Hi everyone

We have made it to the Easter school holidays — something to be proud of given all the disruption and pain caused by the recent flood and COVID still bubbling along in the background.

Whilst the immediate crisis has passed, many people are still are the early stages of their flood recovery journey, waiting for an insurance assessor or for a grant to come through to help with the rebuilding process.

It is shocking to me that three weeks on, the Prime Minister Scott Morrison has not responded to the State's request to split the cost of the $771m recovery package for Queensland. This money is critical for local families to Build Back Better through flood resistant rebuilds, buy back and better flood mitigation. Council fully supports the State's request and I personally wrote to the PM several weeks ago. You get to have your say about his neglect very soon as the Federal Election is imminent.

I have also met with Mark Bailey, Deputy Premier Steve Miles and senior members of the QRA to discuss the urgent need for project management assistance to help people to rebuild. Many people are in limbo as they don’t have the capacity, funds or resources to clean up and rebuild themselves. I had a good hearing and made some practical suggestions, including establishing a pre-registration process for people needing rebuilding help. I hope they were listening and announcements are made very soon about what the Queensland Reconstruction Authority will do next. All three levels of government must work together in my view.

My office is still working hard on flood related issues with the community, but we are trying to catch up on the backlog of general Council matters now. We are also going to return to more normal communications with a mix of flood recovery and everyday issues.  Kerbside pick-up is continuing in flooded areas and the general kerbside pick-up for Annerley, Fairfield, Yeronga, Tennyson and Yeerongpilly is due this month.  

Finally, a big public thank you to my staff who have worked around the clock, volunteered and dealt with very difficult situations over the past five weeks. They have been amazing and done everything they could to help, despite being flood-affected themselves in different ways. This photo was taken a week before the flood hit at a special occasion. We don’t look quite as sparkling at the moment but we are committed to working with you and for the community however we can.

Regards, Nicole.

Commencing Monday, 18 April 2022, Council will be conducting a Kerbside Large Item Collection Service for Tennyson Ward residents in Annerley, Fairfield, Tennyson, Yeronga and Yeerongpilly.

Items can be left on the kerbside one day prior to the collection commencement date.

Please ensure the following guidelines are observed when placing items on the kerbside for collection:

• the piles are tidy so the footpath and/or roadway is kept clear;
• piles are no larger than two cubic metres (equal to a small box trailer load);
• doors must be removed from refrigerators and cupboards;
• no sharp or dangerous objects;
• secure items if severe weather is expected; and
• items must be able to be easily and safely lifted by two people.

Council will not collect unacceptable items placed on the kerb and illegal dumping fines may apply if unacceptable material is not removed. Unacceptable items include the following:

• vegetation, dirt, stone, bricks, potted plants;
• construction waste;
• asbestos;
• car parts and tyres;
• general household waste;
• liquids and hazardous waste (paint, chemicals);
• gas bottles; and
• glass and mirrors.

Kerbside collection for residents in Chelmer, Corinda, Graceville, Oxley and Sherwood commences in the week starting Monday 15 August.

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

Yeronga Memorial Park Service - Stephens RSL Sub Branch

• 6:45am - 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

Dawn Service - Sherwood-Indooroopilly RSL Sub Branch

• 5:15am Dawn Service at Sherwood-Indooroopilly RSL 2 Clewley St, Corinda

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

Dutton Park Service - Yeronga-Dutton Park RSL Sub Branch

• 8:30am - Service at Gair Park, Gladstone Rd, Dutton Park

Oxley Service - Sherwood Indooroopilly RSL Sub Branch

• 9:30am - Service at Bannerman Park, cnr Bannerman St and Oxley Rd, Oxley

Kerbside Collection and Waste Services

Kerbside clean-up is ongoing. Please put items out on the kerb and keep the road and gutters clear. If there is flood waste on the kerb outside your home requiring removal, please phone my office on 3403 8605 and we will notify Council.

