Living in Brisbane
June-July 2016 Edition
A message from Lord Mayor Graham Quirk
In June, we completed and delivered the 2016-17 Budget focused on my team’s reliable five point plan to keep Brisbane on the right track.
My team is committed to Projects Attacking Congestion with funding allocated for $1.3 billion in new road projects, the Brisbane Metro Subway System, 60 new buses every year, $90 million for smoother suburban streets, new express CityCat services and the continued expansion of Brisbane’s bikeways.
We will accelerate bushland protection with 10 years’ worth of acquisitions over the next four years and we are dedicated to becoming a 100% carbon neutral Council.
Extended Saturday opening hours at libraries, outdoor gyms in parks and new BMX tracks all offer great new leisure opportunities.
Mosquito control, the Taskforce Against Graffiti, the State Emergency Service and the City Safe network will all get critical funding making Brisbane a healthier and safer place.
Our commitment to the local economy and job creation continues through the Brisbane 2022 New World City Action Plan with a focus on Brisbane’s growth sectors, investment attraction, events and innovation.
This budget will keep Brisbane heading in the right direction.
Graham Quirk
LORD MAYOR
Brisbane inner-city golf courses 18 holes, pay and play
Two great public courses for you to play a round!
St Lucia Golf Links 3403 2556
Victoria Park Golf Complex 3252 9891
No membership required. Golf clubs and buggies available for hire.
For more information and to register visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/golf
$3 billion Budget 2016-17 highlights
$781.7 million: Reducing Congestion
$121.9 million: Public Transport Subsidy
$90 million: Road Resurfacing
$44.3 million: Economic Development
$27.7 million: Access and Inclusion
Congestion Busting Fund
90 Projects including:
Kingsford Smith Drive
Wynnum Road
Inner City Bypass Upgrade
Progress Road
Telegraph Road
Stapylton Road
Wolston Creek Bridge
Paradise Road
Major Traffic Improvements – Intersections
District Projects
Local Access Network Improvements
Boundary Road - Progress Road to Kelliher Road
Congestion Reduction Unit Initiatives
World-class public transport
This year’s budget will help Brisbane remain an accessible and well-connected city with the delivery of a world-class public and active transport network.
The planning of Brisbane Metro Subway System – which will improve the city’s transport network – will proceed thanks to an allocation of $16 million.
The Brisbane Metro Subway System will run on a dedicated route linking Woolloongabba to Herston, utilising sections of the South East and Inner Northern Busways while freeing up 200 buses for our suburbs.
A further investment of $22.3 million will support key bikeway links in Brisbane suburbs including Woolloongabba, Toowong, Kangaroo Point and Indooroopilly.
Suburban infrastructure investment
Roads and bikeways: $718.9 million (75%)
Public transport: $80.1 million (8%)
Drainage, waterways and the natural environment: $70.7 million (7%)
Parks: $45.9 million (5%)
Community facilities: $31 million (3%)
Future Brisbane $13.6 million (2%)
Attacking congestion in Brisbane
Investment is continuing for projects that will keep Brisbane moving with $781.7 million committed to reduce congestion in 2016-17.
This will fund the commencement of the Inner City Bypass upgrade, the progress of the Wynnum Road Corridor Stage 1 upgrade, the ongoing construction of the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade, and the construction of Stage 1 and 2 of the Telegraph Road upgrade.
As well as funding public and active transport, funding will also be provided for projects such as Murphy Road and Ellison Road roundabout elimination in Aspley, Green Camp Road in Wakerley, Raymont Road and Grange Road at Grange and the Player Street connection in Upper Mount Gravatt.
Council will also continue to build smoother suburban streets with $90 million devoted to road resurfacing across Brisbane in 2016-17.
To improve traffic hot spots, funding of $5.5 million will also support congestion busting projects.
Some highlights include:
$44.5 million: Wynnum Road Corridor stage 1 upgrade
$29.7 million: ICB upgrade
$27.6 million: Telegraph Road upgrades
$316.2 million: Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade
$121.9 million: public transport subsidy
$5.5 million: congestion busting projects
How your rates are invested
Roads and Bikeways: $1.2 billion
Business Activities: $41.6 million
Clean, Green and WaterSmart City: $364.8 million
City Mangement: $315.8 million
Economic Development and Planning: $138.1 million
Public Transport Operations and Investment: $540.3 million
Community Services: $234.3 million
Parks, Gardens and Recreation: $173.8 million
A cleaner, greener city
This year’s budget continues to invest in projects that help celebrate and protect Brisbane’s unique biodiversity with $539.1 million dedicated to a cleaner, greener and water smart city this financial year.
