MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
The 4418 meeting of the Brisbane City Council,
held at City Hall, Brisbane
on Tuesday 22 October 2013
at 2pm
Prepared by:
Council and Committee Liaison Office
Chief Executive’s Office
Office of the Lord Mayor and the Chief Executive Officer
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4418 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2013
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS _____________________________________________________________ i
PRESENT: ______________________________________________________________________ 1
OPENING OF MEETING: __________________________________________________________ 1
APOLOGY: _____________________________________________________________________ 1
MINUTES: _____________________________________________________________________ 1
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: __________________________________________________________ 1
QUESTION TIME: ________________________________________________________________ 4
CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS: _________________________________________ 14
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE _________________________________________ 14
A CONTRACTS AND TENDERING — REPORT TO COUNCIL OF CONTRACTS ACCEPTED BY DELEGATES
FOR AUGUST 2013 _______________________________________________________________ 28
B 2013-14 BUDGET – AMENDMENTS TO ACCELERATE KEY PROJECTS ________________________ 38
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ___________________________________________________________ 40
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – TRAFFIC RESPONSE UNITS ________________________________ 45
B PETITION – REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR STAGE 1 OF THE UPGRADE OF WYNNUM ROAD
(SHAFSTON AVENUE AND RIDING ROAD) _____________________________________________ 46
C PETITION – CALLING ON COUNCIL TO INSTALL A SPEED PLATFORM IN MOORGATE STREET,
MACGREGOR ____________________________________________________________________ 48
D PETITION – CALLING ON COUNCIL TO INSTALL TIMED 15-MINUTE PARKING RESTRICTIONS
OUTSIDE THE PERIVALE STREET CAFÉ ON THE SUDBURY STREET PROPERTY FRONTAGE, DARRA _ 49
PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE ______________________________________________ 50
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL’S 100 PER CENT CHALLENGE – BURANDA
STATE SCHOOL __________________________________________________________________ 51
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE ___________________ 52
A ELECTRONIC DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION UNDER THE SUSTAINABLE PLANNING ACT 2009 –
HOTEL, SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATION, MULTI-UNIT DWELLINGS AND RESTAURANT – 21 AND
25 MORGAN STREET, 72 MCLACHLAN STREET, FORTITUDE VALLEY – R.A.F.C.O PTY LTD; BODY
CORPORATE FOR ‘CECIL COURT’ CTS.2975 ____________________________________________ 63
ENVIRONMENT, PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE ____________________________________ 68
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – GUDGEONS AND PACIFIC BLUE EYES _______________________ 68
FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE _____________________________________________________________ 69
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – THE BENEFITS OF NEW CLEANSING EQUIPMENT ______________ 71
BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE _________________________________________________________ 72
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM 2013-14 __________________ 73
FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE ______________________ 75
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – ALL HAZARDS – BRISBANE READY FOR SUMMER 2013/14 ______ 75
CONSIDERATION OF NOTIFIED MOTION – SIDE PANEL FOR BUS SHELTER AT FAIRFIELD GARDENS
SHOPPING CENTRE: ____________________________________________________________ 76
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS:____________________________________________________ 78
GENERAL BUSINESS: ____________________________________________________________ 79
[4418 (Ordinary) Meeting – 22 October 2013]
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4419 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2013
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN: ________________________________ 85
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN: _____________________ 88
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4418 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER 2013
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
PRESENT:
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Councillor Graham QUIRK) – LNP
The Acting Chairman of Council, Councillor Angela OWEN-TAYLOR (Parkinson) – LNP
LNP Councillors (and Wards)
Krista ADAMS (Wishart)
Amanda COOPER (Bracken Ridge)
Vicki HOWARD (Central)
Steven HUANG (Macgregor)
Fiona KING (Marchant)
Geraldine KNAPP (The Gap)
Ian McKENZIE (Holland Park)
David McLACHLAN (Hamilton)
Ryan MURPHY (Doboy)
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)
Kim FLESSER (Northgate)
Steve GRIFFITHS (Moorooka)
Victoria NEWTON (Deagon)
Shayne SUTTON (Morningside)
Independent Councillor (and Ward)
Nicole JOHNSTON (Tennyson)
OPENING OF MEETING:
The Acting Chairman, Councillor Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, opened the meeting with prayer, and then
proceeded with the business set out in the Agenda.
APOLOGY:
214/2013-14
An apology was submitted on behalf of Councillors Matthew BOURKE, Peter MATIC, Margaret de WIT and
Kim MARX, and they were granted leave of absence from the meeting on the motion of Councillor Ryan
MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Fiona KING.
An apology was submitted on behalf of Councillor Peter CUMMING, and he was granted leave of absence from
the meeting on the motion of Councillor Victoria NEWTON, seconded by Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS.
MINUTES:
215/2013-14
The Minutes of the 4417 meeting of Council held on 15 October 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 Andrew WINES.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Mrs Wendy Francis – Banning the use of sexualised imagery on billboards around the city
File number: 137/220/701/163
Acting Chairman:
I would now like to call on Mrs Wendy Francis who will address the Chamber
on the issue of sexualised imagery on billboards used around the city. Orderly,
please show Mrs Francis in.
[4418 (Ordinary) Meeting – 22 October 2013]
-2Please proceed, Mrs Francis; you have five minutes.
Mrs Wendy Francis:
Madam Chairman, LORD MAYOR and Councillors, thank you for the
opportunity to speak with you regarding our Brisbane environment and, in
particular, considering outdoor advertising. Council has recently banned digital
billboards with fast-moving images as a pre-emptive step to protect drivers. I
represent many thousands of Brisbane people when I ask today that you also
extend that protection to our children with regards to banning sexualised
imagery on Council infrastructure, in particular, bus shelters.
The prevalence of sexually explicit outdoor advertising is well documented by
the Australia Institute and the Advertising Standards Bureau. The Australia
Institute research found that this sexualisation contributes to an increased risk of
sexualised and attention-seeking behaviours at an earlier age. They conclude
that the sexualisation of Australian children in advertising and marketing is
increasing, and involves a wide range of risks to children.
Human sexual development commences in childhood as a normal part of
development. Our sexual health is closely related to our mental and emotional
health because sexuality is more than just biological. It is also relational,
emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual. Our increasingly sexualised society
has the capacity to derail this natural process. Children in particular are illequipped to deal with the pressure, and this impacts on a broad range of interrelated physical, psychological, relational and societal outcomes.
I guess what I am trying to impress on you all here today is that inappropriate
sexual messaging should not be dismissed lightly. Rather, any sexual messaging
should foster an appreciation for respect, integrity and healthy relationships.
This is also backed up by the Australian Medical Association which has
identified that increasing numbers of children are focusing on an inappropriate
sexualised concept of body image, and that this impacts on their growth and
physical functioning; they say even including a reduced ability to think and
learn. The AMA have identified that marketing and advertising contribute to this
problem.
There is little doubt that our increasingly sexualised environment has ongoing
implications for the overall health and wellbeing of our children and young
people, with associated social and economic costs to society. This places an
increased responsibility on government and regulatory bodies to consider and
respond to the content and impacts of advertising in the public space.
Australians rightly expect government to provide positive balanced messages
and to reject messages that promote dysfunctional lives. So when marketers
choose to use sexualised advertising to sell their product, I would argue that our
governments should not facilitate this sexualising of our society by allowing
them to use their infrastructure to do so. I have copies here of photos that I have
taken and I have been given leave to have them distributed; thank you.
These photos I have taken on Council-owned property. They are primary school
bus stops in Brisbane. They have just been taken within the last 10 months. The
advertising promotes M-rated TV programs, condom use and sexualised
imagery to primary school children just before and after they go to school for
the day. As I say, this happens on Council infrastructure.
The Advertising Standards Board has a Code of Practice for advertising or
marketing communications to children, and it states that, 'Advertising must not
include sexual imagery in contravention of prevailing community standards, and
it must not undermine the authority, responsibility or judgment of parents or
carers.' Unfortunately, their interpretation of the images that you now have in
front of you is that the ads are not directed at children and therefore are
acceptable.
Melbourne City Council, with the strong support of their Lord Mayor, Robert
Doyle, are moving towards banning all advertising that sexualises and
objectifies women, and instead promoting positive representations of women
and girls. I understand that our LORD MAYOR also plans to speak with Lord
Mayor Doyle in November, and I am grateful.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
-3Thank you for listening to me today. I would urge the Brisbane City Council to
disallow sexual advertising on their bus stops, and this would represent a
powerful message of freedom to our city. It's the best city in the world. I was
born here; my children were born here, and my grandchildren were born here,
and I thank you, each one of you, for the part that you play in making it such a
beautiful city. Thank you.
Acting Chairman:
Thank you, Mrs Francis. Councillor ADAMS, would you like to respond,
please?
Response by Councillor Krista ADAMS, Chairman of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Mrs Francis, for coming this
afternoon and addressing Chamber. It is clear you are very passionate about this
issue. Council does regulate the construction and the placement of advertising
devices in Brisbane and other matters relating to advertising signs under the
Advertising Signs Local Law 2013, and also our Advertising Signs Subordinate
Local Law 2005. I will just state some of this local law with relation to
advertising.
Council does not have jurisdiction under this local law to enforce matters
concerning the content of signs which relate to public taste or community
expectations. The relevant State legislation is the Classification of Publications
Act 1991. Claims relating to defamation are handled by means of the
Defamation Act 2005, and the Criminal Code. The Advertising Standards
Bureau is an industry body which handles complaints about advertising.
However, in making that statement, Mrs Francis, I have to say that Council has
referred any complaints that we receive about the content of advertising signs to
the Advertising Standards Bureau who handle the complaints Australia wide.
We do ensure that the codes and the initiatives are administered by the Bureau
and are met when advertising belongs to Council, such as that information that
you have spoken about that has been placed on public land.
You might be interested to know we do work very closely with the Outdoor
Media Association. We meet regularly to discuss issues affecting the industry
and the regulation of advertising signs, and as you spoke about recent changes
that we have made. They have been centred around the development and
implementation of the changes to the Advertising Signs Local Laws that I said
were only brought out this year. The Outdoor Media Association is the peak
body in the local industry, and they represent the whole national industry body.
They are the ones we have been dealing with our media and display companies
and production facilities, as well as some of the media display asset owners as
well.
So we held a forum in January this year which included representatives from all
the companies from Outdoor Media Association who have interest in the
industry in Brisbane, and that is APN, Go on Metro Space, Skyboard, and we
looked at a lot of negotiations around the draft of the guidelines that were
developed in the local laws, and we did discuss that, when it comes to the
content on the actual boards, that is under the State legislation as well. But we
do work closely with them in relation to our advertising signs.
With the bus shelters that you mentioned as well, again, those bus shelters are
delivered through an advertising arrangement, and are made between the
relevant advertising company and the actual client. Council actually has no role
in those arrangements, but as mentioned before, as we receive complaints, we
ensure that they go on to the Standards Bureau and are considered.
You may also be aware that currently there are a number of activities being
conducted at a State level in this space. The Health and Community Services
Committee of the State Government is currently conducting an inquiry into
sexually explicit outdoor advertising, and a presentation was made by
Dr Kerry Robertson from the University of Western Sydney on Wednesday 16
October 2013, so not long past at Parliament House. The meeting was open to
the public and broadcast live on Parliament's website. I am sure you probably
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
-4listened to that, and I hope that you are making your ideas known to the State
Legislative as well when it comes to these points.
Thank you very much for addressing us in Council today. It is lovely to hear
your views, and I hope you are showing your concerns to the State as well.
Thank you.
Acting Chairman:
Thank you, Councillor ADAMS. Thank you, Mrs Francis.
Are there any questions of the LORD MAYOR or a Chairman of any of the
Standing Committees? Councillor MURPHY.
QUESTION TIME:
Councillor MURPHY:
LORD MAYOR:
Question 1
Thanks, Madam Acting Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. I
understand that real momentum is building within Fortitude Valley including
some very positive signs of economic growth and development. Could you
please update the Chamber on this growth and explain how the Brunswick Street
Mall upgrade will help boost the daytime economy?
Thank you very much, Councillor MURPHY, for that question. Madam Acting
Chairman, I can say that Councillor MURPHY is absolutely right. There is a
very strong momentum that is building within the Fortitude Valley area. It was a
little over a year ago, a bit more now, that there was a forum held, which was a
visioning forum in relation to Fortitude Valley, where it would go for the future.
It was on the back of the fact that whilst Fortitude Valley has a very strong night
time entertainment based economy; it did need some work done in terms of
gathering the types of mix that we need to make sure that there is a growing and
stronger daytime economy. All of the ingredients are there.
Council, for its part, needs to do some work around the Brunswick Street Mall. I
indicated a commitment that, over four years, we would do that. Between 2012
and 2016, we would undertake a $4 million upgrade to the Brunswick Street
Mall. I said the nature of that would be driven by the traders themselves and by
the stakeholders around and involved with the Fortitude Valley area.
So it is after much work and consultation that a plan is in place, a plan which
will see the removal of the concrete brick paver surface with that of a patterned
concrete surface, one which is easier to clean and reduce trip hazards. There will
also be the installation of a large wire roof structures which will support lighting
and public art and provide shelter and shade. As well as that, there will be the
installation of some small retail and art pods in the centre of the mall.
It is about trying to create a scene which is reflective of the type of vibrant
location that the Valley is, but also making sure that we have a pragmatic area
and one which will serve the Valley for the future. It is true that we are seeing
significant private sector investment. There is a real sense of happening in the
Valley; 23 commercial and residential projects either have commenced or are
about to commence within Fortitude Valley.
So it is today also we see before us a development application, in this case a
17-storey development for the corner of McLachlan and Morgan Streets, and
that will of course be a part 4 or 5-star hotel and part residential. As part of that
development, 152 hotel rooms as part of that 17-storey complex.
I guess after discussions with Fortitude Valley stakeholders, rather than let that
project drag through to 2016, one message we were getting was to get in and get
the job done and to get out. So, Madam Chairman, in that vein, later today we
are putting forward a proposal which will bring forward this project, to see it
commence probably in January of next year, and to be complete the same year.
So, it is about us saying that we acknowledge the private sector investment; we
acknowledge the momentum that is gaining, and we very much will remain at
the forefront of making sure that we play our part in that momentum.
It is interesting also to note that companies such as Vodafone and Stellar Asia
Pacific are bringing around 150 new workers to that area recently. So all of
these types of outcomes add to the opportunity to grow that economy in the
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
-5Valley, to give some confidence to new players to enter that Valley retail market
and to grow that economy.
I have to say that the Chamber of Commerce there, the Fortitude Valley
Economic Development Board, we are seeing the alignment of a lot of people in
a way which we have not seen in the Valley for a long, long time, and I thank all
of those people who have come together to create the momentum, to create the
atmosphere and now the investment which will take Fortitude Valley forward.
The key is that it will remain a place which has that sense of vibrancy and its
own character, but also one which will become a growing and more important
part of the economy of Brisbane overall.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor DICK:
LORD MAYOR:
Further questions; Councillor DICK.
Question 2
Thank you Madam Deputy Chairman; my question is to the LORD MAYOR.
Your released River Edge Strategy talks about the enhancement of 'our iconic
CityCats, City Hopper and City Ferry services as a key deliverable.' Isn't this at
odds with your recent actions of cutting $2 million worth of services from our
CityCats and Ferries?
Thanks very much, Councillor DICK, for the question. No, it does not. What we
are doing as an Administration is investing significant amounts of money. We
are investing in terms of the Park Road Ferry Terminal upgrade, a significant
amount there. We are also, in terms of Bulimba, undertaking improvements
through a double berthing of that facility. So these investments are continuing
on.
What we did do is we acknowledged that there was a very, very low demand for
services after 11 o'clock at night on certain nights of the week. We have made
the decision to reduce the costs relative to those services. When you get services
that have got less people on them than you have staff, and you are spending
ratepayers' money around those services, we need to make sure that we make the
right decisions.
I also remind the Chamber, however, that it has only been a year ago, or a little
more, that we made three of our ferry fleet free-of-charge. The monohull ferries,
those three old ferries, turned them into a free service, re-badged them as the
Hopper service, and they have proven to be very, very successful.
We will continue to monitor and improve the service as we go. But if Councillor
DICK is asking me to spend money inefficiently, I am afraid that that is
something I won't do. We will always look at reviews, where they are sensible,
where they are important to make changes. We have the responsibility with
ratepayers' money, and it is our responsibility to make sure that we spend it in
the best way possible.
So, the CityCat service, the Hopper service, the monohull Ferry service, whether
they be cross river or upstream services, they will continue to make a very, very
important part of this city. It is a fact that there has been a 107 per cent increase
in public transport spending in our last term in Administration versus Labor's
last term in Office. That is a reality. We have invested significantly in public
transport. We know that because we are talking about ferry services today, but if
you talk about buses, whatever you are talking about, Madam Chairman, there
has been significantly greater investments by this Administration.
Acting Chairman:
Further questions —
Councillors interjecting.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor McKENZIE:
Order! Councillor McKENZIE.
Question 3
Thanks, Madam Chairman; my question is to Councillor SCHRINNER,
Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee. Can you update the Chamber on how
this Administration, in contrast to the Labor Opposition, has made an ongoing
and consistent commitment to the delivery of major infrastructure for Brisbane?
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
-6DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you for the question, Councillor McKENZIE, and a very pertinent one.
As an Administration, you can make many claims about us, and some people do.
But one thing you cannot say, and one thing you could never say, is that we
don't care about infrastructure and we don't invest in infrastructure. Our record
is 100 per cent consistent. We said we would be an infrastructure
Administration, and we have been an infrastructure Administration under
successive Lord Mayors now.
We have tunnel projects such as CLEM7, bridges like the Go Between Bridge,
and then a whole range of projects across the city that we have delivered —
suburban road upgrades, public transport improvements — we have delivered
just as we said we would when it comes to infrastructure.
But one thing that is particularly interesting is that we are continually criticised
by the Opposition councillors on my right, and that criticism varies from day-today and week-to-week. One minute we are hearing that we are not doing enough
and that we should do more. Next minute, we are told that we are wasting too
much money on these big projects and we shouldn’t have done the big projects
that we promised to do. Their record is absolutely fascinating. We are
consistent; the Opposition is inconsistent from week to week.
I think it is important for the people of Brisbane to be aware of this fact, because
in the end they know what this Administration stands for, but they do not know
what the Opposition stands for, and I do not blame them for their confusion. If
we are to have a good Opposition in this place, then that Opposition needs to
clearly express what its alternative views are.
Councillor DICK:
Stop the cars.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Stop the cars. Here we go — it's a different day, so it's a different view.
Councillor interjecting.
Acting Chairman:
Just a moment, please, DEPUTY MAYOR. Councillor JOHNSTON, if you
continue to interject, you will be warned. DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
If you have a look at the facts, this goes back right to the early days of this
Administration when we promised that we would deliver the TransApex
program. Labor at the time ridiculed that as a five-tunnel fantasy. That was all
they could say. It will never happen: it's a five-tunnel fantasy. Today we see that
three out of the five projects have been completed, and are being used to the
benefit of the people of Brisbane as we speak, and the fourth project is now well
under construction, and that is the Legacy Way project.
The fifth project, we have done some investigation into and determined that
there is no business case at this time, and we have made a decision not to
proceed with that project. So the projects that we said we would deliver, we
have got on and delivered. Labor, on the other hand, has chopped and changed
from year to year. We have seen them vote in favour of —
Acting Chairman:
Just a moment, please, DEPUTY MAYOR. Councillor GRIFFITHS and
Councillor NEWTON, if you continue to be disruptive in this Chamber, you will
be warned. DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you. We have seen them vote in favour of CLEM7; they all had their
signatures on the paper, yet they continually criticise that project now. They
were part of the decision, and in fact they had a majority. Then, moving
forward, the Go Between Bridge, they had the opportunity to support this great
piece of infrastructure and they voted against it.
Moving forward again, the Legacy Way tunnel, previously known as Northern
Link, there was a motion in this Chamber, moved by the Labor Party, that we
needed to fast-track that project, and it was supported by Councillors such as
Councillor FLESSER and Councillor SUTTON — they wanted to fast-track the
Legacy Way project. Yet, a short time later, they claimed that the project was
dead, and it was Councillor SUTTON, on 17 March 2009, who said, it's D-E-AD - dead, absolutely. It's going nowhere. Going nowhere fast.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
-7Then, when we had the opportunity to vote on proceeding with the Legacy Way
project, they voted against it. So one minute they are saying we should fast-track
it; the next minute they are saying it's dead and they vote against it. Madam
Chairman, the people of Brisbane deserve better. They deserve some
consistency. They have got it from the Administration; they don't have it from
the Opposition, and they need it, because these issues, infrastructure issues, are
absolutely essential for our city.
This Administration understands the importance of building these projects and
investing in the future, yet we have an Opposition that is all over the place and is
to the disadvantage of the people of Brisbane and the disadvantage in particular
of the ratepayers of Brisbane that there is no consistency. I ask Labor to put their
money where their mouth is; tell us what they really believe, and stop chopping
and changing.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON:
LORD MAYOR:
Further questions; Councillor SUTTON.
Question 4
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Yesterday
your $2 million cut to Brisbane CityCat services came into effect, adversely
impacting on commuters trying to get to and from work. Your changes included
cutting the number of cross-river services between Bulimba and Teneriffe by
more than half. Between 7 a.m. and 8.30 a.m. cross-river services from the
Bulimba Ferry Terminal have been cut from 22 services down to just 10. These
changes have seen the cross-river ferry filled to capacity and unable to service
the demand. LORD MAYOR, will you immediately commit to reverse your
CityCat cuts to make sure my local residents can get to and from work on time?
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman, and I thank Councillor SUTTON for the
question. Of course, when Councillor SUTTON refers to 22 services to 10, what
she is not of course taking into account is that there are other services as well.
She is referring to the mono-hull service that goes across the river, but there are
further services which also service that same section via CityCat services.
Councillors interjecting.
Acting Chairman:
Order! Councillor SUTTON, if you want to hear the answer, do not retort whilst
the LORD MAYOR is speaking. LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Well, Madam Chairman, I just say this: we have made certain decisions in
relation to the services. I have to say, though, if what Councillor SUTTON is
saying is absolutely true, I will certainly have a look at that, because the last
thing we want to do is to create a situation where there are services that are
over-capacity. That was not the intent. But we undertook these decisions - let me
make it clear - we undertook these decisions after we had looked at the numbers
in relation to passenger take-up.
We will do our own surveys. Councillor SUTTON has raised a matter here
today. We will do our own work to monitor those services, to assess what
Councillor SUTTON is saying here today. If what she is saying tody is
absolutely correct, we will make variations. I am not so fixed in relation to
things, where there is a need to make minor changes to services, that we will do
that. But there will have to be a case. It will have to be a solid case.
So, Madam Chairman, I thank Councillor SUTTON for her question, and we
will do our own research in relation to what her claims are here today.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor KNAPP:
Further questions; Councillor KNAPP.
Question 5
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the Chairman of Finance,
Economic Development and Administration Committee, Councillor
SIMMONDS. I understand that this Administration inherited significant
infrastructure deficits from the previous Labor Administration. Can you please
outline how this Administration's responsible financial management is catching
up and overcoming this problem?
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
-8Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thank you very much, Madam Acting Chairman, and thank you to you,
Councillor KNAPP, for the question. You are quite right; the LNP
Administrations of LORD MAYOR Graham QUIRK and former Lord Mayor
Campbell Newman inherited a significant infrastructure deficit from the Labor
Councillors opposite. Their only legacy to the infrastructure of this city was
crumbling assets like City Hall and the Shorncliffe Pier, closed pools and
libraries. It is a legacy of only one new road in a 10-year period, allowing
Brisbane's congestion to fester mercilessly.
In contrast, as the DEPUTY MAYOR has pointed out today, we have made no
secret of the fact that we are in the business of building infrastructure. We are in
the business of building new pools; we have upgraded or will be upgrading
neglected assets under Labor like City Hall, the Valley Mall and Shorncliffe
Pier. We are spending almost five times more on bikeways than what the Labor
Councillors opposite were. Most importantly, we are getting Brisbane moving
again with the suburban RAP program and the TransApex network of tunnels.
Since June 2009, the LNP Administration have spent - wait for it - a whopping
$5 billion on capital in this city, including $1.75 billion on the TransApex
program. The balance of this money, some $3.25 billion, has been spent by this
LNP Administration catching up and restoring Brisbane's social and suburban
infrastructure. Much of this has been made possible thanks to our responsible
and fully transparent borrowing program.
So I was of course dismayed last week when Councillor FLESSER stood up and
he said, as he so often does, to first of all disparage our borrowing program and
to give - and I will use his exact words here - differing views about whether it
was money well spent. Well, of course, we do believe that because of the
congestion reductions, it was money well spent.
And you might also remember, Madam Acting Chairman, that last week in
response to Councillor FLESSER's comment, I asked the Labor Councillors
opposite how many of them have used the very facilities that they voted against
and now disparaged. Of course, I got very sheepish looks. So this piqued my
interest. And, with Councillor ABRAHAMS' blessing, I did go and have a quick
look at the Council toll transponders that are issued to each Councillor. I have to
say I was quite amazed. I was quite amazed. There is one particular Labor
Councillor who very much enjoys the benefits of the TransApex program. I
suspect - I won't name him - but I suspect —
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order.
Acting Chairman:
Point of order against you, Councillor SIMMONDS. Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman. Can I—and I genuinely seek some advice on
this, Councillor SCHRINNER has just said that he went into private tolling
records and looked at an individual's tolling record—
Acting Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, if you were listening closely to Councillor
SIMMONDS, he clearly stated that they were the Brisbane City Council toll
transponders issued to Councillors, which are Brisbane City Council assets, not
individual personal information. Please resume your seat. Councillor
SIMMONDS.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thank you very much, Madam Chairman.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Acting Chairman:
Point of order; Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, I object to the use of private information in this way, and I
believe it is not an appropriate comment to be making in this Chamber.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, I have just explained to you that the toll transponders,
as conveyed by Councillor SIMMONDS, are Brisbane City Council assets.
They are not personal and private. Therefore I don't uphold your point of order.
Councillor SIMMONDS.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
-9Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thank you very much, Madam Acting Chairman. She wasn't listening too
closely, because my name is Councillor SIMMONDS, not Councillor
SCHRINNER, and I would be concerned if the Labor Councillors opposite were
not treating these ratepayer-funded toll transponders in an appropriate and
reasonable manner. So they should not be afraid by this kind of information.
But I won't name the Councillor, for fear of embarrassment, but let's just say he
probably enjoys the benefits of TransApex because we know he likes to go fast.
So how often has he used it? Well, let’s have a bit of audience participation.
Who wants to bet once? Twice? Ten times? Who wants to go out on a limb and
say 50 times? Two hundred times - 200 times he has used one of the TransApex
pieces of infrastructure.
Another Labor councillor—who will remain nameless, but let's just say he often
leads the charge over that side of the Chamber. I was interested, DEPUTY
MAYOR, to hear they voted against the Go Between Bridge, because this
particular councillor has used the Go Between Bridge 68 times in the last
financial year—68 times. A piece of infrastructure that was voted against by the
Labor councillors, he has used it 68 times. Another Labor councillor—
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
— used the Go Between —
Acting Chairman:
Point of order against you, Councillor SIMMONDS.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
— 13 times, another 27 times.
Acting Chairman:
Point of order against you, Councillor SIMMONDS; Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
The Councillor is misleading the Chamber. Labor Councillors voted for the
bridge with the exception of myself.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS, that is not a point of order. Please resume your seat.
Councillor SIMMONDS.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Another Labor councillor used the CLEM7 13 times last year; another one 27
times last year; another one 35 times last year. Now, they are just walking
hypocrisy - hypocrisy personified —
Councillors interjecting.
Acting Chairman:
Order!
Councillor SIMMONDS:
— because here they are, running down this infrastructure; they say openly we
don't think he should have borrowed for it. We wouldn’t have funded it. We
voted against it. No one is using it. Here is one using it 200 times in a single
financial year; 200 times, Madam Chairman. The only one - the only one, and I
will name her, because I am actually going to give her a compliment here - is
that Councillor ABRAHAMS. The only one who isn’t total hypocrisy
personified is Councillor ABRAHAMS who was very true to her word last
week.
Councillor DICK:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Acting Chairman:
Point of order against you, Councillor SIMMONDS; Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
In light of this information, will Councillor SIMMONDS table all of the LNP
Councillors' use of the infrastructure?
Acting Chairman:
Councillor DICK, that is not a sustainable point of order. Councillor
SIMMONDS, your time has expired. Further questions; Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Question 6
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Last year you
claimed the carbon tax was costing Council around $15 million per year or $65
million over four years, which added a so-called extra 1.9 per cent to residents'
rate notices. As the carbon tax legislation has now been announced it will be
repealed, will you commit today to immediately reducing rates for the remainder
of the financial year by 1.9 per cent, or will you pocket this money to pay for
your huge toll tunnel debts?
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 10 LORD MAYOR:
Well, Madam Chairman, I know the last thing the Opposition would want me to
do would be to increase debt. It seems to me to be a question which would
suggest we ought to be increasing debt. I would just say this: each and every
budget, I make assessments on the financial needs of this city; I make
assessments on the infrastructure needs of this city; I make assessments on the
way in which our city economy is progressing, and I make a decision based on a
balance of those and other ingredients.
So, Councillor DICK will, I'm sure, between now and June of next year, be
seeking a whole lot of guarantees on all sorts of different fronts when it comes
to the budget. There is only one time when budget announcements will be made,
and that will be of course the —
Councillor DICK:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Acting Chairman:
Point of order against you, LORD MAYOR.
Councillor DICK:
Just for clarification, my question was not about the budget; it is about when the
tax is repealed later this year, what is the LORD MAYOR's plan for handing
that money back to the ratepayers, or was he leading a con all along?
Acting Chairman:
Councillor DICK, you don't argue your point in a point of order. The LORD
MAYOR is giving depth and context to his answer. LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, these are budget related questions. They are budget related
questions. We have framed our budget for this —
Councillor FLESSER:
He is not answering the question.
Acting Chairman:
Just a moment, please, LORD MAYOR. Councillor FLESSER, if you continue
to interject and create disorder in this Chamber, you will be warned. LORD
MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
So, Madam Chairman, we will make our budget decisions at the appropriate
time, when budget comes around next year. I just say this: this Council has
invested an enormous amount of money in relation to minimising its carbon
footprint. There are many governments, Labor included, around this country
who have talked about climate change, who have talked about global warming;
this Council has done more to put its money where its mouth is on this issue
than any other government in Australia. That is a fact. That is a fact, Madam
Chairman. We have walked the walk on this issue, whether it comes to the issue
of the green power that we utilise for our operations across the board —
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Acting Chairman:
Point of order against you, LORD MAYOR; Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Deputy Chairman. I just refer you to the rules which require the LORD
MAYOR to answer the question, not debate the question. The question, as I
understood it, was: was the LORD MAYOR handing back the 1.9 per cent of
rates that are attributed to the carbon tax this year? I would appreciate it if you
could draw him to the question.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, I don't uphold your point of order. As I have said, the
LORD MAYOR is providing context to his answer. LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, again, with the number of interruptions that there's been, and
they clearly don't want to hear the answer, I would just say this, though: this
question is a hypothetical question. It's a hypothetical question. They don't know
what is going to happen in the Senate. Nobody knows what is going to happen
in the Senate. We don't know what the Labor Party are going to do in the Senate.
So here they are just trying the good old fashioned set up, when it's all the way
through a question of one which will nobody will know the answer to. It's the
old hypothetical at its very best.
Acting Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor WINES.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 11 -
Councillor WINES:
Councillor ADAMS:
Question 7
Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the Chairman of the Lifestyle
Committee, Councillor ADAMS. Can you please detail for this Chamber
examples of inaccurate and sloppy work from those on the other side of the
Chamber that have come to your attention as Chair? More specifically, I
understand that the Leader of the Opposition made incorrect conclusions about
the decline in the use of the Carindale Library whilst conveniently ignoring the
fact that the library was in temporary premises whilst construction work was
being undertaken.
