Congratulations to Yeronga State School on their 150th anniversary in 2021. I was delighted to participate in the Schools' special assembly to recognise their foundation in 1871 which included guests speakers, past students, beautiful music from the School band, tree planting and artwork.

A big thank you for retired deputy principal Carla Walker (1992-2017) who gave a brief history of Yeronga SS and Ms Rhyl Hinwood AM (alumni 1945-1954), sculptor, who gave a moving speech about the value of education, creativity and hope. Her sculptures are very famous and include the Mary Poppins statue in Maryborough, diggers in ANZAC Square and the Australian coat of arms in the House of Representatives in Canberra among many others.

A number of trees were also planted by the new Principal, Ms Eunice Webb and many past principals including Mr Johnson, Ms Spanner and Ms Bradbury. 

I'm pictured here with Mr Len Ipson, local resident, veteran the oldest living Yeronga SS student (alumni 1932-1939) and youngest Preppie Stella (and her Dad), together with Federal Member Graham Perrett who cut the ribbon on the historic gate to Park Rd. 

We are so lucky to live in a community that prioritised building schools as part of early European settlement in the district. Today the school is an educational powerhouse for young people with excellent academic results as well as diverse sporting, cultural and artistic opportunities in a diverse and welcoming community. 

In Tennyson Ward there are now three schools, that comprise some of the oldest in Queensland including nearby Sherwood SS (153) and Oxley SS (151) and I welcome Yeronga SS to the sesquicentenary club.

Regards, Nicole.

I'm pleased to say our persistence as a local community has finally resulted in a speed reduction along Ipswich Rd, Annerley to improve safety for pedestrians and motorists.
Following a review by The Joint (State and Council) Speed Limit Review Panel, the speed limit along Ipswich Rd between O'Keefe St and Cracknell Rd will be reduced from 60km to 50km permanently.  The new speed limit will be installed by the end of March 2021, so please look out for the signage changes and slow down. This is a really good step forward given the high number of crashes, near misses and three pedestrian deaths in recent years.

The Panel has, however, rejected our request for a 40km speed zone through Annerley Junction. This is disappointing as a 40km zone through Annerley Junction would have been a great safety improvement for JPSS students.

This was just one of the items on my 10 point plan for road safety in Annerley. Still on the to do list is:

• undertaking a feasibility study for a tunnel bypass under Ipswich Rd to reclaim surface streets for local traffic movements, better public transport, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure;
• upgrading the intersection of Ipswich Rd, Venner Rd and Waterton St to include proper signalised turning lanes;
• installing a green arrow or zebra crossing for pedestrians at the intersection of Ekibin Rd and Ipswich Rd;
• undertaking a Village Precinct Project in Annerley Junction to improve amenity, safety and revitalise community spaces;
• building new footpath, lighting and cycling infrastructure to promote active travel;
• delivering better local bus services through Annerley;
• delivering the promised Venner Rd Freight Bypass to take trucks off Venner Rd;
• delivering traffic calming solutions in Annerley side streets to discourage rat running.

I want to thank all Annerley residents, local businesses at The Junction, Create Annerley and JPSS P&C for their advocacy and support to date through the town hall meetings, petitions and more. It is all helping and with your ongoing support I will push on for more of the important safety initiatives outlined above.

The Hefferan Park upgrade is nearing completion with the new swing, nature play area, seating, retaining wall, mural and semi-mature native trees to be installed in the next 4-6 weeks.

I am now seeking suggestions for the edible garden what sort of plantings do you want? Fruit trees, herbs, veges? Please send your suggestions through to my office via email tennyson.ward@bcc.qld.gov.au by Friday, 5 March. I will then organise a community planting bee for interested residents so you can help establish this wonderful new community green space in the raised garden boxes.

I'm seeking your views on the infrastructure priorities for a proposed upgrade to Fairfield Park, Fairfield, especially the dog park.

Following consultation at the dog park last year, there was a strong view for improved dog park facilities. I have included a range of options in the survey for both dog and general park improvements. Your feedback will help make an even better facility for our local community.

