Joel Davis,
Strategic Director at Image Property.
Bracken Ridge Charms No Longer Secret
[lwptoc]For a long while, the Brisbane northside suburb of Bracken Ridge was like a well-kept secret amongst locals.
While other inner-city suburbs stole the media thunder, this suburb about 11 kilometres just carried on doing its thing – or things as it turns out.
You see, as well as being within an easy commute of the city, Bracken Ridge offers something that many Brisbane suburbs don’t and that is views to the coast.
In fact, from the highest point of suburb, you can not only see the coast but also the city in the distance. Plus, it’s only about five kilometres away from Moreton Bay.
This fact is the reason why Bracken Ridge scored so highly in a Brisbane liveable suburbs study last year.
But the suburb, which has plenty of hills as its name suggests, also ranked highly for open space, tree cover as well as access to education in the research.
Image Property Bracken Ridge agent Sam Tahana says the suburb’s location close to the city and coast was increasingly attracting new residents.
“Homebuyers and investors not only see the value of its location, but Bracken Ridge is near the Caboolture train line which makes commuting north or south even easier,” he says.
“On top of that, the region still has affordable house prices which is why Bracken Ridge is also on the radar of plenty of first home buyers.”
According to the REIQ, property prices in Bracken Ridge has been growing sustainably over recent years.
Over the five years to March, the Bracken Ridge median house price increased 15 per cent to nearly $530,000.
Its location within the booming northside of Brisbane, means that Bracken Ridge is also benefiting from new major infrastructure projects.
One of the main projects is the future upgrades to the Gateway Motorway and Bruce Highway, with community consultation currently underway.
The upgrades encompass the Gateway Motorway between Bracken Ridge and Pine River, and the Bruce Highway just north of Dohles Rocks Road, including the Dohles Rocks Road north-facing ramps.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack says planning for these major upgrades includes delivering the north-facing ramps at the Dohles Rocks Road interchange at Murrumba Downs.
“These major upgrades – including the north-facing ramps onto the Bruce Highway – will ensure the road network copes with significant population growth in Brisbane and the Moreton Bay Region, which is increasing travel demand on the Gateway Motorway, the Bruce Highway and Gympie Arterial Road,” he says.
“This is fantastic news for the drivers of around 155,000 vehicles travelling along this corridor between Moreton Bay and Brisbane daily.
“We are continuing to roll out these major projects nationwide under our $100 billion infrastructure investment pipeline, which is supporting jobs and communities at a time when it’s needed most.”
These upgrades will support approximately 1,200 direct jobs over the life of the projects, at a time when they’re most needed.
Initial planning investigations are underway with all business cases expected to be completed by 2024.