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Works on Former Oxley Secondary College Site Transformation Start

Transformation of the former Oxley secondary school site is now underway as works to dismantle existing buildings on site begin.

As part of the site development, principal contractor Rosenlund Deconstruction Civil Engineering has started the demolition of existing school buildings on the Priority Development Area (PDA).

According to Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick, they have awarded the work to Rosenlund following a competitive tender process.

“Rosenlund has 50 years of experience and have successfully managed the dismantling of many large-scale Queensland developments, including the Gold Coast Hospital and Surfers International Beach Resort,” Mr Dick said.

Apart from the principal contractor, the government also engaged a licensed subcontractor. This is for the removal and cartage of identified asbestos from the site. These works will be in accordance with all relevant acts, regulations, and guidelines.

The demolition and removal of all existing infrastructure and buildings, as well as the remediation of the site, is expected to be completed by the end of January 2019.

Former Oxley Secondary College Site Transformation

Interim Land Use Plan Photo credit: www.dsdmip.qld.gov.au

Member for Mount Ommaney Jess Pugh said this is an exciting time for Oxley residents. To ensure the delivery of the best possible outcome for the community, Economic Development Queensland will conduct community consultation.

“When works are completed, the 19-hectare site will offer a community hub, sport and playing fields, and will see the relocation of the Yuingi childcare centre to higher ground,” Ms Pugh said.

“Additionally, it will also feature space for 74 residential homes, with a large average block size of 800 square metres.”

According to Rosenlund Managing Director Neil Rosenlund, neighbouring residents can expect to see perimeter fencing installed and a temporary office set up on site.

“We will then begin to disconnect services, install environmental controls and tree protections,” Mr Rosenlund said.

Graceville: One of Brisbane’s Most Generous Suburbs

Graceville is not only one of Brisbane’s healthiest suburbs, but it’s also one of the most generous, according to the Domain Healthy Suburbs study.

The first ever Domain Healthy Suburbs is a project of Domain, in partnership with Deloitte Access Economics and Tract Consultants. The study aimed to look into how suburbs in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane provide health opportunities to its residents. To determine how healthy a suburb is, a total of 10 indicators that either help or hinder health were used.

These indicators are further categorised under:

Recovery – helps in recovery from illness or injury
Hindrance – elements that hinder an individual’s ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle
Promotion – helps promote and encourage healthy lifestyle

The healthy suburb indicators:

Walkability
Active transport to work
Open space
Tree cover
Access to fresh food/supermarkets
Volunteering
Fast food stores
Liquor stores
Hospitals
Allied/Community health

Whilst volunteering may not be a full representation of social connectivity and community interaction, the data may be useful in providing insight into the level of connectivity of the community in the suburb. The volunteering indicator measured the proportion of population of volunteers in the suburb.

Graceville, as the study showed, is among Brisbane suburbs with the most number of civic-minded individuals. John Fitzwalter of Graceville Community Gardens, attests to how volunteer work help him develop a bond with the people in his community. As chairperson of the garden since 2015, he has been balancing his volunteering-work life keeping plants healthy and green and helping the community.

*Graceville Community Garden/gracevillecommunitygarden.org.au*

Authors of the study also underscored the difficulty of measuring social indicators such as feelings of community and belonging, yet they are important and can influence the mental health outcomes.

For this study, the use of volunteering as an indicator is based on the assumption that the level of volunteerism in a community affects the level of social connection amongst its residents.

The top ten suburbs teeming with kind-hearted individuals are Chelmer, St Lucia, Ashgrove, Kenmore, Bardon, Fig Tree Pocket, Corinda, Chapel Hill, Grange, and Graceville.

Yeerongpilly Green Opens Pedestrian Link in Time for Brisbane International

Tennis fans looking forward to the upcoming Brisbane International in December 2018 will have a much easier transport after the Yeerongpilly Green opened its public parks and pedestrian ‘spine.’

Yeerongpilly Green is an $850-million master-planned development that will incorporate residential, retail, commercial and lifestyle spaces. The Queensland Government has put in $30 million in investment for community infrastructure and green space for the urban renewal precinct.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said that the State Government contribution is important in realising a community where the architecture is inspired by the landscape.

