Schrinner tests Story Bridge funding stand-up routine at LNP convention
By Matt Dennien
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has used his address to the annual LNP convention to issue a number of tongue-in-cheek calls for the state government to help fund Story Bridge repair works.
The Brisbane City Council budget included $18 million for the bridge over the next 12 months, which requires a multimillion-dollar restoration, including $6.9 million to install a replacement footpath deck and repairs to other parts of the bridge.
A business case for a full restoration of the bridge was expected to be delivered in 2026, and Schrinner has previously said work would progressively be done over 15 to 20 years, while calling for an 80-20 funding split with the federal government.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner in May presenting findings from a report independently commissioned by council into a restoration of the Story Bridge.Credit: Brittney Deguara
“It’s important to remember that the Story Bridge was built by the state government,” Schrinner told the party faithful – and Premier David Crisafulli seated with party leaders at the front of the convention centre room.
Schrinner paused as laughter echoed around the room, before he invoked a proverb related to the Trojan horse. “They handed it to us as a gift. You know what they say about people bearing gifts.”
Heavier vehicles of 2.5 tonnes and above have been banned from the outside two lanes of the bridge since 2022. The bridge’s footpaths were closed earlier this year, forcing about 4000 daily walkers, bike and scooter riders on lengthy detours.
Schrinner has again rejected calls for a traffic lane on the Story Bridge to be repurposed as a walking and cycling lane.
The council said about six metres would be needed to carry the normal volume of pedestrians, cyclists and scooter users, but after adding barriers, only 2.5 metres would be left for an active travel lane.
A court in May shut down protesters’ plans to close all six traffic lanes on the Story Bridge for a peak-hour protest to draw attention to their calls for one car lane to be allocated for active transport.
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