on Tuesday 6 August 2013

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

The 4411 meeting of the Brisbane City Council, held at City Hall, Brisbane on Tuesday 6 August 2013 at 2pm

Prepared by:

Council and Committees Support

Chief Executive’s Office

Office of the Lord Mayor and the Chief Executive Officer

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

THE 4411 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,

HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,

ON TUESDAY 6 AUGUST 2013

Dedicated to a better Brisbane AT 2PM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS _____________________________________________________________ i

PRESENT: ______________________________________________________________________ 1

OPENING OF MEETING: __________________________________________________________ 1

APOLOGY: _____________________________________________________________________ 1

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE – NORMAN ALBERT ROSE __________________________________ 1

MINUTES: _____________________________________________________________________ 4

QUESTION TIME: ________________________________________________________________ 5

CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS: _________________________________________ 15

ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE _________________________________________ 15

A ADVERTISEMENTS AMENDING LOCAL LAW 2013 AND ADVERTISEMENTS AMENDING

SUBORDINATE LOCAL LAW 2013 ____________________________________________________ 30

B AMENDMENTS TO AREA CLASSIFICATIONS AND DEMOLITION CONTROL PRECINCTS IN THE

BRISBANE CITY PLAN 2000 _________________________________________________________ 33

INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ___________________________________________________________ 35

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – JANE STREET/MONTAGUE ROAD INTERSECTION ______________ 38

B PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL TO INSTALL A RAISED PLATFORM IN ALDERSON STREET,

OUTSIDE THE NEWMARKET SWIMMING POOL _________________________________________ 39

C PETITION – REQUESTING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CONCRETE BOLLARD FENCE ON THE NORTH-

FACING BLOCK BOUNDARIES AT WEENGA STREET, GEEBUNG _____________________________ 41

D PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL INSTALL A 40KM/H SCHOOL ZONE, SCHOOL CROSSING AND

APPROPRIATE SIGNAGE AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS ON CAVENDISH ROAD, COORPAROO, NEAR

THE COORPAROO STATE SCHOOL ___________________________________________________ 43

PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE ______________________________________________ 44

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – OPERATIONAL INNOVATION FOR BUS INTERIORS _____________ 44

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE ___________________ 45

A DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION (DISTRIBUTOR-RETAILER) UNDER THE SUSTAINABLE PLANNING ACT

2009: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL FOR CARRYING OUT BUILDING WORK AND DEVELOPMENT PERMIT

FOR MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR HOTEL AND SHORT TERM ACCOMMODATION – 678

COMPTON ROAD, CALAMVALE – CAL-MAC PTY LTD _____________________________________ 51

ENVIRONMENT, PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE ____________________________________ 55

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – CREEK FILTRATION SYSTEM TRAILS _________________________ 63

B TWO PETITIONS – REQUESTING THE NAMING OF A NEW SHELTER IN BANYO MEMORIAL PARK AS

THE ‘BANYO MEMORIAL BANDSTAND’ _______________________________________________ 64

C PETITION – REQUESTING FOR COUNCIL TO PURCHASE THE FORMER SKATE RINK AT INALA FOR

PARKLAND AND COMMUNITY SPACE ________________________________________________ 65

D PETITION – REQUESTING FOR PLAYGROUND AND SHADE CLOTH AT OUTLOOK PARK, DUTTON

PARK. __________________________________________________________________________ 67

E PETITION – REQUESTING FOR THE FORMAL NAMING OF ROGOONA STREET PARK AT THYNNE

ROAD, MORNINGSIDE AS ‘JOYCE WHITE PARK’ _________________________________________ 68

F SUBMISSION – PARK NAMING – FORMAL NAMING OF THE EXISTING PARKLAND AT THE CORNER

OF RAY STREET AND MACDONALD PLACE, CARSELDINE __________________________________ 69

[4411 (Ordinary) Meeting – 6 August 2013]



HELD AT ROY HARVEY HOUSE,

157 ANN STREET, BRISBANE,

Dedicated to a better Brisbane ON TUESDAY 6 AUGUST 2013

AT 2PM

G PETITION – REQUESTING THAT A SEPARATE SMALL DOG OFF LEASH AREA BE INSTALLED WITHIN

THE EXISTING DOG OFF LEASH AREA AT ELANORA PARK, WYNNUM NORTH _________________ 70

H PETITION – REQUESTING FUNDING TO UPGRADE KERALGERIE PARK, MORNINGSIDE _________ 72

I PETITION – REQUESTING THAT THE DOG OFF LEASH AREA AT ELANORA PARK, WYNNUM NORTH

BE RETAINED AT ITS CURRENT SIZE __________________________________________________ 73

J PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL REPLACE THE EXISTING WOOD BBQ WITH AN ELECTRIC

BBQ IN BENBEK CIRCUIT PARK, LOCATED IN BENBEK CIRCUIT, SUNNYBANK HILLS _____________ 74

FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE _____________________________________________________________ 75

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – WASTE MINIMISATION EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ______________ 78

B PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL REHABILITATE THE ROAD SURFACE AT THE INTERSECTION

OF OVENDEAN STREET AND FAIRFIELD ROAD, YERONGA _________________________________ 79

C PETITION – REQUESTING THAT THE BUSHLAND CORRIDOR FROM FOREST LAKE BOULEVARD AND

BEYOND CARDWELL STREET RECEIVE REGULAR MAINTENANCE ___________________________ 80

D PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL CONSIDER THE REMOVAL OF A LARGE EUCALYPTUS TREE

ON COUNCIL-OWNED AND CONTROLLED FOOTPATH AT 1 SNOWBERRY STREET, ON THE

PEPPERCORN STREET FRONTAGE, SUNNYBANK HILLS ___________________________________ 81

BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE _________________________________________________________ 82

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – MITCHELTON LIBRARY UPGRADE __________________________ 92

B PETITION – REQUESTING A PERMANENT SORRY SITE MEMORIAL AT HILL END TERRACE, WEST END

_______________________________________________________________________________ 94

C PETITION – OPPOSING THE FORMAL USE OF THE COUNCIL PARK AT THE END OF LANGLEY AVENUE

AND MURRAY STREET, NEWMARKET, KNOWN AS LANGLEY AVENUE PARK __________________ 95

D PETITION – CALLING ON COUNCIL TO UPGRADE THE SKATE PARK IN NEAL MACROSSAN

PLAYGROUND PARK, PADDINGTON __________________________________________________ 96

E PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL TAKE ACTION REGARDING THE RECENT OPENING OF A

FRUIT SHOP AT INALA CIVIC CENTRE AND SHOPPING CENTRE _____________________________ 98

F PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL RESURFACE THE CARPARK ON SAMFORD ROAD, WHICH

SERVICES THE GAYTHORNE BOWLS CLUB AND MITCHELTON PARK ________________________ 99

FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE _____________________ 100

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS ___ 102

B BANK AND INVESTMENT REPORT – FEBRUARY 2013 ___________________________________ 103

C BUSHLAND PRESERVATION LEVY REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 2013 ______________ 104

CONSIDERATION OF NOTIFIED MOTION: - Remove extended night-time and weekend on-street

paid parking charges in the Brisbane CBD, South Brisbane and Fortitude Valley areas ______ 104

PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS: ___________________________________________________ 123

GENERAL BUSINESS: ___________________________________________________________ 125

QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN: _______________________________ 131

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN: ____________________ 132

[4411 (Ordinary) meeting – 6 August 2013]



HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,

ON TUESDAY 6 AUGUST 2013

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)

Norm WYNDHAM (McDowall)

Andrew WINES (Enoggera)

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.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE:

Councillor Shayne SUTTON (Morningside) (Leave of absence granted for Councillor SUTTON at the meeting of Council on 30 July 2013.)

APOLOGY:

26/2013-14

An apology was submitted on behalf of Fiona KING (Marchant), and she was granted leave of absence from the meeting on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Kim MARX.

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE – NORMAN ALBERT ROSE

27/2013-14

The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK, announced that before proceeding with the formal business of the day, he would like to pay tribute Norman Albert Rose, former Liberal Party

Alderman of Annerley and Fairfield wards who passed away this month.

[4411 (Ordinary) Meeting – 6 August 2013]

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

- 2 -

LORD MAYOR, Motion of Condolence, please.

Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. Before we proceed with the formal business of the day, I would like to pay tribute to Norman Albert Rose. Norm was a former Liberal Party Alderman for Annerley, from 1976 to 1985, and

Fairfield Ward from 1985 to 1991. Norm passed away sadly on Saturday night.

He had been at a gathering that we had here earlier in the year when City Hall opened, and I had the opportunity to catch up with Norm on one or two other occasions since that time. But he gained a sudden illness and passed away, as I say, on Saturday night.

Norm is survived by his wife Juanita and daughters Susan and Karen, son Allen, and his beloved step-children Wendy, June and Megan. Our thoughts and prayers go with them today. Norm was elected in March of 1976 and he held a number of key positions within Council, including serving on the Council

Transit and Electricity Committee from 1976 to 1979, and the Planning and

Traffic Committee from 1979 until 1982. Of course, 1976 was the first year that the Liberal Party had formally contested Brisbane City Council elections, so he was, if you like, one of the founders of this team on this side of the Chamber as it is today. We are very thankful for those founding fathers of our party in this place. We hadn't contested, as a Liberal Party, prior to that time.

Norm was also then an active member on the Environment and Conservation

Advisory Works Committee. In 1985 when there was a change of

Administration, Norm was appointed to the Establishment and Coordination

Committee, and was appointed to the position of Chairman of the Works, Water

Supply and Sewerage Committee. It was one single committee at that time covering those three areas. It was a major portfolio area and a credit to him that he took on that role.

He held that until 1989, following which he was appointed in the next Council

Administration to the role of Transport Chairman, and in 1990, following a reshuffle of Cabinet, he became Chairman of Water Supply and Sewerage. By that time the portfolios of Works, Water Supply and Sewerage had been split into two portfolio areas. He held those roles through until 1991.

He was a guy who also had some other appointments. He was on the Brisbane

Markets Trust. He was a member of the Brisbane Area Water Board at different times during his serving as part of the E&C. He was on the Water Quality

Council. But importantly, he was the Councillor at the time—or Alderman as it was in those times—Alderman for the area when the Fairfield Shopping Centre was developed. Incorporated into that was the establishment of a library, and it was one of his proud achievements in his role as the local Councillor.

He was a colourful character. He was different, I think, to what we see today.

We don't have, I guess, today—and to a large extent media and pressures generally have changed, I suppose, the types of characters that we have. But it was a different era. Norm was larger than life. He was a knockabout bloke. He was worldly and wise. He came from a school of hard knocks. He was a hotel broker. Freehold and leasehold hotels was what he did prior to becoming an

Alderman on the Brisbane City Council. These were in the days prior to the big chains, the big groups taking over hotels. It was at the time when Queensland

Hotels were individually owned or leased, and he had a good business in that hotel broking area.

When I first came to Cabinet myself in 1988, I sat right where Councillor

ADAMS is sitting, and Councillor Rose—or Alderman Rose as he was in those days—sat right beside me. It was a learning experience. He would remind me often that he was the old bull and I was the young bull; that energy was never going to defeat the wisdom and worldliness of the old head. I learnt a lot from

Norm Rose through those years.

He taught me one thing, and that was to not worry too much. He said: If you're worried, you'll be able to fix it; if you can't fix it, don't worry about it. It was very much a truism. It was like saying, if you can fix it, get stuck in, work hard and sort it out. If it's totally outside of your control, there's no point in worrying


- 3 - about it because you're not going to be able to change anything. They were very wise words which I have carried with me for the rest of my life.

One of the other great sayings that most councillors in this place would have heard was in reference to John Campbell, where we used to often jibe John when he was a Councillor here, when he got a little bit excited, of ‘loosen your underpants, John’. That was a Norm Rose make-up from many, many years ago that carried with us through the years. But he was a great sparring partner of the former Labor Councillor Brian Mellifont. He was a great mate of Bob Ward on this side of the Chamber. But he had a camaraderie and a way about him in the colourful ways that he had, where he was able to have a good relationship with both sides of the Chamber.

He had, as did Brian Mellifont, I think they were two people that really knew the business of getting on top of bureaucracy. He was a no-nonsense type of character. In those days, maintenance was all undertaken by green slips. If you wanted something done, you had to fill in a green slip, as you would in the

1970s. He was a master of the green slip maintenance schedules.

He held the Annerley Ward by a whisker. There were no more than about

200 votes in that ward each election for the three terms that he held it. It was in many respects on paper what you would describe as a ward of Labor foundation.

But Norm was able to just scrape in on each occasion, and to his credit was able to hold it, and it was like Christmas when the boundaries changed and it became

Fairfield Ward.

So, Madam Chairman, today we remember the life of Norm Albert Rose. We thank him for his great contribution to the City of Brisbane.

Accordingly, in view of Mr Rose’s service to Brisbane, the LORD MAYOR moved, seconded by the DEPUTY

MAYOR that



That this Council extends it sincerest and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the late Norman Albert

Rose and pay tribute to him for his dedicated service to the city and people of Brisbane.

The Chairman called for any further speakers.

Chairman: Are there any other speakers? Councillor DICK.

Councillor DICK: Thank you, Madam Chair; I rise to offer my support for this condolence motion.

I think it is very important as elected representatives we acknowledge and pay tribute to those who have served our city, and in this case, former Alderman

Norm Rose, who represented the inner south and the broader Brisbane community for a number of years.

The LORD MAYOR has gone through Mr Rose's considerable positions that he held both within the Council and the wider community, and has acknowledged his service in those roles. It is an honour to serve in this Chamber, but it is particularly an honour to serve in the Civic Cabinet which Mr Rose did in a number of portfolios.

The LORD MAYOR is the only person in this Chamber who served with

Mr Rose. I did not know him, but when we are faced with condolence motions, I do a little bit of research, and in this case I went to some of his, I guess, former sparring partners and the life members in the Annerley and Fairfield area. They told me a few things about Norm Rose. One, that he was a gentleman, but he was a tough cookie in the political arena.

He certainly was not going to give up that ward, even though at the time of each election, I am told that the Labor Party thought it would be the first seat to fall on the night. It was, I guess, an annoyance to the Labor Party that they couldn’t shift Mr Rose out of the Annerley Ward and then Fairfield Ward.

Being a former State Secretary, I could sympathise with my colleagues probably back in the 70s and 80s who were getting frustrated. I say that out of respect for

Mr Rose because he was a tenacious campaigner. One of his former colleagues told me that he was a wheeler and dealer, but in the best possible sense. He was


- 4 -

Chairman:

Councillor JOHNSTON: always able to get things done in his ward because he could find a way to make things happen. Maybe a little early can-do spirit was served by Mr Rose in those early days, but he was a fierce advocate for his local community. The LORD

MAYOR touched on the fact that he was able to oversee the construction of the

Fairfield Library. But also one of his, I guess, so-called deals was to do a fantastic arrangement with the then shopping centre for the now Tennyson Ward office. Probably the best deal of any ward office in the city. I think that goes to his values and also respect for the Council bottom dollar.

Obviously anyone who serves in this Council Chamber or in public life offers a lot to the city, and particularly the sacrifices that they make. Of course, I am talking about sacrifices away from your family. I know that his family will honour his commitment to this city, as we all do, as representatives. He went on in retirement and I know kept his hand in politics over the years, and kept an eye on what was happening in and around the Council. I certainly, on behalf of

Labor Councillors today, pay my respects and also acknowledge the service that he gave to his ward and the local community, but also to the people of Brisbane.

Any further speakers? Councillor JOHNSTON.

Yes, Madam Chairman, I also rise to speak on this condolence motion in recognition of the service that the former Alderman Norm Rose gave to the wards of Fairfield and Annerley during his time in Brisbane City Council. I did not know Mr Rose personally. I did meet him, but I didn't know him all that well. However, I do know some of his contemporaries of the time, and I did speak to them about Mr Rose and his contribution to the electorate.

There are a few things that I think have come through quite strongly from what the LORD MAYOR said and the Leader of the Opposition, and that was he was a very hard working local Councillor. He basically just got on and got things done. He was absolutely the driving force behind the establishment of the

Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre and the Fairfield Library when that was developed in the 1980s and opened in 1988. Today I still sit in that ward office.

It has been slightly reconfigured post the floods, but the building itself is, I am told, a legacy to his hard work and certainly negotiating a very favourable deal for Council with that space.

I know the other thing that he is particularly well known for is he pushed very hard to get Fairfield Road duplicated. That was a bit of a bottleneck as I understand it, so he is particularly known for pushing development and the growth of our area around Fairfield and Yeronga. I think today we can see the benefits of having a dual carriageway through that part of the city.

I understand that the bane of his existence was the RSPCA, and it is amazing that that still happens to be the bane of existence in the ward, but for a different reason. I am told that the biggest issue every day that he would speak to fellow councillors about were barking dogs, and that it was a bit of an issue for him over his term as Councillor.

I certainly acknowledge that the ALP found it very hard to shift Norm Rose out of the ward, and I think that certainly reflects the advice I have had, that he was a tenacious local campaigner. I guess it is good to see some of those traditions continuing on in the now ward of Tennyson. I would like to pass on my respects to his children, and also on behalf of local residents in the ward of Tennyson, the area that Mr Rose used to represent. I, too, thank him and his family for their dedicated public service on behalf of the people of Brisbane.

Further speakers on the condolence motion? I will put the motion. Chairman:

As there were no further speakers, the Chairman restated the motion of condolence, which resulted in its being declared, carried unanimously.

MINUTES:

28/2013-14


- 5 -

The Minutes of the 4410 meeting of Council held on 30 July 2013, 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.

QUESTION TIME:

Chairman: Are there any questions of the LORD MAYOR or a Chairman of any of the standing committees? Councillor HOWARD.

Councillor HOWARD:

LORD MAYOR:

Question 1

Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. I understand that this Administration has a strong strategic vision for the Howard

Smith Wharves area. Could you please update this Chamber on your vision and how this will translate to the creation of a vibrant riverside recreational precinct?

Thank you very much, Councillor HOWARD, for the question, and yes, it is true that Brisbane City Council is officially calling for proposals for the development of Howard Smith Wharves. This is a landmark site in our city, and it will be great when we see that site activated, when we see the opportunity to make available the movement of people from Howard Smith Wharves along the

Riverwalk being constructed at the moment through to New Farm.

The process will be handled by Savills Australia. The announcement of the commencement of the request for proposals process does signal a very, very important step forward in the city's history. What we are doing in presenting this opportunity is to ask developers to come forward with their ideas. This is a

3.43 hectare site. It presents an opportunity to create a wonderful outdoor space for the people of this city, and a fantastic commercial development opportunity for the city, creating jobs as well.

It will be up to developers to put forward, as I say, their ideas. So we are not going in with any fixed ideas about this. Obviously there are some things that are opportunities—opportunities such as a hotel if the proponents see that as desirable. Things like retail, things like restaurants, things like community space, a range of opportunities and potentially some commercial opportunities as well.

Obviously this site is constrained, in that it has some heritage aspects to it. This

Council has spent around $8.5 million on making sure that the wharf itself, which is heritage listed, has new timber decks, that it has piles which are indeed concrete now as opposed to the old wood ones to stabilise it, give it longevity, and make sure that the site as a whole is ready for this development potential.

As has been the case all the way along, this site will carry 80 per cent of that

3.43 hectares of area as public open space area, largely parkland, where people can roam through and make good utilisation of this landmark site. So, it is a site, of course, which is very rich in history. The site's bustling location for business dates back to the 1930s when, of course, Howard Smith and Co shipping company were active on this site. It was then known as the Brisbane Central

Wharves. It served principally to generate employment in our city.

So, these historic wharves, though largely underutilised now for the last two decades, will provide an opportunity to again show their colours, as it were, in this city by that revitalisation opportunity. The actual wharf area itself is

170 metres in length, and again I think it has been a worthwhile investment upfront to stabilise that area. Decking and piles, and also the guttering of the various buildings has been replaced as well. So structurally the buildings are fine. They are in sound condition. They are now ready and available for work to be done as part of a successful proposal.

Submitters need to have their submissions in by 16 October. Developers will then be required to submit a development application within six months after the signing of a lease agreement. So obviously there will be some months involved


- 6 - in assessing the submissions, once received, and again taking that forward to getting that application in within that 18-months period, post lease agreement.

Madam Chairman, the draft lease agreement will be part of the RFP (request for proposal). It will state that the construction lease will be for the term of up to three years. The development itself, and the lease of this site, will be for a

99-year period. So, in terms of the timeline, we are not going to expect to see anything happening very quickly. There will be, as I say, a period of 21 weeks for evaluation, six months for the selected developer to undertake design and prepare a DA. The development assessment period, because of the nature of that site and the heritage aspects, will take some considerable time. So construction probably we will see around the 2016 period. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

LORD MAYOR:

Thank you, LORD MAYOR; Councillor DICK.

Question 2

Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. The CEO of the Pedestrian Council of Australia said in relation to the State LNP support for

Segway’s that they are extremely dangerous, and if they were to hit a child or an elderly person, they would inflict serious injuries, if not death. They cause havoc for people with disabilities, especially the vision impaired, because they are silent and cannot be heard approaching. Were you consulted before the LNP

State Government made the decision to allow Segway’s on our Brisbane footpaths? If not, why not?

Madam Chairman, I thank Councillor DICK for the question. Firstly, can I say that there are many risks out there on the footpaths of this city. One could say that bicycles are in fact also a vehicle of sorts that do not make noise, yet cycling is something that even a Councillor in this place undertakes every day—

Hear, hear!

Yes, full marks to her, full marks to her for doing it.

Councillor interjecting:

LORD MAYOR:

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

Order!

She walks the walk—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

Order! Councillor WYNDHAM!

—on the road, she pedals the pedals—

Councillor ABRAHAMS interjecting: On the road.

LORD MAYOR: Yes, on the road, but sometimes maybe you might have to cross a footpath, I'm not sure, Councillor. I'd say you would, but full marks to her. I have respect for her for that because she does. I am a declared non-cyclist; I say that publicly everywhere that I need to. But I say full marks to Councillor ABRAHAMS.

But the point I am making, without being distracted, is that Segway’s may well be lacking in noise, but bicycles also are the same. Both will require bells to be rung. That is the reality. In terms of, was I consulted? Well, no, I was not consulted, but then, we are as a city one of many local authorities. There are many big regional councils in South-East Queensland, and I'd suspect that they weren't consulted either. I think the point is here that the legislation we are advised will be going through, if it hasn't already, and we will do what we need to do to comply, as we always do, regardless of what government might be there, regardless of our views. If a law is made, as a responsible local authority we will comply with that.

In terms of the issue of safety, again, which is at the heart of the question, I would say that there has always been also issues regarding bicycle and pedestrian movements, and that is why we have seen separation of the pedestrian and bicycle movements, for example, along the Bicentennial

Bikeway. We have seen that now in our redeveloped Riverwalk, where we are separating those movements. Kingsford Smith Drive, which is in the news, I


- 7 - have indicated publicly now, many times, that we will see separated bicycle and pedestrian movements on the riverside of that project when it is ultimately built.

So, there are, I think, many issues of interaction and there have been, long before Segway’s came along. There have been issues of interaction between pedestrian movements and cycling movements in this city. So, that is not new.

Let's not suggest for a moment that Segway’s somehow are going to create an issue that was not there previously. They are another form of movement. I would have thought that Labor might have even been supportive of Segway’s.

They are a green form of transport.

Councillor DICK interjecting: They're dangerous.

LORD MAYOR: Well, you know, you're dangerous, perhaps, Councillor DICK—

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK!

—as well, in certain circumstances. But that does not mean we should not put up with you, does it? That is a reality.

Look, Madam Chairman, I just say that it is going to be legislated, and we will do what we need to do as a local authority to comply with that law. We will make certain that we have the limitations on them in the same way as we do with bikes, and they will be regarded in a similar vein.

Further questions; Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR.

Question 3

Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR: Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the Chairman of Finance,

Economic Development and Administration Committee. Councillor

SIMMONDS, can you please detail how this Administration is leveraging the financial benefits that the education sector has to offer the Brisbane economy, and detail initiatives that are drawing international students to our shore?

Councillor SIMMONDS: Thank you very much, Madam Chairman, and thank you particularly to

Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR for the question and for all the great work that she does to support international students in her role as Deputy to the Lord Mayor on multicultural affairs. The Chamber, and Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR, will no doubt be pleased to know that there is a new report that has been released by the Federal Government called The State of Australian Cities 2013 Report . The report contains some very important and interesting information relating to

Brisbane's economy and particularly the role that international students play in it.

International education has in fact, as the report points out, grown to become

Australia's fourth largest export industry. Brisbane has the third highest international student population of Australia's major cities. But importantly, for the Brisbane economy, what the report estimates is that international students in higher education, vocational and English language courses spend an average of

$42,531 per annum whilst studying in Australia. So, for the average student who stays approximately three years, that is about $127,000 directly into the

Brisbane economy over their stay. For a four-year university course, that number is around $170,000. This includes course fees, rent, groceries, and other essentials, as well as leisure and tourism spending.

What you find, though, is once you add the friends and family who come to visit the particular students that they contribute over $4 billion in downstream—that is, non-course related—expenditure to the Brisbane economy. I will say that again: they contribute some $4 billion a year to the Brisbane economy, with

Brisbane being responsible for some 85 per cent of Queensland's international student enrolments.

This significant piece of research by the Federal Government demonstrates not only the importance of this sector to the local economy but the importance of the initiatives being undertaken by the LORD MAYOR and this Administration to attract and retain international students. Initiatives like the Lord Mayor's

International Student Friendship Ceremonies which recognise the contribution of international students to the social fabric of Brisbane, provides students with


Chairman:

Councillor SIMMONDS:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

LORD MAYOR:

- 8 - professional insight and contact with potential employers, and allows the LORD

MAYOR of course to extend a personal invitation with them to maintain long links and a long-term friendship with the City of Brisbane.

I understand, LORD MAYOR, that the most recent event at Griffith University last week was attended by a couple of hundred students, a fantastic result. This is complemented, of course, by the work of Brisbane Marketing which is funded through this Council. They coordinate the International Student Ambassadors program where a number of students from different countries around the world are inducted as ambassadors by the LORD MAYOR. These students provide leadership and support for other international students as well as share and promote their Brisbane experience with friends and family back home via social media. So successful is this initiative that the International Student Ambassador program experienced 140 per cent increase in applications in 2013.

Events are also being undertaken in conjunction with the international airport to provide arriving students with essential information to help them make the most of their time in Brisbane. The service includes the very popular Brisbane

Insiders' Guide for International Students , with information about public transport, maps, accommodation, events and, of course, safety. The guide is available in 12 different languages as well as on the Study Brisbane website.

Brisbane Marketing's Study Brisbane website also has information on discovering, working and living in Brisbane. It covers the essential services such as accommodation and employment, health and safety, public transport, as well as what to do and see in Brisbane. The site is also a marketing tool for

Brisbane's educational institutions to profile their international course offerings and to feature news relevant to international students. The collaboration between the different educational institutions in Brisbane is quite significant. Brought together by the Study Brisbane initiative for Brisbane Marketing, they work together to present a holistic brand overseas for Brisbane to attract as many students to the city as possible, as opposed to just doing individual things as individual institutions. That coordinated approach is one of the great successes of Brisbane as a city, and is often commented about in Melbourne and Sydney.

Madam Chairman, it is critical that we continue to foster our relationships with these international students. In doing so, Council ensures that Brisbane's profile continues to be raised in the tourism, education and investment sectors. Most importantly, these students tell their parents and friends about their experiences in Australia, and the economic development that this city sees as a result is particularly significant. We want to encourage that increased investment and tourism activity, and ensure—

Councillor SIMMONDS, your time has expired.

—that we continue to open up new markets. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Councillor DICK.

Question 4

Thank you; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Closing the Bowen Hills Bus

Depot and moving bus operations to Eagle Farm will cost Council an extra half a million litres of fuel due to dead running costs, and an increase of an extra

68,655 hours of staff costs each year. In light of this information, which has been presented to Councillor MATIC, will you commit to keeping the Bowen

Hills Bus Depot open instead of selling it for a short-term gain?

Well, thanks, Councillor DICK, for the question. No, we certainly will not. I have indicated very clearly—and that has been reflected through the budget process this year—that we as a Council need to look at some rationalisation of our costs. We need to recognise that we are going to be paid a limited amount of money by the State in relation to these operations. I need to make sure that we maintain a viable Brisbane Transport operation. I will do what we need to do to ensure that that remains.

So, Madam Chairman, I will not give any assurances at all around that today to

Councillor DICK. We have indicated that the Richlands depot also will be


Councillor interjecting.

LORD MAYOR:


Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:


LORD MAYOR:

Chairman:

Councillor HOWARD:


Councillor COOPER:

Chairman:

Councillor COOPER:

- 9 - closing, so that again is part and parcel of the budget documentation. I would just say that, of course, bus depots were not something that the Labor Party were riddled with in terms of creation of new ones. As I recall it—

Well, I might remind Councillor DICK that we have opened the Sherwood Bus

Depot and that we—

Order! Councillor JOHNSTON!

—and you wouldn't even know, out there, from all the feedback I get from local residents.

Order! Order!

The second thing is the new bus depot at the Australia Trade Coast. Of course, these are depots that have new facilities. They are better working facilities for our staff in Brisbane Transport. They are modern facilities. I might remind the

Labor Party that they closed the Light Street Bus Depot, you might recall. They closed that one down, and of course we now have a modern development on that site.

It is interesting, isn't it? They closed one, and they opened the Garden City Bus

Depot during their time in office. So, one down, one up. Madam Chairman, again, I don't think the Labor Party have a record here where they can throw too many stones, shall we say. The other reality is that it was only one in three buses that actually had air conditioning in them. They used to allow the drivers of buses to travel around this hot, sub-tropical climate in the middle of summer without air-conditioning in two-thirds of the bus fleet. That is the reality.

We will, with our modern bus depots—

Well, that's the fact, Councillor GRIFFITHS. You mightn’t like it, but it's just a fact. So, Madam Chairman, we will again make the decisions that we need to make. We have modern bus facilities out there. We think that is a good thing for our drivers. We will do what we need to do. We are not going to run separate sets of management in more depots than we need to. Again, that is as much as I can offer Councillor DICK today.

Further questions; Councillor HOWARD.

Question 5

Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the Chairman of the

Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment Committee, Councillor

COOPER. I understand that public submissions regarding the New City Plan have now closed. Can you please update this Chamber as to the next steps that will be occurring in connection with the draft New City Plan?

Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and I would like to thank—

Order!

—Councillor HOWARD for the question. It is always a great opportunity to stand up and go on the record about how the LORD MAYOR and this

Administration are working hard to plan for and shape this city to 2031 and beyond. As all of us on this side of the Chamber know, planning of the city is certainly not something that the Australian Labor Party seems to value. It seems to be that they have come up with no new ideas for our city, and that has been their repeated pattern for many years since we have been here.

So it seems right now we have had—let's see, we have had comments from

Councillors that have been put into the process. We have had submissions from residents, and I believe we have had a number of submissions from Councillors.

We have also had—and this is remarkable indeed—we have had endorsement



Councillor COOPER:

Chairman:

Councillor COOPER:

Chairman:


Chairman:

Councillor COOPER:

Chairman:

Councillor COOPER:

- 10 - from one Councillor from the Australian Labor Party. So, it seems that

Councillor ABRAHAMS—she who does not seem to generally be a great fan of the way we conduct ourselves in terms of planning—on her website, Councillor

ABRAHAMS said she supplied information about how to participate in the process, and she made this comment. She said, these sessions are excellent if you have a specific question to be answered.

So I am delighted, I am delighted—

Order!

—that Councillor ABRAHAMS—

Councillor COOPER, just a moment.

Order!

I am delighted that Councillor ABRAHAMS—

Order! Thank you, Councillor COOPER.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. In terms of the process, we have gone through extensive consultation. The amount of events that Council officers facilitated was extraordinary, and I think it is important to thank them and acknowledge them for their hard work and commitment.

I have also had Councillor CUMMING—he wrote to me last week asking what the next steps were for the draft new City Plan. So, in terms of what will be happening, we will be collating all of the submissions that we have received, and we will be looking through those and putting together a whole series of sheets of information to tabulate that. So this has been a body of work, and there has been input on draft New City Plan since December of last year.

We have had many residents who have taken that opportunity to have a look at the draft. We have had many residents who came along to one of the over 80 information kiosks. They have taken home information which has explained what we have intended, and they have been able to utilise the interactive mapping. Residents have also been able to go along to one of 34 ‘ Talk to a

Planner ’ sessions where residents could talk to our planners, our heritage experts, our traffic engineers or the infrastructure planning experts.

I am pleased to note that the officers have found that there's been great praise from a whole range of people as to providing that information. We have recorded at this point in time over 2500 submissions from community groups, from individuals and from industry. These will be all tabulated; every submission needs to be documented, and we have had a number of double-ups where people have sent an online submission and they've also sent a paper copy.

So these need to be compared and cross-checked to ensure that they count as a single submission.

Over 70 per cent of our submissions have been lodged online, so this is very much in alignment with what we are trying to achieve, which is to try and move to an electronic format. So it is great to see that very positive take-up by the community. Once all of the submissions have been recorded and tabulated, the next step will be the review and consideration of the submissions by Council.

The draft City Plan will then come back to Council for review and consideration, and then go to the State Government for another review.

Once the State Government has finalised its review, then the draft City Plan will come back to Council for adoption followed by gazettal. So, thank you to all of those Councillors who have made a submission on behalf of their local residents. I think it is great to see their involvement and their commentary as experts in their local area. We look forward to the outcome and we look forward to debating the draft new City Plan in the months to come. Thank you very much.


Chairman:

Councillor CUMMING:

LORD MAYOR:

Chairman:

Councillor WINES:

Councillor ADAMS:

- 11 -

Further questions; Councillor CUMMING.

Question 6

Thank you. LORD MAYOR, why have you wasted thousands of dollars of ratepayers' dollars on erecting street signs warning of speed bumps that Council has no intention of installing at Manly? Don't you agree these thousands of dollars could have been better spent on road resurfacing, which has been cut across my ward by a massive 77 per cent in this financial year?

Well, thanks very much, Councillor CUMMING, for the question. I understand this is a local matter in your ward. My understanding is that there was a traffic calming program that was to be looked at in two stages. Stage 1 of that program proceeded. Stage 2 apparently did not proceed. Now, there were some signs placed up in advance of that. They were incorrectly placed, and I can only apologise to Councillor CUMMING for that.

It is true that there was an error in terms of those signs going up. So, I am happy to take guidance from him. If those signs are not down at this stage, clearly they will need to come down if there is not going to be any proceeding with the second stage of that traffic calming program.

Councillor CUMMING has always been very, very strong, very big on traffic calming. He has been a very significant advocate of traffic calming in this city, perhaps I would suggest maybe too much. But that said, each councillor has got their own entitlement to funds for their wards, and I always welcome that. But there was an error in this case, and that is why.

Further questions; Councillor WINES.

Question 7

Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the Chairman of the Lifestyle

Committee, Councillor ADAMS. Can you please update this Chamber on how this Administration is supporting community and sporting groups through our

Grants program, and can you also provide some examples of key projects and initiatives that have been a direct example of this support?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I thank Councillor WINES for the question and the opportunity to make sure we remind everybody in this Chamber about the wonderful community grants that enable our community groups and not-forprofit organisations to develop and improve their facility services in Brisbane.

There are four major grants that are currently open for applications: the Lord

Mayor's Suburban Initiative Fund obviously is continuing. We also have the

Community Development Capacity Building. We have Healthy and Physical

Activity grants and Community Support and Funding programs. The

Community Development and Capacity Building grants, which closes early

September, encourages projects that respond to local and citywide community issues that increase community identity and connections, to increase social inclusion, and reduce isolation.

More than $110,000 was allocated in the 2012-13 financial year to 14 groups and organisations. It goes from strength to strength that we support these groups.

One of the ones that received $10,000 last year was the Queensland African

Football Association. They provided young people with the opportunity to showcase their talents at an African talent show project in December last year. I think Councillor ABRAHAMS and myself were there for the wonderful talent we saw there.

The Acacia Ridge Community Support Inc. also received $10,000 for a mobile art project that built better connections between community members and those of their diverse backgrounds as well. The Healthy and Physical Activity grants programs are out now until early September as well. This is to let our local not-for-profit groups increase participation in community sport and recreation.

Some $73,000, in the last financial year, has been given to eight organisations, including Surf Lifesaving Queensland, who ran a Little Lifesavers program for children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Australia Red


Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

LORD MAYOR:

- 12 -

Cross received $10,000 for a Health and Wellbeing program, as did Bicycle

Queensland for Women's Cycling programs. Please, if you have local groups that could contribute to their community think about some of these physical and activity grants.

Our housing support program supported eight applicants from the inner north

Brisbane last year to the tune of $68,000, and this was for projects and services that responded to housing and social needs of homeless people or those living in social housing. So we helped the Brisbane Youth Service to provide support and purchase goods for young homeless people moving into their own housing.

Similarly, for the Salvation Army, the property trust at Pindari Women's

Homeless Service received $10,000 to enhance their facilities as well. The next round for this opens on 4 November and closes on 13 January 2014.

We continue with our community sport clubs grant programs which helps those clubs to operate more sustainably. It's about projects that will actually help them to be more cost effective, get more value out of the money that they do have to work in their clubs, to reduce their ongoing club costs, or increase their income avenues to support them. Some 36 organisations received funding in Round 2 last year, and they benefited greatly. Groups like the Cannon Hill Community

Sports Club, which got new core operations to the tune of $40,000; Durack Inala

Bowls Club got an upgrade of their kitchen, and Kenmore District AFL club got an oval upgrade. The next round for that one actually opens on 16 September and it closes on 18 November. I ask anyone to get clubs that are interested to speak to their Sport and Recreation officers to get those grants in train.

We have our Council Men's Sheds grants as well that continue to go strength to strength. We know how important Men's Shed are. They help our men to gather, to volunteer, to seek fellowship with like-minded people, and we supported seven Men's Shed grants last year to the tune of $80,000, and we continue to make sure that we are supporting those groups to expand their facilities, equipment and purchase materials for their sheds.

Lastly, Access and Inclusion Community Partnership programs. This provides funds to community organisation groups and networks under the auspice of a community organisation for services that improve access and inclusion in

Brisbane. In particular, we like to see community-led programs that include new access and inclusion initiatives. Seven organisations received a total of $102,000 in round 2 alone last year, and our next round opens on 16 September and closes on 11 November.

Madam Chair, as you can hear, many grants offering opportunities to many groups in our communities to reach out and make engagement with those of cultural and linguistic diverse backgrounds, with access and inclusion concerns, or those that want to be health and active and involved in sport—every opportunity for these people. I ask Councillors to promote these grants to your respective community groups and make sure that you access all the information on the corporate website.

Further questions; Councillor DICK.

Question 8

Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Could you please provide any details of circumstances where Council could be forced to pay compensation to QMH under the Material Adverse Effect clauses in your deal to sell tolling rights for Legacy Way?

Sorry, Councillor DICK; can you just say that again?

Sure. LORD MAYOR, could you please provide any details of circumstances where Council could be forced to pay compensation to QMH under the Material

Adverse Effect clauses in your deal to sell tolling rights for Legacy Way? Is it true that if at any time in the next 50 years Council builds a road that competes with Legacy Way, Council may have to pay compensation to QMH?

Thanks very much, Madam Chairman; I appreciate the question from Councillor

DICK. This is always a problem for someone who hasn't necessarily been in the



LORD MAYOR:


LORD MAYOR:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:


Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:


Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

- 13 -

Chamber for a long time—understands the nature of these clauses. This is precisely the clause that indeed your colleagues signed up to when the CLEM7 deal was signed—exactly the same. It is a pretty stock standard deal that was signed up to in relation to these things. The key thing -

No, the key thing in this is what defines those words. That's where it is important to refer to the legal advice. I would have challenged Councillor DICK to have a talk to Councillor FLESSER. I think he is the only that's left that was in the Cabinet at that time that signed up to the CLEM7 arrangement.

Yes, CLEM7. It is the same wording in that one. So, Madam Chair, if you—

Madam Chair, point of order.

Yes, Councillor DICK.

My question did not refer to CLEM7 at all. I will just clarify it before it gets—

No, but Councillor DICK, I think what the LORD MAYOR is saying is relevant to the question that you have asked. Thank you.

Madam Chairman—no, it was about Legacy Way, but it was specifically around a clause he mentioned. At the end of his question, he referred to any new roads.

Now, where he is heading is obviously trying to infer that Council cannot build any new roads under this arrangement with Queensland Motorways Limited, and it is a nonsense. It is a nonsense.

I am saying to Councillor DICK that it is exactly the same arrangement that was signed up to when CLEM7 was signed. I suspect that the Bligh State

Government had exactly those same arrangements in for Airport Link as well. If he refers, as I have, to the Clayton Utz legal advice around this, he will find the outcome, because we used exactly the same legal advisors on this transaction as

Councillor FLESSER, as Finance Chairman, was using back in the days when the CLEM7 signup occurred.

This is a stock standard clause. Can I say to you that the legal advice around this is that it will not prevent us from proceeding with any—

Order!

—new roads—

Councillor JOHNSTON!

You know, they don't like it when they don't like the answer.

Order!

So, Madam Chairman, I just invite them to do a little more research around that, and they will find that that is the position. These are standard clauses, and that it will not in reality prevent us from doing what we need to do on the road network.

If you were to build a parallel road in exactly the same location, could there be an issue? Yes, there could, as there could with the CLEM7 that Councillor

FLESSER signed up to, and I suspect in the same way that also Labor Ministers would have signed up to in terms of Airport Link. So, am I concerned by this?

No, I am not. Am I concerned that the progress of this city might be in some way impinged by this? Absolutely not, Madam Chairman, absolutely not.