“The pedestrian walkway provides a perfect link from the train station through the site, creating a direct route to the Queensland Tennis Centre, Ken Fletcher Park and Tennyson Reach,” he said.

“This enhanced connectivity between Pat Rafter Arena and the railway station is going to make getting to and from the Brisbane International so much easier.

“Around 90,000 people attend this great tournament over its seven days, so this infrastructure is really vital to managing the masses and growing the event further.”

Tennis Queensland CEO Mark Handley applauded the opening of the Yeerongpilly Green and the pedestrian spine, which will redefine the journey of tennis fans as they get off the train.

“Whether people are attending the Brisbane International, or just visiting the Queensland Tennis Centre throughout the year, their walk towards the iconic Pat Rafter Arena will now be so much more, with restaurants and social spaces enhancing the experience,” Mr Handley said.

“The beautification of the Yeerongpilly precinct makes it an even more attractive pocket of Brisbane for residents, families, and everyone using the tennis centre.”

Brisbane’s Next Lifestyle Village

Yeerongpilly Green promises to be the city’s next lifestyle village. Perfectly positioned near Tennyson, Graceville, Chelmer and Sherwood, the urban village is within reach of the best attractions and facilities in the city.

The community will be surrounded by various parks specialty retail establishments to create a laidback village atmosphere. Once completed, Yeerongpilly Green will have 3,000 new homes and a varied line-up of commercial, including a boutique hotel.

At the centre of the development is the 2.4 hectares of parkland and open space. The pedestrian and cycle network provides an interesting link between the new precinct to the Yeerongpilly Station to the tennis centre.

“People now have a fantastic space to enjoy, on their way to the tennis centre or experiencing the restaurants, parks, playgrounds, and future apartments and offices of Yeerongpilly Green,” Member for Miller Mark Bailey stressed.

QPS Inala Asks As Tropical Cyclone Season Nears—”Are You Storm Ready?”

The tropical cyclone season is coming and the Queensland Police Service, Inala wants to know—“Are you storm ready?”

As part of the “What’s Your ‘WHAT-IF’ Plan” of the government, The Queensland Police Service and Energex have launched the awareness campaign—“Take care, stay line aware”, to remind residents of the potential deadly situations that power outages and fallen powerlines can bring especially during severe weather.

During extreme weather conditions, electricity is most vulnerable to direct lightning strikes, high winds, heavy rain, flooding, and flying debris. Such situations can cause power outages and fallen power lines. It is never too early, therefore, to prepare and be storm-ready.

Take care, stay line aware TVC
Video credit: EnergexLtd/YouTube

Electrical Safety Tips From Energex

If you are in a bushfire area:

Stay away from electrical equipment which may be threatened by fire.
Be mindful of overhead power lines when the smoke is dense.
Once the fire has passed through, be on the lookout for exposed underground cables and melted pillar boxes.

If you are in a flood-prone area:

If water is coming through electrical fittings, contact your electrician.
If flood waters rise to the level of electrical equipment, stay well away to avoid the risk of electric shock.
Using a boat? Look up and live. You’ll be closer to overhead power lines.
Think about relocating your switchboard and wiring.
Household appliances affected by water can be extremely dangerous. Always have it checked by an authorised electrical contractor before using it. If in doubt, throw it out.

Protect your home and family from high winds:

Maintain trees and shrubbery in your yard. Removing weak branches and eliminating trees that could fall on your home during a storm.
Secure outside items like furniture, toys and garden equipment as these could be potential missiles.

How to stay safe when lightning strikes:

Unplug computers, TVs (including the external aerial), stereos and other unnecessary electronic equipment to avoid damage from a power surge.
Avoid using the fixed telephone. If lightning strikes close by the phone system may become highly charged.
Stay inside or away from trees and poles. Lightning usually strikes the tallest point.

