MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
The 4444 meeting of the Brisbane City Council,
held at City Hall, Brisbane
on Tuesday 12 August 2014
at 2pm
Prepared by:
Council and Committee Liaison Office
Chief Executive’s Office
Office of the Lord Mayor and the Chief Executive Officer
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4444 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 12 AUGUST 2014
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS _____________________________________________________________ i
PRESENT: ______________________________________________________________________ 1
OPENING OF MEETING: __________________________________________________________ 1
APOLOGY: _____________________________________________________________________ 1
MINUTES: _____________________________________________________________________ 1
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: __________________________________________________________ 2
QUESTION TIME: ________________________________________________________________ 4
CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS: _________________________________________ 15
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE _________________________________________ 15
A AGREEMENT FOR LEASE BETWEEN COUNCIL AND THE WYNNUM MANLY MEALS ON WHEELS
ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED ______________________________________________________ 31
B DRAFT TARINGA NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN _____________________________________________ 32
C DRAFT ALBION NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN ______________________________________________ 33
D DRAFT SPRING HILL NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN __________________________________________ 35
E STORES BOARD SUBMISSION – OPERATION OF BRACKEN RIDGE POOL AND CONSTRUCTION AND
OPERATION OF PARKINSON POOL ___________________________________________________ 36
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ___________________________________________________________ 43
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – WESTERN CREEK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT ____________________ 49
B PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL TO INSTALL A YELLOW LINE ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF AUBURN
STREET, PETRIE TERRACE __________________________________________________________ 50
C PETITION – REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH PARKING IN THE SANDGATE BUSINESS AREA FOR
EMPLOYEES _____________________________________________________________________ 51
D PETITIONS – REQUESTING COUNCIL ASSISTANCE WITH THE RELOCATION OF THE CHANDLER
MARKETS _______________________________________________________________________ 52
PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE ______________________________________________ 53
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – WHITE-ON-BLACK DESTINATION SIGNS _____________________ 54
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE ___________________ 55
A DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION UNDER THE SUSTAINABLE PLANNING ACT 2009: MATERIAL CHANGE
OF USE FOR MULTI-UNIT DWELLING, SHOPS AND RESTAURANT – 30 FESTIVAL PLACE, NEWSTEAD –
FKP COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD ___________________________________________ 60
ENVIRONMENT, PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE ____________________________________ 63
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – ONLINE WEED IDENTIFICATION TOOL _______________________ 65
FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE _____________________________________________________________ 65
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – OPERATIONAL SERVICES BRANCH – 2013-14 ACHIEVEMENTS ____ 70
B PETITIONS – REQUESTING ADDITIONAL CLEANING OF FOUR OR FIVE TOILET BLOCKS ALONG THE
ESPLANADE AT WYNNUM, MANLY AND LOTA _________________________________________ 71
BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE _________________________________________________________ 73
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – CUSTOMER SERVICES BRANCH BUSINESS HOTLINE: FILMING,
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS ___________________________________________________________ 76
FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE ______________________ 78
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – SHOW YOUR COLOURS 2014 ______________________________ 79
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS:____________________________________________________ 80
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4444 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 12 AUGUST 2014
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
GENERAL BUSINESS: ____________________________________________________________ 81
QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN: ________________________________ 91
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN: _____________________ 92
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4444 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 12 AUGUST 2014
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
PRESENT:
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Councillor Graham QUIRK) – LNP
The Chairman of Council, Councillor Margaret de WIT (Pullenvale Ward) – LNP
LNP Councillors (and Wards)
Krista ADAMS (Wishart)
Matthew BOURKE (Jamboree)
Amanda COOPER (Bracken Ridge)
Vicki HOWARD (Central)
Steven HUANG (Macgregor)
Geraldine KNAPP (The Gap)
Kim MARX (Karawatha)
Peter MATIC (Toowong)
Ian McKENZIE (Holland Park)
David McLACHLAN (Hamilton)
Ryan MURPHY (Doboy)
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR (Parkinson) (Deputy
Chairman of Council)
Adrian SCHRINNER (Chandler) (Deputy Mayor)
Julian SIMMONDS (Walter Taylor)
Andrew WINES (Enoggera)
Norm WYNDHAM (McDowall)
ALP Councillors (and Wards)
Milton DICK (Richlands) (The Leader of the
Opposition)
Helen ABRAHAMS (The Gabba) (Deputy Leader of
the Opposition)
Peter CUMMING (Wynnum Manly)
Kim FLESSER (Northgate)
Steve GRIFFITHS (Moorooka)
Victoria NEWTON (Deagon)
Independent Councillor (and Ward)
Nicole JOHNSTON (Tennyson)
OPENING OF MEETING:
The Chairman, Councillor Margaret de WIT, opened the meeting with prayer, and then proceeded with the
business set out in the Agenda.
APOLOGY:
50/2014-15
An apology was submitted on behalf of Councillor Fiona KING (Marchant) – LNP, and she was granted leave
of absence from the meeting on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Kim
MARX.
51/2014-15
An apology was submitted on behalf of Councillor Shayne SUTTON (Morningside) – ALP, and she was
granted leave of absence from the meeting on the motion of Councillor Victoria NEWTON, seconded by
Councillor Kim FLESSER.
MINUTES:
52/2014-15
The Minutes of the 4443 meeting of Council held on 5 August 2014, copies of which had been forwarded to
each councillor, were presented, taken as read and confirmed on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY,
seconded by Councillor Kim MARX.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
-2-
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Mr Barry Brackin – The work of the Cannon Hill Bushcare Group and Bushcare volunteers working in
the Cannon Hill Conservation area
File number: 137/220/701/193
Chairman:
I would just like to call on Mr Barry Brackin who will address the Chamber on
the work of the Cannon Hill Bushcare Group and bushcare volunteers working
in the Cannon Hill Conservation area. Orderly, would you please show Mr
Brackin in?
Mr Brackin, you can stand or sit, whichever you prefer. Mr Brackin, you have
five minutes; please proceed.
Mr Barry Brackin:
Thank you. Madam Chairman, LORD MAYOR and councillors: I represent the
Cannon Hill Bushcare Group which was formed 10 years ago with the aim of
removing rubbish and weeds from an area of 10 hectares acquired by the
Brisbane City Council in three parcels in 1970 and 1990. We are part of the
Brisbane City Council's Habitat Brisbane program.
The land had been grazing land but in fact may have been only minimally
cleared since European settlement, if at all. The aerial photos of our area from
the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s show that not much had changed since the original
surveyor's map was drawn up in 1840. The area is therefore a precious natural
asset, and contains wetlands, swamps, riverine rainforest, oak and eucalyptus
forest and dry sclerophyll forest in a small area. The area has been overlooked as
a green area of Brisbane because of recent neglect, serious weed infestation and
serious dumping.
The dumping probably began in the 1960s after the closure of the Council dump
which was adjacent to the area on Wynnum Road and accelerated after the
closure of the Galaxy Drive-in Theatre in about 1980. Dumping of hard waste
seemed to go hand-in-hand with introducing weeds, as people appeared to cover
their dumped rubbish with garden weeds which took root and spread, out
competing native vegetation. By 2004, the weeds comprised a high percentage
of the vegetation on this 10 hectare site.
Teresa Radburn and Matt McLaughlin are the group leaders of the Cannon Hill
Bushcare Group which was registered in 2004, and they prepared a detailed grid
map of the reserve which allows identification of all areas as a preparatory step
to weeding the whole site. Since 2004, Teresa and Matt have held regular
monthly working bees with a small team of willing workers. They have
introduced many people to the skills of bush weeding over the years.
My wife Leith and I work outside the working bees on a more or less daily basis
as the bushland borders our own place. We feel privileged to be able to work in
the area, and we get a huge satisfaction in seeing the land restored to what
existed there before the weeds and dumping degraded the land.
The Cannon Hill Bushland Reserve is the home of the Gateway Learning
Community Field Day where schoolchildren from six local schools in grades
four and five visit for a day to learn about the bush and to try some planting and
other activities, and to see bush animals. This has been a popular and successful
program run every year by Habitat Brisbane since 2004. The cumulative results
of all this effort are now quite evident.
The Habitat Brisbane organisation provides volunteers with training, tools,
equipment and advice, and is in regular contact with our group. We are grateful
to Council for assistance in the removal of serious waste such as hills of fibro
asbestos, hard rubbish and green waste. We understand that the BMD
Community Links development is likely to proceed on the other side of
Minnippi Creek, only a step away from our bushland reserve. This development
has the potential to damage habitat which is contiguous with our Cannon Hill
bushland.
We would expect that Council apply rigorous standards to prevent fertiliser runoff to Minnippi Creek and to ensure that the important squirrel glider and koala
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
-3habitat is preserved. It would be desirable for this new golf course development
to encourage a Bushcare group of their own from their own future residents to
deal sensitively with the currently degraded bushland on their side of Minnippi
Creek.
The Council has recently acquired a further piece of land containing over one
hectare on the eastern boundary of our reserve which increases the extent of the
protected area, and includes wetlands. Our Councillor, Ryan MURPHY, has
arranged improvements on the Wynnum Road frontage. The hazards and
challenges to our work continue to be rubbish dumping, weed regrowth,
deliberately lit fires and also messy overnight campers and the activity of glue
sniffers. Thank you for the opportunity to tell Council about our bushland
reserve.
Chairman:
Take a seat, thanks, Mr Brackin. Councillor BOURKE, would you like to
respond?
Response by Councillor Matthew BOURKE, Chairman of the Environment, Parks and Sustainability
Committee
Councillor BOURKE:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. Can I start off by thanking you, Mr
Brackin, for coming in and taking the time to address us today in Council and
provide us with some comments and an overview of the work that your group
has done for the last decade in preserving and protecting the Cannon Hill
bushland area.
Can I say on behalf of all the councillors in this place, thank you very much to
you and all of the volunteers in your organisation for the tireless hours of work
that you do in protecting and preserving our bushland. It really is a true
partnership in the Habitat Brisbane program, the work that is done, not just in
your area but across the 126 sites with thousands of volunteers in doing that
important work of protecting and preserving our bushland.
You touched on a number of points about your group's journey and the work
that you have done, and some of the challenges not only that you've faced but
that you are continuing to face, and the work that you're also doing with your
local Councillor, Councillor MURPHY, in addressing some of those issues.
The issue of illegal dumping, illegal camping and arson—I encourage you to
continue to work with Councillor MURPHY to identify those issues, and then
obviously Council can help work with the group and the community to address
them.
You also touched on the additional work that you have done and the additional
acquisitions that have been made by Council, and the work that needs to go into
those to make sure that you protect your investment as well in terms of the time.
I encourage you to take full advantage of some of the tools that we have
available from Council, particularly the Community Conservation Assistance
Grants which will be going out very shortly, which are a great opportunity for
your group to seek some funding to tackle some of the larger issues, but also the
online weed identification tool that we have. So out in the field you are able to
identify and then figure out the best methods for the removal of various invasive
weed species across your bushland area.
I also note that, in 2013, your group won the judge's Litter Champion Award as
part of the Spotless Suburbs. So can I congratulate you on that work, and
encourage you to keep up the educational campaign that you do.
Just in closing, you touched on the Cannon Hill Community Links site. Can I
give you the assurance that Council will be working very closely, as part of that
development, to make sure that the squirrel glider population is protected and I
think there is about $2 million that has been set aside for amelioration of the
habitat, to make sure that the squirrel glider population is protected as part of
that construction of the golf course, which of course is the first public golf
course that has been built in the city in some 20 or 30 years. It is an important
piece of community infrastructure, but it can also play an important role in
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
-4preserving and protecting a much-needed wildlife and fauna corridor through
our city.
So thank you very much for coming in today. I really appreciated your positive
feedback, but I guess our message to you is: please go and tell the volunteers our
thanks and give them our appreciation for all the hard work that they do on an
ongoing basis at Cannon Hill.
Chairman:
Thank you, Mr Brackin.
QUESTION TIME:
Chairman:
Are there any questions of the LORD MAYOR or a Chairman of any of the
Standing Committees? Councillor MARX.
Question 1
Councillor MARX:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. I understand
that the bushfire danger period has arrived and the threat of major fires breaking
out across Brisbane in the urban bushland interface and rural areas is very real.
However, by taking a few precautionary steps, residents stand a much better
chance of protecting their families and their property from fire. Can you please
detail some of these critical steps that residents should undertake?
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks, Madam Chairman, and I thank Councillor MARX for the question.
Often it has been the case in recent years where I have stood here and said, look,
we're expecting a season which is going to be storm-based. It is very different
this year. We are in a period of significant drought, not only around the city of
Brisbane but also around Queensland itself. We are and have seen some very
frosty mornings that have created the climate whereby everything has dried out
incredibly, and in spite of the fact that we are expecting some rain over the
coming days, particularly on the weekend, that will not get us through what is a
very significant potential fire risk and bushfire season.
We as a Council have committed $1.6 million this year towards fire
preparedness. Over the previous months we have undertaken 10 hazard reduction
burns resulting in some 218 hectares of land being burned in a controlled way in
areas like Whites Hill Reserve, Mt Coot-tha Forest, Toohey Forest Park,
Karawatha Forest Park, Chermside Hills Reserve and Habitat Estate among
others.
That compares with last year, where we undertook 15 hazard burns covering
some 243 hectares. Now, we've got more to do, and as with every year
previously, the day on which the burns can occur has to coincide with absolutely
the right weather conditions. That is important so that burns don't get out of
control, through wind or whatever else it might be in terms of the prevailing
conditions.
If we do get this rain on the weekend, and we can have some good, steady nonwindy days in the week or two following, that will provide the right atmosphere
we need to continue with those burns. We now have 17 four-wheel drive
vehicles available. We have now 115 trained fire-fighters within our employ.
These trained staff will provide assistance to the relevant agencies in the event of
bushfires occurring over this coming summer season.
Part of that capacity includes 14 500-litre four-wheel drive fire units, one based
in the north, one in the south, one in the east and one in the west—well, more
than one; there are several, actually, involved in those various regions. On top of
those 14 units, there are three 1500-litre fire units, again based in east, west and
north regions. In addition to that, we have standalone radio communications and
inter-operable radio comms (communications) with Queensland Fire and
Emergency Services.
It is important, though, for residents to undertake certain tasks around their own
home. For example, simple things like removing leaves from gutters or from
verandas or from the yard itself, twigs and branches, taking them away from
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
-5areas adjoining their buildings, be it the home or a shed, whatever it might be,
and creating the environment which minimises the risks for them. That is, of
course, handy advice not only in relation to bushfires but also in regards to
storms.
We also recommend that residents do a number of other things. For example,
LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) cylinders around your home should have pressure
relief valves facing outwards, so that the flame is not directed towards the house.
It also is important to keep wood piles obviously well away from the house and
covered; cut back overhanging trees; keeping grass short where you are up
against those bushland areas. Certainly, what you don't want to do is deposit tree
loppings and grass clippings behind your property where there is a Council
reserve, a bushland area, which can indeed increase the risk to your own
property.
It is also important that you have an evacuation plan, a bushland survival plan,
and to practise that plan with your family. Make sure you've got an emergency
kit available. Online there is the ability to be able to find out what should be
contained within that emergency kit. These are simple things; they are practical
things, but they are things that people often forget, and it is important at this time
that we remind people.
Chairman:
Thank you, LORD MAYOR; Councillor DICK.
Question 2
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. It has been
almost two months since you announced your appointment of a new CBD
Economic Development Board led by Mr Phil Di Bella. As you know, Mr Di
Bella has been stripped of his Telstra Businessperson of the Year award due to
inappropriate remarks, and last week he was described in the media in a ruling
by Judge Michael Kirov that he “fell short of the standards of acceptable
commercial behaviour observed by reasonable and experienced persons.”
LORD MAYOR, how many CBD Economic Development Board meetings has
Mr Di Bella chaired, and who else have you secretly appointed to this board?
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, that board has met now on one occasion, and I attended the
first part of that board meeting. There is a very broad-based group of people that
are on that board. They include people that have an involvement within the
CBD. It is much more than a Queen Street Mall board now; it is a broader CBD
economic development entity.
All of those people are volunteers, and they will all be about making sure that we
grow the economy of the CBD. They will be bringing forward recommendations
from time to time on things that this Council ought to consider as part of the
economic health of the CBD.
So, again, while I don't have the names in front of me, there is a very broadbased group of people that are on that board, and I welcome their involvement. I
thank them for the voluntary—
Councillor DICK:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Point of order, LORD MAYOR; yes, Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
The LORD MAYOR has indicated he doesn’t have that list to hand. Will he
provide that by the end of Question Time today?
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR.
Councillor DICK:
It was a specific question.
LORD MAYOR:
If I can't provide it by the end of Question Time today, I will certainly provide it
next week in the same way that I will be responding to things that I couldn’t
answer in Question Time last week, I'll be responding to those in my E&C
Report today. That is the normal process, Madam Chairman, that I adopt.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
-6There are no secrets in relation to that board. They are volunteers, and I would
remind the Chamber of that. All of these people are volunteers, and they do
represent—men and women—a broad base within the CBD.
Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
I heard that.
Chairman:
Councillor FLESSER! Councillor FLESSER!
LORD MAYOR:
I heard that and I resent it. I hear that and I resent it on behalf of the people that
are giving freely of their time. You might be surprised if you look up your own
lists in terms of some of those people. You might look up your own lists. I resent
that.
Councillors interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
Look, Councillor FLESER, I just said I would provide the list. I said I would
provide the list. There are no secrets about the list. I thank those people for
providing of their time in relation to this board.
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR, just a moment. Councillor FLESSER, I would ask you to
withdraw that comment.
Councillor FLESSER:
I withdraw, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Thank you. LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
So, Madam Chairman, that is the position. I am happy, as I say, to provide that
list. That board will be meeting at least—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
That board will be meeting at least every two months. They will be providing, as
I say, feedback in relation to recommendations of direction. Those
recommendations are never compulsory in terms of this Council adopting those
recommendations. It is a volunteer board; it is an advisory board.
Can I just say this also: the wealth of experience on that board will out-surpass
the experience that is around this room on both sides of the Chamber—on both
sides of the Chamber. We at the end of the day are responsible, including myself,
Councillor, including myself—at the end of the day, we are the accountable,
responsible body, and we are not moving away from that for one moment. But if
anybody thinks that all wisdom and knowledge resides in this place, then I think
they are kidding themselves.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Order!
LORD MAYOR:
We, Madam Chairman, unashamedly, will seek—
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
See, it is all a game to them. This is just a political game. This is the problem—
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor DICK!
LORD MAYOR:
This is the problem I have with the Labor Party in this place. All of these things
are just part of a political textbook game to them. No interest in the progress of
the city it’s all just a game.
We rightfully ought to grab hold of the commercial knowledge, the commercial
experience that exists in our city. I will never walk away from grabbing it,
particularly when it is free.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor WYNDHAM.
Question 3
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
-7Councillor WYNDHAM:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to Councillor McLACHLAN. My
residents tell me that Brisbane really is a clean and green city compared with
other capital cities. Can you tell us how Field Services Group is managing to
keep the city so clean?
Councillor McLACHLAN:
Thank you, Madam Chairman, and thank you to Councillor WYNDHAM for the
question and for your long-standing interest in a clean and green city. Pride in
our city is a virtuous circle. The more pride we demonstrate through the work we
undertake, the more that pride is reciprocated with what residents do on their
property or in partnership with the Council and other residents in their local area,
like Mr Brackin who we heard from earlier. Therefore, the more commendations
we get from residents and visitors who respond positively to the city pride when
they see it.
There has been benchmarking work done that indicates the perceptions of
Councillor WYNDHAM's residents when they return to Brisbane from interstate
trips is a reality. There are tools used to provide a standardised formula that
allows for city-to-city comparisons as well as year-to-year comparisons within
Brisbane. We know those on the other side scorn the introduction of new
technology in the war on litter. We on this side have embraced the things that
will improve outcomes as well as holding our performance out to scrutiny, to
measurable scrutiny.
I refer specifically to the Clean Communities Assessment Tool, CCAT. CCAT,
now deployed by Brisbane Council and several other councils around Australia,
is a lot more than an acronym. The system has been developed now for some 25
years, and is embraced by Brisbane City Council. It was embraced in 2006 as the
best way of providing data on littering, both year-to-year within the city confines
and against other cities using the same methodology. It was developed by an
organisation called Community Change Victoria, and provides benchmarking
tools, training and the methodology for assessing outcomes.
Using the Clean Communities Assessment Tool over that time means Council
gets validated feedback on successes, on gaps, for locations around Brisbane,
with specific information on littering behaviour, bin usage and litter on the
ground. It does mean that we have a coordinated and consistent evidence-based
approach to key elements such as bin configuration, design, positioning and
servicing, clean pavements through chewing gum removal, integration of public
place recycling and cigarette butt collection, staff and community engagement.
The Community Changes report card says Brisbane's litter prevention score is
the best in Australia. The most recent data has recorded the year-to-year litter
count by our litter prevention teams from 1 July 2009 to 1 July 2014, and from
the 2009 baseline, there has been a 46 per cent reduction in the on-ground litter
count. These are great results.
Chewing gum accounts for just on 50 per cent of the litter items in the ground in
the count area, with cigarette butts contributing between 20 and 30 per cent, an
indication of the areas where we do need to do more to get the message out. On a
positive, observational surveys conducted by the Community Change
Assessment Team show that 95 per cent of people in the Brisbane CBD
displayed positive litter behaviour. This means essentially they use the bins
provided, and use recyclables bins for what they are intended.
Council will continue to review the program delivery to ensure best practice,
continue to rollout public education programs, continue to bear down hard on
those who think it is okay to chuck their cigarette butts on the ground or to take a
near enough is good enough approach to putting litter in bins. We on this side
will continue to look at embracing technology improvements in service delivery,
unlike the Luddites of the Labor Party and it's buy a broom mentality. In the
interests of city pride and a clean and green city, the LORD MAYOR's 2014-15
budget ensured the allocation of resources to the things that will deliver positive
and measurable outcomes.
The base funding and project funding of over $19 million is targeted at the
delivery of outcomes that put Brisbane ahead of other cities, against which our
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
-8performance can be judged. We are working constantly with our service delivery
teams to respond to their requests for equipment that helps them to do their jobs
faster and better, equipment like the Glutton power vacuums that the Opposition
thinks should be ditched in favour of brooms.
We know, too, that those opposite believe residents and visitors to our city
should somehow know organically or intuitively about our programs. They think
it is wrong to use advertising to get the message out about city pride and to keep
our city clean and green. All I can say, Madam Chairman, is thank goodness they
are unlikely to ever get the chance to deliver on that rhetoric that they use in this
place which would see, if they followed through, the axing of elements of the
anti-litter campaign like CCAT, killing off advertising that reminds residents and
visitors about doing the right thing, and axing the program we have put in place
that provides the equipment necessary for continuous improvement in litter
prevention. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor JOHNSTON.
Question 4
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Less than
two months ago in your budget for the current financial year, you announced that
each councillor would have $434,000 in the Wards Footpath and Parks Trust
Fund for expenditure on local projects. I received an email today from the
Manager of Local Asset Services, which I table, stating that councillors will only
be provided with $410,000 for project delivery. Why have you cut $24,000 in
funding for local projects from my ward budget and, presumably, other
councillors' ward budgets, when you announced and heralded the increase six
weeks ago?
LORD MAYOR:
I haven't cut anything. What has happened is that has gone up from $398,000 last
year to $410,000 this year. So, let's just take away this nonsense talk about cuts.
Once again, this is the problem I have in this place. Councillor JOHNSTON, you
need to listen, because there has been discussions held during the budget period;
there has been discussions, I think, including in committees, around the fact that
there is an administrative charge in relation to activities.
We went through a whole process—a whole re-statement—of this budget. Do
you remember, we had that debate before the budget came down, several weeks
before it came down? It was a re-statement so that we could then line up the
budget under the—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Pont of order against you, LORD MAYOR. Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, I am referring to the LORD MAYOR's 2014-15 budget, and
in the schedules to that budget, it states that each Councillor will have $434,000.
I am not referring to any re-budget statement from X number of years ago; I am
referring to the budget—
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I am referring to the budget from—
Chairman:
Order!
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I am referring to the budget statement from approximately six weeks ago that
said there was $434,000 for the Trust Fund usage.
Chairman:
Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON, the LORD MAYOR has five minutes, and he is
answering the question. LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Yes, Madam Chairman, and as I explained, there is administrative costs against
that allocation which is all tied up with the restatement of the budget. We went
through a new process in relation to budget; that is why we brought it back here
to this Chamber in advance of the budget coming down.
The increase is still from $398,000 to, once you take away the administrative
costs, to $410,000. That is how it is applied. Those changes were what the
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
-9reinstatement of the budget was all about. I don't know why we bother coming in
here sometimes, Councillor JOHNSTON, if you are not prepared to listen and
take it in. You've got to stop preparing your next speech and start to take in a
little bit of what is going on around this place.
That was there; it was there for people to understand. Again, I might make the
point also that it has gone up by what is essentially about three per cent in terms
of that increase, and of course it has happened in a year where we are freezing
the costs of parking meters as well, which is what it was tied to.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor WINES.
Question 5
Councillor WINES:
Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the Chairman of the Brisbane
Lifestyle Committee, Councillor ADAMS. City pride is something that is very
important to this Administration. I understand that Brisbane Lifestyle plays a
pivotal role in creating and fostering pride in our city through such initiatives as
the Suburban Amenity and Litter Team, the Rapid Response Group and the
Hoarding and Squalor Prevention strategies. Councillor ADAMS, can you please
expand on these important initiatives and others within your portfolio that create
and foster pride in our city?
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Councillor WINES, for the question,
because I am more than happy to stand up here and talk about the pivotal role
that not only Brisbane Lifestyle has in fostering pride in our city, but of the
education of councillors and those across Brisbane in what we are doing in
Brisbane City Council to make every resident proud of the city of Brisbane that
they live in. Through our Compliance and Regulatory Services Branch, we have
initiatives, as was mentioned, around graffiti management, our Rapid Response
Group or RRG as we call them, erosion and sediment control, enforcement of
illegal camping, just to name a few of the things that we do to make sure we can
take pride in this city.
The RRG was established in 2009 by an LNP Administration as the first local
government in Queensland to have a 24/7 frontline response team. It came after
The Gap storm, and it became such an effective team it is now entrenched in
Council's day-to-day business as our eyes and ears across a diverse range of
health, safety and emergency events.
They undertake duties in times of emergencies. They are the first response
operations that turn up to the event. They can do other enforcement like litter
enforcement, parking complaints, urgent building matters comprising demolition
or unauthorised building works. They also can look at vegetation management.
They are the first response for water contamination, environmental incidents and
health and safety and amenity local laws complaints.
Actually, there are more than 3,900 concerns just regarding footway hazards per
day that are received. These can range from anything from the hazard of a
damaged awning impacting pedestrian safety to delivery of something for a
construction site or mulch at a house that may be blocking a footway as well.
These are hazards that also detract from the general amenity of the area.
Illegal camping is something that has come up locally in Councillor
ABRAHAMS' ward recently, and under the stewardship of LORD MAYOR
Graham QUIRK we have put in place measures to make sure we eradicate this
practice from our city. We have got our compliance officers proactively
patrolling and reacting to complaints of illegal camping. We have put nostopping zones between midnight and 4am at Riverside Drive. There is a towaway zone there now, so if people are illegally parked or camping, we can
enforce this by alleviating the problem by moving the people who have camped
there straight away.
Previously we had to take patrols, record observations, evening-after-evening,
and now we just get on with the job of moving them off the site or fining them in
the case of car owners if the car is there as well. It also means that we are also
working on that park signage to make sure overseas visitors—we do a lot of
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 10 education as well, so they know that this is what is required in both Queensland
and Australia. So we are trying to clarify the area for no overnight camping right
across Queensland in our education campaign.
We have our Suburban and Litter Team, or SALT, which was formed in 201314, to respond to those increased complaints we are seeing around safety and
amenity in our suburbs. Unsightly and overgrown land, rubbish bins and
containers left on footways. We also do our known illegal dumping sites and
problem areas, and we have a very proactive presence in the community to
educate and raise awareness in residents about these issues.
If we respond to complaints, if we receive more than one complaint of illegal
dumping at a certain location, we will make sure that we do proactively patrol
that site. We may erect signs which make it very clear that illegal dumping is
prohibited and offenders may be prosecuted. We may also install covert
dumping cameras in an attempt to detect and identify offenders if we can get
cars' licence plate numbers, et cetera. So there's a lot of work we are doing
around illegal dumping, short-term and long-term, including letting people
know. So there are signs up there so people can learn as well.
We remind people that we have got provision of dump vouchers for residents
and a greater publication of prosecution through the media really does work as a
deterrent to offenders as well. We are very proud in the work that we are doing
around hoarding and squalor in Brisbane City Council; real problems that we
face every day in the suburbs, but need a whole-of-Council and even State
approach as well under the Public Health Act.
We ensure there is a very holistic view with hoarding and squalor. There is no
short-term solution to these ones; it is long-term on individual properties, and we
work very closely with our partners. We have implemented a new project now
where we have a proactive response to severe and complex cases where we can
have a case manager working with our affected residents, with their family and
with neighbours to talk about what the impact is on the residents and how they
can help, too, in their street by making sure that they understanding the situation,
because it is more than just a messy backyard.
No one could be more proud of Brisbane City Council; everything from graffiti
and litter. We work day-in and day-out to make sure that we are effective and
rapid and responsive to any of the complaints that come in or anything that we
see around the city as well. I am very proud of the city. We should all be very
proud of the city—
Chairman:
Thank you, Councillor ADAMS.
Councillor ADAMS:
—because there's a lot to be proud of.
Chairman:
Thank you. Further questions; Councillor DICK.
Question 6
Councillor DICK:
Thanks, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. In relation to the
cuts you have flagged for Brisbane Transport due to the contestability process
you and your State Government colleagues have agreed on, last week you said in
this Chamber that you would be looking at cutting any buses that have less than
five people on them. To give advance warning to passengers in outlying suburbs,
would you please list any current services with less than five passengers?
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. We have already been through the
process of a review where we examined all of those services that had less than
five passengers. I am not about to do another review at this time.
Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
Well, it is not. It was misinterpreted what I said last time, to be frank.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
It was misinterpreted.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 11 Chairman:
Order! Order!
LORD MAYOR:
What I said—look, Madam Chairman, I will just go back on what I said last
week. I said that—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor NEWTON!
LORD MAYOR:
I said it was fair and reasonable for an Administration to examine services that
are carrying less than five passengers. I take it that the Opposition do not agree
with that. I take it they do not agree with that.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
They would be prepared to waste ratepayers' and taxpayers' money rather than—
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
—rather than take on a sensible approach to public transport. I have sat here
now, as I said last year, over most of that time under a Labor Administration—
actually not quite, about 50/50.
Councillor interjecting:
It seems a lot longer.
