Residents in Pallara are backing several petitions calling on city officials to address longstanding issues involving traffic signals, footpaths, and road surface conditions across key local streets.
Background and Context
Pallara has experienced significant population growth, prompting calls for improved local infrastructure. The construction of the Pallara Shopping Village on Gooderham Road in March 2025 has increased local traffic volumes, especially at the intersection with Pallara Avenue. Meanwhile, roads such as Ritchie Road have been subject to prolonged wear, with concerns raised over pedestrian safety and stormwater drainage.
Local official Emily Kim is actively promoting petitions to secure formal responses from BCC leadership, stating that such mechanisms are among the few ways residents can ensure attention from decision-makers.
Traffic Signals Sought for Key Intersection
One petition focuses on the installation of traffic lights at the intersection of Gooderham Road and Pallara Avenue. According to the petition’s details, traffic flow has increased sharply following the opening of Pallara Shopping Village, and delays in entering and exiting the area have become a regular issue.
Transport for Brisbane has reportedly responded in the past that current traffic levels do not meet the threshold for signal installation. However, petition organisers argue that the situation on the ground does not reflect the findings of prior studies.
Call for Ritchie Road Surface Upgrades
Another petition calls for full resurfacing of Ritchie Road, alongside kerbing and stormwater channelling. Advocates state the road has suffered visible degradation over several years, with inadequate drainage affecting driving conditions and surrounding property values.
The petition aims to secure Council funding for these works by collecting sufficient support to prompt an official response through the City of Brisbane Act 2010.
Footpath and Pedestrian Safety Improvements
Separate petitions also highlight the need for pedestrian infrastructure. A Council-hosted petition is currently live seeking new footpaths along sections of Ritchie Road.
In addition, a community-driven petition led by a Pallara resident is calling for the construction of 1.73 kilometres of new footpaths across both Ritchie Road and Gooderham Road. This includes specific sections between Cornwall Street and Brookbent Road, as well as two requested pedestrian crossings on Ritchie Road to improve access to bus stops and local facilities.
Supporters argue that current conditions force pedestrians to walk on road shoulders or uneven surfaces, which poses safety risks for children and families.
Community Involvement Critical to Progress
Organisers maintain that without petitions, there is little guarantee that projects in outer suburbs like Pallara will be prioritised under current Council processes. Residents are encouraged to provide full name, email, and residential address when signing, as required under Council petition rules.
Currently, some petitions are being circulated via community-led forms to gather initial support. Once a sufficient number of signatures is collected, these will be submitted for conversion into official BCC e-petitions. It is a necessary step before they can be formally tabled and reviewed by Council committees.
Next Steps and Petition Status
As of May 2025, the Pallara footpath petition hosted on the BCC’s e-petition portal has collected over 150 signatures and remains open until 1 November 2025. Other petitions, such as those concerning traffic lights and road resurfacing, are still gathering signatures through Google Forms. These are intended to be transitioned into formal BCC e-petitions once initial support is demonstrated and administrative requirements are met.
Only once accepted as formal e-petitions will these proposals be eligible for presentation to Council committees, where they will trigger an official response under the City of Brisbane Act 2010.
Published 22-May-2025
