Hi everyone

Brisbane City Council has released the business case for the Moggill Rd round-a-bout upgrade project. It does not include a detailed design, but it is clear that the project was conceived without any detailed consideration of the traffic requirements of residents on the south-side of the Bridge. It is also clear that the preferred option was only determined very late in project development and that several other viable options were ignored. For more details see the story below.

With the Sherwood Rd high street struggling a bit in recent months with high vacancies, the Sherwood Festival Committee has come up with a new plan to 'light up Sherwood' instead of the usual event to meet COVID Safe requirements. The street will  be lit up during December with weekend and evening performances while you are out shopping. The Festival will be back bigger and better in 2021.

And don't miss the FREE Christmas Movie at Sherwood Arboretum on Sunday, 13 December. It's a COVID safe, BYO Christmas event for families. I hope to see you there. 

Regards, Nicole.

P.S. Just a reminder if you are decorating your street with a red bow for Christmas, please tie the bow to the tree rather than using nails. This can adversely impact the health of the tree. I look forward to seeing our local streets celebrating the Christmas spirit.

Brisbane City Council has released the business case for the Moggill Rd intersection. You can read the full report here.

Whilst I am strongly supportive of a fly over, this is a hybrid model that still functions as a T-intersection for city-bound traffic using Moggill Rd in the AM. We all want safer and better roads, public and active transport options and there are some good aspects to this project. But the long-term benefits seem very minor. They don't include travel time savings per se but an estimated small reduction in the waiting time at 2031. 

The report does not include a detailed design but it is clear the project was conceived without any detailed consideration of the traffic requirements of residents on the south-side of the Bridge. Allwood St is the limit of the project in a southerly direction and no details on any traffic modelling or impacts to this intersection are included. It is also clear that the preferred option was only determined very late in project development and that several other viable options were ignored.

I remain extremely concerned about the following aspects of the project:

• the stated project aim to prioritise east-west traffic on Moggill Rd (p51) and potential impact for Coonan St AM traffic;
• possible further high-rise development on unused project land around the new intersection (p22);
• the lack of upgrades between Allwood St and the Bridge and additional turning pressure on the congested McDonalds intersection (p55);
• the lack of safe dedicated off-road cycling facilities;
• extremely poor and unsafe access to Shoppingtown across Moggill Rd and Stamford Rd;
• no details about resumptions or resumption costs; 
• lack of details on the merge arrangements for Coonan St traffic;
• the projects very low benefit cost ratio of 2.08 (other options were even lower); and
• extremely poor consultation summary (att C p78).

Council is estimating the construction costs at $126m, which seems low, and it is due to be built between 2021 and 2024. The Lord Mayor and his 'team' were re-elected in March and they are proceeding with the project. If you have any feedback please let me know. The next step is to see the detailed design plans in 2021. At this point we have to hope that the project does not make things worse for Coonan St users, especially in the AM peak.

The draft Precinct Plan for the major upgrade to the busy recreational hub at Graceville Riverside Parklands at the mouth of Oxley Creek has been released for public consultation. It's time to have your say!

The precinct was identified in the $100m Oxley Creek Transformation Project Masterplan as one of 14 projects to be delivered along Oxley Creek corridor over 20 years. The draft Graceville Oxley Creek Masterplan reflects feedback from the community open day held in November 2019. Council is contributing $5m p.a. towards the funding of the Masterplan with the first projects being delivered upstream at the Larapinta Adventure Playground and Archerfield Wetlands. 

Council is seeking feedback on a range of concepts including:

• a major playground upgrade to the Boat Park at Simpsons Playground;
• new boating, canoeing and fishing access and facilities upgrades to the Sea Scouts Hall for community groups;    
• new park facilities, e.g. BBQs, seating, equipment and more;     
• improved pathway connectivity and pedestrian access;  
• environmental improvements inc. water quality, riparian habitat and trees; and
• creative lighting, interpretative history and place making.

Please don't forget to push for improving the health of the waterway corridor. Attracting people to use the Creek is great but upstream contamination is regularly toxic. 

Another key priority is to upgrade the non-motorised watercraft facilities to support the Pamphlet Sea Scouts, Sailability and the Brisbane Canoeing Club, as well as recreational users. A new pontoon to provide safer access to the Creek and River is critical. This is our chance to get what we need to support river life in our district!

Fill in the online survey to share your feedback. There are so many great ideas for this popular and beloved "Boat Park," so please speak up by 6 December to help make it even better.

If you'd like to receive notifications about the project, you can sign up to the mailing list here.

Lucock Park, Oxley Playground Upgrade Update
A big thank you to the Oxley residents who provided feedback for the $120,000 Lucock Park playground upgrade project. The final designs have now been released and are now awaiting construction in the coming weeks.