I would not have thought Councillor DICK that you would want to see the city build more toll roads from what I have been hearing over the time that I have been in this Chamber. You have been very critical of us going into toll road developments, and now you seem to be expressing some concern that maybe we might be in some way curtailed from doing such roads in the future. Well, I am


- 14 - just saying to you: you need to, before you make these claims, seek some further legal advice around it, because we did, back when CLEM7 was undertaken, and we know again the limitations in reality of what those clauses actually mean.

Chairman:

Councillor WYNDHAM:

Further questions; Councillor WYNDHAM.

Question 9

Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to Councillor McLACHLAN, the

Chair of Field Services Committee. Can you please update the Chamber on city lighting initiatives and programs of this Administration that have had a significant benefit on the Brisbane environment?

Councillor McLACHLAN: Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to Councillor WYNDHAM for the question. The Council manages some 109,000 street lights across Brisbane, and this is in close partnership with Energex, of course. Energex is responsible for installing street lights, but it's Council's job to make sure that the lights are as energy efficient as possible. There is a program that we have been working through I will go too shortly to provide a little more detail.

But I was interested to read a story out of New Zealand last week about a power company that sent a bill to a lamp post, threatening to cut off its power. It was a letter sent addressed to the occupier of street light no. 771800, 9 Shearer Drive,

Oakura which was very interesting, but the street light had not apparently been paying its power bill. But this is not a circumstance that can arise here, thankfully, because of the nature of the relationship that we have with Energex.

Council maintains the lights, and we pay in bulk for the power that those lights consume—as I said, some 109,000, and they are a subset of understand some

2.28 million street lamps across Australia.

Of course, street lights are very important to maintain public lighting, the main roads and the back streets, and the efficiency program that was undertaken in recent times was a very comprehensive program. A trial in conjunction with the

State Government, with the Australian Government, with Energex, Ergon

Energy and other local government areas in Queensland was undertaken over some three-and-a-half years to look at just what could be done with street lights to improve their energy efficiency, to reduce the amount of energy they were consuming, to increase their luminosity, and to essentially make them cheaper to run. The results of that trial were very successful, and is now being implemented throughout Brisbane.

The trial in Brisbane looked at some 300 streets and tried a number of different lights—compact fluorescents, what is called the T5 linear fluorescent, that is the long tube; metal halide lights and white LEDs. The results of that trial in terms of performance were that the number one light is the linear fluorescent, the long tube, and Council is using those in industrial areas. The compact fluorescent came in at number two, and is being used in residential areas. The metal halide light was number three, and the LED lights came in at number four.

Our committee today had examples of some of the light fittings that are being utilised, the new ones in particular. These are called the Luminaires. That is the lamp fitting and the control gear, and it does have installed the type of compact fluorescent that we are generally using in our households as well, but they have a smaller head. They have a built-in reflector, and they are performing according to the expectations that we saw in the trial using less energy to provide the street lighting and therefore reducing the amount of carbon output.

As I said, the project has been made possible with grants from the Australian

Government, for which we are appreciative. We are on the same page in that regard in wanting to increase the efficiency of anything we do involving power, anything we can do to reduce the $25 million bill that we currently pay to

Energex for street lighting.

Over the two-year period of replacing bulbs, some 25 street lights will be replaced. There was a fair body of work undertaken in the last financial year, and that will be completed in this financial year. So, existing lights that are being replaced are the ones that we commonly known as mercury vapour bulbs


- 15 -

Chairman:

Councillor JOHNSTON:

Chairman:


Chairman:


Chairman: which, over time, do dim and keep using a considerable amount of power. So those new lamps do use less energy; they provide better lighting levels and do not deteriorate to the same extent that the old metal halide lights have been known to.

So, up until the end of the financial year, several suburbs across the city have had work undertaken. I will not read them all out, but they are a considerable number where the work has been undertaken. The work that will be completed between now and the end of September this year, suburbs include Acacia Ridge,

Archerfield, Coopers Plains, Corinda, Durack, Dutton Park, Highgate Hill,

Moorooka, Nathan, Oxley, Rocklea, Salisbury, Seventeen Mile Rocks, South

Brisbane, Tarragindi, West End and Willawong. As I say, Madam Chair, this is work that's being undertaken in conjunction with Energex and certainly improves—

Thank you, Councillor McLACHLAN, your time has expired. That ends question time. LORD MAYOR—

Point of order, Madam Chairman.

Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.

Madam Chairman, I just seek your advice with respect to item A in the

Establishment and Coordination Committee report and I just refer you to paragraph 7 of that report—

Councillor, nothing has yet been moved even.

Yes, well I'm not asking—this is a procedural issue, Madam Chairman, and it says that the proposed amendments to the local laws that we're about to consider are shown in red on attachments C and D submitted on file. I've had a look at the file, Madam Chairman, and I've left it open and marked attachments C and D and there's no writing in red in the files. Madam Chairman, I would like to clarify that because it relates to an issue to do with the submissions and the submitters. I would like to clarify whether those papers are actually included in the files as the report says today.

We are just going to check with the proponent of this to try to identify where those documents might be because they don't appear to be on the file. LORD

MAYOR, I'm waiting on advice on that but in the interests of time, if it suits you, if we could move the report and perhaps deal with the other item on that report at this stage? If that's—if you're agreeable with that? Thank you.

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 29 July 2013, be adopted.

Chairman: Is there any debate?

LORD MAYOR: Thanks, Madam Chairman. Madam Chairman, before coming to the report proper, I just want to comment on a number of other matters affecting the city.

Madam Chairman, it's no wonder that the Labor Party opposite are in the disarray that they are. Having just stood up and given an explanation in relation to a question posed to me by Councillor DICK, someone under the auspices of

FastFless is tweeting out there, Madam Chairman, "Quirk—if Council builds any roads that take traffic off Legacy Way over next 50 years—ratepayers will have to pay compensation to QMH."

Well, Madam Chairman that is a complete untruth. A complete untruth.


LORD MAYOR: I'm not changing any tune at all. That's exactly what I just—


Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:


Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

- 16 -

Order.

That's exactly what I have just answered, Madam Chairman, in the question.

Order.

Councillor FLESSER, who signed exactly the same arrangements with the

CLEM7, ought to get up—

Order.

Ought to get up in general business and explain why he signed off, why it was good enough for him to sign off then but somehow it's not good enough today in

2013. Madam Chairman, he won't because he knows the story. He was the

Finance Chairman at that time. He had access to the legal advice at that time and he would not have signed off as Finance Chairman if he felt that there was a problem with that clause. If he felt it was going to restrict in the city in what it had to do.

So, Madam Chairman, this is the dishonesty that we have to deal with. So be it,

Councillor FLESSER, we nearly got you last time. You’re on track to be gone next time if you have another crack.


LORD MAYOR:

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:


Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

Madam Chairman, and—

Order.

—let me assure you, we are coming to get you.

Order.

We are coming to get you. So, Madam Chairman—

Order.

We will call Councillor FLESSER up any time that he wants to go off track,

Madam Chairman.

Councillor—

Madam Chairman, on a more serious issue, the Transport Workers Union—

Order.

—wants mandatory sentences for people who assault bus drivers and taxi drivers. I could not agree more fully with them. Madam Chairman, there is no good reason; there is no excuse why people going about their proper jobs in this city, particularly as part of the transport network, ought to be faced with assault.

It is not acceptable. It should not be acceptable to any part of the community and, Madam Chairman; I am totally in support of their call for mandatory sentences for anybody who thinks that they have the capacity, for whatever reason, to justify assaulting a bus driver or a taxi driver going about their rightful job in this city.

Madam Chairman, the last week has seen a number of events; we saw the running of the Brisbane Marathon Festival on Sunday. Around 6000 runners took part. We saw a doubling of the international participants this year. We saw

25 per cent of the participants from outside of the Brisbane region. They are people who would be undertaking overnight stays and that's great, Madam

Chairman. It has, obviously, an economic development focus to it as well as it being a significant event in our city. It was great to see Rob de Castella or

‘Deek’ as they call him, come along and be a part of that opening of the marathon last Sunday.

Madam Chairman, we also saw during the week, International Student

Friendship Ceremony held at Griffith University. On this occasion I thank the administration of Griffith University for their cooperation and assistance in


Chairman:


Chairman:


Chairman:


Chairman:

- 17 - holding a successful ceremony on campus. Last Saturday saw the Wandering

Warriors, a new organisation, Madam Chairman, set about to raising funds for returned servicemen and women. They're part of the Queensland branch of the

Australian SAS Association. We thank those who are going on that very significant 1600 kilometre walk over 33 days to Birdsville for their participation in raising the profile of those people who have come back wounded, Madam

Chairman, from war torn zones in Afghanistan and other locations, service as part of the Australian Defence Forces.

We're also, Madam Chairman, now calling for submissions for the Asia Pacific

Screen Awards which will be held in December this year. Madam Chairman, the

APSA Advisory Board has been named.

They consist of Mr Michael Hawkins. Mr Hawkins, of course, is the Chief

Executive Officer of the Australian Multiplex Cinemas and Executive Director of the National Association of Cinema Operators—Australasia, and Acting

Chairman of Screen Queensland. These are some of the roles that he has had and it is great that he will be on board as Executive Chairman of APSA; he is joined by Mr Des Power, Mr Harvey Lister and Mr Geoff Rodgers, who form the

Advisory Board for APSA this year.

Madam Chairman, there will be a number of ,obviously, awards associated with the best feature film, best screenplay, achievement in directing, achievement in cinematography, performance of an actress and performance of an actor, as well as that of areas such as best children's animated doc and documentary feature film. So these are some of the awards this year.

We saw, just a few days ago, Madam Chairman, the Regional Australia Institute

(RAI) has released the [In]Sight index. Brisbane was voted the most business-friendly region in Australia and the most likely to lobby for the best interests of business according to that body. They examined 55 regional development areas in Australia, across 10 categories including economic health, infrastructure, technology, innovation, capacity and natural resources. Madam

Chairman, so Brisbane was successful, top of the list of those 55 regions that were examined as part of that index release.

We also welcome to our city the announcement of Topshop, who will be undertaking a retail offering over three levels on the corner of Elizabeth and

Albert Street in the city; 140 Albert Street. Madam Chairman, again, it's another vote of confidence in our city. We have seen just so many of the big brand names come to Brisbane over the last couple of years in particular. We again welcome another signing, in this case from the UK.

Madam Chairman, today we have before us two items. We have firstly the

Advertisements Amending Local Law 2013 and Advertisements Amending

Subordinate Local Law 2013.

LORD MAYOR, before you continue with that, if I can just mention that the marked up copy that is—the copy referred to in paragraph 7 is being brought across, now, to the chamber, which is not on the file.

Point of order, Madam Chairman, then.


Given, Madam Chairman, that this matter which is specifically referred to in the council papers before us today is not here, I would ask that this motion lays on the table and we move onto other business and we come back to E&C later in the day, after we've all had a chance to look at the materials that are specifically referred to and that way the business of this chamber can keep going.

Councillor JOHNSTON, the changes are in the document, they are just not highlighted. So it's not as though the changes aren't there.

Madam Chairman, I'm just—



- 18 -

Procedural motion – Motion for the adoption of Clause B of the Establishment and Coordination

Committee lie on the table

29/2013-14

Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON moved, seconded by Councillor Steve GRIFFITHS, that the motion for the adoption of Clause B, AMENDMENTS TO AREA CLASSIFICATIONS AND DEMOLITION CONTROL

PRECINTS IN THE BRISBANE CITY PLAN 2000 , of the report lie on the table until councillors have a chance to review the information and move onto the rest of the agenda. Upon being submitted to the Chamber the motion was declared lost on the voices.

Thereupon, Councillors JOHNSTON and Helen ABRAHAMS immediately rose and called for a division, which resulted in the motion being declared lost.

The voting was as follows:

AYES: 7 - The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors

Helen ABRAHAMS, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS,

Victoria NEWTON, and Nicole JOHNSTON.

NOES: 18 - The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK,

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.

Chairman: LORD MAYOR.

LORD MAYOR: Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. Madam Chairman, firstly in relation to item A, the Advertisements Amending Local Law 2013 and Advertisements

Amending Subordinate Local Law 2013. Madam Chairman, essentially, Madam

Chairman, a couple of the items in this particular law change, one relates to that of digital billboarding. We're seeing a growth in the digital billboards market.

That's not necessarily a bad thing, Madam Chairman, it's a demonstration of the advancement of technologies that we have in billboard signs.

So, Madam Chairman, what we, however, are keen to do within these laws is to ensure that traffic safety is of paramount consideration. What it does do, for example, is that it will limit certain types of signs, things like flashing images,

Madam Chairman, if you like, animation and things that are a clear distraction for drivers. So we want to see digital signage (we have no objection to that whatsoever) but it is a matter of making sure that also we have some protection mechanisms—so that we don't have carte blanche in terms of the use of the signs which can cause driver distraction.

Madam Chairman, these changes, I might point out, are following considerable consultation with the advertising industry. We've also made sure that we've discussed this with State Government agencies, such as the Department of

Transport and Main Roads, so that they were also very much part of the response to the growing number of digital options that are out there in the marketplace.

Like every other industry—

Chairman: LORD MAYOR, sorry, just before you continue, your time has expired.

30/2013-14

The LORD MAYOR was granted an extension of time on the motion of the DEPUTY MAYOR (Councillor

Adrian SCHRINNER) seconded by Councillor Ryan MURPHY.

Chairman: Thank you, LORD MAYOR.

LORD MAYOR: Thank you, Madam Chairman, and thank you Chamber. Like every other industry, as I say, advertising is definitely going down the digital track. So we want to make sure that our laws are relevant, that they keep pace with that continuing change but at the same time, meet community expectations in terms of amenity.


Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

- 19 -

So, Madam Chairman, whilst we're doing that on the one hand, that introduces some restrictions—though I don't believe that they are onerous to industry. On the other side of the coin we are looking at the ways in which business is currently hamstrung by signage. We have around—I think its 8600 signs registered in our city at the moment. We've got around 360 billboards, about

50 of which are digital billboards. But, Madam Chairman, in respect of small businesses, where they currently have signage, it might be a small digital sign which says, open for business, at the front of their shop. We want to, Madam

Chairman, get off the backs of businesses in this. We don't want to see a onesize-fits-all approach which is currently the situation.

So that will mean that there will be some relief in terms of fees around some of these businesses, Madam Chairman, if they're up to four square metres, they can have that in terms of signage without having to apply for a permit. At the moment, we're talking around $800 for a permit, a fee of around $223 in terms of the annual licensing. So this is significant and it will be an opportunity for those small businesses to have a little regulation hanging around their neck.

Council will also cut application costs for those small businesses installing larger advertising signs by up to $304, and annual licensing fees will drop by up to

$158 per sign. So, Madam Chairman, we hope this will be well-received by business in our city. Again, we've looked at it and we believe that we can go about and undertake these changes to the benefit of industry, but at the same time, protecting the interests of the broader community.

Now, item B. Item B is the Amendment to the Area Classifications and

Demolition Control Precincts in the Brisbane City Plan 2000 . As a Council, at our meeting on 18 September 2012, we resolved to amend the area classifications and demolition control precinct status to certain allotments under the Brisbane City Plan. That matter was then referred to the Deputy Premier and

Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jeff Seeney for a state interest review on 20 September 2012.

The Minister advised us on 7 December 2012 that Council could propose—could proceed with the proposed amendments that were supported by the state government and that we could progress to public notification. There were just two submissions received and should Council resolve to proceed with the proposed amendments to the planning scheme, the matter will be referred to the

Minister for approval pursuant to the Sustainable Planning Act. So, Madam

Chairman, that recommendation is there for the consideration of Council.

Further debate, Councillor DICK.

Thank you, Madam Chair, I rise to speak on items A and B. Look, I just want to touch on item B, this is back from the State Government from the interest check.

The last time this came to the Council Chamber, I spoke about my support for a number of recommendations and I want to place on record again, today, number

51 in the package that we are dealing with today, which is an address at

20 Coriander Place, Ellen Grove, L2RP81291. The current area classification is

E Unit 7C, emerging communities, and the proposed area classification we are asking for adoption today is for sport and recreation.

At the time when this came to the Council Chamber I expressed my concern that the Council was taking too long with dealing with an important sporting precinct for that area at Ellen Grove. It is on the ward of my—the boundary of my ward, but it is a very important acquisition that the Council is undertaking and I know we are in negotiations with landholders around in that precinct and I certainly want to urge the Council, I want to encourage the Council to make sure they get on with the job and making sure that we finalise those acquisitions so that location, along Waterford Road and Woogaroo Street will turn into the proposed sporting fields that our community desperately needs.

This has been a long time coming and the Council has drawn up plans since around 2008, 2009, where we are looking at new sporting fields for that area. It's ideal, it's located in a populated area, it's close to schools, there's a ready-made car park there and I know the community will welcome and support any


- 20 - additional supporting sporting facilities for that area. I certainly will be fighting to make sure that the Council delivers on its proposed plans.

I am working with the local residents to make sure that we see that become a reality. It's been a long-time dream of local residents where we've got sporting clubs moving out to the area and I certainly want to see a new permanent home for all the additional families that are calling Forest Lake and Ellen Grove home, particularly in the years to come.

Now to—so we'll be supporting item B—C, I'm sorry. Item B doesn't exist anymore. Item B, which is the amendments to area classifications and demolition control precincts—

Seriatim - Clause A

Councillor Milton DICK requested that Clause A, ADVERTISEMENTS AMENDING LOCAL LAW 2013

AND ADVERTISEMENTS AMENDING SUBORDINATE LOCAL LAW 2013, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.

Councillor DICK: Now to item A. I've got a number of concerns regarding this item today, particularly the way the process has been handled.


Councillor DICK: I am not surprised that once again we see an absolute policy mess delivered by

Councillor COOPER. She is known for her lack of attention to detail.


Councillor DICK: Through you, Madam Chair, as we've seen this morning, her media skills we know aren't a strength for Councillor COOPER, where we saw in the media this morning that digital billboards in Brisbane virtually—this is the Brisbane Times article relating to this item today, virtually large scale television sets will be banned on Tuesday by the Brisbane City Council. A Brisbane Times article. That is not the case. Because of Councillor COOPER's dash for desperation for media, and we know the bad publicity that she has received over City Plan.

We also see from Andrew Macdonald, Brisbane City Council bans digital billboards. That is not in the policy, as well, that is not happening, that is not what we are dealing with today.


Councillor DICK: This policy is a complete and utter mess. We aren't banning digital billboards today, we are not banning them. Councillor COOPER needs to get up today and say, once again, she got it wrong. It is not just the media that she has got it wrong today, it is the process of this whole policy. As we just dealt with a procedural motion, the files themselves attached to this document today aren't in the Chamber. This side of the Chamber asked for 10 minutes for this chamber to wait until we deal with this matter, until the relevant, accurate files came into this place.

What did the LNP say? What did the arrogant chair Councillor Amanda

COOPER say? No. In fact, in the division, I witness the LORD MAYOR say to

Councillor COOPER, will you be going through the changes, and you know what the response was? She said, no. The absolute arrogance; not only to the

Chamber, but to the LORD MAYOR of this city.


Councillor DICK: How arrogant do you have to be that you get the facts wrong in the media, and you won't even provide the relevant documentation so that we can make an informed decision. The LORD MAYOR in question time said today, we want more councillors on that side of the Chamber. We want to win more because the huge majority, the obscene majority they've got now isn't enough, the arrogance that they've got, they want more.

Well we say, you need to follow due process. When the E&C documents come forward and say, in paragraph 7, that submissions and response to those submissions and to one matter raised by DLGP (Department of State


- 21 -

Development, Infrastructure and Planning), amendments to the proposal local laws were recommended, which are shown in red on the proposed local laws at attachments C and D, are submitted on file. They're not. They weren't submitted on file. What does Councillor COOPER, say? Well I don't care, you don't have to have that information, whatever I say, goes.

Well that is not good enough when dealing with relevant documentation. We are looking at procedures and policies—it's all very well wanting to run out to the media and get all the pats on the back and wanting the headlines, but when the hard work's got to be done, when the policy work's got to be done, well she's not across the detail and she's not up to the job.

So, Madam Chair, I have big concerns about how this policy has been handled. It is not appropriate for the relevant chairperson to simply thumb her nose at relevant procedures and protocols that every other chair seems to be able to follow. When the LORD MAYOR of our city asks her to go through them today, she says, I can't be bothered, I'm not going to do that. Well, Madam Chair, this is a serious issue and if the administration—and let's face it, it's hardly been a heavy workload for the E&C this week, only two items—it was three and then for some magical reason one got taken off by email—


Councillor DICK: Sorry? Well yes, that's right, another item of Councillor COOPER's who on

Friday was sent out and the next say, oh by the way, we're not actually going to deal with that now, we don't know what we're doing. Is it any wonder that we're in this mess when it comes to signs policy and advertising policy in our city? Is it any wonder that the industry doesn't have confidence in Councillor COOPER?

How would you be, being an owner, an advertising agency this morning, waking up, looking and having your coffee and saying, digital billboards banned, when that's not the case? When that is not the case.

Well Councillor COOPER needs to give an apology—she won't have ever apologised to this side of the Chamber—she needs to apologise—


Councillor DICK:

Chairman:


Chairman:


Chairman:


Well that's situation, well we know that for her own mistakes. She won't ever own up to her own mistakes. She actually needs to actually front up and correct the record today. She actually needs to set the record straight because what she has done so far is preside over inaccurate information coming to this Council

Chamber, sloppy detail when it comes to the actual recommendations for dealing with this policy, but worse still, has given, I believe, misleading information out into the community.

I say that Councillor Amanda COOPER needs to set the record straight today; she needs to get up and go through all of these changes in detail. I suspect she won't because she's not across the detail. We've seen that already in evidence of even how this E&C submission has been submitted. So, Madam Chair, we won't be supporting this item today, we've got serious concerns about the process and how this matter has been handled right from day one.

We say, there should have been a better process in place but unfortunately, when it comes to policy, when it comes to even the most basics of procedures,

Councillor COOPER fails the test every single time.

Further debate. Councillor JOHNSTON.

Yes, Madam Chairman, and I'm happy to let Councillor COOPER go if she'd like to. I saw—

No, you've got the floor Councillor JOHNSTON.

She'll come next then.

Take it while you've got it.

Thank you, I rise to speak on item A and item B, Madam Chairman. Just briefly with respect to both items, I'm very disappointed about what's happened here today. With respect to these E&C papers, they've been wrong twice now this


Chairman:


- 22 - week. Firstly, they were put up and then withdrawn without notice and then they were changed. Now, with respect to paragraph 7, we find that the key issues of how consultation and feedback from the submitters was handled are not available in this chamber and have not been available on the files.

Now that's not good enough in my view. It's specifically referred to in the papers before us today and the accuracy of the council papers should be fundamental.

Time after time this administration is presenting council papers to this chamber that are wrong. It happened on 26 February and it's happened now.

Just to these reports, please, Councillor JOHNSTON.

I am, Madam Chairman, and I'm just saying why paragraph 7 is not accurate.

Madam Chairman and the LORD MAYOR even stood up in his opening comments on this matter and talked about the importance of the consultation.

How would we know? It's not in the files. We don't know what the concerns were, raised by the seven submitters, other than the relevant state government department, and they certainly outlined a lot of concerns.

Certainly, I feel that this process has been poorly handled by the LORD

MAYOR today, but also I would endorse Councillor DICK's comments about

Councillor COOPER, because I listened to her explanation of this matter on radio this morning and I can't say it actually inspired any clarity of confidence in understanding what this matter would be today.



Chairman:


Yes, absolutely. Twice Spencer Howson asked her whether there'd be any compensation and she just bypassed that question altogether, there's another one perhaps she'll—

To the report, please, Councillor JOHNSTON.

Well, Madam Chairman, it's a relevant question, whether or not any compensation is proposed. It doesn't say that it is, I don't know. It was a question

Councillor COOPER was asked about this very matter. So, Madam Chairman, I just think that this shows a lack of governance, due process and accuracy of this

LNP administration and I would think it reflects extremely poorly on the LORD

MAYOR that week after week he presents council papers to this chamber that are wrong.

I think that is something that he needs to fix and he needs to talk to the CEO and make sure when we are being asked to make decisions as councillors, we have accurate information in our hands to do so.


Councillor JOHNSTON: I do not think that is an unreasonable request, I think it is a fundamental responsibility of this LORD MAYOR and the CEO of Council and it's happening too frequently now.

With respect to item B, Madam Chairman, I just rise to say; again, it's taken three years for Councillor COOPER to actually action my request for the land in

Stevens Street—at the end of Stevens Street and Paragon Street to be converted into parkland, three years since we made the original request. It's good to see that it's finally happening but I just think that's way too long. It shouldn't have taken that long, the reason it has is because, again, of the problems with the capabilities of the Chairman in this area in processing these matters in a timely way.

I note that there are several parcels of land that are being converted into parkland in Tennyson Ward, including in Rocklea, Yeronga, Graceville and Yeerongpilly, and Thomas Street, Sherwood, which is very interesting because no other

Sherwood residents are eligible for flood buyback, but this block was. But it's good, all of this land is—except for Stevens Street is flood buyback land, it's being converted into parkland and that is the right decision that should be made.

Interestingly, it would be good if other flood-prone land in Tennyson Ward, like the RSPCA site, would be converted into parkland too. That is a good use. That


Chairman:

Councillor COOPER:

- 23 - is a good use of the land that is something that this Council's own flood policy supports. That land that floods in the FPA1, FPA2A, FPA2B, those categories are best left as parkland. So LORD MAYOR, I'm sorry that it's taken you so long to get this to the Chamber, these are good changes, but I would say to you that you need to look more carefully across our city at land that floods badly, make sure that this Council does acquire it and continues to convert that land to parkland. That will be the best outcome for our city and for our community.

Further debate, Councillor COOPER.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I rise to speak to item A and B of the report today. In relation to item A, this is the Advertisements Amending Local

Law 2013. This is a local law that is very much designed to ensure our Council can continue to protect our community's amenity whilst also cutting through a lot of red tape for, particularly, small business. As we would all be aware, there has been tremendous change in terms of technology and of course advertising seems to be very much at the forefront of these initiatives.

We've seen the last round of these local laws occurred in 2005, and there's been tremendous change ever since that's occurred. Of course, digital technology is much more affordable and accessible for small and medium sized businesses.

Those people who really are the backbone of our local business community. So this local law now allows these businesses to actually have the opportunity for digital signage and to know what he rules are, without having to, on a case by case basis, go through a very long and expensive process, we are making it very clear to them exactly what the rules are.

We are also—and I think it's very clear, that what we are trying to achieve here is that billboards, which can be effectively de facto television sets, potentially on the roadsides of our city, these types of outcomes are not outcomes we support.

So, Madam Chair, we're happy for the industry to pursue their digital options but we do not want them to promote any kind of activity on these that are potentially distracting to motorists. Of course, we want to ensure the amenity of our local residents, so we don't want—and it's important to be clear—we don't want flashing and moving images, as you might see on a television set. I think that was a very clear analogy.

So those are inappropriate in these sorts of locations and we are establishing clear regulations as to what should go where, Madam Chair. So people have that opportunity to make informed decisions. There are currently about 8600 licensed signs in our city, so about 377 registered billboards. There are currently about 50 registered electronic display advertising, they're known as EDA billboards, in

Brisbane.

So this administration is about making it clearer, more upfront, and transparent to both the community and businesses as to what is appropriate in what locations. We undertook consultation on these proposed local laws and we had to undergo a public interest test as we are required to under federal legislation. We wrote to over 35 peak bodies and key industry stakeholders asking for specific feedback, we put a public notice in The Courier-Mail , we went through with all those interested parties, much discussion about how this would proceed.

We received four responses from industry and those included the peak industry body, the Outdoor Media Association. The plan then went to the state for review, just like a neighbourhood plan does, and then came back to Council. We also conducted a working reference group with interested parties and we had extensive consultation as part of this process to ensure that we got it right. In terms of the public interest test, this is required under the National Competition

Policy, this was another process that we had to incur as part of the application— as part of this particular process.

We also are trying to be very, very clear about what we're trying to achieve and I think that this particular document, where it's had some changes as part of that consultation process, the actual outcome that is probably more critical is the guidelines that derive from this process, which establish very clearly as to how this will occur in practical application. So there's a whole range of different



Chairman:


- 24 - processes that are being conducted as part of this process, there's been extensive consultation the whole way through and a lot of the changes of this were really changes to try and make sure that this particular local law is clear and is workable for those people who would be most affected by it.

In relation to the other report, item B, this is coming back to Council—it was sent to the state government for review, the proposed amendments were supported and we've gone out there for public notification. There were two submissions that came back, both in my ward, Madam Chair, so the people in my ward are keeping their very close eye on these sorts of things. Their submissions are being considered and every councillor has been consulted when they had affected properties in their ward.

Next step is to send this proposed amendment package to the Minister, seeking approval to adopt the changes and that is what we foresee will be happening shortly. So there's a whole range of particular changes that had been proposed as part of this, I note that many councillors have come back and said that they support those changes and I appreciate them for providing their local knowledge in terms of this amendment package.

So thank you very much, Madam Chair, it is clear that these two particular documents are important for our city. They certainly will see some amendments to our current City Plan in item B, but item A establishes very clear guidelines as to what Council's expectations are for what is a very much transforming and technologically savvy industry. These are important assets to Brisbane and now they have the guidelines in place to understand what is appropriate in what locations. Thank you, Madam Chair.



Just to clarify Councillor COOPER's comments there, just to make sure that, again, these aren't missing from the council papers before us, paragraph 12 of the report says that the guidelines for this matter are being prepared. Madam

Chairman, are they finished and are they ready, as Councillor COOPER's just said? Or are they being prepared, as the council papers say? Because I just need to know, Madam Chairman, whether or not what is in the council papers is correct or what Councillor COOPER is saying, is correct?


Chairman:


Chairman:


Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Well Councillor JOHNSTON, it does say that—I would say this was written some weeks ago because it's saying, the guidelines are being prepared in consultation with industry bodies and it is proposed to delay the commencement of the proposed local laws until 6 August 2013 to allow the guidelines to be completed. So I would assume that means the guidelines are completed because today is 6 August. Thank you.

Point of order, then, Madam Chairman.


Madam Chairman, I would just draw to your attention, then, that the information in here is not correct and that it should reflect what the situation is, with respect to these matters being presented to the Chamber. Also, that those guidelines are not available on the file either, as far as I can recall, and I just have some very serious concerns about the type of information that's been presented to us here today and its accuracy.

Well Councillor JOHNSTON, I can't see why the guidelines would be required on that particular file, which is simply—the file is about changing the amending local law and the Amending Subordinate Local Law, the guidelines would be a document that comes after that. The information in this report is quite—it is quite accurate in terms of what Councillor COOPER just said, and I don't uphold your point of order.

Point of order, Madam Chair.


Chairman:

- 25 -

Yes, Councillor DICK.


- 26 -

MOTION FOR SUSPENSION OF RULES OF PROCEDURE:

31/2013-14

At that juncture, Councillor Milton DICK moved, seconded by Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS, that the Rules of Procedure be suspended to allow the moving of the following motion



That the guidelines be presented to Council today.

Councillor DICK: Thank you, Madam Chair, this is an urgent matter because we've just heard from

Councillor COOPER this is the most important part of the package that we are dealing with today.


Councillor DICK: If this is so important and this is the number one outcome out of the decision that we as decision makers are making today, then those guidelines must be presented to Council today. Councillor COOPER is now seeking advice and telling the LORD MAYOR what to do on this matter as I am debating this motion today because she has now been caught out for the third time today. It's urgent, Madam Chair, because the LNP administration wants us to make a decision on important guidelines that will affect the advertising agency from their own documentation which they are in effect from 6 August.

Now, Madam Chair, there can be nothing more important than having the relevant documentation to making decisions for our business in our city.


Councillor DICK: But not when it comes to the LNP who think they can just ride roughshod over anyone and anything that they want. If these are so important, Madam Chair, it is urgent that the LORD MAYOR, in his summation today, present the guidelines so that we can make an informed decision that the LNP is asking us to do. The arrogance in extreme by the chairperson in this matter displayed this afternoon is extreme because what we're seeing is someone thumbing their nose at due process.


Councillor DICK: It's bad enough the documentation are not listed as said on the E&C paper today, not part of the files and her saying, too bad. We've now just hear from the chairperson, apparently, the most important part of this documentation, from her own very words, are the guidelines. Well, Madam Chair, I say, stop being so arrogant, Councillor COOPER, and start doing your job.


Councillor DICK:

Chairman:


Because what we're seeing is absolute contempt, but also, incompetence.

Because if she was true blue—if she believed in these guidelines, she'd have them tabled today. But better still, they would have been circulated as part of the

E&C papers so that we can make an informed decision. Her response, they don't have to be because I say so. Well I say, Madam Chair, it's urgent because as decision makers, we need to draw a line in the sand, we need to say to the LNP, stop treating people with contempt, stop getting the facts wrong, stop being so arrogant and actually start providing the relevant documentation so that we, as elected representatives, can make informed decisions.

This isn't some sort of fan club with all of you over-thinking that you can just do what you want; you've got a responsibility to the ratepayers of our city, more importantly the business of our city. It's not good enough to simply say, we know best, because time and time again, you're found to be wanting and you're making mistakes along the way. The arrogance in the extreme displayed this afternoon is nothing more than disgusting and it's time that you're exposed for the absolute extremism that you're portraying in our city. We say enough is enough and you can start by delivering those guidelines right here, right now.

Councillor DICK, your time has expired.


- 27 -

The Chairman submitted the motion for the suspension of the Rules of Procedure to the Chamber and it was declared lost on the voices.

Thereupon, Councillors DICK and ABRAHAMS immediately rose and called for a division, which resulted in the motion being declared lost.





NOES: 18 - The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK,






Chairman: Quickly. Councillors, the red-marked version of that document referred to in paragraph 7 has arrived.


Chairman:


Chairman:


Chairman:


Chairman:

Councillor ABRAHAMS:

Chairman:


Councillor JOHNSTON, resume your seat. The item referred to in paragraph 7 is now with the file and I'm just advising that to the Chamber. Sorry, LORD

MAYOR, were you—sorry, no, there's further speakers so we're not yet finished.

But what I was going to say, in order—in fairness to give councillors the opportunity to have a look at that document, I would ask that we break for afternoon tea at this point in time. I will allow—Councillor JOHNSTON, if you continue to interject in this meeting, you will be suspended.



Madam Chairman, that's an excellent idea but we are required to leave the

Chamber—

Resume your seat.

—and how can we look at the documents if we have to leave.

If you had bothered to wait until I had finished what I was saying, if you continue to interject, you are going to be suspended. What I was going to say was, in fairness to councillors, to have a good look at that document, I was going to allow that extract to be taken from the Chamber during afternoon tea for councillors to have a look at it. But in the circumstances, perhaps we will continue on. Councillor ABRAHAMS, you wish to speak?

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I wish to speak on item A. Madam

Chair, I can understand how ruffled you are because today has been—

Councillor ABRAHAMS.

Chairman:


Today has been a frustrating day for everybody in the Chamber, Madam Chair, when there has been confusion regarding the documentation, where it is, how complete it is and we still are in the situation, Madam Chair, where it comes to guidelines, whether we shall ever see the guidelines, Madam Chair, confusion reigns here in the Chamber, basically, due to a process. But, Madam Chair, what is more important—

Councillor ABRAHAMS, what are you speaking on? Which items?

I do think I said item A, Madam Chair.

Chairman: Thank you.



- 28 -

I'm sure I did. Madam Chair, confusion reigns outside in the industry of outdoor and advertised signing—



—as a result of the media this morning. Electronic billboards are banned. Now, the issue is, what is an electronic billboard, what is a flashing electronic billboard? What is a low-impact versus a high-impact? What is a TV advertisement sign; we've certainly never had that type of sign before. Madam

Chair, this is a very, very poor situation, particularly, Madam Chair, when you actually look at the document that we are amending. The development of the substantive policy is all of schedule 1, which is all the types of the signs, was undertaken in the first term of Jim Soorley and it has stood the passage of time and has been unchanged in those definitions of what are the signs safety of signs and their ability to protect the amenity of our city.

So essentially, Madam Chair, today we are amending a minor section of the advertising local law and that is relating only to the electronic signs. Madam

Chair, I listened carefully co Councillor COOPER who said that the process was to make sure that there was clarity about the electronic signs. Madam Chair, I and the community are not sure, and we certainly wouldn't have got it out of the debate so far today, whether an electronic sign that changes every minute or two minutes to a new sign—which I see regularly on electronic signs—would in fact be a flashing sign, or a TV, or in fact does this local law properly cover it?

Madam Chair, it doesn't. It doesn't give a clear definition of all the formats that comes with the new media, in terms of an electric sign. We talk about digital, we talk about TV, we talk about electronic, that in itself, I suggest to you, Madam

Chair, shows some of the confusion that we have that is certainly not being clarified in this local law, but that was the whole purpose of this amendment, so we could move forward boldly in the electronic era.

Madam Chair, I wished we were, we should, and we certainly should. Madam

Chair, the submissions weren't on file, but thanks to the CEO, he provided them to us. There were two major substantive submissions, Madam Chair, one of which from a Council officer. He had an excellent point which unfortunately has not been taken up. That was, if there is a small electronic sign, as I think we heard them saying “open now”, the current policy means there can be no other major, larger, high impact electronic size within 200 metres of that on either side of the road.

The officer thought that was not wise and recommended just the insertion of two words, high impact, when it came to the clause referring to the 200 metres.

Unfortunately, that was not acted, on, but a very wise amendment. As well as that, the Outdoor Media Association picked up this same issue, it is contentious,

Madam Chair, the community should have been listened to because after all, there were only four submissions, out of writing to 35 key stakeholders, and of that, really, only the Outdoor Media Association had substantive recommendations.

Madam Chair, they recommended that the other side of the street shouldn't be taken into account when you're considering a restriction, a very prescriptive restriction of 200 metres between whatever size it might be, an electronic sign.

Madam Chair, that was a very sensible recommendation and like that made by the officer, surely would have been simple to implement because after all, one side of the street facing the traffic on that side of the street may be—which you would be able to put into this sign policy if you wished, a very sensible solution.

Madam Chair, I am very aware that the Outdoor Media Association in fact wished the signs to be closer, with 100 metres. I think that's a judgement issue, but, Madam Chair, if they're not listened to on the really sensible, logic ones, how sad it is for one such as that that they know hasn't been given any consideration whatsoever. But they also ask for more serious things, Madam

Chair. They asked for—when they put a submission in, an application in, and wished for time for them to address any of the issues raised by Council, that that time was extended for 30 days, because after all, there is a lot of work to do in


- 29 - these signs, particularly if they are looking at some of the impacts on buildings, changing any of the arrangements, might they have with a property owner.

Madam Chair, I understand that was not picked up. As well as that, Madam

Chair, if they wanted to come back with a determination that was negative, they sought for a longer period of time than given and again, Madam Chair—that is my understanding—though I may be wrong, because I haven't had the time to see the red lines on the policy, because it wasn't here—that that also was not heeded.

ADJOURNMENT:

32/2013-14

At that time, 3.59pm, 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 hade vacated the chamber and the doors locked.

UPON RESUMPTION:

Chairman: LORD MAYOR?

LORD MAYOR:

Madam Chair, the process has been flawed, a simple amendment to bring a substantive local law up into our era of digital signage has fallen incredibly short because it has failed to properly define what an electronic sign is. As well as that, Madam Chair, there has not been wide consultation with only two substantive reports from the industry and it appears neither of them heeded.

Well thank you very much, Madam Chairman. In wrapping up this debate I just want to make a couple of points very, very clear. Firstly, in terms of whether or not something is in red is not a requirement of this Council. It is done as a courtesy. It is not, as I say, a matter that this Council, this administration, has to undertake.

The reality is it has, in many respects, made for a lazy opposition that expects these things now, Madam Chairman, and if I might just say that I’m ever so kind. In the days—


LORD MAYOR:

Chairman:

LORD MAYOR:

Yes—

Councillor KNAPP.

I’ve too much heart for one bloke is how you’d describe me Councillor KNAPP and I would just say also, Madam Chairman, in regards to all of this about guidelines, this Chamber ought not to be frankly debating the guidelines. The guidelines can change. What we are debating here is a law. This is a Chamber that is here to debate the laws and specific recommendations put to it. The guidelines—we could debate guidelines till the cows come home tonight and those guidelines could change in a week. That’s the reality.

The fact of the matter is that those guidelines, as to my understanding, are still going through process in the Council and so they are not ready for a final debate here today anyway, but I’ll tell you what, I’ll make this offer available to the opposition: as soon as those guidelines are ready, then we will make a copy of those guidelines available to them. If there are matters in those guidelines that they want to bring back and raise at a future time, then that’s obviously a matter for them, that’s at their liberty to do so.

But again I say that guidelines will change with time and that’s why it has never been the case that this Council Chamber has been the Chamber for voting on guidelines. That’s just not the way things ought to be.

So, Madam Chairman, the two items before us today are sensible and I don’t think there are any objections to Item B. There seems to be widespread support for that. Item A again sensible changes, changes that will we think get off the back of business because the Labor Party by tradition have always been very


- 30 - anti-signage. That has been the case right through the Soorley/Quinn era, very, very negative towards signage in this city.

We think we’ve struck a good balance, one which allows business to get out there and sell their wares and fares, advertise the fact that they exist out there as an entity, but also today we also take that step of getting off their backs a little by reducing red tape.

Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of Clause A of the report of the

Establishment and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.

Thereupon, Councillors Milton DICK and Helen ABRAHAMS immediately rose and called for a division, which resulted in the motion being declared carried .


AYES: 18 - The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK,






NOES: 6 - The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors

Helen ABRAHAMS, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS, and

Victoria NEWTON.

ABSTENTIONS: 1 - Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON.

Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of Clause B 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 ADVERTISEMENTS AMENDING LOCAL LAW 2013 AND

ADVERTISEMENTS AMENDING SUBORDINATE LOCAL LAW 2013

155/455/468/15

33/2013-14

Paul Salvati, Divisional Manager, Brisbane Lifestyle, provided the information below. 1.

2.

3.

4.

