Councillor Shayne Sutton | Changes Ahead for the Inner-East
Author // Shannon Edwards, Place Bulimba
Brisbane’s inner-east is bustling with activity.
With some of the city's cosiest cafes, grooviest bars and unique retailers, the east side has some exciting changes coming its way.
Local Councillor for Morningside Ward, Shayne Sutton, shares what she loves about this pocket of Brisbane and the upcoming developments we can expect to see.
Encompassing the suburbs of Balmoral, Bulimba, Hawthorne, Morningside, Seven Hills and parts of Camp Hill and Cannon Hill, Councillor Sutton believes Brisbane’s east will only continue to improve.
Tell us about the growth in the local area?
There are some really great things happening in the local area.
We have a fabulous Bulimba north precinct coming, which has just been approved, as well as lots of other great unit developments, including the Boatyard and Barca.
Cannon Hill will see great changes with the development of an exciting new urban village.
Further out, Tingalpa has been named one of the most affordable suburbs in the eastern region of Brisbane and Murarrie keeps coming along in leaps and bounds as well.
What developments can we see in the future?
As our suburbs grow, it’s important to make sure that we’re investing in the infrastructure to help people get to and from the places they need to go.
This year, council is constructing traffic lights at the section of Lytton Road, Apollo Road and Thorpe Street.
The two benefits - it’ll help traffic in and out of the Bulimba north precinct and it’ll make the intersection a lot safer for our school children as they travel to school.
Council’s also in the process of preparing for the upcoming Wynnum and Lytton roads upgrade.
The upgrade is due for construction in early 2018 and will see Lytton road transformed into six lanes, easing our traffic congestion issues in the local area.
All developments coming to the inner-east are only going to make the area bigger and better.
What do you love about the area?
One of the great things about being the local councillor is that you get to know the history behind the neighbourhoods and local parks.
As Councillor I get to mingle with all the neighbourhood groups.
It’s always fun meeting the locals who close off their streets to have parties at Christmas time or to play a neighbourhood game of afternoon cricket.
The east-side is a family friendly area with a strong sense of community.
It’s great to see how everyone is willing to pitch in or help out, whether it be a local sports club, community group or school.
There’s a great vibe in this area and that’s what makes it so special.
What is it about this area that makes it so liveable for families?
At Bulimba, we have a beautiful village and the memorial park sets Oxford Street apart from many other suburban centres around Brisbane.
The locals gather here for Saturday morning sport, events and festivals and Sunday afternoon picnics.
The parks are a big part of what makes the suburb tick.
There are many wonderful locals that have a long history with the area and want to see it grow as a special place.
What about the local schools?
We’re really blessed with a variety of great schools.
We have schools with strong principals and school boards across both the public and private sector.
All schools are performing amazingly academically.
Whichever school you choose to send your child to, they’re going to get the best quality of education.