Living in Brisbane
November 2016 Edition
A message from Lord Mayor Graham Quirk
November is another exciting month to be ‘living in Brisbane’ with many amazing events, festivals, leisure and lifestyle activities happening. With Christmas and summer on our doorstep it’s a great opportunity for all Brisbane residents to get active and explore what’s on offer.
Participate in world-class events that will showcase Brisbane to a global audience. The Asia Pacific Screen Awards, being held in conjunction with the Brisbane Asia Pacific Film Festival, starts this month and looking ahead Brisbane will host the Brisbane International (tennis) and the new Global Tens (rugby).
In this edition, learn more about the Parking Taskforce and its many recommendations, which have been a priority for Council. Read the important ‘Parking Taskforce flyer’ that outlines where we are up to and what’s next in delivering parking improvements across Brisbane.
One of our key long-term objectives is to keep Brisbane clean, green and sustainable – the Free Native Plants program is a great way to help the city achieve this goal. Read more about it and find out how you can claim your free native trees.
Graham Quirk
LORD MAYOR
Christmas appeal
Between now and 23 December, spread the Christmas cheer with the annual Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust Christmas Appeal.
To help those in need, go to www.lmct.org.au or call 3403 5381.
Green up your home
Each year Council offers native plants to residential ratepayers, schools, community groups and clubs on Brisbane City Council leased land through the Free Native Plants program.
A variety of groundcovers, shrubs, climbers, shade and feature trees are available from participating nurseries.
Having native plants in your garden will:
• provide shade and cool your home
• improve habitat for native wildlife
• preserve Brisbane’s subtropical feel
• reduce water use and maintenance.
Spring is a great time of year to garden, so make sure you claim your free plants and help achieve Brisbane’s vision of becoming a clean, green city.
To find out more, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call Council on 3403 8888.
Major events in Brisbane
Do you know how important major events are to Brisbane? Major and significant events are worth $100 million annually to Brisbane’s economy. Events attract visitors to the city who stay in hotels, eat out at restaurants, visit tourist attractions and shop in retail precincts.
Major events occur all year round in Brisbane and can include significant cultural performances, art exhibitions and sporting fixtures.
Brisbane has a blockbuster series of events coming up that will entertain visitors and residents alike. These include the first ever day-night cricket test at the Gabba, featuring Australia versus Pakistan, in December; Brisbane International tennis in January; the inaugural Brisbane Global Tens rugby tournament in February; and the World Science Festival Brisbane in March.
Find out more about upcoming events at www.choosebrisbane.com.au
Did you know
Karawatha Forest is more than 900 hectares in size and has the highest diversity of frog species in Brisbane? Explore walking tracks and find out more at the Karawatha Forest Discovery Centre.
Go to www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘Karawatha’.
CityCats turn 20
We are celebrating 20 years of CityCat services in Brisbane this month!
In November 1996, four CityCats began service on the Brisbane River, with two more vessels added to the fleet in December.
Due to the popularity of the service, another two CityCats were purchased in 1998. Today, 21 CityCats undertake up to four million passenger trips per year on the Brisbane River over a network of more than 22 kilometres.
Fourteen of Council’s 21 CityCats have been wrapped in unique liveries. One was wrapped just last week, in honour of the 20th birthday, nine proudly support Team Brisbane, while the remaining four celebrate Indigenous art, Brisbane hosting the 2014 G20 Leaders’ Summit, The ANZAC Centenary and the people of Brisbane.
For more information on CityCat and ferry services, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
First World War commemorated through Streets of Remembrance
Council has continued its rollout of the symbolic Rising Sun badge on significant street signs throughout Brisbane, in commemoration of Australia’s involvement in the First World War.
Proudly worn by soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Australian Imperial Force in both World Wars, the Rising Sun badge has become an integral part of the digger tradition.
Stage 3 of the Streets of Remembrance project will be delivered in time for Remembrance Day this year.
More than 20 streets, which share the same name as 1916 hospitals, cemeteries and Victoria Cross recipients, were identified throughout Brisbane and will be honoured with the installation of the Rising Sun badge.
