The University of Queensland is assessing community submissions regarding its draft master plan, which was released for public feedback in early April.
We appreciate the feedback which is the purpose of the consultation.
The feedback will be used to refine the draft master plan before it is submitted to the University Senate.
The process has allowed the public to voice their concerns, and has also revealed some misunderstandings about parking, retail outlets and transport.
Interpretations that UQ is planning a drastic increase in car parking on campus are incorrect.
There will be very limited overall expansion to car parking and associated traffic impacts.
The University has completed traffic management studies associated with the master plan.
Under the current master plan, the cap for parks at St Lucia Campus is 6000.
Ten years ago the university had 6000 car parks, but over time this has reduced to about 5000. While we will build some new carparks there are no current plans to even reach the 6000 car parks cap. Additional parking helps reduce parking in streets around the campus.
There are also no plans for the University to build a bridge to West End.
This is a potential government project identified under the Brisbane City Council‘s Rivers Edge Strategy.
If the initiative were to go ahead, UQ would provide land on the St Lucia side of the river to support this community amenity.
Any such bridge development would be likely to involve a separate proposal and community consultation process undertaken by whichever government body was funding it.
There is also no intention to build a supermarket on Hawken Drive.
UQ has proposed some retail and services for the area, but these would be similar to other services that already exist on the St Lucia campus, such as student food and drink outlets, stationary stores and other student support services.
The University’s Community Infrastructure Designation (CID) would not allow a large supermarket. Under the CID, only development allied with education and research is allowed.
Residents have also raised concerns that the Chancellors Place bus stop will be moved, affecting traffic in the area.
There are no immediate plans to shift the bus stop.
If it were to occur any plans would be made in full consultation with relevant authorities to ensure that roads and transport links were sufficient to manage any changes to traffic flow.
Community feedback closed on 15 May, but members of the public will have many more opportunities to have their say.
The plan will be updated using feedback from the initial community consultation process before being submitted to the UQ Senate for approval. It will then be used to inform a new CID proposal to the Education Minister. As part of this proposal, the University will submit an environmental assessment study, a transport and traffic study and a services infrastructure study to the minister.
The community would then have further opportunity to comment via a ministerial submission and community consultation process.
Media: Senior Communications Officer Katie Rowney; 3365 3439; Katie.Rowney@uq.edu.au
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