By Juliano Oliveira
Brisbane residents have at their disposal an online form to report footpath maintenance in the City Council area.
During the 2019-20 financial year, the public administration temporarily fixed more than 1,500 damaged footpaths and replaced 38 in total.
In an online Labor’s publication, the leader of the opposition Jared Cassidy showed discontentment towards the numbers.
“More than 1,500 quick fixes and only 38 actual replacements of broken and dangerous footpaths is unacceptable,” Cr Cassidy said.
The accessibility and safety throughout the pandemic, with more pedestrians and cyclists on the streets, were more critical than ever, according to RACQ Head of Public Policy Rebecca Michael.
“Damaged paths are not only annoying for pedestrians, but they can also be dangerous, especially for those who have difficulty or need assistance when walking,” Dr Michael said.
“It’s vital Brisbane City Council invests in tackling the backlog of repairs so we can make sure we have safe footpaths for pedestrians, mobility scooter riders, bike riders and other wheeled recreational devices.”
At the beginning of this month, RACQ released a list containing the 15 popular roads which were the most dangerous for pedestrians in Brisbane’s CBD, South Brisbane and West End.
Roads with low infrastructure safety ratings are Riverside Terrace, Wickham Street, Gladstone Road, Turbot Street, Montague Road, Queen Street, Ann Street, Adelaide Street, Peel Street, Grey Street, Albert Street, Ernest Street, Makerston Street, Felix Street, and Edward Street.
How to report a problem?
The first step is to access https://forms.brisbane.qld.gov.au/report-it-footpath-maintenance.
There, you are be required to inform details about the problem with the footpath, if it is a trip hazard and location.
Brisbane City Council will also ask the origin of the damage and a picture of the local. The whole process is simple and can be done in minutes.
To report an urgent or public safety issue, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.