A LIGHT shower of rain and grey skies greeted guests – including deputy premier Jackie Trad – at Flagstone this week for the opening of the new $5 million bridge connecting the future Flagstone CBD to the community of Flagstone Rise.
A solar-powered car created by Australia's premier solar racing team Clenergy Team Arrow was the first vehicle to cross the bridge after the official opening by the deputy premier.
According to Ms Trad, the development of the Flagstone CBD in partnership with the project developer Peet Limited is a significant investment in the Queensland economy.
“This will see many construction jobs during the 20- to 30-year construction timetable,” she said.
“We’re essentially building a new city out here at Flagstone – 120,000 Queenslanders will call this area home.”
Solar future
The deputy premier, who is also the minister for transport, infrastructure and planning, opened the bridge by waving off the solar-powered car.
“This really does speak to the future,” she said.
“In the next 20 to 30 years we know that a lot is going to change. We know that we’ll have far cleaner transportation across our city, and this great electric vehicle I think has paved the way for the future of Flagstone and the future of Brisbane.”
State member for Logan Linus Power said he was very proud to see new families coming to the region of southern Logan.
“As their local member, I’m committed to being on their side and fighting for the services they need.
“This is about having the Queensland dream for thousands of families.”
Public transport demand
Mr Power and Ms Trad were asked about the provision of public transport for the new development, considering the ongoing issues of bus services for Flagstone residents.
“I’ve been a great advocate for this area for public transport,” Mr Power said, before citing the Demand Responsive transport project currently being trialled across the suburb of Munruben.
“We can actually service those people by getting transport on demand… that’s a new initiative we’ve put in place.”
On the demand for an interim bus service from Flagstone, which is situated 10 kilometres from Jimboomba and the transport corridor of the Mount Lindesay Highway, Mr Power said he had been advocating for those services to come.
“We know there is a developer contribution that is mandated as part of the package of development, and that triggers with a certain number of houses developed, and I’ll continue to push for that.
“My understanding is there’s conversations between the department and the developers about this,” he said.
Ms Trad said the Demand Responsive transport trials were being conducted in consultation with the community.
“We hope to be able to roll that out to communities like Flagstone, which are under development, before such a time as we actually get the population density to roll out mass transport.
“Please rest assured that Linus has been a very strong advocate on this, and we are doing the transport investigations and planning that are necessary before we can bring additional services online.”
The Flagstone Bridge crosses the Sydney to Brisbane railway line, which Logan City councillor Phil Pidgeon wants a trial passenger service on for southern Logan residents.
