MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
The 4416 meeting of the Brisbane City Council,
held at City Hall, Brisbane
on Tuesday 8 October 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 4416 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 8 OCTOBER 2013
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRESENT:.................................................................................................................................. 1
OPENING OF MEETING: ............................................................................................................. 1
MINUTES: ................................................................................................................................. 1
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: ............................................................................................................ 1
QUESTION TIME: ...................................................................................................................... 3
NOTATION OF DECISIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE AS
DELEGATE OF THE COUNCIL: ................................................................................................... 16
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (Information report) ............................................. 16
A CREEK ROAD BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT .................................................................... 19
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (Adoption report) ................................................. 22
A RESUMPTION OF 12 CREEK ROAD MT GRAVATT EAST CAR PARK EXTENSION TO MT
GRAVATT LIBRARY ......................................................................................................................... 37
B CONTRACTS AND TENDERING — REPORT TO COUNCIL OF CONTRACTS ACCEPTED BY
DELEGATES FOR JULY 2013 ......................................................................................................... 39
NOTATION OF DECISIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE AS
DELEGATE OF THE COUNCIL: ................................................................................................... 44
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE .............................................................................................................. 44
A PETITION – REQUESTING THE INSTALLATION OF A KEEP CLEAR LEGEND IN
DANDENONG ROAD AT THE INTERSECTION WITH BROWNIE STREET, JAMBOREE
HEIGHTS .......................................................................................................................................... 50
B PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL TO REVERSE THE DECISION TO IMPLEMENT
METERED PARKING IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, FORTITUDE VALLEY AND
SOUTH BRISBANE .......................................................................................................................... 51
C PETITION – REQUESTING AN UPGRADE OF THE LYTTON ROAD, APOLLO ROAD AND
THORPE STREET INTERSECTION IN BULIMBA ......................................................................... 53
PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE ....................................................................................... 55
A PETITION – REQUEST FOR FREE BULIMBA CROSS RIVER FERRY SERVICE ........................ 65
B PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL INSTALL ‘KEEP QUIET’ SIGNAGE ON STREETS
POPULAR WITH EARLY MORNING CYCLISTS IN THE TENNYSON WARD .............................. 66
C PETITION – REQUEST FOR BUS SHELTER LIGHTING AT BUS STOP ‘FOREST PLACE
SOUTH – 70’ ON BLUNDER ROAD, APPROACHING RANDWICK STREET, DURACK ............ 67
D PETITION – REQUEST FOR REMOVAL OF A BUS SEAT LOCATED AT BUS STOP ‘TORWOOD
PARK – 12’ ON HAIG ROAD, FAR SIDE OF ANNIE STREET, AUCHENFLOWER ..................... 68
E PETITION – REQUESTING AN UPGRADE OF THE BULIMBA FERRY TERMINAL .................. 69
FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE .................................................................................................................. 70
A PETITION – REQUESTING THE RESURFACING OF JENNER STREET, NUNDAH, BETTER
MAINTENANCE OF OXENHAM PARK, THE PROVISION OF LITTER BINS AT THE FOUR
CORNERS OF OXENHAM PARK, AND MORE PARKING FACILITIES AROUND THE NUNDAH
VILLAGE AND TRAIN STATION ..................................................................................................... 72
B PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL BRING FORWARD THE SEWERAGE MAIN
PLANNED FOR ELLEN GROVE ..................................................................................................... 74
BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE .......................................................................................................... 74
A PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL PLACE SIGNAGE AT BUS STATIONS, SHELTERS AND
STOPS TO INDICATE THAT SMOKING IS PROHIBITED AT THESE LOCATIONS ................... 77
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4416 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 8 OCTOBER 2013
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
B
PETITION – CALLING ON THE LORD MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO ENSURE DEVELOPMENTS
IN BRISBANE ARE BEING CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH RELEVANT SAFETY LAWS
78
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS: ................................................................................................ 79
GENERAL BUSINESS: ............................................................................................................... 80
QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN: ............................................................. 86
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN: ....................................... 87
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4416 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 8 OCTOBER 2013
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
PRESENT:
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Councillor Graham QUIRK) – LNP
The Chairman of Council, 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)
Fiona KING (Marchant)
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)
Shayne SUTTON (Morningside)
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.
MINUTES:
173/2013-14
The Minutes of the 4415 (ordinary) meeting held on 3 September 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.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Dr Charles Worringham – Matters relating to the proposed arrangement between Council and
Queensland Motorways, regarding the operation of the Legacy Way Tunnel
File number: CA13/527271
Chairman:
I would like to call on Dr Charles Worringham who will address the Chamber
on matters relating to the proposed arrangement between Council and
Queensland Motorways regarding the operation of Legacy Way Tunnel.
Orderly, would you please show Dr Worringham in?
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
-2Please proceed, Dr Worringham; you have five minutes.
Dr Charles Worringham:
Madam Chairman, LORD MAYOR and Councillors; thank you for the
opportunity to address Council about the Legacy Way Tunnel, and particularly
its potential use by buses and the need to still link this to the Northern Busway. I
am speaking today as a private citizen, but should note the strong interest in the
public transport use of the Legacy Way Tunnel expressed by many residents I
met while campaigning recently as the Greens candidate for Ryan and last year
for the State seat of Indooroopilly. I am confident that these views are shared
quite broadly.
It is widely accepted that excellent public transport makes possible better access
to employment, broader cultural and social participation, better health, major
energy savings, and reduced traffic congestion. Importantly, no one could read
the recent IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) assessment
report summary for policy makers without understanding the urgency of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A city like Brisbane can play its part by
making improved and affordable public transport its top priority.
It is no accident that three of the four planning experts featured in Friday's
Courier-Mail nominated public transport when asked for the most pressing issue
in long-range CBD planning. One of the respondents even called this the key to
making Brisbane a great city. It is therefore quite disappointing that the Legacy
Way Tunnel, whatever one thinks about the wisdom of building it in the first
instance, is approaching completion without the State and city having built or
having agreed on a plan for this link to the busway, estimated at less than two
per cent of the cost of the overall tunnel.
Options for a link near the eastern portal are probably now lost. But a link
further down the Inner City Bypass (ICB) could still be viable and would bring
major benefits, especially if combined with the York's Hollow interchange and a
bus lane ideally on the Western Freeway's approach to the tunnel's western
portal, and these benefits include major reductions in bus trip times from the
west—in some cases, literally halving the time to reach key destinations,
including both Grammar schools, Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill employers such
as Transport and Main Roads, the Royal Brisbane and Royal Children's
Hospitals, the showgrounds, the new UQ (University of Queensland) Oral
Health Centre, the Medical School, QUT (Queensland University of
Technology) Kelvin Grove, Kelvin Grove State College, and the Creative
Industries Academy, before buses could proceed to Roma Street and King
George Square.
Further, by cutting unnecessary transfers through the city, this could reduce bus
congestion in the CBD itself, as buses could turn before reaching Queen Street.
As the Lord Mayor three years ago, Campbell Newman wrote to ratepayers
claiming that, 'Bus users will benefit with up to 2000 express bus services able
to use Northern Link'—as the tunnel was then known—'each day.' Now, this
was a bold claim which has had no follow-up, but at least it did express a vision
for public transport in the tunnel.
Eighteen months ago, State Transport Minister Scott Emerson said of the link,
'I'm very aware it's an option, but I'm also aware it's got a $30 million price tag
on it.' The current LORD MAYOR has stated encouragingly that, 'We will
continue to look at other options to support this link.' However, with no
connection, inbound buses using the tunnel would have to access the busway via
the current off-ramp near the Royal Brisbane Hospital, already a peak-hour
bottleneck, but much more significantly, outbound services using the busway
could get to the tunnel only with a three-kilometre detour up Gympie Road,
through four sets of lights, to access the ICB via the Airport Link overpass, and
there would still be no outbound boarding access from Spring Hill.
This situation was labelled by Robert Dow of RAIL Back on Track, 'one of the
most audacious publicly obvious failings in western suburbs transport planning,'
adding that, 'the idea of public transport being able to use Legacy Way appears
to have been set up to fail and nothing but transit wash.' Even at this late stage, I
urge the Council and State Government not to allow the Legacy Way to open
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
-3without committing to this link. This requires an urgent review of the remaining
options, working with the State Government to prioritise this project in the State
Infrastructure budget, and ensuring exemption of tolls for buses, as is the case
for other roads operated by Queensland Motorways.
Options for a link include an inbound bus lane on the north side of the ICB, or a
connection to Gilchrist Avenue. Outbound buses could access the ICB from the
Bowen Hills Busway bridge or use Gilchrist Avenue and connect to the ICB via
a short tunnel. In either case, a bus interchange near the York's Hollow
pedestrian bridge just down the hill from the Centenary Pool should be on the
table, because this would provide safe bus access for three major schools and
Spring Hill in both inbound and outbound directions.
I suggest that the Legacy Way without a busway link would be a major lost
opportunity for the city and a false economy. With the Coalition Government
claiming that it will be an infrastructure focused government, surely it is time to
give this proposal renewed and serious attention.
Chairman:
Thank you, Dr Worringham.
Dr Charles Worringham:
Thank you for the opportunity to address the Council.
Chairman:
Thank you. If you would like to take a seat for a moment? DEPUTY MAYOR,
would you like to respond?
Response by the DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, Chairman of the Infrastructure
Committee
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you, Dr Worringham. We appreciate you coming in and we acknowledge
that the issue you have raised is an important one, and one that certainly this
Council put on the table many years ago. We at the Council level have in a
number of instances in the past put forward positive infrastructure suggestions
that relate to public transport that have then subsequently been taken up by the
State. The busway network is an example of this, where Council was very much
involved in the planning and proposal of the busway network in the early stages.
It was then taken on by the State and is delivering great results for our city.
I am pleased that you have acknowledged the great public transport benefits that
can be undertaken through Legacy Way as a project. It is not just a project that
can benefit cars; also public transport as well. That is one thing that we have had
in mind from the early days.
But the issue here is that the point where Legacy Way ends in Kelvin Grove is
also very close to existing busway infrastructure. So we have the Inner Northern
Busway running through there, and the Royal Brisbane Hospital Busway
connection nearby. So we have, right from the early days, seen the potential of
that connection.
Our role as the Council we see as very much an advocacy agency in terms of
this infrastructure. It is actually the State Government's decision to build and
fund this infrastructure, just as they have with the busway network. We are
continuing to talk to the State Government about opportunities to improve the
busway network, particularly around that section of Brisbane, and we will
continue advocating for a good outcome when it comes to upgrading the busway
infrastructure.
So, thank you very much for your time. Understand that you have made a very
good point today, and something that we agree with. I think in this case it will
be ultimately a State Government decision to make, but we certainly can see the
benefits of that connection. Thank you.
QUESTION TIME:
Chairman:
Are there any questions of the LORD MAYOR or a Chairman of any of the
Standing Committees? Councillor MARX.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
-4Question 1
Councillor MARX:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. LORD MAYOR, I understand that the recent
business delegation to Asia and attendance at the Asian Pacific Cities Summit
had significant benefits for those businesses that attended. Can you please detail
some of these outcomes and explain how this trip will have a positive impact on
our local economy?
LORD MAYOR:
Well, thank you very much, Madam Chairman, and I thank Councillor MARX
for the question. It is true, and I might deal with this in two parts. Firstly, in
terms of a business mission, we went into four cities in China over four days—
the cities of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Chongqing and Chengdu, and then on to the
Asia Pacific Cities Summit in the city of Kaohsiung. So three of those, of
course, Kaohsiung, Chongqing and Shenzhen are sister cities of Brisbane.
To summarise, there were five cities that we visited. We had a total number of
formal business matching meetings of 260 in total. There were 700 people
attended the business forums that we undertook in each of those cities. As far as
outcomes are concerned, as we know there is normally a time lag between the
initial meetings and the actual outcome of doing business in Asia. It is about
establishing the relationship. But I can report that we have seen some outcomes
already. For example, Place Design Group, who were on that business mission
with us, have received a multimillion dollar contract. The first payment of that
contract has already been made, to the value of $AUS1 million, and that is a
multimillion dollar contract and that number will continue to grow.
We also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Royal
Brisbane Institute of Technology and that of the Taipei Chengshih University of
Science and Technology. This is a rather interesting one. It is to deliver
responsible gambling programs, and that is a contract value of half a million
dollars in that particular case.
Probably one of the most exciting prospects rests with a company that has been
looking at undertaking business in China for a few years. They have been
chipping away, and this is a company called Solar Farmers. They reported a
breakthrough in negotiations with the Chinese Government and developers after
three years of negotiation. The Chairman, Craig Belmano, has written here—he
says, 'The support and political weight has led to a breakthrough in the business
dealings between Solar Farmers, Chinese developers and the Government of the
People's Republic of China.
This is a breakthrough that Solar Farmers has been trying to achieve for the last
three years, and has only been made possible by the direct government-togovernment meetings and business matching meetings between Brisbane and
China. This represents the first time that an Australian solar EPC (Engineering,
Procurement and Construction) company has been asked to undertake large
scale solar projects in mainland China, and provides solar farmers and the
Chinese Government with a model that can be used to roll out large scale solar
in China using Australian knowhow.' So, we wish that company continued
success in their negotiations, and I hope that that will be one of the classic winwin outcomes.
In discussions with Mayor Xu of Shenzhen, for example, he indicated to me that
he has closed down some 10,000 businesses in the last three years, polluting
businesses, as they embark on what they need to do as a nation to sort out some
of the environmental issues that they have. So, Madam Chairman, the business
mission was very, very successful. A number of those businesses, I am sure, will
continue to report on positive outcomes to their discussions over time, and as
with all of these things, those figures, those outcomes, will grow in size.
As far as the Asia Pacific Cities Summit was concerned, I want to thank Mayor
Chu Chen and Deputy Mayor Lee and their team for putting together the Asia
Pacific Cities Summit. It was a summit which saw in excess of 1200 delegates in
attendance. There were 104 cities represented, and mayors and deputy mayors
from nearly 70 cities around the world. So, I am very happy to say that Brisbane
was very much at the forefront and focus of that summit. I thank the city of
Kaohsiung for the amount of coverage that they provided to Brisbane as
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
-5Secretariat for the event at the summit. So it was a very successful event. I thank
Councillor SIMMONDS for his role in an official capacity in terms of the youth
forum and other aspects of that summit. I thank other Councillors—
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR, your time has expired. Thank you.
LORD MAYOR:
Wow, that was quick. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Question 2
Chairman:
Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. It has been
reported by the Integrity Commissioner that five of your policy advisors and
Civic Cabinet members have recently met the lobbyist company, Rowland
Company, on behalf of a group called Future Quarry Resources. What was the
intent and purposes of these meetings, and can you please give an assurance that
you will reject any proposal to privatise or sell-off ratepayers' owned quarry
assets?
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks, Madam Chairman, and I thank the Opposition Leader for the question. I
have no idea what those meetings might have been about. But can I just say that,
as an Administration, as a city government, we meet with all sorts of people on
all sorts of issues, and we continue to do so. We will continue to do so. It is an
important part of governing a city to meet with a whole range of organisations.
There is always a sinister twist to the questions from the Leader of the
Opposition. He is always out there to try and spread a bit of fear, a bit of
controversy.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
I just say that I do not care how many questions of this sort he asks me; it will
not change my modus operandi—
A Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
—because as a city government—
Chairman:
Councillor DICK!
LORD MAYOR:
—as a city government, I would expect each of my chairmen of committees—I
would expect the officers that are there to assist us in city government to be
active in the marketplace, to be in touch with people that are doing business in
this city or wanting to do business in this city. We will offer no apology
whatsoever in relation to any activity that we undertake.
As a city government, we are always going to be searching for the most efficient
way of doing things. We are always going to be searching for outcomes which
will deliver—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
—value for money for the people of Brisbane. It would probably be in that same
vein that the Labor Party closed down the Manly Nurseries. It would probably
be in that same vein that they closed down the Council's Poinsettia Press. It
would probably be in that same vein that they went to New Zealand to find a
company to come and cut our grass in our parks.
So, Madam Chairman, I don't know what the Opposition Leader is on about. He
has had a number of weeks, and there are lots of moo cows happening over in
the Opposition—mmmmm—lots of moo cows. I just say that the Opposition
Leader has had a long time to come up with some questions, and he is going to
have to do a little bit better than that one. We will continue to get on with the
business of governing this city, and if that means meeting with all sorts of
people, then meeting with all sorts of people we will.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor WINES.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
-6Question 3
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor WINES:
Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the—
Chairman:
Order!
Councillor WINES:
—Chairman of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee, Councillor ADAMS. The
recent Brisbane Festival was an outstanding success. Can you please update the
Chamber on the success of this event and provide information as to how events
such as these are making Brisbane Australia's new world city?
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Councillor WINES, for the question. Yes, Madam Chair, I am very
pleased to stand up here today and say that this year's Brisbane Festival, which
commenced on 7 September and ended with the biggest bang we have seen ever,
I think, on 28 September, was an enormous success for Brisbane and South-East
Queensland. I think the people of Brisbane and South East Queensland, and
even right across the State, are starting to recognise the significant opportunities
to become a part of the capital's festival in these three weeks and all the cultural
and recreational delights you can actually be involved in, with very low cost, if
no cost, as well.
To give you an indication of some of the successes and highlights we have had
in those three weeks, 470,000 people turned out on the banks of the river to
watch the Sunsuper Riverfire, and that was about the same matched on TV as
well, so nearly 1 million people actually watched the fireworks live on that
Saturday night. The box office records were smashed this year, with a 30 per
cent increase over last year's results for Brisbane Festival. A total of 440,000
flocked to the South Bank to see the Santos GLNG City of Lights every night.
That is up 50 per cent on last year on what we saw for this. Of course, that
includes the 300,000 that visited the lounge and enjoyed the beautiful Brisbane
Airport Light Garden which was a beautiful stunning display of lights outside
the lounge and the Spiegeltent at the cultural forecourt.
We had sell-out shows with La Soirée, Freeze Frame, Calexico, Hungry Kids of
Hungary, and Psycho Beach Party. You needed to get your tickets early. The
important part for us, though, as marketing Brisbane, Australia's new world city,
and the economic development that these festivals bring is that we did have a
highly successful marketing campaign. We introduced the campaign concept
that September is Brisbane Festival.
Everywhere you looked was pink for those three weeks, from the Story Bridge,
through the Treasury Casino, right down Coronation Drive—everybody saw a
pink bunny hiding somewhere over that three weeks. This was a visual art
project instigated by street artist Stormie Mills, and we had—I won't tell you
how many bunnies, but more than just one bunny that hopped around different
locations over those three weeks. They were a huge hit. People everywhere were
getting photos with the bunnies. Obviously there was a big social media
campaign with that as well, to increase the awareness. Asking the question: what
is the pink bunny? was what led to the Brisbane Festival investigation.
Of course, we also had the continued marketing through the banners, the bus
packs, and side campaigns, GOA billboards, which have been supporting the
Riverfire and the river festival for 16 years, did a fantastic job of advertising
throughout Brisbane, and of course there are many Councillors here who
enjoyed the fantastic works of the high school students through the photography
competition that GOA held for high school students in showing Brisbane Parks:
Garden Cities and Urban Jungles. Councillor HOWARD and I were pipped at
the post, I think, by Councillor McLACHLAN, but we got runners up in our
category in our schools as well, so it was great to see.
What we saw on social media, though, was the increased interest this year with
Brisbane Festival—a nearly 25 per cent increase on the total website visits over
the three weeks. We had a 69 per cent increase on the Facebook from last year.
We had a 46 per cent increase on the Twitter use through the Brisbane Festival.
It does have one of the largest social networks of any arts organisation in
Queensland. It is second only to the Sydney Festival of all festivals in Australia
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
-7when it comes to marketing media. So that is in addition to 2250 media clips
seen right around the world.
Guardian Australia websites sent journalists and videographers, daily
podgraphs, photo galleries. We were the front page of the paper's UK website
twice, and we were the front page of the paper's US website, and front page of
the UK and US culture section every day that they were here for those three
weeks. I think that is an outstanding result, getting the message right throughout
the world that we are a new world city.
This led to a culmination of ticket sales exceeding 1.6 million this year for
Brisbane Festival; as I mentioned earlier, a 30 per cent increase on what we saw
last year. Some of the highlights of those performances included Brisbane Sings
Choir, which opened the ‘Welcome to Country’ on the opening night, all of the
kids programs which had a great response, sell-outs during the week of the
school holidays. Some specific Spiegeltent performances for the kids in
particular. As I said, La Soirée performances were complete sell-outs, as were
Freeze Frames. The Australian premiere of Fabulous Beast's double bill: The
Rite of Spring and Petrushka; about an average of 5000 each night at the River
Stage when we had the Queensland Symphony Orchestra on the Friday night
and the Symphony Orchestra and the Opera on the Saturday night.
Madam Chair, the stats aren't in for the economic development—
Chairman:
Your time has expired, Councillor ADAMS, thank you.
Councillor ADAMS:
—but I think there will be some very happy restaurants in Brisbane.
Chairman:
Councillor DICK.
Question 4
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Why won't
you be upfront with Brisbane's residents? Your Civic Cabinet members and staff
have met the Rowland Group and Future Quarry Resources five times in six
weeks discussing commercial quarrying plans. Is this about selling ratepayers'
quarry assets or establishing a new super quarry somewhere in Brisbane?
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, I thank the Opposition Leader for the question. Again, can I
just say that Council officers, Council Policy Liaison officers on behalf of
Chairman, on occasions, meet with people in this city. I can't answer it much
more differently to what I did in the first occasion. I simply say to the
Opposition Leader this: we would not be doing our job if we did not continue to
explore whether we are getting value for money out of assets that we have. We
are not going to stop looking at doing that. Councillor ABRAHAMS, with your
'ahhs', you were there when you backed—
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Councillor ABRAHAMS!
LORD MAYOR:
You were there when you backed the selling off of Poinsettia Press; you were
there when you backed—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
LORD MAYOR:
—the sale of Manly Nursery.
Chairman:
Just a moment, LORD MAYOR. Point of order against you; yes, Councillor
JOHNSTON?
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, I let it go the first time, but the question is about quarries, as
I understand it. The LORD MAYOR is being irrelevant. He is not addressing the
question. He is required to do so under the Rules of Procedure, and I would ask
that you bring him back to the question which is about what his staff and
Chairman know about meetings to do with quarries.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, I don't uphold your point of order. I think when
Councillors are interjecting while the LORD MAYOR is trying to give an
answer, he has every right to respond to those interjections. LORD MAYOR.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
-8Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Yes, Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Madam Chair, the LORD MAYOR is misleading the Council. I was not there
when he was referring to those decisions. I was a Council officer and not privy
to any of those decisions.
Chairman:
Thank you, Councillor ABRAHAMS. LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Well, Madam Chairman, I withdraw that about Councillor ABRAHAMS. I
thought she was there at the time. Those decisions must have been taken a little
before her coming to Council as a Councillor.
But, Madam Chairman, I can tell you that each and every one of her Labor Party
colleagues who she shared time with, and who were there before her, very much
did support the letting out of Council of those particular ventures.
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Order!
LORD MAYOR:
We had our own printing shop; we had our own nursery.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON?
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, the Rules of Procedure are clear. They require an answer to
the question. The question is about what Council staff and Chairmen knew about
quarries and discussions with a quarry provider. This is not relevant to the
question. I ask that you draw the LORD MAYOR back to answering the
question.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, the LORD MAYOR has already indicated in the first
time he was asked this question what his position was. I think it is quite
relevant—
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
He did, right at the beginning, if anyone was listening. It is quite relevant to the
answer, that the LORD MAYOR has every right to make a comparison between
what might be happening in this Administration and what happened in the
previous Labor Administration. LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, certain inferences are being drawn in the question itself. I
said at the very outset, if people were listening, that I was not aware of those
particular meetings. I don't know of all the meetings that are held across this
organisation. No Lord Mayor—
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON!
LORD MAYOR:
No Lord Mayor in history has known of all the meetings that are held in the
organisation. But I make it clear that I never rule anything in or out around this
place. We will continue to look in every area for savings, for opportunities to
drive value for money. That is something clearly that the Labor Party objects to
in Opposition. But from the instances and examples that I have given
demonstrates that they must have been thinking about it and involved in it in
Administration.
I am simply putting those things on the table because of the inference drawn by
the question. The question cuts right at the heart of a particular Council activity.
Whilst Councillor JOHNSTON may not like it, the fact of the matter is I am
drawing some analogies between the question and Labor's own position when
they were in the government benches of this city.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
LORD MAYOR:
There is nothing wrong in doing that, Madam Chairman, I would have thought.
This is a house of—
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
-9Chairman:
Point of order against you, LORD MAYOR. Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, I draw your attention to the Rules of Procedure which state
that you are not—thank you, I am channelling John Campbell here—you are not
allowed to debate the question, that you must answer the question. The LORD
MAYOR has specifically said that he is debating the question and providing
comparisons. The Rules of Procedure are clear, that that is a contravention, and I
ask you to draw the LORD MAYOR back to the question that was asked, and
rule his conduct to be disorderly.
Chairman:
I don't uphold your point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON. Yes, LORD
MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
In which case, I have answered the question. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor HUANG.
Question 5
Councillor HUANG:
Thank you, Madam Chair. My question is to the Chairman of the Public and
Active Transport Committee, Councillor MATIC. I understand that our local
economy benefits significantly as a result of the Active Transport strategy. Can
you please detail these economic benefits?
Councillor MATIC:
Thank you, Madam Chairman, and thank you Councillor HUANG for the
question and the opportunity to highlight certainly the strategic perspective that
this Administration is taking in the area of our bikeways and walkways.
You can clearly see through significant investment, not only in the previous
term of $100 million, but particularly in this term by our LORD MAYOR of
$120 million, we are seeing significant improvements in our bikeways and
walkways. The end result of that is we are seeing more cyclists and more
pedestrians out there utilising them, and that is a wonderful thing. Because what
we are seeing is that progression, if you like, an evolution from the recreational
aspects of cycling and walking to them becoming fundamental to the way that
people get to work every single day.
As part of our overall strategy, particularly in the Active Transport strategy,
which the LORD MAYOR announced earlier this year, you can see quite clearly
our strategic approach to providing those network improvements that improve
connectivity and safety, inspiring people to get out on their bikes and walk as
well. By being able to provide this strategic approach and making sure that we
are providing those improvements, we are aiming towards achieving those
outcomes with improvements across our city in those areas, offering a number
of opportunities and benefits such as the environmental benefits, the moneysaving benefits, the improved health and the reduction in congestion.
Even you can see similar lines of thinking in the Federal Government and what
they are undertaking as part of their own strategy of walking, riding and access
to public transport. Within their own document, they have clearly outlined that,
for each person who cycles 20 minutes to work and back, our economy benefits
by $14.30, and each person who walks 20 minutes to work and back benefits our
economy by $8.48. Their own figures are based on an aggregation of the net
benefit to the economy based on a number of factors, including reduced
congestion, vehicle operating costs and improved health outcomes.
So you can see that this Administration is clearly getting on with the job of
reducing traffic congestion and improving our environmental values. How does
that benefit the economy overall? By looking at those aspects, our users are
benefiting both directly and indirectly. Public transport needs are ever
increasing, and the importance of providing those bikeway improvements is a
fundamental part of that public transport need. People are now using their bikes
to travel to and from work more and more every day. There are examples north,
south, east and west of our city clearly showing the increase of users in that
space.
But importantly, also, as part of our Active Transport strategy, we continue our
evolution in looking at how we can better improve through our commuter and
corridor studies. A number of those are being undertaken at the moment, from
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 10 Wynnum to Carindale, for example. In both of those studies, we are looking at
key examples of how we can improve safety and reduce congestion along those
bikeways, looking for those off road opportunities, because we clearly
understand that, as we provide more and more off road opportunities, the level
of safety increases, and therefore the number of users increases.
By being able to provide those, Madam Chairman, workers are able to get to
work more safely and, importantly, also reduce the amount of time it takes them
to get to work, thereby saving them costs and, importantly also, the places where
they work.
As part of our evolution in that space, another key aspect is what kind of
economic benefits we provide to support services around commuters and
cyclists. The LORD MAYOR last week made a very exciting announcement
around the pop up shops that are currently in place right now underneath the
Coronation Drive overpass. There is a brand new business there providing
information, amenity, providing coffee, juice and other related services.
This brand new business, I urge all Councillors to go and have a look at it, is an
important part of what we are doing to improve amenity and service to our
cyclists and to our pedestrians. It is a great initiative, and we need to see more of
this kind of service come across the city. I certainly acknowledge the people that
have set that business up and are committed to the same vision that we are about
making sure that this kind of opportunity, not only for them as operators but also
for all those users out there, is properly utilised.
By looking at this connectivity between economic development in business
opportunities but also the savings that we provide in travel time and also
environmental and health benefits, we are producing what is a holistic approach
to our bikeways program and setting in place something that hasn't been seen
before—a very strategic approach across our city of making sure that we lead
the way in cycling and pedestrian access and provide that overall economic
benefit to our city as a whole.
Chairman:
Thank you, Councillor MATIC. Councillor JOHNSTON.
Question 6
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. In
the project report for the Ipswich Road and Juliette Street intersection upgrade,
the Council officers clearly advised you and Council that doing nothing was not
an option. Has the Juliette Street and Ipswich Road intersection safety upgrade
been resubmitted for Black Spot funding as was required in the middle of this
year?
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. In response to Councillor JOHNSTON's
question, of course, this was a project which this Council put forward to the
Federal Government as a Black Spot project opportunity. In response to the
question, there has not been another round of Black Spot proposals or requests
for proposals in order to put it forward again. When that time arises, we will
obviously be considering that along with other projects across the city. Thank
you.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor KING.
Question 7
Councillor KING:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the Chair of Environment, Parks
and Sustainability Committee, Councillor BOURKE. I understand that this
Administration places significant importance on the provision of clean and
green spaces. Can you please detail how you are activating green spaces around
Brisbane and ensuring that a broad range of people access and enjoy these
spaces?
Councillor BOURKE:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman, and I thank Councillor KING for her
question. As we all know, the LORD MAYOR and this Administration is very
keen to promote the green and clean spaces across the city, and to continue to
invest in our parks and our open spaces for the residents of Brisbane.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 11 All of our residents enjoy those parks. They all enjoy the facilities that are in
those parks, and we continue to deliver new opportunities and new facilities
right across the whole of the city. It was the LORD MAYOR, Graham QUIRK,
who delivered the All-abilities playgrounds in all of our wards, so the one
playground, that 26 playground commitment across the city, that was the
cornerstone of the first 12 months of his Administration in this place.