Take care, stay line aware during storms TVC
Video credit: EnergexLtd/YouTube

The Inala Police would also like to remind residents to be mindful of the following flooding hotspots during periods of heavy rain:

Bowhill Road
Durack Road
Paradise Road
Larapinta Road
Blunder Road, Oxley

Locals are further reminded not to drive through flooded roads as well as prepare their homes for the upcoming storm season by:

Cleaning the gutters out
Trimming any overhanging branches
Securing loose items in the backyard to prevent them from becoming dangerous missiles during a storm.

Lastly, any individual caught driving during a storm should slow down, turn the lights on, and seek a safe place to shelter as soon as practicable.

For more information about electrical safety visit the Energex website and report any emergency involving power lines or electric shock at 13 19 62.

If you want to know more about how you can better prepare during emergencies, visit the Get Ready Queensland webpage.

Inala Among Top Five Brisbane Suburbs With Most Incidents of Illegal Dumping

Belonging to the top of this list is not something that any suburb aspire to, but Inala is one of the top five suburbs for illegal dumping in Brisbane.

According to Brisbane City Council, they have received more than 970 reports of illegal dumping in the past year financial year. Apart from Inala, Council has identified Runcorn, Forest Lake, Coorparoo, and Kuraby with the most incidents of rubbishing.

BCC is now serious in catching and penalising people who are dumping their waste illegally. In fact, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said that they are keeping a watchful eye on 150 identified illegal dumping hotspots across Brisbane.

“Council is passionate about keeping our city clean, green and sustainable, and provides a range of services to help residents dispose of their waste responsibly, so there is absolutely no excuse for this disgraceful behaviour,” Cr Quirk said.

“Illegal dumping costs ratepayers around $800,000 each year to clean up – money that can’t be invested back into the community through grants, services or facilities,” he added.

Crack Down on Illegal Dumpers

Photo credit: CC0 Public Domain / PxHere

Currently, illegal dumping occurs weekly in more than 40 hotspots across Brisbane. To help put a stop in the act, Council is currently using surveillance cameras to catch offenders. They have installed close to 100 camouflage CCTV cameras across the identified illegal dumping hotspots in Brisbane.

The covert surveillance cameras seemed to be working as the Council was able to catch 36 dumpers just last year.

Take note that illegal dumpers may get a fine of up to $2,600 and even $130,000 for serious offenders.

Reporting Illegal Dumpers

Photo credit: CC0 Public Domain / PublicDomainPictures.net

Apart from the surveillance cameras, BCC is hoping that the community will help fight illegal dumping in the city. Locals who catch illegal dumpers in the act may report them to the Council online or call 07 3403 8888.

Whilst reporting such acts is the right thing to do, it is also important to keep yourself safe by doing the following:

Avoid approaching the vehicle or individuals who are illegally dumping.
Do not let the illegal dumpers know you are there.
Do not touch the illegally dumped material.

Avoid dumping illegally and dispose your rubbish properly with the help of Council’s Brisbane Bin and Recycling app. The free app provides helpful recycling tips and keeps you updated with the collection schedule in your area.

ANPR Technology Trial to Monitor Compliance Restricting Heavy Trucks on BUC

The Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology has been implemented on a three-month trial basis since October 2018 to monitor the compliance of drivers on the restriction of heavy trucks on the Brisbane Urban Corridor without a local destination.

Heavy trucks weighing more than 4.5 tonnes are restricted from using the Brisbane Urban Corridor (BUC) as a shortcut between Rocklea and Wishart unless there is a legitimate purpose.

The BUC is an urban arterial road corridor that links the Gateway Motorway and the Ipswich Motorway via Mt Gravatt-Capalaba, Kessels, Riawena and Granard Roads.

The start of the trial of the ANPR camera technology, aimed at reducing the number of heavy vehicles on busy roads, was welcomed by Member for Mansfield Corrine McMillan. The trial along the BUC will last until the end of the year.

“In the lead up to last year’s election I campaigned heavily on the issue and I have continued to lobby the Minister for measures to reduce the number of unnecessary heavy vehicles on our local roads,” Ms McMillan said.

