Living in Brisbane City Council - May Edition 2015 - North
A message from Lord Mayor Graham Quirk
As the Lord Mayor of Australia’s New World City I have enjoyed watching international artists, great shows, local events and rising sports stars during the past few months, with more to come in May.
The Brisbane Powerhouse has said farewell to Brisbane’s Comedy Festival and now welcomes the IRL Digital Festival, a celebration of video games, technology and art. While at the Powerhouse, don’t forget the Farmers Market each Saturday and for those looking for a bargain, get along to the Pop-Up Suitcase Rummage on the last Sunday of each month.
Cirque de Soleil has returned to Brisbane with a dazzling show at the Big Top in Hamilton, and Queensland Ballet is getting ready to present Peter Pan in June.
This edition of Living in Brisbane takes an in-depth look at theLegacy Way tunnel project. Alongwith building Australia’s mostmodern bus fleet, we have alwaysbeen focused on improving traveltimes for all residents and LegacyWay will ease congestion on thebusy roads surrounding this project.Also, make sure you check out the newly expanded Brisbane BotanicGardens, Mt Coot-tha.
To all Brisbane mums – Happy Mother’s Day.
Graham Quirk
LORD MAYOR
Building Brisbane’s future
Legacy Way
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New look for South Bank playground
Artist’s impression
The popular Riverside Green playground in South Bank is preparing for a new look with refurbishment works currently underway.
The upgrade will appeal to children of all ages and be more exciting with new, interactive play elements such as a skywalk and toddler boat. It will also include more picnic tables, landscaping upgrades and enhanced lighting to improve visibility in the area.
Riverside Green will remain closed during construction to ensure public safety and is scheduled for reopening at the end of September. During construction, visitors can still enjoy Picnic Island Playground, South Bank’s water playground Aquativity and the children’s program Little Days Out.
Little Days Out provides free kids activities including arts, sport and gardening in the parklands every Thursday and Sunday. No bookings arerequired, just turn up and join in.
This $1.7 million upgrade is funded by the Queensland Government. For more information, go to
Celebrating our mums
Spoil your mum at one of Brisbane’s many events and activities this Mother’s Day on Sunday 10 May.
Those running or walking in the Mother’s Day Classic at South Bank could enjoy a family lunch nearby or wander through the Collective Markets afterwards.
For a relaxing day out visit the Costumes from the Golden Ageof Hollywood exhibit at the Museum of Brisbane, or buy your mum tickets to the Medici Series Concert as part of the 4MBS Festival of Classics.
Northside families can treat their mums to a picnic or barbecue at the Sandgate Foreshore or at 7thBrigade Park in Chermside.
For more of an adventure, try dragon boating at Yowoggera Park in Albion from 9.30-11.30am. Children eight years of age or older are welcome to join in.
For more information about free events across the city to enjoy with your mum, visit call 3403 8888.
Project Love & Care
Ann George is a Brisbane mum who has made a real difference tothe lives of thousands of children.
Her journey began in 2005 after she realised some children enter foster care with very few belongings.
Together with her young granddaughter, Ann began putting together care kits, using some of her granddaughter’s clothes, toiletries, books and toys. The first batch of kits was donated to the Inala Child Safety Service Centre, and from there Project Love & Care was born.
Word quickly spread and many more orders were received from different child safety service centres. Today Ann and her volunteer team have assisted more than 44,000 children.
To find out more about Ann George and other inspiring members of Team Brisbane, visit
Honouring our ANZACs
This year marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli landing in 1915 and Council is commemorating this historic event with an ANZAC-themed CityCat and bus.
Launched in April in time for ANZAC Day, the themed CityCat and bus are highly-visible reminders of the service and sacrifice of the troops who served and died in war, conflict and peacekeeping operations.
CityCat Walan will be visible along the entire ferry route from UQ St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton. It depicts a squad of soldiers marching towards arepresentation of the ‘Rising Sun’ badge and a poppy for remembrance.
The ANZAC-themed bus will service routes to the CBD. It commemorates James and Alexander Patterson from Toowong; eighteen-year-old twin diggers who served in Gallipoli in 1915.
To find out more about the CityCat and bus, visit call
3403 8888.
Winners announced
Brisbane has chosen the winner of the Recycling Art Competition after more than 2000 votes were cast for 14 exciting entries.
Bec Peart and Martin Pedder won first prize with their artwork Octopus’ Garden, which uses a TV cabinet, wrought iron chairs, bike parts, cogs and a birdcage to bring Otto the octopus to life.
Robert Hains and Mika Nakamura-Mather won second and third prizes respectively for their artworks Tip Turkey and City of Timber and Haiku.
