Adventure playground, bridge in $120 million package for Victoria Park
By Tony Moore
A bike and walking bridge, landscaped adventure playground and a two-kilometre walking trail will be the first big projects to transform Brisbane’s Victoria Park.
The new features are part of a $120 million upgrade of the 64-hectare park, where over 15 years the former golf course is set to become Brisbane’s equivalent of New York’s Central Park.
Under the funding package announced on Thursday, Brisbane City Council and the Queensland and Australian governments will each contribute $40 million.
New bike and pedestrian path to be built into Victoria Park as part of the $120 million funding package announced in August 2024.
The council has already funded a landscape project – the Spring Hill Common – and an urban pump track for cyclists is set to open this year.
The $120 million includes a parkway loop boulevard from the Brisbane Metro station running over the Inner City Bypass.
The loop will be the first of a planned 18 kilometres of trails and bikeways to be added to the parkland, also known as Barrambin to reflect its First Nations history.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner welcomed the shared funding from Queensland and Australian governments to build Brisbane’s biggest new park.
Construction of a new two-kilometre Parkway Loop will begin in Victoria Park after $120 million allocation from local, state and Australian governments.
“This is the plan that the community supports, this is the plan that the community had input into and this is the plan that we are now getting on and delivering,” Schrinner said.
“We will be able to get on and build an amazing new playground, kilometres of new walking tracks, intersection upgrades and car parking upgrades.”
Schrinner said construction work would be planned around preparations for the 2032 Games equestrian events or planned modifications to the Victoria Park function centre, but was cautious about start dates.
What the $120 million funding package means for Victoria Park
- An all-ages, all-abilities “Adventurescape” playground.
- A two-kilometre “Parkway Loop” boulevard linking the Inner City Bypass and the Brisbane Metro and busway station.
- A new active transport bridge at the entrance of the park.
- Road and intersection upgrades.
- New administration and operations buildings.
- New signs and public art.
- Additional car parks.
He described work as “similar to South Bank Parklands”, which has had regular modifications since opening.
“It will take a number of years to roll out, but now that we have the funding we can get on with the building.”
He promised the playground, the parkway loop and the upgraded bridge link would be finished by the 2032 Games.
“There is a very long list of projects that will be done by the Games. But this is just the tip of the iceberg of what will happen here.”
Victoria Park is planned to host some equestrian and BMX freestyle events during Brisbane’s 2032 Games and has been the subject of wide discussion as a potential site for a new Games venue.
However, the Miles Labor government ruled against that proposal in March, preferring to redevelop QSAC at Mount Gravatt.
Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has also ruled out using Victoria Park as a site for a new Games venue, but said that if elected, the LNP would examine the issue over the first 100 days.
Schrinner said Victoria Park’s master plan would accommodate the equestrian and BMX events, but he would not comment on the LNP’s second 100-day look.
“What we have got instead is something that complements the Olympics and Paralympics and provides a lasting legacy asset to the people of Brisbane.”