Thank you, Madam Deputy Chair, and thank you Councillor WINES for the
question. I am going to enjoy the opportunity to right many of the continual
furphies we hear from the Opposition about Carindale Library and libraries
across the portfolio with Brisbane Lifestyle. All we continually hear from those
on the other side is the negativity and the hypocrisy about our fantastic libraries.
Gladly outline the inaccuracies and the incompetency that we see from those
opposite. I would just like to ask two questions from those opposite: what have
you got against libraries? What is your plan for libraries? Maybe closing down
more, like they were when they were in Administration as well.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor ADAMS:
First of all—
Acting Chairman:
Just a moment, Councillor ADAMS. Councillor ABRAHAMS, if you continue
to interject, you will be warned. Councillor ADAMS.
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. The Leader of the Opposition statements made back
in April is just the start of a continual barrage we have heard week after week on
libraries in this place. We got numbers claiming that the libraries were declining
as they were being used; that the meeting rooms in libraries were being wound
back; an attempt at what best can be described as library bashing, and at worst a
total lack of understanding of how our libraries operate in Brisbane City
Council, the way they are being used.
Many people are now downloading eBooks, but they are still visiting our
libraries. Where people used to drop in, pick up a book and head home, they are
now staying for up to an hour on average, so many people more, averaging an
hour. So I am pretty sure our customers are very happy with the libraries.
But what do we see from the ALP Opposition? A big song and dance about
visitor numbers at libraries. Carindale is the example that Councillor WINES
gave, dropping between 2008 to 2011-12. The Carindale Library had in fact, as
mentioned, relocated to temporary premises while it was being built, and what
did we see in the last financial year? A 56 per cent - a whopping 56 per cent
increase in the numbers coming back to Carindale Library in the last financial
year.
We also, in the last several weeks, heard of other libraries mentioned about
numbers dropping. One of the ones mentioned in April from Councillor DICK
was Mt Gravatt Library, which had shown a decrease in visitor numbers. They
decried the reduction of numbers at Mt Gravatt Library, but what have we heard
over the last few weeks? Well, we know for a fact that we can't do as many
programs and events at other libraries as we can at Mt Gravatt because we have
no dedicated parking for our patrons there, but yet, what do we hear from those
opposite? A big no when it comes to supporting a resumption for library
purposes in Mt Gravatt. The complete opposite. They don't want to see any
action to support our libraries and the fantastic work that they do in our local
areas.
Chermside Library—
Councillors interjecting.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 12 Warning – Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON
The Acting Chairman then formally warned Councillor JOHNSTON that unless she desisted from continued
disruption to the meeting that she would be suspended from the service of the Council for a period of up to
eight days. Furthermore, Councillor JOHNSTON was warned that, if she were suspended from the service of
the Council, she would be excluded from the Council Chamber, ante-Chamber, public gallery and other
meeting places for the period of suspension.
Acting Chairman:
Can I ask that when Question Time is being conducted, that all Councillors
show due respect to the people asking the question and those responding.
Councillor ADAMS.
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and I will take that interjection I heard opposite about
stealing somebody's house. A resumption for library purposes of a building
being used for a business is not stealing somebody's house.
Chermside Library is on the increase with visitor numbers. I am sure
Councillor KING is very proud of the programs we are holding there - the
Writers' in Residence, bringing many new visitors to the library. As we heard,
Dick Johnson, the 90 people that came to listen to Dick Johnson, three-quarters
of them have never been into a City Council library before. So that is the type of
response we are getting to our programs within Brisbane City Council.
I can only imagine what those opposite would have done. Again, we hear them
criticising us when we removed customer service centres at Wynnum, Inala and
Upper Mt Gravatt which have allowed for fantastic new library layouts that have
actually seen enormous increases in patronage in those libraries. Obviously
Upper Mt Gravatt undergoing construction with Westfield and is struggling at
the moment, but Wynnum and Inala - I am sure Councillor DICK cannot stand
up here and say that the outcome at Inala has not been fantastic.
But what did we see on the other side while they were in Administration in
libraries? Shut downs, closures of whole libraries. I must say the hypocrisy does
not extend to all those on the other side. One person keeping their head down
would be Councillor GRIFFITHS who is very happy with the library upgrade he
will be receiving in this financial year, to the tune of $100,000 happy to supply
for the playground for the library upgrade as well. So I have to say —
Acting Chairman:
Councillor DICK:
LORD MAYOR:
Councillor ADAMS, unfortunately your time has expired. Further questions;
Councillor DICK.
Question 8
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Seeing you
are refusing to hand back the $15 million of carbon tax money back to
ratepayers as soon as the legislation is repealed, will you instead use this $15.8
million to help reinstate the $16 million you have ripped out of Council's public
transport budget this year?
Well, Madam Chairman, can I just say that this Administration has done more to
reduce carbon footprint through public transport investment than Labor have
ever dreamt about - ever dreamt about. Let's look at the record in relation to this.
From 1991, when Labor had their chance, through to 2004, population grew in
this city by 20 per cent. Under Labor, because of their lack of investment, we
saw patronage on buses in this city grow from 44 million to just 48 million
passengers over that 13-year period. Since 2004, when this Administration
started to invest significantly in new buses, in expanding our services, in high
frequency services, we have seen patronage grow from 48 million in 2004 to
now around 80 million passengers. That is the difference.
That is what I was talking about earlier. Labor Party talked about global
warming; they talked about carbon footprints, but it was this Administration that
introduced 100 per cent green power. It is this Administration that has invested
in public transport, to give people the option of getting on buses. It is this
Administration that has more than doubled the CityCat fleet since it came to
power. They are great at identifying when there are some minor changes to the
system.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 13 This same Opposition Leader who criticised the changes that we made in Inala
and Forest Lake refuses to recognise that since those changes were made there
has been a 3 per cent increase in patronage since earlier this year. So, Madam
Chairman, how can I take the Opposition Leader seriously when we hear the
questions, we hear the criticisms, but we see outcomes which are very different
to those?
So, Madam Chairman, I have just indicated that I will not take a hypothetical
question that he presents here today. Yet he is insistent on repeating the same
question, in spite of hearing a very clear answer from me just a few minutes ago.
It is hypothetical; I am not going to respond to it. We will stand on our record.
We have invested significantly in terms of reducing our carbon footprint as a
city government, and it is a very proud record at that.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor WYNDHAM:
Councillor McLACHLAN:
Further questions; Councillor WYNDHAM.
Question 9
Thank you, Madam Acting Chair; my question is to Councillor McLACHLAN.
I understand the Field Services Group under your management has been
improving their tools of trade, and you recently detailed for the Committee some
of these benefits. Can you please explain for the Chamber the benefits of this
new equipment in the field, and detail alternative proposals?
Thank you, Madam Acting Chairman, and thanks to Councillor WYNDHAM
for the question. The Field Services Committee last week did indeed receive a
presentation on the benefits of new equipment used in the field by staff from
Urban Amenities in undertaking their cleansing and maintenance duties. There
is no doubt that our staff, with new and better tools of trade, are producing better
outcomes for the city and for our staff as well.
I've got a bit of show and tell here. Some of the new tools of trade now
commonly being deployed include the Green Machine - and I am happy to table
these, if you would like to see them - which is a ride-on street sweeper that is
now commonly used on our footpaths. We have the old favourite, the gum
removal vehicle, which is equipment installed on a modified golf cart. The
operator has a wand that almost magically steams away chewing gum from the
pavement in seconds, and then vacuums it away.
We've got the relatively new electric bin tug which people can see around the
city, which quickly and efficiently transports public place bins around the CBD
for disposal of their contents, and for deployment of new bins. The Glutton - our
favourite, the Glutton - the litter vacuums, which have been a big success, now
seen on a daily basis in our city streets, quietly and efficiently vacuuming up all
manners of litter from our gutters and our footpaths.
The latest bit of equipment being deployed - it is not something from a Harry
Potter movie - is the Litter Master 9000, which is a big vacuum that is mounted
on the back of a truck or a ute and gets in between cars and the footpaths where
the street sweepers can't get into, so a fantastic bit of gear. We will be getting
more, and residents will be seeing more of these in our streets. I am happy to
table those.
How did these come about? Well, we listened to our staff in the field. We back
their judgment about getting them the sort of equipment that would allow them
to do their job smarter and better. All the tasks that are undertaken by the
equipment I have mentioned and shown have always been done, but
traditionally with hand tools, and using manual equipment meant this job was a
bit of a slog, since less area could be covered in a shift, and that did lead to
workplace injury, shift fatigue and poor morale.
Since switching to modern and efficient equipment, our staff members are
getting fewer, if any, injuries, and are happier in their jobs. They are happier
because our residents are telling them that they are doing a good job. This is
some customer feedback about the use of the Glutton vacuums in the city. 'I
want to compliment the BCC on acquiring the electric powered Gluttons for
vacuuming cigarettes from the gutters and stopping them from ending up in the
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 14 bay. On behalf of our migratory wading birds that feed on the foreshores and
fish of Moreton Bay, thank you, it is really appreciated.'
Unfortunately cigarette butts do get disposed of in their millions and lots of
them end up in our waterways and the bay, and they are virtually indestructible.
Getting them out of the gullies and drains is a job that can only be undertaken by
equipment like the Glutton, and is providing a huge practical win for the
environment, all the way down to the bay, as well as better outcomes for the
cleanliness of our streets and happier and healthier staff.
Of course, we know the Labor Party is totally opposed to the use of new and
better equipment by our Urban Amenities staff. When Councillor SUTTON first
heard about the addition of the Glutton to the tools of trade for our staff, what
was her comment? Tell them to buy a broom. Tell them to buy a broom. We
hear Councillor SUTTON lament in this place on the diminutive nature of her
team on that side, small and getting smaller, election after election. Maybe I
shouldn’t be handing out free political advice, but this is why you have been
reduced to the malevolent seven that you've not got in this place. When practical
solutions are suggested to improve staff productivity, even when they've come
via the shop floor, you oppose them.
They are just nothing but Luddites, Madam Acting Chair; no interest in practical
solutions, delivering real and quantifiable benefits. Like Keep Australia
Beautiful Queensland, naming Brisbane as Queensland's most sustainable city.
Judges were impressed by the successes in the city in reducing litter,
underpinned by using innovative tools of trade. Another key element in reducing
litter in our streets is the provision of the right sort of static infrastructure public place bins in particular. Councillor ABRAHAMS has been waging a
relentless campaign to prevent the roll out of litter bins that will see a six-fold
increase in public bin capacity in West End. Again, not listening to the officers
who are experts in their field, who have made strong recommendations to
increase bin capacity on Boundary Street, and to remove bins that, apart from
being too small to cope with the amounts of rubbish being generated, are
demonstrated safety risks for our contractors.
Here are some pictures, more show and tell, of those bins, overflowing to the
hilt and, ironically, with stickers on them for an event called the Socialist
Alternative. Well, that is the socialist alternative if you let the ALP dictate
policy in place; that is the outcomes you get.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor McLACHLAN, your time has expired. Were you tabling those
documents?
Councillor McLACHLAN:
I will table these. Thank you, Madam Acting Chair.
Acting Chairman:
Thank you. That —
Councillor interjecting.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS, please do not call out when I am speaking. That
concludes Question Time.
CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS:
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Councillor Graham QUIRK), Chairman of the Establishment and
Coordination Committee, moved, seconded by the DEPUTY MAYOR (Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER), that
the report of the meeting of that Committee held on 14 October 2013, be adopted.
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. Just following on from Question Time, I
listened and I gave some flexibility in terms of my answer around the question
which came from Councillor SUTTON. I did that deliberately, because if there
is a genuine issue out there, we will as an Administration always look at that.
But I would ask Councillor SUTTON to come forward with the evidence that
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 15 she has - were these in the morning peak? What time were these services where
there were issues? What particular day were those issues occurring? I would be
very interested to have that information.
I'd seen the numbers for today's peak, and I know that there is a significant
amount of spare capacity on each and every service, whether they are CityCat or
ferry services. So if there was an issue at a particular time, I want to know about
it. The claim has been made. I now need the evidence. I will leave it at that. We
will monitor it, and I will report back. If there is an issue, we will do something
about it. I give you that assurance today. But there's got to be an issue.
In relation to the Civic Cabinet report, firstly there has been a bit of coverage
today around a burst water pipe in Roma Street. QUU were obviously dealing
with that issue.
Councillor SUTTON:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Acting Chairman:
Point of order against you, LORD MAYOR; Councillor SUTTON.
MOTION FOR SUSPENSION OF RULES OF PROCEDURE:
216/2013-14
At that juncture, Councillor Shayne SUTTON moved, seconded by Councillor Milton DICK, that the Rules of
Procedure be suspended to allow the moving of the following motion
That this Council immediately reverses the Lord Mayor’s $2million funding cut to Brisbane’s City Cat Services
due to the significant impact these cuts are having on CityCat and City Ferry services.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON, to urgency; three minutes, please.
Councillor SUTTON:
Madam Chair, this matter is urgent because these cuts came into effect
yesterday, Monday 21 October. It is urgent because the LORD MAYOR has just
issued me a challenge to come forward with and produce the evidence as to how
this $2 million in funding cut is impacting on the residents of my ward.
I can very clearly tell the LORD MAYOR exactly how these cuts are impacting
on commuters in my ward. If they haven't worked out how their timetable
changes impact local residents, then they need to be told urgently, because there
are people who have been trying to get to and from work, from Bulimba, using
the Bulimba cross-river ferry service, using the CityCat services that depart the
Bulimba ferry terminal, and what they found on Monday, when they fronted up
to use these services, was that there were no boats going. Well, not exactly no
boats, but cut to the service from 22 services down to 10 services.
LORD MAYOR, I will tell you right here and now: from 7 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. in
the morning peak, you have cut ferry services from 22 down to 10 opportunities
to get across the river. You have cut the CityFerry services from eight services
across the river down to six services across river. By virtue of your change in
order of the CityCat stops, you have removed 14 peak hour services from the
CityCat services that go across the river, that can take Bulimba residents across
to Teneriffe to catch the CityGlider service into the city, to walk or cycle from
the other side of the river. Madam Acting Chair, it is urgent because — starting
yesterday — everyday people are being impacted by these service cuts.
The Cross River Ferry services, the six services that now operate in that one hour
and a half cannot cope with the demand that is now being placed on them
because the 14 CityCat services have been cut. They are overcrowded. I had
emails from local residents saying that there were 100 people waiting to catch
the CityCat, Cross River ferry at 7:20 yesterday morning. Do you know what the
TransLink guy handing out the new CityFerry services timetable said to them?
What are all these people waiting for? Well they said they are waiting for a
CityCat that is not coming to collect them.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON to urgency please.
Councillor SUTTON:
Well, Madam Acting Chair, you ask the residents that are lining up outside the
Bulimba ferry terminal if it is urgent that they get to their paying jobs on time so
they keep them.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 16 Acting Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON your time has expired.
Councillor SUTTON:
You ask them if they think it's urgent or not.
Acting Chairman:
I remind all councillors when the chair of this Chamber is speaking you resume
your seat and remain silent.
The Chairman submitted the motion for the suspension of the Rules of Procedure to the Chamber and it was
declared lost on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Shayne SUTTON and Helen ABRAHAMS immediately rose and called for a division,
which resulted in the motion being declared lost.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 7 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Shayne SUTTON, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS,
Victoria NEWTON, and Nicole JOHNSTON.
NOES: 15 -
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK,
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista
ADAMS, Amanda COOPER, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING,
Geraldine KNAPP, Ian McKENZIE, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS,
Andrew
WINES,
and
Norm WYNDHAM.
Acting Chairman:
The motion is lost. Please resume your seats. LORD MAYOR Establishment and
Coordination Committee please.
LORD MAYOR:
Yes thanks very much, Madam Chairman. Madam Acting Chairman, we have a
number of Items on the Agenda today that I wanted to speak about before
coming to the formal part of the report. Madam Acting Chairman, firstly in
relation to the water issue today, I was in the process of saying that the water
matter which Queensland Urban Utilities have been handling was a water pipe
from TransLink just in case people were wondering what the story was there.
Over the last week, Madam Acting Chairman, we've seen a number of events
conducted as part of Carers Week. I had the opportunity of joining Councillor
CUMMING who is of course in Cairns with the Local Government Association
conference today, but he was a part of the Carers event, an expo which was held
at the Wynnum RSL. I congratulate all those concerned with that event. The
further event that I attended was out at the Broncos Leagues Club with guest
speaker Robyn Moore, the voice for Blinky Bill. Madam Acting Chairman, she
gave a very entertaining and a very thought provoking address to a large crowd
there, recognising those in business who had made a great contribution and
support to carers.
Madam Acting Chairman, also over the course of last week, we've seen the first
of the girders constructed at River Walk. I had the opportunity to visit that with
Councillor Vicky HOWARD on the weekend and it's great to see the progress
that that project is making, very much on track towards its completion by the
middle of next year. Also, Madam Acting Chairman, over the last week of
course we saw Loud Shirt Day. It was an event held nationally in the support of
deaf children.
Madam Acting Chairman, the report itself — firstly I should again before
coming to that, that I want to congratulate Councillor SIMMONDS for the work
that he's undertaken with the general public around the Walter Taylor Bridge and
the bridge tours that have now commenced. There's been a great response to that.
The contact centre of Council has received many, many calls of people wanting
to undertake those tours. So, Madam Acting Chairman, that will be another
highlight, another location for Brisbane people to go and visit and enjoy as part
of our city's offering.
Madam Acting Chairman, the report today consists of two Items. The first of
those is that of the Contracts and Tendering report. Madam Acting Chairman, I'll
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 17 go through some of those items relative to that report. Firstly we have the
Blackwood Street Amenities Block. The company by the name of Box & Co
Proprietary Limited achieved the highest value for money there and will be
undertaking the construction of that much needed facility. In relation to the
Kenmore Community Centre and Arts facility, Hawley Constructions
Proprietary Limited won the contract there and a contract price of $195,165.
Hanceys Turf Supplies have won a contract achieving a highest value for money
index for the landscaping works at John Goss Park, Oxford Park and Albert
Bishop Park, Madam Acting Chairman, so $736,000 worth of work there. At the
Brighton Park Seawall, Madam Acting Chairman, we have there an amount of
$203,000 for the bank stabilisation at Brighton Park Sea Wall. Madam Acting
Chairman, $203,500 is that particular piece of work by Elite Retaining Systems
Pty Limited.
The Sandgate Foreshore Park, Madam Acting Chairman, again, Elite Retaining
Systems are undertaking some work here, $139,000. There's been quite a bit of
bank stabilisation works that have had to occur subsequent to the storm that we
had in January of this year. I had the chance to go down and inspect many of
these aspects along the foreshores and, Madam Acting Chairman, it's amazing to
see the strength of, as we know, anyway, strength of water in pushing massive
concrete pieces off their structures.
So, Madam Acting Chairman, the Powerhouse Park is another one. Crosana
Proprietary Limited have been given the contract there, estimated number of
$180,000 for that piece of work. Hidden World car-park works, Madam Acting
Chairman, a company there by the name of Abergeldie Construction — I've got
a blank spot here — but they've achieved the highest index again, an amount
thereof $354,404. We've got some work happening in terms of an Enterprise
Agreement with Oracle, Madam Acting Chairman, $16 million there in relation
to that with Oracle Corporation Australia. That's a significant contracting plan
and part of the much needed IR works, IT works rather, Madam Acting
Chairman, in this organisation.
Aconex Limited, $110,000 there for the provision and construction collaboration
technologies, the intermittent hire of major and minor plant trucks and
specialised equipment. There's a panel there, Madam Acting Chairman, that we
are providing work to a whole list of companies there with their particular prices
tendered accordingly. So that's a panel from which we will draw many tables of
those costs and various categories.
Madam Acting Chairman, then with respect to Item, one Item there also, Madam
Acting Chairman, which I can't pick up at the moment which was in relation to
some software equipment and was actually a software tool that we're utilising for
the assessment of BaSE. Madam Acting Chairman, I'm happy to say more about
that if there are any questions around that but it's — I didn't hear that
interjection.
Acting Chairman:
I think what you're referring to LORD MAYOR is that BaSE is at the bottom of
page 3.
LORD MAYOR:
Bottom of page 3? Yes.
Acting Chairman:
The last Item.
LORD MAYOR:
Yes, thank you very much, Madam Chairman. That's an amount thereof some
$372,000 that's Connexion Systems Pty Limited. Now, Madam Acting
Chairman, but that is in relation to the tracking of savings. When we introduced
the BaSE system, Madam Acting Chairman, we said that obviously a big job in
this Council, a lot of costs associated with it, some $351 million of expenditure.
This is to bring together 62 individual IT systems into a single platform system.
Madam Acting Chairman, that is designed to achieve significant savings in this
organisation. We made all of that very public at the time, what we expected to be
a drawing by way of benefits of undertaking this work over a 10 year period.
These claims are easy to make, Madam Chairman. We have seen with IT
systems across the board in many organisations situations where the benefits of
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 18 installation have not always been realised. Madam Acting Chairman, we are
expending this money, $372,000 on a software package.
Acting Chairman:
Excuse me LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Yes?
Acting Chairman:
Your time has expired.
217/2013-14
The LORD MAYOR was granted an extension of time on the motion of the DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor
Adrian SCHRINNER, seconded by Councillor Ryan MURPHY.
LORD MAYOR:
So, Madam Acting Chairman, this software package will help to provide us an
opportunity to be able to trace the savings relative to the implementation. We are
going to spend this amount of money as we are on replacing those 62 individual
IT systems or programs at least, with a single program, we need to make sure
that we can identify and capture those savings. So this program, Madam Acting
Chairman, will allow us to do that, it will allow us to track those savings in a
way in which we can monitor to make sure that we, as a management tool, are
capturing what we need to out of that system, out of that expenditure. We owe
that to the ratepayers of this city to be able to do that.
Madam Acting Chairman, the other Item today, Item B is a range of variations,
Madam Chairman. What we are doing here is in some cases providing additional
funds to be able to ensure we can get on and deliver projects that we have
announced. In other cases we are fast-tracking projects. In other cases we are
making—
Acting Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON do not interject. LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
In other cases, Madam Acting Chairman, we are deferring projects to make sure
that we've got the funds to cover what we need to do. So firstly if we look at the
list there, program 1, 1.7.1.5, major drainage. This is the backflow construction,
Madam Chairman. This is what we had committed to and I committed to in the
budget this year. At the time we said we had indicative costings in place. We
now have firm costings around those jobs, Madam Chairman. We are determined
to continue to keep going with them rather than to slow down in relation to what
those projects were that were announced in the budget.
So it is that we will be requiring an additional $2 million, $2.5 million in all, but
$500,000 of that will come from funding from the state. So we have to find
$2 million in relation to the commitment to meet those backflow devices in the
various suburbs that we have committed to in the budget. Madam Acting
Chairman, in order to make provision for that we will defer the major drainage
construction work in Juliette Street from February this year, Madam Acting
Chairman, to July of — next year I should say. February next year was the
intended start construction time. That will now commence in July.
So, Madam Acting Chairman, that will provide in this financial year with the
monies to be able to complete those backflow devices. In relation to the program
1, service Item 1.7.2.3, Madam Acting Chairman, this is a situation where this
particular drainage work, the first contractor went into liquidation, went broke
essentially. The second contractor has now left the site and so we are now
negotiating with the second preferred tenderer. We're hoping that they will take
on this job and continue it but, Madam Acting Chairman, for the time being that
job will stall.
Madam Acting Chairman, in terms of program 2, service 2.2.1.1 enhancing the
network through a new infrastructure ferry terminal upgrade. This is the Bulimba
Ferry Terminal. Now, Madam Acting Chairman, when we did the initial design
of this terminal, which was prior to new flood information which became
available. So there are additional design costs, there's additional work associated
with this ferry terminal so that it complies with the flood requirements so that it
meets the design requirements. So that is that additional monies there.
In relation to the Milton Ferry Terminal, Madam Acting Chairman, a significant
amount of money is required there for the access and inclusion aspects of that
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 19 particular ferry terminal. Because of the level I suppose of that terminal against
the Coronation Drive level, there are significant works that have to be done to
provide an access to that ferry terminal for people with disabilities. So that is
being undertaken. Madam Acting Chairman, there is also, well not just for
people with disabilities but people with walking frames and to give full access,
Madam Acting Chairman, for prams or the like to be able to get a reasonable
grade, we've got to do some extensive works there and that's adding to that
project.
Madam Acting Chairman, planning and designing the network, Grey Street
Boulevard and pedestrian upgrade, there is some additional general pedestrian
improvements that we want to make in that location. In the next program,
Robinson Road, Geebung, what we are seeing there is work that is ahead of
schedule. Madam Acting Chairman, that means that we want to bring those
monies forward and to be able to get on and undertake the completion of that
project. The next item program 2, service 2.3.2.2, improve local transport
networks Telegraph Road corridor. Madam Acting Chairman, this is where we
are undertaking an open level crossing project.
We want to run in parallel to that project works around the Telegraph Road
corridor. It won't be completed at the same time but it will be work which will be
well and truly underway with bringing forward these funds to make sure that we
can get that corridor work done as soon as pragmatically possible after the
opening of the open level crossing, so that will complete that whole corridor run.
Improved local transport networks, Madam Acting Chairman, this is out at
Settlement Road, we had an offer of funding from the state. This is out in the
ward of The Gap. We are on a 50/50 partnership. Council is required to put in an
additional $29,000 to meet that 50/50 arrangement, Madam Acting Chairman,
but the state there as we can see are putting in $2.25 million in revenue towards
that project. The only other one is the Valley Malls Activation project. I spoke
about that during Question Time. That brings forward the $1.5 million from
2014-15 and $1 million from 2015-16 to complete that Valley Malls Upgrade
project in the 2013-14 year, Madam Chairman.
So we'll again be starting that in January. We want to get stuck in and get that
one complete as quickly as we possibly can. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Acting Chairman, and I rise to speak on those Items. Look
the most concerning issue for me and for Labor councillors is of course Item B
which is the so-called, the acceleration of key projects or as I like to call it the
acceleration of cutting major drainage for our city. The LORD MAYOR glossed
over that and didn't actually focus on the fact now as a result of our debt
problems, we are now in a situation when we've got to — because we get our
sums wrong in the budget, when we get our sums wrong in the budget — there's
no money because it's all tied up in the debt.
We're now cutting bread and butter services for our city. Further proof that as a
result of our debt problems we're now gutting one of the most core fundamental
services that ratepayers expect us to provide and that is drainage for our city. So
put into context, Madam Acting Chair, under service program 1.7.1.5 on major
drainage construction, for the first time in about five years we're spending about
50 per cent on drainage of what we should be. So if you look at the budget and
the last couple of years we spent around $11 million and it's been slowly
decreasing.
This is to spite the nonsense of we're this New World City. Well a new world
city under the LNP is floods across your suburbs, cutbacks—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
Councillor ADAMS just said it's our fault. How arrogant through you, Madam
Acting Chair, they think they can make any decisions that they want and they're
not held responsible. Well you are. The buck stops with Councillor ADAMS and
the LNP Civic Cabinet who wield in. Councillor ADAMS says it's not her fault.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 20 I'll tell you what is your fault, page 12, program 1 Service 1.7.2.3, answer this
question through you to Councillor ADAMS, $0.35 million capital to 2014 to
offset the additional backflow construction project costs.
All of the E&C signed the document. You might have been doing a Sudoku
Councillor ADAMS or Councillor McLACHLAN would have been asleep or
Councillor COOPER would have been fighting with everyone—
Acting Chairman:
To the report Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Madam Acting Chair, they all signed off on this document and it's wrong. That's
not the case at all. You only need to look at the Brisbane Times article where the
LORD MAYOR's media office late yesterday afternoon was sent out, dispatched
out to fix the record and said it's a mistake, it's a mistake. The Brisbane Times
article that refers directly to this issue says, information supplied by the Brisbane
City Council was wrong. So here's the point, Madam Acting Chair, and I can
guarantee if there were sharp eyes like yourself or sharp eyes like Councillor
HOWARD sitting in the Civic Cabinet, you wouldn't have allowed this mistake
to happen. But under this lot, all asleep, all looking forward to the Civic Cabinet
lunch, not worried about what's happening, too busy wanting to keep everything
in secret, lock it all up—
Acting Chairman:
Councillor DICK the Civic Cabinet lunch is not in this report. You need to come
back to the report please.
Councillor DICK:
Sure, Madam Acting Chair, I don't know what was served for lunch. Only those
in civic cabinet know that. But, Madam Acting Chairman, when you look at
program 1, service 1.7.2.3 that is factually incorrect. So what is the explanation
from the LORD MAYOR? Well that's just a typo, that's just something minor,
we don't have to worry about it. Well is there an amendment coming forward?
Will we get the—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman. I'm sorry Councillor DICK.
Acting Chairman:
Point of order against you Councillor DICK. Councillor JOHNSTON?
Councillor DICK:
Madam Acting Chairman, this is the first I've heard of any problem with the
Council papers. Can you please advise whether that item on page 12 is incorrect?
If it is can you please immediately outline whether or not the correct information
is going to be provided to councillors now for the debate.
Acting Chairman:
In respect of whether or not that Item is correct, I will need an adjournment to
verify that fact. I would like to get it directly from the relevant division just to
confirm. So I seek an adjournment of 10 minutes please.
Councillor DICK:
Just before you do, Madam Acting Chair, a point of order, can I table the media
article that I'm—
Acting Chairman:
I'm happy for you to table the media article Councillor DICK and we'll take an
adjournment.
ADJOURNMENT:
218/2013-14
At that time, 3.23pm, it was resolved on the motion of the DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian
SCHRINNER, seconded by Councillor Ryan MURPHY, that the meeting adjourn for a period of 10 minutes,
to commence only when all councillors had vacated the chamber and the doors locked.
Council stood adjourned at 3.25pm.
UPON RESUMPTION:
Acting Chairman:
Councillors in respect of the item before us, I have had it clarified that the
information contained within the Establishment and Coordination Committee
report is correct. Councillor DICK you have some further time. Thank you.
Councillor DICK:
Well thank you, Madam Acting Chair, I'm glad that we clarified that because the
media reporting says otherwise. So in the Brisbane Times article regarding this
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 21 Item says an earlier version of this story said that $350,000 from the stormwater
drain rehabilitation program would be deferred to cover some of the cost of the
backflow valve project—
Acting Chairman:
Councillor DICK that media article is not contained within the Establishment
and Coordination Committee report, can you please confine your comments to
the report.
Councillor DICK:
The issue is contained in this article and it says the information provided by
Brisbane City Council was incorrect. I put that on the record because that is why
I made the statement. Madam Acting Chair, I'll move on because it doesn't alter
the fact that this Council is spending less and less on the issues and the services
that the ratepayers want us to focus on. There can be no further clearer example
than cutting $2 million out of this year's budget which came down only four
months ago. At the time during the debate we heard all the assurances, no, no,
no, we're not going to cut services.
What did the LORD MAYOR say? We've cut the cloth to make it fit. Well that
cloth is getting smaller and smaller and smaller and those scissors are getting
bigger and bigger and bigger because we are cutting more and more. One reason
we're doing that is because of Brisbane's crippling debt problem. We know that
our city's finances are careering out of control. If they weren't we wouldn't be
cutting such essential services for the ratepayers of our city. Madam Acting
Chairman, we don't have necessarily an issue with some of these projects.
