table of contents - brisbane · web viewin a matter of moments they switch just like that on the...

145
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS The 4469 meeting of the Brisbane City Council, held at City Hall, Brisbane on Tuesday 2 June 2015 at 2pm Prepared by: Council and Committee Liaison Office Chief Executive’s Office Office of the Lord Mayor and the Chief Executive Officer

Upload: phamkien

Post on 05-Jul-2018

213 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

The 4469 meeting of the Brisbane City Council,held at City Hall, Brisbaneon Tuesday 2 June 2015at 2pm

Prepared by: Council and Committee Liaison OfficeChief Executive’s OfficeOffice of the Lord Mayor and the Chief Executive Officer

Dedicated to a better Brisbane

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

THE 4469 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,

ON TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015AT 2PM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS_______________________________________________________________i

PRESENT:________________________________________________________________________1

OPENING OF MEETING:____________________________________________________________1

APOLOGY:_______________________________________________________________________1

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE – FORMER COUNCILLOR BEATRICE DAWSON:____________________1

MINUTES: _______________________________________________________________________4

QUESTION TIME: _________________________________________________________________4

CONSIDERATION OF COMMITTEE REPORTS:___________________________________________16ESTABLISHMENT AND COORDINATION COMMITTEE___________________________________________16A DRAFT CITY BOTANIC GARDENS CONSERVATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN_______________28B PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL (BUSHLAND) PURPOSES, LOCATED AT 176

MOXON ROAD, BURBANK___________________________________________________________29INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE___________________________________________________________29A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – MT COOT-THA BOTANIC GARDENS COMMUNITY FUN DAY________32B PETITION – REQUEST FOR LIMITED STAY PARKING IN JACKSONIA DRIVE, SEVENTEEN MILE ROCKS__33C PETITION – AMBERJACK STREET, MANLY WEST___________________________________________34D PETITION – PETITION SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL CAR PARKING IN CUBBERLA AND THIESFIELD

STREETS, FIG TREE POCKET___________________________________________________________35PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE________________________________________________36A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – RIDE TO WORK DAY_______________________________________38NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE______________________39A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND DRAFT ST LUCIA CAMPUS MASTER

PLAN 2015________________________________________________________________________52B PETITION – PETITION REQUESTING REINSTATEMENT OF THE 8.5 METRE MAXIMUM BUILDING

HEIGHT FOR HOUSES AND REQUESTING A REDUCTION OF THE FIVE-STOREY MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT TO THREE STOREYS IN WYNNUM, MANLY AND LOTA_______________________________53

C PETITION – OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT 65 SYLVAN ROAD, TOOWONG (A003998096)_____________________________________________________________________55

ENVIRONMENT, PARKS AND SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE______________________________________56A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CONFERNECE

2015____________________________________________________________________________59FIELD SERVICES COMMITTEE______________________________________________________________60A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – BRISBANE’S RECYCLING PROGRAM___________________________61BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE__________________________________________________________63A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – MOUNT OMMANEY LIBRARY REFURBISHMENT_________________65FINANCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE_________________________66A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNICATION_____69B COMMITTEE REPORT – BANK AND INVESTMENT REPORT – 1 MAY 2015_______________________70

PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS:_____________________________________________________71

GENERAL BUSINESS:______________________________________________________________72

QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN:__________________________________88

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN:________________________89

[4469 (Ordinary) Meeting – 2 June 2015]

Dedicated to a better Brisbane

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

THE 4469 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,

ON TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015AT 2PM

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

Dedicated to a better Brisbane

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

THE 4469 MEETING OF THE BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL,HELD AT CITY HALL, BRISBANE,

ON TUESDAY 2 JUNE 2015AT 2PM

PRESENT:The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Councillor Graham QUIRK) – LNPThe Chairman of Council, Councillor Margaret de WIT (Pullenvale Ward) – LNP

LNP Councillors (and Wards) ALP Councillors (and Wards)Krista ADAMS (Wishart)Matthew BOURKE (Jamboree)Amanda COOPER (Bracken Ridge)Vicki HOWARD (Central)Steven HUANG (Macgregor) Fiona KING (Marchant) Kim MARX (Karawatha)Peter MATIC (Toowong)Ian McKENZIE (Holland Park)David McLACHLAN (Hamilton)Ryan MURPHY (Doboy)Angela OWEN-TAYLOR (Parkinson) (Deputy Chairman of Council)Adrian SCHRINNER (Chandler) (Deputy Mayor)Julian SIMMONDS (Walter Taylor) Andrew WINES (Enoggera)Norm WYNDHAM (McDowall)

Milton DICK (Richlands) (The Leader of the Opposition)Helen ABRAHAMS (The Gabba) (Deputy Leader of the Opposition)Peter CUMMING (Wynnum Manly)Kim FLESSER (Northgate)Steve GRIFFITHS (Moorooka)Victoria NEWTON (Deagon) Shayne SUTTON (Morningside)Independent Councillor (and Ward)Nicole JOHNSTON (Tennyson)

OPENING OF MEETING:The Chairman, Councillor Margaret de WIT, opened the meeting with prayer, and then proceeded with the business set out in the Agenda.

APOLOGY:620/2014-15

An apology was submitted on behalf of Councillor Geraldine KNAPP, and she was granted leave of absence from the meeting on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Kim MARX.

MOTION OF CONDOLENCE – FORMER COUNCILLOR BEATRICE DAWSON:

621/2014-15The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK, announced that before proceeding with the formal business of the day, he would like to pay tribute to former Councillor Beatrice Dawson, who had passed away in May 2015.

Chairman: LORD MAYOR, Motion of Condolence please.

LORD MAYOR: Yes, thank you very much, Madam Chairman. So, Madam Chairman, before proceeding with the formal business of the day I would like to pay tribute to Beatrice Dawson. Madam Chairman, Beatrice Dawson was a former ALP Alderman for Hamilton. She was elected in 1973. That was a year where she defeated the incumbent Sir Les Padman. Then in 1976 with the first time entry

[4469 (Ordinary) Meeting – 2 June 2015]

of the Liberal Party contesting Brisbane City Council elections, she was beaten on that occasion by Sydney McDonald.

Beatrice Dawson or Beattie as she was well known was aged 98 years when she passed away on 26 May 2015. She was a tenacious lady from all reports, Madam Chairman, and I say this not having known Beattie but knowing of her by reputation. She was a lady who had very strong views, was never afraid to express those views and was acknowledged in terms of her contribution to the Australian Labor Party with life membership of the party.

During her time in Council, Beattie Dawson was appointed to the Council's Health Committee. She also served on the Social Welfare Subcommittee of the Lady Mayoress Social and Welfare Committee, what we call today as the Lord Mayor's Charitable Trust. She had external appointments as well; the Kindercraft Board of Control, the Advisory Board of the Aged of the Social Welfare Subcommittee and also was the Brisbane City Council's representative on the Australian Assistance Plan Interim Committee.

As a teenager, Madam Chairman, I very much remember the Australian Assistance Plan. It was introduced during the time of the Gough Whitlam Prime Ministership in this country in the mid-1970s, well early to—somewhere between and 1972 and—it was about 1974 I think it was—1974. Madam Chairman, so Beattie Dawson served in this place for three years. She also recontested the election in 1979. One of her great achievements in her three years as a Councillor in this place, something she fought very hard for was that of the New Farm Municipal Library.

In the records and I thank Councillor McLACHLAN for his research here, but there is a photo of the Lord Mayor of the time Bryan Walsh together with Beattie Dawson unveiling the plaque on Saturday 18 October 1975 of the new New Farm Library. Madam Chairman, Beattie Dawson of course, given her ripe age was not only a mother and a grandmother but indeed a great-grandma. So to her family, particularly her sons and daughters and sons and daughters-in-law, Terry and Lynn, Barbara and Brian, Stephen and Noelene and to all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren, on behalf of the Chamber, Madam Chairman, I express our deepest sympathy.

Chairman: Can I have a seconder?

Councillor DICK: Look, thanks very much, Madam Chair, and I rise to second this motion and on behalf of the Labor Councillors pay tribute to the life of Beattie Dawson. I was privileged to attend the service of today's funeral for Beattie held at the Holy Spirit Church at New Farm earlier today. These events are particularly when a life member of the Labor Party retires or perhaps passes away are big community events. I was delighted to see a number of, as we call them Labor royalty in attendance today, particularly the likes of Manfred and Barbara Cross, a former Federal member, and Patsy Brusasco, the wife Ian Brusasco. I know they were very moved today when I spoke to them about the Condolence Motion as was the Dawson family.

Beattie was born on 5 December in 1916 and she was a trailblazer in a number of ways. She was the second Labor female Alderman elected in our city after the great Jean Howe, Howie, and the fourth female Alderman elected since the creation of the Brisbane City Council. Tragically Beattie's mother died when she was five years of age. She was raised by her grandmother and her guardian, who also happened to be the local Labor Alderman and the Labor State Member for the New Farm district. She grew up at a house in Annie Street in New Farm and lived in that house for 78 years, later moving to Windsor.

Living in a community for that long, you can't help but be immersed and be part of everything that happens in those streets and suburbs and so true was it about Beattie Dawson's life. Attending New Farm State School, the same state school that she handed out how to vote cards religiously at every election; Local, State and Federal election, well up into her nineties. As I'm told by her daughter Barbara, always immaculately in a red dress. Beattie was known as the Labor matriarch of New Farm and they're the words of Peter Beattie who I spoke to, a

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 2 -

former State member and Premier for Queensland. He described her as she was the Labor Party in New Farm.

I learnt this morning about the life of Beattie Dawson, something I didn't know about her that she was a distinguished sportswoman and she represented our State in the fields of basketball and cricket. She was a prolific supporter of many fundraising efforts right throughout her life particularly the Holy Spirit Church, St James School, the Salvation Army and numerous organisations servicing the most disadvantaged in the community. One of the great achievements of Beattie's life was being part of the partitioning and movement to close the Powerhouse in New Farm, which was controversial at the time but she led the charge.

As the LORD MAYOR indicated she was successful in the 1973 Brisbane City Council election, however she had contested unsuccessfully the elections in 1967 and 1970, until she was awarded the honour of becoming a Councillor in this place. As we have heard, the biggest single fight of Beattie's life as her family described, was to deliver the library for New Farm. Despite fierce opposition from local residents, the Conservative Councillors at the time, she found an unlikely ally in the then Planning Minister Russ Hinze. Some people have suggested that it was her wit and charm and even Russ Hinze was afraid of Beattie Dawson that was able to see a change in the planning zone which ultimately saw the library being built which still exists to this day.

Obviously during her time as Alderman for the Hamilton Ward, the January Australia Day floods of 1974 had a major impact in that community and affected Beattie in the work that she did as the local Alderman. Despite only serving one term, she served the local community for the rest of her life in one way or the other, particularly through her friendship with the then Alderman and Councillor David Hinchliffe. I had some messages from David that were read out at the funeral today and I just want to read into the record some of the moving tributes that he spoke about of her life.

Beattie was indisputably the matriarch of New Farm. She knew every nook and cranny in her community. Every pensioner who needed care, every family who was down on their luck—I believe if someone caught a cold in New Farm Beattie not only knew about it but would be there with her handkerchief. She was a great mentor to me. She taught me the essential lessons of Local Government; it's first and foremost about helping people not playing politics. Becoming a politician which she did in that famous election when Clem Jones swept all but one seat in the Brisbane City Council was just a natural extension to her commitment to public service.

She didn't see it as a career move, it was a calling. The four pillars of Beattie's life were her New Farm and Valley community, her family, especially son Terry and daughter Barbara, and Beattie's grandchildren and many great-grandchildren, her Catholic church and her beloved Labor Party. She will be remembered for her indefatigable commitment to community, her basic love of people by all those whom she's helped over almost a century of service.

So today, Madam Chair, I send my condolence to her children, her grandchildren and all of their families and pay tribute to the life of Beattie Dawson, a life member of the Australian Labor Party, a former Councillor in this place and a true servant of the people of New Farm and of Brisbane City.

Accordingly, in view of former Councillor Beatrice Dawson’s outstanding service to past, present and future residents of Brisbane, the LORD MAYOR moved, seconded by the LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, that

That this Council extend its sincerest and deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the late Beatrice Dawson and pay tribute to her for her dedicated service to the city and people of Brisbane

The Chairman called for any further speakers.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 3 -

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

MINUTES:622/2014-15

The Minutes of the 4468 meeting of Council held on 26 May 2015, copies of which had been forwarded to each Councillor, were presented, taken as read and confirmed on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Kim MARX.

QUESTION TIME:

Chairman: Councillors, we did have a speaker who at short notice has withdrawn today. So are there any questions for a Chairman of any of the Standing Committees?

Chairman: Councillor MARX.

Question 1

Councillor MARX: Yes, thank you, Madam Chair, my question is to the LORD MAYOR. LORD MAYOR, I understand that today you announced a new trial of peak hour dedicated cycling lanes on Annerley Road in Woolloongabba. Can you please tell me where this idea came from and why this cycling route is being trialled?

Chairman: LORD MAYOR.

LORD MAYOR: Well thank you, Madam Chairman, I thank Councillor Kim MARX for the question. Madam Chairman, the Parking Taskforce undertook its work last year under the chairmanship of DEPUTY MAYOR Adrian SCHRINNER, Councillor SCHRINNER. A recommendation within that report was that Brisbane look at trialling dedicated peak hour cycling lanes. Now, Madam Chairman, Council has elected to undertake a trial of this along Annerley Road. This will be a section between Stanley Street and Park Road. It's a 500 metre stretch of roadway, Madam Chairman, and so over the coming months, we expect mid to late August when the trial will become effective.

We will see in the morning peak from 6am through to 9am, Madam Chairman, there will be a section on the inbound strip which will be made into a bike lane, and then in the afternoon peak, the opposite side of the street, 4pm to 7pm in that afternoon period. So, Madam Chairman, this is a way of trying to look at a safety outcome but also making sure that we balance out those ongoing demands for kerbside space. As we all know, there's never enough kerbside space to go around and particularly here, Madam Chairman.

In terms of the impacts of undertaking this trial we will see on the inbound route some 21 car parking spaces and four taxi bays that would be affected in the morning peak. In the outbound or afternoon peak it will be 15 car parking spaces and three loading bays. Now, Madam Chairman, Councillors would also be aware that this particular stretch of roadway has been the subject to a number of incidents involving motor vehicles and bicycles. It's very popular as a route in terms of bicycle flow and, Madam Chairman, also we are seeing on our road network and generally, about an eight per cent lift in the number of cycling movements each year, it's very significant.

So, Madam Chairman, more and more people out there want to take the journey to work opportunities. This particular strip of roadway is also currently the subject of a Coroner's inquiry. So, Madam Chairman, in paying respect to that inquiry Council has continued to communicate with the Coroner making sure that she is aware of Council and its intended actions. We are trying to work with the Coroner in a positive way, Madam Chairman, and so she is also supportive of this action.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 4 -

Madam Chairman, as I said earlier we've got to try and balance the amount of space that's out there in the kerb. What we will be doing as a part of this program is we're needing to resurface that section of roadway anyhow, and we are going to, Madam Chairman, prior to the commencement of this trial, have that resurfacing work undertaken. It will be about six weeks of work. It will also involve changes to line markings on the road network. There will be changes to signage. As part of the works also, we will be placing some holding boxes essentially for cyclists at key intersections to make sure they can get a kick start in terms of traffic at those intersections.

So, Madam Chairman, altogether we're talking about $280,000 worth of work. I don't want anyone to leave with the impression that the $280,000 is related to the bikeway installations in terms of the morning and afternoon peak times. That is the cost of road resurfacing; that is the whole package. So, Madam Chairman, during the period of time for this trial, which we've set down as 12 months, we'll be undertaking constant consultation with everybody involved; the stakeholders, the bike users, the businesses, those residents, Madam Chairman, and those customers if you like—of businesses along there as well, to assess how this trial is going and make as I say an assessment from there.

The proposition has been put to me, well is this the start of many? Well, Madam Chairman, the jury is out on that question. It's out because we want to wait and see how the assessment goes in terms of this trial. That's why we're conducting the trial to examine the many aspects of it and the stakeholder response to it. If it works well, we don't have to wait the 12 months, we can assess other situations from there.

Chairman: Thank you LORD MAYOR.

Chairman: Councillor DICK.

Question 2

Councillor DICK: Thank you, Madam Chair, my question is to the LORD MAYOR. LORD MAYOR it's now been confirmed by former members of the Newman Government that the LNP Buses and Trains (BaT) Tunnel was never intended to be built, even though you had allocated $1 million towards the Council in your Council budgets. Former LNP State Government members have said and I quote, even if the LNP had won January State election, the much vaunted $5 billion BaT project was doomed and would have been dumped during its second term. It simply couldn't be done.

LORD MAYOR, why did you con Brisbane residents on a project that was never funded, that didn't stack up and as now has been revealed, was simply a figment of Campbell Newman's imagination.

Chairman: LORD MAYOR.

LORD MAYOR: Well, Madam Chairman, I'm interested in hearing the remarks and the question from Councillor DICK. I'm interested also in hearing the remarks as he refers to, to some commentary from LNP members. Can I just say, Madam Chairman, that I was engaged in conversation around this project right up to the election time. Anyone who suggests and I don't care who they are or where they're from—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: —anyone who suggests that this was never going to be a project that would happen are kidding themselves. They are kidding themselves. The real question—

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: —the real question remains for you Councillor DICK and for the Labor Party—

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: —is what are they going to do about the bus capacity into the future. It's all good to talk about what might or might not have been. The real question because the

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 5 -

reality is, Madam Chairman, that there was an enormous amount of work, and any search of the documentation will reveal this. There was very significant work undertaken in relation to BaT. It was going to work, Councillor DICK and the reality is that it was catering for two modes; it was catering for rail and it was catering for bus transport.

So the question remains what are the State now going to do, seeing as you've raised this question, what are they going to do to do more about building capacity into the network for buses into the future? Right now over there—

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Councillor DICK!

LORD MAYOR: —in the cultural centre we've got 230 buses in the peak run hour morning period, that's a bus every 15 seconds. So, Madam Chairman, the question remains what's going to happen in the future in relation to that capacity. The State Government undertook a role whereby they said it was not just sufficient to do rail, to build rail capacity. There was a need to build bus infrastructure capacity. That is a correct notion. There is that need. No matter what commentary might come, what questions might come, what decisions of the State Government might come, it's not going to change the need for that bus infrastructure.

So my question back to you is Councillor DICK is how are you going to as a Brisbane City Councillor in the time you have left here, how are you going to help to try to influence the need for an improvement in the bus infrastructure of this city.

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: You won't be here to worry.

Chairman: Councillor DICK!

LORD MAYOR: Alright, I didn't quite hear what you said in your interjection but, Madam Chairman, well, Madam Chairman—

Chairman: Just a moment LORD MAYOR.

Chairman: Councillor DICK, I think you're imputing motive through that comment and I would ask you to withdraw it.

Councillor DICK: My comment was, Madam Chair, is that I won't lie like the former LNP State Government did.

Chairman: I asked you to withdraw it.

Chairman: LORD MAYOR.

LORD MAYOR: Well, Madam Chairman, I just say this, any search of the records will reveal that right up to the time of the change of government there was very serious work being undertaken on that project, very serious work, Madam Chairman. The reality is that it was going ahead and I don't care, I'm hearing this commentary that you talk about that some commentary of somebody who may have had a different view but I can tell you this, Campbell Newman was absolutely dedicated to that project, to seeing it happen and it was for the right reason, Madam Chairman.

Because the combined projects of bus and rail infrastructure in a single tube tunnel, Madam Chairman, could have delivered that project for about the same price or a lot less in fact, a lot less than the original Cross River Rail project. Now they have always hated the fact that Cross River Rail went off the agenda—

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Councillor JOHNSTON!

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 6 -

LORD MAYOR: —that's why they question this today, Madam Chairman, their dedicated Cross River Rail. That's great, I'm very happy, I'm very happy for a Cross River Rail project but it's only half the equation. We know well in this city there are more people catch buses than trains in the City of Brisbane. That's the reality. That is the reality. This city cannot cope by just doing rail infrastructure alone. We have to make sure that our bus infrastructure is also up to scratch.

The BaT tunnel would have taken 200 buses out of the CBD in the morning peak. That is also about making sure that we have a very, very good functioning Central Business District (CBD) into the future. It had many advantages, Madam Chairman, which was why this Administration continued to provide technical support to that project and it was happening right up to Election Day.

Chairman: Thank you LORD MAYOR.

Chairman: Further questions?

Chairman: Councillor McKENZIE.

Question 3

Councillor McKENZIE: Thank you, Madam Chairman. Madam Chairman, my question is to the Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee, the DEPUTY MAYOR. DEPUTY MAYOR, Brisbane City Council invited residents to take part in a once in a lifetime event and enjoy a family friendly walk through the Legacy Way Tunnel before it opens for traffic. I understand that this event was a great success with huge numbers of people turning out for the walk. Can you please provide more detail about this day for those who were unable to attend? Thank you.

Chairman: DEPUTY MAYOR.

DEPUTY MAYOR: Thank you, Councillor McKENZIE. If there's one thing that's for certain this Administration doesn't just talk about infrastructure, we build it. Unlike Cross River Rail which has been talked about for years and years and years and never built—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

DEPUTY MAYOR: —never built, unlike the Eastern Busway, talked about—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

DEPUTY MAYOR: —for nearly a decade and never built we actually build stuff. We build stuff. The Legacy Way Tunnel which will be open very soon is one classic example of that and is one of so many examples across the last 10 years that we have actually delivered. Guess what? The community is absolutely busting to get into that tunnel, absolutely can't wait. We're expecting around 20,000 to show up to the open day on Sunday but we had a whole lot of gate-crashers and 30,000 people came instead.

So we had a great roll up, 30,000 people wanted to see that tunnel and walk through it before it officially opens to traffic. They were there with the LORD MAYOR and many other Councillors, plus Federal Government representatives; I understand Attorney-General George Brandis joined you for that event. This is a great example of different levels of government working together to make things happen, and also private industry working together with Council to make things happen. So rather than talking about infrastructure, we're getting on and delivering it.

So we saw 30,000 people turn up and we had three buses shuttling between three different locations and the tunnel portals. We know that the majority of people did the whole 4.6 kilometre walk so they were really keen to see the entire length of the tunnel. It just goes to show the level of anticipation that is out there in the community for this project. I hear people from the western suburbs and even out as far as Ipswich and beyond who are just keen to see this thing open so that they can benefit from the travel time savings.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 7 -

This is a project that even before it opens has won several national and international awards. We saw in 2013, it took out the major tunnelling project of the year at the International Tunnelling Awards. We saw this project took out the 2015 Project of the Year at the Australian National Infrastructure Awards. It's been an absolutely fantastic project that importantly will be delivered on budget or even under budget and that's a great outcome as well. We've had some great innovation worked on by Transcity that have delivered this project that we'd set for them many, many years ago. Not only has the tunnel won significant awards soon to be ready to open but also coming in on budget.

With a $1.5 billion project that is a significant point in itself. We know, we've seen projects particularly in other levels of government blow out massively and with a $1.5 billion budget, the potential for cost overruns is significant. So this is a project we have managed very carefully to make sure it can be delivered within that budget. Every dollar that is saved on this project is a dollar that can be invested into other infrastructure and projects right across the city. So we'll see a great outcome for Brisbane when this tunnel opens.

We believe it will be a tunnel that will be embraced by the people of Brisbane, will provide significant travel time savings, help reduce congestion significantly and once again, an example of how we actually deliver things rather than talking about them.

Chairman: Councillor DICK.

Question 4

Councillor DICK: Thank you, Madam Chairman. My question is to the LORD MAYOR. LORD MAYOR, as a result of you botching last November's new Council grass-cutting contracts, can you please advise today how many contracts have been varied, suspended or terminated and how much does it cost to rehire or extend areas of the previous grass-cutting contractors to overcome the problem of you hiring people who didn't even own mowers.

Chairman: Councillor DICK that question is fairly complex in the second part that you're asking. Do you have it in writing by any chance? Okay.

Chairman: LORD MAYOR.

LORD MAYOR: Thank you very much, Madam Chairman, and I thank Councillor DICK for the question.

Chairman: Thank you.

LORD MAYOR: I will have to take a little bit of it on notice, Madam Chairman, in terms of the actual numbers but what I can tell Councillor DICK is a few things. The first thing is that yes, we did make changes to some of the contractors, where they were not performing we made changes, Madam Chairman. I indicated to the Chamber months ago that I would undertake this action, that if it was that the performance was not there in compliance with the contract that we would act, that there'd been a signed deal done and if people were not going to perform to that signed contract then we would act and we have.

Madam Chairman, I would also say this that the amount of money that ratepayers are having to pay for grass cutting today is significantly less than what it was under the previous contractual arrangements, significantly less. Councillor DICK was of the view that we should have just left it all in place, the way it was, just go back with the old contractors and, Madam Chairman—

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: —the ratepayers would have paid accordingly.

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Councillor SUTTON! Order!

LORD MAYOR: The ratepayers would have paid accordingly. So, Madam Chairman, in terms of the contracts, we have as I say taken those actions necessary in relation to contractors where they were not performing. We make no apology for that. We

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 8 -

believe we're getting to a situation now where there is a significant improvement in terms of the mowing that's being taken up. Madam Chairman, Council, I can say, officially notified one contractor on 14 May 2015 that their contracts are to be terminated following an extensive audit process. So they will be no more.

We will continue to make the decisions we need to in the interests of the ratepayers of this city to ensure that performance is delivered. When contracts are entered into, we have a responsibility to act on behalf of the ratepayers and to take the necessary actions. So, Madam Chairman, in relation to the question of the actual number, Councillor DICK I'm happy to come back to you around that but again I want to make the point. You talked about how much did it cost; what I'm saying to you is that it's cost a heck of a lot less under this contractual arrangement for the ratepayers of this city than what it was costing previously.

It was a very competitive market. Did some of those contractors sharpen the pencil too much? Well maybe they did, Madam Chairman, but no one is forcing anybody's hands in terms of a contract price. It's a very competitive marketplace. People have made a bid in accordance with the way they viewed what they could do it for and, Madam Chairman, we have made an assessment. Did we take the cheapest contracts? No, we did not, no, we did not. So we made sure in terms of due diligence, Madam Chairman, before the Stores Board signed these contracts, officers did the appropriate work around it. Now was there—

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Councillor SUTTON!

LORD MAYOR: —was there still a failure in terms—

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: —of a couple of those contracts? Yes, there was that's a fact. No one is denying that. But, Madam Chairman, we have taken the action, we have taken the action, Madam Chairman, so what we have as an outcome is this. We have an outcome whereby contractors are performing much, much better now than they were. That we have a situation where there are significant sums of money being saved by the ratepayers of this city as a result of the new contractual arrangements and, Madam Chairman, my observation of the parks is they are certainly looking pretty good at the moment.

Chairman: Further questions?

Chairman: Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR.

Question 5

Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR: Thank you, Madam Chairman. My question this afternoon is to the Chairman of Finance, Economic Development and Administration Committee, Councillor SIMMONDS. Councillor SIMMONDS this Administration has always had a strong focus on sustainable debt levels to fund congestion busting infrastructure through initiatives such as the Queensland Urban Utilities (QUU) loan restructure and the leasing of tolling concessions. Can you please provide additional information and details on how these initiatives have kept rates and water charges low?

Chairman: Councillor SIMMONDS.

Councillor SIMMONDS: Thank you very much, Madam Chairman, and thank you very much to Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR, who I know maintains an unwavering interest in strong financial management of this Council. The prudent financial management of course is an imperative to the ratepayers of Brisbane. What does it mean for them? It ensures that we can keep the pressure on rates as low as possible. It instils discipline within Council officers to make sure that they deliver projects under budget and it ensures that our budget can support a growing economy and jobs in our city.

What we've seen in recent weeks is some of the ways that we are doing that as an Administration. The third budget review has seen Council realise millions in savings from completed projects and reinvested back into frontline services. It's

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 9 -

seen us maintain a year on year growth in expenses of just 0.13 per cent so that we can spend money on the capital and upfront improvements that we need for our city. Of course it's seen this Administration take a significant role in the refinancing and reducing of its borrowings. So ratepayers expect Council to do varied and many things but to be a bank for a public utility is not one of them.

So the debt refinancing that QUU undertook and that this Chamber approved in May simply involved Council exiting as the middle man or the banker and QUU and Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) having a direct arrangement. This allowed QUU to repay debt to Council, Council in turn to reduce its borrowings to QTC all without increasing the debt burden for either QUU or QTC. Pretty simple, pretty easy to understand, everyone is nodding their heads. Not so for the Labor Councillors opposite unfortunately, who, having railed against debt in this place for three years, voted against reducing this Council's borrowings, voted against it.

What are the spurious reasons, what are the spurious reasons for it? Well we remember the debate of Councillor DICK on 5 May. He used words like spiralling water bills—this would be the result of what we were proposing—spiralling water bills he predicted was the future. He predicted skyrocketing of water rates, he said. He called on the mums and dads of Brisbane to rise up, quote unquote, “the mums and dads of Brisbane”. So what have we seen, what has been the effect of water prices as announced just last week by QUU?

An increase for Brisbane residents of 1.1 per cent; 1.1 per cent less than inflation, less than inflation. So not only was he horribly, horribly wrong for all his political bluff and bluster, that's all it took, an incorrect assertion, an incorrect assumption and like the Pied Piper he led all of his merry Councillors to the wrong side of the Chamber to vote against the principle stance they've held for the last three years. But it's not the first time. See, this is the thing; you can't trust the Labor Councillors opposite to maintain a principle stance. You can't trust them when they say one thing because you know it's politically motivated.

Let's think about what Councillor DICK said before the 2014-2015 budget—

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

Councillor SIMMONDS: —he stood up in this place.

Chairman: Order! Councillor ABRAHAMS!

Councillor SIMMONDS: —on 11 March. Councillor DICK stood up in this place on 11 March and predicted a rates increase of 5.9 per cent. Well did it get anywhere near that? Well of course not, of course not. He was on Channel Ten the year before predicting a rates increase of five per cent. Did it get anywhere near that? Not even close, Madam Chairman. Remember when Councillor DICK stood up in this Chamber and declared that he was, quote unquote, “sceptical at the BaSE project” and raised concerns about the implementation on the basis of the Gold Coast delivery. Well guess what? How's it coming? Well we've delivered it under budget to the tune of $13.3 million under budget. This Administration has delivered.

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order! Councillor FLESSER!