Upgrades are currently underway to dog parks in Hyde Rd, Yeronga and Dunlop Park, Corinda. Several years ago, some entry lighting and a new shelter were installed at Fairfield but local parks trust funds will be available later in the year to further improve dog and park facilities at Fairfield Park.

Approximately $100,000 will be available for one of the options in the survey. Have your say by filling in the online survey  or emailing my office tennyson.ward@bcc.qld.gov.au to request a hard copy of the survey before Friday, 5 March.

Game, Set, Swing - Brisbane City Big Band Live at Queensland Tennis Centre
Sat 20 Feb, 6-8pm
Queensland Tennis Centre, Tennyson

Brisbane City Big Band swings out of summer with a FREE early evening concert of jazz standards and swing classics. This is their debut concert at the Queensland Tennis Centre and the band's first outing since COVID, so come down. The café and bar will be open so enjoy your music with a glass of wine and a meal.

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.

Last week Tennyson Ward welcomed the new eWaste Connection recycling workshop to their new home at 167 Hyde Rd, Yeronga. eWaste Connection is a fantastic social enterprise that offer people with a disability an opportunity to learn work and social skills through electrical waste recycling. For more details on what the workshop can recycle, or to find out how to get involved as a volunteer, see the flyer below.

Healthy Land and Water, with support from Brisbane City Council, spent a day clearing the river frontage area of Brisbane Corso from 310 Brisbane Corso to 355 Brisbane Corso. In one day, approximately 3,649 items of rubbish weighing a total of 608 kilograms were removed from the site.

Would you like to get involved in cleaning up Tennyson Ward? 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
• 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 has released a draft strategy for off-road cycling facilities across Brisbane following community consultation. They are now seeking community feedback on the draft strategy via an online survey. The survey closes on 28 February 2021.

You can also send in a written submission to parks@brisbane.qld.gov.au. 

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 12 February.

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

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:

• Sunday, 21 February, 8pm-5am
• 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.

Ipswich Rd and Ponsonby St Black Spot Project, Annerley
The eastern end of Ponsonby St, Annerley has been permanently converted to one-way access from Ipswich Rd and Junction Tce, Annerley. This change has been made to facilitate the traffic lights being installed at this intersection. Pedestrian access will be maintained via existing footpaths.

Bus Stop Accessibility Improvement Program
Council are upgrading the following bus stops over the next few weeks as part of the Bus Stop Accessibility Improvement Program:

• Kingsley Pde near Violet St, stop 24, Yeronga -- relocation of bus stop sign approx 0.25m south, new concrete slab, replacement of existing seat in same location and installation of new bus zone signs.
• King Arthur Tce at King Arthur - Oxley Ck, Stop 43, Tennyson -- relocation of bus stop sign, replacement of existing seat and relocation away from kerb, new concrete slab, new nib wall and new yellow line.
• Softstone St near Myla Tce, stop 38, Tennyson --  relocation of bus stop sign approx 0.25m south, new concrete slab and kerb repair. Shelter to remain in place.

Cross River Rail Updates
Upcoming road closures related to Cross River Rail works include:

• Intermittently between 8pm Friday 12 February and  5am Monday 15 February -- closure of Fairfield Rd southbound lanes between Kadumba St and Yeronga St, Yeronga, and access to Cowper St and Devon St.
• Intermittently between 8pm Friday 26 February and 12am Monday 1 March -- closure of Fairfield Rd southbound lanes between Kadumba St and Yeronga St, Yeronga, and access to Cowper St and Devon St. Fairfield Rd commuter car park will also be closed.
• Intermittently between 2am Saturday 27 February and 2am Monday 15 February -- full closure of Mildmay St between Ashby St and Fairfield Gardens shopping centre entry. Local access maintained for residents.

For further detail on these works, please visit the Cross River Rail project website.

Tree Removals
78 Park Rd, Yeronga - Yeronga Memorial Park

• Technical Officer inspected one Lophostemon conferta (Brush box)
• The tree is dead
• Removal is expected to be completed by 28 February 2021
• One Lophostemon conferta (Brush box) will be planted at this location to offset canopy loss