Obviously the LORD MAYOR and his chairpersons are simply getting the
figures wrong we know that. There's evidence of that time and time again and
this amendment today to the 2014 budget, not through a budget review process,
is an extraordinary process because of these projects. Because they've either
gone out of kilter and I do like this misnomer that the LORD MAYOR says
we're fast-tracking the backflow valves. We're not fast-tracking it. What we're
doing is actually honouring the commitments to the people of Brisbane that we
said we would do in the budget. The difference is we worked out we're around
$2.5 million short.
So perhaps in future years there can be a little more detail and a little more effort
put into actually planning so that we're not put in a position where we're cutting
bread and butter services. Madam Acting Chair, so if the LORD MAYOR can
clarify the $0.35 million capital carryover for 2014-15 to offset the additional
backflow construction project costs, because that's costing an extra $2.5 million,
$2 million from drainage, half a million from the Milton—
Acting Chairman:
Councillor DICK, your time has expired.
219/2013-14
Councillor Milton DICK was granted an extension of time on the motion of Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS,
seconded by Councillor Victoria NEWTON.
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Acting Chair, I won't be too much longer. If the LORD
MAYOR can clarify well what is happening to that funding and where is it
going, then we'll be able to sort this out once and for all. Look I do want to spend
some time on the Contracts and Tendering. Madam Acting Chair, I have called
for the file for the BaSE project in preparation of today. Of course, that's not
been made available to me and I'm sure it will be made available to me
tomorrow after we decide on these contracts. Madam Acting Chair, well I
certainly hope it will be given to me as soon as possible.
Madam Acting Chair, on the provision of the benefits, the realisation tool for the
BaSE program on page 3 for around $372,000, I listened to what the LORD
MAYOR has said. He said well we're doing this to get value for money. Well I
did a quick check on the search on the provision of benefits. Do you what we're
doing? We're checking to see if BaSE will work because we don't know. That's
what we're spending the money on. A simple search of benefits realisation tool
shows that a technique used to identify the investment outcomes. That is to show
the outcomes of the program and relationships between them and also, to plan
the new or change capabilities necessary to realise the benefits.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 22 So I drilled a little deeper into some IT consultants and they said the Council
doesn't know what it's doing with that and they're worried that it's not going to
work. So they're spending money just to test it to see if it can work. So we have
no confidence and no faith that the actual program, which we're spending
hundreds of millions of dollars on, because we know there is a problem. We
know there is a problem. So we're anticipating that there will be a problem, not
that we have full confidence in the program, we've anticipated what happens
when there is a problem, so not if, when.
So what I want to know is, what are the problems we face LORD MAYOR? Do
you have confidence in it, yes or no? I want to place something else on record,
Madam Acting Chair, that Council officers delivering this program have severe
reservations. They have told me—and of course won't name them—they are
severely concerned that, and as one said to me it's nothing more than a risky
proposition. So I want to know, when is the LORD MAYOR going to come
clean on exactly what the full cost of this is going to be, because I predict there
will be blowout after blowout, as we have seen with other local governments
across Australia.
When our city's finances are in such a precarious situation, why we are
borrowing just to pay for bread and butter services? We are cutting back as we
know and the people of Brisbane are now waking up. We are putting them into
so much risk and here is the proof that we are now funding a program for when it
goes wrong. That is exactly what we are doing today. So I do not have
confidence in this program. I remain deeply, deeply concerned about the true
cost of what this is ultimately going to cost ratepayers.
Today I'm calling on the LORD MAYOR to give a 100 per cent guarantee that
this program will not go over budget and that this program will deliver the
results that it is intending to and won't go down the path as other local
governments have around Australia.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate? Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes I rise to speak on Item A and Item B before us today. Firstly with respect
briefly to Item A, I too have heard things about BaSE but probably from a
different perspective. I hear that Council has got different components of it now
running in the operational part of Council and there are severe problems with it
crashing. So its functionality and its use are certainly not working in the way that
Council expected it to. The person that I've spoken to about this matter has said
that it is causing massive problems for their part of Council because they rely on
it to undertake their work.
So I know already that there are problems with the delivery of this system. I
certainly have concerns if at this early stage there are problems with its
implementation, that as more and more of Council's systems come online, that
we will continue to experience practical problems, with respect to the delivery of
this new IT infrastructure, which has been pretty much done secretly. Now I
remember when the BaSE project came through, I requested a briefing on it and
was told no; we don't give briefings on $350 million projects. But it's
disappointing I think that these types of Items are being brought forward through
the delegate's process, whilst there is a lack of scrutiny in the delivery of
Council's IT infrastructure.
It really remains to be seen whether this Council can actually deliver a new
system that works and I think that that is a growing concern every single day.
Now the big issue of concern in the papers today is most definitely Item B and
that is the, I don't know how to describe it, the so-titled Item, Amendments to
Accelerate Key Projects. I am disgusted at the financial and project management
incompetence of this LNP Administration. I cannot believe how badly they are
continuing to stuff up the delivery of basic services around this city. Again
today, we see here in black and white, the evidence of their inability to get on
and deliver basics for our city.
It's only four months ago that the LORD MAYOR stood up and as the
centrepiece of his speech for the budget this year, talked about the importance of
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 23 the backflow valves and drainage to our city. He cut the flood buy-back scheme
to fund the backflow valves. Now he's cutting a drainage program that would
benefit residents in my area, in Councillor McKENZIE's area, and probably in
Councillor ABRAHAMS's area as well, because he wants to cut a $2 million
stormwater drainage project so he can band aid over the poor financial and
project management of his people.
I know Councillor BOURKE is not here today but what a stunning job he's doing
as the Chairman of the Parks, Environment and Sustainability Committee. Four
months after the budget and already there's been a massive blowout, a massive
blowout. It's not like it's out by one per cent or five per cent or 10 per cent. I
mean it's out by a massive amount. Instead of actually thinking about well okay,
we've got to recalculate, we've got to get it back on track. Instead of doing it in a
way that won't hurt the people of this city, he's done it in a way that will
significantly impair new drainage being delivered in the southern suburbs of
Brisbane.
There's not been a cut to the advertising budget of this Council. There's not been
a cut to Councillor ADAMS' $3.5 million in discretionary funding for festivals,
which is not allocated. There's not been a cut to CityCycle. There's not been a
cut to the LORD MAYOR's newsletter. I mean that was increased by a few
hundred thousand dollars. No, none of these nice-to-haves have been cut. What
has been cut is stormwater drainage systems for Annerley, Greenslopes and
surrounding areas. It is shocking that the LORD MAYOR would do this. The
LORD MAYOR stood up, I remember very distinctly in the budget debate. I
stood up and said you can't trust the LORD MAYOR. What he says now will not
be delivered in this budget.
I remember it as clear as day and the LORD MAYOR stood up and said no, no,
you can trust me. You can trust me. He said it and you can go back and look at it
on the record. He said it. You cannot trust this LORD MAYOR. It's four months
after the budget and already we are cutting drainage projects. This is not the first
time the drainage projects have been cut. Every single time a budget review
comes up for this place, they cut drainage projects. Almost every single week
that I talk about that in this chamber, they do it time and time again.
The areas in most need of investment by Council are the areas that this
LNP Administration is neglecting. It's not good enough. Not only that, the areas
that will benefit from the backflow valves, which I think are fantastic and I
called for all of them to funded during the election last year, all of them, they're
not doing all of those recommend in the AECOM independent engineer's report.
There are eight systems in Tennyson Ward alone that are not being funded at all
by the LORD MAYOR. The suburb of Graceville missed out, the suburb of
Fairfield misses out, the suburb of Yeronga misses out and parts of Chelmer
miss out.
The LORD MAYOR has done some in parts of Chelmer but there are eight
systems and dozens of valves that are not being funded in my ward alone. One
third of all of the houses in Tennyson flooded. You would think that the LORD
MAYOR—who has to act in the best interests of all residents of this city—
would invest in drainage before advertising, before festivals, before the
CityCycle, before his own newsletter, and putting a bigger photo on his own
newsletter. Is he doing that? No he's not. The first thing he's doing is cutting a
drainage project on the inner-southern suburbs of Brisbane, the oldest suburbs
pretty much in the whole place. They are going to miss out.
It's the second project in Annerley that's been cut this year. Now this is the third
attempt by the LORD MAYOR to band aid over a botched budget. He handed
the budget down in June, he then amended it in his first budget review and now
he's amending it in this review. This is a clear sign that this LORD MAYOR and
this administration have lost their way. If they cannot find some other way to
fund the poorly designed and financially managed project, then they need to
have their heads read because cutting stormwater drainage is absolutely the
wrong priority. We need to get these backflow valves done. We need to get the
flood mitigation done.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 24 There's absolutely no question here that the residents in my area are crying out
for better flood management. Now we don't even know because I'm not sure
whether the LORD MAYOR's media advisor is right that we're not cutting this
desilting money or whether the LORD MAYOR is right that we are cutting
desilting money. So I think the first thing the LORD MAYOR needs to do, when
he stands up and sums up, is to tell us whether or not his staff made a mistake
yesterday and immediately clarify the public record.
Or whether what is in these Council papers is accurate, because it is just not
good enough that we don't know whether or not you're cutting out desilting
works and other cyclical maintenance, or whether or not yesterday your staff just
got it wrong. They corrected an article that was in the paper. So they went out
and said to the Brisbane Times online, no, the information is not right.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, the Brisbane Times article is not contained in this
report.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Acting Chairman, the article is about whether or not the funding which
is in this report is actually accurate.
Acting Chairman:
To the report Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Let me say this, Madam Chairman. If the LORD MAYOR's staff says that
$350,000 is being cut and that's inaccurate, the LORD MAYOR needs to stand
up today and say yes, they've made a mistake or no, that money is being cut.
Because that's money out of, the LORD MAYOR announced specifically in the
budget, he announced record spending for maintenance on stormwater drainage
and now—
Acting Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON your time has expired, resume your seat. Further
debate? Councillor SIMMONDS.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thanks very much, Madam Acting Chairman. Well now I really have heard it
all. We have been attacked by the Labor councillors opposite for accelerating
projects and we've been attacked by the Councillor for Tennyson for delivering
backflow devices. Honestly, Madam Acting Chairman, if there's one thing that
those opposite continually ask us to do is to accelerate projects and to deliver
backflow devices incessantly, without fail, Madam Acting Chairman, they call
on us to do it. Here it is—here is an Item in black and white which allows us to
do that, to get on and do it.
So important is it, in terms of the acceleration, that we have brought it without a
budget review, as its own separate Item, here is their chance to put their money
where their mouth is and vote for it. Vote for the acceleration of these important
projects. Vote to deliver backflow devices. This is your opportunity because
what else would they have done. They have attacked us for having a funding
strategy. I would love for them to bring into the Chamber their money tree that
they use to fund all these things, Madam Acting Chairman, because I don't have
one. I do not have a money tree. It is called responsible financial management.
If you want to fund something and it costing extra money, that money needs to
come from somewhere. It does not print itself. It does not hand itself in at a
regional office. It does not grow on trees. So it is completely understandable,
Madam Acting Chairman, that this fiscally responsible administration would
look when it needs to deliver a project, and that budget is larger than expected,
that it looks to other avenues to fund that project. We have always been upfront
about this. I know that they don't like to read the budget because they didn't
discover the BaSE project for three years.
I know they don't like to read the budget but it quite clearly says on page 175
under the backflow construction schedule and we talk about the projects we want
to do. Note the proposed amount allocated to individual Items within the
schedule of projects represent indicative estimates. Following completion of
detailed design tenders received, estimates will be updated. Well guess what,
here they are being updated. Here they are being updated because we promised
to deliver these particular backflow devices and deliver them we will. We won't
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 25 reduce the list because the industry can't deliver them for our indicative
estimates.
We are happy to sign a contract and get on with the job of delivering these. I
make the point, Madam Acting Chairman that they talk about us spending
$2 million less on drainage. Well guess what, we're spending $10 million more
on backflow devices than they ever did and guess what, that they were going to
do because talk about getting your figures wrong. How much money did they
have in their election costings, just a year and a half ago, how much did they
have in their election costings to do this?
Acting Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON you have already been warned. You need to cease
yelling out in this Chamber otherwise you will find yourself out of it. Councillor
SIMMONDS.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Zippo, nil, nada, zip, that's how many dollars they had. Do you know how many
backflow devices you get to install for zero dollars? Believe it or not its zero,
that's how many the Labor councillors opposite for all their bluff and bluster
would have delivered. So you can talk about us delivering $2 million less on
drainage but we are delivering $2 million more straight into backflow devices
that are going to help those residents in flood affected areas that we promised to
get on with the job of doing.
The LORD MAYOR was exactly right. They can spin conspiracy theories but
the LORD MAYOR was exactly right when he talked about Service 1.7.2.3 and
the $0.35 million capital. That is the carryover that's had to occur because of the
design of that project—the Sorry wall—that needs to be done next year so yes.
Because it can't be spent this year, it will go towards the backflow construction
project, Madam Chairman. So the Item is correct and they should vote for it.
This is their chance, this is their opportunity. There are some other fantastic
projects, which I'm really interested to see if they will support.
Will Councillor SUTTON if the other Labor councillors refuse to support this
Item, will Councillor SUTTON cross the floor and vote for the extra money
that's needed to deliver her Bulimba Ferry Terminal, that she's always said is
vitally important? That she's always we must accelerate; get on with the job of
doing it right now. Here it is, here is the opportunity to put your money where
your mouth is. Vote for this Item. Vote to help deliver a much-needed piece of
infrastructure in your ward. Likewise, it delivers other important pieces of
infrastructure.
I want to talk particularly about the acceleration of the Valley Malls Upgrade
Project. Here we have an allocation that was split across three financial years.
We've gone out to consultation. Things are really happening, I think you would
say Councillor HOWARD, down there in the Valley. There is a lot of excitement
about the place and they want to get on with the job of getting it done. They can
see the potential for the Valley that comes with an upgrade such as this. They
want to get on with realising those benefits. In addition they've also said that the
January, February, March period where we're aiming for construction is when
they would most prefer to see it. So we're happy to listen.
We're happy to respond to businesses and we're happy to accelerate the project.
It will be very interesting to see whether Labor also is as happy to listen to the
businesses down in the Valley or whether they reject it.
The other Item was Item A, Madam Acting Chairman, that I just wanted to touch
on and particularly the debate around the BaSE project and the benefits
realisation Item. This was another thing that struck me. I seem to have
Councillor DICK arguing that we were wrong to test the system. Now I
remember the last Labor administration or the last Labor government that went
out with an IT system that they didn't test. It was the State Labor Government
and it led to the largest IT debacle that our State has ever seen, in the payroll
debacle, Madam Acting Chairman, something that is still costing hundreds of
millions of dollars to the taxpayers of Queensland.
Here we have the Leader of the Opposition arguing well what are you doing,
what are you doing buying things that test this system, that test this newfound
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 26 system. Now why—well of course you test it. Of course, you get the best
resources that you can to test the new system. Of course, you want to realise
those benefits. I mean again, this is another example of the utter financial
mismanagement of the Labor councillors opposite. You can see if they were to
go about a transformational change such as this, sure they talk about benefits, but
they wouldn't actually track them. They don't actually want to track them, they
don't want to realise them. This is where difference stands between us and them.
When we say we're going to do something we do it. When we say that we've got
a transformation project that will lead to $400 million worth of benefits we want
to track them. We want to make sure that the organisation responds. We want to
make sure that Council officers are delivering. How else would we do it other
than to have a professional system like that? Do we all sit in front of Excel
spreadsheets and jot down every time we save $1 because of this system? How
ridiculous and how unprofessional. Of course, we want to test the system, of
course we want to track the benefits and it is entirely appropriate that we do.
The other thing that I would like, is I would like the Leader of the Opposition to
put his money where his mouth is when it comes to the BaSE project. Because
I'm sick of hearing about the supposed blowouts and how it's all going wrong
and all the rest of it from the Leader of the Opposition. I can tell you
categorically now that it's the opposite of the information that I'm receiving. The
information that I've received is that release 1 was a success. The information
that I've received is that this project is currently, albeit slightly, under budget. So
it is time Leader of the Opposition to show some proof, stop slandering people—
I don't care what the other councillors did.
I don't care what the State Labor Government did because this is our project and
you need to—the aspersions that you're casting on our project—you need to
come up with the proof. Where is it? Where is it other than political game
playing? Well where is it Councillor DICK? Table it, table it right now. Table
the document that you have that you think shows that there is cost blowouts in
this project or that it's not going well. Well you can't do it. You can't do it
because you haven't got any evidence. You're simply politically game playing
for what it is. This hyperbole that you foster, does not serve you well because
you'll be sadly embarrassed when it doesn't come to fruition.
Madam Acting Chairman, I'm very pleased to support Items A and B. I sincerely
hope and we will see this afternoon whether Labor councillors are serious when
they talk about accelerating projects, whether they're serious when they talk
about wanting to deliver backflow valves because this is their opportunity to
prove it to the people of Brisbane.
Acting Chairman:
Thank you Councillor SIMMONDS. Councillor MURPHY.
ADJOURNMENT:
220/2013-14
At that time, 3.58pm, it was resolved on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor
Andrew WINES, that the meeting adjourn for a period of 15 minutes, to commence only when all councillors
had vacated the chamber and the doors locked.
Council stood adjourned at 4.00pm.
UPON RESUMPTION:
Acting Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor FLESSER.
Seriatim - Clauses A and B
Councillor Kim FLESSER requested that Clause A, CONTRACTS AND TENDERING – REPORT TO
COUNCIL OF CONTRACTS ACCEPTED BY DELEGATES FOR AUGUST 2013, and Clause B, 2013-14
BUDGET – AMENDMENTS TO ACCELERATE KEY PROJECTS be taken seriatim for voting purposes.
Acting Chairman:
Thank you. Further debate, LORD MAYOR.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 27 LORD MAYOR:
Well Madam Chairman, when Councillor FLESSER rose I had a heightened
expectation and anticipation, only to find out we're having separate votes. Well
no trouble at all there. Madam Chairman, the items before us today are clear. I
just want to reiterate, reconfirm, this administration's approach in relation to the
BaSE program, Madam Chairman. We think it is very appropriate to be able to
track the way in which that system is implemented to make sure that we derive
the benefits, as I said in my opening address.
Councillor DICK is asking for some guarantees. Madam Chairman, I will give
him one guarantee, I'll guarantee that we will not be going down the same path
that the Labor State Government went down with the Queensland Health payroll
system. I will give him that guarantee, Madam Chairman, he was after a
guarantee that nobody in Australia, in the universe, in the IT world or any other
world would give, Madam Chairman, by that question today. He well knows it
but it's always a very good try.
But, Madam Chairman, we believe that this amount of expenditure is important
to trace the benefits to make sure that those who will be implementing the
system are accountable, as we are ultimately. We are ultimately accountable,
Madam Chairman, as an elected administration, but we in turn, through that
process, will keep others accountable to make sure that we trace the benefits
from that expenditure on behalf of rate payers. It's not an inconsiderable amount
of money, it's a lot of money and so, Madam Chairman, we need to make sure
we get best value from that expenditure.
In relation to Item B, Madam Chairman, look, we believe that we have put
forward a series of measures which are—sure there's a mixed bag there, there is
bringing forward of some projects, Madam Chairman, there is a slight delay to
other projects. Probably the most significant one is a four month delay to a
$2 million drainage project which impacts, I think, on two household properties,
that's the expenditure. It will be with further works, other people that will
benefit, that will be reliant on this work, but that is further works down the track.
But, Madam Chairman, this particular piece of work relates to two households.
When the choice was there between creating a security—as much as you can,
even with backflow prevention valves for hundreds of properties, against two, it
was a fairly easy decision to make. It was the right decision to make. So, Madam
Chairman, again, it's not as though we're shelving that work and never to be seen
again, Madam Chairman, it is a four month delay that will occur in relation to
that work.
I just invite Councillor JOHNSTON to go and read the Hansard last year, she rewrites history every week in this place, Madam Chairman. I know what she said,
I know what it was about, it was about the voluntary buy-back scheme that she
was referring, in relation to not trusting me, Madam Chairman. I did give a
guarantee that the deferment in terms of that buy-back program would be offset
by two $7.5 million purchases, Madam Chairman, in relation to that scheme.
With the fullness of time, that will be proven to be correct. I'm committed to it
and remain committed to it. Thank you very much, Madam Chairman.
Clause A put
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the Clause A of the report of the
Establishment and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Milton DICK and Helen ABRAHAMS immediately rose and called for a division,
which resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 16 -
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK,
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista
ADAMS, Amanda COOPER, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Nicole
JOHNSTON,
Fiona KING,
Geraldine KNAPP,
Ian McKENZIE,
David
McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, Julian SIMMONDS,
Andrew WINES, and Norm WYNDHAM.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 28 -
NOES: 6 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Shayne SUTTON, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS, and
Victoria NEWTON.
Clause B put
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the Clause B of the report of the
Establishment and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Julian SIMMONDS and Ryan MURPHY immediately rose and called for a division,
which resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 15 -
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK,
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista
ADAMS, Amanda COOPER, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING,
Geraldine KNAPP, Ian McKENZIE, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS,
Andrew
WINES,
and
Norm WYNDHAM.
ABSTENTIONS: 7 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Shayne SUTTON, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS,
Victoria NEWTON and Nicole JOHNSTON.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Graham Quirk) (Chairman), Deputy Mayor
(Councillor Adrian Schrinner) (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors Krista Adams, Matthew Bourke,
Amanda Cooper, Peter Matic, David McLachlan, and Julian Simmonds.
A
CONTRACTS AND TENDERING — REPORT TO COUNCIL
CONTRACTS ACCEPTED BY DELEGATES FOR AUGUST 2013
109/695/586/2
OF
221/2013-14
1.
The Chief Executive Officer provided the information below.
2.
The report of contracts accepted by delegates for August 2013 is submitted for the
information of Council.
3.
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.
4.
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 Coordination Committee, Chief Executive Officer and permanent heads of
the units of administration.
5.
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
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 29 -
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).
6.
It is therefore recommended that Council note the report of contracts accepted by delegates
for August 2013, as set out in Attachment A, hereunder.
Financial impact
7.
Funding for the accepted contracts has been provided in divisional budgets.
8.
It is therefore recommended that Council note the report of contracts accepted by delegates
for August 2013.
9.
Accordingly, the Chief Executive Officer submits the following recommendation with which
the Committee agreed.
10.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE REPORT TO COUNCIL OF CONTRACTS ACCEPTED BY
DELEGATES FOR AUGUST 2013, AS DETAILED IN THE SCHEDULE
SUBMITTED HEREUNDER, BE NOTED.
Attachment A
Contract/Quote No. &
Successful Contractor/s
BRISBANE INFRASTRUCTURE
CPO130253-12/13.
City of Brisbane Regulation 2012 – Chapter 6 - Contracting
Details of Contracts Accepted by Delegates of Council for August 2013
Delegate
Price Accepted Contract/Quote Purpose
Unsuccessful Tenders
& Type of
& Quoters
Arrangement
CPO.
Box & Co Pty Ltd - $289,427.
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 29.92.
$289,427.
(eEtimated
contract sum).
Prices
Tendered
Blackwood Street
A Dart & Co.
$277,610.
Mitchelton, Amenities Block Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
Construction.
of 27.45.
Signature Projects.
$304,498.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 23.91.
Approval,
Start/End
Dates & Term
Approved:
29.08.13.
Start:
02.09.13
End:
Expected
completion within
16 weeks.
PBI Australia.
$362,206.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 21.42.
Dickinson Pty Ltd.
$390,760.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 19.86.
CPO140009-13/14
Hawley Constructions Pty Ltd – $195,165.
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 40.76.
FSG140012-13/14.
Hanceys Turf Supplies - $736,181.
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 11.26.
EM City
$195,165.
Projects Office. (Estimated
contract sum).
Kenmore Community
Centre Arts Facility.
Maicon Pty Ltd.
$328,050.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 10.94.
Probuild Industries Pty Ltd.
$199,720.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 38.90.
Box and Co Pty Ltd.
$204,256.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 39.36.
CPO.
$736,181.
(Estimated
contract sum).
Landscaping Works at Dig It Landscapes.
$932,704.
John Goss Park, Oxford Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
Park and Albert Bishop of 8.68.
Park.
Tinamba Turf.
$1,238,386.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 7.84.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
Approved:
29.08.13.
Start:
16.09.13
End:
Expected
completion within
12 weeks.
Approved:
29.08.13.
Start:
09.09.13.
(John Goss Park)
30.09.13
(Oxford
Albert
and
Bishop
- 30 Contract/Quote No. &
Successful Contractor/s
Delegate
Price Accepted Contract/Quote Purpose
& Type of
Arrangement
Unsuccessful Tenders
& Quoters
Prices
Tendered
Non-conforming Tenderers:
Final Tendered Price and Value for
Money Index {VFM} not calculated.
Twin View Turf.
Jimboomba Turf Group.
Sapar Landscape Suppliers.
FSG140014-13/14.
CPO.
Brighton Park Seawall:
$203,500.
(Estimated
contract sum).
Elite Retaining Systems Pty Ltd ATF The
Padget Family Trust - $203,500.
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 34.73.
Parks)
N/A.
N/A.
N/A.
Bank
Stabilisation
at
Brighton Park Seawall,
Riverbank Stabilisation at Brighton Park Seawall:
Powerhouse Park, and
Erosion
Control
at Entracon Civil Pty Ltd.
$212,666.
Sandgate Foreshore.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 34.64.
Crosana Pty Ltd ATF The Michael Reid $226,670.
Family Trust.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 32.50.
Envirostruct Services Pty Ltd.
$234,572.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 32.12.
Moggill Constructions Pty Ltd.
$253,017.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 31.22.
Sandgate Foreshore Park:
$139,412.
(Estimated
contract sum).
Elite Retaining Systems Pty Ltd ATF The
Padget Family Trust - $139,412.
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 50.69.
Approval,
Start/End
Dates & Term
Sandgate Foreshore Park:
Crosana Pty Ltd ATF The Michael Reid $152,755.
Family Trust.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 48.23.
End:
Expected
completion
within
42
weeks.
Approved:
29.08.13.
Start:
Brighton
Seawall
Park
30.09.13.
Powerhouse Park
23.09.13.
Sandgate
Foreshore Park
Contract
to
commence once
relevant permits
have
been
obtained.
Expected
completion:
Brighton Park
8 weeks.
Powerhouse Park
6 weeks.
Sandgate
Foreshore Park
6 weeks.
Entracon Civil Pty Ltd.
$187,992.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 39.19.
Moggill Constructions Pty Ltd.
$211,425.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 37.37.
Envirostruct Services Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM} $227,140.
of 33.17.
Powerhouse Park:
$180,270.
(Estimated
contract sum).
Crosana Pty Ltd ATF The Michael Reid
Family Trust - $180,270.
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 40.86.
Powerhouse Park:
Envirostruct Services Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM} $238,868.
of 34.69.
Elite Retaining Systems Pty Ltd ATF The
Padget Family Trust.
$204,000.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 34.64.
Moggill Constructions Pty Ltd.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM} $439,880.
of 17.96.
V110211-10/11-49.
Abergeldie Constructions Pty Ltd $354,404.
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 21.16.
CPO.
$354,404.
(Estimated
expenditure
under maximum
term of the
contract).
Entracon Civil Pty Ltd.
(non-conforming – unable to undertake $174,743.
the work via the prescribed methodology)
Value for Money Index {VFM} not
calculated.
Hidden World Car Park Moggill Constructions Pty Ltd.
$386,593.
Works.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 20.05.
McIlwain Civil Engineering Pty Ltd.
$413,225.
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 17.79.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
Approved:
29.08.13.
Start:
29.08.13.
End:
Expected
completion
within
10
weeks.
- 31 Contract/Quote No. &
Successful Contractor/s
Delegate
Price Accepted Contract/Quote Purpose
& Type of
Arrangement
Unsuccessful Tenders
& Quoters
Prices
Tendered
Approval,
Start/End
Dates & Term
BRISBANE LIFESTYLE
Nil.
BRISBANE TRANSPORT
Nil.
CITY PLANNING & SUSTAINABILITY
Nil.
DISASTER RESPONSE & RECOVERY
Nil.
OFFICE OF THE LORD MAYOR & CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Nil.
ORGANISATIONAL SERVICES
OS130095-12/13.
CPO.
Connexion Systems Pty Ltd - $372,667.
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 1.93.
SPO130152-12/13.
CEO.
Oracle Corporation Australia Pty Ltd
CPOQ120191-11/12.
CPO.
Aconex Ltd - $110,682.*
Achieved Highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 76,354.
*Tendered price is based on a basket of
services for an example project.
SPO130002-12/13.
As per Attachment B.*
*Due to the large number of Categories and
Tenderers for this Panel Arrangement, the
tendered prices and Value for Money Index
{VFM} have been included in Appendix 1.
CEO.
$372,667.
Provision
of
Benefits Shortlisted to vendor demonstrations:
(Estimated
Realisation Tool for the
expenditure
BaSE Program.
IBM Australia Ltd.
$463,486.
under maximum
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
term of the
of 1.56.
Preferred
Supplier
Tenderers not shortlisted:
Arrangement).
(Value for Money Index not calculated –
did not meet minimum functional
requirements)
Tranzform Group Pty Limited.
Computime Ltd.
BOT ANZSA Pty Ltd.
Cora Systems Ltd.
Xelocity Limited.
Performa Solutions Pty Ltd.
Zavanti Pty Ltd.
Epago Group Pty Ltd.
$16,169,064.
Enterprise Agreement with N/A.
(Estimated
Oracle.
expenditure
On 18th March 2013 E&C approved a
under maximum
Significant Contracting Plan to enable
term of the
direct
negotiations
with
Oracle
Preferred
Corporation to establish a new Corporate
Supplier
Procurement Arrangement for Council’s
Arrangement).
ongoing requirements for Oracle’s
products and services which are
Council’s strategic database and
middleware platform.
$179,461.
$505,459.
$502,120.
$146,000.
$278,844.
$295,750.
$497,628.
$1,010,000.
N/A.
$2,000,000.
Provision of Construction QA Software Pty Ltd.
(Estimated
Collaboration
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
expenditure
Technologies.
of 31,686.
under maximum
term of the
Nexus Point Solutions Pty Ltd.
Preferred
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM}
Supplier
of 11,670.
Arrangement).
Zavanti Pty Ltd.
(Non-conforming.
Did not meet
mandatory criteria. Value for Money
Index {VFM} not calculated).
$230,000,000. Intermittent Hire of Major *
(Estimated
and Minor Plant, Trucks &
expenditure
Specialised Equipment.
under maximum
term of the Panel
Arrangement).
$223,790.*
$515,750.*
$202,550.*
*
SPO130002-12/13 Major and Minor Plant, Trucks & Specialised Equipment Appendix 1
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
Approved:
30.07.13.
Start:
23.08.13.
End:
(initial term)
22.08.16.
Max. Term
(5) years.
Approved:
13.08.13.
Start:
13.08.13.
End:
(initial term)
14.07.16.
Max. Term
(5) years.
Approved:
17.01.13.
Start:
06.08.13.
End:
(initial term)
16.01.16.
Max. Term
(5) years.
Approved:
27.08.13.
Start:
01.10.13.
End:
(initial term)
30.09.16.
Max. Term
(5) years.