We continue to activate and promote those green spaces across the city with new
programs. In particular, Councillor KING, I really want to talk about the Chairs
to Share project. Chairs to Share project is a trial project that we were running in
Post Office Square. For those of you who have the chance to go down to Post
Office Square, you might remember it was quite a dreary place. It wasn't
necessarily an inviting space. Some people were using it for food or to lie
around on the grass, but the Chairs to Share project has really reinvigorated and
re-energised that space. It has transformed it.
The vibrant colour on the chairs has put some vibrant colour in that space. There
is a lot more people using that space—a lot of lunchtime workers, a lot of
tourists and a lot of other visitors visiting the businesses down in Post Office
Square, and a lot of people just sitting and watching people go by and watching
the rest of the city go by.
There are these wonderful little green oases around our city, so Post Office
Square is one of them, and I am pleased that the LORD MAYOR last week
launched two more sites for Chairs to Share across the city. Now you can find
the Chairs to Share chairs, those orange and brightly coloured chairs, down in
Roma Street Parklands. Now that Council has taken over Roma Street
Parklands, we have been able to roll out this initiative down there to Roma
Street Parklands, on the Spectacle Lawn, and they are a great addition. I am told
that they are being very well used already, and they are getting significant
patronage, and we are getting a lot of positive feedback.
But I guess the most important of the two new sites that the Chairs to Share
project has been rolled out into is the City Botanic Gardens. In the Albert Street
entrance to the City Botanic Gardens, we have been able to partner with the
Wise Foundation who used to run the Bleeding Hearts Café in the old School of
Arts building, and we have been able to partner with the Wise Foundation, a
social enterprise charity to deliver an activation of the Albert Street entrance to
the City Botanic Gardens for all of the city.
So there is now a coffee cart as well as the Chairs to Share chairs located there,
and they are drawing quite a crowd, I am told. I was down there the other day,
and the chairs are being very well used. Indeed, the whole space now has a
different feeling about it. There are people in that entrance to the Botanic
Gardens; the space is being used. The space is being activated during the day. It
is drawing people into the gardens. We all know the wonderful resource that the
City Botanic Gardens are to us as a city, not just the historic information and
historic plants that are there, but also all of the cultural significance that that
space plays, and as the city continues to grow, the importance that that green
space will have.
It is great to see that these sorts of initiatives are being rolled out across the city.
It is great to see the residents of Brisbane engaging, picking up with the idea and
using it, and it is going to be great and exciting to see, as we continue to roll out
these sort of initiatives right across the city.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor DICK.
Question 8
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the DEPUTY MAYOR. You met
with lobbyists from Rowland and Future Quarry Resources twice in four days in
June, with one of those meetings attended by a former lobbyist and your
colleague, Councillor McLACHLAN. Will you outline the purpose of these
meetings, and will you today rule out selling off our existing quarries or
building a new super quarry for our city?
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 12 DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you for the question, Councillor DICK. I have so many meetings each
week—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Order! Councillor SUTTON!
DEPUTY MAYOR:
I do remember that one in particular. I don't remember having two meetings, but
I certainly remember having at least one meeting. It is interesting Councillor
DICK is trying to suggest that there is something untoward going on here,
something secretive. How does he know about this meeting—
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor FLESSER!
DEPUTY MAYOR:
—if it is so secretive. How does he know?
Councillor DICK:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Just a moment, DEPUTY MAYOR; yes, Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
To assist the DEPUTY MAYOR, I have a transcript from the Integrity
Commissioner's report which indicates the date and the location—
Chairman:
Thank you, Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
—of the meeting.
Chairman:
—that is not a point of order that is relevant to the question.
Councillor DICK:
I table that, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Sorry, did you say you will table it?
Councillor DICK:
Yes.
Chairman:
Okay, thank you. DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you. Councillor DICK will no doubt find many meetings for many
Councillors listed in the Integrity Commissioner's report, because these
meetings have to be reported. There is a system in place which is set up by the
State Government, and we do our best to make sure that all the requirements are
followed in terms of meetings and contact with lobbyists. We know that what
we do have to report—
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Councillor JOHNSTON!
DEPUTY MAYOR:
—is any contact with lobbyists who aren't on the register. That is obviously a
serious issue. But what we are talking about here are registered lobbyists who
are following the correct procedures and reporting their activities to the Integrity
Commissioner as they should.
So let's not talk about the so-called boogieman in the room here and suggest that
there is something untoward going on here. The fact that he knows about it—
Councillor DICK:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Point of order against you, DEPUTY MAYOR. Yes, Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
The Question was not about the role of lobbyists; the question was not about the
boogieman; it was simply what was the meetings about?
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Madam Chair, as far as I can remember, this meeting was simply to touch base
and for a couple of individuals to introduce themselves and tell us about their
experience in the quarrying industry. That is what I recall from the meeting. As I
said, the suggestion that there is anything untoward going on here is absolutely
ridiculous.
Councillors interjecting.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 13 Chairman:
Councillor FLESSER!
DEPUTY MAYOR:
The Leader of the Opposition is trying to create an issue out of something that is
not an issue, and as I said, the meeting was simply for a couple of individuals to
introduce themselves and explain their role in the quarrying industry. We meet
with people from a range of different industry sectors all of the time. We meet
with construction contractors; we meet with a whole range of different sectors,
in the transport industry, in the infrastructure industry.
It is something we are doing all the time, and something, I have to say, we
should do, because in Council we are dealing with a whole range of different
industry sectors, and we are also, as the LORD MAYOR said, looking for
feedback on the way that we do business in Council because, let's face it, we
always, as an organisation, should be looking to improve. This particular
meeting was an introduction. Other meetings that we have had with other
contractors, in other sectors, have related to feedback from those industry groups
on how we can do things better as a Council.
As I said, this is something that we are doing all the time, and something we
should be doing, because it is part of our job. It is part of our job to listen to the
industry and what they have to say, and part of our job to make sure that we are
meeting with people who request meetings with us. It is as simple as that. If
Councillor DICK wants to read anything into it, that is his problem. But this is
pretty straight forward. It was simply an introduction.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR.
Question 9
Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR: Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question this afternoon is to Councillor
SIMMONDS as the Chairman of Finance, Economic Development and
Administration Committee. Can you please detail recent Tourism and Events
Queensland results, and the implications of these results for the Brisbane
economy?
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thank you very much, Madam Chairman, and thank you to Councillor OWENTAYLOR for the question. As Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR has already
outlined, Tourism and Events Queensland (TEQ) recently released their
Brisbane regional snapshot for the year ending March 2013. Here it is. I
understand it is available on their website.
But it was heartening to look at the impact that some of the work that Brisbane
Marketing and TEQ are doing to attract tourism into Brisbane. Just in terms of
the high level results that might interest the Chamber, in the 12 months to
March, Brisbane attracted 6.08 million visitors with a total spend into our
economy of $4.827 billion.
Starting with domestic tourism, we got some great results. Holiday visitors
increased by 6 per cent over the year, and visitor friends and relatives market
increased by 4 per cent. The average length of stay for domestic visitors
remained stable, while there were strong improvements in the average length of
stay for holiday visitors coming from Central Queensland and Mackay, as well
as tropical north Queensland. I mention those results because it is an area where
Brisbane Marketing is doing some aggressive marketing in, in terms of the
internal Queensland market. It is excellent to see that that is yielding positive
results.
The number of international visitors to Brisbane increased by 9 per cent—very
significant—as a result of strong growth across all categories, especially holiday
visitors. In recent times, we have seen an expansion in the number of airlines
flying directly into Brisbane from the US, China and Middle East, and this is
certainly reflected in those visitor numbers. We have seen a 27 per cent increase
in US visitors to Brisbane, a 22 per cent increase in Chinese visitors, and
increases in Singaporean and Malaysian visitor numbers.
Very interesting for the Chamber, following on from the answer that the LORD
MAYOR gave earlier to a question, that we saw an incredible 41 per cent
increase in the total visitor numbers from Taiwan. That just goes to emphasise
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 14 and underline just how important that sister city relationship is between
Brisbane and Kaohsiung and what a tremendous result it was in the lead up to
the Asia Pacific Cities Summit with us having done significant marketing in that
market as part of that.
Almost all the other key source markets were stable or increased in numbers,
except for the UK which had a decline in visitors, but an increase in the total
visitor nights. So, I can only assume, given that they increased their length of
stay, that they liked what they saw when they got here. Combine that, of course,
with the Lions tour, and you've got a lot of UK visitors who have come over to
Brisbane and are going home with a great story to tell.
The international average length of stay increased 2 per cent, but the holiday
tourism increased by more than 9 per cent. This increase resulted in an
additional 2 million international visitor nights, injecting much-needed funds
into our economy. Out of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria—so a bit
of a comparison here, Queensland had the highest percentage increase in
international and domestic holiday visitors, so we are batting well above our
weight. It is campaigns like Show Your Colours which Brisbane Marketing has
run, which has attracted almost 70,000 visitors to Brisbane, and injected some
fun and excitement along with the $17.7 million in spending into the local
economy.
It is not just that campaign, there are many campaigns that Brisbane marketing
are running. Things like the Christmas promotion in the Queen Street Mall, not
to mention the LORD MAYOR's continued work to attract international
students and their families and friends. It also creates investment opportunities
in jobs for Brisbane residents and businesses, because people choose to visit and
experience Brisbane. At the same time, they take back good stories and choose
to invest in our beautiful city. That is why it is critical that Council continues to
invest in promoting Brisbane. As the LORD MAYOR always says, if they don't
know your name, they're not going to visit, and they're not going to invest with
you.
But it is, of course, unfortunately in stark contrast. As much as we are
encouraged by these results, and as much as we consider that it injects $4.8
billion into our economy every year, we lament the fact that there is not
bipartisan commitment in this Chamber to supporting this important industry.
There is one side of the Chamber, the LNP Administration, who support this
industry in Brisbane through Brisbane Marketing and funding for their
economic development initiatives, and then there are the Labor Councillors on
the other side of the Chamber who voted to abolish Brisbane Marketing, and
who publicly stated that they would remove funding to support economic
development in Brisbane in order to plug the black hole of their election
commitments.
It is in stark contrast, I might say, with the recent Federal election where their
then leader and Prime Minister, I should say, Kevin Rudd, who we know
Councillor SUTTON holds in great esteem, came out with a $16 million grant in
part to Brisbane Marketing as part of a partnership for an innovative partnership
to work in the mining and gas area. So, significant faith there, willing to be
placed by the previous Labor Government in Brisbane Marketing—
Chairman:
Councillor SIMMONDS, your time has expired. Thank you. Councillor DICK.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Councillor SUTTON!
Question 10
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Can you
confirm that the Rowland Group has donated almost $77,000 to the LNP and
Forward Brisbane leadership group in the last two financial years?
LORD MAYOR:
No, I can't, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor McKENZIE.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 15 Question 11
Councillor McKENZIE;
Madam Chairman, my question is directed to the Chairman of the Infrastructure
Committee, Councillor SCHRINNER. Could you please update this Chamber on
the success of the Story Bridge lighting campaign, and explain how this
promotes awareness of sporting, cultural and charitable events in Brisbane?
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you for the question, Councillor McKENZIE. It is a very timely question
as well. This Administration has worked hard to ensure that one of our most
loved icons in the city is even more iconic, and that is the Story Bridge. By
investing funds into upgrading the decorative lighting from old style bulbs to
LED bulbs, we have added some new energy and vibrancy to our city skyline.
Most importantly, however, the feedback we have had from the community
about the new lighting has been overwhelmingly positive. We have had a very
busy schedule of bridge lighting changes since it first became operational in
June. We had, first of all, the bridge lit up in maroon for the State of Origin on a
number of occasions. We had it purple for the Firebirds grand final. We had it
blue for the birth of the royal baby; yellow for Hannah's Chance charity. We had
it red, white and blue for the arrival of US warships in Brisbane in early August.
We had it blue to celebrate the 60 years of Blue Care as an important charity and
community organisation in our city. We have had it green for Keep Australia
Beautiful, yellow for Daffodil Day, purple and white for Bravehearts White
Balloon Day, pink for the Brisbane Festival, and purple for the Brisbane Relay
for Life.
Starting tonight, we will have the bridge decorated in blue and white for
Oktoberfest, another important festival in our city. We will also have it purple
for Brain Cancer Awareness coming up later in October, white for White
Ribbon Day in November, Red for World Aids Day on 1 December, and red and
green for Children's Health Foundation. When the bridge turned blue for Blue
Care's 60th year, we received some important feedback from Blue Care itself.
They said to Council: 'It has certainly helped raise awareness and was one of the
highlights of our birthday week celebration.'
When the bridge turned yellow for Hannah's Chance Foundation, Angela, their
Marketing Manager, advised Council, 'that the lighting up of the bridge is very
beneficial for charities. It gives charities a way to increase the awareness of the
organisation through media releases which coincide with the lighting up of the
iconic bridge. Events can be organised around the lighting up of the bridge,
which can also benefit the charity financially, and also can increase the
awareness of the charity's special occasion. The lighting up of the bridge is
beneficial in many ways, especially for smaller charities who need support and
awareness. ' So that was Angela from Hannah's Chance Foundation.
We have also had some great feedback from the Cancer Council as well, and
Vicky from Cancer Council told us, 'It has brought us great awareness for their
campaign, especially in the social media aspect, and generated a lot of
excitement and likes on Facebook.' So they're talking about the lighting up of
the bridge for Relay for Life and also for Daffodil Day as well.
Anyone who saw the bridge during Riverfire would understand the potential of
this new lighting system. There was an absolutely incredible display put on, and
it was done in time with a musical soundtrack which was just great to see. If
anyone saw that here, they would understand what this bridge can now do with
the new lighting system.
Each light itself can change to almost any colour in the spectrum, and it can also
be programmed with special effects such as strobing or chasing, where you see
the lights going up and down the side of the bridge, one after the other. Most
importantly, this system works wirelessly, so it can be programmed from offsite.
Someone sitting on a laptop can load a program on, and it is amazing what we
can actually see happen on the bridge.
The new LEDs are 50 to 75 per cent more efficient than the older lights, and that
gives a saving of thousands of dollars a year to ratepayers in electricity bills.
Also, changing the lights over was previously a very labour intensive process,
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 16 costing around $12,000 to do. It took eight man days to actually change the
lights in the past, and that is around a saving of $50,000 a year just in the new
system. We have 450 lights that previously had to be changed, and now we can
change them all at the push of a single button.
Not only are we seeing reductions in electricity bills and also the cost of
changing over the lights, we are also seeing reductions in maintenance bills as
well. Previously we spent $30,000 to $40,000 a year in changing bulbs. The new
bulbs we have are much more sturdy and they also have a 10-year warranty as
well. So any replacements or failures in that 10-year period will be replaced for
free.
Chairman:
Thank you, DEPUTY MAYOR. That ends Question Time.
NOTATION OF DECISIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND
COORDINATION COMMITTEE AS DELEGATE OF THE COUNCIL:
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (Information report)
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 setting out the decisions of the Establishment and Coordination Committee as delegate of the Council
during the Spring Recess 2013, on matters usually considered by that Committee, be noted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, I am seeking some information about this Creek Road bridge
replacement project in Item A. Would the LORD MAYOR please be able to tell
us what the cost of this bridge replacement is? It is not in the papers.
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR, do you have that figure?
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, sure; it is estimated at around $5 million.
Chairman:
Thank you, LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Okay. So, Madam Chairman, before coming to that item, can I just go through a
number of issues? Firstly, if I could just take this opportunity to say a little bit
more by way of feedback to the Chamber around the Asia Pacific Cities Summit
(APCS). The summit heard a number of guest speakers. It heard Cher Weng,
who is the Chairman of HTC; Ken Livingstone, the former Mayor of London,
and two people from what I guess you could describe as the environmental
movement in Gunter Pauli and that of Michael Braungart These gentlemen, both
from Europe, gave great perspectives in terms of their views on carbon
emissions, but more so around the area of re-use and economic use of the
world's resources. They were certainly thought-provoking aspects to their
addresses.
We had a Mayors Forum at the event as well, which was coordinated by Greg
Clark and legislator Bi-Khim Hsiao. That was a good forum, and about 65
mayors and deputy mayors participated in that event. That number of mayors
and deputy mayors was certainly up on previous occasions.
Overall, the trip saw a bit over 40 business people in the China leg. We had to
draw a line in the sand, Madam Chairman, just to manage the numbers. There
were others that probably would have loved to have come. But we drew the line
at one full busload through the cities of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Chongqing and
Chengdu. So there were about 125 all up by the time you took in youth
delegates. I thank the institutions and companies that supported the young
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 17 people's participation, participants in the Young Professionals Forum and the
Young Social Entrepreneurs Forum that was staged as part of that APCS.
Madam Chairman, in terms of the event as a whole again I just give my thanks to
the Kaohsiung government, city government, they have certainly upheld the
traditions of APCS. I wanted to thank Pip Hold and her staff, Barry Hancock and
all of the team that assisted in the setting up of that 260 business matching
meetings. That's a big task, a lot of work done in advance of these missions and,
Madam Chairman, that was nothing but praise forthcoming from those people
that participated in terms of that preliminary work that was done to set up the
appropriate meetings.
During the recess, Madam Chairman, a number of things happened. I had the
pleasure of attending the Deagon Community Picnic Race Day. That was an
event which was an absolute sell out. It's interesting, we had an Eagle Farm race
meeting that attracted 3000 and then the day after the picnic races had 6500
people in attendance, after the first lot of 5000 tickets sold out in about four
days. So I congratulate everybody that was involved in that. It was a great
activity.
I wanted to also of course advise the Chamber that, and you would have all seen
it, the launch of the draft City Centre Master Plan. I thank Councillor COOPER
and her team for the work that's been undertaken in relation to that. During the
recess I had the opportunity of visiting a place called LifeTec. I just want to
commend this place to all councillors. This is a place which is set up to
demonstrate how people can live independently. There's a whole range of issues
and appliances and technologies adopted. Council provided a small grant to this
organisation. It's through the Access and Inclusion plan.
I was able to see firsthand what they have done with that grant. I have to say it
was absolute value for money. They're based out at Newmarket and again if
anyone is passing through there, I just implore you to take the opportunity from
your own knowledge base point of view to have a look at it, because it gives
people a terrific source of being able to go and have a look at something and see
how their own place might fit into the things that are on offer. So all those things
to allow people to live longer in their homes without having to go off to nursing
homes and to do so by using the modern technologies to give them more quality
of life in their own homes.
So LifeTec, I recommend it fully and I congratulate all of those people,
practitioners, speech pathologists and a whole range of other people that are
working through that—physiologists—that are working in that space.
Madam Chairman, during the recess we also launched the Suburbs 2 City report.
This was a pre-feasibility report, Madam Chairman, which has been worked on
for about two years when we announced it, maybe not quite that long, about a
year and a half. Again, Madam Chairman, a report which will help to take into
account all of those needs that we have in public transport into the future by way
of the infrastructure side of the bill. So, Madam Chairman, you can go and have
a look at it. Suburbs 2 City. Well we'll certainly get it on the website.
Chairman:
Order.
LORD MAYOR:
There's no problem with that. You're welcome to have a look at that.
Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS. Stop interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
You're welcome to have a look at it, Madam Chairman, there's no problem there
whatsoever. I think it will be on the file too. I don't know whether anyone's
called for that file, obviously not from the interjection. Maybe they have. Madam
Chairman, we also, I might say in relation to that report, that the State are also
doing some very significant work at the moment. This report will obviously need
to dovetail into that work. It's separate in some respects but there are some other
areas where aspects or recommendations contained within this report would
become obsolete, given the work that the state is undertaking. But there are still
many aspects of the report which will provide infrastructure opportunities in
public transport for the future.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 18 Madam Chairman, the opening of the Centenary Pool after a closure of that was
undertaken. Again it's up there as part of the—ready for opening—as part of the
new swimming pool season. That was on 21 September, Madam Chairman,
when all the pools reopened again for the summer season. The Brisbane Festival,
I just want to commend the board and people like Noel Staunton and Valmay
Hill, all her team, Madam Chairman, Chris Freeman as Chairman of the board.
They did an absolutely fantastic job. When you get 45,000 people turning up not
for the Riverfire but for light shows leading up, on nights leading up to the
Riverfire, Madam Chairman, it just shows the extent of interest and growth in
numbers that there is for the Brisbane Festival. It continues to be the landmark
event.
When you consider that this event started out as Warana Festival many years
ago, the floats on the back of semi-trailers down the street as a street parade in
the CBD and it has just grown into a massive undertaking and event. Full marks
to the creativity that Noel Staunton has continued to put into this event. As I said
this year, just when we thought it couldn't go any further in terms of creativity,
Noel Staunton seems to pull one out of the hat. I think he's done it again this
year.
The engagement of young people also as part of that laser light show in
conjunction with the fireworks display, Madam Chairman, just showed the
absolute talent we have around this. So I commend all of those involved. The
Valley Fiesta just a reminder to people, that's coming up on 22 to 24 November.
We saw a very, very big lift in numbers last year as The Valley gets a refocus.
So it is, Madam Chairman, we're expecting to see big numbers attend again this
year for that event, 22 to 24 November.
Madam Chairman, the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, we're well down the track in
terms of preparation for the staging of that event in City Hall in December. Some
220 films from 41 countries have been nominated and so that event is fast
approaching. There is obviously a jury in place, Madam Chairman, from across
the Asia Pacific and we look forward to the deliberations of that jury in the lead
up to that Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
The last of the free green waste disposals was last weekend at the transfer
stations around Brisbane. What we have seen—
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR, sorry before you continue your time has expired.
174/2013-14
The LORD MAYOR was granted an extension of time on the motion of the DEPUTY MAYOR, seconded by
Councillor Ryan MURPHY.
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. Madam Chairman, what we have seen in
terms of those green waste weekends where we allow people to go free of charge
to the transfer stations, there's been significant growth each year in the tonnage
of take-up from Brisbane residents. In 2011 the average was 552 tonnes per
weekend, that grew to 808 tonnes last year and there's been around 1064 tonnes
this year. So more and more people are heeding the message and taking
advantage of that event.
Madam Chairman, in the recess we've also seen a number of significant stories
of new people entering our city and in some cases expanding in our city. We've
got groups like Monili Jewellers setting up—where are they—they're going
into—I've forgotten now—Elizabeth Street that's right, Elizabeth Street in the
CBD. We note also that we have seen Flight Centre establish their largest retail
travel store in the city of Brisbane now in the Queen Street Mall. So we thank
them for their continued support and investment in our city in that way.
We've also seen, Madam Chairman, a number of other companies that are
coming here. Sorry, Madam Chairman, we've got one other one here and in
particular that I was going to make mention of, a new entry to Brisbane. It
doesn't matter, I won't delay the Chamber but suffice to say that we are seeing—
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 19 Digicon, Madam Chairman, also an entry into the city and others. So I won't
delay anymore.
In relation to a couple of other points of interest and note, the EBA has been
ratified, Madam Chairman, for our staff. When we went out to a vote, 82 per
cent of staff supported the EBA proposal and that has today I understand been
ratified. So it is now formally in place. If everyone's got their pens ready,
Madam Chairman, I'm able to announce also that the City Plan debate for the
City Plan we have under review will be staged on 4, 5, 6 and 7 February, that's
Tuesday 4 through to Friday 7 February 2014.
Madam Chairman, the item before us today is one to do with resumptions, three
small resumptions that are required as part of the Creek Road Bridge
replacement project. Investigations on the condition of this existing timber
bridge adjacent to the Carindale Shopping Centre resulted in a recommendation
to replace the structure in the shortest reasonable timeframe. So on 18 June 2013,
the Executive Manager of Council’s City Projects Office, approved the issuing
of notices of intention to resume with respect to three properties mentioned there
in schedule A.
So we have 49 square metres, 230 square metres and 38 square metres
respectively. There's been no objection lodged in relation to those particular
resumptions and so, Madam Chairman, they are here for the consideration of
Council today.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Thanks, Madam Chair, just on Item A regarding the resumption of 1202, 1192
and 1194 Creek Road. Labor councillors do not have an objection to this piece of
infrastructure proceeding obviously regarding an important bridge that needs
upgrading. I just by way of recommendation would suggest to the LORD
MAYOR in future if there are significant projects coming into the Council
Chamber, that the funding arrangements be put into place or the actual dollar
figure be listed in the documents as a matter of good practice. I think that is a
fair and reasonable request given that it is $5 million worth of ratepayer's funds.
Going through the budgeted papers, I was unable to see that that money had been
allocated.
So I guess that is the first time we've heard that figure today. If there are similar
projects coming down the line, obviously this is an issue of safety along Creek
Road, it's opposite a heavily used shopping facility that is of course the
Carindale centre. It is a busy road and there's no objection to the actual work
proceeding. But just as a matter of future reference I call on the LORD MAYOR
and the LNP councillors and the relevant chairperson to make sure that all
funding is disclosed in any similar projects coming towards Council.
Chairman:
Further debate? I'll put the—sorry LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Yes, Madam Chairman, I take that on board, Councillor DICK's suggestion
there. I don't have any problem with that per se. In think in the document
somewhere it did say that there were funds provided for in the budget and it
certainly was listed as a line item in the budget. There it is over here. It says
funding is available in the 2013-14 budget for the Creek Road Bridge
replacement project, paragraph 13. So yes sure, I don't have any problem. We'll
relay that back to officers to include amounts in relation to that but yes it was as
I say listed as a line item within budget brought down in June of last year, this
year.
Chairman:
I will put the motion.
The Chairman restated the motion for the noting of the report and upon being submitted to the Chamber, it was
declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
A
CREEK ROAD BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT
112/20/216/108
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 20 -
175/2013-14
1.
Rowan Laneyrie, Acting Executive Manager, City Projects Office, provided the information
below.
2.
Creek Road is of strategic importance in the metropolitan road network and is defined as an
arterial route in the Brisbane City Council Road Hierarchy Plan.
3.
Recent investigations on the condition of the existing timber bridge adjacent to the Carindale
shopping centre resulted in a recommendation to replace the structure in the shortest
reasonable timeframe. Replacement of the existing bridge will also present an opportunity to
increase the flood immunity of Creek Road. Supplementary culvert works downstream at Old
Cleveland Road are also proposed in order to mitigate upstream flooding risks associated with
the bridge replacement.
4.
The Creek Road Bridge Replacement Project is designed to improve:
public safety
integrity of public utility networks
accessibility and safety for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists
accessibility for future waterway maintenance
accessibility for future bridge infrastructure maintenance
road flood immunity.
5.
Construction of the project within the current road reserve, or within publicly accessible land
(by right, permit or lease) by Council is not possible. Therefore, to facilitate the Creek Road
Bridge Replacement Project, it will be necessary to acquire the private land described in
Schedule A, hereunder.
6.
During the planning phase, the project team considered effects on the community and the
natural environment, impact on property owners, construction methods and materials,
operational efficiency and budgetary requirements.
7.
On 18 June 2013, the Executive Manager, City Projects Office approved the issuing of
Notices of Intention to Resume with respect to the properties described in Schedule A.
Subsequently, on 28 June 2013, notices were issued to all affected property owners with no
objections being received.
8.
It is proposed that Council pursue the completion of the formal resumption process in respect
of the land in Schedule A, in order to ensure timely acquisition of the land. Upon completion
of the formal resumption process, all interests in the resumed land are converted into claims
for compensation, pursuant to the provisions of the Acquisition of Land Act 1967.
Negotiations concerning compensation will continue concurrently with the formal resumption
process.
9.
It is recommended that the Establishment and Coordination Committee, as delegate of
Council during recess, approve the draft resolution set out in Attachment A, hereunder.
Customer impact
10.
By liaising with the affected property owners prior to and during the resumption process it is
considered that Council has provided an appropriately high level of customer service. Key
customer service improvements on completion of construction will include improved traffic
safety and mobility.
Environmental impact
11.
The environmental impact issues associated with the construction will be managed in
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 21 -
accordance with current regulations.
Policy impact
12.
Recommendations are consistent with Council’s practice of pursuing resumption of privately
owned land, following full and proper assessment of options and consultation with affected
owners.
Financial impact
13.
Funding is available in the 2013-14 budget for the Creek Road Bridge Replacement Project.
Urgency
14.
Urgent. The current timber bridge is in need of replacement, and the private land is needed at
the earliest possible opportunity to ensure timely construction.
15.
Accordingly, the acting Executive Manager recommends as follows and the Committee
agreed at its meeting of 30 September 2013.
16.
DECISION:
THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE AS
DELEGATE OF COUNCIL DURING RECESS, APPROVE THE DRAFT
RESOLUTION SET OUT IN ATTACHMENT A, hereunder.
Attachment A
Draft resolution
DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR THE COMPLETION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY LAND
RESUMPTIONS
THAT—
(1)
AS—
(a)
on 28 June 2013 the Council, in accordance with the provisions of the
Acquisition of Land Act 1967, issued Notices of Intention to Resume the
privately owned land set out and identified in Schedule A, hereunder to this
recommendation
(b)
no objections were received to the notices
THEN COUNCIL IS OF THE OPINION THAT—
(c)
the lands described in Schedule A are required for road purposes
(d)
it is necessary to take the said lands.
(2)
As Council is of the opinion specified above, the Establishment and Coordination
Committee approves as delegate of Council during recess that an application be made
to the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines under the provisions of the
Acquisition of Land Act 1967 for the taking of those lands.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 22 -
(3)
The Establishment and Coordination Committee as delegate of Council during recess
also approves that:
(a)
Council will take such action as is necessary to formalise the road openings,
including the making of any application required under the
Sustainable Planning Act 2009 and the implementation of any approval that
results from those applications so far as is necessary to facilitate those road
openings
(b)
authority be granted for all of the land required for road purposes, or to be
subdivided for road purposes, to be cleared of improvements and dedicated
as road.
SCHEDULE A
LAND REQUIRED
FOR ROAD
PURPOSES
M2
PLAN
SUR120168-02 A
OWNER
LOCATION
REAL PROPERTY
DESCRIPTION
Byrland Pty Ltd A.C.N
084 376 821
1192 Creek Road,
Carina Heights
Lot 10 on RP77438
49
Byrland Pty Ltd A.C.N
084 376 821
1194 Creek Rd,
Carina Heights
Lot 11 on RP77438
230
Belmont Specialist Centre
Pty Ltd
1202 Creek Road,
Carina Heights
Lot 14 on RP187668
38
SUR120168-01 B
SUR120168-03 A
NOTED
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (Adoption report)
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 setting out the recommendations of the Establishment and Coordination Committee during the Spring
Recess 2013, on matters usually considered by that Committee, be adopted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman, firstly two Items. We've got Item A
which is the resumption of 12 Creek Road, Mount Gravatt East for carpark
purposes adjoining the Mount Gravatt Library. Then we have Item B which is
the Contracts and Tendering report.
