(Media-Newswire.com) - The State government has begun to sell off properties in North Brisbane that were earmarked to make way for a new freeway 30 years ago.

The Northern Transportation Corridor was created in 1971 as the route for a surface motorway through north Brisbane.

Joh Bjelke-Petersen’s National Party eventually decided not to build the road but there were angry scenes at the time as people’s homes were bulldozed to make a political statement.

Since then people near the corridor have been living with the fear that a surface freeway could still be built through their neighbourhoods.

The corridor goes through residential areas east of Lutwyche Road through Bowen Hills, Albion, Windsor, Lutwyche, Wooloowin and Kedron.

Premier Anna Bligh said she was able to finally put the nail in the coffin of the Northern Transportation Corridor because of the state government’s plans for the new Airport Link project in the area.

“This corridor caused immense community anguish when it was announced and sparked amazing protest scenes that became known as the Battle for Bowen Hills.

“Police used truncheons to beat back protestors who were trying to block demolition of their own and other people’s homes.

“Thankfully that way of treating genuine community concerns is very much a thing of the past.

“Queensland is a far better place in so many ways including respecting the wishes of the community.”

The initial disposal of the corridor makes around 43 properties available with the state government committed to only selling vacant land and houses as they become vacant.

“There will be no forced evictions to allow the sale of surplus properties in the old corridor,” said the Premier.

The community protests over the corridor ran from 1972 to 1974 and were concentrated in Bowen Hills where elderly people and migrants in particular were affected by the loss of their homes.

Police were used to quell the protesters who were dismissed by then Main Roads Minister Russ Hinze as “a pain in the neck”.

But community protests combined with rising construction costs were successful in blocking construction and by 1978 when the project was abandoned, only a single overpass had been built in Bowen Hills.

In 2005 the corridor was rejected in favour of an underground ‘western corridor’ along Lutwyche Road.

The move will be confirmed very soon when Preferred Proponent status is given for the Airport Link project.

“Airport Link is a much better choice because it is almost wholly underground and has far fewer impacts on the community both during and after construction,” Ms Bligh said.

“It also provides better linkages with other road and public transport projects and is a smarter and congestion busting solution all round.”

Premiers: ( 07 ) 32244500

source:  www.media-newswire.com