Hi everyone

In the coming weeks, the State Government's Cross River Rail Project are conducting construction works at Yeronga Station which will require the closure of the southbound lanes of Fairfield Rd  between Kadumba and Cardross Sts, Yeronga. Southbound lane closures will be in place over the following dates and times:

• 8pm Friday March 19 to 5am Saturday March 20
• 8pm Saturday 20 March until 5am Monday 22 March
• 8pm to 5am from Wednesday 31 March to Thursday 8 April

Two-way traffic along this section of Fairfield Rd will be maintained thorugh a contraflow arrangement with the northbound lanes. Access to Cowper and Devon Sts will be via Shottery St only (off Yeronga or Kadumba Sts), and access to Nelson and Cook Sts will be via Stevens St only (also off Yeronga St).

In addition to the road closure, there will also be a temporary closure of the Yeronga station commuter carpark between 6:30pm Friday 19 March and 2am Monday 22 March, and 8pm to 5am from 31 March until 8 April. 

Please keep an eye out for signage to direct you around the work areas and follow the directions of traffic control.

The closures are related to the closure of Yeronga Station from mid-April 2021 for approximately six months to facilitate station upgrade works. A new bus route (109 StationLink) will be introduced to replace the train during this time. Five temporary bus stops will be installed between Moorooka and Boggo Rd Stations, including one at Fairfield Rd, Yeerongpilly; one on Wilkie St, Yeerongpilly; and two on Fairfield Rd, Yeronga.

Yesterday the Lord Mayor announced that Council would be undertaking a feasibility study into duplicating the Walter Taylor Bridge. Apparently this work started last October. I read about this announcement in the media as the Lord Mayor and Council did not have the courtesy to advise me, or you, about these plans.

There is no question the Walter Taylor Bridge, and Coonan St, is a nightmare particularly during school/uni terms. However, the issue of a 2nd Bridge has been unnecessarily politicised in my view. The starting point should be do we need a second crossing, what mode is best, if so, where should it go and how does it connect to the existing road network on the southern and northern side of the river?

Council has ignored all other suggestions I've made to date such as extending City Cats up river or allowing a trial of vehicles on the Eleanor Schonnel Bridge. The University of Queensland is major trip generator and there is an underutilised Bridge from Dutton Park to St Lucia built by Council at great expense.

It also seems in the political gamesmanship going on that following Mark Bailey's request for a 2nd Bridge, the Lord Mayor has asked Mark Bailey to consider moving or "realignment" of the Indooroopilly Rail Station. Politics.

Good planning should not start with a presumption about the solution, as the Lord Mayor and Mark Bailey are doing. A presumption that could see traffic numbers skyrocket up Oxley Rd and Honour Ave, if it is easier for traffic from the south-western suburbs to access the inner City and CBD via Oxley Rd than alternatives like the Centenary Motorway or Ipswich Motorway. There is also the question of where traffic would go on the Indooroopilly side of the Bridge? Member for Ryan and former Councillor, Julian Simmonds, has publicly stated that it would be fed into Coonan St. This is mindboggling given the ban on right turns at Westminister St and the dysfunction of that intersection now. In their Masterplan for the Witton Army Barracks, Council describes the Lambert Rd intersection at the Station as a slow, shared zone and Indooroopilly residents are currently fighting to stop a new school in this area. I cannot imagine they will want thousands of vehicles a day streaming up Lambert Rd and Clarence Rd. I do not want to see Oxley Rd turn into Ipswich Rd a dangerous, noisy and congested road and divides the community. 

I fear this will be a divisive issue in our community. There will of course be a wide variety of views. Let's remember it's our community and be respectful as this process unfolds. It is extraordinarily complex and has long term implications for the Oxley Rd Peninsula. It's not just a simple matter of another Bridge for local users; we can't stop road users from elsewhere coming into our community to access it.

Once details about the feasibility study process and how the public can be involved are made available I will let you know. It's important that you speak up. I look forward to working with you on this issue over coming years.

