Adrian Schrinner has promised new bridges for the Brisbane River and a focus on the future after being been selected to replace Graham Quirk as Brisbane Lord Mayor.
Cr Schrinner was nominated at an LNP party room meeting on Sunday after Cr Quirk announced last Friday he would stand down on April 7 after eight years in the role, saying it was time to go. Cr Krista Adams will be his deputy.
Taking to Twitter soon after his selection, Cr Schrinner thanked the outgoing Lord Mayor for his 34 years of service to Brisbane and described him as a mentor and friend.
He said generational change had come to City Hall, and with it an “exciting new agenda that’s focused on the future”.
He also announced five new Green Bridges to create a “cleaner, greener and more active” city.
“Our city needs more bridges,” he told reporters on Sunday. “These bridges will accommodate in some cases public transport but they will also accomodate walking and cycling to get people out of their cars, reduce traffic congestion and create a cleaner and greener Brisbane.”
Cr Quirk indicated he intended to spend more time with his family.
“There are significant demands on one’s family in these roles and upon reflection I have decided that now is the time to go,” he said in a statement on Friday.
“As Lord Mayor, I’ve strived to make Brisbane an even better place to live and work and I hope most people agree that has occurred over the past eight years.”
He also said he was proud of his work with other South East Queensland mayors after serving as chairman of the Council of SEQ Mayors.
LGAQ president Mark Jameison congratulated Cr Quirk on a “stellar career in local government”.
“He has used his time as Lord Mayor to guide the development of Brisbane into one of the world’s most dynamic and liveable cities, whilst at the same time, keeping the interests of the community very much at the forefront of his deliberations,” he said.
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