Message From Nicole
Driver Safety Signage
Lights for Robinson Park, Fairfield
Recycling in Brisbane
Local News and Events
Gold Star and Little Star Reading Program
Juliette St and Ipswich Rd Intersection Upgrade
Woolloongabba Bikeway Design Released
BBQ to a Good Home!
Homeless Connect
Brisbane Metro Update
Living With Wildlife
Road and Construction Works
 Useful Links:

Sign up to recieve updates on local policing matters.

Items marked with * require bookings.

Contact the relevant library or
3403 8888.
 

Babies, Books and Rhymes
Mondays, 11:30am
Annerley Library

Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11am
Fridays, 12pm
Fairfield Library

Toddler Time
Mondays, 10am
Saturdays, 9:30am
Annerley Library

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10am
Fairfield Library

Children's Storytime
Mondays, 3:30pm
Annerley Library

Tuesdays, 12pm
Fridays, 11am
Saturdays, 9:30am
Fairfield Library

FAIRFIELD LIBRARY

Library e-books for Androids and iPads*
2-3:30pm, Fri 18 May
Bring your own device, Apple or Google Play Store account details, library card and email account details. Basic device skills required.

Book Chat
1-2pm, Wed 23 May
Read, discuss and debate a fine selection of books with a friendly group. New members welcome.

FBI: Fairfield book investigators kid's club*
From 3:30pm, Wed, 23 May
Meet other enthusiastic readers and explore a new series of books. In May, the club will read Adventures of Alfie Onion by Jackie French. Ideal for children aged 6-11 years.

Under 8's Week: Meet Gregg Dreise*
3:30-4:30pm, Thurs, 24 May
Join award winning author and illustrator Gregg Dreise on a journey of memorable and meaningful stories of Australia.

Meet Erwin Cabucos*
6-7pm, Thurs, 24 May
Join Erwin as he discusses his work, his experiences as an author and what is means to grow up Filipino in Australia.

Facebook Basics*
2-3pm, Fri, 25 May
Basic computer skills, internet skills and an email account are required.

Social Media Basics*
2-3:30pm, Fri, 1 June
Basic computer and internet skills required.

Fact or fiction: What you need to know about writing and getting published*
10-11:30am, Sat, 2 June
Join Queensland Writers Centre as we debunk some of the popular myths about writers and outline the one truth about getting published.

Android Help*
2-3pm, Fri, 8 June
Basic Android skills required.

eBay and Gum Tree basics*
2-3:30pm, Fri, 15 June
Basic computer skills required

Evening Book Club
6-7pm, Thurs, 21 June
For June,  read and discuss The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman. New members welcome.

ANNERLEY LIBRARY

Under 8's Week: Meet Renata Jayne*
3:30-4:30pm, Mon, 21 May
Renata Jayne is a popular Brisbane musician and storyteller. Ideal for children aged five years and younger.

Navigating the news*
10-11:30am, Tues, 22 May
This session will help you develop your own toolkit to manage information in a way that works for you.

Online Safety and Security*
1:30-3pm, Tues 29 May
Basic computer and internet skills required.

BYOB (bring your own baby) book club*
9:15-10am, Mon 4 June
Join in to discuss great books in good company.

Literary event: Maurice Sendak's 90th birthday*
3:30-4:15pm, Mon, 11 June
Join the birthday celebrations for Maurice Sendak with fun activities exploring his beloved book, Where the Wild Things Are. Ideal for children aged 4-8 years.

iPad Skills One*
10-11:30am, Tues, 19 June
Perfect for the first time user. Bring your own iPad.

Aqua Aerobics
11-11:45am, Saturdays
Yeronga Pool

Beginner Swimming for Adults*
12-1pm, Saturdays
Yeronga Pool

Deep Water Aqua Running
8-9am, Sundays
Yeronga Pool

Tai Chi
8-9am, Sundays
Robinson Park, Fairfield

GOLD

Tai Chi
9-10am, Thursdays
Brisbane Corso Park, Yeronga

FOR THE KIDS

Kindy Dance
9:30-10:30am, Tuesdays
Ken Fletcher Park

Brisbane Weekly Grind*
Skateboarding lessons
8-11am, Sat 26 May
J.F. O'Grady Park, Fairfield

Fairfield Writers' Group
Every second and fourth Saturday
Please call Helga on (07) 3848 1492 for more information.
Fairfield Library

Yeronga Friendship Club
Every third Monday
Activities and outings for over 50's.
Yeronga RSL
391 Fairfield Rd, Yeronga
Ph: 3278 5720

Yeronga Men's Shed
9am-12pm Monday and Wednesday
Yeronga Uniting Church
Kingsley Pde, Yeronga

Stephens Croquet Club
Association Croquet: Wed 9.45am and Sat 12.45pm.
Golf Croquet: Fri and Sun (Sep - April 2.45 pm and May - August 1.45 pm) & Tuesdays from 9.00am
Further information - 0439 714 312.