Fairfield Park Survey
I'm seeking your views on the infrastructure priorities for a proposed upgrade to Fairfield Park, especially the dog park. Approximately $100,000 will be available for one or more of the options in the survey.

Have your say by filling in the online survey before Friday, 26 March.

Yeronga Memorial Park
I'm really proud to have provided a $20,000 grant from our local Parks Trust Funds to the Stephens RSL for their Yeronga Memorial Park Centenary Project.

Construction of a new sandstone all conflicts memorial wall in the Park is set to commence as soon as the wet weather clears. Work is due for completion prior to ANZAC Day. A big thank you to the Stephens RSL members and Matt from Barefoot Landscaping for all their hard work in getting this project delivered.

Elsewhere in the Park, new lights are being installed in the off leash dog parks over the next two months in time for winter. Two new lights will be installed in the small dog park and one in the large dog park to provide better evening functionality for local dog owners.

The historic shed between the Brisbane Bridge Club and Stephens Croquet Club is finally being upgraded. Council has secured a $200,000 grant from the Federal Government to:

• replace the roof;
• upgrade doors and windows;
• repair the slab;
• install a new power supply system;
• install a termite management system.

This is great news as the shed was used by the medieval jousters and has fallen into significant disrepair. The shed is one of the oldest structures in the Park and it will be great to see this work undertaken over the next couple of months.

Fairfield Library is getting smarter with new technology being installed to provide better services to our community.

The upgrade, commencing in March, includes SmartBlades, high tech shelves that automatically check in your book upon return. The old return counter will be removed and a new wi-fi reading and work nook established in the front window.   A new adult and children's Fastback display are being established to help improve access to popular new releases and the front counter and automated check-out are being relocate to improve access and functionality.   There will also be a new lick of paint and murals for the front walls to enhance the library's atmosphere. 

Ten years on from the Library's reopening after the floods this is a welcome upgrade. However, Council is still refusing to extend the Library opening days to Sunday and Monday. A few years ago the Lord Mayor said no to opening the Library seven days a week but I believe we should continue pushing for this valuable community hub to be open at least six days per week to better serve our community. Sign the petition and send a message to the Lord Mayor and City Hall that we love our local Library and want it open longer. 

Following the success of the recent Bands in the Park event, Game, Set Swing, Brisbane City Council is continuing its creative partnership with the Tennis Centre through March, April and May. Upcoming concerts include:

• Saturday 27 March, 6-8pm, Tennis Centre, Twilight Jazz by the River Liam Conor & Co quartet perform a mix of Latin, Afro and Swing classics followed by Sunny Bank Brass and Izabella Cihajic performing the smooth swing standards of Michael Bublé.
• Saturday 17 April, 6-8pm Tennis Centre, We'll Meet Again  wartime swing of Glen Miller and Duke Ellington by Windsor Brass.
• Saturday 22 May, 6-8pm Tennis Centre, Love, Set, Match  pop music from the decades featuring Peter Vance and Rachael Pearse accompanied by Brass Roots Live.

Register via Eventbrite to meet COVID safe requirements. Entry is free with some seating provided and grassed areas available. Baseline Bar and Café is open to purchase for wine and food.

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 31 March, 2021.

I hope you will be able to make it to one of the following local ANZAC Day services on April 25 to honour the courage of our service men and women:

Yeronga Memorial Park Service - Stephens RSL Sub Branch

• 6:50am - Assemble outside Yeronga State School, Park Rd, Yeronga
• 7:00am - March off to Yeronga Memorial Park
• 7:30am - Service at Yeronga Memorial Park, Honour Ave, Yeronga

Graceville Memorial Park Service - Sherwood-Indooroopilly RSL Sub Branch

• 7:00am Assemble at cnr Appel St and Verney Rd E
• 7:15am March down Verney Rd E onto Oxley Rd to Graceville Memorial Park
• 7:30am - Service at Graceville War Memorial, Graceville Memorial Park, 173 Oxley Rd, Graceville

Tennyson Service - Pamphlett Tennyson Sea Scouts

• 8.30am - Service at Myla Tce Memorial, Tennyson (with special guests)

Dutton Park Service - Yeronga-Dutton Park RSL Sub Branch

• 8:25am - Assemble at Heffernan Park, Annerley Rd, Annerley
• 8:30am - March off to Gair Park
• 8:30am - Service at Gair Park, Gladstone Rd, Dutton Park

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 26 March.