LORD MAYOR:
It does seem that. Well, those four joint years in Cabinet were very long. But,
Madam Chairman, that said, I have watched Labor transport chairmen undertake
reviews of bus services, and I have watched chairmen from this side of the
Chamber undertake those reviews. It has been the case that, where there is a
need to review services, that ought to be undertaken, given that we are the
custodians of the public purse. You can't just keep running services if nobody is
catching them.
I instanced last week the Yes Minister series where, well, “we've got doctors and
we need administrators, Minister, but no, we don't have any patients”. It just
does not wash. So we have to take a responsible approach. We do that in the
context of a commitment to keep fares down to two and a half per cent for each
year of the next three years. That is the context.
So, we make no apologies for the fact that we have undertaken a review. We
have done that. It needed to be done. There were savings within that review in
terms of the assessment and review of bus routes. Also there were some internal
savings that were made as well. They have been reflected also within this
budget. But in terms of, no, we are not about to go out there and do another
review; we have just done it. We have just been through it.
We ought to remind ourselves that there were 15 per cent a year fare increases,
and that was the context. Whilst those 15 per cent a year fare increases were
occurring, those opposite sat there and just accepted them—accepted them that
that's what you do. You just keep making people pay more—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
—to the point where nobody would be left on those buses.
Chairman:
Order! Councillor BOURKE!
LORD MAYOR:
Of course they would squeal, Madam Chairman, because I would be
embarrassed, too, if I sat there and said nothing in a context where fares were
just continuing to go up to the point where it's cheaper to jump in the car.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
So, Madam Chairman, we are now back on a proper keel. We are back to a point
where those increases will be kept at a level which is reasonable.
Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
So, two and a half per cent is not reasonable, but 15 is, Councillor? Ah, well,
that's—
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 12 Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
LORD MAYOR:
That's all I can assume—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
That's all I can assume from that laughter, Councillor GRIFFITHS.
Chairman:
Order! Yes, just a moment, Councillor JOHNSTON. Point of order against you,
LORD MAYOR; yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, as much as I love the LNP and the ALP arguing with each
other, the question was: would the LORD MAYOR provide a list of all the bus
services with less than five people using them? We can argue over fares—
Chairman:
Okay, thank you.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
—but that wasn't the question, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
That's your point of order; thank you, Councillor JOHNSTON. LORD MAYOR,
that was the question.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, that would be a fruitless exercise because—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
It would be a fruitless exercise because we have done the review. We have done
the review. Right? So, there will be another review at some time in the future.
A Councillor:
Ah!
LORD MAYOR:
As you did. Councillor Hayes—Councillor NEWTON, you were a transport
chairman; you would remember Councillor Maureen Hayes undertaking a
review.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
LORD MAYOR:
So, Madam Chairman—
Chairman:
Point of order against you, LORD MAYOR. Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, it is again on relevance. It is not about fares; it is not about
reviews that were previously taken. As I understood the question, it was: could
the LORD MAYOR provide a list of all the bus services with less than five
passengers? I would be very interested in that information, and I would ask that
you direct the LORD MAYOR to answer the question.
Chairman:
I think, Councillor JOHNSTON, the LORD MAYOR has indicated that he is not
going to answer that question and why. So I think the question has been dealt
with. LORD MAYOR, are you completed?
LORD MAYOR:
Yes, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Okay, thank you. Further questions; Councillor KNAPP.
Question 7
Councillor KNAPP:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the Chairman of Environment,
Parks and Sustainability. Councillor BOURKE, can you please inform the
Chamber what has been achieved to make Brisbane's open spaces more
accessible and enjoyable for the residents of Brisbane?
Councillor BOURKE:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman, and I thank Councillor KNAPP for the
question. Councillor KNAPP, it is a very important point that you raise, because
as an Administration we continue to invest more money into our parks and open
spaces right across the city. As all councillors in this place would appreciate, our
local communities take great pride in their parks and open spaces, and we heard
today the pride that the members of the Cannon Hill Bushcare Group have in the
work that they have done in over 10 years of restoring and preserving a valuable
part of Brisbane's ecosystem.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 13 So, it is important that we continue to provide the support that these groups and
organisations need to carry out the important work that they do. That is why we
see again this year the rollout of the Community Conservation Assistance Grants
to help support groups and organisations who are carrying out the important
work in our bushland areas. That supports our Habitat Brisbane groups as well.
We know that our Habitat Brisbane groups take great pride in the restoration
work, and these grants will help them achieve some of the larger projects that
they need to do to make sure that they continue to see on the ground results
when it comes to protecting and preserving the environment.
Of course, a lot of the work that is undertaken by Habitat Brisbane is done on
land that has been purchased through the Bushland Acquisition Levy, and this
year we continue to see investment into purchasing and preserving at-risk
bushland right across the city. That is, I guess, the natural areas, in terms of the
work that we do.
Turning to the open spaces, so our parks provide a range of different
opportunities to the people of Brisbane when it comes to recreational
opportunities, educational opportunities, as well as environmental opportunities.
That is why we continue to invest in these spaces to help protect and preserve
those opportunities, not just for the current population but mindful that there is
an increasing pressure being placed on our parks and open spaces.
That is why I know Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR and her community take great
pride in the work that we did at Calamvale District Park, with its dyno play, it's
one-of-a-kind skywalk play structure, as well as the other facilities and features,
and we continue to see that work rolled out as well this financial year.
I was at Frew Park just two weeks ago to see how construction was being
undertaken at that valuable asset for the residents of the Milton and Toowong
Ward, and it continues to come along very well, with the playground and the
arena space as well as the green nearing completion. It will be a wonderful
world-class facility for the residents of Brisbane, and a unique opportunity for
residents to find out about our tennis history, and take great pride in the longstanding history that our city and our State has had when it comes to the sport of
tennis.
Free wi-fi in parks; I remember a discussion in this place where those opposite
derided the free wi-fi in parks program, but apparently now some of the
councillors over there actually want free wi-fi in more parks in their wards, and
we will continue to rollout these innovative, cutting edge projects that help set
Brisbane apart as Australia's New World City. So residents can take great pride
in our city and the work that we do to help provide the opportunities in the
spaces.
You have to look no further than the CBD Botanic Gardens and the wonderful
new All-abilities playground that has just been opened in the City Botanic
Gardens, as well as the Changing Places toilet facility that is also there. It has
created a new opportunity and a new space for residents of Brisbane to go and
explore what is probably one of our oldest gardens, but it has given the gardens a
new lease on life in terms of the facilities that provide those opportunities to the
residents of Brisbane.
That is just a snapshot of the work that we do as an Administration to help
provide accessible, open spaces, enjoyable parks for all of the residents of
Brisbane. In the lead-up to the G20, I think that the residents of Brisbane can
take great pride in their city and promoting it to the world, promoting the parks
and the open spaces that we have, not just in the CBD but right across the city
for all to enjoy and for all to access.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Question 8
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. The Riverside
South precinct of the South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood Plan requires 20
per cent of a site above 10,000 square metres to be publicly accessible. The
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 14 development application lodged on the former Energex site has interpreted this
requirement to be: car parks, driveways, visitor set down spaces, footpaths, and I
will show that on the map for your information, LORD MAYOR. My question
is: these things are essential infrastructure for a high-rise unit and not publicly
accessible land that has any public benefit. Will you take a stand and deliver
some parkland on this site?
Chairman:
It is a fairly complex sort of question and introduction to it, Councillor
ABRAHAMS.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! I am speaking. LORD MAYOR, are you happy to answer?
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, it is a complex question, and all I can say in response to that
today is that these applications are assessed by officers, and they are done within
the context of the plan that this Chamber votes upon. They are matters which are
complex by way of the nature of the question. A lot of that detail frankly,
Councillor, I am hearing for the first time today. I would just say that they are
matters obviously that our officers will look carefully at.
Now that you have raised it, sure, I am more than happy to look at more detail in
terms of the application. But again, understanding I am not even sure of what the
area classification of that particular piece of land is that you refer to. But the
officers have, I am assuming in this case, the delegated authority, unless it is an
impact assessable application. They will look at the various aspect of it in
relation to the plan.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor HUANG.
Question 9
Councillor HUANG:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the Chairman of the Public and
Active Transport Committee, Councillor MATIC. I believe that there will be
changes to the Blue CityGlider bus stops at Teneriffe. Could you please update
the Chamber on these changes and detail how they will benefit this growing
area?
Councillor MATIC:
Thank you, Madam Chairman, and I thank Councillor HUANG for the question
and the opportunity to advise the Chamber on this important innovation within
the program. This particular improvement that we are making to the CityGlider
route at Skyring Terrace is a clear example of this Administration's strong and
passionate commitment to public transport across our city.
We say that with pride, because it is true. Unlike the ALP who have no problems
in being able to spin their own yarns about public transport or what they think is
going on.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS!
Councillor MATIC:
The reality is that this Administration, this side of the Chamber, has a very clear
record of strong investment and consistent investment in public transport, and
we have seen the outcome of that in growth in patronage and new and innovative
services. The CityGlider is such a service.
It is with pride that I can say that the CityGlider was a creation of this
Administration, and this Administration's ability to answer the need of patrons,
to be able to provide dedicated, fast, efficient services that clearly shows by the
record amount of patronage that it is working. That is the kind of civic pride that
this Administration takes when it comes to public transport. That is the kind of
civic pride that this Administration takes to innovation and meeting the needs of
residents. This example clearly shows that we are continuing to listen to those
needs.
There was a petition brought forward to this Chamber based on those particular
patrons who use the Teneriffe service and then needed to continue to use the
CityGlider service to get to either James Street or the CBD to work. By going
out and working closely with Councillors McLACHLAN and HOWARD, we
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 15 have shown clearly that we have an innovative side on this side of the Chamber
that can solve problems, that takes pride in being able to deliver, that takes pride
in being able to address the concerns of residents, unlike those opposite who do
not listen to residents, who do not care about addressing real issues, who are not
interested in dealing with the affordability issues that the LORD MAYOR spoke
about before in public transport.
This side of the Chamber has presented a solution where there will now be a new
CityGlider stop at Skyring Terrace to address the needs of all those users. It will
also, importantly, through the hard work and commitment of Councillors
McLACHLAN and HOWARD, and the consultation that they undertook with
residents, continue to provide services for those users at the other stop where the
CityGlider previously was.
That is the kind of pride that councillors on this side of the Chamber take in their
jobs to deliver for their residents, to find solutions. That is what we are about,
Madam Chairman, unlike those opposite who do not care about meeting those
needs, who are more focused on the politics than the reality, who can go out
there and tell stories and fabricate to suit their own political needs. There is no
pride in doing that. This side of the Chamber is about being able to deal with
those issues.
So, by having this particular service adjusted the way we have, we continue to
run an efficient CityGlider service. It continues to meet all of the existing needs,
and importantly, also, when you look at Skyring Terrace, when you see the
enormous investment that has been undertaken in the improvements and the
developments that have occurred down at the old Gasometer, you see a need for
the future growth, and that is what this side of the Chamber is about.
We have seen from this side of the Chamber a commitment to the growth of our
city, by making sure that we meet that future population need, and Skyring
Terrace and the growth of the gasworks development clearly indicates the pride
that this Administration has in meeting the needs of the growth of our city.
Importantly so, as we grow, we need to meet those transport needs, and we are
doing so. This particular outcome is a tremendous win for all residents, not only
those using the Teneriffe service and also the CityGlider service, but for those
people wanting to move down to the gasworks development, to live down there,
to work down there; that is what this is about. The CityGlider service will
continue to provide that outcome.
Why? Because this side of the Chamber has pride in the outcomes that they want
to achieve for residents, because our priority is always the residents of Brisbane
and providing better, more efficient, timely and cost-effective services for all of
them. Thank you.
Chairman:
That ends Question Time.
CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS:
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Councillor Graham QUIRK), Chairman of the Establishment and
Coordination Committee, moved, seconded by the DEPUTY MAYOR (Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER), that
the report of the meeting of that Committee held on 4 August 2014, be adopted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. Last week in the E&C Report, there were
some issues that that were being debated around one component of the report
which was to do with procurement complaints. I indicated to the Chamber that I
would come back with a number of complaints that had been received in the
2013-14 financial year. That number was four.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 16 There was also a question in Question Time last week which I was not able to
respond to, and that was in relation to the Queensland Country Women's
Association (CWA) Yeronga branch, and a facility there, and the question
related to why a new lease had not been signed. I am happy to give the Chamber
some information around that now.
The Queensland Country Women's Association currently have a facility at 9
School Road, Yeronga. It is on State land which is held in trust by Council. The
CWA built that facility in 1952. The lease expired in 2011. They submitted an
application to renew, which was approved by Council and a letter was sent to
them. Since that time, the CWA have been disputing two things: one of those
was Council's standard maintenance requirements. They have been objecting to
having to submit a maintenance plan.
The other point was that any structural improvements that they might make
would become Council's property at the end of the lease period. Again, this is a
standard that is applied to leases across the board. The CWA feel, however, that
they should continue to own those components of the building. The above issues
have been in dispute, and there has been ongoing negotiation between Brisbane
City Legal Practice and the CWA solicitors.
The head body is now engaged in those discussions. The State President
currently has some health issues, and Council is dealing with the Queensland
Vice President around that to assist in trying to come to some final terms in
relation to the lease. I want to make it absolutely clear, though, that there is no
question about the CWA not being able to continue in relation to the site. We
just need to finalise these matters, and they are continuing to pay their
peppercorn rent; we are continuing to obviously continue with their use of the
site, so there is no risk there. It is just a matter of us finalising the arrangements
and coming to those terms.
Earlier today there was a question in relation to the membership of the Economic
Development Board. I have been able to obtain that list. I am happy to provide
that list to the Chamber. The members are, apart from the Chairman, whom we
have already discussed as part of the question, Patrick McKendry is the CEO and
Managing Director of Careers Australia; Anita Brown, who is the Area Centre
Manager of Colonial First State Global Asset Management; Steven Tait, who is
the CEO of Chamber of Commerce, Queensland; Michelle Cooper, who is the
General Manager of Membership, Australian Institute of Management; Mitchell
Ogilvie, who is an owner of Mitchell Ogilvie Menswear; Andrew Patten, who is
Property Consultant with Cushman & Wakefield; Chris McCluskey, who is the
General Manager of Development Services ISPT; Godfrey Mantle, who is the
Managing Director of Mantle Group; and Grant Parnell, who is the General
Manager of Pullman Brisbane. Again, I thank all of those entities for their time
in volunteering as part of that entity.
Something I meant to do last week: I just acknowledge in this case Brisbane
Times for their acknowledgement of a really great Brisbane success story, and I
refer here to Dr Abigail Allwood, a lady who went through Somerville House,
trained in Geology at QUT (Queensland University of Technology), and who is
now working in NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) as part
of the program around providing that information, that proof of evidence around:
Did life exist on Mars? It is, as I say, a great Brisbane success story, and
something that we ought to celebrate more often, the achievements of our local
people and the impact that they are making on the world stage.
I also just wanted to make a couple of brief comments in relation to the
Queensland Plan. The Queensland Plan, of course, has been an exercise with
some 80,000 people involved in that. I know there were members of this
Chamber that were also involved in different aspects of input into that
Queensland Plan. I am sure there are going to be parts of the plan that we will
agree with and parts we won't agree with, and all of that, but it does set out a
vision for the State for the years to come. We will certainly, as a Council, be
cognizant of what the people of Queensland have said and how it relates to
Brisbane. We will work in cooperation in relation to that vision that is set out.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 17 Obviously as a city we will continue with the forefront of our own work, which
is the city of Brisbane. That is what we are here for. But within that, and
acknowledging that 80,000 Queenslanders have been involved in that
Queensland Plan, we will continue to work with it and listen to what those
residents have had to say.
There is a number of flood studies which I just want to table. As part of the
Queensland Flood Commission of Inquiry, and through Council's Flood Action
Plan, we have been undertaking ongoing work in relation to creek flooding in
Brisbane.
Councillors interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
You might want to listen to this, please, so you don't get it wrong.
Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
No, listen; please just listen.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON! If you continue to interject, you will be warned.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, I want to make it absolutely clear: these reports are here
today in the interests of openness and transparency. They are purely raw data
reports at this time. What I am saying is that there is a lot more work that has to
be done in relation to these reports. They cover Albany Creek, Breakfast Creek,
Brighton Creek, Cabbage Tree Creek, Norman Creek, Oxley Creek, Stable
Swamp Creek and Wynnum Creek. So there is no in-depth analysis or
recommendations around what these flood studies show. They are raw data.
So this is a journey. The next steps that our officers have to engage in is in
having a look at what that raw data means. They have to do the analysis around
coming up with recommendations, and this Council has to then formulate a
policy setting around those studies. So they will be available in the Brisbane
Square Library, but again they are raw data figures. So for a lot of us that don't
understand these things, they probably won't mean much at all. We need to get
the analysis of those flood studies now undertaken. But I say I bring them here
today in the interests of at least people knowing where we are in advance in
those studies.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Point of order; yes, Councillor—
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Would the LORD MAYOR take a—
Chairman:
Just a moment, Councillor ABRAHAMS, until you are called. Yes, Councillor
ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Would the LORD MAYOR take a question?
LORD MAYOR:
Yes, I am happy to, Madam Chairman.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, LORD MAYOR, I much appreciate it. Will you give the same and
bring the analysis of the flood data as soon as it is available to the Council
Chamber so it becomes a public document?
LORD MAYOR:
Absolutely. What we have to do, just to be clear, we have to provide a policy
framework around that raw data. So there's got to be: what's all this raw data
mean? There's got to be an analysis done around that. What are the implications
in relation to that data? What are the policy settings that then go into that data?
Obviously they will have impacts in terms of land use and the like. So of course
we have to do that. Our officers will work diligently to do that in as timely a
manner as possible, understanding also that I am not going to compromise on the
thoroughness of their work in coming up with those recommendations. So they
will very much form part of the policy of this Council.
Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
You don't need to memorise it because it is written down now in Hansard for
you. Okay? So that takes me on to some other issues, if I may.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 18 Firstly, National Homelessness Persons Week was celebrated from 4 to 10
August, and when I say celebrated, I mean that in the context of acknowledging
that week. The fact that it is a very, very significant issue. We still believe there
are around 105,000 Australians who are homeless, and it is an ongoing effort on
the part of a lot of people to reduce those numbers, to give those homeless
persons some purpose in life and some future, understanding that, like all of us,
they are citizens and entitled to respect in that regard.
On 9 August, the United Nations International Day of the Worlds Indigenous
People was conducted, and on 12 August, the United Nations international
Youth Day was held. Last week I undertook an investment mission to Sydney.
During the course of that mission, I met with foreign correspondents.
I was away one night, but met with foreign correspondents and obviously
domestic media as well, but I am very hopeful that some good things will come
out of that meeting with foreign correspondents around getting that Brisbane
idea that I often talk about, getting that further out there. As more information
becomes available, I will update the Chamber accordingly. I can say that the
Economist is one that have absolutely confirmed that they will be doing an
article in relation to Brisbane and our journey as a new world city.
On 9 August, last Saturday, we saw the re-opening of the Brunswick Street Mall.
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR, before you continue, your time has expired.
53/2014-15
At that point, the LORD MAYOR was granted an extension of time on the motion of the DEPUTY MAYOR
seconded by Councillor Ryan MURPHY.
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks, Madam Chair, and I thank the Chamber. Yes, we saw the
acknowledgement also of Ball Park Music on the day. They have now had their
musical talents inscribed in history with a special little circular piece in the
Brunswick Street Mall; 77 Sunset Strip—that was the capture for what has been,
if you like, a couple of feature pieces within the Brunswick Street Mall
acknowledging that it has had a great history as a live music precinct, and long
may that history continue into the future.
I want to acknowledge GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin
Day) India Independence Day—that has been celebrated, the 67th anniversary of
Indian independence. That was very much a part of that celebration last Sunday.
We also re-launched the Henry Willis Organ, the pipe organ downstairs. I feel
for Simon Pearce having to try and re-tune all of those 4,392 individual pipes on
that organ between events that have been held. So we are there, and a couple of
internationally renowned organ players certainly re-launched that wonderful
piece of history. Of course, it was silver when it closed, and it is now converted
back to its original gold colour.
On 11 August, Brisbane won the hosting of the 17 th World Congress of
International Association of Applied Linguistics. That will be a five-day
conference, with 1,700 delegates here, and about $6.4 million injection into the
local economy, we understand. I have mentioned bushfire preparedness.
That takes us to the report itself. Firstly, item A, which is the Wynnum Manly
Meals on Wheels Association. They are in for a new home at 880 Manly Road,
Wakerley. This is a facility on Council land. It is one which I just congratulate
Councillor MURPHY. He has been working diligently and proactively in terms
of getting this site—
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR, just a moment. Councillor JOHNSTON, could you please try
to be a little bit quieter in accessing those documents? Thank you. LORD
MAYOR.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 19 LORD MAYOR:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. The facility, of course, will include a large
kitchen, associated facilities such as a cold room and dry storage and a
kitchenette, as outlined there on paragraph 4. That is a welcome addition.
Items B, C and D—I am going to tackle these as one. A number of new policies,
statutory guidelines and legislative changes that have come into effect recently—
I feel like I am at the show with that shooting gallery where the thing goes—
anyway, with changes to the Neighbourhood Plan making process. The
Neighbourhood Plan process includes some steps unique to Brisbane City
Council but also steps and timeframes stipulated within the statutory guideline
for making and amending a local planning instrument.
Council commenced a number of plans in 2012 and 2013 in anticipation of our
new planning scheme coming into effect on 30 June 2014. Council could not do
the statutory component until after 30 June, as it cannot change a planning
instrument until it is in existence. Previously the first time Council would see a
Neighbourhood Plan resolution would be a combined E&C for commencing a
plan and considering the draft plan for State interest review. There is an initial
stage where Council must undertake a resolution, or delegate, to indicate an
intent to commence a Neighbourhood Plan and a Local Government
Infrastructure Plan replacing the Priority Infrastructure Plan and give the State
the opportunity to consider potential State interest.
Each of these three items, B, C and D, have been through preliminary
consultation with the community, and details are available via Council's website.
In the case of Taringa Area Neighbourhood Plan, the plan objectives are to
provide certainty to the community with respect to future development that can
occur in the area. It looks at how development may, around the Taringa Village
area, support the village's renewal and to take advantage of its proximity to the
Taringa Railway Station; promote the village character through the creation of a
vibrant, high-quality streetscape; encourage sustainable transport choices with
enhanced pedestrian and cyclist connectivity and amenity—
Chairman:
Just a moment, LORD MAYOR. Councillor JOHNSTON, I hope you are not
photographing those documents.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
No, no, I am tweeting, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Well, I would suggest you do that from your desk, not over there.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
All I am doing is—
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, you sit at that table while you are looking at
documents. You then resume your seat.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I am looking at them on this—
Chairman:
Well, I would ask you to put your mobile phone away. Councillor JOHNSTON!
Councillor JOHNSTON, I have asked you to put the mobile phone away. If you
want to tweet, you can go and sit in your place and do that.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
You will not copy—you will not photograph what is on those documents.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I wasn't photographing, and I told you that. I'll send a tweet and then I'll go back.
Are we happy?
Chairman:
I would also point out, not just for Councillor JOHNSTON's benefit, but the
usual practice in this place, if you are going over to that table, you go around the
outside so you are not going across the front, backwards and forwards, in the
Chamber. That has always been the accepted protocol in this place. That is just
for anybody else who is not aware. Thank you. LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. It is also to promote the village character
through the creation of a vibrant high-quality streetscape. It encourages
sustainable transport choices with enhanced pedestrian and cyclist connectivity,
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 20 and amenity to the Taringa Railway Station. Also, to preserve the opportunity
for any potential future upgrades to the Moggill Road corridor. The local
Councillor has been involved, and also is very supportive.
It is hoped to release a draft Neighbourhood Plan—and that will be for comment,
obviously—to commence in late 2014, early 2015. It is anticipated that that draft
plan will be adopted by mid-to-late 2015.
The second one, the Albion Neighbourhood Plan area, planning objectives are as
follows: encourage high quality design that contributes to a strong sense of place
and enable the creation of a high density urban community with easy access to
opportunities for living, working and playing; improved community facilities
and focus on catalyst development sites such as the TAB site in Albion, and an
application is already in by Tatts Group, and it is already showing renewed
interest from the development community around that precinct.
The local councillors has also been involved in that. It is hoped to release a draft
Neighbourhood Plan for comment in late 2014 and early 2015, with the
anticipated draft plan to be adopted in late 2015.
The next one, and final one, is the Spring Hill plan. The objectives there relate to
balancing future growth while protecting areas of significant character and
heritage value; improving both pedestrian and cycle links to parks and
recreational spaces; and updating planning provisions. It came into effect on
Christmas Day in 1982 originally, as the Spring Hill Development Control Plan.
The local councillor has also been involved in this one, and of course there will
be an opportunity to comment on this draft strategy in late 2014. This
information will further guide the preparation of the draft neighbourhood plan
which the community will also have the opportunity to comment on by mid-tolate 2015, with the anticipated draft plan to be adopted in early 2016.
Item E, the final item, relates to a Stores Board item with the operation of the
Bracken Ridge Pool and the construction and operation of the Parkinson Pool.
This particular item, of course, they were commitments that we made back in
2012 to have these complete by March 2016 as part of this term's commitment.
The lease agreement with Australian Crawl Pty Limited is for the operation of
the Bracken Ridge facility for a 20-year period, and a deed and lease agreement
is with BlueFit Leisure Pty Limited for the construction and operation of the
Parkinson facility, again for a 20-year period. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Thanks, Madam Chair, and I rise to speak briefly on all items, and am happy to
follow on to the LORD MAYOR, and for the first time in a long time am happy
to offer all of my support for all items on today's—
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
Yes, it's maybe the exhibition feel that's catching on, or the goodwill that's—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
Councillor DICK:
But of course I will be making a few comments about each of them, so just cool
your jets until you hear what I've got to say. But nonetheless we won't be voting
against them, Madam Chair. We will be supporting them today.
Item A, as the LORD MAYOR said, is the agreement for lease between Council
and the Wynnum Manly Meals on Wheels. I think all of us in one way or the
other have strong connections with the Queensland Meals on Wheels
Association, and no doubt this new facility, which I know will include a large
kitchen, cold room, dry storage, meeting rooms and offices for staff and
volunteers—and of course, volunteers are a very important part of the Meals on
Wheels service delivery programs.
As a Meals on Wheels driver myself for about the last six years, I want to offer
my support not only for this facility but obviously the good work of the Meals on
Wheels Queensland Association right across Brisbane and the State and the
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 21 country. I know that, on completion, Council will enter into a 25-year lease and I
think this is a big boost for Meals on Wheels in the eastern suburbs. It is no
secret that Meals on Wheels are struggling. There are some providers which are
either short on clients or short on volunteers and I know all of us will be looking
forward to seeing this new facility provide the high level of service of which
Meals on Wheels is known for right across Brisbane.
On items B, C and D, which are the three sort of new Neighbourhood Plans, the
draft Taringa Neighbourhood Plan is in a different situation from when it first
came in, which had the suburb of St Lucia—the Taringa-St Lucia
Neighbourhood Plan which kicked off in 2010, it was then put on hold until mid2011 as a result of some of that flooding and transport and infrastructure work
that needed to be undertaken, and as a result of those investigations, St Lucia
was removed; BBC—or Brisbane Boys College—and the surrounding suburbs
were included, and as the LORD MAYOR said, and as you yourself would
probably admit, Madam Chair, there was identification for long-term
improvements to Moggill Road, and I understand that this plan will be going out
in late 2014.
The Albion Neighbourhood Plan was I think one of the first neighbourhood
plans that came in in 2008, shortly after when I was elected into this place, and
the current draft is a renewal. Also, the public plan will go out in late 2014. Just
with that Neighbourhood Plan there, I can recall there was considerable
community input and community concern over what the Council planned to do.
We had public speakers; there were a number of meetings and a number of
issues surrounding development in that area, and I certainly hope the Council
continues to work with the local community and to hear those concerns, and that
we don't have déjà vu when it comes to ignoring some of those residents'
concerns which we saw with the adoption of that first plan.
Also, the draft Spring Hill Neighbourhood Plan, Labor Councillors recognise
that is an important part of Brisbane. Councillor ABRAHAMS will be touching
base on some of those additional areas that have been moved from the local area
plan and added into the new Neighbourhood Plan. I just want to touch briefly on
this new process that the LORD MAYOR is talking about, the new approach of
how we approve and get the neighbourhood plans started. I think this is, in my
opinion, the State Government stomping on the rights of local councils. We
know that the Council has already done a number of important community
consultations and listening to residents, but we now have a new process which
has come into place, where the State Government now has to give approval
before a council will provide them with a neighbourhood plan. I guess it's
lengthening time for neighbourhood planning.
We hear a lot from the State Government about cutting red tape and about
cutting green tape and all that nonsense. In my opinion, those pro-destruction of
the environmental vandals like Jeff Seeney and those people who are always
consistently ignoring the rights of individuals and hearing feedback from the
community, time and time again, it is a hallmark of the current State
Government, we are now getting some sort of demand that councils have to seek
the State Government's approval.
I just wind back in time. Could you imagine a State Government saying to
Campbell Newman, you're going to have to get our approval before you do
something. They would be jumping up and down, up and down, all over the
place. My concerns are—and we haven't heard a peep, of course, from the LNP
about this; we never do—ever, ever, ever; always waiting outside the Cabinet
room to get the orders about what to say and what to do. But this is basically the
State Government adding in more bureaucracy and making it harder for local
government to actually deliver planning for their communities, without a doubt.
So, my message, through you, to the LORD MAYOR and the Council is: have
we sought assurances from the State Government that this won't add to any
length in times for our planning processes? Will there be any additional cost to
the planning schemes involved with this, now that we've got yet another layer
put in by the State Government? There may be very good reasons why the State
Government has put a gun at the head of local governments demanding this step,
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 22 but we haven't heard anything about this. It has all been very quiet and just kind
of slipped in. Now, this is yet another layer of, I guess, decision making that is
being part of the planning process.
Whilst we won't be blocking these neighbourhood plans now officially
beginning, that doesn’t mean to say when those neighbourhood plans come here
for decision we won't be raising concerns or listening to the community and
raising our own issues surrounding those planning issues, but we do recognise
that this is a new level of bureaucracy and a new layer that is put in by the State
Government, and we won't be opposing them.
On item E, the Stores Board submission, which is the operation of the Bracken
Ridge pool and the construction and operation of the Parkinson Pool, just on the
Bracken Ridge pool, originally it was proposed that the successful tenderer
would build and operate the pool, but that 'posed several issues' as it was
determined that the opportunity to secure a suitable construction and operation
appointment of Bracken Ridge is now looking unlikely. Council will be looking
at estimated revenue of about $1.6 million and will contribute the $1.3 million in
maintenance over 20 years.
The Parkinson pool costs will be $7.3 million, and its estimated revenue to
Council is $2.5 million over 20 years. Whilst we welcome new infrastructure for
these communities, we certainly will be keeping an eye on these projects to
make sure that not only is there value for money delivered but also where we see
those time delays time and time again with projects, and poor project delivery,
we will want to make sure that these are delivered on time and on budget as well.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor MURPHY.