To watch the winner’s videos, visit
Go swimming this winter
A number of Council swimming pools are staying open during the cooler months, with winter operating hours in full swing until 18 September.
Fifteen of Council’s 20 pools will remain open all year long, providing heated facilities to help residents stay fit and continue to enjoy swimming.
Two new pools are also coming to Bracken Ridge and Parkinson, with early preparation and construction work now underway. Bracken Ridge pool is scheduled for completion in late 2015, with Parkinson Pool due to open in early 2016. The new pools will stay open all year round.
Some pools in Brisbane will have partial closures over the coming months to allow for routine maintenance work in preparation for the busy summer season.
Make sure you check your local pool’s opening hours and entry price by visiting
Regatta andQUT terminals now reopened
Brisbane’s 21st CityCat joins Council’s fleet this month!
For more information, visit
Reach your destination faster
Legacy Way will provide a critical connection between the western growth corridor, including Ipswich and Springfield, and the Brisbane Airport and Australia TradeCoast area, one of Brisbane’s trade and industry regions.
The tunnel offers an alternative route for motorists, easing congestion on busy roads such as Milton Road and Coronation Drive and reducing through traffic on local streets.
Motorists using the tunnel will save approximately 14 minutes during peak hour traffic when travelling between the Western Freeway and the Inner City Bypass. They will also avoid seven sets of traffic lights on this section of their journey.
As the city’s population continues to grow, large-scale infrastructure projects like Legacy Way help to increase traffic flow on arterial roads and improve cross-city connectivity. They are part of Council’s traffic management strategy to future-proof the city and deliver immediate benefits to residents.
Take a look inside Legacy Way
Legacy Way is opening soon and residents are invited to takepart in a once-in-a-lifetime experience inside the tunnel.
Council will host a family-friendly walk through Legacy Way before it opens, featuring entertainment such as a jumping castle, face painting and sausage sizzle to help celebrate the completion.
The event will be accessible by public transport only, with free bus pick-up and drop-off points at Roma Street, King George Square, Toowong and Indooroopilly to the Kelvin Grove end of the tunnel.
Lace up your walking shoes and register for this money-can’t-buy event by visiting Registration is essential and residents should keep an eye on Council’s website and social media channels for event details.
Once open, one cent of all tolls paid by vehicles using the tunnel will be donated to its namesake Brisbane Legacy, with $600,000 expected to be raised for the charity in the first five years.
Did you know
Joyce and Annabell, the tunnel boring machines used on Legacy Way, were constructed using the recycled parts of the CLEM7 tunnel boring machines purchased from German company, Herrenknecht.
Legacy Way Timeline
- April 2011 –Construction begins
- August 2012 - Annabell begins tunnelling at Toowong
- October 2012 - Joyce begins tunnelling at Toowong
- December 2012 - Joyce sets world record for tunnelling 49.7 m in one day
- January 2013 - Moggill Road and Western Freeway interchangeupgrade begins
- April 2013 – Joyce breaks through at Kelvin Grove
- June 2013 – Annabell breaks through at Kelvin Grove
- February 2014 – Tunnel fit-out begins
- August 2014 – Moggill Road and Western Freeway interchange upgrade finishes
- April 2015 - Construction finishes, systems and safety testing begins
Celebrate the gardens expansion
The whole family will enjoy a fun day out on Sunday 17 May when the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha celebrates the completion of its four-hectare expansion.
Featuring market stalls, live music, cooking demonstrations, face painting and a jumping castle, there will be something to entertain everyone. Members of the Australian Defence Force will be on hand to accept donations to Brisbane Legacy, the tunnel’s charity partner, which supports the families of Australian servicemen and women.
The upgrade to the gardens was delivered as part of the Legacy Way project.
For more information, visit
New congestion-busting projects
As Legacy Way nears completion, two major congestion-bustingprojects are gearing up.
The concept design for stage 1 of the Wynnum Road Corridor upgrade will be released mid-year, widening it from four to six lanes between Latrobe Street and Canning Bridge. Construction is expected to begin in 2018 and finish in 2020.
The contract to widen Kingsford Smith Drive from four to six lanes between Theodore Street and Breakfast Creek Road will be awarded in late 2015. Construction is expected to start in 2016 and finish in 2019.
LegacyWay Fast facts
- Travel from Toowong to Kelvin Grove in 4minutes
- Avoid 7 sets oftraffic lights betweenthe Western Freewayand Inner City Bypass
- Travel from Toowong to the airport in 15minutes using Legacy Way and Airport Link
- 9000people worked on Legacy Way construction, benefiting the local economy
- Safety systems include60variable message signs, 98jet fans and 150cameras
Help keep Brisbane clean
One of the many reasons people love living in Brisbane is the outdoor lifestyle and enviable subtropical climate.
