MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
The 4484 meeting of the Brisbane City Council,
held at City Hall, Brisbane
on Tuesday 17 November 2015
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 4484 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS _____________________________________________________________ i
PRESENT: ______________________________________________________________________ 1
OPENING OF MEETING: __________________________________________________________ 1
APOLOGY: _____________________________________________________________________ 1
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE ________________________________________________________ 1
MINUTES: _____________________________________________________________________ 3
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: __________________________________________________________ 3
QUESTION TIME: ________________________________________________________________ 5
CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS: _________________________________________ 18
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE _________________________________________ 18
A LEASE TO ARETHUSA COLLEGE LTD FOR PART OF THE WINDSOR TOWN QUARRY PARK, 356
LUTWYCHE ROAD, WINDSOR ___________________________________________________________ 30
B STORES BOARD SUBMISSION – SIGNIFICANT CONTRACTING PLAN FOR THE PROVISION OF
ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES ____________________________________________________ 32
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (Special report) ____________________________ 38
A RECOMMENDED TENDER FOR KINGSFORD SMITH DRIVE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT CONTRACT _ 58
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE ___________________________________________________________ 62
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – STREETS OF REMEMBRANCE ______________________________ 63
B PETITION – CROSSING AT THE ROUNDABOUT AND FOOTPATHS OF NORRIS AND BARBOUR ROADS,
BRACKEN RIDGE _____________________________________________________________________ 64
C PETITIONS – SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE ROUNDABOUT INTERSECTION OF DEAGON STREET,
NASH STREET, BASKERVILLE STREET AND BRACKEN RIDGE ROAD, SANDGATE ____________________ 65
PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE ______________________________________________ 67
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – SPECIAL EVENTS ________________________________________ 68
B PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT
TO PROVIDE BUS SERVICES FOR THE SUBURB OF MOGGILL ___________________________________ 69
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE ___________________ 70
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – SUBURBAN CENTRE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT RENEWALS ______ 73
ENVIRONMENT, PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE ____________________________________ 74
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – ANZAC SQUARE RESTORATION PROJECT ____________________ 75
FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE _____________________________________________________________ 76
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – FIELD SERVICES GROUP ACTIVITIES ON MORETON ISLAND ______ 77
BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE _________________________________________________________ 79
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – TOOWONG CEMETERY: CANON DAVID GARLAND PLACE _______ 80
FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE ______________________ 81
A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – LORD MAYOR’S MULTICULTURAL BUSINESS SUPPORT 2015 _____ 82
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS:____________________________________________________ 83
GENERAL BUSINESS: ____________________________________________________________ 83
QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN: ________________________________ 86
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4484 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN: _____________________ 89
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
THE 4484 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,
HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,
ON TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015
Dedicated to a better Brisbane
AT 2PM
PRESENT:
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Councillor Graham QUIRK) – LNP
The Chairman of Council, Councillor Angela OWEN-TAYLOR (Parkinson Ward) – LNP
LNP Councillors (and Wards)
Krista ADAMS (Wishart)
Matthew BOURKE (Jamboree)
Amanda COOPER (Bracken Ridge)
Vicki HOWARD (Central) (Deputy Chairman of
Council)
Steven HUANG (Macgregor)
Fiona KING (Marchant)
Kim MARX (Karawatha)
Peter MATIC (Toowong)
Ian McKENZIE (Holland Park)
David McLACHLAN (Hamilton)
Ryan MURPHY (Doboy)
Adrian SCHRINNER (Chandler) (Deputy Mayor)
Julian SIMMONDS (Walter Taylor)
Steven TOOMEY (The Gap)
Andrew WINES (Enoggera)
Norm WYNDHAM (McDowall)
ALP Councillors (and Wards)
Milton DICK (Richlands) (The Leader of the
Opposition)
Helen ABRAHAMS (The Gabba) (Deputy Leader of
the Opposition)
Peter CUMMING (Wynnum Manly)
Jared CASSIDY (Deagon)
Kim FLESSER (Northgate)
Steve GRIFFITHS (Moorooka)
Shayne SUTTON (Morningside)
Independent Councillor (and Ward)
Nicole JOHNSTON (Tennyson)
OPENING OF MEETING:
The Chairman, Councillor Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, opened the meeting with prayer, and then proceeded with
the business set out in the Agenda.
APOLOGY:
233/2015-16
An apology was submitted on behalf of Councillor Margaret de WIT, and she was granted leave of absence
from the meeting on the motion of Councillor Andrew WINES, seconded by Councillor Kim MARX.
MOTION OF CONDOLENCE:
234/2015-16
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK moved, seconded by the Leader of the
Opposition, Councillor Milton DICK that
“That this Council extend its sincerest and deepest sympathies to the people of France, for the suffering,
devastation and tragic loss of life caused by the recent acts of terrorism that occurred in Paris between 13 and
14 November 2015.”
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
-2LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. It is sad that we in this Council today
need to express our sympathies to the people of France, but the reality is that we
have seen once again terrorism at work. Today we have the opportunity simply
to pass on, on behalf of the people of Brisbane, our sympathy and our thoughts
and our love to the people of France at this time of great sadness in their nation
and city.
Last night there was a gathering in King George Square. It was an outpouring of
sorrow and support for the people of Paris and France. I said at that time that, as
global citizens, we denounce the tyranny of terrorism; we denounce the fact that
innocent people become the victims of that terrorism. We certainly denounce the
fanaticism of terrorism.
I want to thank all of those people who came yesterday, including the many
elected representatives from across political lines, from across Federal, State and
Council, not only this Council but other councils, people who simply wanted to
be there to show and express our support for those people in Paris and France
right now.
None of us can bring those people back who have lost their lives in this terrible
act, but we can show at least at distance in symbolic ways our support of those
people. We have tried to do that through the lighting of the Story Bridge, the
lighting of City Hall, and allowing people also the opportunity to express their
thoughts and their support through the condolences book in front of City Hall. I
just certainly encourage all Councillors to take up that opportunity to advise
constituents in your own way that if they want to at least express that support,
we will certainly obviously make sure that that condolence book finds its way to
the people of France.
So, Madam Chairman, again with those few words, I do so on behalf of the
people of Brisbane, and I do so today in this debate and in this motion of
condolence on behalf of all LNP Councillors.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair; I rise to offer my sincere support for this motion of
condolence. It is a very sad day where, on behalf of the Opposition and also
Administration Councillors, we join forces to pay our respects to those who lost
their lives over the weekend in a terrorist attack in France. I know there are a
number of French born nationals who now call Brisbane and Australia home,
and our thoughts immediately go to the victims and also the loved ones for those
victims.
This tragedy has touched literally the world. Our thoughts go to the people of
France. Paris is a city loved by the world, and home to so many ideas; in fact,
the home to many beautiful ideas. To think that on home soil in France that
there would be such an inhumane and terrorist attack I think shakes us all.
I know the strong links between Australia and France; they have always stood
together against terror, and will continue to do as we put together the pieces of
this tragedy. So today, on behalf of Labor Councillors, we offer our sincerest
condolences. We reaffirm the solidarity between our countries, particularly
Australia and France, and we know that our world, our community, will not be
divided by these atrocities. We will remain strong; we will stand united as we
deal with this, as we move together as one in peace.
Chairman:
Further speakers?
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, I rise to briefly add my support to the motion of condolence before us
today. The attacks that happened in Paris over the weekend were truly shocking.
I think it brings home to everybody how fragile life can be and certainly how
high a price we have to pay for freedom in the world today.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
-3France is one of the countries that has lived its values. Liberty, equality and
fraternity; they mean something to the French people. Their society has been
founded on an openness and an inclusiveness that is not seen in many other
countries around the world. What happened overnight on Friday and into the
early hours of Saturday morning here in Australia really was an attack on that
sense of liberty and justice and freedom that the French people stand for.
Some 130 people have died; many Australians were caught up in the terror and
the sadness of what happened, and I think it is a good thing that our Council
today is extending its sympathy and support to the City of Paris, to the city of
light, and to the people of France. There is, as Councillor DICK has said, very
strong ties between Australia and France. We know that the French are very
respectful of Australia’s contribution during World War 1, and today villages
around France still pay homage to the Australians who fought for their freedom
and for their liberty in the Great War. I hope that it brings the people of Paris
some comfort to know that Australia stands with them at this time.
Chairman:
Further speakers.
LORD MAYOR, right of reply?
As there were no further speakers, the Chairman restated the motion of condolence, which resulted in its being
declared carried unanimously.
MINUTES:
235/2015-16
The Minutes of the 4483 meeting of Council held on 10 November 2015, copies of which had been forwarded to
each Councillor, were presented, taken as read and confirmed on the motion of Councillor Andrew WINES,
seconded by Councillor Kim MARX.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Dr Tracey Burgess-Limerick – Parenting Conversation Corners
File number: 137/220/701/253
Chairman:
I would now like to call on Dr Tracey Burgess-Limerick who will address the
Chamber on the Parenting Conversation Corners program. Orderly, please show
Dr Burgess-Limerick in, please.
Welcome, Dr Burgess-Limerick. You have five minutes. Please proceed.
Dr Tracey Burgess-Limerick: Madam Chairman, LORD MAYOR, and Councillors. There’s a young girl
walking along a beach covered in stranded starfish, and she keeps stopping and
picking up a starfish and putting it back in the ocean. Her mother watches her
for a little while, and then says, ‘Sweetheart, what are you doing? Look at all the
other starfish; you’re not making any difference here.’ That little girl, she looked
in her mother’s eyes and she said, ‘Mum, I’ve made a difference to each starfish
that I’ve put back.’
This year, Brisbane City Council’s Community Development and Capacity
Building Grants program has funded Parenting Conversations Corners at
Indooroopilly Uniting Church. In conversation with wonderful Council officers
from the Connected Communities Branch, Miriam Kent, Nina Sprake,
Kerry O’Connor, I have come to appreciate that there is much, much, much
more to the starfish story. You see, each of the people that we nurture and
nourish in our program goes out and connects to others. There is like this ripple
effect in the ocean.
I am here today to share with you the ripple effect of Council’s community
grants. At Indooroopilly Uniting Church, we have a portfolio of activities that
reach out to isolated and vulnerable people. There are so many inspiring stories
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
-4of connection that I could share, stories of lifting people out of their isolation,
and bringing to life that joy of diversity.
Let me share some of these with you now. A few weeks ago, a young Indian
mum and a young British mum met and shared stories on comforting children at
Play, Cap, Act—a Friday Parenting Conversation Corner. In the following
week, I noticed them together at Play Cafè on Thursday where they were
continuing to talk and connecting over coffee whilst watching their kids, and
contributing to that buzz that is so important as a part of belonging at a place
like Play Cafè.
But it’s not just the parents that connect; many stories of connection are actually
about the volunteers, those who come to help with the children, with the setting
up, with the making of coffee, with the cleaning up. There’s those little mini
moments, you know, in a Parenting Conversation Corner when a Persian mum
just cannot find the words, and a Persian volunteer steps over and helps and
gives her voice in that space.
Then there’s those macro moments when a young Japanese woman turns up to
English class a year ago, from there to the art class, from the art class to
Play Cafè, to being our barista. Armed with a reference, a glowing reference,
gets a job in a coffee shop in the city here, and six months later she’s managing
that coffee shop. What does she do on her Wednesdays off? She comes back to
Indooroopilly Uniting Church to look after the kids in a Parenting Conversations
Corner. This is connection at its best. What does she do with her friend who
comes from Japan to visit in Australia? Before she takes her to Lone Pine, she
stops at Play Cafè to introduce her to us, to the people, to the community, to
Brisbane.
At another recent Parenting Corner, my attention was caught by the bubbly
laughter of the volunteers—three from Japan, one from Sri Lanka. They were
chatting and taking photos of each other whilst watching over the children.
Afterwards, we went out for ice cream, and we talked about: what do you do to
get a job? What sort of questions and answers happen in job interviews. You can
see the powerful ripple effect in very unexpected ways in our community. It’s
also so wonderful to watch the volunteers grow as they have a lived experience
of diversity.
Last week I noticed a button on an Indian granddad’s shirt with a face on it, and
I said, “Oh, what’s that?” and he said, “That’s God.” A Christian Scottish
volunteer next to me said with a big smile, “Ah, you’re celebrating Divali?” You
should have seen him light up. Yes. There’s these moments of embracing
culture and embracing diversity are so important. They are transforming our
local community.
On another note, of Nurturing Diversity, I was sketching a grandmother’s face, a
Sri Lankan grandmother, and she was sketching mine in art, and she had a red
dot on her forehead. I said, ‘Tell me about the dot.’ She said, ‘I don’t usually
wear it in Brisbane. But on the brochure it said: all cultures are welcome. My
husband gave it to me on our wedding day.’ I thought, oh, those moments of
connection, they can undo terrorism. That moment of connection that can
provide us with the ground, the bedrock of community that we need.
Perhaps the best stories are all like this one from last week, where a Chinese
wife, a uni student, came to English class. For nine months she’d been in her
home in a unit all alone. She hadn’t been able to come out. She knows no one.
Her English is not perfect. I know that we will see her soon at a
Parenting Corner or a Play Cafè as a volunteer, at art or sewing or knitting or the
community meal, and as we work to put this starfish back in the ocean, I know
it’s going to make a difference, not only to her but to many. I know that she will
connect with others and inspire others. I know that others will see us doing this
work and they’ll join our beach-combing team.
I know that crazy things happen. Starfish climb back out of the sea onto the
beach, grab another starfish and they’re back in the water again. I know this
because I have seen it, over and over and over again in the work that we do.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
-5Thank you, Brisbane City Council, for making this work possible. Together we
are building communities that can make a difference in the world.
Chairman:
Thank you, Dr Burgess-Limerick; would you like to take a seat.
Councillor ADAMS, would you care to respond please?
Response by Councillor Krista ADAMS, Chairman of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Dr Burgess-Limerick for coming in
this afternoon. I am sure you have inspired all of us sitting here to make sure we
put those starfish back in the water as we go past them ourselves in our daily
life.
It is fantastic to see the work that you are doing at Indooroopilly Uniting
Church. It was Miriam and Nina coming back from talking to you that just went:
wow, you need Tracey to come and speak to you to talk about the wonderful
work that they’re doing over there at Indooroopilly.
You talked about the Parenting Conversation Corners, but obviously there’s also
the Play Cafè. You do so much outreach in this one area of Indooroopilly. Your
Grey Clouds Blue Sky covers off a lot of issues with families if they’re going
through grief, life direction, relationships; I think that is a great support, one on
one and seminar and workshops in the western suburbs as well. Refugee and
asylum seeker support obviously links in very nice to your conversational
groups once they establish themselves in Brisbane as well.
Art and Soul sounds interesting. I am not an artist, but I know many people who
would love to have more time to be an artist as well. You are also involved with
the Perrin Park Multicultural Festival as well, which is great to see that we’re
getting out to the wider community. We are very proud to have supported you in
our Community Capacity Grants last year, in our 2014-15 year, and it is just a
small way to help you do the fantastic work that you do on the ground as well.
As we hear here, the ripple effect is enormous.
You are just one of 15 grant recipients last year. They have recently closed for
this year, so they are being assessed at the moment. We will see hopefully a
brand new round of Community Capacity Development grants that will help
organisations like yourself to get that ripple effect to go out right across
Brisbane. It is really about delivering meaningful activities, and what you have
shown us here today is that the work you are doing is meaningful, having an
effect, and even if it is bit by bit, it is well worthwhile. Thank you so much for
taking the time to come in this afternoon.
Chairman:
Thank you, Dr Burgess-Limerick.
QUESTION TIME:
Chairman:
Are there any questions of the LORD MAYOR or a Chairman of any of the
Standing Committees?
Councillor MURPHY.
Question 1
Councillor MURPHY:
Yes, thank you very much, Madam Chairman; my question is to the
LORD MAYOR. Today you announced the preferred tender for the
Kingsford Smith Drive (KSD) upgrade. This project will deliver another vital
piece of infrastructure for our city. Can you please provide further information
about this landmark congestion busting initiative?
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman—
Councillors interjecting.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
-6Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
—and I thank Councillor Ryan MURPHY for the question. To answer this
question, can I just go back a little bit in history, because it was at the time when
Hamilton Northshore was first being mooted that I met at that time with then
Deputy Premier Paul Lucas to talk about how that area would be serviced. At
the time the Deputy Premier said that he would intend to run a rail line
extending
the
Whinstanes
Doomben
line
through
to
absorb
Hamilton Northshore.
At that time, as a Council, we went away and did some work around the traffic
projections, looking at what was going to be happening with not only
Hamilton Northshore but, indeed, the Brisbane Airport, with the
Australia TradeCoast, looking at projections into the future. It was at that time
that I was able to say to the Deputy Premier that simply building a rail line,
extending it from Whinstanes Doomben into that area would not suffice. It
would not cope with the amount of growth that was expected into the future.
So it is that the Kingsford Smith Drive project began to take shape. Then along
the way I had significant encouragement. Councillor DICK was in here, of
course, telling me it was a car park and I ought to get on with it. That was just a
couple of years ago.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
Then of course we had on two occasions where we brought resumptions of land
into this Chamber, again with the support of Labor Councillors, those land
resumptions along those corridors were approved. Now, at the eleventh hour,
there seems to be a change of heart, but that’s another story.
Today Lend Lease were announced as the successful preferred tenderer for this
project. So, after a process where we commenced an expression of interest in
March last year, leading through to a short-listed process, and then into the
calling of tenders from four short-listed entities. It saw tenders close on 31 July.
We have now today reached a point where Lend Lease have been named as that
preferred tenderer.
The reality is that we are going to see out of Hamilton Northshore,
Australia TradeCoast and the airport increased traffic movements of around
31,000 vehicles over the next 20-year horizon. There will be increased demand
on Kingsford Smith Drive as a result of those additional movements. There will
be, of course, as a part of this project, very much a focus around public and
active transport. We’ve got the separated bikeway movements in both directions
on the riverside. We’ve got pedestrian movements separated from bicycle
movements, both off-road.
We’ve got an opportunity—and I’ll certainly be opening up discussions with the
State Government around the potential for a high-frequency bus service along
Kingsford Smith Drive which formed part of a report Councillor McLACHLAN
undertook several years ago. These are the possibilities now. Of course, the bus
bays are indented outside of the three lanes in each direction that make up this
project.
So those who think that you can get away with simply upgrading intersections
along this corridor, and that that will serve for the long term, that is simply not
the case. So it is that we are determined from this Theodore Street through to
Breakfast Creek to make sure that this project goes ahead. Some 3,000 jobs are
involved in this project. It is a very, very important project for our city. More
than that, I have said from day one that we were not just building a road; we’re
building a city. This project will also be one which will be new world city in its
form, in that it will provide opportunities along that corridor which will provide
an entry statement to the city. It will provide some recreational opportunities for
people to take in the ambience of the river, in the same way as people do along
Riverwalk, something that the Labor Party supported from day one.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
-7So, Madam Chairman, this project is a good project for our city. It will help to
serve our city for the long term. In terms of that, it will serve our city for a long
time to come.
Chairman:
Further questions?
Councillor DICK.
Question 2
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Let’s get real;
Kingsford Smith Drive is currently carrying approximately 65,000 vehicles a
day, confirmed by the DEPUTY MAYOR earlier today, a figure which is only
predicted to increase to 75,000 a day by 2031, another figure confirmed by the
DEPUTY MAYOR today.
Are you seriously wanting the people of Brisbane to believe you when you say
you are spending $650 million on gold-plating Kingsford Smith Drive to cater
for such a small increase in vehicles, while you’re ignoring essential traffic
congestion busting projects like the northern and eastern transit ways, the
Coopers Plains rail crossing overpass, and dozens and dozens of other
intersection and road projects across the city?
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, I said it a little earlier that the Labor Party were quite happy
to support this project all the way through until very recently.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
Once again, Councillor DICK in his question to me is just showing that he is
prepared to move his position around to suit. Let’s remember what
Councillor DICK, as Leader of the Opposition, said in this place on
30 October 2012. He said this: At the same time, no plan or funding whatsoever
to deal with the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade which we all know is nothing
more than a car park at the moment – a car park at the moment.
Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
He said that, Councillor FLESSER—you’ll be interested in hearing this, because
I know you’re a numbers man—he said this at the time when there were just
48,060 vehicles on average using Kingsford Smith Drive. By his own admission
today, he said that there are 65,000 vehicles using Kingsford Smith Drive, and
that is pretty well around the money.
What we do know is that if it is a car park when it is 48,000 vehicles a day, what
is it going to be like with 75,000 vehicles a day using the figures provided. Well,
they talk about the intersections. If they are so committed to just intersections,
why did they support the resumptions—
Councillor SUTTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
LORD MAYOR:
—right along the corridor—
Chairman:
Point of order against you, LORD MAYOR; Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
I have been listening to Councillor QUIRK for a number of minutes now; he
still hasn’t answered Councillor DICK’s question which was: how many cars
will be using Kingsford Smith Drive in 2031 as opposed to today?
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON, the LORD MAYOR has five minutes to answer. If you let
him get a chance, he might answer that question for you as well. It wasn’t the
correct question either.
LORD MAYOR:
It wasn’t the question at all. Madam Chairman, Councillor SUTTON needs to
go back to her digital transformation she’s undertaking on her computer right
now.
I just say this: the numbers of vehicles that are predicted for KSD into the future
are such that this project will serve that community for a long time to come.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
-8What you can never walk away from, Councillor SUTTON, as an Opposition is
that you have come into this Chamber and you have said that 48,000 cars a day
on Kingsford Smith Drive represented a car park. Right? So, the numbers—
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
If the numbers are 75,000—
Councillor SUTTON:
75,000—
Chairman:
Order!
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor—just a moment, please, LORD MAYOR. Councillor SUTTON, if
you continue to interject, I will formally warn you. Calling out across the
Chamber and disrupting the business of the Chamber is an act of disorder.
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, the numbers when Councillor DICK said that
Kingsford Smith Drive was a car park was 48,000. If you felt that it wasn’t a
problem, why did you come in here and support resumptions along the corridor
at the time when they were brought in here? Two packages of resumptions came
in, and the Labor Opposition supported those resumptions.
They have wanted this project to go ahead. They have been calling on me to get
on with this project, right up to the time of a couple of months ago, when all of a
sudden they have had a change of heart at the eleventh hour, all because they are
whimsical in terms of policy positions, and they are purely playing politics with
this project. That is all it comes down to at the end.
We are determined to proceed with this project. That is why we have reached
the point of a preferred contractor today. What I can say to this Chamber is that
there are 30,000 additional movements that are predicted out of the
Brisbane Airport, out of Hamilton Northshore, and out of Australia TradeCoast.
In terms of numbers, you and I both know, Councillor FLESSER, that—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Point of order against you, LORD MAYOR.
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, I believe the LORD MAYOR may be misleading the
Chamber. We were advised today that the traffic figures will rise from
approximately 63,000 to 75,000, yet the LORD MAYOR is now saying it is
30,000.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Order!
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I just would like to get it clear—
Chairman:
Order!
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I would just like—
Chairman:
Order! There is too much calling out from both sides of the Chamber.
Councillor JOHNSTON, would you please like to continue the remainder of
your sentence?
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, I’d just like to make sure that correct figures are put on the public record,
Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Thank you.
LORD MAYOR, I believe there might be a little bit of confusion in regards to
the figures. Would you like to clarify?
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
-9LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, I made it very clear that, out of the Brisbane Airport, out of
the Australia TradeCoast, and out of Hamilton Northshore, there is an
expected—a predicted increase of around 30,000 vehicle movements by 2031.
Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
No. This is where you’ve got to listen. See, if they didn’t interject so much, poor
Councillor JOHNSTON down there can’t hear, because of all the interjecting
that’s occurring over here. If you all just listen, listen—you know the old
proportion of two ears, one mouth, please use it in that proportion—the 31,000
movements I referred to is out of those sites. Not all of those vehicles are going
to use Kingsford Smith Drive.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
LORD MAYOR:
If you were listening, don’t sound surprised. Don’t sound surprised by that. It
comes down to this: Councillor DICK, you said, you came into this place—
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR, unfortunately your time has expired.
Further questions—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Councillor SUTTON, you are already on a caution. If you continue to
interject again, you will be formally warned.
Councillor McKENZIE.
Question 3
Councillor McKENZIE:
Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the Chairman of the
Infrastructure Committee, Councillor SCHRINNER. I understand that the
Bus and Train (BaT) tunnel made a comeback recently when it was listed in the
Queensland Tourism Investment Guide as a major transport infrastructure
development, despite the Deputy Premier ruling it out in March. Does this
back-flip by the ALP provide you with any confidence as to their ability to
deliver infrastructure in our city at any level of government, and does it also
remind you of similar back-flips here in Council by those on the other side of
the Chamber?
Chairman:
DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you, Councillor McKENZIE, and a very good question indeed. We have
consistently advocated for major infrastructure projects that this city needs,
whether they be road upgrades, bikeway upgrades, pedestrian upgrades, public
transport upgrades, and we will continue to do so.
However, there has been significant and ongoing inconsistency from the other
side of the Chamber. One minute they support a project; the next minute they’re
against it. They are falling in, or have fallen into the trap of Opposition, where
they object because we’re not doing something, but then down the track a few
years, when we are doing something, they object again because we’re doing
something. That is exactly what’s happened on Kingsford Smith Drive.
It is also what happened on Wynnum road. Remember the amount of times that
Councillor SUTTON has stood up in this Chamber and said: get on with
Wynnum Road; I support the project fully—and then dropped a clanger: oh, we
need bus lanes on Wynnum Road. That was never mentioned for years and years
when she was calling for the project, and then suddenly bus lanes. Now she
appears to have back-flipped again.
Councillor interjecting.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 10 -
Warning – Councillor Shayne SUTTON
The Chairman then formally warned Councillor Shayne SUTTON that unless she desisted from interjecting
and creating acts of disorder she would be suspended from the service of the Council for a period of up to eight
days. Furthermore, Councillor SUTTON was warned that, if she were suspended from the service of the
Council, she would be excluded from the Council Chamber, ante-Chamber, Public Gallery and other meeting
places for the period of suspension.
Chairman:
DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. This is not just an isolated issue on
Kingsford Smith Drive; this is an ongoing tactic of the Labor Opposition, where
they keep changing their position. Unfortunately, it is now approaching the point
where people have no idea what Labor stands for. They have put up billboards
saying they are going to fix congestion, yet they want to—
Councillors interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
You’ve got to fix—apparently they’re going to fix it—
Chairman:
Order!
DEPUTY MAYOR:
—by killing the biggest congestion busting project on the go at the moment.
That’s how they’re going to fix it. They’re going to fix it.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Councillor ABRAHAMS, you have just heard me formally warn
Councillor SUTTON. If you continue to behave in a disorderly manner, you too
will be warned, so I hereby caution you.
DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Apparently they’re going to fix congestion by ensuring that no high frequency
public transport services can use the Kingsford Smith Drive corridor in the
future because, without the upgrade, you can’t have reliable, efficient,
high-frequency bus services. We know the State Government has no plan to put
in a rail line to Hamilton Northshore. You can’t, without the project, have a
high-quality separated pedestrian and cyclist link through to the city.
So Labor’s plan is no plan at all. It is a political posturing whimsical decision
because they are trying to confuse the voters on important issues. The reality is
we’ve been consistent all the way along. We’re consistently supporting projects
like the bus and train tunnel which will help reduce congestion, which will cater
for multiple modes of transport. Yet, not only is Labor at the Council level all
over the place when it comes to major projects, Labor at the State level is doing
the same thing.
We have a situation where a brochure was put out by Minister Kate Jones
talking about the tourism and investment opportunities in Queensland, and that
brochure listed the BaT tunnel.
Councillor interjecting.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
We were actually over the moon. We thought this was a sort of a slip of the
announcement that is yet to come, and we were most disappointed to see that the
Premier had ruled out that project.
The Australian newspaper said it all when, on 11 November, they said, Beautiful
one day, scrapped the next. That applies to the BaT tunnel sadly. So we have
this situation where Labor is chopping and changing on infrastructure. It is
happening at the State level: uncertainty in the business community, uncertainty
in the construction industry, jobs in question.
We have had it down in Victoria where a major project was cancelled by the
incoming Labor Government, and left the taxpayers of Victoria with an
$800 million compensation bill. Now Labor is heading down exactly the same
path at the Council level. This is not good for the city, and it most certainly
won’t deal with traffic congestion. We believe that projects like the BaT tunnel
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 11 need to be on the agenda; projects like Kingsford Smith Drive that allow not
only a road upgrade but a public and active transport upgrade need to be on the
agenda, and it is about time that Labor came on board with some real plans to
tackle traffic congestion.
Chairman:
Further questions?
Question 4
Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Speaking of, Madam Chair; thank you. My question is to the LORD MAYOR.
Mr David Tape of the Queensland Bus Industry Council has come out strongly
supporting and endorsing Rod Harding’s suburban congestion busting fund. The
project, which includes the eastern transitway to help reduce congestion between
Coorparoo and Carindale. He said his industry was pleased. ‘Mr Harding’s plan
shifted the transport planning focus in Brisbane towards bus priority.’
LORD MAYOR, why don’t you agree with the Queensland Bus Industry
Council’s view that Rod Harding’s plans to boost public transport through better
transitways is of course an improvement to your gold-plating plans for
Kingsford Smith Drive which will only benefit 10,000 vehicles over the next
15 years?
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, I thank Councillor DICK for the question. This Council has
always been committed to bus transportation in this city, and I thank you for the
question, Councillor DICK, because it does give me the opportunity to remind
people that, when you go back to the start of this Administration, there was just
one bus in three that even had air conditioning in this city. This Administration
took bus patronage from 48 million back there in 2004 to nearly 80 million
passengers today. So that is the reality.
We know that that has slipped back in the last couple of years because of the
fare price increases that have been ratcheting up at 15 per cent a year until the
last couple of years. That is the reality. We have always been committed to bus
transportation in this city. We are, of course, the first city in this nation to have a
100 per cent low-floor fleet, with 1,200 buses out there meeting the needs of the
people of this city.
You only have to look around at what we have done in public transport, whether
it is out on the waterways or indeed buses themselves to know that we have a
commitment to that. I put on the table to the State Government the very issue of
the buses and particularly the crunch points that exist in this city around the
cultural precinct where 230 buses in the peak one-hour period in the morning are
now crammed into that precinct—
Councillor FLESSER:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Point of order; Councillor FLESSER.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, the LORD MAYOR was actually asked a direct question, and
rather than just talking about public transport, I would direct him back to the
question regarding Mr David Tape’s views on the Queensland—
Chairman:
Councillor FLESSER, that is not an appropriate point of order.