Councillor MURPHY:
Yes, Madam Chairman, it gives me great pleasure to rise to support item A,
which is the lease for the new community facility at 880 Manly Road, Wakerley.
I was first approached by the association to assist with moving them out of their
current site at the Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre back in September 2012, and I
have been working very closely with them since that time to get to this end
outcome today.
It is very important to talk about the destination, which is of course the eventual
construction of this building, but I want to just briefly touch upon the journey
and what is a very historic moment for this tremendous community organisation.
In 1995 the current President of the Wynnum and Manly Districts Meals on
Wheels, Ken Edwards, retired from work and he took over management of the
association. It was obvious that the section of the Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre
that they were allocated at the time was inadequate, with no facilities for
administration, let alone provision of the numbers of volunteers that it was going
to require them to serve the community and the district.
Sadly in that centre there was no prospect for them to ever gain additional space.
A concerted effort was made by the association to gain new premises for the
Meals on Wheels centre where the community could be better served. Meals on
Wheels have told me that they made continuous efforts through their local
Councillor, Peter CUMMING, and of course my predecessor, John Campbell;
however, there were no available venues or land or other facilities for a new
kitchen facility at the time.
Inquiries through the State Government and of course the Federal Government
as well, were to no avail. In 2012 Ken approached the Wynnum Herald who
were amazed at the lack of facilities for Meals on Wheels, so it began a public
appeal to raise funds for the much-needed relocation. I remember at the time, in
2002 the Herald ran what is now a famous headline down in the bayside
districts; they said, Desperate, and they had a picture of the volunteers line-up
asking for money.
It was good, because that headline brought about results very quickly. A local
philanthropist, Bill McFarlane, who was unknown to Meals on Wheels at the
time, called up the President, Ken, and he said, 'How much land would you like?'
He gifted them a piece of land, one acre, on the former Marching Girls
Association site, which was a great philanthropic gesture in anyone's language.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 23 With that great start, the local community got right behind the Meals on Wheels
Association and donations of all sorts started to come through, from 20 cents to
$25,000.
The Herald continued their public appeal for a number of months, which
continued to bring attention to the issue over time. It is important; they didn't just
jump on to the issue during that media cycle; the Editor at the time actually stuck
with them and continued to help them raise that money.
In 2009 they found themselves not having nearly enough capital to build a
suitable size new kitchen, and Meals on Wheels made what was a very
controversial decision at the time to sell that land that they were gifted to a
developer. However, negotiations were carried out to ensure that the group
received the full market value for the land and then some. This was done, and the
land was finally sold with the blessing of the original benefactors.
Meals on Wheels then ended up having the land but only half the capital
required to build, and the Executive, in particularly, Ken Edwards, was
determined to ensure that the new kitchen facility would be built without any
debt. So they continued to wait, and in the meantime they invested their capital
in term deposits which continued to gain interest. They continued to invest in the
current kitchen and conduct the Meals on Wheels business through a separate
operating account. This business strategy paid off and today they find
themselves in the position of having $2.3 million in the bank account. This is
without a shred of funding from any levels of government to get this amount,
and it is a testament to the extraordinary work of the committee to raise that kind
of money.
The 25-year lease that we have before us today will enable a development
application for the facility to be lodged and the assessment process of the
building to be undertaken. If approved, the centre would provide more than just a
commercial kitchen and a Meals on Wheels facility. It will include undercover
loading and unloading facilities for the volunteers, a volunteers reception area, a
small kitchenette and a meeting room to accommodate approximately 100
people seated.
If approved, I understand that this will be the most state-of-the-art Meals on
Wheels kitchen and community facility in the country. Importantly, it will bring
new suburbs into the Meals on Wheels catchment area. Councillor CUMMING
and I have discussed this, but at the moment St Helena Island, which has no
inhabitants, has service under their current catchment area, but suburbs like
Wakerley and Gumdale do not. So importantly, the new catchment area will
stretch all the way out to Rochedale servicing Councillor SCHRINNER's
residents, which is obviously incredibly important.
It is also designed to be future proof by a provision of space underneath the
building, equivalent in size to about half the building area, for another group,
such as a sporting organisation, to take up residence in the future. We know that
the Bayside Netball Association has been keen to move from their current site at
Cox Park, Lota, and that this site was mooted at one point to be their new home.
However, they have indicated to Council on a number of occasions that they do
not have the funds to proceed with construction of the courts or associated
facilities. So we have progressed with Meals on Wheels, obviously, to ensure
that this site can be of use to their community in the intervening time.
But they can be assured that this lease in no way prejudices the use of this site
for Bayside Netball, and indeed the works that Council will be doing on the site
will ensure that they will be able to potentially come on later, because we will
have the provision of gas, sewer, water, power, data connections as well as a car
park and land levelling works as part of the package of works to enable the site.
In closing, I want to commend Ken and the association on their diligent and
measured way in which they have worked with Council to progress this proposal
over the last two years. I also want to join in with the association in thanking the
work that Council officers and, in particular, Michael Burmeister and Anitra
Hatcher as well as the officers of BCLP (Brisbane City Legal Practice) and
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 24 Councillor ADAMS, Councillor BOURKE and their staff, of course, as well as
the Lord Mayor's office for making this lease possible. Madam Chairman, I
commend the item.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor CUMMING.
Councillor CUMMING:
Yes, thanks, Madam Chair; I would also refer to item A and add my support in
saying this is a great deal for Wynnum Manly but also a great deal for Meals on
Wheels in the area. I have been a volunteer down at the Wynnum Manly Meals
on Wheels for over a decade, and these days when I can't do it, my wife and her
friend do it. They currently sublease part of the Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre;
they have done for some time, but they have always had that long-standing
desire to get their own premises.
My version of events differs only slightly from Councillor MURPHY's in that
the land that they were given was owned by the Wynnum Manly Marching Girls
Association, and Bill McFarlane’s generosity—Bill didn't actually own the land
as far as I know; it was owned by the Marching Girls and they had wound up
their activities and they were looking for a worthy group to donate their assets to,
and that is how the land came to be given to the Meals on Wheels organisation.
It was controversial to sell it, but they got a very good offer to buy the land. The
land is where the new Bunnings is being built at Manly West and I think the
price was about $1.8 million. My understanding is that a local developer, BMD,
actually donated $200,000—I have heard Ken tell that story—towards the
project as well, which is a very generous donation. So that's how they started off
with the $2 million in the bank, and with their fundraising efforts plus the
interest on the capital invested, the amount has now risen to $2.3 million.
There have been some concerns about the proposed new site, but I don't believe
they are really strong concerns. Some of the volunteers actually rely on public
transport to get to the kitchen. The leisure centre has a bus stop next door and a
railway station across the road, but the new facility, I can say, having driven up
past it recently, has a bus stop just across the road as well. So hopefully there
won't be any great inconvenience to people. Also, it is a slightly longer drive for
most of the volunteers to go to there, rather than the leisure centre, which is more
centrally located, but the people who need it are entitled to reimbursement of
their petrol expenses, so I don't see a problem there at all.
As Councillor MURPHY said, with over $2 million to spend, I believe this
kitchen will be one of the best in Queensland. Ken Edwards has had his heart set
on this for many years. Ken is a former President of Meals on Wheels
Queensland as well. He did a terrific job. He sort of wore out the State driving
up and down the length and breadth of Queensland when he was the President of
Queensland Meals on Wheels.
Ken is supported by his wife Irene who actually organises the roster that I am on
for Meals on Wheels at Wynnum, and also does great work with the famous
Meals on Wheels Christmas parties where, if you miss out on a raffle prize,
you've got to be desperately unlucky, because there's probably more raffle prizes
than there are people attend. I have to say, about 150 people attend, so that's how
many raffle prizes there are. But sadly, Irene has had a lot of ill health in recent
years, and I wish her all the best with her battle with her continued health
problems.
The Council has been very generous with this proposal. The amount of work
they are doing, which was outlined briefly by Councillor MURPHY, is an
excellent amount of work. I would be interested to know how much it costs. I am
sure it would be hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps more, and the rent, as
I read the agreement, is the princely sum of $1 per year, but it could go up by
150 per cent after five years, so that means it would be $1.50 a year. That is a
pretty good deal. So congratulations.
In relation to netball, Ken has actually told me that they still have catered for
netball, as Councillor MURPHY said. If the netball ever get out there and are
able to occupy the adjoining land. There is considerable earthworks required if
that was to happen, because it is sloping land, but the Meals on Wheels kitchen
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 25 would have a canteen that could be used by the Netball Association as well as
toilet facilities, which is what they need for their activities as well. That is a long
term thing. The hope is one day that netball will get out there, but the Meals on
Wheels have actually included extra facilities at their cost in the building to cater
for netball, which shows the generosity of spirit and the community mindedness
of Meals on Wheels.
To sum up, this is a great development for the Wynnum Manly district, and well
done to the Brisbane City Council at all levels for this agreement.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR.
Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR: Thank you, Madam Chairman, and it is with great pleasure that I rise to speak on
item E today. The Parkinson District Pool coming to the Parkinson Ward is a
long-awaited project for the many residents of Parkinson Ward, and on behalf of
them I would like to take this opportunity to say a very big thankyou to the
LORD MAYOR and also to Councillor ADAMS for the work that they have put
in supporting this project behind the scenes.
I would also like to extend to all of the Council officers that have been involved
in getting the pool project to this point a very heartfelt thankyou as well, because
with any site, there are a number of constraints that have to be considered, but
certainly the Council officers that have been working on this have received a
number of items of correspondence as feedback from my residents that have
come through my office, because they all had their very strong views as to what
they wanted to see from this facility.
Can I say, I do thank my local P&C associations for putting forward the
feedback and requesting a 50-metre outdoor pool, because that is what the
residents of Parkinson Ward are getting. They are getting an eight-lane
50-metre pool and a 25-metre indoor pool, and down the track they will also be
getting an aquatic playground as well as the mandatory change rooms, toilet
facilities and admin (administration) office that will be installed.
We are very cognizant that the location is close to residents' homes, and Council
officers have done prep work to assess the traffic and noise and geological
studies that are required for any project like this. Now that the successful
tenderer has been announced, I do welcome BlueFit Leisure into the Parkinson
Ward, and I look forward to working with them on this project to get a great
outcome for our local community.
Can I say that there are at least about 12,000 young people who live in Parkinson
Ward and attend local schools, and they are looking forward in a big way to
having this in their catchment area, because this will provide a great opportunity.
These students will not have to travel all the way to Chandler—no offence,
Councillor SCHRINNER—but having a local facility where they can go and
have their local district swimming carnivals is going to be of great benefit,
because for many schools, one of the biggest difficulties is actually that
transportation, getting large numbers of students out of the school grounds to
another location for a swimming carnival.
Certainly I have had indications from local swimming clubs that, when the pool
project was first announced, they too are interested in looking at what squad
facilities will be available. I have no doubt that they would be very interested in
having some discussions with BlueFit Leisure in the weeks and months ahead,
because certainly this will be a great home base for many talented swimmers that
we do have in the southern suburbs and the south-west corridor.
As a former swimmer myself, I know what it is like to get up at 5.30am in the
morning and swim a mile and then come back in the afternoon and do it all over
again. I know the dedication that is required to invest in this sport. Can I say that
the other aspect of this pool is that it will enhance the opportunities for so many
young children to learn to swim. In our climate, particularly in our State, there
are so many bodies of water, and that is why it is so important for young people
to learn to swim. So I do welcome the opportunities that will come from that as
well.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 26 I note also that there are a number of older residents in my ward that have also
mentioned to me that they would be interested in doing aqua-aerobics and that
type of thing, so as the discussions progress down the track, I certainly look
forward to conveying all of these requests on behalf of my constituents to the
new operators of the pool and see what can actually be encapsulated into that
operation. Once again, on behalf of the residents of Parkinson Ward, a very big
thank you for this project to be proceeding, because it is very welcomed, and it
will be extremely well utilised. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor JOHNSTON.
Seriatim - Clause E
Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON requested that Clause E, STORES BOARD SUBMISSION – OPERATION OF
BRACKEN RIDGE POOL AND CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF PARKINSON POOL, be taken
seriatim for voting purposes.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Firstly, can I just say well done to the Wynnum Manly Meals on Wheels for
their new kitchen. I think that is fantastic. I congratulate everybody involved in
that. I think that Meals on Wheels is one of the most important and fundamental
parts of our community. Like Councillor DICK, I am an active volunteer at the
Yeronga Meals on Wheels, and certainly I support the Sherwood Meals on
Wheels as needed as well. I know personally what a great job Meals on Wheels
do and I am delighted that they will have this new facility to keep assisting the
elderly and frail in our community.
With respect to items B, C and D, just briefly, I note that the LORD MAYOR's
flip-flop routine just gets more entertaining as we go on week by week. A couple
of weeks ago he said the most important neighbourhood plan we needed to do
was the new Fairfield Dutton Park one, but here we are back a couple of weeks
later bringing forward a Taringa, Albion and Spring Hill neighbourhood plan. So
either what he said in the media was true, or what he is doing here is true, but
who do you believe? Who's got it right?
Are these more important than the Fairfield Dutton Park ones, Madam
Chairman? We don't know. The Council officers have no idea. I have been
asking questions and I haven't got any answers. I just don't know what's going on
with neighbourhood planning in this Council. It's clear it has gone off the rails in
my view. I am extremely concerned for these three communities about what is
going to happen to them, but that process will unfold, and I will certainly look
forward to further discussions if these matters come back to this Council for
endorsement.
But I mainly rise to speak on item E, the Stores Board submission which is the
approval of the contracts for the Bracken Ridge pool and the Parkinson pool. I
am extremely concerned with the information that is provided in the report today
on item E. On the face of the language alone, it demonstrates massive problems
with the tendering process. There are obvious, obvious financial inconsistencies
and problems with what is proposed with both of these pools. We have had
tenderers pull out and then put in again. They can't meet Council's criteria for the
tender. There are huge, huge financial irregularities in this process and I am
extremely concerned that Council is pushing ahead and is going to approve the
contract for these two pools.
It is astonishing how badly the process has been run and how it seems, in my
view, based on the material in this submission, that these parties may not be
capable of delivering it. I think this Council is putting itself at risk. They are
already going well over what they expected in terms of financial obligations that
we are tying ourselves to.
Even where that isn’t enough, there are these odd little statements in the report—
this is about the Parkinson pool. Council will contribute $6.675 million. Point 6
million will be drawn from—well, $6 million, I think that's a typo—$6 million
will be drawn from the existing pools budget, and the remaining $675,000 is
available for within program 4. Whereabouts in program 4? What is being cut?
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 27 Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR!
Councillor JOHNSTON:
What is being cut for the rest of the city so that the botched financial
arrangements entering into between this Council and the contractors can be
done? There is no explanation in here, none. Somebody is going to miss out,
because I don't think that this LORD MAYOR has a spare $675,000 sitting in his
back pocket simply to flash around to prop up what is a poorly run tendering
process.
So Councillor ADAMS needs to stand up, or the LORD MAYOR needs to stand
up and tell us where this magic $675,000 from program 4 is coming from,
because that means that somebody else's projects will miss out. There is a big
problem with this. I don't have a problem at all with these two new pools being
built; they are excellent resources for our community, but the problem we have
here is the tenderers do not, on Council's own report, have the capacity to deliver
the projects in the way Council wants.
Instead of going back to the market, we asked the people who had already told
us they couldn't do it in the way Council wanted, just to re-jig it a bit and put it
back in. That is what the report before us today says about Parkinson and
Bracken Ridge. That is a massive problem. It is fundamental in the way you go
out and tender. This Council can't enter into contracts where there is a lack of
financial rigor in the way in which the tendering process is carried out and the
financial accountability within these matters before us today.
I note the LORD MAYOR and his adviser are having a little bit of a laugh, so I
have clearly hit the nail on the head. I have clearly hit the nail on the head here,
Madam Chairman, because there are big problems with this. The LORD
MAYOR might stand up and say, I think it is a poorly-worded report. Well, if
that is the case, it has come up to him in E&C (Establishment and Coordination);
it has come back to this Council, and he hasn’t changed it. He hasn't asked them
to fix it up. So all I can go on is what is actually in the report before us today,
and that is hugely concerning.
For example, paragraph 37—this is about the Bracken Ridge pool, 'The build
and operate submissions for the Bracken Ridge site pose several issues, and
these related to capability, capacity and commercial matters.' Now, they are three
of the most fundamentally important things in any contract that you want to
make sure are right. They are not right, and the Council officers are putting it in
black and white to us in this place now saying that there is a problem with the
ability of these contractors to deliver. I can read it; it is simple.
It is really problematic that the LORD MAYOR has just stood up and said how
wonderful this is, because that is not what the officers are saying, and it is our
responsibility to make sure that the money of this Council that has come from
the ratepayers of this city is spent in a financially rigorous and certain way. That
is not possible on the basis of the advice that is in the report before us.
I note that the LORD MAYOR and the LNP want to gloss over this, and they
just want to tick it. I suspect, with all due respect to Councillor DICK, given this
pool will be for his residents that he will have an interest in making sure this
goes ahead. But, Madam Chairman, I do not think that it is right at all to avoid
the black and white language of the Council officers in this report about the
problems with the capacity of the tenderers and the financial incapacity to
deliver the projects that we've got.
It is hugely problematic that we are simply told that some magic $675,000 is
available within program 4. I haven't heard a single word about who is going to
miss out because of that, and somebody will have to. That is not just a small
amount. Somebody is going to miss out on local projects because of the lack of
financial rigor around these two contracts.
I also note that Council expects to receive significant revenue over the course of
the next 20 years with respect to these pool leases, and I suspect that that will not
happen. I can only express the level of concern and again reflect what is in
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 28 writing from the Council officers where they are stating that the money that this
Council is expecting to get as a return through the use of the pool is not
guaranteed; it is not included in the assessment value of the contracts before us
today. I am extremely concerned that this does not represent the best value for
money for the ratepayers of our city.
The fact that we want two new pools, which is a worthy goal, does not abrogate
our right to make sure a sound financial decision is made. On the basis of this
material before us today, I cannot see how that is possible. I will not be
supporting this item.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor MURPHY.
ADJOURNMENT:
54/2014-15
At that time, 3.54pm, it was resolved on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor
Kim MARX, that the meeting adjourn for a period of 15 minutes, to commence only when all councillors had
vacated the Chamber and the doors locked.
Council stood adjourned at 3.55pm.
UPON RESUMPTION:
At that time, 4.14pm, the Deputy Chairman, Councillor Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, assumed the Chair.
Deputy Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I wish to speak briefly on item B and
C and then with a little more detail on item D. Madam Chair, first off I would
share the concerns of Councillor Milton DICK in his comments about a new
additional process to creating a neighbourhood plan, which certainly will add
time to the process if not more difficulty and complexity, and my disappointment
that there was no evidence of the LORD MAYOR actually sitting down and
trying to prevent this additional tier of planning that makes everything so much
more difficult.
Madam Chair, it's also interesting to see that the Taringa and Albion
Neighbourhood Plan are refreshers or renews of the planning process, of the
neighbourhood planning process. It would appear that they've been given
priority rather than the Banyo Neighbourhood Plan that I know Councillor
FLESSER is smarting that it seems to have not been given priority.
But, Madam Chair, I'm interested in particular in the Spring Hill Neighbourhood
Plan because this neighbourhood plan, as the LORD MAYOR acknowledged,
builds on the first local in detailed fine grained planning instrument in Brisbane
City Council and that was the Spring Hill Master Plan which had incredible
detail, undertaken by the former Councillor St Ledger, it was Alderman St
Ledger. It was very much prescriptive, so intending to keep the character of the
buildings.
It's interesting to go back and look at that plan and reflect how every other local
plan and neighbourhood plan since that time has not been able to achieve any of
the retention of the goals of the original Spring Hill plan. But, Madam Chair, I'm
quite interested to see that there has been an increase in the boundary to include
Victoria Park and the two grammar schools, the Centenary Pool and quite a large
Energex site. So it's Victoria Park with all the facilities in it between Gregory
Terrace and the Railway Line.
Madam Chair, it makes sense to exclude this area on the previous Spring Hill
Neighbourhood Plan because parks aren't a site for development. Those schools
have never been inhibited in getting the developments that they wish so I'm not
sure a neighbourhood plan is necessary for them. But I actually welcome it. If it
does what a member of one of the working groups has suggested. The one
working group that's been undertaken before we've actually notified the State
Government under our new process which just shows how clumpy it is.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 29 But in that working group one of the comments were we want more parkland
designated in Victoria Park. So if that intention is to make sure Victoria Park
does not lose anymore parkland from the area that's involved in this
neighbourhood plan we will be achieving something. Because, Madam Chair,
even as I speak I'm very aware that the BaT tunnel is a further intrusion into that
park where the community is losing more significant parkland. So that would be
in my belief a really strong objective that should be included and supported by
the inclusion of Victoria Park into the Spring Hill Plan.
But it's interesting, Madam Chair, to see the new process where we have to give
the State Government the outline of the plan and then list the areas that may have
relevance. Madam Chair, they're all a very generic list. It's not specific to
anything so a process one will begin to wonder what it's going to achieve in the
long term if it's just the same list for every neighbourhood plan. But setting that
aside, Madam Chair, I am concerned because when I went through the list of the
state interest on the table, the state interest expressed in the table, it doesn't
actually mention parkland.
It mentions lots of other things. Now I know the text says they're most interested
in transport infrastructure and service infrastructure which makes sense because
that would be the highest level of interest for the State Government. But you
would expect if it's talking about housing types, social planning, health and
safety communities, cultural significance and all of those issues it might just
mention parkland. But parkland now is a word I don't think we're ever going to
see in a planning document. Because instead of which we're using words that
really aren't very clear to the community, those words being green space network
and outdoor recreation and there can be a plethora of interpretations for that.
Madam Chair, if we're serious about neighbourhood planning and serious about
developing communities then we need parks to be part of our plans, Labor
councillors are very proud of the park that has been put into the Teneriffe area
where we had the former gas site that we've just been talking about. A park that
was delivered, open space park, a broad lovely park but we're not seeing that
elsewhere. Well, Madam Chair, if we are putting it as an expression of interest
when we're relating to the neighbourhood plans, we will never have a proper
protection of parkland or even as the residents have already stated in Spring Hill,
an increase in the amount of land designated for parkland.
Deputy Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor ADAMS.
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise to speak on item A and item E and I thank the
councillors for their contribution and support of both of these items. To start
with item A is the item before us is the lease with Meals on Wheels at Manly
Road at Wakerley. We've been working with Meals on Wheels regarding Manly
Road in Lifestyle since June last year when they approached us. They think this
might be a site that they could construct their new kitchen facility.
It's been fantastic to actually see this come to fruition after many hard yards with
the Council officers, Anitra and Michael that were mentioned but also the very
strong advocacy by the local councillor and the work that is being done in that
area as well. So this is an area obviously that does have a high need for Meals on
Wheels and an expanding Meals on Wheels as it is. We are going to be
improving the conditions obviously for the staff which is fantastic and for the
volunteers. But it's also going to activate the park and get started works that may
lead to future opportunities in this park as well when we work with NEWS
(Natural Environment, Water and Sustainability Branch).
So also within this building—I'm not sure if Councillor MURPHY mentioned
that some of the facilities will be available to the wider community as well. So
with the Meals on Wheels having a fantastic facility we're also going to be
getting community dividend out of this as well for the local area which is a
fantastic outcome.
At that time, 4.23pm, the Chairman, Councillor Margaret de WIT, resumed the Chair.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 30 -
Councillor ADAMS:
I thank Meals on Wheels for working with us on that one as well. So we will be
undertaking the site preparation works including the earthworks, the car-parking,
the landscaping and installing the services.
It does need a new platform because of the lay of the land if you are familiar
with it. But the Meals on Wheels will be responsible for the design and
construction of the facility, obtaining necessary development and building
approval. I must commend them on their fundraising activities and their
capabilities through their forward planning in being able to afford this as a
community group and making sure that they are providing for that local area for
years to come.
So we are hoping that the site preparation works are completed by mid-2015 and
working through that development approval application and stuff, everything
should be done by late 2015, and looking forward to the turning of the site and
then the opening of the Meals on Wheels on this site which is very exciting.
With regards to Item E, the Bracken Ridge and Parkinson Pool as the LORD
MAYOR said one of the promises to be delivered in this term and we are right
on track to make sure that these pools are open before the end of this term. Very
happy to see that we've come to the point where we have the operators now for
Bracken Ridge and for Parkinson, although each of these arrangements are
slightly different with regards to the pool.
So the facility to be built at Bracken Ridge will be based on the Runcorn model
which is what we based all our tendering models on with the indoor heated pool,
the ramp access, the outdoor heated pool, the amenities block, the kiosk and the
reception area. It will be built by Council and then operated by Australian Crawl,
which also have the Sandgate Pool as well so I think that's a really good match
for the northern suburbs of Brisbane.
Then BlueFit Leisure is the recommended operator to construct and operate the
new Parkinson Pool which has enabled us to look at an enhanced facility here
because of the extra commitment that BlueFit Leisure are committed to putting
into this site as well. So they're going to have the heated outdoor and indoor
pools as well, change-room, kiosk and car-parking but the larger 50 metre pool
because of their commitment through this tender process as well.
As Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR said this is a great win for the local community
and the swimmers of all ages. With the 50 metre pool, the opportunity to have
the swim club for elite swim squads or learn to swim and all of that long course
training that's available at those types of sites so it's fantastic. I do need to make
mention, I have to say that the procurement phase has been very long and it has
been very difficult negotiations because this is a lot of money for any company
to be putting into a Council facility. It has taken a lot of negotiations.
But I have to say, very disappointed to hear the Independent councillor on the
other side yet again reads the articles, reads the report, picks out a line,
selectively takes it out and then just miscommunicates it to the Chamber over
and over and over again to make it sound like it is the truth. So we have one line
in there that says several issues on Bracken Ridge about capability, capacity and
commercial matters. It is then very clearly explained what those matters were
and how they were dealt with.
So there are no concerns about the negotiations, the tendering and the companies
that we have now gone into these arrangements with. That is what procurement
is all about, negotiation. You go back and forth and you talk to the tenderers and
it's all done under a commercial in confidence. We are very confident that we
will see a fantastic outcome at Bracken Ridge and at Parkinson for these two
pools to be delivered within this term. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Further debate? LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks, Madam Chairman. Well, Madam Chairman, I think the various items on
the Agenda have been covered by the Chair so I thank all councillors for their
contribution and the support indicated in relation to these five Items.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 31 Chairman:
I will put the motion for Items A, B, C and D.
Clauses A, B, C and D put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clauses A, B, C and D of the report of the
Establishment and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for Item E.
Clause E put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause E of the report of the Establishment
and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Graham Quirk) (Chairman); Deputy Mayor
(Councillor Adrian Schrinner) (Deputy Chairman); and Councillors Krista Adams, Matthew Bourke,
Amanda Cooper, Peter Matic, David McLachlan and Julian Simmonds.
A
AGREEMENT FOR LEASE BETWEEN COUNCIL AND THE WYNNUM
MANLY MEALS ON WHEELS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED
176/630/543/17
55/2014-15
1.
The Divisional Manager, Brisbane Lifestyle provided the information below.
2.
In June 2013, the Wynnum Manly Meals on Wheels Association Incorporated (Meals on
Wheels) wrote to Council with the proposal to construct a new kitchen facility on part of
Council’s Manly Road Park at 880 Manly Road, Wakerley.
3.
Building a facility on this site will enable Meals on Wheels to expand their services in this
area of high need, improve the conditions for their staff and volunteers, and activate the park.
4.
The facility will include a large kitchen with associated facilities such as a cold room, dry
storage and a kitchenette, in addition to meeting rooms and offices for staff and volunteers.
Some of these facilities will be available to the community.
5.
An Agreement for Lease has been developed in consultation with Meals on Wheels and is set
out in Attachment B, submitted on file.
6.
Meals on Wheels will be responsible for the design and construction of the facility and for
obtaining all necessary development and building approvals.
7.
Council’s site preparation works are expected to be completed by mid 2015 and the Meals on
Wheels’ facility is anticipated to be completed by late 2015, subject to development approval.
8.
Upon completion of the works, Council will enter into a lease with Meals on Wheels, for
25 years at nominal rent, in accordance with the terms of the draft Lease as set out in
Attachment C, submitted on file.
9.
The Divisional Manager submits the following recommendation and the Committee agrees.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 32 -
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE IN ACCCORDANCE WITH ATTACHMENT A,
hereunder.
Attachment A
Draft Resolution
TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR LEASE AND LEASE WITH THE
WYNNUM MANLY MEALS ON WHEELS ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED ON
PART OF MANLY ROAD PARK AT 880 MANLY ROAD, WAKERLEY
1.
As:
(a)
Council is the owner of Lot 4 SP114363, Parish of Tingalpa, part of
Manly Road Park at 880 Manly Road, Wakerley; and
(b)
Wynnum Manly Meals on Wheels Association Incorporated has
agreed to construct a Meals on Wheels facility on part of Manly Road
Park at 880 Manly Road, Wakerley in exchange for a 25 year lease.
Then Council approves:
(c)
Entry into an Agreement for Lease and a subsequent 25 year lease
with the Wynnum Manly Meals on Wheels Association Incorporated
for part of Manly Road Park at 880 Manly Road, Wakerley:
(i)
In accordance with the Agreement for Lease and terms of the
draft Lease as set out in Attachments B and C, as submitted
on file; and
(ii)
Otherwise on terms and conditions satisfactory to the
Manager, Asset Management, Brisbane Infrastructure and the
Chief Legal Counsel, Brisbane City Legal Practice.
ADOPTED
B
DRAFT TARINGA NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
152/160/516/388
56/2014-15
10.
The Divisional Manager, City Planning and Sustainability provided the information below.
11.
It is proposed to amend the Brisbane City Plan 2014 to include the draft Taringa
Neighbourhood Plan and to make consequential amendments. The planning scheme
commenced on 30 June 2014. The inclusion of the draft Neighbourhood Plan is a major
amendment to the planning scheme. Statutory Guideline 02/14 (the Guideline) sets out the
process for making a major amendment.
12.
Amendments will also be required to be made to the Priority Infrastructure Plan (PIP) in Part
4 of the planning scheme. Recent amendments to the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 deem the
PIP to be the local government infrastructure plan (LGIP).
13.
The Guideline requires Council to provide the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure
and Planning with the following:
a copy of the Council decision;
a written statement about the nature and details of the proposed amendment, as set out
in Attachment B, submitted on file which includes an interactive map of the draft
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 33 -
-
Neighbourhood Plan area, as set out in Attachment C, submitted on file, and;
a written statement of the state interests expressed in the South East Queensland
Regional Plan 2009-2031 (the Regional Plan) and the State Planning Policy (SPP)
that Council considers relevant and how those state interests are integrated within the
proposed amendment, as set out in Attachment D, submitted on file.
14.
The Guideline also introduces a new process for amending a planning scheme for a LGIP.