Annerley Stephens History Group
Meets first Thursday of the month from 6.30pm
Annerley Community Hub
556 Ipswich Rd, Annerley

For more info contact
Stephen: 0417 770 176 or email
Bill: 0417 713 200 or email

Yeronga Bowls Club
Game Days - From 12:30pm, Wed and Sat
3848 1146 (3-7pm, Tues to Sun)
11 Querrin St, Yeronga

Yeronga Community Centre
Open 9am-1pm, Monday-Thursday

Bread basket, computer hub, free wifi, phone, photocopying and printing, information, support and refferral, Commissioner of Declarations (by appointment). 

Monday
Seniors Morning Tea - 10am-12pm
Computer Assistance - 10-11am
Indoor Bowls - from 10am

Tuesday
Computer Assistance - 10-11am

Wednesday
Computer Assistance - 8:30am-1pm
The Chatroom @ Annerley - 12-2pm

Thursday 
Guided meditation - 10-10:30am
Craft Group - 9:30am-12pm
Art Group - 10:30am-12:30pm

Sunday
Yeronga Community Garden - 3-5pm
Yeronga State High School

3848 2285 -- 26 Devon St, Yeronga

Items marked with * require bookings if not stated otherwise.

Contact the relevant library or
3403 8888.
MESSAGE FROM NICOLE
A big thank you to members from the Grace Bible Church at Corinda who recently volunteered for Council's Good Neighbour programme. The Good Neighbour Clean-up Scheme is a Brisbane City Council initiative that provides a voluntary refuse transport service for residents with a disability or aged over 60 years.  Volunteers collect the applicant's general waste items which are too large for a wheelie bin and transport the waste free of charge to a Council recovery centre or pop it out on the footpath for kerbside collection. Do you do a tip run for your family? Could you take something extra for an elderly neighbour? If so, call my office and we can register you with Council. You can do it as little or as often as you like.

Council's Gold Star reading programme has now started so please sign your children up at Corinda or Fairfield Libraries or beyond. This is a fabulous event over the winter months that will help instil a love of reading in your little people. Plus, there's cake and a medal for all participants at the wrap up party! I look forward to seeing you there.

Ps the FREE Fairfield Family Picnic, from 2pm and Movie, The Princess Bride from 5.30pm is on at Robinson Park, Fairfield on Saturday, 26 May. I hope to see you there. Come along for a fun and relaxing evening and support the wonderful Yeronga Community Centre, Lions, local Kindy's and schools.
DRIVER SAFETY SIGNAGE

Portable Flashing Speed Sign for Sarah St, Annerley

Council's flashing portable speed sign has been placed outside 65 Sarah St, Annerley.

The portable flashing speed sign is part of Council's programme to improve road safety around schools and other traffic hotspots. The sign shows a smiley face to vehicles travelling the speed limit and flashes a slow down warning to those speeding. The sign should help to quell speeding vehicles and make the area much safer.

The sign provides Council and the police with reliable information about traffic volumes and speeds. It has been shown to reduce traffic speeds in streets where it has been located to date by up to 10kms per hour.

The sign will stay at this location for approximately 8 weeks and will be continuously rotated throughout the ward. One is also currently located on Venner Rd, Annerley.

Slow Down Signage for St Sebastian's

Council is rolling out its $3.2 million road safety initiative at traffic and accident hotspots.

The signs, at fixed locations, will flash a Queensland road safety sign combined with a 'Slow Down' message designed to alert drivers about an upcoming intersection, crossing or traffic hazard.

The sign outside 116 Kadumba St, Yeronga will be installed this month and flashes a slow down message combined with 'bend ahead' warning signage for drivers travelling outbound toward the approaching corner and St Sebastian's Primary School.