- 32 -
TABLE A - WET HIRE
Recommended Tenderers
BACKHOES
Eagle Alliance Earthmoving Pty Ltd
JET Excavators and Trucks Pty Ltd
Rosenlund Contractors Pty Ltd
ABCO Earthmoving Pty Ltd
Oceanray Pty Ltd
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
BPH Brancatella Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Australian Civil Haulage
Pollicina Brothers Pty Ltd
D&A Plant Hire Pty Ltd
P&E Francis Plant Hire Pty Ltd
PA & BJ Charleson Plant Hire
H&H Backhoe Hire Pty Ltd
Paul Gallagher Backhoe Hire
Herbies Earthmoving Pty Ltd
Dan’s Backhoe and Tipper Hire Pty Ltd
Gannon Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Geo Civil Constructions Pty Ltd
COMBO (Backhoe and Skidsteer)
Pollicina Brothers Pty Ltd
Aussie Excavators Pty Ltd
P&E Francis Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Christopher Richardson
Eagle Alliance Earthmoving Pty Ltd
Dee-Gees Bobcats Pty Ltd
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Warner Haulage Pty Ltd
A Stirling Excavations
JET Excavators and Trucks Pty Ltd
M&M Heavy Machinery Hire
Richmere Earth Pty Ltd
Mick Saville Earthmoving
Arana Bobcats & Excavators Pty Ltd
Toni Cook Excavations Pty Ltd
Greg Barnett
BPH Brancatella Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Select Earthmoving Pty Ltd
Wrights Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Lota Transport
North Brisbane Truck Hire
WAM Earthmoving Pty Ltd
El Toro Group Pty Ltd
Bulldog Haulage & Earthmoving
L & D Earthmoving Ltd
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
PA & BJ Charleson Plant Hire
Oceanray Pty Ltd
RPM Civil Pty Ltd
NV Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Alpcross Pty Ltd
Ronmarg Profiling Pty Ltd
Can Dig Excavations
Herbies Earthmoving Pty Ltd
JAK’s Excavations Pty Ltd
JCB Investments Pty Ltd
MDS Earthmoving
Blues Bobcat Hire
Fast’s Excavations
COMPACTION EQUIPMENT
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
North Brisbane Truck Hire
CONCRETE PUMPS
Jendeck Concrete Pumping Services Pty Ltd
Prices
Tendered
Value for
Money
(VFM)
Index**
$80
$80
$92
$95
$104
$99
$105
$98
$100
$105
$85
$95
$110
$104
$105
$105
$105
$135
89.6
88.8
80.6
78.4
77.9
71.9
71.7
68.5
68.4
67.7
67.2
63.8
62.6
62.1
61.3
60.0
56.1
53.6
$90.00
$101.33
$92.50
$98.00
$99.60
$90.00
$103.50
$102.00
$98.40
$101.00
$90.00
$98.00
$105.00
$99.80
$108.25
$108.00
$99.00
$105.00
$104.50
$100.00
$110.00
$97.50
$110.00
$100.00
$108.60
$112.38
$105.00
$130.00
$119.53
$105.00
$110.00
$122.50
$120.00
$110.00
$102.00
$115.00
$107.00
$110.00
$110.00
85.2
83.9
81.9
81.5
81.3
78.6
78.3
77.5
77.1
76.5
76.1
75.8
75.2
74.9
73.5
73.4
73.2
72.5
72.3
72.2
72.0
70.0
67.3
66.9
64.2
64.2
63.9
62.8
62.8
62.7
61.1
60.6
59.7
59.1
58.8
58.3
56.8
51.3
50.2
$95.5
$110
73.7
63.7
$228.00
30.5
Unsuccessful Tenderers
Prices
Tendered
Value
for
Money (VFM)
Index**
$102.50
$200.00
34.9
34.4
$187.5
$160
31.9
30.6
BACKHOES
Nil.
COMBO (Backhoe and Skidsteer)
Aquadig Earthmoving
Vincat Bobcat Hire
COMPACTION EQUIPMENT
Jonker Plant Hire Pty Ltd
J & M Compactor Hire
CONCRETE PUMPS
Nil.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 33 -
TABLE A - WET HIRE
Recommended Tenderers
CRANES
Williams Cranes & Rigging Pty Ltd
Universal Cranes Pty Ltd
Metro-Lift Cranes
DOZERS (Includes DROTTS)
AE Group Civil & Mining
BC&DM Shipp
M&M Heavy Machinery Hire
Rosenlund Contractors Pty Ltd
BPH Brancatella Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Australian Civil Haulage
Lind Contracting
Watson Road Resource Recovery
Eric Child and Sons
JCB Investments Pty Ltd
North Brisbane Truck Hire
DUMP QUARRY TRUCKS
BPH Brancatella Plant Hire Pty Ltd
AE Group Civil & Mining
Australian Civil Haulage
ELEVATED WORK PLATFORMS
Vinton Tree Services
Boom Sherrin Pty Ltd
Force Towers Pty Ltd
AMPHIBIOUS EXCAVATOR
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Bonelli Earthmoving and Plant Hire
END LOADERS
North Brisbane Truck Hire
AE Group Civil & Mining
Rosenlund Contractors Pty Ltd
Lind Contracting
Australian Civil Haulage
EXCAVATORS (Includes Excavators, Zero Swing
Excavators and Long Reach Excavators)
All Terrain Earthworks
Pollicina Brothers Pty Ltd
Warner Haulage Pty Ltd
Richmere Earth Pty Ltd
Dee-Gees Bobcats Pty Ltd
VINCAT BOBCAT HIRE
Eagle Alliance Earthmoving Pty Ltd
Toni Cook Excavations Pty Ltd
Wrights Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Greg Barnett
JCW Earthmoving Pty Ltd
Aussie Excavators Pty Ltd
P&E Francis Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Arana Bobcats & Excavators Pty Ltd
NV Plant Hire Pty Ltd
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Mick Saville Earthmoving
Alpcross Pty Ltd
Bonelli Earthmoving and Plant Hire
J and M Peters Excavations
Herbies Earthmoving Pty Ltd
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
Lota Transport
JAK’s Excavations Pty Ltd
Can Dig Excavations
North Brisbane Truck Hire
Ronmarg Profiling Pty Ltd
AE Group Civil & Mining
Prices
Tendered
Value for
Money
(VFM)
Index**
$186.67
$312.5
$291.11
39.71
24.34
22.63
$130
$100
$90
$105
$135
$140
$135
$155
$170
$175
$190
64.3
60
59.9
59
51
49.5
49.4
49.1
36.9
35.2
35*
$121.5
$187.5
$163.75
58.3
48.2
46.8
$135
$135
$155
49.5
39.0
38.1
$108
$155
76.5
47.0
$110
$130
$103
$127
$130
68.9
63.9
62.4
59.9
56.2
$70
$80
$89
$91
$90
$90
$107
$105
$100
$105
$110
$109
$93
$102.67
$88
$119
$98
$95
$108
$100
$100
$103
$100
$86
$110
$107.50
$110
$135
100.6
93.3
86.6
79.9
78.6
76.5
75.5
73.9
73.8
73.5
73.5
73.2
72.0
70.8
70.5
69.5
69.3
67.8
67.8
67.1
66.6
66.3
66.2
65.6
65.1
64.4
64.1
62.7
Unsuccessful Tenderers
Prices
Tendered
Value
for
Money (VFM)
Index**
$180
$240
34
28.7
$168
$207.5
$220
42.4
33.0
31.4
$165
33
AMPHIBIOUS EXCAVATOR
Caldme Excavations Pty Ltd
$270
29.8
END LOADERS
JCB Investments Pty Ltd
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
Watson Road Resource Recovery
Jonker Plant Hire Pty Ltd
$150
$163
$218
$187
41.1
38.7
37.4
35.6
EXCAVATORS (Includes Excavators, Zero
Swing Excavators and Long Reach Excavators)
Eric Child and Sons
Blues Bobcat Hire
Lind Contracting
Rosenlund Contractors Pty Ltd
Major Training Group
Watson Road Resource Recovery
Jonker Plant Hire Pty Ltd
$147.5
$110
$158
$150
$145
$214
$205
49.0
44.6
43.5
41.0
40.3
37.3
29.0
CRANES
Nil.
DOZERS (Includes DROTTS)
Jonker Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Oceanray Pty Ltd
DUMP QUARRY TRUCKS
Major Training Group
Jonker Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Watson Road Resource Recovery
ELEVATED WORK PLATFORMS
Vertical Tower Hire
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 34 -
TABLE A - WET HIRE
Recommended Tenderers
Prices
Tendered
PA & BJ Charleson Plant Hire
Traynor Constructions
BPH Brancatella Plant Hire Pty Ltd
JET Excavators and Trucks Pty Ltd
Oceanray Pty Ltd
L & D Earthmoving Ltd
JCB Investments Pty Ltd
RPM Civil Pty Ltd
Quad Transport
McLeod Plant Hire Pty Ltd
El Toro Group Pty Ltd
Hughes Excavators
Australian Civil Haulage
Fast’s Excavations
FLAT TRAY TRUCKS
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
P&E Francis Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Pollicina Brothers Pty Ltd
Crane-n-Carry Pty Ltd
Australian Civil Haulage
Universal Cranes Pty Ltd
Metro-Lift Cranes
JET RODDERS
Veolia Environmental Services (Australia) Pty Ltd
Elite Liquid Waste
Vacuum Excavation Australia Pty Ltd
Transpacific Industrial Solutions
Vac-U-Digga Trust
Eagle Alliance Earthmoving Pty Ltd
GRADERS
BPH Brancatella Plant Hire Pty Ltd
AE Group Civil & Mining
Australian Civil Haulage
$105
$98
$115.50
$118.33
$136
$115
$116
$118
$115
$130
$130
$118
$145
$110
Value for
Money
(VFM)
Index**
61.8
61.4
61.1
60.6
59.8
58.9
56.1
55.8
55.1
54.2
52.6
51.8
51.5
50.2
$62.5
$80
$80
$96
$105
$125
$127.5
123.9
99.2
89.1
76.3
73.0
62.3
54.5
$130
$182.5
$160
$209
$199
$250
60
41
40
35
34
33
$115
$150
$150
60.0
57.8
53.5
$140
$130
$125
$147
63.0
57.6
57.3
56.3
$75
$99.90
107.5
$100
$96
$120
$100
$115
$140
98.0
81.6
74.7
73.1
72.8
70.8
70.5
68.5
61.7
$81
$140
93.5
54.4
$185
45.5
$125
$120
$115
64.8
63.9
58.3
$49.50
$49.5
$70
118.54
116.36
104.39
LOW LOADER
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Major Training Group
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
Remoplains Pty Ltd
PRIME MOVERS
Mick Saville Earthmoving
Gravel City Pty Ltd
Australian Civil Haulage
Major Training Group
Crane-n-Carry Pty Ltd
Williams Cranes & Rigging Pty Ltd
Bulldog Haulage & Earthmoving
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
ROAD MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Suncoast Asphalt
ACE Rental Pty Ltd
SPIDER EXCAVATORS
Caldme Excavations Pty Ltd
ROAD SWEEPERS
Veolia Environmental Services (Australia) Pty Ltd
Australian Civil Haulage
Enviro Sweep
SKID STEERS
Gary Conway Bobcat Hire
ABTEC Mini Excavation & Services
Pollicina Brothers Pty Ltd
Unsuccessful Tenderers
Prices
Tendered
Value
for
Money (VFM)
Index**
$270
$222.5
$160
30
28
26
$125
$127.35
$125
$137.5
$171.67
$185
49.3
48.2
47.7
44.9
37.9
32.1
$145
$150
$151
$257
46.3
46.2
43.1
31.7
142.5
$140
$115
$140
58.4
56.9
56.6
49.5
$160
$125
47.72
44.42
FLAT TRAY TRUCKS
Nil.
JET RODDERS
Toxfree
Supervax Pty Ltd
Aquadig Earthmoving
GRADERS
JCB Investments Pty Ltd
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
K&L Evans grader Hire
McLeod Plant Hire Pty Ltd
ACE Rental Pty Ltd
Jonker Plant Hire Pty Ltd
LOW LOADER
JCB Investments Pty Ltd
Eric Child and Sons
Jonker Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Universal Cranes Pty Ltd
PRIME MOVERS
Oceanray Pty Ltd
BPH Brancatella Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Quad Transport
Eric Child and Sons
ROAD MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Nil.
SPIDER EXCAVATORS
Nil.
ROAD SWEEPERS
Nil.
SKID STEERS
Watson Road Resource Recovery
Ellis Profiling (Qld) Pty Ltd
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 35 -
TABLE A - WET HIRE
Recommended Tenderers
Prices
Tendered
All Terrain Earthworks
Cowies Bobcats and Landscaping
Toni Cook Excavations Pty Ltd
Richmere Earth Pty Ltd
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
North Brisbane Truck Hire
NV Plant Hire Pty LtD
Dee-Gees Bobcats Pty Ltd
P&E Francis Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Hummer Enterprises
Derek Job Pavement Services
Bott's Earthworks
Warner Haulage Pty Ltd
Arana Bobcats & Excavators Pty Ltd
Eagle Alliance Earthmoving Pty Ltd
PM Bobcat Hire
PA & BJ Charleson Plant Hire
Greg Barnett
Mick Saville Earthmoving
JET Excavators and Trucks Pty Ltd
Herbies Earthmoving Pty Ltd
El Toro Group Pty Ltd
Can Dig Excavations
DSI Road Profiling Pty Ltd
Aussie Excavators Pty Ltd
Wrights Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Blues Bobcat Hire
Lota Transport
Oceanray Pty Ltd
JAK’s Excavations Pty Ltd
Rosenlund Contractors Pty Ltd
JCB Investments Pty Ltd
Buckeridge Excavations
Ronmarg Profiling Pty Ltd
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
Procut Road Profiling
Alpcross Pty Ltd
VINCAT BOBCAT HIRE
TACK COAT TRUCKS
Suncoast Asphalt
TRACTORS and ATTACHMENTS
Richmere Earth Pty Ltd
SR Naylor Slopemowers
JCB Investments Pty Ltd
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
TUB GRINDERS
Eric Child and Sons
JCB Investments Pty Ltd
WOOD CHIPPERS
Vinton Tree Services
TIP TRUCKS
Richmere Earth Pty Ltd
Telgrove
Wrights Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Aussie Excavators Pty Ltd
JET Excavators and Trucks Pty Ltd
Warner Haulage Pty Ltd
Pollicina Brothers Pty Ltd
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
WAM Earthmoving Pty Ltd
D&A Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Simpson Haulage Company
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
Mick Saville Earthmoving
$70
$78
$87
$82
$93.5
$90
$77
$85
$88.75
$79
$84
$90
$90
$91.50
$99.80
$85
$85
$98
$90
$100
$80
$90
$95
$105
$108
$93.5
$90
$100
$100
$93
$110
$90
$110
$115
$98.75
$115
$105
$110
Value for
Money
(VFM)
Index**
98.36
96.76
91.41
90.58
88.58
88.19
85.55
85.38
85.38
85.09
83.96
83.86
83.86
83.63
81.14
79.79
79.26
79.01
77.69
77.28
76.72
76.19
75.39
73.88
73.75
73.13
72.69
72.18
70.63
70.35
69.57
68.53
68.20
67.72
67.47
61.59
61.57
60.98
$75
86.6
$80
$85
$92.25
$95
90.6
80.2
72.7
67.1
$770
$812
91
76
$120.00
63.90
$67.25
$75.00
$69.90
$82.50
$75.00
$77.00
$70.00
$85.40
$75.00
$80.00
$65.00
$76.92
$80.00
105.1
103.4
100.4
96.5
95.8
95.5
94.1
90.7
88.6
88.5
88.4
85.2
85.2
Unsuccessful Tenderers
Prices
Tendered
Value
for
Money (VFM)
Index**
TACK COAT TRUCKS
Nil.
TRACTORS and ATTACHMENTS
Oceanray Pty Ltd
$195
37.1
TUB GRINDERS
Oceanray Pty Ltd
$1250
57
$277.50
26.77
$85.00
$75.00
31.4
13.0
WOOD CHIPPERS
Eric Child and Sons
TIP TRUCKS
Aquadig Earthmoving
Roberto Crisafulli
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 36 -
TABLE A - WET HIRE
Recommended Tenderers
Prices
Tendered
RPM Civil Pty Ltd
Toni Cook Excavations Pty Ltd
Herbies Earthmoving Pty Ltd
Australian Civil Haulage
Eagle Alliance Earthmoving Pty Ltd
Mt Cotton Truck Hire
Quad Transport
Alpcross Pty Ltd
Major Training Group
North Brisbane Truck Hire
BPH Brancatella Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Can Dig Excavations
Oceanray Pty Ltd
Gravel City Pty Ltd
Holdfast Haulage
Vinton Tree Services
NV Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Watson Road Resource Recovery
Bulldog Haulage & Earthmoving
$80.00
$87.50
$80.00
$96.25
$96.50
$78.00
$75.00
$80.00
$95.00
$100.00
$94.88
$95.00
$95.00
$110.00
$85.00
$119.50
$88.00
$108.13
$110.00
Value for
Money
(VFM)
Index**
84.8
84.7
83.5
83.4
80.2
79.8
79.6
79.5
78.8
77.4
76.2
75.4
72.4
72.4
68.1
67.2
60.5
58.7
54.3
Unsuccessful Tenderers
Prices
Tendered
Value
for
Money (VFM)
Index**
TABLE B - DRY HIRE
Recommended Tenderers
Prices
Tendered
Value for
Money
(VFM)
Index**
BACKHOES
Coates Hire
Remoplains Pty Ltd
$300.00
$320.00
25.1
24.6
SKID STEERS
Watson Road Resource Recovery
North Brisbane Truck Hire
Coates Hire
$60.00
$90.00
$120.12
127.5
87.5
58.3
EXCAVATORS
P&E Francis Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Kennards Hire
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
Master Hire Pty Ltd
Sherrin Rentals Pty Ltd
$220.00
$339.27
$286.00
$357.00
$396.67
310.3
251.2
222.8
221.1
187.2
COMPACTION EQUIPMENT
Sherrin Rentals Pty Ltd
Kennards Hire
$198.91
$171.67
47.5
42.8
END LOADERS
Unsuccessful Tenderers
BACKHOES
ACE Rental Pty Ltd
Hastings Deering (Australia) Limited
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
P&E Francis Plant Hire Pty Ltd
SKID STEERS
JAK’s Excavations Pty Ltd
Compaction Australia Pty Ltd
Remoplains Pty Ltd
Kennards Hire
Major Training Group
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
P&E Francis Plant Hire Pty Ltd
ACE Rental Pty Ltd
Hastings Deering (Australia) Limited
Derek Job Pavement Services
Earthmoving Rentals Pty Ltd
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
EXCAVATORS
ACE Rental Pty Ltd
Coates Hire
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Hastings Deering (Australia) Limited
Australian Civil Haulage
Jonker Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Quad Transport
Earthmoving Rentals Pty Ltd
Major Training Group
Watson Road Resource Recovery
COMPACTION EQUIPMENT
Coates Hire
Compaction Australia Pty Ltd
Jonker Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Conplant Pty Ltd
Hastings Deering (Australia) Limited
Remoplains Pty Ltd
ACE Rental Pty Ltd
P&E Francis Plant Hire Pty Ltd
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
END LOADERS
Prices
Tendered
Value for
Money (VFM)
Index**
$330.00
$386.02
$400.00
$400.00
22.1
19.5
18.4
17.5
$120.00
$241.11
$235.00
$332.91
$300.00
$360.00
$337.50
$322.50
$362.26
$350.00
$407.00
$400.00
54.4
34.2
33.7
25.6
23.2
22.7
22.4
22.1
20.3
19.9
18.4
16.9
$415.00
$450.22
$544.40
$499.13
$570.00
$573.33
$640.00
$823.67
$693.33
$960.00
171.4
159.5
153.2
150.8
126.6
102.1
94.5
90.7
84.6
83.4
$214.90
$232.86
$187.50
$264.00
$281.77
$307.83
$253.33
$300.00
$323.33
33.4
31.6
31.2
29.6
26.7
26.2
25.9
24.6
21.2
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 37 -
TABLE B - DRY HIRE
Recommended Tenderers
$496.67
$495.00
$475.00
$612.50
$600.00
$597.80
Value for
Money
(VFM)
Index**
158.6
142.2
130.4
123.2
121.0
120.1
$84.32
$125.00
$176.73
98.9
63.1
44.1
$57.26
122.3
GRADERS
Sherrin Rentals Pty Ltd
$350
23.8
DOZERS
Watson Road Resource Recovery
Jonker Plant Hire Pty Ltd
$110
$108
69.4
55.9
$260
$400
27.4
19.3
$440
19.8
$112.15
65.6
$40.51
$37.56
$36.96
$35.49
210.4
210.5
208.3
207.4
$230
35.9
$131.43
66.2
$234
36.4
$842.50
96.7
$140
$215
$1000
45.0
31.9
7.3
$246.67
30.7
$765
113
Remoplains Pty Ltd
Australian Civil Haulage
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
Lind Contracting
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Coates Hire
ELEVATING EQUIPMENT
Kennards Hire
Master Hire Pty Ltd
Boom Sherrin Pty Ltd
ELEVATED WORK PLATFORMS
Coates Hire
COMBOS
ACE Rental Pty Ltd
P&E Francis Plant Hire Pty Ltd
AMPHIBIOUS EXCAVATOR
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
FORKLIFTS
Coates Hire
FLAT TRAY TRUCKS
Kennards Hire
P&E Francis Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Universal Cranes Pty Ltd
Coates Hire
TRACTORS
Compaction Australia Pty Ltd
TIP TRUCKS
Kennards Hire
WOOD CHIPPERS
Kennards Hire
TRUCK MOUNTED CRANES
Universal Cranes Pty Ltd
TACK COAT TRUCKS
Suncoast Asphalt
ACE Rental Pty Ltd
Ausroad Systems Pty Ltd
ROAD MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Suncoast Asphalt
PRIME MOVERS
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
LOW LOADERS
Prices
Tendered
Unsuccessful Tenderers
Sherrin Rentals Pty Ltd
Jonker Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Hastings Deering (Australia) Limited
Watson Road Resource Recovery
ELEVATING EQUIPMENT
Sherrin Rentals Pty Ltd
Force Access Pty Ltd
Coates Hire
Skyreach Pty Ltd
ELEVATED WORK PLATFORMS
ACE Rental Pty Ltd
Skyreach Pty Ltd
Force Access Pty Ltd
Boom Sherrin Pty Ltd
GRADERS
Hastings Deering (Australia) Limited
Earthmoving Rentals Pty Ltd
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
Coates Hire
ACE Rental Pty Ltd
Jonker Plant Hire Pty Ltd
DOZERS
Major Training Group
Hastings Deering (Australia) Limited
Earthmoving Rentals Pty Ltd
COMBOS
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Prices
Tendered
Value for
Money (VFM)
Index**
$629.00
$605.33
$679.17
$946.67
118.1
108.6
108.1
84.6
$203.45
$234.78
$203.45
$372.13
38.3
32.8
35.3
17.1
$195.00
$150.00
$327.45
$548.00
40.0
39.0
22.1
14.7
$350.71
$407
$400
$682.5
$775
$680
20.9
17.5
15.9
9.7
9.2
8.6
$760
$1034.15
$975
8.6
7.1
6.7
$563
14.5
$272.5
$320
$298.73
$400
28.9
22.2
21.6
15.9
$450
$275
$186.88
$739.75
$560
$155
18.3
28.1
41.3
10.1
13.0
45.9
AMPHIBIOUS EXCAVATOR
Nil.
FORKLIFTS
Nil.
FLAT TRAY TRUCKS
Nil.
TRACTORS
Remoplains Pty Ltd
ACE Rental Pty Ltd
Coates Hire
JK Cartage Pty Ltd
TIP TRUCKS
Australian Civil Haulage
P&E Francis Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Coates Hire
Earthmoving Rentals Pty Ltd
Major Training Group
ACE Rental Pty Ltd
WOOD CHIPPERS
Nil.
TRUCK MOUNTED CRANES
Nil.
TACK COAT TRUCKS
Nil.
ROAD MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Nil.
PRIME MOVERS
Nil.
LOW LOADERS
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 38 -
TABLE B - DRY HIRE
Recommended Tenderers
D&M Plant Hire Pty Ltd
Universal Cranes Pty Ltd
Prices
Tendered
$765
$1373.33
Value for
Money
(VFM)
Index**
113.8
58.7
Unsuccessful Tenderers
Prices
Tendered
Nil.
ADOPTED
B
2013-14 BUDGET – AMENDMENTS TO ACCELERATE KEY PROJECTS
134/135/86/140
222/2013-14
11.
The Divisional Manager, Organisational Services, provided the information below.
12.
Section 162 (2) of the City of Brisbane Regulation 2012 requires that Council’s budget may
be amended in the course of the year only by a resolution of Council. Attachment B,
hereunder, recommends amendments to the 2013-14 budget.
13.
Aligning to the Lord Mayor’s vision, Council has been working to accelerate key
infrastructure and congestion busting projects. Specific projects have been identified that
require budget amendment, ahead of the Second Budget Review, to ensure project delays are
avoided and early delivery opportunities are maximised.
14.
It is therefore recommended that Council resolve in accordance with Attachment A,
hereunder.
Implications of Proposal
15.
Without this budget review some projects may be delayed and early delivery opportunities
will not be maximised.
Financial impact
16.
The anticipated accumulated surplus at 30 June 2014 for the budget approved by Council is
$0.52 million. There is no change to the accumulated surplus as the following movement will
take place in the Emergent Expenditure and Inflation Provision Reserve: 2013-14 transfer
from Reserve $13.229 million, 2014-15 transfer to Reserve $1.7 million and 2015-16 transfer
to Reserve $7 million.
17.
The Divisional Manager submits the following recommendation, with which the Committee
agrees.
18.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE AS PER THE DRAFT RESOLUTION SET OUT IN
ATTACHMENT A, hereunder.
Attachment A
DRAFT RESOLUTION TO PROPOSE TO ADOPT THE AMENDED BUDGET
THAT IT BE RESOLVED THAT(i) COUNCIL ADOPTS THE AMENDED BUDGET RESERVE TRANSFERS
AND ALLOCATIONS FOR THE OPERATIONS AND THE PROJECTS FOR
THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY COUNCIL FOR 2013-14 IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS AS SET OUT IN ATTACHMENT B,
hereunder.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
Value for
Money (VFM)
Index**
- 39 -
Attachment B
2013-14 Budget – Amendments to accelerate key projects
Program 1 Service 1.7.1.5 Major Drainage - Backflow Construction
Additional capital of $2.5 million required to complete the Backflow Construction project. Offset
by State government grant for $0.5 million for the Milton Backflow Device.
Program 1 Service 1.7.1.5 Major Drainage - Major Drainage Construction
Carryover of $2 million capital to 2014-15 to offset the additional Backflow Construction project
costs.
Program 1 Service 1.7.2.3 Drainage Rehabilitation - Stormwater Drainage Rehabilitation
Carryover of $0.35 million capital to 2014-15 to offset the additional Backflow Construction project
costs.
Program 2 Service 2.2.1.1 Enhancing the Network through New Infrastructure - Ferry
Terminal Upgrade – Bulimba
Additional capital of $0.6 million to fund the project.
Program 2 Service 2.2.1.1 Enhancing the Network through New Infrastructure
Additional capital of $1.7 million to fund Milton Ferry Terminal Access and Inclusion project.
Program 2 Service 2.3.1.1 Plan and Design the Network - Grey Street Boulevard and
Pedestrian Upgrade
Additional capital of $0.2 million required for the design of Grey Street Boulevard and Pedestrian
Upgrade project to be completed prior to the G20 Summit.
Program 2 Service 2.3.2.1 Build the Transport Network - Railway Crossing - Robinson Rd
Geebung
Bring forward capital of $13.5 million and revenue of $6.75 million from 2014-15 due to the project
tracking ahead of schedule.
Program 2 Service 2.3.2.2 Improve Local Transport Networks - Telegraph Rd Corridor
Bring forward capital of $6 million from 2015-16, $1.8 million to 2013-14 and $4.2 million to 201415 to fund the project.
Program 2 Service 2.3.2.2 Improve Local Transport Networks - District Projects
Additional capital: $0.254 million Settlement Road. Partially offset by $0.225 million revenue.
Program 6 Service 6.4.2.4 Valley Malls Activation and Marketing - Valley Malls Upgrade
Bring forward capital of $1.5 million from 2014-15 and $1 million from 2015-16 to complete the
Valley Malls Upgrade Project in 2013-14.
Emergent Expenditure and Inflation Reserve:
2013-14: $13.229 million transfer out from reserve
2014-15: $1.7 million transfer into reserve
2015-16: $7 million transfer into reserve.
ADOPTED
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 40 -
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee, moved,
seconded by Councillor Ian McKENZIE, that the report of the meeting of that Committee held on 15 October
2013, be adopted.
Acting Chairman:
DEPUTY MAYOR, nothing? Further debate, Councillor DICK.
Seriatim - Clauses B and C
Councillor Milton DICK requested that Clause B, PETITION – REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR STAGE 1
OF THE UPGRADE OF WYNNUM ROAD (SHAFTSON AVENUE AND RIDING ROAD) and Clause C,
PETITION – CALLING ON COUNCIL TO INSTALL A SPEED PLATFORM IN MOORGATE STREET,
MACGREGOR, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.
Acting Chairman:
Thank you.
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Deputy Chairman. Look, I rise to speak on Item B. When
this—Item C. When this item came to the committee, Councillor NEWTON did
raise some concerns about whether the petitioners' concerns were being
addressed. Subsequently, my investigations have shown me that they are not
being addressed in any way, shape or form. Today, I offer my support to the
local residents who clearly feel that they are not getting support from their local
councillor.
After speaking with the head petitioner, I was indeed a little surprised and a little
shocked to see that Councillor Steven HUANG has not even bothered to pick up
the phone to speak to the head petitioner. The head petitioner requested that their
local councillor meet them on site to actually discuss the issue of safety. What
did Councillor HUANG do? His office got back to the head petitioner and said,
he doesn't need to meet you on site; he knows that road.
I mean how arrogant? And that is what happens with massive majorities inside
the LNP. They don't feel that they need, or should meet with local residents.
Well these residents want the Council to take action. We know that this Council
has a debt problem and as a result we're cutting back on local area traffic
management programs across the city as a result of our crippling debt problems.
The head petitioner has contacted me—emailed me—late last night and said,
‘thank you for your attention of this petition. The following factors together
justifying a speed calming facility as an active measure will force drivers to slow
down.’
‘I would like the following incorporated in your speech; the subject road section
is on a steep slope downhill, very slippery in wet conditions. The corner is a
90-degree bend. No paved pedestrian path on this road. The road is shared road
for motorists and cyclist. Glare from the sunlight in the afternoon peak hours
blinds drivers. New drivers needing to turn right into Westland Street often miss
the turn and drive down the road at high speed.
There were at least three accidents on this road section as far as I know and they
may not have been reported to police. If the traffic engineer in Council had a site
visit, he or she certainly will understand the situation and make the right decision
by exercising engineering judgements rather than looking at the volumes of
speed.’ Madam Chair, it's clear that when it comes to road safety and it comes to
dealing with this issue, the residents do want more action from the Council.
So I call on the LNP Council to revisit this decision, to look at how we can
improve road safety for the residents who live along this street. It's not good
enough when we, as local councillors, are contacted by residents. I know that
we're busy; I know that there are a lot of time constraints, but if I could leave one
message today, though you to Councillor HUANG, please, when local residents
contact you, I know that all of our offices are busy, but when it comes to these
important issues, take the time to talk to your residents. Sit down and listen to
them.
Actually pick up the phone, actually sit down—and if Councillor HUANG has
done this and the resident is providing wrong information, well I'm happy for
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 41 that to be corrected, I'm happy for Councillor HUANG to table the times and
meeting places that he has done on site with these residents. Happy to do that,
Madam Chair. Of course, I don't know every councillor's diary, but when the
resident spoke to me in frustration yesterday, they really do want action taken on
this. I'm not happy with the response that Council has taken, clearly the
petitioners who've signed this aren't.
They've taken the time, when you look at the report, to say, do they all support
traffic calming measures in that street? And the overwhelming—well every
single resident who signed the petition said yes. So I'm disappointed that the
Council hasn't listened to what those residents have said, but I'm hopeful that as
a way forward, Councillor HUANG will go on site, meet with those residents,
take action and bring back suggested solutions to deal with traffic safety in and
around this area.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise to speak on Item B in this report and that is the
response to the petition requesting funding for Stage 1 of the upgrade of
Wynnum Road, from Shafston Avenue to Riding Road. You don't have to have a
crystal ball to know that I was going to be opposed to the recommendation in
this petition, which is essentially that local residents—residents of the eastern
suburbs of Brisbane—will have to wait until 2016 for any substantial funding for
this Wynnum Road upgrade project.