So just to deal firstly with Item A, Madam Chairman. Madam Chairman, as soon
as Council became aware of the land being for sale, we undertook an opportunity
for Council officers to proceed to engage themselves in discussions with those
involved with that property being on the market. So officers undertook certain
works. They had to of course undertake a valuation of the land as we would in
every case in terms of due diligence, check out cost benefit, make sure the
funding was available obviously. After that there was an approach made to the
agent in this particular case.
Council acquired the land because we understood, we knew that there was a
significant number of people driving to this particular library. We'd done our
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 23 research, we knew that there was in fact around 65 per cent of library customers
that were going to the library by motor vehicle. So the reality is that only about
13 per cent of customers were using bus transport and about 16 per cent of
customers were walking to the library. So there was a significant requirement.
This library has 67,000 visitors each year, 1300 visits each week, a significant
take-up and there was no carparking facilities.
So we were effectively putting cars on the street or we were causing problems in
terms of cars being taken up that would otherwise be used for other shopping or
commercial operations in that vicinity. That aside, Madam Chairman, so we
proceeded on the basis that we needed to undertake this opportunity. Now at that
point, once the officers had undertaken that due diligence work, they made an
approach to the agent. The agent of course under law, is required to act in the
seller's interest. From the seller's perspective they had at the time of the approach
achieved a contract over this particular property.
So Council from their point of view in approaching, were essentially muddying
the waters in terms of that sale. So our property team had authority to negotiate
at that stage but did not have the authority to make an offer. That would have
had to come back for ratification. So in this case, the agent had a sale. He had
from his point of view acted in the best interests of the seller of that property
which was his legal obligation. So it was, Madam Chairman, that we then had to
proceed to negotiate with the new purchaser. That is what has occurred leading
to the recommendation that is before us today in Item A.
Those new purchasers objected. There was of course financial incentive and a
positive financial outcome for them in terms of the purchase price, but the details
of that objection and other supporting documents are there listed and provided to
each councillor.
Madam Chairman, in regards to item B, the Contracts and Tendering report to
Council. The first one there Telegraph Road Open Level Crossing Replacement
project. This project continues to go very well in terms of timing. It's Bielby Hull
Joint Venture, Madam Chairman, a contract price there of $30.8 million. So
that's that particular one. We've got playground equipment, CBD Playground for
All Project Park Project and that's gone to M&N Enterprise Pty Ltd there, a
project there of $250,000 as part of that overall park project.
Bothar Boring & Tunnelling Operations Pty Ltd Limited have been granted a
micro-tunnelling project of $238,311. Doval Constructions (QLD) providing
backflow prevention project in James Street, New Farm, Ryan Street, West End
and Castlemaine Street at Milton. Yes so $1.251 million there for that particular
one. Brisbane Metropolitan Bands Committee, $500,000, this is part of the
Bands in Parks program that we have across the city. A number of then smaller
contracts relating to memorials and plaques, Worssell and Co Pty Ltd, $344,000
approximately. Granite bases, Queensland Heritage Masonry, a contract there of
some $58,000.
Success Factors Inc, Workforce Analytics and Consultancy Services, a contract
there of $203,000. This was added into without seeking competitive tenders or
quotes in accordance with section 2.4, sole or select sourcing of the contract
manual pursuant of the City of Brisbane Act. In that case, Council's current
workforce measurement and analytics capability is provided by Success Factors
and so this was an ongoing arrangement, Madam Chairman. These services are
required to be retained until the implementation of the SAP Enterprise Resource
Planning solution expected to be in the middle of 2014.
Gravel City Pty Ltd, $53,000, million rather. This is the cartage of quarry
products. Again this is over a 10-year period and so the preferred supplier
outcome, $5.3 million is the Gravel City Pty contract in this case. Kapish
Services Pty Ltd $336,000 for the provision of Hewlett Packard TRIM add-ons
for functionality. Also TRIM explorer, $17,500. We've got Multimedia, a
contract of $17,500, go TRIM, $36,000, TRIM Easy Link $20,000, TRIM Word
and Excel add-in $66,000. Therein, Madam Chairman, ends the Contracts and
Tendering list.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor SUTTON.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 24 Councillor SUTTON:
Yes, Madam Chair, I rise to speak on Item B today which is the Contracts and
Tendering. I have specific questions about two of the contracts that are contained
in this list. Had I known the LORD MAYOR was going into such detail I would
have hopped up and asked the questions prior to him giving that speech, but
perhaps if the responsible chairs can come back to me about these questions or
the LORD MAYOR himself in his summing up of this report.
One of the contracts that the LORD MAYOR didn't talk about in that speech was
the contract for micro-tunnelling and associated drainage works. It's for a
particular street in Paddington. Councillor MATIC, I'm not picking on your area.
It's just, it's more about the micro-tunnelling. I actually recall in one of my
former positions on the Infrastructure Committee having a presentation about the
fact that the Council bought two micro-tunnelling machines for a cost of around
$5 million to do this type of work and also road work.
So I guess my question is why is it that we are engaging a tunnelling operations
company to perform this work when I clearly remember a presentation, I think
when the LORD MAYOR himself was the Infrastructure Chairperson, about
these two new beaut tunnelling machines. They were mini tunnelling machines
that, or micro-tunnelling machines, that we had invested in, spent quite a lot of
money, ratepayer's money in purchasing them and they were going to be the
answer to all this type of work that we would be able to do, but also for road
works so that we could go under the road without disrupting traffic. It was going
to do better for easing traffic congestion around sites where Council is doing
work.
I want to know what happened to those micro-tunnelling machines because
clearly if we're engaging in these types of contracts, those tunnelling machines
have clearly gone somewhere. I want to make sure that they're not sitting in
mothballs somewhere and that they are actually still being used by Brisbane City
Council, after we spent so much of ratepayer's money acquiring them in the first
place.
The second question that I had is with regards to the CBD Playground for All
Park Project. This is a project that clearly we support but I have a question about
these contracts. Because this contract is for and I quote, CBD Playground for All
Park Project, for all Project Park Project, engagement of a play equipment
supplier for the design, fabrication and installation of the central play piece. It
says that it was approved on 11 July 2013 and the contract started on 13 July
2013. Madam Chair, earlier this year we approved a contract for exactly that and
I quote: CBD Playground for All Park Project engagement of a play equipment
supplier for the design, fabrication and installation of the central play piece.
The contract tender opened on 13 March 2013 and the closing date was Friday
19 April 2013 and the tender was awarded to Playscape Creations. So my
question is this, is this a second stage of the same playground upgrade? Just in
part? And it is a question. Or has something gone wrong with the initial tender
that we have had to look at a second tenderer? Certainly I know myself that in
January 2012 I actually raised concerns about Playscape Creations or a company
buying the name Playscape Creations after the original Playscape Creations
became insolvent.
What Council's tender policy is that if a company goes belly up, I was told it is
standard practice that rather than seeking new expressions of interest to go into
Council's tender list, if another company simply buys the naming rights to that
company that has gone belly up, they get to go onto Council's preferred supply
list without any scrutiny through Council's regular tender process. Now I raised
concerns about this in January 2012 and I was told that everything was dandy. I
have to though question when we get two tenders within months of each other
for the same value for the same project, I feel obliged to stand and ask questions.
I think they are legitimate questions, they are questions about expenditure of
ratepayer's money and the competitive tendering process that is at place in this
Council. If anyone wants to see the correspondence I sent to the chief executive
officer at the time, it was copied to Councillor SCHRINNER, at the time. But I
think that it is incumbent on the LORD MAYOR and the DEPUTY MAYOR
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 25 and those responsible for implementing this project to explain why. As I said it
may be a straightforward second stage of the project, but I think it is incumbent
for those in the administration who are responsible for this project to explain
why it is we have two tenders appearing to be for exactly the same thing, for the
exactly the same cost and why that is the case that we are being asked to vote
and support that today.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor FLESSER.
Councillor FLESSER:
Thank you, Madam Chair, yes, I'd also like to talk about the Contracts and
Tendering report. Madam Chair, I'll only talk about one of the Items in there and
that's the contract on page 6 to Success factors Incorporated for $203,000.
Madam Chair, I've got some big concerns about this and we did hear before the
LORD MAYOR said, as it says in the document, that this contract was entered
into without seeking competitive tenders or quotations. Madam Chair, this
Council is going down a very dangerous path.
Madam Chair, this company, it's an American-based company based in San
Francisco. We're allowing a contract to go to this company without seeking
competitive tenders or quotations. Madam Chair, that's a dangerous path and I
know there's lots of governments at the moment going down that path and
probably a big one in Australia going further down that path in the near future as
well and that is for the government not to do any work, just put everything out to
contract. Well, Madam Chair, the problems I've got with this is, Madam Chair,
what if this company, Success Factors put in, they said no it's not $203,000 it's
$250,00 or what if they said it's $300,000?
Madam Chair, where is the analysis to say that that's good value especially when
you can't compare it against any other competitors, Madam Chair? So we're
going down this path. If you look at this particular company it has recently
merged with SAP in America which we know has been granted a very, very
large multimillion dollar contract to do IT work in this Council, Madam Chair.
But my concern is here, the contract entered into without seeking competitive
tenders. There doesn't seem to be any analysis to say that this was a great idea.
So, Madam Chair, what we see happening here and probably we're going to see
more and more of it with this current administration, is that we're losing control
of activities of this Council. Madam Chair, in my view, human resources, HR is
one of the most important management activities that we should be keeping
control of within Council. So, Madam Chair, there's hardly anything, in my
view, there's hardly anything more important for Council to control in-house
than human resources management.
This Council is going down a very dangerous path. It seems to have this view
that we just contract out anything that moves or doesn't move. We'll send it out
to the four winds and in this particular case, not even giving it to a Brisbane
based company or even an Australian based company. It's going to an American
company where the profits I assume are going to this American multinational
corporation. Keep in mind, the profits, we don't know what they are.
As a matter of fact we didn't even get competitive tenders to quote against this
particular contract. We're just accepting what they're saying it's costing. So,
Madam Chair, it's one thing to contract services that are fiercely contestable and
that includes waste management and grass cutting I suppose. But, Madam Chair,
the big problem for this Council to be extending this attitude is going too far
when we go to contracting out sensitive, internal management systems. Now
that's where I believe it's just going out too far.
Madam Chair, we need expertise in this Council for us just to become contract
managers. In some cases that might be okay but, Madam Chair, we need to be
careful we don't lose experience, we don't lose loss of corporate knowledge and
that we need to keep very firm control of the sorts of activities that we believe
Council should continue to do itself. Madam Chair, in my view, HR
management is certainly one of those. These sorts of contracts, I know they
always start off pretty cheap but once the company's got a foot in the door,
Madam Chair, and the competitors drop away and that's what's happened in this
case, they get to be able to write their own cheques.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 26 I hope that someone from the Administration today will get up and defend this
$203,000 contract and tell councillors here that this company is not writing its
own cheque. Madam Chair, the last thing I want to talk about in relation to the
contract is that this company is very heavily involved in Cloud technology for all
its databases. Madam Chair, I have a concern about this, not just for this contract
but for this Council and probably it's a concern for all governments, certainly
those outside the United States, in allowing databases and information, sensitive
information to be stored in the Cloud.
Madam Chair, most councillors would be aware of the recent information about
the CIA which was exposed by Edward Snowden and was a WikiLeaks matter,
Madam Chair, where in the United States, the CIA have got a view that it's open
slather as far as getting information from Cloud technology, if the information
doesn't involve USA residents. Madam Chair, I would hope that someone from
the Administration might get up and talk about this contract and give some
assurances to the councillors here that none of the information, sensitive Council
information, HR information, we'd like certainly some assurances that that
information is not being used.
Or Cloud software is not being used to hold that information, especially if it's
controlled by an American organisation, Madam Chair. Because that's certainly a
concern of mine, I think that this Council deserves some assurance as far as
that's concerned. So, Madam Chair, three problems I've got with this, it wasn't
edited, there was no seeking of competitive tenders, we're going down a
dangerous path of putting all our eggs in the one basket, in this case just one
company. My last matter I've raised of course is about my concerns about Cloud
technology.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair, I rise to speak on Items and A and B. I'm going to
spend most of my remarks on Item A because the resumption of 12 Creek Road,
Mount Gravatt East carpark extension to Mount Gravatt Library is possibly one
of the most underhand and dishonest approaches I've seen by the LNP Council
take when it comes to resumptions. The fact and the way that this matter has
been handled is an absolute disgrace. What we're seeing time and time again
from the LNP and particular under the relevant chairperson, Councillor Krista
ADAMS is nothing more than a botched process.
Week after week, month after month we are seeing mistakes being made by the
LNP Council and Brisbane ratepayers are suffering the cost. Madam Chair, it did
not have to be handled in this manner. Today I'm calling on the LORD MAYOR
and the LNP Council to review its processes and decisions of how land is
resumed in our city. We know that a little over six weeks ago, a judgement came
down showing how flawed the process was when it came to resumptions in our
city and how the Council, under legal direction had to force and change its
processes.
Little wonder when I called for the file how they quickly run around and get
them when I called for them this morning. But anyway that's another story.
Madam Chair, this resumption did not have to be in this way and Councillor
ADAMS has to answer some serious questions today. Madam Chair, we know
that if the Council had had its eye on the ball and it had been following this issue
right from the beginning, the persons and the individuals and the family involved
would not be in the situation that they're in.
In fact this land was on the market from 2011. If the Council was serious about a
long-term plan about expansion, about improving investment in our libraries,
they would have gone to the marketplace and snapped this land up. They didn't,
they chose not to. We now—and I've been given advice that a real estate agent
actually contacted Council when it first came on the market and said are you
interested in this parcel of land, back in 2012. The Council said no, we're not, no,
not interested, we've other things on our mind, can't be bothered, or not
interested or not on top of the detail.
So what happens? The real estate agent then puts this parcel of land on the
market right up to the open tender, and a buyer comes along and does the right
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 27 thing and goes through the legal process of purchasing this land. One month later
the Council wakes up and says hang on a sec, we might actually want this land
now. So what do they do, what do they do? They try and get in contact with the
owner, they try and play catch-up, it's too late, the land is sold. Instead if
Councillor ADAMS in the role of the Chairperson had actually been having a
detailed plan in place, if the Council when approached in the first place to
purchase this land had actually done the right thing, we wouldn't be dealing with
the costly legal case today.
We wouldn't be dealing with a messy and unfair process that the buyer now has
been put into. But it gets worse. The questions I want Councillor ADAMS to
answer today is, what role did she have in all of this? Did she have any
inappropriate or unfair advantage in this matter today? Because I refer to
Brisbane Times article by Kim Stephens, where the owner of the land says and I
quote, I received a phone call from Wishart Ward Councillor Krista ADAMS.
She basically said Council would take the property off us. She said a Council
officer would be calling us and she highly recommended we accept the offer.
Now in five years I have never heard a councillor being involved at such a level
and I want to stress this was after the resumption process had begun. This is after
the resumption process had begun. I don't want any excuses from the LNP today
about playing the gender card and bullying. The only people that are being
bullied are the owners of this land. They go onto say, our lives have been on
hold for a year while we wait for them to take our land. We don't have a choice
at all, we are being bullied into giving it to them.
Well I say there should be a better and fairer approach when it comes to
resuming land. People make business transactions, they make residential
decisions all the time in our city. They should be afforded the due courtesy and
the due respect, not simply because the LNP are not on top of the detail and
think it's appropriate to intervene when it comes to resuming land. I do not think
that is appropriate behaviour for an elected official in our city. It goes on, when
the E&C received information about the background information statement for
private property resumptions, this was and I quote, material on which finding of
fact was based.
There are two important facts here, (a) the owner of the neighbouring carpark
which is next door to the library now requires the library to limit the use of the
carpark, and (b) the more important one, the owner of the neighbouring informal
library carpark has placed the site on the market with redevelopment being the
expected outcome. Now if that was a true and accurate statement well there
would be a strong argument as to why the Council and E&C would then move to
recommendation but it's not.
The owner of the property has this to say: ‘Part B is complete nonsense. My
property is not currently for sale, up for redevelopment or any other substantial
change’. So my question to Councillor ADAMS and the LORD MAYOR, why
was wrong and misleading information provided regarding this resumption?
What are the reasons why—
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor DICK:
—this mistake happened. It is simply not good enough when you're playing with
people's lives, when you're involved with their decisions to give false and
misleading information. That is a direct quote from the background information
and a direct quote on file from the owner of the property. That needs to be
corrected today or a worthy explanation by the LORD MAYOR or the relevant
chairperson.
Madam Chair, this is an unfortunate situation as I said and it simply did not have
to be this way. If the Council in future is serious about resumption, if the Council
is serious about looking at taking property from the ratepayers of our city, we
must and we demand a fairer and more open and transparent process. It's simply
not good enough for the Council to flip flop, make its decision from one day to
the next, knowing whether it's going to expand a carpark, providing that false
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 28 information saying well we had to do it because the land next door is for sale
when the very landowner says that's not the case.
There were other options on the table. Why didn't the civic cabinet go back and
say no let's look at lease arrangements, let's talk to the relevant owners about
alternative arrangements for carparking. It did not have to be this way. It is
simply not good enough and today the LNP had the opportunity because the
landowner is sitting right up in the gallery today. In the afternoon tea break, I
challenged the LORD MAYOR and members of the LNP and Councillor
ADAMS to go up and apologise for the decisions that you've made. Have the
guts to actually own up to your decisions and apologise to that family that have
been misled by this Council.
I say again this is unfair, it's not right and the Council has an opportunity to look
at its processes. We've already had a legal judgement to say that we're flawed in
the way the information is provided. Well today I'm calling on the LORD
MAYOR to review how we actually treat the ratepayers of this city because
everyone in our city deserves a fair go and they're not getting it under the LNP
Council.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I thought Councillor ADAMS might speak, Madam Chairman, but I'm happy to.
Seriatim - Clauses A and B
Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON requested that Clause A, RESUMPTION OF 12 CREEK ROAD MT
GRAVATT EAST CAR PARK EXTENSION TO MT GRAVATT LIBRARY, and Clause B, CONTRACTS
AND TENDERING — REPORT TO COUNCIL OF CONTRACTS ACCEPTED BY DELEGATES FOR
JULY 2013, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I'll speak on both items. Firstly with respect to Item B the Contracts and
Tendering report, I thought that was an extraordinary display by the LORD
MAYOR today, who just read as a matter of rote from the decision, something I
don't think has ever happened in the time I've been here. You would have
thought that perhaps it might offer some clarity about what these projects are
about but no. I'm sure just like the meetings that his staff and his colleagues have
he's got no idea what's in these actual contracts.
Madam Chairman, there are a couple that do seem quite surprising and I note
that Councillor FLESSER has raised some. Certainly I'm very concerned by
what Councillor SUTTON has said and welcome back, that was very good.
Firstly I noticed the one on page 6 which relates to Success Factors, the
Workforce Analytics and Consultancy Services. It is always a concern when we
are entering into large contracts without undertaking a value for money exercise.
The issue that we have here is I believe that this is one of these, well probably,
we've the early stages of the stuff up with all the IT stuff. This is probably phase
1 of seeing how all the gaps and the mismanagement of these processes are
actually unfolding at Council.
We're having to put band aids onto existing programs while we wait for new
systems to come online. The interesting thing we have here is basically the
contract says that the services are required to be retained until the
implementation of the SAP Enterprise Resources Planning solution expected in
mid 2014. However, Council has actually entered into an 18 month contract that
goes through until the end of December 2014. So clearly there is a problem,
there is an unreliability in the timing and the delivery of these services. I think
that we are seeing the first threads being pulled at the hem of the IT projects that
this Administration is oversighting.
I suspect that that is the problem with the item below it as well, Kapish Services
Pty Ltd, which has a similar sort of approach. I don't know because there's not a
lot of information about all of these things. I know that a lot of the new systems
are supposed to be coming online about now and I don't know if that's actually
happening or whether it's delayed. Rather than being told about how great the
lights are on the Story Bridge, perhaps the DEPUTY MAYOR the next time
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 29 around might like to tell us a little bit more about how the implementation of
major new IT systems in this city are being delivered and implemented.
I suppose he doesn't want to talk about it because I suspect it's not going well. So
the Contracts and Tendering report is a concern but the most serious Item on
here is Item A, the resumption of the house and land at Creek Road next to the
Mount Gravatt Library. Firstly can I say if you actually read the Council papers
as they've been presented to us today you would have no idea that there is a
concern about this item. There's a page and a half of delightfully bland
statements about we're purchasing land for the library and an objection was
received and we've heard those objections.
There is some information in attachments. Well when you read a little further
into this and when the files actually do turn up, you find that there are very
serious issues attached to the negotiations that have gone on in this case and
Councillor DICK has outlined them here today. We certainly didn't hear them
from the LORD MAYOR and we certainly heard nothing from Councillor
ADAMS whose fingerprints are all over this as the local councillor, as a
chairman. Certainly I would think that if anything qualifies as a conflict of
interest, then something like this would.
Given her personal involvement in this matter, in encouraging the bidder to
actually accept an offer and then sitting in on the E&C decisions to compulsorily
acquire this matter, that strikes me as, in my personal view inappropriate and
unethical conduct. I would have though, Madam Chairman, that she would want
to make sure that this is run by the book rather than interfering and in the
residents' own words, bullying them into accepting this bid after the process had
started.
In looking at all of this I can see it's a giant stuff up, an absolute giant stuff up.
Council missed the boat when the property first went on the market, it then
manufactured reasons which subsequently proved to be untrue, demonstrably
untrue by saying that the land next door was up for sale, that was the reason.
Saying that there were carpark issues. It wasn't true and it was clearly ruled out
very early on in the process. So Council's whole reason for saying that they
should acquire this land was untrue.
Now the LORD MAYOR did say well look, there's 67,000 people who come
and visit the Mount Gravatt library which is one of the lowest attendance rates
anywhere. Madam Chairman, if this is an attempt by Councillor ADAMS to
bolster her library services which clearly it is, then this shouldn't be done at the
expense of local residents who have made their home in good faith next door to a
Council building. That's what's at the heart of this issue. These people went
through an open sale process, the same process that if this Council had had its
act together could have been involved in and could have purchased the land.
They did not do that.
Then they've come in like big brother, over the top and affected the livelihood
and the home of this family. It is disgraceful behaviour, absolutely disgraceful
behaviour. In listening to the family or reading the family's concerns about this,
it's clear that they've put a lot of effort into their new house, that they enjoy
living there. It's a neighbourhood that they like, they chose it for a reason. It is
just disgraceful that this LNP administration is now using its size and its might
to squash an ordinary Brisbane family. It's doing it so Councillor Krista ADAMS
can get some toddler talk time from book stories in the morning.
It's not good enough. Or maybe she wants a composting workshop because that's
what this is about. When you read it, she wants more activities at her local
library. Don't we all? Don't we all? There are 27 people in this room and we'd
love more activities at all of our libraries but we don't go around stealing
people's homes to get them. Now, Madam Chairman, in looking at the reason for
compulsory acquisition, my understanding is that it has to be ‘infrastructure of
significance’. I'm just concerned that this is what this Council designates as
‘infrastructure of significance’.
A carpark that well could have maybe 14 car spaces, could have 20 odd car
spaces, we don't know. But Councillor ADAMS is going to have thousands and
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 30 thousands more people coming along to toddler book time and they're going to
park in the 14 carparks out the side. There's going to be no problems at all
because that's going to be perfectly adequate. Madam Chairman, this whole
process is a joke. It makes a mockery of the abilities of this Council to plan
properly for its neighbourhoods, for its services and the way in which this
Council has gone about treating this family just seems to me to be absolutely
dead set wrong.
A few more toddler book times or a few more composting workshops shouldn't
mean that a family who live in our city lose their home and their livelihood. I
don't think that's good enough. I certainly won't be voting for this today. I think
the LNP Administration has allowed their majority in this place to go to their
head. This is an absolute sign of arrogance, uncaring attitudes and using their
power and their size in an unethical way in my view to get what they want for
purely expedient and political purposes.
It's a sad day and I am embarrassed that this Council has stuffed this up. As you
can see in all of the papers before us, stuffed up the reason the land needs to be
bought, stuffed up the timing of the acquisition of the land, stuffed up when
Councillor ADAMS thought she'd get involved and coerce someone or ask
someone to take the offer, Madam Chairman, stuffed up when they come to
discussing it in the agent process, stuffed up when we get here today. The papers
couldn't even get out to us on time. The whole thing has been a shemozzle.
It reflects badly on this Administration and I sincerely think the LORD MAYOR
should withdraw this Item. They should go away and have a think about it.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON your time has expired. Further debate? Councillor
ADAMS.
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and I stand gladly to speak on behalf of Item A in this
Establishment and Coordination Committee (E&C) to respond to the hysterical
rubbish we hear on the other side of the other side of the Chamber about the
resumption of the land at 12 Creek Road. First of all I would like to put a few
things straight. This is not an expansion of a carpark. Currently the Mount
Gravatt Library has no carparking. Not one, not two, not three parks, absolutely
zero carparks for a vitally important community centre that has 67,000 people
visit it, but means we cannot put on any of our holiday programs or any
extension of programs because we have no carpark at all.
As local councillor and chairman I can verify that is absolutely true. It is an
understandable misconception that those people who park outside the front door
of Mount Gravatt Library think they are parking in a Brisbane City Council
carpark. They are parking in the Photo Continental carpark, not Brisbane City
Council land. We have had nothing but a general handshake and understanding
that the library patrons can use the Photo Continental carpark, limited use of
their carpark mind you, to be able to access the library. But we have been
specifically asked by Photo Continental to avoid activities which attract larger
audiences because it will have a negative impact on their clients.
We have letters dated from 2005 through to January this year in 2013 saying
please, we assert our rights as the owner that there will be a restriction of the
carparking for the library carpark or we may withdraw our access for library
customers on this site. There is no carpark for the Mount Gravatt Library which
has been open since 1967. We are not about to shut when there is an option to
now get carparking on a neighbouring site.
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor ADAMS:
I will take the interjection and say yet again I find it highly offensive that
Councillor JOHNSTON continues to say that this is untrue when it is the truth.
The sites beside the library at 12 Creek Road have been on the market before. As
soon as it was on the market again this time I am unaware that Council got an
approach but when I was made aware that it was for sale, as local councillor I
passed it onto our property team to say please have a look at it. This is what we
need for the Mount Gravatt Library to ensure our future with the Mount Gravatt
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 31 Corridor Neighbourhood plan, that we are keeping this as a community hub for
the local residents.
There is absolutely no conflict of interest between a chair and a local councillor.
Damned if you do, damned if you don't. I'm being told it's a conflict of interest to
speak to one of my constituents about a local issue resulting in with a Council—
Councillor DICK:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Yes point of order.
Councillor DICK:
Councillor ADAMS is misleading the Chamber. They don't live in her ward,
they live in Councillor McKENZIE's ward. She doesn't even know that fact.
Chairman:
I don't uphold your point of order Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
It's true.
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair, I know they live in Councillor McKENZIE's ward—
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order, Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
I think Councillor DICK just confirmed for me they do not live at 12 Creek
Road. I'm not chucking them out of their house, they live in Holland Park Ward.
I understand it's been run as an architect's landscape business at this point of
time. However, a site in my ward. The vendors or the owners of this property
came to my ward office and spoke to my staff and were very keen to speak to me
about it and yes—
Chairman:
Councillor—just a minute Councillor ADAMS. Councillor JOHNSTON if you
continue you will be warned. Do not interject. Councillor ADAMS.
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and yes of course as a responsible local councillor I
rang back the owner and spoke to him about this site. Yes, I do not lie to my
constituents. I strongly advised him that he should take the offer from Council
because we were very interested in this property. That was my suggestion to the
constituent. He did not take that up, that is fine. We have now gone through the
process. But I do not lie to my constituents and say no, no stand strong, you'll be
right. I do not go for hysterical rubbish when the truth is Council needed this site
for a carpark.
I told the truth to the Roberts family and I continue to stand here today and tell
the truth. Mount Gravatt Library does not have a carpark. It needs a carpark.
Photo Continental wants us to limit the use on the site that we have on an
agreement at the moment. It is a vital community hub for Mount Gravatt. It is
very close to the social housing area of Mount Gravatt East and is highly used by
these residents. As we see in the results they do drive there, they pick up heaps
of books and they move back to their cars to go back home with those resources.
This is an opportunity for Council to make sure that we have a site that will meet
the needs of the increased density in this area in years to come and I thoroughly
recommend this Item to the Chamber.
Chairman:
Councillor MURPHY.
ADJOURNMENT:
176/2013-14
At that time, 4pm, it was resolved on the motion of Councillor MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Kim
MARX, that the meeting adjourn for a period of 15 minutes, to commence only when all councillors had
vacated the chamber and the doors have been locked.
Council stood adjourned at 4pm.
UPON RESUMPTION:
Chairman:
Further debate on the E&C; Councillor NEWTON.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 32 Councillor NEWTON:
Thank you, Madam Chair; I rise to speak briefly on Item A of this report. I
wasn't going to speak on this item until I heard the Chairperson for the Brisbane
Lifestyle Committee speak just earlier about this compulsory acquisition of
someone's land for the purposes of a car park at Mt Gravatt Library. I am
shocked and horrified to learn that Brisbane City Council has been approached
by Photo Continental since 2005 to help address the car parking issues. Since
2005, Madam Chair.
I am shocked and appalled to hear that, in a response to Photo Continental's
request to deal with it, that we're going through a forced resumption process
which in my view could have been completely avoided and not put so much
pain and anguish on those residents who purchased that property. I am shocked
and appalled to hear what a botched process this has been.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
Councillor NEWTON:
Really, there is a lesson that we all can learn, but this Administration in
particular can learn, about how to do things better when it comes to acquisition
of property for community use.
If Council has been aware that Photo Continental was concerned about library
patrons using their car park for free, why didn't this Council sit down with Photo
Continental and come to some arrangement? It is not unusual for Council to
work with the private sector to come up with an arrangement to discuss their
needs, to discuss the library's needs, and come up with an amicable way of
dealing with this. I appreciate that Photo Continental has assisted library patrons
all these years, and it has assisted Brisbane City Council on an understanding,
but why not formalise it? Why not formalise it? Sit down with those property
owners, sit down with the business and come up with an arrangement. I am
shocked that it has come to this, where we're being asked to make a decision
today to forcibly remove property from some local residents to build a car park.