Streets include Jackson Road, Acacia Ridge; Symons Road, Sunnybank Hills; Salonica Road, Carina Heights; Rouen Road, Bardon and many more.
For more information on the Streets of Remembrance, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call Council on 3403 8888.
Feedback on Brisbane Metro
During October, Brisbane residents and commuters provided valuable feedback about the Brisbane Metro Subway System after attending six community information sessions.
Residents had their say on converting part of Brisbane’s busways into a metro system. This feedback will assist with the selection of a preferred project option and a preliminary evaluation, which will inform the project’s business case.
The seven kilometre route linking Woolloongabba to Herston utilises 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.
To register for project updates, call 1800 692 333 or visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
Community grants now open
Community groups are encouraged to apply for a share in more than $310,000 worth of Council grants, from 7 November.
Not-for-profit groups can apply for Community Development and Capacity Building Grants to improve and develop services that respond to local and city-wide issues and needs, such as social inclusion.
Healthy and Physical Activity Grants are available to not-for-profit groups for projects that increase participation in community sport, recreation and physical activity.
The Housing Support program provides funding for initiatives or services that respond to the housing and social needs of homeless people.
Council is also inviting applications for funding to support the establishment and development of Men’s Sheds in Brisbane.
In addition to the above grants, Council’s Building Stronger Communities Grants program is open for applications until 6 February 2017. For more information visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/grants or phone 3403 8888.
Christmas cheer
The annual Lord Mayor’s Christmas Appeal is on again from 21 November to help raise funds for charities working hard to provide vital community services and addressing social needs.
For more than 50 years, the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust’s fundraising efforts have improved the wellbeing of the most marginalised, vulnerable members of the Brisbane community.
Every dollar donated to the Trust is provided to charities working with people with a disability, experiencing homelessness or suffering from mental illness, drug or alcohol addiction, trauma, abuse or neglect.
The Christmas appeal runs until December 23. To make a donation, please visit the website www.lmct.org.au or call on 3403 5381.
Microchip your pet
Having your cat or dog microchipped is the best chance for you to be reunited with your pet, should it become lost.
Council is running discounted microchipping events for cats and dogs, offering residents subsidised microchipping, registration on the Homesafe ID pet register and access to pet-related services and products.
Microchipping is just $30 at an event (usually $80-$100) and if you enrol your pet in advance, you’ll receive a further $10 discount.
On the day you can register your dog (if it isn’t already) and get a range of free advice about responsible pet ownership.
The next discounted microchipping event will be held at 1.30-3.30pm on 19 November at Preston Road Park, Carina. For more information or to book, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘Microchipping’.
Valley Multicultural Festival
Chinatown Mall will play host to roving acts, live music and dance as part of the 2016 Valley Multicultural Festival organised by Council.
The festival will take place on Saturday 26 November between 5pm and 10pm and is a great opportunity to celebrate different cultures and view performances from around the world.
As well as some fantastic live entertainment, visitors will be able to browse the market stalls and enjoy a range of delicious global cuisines at the many restaurants.
From Asia to Europe, Africa to the South Pacific, the day will include a wide range of cultural experiences that reflect local communities within Australia’s New World City.
For more on Council supported festivals, call Council on 3403 8888 or visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘Festivals’.
Brisbane Innovate
Brisbane’s smart city credentials were on display to the Information and Communication Technology world last month, with Brisbane City Hall hosting the first ever Brisbane Innovate event.
The day attracted hundreds of people from across digital industries, business and academia and featured key note speeches from experts and innovators, as well as a trade show with local and national vendors.
A series of round table discussions saw a variety of emerging digital opportunities up for debate, including the use of technology to attract students to Brisbane, harness renewable energy and deliver options for managing traffic.
Industry specialists were also given the opportunity to work with Council on innovative ICT ideas for Brisbane’s future.
Find out more by visiting www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and searching for ‘Brisbane Innovate’.