Councillor FLESSER:
He can talk about anything, can he?
Chairman:
The LORD MAYOR is answering the question. If he wants to put a rhetorical
question during his speech, that is his entitlement.
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks, Madam Chair. Mr Tape is certainly entitled to his view. I don’t deny
anybody expressing a point of view in this city. I am just simply reminding
Mr Tape and reminding this Chamber of the very significant advances that have
been made in public transport in this city. I am putting on the table some of the
critical issues that are faced by bus transportation in Brisbane. I make the point
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 12 that the real critical areas are around the cultural precinct and what we are going
to do in relation to that crunch point.
One of the reasons I supported BaT so strongly, if we want to talk about the
importance of public transport infrastructure, was because of the fact that it
would get 200 buses out of the city streets in the morning peak and, indeed,
afternoon peak for that matter; that it would provide the capacity for those buses
coming from the suburbs to be able to get into the city in a faster fashion. It’s
about the totality of a bus trip, not just what might happen over a single strip.
These are significant structural questions. The gentleman is very much entitled
to express a point of view, but there are many views. There are many issues out
there associated with bus infrastructure. Again, I am waiting to hear what the
State’s plans might be around some of those issues as well. It is a very, very
important question that this Council is also entitled to ask.
Chairman:
Further questions?
Councillor HUANG.
Question 5
Councillor HUANG:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the Chairman of Public and Active
Transport Committee, Councillor MATIC. We are seeing increase in cyclists
using bikeways all across the city. Can you please update the Chamber on the
LORD MAYOR’s record $120 million investment in the BB4B project,
otherwise known as the Better Bikeways for Brisbane project? Can you also
explain how new infrastructure that is being planned will benefit residents by
offering real active travel choices?
Chairman:
Councillor MATIC.
Councillor MATIC:
Thank you, Madam Chairman, and I thank Councillor HUANG for the question,
and the interesting comment I heard from Councillor ABRAHAMS that said
that cyclists would not use the Kingsford Smith Drive improvements. Isn’t it
fascinating to hear—
Councillor DICK:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Point of order against you, Councillor MATIC.
Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Councillor MATIC is misleading the Chamber. I was sitting next to
Councillor ABRAHAMS. For the record, she said, you won’t use it.y’ She made
no inflexion about bicycle users whatsoever.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
Councillor MATIC.
Councillor MATIC:
Madam Chairman, if that is what Councillor ABRAHAMS said, I am not sure,
because when you listen to the ALP, they say one thing one moment and they
say something else the other. So who is to know what the truth is on those
opposite, Madam Chairman?
But the important thing in understanding the issue of cyclists and cycling
infrastructure is that on this side of the Chamber we are consistent. We
consistently support all cyclists out there. We have a record investment of
$120 million within this term, rolling out brand new infrastructure across this
entire city, looking at the upgrades on key corridors such as the
Bicentennial Bikeway. All of these things together have seen a cumulative
increase year upon year of 6 per cent every year for cyclists across our city.
What does that mean? It means one extra cyclist out there is one less car on the
road.
This Administration, in its strong commitment to cyclists, is always looking for
those opportunities for off-road cycling, to provide that level of separation for
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 13 cyclists because it is always the highest level of safety and amenity that a cyclist
can be provided.
When you see improvements like the project announced today around
Kingsford Smith Drive, you wonder what is the ALP on about. What we see is a
project that is widening the road from four to six lanes, and in the process of that
widening, providing brand new separated infrastructure along that corridor for
cyclists and pedestrians.
We hear from those opposite that they would denigrate the safety of cyclists, the
separation of cyclists, by their own political slogans and catchwords, belittling
all of those issues for their own political benefit. We have seen them in the past
in this Chamber strongly supporting the project, strongly supporting the
resumptions, calling on the LORD MAYOR to bring this project out, yet today
they qualify all of their previous support because it is their political imperative
to do so.
What this project does, Madam Chairman, goes far beyond just the simple,
weasel words of the ALP. It delivers strong outcomes for the northern suburbs
of our city. We’ve got Bicycle Queensland and the Bicycle User Groups
(BUGS) all out there supporting what we are doing by providing this separation
that is so desperately called for on the north side of our city.
We have seen Councillors opposite stand in this Chamber and tell us that we
have not invested enough on the north side of the city in cycling infrastructure,
yet come here today and belittle and bemoan that investment that we are
making. How little do they actually care about cyclists and safety as opposed to
their own political outcomes? It is obvious today by the comments that they
make.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor MATIC:
We have Councillor ABRAHAMS once again commenting from the side. I can
understand why Councillor ABRAHAMS is actually retiring from the Chamber,
because she cannot handle anymore of the hypocrisy that she has to be force fed
to sprout in this Chamber.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor MATIC:
She has obviously had a gutful, although she is laughing now, so maybe she
hasn’t. Maybe she’s got another spoonful of hypocrisy—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Point of order against you.
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
That is probably the most clearest version of imputing motive I have ever heard
about Councillor ABRAHAMS’ laughter, and I would ask you to ask the
Councillor to withdraw that.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, I don’t think that that was imputing motive.
Councillor MATIC, please continue.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
Councillor MATIC:
Madam Chairman, I wasn’t imputing motive at all. I was simply making a
suggestion or at least a conclusion on what is happening on those opposite.
What you see through this upgrade on Kingsford Smith Drive is world class
upgrade of infrastructure for cyclists along this entire corridor. This kind of
work will actually promote more cycling on the north side. It will provide that
level of safety that is currently not there. Councillor ABRAHAMS wants
cyclists on the north side to go along Kingsford Smith Drive in the record
numbers of vehicles and trucks that are currently there. She is comfortable, and
ALP Councillors are comfortable with cyclists going on Kingsford Smith Drive
now, because they do not support—
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 14 Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Point of order; Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
I claim misrepresentation. I have never—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Order! Councillor ABRAHAMS, you cannot claim misrepresentation
because you haven’t spoken.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
You know the rules in this place, Councillor ABRAHAMS. You’ve been here
long enough. That is not an appropriate point of order.
Councillor MATIC, please continue.
Councillor MATIC:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. The cycling provision along Kingsford Smith
Drive is going to widen that kerbside lane along this designated freight route. In
the words of the Opposition, they have already stated the significant number of
vehicles per day, a lot of them trucks, that are already on that road now, yet they
stand up here and do not support this investment in that local infrastructure.
We are seeing by this separation a designation for two lanes of cycling; there is
designation for pedestrians; there are stopping points along the way. It takes
bikes off the road and provides them with a clear path to go. By doing this, we
are actually promoting cycling even more on the north side.
We are seeing right now on the Bicentennial Bikeway around 5,000 cyclists per
day on that particular stretch. Why? Because when you provide that level of
safety and amenity, more people use it. When you equate that to vehicle
movements, if that one extra person—
Chairman:
Councillor MATIC, your time has expired.
Further questions?
Councillor CASSIDY.
Question 6
Councillor CASSIDY:
Thank you, Madam Chair; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Rod Harding
is committed to a $30 million upgrade of Lemke Road, Taigum, to fix the
congestion hotspot between the Sandgate Hawks Football Club and the
Telegraph Road roundabout. The upgrade includes signalising the intersection at
Depot Road, Telegraph Road and Lemke Road, widening the road to four lanes
and duplicating the bridge across Cabbage Tree Creek. Instead of fixing
congestion for residents in the Bracken Ridge and Deagon Wards, why is your
only plan to spend $650 million on the unnecessary gold-plating of
Kingsford Smith Drive?
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Well, I thank the Councillor for his question. He is new to this place, and of
course he wouldn’t know the history. Therefore I would be very happy to give
him again some of the history associated with this project and why we are doing
this project. We are doing the project because Councillor DICK said we needed
to get on and do the project. He said that we had a car park at 48,000 vehicles on
Kingsford Smith Drive, and there’s 65,000 vehicles on it today in his own
words, going to 75,000 over the next period of time.
You are asking me why we are getting on and doing Kingsford Smith Drive.
That’s why, Madam Chairman. We are getting on and doing it because the
traffic studies showed us back at the time when Hamilton Northshore was being
mooted that it was absolutely going to be required. That is why Labor supported
all of the resumptions.
If they didn’t think this was a good project, why would they come into this place
on more than one occasion—two packages of resumptions—and put up their
hand, join us and say, yes, we need to do these resumptions along this corridor.
If you are only going to do intersections, why would you support resumptions
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 15 along the corridor. Madam Chairman, this is all about politics. We know from
the questions today it’s about politics. It’s nothing to do with the proper
planning for this city.
We have said very clearly that the two important projects on our plate in terms
of major projects are Kingsford Smith Drive and that of Wynnum Road stage 1
upgrade. We know that they are the two priorities for this city. There will be
other projects, and we are all about making sure that out there in the suburbs that
we undertake important projects as well. We demonstrated just a few years
back, where we did 44 projects over that four-year period, the Road Action
Program, and $1 billion worth of upgrades.
When they laugh, it always casts my memory back into time when they were in
Administration and the lack of project development that occurred in this city,
which led to them being thrown out in the first place, because they were not
getting on.
Councillors interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
They were not getting on with the important projects—
Chairman:
Just a moment, please—
LORD MAYOR:
I don’t know why they’re interjecting. It must be close to Christmas.
Chairman:
Just a moment, please, LORD MAYOR.
Councillor GRIFFITHS and Councillor ABRAHAMS, I could barely hear the
LORD MAYOR over the two of you calling out. Now,
Councillor ABRAHAMS, you are already on a caution. One more time and you
will be on a formal warning; same with you, Councillor GRIFFITHS.
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, I know that they think that bike lanes separated off the
roadway is gold-plating. They have made that very, very clear in all that they
talk about. The fact that we have a project which separates out on a road that is
15 per cent freight. Do they want those cyclists to be mixing with those trucks
for all time, because that’s what their solution provides? It provides for the
cyclists to be mixing with 15 per cent of freight traffic on Kingsford Smith
Drive.
Councillors interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
Councillor ABRAHAMS, can I just say to you that your—
Chairman:
Just a moment, please, LORD MAYOR.
Councillor CASSIDY, I hereby caution you that if you continue to interject, you
have been doing it quite a bit and you’ve only been here a short time. So if you
continue to interject and create an act of disorder, you too will be formally
warned.
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
So, Madam Chairman, to Councillor ABRAHAMS, I have a respect for
Councillor ABRAHAMS in so much as she practices what she preaches. But
today your bike bells are on the line, Councillor ABRAHAMS, because today
you have the opportunity and the invitation to join with us, to make sure those
dedicated bike lanes off road will be there for the cyclists of this city.
Chairman:
Further questions?
Councillor HOWARD.
Question 7
Councillor HOWARD:
Thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the Chairman of the
Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment Committee,
Councillor COOPER. Could you highlight how the proposed Kingsford Smith
Drive upgrade will assist in meeting the demands placed on Council’s road
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 16 infrastructure by developments such as the State Government’s Economic
Development Queensland (EDQ) Hamilton Northshore?
Chairman:
Councillor COOPER.
Councillor COOPER:
Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and I thank Councillor HOWARD for the
question. As this Chamber well knows, Council has been doing extensive
planning across the city and around Kingsford Smith Drive. In fact, we have
done the Pinkenba Eagle Farm Neighbourhood Plan and the
Racecourse Precinct Neighbourhood Plan which anticipates an additional 3,000
residents over the next 20 years.
Pinkenba Eagle Farm also took into consideration the economic powerhouse
that is the Australia TradeCoast, the Brisbane Airport Corporation and the Port
of Brisbane. Indeed, Australia TradeCoast is the second biggest economic
generator for our city, second only to our CBD. So by 2031,
Australia TradeCoast job growth is anticipated to double to almost 60,000
workers.
The Brisbane Airport Corporation, with their additional runway, will see a
significant expansion of its current function, and will also see additional workers
in its precinct. Currently there are 21,000 workers there, and over the next
20 years this is anticipated to more than double to 51,000 workers in that
precinct. So a significant number of workers who will be very keen to see this
upgrade to Kingsford Smith Drive.
Then when we look at what the Australian Labor Party State Government are
planning for the 304 hectare site of river front land at Northshore Hamilton,
think about that number—304 hectares of land. That actual site is larger than the
Brisbane CBD of 220 hectares. It is larger than South Brisbane, which is
200 hectares. It is larger than East Brisbane, which is also 200 hectares. For the
representatives for Gordon Park, it is three times the size of the whole suburb of
Gordon Park, a huge tract of land. This former industrial land is currently being
transformed into an urban development area, and has been since 2008.
At the moment only 7.6 hectares of that land has been developed, so a tiny, tiny
fraction has currently been developed. At the moment we’ve got about 1,200
residential dwellings and approximately 2,000 residents, with a lot more to
come. So, if we look at that rate, that is 150 dwellings per hectare. If you do the
map, if you do a straight map, you would see about 45,000 new dwellings in that
particular precinct. But of course you’ve got to account for roads; you’ve got to
account for parks, and we would hope to see all of that instituted by the EDQ
project. But Council has done the numbers, and Council believes that, over the
next 20 years, we will see 25,000 residents make their home in
Hamilton Northshore.
Let’s add it all up. We’ve got over 60,000 more workers in the area; we’ll have
approximately 30,000 more residents in the area, and they’ll all be using the
existing infrastructure. That is for roads; that is for cycling; that is for bus and
transport outcomes to get around.
What is the Australian Labor Party saying? The people who tell us there needs
to be more infrastructure, every time we do a neighbourhood plan, more
infrastructure in that area. What have they said about the Hamilton Northshore,
the EDQ work? Nothing. Not one thing. The sound of silence. The beautiful
sound of silence from the Australian Labor Party.
It is always entertaining when Councillor SUTTON is raising issues about what
might happen on the Bulimba Barracks site where we might see 850 dwellings
on a site that is 21 hectares—tiny, compared with the potential of Hamilton
Northshore. She calls out for fast-tracking of Wynnum Road. She wants more
infrastructure delivered, particularly more road infrastructure for this 850 new
dwellings that might occur on that site. What an outrage!
Kingsford Smith Drive shows very clearly Council is prepared to invest in the
necessary infrastructure upgrades to accommodate this huge amount of future
growth for the local area. In contrast, not a cent has been provided by the
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 17 State Government to upgrade Kingsford Smith Drive. As part of their
development scheme in 2008, they proposed four road upgrades to support
Hamilton Northshore, and not a single one has been done. Remora Road
intersection upgrade, the main access point to Hamilton Northshore, hasn’t been
done. The MacArthur Avenue upgrade, Theodore Street widening, all these
projects have not been delivered to accommodate this huge growth that we
anticipate to see over the local area.
Chairman:
Councillor COOPER, your time has expired.
Further questions?
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Question 8
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, thank you, Madam Chairman; my question is to the LORD MAYOR. Your
Council has approved almost 1,000 new dwellings in parts of Sherwood and
Corinda into the second most congested road corridor in Brisbane City,
according to the infrastructure Australia report from May this year. By 2031,
Oxley Road is projected to be the most congested road corridor in our city. How
can you justify to residents in my ward and other wards in the south-western
suburbs the expenditure of $650 million on a road corridor that is less congested
in today’s terms and less congested in 2031 terms than Kingsford Smith Drive?
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR
LORD MAYOR:
Thanks very much, Councillor JOHNSTON, and I thank you,
Madam Chairman. The reality is that cities have many needs, and you will note
that we have commenced, much to the criticism of the Opposition, the purchase
of the roundabout site at Indooroopilly. We undertook that purchase. We were
told that we were wasting money—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Point of order against you, LORD MAYOR.
Councillor JOHNSTON.
LORD MAYOR:
I thought this was about Oxley Road corridor.
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, point of order.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
My question was about the Oxley Road corridor, which does not include
Indooroopilly.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order!
Order!
LORD MAYOR, you have five minutes to answer the question, and you can
also provide context in your answer.
LORD MAYOR:
Let me get this right, Madam Chairman. So the Indooroopilly roundabout and
the Witton Barracks have got absolutely nothing to do with the Oxley Road
corridor? So where are they going to end up? In the river?
The big issue is the connection of that corridor. Certainly there has been work
upgrades undertaken along the Ipswich Motorway, and we congratulate different
governments around that work. But it is true that the availability and the
limitations of the corridor marking the Walter Taylor Bridge, the heritage-listed
Walter Taylor Bridge, mean that we have to plan for the future and for that
future growth.
It has only been in the last day that there has been some further coverage around
the Witton Barracks, around the purchase of that site by this Council from the
Federal Government. It is all about planning for the future, getting in place those
necessary pieces of land so that you can look at providing the structural things
you need to relieve those corridors. We are very conscious of it—very conscious
of it.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 18 I might say to you, Councillor JOHNSTON, that’s why I am so disappointed
that the Opposition slammed us so hard when we bought that Indooroopilly
roundabout site. We are all about getting these individual parcels of land in
place to provide the mechanism to create that relief of congestion for people into
the future. You can only do it if you start to put the pieces of the jigsaw together
to make provision for greater capacity within the network. So that’s the answer,
Madam Chairman. That’s the answer. We are getting on with it. We are
planning for it. In spite of the Opposition’s negativity and condemnation of the
actions that we have taken, we are committed to keeping going and planning for
that future of the people of that area.
Chairman:
That ends Question Time.
CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS:
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE
The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Councillor Graham QUIRK), Chairman of the Establishment and
Coordination Committee, moved, seconded by the DEPUTY MAYOR (Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER), that
the report of the meeting of that Committee held on 9 November 2015, be adopted.
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Yes, thanks very much, Madam Chairman. Just before coming to the formal
report, I would just like to raise a number of issues. Just to acknowledge that
14 November is World Diabetes Day, in acknowledgement of that debilitating
disease, and also the research around it, raising awareness in terms of funds for
research.
We have, of course, Homeless Connect coming up. This year it will be at the
Eagle Farm Racecourse. That is on 18 November. I certainly invite Councillors
to participate. I thank all of those who have been involved in collecting in
whatever way they have, to make sure that that day is a successful day as well.
There has been a donation drive which has been in place now since 30 October
around perishable goods and a whole lot of other toiletries. I thank the ward
offices and the library staff as well, for their participation in that.
Just at the moment in Brisbane we have an outbreak of whooping cough. It is a
timely reminder for all Councillors to, in whatever way you can within your
local communities, to remind people and parents of the importance of
vaccinations. One of the reasons that this nation is so free of disease is because
we have had a very strong program of vaccinating our young people over many,
many years. Some people are slackening off. That is a reality. It is a timely
reminder that you should not have to worry about the economics of this. We
have been, for many years now, decades in fact, as an organisation providing
free vaccinations for our young children. So it is a timely reminder for parents to
get on and undertake those vaccination programs.
As to the other items I wanted to raise, this morning I was out in Fernvale, and I
joined with Mayors Lehman and Jones out there in what has been a piece of
work undertaken by South East Queensland (SEQ) Water. It is around the
Resilient Rivers Initiative. It has been where we have been in an area close to
the Mount Crosby Water Treatment Plant and getting the land out of the creek
corridor and getting it back on the farmland, stabilising the banks, getting
Lomandra and other vegetation along those banks to hold it together.
The reality is, and people will remember how close this city came to running out
of water because of the amount of mud and silt that was going into the
Mount Crosby Treatment Plant where our water supply comes from, where it is
treated. We had stations around this city where bottled water was being set up.
So we need to make sure that we undertake the actions necessary to stabilise the
banks of those waterway corridors particularly leading into Mt Crosby but also
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 19 in other areas. Areas around the Lockyer Valley, areas around what is called the
mid-Brisbane catchment—very important to the people of this city.
The Wonder of Christmas: it is upon us. I just want to endorse the Christmas
program to all Councillors. There are around 400 events that this city will be
celebrating. We have many partners of course in that, many sponsoring partners
around that celebration. It is a wonderful time of the year for people, and again I
just encourage all Councillors to promote that event. I want to acknowledge also
the Christmas lights tours that will be commencing on 14 December, going
through to 18 December. There will be 70 bus tours over those five nights, and
they will be leaving from a range of locations around the city, including
Carindale, Garden City, Indooroopilly, Chermside, and indeed from the stop at
Anzac Square.
Last Saturday night I had the honour of joining with the Deputy Premier and
Councillor Matthew BOURKE and others—Councillor WINES was there—to
be a part of the unveiling of the new Brisbane sign, the permanent Brisbane
sign, over at South Bank. It was, of course, extremely popular during the G20
event. So that is there now in a permanent way, reflecting the diversity of our
city, the range of organisations that were participants in that, and we thank the
Men’s Shed as well for doing those original structures which provided the base
for the designs during the G20 itself.
Today I want to table the Annual Report of the City of Brisbane Investment
Corporation (CBIC). This is the 2015 report. In short it demonstrates that the
return on investment was 11.73 per cent in 2014-15. The asset base has grown
from its original $137 million in 2009 to now be at $251 million. That is in spite
of the fact that there have also been dividends paid. There has been $50 million
in total of dividends paid from that to this Council. That is money that has gone
into all sorts of assets and facilities in this city across the board.
Councillor interjecting.
LORD MAYOR:
It was $15 million in the last financial year. We are very thankful in terms of the
support that that provides to the city budget. It equates to nearly 2 per cent of
rates, and it is money that has been out there being put to good use for the
people of this city. So I table that report for the Chamber.
We have two items before us today. The first of those is a lease to Arethusa; I
think it is pronounced, College Limited for part of the Windsor Town Quarry
Park at Lutwyche Road, Windsor. This substation has no current tenant, and
there has not been a previous tenant at this substation—no previous leases. We
believe that the type of work that this private independent school undertakes
makes it worthy of support of this Council in terms of this arrangement and
lease.
They are providing the educational programs for primary age students who have
disengaged with mainstream education—kids that have opted out. We need to,
in my belief, give support to this to provide that safety net mechanism to try to
turn around lives. This is about turning those lives around in every respect. It is
a little bit, I suppose, like the starfish analogy that was used by the speaker a
little earlier today. It is making sure that we provide for the social wellbeing of
those participants, and build lives.
The second item before us today is the Stores Board submission around the
significant contracting plan for the provision of electricity and related services.
This Council of course has a very significant buy in terms of electricity in a
number of forms—small market sites metered; we have the large market sites
metered; street lighting which, of itself, is around a $28.5 million spend; and
then we have the watchmen unmetered. Collectively, you are looking at a spend
of around $40.1 million in regards to this.
There are many operators out there in the market place, but this recommendation
is here for the consideration. The details and rationale are outlined there on page
seven. I won’t go into that detail, but it is there for everyone to see. It is
presented for the consideration of this Council today.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 20 Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair; I rise to speak on items A and B
Seriatim - Clause A
Councillor Milton DICK requested that Clause A, LEASE TO ARETHUSA COLLEGE LTD FOR PART OF
THE WINDSOR TOWN QUARRY PARK, 356 LUTWYCHE ROAD, WINDSOR, be taken seriatim for
voting purposes.
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to make some remarks around item B which is
the Stores Board submission, the significant contracting plan for the provision of
electricity and related services which is before the Chamber today.
Labor Councillors will be supporting this today. We understand the mechanics
behind it and have no formal objection.
On item A, there are a couple of issues that I have today. Reading through the
file, essentially the Council is being asked today to approve a new—I guess use
of the site at 356 Lutwyche Road, Windsor, which is located in the
Windsor Town Quarry Park. Council is the trustee of this land which is a reserve
for local government. Currently the substation has no current tenant, and there is
no record of any previous leases over the substation.
I want to commend the private independent school, as the LORD MAYOR said,
a very worthwhile and worthy objective of changing young people’s lives, with
this flexi learning model for kids that perhaps are not fitting into the mainstream
schooling agenda. We understand that. I think we’ve all in one way or another
as representatives—certainly in my own area, I have been touched by the work
of particularly people in this field and endeavours of education.
The LORD MAYOR said they are turning around young people’s lives. It is
always good to see success stories come from kids who perhaps have slipped
through the cracks and then have turned their lives around through alternative
schooling and education opportunities.
I do have a couple of issues I want to place on record today. The consent that we
are asking for approval today is to go into which is a fairly historic parkland area
and an open space where there isn’t a lot of open space in and around that area;
we are asking for a 25-year lease to ensure the college receives the benefits, and
we are talking around a $1.36 million development. Reading through the E&C,
on paragraph 6, I note the college has received $1.19 million funding from the
Australian Government for the development. I am not sure whether a 25-year
lease or that length of time—and there is no reason given as to why it is for such
a long period of time.
The consent does not restrict future use of the substation site for other
community purposes. I suppose if we are going down the path of allowing
access for a private school, it makes sense to ensure that there are other
opportunities for community groups, whether it be local organisations or areas
for meeting spaces. With increasing development around there, obviously
community space is going to be premium. But a condition of the agreement for
the lease with the college is that work on the old quarry cliff and construction of
the safety barrier must be completed.
Looking through the design work, and part of the paperwork which was in the
file that I had a look at, there is an existing building there, and there is a
proposed building which will encroach onto open space and the parkland. That
is not normal practice for the Council to go into parkland to allow development
and buildings there.
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
Well, the Council has attempted that before through CBIC, but that fell over for
obvious reasons. But looking at the costs involved, there is a list of professional
fees, local authority charges, external infrastructure costs, loose furniture costs,
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 21 equipment costs, library resources, fire services, development costs and other
additional costs. The total sundry cost looks to be around $167,300 with the total
costs of (b) to (l)—and that was just the additional cost—is $750,402.
I would like some further clarification from the LORD MAYOR with those
stabilisation costs for the quarry cliff and the construction of the safety barrier.
If there are out of pocket costs for the Council, what are we looking for to get
this project over the line? If it is all being picked up by the college, that is okay.
My concerns around the issues of heritage and also open space I guess can be
alleviated in some way because of the benefit that we will be receiving from this
private independent school of seeing young people particularly getting those
advantages.
But, at the end of the day, we have to deal with the resolution which is we are
asking for approval to enter into the agreement, and what sort of arrangements
have we come into place with the college in terms of additional usage? There is
a list of hours and times of operations that the college requires, which is
predominately day time use. I guess if we are asking the community to allow
this development to proceed and to see new infrastructure and new buildings put
into place, I would like a final cost to the ratepayers about what is involved with
the stabilisation and allowing this to occur, and then what formal arrangements
have been put in place and to enable the community to receive that benefit.
I know the Council, our own bureaucrats, our own officers, raised concerns, and
I refer to correspondence from the team leader of the North Community Facility
Operations where he wrote on 17 June, “I have concerns with the scale of the
proposed development on this site. The concerns are shared by the Community
Facilities Planning and Design team”. So there are alarm bells, reading through
the documentation, within Council officers who clearly are concerned about the
bulk and size of the development going into the parkland.
He goes on in other correspondence a little earlier, “the proposed development
goes outside of what would normally be considered the area to be leased; that is,
the existing building footprint and surrounds. The proposed development
extends into the existing parkland”. So there you have it—advice from Council
officers from the get go. We may have resolved some of those issues, but
particularly the costs involved, if the LORD MAYOR could come back with
what the final amount is for the ratepayers of Brisbane, and perhaps we have
entered into the formal negotiations with them for those costs to be picked up by
the new tenant. But reading through the papers, I am yet to see that, but I am
more than happy if that is the case, because we are entering into a 25-year lease.
I want to make sure that the ratepayers are getting value for money.
The other issue that I want to see—and the LORD MAYOR can explain this—is
what community consultation has occurred with nearby residents. Obviously if
we are opening that space for activity, and particularly for the sensitivities
around the needs of a private independent school that provides educational
programs for primary age students who have disengaged from mainstream
education, I would hope it has been practice that the local Councillor has written
to local residents. There is no indication that that has occurred. It may be an
informal approach. There could have been a street meeting; there could have
been a public meeting—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
I know if best practice would occur in my ward, I would let residents know that
this proposal was coming forward. I would—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
—what was that, Councillor BOURKE?
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
I won’t be. Not enough guts to actually say it out loud. But what I would say is,
that is the normal practice on Labor Councillors to engage with the community
before a decision is taken, not after. So I welcome the local Councillor to enter
into the debate to outline what views they have taken. It could have been
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 22 extensive; it could be comprehensive—I am not saying one way or the other. I
certainly hope it has. If the LORD MAYOR could provide that advice to the
Council Chamber to address those issues, I would be happy to follow those
through and then keep an eye on this as we look forward to positive outcomes
from this independent school taking over this lease.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor ADAMS.
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and I rise to speak on item A, on the
Arethusa College lease. This is a lease that we have been working on for quite a
while, particularly with the local Councillor and the issues around the
Development Assessment (DA), as Councillor DICK has raised as well.
Substations are always difficult sites to actually fill with community leases
because of the complexities they have in the building as it is. This was a site
that, as has been mentioned by both the previous speakers, has not been leased
out before, but became an opportunity when Arethusa College asked us if it
would be a possibility because it is quite—what is the word—it does not have
many neighbours, but does have main roads on two sides and a park, and of
course the cliffs that are there as well.
Arethusa College, as we have mentioned, is definitely special education. It is a
non-for-profit organisation, and as a former high school teacher, I have dealt
with some of these students that are not fit for mainstream education, whether
that be for behavioural reasons, whether it be for mental health issues, whether it
be for ongoing illness that doesn’t allow them to be in a normal school situation.
There is a very high percentage of teacher to student population in
Arethusa College.
They do focus on vocational education programs rather than mainstream
schooling. So there wasn’t a huge requirement because of the numbers and the
restricted enrolment for this education facility to have expansive ovals, et cetera,
as many education services need to have for their sport, et cetera and things like
that.
This college in particular on this side is looking at the primary age kids that have
disengaged from the mainstream as we mentioned before. It is not open to all
students. There is not a concern that the school will outgrow the site where it is
at the moment. There is a restricted enrolment; you do have to actually meet a
certain criteria before you can enter into this program as well.
We don’t usually support education purposes on our community facilities, but
we felt that this was definitely more of a community service that provided
positive community benefits and increased social wellbeing of its participants.
There is a DA on site there, and I think the words that Councillor DICK was
talking about was that the community facilities team had, that yes, this was
slightly out of the box when it came to the parkland and the DAs that we usually
see. But we have gone through a very involved DA process.
I can assure you that the local Councillor who has given her support to this
program, Councillor HOWARD, has been involved in much local representation
with the community around the DA process and other local community groups
that are very close to that area, the Windsor Districts Historical Society,
et cetera, because this is a park of significance with the substation as well. So all
of that consultation was done with the community. Also, we did not want any of
the residents to be concerned about the type of school that was going there as
well, so we went out very clearly and explained what the deal was with the
school and how they would be catering for their special needs students who
would be there as well.