The 2016-17 Budget will fund the first phase of an accelerated bushland protection program, with 10 years’ worth of bushland acquisitions delivered over the next four years, bringing approximately 750 hectares – the equivalent of approximately 670 Suncorp Stadium fields – into public ownership.
To complement the accelerated bushland protection, the budget will also deliver a $2 million world-class koala research centre and a new $5 million Northside Enviro Centre, replacing the existing outdated facility in Boondall Wetlands.
Residents will also benefit from a $173.8 million investment in parks, gardens and recreation over the coming year, including $71.1 million in suburban park upgrades, helping to maintain Brisbane’s clean and green lifestyle.
$20.3 million: Accelerated bushland acquisition
$6 million: Deliver a carbon neutral city
$523 thousand: Revitalising iconic Brisbane landmarks
$1.1 million: Towards a koala research centre
$2.3 million: Towards Witton Barracks parks
$71.1 million: Suburban park upgrades
Enhancing our lifestyle
$274 thousand: BMX tracks
$3.7 million: Mt Coot-tha enhancement program
$200 thousand: Creative hub
$3.8 million: Suburban and multicultural festivals
$14.9 million: Local public pools and aqua parks
$1.3 million: Wharves, jetties, pontoons and fishing platforms
Enriching a river city lifestyle
This year’s budget will continue to enhance Brisbane as a lifestyle city with investments in library initiatives, BMX tracks and aqua parks.
A commitment of $379,000 will go towards extending library hours on Saturdays, with all 33 Council libraries open from 9am-4pm from early 2017. Brisbane will also get its first outdoor pop-up library, thanks to $202,000 allocated for the purpose-built facility, to be used at fairs, festivals and outdoor events.
Brisbane will receive two new world-class BMX facilities with $274,000 invested in the project, which will see facilities built over the next four years at Darra and Fitzgibbon.
To continue creating active and healthy lifestyles, an investment of $1.3 million will be made towards delivering aqua parks at Runcorn Pool, Langlands Pool in Coorparoo, Upper Kedron Reserve and Wynnum Foreshore.
Boon for Brisbane’s best views
Brisbane’s best views will benefit from a $6.3 million investment in this year’s budget.
The Mt Coot-tha precinct, incorporating Brisbane Botanic Gardens and planetarium, will receive an upgrade, ensuring that the iconic destination remains a world-class attraction that can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
Works will include upgrades to park facilities at JC Slaughter Falls and Simpsons Falls, a new Zip Line attraction, restoring walking trails and connectivity, BMX tracks and a new bus loop to help visitors experience everything the mountain has to offer.
The popular Kangaroo Point Cliffs and New Farm Park will also receive free Wi-Fi as part of a $2.1 million commitment over four years, encouraging residents and visitors to share their views of Brisbane online with the rest of the world.
Wi-Fi expansion to benefit business
An initial investment of $250,000 to extend Council’s current free Wi-Fi offering into eight suburban centres will continue advancing Brisbane, our New World City.
Wi-Fi installation projects have been identified for Stones Corner and Sandgate Village. Wynnum CBD, Nundah Village, Hawken Drive in St Lucia, Beaudesert Road in Moorooka, Jackson Road in Sunnybank Hills and Boundary Street shopping precinct in Spring Hill will follow.
Free public Wi-Fi is a benchmark for new world cities and the expansion of Brisbane’s digital footprint will help increase visitors to suburban centres.
Rates made easy
Switch to paperless billing and access your rates notice anytime, anywhere.
You can also opt-in for a free SMS reminder of your bill’s due date.
Visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/rates to sign up.
I love BNE. That’s why I receive paperless bills.
Telegraph Road taking shape
The upgrade of the Telegraph Road corridor is underway, with Council finalising stage 1B of the project’s design.
Features of the design include:
• widening Telegraph Road from two lanes to four with a centre median from Norris Road to east of Mustang Street
• on-road bike lanes in both directions
• a shared off-road pedestrian and cyclist footpath on the southern side
• signalising the intersection of Telegraph Road and Mustang Street, with a U-turn facility on the western side
• U-turn facility 400 metres east of the Telegraph Road and Norris Road intersection.
As well as shortening travel times, the upgrades will improve safety, road drainage, flood immunity and active transport facilities while helping to reduce future congestion.
Stage 1B construction is scheduled to start in late 2016 and be completed in late 2017.
For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
Smoother suburban streets
Council’s 2016-17 road resurfacing program will help make suburban streets smoother, safer and more enjoyable to use every day.