One would think from what the Chairperson said that this is the only library in
Brisbane without an off-street car park. I don't think I have any of my libraries
have off-street car parking whatsoever. Are we going to start to see forcible
resumptions of people's properties adjacent to the Zillmere Library? I hope not,
Madam Chair. Are we going to demolish the Sandgate Town Hall to make way
for library car parking? This is absurd. There has got to be a better way.
What is even more concerning is this property went on the market in 2011. I am
concerned that there wasn't something on the radar that, if Council was so
interested for so many years to buy this property as a car park, why wasn't that
flagged? Why did it have to take Councillor ADAMS to have to make a phone
call about it? Surely this was a red mark on the system, if this property comes up
for sale, let's get on to the real estate agent and let's discuss price, because it is
so important. Why wait until it goes through private sale? Why wait until
somebody else buys it? Why wait until somebody else invests some money into
it?
This is absolutely appalling and says a lot about Council's property acquisition
process. Maybe there's a lack of resourcing there; I don't know. But if Council
was so concerned about car parking for this library, and so interested in this
property, why was there such a slap dash approach that has caused so much
anguish for the property owners?
But finally, Madam Chair, the Councillor's admission that she strongly
suggested that the residents take this offer. This was after the resumption
process had started, a legal process that Council embarks on to negotiate with a
landowner, and the Councillor, rather than saying, look, it is up to you to decide
whether you take Council's offer or not, you have to decide what's fair for
yourself and what's fair and reasonable, this Council Chairperson strongly
recommended—strongly suggested these residents take Council's offer. That's
appalling.
That's not about being honest and up front with the residents; that's about
making them feel like they've got no other options. That's not the relationship
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 33 this Council should have with its residents. It's an absolute disgrace, Madam
Chair, and I will not be supporting Item A of this report.
Chairman:
Further debate; DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Yes, Madam Chairman; just briefly, I wanted to raise a couple of key points and
in particular respond to a couple of questions or statements that have been made.
The first—
Chairman:
In relation to—
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Sorry, in relation to the contracts and tendering report,Item B. The first question
that came up that I want to address is the issue of the micro tunnelling. This is a
question that was asked in a very similar way in the Infrastructure Committee
earlier this year; I think it was around May. I gave the same answer then. I will
give it again today.
Council previously procured some micro tunnelling equipment when we had
Brisbane Water as an entity of Council. A lot of that equipment was being used
for water related projects. When Queensland Urban Utilities separated away
from Council, Council no longer required the use of that equipment on a
permanent basis, so that is essentially the case. So we don't have as much need
for micro tunnelling these days. It comes up occasionally, and when it does
come up, we go out to the market to seek tenders in the way that we have done
at the moment. But the volume of micro tunnelling work has reduced
significantly since the separation of Brisbane Water into Queensland Urban
Utilities. So that is essentially what has happened there.
Councillor JOHNSTON asked me for an update on our IT projects. I would love
to be able to provide that, but I am not responsible for IT projects. That is
something that falls under Councillor SIMMONDS' jurisdictional portfolio, so
I'm not sure why she was asking me for an update on that. I do, however, have
an involvement in the Story Bridge which is why I was talking about the Story
Bridge lighting earlier today. If Councillor JOHNSTON thinks I should
comment on everything, that is her opinion, but that is not the reality of the way
things work in this Council Chamber.
Councillor FLESSER was the most interesting speaker of the afternoon, I think,
particularly with his comments about the CIA and the foil hat comments that he
made. I think we may see potentially the Palmer candidate for Northgate here in
the Chamber, because they are the type of comments we have heard from certain
other prominent candidates recently. The reality is the CIA is not interested in
Brisbane City Council. I can assure Councillor FLESSER that that is the case.
But Council takes IT security very seriously, as Councillor SIMMONDS will be
able to confirm.
In terms of outsourcing and his general comments about outsourcing, I find
them very hard to believe. I find them quite disingenuous. This Council has
outsourced a range of its activities over a period of many years, under
successive administrations, and under administrations of both Liberal, LNP,
Labor from different sides of the political fence. Councillor FLESSER's
comments seemed to indicate that he was against outsourcing and that we
should do more in-house because we needed to keep those skills in-house. But
the reality is Councillor FLESSER and his colleagues were prepared to
outsource a whole range of activities that this Council did.
They were quite happy to have one of the basic services of this Council
outsourced—the collection of rubbish, the collection of waste. They were quite
happy to outsource that as one of Australia's largest waste outsourcing contracts.
We know that they continued to support the outsourcing of that service when
they were in Administration. The same goes for grass cutting. Once again,
another basic service which, for many years, has been outsourced.
So this argument that somehow we need to do everything in-house to maintain
the skills is ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. The reality is what we're interested
in is providing value for ratepayers' money and providing quality of service. We
believe that if we can do it better, then we should do it. But if someone else can
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 34 do it better and more efficiently, then they should be given the opportunity to
put in a tender, which is exactly what we're seeing in a number of cases here.
So, Madam Chairman, once again, Councillor FLESSER has been making
comments which aren't consistent with his own party's approach, and once again
just a bit of scaremongering.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, I claim to be misrepresented.
Chairman:
Okay, what is the misrepresentation, Councillor FLESSER?
Councillor FLESSER:
Councillor SCHRINNER said that my party's position is consistent with what
they are doing. Well, that is not the case. What has happened here is he has put
out a contract—
Chairman:
Councillor FLESSER—
Councillor FLESSER:
—without any competitors.
Chairman:
Councillor FLESSER, that was not misrepresentation. If the DEPUTY MAYOR
is talking about your party, that is not referring to something you have just said.
So that is not misrepresentation. Further debate; LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. Today we have heard a fair bit of
emotion from the Labor Party in relation to these matters before us, particularly
Item A, and I suppose also that of Councillor JOHNSTON. But at no stage has
anybody on that side of the Chamber said that this property should not have
been acquired by this Council. At no stage was there any—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Point of order against you, LORD MAYOR; yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Claim to be misrepresented.
Chairman:
Thank you, Councillor JOHNSTON; LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
There was talk about stealing people's houses. There was talk about a whole lot
of other stuff, but I did not hear during that debate at any stage where a
Councillor said that we ought not be buying this particular piece of land.
The fact of the matter is that there is a need. If this was Councillor JOHNSTON
or some other Councillors, and they did not have a car park for their particular
library, they would be up in this Chamber screaming and shouting and carrying
on demanding that there be a car park for their library. That would be their
position, saying, how dare we be taking car parks for small business; how dare
we be taking car parks—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Yes, point of order against you, LORD MAYOR. Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON,
it had better be a point of order.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, Madam Chairman. I believe that the LORD MAYOR is imputing motive in
those statements, saying that I would be jumping up and down about something.
That is imputing a motive about a matter that is simply untrue, and I believe it
should be withdrawn.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, I don't uphold your point of order. This is a Chamber
of political debate, for goodness sake.
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
You dish it out pretty well, but you don't like taking it.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Anyway, Madam Chairman, the reality is that this Council pursued this
property. We did so in the first instance, attempting to obtain the property, but,
as I mentioned in the opening statements that I made, the real estate agent
concerned had an obligation to work in the seller's interests; that's his obligation
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 35 under law. Despite some other informal attempts to obtain the property earlier,
that was not able to be achieved.
A Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
Well, you can use that word, Councillor; I'd say that's an emotive term to use
that, and I would say it's completely devoid of the facts.
There has been a lot of accusations made towards Councillor ADAMS here
today. I would just say this: Councillor ADAMS was at least prepared to have
the guts to state it as it was, to state Council's intentions clearly to the owners of
that property. She has been condemned in this Chamber today for doing that,
which raises the question: what would the Labor Party have done? What would
a Labor Councillor have done in similar circumstances? Clearly they would not,
from what I have heard here today, clearly they would not have been upfront.
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON!
LORD MAYOR:
Clearly they would have ducked for cover behind the bureaucrats. That is what
they do. Because we know—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
—these are the same people that want to name and shame bureaucrats in this
Chamber. They want to be able to hide behind them. We saw it with the Bligh
Government. Any time it got hot, they would be out there having the bureaucrats
facing the music rather than the elected representatives.
A Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
No I am not. Yes, I am very much so.
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON!
LORD MAYOR:
So, Madam Chairman—
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON, if you continue, you will be warned.
LORD MAYOR:
—we know Labor's modus operandi, and I just say that Councillor ADAMS had
the intestinal fortitude to make it clear what Council's intentions were. She
should not be condemned for that.
Councillor NEWTON said that, oh well, the company concerned that are
adjoining this, where there has been some informal arrangements for a few car
parks over the years, we knew apparently in 2005, and she is saying why wasn't
something done then? Well, Madam Chairman, we all know that there was a
Labor Party Chairman in place—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
—in 2005.
Chairman:
Councillor NEWTON!
LORD MAYOR:
And she claps because it is correct. There was. So, I don't know what the
inference was. I don't know who was magically supposed to do something.
Councillor ADAMS wasn't in the Chamber in 2005. So I just say, was that—
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Point of order, LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
—the Chairman's responsibility at that time?
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR, just a moment. Yes, Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Would the LORD MAYOR take a question pertinent to this issue?
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 36 LORD MAYOR:
Yes, Question Time is over, but I'll take one from you, Councillor
ABRAHAMS; I respect you.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, LORD MAYOR; I am so surprised, I almost sat down before I
asked my question. LORD MAYOR, the issue is the process whereby this will
be prevented in the future. The process whereby Council monitors land they
intend to buy. Would you like to inform the Chamber of the process you have
put in as a result of this dispute?
LORD MAYOR:
The reality is that Council cannot monitor every piece of land out there in
Brisbane. It would require an army of Council officers to monitor all bits of land
that we have out there, and whether they might or might not be on the market at
any given time.
A Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
Well, they would. They like growing bureaucracies. We're not into that, Madam
Chairman, as you know.
What we have done, and what Councillor ADAMS did in this particular case, as
soon as she became aware that the property was on the market, she raised that
with Council officers. If the Council officers hadn't gone about their due
diligence at that time, if they had rushed in and they hadn't got valuations, if
they hadn’t sought to ensure funding was available, if they hadn't undertaken the
other processes that I mentioned at the start of this debate, the Labor Party
would be the very people criticising the fact that we hadn't gone through due
process, that we hadn't undertaken due diligence in relation to the purchase of
this property which ultimately came about through acquisition by way of
resumption.
So, Madam Chairman, they can't have it both ways. We either follow a due
process, and in this case Councillor ADAMS raising that matter at the time
when she became aware of it, and then an authority being provided to officers to
undertake what is normal practice in this Council, and has been normal practice,
I might say, for some decades. So, Madam Chairman, I just say again that, from
what I have seen of this, it has been handled appropriately.
I would just say to anybody—anybody—who has their property resumed, it is
not one of the pleasurable tasks that this Council engages in. We have to do it.
We have done it on many occasions. Each year we have to do it. We have to
resume properties as part of the business of operating this city. It is never a task
that we take lightly or pleasantly. We understand implicitly that we are dealing
with people's homes or investments. But there are times when we have to do it,
when we act in the public interest as a whole to ensure that this city advances.
We have done it with road projects; we have done it with all sorts of things—
with park projects, and it has happened I dare say in every ward of this city, and
that will continue to occur as our city evolves.
Again, I just say to anybody who is resumed, I understand. I have empathy for
the feelings of those people that have their properties resumed, but it is
something that, as a city government, occurs and will continue to occur.
In relation to the contracts and tendering, look, I don't have an answer for you on
the playground at this time. I will, though, make a commitment to give you more
detail in next week's E&C report by way of a response around that. Can I just
say that, in regards to the CBD playground facility, that is continuing. There has
been a lot of negotiation with the State around that facility, particularly the
heritage aspects, but we are at a stage where we are ready to proceed, and it will
be a good outcome for the city to have that All-abilities playground facility
available in the Botanic Gardens in the city.
Also, the micro-tunnelling was answered by the DEPUTY MAYOR. Again, on
the Success Factors, can I just say with regards to sole source tendering, it is an
option of last resort for this Council. We don’t go out and sole source unless we
know that there is particular intellectual value that is related to an individual
company. So, Madam Chairman, I can see you winding me up, and that is it. So
this will remain the exception rather than the norm.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 37 Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, you claim misrepresentation.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, I did. The LORD MAYOR stood up and said that I and no one on this side
of the Chamber has said the house should not be acquired. Madam Chairman, I
said very clearly at the end of my speech that I did not support this item, and I
did not believe Council needed to acquire the house. His statements are simply
wrong.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for Item A.
Clause A put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause A of the report of the Establishment
and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Milton DICK and Victoria NEWTON immediately rose and called for a division, which
resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 19 -
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, Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX, Peter
MATIC,
Ian McKENZIE,
David
McLACHLAN,
Ryan
MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS,
Andrew
WINES,
and
Norm WYNDHAM.
NOES: 8 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Shayne SUTTON, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER,
Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON, and Nicole JOHNSTON.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for Item B.
Clause B put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause B of the report of the Establishment
and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Milton DICK and Victoria NEWTON immediately rose and called for a division, which
resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 20 -
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, Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX, Peter
MATIC,
Ian McKENZIE,
David
McLACHLAN,
Ryan
MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS,
Andrew
WINES,
and
Norm WYNDHAM, and Nicole JOHNSTON.
NOES: 7 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Shayne SUTTON, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER,
Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON.
The report read as follows
A
RESUMPTION OF 12 CREEK ROAD MT GRAVATT EAST CAR PARK
EXTENSION TO MT GRAVATT LIBRARY
112/20/711/764
177/2013-14
1.
The Divisional Manager, Brisbane Lifestyle, provided the information below.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 38 -
2.
The Mt Gravatt Library opened in 1967 and has more than 67,000 visitors each year – almost
1300 visits each week.
3.
The library requires permanent access to a convenient off-street car park facility which
includes designated bays for people with disabilities. As the area surrounding the library
developed into a busy retail-commercial precinct the on-street parking used by library
customers progressively disappeared and fresh parking arrangements are required.
4.
The acquisition of 12 Creek Road, Mt Gravatt East, for library purposes adjoining the
Mt Gravatt Library will ensure the library will have appropriate parking facilities in the short
term and an enhanced ability to remodel the library to meet the future needs of all customers.
5.
On 10 December 2012, approval was given to issue Notices of Intention to Resume to acquire
the property listed in Schedule A, hereunder. A plan of the site comprises Attachment G,
submitted on file.
6.
An objection was received from the property owner in response to those notices. The owner
requested to be heard in support of their objections. Council’s agent heard those objections
and where appropriate provided responses to those objections.
7.
Those objections, the report by Council’s agent, Council’s response of 26 March 2013 and a
further submission made by the owner, and the response to the further submission, is set out
in Attachments B, C, D, E and F respectively, submitted on file.
8.
Upon the completion of the formal resumption process, the owner’s interests in the resumed
land are converted into a claim for compensation, pursuant to the provisions of the
Acquisition of Land Act 1967. Negotiations concerning compensation will continue
concurrently with the formal resumption process.
9.
It is recommended that Council resolves as per the draft resolution as set out in Attachment A,
hereunder.
Vision/Corporate Plan impact
10.
Enhancement of the car parking for the Mt Gravatt Library delivers the following Living in
Brisbane 2026 Vision city-wide outcomes:
learning and informed communities
connected and engaged communities
11.
The enhancement to Mt Gravatt Library is also linked to the Corporate Plan 2012-2013 to
2016-2017 program outcomes of 5.2 Libraries for an Informed Community and
5.5 Well-Managed Community Facilities under Program 5 – Your Brisbane.
Customer impact
12.
Improvements to the Mt Gravatt Library parking arrangements will ensure that the library will
have a facility that meets the needs of all customers
Financial impact
13.
Funds are available under Program 4 – Your Brisbane, Service Level 4.2.1.2 - Library
Enhancements
14.
Accordingly, the Divisional Manager recommends as follows and the Committee agreed at its
meeting of 2 September 2013.
15.
RECOMMENDATION:
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 39 -
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVES AS PER THE DRAFT RESOLUTION AS SET OUT IN
ATTACHMENT A, HEREUNDER.
Attachment A
DRAFT RESOLUTION TO APPROVE COMPLETION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY
LAND RESUMPTIONS FOR MT GRAVATT LIBRARY IMPROVEMENTS
THAT IT BE RESOLVED THAT1.
AS—
(a)
on 11 December 2012, the Council in accordance with the provisions of the
Acquisition of Land Act 1967 issued Notices of Intention to Resume the
privately-owned land set out and identified in Schedule A, hereunder, to this
recommendation
(b)
an objection in writing was received to those Notices, shown at Attachment
B, submitted on file
(c)
Council has considered the objection and made recommendations for the
treatment of the objection as set out in Attachments B, C, D, E and F,
submitted on file
then Council is of the opinion that having regard to the objection and the report in
Attachments B, C, D, E and F.
THAT—
(i)
the land described in Schedule A is required for library purposes
(ii)
it is necessary to take that land.
2.
As COUNCIL is of the opinion specified in paragraph 1, it DIRECTS THAT
APPLICATION BE MADE TO THE MINISTER FOR NATURAL
RESOURCES AND MINES UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE
ACQUISITION OF LAND ACT 1967 FOR THE TAKING OF THAT LAND
REFERRED TO IN PARAGRAPH 1 FOR LIBRARY PURPOSES.
3.
The Council authorises—
(a)
that authority be granted for all of the land required for library purposes to be
cleared of improvements.
SCHEDULE A
OWNER
LOCATION
REAL PROPERTY
DESCRIPTION
David John Roberts and
Sherin Kim Roberts
12 Creek Road, Mt
Gravatt East
The whole of Lot 7 on
RP61414
AREA REQUIRED
FOR LIBRARY
PURPOSES
M2
607
ADOPTED
B
CONTRACTS AND TENDERING — REPORT TO COUNCIL
CONTRACTS ACCEPTED BY DELEGATES FOR JULY 2013
109/695/586/2
OF
178/2013-14
16.
The Chief Executive Officer provided the information below.
17.
The report of contracts accepted by delegates for July 2013 is submitted for the information of
Council.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 40 -
18.
Sections 238 and 239 of the City of Brisbane Act 2010 provide that Council may delegate
some of its powers. Those powers include the power to enter into contracts under section 242
of the City of Brisbane Act 2010.
19.
Council has previously delegated some powers to make, vary or discharge contracts for the
procurement of goods, services or works. Council made these delegations to the
Establishment and Co-ordination Committee, Chief Executive Officer and permanent heads of
the units of administration.
20.
The City of Brisbane Regulation 2012 (the Regulation) was made pursuant to the City of
Brisbane Act 2010. Section 227 in Chapter 6 (Part 4) of the Regulation provides that: (1) The
Council must, as soon as practicable after entering into a contract under this chapter worth
$200,000 or more (exclusive of GST), publish relevant details of the contract on Council’s
website; (2) The relevant details must be published under subsection (1) for a period of at
least 12 months; (3) Also, if a person asks the Council to give relevant details of a contract,
the Council must allow the person to inspect the relevant details at the Council’s public office.
‘Relevant details’ is defined in section 227 Chapter 6 (Part 4) (4) as including: (a) the person
with whom Council has entered into the contract; (b) the value of the contract; and (c) the
purpose of the contract (e.g. the particular goods or services to be supplied under the
contract).
21.
It is therefore recommended that Council note the report of contracts accepted by delegates
for July 2013, as set out in Attachment A, hereunder.
Financial impact
22.
Funding for the accepted contracts has been provided in divisional budgets.
23.
It is therefore recommended that Council note the report of contracts accepted by delegates
for July 2013.
24.
Accordingly, the Chief Executive Officer submits the following recommendation with which
the Committee agreed at its meeting of 9 September 2013.
25.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE REPORT TO COUNCIL OF CONTRACTS ACCEPTED BY
DELEGATES FOR JULY 2013, AS DETAILED IN THE SCHEDULE SUBMITTED
HEREUNDER, BE NOTED.
Attachment A
Contract/Quote No. &
Successful Contractor/s
BRISBANE INFRASTRUCTURE
CPO130194-12/13.
Bielby Hull Joint Venture – $30,811,420.*
(Unincorporated joint venture comprising Bielby
Holdings Pty Ltd and JF Hull Holdings Pty Ltd).
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 255 (Overall Ranking 1).
*Price is final tendered price following
commercial alignment discussions with two
shortlisted Tenderers. Shortlisted due to
significantly higher non-price and value for
money score and likely to provide the most
advantageous outcome for Council.
City of Brisbane Regulation 2012 – Chapter 6 - Contracting
Details of Contracts Accepted by Delegates of Council for July 2013
Delegate
Price Accepted Contract/Quote Purpose
Unsuccessful Tenders
& Type of
& Quotes
Arrangement
CEO.
$30,811,420.
Telegraph Road Open
(estimated
Level Crossing
expenditure
Replacement Project.
under maximum
term of the
contract).
Prices
Tendered
Shortlisted Tenderer:
Civil Mining and Constructions.
(Overall ranking 2)
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 249.
$31,589,627.*
Approved:
23.07.13.
Start:
23.07.13.
End:
Expected
completion within
54 weeks.
Tenderers not shortlisted:
BMD Constructions Pty Ltd.
(Overall ranking 3)
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 188.
Approval,
Start/End
Dates & Term
$30,057,478.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 41 Contract/Quote No. &
Successful Contractor/s
CPOQ130163-12/13.
Delegate
CPO.
M&N Enterprise Pty Ltd t/a Playscape
Creations - $250,000.
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 3.22.
The amount of $250,000 was nominated as the
maximum allowable budget for completion of
the works with the proposal providing best
value for money within budget being
recommended.
FSG130200-12/13.
CPO.
Bothar Boring & Tunnelling Operations Pty
Ltd - $238,311.
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 31.05.
V110211-10/11-40.
CPO.
Doval Constructions (QLD) Pty Ltd $1,251,188.
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 6.75.
Price Accepted Contract/Quote Purpose
& Type of
Arrangement
$250,000.
(estimated
expenditure
under maximum
term of the
Preferred
Supplier
Arrangement).
Unsuccessful Tenders
& Quotes
Prices
Tendered
Seymour Whyte Constructions Pty Ltd.
(Overall ranking 4)
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 168.
$32,282,678.
Golding Contractors Pty Ltd.
(Overall ranking 5)
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 166.
$29,481,918.
Albem Highways Joint Venture.
(Overall ranking 6)
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 130.
$35,807,087.
Hazell Bros Group Pty Ltd.
(Overall ranking 7)
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 122.
$28,213,824.
McIlwain Civil Engineering Pty Ltd.
(Overall ranking 8)
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 126.
Sure-Play Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 2.38.
$26,033,648.
CBD Playground for All
Project Park Project –
Engagement of a Play
Equipment Supplier for the
Design, Fabrication and
The Play Works.
Installation of the Central Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
Play Piece.
of 2.35.
$250,000.
Playrope Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 2.32.
$249,996.
Omnitech Playgrounds.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 1.67.
$238,311.
Micro Tunnelling and
FBD Constructions Pty Ltd.
(estimated
Associated Drainage
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
expenditure
Works at Sweetman Street, of 26.18.
under maximum Paddington.
term of the
Denari Earthmovers Pty Ltd.
contract).
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 25.31.
$248,000.
The MCQ Group Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 17.73.
$411,812.
Abergeldie Mining Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 15.02.
$512,640.
Pensar Civil Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 14.25.
$519,297.
DJ MacCormick Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 9.98.
$721,570.
Moggill Constructions Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 4.51.
$1,506,719.
Pensar.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 4.05.
$1,975,862.
Brittwood Constructions Pty Ltd
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 5.50. (Offer withdrawn due to
unavailability of specified personnel).
$1,145,245.
$1,251,188.
(estimated
expenditure
under maximum
term of the
contract).
Backflow Prevention
Project – James Street,
New Farm; Ryan Street,
West End; and
Castlemaine Street, Milton.
$275,000.
Approval,
Start/End
Dates & Term
Approved:
11.07.13.
Start:
13.07.13
End:
Expected
completion within
17 weeks.
$278,886.
$276,539.
Approved:
11.07.13.
Start:
26.08.13
End:
Expected
completion within
8 weeks.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
Approved:
24.04.13.
Start:
02.05.13.
End:
26.07.13.
- 42 Contract/Quote No. &
Successful Contractor/s
BRISBANE LIFESTYLE
BL140006-13/14.
Delegate
E&C.
Brisbane Metropolitan Bands Committee
Incorporated - $500,000.
Price Accepted Contract/Quote Purpose
& Type of
Arrangement
$500,000.
Provision of “Bands in
(estimated
Parks” Program.
expenditure
under maximum
term of the
contract).
Unsuccessful Tenders
& Quotes
N/A.
Prices
Tendered
N/A.
Exempt from Contract Manual process in
accordance with Schedule A(2)
(Procurement from Microenterprises,
Social Enterprises and Community
Enterprises) of Council’s Annual
Procurement Policy and Contracting Plan
(APPCP) 2012-2013.
Approval,
Start/End
Dates & Term
Approved:
29.07.13.
Start:
29.07.13.
End:
(initial term)
28.07.14.
Max. Term
(5) years.
Brisbane Metropolitan Bands Committee
Incorporated meet the criteria to be
considered exempt on the basis of being
a Community Enterprise.
BRISBANE TRANSPORT
Nil.
CITY PLANNING & SUSTAINABILITY
Nil.
DISASTER RESPONSE & RECOVERY
Nil.
OFFICE OF THE LORD MAYOR & CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Nil.
ORGANISATIONAL SERVICES
BL130187-12/13.
CEO.
Memorial Plaques:
Worssell & Co Pty Ltd - $344,402.*
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 24.44.
$2,010,000.
Provision of Memorial
(estimated
Plaques and Granite
expenditure
Bases.
under maximum
term of the
Preferred
Supplier
Arrangement).
Granite Bases:
Queensland Heritage Masonry Pty Ltd $58,098.*
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 134.43.
Memorial Plaques:
Phoenix Foundry Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 14.63.
$471,041.*
Matthews Bronze Pty Ltd t/a Arrow
Bronze.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 10.62.
$464,112.*
Approved:
30.07.13.
Start:
01.08.13.
End:
(initial term)
31.07.15.
Max. Term
(5) years.
Granite Bases:
*Price is a basket of goods based on volumes
supplied to Council over a 12 month period.
Matthews Bronze Pty Ltd t/a Arrow
Bronze.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 105.21.
$46,212.*
Phoenix Foundry Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 88.88.
$77,510.*
True Memories Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 51.77.
$101,790.*
Non-conforming tenders:
FQ100206-09/10.
Success Factors Inc. - $203,034.
CPO.
$203,034.
Workforce Analytics and
(estimated
Consultancy Services.
expenditure
under maximum
term of the
Batstone Stone Masonry Pty Ltd.
N/A.
N/A.
N/A.
Contract entered into without seeking
competitive tenders or quotations in
accordance with section 2.4 (Sole or
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
Approved:
20.06.13.
Start:
1.06.13.
End:
- 43 Contract/Quote No. &
Successful Contractor/s
SPO130164-12/13.
Delegate
CEO.
Gravel City Pty Ltd - $5,300,000.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM} of 140.
SPO130223-12/13.
Kapish Services Pty Ltd - $336,000.
Products/Solutions Offered:
Bulk Upload
(‘TRIM Explorer’) - $17,500.*
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 5.90.
CPO.
Price Accepted Contract/Quote Purpose
Unsuccessful Tenders
& Type of
& Quotes
Arrangement
contract).
Select Sourcing) of the Contract Manual
pursuant to the City of Brisbane Act 2010.
$53,000,000.
Cartage of Quarry
(estimated
Products.
expenditure
under maximum
term of the
Preferred
Supplier
Arrangement).
$336,000.
Provision of Hewlett(estimated
Packard Trim add on’s for
expenditure
functionalities.
under maximum
term of the
contract).
Prices
Tendered
Council’s current workforce measurement
and analytics capability is provided by
Success Factors Inc. These services are
required to be retained until the
implementation of the SAP Enterprise
Resource Planning solution expected mid
2014.
N/A.
N/A.
Gravel City were the only tenderer who
provided a response to the Request for
Proposal.
Products/Solutions Offered:
Bulk Upload
Proficiency Services Pty Ltd.
(‘Imports in Trim’).
Product lacked necessary functionality.
Value for Money Index {VFM} not
calculated.
$12,000.*
Digitus Information Systems Pty Ltd.
(‘inMailX and inDocX Importer’).
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 3.06.
$175,000.*
Multimedia
(‘TRIM Explorer’) - $17,500.*
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 6.33.
Multimedia
Proficiency Services Pty Ltd.
(‘Photo’s in TRIM’)
Product lacked necessary functionality.
Value for Money Index {VFM} not
calculated.
Mobility
(‘goTRIM’) - $36,000.*
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM} of 1.68.
Mobility
Kapish were the only supplier to offer a
product in this category.
Hyperlinks
(‘TRIM Easy Link’) - $20,000.*
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 40.62.
Hyperlinks
Proficiency Services Pty Ltd.
(‘TRIM Easy Link’)
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 36.46.
TRIM Metadata
(‘TRIM Word & Excel Add-in’) – $66,000.*
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 11.51.
TRIM Metadata
Proficiency Services Pty Ltd.
(‘TRIM Word & Excel Add-in’)
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 10.21.
Email Management**
No product offered.
Email Management**
Digitus Information Systems Pty Ltd.
(‘inMailX’).
$18,800*
$18,800.*
$62,000.*
$145,000.*
*Price is the offered price for upfront purchase
of the volume of licenses stated for each
product offered (excludes implementation
services, and support and maintenance over 5
years).
**Digitus were the only supplier to offer a
product in this category, however, the offered
product was only able to meet some of the
required functionality and was not considered a
value for money investment.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
Approval,
Start/End
Dates & Term
(initial term)
31.12.14.
Max. Term
(18) months.
Approved:
23.07.13.
Start:
01.12.13.
End:
(initial term)
30.11.15.
Max. Term
(10) years.
Approved:
25.06.13.
Start:
27.06.13.
End:
(initial term)
27.06.14.
Max. Term
(5) years.