On 7 June 2011, Council resolved to propose to make the Advertisements Amending Local

Law 2013 (the local law) and the Advertisements Amending Subordinate Local Law 2013

(the subordinate local law), collectively called the proposed local laws (the titles of the proposed laws have been updated to the current year of 2013).

The proposed local laws were sent to the four State government agencies which had asked to be consulted about this type of local law. The Department of Local Government (DLG) identified two matters of State interest, one of which is no longer relevant due to changes to the City of Brisbane Act 2010 (the Act). No other Department identified any State interest concerns about the proposed law.

Public comment was sought on both the proposed local laws, with notices calling for submissions being published in the Courier Mail , on Council’s website, and displayed on the


- 31 - public notices cabinet at the Brisbane Square, Customer Service Centre. The proposed local laws could also be downloaded from Council’s website during the consultation period.

5. As possible anti-competitive provisions had been identified in the proposed local law, a public interest test (PIT) was conducted on those provisions as required by the Act.

6. The PIT was conducted at the same time as the general submissions, the public notices being combined. The PIT Plan identified key stakeholders who were contacted directly seeking submissions about the potentially anti-competitive provisions in the proposed local law. A

PIT report for adoption by Council has been prepared at Attachment B, submitted on file. The report concludes that these possible provisions are considered to be anti-competitive, but should be retained in the public interest.

7. Seven submissions about the proposed local laws were received. In response to these submissions and to one matter raised by DLG, amendments to the proposed local laws were recommended, which are shown in red on the proposed local laws at Attachments C and D, submitted on file.

8. On 12 November 2012, the Establishment and Coordination Committee approved the amendments to the proposed local laws and directed that the local law making process continue.

9. Part of this process required that the amended proposed local law be sent to the Minister for

Local Government seeking approval for Council to make the law (the subordinate local law was not required to be sent to the Minister for approval).

10. On 21 January 2013, the Acting Director-General of the Department advised Council that the

Minister had decided that Council may adopt the proposed local law.

11. Delegations to the Chief Executive Officer have been prepared to enable new powers to be administered. Under the Act, the Chief Executive Officer can further delegate his powers. In addition, as required under the Act, consolidated versions of both laws have been prepared for adoption by Council. The consolidated versions are tabled.

12. Technical guidelines about the conditions for digital signs and the illumination of electronic signs are being prepared to enable new provisions in the subordinate local law to be administered. The guidelines are being prepared in consultation with industry bodies and it is proposed to delay the commencement of the proposed local laws until 6 August 2013 to allow the guidelines to be completed.

13. Approval is now sought for the draft resolutions at Attachment A, hereunder.

Implications of proposal

14. Approval of this submission will allow Council to make the Advertisements Amending Local

Law 2013 and Advertisements Amending Subordinate Local Law 2013.

Vision/Corporate Plan impact

15. This proposal delivers on Program Outcome 4.3 – Approving quality development, to ensure appropriate regulation and assessment of advertising signs. This proposal is in line with

Vision 2026 – Vibrant, Creative City.

Customer impact


- 32 -

16. The changes made by the amending local law and subordinate local law will benefit businesses by providing a fair and transparent assessment and regulatory framework.

Consultation has been undertaken with the public and relevant industry.

17. The Divisional Manager therefore submits the following recommendation, with which the

Committee agreed at its meeting of 29 July 2013.

18. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE AS PER THE DRAFT RESOLUTION AS SET OUT IN

ATTACHMENT A , hereunder.

Attachment A

DRAFT RESOLUTION TO MAKE THE ADVERTISEMENTS AMENDING LOCAL

LAW 2013 AND THE ADVERTISEMENTS AMENDING SUBORDINATE LOCAL

LAW 2013

THAT IT BE RESOLVED THAT-

(1) AS

(i) Council resolved on 7 June 2011 to propose to make the Advertisements

Amending Local Law 2011 (the proposed local law) and the Advertisements

Amending Subordinate Local Law 2011 (the proposed subordinate local law), and identified possible anti-competitive provisions in the proposed local law and proposed subordinate local law

(ii) Public consultation on the possible anti-competitive provisions, and on the proposed local law and the proposed subordinate local, was undertaken between 14 June 2011 and 5 July 2011

(iii) State government agencies were also consulted about the proposed local law

(iv) On 12 November 2012, the Establishment and Coordination Committee approved amendments to the proposed local law and proposed subordinate local law in response to the submissions and State government agency response, and decided to send the proposed local law (as amended) to the

Minister for Local Government for the State Interest Check

(v) By letter dated 21 January 2013, the Acting Director-General of the

Department of Local Government advised Council that the Minister for Local

Government had decided that Council may adopt the proposed local law

(vi) The proposed local law (as amended) and proposed subordinate local law (as amended) have been updated to reflect the current year;

THEN

1. COUNCIL ADOPTS the recommendations of the PIT report at Attachment B,

2.

3. submitted on file

COUNCIL MAKES the Advertisements Amending Local Law 2013, at Attachment

C, submitted on file, to commence on 6 August 2013

COUNCIL MAKES the Advertisements Amending Subordinate Local Law 2013, at

4.

5.

Attachment D, submitted on file, to commence on 6 August 201;

COUNCIL ADOPTS the consolidated Advertisements Amending Local Law 2013 and consolidated Advertisements Amending Subordinate Local Law 2013, tabled, and authorises the Chief Legal Counsel to insert the dates of commencement and gazettal in the end notes of the consolidated version

COUNCIL DELEGATES to the Chief Executive Officer all its powers under the

Advertisements Amending Local Law 2013 and Advertisements Amending

Subordinate Local Law 2013, save those that must be exercised by resolution on the conditions set out below.

CONDITIONS of DELEGATION


1.

2.

- 33 -

Each of the functions and powers delegated by this resolution includes—

(a) doing any act and making any decision

(b) giving or causing to be given any notice, notification, statement of reasons

(c) issuing or causing to be issued, and endorsing, any certificate, permit or other instrument of authorisation, and any copy thereof, if doing so is incidental to or entailed by the exercise of the functions and powers.

A reference to a law includes a reference to—

(a) the law as originally made, and as amended from time to time since it was originally made

(b) if the law has been repealed and remade (with or without modification) since the reference was made—the law as remade, and as amended from time to time since it was remade

(c) if a provision of the law has been omitted and remade (with or without modification and whether in the law or another law) since the reference was made—the provision as remade

(d) the law as renumbered or amended from time to time.

ADOPTED

B AMENDMENTS TO AREA CLASSIFICATIONS AND DEMOLITION

CONTROL PRECINCTS IN THE BRISBANE CITY PLAN 2000

152/160/1007/79

34/2013-14

19. Vicki Pethybridge, Divisional Manager, City Planning and Sustainability Division, provided the information below.

20. At the Council meeting of 18 September 2012, Council resolved to amend the Area classification and Demolition Control Precinct status of certain allotments under the

Brisbane City Plan 2000 to:

-

-

-

- rectify anomalies in the pattern of zones throughout the city reflect intended Area classifications for properties acquired through various land acquisition schemes for conversion to open space classify previously unclassified land change the Demolition Control Precincts to ensure certain pre-1946 character houses are protected and that protection is removed from those sites where there are no character houses.

21. The proposed amendments are set out in Attachment B, Attachment C and Attachment D, submitted on file.

22. Consultation with all relevant Ward Councillors in relation to the proposed amendments occurred from 19 July to 1 August 2012, and are summarised in Attachment G, submitted on file.

23. The matter was referred to the Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development,

Infrastructure and Planning, the Honourable Jeff Seeney for a State interest review by correspondence dated 20 September 2012.

24. By letter dated 7 December 2012, the Minister advised Council that the proposed amendments were supported and could progress to public notification, Attachment E submitted on file. The proposed amendments were publicly notified in the Courier-Mail on 1 February 2013, with the final date for receipt of submissions being 18 March 2013.

25. On 1 February 2013, all property owners affected by the proposed amendments were advised by correspondence of Council’s intentions to amend the area classification and/or Demolition

Control Precinct status of their property, and were accordingly invited to make a formal


- 34 - submission in relation to these proposed changes.

26. During the public notification period two properly made submissions were received. Council officers have prepared a summary report detailing those submissions and the corresponding responses, which are represented in Attachment F, submitted on file. Having considered all matters raised, it is not proposed to make changes to the proposed amendments to the planning scheme.

27. Should Council resolve to proceed with the proposed amendments to the planning scheme, the matter will be referred to the Minister for approval pursuant to the Statutory Guideline 02/12 made under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009

. Subject to the Minister’s approval, the proposed amendments to the planning scheme will then proceed to adoption.

28. It is therefore recommended that Council resolve as per the draft Resolution set out in

Attachment A, hereunder.

Implications of proposal

29. The proposed amendments will ensure the Brisbane City Plan 2000 remains current whilst the draft new City Plan is being prepared.

Vision/Corporate Plan impact

30. The proposed amendment complies with the following Brisbane City Council Corporate Plan

2012/13 – 2016/17 programs and strategies:

- Citywide Outcomes

- Well-designed and responsive built environment

-

-

-

- Connected and engaged communities

Program 4 – Future Brisbane

Planning for a growing city (4.1)

Enhancing the city’s liveability (4.2)

Customer impact

31. Property owners and other residents will benefit as the proposed changes to the

Brisbane City Plan 2000 will resolve a range of area classification and Demolition Control

Precinct anomalies which have been identified, ensuring development at these locations is managed in accordance with good town planning practice.

32. The Divisional Manager therefore submits the following recommendation, with which the

Committee agreed at its meeting of 29 July 2013.


THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE AS PER THE DRAFT RESOLUTION AS SET OUT IN

ATTACHMENT A , hereunder.

Attachment A

DRAFT RESOLUTION TO AMEND TO AREA CLASSIFICATIONS AND

DEMOLITION CONTROL PRECINCTS IN THE BRISBANE CITY PLAN 2000

THAT-

1. At its meeting on 18 September 2012, Council, pursuant to Step 1.1 of Stage 1 of Part

2 of the Statutory Guideline 01/12 made under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 , proposed major amendments to the Brisbane City Plan 2000 (Planning Scheme).

2. Council, pursuant to Step 4.1A (a) of Stage 1 of Part 2 of the Statutory Guideline

01/12, directed Council officers to prepare written notice to the Minister requesting a


- 35 -

3.

4.

5.

State interest review and Ministerial agreement to publicly consult on the proposed amendments to the Planning Scheme.

By letter dated 7 December 2012 Attachment E, submitted on file, the Minister advised Council that it could publicly notify the proposed amendments.

Pursuant to Step 7.2 of Stage 3 of Part 2 of the Statutory Guideline 02/12 (the

Guideline), such proposed amendments were publicly notified on 1 February 2013 by notice in the Courier-Mail with the final date for receipt of submissions being 18

March 2013. Two properly made submissions were received.

A report has been prepared Attachment F, submitted on file, which contains a summary of the matters raised in the submissions and recommendations in response to those submissions.

6.

7.

8.

Council, pursuant to Step 8.1 of Stage 3 of Part 2 of Statutory Guideline 02/12 (the

Guideline), having considered every properly made submission, adopts the report on submissions, Attachment F, and the recommendations therein and directs, pursuant to

Step 8.2 (c) and Step 8.2 (d) of Stage 3 of Part 2 of the Guideline that:

(a) Each person who made a properly made submission be advised in writing of the matters set out in Attachment F relating to that submission

(b) The Minister be given a copy of the report on submissions, Attachment F.

Council, pursuant to Step 8.5 (a) of Stage 3 of Part 2 of the Guideline resolves to proceed with the proposed amendments with no change as set out in Attachments B,

C and D, submitted on file.

Council, pursuant to Step 8.6 (a) of Stage 3 of Part 2 of the Guideline directs that written notice be given to the Minister seeking approval to adopt the proposed amendments to the Planning Scheme as set out in Attachment B, C and D.

ADOPTED

Chairman: DEPUTY MAYOR Infrastructure Committee please?

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 30 July 2013, be adopted.

DEPUTY MAYOR: Yes just briefly, Madam Chair, we have a presentation that came through the

Committee last week on the James Street, Montague Road intersection upgrade down near Davies Park and also West End State School. This project was a very positive one for the local community, not only from a motorist point of view but also for pedestrians and cyclists, particularly school students at the local school accessing Davies Park on a regular basis as well.

Chairman:

We got a good outcome in a range of respects, but also the intersection was upgraded to cater for cycling and there is dedicated cycle lanes installed as part of that intersection.

As councillors would be aware, we have the CityCycle scheme operating in the area as well and there’s a CityCycle station right nearby and West End residents are very keen cyclists and so we want to encourage that as well as the motorists’ safety.

So a good outcome achieved there and I commend the report to the chamber.

Further debate? Councillor ABRAHAMS?

Seriatim - Clause A

Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS requested that Clause B, PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL TO

INSTALL A RAISED PLATFORM IN ALDERSON STREET, OUTSIDE THE NEWMARKET SWIMMING

POOL, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.

Councillor ABRAHAMS: Madam Chair, I rise quickly just to comment on the traffic lights at James Street,

Montague Road intersection. I echo the comments of the DEPUTY MAYOR,


Chairman:

Councillor McKENZIE:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

- 36 - the residential community and business community and cycling community and market community and school community, in fact anyone who ever visits West

End is delighted to have these traffic lights installed after waiting for four years.

I’m sure councillors will remember the members of the school who came in and got a commitment from the LORD MAYOR three years ago for these works to be undertaken.

Madam Chair, I’d also like to put on the record my thanks to the project officer staff because when they briefed me on this they listened to their local councillor and as a result—which is very unusual from current officers—and we were able to retain parking spaces that were for the chop in the original design and that also is an excellent outcome in an area where there is a high demand for parking.

I now wish to ask the DEPUTY MAYOR to ensure that the $30,000 that was allocated for these traffic lights in the 2013-14 Budget which were delicious surprise for me because when we voted on that budget the traffic lights not only were they installed but they had been opened by the LORD MAYOR.

So I’m now asking the DEPUTY MAYOR to ensure that $30,000 stays in The

Gabba Ward. There are many projects which would well appreciate that

$30,000—$300,000 sorry, it’s $300,000—and would wish that to continue to benefit the residents in this area.

It did seem rather strange that there hadn’t been possible for an amendment to the budget as clearly that carryover was never going to be necessary when the budget was voted on.

Further debate? Councillor McKENZIE?

Thanks, Madam Chairman. I’d like to speak on Item D which is a petition requesting Council to install a 40 kilometre school zone, school crossing and appropriate signage and pavement markings on Cavendish Road, Coorparoo near the Coorparoo Primary School, the State School.

I was very pleased that this got up. Local resident, Amy Nolan, was very active in putting forward this petition. The school of Coorparoo Primary School is virtually on the corner of Old Cleveland Road and Cavendish Road, very busy area. The area is under redevelopment into the future where the roads will be rationalised.

One of the reasons that I was very keen to have a crossing or have a school zone in this area and eventually I hope a crossing with the compliance of the State government, was because the Coorparoo State School is an active participant in the Active School Travel program of which Council has become almost probably a world leader in and it would enable the school children to congregate on the opposite side of Cavendish Road and use this crossing and at least use the crossing if the speed was reduced.

So very happy to support this. Keith Warwick the president of the school is very much in favour of it and that’s a very satisfactory outcome. Thank you.

Further debate? Councillor DICK?

Well thanks, Madam Chair. I rise to speak on Item A and this item does trouble me somewhat because—sorry not Item A, Item B the requesting Council to install a raised platform in Alderson Street outside the Newmarket swimming pool.

This seemed a fairly straightforward request when it came to the Council and I did ask when it was presented and whilst at the committee Councillor NEWTON and I supported the recommendation as did the local councillor, what we weren’t told at the committee was that this is round two for this item, because back in

June 2011 a petition calling on Council to install traffic calming devices at the entrance to the Newmarket pool was debated inside this chamber. The recommendation was that funding will be sought as part of budget deliberations.

The customer impact was the installation of pedestrian refuge would provide a safer crossing location for the swimming pool entrance, addressed the concerns


Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:

- 37 - of the petitioners. Preferred option—it is the preferred option that Council install pedestrian refuge islands.

So what I’m concerned about is that was a decision of this Council on 7 June and adopted. I’m not sure why we are now dealing with exactly the same issue a couple of years down the track. So perhaps—excuse me—the DEPUTY

MAYOR or the local councillor can explain why nothing has happened on this issue for the last couple of years.

Now I’m all for improving safety around busy locations particularly around some of our city pools. We are going to undertake a traffic and pedestrian survey, that’s great. It’s August 2013. Maybe there’s a good reason it didn’t happen when it was promised in the first place. Maybe the relevant chair—I’m not sure who was in the chair at that stage. I don’t think it was councillor—it might have been Councillor SCHRINNER, but we simply—it seems like we’re doubling up and going back over the same ground. So perhaps we can seek a little clarification as to why when we said back in—a couple of years ago we’d investigate, we’d look into it and it was the recommendation, why nothing has happened and now we’re back in August 2013 round two asking for this issue to be tackled again.

It’s clear that there is support for improvements around the entrance. It’s clear that now on the second petition the Council also agrees that we should look at doing something on this. So I simply ask for further information as to why we’ve sat on our hands and why we haven’t taken action. There may be some really good explanation that the chair can share with the Chamber, or better still the local councillor can explain why when we’ve made a decision before we’re coming back and moving exactly the same resolution to address the issue that has clearly been around for the last couple of years.

Further debate? DEPUTY MAYOR?

Thank you, Madam Chairman, and thank you to all councillors who participated in the debate today.

In relation to the James Street and Montague Road intersection upgrade and

Councillor ABRAHAMS’ comments, this issue that she raised about the money allocated in the current financial year was actually raised at the committee and I answered that question in the committee meeting and I’ll answer it again today.

This project finished very close to the end of the financial year and because of the timing of that project the project wasn’t officially closed down by the end of the financial year and it is practise in this place for projects that occur passed the end of the financial year such as this to make a provision of a small amount of funding for any closing out issues that may occur. Council, prior to the closing down of the project, does an assessment of all aspects of the project to make sure that everything’s been done properly, and if there’s any rectification works that need to be performed as part of that close out, then that funding is available for that purpose.

If that funding isn’t required for that purpose, then it’s taken as a saving in the budget and a saving in the budget is always a good thing and that is the reality of not only this project but many projects across the city.

Labor councillors I’m sure would be very critical of this administration if projects went over budget, but when they go under budget they’ve also obviously now raised issues and want that money spent on something else. The reality is we always try and find savings on projects when we possibly can and will continue to do that going forward.

In relation to the comments that Councillor DICK made regarding the

Newmarket swimming pool, look I’m not aware of previous petitions that have come through on this issue, but what I do know—I’ve been the chair since I think May 2012, last year, after the election—but what I do know though is that when we make a decision these days on petitions such as this, that wherever practical we’ll perform traffic counts and we’ve said we will do here and traffic surveys so that we can make an informed decision.


4.

5.

3.

- 38 -

The existence of a previous petition doesn’t necessarily mean that traffic conditions have not changed over that period and so I think we’ve made a very sound decision here which is going forward not rejecting the petition but simply saying that we’re going to do some more work, we’re going to do that study and the traffic count in the lead up to the very busy summertime so that we can see the full usage of the pool in that summer period and then we can make an appropriate decision at that time.

I think that’s a fully justifiable response to this petition and, as I said, I can’t speculate on petitions in the past.

Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of Clauses A, C and D of the report of the

Infrastructure Committee was declared carried on the voices.

Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of Clause B of the report of the

Infrastructure Committee was declared carried on the voices.




ATTENDANCE:

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Adrian Schrinner (Chairman), Councillor Ian McKenzie (Deputy

Chairman), and Councillors Milton Dick, Victoria Newton and Norm Wyndham.


Councillor Margaret de Wit.

1.

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – JANE STREET/MONTAGUE ROAD

INTERSECTION

35/2013-14

Mark Jones, Principal Engineer, Civil and Transport, City Projects Office, Brisbane

Infrastructure Division, attended the Committee meeting to provide a presentation on the upgrade to the Jane Street/Montague Road intersection. He provided the information below.

2. The project was undertaken to:

- provide a safe pedestrian crossing facility on Montague Road close to pedestrian

-

-

-

- desire lines minimise the congestion impacts on Montague Road minimise on street parking impacts provide improved on road cyclist facilities maximise intersection efficiency and safety for all road users.

The scope of the intersection project was to:

- provide dedicated right-hand turn pocket and left-hand turn pocket from Montague

-

Road into Jane Street (west) provide on-road painted bicycle lanes on both approaches to the intersection on Jane

-

-

Street widen the footpath on the north-west corner to include the existing CityCycle station within the footpath improved pedestrian safety with signalised pedestrian crossings on all legs of the intersection.

An overview of the intersection upgrade was displayed and discussed.

Construction commenced in early March 2013, following drainage works, and was completed on 19 June 2013. The original construction budget in the 2012-13 financial year was

$1.5 million, while the actual cost of construction for the project was $1.13 million.


6.

- 39 -

-

-

-

-

Some of the project highlights included:

- minimised loss of car parking a new motorcycle parking area installed resulting in no net loss of motorcycle parking east-bound right-turn ban changed to peak ban following consultation permeable footpath pavement used to minimise impact on significant trees. successful integration of the intersection works with major drainage works on Jane

Street.

7.

8.

Plans and photographs following the upgrade were shown.

Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr Jones for his informative presentation.


THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE

REPORT.

ADOPTED

B PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL TO INSTALL A RAISED

PLATFORM IN ALDERSON STREET, OUTSIDE THE NEWMARKET

SWIMMING POOL

CA12/196458

36/2013-14

10. A petition from residents of Newmarket, requesting that Council install a raised platform in

Alderson Street, outside the Newmarket swimming pool, was presented to Council at its meeting of 12 June 2012 by Councillor Andrew Wines, and received.

11. The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, provided the information below.

12. The petition contains seven signatures, all residents of Newmarket. However, only three of the petitioners live in Alderson Street.

13. Alderson Street is a 360 metre long 50km/h district access route that provides an east-west connection between Enoggera Road and Murrell Parade. Alderson Street varies in width between 8 metres and 9 metres. However, a short section of Alderson Street in front of the swimming pool has been widened to accommodate a loading zone to service the pool.

14. A Council Senior Transport Network Operations Officer undertook an inspection of the site on 11 September 2012. At the time of the inspection, on-street parking demand was low with seven vehicles observed parked along the southern side of the street adjacent to the pool, while approximately 12 vehicles were parked in the off-street car park located to the east of the pool.

15. Vehicle movements and pedestrian activity in Alderson Street were observed to be very low and there was no evidence to suggest that speeding was an issue. However, it is acknowledged that usage of the pool is much greater during the summer months, particularly school holidays and as such the number of pedestrians in the area would be significantly higher during these times.

16. Current traffic volume data collected from the traffic signal loops at the intersection of

Enoggera Road and Alderson Street indicates a total daily volume of 3086 vehicles using


- 40 -

Alderson Street. The volume of traffic using Alderson Street is generally consistent throughout the day with a slight increase in the volume of traffic using the street during morning and afternoon peak travel times. However, this volume of traffic is consistent with

Alderson Street’s function as a district access route.

17. A search of official crash records revealed seven crashes occurring in Alderson Street between May 2004 and March 2009. Five of these crashes were recorded at the intersection of

Alderson Street and Enoggera Road. The two crashes recorded in Alderson Street were attributed to the drivers being under the influence of drugs and speed was not a contributing factor. None of the recorded crashes involved pedestrians.

18. Alderson Street is wide enough between house numbers 58 and 64 to accommodate a refuge, however, due to the location of driveways on the southern side of the street there is only one potential location between house numbers 58 and 60 to install a refuge island that will not restrict property access. A further constructability assessment has identified the footpath along the southern side of the street is narrow (approximately one metre) and as such it would not be possible to construct a suitable kerb ramp to current specifications without significant footpath widening works. The footpath widening works would require major adjustment to kerb lines along both sides of the road and associated road pavement reconstruction.

18. Consequently, despite the previous Council approval to proceed with the installation of a pedestrian refuge, it is considered that further assessment of the traffic volumes and pedestrian movements on Alderson Street should be conducted to determine the community benefits of providing this facility when considering the significant costs to overcome the limitations of the current footpath width. There is also likely to be objection from impacted property owners if their access is modified to accommodate a refuge.

19. The investigation will include traffic and pedestrian surveys to accurately record traffic volumes, travel speeds and the number of pedestrians crossing Alderson Street close to the pool entrance. The surveys will be undertaken in November 2013 when the weather will be warmer and the pool usage higher. This additional data will then be used to determine whether or not a pedestrian refuge is warranted at this location, to identify the most suitable location for the refuge, and will also help to prioritise the proposal for inclusion in a future works program.

Options

20. Option two, the preferred option, is to assess the relative priority of the proposal to construct a pedestrian refuge in Alderson Street compared to other similar requests across the city and use this information to prioritise the proposal for inclusion in a future works program. Option one is to retain the existing arrangements.

Funding

21. Funding to undertake traffic and pedestrian surveys in Alderson Street is available from the current budget under Program 2 – Moving Brisbane.

Consultation

22. The Councillor for Enoggera Ward, Councillor Andrew Wines, has been consulted and supports the recommendation.

23. The Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agrees.


- 41 -

24.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED

IN THIS REPORT AND THAT COUNCIL ENDORSE OPTION TWO.

ADOPTED

C PETITION – REQUESTING THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CONCRETE

BOLLARD FENCE ON THE NORTH-FACING BLOCK BOUNDARIES AT

WEENGA STREET, GEEBUNG

CA13/311616

37/2013-14

25. A petition from residents of Weenga Street, Geebung, requesting the construction of a concrete bollard fence on the north-facing block boundaries at Weenga Street, Geebung, was presented to Council at its meeting of 14 May 2013 by Councillor Fiona King, and received.

26. The Executive Manager, City Projects Office, provided the information below.

27. Following a funding commitment between Council and the Queensland Government in the middle of 2012, the Geebung Overpass (GO) Alliance was formed in October 2012 to design and construct the $199 million Robinson Road open level crossing replacement project.

28. The GO Alliance community relations team regularly engages with local residents and business owners and provides advanced work notifications via email and direct letterbox drops to more than 600 properties within Geebung. These notifications detail the hours that work will take place, construction methodology and what impacts the community can expect.

The project team also regularly doorknocks local residents and businesses ahead of highimpact works.

29. During engagement with local residents, the GO Alliance received multiple enquiries and complaints regarding the construction of the project from residents adjacent to the worksite.

The majority of complaints have come from two stakeholders.

30. The GO Alliance implemented a range of on-site mitigation measures during construction to mitigate impacts on the local community such as the use of street sweepers, water carts to suppress dust and using quieter equipment, where possible.

31. Furthermore, the alliance acknowledged the potential heightened construction impacts on residents adjacent to construction and offered 12 properties in Weenga Street

(numbers 17 to 39) a 1.8 metre high, double lapped timber paling fence, to be constructed on the property boundary, which adjoins Council land. The fence was offered to provide delineation from the construction site and the offer was made in March 2013 during early works activities. The offer of a 1.8 metre fence has been put on hold pending the outcome of this petition.

32. The petition was sent to the Ward Councillor for Marchant, Councillor Fiona King, and the

GO Alliance via email on Monday 6 May, 2013 and was formally submitted by Councillor

King to Council. The petition requests that a concrete bollard fence be erected on all northfacing block boundaries at Weenga Street, Geebung to limit construction pollution (noise, dust, visual) to local residents. It contains a total of 17 signatures from Weenga Street,

Geebung.

33. Some residents that have signed the petition have properties that back on to an area where a number of houses were resumed and demolished for construction of the project. This area is currently under construction to form a temporary service road, portions of which are also part


- 42 - of the permanent road alignment. Other petitioners reside at properties that are not directly adjacent to the worksite (11 and 15 Weenga Street), or share a property boundary with

Council that would not enable a new dividing fence to be installed.

34. In late May, Councillor King advised a number of residents that Council was investigating mitigation options beyond the on-site measures in place. The GO Alliance contacted Weenga

Street residents directly adjacent to the worksite on 12 June 2013 to advise them that a noise wall would be installed on the worksite due to the proximity of the temporary road and to mitigate noise, dust and visual impacts. The alliance advised that residents would be notified of further detail within two weeks.

35. The GO Alliance has begun investigations into constructing a noise wall to determine details such as height, materials and costs to satisfy the petition request. The noise wall would also incur some minor ongoing maintenance costs. The wall will be constructed on Council-owned land, approximately one metre from the residents’ rear boundary. This option provides the best construction mitigation of all options and would take the least time to implement as no property reinstatements are required. As there would be no requirement to remove existing property fences with this option, there is no cost for reinstatement works within private property.

36. Alternatively, the existing arrangement could be maintained. This approach would need to focus specifically on noise and dust issues in relation to any associated works, however would not eliminate the visual amenity concern raised. This option is cost and time effective, however would most likely not satisfy the petitioners.

Options

37. The preferred option for Council (option one) is to construct a permanent noise wall within the remnant Council land on Robinson Road West, which adjoins the rear of Weenga Street properties detailed in the petition (except 11 and 15 Weenga Street, as outlined above).

Option two is to retain the existing arrangement and keep the concerned stakeholders informed of upcoming works and any potential disruptions.

Funding

38. Costs are being finalised however the cost to design and install the noise wall is expected to be approximately $500,000, based on early estimates. The final costs will be known once the alliance has completed geotechnical investigations, survey and finalised the scope of activities.

Consultation

39. Councillor King, has been consulted and supports providing a noise wall for Weenga Street residents. The Deputy Mayor and Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee, Councillor

Adrian Schrinner, has been briefed on this matter and has approved plans for a noise wall.

Customer impact

40. The petitioners have expressed concerns regarding ongoing visual, noise, and dust pollution during construction of the Robinson Road open level crossing replacement project, if a noise wall is not erected.



- 43 -

42.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT OPTION ONE IS IMPLEMENTED AND THAT THE PETITIONERS BE

ADVISED OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN REPORT ABOVE.

ADOPTED

D PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL INSTALL A 40KM/H SCHOOL

ZONE, SCHOOL CROSSING AND APPROPRIATE SIGNAGE AND

PAVEMENT MARKINGS ON CAVENDISH ROAD, COORPAROO, NEAR

THE COORPAROO STATE SCHOOL

CA13/154839

38/2013-14

43. A petition from residents of Coorparoo and surrounding suburbs, requesting Council install a

40km/h school zone, school crossing and appropriate signage and pavement markings on

Cavendish Road, Coorparoo, near the Coorparoo State School, was presented to Council at its meeting of 12 March 2013 by Councillor Ian McKenzie, and received.

44. The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, provided the information below.

45. The petition contains 444 signatures.

46.

As assessment of the location has been undertaken by Council’s Transport Planning and

Strategy Branch and based on this assessment it is recommended that a school zone be provided on Cavendish Road, in the vicinity of Coorparoo State School, with signage and pavement marking to be installed in compliance with current Department of Transport and

Main Roads guidelines.

47. It is also recommended that a school crossing be installed subject to Queensland Government approval for a crossing supervisor at this location.

Options

48. It is the preferred option (option one), that a school zone shall be provided on Cavendish

Road, in the vicinity of Coorparoo State School, installed in compliance with current

Department of Transport and Main Roads guidelines. A school crossing shall be installed

(subject to Queensland Government approval for a crossing supervisor at this location).

49. Option two is to maintain the existing arrangements.

Funding

50. Funding to undertake this work is available in the current budget from Moving Brisbane –

Program 2, Schedule 209 and Schedule 61.

Consultation

51. The Councillor for Holland Park Ward, Councillor Ian McKenzie, has been consulted and supports the recommendation.

Customer impact

52. The recommendation addresses the petitioners concerns.


- 44 -


54.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED

IN THIS REPORT AND THAT COUNCIL ENDORSE OPTION ONE.

ADOPTED

Chairman: Councillor MATIC Public and Active Transport Committee?

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 30 July 2013, be adopted.

Councillor MATIC: Just briefly, Madam Chairman. There was a committee presentation on the operational innovations for bus interiors. We had a very informative presentation about how over time Council and industry have invested into the amenity and improvements of travel for passengers and that these changes have provided benefits for that travel and for just the general enjoyment of the trip.

So it was a very informative presentation and I’d like to thank the officers for it.

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.




ATTENDANCE:

Councillor Peter Matic (Chairman), Councillor Steven Huang (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors

Steve Griffiths, Nicole Johnston, Kim Marx and Ryan Murphy.

1.

2.

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – OPERATIONAL INNOVATION FOR BUS

INTERIORS

39/2013-14

Scott White, Branch Manager, Engineering and Assets, Brisbane Transport, provided the

Committee with a presentation on operational innovation for bus interiors. He provided the information below.

Back in 1974, Council bus drivers used a seat called the ‘Chapman’. It comprised of a steel platform on a cane base with a one inch thick foam cushion.

3. Between 1992 and 2003, Council bus drivers used a seat called the ‘Bremshey’, a vast improvement on the Chapman. The Bremshey was a simple coil and shock absorber assisted seat with a 130 kilogram weight rating. The Bremshey was upgraded in the year 2000 with a lap seat belt and again in 2012 with a lumbar support adjustment.

4.

-

-

-

-

The present-day drivers’ seats on Council buses came in 2003 and are called the ‘Isri’. This particular seat came with a number of features that include: three air lumbar support adjustment (upper, lower and side bolsters)

150 kilogram weight rating lap sash seat belts shoulder adjustments, backrest adjustments, seat height adjustments, side adjustments and seat cushion adjustments.


5.

- 45 -

A number of slides were presented that showed the changes to passenger seats between 1948,

1961 and 1964. The construction of these seats consisted mainly of a steel platform, steel handles, vinyl over foam and plastic bucket seats.

6. The evolution of bus passenger seats continued with slides presented of seats between 1992 and 2000, 2000 to 2009 and the most current seats found on Council buses the ‘McConnell’ with City Hall Holdsworth Trim.

7.

8.

-

-

Much has changed for the passenger since the MAN SL200 and the current Volvo B12. The current design on the Volvo B12 allows for: wheelchair seating due to wall mounted flip-up seats luggage racks

-

- air conditioning and heating bench seats with padded safety bars and thick comfortable foam.

The seats also have a simplified graffiti management system that is easy to clean, scratch and dent resistant.

Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr White for his informative presentation.



REPORT.

ADOPTED

Chairman: Councillor COOPER Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment

Committee?

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT

COMMITTEE

Councillor Amanda COOPER, Chairman of the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment

Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor Vicki HOWARD, that the report of the meeting of that Committee held on 30 July 2013, be adopted.

Councillor COOPER: Thank you very much, Madam Chair. So at committee last week we saw a presentation on 678 Compton Road, Calamvale. This is an application for a hotel extension to the Calamvale Hotel and I believe it is in the Ward of Karawatha,

Councillor MARX’s ward.

This particular proposal is for a six storey hotel. It will contain 60 serviced apartments and, in addition, it will have entertainment and function areas. The proposed development will provide an additional 63 onsite car parks with the

197 existing spaces to remain. The applicant has demonstrated this is sufficient onsite car parking and it’s also safe and convenient vehicle movement that can be achieved as a consequence of this proposal.

There will also be required to be the relocation of an existing telecommunication tower on the site and in particular I think that the applicant is intending to try and get this to be a four and a half star rating facility. So we encourage this kind of development in our city, obviously very much supporting it through the potential rebate on infrastructure charges and we look forward to seeing the hotel operator try and certainly achieve that four and a half star rating.

The hotel in particular I believe will be a great asset to the local community providing some very high quality accommodation. It will also deliver some great new function spaces including a rooftop terrace for conferences, meetings and weddings.


Chairman:


- 46 -

The proposed development is very much consistent with the

Algester/Parkinson/Stretton Local Plan and in particular this is a very suitable location for such a development, surrounded by an existing mix of retail and commercial with strong connections to public transport and of course major roads including Beaudesert Road.

There was significant consultation between officers and the applicant to try and achieve a good design to this building and I think that the final outcome is what I think will be a great credit to the local community.

So the design of the building was very much considered to ensure that there was a minimisation of bulk and scale of this particular structure, so they’ve got some well-articulated facades, they’ve got the variation in material that is being utilised and they’ve recessed the upper levels to try and make sure that the design outcome is a good one.

They also submitted visual impact reports as part of the application and determined there would be no adverse visual impacts for nearby residential areas and commercial buildings. In achieving this, the applicant I believe has come up with a design which will be a focal point for the local area, a real landmark building.

Noise impacts also were considered as part of this application, with acoustic treatments being put in place to minimise road traffic noise for future hotel guests and there is particularly conditioned noise attenuations and hours of operation to ensure that nearby residents are protected from any noise as a consequence of operations for this site.

So there have been a number of conditions put in place to ensure that the building compliments its existing surroundings and provides an additional buffer. Conditions include a three metre wide footpath along Beaudesert Road frontage, a minimum two metre wide vegetation buffer along Beaudesert Road and Compton Road frontages and the planting of a significant landscape tree, as

I believe a mango tree currently on the site had to be removed in order to facilitate the development.

So we on this side of the Chamber, Madam Chair, think this is a great outcome for the local area. I note that the local councillor has been very supportive and I thank her for her constructive input as part of the process. This particular development will be filling—certainly is an opportunity to fill an existing gap in the market for high quality accommodation not just in the CBD but also in the suburbs of our city. So we think this will deliver some great accommodation and functions facilities in the local area.

It was disappointing that Councillor ABRAHAMS abstained from voting for this development application. I do believe this is an application that has been worked through by officers very closely to ensure great outcomes and we look forward to this being delivered in our city. I would particularly also like to thank the

Council officers for all their hard work as part of dealing with this application.

Thank you.

Further debate? Councillor JOHNSTON?

Yes, Madam Chairman, I rise to speak on Item A, this development at

Calamvale.

I won’t be supporting this application today for a fairly simple reason—it does not comply with the relevant codes under the City Plan for a development of this type in the community.

I’ll start by outlining the two key issues that the City Plan non-compliance throws up. Firstly, the suburban centre zoning MP3—the principles of that are that it is characterised by small tenancies within a limited area or lower density larger tenancies over a broader area. Now that is the fundamental guiding principle for what constitutes MP3.

Secondly, when you go and look at the centre design code, the centre design code outlines both the gross floor area (GFA) and height restrictions on


Chairman:

Councillor MARX:

- 47 - buildings in MP3 and I’m particularly concerned about the height proposal. MP3 is supposed to be a maximum of three storeys and 10.5 metres. Now, Madam

Chairman, I went and had a look at the DA online today because I was quite surprised by the statement in the Council papers and I don’t know if that statement’s right but it said six storeys and it said six storeys was code assessable and I can’t for the life of me work out why six storeys, which is an obviously non-compliant DA, would be considered to be code assessable. As the report before us here says today it was not subject to any public notification requirements.

So the community won’t know that this Council is approving a six storey building in an outer suburban part of Brisbane in contravention of the City Plan.

That is not good enough.

There’s a bigger issue here too. I mean absolutely no disrespect for Councillor

MARX, I’m sure that she’s taken Councillor COOPER’s advice in this matter, but, Madam Chairman, I note that she supports this development but she was concerned about the provision of adequate car parking.

Now I also looked at the information request by Council to the applicant. The first thing that Council said was your development does not comply with the required car parking requirements for a development of this type. It said you need to deliver 79 spaces—79. They’re only proposing to deliver 65. Then I read the applicant’s response to the information request. They say yes we know; we’re 19 car parks short of what we should have—that’s their words 19. I know those figures don’t add up but their report back to Council is yes we’re 19 car parks short for this development but we think it’ll be alright because when people come to hotels they don’t drive their cars and we think it’ll be perfectly okay.

Now, Madam Chairman, time and time again we see the long term problems that emerge in communities from this Council waiving car parking requirements in suburban areas and in city areas. It is not good policy.

I note that this was something that the local councillor was concerned about and

I hope that she was not assured by Councillor COOPER that this was all adequate because the definition of adequate is spelt out in this City Plan planning codes and it required 79 car parks. I would have thought that this developer with such a large site could have included the relevant number of car parking as required by Council.

But the big problem here is that this development has now been brought up and this Council is being asked to approve a development that is six storeys high in an outer suburban area, with a rooftop terrace—I can’t tell you the drama that’s going to flow from that when the parties start happening on the roof—and inadequate car parking. It’s not good enough.

The City Plan is there to ensure development happens properly, it happens in accordance with the relevant codes. This doesn’t even come close—come close to addressing either the acceptable criteria or the performance criteria. The performance criteria for this say that the density should be in accordance with the surrounding community. I’m not sure that there are six storeys out that way. I don’t think there’s even a lot of low to medium density out that way.

So I’m a bit shocked, number one, that this application is being pushed through this Council with such clear and strong areas of non-compliance with the relevant codes and I for one do not support such a poor planning decision. If this is a good site for a hotel, I’m sure it can be built according to the City Plan requirements. Allowing them to waive the height restrictions and the number of storeys and allowing them to waive the parking are bad planning and bad policy and it should not be supported.

Further debate? Councillor MARX?

Thank you, Madam Chairman. Excuse my voice; it’s still a bit croaky. I want to rise to speak on Item A, the redevelopment of the Calamvale Hotel.


Chairman:


- 48 -

I have to say here and now that it is a development that I am looking forward to starting in my ward. Can I say the McGuires family group are very experienced in this area of hotel development and design and the design that they have presented is a very exciting and iconic one.

The Karawatha Ward, as has been previously mentioned many times in this

Chamber, is sadly lacking in many things, a hotel is one of them, iconic building is another thing it’s lacking in, a suitable function space is something else it’s lacking. This corner location where it’s been put to be built is actually ideally suited. It is on Beaudesert Road, that’s a main road, it’ll carry people from the

Gold Coast, Logan, all the way up into the city and they’ll go past my ward and they’ll go wow look at that hotel, look at that building, that’s really cool and we’re going to go there and that’s what I’m really excited about. It’s going to bring people into my ward which I think is something that’s really needed for sure.