Yeronga Community Centre

The Yeronga Community Centre is currently open for flood support at the following times:

• 9am-5pm, Monday - Friday
• 9am-2pm, Saturday - Sunday

The Centre will return to normal hours of operation from the Easter long weekend onward.

Lost Watercraft and Pontoons

If you have lost a watercraft or pontoon, please email brisbaneICC@tmr.qld.gov.au with pictures and registration information.

Petrol Gurney for Loan

My office has a petrol gurney available for loan courtesy of Taylor Bridge Rotary Club. Please call us on 3403 8605 if you would like to borrow it.

Donate to GIVIT

If you are in a position to donate, there is a flood appeal running via the website GIVIT. The appeal is seeking donations of gift vouchers and household items.

Thread Together

Thread Together are providing brand new clothing to flood-affected people at their pop up emergency hub at St Andrews Anglican Church, 89 Fairley St, Indooroopilly. Book a 30 minute appointment to browse, try on and take home some new clothing: https://calendly.com/indooroopill.../clothing-appointment...

COMMUNITY SUPPORT CENTRES

The Yeronga Community Centre at 26 Devon St, Yeronga is open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 9am-2pm Saturday-Sunday until 14 April for flood support including:

• Disaster payments processed in person
• Food and supplies
• Internet and showers
• Counselling and support

Melinda and her team did this all in 2011 and are experienced and caring.

Federal Government Grants

Online — apply via myGov. Further information available here.

• Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment is a lump sum payment — $1,000 per adult and $400 for each child younger than 16.
• Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) a 13 week payment where your income is affected. Available to employees, sole traders and primary producers.

Queensland State Government Grants

Online — www.communityrecovery.qld.gov.au

Telephone — Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349

• Essential Services Hardship Assistance - $150 per person (up to $750 for a family of five or more) for the loss of one or more essential services (eg power) for more than five days.
• Essential Household Contents Grant* - one-off payment towards replacing or repairing essential household contents. Up to $1,765 for single adults and up to $5,300 for couples/families.
• Structural Assistance Grant* - one-off payment towards repairs to your home (owner/occupied households) to make it secure and safe. Up to $10,995 for single adults and up to $14,685 for couples/families.
• Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme* - up to $200 towards a safety inspection and reconnection costs (electricity, gas, water and sewerage or septic system) and up to $4,200 towards repair work (for example, electrical rewiring).
  
  *** These grants are subject to an Income Test***

Small Business Grants

Online — www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/protecting-business/disaster-resilience/south-east-queensland-floods

In person — pop-up Business Recovery Hub at The Clubhouse Moorooka, 76 Koala Rd, Moorooka from 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday.

• Flood Recovery Grant - for directly impacted businesses The extraordinary disaster assistance recovery grant is up to $50,000 and can be used for clean-up activities, repairs including to equipment, flooring, and walls, insurance excesses, and replacing lost stock not covered by insurance (details on how to apply are below).
• Disaster Assistance Loan - for directly impacted businesses. Disaster Assistance Loans offer up to $250,000 which can be used to repair or replace damaged plant, equipment, or buildings, replace stock or meet carry on costs including rents or rates.
• Disaster Assistance Loan - for indirectly impacted businesses. Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) offers up to $100,000 which can be used to pay staff, creditors, rent or rates and purchase goods that are essential for your business such as fuel.

Council Rates Rebate

A $250 rates rebate is available for flooded residents and businesses on their quarterly bill. You can now apply online via Council's website. Issuing of the April quarter rates notices for all residents will be postponed by one month until late April-early May. Compassionate plans are also available for cases of financial hardship.

QUU Rebate

A $50 water usage rebate is available to residents whose home or business has been flood-affected. Compassionate payment plans are available for cases of financial hardship. QUU are also waiving fixed water and sewerage service charges for customers whose homes are uninhabitable due to flood damage (until at least 31 December 2022).

ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY

The St Vincent de Paul Society are able to assist with immediate necessities like food and clothing, as well as replacing uninsured furniture and white goods. Call the Vinnies Helpline on 1800 846 643 to be put in touch with one of our local conferences for assistance.

RED CROSS FLOOD RELIEF GRANT

The Red Cross are offering $500 flood relief grants to people who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of flood impact to their primary place of residence. Apply online or in person at Yeronga Community Centre.

Getting information from Council about the status of the parks clean-up is like pulling teeth — difficult and painful. Late this afternoon, I received the following update:

• There are 852 flood-affected parks around the City (of varying impacts).
• There are 93 flood-affected parks to be cleaned up by Easter.
• Six high profile district parks in Tennyson Ward have been identified for clean up before Easter. These are Ken Fletcher Park, Tennyson; Sherwood Arboretum; Nixon Park, Oxley; Faulkner Park, Graceville; John Walker Place, Yeronga; and J.F. O'Grady Memorial Park, Fairfield. This is clean-up work and does not necessarily mean that facilities will reopen straight way.
• A further 23 parks in Tennyson Ward have been identified for clean up before ANZAC Day. These are Allawah St Park, Yeerongpilly; Blackheath Rd Park, Corinda; Fairfield Park, Fairfield; Fairfield Rd Park, Fairfield; George Scarlett Park, Corinda; Graceville Riverside Parklands, Graceville; Hyde Rd Park, Yeronga; Leyshon Park, Yeronga; Neata St Park, Corinda; Princess St Park, Fairfield; Rome St South Park, Yeronga; Taylor Bridge Reserve, Chelmer; Tom O'Neil Park, Oxley; Yeronga St Park, Yeronga; Wilpowell St Park, Oxley; Cactoblastis Corner, Sherwood; Instow St Park, Yeronga; Archer Pde Park, Corinda; Benarrawa Reserve, Corinda; Gladstone St Park, Oxley; Orient Rd Park, Yeronga; Paringa Place Park, Yeronga; and Deniven St Park, Yeronga.
• Playgrounds in all flooded parks remain closed. There is a shortage of softfall which is likely to impact on when playgrounds can safely re-open. A total of 18 playgrounds are closed in Tennyson Ward.
• The parks and facility recovery planning process is being run centrally from Brisbane Square, not by local Council officers.
• 200 staff and contractors are working on the parks clean up — no ADF assistance.

I suspect it will be months before park and playground facilities are fully reopened. I will update you when more information is dragged out of a reluctant Council organisation. The Council website says they are all open. Obviously that’s not true, and the only time frame they give is “as soon as possible”

The busy Sherwood Rd high street will be made safer with a speed reduction from 50km to 40km due to be implemented in May.

With thousands of vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists negotiating Sherwood Rd near Woolies every day, a speed reduction to 40km between the rail line and Oxley Rd will help keep children on their way to Sherwood State School, childcare and kindy’ s safer.

The strong response to the traffic survey in 2021 was clear and it is great that Council has listened and agreed to reduce the speed limit. 75% of residents who participated supported a speed reduction. Every day, drivers speed through the zebra crossing putting lives at risk. Reducing the speed limit gives drivers more time to make decisions and reduces the risk of injuries to pedestrians.

Council’s traffic survey in Oct 2021 showed while speed compliance generally was good - 85% of vehicles were travelling at or around 35km - speeds in the high 50km, high 60km and even over 100km were recoded over the survey period.  5,588 vehicles per weekday used Sherwood Rd with the busiest day being Thursday with 6,036 vehicle movements. About 8% of traffic is heavy vehicles like trucks and buses. Interestingly, more people use Sherwood Rd on foot or bike, with the one-day pedestrian count showing 7,813 crossings in multiple points along the block including 207 cyclists, 32 people with a disability, 689 children and 6562 adult crossings.  