Councillor SIMMONDS: What about when he stood up, what about it when he stood up in the Council—when Councillor DICK stood up in the Council Chamber on 30 October and said in 2012 on 30 October that, quote unquote, “it's time to get on with Kingsford Smith Drive right away”. Councillor SUTTON followed when she stood up and said, quote unquote, “I will give you my unequivocal support to upgrade Wynnum Road”. Guess what happened when we brought in the funding in order to achieve those projects? They voted against it.

So it's not even a year later on 30 July they voted against it. So you see the pattern of behaviour with the Labor Councillors opposite that they only hold a

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 10 -

principled stance for the ratepayers of Brisbane until it isn't politically viable anymore and then they switch. When they think the politics are better they throw out positions. In the case of the Council borrowings, they throw out a position that they've been railing about for the last three years. In a matter of moments they switch just like that on the basis of the word of the Leader of the Opposition who is wrong, continuously wrong. Now the question remains for the Labor Councillors on that side of the Chamber—

Chairman: Thank you Councillor SIMMONDS.

Councillor SIMMONDS: —how long will they continue to follow Councillor DICK into oblivion.

Chairman: Thank you.

Chairman: Councillor SUTTON.

Question 6

Councillor SUTTON: Thank you, Madam Chairman, my question is to the LORD MAYOR. LORD MAYOR I refer to news coverage in last week's South-East Advertiser which demonstrates it takes more than an hour and 10 minutes to get from Bulimba to the city by bus in peak hour. Bulimba is less than five kilometres from the CBD and in non-peak periods it takes just 15 to 20 minutes. LORD MAYOR doesn't this demonstrate why it's important to install bus priority lanes in peak hour as part of the Lytton Road Wynnum Road upgrade and isn't it time you committed to doing just that?

Chairman: LORD MAYOR.

LORD MAYOR: Well, Madam Chairman, I thank Councillor SUTTON for her question. Madam Chairman, this is not the first time that Councillor SUTTON has raised this question. Can I just say that as an Administration, Madam Chairman, we are committed to the Wynnum Road stage 1 upgrade. We have made it clear obviously that this is the only side of this Chamber that's committed to doing something, Madam Chairman. Not talking about things in terms of a road upgrade there but actually going forward and doing something. We've already started the acquisition process, Madam Chairman, around that road corridor, we have started the acquisitions out there.

So, Madam Chairman, I hear Councillor SUTTON, I hear the view that you have expressed in relation to this. We have indicated from our point of view that it is a road upgrade. We are out there in terms of public consultation at the moment around a draft, early draft design. Madam Chairman, we will wait and see what public feedback there is in relation to that. So I hear you loud and clear, I hear your view on this matter. So, Madam Chairman, I'll just say again that certainly from our point of view this was a road upgrade project from the current four lanes to six lanes, Madam Chairman.

See one of the things that we experienced too when we did away with the flow—there was this tidal flow arrangement on Coronation Drive. Some of you might remember the big gantries that were up. There was a cross and a tick and all of that so you could do certain things on Coronation Drive in different lanes. Madam Chairman, when we took those things out and they were failing on very, very regular occasions, when we took them out I'll tell you what happened. People said the bus service is doomed, you won't be able to get through et cetera, well I'll tell you what happened when we took it out.

There was a 19 per cent improvement in the travel time flow for traffic and there was a 12 per cent improvement in the flow time through for buses. That's what happened, Madam Chairman, because all the tidal flow system was doing was causing a banking back of buses, back through High Street and the Moggill Road. Now I come to your question Councillor—

Councillor SUTTON: Point of order, Madam Chair.

Chairman: Point of order, yes, thank you LORD MAYOR.

Councillor SUTTON: Finally, finally, he's going to come to my question.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 11 -

LORD MAYOR: Well I'd actually covered most of your question and I covered it by saying that I hear your view. This is the second time that you've expressed that view that we ought to simply build a bus lane and leave it at that. So, Madam Chairman, I'm hearing her view, that has not been the Administration's position, Madam Chairman. Again, we're talking to people around that but I thank her for expressing her view here today.

Chairman: Further questions?

Chairman: Councillor WINES.

Question 7

Councillor WINES: Thank you, Madam Chairman. My question is to the Chairman of Brisbane Lifestyle Committee, Councillor ADAMS. Councillor ADAMS I, like many Brisbane residents are big fans of the cinema but not only—

Chairman: To the Chair please, Councillor WINES.

Councillor WINES: Sorry?

Chairman: To the front, so the microphone.

Councillor WINES: Apologies, Madam Chairman, but also the cinematic art of Dwayne Johnson and many of us looking forward to the launch of his film San Andreas. Because Council's Business Hotline provides a one stop shop for residents and business customers who want to establish an event in this city. I understand in 2012 it was identified that the filming approval function aligns closely with the broader aims of the Business Hotline, making Brisbane an attractive filming destination. Can you please elaborate on how this important function has—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

Councillor WINES: —injected millions into Brisbane's economy.

Chairman: Councillor ADAMS.

Councillor ADAMS: Thank you, Madam Chair, and I thank Councillor WINES for the question. I hope he does support San Andreas as it opens and comes to Brisbane. Because what we have seen with that film is that 90 per cent of that film was actually filmed in South East Queensland. So it has been a huge injection into the local economy and 40 to 50 per cent of that was actually in Brisbane as well. So that is the type of results we are seeing from our Business Hotline alignment.

What we saw was with our filming and events liaisons, that we needed to bring it back into where we could have case managers to deal with the enquiries that we had on a regular basis about how we could make it easy in Brisbane to do filming, whether it's for big screen epics like San Andreas or just TV commercials as day to day business as well. So in 2012 we did align the filming approvals functions with the Business Hotline to give us greater alignment with that case management model that we use for the Brisbane Hotline. We are now looking at helping people with everything from student projects to TV commercials, feature films, television shows and our news channels as well as they come through Brisbane.

Local and national film industries have easy access to Council through this client management approach. It does make it much easier when people are looking for sites and places to film as well that we have a suite of options to give them, as well as helping them work through the day to day things that they need to do as well, everything from road closures to temporary road closures and all of the permits in between. We're also running host to another major blockbuster later this year. We are in contention with Sydney and Melbourne on a couple of others as well. So hopefully the success we've seen with San Andreas will lead us into far more filming in the future.

We've been host to several reality TV shows that are Australia based and a score of international food, fashion, TV and documentaries. Currently on primetime TV we can be seen in a Subway commercial, sports medical gel commercial, car

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 12 -

commercials, a State Government anti-smoking campaign, eyewear commercials, South East Queensland (SEQ) Water Safety, Sportsbet with Shane Warne, which I'm sure you've all seen. Tomorrow there's going to be a great sporting star in a little red car for the Coles group which will be filming in Brisbane as well.

So all of these opportunities have led to a huge injection to the Brisbane economy. Our filming permits are; there was 316 filming permits issued this year, that is up 11 per cent from 284 in 2013-14 and 230 in 2012-13 so we really are seeing an increase in helping to do business in Brisbane. Sixty-five per cent increase of filming permits over those three years means that we really are seeing Brisbane as being recognised as somewhere where doing filming is easy as well. So everything as I mentioned from 30 second ads right through to big blockbusters, the filmmakers have discovered that we are the economical alternative to heading south.

Obviously cheaper for an earthquake than San Francisco and if for nothing else San Andreas it will interesting to see what Elizabeth Street looks like after it comes under a large earthquake as well. Of course we also had Angelina Jolie's film Unbroken and that followed The Railway Man feature that was filmed here in 2013 as well. Both of those filmed at Fort Lytton Park. So we do have so many options in SEQ not just Brisbane and we do work as a whole to make sure that we are making it easy to do Brisbane in this part of Australia as well.

With an estimation by production companies that filming injected up to $55.3 million into Brisbane's economy in the 2013-14 financial year, you can see that this Administration is continuing to provide Brisbane City with a solid strategy to establish our city as an exciting cultural scene, supportive of creative enterprises. We are definitely delivering on this side of the Chamber with a solid strategy to see us emerge and secure our place as a New World City, not just to live and visit but also to invest in, Madam Chair.

Chairman: Further questions?

Chairman: Councillor JOHNSTON.

Question 8

Councillor JOHNSTON: Yes, Madam Chairman, my question is for the LORD MAYOR. The recent Australian Infrastructure Audit Report found that Oxley Road was the second most congested road in South East Queensland in 2011 and worse still, that by 2031 it will be the most congested Council road second only behind the Ipswich Motorway in South East Queensland. For years you have hidden Council's plans for an upgrade of Oxley Road from the public. Given this national planning report highlighting Council's neglect of the Oxley Road corridor will you now outline Council's plans for the Oxley Road Upgrade?

Chairman: LORD MAYOR.

LORD MAYOR: Well that's very simple Councillor. There is no plan for the Oxley Road Upgrade. We've got nothing in our immediate forward plans in terms of Oxley Road. Will there one day need to be something done in Oxley Road? Well possibly so, possibly so but what form might that take? I don't know at this time Councillor. We've got no forward allocations of funds relative to Oxley Road and I haven't heard from you any ideas as to how that should be done. You are wonderful at bringing problems to this place Councillor, but I never really hear any—

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Councillor JOHNSTON!

LORD MAYOR: —of your ideas of what solution you would have to that problem. Now you don't have to do it by way of interjection Councillor. You could stand up and you could actually give your view on which sections we should see resumptions in, which sections we might see changes to the road structures, do we take traffic down a different direction. I'd like to know what your views as a local Councillor are. Surely you would have some Councillor JOHNSTON.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 13 -

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: Well you always seem to have something to say but what I would like to know is what would be your view—

Chairman: Councillor ABRAHAMS!

LORD MAYOR: —what would be your view at the local Councillor in terms of how that future should look. Surely as a local Councillor—

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: —bringing your own vision to this place as to how that should look would have been one of your responsibilities I would have thought. So, Madam Chairman, I just reiterate again that there are no forward funds in relation to Oxley Road at this time. That is not to say that there is not a need for something to be done at some point of time in relation to Oxley Road. I'm conscious, Madam Chairman, there are many corridors that need work undertaken. We've indicated at this stage and you say yes, Councillor GRIFFITHS but I've never seen—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: —never seen much by way of concrete evidence during times of Labor Administrations of those significant projects being undertaken—

Chairman: Councillor GRIFFITHS!

LORD MAYOR: —so I don't think that anybody can say, Madam Chairman, that this Administration has short-changed the city on infrastructure build in the last 10 years. We have been out there making sure—

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: —that the structure of the network is in place, Madam Chairman, but there is more to be done. There will always be, there will always be more to be done when it comes to infrastructure. That's why we have been concentrating to some extent on building the structural facilities in this city, to make sure that we are planning for the future growth of this city, Madam Chairman, not by having facilities that are filled up overnight but having ones that provide capacity.

Councillor JOHNSTON: Point of order, Madam Chairman.

Chairman: Point of order against you LORD MAYOR.

Chairman: Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.

Councillor JOHNSTON: I appreciate that the LORD MAYOR wants to speak about every other road in Brisbane other than Oxley Road, but my question was very specifically about Oxley Road. If he has finished answering because he's got nothing, Madam Chairman, that's fine but my question is about the future of Oxley Road and the recent Infrastructure Australia Report.

Chairman: I do not uphold your point of order. The LORD MAYOR is answering the question most adequately.

LORD MAYOR: Yes, so, Madam Chairman, I am familiar with the Infrastructure Australia Report. I'm certainly aware of that. Again, Madam Chairman, as with other corridors, we will continue to undertake planning but as the Councillor knows the two major projects this city has on its agenda right now is the upgrade to Kingsford Smith Drive where we are out to tenders right now and of course the first stage of Wynnum, Madam Chairman, where we have already started to acquire properties in preparation for the construction of that project.

So, Madam Chairman, that's the position we are in, I've indicated a response to the Councillor on the other factors.

Chairman: Further questions?

Chairman: Councillor WYNDHAM

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 14 -

Question 9

Councillor WYNDHAM: Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, my question is to Councillor McLACHLAN. Councillor McLACHLAN, can you please provide an update of the work you're leading to deliver on the commitment by Team QUIRK to rebuild the Shorncliffe Pier for the benefit of Brisbane's residents and visitors—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

Councillor WYNDHAM: —to our city. Would you like me to repeat that because of the interjections?

Chairman: No, that's fine Councillor WYNDHAM.

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order! When you're ready we'll continue.

Chairman: Councillor McLACHLAN.

Councillor McLACHLAN: Thank you, Madam Chairman, and thank you to Councillor WYNDHAM for that question. Madam Chairman, this great project will have wide ranging benefits for all Brisbane residents with a love of Bramble Bay and the beach. While the pier is located in Shorncliffe, there is a universal benefit derived from the LORD MAYOR's commitment to construct a new pier to replace the old and derelict pier. The new Shorncliffe Pier is well on track I'm pleased to say for delivery as per the construction schedule and to meet the deadline of being ready weather permitting to fulfil its traditional role as a platform for the starters of the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race next year.

The Shorncliffe Pier, Madam Chairman, will be a lasting legacy of the commitment of $20 million by the LORD MAYOR to rebuild the old Shorncliffe Pier during the term of this Administration. It will also stand to remind those in Deagon Ward that the Labor Party before the last election, made no matching commitment to reconstruct the Shorncliffe Pier. This side, Team QUIRK was the only side determined to rebuild, to commit the funds needed and to get on with the job. The pier, Madam Chairman—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

Councillor McLACHLAN: —was first constructed in 1882 and after an extension a few years later, extended into the bay by about some 350 metres. Although major repairs had been undertaken during its life, they were eventually no match for the appetite of the marine creatures that were eating away at the timber pylons, even after attempts to encase them in concrete barriers. Madam Chairman, following engineering reports that the pier was structurally unsound, it was closed to all public access and use in March 2012 while a plan of action was commenced, looking at whether any of the structure could be saved.

No, was the short answer and regrettably the entire pier had to be removed. The demolition work was completed earlier this year and the construction of the new pier replicating the look and feel of the historic structure has well and truly commenced. The removal of the old pier gave local community groups a chance to access timber from the pier for use in their local projects through our Pieces of the Pier initiative. So the old timber won't go to waste, instead salvageable timber from handrails, decking, joists, girders, corbels, headstocks that have been tested and determined to be safe for specific use will be turned into new things like artworks and useful items that will serve as ongoing memorials of the old pier that residents love so much.

Madam Chairman, 13 local sporting groups, schools, community groups, artists, the local historical society and even the current Councillor for Deagon Ward recently collected their allocation of timber. I certainly do look forward to seeing some of the new uses that the timber from the old pier will be put to, and those inspirational creations. I'm sure the LORD MAYOR will be acknowledged by Councillor NEWTON in whatever she manages to put together. The new

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 15 -

structure will be the same length, the same width and on the same alignment as the existing pier with some elements updated to ensure that it can be enjoyed by more people for the next 100 years plus.

The renewed pier design includes a more modern concrete and steel substructure with timber joists, decking, handrails and a rotunda to retain the feel and the community heritage values of the old pier. The new Shorncliffe Pier will have a larger rotunda, a larger hammerhead at the end and a lower platform at the end of the pier. What residents and visitors will see will be excellent modern community facilities including fish cleaning stations, water fountains, lighting, bins safety ladders, benches and seats, picnic tables and a flagpole for yacht races.

Down below the deck level is where all the hard work is occurring to ensure the longevity of this new structure. Nearly all the steel pile liners have been driven into the seabed and these are then being filled with concrete and reinforcement as required. There are no timber pylons that can be eaten away again thankfully. Works scheduled for June include more drilling and concreting the permanent piles from the temporary platform.

There's drilling and concrete of permanent piles from the marine barge it's coming from two directions to construct this new structure. Soon we'll see the placement and the installation of headstocks and girders. The work will commence to locate all the services between the waterfront and the entrance to the car-park to ensure we've got access to the important things like electricity once the new pier is complete. We're providing regular updates to the Save the Shorncliffe Pier Group via their Facebook page and we continue to provide project updates to the local community via the project team.

Madam Chairman, this Team QUIRK is delivering as promised on time, on budget as we rebuild the Shorncliffe Pier. This team is about delivery, not talking, in stark contrast to the Labor Party.

Chairman: Thank you Councillor McLACHLAN. Thank you. That ends Question Time.

Chairman: LORD MAYOR Establishment—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

Chairman: —LORD MAYOR, Establishment and Coordination Committee.

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 25 May 2015, be adopted.

Chairman: Is there any debate?

Councillor JOHNSTON: Point of order, Madam Chairman.

Chairman: Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON, point of order.

Councillor JOHNSTON: Madam Chairman, I just seek some clarification with respect to Item B. We're being asked to authorise the acquisition of land today for a substantial sum of money but the report before us does not say who we're purchasing the land from. I consider that to be a fundamental piece of knowledge that the Council should know. I'm just wondering why that's not actually included in the report before us today.

I have had a look at the file and the name of the person is there but again it's very unclear from whom we're purchasing this land. I think that to determine

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 16 -

whether there are any conflicts or any other issues, that information should be available in the report before us today.

Chairman: Well, Councillor JOHNSTON you've just said the name, the details are in the file and—

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Councillor JOHNSTON, don't speak over me. I am saying you have admitted that it is in the file and I'm sure the LORD MAYOR will address that issue when he gets to that part of the report.

Chairman: LORD MAYOR.

Councillor JOHNSTON: Point of order, Madam Chairman.

Chairman: Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON?

Councillor JOHNSTON: Thank you very much for saying that the LORD MAYOR will address it. My concern though is why the information is not available in the report before us—

Chairman: Councillor JOHNSTON you have raised the issue. I have indicated the LORD MAYOR will take up the issue when the report is presented. I'm sure this is being done in exactly the same way as the other acquisitions that are being undertaken.

Chairman: LORD MAYOR.

LORD MAYOR: Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. Madam Chairman, I thank Councillor for her contribution. I will address that in just a moment when I'm talking about that Item. Madam Chairman, before coming to the formal part of today's report I just want to comment on a few other issues. Firstly, Madam Chairman, the seventy-fifth anniversary celebration of the Story Bridge. Madam Chairman, as I've mentioned here previously there are some 60,000 opportunities to be provided for residents to attend the Story Bridge opening.

Madam Chairman, there has now been two tranches of tickets, one of 25,000 and last night there were another 20,000 tickets that were released and, Madam Chairman, they went in three minutes. So, faster than a One Direction concert, Madam Chairman. It was, Madam Chairman, so there will be a further release of some 15,000 tickets that will occur on 22 June but it does, as the DEPUTY MAYOR said earlier, it does really show just how much interest there is in some of these large infrastructure projects.

Certainly the Story Bridge, Madam Chairman, is a very much loved icon of the city that's gained a new lease of life in more recent times with its Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting, but obviously people are certainly ringing in droves or getting online in droves at least to make sure they can be a part of that seventy-fifth celebration.

Madam Chairman, the music of City Sounds; so this is an event which I had the opportunity to launch last week. It was a program that commenced in the year 2000. It started with 50 shows and 150 performances at that time. Today, Madam Chairman, that has grown to 750 shows and 2,200 performances that are spread across the year. I had the good fortune to be in the company of Black Indie and also The Winter of Reason represented there by Geoff Dunkley, Ryan Smith and the beautifully voiced Chloe Tara, Madam Chairman, to launch the free concerts again this year.

So City Sounds, Madam Chairman, will commence on Friday 5 June. If people want more information about it, they can do so by going online to citysounds.com.au and that is something that all Councillors might want to get information out to their various constituencies about. Madam Chairman, we've mentioned the Legacy Way community event; Councillor SCHRINNER has covered that fairly extensively so I won't say anything further about that.

The news also during the week, Madam Chairman, that Councillor FLESSER and Councillor NEWTON will not be recontesting the next election. I just want to say thank you to Councillor NEWTON and Councillor FLESSER. Obviously they will be making their own announcements further to that in due course but I

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 17 -

just say that I have respect for everybody who puts themselves forward and actually gets themselves involved in public service through elected public office.

They have made lengthy contributions to the city and I thank them both for that. Now is not the time for a lengthy speech but when I recall back as 11 and 12 year olds when Councillor FLESSER were running around Boyd Park and Oxenham Park there at Nundah as little devils, whoever thought we'd have been back here as little devils, as big devils.

Not quite, no we're not, now who said that? So anyway but we'll say more about that later. Madam Chairman, the two Items on today's report, Item A is the draft City Botanic Gardens Conservation and Land Management Plan. Now, Madam Chairman, this is a requirement of the State that we actually have a plan. What we've done is to combine the two, the Conservation and Land Management Plan into one. It's required under the Queensland Heritage Act of 1992.

So the Conservation and Land Management Plan sets the legislative context, the site description, the history of the gardens, the significance of the gardens and principles and guidelines for the ongoing management and development of the gardens. As part of the Council's commitment to a cleaner and greener Brisbane, Council released the City Botanic Gardens Master Plan in early 2015. This plan, Madam Chairman, this Management Plan and Conversation Plan aims to directly draw from the City Botanic Gardens Master Plan.

Specifically the purpose of the Conservation Land Management Plan (CLPM) identifies and describes the significant values of the gardens that need to be managed. It identifies and addresses current and future issues that impact on the values of the place. It also guides Council in future development and maintenance and management of the gardens. As well as that it provides clear information to the Queensland Government on planned development in line with the reserve purpose and the cultural heritage values of the place.

People will remember when we undertook the All Abilities Playground facilities in there that there was a process, quite a lengthy one in fact that went, working with the State Government to make sure that everyone was happy with the outcome around that and that it respected the heritage of this particular place. Finally it assists Council in the management and development of leases and activities on the land. Madam Chairman, there is a lengthy document there for all Councillors. All Councillors have got that document to ensure to make comment upon during the course of today's debate.

The other Item on the Agenda is that of a purchase of land at 176 Moxon Road, Burbank. To address Councillor JOHNSTON's query, Madam Chairman, at the start of this debate, all Councillors now receive a full pack around the acquisition process, including valuations and sale documents, a lot more documents than what for many, many years was available. So, Madam Chairman, contained in those documents are all of the ownership details relative to this particular parcel of land so it makes clear reference there to the owners of the land.

Chairman: It's attachment C, I believe LORD MAYOR. Attachment C of the—

LORD MAYOR: Attachment C yes. That's correct.

Chairman: —attachments that were distributed.

LORD MAYOR: It's a contract of sale, Madam Chairman, where we undertake that purchase. So, Madam Chairman, the land in question, $3.75 million from our bushland levy, Madam Chairman, from that reserve to purchase this land, 51.92 hectares. Of course we know Burbank is a very important part of the city. It's part of those lands very much related to the preservation and conservation of the koala population. So, Madam Chairman, it's something I'm very pleased, very happy to bring to the Chamber today. It's part of our ongoing program of making sure that we preserve significant bushlands for future generations of this city to have and to enjoy.

Chairman: Further debate?

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 18 -

Councillor JOHNSTON.

Councillor JOHNSTON: Yes, Madam Chairman, I rise to speak on Item A and Item B. I just raise the first Item, Madam Chairman, first and that's the draft Botanic Gardens plan. This has been a long process, Madam Chairman. Generally I think there are some important things that are going to be done for the gardens in the longer term, particularly improving the lighting for the area which is seriously inadequate at the moment and unreliable. I think that would be an important project which is underway.

What concerns me however, in this document is on page 48 of the Land and Conservation Management Plan itself where one of the placed specific principles related to the Riverstage in the domain area. I note that it says the following; Riverstage will be progressively developed to accommodate gardens parking. It goes on then to outline a number of other improvements, which are not quite so controversial but I note that as you read down into the discussion and what is proposed, that with the future redevelopment of the Riverstage area, this Council is intending to incorporate visitor parking into the Botanical Gardens.

That is problematic from my point of view. Yes, thank you, Councillor ABRAHAMS is just saying it's not showing anywhere on the map which is true. I don't recall it necessarily being part of the original consultation plans that went out. I am extremely concerned that we already severely restrict car access into that precinct which is largely that car access is provided past Queensland Parliament House in through Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and then into the Botanic Gardens. I imagine that there is some emergency or service vehicle access through the other gates off Edward Street as well.

However what concerns me is that we're clearly intending to put parking into what is now a pedestrian friendly space and that is a shortcoming in my point of view and that is a retrograde step. I would think that if we are going to develop the Riverstage to allow for more events or functions that's a good thing. But the Brisbane CBD is the most well serviced area by public transport in our city. There's a brand new multimillion dollar CityCat that's been built to service this precinct which we just had a presentation on today.

There are free bus services that loop down there. There are scheduled bus services. There is a range of public transport and in no way should we be prioritising new parking and new areas of parking—and it's very vague about how big it will be—to service an auditorium or a public events stage which is located in one of our oldest and most significant parks. That is not a good idea from my point of view. This is the first that I've heard about it. I do not support this aspect of the plan before us today.

I would urge Council not to turn this into some massive venue where you can rock up in your thousands to park your car and we lose green space or we create congestion and safety issues. Anybody who uses that Riverstage area and uses the QUT campus and who then uses the public pathways through the Botanic Gardens know that it is a heavily, heavily used active transport area by pedestrians on foot and also by people on bikes.

Bringing cars into that environment is not a sound decision by any means and I do not believe it should be part of any upgrade of the Riverstage. For it to be suggested and not outlined in the attached maps and planning I think is a little bit sneaky. I would certainly appreciate some more clarity from the LORD MAYOR as to what his intention is with respect to this parking that is referred to on page 48.

Now before I'm attacked, let me just say if it means that it's say three disability access parks, that would be okay with me but, Madam Chairman, it doesn't say that. It says general parking to service the upgrade of the Riverstage. That to me is unclear and I do not want to write this Administration a blank cheque to turn the Botanic Gardens into a parking venue because that's not its purpose.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 19 -

Secondly with respect to the issue about the land acquisition on Item B. My point about this is we are being asked to authorise the expenditure of $3.75 million of ratepayer's money to purchase land at 176 Moxon Road, Burbank, and nowhere on the public record is the name of the person that we are purchasing the land from. If you turn to page 2 of the E&C report there are one, two, three, four paragraphs about this, only three of which are substantive and it simply does not mention on the public record from whom we are purchasing the land.

That is massively problematic from my point of view. It certainly it leads me to think that there's a reason this Administration is hiding the person's name. I don't know why on earth you would not be upfront about who is purchasing this land. I just think that is very problematic. It should be in there. It should be on the public record and the fact that it's not I think, I hope is just an oversight, the slack way in which the LORD MAYOR signed off on this report. But it should be a matter of public record from whom this land, that $3.75 million in ratepayer's funds is going to be used to purchase has been purchased from.

Unfortunately it's not in the public record; fair enough that if you look in the file and Councillors have access to some other privileged information you can find the name of the person from which it's being purchased but it is not a matter of public record in the published reports. I think it is problematic that ratepayer's funds are going to be spent without the name of the person from whom the land is being purchased put on the public record.

Chairman: Further debate?

Councillor HOWARD.

Councillor HOWARD: Thank you, Madam Chairman, and, Madam Chairman, I rise to speak briefly on Item A which is the draft City Botanic Gardens Conservation and Land Management Plan. I'd like to begin by acknowledging of course that this is one of the much loved parks of Central Ward and indeed loved by all the residents of Brisbane. In doing so I'd like to refer to the vision statement that's within the document before us today which says that Brisbane's most treasured gardens celebrate Brisbane's unique rich horticultural history, long live trees and subtropical lifestyle.

The river edge and outdoor spaces in the gardens are safe, inclusive and extend opportunities for recreation, reflection, entertainment and learning. Our gardens are world class contributing to Brisbane's emerging global reputation as Australia's New World City. Madam Chairman, I think it's very important that we refer to that vision and when we are looking at the documents that are being prepared, which we're required to do of course under our legislation so that we have the Land Management Plan and also our Conservation Plan integrated into a plan that is indeed a blueprint for our Council officers to follow.

Madam Chairman, I'm very proud of the work that our Council officers do in this beautiful park in Brisbane. I know that the many people who work there and the many people who live around this particular park are incredibly proud of it and are incredibly interested in what's happening and what's going on. I often receive calls to the office to find out what's happening and particularly when Councillor BOURKE and I were announcing the lighting upgrade. People are very interested and keep me informed of what's happening.

So it's also interesting to note, Madam Chairman, that the conservation report relies on previous conservation reports and these have been around since 1995. So in fact, Dr Sim has been producing some reports from 1995 to 2006. It's wonderful to see that what's contained within there. So in fact in the report we talk about cultivating Queensland in the Queensland Brisbane Botanic Gardens from the Dreamtime to the 1880s, which Dr Sim wrote in December 2006.

We also have the draft old Brisbane Botanic Gardens Conservation Plan Review in 2005, again by Dr Sim, and of course or draft City Botanic Gardens Conservation Study of 1995. These documents all work towards the massive amount of work that's being done with our City Centre Master Plan, our River's Edge Strategy, and all of the documentation and the consultation that has

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 20 -

gone into working with the residents around this beautiful park to deliver from this side of the Chamber a wonderful as I said blueprint of what we need to be seeing going forward.

So, Madam Chairman, I believe that what we have before us today does guide our future enhancements and the maintenance of the gardens. I think that I again would like to place on record my thanks to the many Council officers and to the many residents and the people of Brisbane who enjoy this wonderful parkland and I recommend it to the Chamber.

Chairman: Further debate?

Councillor BOURKE.

Councillor BOURKE: The other side might have said something but that's okay, Madam Chairman. Look, I just rise to enter the debate on Item A and on Item B, Madam Chairman, very quickly, in support of both the Conservation and Land Management Plan and the acquisition of the parcel of bushland down at Burbank. Madam Chairman, just quickly to Item A, obviously the document we have before us today is quite a substantial document. It has a great level of detail. To start off with I'd like to thank and acknowledge all the hard work of the Council officers that have put their hearts and souls into this document.

As Councillor HOWARD said the City Botanic Gardens holds a special place in our city and a special place in our history and the heritage of our city and in the hearts of many of our residents. The document we have before us today is built upon a number of preceding documents as Councillor HOWARD alluded to. All of the work done by Dr Jeannie Sim and I want to acknowledge her and her hard work during her time in Council with her initial Conservation and Land Management Plan in 1995, her review of that in 2005 and the additional work she did in 2006, Madam Chairman.

The document we see before us today acknowledges those documents but also, Madam Chairman, sets the scene for how the Botanic Gardens is going to be managed to face the changing demographic and the changing uses that it's going to receive over the next 10 to 15 years. As the LORD MAYOR said this document encompasses and incorporates many of the recommendations and the outcomes from the actual master planning document we did earlier, Madam Chairman.