Show your pride in Brisbane by keeping the city clean, green and litter-free with these steps.
•Keep your street looking its best by mowing the footpath and kerbside around your home and business, and remembering to bring your bins in after they are emptied.
•Keep verges well-maintained to make it easier for all residents to use footpaths and enjoy the local environment. Bins left out long after they have been emptied can force pedestrians onto the road or cause parking obstructions.
•Take care of your property by identifying and removing weeds from your garden, recycling, planting native species and disposing of hazardous waste responsibly.
These are just some of the easy ways you can help keep your local neighbourhood tidy.
To find out more about how you can be a part of Team Brisbane by keeping your suburb clean, visit search for ‘clean and green Brisbane’.
Go green at the fair
Come along and take part in Brisbane’s most popular freesustainability event as the Green Heart Fair comes to 7th Brigade Park in Chermside on Sunday 31 May from 9am-2pm.
The fair includes the latest in sustainable living options from more than 100 sustainable businesses. Budding chefs will enjoy cooking demonstrations from
My Kitchen Rules contestants Paul and Blair, while green thumb enthusiasts can take part in the Q&A with gardening guru Annette McFarlane.
Kids will discover how to care for their environment courtesy of eco-warrior dirtgirl, while budding athletes can pick up tips in the active and healthy sporting zone. They can also get their faces painted, climb the rock wall or bounce around in the obstacle course.
Be entertained with live music, enjoy the Peter Hackworth Markets, take home free native plants and win great prizes. To find out more, visit
The Healthy Waterways Connect to Your Creek Week
Was held from 21-29 March, encouraging residents to get active and enjoy Brisbane’s 38 major creek catchments.
Events included platypus and frog spotting, tree planting, cycling, kayak tours and creek adventures.
Hassle-free recycling for residents
A new resource recovery centre is now open at Council’s transfer station at Chandler, meaning residents can recycle for free. The new facility complements the existing resource recovery centre operations at Willawong Transfer Station.
Each of the resource recovery centres are located in a separate area next to the existing transfer station, and will be dedicated to increasing the reuse of recoverable materials. The purpose-built centres will make recycling easier and faster by reducing queues, providing better access to facilities and making recycling free for residents.
Since the Willawong Resource Recovery Centre opened in 2013, the amount of material collected for sale and reuse through Council’s Tip Shops has more than doubled, contributing to the goal of reducing waste to landfill, while supporting The Endeavour Foundation. For more information, visit or call 3403 8888.
Calling young photographers
Brisbane’s budding photographers will be in focus with theLord Mayor’s Young Environmental Photographer of the Year competition now open.
The competition has been expanded this year with new categories for both primary and secondary students. There are great prizes to be won, including the chance to have your photo and environmental message showcased around the city.
Local school students who can capture a powerful and emotive image inspiring others to enjoy and protect Brisbane’s beautiful environment are encouraged to share their creative work.
Submit your entry by 23 May for your chance to win great prizes. Public voting is open from 24 May-7 June on Council’s Young Brisbane Facebook page. Finalists will be announced on 10 June.
To find out more, visit
Improving safety
Works are well underway to upgrade the intersection of Beams Road and Lacey Road at Carseldine, improving safety for the motorists and pedestrians who use this busy junction every day.
Records show 16 accidents occurred at the intersection between 2005 and 2010, with the $1.8 million project set to deliver new traffic signals and pedestrian crossings at the intersection. The upgrade will also improve the existing footpaths and traffic island, and upgrade the line markings on both roads.
The dedicated left turn lane from Lacey Road into Beams Road will remain in place to allow motorists to turn left at any time.
The safety improvement works are due to be completed in mid-2015, weather permitting.
For more information about this upgrade, visit call 3403 8888.
Take a stand against illegal dumping in your neighbourhood
Illegal dumping of waste and unwanted items affects local residents and businesses, and detracts from the beauty of Brisbane’s natural and developed areas.
Dumping of material such as household and garden waste, building materials and commercial rubbish is illegal. It can create fire hazards and pollution inneighbourhoods and waterways including the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay. Illegal dumping also has potential to aid the spread of pests and weeds, such as fire ants and lantana.
You can report illegal dumping by calling Council on 3403 8888 or by visiting searching for ‘illegal dumping’.
Please remember not to confront or approach any individual or vehicle that you suspect of being involved in illegal dumping and not to touch any of the dumped material.
Tip Shop turns five!
The Acacia Ridge Tip Shop is celebrating its fifth birthday this month.
Council’s Tip Shops sell quality second-hand and recycled products that have been saved from landfill. You can find everything from furniture and musical instruments to antiques, push bikes and even wedding dresses!
Festival time
Brisbane is transforming into a city of festivals – this month sees a range of community events across the suburbs.