With regards to the quarry wall fall; that happened after all these negotiations
had started, and that is something that is business as usual as far as it comes to
Council. We have to stabilise that rock wall for the safety of all residents, not
just the college. Of course, there is a house on top of that cliff as well. None of
that is being done through the Arethusa College lease; this is a totally separate
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 23 entity and is something that is being looked after by Brisbane Infrastructure and
the work that they need to do to stabilise that cliff quarry site.
The old quarry cliff, as you see in paragraph seven, it says there very clearly, the
college is definitely going to be working with us around that. We are going to be
starting the works in the next calendar year. They are aware that the oval space
below that, that they may use, will be out of bounds until that is finally
stabilised. They will be working with us, and we will make sure that they are
very happy with the works that we are doing on that quarry cliff as well before
they go back onto that open space. It is roped off at the moment for the general
community as well as when the works start for the college as well. But it is
something that Council is taking on because it is our responsibility to do that.
This lease is separate from that quarry cliff work that needs to be done as well.
I think what we see here today is a very good outcome for the use of the
Windsor substation. The works are being done wholly by the Arethusa College
and, again as has been mentioned, if something happened that the school was
not to continue on this site, we end up with community facilities that can be repurposed for community use in the future as well. The school is only using the
site during the daytime hours, so there are not any evening concerns with the
local residents as well.
I think the school’s proactive model on their type of schooling is going to
definitely help those starfish, as the LORD MAYOR said, that need that extra
help with their education. I think this is a fantastic outcome on the site. I thank
Councillor HOWARD for her support and the work with the local community.
We look forward to a great relationship with Arethusa College into the future.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, I rise to speak on items A and B. I think there is a little troubling context in
both of these items before us today. Firstly with respect to item A, I am sure
Arethusa College is a very noble purpose and they undertake an important
function in educating students. But what we are being asked today is to approve
the conversion of land that is currently zoned as community use and parkland
for the establishment of a private school.
I guess the concern that I have stems from the fact that this land is currently
available to the public, but with the school going on it and all the restrictions
that come with a school use, there is going to be a lot of restricted access to this
site. Certainly Council has community leases in parks historically for things like
kindergartens, but they have a very small footprint, and this is a very different
situation altogether.
I think it represents a pretty significant departure away from Council’s approach
to date. Does this mean now that our not-for-profit volunteer community clubs
are going to be competing with private schools to use Council community leased
facilities, because that is a huge problem. We all know there is a massive
waiting list for our small groups to access community leased facilities. They
don’t have anywhere near the resources that this private school has to actually
do work and do what is going on on this site. It is really problematic that an
organisation that has a $1.2 million grant from the Federal Government is going
on to a site where they are going to pay $900 a year, a site where other
community groups may have been able to use this site.
What troubles me is, in Council’s discussing this issue with Arethusa College,
did they speak to the State Government about vacant school sites elsewhere in
Brisbane that already have school infrastructure?
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes. The obvious thing to me is the Yeronga TAFE site is sitting vacant at the
moment, and could easily accommodate a school of this purpose. That would be
really good. So I guess I’m a bit confused as to why we are stepping into this
space from a policy perspective. I don’t think it is heading in the right direction.
We have always supported volunteer groups; that is the purpose of providing
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 24 subsidised land and subsidised facilities, to help those volunteer groups that
work within our community. Whilst Arethusa College has a good purpose and is
a not-for-profit, it is clearly an organisation that will turnover millions of dollars
a year in terms of running a school.
I question whether we are heading down the right path with this. There are other
school facilities out there. I would be very concerned that Council has
intervened here when we know there are vacant school sites sitting in Brisbane
right now, in Councillor HOWARD’s ward, and in my ward, that could be
easily converted for a school use, with facilities that are in place for a school use
at the moment as well. I have a real problem with what we’re doing here. We’re
encroaching into an area that we should not be in.
I just note with some interest the hypocrisy of the LORD MAYOR today in
presenting an item to this Council for consideration in item B, the Stores Board
submission for the provision of electricity and related services, where he is
recommending that we undertake a sole sourcing arrangement with Powerdirect
to undertake our $40 million plus energy needs. Week after week after week the
LORD MAYOR stands up and heckles and criticises the ALP for suggesting
that they should have engaged in a direct contract over the Legacy Way project,
yet here the LORD MAYOR is proposing such a solution himself. It just
undermines everything that this LORD MAYOR is about.
If you are going to have a market based approach and look at the benefits of
competition, you don’t just go out there and choose sole sourcing, and you don’t
stand up and criticise other people who are doing exactly what you are doing. It
is just the worst type of hypocrisy I think that we can possibly see. This is a
huge contract. There are high risks associated with it. We are essentially
proposing to put all our eggs in one basket and to go out and to engage in a—it
is actually $44 million; that is how much we are looking at here.
I just think that it is extremely problematic, particularly when one of the
rationales that is given is, well, we are not quite like the State Government; our
energy needs are different from a State Government department. The
State Government runs some of the biggest facilities in Australia; you know,
health sites, schools, so I can’t imagine that their needs for electricity demand
are less than ours. I just question the LORD MAYOR’s intentions here, given
his stated criticism of the Labor Party with respect to sole sourcing and why, if
he believes that that is not the right approach to take on behalf of this Council
for major contractual purposes, why he is proposing such a scheme here today.
Obviously he doesn’t believe in it, or the only other thought is that that was just
criticism of the Labor Party for criticism’s sake. I can’t imagine that the
LORD MAYOR would do that. I mean, that would be wrong. That would be
wrong, wouldn’t it? I just have a problem with what is being proposed here. The
LORD MAYOR needs to make sure his words actually mean something in this
place. We should be looking at a more competitive process.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor SIMMONDS.
Councillor SIMMONDS:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman; I just rise to speak briefly on Item B
which is obviously the Stores Board submission for the significant contracting
plan for the provision of electricity and related services. Particularly to put the
Chamber’s mind at ease about the way that this significant procurement plan is
proposing that we go about, particularly in light of that previous debate which
was unfortunately less about the item and more about an attempt to make a
partisan point against the LORD MAYOR. It’s Councillors’ right, of course, to
be political about these things, but I think they need to keep in mind the facts of
the matter.
In terms of the sole source aspect that is within this significant procurement
plan, it relates only to the small market sites, the small franchise market sites, of
which the annual spend is a lot less than the totality of the contract. The annual
spend is $2 million. So the correct quoting of the correct figure would be
appreciated by Councillors in the debate, I am sure.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 25 There is a vast difference between the decision to sole source the electricity for
these small sites and the decision not to sole source the Legacy Way contract,
which of course would have cost us an extra $500 million that the ratepayers
wouldn’t have had to spend on other infrastructure if we had chosen the Labor
proposal to go out there and sole source with that one particular company for
Legacy Way, rather than go out to the market.
In contrast, when we are dealing with these small market sites, we are dealing
with 800 individual small sites within Council’s asset base. These are things like
individual community halls, for example, and they are small sites where, in
order to change electricity providers, as we did just two years ago, you have to
go out and change 800 meters in order to do that, and do 800 meter readings.
Every time you change providers, you go from one to the other, that comes at a
significant cost. It is all in the paperwork before the Council. It came at a cost of
about $300,000, and having done the exercises two years ago, we do not
propose that it is a good use of ratepayers’ money to do that again. Having done
it two years ago, let’s give them another extension, another two years, and see
value for money out of that original $300,000 spend.
So we have taken everything to market, as much as feasible, except these small
sites where there were significant costs involved if we did end up deciding to
change providers. If Councillors want to vote against this particular motion and
suggest that it would be better to spend $300,000 of ratepayers’ money reading
meters than it would be delivering infrastructure in their communities, well,
individual Councillors will have to stand by that particular decision.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I just have a quick question with regards to Item B on
this report, the Stores Board submission. I guess the thing when I read this
report that I was most interested to read, and what I would like to know, is what
LORD MAYOR Graham QUIRK knows about Malcolm Turnbull’s plans to
reintroduce a carbon tax because—
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON, I remind you this is a report about the Stores Board
submission.
Councillor SUTTON:
—yes, Madam Chair, and I will read from the report—
Chairman:
But it has not got anything to do with the Prime Minister’s new plan for the
carbon tax. Confine your remarks to the report, please.
Councillor SUTTON:
—yes, Madam Chair.
Councillor DICK:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Councillor SUTTON:
No, no, I want—Madam Chair—
Councillor DICK:
No, no, point of order, Madam Chair.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order! Order!
Councillor DICK:
Madam Chair, I—
Chairman:
Just a moment, please; I will not continue until there is order in the Chamber.
Point of order; Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Can you enforce that Councillor SUTTON actually
read out that section so that we are all clear of what is in the report, because I
think you could be wrong.
Councillor SUTTON:
Yes, Madam Chair, I would like to read directly from the report. Paragraph 29,
page 5, states, “the repeal of the Clean Energy Act 2011 abolished Australia’s
carbon pricing mechanism from 1 July 2014 onwards. The next
Australian Government election is anticipated to be held during the 2016-17
financial year—
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 26 Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON, just—
Councillor SUTTON:
—there is a likelihood—
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON!
Councillor SUTTON:
—of a reintroduction of carbon pricing”.
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON, don’t speak over me.
Councillor SUTTON:
—I am just reading the report.
Chairman:
You made a specific—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
—Order! You made a specific reference to the Prime Minister. The
Prime Minister is not mentioned in this report.
Councillor SUTTON:
Well, Madam Chair, Councillor SIMMONDS is giggling to himself over there.
Perhaps he would like to add to that question, which is: what is this secret
Liberal Party plan that has the LNP here in Brisbane City Council stating that
there is a likelihood of a reintroduction of carbon pricing in one form or another.
If they are true to their voice that Malcolm Turnbull is going to win the next
election, they have clearly brought something to Council here today saying that
they are aware of a secret plan that the Australian Government has to
reintroduce that plan.
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON, to the report.
Councillor SUTTON:
Madam Chair, I am focusing directly—directly on paragraph 29 on page 5. I
am—
Chairman:
Order! Councillor SUTTON, policies for the next election are not part of this
report. There is far—
Councillor interjecting.
Councillor SUTTON:
Yes, they are.
Warning – Councillor Steve GRIFFITHS
The Chairman then formally warned Councillor Steve GRIFFITHS that unless he desisted from interjecting he
would be suspended from the service of the Council for a period of up to eight days. Furthermore,
Councillor GRIFFITHS was warned that, if he were suspended from the service of the Council, he would be
excluded from the Council Chamber, ante-Chamber, Public Gallery and other meeting places for the period of
suspension.
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON, the only reference in there is that there is an anticipated
date for the election to be held during that financial year. Now, this is about the
Stores Board submission. Come back to the report or I will sit you down.
Councillor SUTTON:
But Madam Chair, paragraph 29, page 5, this is the sentence—I am reading
directly from the report, “there is a likelihood of a reintroduction of carbon
pricing in one form or another”. Now, my question relating directly to that
paragraph, to that sentence in this report, is what do the LORD MAYOR and
Councillor SIMMONDS know about plans by Malcolm Turnbull to reintroduce
a carbon pricing scheme, because I know what Bill Shorten’s plans are, and let’s
just hope that he will be Australia’s next Prime Minister—
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor SUTTON:
—but we have got a very clear policy—
Chairman:
Order!
Councillor SUTTON:
—we have got a very clear policy—
Chairman:
Order!
Councillor SUTTON:
—so, if you were listening to anything that Bill Shorten had to say—
Chairman:
Order! There is too—
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 27 Councillor SUTTON:
—that would have been in the report.
Chairman:
—Councillor SUTTON! Councillor SUTTON, do I have to remind you every
week that, when I speak, you remain silent and resume your seat? The disrespect
you show in this Chamber is absolutely insurmountable at times. Now, confine
your remarks to the report. Do not stray on to what different policies people may
have. This is about the Stores Board submission.
Councillor SUTTON:
Well, Madam Chair, look, I take your point. I might, rather than reading from
paragraph 29 on page 5, I might then flick to page 6 and read from paragraph
29, because it just seems that there is not a lot of proof reading going on in
Civic Cabinet these days in terms of the reports. I am not quite sure whether or
not we were not supposed to get the secret brief on the plans for carbon pricing
to be reintroduced, and someone didn’t cut and paste correctly, or what types of
information that we were actually supposed to be getting, because of course, in
terms of the sloppiness, I guess, of this report is the attention that I am trying to
bring to the Chamber.
These people that are LNP here, are wanting us today to endorse a $44 million
per annum contract, and they can’t even get basic reporting correct. Time and
time again, I talk about the governance of this Administration and the poor
governance of this Administration.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Point of order; Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Would Councillor SUTTON take a question?
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON?
Councillor SUTTON:
Yes, Madam Chair.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Councillor SUTTON, are you aware that this report actually has three paragraph
30s on pages five and six?
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
Yes, Madam Chair. I guess the point is, without dwelling too much on
Councillor ABRAHAMS’ specific question, this LNP Administration wants us
to accept in good faith that they have the numbers right on a $44 million
contract that is coming to Council. They want us to trust them when it comes to
their decision to put this out for sole source tendering without questioning the
numbers, when they can’t even get basic facts right, when they can’t even proof
read their own documents.
It is sloppiness; it is a testament to their arrogance; it is a testament to how out
of touch that they have become, and it just shows how much they aren’t looking
after the interests of this city when they can’t even be bothered to actually make
sure that the papers that are presented to us are accurate. I question their ability
to even bring to this Chamber—they always get up and say: just trust us; we
know what we‘re doing. Well, Madam Chair, I think the sloppiness of this
report shows that they actually don’t know what they’re doing and can’t be
trusted.
Councillor DICK:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Point of order; Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Just as a way forward, do we need to have an adjournment so that we can
actually have the correct papers, because there are different words in the
different paragraphs.
Chairman:
I will just seek clarification. I believe there is probably some other people who
may wish to enter the debate. I will endeavour to find an answer on the
clarification of the clause numbers before we come back from afternoon tea, and
before the debate has concluded.
Further debate?
Councillor JOHNSTON.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 28 Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Point of order; Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
I move: that the papers lie on the table until the correct papers can be tabled at a
future meeting.
The motion that the report lie on the table lapsed for want of a seconder.
Chairman:
There is no seconder for that. I will seek clarification from the legal officer.
Is there any further debate?
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
In that case, we might have a short adjournment for me to seek legal
confirmation.
ADJOURNMENT:
236/2015-16
At that time, 3.47pm, it was resolved on the motion of Councillor Andrew WINES, seconded by Councillor
Kim MARX, that the meeting adjourn to allow the Chairman to consult Council’s Chief Legal Counsel.
Council stood adjourned at 3.48pm.
UPON RESUMPTION:
Chairman:
Okay, we'll now put the report. Those in favour say aye.
Councillors say aye.
Chairman:
Those against say no. The ayes have it.
Councillor interjecting.
Chairman:
That's right. So Item A
Clause A put
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of Clause A of the report
was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Milton DICK and Andrew WINES 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,
Vicki HOWARD,
Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Kim MARX, Peter MATIC, Ian McKENZIE,
David McLACHLAN,
Ryan MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS, Steven TOOMEY, Andrew WINES and Norm WYNDHAM.
NOES: 1-
Nicole JOHNSTON.
ABSTENTIONS: 7 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Jared CASSIDY, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER,
Steve GRIFFITHS and Shayne SUTTON
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Just a moment please, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor ADAMS could you just turn your microphone off for me please.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 29 Now just in relation to—Councillor JOHNSTON I don't know if your question
was going to be in relation to this, but just for the benefit of the Chamber the
legal clarification I have sought in relation to the numerical ordering of the
clauses within Item B on the E&C report which has not been voted on as yet, it
is not unlawful as the detailed content of the report is actually correct.
It is just an administrative error in the documentation. As—
—Order!
Chairman:
—the actual report has been done as a version 2 and your AsdeqDocs files have
been updated. There are hard copies currently on their way to this Chamber and
they will be here any minute now. I have a printed copy that details the clauses
and for clarification I will just run through those clauses.
So Councillor SUTTON you commenced by stating that the numbering on page
5, so after clause 31 it then went back to clause 30. That clause 30 has now been
renumbered to clause 32. Then on page six, the clauses have been renumbered to
clause numbers as follows; 33, period term of contract; 34, insurance
requirements; 35, price bases; 36, price variation; 37, other strategy elements;
38, alternative strategies considered.
Then on page 7 the clauses have been renumbered to 39, rationale for sole
sourcing with Powerdirect; 40, negotiating directly with Powerdirect; 41, under
the budget. Then on page 8 the clauses have been renumbered to 42, 43, 44.
Then under procurement risk 45, 46. Then under tender evaluation, 47. Then on
page 9 the clauses have been renumbered to 48, evaluation methodology; 49, the
Chief Executive provided the following recommendation; and number 50, being
the recommendation.
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, just a point of clarification.
Chairman:
Yes, Councillor FLESSER.
Councillor FLESSER:
Is the clause with the carbon pricing comment still included?
Chairman:
That is the clause that Councillor SUTTON referred to on page 5,
Clause number 29, no renumbering occurred prior to clause 31. Yes, on page 5,
Clause 29 is still currently there in relation to carbon pricing. In fact
Councillor FLESSER I'm happy for you to just come up and verify this if you
would like but this is certainly one. So there are two options for Councillors, we
can either wait for all the hard copies to come down or you can basically, we can
proceed with the vote based on the fact that I have a tabled renumbered
document.
So I propose to actually do that as you will have already received the soft copy
via AsdeqDocs. So if that's agreeable to the Chamber, I will—sorry
Councillor JOHNSTON, your point of order.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, point of order, Madam Chairman. I have no problem if there's a mistake
that's been made and there's renumbering. My question relates to the procedure
in the Chamber itself. Should this current version that has been moved by the
LORD MAYOR with the incorrect information be withdrawn and the new
papers be put forward. Or, Madam Chairman, as is the case normally with
amendments, those amendments are moved and formally adopted. Because at
the moment we're still voting on the papers that have been provided to us.
Whilst I appreciate that we're now getting new ones that needs to be reflected
within the Chamber process.
Chairman:
In relation to that, Councillor JOHNSTON, that's why I sought the legal advice.
As the legal advice was given to me, the report itself is not unlawful as the
detailed content of the report is correct. It is just merely an administrative error
in the documentation with the numbering. That is why the motion that the
LORD MAYOR put to move the report is to actually move the report of the
E&C. Given that the detailed content of that report is not altered in any way and
is still lawful in the current form, we will proceed with putting Item B. I've just
been advised that all of the hard copies have just reached the Chamber.
Clerks please enter the room and distribute.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 30 Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Point of order Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
If we're not moving any amendments then I would dissent in your motion.
The dissent motion lapsed for want of a seconder.
Chairman:
There is no seconder for dissent in my ruling.
I will now put Item B for the E&C report.
Clause B put
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of Clause B of the report
was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK, and Councillor
Andrew WINES 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,
Vicki HOWARD,
Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Kim MARX, Peter MATIC, Ian McKENZIE,
David McLACHLAN,
Ryan MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS, Steven TOOMEY, Andrew WINES and Norm WYNDHAM.
ABSTENTIONS: 7-
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Jared CASSIDY, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER,
Steve GRIFFITHS and Nicole JOHNSTON
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor (Councillor Graham Quirk) (Chairman); Deputy Mayor (Councillor
Adrian Schrinner) (Deputy Chairman); and Councillors Krista Adams, Matthew Bourke, Amanda Cooper,
Peter Matic, David McLachlan, and Julian Simmonds.
A
LEASE TO ARETHUSA COLLEGE LTD FOR PART OF THE WINDSOR
TOWN QUARRY PARK, 356 LUTWYCHE ROAD, WINDSOR
112/445/444/827
237/2015-16
1.
The Divisional Manager, Brisbane Lifestyle, provided the information below.
2.
The Little Windsor Substation (the substation) is located in The Windsor Town Quarry Park, 356
Lutwyche Road, Windsor. Council is the trustee of this land which is a Reserve for Local Government.
The substation has no current tenant and there is no record of any previous leases over the substation.
3.
Arethusa College Ltd (the College) is a private independent school that provides educational programs
for primary aged students who have disengaged from mainstream education. The College is a not-forprofit organisation established by the Shaftesbury Centre.
4.
The College approached Council for assistance in finding a Brisbane location for their program.
Council does not generally support school use of Council land for education purposes. However, the
program offered by the College is considered to be a community service that provides positive
community benefits and increases the social wellbeing of its participants.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 31 5.
Negotiations between Council and the College led to a proposal for the College to develop the
substation site. Council provided consent as landowner for a development application for the proposed
development and use. This consent does not restrict future use of the substation site for other
community purposes. This is Council’s preference if the College were to vacate the site. Development
approval was obtained by the College on 16 October 2014. The development includes the
refurbishment of the existing substation building and a building extension, containing teaching and
activity spaces, and administration and toilet facilities.
6.
The College has requested a 25-year lease to ensure they receive the benefits of the proposed $1.36
million development. The College has received $1.19 million funding from the Australian Government
for the development.
7.
In early April 2015, a rock fall occurred at the old quarry cliff in The Windsor Town Quarry Park. Due
to safety concerns for neighbouring residences and users of the park, including the proposed College
and general public, Council investigated the stability of the old quarry cliff. Work will be undertaken in
2016 to address the stability issues with the cliff. The work being completed at the site will also include
construction of a safety barrier. A condition of the agreement for lease with the College is that work to
the old quarry cliff and construction of the safety barrier must be completed to the satisfaction of both
parties.
8.
Under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, an application to reconfigure a lot is required when leasing
parts of a lot for a period exceeding 10-years. As the College has requested a long-term lease, it is their
responsibility to lodge a development application with Council to reconfigure a lot. The
reconfiguration of a lot must be approved prior to the execution of this lease.
9.
A copy of the proposed lease terms is available in Attachment B, submitted on file and a copy of the
proposed lease boundary is available in Attachment C, submitted on file.
10.
The Divisional Manager provided the following recommendation and the Committee agreed.
11.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE AS PER THE DRAFT RESOLUTION AS SET OUT IN
ATTACHMENT A, hereunder.
Attachment A
Draft Resolution
DRAFT RESOLUTION TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR LEASE AND LEASE
WITH ARETHUSA COLLEGE LTD FOR PART OF THE WINDSOR TOWN QUARRY
PARK, 356 LUTWYCHE ROAD, WINDSOR
As:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Council is the Trustee of Lot 882 on SP260957, Parish of Enoggera, a Reserve for Local
Government
Arethusa College Ltd, a community organisation, has requested to be granted a lease over part
of Lot 882 SP260957, Parish of Enoggera, The Windsor Town Quarry Park, 356 Lutwyche
Road, Windsor
section 217 of the City of Brisbane Regulation 2012 requires that Council must not enter into
a contract for the disposal of a valuable non-current asset, unless it first invites written tenders
or offers for sale by auction, unless Council decides that an exemption applies
then Council:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
is of the opinion that Arethusa College Ltd is a community organisation within the meaning of
section 226(1)(b)(ii) of the City of Brisbane Regulation 2012
is of the opinion that Council is exempt from the requirements of section 217 of the City of
Brisbane Regulation 2012 in accordance with section 226(2) of the City of Brisbane
Regulation 2012
approves the entry into an agreement for lease and a subsequent 25-year lease with Arethusa
College Ltd for part of The Windsor Town Quarry Park, 356 Lutwyche Road, Windsor:
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 32 (a)
(iv)
in accordance with the terms for the agreement for lease and lease, as set out in
Attachment B
(b)
otherwise on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Divisional Manager, Brisbane
Lifestyle and the Chief Legal Counsel, Brisbane City Legal Practice
approves Arethusa College Ltd making an application to reconfigure a lot.
ADOPTED
B
STORES BOARD SUBMISSION – SIGNIFICANT CONTRACTING PLAN
FOR THE PROVISION OF ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES
165/210/179/1515
238/2015-16
12.
The Chief Executive Officer provided the information below.
13.
The Chief Executive Officer and the Stores Board considered the submission, as set out in Attachment
A, on 27 October 2015.
14.
The submission is recommended to Council as it is considered the most advantageous outcome for the
provision of the required works.
Purpose
15.
That the Chief Executive Officer (through the Stores Board) recommends to Council that it approves a
Significant Contracting Plan (SCP) in relation to the establishment of a Corporate Procurement
Arrangement for provision of Electricity and Related Services to Council sites.
Background/business case
16.
Council requires the provision of electricity in order to conduct many of its operations.
17.
Council sites can be categorised as small market ‘Franchise’ sites or large market ‘Contestable’ sites.
Large market sites (metered) are those where consumption is greater than 100 megawatt hours (MWh)
per annum with usage charges typically negotiated between the customer and the retailer. An example
of a large market Council site is Brisbane Square. Street lights (unmetered) are also considered large
market sites. Small market sites use less than 100 MWh per annum and usage is typically charged on a
published tariff rate. An example of a small market site is a Council park barbecue.
18.
Current contract arrangements
Electricity is provided to Council through two contracts which are due to expire on 30 June 2016:
1.
AGL Sales Pty Ltd (AGL) for the provision of Electricity for Street Lighting and Large
Market Sites
2.
Powerdirect Pty Ltd (Powerdirect) for the provision of Electricity for Small (Franchise)
Market Sites. Powerdirect is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AGL.
Under Council’s Financial Risk Management Framework, the Corporate Treasurer is authorised to buy
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) on behalf of Council. Certificates are purchased through the
financial markets and are surrendered through AGL, an accredited GreenPower provider.
Council has no direct metering arrangement and currently uses the preferred metering agent of the
electricity retailer. This allows Council to avoid additional charges through using an alternative
metering provider. AGL’s metering provider is Energex’s Metering Dynamics. Pricing for metering
will be sought through this procurement activity. Traffic lights are supplied with electricity by Origin
as a Tier 1 retailer.
19.
Demand analysis
In 2014, Council consumed 107,243 MWh of electricity across all of Council’s sites, including South
Bank and Roma Street Parklands. The total spend was $40.149 million (exclusive of RECs).
Council Sites
Small market sites (metered)
Large market sites (metered)
MWh 2014
7,259
48,086
Annual Spend 2014
$2,022,157
$8,665,618
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 33 Street lights (unmetered)
Watchman (unmetered)
Sub total
RECs
Total
20.
46,747
5,151
107,243
-
$28,588,477
$872,847
$40,149,099
$3,317,000
$43,466,099
Currently Council operates 78 large market sites, approximately 100,000 street lights and 800 small
market sites.
Policy and other considerations
21.
There is an existing Corporate Procurement Arrangement (CPA) for these goods/services/works: SPO
13172-12/13 Provision of Electricity for Street Lighting, Contestable and Franchise Sites. This CPA
expires on 30 June 2016.
22.
Council has committed to purchasing 100% GreenPower electricity and accredited carbon offsets to
cover carbon emissions from Council’s fleet as part of its strategy to achieving carbon neutrality by
2031.
23.
A 100% GreenPower policy position can be achieved by purchasing either:
black power from an electricity retailer and separately purchasing GreenPower eligible RECs
from a financial services institution (current strategy); or
a GreenPower product from an electricity retailer.
24.
There are 16 Queensland electricity retailers that presently offer certified GreenPower products.
Market analysis
25.
The Australian Retail electricity market is dominated by Origin Energy, AGL and Energy Australia. In
Queensland there are 29 organisations that hold retail licences under the Electricity Act 1994.
26.
The National Electricity Market (NEM)
The NEM is the market for the wholesale supply and purchase of electricity in Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. Western Australia and the Northern Territory are not
connected to the NEM primarily due to the distance between networks.
Generators (e.g. power stations) sell their power into this wholesale market then retailers (e.g. AGL)
make bulk purchases of power to on-sell to their commercial customers.
If the energy is produced from genuine renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, or biomass then
the generator can also create RECs. These RECs are traded as energy derivatives with each certificate
equal to one MWh and representing proof that the energy has been generated from renewable energy
sources.
Australia’s Renewable Energy Target is a Federal Government policy designed to ensure that at least
23.5% of Australia’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020.
27.
Electricity Sector Reform
The Queensland Government has commenced a process of wide-scale reform to the State’s electricity
sector. In June 2014, the Queensland Government released its final report, PowerQ: a 30-year strategy
for Queensland’s electricity sector. This report outlined a 30˗year strategy for transforming the
Queensland electricity sector. Market determined pricing for small market sites was due to commence
on 1 July 2015. This has been delayed for 12 months until 1 July 2016.
The Queensland Government has delegated responsibility for determining regulated retail electricity
prices for 2015-16 to the Queensland Competition Authority (QCA). The QCA’s final determination
for 2015-16 applies across the State, as it has in previous years.
Current regulated electricity prices for small market sites will apply until 30 June 2016.
This additional 12-month timeframe will enable the Queensland Productivity Commission to conduct
an independent review of price deregulation as part of its public inquiry into electricity prices.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 34 -
28.
Queensland Government Standing Offer Arrangement (SOA)
The Queensland Government offers two whole of government SOAs. The SOA for large market sites
has no fixed expiry date (it is an evergreen arrangement) and is offered through ERM Power Retail Pty
Ltd and Momentum Pty Ltd.
The SOA for small market sites expires 31 August 2016 (with a possible 12-month extension) and is
offered through Energy Australia (EA).
Both arrangements may be accessed by Council with prior approval from the Queensland
Government’s Procurement Transformation Division (PTD).
PTD have communicated that they are in the process of going to market for a new combined
arrangement. They are expecting to go to market in 2016. As with the current arrangements, Council
may access a future combined SOA.
29.
Carbon pricing
The repeal of the Clean Energy Act 2011 abolished Australia’s carbon pricing mechanism from 1 July
2014 onwards. The next Australian Government election is anticipated to be held during the 2016-17
financial year. There is a likelihood of a re-introduction of carbon pricing (in one form or another).
Hence whilst it is understood that the forward pricing curve of the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX)
incorporates all anticipated risk, Council will ask respondents to explicitly acknowledge that their fixed
price offers are inclusive of any carbon price or costs i.e. tenderers will be required to provide carbon
inclusive prices only.
Procurement strategy and activity plan
30.
Procurement objective:
It is the objective of this procurement to complete a procurement process for the provision of
Electricity and Related Services to Council and establish a CPA in a way which complies with the
Sound Contracting Principles set out in s103(3) of the City of Brisbane Act 2010 and provides the most
advantageous outcome for Council.