- 44 -
ADOPTED
NOTATION OF DECISIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND
COORDINATION COMMITTEE AS DELEGATE OF THE COUNCIL:
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee, moved,
seconded by Councillor Ian McKENZIE, that the report setting out the decisions of the Establishment and
Coordination Committee as delegate of the Council during the Spring Recess 2013, on matters usually
considered by the Infrastructure Committee, be noted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate? Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Yes, thank you, Madam Chair, and I rise to speak on Item B, which is the
petition requesting that Council reverse the decision to implement metered
parking in the central business district of Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane.
We know that this is a red hot issue within the businesses across the CBD and
fringes of our city. We know by looking at the media coverage, we know by the
speeches in this Council, we know by the Notices of Motion, we know by the
subsequent petitions that have come forward as a result of the LNP's greed and
obsession with parking meter revenue. Let's put it in context: this year in our
city's history, our parking revenue and on-street parking fine revenue will tip
$50 million—$50 million. When it comes to parking and parking revenue, the
LNP thinks our streets are paved with gold.
Time and time again we've seen it as an easy cash grab from the LNP. A lazy
Administration worried about the bottom line, but when the chips are down,
they go straight to the easy money which is motorists' pockets. But they've
extended it this time. They've extended it, because what we saw at the
introduction of last year and the beginning of this year is the roll out, the
extension, of paid parking. There was none of this in the lead-up to the election.
No vote for the LNP and we will increase the amount of paid parking across the
city. None of that. They waited until after the election, and then they secretly
rolled it out.
Now, I've often said this before: did the LNP consult with the business
community before they did this? Did they go out into the business community,
to small businesses, the mums and dads, and say: do you need extra parking in
the city? Do you want extra parking in the city? Absolutely not. They have not
done a lick of work when it comes to consulting. I will tell you why: if they had,
they would have been told a resounding no, we don't want an extension of paid
parking in the CBD, Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane.
Why? Because the businesses are doing it tough at the moment. The businesses
are hurting at the moment. They have told this Council, delegations have told
Council, they have been on talk-back radio—4BC, ABC, Courier-Mail, news
outlets, and said, we don't want this. There has been one defender of paid
parking. That is, of course, the great independent businessman, Phillip Di Bella,
the only person—sorry, I correct the record, a celebrity chef from Sydney. That
is the other person who has come out and said, this is a great thing for Brisbane.
So, when you look at the LNP and you're hanging your hat on those two
individuals—we hear a lot from Councillor SIMMONDS and Councillor
SCHRINNER that this is what the businesses want, this is about turnover, it's a
dollar or two extra. Well, I would have thought if there is such an overwhelming
support, we would see petitions rolling in from the businesses. We would see
speaker after speaker applying to speak in Council to say, yes, this is the
panacea, this is the answer to fixing our business woes. But not one business
person—
Councillors interjecting.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 45 Chairman:
Order!
Councillor DICK:
—in the CBD has come out in favour of this. What they have said, and the
people I've met, the business owners, the traders, have said, this is actually
hurting us. This is having a negative impact.
No friend on this side of the Chamber is the Queensland Chamber of Commerce
and Industry. They describe this decision as a 'cash grab'. You know that when
the Queensland Chamber of Commerce and Industry is against you, you know
that you've got big problems. So, what we're seeing today is a plea from the
business owners, a request that—this is the first of a number of petitions, and I
will flag that I hope we will be having this debate time and time again, because
this is an important issue that I have spoken out against.
They often say, what would Labor do differently? Well, we wouldn't have rolled
this out in the first place. If you are going to affect the traders and you're going
to affect the bottom line of small businesses, at least have the guts to consult
with them. Do your research first. But they did not do that because they know
the answer was always going to be no from the traders. Take a walk down
Edward Street. Take a walk to some of the restaurateurs there.
We know when we have had this debate before, the LNP rubbish and they
actually make fun of these people as well. Don't worry, that transcript has been
sent out to the business owners. Don't worry, they have all read what you've
said. Who can forget Councillor WINES' efforts in that Notice of Motion? Don't
worry, they've all got copies of what you've said, and no doubt we will hear
more of the same rubbish coming out as a result of today.
This is yet another opportunity for the LNP to listen to what the business owners
are saying in our city. This is an opportunity for the LNP Council to stop being
so arrogant and ignoring the wishes of what the traders want, who have said
clearly, time and time again—I don't know how many times you've got to be
told this; I don't know how many times you've got to be told that this is not the
right decision to go ahead. Because we will keep listening to those traders; we
will keep arguing their case, and I am looking forward to further petitions
coming through so that their voices can be heard and hopefully the LNP will
start listening.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
Yes, Madam Chair, I rise to speak on Item C in the Infrastructure Committee
report; that is my petition signed by 101 residents requesting an upgrade for
Lytton Road, Apollo Road and Thorpe Street intersection in Bulimba. This is
not the first time this Chamber has had a petition of this type come to it for
consideration. Locals have previously requested this intersection be funded.
On the back of those requests, I think it was—I can't remember if it was through
your time, Madam Chair, as Chairperson of Infrastructure or the LORD
MAYOR'S—we were successful in actually getting funding for this Council to
design this intersection upgrade. I have the plans here with me. So the plans are
there. They are ready to go. We have got a costing for constructing this in 2011
dollars. We anticipate that it is going to cost something like $2.5 million to
construct this traffic intersection.
I was very grateful for this Council for putting up this project through the
Commonwealth Government's black spot funding program. Like everyone in
this Chamber, I was bitterly disappointed when this project was not selected as a
black spot funding project by the Federal Government. However, I am not
giving up on getting this intersection funded. It is an intersection that is a
dangerous intersection.
We have already had one fatality at that intersection. A cyclist was killed there
some years ago, about five or six years ago now, and the unfortunate thing about
that accident was that it occurred just before school pick-up time, and this
intersection is just down the road from Bulimba State School. As a result of
having that accident occur, the school P&C and I have been working very
closely to try to get funding for this intersection upgraded.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 46 In recent times I have sought to meet with the DEPUTY MAYOR to discuss this
intersection upgrade to see how we can constructively work to get funding for
this intersection prioritised, whether that be seeking another round of Federal
Government funding or how I can work to lobby internally within this Council
to get this project prioritised for my local community, because this is something
that really needs to be done. We have the design; we have the costing. It is only
going to cost more every year we don't do it.
So I am appealing to this Council, to the LORD MAYOR, to the DEPUTY
MAYOR, to have a close look at this project again, because it really is a project
that does warrant funding. The unfortunate thing about this project is that there
is a high service relocation cost. In fact, the cost of relocating services is
actually greater than it is to construct the infrastructure required for putting in
lights at that intersection. It just so happens that I think every service imaginable
is actually sitting underneath this particular intersection. That is a difficulty with
the project, but again, in the strongest terms possible, in the strongest way
possible, I urge the LORD MAYOR and the DEPUTY MAYOR to put this
intersection upgrade on the priority list.
Councillor SCHRINNER, I did ask—my PA has been talking to your PA, and
has been since 10 September. We have not got a date to sit down together yet to
discuss this project, but I would be grateful if there could be maybe some
contact so we can get together and discuss the plans and discuss the priority, and
have those discussions, because as yet I am yet to be granted an audience with
you, and I would be grateful if you could follow up on that so we can discuss
that in more detail. Thank you.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, thank you Madam Chairman; Item A and Item C, and Councillor
SUTTON, I will say he wouldn’t meet with residents out in Sherwood, my way,
despite repeated requests over a very long period of time, so I am not going to
hold my breath for you in terms of access and a meeting.
Madam Chairman, I particularly want to talk about Item A, and that is the
installation of a Keep Clear legend in Dandenong Road at the intersection of
Brownie Street, Jamboree Heights. This is a fantastic initiative. I am delighted to
see that Council's Traffic and Transport Planning section is willing to paint a
Keep Clear, I think it is, message on the intersection. I read through the report,
and I can see that Councillor DICK presented the petition which I presume is in
Councillor BOURKE's ward, is that right—Jamboree Heights?
I note that perhaps the residents felt they couldn’t go to Councillor BOURKE
and they had to petition, so that is fine, which is an okay process, I suppose. The
interesting part here is the outcome. Council's traffic area has said, yes, we will
put the Keep Clear signage down on the road—
A Councillor interjecting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, two years after the residents asked. It is my experience that Council does
not install Keep Clear signage, and I have raised this matter at the very highest
levels of this Council, and I am aware that the LORD MAYOR does not support
the installation of Keep Clear signage. I am going to quote from a letter from the
LORD MAYOR, Graham QUIRK, who is still in the Chamber—he is about to
flee, because he is going to be very embarrassed by what I read out now.
The LORD MAYOR wrote to me and said, 'I challenge the Council officer's
advice.' He was very unhappy with that. He said—and he has fled out the door, I
refer to your email challenging the Councillor's advice about the use of keep
clear legends at intersections. I'd asked him to reconsider a decision of the
Council officers not to install the Keep Clear signage, and this is what the
LORD MAYOR said—and I will table this when I am done—and I am quoting
from this memo, ‘It is illegal for drivers to enter an intersection unless they can
clear it. This is a fairly basic road rule that all drivers would be expected to
know.
A keep clear legend would do little to improve driver behaviour and would set a
precedent for this type of work across the city. It is most likely that drivers are
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 47 simply choosing to push in to the intersection, expecting some advantage. I note
that your advice to contact the police to discuss the possibility of enforcement. I
suggest you continue to make representations in this regard.
If you are unable to achieve any successful outcome, please let me know and I
would be happy to make further representations on your behalf. I am unaware if
you have taken a proactive approach in relation to educating the school
community about their need to observe the road rules. But given your concern
about safety, this could be another option for you to pursue.’
The patronising tone of this memo—and I sent it widely around the Graceville
State School community, I can tell you now—is not appreciated, and is not
clearly the approach that this Council does take. The Council officers have
written to tell me something very similar. Their advice to me was, 'Keep Clear
marking is generally not used at intersections. The Keep Clear can be used in
some cases. The use of Keep Clear legends on the roadway is limited to avoid
over-proliferation of the markings which undermines their effectiveness.'
Madam Chairman, if that is Council's policy, why is it not being consistently
enforced across the city? This is the issue that I have here today. I can tell you, I
am going to vote for this with bells on, Madam Chairman, because it is clear
that, if you are out in Jamboree Ward, you can get Keep Clear signage painted
on to your roads, and I will be right back into Council's traffic area saying,
here's the precedent. Not the precedent the LORD MAYOR would tell me,
because he said it would set a bad precedent if we did start putting these line
markings in place—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
Councillor JOHNSTON:
It would set a bad precedent if we put these line markings in place, and I can tell
you now, Madam Chairman, that that is not a consideration that this Council has
put into this matter. They have simply agreed that, yes, cars queue across the
intersection; therefore we will paint the Keep Clear marking on the road.
Interestingly, in the 10 paragraphs in this report, I did not get any impression
that this Council would simply say that this is a matter for the police. It doesn’t
enter into that at all. There is no patronising comment. This is a fairly basic road
rule. Obviously there is a road rule, and it is not working in these areas. Painting
a Keep Clear sign on certain intersections where there is a queuing problem can
effectively warn and advise drivers about how to move safely through local
areas, particularly near schools.
As I said, I will be supporting this item. I know that the LORD MAYOR has
now left the Chamber, so presumably he has now been caught out saying, yes,
he supports it in Jamboree, but he doesn't support it in Tennyson Ward. Well,
what a surprise. Madam Chairman, his statements to me are at distinct odds with
what is in this Council paper. So is the advice to me from the Council officers.
This Council has been caught out today, and the LORD MAYOR has been
caught out today, putting in something in an LNP ward that they weren't
prepared to consider just a few kilometres down the road in an Independent
ward. I actually will now make sure that Council go out and that they put the
same amount of effort and put the policy in place in the same way and with the
same benefit to the community that they have done for Jamboree residents. I
think that those residents and my residents deserve to be treated fairly and
equally, and I do not believe that that has been the case.
I am delighted that this Council is now reconsidering its policy, which is: we
don't support Keep Clear signage; it's a policing matter, and is now going to put
Keep Clear signage around Brisbane. I think it is a good step, and I will be
looking forward to seeing the two requests in my area that have gone forward
being reconsidered in light of the LORD MAYOR's very enlightened backflip in
this matter.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor ABRAHAMS.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 48 Seriatim - Clause B and C
Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS requested that Clause B, PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL TO
REVERSE THE DECISION TO IMPLEMENT METERED PARKING IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS
DISTRICT, FORTITUDE VALLEY AND SOUTH BRISBANE, and Clause C, PETITION – REQUESTING
AN UPGRADE OF THE LYTTON ROAD, APOLLO ROAD AND THORPE STREET INTERSECTION IN
BULIMBA be taken seriatim en bloc for voting purposes.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
I wish to discuss item B which is the petition relating to the parking meter
charges on the weekend in the CBD, Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane. I
won't keep talking about the concern of the small businesses in those three
suburbs because Councillor DICK spoke very well, and I believe every
councillor in the Chamber is well aware of the impact of these parking meters
on small businesses because of the media that they have taken, and because of
petitions and representation they have made about that impact.
I would just like to highlight that in the main those businesses, particularly in the
entertainment and retail area, are flat strap with the hours of work. They are not
ones that traditionally come out in the media. They are not ones that have time
to collect petitions. They are usually head down earning their keep. So the fact
that we have this petition some months after the parking charges were imposed
really indicates a protracted concern and impact of these parking meters on the
wellbeing of their businesses.
I think even when they signed the petition, where they hoped they were going to
be listened to, they knew that that Administration was not going to turn around
this decision, that they are simply interested in collecting revenue, and were
unlikely to listen to the petition. Therefore, Madam Chair, I am very
disappointed in the approach that has been taken in the wording in response to
this petition, because it is a tone that is trying to be smart rather than trying to
put the reason why their request is not going to be upheld.
It talks very clearly about, well, we had to do all of the streets in South Brisbane.
If we only did it with the most sought after streets for parking, there would be a
flow-on effect. I would suggest if I were on a flow-on street, I would take the
consequences of that flow-on if they walked past my shop and into my
restaurant rather than the Council making a decision on my behalf.
The next comment is that there is no change in South Bank because they already
have parking meters from 7am to 7pm If I were in South Brisbane, but not in
South Bank, I would again find that not being an entirely correct or honest
representation of the impact on my business in South Brisbane that never had
weekend parking meters. The impact from 7pm at night to 10pm at night, when
these businesses are really making their livelihood, is the one that is most
intrusive and one that is not justified at all in terms of the response to the
petitioners.
Finally, in the customer impact response, to basically say that the petitioners
have not expressed any particular reason for their concern with the introduction
of off-peak parking meters, they have only expressed their desire to have the
changes reversed. Madam Chair, that is basically saying you did not use the
right words, and therefore we are not going to listen to your request. How
insulting. How arrogant. Not being able to say, look, we've got a debt; we need
to pay it off, and you are unfortunately the only way we could think of doing it,
seeing that we've installed all the infrastructure and parking meters, we're going
to maximise the income that comes from it, instead of which, you didn't use the
right words, and didn't tell us what the impact is.
Madam Chair, surely if this Administration is not going to heed a petition, they
at least could treat the petitioners with respect. This is a bad response, an
arrogant response on a bad decision that will continue for some time to have
impact on the businesses in South Brisbane. I am very aware that we have just
had the River Edge strategy and the River Edge strategy saying we are going to
encourage people to come along beside the river and enjoy the river, and they
can hop off and get involved in what the side of the river has to offer. Well,
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 49 Madam Chair, we know as a result of this, if they do come, they will get a fine,
because if you are enjoying yourself, you just don't remember to watch that last
10 minutes before the parking meter gets up.
The $50 million that we are getting in one year is not only the parking meters; it
is actually the fines that come with the parking meters. There is not a better way
to get people angry at Council and making sure they don't come back anywhere
in South Brisbane, anywhere in Fortitude Valley or the CBD, because they don't
want a meter. I hope Councillor HOWARD gets up and explains why she would
support her businesses having to have their patrons pay and get exposed to the
potential fine, to come in to her small businesses in her area.
Chairman:
Further debate; DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Thank you to all Councillors who spoke on this
report today and the items in the report. First, I just wanted to respond to the
comments that were made by Councillor SUTTON about the intersection
upgrade of Lytton Road, Apollo Road and Thorpe Street. I understand that she
feels very strongly about this intersection upgrade, and that has certainly been
noted. Council agrees that the intersection upgrade is required.
I do have to say, though, that meeting with me won't achieve anything.
Ultimately, she will have to put in a submission in the budget process, as all
councillors must do. If she thinks that there is a special way that she can get into
favour by having a meeting with me, that is not the case. The reality is we have
to rate these intersections on a citywide priority basis, and that is exactly what
we will do going forward. Like I said, I appreciate her view on this, but
ultimately she will have to make sure that this is prominent in her budget
submission going forward, and I trust the LORD MAYOR will take that into
account in the annual budget process. But, as I said, having a meeting won't
change that budget process.
In relation to item B, the petition about off-peak metered parking, it is
interesting; this petition dated back to prior to the changes being implemented. It
was a petition based on what may supposedly happen if the changes were
implemented. In my view, it was a petition that was very emotive and based on I
guess a lot of fear about what may happen if the changes were implemented. I
guess with the benefit of hindsight of the period that has passed since this
petition was received, I can't see any real evidence that these changes have
affected business. I really cannot see that. I am yet to have anyone provide me
with any real evidence.
There are a lot of claims that have been made, but certainly in terms of the
feedback that we get, there is still strong visitation to the CBD in off-peak
periods. Even as recently as this morning, I understand on Spencer Howson, a
comment was made that the off-peak parking changes—I think the comment
was along the lines of, if you're spending over $100 on a meal, you're not going
to worry about $2 or $3 for parking. That wasn't us saying that; that was Spencer
Howson saying that.
A Councillor interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Well, look, you know, the Opposition has occasionally quoted Spencer on
various issues. They don't like to listen on this particular occasion. But I put the
challenge out to anyone, both in this Chamber and externally: if you have any
real evidence to show that these changes have adversely impacted on business, I
would very much like to see that evidence; I really would. I am being genuine
and serious. Council has not seen that evidence.
We heard Labor in a previous debate come forward and say that apparently
these parking changes were responsible for the office market vacancy rate in the
CBD going up. Well, unless these offices are all operating on the weekends and
in the evenings, and that is the type of thing that people take into account, we
know that was a spurious argument. We are talking about retail here; we are not
talking about office markets, and if anyone thinks that they can come and get an
office in the city and have unlimited on-street parking to service that office, I
think they need to think again. But once again, like I said, the issue here is off[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 50 peak parking, not during the day, so there is no bearing on office market and
office market vacancy rates whatsoever.
I would just say I again make the offer: if there is any real solid evidence, I
would like to see it. I would very much like to see it, and I am prepared to listen,
but as yet we have not seen that evidence. It has been very emotive. There have
been all types of claims made, but we want to see some evidence, and we are
happy to listen.
In relation to the other item, Item A, the Keep Clear legend, I understand
Councillor JOHNSTON was referring to something which she believed
represented a change in Council policy. I understand that her request related to a
Keep Clear legend in the middle of a signalised intersection. That is a different
situation to what we are dealing with here. As a result, there has been a different
response. So, there is no favouritism to any particular councillors. It is simply
the case of TPS (Transport Planning and Strategy) assessing these matters on
their merits, and as they do right across the city, have to make a judgment based
on the individual situation, and TPS's assessment on how that particular location
operates in terms of traffic flow.
I understand that the Keep Clear legend has been installed, and Councillor
BOURKE is happy with the outcome at this stage. I would like to say thank you
to the officers of TPS for working with all councillors, including Councillor
BOURKE, on these types of traffic issues that come up from time to time. I
commend the report to the Chamber.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for Item A.
Clause A put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause A of the report of the Infrastructure
Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for Items B and C.
Clause B and C put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause B and C of the report of the
Infrastructure Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Milton DICK and Victoria NEWTON immediately rose and called for a division, which
resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 17 -
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista
ADAMS, Matthew BOURKE, Margaret de WIT, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG,
Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX, Peter MATIC, Ian McKENZIE,
David
McLACHLAN,
Ryan
MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS, Andrew WINES, and Norm WYNDHAM.
NOES: 8 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Shayne SUTTON, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER,
Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON, and Nicole JOHNSTON.
The report read as follows
A
PETITION – REQUESTING THE INSTALLATION OF A KEEP CLEAR
LEGEND IN DANDENONG ROAD AT THE INTERSECTION WITH
BROWNIE STREET, JAMBOREE HEIGHTS
CA11/195423
179/2013-14
1.
A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting Council install a Keep Clear legend in
Dandenong Road at the intersection with Brownie Street, Jamboree Heights, was presented to
the meeting of Council held on 16 August 2011, by Councillor Milton Dick, and received.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 51 -
2.
The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, Brisbane Infrastructure Division,
supplied the following information.
3.
The petition contained 106 signatures, representing a number of suburbs including
Sinnamon Park, Jamboree Heights, Jindalee and Middle Park.
4.
The petitioners are concerned that during peak travel times, southbound vehicles queuing in
Dandenong Road make it difficult for motorists to turn right from Brownie Street. The
petitioners have requested the installation of a Keep Clear legend on Dandenong Road to
provide a gap in traffic to enable motorists to turn right out of Brownie Street.
5.
An assessment was conducted of the area and it was determined that during peak travel times
vehicles queue along Dandenong Road from the traffic signals at Sumners Road through the
traffic signals at the intersection with Horizon Drive. This makes it difficult for motorists to
turn right from Brownie Street into Dandenong Road.
6.
As a result of the assessment, a Keep Clear legend at this intersection was deemed appropriate
to allow motorists to turn right out of Brownie Street into Dandenong Road. Installation of the
Keep Clear legend was completed on 21 August 2013.
7.
The intersection has previously been considered for signalisation however, when compared to
other similar requests across the city it was ranked as a low priority and as such was not
progressed.
Funding
8.
Funding was available under Program 2 – Schedule 209 to install pavement markings.
Consultation
9.
The Councillor for Jamboree Ward, Councillor Matthew Bourke, has been consulted and
supports the decision below.
10.
The Manager recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting held on
Monday 23 September 2013.
11.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT THE INSTALLATION OF THE
REQUESTED KEEP CLEAR LEGEND WAS COMPLETED ON 21 AUGUST 2013.
NOTED
B
PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL TO REVERSE THE DECISION TO
IMPLEMENT METERED PARKING IN THE CENTRAL BUSINESS
DISTRICT, FORTITUDE VALLEY AND SOUTH BRISBANE
CA12/597571
180/2013-14
12.
A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting that Council reverse the decision to
implement metered parking in the Central Business District (CBD), Fortitude Valley and
South Brisbane from 7pm to 10pm Monday to Friday and 7am to 7pm Saturday and Sunday,
was presented to the meeting of Council held on 4 December 2012, by Councillor Milton
Dick, and received.
13.
The Divisional Manager, Brisbane Lifestyle Division, supplied the following information.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 52 -
14.
The petition contained 51 signatures, representing residents of the CBD and surrounding
suburbs.
15.
In order to increase the turnover of kerb space in the CBD, Fortitude Valley and South
Brisbane, Council has changed paid off-peak hours to operate from 7pm to 10pm, Monday to
Friday and 7am to 7pm, Saturday and Sunday.
16.
While not all streets experience the same demand, the changes to parking meter hours have
been introduced to the CBD, Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane to improve parking access
in these areas. If the changes were only applied to the most sought-after streets, there would
be a flow-on effect to the surrounding streets, making them far busier than they should be.
17.
There was no change for South Bank on the weekends as the area already had paid parking
meters operating between 7am to 7pm on Saturday and Sunday.
18.
As part of this initiative, the maximum parking duration of a parking space in the CBD was
changed and simplified to either one or three hours; with three hours being the preferred new
time. This is an increase for the majority of existing spaces, which changed from two hours to
three hours parking. The existing maximum durations in Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane,
including South Bank, remains unchanged.
19.
The costs for metered parking varies from $1 to $2 per hour in these locations, which is less
than half of the rate for parking that applies before 7pm.
Consultation
20.
Councillor Vicki Howard, Councillor for Central Ward, has been consulted and supports the
decision below.
21.
Councillor Helen Abrahams, Councillor for The Gabba Ward, does not support the decision
below.
22.
The Divisional Manager recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting
held on Monday 30 September 2013.
23.
DECISION:
THAT THE COMMITTEE NOTE THE INFORMATION IN THE ABOVE
SUBMISSION AND ENDORSE THE DRAFT RESPONSE SET OUT BELOW.
Draft Response
Petition Reference: CA12/579571
Thank you for your petition requesting that Council reverse the decision to implement metered
parking in the Central Business District (CBD), Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane from 7pm to
10pm Monday to Friday, and 7am to 7pm Saturday and Sunday.
It is important to understand that these changes were implemented to improve parking turnover in the
inner city and to help boost evening and weekend business opportunities. Before the changes were
implemented, on-street car parks in the inner city were rarely available at night and on weekends, as
they were continuously occupied by a select number of vehicles.
In contrast, the changes now help to enable a greater number of shoppers, diners and users of these
entertainment precincts to park.
In particular, it is important to note the following key points:
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 53 -
-
Motorists will still have access to hundreds of free parking spaces throughout the CBD,
Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane including clearways outside of signed times.
All existing two hour parking zones in the CBD have been extended to three hours to give
diners and shoppers extra time to enjoy the area.
These changes have been fully supported and endorsed by the small businesses that form the
Queen Street Mall Advisory Board Committee.
The costs for metered parking vary from $1 to $2 per hour in the locations, less than half of
the rate for parking that applies before 7pm.
Increasing parking turnover boosts our city’s local economy and Council is confident that these
changes have not only increased on-street parking availability for visitors to the inner city, but also
increased opportunity for local businesses. As such, Council has no plans to reverse its decision to
implement metered parking in the CBD, Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane from 7pm to 10pm
Monday to Friday, and 7am to 7pm Saturday and Sunday.
If you wish to discuss this further,
On-Street Parking Systems, on 3403 8888.
please
contact
the
Operations
Coordinator
Thank you for raising your concerns with Council.
NOTED
C
PETITION – REQUESTING AN UPGRADE OF THE LYTTON ROAD,
APOLLO ROAD AND THORPE STREET INTERSECTION IN BULIMBA
CA13/333733
181/2013-14
24.
A petition from residents of Bulimba and surrounding suburbs, requesting an upgrade of the
Lytton Road, Apollo Road and Thorpe Street intersection in Bulimba, was presented to the
meeting of Council held on 21 May 2013 by Councillor Shayne Sutton, and received.
25.
The Acting Executive Manager, City Projects Office, Brisbane Infrastructure Division,
supplied the following information.
26.
The petition contained 101 signatures.
27.
The intersection is located in the suburb of Bulimba, close to the boundary of the suburb of
Balmoral. Bulimba State School is located on Oxford Street, which intersects with
Lytton Road at a roundabout approximately 300 metres to the south of the intersection of
Lytton Road, Apollo Road and Thorpe Street.
28.
Apollo Road and Lytton Road are district access routes and Thorpe Street is a local access
road as defined in the Brisbane road hierarchy. The intersection is currently Give Way
priority-controlled at Apollo Road and Stop Sign controlled at Thorpe Street, with
Lytton Road having priority. There is a painted right turn pocket from Lytton Road into
Apollo Road.
29.
Six accidents have been recorded in the Queensland Government’s WebCrash database in the
last five years of data, leading up to March 2009. Four of these involved injury, including two
hospitalisations. There was also a fatal accident in February 2010 at the intersection involving
an outbound cyclist on Lytton Road with a truck turning left from Apollo Road.
30.
Investigations into this intersection have also revealed that the current school crossing, located
west of the intersection, could benefit from improvements at the Lytton and Apollo roads and
Thorpe Street intersection, with improved visibility for inbound motorists.
31.
Recent traffic counts indicate that the intersection meets the Queensland Government Manual
of Uniform Traffic Control Devices warrants for the installation of traffic signals based on
traffic volumes. The installation of traffic signals would be expected to improve access and
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 54 -
safety at the intersection.
32.
In September 2011, Council put forward a proposal to signalise the intersection as part of the
Federal Government funded Black Spot Program as a result of a previous recommendation of
the Infrastructure Committee.
33.
In early 2011, Council completed a preliminary design, which included the following
intersection improvements:
signalising the intersection (four-way signals)
significantly extending the inbound right turn lane into Apollo Road
installing a new outbound right turn lane into Thorpe Street
providing two lane stand up to the intersection on the Apollo Road approach
realigning Lytton Road to improve visibility and driving lines on the eastern leg of
the intersection
installing new signalised pedestrian crossings on three of the four legs of the
intersection.
34.
In June 2012, the funding proposal to upgrade the intersection of Lytton Road, Apollo Road
and Thorpe Street in Bulimba, as part of the Black Spot Program, was rejected by the Federal
Government.
35.
Intersection upgrades are prioritised depending on recorded accident numbers, congestion
levels, adjacent land uses, considerations given in Council’s Transport Plan, the level of
expected development and the position of the intersecting roads in the Brisbane road
hierarchy. The intersection is currently ranked as a medium-to-high priority for upgrading
works.
36.
The project is currently on the list for future funding consideration within Council’s budget in
line with citywide priorities.
Consultation
37.
The Councillor for Morningside Ward, Councillor Shayne Sutton, has been consulted and
does not support the preferred option.
Customer impact
38.
The proposed project to signalise this intersection will improve the safety of the intersection
for all road users. This project will provide a safe pedestrian crossing alternative to the
existing substandard school crossing.
Preferred option
39.
It is the preferred option that petitioners be informed that the project was submitted for
funding under the Federal Government Black Spot Program and was rejected, and that the
intersection is currently listed for future funding consideration in Council’s budget, in line
with citywide priorities.
40.
The Acting Executive Manager recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its
meeting held on Monday 30 September 2013.
41.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
IN THIS REPORT, AND THAT COUNCIL ENDORSES THE PREFERRED OPTION
ABOVE.
NOTED
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 55 -
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 setting out the decisions of the Establishment and Coordination
Committee as delegate of the Council during the Spring Recess 2013, on matters usually coming under the
jurisdiction of the Public and Active Transport Committee, be noted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
Seriatim for debate and voting - Clause E
At that time Councillor Shayne SUTTON rose and requested that Clause E, PETITION – REQUESTING AN
UPGRADE OF THE BULIMBA FERRY TERMINAL, be taken seriatim for debating and voting purposes.
Chairman:
Councillor MATIC.
