From Park Road to Given and Latrobe Terraces, Caxton Street, Bardon Central, and Rosalie Village, Brisbane’s inner north-west is home to some of our city’s best high streets and urban villages, hosting incredible small businesses, artisans, and community organisations.
These precincts hold so much potential, but public amenity is diminishing, and local residents and small businesses operators are calling out for revitalisation.
It seems like every week another beloved small business is forced to call it quits, leaving an increasing number of empty shop fronts in once thriving precincts. We know many small businesses are struggling with the soaring cost of rent and other goods. The Greens are pushing for a levy on commercial property left vacant for six months in a year to bring down rents, as well as the phase out of payroll tax for small and medium businesses to provide relief.
We frequently hear from the broader community that it’s too difficult to get around using active and public transport. Many residents have expressed that they wish there were more places to sit and use the bathroom. Others have expressed their dismay over the lack of greenspace for our growing neighbourhoods, with unsustainable development creating wind tunnels dominated by concrete. Over summer especially, a lack of shade trees can make it far too hot and uncomfortable to enjoy what these precincts have to offer.
The Greens are committed to working with residents and small business operators to revitalise these precincts for locals and visitors alike. We want to plant more shade trees and create more greenspace. We want greater pedestrian and active transport infrastructure, alongside more frequent and connected public transport services. We think there should be more water bubblers, seats and public restrooms. We can bring colour and life back to worn-out streetscapes by giving opportunities to local artists.
Come and share your ideas and questions with Stephen Bates – MP for Brisbane, Seal Chong-Wah – Councillor for the Paddington Ward, and Katinka Winston-Allom – Greens candidate for Cooper. Your Greens team for the inner-north-west will be gathered in one place ready to listen.
Drop-in to the Brisbane Workers' Community Centre anytime between 5:30 and 7:30PM on Tuesday 30 July. Together we can find solutions and create thriving, sustainable, diverse and resilient high streets and urban villages for our community.