Council is required to decide to make an amendment to the LGIP and consult with any
relevant state agencies about transport matters and the distributor-retailer to the extent that
they are affected by the proposed amendments to the LGIP, before preparing the amendment.
15.
The Divisional Manager provided the following recommendation and the Committee agrees.
16.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ATTACHMENT A,
hereunder.
Attachment A
Draft Resolution
TO AMEND BRISBANE CITY PLAN 2014 TO INCLUDE THE DRAFT TARINGA
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
1.
2.
Council decides to amend Brisbane City Plan 2014:
(a)
Pursuant to Step 1.1 of Stage 1 of Part 2.4A.1 of Statutory Guideline 02/14
(the Guideline) under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, to include the draft
Taringa Neighbourhood Plan and to make consequential amendments; and
(b)
pursuant to Step 1.1 of Stage 1 of Part 2.4B.1 of the Guideline to make an
interim local government infrastructure plan amendment to the local
government infrastructure plan in Part 4.
Council directs, pursuant to Step 1.4 of Stage 1 of Part 2.4A.1 of the Guideline, that
the Minister be provided with:
(a)
A written statement advising of this decision
(b)
A copy of Attachment B, as submitted on file, and Attachment C, as
submitted on file, which set out the nature and details of the proposed
amendments; and
(c)
A copy of Attachment D, as submitted on file, which sets out the state
interests expressed in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031
and the State Planning Policy which Council considers relevant and how
Council proposes to integrate those in the proposed amendments.
ADOPTED
C
DRAFT ALBION NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
152/160/881/411
57/2014-15
17.
The Divisional Manager, City Planning and Sustainability provided the information below.
18.
It is proposed to amend the Brisbane City Plan 2014 to include the draft Albion
Neighbourhood Plan and to make consequential amendments The planning scheme
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 34 -
commenced on 30 June 2014. The inclusion of the draft Neighbourhood Plan is a major
amendment to the planning scheme. Statutory Guideline 02/14 (the Guideline) sets out the
process for making a major amendment.
19.
Amendments will also be required to be made to the Priority Infrastructure Plan (PIP) in Part
4 of the planning scheme. Recent amendments to the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 deem the
PIP to be the local government infrastructure plan (LGIP).
20.
The Guideline requires Council to provide the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure
and Planning with the following:
a copy of the Council decision;
a written statement about the nature and details of the proposed amendment, as set out
in Attachment B, submitted on file, which includes an interactive map of the draft
Neighbourhood Plan area, as set out in Attachment C, submitted on file, and;
a written statement of the state interests expressed in the South East Queensland
Regional Plan 2009-2031 (the Regional Plan) and the State Planning Policy (SPP)
that Council considers relevant and how those state interests are integrated within the
proposed amendment, as set out in Attachment D, submitted on file.
21.
The Guideline also introduces a new process for amending a planning scheme for a LGIP.
Council is required to decide to make an amendment to the LGIP and consult with any
relevant state agencies about transport matters and the distributor-retailer to the extent that
they are affected by the proposed amendments to the LGIP, before preparing the amendment.
22.
The Divisional Manager provided the following recommendation and the Committee agrees.
23.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ATTACHMENT A,
hereunder.
Attachment A
Draft Resolution
TO AMEND BRISBANE CITY PLAN 2014 TO INCLUDE THE DRAFT ALBION
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
1.
2.
Council decides to amend Brisbane City Plan 2014:
(a)
Pursuant to Step 1.1 of Stage 1 of Part 2.4A.1 of Statutory Guideline 02/14
(the Guideline) under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, to include the draft
Albion Neighbourhood Plan and to make consequential amendments; and
(b)
pursuant to Step 1.1 of Stage 1 of Part 2.4B.1 of the Guideline to make an
interim local government infrastructure plan amendment to the local
government infrastructure plan in Part 4 of the Brisbane City Plan 2014.
Council directs, pursuant to Step 1.4 of Stage 1 of Part 2.4A.1 of the Guideline, that
the Minister be provided with;
(a)
A written statement advising of this decision
(b)
A copy of Attachment B, as submitted on file, and Attachment C, as
submitted on file, which set out the nature and details of the proposed
amendments; and
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 35 -
(c)
A copy of Attachment D, as submitted on file, which sets out the state
interests expressed in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031
and the State Planning Policy which Council considers relevant and how
Council proposes to integrate those in the proposed amendments.
ADOPTED
D
DRAFT SPRING HILL NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
152/160/516/391
58/2014-15
24.
The Divisional Manager, City Planning and Sustainability provided the information below.
25.
It is proposed to amend the Brisbane City Plan 2014 to include the draft Spring Hill
Neighbourhood Plan and to make consequential amendments The planning scheme
commenced on 30 June 2014. The inclusion of the draft Neighbourhood Plan is a major
amendment to the planning scheme. Statutory Guideline 02/14 (the Guideline) sets out the
process for making a major amendment.
26.
Amendments will also be required to be made to the Priority Infrastructure Plan (PIP) in Part
4 of the planning scheme. Recent amendments to the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 deem the
PIP to be the local government infrastructure plan (LGIP).
27.
The Guideline requires Council to provide the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure
and Planning with the following:
a copy of the Council decision;
a written statement about the nature and details of the proposed amendment, as set out
in Attachment B, submitted on file, which includes an interactive map of the draft
Neighbourhood Plan area, as set out in Attachment C, submitted on file, and;
a written statement of the state interests expressed in the South East Queensland
Regional Plan 2009-2031 (the Regional Plan) and the State Planning Policy (SPP)
that Council considers relevant and how those state interests are integrated within the
proposed amendment, as set out in Attachment D, submitted on file.
28.
The Guideline also introduces a new process for amending a planning scheme for a LGIP.
Council is required to decide to make an amendment to the LGIP and consult with any
relevant state agencies about transport matters and the distributor-retailer to the extent that
they are affected by the proposed amendments to the LGIP, before preparing the amendment.
29.
The Divisional Manager provided the following recommendation and the Committee agrees.
30.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ATTACHMENT A,
hereunder.
Attachment A
Draft Resolution
TO AMEND BRISBANE CITY PLAN 2014 TO INCLUDE THE DRAFT SPRING
HILL NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN
1.
Council decides to amend Brisbane City Plan 2014:
(a)
Pursuant to Step 1.1 of Stage 1 of Part 2.4A.1 of Statutory Guideline 02/14
(the Guideline) under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, to include the draft
Spring Hill Neighbourhood Plan and to make consequential amendments; and
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 36 -
(b)
2.
pursuant to Step 1.1 of Stage 1 of Part 2.4B.1 of the Guideline to make an
interim local government infrastructure plan amendment to the local
government infrastructure plan in Part 4 of the Brisbane City Plan 2014.
Council directs, pursuant to Step 1.4 of Stage 1 of Part 2.4A.1 of the Guideline that
the Minister be provided with:
(a)
A written statement advising of this decision
(b)
A copy of Attachment B, as submitted on file, and Attachment C, as
submitted on file, which set out the nature and details of the proposed
amendments; and
(c)
A copy of Attachment D, as submitted on file, which sets out the state
interests expressed in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031
and the State Planning Policy which Council considers relevant and how
Council proposes to integrate those in the proposed amendments.
ADOPTED
E
STORES BOARD SUBMISSION – OPERATION OF BRACKEN RIDGE
POOL AND CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF PARKINSON POOL
165/210/179/887
59/2014-15
31.
The Chief Executive Officer provided the information below.
32.
The Chief Executive Officer and the Stores Board considered the submission, as set out in
Attachment A, as submitted on file, on 22 July 2014.
Purpose
33.
The Chief Executive Officer recommends that Council approve:
A lease agreement with Australian Crawl Pty Ltd (Australian Crawl), ACN 094 473
104, for the operation of the Bracken Ridge Facility for a 20 year period; and
A deed and lease agreement with BlueFit Leisure Pty Ltd (BlueFit), ACN 140 462
862, for the construction and operation of the Parkinson facility for a 20 year period.
Background
34.
What is being procured and why?
Proponents that will operate the Bracken Ridge pool
and construct and operate the Parkinson pool.
The appointment of Australian Crawl to operate the
Bracken Ridge pool once core facilities have been
constructed by Council. Council will receive a
percentage of Australian Crawl’s gross revenue and
maintenance will be in accordance with the
responsibilities matrix.
The appointment of BlueFit Leisure (“BlueFit”) to
construct and operate the Parkinson pool. The new
facility will include some value added features in
addition to specified core facilities. The cost of the
new facility is approximately $7.35 million, of which
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 37 -
Council will contribute $6.675 million via certified
progress claims.
Council will receive a percentage of BlueFit’s gross
revenue. All outgoings and maintenance will be funded
by BlueFit. This enables Council to avoid
approximately $1.3 million of operational expenditure
over a 20 year period.
The new pools form part of the Lord Mayor’s 2012
election commitment to deliver two new aquatic
facilities in Bracken Ridge and Parkinson Wards.
Pre-market approval:
Process used:
Closing date for responses:
Pre-market approval adhered to:
The Significant Contracting Plan (SCP) was approved
by the Establishment and Coordination Committee
(E&C) on 21 October 2013. Pre-market approval to
seek Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to enable
shortlisting for Requests For Proposals (RFPs) was
approved by the Brisbane Infrastructure Procurement
Board (BIPB) on 13 February 2014.
A two stage process via EOI and RFP
28 March 2014
Yes
Summary of Responses
35.
Bracken Ridge Pool:
Organisation
Australian
Crawl Pty Ltd
ACN 094 473
104
BlueFit Leisure
Pty Ltd
ACN 140 462
862
BlueFit Leisure
Pty Ltd
ACN 140 462
862
Australian
Crawl Pty Ltd
ACN 094 473
104
Summary of Offer
Nonprice
score
[out of
10]
Recommended tenderer
Operation of core facilities [and
$500,000 investment in year six
subject to reaching targeted
revenues at both the Bracken
6.6
Ridge and Sandgate (Australian
Crawl are the current lessee of the
Sandgate pool) facilities
Tendered offers withdrawn
Operation of core facilities,
$600,000 capital contribution and
6.6
aquatic playground in year six
Construction and operation of
core facilities, aquatic
7.6
playground, enhanced outdoor
pool and gym
Construction and operation of
core facilities (aquatic playground
2.4
and gym also if targeted savings
achieved)
Non-conforming tenders
Net
Present
Value
Assessmen
t (excl.
GST)
Value
for
Money
(VFM)
Index
$4,957,178
1.3
$4,030,454
1.6
$4,310,539
1.8
$3,073,883
0.8
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 38 -
Y.M.C.A
ACN 028 995
366
36.
Construction and operation of
core facilities, aquatic playground
and gym
5.2
$3,603,643
n/a
Parkinson Pool
Nonprice
Organisation Summary of Offer
score
[out
of 10]
Recommended tenderer
BlueFit
Construction and operation of core
Leisure Pty facilities, enhanced outdoor pool and
Ltd
aquatic playground in year six
7.4
ACN 140 462
862
Tenderers not recommended
BlueFit
Construction and operation of core
Leisure Pty facilities,
aquatic
playground,
Ltd
enhanced outdoor pool and gym
7.6
ACN 140 462
862
BlueFit
Construction and operation of core
Leisure Pty facilities only
Ltd
7.2
ACN 140 462
862
BlueFit
Operation of core facilities and
Leisure Pty aquatic playground in year six
Ltd
6.6
ACN 140 462
862
Australian
Operation of core facilities only
Crawl
(Goodna) Pty
6.6
Ltd ACN
120 208 255
Storytime
Operation
of
core
facilities,
Swim
$500,000
contribution
towards
Centres Pty enhanced outdoor pool, $390,000 in
6.1
Ltd
year six for aquatic playground and
ACN 121
sunshades
234 286
Queensland Operation of core facilities plus
Aquatic
$80,000 contribution towards solar
Quality and panels and BBQ area
Safety Pty
4.7
Ltd
ACN 149 051
696
Net Present
Value
Assessment
(excl. GST)
Value for
Money
(VFM)
Index
- $4,949,321
1.50
- $4,310,539
1.76
- $5,180,005
1.39
- $5,512,832
1.20
- $5,794,401
1.14
- $5,337,621
1.13
- $5,340,982
0.87
Evaluation of Responses
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 39 -
37.
The Bracken Ridge Evaluation Process is as follows:
The build and operate submissions for the Bracken Ridge site posed several issues and these
related to capability, capacity and commercial matters.
The capability query was in regards to Australian Crawl’s construction and operation
submission. The commercial issue pertained to YMCA’s non-complying percentage of
surplus, construction and operation model. The capacity issue was in regards to BlueFit’s
financial capacity to undertake appointments at both Bracken Ridge and Parkinson sites. All
tenderers were provided with the opportunity to respond to these initial queries and it was
during this stage that Australian Crawl admitted to misunderstanding the concept of the
construction and operation model and asked for this submission to be disregarded. Australian
Crawl’s construction and operation submission was no longer being considered. The YMCA
declined to submit a conforming construction and operation submission and BlueFit noted
that Parkinson would be their preferred site should they decide to pursue one site only.
The opportunity to secure a suitable construction and operation appointment at Bracken Ridge
was now looking unlikely. As such, all tenderers were asked to review and reconfirm their
operation only proposals. It was during this stage that YMCA withdrew from the process.
BlueFit were then provided with the opportunity to comment on the Bank Guarantees that
would be required under each appointment scenario. The Bank Guarantee sums related
directly to the capital sums that BlueFit were advising they would contribute under each
appointment scenario. BlueFit’s response to the guarantee matrix indicated that they would no
longer pursue their Bracken Ridge submissions and would now focus their attention on
securing the Parkinson opportunity only. On this basis Australian Crawl’s operate only
submission was deemed as the most beneficial VFM outcome for the Bracken Ridge site.
As part of the Bracken Ridge process a capital contribution of $600,000 was required from
potential operators. Australian Crawl has only offered a $500,000 investment in year six,
subject to reaching targeted revenues at both the Bracken Ridge and Sandgate facilities.
38.
The Parkinson Evaluation Process is as follows:
The construction and operation submission from BlueFit with the VFM score of 1.76 is the
most beneficial VFM outcome for the Parkinson site. However, to facilitate this outcome,
Council would be required to fund an additional $1.5 million from within Program 4. On this
basis, the review group and evaluation panel deemed this submission as unaffordable. As per
the outcome of the evaluation process, BlueFit’s construction and operation submission with
the VFM score of 1.50 then became the most beneficial VFM outcome for the Parkinson site.
Council will contribute $6.675 million towards this construction and operation model. Of this
contribution, $6 million will be sourced from within the existing New Pools budget. The
additional $675,000 will be sourced from within Program 4 and the possibility of doing so has
been confirmed.
Notably, Australian Crawl had submitted a construction and operation proposal for the
Parkinson site also. As per the outcome of their presentation, Australian Crawl also admitted
to misunderstanding the concept of the build and operate model and asked for their construct
and operate submission for the Parkinson site to be disregarded. As such, an evaluation of this
submission was not conducted and has not been included in the VFM table above.
39.
The evaluation criteria were as follows:
Criteria
Compliance
Weighting
10%
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 40 -
Aquatic Trends/Catchment Understanding
15%
Management Approach
15%
Quality
15%
Personnel
15%
Capacity
10%
Additional Facilities
20%
Recommended Tenderer (Most Advantageous Outcome for Council)
40.
Following a thorough assessment of the tenders received, the most beneficial VFM outcome
and recommended tenderer for the Bracken Ridge site was overwhelmingly agreed to be the
following:
Organisation
Summary of Offer
Australian
Crawl Pty
Ltd ACN
094 473 104
Operation of core facilities and a
$500,000 investment in year six
[subject to gross revenues at both
the Bracken Ridge and Sandgate
(Australian Crawl are the current
lessee of the Sandgate Pool)
facilities reaching a combined
revenue target of $3 million
Nonprice
score
[out of
10]
6.6
Net Present
Value
Assessment
(excl GST)
- $4,957,178
Value
for
Money
(VFM)
Index
1.3
41.
The term of this operation only appointment is for a 20 year period. The forecast revenue
share to Council is expected to be $1.6 million over the 20 year period. The RFP called for
the operator to pay for all outgoings including chemicals, water, power and waste, plus
nominated maintenance items and the tenderer has complied with this. The operational costs
that Council will incur over the life of this appointment are approximately $50,000 per annum
or $1.3 million over the 20 year period.
42.
The potential $500,000 investment in year six is not guaranteed and as such has not been
included in the NPV assessment noted above.
43.
Over and above the core NPV assessment and the potential $500,000 investment is Australian
Crawl’s escalating revenue share offer. Australian Crawl have stated that once the concession
period has ceased and revenues at Bracken Ridge exceed $1 million per annum, Australian
Crawl will increase their revenue share to Council by 0.5% each time an extra $500,000 of
revenue is achieved.
44.
For example, should gross revenue in year six reach $1 million, Australian Crawl will provide
a revenue share for that year of 6.5%. Once gross revenue reaches $1.5 million, Australian
Crawl will provide a revenue share for that year of 7%. When gross revenue reaches $2
million, the revenue share will rise to and remain at 7.5% for all revenue received in excess of
$2 million.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 41 -
45.
Similar to the $500,000 investment, the escalating revenue share offer is not guaranteed and
as such has not been included in the NPV assessment noted above.
46.
The most beneficial VFM outcome for the Parkinson site is as follows:
Organisation
Summary of Offer
BlueFit Leisure
Pty Ltd ACN
140 462 862
Construction and operation of core
facilities, enhanced outdoor pool
and aquatic playground in year six
Non-price
score
[out of 10]
Net Present
Value
Assessment
(excl GST)
7.4
- $ 4,949,321
Value
for
Money
(VFM)
Index
1.5
47.
The term of this construction and operation appointment is for a 20 year period. The
appointment involves BlueFit both constructing and operating the new pool facility. The
facility to be constructed will include a wider and extended outdoor pool and the construction
of an aquatic playground in addition to the construction of Council specified core facilities.
The cost of the new facility is estimated to be $7.35 million, of which Council will provide
contributions totalling $6.675 million.
48.
Of this contribution, $6 million will be sourced from within the existing New Pools budget.
The additional $675,000 will be sourced from within Program 4 and the possibility of doing
so has been confirmed in writing by the project owner.
49.
The forecast revenue share to Council is expected to be $2.5 million over the 20 year period.
Pursuant to the terms of the tender and the construction and operation deed, all outgoings and
maintenance for the period of the appointment are to be funded by BlueFit. This enables
Council to avoid approximately $1.3 million of operational expenditure over the 20 year
period.
Contract proposed
50.
The contract proposed is as follows:
Venue
Bracken
Ridge
Swimming
Pool
Recommended
Lessee
Australian
Crawl
Lessee Commercial Terms
Operation only appointment for a lease term of 20 years.
Estimated revenue to Council of $1.6 million over 20
years, based on 4% of gross revenue in years one to five
and 6% of gross revenue in years six to 20.
Maintenance contribution by Council of $1.3 million over
20 years.
Lessee to fund remaining maintenance and all water and
chemical costs.
$500,000 investment in year six subject to combined
revenue at Bracken Ridge and Sandgate reaching $3
million.
Parkinson
Swimming
BlueFit
Escalating revenue share to Council subject to revenue
thresholds being reached.
Construction and operation appointment for a lease term
of 20 years.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 42 -
Pool
Proponent to construct $7.35 million facility.
Council to contribute $6.675 million.
Estimated revenue to Council of $2.5 million over 20
years, based on 6% of gross revenue in years one to five
and 8% of gross revenue in years six to 20.
Lessee to fund all maintenance, chemical and water costs.
Estimated 15 December 2015
Commencement date of lease
Funding
51.
Bracken Ridge
This is a revenue contract, however Council has maintenance responsibilities which are
estimated to be $1.3 million over 20 years, with the remaining maintenance and all water and
chemical costs to be met by the lessee. The procurement of a contractor to construct the
facilities will be subject to a separate procurement process.
52.
Parkinson
Council will contribute $6.675 million to the proponent.$6 million will be drawn from the
existing New Pools budget and the remaining $675,000 is available within Program 4.
53.
Budget line item
Program:
Outcome:
Service:
Program 4 – Your Brisbane
4.5 Community Sport and Recreation Facilities
4.5.3.3 – New Pools
Financial Year
Forecast Phasing
Project Budget
Forecast Variance
2012–13
$000
$200
2013–14
$000
$425
2014–15
$000
$7,450
2015–16
$000
$7,500
$15,575
$200
$600
$6,000
$8,100
$14,900
-
-
-
-
-$675
Totals
54.
The Chief Executive Officer therefore recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.
55.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL APPROVES ENTERING INTO A LEASE ARRANGEMENT AS
SET OUT IN SCHEDULE 1, hereunder.
Schedule 1
Venue
Bracken Ridge
Swimming
Pool
Recommended
Lessee
Australian Crawl
Pty Ltd ACN
094 473 104
Commercial Terms
Operation only appointment for a lease term of 20
years.
Estimated revenue to Council of $1.6 million over 20
years, based on 4% of gross revenue in years one to
five and 6% of gross revenue in years six to 20.
Maintenance contribution by Council of $1.3 million
over 20 years.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 43 -
Lessee to fund remaining maintenance and all water
and chemical costs.
$500,000 investment in year six subject to combined
revenue at Bracken Ridge and Sandgate reaching $3
million.
Parkinson
Swimming
Pool
BlueFit Leisure
Pty Ltd ACN
140 462 862
Escalating revenue share to Council subject to
revenue thresholds being reached.
Construction and operation appointment for a lease
term of 20 years.
Proponent to construct $7.35 million facility.
Council to contribute $6.675 million.
Estimated revenue to Council of $2.5 million over 20
years, based on 6% of gross revenue in years one to
five and 8% of gross revenue in years six to 20.
Lessee to fund all maintenance, chemical and water
costs.
ADOPTED
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee, moved,
seconded by Councillor Ian McKENZIE, that the report of the meeting of that Committee held on 5 August
2014, be adopted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Yes, Madam Chairman, on committee matters I wanted to talk this afternoon
about the issue of parking. It's one that we're all very interested in and one that
this Administration is working on now as we speak through the Parking
Taskforce and the external members of that taskforce. As councillors would be
aware last week in Brisbane Times there was an opinion piece published
essentially talking about the type of things that we're looking into as part of this
taskforce and looking at some international experiences with parking.
Ultimately the key point I want to make is that there's no easy solutions when it
comes to parking.
Parking is a challenge for every city around the world and Brisbane is no
different. Parking solutions do need to be adapted to local conditions in every
city and that's exactly why we're having our own taskforce right now looking
into these matters. Now I was also aware that last week Councillor DICK had an
opinion piece published in the Brisbane Times about parking as well. I was
drawn by the great photo that was there. It was a good photo, I liked that photo.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
It drew me towards the article. I saw the headline; we need long-term solutions
for parking. I thought I absolutely agree with that Councillor DICK. So when I
started reading the article I was looking for what those long-term solutions might
be, because obviously I'm very interested in anything that anyone has to say
about parking and any solutions and positive plans that might be put forward
about parking. As I went on to read the article it became very clear that
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 44 Councillor DICK has accepted—it's very clear—a car dominated future for our
city. That is Labor's long-term plan.
Now we've heard Councillor DICK get up in this Chamber and say, parking is
not about revenue or it shouldn't be about revenue. It's a planning—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
—and transport issue he said, a planning and transport issue. Now quoting from
his article he says, 90.5 per cent of households own a car and 14.1 per cent of
households own three or more cars. All those cars need a place to park, says
Councillor DICK. So he goes onto say, there's no reason Brisbane needs to
repeat the mistakes of the past. I thought once again I agree with that statement
and that's a very interesting statement. I'm not sure exactly what mistakes he was
referring to.
Then he goes forward to provide certain suggestions and the one that really stood
out to me was that Brisbane should limit narrow residential streets in new large
scale developments so on-street parking can be accommodated. So one of his
solutions is to make narrow streets wider. I thought okay well this whole issue
sounds a little bit familiar. Also in the article Councillor DICK mentions that
many inner city areas have narrow streets and there's no onsite parking.
We've seen places like Spring Hill, Paddington, Red Hill; a lot of those areas
have very, very narrow streets. They were developed essentially before the age
of the automobile. So obviously accommodating cars wasn't actually part of the
planning scheme at all in those days. So we see Brisbane as it's developed has
gone in cycles. There's been a period before the car where streets were very
narrow and then the age of the automobile came in and streets were made very
wide. We see examples of this all around the city. There are some streets where
streets are literally, it's a standard residential street and Councillor CUMMING
has some of these, they're wide enough to fit about six or seven cars next to each
other, massive streets.
So we've gone in a cycle but then in around the 1990s someone in Council made
a decision to make narrower streets again. It was called the Greenstreets project
and it was a Labor initiative to make narrow streets in new developments. This
was something that they were very passionate about. They told us at the time of
all the reasons why streets should be made narrower. Now we've seen massive
areas across the city now developing with narrow streets. One example now
down near Councillor DICK is the Forest Lake area, extremely narrow streets in
a brand new development.
Now who approved that development? It was the Labor administration. Who
advocated for narrow streets? It was Labor. So we're seeing now another turn in
the cycle. We're seeing Labor going, they went from narrow streets to wide
streets back to narrow streets and now it's wide streets again according to Labor.
I wanted to be a fly on the wall in their party room meeting or their caucus
meeting when they had that debate. Are we pro car or are we against the car, the
evil car? We know that Councillor ABRAHAMS wants to be on a car diet and
hates cars and believes that we should limit any investment in roads and car
infrastructure.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
But we've seen, obviously Councillor DICK has won the day here. His pro car
approach has been adopted now as Labor policy in Council. It's all about the car.
We've got to have cheaper parking. There's going to be more parking
everywhere. Bring in those cars. That's the Labor approach. This approach has
drawn the attention of a number of groups around the city, including the cyclists
in the CBD BUG (Bicycle User Group) who have roundly criticised Labor's
approach as being entirely car dominated and being a very narrow view on the
wider issue of parking.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 45 The reality is as I said at the beginning of this discussion parking is a complex
issue. There are many competing challenges here. If anyone thinks for a second
that we can just keep providing more and more and more car-parking and it can
be free everywhere, unlimited car-parking with no charges for anyone, that's a
fantasy land. Cities that have tried to do that have died. There are cities in the
United States in particular that went down that path and now they're falling over
themselves to actually go in the reverse direction and actually create cities that
are liveable.
Now the narrow streets thing in particular is an international debate. It's not
something that's only happened here in Brisbane. But we see wider streets
promote higher vehicle speeds and councillors would know this from their own
experience. The wider the street is the more complaints you'll get about speeding
in those streets. Whereas if you narrow the street down it slows down vehicles,
it makes it safer for pedestrians and cyclists; it makes it safer for kids playing in
the suburb. There are also the benefits of affordability and also stormwater runoff.
The less hardstand is provided in new subdivisions you've got issues then with
lower amounts of stormwater runoff and lower amounts of pollution running off
the road into the stormwater system. There's that issue that I mentioned of
affordability. You create wider streets. That's a higher cost in terms of the
infrastructure the developers have to provide. Now do you think developers
provide infrastructure out of the goodness of their hearts? They provide it but
the costs are ultimately passed onto the buyers.
So the wider you make the streets the higher the infrastructure costs are for that
particular estate and subdivision and those costs are passed onto the buyers of
houses. So that means less affordable housing being provided, the price of
houses goes up, the speed of vehicles in streets goes up, the safety of those
streets is reduced, all types of issues come in now from Labor's new approach
for wider streets. So apparently their long-term solution to parking is to provide
wider streets in new residential subdivisions.
I think that is a bogus suggestion. I think that suggestion shows that Labor has
not put any thought into this matter. It shows that Councillor DICK was in a
very big hurry to write this opinion piece article and didn't put the thought or
debate into it that he needed to put into it. We might call him Councillor DICK
Johnston because he's believing in faster traffic down our local streets, wider
streets.
But, Madam Chairman, what I will say to everyone is that this administration
does understand it's a complex issue. We're taking an appropriate amount of
time to thoroughly consider all of the feedback that is being provided, and to
thoroughly consider the international examples as well of what other cities have
done in terms of parking and what they've learnt from those things, not only
overseas but also here in Australia, what other very similar cities have done.
We look forward to producing, together with the members of the taskforce, some
recommendations that will make a positive change to Brisbane. Not necessarily
increasing speed in residential streets or safety issues but things that will make a
positive difference to the liveability of our city that will help balance those
competing needs, particularly the competing modes of transport as well;
supporting public transport, supporting active transport and not being entirely
car dominated like the Australian Labor Party seems to be.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor NEWTON.
Councillor NEWTON:
Yes thanks, Madam Chair, I'm going to talk about the report this afternoon, Item
C in fact because there are a number of petitions on the report today. I'd like to
talk about one relating to my area and indeed relates to car-parking, Madam
Chair, but on a bit of a different slant I suspect from what the DEPUTY
MAYOR was just on about, Madam Chair. Earlier in the year we saw a petition
come in from some of the employees of businesses in the Sandgate CBD area
wanting to have special staff parking permits on the streets outside of the
businesses, Madam Chair.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 46 It's got a bit of a history this whole issue so I just wanted to I guess put some of
those efforts on the record. Back in the '60s the Chamber of Commerce worked
with the Brisbane City Council back in that day to create more customer carparking because the shopping strip area in the Sandgate CBD has evolved precars, Madam Chair. So they're similar to older shopping areas across Brisbane,
there was simply a limited on-street car-parking outside. We have as a result carparking in the heart of Sandgate around Einbunpin Lagoon in addition to the carparking outside of local businesses.
Over the years of course because of the proximity to the Sandgate bus rail
interchange, we were finding that commuters were parking out the car-parking
which was made available to customers in the heart of the Sandgate shopping
village, Madam Chair. So when the SCIP (Suburban Centre Improvement
Project) was done back in 1997 some of the on-street car-parking was turned into
two hour parking after consultation with the businesses back in the '90s with my
predecessor Denise Herbert, Madam Chair. Roughly around 10 years ago the
businesses were finding that other car-parking around Einbunpin Lagoon for
example and outside other businesses was rapidly being taken up by commuter
car-parking as well, Madam Chair.
So after working with the Chamber of Commerce who door-knocked every
business in the area on behalf of the chamber, there was a survey done to see
whether there was support from local businesses to put timed car-parking for
their customers to try to make sure that there was an effort made to maximise the
limited available car-parking that was available. The results of that survey were
overwhelmingly in support from those businesses who felt that really want to
have their customers have car-parks available to their businesses.
Now as someone who grew up in a small business family I had it drilled into me
by my dad and mum about how important it was those car-parking spots that are
available immediately near and outside your business. I tell you what; if I'd
parked outside my dad's shop I would have certainly been in a lot of trouble,
Madam Chair. It's a commonly known rule that you just simply don't park where
your customers can park, Madam Chair.
So I was pleased to work with the Chamber nearly 10 years ago to try to make
the most out of the limited car-parking that's been available. I've also done some
work with other development since then in the heart of Sandgate to see what we
could do to try to get the most out of the off-street car-parking through those new
developments as well, Madam Chair. I guess the difference perhaps from other
parts of Brisbane is that we're pretty blessed with a number of streets that run off
the main shopping village. There is no timed car-parking in those areas, Madam
Chair, they're residential areas.
