Lumley Street, Upper Mt Gravatt Village Precinct - project completion

December 2022

The Lumley Street, Upper Mt Gravatt VPP final improvement plan includes the following:

• Improvements to accessibility, safety and amenities by upgrading footpaths and installation of an on-street disabled parking bay with kerb ramps.
• Improvements to visual and physical amenities through additional tree and garden bed planting to limit the urban heat island effect.
• New seating areas and the installation of standard Council street furniture.
• Creative placemaking elements with catenary lighting and nature-themed paintings to select areas of footpath.

View the final improvement plan.

August 2022

Council prepared a concept plan for the Lumley Street, Upper Mt Gravatt precinct taking into consideration the community’s ideas and feedback from the Stage 1 consultation process and further site investigations.

The plan includes the following proposed improvements.

Proposed footpath upgrades

To improve pedestrian accessibility, amenity and safety within the precinct, proposed pavement improvements include installation of new broom finished concrete and kerb throughout the centre.

Proposed accessibility improvements

Council will investigate the inclusion of an on-street disabled parking bay adjacent the centre to be accessed from the road by two kerb ramps. This is in direct response to feedback received during Stage 1 consultation and will improve universal access to the site. The parking allocation will be subject to further investigation, traffic planning approvals and the ability to achieve compliant grades on site.

Proposed new garden bed and street tree planting

The proposed new planting will address the current lack of garden bed planting within the precinct. The proposed feature tree will create a green, shady area at the eastern end of the precinct creating a pleasant space for centre users to sit. The greening opportunities have considered underground services, existing established and recently planted street trees, kerbside parking locations and vehicle sightlines for safety.

The proposed landscaping aims to highlight and focus on the importance of the natural environment and the numerous green spaces located around the precinct such as the Toohey Forest Park and Mount Gravatt surrounds. By planting suitable species throughout the precinct, native bees, butterflies and wildlife can flourish.

Proposed new street furniture

There is an opportunity to add some additional standard Council street furniture (bench seats and bike racks) as well as custom designed seating to create spaces for centre users to gather and rest under the shade of the existing street trees.

Creative outcomes

Creative placemaking elements will enhance the character and identity of the centre. The proposed catenary lighting will increase the night-time attractiveness of the precinct and will support extended trading hours of the businesses (the lighting outcome is subject to budget and property owner approvals). A streetbond finish will be applied to select areas of pavement, predominantly around the seating nodes, the design will reflect local values relevant to the Upper Mt Gravatt area.

Left to right: example of catenary lighting at Skylark St, Inala and an example of streetbond finish ‘All Together’ (2020) by artist Nastia Gladushchenko.

The Lumley Street, Upper Mt Gravatt Village Precinct Concept Plan is subject to change with consideration to community feedback, further site investigations and budget.

February 2022

During February 2022, Brisbane City Council invited the community to participate in the first stage of community feedback for the Lumley Street, Upper Mt Gravatt Village Precinct Project.

Online engagement activities, including a feedback survey, were available for a three week period from 31 January to 20 February 2022. There was also the function to request a member of the project team to contact via call back form during this time.

Your feedback

166 survey responses were received with 95% support for the opportunities plan, 3% neutral and 2% somewhat or strongly against.

For more information, view the summary of Stage 1: Community feedback.

Notably, when the community was asked: ‘is there any other feedback you would like to provide about the Opportunities Plan for the Lumley Street, Upper Mt Gravatt precinct?' your responses highlighted key areas for improvement including:

• upgrades to pavement
• improved accessibility in and around the site
• trees, landscaping and native planting
• more seating areas and street furniture (to support active transport options), and
• tenancy/private property issues (note that this is outside of the scope of this project).

Your comments included...

“It would be nice to support the small businesses with additional plants/groundcover and seating (including replacing the existing concrete seat which is not aesthetically pleasing) to make a nice place for people to sit and enjoy”

“Please add some bicycle parking also as this promotes active transport to these precincts.”

“Please do not reduce any parking in this precinct. A marked disability parking bay would be greatly appreciated.”

“Wildflowers/native bee/butterfly plants.”

Thank you for sharing your ideas and suggestions for the Lumley Street, Upper Mt Gravatt precinct.

January/February 2022

Council prepared an Opportunities Plan for the Lumley Street, Upper Mt Gravatt precinct, considering the existing site conditions and site investigation findings.

The plan included the following considerations and proposed improvements:

• sections of footpath upgrade to improve accessibility, safety and amenity
• street greening including street tree planting to improve visual and physical amenity, and to reduce the urban heat island effect
• groundcover plantings to new and existing garden beds
• inclusion of new unique seating and standard Council street furniture
• creative placemaking outcomes, including creative lighting.