MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
The 4442 meeting of the Brisbane City Council,
held at City Hall, Brisbane
on Tuesday 29 July 2014
at 2pm
Prepared by:
Council and Committee Liaison Office
Chief Executive’s Office
Office of the Lord Mayor and the Chief Executive Officer
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4442 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 29 JULY 2014
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PRESENT: ______________________________________________________________________ 1
OPENING OF MEETING: __________________________________________________________ 1
APOLOGY: _____________________________________________________________________ 1
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE – Malaysia Airlines MH17 __________________________________ 1
MINUTES: _____________________________________________________________________ 3
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: __________________________________________________________ 3
QUESTION TIME: ________________________________________________________________ 5
NOTATION OF DECISIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE AS
DELEGATE OF THE COUNCIL: _____________________________________________________ 16
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (Information report) ________________________ 16
A PROPOSED RESUMPTION OF PRIVATE LAND FOR PARK PURPOSES LOCATED AT 33 THOMAS
STREET, WEST END AND 68 VULTURE STREET, WEST END ________________________________ 21
B CLEM JONES TUNNEL – SETTLEMENT OF COMPENSATION – 103 TO 109 LUTWYCHE ROAD,
WINDSOR AND 26 EARLE STREET, WINDSOR ___________________________________________ 23
CONSIDERATION OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION
COMMITTEE DURING RECESS: ____________________________________________________ 25
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (Adoption report) __________________________ 25
A LEASE OF LAND TO WYNNUM GOLF CLUB INCORPORATED _______________________________ 42
B CONTRACTS AND TENDERING – REPORT TO COUNCIL OF CONTRACTS ACCEPTED BY DELEGATES
FOR MAY 2014 __________________________________________________________________ 43
C PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF COUNCIL___________________ 48
D REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING ON 12 JUNE 2014 __________________________ 50
E PROVISION OF A CARBON TAX REPEAL REFUND ________________________________________ 51
NOTATION OF DECISIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE AS
DELEGATE OF THE COUNCIL: _____________________________________________________ 53
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ___________________________________________________________ 53
A PETITIONS – CALLING ON THE LORD MAYOR TO REVERSE THE DECISION TO INTRODUCE A SERVICE
CHARGE FOR RESIDENTIAL PARKING PERMITS _________________________________________ 60
B PETITION – REQUEST TO REVIEW THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN RANGEVIEW STREET AND NAVUA
AVENUE, ASPLEY _________________________________________________________________ 62
PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE ______________________________________________ 63
A PETITION – CALLING ON COUNCIL TO INSTALL A SHELTER AT THE OUTBOUND GRANDVIEW ROAD
BUS STOP ON MOGGILL ROAD, PULLENVALE __________________________________________ 64
B PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL MODIFY THE CITYGLIDER ROUTE 60 SERVICE, TO SERVICE
THE GASWORKS SHOPPING PRECINCT ________________________________________________ 65
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE ___________________ 67
A PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL REFUSE THE APPLICATION FOR THE SUBDIVISION OF
LAND AT 19 GREENGROVE PLACE, KURABY ____________________________________________ 68
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4442 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 29 JULY 2014
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE _____________________________________________________________ 69
A PETITIONS – REQUESTING REPLACEMENT OF THE SOCCER GOAL POSTS AND AN UPGRADE TO THE
PLAYING SURFACE IN SVOBODA PARK, KURABY ________________________________________ 72
B PETITION – REQUESTING ADDITIONAL LIGHTING AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE PARK ON THE CORNER
OF DAW AND NATHAN ROADS, RUNCORN ____________________________________________ 73
C PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR RESURFACING OF BANOON
DRIVE, WYNNUM, IN THE 2014-15 BUDGET ___________________________________________ 74
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS:____________________________________________________ 74
GENERAL BUSINESS: ____________________________________________________________ 75
QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN: ________________________________ 82
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN: _____________________ 85
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4442 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 29 JULY 2014
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
PRESENT:
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Councillor Graham QUIRK) – LNP
The Chairman of Council, Margaret de WIT (Pullenvale Ward) – LNP
LNP Councillors (and Wards)
Krista ADAMS (Wishart)
Matthew BOURKE (Jamboree)
Amanda COOPER (Bracken Ridge)
Vicki HOWARD (Central)
Steven HUANG (Macgregor)
Fiona KING (Marchant)
Geraldine KNAPP (The Gap)
Kim MARX (Karawatha)
Peter MATIC (Toowong)
David McLACHLAN (Hamilton)
Ryan MURPHY (Doboy)
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR (Parkinson) (Deputy
Chairman of Council)
Adrian SCHRINNER (Chandler) (Deputy Mayor)
Julian SIMMONDS (Walter Taylor)
Norm WYNDHAM (McDowall)
Andrew WINES (Enoggera)
ALP Councillors (and Wards)
Helen ABRAHAMS (The Gabba) (Deputy Leader of
the Opposition)
Peter CUMMING (Wynnum Manly)
Kim FLESSER (Northgate)
Steve GRIFFITHS (Moorooka)
Victoria NEWTON (Deagon)
Shayne SUTTON (Morningside)
Independent Councillor (and Ward)
Nicole JOHNSTON (Tennyson)
OPENING OF MEETING:
The Chairman, Councillor Margaret de WIT, opened the meeting with prayer, and then proceeded with the
business set out in the Agenda.
APOLOGY:
1/2014-15
An apology was submitted on behalf of Councillor Ian McKENZIE (Holland Park) – LNP, and he was granted
leave of absence from the meeting on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Kim
MARX
2/2014-15
An apology was submitted on behalf of Councillor Milton DICK (Richlands) (The Leader of the Opposition) –
ALP, and he was granted leave of absence from the meeting on the motion of Councillor Victoria NEWTON,
seconded by Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE – Malaysia Airlines MH17
3/2014-15
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK, announced that before proceeding
with the formal business of the day, he would like to address the Chamber regarding the tragic events
surrounding Malaysia Airlines MH17.
Accordingly, in view of the tragic events surrounding Malaysia Airlines MH17, the LORD MAYOR moved,
seconded by Councillor Helen Abrahams that
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
-2‘This Council acknowledges with great sadness the tragic loss of life associated with the MH17 disaster.
On behalf of the people of Brisbane, this Council extends its deepest sympathies and heartfelt
condolences to the families and friends of those who were lost.’
Chairman:
Debate.
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. The rather extraordinary circumstances
leading to the loss of hundreds of people led this Chamber today to exercise this
condolence motion. I thought it very appropriate in these circumstances to offer
the Opposition Leader, Councillor Milton DICK, the opportunity to second this
motion, because it is one where we all join as one to express our sympathy and
our great sorrow at the loss of those on MH17, some 298 people on board this
aircraft, which crashed in the Eastern Ukraine, close to the border with Russia.
This has been a devastating loss of life but more, even significant than that, I
think have been the circumstances and the conditions that remain in respect of
the recovery of so many relatives and loved ones that remain at that crash site.
Today, I am sure all councillors join with me in simply expressing our
condolences to those who have lost loved ones at that site.
There is no doubt also that there is a great level of international activity now in
terms of attempting to get the remains of those who have been lost back to the
shores of their respective nations. It is a fact that this nation of Australia has lost
many people, and many more lost from other nations around the globe.
Regardless of whether they are people from our own nation of Australia or from
other nations around the globe, we extend our sympathies as a Council today
towards all of those families and relatives and friends of the lost ones in this
terrible tragedy. So, Madam Chairman, with those few words, I would certainly
invite the Opposition to be a part of this resolution today.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. On behalf of the Labor councillors, I too wish to
speak on behalf of the people of Brisbane and extend the deepest sympathies
and heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who were lost. Of
the 298 victims, 17 nationalities were represented on that plane, and so families
and friends and loved ones from 17 nations are in the process of mourning
following what has been one of the most horrific public and tragic losses of life.
The 80 children I think literally reinforces the tragedy of this incident that
brought to an end so many people's lives, so unexpectedly when they and their
families were at a time that they saw it as a joyous occasion of holidays or
returning to family.
When speaking of condolence and how heartfelt we are, I think it is appropriate
to talk and hear the words of family members who have been involved. In doing
so, I acknowledge that there were two residents of Brisbane who were on that
plane, but there are more family members who live in Brisbane who have lost a
loved one.
But the incident I would like to relate very much are Jerzy Dyczynski and
Angela Rudhart-Dyczynski who actually, with their hope and faith of their
daughter's survival, actually managed to get to the site so that their hope could
be dashed. It was an interesting reaction to people and their need to come to
terms with such a tragedy. The Western Australian parents who have lost their
three children, who describe it as, I think, everyone can identify, 'We have been
to hell and beyond', and I think whenever any of us in the future think of this
tragedy, it will be encapsulated by the lives of those parents and the tragedy they
will have to live with from day to day.
The other one, too, is very much closer to home, with Jill and Roger Guard from
Toowoomba, who many people know, because they were part of a very strong
health network. Their response, and their family's response, is to open up a fund
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
-3for Doctors Without Borders as a way of looking for some sense out of this
tragedy.
I would also just like to reflect when one of their sons said, 'I say to the
Australian Government, if you want justice for the victims and the victims'
families, please find a way to stop this conflict.' I think that would echo with all
of us that this was, of all aeroplane tragedies, one that had another level of
tragedy. So, in conclusion, our condolences and heartfelt sympathy for everyone
who has been touched by this tragedy.
Chairman:
Any further debate? Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, I, too, would like to rise to support the motion before us
today, acknowledging the tragic loss of life associated with the recent plane
crash in Ukraine. Tennyson Ward residents have been touched and saddened by
this terrible tragedy, and to see so many Australians and people from other
countries that have lost beloved family members with really what is a senseless
tragedy is very sad.
I think it is a good thing that this Council is expressing in a way that we can our
sympathy for those people who have lost their lives. I would also like to add my
support to the Federal Government's position which is to provide all possible
support, both humanitarian and operational, to help the families and the victims
of this tragedy to be brought home. I can certainly see that that appears to be the
most important thing for the families that their loved ones are returned home for
them, and that there is dignity in the way that is done.
I commend the Federal Government for working so hard; so do the ALP and I
presume so do the LNP councillors and I commend them for working so hard to
provide some small measure of condolence and support for those families who
have lost loved ones. On behalf of all Tennyson Ward residents, I would
certainly like to add my support to this motion today, and hope that this type of
terrible tragedy never happens again.
Chairman:
Further debate; LORD MAYOR, do you wish to close the debate? No.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion of condolence was declared carried
unanimously.
MINUTES:
4/2014-15
The Minutes of the 4439 (Ordinary), 4440 (Budget) and 4441 (Special) Meetings, held on Tuesday 17 June
2014, Wednesday 18 June 2014 and Thursday 26 June 2014, respectively, copies of which had been forwarded
to each councillor, were presented, taken as read and confirmed on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY,
seconded by Councillor Kim MARX.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Dr Ernst von Haller - Muzzling greyhounds in public and the positive attributes of adopting
decommissioned greyhounds
File number: 137/220/701/191
Chairman:
I would like to call on Dr Ernst von Haller who will address the Chamber on
muzzling greyhounds in public and the positive attributes of adopting
decommissioned greyhounds. Orderly, please escort Dr von Haller in.
Dr von Haller, you have five minutes; please proceed.
Dr Ernst von Haller:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Madam Chairman, LORD MAYOR and
councillors; thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. I have a copy
of my speech information about adopting greyhounds, and some statistics for all
councillors.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
-4We adopted a five-year-old greyhound in March last year, and even though I
have had dogs most of my life, I had to learn a lot about greyhounds.
Greyhounds in general are gentle and very tolerant dogs, and I still cannot
understand the need to muzzle them on walks. Consider the hard life most of the
dogs have come from, being kennelled or caged most of their lives, and being
moved around from race track to race track, just so someone could bet on them
and owners could try to make money off them.
In general, greyhounds are bred for the tracks and not treated as pets during their
racing life. They don't get to smell the roses and go for nice walks, sleep on a
soft pillow or get cuddles from their owners. According to my research,
greyhounds are at the end of the list in regards to having incidents with humans
or other dogs. I think it is, as I was told, less than one per cent. So why muzzle
them?
The answer I received was that greyhounds like to chase other animals. That
may be true, but that also is true of other dogs. Responsible dog owners keep
their dogs on the leash and have control over their pets when they take them out
for walks, which is required by law anyway. Again, what purpose does a muzzle
serve?
The muzzling of decommissioned greyhounds is a State law as I understood
enforced by councils. The Gold Coast City Council, the councils at the Sunshine
Coast and other places in Queensland do not enforce the muzzling anymore.
New South Wales has had a muzzling exemption for decommissioned
greyhounds in place for a number of years now. Actually, I tried to find the law
for commissioned greyhounds in regards to muzzling, but could not find
anything.
All greyhound adoption programs test the temperament of the dogs before they
are fostered or adopted out. Many adoption programs also check if the dog is
kept with small animals frankly before they get new homes. A greyhound
showing any aggression would never be fostered out or be given up for adoption
anyway. Dogs like to sniff and explore the ground on walks, and it is very
unpleasant having a muzzle on their nose. A lot of them do try to get the muzzle
off, and there is no joy in going for walks.
I have had people telling me that because greyhounds wear muzzles racing, they
have always thought they were a dangerous breed, which is far from the truth.
Please consider following other councils and put an end to the practice that
exists because of people's ill-informed perceptions, which are not based on fact.
It is incorrect for people to believe that greyhounds are a dangerous breed and
must wear a muzzle in public. Greyhounds as therapy dogs have provided great
benefit and companionship. Thank you for your time.
Chairman:
Thank you, Dr von Haller. Councillor ADAMS, would you like to respond?
Response by Councillor Krista ADAMS, Chairman of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Dr von Haller, for coming in this
afternoon and addressing Council about obviously an issue that is very dear to
your heart, and also for spending some time with some of the Council officers in
the last week, I understand, too, and putting forward your views which we
greatly appreciate. I know this issue came up to us in a Civic Cabinet Listens
probably about six months ago now, and it has been something that we have
been looking at in Council.
I am pleased to inform the Chamber that we have started the Animal Local Law
review just in July, for this financial year, and it was 2003 the last time that the
Animal Local Law was brought to the Chamber. The issue of greyhound
muzzling has been raised, as I said, over recent times, and the feedback as you
have given to the Council officers, and other discussions with people, has been
captured, and we will make sure that that is incorporated into the review of the
Animals Local Law.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
-5I have to say we are one of the councils that still have muzzling in our local
laws. You mentioned decommissioned greyhounds, and I think we need to do a
bit of education out there for people to realise that decommissioned greyhound
doesn’t mean a declared dangerous dog just because it starts with D. They have
actually had to be through a State program, which means they are suitable for
adoption. I think there's a bit of education that needs to be undertaken around
what a decommissioned greyhound is as well. As you said, if they don't go
through the program, they are not suitable for adoption anyway.
So that is the State regulations and the State legislation as well. But within the
Council Local Law, we actually have muzzling, so that is something that by all
means we are happy to take forward and look at in our local review. You
mentioned that we know a very, very small percentage of animal attacks are
represented by greyhounds—a very small percentage—and we thank you very
much for taking the time today. We will take your feedback into consideration
with our local law review. Thank you.
Chairman:
Thank you.
QUESTION TIME:
Chairman:
Councillors, are there any questions of the LORD MAYOR or a Chairman of
any of the Standing Committees? Councillor MURPHY.
Question 1
Councillor MURPHY:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. I
understand that you were out today talking about the Kurilpa Riverfront
Renewal project and detailing how this project will unlock this catalyst precinct
and drive its transformation into a diverse riverside inner-city community. Can
you please detail further information on this master planning and explain how it
will enhance the river's edge even better?
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman, and I thank Councillor MURPHY for his
question. It is true that Kurilpa is one of the great areas of opportunity in our city
into the future. Next month the Deputy Premier and myself, together with
Councillor COOPER will be launching what will be the Kurilpa Riverfront
Renewal project. This is essentially going to be the start of the conversation.
It will be an opportunity for engagement with people, both residents over there
in that Kurilpa area together with businesses that have been there for, in some
cases, decades. It is an area which involves around 25 hectares of land and one
kilometre of river frontage. It is wonderfully located in that it is close to South
Bank, South Brisbane, and all of those facilities—the performing arts complex,
GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art) and so forth. So it is a vibrant part of the city
and one which has great potential.
When you look to urban renewal projects that have occurred in this city in the
past, Newstead, Teneriffe, now 20 years down the track, I think have been an
exemplar demonstration of what can occur. It was acknowledged, and it was at
the forefront of Brisbane being named runner-up in the Lee Kuan Yew World
City's prize, second to New York, just a couple of years ago, as announced in
Singapore.
The Kurilpa area I think is one which does provide very much a similar
opportunity and outlook. Essentially there has been a lot of research work, a lot
of background work that has been undertaken in anticipation of the launch that
will occur as I say in August. From that point on, and at that time, we will also
be announcing the roll out of public consultation opportunities that there will be.
We need to start the conversation somewhere, and the way to start that is
through a draft plan for discussion, for hearing feedback on the concepts that are
put forward, ideas for different aspects of it, and new ideas. I very much look
forward to that conversation being held.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
-6As I said, there are businesses there that have been there for a long period of
time. But we need to set a futuristic plan where we want to see this area go into
the future, and that will of course then allow everybody the opportunity to make
their plans, investments and arrangements around that with some level of
certainty. Nobody is in the business of forcing businesses out. But it is about
making a clear intent of what we want to see in that particular area.
We do see it is a significant residential hub into the future. We see it obviously
as an opportunity where there will be employment creation as well into the
future. That conversation will be held over the months ahead, once it is formally
and officially launched by the Deputy Premier and myself, in the presence of
Councillor COOPER, next month.
Today, in indicating that we will be launching the project, I invite people to
become engaged in the process, to become engaged through the various
opportunities for consultation and input that we will have. This process will go
on for some months. There is not going to be any rush for final outcome in terms
of this particular plan. It is an important plan, but it is again one which, to my
way of thinking, presents a terrific opportunity for the city and its way forward.
It is an opportunity to look at things in a New World City perspective. It is an
opportunity to look at everything from the residential growth through to public
facilities that can be created into the future, ways that we can accommodate
future growth not only through numbers of growth but particularly through
infrastructure requirements into the future.
So, Madam Chairman, it will be a broad-based discussion. I look forward to
being engaged in that discussion, and we again will make that formal
announcement next month.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Question 2
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Your
response to the previous question about an open process with the residents of the
Kurilpa area is in direct contrast with your statement that you will release to the
development industry that have paid for the preview. I ask that, as part of the
community consultation process, you give a commitment for a reference
committee and consult the local representatives at a State and council level on
the contribution of that committee? Will you also advise the timeframe you have
allocated for the consultation?
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, if the councillor was listening carefully, I thought that I made
it clear in my answer to that previous question that when the document is
launched, we will also be launching what the program will be and the
opportunities for input. Of course the local councillor, the local member or
members, will have their opportunity to have input into that, as will every single
member of that community.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
It has got to be launched somewhere. It is going to be launched at a lunch, but it
will be publicly available from that day forth. So everybody will have the
opportunity to get it at the same time.
As you know, councillor, we have been putting these documents up on the
website for people to view. We have been through a city planning process where
the document, the whole document, was on line for people to be able to go and
look at it and make their objections.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
I remind you that we doubled the amount of time that we needed to in a
regulatory framework for submissions. So, it's got to be launched at some stage;
it's got to be launched somewhere, and it is going to be launched in August, as I
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
-7mentioned, and that will be day one of the public engagement process. We look
forward to announcing also the roll out in terms of those opportunities for the
general public to have their input into that particular Kurilpa riverfront renewal
project.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR.
Question 3
Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR: Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question this afternoon is to the Chairman of
Finance, Economic Development and Administration, Councillor SIMMONDS.
Over the last 12 months, this Administration has delivered a raft of significant
achievements for Brisbane residents. For the benefit of this Chamber, could you
please provide further details of some of this year's highlights?
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thank you very much, Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR. Thank you for the
succinct question that focused on citywide issues as opposed to your individual
ward. It is a timely question, because this is the first opportunity that we have
had since the close of the 2013-14 financial year to reflect on the good work that
has been done by this Administration and the hard-working Council officers.
Indeed, over the last 12 months, officers in the Finance and Economic
Development portfolio have proved that we aren't just about the dollars and the
cents; that we very much enjoy delivering for the residents of Brisbane.
Particularly I have spoken in this place before about the overhaul of Council's
website which was launched towards the end of the last financial year. I am
pleased to report to the Chamber that this has been an outstanding success. It has
been very well received by users. We have seen more than 82,000 unique
searches in the first month. This is up more than 100 per cent on the previous
month's data of 35,000.
One of the top search results that people are using the new website for is the
library catalogue, up from 33 searches to 4849 searches in a single month. They
are also using it to search for what is on in our city this weekend. It has also
allowed us to of course better integrate with our social media capability, and this
has resulted in a 36 per cent increase in social media click-throughs.
We also rolled out last financial year the free wi-fi into Queen Street Mall,
Victoria Bridge and over to South Bank, and again this has also been embraced.
We have had more than 44,000 users use it between when it was launched and
the end of the last financial year. They have used the service for more than
146,000 times across almost 50,000 hours. The division has also continued to
roll out the BaSE upgrade program, something I am accused of not talking about
enough, so here goes.
The first tranche of the new system, of course, was turned on very successfully
last financial year, on time and on budget, ensuring better financial reporting
and savings for Council of $6 million through the removal of the old purchaserprovider model. The team has also laid the important groundwork for the final
roll out of the BaSE system with significant training and testing activities
occurring over the last financial year, including over 650 classroom training
sessions, 11,000 hours of participant training, 41 weeks of testing, 400 staff who
have undertaken testing and training, and 16,500 hours of payroll testing alone.
Myself and this Administration have also, as well as the successful BaSE
program, unashamedly focused on business pain points over the last financial
year. This is where we can improve the customer experience for businesses
dealing with Council.
For example, we have 24 application forms which have been enabled for online
lodgement. The online forms cover things such as food businesses, footpath
dining, commercial vehicle parking permits, advertising signage, signage
variations, malls and protected vegetation. These online forms, a new initiative,
are now averaging over 100 uses every month. I said before that this might seem
like a small improvement, but to a small business person, who can now lodge
these forms without leaving their small business and potentially having to close
or to wait for other staff to be in there, it is an important community service.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
-8We have also improved our web content and self-service tools for small
businesses. The new advertising signs content and the advertising signs tool
were published in October last year; a self-assessable checklist for home
businesses was published in December, and a new portal for events and
festivals, including an amenities calculator, was published in March.
Council is, also actively engaging directly with small businesses through
initiatives such as the Lord Mayor's Business Forums. Last financial year, we
held eight of these forums with over 530 attendees. I am pleased to report to the
Chamber that 91 per cent of feedback forms from these attendees rated the
business forum as a 4 or 5, where a 5 is being very satisfied.
Digital Brisbane has also been out there engaging with local businesses. They
have engaged with some 4529 businesses through digital events, tutorials, trade
fairs, matchmaking events and training sessions. They have attracted more than
19,000 visitors and more than 63,000 page uses of Digital Brisbane, Digital
Information Hub and Digital Businesses directly, where small businesses can
connect with other small businesses to provide digital services. We also, of
course, launched Australia's first CoderDojo program teaching seven to 17-yearolds how to code. To date, they have been attended last financial year by over
287 young people, supported by 81 volunteer mentors.
Council officers also completed a $550,000 project upgrading the security
cameras in the Queen Street Mall, adding additional cameras, expanding the
amplification system—
Chairman:
Councillor SIMMONDS, your time has expired.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
—and transferring the existing cameras.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Question 4
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Brisbane
residents do not support the privatisation of public services. Every councillor in
this Chamber supported the statement you made last year when you said, 'I will
not support privatisation of buses. I have held a consistent position that no, I do
not support the privatisation of Council's bus fleet.'
Instead of following your privatisation-led political masters in George Street,
will you show leadership and announced that you absolutely will not accept full
or partial privatisation of Brisbane Transport under any circumstances?
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, I am glad that the councillor has asked this question, because
she has been very mischievous and can I say is running a scare campaign in
relation to the staff of BT (Brisbane Transport), which is quite unfair to them.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Order!
LORD MAYOR:
Let's just have a look.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON!
LORD MAYOR:
Let's just have a look—
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR, just a moment; when they are quiet, we will hear your answer.
Thank you.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, let's just have a look at some of the comments that
Councillor ABRAHAMS has put into a media release just very recently. She
says here as she is talking about a memo in relation to the Divisional Manager.
It says: 'The memo circulated to key stakeholders has confirmed the worst, that
$20 million has been cut from public transport in Brisbane, that privatisation is
being discussed, and that the Lord Mayor is actively taking steps to remove any
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
-9barriers to privatisation.' That is just wrong and dishonest—wrong and
dishonest.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, it is interesting that the Labor Party—
Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS! You asked a question; wait and get the answer, in
silence.
LORD MAYOR:
What we know is that this Council, along with all operators, are facing
contestability of services. If you like, it is a tender for services. That is very
different to privatisation. We will be aggressively going out to win the
contestability, to win the tender. I will be working with all Brisbane Transport
staff, the whole team, to do what we need to do to win this tender. It is not
helpful for Councillor ABRAHAMS, for her own political purposes, to be
running around engaging in a scare campaign, scaring those people—bus
operators, people in workshops, and the like.
She is saying here that this is about removing the barriers to privatisation. It
does amaze me, you know. They've done nothing but berate the Divisional
Managers of this place for month after month after month—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Order!
LORD MAYOR:
—only to now when a contract is not renewed on a Division Manager, to
somehow come to the glorified defence, as if people can't see through that. As if
people can't see through the Labor Party's hypocrisy on this matter.
Madam Chairman, the reality is that we will be out to win this contract. We
want to retain Brisbane Transport services. We have to, and we know that the
State Government have announced that fare rises will be limited to 2.5 per cent
for each of the next three years. How does that compare with 15 per cent a year
under Labor—15 per cent—
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor GRIFFITHS!
LORD MAYOR:
—thanks to you guys in government. Thanks to Labor in State Government.
Chairman:
Order! Councillor GRIFFITHS! Order!
LORD MAYOR:
Of course we have the highest fares in the country, Councillor GRIFFITHS,
because of—
Chairman:
Just a minute, LORD MAYOR. Councillor GRIFFITHS, if you interject like
that again, you will be warned. Thank you, LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, this is where they want their cake and eat it too.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, Councillor GRIFFITHS and Councillor MATIC were
shouting at each other across the Chamber. If you are going to warn one
councillor, why have you not warned the other doing exactly the same thing?
Chairman:
I don't uphold your point of order. I am controlling this meeting, and just for the
record, you can stop your interjecting as well. LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. So, on the interjection from Councillor
GRIFFITHS, the reality is that fares are as high as they are because there were
15 per cent increases every year—every year—under Labor. The government,
give it its due, is at least now trying to get those fares to a reasonable level. They
know and they understand quite clearly that you could not sustain Labor's 15 per
cent growth in fares every year.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 10 So, Madam Chairman, if we are going to have fares at a reasonable level, it
makes absolute sense that there has to be an efficiency of cost within the public
transport network to achieve that. Who is paying for this at the end of the day?
Taxpayers and ratepayers. Why should Labor be so opposed to getting
efficiency of the taxpayer and ratepayer dollar?
Councillor FLESSER:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Point of order against you, LORD MAYOR; yes, Councillor FLESSER.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, this is very interesting; the question was clearly whether the
LORD MAYOR would show some leadership and announce that he will not
accept the full or partial privatisation of Brisbane Transport.
Chairman:
I thought he had explained that, Councillor FLESSER.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, this is where they don't get it. I am talking about efficiencies
of costs on behalf of taxpayers and ratepayers .What they are asking me to do
today is to write a blank cheque.
Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
No, you are. You are asking for a guarantee that this be kept. I say to you, to do
that we have to make sure we deliver an efficient transport system which is
driving efficiency in terms of the dollars spent. That is the only way that we are
going to, at a State level, be able to deliver two and a half per cent in terms of
fare increases, instead of the Labor 15 per cent increases. They don't want to
know about that. They don't get it, because as far as Labor is concerned, you just
keep spending. You just keep spending taxpayers' money; forget the
consequences of that.
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR, your time has expired. Further questions; Councillor KING.
Question 5
Councillor KING:
Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the Chairman of—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
Councillor KING:
—Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee, Councillor BOURKE. I
understand that over the last 12 months this Administration has delivered a raft
of significant achievements for Brisbane residents. Can you please provide
further detail of some of this year's highlights?
Councillor BOURKE:
Thank you very much, Madam Chairman, and I thank Councillor KING for the
question. It is true that this Administration, under the LORD MAYOR,
continues to deliver unique and exciting opportunities for our residents to
explore and play in open spaces in our parks across the city, as well as providing
the necessary infrastructure in terms of drainage works and parks infrastructure
to provide for our growing population.
So, just to give you a snapshot, because as Councillor SIMMONDS said, this is
the first meeting since the close of the financial year, and the opportunity to talk
about some of the wonderful projects that happened in the 2013-14 financial
year. A lot of councillors in this place I know have already been down and seen
firsthand the wonderful new playground that has been built in the City Botanic
Gardens, the All Abilities CBD gardens that we have, and the unique facility
that is provided is a $2 million playground and facilities provided which cater
for all abilities. It is something very unique. It builds upon the commitment and
the delivery of the 26 playgrounds that we did across the city.
On top of that, we also saw the opening of the Whites Hill reserve All Abilities
playground as well. I know if the DEPUTY MAYOR was here, he'd be sharing
in the joy of the opening of that particular playground. It once again provides a
unique play experience. It's a fully-fenced playground; it has a changing places
toilet facility included. It is, as I said, fully fenced; it provides some nature play
elements as well, while still providing all-abilities experiences for residents.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 11 On top of that, down in Councillor MURPHY's ward, we saw the opening of the
first and a world-class outdoor gym full-scale development. Councillor
MURPHY provides me with feedback that it is being very well used, very well
received by the residents down there in Minnippi Parklands, and it is something
that this Administration is very proud to be able to deliver and provide those
types of infrastructure across the city.
On top of that, in partnership with the State, we have seen the upgrade and
provision of new safety as well as new facilities over at South Bank around the
pool, as well as the new pool surrounds works, the provision of pop-up tour
operators which are going really well. The X-wing tours, which are a type of
Segway, which are run over there as well as fishing tours, which are run by the
Riverlife as well. On top of that, Roma Street has seen the construction of its
new information kiosk which will be completed very soon, as well as the calling
for expressions of interest for pop-up food vendors in Roma Street.
Roma Street parklands really are one of the hidden gems when it comes to the
city of Brisbane. Under Council's leadership, we continue to promote and
provide opportunities for residents to explore that particular space. On top of
that, we have also seen the expansion of the popular Chairs to Share program, so
something that we started in Post Office Square—and Councillor HOWARD
reliably tells me that you cannot get a seat down there now during lunch time in
Post Office Square—has been expanded to the City Botanic Gardens and also
out through Roma Street as well.
But all of that is on top of the great work that we do out in the suburbs. There
were some 40-odd park projects across the city that we delivered last financial
year, whether it is in Sinnamon Park, Stafford, Gaythorne, Bulimba, Chermside,
Lutwyche, St Lucia, Wakerley, Highgate Hill, Forest Lake, Taringa, Mitchelton,
Runcorn, Ashgrove, Nunda, Oxley, Hemmant, Aspley, Kangaroo Point, Herston
and the Brisbane CBD just to name a few, where we are actually upgrading and
improving local parks that our residents use every week if not every day.
That is on top, though, of our investment into protecting and preserving the
environment. Last year we saw the launch of our online weed identification tool
which saw some 40,000 unique users in the first eight months, which is
something pretty significant. The bulk of those users were our bushcare groups,
as well as our creek ranger groups and other environmental groups, out in the
field, accessing that information, this important tool helping them to continue to
protect and preserve the environment.
On top of that, last year Council removed over 100 invasive deer from our
bushland and urban areas, something that is quite significant and something that
we continue to invest in with partnerships with other organisations as well. All
of that is great, and we continue to invest also in infrastructure for drainage. Last
year saw the delivery of our commitment, the LORD MAYOR's commitment, to
spend $10 million on backflow protection devices in the city. We fast-tracked
that commitment. In two years, we've protected 80 per cent of the properties that
were flood-affected by the 2011 floods; some 1,500 properties across this city
that now have a backflow protection device to protect them from a river
flooding.
Madam Chairman, we continue to invest this financial year with more
investment in major drainage, more investment in local drainage, as well as
significant investment in other parts of our infrastructure when it comes to
drainage and parks.
Chairman:
Councillor BOURKE, your time has expired, thank you. Further questions;
Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Question 6
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. A memo has
been circulated confirming that you have terminated the employment contract of
the well-respected Divisional Manager of Brisbane Transport. The memo
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 12 foreshadows 'a new dawn' for Brisbane Transport and the future privatisation of
bus services. If this new dawn is not the privatisation on the horizon, what is it?
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, I don't know who put that particular document out; it wasn't
me. I can say that for sure—
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
—because it is not about privatisation; it is about contestability of services. It is
contestability.
Councillors interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
Well, you can go ‘ooh’, but that's what it is. You can call it something else if
you want to, but if you want to be fair dinkum about it, it is contestability, and I
have indicated earlier contestability is a tender. It is as simple as that. It means
that we have to be competitive within what we offer, and I again just point to the
Labor Party's inability to understand achieving a value-for-money outcome.
Quite simply, their only solution was to keep putting fares up by 15 per cent.
That was the Labor way. That was the Labor solution to an out of control cost
that was occurring within public transport.
The State has to provide for a fare level that is within the reach of people.
Councillor GRIFFITHS has already indicated today that he is concerned about
fares. I have been saying for years, since this 15 per cent regime started, that I
have been concerned about fares. You can't keep going with those sorts of fare
levels. You'll have nobody left on buses or trains or anything else.
So, the State Government acknowledges that, to their credit. They have made a
commitment to keep fare increases to within 2.5 per cent each year for the next
three years. To achieve that, it means that we all are going to have to find some
ways to do things more efficiently than it has been in the past. That is the reality.
We have been down the track on this journey already. We have made the
decisions; we had a bus review. We carried that bus review through, and that has
been further reflected in this year's budget.
So, Madam Chairman, what is Labor's answer? They are all good at this 'ooh,
ahh' stuff, but that doesn’t get the job done. That does not get the job done.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
So, Councillor GRIFFITHS, for all your—
Chairman:
order! Councillor FLESSER!
LORD MAYOR:
—ooh-ing and ahh-ing, what we have is a position where I have made a
commitment to be going into this contestability with every chance of winning it.
It is going to be a journey, for which the whole BT team has to be on board, and
we have to make the journey together, and we will make that journey together.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
I am confident and I am determined that we will win it in the end.
Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
Look, I don't know what is so funny. I don't get what is so funny. Obviously
your only view is you just keep throwing ratepayers' money, keep throwing
taxpayers' money at it and avoid the issue. That is Labor's way. Just keep
increasing the fares. That is their answer; no problem at all.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor FLESSER!
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 13 LORD MAYOR:
The 15 per cent increase in fare days are over. They are gone. They were killing
people out there that catch public transport. It is only right and proper that we
reach an efficient level of expenditure to achieve the outcome of a 2.5 per cent
limit in terms of fare increases. That is the journey that we are on. Contestability
is a fact of life. You can fight it all you like; it is happening. So, Madam
Chairman, we are in it to win it.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor HUANG.
Question 7
Councillor HUANG:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the Chairman of the Public and
Active Transport Committee, Councillor MATIC. I recently read that Council's