If you walk slowly, say eight minutes at the end of the street you'll find Flinders
Parade on the beachfront, Madam Chair, which has also got plenty of untimed
car-parking available. I know some of our local businesses are pretty creative
with their staff in terms of making safe car-parking available, because some of
the concerns raised by the petitioners was that if they finished work after dark
they don't want to have to walk too far to get to their vehicles to head home. So I
note that some of our other local businesses allow their staff to get a break at
about four o'clock in the afternoon and they can bring their cars a little bit closer
when things aren't quite so busy in the main street.
I've also done work with our lovely team from City Lighting who have kindly
done an audit of all the local avenues and will be working with Energex to
provide upgrades where necessary to improve the street lighting in those streets
that run off the main street. In recent times we've seen some of our businesses
successfully achieving funding through the Council Suburban Safety Grants to
start to increase the CCTV coverage in the shopping village to discourage any of
the criminal elements that the petitioners are concerned about. I recently did
another run-through to remind those businesses who haven't applied to
encourage them to think about applying this year.
So, Madam Chair, while I can't support the petitioners' requests for special staff
car-parking permits to allow them to park where the customers of the businesses
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 47 where they work should be parking, Madam Chair, I've certainly been working
very hard with the businesses and the Chamber to try to find balance to make
sure that there's as much car-parking available for the customers of local
businesses, who tell me that they really need those car-parking spaces for their
customers, and encourage the staff to have a bit of a look for where those
untimed areas are.
The Council officers have kindly supplied as part of the recommendation an
extensive map which shows where those areas are. I'll be making sure that
they're available to the petitioners and advising them of some of the other work
that's being done, Madam Chair. So I'm happy to support the recommendation. I
have been very conscious of the concerns raised by the 38 petitioners in this
particular petition, Madam Chair, and hence my efforts to try to ensure that the
safety issues that they were concerned about have been addressed, but
encouraged them to understand that the car-parking spaces close to the
businesses where they work must be kept for their customers.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Look thanks, Madam Chair, and unlike the DEPUTY MAYOR I will speak to
the five, sorry the number of items in today's report, including petitions
regarding parking, a yellow line and also the bridge presentation as well so there
are A, B, C and D. I am surprised the DEPUTY MAYOR didn't talk about Item
D which is a significant petition in his own ward. He chose to speak about my
solutions for his mess of parking in this city and to stop the LNP's rip-off of
motorists in our city. That says it all, Madam Chair.
Item A was a committee presentation about the Western Creek Bridge
Replacement. It was interesting to note in the presentation where we're seeing
6,500 users per day and provides a major cycle and pedestrian link as many of us
know between Toowong and the CBD. The officers went through the design
scope in a whole range of issues that were involved with the construction and I
congratulate those Council officers for delivering that project which I know gets
a lot of use.
Item B was the requesting of the Council to install a yellow line. I'm not
surprised that Councillor SCHRINNER doesn't want to talk about yellow lines.
We know probably the reason why that is, Madam Chair—which is on the
eastern side of Auburn Street, Petrie Terrace—which we will be supporting.
Councillor NEWTON has indicated that on Item C her concerns but also her
support for the recommendation. Item D was the petition requesting Council's
assistance with the relocation of the Chandler Markets.
Madam Chair, I want to place on record a couple of things tonight regarding this
issue. I firstly want to thank the organisers of the market so I think in any
analysis would say have been very reasonable and very patient. Essentially they
have been very sadly moved or forced to move from the current location due to
the Commonwealth Games, in preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games
when it was announced that the track cycling will be held at the Sleeman Sports
Complex.
Now while this is good news for the city, while this is good news for
Queensland, it isn't good news for the Chandler Markets which have been in
operation for many years and I guess set up one of the first market scenes in
Brisbane. I don't have that data to hand but I would be very surprised if they
weren't certainly one of the largest markets that have been operating
successfully. I know I've attended those markets over the years and I would
imagine many councillors have also picked up the odd bit of bargain, trash and
treasure I think is the term that is sometimes used.
But I was delighted to see in a news article today in the Redland City Bulletin
that the Chandler Markets have been moved to Capalaba. Capalaba State College
and the students there will benefit from the extra funding after it moves to the
school grounds next month. I am disappointed that Brisbane as a City Council is
losing these historic markets and we didn't find an alternate location. I certainly
hope and I raised this at the committee that the State Government is doing
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 48 everything that they can, considering in some ways they are the cause, although
a very worthy cause, with the Commonwealth Games coming facilities being
required there, that they are working alongside the markets to ensure that the
operators have a very smooth transition.
We know a lot of those stallholders are small business people themselves. They
rely on that week to week trade and I could only imagine the stress and strain for
many of those operators with the uncertainty. So I was really pleased to see that
Mayor Karen Williams announcing that today in the Redland City Bulletin.
While it's a disappointment for Brisbane, I know that Mayor Williams will do
everything that she can to support those markets, and particularly the thousands
of people that have benefitted from those markets over the years ahead. I
certainly look forward in years to come those markets going from strength to
strength.
Chairman:
Further debate? DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you, Madam Chairman, and thank you to Councillor NEWTON and
Councillor DICK for their contribution on this report and the items within the
report. Councillor NEWTON raised a very good point in relation to parking in
business areas and that is the importance of available parking for business
customers. I understand that businesses also have staff but as Councillor
NEWTON very clearly pointed out, the priority has to be the customers because
without the customers the business does not exist.
So in this particular case there is parking available a little bit further afield for
other people such as staff of the businesses. So there is an option there that
essentially provides some parking for those sorts of uses without taking away
that convenient customer parking that's required right near the businesses. So I
think that this is a sensible recommendation that's been put forward and one that
acknowledges the importance of good availability of parking in business areas
and also good turnover of that parking as well.
In relation to the petition regarding Chandler Markets which Councillor DICK
spoke about, I certainly agree that it is disappointing that Chandler Markets is no
longer in Chandler. It is one of those parts of the local community that is highly
regarded by a lot of people who have attended the markets for many years. The
good news is that the Chandler Markets will continue. They have moved slightly
just a few hundred metres outside the boundary of the city. As councillors would
be aware my boundary to the east is with Redland City Council and so just over
that boundary at the Capalaba State College will see the Chandler Markets being
re-established and continue to operate.
So that is good news for the people who enjoy the markets and it's good news for
the many small business operators that participate in those markets as well and
great to see that institution continue. I'm aware that from discussions in the past
that this is one of a number of times that the market has moved. I understand that
originally that the markets were set in the shopping centre car-park of Cannon
Hill Shopping Centre. That was before Sunday trading came into effect. So the
markets were operating on a Sunday when the shops were closed and they were
operating in the shopping centre car-park.
Once the shops started opening on Sunday the markets were then forced out due
to that competition issue and they then subsequently found a new home at
Chandler. So the markets will continue; I'm quite sure and positive about that.
They've already demonstrated in the past that they have been able to continue to
thrive despite a relocation, as has occurred in the past. So a good outcome for the
Chandler Markets, a good outcome for local small business people that operate
in those markets. I look forward to continue seeing these markets for many years
to come.
Chairman:
I will put the motion.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the report of the Infrastructure Committee
was declared carried on the voices.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 49 The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Deputy Mayor, Councillor Adrian Schrinner (Chairman), Councillor Ian McKenzie (Deputy
Chairman), and Councillors Margaret de Wit, Milton Dick, Victoria Newton and Norm Wyndham.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION
REPLACEMENT
–
WESTERN
CREEK
BRIDGE
60/2014-15
1.
Carl Billingham, Project Delivery Manager – Civil Infrastructure, City Projects Office,
Brisbane Infrastructure Division, attended the meeting to provide an update on the Western
Creek Bridge replacement. Mr Billingham provided the information below.
2.
A slide showing an aerial image of the Western Creek Bridge was displayed. The Western
Creek Bridge is located on the Bicentennial Bikeway, adjacent to the Drift Restaurant.
3.
The bikeway is Brisbane’s busiest bikeway with up to 6,500 users per day and provides a
major cycle and pedestrian link between Toowong and the CBD. As part of Council’s
inspection program, it was identified that the bridge deck was rotting and that the trapped
moisture was also likely to affect the timber girders underneath. The existing handrails were
also not compliant with current standards.
4.
The original Western Creek Bridge was built in 1983. It consisted of a timber superstructure
supported on concrete headstock, abutments and driven piles. The total length was 24 metres,
consisting of two 12 metre spans. The width of the original bridge was 3.5 metres, between
the handrails. The handrail consisted of a 1.1 metre high timber balustrade, which was not
compliant with current standards, and the flood immunity was approximately Q2 level. It was
noted that while the timber decking was showing signs of rotting, the concrete sub-structure
was still ‘fit for purpose’. An image was shown of the timber deck deterioration.
5.
The design scope of the Western Creek Bridge replacement was outlined as follows:
two span fibre composite structure with 100 year design life
24-metre long and 4-metre wide (clear distance to hand rails) designed to cater for
predicted cyclist demand
same height and flood immunity as old bridge (Q2)
All structural elements designed to withstand the impact of debris (up to two tonne)
in future flooding events
bikeway compliant (1.4 metre high balustrading and offset handrail)
low maintenance steel and fibre composite structures.
6.
An image of a typical cross-section of the fibre composite structure was displayed.
7.
The Bicentennial Bikeway was kept open throughout the project, with cyclists being diverted
on to the adjacent pedestrian bridge. The confined site access and lane closures on Coronation
Drive meant that work was limited to the night-time hours.
8.
Fabrication of the fibre composite decking was undertaken off site. The deck structure was
made to ease installation and the reduced weight meant that a single crane could be used to
lift both deck units into position in one night from Coronation Drive.
9.
Images of the demolition of the existing bridge and installation of the new bridge were
shown.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 50 -
10.
The presenter noted that the Western Creek Bridge was closed on 30 May 2014 and re-opened
for public use on 30 June 2014. The total project was delivered for $665,000. An image of the
completed Western Creek Bridge replacement was displayed.
11.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr Billingham
for his informative presentation.
12.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE
REPORT.
ADOPTED
B
PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL TO INSTALL A YELLOW LINE ON
THE EASTERN SIDE OF AUBURN STREET, PETRIE TERRACE
CA14/1741941
61/2014-15
13.
A petition from residents of Auburn, Cricket Street and Pratten Streets, Petrie Terrace,
requesting that a yellow parking restriction line be installed on Auburn Street was presented
to the meeting of Council held on 4 March 2014, by Councillor Peter Matic, and received.
14.
The Branch Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy, Brisbane Infrastructure Division,
supplied the following information.
15.
The petition contained 16 signatures, including signatures from the owners of five of the six
properties with frontages on Auburn Street, with representations being made on behalf of the
property owners of the sixth property.
16.
An aerial image of Auburn Street, Petrie Terrace, showing the position of the requested
yellow parking restriction line is submitted on file. The narrowness of Auburn Street and
associated parking and access issues, warrant the imposition of increased parking regulations.
This is consistent with parking regulations in similar situations across the city.
Funding
17.
Funding to undertake this work is available in the current budget from Schedule 209 –
General Amenity.
Preferred option
18.
As all the residents with properties fronting Auburn Street have requested this parking
restriction be applied, it is recommended that Council mark the yellow line along the eastern
side of Auburn Street and remove the permissive parking signs from the eastern side of the
street.
Consultation
19.
The Councillor for Toowong, Councillor Peter Matic, has been consulted and supports the
recommendation.
20.
The Branch Manager recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.
21.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 51 -
INFORMATION IN THE ABOVE REPORT AND THAT COUNCIL ENDORSE THE
PREFERRED OPTION ABOVE.
ADOPTED
C
PETITION – REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH PARKING IN THE
SANDGATE BUSINESS AREA FOR EMPLOYEES
CA14/341676
62/2014-15
22.
A petition from employees of businesses located in the suburb of Sandgate, requesting
assistance with the issue of parking in the Sandgate business area for employees, was received
during the Autumn Recess 2014.
23.
The Branch Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy, Brisbane Infrastructure Division,
supplied the following information.
24.
The petition contains 38 signatures. Of the 38, three are residents of the suburb of Sandgate,
with the remaining living outside the area.
25.
The petitioners are requesting that Council remove timed-parking restrictions in the Sandgate
Central Business District (CBD) to allow more all day parking for commuters.
26.
Kerbside parking is considered a community asset and Council manages and plans Brisbane’s
parking for the benefit of the wider community. Unfortunately, parking arrangements are
unable to suit the needs of an individual business, employee or resident in all situations.
27.
The petitioners have also requested that parking permits be provided to businesses as the
availability of parking for businesses and visitors is decreasing and is impacting employees.
The current parking arrangements, with map locations within Sandgate CBD, are outlined on
Attachment A, which is submitted on file.
28.
The Sandgate CBD currently has a combination of timed and untimed parking restrictions
both on and off street. An onsite inspection on a typical weekday has confirmed that
unrestricted parking is readily available within close proximity to local businesses.
29.
It should also be noted that public transport facilities, such as the Sandgate Rail Station are
close by, providing an alternative to driving to work. The use of public transport also limits
congestion and delays during peak periods.
30.
Council’s parking permits, otherwise known as residential parking permits were developed to
allow anyone who lives in a residential parking permit area or traffic area, to park in restricted
areas. These permits are only issued to residents and not businesses. It should also be noted
that Sandgate CBD does not fall under the residential parking permit area. At this point in
time, Council is not expanding the residential parking permit area.
Preferred option
31.
It is the preferred option to retain the existing parking arrangements throughout the Sandgate
CBD.
Consultation
32.
The Councillor for Deagon Ward, Councillor Victoria Newton, has been consulted and
supports the recommendation.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 52 -
Customer impact
33.
The response will not address the petitioners’ concerns, however further initiatives are being
investigated throughout the area.
34.
The Branch Manager recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.
35.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
INFORMATION IN THE ABOVE REPORT AND THAT COUNCIL ENDORSE THE
PREFERRED OPTION ABOVE.
ADOPTED
D
PETITIONS – REQUESTING COUNCIL ASSISTANCE WITH THE
RELOCATION OF THE CHANDLER MARKETS
CA14/394662 and CA14/508554
63/2014-15
36.
Two petitions from residents of Brisbane, and surrounding suburbs, requesting assistance with
the relocation of the Chandler Markets to a new venue, were presented to the meetings of
Council held on 13 May 2014 and 17 June 2014, by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Adrian
Schrinner, and received.
37.
The Manager, Asset Management Branch, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, supplied the
following information.
38.
The petitions contain a total of 4,025 signatures.
39.
The Chandler Markets are a privately run, commercial business that is currently operating at
the Sleeman Sports Complex under a lease arrangement. The Sleeman Sports Complex has
been a Queensland Government owned and operated facility since mid-2002.
40.
In preparation for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, it was announced that Track
Cycling will be held at the Sleeman Sports Complex, and a new indoor cycling velodrome
will be built. The construction of this new cycling facility is planned to occur in the section of
the complex currently occupied by the Chandler Markets.
41.
As a result, in September 2013, the operator of the markets was notified by the Queensland
Government that their lease arrangement would come to an end during 2014 to enable
construction of the velodrome. The Queensland Government has permitted the Chandler
Markets to continue operating at the Sleeman Sports Complex until 31 August 2014, after
which they will be required to cease operations or find an alternative site.
42.
In October 2013, the operator of the Chandler Markets approached the Deputy Mayor and
Councillor for Chandler Ward, Councillor Adrian Schrinner, seeking advice on suitable
alternative sites. Since this time, Councillor Schrinner has met with the operator on at least six
occasions, together with a number of Council officers, to provide advice on various possible
market sites within the eastern suburbs.
43.
As part of this process, Council provided planning advice relating to various sites nominated
by the operator, including a number of Council-owned sites. This advice indicated that several
of the sites would require an impact-assessable development application to be lodged prior to
any use for market purposes. Council did, however, nominate at least one site that could
potentially be occupied by the Chandler Markets without the need for a development
application. Importantly, none of the alternative sites examined had the necessary
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 53 -
infrastructure, such as hardstand, toilet facilities and car parking in place to accommodate a
large market.
44.
Based on the planning advice provided, the operator decided to pursue other options and it
has since come to Council’s attention that Capalaba State College has been identified as an
alternative venue. Council contacted a representative from the college on 28 July 2014 and it
was confirmed that they were in negotiations with the market operator, regarding the terms of
their arrangement with Chandler Markets.
45.
As Capalaba State College is located on Queensland Government land, within the Redland
City local government area, Brisbane City Council is unable to influence the outcome of any
negotiations regarding the relocation of the Chandler Markets to this site.
Consultation
46.
The Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Chandler Ward, Councillor Adrian Schrinner, has been
consulted and supports the recommendation.
47.
The Manager recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.
48.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
IN THIS REPORT.
ADOPTED
PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE
Councillor Peter MATIC, Chairman of the Public and Active Transport Committee, moved, seconded by
Councillor Steven HUANG that the report of that Committee held on 5 August 2014, be adopted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
Councillor MATIC:
Yes, Madam Chairman, just to the report itself. There's a committee presentation
which was about white on black destination signs. It was a very informative
presentation by officers. I'd like to thank them for it. The presentation dealt with
signage on buses and the different colour schemes in the past and the technology
that is currently going to be implemented starting November of this year on our
buses to assist people with macular degeneration, or a visual disability in some
form. Madam Chairman, it clearly shows Council's continued commitment to
access and inclusion, to assisting the disabled members of our community and be
able to get onto public transport more easily, and to make their journey a more
enjoyable experience.
I want to really thank the officers for the work that was undertaken in the trial
and acknowledge the contribution of Vision Australia and the Seeing Eye Dogs
Association Queensland for their input and for the support of the program as
well. It's a great outcome and it just shows that addressing the issues of our
disabled members of our community is a work in progress but through strong
commitment throughout our organisation we will continue to meet those needs
now and in the future. Thank you.
Chairman:
Further debate? I will put the motion. Sorry—Councillor MARX.
Councillor MARX:
That's alright, sorry, Madam Chair. I just wanted to rise and speak very briefly
on this presentation as Councillor MATIC said the white on black destination
signs for our buses. There was a trial of one bus going throughout the city and
various destinations where they did the changing of the colouring of the lights.
We had a slide presentation on that and I have to admit without my glasses I
could read the white on black but without them I couldn't read the other yellow
amber ones as they are currently. So even if you're not visibility disabled but just
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 54 getting old and need glasses you will be able to read the new white on black
which is a good thing.
As people will know the buses now use the LED lighting which has significant
benefits with being energy efficient long life span, faster switching, safety and
environmentally friendly, all of which go with our clean green city of Brisbane.
As I said they've only got the one bus at the moment but they will be rolling out.
So as the new buses come off the assembly line from November this year they
will all have this new technology. I think we have to congratulate Brisbane
Transport on leading the charge with this new technology on our buses. We're
even ahead of the European countries which I think is a wonderful achievement
for us to be at. Thank you.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor MATIC? No. I'll put the motion.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the report of the Public and Active
Transport Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Peter Matic (Chairman), Councillor Steven Huang (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors
Steve Griffiths, Nicole Johnston, Kim Marx and Ryan Murphy.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – WHITE-ON-BLACK DESTINATION
SIGNS
64/2014-15
1.
Scott White, Engineering and Assets Manager, Brisbane Transport Division, attended the
meeting to provide information on the high contrast white-on-black LED destination signs on
Council buses. Mr White provided the information below.
2.
Destination signs on Council buses will be changing to maximise visibility for patrons who
may be visually impaired. Previously, destination signs consisted of roller blinds and a brose
box. Then they were changed to flip dots in seven segments. Now the modern destination
signs on Council buses are LED (light-emitting diode).
3.
There are significant benefits with using LED for bus destination signs, including; energy
efficiency, long life span, improved durability, compact size, fast switching, safe (low voltage
and cool to the touch), environmentally friendly, improved visual performance and the ability
to include customized messages e.g. Go Maroons, Go Wallabies.
4.
All external LED destination signs used on the modern Council buses are coloured amber and
red, but not white. The presenter noted that white lighting used on the rear of a vehicle (e.g.
route number) breaches the Australian Design Rule 13/00.
5.
The bus industry and the Federal Government recognized that the use of high contrast
white-on-black LED destination signs would aid the visually impaired. Following a request
from the vehicle manufacturer, the Federal Government granted a relaxation to the design
rule. The current relaxation is now known as ‘Minor and Inconsequential Non-conformance’.
6.
Brisbane Transport is currently trialing one bus with the white-on-black destination signs. The
bus, route E2123, is travelling along all of the bus routes around the city. After community
consultation, Council officers received positive feedback from Vision Australia and Seeing
Eye Dogs Queensland. A contract variation has been sent to the manufacturer, Volgren, and
the change-over to white-on-black destination signs on new Council buses is expected to
occur around November 2014.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 55 -
7.
A number of images were shown of Council buses displaying the current amber coloured
destination sign and the white-on-black destination sign. To demonstrate the visual impact of
the white-on-black destination sign, the presenter also showed the same images in black and
white.
8.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr White for
his very informative presentation.
9.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE
REPORT.
ADOPTED
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT
COMMITTEE
Councillor Vicki HOWARD, Deputy Chairman of the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment
Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor Andrew WINES, that the report of the meeting of that Committee
held on 5 August 2014, be adopted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate? Councillor COOPER.
Councillor COOPER:
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, we had a development
application come to committee last week for 30 Festival Place at Newstead. It's
certainly an application which I think is a great contribution to the River Park
Precinct of the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront Neighbourhood Plan. So this
is a site that has frontage to Skyring Terrace and overlooks part of the Newstead
River Park. It's a site of just under 4,000 square metres. It's zoned MP2
multipurpose centre. As we heard at committee last week it's an application for a
25 storey building with 263 units. Most of those being two bedrooms, some one
bedroom and only one three bedroom unit is proposed.
There are 900 square metres of a retail arcade with a shop and restaurant
proposed on the ground level. This has been assessed against the preliminary
approval for gasworks at the Newstead River Park Plan of Development that was
approved by Council on September of 2009. The application proposes 309 carparking spaces. This was a site which we discussed at committee at length. There
are certainly great public transport options there with the CityGlider stop only
about 150 metres away, CityGlider terminus at the ferry terminal which is only
500 metres away, as well as a CityCycle stop right opposite the site.
So this site itself is part of a massive transformation of that particular area and it
certainly is a great credit to the urban renewal process that has been ongoing
over a number of years. So we had councillors discussing it at our committee last
week about their personal experiences in that local area. We discussed how
pleasant they find grocery shopping in particular and the facilities that are
offered as part of this particular precinct. So we talked about a range of
interesting items in relation to that.
As the officers noted in the presentation the application includes a podium which
is fully sleeved by units to Skyring Terrace with sides of the podium not
screened by units to have a combination of high quality screening and solid wall.
The design itself is by a very well-known and a very much celebrated architect
Shane Plazibat. It's an exemplary design, certainly a great credit to him and
another piece that he adds to the urban design landscape of our city. It was a
code-assessable application and of course did not require formal statutory
notification but there were no informal submissions that were received.
The local councillor was supportive of the application. There was referral to
DSDIP (Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning), QUU
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 56 (Queensland Urban Utilities) and DTMR (Department of Transport and Main
Roads) had no issues with the letter that advised that there were no requirement
to be conditioned on the application. QUU similarly had no issues and imposed
conditions. So Council officers identified a number of issues that they had to
deal with as a consequence of the preliminary approval. Height was an issue.
The information request that was issued on 13 June sought further information
about issues relating and seeking that the height be reduced from 26 to 25
storeys, that the design be reviewed to ensure that the treatments worked
effectively and materials varied to ensure an exemplar design.
They also sought information on the public artwork contribution and how
streetscape works would be undertaken. As this site experiences flooding from
river tide and overland flow, and following the applicant's site based stormwater
management plan prepared by Cardno, officers imposed a number of conditions
including that the lobby, the non-habitable area and the ground level are to be to
3.12 metres AHD (Australian Height Datum). The minimum level for the
residential areas, basement entry and essential services are to be 3.32 metres
AHD. The minimum retail level is to be 2.82 metres AHD.
So the advice from Council officers is that the levels are all above the minimum
requirements and the basement’s construction actually includes peripheral
piers—I know that's exciting—to help with the water proofing of that particular
basement. So, Madam Chairman, I am absolutely delighted to say that this side
of the Council Chamber supports this multimillion dollar project. It will deliver
many, many jobs, over 300 jobs just in actually constructing this particular
development. It will take a site that's been vacant for 10 to 13 years and up until
1996 was actually a place where natural gas was being produced, and turn it into
a fantastically well-designed building, a real credit to the local area. Certainly a
great outcome we think.
So I'd like to thank the officers for their hard work. We actually had the officer
who presented, that she was actually so ill but she came in to present and then
had to go and really spend the rest of the week recuperating. So that's the kind of
passion that they have for the job. They are committed to coming and presenting
that information and answering questions. So it was disappointing to see that the
Labor Party chose not to support the application. We think it's a great outcome
and we are absolutely thrilled and delighted to support this application.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I rise to make comment on this
application and, Madam Chair, Labor councillors will be supporting this
application because while now it is a practice to get no information from the
presentation to the committee, I have had the opportunity to go back to PD
Online, have a look at as much information is available so I am aware of how
this complies with the preliminary approval. But, Madam Chair, it was not
possible to see when the preliminary approval in 2009, what the level of
awareness in the community was to that approval because that was before
documents were placed on PD Online.
So, Madam Chair, just to go through quietly the history on this site. There was
the neighbourhood plan. The neighbourhood plan was put in place through a
process that the LNP Administration is very proud of, even though some of us
see more of the foibles of the consultation process than Councillor COOPER
does. But anyway given that there was consultation on the neighbourhood plan,
then a preliminary approval which increased the permitted height from 15 to 25
storeys and had a GFA (gross floor area) that was spread across the site where
previously the GFA was specified at 4.5 according to my notes that changed. It
freed up, it enabled much more development.
It made 10 additional storeys. Interesting to know what impact that might have
on the State Government with the transport infrastructure and the infrastructure
and that the State Government is trying to find that out before the neighbourhood
plan starts. Well I'd be saying to the State Government, it might be in the
neighbourhood plan but you've got to watch the preliminary plans because
they're the ones that really give you an indication of what's permitted onsite. But,
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 57 Madam Chair, of course if you have a preliminary plan in place, that then means
the density that is not consistent with the neighbourhood plan becomes code
assessable.
It means that anyone in the community that's not aware of the change will not be
aware of it today when we approve this development. It is only when the
building work starts and they ask questions that they will know the increase and
height. That is a shortcoming as you are fully aware, Madam Chair, that the
Labor councillors believe is inherent in the new City Plan and it's certainly
inherent in a preliminary approval, particularly one that you did not consult
widely beforehand. Given that, Madam Chair, I do believe that once the
preliminary plan has gone through an approval process, than it behoves Labor
councillors to acknowledge that is now what the City Plan says for that site and
respect it.
Madam Chair, I just want to make very sure in the Council Chamber that our
support for this is, albeit a flawed process, is because a preliminary approval in
place. If anyone would ever think to make a comparison of this 10 storey
increase on this site to the 10 storey increase in Lambert Street, Kangaroo Point
development, that would be very mischievous because there is no preliminary
approval with that application. That is a development application on its own
merits that has to be considered and therefore it has my strong opposition. So,
Madam Chair, I just wanted to make sure the record was very straight on that
point.
Madam Chair, another point that the Labor councillors do have some concern
with is the number of podium parks that are being approved even though the
neighbourhood plan is saying the preferred option is to have basement car-parks.
You just, no matter how well you sleeve it with a narrow area or a green wall, it
really reduces the ability to have casual surveillance activity and noise on the
street, which as we all know is an important personal safety issue.
So, Madam Chair, with those few words we will certainly be endorsing this
application.
We're often told that what would Labor do? I would believe that if Labor had
given 10 additional storeys and the development—
Councillor COOPER:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Point of order against you, Councillor ABRAHAMS. Yes Councillor COOPER?
Councillor COOPER:
This isn't Around the World. Councillor ABRAHAMS should speak to the report
before us, not about what Labor would do, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Yes. Thank you Councillor COOPER. Councillor ABRAHAMS if it's
specifically to this particular item, briefly.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I was going to talk about what Labor
would do as the LORD MAYOR frequently asks us, but I will bow to this very,
very correct interpretation that has been offered by the Chair of Neighbourhood
Planning.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, Madam Chairman, I'll give it 10 minutes for Councillor COOPER as well
and she can—
Chairman:
Just speak to the report.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Thank you, Madam Chairman, and I will speak to this item because clearly
Councillor COOPER does not want other councillors to do so. That was an
extraordinary snippy remark from her just then, Madam Chairman.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Thank you Councillor ABRAHAMS. I'm sure, Madam Chairman, next time she
says what would Labor do or what Labor have done—
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON you either speak to the report or sit down.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 58 Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, yes. There are two things that I find interesting about this one, Madam
Chairman, (1) in reading the report is this is a code-assessable development. I
don't know that we've had other code-assessable developments coming up to this
Council for approval. So I guess I'm a little bit confused about why that's the
case because there are enormous amounts of complex and I think quite
controversial developments that should be coming to this place that are not, and
yet Councillor COOPER is bringing forward this development which is a codeassessable development.
So on the face of it there should be no problems with this but clearly there are
because she's felt that it has to come to full Council for a decision. I'm well
aware of the site and having worked at FKP I'm well aware of the development
and the nature of what's proposed here. But, Madam Chairman, I guess what I
find interesting is the very large increase in height that Councillor ABRAHAMS
has referred to and the other area—
Councillor FLESSER:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Declaration of Material Personal Interest in Clause A – DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION UNDER THE
SUSTAINABLE PLANNING ACT 2009:¬ MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR MULTI-UNIT
DWELLING, SHOPS AND RESTAURANT – 30 FESTIVAL PLACE, NEWSTEAD – FKP
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD- Councillor Kim Flesser
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, I apologise to the Chamber but Councillor JOHNSTON just
reminded me that FKP are involved in this matter and I've got a material
personal interest and I'm taking part in the debate, not voting.
Chairman:
Thank you Councillor FLESSER.
Councillor FLESSER retired from the meeting room and associated public places for the remaining debate on
Clause A.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. I certainly note the issue that concerns me is carparking. We're talking about 263 units and we're providing 265 spaces so
essentially one car space per unit. Then they are only providing 24 visitor carparking spaces for 263 units. In any language that is inadequate. In any practical
measure we are going to have massive parking concerns over here. I believe this
is probably what Councillor DICK was trying to get to with the Parking
Taskforce. To me this very clearly outlines where planning is letting us down
with respect to parking in our city.
Because in this part of the city there are massive restrictions about who can park
on the street. If you do not provide adequate parking within your development
site that forces people out onto the surrounding streets. That causes congestion.