This is a project that Campbell Newman, as Lord Mayor. announced back in
2008 as part of his Road Action Plan. It was one of the central—
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor SUTTON:
It was one of the central projects in the Road Action Plan that was going to
deliver us—what is it Councillor SIMMONDS, don't let me down—10 years of
road projects in just four years? Well, Madam Chair—
Acting Chairman:
Fifteen.
Councillor SUTTON:
Oh in 15—thank you Madam Deputy Chair. Fifteen years' worth of road works
in just four years, well guess what? Wynnum Road, five years later, they have
still not started. That is where the Road Action Plan lies, in tatters, gathering dust
on someone's shelf when it comes to Wynnum Road. Madam Chair, this is not
good enough, Wynnum Road is already heavily congested; everybody knows
that. Councillor MURPHY should be on his seat voting against this
recommendation as well, because it impacts on residents in his suburbs.
But I dare say that, like the lemmings in the computerised program, he will
continue to go off a cliff with the rest of the LNP in this Council Chamber when
it comes to this particular project. Madam Chair, I've spoken earlier today about
the public transport cuts and how they are affecting residents in my local area.
Now that those residents can't get to and from work using those CityCats that
they loved and they wanted to catch.
They are telling me that they have to look at other modes of transport to get to
work, and that includes private transport. That results in more cars on the already
heavily-congested Wynnum Road. So when you're robbing Peter to pay Paul,
you are making this situation on Wynnum Road worse by continuing to cut
public transport services in my area. This is only going to exacerbate the
congestion on Wynnum Road. I do not support the fact that local residents will
have to wait until 2016 to see anything real happen along Wynnum Road.
Madam Chair, what this report actually says is that the earliest construction
could be brought forward is by one year, with the detailed design in 2014-15,
land acquisition in 2015-16 and construction in 2016-17. Bringing forward
construction of Stage 1 on the Wynnum Road upgrade will impact on the ability
of Council to fund other commitments in the current program.
Madam Chair, I didn't set the timetable for the Wynnum Road upgrade, that was
Campbell Newman as Lord Mayor. It was Graham Quirk as the Chairman for
Infrastructure that set that timetable. Madam Chair, as we have heard a lot in this
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 42 chamber, don't listen to what they say, look at what they do. Because when it
comes to infrastructure, they are not delivering for the residents of the eastern
suburbs.
They promised the residents of the eastern suburbs that they would have an
upgraded Wynnum Road by 2012. Not started in 2012, done, dusted, ready to
use by 2012, and they have not delivered it. But, Madam Chair, moreover, I am
more concerned about recent information that has come across my desk that says
that Council has under-estimated the anticipated land and construction cost for
the Wynnum Road upgrade and those costs now exceed the original budgeted
amount and there is currently insufficient funding for the project.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor SUTTON:
Madam Chair, if I was Councillor SCHRINNER, I would be hightailing it down
to my department to find out what is going on with this project, because I can tell
you, if we get to next year's budget and we find out that this road project has
been pushed back another year, it will not bode well for the LNP's chances of
getting anywhere near Morningside Ward—I can tell you that right now.
It doesn't bode well for little Councillor MURPHY over there, who's hoping to
be re-elected for a second term, because I'm telling you now, by 2016, residents
in the eastern suburbs will be well and truly fed up with the cuts the LNP has
been making all over the place and the broken promises that lay littered across
all the wards of the eastern suburbs, that they will be able to look to and we will
be reminding them of.
I know Councillor MURPHY's nervous, he's no doubt looked at the booth results
for Griffith – in his own area – at the last Federal election and he knows that he
needs to be very afraid, because he knows the vote's coming back our way and in
his particular part of the LNP electorate.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor SUTTON:
So I wouldn't be laughing if I was you and you can tell that in Bulimba that he
should be shaking in his boots too, I can tell you that. Madam Chair, the longer
this Administration—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor SUTTON:
The temporary member for Bulimba who's soon to move back to Ashgrove, yes,
that's right Councillor DICK. Madam Chair, it's pure and simple, Road Action
Plan, supposed to be delivered by 2012, finished. We are now in 2013, not a sod
has been turned, not any land has been acquired for the construction cost. I don't
believe there is a significant amount of land to be bought back and not unless
they're planning something that I don't know about, not unless the plans have
changed significantly since the last time I got access to the file.
So I don't understand what these additional costs are, but I'm telling you now,
Councillor SCHRINNER, if this project is to be delayed, it is in your interest to
advise us sooner rather than later because residents will not stomach another
delay on this road upgrade.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate, DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you, Madam Acting Chair. The councillors that have spoken and
contributed to the debate today have one thing in common, they selected
members of our team who they see as newer members of the team and they
attacked those members.
Councillors interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
That was the purpose of their contribution today. The Labor Party's showing
their true colours. I think it's disappointing that that's their approach. In relation
to the petition that Councillor DICK spoke on, a petition not in his area—
Councillors interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
—it's interesting that Councillor DICK suggested that more needed to be done.
Well look, in this role we get a whole range of opinions on what needs to be
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 43 done. In many cases, we are approached by two people with two vastly-different
opinions, and often opposite opinions. In reality, what we need to do as an
administration and as councillors is to make sure these opinions and concerns are
properly investigated. That's why, when we have a matter such as this—
Councillor interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
—we actually do the work, we do the investigation, and that includes things like
automatic traffic surveys which provide us with real information on what the
traffic is doing. As councillors will see in this report, paragraph 27 in the report,
a traffic survey was undertaken in April 2013. This has indicated the average of
215 vehicles per day use Moorgate Street with average speeds of 30 kilometres
an hour eastbound and 38 kilometres an hour westbound. It is considered that the
traffic volumes and speed are well within the acceptable level for roads of this
nature.
Now, the reality is, as I said, we have to base our judgement on real information
because opinions vary. This data shows that not only is there a very low volume
of cars using this road, but the cars are travelling below the speed limit. So I
don't know what Councillor DICK is suggesting that we should do. If we start
ignoring the data that's provided, the investigation that's done by TPS, what type
of precedent would that set?
What we know is that Labor councillors love traffic calming. They love traffic
calming; they'd like to see it on virtually every street in our city.
Councillors interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
The one area there they want to upgrade roads is by downgrading them by
including traffic calming in virtually every street. That's not a way to spend
ratepayers' money effectively. This Administration is focussed on getting traffic
moving, not putting speed bumps in every street. Now there is a place for traffic
calming, and we do the investigation, we base it on real evidence and we also
base it on real community support.
In this case, there may be people who believe that traffic calming is appropriate,
but the investigation doesn't support that view. So Councillor DICK can criticise
the local councillor all he wants, the reality is, this assessment shows that traffic
calming is not the most appropriate response in this particular case.
In relation to Councillor SUTTON's comments on Wynnum Road, it's interesting
when we hear about, oh Wynnum Road should have been done years ago, well,
Madam Chairman, there was nothing stopping the Labor Party upgrading
Wynnum Road. There was nothing stopping the Labor Party upgrading Wynnum
Road when they were in administration.
Councillors interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
The reality is—
Acting Chairman:
Order
DEPUTY MAYOR:
The reason why Wynnum Road is so congested is because of Labor Party
planning in the eastern suburbs. They have cleared all of the subdivisions in the
Wakerley area, and all through the eastern suburbs, which feed this road
corridor, yet they did not spend a cent on upgrading the road corridor. Now,
sitting in the cheap seats in opposition, it's easy to say, oh we need to fast track
this project, it should have been done years ago—
Councillors interjecting.
Warning – Councillor Shayne SUTTON
The Acting Chairman then formally warned Councillor SUTTON that unless she desisted from interjecting she
would be suspended from the service of the Council for a period of up to eight days. Furthermore, Councillor
SUTTON was warned that, if she were suspended from the service of the Council, she would be excluded from
the Council Chamber, ante-Chamber, public gallery and other meeting places for the period of suspension.
Acting Chairman:
DEPUTY MAYOR.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 44 DEPUTY MAYOR:
There's only one side of this chamber that has spent any money on the Wynnum
Road and Manly Road corridors, and that is this Administration, it is the
councillors sitting on this side. We have invested over $100 million, in
particularly, throughout Councillor MURPHY's area, in upgrading the road
through those new areas of Manly West and Wakerley.
Councillors interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
We provided the infrastructure that Labor didn't provide. As Councillor
SUTTON mentioned, the previous Lord Mayor, when he announced the Road
Action Program, announced a plan that would see various road upgrades right
across the city. It was 15 years' worth of road works in a four-year period. That
included around 60 individual projects and there are only a very small number
which didn't occur. The reason they didn't occur was the January 2011 flood.
We made it very clear at that time, that as a result of the huge cost of that event
on our city's finances and the fact that we needed to find around $400 million on
flood repair and recovery works, that there were some projects which would be
delayed. We were very upfront in saying that Wynnum Road was one of those
projects. But, by the same token, it's not been pushed into the never-never, we've
actually tried to find a way to bring this project back onto the agenda, and that's
what we've done.
The Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) and Queensland Motorways deal
allows us the funding to start off that important project. Once again, we've been
very upfront about this; it's a project we want to do. Councillors opposite
constantly complain about the level of borrowing, yet they want us to spend
more on Wynnum Road. Now we know how their financial management works
because in the last election they promised they would upgrade Wynnum Road,
they would spend hundreds of millions of dollars on Wynnum Road, yet they
didn't have a plan on how they would fund it.
Their only sort-of-plan was that they would sell Legacy Way to the private
sector. Hello? Hello? I mean this is a classic Labor Party tactic here; they
promise everything, they don't really have a way of funding it other than some
nebulous concept. This administration, on the other hand, actually makes things
happen. We've put in place a deal with Queensland Motorways and QIC which
will provide some funding to progress this project.
Councillor SUTTON also mentioned that she was horrified that the
investigations we've been doing identified that the project might be more than
we originally anticipated. This is why we do detailed investigations and this is
all part of the process. When any project is first proposed, it's always based on
an estimate. As we do further design work and detailed design, the feasibility
work, the costs become more apparent and we can then adjust our budged
accordingly.
So to think that at this point in time we would have 100 per cent certainty on all
costs is just ridiculous. That never happens, there's a process which is clearly
spelled out in the submission which will allow us to firm up those costs so that
we know what the cost impact would be and then we can get on with planning
and delivering this project. I do, though, want to remind the chamber that
Councillor SUTTON has given her unequivocal support for this project and so
when, in future years, property resumptions are required and residents are
protesting against the expansion of Wynnum Road, I want to be standing by her
side with her full support for this project.
I will be reminding her of those words, because just you wait and see—there will
be people against this project. There will be mothers of school children who say,
‘you're building a superhighway through our suburb, our kids are going to die on
the road’. There's going to be all types of horror and it will require courage on
behalf of Councillor SUTTON to do the right thing and to advocate her current
position, which is we need this upgrade.
Councillors interjecting.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 45 DEPUTY MAYOR:
There are always opponents to any project that we deliver—particularly
large-scale projects, such as major road corridor upgrades. So, as I said, I will be
reminding Councillor SUTTON of her commitment and I look forward to her
continued support.
Councillors interjecting.
Clauses A and D put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clauses A and D of the report of the
Infrastructure Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Clause B put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause B of the report of the Infrastructure
Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Milton DICK and Shayne SUTTON immediately rose and called for a division, which
resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 15 -
The DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista
ADAMS, Amanda COOPER, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Nicole
JOHNSTON,
Fiona KING,
Geraldine KNAPP,
Ian McKENZIE,
David
McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, Julian SIMMONDS,
Andrew WINES, and Norm WYNDHAM.
NOES: 6 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Shayne SUTTON, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS, and
Victoria NEWTON.
Clause C put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause 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: 15 -
The DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista
ADAMS, Amanda COOPER, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Nicole
JOHNSTON,
Fiona KING,
Geraldine KNAPP,
Ian McKENZIE,
David
McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, Julian SIMMONDS,
Andrew WINES, and Norm WYNDHAM.
NOES: 6 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Shayne SUTTON, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS, and
Victoria NEWTON.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Deputy Mayor, Councillor Adrian Schrinner (Chairman), Councillor Ian McKenzie (Deputy
Chairman), and Councillors Milton Dick, Victoria Newton and Norm Wyndham.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – TRAFFIC RESPONSE UNITS
223/2013-14
1.
Simon Belfield, Manager, Congestion Reduction Unit, Brisbane Infrastructure Division,
attended the meeting to provide an update on Traffic Response Units. He provided the
information below.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 46 -
2.
The purpose of the Traffic Response Unit (TRU) is to provide incident response, road
network intelligence and undertake traffic surveillance.
3.
The TRU program commenced in approximately 2001. In 2008 Council and Queensland
Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads became partners, with RACQ being
a service provider.
4.
A slide was shown detailing the phases of incidents that occur on roadways and how these
incidents are detected. These detection methods include:
CCTV
SCATS (Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System) Unusual Congestion Monitor
131940/Public
TRU patrol
Bluetooth (proposed).
5.
The operation process and safety checks were mentioned which include:
studying the traffic control situation
stopping the vehicle in a safe location
setting up traffic control
pulling down traffic control.
6.
A map detailing the operating areas was also presented showing that some areas fall outside
the Brisbane City Council area and a graph was shown outlining incident statistics.
7.
Council’s current response times to hazardous and non-hazardous incidents are:
an eight minute response time to hazardous incidents (within a five kilometre radius
of the CBD – Area 5)
a 20 minute response time to hazardous incidents (beyond five kilometre radius of
CBD – Areas 1 to 4)
30 minute response time to non-hazardous incidents.
8.
Benefits of the TRU’s work include:
incident detection, verification and response action
providing traffic network intelligence to Brisbane’s Metropolitan Transport
Management Centre
efficient response to incidents
protecting the incident scene
providing advanced warning and traffic control for motorists
initiate, implement and approved traffic management
assisting with site clean-up.
9.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr Belfield for
his informative presentation.
10.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE
REPORT.
ADOPTED
B
PETITION – REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR STAGE 1 OF THE UPGRADE
OF WYNNUM ROAD (SHAFSTON AVENUE AND RIDING ROAD)
CA13/333851
224/2013-14
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 47 -
11.
A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting that funding for Stage 1 of the Wynnum
Road (Shafston Avenue to Riding Road) upgrade be brought forward to the 2013-14 financial
year, was presented to the meeting of Council held on 21 May 2013, by Councillor Shayne
Sutton, and received.
12.
The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, Brisbane Infrastructure Division,
supplied the following information.
13.
The petition contains 122 signatures.
14.
Funding for Stage 1 of the Wynnum Road Project is allocated in the 2013-14 forward
estimates.
Project
Wynnum Rd - Shafston
Ave to Hawthorne Rd
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
Nil
Nil
$2,000,000
$28,000, 000
15.
Funding arrangements are in-line with the timeframes required by Council’s Priority
Infrastructure Plan.
16.
Council’s City Projects Office have advised that the project cannot proceed to construction
until a number of actions are completed. The current project schedule is based on current
budget conditions and may be subject to change due to economic and/or financial
uncertainties:
business case (2013-14)
detailed design (2015-16)
land acquisition (2016-17).
17.
The earliest that construction could be brought forward by is one year, with the detailed
design in 2014-15, land acquisition in 2015-16 and construction in 2016-17. Bringing forward
construction for Stage 1 of the Wynnum Road upgrade will impact on the ability of Council
to fund other commitments in the current program. As such, this is not the preferred option.
Consultation
18.
The Councillor for Morningside Ward, Councillor Shayne Sutton, has been consulted and
does not support the preferred option.
Preferred option
19.
The preferred option (subject to future budgetary constraints and/or changes) is that Council
delivers the project in accordance with the existing schedule.
Customer impact
20.
Commuters will continue to be affected by current traffic conditions on the corridor until
Stage 1 of the project is delivered.
21.
The Manager recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.
22.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PREFERRED OPTION ABOVE AND OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
THE ABOVE REPORT.
ADOPTED
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 48 -
C
PETITION – CALLING ON COUNCIL TO INSTALL A SPEED PLATFORM
IN MOORGATE STREET, MACGREGOR
CA13/396457
225/2013-14
23.
A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting a platform between Westland Street and
16 Moorgate Street, MacGregor, or a roundabout at the intersection of Westland Street and
Moorgate Street, MacGregor due to safety concerns, was presented to the meeting of Council
held on 21 May 2013, by Councillor Steven Huang, and received.
24.
The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, Brisbane Infrastructure Division,
supplied the following information.
25.
The petition contains 26 signatures, representing 22 properties from Moorgate and Wadley
Streets, Macgregor.
26.
Moorgate Street is classified as a local access street under Brisbane’s road hierarchy. These
roads have a primary function of providing access to adjoining private properties with limited
neighbourhood traffic movement and through traffic. These roads generally carry up to 1200
vehicles per day and have a maximum speed limit of 50km/h.
27.
A traffic survey was undertaken in April 2013. This has indicated that an average of
215 vehicles per day use Moorgate Street with average speeds of 30km/h eastbound and
38km/h westbound. It is considered that the traffic volumes and speeds are well within
acceptable levels for a road of this nature.
28.
The head petitioner has advised that there have been a number of crashes near the bend of
Moorgate Street. A search through Queensland Government’s official crash records along
Moorgate Street has indicated no reported incidents from 2000 to June 2010. Furthermore,
Upper Mt Gravatt Police Station has advised they are not aware of any traffic incidents from
June 2010 to April 2013.
29.
Based on the information from the traffic survey, the installation of traffic calming devices on
the eastbound/westbound section of Moorgate Street is unable to be justified. As such, it is not
recommended to install traffic calming devices along Moorgate Street at this time.
30.
It is considered that the main traffic safety concern is due to the sharp bend located near
16 Moorgate Street. As traffic calming cannot be justified at this location, it is considered that
an advanced curve warning sign with an advisory speed of 20km/h be posted on both
approaches to the bend.
Funding
31.
Funding to install advanced curve warning signs and associated 20km/h advisory speed signs
is available in the current budget from Program 2 - Moving Brisbane, Schedule 209 and
Schedule 61.
Consultation
32.
Councillor Steven Huang, Councillor for Macgregor Ward, has been consulted and supports
the recommendation below.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 49 -
Preferred option
33.
It is the preferred option that Council install advanced curve warning signs and 20km/h
advisory speed signs on both sides of the approach to the bend.
Customer impact
34.
Installing traffic calming in the eastbound/westbound section of Moorgate Street is unable to
be justified. However, installing advanced curve warning signs with 20km/h advisory speed
signs will help ensure motorists slow down when approaching the bend.
35.
The Manager recommends as follows and the Committee agrees, with Councillor Milton Dick
abstaining.
36.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PREFERRED OPTION ABOVE AND OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
THE ABOVE REPORT.
ADOPTED
D
PETITION – CALLING ON COUNCIL TO INSTALL TIMED 15-MINUTE
PARKING RESTRICTIONS OUTSIDE THE PERIVALE STREET CAFÉ ON
THE SUDBURY STREET PROPERTY FRONTAGE, DARRA
CA13/521207
226/2013-14
37.
A petition from residents of Brisbane, requesting that Council install 15-minute timed parking
restrictions outside the Perivale Street Café on Sudbury Street, Darra, was presented to the
meeting of Council held on 30 July 2013, by Councillor Milton Dick, and received.
38.
The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, Brisbane Infrastructure Division,
supplied the following information.
39.
The petition contains 13 signatures, representing local business owners of Sudbury Street and
café patrons.
40.
The driveway to the car park of the unit complex is located on Perivale Street. The Perivale
Street Café is located at the southern end of the unit complex and is fronting Sudbury and
Perivale Streets.
41.
A divided median island is located opposite the car park’s driveway which restricts vehicular
access to left in/left out. This creates access issues for patrons exiting the car park who wish
to continue south on Perivale Street. The on-street parking available on the Sudbury Street
frontage is currently unrestricted parking, therefore vehicles are regularly parked at this
location for long periods of time.
42.
It is proposed to install 15-minute timed parking restrictions on the Sudbury Street frontage
between the Perivale Street Café’s property boundary to the Perivale Street intersection. This
will provide approximately five short-term parking spaces, as requested by the head petitioner
and adjacent businesses. This will enable café patrons to utilise these parking spaces to access
the café, and exit Sudbury Street onto Perivale Street southbound.
Funding
43.
Funding to undertake this work is available in the current budget from Program 2 – Moving
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 50 -
Brisbane, Schedule 209 – General Amenity.
Consultation
44.
The Councillor for Richlands Ward, Councillor Milton Dick, has been consulted and supports
the recommendation.
Preferred option
45.
It is the preferred option, that Council install 15-minute timed parking restrictions on the
Sudbury Street frontage of the Perivale Street Café, to provide approximately five short-term
parking spaces.
46.
The Manager recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.
47.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PREFERRED OPTION ABOVE AND OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
THE ABOVE REPORT.
ADOPTED
PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE
Councillor Peter MATIC, Chairman of the Public and Active Transport Committee, moved, seconded by
Councillor Ryan MURPHY that the report of that Committee held on 15 October 2013, be adopted.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor HUANG.
Councillor HUANG:
Yes, just briefly, last week's presentation in the Committee was on the Active
School Travel program and how Buranda State School has achieved outstanding
result of 100 per cent participation rate in August this year.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor HUANG:
This behavioural change program has not only provided a solution to ease the
traffic around the schools during peak hours but also provide education and
healthy values to students, parents and all the teaching staff involved. I would
like to take this opportunity to congratulate the school for their outstanding result
and also commend the relevant officers in making this program a success.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor GRIFFITHS.
Councillor GRIFFITHS:
Yes, thank you, Madam Chairman. I'd also like to reflect the statements of the
Acting Chairperson there, but I think most importantly, he hasn't thanked the
local councillor, Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS for the fine work that she's
done in working with this local community. This is a first for Queensland, in
terms of 100 per cent of the school community participating in the Active School
Travel Program. Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS, we know how much you
participate yourself in active transport and what you've done here with school
community should be really commended.
Thank you, Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS.
Councillors interjecting.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor HUANG, would you like to sum up? I will now put
the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the report of the Public and Active
Transport Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Ryan MURPHY and Andrew WINES immediately rose and called for a division, which
resulted in the motion being declared carried unanimously.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 51 -
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 21 -
The DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors
Krista ADAMS,
Amanda
COOPER,
Vicki HOWARD,
Steven HUANG,
Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, 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, Kim FLESSER,
Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON, and Nicole JOHNSTON.
NOES: Nil.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Peter Matic (Chairman), Councillor Steven Huang (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors
Steve Griffiths, Nicole Johnston, Kim Marx and Ryan Murphy.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – ACTIVE SCHOOL TRAVEL’S 100 PER
CENT CHALLENGE – BURANDA STATE SCHOOL
227/2013-14
1.
Mark Pattermore, Project and Program Manager, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, attended
the meeting to provide an update on Active School Travel’s 100 per cent Challenge –
Buranda State School. He provided the information below.
2.
The Active School Travel (AST) program is a travel behaviour change program encouraging
families to leave the car at home and actively travel to and from school.
3.
Outcomes of this award winning program include:
reduced traffic congestion at the school gate
improved road safety around the school
reduced greenhouse gas emissions
improved student’s and parent’s fitness and health
healthier, more alert students and improved student behaviour
improved community networks.
4.
The AST program began in 2004 and to date 157 schools have become AST Schools. The
2012 mode shift results include:
18 per cent car trips down from 74 per cent to 56 per cent
14 per cent walking trips up from 15 per cent to 29 per cent
3 per cent carpooling trips up from 4 per cent to 7 per cent
1 per cent scooter riding trips up from 1 per cent to 2 per cent.
5.
Buranda State School implemented the AST program in 2011 and achieved a 24 per cent
reduction in car use and a 16 per cent increase in walking in the first year. All active modes
of travel increased over the course of the year:
car trips from 54 per cent down to 30 per cent
walking trips from 25 per cent up to 41 per cent
carpooling trips from 5 per cent up to 7 per cent
scooter riding trips from 3 per cent up to 6 per cent
cycle trips from 6 per cent up to 8 per cent
bus trips from 5 per cent up to 6 per cent
train trips from 1 per cent up to 2 per cent.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 52 -
6.
The National Ride to School Day established a 100 per cent ‘club’ for schools with 100 per
cent of students actively travelling to school on a particular day. Twelve Australian schools
were already part of this elite club, none of the 12 were Queensland schools. Through the
AST regular monthly e-news, the 100 per cent challenge was put out to our schools and
Buranda State School took up the challenge on 28 August 2013.
7.
Buranda State School commenced the Active School Travel program in 2011. It is a small
school challenged by arterial roads and major infrastructure construction on all sides. Prior to
AST 46 per cent of students were actively travelling to school. Buranda State School had a
very strong AST committee facilitated by Council and led by principal, teachers and parents
turned this percentage around over the last three years. The school now regularly achieve 75
per cent of students actively travelling now on their active travel day.
8.
Buranda State School achieved this by promotion through posters, assemblies newsletter
articles, letters to parents, noticeboards and by teachers in each classroom. Students were
identified who had difficulty ‘actively travelling’ and staff worked to implement strategies for
those individuals. Each family was required to return a letter identifying how they would
actively travel on 28 August 2013.
9.
Staff from the school coordinated supervised meeting points at Langland’s Park, Buranda
Centro shopping centre and the bus way station. Community partnerships were also built with
Urban Utilities, Easts Leagues Club and the Parents and Citizens Association. Success was
acknowledged measuring everyone’s contribution.
10.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr Pattermore
for his informative presentation.
11.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE
REPORT.
ADOPTED
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT
COMMITTEE
Councillor Amanda COOPER, Chairman of the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment
Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor Vicki HOWARD, that the report of the meeting of that Committee
held on 15 October 2013, be adopted.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor COOPER.
Councillor COOPER:
Thank you very much, Madam Acting Chair. So, Madam Acting Chair, at
committee last week, we saw an application that sits actually in my Deputy
Chair's ward. This is an application that was properly made on 8 May 2013. It is
in the MP2 zoned area within the James Street Precinct, Precinct 5 of the
Fortitude Valley Neighbourhood Plan. This is an application for a material
change of use, carrying out building work for hotel, short-term accommodation,
multi-unit dwellings and restaurant.
This is an application proposed at the intersection of Morgan and McLachlan
Street, so that's 21 to 25 Morgan Street and 72 McLachlan Street in Fortitude
Valley. As you may have guessed, it's for a hotel, restaurant and multi-unit
dwelling. So as we have heard at committee last week, this is a site that covers,
in total, 2002 square metres, I'm informed, and I understand there was an
approval in October 2008 for office and retail and that is what is currently on the
site.
So this application proposes a maximum of 17 storeys on the site with the MUDs
(multi-unit dwellings) to be from level eight to 15, with 79 units, short term
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 53 accommodation hotel to be over level 2 to 7, consisting of 152 rooms. With the
restaurant, lobby and reception on the ground, upper ground level and three
levels of designated car parking on the basement, ground and upper ground
levels. This is all contained in the planning report. There is also, on level 15, a
proposal for a pool and a gym to be located.
Madam Acting Chair, this was an impact assessable application, it went out for
public notification. A sign, I believe, went up on the site on 29 July and did
actually go until 22 August. So 15 business days, and the community obviously
had an opportunity to make submissions. As we heard at committee, there were
six properly made submissions, three of which were in support of this proposal
and three outlined concerns with the application.
The issues raised included the impact of the existing easement, the size, parking
and design proposed. As we heard again at Committee, one submitter, who I
understand is one of the two tenants that make up the body corporate next door,
spoke with the local councillor and raised his concerns about the impact on the
existing easement. Now, I sought information about this, we actually discussed it
at committee and I've been advised that the applicant initially did propose to
make some changes—so their initial proposal to Council saw them seeking to
change the existing easement arrangements.
So they wanted to put in a new access easement, rather. So Council actually, in
the information request, gave feedback to them that they had concerns about the
implications of this change. We then understand that the applicant changed their
application to include only the existing easement with its existing access
arrangements. So there was some concern about access to the adjacent building
and I understand that the council officers have looked very carefully into this
matter.
I note Councillor—the local councillor also had spoken with—represented with
that submitter—I believe it was that submitter—and had expressed similar
concerns and had been assured that the existing easement stayed in place to
alleviate those issues. I understand that we got some good feedback saying that
the council officer that the submitter had spoken to said that they had had a very
pleasant experience dealing with that council officer. So I thank the officer
involved for making sure that they responded to the submitter's concerns.
So as we heard at committee last week, the existing easement that is in place has
not been changed. The building over the easement maintains the 4.5 metres
height clearance to allow the highest vehicle that can manoeuvre onto the
adjoining site. The building basement does not encroach under the easement. So
there are a number of specific conditions in the applications that reflect this, so
conditions 35, 40, 41 and 53, specifically to ensure that there is no impact on the
easement.
In terms of height, this particular site is surrounded by developments ranging
from 10 to 21 storeys with 757 Ann Street and 100 McLachlan Street—I note
that's a favourite street of Councillor McLACHLAN—this height meets the plan
and intent for that precinct. Now, Madam Acting Chair, I know that the
Australian Labor Party like to rewrite history every single Tuesday afternoon,
but as they should be aware, as they should understand, City Plan is a
performance based planning scheme and officers have considered very carefully
this applicant and they feel that it does, in fact, meet both performance and
acceptable solutions to a range of those issues in this application.
So this application is—and I think Councillor KNAPP's spoken about how she's
got a favourite haunt down there in James Street—this is a very prominent
corner location between James Street, the Valley Heart and the Valley Gateway
precincts. There is going to be some public art that is delivered as a part of this
particular proposal. We will see footpaths widened on Morgan and McLachlan
Streets. There will be driveway access via Morgan Street for the multi-unit
dwellings and servicing, and McLachlan Street for the hotel short-term
accommodation and car parking.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 54 This is a site that abounds with transport options, with CityGlider and high
frequency bus services located 150 or 300 metres respectively nearby. The
Fortitude Valley rail station is 500 metres away. We have got public car parks to
accommodate any additional requirements 400 metres away, as well as regulated
on street parking. Madam Chair—Madam Acting Chair, this is a proposal that
we support, that we will see, we believe, demonstrates that it has met the careful
assessment of council officers and all of their queries, all of their issues were
very comprehensively addressed as part of their assessment.
Thank you, Madam Acting Chair.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I wish to rise and debate the issue we
have before us which, as we've heard, is a development for a hotel and a multiunit dwelling on the corner of McLachlan and Morgan Street. Madam Chair, it is
regret that I advise that (submitter’s name removed to maintain privacy), who
made a submission, who is the chair of the body corporate adjacent this site—
Councillor COOPER:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Acting Chairman:
Point of order against you, Councillor ABRAHAMS. Councillor COOPER?
Councillor COOPER:
I do not believe it's appropriate that we name a submitter relating to this
application.
Acting Chairman:
I uphold your point of order Councillor COOPER. Just for the purposes of the
debate, Councillor ABRAHAMS, if you can refer to a submitter.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Madam Chair, every councillor has received a submission last night or this
morning from that individual and he also asked me to make representation as he
was unable to. Madam Chair, I'll desist from using his name but let's be quite
clear that was a furphy as I understand it, because I had permission to use his
name.
Councillor DICK:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Acting Chairman:
Just a moment, Councillor DICK. Councillor ABRAHAMS, you've actually just
challenged my ruling by calling it a furphy, that is not acceptable in this place.
You could have referenced the person who had provided all councillors with a
submission and all councillors would have known. It's a bit different putting it
into the public record. Councillor DICK, your point of order.