Councillor MATIC:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. There are five petitions before us on a number of
issues relating to the Bulimba Cross River Ferry Service, requesting an
extension of the existing CityHopper; a petition in respect of some signage on a
particular bikeway in Tennyson Ward; a petition in respect of a bus shelter and
whether the existing lighting is adequate or not; a petition in respect of a bus
seat located currently in one location and a request by the petitioners that it be
moved closer to the actual bus stop itself; and lastly, a petition requesting the
upgrade of the Bulimba Ferry Terminal on a particular aspect of the design.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, Madam Chairman, I rise to speak on Item B.
Seriatim - Clause B
Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON requested that Clause B, PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL INSTALL
‘KEEP QUIET’ SIGNAGE ON STREETS POPULAR WITH EARLY MORNING CYCLISTS IN THE
TENNYSON WARD, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Item B—there is no question that I think I am not Robinson Crusoe when I say
that residents right across the city are experiencing the impacts of the popularity
of cycling in our city. There is no question this Council supports cycling. There
is no question that we don't want more people to cycle. I don't want to hear any
rubbish from the Councillors in the LNP about that.
But there is a significant problem for residents who live on popular cycling
routes with the noise that is caused by the large pelotons that ride through
certain areas of the city. One of the most popular routes that Council has is the
River City Loop, which is a 35-kilometre loop that runs through the inner
northside and the inner southside. It goes right through my ward, largely
following the river and, Madam Chairman, it just causes so much pain and
heartache to residents who between 4.30am and 6.30/7am every single morning
of the week and more on weekends, deal with several hundred people going past
their houses shouting at the top of the voices.
This is a real problem. It is a problem that is driven by I think a lack of
awareness about how far cyclists’ voices carry at that time in the morning. I
don’t think it’s a malicious thing, but there is a real problem here and there needs
to be some solution to dealing with it.
I’ve spoken to Bicycle Queensland. We’ve had public meetings with Bicycle
Queensland in my ward to address the issues. Bicycle Queensland have put
stories in their newsletters to encourage their members to be quiet in the
morning. I’ve done media about this, I’ve spoken to residents, I’m trying
everything that we can do to try and raise awareness amongst the cycling
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 56 community that they are noisy in the morning and that it is disturbing the sleep
of families who live along the River City Loop.
Now I didn’t think that there was too much that we could actually do because
what they’re doing is not illegal, what they’re doing is not malicious, what
they’re doing is just I think insensitive in terms of their awareness of the
residents past whose houses they are roaming.
However, during the election campaign last year my opponent, the LORD
MAYOR’s representative, Mr Matthew Brodie—I’m happy to put his name on
the record—he went out and he promised in this beautiful big glossy brochure—
I have it here before us today—Matt Brodie team Quirk’s candidate for
Tennyson and you’ve got Scott Emerson, Campbell Newman, Matt Brodie
colour charts just popping over the top there and Graham Quirk and they’ve put
out this—they’ve put out one brochure every day in the last week in Tennyson
Ward. We’re not—didn’t help at all no and they’re not little brochures mind you.
This was one of two of this size that went out in the last week right, but, Madam
Chairman, the thing that caught my eye about it—we know—the thing that
caught my eye about it and genuinely caught my eye was Matt Brodie promised
that he would introduce signs to encourage cyclists on the popular river Ride
Loop to reduce noise as they travelled through the residential streets of
Tennyson Ward.
He wanted—let me—hang on it gets better—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
—he wanted these signs and he also wanted to get road markings put on the road
and he described it as this is a simple friendly way to remind cyclists that noise
carries in the early morning. Now he wasn’t the only one that thought this was a
very good idea. Who else do you think might have thought that having signs out
to encourage cyclists—no, no, no our LORD MAYOR Graham Quirk.
Now our LORD MAYOR Graham Quirk went out and he said I congratulate
Matt for proposing this initiative which is all about having a friendly reminder to
cyclists rather than taking a more heavy-handed approach.
Now I’m a pretty big person right. After the election I wrote to the LORD
MAYOR and said LORD MAYOR this is a good idea. I would like to see you
deliver it because Mr Brodie went out and said he’d secured these signs, he’d
secured this funding. Anyway I get a letter back from I think it was Councillor
SCHRINNER, no bugger off, fund it under the SIF (Suburban Initiative Fund)
and I’m like—
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON that’s not appropriate language.
Councillor SCHRINNER:
Yes point of order I didn’t say bugger off.
Chairman:
Please can we—let’s get on with this meeting. Get back to the subject of the
petition.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Anyway he wrote back—he wrote back—I’ll withdraw the word bugger—he
wrote back and told me no you can’t have the signs and I queried that. I queried
it repeatedly and I was told you can fund it from the SIF. Now the SIF as we all
know prevented councillors from funding anything. That was a change made by
Campbell Newman and (2) the SIF actively prevents any Council traffic projects
from being funded.
So then I wrote to the LORD MAYOR—I wrote to the CEO. The CEO
confirmed that yes that interpretation was right. Meanwhile Councillor
SCHRINNER and the LORD MAYOR are saying sure fund it under the SIF.
Imagine if I’d breached the policy, they’d be the first ones making a complaint
about me.
So anyway I got a petition together, hundreds of residents signed it and, Madam
Chairman, during the past session of Council, in secret, without having the guts
to bring it into this place so that we could have a debate where we could actually
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 57 make a decision here today, the LNP councillors who during the election went
out and openly supported this initiative, voted against it in Civic Cabinet.
Now, Madam Chairman, the hypocrisy of that action is just ridiculous. The
LORD MAYOR was all for it just 18 months ago and when I ask him to deliver
on it he goes no we’re not doing it. Then they have the gall to go out and say
fund it from the SIF. Now as we all know the rules for funding projects in the
SIF were actually changed this year and I suspect that my letters to the CEO
prompted those changes and it’s only in the last—oh I bet you it is Geraldine I
can tell you—
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order Councillor KNAPP.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
—because it was clear that the SIF can’t be used for funding signs. Now the best
part of this is the paper before us today says that there’s similar signs in place in
three other wards, in Jamboree, in Bracken Ridge and in Richlands.
Now, Madam Chairman, that’s not true. Now I can’t say with any certainty for
Bracken Ridge and I’ve asked a Question on Notice, but I can say with certainty
because I’ve asked Councillor Peter MATIC, the respective Chairman in
committee, where the signs are. He say yes there was one that went up on I think
it was Mt Ommaney Drive and then I came into this place and I asked the LORD
MAYOR how that sign was funded and he said from the Council signs budget.
Now he did that in this Chamber just a few months ago.
Then I went to the Richlands Ward office and I said to Milton, Milton they say
you’ve got these signs in your ward and very helpfully Milton’s PA said to me
that there are no such Keep Quiet signs, that Milton actually used the SIF fund
stickers to go on the sides of people’s bins.
Now, Madam Chairman, this report is misleading in the worst possible terms. It
says that there are other signs in wards along the lines that we have here. There
are no such signs. There are no such signs. It is misleading and it is wrong to
claim that there are.
The worst part of all of this is that these residents are being treated with such
disrespect by the LNP who literally only a few months ago went out and told
them that they would deliver on these signs and now they are refusing to.
The interesting part of this as well is that I actually—when I was asked what I
thought about this petition I put it all on the record and I’m going to table that
here today, my response to the relevant manager and I outlined pretty much what
I’ve said. The CEO told me I can’t fund them; your team told me you can’t fund
them; the SIF guidelines were changed; I don’t think there are any street signs in
other areas. I put it all on the record to him.
Did the Manager of Transport Planning and Strategy get back to me? No he did
not. How helpful these Council officers are. What can I say? A local councillor
comes back with some concerns about a petition and says I’m not sure that some
of the information in this petition is correct. Could you please clarify one, two,
three things for me? Do I get a response? No. Does anybody have the guts to
come back to me and speak to me and respond? No they do not. Instead this
administration whacks this petition through in the recess under the cover of E&C
where this Council can’t make a decision about it. How’s that, how’s that? Stand
up—
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON your time has expired. Further debate? Councillor
SUTTON?
Councillor SUTTON:
Yes, Madam Chair. I rise to speak on Item A in this petition, that is the request
for free Bulimba Cross River Ferry service.
Madam Chair, when I first spoke on making this cross river ferry service free in
I think January or February this year, I recall at the time Councillor MATIC said
“well you can ask”. I’m not perhaps particularly surprised that my first request
for this public transport initiative has been rejected, but I don’t give up easily
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 58 and I assure the Chamber and I assure the 299 residents that signed this petition
that I will continue with this campaign.
I believe strongly and passionately that this makes good public transport sense. I
believe we have—
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor KNAPP.
Councillor SUTTON:
I believe that we have seen a precedent in the CityHopper Ferry service being
made free and that that precedent should be continued to be expanded on by
making this Bulimba Cross River Ferry service free.
It’s not just about allowing for a free connection between Bulimba and Teneriffe
so people can catch the bus. I just want to clarify that. There are also key cycling
networks through that side of town. It is actually easier and more efficient to get
into town on a bike and some may argue safer on a bike if you use that cross
river ferry service to get over to that other side. Once the Riverwalk is
connected, it will be an even better link. So it’s not just about getting to the other
side of the river to go to the cafes or the restaurants or to catch a bus, it’s also
about that cycling connection as well.
There has been a lot of talk for a number of years about a pedestrian cycle bridge
over the Bulimba River. There are significant engineering difficulties and
constraints about that bridge. I have looked at that option closely. I know the
State Government has it on their radar but having seen what you would have to
do on both sides of the river to actually achieve that bridge at that site, I just
don’t think it’s going to happen and if it does happen it will tear the community
apart in terms of those who are in favour and those who are against.
So a realistic, alternative, dynamic way of solving that cross river connection
problem forever is to provide this cross river ferry service for free because you
could provide this service for free for a hundred years and still not have it cost as
much as it would to construct that bridge across the river from Bulimba to
Teneriffe.
I also think that this response is just viewing the problem in isolation. By saying
no to this petition is not just saying no to a single cross river link, it is saying no
to enhancing all modes of transport and the options that residents in my area
have to get to and from work every morning and every afternoon in the peak
periods. We already have a heavily congested Wynnum Road. I know we are
working towards solving some of the cycling issues along Wynnum Road and
looking at alternative routes, but the cycling route is a problem as well out there.
This is, if we look at it from a whole transport system perspective, this actually
provides a flexible and dynamic alternative way that we can add value to the
public transport system out my way. This decision, a decision about this cross
river ferry service and making it free, should be focused on equitable and
accessible transport options and providing that to local residents.
The thing that I was most disappointed about in this report was in paragraph 7
which says very clearly and I quote: “removing fares from the cross river ferry
service may encourage customers to use the free service rather than pay to use
the CityCat service”. Madam Chair, I understand that you need to keep costs in
mind when you’re funding these initiatives, but it should not wholly and solely
be about costs. It should be about getting people to and from where they need to
go, encouraging people to use that cross river link so that they can take pressure
off Wynnum Road. Catching a bus from Bulimba, down Wynnum Road and
through the Gabba can take over an hour. But if you catch the cross river ferry
service and catch a bus into the city, the travel time is greatly reduced. So it
would provide an incentive for those people.
Yes it would still be two zone, but it’s not about whether or not it’s one zone or
two zone, it is about the time saving you get if you catch a bus on the other side
of the river versus if you catch the one that goes down Oxford Street or the one
that goes outside the library or from wherever in that precinct you’re catching
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 59 the bus. There are significant time savings by catching the bus over the other
side of the river.
It is a good public transport suggestion, it is something that would enhance the
network and really give public transport a boost in my local area. So I know I’ve
got a no this time but I assure you I’ll continue to come back each and every year
from now until I have the good grace to continue to serve in this Chamber to get
this public transport initiative. It is a good initiative and I encourage and appeal
to the public transport chair and to the LORD MAYOR, if he’s listening in his
office, to please think seriously about this from a whole-of-network perspective,
road, public transport and cycling—because it is a good initiative and it deserves
to be supported.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor DICK?
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and I rise to speak on Items C and I’ll reference Item
G as well.
Item C is a petition that I tabled on behalf of residents at the Aveo Retirement
Village. A number of residents had contacted me regarding the bus stop at
Forrest Place South number 70 on Blunder Road. This is approaching Randwick
Street, Durack. It’s at basically the bottom of the hill of Blunder Road.
Residents came to me because the people who live in the bottom part of the
village use that stop to catch the 100 express into the city and a number of
residents obviously who live as being retired age rely heavily on public
transport. They no longer have the need of a car or perhaps have not the abilities
to be able to drive late at night and prefer only driving short distances and the
100 for a number of those residents is the key vital link for people travelling to
an event in and around the CBD, particularly a number of residents who rely on
that service to attend events at the Cultural Centre, for the performing arts area,
or indeed who come in to do their shopping within the CBD. A number of those
residents rely on that service particularly the evening service.
Now I met with a number of residents and they expressed to me ongoing issues
regarding the lighting at that stop, when particularly in the winter months when
they were catching the bus into events or concerts, they were not able to be seen
by the oncoming bus which meant they missed that service and then they would
then miss the event and they were very disturbed about this.
So I went through the relevant Council processes and unfortunately got a knock
back. So they came back to me, I wasn’t happy, I called for a review, then I went
back to the residents and they agreed with me that we needed to do a petition to
demonstrate to Council that we needed to improve the bus stop. It’s a pretty
simple request. The residents there are very, very deserving of this improvement.
Many are retired corporate executives. They’ve made a lot of contributions to
our community.
Aveo Retirement Village at Durack is one of the premier retirement villages in
our city. It’s one of the largest retirement villages, it’s one of the flagships of the
Aveo fleet if you want to call it that, and they cannot simply believe that the
Council is ignoring their concerns and neither can I, particularly when the report
indicates that this is one of the oldest bus stops in the city and is in need of
upgrade. It says solar lighting could be fitted to the current shelter at an
estimated cost of $3500 to $4000, but is not recommended as there would be no
value for money for Council and a short-term investment. The old—this is
directly from the report—the old shelter is a redundant model and will require
replacement when the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) upgrade is
performed in the future.
Now if I could get a commitment out of Councillor MATIC of some timelines of
when that would happen I would be able to go back to the residents and say in
the next year, the next two years, the next 10 years or whenever that is, but there
is no guarantee whatsoever.
Then I turn over to the next report which is a petition for a request for the
removal of a bus seat and then I just happened to read the report and it says:
Funding - there is currently no funding available for bus seating or shelter
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 60 upgrades. So that is what is in the report for the whole of Brisbane. I find this
extraordinary, that there is no currently funding available for bus seating or
shelter upgrades. Plenty of money for junkets overseas, plenty of money for
corporate fat cat bonuses, plenty of money for corporate marketing and
expenses. Brisbane Marketing—they wonder why I go on about the $20 million
going into Brisbane Marketing. Well we’ll put the money into the pockets of the
board members of Brisbane Marketing but we won’t spend $3500 on a bus stop
for the people at Aveo. I mean talk about wrong priorities.
They have a go at me all the time for exposing the waste and exposing all the
money, but the poor seniors and dedicated people who live in that retirement
village who rely on public transport. It was bad enough when you wanted to cut
the services right from under them and we had to fight you tooth and nail and
you still took the axe to buses out in Inala and we noted there’s $3.2 million of
more cuts. I bet they’re coming out to my area as well. Don’t worry about that,
that’s still coming down—
Chairman:
Back to the item please Councillor.
Councillor DICK:
Yes well we’re still waiting for that. In the—that’s right—in the meantime those
residents are missing out. So I guess—and I’ll be circulating the comments. No
doubt Councillor MATIC will attack me and I’ll be circulating those comments
to the residents there. They are at their wits end. They simply cannot believe for
the rates they’ve paid over all these years, they see all this money being wasted,
but the measly and mean spirit from this LNP Council for those residents.
I will keep fighting, I will keep being by their side to stand up to the LNP
Council, to stand up against their excesses and wastage of our rates because they
simply have the wrong priorities and this is yet another example, another
example, and who can forget down the road in Cook Street in Oxley we spent
about $15,000 on a bus stop that we then cut the services for. I mean talk about
the wrong priority—
Chairman:
Councillor DICK stick to the items.
Councillor DICK:
Well, Madam Chair, this is an opportunity and of course this was made in secret
so it didn’t have to come to Council. We know that. What I’m calling on the
Council today is to listen to what those residents want but more importantly what
they need. I’ll keep standing by their side until the LNP starts listening to one of
the most basic needs which is just simply upgrading basic public transport.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor MATIC?
Councillor MATIC:
Thank you, Madam Chairman, and I rise to speak in respect to the matters in the
petitions but also in the comments that were made by councillors and I’ll start
with Councillor DICK.
I can always rely on Councillor DICK, Madam Chairman, to stand up in the
Chamber and start off slowly and quietly but then to break into noise and to
build that voice and to then begin to talk about the class warfare that exists out in
the suburbs. You can always rely on Councillor DICK for the theatrics. You can
always rely on Councillor DICK for the scare campaigns that he loves to run in
his own ward about the bus review, the 100 bus service, the other services in his
ward in areas which previously did not have a bus service but now do which he
chooses not to tell his local residents.
By the way, Madam Chairman, as part of the ongoing review of those bus
services that were implemented in July, the bus numbers in Councillor DICK’s
ward have actually gone up since we’ve implemented a new service. There has
not been one single reduction in the number of patrons in his ward since we’ve
introduced the improvements to this service but don’t let the truth get in the way
of a good story for Councillor DICK to go out there and scare the local residents.
Councillor DICK you can always rely upon not to actually read the report
properly because god forbid he should actually refer to the facts when standing
up and weaving his fairytales to us. It’s like a Grimm’s fairytale when I hear
Councillor DICK speak. He starts off very slowly and then he builds the
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 61 momentum and the horror. The horror starts to build, scaring all the local
residents and all the children with tales of woe.
Madam Chairman, if he would simply turn to the relevant sections and at
paragraph 32. I’ll read it to him in case he hasn’t read it: The future upgrade has
a high probability of being targeted early in the program as it may score high on
the new community ranking criteria for elderly access. Then at paragraph 33,
Madam Chairman: It is therefore recommended the current configuration of the
bus stop utilising street lighting be maintained until the full DDA upgrade is
performed. The full DDA upgrade, Madam Chairman. Now Councillor DICK
knows the full DDA upgrade is actually occurring shortly and will be completed
in December because he got a briefing note telling him of that occurring, but
let’s not let that get in the way.
Just to paint a better picture of this particular bus stop, I actually passed it last
night and there’s a set of lights down at the bottom of Blunder Road at Durack.
There is a street light and then there is the bus stop. The street light sits exactly
in the middle between the two and the distance between the light and the bus
stop couldn’t be more than probably about 15 metres. In the review that the
officers undertook of the lighting they said that the street lighting as it currently
sits was adequate to assist those needs.
Rather than go and spend the money right now to upgrade the lighting in that
particular bus stop, it’s going to require a DDA upgrade and so Councillor DICK
wants us to go and spend Council dollars right now on upgrading that bus stop to
put some lighting in and when the DDA report comes in and that particular bus
stop needs to be upgraded, he wants us to then dismantle that lighting that’s
placed on that bus stop, dismantle the bus stop, build a brand new bus stop and
put a whole new set of lighting in there. He wants us to go and waste those
Council dollars in the short term just to satisfy himself without considering what
needs to be done properly in respect of the DDA upgrade of that bus stop for
those elderly residents that he’s talking about and supposedly represents. That’s
what we’re getting from Councillor DICK. That’s the kind of nonsense we’re
getting.
So no admission of the DDA review that’s currently being done, no admission
from Councillor DICK of the high probability of the future upgrade of that
particular bus stop and no admission of Councillor DICK of the waste of being
able to spend that money now rather than address the issue in the short term for
the longer term benefit. The bus stops will be reviewed and this sits highly on
the list of those in need and once we get a better idea of what needs to be done
then that’s what will occur at that particular bus stop, the necessity to upgrade.
That, Madam Chairman, is part of the DDA commitment across this city, which
no ALP councillor has made before in this place.
Now in respect of the comments of Councillor SUTTON, I can certainly
understand Councillor SUTTON’s need to want to extend this service but the
reality of the situation is that it was introduced by the LORD MAYOR as an
inner-city loop to focus on those inner-city users and also in respect of the issue
of tourism and extending the service out to that Bulimba/Teneriffe section goes
outside the boundaries of what was wanting to be originally achieved.
As Councillor SUTTON says, there are users right now who utilise the Bulimba
to Teneriffe route as a quicker way to get into the CBD because of the
congestion on Wynnum Road and that is a justified issue and I can totally
understand that, but being able to use the Hopper for that purpose is outside of
its original intent and what we want to do there will need to be upgrades
obviously along Wynnum corridor not only in the road use but also as part of the
corridor study that we’re doing and the announcements the LORD MAYOR
made around Pope Street addressing the cycling issues in there. It’s an
incremental process of upgrades to the road and to the cycle network that we
hope will reduce the congestion and be able to address the needs in Councillor
SUTTON’s residents as her ward continues to grow.
But, Madam Chairman, I have to comment on Councillor JOHNSTON and the
ongoing issue of the Keep Quiet sign. Councillor JOHNSTON who raised the
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 62 issue of Matt Brodie and who had his flyer in her hand, Matt Brodie obviously
who was far more capable as a candidate than Councillor JOHNSTON is as a
councillor because he actually knew how to fix the problem. It’s just a shame,
Madam Chairman—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor MATIC:
—that he didn’t use the techniques that Councillor JOHNSTON utilised in order
to win that election. Is she ALP, is she LNP, who knows. Let’s take the middle
road and go with that.
Councillor JOHNSTON—I’m absolutely amazed that Councillor JOHNSTON
has not gone to the caucus meeting with her ALP colleagues and said to
Councillor GRIFFITHS and to Councillor DICK, particularly Councillor DICK
in their strategy meetings, how’d you get those stickers up, how did you use the
SIF to be able to do that? No, Madam Chairman, didn’t do it. Did she go to her
good friend Councillor GRIFFITHS when having lunch—
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor MATIC:
—when they have lunch on a Tuesday before Council and say Steve seriously
mate how does it work with this SIF and these stickers and these signs? Who do
I talk to about these things? Madam Chairman, seriously poor, poor Councillor
JOHNSTON has to write to the LORD MAYOR, then go to the CEO, then put
up this response. She didn’t talk to her friends on the other side of the Chamber.
She’s lying and she comes to this Chamber and she spruiks that she does not
understand what’s going on. She chooses—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman?
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor MATIC:
Oh here we go, here we go.
Chairman:
Order. Yes Councillor JOHNSTON?
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, Madam Chairman—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, you’ve made me withdraw comments saying that somebody’s
a liar. Now Councillor MATIC has stood here and called me a liar—
Chairman:
Yes he didn’t—no Councillor JOHNSTON he didn’t call you a lair he said you
were lying, but I am asking him to withdraw it.
Councillor MATIC:
Happy to withdraw, Madam Chairman, happy to withdraw.
Chairman:
Thank you.
Councillor MATIC:
Madam Chairman, I mean Councillor JOHNSTON can call other councillors on
this side of the Chamber like Councillor ADAMS a liar but that’s totally beside
the point, we won’t go down that road.
But when will Councillor JOHNSTON stop misleading her residents? When will
she stop using them for her own political purposes? When will she start actually
representing the needs of her locals to simply get this sign up and running? How
hard is it? Obviously for Councillor JOHNSTON too hard. Too, too, hard,
Madam Chairman, and maybe she’ll make this an election issue at the next
election. Vote 1 and I’ll get you a sign. This is just absolutely farcical. How
absolutely childish that Councillor JOHNSTON can sit here in this Chamber and
waste our precious time on this particular issue when she doesn’t go out and she
doesn’t do her job and she doesn’t talk to her locals and she doesn’t actually
utilise the system as it currently exists. Absolutely a complete waste of our time
and to come in here and accuse this side of the Chamber on some political
contrived idea that she has is an absolute joke.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 63 Madam Chairman, Matt Brodie knew what the solution was. The LORD
MAYOR knows what the solution is. They were able to implement it if Matt
Brodie had gotten in, but unfortunately he didn’t and unfortunately for our local
residents they had to continue to suffer the kind of political diatribe that they’re
getting from Councillor JOHNSTON who’s too busy Twittering to worry about
actually doing anything in reality.
All I can say to Councillor JOHNSTON is after this petition response if you still
don’t know what’s going on well resign. Do everyone a favour and resign. Either
that or when you’re in your caucus meeting with your ALP colleagues, sit them
down and ask them to slowly and properly explain to you how the process works
and maybe at the end of that she might get it—
Chairman:
Councillor MATIC your time has expired.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order. I will put the motion for Items A, C—Councillor JOHNSTON—I will put
the motion for Items—the lack of decorum in this place this afternoon is
appalling. I will put the motion for Items A, C and D.
Clauses A, C and D put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clauses A, C and D of the report of the
Public and Active Transport Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Milton DICK and Steve GRIFFITHS immediately rose and called for a division, which
resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 18 -
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista
ADAMS, Matthew BOURKE, Amanda COOPER, Margaret de WIT, Vicki
HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX, Peter
MATIC,
Ian McKENZIE,
David
McLACHLAN,
Ryan
MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS,
Andrew
WINES,
and
Norm WYNDHAM.
NOES: 7 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Shayne SUTTON, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER,
Steve GRIFFITHS, and Victoria NEWTON.
ABSTENTIONS: 1 -
Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for Item B.
Clause B put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause B of the report of the Public and
Active Transport Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Nicole JOHNSTON and Steve GRIFFITHS immediately rose and called for a division,
which resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 18 -
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista
ADAMS, Matthew BOURKE, Amanda COOPER, Margaret de WIT, Vicki
HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX, Peter
MATIC,
Ian McKENZIE,
David
McLACHLAN,
Ryan
MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS,
Andrew
WINES,
and
Norm WYNDHAM.
NOES: 1 -
Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 64 ABSTENTIONS: 7 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Shayne SUTTON, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER,
Steve GRIFFITHS, and Victoria NEWTON.
Chairman:
Councillor MATIC Item E is there any debate?
Councillor MATIC:
Madam Chairman, in respect of Item E it’s a petition about the project as a
whole. It is of course now proceeding. There is a notation too about a redesign if
you like of the drop-off zone which was an important part of that process which
will also be incorporated into that current design.
Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor SUTTON?
Councillor SUTTON:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and I rise to speak on this petition and I thank the
Chamber’s indulgence for allowing this to be taken seriatim for debate and
voting purposes.
Really I wanted this to be taken in seriatim as an opportunity for me to prove
once again and go on the public record once again to demonstrate and vote in
favour of the Bulimba Ferry Terminal upgrade. I know there has been some
confusion on the other side of the Chamber about where I actually stand on this
issue, so today I’m not going to speak for too long but I am just going to—
A Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor KNAPP.
Councillor SUTTON:
—I just wanted to reiterate once again my support for this project. I wanted to
reiterate once again about just how happy I am about the fact that the end of
Oxford Street improvements are going to go ahead. When I gave my support for
this project as part of this petition response what I didn’t have was the full detail
of this report and I do note the significant review of the budget estimate for the
design of that end of Oxford Street. However—and I never thought, particularly
when I was Leader of the Opposition (to the calls of the Opposition Leader
telling me to resign now) these words would ever come out of my mouth but I’m
going to say them—I will put my trust in Councillor MATIC.
I’m waiting to see the plans for that end of Oxford Street. Obviously it’s not
going to be as comprehensive as I initially had hoped it was going to be, but my
main priority is making sure it is made safe. So if we can make it safe with the
reduced budget I will be grateful to that and I will contact some other Chair—
maybe Councillor COOPER—for a SCIP (Suburban Centre Improvement
Project) down at the end of Oxford Street or some other way. I’ll try to find
money to make that end of Oxford Street precinct the destination that it deserves
to be because at the moment—and I don’t know Councillor MATIC if you’ve
been out there and Councillor COOPER if you’ve been out there—we promote
Bulimba as this fabulous cafe and restaurant strip to go to in Brisbane—and
Councillor SIMMONDS too—Brisbane Marketing promotes this fabulous
destination and you get there and you get off at the Bulimba Ferry Terminal and
you see a chicken wire chain fence and you see a daggy old rusted guardrail and
you see cracked footpath and asphalt just everywhere—
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON I think you’re getting off the actual—
Councillor SUTTON:
Oh no well what I’m saying is that as part of those end of Oxford Street
improvements I wanted to see that tarted up and I believe that in paragraph 56 it
talks about the higher budget that was proposed and that budget has been
reduced significantly there in paragraph 57 and I would have hoped that we
could have as part of those improvements also made the local amenity
improvements so that Bulimba—you know, when you get off at the Bulimba
Ferry Terminal not only is it a safe place to get off the ferry terminal but it
actually looks like the destination that Bulimba is promoted by this Council to be
is the point I was trying to make which I felt was relevant to this report.
So I will leave it there, but again this is just—this vote is just to once again
demonstrate my support for this project being pursued and funded in this year’s
budget. Thank you very much.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 65 Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor MATIC? I will put the motion.
Clause E put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause E of the report of the Public and
Active Transport Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Shayne SUTTON and Victoria NEWTON immediately rose and called for a division,
which resulted in the motion being declared carried unanimously.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 26 -
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors
Krista ADAMS, Matthew BOURKE, Amanda COOPER, Margaret de WIT,
Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX,
Peter MATIC, Ian McKENZIE, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS,
Andrew
WINES,
and
Norm WYNDHAM, and the Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK,
and Councillors Helen ABRAHAMS, Shayne SUTTON, Peter CUMMING,
Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON, and Nicole JOHNSTON.
NOES: Nil.
The report read as follows
A
PETITION – REQUEST FOR FREE BULIMBA CROSS RIVER FERRY
SERVICE
CA13/333849
182/2013-14
1.
A petition from residents of Brisbane, requested that Council provide funding to make the
Bulimba-Teneriffe Cross River Ferry service free-of-charge to users, was presented to the
meeting of Council, held on 21 May 2013, by Councillor Shayne Sutton, and received.
2.
The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, supplied the following information.
3.
The petition contained 299 signatures from the residents of Brisbane and surrounding
suburbs.
4.
Trips between Bulimba and Teneriffe ferry terminals are provided by both CityCats and
monohull ferries. Bulimba is the busiest, suburban terminal in the ferry network. Based on
trip origins and destinations within the ferry network, travel between Bulimba and Teneriffe
is one of the most popular trips.
5.
While CityCats carry more customers between Teneriffe and Bulimba than the Cross River
ferry, the ferry service at this location remains well patronised.
6.
The CityHopper is the only free ferry service provided by Council. The service was
introduced to revitalise what was known as the Inner-City Ferry service, which had been
under-utilised, particularly after the January 2011 floods. The aim was to stimulate economic
development and activity in this precinct.