That leads to fines being issued by Council. It leads to arguments about yellow
lines, about time restrictions and all because of a poor planning decision that's
made in the first instance. The lack of parking here is extraordinary. So there's
one car space per unit and for 263 units there are 24 visitor spaces. Now I would
suggest that of the 263 units, that there will be, I would say—let's say only half
of them had a second car, only half of them. So we've got about 130 units that
may have a second car. Where are they going to put their cars? There's only 24
visitor spaces provided, clearly they'll be used by up residents with more than
one car.
Secondly, they'll be out on the street. Again, we're getting back into an area
where we're going to have problems. To me, this is poor planning. I also note
that we have about 1,000 square metres of shops and restaurants and so forth, but
again we're only providing 20 spaces for non-residential uses.
Now that is most likely—I don't know how it's going to be restricted or policed,
but let's say that the people who work in the shops park there, perhaps
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 59 Councillor NEWTON has some views on this. But let's say that the people who
are going to work in the shops and the restaurants park there, they'll probably
take up all those parks. Then the people who are coming to visit in that location
and maybe go to the restaurant won't have anywhere to park.
We're back to the very big problems that we are debating as a city with the
Parking Taskforce Review. I cannot think of a better example of how planning is
letting down the management of parking in our city. This is simply inadequate
and it is going to lead to more problems, Madam Chairman. I'm not going to take
any of that rubbish from the DEPUTY MAYOR about pro-cars or against cars of
all that kind of stuff. We all know, Madam Chairman, that people in Australia
own cars.
Anybody who tries to make out it's some party political issue, I think is being
disingenuous about the problem. But what I would say is the planning here is
letting us down in an extremely big way. The visitor parking and the parking for
the restaurants and other shops is completely inadequate. I think that we're just
exacerbating a problem that's happening all over the city. Councillor COOPER's
just got it wrong.
Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor McLACHLAN.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I rise to speak to item A, the development
application for the multi-unit dwelling, shops and restaurants at 30 Festival
Place, Newstead. As the councillor for the area in which this building is—will be
constructed, I'm delighted that it is at this stage and has the support of the official
opposition in this place, notwithstanding all the but, but, but, buts, but they have
indicated they would support it which is good to hear.
I've heard the doom saying from the Independent councillor as well. My view is
that this development is consistent with the vision for the precinct. It's certainly a
vote of confidence by developers in this precinct which is a fabulous precinct
and certainly living up to the expectations of the urban renewal team from
several years ago. Indeed, over a decade since this was first promulgated as a
great urban renewal opportunity because of its proximity to the city.
All that doom saying about private motor vehicles, well I know lots of people
living in this area I've spoken to who don't own vehicles because of—they can
either walk to their employment, which is nearby and there's plenty of
employment now nearby and growing all the time, or they can walk at a
convenient pace to a CityGlider stop or to the CityCat. People are making the
decision to move to this area precisely because of the public transport
infrastructure that this Council, this Administration in particular has provided.
This area is very well serviced by the CityGlider, very well served by the
CityCat services and it's precisely because of that that people are making the
decision to move to these locations, notwithstanding that doom and gloom
prediction from the Independent councillor for the Tennyson Ward.
I'd like to thank the officers of urban renewal for their hard work on bringing this
development forward, working with the developers to make sure that they get a
project that they're happy to bring to the table. Thanks to the Development
Assessment Team for their assessment of this development. I certainly look
forward to it proceeding as soon as possible.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Further debate. I will put the motion.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of the report of the
Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report as follows
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 60 -
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Amanda Cooper (Chairman), Councillor Vicki Howard (Deputy Chairman), and
Councillors Helen Abrahams, Geraldine Knapp, Shayne Sutton and Andrew Wines.
A
DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION UNDER THE SUSTAINABLE PLANNING
ACT 2009: MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR MULTI-UNIT DWELLING,
SHOPS AND RESTAURANT – 30 FESTIVAL PLACE, NEWSTEAD – FKP
COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENTS PTY LTD
A003869978
65/2014-15
1.
The Team Manager, Planning Services North, Development Assessment Branch, City
Planning and Sustainability Division, reports that a development application has been
submitted on 8 May 2014, by Urban Strategies on behalf of Tom Dooley Developments Pty
Ltd, as follows:
Development aspects:
General
proposal:
description
Land in the ownership of:
Address of the site:
Described as:
Containing an area of:
of
Carry out building work (preliminary approval)
Material change of use (development permit)
Building work for multi-unit dwelling, shop and restaurant
Material change of use for multi-unit dwelling, shop and
restaurant
FKP Commercial Developments Pty Ltd
30 Festival Place, Newstead
Lot 902 on SP242297
3,888 square metres.
2.
The application is over land currently included in the Multi-Purpose Centre MP2 – Major
Centre designation under the Brisbane City Plan 2000 (City Plan) and is within the Riverpark
Precinct (Precinct 3) in the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront Neighbourhood Plan
(Neighbourhood Plan). The site is currently vacant land with road frontages to Skyring
Terrace and Festival Place.
3.
A preliminary approval to override the planning scheme for the Gasworks at Newstead
Riverpark Plan of Development was granted on 23 September 2009, for centre activities
(except service station), car park, industry (fuel burning for standby power generators for
centre activities) and access roads.
Proposal
4.
This code-assessable development application was properly made on 15 May 2014, for a
25-storey building consisting of 263 dwelling units in three podium levels and 21-storey
tower. The proposal also includes the extension of the Gasworks retail arcade at ground level
for shop and restaurant uses (900 square metres floor area). The development has a total gross
floor area of 24,755 square metres. A total of 309 car parking spaces have been provided in
three basement levels and partially in three levels of the podium, including 265 spaces for
residential units, 24 spaces for resident visitors and 20 spaces for non-residential uses.
5.
The southern boundary of this site includes an existing access easement (Easement AG),
which is a permanent volumetric access arrangement in favour of adjoining Lot 901. This
easement provides a one-way vehicle movement from Longland Street to Festival Place, for
the servicing of the adjoining Woolworths development and all retail activities within the
Gasworks retail arcade and plaza.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 61 -
6.
Vehicle access to the development will be from Festival Place to the basement and podium
parking levels.
7.
The proposal is consistent with the principles and provisions of the Gasworks at Newstead
Riverpark Plan of Development, including the applicable variations to the City Plan being the
Centre Design Code, Centre Amenity and Performance Code, Residential Design - High
Density Code. The development achieves the planning intent of the Newstead and Teneriffe
Waterfront Neighbourhood Plan in the City Plan and the South East Queensland Regional
Plan 2009-2031 (SEQRP). The development can be accommodated within the existing
essential infrastructure networks for the city.
Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront Neighbourhood Plan
8.
The proposal meets the planning intent of the Riverpark Precinct (Precinct 3) in the Newstead
and Teneriffe Waterfront Neighbourhood Plan in that it provides residential, shop and
restaurant uses that are proportionate to the precinct’s city fringe location and level of access
to public transport. The building design minimises the appearance of the building bulk and
incorporates active frontages. The development does not have an adverse impact on the
Gasometer frame focal point of this precinct. This development reinforces the pedestrian
linkages from the adjoining Gasworks retail arcades and strengthens the connectivity to the
Newstead Riverpark parkland opposite the site. This development has been assessed against
the preliminary approval being the Gasworks at Newstead Riverpark Plan of Development
and, as such, the code provisions of this Neighbourhood Plan are not applicable for this
development.
Gasworks at Newstead Riverpark Plan of Development
9.
The proposal complies with the applicable provisions of the Gasworks at Newstead Riverpark
Plan of Development, particularly gross floor area, building height and location requirements
and car parking.
Design
10.
The building has been designed in a manner to distinguish the base, mid and top structure
composition. A diagonal pedestrian arcade link has been provided through the site connecting
with the adjoining sites and streets. Three levels of basement car parking and three levels of
podium parking have been provided. Podium parking has been fully sleeved by residential
units to Skyring Terrace, to the southern boundary and in part to the eastern and western
boundaries. Those sides of the parking areas not screened by units will be provided with a
combination of high quality screening and solid walls. This is a superior podium parking
design outcome with activated edges to the main street frontage and boundaries.
Streetscape works and public art
11.
The Neighbourhood Plan highlights the streetscape requirements for Skyring Terrace as
Riverpark Street. Conditions have been included in the approval package for streetscape
works in accordance with the Centres Detail Design Manual. A condition has also been
included to contribute towards public artwork for this Precinct.
Councillor consultation
12.
The Councillor for Hamilton Ward, Councillor David McLachlan, supports the proposal.
Referral agencies
13.
The application was referred to the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and
Planning (DSDIP) as a concurrence agency for the Department of Transport and Main Roads
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 62 -
(DTMR) for ‘Development impacting on State transport infrastructure’ (Schedule 7, Table 3,
Item 2). DSDIP has no requirements for this application.
14.
The Team Manager advises that relevant reports have been obtained to address the assessment
criteria and decision process prescribed by the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, outlining
appropriate developmental requirements.
15.
The Team Manager recommends that the application be approved subject to the approved
plans and conditions included in the attached Development Approval Package, submitted on
file and marked Attachment A. The Committee agrees with Councillors Abrahams and Sutton
abstaining.
16.
RECOMMENDATION:
(i)
That it be and is hereby resolved that whereas—
(a)
properly made development application was made on 15 May 2014, to the
Council pursuant to section 260 of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, as
follows:
Development aspects:
General description
proposal:
of
Land in the ownership of:
Address of the site:
Described as:
Containing an area of:
(b)
Carry out building work (preliminary
approval)
Material change of use (development permit)
Building work for multi-unit dwelling, shop
and restaurant
Material change of use for multi-unit dwelling,
shop and restaurant
FKP Commercial Developments Pty Ltd
30 Festival Place Newstead
Lot 902 on SP242297
3,888 square metres.
The Council is required to assess the application pursuant to Chapter 6,
Part 5, Division 3 of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, and decide the
application under section 324 of the Act;
The Council—
(c)
Upon consideration of the application and those matters set forth in
sections 313 and 324 of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 relevant to the
application considers that:
(i)
the site is within the urban footprint of the South East Queensland
Regional Plan 2009-2031, and the use is consistent with an Urban
Activity;
(ii)
the proposal is consistent the Brisbane City Plan 2000;
(iii)
the proposal advances the intent and development principles of the
Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront Neighbourhood Plan in particular
the Riverpark Precinct (Precinct 3) and the Gasworks at Newstead
Riverpark Plan of Development;
(iv)
the proposal will not create adverse amenity impacts on the
surrounding area; and
(v)
the development can be accommodated within the existing essential
infrastructure networks.
(d)
Accordingly considers that were reasonable and relevant conditions imposed
on the development, it would be appropriate that the proposed development
be approved on the subject land;
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 63 -
(e)
(ii)
Considers that a Brisbane City Council Infrastructure Charges Notice should
be issued for the development pursuant to the Sustainable Planning Act 2009
and Brisbane Adopted Infrastructure Charges Resolution (No. 4) 2014, for
the transport, community purposes and stormwater trunk infrastructure
networks; and
Whereas the Council determines as in (i) hereof, THE COUNCIL APPROVES
THE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION referred to above, and subject to the
conditions in the Development Approval Package submitted on file and marked
Attachment A directs that:
(a)
the applicant be advised of the decision;
(b)
the applicant be given the Brisbane City Council’s Infrastructure Charges
Notice for community purposes, stormwater and transport;
(c)
the Central SEQ Distributor-Retailer Authority be advised of the decision;
(d)
the Councillor for the Ward of Hamilton, Councillor McLachlan, be advised
of the decision; and
(e)
the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (DSDIP)
be advised of the decision.
ADOPTED
ENVIRONMENT, PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
Councillor Matthew BOURKE, Chairman of the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee, moved,
seconded by Councillor Ryan MURPHY, that the report of the meeting of that Committee held on 5 August
2014, be adopted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
Councillor BOURKE:
Look, very quickly, Madam Chairman. We had a presentation—actually, before
I move to the presentation, I should just clarify some comments that have been
made already about the documents that the LORD MAYOR tabled in this place
during his E&C report. So in the spirit of open and transparent government,
something that this Administration over successive years has done when it
comes to the issue of flooding and flood risks for the people of Brisbane, the
LORD MAYOR tabled today a number of flood studies, eight in total.
They are the preliminary findings, the facts and the figures, the detailed data that
sits behind and informs obviously a number of decisions that this Council is
going to make over the coming months and into the future about what those
particular studies mean when it comes to flooding in our city. Now, I have to
stress, because I've read some comments already. They are creek flood studies.
So they are creek flood modelling.
That's why when the LORD MAYOR read out the list of flood studies, each one
ended in the word creek. They aren't river flood studies, the State is doing this
little project called the Brisbane River Flood Study, Madam Chairman, which
looks at the whole of the Brisbane river catchment. What we have been doing
and what you see before us today and what the LORD MAYOR tabled is
Council's first eight, the eight priority flood catchments that we've been able to
complete over the last 12 to 18 months, Madam Chairman. They are creek flood
studies.
So, Madam Chairman, as we go down this track of now assessing and
understanding the detail behind each one of those studies and the implications
for the city, I hope—I hope, Madam Chairman, that councillors understand the
issue, that they listen, because the LORD MAYOR was very clear about this but
obviously people haven't listened. They are creek flood studies. The work that
now needs to be done is understanding and assessing the body of work that has
been done and the implications that it has for a number of Council's policies.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 64 Now, Madam Chairman, let's not forget that it wasn't too long ago that the way
that flood studies and flooding in this city was treated was to be covered up.
Let's not forget the Australian Labor Party hid flood studies and hid flood reports
from the people of Brisbane. They used to charge people, Madam Chairman, to
get a flood report for their property. We on the other hand, and the LORD
MAYOR continues that tradition—
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor BOURKE:
That would be revenue raising, DEPUTY MAYOR. When the Labor Party used
to charge you for your flood study. We on the other hand, Madam Chairman,
have taken a different approach and we continue that tradition today, introducing
and tabling those flood study documents for residents to view and for
councillors, obviously to see.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor BOURKE:
Turning very quickly to the report, Madam Chairman, we had a wonderful
presentation about one of the great successes that the Council officers have
developed, Madam Chairman. They came to me with this idea a number of
months ago, about preparing a weed identification tool that would be functional
on multiple different devices. So everyone has a tablet these days, they have a
laptop, they have a mobile phone, Madam Chairman. To create a platform and
an app—well it's not really an app, it's a website, sorry, Madam Chairman, that
would be able to be used in the field.
So when we have our habitat Brisbane officers, when we have our creek
catchment groups, private residents who might be going around their garden and,
Madam Chairman, they want to identify a plant to understand whether it's a
weed or whether it's a native species and what management techniques they're
able to implement to remove or manage this particular plant, Madam Chairman.
So the Council officers have done a wonderful job coming up with a platform.
They worked in conjunction with the universities, Madam Chairman, and we
have now an online weed identification tool. A very detailed, very in-depth tool.
But it's very simple and very easy to use. It provides a whole raft of information,
Madam Chairman, that supports your gardening practices or your bushland
regeneration practice, Madam Chairman. Whether you're a Habitat Brisbane
officer or a mum and dad at home, taking care of their own block of land.
So we've had an unrivalled success when it comes to this particular website,
Madam Chairman. To date, it's been over 50,000 hits since it was launched in
September last year. So 5,000 odd hits—over 5,000 odd hits a month, Madam
Chairman, on the website, which I think is pretty significant. Councillor
ADAMS, who deals with a lot of our IT (information technology) and online and
our websites spaces is agreeing with me, Madam Chairman.
So it's great to see that we've been able to provide a website that is being
embraced and being used by members of the Brisbane community. Of course,
doing important work in identifying and hopefully removing some of these
invasive plant species that can do a lot of damage in our natural areas.
Chairman:
Further debate. I will put the motion.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of the report of the
Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Matthew Bourke (Chairman), Councillor Fiona King (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors
Peter Cumming, Kim Flesser, Geraldine Knapp and Ryan Murphy.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 65 -
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – ONLINE WEED IDENTIFICATION
TOOL
66/2014-15
1.
Andrew Meiklejohn, Senior Program Officer Invasive Species Native, Urban Forest and
Conservation Reserves Management, Natural Environment, Water and Sustainability Branch,
City Planning and Sustainability Division, attended the meeting to provide an update on
Council’s online weed identification tool. He provided the information below.
2.
Invasive species are the second greatest threat to biodiversity in Brisbane, after land clearing.
Managing invasive species is a significant expense and 60 per cent of weeds are originally
introduced as garden ornamentals. The new online weed identification tool provides an
excellent opportunity to educate the public about the weeds threat and to allow them to
identify and manage this problem.
3.
Online weed identification provides a simple, customer-focused tool to help residents identify
weed species. Other sources of information about weeds require people to know the name of
the species first. The tool uses a new web format that allows for display on desktops, tablets
and mobile phones (it is not an app and therefore requires internet connectivity). It was
developed in collaboration with Council’s Corporate Communications as a pilot of Council’s
new website system.
4.
The system contains detailed information and photographs of 300 weed species common in
the Brisbane area. Users select features of the plant in question, including growth form, leaf
arrangement, leaf form, flower colour and foliage colour, to assist in the identification
process.
5.
This customer-focussed system provides photographs and detailed information on origin,
distribution, impacts, declaration (including legal obligations to control) and control
techniques. It integrates the ability for users to report high-priority species and also features
‘how to’ videos.
6.
Images of the online search tool and examples of information contained on the system were
displayed.
7.
Since its launch in September 2013, the tool has received over 50,000 page views (an average
of over 5,400 per month). Council is exploring opportunities to build on the system’s success
to improve engagement with residents, such as featuring a ‘weed of the month’, flowering
calendar and flagging ‘new and emerging’ species. The tool is available at
http://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/.
8.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked the presenter
surname for his informative presentation.
9.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE
REPORT.
ADOPTED
FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE
Councillor David McLACHLAN, Chairman of the Field Services Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor
Norm WYNDHAM, that the report of that Committee held on 5 August 2014, be adopted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 66 Councillor McLACHLAN:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Before I move to the items before us, there's a
couple of things I'd just like to talk about in the Field Services area that I'm sure
will be of interest to the Chamber. The first is in relation to the first aerial
mosquito treatment for this financial year, took place today. This was as a result
of the high tide peaks over the weekend, which I'm sure a lot of people saw. So
some minor low lying flooding, certainly in my areas and round Newstead,
Albion, Pinkenba, Windsor and Eagle Farm, but in other areas as well.
This has, of course, inundated the wetlands which is now providing water to the
eggs that were laid out in those pools during the April period. So those eggs have
the potential to be activated and hence the aerial spraying commenced today at
Tinchi Tamba before moving onto Nudgee and finished this afternoon. So that
saw up to about 1,500 hectares of saltmarsh areas that were inundated by those
high tides treated today.
Of course, at this time of year we also remind residents to look at the things that
they can do around their own house to empty containers, old tires, bird baths,
boats and pot plant holders which might also harbour water and provide the
breeding opportunity for mosquitos. Of course, I acknowledge that if the ALP
were in this place, aerial treatment of mosquitos wouldn't take place because this
is a program that they no longer support, regrettably and I think to their great
shame. That is something they'll have to be held account to at a future time.
Madam Chairman, the second issue that I wanted to raise and talk about was to
provide a quick Shorncliffe Pier update. This is needed in part because of the
curious case of the muddle-headed Northside Chronicle editorial last week. The
Northside Chronicle thundered in bold type last week, “Shorncliffe Pier project
raises many questions”. Chief amongst them was why Council had set aside less
than $12,000 in the '14-15 budget to begin removal and construction work.
Now this was more than passing strange but this was the information that was
provided directly and acknowledged by the newspaper by Councillor NEWTON.
If that amount of money, less than $12,000, had been assigned in the '14-15
budget to the Shorncliffe Pier renewal project, that indeed would have been a
fair question to ask. Unfortunately, Madam Chairman, the newspaper accepted in
good faith, I'm sure, the information that had been provided by Councillor
NEWTON who neglected to add three zeroes or the word million to the figure of
$11,521 in her press release as the allocation of funds to the pier for the '14-15
financial year.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
So look, Madam Chair, I'm sure that wasn't a malicious error on Councillor
NEWTON's part. So it could only be concluded as sloppy work on her part,
which is indeed indicative of the way she tends to run with things. We have seen
her demonstrate a woeful track record, Madam Chair, on providing accurate
information to the residents about Shorncliffe Pier. I don't believe that she can
hide behind editorial error on this one. This is what she said, what Councillor
NEWTON said in her media release.
So yes, perhaps the Northside Chronicle should have checked their facts. But it's
also indicative of councillors in this place needing to make sure that they do
provide accurate information when they're sending out press releases. This is on
top of the blatant misinformation that Councillor NEWTON put into the
information marketplace—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
—about the timber contract when the timber bill was paid for in July rather than
June. Councillor NEWTON thundered via Facebook that this was proof that the
Council Administration was dragging its heels on providing resources to this
project. That again was blatant misinformation. The fact that the bill was paid for
in July rather than in June was no indication of a lack of commitment to the
project. Indeed, that timber has well and truly now been bought, it's now been
graded and it is now ready, when other works are undertaken, to be installed.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 67 So a quick status of the project is that the public notification period commenced
on 1 August and the councillors responded to the information request from the
Department of Environment and Heritage. The development approval is
expected to be received in October 2014. The construction tender went out to
tender on 25 July and tenders close on 3 September. All seven tenderers have
downloaded the documents.
As I mentioned, the timber decking is—milling is well underway. It will be
stored for seasoning prior to the final installation, which will take place in due
course. Madam Chairman, I think—look, apart from that big oops from
Councillor NEWTON, can I suggest to anybody who's interested in the
Shorncliffe Pier project that they come to the Administration for information,
because clearly they're not going to be getting accurate information from
Councillor NEWTON or her office when it comes to the provision of
information about the Shorncliffe Pier.
Madam Chairman, before us the two items, a Committee presentation on the
Operational Services Branch of Field Services Group. This is the support group
within the Field Services Group. Now this is the report that led Councillor
CUMMING to one of his rare contributions last week in this place about
procurement policy. We were provided today, in fact, in our Committee, an
excellent example of what services the Organisational Services Branch is able to
provide to Fleet Services.
One of the examples that was cited was that, as a consequence of their work, the
street sweepers no longer have to go to Fleet Services to get a minor bit of work
undertaken like bulbs being replaced. They can be done by the staff responsible
for maintenance of the street sweepers in situ. That's as a consequence of some
of the work undertaken by the Organisational Services Branch.
I think Councillor CUMMING wants to, like all typical Labor policy, initiate a
Soviet style, ‘make the outcomes fit the process’ approach, which is typical of
the Labor Party. But shock horror, when the focus is on delivering outcomes we
want, rather than adapting the process, rather than the other way round, that is if
you have an outcomes focus rather than following what the process should be—
according to the Soviet model of the ALP—we get better results.
Madam Chairman, the other item before us at item B was a petition requesting
additional cleaning of toilets along the esplanade at Wynnum, Manly and Lota. I
think the response there is in the paper before us. That is that there is significant
work that is undertaken to make sure that these toilets are clean. In all the audits
that have been undertaken of these toilets, and that's over 60, there's only one
that didn't meet the acceptable standard.
Our recommendation is to anybody, if they see a toilet that's not up to standard,
that they call it in. Because clearly something has happened between one
cleaning and before the next cleaning. We can't have people stationed,
regrettably, outside every toilet block waiting for somebody to do something
wrong inside a toilet. The best approach is to maintain the current schedule. In
fact, there has been a customer from Wynnum call the contact centre recently
saying this, and I quote, I want to give a big high-five to the parks team
managing the esplanade at Wynnum. She advised that it's been looking really
clean and well-maintained, including the toilets recently. Big improvement on
recent years.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
This is a result—
Chairman:
Order.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
This is a result of—
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
—a combined effort from Asset Services and Urban Amenities Parks Team and
our contract cleaners.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 68 Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
As always, if there is an issue that residents see that needs attention, they should
call it in via the call centre and it would receive attention. Thank you, Madam
Chair.
Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor CUMMING.
Councillor CUMMING:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Madam Chairman, I rise as a strong supporter of
the aerial spraying program for mosquitoes and have been ever since it was
introduced, I believe, by the Labor Party originally, Madam Chair, and continue
to be so, as do all my colleagues and Councillor JOHNSTON as well.
Madam Chairman, I'd like to refer to item B, Madam Chairman. The petition
requesting additional cleaning of toilet blocks along the esplanade at Wynnum,
Manly and Lota. My office receives regular complaints about the standard of
cleanliness of toilets along the Wynnum, Manly, Lota esplanade. There's five
toilet blocks from Green Park in the north through the Wynnum wading pool
toilet block, the bandstand toilets, Bayside Park at Manly and the Lota Camping
Reserve at Lota.
These parks have had a considerable amount of money spent on them over the
years and are heavily used. The complaints are about a variety of issues. Faeces
on walls and around toilet bowls, smelly toilets, no toilet seats and generally
poorly maintained and cleaned toilets. A recent complaint was about bird poo
down the walls of toilets, down the inside walls of the toilets. I've inspected it
and that is in fact the case.
Councillors may wonder about the allegation about no toilet seats but, ladies and
gentlemen, it's Council policy. If they put toilet seats on there, they get ripped
off, so they don't bother with toilet seats. So about 20 cubicles along the
esplanade, there's about three with toilet seats on them. They're the newest toilets
and once they get ripped off, presumably they won't be replaced either.
The toilets allegedly get cleaned daily during the week and twice daily on
weekends. However, it's claimed the Manly toilets at Bayside Park are serviced
three times a day on Saturdays and Sundays, morning, midday and evening. For
the residents and visitors who complained, this is scarcely believable. They
wonder what the contractor is being paid for or what he or she does to earn their
money.
The work appears to be a very low quality. Ideally, I'd like to see Council staff
doing the cleaning, that way you get a good job done, I reckon. Working their
way up and down the esplanade from Green Park to Lota and then starting again.
I've requested this before but the request was ridiculed by the former Lord
Mayor Campbell Newman. Failing this level of service then I believe cleaning
three times a day on weekends and any public holidays that are not weekends, as
well as twice daily the rest of the year would be a minimum acceptable standard.
That is if the job was being done properly.
The petitionary response refers to a cost of $7,300 for cleaning twice a week. I
believe the cost of three times a day on weekends and public holidays would be
$10,000 or more, which in my view is a minimal amount given the very high
level of usage of these regional parks. I do not accept the recommendation in
response to this petition. Wynnum Manly residents and visitors to our beautiful
esplanade parks deserve better.
I will be voting against the recommendation, as will my Labor colleagues and
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Chairman:
Further debate. Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Thank you. Just briefly on item B.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 69 -
Seriatim - Clause B
Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON requested that Clause B, PETITIONS – REQUESTING ADDITIONAL
CLEANING OF FOUR OR FIVE TOILET BLOCKS ALONG THE ESPLANADE AT WYNNUM, MANLY
AND LOTA, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, just briefly, I'm happy to support Councillor CUMMING on
this matter about the cleaning of the toilets in his parks. To me, the response
from Councillor McLACHLAN and the committee is a do nothing response. We
could simply increase the amount of toilet cleaning that's happening here for a
very small amount, about $7,000 as the report outlines.
But instead, the legitimate concerns of local residents are being ignored by
Councillor McLACHLAN and the LNP Administration. We are talking about
additional cleaning of toilet. This should not be a political issue. These, as we
hear over and over again from the LNP Administration, are hugely popular
parks. The Wynnum Foreshore is one of the areas of this city that is claimed to
be one of the most beautiful and popular for people to visit on weekends.
All I think the petitioners wanted was simply to have an increase in the number
of times the toilets were being cleaned. I think it is problematic that the response
to that is, no, I'm sorry, we can't. Then you get the Councillor McLACHLAN
view of the world which is, oh, well that would mean someone would have to
stand outside the toilet the whole time and keep an eye on it. Now that's
ridiculous.
Councillor CUMMING had a suggestion on how that could be handled, a roving
cleaner for this area, which I think's probably a very practical suggestion because
then they're on hand if any rapid response issue arises as well, particularly on
weekends. Or you could simply increase the number of cleans which means
there is greater vigilance of what's going on. $7,000 is a small cost to pay to
make sure that parks that the public enjoy are clean and have a high quality of
service from Council and its contactors.
I'm quite disappointed that the response from the Administration here is simply
to do nothing in the face of what are legitimate concerns of the local community.
Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor McLACHLAN.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for the contributions to this debate. Look,
on item B, I accept that people would always like to have pristine clean toilets
but the irony of Councillor CUMMING's comments is that the job would be
better if Council staff were employed to do the cleaning. Well Council staff are
employed to do the audits of the cleaning and in all those audits bar one, of over
68 audits, the toilets have been found to be in acceptable condition.
Vandalism won't be addressed by cleaning and the cleaning regime is sufficient
to the task. If people have issues or if there are issues that may happen
immediately after a cleaner has undertaken a clean of a toilet, they should call it
into the Call Centre, report it online to the Call Centre and there will be a
response provided.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for item A.
Clause A put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause A of the report of the Field Services
Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for item B.
Clause B put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause B of the report of the Field Services
Committee was declared carried on the voices.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 70 -
Thereupon, Councillors Helen ABRAHAMS and Peter CUMMING immediately rose and called for a division,
which resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 17 -
DEPUTY MAYOR,
Councillor
Adrian SCHRINNER,
and
Councillors
Krista ADAMS,
Matthew BOURKE,
Amanda COOPER,
Margaret de WIT,
Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX, Peter MATIC,
Ian McKENZIE, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS, Andrew WINES and Norm WYNDHAM.
NOES: 7 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS,
Victoria NEWTON and Nicole JOHNSTON.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor David McLachlan (Chairman), Councillor Norm Wyndham (Deputy Chairman), and
Councillors Peter Cumming, Nicole Johnston, Kim Marx and Ian McKenzie.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – OPERATIONAL SERVICES BRANCH –
2013-14 ACHIEVEMENTS
67/2014-15
1.
Colin Maxfield, Commercial and Operational Services Manager, Field Services Group,
Brisbane Infrastructure Division, attended the meeting to update the committee on the
achievements of the Operational Services Branch during the 2013-14 year. He provided the
information below.
2.
Mr Maxfield provided details on the structure of the Organisational Services Branch. The
branch consists of four work units: Fleet Services, Risk Management Unit, Technology
Improvement Unit and the Contract Advisory Services. The work units contain a total of
120 FTE (Full-time equivalent) employees located in the work depots in Wacol and Stafford.
3.
The presenter then outlined the overall achievements of each individual work unit. The
highlights for the Operational Services Branch include: the implementation of the BaSE SAP
system in September 2013, the positive results of a customer satisfaction survey conducted in
November 2013, the launch of the Technology Improvement Unit in January 2014 and the
finalised Service Catalogue in June 2014.
4.
As a work unit, Fleet Services maintains Council’s plant, equipment and vehicles: including
heavy machinery. The presenter noted that the achievements of the Fleet Services unit
focussed on improvements in customer service. The notable achievements for the Fleet
Services unit included the introduction of a courtesy bus service in July 2013 and the
implementation of an on-site servicing vehicle from the Stafford Depot in December 2013 to
ensure total compliance with the Council vehicle servicing regime. Other achievements for
Fleet Services have included: a reduction in overdue services (19 per cent), efficiencies found
after completion of a review (approximately $230,000), and 21,554 work orders being
processed for the maintenance of Council plant items.