The reason we took the two step process, Madam Chairman, was to make sure that we consulted with the community and informed the decisions, Madam Chairman, and the recommendations that were contained in the Conservation and Land Management Plan. As the LORD MAYOR said, this is a requirement of State legislation that we compile these two documents and we combine them into one document that we have before us today, Madam Chairman, and it's important that we do that to make sure that we preserve and protect this wonderful open space, not just for us to use now but into the future.

It was the home of many of the early agricultural trials in our city. So back in 1828 it started its long history in the city where it saw many of the early crop species, pineapples, paw paws, custard apples, sugar cane and tobacco as the first location they were grown in the State of Queensland. Of course, Madam Chairman, in 1865 so 160 years ago this year, it was declared as a Botanical Garden and the first Botanical Garden for our State. Since then, Madam Chairman, under the stewardship and a number of different curators and of course the Brisbane City Council, we've seen the gardens grow and expand.

Uniquely Queensland is the only State where a State Government does not run a botanical gardens. So the Mount Coot-tha Botanic Gardens and before that the City Botanic Gardens when it was our main Botanic Gardens, were run and delivered by the Brisbane City Council, Madam Chairman. So that's another unique part of the history and the heritage of this particular space.

So, Madam Chairman, the Conservation and Management Plan as the LORD MAYOR outlined incorporates a number of the themes, the sites, the

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 21 -

variations that may occur, Madam Chairman. It highlights the opportunities, the redesign of the Albert Street entryway, Madam Chairman, the provision of better visitor facilities. There was a major set of work that was carried out by the Atkinson Administration in 1987, Madam Chairman, that saw the provision of a visitor information hub which doesn't unfortunately meet up to the standards for our guides to use.

But the plan that we have before us today and the master plan document that we did will provide the space and the opportunities for those to be delivered into the future, Madam Chairman. To the point of car-parking, Madam Chairman, it would be short-sighted of this Council not to look at opportunities to provide better end of trip facilities for people visiting the gardens.

There is very limited opportunities to access the gardens if you need to make your way there in a motor vehicle, particularly for disabled access, Madam Chairman, and that is something that we on this side of the Chamber passionately believe in. Madam Chairman, so the document as it is a document that doesn't just exist for the now, it is a living document for the next 10 to 15 years, Madam Chairman, needs to make sure that we set the expectation, we are able to provide the opportunities because, Madam Chairman, those on the other side of the Chamber like to selectively read from documents.

So, Madam Chairman, page 48, says the Riverstage will be progressively developed to accommodate gardens parking, disability destinations, events, active recreation and end of trip facilities that will improve the community access and enjoyment of the gardens, and at the same time enable the other gardens areas to retain their highly valued qualities of refuge and quiet recreation.

So when you read sections of the plan in isolation, Madam Chairman, you can jump to all sorts of wild conclusions, Madam Chairman, and scaremonger all you like. But, Madam Chairman, I just encourage all the Councillors in this place to read the document in its entirety and take the opportunity, Madam Chairman, to hopefully support what is a wonderful piece of work that's been delivered by the Council officers protecting a great part of our city.

Item B, Madam Chairman, is acquisition of bushland down at Burbank. As the LORD MAYOR said, there is a lot of work that this Council's been doing, this Administration's been doing, to acquire bushland.

So we all should remember that the Bushland Acquisition Program was the initiative of the Atkinson Administration, the Liberal Administration, to purchase at risk bushland, and over the 25 odd years it's purchased nearly 3500 hectares of bushland across this city. Of course in the last three years we've purchased just over 300 hectares of bushland.

We've purchased a significant amount of bushland down in Burbank and of course this is a significant koala habitat, and so the acquisition we have before us today of 50 hectares will continue to form part of the corridor.

To the points that have been raised around the debate, Madam Chairman, quite clearly in Attachment C the name of the seller is contained in that document. The seller in this case has chosen to go through an agent, so a real estate agent, and so the real estate is mentioned in that section, but there is actually the name of the seller mentioned in Item C as part of the—sorry in Attachment C as part of this item, and the name is on the file. The name's on the file so Councillors can see it there, but it is also contained quite clearly in Attachment C for everyone to see. I'd encourage all Councillors to support both of these items that we have before us.

Chairman: Further debate?

Chairman: Councillor ABRAHAMS.

Seriatim - Clause ACouncillor Helen ABRAHAMS requested that Clause A, DRAFT CITY BOTANIC GARDENS CONSERVATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 22 -

Councillor ABRAHAMS: Thank you, Madam Chair. I start off by speaking to Item B which is the acquisition of land within koala habitat and Labor Councillors support the ongoing acquisition of bushland as part of a policy that has bipartisan support and Lord Mayors of both parties have given their strong support to that program.

Where it comes to the Conservation and Land Management Plan for the Botanical Gardens, the support does not extend to the same extent. This is a public document. It is presented to Council, it has been released to the public, but I would suggest for a land management plan it is probably one of the densest that the public will have to read.

While it has the history and the significance of the park and the botanical significance of the gardens in the front part, it then has these headings—five headings: principle and policy actions, priority aspirations of the master plan projects, other policy and projects, principle and guidelines applicable to the management of the garden, and then principle and guidelines applicable to the gardens component.

Five tiers, Madam Chair. It's on par with the City Plan and I would suggest to you that most people reading that would get lost in the detail, but let's look at what the plan really states because we're used to plans that have short term and long term objectives. No, no, we've just got priority and aspirational outcomes in this Plan.

The priority, Madam Chair, are nine and I'd just like to indicate what they are. It's improving the river walkway near the Domain, to improve the entrance at Albert Street, to resurrect an information kiosk on the existing kiosk, so upgrade it, to reinstate make it—it is to reinstate the plant collections, to install cycle racks, to improve signs, to establish the Friends of the Gardens when there already is the Botanical Gardens Guides for these gardens so a change of focus maybe, to backlight the trees and to give emphasis to tranquillity.

Madam Chair, I suggest with the arduous time and the large amount of work undertaken for consultation that we've just heard given from the Councillors on the other side, those priority actions really could have been presented in a much smaller document.

So then let's look at the aspirational documents. With the aspiration it's to make the Queens area or the Queens Park area an active area for training, jogging, recreation activity that—the Visitor Centre is also a new visitor centre that will be put in place. There'll be more trails and marking and people moving through pathways through the park, and as well as that there will be unique dining opportunities through the park.

Madam Chair, I'm just a little bit interested in where the tranquillity fits in to those initiatives that are all activity initiatives. They essentially are on page 25 and 26. Let’s look at the details, you actually think of the park which most of us know the Botanical Gardens, up in the corner of Alice Street near QUT there is going to be a new coffee shop kiosk so that'll be a busy area. Then you have the ponds and then you go down to Queens Park where you'll have physical jerks being presented at all time.

Moving over is where you have the children's area so again not tranquil. The river, Madam Chair, in the CBD is going to have access improved to the river and popup dining facilitated along the river. Then we go back to the domain. There's a new barbeque being put in and trees in the domain, but at the same time we've just heard there is going to be a car park in the domain and an increase of the Riverstage activity. So then further up one goes to the highest point of the park and there, there is going to be an information area with multimedia activity as my understanding.

Madam Chair, my point is this park, the Botanical Gardens, will really become an area where there is commercial activity in every section of the park. It will be taken over by commercial and private activity which is the LNP's agenda for this area.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 23 -

The botanical values, the tranquillity values, even though they are actually mentioned in terms of page 26, that the Botanical Gardens—and I quote—“brand is to be that place where people living, working in and visiting the city can seek a connection with nature, and a place for contemplation and tranquillity, while enjoying the old world colonial nature that is unique to the gardens” Old world colonial nature, kiosk, popup, car parks, expanded Riverstage—I've really got the message.

Now Councillor BOURKE accused us for systematically quoting from this. Well I would like to quote systematically in terms of the commercial activities that are proposed in this land plan, and I'd start on page 25 where it says “engage more with the river by improving access, providing facilities for recreation, introducing infrastructure to enable dining and popup events, and creating opportunities to access the river.”

The next quote and this is on page 40 under guideline 2.7.1: engage with the river by improving access, providing for recreation, creating opportunities to access the water and providing flood resilient infrastructure to enable temporary activation such as catered dining and popup events.

Then, Madam Chair—absolutely, I take that interjection—this is where—and then the final one on dining is back on page 26 “dining in the garden can become a unique a memorable opportunity to slow down and enjoy the subtropical climate, lush green colourful vegetation, food grown on site, peace and quiet” Well I don't know about the restaurants that most of you go to, but I wouldn't actually put it in that category, and just because a restaurant or dining is in a park does not make that the case.

But, Madam Chair, the real issue for me on this is the fact there is a new boardwalk proposed. If one goes to page 53 “construct a new mangrove boardwalk viewing platform linked to the pavilion and rainforest providing a visitor experience that reveals important aspects of Queensland's unique flora which of course would be the mangroves and the river.

Madam Chair, when that Administration removed the boardwalk, we on the Labor Party consulted with the Federal Government, wrote to them saying why don't we make this a work for the dole project, why don't we get Federal Government money to avoid this very problem, where that Administration pulls out a boardwalk and less than two years later here they are proposing to put it back in again. Is it a priority project? No. It should be. It should have had federal money and should have been put in in the place. So there's little in it and what should be there is not in the process.

I am concerned about car parking. I listened carefully to Councillor BOURKE and it didn't sound to me as if it was just a few disabled park spaces, but we don't know because it is not shown on the plan in the principle and guidelines applicable to the garden's component. But what that plan on page 47 does show is a new what I can only assume is a road—they're not very, very specific plans—but goes in the front of the Riverstage.

So now where we can enjoy a show on the Riverstage and sit on the grass and enjoy that area there is a large road and turnaround and service area that has been proposed. Possibly it is an entrance to an underground car park and therefore we cannot see it in this map. I don't know, but all I know is that there is—

Chairman: Councillor ABRAHAMS your time has expired.

Chairman: Further debate?

Chairman: DEPUTY MAYOR.

DEPUTY MAYOR: Excuse me. Yes, Madam Chairman, I rise to speak in support of Item B, the proposed acquisition of land at Moxon Road, Burbank.

This is an absolutely fantastic outcome for Brisbane and particularly the eastern suburbs, and the suburb of Burbank is not known widely across Brisbane but it is one of Brisbane's best kept secrets. It is a key part of the city's greenbelt and it

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 24 -

is a part of the greenbelt which we have been working to protect as a Council for decades now.

This process started off in 1990 when the Liberal Lord Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson introduced the Bushland Acquisition Program and it has continued on now all this time, and it has seen Burbank protected as part of the Brisbane koala bushlands greenbelt area.

51.9 hectares is the size of the land and it rolls off the tongue quite easily, but if you actually consider how much land that is it's actually quite significant. That's 126 acres or 519,000 square metres, so we're talking about more than half a square kilometre of land that is being purchased here by Council and protected forever.

Under the requirements of the Bushland Acquisition Program through which this land is being purchased this land will become conservation land and will be protected forever. So when all of us are no longer around this land will still have the same trees it has on at the moment, the same koalas and wildlife that it has on at the moment, and it'll be a permanent asset, a green asset, for the city going forward.

Now if heaven forbid a parcel of land this size in Burbank was ever allowed to be developed—and we're obviously never going to allow that to happen through this purchase—it could potentially fit between 500 to 700 homes on it. That's the size of land that we're talking about, so a very significant purchase for our part of Brisbane and for the city as a whole.

Madam Chairman, you would be aware out in your area as well we have another part of the city's greenbelt in the western suburbs, but certainly the Brisbane koala bushlands and the suburb of Burbank is one that we've made significant investment in.

I was having a look at the acquisitions that had been purchased nearby in Burbank and Council has actually purchased 793 hectares of land in the suburb of Burbank. I recently did a mail out to the residents of Burbank and if you look at it on the map, a very large suburb in terms of area, and there was only about between 300 and 400 letters that I sent out to the entire suburb.

So we're gradually buying up the entire suburb of Burbank by the looks of it and every time I send a mail out there's a few less people receiving mail because Council has purchased the properties in the area. That is a great thing because it will ensure that they are protected for the future.

The koalas don't vote but they are an important constituent in my area, and I want to see them remain for the future. This acquisition will form part of a corridor that we've been working on creating through the area of public land, conservation land, that will be protected for the future.

Across the Chandler Ward we've seen the acquisition of more than 931 hectares of bushland under the Bushland Acquisition Program and this continues that significant investment. So I know that all Councillors will support this acquisition and I thank all Councillors for their support. Not only will the koalas thank you, the future residents of Brisbane will thank you for supporting this as well.

Chairman: Further debate?

Chairman: Councillor DICK.

Councillor DICK: Oh look thanks, Madam Chair. I rise to speak on the E&C report today and in particular clause A which is this Council making decisions today about the future of the Brisbane Botanical Gardens.

Now, Madam Chair, many of us on this side of the Chamber view the roles that we have in this place as custodians of a number of Brisbane icons, and any way you look at it taking a walk down to the river and seeing the majestic Brisbane City Council Botanical Gardens is a huge honour and a huge privilege that we, as custodians of this city, have to undertake.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 25 -

So any decisions that we make regarding those gardens have to be very sound and also consistent. My reading of this document and going through, we've heard a lot of flowery language from the LNP today but not a lot of facts on the table about if this is implemented what this will mean for the future of those gardens.

Now Councillor ABRAHAMS hit the nail on the head when she talked about the commercialisation of the Botanical Gardens, and in the documents themselves we are giving the green light today to seeing improved and increased commercialisation for one of, I think, Queensland if not Australia's historical sites.

Now we understand there are some worthy measures in this documentation in the conservation and land management plan, but we simply haven't got the detail from the LNP about what their plans are for commercialisation.

Now the document is littered with examples and evidence of what I am talking about. We've heard from Councillors on this side of the Chamber about increasing the car parking and the size of the car parking, and what we always hear from the LNP is we're against disability parking. Well, Madam Chair, what are the plans for the car parking? How many spots, how many spaces, exactly what? They want a pat on their back all the time about what they've done here. We are concerned that we are seeing an over-commercialisation on this site.

The other issue that we're seeing—and they'll talk about consistency on page 53—is that one of the key recommendations of the Conservation and Land Management Plan under strategy 4.3.15 about the Riverbank rainforest is to construct new mangrove boardwalk viewing platform linked to the pavilion and rainforest, providing a visitor experience that reveals important aspects of Queensland's unique flora.

Well I couldn't agree more, and when the Opposition raised alarm bells about when the LNP ripped out the last boardwalk and spent over $123,000 in a contract to rip it up, we were told by the Chairman- the person responsible—oh there are other sites you can look at that, there are other sites you can do that. Don't worry about this one; we've got it all under control.

We know, Madam Chair, that when it comes to protecting the environment and it comes to enhancing the environment, the LNP are negligent; are always found wanting. So I want to know how much is this new boardwalk going to cost to the ratepayers of Brisbane. We already know that demolishing of the Botanical Gardens walkway when I raised this issue back on 15 April in 2013, entitled an article: demolishing Botanic Gardens walkway not the only option Council told.

We heard from experts and we heard from Apprenticeships Queensland who said that they were willing to step in and save the boardwalk. I wrote to the then Employment Minister saying would this be a suitable category for a Work for the Dole project to try and do everything we could to save the boardwalk, and now we see even more money that we're now going to spend.

They've got the hide to lecture anyone about Coronation Drive ripping up everything. Ripping up a boardwalk one day and then bringing in a report here to actually deliver a new boardwalk, Madam Chair. So I simply say to the LNP work out what you're doing. Work out what the actual strategy is rather than wasting ratepayers' money.

So our concerns regarding this conversation and land management plan are twofold; (1) it is not consistent with what the LNP have done in the Administration in this term and (2) we cannot support a plan that will deliver more commercialisation to one of the most historic sites if not only in Brisbane but Queensland, if not the whole country.

Madam Chair, we say that this is a significant historical environment that should be protected, but true to form under the LNP, they're only interested in seeing what the commercial value of this is rather than the environmental value of this historic site.

Chairman: Further debate?

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 26 -

Chairman: LORD MAYOR.

LORD MAYOR: Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. Just in relation firstly to Item B for—any doubt several Councillors have mentioned of course that there is Attachment C of the contract of sale. For purposes of absolute clarity let's read the name into the record. The name of the owner of that property is Karen Lesley Tadrowski, spelt T-A-D-R-O-W-S-K-I.

Item A which was centred or seen most of the debate centre around today does provide a way forward in terms of the Botanic Gardens, and I'd just say this: that anybody who suggests that the conservation of those gardens has not been a key factor I think is misrepresenting the truth of the matter.

Is there opportunities to enhance visitor experience at those gardens? Yes, there is, as there is, Madam Chairman, at the Botanic Gardens at Mt Coot-tha where we have a planetarium, where we have other opportunities for people to engage in having a bite to eat. So activation is also often associated with greater safety and feeling of safety, but we're not talking—to suggest that there is some sort of wholesale commercialisation of that space is just ridiculous.

Madam Chairman, for purposes again of correcting the record, I think Councillor ABRAHAMS you were making reference to page 47 and some sort of a roadway in there. I'd just refer you back to page 43 of that particular area you're referring to and it demonstrates there that it's not a roadway; what it is, is it's a compartment boundary. It has a dotted line but it is a compartment boundary not a roadway that I think you're referring to.

In relation to—

Councillor Interjecting.

Chairman: Councillor ABRAHAMS no.

LORD MAYOR: Well Councillor ABRAHAMS you might want to reference that in general business perhaps because the opportunity is not now if you feel that I have incorrectly represented what you're saying. Madam Chairman—

Councillor Interjecting

LORD MAYOR: Well we'll wait and hear. Madam Chairman, in relation to the boardwalk, everybody knows that the boardwalk was taken out because of a safety issue around that. Now this report—this report—provides for a range of opportunities in the future, but it also provides for a potential review every five years.

So again I just want to say for those people wanting to know actual costs, well it hasn't been costed. It hasn't been costed and not all of the—this is a management plan, Madam Chairman. It's not to say that Council is going to be running off and doing every one of these things overnight. We're not going to get costings on things until there is a plan in place around timing in which to do it. So to suggest that we will magically be able to provide to Councillor DICK a figure is nonsense and he knows that, but it's a very good try on anyway.

Madam Chairman, again the document provides a way forward. It provides and outline to the state of our plans in terms of the preservation of those lands. It will always be an important place in the city, but you talk about commercialisation of course, it used to be a zoo. That was its history. It was a zoo before it was Botanic Gardens, and it is a wonderful open space section of our city. It's a wonderful array of botanic species down there. Obviously it has a wonderful outlook as well from QUT and the students there as well as workers in the CBD, but it is one where access is important, a few extra opportunities, and that's all we're talking about here in terms of access to that site.

I do note also that there are buses often that pull up down there in difficult locations. Often they are seniors that want to explore the Botanic Gardens as well. It could be everything from Probus groups out there in the suburbs that are coming in. To increase the visitor experience and opportunity is a good thing in what is a wonderful city asset.

Clause A put

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 27 -

Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause A of the report of the Establishment and Coordination Committee was declared carried on the voices.

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

The voting was as follows:

AYES: 18 - The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR, Councillor Graham QUIRK, DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER, and Councillors Krista ADAMS, Matthew BOURKE, Amanda COOPER, Margaret de WIT, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Kim MARX, Peter MATIC, Ian McKENZIE, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, Julian SIMMONDS, Andrew WINES and Norm WYNDHAM.

NOES: 7 - The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors Helen ABRAHAMS, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON and Shayne SUTTON.

ABSTENTIONS: 1 - Councillor 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 DRAFT CITY BOTANIC GARDENS CONSERVATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN160/590/567/60

623/2014-151. The Divisional Manager, City Planning and Sustainability, provided the information below.

2. The City Botanic Gardens (the Gardens) have the standing of a Queensland Government Reserve for the purpose of ‘Botanic Gardens and Public Park’ under the Land Act 1994. As trustee, Council is required to produce a Land Management Plan (LMP). The LMP demonstrates to the Queensland Government that the Gardens will be managed in accordance with the governing legislation by assessing all values of the Gardens and providing a framework for managing those values.

3. The Gardens are also permanently entered on the Queensland Heritage Register as a place of cultural heritage significance. As such, Council is also required to prepare a Conservation Management Plan (CMP) to guide management of the cultural heritage values of the place in accordance with the Queensland Heritage Act 1992.

4. An integrated Conservation and Land Management Plan (CLMP) has been prepared combining the elements of the LMP and CMP in one comprehensive plan.

5. The draft CLMP, Attachment A, submitted on file, has been developed in conjunction with the City Botanic Gardens Master Plan 2015 (the Master Plan), approved by Council on 3 February 2015. The Master Plan establishes a vision for the Gardens and identifies nine key priority improvement projects to implement in the short-term. Council developed the Master Plan from a recommendation of the City Centre Master Plan 2014.

6. Completion of the draft CLMP meets legislative obligations and facilitates delivery of the vision identified in the Master Plan, to guide future enhancements, maintenance and management of the

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 28 -

Gardens.

7. The draft CLMP will be referred to the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and the Department of Natural Resources and Mines for assessment against the requirements of the Land Act 1994 and the Queensland Heritage Act 1992.

8. The Divisional Manager provided the following recommendation and the Committee agrees.

9. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE DRAFT CITY BOTANIC GARDENS CONSERVATION AND LAND MANAGEMENT PLAN, as set out in Attachment A, submitted on file.

B PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL (BUSHLAND) PURPOSES, LOCATED AT 176 MOXON ROAD, BURBANK161/20/439/186

10. The Divisional Manager, City Planning and Sustainability, provided the information below.

11. The property proposed for acquisition is located at 176 Moxon Road, Burbank, and is described as Lots 1 and 2 on RP130559 (outlined in yellow on Attachment A, submitted on file). The property is 51.92 hectares and is included within the Environmental Management zone under Brisbane City Plan 2014.

12. The property adjoins the Council-owned Brisbane Koala Bushlands. The Brisbane Koala Bushlands is one of the largest natural areas in Brisbane and supports a diversity of threatened flora and fauna species, including a significant koala population. The acquisition of this property will build upon previous investments made by Council to secure and restore the Brisbane Koala Bushlands through the Bushland Acquisition Program and the 2 Million Trees project.

13. The property became available for sale on the open market. Negotiations commenced and a sale price of $3,750,000 (GST exclusive) was agreed by both parties. This amount is supported by an independent valuation (set out in Attachment B, submitted on file).

14. The Divisional Manager provided the following recommendation and the Committee agrees.

15. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL (BUSHLAND) PURPOSES, LOCATED AT 176 MOXON ROAD, BURBANK: (a) for a total cost of $3,750,000 (GST exclusive);(b) in accordance with the contract of sale as set out in Attachment C, submitted on file; and(c) in accordance with any additional terms and conditions as considered necessary by the Chief

Legal Counsel, Brisbane City Legal Practice.ADOPTED

ADJOURNMENT:624/2014-15

At that time, 3.53pm, it was resolved on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Kim MARX, that the meeting adjourn for a period of 15 minutes, to commence only when all Councillors had vacated the Chamber and the doors locked.

Council stood adjourned at 3.58pm.

UPON RESUMPTION:

INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 29 -

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 26 May 2015, be adopted.

Chairman: Is there any debate?

DEPUTY MAYOR: Yes, Madam Chairman, I wanted to address an important infrastructure issue for the City of Brisbane, and that is the absolutely critical need for State Government to invest not only in rail infrastructure but also bus infrastructure.

Councillors interjecting.

DEPUTY MAYOR: We have seen an entirely rail focused State Government and they are attached to a project which they came up with years ago in the past but could never deliver, and they are ignoring well over half of Brisbane's public transport system by ignoring buses.

We know that buses, each day, carry far more people than rail around this city and, indeed, around South-East Queensland. Quoting from memory, I think rail carried around 45 million trips a year, or carries around 45 million trips a year, and buses are in the range of 70 million to 80 million trips a year.

So that clearly shows you where the heavy lifting is occurring in public transport in this city. It is buses. Buses service large parts of the city that are not serviced by rail and that Labor has no plans to service with rail. You cannot ignore the importance of buses in the Brisbane public transport network, and that is exactly what it appears that Labor is doing, both at Council level and the State level.

It was fascinating to hear Councillor DICK raising questions today in Question Time, criticising the planned bus and train tunnel. That project, which both the State Government and Council were committed to, was a project that would deliver an innovative solution that is unique to Brisbane and acknowledges that both buses and trains are vital in our transport network.

It's a shame that Labor chooses to criticise that project. They like to think that they are the friends of public transport. They like to claim that they support public transport.

Councillor interjecting.

DEPUTY MAYOR: Yet their record shows the exact opposite. They're quite happy to bag a project, to criticise a project, simply because it's not their own idea, and that is exactly what's happened with the bus and train tunnel. Their hatred for Campbell Newman was so great that anything he put his hands on, they instantly disliked and had to oppose.

Councillor interjecting.

DEPUTY MAYOR: That is exactly what has occurred with the bus and train tunnel.

Chairman: Order!

DEPUTY MAYOR: Anyone who doubts the need to do something to improve bus capacity across the Brisbane River has to simply look at the Victoria Bridge every single day. The Victoria Bridge is already chock-a-block full of buses during morning and afternoon peak times, and the simple fact is that there are so many buses needing to cross the river that around 50 per cent of all bus movements have to be diverted across the Captain Cook Bridge instead of the Victoria Bridge.

What we see is buses not only chock-a-block on the Victoria Bridge each day but also buses on the Riverside Expressway because the Victoria Bridge simply can't cope with the demand.

Now there are some people out there that say, oh, we don’t need to invest in infrastructure, we should simply do a bus network review. Well, that's interesting given that the reality is that our buses, and many of our buses coming into the city during peak hours, are chock-a-block full with people standing on them.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 30 -

So to suggest that, oh, there's plenty of spare capacity in the bus network, what it really is, and this is my view, is a push by those rail fanatics out there who believe that rail is the only form of transport worth investing in. It's a push to get people to hop off buses and onto trains. We know people like RAIL Back on Track, or groups like RAIL Back on Track, would like to see people interchanging to get—complete their journey into the city.

Now that all sounds very good, interchanging. It's great. But what means is that people who currently catch a bus from the suburbs of Brisbane into the city would be forced under an interchanging model to change, to hop off their bus and get onto a train, or to hop off one bus and get on another bus.

Now we know that convenience is absolutely essential when it comes to public transport and if you make it too difficult for people, they will simply stop catching public transport, so we don’t want to see that outcome. While there are always improvements that could be made in services and in the bus network, that is not the long-term solution to Brisbane's public transport needs.

We need to invest in the infrastructure, bus and rail infrastructure. It is absolutely critical and I am so disappointed to see Labor criticising good public transport projects like the bus and train tunnel. When they have the opportunity to deliver, they talk about it at length. They talk about these projects for years but they can never actually deliver them.

The Eastern Busway is another classic example. Labor talked about that for well over a decade. They were in office for that entire time but yet all they could deliver was one kilometre out of a 16 kilometre busway corridor. So their record is very clear.

Now, I do believe that Labor did have a secret strategy to deal with bus capacity issues. It was quite clear this strategy was being implemented at the State level under the previous Labor Administration. That was to jack up public transport fares—

Councillor interjecting.

DEPUTY MAYOR: —by 15 per cent a year to force people off buses. There wasn't a capacity problem when former transport minister Anastasia Palaszczuk kept on jacking up public transport fares, because people got off the buses and got back into their cars. That is an extremely poor outcome for the city and it is an extremely poor outcome for public transport.

The former Newman Government, which the Labor Party is quite quick to criticise, was the only Administration that actually put public transport fares down. That was a dedication and a commitment to improving public transport use and patronage, together with the work on projects like the Bus and Train Tunnel.

I think this is one of the most important issues for our city going forward. If we can't get the infrastructure investment, both in rail and bus transport, this city will grind to a halt. It is very much within the boundaries of this council's interests that we ensure that we do everything possible to make sure that the State Government invests an appropriate amount in bus infrastructure going forward.

In relation to the report, we had a presentation on the Botanic Gardens public event to celebrate the opening of the new four hectare Botanic Gardens improvement that came as part of the Legacy Way project. It was great to see thousands of people enjoying that event. As I mentioned earlier in the meeting, we've had since then the Legacy Way open day, which saw around 30,000 come out and walk through the tunnel and enjoy having a look at Brisbane's newest large infrastructure project.

So things are really due to take off when it comes to the opening of Legacy Way. The public is interested in this project. It will get used. It will take traffic off Coronation Drive. It will take traffic off Milton Road and it will make improvements in Brisbane's road network. The two road corridors I mentioned just now, Coronation Drive and Milton Road, are two of the busiest corridors in

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 31 -

the city, two of the most congested corridors in the city. This Legacy Way project will significantly help improve traffic conditions on both of those roads.

So whether people use the tunnel or whether they continue to use Coronation Drive or Milton Road, they will benefit from the tunnel. Every motorist that uses the tunnel is a motorist that is not using either Coronation Drive or Milton Road.

Councillor: Hear, hear.

DEPUTY MAYOR: The Committee report that you see in front of you, I mentioned has a presentation on the Botanic Gardens expansion project and also the open day that was associated with it. We also have, if I can just find my notes, we also have three petitions as well, and I would encourage any interested Councillors to have their say on these three.

Chairman: Further debate. Any debate?

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

ATTENDANCE:

Deputy Mayor, Councillor Adrian Schrinner (Chairman), Councillor Ian McKenzie (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors Margaret de Wit, Milton Dick, Victoria Newton and Norm Wyndham.

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – MT COOT-THA BOTANIC GARDENS COMMUNITY FUN DAY

625/2014-151. Krysten Booth, Project Communications Manager, Project Communications, City Projects Office,

Brisbane Infrastructure Division, attended the meeting to provide an update on the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens Community Fun Day. He provided the information below.

2. A slide was shown detailing the event layout. The presenter spoke about the various areas such as; the band stand, tropical dome display, orchard, kitchen garden, chill-out area, Legacy field, kids-zone, events lawn, enchanted forest and the animal area.

3. The event ran from 9am to 2pm with approximately 5,000 people in attendance. There were 62 market stalls, food and beverage suppliers and entertainers.

4. Images were displayed from the day.

5. The official proceedings were overseen by the Lord Mayor. The new 18 mega-litre lagoon was dedicated to and named after Ross McKinnon.

6. Council involvement included Healthy Communities, Disaster Management, CitySmart, Mt Coot-tha Planetarium, Legacy Way, Cycling Brisbane and Library Services.