Active School Travel program has received international recognition, and that
Council has called for schools to nominate for 2015. Could you please update
the Chamber on this success, and outline how we, as councillors, can get our
schools more involved in this great program?
Co9uncillor MATIC:
Thank you, Madam Chairman, and I thank Councillor HUANG for the question
and the opportunity to talk about the innovation that is the Active School Travel
program and to certainly call on councillors to continue to support this program
as strongly as they have in the past.
It is with great pleasure that I was advised by officers that Brisbane City
Council's award-winning Active School Travel program was featured in the
June newsletter in an organisation in Canada, the organisation called
Walkolution, in their own publication, Walkolution News, for its achievements
in promoting sustainable and healthy travel modes.
Walkolution News is the newsletter of the Green Communities Canada
organisation. It is a diverse group of individuals and organisations who
champion the development of healthy, sustainable and efficient communities
where people choose to walk. The international mention is great recognition of
the program which has had 87,000 participants since the program first was
initiated.
This organisation clearly got the message what this program is about. It is about
making sure that we can reduce traffic congestion; it is about getting our kids
active and healthy, and it is also about getting back to basics, about getting our
kids walking back to school and home again.
The officers have and continue to work, strongly and passionately with this
program, and of course, as Councillor HUANG says, we are now at the cusp of
our nominations for 2015. I certainly urge all councillors to once again get out
there and beat the drum on this program, to go back to those legacy schools that
are now eligible for the program, but also to go to their other schools in their
areas that have not previously taken the program up for one reason or another.
Officers, of course, have worked actively in this program with schools, working
closely with them to support them in this process of the Active School Travel
program once they sign up, and making sure that we spread out the different
tasks among officers, among teachers, among students, among parents, to make
sure that we make it as easy and as enjoyable a process as we can for students to
participate in.
As councillors would know, an officer is provided, and they come with a certain
amount of resources to engage with the school community and to help create a
sustainable culture of active travel. This support of course extends to the
organisation of school-wide events, broader community engagement, and the
provision of classroom materials to help schools realise the key benefits of the
program. In that, too, is the key role that all of us as local councillors play with
our schools who participate in this program.
I certainly want to acknowledge the efforts of all councillors in supporting the
program, participating, getting the word around, promoting and providing
funding through their Lord Mayor's Suburban Initiative Fund as required
towards specific events or added incentives to the program. We as councillors
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 14 have the opportunity to work with our local schools to encourage them to
participate in the Active School Travel program. This gives us the perfect
opportunity to work with the schools and parents to not only encourage them to
actively travel to school but to decrease the congestion around school to ensure
that all students get to school safely. That is ultimately our goal, and we are
moving ahead in leaps and bounds in this area.
I think that our Active School Travel program and its continual evolution and
keeping it fresh has continued to keep it at the forefront of any other program in
Australia and having it internationally recognised like it does for these aspects
of sustainable travel, actively promoting walking, continues to reinforce to us
that this is a world-class program that we should all take pride in.
I really want to acknowledge the LORD MAYOR for his continued support of
the program, the officers for their continual support and love and passion to the
program, and all of us who are involved, not only from councillors but to
schools, to parents and the students who ultimately get the benefit of this
program as a whole. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Question 8
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. This question
is pertinent to a united team Brisbane Transport. The Brisbane bus drivers and
maintenance staff have been told that the State Government is currently
negotiating with TransDev, which is a private company, to take over the
maintenance contract for buses in South East Queensland. LORD MAYOR, will
you guarantee that Brisbane's current bus fleet maintenance arrangements and
the outstanding levels of maintenance will not change and that no Council bus
maintenance job will be lost?
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, the bus fleet maintenance operations are a part of Brisbane
Transport. They are governed by this Council. The wages are paid by this
Council. Whilst Brisbane Transport is operating in the way that it is, we need
those maintenance operators; it is as simple as that. I think once again,
Councillor ABRAHAMS, we have to shift the rumours and the scare campaigns
that might be happening around the place against the facts of the matter. The
facts of the matter are they are employed by BT, they are a part of BT
operations, and while we have the bus fleet that we have, we need those people
to maintain the buses. End of story.
If there is some sort of a tender operating in terms of services around South East
Queensland, I am not aware of it, but it would be remote from maintenance
services within BT, because they are part of our operations operating the
maintenance facilities for our services.
Once again, Councillor ABRAHAMS is on this little campaign to stir up things,
and that is all right. I suppose that is Opposition, it's what you do; but my job
here is to make sure that we have a united front in relation to contestability, that
we all work as one to achieve a successful outcome to contestability. That is my
sole focus. Along the way, will there be rumours; will there be all sorts of little
scare campaigns happening by individuals with other motives? Perhaps, and
probably yes. But that will happen. I can't control people and what they might
say out there, but what I can control, I will control, and that is making sure that
BT operates as one, that we put our best foot forward in terms of our tenders,
and we, as I said earlier, go out to win it.
But there is no doubt that we are on a journey of affordability. The State, with
the 2.5 per cent commitment to fare increases, will be demanding not only of
Council but of all other bus providers, a value-for-money outcome. I was a bit
bemused, actually, the other day when I saw a joint brochure by Councillor
SUTTON and Di Farmer which said that they are working for fast, reliable and
affordable public transport. Affordable? After the 15 per cent per year increases
that Di Farmer was a party to and put up her hand in favour of, year after year?
Give me a break.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 15 This is about affordable fares; 2.5 per cent each year for the next three years,
and yes, Madam Chairman, we will do all that we have to do to make sure
working as a team that we get out and we win this contestability.
Chairman:
Further questions; Councillor WINES.
Question 9
Councillor WINES:
Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the Chairman of Brisbane
Lifestyle, Councillor Krista ADAMS. I understand that there has been some
recent media interest around food safety breaches in Brisbane restaurants and
Council's response to these breaches. Can you please outline to the Chamber
Council's compliance and regulatory approach to enforcing food safety and
hygiene of the Brisbane food industry through our very successful Eat Safe
initiative?
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Councillor WINES, for the question.
There has been a lot in the media recently on Eat Safe and the processes that we
are going through in Brisbane City Council, also in print and on television, and I
think the most important part is that we are getting the word out there to
residents in Brisbane that we do have a program. There is somewhere you can
go on to a website at Brisbane City Council and find out about the safety of
restaurants that are registered through the Eat Safe program.
This initiative has been a very successful model in actually enforcing food
safety and hygiene using an incentive based rating scheme. So successful that
Logan City Council came on board very quickly with the program; Bundaberg
Regional Council, and Break o' Day and Glamorgan councils in Tasmania as
well. I think there are many other councils that are actually having a look at
what we are doing, and I imagine they will be talking to us soon about that. We
are promoting it through South East Queensland Council of Mayors and right
across the LGAQ (Local Government Association of Queensland) as a program
that works for making sure you have food safety within restaurants.
What we are seeing in Brisbane is a steady increase in the amount of restaurants
that are achieving our 3-star. We have 91.5 per cent of Brisbane now stepping
up to the plate with their three stars or above. It shows that it is working and that
we have something in place there to protect residents and, of course, visitors too.
The trick is to make sure people don't realise that the stars aren't about what the
food tastes like; it's about the food hygiene. It is not a star rating on what you
actually get served, but what has been happening behind the counter out the
back as well.
Interesting, I saw one media report the Leader of the Opposition said that a
reduction in annual visits was a cop-out. Well, can I just firstly remind everyone
in the Chamber that it was this Administration in 2010 that introduced Eat Safe
under Councillor KNAPP's stewardship. There was a very big project, and I
think the Council officers have really appreciated having very clear guidelines
on their expectations and having clear guidelines that they can hand on to
restaurants.
We know that restaurants come and go very fast in some areas in Brisbane, and
a very large part of the Eat Safe program is educating those around food safety
and hygiene. But then, of course, we want to reward the businesses that are
actually doing the right thing. So those with outstanding compliance records can
actually reduce their regulatory burden, so we work more closely with the poor
performing businesses, rather than going out every year to those businesses that
we know are doing the right thing.
If you get three stars, you receive yearly inspections; four stars every two years,
and five stars, which there is only a few of, every three years. Of course, any
complaints that come in in between, we are straight out there and investigating
what the issues may be. We have seen a distinct increase in our commitment to
compliance levels across restaurants. The numbers of prosecutions have doubled
from 2012 to 2013, despite there being fewer inspections conducted in 2013.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 16 We have also seen in the calendar year to date that there have been 16
prosecutions amounting to $337,000 in fines, and as I said, earlier in last
calendar year, 40 prosecutions. So we are seeing some of the big offenders
getting big fines and being told to do the right thing. Again, we are very, very
committed and we do not shy away from taking prosecution action when we see
it is beyond just taking a simple fine and a slap on the wrist as well.
We respond to all complaints of alleged breaches of food safety, and I should
reiterate that residents should feel very safe eating in restaurants in the Brisbane
local council area. But we are also very, very quick to conduct inspections if any
of that feedback comes to us. We make no apologies, as I said, for taking the
appropriate enforcement action, and we do find that most restaurateurs are very
happy to work with us. Sometimes it can be something very minor that they
weren't aware of something that was a breach. As I said, we work very closely
with them to get all our restaurants back to 3-star as soon as possible.
Our rigorous inspections have a checklist of 44 items to determine the
compliance with the Food Act 2006 and the Food Standards Code, and we make
it crystal clear what it is that each restaurant needs to do to make sure that they
are reaching those food safety standards.
We also provide plenty of marketing material for those restaurants if they want
to display their stars in the front of their shop as well. There are stickers. We do
have them on the website, but we don't make it compulsory. However, I am
hoping through the education of residents in Brisbane that people will start
asking what the Eat Safe rating is in restaurants, and there will be a bit of market
pressure around there for you to be able to demonstrate that you have good food
safety and hygiene in your restaurant.
Eat Safe benefits the community, tourists, food businesses and Council by
improving our food standards, and I think more than anything it maintains our
world class food safety standards. Thank you.
Chairman:
That ends Question Time.
NOTATION OF DECISIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND
COORDINATION COMMITTEE AS DELEGATE OF THE COUNCIL:
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (Information report)
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Councillor Graham QUIRK), Chairman of the Establishment and
Coordination Committee, moved, seconded by the DEPUTY MAYOR (Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER), that
the report setting out the decisions of the Establishment and Coordination Committee as delegate of the Council
during the Winter Recess 2014, on matters usually considered by that Committee, be noted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks, Madam Chairman. Just before coming to the report itself and the two
items on the report, there are a number of matters that I just want to report on. I
do want to give my thanks to the services of two people that are leaving
Council. The first of those is Mr Alan Warren. I have worked with Mr Warren
now for more than a decade as chairman of that area in Brisbane Transport and
that of major projects. I have worked extensively with him over many years. We
have many things in common, in fact.
I would say to Mr Warren the thanks of this organisation for the service that he
has given over a long period of time. It is the case that we have made a
determination not to renew Mr Warren's contract at this time it runs out. So we
have opted to make that decision. But that in no way diminishes the contribution
that Mr Warren has made to this organisation over a long period of time. He
came to the role in difficult circumstances back in the mid-2000s, and in every
way I appreciate the fact that he stepped up to the plate at that time and has led
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 17 the organisation of Brisbane Transport during what was a growth period, during
a period where there was significant expansion in terms of the bus services—
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
—and the like.
The other person that I want to pay my thanks to is Mr Ross McKinnon. Mr
McKinnon retires from this organisation on the last day of this month. He is, of
course, the Chief Curator of the Botanic Gardens. He has had a very long career
of 42 years, in fact, with this Council, and a very long period of time as its Chief
Curator.
He is one of just two people outside of the elected representatives of this place
that is allowed to have free rein in terms of talking to the media. He is a wellknown entity in Brisbane. He has been on many, many programs on gardening
and anything botanic, Ross McKinnon is an institution in this city. I am sure
again on behalf of all councillors that I express thanks to Ross and to wish him
well also in his retirement.
I want to indicate also that this coming Friday night, 1 August, this Council will
light the Story Bridge. It will be lit in yellow. It is a recognition in relation to
Allison Baden-Clay, and that is being done with the good wishes of the family,
so that will occur on 1 August. National Planet Ark Schools Tree Day on 25
July; each year around 250,000 Australian school students participate in the
Schools Tree Day, a special national tree day event. It is a great opportunity to
educate our young people, get them involved, get them hands-on, and who
knows, we hope that some of them will go on to become part of the bushland
project teams around the city, a volunteer, and add to the work that is being done
by many of our wonderful volunteers along our waterway corridors.
Lifeline Australia had Stress Down Day on 25 July as well, and I acknowledge
that. The 28 July was United Nations World Hepatitis Day, and of course the
Islamic community are coming towards the end of Ramadan, a very important
event on their religious calendar each year. I had the opportunity to share in Iftar
with an Islamic family very recently. I thank them very much for that
opportunity. This family in fact is from Turkey.
Recently I also announced that Legacy Way is well and truly on track in terms
of the project. The DEPUTY MAYOR may say more on that later, I don't know,
but importantly that four hectares of addition to the Botanic Gardens will be a
wonderful additional asset to the city, drought-proofing the Botanic Gardens
alone. It will be a significant water saving for the city, a significant saving for
ratepayers on an annual basis. I again thank Ross McKinnon for his overlay in
terms of the input that he had into the development of those four hectares to
make sure that it is going to meet the needs of the people of this city into the
future.
I might leave it at that. There has been a fair bit happening between events. But
just one other quick thing I might say: the other day I had the opportunity to
thank many of the people that are engaged in the Brisbane Welcomes the World
program. This is in association with G20. It is a program that is being run by
Brisbane Marketing, and it is engaging many businesses around this city that are
going to be at the front line of welcoming the 4,000 delegates to G20 and the
3,000 international journalists to G20.
Whether we are talking about taxi companies or hotels or retail outlets, even
some of the frontline government agencies, we are going through the process of
engaging with those people, and about 2,000 people will be trained in readiness
for the G20. Part of that, of course, is Brisbane Greeters, which have doubled in
numbers in the last year to be in a position where we will again be able to
provide a terrific service in relation to our visiting delegates. They speak 20
languages between them, Brisbane Greeters, even though there are only about
160 in number, and do a great service each and every day. You will see them out
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 18 there in their T-shirts promoting this city every day of the week, and I thank
them for all that they do.
There are two items in this particular information report. The first of those, item
A, is in regard to the resumption of two blocks of land, one at 33 Thomas Street,
West End, and the other at 68 Vulture Street at West End. These are part of the
South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood Plan. They have been identified—or
rather that plan identified the need for an urban common of around 1,000 square
metres. So these two parcels of land will certainly give us that, and they are here
today for information of Council. Resumption is important to be able to provide
what we need, and this location presents that opportunity.
Item B is a Days of Our Lives one, Madam Chairman. Mr Paul Kelsall was a
fairly well known entity during the course of the Clem7, and there were some
interesting claims coming before Council in relation to the property. It has been
going on now for a long period of time, as I say, since June 2006. Some of those
claims have been up to $30 million, $80 million in one case, but when it got
down to the tintacks, and the negotiations with legal representation, the claim
put forward was that of $11.17 million. There had been an earlier payment that
Council had made in advance, if you like, which was provided to the Supreme
Court of $3.2 million pending negotiations, and those protracted negotiations
now reach a finalised settlement figure today of $5 million. That is for Council
as well. I am happy to move that.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I wish to comment on the two items on this
information for decision, and I will start with item B, being 103 to 109
Lutwyche Road, Windsor. I don't think there is one councillor in the Council
Chamber that has not been contacted by email or other measures by Mr Paul
Kelsall. It has been a protracted process over eight years, from 2006 to 2014.
I believe there is no one, particularly the officers that have been involved in the
negotiations who would not be pleased to see this outcome and see a resolution.
I believe the fact that Mr Kelsall has a $1.8 million in addition to what Council
initially was proposing gives some merit to his claims. But I think as we finalise
a process that has been so protracted, so distressing for everybody, and so
wasting of Council resources, that it is appropriate to review the legislation, to
review our administration within that legislation, and see if there are learnings.
It is so we do not have a similar situation with someone whose distress levels
made it extremely difficult to have a realistic expectation at some stage in the
process. So, LORD MAYOR, I do believe a review is appropriate.
The second item, which is in The Gabba Ward, at 33 Thomas Street, West End,
and 68 Vulture Street, is much shorter consultation process as the letter being
issued to the property owners in September 2013. But by that time the owners
had already put a submission into Council and been accepted by Council and
was being assessed by Council at that stage. It is my understanding that that
conflict arose for a number of reasons, one of which was the lack of clarity of
terminology with an urban common.
An understanding an urban common was a small area, due to the term ‘urban’. I
am told by the Hadjipetrou family that they did not understand that the
acquisition of the whole site was what was intended. I also think a compounding
factor was that they were long-term residents of West End who had always had
a dream of doing a high quality mixed-use development on that site. And the
timing was when they genuinely went ahead and put a significant expenditure
into that development application, only to then receive the letter from Council
seeking to acquire the whole site as an urban common.
That is always difficult. The acquisition of property is always difficult and
contentious, whether it is for a road or for a park. As a result of that, a
consultation process was commenced. With that, as the councillors who have
seen the material that has been given to us will know, there was a number of
people seeking to support the development rather than the acquisition of a park,
many of the arguments being that it was in an inappropriate site.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 19 There is also the other side to that consultation process, because I have before
me the number of submissions that I received and the conversations I had with
residents who said we need a park; West End desperately needs a park. So,
Madam Chair, the figures were 265 of these documents support a park compared
to 149 supporting the development on site.
The major difference between those two numbers is that those supporting the
park lived locally, which I know because I consulted with them and many
supporting the development lived much further afield. So it was a very divisive
process for the community. I think for the first time in my life ever in the street
I've had someone from the other side of the street be very clear in their angst
that they held to me in not supporting this park on this site.
But I speak in support of this park. It is one of seven parks that were shown in
the previous plan and as such it is a very important social resource to the local
community, and it has my full support. But I will now very publicly state to you,
LORD MAYOR, and to the relevant chair, if there is the concern that we have
seen in the huge documentation as part of the appeal against the intent to
acquire, and all of those are concerned about the quality of a park on this site, I
request that the LNP stops their current process of consultation on any
infrastructure, which is: we will do the plans and we will tell you what is going
to happen on the site. But they genuinely consult in a bottom-up process on what
is the appropriate infrastructure on this park.
There are many landscape architects in West End; there are many architects in
West End; there is a very informed community on the need for parks in West
End, and I am sure they would all, in the spirit of finding a reasonable, costeffective outcome, welcome the opportunity to participate in this park when it
finally is achieved.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor BOURKE.
Councillor BOURKE:
Very, very quickly, Madam Chairman, I just rise to enter the debate on item A
which is the land resumption at 68 Vulture Street and 33 Thomas Street in West
End. With the Commonwealth Games on, we have seen on this issue a triple
somersault, backwards flip with a 3.5 degree point of difficulty from Councillor
ABRAHAMS when it comes to parks. We have just heard her espouse the
virtues and the values of the provision of this open space and parkland for the
West End community, and the overwhelming support from her residents for it,
but in the opening cut and thrust of this issue, Councillor ABRAHAMS wanted
a development. She didn't want a park for her community.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
Councillor BOURKE:
She wanted a development instead of a park—
Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS!
Councillor BOURKE:
—and open space for her residents. So, Madam Chairman, it is great to see that
Councillor ABRAHAMS has had yet another epiphany on the road to Damascus
or the road to City Hall when it comes to the provision of parks and open space.
We get lectures week after week, month after month in this place, for the last
two years from Councillor ABRAHAMS around the provision of parks and
open space, and I don't want another lecture going forward, because here we
have the prime example of Councillor ABRAHAMS being exposed for her
hypocrisy and the double standards that she keeps in this place when it comes to
the provision of parks and open space, where she plays political games instead
of trying to get outcomes for the residents of Brisbane.
I support this acquisition. It is going to provide a space that will be functional, a
space that will be used, a space that clearly the community wants in Councillor
ABRAHAMS' own words, and that consultation that she spoke about was only
undertaken after the LORD MAYOR wrote back to Councillor ABRAHAMS
and said, well, you should go out and consult with your residents. You should do
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 20 your job as a local councillor, Councillor ABRAHAMS, through you, Madam
Chairman.
So we have seen the results of that, and Councillor ABRAHAMS used the
figures—some 250 or 260 to 140 submissions in support of this particular
provision of open space and parks. It sees the realisation of one of the spaces
from the neighbourhood plan we have done in that part of the world, and it
continues to provide the needed open and public space for the residents of
Brisbane, as we, as an Administration, plan appropriately and provide for the
growth that our city is seeing, and provide the infrastructure, the open space, and
the community spaces for the residents, not just now but into the future. I
encourage all councillors to support this particular item before us today.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, Madam Chairman, just briefly on item A and item B. firstly a comment
with respect to item A. I make the observation that when I read item A, I was
extremely concerned that we did not know the name of the objector, and with an
issue of this type, there is quite a serious conflict of interest type potential. It
could have been a company, it could have been anybody. You had to drill down
into the some 500 plus pages of attachments to find out who the objectors were,
and I think that, for the sake of transparency, that information should have been
obvious on the face of the submission.
It is obvious on the face of the submission with respect to item B, and I think it
would be good practice in future to include that key information in the actual
report itself, particularly when this is a matter that has been decided in secret in
the non-sitting period and therefore the usual Council files are not available to
us. I think that is something that the Administration should take on board to
ensure that there is transparency in the way in which these reports are put
together.
With respect to item B, I too am glad to see a resolution to this issue. The
Kelsalls are frequent corresponders with me and I presume all other councillors,
and I certainly am pleased, and I hope that the resolution today provides them
with some certainty and closure with respect to this matter.
Chairman:
Further debate; LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, I thank councillors for their contribution. With respect to any
potential review of the resumptions, Acquisitions of Land Act, I can only say
this: I don't know how long it has been since there has been a review of that act,
but it is certainly the case that the act provides for a much, much fairer outcome
today than what it would have, say, 30 or 40 years ago. It has come a long way
in terms of fairness to people. I know that sometimes these things are very
protracted.
Councillor FLESSER, you would have actually been Finance Chairman for the
first two years of these negotiations, in fact, so it has been going on for a while
as I mentioned, but at the end of the day, it is about both parties coming to an
agreement, reaching an agreement. You usually know you've got it about right
when both parties leave unhappy; you know you are about on the money.
Yes, hopefully the correspondence levels will reduce and overall costs of
ongoing administering of that correspondence will reduce in line with it. Thank
you.
Chairman:
I will put the motion
The Chairman restated the motion for the noting of the report and upon being submitted to the Chamber, it was
declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Victoria NEWTON and Helen ABRAHAMS immediately rose and called for a
division, which resulted in the motion being declared carried unanimously.
The voting was as follows:
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 21 AYES: 24 -
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK,
DEPUTY MAYOR,
Councillor
Adrian SCHRINNER,
and
Councillors
Matthew BOURKE, Amanda COOPER, Margaret de WIT, Vicki HOWARD,
Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX, Peter MATIC,
David McLACHLAN,
Ryan MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS, Andrew WINES, Norm WYNDHAM, Helen ABRAHAMS,
Peter CUMMING,
Kim FLESSER,
Steve GRIFFITHS,
Victoria NEWTON,
Shayne SUTTON and Nicole JOHNSTON.
NOES: Nil.
The report read as follows
A
PROPOSED RESUMPTION OF PRIVATE LAND FOR PARK PURPOSES
LOCATED AT 33 THOMAS STREET, WEST END AND 68 VULTURE
STREET, WEST END
112/20/439/342-02
5/2014-15
1.
The Divisional Manager, City Planning and Sustainability Division, provided the information
below.
2.
In 2011 Brisbane City Council (Council) introduced the South Brisbane Riverside
Neighbourhood Plan (the Plan). The Plan will see an increase in housing density, with new
development ranging from three to 30 storeys within the Plan area.
3.
The Boundary and Vulture Streets Precinct will continue to be the heart of South Brisbane
Riverside. Boundary Street will retain its retail, restaurant, entertainment and community
focus and maintain a human-scale built form at the street level.
4.
The growing population will require new and enhanced public facilities, including parks. The
Plan identified the need for an urban common of 1000 square metres located at 68 Vulture
Street, West End, as per the Priority Infrastructure Plan (PIP).
5.
The site is located within an area that is undergoing significant growth and currently does not
meet the desired level of service for public park infrastructure. The site is currently vacant,
privately owned and also has excellent road frontage which allows for high visibility.
6.
The resumption of this property will enable Council to develop the land as an urban common,
a park type that provides space for a range of recreational and social activities in a medium
density urban setting. An urban common in this location will play an important role in
meeting informal recreation needs of residents, workers and visitors in this growth area for
the city.
7.
The property description of the private land proposed for resumption for park purposes is set
out in Attachment B, submitted on file. On 2 August 2013, the Divisional Manager, City
Planning and Sustainability Division, gave authority to issue Notices of Intention to Resume
in respect of the private land listed in Attachment B, submitted on file. Council issued the
Notices to the affected property owners and all registered interested parties, on
9 September 2013.
8.
An objection was received from a property owner in response to those Notices
(Attachment C, submitted on file). The owner requested to be heard in support of their
objections. Council’s agent heard those objections and where appropriate, Council provided
responses to those objections.
9.
The report by Council’s agent (including supporting information provided at the hearing) is
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 22 -
set out in Attachment D, submitted on file. Council’s response of 18 December 2013 is set out
at Attachment E (submitted on file). A further submission made by the owner and Council’s
response to the further submission are set out in Attachment F and Attachment G, submitted
on file, respectively. A map of the area is set out in Attachment H (submitted on file).
10.
Upon the completion of the formal resumption process, the owner’s interests in the resumed
land are converted into a claim for compensation, pursuant to the provisions of the
Acquisition of Land Act 1967. Negotiations concerning compensation will continue
concurrently with the formal resumption process.
11.
The Divisional Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its
meeting of 14 July 2014.
12.
DECISION:
THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE, AS
DELEGATE OF COUNCIL DURING RECESS, RESOLVE IN ACCORDANCE
WITH ATTACHMENT A, submitted hereunder.
Attachment A
Draft Resolution
TO APPROVE COMPLETION OF PROPERTY RESUMPTIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE ACQUISITION OF LAND ACT 1967 FOR THE SOUTH BRISBANE RIVERSIDE
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN AREA.
THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE, AS DELEGATE OF
COUNCIL DURING RECESS, APPROVE THAT
1.
As:
(a)
on 9 September 2013, the Council in accordance with the provisions of the
Acquisition of Land Act 1967 issued Notices of Intention to Resume the
privately-owned land set out and identified in Attachment B, submitted on
file, to this recommendation.
(b)
an objection in writing was received to those Notices, identified in
Attachment C, submitted on file; and
(c)
Council has considered the objection and made recommendations for the
treatment of the objection as set out in Attachments C, D, E, F and G,
submitted on file.
Council is of the opinion, having regard to the objection and the report in
Attachments C, D E, F and G, submitted on file, that:
2.
(i)
the land described in Attachment B, submitted on file, is required for park
purposes; and
(ii)
it is necessary to take that land.
As Council is of the opinion specified in paragraph 1, it directs that application be
made to the Minister for Natural Resources and Mines under the provisions of the
Acquisition of Land 1967 for the taking of that land referred to in paragraph 1, for
park purposes.
NOTED
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 23 -
B
CLEM JONES TUNNEL – SETTLEMENT OF COMPENSATION – 103 TO
109 LUTWYCHE ROAD, WINDSOR AND 26 EARLE STREET, WINDSOR
112/20/711/306-02
6/2014-15
13.
The Acting Executive Manager, City Projects Office, provided the information below.
14.
By Taking of Land Notice dated 30 June 2006, Council resumed properties from Paul
Anthony Kelsall and Eunice Ying Teng Kelsall at 105 and 109 Lutwyche Road, Windsor,
described as Lots 70 and 71 on SP108227, Parish of Enoggera, for the Clem Jones Tunnel.
The land was 2,671 square metres in area.
15.
By Taking of Land Notice dated 8 December 2006, Council resumed an adjoining property at
26 Earle Street, Windsor described as Lot 6 on RP18509, Parish of Enoggera, and having an
area of 539 square metres from Fay Marie Kelsall, the mother of Paul Anthony Kelsall.
Fay Marie Kelsall was an invalid pensioner at the time of the take and Paul Anthony Kelsall
was her primary carer with the benefit of an enduring power of attorney. Faye Marie Kelsall
passed away on 17 May 2011. Paul Anthony Kelsall was granted probate of her will and is
the sole beneficiary of her estate.
16.
Harvey Ehlers and Associates assessed the value of the combined properties at $3,200,000.
17.
Claims for compensation were received for the combined properties in the sum of
$16,500,000.
18.
The claims for compensation were rejected by Council which approved payment of advances
totaling $3,200,000 comprised of $2,671,000 and $529,000 for the properties, respectively.
19.
On 30 August 2007 Council wrote to Paul Anthony Kelsall seeking to pay an advance against
compensation for the properties owned by himself and his wife in the sum of $2,671,000 and
for the property owned by his mother in the sum of $529,000. This approach was rebuffed by
Paul Anthony Kelsall.
20.
Council referred the matter to the Land Court in January 2008 in an attempt to progress a
resolution of compensation.
21.
Council paid compensation of $3,200,000 into the Supreme Court on 11 August 2009.
22.
The Land Court proceedings have been protracted and difficult with the Kelsall claims at
times being completely extravagant. Figures of $30,000,000; $80,000,000 and beyond have
been raised in correspondence and court documents. These claims have been put on the basis
that the resumed lands could be put to a very high order of use involving very many storeys
and residential, commercial and retail uses.
23.
The Kelsall claims came on for mediation before Richard Douglas QC on 20 May 2014, by
which time and with the benefit of legal representation, the total Kelsall claims amounted to
approximately $11,170,000, incorporating a land value for the resumed lands of $8,400,000.
24.
During the course of the mediation, the total claim by the Kelsalls reduced to $5,000,000 and
the parties agreed to an in principle settlement in accordance with a Heads of Agreement
document. The offer of settlement is all-up and inclusive of advances already paid. It
represents the following net outcomes apportioned between the properties:
25.
The claims are set out in the below table:
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 24 -
Claim by Paul Anthony Kelsall and Eunice Ying Teng Kelsall:
Claim by Fay Marie Kelsall:
Total
$1,729,000
$71,000
$1,800,000
26.
At mediation Council was represented by Geoff Evans of Brisbane City Legal Practice and
Douglas Quayle, Barrister. The Kelsalls were represented by Harding Lawyers, Stephen
Keim QC and Paul Smith, Barrister.
27.
Mr Quayle has advised that a figure of $5,000,000 apportioned as above represents a sensible
assessment of the risks that Council would face if this matter proceeded to trial in the Land
Court. Such a trial would potentially be scheduled over a three week period in 2015. Mr
Quayle has recommended the proposed settlement sum of $5,000,000 apportioned as above as
being reasonable and appropriate.
28.
The Acting Executive Manager therefore recommended as follows with which the Committee
agreed at its meeting of 14 July 2014.
30.
DECISION:
THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE, AS
DELEGATE
OF
COUNCIL
DURING
RECESS,
APPROVE
THE
RECOMMENDATION AS SET OUT IN ATTACHMENT A, submitted hereunder.
Attachment A
Recommendation
TO APPROVE SETTLEMENT OF COMPENSATION ARISING FROM
RESUMPTIONS OF PROPERTY FOR THE CLEM JONES TUNNEL PROJECT IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE ACQUISITION OF LAND ACT 1967
THAT E&C AS DELEGATE OF COUNCIL DURING RECESS, APPROVE THAT
(a)
(b)
the claim for compensation set out in Schedule 1 of Part 2, submitted
hereunder, be rejected as excessive; and
an offer to settle compensation set out in Schedule 1 Part 3, submitted
hereunder, be accepted.
Schedule 1
Part 1
Claimants
Details of Resumptions
Paul Anthony Kelsall and Eunice Ying Teng Kelsall and the Estate
of Fay Marie Kelsall
Properties resumed
105 and 109 Lutwyche Road, Windsor, and 26 Earle Street,
Windsor, described as Lots 70 and 71 on SP108227, and Lot 6 on
RP18509, Parish of Enoggera, having a total area of 3,210 square
metres
Road purposes and a purpose incidental to the purpose of an
approved tollway project, namely the Clem Jones Tunnel Project.
Details of claims
$16,500,000 including GST under all heads of compensation.
Details of offer
Purpose of
Resumptions
Part 2
Amount of claims
Part 3
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 25 -
Amount of offer
(a) $5,000,000 under all heads (claim by Paul Anthony Kelsall and
Eunice Ying Teng Kelsall: $4,400,000 and claim by
Estate of
Fay Marie Kelsall: $600,000), inclusive of advances previously
paid.
Terms of settlement
(a) The claimants enter into Deeds of Settlement on terms and
conditions satisfactory to the Chief Legal Counsel reflecting as
required in the Heads of Agreement.
NOTED
CONSIDERATION
OF
RECOMMENDATIONS
OF
THE
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE DURING
RECESS:
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (Adoption report)
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Councillor Graham QUIRK), Chairman of the Establishment and
Coordination Committee, moved, seconded by the DEPUTY MAYOR (Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER), that
the report setting out the recommendations of the Establishment and Coordination Committee during the Winter
Recess 2014, on matters usually considered by that Committee, be adopted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. There are five items here, the first of
those being in relation to a lease or a renewal of that lease at least for the
Wynnum Golf Club. They have had that lease now in place over the last 20
years. It has seen 43,000 rounds of golf played in a period of time, and they are
up to 80 members now, so it is a growing club. They are investing
significantly—$1 million in the last two years, so we see no reason why there
should not be a renewal of that lease. That is what is recommended here, that we
enter into a further 20-year lease with the Wynnum Golf Club.
In relation to item B, Contracts and Tendering report, a whole range of contracts
before us today, the first of those being community facilities improvements
program at Atthows Park. This is one that is awarded to Box & Co. Pty Ltd for
$182,888. There is also a stormwater harvesting program there where we have
quite a number of parks—CB Mott Park, Ekibin Park, Sexton Street Park,
Langlands Park, Norman Park and Downey Park. Pensar Civil Pty Ltd has been
the successful tenderer in relation to each of those particular water harvesting
program works.
The third contract is that of the City Reach Boardwalk. This is for remediation
works in that area around 145 to 175 Eagle Street. Moggill Constructions are the
successful tenderer. That is just under $1.2 million worth of works. Shorncliffe
Pier—the timber decking supply, as we get to the serious end in terms of that
particular project, there are two companies that we are going to be taking the
timber from. One of those is Parkside Group of Companies, $278,000 there, and
Kennedy's Classic Aged Timbers will also share in that work of $273,000.
The next one is the Western Creek Bridge replacement. This is Abergeldie
Constructions Pty Ltd that have been the highest value for money achiever in
this particular one, and that is an amount of $537,000. Also, Moggill
Constructions are doing part of that. They have achieved an index of 10,224 and
they have got $537,000 worth of works as well.
Civil Works at Whites Hill Reserve at Camp Hill, this is Naturform Pty Ltd that
won the tender there for $115,000 and the construction of the timber deck for
the Mooney Foundation Plaza rejuvenation. That has gone to Forge Bros
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 26 Engineering at $131,000. Pathway lighting for Sandgate Third Lagoon Reserve
at Brighton—Desbrow Electrical Pty Ltd, $117,000 there.
The office fit-out at 9 Redfern Street, Morningside; Premis Solutions have
received that contract at $207,000. The installation of a waterproof membrane
system at Logan Road Bridge, Greenslopes; the TA Taylor Group Pty Ltd,
$129,000 around that tender.
The provision of cash collection, accounting services and automated cash
deposit machines, a number of categories here. The first of those, category 1,
goes to Prosegur Australia Pty Ltd for $347,000. I can't quite pick up this next
name—I think it is Secutor Securities Pty Ltd—$286,000. Automated cash
deposit machines, the next one that is category 2 now I am talking about,
SprintQuip Pty Ltd for $868,000.
The provision of high resolution aerial photography, a contract there to AAM
Pty Ltd for $50,040. Finally, the renewal of corporate insurance program and
Local Government Mutual Queensland renewal, and that is the Insurance
Renewal Program, $2,417,647. That covers a whole range of different liability
covers. Also, as part of that, is our membership of the LGMQ Insurance. That is
obviously through the Local Government Mutual Queensland. That is
$2,018,000.
Item C is the proposed changes to organisational structure of Council.
Obviously in any organisation, there are changes to some areas, branches,
changes to structures, changes to names to better reflect the work of that
particular branch. So this item, item C, is an outline of those administrative
changes. Firstly, in the area of Brisbane Lifestyle, we see in community
facilities and venues, a branch established. We see also a branch, City Parkland
Strategy and Support Branch in City Planning and Sustainability Division. Also
Connected Communities in the Brisbane Lifestyle Division, so that manager will
be known as Manager, Connected Communities—no surprises there.
In terms of changes to the names of some of the branches—Commercial
Services Branch in Brisbane Lifestyle goes to Business Strategy and Alignment
Branch; also we have Engineering and Asset Branch in Brisbane Transport will
become Engineering and Asset Management Branch. Waste Services Branch in
Brisbane Infrastructure goes to Waste and Resource Recovery Services, again to
better reflect what it does—an emphasis on the recovery process of waste
streams.
We have abolished the Disaster Response and Recovery Group and Community
Lifestyle Branch. That is in the wake of works that we have done around flood
recovery. This particular administrative change recognises that the G20 unit has
an Executive Manager, and that is located in the Office of the Lord Mayor and
Chief Executive Officer. It determines also that the functions and
responsibilities of Council's Divisions Groups and Branches are as set out in
attachment B that is submitted on the file. There is a range of other changes
there, outlined from F through to J, changes that are undertaken in the ordinary
