A court order has halted plans for a protest on Brisbane‘s Story Bridge tomorrow, which police said could cause traffic chaos and compromise public safety.
Protestors were planning to block the arterial’s six lanes at 8am in what police feared would cause mass disruption to the city.
“That is the common sense outcome that we’re all hoping for,” Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.
While it is a legal victory for commuters and the council, the protestors’ issue remains unresolved.
“It is really disappointing. It’s obviously not the outcome that we’re not hoping for,” protestor Kathryn Good said.
The Story Bridge footpaths have been closed since March after an engineering report found they have concrete cancer and are near the end of their useful life.
“We’re not comfortable for people to use it based on that advice,” Schrinner said.
The closure has forced pedestrians and cyclists to detour to the new Kangaroo Point footbridge.
Protestors have lobbied for a traffic lane of the bridge to be re-purposed for active transport, but council has rejected the idea.
Council is seeking funding for a full restoration of the bridge, a project expected to take up to 15 years.
A temporary fix is expected for the footpaths but there is still no timeline.
“Our first priority is to get those footpaths open as quickly as possible,” Schrinner said.
While organisers said they would respect the court’s order, a strong police presence is expected around the bridge.
“We won’t be giving up the fight, but it’s time for us to regroup,” Good said.
The penalties for breaching a court order in Queensland can include fines and jail time.