The pedestrian and traffic data was considered by the multi-agency Speed Management Committee comprising Brisbane City Council, TMR and Qld Police who determined that the speed reduction would be useful and improve safety in this busy precinct.  

In addition, the small section of Sherwood Rd between the rail line and Dewar Tce will be reduced from 60km to 50km. Speed limits along Sherwood Rd east of Oxley Rd will remain unchanged.     

Thank you to everyone who participated in the survey last year and please look out for the speed limit reduction in May.

School Holiday Activities

School Holiday Maker Space
Sat 2 Apr-Tue 12 Apr during Library opening hours
Annerley Library
Drop into the library to get creative with free art and craft activities each day of the school holidays. Ideal for children aged 2-10 years and their carers.

String Art in the Park*
Thu 14 Apr, 9:30-10:30am
Thu 14 Apr, 10:30-11:30am
Ken Fletcher Park, Tennyson
Learn to use a hammer and nails in a safe manner to make your own designs, then relax and unwind as you use colourful yarn to create patterns and shapes.
Cost $5. For ages 6-12.
To book visit Make and Meld. For more information phone 0435 110 866.

GOLD'n'Kids Lawn Bowls for the Young and Young at Heart
Thu 7 Apr, 9:30-11am
Fri 8 Apr, 9:30-11am
Graceville Bowls Club
Come, learn and play lawn bowls, a fun sport which young people and grandparents can play together.
To book email  Graceville Bowls Club. For more information phone 0407 894 727.

Kids Passport Adventure*
Thu 7 Apr, 10am-12pm
Simpsons Playground, Graceville
Come and join in the fun of a guided walk by the beautiful Brisbane River at Graceville. Every family who comes along will receive a River Passport with a list of key features to find including scenery and animals. Your family will work together as a team to find all the special locations, then get them stamped in your passport.
To book visit Bazil Grumble. For more information phone 0411 246 487.

HeadSpace Skatepark BBQ Pop-up
Thu 7 Apr, 12-2:30pm
J.F. O'Grady Memorial Park, Fairfield
A fun pop-up event with a stall presence to offer free mental health and wellbeing resources and contact information for young people. There will be a free sausage sizzle and music. Suitable for ages 12+.

GOLD'n'Kids Fun Soccer*
Fri 8 Apr, 9:30-10:30am
Yeronga Memorial Park, Yeronga
Watch the kids take part in fun soccer activities and games. Seniors are welcome to join in the low-impact activities if they wish or cheer from the sidelines. This is a GOLD'n'Kids event suitable for seniors and children 4-7 years old.
To book visit Ginger Sport. For more information phone 1800 446 437.

Where Do Rainbows Come From?*
Sat 9 Apr, 10:30-11:30am
Fairfield Library
Children will learn about the basic physics of light, make rainbows using prisms and the sun, use prism kits to observe refraction and reflection and mix light colours. Ideal for children aged 4-6 years. Phone Fairfield Library on 07 3403 8615 to reserve your place.

Tinker Table: Cubelets*
Tue 12 Apr, 10:30-11:30am
Annerley Library
Drop in for some hands-on experimenting with Cubelets. These magnetic modular cubes can be snapped together in multiple ways to build all kinds of robotic creations. Ideal for all ages. Phone Annerley Library on 07 3403 1735 to reserve your place.

Brisbane Learn to Skate Workshop*
Tue 12 Apr, 1-2:30pm
J.F. O'Grady Memorial Park, Fairfield
Gain confidence, get comfortable with your balance and learn a whole new set of skateboarding skills with excellent coaching. For ages 5-17.
To book visit Australian Skateboarding Community Initiative. For more information email ASCI.

Clay Masks*
Tue 12 Apr, 1:30-3:30pm
Yeronga Memorial Park, Yeronga
. Go for a nature walk around the park to collect natural materials such as leaves and twigs to create textures on clay. Then learn how to use clay to make your own mask. For ages 10-17.
To book visit Bazil Grumble. For more information phone 0411 246 487.