course of business.
Item D is a report of the Audit Committee meeting held on 12 June this year.
Item E is the provision of the carbon tax repeal refund. Within a couple of hours
of the announcement of the repeal of the legislation in the Senate, I made an
announcement of the refund that people would receive in Brisbane. The essence
of that refund is that it will be $36 for the average residential property. It
amounts to around $52 for all properties—that is taking into account
commercial, retail and industrial properties and the like, so a $52 average for all
rateable properties.
In essence, the package consists of a few elements, and they are outlined there in
paragraph 32. I did note commentary from the ACCC (Australian Competition
and Consumer Commission) earlier today acknowledging that Brisbane had
moved quickly to refund the elements of the Carbon Tax relevant to people. I
thank them for that acknowledgement. The Carbon Tax repeal refund is $23.4
million, but there are also other aspects to the fund. The reduction, of course, in
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 27 the 2014-15 anticipated revenue from the disposal charges for solid waste will
be $3.3 million. The refund of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 Carbon Tax related gate
fees—and of course that relates to any that we have in this early part of this
financial year—$6.7 million on those last two financial years, making the total
impact of $33.4 million.
The resolution, which is set out there on the final page of this report, page 11,
outlines what we need to do as far as a resolution of this Council is concerned in
order to be able to flow on those changes. We need to clearly make some
changes to pages 29, 30 and 31 of the fees and charges, so that the disposal of
solid waste, that charge comes down. It removes the Carbon Tax component—
$22 off that fee.
It also enables us to get on and make the refund available to ratepayers in the
October rates notice. That will be the next rates notice to go out to all ratepayers.
So, Madam Chairman, I just point out one thing: in items D and E, as I have
announced previously, in terms of the gate charge, we will be refunding all of
those tax liabilities where we have a clear receipting, where we can return those
moneys to people. Where those funds cannot be reasonably or cost-effectively
refunded, they would be appropriated for landfill remediation. That would be the
remainder of those funds, which we think will only be a small percentage of the
total, because we know we can identify at least 80 per cent of those who have
paid those fees. Madam Chairman, I recommend the report to the Chamber.
Chairman:
Further debate; Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Seriatim - Clause B, C and D
Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS requested that Clause B, CONTRACTS AND TENDERING – REPORT TO
COUNCIL OF CONTRACTS ACCEPTED BY DELEGATES FOR MAY 2014, Clause C, PROPOSED
CHANGES TO THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF COUNCIL, and Clause D, REPORT OF THE
AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING ON 12 JUNE 2014, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Item A, which is the lease of the Wynnum Golf Course, we certainly welcome
the 20-year lease and I am sure Councillor CUMMING will have more to talk
on that. Item B, the Contracts and Tendering Report, Labor councillors will not
be voting for the contract. While we acknowledge as the LORD MAYOR has
read from the document and explained what is in some of those contracts, and
we acknowledge the storm harvesting project and the Shorncliffe project—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
—Stormwater Harvesting project—thank you, I take that interjection, and will
always encourage anyone to make sure my words are precise—Stormwater
Harvesting project and the Shorncliffe Pier, which is in desperate need of repair,
so the contract can enable those projects to proceed.
But when it comes to the fit-out of 9 Redfern Street, Morningside, that is where
we on this side of the Chamber see the administrative shambles that has taken
place with the fit-out where officers that have been in the Carindale office had
been ordered to up and leave at short notice with no explanation—that
explanation is still not forthcoming—and with considerable concern to them,
and the flow-on effects to the SES (State Emergency Services) workers who
were at Redfern Street.
My colleague, Councillor SUTTON, will speak on this in greater detail, but it is
something that Labor councillors are concerned about, that being the
implementation of the projects. Pointedly the project management of the
Langlands Park Stormwater Harvesting project. While it has been announced in
the community, it was only in a matter of days before the project starts, that the
two lessees at Langlands Park, being Easts Leagues Club and Langlands Pool,
were advised of what the project entailed. It means the loss of 10 car parks in the
middle of the finals of the footy season, when they have more teams than ever
practising, which is always a problem with parking, more people than ever
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 28 coming and seeing them be so successful in their games, and in the middle of
that, the path they use to get to their practice site has now become a job site.
There was no consultation with the club until last week, no ability for them to
have a say. Council could have left it for just a few weeks until the season is
over. They should have been advised exactly where the parking is, and now they
are notified that they losing a total of five car parks through the process. I hear
'not true' from the chair, but I have spoken to both those lessees and if it came to
a toss, I know exactly who would know what they have been told and what they
have not been told, and my money would always be on the lease, the people on
the ground. I similarly had trouble trying to get information.
The next item is item C, which are the changes to the organisational structure.
Here, the LNP are asking us to approve the changes that have already been
made. Once again, behind closed doors, once again being done without any
consultation. Clear structures of Council and the Opposition is fully aware of
those structures and how they work is good governance. It is acknowledging the
role of Opposition and making sure they have the tools and understanding for
that governance, and that is where the LNP Administration falls over all the
time.
Just this morning in Neighbourhood Planning Committee, we asked clarification
in terms of the role of CARS (Compliance and Regulatory Services) in relation
to building inspectors.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
I am sure Councillor COOPER thought she was very clear on the answer she
gave, but there were questions still and uncertainty in both Councillor SUTTON
and myself to her answer.
LORD MAYOR, I requested a briefing so that we could tease out and crossexamine the organisational structure changes, and it is not forthcoming. The
bottom line, where it comes to any of these changes, is in fact what are the
benefits for the residents of Brisbane—which is not mentioned at all—nor did
the LORD MAYOR take the opportunity to mention those benefits. Also what
does it mean for the jobs of the staff? Traditionally, when you have changes in
organisation, that is where there are job losses, and the Labor councillors are
very aware that we were told 200 jobs would be lost in this year, 2014-2015. So,
LORD MAYOR, I would ask before we vote on this matter today that you give
a clear understanding if any jobs are being lost and what benefits to the
community may be achieved through this restructuring.
I know Labor councillors would love to see more resourcing and serious
consideration given to leasing, because if anything is time-consuming with
many people waiting, it would be the leasing unit. So the fact it is in a separate
unit is welcome, but let's see what that actually means in the delivery of the
service.
I will leave the Audit Committee to Councillor FLESSER, and then move on to
the repeal of the Carbon Tax item. It is a matter of principle that, of course, any
increase in rates that was attributed to the Carbon Tax must be returned to the
ratepayers, and that is what is being achieved today. I have no doubt that Labor
councillors played a role in delivering that outcome. I acknowledge the work of
Councillor DICK and Councillor FLESSER and Councillor JOHNSTON. From
the very moment Abbot was in Government, they were on their feet demanding
this immediate return of that money to the ratepayers.
At that time, 3.44pm, the Deputy Chairman, Councillor Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, assumed the Chair.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
But Madam Deputy Chair, it is interesting, when the Carbon Tax came in, all of
the media were involved for weeks about what a disaster it was. It was a disaster
9 on the Richter scale. It was the end of Council's profitability as we know it. It
was an outrage that anyone would impose this on Brisbane City Council and not
other local governments. We all, I am sure, can remember the weeks of outrage.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 29 Why is there no fanfare today? Why has there not been any announcement
saying, give us a clap on the back? I think because the item actually shows that,
with all of Abbott's administration hype about the cost of carbon, we have now
seen it today reduced to an average of $36 per person. Now, that amount is
incredibly important to many people, and I will never take it away from
someone who is living pay packet by pay packet, what that $36 or, if they're
lucky, a little more, means to their pay packet.
But when we talk about this cost, we just have to take a little quiet time to
reflect on the known cost that climate variability, climate change and the lack of
any action in climate change will bring this Council and will bring the residents
of Brisbane as a direct result of the lack of action on climate change. It is very
easy, because the Australian Local Government Association published a
document, and in that, the very first thing that they said local governments had
to be concerned about is “inappropriate location of urban expansion areas”. That
means in flood plains.
In the next comment they state that we were going to have “an excessiveness of
flood defences” compounded by “excessiveness of draining capacity”. Those
words mean dollars. They mean huge dollars, and they are the impact we will
see that is acknowledged as the result of us not taking action on climate change.
That is the consequence that we have of this $36 coming. Can I say again: it was
a principle, and Labor has demanded that—
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS, your time has expired. Further debate; Councillor
JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON;
Yes, thank you, Madam Deputy Chair. I rise to speak on three items today—
items C, D and E. I will start with item D just very briefly, and that is the Audit
Committee Report meeting held on 12 June. Something very interesting has
happened to this report. Usually, of course, it is not a fulsome document that
gives us a clear picture of the financial rigour of this organisation's finances, but
I note that the people preparing the minutes have actually dropped a whole
section, which was the Issues to Watch section of the Audit Report. Those
problem projects, that usually there are about half a dozen of, suddenly are no
longer.
I don't doubt for a minute, Madam Chairman that it is not because those
problems have gone away; I am concerned it is an attempt at secrecy.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, you are imputing motive. You need to speak about
what is in the report, not about what is not there. Confine your remarks to the
report or I will sit you down.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Thank you for making my point for me, Madam Chairman. I greatly appreciate
it. I am concerned that there is a lack of information in this report about the
significant challenges that face this Council from a financial point of view. It is
problematic that that information has not been included in this document and it
should be.
Deputy Chairman:
To the report, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. I am moving on to item C. Item C is the
proposed changes to the organisational structure of Council. If I am recalling
this correctly, I think there have been at least four changes to the Family and
Community Services/Brisbane Lifestyle divisions you want to call them in the
six years that I have been a councillor in this place. So, every 1.5 years, this
Council seems to undertake an internal review of people's titles and what they
are doing. What I am concerned about with respect to this matter is that this
LNP Administration seems more concerned with these administrative issues
than actually delivering for the residents of Brisbane.
Can we see anywhere in the report before us today the benefits of these changes
for our city? No, we can't. We are told that it is an ongoing—ongoing, mind
you—functional realignment resulting in changes to the roles and
responsibilities. It is hugely problematic that there are less than six paragraphs
about this, and not a single one of them points to the benefits that these changes
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 30 will be offering to the residents of Brisbane. The LORD MAYOR couldn’t tell
us.
I think if we are to undertake a pretty significant change to the organisational
structure of this Council which results in numerous costs, including new people,
changes to employment structures, titles, consultants—who knows what else is
hidden in this review—and I hear Councillor ADAMS mumbling away. It is no
surprise, Madam Chairman, that it is her part of Council that needs a little TLC.
She has overseen in the past few years some of the biggest cuts to the
operational services of the Brisbane Lifestyle Division, and now she is allowing
her department to be divvied up akin, I would say, to moving the deck chairs
around on the titanic. Well, I think—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Stafford, yes Stafford could be a reason, Madam Chairman, but what I think, if
you are going to make changes, it is incumbent to explain how those changes are
going to benefit our residents. That has not happened in this report. They say it
is because of BaSE. Well, Madam Chairman, there's $350 down some black
hole which apparently not going that well in terms of the feedback I get from the
officers on the ground.
But what I will say is that I am concerned that this is an exercise in vanity by
this Administration that they do every couple of years, to make it look like they
are doing something. Nothing can cover up the lax administration in this part of
Council, particularly in the Brisbane Lifestyle area, and I think we as ratepayers
of this city, and councillors in this place, deserve an explanation about how
these changes will provide better services to our residents, more efficiency.
None of that is in here. There are literally five paragraphs, and that is it. That is
not good enough, Madam Chairman, and I am concerned about it.
Finally, item E. I note that the LORD MAYOR over the past year has been
dragged kicking and screaming to the position he got to the other day on the
Carbon Tax. I note and thank Councillor ABRAHAMS; it is Councillor Milton
DICK and I who have been asking questions for well over a year. Right up until
he announced the fact that he would pass these savings from the Carbon Tax
back to residents of Brisbane, the LORD MAYOR was denying it, and refusing
to answer questions about it. So, Madam Chairman, it is—
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Ah yes, the truth hurts. They are all kicking and screaming over there. I can hear
them squealing, yes. It's not just Stafford that's got them upset, Madam Chair.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, I have warned—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
It is the fact—
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON!
Councillor interjecting.
Deputy Chairman;
Councillor KING, please don't interject while I am speaking. Councillor
JOHNSTON, I have told you repeatedly to speak to the report. What occurred in
Stafford is not in this report. Resume your seat.
Councillor MURPHY.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Hey, what?
ADJOURNMENT:
7/2014-15
At that time, 3.58pm, it was resolved on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor
Kim MARX, that the meeting adjourn for a period of 15 minutes, to commence only when all councillors had
vacated the chamber and the doors locked.
Council stood adjourned at 4pm.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 31 UPON RESUMPTION:
At that time, 4.17pm, the Chairman, Councillor Margaret de WIT, resumed the Chair.
Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor SIMMONDS. Order.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. I am pleased to rise on items B, C, D
and E of the report. Firstly to add my support to the Contracts and Tendering
report, item B, for May 2014. It again shows how this Administration is getting
on with the job out there in the suburbs. It is a bit of an irony today that we're
talking about the repeat of the Carbon Tax when at the same time there's a suite
of contracts worth almost $7 million in this report for stormwater harvesting.
Showing just how much this Administration and this Council is putting towards
the practical sustainability measures that are yielding results as opposed to
simply reaching into people's pockets, which is the Labor way.
We also see Council continuing—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON. Point of order.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
The Labor Party is not mentioned in this report and the councillor is being
irrelevant. I would ask you to sit him down, please.
Chairman:
I do not uphold your point of order. Councillor SIMMONDS.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Council is obviously continuing, the City Reach
Boardwalk remediation works, community facilities improvement programs.
This time at Atthows Park, Darra, and of course the very important Shorncliffe
Pier project which is very significant funding in this financial year's budget.
Other projects being undertaken by this report, the Western Creek Bridge
replacement, the Klumpp Road Bikeway, civil works at Whites Hill Reserve, the
Mooney Fountain Plaza, pathway lining in Brighton, road works on Logan
Road, administrative contracts as well, including the aerial photography the
LORD MAYOR mentioned.
I hope in the efforts to see the Administration and this Council get in with
delivering for our suburbs that we will see bipartisan support for this particular
report.
In relation to the organisational structure, I just want to make a few comments.
There were two contradictory positions from those speakers opposite. First it
was claimed that we were doing these changes to reduce staff numbers then it
was claimed that we were using these changes to increase staff numbers. In fact,
Madam Chairman, these are fairly benign administrative changes. It was
discussed by Councillor ABRAHAMS that she wanted more detail; well these
are things that we've actually been talking about for quite some time.
Looking at examples in this report, for example, and one of the things that is
there is the South Bank changes required as part of South Bank. Well we've only
been talking about that for two years, since we went to an election where it was
a policy. We then signed a very public MOU (memorandum of understanding)
with the State government, we then briefed everybody on the changes that were
going to happen, we've reported on it a number of times. It's not really that
secret, Madam Chairman.
I know that in my own area, for example, the organisational changes listed here
are the G20 unit. This is a G20 unit which is detailed in the budget, including
their spending, which I spoke about at some length during the budget
information session. So for Councillor ABRAHAMS to claim that there isn't
enough detail in this one particular item I think is pretty spurious. She's had
plenty of opportunities and discussions about these items. This is a
housekeeping item to make sure that the change that occur as part of the normal
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 32 day to day business of this Council are reflected appropriately through this
place.
Of course, that brings us to the provision of a Carbon Tax repeal refund. Well
there's been a bit of a coup, Madam Chairman, on that side of the Chamber. I
don't know if the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor DICK, is going to be
very happy about it when he comes back.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
If he indeed comes back. He's not going to be very happy about it, Madam
Chairman, because the 1.9 per cent that had to go onto the rates because of the
Carbon Tax costs that were being hoisted on this administration by the Federal
Labor Government, Councillor DICK as Leader of the Opposition described it
as ripping off ratepayers. Yet today, we had the Acting Leader of the Opposition
defending it. Defending it, oh, it's only $36 a year, it's not much.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor SIMMONS:
It's only—oh, I might remember that.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Yeah, I might remember that, Madam Chairman, in future rate rises where
they're talking about every dollar is hurting people's hip pockets. That $36 really
isn't that much to pay really isn't that much to pay for the Carbon Tax. Shouldn't
this be put into other items that help protect us against climate change? You
know why?
We all know why she doesn't—Councillor ABRAHAMS doesn't want to let this
go, Madam Chairman. She's campaigned for a Carbon Tax for years. Here she is
in 2007 leading a march with none other than Bob Brown and Larissa Waters
through the streets of Brisbane, calling for a carbon tax.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Point of order against you, Councillor SIMMONDS. Yes, Councillor
JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, Councillor Bob Brown and whoever else Councillor
SIMMONDS has in his—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
—photo and in these comments, they are not in the report before us today. In
line with previous rulings about relevance, I would ask you to sit him down.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, I am not upholding your point of order and if you keep
making these pointless points of order, you will be warned. Because Councillor
SIMMONDS has every right to rebut what has been said by the Acting Leader
of the Opposition and that's what he was doing and you know it. Councillor
SIMMONDS.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thank you very much, Madam Chairman.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thank you very much, Madam Chairman, and it is incredibly relevant because
Councillor JOHNSTON stood up in this Chamber and said the refund is only
happening because of Councillor DICK and those on the other side of the
Chamber. What I'm clearly demonstrating is that in fact it's the opposite, Madam
Chairman. We were the only—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Claim to be misrepresented.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 33 Councillor SIMMONDS:
But we are the only side of the Chamber that holds a consistent position when it
comes to the Carbon Tax. That is, we didn't think it was good policy; we didn't
want it hoisted on the ratepayers and that we wanted it gone. As soon as it was
gone, that it would be returned, because we didn't want it in the first place.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
It is those opposite who have been totally inconsistent on this issue. They're all
over the shop because they can't reconcile their ideological needs with their
political needs. That's their problem, Madam Chairman. In 2012, when we had
this debate, when the Carbon Tax was brought in, Councillor ABRAHAMS
admitted that under her watch at Civic Cabinet, that many of the initiatives that
Brisbane City Council had put in place—this is a direct quote—“many of the
initiatives that Brisbane City Council put in place were put in place because we
knew that carbon would have a price on it at some time.”
This is something that she has been working towards for years. Even as a
chairman within this Council. Then in 2012, Madam Chairman, when the
Carbon Tax was introduced and it was a huge impost on the ratepayers of
Brisbane, that we've always maintained is a huge impost, that Councillor
ABRAHAMS now says, oh, it's only $36, don't worry about it, it's not a big
deal. Well their defence was all over the place. Councillor FLESSER in 2012, at
least, managed to admit in his '12-13 budget reply speech—and I quote, here he
is—sure, Madam Chairman, “the Carbon Tax is going to cost this Council some
money.” Some money.
So more than $10 million is just some money under Flessernomics. Councillor
DICK on the other hand—so while Councillor FLESSER was man enough to
admit it would cost money, Councillor DICK went into total denial mode.
Questioning the Federal Government's own treasury modelling in his 2012-13
budget reply speech when he stated that more and more commentators are
claiming that their sums don't add up.
But Councillor ABRAHAMS was the best. Councillor ABRAHAMS was the
best. She tried to run the argument that the Carbon Tax was actually going to
make this Council money. Let me read you what she said on 12 June 2012. “So
when the Liberal National Party get up and say it will have no economic benefit,
in fact they're wrong. We are making money out of it and we are going to make
more money.”
She implored the LORD MAYOR at the time, and again this is a direct quote:
“time to listen to hear the benefits for our city.” Well, Councillor ABRAHAMS,
we have heard and there is no benefit to this city from the Carbon Tax. This
money, the Carbon Tax having been repealed, should rightly be returned to the
residents of Brisbane. But meanwhile, this Administration and this Council will
continue on with the practical sustainability measures that have so far yielded
results and much more results than a Carbon Tax ever would, Madam Chairman.
Councillor QUIRK, the LORD MAYOR, Madam Chairman, has taken us
through some of the figures. But we remember at the time that the Carbon Tax
was brought in in 2012 that we made it very clear on the rates notice what the
impact of the Carbon Tax will be. Now, likewise, we are calling on this
Chamber to support us to make it very clear again to the residents of Brisbane
what the repeal of the Carbon Tax means by way of a direct refund.
It's important to note, too, that Council has undertaken a very comprehensive
program of ensuring that as much money that can be returned is returned. That
includes looking at our commercial customers who have gone through our waste
transfer facilities over the last couple of years since the Carbon Tax has been in
place. Wherever those commercial customers can be identified, again that
money will be returned to them, hopefully to be then passed on to the consumers
of those services.
Where they were paid in cash and those customers can't be identified, I look
forward to bringing through a first budget review submission to ensure that
money goes into remediating landfill as the LORD MAYOR has already
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 34 outlined. For the residents of Brisbane, you can expect the average residential
ratepayer to receive a remission, if passed by this Chamber today, an average of
$36. That's made up of the 1.9 per cent that we outlined in 2012, those figures
being the CPI (consumer price index) increase brought about as part of the
Carbon Tax, the indirect pass-through costs on waste disposal at landfill sites
and of course internal Carbon Tax administration and reporting costs.
It also includes the money that we have held over for the last two years in
preparation for future liability that we would have had as part of Brisbane's
waste collection. This will be a one-off refund to cater for the money collected
as part of the '14-15 budget.
Chairman:
Councillor SIMMONDS, your time has expired.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thank you.
Chairman:
Thank you. Councillor FLESSER.
Councillor FLESSER:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and I—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Oh, Councillor JOHNSTON. Yes, you claim misrepresentation.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, Madam Chairman. Councillor SIMMONDS misrepresented me earlier. I
said that the LORD MAYOR had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the
decision that he announced with respect to the repeal of the Carbon Tax by
myself and Councillor DICK. Madam Chairman, that right up until he
announced the repeal, he'd been refusing to do so for the previous year.
Chairman:
Councillor FLESSER.
Councillor FLESSER:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I apologise, I'm having trouble
shaking the man-flu that I've got. I know that you wouldn't understand how
debilitating that is. But maybe the men in the Chamber would understand.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, I want to—
Chairman:
I heard it at afternoon tea.
Councillor FLESSER:
You've already heard it.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor FLESSER:
Everybody's heard it. Actually I want to talk about item E in the report today.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor FLESSER:
That's the provision of the Carbon Tax repeal fund. Madam Chair, the LNP
Administration is treating the ratepayers of Brisbane as fools, Madam Chair.
Using them as political pawns by grossly inflating—grossly inflating—the real
cost to Council of the Carbon Tax. Madam Chair, we know what happened in
2012 when someone had a great idea to: let's put on the rates notice some little
bit of information about how much the Carbon Tax is costing ratepayers.
Madam Chair, we know what's going on. Most residents of Brisbane know
what's going on, Madam Chair. The LNP Administration have grossly inflated
the real cost of the Carbon Tax. There are two reasons for that, there are two
benefits to them of doing that. Firstly, number one, back in 2012 it gave a
political help to their colleague Tony Abbott who was campaigning against the
Carbon Tax. So they thought, well let's put it on the rates notice, make it sound
bad, that'll help Tony Abbott in the upcoming election.
Secondly, Madam Chair, it gave the LNP Administration an opportunity to
increase rates and blame someone else, blame the Federal Government for it,
Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, let's look at the figures that they've presented
again today, that are supposed to justify how much the Carbon Tax has been
costing Council. If you look at item 27 in the report, Madam Chair, it's got those
figures there.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 35 That it's $15.8 million in 2012-13 year, an increase of 1.9 per cent on rates.
That's what the LORD MAYOR said in his budget speech in 2012, Madam
Chair, that Carbon Tax is costing this Council $15.8 million a year. Well let's
examine those figures a bit. The first statement there says that $11 million of
that $15.8 million was due to the Federal Treasury forecast CPI increase applied
to Council's operating and capital costs.
Now, Madam Chair, what the LORD MAYOR didn't describe at the time and
has never admitted, Madam Chair, is that that was not a valid way to work out
the CPI increase to Council. Because what the LORD MAYOR used was a
basket of goods for an average domestic consumer, Madam Chair. That's not a
Council, that's a long way from a Council. What we know is after that 2012-13
year, Madam Chair, did CPI increase by 1.9 per cent above what was expected
or anything like that? Of course it didn't.
CPI didn't increase at all. As a matter of fact, I recall the Commonwealth Bank
saying that the real cost of the Carbon Tax was a 0.2 per cent increase in CPI.
Zero point two per cent, not 1.9 per cent at all. But, Madam Chair, it was a great
opportunity for the LORD MAYOR, let's start beating up on the Carbon Tax,
we'll get a bit of extra money in Council coffers, we'll give Tony Abbott a bit of
a leg-up, it'll be a great idea.
So, Madam Chair, that $11 million was just made up. It was not articulated in
the budget, it hasn't been articulated in the budget, Madam Chair, because it's
not true. It's just not true and we know that the Federal Treasury got it wrong
when the forecast that 1.9 per cent increase.
So, Madam Chair, let's look at items B and C where we're talking about the $3.5
million of indirect costs passed through waste disposal and the $1.3 million in
internal Carbon Tax administration reporting costs. Now, Madam Chair, there's
plenty of fudging in those figures, I can tell you. Because what this report is
failing to talk about is the constant budget reviews where those dollars for those
two items kept going back to Council because those costs weren't being realised.
Where does it say that in here? Where does it talk about the $394,000 in the
third budget review in the 2012-13 year that was handed back to Council?
Where's that? That's not in there, Madam Chair. What about last year, the third
budget review, $1.758 million handed back because it was overestimated in the
original budget, Madam Chair. So those figures are wrong. They are wrong,
Madam Chair, and this Council, this LNP Administration continues to use those
dodgy figures and Brisbane's ratepayers shouldn't have to put up with it.
So, Madam Chair, let's look at this $36 that is being refunded to ratepayers.
Madam Chair, the real refund should be a lot higher than that. It should cover
the grossly over calculated cost of the Carbon Tax to this Council over the last
two years. It should be a lot higher than that $36 because we know that this
Council's been taking more money off ratepayers than it should have to cover
the Carbon Tax.
The other thing I'm concerned about is probably the very last statement that
Councillor SIMMONDS just made before he was asked to sit down, Madam
Chair, and he said, this is a one off. Well, Madam Chair, I'm very concerned
that, yes, this is a one off. Because let's have a look at the budget document,
Madam Chair, where it talks about and shows what the rates and utility charges
are for this year and projected for next year.
Madam Chair, this $36 payment, Madam Chair, it needs to be reflected in the
future proposed rates and utility charges for next year. Because if we were to use
the proposed figures for next year and then just add an increase onto that,
whatever the LORD MAYOR comes up with, Madam Chair, that means that the
1.9 per cent or a percentage of that is being added on again next year.
So, Madam Chair, when an item comes to Council that allocates the dollars for
this, and there's been no explanation about where this $23 million is going to be
taken from out of the Council budget, Madam Chair, we need some assurance
there that the future budget rates and utility charges will be reduced by that 1.9
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 36 per cent. So in next year's budget, Madam Chair, we should be looking at a rates
increase—if we look over the last couple of years, rates have been going up by
about 5.5 per cent, if you include growth and about four per cent for individual
properties, Madam Chair.
That means that if ratepayers are not going to be ripped off again by this
Administration, well then the rates increase should not be more than two per
cent. If it's more than two per cent, Madam Chair, they're getting hit secretly by
the Carbon Tax again. So that's something that councillors need to be aware of,
the media need to be aware of that. Certainly the ALP councillors should be
watching that because we don't want to see the carbon tax, or the supposed—
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor FLESSER:
—Carbon Tax increase being forced back into ratepayers again.
So, Madam Chair, this $36 is not enough, it doesn't cover the dodgy figures that
have been presented to this Council over the last couple of years. Madam Chair,
it should be a lot higher and I certainly, and I know that other Labor councillors
will be looking into the future to make sure that the increase isn't secretly passed
onto the future.
Madam Chair, what we see here is, as I said, the LNP Administration treating
the ratepayers as fools and political footballs. Madam Chair, they are arrogant,
they're out of touch just like their colleague Campbell Newman and, Madam
Chair, it's about time we were more honest with ratepayers, told them what the
real cost—there's two choices; either tell them what the real cost of the Carbon
Tax was or compensate them for the extra money that they've taken out of their
pockets over the last couple of years.
Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor CUMMING.
Councillor CUMMING:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I refer to item A, the lease of land at Wynnum Golf
Club. Madam Chair, the Wynnum Golf Club is a fine old club, it's actually 92years old this year and means it actually pre-dates the formation of Greater
Brisbane. There are a lot of rounds of golf played on the club every year, 43,000
rounds of golf, and I actually was present when there was a discussion between
one of the Council employees who was involved with running the Council
courses and the manager at the time of the golf club. The Council officer seemed
quite impressed with the number of rounds played at the club. It's competitive
with other private clubs around Brisbane and also the Council courses.
I strongly support the lease being renewed. But the club has got some problems.
It's part of a worldwide trend and certainly nationwide in Australia that golf is a
sport in decline. The Wynnum club used to have quite a long waiting list to
become a member of the club and they used to charge a fee to join the club. But
unfortunately that's gone, there's no waiting list now and there's no fee payable.
All you have to do is pay your annual fee, you don't have to pay a joining fee as
well.
That's meant that they have struggled financially to keep the club going and
they've also asked some of their members to go and volunteer one day a week to
do odd jobs around the club, do some basic maintenance work, rather than
having paid staff do it. They're working hard to try to keep their membership up.
They've got a new president, Roger Jeffcoat who's been the president before. A
very hardworking and capable president. They know that they've got to work
hard to increase their membership.
They've got an excellent junior program for—obviously for juniors and they've
got a good professional in Matthew King who took over some years ago from
his father and the junior program's very affordable and they've even got a step
now where they have lower fees for members under 25 because they believe
people in that age bracket probably don't have the disposable money that other
people do and they've made their fees lower as well to keep young players
playing and encourage younger adults to keep playing as well.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 37 They are concerned, Madam Chair, they've got some concerns about the
proposed golf course at Cannon Hill because they believe that the decline in golf
generally and new golf course in the catchment area of the Wynnum Golf Club
will make it even more difficult for the Wynnum Golf Club. I again call for the
administration to think twice about whether a new golf course at Cannon Hill is
a good idea or not.
But anyhow, as I said, I support this proposal. The club's a very well-run, they're
an interesting setup. The leased area is the course, they've actually got a
privately-owned area that the club own where their clubhouse is. They're trying
to maximise the revenue coming from that, I'm told by the new manager that
they've got a wedding every weekend between now and Christmas, which is
good. They also try and encourage people to come and use their bar and other
facilities more often.
Their problem is there it's an area with a lot of licensed clubs in the area. There's
three licensed clubs and one hotel within about 500 metres of the golf course. So
it makes it difficult to get the general public into the club. Anyhow, I support
this application, I wish the club all the best and look forward to working with
them and would trust that they'll do very well over the next 20 years.
Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise to speak on two items in this report. Item B, the
contracts and tendering and specifically about one contract in particular and on
the report of the Audit Committee at item D. I don't have man-flu but I do have
a cough so I'll try to keep it brief, just given we're reporting our ailments today.
In terms of the Audit Committee meeting, I guess the thing that I noted in the
Audit Committee meeting report was the there was an item on there about the
ethical standards management committee update. Now from my reading of the
Audit Committee report minutes in the past, this is not a usual item. I don't
know how frequently it appears on the agenda but I certainly haven't seen it
before or at least recall seeing it before. I noted that the Audit Committee report
got a briefing by the Chief Legal Counsel with regard to the Crime and
Corruption Commission, the Council's case management system and recent
ethical standards investigations.
Madam Chair, I would hope that if there is an issue that councillors should be
made aware of with regards to investigations or outstanding investigations or
investigations underway that this administration and the LORD MAYOR or
Councillor SIMMONDS declares those investigations and provides the
appropriate briefings to all relevant parties.
I think that it would be in the interests of openness and transparency if the
LORD MAYOR could provide some clarifying statements in his summing up
today to assure this Council that there is no significant issue with regards to the
ethical standards of this Council that we need to be aware of. It should be open
for discussion and full and frank disclosure no matter how politically sensitive
that may be for this Council. I will leave my comments at that.
In regards to the contracts and tendering, I want to talk specifically about the
office fit out for 9 Redfern Street, Morningside. I have been asking for
information about the circumstances of our accommodation arrangements in the
east region for a while now. Before Christmas, the East Carindale Business
Centre, which used to be on the ground floor and level 1 on the Carindale
business centre and used to accommodate three sections of Council—Asset
Service, DA (development assessment) and CARS (Compliance and Regulatory
Services) .
Now I understand from Carindale Regional Business Centre, DA has moved
into the city, CARS has gone to Yeronga and Asset Services have now moved to
Redfern Street or are in the process of moving to Redfern Street, which is what
makes this contract necessary to fit 9 Redfern Street out. Now for those of you
who don't know where 9 Redfern Street is, that is the old SES depot. That is
where hundreds of residents line up all the time whenever there is a major storm
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 38 even to collect their sandbags, it is a well-known address in terms of where you
go for emergency assistance in a severe weather event.
I received a call from a member of the SES saying, Council is kicking us out and
we don't know where we're going. Then, within the space of days, after I got that
email and after I made enquiries, all of a sudden there was communication that
they were in fact being relocated up to the Colmslie RSL building; the Colmslie
RSL had recently gone into liquidation, a lucky coincidence because that in fact
was not planned, them going into liquidation.
So my—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor SUTTON:
No, I know the background of it, Councillor ADAMS, trust me. I know all of
that and yes it was a long time coming. However, I am concerned we have
shifted the SES into the old Colmslie RSL building. I don't know how familiar
you are but there is a very steep, windy, narrow road to get up to that building. I
have my own concerns about how we are going to manage in that location in the
event of a storm, in the event of an emergency situation where residents have to
queue and there is a high traffic volume to get to that location.
So I question the rationale for all of these accommodation movements. At the
start of the last session, I asked Councillor SIMMONDS in the Finance and
Administration Committee for a briefing on our accommodation services and
the strategies and the decisions that are being made, particularly in regards to the
east region. I wanted a briefing on that and a presentation to the Committee so I
could understand that rationale for why this contract would be here today, why
we are having to spend $207,000 to refit 9 Redfern Street which was a site that
the SES did not want to move from, regardless of what anyone will say. A
number of the members have contacted me with their concerns about the fact
that they had to move and the way in which those moves were managed.
I'm concerned about what has necessitated that. Why did we have to get
everyone out of the Carindale Regional Business Centre? I would like an answer
to that. Why then was the only option to move to Redfern Street when that is
such a well-known place to go as an emergency services depot for people in the
event of an emergency? How is this new facility going to cope, that new facility
up at Colmslie RSL going to cope in the event of an emergency?
I don't see the rationale and therefore I can't support this contract. It's not
because I haven't asked questions, Madam Chair, I have tried to ask the
questions. I am disappointed that this contract comes to Council today without
being provided as the local councillor in the area for which all of this is taking
place that I have not been consulted or briefed on any of these changes?
Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor ADAMS.
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise to speak on item C on the organisational
structure and the item on contracts and tendering, item B. First of all, I'll talk
about the organisational structure just briefly and saying I welcome the
organisational structure changes within Brisbane Lifestyle. I think all
councillors have touched base with me some time in the last six months to talk
about the changes that they have seen, particularly within our Connected
Communities Branch and the fantastic work that they have been doing across
our leasing with our sport and rec officers.
Yes, they were absolutely snowed this time last year; there was no doubt about
it. With over 600 leased sites, we had a lot of leases outstanding. We had a lot
of issues for just 16 people to be dealing with. With an extra branch manager
now, with Shane Hackett coming online for the connected communities, we are
seeing a concentrated effort, we've got the sport and rec officers into the one
office in town so they can actually work across a range of issues and work
together across those issues looking at specialty areas.
We've seen 67 of our toughest leases get solved in the last six months alone; of
those that have been overdue. So I have to say, an enormous portfolio when it
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 39 came to community facilities and connected communities. I think what we are
seeing now is a focus very clearly on our facilities, with our community hall,
City Hall and city venues. Then we've got our sport and rec officers with our
connected communities and our policies on the other half.
So I think we'll only see it go from strength to strength and I commend the
officers on the changes and how they've taken them on board and we're really
seeing us going ahead in leaps and bounds in those areas.
With regards to Contracts and Tendering, I have to say that the request for SES
to move did not come from anywhere from Councillor SIMMONDS' office but
it was a request from SES itself. I have stood up here many times telling about