The councillor is correct I did raise the issue of parking as I’m sure every councillor in this place does and I did want to make sure I make the comment that adequate parking was supplied and the Council officers have considered my comment and that they feel it complies with the criteria.

The other aspect of this DA that I did mention just briefly is the enclosed function area on the rooftop. I have two hotels in my ward as it stands the

Runcorn Tavern and the Calamvale Hotel. Runcorn Tavern has an underground function area that will fit 150 people at best, that’s it. That’s all I have. This

Calamvale Hotel development will bring a function area into my ward that finally, I can actually have some functions that I don’t have to travel into

Councillor HUANG’s ward to go to. I’ll actually be able to visit my own ward and have people coming and visiting me in the ward.

Everything else has basically been addressed as far as this development goes.

Councillor COOPER was across all the issues as she always is with all the developments. So I just want to finish up by saying that I commend this development to the chamber and I look forward to the project starting in the very near future and thank all Council officers for their time. Thank you.

Further debate? Councillor ABRAHAMS?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wish to talk on the one item on this committee report.

Labor councillors will not be supporting this proposal and I listened very carefully to the local councillor and I accept and understand the need for a convention centre in her location. I think it’s really important that those facilities are provided locally and have no issue with that. In many ways, if this had been an impact-assessable application as it should be and the community had the option to comment, to make sure the controls on the noise for the community directly opposite Compton Road was taken into consideration, was possibly amended so their concerns were properly addressed, this may be a very good development, maybe a good development for the site, but, Madam Chair, that is not what we have at the moment. We have an application that is put to us that it is consistent with the code of an MP3 area and it is not.

It is impossible for anyone to say this is consistent with the acceptable solutions in that code because those solutions do prescribe a height and that height is three storeys and ten and a half metres. This proposal is double that height.

Now I know Councillor COOPER will get up and talk about plot ratio and GFA, but the community understands height more than any other criteria and that height is prescribed, that height is not being met under the acceptable solution and this application, as a consequence, if it had merit should have been an impact assessable application.

So it’s also very interesting—maybe that’s why it came to committee because we don’t often have many code-assessable applications coming to committee because the understanding of a code, is they comply with a code and therefore there is a delegated responsibility.


Chairman:

Councillor COOPER:

- 49 -

Madam Chair, I am also concerned about the parking. This will be—and

Councillor MARX actually acknowledged it so clearly a trip generator in this area. The major roads will not enable any on street parking so the parking onsite must meet the needs.

Madam Chair, I didn’t see the file, so I related to what was given us in committee, so I take on face value Councillor JOHNSTON’s advice that for this specific part of the hotel and tavern in fact needs 79 car parks where in fact the information says 63 are being provided—63. But I was told that for the whole site which included this development as well as the existing hotel, has 260 car parks where in fact this development means it should have 283. So every time you get a figure on car parking the discrepancy of what should be provided and what is being provided grows.

The greatest issue we have with night time entertainment areas where people are coming, a large number for a short period of time, is the parking. The councillor, the local councillor, was aware of that and she highlighted it and took on the face value that it had been demonstrated there was sufficient car parks. How can it be demonstrated when Council’s code should be respecting and adhering to show a deficiency of 23 car parking spaces. So I ask that question and wonder whether

Councillor COOPER should actually demonstrate not that an Officer said it was appropriate but how it was demonstrated to be appropriate.

Madam Chair, the other issue I have concern about is the noise. There are residential properties sleeping and they will be trying to sleep before ten o’clock every night, just across the road. I understand that the deck area is enclosed, but when I raised the issue about ensuring there was an enclosed area for the smokers who traditionally go out into the outer deck, opening the doors, leaving the opening, talking to each other halfway through as they go out, you do get noise spill. Believe me, Madam Chair, I know and that issue was not addressed. I would suggest it would have been quite wise to have incorporated that into the conditions because it will be a problem.

Now the argument will be there’s traffic, the traffic from Compton Road—the noise from this road will be masked by traffic noise. Nothing could be further from the truth. That thump, thump, thump which will be part of any entertainment area can travel kilometres at night and disturbing people. So this is another shortcoming which, if this application had been impact assessment, the community would have had an opportunity to have a say, strengthen the conditions sorry even to know the conditions and then strengthen them. This should be an impact assessment. We will not be supporting it because the community has not been informed.

Further debate? Councillor COOPER?

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I rise to sum up.

It is important to note that this particular application is an extension of an existing facility on a very substantial site of over 17,000 square metres, so it is a very, very substantial site in our city. I think it is appropriate where someone is seeking to try and make an existing facility such as this, a facility which has been in existence for quite some time, to try and give it an ability to extend and to continue its operation and in fact offer greater services to local community. I think that’s utterly appropriate for us to consider this application and to encourage people—encourage people to invest in our city, where they want to do something to provide better services, better facilities for every single Brisbane resident to have the opportunity to use. I think that is entirely appropriate.

Now we had some nonsense from those on the other side of the Chamber saying well it’s MP3 and that means you can’t do very much. Well that’s total rubbish as we know. What else could we consider to be MP3? We could consider places like Brookside, places like Toowong where there is a very substantial building I would put to you on that particular site. So these sorts of places—Toombul,

Brookside, Toowong, they would be I think equally as MP3, they would be something you could use as good comparison for what you might consider to be appropriate and what are we seeing here? We’re seeing a proposal, I think an



Chairman:

Councillor COOPER:

Order.

—she is one of those people that seem to think it was appropriate when she was a member of the Australian Labor Party who put together City Plan 2000 .

Now, Madam Chair—


Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:


Chairman:


Chairman:

Councillor COOPER:

Councillor DICK.

Point of order, Madam Chair?

Yes Councillor DICK?

For Councillor COOPER to say that Councillor ABRAHAMS was here in 2000 and responsible for that is simply not true. She is lying. That is not a statement of fact and she needs to get her facts right.

Councillor DICK I don’t uphold that point of order because—Councillor

KNAPP—regardless of whether Councillor ABRAHAMS was a councillor at that time I am fully aware of what division she was working in before she became a councillor and I don’t think the statement is untrue.


Yes Councillor ABRAHAMS?

I was an officer in the Department of Transport before I became a councillor.

Thank you Councillor ABRAHAMS the matter is clarified. Councillor

COOPER?

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Important to note when we prepare for example a City Plan it isn’t just one branch that actually prepares the City Plan, it is all parts of Council that provide input—they provide input. I know—


Chairman:

Councillor COOPER:

- 50 - excellent proposal, to redevelop an existing facility in line with that area classification which we’ve clearly seen in other parts of the city what would be appropriate in those locations.

Now we’ve also got the local councillor, someone who I think is an excellent advocate for her community, a strong voice for local residents who has expertise as to what is appropriate. She has given us ringing endorsement for this proposal and I think if there is someone who could suggest that there is concerns, it would be very much Councillor MARX.

Now Councillor ABRAHAMS said that she didn’t think it should be a code assessable application. Well if she doesn’t think it should be a code assessable application, who were the authors of the document that deemed this to be a code assessable application because it’s been made under

City Plan 2000 and who are the authors, Madam Chair, of City Plan 2000 ? Could that be the Australian

Labor Party? I believe so.

So if Councillor ABRAHAMS has a beef with this particular application, maybe she should look to herself and say what did I do wrong when I was responsible for the creation of this document because I would suggest that the responsibility rests on her shoulders. She is one of those people—

Order.

—I know that Brisbane infrastructure—I certainly have had a whole range of officers who have been part of the creation of the new City Plan. I think it’s quite disgraceful that the Australian Labor Party seem to be backing away from a document that was prepared under their hand, so in terms of that particular issue

I think they should look to themselves because if they don’t consider it was an appropriate outcome, they were the ones in charge at the time and they had the power to make those decisions when they were preparing City Plan 2000 .


- 51 -

In terms of this particular proposal, this is a proposal that Council officers have looked at I think very clearly and in great detail. They have looked at what is appropriate on this site, they have considered the information supplied by the applicant and I thank the applicant for working with Council to make sure that there is a good outcome on this site.

There is, I believe, something that will become a great credit to the community, there is great investment in the local area. It complies with the issues; it deals with those and has responded to those as they are required to do as a part of assessing each and every application Brisbane City Council receives.

So it doesn’t matter if it’s an impact assessable application or a code assessable application, Council officers who are the technical experts must be satisfied that it meets the assessment criteria. So if you are suggesting—through you, Madam

Chair, to Councillor ABRAHAMS—that Council officers have signed off on something that is not in compliance with the rules and regulations, I suggest to you that they do not—they do not do things that are inappropriate. They do things taking very much into consideration their professional conduct and I think they are committed to delivering good outcomes for this city.

So I thank the officers for their input, I thank the applicant for working with us. I am disappointed yet again to see that the Australian Labor Party do not support investment in our city and they do not care, Madam Chair, what they do in relation to development. They do not support development, they do not support investment and they don’t support jobs in Brisbane. Thank you.

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.


AYES: 16 - The DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista



Ian McKENZIE, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Julian SIMMONDS,

Andrew WINES, and Norm WYNDHAM.



Victoria NEWTON and Nicole JOHNSTON.

The report as follows



ATTENDANCE:

Councillor Amanda Cooper (Chairman), Councillor Vicki Howard (Deputy Chairman), and

Councillors Helen Abrahams, Geraldine Knapp and Andrew Wines.


Councillor Shayne Sutton.

A DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION (DISTRIBUTOR-RETAILER) UNDER

THE SUSTAINABLE PLANNING ACT 2009: PRELIMINARY APPROVAL

FOR CARRYING OUT BUILDING WORK AND DEVELOPMENT PERMIT

FOR MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR HOTEL AND SHORT TERM

ACCOMMODATION – 678 COMPTON ROAD, CALAMVALE – CAL-MAC

PTY LTD

A003367537


1.

- 52 -

40/2013-14

The Team Manager, Planning Services South Team, Development Assessment Branch, City

Planning and Sustainability Division, reports that an application has been submitted by Victor

G Feros Town Planning Consultants, on behalf of Cal-Mac Pty Ltd, as follows:

5.

6.

7.

2.

3.

4.

Development aspects: Material change of use - development permit (under section 243 of the Sustainble Planning Act 2009

(SPA) )

Carrying out building work - preliminary approval

(under section 241 of SPA)

General description of proposal: Centre activities – hotel and short term

Land in the ownership of:

Address of the site:

Described as:

Containing an area of: accommodation

Cal-Mac Pty Ltd

678 Compton Road, Calamvale

Lot 1 on Survey Plan 173668

17,640 square metres.

The subject site is located towards the corner of Compton and Beaudesert Roads, Calamvale, and is improved by the exisiting Calamvale Hotel. The site is situated within the

Algester/Parkinson/Stretton Local Plan and designated as Multi-Purpose Centre (MP3).

-

-

The proposed development includes the following components:

- a six-storey high hotel extension to the existing Calamvale Hotel

60 serviced apartments and ancillary entertainment/function areas an additional 63 car parks on-site

- maintained site access at the intersection of Compton and Calam Roads

- relocation of the existing telecommunication tower.

The hotel operator intends to achieve a 4½ star rating for the hotel facility.

The proposal is consistent with the intent of the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-

2031 and the Brisbane City Plan 2000 (City Plan) in that:

1. The proposed use for hotel and short term accommodation is compatible with the intended mix of uses and activities within the Multi-Purpose Centre.

2.

3.

4.

The proposal would not create a traffic problem, increase a traffic problem or detrimentally affect the efficiency of the road network.

The proposal would not detrimentally affect the amenity of the neighbourhood.

The site is proximate to public transport, including bus stops (within 100 metres walking distance) along the Compton Road frontage of the site.

Matters considered as part of the assessment are summarised below.

Algester/Parkinson/Stretton Local Plan

The proposal is consistent with the Algester/Parkinson/Stretton Local Plan - no additional planning requirements.

Building height

The building height of six storeys and 26 metres is supported by the Visual Impact

Assessment Report (report number 11CH078, dated April 2012) prepared by Cardno

Chenoweth (Qld) Pty Ltd. The visual impact analysis demonstrated no adverse visual impact on residential areas (with separation distance of between 95 to 100 metres) and adjoining commercial buildings. The development provides a legible focal point and distinctive sub-regional centre precinct.


- 53 -

8.

Building bulk and scale

The building bulk and scale has been alleviated through well-articulated facades, variation in material expression and a recessed upper level (at the sixth storey), with a roof form that reduces the building’s visual prominence in the locality.

9.

Access and onsite carparking

The development provides an additional 63 car spaces and maintains the existing 197 spaces for the hotel. A traffic study prepared by TTM Consulting (GC) Pty Ltd demonstrates safe and convenient vehicle movement and adequate onsite car parking can be achieved.

Noise attenuation

10. All units affected by road traffic noise are constructed with acoustic treatments referred to in

Appendix C of the Environmental Noise Level Impact Assessment (report number

R12013/D2587/Rev.1/29.05.12 prepared by David Moore & Associates Pty Ltd, dated

29/05/2012). The use of the proposed entertainment/function areas are limited to between

7am and 10pm. Conditions have been set accordingly.

Special conditions

11. Special conditions consist of:

- a three-metre-wide footpath is to be constructed along the Beaudesert Road frontage of the site

- a minimum two-metre-wide vegetation buffer provided along the Beaudesert Road and Compton Road frontages of the site

- a feature significant landscape tree to be planted onsite.

Referral agencies

12. The application triggered referral to the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR).

DTMR has provided conditions which are included in the approval package for the proposal.

Public notification

13. The application was code assessable and not subject to public notification requirements.

Councillor consultation

14. The Councillor for Karawatha Ward, Councillor Kim Marx advised she supports the proposal subject to provision of adequate car parking.

15. The Team Manager advises that relevant reports have been obtained to address the assessment criteria and decision process prescribed by SPA, outlining appropriate developmental requirements. He recommends that the application be approved subject to reasonable and relevant conditions.

16. The Team Manager therefore submits the following recommendation, with which the

Committee agrees with Councillor Helen Abrahams abstaining.


(i) That it be and is hereby resolved that whereas—


(a)

- 54 - a development application (distributor-retailer) was properly made on

5 December 2012 to the Council pursuant to section 260 of the Sustainable

Planning Act 2009 , as follows:

Development aspects:

General description of proposal:

Land in the ownership of:

Address of the site:

Described as:

Containing an area of:

Material change of use – development permit

(under section 243 of the Sustainble Planning Act

2009 (SPA) )

Carrying out building work – preliminary approval

(under section 241 of SPA)

Centre activities – hotel and short term accommodation

Cal-Mac Pty Ltd

678 Compton Road, Calamvale

Lot 1 on Survey Plan 173668

17,640 square metres

(b) The Council is required to assess the application pursuant to Part 7A and section 313 of SPA , and decide the application under sections 324 and 326 of the Act ; the Council—

(A) upon consideration of the application and those matters set forth in sections

313, 324 326 of SPA relevant to the application considers that:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

The applicant has demonstrated that the proposal does not cause conflict with the State’s planning policies, planning regulation provisions or regional plan;

The proposal is consistent with the general intentions of the Brisbane

City Plan 2000 ;

The proposed use for hotel and short-term accommodation is compatible with the intended mix of uses and activities within the

Multi-Purpose Centre;

The proposal would not create a traffic problem, increase a traffic problem or detrimentally affect the efficiency of the road network;

The proposal would not detrimentally affect the amenity of the neighbourhood;

6. The site is proximate to public transport, including bus stops (within

100 metres walking distance) along the Compton Road frontage of the site;

(B) accordingly considers that were reasonable and relevant conditions imposed on the development, it would be appropriate that the proposed development be carried out on the subject land

(C) issues Brisbane City Council Adopted Infrastructure Charges Notices for the development pursuant to the SPA and Brisbane Adopted Infrastructure

Charges Resolution (No. 3) 2011, for the transport, community purposes and stormwater trunk infrastructure networks

(D) under section 755A of SPA Council, on behalf of Queensland Urban Utilities as the Central SEQ Distributor Retailer Authority, issues adopted infrastructure charges notices for the sewerage and water supply trunk infrastructure networks.

(ii) Whereas the Council determines as in (i) hereof, THE COUNCIL APPROVES

THE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION referred to above subject to the


- 55 - conditions in the Development Approval Package submitted and marked Attachment

A, and will:

(a) notify the applicant of the decision and the Adopted Infrastructure Charges

Notices

(b)

(c) notify the Central SEQ Distributor-Retailer Authority of the decision and provide a copy of the Adopted Infrastructure Charges Notice notify the Councillor of the Karawatha Ward, Councillor Kim Marx, of the decision

(d)

(e) notify the Department of Transport and Main Roads, as concurrence agency, of the decision notify the Manager of City Planning of the decision.

ADOPTED

Chairman: Councillor BOURKE Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee?

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 30 July 2013, be adopted.



Chairman:


Chairman:


Chairman:


Chairman:


Chairman:

Councillor BOURKE:


Chairman:


Chairman:

Point of order, Madam Chairman?

Yes Councillor JOHNSTON?

Madam Chairman, I’m seeking further information about Item F in this report, specifically could you please advise how the sign for this park name will be funded?

No Councillor JOHNSTON I can’t advise you how the sign will be funded and

Councillor JOHNSTON I don’t know what the relevance of that is to the actual naming of a park.

Point of order—

You can’t use points of order to just ask any question about anything.



I’m referring to rule—sorry the Meetings Local Subordinate Law section 19 subsection 1, either immediately before or immediately after a report is moved a councillor may seek further information about the report that is currently being debated. So, Madam Chairman, under that rule I am seeking information about how the sign will be funded for this park naming.

Councillor JOHNSTON I have just pointed out to you this item is about the naming of a park. How the sign is funded is not relevant to this item and I do not uphold your point of order. Councillor BOURKE?

Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. A very full agenda last week at the committee meeting; we had a presentation on the creek filtration system trial. Of course—



I draw your attention to the recommendation which perhaps you aren’t familiar with and I dissent in your ruling.

Councillor BOURKE?


Councillor BOURKE:

- 56 -

Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. As I was saying, the presentation was on the creek filtration trial that this Council is undertaking. Of course it was an election commitment of the LORD MAYOR, a $2 million election commitment to implement these creek filtration devices across the city, in Norman Creek,

Kedron Brook, Oxley Creek and Toowong Creek. Those projects have started to be rolled out and the presentation provided by the officers basically gave a before and after snapshot of the sites that were rolled out in the last financial year and some of the work that was done along the way to help improve the water quality.

Madam Chairman, we all know that this Council under the administration of

LORD MAYOR Quirk makes a significant investment into the environment, into the biodiversity of our city, into the water quality of our city and the creek filtration devices and the trial that we are doing is just one part of the overall picture when it comes to improving the waterways across the city.

So it was good to see some positive feedback around how these devices have managed and coped with the varying rainfall events that we’ve had recently and it’s good to see that these devices are working and are providing that benefit to the creeks and the waterways where they’ve been implemented and I look forward to reporting back to the Council chamber about the future rollout of this project as we continue to rollout across those four systems that I mentioned just before.

Madam Chairman, then turning to the rest of the agent, a plethora of petitions, nine in total, covering the full cornucopia of what is the news branch when it comes to everything from dealing with barbeques in parks to dog off leash areas, park naming and the like.

Of particular note for interest for those in the chamber is the two petitions, one requesting installation of a dog off leash area at Wynnum and one opposing installation of a dog off leash area at Wynnum and I’ll leave the debate to the councillors in the chamber.

Further debate? Councillor DICK? Chairman:

Seriatim - Clauses B and C

Councillor Milton DICK requested that Clause B, PETITION – REQUESTING THE NAMING OF A NEW

SHELTER IN BANYO MEMORIAL PARK AS THE ‘BANYO MEMORIAL BANDSTAND’, and Clause C,

REQUESTING FOR COUNCIL TO PURCHASE THE FORMER SKATE RINK AT INALA FOR

PARKLAND AND COMMUNITY SPACE, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.

Councillor DICK: Thank you, Madam Chair. Look Item C is for two petitions requests for Council to purchase the former skate rink at Inala for parkland and community space.

This is a massive issue in my local community. The old Inala skating rink has been an eyesore for some time. The first point I want to make is I don’t know why this has taken over a year to be able to deal with this issue. Residents for a number of years have been raising this with me and at the beginning of last year, so 2012, a number of residents came to me with a delegation to look at the option of Council buying this area, this old skating rink, and turning it into either community space or parkland.

Now just to put it in context, this skating rink was an icon in the community, it was an old swimming pool owned by the Galtos family. It was a skating rink, it had state of the art indoor facilities, but as the community has changed and as time’s moved on it became derelict and has not been occupied for around seven years. It has had a number of incarnations, but for the last couple of years has remained pretty much a derelict and an eyesore.

All credit to the owners; in about the last couple of months they have got the property into shape. Councillor KNAPP is well aware of this because we’ve been dealing with other petitions about maintenance and I’ve been dealing with the CARS officers. There’s been pigeons, there’s been vermin, there’s been overgrown grass, a whole range of issues that we’ve had to deal with, but more importantly—I don’t know why they’re laughing, but more importantly it’s been for the community that have had to put up with this eyesore.


Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:


Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:


Chairman:

Councillor ADAMS:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

- 57 -

I live in Durack and a number of my residents which have lived there a long time have to go walking there, have to go past it and they simply ask the question what can be done about that site. So residents came together and overwhelmingly supported my call for Council to take action and when you put it into perspective, yes it is an investment of Council funds, but they reckon this—when the Council has spent millions of dollars in park acquisitions say over at Milton, when they’ve spent millions of dollars at Tennyson, millions and tens of millions of dollars, the people of Inala and Durack just want their fair share, just as they’ve seen in other locations across the city.

As I said in the table of contents, we are dealing with two petitions. Sadly, and it was confirmed formally yesterday by the CEO’s office, the petition I presented which contained around 500 signatures was lost. That’s right, lost not once but twice by this Council—twice as confirmed formally by—two files were made up about this and the CEO’s office confirmed formally with me yesterday that they had lost—not the CEO’s office—not the CEO’s office or the clerk’s but

Councillor BOURKE division had lost it.

Now when this item came to me for comment I raised this on 4 June with the relevant branch manager and said you’ve got it wrong and they said yes you’re right we’re going to look into it. As of yesterday; when I phoned them back, they said it’s the clerk’s fault up at the CEO’s office. That is patently not true because

I know for a fact that it has been confirmed to me that the division lost this petition.

Councillor BOURKE today said to me, said to me I will then present this again to Council which I’m happy to do because when I rang the petitioners yesterday they were gutted, they were absolutely devastated that—everyone knows that the

LNP hates Inala, everyone knows that—

Councillor DICK I find that an offensive comment and I would ask you to withdraw it.

Madam Chair, I’ll—oh here we go, it always hits a nerve when I tell the truth—

Councillor DICK.

Madam Chair, I’ll withdraw that.

Order.

They don’t like it do they? They don’t like it—Madam Chair, I’ll withdraw that,

I’ll withdraw that.

Thank you.

Everyone knows the LNP doesn’t invest in Inala and cuts services.


Point of order against you Councillor DICK. Yes Councillor ADAMS?

That’s a blatant mistruth.

In my opinion.

Councillor DICK it’s a very unsubstantial statement to make and I’m not sure how it relates to this petition but please get on with your debate.

Madam Chair, in my opinion the LNP treats Inala with disgust. That’s my opinion.

Just move on please.

Sure, sure and there can be—and the community know it, the community know it. Don’t worry about it, the community know it because, Madam Chair, you only need to look at a whole range of services. Of course they know the LNP cutbacks in my area. They know that because they don’t vole for the LNP.

What they are now worried about is they’re even tossed aside and forgotten about when petitions are tabled. That’s exactly what they think and don’t worry,


Chairman:

Councillor MARX:

- 58 - every single word that I’m saying tonight and the response from the LNP will be circulated into the community because they know what I say is true because if it’s not true why did the LNP lose the petition. I don’t know if it was deliberate, I certainly hope it wasn’t. I certainly hope it wasn’t because, Madam Chair, I know that the petitioners who went door to door, who stood at the Inala Civic

Centre, who went to shopkeepers, who went to the community, are absolutely disgusted that when they have a voice that wants to be heard, when they want to stand up and be counted, when they mobilise and they work hard, that they’re just completely tossed aside and said oh well present it again.

It’s a year later that we’re dealing with this. A major issue, a major issue in the local papers, a major issue at the last election, not cared about by the LNP in any way, shape or form, absolutely tossed aside like everything else and they’ve got the hide to get up and say oh don’t say we don’t care about Inala. What rubbish, what absolute rubbish. They know it and so do I.

Madam Chair, this is a very serious issue for the community. I want to get back to the issue now because what—they’re laughing as always, yes absolutely they think it’s funny. Well I hope—and that was the Chairman laughing. I’m going to act in good faith and present this petition again. Well Councillor BOURKE, through you, Madam Chair—you can start by getting up and saying I’m sorry that we lost it and if you’re true blue that’s what you’ll do because that’s been confirmed to me that the Council lost the petition. It says two petitions on the front. That’s fine, you’ve checked the file, there’s one petition of 69 signatures and a copy of the other which I tabled at around 500 signatures. Anyway one of the largest petitions I’ve presented.

Anyway I’m not going to let it rest. I will absolutely not let this rest because the community is expecting action. Its fine, you’ve made budget priorities. Its fine, you’ve made the decision not to do it. That’s your right, you’re the administration of the day, and you set the budget priorities. It’s been in my budget list, it’s my priority, and it’s my concern. I’ll table those petitions if that’s okay, thank you. I just need to do a copy of that because this is a copy of the petition, I don’t want to lose this again in case it gets lost again.

So, Madam Chair, back to the issue—the residents in the community do want movement on this site. They’ve had to wait so long—they’ve had to wait so long and fight so many battles to get this sight up and running.

There is another issue that I’m dealing with. I’ve lodged a City Plan submission, the owners of the site have done that, to look at how we can progress the site. It’s clear that the LNP Council is not interested in working with the community and providing that as a community space and parkland. I understand that, that is the

LNP’s wishes. It’s not the community’s wishes, it’s not my wishes, it’s not what the locals and certainly what the neighbours want, however, that is the process that we’ve got.

I respect the process of government that we serve in, but just as you’ve made the decision not to address their concerns and you’ve made the decision to lose and reject their concerns, it’s my decision to make sure that I’ll keep fighting for the community to make sure that this Council once and for all takes some action, listens and delivers to what the people of Inala want.

Further debate? Councillor MARX?

Thank you, Madam Chairman. I rise to speak on Item J which is the petition for

Council to replace an existing wood barbeque with an electric barbeque in a little area of my ward that we call Benbek Circuit. It’s just a small very little suburban area with less than 100 houses in it, it’s got a little wee park in the middle, and it’s got this horrible old wooden barbeque. The residents have been raising with the previous councillor for some time to do something about it, so when I was doorknocking they said to me can we organise something about this barbeque so that’s what we’ve done.

They’ve done up a petition, it’s been sent in and 68 residents have signed it. The

LORD MAYOR has put the money in this year’s financial budget to put that barbeque in the park. Once that barbeque is in we’ll go back to the residents and



Chairman:


Chairman:

Councillor MARX:

Chairman:

Councillor CUMMING:

Chairman:


- 59 - say what else would you like to see in this area because I believe that I listen to my residents, what they want—



Just again and I don’t know whether the Council papers are accurate but the

Council papers for this matter state at paragraph 120 Item J: funds will be sought through future budget submissions under the key neighbourhood park upgrades.

So I just want to be clear as to whether or not that is correct or whether, as

Councillor MARX is saying, that there is funding for this in the budget this year because that’s not what this paper says.

The chairman I’m sure will address it when he sums up. Councillor MARX?

Thank you, Madam Chair. So yes look all I want to say is that I do support this petition for an electric barbeque to replace the existing wooden barbeque in this park for the residents of Benbek Circuit and I thank you very much.

Further debate? Councillor CUMMING?

Thanks, Madam Chair. I wish to speak about Items G and I which are the two petitions about the Elanora Park off leash area, one calling for a small dog off leash area within the park and the other one calling for the park to be maintained as it presently is.

This is a massive big off leash area. I’d be interested to know how it compares to other off leash areas around the city. It is 23,850 square metres. I always used to claim it was the biggest or second biggest. Perhaps Councillor BOURKE could let us know.

Both petitions were driven by local residents and I think it’s such a big off leash area I think the interests of both groups could be accommodated. Obviously there are concerns with the owners of small dogs about the small dogs being intimidated by large dogs running around at the same time and I think that’s fair enough and I’m confident that a compromise could be reached where an area of the current extremely large area could be cordoned off for the small dogs to have their own area.

It’s very interesting to see the wide range of people who I believe would have been all encouraged to sign the petitions, both ePetitions, and how far away they come. There’s some people from Carindale, there’s people from The Redlands and it’s quite interesting for the fact that people come a long way to use that off leash area, it’s a very popular area.

The other thing of course is the park does need more shade, more shelter sheds or trees for people in the hot summer months and that’s another thing I’ll be looking at, but I’m confident that a compromise can be reached between the two groups and we’ll see an improved park in time to come.

Further debate? Councillor JOHNSTON?

Yes I rise to speak briefly on Items E and Items F and firstly can I say that I’m noting increasingly the discrepancies between matters that are being brought forward to this Council particularly in respect to how they’re being funded in different parts of the city.

Firstly, I’m going to speak about Item E which is a petition requesting the formal naming of—and I apologise if I mispronounce it—Ragoona Street Park at the end of Thynne Road, Morningside as Joyce White Park.

The work seems to have been done, certainly by the local councillor. The park is being asked to be renamed and at paragraph 60 it says: funding for the sign is available in Council Asset Services East Region 2013-14 recurrent budget. Now

Council officers in south region have told me that they do not fund signs for parks and those must be funded out of our trust fund.

So what I would like to know, and the Chairman can stand up and say if there’s a different policy for each region of this city, is why Council is funding—out of its


Chairman:

Councillor FLESSER:

- 60 - recurrent revenue source, a sign in this part of the city but refuses to do so in south region? If the Chairman does not answer this question today, I will be taking this matter further because every time we’ve done a new park in my ward the funding has been taken out of my trust.

The other interesting thing is that when we had a fill in from west region that parks coordinator also told me that west region fund their signs out of Council’s recurrent budget not out of the councillors’ trust funds. So there is a big problem here with parks of the city being allowed to use capital funding from Council, while other parts of the city, that is south region—I can’t speak to north or central—are being told they must use their local funds.

Now these signs cost about $1500 each and that is a lot of money, so I don’t think it is unreasonable to find out why Council policy is being applied differently in east region to south region.

That leads me to Item F and my question with respect to Item F is about clarifying how the sign name would be funded because the recommendation states this:

“It is recommended that approval be granted to formally name parkland at the corner of Ray Street and Macdonald Place, Carseldine known as Ray Street

Park” as—again my apologies—to Ceccato Park and that a name sign be erected at the entrance to the park in accordance with Council policy. Now who’s paying for that sign? That’s what I would like to know and I’m asking, Madam

Chairman, as I did earlier, that Councillor BOURKE please tells us whether or not that sign is being funded from the recurrent revenue or whether it is coming out of the councillors’ trust funds.

Again, this is about making sure that there is transparency and fairness in how the funds in this Council are being expended. If Council’s central revenue is paying for some signs it should be paying for all signs. If the policy is that councillors pay out of their trust funds, then that should apply to all councillors.

Clearly before us today we have serious discrepancies in how this matter will be funded and I don’t think it is reasonable that some councillors are being treated differently to others. It seems to be regionally based in my observation and I would think that the chairman would stand up in his summary and clarify who is going to pay for this sign at Carseldine. It says it’s going to be erected, so who’s going to pay? It’s a reasonable question and I think it will expose that there is a very, very geographic bias with the way in which this Council is spending its funds.

Further debate? Councillor FLESSER?

Yes briefly, Madam Chair, just in relation to the matter that Councillor

JOHNSTON raised, I also raised this in the committee meeting last week in relation to both who’s paying for the signage and also who’s paying for electric barbeques.

I agree with the matters that Councillor JOHNSTON has raised. I think all of us would have seen here over the last maybe couple of years or maybe a bit less that the recommendations seem to be all over the place as to who pays for those minor park improvements or signage issues as a result of petitions.

So I think that it is—and I would say that I have not particularly noticed a bias towards particularly councillors in the chamber, but I would recommend that

Councillor BOURKE take control of his portfolio and try and come up with some sort of consistent responses to these issues where petitioners are asking for park upgrades, minor park upgrades or signage in parks, naming of parks, barbeques. I think that really Councillor BOURKE should take control and make sure that the responses that are coming to this Council from the various divisions, as Councillor JOHNSTON has raised, there should be some consistency. Maybe even Councillor BOURKE might find some time to actually develop some sort of policy for these sorts of matters.

So, Madam Chair, I do think that Councillor BOURKE is a bit lacking when it comes to the inconsistency—


Councillor MURPHY:

Chairman:

Councillor MURPHY:

Chairman:

Councillor FLESSER:

Chairman:

Councillor BOURKE:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor BOURKE:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor BOURKE:

- 61 -


Point of order against you Councillor FLESSER. Yes Councillor—

Madam Chairman, a discussion of Councillor BOURKE is not featured in these reports.

Thank you Councillor MURPHY. To the petitions please Councillor—

Yes thank you, Madam Chair. Losing petitions is one thing but having different responses to petitioners’ requests as far as the funding is concerned for minor park upgrades is something that is a serious matter and I would ask that

Councillor BOURKE address this matter and we’re looking forward to hearing what he’s got to say in summing up.

Further debate? Councillor BOURKE?

Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. Just to respond to some of the issues that were raised by councillors. Thanks very much to Councillor MARX who actually added something to the debate in this place, as she often does.

Unfortunately those on the other side of the chamber again choose to play games.

Madam Chairman, the LORD MAYOR has given each councillor in this place

$398,000 to spend on footpath and parks, something that we can do at our discretion. So if councillors in this place wish to fund things in parks out of their footpath and parks trust fund they can do so. They also have a parks trust fund which they can fund things as well out of.

So I just encourage all councillors to not play politics with the issue and just to get on with their job in their respective communities and actually deliver for their residents.

But, Madam Chairman, through you to Councillor DICK—and I’m sorry for everyone else in the chamber but Cabinet will get this—I think Councillor DICK should speak to Councillor NEWTON if he’s got a problem with pigeons. I don’t think she drives a Falcon but Councillor DICK you say you presented two petitions to this place. We can go back and check Hansard and I have done a check on Hansard and I can only find one time where you have—


Yes Councillor DICK? Point of order against you Councillor BOURKE.

Claim to be misrepresented.

Thank you.

I can only find one time where you’ve stood up Councillor DICK and presented a petition regarding the Inala skate rink. Now you may have sent another lot of petitions in but, Madam Chairman, I can’t seem to find an acknowledgment back to you for that second lot of petitions. I can find an acknowledgement back to you for the first lot of petitions that you stood up and presented, but I can’t seem to find a—I can’t seem to find an acknowledgement back for the second ones.

But, Madam Chairman, what we saw from Councillor DICK was nothing but a performance once again. He came in, he stood up, he puffed out his chest, he blew out a lot of hot air, he took a spray at the Council officers up in Brisbane

Square, the hardworking Council officers, he took a spray at everyone—


Point of order against you Councillor BOURKE. Yes Councillor DICK?

Claim to be misrepresented again.

Thank you.

It’s a wonderful little thing that we have in this place, Madam Chairman, because of the LNP administration called Hansard which will show that

Councillor DICK had a spray at the Council officers before—look at the end of the day Councillor DICK there’s an issue here. We’ve brought a petition


- 62 -

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor BOURKE:

Chairman:

Councillor BOURKE: forward. If there’s another petition in the system we’ll bring that petition forward as well. We’re dealing with the petitions that we have before us, but for you to stand up here and to throw your arms around and to carry on in your performance for your federal pre-selection, Madam Chairman, I thought

Councillor DICK was just more interested in the politics of the issue.

At the end of the day this administration is committed to delivering better parks, better outcomes for the residents of Brisbane and we do that. We spend more money on parks than those on the other side of the chamber could ever dream of spending on parks. We spend more money on parks, on their maintenance, on their improvement, than those on the other side of the chamber could ever dream of doing.

We’re fair dinkum about parks, we’re fair dinkum about delivering better facilities, but we do that in a strategic approach. Councillor DICK might like us to buy this park, but we just acquired the Richlands State School site. We’ve acquired other parks out in Councillor DICK’s ward recently. We spent a fortune improving the road network out in Councillor DICK’s ward over the last four to five years. We’re pouring money into improving the facilities in Councillor

DICK’s ward, Madam Chairman. He might stand up and want to throw his arms around and carry on about how we’re neglecting— supposedly—the residents of the Richlands Ward, but what would he know he doesn’t even live in his ward.

He came—


Point of order against you Councillor—

Claim to be misrepresented again.

Well that’s not misrepresentation if you’re referring to where Councillor

BOURKE thinks you live. That’s not misrepresentation but you’ve already got two—you’ve already got two lots of misrepresentation anyway—

Madam Chair, he came from Ascot to Inala good hardworking local councillor—

Councillor BOURKE back to the summing up.

At the end of the day, Madam Chairman, I’ll take the word of the Council officers when it comes to dealing with these issues because the Council officers won’t deal with the petty politics that Councillor DICK keeps throwing up time and time again on every issue.

The petition responses we see before us have dealt with a lot of the issues and

Councillor CUMMING walked through the issues with Wynnum and the dog off leash area out there. We all know dog off leash areas can be quite sensitive in our community and as I said, Councillor MARX walked us through quite succinctly the issues she faces with dealing with the barbeque upgrade and the need to replace that wood fire barbeque.

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

I commend all the petitions to the chamber.

I will put the motion for—sorry? Oh yes, misrepresentation, Councillor DICK.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Councillor BOURKE said that I had claimed two petitions were tabled. I never claimed that, Madam Chair, your own document says two petitions, Councillor BOURKE, on the front page. The second—so once again, misleading the Chamber, not aware of his own documents.


Chairman: Councillor BOURKE.

Councillor DICK: Madam Chair, the second issue was that he said that I had bad-mouthed Council officers. The only person I bad-mouthed was Councillor BOURKE'S incompetence.

Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of Clauses A, D, E, F, G,

H, I and J of the report of the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee was declared carried on the voices.


7.

- 63 -

Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of Clauses B and C of the report of the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee was declared carried on the voices.

Thereupon, Councillors Victoria NEWTON and Helen ABRAHAMS immediately rose and called for a division, which resulted in the motion being declared carried .


ADAMS, Matthew BOURKE, Margaret de WIT, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG,

Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX, Peter MATIC, Ian McKENZIE, David

McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, Julian SIMMONDS,




Victoria NEWTON and Nicole JOHNSTON.

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.

1.

2.

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – CREEK FILTRATION SYSTEM TRAILS

41/2013-14

Pat Bourke, Executive Officer, City Planning and Sustainability Division, attended the meeting to provide an update on Creek Filtration System Trails. He provided the information below.

Creek filtration systems protect and enhance Brisbane’s creeks by: improving water quality, reducing peak flows and integrating stormwater treatment seamlessly into the landscape. The

Lord Mayor announced four catchments for installation of filtration systems: Kedron Brook

(North), Norman Creek (East), Oxley Creek (South) and Toowong Creek (West).

3. These systems are measured for success on various criteria including: low maintenance, easy establishment, and improvements in waterway health and social amenity of creeks.

4.

5.

There were four types of systems presented (photographs of each were displayed):

- vegetated swales – water is cleaned by flowing through vegetation

- constructed wetlands – water is cleaned by flowing through vegetation and by biological processes

- bioretention swales and basins – water is cleaned by flowing through soil and vegetation floating wetlands – water is cleaned by the uptake of nutrients into the vegetation. -

A series of maps and plans were shown illustrating the design of the facility for the Kedron

Brook Catchment in Kirralee Crescent, Ferny Grove. Photographs detailing the area both before and after implementation of the design were also displayed.

6. The Committee asked a number of questions and the Chairman thanked Mr Bourke for his informative update.

RECOMMENDATION:


REPORT.

ADOPTED


- 64 -

B TWO PETITIONS – REQUESTING THE NAMING OF A NEW SHELTER IN

BANYO MEMORIAL PARK AS THE ‘BANYO MEMORIAL BANDSTAND’

CA13/311627 and CA13/359432

42/2013-14

8. Two petitions, from residents of Brisbane, were received requesting Council to name the new shelter in Banyo Memorial Park as the ‘Banyo Memorial Bandstand’. The petitions were presented to the meetings of Council held on 14 and 28 May 2013, by Councillor Kim Flesser and Councillor Victoria Newton, on behalf of Councillor Flesser, respectively and were received.

9. The Divisional Manager, City Planning and Sustainability Division provided the following information.

10. The petitions contained 77 signatures. Many members of the local Banyo community were sorry for the loss of the Banyo Memorial Hall, which was once a meeting place that helped bring the community together.

11. The local community desired a replacement for the community hall to continue community functions. A new multi-purpose community shelter was constructed at Banyo Memorial Park in December 2012 to facilitate community events and meetings.

12. The Lord Mayor, Councillor Graham Quirk, wrote to Banyo residents in January 2013 asking the community to nominate names for the new shelter. From the nominations received, three options were selected by Council and a newsletter was circulated in April 2013 to residents of

Banyo inviting feedback to name the shelter, requesting they to vote on which option they preferred.

13. The options sent out to residents were ‘Banyo Beehive’, ‘Emma Mary Purchase’, and

‘Corporal Francis McQuillian’.

14. A total of 294 responses were received by Council with the following result:

Banyo Beehive

Emma Mary Purchase

126

94

Corporal Francis McQuillan

Other suggestions

67

7.

15. The results from the community feedback favoured the Banyo Beehive as the most popular name for the Banyo Memorial multi-purpose shelter in Banyo Memorial Park.

16. The name Banyo Beehive is a reference to a former local farming property in the area located where the Banyo Seminary and Australian Catholic University are now located. It is also a light-hearted word-play on the busy activity that could occur in the shelter, as was the case at the former Banyo Memorial Hall.

