Living in Brisbane
October 2016 Edition
A message from Lord Mayor Graham Quirk
As we welcome warmer weather this month, there’s no better time to take advantage of Council’s fantastic pools. Extended opening hours are now in operation for summer and you can find scheduled activities in your local area on Council’s website.
After last month’s Brisbane Festival, our New World City continues to light up with lifestyle and leisure opportunities in October. Valley Fiesta returns to Fortitude Valley with great food, music and entertainment from 28-30 October. Or you can enjoy Oktoberfest at the Brisbane Showgrounds on 7-9 and 14-16 October. This is only a taste of what’s on offer, so make sure
you read about Brisbane’s vibrant calendar of events on the back page of this edition. Find out more by visiting www.facebook.com/BNEWhatsOn
I am also pleased to announce that Council is waiving the establishment fee if you order a green waste recycling bin in October. I am committed to keeping Brisbane clean, green and sustainable and encourage you to take advantage of this offer to keep your garden clean and make sure you are prepared for the summer storm season. Contact Council on 3403 8888 or visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au for more information.
Graham Quirk
LORD MAYOR
2017 Lord Mayor’s Australia Day Awards
Do you know someone who has made Brisbane an even better place?
Nominate them now for an award at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au.
Bike boxes
Did you know there are areas known as ‘bike boxes’ for cyclists to wait safely at intersections?
Bike boxes are marked sections of road for cyclists to wait at a red light in front of vehicles. They are designed to improve safety by increasing visibility of cyclists to motorists, allowing them to clear intersections ahead of traffic.
Cyclists can ride up to the front of the traffic queue and wait in the bike box, proceeding through the intersection when the traffic signal turns green.
On a red signal, motorists must stop before the bike box. Once the lights turn green, all traffic should proceed through the intersection with caution.
Brisbane Festival shines
This year’s Brisbane Festival attracted more than one million people, featuring art, music, theatre and comedy events, entertaining both residents and visitors to our city from 3-24 September.
South Bank Cultural Forecourt was transformed into a festival village providing food, wine and entertainment, while The Queensland Performing Arts Centre, La Boite Theatre and Brisbane Powerhouse played host to popular productions.
The festival featured more than 70 productions and 500 performances across the city’s cultural hubs, showcasing Brisbane as a vibrant and creative New World City. Brisbane Festival
boosted local businesses as festival-goers came together in our shopping and
dining precincts.
Free events included Symphony for Me, You Should be Dancing and the festival’s highly anticipated Sunsuper Riverfire, which concluded celebrations with a bang.
Brisbane Festival is an initiative of Council and the Queensland Government.
Join the games
Brisbane residents are invited to participate in the 2017 World Masters Games next April in host city Auckland.
The World Masters Games is the largest multiple-sport event in the world and will be the biggest event to be hosted by Brisbane’s sister city Auckland, and New Zealand, for a decade.
Often referred to as the ‘Olympics for all’, the focus is on participation and remaining healthy and active throughout life. Thousands of athletes from around the globe are expected to descend on Auckland to take part in the Games from 21-30 April 2017.
Registrations are now open, with team registrations closing on 31 January 2017. Individual registrations will remain open after this date. For more information, visit www.worldmastersgames2017.co.nz
Snap and win! Getaway to Moreton Island
Grab your camera, get outdoors and take a snap of Brisbane’s natural environment during Council’s Green Heart Photography Competition.
All you have to do is take a photo of yourself, or someone else, enjoying their favourite green place in Brisbane and upload it into the Green Heart Photography Competition on Council’s Facebook page.
The winner will receive a two night getaway to Tangalooma Island Resort for two adults and two children, including transfers from Brisbane and a host of activities and extras.
The competition invites Brisbane residents to capture creative, emotive and inspiring images of our natural environment, highlighting what they value across the city. It aims to put nature in the frame and raise awareness of its beauty, power and fragility.
Terms and conditions apply. To enter, head to www.facebook.com/BrisbaneCityCouncil
Brisbane Metro community information sessions
Community information sessions will be held later this month for the Brisbane Metro Subway System, a proposed new high-frequency service that will cut travel times, reduce CBD congestion and provide more buses to the suburbs.