how well we are going in SES. The eastern services in particular, and Councillor
SCHRINNER knows because they've made representation to him as well, have
almost doubled their numbers in the last 12 months. They have outgrown the
site where they are sharing with Redfern Street at the moment.
The new site is going to have the capabilities for them to do the training that
they need to do with the numbers that they now have coming to their evening
sessions. We know there is a lot of training to be done for SES. Yes, it was not
planned that Colmslie RSL was going to go into liquidation in any way, shape or
form but it was very lucky that we got a fantastic opportunity with this
community facility very, very close to the asset services building in Redfern
Street.
The technicalities of where the sandbags are at the moment, my understanding
is, that they are still at Asset Services and SES will be there on site to help as
well. But what we are seeing at Colmslie RSL now is a dedicated space and
home for the eastern regions SES services. They can have multiple nights'
training, they have got a kitchen, they have got store rooms, they have got
office, and they have got a large, open area where they can all meet. They are
going to have it fully disability compliant in their own home.
Now I can assure you that the SES was across this from the very beginning
when we started speaking to them about this. Obviously, a lot of members which
probably heard a lot of Chinese whispers hence the emails that came through to
some of the councillors when the changes were happening. We know nobody
likes change but I can assure you they're very happy now, particularly with the
new plans we have on this site.
I am very excited that we can get an opportunity for this community group that
works so hard for us to have their own home where they can actually meet on a
regular basis and do all the training that they need to do to make sure that when
we do need to get those sandbags out there, that they're on the forefront and can
help our local residents.
Chairman:
Further debate, LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. Madam Chairman, I—just before I
wrap up, I'd just like to ask, if it hasn't already been done so because there was a
couple of motions there regarding items.
Seriatim - Clause E
The LORD MAYOR requested that Clause E, PROVISION OF A CARBON TAX REPEAL REFUND, be
taken seriatim for voting purposes.
LORD MAYOR:
That'd be right. Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. Well, Madam
Chairman, it's been a broad-ranging debate today and we've heard responses to
many of the items that the Opposition have raised in relation to those items. But
look, I do want to say to the carbon tax lovers opposite that the issue you're
faced with here today is very simply. We want to give a clear refund, and for all
of the criticisms, let's be clear. Let's be clear.
This was the first organisation I think in Australia that went on the front foot,
perhaps with the exception of the energy companies that went with a clear plan
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 40 of what we were doing, with a comprehensive plan that had been thought
through in terms of that return and the various components of that return. It was
done within two hours of the Senate passing that legislation. You can talk about
kicking and screaming all you like, you tell me what the Senate is going to
decide next week. Would somebody like to get up and have a go at that?
No, not too many volunteers for that one. Well, Madam Chairman that was
always the point. We never knew where the Senate was going to land, when
they were going to land there and in what form they were going to make that
landing. Until we knew all of that, we were not going to be stupid about it and
go out and make statements that we may have then had to later retract because
the Senate had changed its mind or had gone off in some other direction. So it
was, Madam Chairman, always going to be the case that we were going to make
an announcement about when the—what we were doing but we wanted to make
absolutely sure that the Senate made that decision in the first place.
Because we know what happens. We know if I'd gone out and said, look, if the
Senate does this, we will make this commitment. We know what would happen,
if the Senate had changed their mind and decided something else, there'd still be,
Quirk committed to this. That's what the Opposition would have been carrying
on about. Now he's reneging. Well, Madam Chairman, I wasn't going to allow
that opportunity to occur.
So we held our ground, rightly, until the decision was made and then made the
appropriate announcement. I do want to delve into the wonderful world of
Flessernomics for a moment. Now, Councillor FLESSER, man-flu and all, has
put the proposition to us today that the CPI is a basket of goods. Therefore, it's
not appropriate for this Council to go on the basis of a basket of goods. He said
the CPI was 1.9 per cent by the way, for the carbon tax, and no one has ever,
ever, ever said that. It was 0.7 per cent, which translated across the goods and
services that this Council involved with, the $3 billion budget as it was at that
time.
Madam Chairman that then equated to 1.9 per cent across the organisation,
when you added in the administrative costs and the other carbon tax-related
costs within Council. But, Madam Chairman, he says that a basket of goods
doesn't apply to this Council. So therefore, it must follow from what he has said
that perhaps construction costs, given that we're a constructing authority, that
construction costs ought to be taken as a mechanism for rate increases.
Well what happens then when the seven and eight per cent annual increases in
construction costs were occurring a few years back, when we were holding rates
down to around CPI. Madam Chairman, where was Councillor FLESSER then
up on his feet saying, you've done a marvellous job because we shouldn't be
taking as a basket of goods across the CPI because we're a constructing
authority. We should be basing ours against construction costs.
Well, of course, he was nowhere to be seen in the world of Flessernomics. So,
Madam Chairman, it's a changing story—pattern to suit the political line of the
day. We have—as I indicated earlier, we have been at the forefront of this. We
have led the way with other entities around the place, both public and private,
working out what they're going to do. We had a plan two hours after the Senate
brought that down. That's because we had a plan in place before the Senate
brought it down, Madam Chairman that allowed two hours' grace to call a media
conference together to announce what it was we could do.
So it is fulfilled today through this resolution. We need to support of this
Council, Madam Chairman, to give effect to that refund. It will hurt the carbon
tax lovers opposite if they do vote for this, we know it will hurt them. Because
we know that at the first opportunity, they will want to bring all of these costs
associated with the carbon tax back onto the people of this city, this state and
this nation, Madam Chairman. That is because they are carbon tax lovers.
Now, Madam Chairman, today also is an opportunity, importantly, to change
those fees and charges, to remove the carbon tax component and we ask
everybody to support it. Madam Chairman, I'm happy to move the report.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 41 Chairman:
I will put the motion. First of all for item A.
Clause A put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause A of the report of the Establishment
and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for item B.
Clause B put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause B of the report of the Establishment
and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, the LORD MAYOR and Councillor Victoria NEWTON immediately rose and called for a division,
which resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 19 -
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK,
DEPUTY MAYOR,
Councillor
Adrian SCHRINNER,
and
Councillors
Krista ADAMS,
Matthew BOURKE,
Amanda COOPER,
Margaret de WIT,
Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX,
Peter MATIC, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS, Andrew WINES, Norm WYNDHAM and Nicole JOHNSTON.
NOES: 0 -
Nil
ABSTENTIONS: 6 -
Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS,
Peter CUMMING,
Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON and Shayne SUTTON.
Chairman:
Kim FLESSER,
I will put the motion for item C.
Clause C put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause C of the report of the Establishment
and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, the LORD MAYOR and Councillor Ryan MURPHY immediately rose and called for a division,
which resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 18 -
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK,
DEPUTY MAYOR,
Councillor
Adrian SCHRINNER,
and
Councillors
Krista ADAMS,
Matthew BOURKE,
Amanda COOPER,
Margaret de WIT,
Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX,
Peter MATIC, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS, Andrew WINES and Norm WYNDHAM.
NOES: 0 -
Nil
ABSTENTIONS: 6 -
Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS,
Peter CUMMING,
Kim FLESSER,
Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON, Shayne SUTTON and Nicole JOHNSTON.
Chairman:
I will put the motion for item D.
Clause D put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause D of the report of the Establishment
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 42 and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS and Victoria NEWTON immediately rose and called for a division,
which resulted in the motion being declared carried.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 19 -
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK,
DEPUTY MAYOR,
Councillor
Adrian SCHRINNER,
and
Councillors
Krista ADAMS,
Matthew BOURKE,
Amanda COOPER,
Margaret de WIT,
Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX,
Peter MATIC, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS, Andrew WINES, Norm WYNDHAM and Nicole JOHNSTON.
NOES: 6 -
Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS,
Peter CUMMING,
Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON and Shayne SUTTON.
Chairman:
Kim FLESSER,
I will put the motion for item E.
Clause E put
Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause E of the report of the Establishment
and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Mathew BOURKE and Ryan MURPHY immediately rose and called for a division,
which resulted in the motion being declared carried unanimously.
The voting was as follows:
AYES: 25 -
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK,
DEPUTY MAYOR,
Councillor
Adrian SCHRINNER,
and
Councillors
Krista ADAMS,
Matthew BOURKE,
Amanda COOPER,
Margaret de WIT,
Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Geraldine KNAPP, Kim MARX,
Peter MATIC, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS, Andrew WINES, Norm WYNDHAM, Helen ABRAHAMS,
Peter CUMMING,
Kim FLESSER,
Steve GRIFFITHS,
Victoria NEWTON,
Shayne SUTTON and Nicole JOHNSTON.
NOES: Nil.
The report read as follows
A
LEASE OF LAND TO WYNNUM GOLF CLUB INCORPORATED
112/555/362/5
8/2014-15
1.
The Divisional Manager, Brisbane Lifestyle provided the information below.
2.
The Wynnum Golf Club Incorporated (the Club) has leased the Council owned land at 64
Stradbroke Avenue, Wynnum for the past 20 years. The current lease is due to expire on 30
June 2014 and the Club has advised Council that they wish to renew their lease for another 20
years.
3.
The Club was established in 1922 and remains an integral part of the community. The Club
continues to grow with 80 new members joining and over 43,000 rounds of golf played by
members and the public last financial year. The Club has spent over $1 million in the last two
years on course maintenance and has demonstrated community benefit and capacity to
manage the community facility for the term.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 43 -
4.
The Divisional Manager therefore recommended as follows with which the Committee
agreed.
5.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ATTACHMENT A, submitted
hereunder.
Attachment A
Draft Resolution
TO ENTER INTO A LEASE WITH THE WYNNUM GOLF CLUB INCORPORATED
FOR 64 STRADBROKE AVENUE, WYNNUM.
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE THAT
As:
(a)
Council is the owner of Lot 1 on Plan No. CP841297 and Lots 1-5, 38-65 on
RP35941, Parish of Tingalpa, 64 Stradbroke Avenue, Wynnum which was
the subject of a lease to the Wynnum Golf Club Incorporated that expired on
30 June 2014.
(b)
The Wynnum Golf Club Incorporated has requested to be granted the lease
over Lot 1 on Plan No. CP841297 and Lots 1-5, 38-65 on RP35941, Parish of
Tingalpa, 64 Stradbroke Avenue, Wynnum.
Then Council approves:
(c)
Entry into a lease for 20 years with the Wynnum Golf Club Incorporated for
64 Stradbroke Avenue, Wynnum:
(i)
in accordance with the terms for lease as set out in Attachment B,
submitted on file, and
(ii)
otherwise on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Divisional
Manager, Brisbane Lifestyle and the Chief Legal Counsel, Brisbane
City Legal Practice.
ADOPTED
B
CONTRACTS AND TENDERING – REPORT TO COUNCIL
CONTRACTS ACCEPTED BY DELEGATES FOR MAY 2014
109/695/586/2-03
OF
9/2014-15
6.
The Chief Executive Officer provided the information below.
7.
Sections 238 and 239 of the City of Brisbane Act 2010 (“the Act”) provide that Council may
delegate some of its powers. Those powers include the power to enter into contracts under
s242 of the Act.
8.
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 and Chief Executive Officer.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 44 -
9.
The City of Brisbane Regulation 2012 (“the Regulation”) was made pursuant to the Act.
Section 227 in Chapter 6 (Part 4) of the Regulation provides that: (1) the Council must, as
soon as practicable after entering into a Contract under this chapter worth $200,000 or more
(exclusive of GST), publish relevant details of the Contract on Council’s website; (2) the
relevant details must be published under subsection (1) for a period of at least 12 months; (3)
also, if a person asks the Council to give relevant details of a Contract, the Council must
allow the person to inspect the relevant details at the Council’s public office. ‘Relevant
details’ is defined in s227 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).
10.
The Chief Executive Officer therefore recommended as follows with which the Committee
agreed.
11.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE REPORT OF CONTRACTS ACCEPTED BY
DELEGATES FOR MAY 2014, AS SET OUT IN ATTACHMENT A, submitted
hereunder.
Attachment A
Contract/Quote No. &
Successful Contractor/s
BRISBANE INFRASTRUCTURE
1.
Contract No: 000017-A10
City of Brisbane Regulation 2012 – Chapter 6 – Contracting
Details of Contracts Accepted by Delegates of Council for May 2014
Delegate
Nature of
Contract/Quote Purpose
Unsuccessful Tenders
Arrangement
& Quoters
and Estimated
Maximum
Expenditure
Executive Lump sum
Manager, City
Projects Office $182,888
Community Facilities
Improvement Program –
Atthows Park
Box & Co Pty Ltd – $182,888
Achieved highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 45.11
2.
Contract No: 530095
Open Water Bodies
CB Mott Park
Pensar Civil Pty Ltd – $906,765*
Achieved highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 8.82
CEO
Lump sum
$6,993,955**
Stormwater
Harvesting
Program – Construction for
Separable Portion 1
(CB Mott Park, Ekibin Park,
Norman Park, Langlands
Park, Sexton Street Park
and Norman Park Sports
Precinct) and Separable
Portion 2 (Downey Park
Sports Precinct)
Prices
Tendered
Building Solutions Brisbane
Achieved VFM of 32.91
$187,010
DG Wilson
Achieved VFM of 27.66
$205,021
Open Water Bodies
CB Mott Park
Shortlisted tenderers:
Doval Constructions (Qld) Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 5.81
$1,425,607*
Tenderers not shortlisted:
Abergeldie Constructions Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 3.34
$1,703,115*
Shamrock Civil Constructions
Achieved VFM of 2.88
$1,915,437*
Moggill Constructions Pty Ltd
Non-conforming. VFM not calculated.
$1,232,642*
Ekibin Park
Ekibin Park
Pensar Civil Pty Ltd – $1,696,147*
Achieved highest VFM of 4.72
Shortlisted tenderers:
Doval Constructions (Qld) Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 2.27
$3,641,896*
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
Approval,
Start/End
Dates & Term
Approved
28.05.2014
Start
30.05.2014
End
Estimated
completion
within five
weeks
Approved
27.05.2014
Start
01.07.2014
End
Estimated
completion
within 24
months
- 45 Contract/Quote No. &
Successful Contractor/s
Delegate
Nature of
Arrangement
and Estimated
Maximum
Expenditure
Contract/Quote Purpose
Unsuccessful Tenders
& Quoters
Prices
Tendered
Approval,
Start/End
Dates & Term
Tenderers not shortlisted:
Shamrock Civil Constructions
Achieved VFM of 2.03
Above Ground Tanks
Above Ground Tanks
Sexton Street
Sexton Street
Pensar Civil Pty Ltd – $741,667*
Achieved highest VFM of 10.52
Shortlisted tenderers:
Doval Constructions (Qld) Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 8.16
$2,720,061*
$924,457*
Tenderers not shortlisted:
Abergeldie Constructions Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 5.30
$1,300,325*
Shamrock Civil Constructions
Achieved VFM of 4.63
$1,530,008*
Langlands Park
Langlands Park
Pensar Civil Pty Ltd – $746,230*
Achieved highest VFM of 10.45
Shortlisted tenderers:
Doval Constructions (Qld) Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 9.57
$787,737*
Tenderers not shortlisted:
Abergeldie Constructions Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 5.30
$1,104,239*
$1,237,282*
In-channel Storage
Shamrock Civil Constructions
Achieved VFM of 4.63
In-channel Storage
Norman Park
Norman Park
Pensar Civil Pty Ltd – $1,385,020*
Achieved highest VFM of 5.34
Shortlisted tenderers:
Doval Constructions (Qld) Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 4.86
$1,604,202*
Tenderers not shortlisted:
Shamrock Civil Constructions
Achieved VFM of 2.24
Downey Park
Downey Park
Pensar Civil Pty Ltd – $1,568,126*
Achieved highest VFM of 4.72
Shortlisted tenderers:
*Price is initial tendered price with water
treatment and distribution elements removed.
**Estimated contract expenditure includes a
discount for the award of all six sites.
3.
Doval Constructions (Qld) Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 4.53
$1,721,637*
Tenderers not shortlisted:
CEO
Contract No: 530108
Schedule
rates
Shamrock Civil Constructions
Achieved VFM of 2.17
of City Reach Boardwalk - Abergeldie Constructions Pty Ltd
Remediation Works 145 – Achieved VFM of 5.53
175 Eagle Street, Brisbane
$2,329,743*
of Shorncliffe Pier – Timber Finlayson’s Timber
Decking Supply
Achieved VFM of 137
$582,155*
$1,387,239
$1,189,289
Moggill Constructions Ltd – $1,189,289
Achieved highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 6.57
4.
$2,283,522*
CPO
Schedule
rates
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
Approved
06.05.2014
Start
06.05.2014
End
Estimated
completion
within
16
weeks
Approved
17.04.2014
- 46 Contract/Quote No. &
Successful Contractor/s
Delegate
Contract No: 530110
Nature of
Arrangement
and Estimated
Maximum
Expenditure
Contract/Quote Purpose
$552,455
Parkside Group of Companies – $278,992**
($560,588*)
Achieved highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 150
Kennedy’s Classic Aged Timbers Pty Ltd $273,463** ($560,323*)
Achieved VFM of 148
*Tendered price to supply the full quantity of
timber decking.
**Contract value is for half the quantity required
by Council.
5.
CPO
Contract No: 530136
Abergeldie Constructions Pty Ltd –
$557,017
Achieved highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 9459
6.
Contract No: 530150
Moggill Constructions Pty Ltd – $537,958
Achieved highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 10224
7.
Contract No: 530169
Schedule
of Western Creek
rates and lump Replacement
sum
Contract No: 530189
CPO
Schedule
rates
$537,958
Contract No: 530190
Desbrow Electrical Pty Ltd – $117,856
Coffs Harbour Hardwoods
Achieved VFM of 125
$672,592*
Gill & Co Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 124
$647,402*
Lazarides Timber Agencies
Achieved VFM of 123
$648,141*
Deckmaster Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 82
$693,141*
Bridge McIllwain Civil Engineering Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 8511
$710,222
of Klumpp Road Bikeway McIllwain Civil Engineering Pty Ltd
Upper Mt Gravatt
Achieved VFM of 7778
$655,734
Epoca Constructions Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 7286
$700,000
Cragcorp Pty Ltd t/a Queensland Bridge $828,346
& Civil
Achieved VFM of 6640
Executive Schedule
Manager, Field rates
Services
Group (FSG) $115,480
Doval Constructions (Qld) Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 6286
$779,462
Abergeldie Constructions Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 5971
$803,918
Pensar Civil Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 5923
$726,041
BMD Constructions Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 2987
$669,506
Brittwood Constructions Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 2471
of Civil Works at Whites Hill Bullet Concreting Pty Ltd
Reserve, Camp Hill
Achieved VFM of 36.42
$687,998
Brittwood Constructions Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 21.71
$184,243
Civil & Marine Projects Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 11.83
$228,210
$115,856
Executive Lump sum
Manager, FSG
$131,050
Construction of the timber N/A
N/A
deck for the Mooney
Fountain
Plaza Forge Bros Engineering Pty Ltd were the
rejuvenation
only company to respond to the Request
for Quote.
Executive Lump sum
Manager, FSG
$117,856
Pathway
Lighting
for Aus Air Electrical Pty Ltd
Sandgate Third Lagoon Achieved VFM of 74.40
Reserve, Brighton
Tecelec (QLD) Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 32.52
Forge Bros Engineering Pty Ltd – $131,050
Achieved Value for Money Index {VFM} of
68.67
9.
Prices
Tendered
$557,017
Naturform Pty Ltd – $115,480
Achieved highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 76.98
8.
Unsuccessful Tenders
& Quoters
$120,967
$245,981
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
Approval,
Start/End
Dates & Term
Start
22.04.2014
End
Expected
delivery within
15 months
Approved
10.04.2014
Start
11.04.2014
End
Expected
completion
within
10
weeks
Approved
22.05.2014
Start
22.05.2014
End
Expected
completion
within
14
weeks
Approved
22.05.2014
Start
26.05.2014
End
Expected
completion
within seven
weeks
Approved
08.05.2014
Start
12.05.2014
End
Expected
completion
within
eight
weeks
Approved
08.05.2014
Start
19.05.2014
End
- 47 Contract/Quote No. &
Successful Contractor/s
Delegate
Nature of
Arrangement
and Estimated
Maximum
Expenditure
Contract/Quote Purpose
Unsuccessful Tenders
& Quoters
Prices
Tendered
Achieved highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 76.36
10.
Contract No: 530191
Executive Lump sum
Manager, City
Projects Office $207,610
Office Fitout – 9 Redfern Anchor Building Services Pty Ltd
Street, Morningside
Achieved VFM of 27.12
Executive Lump sum
Manager, FSG
$129,315
Installation of a Waterproof PFP Systems AUS Pty Ltd
Membrane System at Achieved VFM of 50.15
Logan
Road
Bridge,
Greenslopes
CPR Services
Achieved VFM of 49.55
Marshall Renovations Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 22.22
Premis Solutions Pty Ltd – $207,610
Achieved highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 39.50
11.
Contract No: CQ118-2013/2014
TA Taylor Group Pty Ltd – $129,315
Achieved highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 61.86
$188,085
$310,529
$159,508
$131,190
Approval,
Start/End
Dates & Term
Expected
completion
within
six
weeks
Approved
28.05.2014
Start
28.05.2014
End
Expected
completion
within
six
weeks
Approved
22.05.2014
Start
26.05.2014
End
Expected
completion
within
two
weeks
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
12.
CEO
Contract No: 510008
Category 1 - Cash Collection and Counting
Services (Panel Arrangement)
Panel
and
Preferred
Supplier
Arrangements –
schedule of rates
Provision
of
Cash
Collection,
Counting
Services and Automated
Cash Deposit Machines
$2,600,000
Prosegur Australia Pty Limited – $347,566*
Achieved highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
of 25.36
Approved
27.05.2014
Start
01.06.2014
End
Category 1 – Cash Collection and
Counting Services (Panel
Arrangement)
Linfox Armaguard Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 14.61
(Initial term)
$578,216*
31.05.2017
Max. Term
Five years
Secutor Securities Pty Ltd – $286,543*
Achieved VFM of 20.95
*Price is a basket of goods based on estimated
services required per year.
Category 2- Automated Cash Deposit
Machines (Preferred Supplier Arrangement)
Category 2 – Automated Cash Deposit
Machines (Preferred Supplier
Arrangement)
SprintQuip Pty Ltd - $868,058**
Achieved highest VFM of 31.15
** Price is the estimated cost over five years
including initial supply of machine and
maintenance plan.
13.
Contract No: 510073
AAM Pty Ltd - $50,040*
Achieved highest Value for Money Index {VFM}
Prosegur Australia Pty Limited
Achieved VFM of 10.06
CPO
Preferred
Provision
of
Supplier
Resolution
Arrangement – Photography
schedule of rates
$250,000
High Shortlisted tenderer:
Aerial
Fugro Spatial Solutions Pty Ltd
Achieved VFM of 118.48
$2,411,864**
$70,056*
Non-conforming Tenderer:
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
Approved
08.05.2014
Start
18.05.2014
End
(Initial term)
17.05.2015
- 48 Contract/Quote No. &
Successful Contractor/s
Delegate
Nature of
Arrangement
and Estimated
Maximum
Expenditure
of 168.53
*Price is a basket of goods based on services
supplied to Council over a 12 month period.
14.
Contract No: SPO130056-12/13
CEO
Lump sum
$4,435,650
Insurance Renewal Program - $2,417,647
Industrial Special Risk (ISR) – Property
Insurance
Fine Arts
Ferry Operations and other Marine Exposures
Corporate Travel
Personal Accident
Entertainers’Liability Policy
Excess of Loss of Workers Compensation
(required by WorkCover self insurance license)
General Liability for CBIC
Contract/Quote Purpose
Unsuccessful Tenders
& Quoters
Prices
Tendered
Delta Mapping Pty Ltd
N/A
VFM and final tendered price not
calculated
Renewal of Corporate N/A
N/A
Insurance Program and
Local Government Mutual Contracts of insurance are arranged on
Queensland
(LGMQ) Council’s behalf by its insurance broker,
Renewal – 2014/2015
Marsh Pty Ltd under a Preferred Supplier
Arrangement for establishing insurance
arrangements for Council.
The Queensland Local Government
Mutual Liability Pool (LGM Queensland)
is a subsidiary of Local Government
Association Queensland, providing legal
liability insurance cover for Queensland
Local Government. Brisbane City Council
is a foundation member of LGMQ.
LGMQ Membership Renewal - $2,018,003
Public Liability
Products Liability
Professional Indemnity
Council and Officers Liability
Employment Practices Liability
Consumer Protection Liability
ADOPTED
C
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF
COUNCIL
109/305/710/53
10/2014-15
12.
The Chief Executive Officer provided the information below.
13.
Section 193 of the City of Brisbane Act 2010 provides that Council must adopt, by resolution,
an organisational structure that is appropriate to the performance of Council’s responsibilities.
14.
The most recent changes to Council’s organisational structure occurred in 2012. Since that
time, there has been ongoing functional realignment resulting in changes to roles and
responsibilities of some divisions, groups and branches across Council’s organisational
structure. As those arrangements have now matured, it is appropriate to also seek Council
approval for those changes.
15.
Additionally, the Business and Systems Efficiency (“BaSE”) Program as a business
transformation program requires an accurate association of roles with responsibilities.
16.
Attachment A, submitted hereunder, sets out the resolution which brings into force the
proposed administrative arrangements supporting this organisational structure, and
Attachment B, submitted on file, records the functions and responsibilities of Council’s
divisions, groups and branches.
17.
The resolution allocates the functions and responsibilities of the former Community Lifestyle
branch into two new branches; creates a new branch in City Planning and Sustainability; and
recognises the temporary nature of the G20 unit. The names (but not the functions and
responsibilities) of three branches have changed, and the Disaster Response and Recovery
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
Approval,
Start/End
Dates & Term
Max. Term
Five years
Approved
20.05.2014
Start
31.05.2014
End
30.06.2015
- 49 -
Group has been abolished, as its functions and responsibilities are located in the Disaster
Management Office within the Office of the Lord Mayor and Chief Executive Officer.
18.
The Chief Executive Officer therefore recommended as follows with and Committee agreed.
19.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ATTACHMENT A, submitted
hereunder.
Attachment A
Draft Resolution
TO PROPOSE CHANGES TO THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF COUNCIL
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE THAT
As:
(a)
Council under the City of Brisbane Act 2010 has established divisions, groups and
branches and allocated roles and responsibilities to those divisions, groups and
branches;
(b)
Under Section 193(1) of the City of Brisbane Act 2010, Council must adopt by
resolution an organisational structure and may amend that structure;
Then Council:
(a)
CREATES NEW BRANCHES:
(i)
“City Parklands, Strategy and Support branch” in the City Planning and
Sustainability Division, and DETERMINES the manager of that branch will
be called “Manager, City Parklands, Strategy and Support branch”;
(ii)
“Community Facilities and Venues” in the Brisbane Lifestyle Division, and
DETERMINES the manager of that branch will be called “Manager,
Community Facilities and Venues”;
(iii)
“Connected Communities” in the Brisbane Lifestyle Division, and
DETERMINES the manager of that branch will be called “Manager,
Connected Communities”;
(b)
CHANGES THE NAME OF THE:
(i)
“Commercial Services branch” in the Brisbane Lifestyle Division to
“Business Strategy and Alignment branch” and DETERMINES the manager
of that branch will be called “Manager, Business Strategy and Alignment
branch”;
(ii)
“Engineering and Assets branch” in Brisbane Transport to “Engineering and
Asset Management branch” and DETERMINES the manager of that branch
will be called “Manager, Engineering and Asset Management branch”;
(iii)
“Waste Services branch” in the Brisbane Infrastructure Division to “Waste
and Resource Recovery Services” and DETERMINES the manager of that
branch will be called “Manager, Waste and Resource Recovery Services”;
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 50 -
(c)
ABOLISHES the Disaster Response and Recovery Group and Community Lifestyle
branch;
(d)
RECOGNISES the G20 Unit with an Executive Manager in the Office of the
Lord Mayor and Chief Executive Officer Group, and notes that it will cease to exist
on the 31 December, 2014, or on such earlier date as is determined by the Chief
Executive Officer;
(e)
DETERMINES that the functions and responsibilities of Council’s
divisions, groups and branches are as set out in Attachment “B”, submitted on file;
(f)
DETERMINES that if an officer has responsibilities and performs functions
and duties in a group or branch, and by virtue of this resolution, those responsibilities
functions and duties are now to be performed within a new group or branch, that
officer will continue to have those responsibilities and perform those functions and
duties in that new group or branch;
(g)
NOTES that the Chief Executive Officer currently holds delegations of
powers previously delegated to officers in units and branches abolished by this
resolution;
(h)
AUTHORISES the Chief Legal Counsel to do anything to have the
description of Council’s delegates, and any limits on their delegations, and their
relevant divisions, groups and branches updated in Council’s delegation database to
reflect Council’s organisational and administrative changes from time to time;
(i)
NOTES that the Manager of the Bus Operations branch in Brisbane
Transport is called its Chief Operating Officer;
(j)
AUTHORISES the Chief Executive Officer to make any additional minor
administrative arrangements as are deemed necessary to fully reflect Council’s
decisions.
ADOPTED
D
REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING ON 12 JUNE 2014
109/695/586/6
11/2014-15
20.
The Chief Executive Officer provided the information below.
21.
Section 201 of the City of Brisbane Regulation 2012 requires that as soon as practicable after
a meeting of the Audit Committee, Council must be given a written report about the matters
reviewed at the meeting and the Committee’s recommendations about the matters.
22.
The Chief Executive Officer is to present the report mentioned in subsection (1)(c) of Section
201 at the next meeting of Council.
23.
The Chief Executive Officer therefore provided the following recommendation with which
the Committee agreed.
24.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE MEETING
ON 12 JUNE 2014 AS SET OUT IN ATTACHMENT A, submitted on file.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 51 -
ADOPTED
E
PROVISION OF A CARBON TAX REPEAL REFUND
134/825/1170/6
12/2014-15
25.
The Divisional Manager, Organisational Services provided the information below.
26.
As part of the 2012/13 budget, Council rates were increased by 1.9 percent due to the
anticipated increase in costs associated with the carbon tax. Those costs, as at 1 July 2012,
totalled $15.8 million, comprising:
(a)
$11 million due to the Federal Treasury forecast CPI increase applied to Council’s
operating and capital costs;
(b)
$3.5 million for indirect cost pass-through on waste disposal at landfill sites; and
(c)
$1.3 million in internal carbon tax administration and reporting costs.
27.
For the 2014/15 budget, the 2012/13 carbon tax costs of $15.8 million are equivalent to
$17.03 million.
28.
The carbon tax legislation has now been repealed by the Commonwealth Government and
Council has announced that a one-off carbon tax repeal refund totalling $23.4 million will be
provided to ratepayers. This will effectively return the estimated costs of the carbon tax
provided for in Council’s 2014/15 budget and refund the amount collected in 2012/13 and
2013/14 for future landfill carbon emissions costs. The refund will apply to all ratepayers and
equate to an average of $36 for each residential ratepayer.
29.
On 1 July 2012, Council’s waste disposal fees were also increased to include a component to
cover future carbon tax liabilities. The amount was $22 per tonne (including GST). This
amount has not changed over financial years 2013/14 and 2014/15.
30.
With the repeal of the carbon tax legislation, Council’s disposal fees at Council’s waste
disposal sites will reduce by $22 per tonne (including GST). The Disposal Charges for Solid
Waste for 2014/15, as set out in the Fees and Charges resolution, will be amended to remove
reference to the carbon tax pricing (where applicable).
31.
Council has collected $6.7 million in gate fees at waste transfer facilities to cover the future
liabilities of the carbon tax from customers in 2012/13 and 2013/14. Council will repay the
carbon tax component of transfer station fees to those private companies and other
organisations that can be reasonably and cost effectively identified as customers. The balance
of those funds will be used for landfill remediation.
Financial Impact
32.
The financial costs associated with the carbon tax repeal refund are estimated as follows:
Carbon Tax Repeal Refund
$23.4 million
Reduction in 2014/15 Anticipated Revenue from Disposal
$3.3 million
Charges for Solid Waste
Refund of 2012/13 and 2013/14 Carbon Tax related Gate Fees to
$6.7 million
commercial customers
Total
$33.4 million
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 52 -
34.
The Divisional Manager therefore recommended as follows with which the Committee
agreed.
33.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ATTACHMENT A,
hereunder.
Attachment A
Draft Resolution
TO PROPOSE THE GRANTING OF A REFUND PAYMENT TO ALL
RATEPAYERS, AMENDMENTS TO THE SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES
OF THE COUNCIL BUDGET FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 2014/15 AND TO
GRANT A REFUND PAYMENT TO ALL IDENTIFIED WASTE CUSTOMERS
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE THAT
As:
(i)
On 1 July 2012, the Federal Government’s carbon tax took effect;
(ii)
From 2012/13, Council’s budget made provision within its rates and charges
to cover the cost of the carbon tax as legislated;
(iii)
On 17 July 2014, the Federal Government’s carbon tax was repealed;
(iv)
Council intends to make carbon tax repeal refunds to existing ratepayers in
respect of their rate accounts.
(v)
Council intends to amend its Schedule of Fees and Charges for 2014/15 to
reduce waste disposal charges to reflect the repealed carbon tax;
(vi)
After meeting its carbon tax liabilities for landfill emissions, as required
under the repeal legislation, Council then intends to refund to identified
commercial customers an amount attributable to the remaining carbon tax
charged to those customers.
(a)
Council agrees to apply a one-off carbon tax repeal refund totalling $23.4
million, averaged across all rating categories to each and every rate account
in existence as at 1 October 2014; to be applied to the second quarterly rates
notice issued in the financial year 2014/15;
(b)
A note will be included on the rate account explaining the carbon tax repeal
refund. The note will read “Council has provided a one-off Carbon Tax
Repeal Refund as a result of the Government’s repeal of the former Federal
Government’s Carbon Tax”;
(c)
Council amends the Schedule of Fees and Charges 2014/15, at pages 29, 30,
31 and 32 under the heading “DISPOSAL CHARGES FOR SOLID
WASTE”, by deleting the content under the heading and replacing it with the
content as shown in Attachment B, submitted on file;
(d)
After meeting carbon tax liabilities in respect of its landfills, Council directs
that refunds be paid to each identified waste services customer being those
Then:
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 53 -
who can be reasonably and cost effectively identified to the satisfaction of the
Chief Financial Officer;
(e)
Funds that cannot be reasonably or cost effectively refunded are to be
appropriated for landfill remediation.
ADOPTED
NOTATION OF DECISIONS OF THE ESTABLISHMENT AND
COORDINATION COMMITTEE AS DELEGATE OF THE COUNCIL:
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee, moved,
seconded by Councillor Norm WYNDHAM, that the report setting out the decisions of the Establishment and
Coordination Committee as delegate of the Council during the Winter Recess 2014, on matters usually
considered by the Infrastructure Committee, be noted.
Chairman:
Is there any debate?
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Yes, Madam Chairman. There were two items put forward through the recess.
The first at item A was a petition regarding the introduction of a service charge
for residential parking permits. The second was a petition requesting a review of
the intersection between Rangeview Street and Navue Avenue in Aspley.
Now in relation to the first item, item A, councillors can see clearly in the report
the logic behind Council's decision to introduce a serve charge. In particular, I
wanted to draw councillors' attention to the remarkable increase in demand for
permits over a five year period. So you can see at paragraph six there that five
years ago, Council issued 9,778 permits—parking permits. When you fast
forward five years to 2012-13, Council issued 74,753 permits.
So that's a 660 per cent increase in demand for parking permits over a five year
period. Now, has the population of the city grown by 660 per cent? No. It's
grown by a few per cent over that time. But certainly the growth in demand for
parking permits is not all about extra development and more people moving into
the city. That is not the case. That will not explain a 660 per cent increase in
demand for permits.
So there's something else going on here. I don't profess to know exactly what
that is. But definitely the demand is—or it certainly did get to the point where
the number of permits issued exceeded the amount of on street car parking
spaces available. So the scheme was actually set up to fail because more permits
were issued than spaces were available. So residents got a permit and they
think, well this entitles me to park on the street, but they weren’t able to find a
park on the street. That is a lot of the feedback that we've received going
forward.
So essentially, the imposition of a $10 service charge—and that's if you look
right across Australia and indeed across the world, that is a modest fee and it's
certainly not a fee that involves Council making any profit. It's a fee that only
partially recovers the cost of delivering the service. That fee has since resulted
in a reduction in demand of parking permits down to—I understand Councillor
ADAMS, the latest figure was around 28,000 permits.
So it's taken the demand from 74,000 down to 28,000. So that has certainly
helped reduce the demand and we can obviously have the debate about what the
appropriate level or number of permits is and what the appropriate cost is. But in
the end, what we're providing in this report is an explanation of why Council
introduced the service charge. Having said that, this recommendation going
forward does not make a judgement on whether the service charge is the right
policy or the wrong policy. It simply says that it is the preferred option to advise
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 54 the head petitioners that Council will consider the current service charge for
residential parking permits as part of the Brisbane parking taskforce review.
The review is expected to be completed by December 2014. So to be very clear,
we're not saying go away, we're not considering this submission. We're simply
saying, this is actually being fed in as we speak to the Brisbane taskforce for the
parking review. There will be a whole range of outcomes come out of that
parking taskforce. Some of those recommendations will relate to the residential
parking permits scheme.
So all we're saying is, we're not going to pre-empt the decision of that. Here's
why we made the decision, and you can see that the demand grew exponentially.
But going forward, our future decisions on this matter will be determined in
consultation with members of the parking taskforce. So I think that's a fair and
reasonable response to this issue. I do note, however, that in the consultation
section, Councillor ABRAHAMS was consulted and did not support the
recommendation.
So what she's saying is that she doesn't support the taskforce reviewing this
matter.
Councillor interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
That's what she's saying. Because the recommendation says, the taskforce is
reviewing it and they will complete their review by December 2014. The
residential parking permits scheme is part of that review. So I take it that
Councillor ABRAHAMS does not support this matter being reviewed, because
that's the only assumption you can make from this submission.
Ultimately, I'd like to see improvements made to the residential parking permits
scheme and I, together with the members of the taskforce, have been going
through the thousand submissions that have been received and obviously that's a
long process and involves a lot of work to go through and analyse all that. But
it's interesting to see the feedback about residential parking permit schemes.
While there are some people who object to the fee, there are also many people
who say, be more than happy to pay a fee if the scheme worked better. That's
certainly something that we're taking on board. They want a scheme that works
better to protect residents through more effective enforcement and through a
more efficiency issuing process for permits. I think they're actually great
suggestions. So they're something that we're considering as part of the review.
At item B, we have the petition requesting a stop sign up in Councillor
COOPER's ward. I'm pleased to say that we will be changing the current give
way controls to a stop sign in line with the petitioner's requisite. I think that
should provide a positive outcome for the petitioners and for Councillor
COOPER as well. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Further debate. Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I wish to discuss both item A, a
petition calling to reverse the decision to introduce a service charge for
residential parking permits and the second item which is to review the signage at
an intersection in Aspley. Madam Chair, where it comes to item A and the
reversing of the service charge, I listened very closely to Councillor
SCHRINNER. Interestingly, he did not once acknowledge there were 847
petitioners calling for a change. I would suggest, Madam Chair, that puts this as
one of the larger petitions that Council would consider.
Madam Chair, he did labour the issue of the increase in charges and I agree with
him. That increase in the number of permits that were issued does show a
system that hasn't been managed. That's all it tells you, Madam Chair. That
system should have been managed properly. I would totally support that.
But, Madam Chair, a properly managed system doesn't mean there must be a
cost to it. There are other ways of making sure that there is an appropriate
allocation of a parking permit to go onto an individual car, is adhesive to that car
without a charge. Madam Chair, in paragraph 11, the Administration comes to
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 55 another argument. Because there, the document says that we put a charge on
because services funded by general rates should wherever possible be accessible
to all. In contrast, the parking permits scheme relates directly to the provision of
a service only to the residents living in the parking scheme areas.
Madam Chair, what tommy rot. What misrepresentation of the facts. Madam
Chair, the reason why we have parking permits is so everybody in Brisbane can
come and park in the streets that have a residential parking permit in it. Madam
Chair, that provides a parking service for everybody in Brisbane. Madam Chair,
I would argue very strongly that that paragraph is a clear reason why there
should be no charge for the parking permits. It is an impost already on the
residents to go through the very arduous process of getting the permits, keeping
them up to date, following through when they don't come, following through a
second time when they don't come, finding the information when they're on a
rental property and having a changed a number of times.
That is an impost anyway. But that impost that residents undertake in parking
areas is so that other people can come and park in their street and find a car
parking space, more often than not. Madam Chair, Councillor SCHRINNER
said there was an oversupply. Too right there was. But, I have not heard anyone
say, since the paid parking permits have come in, we've suddenly got spare
space for parking. On the contrary, Madam Chair, because they're paying for it,
because that charge is imposed on it, they're acutely aware when there is no
parking and the system is failing irrespective of them paying for a service.
Finally, Madam Chair—
Chairman:
Councillor BOURKE.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
—Councillor SCHRINNER had quite a bit of fun in his own way. Councillor
SCHRINNER, I love the way you have fun because you don't get too passionate
about it, it's just nice and factual and I do appreciate it. So I will try and be nice
and factual as well.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Madam Chair, this permit petition relates to, as you can see in the front,
CA14/153737, CA14/208374 and the two other numbers, and I mention them
specifically, because, Madam Chair, I was asked to comment on this petition. I