The achievement of this objective will be measured in the post-market submission.
31.
Type of procurement:
The type of procurement process will be to establish a new Corporate Procurement Arrangement
(CPA) in the form of a Preferred Supplier Arrangement for each of the Categories.
32.
Process to be used:
(i)
The procurement process for Category 1 – Electricity for Street Lighting and Category 2 –
Electricity for Large Market Sites, will be a Request for Proposal (RFP) incorporating two
distinct phases. The first phase will identify suitable electricity retailers for shortlisting to a
pricing round. Once suitable providers have been identified, these tenderers will be requested
to quote on Council’s volumes.
(ii)
The procurement process for Category 3 – Electricity for Small (Franchise) Market Sites will
be on the basis of the rationale in Section 6.0 that it is the public interest, that Council enters
into direct negotiations and contract with Powerdirect Pty Ltd without seeking competitive
tenders from industry in accordance with section 2.4 of the Contract Manual pursuant to the
City of Brisbane Act 2010.
33.
Period/term of contract:
Up to a five-year arrangement will be sought for all categories with appropriate exit points.
34.
Insurance requirements:
The following minimum insurance requirements apply:
Workers Compensation as required by the laws of the State of Queensland
Public Liability $20 million.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 35 35.
Price basis:
The price basis for the provision of Electricity and Related Services shall be a fixed transaction price
for electricity for each year based on the volume load profile and retail margins. Related services will
be priced on a schedule of rates basis.
Each year, pricing sought will be benchmarked against the Queensland Government SOA, the ASX
electricity futures market price and other relevant information sources as available.
36.
Price variation:
Electricity pricing will at a minimum be sought on an annual basis, meaning prices will be fixed for 12
months. Council will then have the option of securing forward pricing for its requirements from the
appointed retailer(s) for the forthcoming year. Council will also have the option of purchasing supply
for forward years, should this be advantageous.
37.
Other strategy elements:
Tenderers will be requested to provide additional value-added services as part of their submission.
These related services will allow Council to access:
efficiency measures such as energy efficient light bulbs
management measures such as metering information
conservation measures such as demand management
generation measures such as photovoltaics.
Tenderers will be requested to provide a value for these additional services.
Through the RFP, Council will seek responses from retailers with generation assets. These retailers
may offer improved pricing based on the alignment of Council’s load profile with their power
generation assets.
Tenderers non-price responses (including an assessment of the provided contract terms and conditions)
will be used to determine a final shortlist to be brought to the pricing round. Pricing will be sought
from tenderers with a short validity period of 52 hours to limit the impact of electricity market
volatility. Final vendor selection will be determined based on the pricing submitted.
To enable acceptance of advantageous pricing offers within the short validity period, approval of the
recommended tenderer/s will be sought from the Chief Executive Officer (through the Stores Board) as
soon as practical after acceptable pricing has been received.
38.
Alternative strategies considered:
Accessing the Queensland Government SOA was considered and rejected as Council’s significant
street light electricity requirement represents a load profile different to the typical Queensland
departmental load profile. This means Council would be likely to subsidise the electricity usage of the
other parties.
Releasing a RFP for Council’s complete electricity requirements was considered but is not
recommended as the transition costs, should the small market sites change, would be significant. Large
market sites and street lights can be transitioned with significantly less effort.
Rationale for sole sourcing with Powerdirect
39.
The rationale for sole sourcing with Powerdirect is as follows:
(a)
Council requires the provision of Electricity for Small (Franchise) Market Sites. There are
approximately 800 sites that fit within this classification.
(b)
Under the Electricity Act 1994 there are 29 organisations that hold Retail Authorities
(licenses). Four of these are restricted to supply electricity to large customers only. In the RFP
completed in 2012 for small market sites, Council received responses from Origin and AGL
only. Small market sites have electricity provided under a pricing structure that includes a
network charge and the published Energex tariff which includes retailer costs and profit
margins. Retailers provide a discount from the tariff rate which for Council is presently 11%.
(c)
Powerdirect has been supplying these services since 2011 under a two-year contract, then after
the 2012 RFP, under a 30-month contract. Transition from the arrangement with Origin took
two years, with some sites still not transitioned at the start of the second Powerdirect contract.
This transition required considerable time and effort by Council, with approximately 800
meters requiring a final read. Difficulties arose locating the meters and gaining access to the
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 36 -
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
40.
locations to complete the final read. The estimated cost of this transition in terms of staffing
and lost tariff discounts is in excess of $300,000.
By sole sourcing with Powerdirect, Council avoids the expense of transition should another
provider be awarded this part of Council’s electricity requirements. Uncertainty regarding
pricing deregulation in 2016 for small market sites is reduced.
Retailers are unlikely to seek to supply to the relatively minor volumes provided by
approximately 800 individual sites. The volumes and simplicity offered by the large market
sites are considered to be much more attractive to the supply market and are likely to generate
a greater degree of interest.
The cost of the electricity provided to small market sites is based on the Energex published
tariff. Customer pricing is marginally different between retailers, and only varies based on the
margins the retailer charges and the discount offered from the published tariff.
Electricity supplied to small market sites does not present much opportunity for financial
savings. To ensure Council achieves value for money, Council will seek a tariff discount equal
or better than the discount offered by the Queensland Government SOA. Early indications is
Council may be in a position to achieve a reduction in tariff. Contract conditions sought will
be equal or better than those current.
Council will have the opportunity to terminate this arrangement should the performance of
Powerdirect become unsatisfactory or an improved opportunity becomes available through a
future Queensland Government SOA or following pricing deregulation in 2016.
It is therefore considered that negotiating directly with Powerdirect for the provision of Electricity for
Small (Franchise) Market Sites is in the public interest.
Budget
41.
The estimated total expenditure under this CPA/contract (including any options) is $44 million per
annum.
42.
There is sufficient approved budget to meet the total spend under this CPA/contract.
43.
Electricity pricing is volatile. The specific timing of when pricing is sought may influence rates paid
significantly. Council will seek the most appropriate timing based on feedback from a variety of
industry sources. Presently this is indicated to be in April to May 2016.
44.
Additional benefits are likely to be gained through provided value-added services proposed by the
tenderers such as energy performance contracts. This value will be quantified and reported in the postmarket submission.
Procurement risk
45.
Summary of key risks associated with this procurement:
Procurement Risk
Pricing fluctuations
Risk
Rating
High
Risk Mitigation Strategy
-
Transition – small
market sites
Retailer contract
conditions
High
-
Medium
-
Future emissions
standards
Medium
-
Determine shortlist early to allow
multiple opportunities to request pricing
Monitor pricing changes on the National
Energy Retail Market
Request pricing and hold a special Stores
Board meeting following the completion
of the assessment of submitted pricing
offers
Sole source with Powerdirect
Review of terms and conditions by
BCLP
Competitive tension to facilitate
negotiation of contentious terms to
Council’s preferred position
Pricing sought to include the impact on
emissions pricing
Risk
Allocation
Council
Council
Council
Council
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 37 Procurement Risk
Risk
Rating
Risk Mitigation Strategy
-
Transition – large
market sites and
street lights
Low
-
46.
Risk
Allocation
Utilisation of GreenPower where
appropriate
Evaluation of tenders
Allow suitable change over time
(typically 10 working days)
Price cost of transition into pricing
model
Council
This contract is listed by Strategic Procurement Office (SPO) as a critical contract.
Tender evaluation
47.
Evaluation criteria
(a)
Mandatory/essential criteria:
has an ABN
is registered for GST
has the minimum insurance as specified in the RFP
(b)
Non-price weighted evaluation criteria:
Account management
(c)
-
approach
-
consolidated invoicing and reporting
40%
Capability and track record
30%
Value-added Service
20%
Commercial
10%
Price model:
Pricing for the large market sites will be on a dollars per MWh basis. For streetlights, this will
be a flat MWh pricing charge per month. Quantified benefits from associated efficiency,
management, conservation and generation measures proposed will be included.
For small market sites, pricing will continue to be a discount off the published Energex tariff
rate.
48.
Evaluation methodology
Responses will be evaluated using the non-price score. Suitable tenderers will then be shortlisted to
final pricing round. In the final pricing round, tenderers will be requested to provide pricing with a
short validity window. The final recommended tenderer/s for the large market sites and streetlights will
be the best priced of the final shortlist.
49.
The Chief Executive Officer provided the following recommendation and the Committee agreed.
50.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL APPROVES A SIGNIFICANT CONTRACTING PLAN TO ESTABLISH A
CORPORATE PROCUREMENT ARRANGEMENT IN RELATION TO THE PROVISION OF
ELECTRICITY AND RELATED SERVICES TO COUNCIL SITES, as follows:
(i)
releasing a public Request for Proposals to the market for Category 1 – Electricity for Street
Lighting and Category 2 – Electricity for Large Market Sites
(ii)
entering directly into negotiations and a contract with Powerdirect Pty Ltd, for Category 3 –
Electricity for Small (Franchise) Market Sites without seeking tenders from the market in
accordance with section 2.4 of the Contract Manual pursuant to the City of Brisbane Act 2010
(iii)
that the Chief Executive Officer (through the Stores Board) may approve entering into a
contract with Powerdirect Pty Ltd, once negotiations have been finalised that achieve
satisfactory terms and conditions.
ADOPTED
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 38 -
ADJOURNMENT:
239/2015-16
At that time, 4.26pm, it was resolved on the motion of Councillor WINES, seconded by Councillor
Kim MARX, that the meeting adjourn for a period of 15 minutes, to commence only when all Councillors had
vacated the Chamber and the doors have been locked.
Council stood adjourned at 4.27pm.
UPON RESUMPTION:
ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE (Special 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 special report of the meeting of that Committee held on 16 November 2015, be adopted.
Councillor FLESSER:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Point of order Councillor FLESSER.
Declaration of Material Personal Interest in Clause A- RECOMMENDED TENDER FOR KINGSFORD
SMITH DRIVE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT CONTRACT - Councillor Kim FLESSER
Councillor FLESSER:
Madam Chair, I have a pecuniary interest in this matter as I have shares in
Lend Lease therefore I won't be taking part in the debate nor voting.
Chairman:
Thank you, Councillor FLESSER. Before you depart Councillor FLESSER
could you just press your microphone please. Thank you. Does anyone have any
other conflict or perceived conflict of interest to declare?
Councillor Kim FLESSER retired from the meeting room and associated public places for the duration of the
debate on Clause A.
Chairman:
Thank you, Councillor FLESSER. Before you depart Councillor FLESSER
could you just press your microphone please. Thank you.
Does anyone have any other conflict or perceived conflict of interest to declare?
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Madam Chairman, I have shares in SMEC, a public listed company that were
one of the preferred tenderers. I don't believe this is a conflict of interest as my
shareholding is small and is the same as other shareholders in the company.
Chairman:
Thank you for noting that on the public record Councillor JOHNSTON. This
report is actually the awarding of the tender as opposed to the consideration of
all of the applicants for tender. So I take your point Councillor JOHNSTON that
you don't believe you have a perceived conflict of interest.
Chairman:
LORD MAYOR.
LORD MAYOR:
Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. Well, Madam Chairman, this is
significant contract. It's received some airing already today in this meeting but
we are now at the pointy end of awarding a contract in this case to Lend Lease
Engineering, otherwise known, Madam Chairman, as tenderer P.
Madam Chairman, this contract is an important piece of work. It is an important
project for the City of Brisbane. The contract that we are awarding today is a
$453 million contract, $453 million but $15 million of that is being funded by
Queensland Urban Utilities (QUU) in terms of certain aspects of the works as
part of this contract that they will be taking care of.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 39 So in terms of impact financially related to this Council, we're talking in this
case $438 million. So, Madam Chairman, this is a contract which will of course
deliver a very, very important outcome for the people of Brisbane. I say the
people of Brisbane because as I said earlier in debate, this particular road has a
multiple use function. It is a road which carries 15 per cent freight traffic. It is a
road which carries a very heavy workload in terms of 65,000 vehicles a day
currently. That will continue to grow in the years ahead.
It was only two or three years ago it was carrying just 48,000 vehicles. So,
Madam Chairman, it is a significant road and it's functionality will only become
more and more in demand as time progresses. There of course have been a
number of steps along the way in reaching this point today in terms of the tender
process. The actual expression of interest went out in March of this year. The
calling of tenders in, once those expressions of interest had been received, of
which there were eight, Madam Chairman, at that time a shortlist down to four
entities being invited to tender was put forward in April.
We can see the names of the entities that are listed there in paragraph 5, those
being of course Lend Lease Engineering the successful bidder; RiverReach,
RiverLinQ and Riverway. Those individual entities of course being the
consortium names that have been put forward. So, Madam Chairman, the bid
before us is a very, very important one for our city and one which is going to be
critical in terms of the long term. To date, Madam Chairman, there's been a
spend of $79 million in relation to this project. That's been the costs associated
with all of the works, the resumptions that have occurred, Madam Chairman, as
a part of this important project.
So it is significant and this is the next big step. The important part of this
contract is that it will provide for two lanes to be kept open during what I'd call
the functional hours of the day. In other words there will be perhaps periods of
times during the night overnight when it may reduce to one lane. But for all the
functional hours two lanes in each direction will still apply on this road corridor
during construction. So that will help to minimise it.
There will be a lower speed environment quite obviously but importantly at the
conclusion of the project it will have that important three lanes in each direction
and the other facilities, bikeways separated in both directions as well as the—
line separated in both directions—as well as the separation of pedestrian
movements and all separated from the traffic corridor.
There will be, as part of this project, a centre median which will be vegetated
but there will be a number of vantage points which people will have as part of
this project along the river's edge. These will be places not dissimilar to those
incorporated into Riverwalk, where people can come and have an appreciation
of the river outlook in a recreational sense. There are some great design features
in what is being put forward. I said earlier this is not just a road project. We can
build bland roads and nothing more and create a very ordinary city if we like. Or
where there are specific corridors, where there is significant value in those
corridors, Madam Chairman, and we see that both in this one and in the
Wynnum Road Stage 1 Upgrade.
We believe it is worth making sure that there is a good product at the end of that
road build in the development in that same theme of building a New World City.
So, Madam Chairman, there are many aspects to this project. One of the other
features is that we have spent through the officers a considerable amount of time
ensuring the hydraulics, because clearly there is a retaining wall and a cantilever
as a part of the successful tenderer's bid. That means that we needed to make
sure as we did with all bids through the officers, that the Commission of Inquiry
into flooding was observed.
The flood studies that have been undertaken were observed as part of the
consideration of these tender processes so considerable effort has been spent by
officers examining those issues. There's also been throughout the process a
probity auditor in place. That probity auditor has been involved from the outset
and as with previous projects of which some on the other side have been
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 40 involved like Clem7; Councillor FLESSER was certainly involved in that
project. We have observed all of those necessary aspects to the contracts.
So, Madam Chairman, with those words that I'm very pleased to be able to
present this Item, Item A for consideration today a very important road upgrade
in our city.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and I rise to speak on Item A. I want to say very
clearly, Labor Councillors won't be supporting this decision today. I need to set
the record very clearly because, Madam Chair, listening to the LNP Councillors
when I rise to speak I am the oracle. What we're seeing now is whatever I say
the LNP Council will do. So don't even—
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
That's fine, Madam Chair, and regarding this upgrade, the LORD MAYOR says
we're doing it because I told him to do it. Well the oracle is again speaking
today. I am telling the LNP not to sign this contract because when I have spoken
about this before I have always said we needed to do improvements to
Kingsford Smith Drive. I am on the public record about that and I stand by those
comments. There are hotspots along Kingsford Smith Drive where traffic is
congested. The LORD MAYOR is correct when I've said that.
At no stage and at no opportunity have I ever said this Council should spend
$650 million gold-plating Kingsford Smith Drive. So let's deal with that first of
all because one would have thought the LNP would have truckloads of
documents, of petitions, of residents, of businesses, of letters of support. No, just
the words of Milton DICK. Well, Madam Chair, I take that as an enormous
compliment that the LNP didn't even come up with the idea themselves, that
they relied on my words of wisdom. Well they need to heed my words of
wisdom today but more importantly they need to listen to the people of
Brisbane.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
Because now we know that with the decision today we will be gold-plating a
road that has less traffic travelling on it than it did 10 years ago. What’s the
revelation today, because listening to the LORD MAYOR and listening to the
spin during Question Time today, to hear all the numbers; 30,000 people, the
doom and gloom music around Councillor COOPER's answer about the hordes
of people moving there, about the big bad State Labor Government, omitting the
fact that the LNP was in government for three years and they kept those
planning schemes exactly in place and did nothing to change that. But we're also
dealing with the fact that as a result of spending $650 million of ratepayers'
money, in 15 years' time in 2031, we will see traffic volumes increase from
65,000 to 75,000.
As the DEPUTY MAYOR said today this is the largest congestion busting
project for our city. Well if that is an indication on how you're dealing with
congestion we've got serious problems in this city, that if you think an increase
of 10,000 vehicles despite—forget all the spin—that's one thing the
LORD MAYOR didn't mention at all in the press conference, in the press
statement, in the Question Time and in the debate today—traffic volumes. Now
we have done some pretty significant traffic projects in this city.
The LNP know that and every stage of the way whether it was
Campbell Newman, the LORD MAYOR Graham QUIRK, or any other leader,
they've always referred to traffic numbers but strangely mysteriously not today.
It is the topic that shall not be mentioned. We got a presentation today,
Madam Chair, around not traffic volumes, bicycle numbers, bicycle volumes.
Nothing about the amount of vehicles; we're widening this so vehicles can drive
on this road.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 41 Now I find that extraordinary that those members opposite, the Councillor for
Doboy, the Councillor for Runcorn, the Councillor for Macgregor, the
Councillor for Coorparoo, will be going back to their communities and saying
our suggestion to solve traffic across Brisbane is to gold-plate Kingsford Smith
Drive because the justification is; traffic is, despite the scare campaign, traffic is
increasing by 10,000 vehicles to 2031. Now forgive me if that is a very weak
argument that you're defending today. It's no wonder you haven't mentioned that
at all and I'm not surprised because the spinout of today this isn't a road project,
it's a revolution. All the spin, it's all a new way of doing business.
No, it's not. You're pouring this money into without any justification; any reason
why to spend $650 million of ratepayers' money, the one project you'll be taking
to the election. Not fixing congestion in the north, south, east and west; one
project. We will be reminding voters every single day in the next 120 days, the
LNP's tackle congestion plan is to upgrade Kingsford Smith Drive. That's it.
So, Madam Chair, it enables me to also talk about the alternative plan today
which is of course the document I'm handing, the Rod Harding plan to bust
congestion.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor DICK that is not mentioned in this report. I've given you a bit of
leeway. This report is about the awarding of the tender for the Kingsford Smith
Drive contract. It is not about somebody else's plan.
Councillor DICK:
Okay, Madam Chair, just for crystal clarity I cannot mention anything about
alternative plans, other options on the table or any other funding sources.
Chairman:
This is the report on the recommended tender for the KSD Design and Construct
Contract. That is what you need to confine your remarks to.
Councillor DICK:
No problems. I will refer to that and that alone and I know all other Councillors
will respect that ruling as well for the rest of the debate. So getting back to this
project, Madam Chair, and I refer to media reports and articles surrounding this
upgrade and particularly the RACQ, who have said this project is a waste of
ratepayers' money. It was a big problem a long time ago and then the Council
and State Government went and built Airport Link to solve the problem. Quote,
“Airport Link worked. It's now the important link between the CBD and the
airport—Kingsford Smith Drive is no longer particularly important—and traffic
levels on Kingsford Smith Drive now are similar to what they were 10 years
ago”.
So I take expert advice from local businesses. I take expert advice for the RACQ
who are the peak motoring body in this State, if not indeed this nation. They go
onto say, “We've asked them for several years to explain why they consider it to
be such a priority for such a large investment and at no stage have they been
able to show any traffic modelling or business case assessment to justify why
they want to focus on it”. Well we now know the traffic modelling. The traffic
modelling says in 2031 those opposite want to sign a $650 million gold-plated
cheque to deal with an extra 10,000 vehicles. I mean 10,000 vehicles for
$65,000—
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
That's right. So yes, Councillor WINES, I'll take the interjection, Madam Chair,
from Councillor WINES. We will be reminding voters in your ward that you
would rather prefer to spend $650 million gold-plating one road and not fixing
traffic congestion in your own ward. Absolutely, absolutely. Thank you
Councillor WINES for your endorsement for that. Absolutely. We will be
reminding voters about that. We will be telling them that is your preferred
position. You have confirmed that on the public record today. So, Madam Chair,
I want to talk—
Councillors interjecting.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 42 Councillor DICK:
That's right, Madam Chair, if Labor is elected, and I take the interjection from
Councillor WINES, Labor will fix congestion on Kingsford Smith Drive. We
will spend $150 million—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
Order.
Councillor DICK:
—and we will tackle congestion in Brisbane.
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
Order.
There's too much noise across the Chamber. I can't even hear Councillor DICK
and his microphone.
So Councillor DICK please continue.
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair, so just back to the timeframes of the construction. So
we know that no work will begin until April 2016 after the Council election. We
know that the compensation involved is two per cent so we're looking at around
$8 million in compensation. That was the briefing today that we were advised.
We're also hearing a figure bandied around from the LNP around $79 million for
resumptions. Of course an alternative view would have—which I won't go
through—will use that funding for of course those resumptions for the important
intersection upgrades.
So Madam Chair, we know when we look at this project it doesn't stack up
financially. The modelling surrounding this project doesn't argue well when you
increase those traffic numbers by 10,000 that it won't bust congestion anywhere
let alone the area where we're talking about, which will only see an increase of
10,000 vehicles in 15 years' time; not next week. Not the week after, not next
month. Councillor WINES I will take your interjection, I know you are
defending this because you're not interested in fixing congestion in your own
ward. I get that. I get that.
Interestingly enough all the other Councillors are remaining silent. I'd take their
lead Councillor WINES, I would take their lead.
Councillors interjecting.
Councillor DICK:
So they know, Madam Chair—
Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Councillor DICK.
Councillor SUTTON:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Order.
Order.
Councillor SUTTON:
Point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
I just called order and I was just calling Councillor DICK that his time had
expired.
Councillor SUTTON:
Well point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON point of order.
Councillor SUTTON:
If I had behaved like Councillor WINES was just behaving while
Councillor DICK was speaking I would have been warned and kicked out.
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
Madam Chair, a little bit of—
Chairman:
I called the entire Chamber to order. There was too much noise and I couldn't
hear from—
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 43 Councillor SUTTON:
From Councillor WINES.
Chairman:
—anyone. Resume your seat right now. I warned you before today that you do
not interrupt me when I am speaking. I don't know how many times that I have
to remind you that there is no debate on a point of order under section 53 (5),
and particularly that when I speak, you do not. If you'd read your rules you will
see that it says that when the Chairman is speaking you immediately resume
your seat and remain silent. This is your final warning Councillor SUTTON.
I remind you, you are on a formal warning and if you continue to be disorderly I
will exercise the rules in relation to your formal warning that you may be
suspended from the service of the Council Chamber. There was an awful lot of
noise during that last speaker and I ask all Councillors to behave.
Councillor SUTTON, in relation to your comments relating to
Councillor WINES, Councillor DICK repeatedly said, I take that interjection
Councillor WINES. So you cannot have it both ways.
Councillor ABRAHAMS you're on your feet.
240/2015-16
At that point, Councillor Milton DICK was granted an extension of time on the motion of Councillor
Helen ABRAHAMS, seconded by Councillor Shayne SUTTON.
Councillor DICK:
Thank you, Madam Chair, and I will ignore the interjections from now on. I
have a few final remarks that I do want to make because this is a very significant
day where the LNP Council is wanting to take the people of Brisbane and where
that place is is to a place where we will be spending $650 million on a project as
I was saying before, that doesn't stack up, that doesn't—the numbers itself don't
endorse what this Council wishes to undertake. The motoring experts, the peak
bodies involved with this project have not signed off on it.
I note today at the LORD MAYOR's press conference there was the
Federal Member for Brisbane, the State LNP member for Clayfield; I'm not sure
what he had to do with the price of eggs and—well no one could explain why he
was—
Councillors interjecting.
—it's his electorate. Okay, that's why he was there. So he wanted to be there for
the photo op. Okay, thanks for that clarification. Thanks for that clarification.
So, Madam Chair, for those reasons and given the fact, given the fact that all the
LNP have had to say is I once said that they needed to address traffic along
Kingsford Smith Drive which is true, and at no stage have I ever said that they
should spend $650 million doing it.
Given the fact, Madam Chair, that we are around 120 days until an election,
120 days. I note the contract will be signing in the briefing today in early
December. I'm not sure whether that contract will be coming here to Council for
oversight. But I certainly would want to get a guarantee that when we are
dealing with such a close timeframe to an election, that this Chamber should
oversee that contract.
But more importantly if the LNP through their arrogance and through their
pigheadedness are going to pursue down this path, that we certainly at least
allow the community to have their say, that the community get to voice whether
they want $650 million allocated to one project. Or they would prefer
congestion being tackled across this city and still improvements to
Kingsford Smith Drive. The LNP cannot and will not have our support today
because the community at large deserve to have their say on this project.
As a result of the LNP's actions they are being frozen out. I will not stand for it.
Rod Harding will not stand for it and we will be voting against this today.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor McLACHLAN.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 44 Councillor McLACHLAN:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. I rise to speak to Item A, the Recommended
Tender for Kingsford Smith Drive Design and Construct Contract. As the
Councillor for Hamilton Ward I'm pleased to enter this debate but make the
point that this is not a project for the Hamilton Ward or the residents of
Hamilton Ward. This is a project for everyone in Brisbane. I think in their heart
of hearts the ALP actually know that. It makes no sense.
They know it makes no sense for a highway, a road that takes highway volumes
of traffic at either end to go from three lanes when it's heading west, down to
two lanes and similarly when traffic is heading east for traffic to come out of
four lanes, Breakfast Creek Road and the Inner City Bypass, into two lanes.
That's the current constraint; that's the current constraint.
If the members of the ALP want to accompany me down to the Cooksley Street
corner at 7.30am and see the volumes of traffic that's heading east from about
seven o'clock in the morning or 6.30am in the morning through until about
8.30am in the morning, thousands and thousands of vehicles and trucks and cars,
and I'm hazarding a guess that they've come from everywhere in Brisbane,
anywhere in Brisbane.
These are residents that come from Enoggera, from Runcorn, from
Tennyson Ward, from Karawatha Ward, from everywhere across Brisbane. This
is a road that caters for all of Brisbane without a doubt. Now for years and years
and years and the ALP have had the opportunity in the past to address this. We
know what happened when the Inner City Bypass was first on the design table
that there was a plan that the ALP knocked back to take that road underground
through to Eagle Farm and they didn't have the bottle to do it then.
This is now an opportunity to fix the sins of the past with a project that
addresses the infrastructure requirements of this very important road. As I say
between—in an hour from about, well every hour for a couple of hours in the
morning there are a couple of thousand vehicles heading east and a couple of
thousand vehicles heading west. These are not vehicles that are starting their
journey or finishing their journey in the Hamilton Ward. They're coming from
elsewhere in Brisbane.
They're going out to the Gateway, they're going to the TradeCoast area, they're
going to the airport, they're conducting commerce. They're conducting
commercial activity which is something that we know the ALP has no
experience in. Their plan is an anti-business plan. Their plan is to stop the
growth of Brisbane. Madam Chairman, I have here out of interest a photograph
of Kingsford Smith Drive in 1907. Hamilton's Kingsford Smith Drive in 1907. I
can see a horse and cart, I can see a man on a horse, I can see another horse and
cart; that's it.
But guess what, that's exactly the same roadway configuration that we have
today 110 years later. There has been no change to the road dimensions along
Kingsford Smith Drive for 110 years. If you impose a photograph from that
position looking towards the east along Kingsford Smith Drive now you'll see
it's exactly the same dimension and this is the issue we're dealing with. We all
know that to achieve the outcome that we require on Kingsford Smith Drive is
an engineering difficulty.
That's where what the ALP calls lavish gold-plating is providing for. It's the
engineering difficulty of providing a roadway alongside an existing constrained
roadway without mass resumptions of properties along the cliff alongside the
river precinct. That's where the issues arise. I'm proud to stand up on behalf of
the residents of Hamilton and say what we get out of this is a fantastic separated
bikeway, a fantastic separated pedestrian path, something that the local residents
have been clamouring for for years and years and years. This project under the
QUIRK Administration will finally deliver on that.
What I'm amazed to hear from the ALP today in the debate in answering or
asking questions is that they no longer care for Public and Active Transport.
That's off the agenda. It's all about cars. It's all about car movements. What do
the car drivers of Brisbane think about this project? Well yes, we care about the
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 45 car drivers of Brisbane too but we also want a Public and Active Transport
solution for Kingsford Smith Drive. What we need as a consequence of the
ALP's shoehorning a tsunami of apartments, that's been shoehorned into
Hamilton Northshore, is the need to provide for a public transport solution
which we won't get if you twiddle with a couple of roundabouts on the way
through.
You need to have an extra lane with the bus pull in lane; the bus pull in bays to
allow for proper and properly integrated public transport solution for the growth
of Hamilton Northshore, as we heard from Councillor COOPER, with the
growth of the TradeCoast area, with the growth of the airport. We are planning
for the future. The ALP wants to play fast politics and say this is lavish
gold-plating for Hamilton. Yes, well we know where they're going with that. But
the residents all across Brisbane will say, good on you for getting on with doing
Kingsford Smith Drive.
We're sick of waiting in a queue at walking pace as we try to get along the two
narrow constrained lanes along KSD, when we're heading west, when we're
heading east, trying to get about our business. It's a 12 hour peak hour drive—
along Kingsford Smith Drive a 12 hour peak in both directions and this is what
we get with this solution. I think this will be greeted with great thanks by all
residents of Brisbane and I commend it to the Chamber.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes, Madam Chairman, I rise to speak on Item A of the special report before us
today. I will not be supporting this report and I will be outlining the reasons for
that now. One; what we are being asked to do today is to delegate this Council's
decision-making power away to enter into a major contract to the CEO. That is
fundamentally wrong and I actually am concerned that this is a delegation that
we can't actually make. My understanding is projects of a certain value have to
come to Council for approval. I am extremely concerned that this Council is
delegating away a statutory responsibility of the Council to the CEO.
I have for years stood up in this place and stated my concern with the way in
which this LNP Administration abrogates its rights for an open and transparent
debate about contractual matters because it flicks the decision-making off to
Council officers. It is wrong and that is what is being proposed today.