5.
The Risk Management Unit achievements were outlined. The work of this unit includes
Workplace Health and Safety (WHS), Environmental Services, Risk and Compliance and
Insurance. The presenter noted that the achievements of the Risk Management Unit showed
that employees have engaged with the measures that have been implemented to ensure a safe
workplace.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 71 -
6.
Through focussed WHS practices and processes, the Risk Management Unit team has
contributed to the Field Services Group’s end-of-year safety statistics. The presenter outlined
some of the statistics as follows:
Lost Time Injuries (LTI) reduced by 18 per cent (39 cases down to 32)
maintained over 90 per cent of completed actions in the month from investigations
Work Cover claims reduced by 19 per cent (three claims per month).
7.
Since the launch of the Technology Improvement Unit in January 2014, there have been a
number of achievements in exploring and identifying innovative technology-based solutions,
including: time-lapse photography implemented on all work sites, development of targeted
environment, WHS and operational audits, training in iPad familiarisation for over
130 employees, and the roll out of 19 business improvement projects with an estimated saving
of $200,000 for Council.
8.
The Contract Advisory Services Unit prepares, administers and manages contracts for the
Field Services Group. During the 2013-14 financial year, the Contract Advisory Services
Group achieved the following:
saving of $2.6 million (14 per cent) through management of purchasing processes
managed in excess of $19 million in contracts
office staff obtained white cards and commenced site visits
minor procurement activities were facilitated for Asset Services Branch
an alignment with procurement standards led to a 45 per cent reduction in
Field Services blanket orders.
9.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr Maxfield for
his informative presentation.
10.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE
REPORT.
ADOPTED
B
PETITIONS – REQUESTING ADDITIONAL CLEANING OF FOUR OR
FIVE TOILET BLOCKS ALONG THE ESPLANADE AT WYNNUM, MANLY
AND LOTA
CA14/460887 and CA14/464749
68/2014-15
11.
Two petitions from residents of Wynnum and surrounding suburbs, requesting additional
cleaning of the toilet blocks along the Esplanade at Wynnum, Manly and Lota, were
presented to the meeting of Council held on 3 June 2014, by Councillor Peter Cumming, and
received.
12.
The Executive Manager, Field Services Group, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, supplied the
following information.
13.
The two petitions contain a total of 107 signatures. The petitioners of the first petition
(CA14/460887) requested the cleaning of four toilet blocks, and the petitioners of the second
petition (CA14/464749) requested the cleaning of five toilet blocks along the Wynnum Manly
and Lota Esplanade.
14.
Although not specified in the petitions, these toilet blocks are identified as:
1.
D0530 – Lota Camping Ground
2.
D518 – George Clayton Park
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 72 -
3.
4.
5.
D0995 – Wynnum Wading Pool
D0517 – Bayside Park
D0002 – Greene Park.
15.
Scheduled cleaning services of all the above toilet blocks are carried out on a daily basis from
Monday to Friday. Double servicing (morning and evening) is carried out at the Lota
Camping Ground, the George Clayton and Greene Parks on Saturdays and Sundays. Bayside
Park is serviced three times a day on Saturdays and Sundays (morning, midday and evening)
and Wynnum Wading Pool receives double servicing Monday to Friday and three times a day
on Saturdays and Sundays.
16.
Programmed cleaning compliance audits have been carried out since February 2010 on
Saturdays and Sundays at Bayside Park and the Wynnum Wading Pool, on a quarterly basis.
The toilets have been cleaned to a satisfactory condition on all but one occasion. This issue
was recorded as non-compliant and referred to the cleaning contractor, via a superintendent’s
instruction from the East Region contracts section.
17.
This equates to a total of 68 contract toilet cleaning compliance inspections on weekends
since February 2010, with only one non-conformance issue being recorded.
18.
Regular, random inspections are carried out on a weekly basis by Asset Services Contracts
East region inspectors to ensure compliance with contract specifications, as is the case with
all other parkland assets. The inspector can attend up to three times per week at these toilet
blocks. He reports that on almost all occasions the toilet blocks are presented in a compliant
condition.
19.
The ongoing issues faced by the contract cleaner are the unacceptable acts of deliberate
vandalism by a public minority. These acts extend to the ongoing soiling of the assets (toilets
and cubicles) with faeces or urine and destruction of the assets themselves.
20.
An analysis of the funding arrangements for the 2014-15 financial year has been undertaken.
These results indicate that all available funds are fully committed, and the five toilet blocks
referred to are already serviced at a higher frequency than others in the region.
Funding
21.
If Option 2 below was chosen, the extra cost would be $7,300, which would have to be drawn
from an alternate source.
Consultation
22.
Councillor Peter Cumming, Councillor for the Wynnum/Manly Ward has been consulted and
does not support the recommendation.
Customer impact
23.
Current contract cleaning arrangements provide acceptable contract compliance levels. Given
ongoing positive toilet block audit results, a satisfactory toilet block environment has been
provided along the Wynnum foreshore.
Options
24.
The Executive Manager submitted two options:
Option 1 – Advise the petitioners that all five toilet blocks along the Esplanade at
Wynnum, Manly and Lota, are currently being serviced very regularly, between one
and three times a day. Council will continue to undertake regular audits and
inspections to ensure that the cleaning contractor is meeting the contract standards.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 73 -
-
The available cleaning funds are already being highly prioritised towards these
foreshore parks.
Option 2 – Allocate an additional $7,300 funding for extra cleaning services to bring
all five toilet blocks to a minimum of two services per day.
25.
Option 1 is the preferred option.
26.
The Executive Manager therefore recommends as follows and the Committee agrees, with
Councillors Peter Cumming and Nicole Johnston dissenting.
27.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT ALL FIVE TOILET BLOCKS
ALONG THE ESPLANADE AT WYNNUM, MANLY AND LOTA, ARE
CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED VERY REGULARLY BETWEEN ONE AND
THREE TIMES PER DAY. COUNCIL WILL CONTINUE TO UNDERTAKE
REGULAR AUDITS AND INSPECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE CLEANING
CONTRACTOR CONTINUES TO MEET THE CONTRACT STANDARDS. THE
AVAILABLE CLEANING FUNDS ARE ALREADY BEING HIGHLY PRIORITISED
TOWARDS THESE FORESHORE PARKS.
ADOPTED
BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE
Councillor Krista ADAMS, Chairman of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor
Andrew WINES, that the report of that Committee held on 5 August 2014, be adopted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a couple of exciting things that have been
happening in City Hall and that are about to happen in City Hall, before we get
to the Committee remarks. On Sunday, we had the special re-dedication of the
City Hall organ. Pulling Out all Stops, on Sunday morning, was a huge success.
Apparently nearly 1,500 attending was the final numbers.
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor ADAMS:
With the LORD MAYOR at that performance on Sunday morning. Exceptional
praise was received for Thomas Heywood's showmanship. Apparently he really
turned it on. Quite a contemporary repertoire, too, from Andrej Kouznetsov too.
So I think everybody generally enjoyed it. It's great to see the great pains that we
have been through to bring the organ back without damaging it and making sure
it was beautiful to listen to as well as look at, has well and truly been worth it.
We had a concert in the evening as well, we had the Comedy Concert at six
o'clock and then we had the Classic Silent Horror later in the evening. One of the
older attendees, I just have to give the anecdote, actually spoke to one of the
Epicure staff and said that she had actually seen the Buster Keaton movie when
she was seven, but she truly enjoyed watching it the second time with the organ,
it made it just a little bit more special.
So that's wonderful to see people coming back and reliving their childhood
through the Classic Silent Movie. So that was—that's fantastic to see. If you
obviously were all around City Hall today, you saw how many seniors were in
for the lunchtime concerts, again enjoying the organ today. I think everybody
turned out a little bit more dressed up today than usual, very excited about the
City Hall organ being operational again.
The last two months, our Brisbane seniors as well have been very busy in their
master classes and their free performances and the sneak peak last Sunday in
Queen Street Mall. We are looking very much forward to the Gala Cabaret on
Sunday. We have got a very high level of participation this year and an even
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 74 higher level of actual performance on Sunday afternoon as well. So we are going
to have that fantastic cabaret performance where they get to show off their
talents, everything that they have developed with their mentors over the last two
months.
It's a great way to not only provide entertainment for seniors but to actually get
them actively participating in producing that entertainment as well. So that is on
Sunday afternoon. We have—not quite full yet, there's nearly 900 tickets sold.
Not quite full if you haven't got your tickets yet. It starts at 2pm this Sunday
afternoon in City Hall, I'd encourage everyone to come along. It was a fantastic
concert last year.
Last week's Committee presentation was on, in particular, FELO and FALO, or
Festival Events and Liaisons and Film and Advertising Liaison officers within
the Business Hotline. We are always looking for ways that are innovative and
creative for our residents to be involved in the cultural life and our diversity in
Brisbane City. I think the operations of the Business Hotline in helping people
deliver events in Brisbane City Council has really gone to increasing the amount
of live entertainment, the venues, the creative enterprises and then rolling onto
the filming that we are seeing in Brisbane local government area.
So on top of actually delivering these, we are very committed to making sure the
delivery of them are very easy as well. So through the Brisbane Hotline and then
working with the Festival Events Liaison officers, it is again your one-stop-shop
when it comes to delivering events in Brisbane City Council. So we talk to them
about what type of event they want to have, engage with them on the information
that we need to make sure we can talk around compliance issues, information
they need, regulatory services, parks, transport planning sometimes comes into it
if there's road closures.
Connected Communities if it's something that is done through a grants process,
so they know how to equip their grants as well, if they're under contract. We also
have film productions which not always require Council approval, but they can
touch base with us to find out to make sure that they do have all the associated
permits and activities and are able to do it with minimal disruption as well as in a
safe manner for our residents and businesses.
So the various permits that they work through, footpath closures, park bookings,
road closures. They monitor the process of it as it goes through those assessment
processes. So instead of the client having to ring up to find out, where's my
permit? Where's this, where's that, the one call to the Brisbane Hotline means
that they've got a case manager that keeps track of that and gets back to them as
well to make sure that they know everything is running nice and smoothly.
We assessed 155 applications this financial year. As I said, it sits within the
Brisbane Hotline. We are very committed to making sure we deliver first time.
As I said, the filming permits which are not always needing permits through
Brisbane City Council, but they are up 14 per cent from the previous year. So
over the past five years, we have seen a 65 per cent increase of filming permits.
So I think that indicates a greater awareness as Brisbane as a very attractive
filming destination.
We've got the climate, we've got the views, we've got the tourist attractions and
now, obviously, we've got the business operations to make sure it's very simple
for them as well. It is estimated that we've had production companies injecting
up to $55.3 million into our economy over the '13-14 year through filming,
which is fantastic for our local businesses and our local tourist attractions.
Things like My Kitchen Rules episodes, several car advertisements, you may
have noticed, there's a Channel 10 drama series, Secrets and Lies and of course a
big blockbuster with the Rock, San Andreas which will be showing in the next
12 months as well. On top of that, of course, we have 96 festivals held in the last
financial years as well.
So I think it was very interesting for Committee to see everything that is actually
covered by FELO and FALO. But I have to say it's great that it's now also on the
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 75 Brisbane Hotline to make sure that it definitely is a one-stop service for all.
Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor WINES.
Councillor WINES:
Yes, thank you, Madam Chairman. I just rise in support of item A. It was an
excellent presentation and not only was the presentation excellent but so was the
service that we provide. The FELO and FALO provides a support service for
both film companies and community organisations to find dealing with the
apparatus of Council easier and to be able to navigate the institution to be able to
properly find permits and forms to be able to do the things that they are trying to
do.
In so many ways, this is a representation of what the LORD MAYOR was
speaking about recently. The advantages of one council. If you were a person
who wanted to film a car ad, for example, which is very common in Brisbane by
comparison to anywhere else in the country, you would have Moreton Island,
you would have the city, you would have parts of your own constituency,
Madam Chairman, that would provide a rural setting if it was required, all under
the same local government with the same permits, with a person to look after
you the whole way.
I will make an admission that whenever I see a car advertisement on the
television, I look to see if it was filmed in Brisbane. You can often find key
locations such as the Story Bridge and the Riverside Centre, the office building
the Riverside Centre is often used, particularly in Mazda ads if my memory
serves. But it's more common than that, our own Riverside Expressway was seen
in a BMW ad some years ago.
So Brisbane is very attractive for these reasons. It's all about being able to deal
with one council that wants filming here in Brisbane, that wants the work here.
Because, as you know—absolutely. Well we have a great looking city and we
think it should be in ads. But most ads you only see one or two people, but the
truth is, the back-of-house production provides employment for all kinds of
people and it's much better to have it here than in other parts of the country.
For those of you who like television drama, the TV show Secrets and Lies was
most obviously shot in Ashgrove. If you look, the settings were very familiar to
us, if you're in the north west.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor WINES:
But it was most obviously a Brisbane setting. It was a very popular TV show. I
also had—very recently, I was driving through the city on a Sunday and wasn't
able to drive down Elizabeth Street because it was closed because The Rock was
there because San Andreas was being filmed not far from the GPO (General Post
Office).
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor WINES:
The Rock? You know I could not tell you his real name but it what was written
here. If only my eyebrows were as dextrous as his. But it just demonstrates the
attraction of this city that a company would come from the United States to film
here in our city.
I'm also reliably told—and this goes to something we were discussing earlier
today about the cleanliness of the city—that the filmers of The Matrix films
wanted to film it in Brisbane but it was too bright, sunny and clean to provide
them the background they wanted, so they went to Sydney and filmed it there.
It's a fantastic service, I know that—so that's the advertising liaison, if you look
at the festival, provides just as good a service to people here in Brisbane who
want to put on community events throughout our suburbs, across the city. It
really is a way of just helping people navigate what can be, at times, a pretty
intimidating organisation. So we try and make it as easy and welcoming to deal
with as possible.
I'd like to commend the officers and commend the team. Thank you.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 76 Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor ADAMS? No. I will put the motion.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of the report of the
Brisbane Lifestyle Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Krista Adams (Chairman), Councillor Andrew Wines (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors
Steve Griffiths, Vicki Howard and Steven Huang.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
Councillor Victoria Newton.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – CUSTOMER SERVICES BRANCH
BUSINESS HOTLINE: FILMING, FESTIVALS AND EVENTS
69/2014-15
1.
Miriam Kent, Manager, Customer Services Branch, Brisbane Lifestyle Division, attended the
meeting to detail Customer Services Branch’s Business Hotline, specifically in relation to
filming, festivals and events. She provided the information below.
2.
The Business Hotline is a one-stop-shop for external customers, ward offices and Council.
3.
While not all events or film productions require Council approval, consultation with the
Festival or Filming Liaison officers (FELO/FALO) helps to ensure all associated activities are
carried out in a safe manner, with minimal disruption to local residents and businesses. This is
applicable to both small and large events, and ensures that all of the required areas of Council
are involved, that the customer has one point of contact, and that they are aware of all
requirements before progressing with the organisation of their event or production.
4.
Where an event or production is particularly large or complex, a pre-lodgement meeting is
held with the FELO/FALO, the organiser, and other Council stakeholders. This may include
representatives from Council areas including: Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, about
road closures; Council’s Connected Communities, if an event is funded by a Council grant;
and Asset Services Branch, if the event or production is to be held in a Council park or on
other Council land.
5.
The Festival and Events Factsheet for the Business Hotline provides information to residents
and business customers who want to establish an event in the city. These events align with
economic development and business growth for the city. The fact sheet was developed to:
make it easy for applicants to understand the requirements and progress their events
with ease
provide ward office staff and Council officers with the Business Hotline festival and
events process, and key information and contacts, within Council for their local
communities and businesses
achieves Council’s Customer Contact Principle 'Deliver First Time' and the Customer
Focus Vision's 'Personalised Council' and 'Trusted Council' objectives.
6.
In 2012 it was identified that the filming approvals function aligns closely with the broader
aims of the Business Hotline and this was brought into the Business Hotline Team for greater
alignment.
7.
The Filming Approvals Liaison role is to coordinates bookings, Council locations and permits
between multiple Council work units and the customer. Types of filming can be anything
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 77 -
from a student project to TV commercials, feature films, television shows and news channels.
8.
In 2013-14, 263 filming permits were issued; this is up by 14 per cent from the previous year.
Over the past five years there has been a 65 per cent increase of filming permits issued, a key
indicator of the increasing awareness of Brisbane as an attractive filming destination. As
estimated by production companies, filming injected up to $55.3 million into Brisbane’s
economy in the 2013-14 financial year.
9.
Recent major productions include:
several car advertisements
a documentary commissioned by SBS
episodes of My Kitchen Rules
Channel Ten drama, Secrets & Lies
feature Hollywood film, San Andreas – a $40 million blockbuster starring The Rock
(Dwayne Johnson).
10.
A clip of Secrets & Lies was played along with a behind-the scenes video of a Mazda CX-5
TV commercial.
11.
While an Entertainment and Event Permit is required where there will be over 2,000 people in
attendance, the Festival and Events Liaison officer also coordinates requirements for
community events of all sizes. This includes anything from markets, school fetes, music
festivals, community garage sales and everything in between. The vital role the Festival and
Events officer plays ensures that all permits and requirements are in place to ensure a
successful event. This includes road closure permits, traffic and management plans, park
bookings, and numerous other activities to minimise the impact on residents and ensure
community safety.
12.
In total in 2013-14, 162 festivals and events were held. Of these, 96 required Entertainment
and Event Permits. This was two more than the previous financial year.
13.
Three of the key events across Brisbane that the team have managed over the past 12 months
include GreazeFest at the Rocklea Showgrounds, Friday 2 to Sunday 4 August 2013;
Teneriffe Festival at New Farm, Saturday 5 July; and Paniyiri at Musgrave Park, Saturday 24
to Sunday 25 May. Paniyiri is in its 38th year making it the longest running cultural festival in
Queensland and the longest running Greek festival in Australia. This year there were more
than 30 food stalls and it was attended by over 50,000 people. This year’s very popular
Teneriffe Festival was the fourth such event.
14.
A well-made Entertainment and Event Permit application will ensure that a comprehensive
Event Management Plan is included. Some of the items included in the Event Management
Plan are:
a comprehensive site plan - some items to be shown are the entry and exit points,
emergency services designated areas and access points, locations of food operations,
location of waste containers and sanitary facilities
an evacuation plan for emergencies
a noise impact assessment to identify any sources of amplified or other noise, such as
generators, that may impact nearby locations or residents
a waste management plan outlining the collection and disposal of solid and liquid
wastes.
a traffic management plan for sufficient parking and traffic flow, road closures,
alternative public transport options, and any necessary barriers or traffic control to
ensure the safety of both attendees and vehicles in the area
details of any vehicles needing to access the site - this is especially important for
events on Council land, as the size and weight of some vehicles can cause damage to
the ground
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 78 -
-
details of all of the food vendors to be at the event, to ensure they hold the appropriate
food license.
15.
Images were displayed of some of the 2013-14 festival and events highlights which included:
the Valley Fiesta; Brisbane Pride Festival; the Caxton Street Seafood and Wine Festival; and
the Great Brisbane Duck Race.
16.
The presenter discussed all of the positive feedback that has been provided by customers. She
then explained that all councillors can support festivals and events by referring all
enquiries/requests for events (no matter how big or small) to the Festival and Events officer at
telephone number 133 BNE.
17.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Ms Kent for her
informative presentation.
18.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE
REPORT.
ADOPTED
FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Councillor Julian SIMMONDS, Chairman of the Finance, Economic Development and Administration
Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, that the report of that Committee held
on 5 August 2014, be adopted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. Before I start, firstly my sincere
apologies to the Chamber, yourself, Madam Chairman, and to Councillor
COOPER for waylaying her to the extent that she missed the opportunity to
move her report. I would have offered to let her move my report but there is little
solace in it for you, I'm afraid, Councillor COOPER.
So with that, Madam Chairman, with that short apology, I just wanted to
comment on a few things before we move to the presentation. The first is the
EKKA stand. So of course the EKKA stand is up and racing for Brisbane City
Council. We had the opportunity as a Cabinet to visit it yesterday and it's going
very well. Already 7,000 people have been through the stand in just the last few
days, which is excellent.
I would encourage everybody to get there if they can and to be part of it. Our
very successful Brissie greeters are there as part of the program to assist people
and to educate them on some of the things that Council does. But there's also a
lot of interactive programs. It's also part, again this year, of the children's trail,
EKKA Trail, which is also a very successful program.
Also that I had the privilege to be part of the Brunswick Street Mall reopening
last Tuesday. The mall is looking fantastic following the makeover. It was a very
successful weekend of events. I appreciate Councillor HOWARD being there
and being a part of it, along with the LORD MAYOR and many others. But by
all accounts, it was very well received and got those businesses there that have
been so patient in that precinct off to an excellent start.
I also had the opportunity to attend the Red Carpet Awards for GovHack on
Sunday with Ray Stevens who is the Minister assisting the Premier for egovernment and also Malcolm Turnbull the Federal Communications Minister.
This is a fantastic event, this is an Australia-wide event that Councillor
SCHRINNER is familiar with, where teams are given the challenge of utilising
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 79 different datasets that come from both government and the private sector to the
best that they can.
In particular, we had, as Brisbane City Council released a significant dataset just
prior to the event through Councillor BOURKE's hard work which we
appreciate, it was a dataset around all of the different park assets that are
available and some fantastic apps and team ideas came out of that and they were
duly awarded. So congratulations to the some 150 Brisbane hackers and
programmers who were part of that event and represented our city in this
national event. Congratulations to them.
In terms of the Committee, last week we had a presentation on the Show Your
Colours campaign. This is an annual campaign that we run to not only get our
city and the residents involved in the significant sporting seasons but also to
encourage those who travel to Brisbane for those sporting events to stay with it a
little bit longer, spend a bit more money in both our retailing and food and
beverage sectors. It's a very successful campaign again this year. Helped
immensely by the fact that we had—while the year before we had the Lions—the
British Lions that is—come over, we also had—this year we had the World Cup
of soccer, of course, and a lot of that drove some of the activations within Queen
Street Mall.
So congratulations to Brisbane Marketing and the Malls officers who are part of
that program. Again, the Committee received an excellent presentation and
conveyed its congratulations to those officers involved.
Chairman:
Further debate. I will put the motion.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the Finance, Economic Development and
Administration Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Julian Simmonds (Chairman), Councillor Angela Owen-Taylor (Deputy Chairman); and
Councillors Kim Flesser, Fiona King, Ryan Murphy and Shayne Sutton.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – SHOW YOUR COLOURS 2014
70/2014-15
1.
Anne-Maree Moon, Director, Leisure Tourism and Major Events, attended the meeting to
provide an update on the Show Your Colours 2014 campaign. She provided the information
below.
2.
Brisbane Marketing’s Show Your Colours (SYC) 2014 campaign celebrated the array of
football codes competing in Brisbane throughout June and July, including the Wallabies
versus France, the two State of Origin games and local derbies involving the Queensland
Reds, Broncos and Lions. Also this year the campaign embraced one of the world’s largest
sporting events the FIFA World Cup.
3.
The presenter outlined the objectives of the campaign, including:
positioning the city of Brisbane as the Football hub for all SYC and football activities
across June/July
driving visitation into the city for SYC events and activations
enhancing tourist visitor experiences in the City.
4.
There are three key programs included in the SYC campaign: CBD Installation - Guess the
Balls competition (social media focus), FIFA World Cup live sites (King George Square –
live event) and street dressing.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 80 -
5.
During the campaign the city activation included:
SYC banners for the CBD and key venue location and lighting
tri-folds, bunting and main stage area decorations, including a ball guessing
competition in the CBD
Courier-Mail Piazza at South Bank decorated for the State of Origin and SYC
bunting for the three State of Origin games
staff in the Visitor Information Centre, located in the Queen Street Mall, wore SYC
branded shirts throughout the period
bus station cases were branded in the following locations: Woolloongabba, South
Bank and the Cultural Centre
Brisbane Airport had digital screens displaying ‘Maroons’ messages.
6.
Businesses were also asked to get involved (dress themselves and their businesses) for the
SYC via a letter from the Lord Mayor’s Office. SYC bunting was also made available to key
retailers in the Queen Street Mall.
7.
A slide was shown that outlined the schedule of the lighting activation that also took place
around the city.
8.
During the campaign the Footy Brisbane website had 2,994 total page views and 2,640 unique
views. Also, as part of the Brisbane Marketing’s Winter Destination campaign, SYC received
Facebook and display advertising features that resulted in 447,148 impressions and 499 clicks
on the display advertising and 296,678 impressions and 3,254 clicks for Facebook
advertising.
9.
The presenter described some of the events and competitions that took place during the
campaign. These included the Guess the Balls CBD competition, live sites in King George
Square and Brazilian themed nights held in the Queen Street Mall and Reddacliff Place.
10.
SYC media outcomes were also detailed. Print was selected to drive strong awareness for the
campaign. There was also SYC launch coverage on The Project, Channel 10 News and radio
stations 4BC and Nova.
11.
The Chairman thanked Ms Moon for her informative presentation.
12.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE
REPORT.
ADOPTED
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS:
Chairman:
Councillors, are there any petitions? Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. I have three petitions tonight on behalf of local
residents. One on a site at Forest Lake regarding development. One regarding—
and two at Oxley regarding development.
Chairman:
Councillor GRIFFITHS.
Councillor GRIFFITHS:
Yes, thanks, Madam Chair. I have a petition to make Mortimer Road safe from
large trucks in front of schools.
Chairman:
Further petitions. Councillor MURPHY.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 81 -
71/2014-15
It was resolved on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Victoria NEWTON, that
the petitions as presented be received and referred to the Committee concerned for consideration and report.
The petitions were summarised as follows:
File No.
Councillor
Topic
CA14/666290
Milton Dick
CA14/666329
Milton Dick
CA14/666360
Milton Dick
CA14/666455
Steve Griffiths
Opposing development application A003810266 on the former
Richlands Bus Depot site at 48 Government Road, Richlands
Opposing
development
application
A003896356
at
242 Engelfield Road, Oxley
Opposing
development
application
A003904095
at
67 Chapman Place, Oxley
Calling on Council to make Mortimer Road, Acacia Ridge,
safer
GENERAL BUSINESS:
Chairman:
Councillors, are there any matters of general business? Councillor HUANG.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order.
Chairman:
Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Haven't you forgotten something, Madam Chairman, on the agenda?
Chairman:
Well there is—it's general business. Before we start, Councillor HUANG, are
there any statements required as a result of a councillor conduct review panel
order?
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor HUANG, my apology.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
If you need that sort of guidance, Councillor JOHNSTON, I'll make sure I never,
ever forget it again. Thank you. Councillor HUANG.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order. Order. Councillor HUANG.
Councillor HUANG:
Okay, thank you Madam Chairman. I rise to speak on a grinding issue in my
ward, as described by my local Quest Newspaper about the shortage of coffee
shops along Warrigal Road. Madam Chair, I believe most of the councillors have
had the experience of our title being misspelled as counsellor, as in counselling.
Sometimes I think they are probably right because from time to time people
come to us for all sorts of reasons or issues, far beyond Council's jurisdiction and
just want us to listen to them.
Of course, this is a privilege we enjoy as a local government representative.
Some of the issues raised may not have direct relevance to Council
responsibility. But it often reflects the changes occurring in our city. Take this
issue of coffee shop shortage, for example. This issue was first raised by a
resident through an email to my office and subsequently raised by a number of
residents living along Warrigal Road during my community listening post.
Being honest, I didn't know how to respond to this issue when I first heard about
it. So I sent a reply to this resident explaining that we do not have power to
intervene in shopping centres' commercial decisions but I would be happy to
raise it with the centre management and see if they can find the right kind of
tenant to satisfy local demands.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 82 Since then, I have raised this issue whenever I have had the opportunity to talk to
the managers of shopping centres along Warrigal Road. The common response
was they do not rule in or out of any tenants, it is all about market demand. They
welcome any tenant who can afford the rent and the outgoings. Madam Chair,
shopping centres along Warrigal Road continue to enjoy ever-increasing demand
for commercial and retail spaces, as well as a flourishing restaurant business.
It very much reflects the rapid growth along this traffic corridor and the variety
of shopping and dining experiences the multicultural community has brought to
these areas.
There have been a number of coffee shops opened since the issue was first
raised. I understand they are not the typical coffee shops some of the residents
have expected. But I'm sure they all offer good coffee and exciting new coffee
cultures. Now, in addition to cakes, muffins or scones, local residents can treat
themselves with all sorts of exotic deserts to go with their coffees.
Madam Chair, as our city grows to become more and more internationalised, we
will have the opportunity to enjoy the lifestyle we never experienced before. I
would encourage everyone to keep an open mind and enjoy a cup of decent
coffee and welcome to MacGregor Ward, I'll be happy to treat any one of you
for a decent cup of coffee with some exotic desert.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Further general business, Councillor FLESSER.
Councillor FLESSER:
Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Councillor FLESSER, I did call you.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, I do want to start an interesting debate about Council's failing
parking policies and the debacle that's happening out in our streets, Madam
Chair.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, we had Councillor SCHRINNER get up before and he's—
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor FLESSER:
—trying to say, oh everything's pretty good, we've started this taskforce as a
result of the call by the Opposition, and the Editor of The Courier-Mail agreed
with it. So he's doing this, but he basically he's saying, everything's all right,
we've got these problems, all cities have got these problems, Madam Chair. But,
Madam Chair, there are some cities that are dealing with it properly. You know
what they're doing? They're investing in public transport.
That's how they're getting away from the car culture and the streets being parked
out.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor FLESSER:
They are investing in public transport. They're not cutting public transport.
We've got a LORD MAYOR here rolling over the State Government, more and
more cuts to public transport. Oh no, we couldn't consider investing in Brisbane's
buses. We couldn't consider trying to get more bums on seats to get people out of
their cars. We're not going to do that, we're just going to cut. We're going to cut
and cut and cut.
If there's less than five people on your bus, Madam Chair, you should be
worried. Because it is clear what this Administration's ideas are as far as fixing
Council's parking problems are, Madam Chair, they are wrong. Madam Chair,
we should be investing in public transport. That's what cities like Portland,
Oregon are doing. That's what cities like Honolulu's doing. That's what Paris is
doing, Madam Chair. That's what Seattle is doing.
But no, not in Brisbane, no, it's this car culture, it's absolutely embraced by the
LNP, we'll build some regional tunnels, get more cars. A couple of years later,
oh, we've got a bit of a parking problem. Well, Madam Chair, people have been
able to see that problem coming for years. Madam Chair, it is coming to a head
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 83 now. We've got Councillor SCHRINNER with his head in the sand thinking, oh,
we'll just keep fining people. We'll fine them, book them. It's like Hawaii FiveO, Madam Chair, the Council's parking inspectors: “book em, Danno”.