was asked to comment on Friday 2 May. The draft response was sent to me, it
was also sent at the same time to Councillor HOWARD. It asked me to make a
comment and it had a petition response attached, 2 May.
On 2 May, it said, “Option 1, advise the petitioners that Council will continue to
implement a service charge for residential parking permits.” I responded straight
back that same day on 2 May and I said, I do not support the recommendation as
I am opposed to that charge. May I say again, the recommendation was to
continue to implement. So, Madam Chair, imagine my shock, imaging my shock
when I read the report in today's response that refers to the Brisbane parking
taskforce.
On 2 May, the Brisbane parking taskforce hadn't even crossed the LORD
MAYOR's mind. Not at all. So—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
So the response I received, the intention that I commented on has been amended
since that time. Now, Madam Chair, you would expect me immediately to go
and check that no one had come back to me for another response. Nope, no
record, no record at all. So, Madam Chair, this is the most sloppy management,
if you wish to call it sloppy, sloppy management of any petition. If not, it is
downright deceptive, deceiving and it is not the calibre that we should have in
the Council Chamber.
So, Madam Chair, I'm glad to tell the Council Chamber, rather than have a
determination saying we will not consider a change, I will certainly take one
glimmer of opportunity, one weak hope that in fact the parking taskforce might
listen not only to these petitioners but everyone else that I am aware of who is
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 56 asking for that charge to go. A charge that enables other people to park in the
area where residents are living.
Madam Chair, the final item is to change from a—what is it, give way, to a stop
sign. Madam Chair, the only reason—I will certainly be supporting this
recommendation but I note there was one recorded accident at this intersection
that brought forward this change. Madam Chair, I'm writing that into the
Council record because I hope that in every Labor ward where there is one
accident and we ask for change, that it will be seen equally meritorious.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, Madam Chairman. I rise to speak on item A with respect to the service
charge for residential parking permits. Firstly, can I say that it is absolutely
disgraceful that Councillor ABRAHAMS has not been provided, prior to this
meeting, with the recommendation to come through to this committee and that
her views have been misrepresented in this committee report today? This is a
matter that has happened to me now on several occasions, it is happening
repeatedly in the infrastructure division and it is absolutely fraudulent and
misrepresentative to say that a councillor supports or does not support
something when there has been a substitution of the preferred recommendation
in the Council reports between the draft the councillor was given and the
response in the Council papers.
Councillor SCHRINNER needs to stand up today and confirm to this Chamber
that he will never let this happen again, it is happening frequently, it is
happening in the infrastructure division and it is absolutely wrong, fraudulent
and deceptive practice by the chair of this Council to allow it to continue. Now
I've said it in this place before and we've heard Councillor ABRAHAMS say it
very clearly here now. It is absolutely unacceptable that councillors are given
different recommendations to the materials brought to Council. It is wrong.
Now with respect to the matter itself, Madam Chairman, I hope these aren't
hollow words in the actual preferred option that's been given to Council.
Because we've heard it all before. We've heard it all before with other reviews
that this Council has done, that they will listen to the residents of Brisbane. Well
we've seen recently, Madam Chairman that they like to get people to make
submissions but then they do not listen to the suggestions that are put forward.
I've put forward 12 recommendations with respect to regulated parking zones
including abolishing the fee, which I believe would be the right thing to do. The
residents who live around major hospitals and sporting institutions in our city
should not—
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, in line you’re your previous points of order. I don't
think you are speaking to what exactly is in this report.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I am.
Chairman:
You're speaking very generally. You're not talking in relation to these particular
petitions.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I'm talking about the abolition of the parking fee, which is what this petition is
all about, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
But you're talking about your area, not what's covered in these reports.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Well that applies to certainly, Madam Chairman, my area and every other part of
Brisbane City Council that has a regulated parking scheme. So, Madam
Chairman, I'm speaking generally on this. Madam Chairman, what I will say is
that it is absolutely unacceptable that this Council should charge residents who
live near major hospitals and sporting institutions a fee to park in their street
because of the poor planning decisions made by those organisations in providing
for inadequate off street car parking.
That is why our residents around these institutions are being charged a fee. It's
not because they've done something wrong. It is because the large institutions
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 57 that are near them have not managed the parking demand for their services. This
needs to be addressed in a planning capacity and it needs to be addressed as part
of the review that has been underway with the parking taskforce.
Now, Madam Chairman, the other interesting thing in here and I'll just say a
couple of things with respect to paragraph 6. Could it be—and just let me have a
little think about why maybe the number of permits has gone up over the past
few years. Could it be, perhaps that progressively as meters have been
introduced around these areas with regulated parking schemes that then
residents go out and seek a permit so they don't have to pay twice to park in their
own street? Could that perhaps be driving the demand?
I would say, Madam Chairman, there's definitely a correlation between the
increase in the number of meters rolled out over that period of time and the
number of permits that have been required over that time.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, Madam Chairman, I think that there should absolutely be a little bit more
transparency by the infrastructure chairman about this matter because I suspect
there's a very close correlation.
Now what I will say, Madam Chairman, is the DEPUTY MAYOR implied that
there is some problem with parking permits and how you get them. He couldn't
put his finger on the problem. He's happy to whack a new tax on our residents
but he can't explain what's going wrong. Well the first thing to do is to find out
what the problem is. Then the second thing to do is to look at a practical solution
for it, not the other way around.
What I would say, Madam Chairman, is residents who need parking permits
pretty much have to undergo some sort of ASIO security check where they've
got to provide multiple points of identification. So, Madam Chairman, if there's
some impropriety—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
—if there is some impropriety going on with the number of permits being
issued, it must be because the proper checks aren't being undertaken by Council
and its contractor.
Its contractor operates from Melbourne, there is extremely poor oversight of
how that process is managed. Madam Chairman, it is not good enough that the
residents are being blamed and charged a fee for this Council's poor
administration. That is what is happening with respect to this. They are being
blamed for a problem that they did not cause in the first place and they are not
responsible for managing. That is inadequate in my view, that is poor
management, that is poor leadership and that is down all to the DEPUTY
MAYOR who oversights this area.
Now, Madam Chairman, I certainly support the abolition of this up to $25 per
household fee. There are plenty of services that this Council offers to other parts
of Brisbane that are available to some residents and not to others. It is
unacceptable that a fee is being charged because this Council cannot properly
administer a scheme and because this Council continuously approves
developments without adequate parking to go with them. That is not acceptable
in my view.
I've made a number of recommendations to the parking taskforce review. I
certainly hope that they're not ignored like they did in the City Plan.
Chairman:
Further debate, DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you, Madam Chairman, and thank you to the councillors who have
contributed to this debate, particularly on item A. In response to Councillor
ABRAHAMS’ comments, she did make a number of comments and I will
respond to those comments. She did say that a properly-managed system doesn't
mean there has to be a cost associated with it, and she was referring to the
parking permits. Well the reality is, there is a cost and that cost is $0.5 million.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 58 It's not free money here. The scheme is costing ratepayers. The question of
fairness is, who should pay?
Should every single ratepayer pay for this permit scheme or should the people
that benefit from the permits? It's pretty simply. So should the Bracken Ridge
residents pay for permits in Paddington? Or around the tennis centre?
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order. Councillor ABRAHAMS.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
I don't think so. I think that's ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.
Councillor interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
I think that if someone's getting, physically getting a permit which they can stick
in their car, which will allow them to park on the street for longer than the
allocated time limit then that's something that they personally benefit from. Let's
be very clear, on street parking does not belong to the resident that lives adjacent
to that park. It never has and it never will. It is a community asset, everyone
knows that.
If people buy houses without adequate parking then they shouldn't expect that
they have a God-given right to park on the street out the front of their house. We
manage on street parking for the benefit of the whole community.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
It is a community-funded asset, it is a community-owned asset. Now, if some
councillors are suggesting—
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
—we should privatise on-street parking and give them a—
Councillor interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
—privatised space on the kerb out the front of their place, well I'd be interested
to hear that suggestion because that is essentially what anyone who is saying
that the resident has a right to park right out the front of their house is saying.
Councillor interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
No, that's exactly what's being said. They're privatising public space.
Chairman:
Order.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
It is no different to someone—
Chairman:
Just a minute, DEPUTY MAYOR. Are you calling a point of order, Councillor
ABRAHAMS?
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Point of order, Madam Chair, claim to be misrepresented.
Chairman:
No, the DEPUTY MAYOR wasn't referring to you, he was talking generally
about the arguments that have been put forward. I don't recall him saying,
Councillor ABRAHAMS said. All right, you're misrepresented if you think so.
DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
You could—Madam Chairman, you could draw parallels to a resident that lives
adjacent to a park thinking that that park was for their use only and that they
should have a reserve sign on the seat in that park because they live next door to
it. We know that that's not the way things work. These are community assets and
they should be used for the benefit of the wider community. Now obviously we
believe that residents deserve some level of priority and consideration when it
comes to on street parking. That's why the permit scheme exists.
But they should pay for it. That's the principle and that's why we've introduced
the charge. But as I said, we're not saying that this is the only answer going
forward, we're saying; let's have a look at this issue in the taskforce. Let's see
what the taskforce has to say going forward. Let's listen to what the wider
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 59 community says, let's listen to what all the councillors say and let's make an
informed decision going forward. That's what we'll do.
But it is wrong to say that there is no cost associated with the parking permit
scheme. There is a cost and it was approaching $0.5 million. That is a real cost
for all ratepayers. Now Councillor ABRAHAMS said the scheme needed to be
managed, but she didn't really say how the scheme should be managed. Some
councils—
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, that—just a minute, DEPUTY MAYOR, that is a very
insulting comment. I'd ask you to withdraw it.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
That was the intention. I withdraw, Madam Chairman, at your direction.
Chairman:
Thank you, DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Sorry, Madam Chairman, look I didn't actually hear what was said. I just heard
some mumbling.
Chairman:
Just as well.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Yes. So I didn't have a chance to be offended by that comment. But look, some
councils, they choose to manage their permit parking schemes in various ways.
Some of them manage it by putting ridiculously high charges on. We know
councils that charge up to $250 for one permit. That's how they manage their
parking schemes. We're not suggesting that should be the case. Other councils
manage their parking permit schemes by having ultra-strict requirements for
who is eligible for a parking permit.
I know, for example, some councils basically say, if you have off street parking
in your house, you are not allowed to have a parking permit—simple as that. So
Councillor ABRAHAMS has said we need to manage it but she hasn't really
given any indication on how that might look. So as I said, rather than
speculating, we need to wait and see what the taskforce has to say on this
important issue.
Now, Councillor JOHNSTON was critical that I didn't put my finger on the
reason for the increase in the parking permits issued. Now the reason I didn't put
my finger on it, Councillor JOHNSTON is because I didn't want to make
assumptions about why that might be the case. There are a lot of assumptions
that have been made by many people. Some people have claimed, for example,
that there's a lot of rorting going on in this system. Now I will not claim that and
I will not make that claim without evidence to prove that claim.
So I'm not going to make that claim and that's why I haven't indicated a
particular reason. But one thing is clear; the demand has changed dramatically
with the imposition of a $10 service charge. As with any Council service that is
freely offered, that service may be overused by some people and underused by
other people and there can be various reasons for that. But in the end, as I said,
we will have a look at what the taskforce says on this issue and look forward to
improving the system and introducing some positive outcomes for the residents
of Brisbane.
Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS, you claim misrepresentation.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Yes, thank you Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I was very clear and I repeatedly
said that permits to let other people use the streets as we would use footpaths
and roads, Madam Chair, I didn't mention God-given right to own the kerb side
outside. It was a deliberate twist in the debate.
Chairman:
I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 60 -
A
PETITIONS – CALLING ON THE LORD MAYOR TO REVERSE THE
DECISION TO INTRODUCE A SERVICE CHARGE FOR RESIDENTIAL
PARKING PERMITS
CA14/153737, CA14/208374, CA14/280149 and CA14/395173
13/2014-15
1.
A number of petitions from residents of Brisbane and surrounding suburbs, requesting
Council to reconsider and/or reverse its decision to implement a $10 service charge for
residential parking permits, were presented to the meetings of Council held on
25 February 2014, 18 March 2014 and 13 May 2014, by Councillor Helen Abrahams, and at
the meeting of Council held on 1 April 2014 by Councillor Vicki Howard, and received.
2.
The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, Brisbane Infrastructure Division,
supplied the following information.
3.
Since July 2013, Council has received 10 petitions requesting that Council reconsider and/or
reverse its decision to implement a $10 service charge for residential parking permits.
4.
Petition CA14/153737 contains 74 signatures from residents of The Gabba Ward. Petition
CA14/208374 contains 12 signatures from residents of The Gabba Ward. Petition
CA14/280149 contains 625 signatures from residents of the Central Ward. Petition
CA14/395173 contains 36 signatures from residents of The Gabba Ward.
5.
Over recent years, in direct response to requests from local residents and businesses, Council
has progressively introduced parking schemes in some areas of Brisbane. As part of the
scheme, Council has also administered a free permit process which allows local residents to
have access to on-street car parking spaces close to their home.
6.
The demand for free permits has continued to grow rapidly in recent years, with the number
of permits requested growing from less than 10,000 in 2007-08, to almost 75,000 in 2012-13.
This represents an increase in demand of more than 660 per cent. The number of permits
issued each year is as follows:
9,778 permits for 2007-08 financial year
10,478 permits for 2008-09 financial year
11,168 permits for 2009-10 financial year
22,531 permits for 2010-11 financial year
32,330 permits for 2011-12 financial year
74,753 permits for 2012-13 financial year.
7.
As a result of the exponential increase in permit numbers, the scheme was expected to cost
ratepayers up to $500,000 a year to administer.
8.
In February 2014, Council introduced a small charge of $10 per vehicle, up to a maximum of
$25 per household, to partially offset the cost of processing residential parking permits.
9.
On-street parking is a limited resource and in many parts of the city, demand significantly
exceeds supply. As a result, Council faces the challenge of managing the use of available
parking. Ultimately, this involves balancing the demand for residential on-street parking with
other competing demands for parking spaces.
10.
While Council appreciates that residents in parking-scheme areas pay their rates, general rates
represent the contribution all ratepayers make towards the running of the city. This includes
services such as libraries, parks, street lighting, road maintenance, major infrastructure, traffic
management, community events, promotion and development of economic opportunities for
the city plus many more Council initiatives.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 61 -
11.
Services funded by general rates should, wherever possible, be accessible to all. In contrast,
the parking-permit scheme relates directly to the provision of a service only available to
residents living in parking-scheme areas. A small contribution towards administering this
service will go a long way to ensuring general rates revenue can continue to fund city-wide
services for all.
12.
It is also important for residents to note that virtually every other significant Australian city
charges for residential parking permits. Furthermore, Brisbane’s charge is substantially lower
than other cities including Sydney ($49), as well as smaller cities such as Perth ($80) and
Hobart ($35).
13.
The new service charge was included in the 2013-14 Council budget and was subsequently
approved by a full meeting of Council in late June 2013.
14.
In June 2014, Council initiated the Brisbane Parking Taskforce to undertake a review of
Council’s policies and practices associated with on-street parking. It will provide
recommendations, which will improve Council’s management of parking across the city. It is
recommended that the current service charge for residential parking permits be included as
part of the Brisbane Parking Taskforce review. The review is expected to be completed by
December 2014.
Funding
15.
Funding for the permit scheme is provided under Program 2 – Moving Brisbane.
Consultation
16.
The Councillor for Central, Councillor Vicki Howard, has been consulted and supports the
recommendation.
17.
The Councillor for The Gabba, Councillor Helen Abrahams, has been consulted and does not
support the recommendation.
Customer impact
18.
Approximately 18,000 households are required to pay the service charge for Residential
Parking Permits across Brisbane.
Preferred option
19.
It is the preferred option to advise the head petitioners that Council will consider the current
service charge for Residential Parking Permits as part of the Brisbane Parking Taskforce
review. The review is expected to be completed by December 2014.
20.
The Manager recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting held on
21 July 2014.
21.
DECISION:
THAT THE HEAD PETITIONER BE ADVISED OF THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT, AND THAT COUNCIL ENDORSES THE
PREFERRED OPTION ABOVE.
NOTED
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 62 -
B
PETITION – REQUEST TO REVIEW THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN
RANGEVIEW STREET AND NAVUA AVENUE, ASPLEY
CA14/202695
14/2014-15
22.
A petition from residents of Aspley, requesting Council to review the intersection between
Rangeview Street and Navua Avenue, Aspley, was presented to the meeting of Council held
on 18 March 2014, by Councillor Amanda Cooper, and received.
23.
The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, Brisbane Infrastructure Division,
supplied the following information.
24.
The petition contains 10 signatures, representing 10 households of a possible 54 properties in
Rangeview Street and Navua Avenue in Aspley.
25.
The petitioners are requesting that Council remove the existing give way controls at the
Rangeview Street and Navua Avenue intersection, and replace them with stop controls.
26.
Navua Avenue is classified as a neighbourhood access road, primarily providing access to
residential buildings and local access streets, and may be used to carry public transport.
Typically, these roads carry up to 3,000 vehicles per day and have speed limits of up to
50km/h.
27.
Navua Avenue is currently an unsigned 50km/h residential street of approximately 6.5 metres
in width, running in a north-south direction between Robinson Road West and Ellerdale
Street, and is approximately 350 metres in length. In addition, Navua Avenue has three
intersections; two of which are “T” intersections at Windrest Avenue (signed stop control in
place), Craigan Crescent (signed give way control in place) and one four-way intersection at
Rangeview Street (signed give-way controls in place).
28.
Rangeview Street is classified as a local access road, and primarily provides access to single
family dwellings and cul-de-sacs with limited neighbourhood traffic movement and limited
through traffic. Typical characteristics of this type of road includes carrying less than 1,200
vehicles per day and speed limits of up to 50km/h.
29.
Rangeview Street is currently an unsigned 50km/h residential street, approximately 6.5 metres
wide, running in an east-west direction between Centre Street and Wilmah Street, and is
approximately 420 metres in length. Rangeview Street has three intersections; two of which
are “T” intersections at Centre Street (unsigned give way in place), Wilmah Street (unsigned
give way in place) and one four way intersection at Navua Avenue (signed give way controls
in place).
30.
A search of Queensland Government’s official accident database has been undertaken and has
shown that there has been a recorded accident at this intersection. As such, it is recommended
that Council install stop controls at the Navua Avenue and Rangeview Street intersection to
increase safety and ensure motorists have adequate visibility when approaching the
intersection.
Funding
31.
Funding is available through Program 2 – Moving Brisbane, Schedule 209 – Suburban
Amenity Improvements.
Consultation
32.
The Councillor for Bracken Ridge Ward, Councillor Amanda Cooper, has been consulted and
supports the recommendation.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 63 -
Customer impact
33.
The response will address the petitioner’s concerns.
Preferred option
34.
It is the preferred option to change the current give-way controls to stop controls.
35.
The Manager recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting held on
21 July 2014.
36.
DECISION:
THAT THE HEAD PETITIONER BE ADVISED OF THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED IN THIS REPORT, AND THAT COUNCIL ENDORSES THE
PREFERRED OPTION ABOVE.
NOTED
Chairman:
Before we continue, I would just like to welcome the Japanese exchange student
who is in the Public Gallery at the moment, staying with Councillor MARX and
her family. So welcome.
Councillor interjecting.
PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE
Councillor Peter MATIC, Chairman of the Public and Active Transport Committee, moved, seconded by
Councillor Steven HUANG that the report setting out the decisions of the Establishment and Coordination
Committee as delegate of the Council during the Winter Recess 2014, on matters usually coming under the
jurisdiction of the Public and Active Transport Committee, be noted.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor MATIC.
Councillor MATIC:
Thank you, Madam Deputy Chairman. Before moving to the actual report,
Madam Deputy Chairman, I'd also like to reflect the words of the LORD
MAYOR earlier in our meeting in respect of Alan Warren. I, too, would like to
personally thank Alan for his dedicated service and truly wish him the very best
in his future endeavours. As the LORD MAYOR said, Alan has spent 14 years
with Brisbane Transport and has filled the Divisional Manager's role since 2006,
and has provided great service in that time.
I'd also like to take the opportunity, Madam Deputy Chairman, to thank Geoff
Beck on his appointment as the Divisional Manager of Brisbane Transport
following a period of leave. I very much look forward to working with Mr Beck
in the portfolio. I know that he has provided exemplary service in his current
role as the Divisional Manager of Field Services and has achieved great
outcomes there. I look forward to working with him, Madam Deputy Chairman,
on moving forwards in this new role and importantly also working together with
him on preparing our tender for this contract and proceeding forward with a win
for Brisbane City Council, for Brisbane Transport, for its employees and for the
people of Brisbane.
Now, Madam Deputy Chairman, in respect of the committee report, there are
two items there, both petitions. The first one in respect of shelter on Moggill
Road, Pullenvale and a second one in respect of a request to modify the
CityGlider route 60 service to service the Gasworks shopping precinct.
Deputy Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor GRIFFITHS.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 64 Councillor GRIFFITHS:
Yes, Madam Chairman. I just rise on both these petitions, A and B, to advise
that the Labor Party will be supporting them. The first one is a petition for a
shelter to be provided in Pullenvale Ward. The reason was that it would assist
people in getting to the informal ‘park n ride’ and also it stops people getting
wet or sunny or whatever. I think everyone in the Chamber would look forward
to getting a bus stop like this, a covered bus stop like this. Given that we're
supporting this, in future we look forward to all councillors being able to report
back to their residents that Council has supported that.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor GRIFFITHS:
Secondly, Madam Chair, in relation to the CityGlider, I do note once again
Council has altered the route of the CityGlider service only by a block or so.
Once again, it was supported by residents so I'm hoping, Madam Chair, as we do
on the Labor side that when reasonable requests like this come through from
across the city that once again they will be supported by the LNP to have those
changes done. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Deputy Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor MATIC.
Councillor MATIC:
Thank you, Madam Deputy Chairman. Just for the point of clarity for the
Chamber and as I know that Councillor GRIFFITHS has always liked to do. He
likes to twist the words and the facts to suit the circumstances of his own side of
the Chamber, there needs to be some clarity provided on the record. The
document clearly speaks for itself, Madam Chairman; this is not a bus shelter.
The document actually outlines the purposes of what this shelter is, unlike
Councillor GRIFFITHS who, of course, obviously hasn't read this document or
chooses not to, as is usually the case with Councillor GRIFFITHS.
In respect of, Madam Deputy Chairman, the CityGlider route, once again
Councillor GRIFFITHS has misinterpreted or chooses to ignore the facts that are
clearly set out in the English language before him. I certainly invite him to either
read the document or undertake the necessary course outside of Council so that
he can better extrapolate to the Chamber and on the public record what the true
facts of the situation are and the work that was actually undertaken in
consideration of this route change.
I want to acknowledge the work of the officers and I also want to acknowledge
the work of councillors McLACHLAN and HOWARD for their work in
consultation with residents in the process of undertaking this. Thank you,
Madam Deputy Chairman.
Deputy Chairman:
I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
A
PETITION – CALLING ON COUNCIL TO INSTALL A SHELTER AT THE
OUTBOUND GRANDVIEW ROAD BUS STOP ON MOGGILL ROAD,
PULLENVALE
CA14/289765
15/2014-15
1.
A petition from residents of Pullenvale Ward, requesting that Council install a shelter at the
outbound Grandview Road bus stop on Moggill Road, Pullenvale, was presented to the
meeting of Council held on 1 April 2014, by Councillor Kim Marx on behalf of Councillor
Margaret de Wit, and received.
2.
The Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch, Brisbane Infrastructure Division,
supplied the following information.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 65 -
3.
The petition contains 30 signatures. The petitioners have raised concerns that students alight
at this stop and do not cross as it is too dangerous to cross traffic on Moggill Road and so
have to wait to be collected by parents. There are also other passengers waiting to cross
Moggill Road to get to their vehicles parked in the informal park ‘n’ ride area. During this
time, there is nowhere to wait to be protected from the sun and in wet weather.
4.
The inbound bus stop does have a shelter. The purpose of a shelter at this inbound stop, and at
other stops where people wait to board a bus is to provide protection from the sun and wet
weather.
5.
The site contains a range of existing infrastructure which is not part of the bus stop including
a utility pit, Australia Post collection box and a Telstra phone box. Relocation of the existing
services to facilitate construction of a bus shelter could cost in excess of $60,000. Therefore,
it is recommended that Council install a shade shelter in the vicinity of the bus stop to assist
in the safer crossing of Moggill Road during all weather conditions.
Funding
6.
Funding is available in the Program 2 – Moving Brisbane.
Consultation
7.
The Councillor for Pullenvale Ward, Councillor Margaret de Wit, has been consulted and
supports the decision below.
Preferred option
8.
It is the preferred option that Council prepare a concept design and cost estimates to install a
shade shelter in the vicinity of the bus stop.
9.
The Manager recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting held on
14 July 2014.
10.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
PREFERRED OPTION ABOVE AND OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN
THE ABOVE REPORT.
NOTED
B
PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL MODIFY THE CITYGLIDER
ROUTE 60 SERVICE, TO SERVICE THE GASWORKS SHOPPING
PRECINCT
CA14/358742
16/2014-15
11.
A petition from residents of Brisbane and surrounding regions, requesting that Council
modify the CityGlider route 60 service, to service the Gasworks shopping precinct, was
received during the Autumn Recess 2014.
12.
The Divisional Manager, Brisbane Transport, supplied the following information.
13.
TransLink Division, Department of Transport and Main Roads is the entity of the Queensland
Government responsible for the delivery of public transport services, fare collection and
infrastructure for South East Queensland. Brisbane City Council operates bus services under a
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 66 -
contract with TransLink. Changes to bus services, including modification to services, are
subject to approval and funding by TransLink. The operation of the CityGlider service is
jointly funded by Brisbane City Council and TransLink.
14.
The petitioners have requested the modification of the CityGlider service route 60 to include
operating the service towards the city (westbound) via Skyring Terrace, the installation of a
new westbound stop at the Gasworks shopping precinct, and the relocation of the existing
CityGlider stop from Commercial Road to Ann Street stop 7.
15.
Of the 1,070 petitioners the majority are residents and workers in the Newstead/Teneriffe
area.
16.
Council introduced the CityGlider to provide a fast, high-quality inner-city service between
the West End and Teneriffe Ferry Terminals. The service provides a particular emphasis on
serving the emerging residential developments along Montague Road, West End and Skyring
Terrace, Newstead. A key design in the planning of this service was to provide a greater
distance between stops than standard services with CityGlider service stops being around 750
metres apart.
17.
When the route and stop arrangements were being finalised, it was decided to route the
westbound service via Commercial Road rather than via Skyring Terrace. This decision was
made on the basis of the traffic modelling data that suggested buses turning left from Skyring
Terrace into Ann Street would experience significant delays. As a result of this, a westbound
stop was installed in Commercial Road to provide the matching stop pair for the service
operating towards Teneriffe Ferry (eastbound) in Skyring Terrace. As both of these paired
stops are actually around 600 metres apart, neither stop is able to provide intending
passengers with an easy forward and return journey.
18.
Currently both stops in terms of usage are well utilised, with around 440 passengers boarding
per weekday at Commercial Road, and around 400 passengers disembarking per weekday at
Skyring Terrace.
19.
There is one significant point of difference between the two stops; their growth potential. The
Skyring Terrace stop is in the heart of the Newstead growth precinct, with several major
residential and commercial developments now completed, and additional developments under
construction and planned. By contrast, the Commercial Road stop is on the fringe of the
designated Valley and Newstead growth precincts and it would have slower growth in
patronage demand.
20.
Providing a westbound stop in Skyring Terrace opposite the existing eastbound stop would,
over time, generate very significant increases in patronage.
21.
Council’s Congestion Reduction Unit (CRU) has advised that the intersection of Skyring
Terrace and Ann Street is not congested during the peak periods, and that running a
westbound CityGlider service through this intersection would not cause any adverse delays at
this intersection.
22.
In addition, the petition also raised the option of relocating the current westbound
Commercial Road near Leopold Street stop 12 to Ann Street at Chester Street stop 7.
Relocating this stop would have two stops in Ann Street, no more than 234 metres apart. One
of the key features of the CityGlider service is wider-spaced stops that provide a faster
journey and a relocation of this stop would not allow that. The preferred option would be to
remove the Commercial Road near Leopold Street stop 12 and replace it with a new
westbound stop in Skyring Terrace.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 67 -
23.
In considering the likely impacts on residents in this area with the removal of the stop it was
found that many of these streets are within the 600 metre catchment area of the Teneriffe
Ferry terminus stop and the Ann Street at James Street stop 6. Only a small section of the
catchment area, in the vicinity of Arthur and Chester Streets, is beyond 600 metres. This area
is also directly serviced by the route 470 service.
24.
In conclusion, there is considerable merit in considering the rerouting of the westbound
CityGlider service via Skyring Terrace and the removal and replacement of the existing
CityGlider stop only in Commercial Road near Leopold Street stop 12, to allow the existing
stop to continue to be used as an in-service stop, with a new westbound stop near the
Gasworks shopping precinct.
25.
Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy Branch have been consulted and provided input
which supports the replacement of the existing CityGlider stop in Commercial Road near
Leopold Street stop 12 to Skyring Terrace near the Gasworks shopping precinct.
26.
Council continues to have a major role in operating bus services in Brisbane. However,
TransLink oversees all public transport delivery in Queensland and has the authority to
support or initiate changes to bus services.
27.
Council acknowledges the concerns of the petitioners and will submit a recommendation to
TransLink that the CityGlider westbound service is rerouted via Skyring Terrace and the
existing CityGlider stop on Commercial Road near Leopold Street stop 12 be removed and
replaced with a new westbound stop near the Gasworks shopping precinct.
Funding
28.
Any change to bus stop infrastructure is the responsibility of Council’s Transport Planning
and Strategy Branch.
Consultation
29.
Councillor David McLachlan, Councillor for Hamilton Ward, and Councillor Vicki Howard,
Councillor for Central Ward, have been consulted and support the decision below.
30.
The Divisional Manager recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting
held on 14 July 2014.
31.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED
IN THIS REPORT.
NOTED
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 setting out the decisions of the
Establishment and Coordination Committee as delegate of the Council during the Winter Recess 2014, on
matters usually considered by the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment Committee, be noted.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor COOPER.
Councillor COOPER:
Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Chair. There was one petition that came
through during the recess. It was a request for Council to refuse an application
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 68 for a subdivision of land, one into five lots at Greengrove Place, Kuraby. This
particular application was lodged in March of this year. There were two lots,
622 and 503 square metres respectively being proposed as three smaller lots of
403 square metres. So under City Plan 2000, the site is zoned low density.
While all five lot sizes complied in being over 400 square metres, the
application was code notifiable application. Of course this, as required by the
State Government planning legislation went out for public advertising for 10
business days. There were 46 valid submissions with 11 informal submissions.
While this petition was received outside of the formal notification period, the
actual head petitioner was already a signature on the application.
In particular, there are a number of issues raised by the submitters, talking about
how the small lot code was being addressed. There was a concern about
demolition of the house on the site and traffic. So these were issues that the
officers very carefully considered. In particular, residents were concerned that
the house on the site was a pre-1946 home. Council records indicate that it was
actually built in around 1983, therefore of course not being subject to the
requirements of the demolition control precinct.
The number of lots was the issue with three being small lots and the requirement
of each house to provide at least one car park in accordance with the house code.
This meant that a significant increase in traffic was not anticipated and that the
required off-street parking would help mitigate any potential impact. So, Madam
Deputy Chair, I particularly would like to thank the petitioners for bringing this
forward for Council to consider when we were assessing the application.
There has been a significant response made as a consequence of the approval
and thank you very much also to the local councillor for providing feedback to
officers as part of the assessment and consideration of residents concerned.
Thank you.
Deputy Chairman:
Further debate. Nothing further, Councillor COOPER? I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion was declared carried on the voices.
The report as follows
A
PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL REFUSE THE APPLICATION
FOR THE SUBDIVISION OF LAND AT 19 GREENGROVE PLACE,
KURABY
CA14/328249
17/2014-15
1.
A petition from residents of Queensland, requesting that Council refuse the application for the
subdivision of land at 19 Greengrove Place, Kuraby, was received during the Autumn Recess
2014.
2.
The Divisional Manager, City Planning and Sustainability, supplied the following
information.
3.
The ePetition contains 48 signatures requesting that Council refuse the application for the
subdivision of land (one into five lots) at 19 Greengrove Place, Kuraby, and that Council not
permit small-lot houses in a low-density area.
4.
The application for the subdivision of land was lodged with Council on 17 March 2014, and
was properly made on 24 March 2014. The application proposed two standard lots of
622 square metres and 503 square metres and three small lots of 403 square metres.
5.
The proposed subdivision triggered a code notifiable application, and required advertising in
accordance with the requirements of the Brisbane City Plan 2000 (City Plan). The
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 69 -
notification period ended on 10 April 2014. This ePetition was received outside the
notification period. The head petitioner was a formal submitter to the application and was
notified of the approval by mail on 17 April 2014.
6.
The development application was assessed against all relevant City Plan codes including the
subdivision code and all secondary codes. All submissions received during the consultation
period were taken into account during the assessment of the application, prior to the decision
being made. The development application was approved on 16 April 2014.
Consultation
7.
Councillor Steven Huang, Councillor for MacGregor Ward, was consulted on 21 May 2014
and supports the decision below.
8.
The Divisional Manager recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its meeting
held on 7 July 2014.
9.
DECISION:
THAT THE HEAD PETITIONER BE ADVISED THAT:
THE APPLICATION WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL’S DELEGATE ON
16 APRIL 2014. THE APPLICATION WAS ADVERTISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE REQUIREMENTS SET OUT IN THE BRISBANE CITY PLAN 2000 AS A CODE
NOTIFIABLE APPLICATION. ISSUES RAISED BY SUBMITTERS TO THE
APPLICATION DURING THE NOTIFICATION PERIOD WERE TAKEN INTO
ACCOUNT DURING ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPOSAL.
The approved plans and conditions can be viewed on Council’s website at
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/pdonline by searching application reference A003831044.
NOTED
FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE
Councillor David McLACHLAN, Chairman of the Field Services Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor
Norm WYNDHAM that the report setting out the decisions of the Establishment and Coordination Committee
as delegate of the Council during the Winter Recess 2014, on matters usually coming under the jurisdiction of
the Field Services Committee, be noted.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor McLACHLAN.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
Thank you, Madam Deputy Chair. Just before I get to the items before us, I'd
just like to make a few comments on some matters that have been raised during
the course of the debate today. Can I assure Councillor SUTTON that sandbags
won't be moving up the hill. The sandbags will continue to be made available
where they've always been available from the—
Councillor interjecting.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON, don't interject.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
—Redfern Street depot. So while the SES workers might be moving to the space
previously occupied by the RSL, the sandbags will not be moving with them so
they'll still be available from their current location, regardless of the occupants
of the buildings alongside. Well you've now got the answer, Councillor
SUTTON, thank you very much for raising it.
I'd like also to make a comment about an earlier debate from the E&C report,
the adoption report, for item C. One of the items there that wasn't discussed and
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 70 I assume therefore non-controversial, was the renaming of Waste Services to
Waste and Resource Recovery Services. This does, Madam Deputy Chair,
reflect the growing maturity of the recycling and the reuse infrastructure
provided by this Council and adopted enthusiastically by our residents which I'm
pleased to see and marks a significant change in thinking of anything that goes
out in the bins not as rubbish but as a misplaced resource.
Indicative of that are some pleasing statistics in terms of the amounts of
materials reducing going to landfill form the all-time high in 2008, 2009 when
we saw 361 kilograms per resident going to land-fill. In the 2013-14 financial
year, Madam Deputy Chair, that's down to an all-time low of 307 kilograms per
person and the trend is continuing down in terms of the amounts that are
reducing to landfill and the amounts that are increasing for recycling. A very
pleasing statistic and one that is supported now well and truly by the recognition
of this group not just as Waste Services but Waste And Resource Recovery
Services, a very worthwhile change.
Madam Deputy Chair, I'd also like to comment on the elevation, if that's the
right word to describe it, of Geoff Beck to Brisbane Transport. He'll be sorely
missed in Field Services. I'd like to pay tribute to the hard work of him since we
embarked on the change into the Field Services Group, which came into being
on 1 July 2011 through the amalgamation of Brisbane City Works, Local Asset
Services, City Waste Services—as it was then know, City Building and
Maintenance Services and City Fleet maintenance.
I've worked alongside Geoff; he's a great and diligent public servant and he will
be well missed by us in Field Services but will do a fantastic job, I know, in
Brisbane Transport as it looks at its future in the current situation with bus
service provision across South East Queensland.
Madam Deputy Chair, the items before us, three petitions came through during
the recess. Those are before us. A petition in relation to the replacement of