Councillor DICK:
Point of order, Madam Chair, will Councillor ABRAHAMS take a question?
Acting Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
I most certainly will, Madam Chair.
Councillor DICK:
For the record, for Hansard, will you confirm to the Council Chamber that
(submitter’s name removed to maintain privacy) has given authority and
approval for his name to be used in this debate?
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Madam Chair, I can certainly do so, but Madam Chair, I will table a submission
as well as that some diagrams from the submitter, because I take your ruling,
Madam Chair—
Acting Chairman:
Thank you, Councillor ABRAHAMS, please continue.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Yes, I can do that. Okay, Madam Chair, he applied to talk to—
Acting Chairman:
Just a moment please. Could the gentleman standing in the public gallery please
resume your seat? Thank you.
Councillor interjecting.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Madam Chair, the submitter was submitting in his capacity as chair of a body
corporate. As a result of that, they invested their own funds so that they were
giving due information to the body corporate when they became aware of this
application. Madam Chair, they sought permission from Council to address the
Council before we had this debate and they received an email that said Margaret
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 55 de Wit made representation on your behalf to the councillor Amanda Cooper,
Councillor COOPER will be in contact in relation to this matter.
Madam Chair, they have not heard, so here is the ability of someone with a legal
responsibility to understand the impact of this development on their easement,
which is on the development site, was—I would say had a decision against their
transparency and I would also say that was based on lack of political
transparency on this application. But, Madam Chair, I will now go into the
application.
It is 17-storeys high in an area in the St James Precinct where eight storeys are
permitted. Madam Chair, in any performance assessment, more than double the
height is a long bow on performance assessment. Why would you have a plan
saying eight storeys if you actually meant 17? Madam Chair, there is a onestorey podium for car parking. That podium presents a severe concrete podium
to a very active, busy street, and that is the source of all the problems. Let’s be
clear, our planning scheme says that Council’s preference is cars in the
basement.
Madam Chair, it is something that the officers actually resorted to a glass
window—a false glass window into a storage area in the attempt to get some
vibrant, transparent streetscape in this development. But, Madam Chair, that
space was so that the car parking spaces could be provided. Madam Chair, I
asked very carefully about the provision of car parking spaces in the committee
and I'm advised that 134 car parking spaces are provided with 89 for the MUD
but 252 car parking spaces with 99 for the MUD are what the Council would see
in an acceptable solution for this development.
Madam Chair, I believe they are grounds not to support this development, but
the most important thing is the easement. Madam Chair, with the easement there
has been no consultation with the submitter in spite of a town planning
submission, a legal submission and a personal submission from the submitter
about what really the impact of the easement. They first found out about this
application from the media and, as Councillor COOPER has acknowledged, the
original submission was to modify—I think it was actually to close the easement
on site.
They remained, until I spoke to them, ignorant about what the impact on that
easement is. Madam Chair, it isn't whether the easement is changed or not, the
easement to their property, in favour of their property, is on this site and, Madam
Chair, I believe, as their lawyer believes, that means they should have been
involved in this development application before it was submitted.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
They are still strongly of the opinion that it was not a lawfully made submission
as a result of that. Madam Chair, this is an important issue, because clearly in
Committee you could see that the access to their existing property is through
arches—which I know aren't on the easement—into a driveway that is read, by
anybody in the street, as the driveway for the car park. And they're reading it
correctly, because it is the access for 45 cars to this development. But at the
same time, it has the easement to the commercial buildings and you will see that
it is not legible.
People will not understand the easement and they believe, understandably, they
will be adversely impact in, without any say on it at all, Madam Chair. Madam
Chair, in a busy time when everyone leaves and all the hotel—the taxis come
and all that busy time, when people come in through the archway to find there is
no space, they will end up in the car parking of this commercial area. It is
inevitable, or more likely because they're taxis, they will block the easement.
Madam Chair, that is what the submitter, on behalf of his body corporate, is so
concerned about and they are valid concerns, Madam Chair, for the size of this
hotel. Madam Chair, a hotel should have a formal dropping-off area. I was told
there was one, but do you know where that is? It is a loading bay outside the
submitter's property, nowhere near the hotel. Madam Chair, we were also told
that anyone wanting to come to the hotel would go into Morgan Street where
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 56 there'd be a drop-off area. It seems a bit strange, Madam Chair, because I
understand that's the parking space for the multi-unit dwelling.
So, Madam Chair, there is major concern and the submitter has not been
consulted with. When this was raised, Councillor HOWARD said, and said
clearly—first of all, I'll go back a little bit, the city solicitor said it was lawful
when we asked the question, because the submitter had raised it. Councillor
HOWARD said that she had met with the submitter and then said, while she
hadn't met with them recently, generally they would be satisfied with the
management of the easement. That is what we heard at committee.
Madam Chair, nothing could be further from the truth, as every councillor
knows. Madam Chair, when you look at the development application, the
conditions on the development application, what does it say? I quote, “the
construction plan should outline how access to the existing easement will be
maintained for the adjoining properties throughout the construction of the
development”. Should, Madam Chair, that's a very loose word in legal terms.
Madam Chair, that should be, will. Now I am asking you, LORD MAYOR, that
you will make sure that the submitter who has right to that easement has access
to this construction management plan so they can participate in it and ensure
their easement is open at all times.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS, your time has expired. Further debate? Councillor
HOWARD.
Councillor HOWARD:
Well thank you, Madam Acting Chairman. Madam Acting Chairman,
councillors will have—I rise to speak to this item. Councillors will have heard
me speak many times in this place about activity within the Valley, which is why
I was encouraged to learn of this intended mixed use development of the underused site on the corner of McLachlan and Morgan streets. The proposal for the
79 units, 152 short-term accommodation rooms and other facilities, as outlined
in point 4, Madam Acting Chairman, dovetails very well with our plan to deliver
a much needed facelift to the Brunswick Street Mall area, a mere 100 metres
away.
As point 7 clearly sets out, the proposal complies with the intended mixed use
nature of the multi-purpose centre, the major centre MP 2 area designation and
the development principles of the Fortitude Valley Neighbourhood Plan, and that
it is consistent with the development principles of the Neighbourhood Plan. In
particular, the proposal achieves the transitional intent of this precinct between
the higher intensity retail business and the entertainment activities along Ann
Street.
It is this transitional intent of the precinct that the Valley, as one of our most
iconic entertainment, dining and now residential areas has clearly struggled
during the past. I believe this development, as well as the fast tracking of our $4
million upgrade of the mall will further contribute to the economic boost the area
needs. Not only do we need these extra 152 hotel rooms for the city, Madam
Chairman, but we also need the 78 residential units, because as we continue to
foster the Valley's daytime economy, the area is becoming increasingly popular
for those who work in the area to also live in the area.
As it makes plain in point 7, both planned and existing development within the
immediate surrounding area, combined with the site's prominent corner location,
ensures that the site can sufficiently accommodate the proposed maximum
height of 17 storeys and that approvals have been issued in the immediate
surrounding area for development with heights ranging from 10 to 21 storeys,
such as 757 Ann Street and 100 McLachlan Street.
This development is another addition to, as the LORD MAYOR said earlier
today, already 23 large commercial and residential projects currently underway
in the Valley. There's a great deal happening, Madam Acting Chairman, which is
why I am encouraged that this development for the 17 storeys is being supported
by this side of the Chamber. From the comments I have received and read from
local business, I know there is support for the proposal, but I am happy to take
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 57 this opportunity to let the chamber know that I have been speaking with an
adjacent stakeholder who was concerned about an existing easement.
The gentleman came to me earlier this year to express his only concern at that
time, about the easement, and as the local councillor, I passed his concerns to the
DA team immediately. I understand that officers from the DA (development
Assessment) team have since been in contact with him and his partner and I am
pleased to see in point 7 that the existing easement arrangements have been
conditioned and that very simply, nothing has changed in terms of the existing
easement.
Councillors interjecting.
I thank our officers at DA for their professionalism and dedication when dealing
with his concerns. The area is moving forwards, Madam Acting Chairman, and
unlike Labor, I believe it is important Council takes the lead and supports these
developments that will bring jobs and growth to the area.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
Thank you, Madam Chair, I rise to speak on this development application. I
guess at the outset what I would like to say about this application, which I find
quite disappointing, is some of the responses that we got as local councillors
when we asked questions about this development application in committee. I
actually asked the first question about this development application after
Councillor HOWARD was given the opportunity to make some comments.
My very, very first question was about the access to the easement and
specifically whether the submitter would be happy with the conditions that have
been placed on the easement. I was told that the Council officers had every
understanding that that submitter would be happy with what Council has
conditioned on this site. My understanding, and having received the email that
all councillors received this week, is that that is not the case.
So I guess —as a member of the committee, what I am disappointed about is the
fact that we were given advice in that meeting that was—I guess, I believe is
incorrect or misinformed. We have been misled. Because I specifically, my
specific question was, would he be happy with what the conditions that Council
has placed. Councillor HOWARD, you yourself said that you hadn't spoken to
the submitter but that you believed that he would be happy.
Now we are in the situation where this development application is before
Council and we have a submitter that is not happy with how this development
application is going to impact on their property. Now why is that important?
Well because it relates to his access. His access for his property and what he can
do to his property in future. I guess that's a key point, it's not just as to how the
property is currently impacted in its current form, it is about what those property
owners might want to do in the future with that block of land and the
development rights that they actually have on that block of land.
Because I’m advised that the easement that we are referring to, is required by
law to remain open in favour of the retail commercial complex lot owners with
free and unfettered access seven days-a-week, 24 hours-a-day. Why is that
important? The word unfettered access. Madam Chair, the minute you put a
height clearance of 4.5 metres on it—on that property, you automatically prevent
vehicles that are higher than 4.5 metres accessing that property.
That may not be a problem right now—and we heard from Council officers last
week that at the moment 4.5 is sufficient for what is on that property at the
moment. However, if these property owners seek to put in a development
application that changes the required access needs into the future, that 4.5 metre
minimum clearance is not going to be sufficient for them. So if this Council,
today, is going to approve a development application that has the capacity to
limit future development on site for the adjoining property owner who has legal
entitlement to free and unfettered access seven days-a-week, 24 hours-a-day.
Councillor interjecting.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 58 Councillor SUTTON:
So I hope this development application has been checked out by Brisbane City
Council's legal services in terms of future compensation claims against this
Council by the land owners, because I think this is a very risky development
application —for this Council to be approving in terms of any compensatory
claims by the current land owner, once we put a height clearance on it.
That is my principle concern about this. I also note, however, the departure from
Council's own neighbourhood plan. Whilst I acknowledge the fact that we need
more hotels and I'm happy with the hotel component of this development
application, more hotels are needed in this city. I completely get that and
acknowledge that, but they must be done in the right way and they must be done
in a way that does not impact on adjoining property owners and their legal right
to access their property in easements that have been granted to them.
But going back to the height, this is in a precinct which is meant to be, in the
neighbourhood plan, capped to eight storeys.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor SUTTON:
Seventeen storeys. Madam Chair, you don't have to be a maths whizz to work
out that seventeen storeys is a long way from eight storeys and a lot higher than
eight storeys. In fact, it's more than double the height—
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor SUTTON:
—that is permissible under the neighbourhood plan. Whilst I understand that this
particular precinct in the neighbourhood plan was a transitioning area down to
the residential in New Farm, such a significant jump from the eight storeys
permissible to the 17 storeys is in fact laughable. The development community
must be laughing at us in terms of thinking that Brisbane City Council will just
roll over to any application that they put in.
It is setting up a situation where developers read our neighbourhood plan, they
see the nominated height limits and they say, don't worry, put in what you want
because they will cave. Now when are we, as a Council, going to grow a
backbone when it comes to standing up to the wants of developers in this city?
Why even do a neighbourhood plan if you are going to roll over at the first test.
We go to the expense of implementing these neighbourhood plans, we consult
with the community, we say this is your neighbourhood plan, have some input,
tell us what you want. Remember this is the neighbourhood plan—the
neighbourhood planning scheme that Campbell Newman said was going to put
residents in charge of their suburbs. We go through the neighbourhood planning
process, we determine a height limit and then we say to developers, do what you
want. Do what you want, don't worry about us, don't worry about what we say.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor SUTTON:
Just do it. What I want is for Councillor COOPER to get a backbone. What I
want is for the LORD MAYOR to get backbone and stand up to the development
community in this city, instead of just taking the cash, letting them do what they
want, so that they can—
Councillor COOPER:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Acting Chairman:
Point of order against you, Councillor SUTTON. Councillor COOPER?
Councillor COOPER:
That was clearly imputing motive, suggesting that there was all sorts of
inappropriate conduct being undertaken by this organisation. That should be
immediately withdrawn.
Councillor SUTTON:
Yes, Madam Chair, I did not say anything—I don't know where she's coming
from, clearly that's a guilty conscience. I was talking about—
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor SUTTON:
—infrastructure charges. I was talking about infrastructure charges.
Acting Chairman:
Have I given my ruling, Councillor SUTTON?
Councillor SUTTON:
Sorry, my apologies.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 59 Acting Chairman:
We all need to remember that there is no privilege in this place and it is very
important that we don't forget —Councillor JOHNSTON. Remain silent. You
know the rules, abide by them. You are on a warning. Councillor SUTTON,
please restrain yourself in your comments to not infer anything which could be
construed as imputing motive. Please continue.
Councillor SUTTON:
Yes, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, just for the record, my intent when I said,
taking the cash, I was talking about cost of development applications, I was
talking about infrastructure charges, I was talking about a range of revenue that
that this Council receives through the development application process. I did not
elaborate in terms of any other type of activity.
LORD MAYOR:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Acting Chairman:
Point of order, LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Would Councillor SUTTON take a question?
Acting Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON?
Councillor SUTTON:
Well, Madam Chair, I'm not the LORD MAYOR, I don't have question time, but
I'm happy to—
Councillors interjecting.
Acting Chairman:
Yes, or no?
Councillor SUTTON:
I am happy to take the LORD MAYOR's question if he has one for me.
Acting Chairman:
Thank you. LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, given what Councillor SUTTON has said, is she arguing that
infrastructure charges are too high?
Acting Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON?
Councillor SUTTON:
No, Madam Chair, I'm not arguing that infrastructure charges are too high.
Councillors interjecting.
Acting Chairman:
Okay, could we get back to the report now please?
Councillor SUTTON:
That's not the issue.
Acting Chairman:
Back to the report now please.
Councillor SUTTON:
Yes, Madam Chair, I'm getting back to—
Warning – Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS
The Acting Chairman then formally warned Councillor ABRAHAMS that unless she desisted from interjecting
she would be suspended from the service of the Council for a period of up to eight days. Furthermore,
Councillor ABRAHAMS was warned that, if she were suspended from the service of the Council, she would
be excluded from the Council Chamber, ante-Chamber, public gallery and other meeting places for the period
of suspension.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
Yes, Madam Chair. What I am saying is, I want this Council to stick to its
neighbourhood plan when it implements a neighbourhood plan, have the courage
and the conviction to stand up to the development community. It doesn't hurt for
them to hear no occasionally. I know they don't like—I know that they don't like
to be told no, Madam Chair, but that is why you need to have a backbone and
stand up to them.
Yes it's important to have development go forward in this city, yes it's important
to approve more hotels in this city. I will not argue with either of those two
points, but when you see a building coming into this Council for approval that is
double the height and impacts on the legal access requirements of a submitter,
then you have to ask questions.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON, your time has expired. Further debate, Councillor
JOHNSTON.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 60 Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, just briefly with respect to item A, Madam Chairman. I am happy to put on
the record, I agree with every single word that Councillor SUTTON just said
then. I think it is appalling that the people who are in charge of this city's
development assessment process have abandoned any independent scrutiny of
the City Plan and the neighbourhood plan itself. We go through these processes
week-after-week where we review a plan, we pass it through Council, we seek
residents' advice, we pass the final plan.
Then what happens is, a developer comes along and proposes a development that
is so far outside the City Plan requirements and the local neighbourhood plan
requirements, that it beggars belief that the people who are in charge of
upholding the integrity of those plans come in here and say, oh but it's all good.
It's all good, there's no problem with it. This is an area that should have eight
storeys in height. It's now proposed to have 17 storeys. That is completely
unacceptable, it does not in any way, shape or form reflect a performance
standard, it reflects a massive change to the Neighbourhood Plan and to the City
Plan, intent for that area.
For Councillor COOPER and Councillor HOWARD to stand up and try and
justify it in some other way is an outrageous misrepresentation. Secondly, the car
parking area. It is absolutely ridiculous and stupid that this Council is allowing
less car parks than is required by the City Plan in an area where car parking is
already under pressure. This is just going to lead to a ridiculously poor practical
solution for the shopkeepers in that area, for the residents in that area and for the
workers and the residents of this new building.
There's not enough car parking spaces, there needs to be more spaces in big
buildings like this, not less than you're allowed to have. But are we seeing this
Council and the Chairman and the local councillor standing up for their City
Plan and their local plan? No we are not. The third reason that is a problem is the
information that one of the submitters gave us yesterday. I also received that
information.
It strikes fear into my heart when someone stands up and says that the city
solicitor has reviewed it and said it's all okay, because his advice has been
wrong, wrong, wrong before. I sincerely hope—I sincerely hope that this
submitter and his body corporate take this Council to court through the Planning
and Environment Court and they test the veracity of this decision.
I certainly accept and acknowledge that you have concerns about the lack of a
properly made submission and the notice with respect to this. I certainly
understand and accept the concerns about the impact on the easement and
curtailing any future rights you might have with respect to your site. The fact
that the Planning Chairperson and the local councillor have ignored that critical
issue as well, and they are intent on forcing this development through here
today, simply on the might of their numbers, is wrong.
I won't be supporting it. What I will say is this: the saddest part of this argument,
which we heard from Councillor HOWARD today is: just because you are
opposed to something, that means you don't want hotels, you are not in favour of
development, you don't want certain things; let me say this: new hotels in this
city are absolutely needed. But what I would like to see is a developer who
builds them in accordance with the rules. The rules are put there to safeguard
everybody in the community—the developer, the neighbours, the community's
rights.
The idea of having a plan is that we stick to it. The people in this room are the
guardians of that plan. When the guardians of the plan wander off into nevernever land and pretend this is wonderful, there is a serious problem. This
development should absolutely not be refused. It should have been either
rejected or negotiated down, and it should have been very clear that no one's
legal or property rights were going to be impacted by this development. I am
really disappointed with the LNP. I add my concern to Councillor SUTTON's
and Councillor ABRAHAMS', and I just think it is appalling that the people
who are in charge of town planning in this city—that is the Chairman,
Councillor COOPER, and the Deputy Chairman, Councillor HOWARD—are
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 61 prepared to ignore the City Plan rules, and they are prepared to ignore the local
neighbourhood plan rules.
If Councillors in this place won't stick up for what is appropriate development in
this city, no one else is going to. It is just pathetic.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor COOPER.
Councillor COOPER:
Thank you very much, Madam Acting Chair. As usual, we saw debate in this
Chamber from those opposite really that is utterly, utterly ill-informed. As usual,
they seem to deny what the principles that City Plan is written on. I said it
earlier: it is a performance-based planning scheme.
We have, in the neighbourhood plan, said what we think is appropriate. That is
an opportunity, of course, for people to comply to make a code assessable
application, and that would be assessed—of course, there is criteria for that. But
that would be assessed without going out there asking for further public
comment. In this case, where they have gone above that, it triggers an impact
assessable application. This is in accordance with State legislation. This is in
accordance with City Plan, so drafted by the Australian Labor Party. If they
didn't like it, why did they draft the document to be based on that very principle?
Here they get up in this Chamber; they decry their own document. Well, I think
yet again they show no responsibility. They admit absolutely no liability for
their own handiwork. But unfortunately, that is what we see week-after-week
after relentless week in this Chamber. They accept no responsibility for anything
that they have done in the past, but now, now it is all disgraceful, even though it
was their own handiwork.
So let's actually look at the facts of the matter in this case. Councillor
ABRAHAMS said that she had a range of issues relating to this application. She
kept on talking about the St James precinct, and I note in committee last week
Councillor ABRAHAMS also talked about this application being on Ann Street,
when it quite clearly and patently is not. The facts of the matter are very, very
clear, Madam Chair.
She also noted there was a one-storey podium for car parking. Well, if she
actually read the information supplied to officers, there is a three-storey podium
fronting McLachlan Street, and there is a four-storey podium fronting Morgan
Street. So yet again—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor COOPER:
Oh, yes, close, close, but not quite—through you, Madam Chair. Maybe if
Councillor ABRAHAMS got her facts correct, maybe if she got names of streets
correct; perhaps if she got the precinct correct, maybe then she would have a
little bit of credibility. But I have to say that is pretty much par for the course.
I am delighted to say that Councillor ABRAHAMS said I was a corker. I don't
know if that is a compliment or an insult, but personal denigration continues to
be the way of the Australian Labor Party.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor COOPER:
Here we go. So, in relation to—
Acting Chairman:
Councillor DICK!
Councillor COOPER:
In relation to the issue about whether this is a lawfully made application, we
have had advice from Brisbane City Legal Practice that this application is
entirely lawful. There is a specific condition in this approval that says essentially
the rights of the—let me see the actual number of this—condition 53
specifically says, 'The existing easement to be maintained.' I will read it just so
that the Australian Labor Party have got this clear in their heads, 'The existing
easement for access purposes in favour of adjoining land is to be maintained at
all times, and should not be restricted during construction or at any time during
the future use of the premises.' So I think that is very, very clear, that the officers
specifically have a condition relating to that.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 62 There are other items that were raised by Councillor ABRAHAMS. She had
concerns about the construction arrangements. There is a specific condition
again—condition 35 relating to a construction management plan. So that should
outline how access—I am quoting from the condition, 'how access to the
existing easement will be maintained for the adjoining properties throughout
construction of the development.'
There is also condition 40 relating to signs and line markings—and that was a
contention of Councillor ABRAHAMS, that this would be difficult for people to
access, so there is a specific condition requiring for this applicant to provide
signs and line markings in accordance with the following: they have to prepare
engineering drawings, checked and certified by a RPQ civil in accordance with
the relevant Brisbane Planning Scheme Codes, Policies and the Manual of
Uniform Traffic Control Devices (Queensland), showing traffic signs, pavement
markings and traffic control devices. In particular, details to be submitted to
ensure safe and efficient access into and out of the site from McLachlan Street
can be achieved at all times, and does not compromise the function of any
existing easement.
So, Madam Chair, there is also another condition, condition 41, relating to
access, grades, manoeuvring, car parks, signs and lines—again, talking about
how to maintain that easement. So, it is very clear; I have specifically asked for
legal advice. Unlike the amateur lawyers that we hear from the other side of the
Chamber, I have sought a properly qualified person to advise whether or not we
are in accordance with all of our requirements, and they have advised me—these
people who are actually experienced, practising in the legal profession—that this
application is not only lawfully made but does comply with the conditions as it
should do so.
There has been comprehensive analysis of this done. This obviously is an issue.
We have all understood from one submitter that there are concerns. These
concerns have been addressed very carefully by the Council officers. I
appreciate the officers' very careful and diligent approach in relation to this
matter.
I also note there were submitters who did actually support this application. We
saw six submissions, three who had concerns and three who were very strongly
supporting of this process. It had gone out there for the community to make
comment, and we saw six submissions, three of which were in support of the
application. I also have a copy of a submission by another adjoining property
owner who advises that they support this application. So it is clear that there are
a range of opinions. But these people have every opportunity to ask questions
about this matter. They certainly can investigate their legal options, but officers
have very carefully considered, and they advised our committee—and I believe
that the Council officers act with integrity when they come to our committee,
despite the outrageous assertions of the Labor Party. I believe that they act with
integrity and carefully consider all of these issues.
We believe that this is a very meritorious application. We believe that we need
to see investment in our city. We need to see new hotels, new places for people
to live, places for people to work. But it is clear what the Australian Labor Party
sees. They see an opportunity for petty, political games. They refuse to give
their support to these sorts of applications.
So they do not support $80 million investment in our city. They do not support
150 construction jobs being created on the site. They do not support another 300
full time jobs created off site. They do not support all of those people who
would be party to this application, who would get jobs, who would certainly get
great opportunities to work on these applications. They do not obviously support
any proposed hotel on this site which would see at least 25 full time jobs or
additional work for hundreds of contractors in our city.
So finally it is clear: the Australian Labor Party do not support investment in
Brisbane, do not support people having opportunities to redevelop their sites and
to create further opportunities for our fantastic city. This Administration has a
contrary view. We support investment and we support jobs in our city. We are
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 63 pleased to be on the record; we are pleased to stand up and fight for better
opportunities for Brisbane, greater investment in our city, tourism opportunities
and every application which is carefully considered and professionally assessed
by Council officers, we believe these are great outcomes for Brisbane, and we
will not listen to the outrageous assertions of the Australian Labor Party based
on absolutely no evidence whatsoever. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Acting Chairman:
I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of the report of the
Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Ryan MURPHY and Helen ABRAHAMS immediately rose and called for a division,
which resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 14 -
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK,
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Amanda
COOPER, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP,
Ian McKENZIE, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS, Andrew WINES, and Norm WYNDHAM.
NOES: 6 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON, and
Nicole JOHNSTON.
The report as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Amanda Cooper (Chairman), Councillor Vicki Howard (Deputy Chairman), and
Councillors Helen Abrahams, Geraldine Knapp, Shayne Sutton and Andrew Wines.
A
ELECTRONIC
DEVELOPMENT
APPLICATION
UNDER
THE
SUSTAINABLE PLANNING ACT 2009 – HOTEL, SHORT-TERM
ACCOMMODATION, MULTI-UNIT DWELLINGS AND RESTAURANT –
21 AND 25 MORGAN STREET, 72 MCLACHLAN STREET, FORTITUDE
VALLEY – R.A.F.C.O PTY LTD; BODY CORPORATE FOR ‘CECIL
COURT’ CTS.2975
A003604722
228/2013-14
1.
The Team Manager, Development Assessment Planning Services North, reports that an
application has been submitted by Portfolio Pty Ltd C/- RPS Australia East Pty Ltd:
Development Aspects:
Carrying out building work – Preliminary approval
Material change of use – Development Permit
General description of
proposal:
Hotel, short-term accommodation, multi-unit dwelling
and restaurant
Land in the ownership of:
R.A.F.C.O Pty Ltd; Body Corporate for ‘Cecil Court’
CTS.2975
Address of the site:
21 and 25 Morgan Street, 72 McLachlan Street,
Fortitude Valley
Described as:
Lot 1 on Registered Plan (RP) 8873, Lot 2 on RP174618,
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 64 -
Lot 1 on Building Unit Plan (BUP) 12655, Lot 2 on
BUP12655, Lot 0 on BUP12655
Containing an area of:
2002 square metres.
2.
The application is over land that is currently included within a Multi-purpose Centre - Major
Centre (MP2) area designation under the Brisbane City Plan 2000 (City Plan) and is within
the James Street Precinct (Precinct 5) of the Fortitude Valley Neighbourhood Plan.
3.
The site is located at the intersection of McLachlan Street and Morgan Street, Fortitude
Valley.
Proposal
4.
This impact assesment development application was properly made on the 8 May 2013 for a
material change of use (development permit) and carrying out building work (preliminary
approval) for a maximum 17-storey mixed use development. The development comprises of a
hotel, short-term accommodation, a multi-unit dwelling and restaurant. The proposed
development includes the following components:
multi-unit dwellings over levels eight to 15, consisting of 79 units
short-term accommodation/hotel over levels two to seven, consisting of 152 rooms
and associated hotel services (reception, lobby lounge and restaurant at ground/upper
ground level)
recreational facilities (pool and gym) on level 15, for multi-unit dwelling, short-term
accommodation and hotel use
three designated car parking levels (including basement, lower ground level and level
one) providing a total of 131 car parking spaces (79 residential spaces and
10 residential visitor spaces for the multi-unit dwellings, 42 spaces for the
hotel/short-term accommodation and an additional nine motorcycle bays).
5.
Site access is obtained from two separate driveways from Morgan Street for the multi-unit
dwelling residents and from McLachlan Street for the short-term accommodation/hotel car
parking and access to the associated hotel services.
6.
The proposal is consistent with the intent of City Plan, and the South East Queensland
Regional Plan 2009-2031 (SEQRP) in that:
the site is within the urban footprint of the SEQRP
the proposal is consistent with development principles in the Fortitude Valley
Neighbourhood Plan
the proposal will not create adverse amenity impacts on the surrounding area
the site is within very close proximity to the public transport network, such as
CityGlider, and CityCycle
the development can be accommodated within the existing essential infrastructure
networks.
7.
Matters that were considered as part of the assessment include:
Fortitude Valley Neighbourhood Plan:
The proposal complies with the intended mixed use nature of the Multi-purpose Centre –
Major Centre (MP2) area designation and the development principles of the Fortitude Valley
Neighbourhood Plan in that:
The use is consistent with the development principles of the neighbourhood plan
which identifies the subject site within James Street Precinct (Precinct 5). In
particular, the proposal achieves the transitional intent of this precinct between the
higher intensity retail, business and entertainment activities along Ann Street to the
predominant low-scale residential area of New Farm.
The proposal reinforces the strong integration between land use and transport with
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 65 -
-
increased density and a mix of uses close to high frequency public transport,
particularly with its close proximity to Ann Street.
The scale of development is considered acceptable and reasonable for this site given
the size of the land parcel and setbacks. The building height is consistent with the
intended scale and character of the precinct, provides an acceptable transition and
retains an appropriate relationship with the street.
Podium design:
The podium design has provided for variations in the vertical profile of the building and has
incorporated the natural slope of the land with a predominantly three-storey podium fronting
McLachlan Street and four-storey podium fronting Morgan Street.
Above-ground car parking on level one has been effectively sleeved from the Morgan Street
frontage through the provision of a double-height ceiling within the proposed hotel lobby at
street level, along with baffle screens, glazing and differential cladding features for the
podium. A pedestrian awning is provided on both street frontages.
Public artwork and variations in the building treatment have been incorporated into the
streetscape elevations.
Building height:
The Fortitude Valley Neighbourhood Plan prescribes a maximum building height of eight
storeys for this site. However, both planned and existing development within the immediate
surrounding area, combined with the site’s prominent corner location ensures that the site can
sufficiently accommodate the proposed maximum height of 17 storeys. Due to the natural
slope of the land the building height ranges from 16 to 17 storeys across the site.
This alternative solution for building height is supported based on the location of the site
within a transitional precinct between James Street, the Valley Heart and the Valley Gateway
precincts in the Neighbourhood Plan. The site is adjacent to and adjoins land that can
accommodate 10, 15, 20 and up to 30 storeys. Approvals have been issued in the immediate
surrounding area for development with heights ranging from 10 to 21 storeys such as 757 Ann
Street and 100 McLachlan Street. A built form analysis submitted with the application clearly
demonstrates the proposed maximum 17 storey building height aligns with the context of the
locality in terms of existing and potential built form.
On-site car parking:
The proposed development provides sufficient on-site parking to service the proposed
residential and non-residential uses based on the City Frame and Transport, Access, Servicing
and Parking Code/Planning Scheme policy within the City Plan. Furthermore, local streets
surrounding the site are subject to regulated parking and the immediate locality is easily
accessible by high frequency public transport services and CityCycle.
Streetscape dedications:
The neighbourhood plan highlights Morgan Street as a connective landscape street and
McLachlan Street as a subtropical boulevard and as such requires footpath widening and
dedications. A condition has been imposed to provide a 3.75 metre footpath dedication for
Morgan Street and a 4.75 metre footpath dedication for McLachlan Street.