The seven kilometre route linking Woolloongabba to Herston uses existing sections and stations along the South East and Inner Northern busways. At the furthest points, interchanges will transfer bus commuters to the Metro, which will then carry them more efficiently into the CBD.
Residents can find out more about Brisbane Metro by attending a community information session. Drop in, meet the team and have your say on this vital project.
For further details about the community information sessions, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘Brisbane Metro’ or call 1800 692 333.
Brisbane plays host to new Rugby tournament
The Rugby gods will be smiling on Brisbane come 11-12 February next year.
The inaugural two-day Brisbane Global Tens tournament will be a bonanza for sports fans, bringing some of the world’s best rugby players here. It’s a four-year deal to host the exclusive competition that will deliver $100 million to Brisbane’s local economy.
With 300-plus players from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Japan and Samoa converging on Brisbane for a gladiatorial spectacle at Suncorp Stadium, fans will flock here from far and wide.
The Brisbane Global Tens will provide a financial boost to our hotels, local businesses, retailers and tourist attractions, as well as create a sense of community spirit as fans gather to watch the games at the stadium and elsewhere.
Find out more and book tickets at www.brisbaneglobaltens.com
What to do when severe weather hits
Facing an impending storm, fire or flood can be frightening but taking the right precautions can ensure you and your family stay safe.
It is important to remember:
• stay indoors in the strongest part of the house and take shelter away from windows and loose objects
• if outdoors, find emergency shelter and never stand under trees or bus and park shelters
• keep your emergency kit handy
• secure objects around your home, yard and balcony
• store electrical equipment above flood levels
• if possible, avoid going out or driving during severe weather events. If you absolutely must drive, plan ahead and take note of traffic alerts and road closures
• never walk or drive through flood waters, no matter how shallow they appear to be and stay away from stormwater drains and fallen power lines.
For more information on staying safe this storm season, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/beprepared or call 3403 8888.
Alert service now in an app
Before severe weather events hit, you can receive alerts through Council’s Early Warning Alert Service and have valuable time to prepare people and property.
Council has worked with Weatherzone to increase the functionality of the service and provide a new appbased option. By turning your mobile location on, you can automatically be warned of any event threatening your physical location, as well as your other nominated addresses.
The service and app are free for all Brisbane households and visitors. The alerts cover large hail and thunderstorms, destructive winds and cyclones and flooding from a number of different sources.
For more on the service or to download the app, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/beprepared
Did you know…
If you order a green waste recycling bin for your home between 1 and 31 October, you’ll save $30. Cleaning up the garden before summer just got easier. To order yours, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
Emergency contact card
Complete this emergency card and place it on your fridge
Emergency contact numbers:Life-threatening emergencies (Police / Fire / Ambulance) / 000 or 112 (mobiles)
State Emergency Services (SES) / 13 25 00
ENERGEX (power lines) / 13 19 62
Brisbane City Council / 3403 8888
My emergency contacts
Electrician
Plumber
Gas company
Insurance company
Vet
Neighbour
Be prepared by visiting www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/beprepared
Emergency kit checklist
During an emergency, disruption of services such as power, water and gas may occur. The following checklist will help you to prepare your own emergency kit and be ready for storm season.
Necessities in the event of a severe weather incident include:
• torch
• first aid kit
• portable radio and spare batteries
• waterproof bags with important documents including insurance papers, passports and birth certificates
• portable phone charger
• bottled water, non-perishable food and any infant and pet requirements
• essential medication or prescriptions.
It’s also important to have a hard copy of phone numbers on hand, including local emergency services, an electrician, plumber and your insurance company.
To find out more on preparing an emergency kit, call 3403 8888 or visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/beprepared
Stay flood smart
Our city is built on a floodplain, so Council has created a range of flood information tools to help you understand your flood risk, so you can take action and be prepared.