soccer goalposts in Kuraby and a petition in relation to—my apologies—the
additional lighting at the entrance to the park at the corner of Daw and Nathan
Roads, Runcorn, and a petition that Council provide funding for resurfacing of
Banoon Drive, Wynnum. All recommendations have been put before the
relevant councillors and approved by them, I believe.
Deputy Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor HUANG.
Councillor HUANG:
Thank you, Madam Deputy Chair. I rise to speak briefly on item A of the report
about the replacement of goal posts in Svoboda Park. Madam Deputy Chair,
Svoboda Park is a high profile park located on Beenleigh Road, Kuraby. It
consists of a large playground, picnic areas, leased facilities and an informally
used soccer field, which contains two soccer goalposts that Council inherited
from the development. The park attracts a variety of users including soccer.
In December 2012, Council removed one set of soccer goalposts due to
unrepairable damage. Due to the cost of replacing the goalposts, it was decided
at the time that they would not be replaced. Earlier this year, I received two
petitions from a local political aspirant requesting a replacement set of soccer
goalposts that were removed by Council due to vandalism and damage and for
an upgrade of the informal soccer playing surface.
After receiving the petitions, I have noticed that most of the signatories on those
two petitions were coming from locations across the region and I did not recall
seeing any names of residents who live in close proximity to the park. Since
those residents are the ones who will have to live with the direct impact of any
proposed change to the use of park, I door-knocked all the households around
the park and consulted the residents on their views about the future use of the
park.
After days of door knocking and email correspondence, I was able to reach most
of the park's immediate neighbours. The majority view of the residents believed
the park is well used by both local residents and people from the surrounding
regions. Therefore, no change is needed. However, the most common response
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 71 was that they don't mind seeing the goalposts being replaced. So, when I
completed this consultation and advised relevant Council officers of the results
and expressed my support towards the decision of replacing one set of soccer
goalposts for informal use and carry out minor repairs to the turf surface to
alleviate any safety issues, and that the park surface will not be maintained as a
professional soccer field.
I believe this is a decision that will benefit both the local residents and park
users of Svoboda Park. I recommend this item to the Chamber.
Deputy Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor CUMMING.
Councillor CUMMING:
Yes, thanks, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I refer to item C. While I've
supported the recommendation, Madam Chair, I'd like to say that the surface of
Banoon Drive is in terrible condition and it only takes a bit of a shower, not
heavy rain for the potholes to open up again. It needs thoroughly to be
resurfaced. It's almost like a third world street, Banoon Drive. I give this
Administration to the next budget to get it fixed. I think it's just it needs fixing,
it's in poor condition and the people in that street deserve to have better street
than that when they drive their cars down the road.
It's a relatively short street; it's a U-shaped street. It's a good area around
Wynnum; it's a nice views of the airport and the city and right out to the
Glasshouse Mountains from the top of the street. So it's quite a nice little area
but they've got a street that's something out of Bombay or somewhere like that.
Probably Bombay would have a lot better streets than that these days.
Madam Chair, the other thing about—just relating to Councillor HUANG's
suggestion, it's good to replace the goalposts but perhaps you can forward some
money for lighting as well, just to keep the dog leash people on board as well,
Councillor HUANG. Thank you.
Deputy Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, I rise to speak on item B, the request for additional lighting at the entrance
to the park of Daw and Nathan Roads in Runcorn. Firstly, can I say that I admire
the precedent that is being set down for Councillor HUANG. I look forward to
that same precedent being applied to all other wards across the city. Because,
Madam Chairman, it's interesting that this report doesn't address some of the
issues that I'm told by Council now are contingent upon the installation of
lighting in dog off-leash areas.
I note, Madam Chairman, that apparently under CPTED provisions, councillors
are supposed to install paths leading to the entrance of dog off-leash areas and
lighting for those paths, as well as any lighting inside dog off-leash areas. I've
got it in writing Geraldine, right here. No, I agree with you Councillor KNAPP,
through you, Madam Chairman, I agree with—
Deputy Chairman:
Order.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I agree with Councillor KNAPP. But, Madam Chairman, I note that here in
Runcorn that is not the same process that is being followed. I'm very interested
in how this matter has avoided all the CPTED provisions that I'm told apply to
all dog off-leash areas across the city? Madam Chairman, I thank Councillor
HUANG for bringing this matter forward and I'll be looking forward to applying
the same provisions and going back to my officers with the outcome of today's
vote which I presume will be unanimously supported.
Deputy Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor McLACHLAN. I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 72 -
A
PETITIONS – REQUESTING REPLACEMENT OF THE SOCCER GOAL
POSTS AND AN UPGRADE TO THE PLAYING SURFACE IN SVOBODA
PARK, KURABY
CA14/328148 and CA14/465014
18/2014-15
1.
Two petitions have been received from residents of Kuraby and surrounding suburbs,
requesting the replacement of soccer goal posts and an upgrade to the playing surface of
Svoboda Park, Kuraby. The petition CA14/328148 was received during the Autumn Recess
2014-15 and the petition CA14/465014 was presented to the meeting of Council held on
3 June 2014, by Councillor Steven Huang, and received.
2.
The Executive Manager, Field Services Group, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, supplied the
following information.
3.
The first petition (CA14/328148) contained 11 signatures while the other petition
(CA14/465014) contained 526 signatures.
4.
The petitioners have requested a replacement set of soccer goal posts that were removed by
Council in 2012 due to vandalism and damage to posts, and for an upgrade of the informal
soccer playing surface.
5.
Svoboda Park is a high profile park, located on Beenleigh Road, Kuraby. It consists of a large
playground, picnic areas, leased facilities and an informal use soccer field, which contained
two soccer goal posts that Council inherited from the development.
6.
The park attracts a wide variety of uses, including soccer. In December 2012, Council
removed one set of soccer goal posts due to unrepairable damage. Park users were still able to
shoot goals into the remaining goal posts. Due to the cost of replacing the goal posts, it was
decided at the time that they would not be replaced.
7.
The Souths United Soccer Club is located at the corner of Dew Street and Nathan Road,
Runcorn, which is within 3.5 kilometres of Svoboda Park.
8.
Councillor Steven Huang has door-knocked the residents that surround the park and there was
support for the goal posts to be replaced. Councillor Huang has advised he will fund the cost
from the Ward Footpath and Parks Trust Fund for MacGregor Ward.
Funding
9.
Councillor Huang, Councillor for MacGregor Ward will fund the replacement from his Ward
Footpath and Parks Trust Fund 2014-15.
Consultation
10.
Councillor Steven Huang, Councillor for MacGregor Ward, has been consulted and supports
the recommendation.
11.
The Executive Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its
meeting held on 30 June 2014.
12.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED OF THE FOLLOWING:
Council will replace one set of soccer goal posts for informal use and carry out minor repairs
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 73 -
to the turf surface to alleviate any safety issues, and that the park surface will not be
maintained as a professional soccer field, but Council will maintain and repair any safety
issues.
NOTED
B
PETITION – REQUESTING ADDITIONAL LIGHTING AT THE
ENTRANCE TO THE PARK ON THE CORNER OF DAW AND
NATHAN ROADS, RUNCORN
CA14/308984
19/2014-15
13.
A petition from residents of Runcorn and surrounding suburbs, requesting additional lighting
at the entrance to the park on the corner of Daw and Nathan Roads, Runcorn, was received
during the Autumn Recess 2014-15.
14.
The Executive Manager, Field Services Group, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, supplied the
following information.
15.
The petition contained 80 signatures.
16.
The subject park, Nathan Road Park (D0607) is a general profile park, located on the corner
of Nathan and Daw Roads in Runcorn. The park consists of a large dog off-leash area, as well
as a small dog off-leash area contained within its boundary. Currently, there are two lights in
a corner of the dog off-leash area that only provides lighting for a small section. Council has
just completed a new car parking facility under the Capital Works Program, at the entry to the
dog off-leash area where the additional lighting is requested.
17.
Council officers have inspected the site and advised that the request does have merit. Due to
the high cost of installing the additional lighting, it will be listed for future Capital funding.
As part of this request, Asset Services has engaged Council electricians to inspect the existing
lighting in the dog off-leash area and ensure it is functioning, along with the timer.
18.
Councillor Stephen Huang, Councillor for MacGregor Ward, was consulted before this
petition was received, as a separate request from the head petitioner was sent to the
Macgregor Ward Office. Asset Services advised Councillor Huang of the course of action
recommended in this submission.
Funding
19.
Additional lighting will be listed under Capital and Schedule 247 (lighting).
Consultation
20.
Councillor Steven Huang, Councillor for MacGregor Ward, has been consulted and supports
the recommendation.
21.
The Executive Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its
meeting held on 30 June 2014.
22.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED OF THE FOLLOWING:
Their request for additional lighting for the dog off-leash area in Nathan Road Park has been
considered. Additional lighting to cater for the area bordering the small dog off-leash area and
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 74 -
the entrance to the car park will be listed for future Capital funding.
NOTED
C
PETITION – REQUESTING THAT COUNCIL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR
RESURFACING OF BANOON DRIVE, WYNNUM, IN THE 2014-15 BUDGET
CA14/328090
20/2014-15
23.
A petition from residents of Banoon Drive, Wynnum, requesting that Council provide funding
for the resurfacing of Banoon Drive in the 2014-15 budget, was received during the Autumn
Recess 2014-15.
24.
The Executive Manager, Field Services Group, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, supplied the
following information.
25.
The petition contained 30 signatures.
26.
Recent pothole patching has been done and the street is currently in a safe condition. Banoon
Drive, Wynnum, is listed for complete resurfacing as part of a future Capital Works program,
under Schedule 12. The current estimated cost of the resurfacing work is $98,000.
27.
The concrete kerb and channel is in variable condition throughout the street, and selected
reconstruction of the worst sections would also be desirable prior to any proposed road
pavement resurfacing. The current estimated cost of the work is $152,000 and it is listed
under the Schedule 38 Capital Works program.
Funding
28.
Both of the Schedule 12 and Schedule 38 projects are listed for inclusion as part of a future
Capital Works program.
Consultation
29.
Councillor Peter Cumming, Councillor for Wynnum Manly Ward, has been consulted and
supports the recommendation.
30.
The Executive Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed at its
meeting held on 30 June 2014.
31.
DECISION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED OF THE FOLLOWING:
Council has listed resurfacing and selected concrete kerb and channel reconstruction in
Banoon Drive, Wynnum for inclusion in a future Capital Works program as two projects. In
the interim, pavement pothole patching will continue.
NOTED
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS:
Chairman:
Petitions. Councillors, are there any petitions? Councillor HOWARD.
Councillor HOWARD:
Yes, thank you. I have a petition from the Northey Street City Farm. Thank you.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 75 Councillor SUTTON:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a petition calling on LORD MAYOR Graham
Quirk and the Brisbane City Council to install a skate facility in parkland
located on Thynne Road, Balmoral between the Balmoral Ambulance Station
and the Bulimba Bowls Club.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor NEWTON.
Councillor NEWTON:
Thanks very much, Madam Chair. I rise to present a petition requestion an
additional small dog off leash area at Curlew Park, Sandgate. I'd request if
possible if this could be combined with the existing e-petition which expired
during the recess, if that's possible.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Deputy Chair. I have three petitions. One is for provisions
of parks in West End. There is a similar e-petition which is new parks in the
West End Riverside Neighbourhood Plan. I'm happy for them to be taken
together. The third one is CPTED improvements to Fleet Street and Jolly Place.
I know that was considered in committee this morning and would like this to be
attached and responded at the same time. Thank you.
Deputy Chairman:
Any further petitions. Councillor MURPHY, may I have a motion for the receipt
of the petitions, please?
21/2014-15
It was resolved on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Victoria NEWTON, that
the petitions as presented be received and referred to the Committee concerned for consideration and report.
The petitions were summarised as follows:
File No.
CA14/621041
Councillor
Vicki Howard
CA14/620186
Shayne Sutton
CA14/620790
Victoria Newton
CA14/619672
Helen Abrahams
CA14/612681
Helen Abrahams
CA14/620899
Helen Abrahams
Topic
Requesting that Council ensures that the Northey Street
City Farm continues operating on its current site
Calling on Council to install a skate facility in the
parkland located on Thynne Road, Balmoral, between the
Balmoral Ambulance Station and the Bulimba Bowls
Club
Expressing support for Council to construct a second dog
off-leash area at Curlew Park, Sandgate, for small dog
breeds and puppies
Requesting that the Lord Mayor zone all seven new parks,
designated in the South Brisbane Riverside
Neighbourhood Plan as parks and that the inconsistency
in the Brisbane City Plan 2014, with three park sites
designated as plazas, be removed
Requesting that the Lord Mayor zone all seven new parks
designated in the South Brisbane Riverside
Neighbourhood Plan as parks and to remove the
inconsistency in three of these sites in the City Plan
Requesting that the Lord Mayor approve funding for
urgent improvements to Fleet Lane and Jolly Park Place,
South Brisbane, to increase public safety
GENERAL BUSINESS:
Deputy Chairman:
Councillors, are there any statements required as a result of a councillor conduct
review panel order? There being no councillors on their feet, I will now call for
any matters of general business. Councillor MARX.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 76 Councillor MARX:
Thank you, Madam Deputy Chair. I rise to speak today on three different items.
National Tree Day, yesterday, a private Iftar dinner that I was invited to over the
recess, and also the ALGWA conference that I had the privilege of attending on
behalf of Council last Thursday during the whole day in Warwick. Firstly,
National Tree Day was yesterday, as all the councillors in this Chamber would
be aware, my family and I spent most of the morning there with the Brendon
Road Bushcare Group. We had 28 volunteers. We planted 80 trees, 240 grasses
and we had a total of 53 volunteer hours.
It was a huge effort by all the volunteers that came from my ward to work on
that particular park in Williams Park. I have to thank the Council officers for all
the preparation they did prior to this day. They got the ground ready for us, one
of our volunteers, Frank loves to dig the holes but the Council officers had done
that already. Then they drop off all this bark for us, mulch for us to spread and I
know my husband particularly enjoys that job of wheeling and filling the
wheelbarrow with mulch—he does that on a regular basis.
So we had a fabulous day and then one of my staff members, Heidi, came along
and also provided the morning tea and one of the other volunteers' husbands
cooked the sausages. So it was a really fabulous morning. I had planned to get to
the Karawatha Forest for the Peaks to Points walk but unfortunately I missed it
because I was still at Brandon Road.
The other thing, like I mentioned, was the Iftar dinner. I was privileged, as I am
every year, to be invited to attend a home Iftar, which is where a local family
invite people, like myself, to come along into their home to breakfast with them
at the end of their Ramadan days. Most of the people from particular the south
side, you'll know, Madam Deputy Chair, are very familiar with at this time of
year for us.
We don't know whose family home we're going into until we actually turn up.
We just get an address and that's it. By sheer chance, it was the last night of the
Iftar dinners that I had available and by complete fluke I actually managed to sit
next to the Police Commissioner. So we had an awesome night and we talked
about all sorts of things like G20 and everything like that. Obviously he couldn't
tell me too much about it because all of it is top secret, but we still had a
wonderful night.
The family was originally from Turkey so we did have a lot of conversations
about the Anzac, particularly what's coming up next year with the 100 year
anniversary.
The final thing I want to talk about, Madam Deputy Chair, is the ALGWA
(Australian Local Government Women's Association) conference in Warwick
that was on last Thursday. I left home at six in the morning and got home at six
o'clock that night after a fabulous day there in Warwick. It was cold, in fact it
was freezing. So we were in the old city hall there, which apparently was
constructed in 1888 and there was no heating. So we all sat in jumpers and
jackets and everything like that.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor MARX:
Yeah, they do need some restoration, Councillor MURPHY. We need to get
them to come down here. We were privileged.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor MARX:
That's how cold it was that I was cold, Councillor SCHRINNER, yes. So
Councillor de WIT was also in attendance, obviously, as President of the Local
Government Association. She opened the conference. We had Mayor Peter
Blundell give us an official address. We had another guest speaker there and I'm
sure everybody in this place other than myself knows, and that was Jude Munro.
She did a presentation, was a keynote speaker on full, frank and fearless.
She was an awesome speaker; I've never heard her speak before. She's done
some amazing things across council’s Australia-wide and my only regret is we
didn't get the opportunity to ask her questions. Because I think she could have
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 77 been there all day. There was another keynote speaker that I thought was
fabulous. Her name was Robyn Moore. Her subject was dealing with difficult
people and I think you'll agree, Madam Deputy Chair, that that's a very topical
subject for us as councillors here in this place.
She was great, I don't mean to demean her role, what she does, but she also
apparently is the voice of Blinky Bill and she did that quite a few times during
the conference and she had us in fits of laughter. She's also part of the How
Green was my Cactus radio show which I know I used to listen to a fair bit. She
does all the female voices and there was another guy who does all the male
voices of all the politicians.
She was just awesome. The only other thing—well, one of the other things she
does, she does many things, and she’s a national patron of Make a Wish
Australia. I just think this is one of the most wonderful organisations and she
was telling us a story about a young boy who had never been deep sea fishing so
they organised for him to go out on the boat and then she thought, what happens
if he goes deep sea fishing and doesn't catch a fish. She said, that would be
dreadful, so they organised for a diver to be out there in the water and they put a
fish on his fishing line under the boat.
I just thought, that's the sort of person she is. She's just an awesome person. So I
want to thank Council for giving me the opportunity to attend that conference
and I know that Councillor de WIT will talk more on that in her report next
week. Thank you very much.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor GRIFFITHS.
Councillor GRIFFITHS:
Yes, Madam Chair, thank you. I want to speak on a number of issues related to
the Moorooka Ward or to the south side of Brisbane. The first issue I want to
speak on is to extend an invitation. I know the LORD MAYOR isn't here and he
hasn't been here for most of the meeting but to the LORD MAYOR—
Councillor interjecting.
Deputy Chairman:
Order.
Councillor GRIFFITHS:
Or to his DEPUTY MAYOR and certainly—
Deputy Chairman:
Order. When the Chamber is silent, Councillor GRIFFITHS can continue.
Councillor GRIFFITHS:
To the LORD MAYOR, the DEPUTY MAYOR and Councillor ADAMS to
attend a meeting, a public meeting. It's actually being organised by a member of
the Liberal Party in my electorate. That meeting is about there's a bit of a
noxious odour hanging round part of the suburb that affects residents in
Salisbury and Moorooka that's coming from the industrial area. The complaints
apparently have been coming through the call centre for some time, but it's been
mainly since May that my office has been involved in this.
The solvent smell or even sometimes smell of cat pee has certainly been noted
by residents. Residents are saying that it is impacting their health. I know
residents are saying they're getting ulcers on the back of their throat and in their
mouths from breathing in this air. I know one resident who is expecting a baby
soon, has moved out of the electorate or out of the area because she's concerned
for her unborn's health.
Madam Chair, I have to congratulate the CARS officers who've been working
on this diligently and say they've been very professional in their response in
seeking to eliminate which businesses it could be. They think they have
identified a significant business that it is. I understand they are working with
that business to get that business to eliminate or work out what the practices are
that it is undertaking so that we can overcome this issue and, from my
perspective, prevent it happening in the future.
Madam Chair, what residents are saying, they aren't getting is information from
Council. That is my concern. I've certainly written to the LORD MAYOR and
requested a brief on this, a written brief on this, so that it can be provided to
residents. I am still waiting to received confirmation of that brief. However, I do
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 78 understand Councillor ADAMS was on the radio today and did say that even
though she or the LORD MAYOR won't be attending this meeting, which I'm
disappointed about, that a briefing will be provided.
I certainly hope that that briefing is given to my office as well, prior to that
meeting. Thank you, Councillor ADAMS. I think this is a serious issue that
needs to be treated seriously. Residents, I think we can overcome their concerns
and their fears by telling them the process we're following. I think probably
most importantly is assuring them that we have Queensland Health on our side.
Because one of their big concerns is that even though we investigate the odour,
it's the health impact of the odour that we don't necessarily investigate.
Residents are saying that they're concerned for their health. That lies with the
Queensland Government and Queensland Health to be doing that end of the
investigation.
So that's my first point, so that is on—well I'm sure the letter's gone to the
LORD MAYOR's office and to Councillor ADAMS' office. But that is on this
Sunday at 10 o'clock and that's at the park on Beaudesert Road right next to the
AFL club. The second point I'd like to talk about is in regards to another public
meeting that's been organised this weekend, once again by some very concerned
local residents.
As we know, last year I spoke a number of—on a number of occasions about the
sale or the loss of Nyanda or Salisbury State High School to the community.
There's now been—we understand the facility is going up for sale very shortly.
What residents, and certainly I would support residents in this, want to see is
that the open space that was once part of that facility which is two ovals and an
area that has a large creek running through it, is preserved as open space.
I don't think that's an unreasonable request. I think given that Council already
owns half of one of those fields that we should be trying to preserve the open
space that is part of this site. So once again, I'd like to extend an invitation to the
LORD MAYOR or Councillor BOURKE, it's 1 to 3pm, Sunday 3 August in the
cul-de-sac from Kellett Road, Salisbury.
Just finally, my final point and it's a disappointing note on which I speak, is in
regards to 2.2 hectares of land that came up for sale and was sold last weekend.
It went for less than—my understanding is around $900,000. I understand
Council had previously offered $1.5 million for the land but the owner wouldn't
accept it because he didn't think it was enough.
This land, I advised Council, certainly the LORD MAYOR that this land was for
sale. There were many, many, many petitioners from Tarragindi. This land
would have been a great addition to Toohey Forest, it's a magnificent piece of
bushland and it would have been a great purchase for Council to extend the
bushland and the Koala habitat we have less than seven kilometres from the city.
So I know there are many very disappointed residents in Tarragindi who don't
understand why we didn't bid for that land and why we didn't go after that land
as a way of extending our green space in the suburbs. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Deputy Chairman:
Further debate, Councillor MATIC.
Councillor MATIC:
Thank you, Madam Deputy Chairman. I just rise to speak on one item which is
the National General Assembly of Local Government that I attended on behalf
of Brisbane City Council. The event was held on 15 to 18 June 2014. I was very
grateful for the opportunity to be able to represent Brisbane City Council at this
annual event in Canberra. There were a number of important topics that were
discussed at this meeting and the title of the event and the theme of it was
getting down to business.
Over that period, Madam Deputy Chairman, there were 82 motions presented by
councils, small and large, across Australia on a variety of issues but on similar
themes. That was really about getting the best outcome for locals, whether it be
financially in the way that those councils do business or whether it be socially as
well. But it was quite clear, Madam Deputy Chairman, that irrespective of what
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 79 size Council you come from across this country, the passion and the
commitment of every councillor and every Council officer that was in
attendance at that conference was quite clear.
We are all in this to make a difference and to make a community a better place.
Whether some of those councils are so small that the councillors themselves
undertake the role on a part-time position but in reality are always full time
positions, whether it is formally a full time position. Each one of them has to be
acknowledged for the tremendous work that they do. There was a lot of work
that was undertaken in the motions, quite obviously, and certainly ALGA
(Australian Local Government Association) and its overarching body did a lot of
work in the preparation of those motions.
There were, of course, a number of keynote speakers from a variety of areas,
both in government, both in present Federal Government and in Opposition, but
also a number of professionals within the areas of economics and government as
well that gave insights into different processes that councils could look at and
different ways of thinking about the delivery of services. There was certainly
quite a great deal of debate around those motions and certainly it was very
fulsome, at times very humorous.
One of the key things that was presented, and that was one of the—there are
presentations throughout the day. There are keynote addresses or there are
presentations provided by different councils on how they do business. There was
a very interesting panel that consisted of the Mayor of Darwin and a Mayor—
their names escape me at the moment but there was a mayor from western
Queensland, as far west as the border with Northern Territory. There was also a
mayor from northern New South Wales.
So they picked three very broad geographic areas to look at how they deal with
community service, planning and infrastructure. Each of them provided really
valuable insight into what they're doing within their different councils, whether
it be upgrading a mall or a major walkway in the Northern Territory.
Interestingly enough because the high temperatures in—in Darwin they're
actually looking at providing shading for the full length of a pathway through a
major area of the CBD so that people can access it at all times of the day.
The mayor from Western Queensland made a very interesting comment. He
started by saying he's not actually a man of many words, he just really likes to
get down to it. His daughter is actually the captain of the debating team in her
class. He said to her, and his words exactly, ‘…mate, I've got to give a speech at
this thing, so what do you reckon I do?’ Her response was, ‘Dad, dress well and
keep your mouth shut.’
He started off on a funny note but one of the most informative things he said—
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, that was uncalled for.
Councillor MATIC:
—was that, he said that given how far west they are and the challenges they face
in funding with only a small rate base that they've got to rely on funding, both
on State and Federal Government, he said something quite insightful. He said
that I don’t care if the glass is half full or half empty, I'll drink it.
So obviously, he can see hard times and as a mayor he's trying to deliver as
much as he can and he's grateful for any opportunity that comes. I think that
really reflects the feeling of those regional councils and what they're up against
and what they need to try to achieve, so I really have to acknowledge the
tremendous amount of work that they are doing.
But overall, Madam Deputy Chairman, it was a most informative and enjoyable
conference and the motions that were put forward I think were very important,
and it's something we can all take back at the end of the day as to our respective
councils and learn from, which is the most key aspect of this conference as a
whole. Thank you.
Deputy Chairman:
Further general business. Councillor JOHNSTON.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 80 Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, thank you. I rise to speak on a few matters of general business this evening.
Firstly, the Neighbourhood Plan proposed for Fairfield and Dutton Park, the
Country Women's Association and the Stafford by-election.
Firstly, can I say that an opportunistic announcement was made by the LORD
MAYOR last week, regarding a new Neighbourhood Plan for the suburbs of
Fairfield and Dutton Park. Less than one month after this Council had passed the
City Plan—where for the previous two years they told us and the community
that there would be a Moorooka-Stephens Neighbourhood Plan—the LORD
MAYOR out-of-the-blue suddenly announced that a plan was to be prepared for
Fairfield and Dutton Park. That was because of the major transportation facility
at Dutton Park rail station.
Now, there are a few problems with that. Why on earth, for the past two years,
has Council been telling us we have to have the Moorooka-Stephens local plan?
Hello. Why less than a month after the City Plan is passed that this Council is
changing it for what are purely opportunistic purposes?
It's only a few weeks ago that this LORD MAYOR supported axing Dutton Park
station. Now, because it will be retained and it's going to get a widened footpath,
the LORD MAYOR is suddenly calling it a major transportation facility, and
he's green lighting the developers around it.
Well, I can say this: residents out my way are not silly. If they have a zoning
that's low density or low to medium density, which Fairfield residents do,
Madam Chairman, the only way the LORD MAYOR can go is up, and that is
something that they will not support in an area that is characterised by tin and
timber houses.
I also note that, to do this rushed Neighbourhood Plan, the Banyo
Neighbourhood Plan won't occur. Now, I've spoken to the relevant Divisional
Manager and I've advised her that, fair enough, if you want to do this, spend the
next few months planning it but go ahead with the Banyo one and put Fairfield
on next year. I think that's a reasonable compromise.
The tunnel, the bat tunnel, is nowhere near progressing, there's no money
attached to it, and it is premature to do what the LORD MAYOR is doing, and I
question his motives. I'll be watching this process unfold very closely and, given
my previous experience with Graceville and Corinda, it is absolutely fair to
claim that this Council has an agenda to up-zone around these areas. That is
something that I will be fighting and this community will be fighting as well.
Secondly, I would like to pass my congratulations on to the Country Women's
Association of Annerley and Yeronga. These are a small but extraordinary
group of women who retain the ethos of 90 years ago when they first set up of
providing support to people in rural areas but also to the needy in our local
community. Last year this small and committed group of women did nearly
7000 volunteer hours. They provided clothing, they knitted, they gave financial
donations. There is an extraordinary amount that they have done on behalf of
our community over the past year and I want to commend them for this
wonderful community service, their long term commitment to Annerley and
Yeronga and the great spirit they show in undertaking these volunteering
activities.
I think it is disgusting that after a year this Council has not renewed their lease
on the hall that they have occupied for the last 90 years and that is a matter that
if I'd had a question earlier today I would have put to the LORD MAYOR.
So take it on notice, Councillor ADAMS, because you better brief him up before
next week. Why is it more than a year later this Administration has not reached
terms with the Country Women's Association to renew their lease? They're not
really some hard left-wing environmental group that cause problems to this
Council; they're a lovely group of elderly ladies who do good works in our
community. This Council needs to get its act into gear and approve the lease.
Congratulations to the Oxley Men's Shed. They opened their community garden
the other day. The instigator of the Men's Shed up there, John Brown, is an
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 81 extraordinary fellow. He's a parishioner in a church in my area and I have a fair
bit to do with him. He also volunteers at the Sherwood Neighbourhood Centre. I
note that the Oxley Men's Shed was very complimentary of the work of their
local councillor, Councillor DICK, and they certainly seem, every time I go
there, to be a great group of men. It is a credit to Council that this project is
being funded and certainly it's a great benefit to men in my area and certainly in
Councillor DICK's.
Finally tonight, I would like to mention the Stafford by-election because I know
this is something that the LNP Administration do not want me to speak about.
So I would just like to make a few remarks based on my observations from a
week and a half ago. Yes, they're silent now.
So firstly, what I will say is there can be no question now that with a swing of
almost 19 per cent in a seat like Stafford that the LNP in Queensland have a
serious problem. They may have been able to point to Redcliffe previously as
the Scott Driscoll issue or that was related to that, but in this case there is no
excuse for what happened in Stafford.
The LNP put up, by all accounts according to the Premier, an excellent
candidate. We know that Councillor WYNDHAM, Councillor WINES and
Councillor KING were out campaigning in their red clown wigs week after
week for this candidate. Madam Chairman, it didn’t seem to make any
difference whatsoever.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
It might have made it worse, thank you, Councillor FLESSER. Please correct
me if I'm wrong but I do understand that Councillor WINES did chair this
campaign as well. What I will say, Madam Chairman, is it is not a surprise to
me, the result. Regardless of Dr Lynham's political party membership, he is a
good man and a decent man and a man who has committed himself to serving
this community as a doctor for the past 20 years. Whoever in the LNP thought it
was a good idea to attack a man who has done nothing but advocate safety and
care for Queenslanders in our medical system must have rocks in their head.
Madam Chairman, I suspect I know who it is. The same person who has been
dominating LNP politics in this State for the past 10 years, the same person,
Madam Chairman, who is so on the nose that he wasn't on any of the LNP
administration materials, the same person who is so angry and so combative that
people don’t want to be out with him and be seen with him. That person—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
—is Campbell Newman.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
He wasn't on the how to vote cards, he wasn't on the corflutes, he wasn't on the
campaign material and, Madam Chairman, I noted with some great interest in
the last day or so the editorial in the Courier-Mail from John McCarthy, and I'm
going to quote from it because I think it's absolutely spot on: “after two years in
Parliament and several more in City Hall, we know next to nothing about
Newman. We know the politician; we know what he doesn't like. We know he is
probably happier having a fight than a feed. We know he is belligerent.” It goes
on: “he lacks the essence of leadership. Queenslanders are not willing to follow
him because he hasn't convinced us that it's worth it. He just doesn’t seem to be
one of them. Newman doesn't need another flood or the slaughter of innocents to
show that leadership.
There have been plenty of chances where he could have dropped his boxing
stance for a minute and showed us the way. Instead his leadership is little more
than entering into combat with those who oppose him.”
Now, Madam Chairman, having been on the other side of that combat and
having been smashed around by this man who is one of the most disgraceful
leaders of this Council that we have ever seen, it is no surprise to me now that
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 82 the LNP is feeling the pain—the pain—of Campbell Newman's leadership in
this State.
You all have to take responsibility for this. 18.6 per cent swing is a big sign that
there is a problem and, Madam Chairman, I don’t think that the false mea culpa
the other day will go anywhere near close to fixing it, because, Madam
Chairman, the damage has been done. The damage has been done. Even on the
weekend I saw another article in The Sunday Mail where it was all I, I, I,
Campbell Newman. I mean, within the space of days he's forgotten he's
supposed to be sending ministers out to give the good news.
Madam Chairman, I certainly think that there is a problem with the LNP and
that problem is Campbell Newman and, Madam Chairman, most of the people
sitting in this room understand that problem absolutely. Madam Chairman, I
understand and it is extraordinary the number of people in this community in
Brisbane that now say to me, Nicole, you knew. You knew. Yes, I did, Madam
Chairman.
Deputy Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, your time has expired.
Councillor interjecting.
Deputy Chairman:
Further general business. Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Madam Chair, I'll be very quick. Madam Chair, it's just a—
Deputy Chairman:
Sorry, just a moment please Councillor ABRAHAMS, could your counterparts
on your side of the Chamber just be a little bit quieter so we can actually hear
what you're saying?
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
They were just very excited. I know they will now shut up straight away.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Madam Chair, I just wish to draw to the—
Deputy Chairman:
Sorry, just a moment. Councillor NEWTON, would you mind just turning off
your microphone, please?
Councillor NEWTON:
Oh.
Deputy Chairman:
Thank you. Sorry, Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
I draw to the Council Chamber, so that accurate information may be given, the
information that was Questions on Notice. If you turn to answer A26 on page
17, Kangaroo Point, and you would be not—
Deputy Chairman:
Sorry Councillor ABRAHAMS, are you doing an item of general business or are
you just referring—
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
I’m doing an item of general business, as pointing out an error in the
documentation that we have been given in the spirit of it being corrected so I
might have the right figure. It is on page 17 of this—no, on page 17. The item is
the answer to question 26 and if you look at the figures, which I take as $3
million, for Kangaroo Point for the revenue, clearly there is one numeral
missing. I'm not surprised there are so many—detailed information that Labor
will be using effectively here but it would be nice to have the right figure,
please.
Deputy Chairman:
Thank you Councillor ABRAHAMS. Further general business? No further
general business, I declare the meeting closed.
QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN:
(Questions of which due notice has been given are printed as supplied and are not edited)
Submitted by Councillor Victoria Newton (received on 24 July 2014)
Q1.
Can information be provided to advise how much Brisbane City Council funding has been allocated in
the 2014/15 financial year for each of the following Festival:
•
Major Brisbane Festival
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 83 •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Queensland Music Festival (biennial festival)
Brisbane International Film Festival
Valley Fiesta
Brisbane Writers' Festival.
2 High Festival
4MBS Festival of Classics
Acacia Ridge Party in the Park
Ashgrove Carols by Candlelight
BABI Wave Youth Festival
Backyard Bonanza
Bardon Community Carols
Brisbane Billycart Championships
Brisbane Cabaret Festival
Brisbane Cheese Festival
Brisbane International Festival
Brisbane Kite Festival
Brisbane Organic Growers Fair
Brookfield Christmas
Bulimba Festival
Calamvale Carnival
Carols on the Range
Caxton Street Seafood Festival
Centenary Community Christmas Carols
Centenary Rocks Festival
Christmas in Keperra
Christmas in Sandgate
Christmas in The Grove
Colourise Festival
Darra Street Festival
Einbunpin
Fair on the Green
Ferny Grove Festival
Goldicott Under the Stars
Grass Roots Music Festival
Hands of Hope
History Alive – A Journey Through Time
Indigo Fair
Jacaranda Festival
Karawatha Family Fun Day
Kelvin Grove Creative Festival
Lanham Park May Fair
Moorooka Laneway Festival
Morningside Festival
Music by the Sea
Manly Harbour Village Halloween Street Party
National Archaeology Week – Toowong Cemetery
Nundah Village Festival
Opera in the Gardens
Out of the Box (biennial festival)
Park Road Festival
Parkinson Neighbourhood Festival
Peaks to Points (biennial festival)
Pride Festival
Queensland Deaf Festival
Queensland Poetry Festival
Racecourse Road Winter Lights Festival (formally Hamilton Festival)
Rainbow Carnival
Rotary Christmas
Sandgate Bluewater Festival
SandCliffe Writers Festivall
Sherwood Community Festival
Spring Hill Fair
Teneriffe Festival
Three Saints Festival
Toowong Hands and Hearts Fair
Wakerley Rotary Christmas Carols
Wilston Winter Magic Fair
Wynnum Manly Jazz Festival
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 84 •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wynnum Illuminations Festival
West End Block Festival
West End Film Festival
Xmas Twilight Market & Movie Night.
Africa Day Festival
Brisbane Chinese Cultural Festival
Brisbane Chinese Festival
Brisbane Lunar New Year Multicultural Festival
Brisbane French Festival
Buddha's Birthday
Carole Park Multicultural Day
Chanukah in the City
Diwali Festival of Lights
Eidfest
Eritrean Community Multicultural Festival
Fieritalia (formally New Farm Italian Festival)
Indian Bazaar
Indooroopilly State High School United Nations Day
International Tartan Day
Italian Week
Korean Festival Day
Many Stories, One Australia
Milton Community Festival (Polish Festival)
Moorooka Family Fun Day (formally Moorooka Festival)
Multicultural Taste of the World
Nowruz Persian New Year Festival (Iranian New Year Festival)
Paniyiri
Parkinson Multicultural and Dragon Boat Festival
Scandinavian Festival
Serbian Cultural Festival
South Pacific Islander Christmas Celebrations
St Patrick’s Day Parade
Sunnybank Hills State School Multi-Festival
Taiwanese Festival
Taiwanese Moon Festival
Taiwanese Mother’s Day Celebration
Vesak: A Sri Lankan Experience
Vietnamese Children's Moon Festival
Vietnamese Tet New Year Festival
Zillmere Festival – One Place Many Cultures.
Brisbane Eisteddfod
Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra
Queensland Ballet
Queensland Choir
Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Brisbane Symphony Orchestra
Queensland Opera
Matilda Awards
Metro Arts
Queensland Youth Orchestra
4MBS Shakespeare Festival.
Q2.
Can information be provided to advise the amount of funding that was allocated in the 2014/2015
Brisbane City Council Annual Budget for the proposed Neighbourhood Plan for the suburbs of
Northgate and Banyo?
Q3.
Can information be provided to advise will (or whether) Council allocate(d) any funds to upgrade the
car parking in Colmslie Recreation Reserve as a consequence of the State Government’s decision to
upgrade the Colmslie boat ramp located in the Colmslie Recreation Reserve this financial year? If so,
how much has been, or is likely to be, allocated for this project?
Q4.
In presenting the 2013/14 Brisbane City Council Budget, the Lord Mayor said: “Madam Chairman, I
am delighted to announce an initiative which will provide eligible not for profit community and
sporting groups a 75% subsidy (up to a maximum of $40,000 per project) on Infrastructure Charges for
any expansion projects undertaken. I have allocated $1 million as a pilot program in this year’s budget.
“. Can information be provided to advise which groups received this subsidy and how much was
allocated for each group?
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 85 -
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 (received on 5 June 2014)
Q1.
Can the CEO please advise how many car parks are in the Council owned King George Square car
park?
A1.
505 spaces
Q2.
Can the CEO please advise how many car parks are in the Council owned Wickham Terrace car park?
A2.
620 spaces
Q3.




