Story Bridge to Shut for Weeks as Brisbane Market Cools

Brisbane drivers are being told to plan ahead this summer, with the Story Bridge set to close completely to ordinary road traffic from 1am on Sunday 27 December until 5am on Monday 18 January. Only emergency vehicles responding to urgent incidents will be allowed across during the shutdown. Brisbane City Council chose the Christmas and school holiday window because traffic is usually lighter, though the crossing still carries roughly 100,000 vehicles on a typical day. Crews will use the closure to waterproof and resurface the southern approach at Kangaroo Point and sections of the Bradfield Highway, and to service the bridge's expansion joints, working around the clock where weather and site conditions allow.

The shutdown has reignited debate over toll-free detours. Council waived tolls on the Clem7 tunnel during a shorter Story Bridge closure in the past, and there were calls to do the same this time. Infrastructure chair Ryan Murphy said covering the toll again would cost the city tens of millions of dollars, so Clem7 will stay a paid option. Council says free alternative crossings will remain available over the holiday period, leaving commuters to weigh a longer trip on an untolled road against paying to use the tunnel. Some bus routes will also be adjusted, so commuters are being urged to check TransLink before the closure begins. Cyclists, walkers and scooter riders should be able to keep using the bridge's eastern footpath, though the western footpath will shut for the duration of the works. The resurfacing is separate from a far bigger renewal the bridge eventually needs, which council estimates could cost around $3.6 billion over 20 years, with the business case and funding still being worked through.

Away from the roads, Brisbane's property market has shifted noticeably in recent months. Cotality figures show Brisbane dwelling values dropped 1.5 per cent in September, the steepest monthly fall recorded in any Australian capital, leaving values 5.4 per cent below their May peak. Prices are still 5.9 per cent higher than a year ago, and the median dwelling value sits just under $1.05 million, but turnover has slowed sharply, with sales over the past three months down 27 per cent on the same period last year. For buyers, that softer market may mean more choice and room to negotiate, even as higher mortgage rates limit borrowing power. Sellers hoping to match the prices seen at the peak earlier in the year may need to adjust their expectations, and conditions will vary considerably between suburbs.

Queenslanders injured in violent crime may be entitled to help with counselling, medical costs or lost income through Victim Assist, but the latest departmental annual report shows total payments fell from about $244 million in 2024-25 to $224 million in 2025-26, a drop of roughly $19.5 million. That came despite around 4,000 more claims being lodged over the year, and media reporting has pointed to some applicants waiting as long as 12 months for a decision. The department's own guidance already warns assessments can take many months, and the annual report acknowledges a growing backlog. A commonly cited 26-day turnaround only applies to funeral and high-risk applications, not everyday claims. The government has pointed to increased funding and greater public awareness driving demand, and the report notes more claims than expected fell into lower-value categories, but neither fully explains the year-on-year drop in payments or the length of time ordinary applicants are left waiting.