Ellendale Estate residents fuming over six-month delay in opening 'never never open bridge'
By Sarah RichardsIt's been dubbed the "never never open bridge".
Large cinder blocks line the entry to the bridge to Ellendale, a growing housing estate in Upper Kedron on Brisbane's northside.
Despite its completion six months ago, residents are still barred from crossing it.
Max Crane, president of the Ferny Grove and Upper Kedron Residents Association, said residents expected the bridge to open when it was completed in December last year.
But no date has yet been set when motorists and pedestrians can use it.
"[The residents] are just frustrated with it," Mr Crane said. "It's been very inconvenient."
Without the bridge it takes residents five additional minutes to enter and exit the estate, Mr Crane said.
The bridge on Rosella Street would provide a second access point for the estate's residents.
Bridge opening 'needlessly delayed'
Ellendale, which is situated 12 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, welcomed its first residents in 2018 with its full "masterplan" set to see the development expand to 91 hectares.
The Queensland government, Brisbane City Council and Cedar Woods Properties — the developer of Ellendale — are at a crossroads for when the bridge can be opened to commuters and pedestrians.
Mark Furner, Queensland's agriculture minister and MP for Ferny Grove, said the council had "needlessly delayed" the opening of the bridge.
"The bridge can open as soon as council gets its act together," he said.
When Cedar Woods Properties (CWP) completed construction of the bridge late last year, it then lodged an application with the council to create the road reserve.
The Queensland Department of Resources said it received an application from the council to "dedicate part of the reserve as road" in April and was working with the council to "expedite finalisation of the application".
A CWP spokesperson said that when it lodged the application, it was advised that the state government needed to give consent as the bridge is on state-owned land, and the council is only the trustee.
The spokesperson said the council completed the application for consent from the state government earlier this year and received approval in June.
A Brisbane City Council spokesperson said the council supplied the developer with the documentation needed to open the bridge two years ago, but only received it from CWP this year.
"The developer must get the relevant approvals and safety checks before this privately built bridge can open to the public," the spokesperson said.
'Somebody in council should have moved it along'
Before the bridge can open, the developer, the council, and the state government must complete several steps.
The developer and council need to attend an on-maintenance inspection, which is booked for early July.
Once that step has been completed, the developer must rectify any works identified during the inspection.
The council is currently assessing engineering certifications and as-constructed plans for the bridge and road, which it received from the developer on June 17.
After the council is satisfied and conditions have been accepted, the state government will process the road opening application.
Then, after the developer submits the survey plan, the state government needs to register the land as a road on title.
The CWP spokesperson said it anticipated it would take six to eight weeks to register and open the bridge.
Until the application process is completed, the bollards, installed in consultation with the council, will remain at the bridge's entrances.
Mr Crane said he blames the council for the delay.
"Somebody in council should have moved it along a bit quicker," he said.
He said while it has been "infuriating" for residents, he is confident the bridge will be open soon.