Response to a petition presented to the full Brisbane City Council, by Councillor Seal Chong Wah, as part of Brisbane City Council Council Meeting, Tues 27th May 2025

I rise to speak on behalf of the petitioners of Mackay Terrace and Angus Street, Bardon - regarding installation of traffic calming devices. 

I support the petitioners' request to install traffic calming to make their streets safer.

I met with many families and children of Mackay Terrace and Angus Street shortly after being elected in April last year. They were very keen to meet me to share their concerns and anxiety on their children's ability to safely cross these two busy streets. 

There are a lot of families and children that reside in these streets.  I took the time to have a street meeting with about 20 to 30 parents - who were pleading with me for traffic calming devices.  

Safety on our local neighbourhood streets is a priority issue for our community. One that is being completely ignored by this LNP administration. And as a mum myself who lives in the Ward only 10 minutes from my busy local school, I share their same worry. We need safer streets for our children. 

Approximately a year and half ago, tragically a QUT PhD student died crossing a road, very close to where I live. My condolences go to the family and friends. It’s absolutely heartbreaking that pedestrian safety is not prioritised by this LNP administration, who proudly prioritise motorists over pedestrian and cyclist safety. 

We only need to point to the annual budget 24/25 that shows budget allocation for ONLY ONE new traffic calming project for the entire city.

Residents of Mackay Terrace and Angus Street have deep concerns about people speeding and taking shortcuts to avoid the nearby major roads that are congested. We all know this is a real issue, caused by this administration's inability to resolve congestion by providing a comprehensive and sustainable urban mobility network.

The families of Mackay Terrace and Angus street want traffic calming treatments so motorists slow down and change their driving behaviour to prevent a tragic accident occurring. 

I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise when the Lord Mayor has no shame in stating his woeful position on pedestrian safety in a previous chambers meeting last year. The Lord Mayor, said, through the Chair, and I quote:

“The only upgrades that the Green’s support are actually 'DOWNGRADES', things that slow traffic down, traffic lights, speed humps, pedestrian crossings, things that will make traffic go slower, they are DOWNGRADES.” 

For our Lord Mayor to completely disregard the safety of pedestrians, of cyclists and the safety of our children and neighbourhoods is shocking!  Quite UNBELIEVABLE!!! 

The community of Mackay Terrace and Angus street deserves to feel safe! The parents of Mackay Terrace and Angus Street deserve not to feel on edge whenever their children decide to cross their local neighbourhood streets. 

This is a systemic failure across our city where this LNP administration is not prioritising or investing in infrastructure or well designed planning for our growing city.  

I do not support this administration’s response to the petition and I do support my community’s expectations that their local neighbourhoods are safe for their families and children.