17. As a result of community feedback, the Natural Environment, Water and Sustainability

Branch prepared a park naming submission to name the shelter the Banyo Beehive, which was approved by Council on 11 June 2013.

18. It is therefore recommended that the petitioners be advised that the shelter has been named the

Banyo Beehive, in accordance with the recommendation made by the Environment, Parks and

Sustainability Committee to Council on 11 June 2013, which Council formally approved.


- 65 -

Consultation

19. Councillor Kim Flesser, Councillor for Northgate Ward, has been consulted and advises that he does not support the recommendation.

Customer Impact

20. The broader Banyo community have been consulted about the naming and survey results show a clear preference for the name Banyo Beehive.

21. The Divisional Manager therefore submits the following recommendation with which the

Committee agrees, with Councillors Peter Cumming and Kim Flesser dissenting.


THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT THE SHELTER HAS BEEN

NAMED THE ‘BANYO BEEHIVE’

, in accordance with the recommendation made by the

Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee to Council on 11 June 2013, which Council formally approved.

ADOPTED

C PETITION – REQUESTING FOR COUNCIL TO PURCHASE THE FORMER

SKATE RINK AT INALA FOR PARKLAND AND COMMUNITY SPACE

CA13/171627 and CA13/369271

43/2013-14

23. A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting Council purchase and demolish the former skate rink located at 54 Serviceton Avenue, Inala, in order to provide parkland and community space was presented to Council on 29 May 2012, by Councillor Milton Dick, and received.


25. The petition contains 69 signatures. The property has a site area of 6056 square metres and is classified as Sport and Recreation under Brisbane City Plan 2000 . The northern end of the property is part of a waterway corridor. The property adjoins Durella Street Park, an extensive corridor link running through the southern residential area of Durack. The property is also located directly across Serviceton Avenue from Kev Hooper Memorial Park in Inala as set out in Attachment A, submitted on file.

26. The skate rink was once a popular community facility, and was closed many years ago. The site has remained vacant since that time. Poor maintenance of the property has led to a number of compliance notices being issued by Council to the property owner over the past few years.

27.

An initial estimate of the property’s value carried out by Council’s City Projects Office is

$800,000. The property was purchased for approximately $1,000,000 in early 2007, near the peak of Brisbane's residential property market. It is likely that new development would be constrained by the waterway corridor.

28. There is currently no recommendation in the Brisbane Priority Infrastructure Plan to acquire land for park within this area. A park network analysis demonstrates that Inala is already well serviced by parkland. Council meets its desired standards of service in this area with two local informal parks and a district informal use park located within 500 metres of the subject


- 66 - property. Additionally, three district informal use and three district sports parks are located within two kilometres of the subject property.

29. Acquisition of this site would improve overall road frontage to the Durella Street Park from

Serviceton Avenue and would potentially improve the link between Durella Street Park and

Kev Hooper Memorial Park.

30. A current recommendation is included in the Brisbane Priority Infrastructure Plan to acquire land in Inala for the development of a new district community space and new indoor swimming pool. This site could be considered as part of broader planning investigations required for future community infrastructure in Inala. Comparisons with other potential sites may then be made based on site location, property value and development complexity.

31. It is recommended that the petitioners be advised that at this point in time, Council does not support the acquisition of the former skate rink in Inala for park or community purposes.

However, the site may be considered in future planning studies for the location of community facilities for Inala.

Consultation

32. Councillor Milton Dick, Councillor for Richlands Ward, was consulted on 24 May 2013 and does not support the recommendation.

Customer Impact

33. Council has adequate parkland in the Inala area. Further planning is required to locate and develop community facilities.

Options

34. The Divisional Manager submitted the following options in her submission to the Committee:

Not accept the request or concerns of the petitioners. Option 1

Option 2 Respond to the request by advising the petitioners that at this point in time,

Council does not support purchasing the old skate rink in Inala for parkland or community purposes. However, the site may be considered in future planning studies for the location of future community facilities for Inala.

Option 2 was the Divisional Manager’s preferred option.

Motion for amendment

35. During consideration of this matter Councillor Kim Flesser moved the following amendment:

‘That the following Option 3 be included into the options:

Option 3 Council to commence proceedings as soon as possible to purchase the former skate rink at 54 Serviceton Avenue, Inala’.

36. Following debate the amendment was put the vote resulting in its being declared lost with

Councillors Peter Cumming and Kim Flesser voting in favour.


Committee agrees, with Councillors Cumming and Flesser dissenting.


- 67 -


THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME,

COUNCIL DOES NOT SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION OF THE FORMER SKATE

RINK IN INALA FOR PARKLAND OR COMMUNITY PURPOSES.

However, the site may be considered in future planning studies for the location of future community facilities for Inala.

ADOPTED

D PETITION – REQUESTING FOR PLAYGROUND AND SHADE CLOTH AT

OUTLOOK PARK, DUTTON PARK.

CA13/291952

44/2013-14

39. A petition from the residents of Brisbane, requesting Council provide a playground and shade cloth at Outlook Park, Boggo Road, Dutton Park, was presented to Council on 7 May 2013, by Councillor Helen Abrahams, and received.


41. The petition contains 71 signatures. The land is owned and managed by Council and is maintained by Council’s Asset Services Branch. The total site area of the park is 2,161 square metres, as outlined in red as per Attachment A on file. A volumetric parcel, owned by the

Queensland Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads exists under the eastern part of the park for the Eastern Busway.

42. There is a gap in local park provision in this area, particularly to the north of the site covering the area known as ‘Woolloongabba Hill’ where many of the petitioners reside. A gap analysis study conducted in 2009 as part of park network planning for the Priority Infrastructure Plan indicated a gap in local informal and urban common type parks. These parks are generally

5000 square metres and provide facilities such as a ‘kick about’ space, playgrounds, picnic facilities and landscaping. The location proposed by petitioners would assist in meeting the current gap for local informal park infrastructure.

43. When assessed against Council’s desired standards for the provision of parkland, Outlook

Park is constrained due to its road frontage and area available for play equipment and kickabout space. Another option considered was Council owned land immediately south of the

Boggo Road Gaol heritage building fronting Annerley Road. This alternative is larger in available size for play equipment but is located on a busy road, is a noisier site, could require playground fencing and may interfere with the current design for this area as a civic space.

The Annerley Road option would also potentially be affected by the Cross River Rail Boggo

Road subway rail station, which, if constructed, will be in very close vicinity to the gaol and civic space.

44.

‘Harmony Gardens’ playground within Dutton Park on Gladstone Road provides district level park infrastructure and was also considered. However, this park is quite distant from the area of need and requires the crossing of several busy roads.

45. On balance, the location proposed by petitioners is suitable and should be supported for shade cloth and play equipment. It is anticipated this will cost in the order of $35,000 to $50,000.

46. If play equipment were not provided at this location, a gap in level of provision for basic local park facilities would continue to exist for a significant number of inner-south residents.

47. It is recommended that the petition for provision of play equipment and shade cloth at


- 68 -

Outlook Park be supported subject to funding being provided through the Ward Councillor’s

Ward Footpath and Parks Trust Fund, or Ward Parks Trust Fund.

Funding

48. There are currently no funds included in future budgets for this project, so support is subject to funds being provided from the Ward Councillor’s Ward Footpath and Parks Trust Fund, or

Ward Parks Trust Fund.

Consultation

49. Councillor Helen Abrahams, Councillor for Woolloongabba Ward, was consulted on 3 July

2013 and supports the recommendation.

Customer Impact

50.

Provision of play equipment and shade at this park will improve the local community’s access to local park facilities in an area where none currently exists.


Committee agrees.


THAT PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT COUNCIL SUPPORTS THE

PROVISION OF PLAY EQUIPMENT AND SHADE CLOTH AT OUTLOOK PARK,

DUTTON PARK, subject to funding being provided through the Ward Councillor’s Ward

Footpath and Parks Trust Fund, or Ward Parks Trust Fund.

ADOPTED

E PETITION – REQUESTING FOR THE FORMAL NAMING OF ROGOONA

STREET PARK AT THYNNE ROAD, MORNINGSIDE AS ‘JOYCE WHITE

PARK’

CA13/291868

45/2013-14

53. A petition from the residents of Brisbane, requesting Council support the formal naming of

Rogoona Street Park as ‘Joyce White Park’ in recognition of a local resident, was presented to

Council on 7 May 2013, by Councillor Shayne Sutton, and received.

54. The Executive Manager, Field Services Group provided the following information.


56. Rogoona Street Park is a local informal use park at the corner of Thynne Road and Rogoona

Street, Morningside and it is not currently formally named.

57. The park is utilised by the local community and contains a playground, picnic facilities, landscape areas and a small stage area with power supply.

58. Rogoona Street Park is used annually for Christmas Carols by the adjoining church and the

Morningside Community Fair.

59. All parks are named as per Council Procedure OS03 Naming Parks, Facilities or Tracks within Brisbane Parks and Open Space .


- 69 -

Funding

60. Funding for the sign is available in Council’s Asset Services East Region 2013-2014 recurrent budget.

Consultation

61. Councillor Shayne Sutton, Councillor for Morningside Ward, supports the recommendation.

62. The Executive Manager therefore submits the following recommendation with which the

Committee agrees.

RECOMMENDATION

63. THAT PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT COUNCIL SUPPORTS THE OFFICIAL

RENAMING ROGOONA STREET PARK IN ACCORDANCE WITH COUNCIL

PROCEDURE OS03 NAMING PARKS, FACILITIES OR TRACKS WITHIN

BRISBANE PARKS AND OPEN SPACE.

ADOPTED

F SUBMISSION – PARK NAMING – FORMAL NAMING OF THE EXISTING

PARKLAND AT THE CORNER OF RAY STREET AND MACDONALD

PLACE, CARSELDINE

161/255/567/86

46/2013-14

64. The Executive Manager, Field Services Group, Brisbane Infrastructure supplied the following information.

65. Councillor Amanda Cooper, Councillor for Bracken Ridge Ward, following community consultation, has requested that the parkland at the corner of Ray Street and MacDonald Place

Carseldine known as Ray Street Park, be formally named as ‘Ceccato Park’.

66. Councillor Amanda Cooper, Councillor for Bracken Ridge Ward, supplied the following information in support of this submission.

67.

ABOUT THE CECCATO FAMILY AND THE TAVERNETTA

68. On the 08 March 1960 the Ceccato family purchased and settled on a 4.5 Ha (10 acre) block of land at Carseldine. Their property was then known as 55 Cowie Street Bald Hills. The suburb was later renamed Aspley and later Carseldine. At the time of purchase the area was natural bushland land and the surrounding streets, Beams Road, Norris Road, Dorville Road and Cowie Street were all gravel roads.

69. The Ceccato family purchased the land to be used for small crops and poultry farming.

70. In 1962 at the suggestion of Chiara Ceccato, the Ceccato family set up an Italian bowling club which they named ‘Tavernetta’. The Tavernetta function facility is now situated on the site surrounded by the Carseldine Retirement Village.

71. In its infancy the Tavernetta was just a humble tin shed but its significance was much greater to the local Italian community. It was the first gathering place for the many new Italian immigrants who settled on the Northside of Brisbane. People gathered at the original

Tavernetta every weekend to socialise, play Bocce on the handmade gravel lanes. They also played ‘Uno, Due,Tre’ (equivalent the paper, rock, scissors game) that was played with much gusto on metal tables.


- 70 -

72. The Tavernetta was an integral part of the lives of homesick Italian families who separated from their homeland and moved to Australia during the great immigration movement of the

1950’s. For many years the Cecatto owned Tavernetta was the largest north side gathering place for people of Italian decent. In 1966 the Tavernetta became the Australian Italian

Bowling Club Inc.

73. The Ceccato family and their Tavernetta played an important part in the lives of many Italian families. The Tavernetta link to the area is ongoing with the Tavernetta Function Centre operating on the site of the original Ceccato Tavernetta. The current Tavernetta is only a short walk from the Ray Street Park.

74.

Cr Cooper’s consultation has resulted in two names being suggested. They are Ceccato Park or Tavernetta Park.

Consultation

Councillor Amanda Cooper, Councillor for Bracken Ridge Ward

75. All support the request and agree that, because of the long association of the Ceccato family with the area, ‘Ceccato Park’ is an appropriate for the name of the parkland.

Customer Impact

76. This project will be a valuable asset for the local community.


Committee agrees.


IT IS THE RECOMMENDED THAT APPROVAL BE GRANTED TO FORMALLY

NAME PARKLAND, AT THE CORNER OF RAY STREET AND MACDONALD

PLACE, CARSELDINE KNOWN AS RAY STREET PARK, AS ‘CECCATO PARK’ and that a name sign be erected at the entrance to the park in accordance with Council Policy

OS03 Naming Parks, Facilities or Tracks within Brisbane Parks and Open Spaces Procedure.

ADOPTED

G PETITION – REQUESTING THAT A SEPARATE SMALL DOG OFF LEASH

AREA BE INSTALLED WITHIN THE EXISTING DOG OFF LEASH AREA

AT ELANORA PARK, WYNNUM NORTH

CA13/186905

47/2013-14

79. A petition from the residents of Brisbane, requesting Council to install a separate small dog off leash area within the existing dog off leash area at Elanora Park, Wynnum North, was presented to Council on 26 March 2013, by Councillor Peter Cumming, and received.



82. A petition has been submitted to Council requesting that Council install an off leash area for small dogs, at or adjacent to the existing dog off leash area at Elanora Park, Wynnum North.

This is a large District Use Park and currently contains a playground, several leased sporting facilities, bikeway link, car park with access path to the mangrove boardwalk in the Moreton


- 71 -

Bay Marine Park, and one of the largest dog off leash areas in Brisbane at approximately

23,850 m2.

83. As general practice, Council has installed small dog off leash areas in numerous sites within the city in areas that are much smaller in size than Elanora Park, due to conflicts with larger dogs. There is plenty of available space at the existing facility, or adjacent to it, for such a facility.

84. There are no current plans to install a small dog off leash area in Elanora Park, however such a facility can be included in future upgrade proposals.

85. Council also received a petition with 20 signatures in April 2013 requesting that an off leash area for small dogs not be installed at Elanora Park. The recommendation of this submission was that due to the size of the area, installation of such a facility could not be ruled out in the future.

86.

Elanora Park is on Council’s Contaminated Land Register and remediation works will also have to be carried out as part of any works. These would increase the cost of any proposed upgrades.

87. Council will list Elanora Park, Wynnum North for consideration for a small dog off leash area in a future Capital Works Program.

Funding

88.

Funds are not currently available to install a small dog off leash area within Elanora

Park dog off leash area.

Consultation

89. Councillor Peter Cumming, Councillor for Wynnum Manly Ward, supports the recommendation.

Customer Impact

90. Residents continue to use the Elanora Park dog off leash area at its current size.


Committee agrees.

Options

92. Option (1) List Elanora Park, Wynnum North for consideration for a small dog off leash area in Council’s future Capital Works Program.

93. Option (2) Do not list the Elanora Park, Wynnum North for consideration for a small dog off leash area in the Council’s future Capital Works Program.

Option (1) is the preferred option.


THERE ARE NO CURRENT PLANS TO INSTALL A SEPARATE SMALL DOG

OFF LEASH AREA AT ELANORA PARK, WYNNUM NORTH, BUT THE

INSTALLATION OF SUCH A FACILITY WILL BE LISTED FOR


- 72 -

CONSIDERATION IN COUNCILS FUTURE CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAM.

ADOPTED

H PETITION – REQUESTING FUNDING TO UPGRADE KERALGERIE

PARK, MORNINGSIDE

CA13/333668

48/2013-14

95. A petition from the residents of Brisbane, requesting Council fund to upgrade Keralgerie

Park, Morningside, was presented to Council on 21 May 2013, by Councillor Shayne Sutton, and received.



98. A petition has been presented to Council requesting an upgrade of Keralgerie Park,

Morningside. Keralgerie Park is an Informal Use Park and currently contains a playground with a climbing net, spring toys and spinners, a mixture of pine bark and rubber undersurfacing, shelter with associated picnic facilities and electric BBQ, and a dog off leash area with a shelter.

99. Councillor Shayne Sutton, Councillor for Morningside Ward, has requested that Asset

Services prepare a concept plan for the upgrade and list it for consideration in the 2013/2014 capital works program. Councillor Sutton has also listed it in the future Morningside Ward

Footpath and Parks Trust Fund for consideration.

100. Keralgerie Park is on Council’s Contaminated Land Register and remediation works will also have to be carried out in the playground area prior to any play equipment installation. These works will increase the cost of the playground upgrade.

101. Keralgerie Park, Morningside will be listed for consideration in a future Capital Works

Program.

Funding

102. Funds are currently not available to upgrade the playground.

Consultation

103. Councillor Shayne Sutton, Councillor for Morningside Ward, supports the recommendation.

Customer Impact

104. Residents will continue to use the existing play equipment and park facilities until any future upgrade works are undertaken.


Committee agrees.

106. RECOMMENDATION

THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT COUNCIL WILL LIST AN

UPGRADE FOR KERALGERIE PARK, MORNINGSIDE FOR CONSIDERATION

IN A FUTURE CAPITAL WORKS PROGRAM.

ADOPTED


- 73 -

I PETITION – REQUESTING THAT THE DOG OFF LEASH AREA AT

ELANORA PARK, WYNNUM NORTH BE RETAINED AT ITS CURRENT

SIZE

CA13/155272

49/2013-14

107.

A petition from the residents of Brisbane, requesting that the dog off lease area at Elanora

Park, Wynnum North be retained at its current size, was presented to Council on 12 March

2013, by Councillor Peter Cumming, and received.



110. A petition requesting that the Elanora Park dog off leash area be kept at its existing size and not be reduced to accommodate a small dog off leash area.

111. Elanora Park, Wynnum North is a large District Use Park and currently contains a playground, several leased sporting facilities, bikeway link, car park with access path to the mangrove boardwalk in the Moreton Bay Marine Park, and one of the largest dog off leash areas in Brisbane at approximately 23,850 square metres.

112. As a general practice, Council has installed small dog off leash areas in numerous sites within the city in areas that are much smaller in size than the Elanora Park facility, without greatly affecting the use of these popular facilities for larger dogs.

113. There are no current plans to install a small dog off leash area in Elanora Park, however due to its very large size it cannot be ruled out in the future if the need arises. Installation would not affect the size of the off leash area.

114. Elanora Park is on Council’s Contaminated Land Register and remediation works will also have to be carried out as part of any works, increasing the cost of any proposed upgrades.

Funding

115. Funds are not currently available to upgrade Elanora Park dog off leash area.

Consultation

116. Councillor Peter Cumming, Councillor for Wynnum Manly Ward, supports the recommendation.

Customer Impact

117. Residents continue to use the Elanora Park dog off leash area at its current size.


Committee agrees.

Options

119. Option (1) List Elanora Park, Wynnum North for consideration for a small dog off leash area in Council’s future Capital Works Program.

Option (2) Do not list Elanora Park, Wynnum North for consideration for a small dog off


- 74 - leash area in Council’s future Capital Works Program.

Option (1) is the preferred option.

120 . RECOMMENDATION:

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE RESIDENTS BE ADVISED THAT, THERE

ARE NO CURRENT PLANS TO INSTALL A SEPARATE SMALL DOG OFF LEASH

AREA AT ELANORA PARK, WYNNUM NORTH AND REDUCE THE CURRENT

AVAILABLE AREA IN SIZE. However, installation of such a facility in the future cannot be ruled out if a demand for one arises. It is general practice for council to install smaller dog off leash areas within its existing off leash areas to cater for public needs.

Council will list Elanora Park, Wynnum North for consideration for a small dog off-leash area in council’s future capital works program, should the need arise.

ADOPTED

J PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL REPLACE THE EXISTING

WOOD BBQ WITH AN ELECTRIC BBQ IN BENBEK CIRCUIT PARK,

LOCATED IN BENBEK CIRCUIT, SUNNYBANK HILLS

CA13/187249

50/2013-14

121. A petition from the residents of Brisbane, requesting that the wood BBQ in Benbek Circuit

Park be replaced with an electric BBQ, was presented to Council on 26 March 2013, by

Councillor Kim Marx, and received.



125. A petition was received requesting that the wood BBQ in Benbek Circuit Park be replaced with an electric BBQ. Benbek Circuit Park is a local informal use park that services the needs of the residential catchment located on Benbek Circuit and is surrounded by Beaudesert Road and Jackson Road. This park is frequently used by this local community and requests have been received previously to upgrade some of the facilities within this park, including the existing wood BBQ.

126. It is recommended that the request to upgrade the wood BBQ in Benbek Circuit Park with an electric BBQ is supported as it has merit, and that funds to undertake these works will be sought through future budget submissions.

Funding

127. Funds will be sought through future budget submissions, under Schedule 247 Upgrade Key

Neighbourhood Parks.

Consultation

128. Councillor Kim Marx, Councillor for Karawatha Ward supports the recommendation.

Customer Impact

129. The provision of this facility will complement and enhance the recreation values of this green space.


- 75 -

130.

RECOMMENDATION

THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT THEIR REQUEST TO REPLACE

THE WOOD BBQ IN BENBEK CIRCUIT PARK WITH AN ELECTRIC BBQ HAS

MERIT AND AS SUCH FUNDS TO UNDERTAKE THESE WORKS WILL BE

SOUGHT THROUGH FUTURE BUDGET SUBMISSIONS.

ADOPTED

Chairman: Councillor McLACHLAN, Field Services Committee.

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 30 July 2013, be adopted.


Councillor McLACHLAN: Thank you, Madam Chair. Just briefly, before I move onto the items, although it is related, for the information of the Chamber and of interest is that there is a conference on the Gold Coast over the next couple of days, a fifth Australian

Landfill and Transfer Stations Conference and Expo and one of the technical tools, which is now sold out, will be to the Rochedale Landfill. That will be tomorrow, so over 40 delegates from that expo will be visiting the Rochedale

Landfill. They're delegates from across Australia looking at what is the best, world's best practice, in landfill which was reflected in the 2011 Landfill

Excellence Award that Rochedale won. Practitioners in waste management are coming from across Australia to look specifically at the landfill and what it's able to do and also taking a site visit as well to the Acacia Ridge Tip Shop. I'm sure they will be very—


Chairman: Councillor ABRAHAMS.

Councillor McLACHLAN: —surprised and delighted at what they see when they visit those two locations.

The relationship to the items before us, at item A, the Rochedale Landfill, as councillors will be aware; one of the things that is out there and will be the host for tomorrow's delegates is the Education Centre. The Education Centre is a part of our Waste Minimisation Education Program and this was the subject of the presentation last week to Council, to the committee by Arron Lee, the Manager of Waste Services, who took the members of our Committee through the Waste

Minimisation Education campaign, in particular, what's available for schools, pointing out that there were, in 2012, some 235 presentations to more than 6000 students.

So education, particularly of the school-aged children is an important element of our Waste Minimisation Education Program and that also includes marketing and communications, the Tip Shop, our promotion and involvement in product stewardship, as well as policy and strategy development and our annual waste characterisation audit. So these are all important elements towards of the

Towards Zero Waste strategy which is our overarching strategy for waste management.

The program that is being rolled out to the schools is particularly interesting and is being adjusted as time goes by, as we learn from the children themselves about what turns them on when it comes to issues of waste management. We're very keen, clearly, to drive through to that generation the need to recycle and turn those children into advocates of waste minimisation, not only in the school environment, but when they go home each evening.

Madam Chairman, beyond that presentation at item A, there were three petitions and I'm sure there may be other councillors who want to speak on those petitions. I will leave the debate at that point at this time.


Chairman:

- 76 -

Further debate, Councillor DICK.

Seriatim - Clause C

Councillor Milton DICK requested that Clause C, PETITION – REQUESTING THAT THE BUSHLAND

CORRIDOR FROM FOREST LAKE BOULEVARD AND BEYOND CARDWELL STREET RECEIVE

REGULAR MAINTENANCE, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:


Madam Chair, I won't be supporting this item as a number of residents have contacted me regarding debris in and around the Forest Lake Boulevard and corridor along Cardwell Street. They are concerned that the maintenance there needs to be improved. After a number of street meetings there and contact with residents, a number of locals got together and went door to door to get a petition to see if we can get some further maintenance program there. They are also worried about fire hazards as well and particularly in the drier weather. In light of the storm season, we saw a number of debris listed there and residents have been working alongside of me and also Council officers to get some of that cleared.

But their request today is to make sure that that is on an ongoing basis, that maintenance is occurring there on a regular maintenance level and certainly I support them in that and won't be supporting the recommendation today.

Further debate, Councillor JOHNSTON.

Yes, I rise to speak on item B and item C. Firstly, Madam Chairman, it's about two years, I think, and we’ve been trying to get Ovendean Street in Fairfield resurfaced. When I first raised this on behalf of the resident who lives in that street and the problem end is at Fairfield Road, I asked the Council officers to resurface the street. There were potholes and the Council officers wrote back, no we're not going to. I said, well hang on a minute, why would you not resurface a street based on a resident's request? The Council officer said, there's no money on the Budget to do it and the problem relates to the alignment of the service pits with the road and we're not going to do it because we don't believe the problem can be fixed.

Now that was a completely inadequate response, in my view, and it is extremely sad that the way we've had to fix this, just to get it listed for resurfacing, is to do a petition. Residents should not have to go through this process. It's clear there is a problem at this intersection, which Council, now after two years of campaigning, acknowledges. That is not good enough in my view. Residents deserve to have their requests treated genuinely and they deserve to have prompt action taken with respect to maintenance of their local streets. It's clear that

Council acknowledges there is a problem here.

It was even a matter of trying to get this properly listed because the petition, when it was given to me first off, the petition response, sorry, when it was given to me first off, basically said that they would consider listing it. Well that was a pathetic non-answer as far as I was concerned and to their credit, LAS changed it to they will list it. So now the battle becomes getting it actually resurfaced, which is what the residents want. It's not good enough that this Council is trying to delay the resurfacing of roads in suburban areas and I think that this Council can do more to address residents' requests proactively, rather than forcing councillors to go out and get petitions so that they can get a bit of basic action out of this Council.

Now that also leads me to my comments on item C. Pretty much all year I have been raising with LAS, with the LORD MAYOR, with pretty much everybody the problems with maintenance in south region. It's clear to me that it is not just in my ward; it is across a number of wards. It was interesting when this petition was brought forward to see that it is a problem in the outer south western suburbs as well. I note what this petition says, that there was a bigger problem because of the storm, but the problem exists here because the residents are seeing that Council is not undertaking the necessary maintenance to keep this area tidy and safe for them.


- 77 -

It's clear that they use this area to walk and it's a, whilst informal parkland, it certainly is an area where they move from residential areas through to other parts of the ward. Again, I don't think it is good enough that residents have to petition to get council to undertake basic maintenance and I notice the LORD MAYOR is not here now and I would say to him, there is enormous evidence of the problem with maintenance. That is because, LORD MAYOR, that this Council has not put the needed resources into south region to enable the work to be done.

There is also, as I see it, a problem with KPIs, Madam Chairman, and the fact that this Council repeatedly gives advice to residents and my office and others, I presume, that they do not meet. It is critical that if Council gives advice to residents, they then go out and deliver on the promised service. If they don’t, they should then advise why that couldn't happen and when it will be done. That is not happening either, locally.

I think now that there is clear evidence of the problem with maintenance standards and I'm very disappointed that this Council has chosen to bury its head in the sand and say, no; we're not going to do anything based on these residents' concerns.

It's clear to me, as I said that this is a resourcing problem and I want to make sure that the Council officers have the funding they need to get the job done, because I don’t think they have it. If they had it, I can't see why we would say to residents we're not going to pick up maintenance in this park, because it's a pretty basic request. I think that request should be honoured and I'm disappointed that Council is treating these residents' requests with such contempt.

Further debate, Councillor McLACHLAN. Chairman:

Councillor McLACHLAN: Thank you, Madam Chairman. Just on item C, yes I note there were nine petitioners in relation to this issue. Councillor JOHNSTON has inadequately and erroneously described it as a park. It's not; it's a bushland corridor. The maintenance that this bushland corridor receives is consistent with the budget that is provided for all similar bushland corridors. This was an issue that was raised with those nine petitioners some six weeks after the Australia Day storm.

No doubt, as with a lot of areas in the city, there was lots of debris down across the city as a consequence of that storm. The petition asked for regular maintenance to be undertaken in this bushland corridor, not a park and that maintenance is undertaken on a regular basis, consistent with similar bushland reserves that criss-cross the Brisbane City area.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of Clauses A, B, and D of the report of the

Field Services Committee was declared carried on the voices.

Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of Clause C of the report of the Field

Services Committee was declared carried on the voices.




ADAMS, Matthew BOURKE, Margaret de WIT, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG,

Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX, Peter MATIC, Ian McKENZIE, David

McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, Andrew WINES, and

Norm WYNDHAM.





8.

5.

4.

3.




- 78 -

ATTENDANCE:

Councillor David McLachlan (Chairman), Councillor Norm Wyndham (Deputy Chairman), and

Councillors Peter Cumming, Nicole Johnston, Kim Marx and Ian McKenzie.

1.

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – WASTE MINIMISATION EDUCATION

CAMPAIGN

51/2013-14

Arron Lee, Manager, Waste Services, Field Services Group, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, provided a presentation to the Committee on the Council’s Waste Minimisation Education

Program. He provided the information below.

2.

-

-

-

-

-

The waste minimisation education campaign is an initiative of Council’s ‘Towards

Zero Waste’ Strategy. It is also part of the overarching Waste

Minimisation Program. This program consists of the following components:

- education marketing and communications

Tip Shop product stewardship policy and strategy development waste characterisation audits.

The three main streams of Waste Services’ education program are school programs, community programs, and events and special projects. The kindergarten and school Rethink your Rubbish programs contain the following aspects:

-

‘It’s not a Load of Rubbish’, ‘Mad about Worms’ and ‘Litter Bugs’ presentations for

-

- kindergarten to grade seven children

‘nude food’ presentations for preparatory year to grade seven children

‘What’s in the bin?’ and ‘The wrap on wrapping’ presentations for children from grades five to seven.

-

-

Further programs conducted for schools only include:

- visits to the Towards Zero Waste (TZW) Education Centre at Rochedale the Moorooka Primary School Education Trial developing school waste management plans.

In 2012 Council delivered 235 presentations to more than 6000 students.

The Community Education Program includes community group presentations at Rochedale

TZW Centre, compost and worm farm workshops and community group tours to Visy’s

Gibson Island site.

6. Activities are conducted under the events and special projects program at the Brisbane

Exhibition, National Recycling Week, Green Heart Fairs and other Council events. Council also produces marketing materials such as ‘Brisbane’s Best Recycling Guide for Households’ brochures on composting and recycling fact sheets (for translating into other languages).

Work is being carried out with media/gaming companies to create mobile device applications that teach children about worm farming and recycling.

7. Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr Lee for his informative presentation.

RECOMMENDATION:


REPORT.


- 79 -

ADOPTED

B PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL REHABILITATE THE ROAD

SURFACE AT THE INTERSECTION OF OVENDEAN STREET AND

FAIRFIELD ROAD, YERONGA

CA13/207102

52/2013-14

9. A petition from residents of Yeronga, requesting Council to rehabilitate the road surface at the intersection of Ovendean Street, and Fairfield Road, and ensure that the service pits are aligned to prevent loud noise from passing vehicles, was received during the Autumn Recess

2013.

10. The Executive Manager, Field Services Group, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, provides the information below.

11. The petition contained nine signatures. The request was based on excess noise emanating from traffic travelling across an uneven road surface, caused by road surface deterioration and numerous service pits.

12. Classification systems indicate that this section of Fairfield Road, Yeronga, has reached the optimum intervention standard, and road surface rehabilitation is now warranted. The service pits have recently been adjusted to best fit the current road surface levels. This has marginally reduced the quantity of traffic-generated road noise.

13. Council will list a future capital works project to rehabilitate the road surface at the intersection of Ovendean Street and Fairfield Road, Yeronga. As funds need to be specifically set aside in a future budget for this work a construction date in unavailable at this time. All listed projects are prioritised and assessed against the overall needs of the city as part of the annual budget process each June. Approved works have the highest priority in terms of public safety, convenience and the number of people directly benefiting in relation to the cost.

Funding

14. There is no current approved funding for the proposed capital works. These will be listed for consideration for future road rehabilitation under Major Road Resurfacing in the capital works budget process.

Consultation

15. The Councillor for Tennyson Ward, Councillor Nicole Johnston, supports the recommendation below.

16. The Executive Manager therefore recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.


THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT THE PROPOSED CAPITAL

WORKS TO REHABILITATE THE ROAD SURFACE AT THE INTERSECTION OF

OVENDEAN STREET, AND FAIRFIELD ROAD, YERONGA, ARE BEING LISTED

FOR INCLUSION IN FUTURE CAPITAL WORKS RESURFACING PROGRAMS, subject to the capital works budget process.

ADOPTED


- 80 -

C PETITION – REQUESTING THAT THE BUSHLAND CORRIDOR FROM

FOREST LAKE BOULEVARD AND BEYOND CARDWELL STREET

RECEIVE REGULAR MAINTENANCE

CA13/139096

53/2013-14

18. A petition from residents, requesting the bushland corridor from Forest Lake Boulevard

(called Paluna Place Park) and beyond Cardwell Street receive regular maintenance to reduce vermin hazards and keep walkways clear, was presented to the meeting of Council held on

5 March 2013, by Councillor Milton Dick and received.


20. The petition contains nine signatures. This park referred to contains limited infrastructure and serves a primary function for pedestrians or commuters to traverse from residential properties in this precinct, through to Forest Lake Boulevard. The park is predominantly a bushland corridor, which also contains a waterway and this type of land parcel would provide habitat for fauna.

21. In response to the petitioners’ concerns regarding vermin hazards, Council Officers have reviewed previous work requests and have not found any requests that specifically relate to vermin issues at this location.

22. Upon inspection of the bushland corridor it was noted that there were a number of branches piled along the pathway that were directly related to the January 2013 storms. This vegetation has been collected and removed under the park clean-up program, which occurs outside of regular maintenance.

23. The current servicing regime for this park is adequate to address the maintenance requirements of this parcel under normal conditions. Storms or other severe weather events will be dealt with on an as needs basis.

Funding

24. Current clean up works will be delivered under the disaster relief funding arrangements and all other scheduled maintenance activities are delivered under Program 1 - Sustainable, Green and Clean City.

Consultation

25. Councillor Milton Dick, Councillor for Richlands Ward does not support the recommendation below.

Preferred option

26. It is the preferred option that Council advise the petitioners that maintenance of this parcel occurs bi-annually and, in addition to this service frequency, the January 2013 storm debris has been removed.


Committee agrees, with Councillors Peter Cumming and Nicole Johnston dissenting.



- 81 -

THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN TERMS OF THE PREFERRED

OPTION ABOVE AND THAT:

- THE BUSHLAND CORRIDOR FROM FOREST LAKE BOULEVARD

(PALUNA PLACE PARK) TO CARDWELL STREET IS CURRENTLY

-

-

MAINTAINED UNDER A BI-ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM.

The servicing of the area includes lifting vegetation impeding the pathway, visual audits of pathways, signage and facilities within the area.

Upon inspection of the area, it has been recommended that the current bi-annual maintenance program continue for this section of bushland corridor.

ADOPTED

D PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL CONSIDER THE REMOVAL

OF A LARGE EUCALYPTUS TREE ON COUNCIL-OWNED AND

CONTROLLED FOOTPATH AT 1 SNOWBERRY STREET, ON THE

PEPPERCORN STREET FRONTAGE, SUNNYBANK HILLS

CA13/141985

54/2013-14

29. A petition from residents of Sunnybank Hills, requesting Council to remove a large

Eucalyptus tree on Council-owned and controlled footpath at 1 Snowberry Street, Sunnybank

Hills, on the Peppercorn Street frontage, was presented to the meeting of Council held on

12 March 2013, by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Graham Quirk, and received.


31. The petition was signed by five residents of Peppercorn Street. The removal was requested due to the size of the tree, traffic safety vision issues, regular branch drop and the tree’s slow, gradual lean over an extended period of time.

32. A work request was received immediately following the severe storm on 24 March 2013, alerting Council to possible movement of the tree. Five work requests had previously been received since October 2010. All previous inspection established that the Eucalyptus tree met

Council and Australian standards and as such should not be removed at that stage.

33. Before receipt of this petition, Council tree inspectors noticed that this tree had root plate movement resulting from the Australia Day storm event and further severe storms on

24 March. Due to consideration of current and future damage to public and private assets, it was recommended that the tree be urgently removed. The removal of the Eucalyptus tree has been completed.

Funding

34. The removal of the tree was funded as part of the storm recovery fund for the Australia Day storm event.

Consultation

35. Councillor Kim Marx, the Councillor for Karawatha Ward, was consulted at the time of the urgent removal of the tree, and approved its removal.

36. The Executive Manager therefore recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.


- 82 -


THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT:

(i) the large Eucalyptus tree located on Council owned footpath at the corner of

Snowberry and Peppercorn Streets, Sunnybank Hills, was assessed following the storms of 24 March 2013.

(ii) It was recommended that the tree be removed urgently, due to root plate movement.

THE TREE REMOVAL HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT.

(iii) Council’s Tree Management Guidelines set out specific criteria that must be satisfied to justify the removal of a tree, and it is Council’s policy to retain trees wherever possible.

ADOPTED

Chairman: Councillor ADAMS, Brisbane Lifestyle Committee.

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 30 July 2013, be adopted.


Councillor ADAMS: Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. I've got a couple of things I'd like to talk about in the portfolio before I come to the report. First of all, I would like to encourage all councillors to make sure that they are letting their residents know that we have the final presentations coming up of the seniors' cabaret in the next week, coming into Seniors Week. On Sunday at 12 o'clock in the Queen Street Mall we will have our display of some of our very talented seniors for free in the mall for an hour on Sunday; we encourage everyone to get their seniors in and give them a bit of a cheer.

But the following Sunday on the 18 th in City Hall, we have got our large ticketed event, which is selling out fast; we've already got 1000 people that have gotten then tickets to that event for our gala performance, from 1:30pm to 3:30pm on

18 August to kick off Seniors Week. We have had a fantastic response to our cabaret workshops and then our performances. I think the seniors in Brisbane have absolutely loved it and really love the opportunity to expand their talent as well; there are some very talented actors and performers from around Australia.

So tickets are only $5, it's really just a ticketing fee and then the remainder goes to Lady Mayoress' Community Trust and we just want to make sure that everybody who wants to come along can get a seat and I encourage all of you to let your residents know about the wonderful concert that's going to be in City

Hall.

Secondly, I can't let go the fact that apparently we don't care about Inala, because

I haven't spoken yet about the wonderful upgrade we've been able to do at the

Inala Library since we found more room in the library—


Councillor ADAMS:

—because the Customer Service Centre. Now we hear a lot of blustering and hot air and arm throwing about shutting down the customer service centre and destroying the heart—


Chairman:

Councillor ADAMS:

Order.

—of the Inala Library. It will be interesting to see people voting with their feet,

Councillor DICK. That would be an extra 30,000 pair of feet that walk through the Inala Library in the last 12 months; up by 22 per cent.



Councillor ADAMS:


Councillor ADAMS:


Councillor ADAMS:

- 83 -

People vising the library which they think now has a new reading corner, a new quiet corner, a brand new disability compliant toilet. We had toilets in the Inala

Community Hall right beside the library, were unable to be used for the local community for reasons known. So we needed to build new toilets within the actual library for the public and we have done that to a very, very high standard.

Councillor WINES knows how beautiful toilets can actually look in a library now and they definitely do at Inala. I'm sorry I don't have a picture here, but the new reading corner, the brand new facilities there; we hear that the people are sitting outside for the Wi-Fi on Sunday, but they're also there when the doors are open, coming in and enjoying the brand new facilities that we are providing at the Inala Library.

As I said, 22 per cent increase, very, very proud to be a part of an administration that delivers to all of the suburbs in Brisbane.

Which leads me to our presentation that we had last week, Madam Chair, which was the refurbishment and enhancement of Mitchelton Library, which I have to say, Councillor SCHRINNER, may be rivalling the Carindale Library when it comes to all the bits and pieces that you can fit into one tiny library and have it such a special place.

Don't believe it, you'll have to get over there and see. It was opened originally in

1983 and it was the square block shape that we see at Holland Park and Coopers

Plains and a couple of the other libraries around town. It was very yellow brick, very closed in, wasn't open up to the park. The idea was to have a very minimal view of the park so that you didn't distract the patrons from their studies while they were in the library. It got a bit of a refurbishment in 1995, but I have to say, on 15 June this year, we opened up a brand new look library which is definitely a milestone of the 30 years that this library has given to community service.

A $1.39 million refurbishment for the first of six library upgrades that we're going to do over the next four years. I know Councillor GRIFFITHS was very keenly taking notes in committee about what might be able to be done at

Coopers Plains. I'm sure Councillor McKENZIE is very excited about Holland

Park and what we're going to be able to do there, as well as Corinda, Carina and

Nundah in the following years.

I have to say, new libraries have come a long way. We have looked at everything from DDA compliance to young toddlers, to our seniors in this library and I have to say, we now have a beautiful library that's connected to the park, to the surrounding community, large windows, extra natural light, new internal/external signage, beautiful graphics, afterhours access to meeting rooms, improved storage, AV equipment, brand new kitchenette, outdoor areas. The outdoor area at the Mitchelton Library is spectacular; two large decks that go right around in a big L shape that connect to the park, so you've got that beautiful lookout over the park, as well as of course our community citrus and herb garden out the front.

So we have been assisted by Annette McFarlane who supported the development from the start and the Mitchelton Organic Gardeners Incorporated. They're looking after the garden themselves, but within the garden we've got a custom built huge bench that actually has become part of the library itself. You can sit out there in the sun and read, it has been set up high enough so people can wheel their wheelchairs under and access the outdoor bench as well. It is basically an outdoor meeting facility.

