Happy New Year everyone!

2022 may not have started as we all might have wished, but I hope you are spending some quality time locally with your family and friends.  My office has reopened but Council has asked us to take precautions given the current Omicron outbreak. Attendance at my office is by appointment at the moment, so please call on 3403 8888 if we can be of any assistance.    

Council libraries and pools are open, with health requirements in place and the vast majority of school holiday events still on. See all the details below.

Unfortunately we have decided to postpone the Oxley Australia Day Pool Party until later in the year. Please keep your eye out for the new date. Given the popularity of the event, with thousands of people attending last year, the committee’s overwhelming priority was to keep the community safe.   

Keep safe and I look forward to working with you in 2022.

Regards, Nicole.

A number of community groups in the Tennyson Ward were successful applicants for the Lord Mayor's Better Suburbs Grants in the first round of the Community Support category. Congratulations to the following groups:

• Fairfield Christian Family Church - materials for employment programme
• ReThink Store - business planning for upscale of glass reuse system
• Sherwood Indooroopilly Sub Branch Inc. - replace commercial dishwasher
• St John's Oxley Community Men's Shed - air filtering system
• Oxley Bowls Club - strategic plan and revised governance structure
• St John's Anglican Church, Oxley - air conditioning for community hall
• Graceville Bowls Club - upgrading toilet facilities
• Probus Club of Chelmer and District Inc. - purchase of laptop and accessories
• Sherwood Neighbourhood Centre Inc. - Connecting our Community outreach project
• Yeronga Meals on Wheels Inc. - building maintenance and repair
• Western Districts Netball Association Inc. - purchase of asphalt court sweeper
• Half Dozen Group of Artists Inc. - painting exterior of building
• South West United Women's Hockey Club Inc. - communications strategy and scoping potential sites for turf based sporting facility
• Australia Skateboarding Development Federation Ltd. - equipment for skateboarding community events
• Brisbane Rugby League Referees Association Inc. - eastern fence restoration

Applications are now open for the second round of funding from the Lord Mayor's Better Suburbs Grants - Community Facility category with grants of up to $10,000 available to improve, develop and maintain community facilities. You can apply online via the Council website. Applications close 28 March, 2022.

Wheely Fun*
Tue 18 Jan, 8-9am
Ken Fletcher Park, Tennyson
Our friendly trainer will help your young one make the transition from training wheels to two wheels, and provide some tips for how you can keep encouraging them. Suitable for ages 5-7.
To book visit Eventbrite  or for more information phone BEAKA on 0419 648 296.

Junior Bike Riding Skills*
Tue 18 Jan, 9-10:30am
Ken Fletcher Park, Tennyson
This course is suitable for young riders who can ride confidently on two wheels. Through riding-based games and fun activities your child will learn the skills needed to have fun off-road and on the bikeways. Suitable for ages 5-10.
To book visit Eventbrite  or for more information phone Spoke Sixteen on 0468 671 135.

GOLD'n'Kids Toys from the Past*
Wed 19 Jan, 9:30-10:30am
Wed 19 Jan, 10:30-11:30am
John Walker Place, Yeronga
Participants make their own toys together including thaumatropes, jumping jacks and yo-yo's using every-day and repurposed materials. Suitable for seniors and ages 4+. Cost $5. To book visit Make and Meld. For more information phone 0435 110 866.

Multicultural Games*
Wed 19 Jan, 10am-12pm
Graceville Riverside Parklands, Graceville
Experience interesting games that are played around the world - Egypt, Africa, Finland, Sweden, Germany and Australia. Suitable for ages 10-17.
To book visit Life Be in It FunWorks. For more information phone 0403 221 676.

String Art in the Park*
Fri 21 Jan, 9:30-10:30am
Fri 21 Jan, 10:30-11:30am
Ken Fletcher Park, Tennyson
Kids get active as they learn to use a hammer and nails in a safe manner to make their own designs. They then relax and unwind as they use colourful yarn to create patterns and shapes. Suitable for ages 6-12. Cost $5.
To book visit Make and Meld. For more information phone 0435 110 866.

Freestyle Scooter Coaching
Fri 21 Jan, 10am-12pm
J.F. O'Grady Memorial Park, Fairfield
Learn new skills on your scooter and how to ride the park safely. Suitable for ages 10-17.

GOLD'n'Kids Kayak Explore*
Sat 22 Jan, 1-4pm
Simpsons Playground, Graceville
This program is specifically designed as an opportunity for seniors to enjoy some quality time with their kids and/or grandchildren and is a great opportunity to enjoy a relaxing paddle and explore your local waterways together. Suitable for seniors and ages 10+. Cost $5.
To book visit Paddle Queensland. For more information phone 0448 901 900.

Freestyle Scooter Coaching*
Tue 28 Jan, 10am-12pm
J.F. O'Grady Memorial Park, Fairfield
Learn new skills on your scooter and how to ride the park safely.
For more information phone RampFest on 0421 701 448.

Let's Revitalise Annerley
For too long the Lord Mayor has neglected community facilities in Annerley. Footpaths are crumbling or missing, the Annerley Junction shopping strip has been overlooked and the popular Annerley Library is too small and only open part time. There is so much more Council should be doing to support community life in Annerley, one of Brisbane’s oldest and largest suburbs.