7. The community involvement included Rotary Club, Old Camellia Society and the Australian Defence Force.

8. Kitchen in the garden was a very interesting space which was well used on the day, with very popular cooking classes.

9. Images were displayed on some of the entertainment provided on the day.

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

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 32 -

11. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.ADOPTED

B PETITION – REQUEST FOR LIMITED STAY PARKING IN JACKSONIA DRIVE, SEVENTEEN MILE ROCKSCA14/913555

626/2014-1512. A petition requesting that Council introduce limited-stay parking for a maximum stay of four hours,

operating Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and maximum stay of 24 hours, Saturday and Sunday, for Jacksonia Drive, Seventeen Mile Rocks, was presented to the meeting of Council held on 4 November 2015, by Councillor Matthew Bourke, and received.

13. The Branch Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, supplied the following information.

14. Council has received a petition containing 18 signatures from 11 properties of Jacksonia Drive, Seventeen Mile Rocks.

15. Jacksonia Drive is a quiet residential street with access generally for local traffic only. Currently parking is unrestricted in the immediate area and generally vehicles are parked off-street or outside their property on the roadway. Each road way is approximately five metres wide with the median strip approximately 2.5 metres wide.

16. Council’s Development Assessment Branch (DA) has reviewed the median-strip in question and has advised that the use of the median-strip as formalised parking would not impact on the services underneath (water and sewerage) this asset.

17. As all residents with frontages onto this section of Jacksonia Drive have signed the petition, it is therefore recommended that Council introduces formalised parking within the designed median strip, with four-hour restrictions applicable Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm.

Funding

18. Funding to undertake this work is available in the current budget under Program 2 – Moving Brisbane, Schedule 209 – Suburban Amenity.

Consultation

19. Councillor Matthew Bourke, Councillor for the Jamboree Ward, has been consulted and supports the recommendation.

Customer impact

20. The petition will address the petitioners’ concerns.

Preferred Option

21. It is the preferred option that Council introduces formalised parking within the designed median-strip, with four-hour restrictions applicable Monday to Friday between 9am to 5pm.

22. The Branch Manager recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.

23. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PREFERRED OPTION ABOVE AND OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.

ADOPTED

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 33 -

C PETITION – AMBERJACK STREET, MANLY WESTCA15/95390

627/2014-1524. A petition requesting Council review the suitability of installing traffic-calming devices in Amberjack

Street, Manly West, was presented to the meeting of Council held on 10 February 2015, by Councillor Ryan Murphy, and received.

25. The Branch Manager, Transport Planning and Strategy, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, supplied the following information.

26. Council has received a petition requesting Council install speed bumps in Amberjack Street, Manly West due to the large volume of vehicles travelling in excess of the speed limit. The petition contains 64 signatures from residents residing in either Amberjack Street or one of the adjoining streets.

27. Amberjack Street is classified as a neighbourhood access route, which is expected to carry up to 3,000 vehicles per day and with speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour. Amberjack Street is also signed as a 50 kilometre per hour zone in accordance with the standard Neighbourhood Access Route classifications.

28. A traffic survey was conducted on Amberjack Street, between Barramundi Street and Tarwhine Street (near house number 41 and 50), between 28 January 2015 and 3 February 2015. This survey found that 896 vehicles used Amberjack Street each day and the average speed which these vehicles travelled at was about 44 kilometres per hour, with the 85th percentile speed being 53.3 kilometres per hour (85th percentile speed is the speed at or below which 85 per cent of vehicles are observed to travel). Of the 6,273 vehicles surveyed, it was found that 235 vehicles, 3.7 per cent, were doing in excess of 60 kilometres per hour and 37 vehicles, 0.6 percent, were exceeding 70 kilometres per hour.

29. Amberjack Street was selected by Councillor Ryan Murphy, Councillor for Doboy Ward, and Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy Branch to have a portable speed warning sign installed. Council's portable speed warning signs work in the following manner:- signs are blank by default- as a motorist approaches the sign, their speed is detected by a radar and one of the following

three messages displayed:- if the motorist is driving at or below the posted speed limit, a smiley face message is

displayed;- if the motorist is driving above the posted speed limit by up to nine kilometres per

hour, the vehicles speed is displayed below a ‘Slow Down’ message; and- if the motorist is driving 10 kilometres per hour or more above the posted speed limit,

the sign is programmed to cut-out so as not to display the oncoming motorist's speed and only display a ‘Slow Down’ message.

30. The portable speed warning signs are installed for a minimum of a month and increases motorists’ awareness of their travelling speed and act as a reminder to adhere to the speed limit in locations with identified speed issues across Brisbane. To date the city-wide program has shown a marked decrease in the number of motorists travelling over the speed limit after passing the signs, with an average speed reduction of 9.4 kilometres per hour across all sites since the program began.

31. This sign was installed in Amberjack Street the week beginning 16 March 2015 and has been positioned outside 36 Tarwhine Street on the Amberjack Street frontage, facing the southbound traffic. Interim data collected from 16 March 2015 to 1 May 2015 showed the following results:- 27,936 vehicles drove past the portable speed warning sign during the period;- the average speed of the vehicles was 41.1 kilometres per hour at the first speed point;- reduction in average speed of 8.5 kilometres per hour;- 4,934 vehicles were recorded as driving over the 50 kilometre per hour speed limit, with an

average speed of 54.8 kilometres per hour; and- this was reduced to an average of 40.4 kilometres per hour at the second speed point, a

reduction in average speed of 14.4 kilometres per hour.

32. Therefore it is recommended that the Transport Planning and Strategy Branch continue to liaise with the Councillor Ryan Murphy, Councillor for Doboy Ward, with a view of increasing the rotations and

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 34 -

or the duration of the portable speed warning sign in Amberjack Street. Additionally, it is recommended that Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy Branch further assess the site for suitability and community support of traffic-calming devices, in-line with similar city-wide priorities and when funding becomes available.

Consultation

33. Councillor Ryan Murphy, Councillor for Doboy Ward, has been consulted and supports the recommendation.

Customer impact

34. This response will address the petitioners’ concerns.

Preferred option

35. It is the preferred option to advise the head petitioner that Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy Branch will:- continue to liaise with the local Councillor for Doboy Ward, Councillor Ryan Murphy, with a

view of increasing the rotations and or the duration of the portable speed warning sign in Amberjack Street; and

- undertake community consultation to ascertain support for future traffic calming devices, in-line with similar city-wide priorities and when funding becomes available.

36. The Branch Manager recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.

37. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PREFERRED OPTION ABOVE AND OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.

ADOPTED

D PETITION – PETITION SUPPORTING ADDITIONAL CAR PARKING IN CUBBERLA AND THIESFIELD STREETS, FIG TREE POCKETCA15/113198

628/2014-1538. A petition from The Glenleighden School Parents, Staff and Friends Association (TGSPS&F),

supporting additional car parking in Cubberla and Thiesfield Streets, Fig Tree Pocket. was presented to the meeting of Council held on 17 February 2015, by Councillor Julian Simmonds, and received.

39. The Executive Manager, Field Services Group, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, supplied the following information.

40. A petition with 147 signatures has been presented to Council, supporting the development of car parking on Cubberla and Thiesfield Streets, Fig Tree Pocket.

41. This area is part of the suburbs of the Walter Taylor Ward and is a high profile location due to the proximity of two schools: Fig Tree Pocket State School and The Glenleighden School, which combined are responsible for almost 600 students. As a result of the current student population and limited-access to the area, there has been a request for Council to assist with installing more street-parking to alleviate peak-periods and to provide additional all-day parking areas.

42. Council has carried out community engagement with key stakeholders from the Fig Tree Pocket State School and The Glenleighden School during the planning stages.

43. Council advises that based on the investigation and planning stages of the project, the proposed development of options 1 and 3 will be implemented this 2014/15 financial year.

44. Although option 3 is not one of the preferred options of the petitioners, it is more likely to receive funding at short notice as the scopes are smaller than options 2 and 4. There is an opportunity for

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 35 -

options 2 and 4 to be constructed in a future financial year, and Council’s Asset Services Branch advises that these options would need to be assessed and/or designed by the relevant team from Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy Branch.

45. Reference made by the head petitioner in her covering letter to safety issues at the intersections at either end of Cubberla Street has been forwarded to Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy Branch for further investigation.

Funding

46. The development of the proposed car parking and associated footpath works has been included in the 2014/15 program of works under the Schedule 44 Ward Footpath and Parks Trust Fund.

Consultation

47. Councillor Julian Simmonds, Councillor for Walter Taylor Ward, has been consulted and supports the recommendation.

Customer impact

48. The implementation of options 1 and 3 will provide up to 13 more car parking spaces for parents and staff of both schools. Options 2 and 4 will not be implemented this 2014/15 financial year because of the initial investigation, Councillor preference and available funding.

Options

49. The Committee was provided four options. These being:- option 1 – install new on-street parking on the southern side of Cubberla Street, allowing up to

three new car parks and extending the existing allocated indented parking area- option 2 – install new perpendicular parking on the southern side of Thiesfield Street,

allowing up to eight new car parks- option 3 – install new on-street parking on the northern side of Thiesfield Street, beside the

sports field, allowing up to 11 new car parks and extending the existing allocated indented parking area

- option 4 – install new on-street parking on the southern side of Thiesfield Street, allowing up to 12 new car parks.

50. Options 1 and 3 are the preferred options.

51. The Executive Manager recommends as follows and the Committee agrees.

52. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT COUNCIL HAS GIVEN APPROVAL FOR THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS 1 AND 3 TO BE CONSTRUCTED THIS 2014/15 FINANCIAL YEAR BASED ON INITIAL INVESTIGATION, COUNCILLOR PREFERENCE AND AVAILABLE FUNDING. THE COMMISSIONING OF OPTIONS 1 AND 3 WILL PROVIDE TWO MORE CAR PARKING SPACES ON CUBBERLA STREET AND ELEVEN MORE ON THIESFIELD STREET, RESPECTIVELY. The opportunity for options 2 and 4 to be constructed in a future financial year is viable, subject to funding in Council’s budget.

Safety issues at the intersections at either end of Cubberla Street will be investigated separately by Council’s Transport Planning and Strategy Branch.

ADOPTED

PUBLIC AND ACTIVE TRANSPORT COMMITTEE

Councillor Peter MATIC, Chairman of the Public and Active Transport Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor Steve HUANG that the report of that Committee held on 26 May 2015, be adopted.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 36 -

Chairman: Is there any debate?

Councillor MATIC: Just briefly, Madam Chairman, there was one item and that was the Committee presentation on Ride to Work Day. This annual event, that Councillors are aware of, has been supported by Brisbane City Council and coordinated by Bicycle Queensland now for a number of years. It's a great event, running over several days, that clearly shows a number of different activities that people can be engaged in, whether it's new cyclists or as seasoned cyclists, Madam Chairman.

It's also about awareness and making sure that people are aware of all our different bicycle routes, the different opportunities that are available to cyclists, both as recreation and as their day-to-day commute as well.

So I just want to acknowledge the enormous amount of work that Bicycle Queensland put into the process, the strong support of Brisbane City Council, on the Ride to Work Day itself. We did the annual ride from Parliament House to Reddacliff Place. I want to acknowledge also the participation of the State Government and their support of the event.

It was raining rather consistently that morning. We didn't get the crowds that we normally get to the launch but there was still a strong turn up of people to the day and I think, overall, the event has been another tremendous success for the organisers and for all the participants as well.

Chairman: Further debate?

Chairman: Councillor WYNDHAM.

Councillor WYNDHAM: Yes, Madam Chair, I just rise briefly to speak on Ride to Work Day also. This is a great program because I guess Mark Pattemore, who is presenting this, is I guess a person of passion and commitment. Mark, I know, rides to work daily, and also on Saturday he probably goes out and does an extra 50 or 60km just for the fun of it.

But what is really good about this program is it's getting people out of cars, onto bikes, so it's reducing congestion but it's introducing—Ride to Work Day is introducing many new riders who I know have actually taken up the challenge to ride to work, even if it's only or two days a week, once they know that it's achievable in most situations off-road, and that off-road component is expanding rapidly, Madam Chair.

But I think once people get a taste of it they sort of realise that it gives them a whole new world out there. It quite often can get you to work a little faster, even from areas out near Chermside and that, if you can beat that congestion. But, Madam Chair, it's not just about the Ride to Work, it's about getting people out there, getting people fit, but it's about then they will go onto talk to others.

So therefore it does build communities and the biking community is a fairly strong one. I notice that Councillor NEWTON's got the bike earrings on today and her and Councillor FLESSER are going to ride off into the sunset, which is great to see.

But—and I had a bit of a talk to Councillor NEWTON out there and she also enjoys a ride. So that's really good. It's all about I guess introducing people to not a sport but a recreation. That's what it's about and Councillor NEWTON will admit it. She's happy to do 20 kilometres as a recreational rider. She doesn't participate much in having a big breakfast halfway around. She waits until she gets back to have the breakfast, and I do the same.

There's—but it is, it's a great community builder and I encourage anyone here to get on a bike, borrow a bike or something but participate. Not necessarily in Ride to Work Day but just participate in hopping on your bike and seeing what it's really like. You fall off occasionally. That does not hurt too much but, Madam Chair, I also commend this to the Chamber. Thank you.

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Further debate.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 37 -

Chairman: Councillor MATIC?

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 Nicole Johnston, Kim Marx and Ryan Murphy.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE:

Councillor Steve Griffiths

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – RIDE TO WORK DAY

629/2014-151. Mark Pattemore, Project and Program Manager, Project and Program Unit, Transport Planning and

Strategy, Brisbane Infrastructure Division, attended the meeting to provide information on Ride to Work Day 2015. He presented the information below.

2. Ride to Work Day is delivered as part of Bike Week by Bicycle Queensland, a partner of Council’s Cycling Brisbane program. It aims to:- encourage people who have never ridden to work, or who do so infrequently, to commute by

bike- provide new riders with tools and confidence- encourage frequent riders to get a friend or colleague involved- increase awareness and uptake of cycling more generally.

3. This year’s Ride to Work day was held on Thursday 30 April. An event was held at Reddacliff Place with free breakfast and end-of-trip facilities provided for participants. There were 12 meet-up locations where cyclists joined a ride leader to learn the best route. Politicians also rode from Parliament House to Reddacliff Place to show support for the event. Photographs were shown of participants on George Street and in Reddacliff Place.

4. Council supports Ride to Work Day in the following ways:.- by sponsoring Bicycle Queensland- the erection of a Cycling Brisbane display to:

- promote Council’s support for active transport- encourage program sign-ups

- active promotion of the event via:- Council’s social media channels- the Cycling Brisbane website, social media channels and an e-newsletter.

5. A screenshot was shown of the Cycling Brisbane page on Council’s website as well as a Cycling Brisbane stall set up in Reddacliff Place.

6. The key outcomes of this year’s Ride to Work day were:- coverage by a range of media outlets including:

- Channel 10 Eyewitness News- ABC Breakfast Radio- Westside News- City North News

- more than 12,000 views on Council’s Facebook page- approximately 300 participants- 77 new Cycling Brisbane members.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 38 -

7. There was a range of other activities held during Bike Week such as:- The Great Brisbane Bike Ride, which involved:

- more than 2,000 participants, including 1,500 in the Coot-tha Challenge- a Cycling Brisbane display provided by Council

- the Pier To Point Women’s Ride- a question and answer forum- mountain bike rides- the 10-Speed Dating event- a film night.

8. Bike Week activities are also held by the City of Gold Coast, Mackay City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council and Southern Downs Regional Council.

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

10. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.ADOPTED

NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE

Councillor Amanda COOPER, Chairman of the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor Vicki HOWARD, that the report of the meeting of that Committee held on 26 May 2015, be adopted.

Chairman: Is there any debate?

Councillor COOPER: Thank you, Madam Chair. At the Committee last week we had three items on the Agenda. One was a presentation about the University of Queensland Master Plan. This was a presentation that was of great interest to the Committee and there is certainly plenty of information outlined there in the report so that everyone can understand the mechanics of what's proposed.

But it is something I think that this Chamber should be very cognisant of. This proposal of a community infrastructure designation over that land will then render Council's planning powers null and void.

So significant development that is proposed to occur on that—those new sites, so it's an extension of the existing Community Infrastructure Designation (CID), would see over the next 15 years significant growth as is proposed in this particular community infrastructure designation, with an additional 5000, almost 5000, new students; over 1000 new additional public car parks, which is basically about a doubling of the existing student accommodation on the site.

This would see densities of up to six to eight storeys for student accommodation, but this is not on the campus as we understand it. This is to extend down Hawken Drive and within the existing residential area. So this is significant.

We've also got the Avalon Precinct, which is proposed to go to eight storey townhouses, and it would be a significant impact to that local heritage place, with the Avalon Theatre being proposed for a partial demolition, an area of course, Madam Chair—as many in the Chamber would know—was severely affected by the 2011 floods.

Certainly, the master plan doesn't talk about any flood mitigation for the site. It also does not talk about how it will deal with the infrastructure issues that this sort of growth would necessitate to be accommodated. It proposes a new pedestrian cycle bridge to Boundary Street and a signalised intersection at Carr Street and Sir Fred Schonell Drive, relocating a bus stop, and also a riverside

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 39 -

pedestrian cycle path improvement. However, it doesn’t propose how any of these improvements would be funded.

It also has an extremely optimistic estimation that 80 per cent of trips will occur via public and active transport. But there is no understanding or no proof, or any kind of understanding, of how this kind of mode share would be achieved when we see right now that after the CBD, the University of Queensland is the second largest traffic generating destination in this city. So that is a huge impact and I think something that we should all be very cognisant of.

I also note that the CID would mean that there would be no infrastructure charges payable to Council. This could be something up to the order of $40 million towards infrastructure delivery, so that’s both Council and QUU, that would be foregone if this proposal is supported.

So this is something that is of great significance to our city. I have to be upfront with everyone. I am a UQ alumni so certainly I think that it's an important education establishment for this city but it also should be a good neighbour to the surrounding area, and it should take into consideration the infrastructure impacts that it could—would be very likely to generate.

So that was a very interesting presentation and I know the local Councillor has some very firm views about what's being proposed on that site.

We also had a petition requesting reinstatement of the 8.5 metre maximum building height for houses and requesting a reduction of five storey maximum building height to three storeys in Wynnum Manly and Lota. This is a process that Council has gone through with local residents and certainly there was a prolonged period for people to provide feedback to Council and it was not supported by the majority of those property owners. I'm sure that that local Councillor would also have some commentary in relation to that matter.

Then the third item, Item C, is a petition objecting to the proposed development at 54 Sylvan Road, Towong, which is currently under assessment by Council. Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Chairman: Further debate?

Chairman: Councillor CUMMING.

Seriatim - Clause BCouncillor Peter CUMMING requested that Clause B, PETITION – PETITION REQUESTING REINSTATEMENT OF THE 8.5 METRE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT FOR HOUSES AND REQUESTING A REDUCTION OF THE FIVE-STOREY MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT TO THREE STOREYS IN WYNNUM, MANLY AND LOTA, be taken seriatim for voting purposes.

Chairman: Yes.

Councillor CUMMING: This petition has been before the Council Chamber before. It's a two part petition. It wasn't my petition. It was started by a resident who lives west of the railway line in Wynnum Central. Her main argument I believe is that she wanted the height of buildings around where she lives reduced from five storeys to three storeys. I can't agree with it there, unfortunately. I think that if we're going to have any stimulus in the Wynnum Central area we need five storey buildings in that part of Wynnum Central, and eight storeys on the other side of the railway line.

The neighbourhood plan came into effect back in 2009. There was extensive consultation, there was a private sector group did a Charrette process back in 2005. There was about three years of Council consultation, and finally the plan came into effect. Now, six years later, we're finally having our first two five storeys buildings built, one of them west of the railway line in Ronald Street, and one east of the railway. So it's great to see that it's finally happening.

As I said, this—the area where the lady lives, it was a two storey unit area and the plan changed it to a five storey area. I think, as I said, it's essential to have five storey buildings allowed because to get enough people in the area, to make

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 40 -

a difference, to regenerate that part of Wynnum is—I think five storeys is needed. So I can't agree with her there.

However of course, I do agree with her on the issue of the 9.5 metre houses, and we've had that debate as part of the City Plan and I've discussed it previously. Obviously, I believe that 9.5 metre houses above natural ground level is quite unnecessary. There was no real coherent arguments in favour of it.

The arguments against were persuasive. People were worried about losing their views and also the amount of civic disquiet I believe will be caused as time goes on, with 9.5 metre houses being approved. Of course, once 9.5 is the standard, then the—you'd still get applications in for people wanting to go ahead the standard height. So you're getting applications in for houses at 10 metres or 10.5 metres, and that's just going to make things even worse.

The other thing I want to mention too is that during the debate in—on the City Plan, and I believe subsequently at public meetings, I heard members of the Administration say that in fact three storey houses wouldn't be allowed under the new 9.5 metre height limit.

That's turned out to be not the case. In fact, once I think a couple of applications came in for three storey houses, the Council planners told me in fact it was code assessable to have a three storey 9.5 metre house, which is always logically going to be the case. If you've got that amount of height, you can fit in three storeys. But I mean, I think the Administration should have been upfront with everyone from the start, saying that three storey houses would become common-place, almost as of course if this change was made, and that wasn't done.

So the Labor team has announced that the 9.5 metre limit will be reviewed and scrapped if they get—if Rod Harding is elected as Lord Mayor, and I look forward to that happening in due course.

Chairman: Further debate?

Councillor JOHNSTON.

Councillor JOHNSTON: Yes, Madam Chairman, I rise to speak on Item A, the University of Queensland Draft St Lucia Campus Master Plan. I am interested in the university's plans for further development on the St Lucia university site. I spoke with the university's consultant several months ago as part of their preliminary discussions they were having with stakeholders.

It was interesting to be recognised as a stakeholder because the biggest problem, as I see it, with the master plan is that the plan and the way the University of Queensland approached their engagement with our community is that it's all on the north side of the river. There is very limited thought and planning that in my view goes into connectivity with the south side of the river. As you know, the Eleanor Schonell Bridge links the University of Queensland campus with the south side.

Of course, I'm sure if you looked at the University of Queensland's statistics you would find that there would be an extraordinary number of both employees on the site and students on the site who come from the south side to go to the University of Queensland.

To me there is a big oversight in the way in which the university, and also both the State and Federal Government, are planning for the future and the development of the university. These are the two key issues that I raised with the university as part of their planning exercise. (1) There are extremely poor connections for buses for students coming from the south side.

I have written repeatedly to TransLink about this issue over the past seven years that I've been a Councillor. It is a huge source of complaints, that people who live around the University of Queensland cannot get there easily via public transport.

So for example, I have a family that live in Park Road at Yeronga. It takes their daughter anywhere between 45 minutes and one hour to get to the University of Queensland by bus. That requires an infrequent service to pick her up, take her

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 41 -

to the Park Road interchange, for her to get a bus, go back to the Eleanor Schonell drop off point and then walk into the university campus.

She lives probably two kilometres from the university. There is very limited thought being given to connectivity for the south side with respect to buses. I certainly hope that there is more thought given to this.

The second issue I raised with the University of Queensland, and even their consultant looked at me with horror—and I note that the LORD MAYOR has raised the fact that I don’t bring ideas to this place, which I think is a bit odd, given I've publicly called for this in the past and it remains on my website, part of every discussion I have with residents—that there is a way that we can ease or improve connectivity between the south side and the university. That is to allow cars onto the Eleanor Schonell Bridge.

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor JOHNSTON: That is—I know Helen's looking at me with horror too, but we have a massively congested precinct along Oxley Road and the Walter Taylor Bridge, which is the second most congested road in the South-East Queensland corner. A lot of that traffic is going to the University of Queensland.

I believe there's something like 30,000 students a day go to the university and they have almost 20,000 employees per day that go to the site. It is the second biggest employment hub outside of the CBD, and it's located in the suburbs of Brisbane. Getting to it is tricky and—

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor JOHNSTON: Yes, I appreciate that Councillor ABRAHAMS will have a very different view to me about this. But I know that the way in which the Eleanor Schonell Bridge was built, the agreement was that it would be for public transport only. But we do not have enough river crossings to be choosy. The Walter Taylor Bridge is under extraordinary pressure and, in my view, even allowing for drop off facilities without a through road would be an improvement.

But universities in major cities all over the world have roads that run through them, and I don’t know why the University of Queensland can be any different.

I raised this with the consultant and she looked at me with horror, and I said you guys have forgotten about your connectivity to the south side. It's clear that they are focused particularly on the Fred Schonell corridor and I think that there should be greater thought given to south side connectivity, both for public transport and for vehicles, to help service such a busy area.

I really think that we should also be looking at greater CityCat stops. Why we can't have the CityCat popping across to the south side of the river again, and coming down a little further downstream, that's also something I've raised. We have this huge employer and a stone throw away on the other side of the river you've barely got any thought going into planning, barely any thought going into connectivity.

We are seeing the university spread out onto the south side. We've got one of their medical campuses, the dental school, is actually located on the PA Hospital site. So already, the university is expanding across onto the south side. But they're not giving in my view enough planning thought into that connectivity.

I'm sure there are lots of views about how that should happen and they'll be different to mine. But they don't seem to think about that too much in what they're talking about. In fact, the report before us today doesn't really address it. It mentions this new bridge from Boundary Street at West End, across to the university, but again we've already got a lot of pressure in that part of the city and we've got a lot of people coming from the—

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor JOHNSTON: Yes, thank you, but we've got a lot of people coming from the outer southern suburbs and I don't know why we're not focusing on greater—better facilities, for them.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 42 -

So I just think that the State Government, if and when they approve any master plan, I hope that they have looked at the interconnectivity with the south side. I'm hopeful that the planning minister and the Deputy Premier, who is a southsider and the Eleanor Schonell Bridge falls into her State seat, will give some thought to improving those links with the south side, because there's no question that we have a lot of students and we have a lot of people wanting to get to the University of Queensland.

Unfortunately, the focus is all about how to do that from the western suburbs, which I think allows people who live on the south side, both who work at the university and study at the university, to play second fiddle. I think that greater attention and priority in the master planning process should be given to that purpose.

Chairman: Further debate?

Chairman: Councillor SIMMONDS.

Councillor SIMMONDS: Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. I rise to speak on Item A of the report, the UQ Master Plan, and just beg the Chamber's indulgence because there's quite a bit that I want to get on the record on behalf of my local constituents.

First of all, can I thank Councillor COOPER very much as the Planning Chairman, for helping me raise the profile of this issue, both within the Planning Committee and the Chamber, and for giving us just a taste of what some of council's concerns will be and no doubt they will be further fleshed out as part of the formal consultation to the State Government.

But I really want to emphasise this afternoon just what a significant issue this is for my local community in the Walter Taylor Ward, particularly for the residents of St Lucia and Indooroopilly, where the UQ campus is based.

Now, I might preference my remarks—and it's only fair—to say that I see a lot of benefits for my local community in having the UQ main campus located at St Lucia. Like Councillor COOPER, I'm an alumni myself. It's an absolutely beautiful campus that brings great prestige and pride, not just to the suburb of St Lucia but to Brisbane residents in general.

UQ as an institution adds significantly to our local economy as a major employer, as the largest participant in Brisbane's largest export market, being international education, and as a reputational beacon nationally and internationally for our city.

Its beautiful gardens, sporting fields, halls and resources are often used by the local community. People who work in UQ often live in St Lucia and many residents of St Lucia are UQ alumni themselves.

So there's an almost ingrained desire, particularly amongst St Lucia residents, to give the university the benefit of the doubt, which is why it has been so disappointing to see the way that the university has undertaken this master planning process with the St Lucia community, and the extent to which it has caused distress amongst local residents.

Before I get into the detail of what the master plan contains, it would be remiss of me not to make some comment on behalf of the community regarding the consultation. It has been disappointing to see the master plan consultation conducted by UQ, punctuated as it has been by incidents like failing to give due notice to some residents, question and answer sessions with communication consultants who frankly weren't across the detail, a minimal period of consultation and a lack of transparency about the process going forward.

It's in sharp contrast, for example, with the planning process that Council is currently undertaking with the Taringa Neighbourhood Plan, where we've had some significant engagements with local residents through those Talk to the Planner sessions.

We know that residents of St Lucia and the surrounding suburbs are very educated and knowledgeable people, most of them having been educated in UQ.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 43 -

A far better outcome would have been achieved if the residents had been involved in a more inclusive process.

In terms of the content of the master plan itself, the report to the committee gives a pretty reasonable summary of what is included, including a growth in full-time equivalent student numbers of more than 14 per cent, a growth in student accommodation of 85 per cent, a growth in traffic of 20 per cent—bearing in mind that is already the second largest trip generator in our city, after the CBD—and a growth in GFA across the campus of 40 per cent.

So understandably, this seemingly predetermined plan for growth on such a scale has created significant concerns among local residents. Now, these include but aren't limited to, the increase in congestion as a result of proposed construction and other works; the bulk and scale of the development proposed by the University of Queensland in the Avalon, Hawken Drive and Long Pocket Precincts, which I note in our current City Plan is zoned low density and low to medium-density; the potential conflict of planned additional retail space on campus with existing St Lucia retail offerings; the significant expansion of on campus self-catered accommodation and the impact this will have on the viability of existing residential colleges; the lack of any consideration of the impacts on directly impacted parties from proposed infrastructure, such as the Towong Rowing Club; the preference of the plan to promote journeys by public and active transport but, as Councillor COOPER said, with absolutely no contribution to the infrastructure that's needed to achieve this kind of mode share shift by UQ.

The lack of planning with regards to infrastructure issues, or social and environmental issues, including parking, noise, water supply, transport and traffic; and the lack of inclusion of professional recommendations made by the heritage architect Andrew Laidley and recognition of Avalon Theatre's Heritage listing and preservation and the need to preserve the original theatre.

These are the concerns of the residents, and there's many, many more. But I suppose the greatest concern of them all, both for myself, us as a Council, and for local residents, is the proposal, as Councillor COOPER has alluded to, for the master plan to extend the University of Queensland's development exemption boundaries into St Lucia and the Indooroopilly suburbs.

So the community infrastructure designation, or CID as it's known, is approved by the State Government. It allows UQ, within those boundaries, to undertake growth for educational and associated purposes without any further reference back to Council, to the City Plan or to residents. It exempts UQ from any infrastructure charges or from any community infrastructure contributions that might ordinarily have been conditioned on such a development.

It exempts UQ from having to lodge a DA, from having to display that DA publicly online via PD Online, from further community consultation that they'd normally have to do as part of the DA process, and from the community appeal rights that might have ordinarily had been in place as part of a DA process.

Now, while this is an entrenched situation already occurring within the well-established UQ campus, the community naturally fears that if the university can continue to buy up land within the suburbs proper, and simply have the CID extended into these properties, that this will be an intolerable situation for both myself and the local community.