“Many of the people I speak to in the community raise the issue of traffic along this busy road and I have firsthand experience of this as my office is located on Mt Gravatt Capalaba Road near Garden City Shopping Centre.
“Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera technology was being put in place to allow enforcement,” she said.

Brisbane Urban Corridor

Photo credit: Queensland Government/tmr.qld.gov.au

The new technology, Ms McMillan said, will use cameras that will monitor the travel time of these trucks along the BUC.

Traffic growth, especially with heavy vehicles, had contributed to local congestion in those neighbourhoods, Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said.

The worsening traffic situation have resulted in travel delays, increase in safety concerns, and increased noise for the people working and living in the area. The restrictions will be enforced 24 hours a days, seven days a week to heavy vehicles using the route for through trips.

“Heavy vehicle operators should plan their route along the Logan Motorway and Gateway Motorway, which is the preferred route,” Mr Bailey said.

During the trial period, warning letters will be sent to the operator of the offending vehicle unless there is a legitimate purpose for the vehicle traveling along the UBC, such as a local delivery.

After the trial, infringement notices with fines will be issued to erring heavy vehicle operators who continue to violate the rules. Fines will amount to $652.75 for corporations and $130.55 for individuals and will accumulate three demerit points.

Chelmer & Graceville Median House Price Exceeds $900K

The REIQ recently reported the latest housing market statistics which showed both Chelmer and Graceville nearing the $1 million mark. Chelmer house median price is at $980,000, down -6.8% over the last 12 months but up 3.4% over the last 5 years. In the 2nd quarter of 2018, there were 6 homes sold in the suburb.

Neighbouring suburb Graceville saw average home value increasing to $932,500, up by 13% over the last 12 months and 29.1% in 5 years. During the 2nd quarter of 2018, there were 17 houses sold in the suburb.

Further down south, houses are relatively more affordable, with Oxley median sale at $580,000, an increase of 8% from last year and 32.1% over the last 5 years. Twenty-one sales were made during the 2nd quarter of 2018.

Oxley Road at Corinda Among the First to Have Reduced Speed Limit

A 40 km/hr speed limit around popular suburban shopping and dining precincts, including Oxley Road at Corinda, will be implemented and the state’s peak motoring group is not happy with the move.

The Brisbane City Council is pushing forward with its program to install 40 km/hr safety zones at a number of suburban areas with shops and cafes. The Council is rolling out the measure as part of its plans to protect pedestrians and cyclists.

The first series of slow zones will include shopping precincts on Old Cleveland Road in Stones Corner and Oxley Road at Corinda. Lord Mayor Graham said that zones would be prioritized “where traffic-light crossings are not viable or where pedestrians are crossing the road dangerously, without pedestrian crossing.”

Cr Quirk said that there is evidence suggesting that just as in the city, incidents in the suburbs involving pedestrians were also due to distraction and impatience. He said safety issues occur on a number of locations in the suburbs where a large volume of people walk across street outside the pedestrian crossings.

Several new crossings in the CBD will also be introduced to encourage pedestrians to use the crossings instead of walking into the traffic.

RACQ spokesman Paul Turner was not thrilled, however. He said that it seems to be just a quick, cheap, and inappropriate solution to a complex problem. RACQ have supported the lowering of speed limit to 40 km/hr on Ann Street in the CBD. However, they need to see a “hard evidence” that will support the idea behind the slashed speed limit around shopping and dining precincts before they can support the move.

Mr Turner criticized the lack of consultation on the Council’s part before implementing the changes. They have issues with 40 km/hr zones, he said, especially the heavily congested roads like Old Cleveland Road. He said that the council needs to do more than just putting up a few signs if its serious about pedestrian and cyclist safety.

*Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/brisbane.qld.gov.au*

In their effort to improve safety for those walking and cycling in Brisbane, the Council conducted the Move Safe Brisbane consultation last August. The consultation involved feedback maps on which road users identify locations in Brisbane which they think could be improved for pedestrian and cyclist safety.

The survey closed last 28 August and is now being reviewed and evaluated by the Council. A final report is due by late 2018.

Same Same But Different in Corinda Closes as Owners Plan for New Venture

Same Same But Different, the popular Corinda cafe, is now permanently closed — but it’s not because they haven’t been successful.