Can the CEO please advise how much revenue was raised from the Council owned King George
Square car park in:
2010/2011
2011/2012
2012/2013
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)




2010/2011 $4,229,582.29
2011/2012 $4,961,050.23
2012/2013 $4,844,036.14
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) $4,125,776.47




Can the CEO please advise how much revenue was raised from the Council owned Wickham Terrace
car park in:
2010/2011
2011/2012
2012/2013
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)




2010/2011 $4,091,522.68
2011/2012 $4,492,442.65
2012/2013 $4,027,949.93
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) $3,456,061.78
A3.
Q4.
A4.
Q5.
Can the CEO please advise what the revenue targets are for the 2013/2014 financial year for the
Council owned King George Square and Wickham Terrace car parks?
A5.
The expected revenue for 2013/14 financial year is not divided out by car park.
Q6.
Can the CEO please advise the number of parking infringements issued in our major sporting and
entertainment venues traffic and parking control areas? Can the response please be provided in the
following table.
The Gabba (Gabba traffic area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 86 Queensland Sports (Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre – also known as QEII Stadium)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
Queensland Tennis Centre (parking control area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
Ballymore Stadium (Ballymore traffic area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
Suncorp Stadium (Land Park traffic area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
A6.
The figures below are for the Brisbane City Council Financial Calendar for the relevant years and may
include minor variances from the actual end of financial year dates.
For the 2013/14 financial year, figures are as at 31 May 2014, when the questions on notice were
asked.
The figures include warning infringement notices with zero dollar penalties.
The Gabba (Gabba traffic area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014
7373
7137
6468
7357
Queensland Sports (Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre – also known as QEII Stadium)
61
 2010/2011
0
 2011/2012
17
 2012/2013
20
 2013/2014
Queensland Tennis Centre (parking control area)
657
 2010/2011
1250
 2011/2012
901
 2012/2013
702
 2013/2014
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 87 -
Ballymore Stadium (Ballymore traffic area)
30
 2010/2011
190
 2011/2012
3
 2012/2013
22
 2013/2014
Suncorp Stadium (Lang Park traffic area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014
Q7.
9133
8044
7824
7148
Can the CEO please advise the amount of revenue from parking infringements issued in our major
sporting and entertainment venues traffic and parking control areas? Can the response please be
provided in the following table.
The Gabba (Gabba traffic area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
Queensland Sports (Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre – also known as QEII Stadium)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
Queensland Tennis Centre (parking control area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
Ballymore Stadium (Ballymore traffic area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
Suncorp Stadium (Land Park traffic area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
A7.
The figures below are for the Brisbane City Council Financial Calendar for the relevant years and may
include minor variances from the actual end of financial year dates.
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 88 For the 2013/14 financial year, figures are as at 31 May 2014, when the questions on notice were
asked.
The Gabba (Gabba traffic area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014
$551,775.00
$532,950.00
$488,116.00
$601,060.00
Queensland Sports (Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre – also known as QEII Stadium)
$4,575.00
 2010/2011
$ NIL
 2011/2012
$1,275.00
 2012/2013
$4,190.00
 2013/2014
Queensland Tennis Centre (parking control area)
$32,850.00
 2010/2011
$62,500.00
 2011/2012
$45,050.00
 2012/2013
$38,555.00
 2013/2014
Ballymore Stadium (Ballymore traffic area)
$2,250.00
 2010/2011
$13,800.00
 2011/2012
$225.00
 2012/2013
$1,804.00
 2013/2014
Suncorp Stadium (Land Park traffic area)
$683,775.00
 2010/2011
$601,725.00
 2011/2012
$593,941.00
 2012/2013
$584,236.00
 2013/2014
Q8.
Can the CEO please advise the amount of revenue from parking meters in our major sporting and
entertainment venues traffic and parking control areas? Can the response please be provided in the
following table.
The Gabba (Gabba traffic area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
Queensland Sports (Queensland Sport and Athletic Centre – also known as QEII Stadium)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
Queensland Tennis Centre (parking control area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 89 to 31 May 2014)
Ballymore Stadium (Ballymore traffic area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
Suncorp Stadium (Land Park traffic area)
 2010/2011
 2011/2012
 2012/2013
 2013/2014 (year to date
to 31 May 2014)
A8.
There are no parking meters in traffic area around QEII, Queensland Tennis or Ballymore Stadiums.
Only parts of Milton and Auchenflower are included in the Lang Park Traffic area. For Suncorp and
The Gabba traffic areas, this information can be determined by reviewing the suburb breakdown
provided in the answer to question 26.
Q9.
Can the CEO please advise the total number of parking infringements issued in:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)
A9.
The figures below include warning infringement notices with zero dollar penalties.