7.
Services between Bulimba and Teneriffe are not under-utilised and incentives such as free
travel are not needed to boost patronage on this sector of the network. As such, removing
fares from the Cross River Ferry service may encourage customers to use the free service
rather than pay to use the CityCat service. This would result in a loss of fare revenue from the
Cross River Ferry service and potentially have impacts on funding arrangements currently in
place with TransLink.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 66 -
8.
As the removal of fares from the Cross River Ferry service is not warranted and is likely to
have negative impacts on funding arrangements for Council’s ferry services, provision of the
Bulimba-Teneriffe ferry service free-of-charge is not recommended.
Consultation
9.
Councillor Shayne Sutton, Councillor for Morningside Ward, has been consulted and does not
support the recommendation.
10.
Councillor David McLachlan, Councillor for Hamilton Ward, has been consulted and
supports the recommendation.
Customer impact
11.
There would be no impact on customers if fares are retained on the Bulimba-Teneriffe Cross
River Ferry service.
12.
The Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting
held on 23 September 2013.
13.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
IN THE ABOVE REPORT.
NOTED
B
PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL INSTALL ‘KEEP QUIET’ SIGNAGE
ON STREETS POPULAR WITH EARLY MORNING CYCLISTS IN THE
TENNYSON WARD
CA13/255781
183/2013-14
14.
A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting that Council install 'keep quiet' signage on
streets popular with early morning cyclists in the Tennyson Ward, was received during the
Autumn Recess 2013.
15.
The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, supplied the following information.
16.
Installation of signs is not funded from allocations for bikeway design and construction when
not associated with a bikeway project.
17.
Under the Manual Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) there are no signs which are
allowable on roads for this purpose. Council has used a sign of a non-regulatory nature in a
Council park on one occasion.
18.
This request was also made by Councillor Johnston on 28 June 2012, A response to
Councillor Johnston’s original request was provided by Councillor Schrinner as Acting Lord
Mayor, advising Councillor Johnston that it would be possible to develop a project which
meets the funding guidelines of the Lord Mayor’s Suburban Initiative Fund (LMSIF).
19.
Councillor Johnston requested additional information on 31 July 2012 and sought clarification
of LMSIF guidelines. A further response dated 15 October 2012 was provided to councillor
Johnston from the Chief Executive Officer, confirming the information provided to
Councillor Johnston in previous correspondence.
20.
A search of Council’s record of LMSIF approvals show examples of other Councillors using
the LMSIF for non-regulatory signs similar to those requested in this petition in the Bracken
Ridge, Jamboree and Richlands wards.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 67 -
Consultation
21.
Councillor Nicole Johnston, Councillor for Tennyson Ward, has been consulted and does not
support the decision.
Customer impact
22.
The petitioners concerns are able to be addressed through the funding available in the LMSIF.
23.
The Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting
held on 23 September 2013.
24.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT UNDER THE MANUAL
UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES THERE ARE NO SIGNS WHICH ARE
ALLOWABLE ON ROADS FOR THE PURPOSE REQUESTED, HOWEVER,
COUNCIL HAS ALLOCATED $50,000 IN THE LORD MAYOR’S SUBURBAN
INITIATIVE FUND FOR TENNYSON WARD WHICH CAN BE ACCESSED FOR
DEVELOPING A PROPOSAL IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMMUNITY TO
MEET THEIR CONCERNS. FURTHER, THAT SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS OF A
SIMILAR NATURE HAVE BEEN UNDERTAKEN WITH SUPPORT OF THE
RELEVANT COUNCILLORS IN BRACKEN RIDGE, JAMBOREE AND
RICHLANDS WARDS USING THIS FUND.
NOTED
C
PETITION – REQUEST FOR BUS SHELTER LIGHTING AT BUS STOP
‘FOREST PLACE SOUTH – 70’ ON BLUNDER ROAD, APPROACHING
RANDWICK STREET, DURACK
CA13/359638
184/2013-14
25.
A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting Council provide lighting for the bus shelter
located at bus stop ‘ Forest Place South – 70’ on Blunder Road approaching Randwick Street
Durack, was presented to the meeting of Council held on 28 May 2013, by Councillor Milton
Dick, and received.
26.
The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, supplied the following information.
27.
The petition contained 34 signatures representing residents of the AVEO Durack Retirement
Village.
28.
The signatories believe the bus stop and bus shelter are poorly lit and unsafe while waiting
after dusk.
29.
Following a request from the Richlands Ward Office, Council’s Field Services Group, City
Lighting Section conducted a night time inspection of the street lighting surrounding the bus
stop area on 27 March 2013. The report indicated this section of Blunder Road met Council
requirements and consisted of a light located in the median strip in front of the bus stop and a
light at the adjacent intersection.
30.
Transport Planning and Strategy Branch is currently developing an Integrated Bus Stop
Management Strategy to ensure compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
While this strategy is being developed a number of bus stop activities have been reprioritised.
The request will be kept on file and considered as part of the planning for Council’s four year
bus stop upgrade program.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 68 -
31.
Solar lighting could be fitted to the current shelter at an estimated cost of $3500-$4000, but is
not recommended as there would be no value for money for Council in a short term
investment. The old shelter is a redundant model and would require replacing when the DDA
upgrade is performed in the future.
32.
The future upgrade has a high probability of being targeted early in the program, as it may
score high on the new community ranking criteria for elderly access. The type of solar
lighting is specific to this old style shelter and cannot be recycled for use on the Council’s
preferred newer Translink Suburban shelter.
33.
It is therefore recommended the current configuration of the bus stop utilising street lighting
be maintained until the full DDA upgrade is performed.
Consultation
34.
The Councillor for Richlands Ward, Councillor Milton Dick, has been consulted and does not
support the recommendation.
35.
The Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting
held on 30 September 2013.
36.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
IN THE ABOVE REPORT.
NOTED
D
PETITION – REQUEST FOR REMOVAL OF A BUS SEAT LOCATED AT
BUS STOP ‘TORWOOD PARK – 12’ ON HAIG ROAD, FAR SIDE OF ANNIE
STREET, AUCHENFLOWER
CA13/359674
185/2013-14
37.
A petition from residents of Brisbane requesting Council remove the bus seat located at bus
stop ‘Torwood Park – 12’ on Haig Road, far side of Annie Street, Auchenflower was
presented to the meeting of Council held on 5 June 2013 by Councillor Peter Matic, and
received.
38.
The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, provided the information below.
39.
The petition contains 169 signatures mainly representing residents of the local suburbs
surrounding Café Auchenflower.
40.
The inbound bus stop is located on Haig Road, far side of Annie Street, Auchenflower. The
seat is located outside Torwood Park, next door to Café Auchenflower. The bus seat is located
on the concrete verge under the shop awning of Café Auchenflower.
41.
The signatories have requested provision of bus seating at the actual location of the bus stop
and suggested an Adshel shelter be installed. The signatories believe that if the bus seat was
removed from under the awning, it would allow Café Auchenflower to apply for footpath
dining outside.
42.
The relocation or removal of the seat associated with the bus stop would trigger a full
Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) upgrade of the site. The design process involved in the
assessment of site suitability would need to consider access to the adjacent Energex
substation, repositioning of the bus stop boarding point, risk assessment of local flooding and
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 69 -
the impact on infrastructure, standard DDA requirements and community feedback if seating
was provided without weather cover.
43.
It is therefore recommended the current configuration of the bus stop utilising the current
undercover location for the seat be maintained until the full DDA upgrade is assessed and site
requirements fully scoped as part of the Integrated Bus Stop Strategy.
Funding
44.
There is currently no funding available for bus seating or shelter upgrades.
Consultation
45.
The councillor for Toowong Ward, Councillor Peter Matic has been consulted and supports
the recommendation.
46.
The preferred option is the current configuration of the bus stop utilising the existing seating
location be maintained until the full DDA upgrade is performed. It is expected the audit of
existing bus stops will be completed by December 2013 with DDA upgrade to commence
soon thereafter. It is expected that the bus stop ‘Torwood Park – 12’ bus stop will be
upgraded in the first quarter of 2014.
47.
The Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting
held on 30 September 2013.
48.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.
NOTED
E
PETITION – REQUESTING AN UPGRADE OF THE BULIMBA FERRY
TERMINAL
CA13/333690
186/2013-14
49.
A petition from residents of Brisbane requesting Council to upgrade the Bulimba ferry
terminal and the end of Oxford Street, Bulimba was presented to the meeting of Council held
on 21 May 2013 by Councillor Shayne Sutton, and received.
50.
The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, supplied the following information.
51.
The petition contained 51 signatures representing residents of Bulimba and the surrounding
suburbs.
52.
The original design for the upgrade of the Bulimba ferry terminal first commenced in March
2008. Public consultation was undertaken in June 2008 and the terminal was completed in
October 2008.
53.
Following extensive discussions with the Regional Harbour Master (RHM), Brisbane and
officers from the Heritage unit of the former Department of Environment and Resource
Management (DERM), the original design was not supported by the RHM on navigational
safety grounds.
54.
In the first half of 2009, Council undertook navigational studies and developed further
concept options to balance the issues raised by the RHM and DERM. A single concept option
was agreed with the RHM and DERM in August 2009 and detailed design of this concept
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 70 -
option was completed in December 2009. The development application for this design was
approved in July 2011.
55.
Funding for the construction of the Bulimba ferry terminal is included in the Program 2 –
Moving Brisbane budget forecast for 2013-14.
56.
With regards to the Oxford Street upgrade, Council completed the original design of an
upgrade to the river end of Oxford Street in mid-2009. The purpose of the upgrade was to
improve drainage and accessibility to the Bulimba ferry terminal. The budget estimate for this
design was $380,000.
57.
In May 2013, Council undertook a redesign of Oxford Street to develop a more cost effective
solution while improving drainage and accessibility to the ferry terminal. The budget estimate
for this design is $150,000.
Consultation
58.
The Councillor for Morningside Ward, Councillor Shayne Sutton, has been consulted and
supports the recommendation.
59.
The Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting
held on 30 September 2013.
60.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
IN THIS REPORT.
NOTED
FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE
Councillor David McLACHLAN, Chairman of the Field Services Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor
Norm WYNDHAM that the report setting out the decisions of the Establishment and Coordination Committee
as delegate of the Council during the Spring Recess 2013, on matters usually coming under the jurisdiction of
the Field Services Committee, be noted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate? Debate? Councillor FLESSER.
Councillor FLESSER:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a couple of comments on Item A.
Seriatim - Clause A
Councillor Kim FLESSER requested that Clause A, PETITION – REQUESTING THE RESURFACING OF
JENNER STREET, NUNDAH, BETTER MAINTENANCE OF OXENHAM PARK, THE PROVISION OF
LITTER BINS AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF OXENHAM PARK, AND MORE PARKING FACILITIES
AROUND THE NUNDAH VILLAGE AND TRAIN STATION, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, I cannot—this is a petition from a number of residents at Nundah.
I understand the petition was organised by an LNP supporter, which is fine and
that supporter is requesting Council resurface Jenner Street and do a better job as
far as the maintenance of Oxenham Park is concerned and also it's concerned
about parking—requesting more parking facilities around Nundah for the train
station.
Now, Madam Chair, the petition goes into a bit of detail of some of the
maintenance issues and that's fine, but what it doesn't do, Madam Chair, is
address the serious, serious matter that's been raised by this person and these
petitioners and that's in relation to the restricted amount of parking around the
railway station. Madam Chair, I can't remember how many speeches I've made
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 71 in this Council Chamber about the need for decent park ‘n’ ride facilities at
Nundah and this petition, Madam Chair, it just completely ignores that desperate
need for a park and ride station. I've called before in this Council Chamber for
this Council and also State Government to work together to make sure the next
multilevel car park at a train station should be at Nundah. Carindale's just got
one, Madam Chair; the next one should be at Nundah.
There's another issue there as well, a more simpler fix for the short-term and
that's to build an 80-space car park on the eastern side of the train line, Madam
Chair. Residents of Nundah have been—they're aware that that space is vacant,
they've been calling for it for a number of years, I've been calling for it for a
number of years, Madam Chair, but neither the state government, the former
State Government or even the current State Government seem to have any
interest at all in solving that problem at Nundah.
So, Madam Chair, I can't support this petition. I do not that in the—it's a very
long decision which is a bit interesting, because most petitions don’t get
decisions as long as this one, but the last paragraph refers to me being sought out
to seek endorsement of a proposal which I haven't seen yet. Madam Chair, that's
fine, happy to see that when it comes, but I just want to flag to Councillor
McLACHLAN and the LNP Administration that, Madam Chair, what is needed
at Nundah is a park and ride station, a multilevel car park ‘n’ ride station on the
eastern side of the—sorry, on the western side of the train line and an 80-space
car park on the eastern side.
Madam Chair, I won't rest until both those projects are completed.
Chairman:
Further debate. Councillor McLACHLAN.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Just briefly, to those comments raised by
Councillor FLESSER, this was a multi-headed petition, which I'm sure
Councillor FLESSER is aware of. Those matters that are under the purview of
the Field Services Committee were referred to the Field Services Committee for
consideration. Those matters that aren't, weren’t. The issues that he has just
talked about relating to parking facilities are not within the purview of the Field
Services Committee and that's why they're not—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
—do not form a part of this petition response.
Chairman:
Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Seriatim - Clause A and B
Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON requested that Clause A, PETITION – REQUESTING THE RESURFACING
OF JENNER STREET, NUNDAH, BETTER MAINTENANCE OF OXENHAM PARK, THE PROVISION
OF LITTER BINS AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF OXENHAM PARK, AND MORE PARKING FACILITIES
AROUND THE NUNDAH VILLAGE AND TRAIN STATION, and Clause B, PETITION – REQUESTING
THAT COUNCIL BRING FORWARD THE SEWERAGE MAIN PLANNED FOR ELLEN GROVE, be taken
seriatim for voting purposes.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair?
Chairman:
Yes, Councillor—
Councillor FLESSER:
Just ask for clarification, Councillor McLACHLAN said that he's only
responding to his portfolio part of this. Does that mean that there are going to be
other responses to the other areas?
Councillor McLACHLAN:
If we're entering into a debate on this issue, Madam Chairman, I think the
answer is plain in the response that's been provided and that is that those matters
that fall outside the area of the Field Services Committee will be dealt with
separately.
Chairman:
Thank you, Councillor McLACHLAN. I will put the motion for Item A.
Clause A put
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 72 Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause A of the report of the Field Services
Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Kim FLESSER and Victoria NEWTON immediately rose and called for a division,
which resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 18 -
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista
ADAMS, Matthew BOURKE, Amanda COOPER, Margaret de WIT, Vicki
HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX, Peter
MATIC,
Ian McKENZIE,
David
McLACHLAN,
Ryan
MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS,
Andrew
WINES,
and
Norm WYNDHAM.
NOES: 8 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Shayne SUTTON, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER,
Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON, and Nicole JOHNSTON.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for Item B.
Clause B put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause B of the report of the Field Services
Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
A
PETITION – REQUESTING THE RESURFACING OF JENNER STREET,
NUNDAH, BETTER MAINTENANCE OF OXENHAM PARK, THE
PROVISION OF LITTER BINS AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF OXENHAM
PARK, AND MORE PARKING FACILITIES AROUND THE NUNDAH
VILLAGE AND TRAIN STATION
CA13/121957
187/2013-14
1.
A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting the resurfacing of Jenner Street, Nundah,
better maintenance of Oxenham Park, the provision of litter bins at the four corners of
Oxenham Park, and more parking facilities around the Nundah village and train station, was
presented to Council at its meeting of 5 March 2013 by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Adrian
Schrinner, and received.
2.
The Executive Manager, Field Services Group, Brisbane Infrastructure Division supplied the
following information.
3.
The petition contained 20 signature, representing residents of Jenner Street, Nundah.
4.
The Transport Planning and Strategy (TP&S) branch are currently investigating a number of
suggestions for changes to on-street parking in the streets surrounding Nundah Village. Some
of these suggestions can be implemented in the short term while others will require further
investigation. During the investigation, Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy branch
will ensure residents, the local community and businesses are consulted.
5.
Once the on-street parking options have been investigated, TP&S will contact the local ward
councillor to seek endorsement of the suggestions. During the investigation, TP&S will
consult with external stakeholders, such as the Taxi Council.
6.
The asphalt surface in Jenner Street, Nundah, is approximately 30 years old and is nearing the
end of its useful life. Council officers have investigated the condition of the road and have
determined that while the road surface is considered to be in fair condition, there are small
areas of surface and pavement failures. The section between Melton Road and Killeen Street
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 73 -
would benefit from resurfacing within the next few years and is currently listed for
consideration in a future capital works program for resurfacing.
7.
The section between Melton Road and Duke Street is considered to be in better condition,
with the resurfacing timeframe undetermined at this stage. The investigation also determined
that while minor defects in the road surface are present, no maintenance attention is required
at this time.
8.
Due to the considerable cost required to resurface this section of Jenner Street, funds need to
be specifically set aside in a future budget for this work. Council is unable to provide a
construction date at this time. Each June, all listed projects are prioritised and assessed against
the overall needs of the city.
9.
Oxenham Park was inspected on 22 March 2013 by the Contract Coordinator from Asset
Services North, and no litter was found in the park or surrounding footpaths. The officer will
inspect the location over the next few months to determine if any extra litter bins are required.
There is currently a 240 litre bin located near the playground at the corner of Jenner and Duke
streets, which is collected once per week.
10.
The Toombul District Cricket Club also has an agreement in place with Council to provide
grass cutting services not only in their leased area but for adjacent areas of Oxenham Park,
including the footpath area. This practise is commonly called ‘whole of park’ maintenance.
As part of this agreement, litter is required to be collected prior to grass cutting.
Funding
11.
Funding for the resurfacing would need to be approved in a future capital works program.
Additional litter bin installation and waste collection, if required, would be funded through
recurrent budgets.
Consultation
12.
Councillor Kim Flesser, Councillor for Northgate Ward, has been consulted and does not
support the recommendation.
13.
The Executive Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its
meeting held on 30 September 2013.
14.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED OF THE FOLLOWING:
Council officers have investigated the condition of the road surface in Jenner Street,
Nundah and have determined that while minor defects in the road surface are present,
no maintenance attention is required at this time.
In regard to maintenance of Oxenham Park, Council has an agreement in place with the
Toombul Cricket Club to provide grass cutting services, which includes litter collection
for the leased areas of the park and also for adjacent park and footway areas. These
areas are currently being maintained as per the agreement and no changes will be made
at this stage.
In regard to the installation of additional litter bins at the four corners of Oxenham
Park, Council officers will inspect the location over a period of time and if excess litter is
noted additional bin/s will be installed.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 74 -
In regard to the petitioners’ request for more parking facilities around Nundah Village
and the railway station, Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy branch is currently
investigating a number of suggestions for changes to on-street parking in the streets
surrounding Nundah Village. Some of these suggestions can be implemented in the short
term while others will require further investigation. During the investigation, Council’s
Transport Planning and Strategy branch will ensure residents, the local community and
businesses are consulted.
Once the on-street parking options have been investigated, Council’s Transport
Planning and Strategy branch will contact the local ward councillor to seek
endorsement of the proposal.
NOTED
B
PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL BRING FORWARD THE
SEWERAGE MAIN PLANNED FOR ELLEN GROVE
CA13/541829
188/2013-14
15.
A petition has been presented to Council requesting that Council bring forward the sewerage
main planned for Ellen Grove, was presented to the meeting of Council held on 6 August
2013, by Councillor Milton Dick, and received.
16.
The Executive Manager, Field Services Group, Brisbane Infrastructure Division supplied the
following information.
17.
The petition contained 28 signatures, representing residents of Brisbane and the surroundings
suburbs.
18
The provision of sewerage mains is now dealt with by Queensland Urban Utilities (QUU).
QUU took over the former water retail and distribution business units of Council’s Brisbane
Water Division in 2010, and manages the same water and sewerage infrastructure. QUU is
owned by five shareholder councils (Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim and
Somerset) and is responsible for managing the water and sewerage services for these five
council areas.
19.
The petition has therefore been referred to the Chief Executive Officer of QUU, requesting
that QUU investigate the matter and respond to the petitioners directly regarding this issue.
Consultation
20.
Councillor Milton Dick, Councillor for Richlands Ward, has been consulted and supports the
recommendation.
21.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT THE REQUEST WILL BE SENT
TO QUEENSLAND URBAN UTILITIES, AND THAT COUNCIL SUPPORT THE
CONSTRUCTION OF SEWERAGE INFRASTRUCTURE WITH ANY RELEVANT
LOCAL GOVERNMENT APPROVALS.
NOTED
BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE
Councillor Krista ADAMS, Chairman of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor
Andrew WINES, that the report setting out the decisions of the Establishment and Coordination Committee as
delegate of the Council during the Spring Recess 2013, on matters usually considered by Brisbane Lifestyle
Committee, be noted.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 75 -
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Just briefly before I get to the petitions, just so all
councillors are aware, we've contacted all our community groups and leasing
groups and sporting groups and everybody on our database to make sure that
they are aware of the grants programs that are being rolled out over the next
couple of months, varying gates, that they're open and closed and there will be
grant forums held north, south, east and west over the next two weeks that they
have been told about.
But in case councillors haven't been online and sorted it out, tomorrow night we
are at Toowong Bowls Club. All of these are from 6pm till 8pm. On Thursday
night it's at Southern Cross Sports at Clump Road, Upper Mt Gravatt. On the 16 th
of October at Darra Oxley Pony Club and on the 17 th of October, the Chermside
Bowls Club. So I ask councillors to make sure they encourage all of their
community groups that are interested in any of our grants programs to make sure
they get along and speak to our council officers, sport and rec officers,
community development officers if they're interested in the grants programs
coming up before Christmas.
Before us today on the recess report we have two petitions. The first one is
requesting Council place signage at the bus station shelters and stops, prohibiting
smoking at these locations, as councillors who were at Civic Cabinet meeting
two weeks ago would have learnt, the head petitioner was there and he was told
clearly then that we would not be moving forward with this at this point of time.
We are keeping an eye on it and seeing how it goes, but it's not within something
that we are looking at in the near future.
The second one is about the workplace health and safety on sites which is again
not within Council's jurisdiction. It comes under the Workplace Health and
Safety Regulation Act and is the responsibility of the Queensland Government's
Department of Justice and Attorney General.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Any further debate. Councillor NEWTON.
Councillor NEWTON:
Yes, thanks very much, Madam Chair, I rise to speak very briefly on Item A,
Madam Chair, which is a petition response where petitioners requested that
appropriate signage be placed at bus shelters and bus stops to indicate that
smoking is prohibited in those locations. Madam Chair, while there was only 43
signatures on that particular petition, I know that that is—this is a matter that
there is a great deal of interest for many people across Brisbane and I guess to
say this response is disappointing is an understatement, Madam Chair. Certainly
those on this side of the Chamber don't believe that this is an adequate response
to what's a very serious health issue, Madam Chair, and we believe the
administration could do better on this.
Seriatim - Clause A
Councillor Victoria NEWTON requested that Clause A, PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL PLACE
SIGNAGE AT BUS STATIONS, SHELTERS AND STOPS TO INDICATE THAT SMOKING IS
PROHIBITED AT THESE LOCATIONS, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.
Chairman:
Further debate. Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Yes, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I just wish to comment on Item B which is
the petition relating to relevant safety laws. Madam Chair, I was a bit interested
because the documentation indicates there were three signatures from my ward,
though the petition was presented by Councillor HOWARD. So of course I was
curious. So I went and saw the file and the file—I thought it was therefore worth
talking about, Madam Chair, because while this gives no information of
allegedly what the problems are, there was on the file a letter back to the head
petitioner just a short time before this petition was presented to Council, which
gave more detail about the development.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 76 In the response back to him, because his correspondence wasn't on the file, but in
the correspondence back from the CEO, the issues were raised which were the
hours of work and that was highlighted exactly what they were, the noise
generated on site due to rock breaking activities, the lack of any signage so
someone could ring and complain about the noise generated on site, the fact that
the earthworks were without a plan for the earthworks, including the rock
breaking and as well as that, information about a payment of an application not
being received and therefore outside normal hours application had not been fully
processed.
So, Madam Chair, they are a range of issues, sufficient that there was a show
cause notice issued by Council and I just wonder if that's the background for this
petition, why have we got a response that without any detail simply says it's a
state government issue? The issuing of a show cause notice by Council CARS
officers would indicate that it is Council. The hours of work is something that I
go to officers, to have it in—Council officers to have that enforced. Earthwork
plans and records for after-hours work for putting up a gantry are Council
matters.
So I'm just—it seems to be a theme of my comments today in the Chamber that
the responses that we're giving to petitioners is really needs to be lifted
considerably. Because a petition, even when there's three people, takes time and
it's something that they're seeking more considered advice and information than
any other way of contacting Council and yet here we are seeing what I would see
is what, in the old days, we just called a slough off to another tier of government.
So, Madam Chair, I just thought it was worth putting on the record what the
issues were and just showing my concern about the response. But finally,
Madam Chair, why I really decided to speak, these issues that were raised in this
response are issues that I face with many of the major developments in South
Brisbane where we have an urban renewal area. I'm sure Councillor HOWARD
would have been having exactly the same issues. The hours, the noise, the
traffic, the lack of being able to contact people, erosion, sediment erosion with
soil on the road, all of those drive the existing residents barmy until the
development is over. That is all the more reason that Council should have a very
considered, a very responsive and proactive response in our petitions. CARS
officers were, they were proactive, they did the job and our petition lets them
down.
Chairman:
Further debate. Councillor ADAMS.
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. With regards to the first petition, as it says very
clearly in the response at the moment, the no smoking signage at the bus stations
is not supported because we have not got an associated local law, so we cannot
put up signage saying it's banned when it is not banned and cannot be enforced.
We did clearly see that there wasn't a whole deal of support for that type of
banning of smoking around these places. Very clear when we went out to Queen
Street Mall and what the response was about banning smoking in public places.
But it has not been tested further and there was no great indication that people
were interested in going banning further as there is no local law to support it.
That is why the signage is not going up.
With regards to the second petition, the petition response is a response to the
petition which was a specific statement about safety on work sites which is very
specifically, as I mentioned before, under the state legislation. The
correspondence that Councillor ABRAHAMS is talking about is correspondence
that went on file with regards to the head petitioner and issues with this site and
others in the ward area that CARS officers did deal with, was dealt with at a
CARS officer level and response to that resident, but was not directly related to a
petition that clearly said just about safety, hence the petition's response was a
response petition. The file that Councillor ABRAHAMS is talking about is a
response to other issues, not the petition.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for Item A.
Clause A put
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 77 Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause A of the report of the Brisbane
Lifestyle Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for item B.
Clause B put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause B of the report of the Brisbane
Lifestyle Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
A
PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL PLACE SIGNAGE AT BUS
STATIONS, SHELTERS AND STOPS TO INDICATE THAT SMOKING IS
PROHIBITED AT THESE LOCATIONS
CA13/541970
189/2013-14
1.
An e-petition requesting that Council place adequate and appropriate signage at bus stations,
shelters and stops to indicate that smoking is prohibited at those locations, was presented to
the meeting of Council held on 6 August 2013, by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Adrian
Schrinner, and received.
2.
The Divisional Manager, Brisbane Lifestyle Division, supplied the following information.
3.
The petition contained 43 signatures.
4.
The petition raised concerns that smoking at bus stations, shelters and stops severely
interferes with the safety, health and amenity of other patrons waiting for public transport.
5.
Under section 26ZPB of the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998, Council
proposed a ban on smoking in the Queen Street Mall, which involved extensive public
consultation.
6.
Results of this consultation indicated that 82 per cent of respondents supported a total
smoking ban in the mall. As such, Council introduced the Smoke Free Places Local Law 2011
and the Smoke Free Places Subordinate Local Law 2011, which currently provides smoke
free places in the Queen Street Mall and Albert Street.
7.
Similar demand for the prohibition of smoking in other locations was not evident at that time.
As a result, the Local Law does not include a ban for other areas, such as public transport
waiting points.
8.
In order for Council to enforce ‘no smoking’ signage at bus stations, shelters and stops, a new
Local Law to prohibit smoking at such locations would be required.
9.
Council will continue to monitor public demand and trends however, there are no plans to
introduce broader legislation banning smoking at this time.
10.
Councillor Adrian Schrinner, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Chandler Ward and
Councillor Peter Matic, Chairman, Public and Active Transport Committee, have been
consulted and are in agreement with the recommendation.
11.
The Divisional Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its
meeting held on 30 September 2013.
12.
DECISION:
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 78 -
THAT THE COMMITTEE NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE
ABOVE REPORT AND THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE DRAFT RESPONSE BELOW.
Draft response
Petition Reference: CA13/541970
Thank you for your petition requesting Council place signage at bus stations, shelters and
stops to indicate that smoking is prohibited at these locations.
I can advise that the Queensland Government made a provision, under the Tobacco and Other
Smoking Products Act 1998, that allows local governments to make a Local Law to prohibit
smoking at certain places. Under this legislation, Council introduced the Smoke Free Places
Local Law 2011, which provides smoke free places in the Queen Street Mall and Albert
Street. This was in response to overwhelming public support for a smoking ban in the Queen
Street Mall.
Unfortunately, similar demand for the prohibition of smoking in other locations was not
evident during public consultation and surveys. As such, the Local Law does not include a
smoking ban for other areas in Brisbane, such as bus shelters, stations or stops. Given this,
Council cannot reasonably install ‘no smoking’ signage at bus stations, shelters and stops to
prohibit smoking, without an associated Local Law to enforce the ban.
Whilst Council will continue to monitor public demand and trends, there are no plans to
introduce broader legislation banning smoking at this time.
If you have any further questions, please contact the Acting Senior Project Officer, from
Council’s Compliance and Regulatory Services branch, on 3403 8888.
Thank you for raising your concerns.
ADOPTED
B
PETITION – CALLING ON THE LORD MAYOR AND COUNCIL TO
ENSURE DEVELOPMENTS IN BRISBANE ARE BEING CARRIED OUT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH RELEVANT SAFETY LAWS
CA13/541636
190/2013-14
13.
A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting that the Lord Mayor and Council ensure
developments in Brisbane are being carried out in accordance with the relevant safety laws
was presented to the meeting of Council held on 6 August 2013 by Councillor Vicki Howard,
and received.
14.
The Divisional Manager, Brisbane Lifestyle Division, supplied the following information.
15.
The petition contained three signatures representing residents of West End and
Kangaroo Point.