That's just the outside. The inside, we've got the children's café theme, which is an absolute beautiful little reading lounge for parents and children, interactive surface tables, Lego walls, an iFloor and instead of closing it off and making it look like a smaller part of the library, it's nice and open with acoustic curtains that can come across if they need a little bit more privacy in reading times.


Chairman:

Councillor MATIC:

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As well as that, the adults have got quiet work spaces; they've got more seating and more internal study spaces as well. We've got the new press display that you can do for the touch on screen, but I have to say the most exciting innovation in the Mitchelton Library is something that we hope to see across many of our libraries, which is the latest radio frequency identification technology that had to come from overseas. We're the first library in Australia where you have real time check in for loans. So through the chute, 24/7 and your book is scanned as being back in the library. So that is a fantastic opportunity for our librarians to spend less time out the back and more time out the front interacting with our customers as well.

We officially opened it on 15 June, as I said, with nearly 5000 people attending.

It was a freezing cold day, but there was more food and tea and coffee and drink to go around than we could deal with. We had gardening workshops, we had stories and songs, and we had The Reclaimers performing. I have to say, it's early days for the Mitchelton Library, but with our visitors in May 2013 being

7600 and the visitors in June being 15,280, I have to say, on top of 164 new members since we've opened, it is an example of where our libraries are definitely becoming the fantastic, vibrant hubs that we want them to be.

In addition to the presentation we saw last week, there are five petitions and I will leave them for the local councillors to discuss and I will come back to them in summing up.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Further debate, Councillor WINES. Who was up first? Councillor MATIC.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Thank you, Madam Chairman, I just rise to speak briefly in respect of item D which is a petition on the upgrading of Neal McCrossan

Park. Madam Chairman, as most councillors in the Chamber are aware, Neal

McCrossan Park is a skate park with a very long history, a very distinguished history. It's become a significant hub for the skateboarding community in

Brisbane, not only within the local area, but the City as a whole. Certainly it was something that Councillor Hinchliffe, for example, supported and it's become a place that was able to be used and held by the community for a period of time.

Councillor ABRAHAMS, I think Councillor ABRAHAMS made a comment and I'll acknowledge Councillor ABRAHAMS also supported the skate park.

Madam Chairman, it's a place that provides some important local community engagement and of course, Madam Chairman, over time, where a lot of its features were, for its time, quite popular and reflective of what the skating community required at that time, the community as a whole has now moved forward to a whole new place in respect of skateboarding design, following a more urban reflection, Madam Chairman, of features and different types of architecture and techniques that are far more modern in style and contemporary in the challenges that they face.

So, Madam Chairman, one of the important things to me as a local councillor was to look at upgrading that skate park. That's something that I lobbied for with the LORD MAYOR at the time of the last election, was able to successfully obtain $60,000 towards, Madam Chairman, what I envision to be a longer scale project. The work that is required there is substantial, requiring a large amount of money, but I think through a measured commitment, by making sure that we undertake works in sequential financial years, we will be able to obtain that outcome.

One of the important things for me, in the initial stages, was to undertake the appropriate amount of planning. I had conversations with some key representatives of a loose affiliation of skateboarders, an association if you like, around that space and how important it was to undertake that work.

From that, Madam Chairman, from that conversation, and from that commitment by the LORD MAYOR for initial funding, came this ePetition. As councillors can see in the papers, there are approximately 2080 signatures. That e-petition was made available to the world, if you like, and so we received a vast majority


Chairman:

- 85 - of petitioners from across the globe in respect of the facility. They were in there as well as locals and I myself have spoken to a number of locals who do use the park quite regularly about their thoughts around that space.

In fact, as part of the initial engagement on Frew Park there was a separate consultation held with the skateboarding community and local users on the space and what they thought as well. So it has a long history.

But what's important to note is my very strong commitment to its upgrade and I'd like to acknowledge Councillor ADAMS and the officers in the Brisbane

Lifestyle branch for their strong commitment as well in this space. We've all subsequently had a meeting with some representatives of the association post this petition being submitted, Madam Chairman, and we've got agreement on moving forward.

In fact, there was an announcement just in the Westside News last week around a progressive approach to upgrading this facility. So through this, in the papers you will note that there was money in the 2012-13 financial year which was the initial funding that I was able to obtain, which has been spent on providing safety upgrades, and there is money in the future as well in the process.

Certainly, Madam Chairman, like the Skateboarding Association, we would all like to see a roll out of the facilities immediately but I think it's important that we do it in a measured way.

For me the key is about consultation. The area does have a residential component so we want to make sure that whatever we put in there, at the end of the day does reflect the needs of the skateboarding community but also it doesn't impact on the amenities of those local residents. But all of these things can be addressed and they're being done so in a productive fashion but what's key at the end of the day is that it provides that balance.

One of the other things that I would like to see that has come through this petition as well, Madam Chairman, is the different types of users, not only in the complexity of what they want to try to achieve but also in ages. I've seen a number of parents bring their young children there because the scooters that they use these days are also reflective of what the localised demand also needs.

So what we want to do at the end of the day is find that balance between those high-level skateboarders and older users, but also younger participants and also young children and their scooters. Because of its inner city proximity and because of its locality to public transport it does generate a fair amount of use from across the city. So because of those varied uses it's important to be able to plan that out and provide what I think is important in as far as separate facilities for younger users and then the older users as well, Madam Chairman.

So there's a lot in this space. This petition obviously reflects a great need but I'm very confident of being able to say that as an administration we're well on top of it but also, importantly, as the local councillor I value all of the people that use this facility and want to be able to provide them with something that is safe, accessible, enjoyable, Madam Chairman, challenging but also innovative.

I've seen a number of examples in other councils within this space of a metro designed use space that I think can be quite clearly reflected in what we've got here. So I'm very supportive of this particular recommendation and I look forward to working with Councillor ADAMS and all the officers and their vast amount of experience in building skate facilities and, importantly also, working with the skateboarding community closely in developing this space and making sure that we're building something not only for now but that it lasts also for another decade as the current facility has. Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Further debate. Councillor NEWTON.


Seriatim - Clauses C and F

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Councillor Victoria NEWTON requested that Clause C, PETITION – OPPOSING THE FORMAL USE OF

THE COUNCIL PARK AT THE END OF LANGLEY AVENUE AND MURRAY STREET, NEWMARKET,

KNOWN AS LANGLEY AVENUE PARK, and Clause F, PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL

RESURFACE THE CARPARK ON SAMFORD ROAD, WHICH SERVICES THE GAYTHORNE BOWLS

CLUB AND MITCHELTON PARK be taken seriatim for voting purposes.

Councillor NEWTON: I might speak briefly on Item D and this is a particular petition response that has the support of both Labor councillors and LNP councillors. It was supported by us in the committee. I guess just to add a little bit to what Councillor MATIC has said, the Neal McCrossan Skate Park reflected a turning point in Brisbane City

Council's attitudes towards skate park facilities.

It was built in 1994 so it's on the older end of the cycle, in terms of being a skate facility, because prior to that point pretty much all skate facilities were co-located inside Council's swimming pool facilities. That meant young people had to pay to get in and access skate park facilities.

It wasn't until the local councillor, Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS at that time, pushed this forward and pushed and achieved a policy change for this Council, and pushed and achieved a policy change for skateboarders in Brisbane. So I just wanted to pay tribute to Councillor ABRAHAMS because I think all of us now enjoy skate facilities in our parks as a result of Councillor ABRAHAMS' tenacity. So well done, Councillor ABRAHAMS, and I'm sure you're pleased to see that something you started is continuing to grow and be redeveloped to create facilities for people today.

While I'm a roll I'd also like to congratulate Councillor ABRAHAMS for her efforts with respect to the Sorry Site memorial at West End. Madam Chair, as we know when the ‘Bringing them home: Stolen Generations' Report’ was brought down by the Federal Government, highlighting the terrible atrocities committed against our Indigenous peoples through deliberate policies by both government and religious organisations, that that report needed recognition.

It was a moment in time, particularly for our Indigenous communities that needed to not just be remembered at that point but on an ongoing basis as well,

Madam Chair. So as a result, under the former Lord Mayor Jim Soorley, a series of spaces were created for Sorry sites across the city, in consultation with traditional owner groups and Indigenous organisations in Brisbane.

I know from personal experience, these sites are very important to the community and it provides an important focal point. So I'm pleased to see that through this petition response and the representations of the local councillor,

Councillor ABRAHAMS, that this has been successfully achieved as well at

West End. So that is great news and, again, has full support. So congratulations and well done.

I'd like to also speak really briefly on Items C and F, Madam Chair. Item C relates to a petition from concerned residents who were very concerned about sports and recreational zoned land which had been vacant for quite some time, being taken up for sports and recreation use for junior soccer training and playing, with the Brisbane City Football Club.

I think we're very familiar, all of us, across the river and across that part of

Brisbane there is a series of sport and recreational facilities along that reach.

Now, Madam Chair, we abstained from the petition response because I think it raises more questions than answers and perhaps this can be clarified during the debate today.

Now back in March, residents were written to by their local councillor,

Councillor Vicki HOWARD. It appears it must have been sent around the 22, 23 of March, although on the file it's undated, so it's not clear. But it did advise residents in that vicinity of the approach by a soccer club to use that facility for soccer facilities. It mentions that it was training during week days and playing


- 87 - games on weekends, Madam Chair. It also flagged the possibility that some improvements might need to made, et cetera.

At that time, 6.07pm, the Deputy Chairman, Councillor Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, assumed the Chair.

Councillor NEWTON: Residents were asked to give feedback by 28 March, Madam Chair, only a few days after residents received the letter. That resulted in the petition that we're dealing with today. The petitioners highlight—and these seem to be 58 local residents—their concerns around safety, because there's no car parking or facilities on this particular parcel of land. They're concerned about Council already having done work on that site and they're worried about that work being undone and wasting ratepayers' money. Impacts on their local amenity; they were concerned construction of facilities on that site.

Probably the most concerning thing was the lack of appropriate consultation, where it says here: the first Wilston residents heard about this proposal was

Sunday 24 March. Now, submissions and feedback needed to be lodged by the

Thursday 28 March. So this petition was a cry for help from those residents who basically wanted Council to put the brakes on this issue, to allow more consultation. So it's quite a wide range of concerns raised.

Madam Chair, I'm pleased that there seems to have been some work done but I guess my questions are the petition response just purely notes that this process has occurred and that a licence was issued for weekend use only, Madam Chair.

But it also mentions that the licence will finish up in September and it mentions in the report here that it will be reviewed.

So my question, Madam Chair, what's the process for assessing this? What's the community's participation in terms of assessing how this went, how did this community lease go; what are local residents views in all this and where to from here? Is there a proposal to look at a licence again next season for weekend use or is there a view that there perhaps might be a greater use on that site? So I guess it doesn't give a lot of specifics, Madam Chair, so I simply can't support the petition response.

Now finally, I want to talk about the car park needing resurfacing at the

Gaythorne Bowls Club. All of us as local councillors do have this issue arise from time to time and I'm sure that the weather hasn't helped. What we see today is a petition from 200 residents—200 signatures on a petition, Madam Chair.

Clearly, a great deal of concern by the bowls club users that the car park is unsafe.

I was much relieved to hear that the local councillor had been on site, Councillor

Andrew WINES, and he inspected it I presume himself but he gave the assessment that there are no problems with the car park, Madam Chair, no problems with the car park at all.


Councillor NEWTON: So I thought that was quite a relief to hear because obviously there were 200 people who'd signed this petition who felt so strongly that there was a great deal of a problem.

So I thought today we've not only got the opportunity to hear from the local councillor—I'm sure Councillor WINES will fill us all in—but today Councillor

WINES can also fill us in as a head petitioner, Madam Chair, because Councillor

WINES is the head petitioner for this petition. So he was so concerned about the state of this car park he went around got 200 signatures on his letterhead: have you say, sign the petition. We the people of Gaythorne Bowls Club and surrounds petition Brisbane City Council to resurface the car park as that services the Gaythorne Bowls Club.

So Madam Chair, I'm keen as to hear exactly how this change of heart occurred where you would run around with a petitioner letterhead with your name on it, encouraging people to sign and show their concern and express their concern to the community but apparently it's all okay, it's hunky-dory, Madam Chair.


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So I'm not sure whether what we're seeing today was—I'm not going to speculate on the reasons why the petition was sought. I think we all as local councillors provide opportunities for people to have their say with Council and sign petitions. But, Madam Chair, when you're the head petitioner as well, you're encouraging people to sign a petition on your letterhead to support Council to do something and take action, and then turn around and say there's no problem, I think it just raises a lot of questions and I'm keen to hear from Councillor

WINES this afternoon.


Deputy Chairman:

Councillor HOWARD:

Further debate. Councillor HOWARD.

Thank you, Madam Deputy Chairman, for the opportunity to speak to the

Lifestyle report and particularly to Item C, the petition opposing the formal use of the council park at the end of Langley Avenue and Murray Street at

Newmarket, known as Langley Avenue Park.

In our inner northern suburbs we are seeing a great increase in demand for places in organised junior sport, and particularly soccer. To that end, as it indicates at point 25, in March this year I was contacted by a local junior soccer group to formally use the council park at the end of Langley Avenue and Murray Street for training most week nights and for fixtures on Saturdays and Sundays.

From my doorknocking it was obvious there were strong opinions about granting use of this sport and recreation zone. Some people had no issue with the proposal. Other wanted this area never to be used again for organised sport.

Council officers took everyone's feedback into account as they assessed the proposal and they came up with a solution which I think balances the demand for junior sport field availability and potential resident pressures. That is fixtures only on a Saturday morning.

At that time, 6.13pm, the Chairman, Councillor Margaret de WIT, resumed the Chair.

Councillor HOWARD:

Now, I knew that in the past the formalised use of this park had been an issue for residents in the area. That's why, as it says in point 26, I started the discussion and wrote to and doorknocked residents in the immediate vicinity to seek their opinion about potentially granting this use agreement.

Chairman:


It is also pleasing, as noted in point 35, that as a result of this discussion and our continued negotiating with the club we have been able to place a traffic management plan into the agreement, which seeks to manage parking pressures and a dedicated contact number for residents to report any issues that may occur on match days. These two initiatives are well supported by local residents.

It's also interesting to note, Madam Chairman, that we have had some feedback from the residents since the limited use has occurred and we've had no complaints to this point in time. We continue to work with those residents. We continue to make sure that they have contact and they know that my office will always listen to their concerns.

This area of Wilston and Windsor has for many years been home to Brisbane's netball, softball, soccer and hockey competitive leagues. To that end, we will continue to work with local sporting entities and residents to ensure parking and other neighbourhood pressures are managed. Thank you.

Further debate. Councillor ABRAHAMS.

Thank you, Madam Chair, I'll be very quick. On Item B, regarding the permanent Sorry site. I just wanted to put the record about the power of a petition. After two years we now have a permanent Sorry site at Hill End Terrace on an area that's currently under the GPS Rowing Club lease.

Madam Chair, I have been asking for this to become a permanent site but nothing like a petition for Council to then stir into action and give that to the community.

In particular, Link-Up, who is part of the organisation that uses this every year, are delighted—there's Sam Watson and Cheryl Buchanan, the CEO; Micah


Chairman:

Councillor WINES:

- 89 -

Projects, with CEO Karyn Walsh, also is always there for every occasion. This is a great outcome. But I am delighted on two grounds, one of which of course to have a permanent location, the other one so that there is not an annual cost to

Council every time to make a Sorry site, to then take it away, to store it, only to bring it back again next year. So now we will have that permanent memorial there for everyone to enjoy.

Further debate. Councillor WINES.

Thank you, Madam Chairman. I rise to speak to the Brisbane Lifestyle

Committee report on Items A and F. I'd like to begin by discussing the

Mitchelton Library upgrade which is a phenomenal upgrade. Can I encourage all councillors, if you have the time and if you're in the area, to come down and see what the most modern advancements in municipal library technologies can do for you.

Each library is an advancement on the next so I'm looking forward to what's going to happen in the next series of libraries, particularly the nearby Grange

Library which although in Marchant ward most definitely services the people of

Enoggera ward and has been named as one to be upgraded in the coming years.

There are a couple of things that were in this that were particularly notable.

Many people might not know that as a result of World War II and Brisbane

Council officers who didn't return from the war, the council officers who work here put together a trust and put some money together to essentially form a bursary or an endowment to improve public libraries. That's what the Brisbane

City Council Staff Children's Memorial Library Trust is. What a noble gesture by those people and something that around 60 years later we are still receiving the benefit of.

The raw numbers speak for themselves. When it talks about that in one month more than double the number of people have come through the door as a result of this upgrade. We were very fortunate that there's only two business days lost to this upgrade in the whole project and, as a result, business went on as normal for the people who used the library. But once it opened, once this new facility was there, people wanted to participate, they wanted to be part of it, and they wanted to see it. It really stands as a testimony to the great civic buildings that we can deliver as this organisation but also the changing nature of libraries that they're going not only from a repository of books but to a genuine community space.

That I think is reflected in the turning of a nearby meeting room inside the structure to a meeting room that can be used of an evening that has proper toilet facilities and proper tea facilities. There's also a meeting room outside so that's a new innovation that allows people, if they choose, to conduct meetings inside what will become a very nice citrus orchard once it matures.

It's an outdoor meeting space and it is fantastic, and I just wanted to recognise the Mitchelton organic growers for committing to maintain that garden as well.

On the day that it opened there was a solitary lime growing on one of the plants, and that is the first lime, the first citrus, that will be grown in our public community garden.

I would also like to recognise the kids space is fantastic and it's also got often times you see single console video games in our libraries. Well, there isn't one in

Mitchelton; there is in fact a board, a sort of table, where you can play together, where everyone can come and play the same game. But one that is particularly popular is you smash the bugs they become more bugs and then you have to smash those. There was an ongoing game that has no point, it just starts again, but it was good fun and everybody was getting right into it. it was excellent.

The outdoor area provides again a greater embrace of the environment around it and, of course, Queenslanders prefer to sit outdoors anyway. So this new space is encouraging more uses but not only that, because of the placement of it and because of the structure of the bleachers-style steps, it will be able to be used at the many memorial days that are held in that park as a result of the efforts of the


- 90 -

Gaythorne RSL, which hold all their memorials in Sid Loder Park which is also shared by this library.

So there'll be an increase in what you can see from the library but people will also be able to use this space on important memorial days.

It is a fantastic upgrade. It is something that we as an organisation should really be proud of. It is a huge advancement on what was a tired building. I'd like to recognise the efforts of Roy Harvey for having it built in 1983. As often is noted, no, I was not born in 1983 but the library was.


Councillor WINES: The efforts of then-Lord Mayor Harvey, councillor for Mitchelton, I want to recognise Sharan Harvey, I want to recognise Krista ADAMS; I want to recognise the team. Yes, Julie Tree of Mitchelton Library, who now has her own tree motif through the whole building, and all the people in the libraries division; the people from City Projects Office who helped deliver it. It is a real testimony to the community mindedness and dedication to building quality facilities in our suburbs.

I always believed in trying to get the best and the Mitchelton Library is one example of that. I will always fight to get the best facilities in my ward and, I'm going to say it, ahead of other wards. That's my preference. So I make no apologies for attempting to get a car park upgrade for the Gaythorne Bowls Club and I will lead a petition again if they so ask me, because I will always stand up for my community groups. I will always seek the best for my ward and I will not apologise for that.


Chairman:


Chairman:

Councillor ADAMS:

Further debate. Councillor JOHNSTON.

Yes, Madam Chairman, just briefly on Item F. Through you, Madam Chairman, to Councillor WINES. Councillor WINES, now is your chance. I listened very carefully to what Councillor NEWTON was saying, that you are the head petitioner on this matter. Clearly, in drawing up this petition and circulating it to your residents you believed it was a good idea. Have the courage of your convictions, Councillor WINES, and stand up for your residents now.

Further debate. Councillor ADAMS.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I thank all the councillors for their comments on the petitions before us. Going through the petitions in response, I thank Councillor

MATIC for his words on the Paddington skate park. I think we all recognise it's a skate park that's only 20 years old but is definitely seen as one of the most important, almost a heritage skate park, in Brisbane City Council.

It is a very important park and it's also on a very built-up area. The times have changed around Caxton Street and around that park as well. It is an easy park to get to, through infrastructure, but it has got a lot of residents around it as well. So we are taking it in a staged approach and working with the Brisbane

Skateboarders Association, as Councillor MATIC mentioned.

I support his points about the design, about an all-ages design. Skate parks are very much not only about skateboarding now but access and inclusion for all types of wheels activities for all ages. That can be scooters or rollerblades or skates—if you want to be totally retro—skateboards and smaller BMX bikes in some of the cases as well.

This park is an important park but I have to reaffirm destination parks are going to be Bracken Ridge and Inala but we look forward to working on Paddington as well to upgrade that area.

With regard to our Langley Park petition before us, I have to commend

Councillor HOWARD on getting out there and speaking to the community.

There was a very small timeframe, as was acknowledged by Councillor

NEWTON, from the request from the junior soccer club to use it to the time that they needed it, to the time that we need to get it sorted.


- 91 -

Can I say from that weekend that we knew we needed to talk to the community

Councillor HOWARD was out there day and night, doorknocking and touching base with every one of those residents in that area. On top of the letter that

Councillor NEWTON saw on file she did an absolutely fantastic job and spoke to the residents about the reality that it is a sport and recreation park.

Now, we also recognise obviously that as a sport and recreation park, without at this time facilities that would usually support sport and rec, around toilets, around sufficient car parking—so that is definitely needs to be looked at in future budget considerations.

But at this point of time the junior soccer club needed somewhere to play soccer.

It worked for the hours that they could use it for. They've only been there twice, unfortunately, so far. It's really about their home and away games, I think, but it's an opportunity then to see if the park works for them. It is a temporary licence.

I'm sure Councillor HOWARD will be more than adequately consulting with her locals when it comes to the end of the season and with the soccer club to see how it worked for them and how it worked for the locals as well, and that will be an ongoing project for us to work with the community there as well.

What else did we have? There are so many petitions. For the Sorry site, thank you Councillor ABRAHAMS for your comments on that and we're more than happy to work with GPS to make sure that we do have that Sorry site looked after and maintained for the very important ceremonies that are held at that site over many times and, of course, with NAIDOC (National Aborigines and

Islanders Day Observance Committee) celebrations that we're just having at this point of time.

The other petition that was brought up by Councillor WINES, thank you very much again for being a local councillor who listens to the community when they have an issue to bring forward. It is something we've been discussing in committee about the community leasing areas of car parks and we did discuss around some groups still not be able to look after their car parks and it sometimes being the last thing that they look after when it comes to spending money on the facilities.

But when it comes down to it, the fact is the fact, and Councillor WINES doesn't need to play silly political games like some people on the other side. If it is in the community lease area of that group, it is their responsibility.

I would just like to make it clear that Councillor WINES didn't make the observed judgement that the car park was satisfactory; it was our officers that went out there and did a proper assessment of the car park. They are more than confident that it is up to standard at the moment.

But as it says clearly in the petition: we will stay in touch with the community group, as we do with all community groups, if they need support if it does deteriorate, and we'll see how we can help them. At this point of time, it does not need an upgrade and it is within their lease area, hence Councillor WINES is more than happy with the response. I understand he's gone back to his community and they understand where they stand with relation to that community lease as well.

Last but not least, I would also like to go back to the Mitchelton Library. Thank you for your words, Councillor WINES. It is a spectacular library and I encourage everybody to go out there and have a look and just dream that they could have a library as spectacular as Councillor WINES, because he has got some things there before anybody else in Brisbane.

Interesting to see Roy Harvey did open the library but Sharan Harvey has made it what it is today. I do believe that there is no relationship between Roy Harvey and Sharan Harvey but I have to say that this library refurbishment is an absolute demonstration of the commitment and the passion that Sharan Harvey puts into her job. I cannot go without saying thank you for Sharan and all her team on the amazing work they do within our libraries and with these upgrades as well.


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A comment on the table with the bugs, I'd have to say, I couldn't do it but, surprisingly, former Councillor Jane Prentice was very good at squashing bugs.

I’ll leave it at that, Madam Chair.

Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of Clauses A, B, D and E of the report of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee was declared carried on the voices.

Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of Clause C of the report of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee was declared carried on the voices.








ABSTENTIONS: 6 - The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors



Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of Clause F of the report of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee was declared carried on the voices.

Thereupon, Councillors Helen ABRAHAMS and Milton DICK immediately rose and called for a division, which resulted in the motion being declared carried .







ABSTENTIONS: 6 - The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors






ATTENDANCE:

Councillor Krista Adams (Chairman), Councillor Andrew Wines (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors

Vicki Howard, Steven Huang, Victoria Newton and Steve Griffiths.

1.

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – MITCHELTON LIBRARY UPGRADE

55/2013-14

Sharan Harvey, Manager, Library Services, Brisbane Lifestyle Division, attended the meeting to provide an update on the Mitchelton Library upgrade. She provided the information below.

2. The Mitchelton Library opened in 1983 and was refurbished in 1995 due to the use of computerisation in library services. The original library had a total area of 532 square metres and was designed with limited views of the park to minimise distraction to library customers.


3.

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Prior to the 2013 upgrade the library received on average: 90,000 visitors a year, 200,000 loans each year and 7000 attendees at library programs held throughout the year.

4.

5.

Images of the Mitchelton Library in 1983 and 2012 (prior to the upgrade), were displayed.

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The new upgrade accommodates Brisbane’s sub-tropical lifestyle and visually connects the park and community to the library. Some of the highlights of the new facilities and spaces include:

- revitalisation of main entrance new accessible entrance to the decks new signage and graphics after-hours access to meeting room that contains a kitchenette public toilet facilities

- new reading area with more seating options, internet and study spaces two decks (85 square metres and 60 square metres) with views across the park provision for a coffee cart community garden (citrus and herbs) which is maintained by a new community group, the Mitchelton Organic Gardeners Inc. children’s area with larger, themed, interactive and acoustic features.

6. Ms Harvey then listed some of the new technology and equipment as a result of the upgrade.

These being:

- full RFID (radio-frequency identification) operation, including new RFID returns 24 hours a day, seven days a week

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- mobile quiet workspaces news lounge with news screen

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- touch screen for online newspapers interactive surface and ‘iFloor’ for young people upgraded IT (information technology) hub capacity accessible internet desks and Council Wi-Fi throughout library, decks and citrus garden compact adjustable service desk, therefore more public space.

7.

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Photos of the newly refurbished facilities were shown of the upgrade plans were displayed and explained to the committee. Photographs of the newly refurbished entrances, street facade, new accessible entry to deck, large deck overlooking park, with ‘bleacher’ style steps, additional public toilets and provision for coffee cart were shown.

8. The Children’s section of the library is now larger and has a café theme, iFloor, acoustic design, and vibrant interior, with more seating options for reading, studying and working.

This part of the library is supported by the Brisbane City Council Staff Children’s Memorial

Library Trust.

9. The newly upgraded library was officially opened by the Lord Mayor on 15 June 2013.

Almost 5000 people attended the opening and the radio station 612ABC broadcast live from the event. There were: children’s activities, cooking and gardening demonstrations, craft workshops, community groups in attendance and live music.

10. In June 2013 the upgraded Mitchelton Library had 15,280 visitors, compared to 7677 in May

2013, 164 residents became new library members and 16,372 items were borrowed.

11. Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Ms Harvey for her informative presentation.


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REPORT.

ADOPTED

B PETITION – REQUESTING A PERMANENT SORRY SITE MEMORIAL AT

HILL END TERRACE, WEST END

CA13/359615

56/2013-14

13. A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting a permanent Sorry Site memorial at Hill End

Terrace, West End, was presented to the meeting of Council held on 28 May 2013, by

Councillor Helen Abrahams and received.

14. The Divisional Manager, Brisbane Lifestyle Division, supplied the following information.

15. The petition contains 62 signatures, all requesting a permanent Sorry Site memorial at Hill

End Terrace, West End.

16. The site is currently leased to the GPS (Great Public Schools) Rowing Club. This lease is not due to expire until 31 August 2017.

17. Over the past two years, temporary landscaping has been installed each year for the National

Sorry Day celebrations to be held at the site.

18. It is recommended that Council’s Community Lifestyle Branch undertake negotiations with the GPS Rowing Club to enable the installation of a permanent landscaped Sorry Day memorial to occur and that the head petitioner be advised as set out in the draft letter at

Attachment A, below.

Consultation

19. Councillor Helen Abrahams, Councillor for The Gabba Ward is in agreement with the recommendation below.

20. Accordingly, the Divisional Manager therefore recommends as follows and the Committee agrees unanimously.


THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED AS PER THE DRAFT LETTER AT

ATTACHMENT A, below, that the annual Sorry Day event takes place within an area that is currently leased to GPS Rowing Club and that Council’s Community Lifestyle Branch will undertake negotiations with the GPS Rowing Club to enable the installation of a permanent landscaped Sorry Site memorial to occur.

Draft response

Petition reference: CA13/359615

As you are aware, the GPS Rowing Club has a Council lease over this area, which does not expire until 2017. Council’s Community Lifestyle Branch will negotiate with the GPS Rowing Club to enable the installation of a permanent landscaped Sorry Site memorial to occur.


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Thank you for taking the time to raise your concerns with Council.

ADOPTED

C PETITION – OPPOSING THE FORMAL USE OF THE COUNCIL PARK AT

THE END OF LANGLEY AVENUE AND MURRAY STREET,

NEWMARKET, KNOWN AS LANGLEY AVENUE PARK

CA13/291885

57/2013-14

22. A petition from residents of Wilston, opposing the formal use of the Council park at the end of Langley Avenue and Murray Street, Newmarket, known as Langley Avenue Park, was presented to the meeting of Council held on 7 May 2013, by Councillor Vicki Howard, and received.


24. The petition contains 58 signatures of individuals that oppose the formal use of the Council park at the end of Langley Avenue and Murray Street, Newmarket, known as Langley

Avenue Park, due to a range of concerns.

25. Council was approached by the Brisbane City Football Club in March 2013, requesting permission to use Langley Avenue Park for junior soccer training five nights per week and playing Saturday and Sunday. Langley Avenue Park is designated for sport and recreational use.

26. Councillor Vicki Howard, the Ward Councillor for Central, commenced community consultation on Sunday, 24 March, 2013, and also contacted residents by mail Attachment B, submitted on file.

27. Residents raised their issues on the proposed use of the park with Councillor Howard and

Council via mail and email.

28. After careful consideration and negotiation, Council has offered the Brisbane City Football

Club a short-term licence agreement to use the park. This agreement aims to address the concerns identified by the local residents.

29. In May 2013, Councillor Howard wrote to affected residents in Langley Avenue and Murray

Street regarding the seasonal licence approval for Brisbane City Football Club and outlined their terms and conditions Attachment C, submitted on file.

30. At the expiry of the licence in September 2013, Officers from Council’s Community

Facilities Operations Team, Community Lifestyle Branch, will review the agreement.

Consultation

31. Councillor Vicki Howard, Councillor for Central Ward, has been consulted and is in agreement with the recommendation below.

Customer impact

32. Council has negotiated an outcome with the licensee to minimise the impacts on local residents.

33. Accordingly, the Divisional Manager therefore recommends as follows and the Committee agrees, with Councillors Steve Griffiths and Victoria Newton abstaining.


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THAT THE BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE NOTE THE INFORMATION IN

THE ABOVE REPORT AND ENDORSE THE DRAFT RESPONSE AT

ATTACHMENT A (BELOW) TO THE HEAD PETITIONER.

Draft response


Langley Avenue Park is designated for sport and recreational use. Council was approached by the

Brisbane City Football Club, who requested permission to use Langley Avenue Park, for junior soccer training and playing.

After careful consideration and negotiation, including consultation with local residents, Council has offered the Brisbane City Football Club a short-term licence to use this park.

Officers from Council’s Community Facilities Operations Team, Community Lifestyle Branch, have

- raised the concerns identified by the local residents with the club and have developed certain terms and conditions, which form part of their licence agreement.

These terms and conditions are listed below:

The licensee must ensure that a Traffic Management Plan is in place and have a mobile phone contact for residents on game days

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-

The licensee is permitted to only park two vehicles on adjacent parkland/green space

The licensee is not permitted to erect any lighting on site

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The licensee must obtain Development Approval if the club wishes to locate a toilet facility/demountable on site

The licensee has permission to use one field for Saturday morning, 8am to 12.30pm, for the training and playing of junior teams (six to 11 year olds).

Council is aware of the residents’ concerns and will monitor the impacts of the use, under the approved licence. At the expiry of the licence in September 2013, officers from the Community

Facilities Operations Team, Community Lifestyle, will review the agreement.


ADOPTED

D PETITION – CALLING ON COUNCIL TO UPGRADE THE SKATE PARK

IN NEAL MACROSSAN PLAYGROUND PARK, PADDINGTON

CA13/87007

58/2013-14

35. A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting that Council upgrade the skate park in Neal

Macrossan Playground Park, Paddington, was presented to the meeting of Council held on

12 February 2013, by Councillor Krista Adams, and received.


37. The petition contains approximately 2080 signatures of individuals that request Council upgrade the skate park in Neal Macrossan Playground Park, Paddington.

38. Council has listed a major upgrade in a future capital works program. The project is currently being managed by Community Lifestyle branch, with funding for the initial stages of the project being allocated under the Community Facilities Improvement Program.


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39. Some activities in relation to the project were undertaken in the 2012-13 financial year relating to the Paddington Skate Park upgrade, including:

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- project initiation pre-planning works the development of a design brief initial procurement negotiations.

40. Based on the current project schedule listed in the Project Management Plan, it is expected that procurement, design and development approval activities will be completed in the

2013-14 financial year.

Funding

41. Funding was provided in the 2012-13 Capital budget for the safety improvements to this skate facility. Budget has also been allocated under the Community Facilities Improvement

Program in the 2013-14 financial year to progress the initial stages of the major Paddington

Skate Park upgrade project

Consultation

42. Councillor Peter Matic, Councillor for Toowong Ward, has been consulted and is in agreement with the recommendation below.

Customer impact

43. Works recently completed for the skate park have ensured the facility is safe for use until the major upgrade can be completed

44. Accordingly, the Divisional Manager therefore recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.





Draft response


The skate facility at Neal Macrossan Playground Park, Paddington, has had works completed in June

2013 to rectify safety issues with the existing structures and to ensure that the facility can continue to be used until the major upgrade is completed.

The project planning for the upgrade is currently underway and pre-planning activities are now completed and the project is progressing. Under the current project schedule, the design and development approval activities will be completed in the 2013-14 financial year. Based on the current allocated budget, the upgrade will need to be delivered in stages.

Funds will be specifically set aside in a future budget for staged works to be completed. Each June, all listed projects are prioritised and assessed against the overall needs of the city. Approved works have the highest priority in terms of public safety, convenience and the number of people directly benefiting in relation to the cost.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Business Alignment Team on 3403 8888.


Thank you for your enquiry.

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ADOPTED

E PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL TAKE ACTION REGARDING

THE RECENT OPENING OF A FRUIT SHOP AT INALA CIVIC CENTRE

AND SHOPPING CENTRE

CA13/366413

59/2013-14

46. A petition from the owners of the Asian Groceries Foods at the Inala Civic Centre and

Shopping Centre, requesting that Council investigate a fruit shop that has opened in the Inala

Civic Centre at 10/37 Corsair Avenue, Inala, was presented to the meeting of Council held on

11 June 2013, by Councillor Milton Dick, and received.


48. The petition contained a total of seven signatures.

49. On 20 May 2013, Council received a complaint in relation to an unlicensed food shop selling fruit and vegetables at 10/37 Corsair Avenue, Inala. An investigation commenced under the

Food Act 2006 (the Act) to determine if the person was operating a licensable food business and if there were any food safety concerns with the food business.

50. On 24 May 2013, a Council Environmental Health Officer attended the food business. At the time of inspection, there were no significant concerns identified in relation to food safety and the food business was not considered to be a licensable activity under the Act. On the same day, the complainant and Richlands Ward Office were updated on Council’s findings.

51. On 25 June 2013, after receiving the petition, Council’s Environmental Health Officer attended and conducted a further inspection. The inspection confirmed that the operator was again not operating a licensable food business at this location.

52. The officer identified that the operator of the food business, trading as Fresh Temptations, holds a Food Business Licence (A003576612) for an Annual Temporary Food Stall for the sale of licensable foods at various markets and events in Brisbane. This permits the licensee to prepare and sell cut fruit and vegetables; however this activity is not being undertaken at this location.

Consultation

53. The Ward Councillor for Richlands, Councillor Milton Dick, has been consulted and supports the recommendation below.

Customer impact

54. There is no breach of the Food Act 2006 . The concerns about competition and body corporate matters are a civil matter. Tax evasion concerns need to be raised by the proponent with the

Australian Tax Office.

55. Accordingly, the Divisional Manager therefore recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.


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THAT THE INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT BE NOTED AND THE DRAFT

RESPONSE, AS SET OUT AT ATTACHMENT A, BELOW, BE SENT TO THE

HEAD PETITIONER.

Draft response


Thank you for your petition requesting that Council investigate a fruit shop that has opened in the

Inala Civic Centre at 10/37 Corsair Avenue, Inala.

Council received a complaint on 20 May 2013 about the fruit shop. An investigation was commenced under the Food Act 2006 (the Act) to determine if the operator was operating a licensable food business and if there were any food safety concerns with the food business.

As a result of the complaint, a Council Environmental Health Officer attended the food business on

24 May 2013. At the time of the inspection, there were no significant concerns identified in relation to food safety and the food business was not considered to be a licensable activity under the Act. On receipt of your petition, a further inspection was conducted on 25 June 2013 and the officer confirmed these findings.

Council can appreciate that you are concerned about the financial impact on businesses in the centre as well the body corporate arrangements. However, as the food business is located on private land, in an established multi-purpose suburban centre, these concerns will need to be directed to the owner of the property.

Should you have concerns about the business operating lawfully in relation to taxation, please contact the Australian Taxation Office on 1800 060 062 or online at www.ato.gov.au.

If you have any further questions, please contact an Environmental Health Officer, on 3403 8888.

Thank you for bringing this matter to Council’s attention.

ADOPTED

F PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL RESURFACE THE

CARPARK ON SAMFORD ROAD, WHICH SERVICES THE GAYTHORNE

BOWLS CLUB AND MITCHELTON PARK

CA13/291961

60/2013-14

57. A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting that Council resurface the carpark on

Samford Road, which services the Gaythorne Bowls Club and Mitchelton Park, was presented to the meeting of Council held on 7 May 2013, by Councillor Andrew Wines, and received.


59. The petition contained 200 signatures, requesting Council to resurface the carpark on Samford

Road, which services the Gaythorne Bowls Club and Mitchelton Park.

60. The carpark is within the lease of the Gaythorne Bowls Club and under the lease agreement it is the club’s responsibility to maintain the carpark.


- 100 -

61. Offices from the Community Facilities Operations, Community Lifestyle, have inspected the condition of the carpark. Based on this inspection and previous audits, the carpark is considered to be in a satisfactory condition.

62. If the carpark surface deteriorates to an unsatisfactory condition in the future, Community

Lifestyle officers can assist the Gaythorne Bowls Club to plan and program and repair works necessary.

Consultation

63. Councillor Andrew Wines, Councillor for Enoggera, has been consulted and is in agreement with the recommendation below.

Customer impact

64. Based on the inspection and previous condition audits, the carpark is considered to be meeting user needs.

65. Accordingly, the Divisional Manager therefore recommends as follows and the Committee agrees, with Councillors Steve Griffiths and Victoria Newton abstaining.





Draft response


Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the great work Gaythorne Bowls Club does in providing important community services to the Gaythorne area.

The carpark is within the lease of the Gaythorne Bowls Club. Under the lease agreement it is the club’s responsibility to maintain the carpark.

Offices from the Community Facilities Operations, Community Lifestyle, have inspected the condition of the carpark. Based on this inspection and previous audits, the carpark is considered to be in a satisfactory condition.

If the carpark surface deteriorates to an unsatisfactory condition in the future, Community Lifestyle officers can assist the Gaythorne Bowls Club to plan and program and repair works necessary.


ADOPTED

Chairman: Councillor SIMMONDS, Finance, Economic Development and Administration

Committee.

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 30 July 2013, be adopted.


Chairman:


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Is there any debate?

Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. Just quickly, we had a very informative presentation from Pip Hold who heads up our International

Relations and Multicultural Affairs Unit, about some of the good work that has been done. Some councillors will know it was the 25th anniversary of the

Auckland Sister City Agreement this year and there were some events involved around that. But coming on the back of that, I thought it was a good opportunity for the committee to consider just the positive economic development effect these sister city relationships have for our sister.

Some of the key outcomes include the generation of $511 million worth of business outcomes; the development and delivery of eight Doing Business in

Asia business forums with 651 participants; the arranging of some 695 formal business matching meetings; local delivery of 12 sister city business delegation events for 484 participants; the hosting of 95 international delegations, reaching

1353 delegates and, of course, not to mention the LORD MAYOR's Business

Scholarships and the other business engagement that they have with both

Brisbane and global businesses, so yes I'll leave it at that, Madam Chairman.

Thank you.

Further debate. I will put the—oh sorry, Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR. Chairman:

Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR: Thank you, Madam Chairman. I rise briefly to speak on this report because,

Madam Chairman, this is a very important area of activity that Council undertakes.

Having been involved in this area over the past five years and working with the team in Multicultural Affairs and International Relations, I can testify as to their efforts and how they are progressing the needs of our city to develop stronger economic ties with not only our sister cities but everyone on a global basis.

There have been a number of events that have taken place over the years from this division of Council and they have all been professionally put forward to the community. There is a great sense from the Brisbane business community that not only does the Multicultural Affairs and International Relations Unit punch higher than their weight but they are also delivering world class standard events and activities.

Madam Chairman, the sheer focus of business matching is something that particularly has enhanced our capacity as a city to really reach into that global sphere and connect on a global scale with so many other countries and cities.