Presumably I'm guessing based on the timeframe that we've seen, the reason for
that is the haste, political haste that this Administration is trying to push this
through before the election. If this was a normal process the contract would
come up to Council. We would endorse it and that would be it.
It seems as though the timing for this will happen over the Christmas period
where that could not happen. So as a result this Council is delegating its powers
away. That is wrong. It is fundamentally wrong. I will not support any such
action where this Council delegates its major—and I think this is the biggest
financial transaction this Council has entered this year—and we're delegating it
away. It is absolutely wrong. I don't believe that's in accordance with how we
normally conduct this business in the Chamber.
Two; the appalling arrogance of this Administration to only provide us with
Council papers for this matter at 1pm today, less than one hour prior to this
matter coming into Council is absolutely wrong, inappropriate. It speaks
volumes, volumes about the approach of the LNP that they don't want any
scrutiny. They don't want any transparency around the major contractual
decisions that are being behind closed doors by the CEO of Council with only
an hour's notice to Councillors in this place that this is the process that's going to
be followed. This is wrong.
This is a sign of the LNP absolutely failing in their responsibilities to act in the
best interests of Brisbane residents. It's pretty clear why when you look at what
we are being asked here today and what's being approved. The main reason that
we are going down this approach with this particular tenderer as we have heard
repeatedly from the DEPUTY MAYOR today, is that well this is a much nicer
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 46 project. It's got more amenity. It's going to look better. It fits better with what we
want. Now that is the reason that we've been given today in the briefing to
Councillors from the DEPUTY MAYOR that, and I think I wrote it down
because it was a really good quote. Let me find it so I can read it out quite
specifically today.
That's it, the aesthetic benefits are valued more highly in this contract. That's the
sole reason that this tenderer Lend Lease is before us today. Not because there
are a whole heap of other things that are going to be really good for our city but
because the aesthetic values of this particular contract he thinks are the best ones
for our city. I'm serious. That's what's reflected in the material we've been
advised about today. That's what the DEPUTY MAYOR has put on the public
record.
Now I just want to go into a few details about what's actually in the project itself
because I mean it's quite astonishing what's being proposed. We have a
$450-odd million contract that's being awarded. Council is proposing to spend
another $212 million on top of that to make the project happen. So project costs
are about 50 per cent of the contract itself. That speaks to me about a huge
volume of inefficiency around how this contract is actually being managed. If
your expenses are 50 per cent of your total spend then you've got a problem.
You've got a problem with value and I think that is something that needs to be
carefully considered.
I am very concerned about the potential flooding impacts that will flow from the
decision to approve or recommend this tenderer. It was clearly admitted in
Council today in our briefing that this will increase the flood risk of our city by
up to one centimetre. Now that might not seem like much but when you're
flooded, centimetres make a difference. Centimetres have an impact.
Centimetres mean that your electricity may be unusable and thousands of dollars
of more cost. Centimetres count when it comes to flooding. The decision of this
tenderer to go about with this construction method is contributing to additional
flooding in our city.
Now the LNP acknowledges this. They say the risk is small and the modelling
says the implications of that are small. Any increase in flood impacts is
unacceptable and I am extremely concerned by what is being proposed here
today. It certainly, together with the idea that we're doing this one because it's
the prettiest, is absolutely appalling, absolutely appalling. That's what the
DEPUTY MAYOR was telling us in the briefing today. So I have some
concerns about the type of contracting methods that are being used. So I have
concerns about the flooding impacts.
I have very practical concerns about how we're going to maintain the garden bed
running down the middle of the street. It's very narrow. This Council takes out
garden beds along street edges in my area because it says that they are unsafe.
Now into an environment where there are 65,000 cars a day it's putting in major
landscape garden beds and I've got no idea how they're going to be maintained.
Are lanes going to be closed weekly so that they can actually maintain them? I
don't know. I think that in looking at a number of major projects that have been
approved in my area before my time, this type of landscaping leads to such
difficult practical issues down the track.
I am very concerned about the value for money in this contract as well. We
know that this will cost about $650 million all up including the contract itself
and Council's expenditure. Currently we're told there are about 63,000 to 65,000
vehicles a day using Kingsford Smith Drive and that is possibly going to
increase to around 75,000 vehicles a day. So maybe an additional 10,000
vehicles. The LORD MAYOR is trying to obfuscate this issue very strongly by
saying well there's going to be 30,000 vehicles generally in the area. Well that's
great but they're not using Kingsford Smith Drive. The forecast in the modelling
that sits beneath this project indicates that there will be only 10,000 additional
vehicles per day possibly by 2031.
Now this is a solution that to me does not add up. When you look at all of the
issues around the contract, you look at the way in which this Council is
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 47 delegating its powers away, you look at the fact that they're trying to limit
scrutiny of it by walking it in with one hour's notice. You look at the fact that
today there was one question in Question Time about this, there are problems in
this Kingsford Smith Drive project; massive problems. They've gone quiet and
their heads have gone down.
These are not the actions of an Administration that believe they have a good
project because if they did they'd be out there singing it to the world. They
would be out there talking it up. They would be out there explaining why this is
the best outcome and that is not happening. Instead with an hour's notice we're
being asked to now delegate away the decision-making. We're not going to see
the detail of the contract as a Council based on this decision today. That is
fundamentally wrong; wrong, wrong, wrong.
I don't support the project for all of those reasons. Nor do I support it when this
Administration as you heard the LORD MAYOR today—
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON your time has expired.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
—neglect Oxley Road.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor HOWARD.
Councillor HOWARD:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. I rise to support Item A and to just say a few
words of course in regard to the fact that Lend Lease is the successful preferred
tenderer. I'd like to start by thanking the Council officers who have obviously
spent an enormous amount of time on this project. I thought that it was a
wonderful session that we had where all of the issues and the reasons why
they've reached this decision. I have to say how fortunate we are here in
Brisbane City Council to have such professionals looking so intently at those
issues and coming up with what is obviously going to be a fabulous project for
our city.
Indeed it will be more than just a road because it is about building a wonderful
city. That road is in fact the gateway to the city from people hopping off a plane
and coming into the CBD. Of course if you currently come across there, it's a
beautiful vista as you're coming down. But gosh you don't see much of it
because you're very busily looking at the traffic because it is really such a busy
road. So as the Councillor for Central Ward we of course are excited that again
there will be a project that is on our border. We also think that it's good for all of
Brisbane and just as the Riverwalk was good for all of Brisbane.
One of the wonderful things that I learnt about the project today is that there is
going to be seven kilometres of new or improved cycle and pedestrian facilities.
Within that there is 1.3 kilometres of the Riverwalk section from Brett's Wharf
through to Cooksley Street; one of the most beautiful areas that borders our
river. So I know just how much the New Farm Riverwalk has meant to the
residents of my ward and indeed to the residents right across Brisbane. It's not
just people who live in one ward that benefit from what this Administration has
been doing very successfully.
One of the other things that I was listening to today was the LORD MAYOR
talking about the then-Deputy Premier Paul Lucas promising a rail line.
Yesterday I joined with the now-Deputy Premier to open the Brisbane City
Council-sponsored 8th International Urban Design Conference. The
Deputy Premier in her speech was talking quite a lot about the EDQ sites and in
fact mentioned Hamilton Northshore. I didn't hear her mention anything about a
rail line however. She certainly however pushed the point about how important
these areas are. I think that you've got to put more than just words around that.
So I think that the importance of this Administration's commitment is also the
economic development of Brisbane which is reflected in the awarding of this
contract. That's very important; 3,000 jobs. Those on the other side of the
Chamber are saying forget—I think I heard them say they're going to put
something in a brochure. Well I hope they put that they're not going to give
3,000 residents of Brisbane a job. So in terms of what we're—
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 48 Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor HOWARD:
—doing also, focusing around Public and Active Transport. How important is
that? As the Councillor for one of the busiest wards in Brisbane and the
dependence—I'd like to think so, I'd like to think so—it is really important.
Public transport is just so vital. I think that one of the things I learnt today was
that there are eight intersections, two of which are part of that Northshore
development that are going to be enhanced by this project. That's 10
intersections. That's a lot more than three I think.
Anyway it's so vital that this upgrade goes ahead. It's vital for the future of
Brisbane. It's vital for the Northshore residents when they finally get there that
there will be the ability for this to go ahead. So in looking at where we're
heading with this I just think again it's very, very, important that we look for the
future. I think that there's a short-sightedness that's being expressed here today
when we can see just how important this is going to be for so many people.
So, Madam Chairman, I'll end on that. I'd just like to say that this side of the
Chamber will continue to stand up for the residents of Brisbane and by pieces of
this vital piece of infrastructure. Thank you.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor WINES.
Councillor WINES:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. I had expected that more than two Opposition
Councillors would have spoken on this item, particularly the amount of money
that their party is spending on criticising it. But let me begin by saying that
today I will be voting in support of an upgrade to Kingsford Smith Drive. I will
be proud of my vote. I want to assure all Councillors that it will be in my
promotional material so if Councillor DICK would like to put something out
backing that up that would much appreciated.
I will be voting aye today as proudly as when I voted for Legacy Way and when
I voted for the upgrade to the Go Between Bridge. This Administration is deeply
committed to tackling traffic congestion in a serious manner, not merely dealing
with hotspots the way that Councillor DICK identified and then didn't provide a
criteria for what a hotspot is. Well I'd like to assure Councillor DICK there is no
hotter spot than Kingsford Smith Drive. There is no hotter spot than this part of
the world, this road not only does it—it may well live in the Hamilton Ward but
it serves the whole city.
It serves the TradeCoast and the growing industrial interests, advanced
manufacturing, the employers of many people across this city, along the coast. It
serves as our commercial centres around the airport and those people who need
to travel for business both to and from our city. It also assures the increased
growth in that area that we are serious about servicing them and their needs. The
best thing about this upgrade is the improvements to public domain. If you were
to go for a walk along the river now, along the riverside of Kingsford Smith
Drive, it's fine but it varies in width.
The quality of the surface can change quickly and there are a lot of—it's not
anything like what's provided to the people of New Farm or the people of
South Brisbane and quite frankly it should. That's why today we will be
supporting or I will be supporting a project that creates a public domain for
pedestrians and cyclists that opens up the river because the river belongs to the
people of Brisbane. This project will provide an upgrade for motor vehicles but
also an upgrade for people who choose alternative modes of transport such as
cycling and walking, for both transportational and recreational purposes.
I think that the aesthetic values are important. I think the great failings or our
previous Councils over many decades has been a lack of interest in aesthetics in
public domain, something that we are working hard to correct. I know that the
Labor Councillors would prefer a more communist bleak style of road and
things to be greyer, sort of Stalinist concrete empire. But we—
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 49 Councillors interjecting.
Chairman:
Order.
Councillor WINES:
—support embracing the natural environment. We support opening up and
engaging with our iconic river. That is why the public domain, the pedestrian
improvements, the bikeway improvements and the aesthetic values like treelining the streets are important. They should be taken into consideration. This
project will accommodate in 15 years' time an extra 3,650,000 car vehicles a
year, a huge sum of vehicles—that figure more than they do today, more than
they do today. That's on relatively conservative estimations considering that in
2012 there were 48,000 vehicles on this road and this year there's 63,000.
So to say in 15 years' time there's only another 10,000 I would describe that as
an exceptionally conservative estimation of the growth of traffic through that
corridor. I would encourage all Councillors to do the right thing, to vote with
their conscience and support this project because I know that many people in
this room are saying that they do not support it. But they'll be there running,
doing their morning runs from Hamilton to New Farm. They'll be on their bikes
in their Lycra on a Saturday morning enjoying this public domain that we will
vote for and I suspect that they will vote against.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor COOPER.
Councillor COOPER:
Thank you very much, Madam Chair, I rise to speak to Item A of the report. I
think that the words of the previous speakers on this side of the Chamber are
words that certainly speak to this particular issue, because Council undoubtedly
has clearly demonstrated through all the planning work that it has done that this
upgrade is warranted and warranted absolutely. Of course as a consequence we
need to really focus on what the outcome will be. But Kingsford Smith Drive,
let us be extremely clear in this Chamber. It is one of the key gateways to our
city. It is not just a small meandering road.
It is a road on the edge of the beautiful Brisbane River, a road that is a regional
route that links through the intrastate network. So it links through to the
Gateway bringing people from the airport. It links to Port of Brisbane; it links to
Australia TradeCoast. All of these feeding onto one single road; one single road.
Then when we add on the growth that we're experiencing and that we know is
coming as Hamilton Northshore surely and continues to progress, this is all
converging into this narrow, narrow, essentially a funnel of traffic that it
generates.
Of course it's very constrained. We're on the edge of a river. We've got cliffs.
We've got a whole range of things that are driving an outcome that is quite a
difficult and challenging one. So when we look at what is proposed, not only has
it got all these activities but it is a primary freight route. It's not carrying just
cars as the LORD MAYOR said earlier. It's carrying significant heavy vehicles
every single day on this particular road network. In fact it is the route for
dangerous goods that cannot travel in Airport Link. So this is not a suburban
route.
This is not some route that is just a way of getting from one suburb to another. It
is getting from high-growth precincts into our CBD. It's getting onto the
Gateway network that the State Government have invested in and the
Federal Government have invested in. It is a road of great significance to the
people of Brisbane. Of course it's also one of the first experiences that the
visitors of Brisbane have. Entering from the airport, traversing Kingsford Smith
Drive you have that view of our city. You have that view of Newstead House, a
view that I think is really in lots of ways really emblematic of Brisbane, where
we really understand that we are part of a river city.
It is, as part of this proposal, going to become a subtropical boulevard. That is
something that we should be incredibly proud of where we are enhancing and
protecting and promoting the view corridors of our city. So from this section of
the city you can see unrestricted views to the city and Newstead House. There
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 50 are other significant views that this corridor focuses on such as the
Gateway Bridge, Bulimba, beloved of course of Councillor SUTTON, and
Mount Coot-tha, all of these parts of our city that we should all be incredibly
proud of and keen to enhance as part of this project.
This boulevard of course also should be delivering great outcomes in terms of
active travel. I'm pretty disappointed to hear from the Australian Labor Party
that they don't care about Public and Active Transport outcomes that at the
moment just do not exist. It's not that they are miniscule or minimal; they don't
exist at all. I would suggest also the incoming residents of Hamilton Northshore
would be incredibly passionate about the opportunities that they will have as
part of this upgrade. I'm pretty disappointed to see that the Labor Party have
failed to address that issue fundamentally.
We've also got as part of the design work for this project a real focus on urban
design outcomes as part of the solution for this particular site. So we think that
it's important when we're doing any kind of design to take into consideration
how it looks and how it works. So these are fundamental as part of this process.
In fact as part of the tender process this was something that was strongly put
forward to the applicants to comply with good urban design outcomes. Those
outcomes are outcomes that we should expect in every piece of public
infrastructure in our city.
We don't want to see this just be a concrete solution. We want to see an
identifiable boulevard that focuses on what our city is all about. We want to
have greenery. Despite the claims that the Councillor for Tennyson, trees and
garden beds are actually desirable in Brisbane. We think we're a green
subtropical sustainable city, not at city of concrete.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Point of order against you Councillor COOPER.
Councillor JOHNSTON?
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Claim to be misrepresented.
Chairman:
Thank you. Councillor COOPER.
Councillor COOPER:
Thank you, Madam Chair. We also have done certainly a huge amount of work
through the River's Edge Strategy which was to promote greater interaction with
our river. We want to see more and more a greater focus on the connections
between Brisbane residents and the river. So we want to celebrate the fact that
we are a river city and we also want to have the opportunity for people to
actually connect with the river. In particular this proposal delivers on this on
multiple levels. So I really do want to congratulate all the people that worked on
this particular proposal.
It certainly delivers in spades some fantastic open space areas that will be
provided along the boulevard. It will promote pedestrian connections to the
river. There will be key connections that will see significant upgrades. It will
really be a focus on city building; not just road construction. Of course as I said
earlier in answer to a question, this is no surprise. This project is no surprise to
the Australian Labor Party. It has been identified as part of the planning work
that we have conducted.
It's always interesting to hear the rhetoric from the Australian Labor Party who
demand infrastructure upgrades as a consequence of every piece of planning
work we do, yet when this piece of significant infrastructure is proposed they
don't support it. They didn't support Go Between Bridge either I would have to
say, which of course supports that significant residential development that the
Labor Government proposed as part of the South East Queensland Regional
Plan in South Brisbane. So it's pretty disappointing to see the lacklustre debate
from the Australian Labor Party.
These plans have been plans that have been in place for a significant period of
time. Every neighbourhood plan includes these sorts of outcomes and yet the
Labor Party who bemoan the lack of delivery of infrastructure don't support this
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 51 one. I note that this has been in the Priority Infrastructure Plan since 2012. So
Council's commitment has always been there. I note in debate Councillor DICK,
I know that he loves to be quoted, he said and I'm quoting from him on
23 November 2012.
The City Plan, I quote, “the City Plan promises that Kingsford Smith Drive will
be widened to six lanes but everyone in our city knows that here is no plan to
deliver that project. We know there is no funding to deliver that project
particularly to the Australia TradeCoast central identified in City Plan as a
critical key economic driver for our city. No timelines, not even a final project
design timeline”, unquote. There he was, there he was, questioning whether it
would be delivered. Now it's being delivered. He's out of the Chamber quite
conveniently, but can I say this is a Councillor who has absolutely nowhere to
go on this issue. He called for it to be progressed. It has been progressed. He
claimed that it would never be delivered. It is being delivered and he still
doesn’t support it. What a disgrace. Thank you.
Chairman:
Further debate?
DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Yes, Madam Chairman. It gives me great pleasure to rise in support of this item
today. This is a project that will help shape our city into the future and it is far
more than just a road project. We've already some of the key facts and figures
about the project. A reduction of up to 30 per cent in travel times, 3,000 jobs
being created, seven kilometres of new pedestrian paths and cycleways.
We'll see the opportunity for high-frequency bus services, like a BUZ route or
CityGlider service to be delivered and the LORD MAYOR has indicated he will
initial discussions with the State Government about that, but also importantly
enhance public spaces right along the corridor. Now, some Councillors may
think this is gold-plating and that urban design outcomes, environmental
outcomes, community outcomes are gold-plating. We do not. We believe that
this is a city building project in some many more ways than just adding some
extra lanes.
It will add to our economy. It will add to our lifestyle. It will add to our public
health with new opportunities for walking and cycling and it will certainly help
reduce congestion. I’ve been fascinated by Labor's comments on traffic
volumes. Now, this is not a toll road. So in terms of traffic volumes that we
might be targeting, this is not the way the project is designed to operate. It
doesn’t have to reach a certain traffic volume to be viable. This is not a toll road.
The reality is if there is an increase of 10,000 vehicles a day on this corridor and
we don't do anything, the road really will be that car park that our
Councillor DICK talks about. Ten intersections along the corridor will be over
capacity and, in fact, I suspect that the economy of our city will seriously suffer
from the extra costs of congestion, because trucks getting stuck on
Kingsford Smith Drive in congestion at intersections under Labor's plan adds an
extra cost to the economy. Accidents on this roadway add an extra cost to the
economy. The lack of public and active transport opportunities adds an extra
cost to the economy.
There's actually—people may not be aware, but in the last five year period, I'm
not told there's around 170 accidents that have happened along Kingsford Smith
Drive. So safety is also a big concern. We have a very busy road with lots of
trucks using it and, at the moment, minimal separation between the two
directions of traffic and we have a serious problem with congestion right
throughout the day. So there are so many more reasons to support this project
other than just adding a couple of extra lanes.
In terms of traffic volumes, if, as we have heard from Councillor DICK, the
75,000 trips a day is not a reason to upgrade the road, it's just interesting the
different spin you could put on the same thing. Councillor SUTTON has talked
about the extra traffic that 850 dwellings may generate on Wynnum Road. She's
used this as a big public issue. 850 dwellings will seriously add to traffic on
Wynnum Road according to Councillor SUTTON. Yet an extra 10,000 vehicles
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 52 a day is not a problem according to Labor. So I don’t know where they're
coming from. It's an illogical argument on their part.
The reality is we're delivering this project to reduce congestion, so in the end, if
the road was completely full shortly after we built it, then it wouldn’t be
reducing congestion. If the road didn’t have capacity for the long term, then we
wouldn’t be building future infrastructure for our city's needs going forward.
We're setting up this city for growth, not just based on the current traffic
volumes and any argument to suggest that there's no need for this project is just
not going to stand up to scrutiny.
I'd be happy to make that case and stand out on Kingsford Smith Drive in
15 years’ time and we'll see whether this upgrade is needed or not, because we
know exactly what would happen if the upgrade wasn't delivered. We know
exactly what would happen. The route would be an absolute congestion
nightmare. There's been talk about gold-plating of the project and I mentioned
that. There's been talk about how there might be other options that would be
better. Councillor DICK actually said we're only 120 days from the election.
The community should decide.
He's actually forgetting we gave the community opportunity to have a say on
this project multiple times, including when we went out in late 2010 and early
2011 and put several options to the community. There were five options at the
time. Those five options included the current option, which was to build a
retaining wall out into the river. The cost of that estimated option at the time—
so we're basing it on an estimate—was $850 million.
So it's actually $200 million more than what we're proposing today and guess
what? That was the community's preferred option, even at $200 million more
than what we're talking about today. But interestingly enough, option two,
which Labor indicates is their preferred option, which includes minimal
upgrades or, as we say, a do nothing approach, that was put to the community at
the time as well. An estimated cost at the time of $255 million. So that's even a
little bit more than what Labor said they're going to do. They said $150 million,
I believe. Guess what the community said? The do nothing option—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
A point of order, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
A point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Surely if the Labor Party's not allowed to talk about what the Labor Party wants
to do, the DEPUTY MAYOR is not allowed to talk about what the Labor Party
wants to do—
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON—
Councillor JOHNSTON:
—in line with your previous—
Chairman:
Councillor JOHNSTON, the process of the upgrade and the requirements for it,
the development of what the actual call for tender was and what people were
actually requested to submit in relation to the design is part of the process that
has been undertaken by the Infrastructure Division, which is what
Councillor SCHRINNER is referring to.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. I am talking about the community consultation
process that has gotten us to where we are right now today. We did do
consultation on five different options and one of those options was to do a few
intersection upgrades. Does that sound familiar? So when we asked people if
they support that option, only 28 per cent of respondents said yes. 72 per cent
said no. So Labor's got some kind of policy genius there saying, let's get a
popular option. Let's choose the one that's 72 per cent of people said no to.
That's what they're doing. So we have been down this path already. There has
been community consultation. That wasn't the only consultation we've
conducted. We've conducted several rounds of consultation on this project and
at each round the community house clearly said, get on with the job. This
upgrade is important for the city. As Councillor McLACHLAN said, it is not
just a local project for his particular ward. It is a project of city wide
significance. To say that the Kingsford Smith Drive project only benefits one or
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 53 two wards is like saying that the South East Freeway only benefits one or two
wards. The reality is the—
Councillor interjecting
Councillor COOPER:
Thank you, Councillor ABRAHAMS. It would be wrong.
Councillors interjecting
Chairman:
Order.
Councillors interjecting
Chairman:
Order. There is—Councillor MURPHY, please do not shout out across the
Chamber.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
So this project will benefit the city as a whole and it will benefit the city's
economy and it will benefit the lifestyle's because it will open up a section of the
river which people can now actively use, which they can't safely or conveniently
use at the moment. And so there's a lifestyle benefit was well, a public transport
benefit and an active transport benefit, as well as traffic benefit, so Opposition
Councillors can scoff that we're interested in urban design and the aesthetics of
the project. But this is a very serious part of the project and one which we will
not shy away from.
The LORD MAYOR has always said we're building a city, not just a road, and
this is part of that. I'm particularly happy that the project will include features
such as energy efficient LED lighting and there will be so many other associated
benefits in the public spaces that will be upgraded. Look, we're doing this to
help the State Government out as well. They have set very clear targets for the
city's growth. They want to put 156,000 extra dwellings into our city. They're
targeted Hamilton Northshore for at least 6,000 of those dwellings.
So we're helping them out to help meet their targets that they've imposed and
this project will help facilitate that. But we want to make sure that people have
options other than just driving a car. Now, there were comments made as well
about how we are delegating a decision to the CEO. This is a very regular thing
that we do, but all the information however that's relevant to that decision has
been provided to Councillors and there was a detailed briefing this morning and
an opportunity to ask questions as well.
So that is not the case that they are somehow being delegating a way of
decision-making or information from this Council Chamber. All the relevant
information has been provided and I encourage all Councillors to support this
much needed traffic congestion busting project.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I enter the debate to reinforce that
Labor Councillors will not be voting for this proposal. Madam Chair, I'd just
like to reflect back on what some of the LNP Councillors said in justifying this
proposal. Councillor McLACHLAN's argument was look at the
Kingsford Smith Drive in the past and see that the road width has not increased
at any time and that justifies this project. Well, Madam Chair, if I had known, I
could have got a photo of Stanley Street, Wynnum Road, Milton Road and put
exactly the same argument.
The fact that historically that the width of the road has not increased does not
justify this project at all, because there are other streets that have not change that
also have significant traffic on them. Councillor COOPER's arguments were
wonderful. We're doing the proposal, because it gives such wonderful views.
Wonderful views of our river, wonderful views of Newstead House and it will
also look wonderful, because the urban design has been given careful
consideration. Well, we're aware of that, because it was one of the
differentiating factors of this tender. But I would suggest those grounds are not
sufficient for this project.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 54 Councillor SCHRINNER had many better comments, from my opinion, but it
was fascinating. He justified that where our concern as Labor Councillors that
10,000 vehicles a day increase over 15 years at a cost of $650 million is goldplating by any ratepayers considering of money well spent, but not for
Councillor SCHRINNER, because his argument was, well, it's not a toll road.
Because it's not a toll road, it doesn’t have to have a traffic volume target. It
doesn’t actually have to deliver to an improvement that is set and determined to
be cost benefit or have gone through a cost benefit analysis.
So, in fact, in saying that this is something that's only delivering an additional
10,000 vehicles per day, that's important to Labor Councillors, but we don’t
actually have to meet a target, he then completely ignored having value for
money as a criteria for this project. Madam Chair, the first few and speakers and
the LORD MAYOR certainly today wasn't interested in talking about bike
volumes. We, in fact, heard about bikes. Never have I heard such passion
argument from the LNP about bikes. I welcome it at one point.
But, Madam Chair, if you look at the $615 million and determine of the road
space, about 30 per cent of that is going to bikes and then work out the cost, it is
for every additional bike on Kingsford Smith Drive, it comes out to $41,000
investment per bike trip. So that's taking account of the investment in cars. Now,
there was much fun gained that I should cross the Chamber as a cyclist and
defend this expenditure in cycle paths. Madam Chair, $41,000 a bike trip is not
value for money.
If I went out to all of the BUGS and to Bicycle Queensland and said you’ve got
$41,000 to increase a bike trip, I'd tell you they could deliver the same increase
at a much, much cheaper price. This is total gold-plating. Total, total
gold-plating and that's why it does not get my support. But give me that $41,000
to go out and consult the bike fraternity and we will find proper cost benefit for
delivering increased bikeways. The other issue that Councillor SCHRINNER
said, that there will be an extra cost to the economy from this.
A given, I accept that, but the money spent not in this project to another
infrastructure project will also deliver a cost benefit to the economy. Is this one
any better than any of the rest? No. So that is an argument with capital
infrastructure expenditure, full stop, and you don’t have to apply it solely to this
project. Finally, then Councillor SCHRINNER said, I would hate to be on the
side of the road in 15 years’ time if we did nothing, because of the congestion.
Well, Councillor SCHRINNER, I will invite you to come with me on 13 current
corridors that have more congestion there is on Kingsforth Smith Drive
tomorrow and look at their congestion levels and see how you feel when nothing
will happen to improve the congestion on any of those corridors until 2019 as a
minimum? Madam Chair, how come the LNP Councillors did not tell us that
this corridor is the fifth fastest corridor in our city out of 18?
May I say that again. On their figures released by the Congestion Reduction
Unit, Council's elite Congestion Reduction Unit, has come out with 18 corridors
and this is the fifth fastest. So, Councillor SCHRINNER, come to me where
there are existing residents. Not residents that in the future will live in
Hamilton Northshore, but are here today trying to get into town on congested
roads, such as Stanley Street, Wynnum Road, Milton Road, and tell them how
you feel when you are deliberately not giving them any hope and any chance of
improving congestion in their area, because that is the problem.
Councillor WINES, you were superb. There is not a hotter—
Councillor interjecting
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
You were superb in your complete not knowing the facts.
Councillor interjecting
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Mr Incredible. Absolutely. You should bring your costume every time to
Council, so we just know how incredible you are.
Councillors interjecting
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 55 Councillor ABRAHAMS:
No. No. The one thing I haven’t got is an ego. Councillor WINES,
Councillor WINES, you said very clearly there is no hotter spot than
Kingsford Smith Drive. No hotter spot for congestion. You mentioned
congestion busting. Councillor WINES, can I just restate, take this opportunity
that you have provided to me, this is the fifth fastest corridor in our city. So how
can you justify that this is going to stop congestion in our city when it clearly
isn't? The 13 other corridors remain unchanged.
Madam Chair, gold-plating. Gold-plating is because we and Labor have a plan
that will deliver improvements commensurate to the congestion with
$150 million capital spend and have money for other projects that will give
further boost to the economy. Yes. We're concerned about jobs. Yes. We're
concerned about the economy. Yes, that money will go into infrastructure
projects. Madam Chair, I would now like just to finish, because essentially what
we have achieved in 15 years’ time? Well there is 10,000 additional car trips.
We've got the ability of a CityGlider to not be congested so long as the
State Government comes to the party, delayed in congestion at traffic lights and
that is the justification for this project. Well, Madam Chair, in my ward, there is
already that 10,000 trips, the cranes are in the air, the units are built, the
CityGlider is congested and this area hasn’t even been considered for a
congestion reduction along Montague Road. There is not one proposal in this
Administration to heed and deliver to the residents of this area.
So shame on them, because the contrast of exactly the same community, exactly
the same growth—because there are 5,000 new car parks. A car park equals a
trip to and back, so that's 10,000 vehicle trips a day. It is exactly the same
argument as the LNP are using for Kingford Smith Drive. They're giving no
consideration, even though it is their South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood
Plan that is being implemented, not Hamilton North Shore that has got a 15 year
horizon to deliver. Madam Chair, this is a shame. We need to deliver congestion
reduction for the residents of our city, not two suburbs. Two suburbs, Madam
Chair. That is exactly what Councillor McLACHLAN started his speech saying,
that's—
Chairman:
Councillor ABRAHAMS, your time has expired.