It removes the ability for local residents to have a say over what is built in great chunks of our suburb and removes the level playing field provided by Council and the Sustainable Planning Act that all developers have to abide by.

What's most affronting is that the process to approve the expanded CID boundaries was commenced by UQ with the State Government before their own community consultation period was concluded and before the UQ Senate had reviewed the community feedback on the master plan. This is incredibly disappointing from an institution with a reputation like UQ's.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 44 -

For my part, I have made a submission to UQ on behalf of the local community, making it clear that I oppose the extension of the CID boundaries. I have today made a similar submission to the State Government department, who are currently considering that CID extension. I have encouraged my community through e-newsletters, the local paper, multiple TV news stories and the local community association to likewise make submissions to oppose the approval of the CID expansion by the State Government.

I'd like to thank the St Lucia Community Association for their hard work and tireless efforts to assist myself and the community to this end. They've done a sterling job spreading the word and encouraging people to write to the UQ Senate and to the State Government to voice their concerns.

So ultimately, the decision on whether or not to remove these rights for residents will be made by the Education Minister Kate Jones. I know the State member, Scott Emerson, has invited Minister Jones to speak with members of the community association and she's agreed to do that, very graciously. So I hope that it is a fruitful discussion.

Madam Chairman, I just conclude by strongly urging the UQ Senate and the State Government to heed the message of the local community and myself and reconsider some of the proposals they put forward in the master plan, especially to reject the expansion of the CID. Thank you.

Chairman: Further debate?

Chairman: Councillor ABRAHAMS.

Seriatim - Clause CCouncillor Helen ABRAHAMS requested that Clause C, PETITION – OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT 65 SYLVAN ROAD, TOOWONG (A003998096), be taken seriatim for voting purposes.

Councillor ABRAHAMS: Thank you, Madam Chair. I wish to comment on Item A and Item C

Speaking briefly to Item C, which is a development at 65 Sylvan Road, Toowong, Labor Councillors do not support the recommendation. When the petitioners submitted to Council they knew there was a development application, they knew it was in the process of being assessed. The response to the petition is to tell them that there is a development application and it is in the process of being assessed.

Madam Chair, that is not a response. It's telling the community that they already know. What they wished was their opposition to be heard and the response to indicate to what level their opposition was going to be incorporated into the assessment process.

I now wish to speak on the committee presentation, which was the University of Queensland Draft St Lucia Campus Master Plan. I've listened very carefully to the two LNP Councillors, and I've heard their concerns. I just can't help feeling how cynical it all is, because this isn't the only area that's under a community infrastructure designation. The Port Authority also is, and they have never complained about that designation in that area.

Madam Chair, their response to that may be, but the port is an industrial area, this is within a precinct that is an education precinct. That is true but it doesn't take away from the fact that the LNP Administration has a policy to support student accommodation. That policy is to give an unbelievably generous $13,440 per student unit that is built within five kilometres of the CBD and specifically built for students.

Already in my Ward over 40—

Councillor JOHNSTON: Point of order, Madam Chair.

Chairman: Point of order, Councillor ABRAHAMS.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 45 -

Chairman: Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON?

Councillor JOHNSTON: Would Councillor ABRAHAMS—sorry, would Councillor ABRAHAMS take a very quick question?

Councillor ABRAHAMS: I would be delighted to take a very quick question.

Chairman: Thank you.

Councillor JOHNSTON: Councillor ABRAHAMS, could you share with the Chamber who the Finance Chair is who has authorised that subsidy and what Ward the Finance Chairman represents?

Councillor ABRAHAMS: Oh, excellent question. Councillor SIMMONDS was the Finance Manager who spoke passionately about the need for student accommodation in our city and justified that amount.

But, Madam Chair, in two developments in my Ward—they are eligible so long as work starts in time—is $10.5 million and $21 million foregone in infrastructure as a result of their generous policy where it comes to students. What is the difference in this situation? What it is, is that the university is being responsible and over a period of time they have selectively purchased property that is—co-locates with their facility. They have undertaken a plan to take the responsibility to provide the student infrastructure, that is accommodation infrastructure, that is necessary for their facility.

I would suggest to you that is strategic planning on behalf of the University of Queensland. I would suggest that's long-term planning on behalf of the University of Queensland. But the LNP are saying, because they're not getting any infrastructure charges out of that development, not fair, consultation wrong, we weren't involved in the consultation. Why weren’t we involved? Tell us about it.

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor ABRAHAMS: How could the Senate do this? How could the Senate even go out and consult without the process being finished first of all?

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor ABRAHAMS: Madam Chair—

Chairman: Order!

Councillor ABRAHAMS: Can I suggest, Madam Chair—let us just reflect back to the Draft Kurilpa Master Plan.

Councillors interjecting.

Councillor ABRAHAMS: No consultation with anyone, just announced.

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor ABRAHAMS: That's right, absolutely. Just announced. Not, Madam Chair, eight-storey buildings, as is proposed through this proposal, but 40-storey buildings en masse followed by 30-storey buildings en masse.

Councillors interjecting.

Councillor ABRAHAMS What were the development industry and the community and the residents told? Cop it sweet. So, Madam Chair, the issue is infrastructure charges and we've addressed that. The LNP have already modified in the infrastructure charges. The LNP have have also previously when they wished to support hotels and given an infrastructure benefit.

So the fact that we have got student accommodation without infrastructure is not the issue. The fact that they haven't had the consultation where they—people kowtowed to their City Plan on this is also hypocrisy, Madam Chair, because if they want to do something they ride roughshod over the community.

Councillors interjecting.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 46 -

Councillor ABRAHAMS: So it's just a little taste of their own medicine, Madam Chair. This was the only committee where we have had such a clear position of outrage.

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor ABRAHAMS The LNP Councillors were outraged, the officers had to be outraged. It was outrage, outrage at all times, because they were cut out of the proposal, Madam Chair.

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor ABRAHAMS: This is forward planning. This is forward planning. It is something that I have complete confidence in the ability of, when you have these community infrastructure designations, to get high quality development. That's what we have got, some high quality development in the University of Queensland.

Madam Chair, I have got faith in the State Government and the Federal Government to put appropriate infrastructure in so that we can have active transport, be it a bridge to West End or be it public transport, to this facility to meet it with its growing needs.

But that's another level of hypocrisy—hypocrisy—because what did we have today in committee? We don’t have to worry about transport at the former ABC site at Toowong because there's a train line and there's a CityCat and there's a fast BUZ service.

Chairman: Councillor ABRAHAMS, you are—

Councillor ABRAHAMS: Madam Chair—

Chairman: Councillor ABRAHAMS, you are a long way off the topic of this particular submission.

Councillor ABRAHAMS: No, no, no, Madam Chair, because there is—

Chairman: Yes, you are.

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor ABRAHAMS: Madam Chair, there is a designated bridge to get the buses into this facility. There are designated CityCats giving transport into this area. There is a proposal for another bridge, Madam Chair, just like the former Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said, when he brought the South Brisbane riverside plan, which had no infrastructure, zero, zilch. He said clearly, don't worry we will provide it once the plan's in place. Another taste of your own medicine, LNP.

Chairman: Further debate?

Chairman: Councillor COOPER.

Councillor COOPER: I am so excited to respond to that.

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor COOPER: Okay. Alright. So first of all, we had Councillor CUMMING agreeing that five-storeys is appropriate, and I do appreciate him making that, I think, that commentary. It's good to see that he has formally supported the neighbourhood plan so he's endorsed the neighbourhood plan. He said that he supports those two five-storey buildings that are going into the local area.

I disagree with him on the 9.5 metre issue. I also note that the local Councillor has form himself when it comes to what's an appropriate height in the local area, when he took the opportunity to demolish a pre-1946 building in his—on his own undertaking. So we've got form from the local Councillor.

Now, Councillor ABRAHAMS, well, she's clearly an apologist for the University of Queensland. Clearly—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 47 -

Councillor COOPER: —she's saying that this is, and I quote, this is strategic planning. This is long-term planning. She does not support Council's position on behalf of local residents. She thinks—and maybe it's a cross her fingers, cross her toes, cross her everything, to hope that the State and the Federal Government will deliver the infrastructure.

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor COOPER: She knows that they will, Madam Chair. She's so confident that they will, based on absolutely nothing, based on her own personal view, because we know she's an expert. She's an expert in a local area and she says that we on this side of the Chamber are cynical. Well, I would suggest to you, no, we are thinking rationally and we have got no evidence, not one single stick or stone—

Councillor JOHNSTON: Point or order, Madam Chairman.

Chairman: Point of order against you, Councillor COOPER. Yes, Councillor JOHNSTON.

Councillor JOHNSTON: Yes, Madam Chairman, I believe that Councillor COOPER is misleading the Chamber. Councillor ABRAHAMS said that they were being hypocritical.

Chairman: Councillor JOHNSTON, that is not a valid point of order and if you do that again you'll be warned.

Chairman: Councillor COOPER.

Councillor COOPER: That Councillor is incorrect. I wrote down specifically, Councillor ABRAHAMS said, quote, how cynical it all is. Now, she said that the Port of Brisbane was supported by BCC, that we felt that it was an appropriate level of density. Well, it's also interesting to see who is delivering the infrastructure for Port of Brisbane, because I would suggest quite clearly there's a huge amount of investment that has occurred, particularly in the transport infrastructure down in that area and it's all being delivered by the State Government with clear plans for who is funding that.

But in this case, there's no plans. There's no contribution to infrastructure delivery that is proposed in this master plan. The words of the local Councillor are absolutely correct. He certainly is a supporter of the University of Queensland. It's an important educational establishment in this city. It is absolutely in line with what we want to see. We want to see places that draw students from local, from interstate, from international arena. These sorts of things are entirely appropriate in our New World City.

But we don’t want to see them not have the kinds of public transport outcomes, the kinds of opportunities to make sure that the impacts on the surrounding residential area—and I don't see residential area cheek to jowl at Port of Brisbane. I see them specifically in an area that is appropriate for industrial activity, that does have infrastructure—traffic infrastructure in particular—very well supporting that kind of intensity in that location.

In this location we see road transport infrastructure that's already struggling, Madam Chair, already struggling to accommodate that kind of growth. Indeed, if you headed out to the university, particularly late in the afternoon, it is certainly a journey which you might make, if it's not busy, in five or 10 minutes. But during those peak times you can be sitting in transport, stuck in traffic congestion, for up to half an hour or even longer.

Then we saw from Councillor ABRAHAMS, who is talking about an unbelievably generous subsidy, and she said that that is applied over the five—inner five kilometres. Well, as usual, she got it a little bit wrong because it's the inner four kilometres, Councillor ABRAHAMS.

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor COOPER: I know your position on detail is not strong but we clearly—and there's an apology, I'll tender an apology on behalf of Councillor ABRAHAMS, she got it wrong again. So she doesn't seem to have any kind of—

Councillor interjecting.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 48 -

Chairman: Order!

Councillor COOPER: So she doesn't seem to have any kind of view as to whether she should be technically correct or not.

Then Councillor ABRAHAMS, she talked about Kurilpa, she talked about how there was no consultation when in fact this Chamber well knows that we've been talking to that local community since 2009 about how there is growth anticipation for that area, which is also—which was also actually indicated by the Bligh Labor Government in the SEQ regional plan.

So it was—

Councillors interjecting.

Councillor COOPER: —Councillor SUTTON—

Chairman: Order! Councillor SUTTON!

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

Councillor COOPER: We note Councillor SUTTON—

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Just wait, Councillor COOPER, thanks.

When you collect yourselves, Councillor COOPER can continue. Thank you.

Councillor COOPER: So Councillor ABRAHAMS is so confident that there's going to be high quality development on this site—and that was her words, high quality development—she is basically saying that she's very confident that this will be addressed. Of course, it will come allowing no rights of appeal from the local community. It is very much obviously her position, and we know how she felt out the back—with the ULDA at Woolloongabba, where they were proposing 40-storeys without allowing any resident to have their say on those sorts of proposals. No appeal rights, absolutely no opportunity for the community to have their say.

Councillor ABRAHAMS has got form. She does not have a problem with that. She certainly is a big fan, it seems, of the ULDA or what is now EDQ's way of doing business, which is to create a document and then assess applications against that document and remove any rights, any appeal rights, from the local community with respect to that area, and no infrastructure charges. No contribution to the infrastructure demand that they create on their own site. That is fully endorsed by Councillor ABRAHAMS.

So she's got form, Madam Chair. The Labor Party, the Australian Labor Party, have got form. In this case they have let down the people of St Lucia. They have let down the local residents.

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

Councillor COOPER: They don't care.

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Councillor SUTTON. When you compose yourselves Councillor COOPER will continue. Your behaviour is totally out of order.

Chairman: Councillor SUTTON.

Chairman: Thank you, Councillor COOPER.

Councillor COOPER: So I would like to thank the local Councillor, Councillor SIMMONDS, for his commentary today. I am disappointed by the commentary of Councillor ABRAHAMS. She certainly does not seem to understand the impact that this should—would put on the local area and I certainly am disappointed that she isn't standing up for the people of Brisbane and demanding that there is

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 49 -

infrastructure investment that would be commensurate with this kind of intensification of that site. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Councillor SUTTON: A point of order, Madam Chair.

Chairman: Yes, Councillor SUTTON.

MOTION FOR SUSPENSION OF STANDING RULES:

630/2014-15At that juncture, Councillor Shayne SUTTON moved, seconded by Councillor Helen ABRAHAMS, that the Standing Rules be suspended to allow the moving of the following motion

I seek leave to move suspension of standing orders that would allow for us to debate a matter of urgency, given the comments of the neighbourhood planning chair about the need for infrastructure. I would like to move that Council rescind its decision for infrastructure waivers on hotels and student accommodation.

Councillor SUTTON: Madam Chair, the fact of the matter is urgent.

Chairman: Well—no. I don’t want the fact of the matter. Have you got your motion written out?

Councillor SUTTON: No, Madam Chair, because it's an urgency motion.

Chairman: Okay.

Councillor SUTTON: My colleagues are writing it now. They’ll have it to you by the end of the three minutes.

Chairman: That's pathetic. You’ve got three minutes.

Councillor SUTTON: Well—

Chairman: It had better be why it's urgency now.

Councillor SUTTON: Yes.

Chairman: Or I'll sit you down.

Councillor SUTTON: Yes, Madam Chair. The reason why this is urgent is because I am fearful that this Council is moving towards an inconsistent position when it comes to the need for infrastructure in our suburbs and throughout Brisbane. What we have clearly heard from the neighbourhood planning chair, the person who is responsible for infrastructure charges and priority infrastructure planning in this city is that it is not good enough for UQ to be not providing infrastructure in terms of their master plan.

However, that is inconsistent with the LORD MAYOR's own stated approach that he is willing to give infrastructure charges waivers for hotel developers and for developers of student accommodation.

Chairman: Urgency for today, thank you, Councillor SUTTON.

Councillor SUTTON: Well, Madam Chair—

Chairman: Urgency.

Councillor SUTTON: Madam Chair, we are being asked to debate and vote on this presentation that we have here today. Councillor COOPER and this Council are asking all Councillors in this place to take a position on the UQ master plan. I don’t feel that we're able to take a position on the UQ master plan until Council resolves its inherent conflicts with its approach to the delivery of infrastructure in our suburbs. Not more than two weeks ago, I myself brought a motion to this Chamber calling for support to get infrastructure funding for the Bulimba Barracks from—

Councillor MURPHY: A point of order, Madam Chairman.

Councillor SUTTON: —the Federal Government and they voted it down.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 50 -

Chairman: Councillor SUTTON. Councillor SUTTON, there's a point of order against you. When I speak, you be quiet or you’ll be out of here.

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Speak for yourself. Councillor MURPHY.

Councillor MURPHY: Madam Chairman, this isn't a general business for Councillor SUTTON. She has two minutes to establish urgency. I direct her to do that.

Chairman: Yes. Thank you, Councillor MURPHY. Councillor SUTTON, you establish urgency or you resume your seat.

Councillor SUTTON: I understand Councillor MURPHY's always happy to tell you how to do your job, Madam Chair.

Chairman: Resume your seat.

Councillor SUTTON: Well, Madam Chair—

Chairman: Resume your seat.

Councillor SUTTON: Well, Madam Chair, that is what it is.

Chairman: Resume your seat.

Councillor SUTTON: That is what it is. Well, you guys are all—

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

Thereupon, Councillors Shayne SUTTON and Victoria NEWTON immediately rose and called for a division, which resulted in the motion being declared lost.

The voting was as follows:

AYES: 8 - The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors Helen ABRAHAMS, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON, Shayne SUTTON and Nicole JOHNSTON.

NOES: 16 - Councillors Krista ADAMS, Matthew BOURKE, Amanda COOPER, Margaret de WIT, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Kim MARX, Peter MATIC, Ian McKENZIE, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, Julian SIMMONDS, Andrew WINES and Norm WYNDHAM.

Clause B put

Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause B of the report of the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment Committee was declared carried on the voices.

Thereupon, Councillors Peter CUMMING and Victoria NEWTON immediately rose and called for a division, which resulted in the motion being declared lost.

The voting was as follows:

AYES: 16 - Councillors Krista ADAMS, Matthew BOURKE, Amanda COOPER, Margaret de WIT, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Kim MARX, Peter MATIC, Ian McKENZIE, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, Julian SIMMONDS, Andrew WINES and Norm WYNDHAM.

NOES: 8 - The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors Helen ABRAHAMS, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON, Shayne SUTTON and Nicole JOHNSTON.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 51 -

Clause C put

Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion for the adoption of Clause C of the report of the Neighbourhood Planning and Development Assessment Committee was declared carried on the voices.

Thereupon, Councillors Peter CUMMING and Victoria NEWTON immediately rose and called for a division, which resulted in the motion being declared lost.

The voting was as follows:

AYES: 17 - Councillors Krista ADAMS, Matthew BOURKE, Amanda COOPER, Margaret de WIT, Vicki HOWARD, Steven HUANG, Fiona KING, Kim MARX, Peter MATIC, Ian McKENZIE, David McLACHLAN, Ryan MURPHY, Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, Julian SIMMONDS, Andrew WINES and Norm WYNDHAM and Nicole JOHNSTON.

NOES: 7 - The Leader of the OPPOSITION, Councillor Milton DICK, and Councillors Helen ABRAHAMS, Peter CUMMING, Kim FLESSER, Steve GRIFFITHS, Victoria NEWTON and Shayne SUTTON.

The report read as follows

ATTENDANCE:

Councillor Amanda Cooper (Chairman), Councillor Vicki Howard (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors Helen Abrahams, Geraldine Knapp, Shayne Sutton and Andrew Wines.

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND DRAFT ST LUCIA CAMPUS MASTER PLAN 2015

631/2014-151. Marcus Mulholland, Manager, Strategic Planning, City Planning and Economic Development,

City Planning and Sustainability Division, attended the meeting to provide an update on the University of Queensland (UQ) Draft St Lucia Campus Master Plan 2015. He provided the information below.

2. A slide was shown detailing the Master Plan area. The three additional areas are Long Pocket Precinct, Avalon Precinct and Hawken Drive Precinct.

3. A map of the current zoning pattern was displayed.

4. The Master Plan/Community Infrastructure Designation (CID) proposes increased capacity on the existing UQ campus at St Lucia. It extends the existing CID to include three new locations; Hawken Drive area (adjacent Chancellor’s Place), Avalon Precinct (Sir Fred Schonell Dr, St Lucia) and Long Pocket Precinct (Meiers Rd, Indooroopilly).

5. This provides for 15 years of growth to 2030 for educational establishment and ancillary activities such as rooming accommodation, shops, child-care, and research facilities. The Master Plan does not provide for any significant infrastructure to support growth.

6. A map was shown detailing the existing main campus, the campus extension areas and the suggested unfunded pedestrian/cycle bridge to Boundary Street, West End.

7. A table detailing the summary of changes was displayed. The key element is the growth of student numbers. Student numbers are expressed as equivalent full-time enrolments, meaning that the actual enrolments are greater.

8. The student accommodation focus is around Walcott Street and College Road (3,760 rooms) and Upland Road (1,100 rooms).

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 52 -

9. In the existing campus, there is a proposed 228,500 square metre gross floor area (GFA) increase overall with some increase in car parking.

10. Additionally in the existing campus, there is a maximum six to eight storey building height depending on location.

11. The biggest change to occur in the existing campus is on the western side of the campus, to the student accommodation.

12. New or changed infrastructure will include:- new pedestrian/cycle bridge to Boundary Street, West End (unfunded)- new signalised intersection at Carr Street and Sir Fred Schonell Drive (east of recently

completed signalisation)- relocated bus-stop on Coldridge Street.

13. The Hawken Drive Area is a 1.29 hectare in LR (Low-Density Residential) zone with a 42,500 square metre GFA (Plot Ratio 3.3). There is mostly six to eight storey building height with four adjacent dwelling houses. There is mixed use development, major research facilities with ground-floor shops and cafes and student accommodation. The CID extension does not include all the UQ land, there are 21 of 42 lots excluded.

14. The traffic impacts are unquantified. The network impacts are subject to future studies following the CID endorsement.

15. The new or changed infrastructure includes: bus interchange relocated to Hawken Drive; Upland Road terminated; a new campus entry at the Hawken/Carmody/Upland roundabout; and a new roundabout at Picardy Street and Hawken Drive.

16. An aerial map of the site area was displayed.

17. A detailed map of the planned works was displayed.

18. Avalon Precinct is 0.6 hectares in a LMR (Low-Medium Density Residential) zone with a 7,550 square metre GFA (1.26 Plot Ratio). It is a mixed use development with a student accommodation focus, with some community activities in theatre building.

19. There is a proposed eight-storey development and low-rise townhouses, with three dwelling houses adjacent.

20. Avalon Theatre is a local heritage place. There would be a proposed partial demolition of the rear.

21. The site is impacted by Brisbane River three to five subcategory flooding and is isolated in a one per cent annual exceedance probability (AEP) flood event. The suitability for development is unquantified and is subject to future detailed site flood assessment following CID endorsement.

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

23. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.ADOPTED

B PETITION – PETITION REQUESTING REINSTATEMENT OF THE 8.5   METRE MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT FOR HOUSES AND REQUESTING A REDUCTION OF THE FIVE-STOREY MAXIMUM BUILDING HEIGHT TO THREE STOREYS IN WYNNUM, MANLY AND LOTACA15/141653, CA15/180715 and CA15/233572

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 53 -

632/2014-1524. A petition requesting reinstatement of the 8.5 metre maximum building height for houses and

requesting a reduction of the five-storey maximum building height to three storeys in Wynnum, Manly and Lota, was presented to the meeting of Council held on 17 March 2015, by Councillor Peter Cumming, and received.

25. The Divisional Manager, City Planning and Sustainability, supplied the following information.

26. Three petitions were received from residents of Wynnum, Manly and Lota containing a total of 559 signatures. The petitions request that Council reinstate the 8.5 metre maximum building height for houses and that Council reduce the five-storey maximum building height to three storeys in Wynnum, Manly and Lota. The concerns raised in the petitions relate to impacts on property values, loss of views, loss of privacy and sea breezes.

27. On 30 June 2014, Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan 2014) commenced and increased the self-assessable maximum building height for houses from 8.5 metres to 9.5 metres. This was a citywide amendment intended to:- improve flood immunity- encourage more flexible building design- allow for varied house design to reflect sloping land- encourage modern subtropical design- simplify the approval process.

28. During the public notification of the draft City Plan in 2013, Council received a number of submissions regarding the maximum building height in the Wynnum Manly area. In response to these concerns, Council committed to undertake further engagement with the local community once City Plan 2014 had commenced.

29. Council then conducted a survey of over 1,500 property owners in parts of Wynnum and Manly. The survey covered the areas where the greatest number of submitters had raised concern about the proposed citywide maximum building height of 9.5 metres during the public notification of the draft City Plan. On this basis, the survey area did not include Lota.

30. The survey sought to understand the degree of support for reducing the maximum building height for houses from 9.5 metres to 8.5 metres within the character-residential and low-density residential zones.

31. Following two separate mail-outs that were sent via registered mail and an extension of the consultation period of an additional five weeks, the survey closed on 19 December 2014. The results showed that the majority of property owners did not support a reduction in the maximum building height for houses. For this reason, Council will not be investigating a house building height reduction in Wynnum, Manly or Lota.

32. The suburbs of Manly and Lota do not contain any sites that are zoned for five-storey residential or centre development. Areas where taller buildings are envisaged are limited to the Wynnum Central Precinct of the Wynnum-Manly Neighbourhood Plan. This precinct includes land in the medium-density and high-density residential zones and the major centre zone. These zones and building heights are consistent with the location being identified as a major regional centre in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009 - 2031.

33. The zoning of the Wynnum Central Precinct was introduced following extensive community consultation when the Wynnum-Manly Neighbourhood Plan was prepared in 2008 to 2009 as part of Brisbane City Plan 2000 (City Plan 2000).

34. There was also extensive citywide consultation for City Plan 2014 during which concerns about five-storey building heights in Wynnum were not raised by the community. Consequently it is not intended to undertake a review of the zoning or building heights in this area.

35. City Plan 2014 includes codes to manage the impact on amenity from new development. This includes the dwelling house code, dwelling house (small lot) code and multiple-dwelling code. These codes include minimum standards in relation to building heights, site cover, and setbacks which are designed to protect residential amenity.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 54 -

36. Individual property views are not protected under City Plan 2014. This was also the case under the former planning scheme, City Plan 2000.

37. Property values are influenced by a wide variety of factors outside the control of City Plan 2014, including location, house size and design, as well as property condition. These factors vary for each individual property.

38. It is considered that the current provisions the City Plan 2014 are appropriate for this area and therefore no changes are recommended.

Consultation

39. Councillor Peter Cumming, Councillor for Wynnum Manly, was consulted and does not support the recommendation.

40. The Divisional Manager recommends as follows and the Committee agrees with Councillors Helen Abrahams and Shayne Sutton dissenting.

41. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DRAFT RESPONSE IN ATTACHMENT A BELOW.

ATTACHMENT A

DRAFT RESPONSE

Petition References: CA15/141653, CA15/180715 and CA15/233572

I refer to your petition requesting that Council stop residents of Wynnum, Manly and Lota from losing bay breezes, views, privacy and property value by keeping housing heights at 8.5 metres and reducing five-storey development to a maximum of three storeys.

Your petition was considered by Council. It was decided that the petitioners be advised of the information below.

Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan 2014) increased the maximum building height for houses from 8.5 metres to 9.5 metres. During the consultation period in 2013 some residents in the Wynnum Manly area raised concern about the proposed height increase. While Council proceeded with the change, Council made a commitment to further consider the issue.

Council recently conducted a survey of over 1,500 property owners within the Wynnum Manly house building height review area, seeking their views on a potential reduction of the maximum house building height from 9.5 metres to 8.5 metres within the character-residential and low-density residential zones. The boundary of the survey was designed to respond to Wynnum Manly areas where the greatest number of residents and property owners had originally raised concern about the proposed citywide maximum building height of 9.5 metres during the notification of the draft City Plan. On this basis, the survey area did not include Lota.

The survey closed on 19 December 2014. The results showed that the majority of owners did not support a reduction in the maximum building height for houses. For this reason, Council will not be investigating a house building height reduction in Wynnum, Manly or Lota.

Areas where taller buildings are envisaged are limited to the Wynnum Central Precinct of the Wynnum-Manly Neighbourhood Plan. This precinct includes land in the medium-density and high-density residential zones and major centre zone. These zones and building heights are consistent with the location being identified as a major regional centre in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009 - 2031. A reduction in building height in this location is not supported.

Council understands the petitioners’ concerns about the potential impact on existing residents of an increase in self-assessable house building heights. City Plan 2014 includes codes that manage the impacts of new development on amenity. While the codes set out standards for building height, design and setbacks, views of

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 55 -

the bay from individual properties are not protected.

As you may appreciate, property values may be influenced by a wide variety of factors outside the control of City Plan 2014, including location, house size and design, as well as property condition. These types of factors vary for each property.

I trust this information is of assistance. If you have any further questions, please contact the Neighbourhood Planning Brisbane Team, in Council’s City Planning and Sustainability division, on 3403 8888.

ADOPTED

C PETITION – OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT AT 65   SYLVAN ROAD, TOOWONG (A003998096) CA15/213117

633/2014-1542. A petition objecting to the proposed development at 65 Sylvan Road, Toowong (A003998096), was

presented to the meeting of Council held on 24 March 2015, by Councillor Milton Dick, and received.

43. The Divisional Manager, City Planning and Sustainability, supplied the following information.

44. The petition contained 25 signatures.

45. The petition objects to the proposed development at 65 Sylvan Road, Toowong (A003998096) in terms of the commercialisation of parkland, impacts on the heritage value of the Anzac memorial, the loss of informal recreation spaces and an increase in noise and traffic levels from the proposed uses.

46. The application triggered an impact assessable application, which required advertising in accordance with the requirements of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 (SPA). The notification period was from 19 February 2015 to 12 March 2015. This petition was received outside the notification period. However, the principal petitioner is a formal submitter to the application and as such has appeal rights.

47. An information request was sent to the applicant on 9 January 2015 that requested further information regarding potential impacts on any protected vegetation. The applicant responded to the information request on 6 February 2015 and included a number of changes to the proposed site plan and an Arboricultural Impact Assessment Report.

48. The application is now in the decision period under the provisions of SPA, and is currently being assessed by Development Assessment, in conjunction with the issues raised by the submitters.

Consultation

49. Councillor Peter Matic, Councillor for Toowong Ward, was consulted and supports the recommendation.

50. The Divisional Manager recommends as follows and the Committee agrees with Councillor Shayne Sutton abstaining.

51. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT THE PETITIONERS BE ADVISED THAT THIS DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION IS STILL BEING ASSESSED BY DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT AGAINST THE RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF BRISBANE CITY PLAN 2014 AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SUSTAINABLE PLANNING ACT 2009 (SPA).

This petition was received outside the notification period, however, the concerns raised will be taken into account during the assessment of this application.

For more information you can view the details of the application online by visiting Council’s website at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/pdonline by searching the application reference number A003998096.

ADOPTED

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 56 -

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 26 May 2015, be adopted.

Councillor BOURKE: Yes. Thank you, Madam Chairman. Just a couple of things before I get to the Committee presentation that we had last week. I want to congratulate the staff at South Bank Parklands. Last Friday night, the team at South Bank Parklands were awarded the Queensland Medal in the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Awards for their landscape, architecture and work around the water play area at South Bank Parklands. It's been a phenomenal project and transformational project for the water play area over there, where we removed a number of the existing rocks.