Character Design and Visual Storytelling with Katrin Dreiling*
Thu 14 Apr, 2-3pm
Corinda Library
Bring your favourite pen, awesome ideas and lots and lots of enthusiasm and create your own picture book character with author Katrin Dreiling.
For ages 5-12.
Phone Corinda Library on 07 3407 7701 to reserve your place.

Brisbane City Council Presents Bands in Parks: Live Music at QLD Tennis Centre

Council is continuing its creative partnership with the Tennis Centre throughout 2022. Don't miss the FREE concerts coming up this year:

• Friday 8 April, 6-8pm, QLD Tennis Centre, Brass Roots Live Brass Roots Live perform big band swing, popular ballads and hits from the 30s through to the 80s, with the sublime vocal stylings of Peter Vance and Rachael Pearse.
• Saturday 23 April, 6-8pm, QLD Tennis Centre, Till We Meet Again Brisbane Excelsior Band perform music from the swing era of Glen Miller and Duke Ellington along with the big brass sounds of popular military marches and troupe favourites.
• Saturday 28 May, 6-8pm, QLD Tennis Centre, Breezin' Down Broadway The Brisbane Regional Youth Orchestra sweeps through Broadway paying tribute to the great music scores of the stage including music from West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, Porgy and Bess, My Fair Lady and Chicago. 

Register via Eventbrite to secure your place. Entry is free with some seating provided and grassed areas available. Baseline Bar and Café is open for purchasing wine and food.

Cactoblastis Corner, Sherwood
Bank stablisation works are currently underway in Cactoblastis Corner, Sherwood following a landslip in the park. Cactoblastis Corner will remain closed with safety fencing in place while Council conduct geotechnical testing to determine the cause of the landslip. QUU are also onsite inspecting the sewer line.

School Zone Road Surface Treatments

School zone road surface threshold treatments are planned for the following schools in Tennyson Ward:

• Christ the King Primary School, Graceville - Churchill St 
• St Joseph's Primary School, Corinda - Clewley St, Corinda
• Sherwood State School - Hall St, Sherwood

The threshold treatments are scheduled for installation by the end of April.

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.

Night works will be carried out from 10pm-5:30am, Wednesday 6 April and Thursday 7 April, weather permitting. Works will require a full closure of the intersection at Moggill Rd and Stamford Rd with traffic detours in place. 

A community drop-in centre for the project is now open from 9am-4pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 Riverview Tce, Indooroopilly. Members of the project team will be onsite to assist with any enquiries about the project.

Cross River Rail

The Cross River Rail project team have advised that Fairfield Station is closed as of 28 March 2022, and will remain closed until late-2022. A temporary construction material storage area will be established at 58 Mildmay St, Fairfield.

Major track works will take place at Fairfield Station from 9am Wednesday 13 April 2022 to Sunday 24 April. Impacts will include:

• Temporary road closure of Mildmay Street / Ashby Street between Lanyard Street and Southall Street and Equity Street between Cronin Street and Dudley Street (as per map below).
• On street parking unavailable on Fenton St, Cottenham St, Wilkins St West and East, Mildmay St, Victoria St, Ensign Ave, Tamar St and Equity St
• Access to Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre via Fairfield Rd and Brougham St only.
• Temporary closure of the pedestrian overpass at Fairfield Station with pedestrians will be diverted to the Cronin St overpass.

Temporary road closures will be in place on Mildmay St, Fenton St, Tamar St, Wilkins St E and Ensign Ave from 2am Friday 15 April to 2am Monday 25 April 2022 (refer to map below). Access will be maintained to local properties under traffic control guidance. 

Yeronga Station will be closed again from Friday 15 April until Sunday 24 April. Works at the Station are ongoing. Temporary stairs are in place for station access to platforms 1 and 2 while construction continues. Yeerongpilly station is the nearest station accessible via lift.