Councillor MURPHY.
Councillor MURPHY:
Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. I rise to speak on Item A. This is a
very important in the history of Brisbane, Madam Chairman. Kingsford Smith
Drive is an upgrade that is at the heart of our city's road network. It is a key
arterial between the Australia TradeCoast and the Brisbane CBD,
Madam Chairman. If you like the John Farnham song, Two Strong Hearts, it's
like the two strong hearts and they go together like the honey and the bee. The
honey and the bee is KSD that sits in between those two strong hearts, okay?
Let's never forget that this is the one road that provides un-tolled direct access
between these two strong hearts. The economic benefit of tackling traffic
congestion on this corridor cannot be understated. Whilst it's important that we
tackle this for a lot of the reasons that we've talked about, the aesthetics, the road
traffic, the increased cross-connectivity in those intersection upgrades, what I’m
most excited about today are the opportunities for active transport that this
project presents to the people of Brisbane.
Madam Chairman, the gateway duplication provided a lot of the great cycling
infrastructure on the southern bank of the Brisbane River. It connects with parts
of the Moreton Bay Cycleway and the KSD stage one upgrade on the northern
bank. This provides a great start for cyclists, many of which come from my
ward, that are wanting to get to Redcliffe using the Moreton Bay Cycleway. You
can actually follow that link all the way up through Redcliffe to North Lakes, if
you want to go that far.
But unfortunately for cyclists who cross the bridge across that new
Gateway Bridge extension, there really is no option for them to head into the
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 56 CBD. Madam Chairman, that link is off limits to all but the most dedicated
cyclists. We know that it really it will only be that Lycra-clad mob that will
want to mix with the freight traffic and go that extra mile, mixing it with the
trucks on Kingsford Smith Drive at the moment. It's very disappointing that this
infrastructure that exists on the south side of the river is actually unmatched on
the north side.
We know that if we want to make Brisbane a city that's friendly to cyclists, then
we need to provide off road bikeway options for commuter cyclists. The mums
and dads, the teenagers, the workers, the ones who don’t have $2,000 road
bikes, but the ones who are trying to do the right thing, using a bicycle to get
around this city, by supported this motion today, Councillors will be supporting
a 400 per cent increase in cyclist use along this corridor. We've seen the
numbers. 1,290 today projected to rise to 4,000 to 5,000 under this upgrade
scenario.
Madam Chairman, these will be residents in my ward, they’ll be residents in
Councillor
CUMMING's
ward.
They’ll
be
residents
in
Councillor SCHRINNER's ward. They'll be residents in Councillor SUTTON's
ward, Madam Chairman. They will be residents from all around the south side
and the east side of Brisbane that will use this length, as well as residents who
live in Hamilton Ward. As we've been saying on this side, this is more than just
for one ward. Was the Gateway Bridge just for Pinkenba and Murraree? Was it
just for those residents was it?
I know hundreds of cyclists in the Balmoral Cycling Club alone that can't wait
to have this opportunity to use this corridor. Today, we have a once in a lifetime
chance to incorporate a major missing link in the cycling infrastructure of this
city into this Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade. Three intersection upgrades will
deliver nothing for cyclists in this city. They’ll still be forced to mix it with the
trucks, to risk their lives and limbs, just to use their bikes to travel along the
second most used arterial road in Brisbane. Madam Chairman, we know that
retrofitting a city made for cars into a city friendly for bikes is not an easy task.
It is an expensive one. We know it will take time and money. But it will be a
worthwhile investment in this mode of transport, the mode that continues to
grow in this city every single year. Madam Chairman, for years we know
Kingsford Smith Drive has been a hotspot for congestion in our city. Despite the
commissioning of many other road upgrades in our city, the traffic volumes are
set to increase. Labor are making a big issue of the traffic volumes today and
whether Council should spend a particular amount of money to meet that
volume or not.
But they missed the point, because whether the volumes on the roads increase
by 10,000 or by 30,000, it's actually immaterial, because we all agree the road is
already at capacity. All 10 intersections along the corridor will be over capacity
by 2031 if we don’t undertake this upgrade. Let's not forget, Kingsford Smith
Drive did not just need to be upgraded suddenly overnight. It's been a problem
since at least the late nineties. It's carries 62,128 cars a day currently and yet
Labor were calling it a car park when it was carrying just 48,000 cars.
Madam Chairman, it's so sad that bipartisan support for this essential project has
evaporated in the face of the political opportunism of the Australian Labor party.
Madam Chairman, we on this side have a big-picture approach to infrastructure
planning in Brisbane. We see the need to roll out infrastructure ahead of growth
and we see the need to deliver it now. It's clear that Labor have a plan for the
next election, but they do not have a plan for the next decade of Brisbane. This
side of the Chamber is doing what we say we do, standing up for Brisbane.
Our residents expect us to come into this place and to govern in the interests of
the entire city, not just the residents in our wards. Madam Chairman, my
predecessor in this place chronically neglected infrastructure in our ward when
he was Deputy Mayor. When we came to office, we did the Wynnum Road
upgrade. We did the Manly Road upgrade. We did the Meadowlands Road
upgrade. But we also got on with the big-picture road projects in this city. The
Go Between Bridge, Legacy Way, Clem7. We actually did those upgrades.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 57 So you can't—it's not a choice of having one or the other; local upgrades or big
city projects. You can have both, if you manage the city's finances correctly and
set the budget priorities into the future, Madam Chairman. Madam Chairman,
Labor's promise is promise not just to do nothing, not just to spend nothing.
They will actually waste millions of ratepayer's money if they're elected to—
Councillor DICK:
A point of order, Madam Chair.
Chairman:
A point of order, Councillor DICK.
Councillor DICK:
The debate has been free-flowing. I was not allowed to talk about Labor's plan.
Councillor MURPHY is defying your ruling. I bring him back on relevance,
Madam Chair.
Chairman:
Councillor MURPHY, we are talking about the Kingsford Smith Drive Design
and Construct Contract. Can you please confine your remarks to that.
Councillor MURPHY:
Madam Chairman, I’m very proud to be supporting this contract here today and
very proud to be supporting the only side of the Chamber that is supporting
cycling infrastructure on Kingsford Smith Drive. It will be a great opportunity
for the residents of my ward and the entire eastern suburbs. I'll be very proud to
be recorded as voting for this motion today.
Chairman:
Further debate?
LORD MAYOR, right of reply.
LORD MAYOR:
Well, thank you very much, Madam Chairman. Well, it's been a wide-ranging
debate and that's always good to see, particularly on a project of this size. But I
think the good news for today is clearly, DEPUTY MAYOR, you can go on a
very, very early Christmas holiday, because based on the logic that the
Labor Party have put forward today where 75,000 vehicles does not warrant a
third lane, we know of course the Story Bridge has under 100,000 vehicles and
that Story Bridge services River Terrace, Main Road as well as Shafston Road.
There's absolutely no need on that logic to proceed with the Wynnum Road
upgrade. It's all over, Madam Chairman, based on Labor logic. There is simply
not a need. If you have 75,000 vehicles, you do not need three lanes of traffic.
Very, very simple. So—
Councillors interjecting
LORD MAYOR:
—Madam Chairman, that is the reality of debate that we've had today. The
Labor Party know that when you have 75,000 vehicles on a road corridor, you
absolutely need three lanes. They know it. This is just another political game,
Madam Chairman. Another political game. They know it, because they know
that it's needed on Wynnum Road and they know that it's needed here on
Kingsford Smith Drive. They know. If they didn’t know it, they wouldn’t have
backed the resumption, because they wouldn’t have made the calls that they did
in the time that they did.
So, Madam Chair, this is a project that is necessary for the people of Brisbane.
That is why this Administration has advanced it. When they talk about the
gold-plating stuff, again it's a great political line, but does Councillor SUTTON
and Councillor ABRAHAMS seriously want us to rip out the separated off-road
bicycle lanes of the Wynnum Road project? Do they seriously—
Councillors interjecting
LORD MAYOR:
No. You’ve had your chance today. Do they seriously want to have us remove
any design features that might give some visual good appearance to that road
corridor when it's undertaken? They—well, that is the logic they're presenting
here today. They want a very bland project with no off-road bicycle movements,
nothing in terms of design which makes that a pleasing project to the people of
that corridor. That's a nice how-do-you-do for the residents out there right along
the Wynnum Road corridor, isn't it? That's their approach.
So, Madam Chairman, again, I say there has been a lot of politics around what
has been presented today. We are committed to this project. We're committed to
the 3,000 jobs that will also go with this project and that is why,
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 58 Madam Chairman, today I am happy to support this and to see it get on,
Madam Chairman, as a project in this city, knowing that it is much needed and
will be very much a project that plans for the future.
Chairman:
I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the special report of the Establishment and
Coordination committee was declared carried on the voices.
Thereupon, Councillors Milton DICK and Andrew WINES 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,
Vicki HOWARD,
Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Kim MARX, Peter MATIC, Ian McKENZIE,
David McLACHLAN,
Ryan MURPHY,
Angela OWEN-TAYLOR,
Julian SIMMONDS, Steven TOOMEY, Andrew WINES and Norm WYNDHAM.
NOES: 6 -
The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors
Helen ABRAHAMS, Jared CASSIDY, Peter CUMMING, Steve GRIFFITHS and
Shayne SUTTON.
ABSTENTIONS: 1 -
Nicole JOHNSTON
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor (Councillor Graham Quirk) (Chairman), the Deputy Mayor (Councillor
Adrian Schrinner) (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors Krista Adams, Matthew Bourke, Amanda Cooper,
Peter Matic, David McLachlan, and Julian Simmonds.
A
RECOMMENDED TENDER FOR KINGSFORD SMITH DRIVE DESIGN
AND CONSTRUCT CONTRACT
165/830/179/351
241/2015-16
1.
The Chief Executive Officer provided the information below.
2.
On 23 February 2015 the Establishment and Coordination Committee approved a Significant
Contracting Plan in relation to the design and construction of the Kingsford Smith Drive (KSD)
Upgrade Project between Breakfast Creek Road, Albion and Theodore Street, Eagle Farm.
3.
Council issued an invitation for expressions of interest (EOI) to the market on 2 March 2015 inviting
suitably qualified design and construction consortia to demonstrate their capability in delivering the
KSD Upgrade Project.
4.
On 22 April 2015, the Divisional Manager, Brisbane Infrastructure, approved issuing the request for
tender (RFT) documents to the recommended short-listed EOI respondents. RFT documents were
issued to the short-listed consortia on 27 April 2015.
5.
On 31 July 2015, four tenders, Lend Lease Engineering, RiverReach, RiverLinQ, and Riverway, were
submitted as conforming tenders for the delivery of the KSD Upgrade Project under a design and
construct contract. RiverReach also submitted an alternative tender.
6.
A comprehensive evaluation process has been undertaken in accordance with the approved Tender
Evaluation Plan. Following completion of compliance checks and initial detailed tender assessment, on
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 59 12 October 2015, the Tender Evaluation Panel ceased further evaluation of RiverReach (conforming),
RiverLinQ, and Riverway.
7.
Evaluation continued on the remaining two tenders and has now been completed. Both the Tender
Evaluation Panel and Project Finalisation Committee have recommended Lend Lease Engineering as
the preferred tenderer.
8.
The Tender Evaluation Panel Report and recommendation was signed by the Tender Evaluation Panel
on 16 November 2015 and is tabled (submitted on file) with this submission.
9.
Project Finalisation Committee members signed the Project Finalisation Committee Report on 16
November 2015, which is also tabled (submitted on file) with this submission.
10.
Signed Commitment Deeds were received from both Lend Lease Engineering and RiverReach on 11
November 2015.
11.
The Probity Advisor has confirmed in writing that as of the 16 November 2015, there are no
unresolved probity issues. The Probity Auditor will provide a full probity report on the conclusion of
the RFT process, after debriefs with unsuccessful participants.
12.
Approval is sought for Council to:
(a)
award the Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade Contract to Lend Lease Engineering
(b)
authorise the necessary steps to sign and action the contract documents.
Vision/Corporate Plan impact
13.
The KSD upgrade project is part of delivering Council’s Transport Plan for Brisbane 2008˗2026 and is
consistent with long-term regional and citywide transport planning objectives.
Environmental impact
14.
Council has identified the relevant environmental approvals required to undertake the project. Council
is progressing with obtaining the required permits including Prescribed Tidal Works, and Removal,
Destruction or Damage of Marine Plants to enable the section of the project to be constructed in the
Brisbane River. The contract includes a constraint that restricts the contractor from constructing any
work in the river until the earlier of 1 June 2016 or receipt of the planning approvals.
15.
The contractor is required to prepare and implement an Environmental Management Plan for the
delivery of the project.
Financial impact
16.
The entering into a contract with the Preferred Proponent will commit Council to deliver the project
and incur a legal liability.
Human resource impact
17.
Dedicated resources to manage this project have been included in Council’s forward budget.
18.
The Chief Executive Officer provided the following recommendation and the Committee agreed.
19.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL RESOLVE AS PER THE DRAFT RESOLUTIONS AS SET OUT IN
ATTACHMENTS A AND B, hereunder.
Attachment A
Draft Resolution
DRAFT RESOLUTION TO AWARD THE KINGSFORD SMITH DRIVE UPGRADE DESIGN
AND CONSTRUCT CONTRACT TO LEND LEASE ENGINEERING
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 60 As:
(i)
On 23 February 2015 the Establishment and Coordination Committee approved a Significant
Contracting Plan in relation to the design and construction of the Kingsford Smith Drive
(KSD) Upgrade Project between Breakfast Creek Road, Albion and Theodore Street, Eagle
Farm
(ii)
Council issued an invitation for expressions of interest (EOI) to the market on 2 March 2015
inviting suitably qualified design and construction consortia to demonstrate their capability in
delivering the KSD Upgrade Project
(iii)
On 22 April 2015, the Divisional Manager Brisbane Infrastructure approved issuing the
request for tender (RFT) documents to the recommended short-listed EOI respondents. RFT
documents were issued to the short-listed consortia on 27 April 2015
(iv)
On 31 July 2015, four tenders, Lend Lease Engineering, RiverReach, RiverLinQ, and
Riverway, were submitted as conforming tenders for the delivery of the KSD Upgrade Project
under a design and construct contract. RiverReach also submitted an alternative tender
(v)
A comprehensive evaluation process has been undertaken in accordance with the approved
Tender Evaluation Plan. Following completion of compliance checks and initial detailed
tender assessment, on 12 October 2015, the Tender Evaluation Panel ceased further evaluation
of RiverReach (conforming), RiverLinQ, and Riverway
(vi)
Evaluation continued on the remaining two tenders and has now been completed. Both the
Tender Evaluation Panel and Project Finalisation Committee have recommended Lend Lease
Engineering as the preferred tenderer
(vii)
The Tender Evaluation Panel Report and recommendation was signed by the Tender
Evaluation Panel on 16 November 2015 and is tabled with this submission
(viii)
Project Finalisation Committee members signed the Project Finalisation Committee Report on
16 November 2015 which is also tabled with this submission
(ix)
Signed Commitment Deeds were received from both Lend Lease Engineering and RiverReach
on 11 November 2015
(x)
The Probity Advisor has confirmed in writing that as of the 16 November 2015, there are no
unresolved probity issues. The Probity Auditor will provide a full probity report on the
conclusion of the RFT process, after debriefs with unsuccessful participants
(xi)
The award of the KSD Upgrade Project to Lend Lease Engineering will authorise the
necessary steps to sign and action the contract documents
then Council approves the award of the Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade Project Contract to Lend
Lease Engineering generally in accordance with the contract documents tabled and otherwise on terms
and conditions satisfactory to the Chief Legal Counsel.
Attachment B
Draft Resolution
DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR KINGSFORD SMITH DRIVE UPGRADE DELEGATIONS
THAT IT BE RESOLVED THAT—
UNDER SECTION 238 OF THE CITY OF BRISBANE ACT 2010, BRISBANE CITY
COUNCIL—
DELEGATES its powers under the CITY OF BRISBANE ACT 2010 specified in Schedule 1, on the
conditions stated in Schedule 2.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 61 Schedule 1 – Delegations under the City of Brisbane Act 2010
Kingsford Smith Drive Upgrade
Section 242
-
Execute the Design and Construct Contract either under Council Seal or as Council's
designated representative or both.
Delegate
Chief Executive Officer
Schedule 2 – General Conditions
(1)
Each of the functions and powers delegated includes—
(a)
doing any act and making any decision;
(b)
giving or causing to be given any notice, notification, statement of reasons;
(c)
issuing or causing to be issued, and endorsing, any certificate, permit or other
instrument of authorisation, and any copy thereof,
if doing so is incidental to or entailed by the exercise of the functions and powers.
(2)
(3)
A reference to a law includes a reference to—
(a)
the law as originally made, and as amended from time to time since it was originally
made;
(b)
if the law has been repealed and remade (with or without modification) since the
reference was made---the law as remade, and as amended from time to time since it
was remade;
(c)
if a provision of the law has been omitted and remade (with or without modification
and whether in the law or another law) since the reference was made—the provision
as remade;
(d)
the law as renumbered or amended from time to time.
In this Instrument of Delegation—
"delegate", in relation to a position, means the person holding or acting in that position from
time to time;
"law" includes a provision of a law;
"position" means the position as it appears or as subsequently renamed.
ADOPTED
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 62 -
INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee, moved,
seconded by Councillor Ian McKENZIE, that the report of the meeting of that Committee held on
10 November 2015, be adopted.
Chairman:
DEPUTY MAYOR.
DEPUTY MAYOR:
Just very briefly, we had a presentation on the new Streets of Remembrance
program that's been initiated as of Remembrance Day just last week. This
program is about acknowledging the many streets across our city that are named
for a military or war related reason. This program I know is one that we've
received a lot of positive feedback about. The number one thing that people are
saying is there's lots of streets that acknowledge our war history and can we also
have this program rolled out to additional streets. The answer is yes, we are. We
have started the program.
There is a much bigger program to come and there are many more streets that
will be included in this going forward. So we've taken one small, but important
step in establishing this program. So we've got streets like Anzac Road,
Anzac Avenue, Anzac Lane, Birdwood Road in a couple of different suburbs.
Birdwood Street. We also have Gallipoli Road, Heliopolis Parade,
Lemnos Street, Lone Pine Street, Monash Court, Monash Place and
Monash Road in various suburbs. So they're related to the First World War and,
in particular, the battles that Australians were involved in that war.
As I said, looking forward to rolling out this program to additional streets going
forward.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor WINES.
Councillor WINES:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. I rise in support of this item. As many
Councillors would know, the Enoggera Ward is home to the Enoggera Barracks.
It is the key employer and the key point of community identity for the district.
The local streets all through the area have names for either battles, important
people or field hospitals. As one of the locations the DEPUTY MAYOR just
named, Heliopolis Parade. Heliopolis is a place in Egypt that was a field
hospital, as was other streets in the Enoggera/Mitchelton area. Cairo, Imbros,
Gizeh and it is numerous.
It is also important to note that the core of the activists who keep the
Gaythorne RSL alive and kicking in such a strong way are all Medical Corps
veterans who can link their own service to units that existed in World War One.
So Heliopolis Parade and Imbros to the present day, the 2nd Health Services
Battalion and 2nd General Hospital Battalion, which exists in Enoggera today,
these are signs are a way of recognising the service of people who served in
World War One in particular and I look forward to it continuing for the many
streets, both in Enoggera District and across the city in recognition of these
people's service.
Chairman:
Further debate?
DEPUTY MAYOR?
I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the report of the Infrastructure Committee
was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 63 ATTENDANCE:
Deputy Mayor, Councillor Adrian Schrinner (Chairman), Councillor Ian McKenzie (Deputy Chairman), and
Councillors Jared Cassidy, Milton Dick and Steven Toomey.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
Councillor Norm Wyndham.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – STREETS OF REMEMBRANCE
242/2015-16
1.
Chris McCahon, Transport Network Operations Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy Branch,
Brisbane Infrastructure Division, attended the meeting to provide an update on the Streets of
Remembrance. He provided the information below.
2.
The Streets of Remembrance is a joint initiative of Council and the Australian Defence Force to
commemorate the 100-year anniversary of World War I. Following a community suggestion, it was
identified as a way for Council to acknowledge service to our country and as a mark of respect.
Remembrance Day 2015 is the key commencement date for this initiative.
3.
The steps taken as part of this initiative include:
the re-badging of some street signs with the Australian Defence Force ‘Rising Sun’ badge
availability of information on the Council website
scope of the initiative includes:
initial consideration
themes - 1915 battles/places/people
‘shares the name’ vs ‘named after’.
4.
A list of the streets selected was displayed along with an example of a street sign and details of the
information made available about the Streets of Remembrance on the Council website.
5.
The significance of the street names was outlined, including:
ANZAC – formed in 1915 during World War I, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
(ANZAC) was an army corps of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. Under the command
of Lieutenant General William Birdwood, the Anzacs operated during the Battle of Gallipoli,
and consisted of troops from both the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force and the First
Australian Imperial Force.
Birdwood – Lieutenant General Sir William Birdwood, a senior officer in Britain’s pre-1914
Indian Army, was appointed in December 1914 to the command of the Australian and
New Zealand forces then assembling in Egypt.
Gallipoli – The Gallipoli campaign, also known as the Dardanelles campaign, the Battle of
Gallipoli or the Battle of Çanakkale, was a campaign which occurred on the Gallipoli
peninsula between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916. The date of the landing, 25 April is
known as "Anzac Day".
Lone Pine – one of the most famous assaults of the Gallipoli campaign, the Battle of Lone
Pine, was originally intended as a diversion from attempts by Australian New Zealand units to
force a breakout from the ANZAC perimeter on the heights of Chunuk Bair and Hill 971. The
Lone Pine attack, launched by the First Brigade AIF in the late afternoon of 6 August 1915,
pitched Australian forces against entrenched Turkish positions.
Monash – General Sir John Monash was an Australian Military Commander during
World War I. By 1914, he was in command of the AIF's 4th Brigade in Egypt, with whom he
took part in the Gallipoli campaign. In May 1918, he became Commander of the
Australian Corps and was later knighted by King John V in August of 1918.
Heliopolis – the First Australian General Hospital was located in a re-purposed Palace Hotel in
Heliopolis, about 7.24 km west of Cairo. This hospital dealt with physical injuries, diseases
and shell shock. It had also been a compound for Australian Light Horse regiments before they
were shipped to Gallipoli.
Lemnos – the third Australian general hospital was established on the Greek island of Lemnos
in the Aegean Sea during August 1915. About 130 nurses served at the hospitals on the island.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 64 6.
A letter from the Lord Mayor to the residents, informing them of this initiative was displayed.
7.
Council is exploring the possibility of this initiative being a rolling program and the initiatives
proposed as part of this include:
working with Council’s City Architecture and Heritage team
identifying themes for the next three years (2016-2018)
inviting public submissions
deliverable by key dates:
ANZAC Day
Remembrance Day.
8.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr McCahon for his
informative presentation.
9.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.
ADOPTED
B
PETITION – CROSSING AT THE ROUNDABOUT AND FOOTPATHS OF
NORRIS AND BARBOUR ROADS, BRACKEN RIDGE
CA15/650924
243/2015-16
10.
A petition from residents, requesting Council to assess the need for a safe and suitable crossing on
Norris Road and Barbour Road, Bracken Ridge, as well as address the lack of footpaths along these
roads, was presented to the meeting of Council held on 25 August 2015, by Councillor
Amanda Cooper, and received.
11.
The Branch Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, provided the
following information.
12.
Council has received a petition requesting Council provide a safer crossing at or near the roundabout of
Norris Road and Barbour Road, Bracken Ridge. The petition also calls for footpaths to be installed
along these roads, so that pedestrians can look to cross the road away from the roundabout. The petition
has four signatures from residents, three of whom live within Brisbane.
13.
The petitioners believe that crossing at the roundabout of Norris and Barbour Roads is very dangerous,
especially for pedestrians who have prams or young children. The petitioners claim that the roundabout
is extremely busy during peak times and as a result there have been a few near miss incidents at this
location.
14.
Norris Road is classified as a Suburban Route within Brisbane’s Road Hierarchy Plan. These routes
form important links in the public transport and inter-suburban freight network and are designed to
carry between 10,000 and 20,000 vehicles per day. Suburban Routes have speed limits of up to
80km/h. Barbour Road is considered as a District Access Route within the Brisbane’s Road Hierarchy
Plan. District Access Routes allow for the movement of people and goods within and through suburbs,
and access to local streets and are designed to carry between 3,000 and 10,000 vehicles per day. Given
their classifications, it is expected that these roads carry moderate to high traffic volumes not only
during peak times, but also throughout the day.
15.
A search through Queensland Government’s official crash records was undertaken from 2001 to 2013
at this roundabout. This has not reported any incidents involving pedestrians, indicating there being no
significant safety issue regarding pedestrian crossing at this intersection.
16.
Council has listed the intersection of Norris and Barbour Roads, Bracken Ridge for a future upgrade,
including converting the intersection from a roundabout to traffic signals. The design of this upgrade is
envisaged to provide a safe and suitable pedestrian crossing location. Unfortunately there is a high
demand for traffic signals across the city and each year Council works with local Councillors to
prioritise projects across the city that will deliver the greatest benefit in terms of safety and amenity to
residents. This means that funding for 2015-16 has already been committed to other citywide priorities.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 65 -
17.
Council has also investigated if alternate locations around this intersection could support the
installation of a pedestrian crossing. Council has identified a number of potential locations and will list
these locations for consideration as part of the project prioritisations in future budgets. Potential
locations have been included in the attachment to this submission.
18.
Given the significant demand for new traffic signals across the city, Council considers that also listing
potential pedestrian crossing locations may provide a quicker outcome for the petitioners.
19.
Footpaths exist along the majority of both sides of Norris and Barbour Road. That being said, there are
some sections of missing footpaths. These locations are currently undeveloped parcels of land.
Footpaths will be installed along the missing sections as these lots are developed.
20.
It is therefore recommended that Council advise the head petitioner that Council has listed the
intersection of Norris and Barbour Roads, Bracken Ridge, for a future upgrade, including converting
the intersection from a roundabout to traffic signals. The design of this upgrade is envisaged to provide
a safe and suitable pedestrian crossing location. Council will work with Councillor Amanda Cooper,
Councillor for Bracken Ridge Ward, to consider this intersection for funding as part of future financial
years. It is also recommended that the head petitioner be advised that the new footpaths will be
constructed as the vacant lots are developed.
Funding
21.
Funding for intersection upgrades for the 2015-16 financial year have already been committed to other
citywide priorities.
Consultation
22.
The Councillor for Bracken Ridge Ward, Councillor Amanda Cooper, has been consulted and supports
the recommendation.
Customer impact
23.
The petition response will address the petitioners’ concerns.
Preferred option
24.
It is the preferred option that Council advise the head petitioner that Council has listed the intersection
of Norris and Barbour Roads, Bracken Ridge for a future upgrade, including converting the intersection
from a roundabout to traffic signals. The design of this upgrade is envisaged to provide a safe and
suitable pedestrian crossing location. Council will work with Councillor Amanda Cooper, Councillor
for Bracken Ridge Ward, to consider this intersection for funding as part of future financial years. It is
also recommended that the head petitioner be advised that the new footpaths will be constructed as the
vacant lots are developed.
25.
Accordingly, the Branch Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed, with
Councillors Jared Cassidy and Milton Dick dissenting.
26.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PREFERRED
OPTION ABOVE AND OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.
ADOPTED
C
PETITIONS – SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE ROUNDABOUT
INTERSECTION OF DEAGON STREET, NASH STREET, BASKERVILLE
STREET AND BRACKEN RIDGE ROAD, SANDGATE
CA15/718696 and CA15/756516
244/2015-16
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 66 27.
Council received two petitions from residents, requesting Council to implement safety improvements at
the roundabout intersection of Deagon Street, Nash Street, Baskerville Street and Bracken Ridge Road,
Sandgate. The petition CA15/718696 was presented to the meeting of Council held on 1 September
2015, by Councillor Jared Cassidy, and received; and the petition CA15/756516 was presented to the
meeting of Council held on 15 September 2015, also by Councillor Jared Cassidy, and received.
28.
The Branch Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, provided the
following information.
29.
The petition CA15/718696 contains 59 signatures and the petition CA15/756516 contains 226
signatures. The petitioners are concerned about pedestrian safety and speeding.
30.
Bracken Ridge Road and Deagon Street are classified as Suburban Roads within Brisbane’s Road
Hierarchy Plan and are designed to carry between 10,000 and 20,000 vehicles per day.
Baskerville Street is classified as a District Access Road within Brisbane’s Road Hierarchy Plan and is
designed to carry 3,000 to 15,000 vehicles per day. Nash Street is classified as a Neighbourhood/Local
Road and is designed to carry less than 1,000 vehicles per day. All of these roads meet at one location
and are traffic controlled by a roundabout. The roundabout is a single lane circulating roundabout and
the approach from the Deagon Street part has a left turn slip lane going into Nash Street.
31.
The site is located within a residential precinct with an open space area (Peace Park) available to the
north and a string of neighbourhood shops available to the east; which include a hair salon, a clothing
store, a printing shop, professional rooms and a coffee shop. A covered awning is present, sheltering all
of these shops and a post box is centrally placed on the concrete path fronting these shops. Kerbside
parking restrictions in the form of No Stopping, loading zone and 15 minute parking are present to
meet the needs of the merchants at this site. A locality map is available on file.
32.
On behalf of residents and businesses, former Councillor for Deagon Ward,
Councillor Victoria Newton, previously asked Council to investigate a number of concerns with the
intersection of Deagon Street, Nash Street, Baskerville Street and Bracken Ridge Road, Sandgate.
These concerns included vehicle speeds, pedestrian safety and parking availability for nearby
businesses.
33.
As a result of this investigation, Council allocated funding through the 2015-16 budget to prepare
conceptual designs for an intersection upgrade. Funding to implement the improvements will be
considered as part of a prioritisation of similar upgrades across the city in future Council budgets.
34.
Council is currently investigating potential designs for the intersection upgrade and will specifically
consider the concerns raised by the petitioners including pedestrian safety, lack of kerb ramps, vehicle
speeds and parking availability and other potential improvements deemed appropriate.
35.
