“And then a further 10 per cent is set aside for a mixture of buildings and hard stand courts, like netball courts.” The draft vision plan shows a “20 to 30 per cent” increase in car parking spaces towards the front of the existing golf course, then additional car parks on Gregory Terrace. Concept image of the Victoria Park development in Brisbane. Credit:Brisbane City Council “But this is an inner-city area that is well serviced by the Inner Northern Busway and close to multiple train stations,” Cr Sri said. “The Ekka station is going to become a dedicated station as part of Cross River Rail, Roma Street Station and it's close to the major bikeway corridor as well.”

The 45-hectare park spreads over the Inner City Bypass towards Brisbane Girls Grammar School. “By that extent, the proposal to set aside 10 per cent of the park for car parking is just ludicrous,” Cr Sri said. Brisbane Greens councillor Jonathan Sri calls for a review of the amount of space set aside for cars at the proposed new inner-city park. Credit:AAP “This is not the place where we need to be converting green space into parking.” Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner on Wednesday afternoon agreed there was good access to public transport at the proposed park.

"There will be two Metro stations servicing Victoria Park and a full-time new train station from Cross River Rail at the Exhibition rail station. "So there will be three massive options for Victoria Park. But it is about balancing the different forms of public transport. "I understand Cr Sri has a view, but we are opening it up to the whole city to have their view." Cr Sri asked Brisbane City Council to extend the public consultation period to let planners examine the plan to revamp the golf course into a 45-hectare central park. That was set to close on April 28.

“With all the other things that have been postponed and rescheduled, they are still pushing ahead with this pretty-tight consultation deadline.” Lord mayor Adrian Schrinner agreed late on Tuesday night to extend the time for comments. “We couldn’t predict the coronavirus crisis when we originally opened this project for consultation, and the rules around social distancing and public gatherings have temporarily stopped some of the planned consultation,” Cr Schrinner said. He said the transformation of Victoria Park would deliver Brisbane’s biggest new park in 50 years. “It’s important to get the planning right,” he said.

People were first given the chance to put forward views on what they wanted in the new Victoria Park in August 2019 and the first draft was released in January 2020. Cr Schrinner agreed many residents had not yet had their say in reshaping the parkland because of coronavirus upheaval. “These are unprecedented times and we owe it to residents to ensure they have every opportunity to consider the draft vision and have their say on this city-shaping project,” he said. Cr Sri said many planners he had spoken to had not had time to look at the draft master plan in enough detail to make comments. “So I think it is pretty important that there is just a little bit more time for stakeholders to get their head around what is proposed,” he said.