Graceville Memorial Park Centenary Project
The Graceville Memorial Park Centenary project was officially unveiled after the Sherwood-Indooroopilly RSL Remembrance Day Service. The finished project includes:

• replacement of park name signage and installation of new banner poles on Oxley Rd, and a new Honour Avenue directional sign at the Oxley Rd entrance;
• eight new interpretive signs around the Fig, behind the grandstand near the war memorial, outlining the history of the Park and war memorial. This project has been undertaken in consultation with the Oxley-Chelmer History Group and Sherwood Indooroopilly RSL and is funded from the Tennyson Ward Parks (SEF) Fund as our community's gift for the Park's centenary; 
• replacement and relocation of bollards around the carpark and the avenue to the war memorial; and
• 19 new Bauhinias and cabbage palms inc. tree guards (removal of one small palm) to re-establish the original Honour Avenue.

I'm proud to have helped fund this project together with the RSL through a $5,000 grant from the local trust funds. A big thank you to the Oxley-Chelmer History Group for their research and creative efforts on designing the signs.

Last Sunday I was pleased to support the Oxley community as we welcomed the new Red Bench in Cawonga Park with a special event organised and supported by the ladies from the local Boomerang Bags group and the Oxley QCWA.

The Red Rose Foundation launched the Red Bench project in 2019 to raise awareness of domestic violence and create a permanent reminder that it occurs within our communities. 

A big thank you to all involved for their hard work to create a warm and welcoming environment for this very emotional event. There is a beautiful yarn memorial for those who have died from domestic violence on the fence behind the QCWA hall that was created on the day. It will remain up for as long as possible, so make sure you head along to Cawonga Park to take a look.

If you or someone close to you is experiencing domestic violence please contact one of the following support services.

• DVconnect womensline 1800 811 811
• DVconnect mensline 1800 600 636
• Brisbane Domestic Violence Service 3217 2544 
• 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732
• Women's Legal Service Helpline 1800 957 957

In the event of an emergency, phone 000.

On another note, it was great to see that the park upgrade is now complete with a new shelter and lights.

Christmas in King George Square
Sat 28 Nov, 6-8pm
King George Square, Brisbane CBD
Live music while you shop at the final twilight market of the year with the festive sounds of Sunnybank Brass. Sing along to the timeless melodies of favourite carols with soloist Izabella Cihajic.

Christmas Holiday Concert
Sun 29 Nov, 2-3pm
Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha Rd, Toowong
Christmas comes early as Windsor Brass entertains with an afternoon concert of favourite festive songs including Sleigh Ride and Frosty the snowman. Sing along as the vocalist leads you through carols such as Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols
Sat 5 Dec, 4-9pm
Riverstage
Bookings required. See event page for more information.
Come along to the annual Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols at Riverstage, City Botanic Gardens on Saturday 5 December 2020. The free carols event will host a variety of Australia's most renowned singers and entertainers as they ignite the big stage in this joyous and magical celebration of Christmas.

Lord Mayor's Seniors Christmas Parties
Tue 1, Wed 2, Thu 3, Mon 7 and Tue 8 December, 5-7:15pm
City Hall Auditorium
Bookings required. See event page for more information.
Enjoy food and drink prior to each show. This much-loved event is refreshed with a new line up every year that features a range of entertainers performing traditional and contemporary Christmas songs. 

BCC Library Christmas Events

Online Event: Craft for the Holidays*
Wed 16 Dec, 1-2pm
Make a wreath using your handprint with two tone colours. Call Fairfield Library on 3403 8615 for more details.

Festive decorations from yarn and fibre (Zoom)*
Wed 9 Dec, 6-6:45pm
Craft-along live with BrisStyle and Kate from My Aunty Anna, to learn how to create different types of pom-poms and tassels. From these we'll create soft sculptures that can decorate your home, your gifts and maybe even yourself!

Festive papercraft ornaments and holiday decorations (Zoom)*
Thu 10 Dec, 6-6:45pm
Craft-along live with BrisStyle and Kate from My Aunty Anna, who will show you some simple techniques to turn strips of upcycled paper into beautiful festive decorations!

Christmas Tea and Trivia (Zoom)*
Fri 18 Dec, 10-10:40am
Enjoy a morning of fun and test your Christmas knowledge with trivia questions.

Brisbane City Council has set a target to help residents reduce their household carbon emissions (otherwise known as your 'carbon footprint') from home energy use, transport, and waste to six tonnes on average by 2031. The current household average is around 11 tonnes, so this represents about a 50 percent reduction.

To help achieve this goal, Council has launched the Brisbane Carbon Challenge. You can use the online Carbon Challenge calculator to find out ways you can reduce your household's energy consumption and track your energy usage over time. 