Easement:
An existing easement (Easement F on RP203689) burdens the land in favour of adjoining
properties (Lot 0 on BUP105575 and Lot 4 on RP41612) for right-of-way access to
McLachlan Street. All proposed support columns and basement levels are located outside the
boundaries of this existing easement and a height clearance of 4.5 metres has been provided
under the development to enable access to service and delivery vehicles. Conditions have
been imposed to maintain access to the existing easement for the construction and ongoing
operation of the proposed development.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 66 -
Public notification:
The application was subject to Impact Assessment and therefore required public notification
for a period of 15 business days. Advertising was undertaken from 29 July 2013 to the
22 August 2013. During this time a total of six properly made submissions were received. The
submissions raised issues regarding:
the impact of the development on the existing easement and the consent required from
easement parties
the scale and intensity of the development
on-site car parking and impact of parking on adjoining land
building design and treatment issues.
Three formal submissions were received in support of the application. The issues raised have
been appropriately considered and addressed in the assessment of this application and through
the conditions of approval.
Ward Councillor:
The Councillor for Central Ward, Councillor Vicki Howard, noted that a submitter had a
concern about the easement and that has been taken into consideration during assessment of
the application.
Referral agencies:
The application was referred to Energex as an advice agency due to the site being located
within 100 metres of an Energex substation site. Energex provided a response dated
30 May 2013 approving the proposed development with no conditions.
8.
The Team Manager, Development Assessment Planning Services North, advises that relevant
reports have been obtained to address the assessment criteria and decision process prescribed
by the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA) and appropriate developmental requirements in
accordance with the City Plan provisions.
9.
The Team Manager recommends that the application be approved subject to the approved
plans and conditions included in the attached development approval package. The Committee
agrees, with Councillors Helen Abrahams and Shayne Sutton abstaining.
10.
RECOMMENDATION:
(i)
That it be and is hereby resolved that whereas (a)
a development application (distributor-retailer) was properly made on
8 May 2013 to the Council pursuant to section 260 of the Sustainable
Planning Act 2009 (SPA), as follows:
Development Aspects:
Carrying out building work – Preliminary approval
Material change of use – Development Permit
General description of
proposal:
Hotel, short-term accommodation, multi-unit dwelling
and restaurant
Land in the ownership of:
R.A.F.C.O Pty Ltd; Body Corporate for ‘Cecil Court’
CTS.2975
Address of the site:
21 and 25 Morgan Street, 72 McLachlan Street,
Fortitude Valley
Described as:
Lot 1 on Registered Plan (RP) 8873, Lot 2 on
RP174618, Lot 1 on Building Unit Plan (BUP) 12655,
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 67 -
Lot 2 on BUP12655, Lot 0 on BUP12655
Containing an area of:
(b)
2002 square metres.
The Council is required to assess the application under section 260 of the
SPA, and decide the application under section 324 of the Act.
The Council –
(ii)
(A)
Upon consideration of the application and those matters set forth in sections
314 and 324 of the SPA relevant to the application considers that:
1.
the site is within the urban footprint of the South East Queensland
Regional Plan 2009-2031, and the use is consistent with an urban
activity
2.
the proposal is consistent the Brisbane City Plan 2000
3.
the proposal advances the intent and development principles of the
Fortitude Valley Neighbourhood Plan in particularly the James Street
Precinct (Precinct 5)
4.
the proposal will not create adverse amenity impacts on the
surrounding area
5.
the site is within close proximity to public transport networks, such as
CityGlider and CityCycle
6.
the development can be accommodated within the existing essential
infrastructure networks.
(B)
Considers that were reasonable and relevant conditions imposed on the
development, it would be appropriate that the proposed development be
carried out on the subject land.
(C)
Issue Brisbane City Council Adopted Infrastructure Charges Notices for the
development pursuant to the SPA and Brisbane Adopted Infrastructure
Charges Resolution (No. 3) 2013, for the transport, community purposes and
stormwater trunk infrastructure networks
(D)
Under section 755A of the SPA, Council on behalf of Queensland Urban
Utilities as the Central South East Queensland (SEQ) Distributor-Retailer
Authority issue Adopted Infrastructure Charges Notices for the sewerage and
water supply trunk infrastructure networks.
Whereas the Council determines as in 3(i) hereof, THE COUNCIL APPROVES
THE DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION (DISTRIBUTOR-RETAILER) referred
to above and subject to the conditions in the attached Development Approval
Package:
notify the applicant of this decision and issue to the applicant the Adopted
Infrastructure Charges Notices
notify the Central SEQ Distributor-Retailer Authority of the decision and be
given a copy of any development approval package and the Adopted
Infrastructure Charges Notice
notify the Councillor of the Central Ward, Councillor Vicki Howard, of this
decision
notify the submitters of this decision.
ADOPTED
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 68 -
ENVIRONMENT, PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
Councillor Fiona KING, Deputy Chairman of the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee, moved,
seconded by Councillor Ryan MURPHY, that the report of the meeting of that Committee held on 15 October
2013, be adopted.
Acting Chairman:
Any debate? I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of the report of the
Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Matthew Bourke (Chairman), Councillor Fiona King (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors
Peter Cumming, Kim Flesser, Geraldine Knapp and Ryan Murphy.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – GUDGEONS AND PACIFIC BLUE EYES
229/2013-14
1.
Natalie Baker, Senior Program Officer, Natural Environment Water and Sustainability
Branch, City Planning and Sustainability Division, attended the meeting to provide a
presentation on fish in Council’s waterways. She provided the information below.
2.
Council has a legal obligation under the Nature Conservation Act to monitor and conserve
(certain fish) that live within Council’s waterways. Freshwater fish have a role to play in
biodiverse and functioning ecosystems.
3.
The fish in Council’s waterways eat the larvae of insects, keeping those insect populations
under control and these same fish feature in the diet of other bigger fish and animals. Fish are
excellent indicators of waterway health as they require good water quality and quantity,
habitat to maintain their existence and diverse dietary needs from insects to plants.
4.
There are 26 freshwater native fish in waterways within the greater Brisbane region. All of
these fish require different habitats and appear in a variety of sizes. These fish species range
from the tiny pacific blue eye at four centimetres to the prehistoric lung fish that grows to
nearly two metres and can weigh up to 40 kilograms. Fossil records of the lung fish date back
380 million years making it a living fossil.
5.
Council uses a number of different methods to sample the fish populations in its waterways.
These methods include dip nets, seine netting, and electrofishing. Electrofishing is when
electricity is used to stun fish and allows the fish to be easily captured as they float to the
surface. Electrofishing is a common survey method and when performed correctly, results in
no permanent harm to the fish. Fish stunned using this method correctly return to their natural
state in as little as two minutes after being stunned.
6.
Council has been monitoring fish populations since 2006. The catchments with the highest
levels of fish biodiversity include Bulimba, Enoggera, Kedron Brook, Moggill and Cabbage
Tree Creek.
7.
The presenter showed pictures of the fish found within Council’s waterways, explaining
details of these fish including the size, habitat requirements and some of their dominant
features. Some of these fish included different kinds of gudgeons (from the crimsontip to the
flathead) and pacific blue eyes.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 69 -
8.
For fish to survive they need:
good water quality
adequate water quantity
an in-stream habitat
stable banks
good riparian habitats (stopping extremes of water temperate by providing shade)
healthy macro-invertebrate populations (food source)
the ability to move along waterways and wetlands (when circumstances change and
they need to seek out water, food, shelter, mates et cetera).
9.
Guppies, platys, swordtail, goldfish and tilapia have all been introduced into the waterways in
Brisbane (mostly through the aquarium trade) and are now a significant threat to native fish.
10.
Gambusia were introduced into Brisbane’s waterways in the 1920s because of its reputation
as a mosquito-eater, however, it has been found to be no more effective at eliminating
mosquitos than other native fish.
11.
Tilapia is listed in the top 100 of the world’s worst introduced species. Tilapia can easily
establish in new areas as they have simple food requirements, flexible habitat preferences and
have highly efficient breeding strategies. They are aggressive, compete for food and space
and are known to prey on the eggs and fry of other fish. Tilapia may also contribute to habitat
degradation, with nest building by the Mozambique mouthbrooder males of the species
having the potential to damage aquatic vegetation and lead to increased turbidity.
12.
To achieve Council’s vision of a healthy river and bay, a foundational goal of Brisbane's
WaterSmart strategy, Council works at the local, catchment and regional scales to protect,
enhance and manage its waterways.
13.
Council works in partnership with the Queensland Government and organisations such as
Queensland Urban Utilities to leverage investments and reduce pollution entering waterways.
An example of this is the recent upgrades to the sewerage treatment plants.
14.
Council invests in best practice via the Healthy Waterways Partnership and two co-operative
research centres, eWater and Water Sensitive Cities. Council will be investing over
$16 million in improving its waterways this year, including, but not limited to:
Creek filtration systems that disconnect our stormwater from the creeks and use
vegetation to filter out pollution and sediments.
Stormwater harvesting projects that will remove stormwater pollutants, a resource that
will be reused on sporting fields and landscaping.
Council’s Waterway Health Enhancement program that delivers bank stabilisation
and ecological improvement of key waterway reaches and construction of water
sensitive urban design assets to improve the quality of water entering our waterways.
Supporting community action to undertake creek rehabilitation programs through the
Habitat Brisbane and Creek Catchment programs.
15.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Ms Baker for
her informative presentation.
16.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE
REPORT.
ADOPTED
FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 70 Councillor David McLACHLAN, Chairman of the Field Services Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor
Norm WYNDHAM, that the report of that Committee held on 15 October 2013, be adopted.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor McLACHLAN.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
Thank you, Madam Acting Chair, just briefly before I get to the item before us
at item A, I just wanted to report to the Chamber on the current numbers for this
Saturday's Garage Sale Trail which this Council is a willing participant in, and is
achieving great success and attracting numbers throughout Queensland and
throughout Australia. At the last count there were some 434 residents who have
registered for this Saturday's Garage Sale Trail. That includes Brisbane City
Council which will be operating items for sale via its tip shops, and the package
of materials has arrived for all those who are participating.
There is still time to get on board, at garagesaletrail.com.au if anybody still
hasn't got on board and wants to see their items sold and recycled on Saturday,
please get on board. It is a great program, supported by this Council, supported
by the local ABC and supported by Quest Newspapers, and thank you very
much for their support.
The item before us, at item A, I stole my own thunder briefly earlier, but I will
continue with a few points that I didn’t get to in terms of the benefits of new
cleansing equipment. What I didn't have time to talk about when I was
answering a question on the same issue in Question Time was what we are
doing next. I am sure Councillor SUTTON will still continue to advocate the
purchase of brooms instead of new equipment. Councillor SUTTON, I don't
know if you re-doubled the bet you laid in terms of whether I would mention
your support for brooms rather than new equipment, but I will say it again: the
ALP in this place stands opposed to the introduction of new equipment. This
Administration is all in favour of new tools of trade for our staff, particularly
when they say this is what we need to do a better job in the field.
The next steps—and this was contained in the report of other equipment that is
being trialled—we are continuing to review operations and looking at items such
as smaller street sweepers in the CBD and on bikeways; looking at water
reclamation units for pressure washing operations which will be of particular
value in places like West End and in the Valley; and continuing to look at all
those ideas that come forward from manufacturers as they continue to look at
what needs to be provided in the marketplace. Madam Acting Chair, I commend
the report to the Chamber.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor HOWARD.
Councillor HOWARD:
Thank you, Madam Acting Chair. I rise to make a contribution to the debate on
the Field Service Committee report surrounding the presentation on new
cleansing equipment for use in the Brisbane CBD and Fortitude Valley area.
Sadly I was unable to be at this committee meeting, but I want to place on
record my thanks to the Manager of Urban Amenity for her report and for her
contribution in making clean sweeps as part of this Administration's drive to
improve the quality of cleaning along busy routes and busy footfall areas.
I know that in recent years we have devoted significant resources to the new
equipment listed in point 3, the Glutton, bin tug, our gum removal vehicles and
the Litter Master 9000, as Councillor McLACHLAN mentioned earlier today.
So it is pleasing to read that not only are they more comfortable for our BCC
(Brisbane City Council) workers, but that they are contributing to better
outcomes.
As is reiterated in the minutes, those pieces of machinery have been a great
improvement over the traditional use of foot sweepers and manual cleaning, and
perhaps brooms. The new sweepers mean that streets can be swept more rapidly
and small items of litter can be removed more effectively from the pavement.
This is very important in the city because of the relatively high percentage of
people passing through the area every day on our busy city streets and footways.
Residents consistently tell me that clean streets are one of their top priorities,
and I take our responsibility to keep Central tidy very seriously indeed, which is
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 71 why it is very pleasing to read of our continued award recognition in the
Minutes. Providing this new equipment helps to support our Brisbane City
Council workers and shows we listen to residents' concerns and do something
about them, as any responsible local authority should. Thank you.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor McLACHLAN? I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the report of the Field Services Committee
was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor David McLachlan (Chairman), Councillor Norm Wyndham (Deputy Chairman), and
Councillors Peter Cumming, Nicole Johnston, Kim Marx and Ian McKenzie.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – THE BENEFITS OF NEW CLEANSING
EQUIPMENT
230/2013-14
1.
Mica Julien, Manager, Urban Amenities, Field Services Group, Brisbane Infrastructure
Division, attended the meeting to provide a presentation on the benefits of new cleansing
equipment. She provided the information below.
2.
Historically, specific cleansing activities were carried out manually as suitable equipment and
machinery was not available. Doing these tasks manually day-in and day-out led to:
shift fatigue/morale issues
injuries
lower quality outcomes delivered on a larger scale
a limited cleansing radius in the CBD and Fortitude Valley
perception from the public that cleansing was not being done.
3.
Council currently has green machines, the Glutton litter vacuum, the electric bin tug, gum
removal vehicles and the Litter Master 9000 to undertake cleansing activities in the CBD and
Fortitude Valley. The presenter displayed images of these machines.
4.
Benefits achieved through Council’s cleansing activities included:
Council is seen as leading the way with its new equipment
presenting a cleaner city through the control of micro-litter
steady reduction in litter counts
improved access to areas
increased cleansing radius in the CBD and Fortitude Valley
improved longevity of equipment
reduced shift fatigue experienced by field staff
promoting best practice
reduced correspondence in regards to litter
an increase in the commendations for the work carried-out and equipment used.
5.
Council’s Urban Amenities has received a Customer Focus Award for its display of
dedication to customer focus.
6.
Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland named Brisbane ‘Queensland’s most sustainable city’.
Key judging criteria included environmental innovation and protection, community
partnership and energy innovation. Council’s entry was underpinned by the enormous effort
of reducing the levels of litter in the community, especially in the CBD.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 72 -
7.
The presenter showed a graph of litter counts, showing a steady reduction in litter across the
CBD and Fortitude Valley areas from 2009 to 2013.
8.
The user demand for cleansing equipment in Europe is higher than any other part of the world
due to the population density within its cities and its cleanliness needs. Several large
companies such as RCM, Glutton and Tennant are continually developing and improving on
their current range of products, such as Glutton’s ride on version of a footpath sweeper which
will most likely be available in 2015. These companies test the new equipment in the local
market before distributing to the rest of the world.
9.
Urban Amenities is continuing to review its operations and aligning purpose-built equipment
to deliver greater cleansing outcomes for Council. Trials of local products along with smallersized street sweepers for the CBD and for bikeway sweeping are currently underway.
Research is also being conducted on water reclamation units for pressure washing operations
and new cleansing equipment that is coming onto the market in Europe.
10.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Ms Julien for
her informative presentation.
11.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE
REPORT.
ADOPTED
BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE
Councillor Krista ADAMS, Chairman of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor
Andrew WINES, that the report of that Committee held on 15 October 2013, be adopted.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor ADAMS.
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Last week's presentation to the Brisbane Lifestyle
Committee was about our community grants program for 2013-14. We have had
a round of grants that have already closed in a few particular areas, but what we
really wanted to promote and make sure that the Councillors spread to their
colleagues was our group 1 grants that actually opened now and are closing in
November.
They include the Access and Inclusion Community Partnership program, which
provides funding for community organisations and groups for access and
inclusion infrastructure and their properties; the Community Sport Club grants,
which assists clubs to operate more sustainably, whether that be through
facilities, through maintenance or maybe some organisational support for their
executive committee; the Suburban Crime Prevention program, which provides
funds to suburban businesses and not-for-profit groups and sporting clubs for
services or projects that will enhance the safety, the CPTED (crime prevention
through environmental design) issues around their buildings as well. All of those
close in November.
Some of these grant programs ran for two sessions last year, so it is very
important to note that there is only one round for each of our grants program this
year, but they are open for a longer period. The idea is to give people a better
opportunity to see what the grant is, speak to the Sport and Rec Officer, or the
Community Development Officer, in that space to make sure that they have
plenty of time to address the criteria on those grant applications.
The next round of grants that are open in November this year and close in
January are the Men's Shed grants; the Housing Support program grants, which
is funding for community organisations for the social needs of homeless people
in the inner northern suburbs; the Creative Sparks program to develop and
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 73 nurture the creativity of our residents; the Lord Mayor's Young and Emerging
Artists Fellowships, which is for young and emerging artists, obviously, and
workers aged between 17 and 13; Community History grants; and the Lord
Mayor's Helen Taylor Research Award for local history. Then there is the
Partnering for Public Netball Courts and School Tennis Partnership programs
that we do in conjunction with Education Queensland about providing new and
existing upgrades to those tennis and netball courts around the city.
As I said before, some of those big ones are open now, closing in November;
another lot will be opening in November, closing January/February. They are
spread throughout the year, but there is only one program for each of those over
an extended period. If you need more information, make sure you get on line or
speak to the local Sport and Rec Officer or Community Development Officer,
and make sure that all of your community groups have access to these fantastic
grants programs. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Acting Chairman:
Thank you, Councillor ADAMS. Further debate? I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of the report of the
Brisbane Lifestyle Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Krista Adams (Chairman), Councillor Andrew Wines (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors
Steve Griffiths, Vicki Howard, Steven Huang, and Victoria Newton.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM
2013-14
231/2013-14
1.
Lorraine Gregory, Manager, Healthy and Vibrant Communities, Brisbane Lifestyle Division,
attended the meeting to provide an update on Council’s Community Grants Program for
2013-14. Ms Gregory provided the information below.
2.
Changes to the Community Grants Program for the 2013-14 financial year included:
each grant will only be opened once a year; previously some grants were opened in
several rounds each year
opening of different grants will be spread throughout the year.
3.
Each year, the Lord Mayor’s Suburban Initiative Fund (LMSIF) is made available to each
councillor to enable them to support projects in their community. The LMSIF grants are open
year-round and range from $250 up to $10,000 for each organisation.
4.
The total budget allocation for the LMSIF is $1.35 million, with each Council ward being
allocated $50,000 for community projects undertaken within that ward. The Lord Mayor has
an allocation of $50,000 for community projects that involve multiple wards.
5.
The list of grants programs that are open now and close in November 2013 include; the
Access and Inclusion Community Partnership program, the Community Sport Club Grant
program and the Suburban Crime Prevention Grant program. Ms Gregory outlined these
programs in detail to the committee.
6.
The Access and Inclusion Community Partnership program provides funds to community
organisations, groups and networks under the auspice of projects or services that improve
access and inclusion in Brisbane.
7.
The total budget allocation for the Access and Inclusion Community Partnership program
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 74 -
grants is $400,000, with grants ranging from between $2000 to $50,000. Applications for
grants under the Access and Inclusion Community Partnership program opened on
16 September 2013 and will close on 11 November 2013.
8.
The Community Sport Club Grant program has been designed to help clubs operate more
efficiently. Sporting clubs can apply for grants to undertake critical maintenance projects that
will represent long-term viability for the club and may result in reductions to ongoing costs.
9.
Grants under the Community Sport Club program were opened on 16 September 2013 and
will close on 18 November 2013. The total budget allocation for this program is $2.3 million
and clubs can apply for grants up to $100,000.
10.
The Suburban Crime Prevention program provides funds to businesses and not-for-profit
community groups and sporting clubs, to provide projects or services that will help deter
crime and improve community safety in the local community e.g. additional lighting, CCTV
cameras or bollards.
11.
Applicants for the Suburban Crime Prevention program are required to provide 20 per cent of
the project costs, with Council funding the remaining 80 per cent through this grant, up to a
maximum of $10,000. Applications opened on 22 July 2013 and will close on 25 November
2013. The total budget allocation for this grant is $250,000.
12.
The second group of grants programs will open on 4 November 2013 and close between
January and February 2014. These programs will include:
Men’s Shed Grants program
Housing Support program
Creative Sparks program
Lord Mayor’s Young and Emerging Artists Fellowships
Brisbane History Grants/ Lord Mayor’s Helen Taylor Award for Local History
Partnering for Public Netball Courts program
School Tennis Partnership program.
The presenter outlined the specific detail of each of these grants programs.
13.
Images were shown of the Western Districts Netball Club and the Kenmore State High
School that received funding for projects from the Partnering for Public Netball Courts
program 2012-13 and the School Tennis Partnership program 2012-13.
14.
Information on how to apply for any of the grants that have been outlined was shown.
15.
Applications are currently closed and Council officers are assessing applications for grant
funding under the following programs:
School Sport and Recreation Facility Upgrade program
Community Development and Capacity Building grants
Healthy and Physical Activity grants
Community Support program
Seniors Celebration donation.
16.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Ms Gregory for
her informative and comprehensive presentation.
17.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE
REPORT.
ADOPTED
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 75 -
FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Councillor Julian SIMMONDS, Chairman of the Finance, Economic Development and Administration
Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor Ryan MURPHY, that the report of that Committee held on 15
October 2013, be adopted.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor SIMMONDS. Any further debate? I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the Finance, Economic Development and
Administration Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Julian Simmonds (Chairman), Councillor Angela Owen-Taylor (Deputy Chairman), and
Councillors Fiona King, Ryan Murphy, Shayne Sutton and Kim Flesser.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – ALL HAZARDS – BRISBANE READY
FOR SUMMER 2013/14
232/2013-14
1.
Jason Cameron, Manager Disaster Operations, Office of the Lord Mayor and Chief Executive
Officer, presented a report to the Committee on ‘All Hazards – Brisbane Ready for Summer
2013/14’. Mr Cameron provided the information below.
2.
The ‘Brisbane Ready for Summer’ campaign has run for the past six years. The campaign is
aimed at educating Brisbane residents and businesses on the risks associated with living in a
sub-tropical climate and urging them to take necessary measures to prepare and to protect
their family, pets and property.
3.
This year’s campaign was launched by the Lord Mayor on 27 August 2013 at the new State
Emergency Service depot at Anstead. The campaign runs between September 2013 and
March 2014 and is enhanced by inclusion of new hazards (bushfire, king tides and storm
surges), the targeting of a wider audience (residents in high risk zones, business owners and
industry sectors) and expanding media methods to include YouTube videos, downloadable
fact sheets and check lists.
4.
The key messages for the 2013-14 campaign include:
Be Prepared
Don’t wait until it’s too late
Do you understand your risk?
Prepare your home and yard
Do you know your neighbours?
5.
Council will target its communication with letters, brochures and co-branded for residents and
businesses in high risk bushfire zones, high risk flood zones and high risk king tide/storm
surge zones. A greater emphasis has also been placed on the CLAD (Culturally and
Linguistically Diverse Audiences) with material being translated into four languages
including Chinese, Vietnamese, Arabic and Korean.
6.
To ensure Brisbane is ready for summer, Council continues to work closely with a number of
key stakeholders to guarantee the community receives the best possible information. This
continues to expand each year with stakeholders including:
Energex
Australian Red Cross
Emergency Management Queensland
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 76 -
-
State Emergency Service
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service
Bureau of Meteorology.
7.
Mr Cameron then presented a number of slides that showed advertising for the campaign on
adshells, billboards, print media, bus wraps and social media.
8.
The Chairman thanked Mr Cameron and his team for the hard work and the informative
presentation.
9.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE REPORT.
ADOPTED
CONSIDERATION OF NOTIFIED MOTION – SIDE PANEL FOR BUS
SHELTER AT FAIRFIELD GARDENS SHOPPING CENTRE:
(Notified motions are printed as supplied and are not edited)
233/2013-14
The Acting Chairman of Council (Councillor Angela OWEN-TAYLOR) then drew the Councillors’ attention to
the notified motion listed on the agenda, and called on Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON to move the motion.
Accordingly, Councillor JOHNSTON moved, seconded by Councillor Victoria NEWTON, that—
Brisbane City Council installs side panels on the shelter located at bus stop at Fairfield Gardens Shopping
Centre as a matter of urgency.
As the terminus of the 196 buz service, this is a busy stop and shopping centre management and elderly
residents have requested the side panel additions to prevent exposure to adverse weather.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, thank you. I think there might have been a comma that should have been in
there, rather than a full stop. But, look, this is a very simple matter. I won't take
very long to discuss it. Earlier this year, on behalf of an elderly resident, on
behalf of the Yeronga Probus Club, and the Yeronga Friendship Club, all of
whom represent elderly people in my ward, I had a request to have side
partitions put on the bus stop outside Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre.
It is a bus stop that has a curved roof only, so three sides of the stop are actually
exposed to the weather—to the sun, the wind, and the rain. The service is a
terminus for the 196 in Fairfield, and a lot of elderly people do use that bus
route. It faces directly into the eastern sun, so it can be very hot.
What they asked for was to have partitions put on the side to stop the sun and
the wind affecting them while they're waiting for the bus. Now, I went back in
February. I logged this matter with Council and I asked them to look into it.
They responded and told me, yes, they would look into it within seven days.
Well, more than two months passed, and nothing happened.
So in April I followed up with Council, and I said, what's happening? Why have
I not had a response to my concerns on behalf of the residents? I think actually
my staff were the first ones to follow up, and they were told—and let's get this
right—Fairfield is in the southern suburbs of Brisbane, in a completely different
area to The Gap Ward which is on the north-western suburbs of Brisbane, but at
that time the Council officers told us that my request had been referred to The
Gap Ward office and therefore they hadn't answered our request for a bus shelter
at Fairfield; they had given it to The Gap Ward office. Now, this is what I've got
in writing from Council.
So I followed up, and I went to the CEO and said, Look, something's gone
wrong here; can you find out why we're not getting answers? How does
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 77 someone confuse a bus shelter request at Fairfield with a bus shelter request at
The Gap? I got another response. This one was saying, we can't put a prototype
on bus stop 19. Bus stop 19 is not at Fairfield Gardens, so I got a second wrong
response. That is in May.
Then I again raised the matter with the CEO of Council because so far now two
wrong responses and no substantive response to the request for the side
partitions on the bus stop at Fairfield. Finally, we did get a response, and that
basically said that the bus stop is on private property. It is just inside the
entrance to the shopping centre. It is not Council property; therefore they are,
'not required or obligated to maintain, clean or upgrade the area. The bus stop J
pole is provided and updated by Council as required.'
However, it goes on to say—and this is the CEO of Council, Colin Jensen, 'I can
advise the arrangements for bus stops located within shopping centres have
historically been dealt with on an individual basis. Council does have operating
leases at a number of shopping centres where bus interchanges are provided,
including Toombul, Brookside, Stafford, Cannon Hill'—and I am sure there's
many more.
I have thought about what to do. I have discussed it at length with the shopping
centre management, with the seniors groups that are represented with this issue,
and I have come to the conclusion that the only way to get this Council to act on
a resident's request is to bring a motion into this place and ask Council to
allocate some of the money that they have available for bus shelters to this bus
shelter at Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre.
It is clear that Council will do it at some shopping centres. So there is no reason
that it cannot do it at Fairfield Gardens. It is something the management of the
shopping centre wants; it is something the local residents want. It would
particularly benefit the elderly in our area who are exposed to the elements. All I
am asking for is a little bit of funding to be allocated out of the current budget to
fund the side partitions on the side of the existing bus stop at Fairfield Gardens
Shopping Centre. It would be a great benefit, particularly for elderly in my area.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor SCHRINNER.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Yes, Madam Chairman; this motion should never have come to Council. It is a
waste of everyone's time. Councillor JOHNSTON knows the facts here. I have
the letter from the CEO. Let me read it out. 'In addition, I understand you were
contacted by'- and I will leave the Council officer's name out—'from Council's
Transport, Planning and Strategy Branch on 17 April regarding bus stop 18
located in the Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre. As Mr—[name excluded]—
explained, this is not a Council-owned asset and as such any modifications and
maintenance works would be the responsibility of the centre management.'
This letter was provided by the CEO on 2 May 2013. If the shopping centre, as
Councillor JOHNSTON says, wants it upgraded, they should do it.
234/2013-14
Motion be now put
It was moved by the DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, seconded by Councillor Ryan
MURPHY, that the motion be now put. Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion, that the motion be
now put, was declared carried on the voices.
Acting Chairman:
I will now give Councillor JOHNSTON right of reply.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, Madam Chairman, and I will be very happy to show the residents of my
ward the very discourteous way in which the Chairman of Infrastructure has
responded to this request today. It is not me that is asking for this; it is elderly
residents in my area. I, too, am going to table the letter from the CEO that I read
out, from 31 May. Let me say there has been at least half a dozen occasions
where I have gone back and forth to this Council; the first two times to get an
accurate answer, and the second or the third few times, sorry—the few times
thereafter, sorry, to get action on the issue.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 78 It is very clear here that—and this is the CEO's letter of 31 May—it comes after
the letter that the DEPUTY MAYOR read out, and it comes very, very clearly in
that letter that, 'Arrangements for bus stops located within shopping centres have
historically been dealt with on an individual basis. Council does have leases at a
number of shopping complexes where bus interchanges are provided, including
Toombul, Brookside, Stafford and Cannon City.'
It is extremely clear that this Council does provide infrastructure for some bus
interchanges at shopping centres. Now, that is the letter of 31 May from the
CEO that contains the most recent facts, so someone hasn't briefed up the
DEPUTY MAYOR very well here today because he clearly does not have the
appropriate letter. I table a copy of that letter so that it is on the record.
It is clear today that this LORD MAYOR and this Administration is making a
choice not to fund this upgrade. At least have the guts to stand up and say, no,
you are not going to do it; not hide behind some letter from early May that is not
even the most recent information about the situation. It is beyond me why this
Council won't consider doing this, and I think they will rue the day that they
think about who the actual elderly lady is that asked me about this, because if
they knew who it was, they would have done it, but anyway.
What I will say is that this is a stupid decision by the LNP. It is disgraceful that
the DEPUTY MAYOR has stood up and treated a resident's request with such
little consideration. I think it reflects poorly on the LNP Administration that they
are not prepared to look after commuters at a BUZ route bus stop—this is a very
busy bus stop—to put some side panels on so people are protected from the
elements. That is all we're asking here. It may be a couple of thousand dollars, if
that. I know you cut a $2 million drainage project out of my area today, so why
on earth would you support a couple of thousand dollars for bus partitions on the
side of a shelter?
Sadly, I'm not surprised that this Administration is not prepared to act on a
resident's request in my area. But what I will say is this matter was handled
incompetently by Council, and it is clear that this can be done, but the LNP
Administration is choosing not to do it. That is not good enough in my view.
Acting Chairman:
I will now put the motion.
As there was no further debate, the Chairman submitted the motion to the Chamber and it was declared lost on
the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Nicole JOHNSTON and Helen ABRAHAMS immediately rose and called for a
division, which resulted in the motion being declared lost.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 1 -
Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON.
NOES: 14 -
The DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista
ADAMS, Amanda COOPER, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING,
Geraldine KNAPP, Ian McKENZIE, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS,
Andrew
WINES,
and
Norm WYNDHAM.
ABSTENTIONS: 4 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Steve GRIFFITHS, and Victoria NEWTON.
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS:
Acting Chairman:
Councillors, are there any petitions? Councillor NEWTON.
Councillor NEWTON:
Yes, thank you, Madam Chair; I rise to present a petition from about 100
residents and visitors supporting the continuation of hosting the Expressions Art
Show annually at the Sandgate Town Hall.
