Merry Christmas!

It's such a wonderful time of year as we celebrate the graduation of primary and secondary school students in our community. I am delighted to both sponsor prizes and attend awards ceremonies to celebrate the success of our amazing learners. Congratulations to all of the students and their families on their academic, cultural and sporting achievements in 2024.

With Council's Gold Star reading programme wrapping up, don't forget to sign up for Council's Summer Reading programme. It's so important that we support our local library staff and the valuable literacy programmes they run. Libraries are inclusive and welcoming community spaces that provide, among other things, essential literacy programmes for children. I do not support the Lord Mayor's cuts and encourage you to sign the petition to support the First Five Forever reading programmes around the City. Click here to sign the petition.

My role as your local Councillor is a great privilege and I look forward to working with you again next year to make our community an even better place to live and work. I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year in 2025.

Season’s Greetings, Nicole.

Ps...I hope to see you at one of the many upcoming Christmas events on around the Ward.  

Great news! Work is well underway on the new ninja warrior course at Graceville Riverside Parklands. This adventure obstacle course will be ready for use by Christmas, weather permitting.

After a challenging start to this project, I'm glad we were able to find a good home for the ninja warrior course. It will be a fun addition to this popular walking and recreation spot, and I'm sure it will get plenty of use during the school holidays.

I am proud to have invested $250,000 from the Tennyson Ward Suburban Enhancement Fund to deliver this exciting project.

Chelmer will not be forgotten and I do plan to undertake a survey in 2025 for an upgrade at Gordon Thomson Park that does not require a major remediation project.

The next park projects underway are a playground upgrade in Jacaranda Park, Yeronga; rehabilitation of flood buy back blocks in Oxley and power at the Graceville War Memorial for ANZAC Day services.

*denotes booking required. Phone 3403 8888 or contact the relevant library or provider.

Family Fun on the Intelino Smart Train*
10:30-11:30am, Tue 17 Dec
Fairfield Library
Program an Intelino train to navigate fun coding challenges. No prior programming experience required. Ideal for children aged 5-8 years and their families or carers.
Phone Fairfield Library on 3403 8615 to book.

Make and Create for Kids
Annerley Library
11am-1pm, Tue 17 Dec
11am-1pm, Tue 7 Jan
11am-1pm,  Tue 14 Jan
11am-1pm,  Tue 21 Jan
This school holidays, drop into the library to get creative with free art and craft activities. Ideal for children aged. Ideal for children aged 3-8 years.

Make and Create
Fairfield Library
11am-12pm, Tue 17 Dec
11am-12pm,  Tue 14 Jan
Drop into the library to get creative with free art and craft activities. Ideal for children aged 4-12 years and their carers.

Dash Robots*
11am-12pm,  Tue 17 Dec
11am-12pm, Fri 20 Dec
Annerley Library
Discover a new world of learning, play and adventure with Dash robots. Participants will learn programming concepts and send simple commands to control a robot. No previous programming experience required. Ideal for children aged 5-8 years.
Phone Annerley Library on  3403 1735 to book.

Fun Soccer for 5-8 Years*
2:30-3:30pm,  Tue 17 Dec
Nixon Park, Oxley
2:30-3:30pm, Tue 21 Jan
Gordon Thomson Park, Chelmer
Love playing soccer? You’ll get a kick out of this introduction to soccer. Improve your skills and enjoy some team activities.  No playing experience required. This is a Chillout event suitable for young people 5-8 years.
To book visit Quest Football Academy.

Fun Soccer for 9-12 Years*
3:35-4:35pm,  Tue 17 Dec
Nixon Park, Oxley
3:35-4:35pm, Tue 21 Jan
Gordon Thomson Park, Chelmer
Love playing soccer? You’ll get a kick out of this introduction to soccer. Improve your skills and enjoy some team activities.  No playing experience required.
This is a Chillout event suitable for young people 9-12 years.
To book visit Quest Football Academy.

Fast Fun and Funky*
1:30-3:30pm, Wed 18 Dec
Sherwood Arboretum
Enjoy a range of fun, healthy and active games. Play limbo, musical statues and some groovy new games so you can show off your moves and have a great laugh too! This is a Chillout event suitable for young people 7-17 years.
To book visit Bazil Grumble.