Sign the ePetition calling on Council to urgently invest funding into community facilities in Annerley to make it a more inclusive and creative place to live and work by:
1. Upgrading and renovating Annerley Library;
2. Undertaking a Village Precinct Project to revitalise the Annerley Junction shopping precinct including lighting, street art, new footpaths and landscaping; and
3. Revitalising Annerley Hall next to the Library to create a more welcoming and inclusive community space.

Sherwood Forest Runners 40th Anniversary

Sat 5 Feb, 6:45am for a 7am start
Sherwood Arboretum, Jolimont St, Sherwood
Runners of all ages compete in either 2, 4 or 6km events.

Saturday 5 February, 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the first run under the name of "Sherwood Forest runners".

All those who have competed at this event over the years are asked to come along to help celebrate this grand occasion.

Many of those who ran at the first event will be there to be with us.

Following the run there will be a free sausage sizzle and free soft drinks for all the younger runners.

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:

• The Esplanade, Yeronga - Sat 19 Feb, 3:30-5:30pm
• Tennyson Reach, Tennyson - Sun 6 Mar, 8-10am
• Kendall and Lawson St Park, Oxley - Sun 6 Mar, 10am-2pm

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.

Storm season is well and truly upon us here in Brisbane, and it's important to be prepared. Council's website features a range of tips to help you keep yourself and your home safe should a storm hit.

If you require emergency assistance during a flood or storm, phone the SES on 132 500.

To report any road flooding, blocked drains, storm debris and fallen trees on public property please contact my office on 3403 8605 or via email tennyson.ward@bcc.qld.gov.au. If it is outside office  hours, you can phone Council's 24/7 Call Centre on 3403 8888.

Chelmer St E, Chelmer is posted as 50km/h. The sign collected data for a 13 week period from 29 May to 29 August 2021. During this time 124,821 vehicles (av. 1,342 per day) passed through the portable speed sign zone.

14,861 or 11.9% of all drivers were recorded travelling above the posted speed limit. Of the vehicles speeding, 85% were travelling at or below 57km/h. When prompted, speeding drivers reduced their speeds by an average of 4km to 53km/h within the speed camera range.

Hyde Rd, Yeronga is posted as 50km/h. The sign collected data for a 13 week period from 29 May to 29 August 2021. During this time 185,405 vehicles (av. 1,993 per day) passed through the portable speed sign zone.

80,576 or 43.5% of all drivers were recorded travelling above the posted speed limit. Of the vehicles speeding, 85% were travelling at or below 59km/h. When prompted, speeding drivers reduced their speeds by an average of 6km to 53km/h within the speed camera range.

Please slow down around busy school and pedestrian hot spots!

Road Sweeping Schedule Available Online
Council's nine-week road seeping schedule is now available online. You can check when the streets in your suburb are next due for sweeping here.

Footpath Construction and Upgrade Works

Footpath installation works are scheduled to begin this Wednesday 19 January for the missing section of footpath outside 63 Ormadale Rd, Yeronga. Works will be completed by 28 January, 2022. 

Moggill Rd Roundabout Upgrade
Construction has begun on the Moggill Rd roundabout upgrade at Indooroopilly. Works will take place 7am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday. Additional night works will take place from 7:30pm to 5:30am, Sunday to Thursday. The following roads will be impacted:

Moggill Rd:

• Night works lane closures

Moggill Rd Service Road (commercial):

• Night works restricted access
• Changes to parking hours

Coonan St:

• Reduced to single lane northbound approaching the roundabout

Keating St:

• Permanent removal of right hand turns into and out of Keating St
• Left hand turn into Keating St maintained with changed traffic conditions

Nelson Pde:

• Permanent closure of Nelson Pde at Moggill Rd
• Minor vegetation removal

Waverley Rd:

• Night works lane closures

Payne St:

• Temporary closure of Payne St at Moggill Rd

Manchester Rd and Vincent St:

• Day works lane closures

Stamford Rd, Station Rd and Stanley St near Moggill Rd intersections:

• Day works lane closures
• Night works lane closures

Underhill Ave:

• Temporary reduction of on-street parking
• Restricted access at northern end of Underhill Ave
• Minor vegetation removal

Cross River Rail
Cowper St, Yeronga at Fairfield Rd is closed until early 2022 while the new pedestrian overpass is built. Barriers, traffic control measures and temporary fencing will be in place.

Fairfield Rd, Yeronga will be subject to intermittent single lane closures between Tuesday 21 December 2021 and Saturday 22 January 2022. Traffic control will be in place to maintain a contraflow arrangement.

Lake St, Yeronga between Killarney St and Christensen St will be subject to intermittent closures between Tuesday 21 December 2021 and Saturday 22 January 2022.

The re-opening of Yeronga Station and closure and commencement of works at Fairfield Station  have been delayed due to the recent rain and COVID impacts.

Chale St, Yeerongpilly is closed to non-construction related traffic.

The footpath on the eastern side of Fairfield Rd along the Clapham Yard site at Yeerongpilly is closed to pedestrians to facilitate embankment works.

Intermittent road closures will be in place along Fairfield Rd southbound, Yeerongpilly adjacent to the Clapham Yard/Moorooka Station worksite.