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

Brisbane Cso, Fairfield is posted as 60km/h. The sign collected data for a 14 week period from 18 September to 26 December 2020. During this time 340,234 vehicles (av. 3,402 per day) passed through the portable speed sign zone.

31,763 or 9.3% of all drivers were recorded travelling above the posted speed limit. Of the vehicles speeding, 85% were travelling at or below 67km/h. When prompted, speeding drivers reduced their speeds by an average of 2km to 65km/h within the speed camera range.

Venner Rd, Annerley is posted as 60km/h. The sign collected data for 14 week period from 17 September to 26 December 2020. During this time 533,618 vehicles (av. 5,283 per day) passed through the portable speed sign zone.

16,510 or 3.1% of all drivers were recorded travelling above the posted speed limit. Of the vehicles speeding, 85% were travelling at or below 66km/h. When prompted, speeding drivers reduced their speeds by an average of 7km to 59km/h within the speed camera range.

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

50km/h Speed Limit Installation Ipswich Rd, Annerley
The speed limit change from 60km/h to 50km/h along Ipswich Rd, Annerley from O'Keefe St to Cracknell Rd will come into effect from Wednesday 24 March, 2020. Please observe the new speed limit.

Jack Pesch Bridge Maintenance 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 Cornwall St, Annerley
Road resurfacing works are underway in Cornwall St, Annerley from Annerley Rd to Ipswich Rd. Works are scheduled for completion by the end of March, weather permitting.

Road Maintenance Patching Intersection of Clive St and Ipswich Rd, Annerley
Interim patch repair work of 200m2 in area at the intersection of Clive St and Ipswich Rd, Annerley is scheduled for completion by the end of April 2021. 

Stormwater Drainage Rehabilitation Lagonda St, Annerley
Works to clear a blockage in the stormwater drainage outside 15 Lagonda St, Annerley will take place from 22 March to 2 April, weather permitting. Works will involve connecting new sections of pipe into the existing stormwater drainage network and removing damaged pipes.

Bus Stop Accessibility Improvement Program
Council are relocating and upgrading Yeerongpilly Station, Wilkie St, Stop 30, Yeerongpilly over the next few weeks as part of the Bus Stop Accessibility Improvement Program. Works include relocation of bus stop outside 6 Green St, Yeerongpilly; a new concrete boarding point; tactile ground surface treatments; waitings areas and seating; relocation of existing bins; and a marked bus zone.

Tree Removals
78 Park Rd, Yeronga - Yeronga Memorial Park

• The Arboricultural Coordinator has received State Heritage approval to remove five Wattle trees that failed during the  December 2020 storm event
• Council has also received State Heritage approval to remove six dead wattle trees from behind Yeronga Park Kindergarten
• Tree removals will be scheduled for completion 30 March 2021
• Tube-stock replacement planting of native species has been approved by State Heritage to be completed by 30 June 2021

78 Park Rd, Yeronga - Yeronga Memorial Park

• One mature Cabbage Palm failed on 16 December 2020 in a storm event
• Approval for removal has been granted by State Heritage
• Removal will occur by 31 March 2021
• Replacement planting of the same species in 200L stock will be completed by 30 June 2021

Cross River Rail
Yeronga Station will be closed from mid-April 2021 for approximately six months to facilitate station upgrade works. A new bus route (109 StationLink) will be introduced to replace the train during this time. Five temporary bus stops will be installed between Moorooka and Boggo Rd Stations, including one at Fairfield Rd, Yeerongpilly; one on Wilkie St, Yeerongpilly; and two on Fairfield Rd, Yeronga.