We relined the section of the water play area. We improved water quality. We improved the experience for users of that space, as well as visitors to the space, Madam Chairman. The Queensland Medal, I’m told, is the top gong in Queensland when it comes to architectural awards and it was great to see the recognition for the stream surround project over at South Bank Parklands. Madam Chairman, I can't let the debate earlier sort of go through to the keeper from the Australian Labor Party when it comes to the City Botanic Gardens Master Plan.

So when they stand up in this place and they talk and they make statements about things, Madam Chairman, you always have to take it with a grain of salt. Why do I say that? Well, because they’ve got form, Madam Chairman. They've got form when it comes to all the issues that they raise as reasons to not support the master plan which went through this Council Chamber just before. So, Madam Chairman, let's run through some of the key critical issues that stop the Australian Labor Party from supporting the master plan. Commercialisation of parks.

Well, Madam Chairman, Councillor ABRAHAMS wrote to me 18 months ago wanting to turn a park into a car park for a car yard. If that's not commercialisation of a park, Madam Chairman, I don’t know what is. I've had Councillor CUMMING and Councillor NEWTON write to me wanting to put commercial activities in some foreshore parks, Madam Chairman. If that's not commercialisation of parks, I don’t know what is. Madam Chairman, when it comes to parks, how could we forget the debate in this place about Wi-Fi in parks? I remember—Madam Chairman, I remember the debate about Wi-Fi in parks.

It was going to be the end of civilisation as we know it. The world was going to end. Kids would stop playing on playgrounds. It would be—it would literally be the end of the world, Madam Chairman. Well, now I’ve got Labor Councillors writing to me and Councillor ABRAHAMS asking for more parks with Wi-Fi. Well, Madam Chairman, you know, can't have it both ways. When you—please—please, that's right. Please, can I have Wi-Fi in this park, Councillor BOURKE?

Councillors interjecting.

Councillor BOURKE: That's right. What about childhood obesity? It's going to be the end—literally, the end of civilisation. Playgrounds would be not used anymore. Everyone would be on their phones or doing emails in a Council park.

Madam Chairman, let's not forget Sunday Fun Days and free sunscreen in parks, the Labor Party's contribution to the environmental debate at the last Council elections, but when it comes to the substance of this issue, Madam Chairman, when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of it, everything they said in this Council Chamber this afternoon wasn't contained in their submission on the

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 57 -

master plan document when we did public consultation. Well, no, Madam Chairman. Why wasn't it contained in their submission? Because they couldn't be bothered putting a submission in, Madam Chairman.

So when they had the chance to have their views put forward and be part of the conversation, did any of the Australian Labor Party Councillors even bother? No, Madam Chairman. No, they did not. But what they will do is they’ll stand up in this place and attack the nine priority projects that are put forward as part of the plan. The nine priority projects that were selected by the members of the community reference team through the public consultation and the public submissions.

So they're really attacking all the submitters, Madam Chairman, and having a go at them for the projects and ideas that they put forward, that they put forward as part of what they would like to see when it comes to how the Botanic Gardens can be improved and managed going forward. But, Madam Chair, the pièce de résistance. The pièce de résistance was Councillor ABRAHAMS. Because Councillor ABRAHAMS stood up and waxed on lyrically about all sorts of different elements. She's going to scurry out of the Council Chamber, Madam Chairman, that's okay.

Because she's forgotten, Madam Chairman, in her comments—she's not scurrying, Madam Chairman. Okay. Madam Chairman, she has forgotten in her comments she questioned the LORD MAYOR and me about a map. This map, Madam Chairman. This map here. She said, I hope you’re not building a dirty great big road across in front of the stage, where there's this lovely grass down there and the river stage, Madam Chairman. Well, Madam Chairman, this map which I’m holding up, isn't the map from the master planning document that we brought through today.

But it's actually the exact same map from a document in 2005. So who was the environment chair in 2005, Madam Chairman? Who? I’m struggling. I am getting on in years, Madam Chairman. Who was the environment chair in 2005? It was Councillor ABRAHAMS, Madam Chairman. Councillor ABRAHAMS' own master plan document for the City Botanic Gardens has exactly the same map that those opposite were trying to criticise and attack us on today, Madam Chairman. What a disgrace. What an absolute disgrace, Madam Chairman.

Because then they went on to try and criticise us for overdevelopment or putting more commercial opportunities in the gardens, Madam Chairman. But then I thought I would just go a little bit further in Councillor ABRAHAMS' plan. I got to plan 57 of Councillor ABRAHAMS' master plan, the Australian Labor Party master plan for the City Botanic Gardens when they were in power, Madam Chairman, had control of the numbers in this place. The former third kiosk site, the area around it, including the 1970s toilet block, should be considered as a suitable site for redevelopment.

Madam Chairman, redevelopment. The exact nature of the development, one option to be considered should be the site of a cafe. A new cafe or restaurant. New cafe or restaurant facility for the gardens. Madam Chairman, everything they say you take with a grain of salt, because they've got form when it comes to issues in this place, Madam Chairman. The ludicrous and preposterous idea that was put forward that we weren't going to be taking care of the gardens is exactly what I said.

Ludicrous and preposterous, because this side of the Chamber is vested more in parks, more in gardens and more in our suburbs when it comes to the environment than any other Administration, Madam Chairman. We will continue to do so. The plan that we put through today is just another testament to that. Turning very quickly to the item on the agenda, Madam Chairman. It's the presentation we had about the Flood Planning Management Association national conference. I spoke at length about this last week. The first time the conference was held outside of New South Wales.

400 delegates. A great boost for the economy in Brisbane. Well received and the Council officers presented on a number of different issues. There were some

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 58 -

guest speakers from international locations and all of the feedback we've had today has been overwhelmingly positive with the Committee actually looking at opportunities to bring the conference back to Brisbane in the not too distant future.

It is a great example of how this organisation as a one Council approach can deliver economic outcomes, but also promote the great work that we're doing when it comes to flood management, not just in infrastructure, but also the technological side of management. So I commit the Committee presentation to the Chamber.

Chairman: Further debate?

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, Geraldine Knapp and Ryan Murphy.

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION NATIONAL CONFERNECE 2015

634/2014-151. Phil Young, Principal Program Officer, Flood Policy and Planning, attended the meeting to provide an

update on the Floodplain Management Association (FMA) National Conference 2015. He provided the information below.

2. There were a number of key note speakers at the conference including John Curtin, Environment Agency, United Kingdom; Professor Bas Jonkman – Technical University Delft, Netherlands; G Van Essen, Holland Water Challenge, Netherlands and Honourable Michael Keenan MP, Minister for Justice.

3. John Curtin, Environment Agency, United Kingdom, spoke about:- reflections on United Kingdom’s winter floods 2013/2014 – impacts, lessons and legacy- wettest winter in 250 years- 127 days of successive flooding- improvements in flood forecasting in the United Kingdom- emerging role of the development of social media in crisis communications- efforts needed to repair damaged flood defences before the 2014/2015 flood season- large central government funding model which has delivered funding for the recovery

program - existing historic flood defences are great in holding back the severity of the event.

4. Professor Bas Jonkman, Technical University Delft, Netherlands, spoke about:- highlighted the Countries vulnerability - leaders in flood mitigation - safety standards in flood defences have been revised on the basis on a national-wide risk

assessment (economic and risk to life assessments)- implications for Dutch flood management policy discussions (for example higher safety

standards)- Australia/Netherland Water Challenge was awarded to the Flood Resilience index.

5. G Van Essen, Holland Water Challenge, Netherlands, spoke about:- supporting the knowledge partnership on drought and flood management between the

Netherlands and Australia- engaged the next generation of water leaders across Australia since 2012

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 59 -

- more than 30 teams from seven universities proposed an impressive range of ideas relating to flood management

- International Riversymposium have been hosting the finals of the challenge.

6. Honourable Michael Keenan MP – Minister for Justice, spoke about:- outlined that Australia has spent 97 per cent funds on flood recovery and only three per  cent

on preventative action- rebuilding flood damage assets like for like.

7. The theme of the conference was building a flood resilient Australia. This includes:- identifying flood risk, modelling and tools- flood forecasting and warning- land-use planning and legislative issues- disaster planning and flood recovery- community engagement, consultation and social media- national solutions and coordination- field trips.

8. The key messages that came from the conference included:- the FMA is focused on establishing a national platform to discuss and share ideas and progress

in floodplain management- there was a need identified for consistent funding arrangements to invest in reducing the

current 97 per cent on disaster recovery versus the three per cent flood mitigation- encouraging and lobbying Federal and States to shift funding balance to more preventative

measures rather than recovery- real time flood information during flood events- increasing use of temporary flood defences in the United Kingdom and Local Governments in

New South Wales as part of flood response- Insurance Council of Australia (ICA), flood insurance forum is now providing flood risk

insurance at household levels rather than suburb levels.

9. There were 400 delegates, the largest in the conference’s history. It was the first time the conference was held outside of New South Wales.

10. International speakers and delegates spoke at the conference focusing on establishing a national platform for floodplain management.

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

12. 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 26 May 2015, be adopted.

Councillor McLACHLAN: Thank you, Madam Chairman. The LORD MAYOR took a question a little earlier that related to field services areas of activity, grass cutting, and he provided the answer to the question, but did say if there was any more information, he would provide it to the Chamber. I’m happy to do so. The question was about how many grass cutting contracts have been buried, suspended or terminated. I think the LORD MAYOR answered that part of the question.

There was also another part of it, which asked about the cost of any of those changes and the answer is that there's no cost to Council, as the cost of any

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 60 -

additional tenders required would not exceed the saving to Council that Council achieved under the new contracts.

Those—that contract that has been terminated will be filled from the existing pool of contractors, so there will be no charge, because those charges for that contractor are—has put that his cost to Council are the existing charges for his rates. Madam Chairman, the item before us at item A, we had a great presentation, as we always do, from the waste and resource recovery services section of Council. We had a presentation on Brisbane's recycling program and the great outcomes that we're getting from our recycling program. The achievements include over 92,000 tonnes of recycling being collected per annum.

The number of larger recycling bins now in circulation being used by Brisbane householders, 21,000 of the 340 litre bins, which is the additional capacity—shows the additional capacity that some Brisbane residents needed for their recycling and is a great way of providing that additional capacity. We have seen the amount of recycling in the general waste bins reduced from about 28 per cent down to 17 per cent.

We have a very high positive sentiment relating to the Council's recycling service and very pleased to report via the presentation we had to the Committee last week that the app on Androids and Apple devices is very popular. Over 14,000 application downloads in the first six months and that is growing awareness of all the Council waste services, including recycling. This is a commendable service. We are about to embark on the new advertising program, the new awareness program. We have an annual program to draw attention to our services, and in particular to recycling.

That will be rolled out from the beginning of this new financial year and it will focus on those elements of recycling that could be taken out of the waste stream and in particular, waste and cardboard. That will be a feature of the new campaign. That it is a consequence of the research that shows the most frequently—the item that is most frequently put into waste bins instead of the recycling bins is simple paper cardboard. Even pizza boxes, those sort of things. Glossy magazines. The sorts of things that people are confused about perhaps about whether or not it can go into recycling or into the—or should go into the waste bin.

As always, I encourage Councillors to make sure residents have got a copy of our recycling guide, which provides all this information, but the awareness campaign, the advertising campaign will build further awareness of our key messages about what we need to do decrease the amount of material that's going to landfill and to increase the amount of material that's going to recycling. Madam Chairman, I commend this report to the Chamber.

Chairman: Further debate?

Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the report of the Field Services Committee was declared carried on the voices.

The report read as follows

ATTENDANCE:

Councillor David McLachlan (Chairman), Councillor Norm Wyndham (Deputy Chairman), and Councillors Peter Cumming, Nicole Johnston, Kim Marx and Ian McKenzie.

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – BRISBANE’S RECYCLING PROGRAM

635/2014-151. Arron Lee, Manager, Waste and Resource Recovery Services, Field Services Group, Brisbane

Infrastructure Division, attended the meeting to provide an update on Brisbane’s Recycling Program.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 61 -

He provided the information below.

2. Council’s Towards Zero Waste strategy falls under Program 1.9 - Managing and Reducing Brisbane’s Waste and Litter. The strategy focusses on infrastructure, education and services, with an aim to increase recycling and reduce the amount of waste that ends up as landfill.

3. The major benefits of recycling are:- preservation of raw materials- products made from recycled materials uses less energy- a reduction in the need for land to be used as landfill- it is cheaper to process recyclable materials than it is to dispose of them into landfill.

4. It is far more efficient to separate recyclables from general waste at home or at a business rather than wait until it has become waste. Recyclables are cleaner, easier to process and are of more value to recyclers, when separated at the source.

5. Council encourages recycling through initiatives such as:- resource recovery centres- the option for residents to choose a larger recycling bin which is able to hold 340 litres- large recycling bins for multi-unit dwellings- public-place recycling bins.

6. Education has been carried out through:- print media- online self-help functions- education centres- games such as Worm World (released in 2011) and Lunchtime Legends (released in 2013)- the Brisbane Bin and Recycling application- school waste minimisation programs- competitions- social media.

7. Images were shown of various marketing and education initiatives undertaken by Council to promote recycling.

8. The ‘colour cue’ campaign, conducted from 2012 to 2014, was run in partnership with Visy. It encouraged residents to see how many everyday items are recyclable. Colour association was used to draw a connection between recyclable items and the yellow-lidded recycling bin. The campaign was very successful and raised awareness of the availability of larger recycling bins.

9. Brisbane’s Best Recycling Guide for Households was launched in November 2012 to coincide with National Recycling Week celebrations. This pocket guide to recycling has been popular with residents and more than 50,000 copies have been distributed. Since 2013 the guide has been available in English, traditional Chinese, simplified Chinese, Korean, Arabic and Vietnamese. Content from the guide has also been added to Council’s Culturally and Linguistically Diverse webpages to increase accessibility of recycling information. With the development of the Brisbane Bin and Recycling application, printed copies of the guide will be reduced.

10. The ‘colour cue’ Christmas campaign, which ran from 2012 to 2014, was a reminder to recycle paper and cardboard packaging and informed residents about how many everyday items are recyclable. Bin availability and bin capacity are main barriers to residents recycling. The Christmas campaign encouraged residents to order a larger recycling bin for Christmas. This also addressed the increase in waste generation during the festive season. The campaign has generated an additional 3,000 orders for larger recycling bins.

11. In 2014, Council launched the ‘recycling around the house’ and ‘recycling is easy’ campaigns. They targeted residents’ recycling knowledge by highlighting five main material types that can be recycled at home. They also advertised the availability of a larger recycling bin.

12. The Brisbane Bin and Recycling application launched in November 2014. So far, more than 14,000 residents have downloaded the application to their smartphone or tablet. The application helps users keep track of bin collection days and learn more about recycling.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 62 -

13. Council employed Roy Morgan Research to conduct a study of waste minimisation in Brisbane. The study identified five major attitude types regarding recycling which range from passionate recyclers to disengaged sceptics.

14. Commencing 1 June 2015, a new recycling campaign will be rolled out. The campaign will focus on paper and cardboard recycling. This comes in response to the 2015 Waste Characterisation Survey showing that paper and cardboard are the material types which are most frequently put in the waste bin instead of the recycling bin in Brisbane homes.

15. The campaign targets the people who are already recycling but don’t recycle everything all the time. It uses images of the most commonly confused paper and cardboard items such as corrugated cardboard boxes, magazines and junk mail, and pizza boxes with food scraps attached.

16. The new campaign aims to build awareness of campaign messaging through a combination of high-impact and standard digital display advertisements in leading publications such as couriermail.com.au and brisbanetimes.com.au. Continued downloads of the Brisbane Bin and Recycling application will help to keep residents informed.

17. Current and future campaigns will be designed to be flexible and responsive to changes in the waste stream. Council will continue to encourage residents to think about their own recycling behaviours and participate in self-assessment as a way to drive behaviour change. Further waste characterisation surveys and waste minimisation research provided by Roy Morgan will also inform decisions.

18. The main barriers to recycling are:- recyclables placed in plastic bags- difficulty in recycling manufacturer packaging- the ‘if in doubt, throw it out’ culture.

19. When recyclables are disposed of in a plastic bag, the bag must be broken open for the contents to be processed. Unfortunately, some materials are left behind during this process and become waste. An example was shown of packaging that consists of a cardboard outer container, aluminium foil lining, a steel base and a plastic cap. Visy has the ability to process this type of packaging but it takes more time and costs more.

20. Council’s recycling program has resulted in:- over 92,000 tonnes of recycling being collected per annum- approximately 21,000 larger recycling bins in service- amount of recycling in the general waste bin reduced from 28 per cent to 17 per cent- 87 per cent positive sentiment in Council’s recycling service- more than 14,000 application downloads in the first six months- awareness of larger recycling bin increased to 66 per cent- a decrease in recycling bin contamination.

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

22. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.ADOPTED

BRISBANE LIFESTYLE COMMITTEE

Councillor Krista ADAMS, Chairman of the Brisbane Lifestyle Committee, moved, seconded by Councillor Andrew WINES, that the report of that Committee held on 26 May 2015, be adopted.

Councillor ADAMS: Thank you, Madam Chair. Before I go to the presentation for last week, I just want to remind Councillors that it is winter time and winter means Gold Star in our local libraries. So please don't forget to encourage your local primary schools to get involved in this fantastic reading program. We all know as local

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 63 -

Councillors, that the children get fully involved in Gold Star and absolutely love it and it's not just about the blue and yellow cake in September.

It is about the prizes that come every week too if you get all your books and the stickers and the stamps and the erasers and the pencils that you can get and the blue and yellow cake at the end of it and a medal. Not many students get a medal for reading, which is great to see people getting rewarded for something other than just sport, even though as a PE teacher, I think that's fine. But it's nice to get other kids—kids to do different things to get rewarded as well.

Last year we had more than 4,800 children actually get involved in Gold Star across our 33 libraries, which is a fantastic outcome and as I said before, we all see the smiles on their faces at our graduation ceremonies in September, so it's fantastic. There's monthly draws, there's book vouchers for $25 in June and July. There's a $250 book voucher where members can enter in August and for the members—and $250 book voucher for schools as well.

So can I please tell you to get out there and advertise it on your newsletters, your Facebook, whatever you do to speak to your locals to get them involved in Gold Star, because we love the program. We know the kids love the program as well. Suitably, the Committee report last week was about our libraries and we spoke about the Mount Ommaney library refurbishment. It really is a spectacular upgrade to this library, which has been needed for quite a while. It has been 17 years since the library opened and it was fitted out and it really now has got a whole new look and feel to it.

Construction started in November last year. There were no close days, which I have to thank the librarians for. That's a big ask to be working around the construction site, as it seems to be on some of those days as well. We had a launch celebration on 14 March which attracted over 2,600 visits for the day. So some of the things we've done is just reconfigured around the staff service areas, so we can maximise the space for the customer use, reposition new reading lounges with study booths. We've got flexible spaces for a variety of customer needs, so we've got quiet places, event places.

It's a very modern look and feel with the furniture that we've chosen as well. Of course, we've done the accessibility upgrades as well. The meeting room has hearing loops, kitchenette, People With Disability toilet (PWD), wheelchair-accessible internet desks. One of the features here was—and it was commented by Councillor WINES. Each time we do a refurb on the library, it seems like the library gets something new and different that the last library didn’t have the opportunity for.

So the Radio-Frequency identification (RFID), our frequency identification technology has really taken a leap in the Mount Ommaney refurbishment, so rather than just having our check in that we have as you go in through the check in that it's registered as you do, we now have blade shelves, as they're called, and if you put your book back in the shelf, it returns the book instantly, so if somebody pulls it out, it has already been checked out—checked back in, so you don’t have to wait for the handling of the librarians to check it in. It makes it available very, very quickly for the customers to borrow.

They look very much just like white shelves that you would get from IKEA, but they actually are checking in the books at the same time, so it's a fantastic way to not only get a good high turnover for books, but it means our librarians are not standing out the back in the staff room processing books. They can be out on the floor and helping our customers with whatever queries they might have as well. The children's area had a bit of a refurb. It is about the local history of Mount Ommaney. We kept that theme, but we've upgraded the Cinnamon Farm.

Heaps of little fun activities for the kids in there, right down to gumboots with squeakers in them when they step into them. There's a bathtub, which is a very comfortable bath tub, I can let you know. Possibly not when you’re sharing it with another person, but Councillor BOURKE is not here to comment on that. But the kids love crawling in there to have their bit of special reading time. There's the interactive floor as well. Of course, the computers and the Lego

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 64 -

walls that come—seems to be some of our standards in our medium sized libraries with the children's activity areas.

So it has been a fantastic refurb. We've done the landscaping outside. It has been refreshed, so it has got a beautiful new entrance as well. I have to say, for the first time, we did our 2015 customer satisfaction just recently and our results were that 100 per cent of customers at the Mount Ommaney library were satisfied. 96 per cent of those were very satisfied. So that's the first time that we've got 100 per cent in a Brisbane City Council library and we are very, very proud of that. It was the open plan, the open spaces, the children spaces that people brought their attention to. But I think it just confirms that we're on the right track to delivering our modern and flexible library spaces right across Brisbane. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Chairman: Further debate?

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 Vicki Howard, Steven Huang and Victoria Newton.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE:

Councillor Steve Griffiths.

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – MOUNT OMMANEY LIBRARY REFURBISHMENT

636/2014-151. Sharan Harvey, Branch Manager, Library Services, Brisbane Lifestyle Division attended the meeting to

provide an update on Mount Ommaney Library Refurbishment.

2. The Mount Ommaney library opened on 14 January 1997. The previous new library to open was Fairfield library which opened on 4 February 1988.

3. In 1997, the Mount Ommaney library, with 1,000 square metres of space, would have been one of the largest in the library service (apart from Central City Library). Key features of the library in 1997 were:- online library catalogue ‘Databank’, searchable within the library, following completion of the

automation project in 1996- CD-ROM machines for viewing research databases- Raeco self-check-out machine, one of the first in Brisbane libraries (Personal Computer (PC)

with barcode scanner)- library internet PCs, not long introduced following trials in 1996, costing customers $4 per

hour of use- library computers for word processing- library meeting room, with the first cardax style electronic booking/access system- Vietnamese and Chinese language collections.

4. The Mount Ommaney library has been an extremely successful library, with over 3.3 million visits and over 6.5 million loans since opening. Prior to this refurbishment, the 2013-14 usage figures of the library were:- visits - 167,157- loans - 329,957- attendees at library programs - 9,204- hours of use of library meeting room - 2,398.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 65 -

5. The scope and features of the refurbishment included:- floor plan reconfigured, with replacement of large staff service areas by compact service

points, thus maximizing space for customer use- flexible spaces to meet variety of customer needs like quiet areas, organising of events and

areas where higher noise levels permitted for ‘alone together time’ or group work- mobile shelving near the front reading lounge up to the Languages Other Than English

(LOTE) collection that can be moved to accommodate larger-scale library programs and events such as author talks or Gold Star ceremonies

- access and inclusion given top priority with meeting room hearing loop, meeting room kitchenette and People with Disabilities (PWD) toilet and wheelchair accessible internet desks

- technology developments, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and developments in customer self-check-out and self-check-in solutions allowing for saving customer time, incorporated into the design of refurbishment

- construction commenced in November 2014 and with no closed days, completed on 14 March 2015 for the launch celebration.

6. Some highlights of the modern library include:- custom-designed joinery feature which defines the space, protects it from walk-through traffic

and allows the daily newspapers and larger pictorial ‘coffee table’ books from the collection to be displayed for customers to browse and discover

- features to support technology including a new 10-person Wi-Fi bench along the window side of the library, with USB ports and power points incorporated into the bench for customer access

- new wheelchair-accessible internet desks- an interactive table for learning through play in the young adult section of the library and an

interactive floor in the children’s area- children’s space, with a Sinnamon Farm theme, retaining local identity and historical

connection with its own reading bathtub- the children’s area also has an interactive floor and a LEGO wall, supporting learning through

play and the joy of discovery.

7. The external entry and foyer are upgraded and include:- refreshed landscaping with new plantings- new external bollards, refinished bike racks and new refuse bin- public toilets featuring the new air blade taps which both wash and dry within the tap unit,

reducing hand towel waste and maintenance incidents of blocked toilets- upgraded meeting room with latest audio-visual equipment- fully accessible meeting room kitchenette.

8. Results from the 2015 customer satisfaction survey indicate total satisfaction rating, with the customers appreciating the open plan and spaces, children’s area and the overall pleasant atmosphere in the library.

9. The Chairman thanked Ms Harvey for the informative presentation.

10. 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 Angela OWEN-TAYLOR, that the report of that Committee held on 26 May 2015, be adopted.

Councillor SIMMONS: Thank you, Madam Chairman. Just briefly before I move to some of the reports, just an update for the Chamber on some of the events that have occurred since last Tuesday. First of all, I represented the LORD MAYOR at the fifth anniversary of the Bank of China branch opening here in Brisbane, so the Bank

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 66 -

of China is the only bank in China to have 100 years of continuous history. They're in Sydney and Melbourne as well. But they opened their Brisbane branch five years ago. They've been very successful in connecting Australians and Chinese business interests and we thank them for their faith in our city.

I also had the opportunity to open the International Railway Signal Engineers Conference. A very good group of people. It was on a Sunday night, so I had to say, I had to throw out my prepared speech and go a little bit off the cuff, because they were deep into their welcome drinks by that point. But they were very welcoming and the point of the—the reason I make a note of it is because it's these kind of international conventions that make such a difference to Brisbane.

This is an example of one where they have a couple of hundred delegates from 17 nations around the world and they’ve chosen Brisbane to host it as their Australian venue as it rotates around the world. So thank you to the local organising committee for Australia who chose Brisbane as that opportunity. We also had on the weekend the Red Shield Appeal.

This is something that Councillor ADAMS spoke about last week, but I just wanted to add my congratulations to the Salvation Army on yet another successful Red Shield Appeal and the money that they raise for the less fortunate in our Committee and to thank all those people gave, either doorknocked or the significant donations that were garnished through the Brisbane business community, who always turn out in force to support Salvation Army and the Red Shield Appeal. Last week, the Committee had a presentation on our culturally and linguistically diverse communication team.

They are a very modest team. There's only two of them. They were initiated by this Administration in 2013, but they're—despite their relatively modest size in terms of numbers, in that short space of time, they’ve translated over 674 materials into different languages. This allows people who don’t speak English or where English isn't their preferred language to have access to very important Council campaigns, such as the Brisbane Ready For Summer campaign and other vital information that we want our residents to know.

They've been involved and they’ve been responsible for fostering a far greater and stronger connection between Council, the programs we offer and our linguistically diverse cultures throughout our suburbs. So I'd just like to pass on to the Chamber's, thanks for the efforts that they’ve undertaken. Thank you.

Chairman: Further debate?

Chairman: Councillor OWEN-TAYLOR.

Councillor

OWEN-TAYLOR: Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, Madam Chairman. I just rise in support of this report and particularly the efforts of the officers that work in the CaLD communication team. They have done an excellent job over the past few years, Madam Chairman, in respect of not only establishing themselves as a team, but also making sure that we are communicating with our multiculturally diverse communities across our city.

Madam Chairman, the other aspect of what this team has been doing on behalf of Council is translating a lot of the Council materials and particularly for those people across our city whose background is non-English speaking. This is very important, because there are so many aspects of our Council work life that really need to be communicated and particularly we saw this in 2011. That was when many of our multiculturally diverse communities didn’t really understand what was going on when we had a flood event in our city.

So from that event, there's certainly been a lot of movement in respect of disaster management materials that have now been translated across multiple languages. For this, I do congratulate both the disaster management team and the CaLD team for working closely together to ensure these very important materials are published. I can reflect on this. I—my Parkinson Multicultural and

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 67 -

Dragon Boat Festival last year, we had the disaster management team there with the translated materials.

Those materials were so well taken up that there was not one single piece of material left at the end of the day, because people from the different multicultural communities came up, had conversations, learnt a lot about disaster preparedness, which is very important from not only a flood perspective, but also a storm and bushfire perspective. So all of those materials are certainly in the right hands.

It's through their interactions with these different areas of Council that makes it very important. Certainly the CaLD team has MDA, the Multicultural Development Association, and there have also been videos made explaining to people how to prepare an emergency kit, because what we don’t recognise as people living here in Western society for many, many years is that for many of our multicultural groups, in particular our refugees, many of them don’t even realise what a torch is.

They don’t necessarily have had a use for it in the past and certainly if you say you put in an emergency kit these items, if they've had somebody explain to them what a torch is, what a torch is used for, they often don’t realise. So it's been very important to engage with MDA to help create those short video messages and to actually show people what a torch is, what a torch does. That certainly helps if they are in a disaster situation. It is one of those things that we take for granted.

It is one of those very important aspects that the CaLD team has been working on to ensure that we can certainly engage with those multicultural communities. Interestingly enough, I was quite surprised when they were talking about the social media channels that they’ve been exploring and utilising through their many different avenues. For example, the Chinese Weibo channel, over 60,000 registered users. I mean, that is significant and they have made inroads into using that one in particular. But there are so many different channels that they have actually been using.

Just to really recognise their achievements, they’ve delivered 228 Council campaigns, translated 674 materials into 15 different languages, distributed 400 translated media releases and there has been more than one million impressions across the three CaLD social media channels, with an amazing 44,214 page views on the five CaLD landing pages.

So I just say well done on behalf of all of us in this Chamber, to those officers that have been working in the very small tight-knit CaLD team, and certainly those other areas of Council that have been working very closely with them to make sure we get the right outcomes for our multiculturally diverse community here in Brisbane. Thank you, Madam Chairman.

Chairman: Further debate?

Chairman: Councillor HUANG.

Councillor HUANG: Thank you, Madam Chairman. I rise to speak briefly on last week's Finance, Economic Development and Administration Committee presentation and to express the appreciation I’ve received from Brisbane's multicultural community in regards to the effort this Council has put in in making this city accessible and inclusive to people who come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Madam Chairman, a significant percentage of Brisbane's population came from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

According to the 2011 Census, about a quarter of Brisbane's population were born overseas and that the figure was greater in Macgregor Ward. The census shows 50.5 per cent of Macgregor Ward residents were born overseas and 44.5 per cent were born in Australia. I’m just not sure where the rest of five per cent were coming from. With Brisbane's increasing international and interstate profile over the past four years, there were more students, guests and migrants decide to study, visit or make Brisbane their home.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 68 -

Madam Chairman, people who come to study, visit or settle in Brisbane not only bring to our city financial and economic benefits, but the culture and the experiences they bring to our city also enrich the social and cultural fabric of Brisbane. It is important for us as this city's administrator to explore the opportunities and benefits brought to us by Brisbane's growing multicultural community and make sure we do look after them and make them feel they are at home.