Lord Mayor’s Writers in Residence Young Writers: Sensational Superheroes Workshop with Aleesah Darlison*
2-3pm, Thu 19 Dec
Fairfield Library
Join award-winning children’s author Aleesah Darlison, for an hour of superhero power! Aleesah will share her hilarious Super Sloth series. Take part in a sloth naming ceremony, a sloth quiz then create and draw your own superheroes. Ideal for children aged 6-12 years.
Phone Fairfield Library on 3403 8615 to book.

Woodworking in the Park - Nature Christmas Ornaments*
3-4pm, Fri 20 Dec
Ken Fletcher Park, Tennyson
Make your own Xmas ornaments with Make+Meld. Using natural materials and real tools you will create your very own ornaments to cherish for years to come! This is a Chillout event suitable for young people 5-14 years. Cost $6.
To book visit Make+Meld. 

Make and Create: Christmas
10am-12pm, Sat 21 Dec
Corinda Library
Drop in and enjoy free Christmas-themed craft activities. Ideal for children aged 4-12 years and their carers.

Christmas in the Library
11-11:30am, Mon 23 Dec
Annerley Library
Experience the magic of storytime with your child at the library. This interactive session includes stories, songs and mark making activities for young children. Ideal for children aged 2-5 years. 

Introducing Osmo*
11am-12pm, Tue 7 Jan
11am-12pm, Tue 14 Jan
Annerley Library
Discover an educational gaming system that merges tactile exploration with innovative iPad technology, actively engaging children in the learning process. Introducing young minds to coding in a fun and easy way. Ideal for children aged 5-12 years.
Phone Annerley Library on 3403 1735 to book.

Freestyle Scooter Clinic
10-11am, Wed 8 Jan
11am-12pm, Wed 8 Jan
J.F. O'Grady Memorial Park, Fairfield
Learn new skills on your Scooter that will help you ride skate parks safely and have more fun! This is a Chillout event suitable for young people 4-17 years.
BYO freestyle scooter, helmet and enclosed shoes.

Kids Book Chat: I Survived Series*
11am-12pm, Thu 9 Jan
Corinda Library
Celebrate Lauren Tarshis’ I Survived series with a variety of themed activities. Ideal for children aged 8-12 years.
Phone Corinda Library on 3407 7701 to book.

Woodworking in the Park - Fliptastic Puzzles*
2-3pm, Thu 9 Jan
9:30-10:30am, Tue 14 Jan
Ken Fletcher Park, Tennyson
A unique opportunity to get creative and use real woodworking tools as you design and assemble your own mix-n-match wooden puzzle. This is a Chillout event suitable for young people 5-14 years. Cost $6.
To book visit Make+Meld.

Summer Reading: Oceans of Trash Workshop with Kindy Science*
1-2pm, Fri 10 Jan
Annerley Library
Using the book Cranky Frankie and the Oceans of Trash by local Brisbane author Sue Pillans, participants will be taken on an interactive adventure that educates them about the rubbish in the ocean. Ideal for children aged 3-7 years.
Phone Annerley Library on 3403 1735 to book.

Summer Reading: Massive Joke Book for Kids Only Workshop with Phil Judd*
2-3pm, Thu 16 Jan
Fairfield Library
Come along and join Phil Judd, the Illustrator the “Massive Book of Jokes for Kids Only!” for an interactive workshop. Draw up your own ideas for some jokes in the book or bring your own jokes to illustrate. Ideal for children aged 7-14 years.
Phone Fairfield Library on 3403 8615 to book.

Lord Mayor’s Writers in Residence Young Writers: My Amazing Tree with Aleesah Darlison*
10-11am, Tue 21 Jan
Corinda Library
Join award-winning author, Aleesah Darlison, for a fun and exciting workshop based on her latest novel, Grace the Amazing. Ideal for children aged 6-12 years.
Phone Corinda Library on 3407 7701 to book.

Summer Reading: Introduction to Illustration and Cartooning*
11am-12pm, Tue 21 Jan
Annerley Library
Join illustrator Mark Guthrie for an interactive, fun and creative step-by-step guide through a series of hands-on exercises to develop confidence in drawing. Ideal for children aged 7-12 years.
Phone Annerley Library on 3403 1735 to book.

Sphero and the Enchanted Forest*
2-3:30pm, Fri 24 Jan
Fairfield Library
Help Sphero find his way through the enchanted forest using simple coding skills. No prior programming experience required. Ideal for children aged 5-8 years.
Phone Fairfield Library on 3403 8615 to book.

The Tennyson Ward Office will be closed over Christmas from Tuesday 24 December, 2024.