As part of its commitment to ensuring residents have access to the most up-to-date flood information, Council has updated our online flood information tools, including the Flood Awareness Maps, with new flood data for 17 creek catchments.
Council has a rolling program of new flood studies for creeks, coastal and overland flow and, in partnership with the Queensland Government, for the Brisbane River.
For more information on Council’s flood information tools and how you can protect your home and family from flooding, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/beprepared or call 3403 8888.
Preparing your home for severe weather
With Brisbane’s enviable outdoor lifestyle and subtropical climate comes possible severe weather events, including bushfires and flooding during storm season.
Typically, severe weather season begins in September and there are a number of simple measures you can take to make sure you’re prepared.
Residents and landowners are encouraged to be prepared for possible flooding, storms, heatwaves and bushfires and to have a plan of action in place:
• make sure your home and contents insurance is adequate and up-to-date
• prepare a severe weather plan, as well as an emergency kit
• familiarise yourself with procedures for turning off your gas or electricity, as this can save you a lot of hassle later
• trim trees, clear overhanging branches and rake up twigs and dried leaves from your house and garden
• look after neighbours (particularly the elderly), children, pets and anyone who may be unfamiliar with our potentially severe weather.
For more tips, or to sign up for Council’s free Early Warning Alert Service, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/beprepared or call 3403 8888.
Freedom of Entry to City
Brisbane residents are invited to witness the 8th/9th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment exercise their right to Freedom of Entry to the City of Brisbane.
The ceremonial parade is the most honourable distinction that a city may bestow on a contingent of the Australian Defence Force.
The parade kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 29 October at Adelaide Street (facing King George
Square) and will continue onto George Street.com.au
Proust! Celebrate Oktoberfest
Choosing your Dirndl and Lederhosen is just the beginning of your Oktoberfest Brisbane journey, with the event giving you every opportunity to immerse yourself in German culture in our New World City.
The Brisbane Showgrounds is the perfect setting for the Oktoberfest Tent and the Munich Biergarten on 7-9 and 14-16 October. Traditional stalls create an authentic showcase of the delicious food, world-famous beers and culturally rich atmosphere at the heart of Germany’s spectacular {spektakuläre} Bavarian celebration.
Mouth-watering cuisine, including bratwurst and pork knuckle {schweinshaxe}, perfectly match the specially-brewed beers and world-class wines on offer. You can also enjoy traditional entertainment including yodeller Heidi, Alpenrosen Dance Group and the popular Bavarian Strongmen competition over two of the best weekends on Brisbane’s event calendar!
For more information and to purchase tickets, go to www.OktoberfestBrisbane.com.au
Did you know…
Council now offers free Wi-Fi access in the vibrant precincts of James Street in Newstead and Caxton Street in Paddington. Anyone with a Wi-Fi enabled device can access it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
What is your fitness style?
Council has a range of free or low-cost activities for everyone!
Visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/activeandhealthy to find out how you can become part of our active, healthy city.
Brisbane under the microscope
Museum of Brisbane has turned the perception of a museum on its head with its new exhibition, 100% Brisbane.
The three-year evolving exhibition showcases a living, breathing portrait of Brisbane, through the voices of 100 of our residents and a focus on the city’s most defining moments.
Based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data, each person profiled represents 1% of the city’s population. Together, the 100 people reflect the true face of Brisbane and form the ‘Brisbane DNA’ component of the multi-part exhibition.
The exhibition also takes visitors on a journey from past to present with ‘A Brisbane Story’, a short film written and presented by acclaimed author and actor William McInnes.
A program of events accompanies the exhibition, including panel discussions, curator tours and workshops. For full details and more information, visit www.museumofbrisbane.com.au
Digital workshops
There are 50,000-plus small businesses in Brisbane and if you’re not running one of them, you probably know someone who is.
Either way, Digital Brisbane’s monthly Power-Up Small Business workshops are helping people become a lot more savvy in how they perform in the digital economy.
The two-hour low-cost workshops are held each month at various locations around Brisbane and cover topics including how to make the most of social media platforms, e-commerce, web design and digital marketing – all essential tools in successful business practice in today’s market.