On the contrary, owners Kym and Jade Machin decided to close their Corinda cafe despite a successful run which lasted nearly two years, following their decision to open another cafe close to their other successful venture, Bare Bones Society in Jindalee.

Photo credit:Bare Bones Society/Facebook

The couple chose to let go of Same Same But Different in Corinda since running three cafes all at once would take up too much of their time.

In addition, Kym Machin will be the executive chef of Stanley at the Howard Smith Wharves. Therefore, to say that they will have a lot on their plate would be an understatement. The Hong Kong-inspired eatery is the new project of husband and wife Andrew and Jaimee Baturo that will boost the dining experience in Brisbane’s new lifestyle precinct.

Same Same fans can still enjoy delicious food at Bare Bones Society as well as in the soon-to-open grab-and-go cafe.

Interested in dropping by Bare Bones Society? You may check out their All-day Dining Menu plus their new Spring Dinner Menu which is available from 6:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Jade Machyn will be overseeing the two foodie places whilst Kym will be joining Stanley as it opens in Howard Smith Wharves in December 2018.

BCC Pushes to Save Significant Trees in Sherwood

Under the New Vegetation Protection Orders (VPOs), Brisbane City Council is pushing to save 14 significant trees in Sherwood alone.

The New Vegetation Protection Orders will protect 180 significant trees across Brisbane.

Natural Assets Local Law 2003 (NALL)

Brisbane City Council’s Natural Assets Local Law 2003 (NALL) protects the city’s natural assets. With this law, Council has a means to protect the city’s biodiversity. Also, there is better management of the impact of weeds and hazardous vegetation. Consequently, this encourages the preservation of native flora and fauna.

Significant trees in Sherwood — Forest Red Gum tree in Sherwood. Photo credit: Geekstreet/Wikimedia Commons

Also, natural landforms can be preserved. These include bushland, wetlands, and waterway corridors. These also include ridgelines and steep slopes.

Additionally, restricting indiscriminate clearing of vegetation keeps the city’s landscape intact. This will preserve the city’s historical and cultural values.

Interestingly, NALL is not a land-use control. However, it does require landowners to adopt a responsible approach in vegetation management. Along with the Brisbane City Plan 2014, NALL is an important consideration in any proposal to build on, subdivide, or develop land. If you are buying a new property, you can contact Council or undertake a property search to find out if it is affected by a NALL.

With a promise to keep Brisbane green, Council has been protecting vegetation with local laws since 1991. Local laws provide a balance between lifestyle and the need to protect the city’s environment, people, and property.

Vegetation Protection Orders (VPOs)

Under the NALL, BCC is authorised to protect significant trees and vegetation. Additionally, Council provides support to owners who have protected vegetation on their property. With this, owners can still use the land or manage the protected vegetation in it.

Under the law, making a VPO involves three things. Initially, vegetation must be nominated for protection. Then, Council assesses their suitability. Lastly, the community makes their submissions for Council consideration.

Significant Trees in Sherwood

Here is a list of the significant trees in Sherwood that are in the new VPOs.

Tree	Properties
1 Forest Red Gum	81 and 83 Berry Street
1 Forest Red Gum	80 Hamilton Street 135a and 137 Hilda Street
1 Hoop Pine	107 and 111 Borden Street
1 Hoop Pine	11 Junction Street
1 Hoop Pine	18 and 20 Magazine Street 69 and 71 Berry Street
1 Hoop Pine	373 and 377 Oxley Road
1 Hoop Pine	58 and 58A Robertson Street 103 and 107 Dewar Terrace
2 Hoop Pines	351 Oxley Road
2 Weeping Figs	22, 24, 26, and 30 Douglas Street 1/28 and 2/28 Douglas Street Douglas Park
1 Weeping Fig	3 Jolimont Street
1 Weeping Fig	35, 37, and 39 Linda Street 56 Lilly Street
1 Bunya Pine and 1 Crows Ash	533 Sherwood Road 20 Egmont Street

To see the full list, click here.