The culmination of all of this hard work will come about next month in

September in Kaohsiung in the Asia Pacific Cities Summit. We're already seeing significant outcomes from this area of Council and all of their activities and particularly as well one area that many people are not quite aware of is the multifaceted team that we have and the variety of languages that they speak and the variety of backgrounds that they do come from. This further enables us to capitalise on their skills and their unique abilities.

Madam Chairman, the other thing I would like to point out with our international connections is that we do have a lot of interactions with many of the different ambassadors from many countries around the world. I would like to take this opportunity to place on the record a farewell to the US Ambassador Jeffrey

Bleich, and I note that Councillor DICK also attended his farewell function last

Friday night.

But what is very important is that Brisbane is getting another exclusive event.

We are getting the American Ballet Theatre over here as an exclusive for

Australia. It's not going to Sydney, it's not going to Melbourne. It's only coming to Brisbane. That is a real coup for our city. So if you want to waitlist your tickets, they are online at the moment. You can waitlist and it's coming from 28

August to 7 September 2014, just before G20, and I'm sure that will be a wonderful addition to our Brisbane economy because it will certainly draw many people from many miles around to come and see such an exemplary ballet.


- 102 -

We've already had a number of different ballets coming from all over the world and this is starting to become the place to be, and that's in no small part to the efforts of what we have going on in our International Relations team. So, Madam

Chairman, I commend this report to the chamber.

Further debate. Councillor SIMMONDS. Chairman:

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.




ATTENDANCE:

Councillor Julian Simmonds (Chairman), Councillor Angela Owen-Taylor (Deputy Chairman), and

Councillors Fiona King, Ryan Murphy and Kim Flesser.

APOLOGY:

Councillor Shayne Sutton.

1.

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND

MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS

61/2013-14

Pip Hold, Manager Lord Mayor’s Administration Office, gave a presentation on international relations and multicultural affairs. Ms Hold provided the information below.

2.

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The International Relations Program is all about driving economic prosperity through

Brisbane's international relationships. This brings about benefits to Brisbane and its economy in the short and long term and is achieved by:

- leveraging off international relationships building on economically focused Sister Cities providing business matching services undertaking outbound Lord Mayor Business Missions arranging inbound international delegations attendance at biennial Asia Pacific Cities Summit finding and building key strategic partnerships.

3.

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The have been a number of key outcomes since 2009:

- generation of $511million worth of business outcomes the facilitation of eight commercial memorandums of understanding the development and delivery of eight ‘Doing Business in Asia’ business forums to

651 participants the arranging of 695 formal business matching meetings local delivery of 12 Sister City business delegation events for 484 participants the hosting of 95 International (non-sister city) delegations reaching 1353 delegates the delivery of Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Scholarships to 125 recipients the engaging with 3812 Brisbane businesses the engaging with 10426 global businesses.

4. Since inception there have been many visits (both inbound and outbound) between Brisbane and its Sister Cities. These have included:

- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – four year affiliation generated through seven visits including five delegations from Abu Dhabi

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Auckland, New Zealand – 25 year affiliation generated through 19 official visits

Chongqing, China – eight year affiliation generated through seven official visits


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Shenzhen, China – 21 year affiliation generated through 25 official visits including the Vice Mayoral led delegation in 2011. The relationship celebrated its 20 th anniversary last year

Daejeon, Korea – 11 year affiliation generated through 12 official visits, including the delegation led by Mayor Yum last year to celebrate the 10 th anniversary last year

Hyderabad, India – nearly a three year affiliation generated through two official visits including one led by then Mayor Reddy

Kaohsiung, Taiwan – 16 year affiliation generated through 20 official visits, including that led by Deputy Mayor Lee in 2011. The relationship celebrated its 15 th anniversary last year

Kobe, Japan – 28 year affiliation generated through 18 official visits

Semarang, Indonesia – 20 year affiliation generated through seven official visits.

5. Traditionally

international relations and multicultural affairs

are more about cultural ties however since 2009 these relationships have become much more economicly focused to encourage trade and economic outcomes. The importance of cultural ties in our multicultural community is however not forgotten.

6. Brisbane City Council works in partnership with various Federal and State government agencies in addition to numerous chambers of commerce to strive for positive economic outcomes for our city.

7. Brisbane City Council implemented business matching which has proved to be a key component in achieving a successful business mission. Over 200 individual business matching meetings were set up for Brisbane businesses in 2012 alone.

8. Ms Hold presented a case study on the Brisbane -Auckland Sister City relationship that was re-affirmed in 2013 with a

Lord Mayoral Business Mission

. Industries represented on this mission included food and beverage, infrastructure, tourism, major events and property services. As a result an initial deal has been brokered to the value of two million dollars. This figure may potentially increase to $10.5 million.

9. The Chairman thanked Ms Hold and her team for their hard work and her informative presentation.

10. RECOMMENDATION :

THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION IN THE REPORT.

ADOPTED

B BANK AND INVESTMENT REPORT – FEBRUARY 2013

134/695/317/3-02

62/2013-14

11. The Chief Financial Officer, Organisational Services Division, provided the Committee with the monthly summary of Council’s petty cash, bank account and cash investment positions as at 1 March 2013.

12. During the February period, total Council funds held by banks and investment institutions

(per general ledger) increased by $7.5 million to $244.8 million, excluding trusts.

13. Council funds as at 1 March 2013 held by banks and investment institutions (per statements) totalled $243 million. The variance relates to timing differences between transactions recorded in the general ledger and those reflected in the bank statements.


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14. Unreconciled bank receipts and deposits in transit are overstated due to reconciliation variances at the end of the period. These transactions have since been reconciled.

15. The Chairman and Committee noted the report.

16. The Bank and Investment Report for February 2013 is tabled for noting by Council.

17.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE REPORT TABLED BE NOTED.

ADOPTED

C BUSHLAND PRESERVATION LEVY REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED

JUNE 2013

173/695/586/3

63/2013-14

18. The Manager Financial Management, Corporate Finance Branch, Organisational Services

Division, provided the Committee with a report on expenditure for bushland purposes for the period ended June 2013.

19. The Bushland Preservation Levy Report is prepared on a quarterly basis in order to show the balance of funds held for environmental bushland purposes along with details of environmental bushland expenditure.

20. The Committee noted the information contained in the report and that the balance of the funds held for environmental bushland purposes for the period ended June 2013 was $1,419,894.

21.

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE REPORT

SUBMITTED ON FILE AND TABLED.

ADOPTED

Chairman: Councillors, I draw your attention to the notice of motion at Item 5 on the agenda. Councillor DICK, would you please move the motion.

CONSIDERATION OF NOTIFIED MOTION: -

Remove extended night-time and weekend on-street paid parking charges in the Brisbane

CBD, South Brisbane and Fortitude Valley areas

(Notified motions are printed as supplied and are not edited)

64/2013-14

The Chairman of Council (Councillor Margaret de WIT) then drew the Councillors’ attention to the notified motion listed on the agenda, and called on Councillor Milton DICK to move the motion. Accordingly,

Councillor DICK moved, seconded by Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS, that—

In January 2013, Brisbane City Council extended the payable hours of on-street metered parking spaces so that motorists had to pay to park between the hours of 7:00PM – 10:00PM and on weekends in the

Brisbane CBD, South Brisbane and Fortitude Valley.

Since extended night-time and weekend on-street paid parking was introduced in these locations, the

Property Council of Australia mid-year Market Report shows that since January these has been in 3.5% increase in the vacancy rate in the CBD pushing total vacancy up to 12.8%; which is the highest it has been in 20 years.


- 105 -

That vacancy rate could increase in the next half of the year, with other CBD retailers confirming they will close up shop at the end of their existing leases due to a downturn in business that they attribute to the introduction of weekend and extension of night-time paid parking.

In light of these significant effects on local small business and industry, this Council urges the Lord

Mayor and Civic Cabinet to take the appropriate action to remove extended night-time and weekend onstreet paid parking charges in the Brisbane CBD, South Brisbane and Fortitude Valley areas.

Councillor DICK: Well, thank you very much, Madam Chair, and I am very keen to see this chamber debate this motion tonight, because the business community in our city, the retail hub which gives so much to the economic development of our city is doing it tough. They are struggling and they are under financial pressure, particularly as a result of the decisions of this Council.

Last week, we saw a report by the Property Council of Australia, their mid-year market report, which showed since January there's been 3.5 per cent increase in the vacancy rate in our CBD, pushing the total vacancy up to 12.8 per cent, the highest in 20 years.

Madam Chair, there can be nothing more important, particularly in this economic timing where all levels of government are doing their bit to support the retail and businesses of our CBD. The vacancy rate we know, as a reported last week, and as a result of ongoing pressures, could see this expand over the next

12 months.

Putting it bluntly, retailers have made it clear. They are feeling the pressure as a result of the rollout of paid parking in our city. This is an issue which is dominating the debate, the discussion, across our city. We've seen exposes on the ABC, we've seen newspaper articles, and we’ve seen retailers speak out, because they are unhappy with the decisions of this Council.

Disappointingly, we are seeing the LNP administration making it even harder for

CBD retailers. They lay the blame of the downturn firmly and squarely at the rollout of paid parking and the extended hours, which was done without consultation, which was done against their wishes. It's been rolled out since this year and retailers have reported that they've seen a downturn between 23 per cent and 25 per cent in weekend trading since this introduction. Restaurateurs report a downturn of around 25 per cent in week night trading since the introduction of the extended week night paid parking.

No one is immune from the effects, with retailers, small business owners and even CBD commercial property owners raising issues with me and the administration regarding the current paid parking situation.

Councillor interjecting

Councillor DICK:

.

I note as we speak, representatives of the industry are meeting with the LORD

MAYOR. For those people in the LORD MAYOR's office who are listening to this debate now, I certainly hope the message is very clear. Labor councillors on this side of the chamber support the retailers and CBD businesses in our city.

It's time that the LNP did the same. It's time instead of focusing on the revenue, instead of looking at our streets paved with gold, that you looked in and did the right thing and supported the businesses in our city.

Councillor interjecting .

Councillor DICK: It's time that the local councillor, Councillor Vicki HOWARD, broke her silence on this issue and spoke out against the LNP. It's time, if they won't break ranks that she stands up for a fair go for retailers in our city.

What we've heard from the administration is nothing more than arrogance.

We've seen an administration refusing to listen. Don’t take my word for it.

Listen to what the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Queensland have said:

This latest move by the Council is little more than an indirect taxation on business and will significantly affect the businesses trading in those areas. It will lead to decreased customers and a downturn in sales and profitability.



Councillor DICK:


Chairman:

Councillor HUANG:


Councillor HUANG:


- 106 -

This was when the announcement came through in 2012. Well, what's happened? Exactly what the Chamber of Commerce and Industry has suggested.

What we've seen are retailers and businesses, speaking out, demanding action, pleading for action to the LNP. I call on you tonight to listen to what the businesses are saying. Enough is enough, roll back those changes that you have implemented which everyone knows are nothing more than an indirect taxation on businesses.

Madam Chair, we've also seen newspaper articles as recently as last Sunday, headlines for Brisbane businesses—Brisbane and Gold Coast businesses. Paid parking is good for Council revenue but bad for them.

That is the feedback from businesses. We've had it rolled in this year. We've had it rolled in for six months. It's not working. The scheme that you have introduced is not helping business. And who have we got? The only one person that the

LNP have turned to, to say that it's a good idea, a celebrity chef based in Sydney, the only person who thinks it's a great idea.

I implore members of the Civic Cabinet, the LORD MAYOR, all the councillors on that side, walk into a retailer in Brisbane, walk into the shops in Edwards

Street, talk to them, see what they’ve got to say. Say how is your business going, can we do anything for you? They will tell you one thing and that is please, please reverse the decision, which you didn't seek a mandate for—no one went to the election and said vote for us and we will increase the amount of hours for paid parking in the city.

Why has the Council done this? They've done it for nothing more, nothing less than to see revenues. We know that we'll hit and tick over the $50 million mark from on-street parking revenue and on-street parking fines this year alone, a record for our city. Up and up the figures go over the years.

In the 161 existing parking meters which are used for the 1250 parking bays, the changes that the LNP did not seek a mandate for, did not consult with businesses for, that are not supported by the retailers, are delivering huge amounts of money to the city. Why? Because of this financial mismanagement of the LNP.

The $50.4 million revenue target this year from on-street paid parking and parking fines is too much, is way too much. I want to make it clear that tonight we have an opportunity to send a very clear message to the business community, to the retailers, enough is enough; it's time that we saw action. The community has spoken. Now we need to see this Council swallow its pride and make sure that we do everything we can to support business in our CBD for employment, for jobs and for economic growth.

Further debate. Councillor HUANG.

Thank you, Madam Chairman. I rise to enter the debate on the motion put forward by Councillor DICK. It is always fascinating to listen to Councillor

DICK's arguments on economic issues.

Madam Chairman, to debate or discuss economic issues should always be based on economic principles and/or empirical evidence. According to Councillor

DICK's motion the Property Council of Australia's mid-year market report shows that since January there has been a 3.5 per cent increase in the vacancy rate in the CBD, pushing total vacancy up to 12.8 per cent, which is the highest it has been in 20 years.

Once again, according to Councillor DICK, it's due to a downturn in business that is attributing to the introduction of weekend and extension of night time paid parking. Isn't that right, Councillor DICK?

Madam Chairman, and my fellow councillors—


Chairman:

Councillor HUANG:

- 107 -

Councillor DICK.

I'm not sure whether Councillor DICK did it on purpose or was having trouble comprehending the content of this report. This report does not mention a word about parking. I think Councillor DICK has tried to confuse people by mixing his personal opinion and an independent report like this.


Councillor HUANG:


Councillor HUANG:


Councillor HUANG:

In fact, this report has stated some very important facts that have proved that this administration has been successful in its economic development.

And how this city could be more prosperous if we did not have this incompetent and wasteful Labor Federal Government.

That has mismanaged our economy and squandered our economic opportunities, and we now finally have an opportunity to show them the door on 7 September.

Madam Chairman, according to this Property Council report, the Brisbane CBD office market is going through a turbulent period, with staff reduction, starting from the mining industry.


Councillor HUANG:


Councillor HUANG:

Economically, that is a result of the Federal Labor Government's desperate money grab to fill their budget black hole by imposing extra mining tax on top of the existing mining royalties.

Madam Chairman, I believe all councillors probably except the councillors on the other side of this chamber, should know by now the difference between office and retail shops. Office occupancy is more impacted by government's economic management, whereas retail shops are more likely to be affected by local market confidence.

With this Federal Government's new desperate measures to pinch people's hard earned savings, I'm afraid it will further destabilise the market confidence and create more office vacancies in this city. I'm sure we all know what we can do on

7 September to stop this from happening.


Councillor HUANG: Madam Chairman, the Quirk administration has placed economic development of this city as our top priority and the LORD MAYOR has worked tirelessly with this city's business community in producing the economic blueprint of this city, namely Brisbane's unique window of opportunity.


Councillor HUANG: Identifying the strength and opportunities of our city and how we can accelerate ourselves towards a brighter future. I'd like to take this opportunity to challenge

Councillor DICK and his fellow Labor Party councillors to do some homework, to have a serious think about this city's economic future and come up with a comprehensive view instead of trying to score some cheap political points by mixing your personal views with an independent report, which suggested the contrary.

Madam Chairman, anyone who has real business experiences would have rejected this motion and the Dick-nomics behind this motion. Retail stores need the volume of customers to generate sales and increase their turnover in order to be commercially viable. Therefore the more foot traffic goes through these shops means more business opportunities for them. That is why this Council has decided to help these retail businesses, by creating higher turnover rates in the

CBD and surrounding areas.

Madam Chairman, I used to travel extensively across the Asia Pacific region when I was involved in international business. Most major cities in this region—



Councillor HUANG:

- 108 -

—have adopted policies to increase the number of parking spaces and maximise the turnover rate in their CBD. That is what we are doing and doing well in

Brisbane now.


Councillor HUANG:

Chairman:


According to an article called Australian CBD Parking, published by Colliers

International, the non-residential car spaces have increased by nearly 16 per cent between 2006 and 2013. At the same time, Brisbane CBD's monthly car park rates have dropped by $90 between 2008 to 2011. It is now cheaper to park in

Brisbane's CBD than Perth's CBD. Madam Chairman, adequate supply of CBD parking spaces is in everyone's interest, for too long lack of adequate parking spaces has been the major reason stopping people from coming to CBD to do business.

Retail businesses and restaurants need the foot traffic for their turnover rate, office businesses need to be able to invite and host their guests and people will now find it is much easier and convenient to park in our CBD. Madam

Chairman, this motion is designed to reduce the turnover rate in our CBD and the surrounding business precincts, which will do tremendous damage to the businesses in this area. I would urge all councillors to vote against it.

Further debate, Councillor ABRAHAMS.

Madam Chair, I listened very carefully to Councillor HUANG in how he was responding to the issues in this motion. Madam Chair, he failed, in my opinion, because he really didn't mention the issue of parking and what the motion pertains to, which is the introduction of parking meters to be operational On evenings and weekends. Madam Chair, that is the crunch of this motion and we, on this side of the chamber, read the media and see the business people in the

CBD—


Councillor ABRAHAMS: —who are generally not wanting to go to the media community with their grievances because they would prefer to do it with face-to-face communication, but they have felt they have had no resort but to go to The Courier-Mail , to go to interstate media, to go to the televisions, to go to the local paper and to local councillors requesting a review of the parking meters that are giving them an unacceptable impost in the evenings and the weekends.

Because that is what this motion is about. Now I listened to Councillor HUANG and he was very clear about saying, because he ignored it, that parking meters have nothing to do with the fall in their business takings, but in fact it was the down-turn of the mining industry, then it may have been Labor's problem at a federal level because of a tax and then it really was a wonderful twist because there are empty shops and more turnover—empty office space and therefore more turnover, the retail shops and offices would have an opportunity and that would be an economic benefit that has come directly from the parking meters.

Now, Madam Chair, that is an incredibly long bow where the reality of it is, we have people who have worked in the CBD, both within offices and in retail, together objecting to the parking meters and what it has done to their businesses which have been hanging on during the GFC, been hanging on with an economic downturn, which have been hanging on to the cuts at the State Government staff, which has meant a complete disappearance of half of the workers in the CBD— oh, a major amount of the CBD workforce with consequential flow on to all of those food and retail shops that were served by them. Then the final whammy of these parking meter costs at a time when the community has welcomed free parking in the limited spaces that are available.

Madam Chair, this is an issue of who sank the boat. I don't know if everyone knows this story, but there is the horse goes in the boat, then the cow goes in, then the sheep goes in and finally it is the mouse that sinks the boat. It actually is

Archimedes' principle. That is what we are seeing here. We are seeing a number of changes taking effect in our CBD, but the last one, the one that broke the back


Chairman:

Councillor WINES:


Councillor WINES:

Chairman:

Councillor WINES:

- 109 - of many of the businesses, certainly any hope they had in these hard times of coming through, with their minimal cash flow, were these parking meter hours at a time that is unacceptable.

Madam Chair, it is not for us as councillors to be all wise, to say to those offices, commercial businesses and the retail businesses, we know better and it’s not our parking meters, but there is another reason for your actually feeling the economic pinch. It is our job as councillors to listen to them and see that we are doing everything to get rid of barriers to their economic wellbeing. Madam

Chair, before we started this debate, we heard from the finance committee all the wonderful things we were doing to encourage an international economic growth in our city.

Madam Chair, that's commendable, but at the same time, we must be doing everything to encourage and retain the economic growth and the economic survival of the current businesses in our CBD. That is why we have this motion, that is why we believe it is appropriate for the administration to listen, to say, if there is any doubt as to the parking meters being the final straw for the economic survivability of even one office rental space, or one retail renter space, that is an adverse impact, that is too much. We should review this very indirect tax on businesses where we need it in the heart of our city.

Why I am so concerned, because that report from the Property Council, its greatest concern for me is to say “the Brisbane fringe market looks as though it fared better with vacancy, seemingly increasing only the result of supply additions”. Madam Chair, all of the things that we've talked about in terms of the economic downturn, the mining tax, anything the Federal Labor has done, has worked across the fringe and the CBD, but, Madam Chair, our weekend parking meters and the evening parking meters is something that pertains to the CBD and a very small part of South Bank that has had it for a long time.

So, Madam Chair, it's almost like the information we were given by that report proves we need to rethink this policy. We're making a killing out of parking fees, we're making a killing out of parking fines and the two are linked together.

Madam Chair, I know from the businesses in my ward, all they need is to have one of their clients come and get a fee, a parking fine, an unexpected parking fine and do you know what? They go elsewhere where there isn't a parking meter, so they're not exposed to that fine if they're overdue.

Madam Chair, the evidence is there, the action now to remove this impost on the

CBD is up to that side of the chamber and they should do it as a matter of urgency.

Further debate, Councillor WINES.

Thank you, Madam Chairman. I rise to speak against this motion. This administration takes parking control and parking regulation very seriously. We're committed to ensuring that these businesses get as much opportunity to turn over customers and get new people in, new customers and new opportunities, to form customers and increase receipts. The motion touches on the real fundamental problem, and that is 20 years ago—the worst vacancy rates were 20 years ago and 20 years ago was the last time this country had a severe recession. That really is the language we really need to be talked about.

During a recession, people tend to make alternative purchasing decisions and that is probably what is affecting these businesses. As part of this—the research for this speech, I went and I drifted onto the website of one of these businesses which was a lingerie shop, and I can assure—

I can assure people in this room—

Order.

That the prices got the heart racing far more than the wear did. I went and I had a look at the menu for the nearby restaurant and it has an excellent reputation on food it's very good, but its prices are terrifying. Madam Chairman, I can assure



Chairman:


Chairman:

Councillor WINES:


Councillor WINES:

- 110 - you and the whole chamber, I've never met a person I wanted to impress enough to take and spend those sorts of prices on.

In all reality—just to give you some context. Almonds at that restaurant, almonds, cost $6, $6, now that's for a pre-entree starter. If one were to go to

ALDI at Keperra, one could buy this much cinnamon cashew. Now, during times of economic difficulty, people substitute their choices. They can either have almonds or cinnamon cashews, and that's the decision that people are making.

The fact of the matter is, these are very exclusive businesses and people are making alternative choices in their purchasing. These are great forces that are buffeting these firms and I think Councillor ABRAHAMS was right to compare the effects of a parking change to merely a mouse, compared to the horses and sheep and cows that are these other forces that are buffeting them around.

Proportionally, that's about right. In fact—


Point of order. Yes, Councillor SIMMONDS.

Would Councillor WINES take a question?

Councillor WINES.

Yes, Madam Chairman.

Councillor WINES, I'm wondering if you could confirm that in contrast to the $6 worth of almonds, the on street parking is app $2 per hour?

That's right. When your choices—that's an excellent point. When you compare that you can park for three hours or you can have a bowl of almonds, which can be a tough decision for some, but in comparison isn't. So that is, again, proportionately—to stay there—to stay in a car park for three hours is less than a glass of wine there, it is about the same price as a bowl of almonds.

I did take note of this news article that was printed in this week's Sunday Mail.

It's a little known fact that for a small time I held the position of president of the

QUT Liberal Club. Such an esteemed organisation that it is. For a time, we did contest QUT guild elections, unsuccessfully, which is typically the history of

Liberal Clubs QUT. But, through that time, there was a Labor organiser on campus who bore exactly the same name as the person quoted. So I thought, that's—


Councillor WINES:

Councillor FLESSER:

Chairman:


Councillor FLESSER:

Chairman:

Councillor FLESSER:

Chairman:

Councillor WINES:

That's really unusual. So I called some of my other—

Point of order, Madam Chair. Point of order, Madam Chair.

Yes, Councillor FLESSER.

Are we talking about the motion that's before Council?

I believe—

Or does Councillor WINES—

Councillors—order. Councillor WINES, can you just clarify what the article is you're talking about? Is that a current article?

I'm sorry, excuse me. The article over off-peak meters by Andrew Macdonald and Greg Stolz. Don't take my word for it, read about it in the newspapers, as we're so often told in this place.


Councillor WINES: It is exactly the same article. In fact, if you were to read the last paragraph, Gold

Coast traders were seeking increased parking and increased parking opportunities so if only the Gold Coast were to copy our system of trying to increase opportunities for people to park. Anyway, my old QUT mates back at university could confirm that yes, the person named did hold the same name


- 111 - and—look, I'm just going to infer that roughly the right age, roughly the right circumstances, that this person quoted is in fact a prominent member of the

Labor Party and a prominent Labor activist.


Councillor WINES:


Chairman:

Councillor WINES:


Chairman:

Councillor WINES:

Chairman:

Councillor WINES:

Look, this very day—

Order.

This very day, the LORD MAYOR spoke in his E&C report that Brisbane was recently voted, as part of a nationwide survey—that Brisbane was the most business-friendly environment in Australia, number one out of 55. That this city is the most likely to advocate in the interests of business.


Councillor WINES: So we are committed to trying to increase turnover for businesses and increase customers and increase receipts to try and maintain their survival. Sometimes there are forces greater than the Brisbane City Council at work that cannot assist these businesses, but we are doing what we can to help them. Now, it's important to remember—now there's always a contest about when - a contest about the time in which the LNP took control of the Council, but let's accept that 2004 was the time that we took control of the administration. At that point, it was—the parking in the city was $4 an hour, that's in 2004, in 2004 dollars. Today, it's

$4.40. Ten years later, it's $4.40.


Councillor WINES:


Chairman:


Chairman:

Councillor WINES:

That's - to compare that, national inflation's run about 30 per cent, whereas here it's increased by 10 per cent. So if it were to grow by merely the bond rate, it would be up at around $5.60. Now - but it's important to consider what would happen if the LNP wasn't in control of the administration. If we - if Lord Mayor

Newman - or, excuse me, former Lord Mayor Newman had not won in 2004, it is made clear in the Transport Plan for Brisbane, put forward by the Soorley and

Quinn administrations —


Point of order against you, Councillor WINES. Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON?

Just relevance back to the motion which is about parking meters, Madam

Chairman, not previous Council —

Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON, it's a motion put forward by the Labor councillors, thank you Councillor WINES.

Sorry, I'd barely begun my point, Madam Chairman. But had we inspected these documents and had Labor won that election, this very day, make no mistake of it, there would be a cordon toll in this city. There would be a toll to enter the city.

Back to the parking meters. Order.

There it is on page 13.

Order. Councillor WINES, back to the parking, please.

There would be - here - let's just quote directly from this document on page 13, limited car parking supply through the city. Rationalise and manage the provision of on street parking in the CBD and [frame]. A parking levee - so not only were they higher - were they barely 90 per cent of what they were 10 years ago, there would have been a special levee put on and there would have been less parking and this magical work, rationalise, which is Labor speak for reduce.

So - but not only that, there would have been a cordon toll and there would have been - if you were to go onto page 14, GPS tracking so people had to pay per kilometre. Quite frankly, this administration recognises that economic conditions


Chairman:

Councillor FLESSER:

Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:

- 112 - are not good. We are doing what we can to encourage business in this city. We are highly sympathetic to the case of these businesses, we want them to stay here, we want them to survive, but sometimes there are things outside of this

Council's control that affect those outcomes.

So I would like to recommend that you vote against this motion tonight.

Any further debate on the motion? Councillor FLESSER.

Thank you, Madam Chair. This motion is very important to the businesses in

Brisbane. We know that this Administration, this LORD MAYOR, has got an absolute love of parking meters. The arguments that we have heard from the

LNP tonight are that we need a big rollover of parking spaces in the city. Well,

Madam Chair, do you know what? You can do that without parking meters. You can do it without parking meters. If that is really the real reason why the parking meters' times have been extended in the city, why not just put up signs and have them properly regulated?

Council officers can be out there making sure that people are doing the right thing. If people do the wrong thing, then they can fine them as they do. So, this motion is about supporting those local small businesses in this city to make sure that they have an equal opportunity against businesses that are outside the CBD.

So, this motion goes to the heart of looking after small business in this city.

It is very important that this Council supports small business. We hear week after week that the LNP's absolute priority in this city is for economic development. We hear the LORD MAYOR week after week talking about economic development. But what we say and what we do are clearly two different things. The changes to the parking times have put a big strain on especially small businesses in this city.

So, Madam Chair, what we should be doing is making sure that, when we make changes to parking times, we should be doing it in consultation with businesses.

My understanding is there was no consultation with businesses when this

Administration, and this LORD MAYOR, who thinks that the streets are lined with gold and that parking meters are a great way to fix up budget black holes in this city's finances that is not the way to run a city.

This Council needs to be looking after small businesses, looking after the interests especially of restaurateurs, of other small businesses in this city, to make sure that they get a fair go when they are competing against similar businesses out in the suburbs. So, where this Administration is going clearly is to hit the pockets of small businesses to make those businesses less competitive with ones where there aren’t parking meters. Of course, the worry is that what's going to happen if this Administration gets away with extending those times, what they'll do is they'll start expanding the areas.

How would it be if the times that have been extended also flow to more and more parking meters? That is the record of this Council's Administration. What we need to be doing is looking after small businesses, not punishing them by increasing the times that their customers have to pay to park in the city and in the CBD to go to those restaurants.

The speakers on the other side - Councillor WINES and Councillor HUANG - were all over the place. I'm not sure if they read the newspaper the other day.

There was a very interesting article about the very high vacancy rates in the

CBD. For them to completely ignore the signs that are out there, that the CBD is starting to suffer because of policies of this Council, is wrong. We have an opportunity here to right that wrong by supporting the motion that has been put forward by Councillor DICK today and supported by many of the small businesses in the city who are hurting. I would recommend that this Council absolutely supports this motion to give those small businesses an equal opportunity with businesses that are operating outside the CBD.

Further debate; DEPUTY MAYOR.

Yes, Madam Chairman; it gives me great pleasure to rise and speak on this motion. We have heard some interesting debate already tonight, and I commend



DEPUTY MAYOR:


Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:


Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:


Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:


DEPUTY MAYOR:

Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:

- 113 -

Councillor WINES and Councillor HUANG for their contribution, a very sensible contribution, and a contribution that was made based on the facts - based on a realistic view of this issue.

If you look at the wording of this motion, the whole premise of the motion is linked to the Property Council of Australia mid-year market report. What the motion does not say - and this is a crucial point - is that this is a mid-year office market report that was released. It is not a mid-year retail market report; it is an office market report. If you want to assume that off-peak parking is preventing people setting up their offices in Brisbane, then you are in some kind of fantasy land, because the whole point of off-peak parking is that it is outside of normal office hours. If you think for a second that off-peak parking has anything to do with office vacancy rates, you are in complete denial.

The reality is - and the Australian Property Council on their website indicates that vacancy rates have increased across Australia. Vacancy rates have increased in Sydney, in Adelaide, in other major cities of Australia. Is that because of offpeak parking? I think not. The reality is—

—the Property Council CEO, Peter Verwer, says there is no surprise that weak office space demand mirrors Australia's lack-lustre economic fundamentals.

Stubbornly low business and consumer confidence is impeding job growth and new investment which translates into dwindling demand for office space.

That is a quote from the Property Council. So if you're going to include something in your motion, do the research and get it right, because you have made a fundamental error in linking this report to off-peak parking. It's got nothing to do with off-peak parking.

Labor, if you heard them, says that we need to look after business. It is interesting; Labor has suddenly become the pro-business party. I commend them—

Order!

—I commend them on becoming a pro-business party. Maybe they’re all moving to the right - what do you reckon? They're moving to the right? Maybe.

The reality is, if Labor was truly pro-business, why are Labor policies crushing business? Because we have the effects of the Bligh Labor Government still affecting our Queensland economy, a massive debt, the higher taxes were brought in by Labor, were brought in by a Labor —

Order! Order!

—Government at the state level, and we see the same thing at a federal level.

The Rudd-Gillard-Rudd government is crushing business confidence with their policies, with their inept governance—

Order!

—and that is what is making a difference here. The Property Council said it. it's the weaker—

Councillor CUMMING!

—economic fundamentals that are having an impact here.

But let's have a look at the facts. We saw here in the Chamber a number of key points raised. One of them in particular was about the fact that this is a missquoting of the Property Council report. This is not about retail; this is about office space.



Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:


DEPUTY MAYOR:

Order!

—because business knows that car park turnover and turning over of those car parking spaces is essential to allow their customers to get access to on-street parking.

Labor would have you believe that this is all about revenue, and that the revenue coming in from this off-peak parking is why we are doing it.

Well, what else is it?

Their argument, though, is actually counter-intuitive, because if, as they say, off-peak parking charges were keeping people away, then we would not be getting any revenue. Those on-street car parking spaces would be sitting empty.

People would be shunning them and saying, no, I'm not going to pay the $2 an hour; no, I am not going to pay the $1 an hour. The reality is we know that that is the opposite of the truth, because people are using these on-street car parking spaces, and we are getting higher turnover rates.

So the argument that they have used about revenue has essentially shot themselves in the foot. You cannot say it is not working if there is money coming in to show that it is working. That is the reality of the situation. We have seen here comments about retailers doing it tough, and I acknowledge that the general economic conditions, not only in Brisbane but across Australia, have made it very difficult for many retailers. There is no doubt about that. But to pin it on one thing, such as off-peak parking, is completely unrealistic.

We know that retailers in Brisbane have confidence about the future. Yes, things are tough, but there are some great signs of confidence starting to improve. The classic example is the announcement just this week that the giant retailer

Topshop is coming to Brisbane. They're choosing Brisbane, and they are just one of many large international retailers who want to get into the Brisbane market.


Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:

- 114 -

We have seen here the Regional Australia Institute saying that Brisbane is a great place to do business. We're the top of the tree when it comes to supporting business, and as a local government, we are seen as extremely supportive of business. This is not something we have said; this is not something we are making up. This has been prepared by the Regional Australia Institute. They have named Brisbane as the most business friendly region in Australia, and that is something as I said that we are not saying. This is independently verified.

On the one hand Labor can try and criticise this Administration and link all types of strange things to off-peak parking. The reality is this Administration has the runs on the board when it comes to supporting business. We were very clear: the reason these off-peak parking changes came in was to increase turnover, to increase usage of the car parking spaces in the CBD. We had very strong evidence that many of the car parking spaces were not turning over after hours, so someone would park there for hours upon hours, taking a spot and essentially making that spot unavailable for other customers. That is a big issue for business—

Councillor ABRAHAMS! Order!

They are confident about the future of our city, and the retail space in our city, and they want to get into the Brisbane market. I believe that competition is a great thing, because everyone benefits from competition. So, these international firms that test the market all across the world are saying, we want into Brisbane.

That is not the sign of a city where retail is dead. That is a sign of a city where retail is really looking up and will grow in the future.

So, once again, this is not us saying it; these are other people voting with their feet, choosing Brisbane, wanting to do business here, and that is a crucial issue.

I would say that some of the very vocal retailers that have been speaking out against these changes have made comments to the extent that the $2 an hour or



DEPUTY MAYOR:

Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

- 115 - the $1 an hour, depending on where you are located, is turning their customers away. That is essentially what they have told us all; $2 an hour is turning people away.

Yet some of those same retailers, for example, restaurants, and one in particular, is charging $45 for a main meal, $30 for a starter. So, if you want a two-course meal, not including drinks—

—not including almonds or anything else, not including sides, you are paying

$75, and that is for one person. If you take your wife out, you're paying double that. So to suggest that someone will go and pay $75 for a basic meal, without any sides or drinks, yet they are not prepared to pay $2 for parking, once again that is a bogus claim. It is a bogus claim. The sum of $2 an hour for parking is the smallest part of their bill on the night. They pay more for almonds, as we have just heard. So, let's have some realism in this debate. Let's talk about the real numbers.

It is like saying that if you go to a five-star restaurant and you are paying $30 for the starter and $45 for the main, and then you are asked to pay $2 for sparkling water, it's the sparkling water that tips you over the edge. That's it, I'm not coming back ever again. We know—

DEPUTY MAYOR, your time has expired.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Further debate; Councillor DICK.

Thanks, Madam Chair, and look, in summing up the debate, I just want to say how extraordinary, how absolutely extraordinary it is that we have heard speaker after speaker tonight somehow criticising and condemning small business for what they charge, whether it be a restaurant or a shop. I mean, what arrogance on display that somehow it's because these restaurants are charging too much that it's their fault that they're not making a quid. I mean, have you ever heard anything more ridiculous? I actually have, by listening to Councillor

WINES who brought in the most spiteful and personal attacks on an individual.


Councillor DICK: Oh, we just heard the Lifestyle Chair say, of course, the person responsible for parking fines and revenue, who is reaping in the money, refusing to enter the debate—


Chairman:

Councillor DICK:


Councillor DICK:

Order!

—because she is laughing all the way to the bank at the result of small business.

The only reason they should be grateful, small business, the mums and dad operators in the CBD, they should be grateful because the LNP are delivering turnover. Well, here's a message to the LNP: they don't want it. They don't support it.

Here they say - they think it's a big joke, they think it's a big joke—

Oh, Councillor COOPER enters the debate, yes, that's right. They don’t have the guts to actually speak but they'll snipe from the sidelines. I think you've had a pretty rough day, Councillor COOPER, so I wouldn't be talking too much today.

Those poor Council officers are going to cop it from her, I tell you.


Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Order! Order!

So, we've got the owner of this apparent restaurant baron, or baroness, in The

Courier-Mail , the Sunday Mail article, Owner of Edward Street Yi Café and

Gifts, Vivian Ting, said the changes had been another blow to traders already battling a sluggish economy, high rents and widespread job losses in the CBD.



Councillor DICK:

Councillor ADAMS:

Chairman:

Councillor ADAMS:

- 116 -

Mrs Ting goes on to say, it doesn't help our situation. I was opening on

Saturdays for high tea - oh, it must have been a $75 high tea, how disgusting for you to criticise businesses who are just trying to make a living - and I ended up shutting because the customers were saying, it's just too hard.

Manager of Eckersley's Art and Craft store, Selena Binns, said, Saturday customers had dropped off by 20 to 30 per cent. We used to be able to tell people who had reservations about coming into the CBD during the week, they could come and see us on the weekend, but now we have to tell them they're going to get charged for that. Oh, once again it's very easy to laugh at the small business owners that are crying out of your policies.

They continue to laugh. It's not funny. We're not at the Young Liberal convention now, Councillor MURPHY. This is actually a serious issue that restaurateurs and businesses - let's be really clear. Those on that side think it’s okay. Not one shred of evidence has been produced as to why this policy has come in.

If this is such a good policy, if that is what it's called, provide the evidence. Put it on the table. Produce the letters of demand. Produce the petitions that suddenly all the businesses have said, we are struggling, we want more paid parking in the city. You can't, because it doesn't exist. The businesses which you purport to represent don't support this in any language that you see it. They don't want it, and they don't support it. You're ignoring them, and you're ignoring them at your peril.

There is one person who did not speak in this debate tonight, and that is the local

Councillor who is supposedly representing these businesses. Remaining silent on the sidelines. I know that they have contacted her. I know that they have been emailing her. I know that they have been speaking out on behalf, and all they've got is a big fat zero from their local Councillor, someone who has deserted them. Well, Madam Chair, this side of the Chamber won't. You can deride us all you want. You can attack me all you want. But we will continue to keep fighting for the people who are doing it tough.

You somehow think that this is a good policy and that it's supported. If that's the case, provide the evidence. Provide the data to back up your policy claim. You simply can't, because all this is about is revenue-raising. We heard speaker after speaker, the B team getting up tonight, talking about everything but paid parking.

Well, I can tell you, here's the challenge: between now and next week, take a wander down Edward Street, walk into the shops if you have the guts and say, Is everyone okay with extra rollout of hours? See what they say. Walk into Sony; walk into Eckersley’s; walk into Yi Café. If you're so proud of it, and you're so happy about it, walk in and say, re you guys okay with this?

If they've changed their tune; if they've stopped having the petitions on their counters; if - as I know that when they met with the LORD MAYOR tonight - he said he would reserve his judgment, all power to the business owners that came along. Stop the personal attacks, Councillor WINES, stop victimising the businesses that are speaking out, stop the bullying and start listening to what the businesses and the community want. It's absolutely disgraceful, the debate that's occurred tonight, and the vitriol that's come from that side of the Chamber.

Councillor ADAMS, yes, you're rolling and counting the money, refusing to speak, too arrogant to actually deign to enter into the debate. Happy to take the money—


Yes, point of order against you, Councillor DICK. Yes, Councillor ADAMS.

I believe it is against the local laws to be calling a Councillor arrogant. Maybe he thinks my behaviour is, but to say I am arrogant; I am sitting here reading a piece of paper.


Councillor DICK:

Chairman:


Councillor DICK:


Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

- 117 -

Interjecting - interjecting while I'm speaking.

Thank you, Councillor ADAMS. A great point of order, former Chair.

Oh, she's still interjecting. That's right, respecting the rules - not. Madam Chair, we know—

Still going. Still screaming.

Don't be distracted, Councillor DICK.

I won't be, Madam Chair. It's not worth it; it's not worth it—

Please get on with it.

—and she's certainly not worth it.

Madam Chair, what we've got to make sure is that the businesses are listened to.

That side of the Chamber tonight has an opportunity to vote with their feet, to stop being arrogant and actually start delivering on what this community and business community want. We've done that. We've listened to what they've got to say. Unfortunately, listening to the pathetic debate tonight, which was nothing more than vitriol and personal attacks on business owners in this city, absolutely disgraceful. You should hang your heads in shame. You should apologise to the businesses that have been victimised tonight inside this debate, in my opinion.

What we need to do is make sure that we're listening, working with the businesses that are struggling, that are doing it tough, and that deserve our support.


ADJOURNMENT:

- 118 -

65/2012-13

At that time, 7.04pm, it was resolved on the motion of Councillor MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Ryan

MURPHY, that the meeting adjourn for a period of one hour, to commence only when all councillors had vacated the chamber and the doors have been locked.

Council stood adjourned at 7.05pm.

UPON RESUMPTION:

Chairman: Any further debate on the motion? Councillor FLESSER.