Acting Chairman:
Further petitions; Councillor JOHNSTON.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 79 Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, I have two petitions, both of which have been previously tabled, but I have
extra pages; one is for the repairs to a range of streets in Yeerongpilly, including
Soden, Wilkie, Crichton, Bradley, Park Road and Moolabin Street. The second
petition is another, I don't know, 30 people signing up to save the RSPCA site at
Fairfield. Thank you.
Acting Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair; I have two petitions, one from the majority of the
residents in Whynot Street who wish the central white line and cats eyes
removed, as they were put there on the behest of the LORD MAYOR and only
one person submitting. I have a petition objecting to the modification of the 234
bus route which now no longer provides access to the PA and Fortitude Valley
for Kangaroo Point residents.
Acting Chairman:
Further petitions? None. Councillor MURPHY, can I have a motion for receipt
of the petitions?
235/2013-14
It was resolved on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Victoria NEWTON, that
the petitions as presented be received and referred to the Committee concerned for consideration and report.
The petitions were summarised as follows:
File No.
Councillor
Topic
CA13/735526
Victoria Newton
CA13/736104
Nicole Johnston
CA13/735546
Nicole Johnston
CA13/735564
Helen Abrahams
CA13/735515
Helen Abrahams
Requesting that Council support the Sandgate Town Hall as a
venue for the Expressions Art Show
Calling on Council to resurface and fix the following damaged
and degraded street and kerbs in residential streets in
Yeerongpilly as part of the next budget cycle: Soden, Wilkie,
Crichton, Bradley, Moolabin Streets and Park Road (southern
end)
Calling on Council to acquire the old RSPCA site on the corner
of Venner and Fairfield roads, Fairfield, from the State
Government to be zoned as parklands for community
recreational and sporting use
Calling on Council to remove the centre white line and ‘cats
eyes’ from Whynot Street, West End
Calling on Council to make recommendations to TransLink to
modify the 234 bus service from the CBD to Woolloongabba,
so that it travels along Brunswick and Ann Streets
GENERAL BUSINESS:
Acting Chairman:
General Business. Councillor KNAPP.
Councillor KNAPP:
Thank you, Madam Chair. It is not often that I rise any more. I would like to talk
about some of the contributions that people have made to The Gap
community—not my community, but I do live in it, and I have lived there for 43
years, so I suppose I have never lived anywhere else but in my ward. In fact, my
husband has lived in the ward for 71 years, so I worked out. I wasn't very good
at flying out and living elsewhere.
In about 2010, I looked at what contributions people were making to The Gap
community in particular, because The Gap is rather one of those unique suburbs
that, until 1956, there were only 90 houses or farms in The Gap suburb. It is a
very old suburb, and in fact in 2010 it had its sesquicentenary of the 150 years. I
suppose because of the Enoggera Dam and the name of Waterworks Road,
people assume that it's quite an old suburb. In actual fact, the first development
in The Gap occurred in 1956.
Along the way, through the Historical Society and because there were only 90
residents, a lot of the streets in The Gap were named after the original
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 80 landholders like the Paynes and the Patens and the Bennetts, or a park was
named after them at the behest of the Historical Society.
The trigger for the pillars of the community, which is the Seven Pillars that I
commissioned from an amazing artist called Katrina Holland was a way that we
could recognise the contribution of people who lived in The Gap, worked in The
Gap, did various things in relation to it, and in 2010, Seven Pillars was erected
in The Gap in Walton Bridge. These pillars—Katrina Holland is a very, very
clever public artist, and they were designed to reflect both the outer and inner
aspects of the beauty of the community, the wide open skies, the sun, the tall
trees, the neighbourhood and the people of The Gap are all represented.
Each of the pillars represents a certain element of it. The green pillar celebrated
the abundance of trees, and it is decorated to reflect that. The blue pillar with the
clouds represents the wide open skies, and on the back of it she has put a storm
cloud that recognises the storm in 2008 on 16 November. The yellow pillar is
for the sun. The red pillar is decorated with cells and DNA sequences and
micro-organisms. It was on that pillar that two of the original recipients were
recognised, which was in homage to Dr Brian Cole and Dr Steward Johnston
who set up the first medical centre in The Gap literally in about 1956.
The next pillar recognised the most amazing gentle volunteer, a very quiet man
called Bob Sudbury, who had started the Neighbourhood Watch and had
persisted with it until nobody wanted to take it up. It was a very sad moment. He
also was very active in the Anglican Church. He was an architect by trade, and
just one of those amazing people that are in all communities, but I suppose
because The Gap is a very large suburb, it is almost unique, my ward, in that
there is The Gap which has 16,000 people in it, Ashgrove—the next biggest
suburb in the ward—has close to about 12,000 people; I've got half of Bardon
and half of Red Hill, and it is all residential and they all are a community of
interest. They all either went to school there, know each other. The six degrees
of separation is about down to three.
The pillar for the Neighbourhood recognised Bob Sudbury, and I want to say
today that he died the other day. I am very sad. I suppose people reach a stage
that—he had a heart attack and he went very gently, and I am so glad that we
had the ability to recognise Bob Sudbury's contribution to The Gap, because he
virtually was one of the first residents that designed and built a house off
Cooinda Street in about 1958, and, like a lot of Gap residents, lived there all of
his life until he moved out when he and Joan were getting a bit frail and they
moved over to Keperra.
The other pillar represents the members of the community, and that was in
recognition of my darling, darling friend who had died, Neville Rule, who was
the most amazing man. The Council cabs today are in recognition of the work
that Neville Rule did with a small community group in about 2000. I met him in
1997. This group was working out how you could get elderly people from The
Gap over to Brookside. We started a maxi taxi service with a bit of help from a
seniors grant. We had chits that all of the old girls could use to get over there,
and we ran it on the smell of an oily rag. Today, really, I am one of the few
people who remember that it was because of Neville Rule that we have this
amazing maxi taxi service. So he was recognised and he was one of the first four
recipients.
Subsequent to that, we said to everybody—and this is a cracker idea; it wasn't
my idea to start with. I was going to—which Katrina was very good with, but
we basically then said, look, why don't members of the community do that? So
the next name was that of a bloke called Barry Darwin who set up a cycle shop,
but he did everything. He did BMXs, and his contribution was amazing. So his
name is there.
Jack Christiansen was the principal of The Gap State School from 1968 to 1981.
The Gap State School is only 40 years old, so Jack's contribution to a high
school that everyone had really fought to get was amazing. He had died, but his
wife, Betty, was there in relation to it.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 81 Julie Nicholls is the next person that was recognised. She moved to The Gap in
1960. She was part of The Gap State High School Ladies Auxiliary Committee
and president when they had ladies auxiliaries at high schools, when the girls
had a separate headmistress, and there was a headmaster for the boys, and
everyone wore gloves and everything like that. Then she worked voluntarily,
and JA Robertson bequeathed some land next to The Gap High, and she fought
tirelessly with the group of people on the committee to fundraise for the JA
Robertson Hall. Lastly, she was the president of the Save the Children Fund in
The Gap, from 2000 until now.
The last person that we recognise is an amazing bloke who has never lived
anywhere else but in The Gap, and his name is Richard Speechley. He is 82; he
has had a kidney transplant; he ran a swim school; he is a terrific, and still doing
things for the garden community club, all of those things that personify what we
like about living in our suburbs. Richard was born in 1932, so that tells you how
old he is. He is 81. He attended The Gap State School in 1937 to 1945. When he
retired, he started taking people's written stories of living in The Gap. Of all of
those families, the 90 families, there was the next generation that were still
around, and it was called Reflections in The Gap. From there, really, the
historical Society of Ashgrove, The Gap and the other historical society settlers
became a reality of him starting to write the Reflections of The Gap.
Not only content with that, as a kid he was a Scout Master, so in 1941 he was
involved in The Gap State School. He ran the Taylor Range, which is where I
first met him. He is active today still in one of the longest running garden clubs
which was started in 1960. That is a pretty long time. In fact, it celebrated its
anniversary the other day, and some of the original women who moved to The
Gap in 1956 are still there.
Madam Chair, I salute them. I think that we all recognise that there are amazing
people in our wards that make a truly wonderful contribution to our wards, and I
am just sort of floating it out in the air that this is one of the ways, with these
Gap pillars and public art that sit in Walton Bridge—and there are four more
going on shortly for the Scouts, the Girl Guides and The Gap Garden Club, as
groups that have made a contribution, but it is a terrific way of us being able, for
posterity if you like, to recognise the most amazing contribution of volunteers
within our wards.
Acting Chairman:
Thank you, Councillor KNAPP. Further debate; Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
Thank you, Madam Chair; I rise today to speak further on the changes to the
CityCat and CityFerry services that came into effect on Monday, and the
impacts they are having on residents in my ward. Since the new services came
into effect on Monday, my office has been inundated with emails and calls from
residents who are being adversely affected by these changes.
These changes are not minor. These changes are not tinkering around the edges.
These changes are significantly impacting on the residents of my ward, and their
ability to get to and from work, and where they need and want to go. Given the
LORD MAYOR is currently absent from the Chamber, I certainly hope that he
is listening to this speech in his office, because it was he earlier today that asked
me to present him with evidence of what I was saying.
What are the changes? Effectively, the old timetable for CityCat services was
very simple. The inbound or upstream services used to dock at the following
terminals in the following order. It would commence at North Shore Hamilton;
it would go to Apollo Road, then the Brett's Wharf, then the Bulimba, then the
Teneriffe. I have been using the example from 7 a.m. to 8.30 for most of the
day, so I am going to continue with that example in this speech today. Under the
old timetable—I am spelling this out very clearly for those people who are
investigating this matter on Council's behalf.
What that timetable order did is for the morning peak services that were
travelling upstream—that is, inbound into the city; there were 14 CityCat
services that Bulimba residents could catch that would go from Bulimba across
the river to Teneriffe. The new timetable has changed the order in which the
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 82 CityCats dock at ferry terminals. Now the inbound, upstream service, starts at
North Shore Hamilton, goes to Apollo Road, Brett's Wharf, then Teneriffe, then
Bulimba.
So rather than the inbound upstream services going to Bulimba first, picking up
the people who wanted to get across the river to get to Teneriffe, to catch the
CityGlider, to ride their bikes into town, to even walk to employment around
Teneriffe, New Farm, can no longer access those 14 services. Those 14 services
are still running, but the effect of changing the order in which the CityCats dock
means that people from Bulimba wanting to get over to Teneriffe miss out on 14
inbound services that will take them to the other side of the river.
The other thing that has happened is the CityFerry service has gone from
anywhere between 10, 12, 15 minutes departures to a hard 15-minute timeframe,
which effectively means that, in the hour and a half period that I am talking to,
from 7am to 8.30am, that goes from eight cross-river services on the CityFerry
service down to six. That has effectively cut the number of services that people
can use to get from Bulimba to Teneriffe down from 22 to 10. No one knew that
this was coming. I knew the CityCat cuts were coming. I was prepared to wait it
out to see what the impact was. We have now waited it out, and the impact has
been enormous. It came without any notice. I didn't know that you were going to
change the order in which the CityCats dock; neither did the residents.
Those residents, if they are to get to work—and I take the LORD MAYOR at
his word that he will investigate it—but he needs to understand this: those
residents that need to get to work are going to have to change their travel
behaviours quickly. I will be down at the ferry terminal tomorrow; I will be out
there speaking to people, but I will tell you now: on day three, a number of them
will have already changed their travel behaviours because the bottom line is they
need to get to work, and to get to work on time.
I am going to read to you now, in the words of some of the local residents that
have been impacted on this, from some of the emails that I have received in my
office. This came through Monday afternoon. 'Today I was there with about 50
other people for 30 minutes while we waited to get to Teneriffe to connect to the
CityGlider. This trip normally takes 25 minutes to get to the city. Today was an
hour, so I was late for work.
My other option was to catch the CityCat to Riverside and walk to the other end
of town, about 50 minutes. Hopefully the decision makers will see what a
ridiculous idea this was and change it back. Meantime I think I'm going to run
the gauntlet of Wynnum Road on my bike and hopefully not end up in the news.'
That last comment is with reference to the Wynnum Road shared pathway
which I have been working with Councillor Peter MATIC about in terms of
trying to get a solution to that cycleway on Wynnum Road, which is another
issue.
Another email, also came in on Monday morning just after this gentleman had
tried to catch the cross-river ferry. 'Over 100 people were waiting to catch the
CityCat from Bulimba to Teneriffe this morning at 7.20am, many to be told for
the first time that the CityCat no longer makes this journey. So the Cross River
Ferry was overflowing with people missing the journey. Some guy handing out
new timetables said to my wife, 'Why are there so many people here? What are
they waiting for?'' Of course, the answer was, they're waiting for a CityCat
service that has been cut.
Another one, 'A lot of us, the regular users of this service, weren't happy with
this new arrangement. After yesterday, myself and my family had decided that
we would have to catch a bus to-and-from work because the new route is pretty
stupid. Think about it. In the morning, we have to wait for the outbound CityCat
that comes from the city across the river to Teneriffe instead of catching an
inbound CityCat. Do you know how many outbound CityCats are in the
morning? Not that many.'
Madam Chair, there are three between 7 am and 8.30am. outbound services.
There is another one that leaves at 8.36 which makes four, but by 8.36, if you're
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 83 trying to get to work by 9.00am, it's a pretty close shave. 'Seriously, it doesn't
take a genius to figure out, and what's the point of having CityGlider service
across the river from Bulimba if no one is going to be able to use it? Or perhaps
the smart person in BCC had the hidden agenda to scrap that service as well by
saying that the number of users can't justify the need to have the service.'
Finally, Madam Chair, this is another one. 'My frustration is borne of the fact
that this once fantastic service has been decimated. Instead of a boat every five
minutes at peak hour, which were three-quarters full, we get a boat every 15
minutes that queues are now twice as long; there are no seats inside the cabin,
and there is gross overcrowding because the frequency of boats has been cut by
two-thirds. The Cross River Ferry has been forced to take up the slack as well,
and that too is grossly overcrowded during peak hour. I truly hope that there are
no accidents because of this appalling decision.
You keep banging on about Brisbane, the New World City, whatever that
means, but you along with Campbell Newman keep implementing these
draconian policies—this is actually an email that was sent to the LORD
MAYOR, copied to me.
People will not put up with overcrowding and excessive wait times.
Consequently, it will be used less and less by locals, including myself, who will
elect to use private transport that is much cheaper and potentially a quicker way
to get to work. The completely inadequate city arterial roads will suffer, so the
money the government saves on demolishing the CityCat service can be spent
on the upkeep of Wynnum Road, Shafston Avenue and our dear old bridge,
because they are going to get a lot more traffic.'
Madam Chair, my issue is this: if you are a resident living in Bulimba,
Balmoral, Hawthorne, your options to get into the city now are a reduced
CityCat service that no longer allows you to get quickly and efficiently to the
other side of the river, or you can take your chances on a bike and go down the
heavily congested and dangerous shared pathway—and Councillor MATIC
himself acknowledges that there is an issue with that, as does the LORD
MAYOR, which is why he has made a commitment to fund the Pope Street
Bridge and establish an alternative cycling pathway, or the third is to use the
heavily congested Wynnum Road, and it is not good enough. They deserve
better.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Thanks, Madam Acting Chair; I rise to speak tonight on the performance of the
LNP at the local, State and Federal level, and I will also be talking about the
carbon tax tonight. Madam Chair, I will start off with what happened today in
Question Time when the LORD MAYOR was asked directly: what were his
plans for dealing with the repeal of the carbon tax, and he said, I don't deal in
hypotheticals.
Well, every Brisbane resident knows that, when the budget was framed last year,
the LORD MAYOR and every LNP Councillor went out to the community and
said the carbon tax would be costing ratepayers around $15 million a year or
around $60 million over four years, and added about 1.9 per cent to the rates
bill. We all know that the big scare campaign that was run out there; it is no
secret that the Prime Minister and the then Leader of the Opposition promised
that, in 100 days of an election of an Abbott Government, the carbon tax would
be repealed. The carbon tax would go.
In fact, last week the Prime Minister and Minister Greg Hunt released the actual
legislation, the repeal of the carbon tax, exposure draft legislation and
consultation paper. It was released out into the community. But what is this
Council's response, despite running a massive scare campaign, a massive fear
campaign? What is their response? Since the election, they have gone
completely silent. Who can remember the lectures from Councillor BOURKE
week in, week out, about the carbon tax. The LORD MAYOR banging on about
it. The media—it's still on the LORD MAYOR's website about the carbon tax.
They have said that they are going to take action.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 84 The LORD MAYOR's own comments were that he resents the tax, that he has
issues with the tax. That is fine. That is the LORD MAYOR's prerogative. But
when the rubber hits the road, when the actual real dollars get prepared and the
legislation gets put forward, the LORD MAYOR has no plan. He has no intent
of having that money back to the ratepayers of Brisbane. We know all along it
was a carbon tax con by the LNP at this level of government.
So when questioned today, would the LORD MAYOR put that money back into
the ratepayers, would there be an immediate freeze, would that money go back
in, or would he use that money to top up the $16 million that the LNP have cut
from public transport? He refused to do so. Well, Madam Chair, that says to me
they were never, ever serious about what they said about the carbon tax. It was a
con all along, so that they could rip out money, they could pour money into their
pet projects, and actually use it as some sort of cover.
Well, time is up, and the LNP needs to come clean about will they return that
money back to the ratepayers of this city, and that is fine. If they want to keep
jacking up rates and they want to keep putting the cost of living pressures under
even more circumstances, that is fine. They should use that money as they
promised, that they would take action on the carbon tax, but they have remained
completely silent, completely invisible since the Federal Election. Haven't heard
boo about them.
I maintain that they are not going to return that money to the ratepayers of
Brisbane. The so-called 1.9 per cent increase in rates that we have seen, the $60odd million dollars that has been poured out of the ratepayers, they are going to
keep that money, and they are going to top up their failing budget situation. It is
not good enough. Each week in and week out, we just heard from Councillor
SUTTON about what the true extent now of public transport cuts mean for
commuters across the city, and for the LORD MAYOR to say today, I'll have a
look at that. They've been in three days; they've been in three days. Why wasn't
the work done beforehand? They were never, ever interested in actually
providing better services. He was always finding the money to prop up their
debt problems.
Each week you come in here—through you, Madam Chair—the chairs get up
and talk about me in their response, not their record, never about their record.
We had Councillor ADAMS talk about something that happened six months
ago—keep up, Councillor ADAMS—about the library figures, because she got a
couple of hits against her in the media. What did we have last week? Councillor
BOURKE attacking me because I somehow didn't oppose a resumption for a
sporting field, which was an LNP election commitment.
And my favourite, when somehow I've been misleading the community around
bus cuts. So those bus cuts that have happened, when people turn up to the bus
stops, or as they turn up to the CityCat ferry terminals, the community should be
grateful for it, and that somehow I've run a scare campaign. Well, I can tell you
out in the community: come out and talk to them in my local area and see what
they talk about the $16 million bus cut and ferry cat rip off that the LNP are
exposing. They're not happy about it.
What's the other one? Councillor ADAMS says, well, the community should be
grateful at Inala because we shut down the customer service office but we put in
a few sofas and some scatter cushions, and that should be a great addition to the
community. Well, you know, sorry Councillor ADAMS—through you, Madam
Chair—come and talk to any resident that comes through my office; they would
prefer a customer service office there any day of the week. But that is the
different priorities amongst this side of the Chamber and that side of the
Chamber. Labor invest in public transport; they build up services through the
south—
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
—through the south-west of Brisbane; they increase public transport; they
deliver things like railway corridors; they increase things like BUZ routes in my
area; they invest in public transport. Then what happens? They build busways.
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 85 And then what happens under the LNP at a State and local government, working
hand in glove? They cut public transport. They reduce it. Or my favourite, they
tweak or they optimise services.
They cut public transport, because those opposite are against public transport.
They do not support investing in public transport. They reduce services, just as
we have heard, for commuters who were left stranded waiting to get to work.
They think it's good enough. They think it’s okay. The reason why they've done
that is because we have a debt problem, and this Council now is cutting bread
and butter services, as we heard, as a result of our debt problems.
We saw it again today, with a cut in drainage, one of the most critical pieces of
infrastructure that we can deliver. We have said to those residents across the
city, well, we can't afford what we said we were going to do. We got our sums
wrong. You'll have to wait. This is about priorities. This is about getting the
balance right to make sure that we actually honour what we say.
You didn't say during the budget—through you, Madam Acting Chair—well,
we're not sure, we may have to roll over some projects next year. We may have
to look at cutting services. You didn't say any of that at all. Four months after
the budget, you sneak in here and you start cutting the services. It was the same
in the budget review, and it is the same—
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
You said you were going to spend X amount of dollars; you said you were going
to spend $8 million on major drainage this year, through you to Councillor
SIMMONDS; you are not spending that.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
You've reduced the amount of money, through your own document, and you
signed off on it. You said that was okay. Well, I can tell you, in listening to the
talk-back callers this afternoon on 4BC—and after Councillor BOURKE
followed on from me this afternoon, I don't think he'll be doing too much more
media—what we've seen is residents that are upset, and rightly so. You can't go
out and say, do you know what, we're going to spend this, but oh, we're going to
change our mind four months down the track. What's next?
My challenge, which no one from the LNP will own up today is: are you going
to cut any more drainage projects for our city? Silence. We can never get a
straight answer from those opposite because we know, because of our city's
precarious financial situation, we have had to cut more and more and more. That
is frontline services; that is staff, in line with what the LNP philosophy is. When
you see savings and you need to make those cutbacks, you target those who are
most affected. Of course, I am talking about in the LNP DNA, whether it is
sacking nurses, closing schools, reducing services out of healthcare or frontline
areas—that is what happens under the LNP.
Well, Madam Chair, the community is getting sick and tired of the mistruths and
the promises not being delivered by the LNP. Everything was supposed to get
back on track. We are supposed to see dividends being paid out to the ratepayers
and the taxpayers of Brisbane. They are being sold a pup under the LNP at a
Council level, and particularly at a State level as well. So, Madam Chair, I make
no apologies for standing up for the local community. My challenge, which I
will continue to ask is: do the right thing. If you're so committed against the
carbon tax, and it's impacting on our financial situation and you had to increase
rates and you had to rip out the money, well, do the right thing once it's repealed
and hand back that money to the ratepayers, and do the right thing and honour
your commitments.
Acting Chairman:
Further debate; 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)
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 86 -
Submitted by Councillor Nicole Johnston (received on Thursday 17 October 2013):
Q1. Would the CEO please advise if all Council staff were entitled to vote on EBA 8?
Q2.
Would the CEO advise if all Council staff were entitled to vote on EBA 8 how were
they advised about their voting rights and how was the ballot conducted?
Q3.
Would the CEO advise if not all Council staff were entitled to vote on EBA 8, how
many staff were entitled to vote and what were the criteria for participation?.
Submitted by Councillor Victoria Newton (received on Thursday 17 October 2013):
Q1. Can the CEO please advise what was the marketing and promotion costs for the:
GreenHeart Fair held on 2 June at 7th Brigade Park in Chermside?
GreenHeart Fair held on Sunday 13 October at Carindale Recreation Reserve?
Q2.
Can the CEO please advise what was the total event cost (minus marketing and
promotion costs) for the:
GreenHeart Fair held on 2 June at 7th Brigade Park in Chermside?
GreenHeart Fair held on Sunday 13 October at Carindale Recreation Reserve?
Q3.
Can the CEO please advise what was the total cost of Council staff wages for the:
GreenHeart Fair held on 2 June at 7th Brigade Park in Chermside?
GreenHeart Fair held on Sunday 13 October at Carindale Recreation Reserve?
Q4.
Can the CEO please advise what was the total entertainment cost for the GreenHeart
Fair held on 2 June at 7th Brigade Park in Chermside?
Q5.
Can the CEO please advise what was the total entertainment cost for the GreenHeart
Fair held on Sunday 13 October at Carindale Recreation Reserve?
Q6.
Can the CEO please advise how much did it have Peppa Pig to attend the GreenHeart
Fair held on 2 June at 7th Brigade Park in Chermside?
Q7.
Can the CEO please advise how much did it have Dirt Girl to attend the GreenHeart
Fair held on 2 June at 7th Brigade Park in Chermside?
Q8.
Can the CEO please advise how much did it have Dirt Girl to attend the GreenHeart
Fair held on Sunday 13 October at Carindale Recreation Reserve?
Q9.
Can the CEO please advise how much did it have Dora the Explorer to attend the
GreenHeart Fair held on Sunday 13 October at Carindale Recreation Reserve?
Q10. Can the CEO please advise how many people visited each of the following Council
pool facilities in 2012/13 financial year:
Acacia Ridge Leisure Centre
Bellbowrie Pool
Carole Park Pool
Centenary Pool
Chermside Pool
Colmslie Pool
Dunlop Park Memorial Pool
Hibiscus Sports Complex
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 87 -
-
Ithaca Pool
Jindalee Pool
Langlands Park Memorial Pool
Manly Pool
Mt Gravatt East Aquatic Centre
Musgrave Park Pool
Newmarket Pool
Runcorn Pool
Sandgate Pool
Spring Hill Baths
Valley Pool
Yeronga Park Pool
Q11: Can the CEO please advise of the total cost of providing catering for Establishment
and Coordination meetings held in 2012/13 financial year?
Q12: Can the CEO please provide the number of passengers using the City Hopper service
(ie the free CityFerry service with City Hopper livery) per month between 1 January
and 1 July 2013?
Q13: Can the CEO please provide the number of passengers using the City Ferry Service
other than the City Hopper per month between 1st January and 1st July 2013?
Q14: Can the CEO please provide the number of passengers who board the City Hooper
Service and the number of passengers who board the City Ferry Service at the
Thorton Street ferry terminal per month between 1st January and 1st July 2013?
Q15: Can the CEO please provide the City Ferry Service Terminal with the greatest
number of passengers boarding the ferry per month between 1st January and 1st July
2013 and provide a breakdown of the passenger use per month?
Q16: Can the CEO please provide the City Hooper terminal with the greatest number of
passengers boarding the ferry per month between 1st January and 1st July 2013 and
provide the breakdown of the passenger use per month?
Q17: Can the CEO please provide the running costs of the City Hooper services between
1st January and 1st July 2013?
Q18: Can the CEO please provide the running costs of the City Ferry Services between
1st January and 1st July 2013?
Q19: Can the CEO please advise how many dogs were abandoned/ surrendered/ seized and
taken to Brisbane City Council animal shelters at Bracken Ridge and Willawong by
both the public and dogs seized by Council’s CARS officers for each of the following
financial years: 2009/10; 2010/11; 2011/12; 2012/13?
Q20: Can the CEO please advise how many cats were abandoned/ surrendered/ seized and
taken to Brisbane City Council animal shelters at Bracken Ridge and Willawong by
both the public and cats seized by Council’s CARS officers for each of the following
financial years: 2009/10; 2010/11; 2011/12; 2012/13?
Q21: Can the CEO please advise how many dogs were returned to their owners from
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 88 -
Brisbane City Council animal shelters at Bracken Ridge and Willawong for each of
the following financial years: 2009/10; 2010/11; 2011/12; 2012/13?
Q22: Can the CEO please advise how many cats were returned to their owners from
Brisbane City Council animal shelters at Bracken Ridge and Willawong for each of
the following financial years: 2009/10; 2010/11; 2011/12; 2012/13?
Q23: Can the CEO please advise how many dogs were adopted by new owners from the
Brisbane City Council animal shelters at Bracken Ridge and Willawong for each of
the following financial years: 2009/10; 2010/11; 2011/12; 2012/13?
Q24: Can the CEO please advise how many cats were adopted by new owners from the
Brisbane City Council animal shelters at Bracken Ridge and Willawong for each of
the following financial years: 2009/10; 2010/11; 2011/12; 2012/13?
Q25: Can the CEO please advise how many dogs were euthanized at Brisbane City Council
animal shelters at Bracken Ridge and Willawong for each of the following financial
years: 2009/10; 2010/11; 2011/12; 2012/13?
Q26: Can the CEO please advise how many cats were euthanized at Brisbane City Council
animal shelters at Bracken Ridge and Willawong for each of the following financial
years: 2009/10; 2010/11; 2011/12; 2012/13?.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN
GIVEN:
(Answers to questions of which due notice has been given are printed as supplied and are not edited)
Submitted by Councillor Victoria Newton (from the meeting on 21 May 2013)
Q6. Can the CEO please provide the number of pothole repair requests that are scheduled
and yet to be completed at 30 April 2013.
A6.
0, all jobs were completed within their KPI timeframes.
Submitted by Councillor Victoria Newton (from the meeting on 15 October 2013)
Q1. Can the CEO please provide the full list of properties previously owned by the
Brisbane City Council which were sold in 2012/13 financial year (RP Data and street
address)?
Q2.
Can the CEO please provide the full list of properties previously owned by the
Brisbane City Council which were sold in 2011/12 financial year (RP Data and street
address)?
Q3.
Can the CEO please provide the full list of properties previously owned by the
Brisbane City Council which were sold in 2010/11 financial year (RP Data and street
address)?
Q4.
Can the CEO please provide the full list of properties previously owned by the
Brisbane City Council which were sold in 2009/10 financial year (RP Data and street
address)?
Q5.
Can the CEO how many dog owners were issued Infringement Notices as a result of
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 89 -
barking dogs in financial year 2011/12?
Q6.
Can the CEO how many dog owners were issued Infringement Notices as a result of
barking dogs in financial year 2010/11?
Q7.
Can the CEO how many dog owners were issued Infringement Notices as a result of
barking dogs in financial year 2009/10?
Q8.
Can the CEO please advise how many Barking Dog Complaints were lodged with
Council in 2011/12 financial year for each Brisbane City Council Ward?
Q9.
Can the CEO please advise how many Barking Dog Complaints were lodged with
Council in 2010/11 financial year for each Brisbane City Council Ward?
Q10. Can the CEO please advise how many Barking Dog Complaints were lodged with
Council in 2009/10 financial year for each Brisbane City Council Ward?
Q11. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for East Region?
Q12. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for East
Region?
Q13. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for East Region?
Q14. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for North
Region?
Q15. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for North
Region?
Q16. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for North Region?
Q17. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for West
Region?
Q18. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for West
Region?
Q19. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for West Region?
Q20. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for South
Region?
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 90 -
Q21. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for South
Region?
Q22. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for South Region?
Q23. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for Central
Region?
Q24. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for Central
Region?
Q25. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2012-13 financial year for Central
Region?
Q26. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for East Region?
Q27. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for East
Region?
Q28. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for East Region?
Q29. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for North
Region?
Q30. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for North
Region?
Q31. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for North Region?
Q32. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for West
Region?
Q33. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for West
Region?
Q34. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for West Region?
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 91 -
Q35. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for South
Region?
Q36. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for South
Region?
Q37. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for South Region?
Q38. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for Central
Region?
Q39. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for Central
Region?
Q40. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2011-12 financial year for Central
Region?
Q41. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for East Region?
Q42. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for East
Region?
Q43. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for East Region?
Q44. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for North
Region?
Q45. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for North
Region?
Q46. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for North Region?
Q47. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for West
Region?
Q48. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for West
Region?
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]
- 92 -
Q49. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for West Region?
Q50. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for South
Region?
Q51. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for South
Region?
Q52. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for South Region?
Q53. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were received by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for Central
Region?
Q54. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were approved by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for Central
Region?
Q55. Can the CEO please advise how many “Generally In Accordance” type Development
Applications were refused by Council in the 2010-11 financial year for Central
Region?
A1. to A55. Information being compiled.
RISING OF COUNCIL:
6.35pm.
PRESENTED:
and CONFIRMED
CHAIRMAN
Council officers in attendance:
Andrew Langford (Team Leader, Council and Committees Liaison Office)
Stephanie Thompson (Council and Committees Liaison Officer)
Billy Peers (Personal Support Officer to the Lord Mayor and Council Orderly)
[4418 (Ordinary) meeting – 22 October 2013]