Hi everyone

I have good and bad news. There is some short term pain ahead with upcoming closures of the Walter Taylor Bridge for the bearing replacement project. From 22 Feb to 25 Feb there will be full overnight closures (ranging between 9:30pm and 5am) followed by one lane, overnight closures from 28 Feb to 16 March. Further details are listed in the story below. These works are important to prolong the longevity of the Bridge but will be disruptive. Please plan your journey in advance to avoid a long detour.

We have two great Movies in the Park coming up. First is in Yeronga Memorial Park, 13 March, with a retro screening of The Goonies, see the flyer in What's On below. Plus, save the date for some Easter fun with a special movie screening in the Sherwood Arboretum on Saturday, 27 March, music from 5.30pm and movie from 7pm. I hope everyone can join me for these free family movie screenings. There will be music and food available on the night.

Congratulations to all our wonderful community volunteers who were recognised over Australia Day at both the Moreton Service Awards and at City Hall. We are lucky to have so many tireless volunteers who work behind the scenes to make our local community a fun, inclusive, safe and vibrant place to live.

Regards, Nicole.

Council is currently undertaking major maintenance works to the Walter Taylor Bridge which include replacement of bearings. Full closure of the Bridge will take place on the following dates:

• Monday, 22 February, 9:30pm-5am
• Tuesday, 23 February, 9:30pm-5am
• Wednesday, 24 February, 9:30pm-5am
• Thursday, 25 February, 10pm-5am

The bridge bearing works will be completed, weather and construction conditions permitting, on Thursday, 25 February 2021. The cyclist and pedestrian detour will remain in place until Friday, 26 February 2021.

Maintenance and inspections works on the Walter Taylor Bridge and Jack Pesch Bridge will take place from Friday, 26 February until late April 2021.

The Walter Taylor Bridge will require a single lane closure between Sunday, 28th February and Tuesday, 16 March, 9pm to 5am to facilitate inspection works.

Investigation works on the cable stays of the Jack Pesch Bridge will take place from Sunday, 7 March until late April 2021, between 9pm to 5am, Sunday to Friday. The Jack Pesch Bridge will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists during this time.

I was delighted to attend the 2021 Lord Mayor's Australia Day Awards in January where two distinguished local residents were honoured with Australia Day Achievement Awards for their significant volunteering in our community.

Congratulations to Gerry Barry AM for 50 years service as the volunteer Chair of the Queensland Stoma Association Ltd and 93 years young Gordon Letford for his service at Bethesda Aged Care in Corinda. Both were remarkable and humble recipients of this year's awards.

I would also like to extend my congratulations to the local recipients of the 2021 Moreton Service Awards which were also held in late January. Lara Minion (Boomerang Bags Oxley),  Iris Jones (Annerley Yeronga QCWA), Jane Clarke (Oxley QCWA), Rhyll Bennett (Corinda Bowls Club), Cynthia Schonfeld (Graceville Bowls Club), Val Layne (Stephens Croquet Club), Lewis Bellamy-Wells (Chelmer BMX Track), Erna Brazier (Sherwood Neighbourhood Watch), Peter Cooper (Yeronga Neighbourhood Watch/Yeronga District Residents Association), Suzanne Cooper (Yeronga Bushcare Group), Frances Brandon (Brandon Shoes), Paul and Joan Coghlan (Sherwood Probus), Ainsley and Aaron Moxham (Rhee Taekwon-do), Karen Possingham (Sherwood Meals on Wheels) and Wendy Cox (Graceville Fine Foods) were all recognised for their volunteer work within the local community. We are lucky to have such marvellous people working behind the scenes in community groups within Tennyson Ward.

Last but not least, it was my great privilege to spend Australia Day welcoming our newest Australian Citizens at the citizenship ceremonies at Yeronga and Oxley. The ceremonies were followed by a fun community celebration at the annual Oxley Bowls Club Pool Party.

Great news Graceville. You may have noticed that there's been some improvements at Faulkner Park, Graceville.

Council have installed two new bubblers each with a dog bowl, drink bottle refill tap and drinking bubbler along the footpath on Waratah St outside the netball courts. These are a fantastic addition to the park for local residents exercising as well as during netball season.

As part of this project, Council have also replaced seating in the park, and minor amenities upgrades to the dog park are underway. 

The Lord Mayor and his 'team' have formally responded to our community's petition regarding Francis Lookout and have refused to buy the adjoining blocks, despite a similar buy back ($6m of ratepayers funds) in a residential area of Mt Gravatt East for another Councillor. It was a very disappointing outcome given the historic, environmental and cultural significance of the Francis Lookout and one I did not support at Council.

The State Government, via SARA, has now acknowledged errors in the arborist's report in support of the development application but it comes too late for either Council or the State Government to stop the approved development. Council did not accept that the arborist made any errors which is extraordinary. The State Government advises that the conditions requiring a qualified arborist to be onsite during any earthworks during the new house build should be enough to protect the trees in the Park. We can only remain vigilant to ensure this is the case as work proceeds. So far it's still only one house approved at 9 Francis St, Corinda and works could start at any time. I will update residents should any further DAs be lodged in future.

The good news amidst the bad is that Council has acknowledged that more needs to be done to maintain the Park. A conservation management plan (CMP) is underway to help document the significance of the Lookout and guide future upgrades. These are useful documents to help guide the long term management of heritage listed parklands.

Council is working on a number of enhancement projects, including to the fencing, gravestones, trees and more. I have also been working on a new interpretative signage project so that the community and visitors can learn more about the significance of the Lookout. This work will be completed over coming months.

