government and some non-government organisations contribute to the planning, funding, delivery and maintenance of Brisbane's transport networks.

 The Australian Government is generally responsible for legislation, standards, taxes, overarching policy, the national road network and national key freight routes. In Brisbane, this includes funding of the National Highway network, Black Spot and Roads to Recovery programs and management of freight movements through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

 The Queensland Government owns the land beneath all public roads and is generally responsible for road transport across the state, including registration, licensing, road rules, road safety and enforcement. The Queensland Government administers the legislation and regulation of all modes of transport in Queensland, including private and personalised transport. These roles are administered by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). TMR is also responsible for the management of the state road network and major cycling infrastructure. TransLink, a division of TMR, manages the provision of public transport services in SEQ, including Brisbane. 

Queensland Rail provides passenger rail services in Brisbane. 

Brisbane City Council is responsible for the operation and maintenance of more than 5800km of roads in Brisbane. Council also plays a significant role in the provision of bus and ferry services. Council provides pedestrian and cycling infrastructure as well as behaviour change programs to encourage sustainable transport choices and administers local laws relating to transport in Brisbane.

The Brisbane Airport, Archerfield Airport, Airtrain and the Port of Brisbane are major city transport facilities provided by private organisations. Private organisations are also responsible for roads and other transport infrastructure within their jurisdictions. Overlapping interrelationships between transport networks highlights the need for all levels of government and other organisations to work collaboratively to ensure the best outcomes for Brisbane and to provide one network to the community.