You book them first and ask questions later. No warnings, Madam Chair. Every
week in the local papers—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor FLESSER:
Every week in the local papers, we see more and more stories about overly
aggressive fines by this Council on motorists, Madam Chair. I noticed in last
Sunday's Sunday Mail, a little article, Parking not Fine. It suggested—
indications suggest that more than 70 per cent of the 1,000 parking submissions
were caustic over what many drivers consider as revenue raising.
Yes, Madam Chair, that's what's going on in Brisbane. Brisbane's motorists, they
know what's going on. It's revenue raising. There's another one from the City
South News. The headline, 7 August, “Parking Boost to Council Coffers”, the
subheading, “Fat Fines Bring in the Cash”. Yes, Madam Chair, that's what
they're saying—
Councillor MURPHY:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Point of order against you, Councillor FLESSER. Yes, DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Will Councillor FLESSER take a question?
Councillor FLESSER:
I will at the end, Madam Chair. So Madam Chair, we look in the article and—I
won't go into great detail but there's a little section in here, we've got Councillor
SCHRINNER saying, yes, everything's fine. But it says here, the figures—this is
the parking figures—the figures show that one third of all 33,191 appeals against
parking infringements were waived. 1,514 were issued incorrectly or without
cause.
Madam Chair, Councillor SCHRINNER's trying to tell us everything's okay.
Look at those figures, talk to Brisbane's motorists, do they think that everything's
fine as far as this Council's parking policies are concerned? There is something
wrong when you see figures like that. There is something wrong and this
Administration's got its head in the sand about it. So we've got Brisbane's
motorists are out there suffering.
So Councillor SCHRINNER also spoke about Councillor DICK's article in The
Brisbane Times the other day and he said oh yes didn't put up any long term
solutions. Well, Madam Chair, Councillor DICK is talking about long term
solutions, long term solutions like building Park 'n' Ride facilities at train
stations and bus stations, proper requirements for property developers to provide
enough off street parking for unit developments and of course investing in public
transport. Getting people on buses and out of their cars.
Now how's this aggressive attitude towards issuing parking fines affecting my
residents. I want to refer the Council Chamber to an article in Northside
Chronicle just over a week ago and it's titled, Ire Over Parking Fines,
subheading, drivers cop tickets at Green Heart Fair.
Madam Chair, we remember that Councillor DICK did raise this issue during the
Budget debate about a constituent of mine who decided—he did the right thing.
He got his mother and a couple of his kids and went over to the Green Heart Fair
at Chermside. We all know what it's like over there; it's a big day, a lot of people
there, there's usually a bit of a parking mess out the front. He arrived at the front
gates, not sure where to go and there was a parking officer there with a vest on
obviously employed by Council and told him oh look go and park over there, a
long line of cars.
So, Madam Chair, my constituent Brad he went and did that. Parked there with
all the other cars, went inside for the fair, listened to the LORD MAYOR open
the Green Heart Fair, spent a bit of money, came back and what did he get? He
got a parking fine. He parked where he was told to park and got a fine.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 84 Now the Northside Chronicle journalist had done a bit of digging around and
what she's found is that there were at least 33 other people parked in the same
line were fined on that day. Talk about revenue raising. So I'm not sure how
much the Green Heart Fair cost, but we could make the money back in parking
fines the way we're going here. So, Madam Chair, my constituent Brad paid the
money but he is very, very upset about it.
I was concerned about the response from Council by Councillor ADAMS. Now
we know that Councillor ADAMS has got to do all the mopping up of all the
problems caused by Councillor SCHRINNER and the LORD MAYOR as far as
the parking fines are concerned, but her response was—remember this bloke, he
turned up, he parked where he was told to park. Her response was it has long
been illegal for vehicles to park on the footway regardless of whether or not
there's a path and given the serious safety issues there's really no excuse.
Madam Chair, this bloke parked where he was supposed to park and Councillor
ADAMS says there's no excuse. He wasn't parked on the footpath; the footpath
was another 10 metres away. He was not causing any problems.
So if we look a bit closer into this matter what we find is there's another little
story in here about Council trying to flick responsibility for what happened at the
Green Heart Fair and it says, a Brisbane City Council spokeswoman denied they
were responsible for staging the Green Heart Fair. I don't know who this
spokeswoman was, I assume it was someone in the LORD MAYOR's office, but
the Green Heart Fair is fully funded by this Council.
Sure we siphon off the money to the CitySmart company and get them to
actually do the running on the day, but it is a Council event. It's a Council event.
We need some responsibility when we go and start fining people for parking
where they're told to park outside it.
I've spoken before in this Chamber about what I've seen as a big failure in this
Council over the years I've been here and that is about taking away responsibility
from us, from councillors, for actions, for the things that we fund or things we
don't fund, and going to organisations like CitySmart fully funded by this
Council, something goes wrong we've got this Council spokesperson say oh no
it's not our fault it's CitySmart’s fault.
We have the same problem with QUU. No political responsibility when QUU
stuff up. Same as CBIC (City of Brisbane Investment Corporation). Those
handpicked—
Chairman:
Councillor FLESSER you didn't indicate you were talking about QUU or CBIC
or any of these other things.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, no it's an extension. I will move on, I will move on, Madam
Chair.
So we've got people being fined out—
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Point of order, Madam Chair?
Chairman:
Yes, Point of order. Yes DEPUTY MAYOR?
DEPUTY MAYOR:
It's nearing the end of Councillor FLESSER's time and he said he'd answer my
question.
Chairman:
No, he's got a couple of minutes to go.
Councillor FLESSER:
I'll answer the question.
Chairman:
Okay, question?
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Councillor FLESSER—and this is an issue open to yourself and other
councillors—would you please confirm that you would like us to stop Council
parking inspectors attending your ward? We're more than happy to do that.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, when cars are parked across people's driveways of course that
issue's got to be addressed, but we issue—
Councillors interjecting.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 85 Chairman:
Order.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, we see issues where a motorist has got two wheels on the footpath
to make sure that the roadway is clear. You've got two wheels on the footpath,
not causing any damage or harm to anyone, not blocking anyone's driveway, and
what's happening is, they're getting booked. Book them first, don't worry about
warnings, book them first. This is why we have so many people complaining
about the parking fines and this Council raking in $28 million a year digging into
motorists' pockets getting that money.
Of course there are issues with parking and Councillor SCHRINNER says there
are problems. Of course there are problems, but this Council is going down the
wrong path. We need to be talking to Brisbane's residents, we need to be
listening to them, and that's why Councillor DICK and I are having a forum next
Monday night at Nundah to listen to people in the Nundah area on the north side
of Brisbane, to find out what their issues are, what their suggestions are.
Do we need a Park 'n' Ride station at Nundah? Of course we do. Madam Chair,
there's space there for an 80 car park space on the eastern side of Nundah right
now. All we need is a bit of gumption from this LORD MAYOR and the State
Government to get it done.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor FLESSER:
Not that long ago we had the—
Chairman:
Order, Councillor FLESSER's got the floor.
Councillor FLESSER:
Not that long ago we had the LNP rallying against the State Government for not
building park 'n' ride stations, rallying against it. As far as Nundah was
concerned I agreed with them but what's happened now? Just rolled over.
Campbell Newman's in charge now. I don't want to spend any money at Nundah
and other places like that. No we're not going to build Park 'n' Ride stations there
now. So what's your solution, just sit on your hands do nothing, just keep fining
Brisbane motorists? We should be building Park 'n' Ride stations around the
railway stations around bus stations. The other thing that we should be doing is
making sure developers provide enough off street car parking for their unit
developments.
The recent City Plan has made it worse, made it worse around train stations, and
we've got Councillor SCHRINNER saying oh basically everything's okay, this
taskforce is going to come back with a couple of nebulous ideas which will not
make any difference. We need to be listening to Brisbane's residents and I'm
pleased that Councillor DICK and the Labor councillors are doing that. The
forums he's holding are very—
Chairman:
Councillor FLESSER your time has expired.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, we've got a parking nightmare.
Chairman:
Order. Sorry DEPUTY MAYOR?
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Oh yes, sorry.
Chairman:
Are you speaking?
DEPUTY MAYOR:
I'd like to speak.
Chairman:
Yes, okay.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Yes. Thank you, Madam Chairman, I'd like to speak on the issue of parking
because it's obviously of interest to everyone in the Council Chamber on both
sides, in particular I wanted to further draw on this offer that I've made to Labor
councillors and also any councillor indeed.
If you would like Council officers to stop visiting your ward and enforcing
parking restrictions we are absolutely happy to arrange that. This is not an offer
that I'm making lightly, this is a serious offer. We will stop sending the officers
to any ward where the councillor says we don't want parking enforcement to
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 86 happen. It is time to put the money where the mouth it, particularly for Labor
councillors. If you don't want us to enforce the parking restrictions then we will
stop it and we will see what happens when that occurs.
Labor councillors want it both ways. Let's be clear, it's a very obvious strategy
on their part. On the one hand they've been known very actively to call for more
enforcement. They've all done it. They've all had residents contact them
complaining about illegally parked cars and dangerously parked cars, and they've
all asked for enforcement in their ward. Yet when that enforcement occurs
they're the first ones to cry wolf and to actually say oh this is outrageous revenue
raising.
We are happy to stop this. If Labor councillors want it we are happy to stop it.
The reality is in Councillor DICK's own submission to the parking taskforce he
said the parking inspectors need to stop enforcing inner-city parking restrictions
for meter overstays and focus on the suburbs. He actually said that. He's asking
for more focus from parking inspectors out in the suburbs, yet Councillor
FLESSER gets up here and complains about the enforcement of parking
restrictions.
The reality is these restrictions exist for a very good reason. It has always been
illegal to park on the nature strip. This is nothing new, this is nothing that we
suddenly came up with, it's part of the road rules of this State and it's something
that is enforced for a very good reason.
We care about the ability of pedestrians to get safely along the footpath or the
nature strip, we care about the parents with prams and the people in a wheelchair
or people with a disability that are forced onto the road because cars are being
illegally parked across footpaths and nature strips. Obviously Labor doesn't care,
but as I said, it is time to put their money where their mouth is. If they want us to
stop enforcement of parking restrictions in their ward, please tell me and I will
organise it.
I want you to write to me and tell me under what circumstances you would like
enforcement to be carried out and under what circumstances you would like it
not to be carried out. Please I'm putting this offer on the table for all councillors;
I want to hear from you. Certainly given their interest in their issue, if I don't
hear from them then what can we draw from that. So I very much look forward
to hearing from Labor councillors and indeed any councillor who wants to ask us
to stop enforcing parking restrictions. We will do that if you ask and we're happy
to monitor what the consequences of that action is.
Now my personal view is that when you start setting that type of precedent other
issues will come up, but I'm happy to actually play it out in real life and see what
happens. They have their opportunity and I don't think this is an opportunity
that's ever been given to any councillor before. So we're setting this precedent
and we will pilot this project, the no enforcement project, give it a fair run and
see what happens, but in the end Labor will have to make a decision. Do they
want enforcement or don't they, you can't have it both ways.
Chairman:
Further general business? Councillor DICK?
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise to speak on three development issues in my
ward. Over the weekend on Sunday I attended a number of public meetings
where around 500 residents attended to meet with me about developments that
they are concerned about.
The first development is a development along 242 Englefield Road and I
certainly hope the LORD MAYOR's office and Councillor COOPER are
listening to what I'm saying tonight because this application asks for a
preliminary approval for a material change of use that will see medium density
residential area against a large area of industrial land.
Now residents are very concerned in the Oxley community about this
development.
At that time, 6.14pm, the Deputy Chairman, Councillor Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, assumed the Chair.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 87 Councillor DICK:
Residents came out of their homes to meet with me on the weekend and in each
case the residents asked me this evening when I tabled the petitions, raising their
concerns to speak on their behalf, and that is exactly what I am doing this
evening.
This development is a controversial one for a number of reasons. When the
Darra Oxley Neighbourhood Plan came through this Council I opposed it. I
opposed it because it was going to create conflict, conflict between existing
residents and future residents. I opposed it because the bulk and scale and size of
the industry promised in the neighbourhood plan simply was not going to be
compatible with residents. I raised it at the time, through you Madam Acting
Chair to Councillor COOPER, the residents raised it at meetings through
submissions, and they were ignored. This is a hallmark of this Council, not
listening to what residents want, and worse, not doing what residents want.
On this map that I hold in the Chamber now you can see on the red located area
where the proposed subdivision will occur, next door to major industry. It is
worse. There is a park called Rikki Bailey Park which this Council is seriously
considering running a road through—running a road through.
Madam Acting Chair, this is bad planning. The residents are concerned about the
increase in traffic impacts along Englefield Road, along Valance Street, along
Douglas Street, but they are particularly concerned about the environmental
impacts of any future development in and around the area.
The community in Oxley is a very smart and intelligent community. They know
that there will be future industry and they know that there will be new housing in
and around their suburb. They know that and they are willing to accept future
development. They are not part of the think of well we're here no one should
come here. They know that. They want sustainable practical development that
they can live with, but more importantly, future residents can live with as well.
We know we need to strike a balance tonight. On behalf of those residents I'm
calling on the Council to listen to their concerns and make sure before any
approval process happens that their issues are addressed adequately.
The next development that I want to speak upon tonight is a proposal for 48
Government Road, Inala, which of course is the old Richlands bus depot site.
When this Council made the decision to sell off that Council land, to close those
bus depots there at Bowen Hills and also Richlands without community
consultation, without taking it to the election, without seeking a mandate, when
they decided to sell those assets they didn't listen to what the community want.
They understood that the community—that the Council needed to sell this land.
What the Council, this Council, is planning on doing is changing that use to part
of that land to low-medium density areas which means up to three to five storeys
backing onto Forest Lake. They are very concerned about the impacts that that
sort of bulk and scale of development will have on their properties. I agree with
them.
At the public meeting I heard speaker after speaker say we have been kept in the
dark every step of the way. The Council hasn't been honest with us. This is the
feedback that they have asked me to place on the table tonight as their local
representative. They are my employers. I see myself as the community—as an
employee of the community and as such it is my role to get the best possible
outcome for the local community. It's a privilege to represent local residents, and
as such I repay that by going in as hard as I can to work with the Council
officers, but more importantly with the decision makers of the day to get the best
possible outcome.
Once again those residents know that there will be development on their site.
They're simply asking for a fair go. They're simply asking to make sure that they
don't live on the back door of five storeys which they have never been told
about.
Madam Deputy Chair this is even worse because this is the Council wanting to
do this then obviously on-sell the land before we actually sell the land off. So
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 88 this is in my opinion, Madam Deputy Chair, this is I guess an issue of integrity
for this Council to make sure when it is our own land that we actually respect
and listen to what the community want.
The final application I want to talk about tonight, probably the most
controversial one that I dealt with on the weekend. Normally when I have public
meetings you'll get between 10 and 20 people. About 150 residents came to meet
with me about this. I had the application issues, I had the information, but I
simply didn't have enough to hand out to residents. They were furious and really
concerned about a development application at 67 Chapman Place, Oxley,
between Chapman, Patwin and Merring Streets, Oxley.
This is a very established older area and there is a tranche of bushland that runs
down from Seventeen Miles Rocks Road. The local residents are very concerned
about the slippage issues that they have witnessed. People have told me they
lived for 40 or 50 years in and around that area. They've noticed an increase in
runoff and particularly drainage problems, they've noticed flooding as water
flows down that steep incline, and they're also worried about the environmental
impacts as well.
So residents are concerned when they've seen indicative plans which will mean
the opening of Merring Street. At all stages unanimously everyone agreed that
that is a bad planning and traffic suggestion that's been put on the table. They are
very concerned about what that will mean for the future of their suburb about
people getting in and out and around the suburb. Traffic along Seventeen Miles
Rocks Road down across into Oxley Road across the rail bridge is already at
capacity. They are worried about what the traffic's going to mean for their future
suburbs, and they're also concerned particularly about the future environmental
impacts that will be lost if this development was to be approved in its current
state.
Madam Chair, once again—Madam Acting Chair—I'm calling on the Council
before any decision is made to make sure all of those concerns are listened, to
make sure those views—residents will be lodging formal submissions. They will
be raising individually their own concerns. I will continue to keep them advised
every step of the way to make sure that they are informed, but more importantly
I'll be doing everything I can to make sure we get the best possible outcomes for
that local community.
Deputy Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor JOHNSTON?
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes I rise to speak on a number of items this evening, firstly the Oxley Creek
flood study, secondly, the Tennyson parks and footpath trust fund and thirdly,
parking. I'll just start with parking because it's the flavour of the evening.
Right now the DEPUTY MAYOR has my submission on the parking taskforce
and I will be sending him an excerpt from this which I expect that as per his
promise here this evening he will immediately implement—immediately.
If he is to be believed tonight, he has said he will do what we ask. Well I've put
my submission in on the parking taskforce, and within that I have asked for
Council not to issue fines for residents with respect to household matters, but to
issue them with a warning in the first instance and this relates specifically to
people who are fined at 1am in Yeronga in a quiet residential area for parking
their car in their driveway.
Now there was no complaint, there was no risk, nobody was being
disadvantaged, and a warning would have been appropriate. Instead this Council
whack $100 odd fine onto a resident who is so angry about what has happened,
angry as anything. So let me be clear DEPUTY MAYOR, you have my
submission in writing with 31 recommendations about how you can fix the
parking problem, and I will be sending you that excerpt so you can put it into
practise in my ward immediately.
I look forward to you honouring the promise that you have just made here in this
Chamber tonight that if we ask you to do something you will do it because that is
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 89 what you have said clearly on the record tonight. There will be an email—oh
perhaps not tomorrow but Thursday—from me with respect to that.
But otherwise, Madam Chairman, through you to the DEPUTY MAYOR, I
would say if you want to make changes to the parking regime I suggest that you
take up the 31 recommendations that I've put into my submission, because they
are practical, they reflect community concerns and there is a serious problem.
These silly political games being played by oh the ALP love cars and Helen
doesn't love cars and the LNP don't really like cars, I mean it's stupid.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON to your topic.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
It is demeaning that this is the terms in which the argument is being couched.
The DEPUTY MAYOR is doing a disservice to everybody in this city when he
puts an ultimatum to people, do you want enforcement or not? That's not the
problem and the Newman-esque approach that the DEPUTY MAYOR is taking
does not serve him well. He needs to listen and reflect to the community
concerns and then adjust Council's policies, practices and procedures to take up
those areas of concerns. Ultimatum and stupid political games do not advance
this argument—
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON you are straying off-topic. I will not—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I'm talking about the parking review.
Deputy Chairman:
No, Councillor JOHNSTON you said you were speaking about parking. You are
not speaking about parking. You either confine remarks to the topic or you sit
down.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Alright, well I've said what I've said and I think I was pretty relevant to what I
said I was going to talk on.
But the second issue relates to the parks footpath trust fund. Madam Chairman,
as the LORD MAYOR confirmed here today, the $434,000 that is listed for the
trust fund is going to be now eaten up with $24,000 in administrative costs. Now
that's $24,000 less than what the LORD MAYOR told us we have to spend in
our wards. He has simply increased the trust fund after publicly trumpeting that
he was increasing it. He hasn't actually done that. It's gone up by a tiny amount,
from $394,000 to $410,000 and it is an embarrassment that this Council wants to
rake out administrative funds out of a trust fund that is about practical delivery
of projects in the suburbs. That is what they are doing; they are short-changing
ratepayers.
Well I will be pursuing what that $24,000 in administrative fees is actually for
because, Madam Chairman, it is clear that this Council does not have the ability
to charge fees where there is no actual cost to Council. I will be looking very
closely over the next few months at what this $24,000 per ward is actually made
up of, because it is grand highway robbery to take that money away from the
important projects out in our community and to take it away from the parks and
the footpaths that need doing in our local area. For the LORD MAYOR to stand
up and say it was $434,000 is absolutely not right.
Now I note, Madam Chairman, that the new line the LNP's been taking in recent
months is oh well you should have asked at the Budget information sessions.
Well I was there; no one mentioned that. If you could get an answer—if you
could get an answer out of Councillor BOURKE at all or Councillor
SIMMONDS or any of the other councillors who couldn't be bothered to answer
the questions when asked, you would be surprised.
I encourage any journalist to come along to the information sessions and watch
the charades—
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON—order—Councillor JOHNSTON I have already
warned you once that you were going off-topic and in accordance with the
Meetings Local Law I ask you now to resume your seat. Further—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman?
Deputy Chairman:
Point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON?
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 90 Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, there is no such Meeting Local Law—
Deputy Chairman:
Yes there is Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Can you please tell me where that Meeting Local Law exists because you cannot
tell me to sit down and I'm not going to—
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON if you want an answer be silent and do not interrupt me
when I'm speaking. I refer you to page 26 of the Meetings Local Law, Clause 47
sub-section 10: the chairman may direct a councillor to cease speaking if the
councillor's speech is no longer relevant to the defined topic. Resume your seat
now.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
No.
Deputy Chairman:
Resume your seat Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
No.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON I have just directed you twice to resume your seat in
accordance with Clause 47 Item 10 sub-section 10 of the Meetings Local Law.
You are now required to resume your seat.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, I was being relevant. I was making an argument and I want to
continue to speak—
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, Councillor JOHNSTON, Councillor JOHNSTON when
the chair is speaking you remain silent. I have directed you to resume your seat.
Your behaviour is inappropriate and an act of disorder. Resume your seat
immediately.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
No, Madam Chairman, I'm speaking on a number of items in general business as
I've outlined today and I would very much like to continue to speak on those
items of general business.
Now, Madam Chairman, I don't believe that anything I've said here tonight is
irrelevant—
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, Councillor JOHNSTON—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
—and you are simply trying to control what I am saying when I have outlined it
here—
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
It is not reasonable for you to do that—
Order under section 186A of the City of Brisbane Act 2010 that disorderly conduct by Councillor
Nicole JOHNSTON be noted in the minutes and that Councillor JOHNSTON leave the meeting
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON order, order. Councillor JOHNSTON I have repeatedly
asked you to follow my directions in this place. Councillor JOHNSTON your
conduct this evening has been completely disorderly and inappropriate and under
section 186A of the City of Brisbane Act I will firstly make note of your conduct
in the minutes and secondly, order that you immediately leave the meeting.
Councillor JOHNSTON you have been directed to leave the meeting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Of course you have directed me, Madam Chairman, because that is what you and
Councillor de WIT do—
Deputy Chairman:
Order.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
—week after week when all I'm doing is—
Deputy Chairman:
Order.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
—speaking on behalf of my residents. That's it—
Deputy Chairman:
Order.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
—and I note you don't want me to. I note that you don't want me to.
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 91 Deputy Chairman:
DEPUTY MAYOR?
ADJOURNMENT:
72/2014-15
At that point, it was resolved on the motion of the DEPUTY MAYOR, seconded by Councillor Krista
ADAMS, that the meeting adjourn until Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON has left the Chamber.
Councillor JOHNSTON left the meeting.
UPON RESUMPTION:
Deputy Chairman:
As Councillor JOHNSTON has now left the Chamber I will now call for further
general business. No further general business, I declare the meeting closed.
QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN:
(Questions of which due notice has been given are printed as supplied and are not edited)
Submitted by Councillor Nicole Johnston (received on 7 August 2014)
Q1.
Would the Lord Mayor please advise the dates of all meetings or events he and/or his staff attended
with developer Cedar Woods or their representatives over the past 12 months?
Q2.
Would Cr Cooper please advise the dates of all meetings and/or events she or her staff attended with
developer Cedar Woods or their representatives over the past 12 months?
Q3.
Please provide a list by name and address of infringement notices, show cause notice and enforcement
notices and any financial penalties that were issued to owners, builders or developers who partially or
fully demolished character houses without approval in 2013-14? Please provide the answer in the
following table.
Name
Address of
Infringement/offence
Type of Infringement
eg fine, show cause,
enforcement
Value
Submitted by Councillor Nicole Johnston (received on 7 August 2014)
Q1.
What is the budget allocation for the Business in Brisbane newsletter for 2013-14 and under what
programme number the funds are provided?
Q2.
What is the budget allocation for the Business in Brisbane newsletter for 2014-15 and under what
programme number the funds are provided?
Q3.
Please provide the a breakdown of the following costs for edition two the Business in Brisbane July to
September newsletter:
production/graphic design
printing
distribution
public relations
Q4.
How many Business in Brisbane newsletters are produced for each edition?
Q5.
Please provide a list of businesses and other groups that receive the Business in Brisbane newsletter?
Q1.
Submitted by Councillor Victoria Newton (received on 7 August 2014)
Can information be provided to advise the amount Queensland Urban Utilities owed in loans to Council
as at 30th June 2014?
Q2.
Can information be provided to advise the interest rate Council charged Queensland Urban Utilities for
loans as at 30th June 2014?
Q3.
In the budget information session, Councillors were advised that the 2014/2015 budget supported 8,122
FTE staff and workers on contract. Councillors were advised that the 2013/2014 budget supported
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 92 8,325 FTE staff and workers on contract. Could information be provided with a synopsis of the 203
Council positions that have been reduced in this year’s budget?
Q4.
Can information be provided to advise how much revenue Brisbane City Council will receive from
telecommunications leases on Council managed land in the 2014/15 financial year?
Q5.
Can information be provided to advise the amount of money allocated in the 2014/2015 budget to
cleaning:
Buses
CityCats
Ferries
Q6.
Can information be provided to advise how often seats on buses, CityCats and ferries are steamed?
Q7.
Can information be provided to advise the FTE of bus drivers within Brisbane Transport in the
following years
2010/2011
2011/2012
2012/2013
2013/2014
2014/2015
Q8.
Can information be provided to advise the twenty bus routes operated by Brisbane Transport with the
highest average weekly patronage?
Q9.
Can information be provided to advise the twenty bus routes Operated by Brisbane Transport with the
lowest average weekly patronage?
Q10.
Can information be provided to advise the average weekly patronage for each individual bus route
operated by Brisbane Transport during June 2014? Can the data please be provided by individual bus
route.
Q11.
Can information be provided to advise of the annual patronage figures for each bus route operated by
Brisbane Transport for the following financial years:
ROUTE
NUMBER
2011/10
2012/11
2012/13
2013/14
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN
GIVEN:
(Answers to questions of which due notice has been given are printed as supplied and are not edited)
Submitted by Councillor Nicole Johnston (received on 25 July 2014)
Q1.
Would Council please advise the number of traffic related or parking fines issued on Graceville
Avenue, Graceville in the 2012/13 and 2013/14 financial years?
A1.
2012/13 – 8. Three of these were zero penalty.
2013/14 – 19. Six of these were zero penalty.
Q2.
Would Council please advise the total amount of all fines issued on Graceville Avenue, Graceville in
the 2012/13 and 2013/14 financial years?
A2.
2012/13 – 8. Three of these were zero penalty.
2013/14 – 21. Six of these were zero penalty.
Q3.
Would Council please advise the most recent available crash history data for Graceville Avenue,
Graceville?
A3.
Crash history data is compiled by the State Government.
Submitted by Councillor Nicole Johnston (received on 31 July 2014)
Q1.
How many parking permits and visitor permits were issued in 2013/14 in each of the following
residential parking permit areas? Can the response please be provided in the following table:
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 93 Tennyson
Residential Parking Permit
Yeronga
Residential Parking Permit
Fairfield
Residential Parking Permit
Yeerongpilly
Residential Parking Permit
Annerley
Residential Parking Permit
A1.
Visitor Parking Permit
Visitor Parking Permit
Visitor Parking Permit
Visitor Parking Permit
Visitor Parking Permit
The suburbs above are not individual residential parking permit areas, but included in either the
Dutton Park or Queensland Tennis Centre traffic areas.
An answer to the number of permits in the Dutton Park Traffic Area was provided to Council on 29
July 2014.
There are 170 resident parking permits and 194 visitor parking permits in the Queensland Tennis
Traffic Area.
Q2.
How many parking metered spaces are located in Annerley?
A2.
89.
Q3.
What is the amount of revenue collected from parking meters in the 2013/14 year in Annerley?
A3.
$138,259.57.
Submitted by Councillor Victoria Newton (received on 31 July 2014)
Q1.
Can information be provided to advise the full breakdown of all the components of the $2,520,573,000
in the 2013/2014 year (anticipated) for ‘Non-current liabilities - Other financial liabilities’ shown on
page 9 of the 2014/2015 Annual budget?
A1.
All figures in $000
General Purpose
926,115
Go Between
242,755
CLEM7
420,341
Legacy Way
885,548
Willawong
45,814
TOTAL
Q2.
Non-current
2,520,573
Can information be provided to advise the full breakdown of all the components of the $1,552,400,000
in the 2014/2015 year (proposed) for ‘Non-current liabilities - Other financial liabilities’ shown on
page 9 of the 2014/2015 Annual budget?
A2.
All figures in $000
Non-current
General Purpose
296,362
Go Between
236,042
CLEM7
413,076
Legacy Way
470,850
Legacy Way – capitalised interest
41,955
Willawong
45,609
Eagle Farm
48,506
TOTAL
1,552,400
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 94 Q3.
Can information be provided to advise the costs per cubic meter for road resurfacing in the categories
for the following financial years:ROAD TYPE
Schedule 12: Resurface Streets Type
A&B
Schedule 13: Road Construction
Minor Type ABC & E
Schedule 16: Resurface Bus Route
Type ‘C’
Schedule 18: Resurface Industrial
Streets Type E
Schedule 22: Resurface Major Road
Type D
Schedule 24: Resurface Arterial Road
Type F&G
2013/14
2012/13
2011/12
2010/11
A3.
The question cannot be answered in its current form as the costs per cubic metre varies widely between
resurfacing jobs and depends on the design specifications. Answers can be provided for specific jobs
which have been completed.
Q4.
Can information be provided to advise how much was spent on road surface maintenance (including
pothole repairs) in the following financial years (not including road resurfacing as listed in the Annual
Budget schedules):2013/14
A4.
2012/13
2011/12
2010/11
The question is unable to be answered in the form requested as funds for flying gangs are not
apportioned by specific task. Funding is made available every financial year from recurrent
maintenance allocated in the budget for Field Services operations and in particular flying gangs to
undertake a broad range of tasks such as grass cutting, kerbside pickups of dumped materials and
minor road surface maintenance. The specific amount of funding would vary depending on the number
of jobs identified through visual identification by flying gangs or members of the public in any given
financial year.
Larger failures greater than pothole repairs but less than entire lengths of streets are allocated specific
funding in the budget schedules and is listed as large failure rehabilitation. This amount is publically
available in the budget schedules.
Q5.
Can information be provided to advise how many kilometres of roads were resurfaced in the following
financial years:2013/14
A5.
2012/13
2011/12
2010/11
Individual resurfacing jobs have varying dimensions and Council does not measure road resurfacing in
the manner outlined in the question.
RISING OF COUNCIL:
PRESENTED:
6.30pm.
and CONFIRMED
CHAIRMAN
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]
- 95 -
Council officers in attendance:
James Withers (Senior Council and Committee Officer)
Jo Camamile (Council and Committee Officer)
Billy Peers (Personal Support Officer to the Lord Mayor and Council Orderly)
[4444 (Ordinary) Meeting – 12 August 2014]