Colleges bridge misses out

ON THE RIVER: Scout leader Hew Elcock with assistant scout leaders Christine Wells and Greg Coultis and their Rochedale scout group at Colleges Crossing on Saturday.

Sarah Harvey

ANY improvement to the low-lying Colleges Crossing bridge is not included in a planned $11 million project to restore the popular recreation reserve.

The restoration plan allows for rebuilding recreation areas, a kiosk, amenities, revegetation, a nature-based play area and water feature, and an environmental lookout.

Ipswich City Council's works committee chairman Councillor Trevor Nardi confirmed the project did not include any upgrade to the bridge across the Brisbane River, which was under water for weeks during the January 2011 flood.

"Anything we've designed is planned to be better flood-proofed but we're not raising the bridge," Cr Nardi said.

The site at Chuwar was one of the region's most popular recreation areas prior to the January 2011 floods and an injection of $9 million in funds from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) will see the area restored.

Rochedale Scout Group master Hew Elcock was at Colleges Crossing on Saturday for a camping trip with nine scouts.

Mr Elcock said it was important to have the recreational areas for people to use, but infrastructure such as the bridge was equally important so people could access the area.

"Building a park of superior quality is a great idea until Mother Nature rears its ugly head," he said.

Assistant scout leader Greg Coultis said the bridge needed to be 4m higher and it was overdue for a facelift before the floods.

Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale said, once the final plans were completed, work would begin about the middle of this year.

Scout master Hew Elcock

Building a park of superior quality is a great idea until Mother Nature rears its ugly head