CBD bus service changes
From late 2016, changes will be made to a number of Brisbane City Council bus routes and stops in the CBD in preparation for the start of the construction of the State Government’s Queen’s Wharf Brisbane project.
To ensure the safety of motorists, pedestrians and cyclists during construction, the State Government has required Queen’s Wharf Road to be permanently closed and William Street to be closed for up to six years.
Bus services that currently use these roads will be re-routed and may stop and leave from different locations.
For information on affected bus routes and stops, call TransLink on 13 12 30 or visit www.translink.com.au
For more information on the State Government’s Queen’s Wharf Brisbane project, visit
www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au
Sandgate CBD gets refreshed
Sandgate can look forward to a refresh of its suburban retail centre streetscape, with a $720,000 Council investment.
In 1997, Council delivered a Suburban Centre Improvement Project (SCIP) streetscape upgrade focusing on Brighton Road. Now 20 years on, certain aspects of the centre need to be refreshed and improved.
The southern gateway improvements involve the upgrade of pavement, street furniture, trees and garden beds at the corner of Bowser Parade and Rainbow Streets.
Sections of Brighton Road will be refurbished, with the installation of new street furniture, replanting of key garden beds and restoration of original artworks.
For more information, call Council on 3403 8888 or visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
Telegraph Road corridor upgrade progress
Construction on Stage 1B of the Telegraph Road corridor upgrade, from east of Norris Road to Mustang Street in Bracken Ridge, starts this year.
Stage 1B will continue the widening of Telegraph Road from two lanes to four with a centre median with on-road bike lanes in both directions. Work includes a shared offroad pedestrian and cyclist footpath on the southern side.
This stage of the project is jointly funded by Council and the Australian Government through its Roads to Recovery Programme, with completion expected in late 2017.
The upgrade will improve safety, travel times, road flood immunity and address traffic demands in the area, reducing congestion.
Council is progressing detailed design of Stage 2, which will upgrade Telegraph Road and Depot Road between Mustang Street and the Gateway Motorway ramps, and Lemke Road south to Tallowwood Place.
For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call Council on 3403 8888.
SunPAC now open
Council is pleased to announce the Sunnybank Performing Arts Centre (SunPAC) is now open.
The new facility, which held official opening celebrations last month, includes a theatre room with seating capacity for 300 people.
SunPAC was delivered through a partnership between Council and the Sunnybank Rugby Union Club Ltd and will be operated by the club.
For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call SunPAC on 3323 9629.
Did you know
Council’s new Mobile Library has begun visiting Brisbane suburbs. The custom built vehicle has a collection of more than 6000 items and offers a host of services including e-books, reading suggestions and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Membership to Council’s libraries is free and you can use your library card at any location including the Mobile Library.
Inclusive Brisbane Professional Advice Alliance
Does your community or not-for-profit organisation need advice on management and sustainability? Get free high-level advice from the Inclusive Brisbane Professional Advice Alliance.
For information and bookings contact Council on 3403 8888 or email
Ekka children’s competition winner
Congratulations to nine-year-old Jorja See who took out Council’s Ekka competition to light up the William Jolly Bridge.
Jorja was selected by a panel of judges from a host of entrants whose designs for a lighting projection were created at Council’s Ekka stand.
The competition, which ran over three days of the Ekka, offered young people up to 18 years of age a blank canvas to create a design to be projected onto the bridge. Council has permanent projectors located on either side of the river.
Jorja’s vibrant design lit up the William Jolly Bridge between 29 August and 2 September. Well done Jorja!
For more information on lighting up Council assets, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘light up a Council asset’.
Changes to CityCat timetable
A number of CityCat timetable changes have been in place since mid-October to accommodate construction projects now underway adjacent to the Brisbane River.
Reduced marine speed limits have been implemented as required by Maritime Safety Queensland along certain sections of the river, including a 1.5 kilometre stretch downstream between Northshore Hamilton and Teneriffe.
The timetable changes affect some departure and arrival times.
For further information on the CityCat timetable changes, please visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.