Once design options have been developed, Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy branch will
consult with Councillor Jared Cassidy, Councillor for the Deagon Ward, to ensure concerns have been
satisfactorily considered before construction commences.
36.
It is recommended that Council advise the head petitioner that Council has listed the intersection of
Deagon Street, Nash Street, Baskerville Street and Bracken Ridge Road, Sandgate, for an upgrade
investigation during the 2015-16 financial year and that the project design will consider the issues
raised by the petitioners. Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy branch will consult with
Councillor Jared Cassidy, Councillor for the Deagon Ward, on the final upgrade design before
implementation.
Funding
37.
Funding for the design upgrade of this intersection has been allocated under the 2015-16 Budget for
Program 2 – Moving Brisbane under Schedule 61, Local Access Network Improvements.
Consultation
38.
The Councillor for Deagon Ward, Councillor Jared Cassidy, has been consulted and supports the
recommendation.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 67 Customer impact
39.
The petition response will address the petitioners’ concerns.
Preferred Option
40.
It is the preferred option that Council advise the head petitioner that Council has listed the intersection
of Deagon Street, Nash Street, Baskerville Street and Bracken Ridge Road, Sandgate, for an upgrade
investigation during 2015-16 financial year and that the project design will consider the issues raised by
the petitioners. Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy branch will consult with Councillor
Jared Cassidy, Councillor for the Deagon Ward, on the final upgrade design before implementation.
41.
Accordingly, the Branch Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed.
42.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PREFERRED
OPTION
ADOPTED
PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE
Councillor Peter MATIC, Chairman of the Public and Active Transport Committee, moved, seconded by
Councillor Steven HUANG that the report of that Committee held on 10 November 2015, be adopted.
Chairman:
Councillor MATIC.
Councillor MATIC:
Madam Chairman, just briefly, I'd like to turn to the committee presentation,
which was on special events. I'd like to thank the officers for a most informative
presentation, but particularly want to acknowledge the hard work of
Brisbane Transport (BT) in delivering this important service across the city.
The contract that BT has for the supply of special events is fundamental to being
able to get people in and out of Suncorp, the Gabba, the Ekka celebrations,
Bridge to Brisbane, our Christmas lights program, New Year's Eve, all of these
are huge events that are—that embrace the city as a whole are part of a core
business that BT provides. They do an amazing job.
The statistics that they provide us within the Committee clearly show that they
have turned it into a fine art in being able to move that many people in and out
of Suncorp, for example, which has a capacity of about 52,500 people in there,
say, for a State of Origin. To be able to move all those people out in the space of
an hour is an extraordinary task and certainly something which is worth
acknowledging and mentioning.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor JOHNSTON.
Councillor JOHNSTON:
Yes. Thank you. I just wanted to note some comments in respect Item B. I know
Councillor de WIT is not here, so I’m sure she'll be interested perhaps to read
the minutes afterwards. What we found out—well, last week, a petition came
out with respect to Councillor de WIT residents' seeking some bus services to
run in Sugarwood Street. There's a retirement village and residents are very
concerned that there's not an appropriate bus service for them to access.
I guess the interesting part of what the recommendation says is that we're
referring the petition as requested to the Honourable Jackie Trad, MP,
Minister for Transport, because this is a TransLink matter and the Minister
should take it up. However, I mean, today, Councillor MATIC has announced
that Council will pay for additional bus services into Moggill, not in the area
these residents want, but to the 444. So I guess the issue I note here is that it's
very interesting that Councillor MATIC's prepared to pay for some bus services,
but not others. I think a very interesting precedent has been set.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 68 Councillor MATIC can look forward to a lot of correspondence from me now.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor MATIC.
Councillor MATIC:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Just a point of clarification based on the previous
speaker who didn’t read Item B or what the petition was actually requesting.
The petition was actually requesting—by—from residents requesting that
Council make representations to the Minister to provide bus services. So it was
specifically asking us to write to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Public
Transport, Madam Chairman, which the recommendation supported. Thank you.
Chairman:
I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the report of the Public and Active
Transport Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Peter Matic (Chairman), Councillor Steven Huang (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors Margaret de
Wit, Steve Griffiths, Nicole Johnston and Andrew Wines.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – SPECIAL EVENTS
245/2015-16
1.
Greg Spelman, Branch Manager Strategy and Network Services, Brisbane Transport, attended the
meeting to provide an update on Special Events. He provided the information below.
2.
Brisbane Transport provide public transport arrangements for special events in the city for crowds
ranging from 2,000 to 400,000. There are 80 to 100 such events in a year and the bus requirements can
range from five to 250 buses per event.
3.
Venues for the special events include:
Suncorp Stadium
the Gabba
South Bank precincts
the Royal National Association (RNA) showgrounds
other such venues.
4.
The types of events include:
sporting events:
AFL
Cricket
Rugby Union
Rugby League
Soccer
races
general or public events:
Riverfire
The Royal Exhibition (EKKA)
Bridge to Brisbane
Christmas lights
New Year’s Eve
concerts.
5.
Tables with statistics showing the break-up of logistics for various events in the 2014-15 financial year
were displayed.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 69 6.
The details of service for a typical special event at Suncorp Stadium were outlined, including:
40 events take place at this venue on average per year
the capacity of the stadium is 52,500
80 per cent of the total attendees use public transport and 35 per cent use buses
a transport service plan, service level requirements and a traffic management plan were
explained
images were also displayed of the Suncorp Bus Station, the bus holding area, the platform
layout and people boarding buses during an actual event
examples of a typical month’s events calendar and the required pre-planning for an event were
also explained.
7.
The key elements of success during special events include:
a coordinated approach where all agencies need to work together
open and honest communications across all levels and groups
a good relationship with clients – liaise with the customer to understand what drives
attendance at the event
adequate and suitable infrastructure
integrated ticketing
traffic management plan
support staff
appropriate documentation and reporting procedures
debriefing and reviewing of plans.
8.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr Spelman for his
informative presentation.
9.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.
ADOPTED
B
PETITION – REQUESTING COUNCIL MAKE REPRESENTATIONS TO
THE MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT TO PROVIDE BUS SERVICES FOR
THE SUBURB OF MOGGILL
CA15/692860
246/2015-16
10.
A petition from residents, requesting Council make representations to the Minister for Transport to
provide bus services for the suburb of Moggill, was presented to the meeting of Council held on
25 August 2015, by Councillor Margaret de Wit, and received.
11.
The Divisional Manager, Brisbane Transport, provided the following information.
12.
A petition has been received to provide bus services for the suburb of Moggill, which has had extensive
aged residential development in recent years. Many residents do not have access to public transport due
to the prohibitive walking distances to existing bus stops in Bellbowrie.
13.
Council has noted the petitioners’ concern to extend bus services to the Moggill area. Of the
112 petitioners, 100 reside at 119 Sugarwood Street, Bellbowrie, and the remaining 12 in the suburbs
of Bellbowrie, Fig Tree Pocket, Moggill and Upper Brookfield.
14.
Council currently operates a high frequency route 444 BUZ service and a pre-paid (P) peak hour route
443 rocket service. Both of these service the western suburbs of Pullenvale, Pinjarra Hills, Bellbowrie
and Moggill. These services are designed to be direct and frequent, and any extension or redirection
would potentially impact the existing patronage for these services.
15.
Council has investigated the option of redirecting these existing bus routes into the southern side of
Moggill, in particular the area around Sugarwood Street, Bellbowrie. An extension to these services
would add additional running time, as well as making the journey indirect for the majority of
commuters.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 70 16.
TransLink Division, Department of Transport and Main Roads, is the entity of the
Queensland Government, which is responsible for the delivery of public transport services and
infrastructure for South East Queensland. Brisbane City Council operates bus services under a contract
with TransLink. All changes to bus services, including new services, are subject to approval and
funding by TransLink.
17.
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.
18.
It is recommended that the head petitioner be advised, that Council will therefore forward their
concerns onto The Honourable Jackie Trad MP, Minister for Transport.
Funding
19.
Under the existing contract arrangements between Brisbane City Council and TransLink, TransLink is
responsible for approving and funding any new services or enhancements to existing services.
Consultation
20.
The Councillor for Pullenvale Ward, Councillor Margaret de Wit, has been consulted and supports the
recommendation.
Customer impact
21.
Residents of 119 Sugarwood Street, Bellbowrie, will continue to voice their concerns for better public
transport options in their area.
Preferred Option
22.
It is the preferred option that Council advise the head petitioner, that Council will refer the petitioners’
request to The Honourable Jackie Trad MP, Minister for Transport.
23.
Accordingly, the Divisional Manager therefore recommended as follows and the Committee agreed.
24.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT COUNCIL WILL REFER THE
PETITIONERS’ REQUEST TO THE HONOURABLE JACKIE TRAD MP, MINISTER FOR
TRANSPORT.
ADOPTED
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT
COMMITTEE
Councillor Amanda COOPER, Chairman of the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment
Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor Vicki HOWARD, that the report of the meeting of that Committee
held on 10 November 2015, be adopted.
Chairman:
Councillor COOPER.
Councillor COOPER:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll be very quick. We had a report last week about
the Suburban Centre Improvement Projects (SCIPs). The Renewal program is a
new initiative of the LORD MAYOR to revitalise key elements of the existing
SCIPs to ensure they're able to be enjoyed by the community for longer periods
of time. So SCIPs have been happening across our city for almost 20 years and
some of them do need a little bit of revitalisation and a face lift. So elements of
the SCIPs that can be restored through this program are the artworks, upgrading
some sections of the pavement and replanting.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 71 We've commenced this program with renewal of three SCIPs at Mitchelton,
Sunnybank and Wynnum. Mitchelton was completed in 1996, is much beloved
of the local community, with unique timber artwork. Unfortunately, these
balustrades, arbours and seating had deteriorated to the point of being
dangerous. This was removed and improved. Councillor WINES I know is very
proud of that particular outcome. Sunnybank SCIP was constructed in 1998-99.
There were artwork pieces that had suffered vandalism and had significantly
aged, so there has been work undertaken with the MacGregor State School.
There have been art workshops to allow the school to be involved in creating
some new pieces that will be used to replace those damaged pieces. For the
Wynnum SCIP, there has been—the work that was completed in 2000 only was
restricted to a small section of the CBD there at Wynnum. So we've worked with
the local community and Wynnum State School to develop a concept for
artwork, which the community voted upon and sandcastle competition was the
overwhelming favourite.
They were very happy about that one, which was inspired by the 1930s
Courier Mail sandcastle competitions which were held in Wynnum. So we had a
celebration on 31 October and an art exhibition, which displayed students'
artwork and the winning design. So it was fantastic. All of the work of all the
students who have particularly participated in this program, I would like to
thank them all. We've got a lot of creative brilliance in our city. We're delighted
to see this program and thank the LORD MAYOR for his support of this new
initiative. Thank you.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor WINES.
Councillor WINES:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. I rise to speak in support of this motion and in
particular the works around the Mitchelton SCIP. It is an iconic SCIP and it was
very much key to the revitalisation of the north-west suburb of Mitchelton. It is
much loved and it is a homage to the original agricultural in the district, which
was, of course, wine growing or growing grapes for the purposes of wine. That's
where we get the Grovely Estate as distinct from the Clovely Estate of
north-west Brisbane.
Now, if you were to look at the material that's used, it does appear to be a sort of
a vineyard through the section and many community members were keen to see
that vineyard style and the arbours remain. So I would like to recognise the
SCIP team for the work that they've done to return it largely as it was, but with
materials and in a style that will increase its longevity and deal with some of the
issues that occurred around essentially the age of the wood inside the public
constructions, inside the vineyard pieces. So it looks really good. The footpath
has been corrected, which was a common request.
I encourage people to come and have a look. Sometimes these things—as
Councillor COOPER said, it was built in 1996. Sometimes they need a refresh
and a rebuild and hopefully this one lasts at least another 20 years.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor HUANG.
Councillor HUANG:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise to speak on Item A of the report on
Sunnybank SCIP. Well, Sunnybank SCIP was originally completed back in
1998-99 and provided a sense of place and sense of community to the
Sunnybank area. The SCIP has created a vibrant area, joining together a busy
shopping precinct, connecting Sunnybank Plaza, Sunny Park Shopping Centre
and also Market Square. Unfortunately over those years the SCIP has seen some
damage and vandalism and has lost its spark. I understand that some of the
artwork has become damaged beyond repair and that in some instances was no
longer safe.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the LORD MAYOR and also
Councillor COOPER in allowing the investment into this area to revitalise the
SCIP. Council's new suite of furniture was installed, including bench seats, bins
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 72 and drinking fountains. As part of the original SCIP, there was a number of
fantastic public art installations. It is great to see that these pieces of art are
receiving a little bit of love, especially one of the landmark in the area, the
Sunnybank sign was repainted and looks fantastic now.
I cannot wait to see the other artwork refurbished, especially the
Central Markers, which was originally installed to include student artwork.
However, these pieces are now damaged and have to be removed. In August this
year, Council worked with MacGregor State School students, as
Councillor COOPER mentioned, to create new art pieces to replace the damaged
ones. It was great to see the students being so involved with the Council project
and with their input, I’m sure they will bring the unique character of the area
into the new artwork.
I hope they are able to look at this artwork for years to come and have a sense of
pride that they could be involved. I would like to conclude by thanking
Councillor COOPER and all officers involved for the good work to revitalise
this SCIP. Thank you.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Councillor CUMMING.
Councillor CUMMING:
Yes. Thanks, Madam Chair. Just very briefly, the improvement and refresh in
Wynnum-Manly referred to Item A, I was disappointed with it, Madam Chair.
Most of the money was spent on replacing like with like. In fact, the—it was the
seats, large numbers of seats with red varnish were replaced with seats with
brown varnish. With respect, I don’t know that that improved things greatly. The
first stage of the SCIP years ago was a charge for the levy for the SCIP was
enforced on quite a large area of Wynnum Central, the large part of the
commercial area.
Streets like Clara Street, Tingal Road and these streets never had any money
spent on them. The promise always was, well, if there was another stage of the
SCIP, that these streets would get some treatment. They didn’t get any treatment
this time round. They're still bare concrete and no vegetation and I thought that
was disappointing that these streets could have been given a bit of treatment.
The fact that the property owners in those streets had paid the levy for 10 years
and got nothing for it was a bit disappointing.
Also, there was a number of suggestions for how the money could have been
spent, which I think would have been a little bit cleverer than replacing like with
like and that was disappointing as well. The art project, I believe, was a
worthwhile project.
There was some criticism of the amount spent, but I believe that engaging the
students from Wynnum High, not Wynnum State School, which I think is what
Councillor COOPER said, Wynnum High School students involved in the
project, I think, was good and the artwork does tie in with some of the history of
the Esplanade and Wynnum where the sand competition, the sand sculpture
competition was a part of the old days of Wynnum-Manly. That was
worthwhile. Thank you.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Okay. Councillor COOPER, any right of reply?
Councillor COOPER:
I'd just like to briefly say that the SCIP at Wynnum was completed in the year
2000, so if the local Councillor has any complaints, I think he should look to
himself. Thank you.
Chairman:
I now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of the report of the
Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 73 ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Amanda Cooper (Chairman), Councillor Vicki Howard (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors
Helen Abrahams, Ryan Murphy, Shayne Sutton and Andrew Wines.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – SUBURBAN CENTRE IMPROVEMENT
PROJECT RENEWALS
247/2015-16
1.
Kaylene McGill, Senior Urban Designer, Urban Design, Infrastructure Coordination and Urban Design,
City Planning and Economic Development, City Planning and Sustainability Division, attended the
meeting to provide an update on the Suburban Centre Improvement Project (SCIP) Renewals. She
provided the information below.
2.
The Brisbane Improvement Projects (BIPs) Rehabilitation and Maintenance Services Program
commenced in 2014-15.
3.
Almost $44 million has been invested in building 46 SCIPs since 1996. The rehabilitation and
maintenance services program is used to focus maintenance on these SCIPs and undertake a renewal
program.
4.
Last financial year, the renewal of the Mitchelton SCIP in Blackwood Street, the Sunnybank SCIP,
located along Mains Road, near McCullough Street and the Wynnum SCIP, a large SCIP where the
main shopping centre is on Edith Street and Bay Terrace, were commenced.
5.
The Mitchelton SCIP renewal included new arbours, refurbished balustrades, new pavement, new street
furniture, restoration of customised furniture, landscaping and tree planting and restoration of artwork.
Images were shown of the renewal.
6.
The Sunnybank SCIP renewal included streetscape improvements on corner seating areas, modification
of existing artwork, refurbishment of signs, artwork restoration and school art workshops. Images were
shown of the renewal.
7.
When the Wynnum SCIP was built in 2000, the SCIP focused on the main commercial/retail street in
Edith Street and parts of Bay Terrace. Since then, the shopping centre has grown and Bay Terrace has
become more of a café/restaurant strip. There are also new facilities in Florence Street which runs
parallel to Edith Street, including a new library and community centre. Wynnum SCIP renewal
included a bus stop upgrade, new sections of pavement, new street furniture, landscaping and tree
planting, artwork restoration and a new artwork. Images were shown of the renewal.
8.
The new artwork piece will be delivered as part of the Wynnum SCIP renewal. Consultation included
information stalls; one at the Wynnum night markets and a street stall.
9.
Curators did a survey of key local community groups for their values and aspirations of the community
which were fun, lively, welcoming, festive and thriving. As part of the Wynnum SCIP renewal, local
Wynnum artist Jenny Furlong and art curator, John Armstrong held two art workshops with students in
grades seven to 11 from Wynnum State High School.
10.
The students created individual artists’ books that captured their impressions, thoughts, reflections and
fantasies about Wynnum. Images were displayed with some of the students’ artist’s books.
11.
In September an art competition was held and the residents of Wynnum had their say on the choice of
two concept designs for the new artwork created by the shortlisted artists. Two choices were presented,
Sand castle competition by Camille Serisier and Turning the tides – turtles can skate by Lucas Salton.
The community selected Camille Serisier’s Sand castle competition as their preferred concept, and this
will be placed on the corner of Florence Street and Bay Terrace in early 2016. Camille’s concept Sand
castle competition celebrates the coastal setting and rich history of Wynnum and was inspired by the
summer sandcastle competitions of the 1930s held in Wynnum by the Telegraph and The Courier-Mail
newspapers. Images were shown of the two concepts.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 74 12.
Images were shown of the Wynnum SCIP renewal art restoration. These included the Serpent drinking
fountain by Joyce Watson, the Migratory birds totem by Andrea Hicks, the Wildlife seat by
Andrea Hicks, the Fishing Totem by Andrea Hicks and Nunukuls by Joyce Watson.
13.
Images were displayed from the Wynnum SCIP renewal art exhibition held on 31 October 2015, and
the library display which will be held for the month of November.
14.
Future activities will include the library exhibition display in November 2015, artwork restoration in
November and December 2015 and a new artwork installation in March 2016.
15.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Ms McGill for her
informative presentation.
16.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.
ADOPTED
ENVIRONMENT, PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
Councillor Matthew BOURKE, Chairman of the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee, moved,
seconded by Councillor Fiona KING, that the report of the meeting of that Committee held on
10 November 2015, be adopted.
Chairman:
Councillor BOURKE.
Councillor BOURKE:
Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. Hopefully by report won't be as
controversial as last week. But, just before I get to the item that's on the
Committee report before us, I just want to add my comments to those of the
LORD MAYOR earlier around the unveiling.
I had the pleasure of attending on Saturday afternoon, along with
Councillor WINES and the LORD MAYOR, Deputy Premier, Jackie Trad, as
well as a number of representations from a range of organisations, both
Men’s Sheds and the community organisations who helped form the original
Brisbane sign at South Bank that was part of the G20 celebration that was put on
by the State Government at the time. That original installation was only meant
to be there for three weeks. We ended up having it for the best part of four
months and it was a sad day when we had to take the original Brisbane sign
away.
But a commitment and partnership between the State Government at the time,
Minister Ian Walker and Council, saw an agreement reached to build a new
Brisbane sign, better and bigger than ever. We've been able to deliver that. The
new sign has LED lighting. There's 11 LED lights with fully interchangeable
colours, Madam Chairman.
It has soft-fall, so that in the event that someone does try to climb, you know, I
imagine people were climbing on the old sign—so in the event that someone
does try to climb on this sign, it does have the safety measures around it, so if
someone does fall, they’re protected, Madam Chairman. The designs have been
painstakingly recreated from the original designs, which were 3D and part of the
problem we had with the original sign was that there were elements that were
falling off that weren't able to stand up to the weather we have here in
Queensland; the sun, the storms, the wind and hail.
We also had a hailstorm that hit the original Brisbane sign and so,
Madam Chairman, the painstaking work was done to actually incorporate those
3D elements into the sign, so that they—into the design, so that they presented
as true to the original designs that were created by the community groups
lovingly, Madam Chairman, for that original sign. We were able to do this,
Madam Chairman, as I said, in partnership with the state. It was a wonderful
afternoon.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 75 The weather held off until the unveiling and I would encourage all Councillors
to go over there and have a look at the new Brisbane sign. It really be a pinnacle
or a point of interest for visitors and for our own residents, given the attention
that the original Brisbane sign got. One on the report, Madam Chairman, which
was a presentation around the Anzac Square restoration project.
I thought it was important, given that we met on Tuesday the 10th and the next
day was Remembrance Day that we take the opportunity to highlight some of
the work we're doing in restoring and preserving history and the military history
of Brisbane. So this, once again, is a joint project between Brisbane City
Council and the State Government. It's $13.6 million project with the
State Government delivering about 11-and-a-bit million and Council putting in
$2.2 million. The first stage is an investigation stage.
The second stage was the stage that was opened and the focus mainly of this
presentation, Madam Chairman, which was the restoration of the undercroft area
and the preservation of the cenotaph for the top, Madam Chairman, involved the
ceiling and the installation of a new slab.
It involved a pile of important works, Madam Chairman, to stop water ingress
which was occurring into the lower area of Anzac Square into the Shrine of
Memories and into the old RSL headquarters, Madam Chairman, and it was
lovingly done by the Council officers, who are taking great pride in this project
and rightly so, Madam Chairman. So it's another great example of how this
Council continues to protect and preserve our heritage and our history, just as
we did with this building that we're in, Madam Chairman.
Anzac Square was built in the 1930s as part of a public-fundraised project, the
original cenotaph and this Council has taken over the management of
Anzac Square and we continue to invest in the history and heritage of our
residents for future generations and more importantly as a tribute to the sacrifice
and service that men and women have made in the service of this country.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Nothing further?
I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of the report of the
Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Matthew Bourke (Chairman), Councillor Fiona King (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors Peter
Cumming, Kim Flesser, Kim Marx and Steven Toomey.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – ANZAC SQUARE RESTORATION
PROJECT
248/2015-16
1.
Aashish Lal, Project Manager, Civic and Building, Project Management, City Projects Office, Brisbane
Infrastructure Division and Kerri Heilbronn, Senior Program Officer Park Projects and Planning, Land
and Schedule Coordination, Major Projects and Asset Coordination Team, Natural Environment Water
and Sustainability Branch, City Planning and Sustainability Division, attended the meeting to provide
an update on the Anzac Square Restoration project. They provided the information below.
2.
Anzac Square Restoration Project is a joint initiative between the Queensland Government and
Brisbane City Council and is being implemented over a series of stages. The first stage was the stripout and investigation stage, followed by external restoration works and then the fit-out and
enhancement stage.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 76 3.
The stage one internal strip-out of the former Returned and Services League headquarters fit-out was
completed in April 2014. This work allowed for the detailed structural investigation and analysis of the
existing structure to inform and guide the scope of the later stages. Images from the first stage fit-out
were displayed.
4.
External restoration work commenced in August 2014 and was completed in February 2015. As part of
the works, structurally sound exterior, with restored external finishes and a waterproof interior was
included in time for Anzac Day 2015.
5.
Stage two works included concrete slab repairs, including replacement where needed, installation of
new waterproof membranes, new granite stair treads and pavements, new brass handrails and lighting,
repair of the stonework and metalwork, and dismantling of parts of the Shrine of Memories for
protection and restoration.
6.
A time-lapse video of the stage two construction was shown.
7.
Images were displayed during the second stage works.
8.
An image was displayed of the third stage fit-out and enhancement.
9.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr Lal and Ms Heilbronn
for their informative presentation.
10.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.
ADOPTED
FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE
Councillor David McLACHLAN, Chairman of the Field Services Committee, moved, seconded by
Councillor Norm WYNDHAM, that the report of that Committee held on 10 November 2015, be adopted.
Chairman:
Councillor McLACHLAN.
Councillor McLACHLAN:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. Before I move to the item before us, I'd just like
to draw attention of the Councillors to the wonderful event that we had in
King George Square on Friday evening, which is 12 hours ahead unfortunately
of that regrettable events in Paris. But it was a happy time for everyone in
King George Square on Friday night, as we celebrated National Recycling Week
and Twilight Markets and Paper Fashion Show, which was a huge success and a
great example of the activation of King George Square with thousands of people
coming to look at the fashion show.
A great opportunity for our officers to educate people about recycling and lots of
information provided, lots of opportunity to draw attention to the apps, the
games that are available for the children for the opportunity for residents to
upgrade their recycling bin. So a great educative opportunity out of that event
and I'd like to thank the CitySmart officers in particular, for their diligence and
hard work in helping bring that together, along with the communications
officers from the Waste and Resource Recovery Services team.
Madam Chairman—and that led onto—and that was concurrent with the
Keep Australia Beautiful awards that were in City Hall on Friday night. I
mentioned this last week in the Chamber. Regrettably, the Council didn’t win
the Sustainable Cities Award for 2015. We gave it our best shot, but it did go to
a very worthy recipient, Footscray Council in Melbourne. Brisbane Council did
pick up the Dame Phyllis Frost Award for litter prevention and waste
management, which is the third year running that Brisbane has won that award.
It indicates the great work that Council continues to do to drive down the
amounts of recyclables, the landfill increase, the amount of materials that are
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 77 picked up in our litter patrols through the use of great equipment, like The
Glutton vacuum cleaner and other new equipment, like the Eco 360 that we've
put on. They're not brooms, Councillor BOURKE. We have upgraded the
equipment. We believe in giving our officers upgraded, updated equipment, so
they can do their job efficiently.
We provide a great service to the residents of Brisbane, which is reflected in
picking up that award. That does drive us, but does drive us on not getting that
Sustainable City Award for 2015 to have another crack at it for the next year and
we'll certainly be front and centre in the trying to win back the mantle from
Footscray Council. Madam Chairman, the item before us, this was a report to
the Committee on the work that Council undertakes through the Field Services
Group on Moreton Island.
It's a hidden gem, of course, in Moreton Bay, Moreton Island and with a few
residents who are lucky enough to live there in the three communities at
Kooringal, Bulwer and Cowan Cowan. 95 per cent of the island is national
parks, looked after by the State Government, but we have responsibility,
Council has responsibility for maintaining services in those townships.
Urban Amenities cruise, go there, about two, sometimes three times a year to
manage tree requests, to grade the roads, to sand roads.
There are no bitumen roads over. To grade the roads so the access can be
continued to be provided between those townships and those very important
services are provided by our Urban Amenities team. That's on top of managing
the waste contracts through Tanga Resorts, who look after the waste
management, but overseen, in terms of contract management, by the
Field Services Group by the Waste and Resource Recovery Services teams. So
great work undertaken by Council officers on Moreton Island.
I always recommend it to anybody who get a chance to go over and have a look
for themselves about—at the island. If you do, please reflect on the work that's
undertaken on behalf of ratepayers of Brisbane on keeping Moreton Island clean
and green and maintaining those essential services on the island.
Chairman:
Further debate?
I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the report of the Field Services Committee
was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor David McLachlan (Chairman), and Councillors Peter Cumming, Nicole Johnston, Kim Marx and
Ian McKenzie.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE:
Councillor Norm Wyndham (Deputy Chairman).
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – FIELD SERVICES GROUP ACTIVITIES
ON MORETON ISLAND
249/2015-16
1.
Tim Wright, Manager Asset Services, Field Services Group, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, attended
the meeting to provide an update on Field Services Group Activities on Moreton Island. He provided
the information below.
2.
The Queensland Government owns 95 per cent of land on Moreton Island. The remaining five per cent
is Council land and the activities of the Field Services Group on Moreton Island mainly related to
Council land include:
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 78 -
tree works
road grading and improvements
management of waste at five locations
desilting of drainage
park facility servicing
address weed species at reserves and on road corridors.
3.
The Cowan Cowan Reserve Habitat Group was formed in 2007 by passionate locals with a focus on
hand-removal of environmental weeds. This group is committed to controlling garden escape weeds
within the township (mainly on Council land) and halting the spread to the nearby National Park.
Images of the group members volunteering in action were displayed.
4.
The Habitat Brisbane (HB) ‘Weed buster Weekend’ was held for the first time, from 4 to 6 September
2015, with aims to:
support the work of the volunteers through the provision of labour, specialist tools and
resourcing
monitor work progress and provide technical advice
build profile of the Cowan Cowan Reserve Habitat Group in the local community
display Council’s commitment to management of the reserves/parkland
promote Council’s ability to deliver cost-effective outcomes in partnership with other agencies
and the community.
Images of residents and volunteers were displayed, including mulching the area to suppress weeds and
planting trees propagated by volunteers from the local seed stock.
5.
The outcome of the HB ‘Weed buster Weekend’:
local awareness of weeds and the work of the HB Group increased and sentiment of the local
community was overwhelmingly positive
HB volunteers from the mainland greatly appreciated the opportunity to do bushcare in such a
beautiful, natural environment
networking between the HB volunteers from different groups (as well as local residents)
provided an opportunity to share successes and experiences
very positive demonstration of Council’s ability to deliver cost-effective outcomes in a very
efficient manner and in partnership with other agencies and the community.
6.
Floodgate clearing and maintenance of five floodgates in the township of Kooringal was done to
mitigate flooding of the township. Images of the work were displayed.
7.
Sand road levelling is done which includes the grading and improvement of road surfaces. Moreton
Island township sand roads managed by Council include:
Kooringal – 16,050 square metres
Bulwer – 10,350 square metres
Cowan Cowan – 5,250 square metres.
8.
The servicing and maintenance of the Bulwer Heli-Pad is regularly done by Council. Moreton Island
relies on aerial evacuation for any life threatening injuries.
9.
The Urban Amenities Branch teams within Council’s Field Services Group visit the island two to three
times per year to manage tree requests and proactive maintenance.
10.