2010/2011 – 169,052

2011/2012 – 214,502

2012/2013 – 183,458

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) - 255,651
Q10.
Can the CEO please advise the total number of parking infringements appealed in:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)
A10.
Q11.
A11.
Q12.




2010/2011 - 19874
2011/2012 - 24826
2012/2013 - 19948
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) - 33191
Can the CEO please advise the total number of parking infringements waived as a result of an appeal:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)




2010/2011 - 6414
2011/2012 - 9174
2012/2013 - 5887
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) - 11169
Can the CEO please advise the total number of parking infringement appeals which were lodged before
1 January 2014 and were still waiting for a decision at 31 May 2014?
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 90 -
A12.
Nil
Q13.
Can the CEO please advise the monetary value to Council of parking infringements appeals which were
lodged before 1 January 2014 and were still waiting for a decision at 31 May 2014?
A13.
Nil
Q14.
Can the CEO please advise the total number of parking metered spaces in Brisbane City in:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)
A14.
Q15.
A15.




2010/2011 8501
2011/2012 8546
2012/2013 8233
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) 8233
Can the CEO please advise the total number of parking meters in Brisbane in:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)




2010/2011 1091
2011/2012 1099
2012/2013 1090
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) 1075
Q16.
Can the CEO please advise the total number of loading bays in the Brisbane CBD, South Brisbane
(including West End) and Fortitude Valley in:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)
A16.
Note: Council does not keep historical records on where loading zones may have been in previous
years, as loading zone requirements change based on the nature of the businesses in an area and the
competing demands for kerbside spaces over time.
Suburb
Q17.
Loading Zones
BRISBANE CITY
91
FORTITUDE VALLEY
52
SOUTH BRISBANE
116
SPRING HILL
210
WEST END
103
Can the CEO please advise the total number of taxi ranks in the Brisbane CBD, South Brisbane
(including West End) and Fortitude Valley in:

2010/2011

2011/2012
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 91 

A17.
Q18.
A18.
Q19.
A19.
2012/2013
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)
Note: Council does not keep historical records on where taxi ranks may have been in previous years,
as requirements change based on the nature of the businesses in an area and the competing demands
for kerbside spaces over time.
Suburb
Taxi Ranks
BRISBANE CITY
69
FORTITUDE VALLEY
26
SOUTH BRISBANE
11
SPRING HILL
8
WEST END
3
Can the CEO please advise the total number residential parking permits issued in:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)




2010/2011 – 22531 (includes visitor permits, as figure could not be broken down)
2011/2012 - 13473
2012/2013 – 30075
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) - 11744
Can the CEO please advise the total number of visitor parking permits issued in:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)




2010/2011 - 22531 (includes residential parking permits, as figure could not be broken down)
2011/2012 - 18857
2012/2013 - 44678 (includes short term permits, as the figure could not be broken down)
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) – 14591
Q20.
Can the CEO please advise the total revenue collected by Council from issuing residential and visitor
parking permits in 2013/2014 (year to date to 21 May 2014)?
A20.
$196,950
Q21.
Can the CEO please advise the total number of parking permits and visitor permits issued in 2013/2014
(year to date to 31 May 2014) in each residential parking permit area. Can the response please be
provided in the following table.
Auchenflower (Wesley hospital)
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
Buranda
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 92 -
Dutton Park (PA Hospital)
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
Herston (Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital)
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
Holland Park West (Griffith University)
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
Newstead
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
Red Hill
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
Sinnamon Park
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
St Lucia (University of Queensland)
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
Sunnybank (Sunnybank Private Hospital)
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
West End
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
Wilston and Windsor
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
Auchenflower (Wesley hospital)
Residential parking permits
441
Visitor parking permit
656
Buranda
Residential parking permits
50
Visitor parking permit
45
Dutton Park (PA Hospital)
Residential parking permits
1650
Visitor parking permit
2023
A21.
Herston (Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital)
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 93 357
510
Holland Park West (Griffith University)
Residential parking permits
15
Visitor parking permit
13
Newstead
Residential parking permits
137
Visitor parking permit
145
Red Hill
Residential parking permits
7
Visitor parking permit
14
Sinnamon Park
Residential parking permits
0
Visitor parking permit
0
St Lucia (University of Queensland)
Residential parking permits
839
Visitor parking permit
1052
Sunnybank (Sunnybank Private Hospital)
Residential parking permits
Visitor parking permit
2
7
West End
Residential parking permits
25
Visitor parking permit
31
Wilston and Windsor
Residential parking permits
162
Visitor parking permit
176
Q22.
Can the CEO please advise the anticipated revenue from parking meters in the 2014/2015 financial
year?
A22.
$20.89 million.
Q23.
Can the CEO please advise the anticipated revenue from parking fines in the 2014/2015 financial year?
A23.
$27.9 million, as it is anticipated that fine revenue in the 2014/15 financial year will be similar to that
of the 2013/14 financial year.
Q24.
Can the CEO please advise the anticipated revenue from the Council owned King George Square and
Wickham Terrace car parks in 2014/2015 financial year?
A24.
$10.29 million.
Q25.
Can the CEO please advise the number of parking metered spaces in 2013/2014 in the following
suburbs:

Kangaroo Point

Woolloongabba

South Bank

South Brisbane

West End

Highgate Hill

Kelvin Grove

Tenerife
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 94 -
A25.
Q26.













Bowen Hills
Paddington
Brisbane CBD
Milton
Toowong
Spring Hill
Fortitude valley
Herston
Newstead
New Farm
Albion
Petrie Terrace
Dutton Park





















Kangaroo Point
Woolloongabba
South Bank
South Brisbane
West End
Highgate Hill
Kelvin Grove
Tenerife
Bowen Hills
Paddington
Brisbane CBD
Milton
Toowong
Spring Hill
Fortitude valley
Herston
Newstead
New Farm
Albion
Petrie Terrace
Dutton Park
365
877
(see under South Brisbane below)
991
605
55
245
284
544
0
619
249
0
969
782
223
859
0
0
32
0
Can the CEO please advise the amount of revenue collected from parking meters in the following
suburbs in 2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)

Kangaroo Point

Woolloongabba

South Bank

South Brisbane

West End

Highgate Hill

Kelvin Grove

Tenerife

Bowen Hills

Paddington

Brisbane CBD

Milton

Toowong

Spring Hill

Fortitude valley

Herston

Newstead

New Farm

Albion

Petrie Terrace
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 95 -
A26.

Dutton Park





















Kangaroo Point
$315,123.66
Woolloongabba
$1,102,591.51
South Bank
(see under South Brisbane below)
South Brisbane
$3,377,956.61
West End
$957,048.18
Highgate Hill
$29,499.15
Kelvin Grove
$425,782.25
Tenerife
$530,601.64
Bowen Hills
$11,987.23
Paddington
0
Brisbane CBD
$4,759,613.15
Milton
$576,432.72
Toowong
0
Spring Hill
$2,457,255.08
Fortitude valley
$2,284,529.37
Herston
$573,497.42
Newstead
$1,191,541.21
New Farm
0
Albion
0
Petrie Terrace
$74,291.59
Dutton Park
0
Q27.
Can the CEO please advise the amount of revenue collected from parking fines in the following
suburbs in 2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)

Kangaroo Point

Woolloongabba

South Bank

South Brisbane

West End

Highgate Hill

Kelvin Grove

Tenerife

Bowen Hills

Paddington

Brisbane CBD

Milton

Toowong

Spring Hill

Fortitude valley

Herston

Newstead

New Farm

Albion

Petrie Terrace

Dutton Park
A27.
This information is not available in the format requested as once a fine is issued the revenue is not
realised until a fine is paid or withdrawn.
Q28.
Can the CEO please advise the number of parking fines issued in the following suburbs in 2013/2014
(year to date to 31 May 2014)

Kangaroo Point

Woolloongabba

South Bank

South Brisbane

West End
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 96 -
A28.
Q29.
















Highgate Hill
Kelvin Grove
Tenerife
Bowen Hills
Paddington
Brisbane CBD
Milton
Toowong
Spring Hill
Fortitude valley
Herston
Newstead
New Farm
Albion
Petrie Terrace
Dutton Park





















Kangaroo Point – 2,474
Woolloongabba – 7,982
South Bank – See South Brisbane below
South Brisbane – 30,694
West End – 6,019
Highgate Hill – 1,942
Kelvin Grove – 5,948
Tenerife – 2,762
Bowen Hills – 7,569
Paddington – 5,238
Brisbane CBD – 55,058
Milton – 7,836
Toowong – 2,914
Spring Hill – 13,880
Fortitude valley -25,799
Herston – 5,979
Newstead – 7,593
New Farm – 4,628
Albion – 1,438
Petrie Terrace – 3,404
Dutton Park – 2,389
Can the CEO please advise the number of fines issued in 2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) by
the fine category? Can the response please be provided in the following table.
Section
Offence
Penalty
167 of Part 12 of the Regulation
No Stopping signs
1 penalty unit
168 of Part 12 of the Regulation
No Parking signs
1 penalty unit
169 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a road with a 1 penalty unit
yellow edge line
170 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in or near an 1.5 penalty units
intersection
171 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on or near a 1.5 penalty units
children’s crossing
172 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on or near a 1.5 penalty units
Number
fines
of
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 97 Section
Offence
Penalty
Number
fines
of
pedestrian
crossing
[except at an intersection]
173 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on or near a 1.5 penalty units
marked foot crossing
[except at an intersection]
174 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping at or near 1.5 penalty units
bicycle crossing lights
[except at an intersection]
175 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on or near a 1.5 penalty units
level crossing
176 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a clearway
2 penalty units
177 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a freeway
1.5 penalty units
178 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping
in
an 1.5 penalty units
emergency stopping lane
179(1) of
Regulation
Part
12
of
the Stopping in a loading 1 penalty unit
zone commercial vehicle
no permit
179(2) of
Regulation
Part
12
of
the Stopping in a loading 1 penalty unit
zone
longer
than
permitted
179(2A) of Part 12 of the Stopping in a loading 1 penalty unit
Regulation
zone
longer
than
permitted
179(2B) of Part 12 of the Stopping in a loading 1 penalty unit
Regulation
zone
longer
than
permitted
180 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a truck zone
0.75 penalty units
181 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a works zone
0.75 penalty units
182 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a taxi zone
1 penalty unit
183 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a bus zone
1.5 penalty units
185 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a permit zone
0.75 penalty units
186 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a mail zone
1 penalty unit
187 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a bus lane, 1.5 penalty units
tram lane, transit lane,
truck lane or on tram
tracks
188 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a shared zone
0.75 penalty units
189 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Double parking
0.75 penalty units
190 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in or near a 1.5 penalty units
safety zone
191 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping
obstruction
near
an 0.75 penalty units
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 98 Section
Offence
Penalty
192(1) of
Regulation
Part
12
of
the Stopping on a bridge or 1.5 penalty units
similar structure
192(2) of
Regulation
Part
12
of
the Stopping in
underpass
a
Stopping on a crest or 1 penalty unit
curve outside a built-up
area
194 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping
hydrant
195 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping at or near a bus 1.5 penalty units
stop
196 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping at or near a tram 1.5 penalty units
stop
197 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a path, 0.75 penalty units
dividing strip or nature
strip
198 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Obstructing access to and 1 penalty unit
from
a
footpath,
driveway
199 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping near a postbox
201 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a road with 0.75 penalty units
bicycle parking sign
202 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a road with 0.75 penalty units
motor bike parking sign
203 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a parking 2 penalty units
area for people with
disabilities
203A of Part
Regulation
12
of
of
tunnel 1.5 penalty units
193 of Part 12 of the Regulation
near
Number
fines
a
fire 1.5 penalty units
the Stopping in a slip lane
0.75 penalty units
1.5 penalty units
205 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Parking for longer than 0.75 penalty units
indicated
208 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Parallel parking on a road
209 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Parallel parking in a 0.75 penalty units
median strip parking area
210 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Angle parking
0.75 penalty units
211 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Parking in parking bays
0.75 penalty units
212 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Entering and leaving a 0.75 penalty units
median strip parking area
74(1) of Part 12 of the Act
Contravention of an 1.5 penalty units
indication given by an
emergency vehicles sign
74(1) of Part 12 of the Act
Contravention
of
1 penalty unit
an 0.75 penalty units
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 99 Section
Offence
Penalty
Number
fines
of
indication given by a
park rear in sign
74(1) of Part 12 of the Act
Contravention of an 1 penalty unit
indication given by a sign
not otherwise specified in
this Schedule
106 of the Act
Paid Parking & Paid 0.75 penalty units
Parking Offences
A29.
Section
Offence
Penalty
Number of fines
167 of Part 12 of the Regulation
No Stopping signs
1 penalty unit
28,430. This
figure includes
562 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
168 of Part 12 of the Regulation
No Parking signs
1 penalty unit
2,316 - This
figure includes
50 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
169 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a road with a 1 penalty unit
yellow edge line
18,145 - This
figure includes
492 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
170 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in or near an
intersection
1.5 penalty units
123 - This
figure includes
13 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
171 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on or near a
children’s crossing
1.5 penalty units
2
172 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on or near a
pedestrian crossing
[except at an
intersection]
1.5 penalty units
57 - This figure
includes 18
Warning Pins
issued with a
zero $ value
173 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on or near a
marked foot crossing
[except at an
intersection]
1.5 penalty units
1 - This figure
includes 1
Warning Pin
issued with a
zero $ value
174 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping at or near
bicycle crossing lights
1.5 penalty units
Nil
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 100 Section
Offence
Penalty
Number of fines
[except at an
intersection]
175 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on or near a
level crossing
1.5 penalty units
Nil
176 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a clearway
2 penalty units
11,690 - This
figure includes
83 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
177 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a freeway
1.5 penalty units
Nil
178 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in an emergency 1.5 penalty units
stopping lane
Nil
179(1) of Part 12 of the
Regulation
Stopping in a loading
zone commercial vehicle
no permit
1 penalty unit
3,513 - This
figure includes
151 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
179(2) of Part 12 of the
Regulation
Stopping in a loading
zone longer than
permitted
1 penalty unit
2,439 - This
figure includes
31 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
179(2A) of Part 12 of the
Regulation
Stopping in a loading
zone longer than
permitted
1 penalty unit
1,172 - This
figure includes
16 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
179(2B) of Part 12 of the
Regulation
Stopping in a loading
zone longer than
permitted
1 penalty unit
5,525 - This
figure includes
73 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
180 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a truck zone
0.75 penalty units
4
181 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a works zone
0.75 penalty units
23 - This figure
includes 1
Warning Pin
issued with a
zero $ value
182 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a taxi zone
1 penalty unit
9,630 - This
figure includes
67 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
183 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a bus zone
1.5 penalty units
10,586 - This
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 101 Section
Offence
Penalty
Number of fines
figure includes
118 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
185 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a permit zone
0.75 penalty units
2
186 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a mail zone
1 penalty unit
655 - This
figure includes
13 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
187 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a bus lane,
tram lane, transit lane,
truck lane or on tram
tracks
1.5 penalty units
2 – These are
U1 Offence
code – Stopping
in a bus lane
188 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a shared zone 0.75 penalty units
2
189 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Double parking
0.75 penalty units
360 - This
figure includes
26 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
190 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in or near a
safety zone
1.5 penalty units
7
191 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping near an
obstruction
0.75 penalty units
Nil.
192(1) of Part 12 of the
Regulation
Stopping on a bridge or
similar structure
1.5 penalty units
1 Warning PIN
issued
192(2) of Part 12 of the
Regulation
Stopping in a tunnel
underpass
1.5 penalty units
Nil
193 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a crest or
curve outside a built-up
area
1 penalty unit
5
194 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping near a fire
hydrant
1.5 penalty units
9
195 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping at or near a bus
stop
1.5 penalty units
5134 - This
figure includes
64 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
196 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping at or near a
tram stop
1.5 penalty units
Nil.
197 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a path,
dividing strip or nature
strip
0.75 penalty units
1,959 - This
figure includes
292 Warning
Pins issued
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 102 Section
Offence
Penalty
Number of fines
with a zero $
value
198 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Obstructing access to and 1 penalty unit
from a footpath, driveway
333 - This
figure includes
47 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
199 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping near a postbox
0.75 penalty units
171 - This
figure includes
7 Warning Pins
issued with a
zero $ value
201 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a road with
bicycle parking sign
0.75 penalty units
13 - This figure
includes 3
Warning Pins
issued with a
zero $ value
202 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping on a road with
motor bike parking sign
0.75 penalty units
734 - This
figure includes
12 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
203 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Stopping in a parking
area for people with
disabilities
2 penalty units
1,281 - This
figure includes
70 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
203A of Part 12 of the
Regulation
Stopping in a slip lane
1.5 penalty units
Nil
205 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Parking for longer than
indicated
0.75 penalty units
19,571 - This
figure includes
180 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
208 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Parallel parking on a
road
1 penalty unit
3,102 - This
figure includes
221 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
209 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Parallel parking in a
median strip parking
area
0.75 penalty units
14 - This figure
includes 2
Warning Pins
issued with a
zero $ value
210 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Angle parking
0.75 penalty units
146
211 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Parking in parking bays
0.75 penalty units
716 - This
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 103 Section
Offence
Penalty
Number of fines
figure includes
110 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value
Q30.
A30.
212 of Part 12 of the Regulation
Entering and leaving a
median strip parking
area
0.75 penalty units
2
74(1) of Part 12 of the Act
Contravention of an
indication given by an
emergency vehicles sign
1.5 penalty units
13 - This figure
includes 5
Warning Pins
issued with a
zero $ value
74(1) of Part 12 of the Act
Contravention of an
indication given by a
park rear in sign
0.75 penalty units
81 - This figure
includes 7
Warning Pins
issued with a
zero $ value
74(1) of Part 12 of the Act
Contravention of an
indication given by a sign
not otherwise specified in
this Schedule
1 penalty unit
Nil
106 of the Act
Paid Parking & Paid
Parking Offences
0.75 penalty units
74,707 – This
figure includes
698 Warning
Pins issued
with a zero $
value.
N O T E: These
figures are
from
29/06/2013 –
08/06/2014
Can the CEO please advise the total number of parking related complaints made to the call centre in the
following years:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)




2010/2011
60,672
2011/2012
68,516
2012/2013
66,805
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)
70,168
Note: In 2013/14 financial year, Council changed its call centre system which resulted in
classifications being changed for various types of parking related call allocations. Therefore a direct
comparison between 2013/14 and previous year’s figures cannot be directly made.
Q31.
Can the CEO please advise the top 5 parking related complaints made to the call centre in the following
years:

2010/2011

2011/2012
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 104 

2012/2013
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)
A31.
Ranking
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14 (to 31
May)*
1
Parking Meter Maintenance
Illegal Parking
Illegal Parking
Parking Meter
Repair
2
Illegal Parking
Parking Meter
Maintenance
Parking Meter
Faults
Illegally Parked
Vehicle
Compliance
3
Abandoned Vehicles
Abandoned
Vehicles
Abandoned
Vehicles
Abandoned
Vehicle
Removal
4
Heavy/Long Vehicles
Parking Meter
Faults
Heavy/Long
Vehicles
Heavy/Long
Vehicles
5
Parking Infringement
Disputes
Heavy/Long
Vehicles
Parking Meter
Maintenance
Parking Meter
Administration
Note: In 2013/14 financial year, Council changed its call centre system which resulted in
classifications being changed for various types of parking related call allocations. Therefore a direct
comparison between 2013/14 and previous year’s figures cannot be directly made.
It should also be noted the different types of enquiries for parking meter administration versus parking
meter repair.
Parking Meter Administration relates to the provision of service relating to the ongoing administration
of parking meters. Includes requests for tax invoices from parking meters. It excludes parking meter
repair requests.
Parking Meter Repair relates to the provision of service requests for parking meter repairs. It includes
service requests about parking meters where the operator may require assistance, including requests
for assistance with credit cards stuck in parking meters. It excludes information on parking meter
infringement disputes.
Q32.
Can the CEO please advise how many faulty parking meters jobs were logged in:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)
A32.
Around 45% of all jobs logged as ‘parking meter faults’ result in no issue being identified once an
officer attends the site.




Q33.
2010/2011 Not available -incomplete data
2011/2012 15864
2012/2013 16357
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) 18491
Can the CEO please advise how many parking fines were waived as a result of parking meter fault in:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 105 -
A33.
Q34.
A34.

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)




2010/2011 – Not available, incomplete data.
2011/2012 - 3541
2012/2013 - 2459
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) – 5883
Can the CEO please advise how many parking fines were waived as a result of a parking fine being
incorrectly issued or issued without cause in:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)




2010/2011 - 579
2011/2012 - 1977
2012/2013 - 1008
2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014) – 1514
Q35.
Can the CEO please advise how many fines were issued with the assistance of number plate
recognition technology?
A35.
Nil.
Q36.
Can the CEO provide the total number of parking infringement notices issued for “over staying the
parking limit” in the following traffic area for 2012-13 and year to date 2013-14?

Woolloongabba Traffic Area,

Lang Park Traffic Area

Ballymore Traffic Area
A36.
This question is answered as part of question 6 above.
Q37.
Can the CEO provide the number of staff involved in changing the changeable signs on a game or
event day in the following traffic areas?

Woolloongabba Traffic Area,

Lang Park Traffic Area

Ballymore Traffic Area
A37.

Woolloongabba Traffic Area
o
3 Staff members for small event (<25,000 patrons).
o
4 Staff Members for a large event (>25,000 patrons).

Lang Park Traffic Area
o
1 Staff member for all events.

Ballymore Traffic Area
o
Council staff do not service games or event days in the Ballymore Traffic Area.
Q38.
Can the CEO provide the number of complaints from residents (per Ward) who have been fined for
parking in their street even though they have paid for parking permits?
A38.
Statistics are not kept in relation to this question.
A condition of the permit is that it must be displayed while being used in a resident permit exempt area.
Officers only issue infringements to vehicles that are parked without exhibiting their permits (should
they have one).
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 106 -
Q39.
Can the CEO provide the number of complaints per ward relating to non functioning parking meters:

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

2013/2014 (year to date to 31 May 2014)
A39.
This information is not collated by ward.
Q40.
Can the CEO provide the areas of individual parks in The Gabba Ward listed in the table below?
SUBURB
PARK NAME
Kangaroo Point
Captain Burke Park
Kangaroo Point
James Warner Park
Kangaroo Point
C.T. White Park
Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point Park
Kangaroo Point
River Terrace Park
Kangaroo Point
Raymond Park
Kangaroo Point
Main Street Park (Rotherham St)
East Brisbane
Mowbray Park
East Brisbane
Norman Bridge Reserve
East Brisbane
Norman Street Park
East Brisbane
Real Park
East Brisbane
Williamina Park
East Brisbane
Heath Park
East Brisbane
Stanley Street East Park
East Brisbane
Woolloongabba Rotary Park
East Brisbane
Rome Street Park
East Brisbane
Kingfisher Park
Coorparoo
Giffin Park
Coorparoo
The Common Park
Coorparoo
Temple Street Park
Coorparoo
Wembley Park
Coorparoo
Gladstone Street Park
Coorparoo
Coorparoo Creek Reserve
Coorparoo
Bath Street Park
Coorparoo
Stanley Street East Park
Coorparoo
Clarence Street Park
Coorparoo
Barnes Avenue Park
Coorparoo
future Coorparoo Park
Woolloongabba
Woolloongabba Place Park
Woolloongabba
Faversham Street Park
Woolloongabba
Buranda Playground Park
Woolloongabba
Leonard Street Park
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 107 SUBURB
PARK NAME
Woolloongabba
Preston Street Park
Woolloongabba
Carl Street Park
Woolloongabba
Deshon Street Park
Woolloongabba
Turbo Drive Park
Woolloongabba
Wellington Rd
Dutton Park
Dutton Park
Dutton Park
Gair Park
Dutton Park
Ovens Head Reserve
Dutton Park
Outlook Park
Dutton Park
Brier Street Park
Dutton Park
Rosecliffe Street Park
Highgate Hill
Highgate Hill Park
Highgate Hill
Brier Street Park
Highgate Hill
Derby Street Park
Highgate Hill
Dauphin Terrace Park
Highgate Hill
Rosecliffe Street Park
Highgate Hill
Lyons Playground Park
Highgate Hill
Brydon Street Park
Greenslopes
Langlands Park
Greenslopes
Chadwick Place
A40. This information is available in ward offices through the Council mapping programs provided to
councillors.
Q41. Can the CEO provide the cost of maintenance for parks per suburb for 2012-13 and the predicted
maintenance costs for 2013-14 for the parks in The Gabba Ward?
A41. Council does not allocate specific funding to park maintenance by suburb.
Q42. Can the CEO provide the total number of complaints relating to all parks in The Gabba Ward in 2012-13
and year to date 2013-14?
A42. Council does not log park complaints by ward. The local councillor for the ward may keep a record of
all park complaints received in the ward and would be a first point of call for this information.
Q43. Can the CEO list the parks that received the five highest number of complaints in The Gabba Ward for
2012-13 and year to date 2013-14?
A43. This information is not collated in the form requested; however, Council officers advise that anecdotally
the parks would most likely be:

Musgrave Park

Orleigh Park

Captain Bourke Park

River Tce (upper and lower)

West End Community Park.
Q44.
Can the CEO advise whether Council collates any park usage data and if so when and how is that data
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 108 collected?
A44.
Yes, examples of the way in which Council collects data is outlined below:
Location specific

Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha (real-time automated pedestrian path counters)
o
sensors across path entry points that count entry and exits
o
allows real-time data capture for officer review

Natural Areas tracks usage (real-time automated track counters)
o
34 tracks within 11 major Natural Areas
o
3 counters at Environment Centres (2 at Boondall and 1 at Downfall Creek)
o
sensors across tracks that differentiate type of users, direction and record
o
allows real-time data capture for officer review
Project specific examples
Q45.
A45.

Parks activation program (e.g. Chairs2Share)
o
Manual on-site count of total persons in 3 parks occupying Chairs2Share

Natural Areas visitor survey conducted in 2010 (intercept and online survey)
o
frequency of visits
Can the CEO advise how many Council FTEs re employed to undertake maintenance of parks in the
following financial years:

2008/09

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14






08/09 09/10 10/11 11/12 12/13 13/14 -
168
179
176
176
152
139
During 2012/13 and 2013/14 financial years, a number of long serving field services employees in this
area, nearing retirement, took advantage of the voluntary redundancy package offered by Council.
Additional agency or contract staff are employed to assist in additional work load to meet seasonal
demands, funded from parks maintenance budget referenced in question 46 below, but not reflected as
full time equivalent employees.
Q46.
A46.
Can the CEO advise how much Council funding was spent on parks maintenance (excluding recovery
from natural disasters) for the following financial years:

2008/09

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13

2013/14


08/09
09/10
$40,443,516
$47,322,132
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 109 


10/11
11/12
12/13
$47,567,958
$47,351,575
$48,978,674
Notes
In 2009/10 financial year, Vegetation and Pest Services merged with Local Asset Services which
accounts for the variation.
Q47.
A47.
Can the CEO advise

How many panic buttons are installed in public places in Brisbane

Where are these buttons located

How much did these buttons cost to install

How much to these buttons cost in annual maintenance

How many panic buttons are installed in public places in Brisbane?
89

Where are these buttons located
Go Between Bridge
Story Bridge
Ferry Terminal - Guyatt Park
Ferry Terminal - Mowbray
Park
Ferry Terminal - New Farm
Ferry Terminal - Northshore
Ferry Terminal - Riverside
Ferry Terminal - Teneriffe
Ferry Terminal - West End
Roma Street Parklands
Southbank Parklands
Goodwill Bridge
Kurilpa Bridge
North Quay
Q48.

How much did these buttons cost to install
The cost of the Council installed panic buttons is $70,000

How much to these buttons cost in annual maintenance
The annual maintenance cost of the Council installed panic buttons is $130,500. This includes
a 6 monthly full clean and inspection and a weekly testing on the Council owned panic buttons
by either a Council Officer or a contractor.
Can the CEO advise which libraries were upgraded in the following financial years, including costs per
library:

2004/ 05

2005/06

2006/07

2007/08

2008/09

2009/10

2010/11

2011/12

2012/13
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 110 
2013/14
A48.
Year
2004/05
2005/06
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Q49.
Library
Nil.
Nil.
Brisbane Square Library
(relocated and upgraded)
Zillmere
Banyo
Sunnybank Hills
Banyo
Chermside
Inala
Inala
Note: A new library was also
delivered at Kenmore this
financial year.
Ashgrove
Fairfield
Grange
Indooroopilly
Carindale
Mitchelton
Brisbane Square
Inala
Coopers Plains
Grange
Cost
$12.5 million
$1.2 million. The Sunnybank Hills
Library was not funded by Council but
was part of a partial refurbishment by
the lessor. As a result a total figure for
the upgrades in this financial year is not
available.
$405,000
$523,000
$178,208 (over 2 years)
$146,175
$2.19 million
$1.3 million (flood damaged)
$250,000
$772,844
$2.67 million
$1.39 million
$472,000
$122,000
$1.70 million
$1.30 million
Can the CEO provide a breakdown of funding from the State and Federal Governments in 2013/14
financial year as per the table below:
A49.
Federal or State
Government Grant
Federal
Funding Program
Local Government Financial
Assistance Grant
Community Energy
Efficiency Program
Low Income Energy
Efficiency Program
Federal
Federal
Digital Local Government
Program
Safer Suburbs Program
Federal
Federal
Federal
Federal
Federal
Federal
Federal
Federal/State
Safer Suburbs Program
Community Infrastructure
Grants Program
Healthy Communities
Initiative
Digital Hubs Program
Apprentice/Trainee
incentives
Natural Disaster Relief and
Recovery Arrangements
Details of Project
General purpose grant
and road grant
25000 Street Lights
Project
Green Heart Wisdom
Online facility for
Development
Applications
CCTV Sunnybank
CCTV Creek and
Elizabeth Streets Taxi
Rank
Moorooka Community
Centre
Working Together for a
Healthier Brisbane
Digital Hub Sunnybank
Hills Library
Various
January 2011 floods and
Australia Day 2013
Amount of Grant
($'000)
19,469
2,470
1,175
92
15
89
860
120
129
344
30,782
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 111 Federal or State
Government Grant
Funding Program
State
State / BCC contractual
agreement
State
State
State / BCC contractual
agreement
State / BCC contractual
agreement
State / BCC contractual
agreement
Apprentice/Trainee
incentives
Blackspot Program
State
Creative Sparks Program
State
State
Get Ready Queensland
Graffitti STOP Program
State
Library Collections Grant
State
State
State
Local Government Grants
and Subsidies Program
Passenger Transport
Accessible Infrastructure
Program
State
State
State
Safe School Travel
School Based Vaccination
Program
Transport Infrastructure
Development Scheme
State
State
Q50.
Details of Project
storms
Capital Grant for Roma
Street/South Bank
Grant towards
operational activities
Roma Street/South Bank
Robinson Road Open
Level Crossing
Telegraph Road Open
Level Crossing
Amount of Grant
($'000)
Various
Various
Joint Council/State
Program
Community resilience
building activities
Graffitti management
Purchase of library
materials
Backflow prevention
devices, Lang Parade,
Milton
Upgrading public
transport services to
meet obligations
Joint Council/State
Program various school
road safety
3,600
22,049
28,422
14,650
383
164
80
513
143
2,965
50
489
179
Vaccination
1,068
Various
4,470
Can the CEO provide a list of all Brisbane City Council boards, including details of membership and
how much is paid in board fees:
Name of Board
Chairperson
A50.
Members
Remuneration Amount
This question was recently answered via a question on notice on 3 December 2013.
Submitted by Councillor Victoria Newton (received on 12 June 2014)
Q1.
Please advise how many Built Environment CARS Officers are employed by Council by region:
North, South, East West.
A1.
Council does not allocate Built Environment Officers by region.
Q2.
Please advise how many Built Environment Complaints were lodged with Council in the:

2013/14 Financial year (Year to date figures)

2012/13

2011/12

2010/11
A2.


2013/14
2012/13
12,148
13,006
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 112 

2011/12
2010/11
13,073
16,016
Note: This report displays complaints lodged about building compliance, development compliance and
‘Other’. The nature of ‘Other Built Environment Related Complaints’ captures any complaint types
that have a direct relationship with building(s), for example, road/footpath safety and advertising
signage.
Q3.
Please advise how many Parking Compliance Team CARS Officers are employed by Council by
region: North, South, East West.
A3.
Council does not allocate Parking Compliance Team officers by region.
Q4.
Please advise of the salary pay scales Built Environment CARS officers are remunerated?
A4.
Pay scales for built environment employees range from Band 3 through to Band 8. The majority of
staff are band 4 to band 5.
Q5.
Please advise how many complaints Brisbane City Council received concerning bus services during
2013/14 financial year?
A5.
6,386
Q6.
Please advise which ten bus routes received the most complaints during the 2013/14 financial year?
A6.
Route number is not a mandatory field for complaints and therefore it is not possible to provide a
breakdown of complaints by route number.
Q7.
Please advise the top ten issues people raise with Council as bus complaints 2013/14 financial year?
A7.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Issue
Services late running
Driver failed to pick up
No show
Staff skills/competence problem
Rude/Aggressive attitude
Services running early
Passenger Environment
Failure to pick up/set down children
Incorrect route
Driver failed to set down
RISING OF COUNCIL:
PRESENTED:
6.20pm.
and CONFIRMED
CHAIRMAN
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]
- 113 Council officers in attendance:
James Withers (Senior Council and Committee Officer)
Jo Camamile (Council and Committee Officer)
Angela Holmes (Council and Committee Officer)
Billy Peers (Personal Support Officer to the Lord Mayor and Council Orderly)
[4442 (Post Recess) Meeting – 29 July 2014]