Council's CaLD communication played an important role in providing our multicultural community easier access to important information, events and opportunities this city has to offer. On behalf of the multicultural community, I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation in this Chamber and please allow me to say:

議長女士,

在此謹代表布里斯本的多元文化社區,感謝市長及布里斯本市政府對本地多元文化社區的支持及協助。

布里斯本市政府對多元文化社區的語言及文化協助,讓所有布里斯本的居民,無論你從哪裡來、使用什麼語言,都能感到市府對所有居民一視同仁的決心,也讓所有非本地出生的居民感到如同家一樣的溫暖。

Madam Chairman, thank you for allowing me to express our appreciation in Chinese. If I can just give you the translation of what I have just said.

Madam Chairman, on behalf of Brisbane's multicultural community, I would like to express our appreciation to the LORD MAYOR and this city's Administration for your support and assistance. Cultural and linguistically diverse communication provided by Brisbane City Council give all Brisbane residents, no matter where you come from or which language you speak, feel that we are all part of big Brisbane family. That's the translation of it.

Madam Chairman, Brisbane's multicultural community appreciate and acknowledge the effort of this Administration in culturally and linguistically diverse communication and this Administration will continue to devote in bringing the people of this city together in making Brisbane a truly accessible and inclusive city. I recommend this report to the Chamber.

Chairman: Further debate?

Chairman: Councillor SIMMONS.

Councillor SIMMONS: Thank you, Madam Chairman. Just to thank the Councillors for their contribution and I can assure the Chamber that Councillor HUANG's speech will be the 248th thing that the CaLD communication's team will translate for Council.

Upon being submitted to the Chamber, the motion for the adoption of the Finance, Economic Development and Administration Committee was declared carried on the voices.

The report read as follows

ATTENDANCE:

Councillor Julian Simmonds (Chairman), Councillor Angela Owen-Taylor (Deputy Chairman); and Councillors Kim Flesser, Fiona King, Ryan Murphy and Shayne Sutton.

A COMMITTEE PRESENTATION – CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE COMMUNICATION

637/2014-151. Jinny Song, Multicultural Communications Officer and Simone Lenneberg, Strategic Advisor,

Corporate Communication, Organisational Services attended the meeting to provide an update on Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communication. They provided the information below.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 69 -

2. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) Communication was initiated in Council in 2013. Council has a dedicated team which provides:- consultancy and advice on Council campaigns;- demographic and CaLD community research;- liaison with CaLD community organisations;- internal education and training;- translation and checking; and- online engagement with CaLD communities.

3. The CaLD team have had several key successes since the inception of the program:- 2013 highlights include the establishment of landing pages on the corporate website in

Traditional Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Arabic, expanded the CaLD outreach to 80 per cent of campaigns, developed a Council Chinese and Korean Facebook and launch of the Simplified Chinese landing page;

- 2014 highlights include launch of the Council Weibo, Lord Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Innovation, CaLD G20 social media campaign, development of community engagement plan and CaLD community research; and

- 2015 highlights include the development of multicultural e-zine, One Brisbane, Many Cultures, achieved one million CaLD social media impressions and achievement of a Lord Mayor’s Award for Excellence for Working Together.

4. Council has translated 674 CaLD materials including Brisbane Ready for Summer Campaign, Lord Mayoral events such as Business Missions, Australia Day Awards and waste campaigns.

5. The CaLD Communication channels were discussed and include:- Online/digital channels including Council’s corporate website (five languages), social media

channels: Facebook, Twitter and Weibo, online community forums and iHub Digital screens at multicultural grocery shops;

- Media channels include 19 CaLD publications/newspapers and radio services with 4EB in 67 languages, VAC (Voice of Australian Chinese) Radio (Chinese);

- Council publications including One Brisbane, Many Cultures and Business in Brisbane; and- Community facing which include Council multicultural events such as Community Connect

Roadshows and face to face activities with CaLD community organisations.

6. Council has several CaLD online community channels which include Weibo (60,000 registered users), Ozyoyo (30,000 users), Sunbrisbane (25,000 registered users), Missy’s Brisbane blog (3,000 active users), Kakaostory channel (5,000 users), Korean Society of Queensland (15,000 registered users), international students groups including Hong Kong Student Association and Taiwanese Student Association (4,400 Facebook followers) and Vietnamese Community Queensland chapter website.

7. The CaLD team have delivered several achievements for Council which include:- delivered 228 Council campaigns with CaLD components;- translated 674 materials into 15 languages;- distributed 400 translated media releases, sent to 15 CaLD publications based in Brisbane with

an approximate each of 130,000;- more than one million impressions across Council’s three CaLD social media channels;- achieved 44,214 page views on Council’s five CaLD landing pages on the corporate website;- established partnerships with eight external CaLD online marketing channels; and- established connections with key community organisations across Chinese, Korean,

Vietnamese and Arabic communities.

8. A survey was conducted at multicultural grocery shops in the CBD and Sunnybank areas, mainly targeting Chinese and Korean residents. 95 per cent of those surveyed indicated that they would prefer to receive Council communication in their first language and five per cent in English. The survey also identified that the targeted audience would rank television screens in shops and the Council website as their preferred channel to receive Council information regarding services and facilities.

9. Council is committed to its CaLD program and the future focus of the concept will promote and facilitate ongoing community engagements to identify preferred communication channels, partnerships and connect with community leaders. Council’s committed team will continue to undertake online and face to face research through online channels and community events to inform communication

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 70 -

campaigns. Collaboration with Council’s International and Multicultural Unit, Multicultural team and Community Engagement team will further enhance the program and develop synergies to share and capture knowledge.

10. Following a number of questions from the Committee, the Chairman thanked Ms Song and Ms Lenneberg for their informative presentation.

11. RECOMMENDATION:

THAT COUNCIL NOTE THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ABOVE REPORT.ADOPTED

B COMMITTEE REPORT – BANK AND INVESTMENT REPORT – 1   MAY   2015 134/695/317/3-03

638/2014-1512. The Chief Financial Officer, Organisational Services provided the Committee with the monthly

summary of Council’s petty cash, bank account and cash investment position as at 1 May 2015.

13. During the April period, total Council funds held by banks and investments institutions (per general ledger) decreased by $74.3 million to $229.7 million excluding trusts (Ref:1.4). The net decrease is mainly due to Legacy Way payments, Fire Service Levy payments and QTC working capital repayments.

14. Council funds as at 1 May 2015 held by banks and investment institutions (per statements) totalled $240.5 million (Ref 2.4+3.1). The variance relates to timing differences between transactions recorded in the general ledger and those reflected in the bank statements.

15. Unreconciled bank receipts and payments relate to reconciliation variances at the end of the period. The majority of these transactions have since been reconciled.

16. Surplus funds are invested daily with approved counterparties.

17. The Chairman and the Committee noted the report.

18. The Bank and Investment Report for the period 1 May 2015 is presented for noting by Council.

19. RECOMMENDATION:

. THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE REPORT BE NOTED.ADOPTED

PRESENTATION OF PETITIONS:

Chairman: Councillors, are there any petitions?

Chairman: Councillor SIMMONS.

Councillor SIMMONS: Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. I have a petition here regarding a flying fox roost in the local area.

Chairman: Councillor MURPHY.

Councillor MURPHY: Madam Chairman, I table a petition on behalf of Councillor KNAPP about Jubilee Park and the lease to the Valley District Cricket Club.

Chairman: DEPUTY MAYOR.

DEPUTY MAYOR: I have a petition from residents of Charleton Street, Chandler about traffic matters.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 71 -

Chairman: Councillor GRIFFITHS.

Councillor GRIFFITHS: Yes. Thanks, Madam Chair. I have a petition in relation to lighting a bikeway at Yeronga and Moorooka.

Chairman: Councillor JOHNSTON.

Councillor JOHNSTON: Yes. I’m tabling a petition on behalf of Sherwood residents who are calling for traffic calming measures in Egmont Street, Sherwood.

Chairman: Any further petitions?

Councillor CUMMING: Madam Chair.

Chairman: Councillor CUMMING.

Councillor CUMMING: Yes. A petition in relation to seeking speed humps or chicanes on Esplanade, Lota, and an online petition in relation to the three storey and five storey issue and the 8.5 metre issue and some more paper petitions on that issue as well.

Chairman: Further petitions?

Chairman: Councillor MURPHY.

639/2014-15It was resolved on the motion of Councillor Ryan MURPHY, seconded by Councillor Victoria NEWTON, that the petitions as presented be received and referred to the Committee concerned for consideration and report.

The petitions were summarised as follows:

File No. Councillor TopicCA15/414394 Julian Simmonds Requesting the removal of a flying fox roost in Perrin

Park, Toowong.CA15/393589 Ryan Murphy Requesting that Council oppose the proposal to extend the

lease of Jubilee Park to the Valley District Cricket Club, reconfigure the oval to accommodate three cricket fields and build cricket nets in front of residences.

CA15/414159 Adrian Schrinner Requesting that Council take action to reduce rat running on Charleton Street, Chandler.

CA15/414504 Steve Griffiths Calling on Council to install lighting along the bikeway through Moolabin and Koala Parks.

CA15/414009 Nicole Johnston Calling on Council to prioritise and urgently fund promised traffic calming in Egmont Street, Sherwood.

CA15/413702 Peter Cumming Calling upon Council to install speed bumps or chicanes on Lota Esplanade, Bellevue Parade and Bowering Street, Lota.

CA15/402133 Peter Cumming Requesting that Council keep housing heights at 8.5 metres and reduce five storey developments to three storeys maximum in the Wynnum/Manly/Lota area.

CA15/405413 Peter Cumming Requesting that Council keep housing heights at 8.5 metres and reduce five storey developments to three storeys maximum in the Wynnum/Manly/Lota area.

GENERAL BUSINESS:

Chairman: Councillors are there any statements required as the result of a Councillor Conduct Review Panel order?

Chairman: Are the any matters of general business?

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 72 -

Chairman: Councillor MATIC.

Councillor MATIC: Thank you, Madam Chairman. I wish to speak on the development application for the residential high rise development, Grace on Coronation, on the former ABC site. Madam Chairman, yesterday the LORD MAYOR made the announcement in regards to this application and it went to Councillor COOPER's Neighbourhood Planning and Development Committee today. But I wanted to also just talk about the application itself from a local perspective.

Now, Madam Chairman, this site was identified in the Toowong-Auchenflower Neighbourhood Plan as both a landmark and catalyst site to accommodate buildings that attain city wide prominence through a combination of notable architecture, excellent siting and location. Now, at the time of the original neighbourhood planning process for the Toowong-Auchenflower Neighbourhood Plan, a broad consultation was conducted with the Ward and there was a number of different consultations that were done, surveys and so forth, that were undertaken by officers as part of that lengthy process.

But importantly also a consultative committee was established based on a variety of stakeholders within the community and that included residents, it included community leaders, business owners, representatives of community groups and representatives of sporting clubs and so forth. All of these people were involved in a process over a long period of time of obtaining their feedback and also providing an analysis around what was important in the local area and what needed to be addressed as far as the Toowong-Auchenflower Neighbourhood Plan and the priorities that we needed to look at.

Now, this lengthy process resulted in a neighbourhood plan that deal with the population growth requirements under the regional plan of the previous ALP State Government and it also dealt, Madam Chairman, again with the philosophy, if you like, of that regional plan around transit oriented developments (TODs), and the necessity to have high density development centred around transport nodes. So for the example in Toowong, we've got major rail, major busway and the CityCat as well. So in that regards, it ticked those boxes.

It also, Madam Chairman, looked at the ABC site and what could be achieved there, given that almost 15,000 square metres that was available, and how much of that needed to be allocated towards open space and public recreation. Because we need to remember, Madam Chairman, that the ABC site was in private ownership until 1956, upon which it was then sold to the Federal Government and the ABC was established there. That asset was then locked away for the purposes of both the television and radio work that was undertaken there.

In that site also, Madam Chairman, was a heritage listed property called Middenbury House that was also part of that process. Middenbury House was converted from residential property into both offices and broadcasting rooms for the use of the ABC. So from 1956 to current, there has been no accessibility by the general public to utilise any of that open space or even utilise Middenbury House for any type of community or open space purpose.

So, Madam Chair, the current application involves the construction of three residential towers, two of 24 levels and one of 27, containing 555, units and the rehabilitation and reuse of the heritage listed Middenbury House. Now, under this application, under that design, Madam Chair, there are specific outcomes that are of benefit to the local community. By being able to concentrate into three towers, they've been able to increase the public and accessible space to almost 60 per cent of the total site, which accounts for 8,868 square metres.

Now, that's important because prior to that solution, Madam Chairman, there was zero access to the site. Under the neighbourhood plan, you can achieve five different blocks at 15 storeys each, which only would have provided a minimum of 3,000 square metres. So under this calculation, Madam Chairman, you get more than doubling of what was allowed under the neighbourhood plan. Importantly also, this process opened up Middenbury House, because it will be

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 73 -

fully rehabilitated and open to the community as both a restaurant, a cafe, but also, importantly, as community space for local groups.

Also, Madam Chairman, as part of the outcome, there is a bike path that continues through there that provides an extra level of choice for the Bicentennial Bikeway users.

So overall what this development is doing is addressing the neighbourhood planning issues, addressing the future growth within our precinct, stimulating the economic growth through jobs and greater opportunities for residents and businesses in the local areas as a benefit of that population growth, providing that open space opportunity that is so vitally important, providing greater accessibility to the bikeway, and making sure that those needs are being met under transit oriented development processes.

It has been a lengthy process, Madam Chairman, but important also it is to note that it has been an interesting one as far as that ABC site is concerned. Now, in 2009 I undertook a petition of the general public in conjunction with the then-Federal member to petition the former Federal Government—to the Rudd Federal Government—to grant the land to the Council for the purposes of parkland and open space. The petition was presented in the Federal Parliament and a response was provided from the then-Federal Minister for Communications. The answer unfortunately was no.

They were wanting $44 million at the time for the sale of that site. That was something obviously that could not be justified in Council just for that one site. But you can see, Madam Chairman, the offer was there for it, but not taken up. Accordingly what I did then was continue to look for other open space opportunities within the Ward and was able to successful obtain Frew Park in due course or, at that time, the Milton Tennis Centre.

So, Madam Chairman, making sure that that land has been available in some form for the general public to enjoy has always been a priority, because it seem ironic to me that the ABC site in its form had somehow blocked the ability of people to use that space; for people to have access to the river; for people to enjoy that open space in proximity to the high concentration of commercial that already exists in Toowong seemed ironic. But, thankfully, now we have the opportunity to achieve that outcome.

Now, there are a number of things also, Madam Chairman, from the perspective of the community, that need to be addressed and have been addressed through this application. I’ve had a number of meetings with residents individually. I’ve gone to public meetings on this issue. Residents have conveyed their concerns and feedback around the very issues that this application addresses; about more open space; about making sure that we've got connectivity to the bikeway; about making sure the traffic issues are addressed getting in and out of Coronation Drive.

All of these things have been dealt with by the officers through this process to make sure that we achieve the outcomes of the neighbourhood plan, but we also achieve community benefit and outcomes in that space as well. So, Madam Chairman, this is, of course, coming up to Council next week but I thought it was important to at least clarify that the neighbourhood plan is working; that we are undertaking a process, Madam Chairman, that is managed and making sure that we are addressing—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

Councillor MATIC: —the concerns of local residents, but at the same time, Madam Chairman, addressing the needs of the regional plan, which the previous State—

Chairman: Order!

Councillor MATIC: —ALP Government set forth and set targets on all councils, Madam Chairman, and particularly high targets on us. But through that neighbourhood planning process, we're making sure that we're addressing the issues of TOD

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 74 -

development, our targets about growth, and doing it in a managed way to make sure that we get a balance for the local community and address the growth that our city already faces. Thank you.

Chairman: Further general business?

Chairman: Councillor GRIFFITHS.

Councillor GRIFFITHS: Yes. Thanks, Madam Chair. I rise to just inform the Chamber of just a couple of issues happening in Moorooka Ward or that have happened in Moorooka Ward and just to put them on the record. There's three. So one will be about a great partnership, the other one will be about Moorooka laneways and the third one will be my most important budget priority. The first one. We had the launch of a new playground in the Moorooka Lions Bicentennial Picnic Ground Park two weekends ago. I know Councillor JOHNSTON was there. Thank you for attending, Councillor JOHNSTON—and Graham Perrett, the Federal MP, was there.

It has been an 18-month project that I’ve been working on in partnership with the Moorooka Lions, Council and Deaf Services Queensland. It's a unique playground in Brisbane in that it caters for children with hearing impairments. Of course, it caters for other children as well. The playground is positioned adjacent to Deaf Services Queensland and is on Ipswich Road magic mile at Moorooka. People might ask, how is this playground different to other playgrounds that Council provides?

Well, for the kids that we're hoping will be using this playground, some of the key elements that we had to go for was to make it very visually appealing, so lots of colour, lots of sensory activities, lots of movement and we also had to choose equipment that didn’t interfere or provide static for young people or children who have implants. Hence, this playground has no slippery slide, because we couldn’t find a material that was appropriate for children that have a hearing impairment.

The playground picks up on the theme of the magic mile and it involves a lot of cars and trucks in the actual development of the playground and of, course, has a safety fence that abuts Ipswich Road. It was a huge success and it was successful from a number of points of view. Obviously, for Deaf Services Queensland, for the young people who use their facility and get training at their facility to be able to go over and use that park.

It was also great in terms of me being able to use my—the Ward trust fund, liability fund or—not liability fund, but the fund that we have for paths and footpaths towards doing this activity, but then it was able to be complemented by a $30,000 input from Moorooka Lions. That enabled us to do a bit more of an extension to that activity. Moorooka Lions was pleased to come on board with that, because they were celebrating their 50 years of work in the suburb.

So we actually launched it. It was the day after we’d had had a big meal and a bit of a night out for Moorooka Lions to recognise what they've given to the local community there. It's extremely popular. I love driving past every day and seeing the number of kids who are using it, and hopefully we can build on the recreational opportunities down in that park and make it even better. My second point is to talk about the inaugural Moorooka Laneways Festival. We received some extra money for putting this festival on.

Our target with this particular festival was really bringing together the multicultural community, or particularly the African Sudanese community—the refugee community with the broader community of Moorooka. The festival builds on a festival we used to do at Moorooka called the Moorooka Festival, where we used to close off Beaudesert Road. To close off Beaudesert Road now would be quite a feat. To close it off then was costing $15,000 and just wasn't viable. So now we've moved into the laneways and to the shopping arcades around Moorooka.

It's interesting the number of African businesses there, Middle Eastern businesses, and the items that they sell. Being able to go into these businesses

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 75 -

and to be able to try food and coffee from other parts of the world is fantastic. Certainly, the event was very popular. I enjoyed the fact that we had so many people from the western suburbs there and we also had people from West End coming along to check it out. It certainly had a lot of music that was obviously world music, but then we had a bit of a twang with country and also with a bit of rock.

It certainly was a good showcase of businesses and services in the area and, as I said before, of some of the food and treats that you can get in the area. One of the highlights for me—we worked with Acacia Ridge and Districts Community Centre to put this festival on and they work with a number of people who are on temporary protection visas who aren’t able to work or access services in our city.

The number of those people who are down at Acacia Ridge and Districts Community Centre decided to put on a fashion parade. So they actually prepared the clothing and organised the fashion parade and it just highlighted the amount of talent that is in that community and that those people can bring to our city. I look forward to supporting this festival in the future. It's certainly about revival of the shopping centre there and it sort of highlights the fact that I believe Moorooka is a bit of an up-and-coming West End or I like to think a bit of a hipster hub.

My last thing is just to talk about—

Councillors interjecting.

Councillor GRIFFITHS: Too far? No, it's not, it's not. One day I'll tell you about the Chrome Street Festival, but that will be a little bit down the track.

The last thing is I would like to talk about the budget and look, my main item for the budget is the Coopers Plains rail crossing. Why the Coopers Plains rail crossing? Why should Council be involved in putting, I believe, half the funding towards this crossing? It's because the RACQ have identified it as the worst rail crossing in Brisbane. Residents and business have identified it as the worst rail crossing for them, with 15 to 20 minute waits.

Train drivers working with an organisation called TrackSAFE, have identified it in the top 10 worst crossings in Brisbane and they are train drivers who have been affected by trauma due to crashes or deaths on railways. Finally, the LNP, the previous member for Sunnybank and also the Transport Minister had identified it, in the dying days of the LNP, as an important crossing that should be done.

The LORD MAYOR and the LNP—and it's disappointing to hear the DEPUTY MAYOR say that it's a State issue, even though they were able to fund two rail crossings on the north side—the LORD MAYOR and his team have increased density around the area. There's potential for 10 storey buildings and, knowing how this organisation works, they'll be 20 storeys. So we already have agreed to congestion. We're charging infrastructure charges but we're not putting in money to infrastructure.

I know there's a $1.4 billion tunnel we're doing for the western suburbs, a $700 million tunnel or road project is planned for Hamilton, even though we know that the traffic using that road has actually dropped over the last 10 years. Where we need to put some money into congestion spots is in the suburbs and this is one of the main ones in the southern suburbs. People in the southern suburbs are sick of being ignored, they're sick of watching other areas of the city get congestion, they're sick of the LNP's attitude to no resources in terms of congestion and they're not going away.

So I will continue to fight for that. It's a crossing we need. It should be done, and we should be doing it in partnership with the State Government. Thank you Madam Chair.

Chairman: Further general business?

Chairman: Councillor MURPHY.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 76 -

Councillor MURPHY: Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. I rise to talk about the Eastern Busway, Madam Chairman. Now Councillor SCHRINNER has talked a little bit about the Eastern Busway recently, but I want all Councillors to know that Councillor SCHRINNER does not have a monopoly on talking about the Eastern Busway. This project is just as important to my residents as it is to his.

Now, Madam Chairman, the Eastern Busway is important to the outer Brisbane suburbs I represent, especially those outer Brisbane suburbs of Ransome, Wakerley and Gumdale and, Madam Chairman, while I'm at it, I also put those suburbs up as potential new hipster suburbs, Madam Chairman. I spotted a gentleman with a beard there the other day, so they are up and coming hipster suburbs. Look, it's important because the Eastern Busway will reduce travel time to those suburbs, Madam Chairman. But importantly, it will also have great benefits in more built up area in my Ward, particularly around Carina, where the public transport frequency is actually quite good, but the travel times along Old Cleveland Road corridor do leave a lot to be desired these days.

Now Councillor SCHRINNER raised the issue of the Eastern Busway in the other week in general business and Councillor DICK couldn't help himself. He got up and he ranted and he raved and he said, Councillor SCHRINNER has remained silent for every single day the LNP State Government was elected on the Eastern Busway. He said, we never heard any calls for the LNP State Government to fund this project. We never heard the LORD MAYOR or one LNP Councillor speak about this. Madam Chairman, there's a very good reason that no LNP Councillor spoke about this, it's because the State Government had a plan to actually build the thing. They had a plan to build it.

Madam Chairman, I'll quote from the South East Advertiser, 21 January 2015: “LNP pledge $50 million to upgrade Old Cleveland Road and Labor calls for investment in bus services.”

Let's quote the whole story into the Hansard: “The LNP has promised a $50 million upgrade of Old Cleveland Road if it claims victory in the State election. The upgrade would cut seven minutes off commutes for more than 54,000 cars which use Old Cleveland Road each day. The proposed upgrade would include widening Old Cleveland Road between the intersections of Cavendish and Creek Roads. The project would require the median strips and tram tracks, which have not been used since the 1960s, to be removed. Mr Minnikin estimated the project would take 15 months to complete. He said no homes would be resumed to complete the upgrade. Labor candidate for Chatsworth, Paul Keene, said his party's focus was on improving bus services and public transport.”

Councillor interjecting.

Councillor MURPHY: I don't know, just a motherhood statement, I guess, Councillor SCHRINNER. Now look, it is true that the proposal that the LNP put forward was actually not the Eastern Busway; it was a scaled back proposal called the Eastern TransitWay, but importantly, Madam Chairman, it was something. It was something to address the issue of congestion along that corridor.

Councillors interjecting.

Councillor MURPHY: Well, Councillor—I take the interjection from Councillor DICK. It was announced nine days before the election. Well at least it was announced. At least it was announced before the election. All you announced was motherhood statements; not a single project for the eastern suburbs.

Madam Chairman, finally the commuters of Belmont and Tingalpa, of Gumdale and Wakerley would have some busway investment to the outer suburbs. But of course, sadly, the LNP did not win the State election and the future of the Eastern TransitWay is now in doubt. The State's 2015-16 Budget is a chance for the State Government to confirm that this funding is still on the table and this project will now proceed.

Now you don’t think this would be a particularly controversial proposition to have the Eastern TransitWay, given how the Labor Party love to crow that

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 77 -

they're the friend of public transport; they're the ones that invest in public transport.

Here's what the Deputy Premier of the Palaszczuk/Gordon Government, Jackie Trad, said in 2012 before the election: The Minister for Transport and Main Roads’ recent announcement that he would strip funding out of Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program has put at risk $182 million in critical capital funding for busway projects, including $10 million in critical maintenance on the South East Busway, Eastern Busway and Inner Northern Busway; $23 million to extend the South East Busway to Rochedale, $39 million in planning and land purchases for the extension of the Northern Busway from Kedron to Bracken Ridge, $110 million for the construction of the busway station at Carindale, as well as busway approaches. The Premier and the Minister cannot spin these facts and the record speaks for itself. Only Labor can deliver public transport infrastructure like the new Northern Busway.

That's what she said, Madam Chairman, in Parliament before the election. You could be forgiven for thinking that their policy after the election would be to at least commit to funding the very modest Eastern TransitWay that the LNP took to the State election, or at least to outline their approach to build their favoured rolled gold Eastern Busway solution that they talked so much about, but never build past Stones Corner.

So what happened when that same Deputy Premier was asked a Dorothy Dixer about the Eastern Busway in Parliament just three weeks ago? “I thank the Honourable Member for the question, I do know that the Member for Greenslopes is a very strong advocate for increased infrastructure, particularly public transport infrastructure in his local community of Greenslopes. He has come to see me about a number of issues, including of course the Eastern Busway which is a project that was commenced by the former Labor Government but was swiftly axed by those opposite when they came to power. Last week's Federal budget had not one dollar for public infrastructure”, and then for the next five minutes, it's just blah, blah, blah, talking about how the Federal Government's not going to give them the money they need to get on with the project.

So it was all political spin and, Madam Chairman, not a single outline of how they plan to progress the Eastern Busway. She was happy to be on the record before the election as the best friend of public transport, but as soon as they got after the election, they vacated the space when it comes to public transport and the Eastern Busway.

Madam Chairman, I have a feeling that this trend will continue, because we know that the Palaszczuk/Gordon Government doesn't have a single plan to repair the State's finances; to get them under control so that they can be able to afford these important projects for our city. Madam Chairman, say what you will about the asset sales, say what you will about the election result, but the facts of the matter are that only the LNP had a credible, funded plan to build the Eastern TransitWay. Labor only have spin and excuses. We know that the focus—

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Councillor DICK.

Councillor MURPHY: We know that the focus of the Treasurer isn't on funding public transport investments, on propping up the unity faction and having little factional fights in the plumbing union, it's anything but the Eastern Busway, Madam Chairman.

So look, I thank Councillor SCHRINNER for his continued focus on getting funding for the Eastern Busway. I thank Councillor SCHRINNER for continuing to bring it to the attention—and also Mark Robinson MP, the member for Cleveland, who is sponsoring a petition in State Parliament that now has approaching 1,000 signatures on it. So Madam Chairman, I commend the work of Councillor SCHRINNER and I will continue to ensure that the Eastern

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 78 -

Busway project is kept in the public eye and is kept at the forefront of funding decisions made by the current State Government.

Chairman: Further general business?

Chairman: Councillor JOHNSTON.

Councillor JOHNSTON: Thank you, Madam Chairman. I rise tonight to speak on a number of local issues in Tennyson Ward and there's quite a few. Firstly, I want to congratulate the Fairfield Writers Group. I was privileged their fourth anthology on the weekend, called Crime Stories. These are a wonderful group of local residents who are very creative and they get together monthly in Fairfield Library and every year they publish a book. This year's is really quite interesting. It is very crime focused; there's some quite controversial stories in there, some drawn from current events, some more Agatha Christie style, but I just want to congratulate the Fairfield Writers Group, they're a wonderful group of people of all ages and I was privileged to launch Crime Stories for them on Saturday.

It is fete season; it is my favourite time of year between May and October. It's just a bonanza in Tennyson Ward. We have about a dozen fetes and they are all different, they're all fantastic, and we're off with a bang. So far we've had Junction Park State School Boombah, which was amazing. We've had Sherwood State School's Mothers' Day fete and we on the weekend had Yeronga State School's fete, which used to be a bush dance, but now is kind of a multicultural food thing and there were fireworks on the weekend. So I hope all schools do really well this year with their fetes. The next one coming up is Christ the King on 14 June at Graceville and I encourage all of the Councillors to come along to that one. Then we'll have Joey's and then we'll have Corinda State School and so on and so on.

I just want to say that I know that parent groups, the parents and citizens, and the fete committees work very hard to put fetes on. It's a year-long organising activity for them. I know, as a community member, I love going to them. I spend heaps of money at the cake stall and the jam stalls and generally have a fantastic day. So, well done to all the schools so far this year who have put on their fetes.

I also want to thank all of my schools for participating in the National Walk Safely to School Day event a couple of weeks ago. We did have a competition amongst Tennyson Ward schools and of those that reported in their stats, particularly on that day, Junction Park State School, who were the golden boot winner for overall city wide last year, 84 per cent of their children walked to school. Now that's astonishing. Sixty-eight per cent of students at Graceville School walked to school. Now Graceville is a huge school; there's 900 kids there. So they had almost 600 children walking to school. It was a fantastic result.

We had a big walking bus at Corinda State School, 130 children in the walking bus. Christ the King had about 60 per cent of students walking and whilst I don't have any numbers from Yeronga State School, they had a conga line and there were three of them; one from near the bike shop on Fairfield Road; one from Yeronga Memorial Park and one from the 7-Eleven on Ipswich Road. So I think they were quite a sight. So, I just want to congratulate all the schools in my Ward who are doing wonderful things with active school travel. It is fantastic community spirit around that program which is a very positive one.