The Waste and Resource Recovery Services Branch within Council’s Field Services Group manages
the regular collection of waste from five sites on the island as well as large item collections. They also
collect waste from two sites near the Tangalooma Island Resort.
11.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr Wright for his
informative presentation.
12.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.
ADOPTED
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 79 -
BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE
Councillor Krista ADAMS, Chairman of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee, moved, seconded by
Councillor Andrew WINES, that the report of that Committee held on 10 November 2015, be adopted.
Chairman:
Councillor ADAMS.
Councillor ADAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. I just want to touch on two important events that
are happening this week in the Lifestyle portfolio. Tomorrow, obviously, as the
LORD MAYOR mentioned, Homeless Connect is on at Eagle Farm again. We
held it at that venue in May, I think it was, earlier in the year. This is the year
that we're having the two events. We have found that the summer event is not
quite as large and as popular as the winter event, obviously for those coming
into get warm winter clothing and blankets, et cetera, but the actual venue at
Eagle Farm has been fantastic for the event as well and we're looking forward to
helping those 800 to 2,000 clients that may come out again tomorrow, giving
them a little bit of respite, some shopping, some clothes shopping, some food
shopping, as well as all of those other services that make themselves free and
available for massages to optometry to doctors to immunisation, haircuts and, of
course, the fantastic food that is put on by our very good friend, Rod Chiapello
from McDonald's at Bracken Ridge.
It's always a fantastic day and I'm looking forward to joining the Lady Mayoress
out there tomorrow morning at Eagle Farm. Also slightly the same too, trying to
get out there and connect with the community, we have our community connect
roadshow on Saturday morning. We've been having these every six months. It is
south side again this year at the Holland Park Library. We took the opportunity
for the new library to get some more people there and this is where we have
services
from
right
across
Council,
from
waste
recycling
Councillor McLACHLAN to animal management, infrastructure, all the
Council officers come out and show their wares really and let people know how
they can get involved in Council, healthy and active, storm season preparedness,
they all come out and allow people to come and see what we can do to connect
them to Council.
We also have free activities, a sausage sizzle, coffee obviously, morning tea and
local performances from different multicultural groups in the area as well. So
that's Saturday morning from 10 o'clock at the Holland Park Library if you're on
the south side or even if you're going in your travels, come and join us then as
well.
Last week in Committee we looked at the Toowong Cemetery and in particular
Canon David Garland Place which we did speak about with our guest speaker
last Tuesday as well. It was noted Toowong Cemetery is the largest of our
historical cemeteries. It's approximately 4.85 hectares with nearly 120,000
people believed to be buried within the grounds there. We have approximately
140 burials in Toowong Cemetery each year and it was officially opened in
1875.
So our visitation here at Toowong is going up as is the global trend. People are
very interested in researching their family history. We've seen an increase in
visitors together with a small number of events that have been held at the
cemetery and we are trying to expand our visitor services, refurbishing and
reopening the historical museum that's run by the Friends of Toowong Cemetery
as well as genealogy assistance and walking guides.
So we did just recently, a couple of weeks ago, open the large open green space
and identified it as Canon David Garland Place. Lovely to see recognition of a
wonderful man known as the architect of Anzac Day. So he really did come
back from Gallipoli with the idea that we should have an event like the
Anzac march. There's some photos there on the plaque of the very early
Anzac marches which very proudly were first held in Brisbane 100 years ago
next year.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 80 So it is very important that in this 100th year anniversary, time that we recognise
our earliest Anzac Day cemeteries, we recognise Canon David Garland, he's
buried at the cemetery as well. He had a spectacular 23 year career on the
Anzac Day Commemoration Committee of Queensland. He oversaw the
development of Soldiers Corner, which still stands today in Toowong Cemetery.
Canon David Garland Place is adjacent to the Cross of Sacrifice and the
Stone of Remembrance were unveiled in 1924. I think this is a very fitting
commemoration to an amazing man and a recognition of the important history
we have in Toowong Cemetery. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
Chairman:
Further debate?
Nothing further?
I'll now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber by the Chairman, the motion for the adoption of the report of the
Brisbane Lifestyle Committee was declared carried on the voices.
The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Krista Adams (Chairman), Councillor Andrew Wines (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors Jared
Cassidy, Margaret de Wit, Steve Griffiths and Steven Huang.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – TOOWONG CEMETERY: CANON
DAVID GARLAND PLACE
250/2015-16
1.
Kent Stroud, Branch Manager, Community Facilities and Venues, Brisbane Lifestyle Division,
attended the meeting with Lea-Ann McNeil, Manager Cemeteries, Community Facilities and Venues,
who provided an update on Canon David Garland Place at Toowong Cemetery. She provided the
information below.
2.
Council currently manages 12 cemeteries, three of which are fully operating cemeteries and
crematoriums. The other nine are historical cemeteries where the only burials result from family grave
reopening and ashes internments.
3.
Cemeteries are widely perceived as large spaces behind gates, where people are not encouraged to
congregate other than at funerals. However, cemeteries were once parks where people met for a variety
of social gatherings. Reactivating parts of Council’s cemeteries as community spaces has the benefit of
not only supporting existing visitors, but also providing additional opportunities for use by residents
and tourists.
4.
Many international and interstate cemeteries are moving to less formal settings and providing walking
tracks, cafes, pop-up cinemas, and bands on their lawns. These types of events have been shown to
increase visitor numbers. A small number of such activities have already been trialled at Toowong
Cemetery, including:
an outdoor cinema during Archaeology Week
the inclusion of Toowong and Mount Gravatt cemeteries in Brisbane Open House 2015.
5.
Appropriate landscaping will be required to begin the process of activating park spaces within Council
cemeteries. It will help change the perception of our cemeteries and reactivate these spaces as cultural
and creative precincts. This process has now begun at Toowong Cemetery with the introduction of
Canon David Garland Place.
6.
Toowong Cemetery is the largest of Council’s historic cemeteries, covering approximately 48.5
hectares. There are approximately 120,000 people believed to be buried within the grounds and around
140 burials take place there each year. Of all Council’s cemeteries, Toowong has the highest visitation
rate for tourists and visitors not attending services. Consistent with global trends, Toowong Cemetery
has experienced a significant increase in people researching their family history.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 81 -
7.
The increase in visitors, together with the small number of events held at Toowong Cemetery, have
highlighted the need for improved public spaces and other services such as the restored historical
museum, where visitors can access genealogy assistance and walking guides. The historical museum is
organised and run by the Friends of Toowong Cemetery. Adjacent to the museum is a large open green
space now known as Canon David Garland Place.
8.
Canon David Garland was born in 1864 and performed roles as a military chaplain, as well as the rector
of the Holy Trinity Church in Woolloongabba. One of his greatest endeavours, after his return from
Gallipoli, was the creation of the Anzac Day Commemoration Committee. He conceived the original
blue silk Anzac badges used to raise money for the care of soldiers’ graves, dawn services and the
notion of a minute’s silence. Funds also were raised for the construction of the Cross of Sacrifice and
Stone of Remembrance. Due to these efforts, Canon David Garland is remembered as the architect of
Anzac Day.
9.
Canon Garland died in Brisbane at 75 years of age. He was buried at the end of Portion 1 within
Toowong Cemetery, overlooking the area known as Soldiers’ Corner.
10.
Given Canon Garland’s significant contributions, an area of green space at the entrance to Toowong
Cemetery was named after him during the centenary of Anzac celebrations. This area has now been
developed through the renewal of a large garden area and the inclusion of bench seats and water
fountain in the Victorian style. A storyboard has also been erected which outlines the contributions
made by Canon David Garland and directs visitors to his grave.
11.
Toowong Cemetery staff cleared and remediated the existing garden and lawn. The following groups
were also instrumental in the area’s development:
Friends of Toowong Cemetery, a group of volunteers who develop and manage the museum
displays, conduct historical tours within the cemetery, provide grave search assistance to
Brisbane residents and work with families and historical societies
Canon David Garland Memorial Society, another group of volunteers, who provided the
historical material used to develop the storyboard signage
Boggo Road Ghost Tours, who are licenced to conduct tours in Council’s cemeteries and who
have provided funding for the new seating and water fountain.
12.
This site activation provides a landscape which allows Council’s cemeteries to contribute to the
Creative Brisbane, Creative Economy 2013-22 strategy by offering more diverse experiences and
therefore additional opportunities for lifestyle development in Brisbane.
13.
Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Mr Stroud and Ms
McNeil for the informative presentation.
14.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.
ADOPTED
FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Councillor Julian SIMMONDS, Chairman of the Finance, Economic Development and Administration
Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor Ryan MURPHY, that the report of that Committee held on
10 November 2015, be adopted.
Chairman:
Councillor SIMMONDS?
Anything further from anyone?
I will now put the report.
Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the Finance, Economic Development and
Administration Committee was declared carried on the voices.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 82 The report read as follows
ATTENDANCE:
Councillor Julian Simmonds (Chairman), Councillor Ryan Murphy (Deputy Chairman); and Councillors
Kim Flesser, Fiona King and Angela Owen-Taylor.
A
COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – LORD MAYOR’S MULTICULTURAL
BUSINESS SUPPORT 2015
251/2015-16
1.
Nicole Andronicus, International Relations and Multicultural Affairs Manager, International Relations
and Multicultural Affairs, Lord Mayor’s Administration Office, Office of the Lord Mayor and Chief
Executive Officer attended the meeting to provide an update on the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural
Business Support 2015. She provided the information below.
2.
The Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Awards have been running for nine years and is a key event
attended by more than 400 people each year. The event promotes financial support for the Lord
Mayor’s Multicultural Business Scholarship and Mentoring Program. Since 2008 there have been more
than 200 business scholarships and mentoring places awarded to the multicultural community in
Brisbane.
3.
The Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Round Table (LMRT) plays a key role in encouraging and supporting
entrepreneurship within Brisbane’s multicultural sector. The LMRT includes members such as:
Australian Israeli Chamber of Commerce
Vietnamese Community in Australia
Chinese Club of Queensland
Singapore Business Council of Australia Inc.
4.
In 2014-15, 41 scholarships and mentoring program positions were awarded under the Lord Mayor’s
Business Awards. The business scholarships aim to grow recipients’ business and entrepreneurial skills
to enable them to start or expand their existing business. The scholarships are offered to students who
are undertaking studies in the following areas:
Bachelor of Business with the Business School of Queensland University of Technology
Certificate IV in Small Business Management with Southbank Institute of Technology
Leadership and Management Skill Training Program with Australian Institute of Management
Business Mentoring Program with Career Employment Australia
Diploma of Retail Management with First Impressions Resources
Small Business Solutions with Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE.
5.
To be eligible for the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Scholarship and Mentoring Program applicants must:
be an Australian Citizen or permanent resident
be from a multicultural background with at least one natural parent born in a country other
than Australia
live in the Brisbane City Council local government area
speak a language other than English (preferable).
6.
The Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Awards celebrate the contribution multicultural businesses
make to the Brisbane economy and community through their creativity, innovation and resilience. The
three award categories were awarded to the following recipients:
Multicultural Business Person of the Year – Tea Dietterich
Nick Xynias Multicultural Young Business Person of the Year – Saneil Chand
Multicultural Entrepreneur of the Year – Zeinab Khalil.
7.
Following questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Ms Andronicus for her informative
update.
8.
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE REPORT BE NOTED.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 83 -
ADOPTED
PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS:
Chairman:
Councillors, are there any petitions?
Councillor ABRAHAMS.
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I have three petitions. One petition is
petition, an ePetition, from people in Kangaroo Point about over development in
Kangaroo Point. There's one that's seeking a two hour street parking limit for
non-residents in Colton Street, Carlton Street and Jones Street. That's
Highgate Hill, Madam Chair, and a safe pedestrian crossing at Montague Road
which is huge and the second one on that one. Thank you.
Chairman:
Councillor GRIFFITHS.
Councillor GRIFFITHS:
Yes. Thanks, Madam Chair. I have hundreds of signatures from residents with
regards calling on Council to get with doing the Coopers Plains rail crossing
overpass.
Chairman:
Councillor CUMMING.
Councillor CUMMING:
I've got two petitions. One is an ePetition, one is a hard copy petition, on the
same topic, the development at 146 Lindum Road, Lytton.
Chairman:
Any further petitions?
Can I have a motion for the petitions, please?
252/2015-16
It was resolved on the motion of Councillor Andrew WINES, seconded by Councillor Shayne SUTTON, that
the petitions as presented be received and referred to the Committee concerned for consideration and report.
The petitions were summarised as follows:
File No.
Councillor
Topic
CA15/934165
Helen Abrahams
CA15/983582
Helen Abrahams
CA15/984303
Helen Abrahams
CA15/990826
Steve Griffiths
CA15/985172
Peter Cumming
Requesting Council bring alignment to the required applicable
development codes, for the Kangaroo Point Peninsula area
Requesting two-hour only street parking be available in Colton,
Carlton and Jones Street, except for residents.
Requesting that Council install traffic lights or pedestrian
crossing in Montague Road in the vicinity of Victoria Street so
pedestrian can more safely cross the road
Requesting improvements in traffic congestion and public
safety at Boundary Road Rail Crossing, Coopers Plains
Opposing development extension at 146 Lindum Road, Lytton
CA15/986820
Peter Cumming
Requesting Council refuse the development application
A004206867, for a container park at 146 Lindum Road, Lytton
GENERAL BUSINESS:
Chairman:
Councillors, are there any statements required as a result of a Councillor
Conduct Review Panel order? There have been no Councillors rising to their
feet to speak.
Councillors, are there any matters of general business?
Councillor TOOMEY.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 84 Councillor TOOMEY:
Thank you, Madam Chairman. I rise today to speak on the completion of a new
crossing over Enoggera Creek. Also staying within the area, I'd also like to
speak about the Corbie Street Park Bush Care Group.
Madam Chairman, I'd like to start by thanking Brisbane City Council officers,
the project team, and the construction crew, who have just recently completed
the Enoggera Creek crossing. This crossing includes 350 metres of shared
pathway that join Enoggera Creek pathway to Ithaca Creek pathway and then on
to the Enoggera Road underpass.
Madam Chairman, this piece of social infrastructure provides a safe alternative
to the traditional Davidson Street crossing at Enoggera Road for school kids and
a pleasant ride to Downey Park, Roma Street Gardens or on to the city for those
who enjoy a longer ride. The culvert crossing has been designed with the
environment and the ephemeral nature of the creek in mind. A fish corridor has
been provided to allow the movement of fish and other creatures through the
crossing.
The project has also provided for the re-establishment of habitat on either side of
the crossing, replacing the barren area with an environment that's suitable for
various native animals to occupy. Madam Chairman, one zone of the creek that
is important to the biodiversity is the riparian zone. This project has not missed
this fact. The engineers and landscape architects have used soft engineering
techniques to put in place a natural crossover between the creek and the creek
bank. All of the plantings used within the project footprint are native plants to
the area.
Madam Chairman, this project was promised by the LORD MAYOR, is now
fully realised and delivered on time, despite challenges the weather threw at the
project team. I'd like to thank the LORD MAYOR, the DEPUTY MAYOR, the
officers, the project team, the construction team and the residents whose
patience and understanding is greatly appreciated by a thankful city.
Staying within the area, Madam Chairman, I spent an afternoon with the
Corbie Street Park Bush Care group planting some 300 or so native trees and
shrubs in the park. The group is very active and has been so for many years. I
was joined by some 30 members who regularly plant and weed the area. This
group is made up of a combination of residents, friends and friends of the streets
nearby who generally care about their local park.
The group has also undertaken the initiative of identifying areas bordering the
park as part of their long term plan for future refurbishment. The group has also
undertaken a long term program to provide habitat in our urban environment for
native bees and marsupials. I'm happy to say on the last audit of those boxes that
the program is very, very successful.
The previous Councillor, Geraldine Knapp, had supported the Bush Care group
and I wish to continue to support the residents of Corbie Street. I'd also like to
mention that Corbie Street Bush Care would like to portray their appreciation of
Habitat Brisbane’s assistance and of the officers.
Madam Chairman, I'd like to thank in particular Ross and Ivan and other
residents for their hospitality on the day. It was wonderful to spend some time
with the locals and share a beer after an afternoon of sweat. Thank you very
much.
Chairman:
Further general business?
Councillor SUTTON.
Councillor SUTTON:
Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to talk about the Bulimba Festival. The
Bulimba Festival, the reinvented Bulimba Festival, took place in Bulimba last
week. We formally launched a new reinvented event on Monday, 9 November
2015 and over the course of last week, the new Bulimba Festival had made
Bulimba come alive with more than 30 events over the course of the week.
I say reinvented because for the previous three years, RSL Queensland had
actually organised the Bulimba Festival and earlier this year, when they made
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 85 the decision that they would no longer run the event, a group of locals got
together and said the Bulimba Festival is too much of a part of our local
community to let it slip away.
So at a very grassroots, organic and community level, a group of dedicated,
hardworking volunteers decided that they would make it happen. Of course, the
person who spearheaded the Bulimba Festival was Bulimba local,
Rebecca Lawrence. I have to say that she is an outstanding individual and
community leader in our area.
Rebecca has previously coordinated the St Peter's & Paul's school fete for a
number of years. She made the decision to no longer organise the fete because
she thought she'd done enough events and lo and behold, then the Bulimba RSL
pulled out of the Bulimba Festival. So what does Rebecca do in something that
is purely evidenced by her community drive and her community goodwill is that
she then makes herself the primary organiser of the Bulimba Festival.
I have to say, nobody else in our local community could have done the
Bulimba Festival the way that Rebecca did. She used all of her community
contacts and connections, she galvanised many other local volunteers, some of
whom that she did not know before the event but got to know, and in a very,
very organic way, she grew the Bulimba Festival with her team of volunteers.
I want to thank all of those volunteers for their incredible work, enthusiasm and
passion that brought this year's Bulimba Festival to life. They include obviously
Rebecca but also the fabulous, fabulous Debra Hood, local artist, who provided
the artwork that went on many of the Bulimba Festival promotional posters,
Sonia Kirby, Jodie Isles, Sarah Murray, Terry Shaw, Craig Furlong, Tony Tully,
Tania Fraser, Liz Saltwell, Teresa Gorey, Michelle Goran, Conan Visser,
Elaine Smart, Lloyd Seymour, Kerry Krause, Brian Reid and Marlaina Curtis
and Vic Young.
They are just the top of a very long list of people who worked incredibly hard to
bring this year's festival to light. As I said, we had 30 events, some of them were
quite reflective, such as Poppies in the Park which was held on
Remembrance Day. There were a multitude of art installations, including
fabulous pole bombing right down Oxford Street where so many local
community organisations, businesses and individuals adopted a pole, a street
pole, an Energex pole or some kind of pole and pole bombed it with their own
art installation down Oxford Street.
The musical interludes, some other wild and crazy events like the jelly run,
which we held in the rain on Saturday morning where our kids got to get
covered in jelly as they made their way through a maze of inflatable jumping
castles and the like. So it really was a fabulous event. One of the highlights, of
course, was the installation of a piano which was donated to the festival by a
former local who moved to Melbourne.
The piano was painted bright yellow, in the festival's colour theme, and it was
installed at the Bulimba ferry terminal and I'd like to thank Rob Bitossi and
Councillor MATIC's office for facilitating approval for that. It was a fabulous
thing to have and I don't know if any of you have watched the YouTubes but we
had everything from ABBA to John Lennon to a whole range of different people
jumping on and playing that piano down at the Bulimba ferry terminal. It
definitely was a highlight.
And that piano is actually now going to be donated to the Mater Young
Adolescent Health Service where it will be able to played by patients of that
service, on one condition, that every year it gets donated back to the
Bulimba Festival for reinstallation—fingers crossed—back into the Bulimba
ferry terminal in the future.
We also had the fabulous Lunch on the Lawn which happened on Sunday,
another terrific event, again very, very different feel to previous
Bulimba Festivals where we had the street festival right down Oxford Street.
This focused on the fabulous Bulimba Memorial Park which is akin to our
village green in our local area and I really want to thank the Southside Eagles
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 86 Football Club for being such wonderful supporters of the festival, actually
allowing us to go in to Bulimba Memorial Park to have that Lunch on the Lawn.
Also when I talk about Lunch on the Lawn, I want to thank the fabulous
John Collins of The Triffid, another Bulimba local. Councillor HOWARD in
Central is trying to claim him because The Triffid is based in her ward but he's
mine. He was actually the creative director of the entertainment program for the
Lunch on the Lawn and he was the person who also secured The Grates, also
another fabulous local band. Not only do they have a local business but they are
also local residents in Seven Hills.
So it's just everything about this year's Bulimba Festival was as local as it
possibly could be and that was what brought it alive and I have to say that of all
the Bulimba Festivals that I've ever been involved with over my 20 years of
community work in the local area, this was the best Bulimba Festival ever.
There was much more of a build-up, there was a greater community ownership
of it than there ever has been.
I have to say again that wouldn't have been the case had Rebecca Lawrence, the
festival organiser, not taken the approach that she had taken. I was, of course,
very pleased to be able to host a Movies in the Park for grownups on the Friday
night of the festival. As local Councillors, we often host Movies in the Park for
children in the local area with a family feel but this was a Movies in the Park for
grownups. We screened Muriel's Wedding and that certainly was well received.
I've already had a number of requests for the—on Sunday, in the licenced area,
as I promised I would, Councillor SCHRINNER. In the licenced area, yes, I did,
several in fact, Councillor SCHRINNER.
So I also want to take a moment to also thank Bulimba Festival's sponsors
because as an organic community festival. The only money we had to organise
this was what we got from our sponsors. I want to acknowledge Brisbane City
Council for their $10,000 contribution to the festival and whilst I'm
acknowledging Council, I also want to take a moment to recognise Glen Eggling
from the Festival Event Liaison Office who worked very closely with
Rebecca Lawrence and myself as the local Councillor and several of the
businesses who were applying for liquor licences and who were applying for
temporary food licences to be part of that festival, he did a terrific job as well.
But back to the sponsors. I want to thank Brendan Ansell from
Velocity Property who was the headline sponsor for Lunch on the Lawn. I want
to thank Barcadia who was a platinum sponsor, fabulous. If you are in
Oxford Street, head to Barcadia. It's a fabulous local, a new local haunt.
Oxford 152, odna. Major sponsors, Magic 882, Style Magazines,
Brisbane Airport Corporation, Ray White. I also want to acknowledge
Julia Ham from Hampton Swim School.
Chairman:
Councillor SUTTON, your time has expired.
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 Shayne SUTTON on 12 November 2015
Q1.
Please advise the number of occasions Transdev have reported “Dual Duties” arrangements to be in
operation on Brisbane’s City Cat Services in the following periods:
Time Period
Number of Occasions Dual Duties have been in recorded as
being in operation
Financial Year 2011/12
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 87 Financial Year 2012/13
Financial Year 2013/14
Financial Year 2014/15
Financial Year 2015/16 to date as
of 12/11/15:
Q2.
Please advise the number of occasions Transdev have recorded passengers “left behind” at Brisbane’s
City Cat Stops for the following periods:
Time Period
Number of Occasions Transdev have recorded passengers
“left behind: at Brisbane’s City Cat Stops
Financial Year 2011/12
Financial Year 2012/13
Financial Year 2013/14
Financial Year 2014/15
Financial Year 2015/16 to date as
of 12/11/15:
Q3.
Please advise the number of occasions Transdeve have recorded passengers “left behind” at Brisbane’s
CItyCat Stops while “Dual Duties” arrangements were in operation:
Time Period
Number of Occasions Transdev have recorded passengers
“left behind: at Brisbane’s City Cat Stops
Financial Year 2011/12
Financial Year 2012/13
Financial Year 2013/14
Financial Year 2014/15
Financial Year 2015/16 to date as
of 12/11/15:
Q4.
Please provide the total cost of the “It’s a Wrap” City Cat Design Competition including staff time
spent developing the campaign
Q5.
Please provide the total cost of the recent Quest Newspaper Promotional Wrap for the “It’s a Wrap”
City Cat Design competition.
Q6.
What was the net revenue to did Brisbane City Council receive from the King George Square car park
in the following financial years:
Financial Year
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
Q7.
Revenue Received
What was the net revenue to did Brisbane City Council receive from the Wickham Terrace car park in
the following financial years:
Financial Year
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Revenue Received
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 88 2014/15
Q8.
What is the expected net revenue budgeted to be received from the King George Square car park in
2015/16?
Q9.
How much net revenue is budgeted to be received from the Wickham Terrace car park in 2015/16?
Q10.
What was the total amount spent on marketing and public relations across Brisbane City Council in the
following Financial years (if all information is not readily available I will accept any information that
can be accessed in a timely manner):
Financial Year
Total
Amount
spent
on
marketing and public relations
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
Q11.
What is the total marketing and public relations budget for the each of Council’s 8 Budget Programs in
the 2015/16 Budget:
Program
Program 1
Program 2
Program 3
Program 4
Program 5
Program 6
Program 7
Program 8
TOTAL for the entire organisation:
Q12.
Marketing and Relations Budget
What was the total amount spent on consultancies across Brisbane City Council in the following
Financial years:
Financial Year
Total
Amount
spent
on
marketing and public relations
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15
Q13.
What is the total budget for consultancies across the each of Council’s 8 Budget Programs in the
2015/16 Budget:
Program
Program 1
Program 2
Program 3
Program 4
Program 5
Marketing and Relations Budget
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 89 Program 6
Program 7
Program 8
TOTAL for the entire organisation:
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 Shayne SUTTON (from meeting on 10 November 2015)
Q1.
Council’s 2014/15 Annual Report states there are “more than 1160” in its fleet. What was the exact
number of buses in Council’s fleet as of 30 June 2015.
A1.
1161
Q2.
Please provide the Ferry Patronage Figure for the 2014/15 financial year. This figure was not included
Council’s 2014/15 Annual Report.
A2.
5,074,910
Q3.
What was the total number of bus services provided by Brisbane Transport in 2014/2015. This figure
is not contained in the 2014/2015 Annual Report.
A3.
3,039,087.
Q4.
Please complete the following table requesting the total number of Ferry Services provided in all
financial years from 2011/2012 until 2014/2015. These figures are not provided in successive financial
reports.
Year
2011/2012
2012/2013
2013/2014
2014/2015
Total Number of Ferry Services Provided
A4.
This information is available by reviewing the timetable for ferry services which is publically available.
Historic ferry timetable information is available to Councillors through the file request process.
Q5.
Please advise if the Council owned City of Brisbane Corporation is required to report contracts it enters
into to full Council, as is the case with all other Council contracts?
A5.
Note: It is assumed this question relates to the City of Brisbane Investment Corporation.
Like the State Government owned independent Queensland Investment Corporation, the City of
Brisbane Investment Corporation is governed by its own policies and procedures.
Q6.
Please advise if the Council owned City of Brisbane Corporation is bound by law to comply with all
Brisbane City Council and City of Brisbane Act procurement policies and procedures?
A6.
Note: It is assumed this question relates to the City of Brisbane Investment Corporation.
Like the State Government owned independent Queensland Investment Corporation, the City of
Brisbane Investment Corporation is governed by its own policies and procedures.
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 90 Submitted by Councillor Shayne Sutton (from meeting on 10 November 2015)
Q1.
How many properties in each of the 66 rating categories described within the 2015/16 Rating
Resolution at the end of the first rating quarter? Please advise the number of properties within each
rating category.
A1.
CATEGORY
Count of Rateable as of 25 Sept 2015
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 1
224,718
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2A
9,972
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2A (LAND USE 72)
34
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2B
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2C
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2D
6
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2E
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2F
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2G
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2H
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2I
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2J
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2K
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2L
852
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 3
309
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 4
5,805
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5A
314
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5B
14
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5C
20
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5D
16
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5E
12
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5F
7
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5G
2
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5H
7
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5I
2
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5J
4
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5K
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5L
2
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5M
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5N
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5O
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5P
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5Q
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5R
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5S
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5T
1
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 91 -
Q2.
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5U
5
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5V
2
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 6
2
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 7
77,022
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 7 (LAND USE 72)
813
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8A
2
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8B
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8C
2
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8D
2
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8E
3
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8F
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8G
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8H
2
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8I
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8J
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8K
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 9A
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 9B
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 9C
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 9D
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 10
42,348
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 11A
5,854
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 11B
18
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 12
298
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 13
513
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 14
82,606
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 15
946
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 16
2,477
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 16 (LAND USE 72)
4
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 17
2,321
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 18
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 19
1
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 20
0
As at the first rating quarter for 2015/16, please advise by each of the 66 rating categories the total
general rates revenue recognised.
A2.
1st rating quarter
CATEGORY
Actual as of 25 Sept 2015
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 1
$65,409,607
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2A
$27,121,953
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2B
$15,722
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 92 GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2C
$27,183
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2D
$97,943
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2E
$32,574
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2F
$16,186
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2G
$31,947
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2H
$41,531
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2I
$5,718
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2J
$23,576
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2K
$1,881
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 2L
$4,840,126
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 3
$219,141
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 4
$6,030,534
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5A
$4,369,056
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5B
$830,402
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5C
$1,217,753
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5D
$1,233,074
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5E
$1,079,582
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5F
$716,758
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5G
$238,353
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5H
$924,548
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5I
$285,187
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5J
$702,329
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5K
$191,017
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5L
$558,318
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5M
$303,478
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5N
$63,038
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5O
$311,256
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5P
$400,764
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5Q
$478,089
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5R
$481,032
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5S
$246,744
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5T
$176,300
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5U
$320,110
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 5V
$255,446
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 6
$130,008
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 7
$26,624,867
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8A
$90,661
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8B
$42,484
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8C
$89,088
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8D
$95,820
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8E
$166,808
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]
- 93 GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8F
$80,555
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8G
$100,866
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8H
$176,312
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8I
$115,460
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8J
$130,366
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 8K
$152,804
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 9A
$147,784
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 9B
$293,883
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 9C
$363,747
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 9D
$367,318
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 10
$7,040,530
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 11A
$3,425,795
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 11B
$55,543
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 12
$145,962
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 13
$730,244
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 14
$15,756,303
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 15
$193,288
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 16
$12,706,538
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 17
$1,682,173
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 18
$36,435
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 19
$2,056
GENERAL RATES - CATEGORY 20
$0
RISING OF COUNCIL:
7pm.
PRESENTED:
and CONFIRMED
CHAIRMAN
Council officers in attendance:
James Withers (Senior Council and Committee Officer)
Robert Southwood (Acting Council and Committee Officer)
Billy Peers (Personal Support Officer to the Lord Mayor and Council Orderly)
[4484 (Ordinary) Meeting – 17 November 2015]