Clontarf - Anzac Avenue (Elizabeth Avenue), construct active transport overpass

A fully-enclosed pedestrian overpass over Elizabeth Avenue will be installed to provide a safe crossing facility between Clontarf Beach State High School's main campus and Department of Education fields across the road.

The overpass will provide the highest level of student protection at this location where the school campuses are split by a busy 4-lane, high-speed road. The fields are used by the school for class activities and events, with the potential for increased use of the fields with an overpass facility.

The department's school environment safety recommendation is an overpass for this location, as it will remove potential conflicts between vehicles and students.

This overpass will:

improve connectivity with Clontarf Beach State High School's facilities on either side of Elizabeth Avenue
provide safer movements for pedestrians (including the elderly and less mobile), bike riders and mobility devices
benefit school students and community.

Benefits

Improves safety
Accessibility
Contributes to economy
Better active transport

Key features

Constructing and installing a single span overpass with protective safety screen—the overpass will be compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
Installing staircases connecting to overpass ramps.
Installing lockable access to the eastern campus of Clontarf Beach State High School.
Extending existing pathways to connect to overpass ramps.
Installing pedestrian barrier fencing on Elizabeth Avenue median, between Isobel Street and Oasis Court.
Removing trees, vegetation trimming and landscaping of the area around the structure.
Installing fauna fencing to prevent native wildlife from crossing the road.
Planting of over 250 trees to improve koala habitat for the Hays Inlet area.

Funding

This project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments on an 80:20 basis. Investment ID 2253925

Total investment: ^$22 million

Australian Government: ^$17.6 million

Queensland Government: ^$4.4 million

Current status

Early works

Site establishment is complete on the western side of the Clontarf Beach State High School in preparation for the installation of the pedestrian overpass, 35m south of the King Street intersection.

Vegetation and tree clearing has been completed. Environmental management measures will continue to be in place during construction including support from an arborist and use of fauna spotters.

Moreton Bay Regional Council in collaboration with the department has finalised the koala safety plan with installation of fauna fencing underway.

A proportion of the permanent fauna exclusion fencing has now been completed. Landscaping in the project area will install a range of mature trees, saplings and other vegetation following construction.

Ecological assessment summary

Vegetation has been retained where possible, but tree removal was required to install the overpass. Care has been taken to ensure environmental assessments determined if vegetation in the project area is significant for koalas or other species.

The department is committed to significant fauna safety measures to improve conditions for Hays Inlet koalas by protecting them from vehicle strikes and providing more trees.

In 2021 an ecological assessment was completed and updated in 2022 when koala's status changed from vulnerable to endangered under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The assessment shows the area’s habitat connectivity value for koala movement is already compromised by the existing roadway and the urbanisation of the adjacent landscape.

Koalas have been sighted in the area but the patch of trees on the western side of Elizabeth Avenue is relatively small and disconnected from surrounding vegetation and does not support essential habitat. Koalas in this location are not safe and at risk from the road and are generally subject to rescue.

The assessment found:

the thin strip of koala habitat trees supports foraging but the location beside a major road presents a high threat of vehicle strikes
the project area does not support remnant or high value regrowth vegetation or essential habitat
the overpass is unlikely to lead to a decrease in size of the koala population or cause a significant impact to koalas at a national level
roadways and residential developments have already fragmented the local population
the loss of a small area of habitat as a result of the project will not fragment an existing population
the impacted trees are in a low value rehabilitation area and offsets are not required.

Koala protection measures and tree planting

Consultation with Moreton Bay Regional Council and local koala protection groups has resulted in the improvement of koala safety in the area by restricting access to the road network and planting habitat trees in more suitable locations. The project does not trigger statutory requirements for koala safety measures, however, we are aware of community concerns and are open to supporting these features where possible.

The council has developed a fauna exclusion fencing plan to help stop native animals accessing the road and LED signage to warn drivers at this location. Planting of over 250 trees, based on 5:1 ratio for expected impacts to trees, will be included which will improve koala habitat for the Hays Inlet area through planting at the adjacent Ray Frawley Fields and Sunstate Park, Kippa-Ring.

A proportion of the permanent fauna exclusion fencing has now been completed. The remainder of the permanent fauna fencing will be completed once the overpass has been constructed.

Koala safety plan