I too was part of the Red Shield Appeal over the last few weeks and I particularly want to acknowledge the hard work. We did a barbecue at Bunnings on Saturday and sold out. We were down to selling brown bread sausages, because that's all we had left. I think it was a fantastic event. Something new we tried from a fundraising point of view and I just want to thank Narelle, Sue and the team at the Salvation Army; we've had another successful appeal this year.

We've had a range of events and I must put on the record my apologies to Saia Fainga'a who is a Queensland Reds player. I was delighted to—I hope I've pronounced that correctly now, because I was delighted to host the Taylor Bridge Rugby Club Women in Rugby event a few weeks ago and Saia was the guest speaker and I did pronounce his name as Sia, clearly not being much of a

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 79 -

rugby person myself and that was pointed out to me afterwards. He is a very gracious young man. He spoke brilliantly about how important his mother and his grandmother were in getting him to this elite level of sport where he and his twin brother represent Australia as well as the Queensland Reds. He's been out with injury but is due back on the field soon and I certainly wish him well and I want to congratulate the Taylor Bridge rugby ladies for a fantastic event.

Moorooka Lions' 50th. I too attended the Moorooka Lions' 50 th anniversary dinner two weekends ago with Councillor GRIFFITHS and Mark Bailey, the State member for Yeerongpilly. Moorooka Lions are tireless community champions in my Ward and in Councillor GRIFFITHS'. I find that they are so reliable, so helpful, there's nothing that's too much trouble. They are a big part of the heart and soul of my Ward and I particularly want to acknowledge their extraordinary record of public service over the past 50 years. We did have a wonderful event; there was dancing. They had a lot of wonderful historical photos and I do believe it was a lovely night. I just want to say congratulations to the Moorooka Lions for their distinguished service to my local community and to the Moorooka Ward over the past 50 years.

In saying that, I would like to pass on my congratulations for their contribution to the new playground and to Councillor GRIFFITHS. It is right on our boundary and it is a fantastic playground and Yeerongpilly residents will certainly benefit from that. So thank you, it looks fantastic and certainly encourage everyone to use it.

Finally, I just want to mention, and I know this is ongoing issue, but litter around Ipswich Road has been a big problem. Councillor GRIFFITHS has described it to me as confetti. Now that's the only thing I can say about it, based on what I saw on the weekend, being down in that part of Rocklea that is our shared border. It is embarrassing that this Council allows main roads, like this, to be covered in litter. It's absolutely covered in litter. I noticed they mowed the grass, finally, down on the service road, and all you could see was litter spread out like confetti. My understanding it is part of our service contracts with the mowers that they either pick the rubbish up, or they report it in to Council.

So I will be following up, Council McLACHLAN, with you on Tuesday about this, because it is not happening. In my view, it is just extremely poor service that this litter is being left all over main roads in our area and it should not be happening. It just shows that those cuts to waste collection, drainage; they do have a real impact in our neighbourhoods and I'm very disappointed that there isn't a better process for picking up litter. If we mow these areas, I'll be interested to find out whether the contracts have changed; maybe this was the savings, because I've been told repeatedly that they should be picking up the litter. They are not doing it and it needs to be done. It's not good enough, Madam Chairman.

With that, I'll just say, I know the LORD MAYOR earlier today in question time thought I should put my position on the record about the Oxley Road upgrade. It is on the record. I went to the election with a policy in 2012 and I'll go, I think, with the same policy in 2016. It's on my website, it's in all of my publications and if the LNP had not done their research on what I think should happen, Madam Chairman, well that just reflects very poorly on them.

The big problem I have, of course, is the Queensland Ombudsman recommended that this Council release its report into Oxley Road, called the South West Corridor Study. There is a report, there are recommendations and this Administration is hiding its plans for the upgrade of Oxley Road. This is the second most congested road in South East Queensland and will continue that way for the foreseeable future. It's fascinating that this Council is investing money in other roads that are less congested all around the city and yet there is no plans, as you've heard from the LORD MAYOR today, to do anything with Oxley Road and the report they do have, they're hiding away because they don't want anyone to know.

So I'm appalled, Madam Chairman, that he wants to criticise me when my position is very clearly on the record and I don't think it is good enough that on

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 80 -

these local issues that the LORD MAYOR is doing nothing. He's certainly not a LORD MAYOR for all of Brisbane, as far as I can see. The south side comes second constantly, whether it's drainage or roads or parks or whatever it might be and it's certainly not good enough, Madam Chairman, to see the state of drainage, litter and those sorts of service activities that Council should be delivering.

Chairman: Further general business?

Chairman: DEPUTY MAYOR.

DEPUTY MAYOR: Yes, Madam Chairman, I rise to speak about public transport in the eastern suburbs and the proposed Eastern Busway and Eastern TransitWay projects. Councillors will recall I spoke recently in the Chamber about the history of the Eastern Busway and went through that detailed history starting back in the 1990s when it was first proposed and then progressively outlined what had happened to the project until it came to a screeching halt under the Bligh Government.

I mentioned the statements made by the then-Transport Minister, Annastacia Palaszczuk, claiming that the busway was not a priority for them at that stage and that was in 2011. Then subsequently a couple of—the year later when the new LNP Government was elected, their efforts to get a more cost effective project approved, and that was called the Eastern TransitWay.

So Councillors obviously would recall the history that I mentioned in the last speech that I gave in this place. I have had a number of discussions, though, with members of the community and I've seen the debate that's been going on about whether we should be investing in busways or whether we should be investing in some other form of public transport. There are a lot of people who are very passionate about rail and there are a lot of people who are also very passionate about light rail as well, in other words, trams. Many of those people would suggest that it's not effective to invest in buses or busways and that you should only be spending money on rail.

I wanted to address that question tonight because it is a very important question for our city. I have mentioned before in this place the number of trips that have been taken on the train network across South East Queensland per year and the fact that there are many, many more trips taken on buses across the South East Queensland region. I've had those figures confirmed.

Across South East Queensland there's currently about 47 million trips a year being taken on the City Network. So that's the whole South East Queensland City Network. There are 75 million trips a year being taken on Council buses. So, that's just the Brisbane City Council buses; 75 million compared to 47 million across the entire train network. If you add in the other bus companies that operate in South East Queensland, it is quite clear that bus transport blows rail transport way out of the water. There are far more trips being taken each year on buses and that explains why we need to invest both in rail infrastructure and bus infrastructure. Buses are doing the lion's share of the public transport task in Brisbane and South East Queensland and they deserve support.

So, I was looking around for some research on the benefits of busways and a report came to my attention that was presented to the 2009 national conference of the Australian Transport Research Forum. This report is titled Measuring the Benefits of the South East Busway. So this is talking about the existing busway that runs along the Southeast Freeway and measuring the benefits and it reveals some absolutely fascinating results. They conducted a thorough evaluation of the South East Busway and they determined—if you look on page 10 of the report which talks about the findings of this Australian Transport Research Forum presentation, it highlights just how beneficial busways are for the transport network and it says the following, and I'll quote from the report: “Busways deliver higher public transport use. The South East Busway has outperformed the rest of Brisbane's bus network with 20 per cent patronage growth from 2005 to 2006 compared with 12 per cent on the rest of the Brisbane

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 81 -

transport network. This clearly highlights that the busway can be a catalyst for delivering higher than average increase in use of public transport.”

It also goes on to say: “Busways are an efficient use of space. The busway carries up to 12,400 passengers per hour each way during peak times. A general lane of traffic can only carry approximately 2,000 people per hour, making busways an efficient way to move high volumes of people.”

Now this will blow your mind: “If all passengers travelling into the CBD on buses via the South East Busway were travel by car, seven additional inbound lanes of traffic would be needed on the Captain Cook Bridge to cater for the demand.”

Just think about that for a second. If the busway did not exist, the South East Busway, seven additional inbound lanes of traffic would be required to cater for peak travel demand.

Councillors interjecting.

DEPUTY MAYOR: It also goes on to say: “busways provide—

Chairman: Order!

DEPUTY MAYOR: —“fast, frequent and reliable travel. Busways can carry commuters at 60 to 80 kilometres per hour, which is generally more than twice the speed of general traffic during peak times.”

It goes on to say: “Busways can service a broad geographic area. The benefit of a busway is that it can be delivered to a broad catchment as buses can enter and exit the busway at various locations to serve residential and commercial areas away from the busway.”

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

DEPUTY MAYOR: “Around 80 per cent of passenger movements are from suburban areas not adjacent to the busway.”

So we've got a piece of infrastructure here that is servicing a massive catchment, not just those living close to the busway. It talks about busways delivering environmental benefits and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It says here: A half-full bus, around 30 passengers, produces around four times less CO2 emissions per person trip than an equivalent car trip. If you have a full bus, obviously those figures improve significantly.

It talks about the economic benefits of busways. The 2007 value of travel time savings for busway passengers during peak periods is estimated at $130 million annually. As congestion worsens on the road network the value of these travel time savings will be even greater.

If you have a look at further results here, it talks about the travel time savings in terms of minutes. The busway provides a travel time saving of 18.1 minutes for bus trips via the South East Busway, as opposed to an alternative route. We've seen here that the trip from Eight Mile Plains to the city, if you took a car, would be—along the Southeast Freeway that is—would be 31 minutes. If you took the busway, it would be just 22 minutes or as quick as 19 minutes, depending on the different service that you use.

It mentions here the number of private vehicle trips removed from the road network and that is 90,000 private vehicle trips removed from the road network on an average weekday; 90,000 cars taken off the road per day by the South East Busway. So anyone that suggests that busways are a waste of money or not an efficient investment of funds, needs to really have a good think about the figures and read some of the reports that are available. They are a good investment; they are an investment that should be made in our city.

We should invest across the modes; we should definitely continue to invest in rail and there is no doubt that that is a requirement as well and something that needs to happen, but busways are a legitimate form of public transport

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 82 -

infrastructure. They move massive numbers of people, they reduce congestion, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they provide major time saving to travellers and they deserve the support of the State Government.

So, I will continue to advocate for the importance of projects like the Eastern Busway or the Eastern TransitWay. The interesting thing is that based on the evaluation conducted by Infrastructure Australia, the Eastern TransitWay, which was a scaled down version of the Eastern Busway, delivered, and I quote: “The results suggest that the project is likely to lead to net benefits which is in line with the results provided for the higher cost Eastern Busway proposal.”

So, Infrastructure Australia, the Federal infrastructure body that assesses projects right around the country, is saying that the Eastern TransitWay project, although being a much lower cost solution, can deliver similar benefits to the Eastern Busway. That is for a price tag of a fraction of the cost of the busway.

So, what I am simply saying is this. I know the State Government doesn’t have a lot of money. I know that the people in office at the moment spent the State's wealth when they were in office for 14 years and now they are left with the consequences of their own actions. But, having said that, we don't have to spend billions of dollars on the Eastern Busway; there can be a much lower cost and more affordable solution provided and there is no excuse for not doing that. So, the State Government may make excuses about why they cannot afford the Eastern Busway, but there are no excuses about why they cannot afford the Eastern TransitWay.

Chairman: Thank you DEPUTY MAYOR.

Chairman: Further general business?

Chairman: Councillor SUTTON.

Councillor SUTTON: Thank you, Madam Chair, I rise tonight to talk about a number of issues, including the Eastern Busway, the Wynnum Road upgrade, the Bulimba Barracks and the University of Queensland (UQ) master plan and the general inconsistency about the LNP in Council when it comes to all of these issues.

Madam Chair, quite frankly I can't quite really believe what I've heard from Councillor MURPHY and Councillor SCHRINNER tonight. They seemed to have, overnight, had this conversion to be public transport advocates; something that they have never been in their years in this job, and you only have to look at the financial allocations in each and every Council budget since they've been in control of the process back to 2004, to look at how much money they have actually allocated to public transport infrastructure, compared to how much they have allocated to building tunnels in this city to actually see the evidence of that.

I quite frankly can't believe that Councillor SCHRINNER can be such an advocate for public transport when it comes to the Eastern Busway corridor, yet criticise Councillor ABRAHAMS and I for asking for bus lanes as part of the Wynnum Road upgrade. There is a fundamental inconsistency there in terms of his approach. They are all over the place, Madam Chair. They don't know if they're Arthur or Martha. It depends on what side of the bed they get out of every day as to whether or not they are pro-public transport or anti-it, Madam Chair.

I don’t mind that Councillor SCHRINNER and Councillor MURPHY are now all of a sudden advocating for a good public transport solution along the Old Cleveland Road corridor. In fact, I support that. I actually support better public transport services and a better public transport route along that Eastern Busway corridor and Old Cleveland Road; fully, whole heartedly, have my support on that.

However, it would be nice to get a bit of consistency and it would be nice to see the LORD MAYOR and Councillor SCHRINNER come to the party, realising and keeping faith with their newfound love of public transport, and put dedicated bus lanes on the Wynnum Road upgrade at least in the peak hour. Because, as we saw in the South East Advertiser this week, and as I have said

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 83 -

time and time again, both out in the community and here in this place, it is not acceptable that it takes over an hour and 10 minutes to get from Bulimba to the CBD in a bus. It is unacceptable. What kind of public transport service standards or key productivity indicators does that meet?

I'd ask Councillor SCHRINNER to stand up here today and say that he thinks that's an acceptable level of service for public transport on that particular corridor. If he won't do it, I’d ask Councillor MATIC, as chair of the Public and Active Transport Committee, if he thinks an hour and 10 minutes from a suburb that is five kilometres from the CBD, to take an hour and 10 minutes to get to the CBD is acceptable. I wait for that. I wait for that from them, because if they don't think that's acceptable, the only solution, the only solution, is for Councillor SCHRINNER to take his newfound love of public transport and apply it to the Wynnum Road upgrade.

If he is to have any credibility, any ounce of credibility on his advocacy for the Eastern Busway corridor and the public transport solutions on that route, he needs to put his money where his mouth is and apply it to the Wynnum Road corridor, like myself and Councillor ABRAHAMS have been advocating for quite some time now.

Now these veiled threats about the scare campaign they want to try to run against me in my local community. Put your money where your mouth is and actually invest in public transport infrastructure on the Wynnum Road corridor where you've already got a project funded and planned.

Moving along, another point of LNP hypocrisy in place was the example we saw last week in the Committee, and today in the Council, on the UQ master plan and how terrible it is; how terrible it is for UQ to come out and do a master plan with no consultation with the local community and how dreadful it is to master plan. Yet you have a 20 hectare site sitting at Bulimba that is going to cause even more traffic congestion on Hawthorne and Riding Roads, and the Wynnum Road corridor, yet they won't master plan it.

I have asked them to master plan it. I have asked them. I have asked them to do it and I get nothing, zilch, zero, nothing; no commitment. That is why I'm really pleased to hear that Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has written to the LORD MAYOR asking him to work with the Palaszczuk Government, to work with the State Government, to make sure there is a proper plan for the Bulimba Barracks. I say thank you to Jackie Trad and I say thank you to State member for Bulimba, Di Farmer. You can be sure about one thing, we wouldn’t have got that outcome if we still had Campbell Newman and Aaron Dillaway in those positions. But I thank the State Labor Government for putting the challenge to Brisbane City Council to be a partner in planning for this significant piece of land that is going to be up for sale very, very shortly by the Federal Government. I thank them for trying to engage in a proper planning process for my local community.

My challenge to Councillor COOPER and to the LORD MAYOR is to accept the Deputy Premier's offer to work together to master plan this site because I know their current approach. The current approach they have indicated, that is acceptable to them, is to let the developer decide what goes there. Their position is to just wait until the development application is lodged with no planning parameters and we will consider the application on its merits.

For me, that just says Toowong mark-two is a very real potential if Councillor COOPER and Councillor QUIRK are left to do what they want in terms of managing the planning for this Bulimba Barracks site. So once again, I thank Deputy Premier Jackie Trad for making that approach to Brisbane City Council. I thank the local State Member for Bulimba, Di Farmer, for advocating so hard to make sure that offer was made and my challenge to the LORD MAYOR and Councillor COOPER is to accept that offer of partnership, bipartisan partnership, to make sure we get a good outcome for Bulimba and the surrounding suburbs that are going to be massively impacted by this development.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 84 -

Chairman: Further general business?

Chairman: Councillor DICK.

Councillor DICK: Thank you, Madam Chair. I rise to speak on the LNP hypocrisy and when it comes to delivery of infrastructure. Look, Madam Chair, well, well, well. I cannot stand by and listen, on behalf of the rate payers of Brisbane, to the utter hypocrisy of the LNP, particularly when it comes to busways. So look, I want to be very simple in my language. I want to be very simple in my language.

We've had an LNP State Government which, unfortunately, the people of Queensland had to suffer through and we've had previous Labor Governments. So I'd just like to do a quick tally; who's built busways. Who's delivered busways and who hasn't. So I was listening to the debate today and the LORD MAYOR's been here 30 years, so he knows what I'm saying is accurate because his Ward, as an alderman and as a Councillor, saw the delivery of these South East Busway, which runs along the freeway, which every day buses travel along. Those north side Councillors now, about the Northern Busway that was built as well. Councillor FLESSER knows about that as well. Of course, the residents in the inner east know about the Eastern Busway.

So, just in random terms, it's pretty clear that when it comes to delivery of public transport infrastructure, it is the Labor Party that has delivered infrastructure. I mean, that cannot be denied. That is a statement of fact. Councillor MURPHY, I thought perhaps for a moment he thought he was at a young LNP convention, but actually no, he was standing here in the Brisbane City Council saying that the last Government—still defending asset sales right to the bitter end, drinking the Kool-Aid right to the end. Absolutely defending their lord and master, that failed experiment, The Newman experiment, which was a colossal failure which led to, I may add, the worst electoral defeat for a first term Government in Australia's history.

But oh no, Councillor MURPHY is right; the people of Queensland are wrong, they're wrong.

Councillors interjecting.

Councillor DICK: Yes, that's fine, that's fine. So then I put a challenge out last week and they've had all week. The 60 people in the LORD MAYOR's office, the 100 people in the communications team, I thought when, I made the statement last week, where were all the times that the LNP have called for the Eastern Busway to be delivered in the last term of the State Government? I thought they would have rushed in, they would have listed petitions, they would have had the speeches, they would have had the media clippings. They only thing, the only evidence, apparently, of this Council, the reason why they didn't say a peep during the term of the LNP Government was because nine days before the State election, in a desperate attempt to hold onto the seats for another failure, Ian Kaye, the Member for Greenslopes, they ran out and said, look I know we've been in Government three years, I know we promised all these things, but we're going to build it, we're going to build it; days out from an election.

Councillors interjecting.

Councillor DICK: Days out from an election. So trust us, trust us. Of course, the people of Queensland didn't trust the LNP because the LNP at a State level broke the trust and I will not be lectured by anyone inside the LNP. One of the first actions of the LNP State Government was to scrap the Inner Northern Busway final plan. So do not, through you, Madam Chair, do not come into this place and ever lecture on public transport infrastructure because your party has a dismal failure. Look, if you want to get up now, I will sit down if you can list all the busways that you built in your term. Just, if you wanted to do that, I will yield the floor. But you can't because you are busway deniers. You simply don't deliver, except nine days out from election in marginal seats. That's the only time that you'll do it.

So I can't let today's effort by the DEPUTY MAYOR, particularly in his round-the-world speech, where he picked up on my theme and questioned today

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 85 -

about the BaT tunnel. Somehow in listening to the LORD MAYOR, once again the people of Queensland were wrong who rejected the asset sales. They were all wrong and now apparently senior Government ministers, in the former Government, who've now confessed that the BaT tunnel was never going to be built.

Now we know that because your own party, not anyone from the Labor Party, not anyone from the public service, members of your own Government. Now, it could have been members of the LNP Council. We don't know, but I suspect it was. Now when they're finally released from the shackles of the tyranny of Campbell Newman, that they can speak the truth and of course the truth is the BaT tunnel was a fantasy; it was made up. You went along with a con job to the people of Brisbane and you allocated $1 million just to try and help Campbell Newman get elected.

The BaT tunnel was never going to be built and, I quote, from your own administrators in the last Government: “Even if the LNP had won January State election, the much vaunted $5 billion bat tunnel project was doomed and would have been dumped during its second term in power.”

So we know that the project never had any money allocated. We know that it didn't stack up. But oh no, there was Councillor Graham QUIRK, the LORD MAYOR, the glamour boy, Scott Emerson, the Transport Minister. You've got all of those local State members who all fell apart; Cavallucci, all those other failures that were rejected by the community. Those losers that were pushed out by the community, all standing there conning people because it was a big, fat con. We used to hear about the big, fat cheque from Campbell Newman. Well this was the big, fat con.

So the people of Queensland were smart enough to see all through that spin; to see all through the nonsense and then what's worse is Councillor SCHRINNER is now—he's found, like the road to Damascus—He's now turned around, after remaining silent as a lamb during the term of the LNP State Government, and during the silence of the Abbott Government, denying any dollars to Queensland. All of a sudden now it is Annastacia Palaszczuk's fault.

Councillors interjecting.

Councillor DICK: So all of a sudden it's her fault, but we didn't say anything about it. We didn't raise it because we knew nine days out from an election another cynical spin was going to be released and that's all you get from the LNP; the BaT tunnel, which was a big con job on the people of Brisbane and the southeast corner and now we've seen this smoke and mirror trick by the LNP at this level.

Madam Chair, the people of Brisbane and Queensland are sick to the back teeth of the LNP spin. But more importantly, they're sick to the back teeth of the LNP not delivering the infrastructure that they need to make this city, and to make this State, great.

Chairman: Further general business?

Chairman: LORD MAYOR.

LORD MAYOR: Thanks very much, Madam Chairman. I rise under general business to speak on matter regarding the Bulimba Barracks land. Madam Chairman, Councillor SUTTON spoke a little earlier and she spoke in relation to a letter that the Deputy Premier had sent to me. Madam Chairman, let's be very clear as to how this arose. I had a private conversation with Councillor SUTTON and I hope to be able to have private conversations with Councillors of both sides of this Chamber at different times, Madam Chairman, That is, I think, a good system and a good way for things to work.

Now, Madam Chairman, out of that conversation Councillor SUTTON has decided to take the things that I might have said to her and run a political campaign around it.

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Councillor SUTTON. You do not have the floor. Remain quiet.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 86 -

LORD MAYOR: Councillor SUTTON, I'll tell you why it's true; because there is a statement in the letter from the Deputy Premier which could only be attributed to the conversation that I had with you and you alone. That is—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: That is the statement, Madam Chairman, in the Deputy Premier's letter—

Councillors interjecting.

LORD MAYOR: —where she says, I understand—

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: —you are not convinced of the need for this, that being a joint master plan arrangement for the precinct. So, Madam Chairman, can I just say that if we're going to be using those conversations for—

Councillor interjecting.

LORD MAYOR: Well, Councillor SUTTON, you are the only person I have had this conversation with. So don’t say to me, no.

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: Don't say to me, no—

Councillors interjecting.

Councillor SUTTON: Point of order, Madam Chair.

LORD MAYOR: —because that is the facts of the matter.

Chairman: Point of order. LORD MAYOR, just a moment.

Chairman: Yes, Councillor SUTTON.

Councillor SUTTON: Point of order, Madam Chair. Either I claim to be misrepresented—

Chairman: No, you don't.

Councillor SUTTON: Well, Madam Chair, there has been—

Chairman: Councillor SUTTON.

Councillor SUTTON: —multiple occasions where he has been publically asked—

Chairman: Councillor SUTTON, resume your seat.

Councillor SUTTON: —to support a master plan—

Chairman: Resume your seat.

Councillor SUTTON: —and he hasn't done it.

Chairman: Just because—Councillor SUTTON. Just because you do not like what is being said does not give you the right to jump up and say whatever you like, nor retort back to me.

LORD MAYOR: Madam Chairman, there has been no occasion where I have been asked publically would I support a master plan on that site. We had a debate here, about 10 per cent for federal funds towards infrastructure charges.

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Councillor SUTTON!

LORD MAYOR: There has been no debate in which I have been engaged around master planning for that site. So let's be clear about that. Let's be absolutely clear about that.

So Councillor SUTTON—

Chairman: Councillor JOHNSTON. If you wish to have a conversation, go outside.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 87 -

LORD MAYOR: So Councillor SUTTON, having engaged in that private conversation with me, has now embarked on a political campaign, of which she has drawn the Deputy Premier into it via this letter that has been written to me. So how else, Councillor SUTTON, would the Deputy Premier become aware of, apparently, that I am not inclined to have a master planning process?

So, Madam Chairman, let us be clear about this. I do not want to see the Deputy Premier call in this site. So what I have done, I have written back to the Deputy Premier indicating that we will certainly support a master planning process and I am recommending that Council be the lead agent in terms of that process,

Within the comments that the Deputy Premier has written—

Councillor interjecting.

Chairman: Councillor SUTTON!

LORD MAYOR: —she says that it must engage, it must deliver on the State Government's objectives to address the challenges of housing supply, housing affordability and housing choice. So the question for Councillor SUTTON is, how much social housing does she believe that site should afford? How much should be on the site?

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: Importantly around this question, Madam Chairman—

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order!

LORD MAYOR: Importantly around this question is the need for community engagement. Now, Madam Chairman, let's be absolutely clear. There has been community engagement, and in the neighbourhood plan it says here that should the Commonwealth Government cease operations at the Bulimba Barracks, there is a 10 point plan there in relation that site. That has set the parameters after the community consultation, Madam Chairman. But now, new Government. Thanks to Councillor SUTTON getting the Deputy Premier engaged in this, Madam Chairman, we now have a situation where it will be master planning.

What I am also suggesting to the Deputy Premier is that this needs to be a process which applies to every piece of Commonwealth land that comes onto the market and it needs to apply to every piece of State Government land that comes onto the market.

Councillors interjecting.

Chairman: Order! Order!

LORD MAYOR: I would just say this, Madam Chairman, as the leader of this local authority, the proper planning authority in this city, that should also apply to Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) sites in this city.

Councillors interjecting.

LORD MAYOR: It should apply to places like Hamilton Northshore and those other EDQ sites. So, Madam Chairman, let's have the master planning process. Very happy to engage in it; very happy to lead that process. But again, it should apply to a whole lot of other sites relating to Federal and State releases of land of this nature as well.

Motion that the meeting conclude640/2014-15

The Right Honourable the LORD MAYOR (Councillor Graham QUIRK), moved, seconded by the DEPUTY MAYOR (Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER),that the meeting conclude. Upon being submitted to the meeting the motion was declared carried on the voices.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 88 -

QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN:(Questions of which due notice has been given are printed as supplied and are not edited)

Submitted by Councillor Nicole JOHNSTON on 27 May 2015

Q1. Would Council please provide the number of number of a) original social media posts on Council’s Facebook page regarding the IDAHOT Story Bridge rainbow lights story and b) the total number of shares and likes from third party endorsements of the story?

Q2. Would Council please advise a) the total number of comments posted on Council’s Facebook page about the IDAHOT Story Bridge rainbow lights story and b) the number and or percentage of supportive comments about the story?

Submitted by Councillor Nicole Johnston on 28 May 2015Q1. Would Council please advise a) the total number of people reached by Council's Facebook page about

the IDAHOT Story Bridge rainbow lights story and b) was this the most popular Facebook post ever by Council, or did it reach the highest number of people ever, compared to all other Council Facebook posts?

Q2. Would Council please provide a list by name and purpose of all Council boards, committees (not Councillor Committees), roundtables and advisory groups created by Brisbane City Council whether paid or voluntary?

Submitted by Councillor Victoria Newton (received on 28 May 2015)Q1. Please provide the total cost of the Brisbane 2022 Report project?

Q2. Please advise the cost to design and print the hardcopies of the Brisbane 2022 report (either directly to Council or as a cost to Brisbane Marketing)?

Q3. Please advise how many copies of the Brisbane 2022 report were printed?

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF WHICH DUE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN:(Answers to questions of which due notice has been given are printed as supplied and are not edited)

Submitted by Councillor Victoria Newton (from meeting on 26 May 2015)Q1. In last week’s Infrastructure Committee Report to Council, it stated:  Reactive maintenance is hand-

worked repairs. This maintenance occurs 24 hours, seven days a week, “rain, hail or shine”. In the 2014-15 financial year there were approximately 90,000 potholes repaired and approximately 190,000 kilometres covered.

Please advise how many potholes were repaired and approximate kilometres covered for the following financial years:

FINANCIAL YEAR NUMBER OF POTHOLES

APPROXIMATE KILOMETRES COVERED

2013/142012/132011/122010/11

A1. Note: The premise of the question is false in that the amount of potholes covered is 190,000m2.

FINANCIAL YEAR NUMBER OF POTHOLES APPROXIMATE KILOMETRES COVERED

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 89 -

2013/14 72,200 942012/13 80,300 161 2011/12 72,400 1192010/11 91,100 131

Q2. Please provide the following data regarding Council’s forward schedule listing (ie listed for future funding) of new footpath construction:

Region Approximate kilometres Number of streets listedNorthSouthEastWestCentral

A2. Council does not have a forward schedule listing for new footpath construction. New footpath construction is determined by ward councillors via the ward footpath and paths trust fund.

Q3. Please advise the following data regarding Council’s forward schedule listing (ie listed for future funding) for road resurfacing:

Region Approximate kilometres Number of streets listedNorthSouthEastWestCentral

A3. Council does not collate information in the format requested. Retrieval and collation of the material in the manner requested will cause an unacceptable increase in the workload or delay in the performance of normal day to day services of Council officers.

Q4. Please advise the following data for Council’s forward schedule (ie listed for future funding) for Local Drainage Construction:

Region Approximate kilometres Number of streets listedNorthSouthEastWestCentral

A4. Council does not collate information in the format requested. Retrieval and collation of the material in the manner requested will cause an unacceptable increase in the workload or delay in the performance of normal day to day services of Council officers.

Q5. Please advise the following data for Council’s forward schedule (ie listed for future funding) for Major Drainage Construction:

Region Approximate kilometres Number of streets listedNorthSouthEastWestCentral

A5. Council does not collate information in the format requested. Retrieval and collation of the material in the manner requested will cause an unacceptable increase in the workload or delay in the performance of normal day to day services of Council officers.

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 90 -

RISING OF COUNCIL: 6.57pm.

PRESENTED: and CONFIRMED

CHAIRMAN

Council officers in attendance:

James Withers (Senior Council and Committee Officer)Shivaji Solao (Council and Committee Officer)Robert Southwood (Acting Council and Committee Officer)Billy Peers (Personal Support Officer to the Lord Mayor and Council Orderly)

[4469 (Ordinary) meeting – 2 June 2015]

- 91 -