Brisbane City Council is facing stiff local opposition to its plans for the US$1.13bn airport road link being planned as part of the city’s Trans-Apex tunnel project.
Residents in the affected areas have vowed to fight the project after the city council launched a six-week public consultation for the airport link on 15 August. One group – Communities Against The Tunnels, has already been formed by residents on Brisbane’s northside even through the preferred route of the tunnel has yet to be decided.
Brisbane councillor Tim Nicholls said: “The actual route the tunnel will take is not yet decided. At this stage, anywhere in that entire corridor is open for the tunnel.” The council has two route options and the alignment is expected to be chosen by November.
The 8km long central option includes two sections of tunnel close to Kedron State High School, one of which will be built using cut-and-cover techniques. The 7.4km western option will built from Bowen Hills to Brisbane airport and includes a section under Lutwyche and Gympie roads.
Moves against the tunnel plans coincided with the signing of an agreement between the city government and Queensland state government, under which Queensland will provide 75% towards the cost of a 12-month feasibility study. The study, which will update the pre-feasibility study completed in March, will involve traffic, transport and engineering studies for the airport link together with an environmental impact assessment, community consultation and the preparation of a business case for the link. The airport link is due to be completed in 2012.
