Principle 3: Create more to see and do

I think Brisbane should have more entertainment options for kids and adults such as swimming and exercise to try and get people involved more.
Tina, Geebung

With growth comes more lifestyle and leisure opportunities across Brisbane, giving residents new ways to enjoy our subtropical city.

How we'll get there

3.1 - Create new community parks in Brisbane’s suburbs with facilities for the local community to enjoy.

3.2 - Bring new fresh food markets to Brisbane, including a new seafood market.

3.3 - Bring our river to life with more access and infrastructure for recreation, tourism and events.

3.4 - Make Mt Coot-tha a leisure and adventure precinct with a new zipline, picnic areas and trails.

3.5 - Bring more festivals and markets to the suburbs.

Track Council's progress on this principle

Our progress

Action 3.1: Create new community parks in Brisbane's suburbs with facilities for the local community to enjoy

Community park improvements

Proposed new parks and park improvements are part of Council's commitment to keeping Brisbane clean and green, and making our liveable city sustainable for future generations. Projects include Ascot Park, West End Riverside Parklands, Wally Tate Park, Runcorn, Wakerley District Sports Park, Witton Barracks Playground, Indooroopilly, Moggill Districts Sports Park and Ferny Grove Aqua Park.

Victoria Park Vision

Council is growing your Brisbane lifestyle by turning Victoria Park into a world-class parkland, giving you more to see and do in a clean and green Brisbane.

Creating Brisbane’s biggest new park in 50 years means more opportunities to enjoy Brisbane’s beautiful climate and connect with family and friends in the places that make our city great. The enhanced park will be more than double the size of the City Botanic Gardens, helping to make Brisbane an even better place to live and relax.

Action 3.2: Bring new fresh food markets to Brisbane, including a new seafood market

Council continues to support fresh food markets operating across the city. Council is exploring improvements to the markets process to help achieve Brisbane’s vision for a vibrant and creative city. Brisbane’s fresh food markets are an opportunity to buy produce such as fruits and vegetables, seafood, meats, breads, cakes and other locally grown or made produce.

Fresh food markets

In July 2019, Council launched a new inner-city fresh food market at Cathedral Square. The Brisbane City Markets take place every Thursday and brings farmers, growers and artisans from all over south-east Queensland together at one convenient CBD location. Brisbane’s food and agricultural industry is expanding, and the city is reaping the rewards from continued investment.

Wynnum Manly Seafood Festival

Council continues to support local communities and businesses by bringing more markets and festivals to the suburbs. The Wynnum Manly Seafood Festival was held in May 2019 with another planned for 2020. The event was supported by Council’s Festival Funding Program.

Brisbane is continuing to investigate the feasibility of a commercial fish market and engagement with industry and landowners is continuing. The city welcomes new opportunities that add more things to see and do in Brisbane.

Action 3.3: Bring our river to life with more access and infrastructure for recreation, tourism and events

River Recreation Hubs

Council is committed to improving access to the Brisbane River and promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. As part of this commitment, Council is delivering new multipurpose river-based infrastructure to accommodate a range of recreation activities, tourism and events.

River Recreation Hubs include, New Farm, West End, Dutton Park, Murarrie and City Botanic Gardens. These are the first of the new-look river-based facilities as part of the River Access Network.

Action 3.4: Make Mt Coot-tha a leisure and adventure precinct with new picnic areas and trails.

Mt Coot-tha green leisure precinct

Council is protecting and enhancing Mt Coot-tha by creating a green leisure precinct with more trees, picnic areas and walking trails.

Read more about Mt Coot-tha precinct projects.

Action 3.5: Bring more festivals and markets to the suburbs.

Festivals and events

Council is bringing new festivals and events to the suburbs including SunPAC Summerfest in Sunnybank and Bardon Community Carols. These events are part of more than 110 festivals supported by Council through the Suburban Community and Multicultural Festival Funding Program. Signature festivals such as Brisbane Festival, Queensland Music Festival and the Brisbane Writers Festival will again highlight Brisbane’s event calendar. Other popular programs such as the Lord Mayor’s Children’s Program, BrisAsia Festival and a wide range of markets including BrisStyle Twilight Markets, BNE Design and Meeanjin Markets will also continue.

Outdoor Cinema in the Suburbs

In 2019-20 Council is creating more to see and do in Brisbane with the introduction of the Outdoor Cinema in the Suburbs program. This community-focused program will be held at local suburban parks, offering a variety of entertainment, food and information stalls.

Read more about Outdoor Cinema in the Suburbs.

Brisbane markets

Council continues to support local talent and ensure there is more to see and do. Residents and visitors will be able to discover some of the best of Brisbane’s thriving creative community, allowing them to connect with local makers and designers, giving them an opportunity to purchase quality handmade products and the freshest of produce. BrisStyle Twilight Markets and Meeanjin Markets are regularly held in King George Square and Reddacliff Place.

Find out about more things to see and do in Brisbane.

Sea to the City

Council continues to support events such as Brisbane’s bug and oyster trail, ‘Sea to the City, that was held in October 2019. The alfresco food trail celebrated fresh seafood against the spectacular backdrop of the Brisbane River stretching from Eagle Street Pier through to Customs House, with 17 riverside restaurants serving up specially curated seafood.