16.
Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Council has no regulatory powers in relation to
safety issues at developments or worksites.
17.
This is the responsibility of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), which falls
under the Queensland Government’s Department of Justice and Attorney General. Any safety
concerns of this nature should be referred to WHSQ for their investigation.
Consultation
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 79 -
18.
Councillor Vicki Howard, Councillor for Central Ward, has been consulted and is in
agreement with the recommendation.
19.
The Divisional Manager recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting
held on 30 September 2013.
20.
DECISION:
THAT THE COMMITTEE NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE
ABOVE REPORT AND THE HEAD PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE DRAFT RESPONSE BELOW.
Draft response
Petition Reference: CA13/541636
Thank you for your petition requesting the Lord Mayor and Council ensure that developments
in Brisbane are being carried out in accordance with the relevant safety laws.
Under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Council has no regulatory powers in relation to
safety issues at developments or worksites. Regulation of the Act is the responsibility of
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ), which falls under the Queensland
Government’s Department of Justice and Attorney General.
A copy of your petition has been forwarded to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland on
your behalf for their investigation.
Alternatively, if you have concerns about a particular site, I encourage you to contact
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland on 1300 369 915.
Thank you for raising your concerns.
ADOPTED
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS:
Chairman:
Councillors, are there any petitions? Councillor HUANG.
Councillor HUANG:
Yes, Madam Chair, I have a petition from residents of Macgregor regarding
traffic control.
Chairman:
Further petitions? Councillor MATIC.
Councillor MATIC:
Yes, Madam Chairman, I have three petitions, all in relation to an issue of a
proposed dog off leash area within Norm Buchan Park at Rainworth. There are
two petitions against and one petition for.
Chairman:
Further petitions? Councillor MURPHY.
Councillor SUTTON:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Yes, Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
Just a point of clarification, at the recent LORD MAYOR's Civic Cabinet
Listens forum, there was a petition tabled, given to the LORD MAYOR about
the cuts to CityCats and he said that he would make sure that it was actioned.
There were 500 signatures on it. It hasn't been tabled today. I guess—can I—just
wanted to seek confirmation that that has been appropriately actioned or whether
or not it needs to be tabled next week.
Chairman:
Yes. During recess petitions go straight to the division.
Councillor SUTTON:
Right.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 80 Chairman:
So that's—it would have—I assume it is probably there already. If that's not the
case, we'll make sure it's brought forward next week.
Councillor SUTTON:
Fantastic, thank you very much.
191/2013-14
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.
CA13/697385
Councillor
Steven Huang
CA13/697168
Peter Matic
CA13/684248
Peter Matic
CA13/697257
Peter Matic
Topic
Requesting that Council install speed humps along Mains
Road Service Road, MacGregor
Objecting to any proposed dog park in Norman Buchan
Park, Rainworth
Objection to any proposed dog park in Norman Buchan
Park, Rainworth
Calling on Council to make dog off-leashing possible in
Norman Buchan Park, Rainworth
GENERAL BUSINESS:
Chairman:
Are there any matters of general business? Councillor HOWARD.
Councillor HOWARD:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Madam Chairman, I rise today to congratulate
Brisbane Pride on their 2013 community celebrations that was organised last
month and in particulars to the Council officers who did their very best in
Central to make these events happen. Brisbane Pride is the annual community
celebration of LGBTQI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and
intersexed community) diversity in our south-east corner of Queensland and
celebrates the history, courage and future of this very valued community.
I have been very proud to champion the Pride cause, both in public and in
private, Madam Chairman, and councillors in this place will know that I was
very delighted to secure a three-year funding agreement from our Council
administration for this important event. For me the funding was not so much
about the dollar figure, but more of a tangible demonstration of the fact that we
see the value in different perspectives, histories and journeys. So thank you to
Councillor ADAMS and to the LORD MAYOR for making this commitment
part of the Pride story.
Happily for everyone, Madam Chairman, Brisbane Pride festival this year
culminated in the Pride Parade and the Pride Fair Day, festivities both held in
Central Ward. Brunswick Street, from the Valley Mall to New Farm Park, was
awash with all colours of the rainbow and in particular, a spectacular parade
representative of all parts of this community's life. The best part of the march, I
am informed, was the community engagement of local Fortitude Valley and New
Farm residents who paused to see hundreds of paraders on their way to the park.
Some only paused for a minute, Madam Chairman, before they joined the walk
themselves. That's what I think our Central Ward area is all about, walking with
others and supporting our local community.
Parades, while spectacular, don't just happen of themselves. So I would like to
take this short opportunity to thank all the Brisbane City Council and
Queensland Police Service officers who made the parade, fair day and the whole
of the month long festival happen. A closure of major suburban road and the
transformation of the extremely popular New Farm Park is what was requested
and I'm just delighted that we can report that that is what Council delivered. It
was high risk and high impact and I recognise that specifically our Council
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 81 teams in parks, traffic and transport and the festival and events liaison office for
their attention to making sure everything went perfectly.
I'm delighted to report that whilst the hard work of improving our suburbs is
often difficult and challenging, the respect our residents in Central Ward hold for
our Council staff is very, very positive and you have done your organisation
proud.
Chairman:
Further general business. Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise to speak today just about my recent leave of
absence but also about some local events that have occurred in Morningside
Ward since I was last in the Chamber. Madam Chair, I appreciate I've spoken at
length today, so I will try to keep this as quick as possible. Just in relation to my
recent leave, I just wanted to say a few thank yous about that. Obviously I had
six weeks' leave in the last session of Council and I wanted to thank all
councillors who enabled me to do that after the birth of my son.
I want to particularly thank the ALP caucus. We are a small team on this side of
Chamber, so—
Councillors interject
Councillor SUTTON:
You don't need to rub it in, we know. But we are a very small team, so when one
of that team absents themselves for a long period of time, that has an impact on
the other remaining six. So I thank them for their support in doing that. Madam
Chair, I'd also like to thank you as the Chairperson of Council for assisting me
with that leave process. We had a conversation early on and I know that you did
everything to facilitate that, not just in the lead up to my leave, but also when I
was on leave and had fits of paranoia that my leave wasn't appropriately
approved. Victoria had to deal with that as well. So thank you very much for
your assistance as well and also to all councillors in this place for agreeing to my
leave, because obviously if I didn't get majority support for that leave of
absence, I wouldn’t have been granted it. So thank you to everyone who allowed
me to do that.
I also want to thank my hard working ward office staff, Brenda Nolan, Sarah
Van Dorssen and Hannah Nolan. They have been absolute troopers while I have
been on reduced duties. My equivalent to maternity leave was my in-tray and my
computer set up on my kitchen table as opposed to my desk in the Morningside
Ward office, so we tried to keep things rolling as much as possible, but they
carried a heavier burden for me and particularly Brenda. I talk about my ward
office team, but really they are my ward office family. Brenda, who I have been
working with now for close to 10 years, she well and truly is family given that
she was actually there at my house on the night when we were leaving to go to
the hospital and she has really crossed the threshold now and she will be forever
considered family. So thank you particularly to my staff as well during this
period of time.
Just in terms of local events, whilst I have been on leave of absence here in this
Chamber, we have kept things moving in Morningside Ward. Riley attended his
first ever Morningside Festival at four weeks of age, he attended his first
political protest meeting at two weeks of age. But what can I say; I'm raising a
good Labor family at the very least. So I still continued my roles with the
Morningside Festival in July, that was a fantastic event assisted by Council's
grants program which provides a grant of $10,000 and that grant has recently
been renewed for three years and everyone on the festival committee has asked
me to express their gratitude for the continuation of that three-year funding
agreement which makes that Morningside Festival possible.
Also thank you to the Brisbane City Council mobile library who have been
regular attendees at that festival now for as long as I can remember.
So thank you very much on that. The Bulimba Festival was also a fabulous event
at the end of August. Again, congratulations to the RSL for hosting that event
and bringing it back to Bulimba. It certainly is a pleasure to work with them in
enabling that festival to go forward. We also had the first ever Celebrating
Families Festival.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 82 We had previously done Welcoming the Babies events, which I know Wayne
Swan, the local Federal MP for Lilley does, and Councillor DICK also does out
in Inala. Welcoming the Babies wasn’t really working that well in Morningside
Ward. So we decided to change focus a bit and we turned it into the Celebrating
Families event. It was an enormous success and we partnered with the Good
Samaritan Sisters to help bring that festival into being for the first time in
Bulimba Memorial Park in Oxford Street.
I’d like to thank Sarah O’Brien in particular and all of the Good Sams, their
workers and sisters for supporting that event. Then, not last weekend, but the
weekend before, we had the fabulous Shakespeare on Oxford Festival. Another
wonderful local event supported by Brisbane City Council’s festivals program.
Again, it was fantastic. I took my children to the kid’s classics in Bulimba
Library, where they were fabulously entertained by the performers there for the
Shakespeare for Kids component of that event.
So it was fantastic. So all of those great events again, put together by the
fabulous 4MBS, a radio station that continually punches above its weight for a
community radio station. It just does a fabulous, fabulous job. Gary Thorpe
down there, just anything he touches turns to magic. That man’s creative abilities
and managerial abilities should be bottled, because whatever he does, he does
remarkably well.
He’s supported by a fabulous team down at 4MBS. Now that we are in October,
we are gearing up for Hocus Pocus in the Park, which is gearing up to be another
fabulous, fabulous event in Morningside Ward. We’ve got heaps of people
interested. It’s going to be bigger and better this year. We’ve already got emails
from people as far away as Sunnybank asking for details about what Hocus
Pocus is going to be like this year.
It’s going to be a big event. It’s going to be a great event and I’m looking
forward to it. So I thank all of those organisations and individuals and groups
that have helped to continue the vibrancy, the creativity and the general
community feel of my ward. It’s been a pleasure working with each of them for
all of those events.
Chairman:
Further general business. Councillor MARX.
Councillor MARX:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Well, can I say that during the recent recess, there
were many, many, many things that happened in my ward during that time, but
I’m only going to touch on two. That’s the Palatine Street lights and the
Drewvale bus. The Palatine Street lights finally went in and have been turned on
and I need to thank the LORD MAYOR for allocating the funding as Councillor
SCHRINNER as the Chairman of Infrastructure for that event to take place.
The lights were delivered ahead of schedule and have been a huge benefit to all
the local residents, particularly those who use the child care centre and the
swimming school there on that intersection. I’ve had nothing but good words and
praise for that work that’s taken place. The second big event that’s happening in
the ward, and that is due to Councillor MATIC and council officers that have
worked extremely hard on this project is a project that’s been a long time coming
and that’s the installation of a bus through the suburb of Drewvale.
This is a suburb that has never had a bus service. Residents have to rely on their
own personal private transport or in some cases, actually walk to Browns Plain
Plaza and pick up a bus there to get into the city. So this will mean that residents
will no longer have to do that. I do have a lot of one car families out in that
suburb as well as single parents. So the fact that they’ll now be able to get on a
bus and travel into the city in the morning and in the afternoon during peak times
is a wonderful thing.
I’ve already got residents mobilising to take that first bus on 14 October, so
they’re very excited about it and I want to, once again, thank Councillor MATIC
and all the council officers for getting that project on the way for the residents.
Thank you.
Chairman:
Further general business. Councillor ABRAHAMS.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 83 Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I wish to talk about a carbon neutral
G20 in Brisbane, Southbank Brisbane. Madam Chair, every councillor in
Brisbane City Council was written to by the Business Southbank, as well as the
premier and the state member, with the proposal of looking for support to make
the G20 carbon neutral. Madam Chair, I would wish that we had bipartisan
support on council’s behalf to support this really innovative proposal. This really
innovative and very simple proposal to achieve.
Therefore, I thought I might give a little more detail than the letter. DEPUTY
MAYOR, I think I’m specifically speaking to you, seeming the Lord Mayor isn’t
there, and cabinet members as well. Because when one gets a response like this,
I think it is important and a request for support, it is important to actually have
some of the background and that’s what I wish to give. The Business Southbank,
in fact, has made a real effort to become as sustainable as they can over the last
three years, with all of the business in Southbank being involved in undertaking
every measure they can to reduce their carbon footprint as a precinct.
Not just as one business, but as a precinct overall, led very much by the
Southbank Corporation. Their work, it was absolutely outstanding in the
reductions that they achieved. As a result of that, they won the Premier’s Award
for Sustainability this year. They have said we need to take the G20 just one step
forward and could do that by making it carbon neutral. The Convention Centre.
When it was refitted with the innovation of the State Government had all of its
activities quantified and offset.
So it is a simple measure of when the G20 comes to paying the bill of simply
paying the offsets at the same time. This is what that initiative, that building was
designed to do, and we’re looking for support for it to happen in this event. The
only other one that they’re looking at to make it a simple initiative for everyone
is to offset the airfare and the travel to come to the event. Again, as everyone
would know, this is a very simple, very easy process and that is what Business
Southbank is actually calling for in this letter.
They have gone to the Premier who supports them. They are writing now to
every state and federal member, looking for their support for this initiative. They
are also writing to the leaders from G20 and the task force that’s putting it
together. This is one of these issues that can be done very simply, can show a lot
of support, but has quite a major impact in (a) being innovative, being something
that is novel, supporting a business unit and together being serious. One might
even call it direct action on climate change.
Therefore, surely, it is consistent with the LNP administration’s overall approach
to climate change and it certainly has Labor’s support on this side of the
Chamber. So I’d urge all of you to, as I know no-one has responded to that letter,
to give it serious thought in your next civic cabinet meeting and it’s just a simple
letter of support on behalf of council for this great initiative.
Chairman:
Further general business. Councillor NEWTON.
Councillor NEWTON:
Thanks very much, Madam Chair. I rise to speak on a couple of matters in
Deagon Ward. Namely, the historic Deagon Picnic Race Day, the first one in 70
years and an infrastructure charges issue that other councillors may now be
aware of, following a letter sent out to public councillors in Brisbane City
Council. Madam Chair, I wanted to talk briefly, first of all, as I mentioned about
the first ever Deagon Community Picnic Races held at the Deagon Racecourse.
So Madam Chair, it was with great excitement on 15 September that a crowd of
7000 plus a couple of thousand trainers, helpers, and volunteers descended on
the Deagon Racecourse to make what was quite an exciting day, Madam Chair.
Just on 12 months ago, I had a meeting with the CEO of Racing Queensland,
Kevin Dixon, and—sorry—the Chairman of the Board, Kevin Dixon and the
Brisbane Racing Club CEO, Stephen Ferguson, along with the President of the
Sandgate and Districts Chamber of Commerce.
So we wanted to talk to them about building a better relationship between the
local community and Racing Queensland, in particular, given the previous track
record. One of the things we did suggest was the idea of hosting a Deagon Picnic
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 84 Race Day. We didn’t want, perhaps, an Eagle Farm style city event. What we
wanted was something that was really reflective of us being a country town by
the sea in a lot of ways. At the same time, of course, we had local significant
trainers, like Pat Duff and Catherine and Jim Murdoch who are also pushing for
a community race meet, an annual race meet once a year.
When we met with Kev and Stephen, they said, that sounds like a great idea.
We’ll come on board. I’d expect you’ll get probably two or three thousand
people turn up to the day. Rhonda and I just looked at them and said you have no
idea how this community responds to events. It was really critical and there was
a great deal of interest from the community who had not set foot, many of them,
on the Deagon racecourse at all. So it was a trip down memory lane for the
former jockeys, strapper and trainers.
But for others, it was the first time they’d set foot on this amazing turf. It was a
terrific day. There was a huge amount of work done by the Sandgate and District
Chamber of Commerce who ran the event side of it. The Brisbane Racing Club,
who ran the racing side of it, so it was a partnership between those two who
really made the day happen. Even though we met in September last year, we
didn’t get the race day locked in, really, till the end of April, early May, leaving
just over four and a half months to try and organise the first event of its kind on
that site in 70 years.
So we quickly got out as a team to try to find and lock in sponsorship, to make
sure that we had our overheads covered for the day and I think all of us were
blown away by the amazing response we had from sponsors. In fact, the number
of races went from five to eight, because we had so much interest in naming the
race, as well as all of the other events on the day. It’s always really difficult
when you have a big event like this to say thank yous, because there were so
many people involved.
But there were a few I really want to particularly highlight and thank for their
work. The Sandgate and Districts Chamber of Commerce President, Rhonda
Sutton. Beth Wild and her amazing team of volunteers, who worked so hard,
really, to pull that event site together in less than five months. Racing
Queensland, their CEO, Darren Condon and Brisbane Racing Club CEO, Steve
Ferguson and their awesome team, Jenna Dart, Warren Williams, all the Deagon
based trains and their teams, who had to put up with the annoying setup and pack
down.
But particularly Catherine and Jim Murdoch for their advice and help on behalf
of the trainers. The neighbours, our Deagon Sports neighbours. Sergeant Chris
Lambert from the PCYC (Police-Citizens Youth Club) as well, so as Tracy
Hoffman and Kent Dixon from the Sandgate Gators, Sandgate Redcliffe Gators
Cricket Club, who enabled the grounds to be used for car parking on the day. An
amazing logistical exercise. We loved seeing Wayne Wilson coming out of
retirement and pretty much off his very sick bed. He’s battling a very significant
illness at the moment, who would never miss the day to be able to come and call
that historic race.
I know we all appreciated him putting in that effort on the day. So a huge thank
you to everyone who sponsored it. Everyone who made the day happen. Now,
we’re starting to lock in next year’s event. Also wanted to briefly just update and
talk on an issue, a very important issue, in Deagon Ward. Back in 2010, a local
couple were looking at setting up an indoor skate facility. There’s nothing like
this in Brisbane, so trying to find a suitable site was indeed a challenge. They
found a suitable site at 393 Bilsen Road, Geebung.
Of course, that was an industrial area, not a sports and recreation zone. They
were told by their planners at the time that they might incur some infrastructure
charges. So they went through the DA (development application) process. Got
their approvals and were hit with an infrastructure charge of $135,000. Now
Madam Chair, for any business that’s setting up, particularly a mum and dad
family business, that’s just an extraordinary amount and it would make any
business unviable and was nowhere in the vicinity of what their business plan
had in mind.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 85 At that time, I wrote to then LORD MAYOR Campbell Newman, and secured a
partial reduction in their infrastructure charges, which was due to the 35 per cent
subsidy that was operating in that financial year, which was to the great relief of
the family who operate the business. Now, Madam Chair, the infrastructure
charges simply have been too high. There’s an existing shed that they’ve fitted
out as an indoor skate facility. The operators come from a background—one’s a
professional sports background, the other one is a social worker.
They really wanted to provide a safe, stimulating environment for local young
people. Something that’s different—that’s on—I guess, it’s the next level up
from our outdoor skate facilities. So they’re doing something for our community.
It’s more than just a business. They’re responding to a need, because as you can
tell, with the 600 people who use the facility each week, there’s clearly a need
for this type of a facility in Brisbane. It’s ideally located near public transport.
They’re away from residences. Their only downfall is that it’s in an industrial
zone. Now, I think finding a big shed that’s vacant that’s in sports and recreation
zoning that could fit it out as an indoor skate facility would be very difficult in
Brisbane, Madam Chair. So they haven’t been able to repay their infrastructure
charges and they’re really struggling with the concept, because as we know, each
year, the infrastructure charges go up.
So because they didn’t pay off that—their infrastructure charges bill in 2010,
2011, they’ve lost that discount and they’re back to square one. So Madam
Chair, I understand that the owners of this facility have—they’ve written to all
the councillors. I’ve written to the LORD MAYOR, Graham Quirk, seeking
some assistance and I appreciate his help in offering a payment plan, Madam
Chair, but that’s not really the issue.
It’s the payment they’re being required to pay that’s going to cripple them and
we’ll potentially lose this facility on the north side. I think we need to think a
little bit differently about these types of facilities. It’s your run of the mill
business. Its meeting a community need. Other local governments in Australia
are actually setting up facilities just like this in partnership and I would really
like to see us do the same.
During the recess, a petition was lodged with Council with over a thousand
signatures supporting council doing something to reduce these infrastructure
charges. It’s now headed off to council offices for review. It will come back
through the committee process and back to this Chamber for debate. I hope we
can come back to the Council Chamber with something better on offer for these
people, so that we’ve got the continuation in our community for RampAttak to
be able provide this important community facility for young people in our
community.
Chairman:
Further general business. Councillor CUMMING.
Councillor CUMMING:
Thank you, Madame Chair.
Chairman:
There’s nobody else left.
Councillor CUMMING:
Madam Chair, I’ll be brief, but as everyone else has been talking about what’s
happening in their ward, I thought I should mention what’s happening in my
ward, as well. Last Saturday was the first markets in Wynnum Central, where
Edith Street, one of the main streets in Wynnum was closed off from nine
o’clock till four o’clock. A local business promoter, David Bateson, organised
markets on the street as an art, craft, retro markets.
There was a good crowd that came along to the markets and all the market stall
holders were quite happy and also the traders, who were encouraged to keep
their businesses open. Normally in Wynnum Central, after midday, there’s not
too many businesses open. A number of the businesses did choose to stay open
later in the day till three and four o’clock. They all reported a good day, as well.
So congratulations, David.
David’s part of the redevelopment taskforce for Wynnum Chamber of
Commerce and that taskforce is doing good work in the area to try and promote
Wynnum Manly. We’ve got a lovely mural, I guess you’d call it. The coloured
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 86 band up on the water tank at Manly. The Lord Mayor come down recently to
officially open that. That’s been a great initiative as well. The other thing we’re
looking at now is to copy what they’ve done in Newcastle and I understand
they’re trying in Redcliffe, to encourage the owners of empty shops to allow art
and craftwork to be displayed in their shops, to make the area more attractive.
Rather than have an empty shop, there’ll be some artwork in there and local
artists can promote their wares, as well. So it’s all great ideas and one thing that
would help greatly with this process is for the Brisbane City Council to make up
its mind about the Wynnum Central School site and do something with it.
They’ve owned now for 18 months and we’re still waiting to find out what’s
going to happen.
I’ve called previously for public consultation on what Council proposes to do.
They have—well, they haven’t told me, but they’ve told some of the groups that
have been using the site that they’re going to have to leave and there’s
uncertainty with those groups as to where they’re going to have to go to.
Whether Council will be able to find them anywhere to go. Whether they’ll be
able to store their gear or whether they’re going to be put to cost themselves and
also how long they’ll be gone.
Whether it’ll be three months, six months or goodness knows how long. So I
would call upon Council to get its act together. The chamber of commerce is
working to try to make things happen and council needs to join in the action.
Thank you.
Chairman:
Further general business. I declare the meeting closed.
QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN:
(Questions of which due notice has been given are printed as supplied and are not edited)
Submitted by Councillor Nicole Johnston (received on 17 September 2013)
Q1.
Would the CEO please advise if there have been any changes to the City of Brisbane Act in the 2013
calendar year?
Q2.
If there have been any changes to the City of Brisbane Act would the CEO please provide a list of the
sections amended or deleted and a brief description of the changes?
Q3.
Would the CEO please advise whether a decision of a full Council meeting regarding the allocation of
funding can be rescinded or altered by an individual Council officer?
Q4.
Would the CEO please advise the 2013-14 budget allocated for existing footpath repairs or
replacement?
Q5.
Would the CEO please advise how many existing footpaths are currently awaiting repair or
replacement and the total length?
Q6.
Would the CEO please advise the street name and suburb of the top 50 footpaths that have been
identified as awaiting repairs or replacement this year?
Q7.
Would the CEO please advise the criteria and/or policy for prioritisation of existing footpaths listed for
repairs or replacement?
Q8.
Would the CEO advise whether requested repairs to the damaged footpath along Oxley Road,
Sherwood and Sherwood Road, Sherwood will be repaired of fixed this financial year? If not what
priority have they been ranked?
Submitted by Councillor Nicole Johnston (received on 20 September 2013)
Q1.
Would the CEO please advised which person (position or title) or body of Brisbane City Council made
the decision to refuse to acquire the old RSPCA site at Fairfield?
Q2.
Would the CEO please advise the date that this position (to refuse the land offer) was:
a.
communicated verbally to the State Government and
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 87 b.
communicated in writing to the State Government?
Q3.
Would the CEO please advise the estimated cost of remediating the RSPCA site at Fairfield offered to
Council for free by the State Government?
Q4.
Would the CEO please advise the date that the Establishment and Coordination Committee made a
secret decision about the future of the old RSPCA site?
Submitted by Councillor Victoria Newton (received on 2 October 2013)
Q1.
Could the CEO please list all the current members of Council boards, the date each member was
appointed by E&C and the current annual remuneration paid to each member?
Q2.
Could the CEO please advise how many unpaid toll infringements that were referred to SPER in the
2012-2013 financial year have:
a.
Been paid in full?
b.
Have commenced part payment plans?
Q3.
Can the CEO provide the number of street trees that have been planted in The Gabba Ward and Central
Ward since 1 July 2012 with the figures broken down for each ward if possible?
Q4.
Can the CEO provide the number of street trees that have been replanted in The Gabba Ward and
Central Ward since 1 July 2012 with the figures broken down for each ward if possible?
Q5.
Can the CEO provide the number of site where the level of damage to the trees, that Council officers
have determined to no longer continue to replace the street trees?
Q6.
After all budget reviews, can the CEO advise what was the actual budget spend on the Active and
Health Parks Activities Program in the 2011-2012 Financial year (Budget item 5.3.1.1) and the 20122013 financial year (Budget Item number 5.3.1.1)?
Q7.
Can the CEO please provide the Capital Works Program list of the parks identified as a priority for
playground upgrades, including brief details of the proposed upgrades?
Submitted by Councillor Nicole Johnston (received on 3 October 2013)
Q1.
Would the CEO please advise the street number and name, or other relevant location, where Council
road signs (not stickers on private property) urging cyclists to keep quiet have been installed in
Jamboree and Bracken Ridge Wards?
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN
GIVEN:
(Answers to questions of which due notice has been given are printed as supplied and are not edited)
Submitted by Councillor Nicole Johnston (from the meeting of 14 May 2013)
Q1.
Would the CEO please provide a list outlining the number and type of workplace injuries incurred by
Asset Services South staff and contractors for the current financial year?
A1.
Category one – 2
Category two - 1
Q2.
Would the CEO please provide a list outlining the number and type of workplace injuries incurred by
Asset Services South staff and contractors for the 2011-12 financial year?
A2.
Category two – 5
Category three – 2
Category four - 5
Q7.
Would the CEO please advise how many rubbish bins have been removed from bus stops and not
replaced during the current financial year in South Region?
A7.
This information is not kept by region.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 88 Submitted by Councillor Victoria Newton (from the meeting of 27 August 2013)
Q2.
How many Barking Dog Complaints were lodged with Council in East Region in:
July 2012
August 2012
September 2012
October 2012
November 2012
December 2012
January 2013
February 2013
March 2013
April 2013
May 2013
June 2013
July 2013
Q3.
How many Barking Dog Complaints were lodged with Council in West Region in:
July 2012
August 2012
September 2012
October 2012
November 2012
December 2012
January 2013
February 2013
March 2013
April 2013
May 2013
June 2013
July 2013
Q4.
How many Barking Dog Complaints were lodged with Council in North Region in:
July 2012
August 2012
September 2012
October 2012
November 2012
December 2012
January 2013
February 2013
March 2013
April 2013
May 2013
June 2013
July 2013
Q5.
How many Barking Dog Complaints were lodged with Council in South Region in:
July 2012
August 2012
September 2012
October 2012
November 2012
December 2012
January 2013
February 2013
March 2013
April 2013
May 2013
June 2013
July 2013
Q6.
How many Barking Dog Complaints were lodged with Council in Central Region in:
July 2012
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 89 August 2012
September 2012
October 2012
November 2012
December 2012
January 2013
February 2013
March 2013
April 2013
May 2013
June 2013
July 2013
Q2. to Q6. This information is not kept by region, but by ward (see table below)
Animal Noise Complaints Received by Ward
Location: Ward
201207
16
201208
35
201209
30
201210
26
201211
17
201212
24
201301
13
201302
13
201303
26
201304
22
201305
35
201306
23
201307
36
Central
17
14
13
7
7
16
5
8
10
15
15
11
17
Chandler
12
18
15
10
12
14
11
10
22
24
21
13
18
Deagon
18
24
23
27
20
17
20
13
23
27
25
28
17
Doboy
32
24
21
17
18
18
10
12
7
28
24
12
25
Enoggera
24
18
21
31
25
17
14
29
16
24
28
22
17
Hamilton
21
19
21
20
27
15
15
13
16
25
23
19
19
Holland Park
18
25
14
23
16
20
18
16
17
23
26
15
18
Jamboree
20
12
20
18
14
14
11
11
13
16
12
9
12
Karawatha
14
15
22
13
14
12
9
10
20
23
21
13
23
Macgregor
9
8
7
8
4
6
9
11
16
12
17
11
12
Marchant
33
38
30
29
20
19
18
31
30
21
28
27
25
McDowall
13
17
16
20
14
12
19
12
19
16
30
14
33
Moorooka
29
17
13
28
16
23
11
13
20
30
31
18
26
Morningside
24
30
27
21
12
26
15
22
27
39
39
32
36
Northgate
27
31
26
41
26
36
17
24
31
30
30
22
19
Parkinson
23
30
18
27
18
26
16
18
21
17
23
15
20
Pullenvale
27
34
27
23
21
12
13
7
16
20
24
14
24
Richlands
31
24
16
27
9
23
17
24
21
23
34
18
25
Tennyson
18
20
18
9
20
5
10
8
14
15
25
11
17
The Gabba
15
12
16
12
11
9
9
6
15
16
12
13
18
The Gap
24
12
10
13
17
11
22
11
8
21
29
17
16
Toowong
11
18
17
11
9
14
12
13
13
18
20
21
18
Walter Taylor
3
7
8
11
10
6
7
6
7
11
12
3
17
Wishart
19
25
13
24
21
16
9
21
20
19
30
18
25
Wynnum-Manly
20
27
19
15
21
27
18
9
13
23
29
26
34
Bracken Ridge
Q7.
How many dog owners were issued Infringement Notices as a result of barking dogs in financial year
2012/13?
A7.
3.
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]
- 90 RISING OF COUNCIL:
6.42pm.
PRESENTED:
and CONFIRMED
CHAIRMAN
Council officers in attendance:
Andrew Langford (Team Leader, Council and Committees Support)
Jo Camamile (Council and Committees Support Officer)
Billy Peers (Personal Support Officer to the Lord Mayor and Council Orderly)
[4416 (Post Recess) Meeting – 8 October 2013]