As part of the 2016-17 Budget, $90 million will be invested across Brisbane to deliver important resurfacing projects.
To find out more, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘smoother streets’.
Did you know…
you can report graffiti to get it removed by Council? Graffiti impacts our community socially and financially. Report it as soon as you see it at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or phone 3403 8888.
New look for CityCat a roaring success
You may have seen a new CityCat prowling the river, following the unveiling of the Brisbane Roar CityCat.
Emblazoned with one of the city’s favourite sporting team’s colours, CityCat Tunamun is the latest to undergo a makeover, as part of the Team Brisbane campaign.
The 25 metre high-speed vessel is decked out in the Brisbane Roar football club’s distinctive orange, white and black, with the team’s lion logo on the bow and historic photos of the club’s successes inside.
The Brisbane Roar is one of the city’s premier football teams, successfully winning the A-league Premiership in 2011, 2012 and 2014.
For more information about Council’s ferry fleet visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or phone 3403 8888.
Young environmental photographers recognised
Eight of Brisbane’s best young photographers have been announced as winners in the 2016 Green Heart Schools Lord Mayor’s Young Environmental Photographer of the Year Awards.
This year’s theme, ‘fresh water, fresh perspective’, challenged school students to capture unique and creative images that show the beauty and value of water in our river city.
There were eight category winners and runners-up from across Brisbane’s primary and high schools. Brisbane Girls Grammar took away the prize for the most student entries with 67.
All the finalists from this year’s competition had the opportunity to join widely-acclaimed photographer Steve Parish on a workshop to learn ‘the art of seeing photos’. You can see their winning images at one of the roaming displays around the city until Wednesday 27 July.
To find the location of the displays and view finalists’ photos, go to www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘young environmental photographer’.
Black History Month
Black History Month is an annual celebration coordinated by Council to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ history, heritage and cultures in Brisbane.
Throughout July, there are a variety of free and low- cost activities including performances, workshops, art displays, cultural talks, family fun days, dance and music events.
This year’s celebrations include Maiwar, a visual art exhibition featuring contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. Artworks will be featured in Brisbane’s Outdoor Gallery including Eagle Lane, Hutton Lane, Fish Lane and other locations.
Now in its ninth year, Black History Month showcases Brisbane as a creative and inclusive city while attracting a growing audience and interest from education, corporate and community sectors.
To see the calendar of events, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/blackhistorymonth
So you think you know Brisbane?
How many items are in the Museum of Brisbane collection? How big is the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha? How heavy are the bells in the City Hall clock tower?
Briz Quiz is a fun, interactive way to explore the breadth and diversity of the services and facilities available to Brisbane’s residents and visitors.
Choose your own adventure as you make your way through the quiz, answering questions from five categories: natural beauty, vibrant Brisbane, getting around, places and spaces, and from river to bay.
Brisbane’s iconic locations come to life as you learn more about your city. Compete with friends and family to see who knows your city best!
To find out more and test your knowledge, visit http://brizquiz.brisbanecity.net.au
What’s On Brisbane
Facebook.com/BNEWhatsOn
City
Throughout July – Black History Month events – a showcase of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, heritage and cultures, various times and locations, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au – VARIOUS PRICES
16-17 July – Regional flavours – Australia’s best-known chefs and cooks are coming to Brisbane, from 10am, South Bank, for more information visit www.regionalflavours.com.au – FREE
24 July – Royal Run for Research – show your support for the researchers and medical teams who strive to keep us healthy, 8am, City Botanic Gardens, visit www.rbwhfoundation.com.au – VARIOUS PRICES
6-14 August – Gordon Hanley art exhibition – see pieces by Australia’s only ‘Living Master’, 10am-5pm, Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/botanicgardens – FREE
Until 28 August – Facing World War One: Stories of Loyalty, Loss and Love – tracing letters sent from the front line, 10am-5pm, Museum of Brisbane, visit www.museumofbrisbane.com.au – FREE
Until 3 October – Cindy Sherman – the first exhibition in Australia of Cindy Sherman’s large scale photographs since 2000, 10am-5pm, Queensland Art Gallery, visit www.qagoma.qld.gov.au – VARIOUS PRICES
Local
8 July – Crafting with Violet Mackeral – make and decorate a chest of matchbox drawers to store tiny collections, ideal for ages 6-10 years, 2-3.30pm, Bracken Ridge Library, to book call 3403 888 – FREE
16 July – Safe and organic pest control solutions – learn how to recognise some common pests found in SEQ gardens and nature’s antidote to them, 1-2.30pm, Hamilton Library, to book call 3403 8888 – FREE