As part of the Challenge, they are seeking up to 20 "Champion Households" from Brisbane to take part in a live case study to cut their carbon emissions by 50% over a year beginning in early 2021. Champion households will be supported by CitySmart with information, tools, a Home Energy Monitoring System and tailored incentives valued at up to $4500 including GST to help them achieve this goal. For information on how to apply, visit the Brisbane Carbon Challenge website.

Council is offering free immunisation clinics throughout 2020. Clinics are held at the Corinda Bowls Club, 58 Hall Avenue, Corinda from 9-11am each Wednesday (excluding public holidays).

For more information, including immunisation fact sheets, visit the Council website here.

Dewar Tce, Sherwood is posted as 40km/h. The sign collected data for a 12 week period from 7 April to 27 June 2020. During this time 92,621 vehicles (av. 1,129 per day) passed through the portable speed sign zone.

42,762 or 46.2% of all drivers were recorded travelling above the posted speed limit. Of the vehicles speeding, 85% were travelling at or below 53km/h. When prompted, speeding drivers reduced their speeds by an average of 7km to 46km/h within the speed camera range.

Oxley Rd, Graceville is posted as 40km/h during 7-9am and 2-4pm school days and 60km/h at all other times. The sign collected data for a 15 week period from 15 March to 27 June 2020. During this time 570,982 vehicles (av. 5,437 per day) passed through the portable speed sign zone.

During non-school zone periods, 57,758 vehicles or 12.2% of all drivers were recorded travelling above the posted 60km/h speed limit. Of the vehicles speeding, 85% were travelling at or below 63km/hr. When prompted, speeding drivers reduced their speeds by an average of 5kms to 58km/hr within the speed camera range.

During school zone periods, 48,854 vehicles or 12.1% of all drivers were recorded travelling above the posted 40km/h speed limit. Of the vehicles speeding, 85% were travelling at or below 62km/hr. When prompted, speeding drivers reduced their speeds by an average of 7kms to 55km/hr within the speed camera range.

Please slow down around the busy school and pedestrian hot spots!

Walter Taylor Bridge Works
Council is currently undertaking major maintenance works to the Walter Taylor Bridge which include replacement of bearings. Gaining access to the bearings will involve slightly lifting and lowering the bridge, and as such will require the bridge to be closed to traffic at these times.

The Bridge will be closed:

Tue 24 Nov - 9:30pm-5am
Wed 25 Nov - 9:30pm-5am
Thurs 26 Nov - 10pm-5am

Road Resurfacing Erinvale St, Corinda
Road resurfacing works are underway in Erinvale St, Corinda. Works will continue Wednesday 25 November between 7am and 4pm. Residents will receive further notification prior to final ashphalt resurfacing.

Council have asked that residents please avoid parking their vehicles on the road within the work zone during construction hours.

Pedestrian Bridge Maintenance Sherwood Arboretum
Over the past month, the pedestrian bridge along the river and one of the two access boardwalks down to the mooring pontoon at the Sherwood Arboretum have been closed to facilitate maintenance works. Works are due for completion next Monday, 30 November, weather permitting.

Tree Removals
8 Kendall St, Oxley

• One dead tree to be removed by 28 Feb 2021
• Replacement planting of a Pink Bottlebrush tree at same location

47 Ruthven St, Oxley

• One dead tree and one dying tree to be removed by 28 Feb 2021
• Replacement planting of two Pink Bottlebrush trees at same location

16 Bentinck St, Graceville

• Two dead trees to be removed by 28 Feb 2021
• Replacement planting to occur at same location

Tree Works Laurel Ave, Chelmer
Works to preserve the heritage camphor laurel trees on the western side of Laurel Ave, Chelmer are progressing well. Council are currently removing deadwood and conducting general pruning of the trees to improve their health. Council will also be replacing decomposed granite paths on the eastern side of Laurel Ave with a longer wearing alternative.

Indooroopilly Riverwalk Works
Construction of the Indooroopilly Riverwalk has commenced, with works taking place Monday to Saturday, 7am to 5pm. Two barges have been installed along the river to support a large crane and drill rig for piling works. Residents and businesses may experience an increase in noise and low-level vibration during piling works, but Council will monitor noise and vibration levels to ensure they do not exceed reasonable limits. A temporary jetty has been built to offer access to the barges, and I am still pressuring Council to convert the temporary works pontoon into a permanent public pontoon at the end of construction.

As part of the Indooroopilly Riverwalk project, Council will upgrade the intersection at Foxton St and Radnor St, Indooroopilly. There is currently no access into Foxton St for traffic travelling westbound on Radnor St and vice versa. Alternative access is via Station Rd and Riverview Tce.