Councillor FLESSER: Thank you, Madam Chair. This motion is very important to the businesses in

Brisbane. We know that this Administration, this LORD MAYOR, has got an absolute love of parking meters. The arguments that we have heard from the

LNP tonight are that we need a big rollover of parking spaces in the city. Well,

Madam Chair, do you know what? You can do that without parking meters. You can do it without parking meters. If that is really the real reason why the parking meters' times have been extended in the city, why not just put up signs and have them properly regulated?

Council officers can be out there making sure that people are doing the right thing. If people do the wrong thing, then they can fine them as they do. So, this motion is about supporting those local small businesses in this city to make sure that they have an equal opportunity against businesses that are outside the CBD.

So, this motion goes to the heart of looking after small business in this city.

It is very important that this Council supports small business. We hear week after week that the LNP's absolute priority in this city is for economic development. We hear the LORD MAYOR week after week talking about economic development. But what we say and what we do are clearly two different things. The changes to the parking times have put a big strain on especially small businesses in this city.

So, Madam Chair, what we should be doing is making sure that, when we make changes to parking times, we should be doing it in consultation with businesses.

My understanding is there was no consultation with businesses when this

Administration, and this LORD MAYOR, who thinks that the streets are lined with gold and that parking meters are a great way to fix up budget black holes in this city's finances that is not the way to run a city.

This Council needs to be looking after small businesses, looking after the interests especially of restaurateurs, of other small businesses in this city, to make sure that they get a fair go when they are competing against similar businesses out in the suburbs. So, where this Administration is going clearly is to hit the pockets of small businesses to make those businesses less competitive with ones where there aren’t parking meters. Of course, the worry is that what's going to happen if this Administration gets away with extending those times, what they'll do is they'll start expanding the areas.

How would it be if the times that have been extended also flow to more and more parking meters? That is the record of this Council's Administration. What we need to be doing is looking after small businesses, not punishing them by increasing the times that their customers have to pay to park in the city and in the CBD to go to those restaurants.

The speakers on the other side - Councillor WINES and Councillor HUANG - were all over the place. I'm not sure if they read the newspaper the other day.

There was a very interesting article about the very high vacancy rates in the

CBD. For them to completely ignore the signs that are out there, that the CBD is starting to suffer because of policies of this Council, is wrong. We have an opportunity here to right that wrong by supporting the motion that has been put forward by Councillor DICK today and supported by many of the small businesses in the city who are hurting. I would recommend that this Council


Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:


DEPUTY MAYOR:


Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:


Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:

- 119 - absolutely supports this motion to give those small businesses an equal opportunity with businesses that are operating outside the CBD.

Further debate; DEPUTY MAYOR.

Yes, Madam Chairman; it gives me great pleasure to rise and speak on this motion. We have heard some interesting debate already tonight, and I commend

Councillor WINES and Councillor HUANG for their contribution, a very sensible contribution, and a contribution that was made based on the facts - based on a realistic view of this issue.

If you look at the wording of this motion, the whole premise of the motion is linked to the Property Council of Australia mid-year market report. What the motion does not say - and this is a crucial point - is that this is a mid-year office market report that was released. It is not a mid-year retail market report; it is an office market report. If you want to assume that off-peak parking is preventing people setting up their offices in Brisbane, then you are in some kind of fantasy land, because the whole point of off-peak parking is that it is outside of normal office hours. If you think for a second that off-peak parking has anything to do with office vacancy rates, you are in complete denial.

The reality is - and the Australian Property Council on their website indicates that vacancy rates have increased across Australia. Vacancy rates have increased in Sydney, in Adelaide, in other major cities of Australia. Is that because of offpeak parking? I think not. The reality is—

—the Property Council CEO, Peter Verwer, says there is no surprise that weak office space demand mirrors Australia's lack-lustre economic fundamentals.

Stubbornly low business and consumer confidence is impeding job growth and new investment which translates into dwindling demand for office space.

That is a quote from the Property Council. So if you're going to include something in your motion, do the research and get it right, because you have made a fundamental error in linking this report to off-peak parking. It's got nothing to do with off-peak parking.

Labor, if you heard them, says that we need to look after business. It is interesting; Labor has suddenly become the pro-business party. I commend them—

Order!

—I commend them on becoming a pro-business party. Maybe they’re all moving to the right - what do you reckon? They're moving to the right? Maybe.

The reality is, if Labor was truly pro-business, why are Labor policies crushing business? Because we have the effects of the Bligh Labor Government still affecting our Queensland economy, a massive debt, the higher taxes were brought in by Labor, were brought in by a Labor —

Order! Order!

—Government at the state level, and we see the same thing at a federal level.

The Rudd-Gillard-Rudd government is crushing business confidence with their policies, with their inept governance—


Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:


DEPUTY MAYOR:

Chairman:

Order!

—and that is what is making a difference here. The Property Council said it. it's the weaker—

Councillor CUMMING!


DEPUTY MAYOR:


Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:


DEPUTY MAYOR:


Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:

- 120 -

—economic fundamentals that are having an impact here.

But let's have a look at the facts. We saw here in the Chamber a number of key points raised. One of them in particular was about the fact that this is a missquoting of the Property Council report. This is not about retail; this is about office space.

We have seen here the Regional Australia Institute saying that Brisbane is a great place to do business. We're the top of the tree when it comes to supporting business, and as a local government, we are seen as extremely supportive of business. This is not something we have said; this is not something we are making up. This has been prepared by the Regional Australia Institute. They have named Brisbane as the most business friendly region in Australia, and that is something as I said that we are not saying. This is independently verified.

On the one hand Labor can try and criticise this Administration and link all types of strange things to off-peak parking. The reality is this Administration has the runs on the board when it comes to supporting business. We were very clear: the reason these off-peak parking changes came in was to increase turnover, to increase usage of the car parking spaces in the CBD. We had very strong evidence that many of the car parking spaces were not turning over after hours, so someone would park there for hours upon hours, taking a spot and essentially making that spot unavailable for other customers. That is a big issue for business—

Order!

— because business knows that car park turnover and turning over of those car parking spaces is essential to allow their customers to get access to on-street parking.

Labor would have you believe that this is all about revenue, and that the revenue coming in from this off-peak parking is why we are doing it.

Their argument, though, is actually counter-intuitive, because if, as they say, off-peak parking charges were keeping people away, then we would not be getting any revenue. Those on-street car parking spaces would be sitting empty.

People would be shunning them and saying, no, I'm not going to pay the $2 an hour; no, I am not going to pay the $1 an hour. The reality is we know that that is the opposite to the truth, because people are using these on-street car parking spaces, and we are getting higher turnover rates.

So the argument that they have used about revenue has essentially shot themselves in the foot. You cannot say it is not working if there is money coming in to show that it is working. That is the reality of the situation. We have seen here comments about retailers doing it tough, and I acknowledge that the general economic conditions, not only in Brisbane but across Australia, have made it very difficult for many retailers. There is no doubt about that. But to pin it on one thing, such as off-peak parking, is completely unrealistic.

We know that retailers in Brisbane have confidence about the future. Yes, things are tough, but there are some great signs of confidence starting to improve. The classic example is the announcement just this week that the giant retailer

Topshop is coming to Brisbane. They're choosing Brisbane, and they are just one of many large international retailers who want to get into the Brisbane market.

Councillor ABRAHAMS! Order!

They are confident about the future of our city, and the retail space in our city, and they want to get into the Brisbane market. I believe that competition is a great thing, because everyone benefits from competition. So, these international firms that test the market all across the world are saying, we want into Brisbane.



DEPUTY MAYOR:

Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:


Councillor DICK:


Chairman:

Councillor DICK:


Councillor DICK:

- 121 -

That is not the sign of a city where retail is dead. That is a sign of a city where retail is really looking up and will grow in the future.

So, once again, this is not us saying it; these are other people voting with their feet, choosing Brisbane, wanting to do business here, and that is a crucial issue.

I would say that some of the very vocal retailers that have been speaking out against these changes have made comments to the extent that the $2 an hour or the $1 an hour, depending on where you are located, is turning their customers away. That is essentially what they have told us all; $2 an hour is turning people away.

Yet some of those same retailers, for example, restaurants, and one in particular, is charging $45 for a main meal, $30 for a starter. So, if you want a two-course meal, not including drinks—

—not including almonds or anything else, not including sides, you are paying

$75, and that is for one person. If you take your wife out, you're paying double that. So to suggest that someone will go and pay $75 for a basic meal, without any sides or drinks, yet they are not prepared to pay $2 for parking, once again that is a bogus claim. It is a bogus claim. The sum of $2 an hour for parking is the smallest part of their bill on the night. They pay more for almonds, as we have just heard. So, let's have some realism in this debate. Let's talk about the real numbers.

It is like saying that if you go to a five-star restaurant and you are paying $30 for the starter and $45 for the main, and then you are asked to pay $2 for sparkling water, it's the sparkling water that tips you over the edge. That's it, I'm not coming back ever again. We know—

DEPUTY MAYOR, your time has expired.

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Further debate; Councillor DICK.

Thanks, Madam Chair, and look, in summing up the debate, I just want to say how extraordinary, how absolutely extraordinary it is that we have heard speaker after speaker tonight somehow criticising and condemning small business for what they charge, whether it be a restaurant or a shop. I mean, what arrogance on display that somehow it's because these restaurants are charging too much that it's their fault that they're not making a quid. I mean, have you ever heard anything more ridiculous? I actually have, by listening to Councillor

WINES who brought in the most spiteful and personal attacks on an individual.

Oh, we just heard the Lifestyle Chair say, of course, the person responsible for parking fines and revenue, who is reaping in the money, refusing to enter the debate—

Order!

—because she is laughing all the way to the bank at the result of small business.

The only reason they should be grateful, small business, the mums and dad operators in the CBD, they should be grateful because the LNP are delivering turnover. Well, here's a message to the LNP: they don't want it. They don't support it.

Here they say - they think it's a big joke, they think it's a big joke—

Oh, Councillor COOPER enters the debate, yes, that's right. They don’t have the guts to actually speak but they'll snipe from the sidelines. I think you've had a pretty rough day, Councillor COOPER, so I wouldn't be talking too much today.

Those poor Council officers are going to cop it from her, I tell you.



Chairman:

Councillor DICK:


Councillor DICK:

- 122 -

Order! Order!

So, we've got the owner of this apparent restaurant baron, or baroness, in The

Courier-Mail , the Sunday Mail article, Owner of Edward Street Yi Café and

Gifts, Vivian Ting, said the changes had been another blow to traders already battling a sluggish economy, high rents and widespread job losses in the CBD.

Mrs Ting goes on to say, it doesn't help our situation. I was opening on

Saturdays for high tea - oh, it must have been a $75 high tea, how disgusting for you to criticise businesses who are just trying to make a living - and I ended up shutting because the customers were saying, it's just too hard.

Manager of Eckersley's Art and Craft store, Selena Binns, said, Saturday customers had dropped off by 20 to 30 per cent. We used to be able to tell people who had reservations about coming into the CBD during the week, they could come and see us on the weekend, but now we have to tell them they're going to get charged for that. Oh, once again it's very easy to laugh at the small business owners that are crying out of your policies.

They continue to laugh. It's not funny. We're not at the Young Liberal convention now, Councillor MURPHY. This is actually a serious issue that restaurateurs and businesses - let's be really clear. Those on that side think it’s okay. Not one shred of evidence has been produced as to why this policy has come in.

If this is such a good policy, if that is what it's called, provide the evidence. Put it on the table. Produce the letters of demand. Produce the petitions that suddenly all the businesses have said, we are struggling, we want more paid parking in the city. You can't, because it doesn't exist. The businesses which you purport to represent don't support this in any language that you see it. They don't want it, and they don't support it. You're ignoring them, and you're ignoring them at your peril.

There is one person who did not speak in this debate tonight, and that is the local councillor who is supposedly representing these businesses. Remaining silent on the sidelines. I know that they have contacted her. I know that they have been emailing her. I know that they have been speaking out on behalf, and all they've got is a big fat zero from their local Councillor, someone who has deserted them. Well, Madam Chair, this side of the Chamber won't. You can deride us all you want. You can attack me all you want. But we will continue to keep fighting for the people who are doing it tough.

You somehow think that this is a good policy and that it's supported. If that's the case, provide the evidence. Provide the data to back up your policy claim. You simply can't, because all this is about is revenue-raising. We heard speaker after speaker, the B team getting up tonight, talking about everything but paid parking.

Well, I can tell you, here's the challenge: between now and next week, take a wander down Edward Street, walk into the shops if you have the guts and say, Is everyone okay with extra rollout of hours? See what they say. Walk into Sony; walk into Eckersley’s; walk into Yi Café. If you're so proud of it, and you're so happy about it, walk in and say, re you guys okay with this?

If they've changed their tune; if they've stopped having the petitions on their counters; if - as I know that when they met with the LORD MAYOR tonight - he said he would reserve his judgment, all power to the business owners that came along. Stop the personal attacks, Councillor WINES, stop victimising the businesses that are speaking out, stop the bullying and start listening to what the businesses and the community want. It's absolutely disgraceful, the debate that's occurred tonight, and the vitriol that's come from that side of the Chamber.

Councillor ADAMS, yes, you're rolling and counting the money, refusing to speak, too arrogant to actually deign to enter into the debate. Happy to take the money—


Councillor ADAMS:

Chairman:

Councillor ADAMS:

- 123 -


Yes, point of order against you, Councillor DICK. Yes, Councillor ADAMS.

I believe it is against the local laws to be calling a Councillor arrogant. Maybe he thinks my behaviour is, but to say I am arrogant; I am sitting here reading a piece of paper.

Interjecting - interjecting while I'm speaking.

Thank you, Councillor ADAMS. A great point of order, former Chair.

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:


Councillor DICK: Oh, she's still interjecting. That's right, respecting the rules - not. Madam Chair, we know—


Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Chairman:

Councillor DICK:

Still going. Still screaming.

Don't be distracted, Councillor DICK.

I won't be, Madam Chair. It's not worth it; it's not worth it—

Please get on with it.

—and she's certainly not worth it.

Madam Chair, what we've got to make sure is that the businesses are listened to.

That side of the Chamber tonight has an opportunity to vote with their feet, to stop being arrogant and actually start delivering on what this community and business community want. We've done that. We've listened to what they've got to say. Unfortunately, listening to the pathetic debate tonight, which was nothing more than vitriol and personal attacks on business owners in this city, absolutely disgraceful. You should hang your heads in shame. You should apologise to the businesses that have been victimised tonight inside this debate, in my opinion.

What we need to do is make sure that we're listening, working with the businesses that are struggling, that are doing it tough, and that deserve our support.

As there was no further debate, the Chairman submitted the motion to the Chamber and it was declared lost on the voices.

Thereupon, Councillors Milton DICK and Helen ABRAHAMS immediately rose and called for a division, which resulted in the motion being declared lost.



Helen ABRAHAMS, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS, and

Victoria NEWTON.

NOES: 16 - The DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista



Ian McKENZIE, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Julian SIMMONDS,


PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS:

Councillors, are there any petitions? Councillor DICK.

Councillor DICK: Yes, Madam Chair, for the second time or maybe third time, I am presenting the

Inala Skate Rink petition. I have copied it, so if it gets lost, we're right. I've also got an ePetition from residents in Ellen Grove regarding sewerage.


Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:

Chairman:

Councillor HOWARD:

Chairman:

Councillor WINES:

Chairman:

Councillor NEWTON:

Chairman:

Councillor FLESSER:

Chairman:

Councillor GRIFFITHS:

Chairman:


- 124 -

Further petitions; DEPUTY MAYOR.

Yes, Madam Chair, two petitions - one asking for the general prohibition of smoking at bus stations, shelters and stops; and the other asking for no smoking at the Carindale Bus Station.

Councillor HOWARD.

Madam Chair, I have an ePetition on the development in Brisbane area.

Councillor WINES.

Madam Chairman, I have two petitions - one from the people of Scott Street regarding a traffic concern, and another one from the Mitchelton Football Club regarding their facilities.

Councillor NEWTON.

Thank you, Madam Chair; I present an ePetition on behalf of residents requesting a playground for Boondall Park. I present a petition regarding the

Decker Park playground at Brighton. On behalf of Councillor SUTTON, I present a petition concerning issues in Bulimba. Thank you.

Councillor FLESSER.

Thank you, Madam Chair; I have an ePetition regarding the naming of the

Banyo Memorial Bandstand.

Councillor GRIFFITHS.

Yes, thanks Madam Chair; I have four petitions for Councillor Nicole

JOHNSTON—two ePetitions; the first one is on No Future Growth Zone. The second one is an ePetition to install lights for Fairfield Road, a dog off-leash area. The third petition is for residents wanting improvements around Oxley

Creek. The fourth petition from residents in Yeerongpilly seeking improvements to their road resurfacing.

Further petitions; Councillor ABRAHAMS.

Madam Chair, I have a number of petitions; one relating to the demolition of character houses as code assessable; another one regarding the dual occupancy under the City Plan; another petition which I present on behalf of myself and

Councillor Shayne SUTTON, as this is a ward boundary, a petition for

Landsdowne Street kerb and guttering; a hard copy and an email petition on the

$10 residential parking restrictions; and an ePetition regarding the increase of the rate for the fringe property owners as part of the last budget.

Further petitions; Councillor MURPHY. Chairman:

65/2013-14

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

CA13/541727

CA13/541829

Milton Dick

Milton Dick

Requesting that Council purchase the old skate rink at

Inala for community use

Requesting that Council bring forward the sewerage main that is planned for Ellen Grove be brought forward

CA13/541970 DEPUTY MAYOR Requesting that adequate and appropriate signage be placed at bus stations, shelters and stops to indicate that smoking is prohibited at these locations

CA13/541657 DEPUTY MAYOR Calling on Council to ban smoking within the Carindale

Bus Station


- 125 -

CA13/541636 Vicki Howard

CA13/541600 Andrew Wines on behalf of Fiona King

CA13/541599 Andrew Wines

CA13/541519 Victoria Newton

CA13/541660 Victoria Newton

Requesting that Council make sure that developers are abiding by laws and regulations

Requesting that traffic calming platforms along

Strathmore Street, Kedron, not go ahead

Calling on Council to seal the dirt car park which services the Wests Mitchelton Rugby League Football Club and

CrossFit Mitchelton

Requesting Council fund a playground in Boondall Park,

Muller Road, Boondall

Requesting Council fence the playground at Decker Park,

Sandgate

Requesting a pedestrian/cycle bridge between Bulimba and Teneriffe

CA13/541726 Victoria Newton on behalf of Shayne

Sutton

CA13/541814 Kim Flesser

Steve Griffiths on behalf of Nicole

Johnston

Calling on Council to name the Banyo Bandstand as the

Banyo Memorial Bandstand

Calling on Council to remove Annerley, Fairfield,

Yeronga, Yeerongpilly and Rocklea from designation as a future growth zone under the proposed new City Plan

(This petition qualifies as a formal submission to the new

City Plan and has been processed accordingly)

Calling on Council to install lights in the Fairfield Road dog off-leash area

CA13/541901 Steve Griffiths on behalf of Nicole

Johnston


Johnston


Johnston

CA13/542116 Helen Abrahams




CA13/541907 Helen Abrahams and

Shayne Sutton

Calling on Council to develop and implement a rehabilitation and flood mitigation plan for Oxley Creek

Calling on Council to resurface and fix the damaged and degraded streets in Yeerongpilly, of Soden Street, Wilkie

Street, Crichton Street, Bradley Street and Park Road as part of the next budget cycle

Calling on Council to withdraw its plans to change the level of assessment for applications to demolish character dwellings

Calling on Council to withdraw its plans to allow two dwellings on one site in character infill and low-medium density zones through code assessable applications

Requesting that Council install proper guttering at the end of Landsdowne Street, Coorparoo

Calling on Council to reverse the decision to introduce paid parking permits

Calling on Council to reverse his decision to introduce paid residential parking permits

GENERAL BUSINESS:

Are there any matters of General Business? Councillor FLESSER.

Councillor FLESSER: Thank you, Madam Chair; I'd like to speak about Legacy Way and Material

Adverse Effects provisions. Earlier this afternoon we asked a question of the

LORD MAYOR about the Material Adverse Effect provisions that he signed off on the deal that Council or he has done with QMH over giving away or selling off the tolling rights for the Legacy Way tunnel.

The LORD MAYOR, in his answer, said, oh, look, it's all the same as CLEM7.

You know, if the Council or state sort of builds another road, well there might be some problem regarding material adverse effect, but look, it's just the same as


- 126 -

CLEM7 and you should know what was provided in CLEM7. Madam Chair, yes, I do remember that. I remember those wonderful days back when we had that lovely Civic Cabinet mixed up.

But the LORD MAYOR misled this Chamber. He misled this Chamber. He said it is all the same as CLEM7; there is nothing to worry about. Well, Madam

Chair, I am going to go through a number of points, one by one that clearly prove the LORD MAYOR either deliberately misled this Chamber or he does not know what's in the contract provisions for our sale of the tolling rights for

Legacy Way.

The first thing you've got to understand is that this is a 50-year deal. This

Council has given away the tolling rights for 50 years. CLEM7 was only 20 years. Legacy Way is a tunnel that will be owned by the Brisbane City Council.

CLEM7 is not owned by the Brisbane City Council. It was a BOOT system - that is a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer system - where this Council was negotiating with tunnel builders for them to build, own and operate and then transfer the CLEM7 tunnel back to Council. There is a huge difference.

We were negotiating with serious international bidders, and they were looking to minimise their risk, and we were looking to build a tunnel. That is a big difference to what we've got here today with Legacy Way, because the Legacy

Way tunnel is completely funded by ratepayers, and the tunnel, up until last week, certainly the risks were all on the ratepayers as far as tolling risks and construction risks were concerned. So, Madam Chair, there is a big difference between CLEM7 and Legacy Way.

Just to explain the MAE provisions, normally in these sorts of contracts they're there, and what they do is protect the new owner of the project against an organisation such as the Council or the State Government to build a road or do something that would reduce the number of vehicles using the toll road. That's what those Material Adverse Effect provisions are. I am sure that if the QMH decide to take Council on, there will be some sort of court case where they will argue, if Council does something that reduces the profits they're making from the tunnel, they will be seeking compensation.

So, first the LORD MAYOR said it's all the same. Then when he came back in the Civic Cabinet report, he said, oh no, Council is not up for anything. It's just not going to happen. Council is not subject to any MAE compensations in the future. Well, Madam Chair, he said that, and then he said, why don't you read the Clayton Utz risk report? Well, I'm glad he told me that, because I have, and while he said that, oh, look, it's all the same as CLEM7, the Clayton Utz risk report says otherwise.

I direct Councillors to page 1 of the report, and this is where the contractors that

Council used to compare the risk between Council continuing to own the tunnel, selling the tolling rights to QMH against what was agreed to in the CLEM7 contract, Clayton Utz should be well aware of what happened with CLEM7 because they were one of Council's consultants at that time.

If we look at page 1 and point number three, Clayton Utz say that the base case financial models which are relevant for revenue sharing and MAE relief will be recalibrated after year five on actual traffic. What do they say about that compared to the CLEM7 deal? They say that River City Motorway essentially accepted all traffic risk. That is a big difference, a big difference between what happened at CLEM7 and what's happening with this deal that the LORD

MAYOR has done with Queensland Motorways.

If we go to page two of that same report, these are the big ones. Point number six - this is what's happening with the deal with QMH. Accumulation of MAE events. Accumulation of minor MAE events within a six-month period can entitle QMH to make a claim against Council. The LORD MAYOR said that is not going to happen. It is not possible. Madam Chair, there it is in black and white. That is what Clayton Utz say. What do they say about how that compares to the CLEM7 deal? They say, 'This was not the case on CLEM7.' So it is not


Chairman:

Councillor HOWARD:

- 127 - the case on CLEM7. The LORD MAYOR says it is the same as CLEM7;

Clayton Utz say it is not.

Point number seven in the same document, Network events that may be MAE events. Certain additional - this is where Clayton Utz started identifying some of the risks to Council. Certain additional network events may lead to a claim against Council such as the material reduction, and not just the closure, of a principal traffic connection, changing the traffic signals for the Go Between

Bridge or change to the network approach to exempt vehicles, and that would apply to Legacy Way or the Go Between Bridge.

What did Clayton Utz say about the risk and how that compares to the CLEM7 deal? It says, these events were not MAE events on CLEM7 . So the LORD

MAYOR came in here today and said, oh look, it's nothing to worry about; ha ha, what are you raising questions like this for? He said it is just the same as

CLEM7 . Then he said, No, Council is not liable to any compensation if there is an MAE event, but the documents that this Council is relying on to agree to that deal say otherwise. So, Madam Chair, what other information does the LORD

MAYOR have? Have there been any reports done about MAE events that this

Council might be liable in the future?

What if the State Government decided to build a new road parallel to the Legacy

Way tunnel? What if the Western Ring Road goes ahead? Is this Council liable?

Let's say it happens in 10 years. This is a 50-year deal, 50 years. So at some stage in the next 50 years, if this Council or maybe the State Government do something that the QMH believe reduces the amount of vehicles using their tunnel, the tolling rights that they have bought, it is the ratepayers of Brisbane who will be looking at a court case where they will be trying to sue for damages under the MAE provisions in the contract.

So, if it was 10 years, Madam Chair - the chances of the state or the Council building some new road or doing some major upgrade to something between

Toowong and Herston in the next 10 years, that's probably pretty low, but this is

50 years - 50 years' time. So, the ratepayers are locked into this contract. The

LORD MAYOR signed off. He says, Oh no, it's not going to happen.

Everything is well and good. But for the next 50 years, Council is liable to a claim by QMH against anything we do that they think is going to reduce the amount of traffic using that toll tunnel, because they're the ones that have bought the tolling rights.

I think the LORD MAYOR needs to come clean. Has he got any other information about MAE events that this Council could be possibly facing some sort of court action against? If he has, I think that they should be released to the public. They certainly should be released to the Councillors here. For him to come into this Council Chamber and say that it's just the same as CLEM7, it is not just the same as CLEM7, and the report that this Council relied on from the risk consultants shows that it is patently untrue.

So, Madam Chair, the LORD MAYOR needs to come clean. It is a pity he is not here to answer what I am saying right here and now, but maybe Councillor

SCHRINNER will do that, because the MAE provisions in the CLEM7 deal with River City Motorway is not the same as what has happened with QMH, and we need some explanation about what ratepayers may be subject to at some stage in the next 50 years.

Further General Business; Councillor HOWARD.

Thank you, Madam Chairman; I rise to speak about the Brunswick Street Mall revitalisation and our ongoing commitment to making Fortitude Valley shine through the current phase of community engagement regarding the concept plan for the upgrade of the mall. Our concept for the $4 million overhaul of the

Brunswick Street Mall is part of the plan to boost the daytime economy of

Fortitude Valley, and I am delighted to report to the Chamber the concept has been very well received by stakeholders in the mall and in the wider space.

For the past month I have been out there in the mall, day and night, with Council officers, with my staff and sometimes just alone, listening to what visitors,


Chairman:


- 128 - market stall holders, residents and retailers all want from the upgrade at my community concept corners. For the most part, residents and stakeholders who attended the sessions felt that the process provided the information required for them to effectively participate and that the concept already reflected key aspects of their vision of what could be realised in the Brunswick Street area.

Specifically, participants supported the concept plan strategies to maintain views through the mall, the Braille trail through the site, to connect the site to the existing street pattern, to provide public access to the current buildings and laneways throughout the mall, to create an animated mixed use area, and to provide varied and distinct public realm access across the site. There has been great interest in the installation of the large wire roof catenary covering the central section of the mall which can support lighting and public art.

The potential retail, artistic and café pods, and their placement, has also been widely supported, as has a kinder pavement for all, but particularly the great many people with mobility scooters who use this space and have been wholeheartedly embracing the concept.

I think I have spoken to over 200 people in the course of my corners, have collected many email addresses to keep residents updated, and have been appraised of their issues. I am pleased to say that I can confirm a great groundswell of goodwill behind our concept. Thank you.

Further General Business; Councillor ABRAHAMS.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will be very quick, but I wish to speak on the City

Plan consultation and Helen Abrahams' website. It seems to me that Councillor

COOPER is more interested in my activities and what I am saying and doing than actually getting her core business, such as an outdoor advertising policy to

Council in a form that is understandable to the industry, to the Councillors and to the residents.

But tonight we heard a quote from my website. Can I say, I congratulate all LNP members who read my website. I am sure they will find it as edifying as the residents of my ward who tell me, as well as the development industry, they get much pleasure of knowing exactly what is happening in my ward. But it was quoted specifically by Councillor COOPER. I wish to read the whole quote, because there is nothing like taking something out of context and dropping it into a Council Chamber as if it then became liquid gold and a truth.

It relates to the consultation on the City Plan, and my comments are - and I quote, accurately, 'These sessions are excellent if you have a specific question to be answered. May I just paraphrase that to say I am supporting the integrity of the Council officers who are there to ask specific questions, and I will also support those officers. But - Madam Chair, it continues - they are not designed to give an overview of all changes. For an example, they do not mention the change to 9.5 metre dwelling heights and the new provision for dual occupancy.

It is worth asking about these as they can happen in your street.

Madam Chair, I would suggest that the context of me giving unqualified support to the consultation on this New City Plan has now been thrown out the door.

Can I relate my experiences in the consultation where I attended with residents in my ward, and often asked them, what particular issue were they interested in, and could I keep them company? It was edifying.

When I was downstairs in the City Hall and kept company with a resident in my ward who wished to know about bikeways, as he was a member of a bikeway group, he was directed on the iPad to the bikeway policy and the overlay, and not another thing. When he asked a few questions, the officer said, Sorry, I'm actually in traffic signals section, so I'm not too familiar. So then immediately we were very comfortable with that officer and did not wish to press them.

If I had not been there and suggested that the Priority Infrastructure Plan (PIP) for bikeways was pretty relevant for someone in that area, that member of the community would have known nothing about it. If we hadn't looked at some of the design issues that were also known to the two of us, we would not have got


Chairman:


- 129 - that information. Similarly, Madam Chair, when I was out at Coorparoo, when a resident asked information about their site, it was necessary to prompt to get a broad picture of what the changes on the City Plan were.

So I stand by my point. If you went and asked an officer what was happening in terms of the increased development on your site, you would get an excellent answer. If you were asking for the changes with which the new City Plan was bringing to a suburb, that was not in the process, and that was poorly answered from my experience and that of other residents who went and reported back to me, they left more confused and with little information.

Madam Chair, I was not actually going to get up and speak on this matter, but when someone wishes to take a poke at me, or make fun of what is going on, they leave themselves wide open to a process. We, on this side of the Chamber, believe because of the complexity of the new City Plan, because the tier on tier on tier that one has to understand to know what is going on, it would have been prudent for one time, just one time, for the Administration to have held a meeting which we would have encouraged our residents to go to, where an overview - these are the changes, this is the major changes and the minor changes. These are some of the most crucial parts of those seven tiers that you need to refer to if you understand what the new City Plan is, just so those changes could have been explained to the community.

Every time we now, in the continuing debate, hear just how wonderful the consultation is, I and residents who were part of that consultation in my ward, will know there was never any open, transparent process where the changes in an open area of discussion and information were ever given to the community.

It is the first step one takes when one is putting a new policy in place that really dictates how the rest of that policy will pan out. Every councillor on this side of the Chamber can remember when we had the debate, we had to do the reading and analysis ourselves, and the Council officers were beyond our bounds. To even ask a question of the Council planners in front of us on content was ruled out.

Madam Chair, the LNP need to hide their heads in shame on the consultation process. It is irrelevant how many people went on a website hoping to find information unless they are surveyed to find out whether they actually did find that information. It is irrelevant to say how many people came and asked a question if they left, as I do, virtually in every planning committee, without it being answered. That is the post-contact survey that will only tell anyone whether they really were served by the consultation process.

Further General Business; Councillor SIMMONDS.

Thank you very much, Madam Chairman, and I start by apologising to all my fellow Councillors, I know it has been a long meeting, but I could not allow the latest effort of Flessernomics to go unpassed. I notice how Councillor FLESSER challenges us on the Administration side to provide him with the information, and then living up to his namesake, FastFless straight out the door. I hope that he is not driving home as fast as he whipped out the door. We will read about it in The Courier-Mail.

You would not expect somebody - all of those on this side of the Chamber - who heard the answer that the LORD MAYOR gave to the question on this issue today in Question Time, to then read the tweet the Councillor FLESSER sent out a few minutes later about how the LORD MAYOR had admitted that he would have to pay compensation every time he builds another road. You would not expect from that person the truth, would you, Madam Chairman? Having heard what the LORD MAYOR said, you would not then read that tweet and think: this is a person who tells the truth. Unfortunately, when it comes to this issue, the answer is either that he hasn't read the very documents before him that he claims to have read, or he simply isn't telling the truth.

I am going to read from exactly the same documents that Councillor FLESSER read from. I am going to read from exactly the same documents, and look, I will read what he is referring to on page 146 under the heading 18.1; this is the term


DEPUTY MAYOR:

Chairman:

DEPUTY MAYOR:


DEPUTY MAYOR:


- 130 - agreements under possible MAE events - that is compensation. Point C,

“Competing Facility. A competing facility is opened to traffic prior to the expiry of the concession period.” That is what he has talked about. But the problem is, what he fails to mention is that it comes after page 115 which, under the heading titled 'No Restrictions' says this: “…nothing in the concession documents will in any way restrict or require the exercise of any right or power of Council or the state directly or through any authority to develop, manage or change

Queensland's transport network.”

Let me read that again. “…nothing in the concession deed will in any way restrict…” Well, that is pretty clear to me, Madam Chairman, about what our abilities are. It goes on: without limiting clause 13.1 - that is the one I just read out – “…Council, the State and all authorities will be entitled on their own account and to authorise others to exercise or not exercise any right or power they would otherwise have held to, (a) construct new toll roads, motorways or other roads, or (2) extend, alter or upgrade existing toll roads, motorways and other roads.”

There you have it, Madam Chairman, an unfettered right to upgrade the road network as Council sees fit, as we have always done, as we will continue to do.

Do you know what? There is another fundamental problem in the clause that

Councillor FLESSER has read out. If he bothered to read on page 15 - again, in front of the clause that he read out - the definitions. Do you know what the definition of a competing facility is under this whole agreement? This is what would trigger compensation.

Do you know what we would have to do to trigger this clause? We would have to - and I quote, “A competing facility means a new toll road tunnel directly connecting Toowong to Kelvin Grove.” We would have to build a parallel tunnel. I would be very surprised if those opposite would support it, because they didn't support the first one. So the idea that we would build in direct competition a parallel tunnel directly from Toowong to Kelvin Grove is laughable.

Councillors on this side of the Chamber are right to laugh, because it is a ridiculous argument. But we should expect no less from the man made famous for his Flessernomics. So he challenged us here today. He said, what is the extra information that we don't know? Well, it is in the same document. I just bothered to read the whole document. That was it, Madam Chairman. I bothered to read the pages before and after, and there you have it. That is how you do work.


Yes, point of order; Councillor—

Would Councillor SIMMONDS take a question?

I'd be happy to.

Would you be able to confirm whether Labor raised this during the debate on the Queensland Motorways deal?

Well, interestingly, Councillor SCHRINNER - and thank you for the question - they didn't. This is their big bombshell when it has taken them a week to figure out - a week it has taken them to go through those documents and read that one page, and that is the best they can come up with—


Chairman:


Order!

— after a week. Wow! No wonder there was fear for this Council when

Councillor FLESSER was the Finance Chairman in this place. It is a worry. He challenges us here to give the information that we have, and if he reads the

Clayton Utz report, it is very clear when it says that the risk that this Council is taking on as part of the deal aligns with that under CLEM7; it aligns with what you expect in the market place.


- 131 -

It is entirely appropriate, and I have no doubt, Madam Chairman, I have no doubt at all that in 50 years' time, whether it be Lord Mayor MURPHY, Lord

Mayor WINES, Lord Mayor BOURKE, they will be looking at this Council when they were just young Councillors and saying, I am pleased we did that.

Gee, I am pleased, because it has set this city up. We got Kingsford Smith Drive delivered.

Councillor FLESSER said, oh, we are giving away the tolling. We are not. We are not giving away the tolling rights. We are achieving what they never could, and that is new congestion busting infrastructure, the upgrade of Kingsford

Smith Drive. They should support it. Thank you very much.

Further General Business; I declare the meeting closed. Chairman:

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 26 July 2013)

Q1. Would the CEO please advise the annual budget for maintenance of backflow valves recently installed across the City?

Q2. Would the CEO please advise the maintenance schedules and frequency for backflow valves recently installed across the City?

Q3. Would the CEO whether there is a maintenance manual outlining best practice standards for the maintenance of backflow valves?

Q4. Would the CEO please advise which branch of Council is responsibility for inspection and maintenance of backflow valves?

Submitted by Councillor Nicole Johnston (received on 26 July 2013)

Q1. Would the CEO please provide a list of all projects, their value and location facilitated, supported or delivered by Council under the Community Development and Recovery Package funding in 2012-13?

Q2. Would the CEO please provide a list of all projects, their value and location facilitated, supported or delivered by Council under the Community Development and Recovery Package funding in 2011-12?

Submitted by Councillor Victoria Newton (received on 1 August 2013)

Q1. Could the CEO please advise how much is expected to be saved in the 2013/2014 year through the announced cancellation of the early payment discount for ratepayers?

Q2. Could the CEO please advise the number of Council Full Time Equivalent Employees in the 2012/2013 financial year.

Q3. Could the CEO please advise the budgeted number of Council Full Time Equivalent Employees in the

2013/2014 financial year.

Q4. Could the CEO please advise if there have been any changes to proposed zonings in the Draft CityPlan passed by Council resolution on 30th November 2012, since that date?

Q5. Could the CEO please advise if any changes were made to the Draft CityPlan after it was passed by

Council resolution on 30th November 2012 and before it was forwarded to the State Government for

State Interest Check?

Q6. Could the CEO please advise if there are any differences to Draft CityPlan passed by Council resolution, and the Draft CityPlan as advertised on the Council's website?


- 132 -

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 Victoria Newton (from the meeting on 30 July 2013)

Q1. In relation to the 2013/2014 Council Budget, could the CEO please advise:- a. What is the total number of rateable properties? b. c. d. e. f. g.

What is the total number of residential properties?

What is the total number of owner-occupier properties?

What is the average general rates and utility charges per property?

What is the average general rates and utility charges per owner-occupier property?

What is the number of Full Time Equivalent Council employees supported by the budget?

What is the reduction in Full Time Equivalent Council employees from the previous year?

Q2. What is the anticipated percentage net increase in General Rates and Utility Charges between the

2012/2013 financial year and the 2013/2014 financial year?

Q3. Could the CEO please itemise the budgeted Council financial reserves for the end of the 2013/2014 financial year?

Q4.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Can the CEO please advise how many new skate parks were built in each of the following financial years:

- 2004/05

2005/06

2006/07

2007/08

2008/09

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

Q5.

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Can the CEO provide details on how many people visited each of the following Council libraries in

2012/13:

- Annerley

Ashgrove

Banyo

Bracken Ridge

Brisbane Square

Bulimba

Carina

Carindale

Chermside

Coopers Plains

Corinda

Everton Park

Fairfield

Garden City

Grange

Hamilton

Holland Park

Inala

Indooroopilly

Kenmore

Mitchelton

Mt Coot-tha

Mt Gravatt

Mt Ommaney

New Farm

Nundah

Sandgate

Stones Corner


- 133 -

-

-

-

-

-

Sunnybank Hills

Toowong

West End

Wynnum

Zillmere

Q6.

Q7.

Q8.

Can the CEO advise how much revenue Council received from Parking Meters in 2012/13?

Can the CEO advise how much revenue Council received from parking infringements in 2012/13?

Can the CEO advise how much revenue Council received from parking infringements in 2012/13 resulting from parking infringements incurred for vehicles parked inappropriately in disabled parking bays?

A1. to A8. Information being compiled.

RISING OF COUNCIL:

PRESENTED:

9.09pm. and CONFIRMED

Council officers in attendance:

Andrew Langford (Team Leader, Council and Committees Support)

Stephanie Thompson (Council and Committees Support Officer)

Billy Peers (Personal Support Officer to the Lord Mayor and Council Orderly)

CHAIRMAN


on Tuesday 6 August 2013

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

The 4411 meeting of the Brisbane City Council, held at City Hall, Brisbane on Tuesday 6 August 2013 at 2pm

Prepared by:

Council and Committees Support

Chief Executive’s Office

Office of the Lord Mayor and the Chief Executive Officer

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE

INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT

COMMITTEE

ENVIRONMENT, PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

Park dog off leash area.

Options

92. Option (1) List Elanora Park, Wynnum North for consideration for a small dog off leash area in Council’s future Capital Works Program.

93. Option (2) Do not list the Elanora Park, Wynnum North for consideration for a small dog off leash area in the Council’s future Capital Works Program.

Option (1) is the preferred option.

FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE

BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE

FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

international relations and multicultural affairs

Lord Mayoral Business Mission

Remove extended night-time and weekend on-street paid parking charges in the Brisbane

CBD, South Brisbane and Fortitude Valley areas

Related documents

Products

Support

on Tuesday 6 August 2013

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

The 4411 meeting of the Brisbane City Council, held at City Hall, Brisbane on Tuesday 6 August 2013 at 2pm

Prepared by:

Council and Committees Support

Chief Executive’s Office

Office of the Lord Mayor and the Chief Executive Officer

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE

INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT

COMMITTEE

ENVIRONMENT, PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE

Park dog off leash area.

Options

92. Option (1) List Elanora Park, Wynnum North for consideration for a small dog off leash area in Council’s future Capital Works Program.

93. Option (2) Do not list the Elanora Park, Wynnum North for consideration for a small dog off leash area in the Council’s future Capital Works Program.

Option (1) is the preferred option.

FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE

BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE

FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE

international relations and multicultural affairs

Lord Mayoral Business Mission

Remove extended night-time and weekend on-street paid parking charges in the Brisbane

CBD, South Brisbane and Fortitude Valley areas

Related documents

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