Image credit: Panoramic view from Francis Lookout, Corinda, across the Brisbane River towards Mt. Coot-tha, 1931. Photo credit: John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Negative number: 59074

Guided Walks at Sherwood Arboretum
Sun 28 Mar, 9:30-10:30am
Sherwood Arboretum

The Volunteer Guides of Brisbane Botanic Gardens will be showcasing the Arboretum's wonderful collection of more than 1100 specimen trees during this free walk of about one hour. With the Arboretum looking its very best after welcome summer rain, this is certainly an excellent time to discover the stories behind some of Australia's native trees.

Please call Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha on 3403 2535 from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm weekdays as bookings are essential for this relaxing walk which starts at the Jolimont Street car park.

If you can't make this month's walk, please remember you can book ahead with Brisbane Botanic Gardens for these popular guided walks to be held monthly at Sherwood Arboretum.

QUT Pathways to Politics for Women 2021 Applications Now Open

Do you know a woman who is interested in a career in politics? Applications are now open for the 2021 QUT Pathways to Politics for Women program. The program covers skills such as:

• understanding politics;
• articulating your personal leadership vision;
• developing resilience;
• building your base;
• speech writing;
• media training;
• understanding policy making; and
• campaigning.

Applicants must have completed an undergraduate or posgraduate degree from a Queensland University. Applications must be submitted online prior to 28 February, 2021.

Clean Up Australia Day is fast approaching and residents are encouraged to get involved and help clean up our local parks, streets and bushland. There are local clean up events taking place at:

• Simpsons Playground Reserve, Graceville - Sun 7 March, 7:30-11:30am
• Ed Kuepper Park, Oxley - Sun 7 March, 7-8:30am
• Nosworthy Park, Corinda - Sun 7 March, 8-10am
• Oxley Creek Common/Sherwood Rd, Sherwood - Sun 7 March, 8-10am
• The Esplanade, Yeronga - Sun 1 March, 3:30-5:50pm
• Tennyson Reach, Tennyson - Sun 7 March, 8-10am

Visit www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au to either register a clean-up site or join an existing site and receive a clean-up kit for use on the day.

Council is offering free immunisation clinics throughout 2021. Clinics are held at the Corinda Bowls Club, 58 Hall Avenue, Corinda from 9-11am every second Friday (excluding public holidays). The next clinic is scheduled for February 26.

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 an 8 week period from 2 July to 30 August 2020. During this time 95,569 vehicles (av. 1,592 per day) passed through the portable speed sign zone.

38,340 or 40.1% of all drivers were recorded travelling above the posted speed limit. Of the vehicles speeding, 85% were travelling at or below 52km/h. When prompted, speeding drivers reduced their speeds by an average of 8km to 44km/h within the speed camera range.

Chelmer St East, Chelmer is posted as 50km/h. The sign collected data for an 8 week period from 2 July to 30 August 2020. During this time 84,491 vehicles (av. 1,408 per day) passed through the portable speed sign zone.

11,671 or 13.8% of all drivers were recorded travelling above the posted speed limit. Of the vehicles speeding, 85% were travelling at or below 58km/h. When prompted, speeding drivers reduced their speeds by an average of 5km to 53km/h 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. Full closure of the Bridge will take place on the following dates:

• Monday, 22 February, 9:30pm-5am
• Tuesday, 23 February, 9:30pm-5am
• Wednesday, 24 February, 9:30pm-5am
• Thursday, 25 February, 10pm-5am

The bridge bearing works will be completed, weather and construction conditions permitting, on Thursday, 25 February 2021. The cyclist and pedestrian detour will remain in place until Friday, 26 February 2021.

Maintenance and inspections works on the Walter Taylor Bridge and Jack Pesch Bridge will take place from Friday, 26 February until late April 2021.

The Walter Taylor Bridge will require a single lane closure between Sunday, 28th February and Tuesday, 16 March, 9pm to 5am to facilitate inspection works.

Investigation works on the cable stays of the Jack Pesch Bridge will take place from Sunday, 7 March until late April 2021, between 9pm to 5am, Sunday to Friday. The Jack Pesch Bridge will be closed to pedetsrians and cyclists during this time.

Road Resurfacing Wylie St, Graceville
Road resurfacing works are underway in Wylie St, Graceville from Molonga Tce to Fraser St. Works are scheduled for completion 1 March, weather permitting.

Tree Removals
Graceville Memorial Park, Plumridge St frontage

• One heritage listed Bunya Pine died in December 2020
• The tree has been scheduled for removal by 28 February 2021
• Replacement planting of an advanced Bunya tree will take place by 30 April 2021

Energex Tree Removal requests
The following street trees are scheduled for removal due to their impact on Energex infrastructure:

• 32 Lilly St, Graceville - 1x Jacaranda tree (removal scheduled to facilitate power pole relocation -- no replacement planting will be conducted)
• 83 Lilly St, Graceville (Wylie St frontage) - 1x Jacaranda tree
• 146 Long St East, Graceville - 1x Melaleuca tree
• 15 White St, Graceville - 2x Leopard trees
• 52 Sandon St, Graceville - 1x Leopard tree
• 70 Sandon St, Graceville - 1x Leopard tree
• 74 Sandon St, Graceville - 1x Mulberry tree
• 222 Verney Rd East, Graceville - 2x Leopard trees
• 226 Verney Rd East, Graceville - 1x Leopard tree
• 334 Verney Rd East, Graceville - 1x Pongamia tree
• 9 Jaora St, Graceville- 1x Pongamia tree

Replacement plantings of appropriate tree species will be conducted on the same sites following the tree removals.

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.

A full closure of Radnor St is required on the following dates:

Radnor Street between Riverview Terrace and Foxton Street will be closed on the following dates:

• Saturday 27 February, 5am-2pm
• Saturday 6 March, 5am-2pm
• Saturday 13 March, 5am-2pm