The Office will re-open on Monday 6 January, 2025 with the standard operating hours of Monday to Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-4pm.

For any emergencies over the Christmas break, please contact Brisbane City Council's 24/7 call centre on 3403 8888.

With storm season upon us, please make sure you have signed up for Council's Brisbane Severe Weather Alert system, and keep the SES number of 132 500 handy in case of emergency.

For those living in the Tennis Centre regulated parking area, you can obtain a permit online via Council's website here or at the Yeerongpilly Business Centre. 1 hour restrictions will be in place from 29 December to 5 January, so please ensure your car is not on the street without a permit as Council will be issuing fines.

From myself and my staff, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and enjoyable new year.

Entries are now open for the Tennyson Ward Office Christmas Colouring In Competition.

Colouring in sheets are available to download from my website here or call into my office at 180 Fairfield Rd, Fairfield next to the Library to pick up a hard copy.

Please return colouring in sheets to my office or email to tennyson.ward@bcc.qld.gov.au by Friday, 13 December. Entries will go in the running to win some fabulous summer prizes.

All entries will be on display at the Ward Office over the Christmas period.

Moggill Rd Corridor Upgrade

The construction site will be shut down for the Christmas period, from Friday 20 December 2024 to Monday 6 January 2025. The site will be monitored daily, and the reduced 40km/h speed limit and some lane closures will remain in place.

The Moggill Rd round-a-bout project slated to cost $127m and finish in late 2023 has blown out again and will not be finished until approx.  March 2025 now, and time delays come with an eye watering cost blowout of $257m+.

Bus Stop Construction Works

Upgrade works for the outbound bus stop on Fairfield Rd at Venner Rd, Yeronga are currently underway. Works will include a new concrete boarding point; new tactile indicators;  a new fence and concrete wall; and relocation of the bus stop seating. Works will take place 8pm-5am, Sunday to Thursday and are due for completion in early December, weather permitting.

Road Resurfacing

Road resurfacing works are scheduled to take place in Chancellor St, Sherwood from 12 December until 29 January 2025, weather permitting.

Tree Removals

The following tree removal works have been scheduled in the Tennyson Ward:

• 1 x dead Jacaranda tree will be removed from 373 Verney Rd E, Graceville by mid-February 2025. As the location is unsuitable for planting, replacement planting will take place elsewhere in the Ward.
• 2 x dead Callistemon trees will be removed from 1A Chanter St, Graceville by mid-February 2025.
• 3 x small dead trees of an unknown species will be removed from Strathburn Street Park, Oxley by mid-February 2025. As the location is unsuitable for planting, replacement plantings will take place elsewhere in the Ward..
• 1 x damaged Acacia tree will be removed from Tom O'Neill Park, Oxley by the end of November 2024. As the location is unsuitable for planting, replacement planting will take place elsewhere in the Ward.
• 1 x damaged Cassod tree will be removed from 24 Marlborough St, Sherwood by the end of November 2024. As the location is unsuitable for planting, replacement planting will take place elsewhere in the Ward.
• 1 x dead Leopard Tree will be removed from 7 Violet St, Yeronga by the end of February 2025.
• 1 x damaged fig tree will be removed from 589 Fairfield Rd, Yeronga by the end of November 2024.
• 1 x dead tree of an unknown species will be removed from 72 Appel St, Graceville by the end of February 2025. As the location is unsuitable for planting, replacement planting will take place elsewhere in the Ward.
• 1 x dead Mango tree will be removed from Ken Fletcher Park, Tennyson by the end of February 2025.

Replacement plantings will take place at the locations of the tree removals unless otherwise stated.

Cross River Rail

The Wilkie St and Fairfield Rd lifts at Yeerongpilly station will be temporarily closed between the following times to facilitate electrical works: 

• 7:00am and 10:00am Friday 6 December 2024, and
• 10:00am and 2:00pm Monday 9 December 2024.

Both the Fairfield Road and Wilkie Street stairs will be open to pedestrians using the overpass during this period.

The Fairfield station and pedestrian overpass lifts will be temporarily unavailable from 7:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December to facilitate electrical works. The stairs will be open to pedestrians during this period.

Track closures will be in place across all lines on the SEQ rail network at various stages between Saturday 21 December 2024 to Sunday 19 January 2025 to undertake crucial Cross River Rail construction works.

For a full list of track closures and timetable impacts, visit the Cross River Rail website here.