This site has been chosen based on strong community feedback about speeding and to improve safety and awareness around the school. 
LIGHTS FOR ROBINSON PARK, FAIRFIELD
After a long fight, Council have finally replaced the lights damaged in the 2014 supercell storm at Robinson Park, Fairfield.

Two new solar powered lights were installed this week in the middle of the park along the footpath to increase visibility and safety for pedestrians.
RECYCLING IN BRISBANE

I know there has been a lot of talk in the media about problems with recycling. Fear not. Brisbane City Council has one of the most successful kerbside recycling schemes in Australia. 93% of all waste placed in yellow top bins by Brisbane residents is recycled and only 7% is sent to land fill. This includes items such as nappies, batteries, textiles, garden waste and food scraps.

Please keep in mind that in your yellow top recycling bin you can only place paper, cardboard, metal (aluminium and steel), firm plastic packaging and glass packaging. You can learn more about recycling on Council's website here. 

To give you some idea of the type of recycling waste Council deals with: 

  • 43,300 tpa (48%) paper and cardboard recycled in Brisbane
  • 31,000 tpa (34%) glass recyled/reused in Brisbane
  • 4,900 tpa (5%) plastic bottles recycled in NSW
  • 3,000 tpa (3%) flexible plastic eg. sauce bottles recycled in Australia and overseas
  • 1,800 tpa (2%) steel recycled in Australia
  • 800 tpa (1%) aluminium cans recycled in NSW

Brisbane's Best Recycling Guide for Households is a helpful pocket guide, which details information about what can be recycled and why. You can collect one from my office at Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre, 180 Fairfield Rd, Fairfield. 

LOCAL NEWS AND EVENTS

GOLD STAR AND LITTLE STAR READING PROGRAM

The 2018 Gold Star Reading Club program for children aged 6-12 years and the Little Stars Reading Club program for children aged 0-5 years has begun again this year and runs until 31 July.

The program provides fun, incentive based reading activities for children to improve their literacy and reading skills. Membership is free and you can register at your local library.

By reading a minimum of three books of their choice each month, completing a series of activities and recording the details in their activity book, children can collect twelve gold stars and monthly incentives.

Children who collect all twelve gold stars are eligible to:

  • enter the major prize draw to win a $200 book voucher for themselves (Gold Star Reading Club and Little Stars Reading Club members) and another for their school (Gold Star Reading Club members only)
  • receive a medallion and a certificate of achievement
  • attend their local awards ceremony with their family

To find out more about the program, visit Council's website here  or sign up at Fairfield or Annerley Library now!

JULIETTE ST AND IPSWICH RD INTERSECTION UPGRADE

Work has begun on Council's project to increase safety and reduce congestion at the intersection of Juliette St and Ipswich Rd, Annerley.

Upgrades and changes include:
  • minor widening of Juliette St to provide an additional lane on approach to the intersection;
  • changing the lane arrangements on Juliette St to a single left-turn slip lane, a single through lane and two right-turn lanes;
  • providing new traffic signal pedestals and lanterns in the centre medians on Ipswich Rd;
  • replacing existing asphalt footpath with a new concrete footpath on the northern and southern corners of Juliette St and Ipswich Rd;
  • constructing new kerb and channel on the southern side of Juliette St;
  • road resurfacing;
  • modifying the island on Juliette St and the two centre medians on Ipswich Rd; and
  • new line marking and landscaping.

Asbestos has been discovered in the ground at the southern corner of Juliette St and Ipswich Rd, which requires a certified asbestos contractor to remove the contaminated soil. Dust control measures will be in place during this work.

To minimise traffic disruptions, work will take place between 7pm and 5am, Sunday to Friday. Traffic control will be onsite to assist motorists and local access will be maintained at all times.
WOOLLOONGABBA BIKEWAY DESIGN RELEASED

Council have released the detailed design for the Woolloongabba Bikeway Project, which extends  between Stanley St, South Brisbane to Annerley Rd, Dutton Park.

The Woolloongabba Bikeway aims to increase the safety of cyclists travelling both directions along Stanley St and Annerley Rd via separated barriers on Stanley St and Annerley Rd and floating bus stops, and includes the following:

  • separated bikeway along Stanley Street, from Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, to Dock Street, South Brisbane;
  • 240 metre section of separated bikeway on western side of Annerley Rd, between Stanley Street and Clarence Street ;
  • on-road bike lanes on both sides of Annerley Road, from Clarence St to Gladstone Rd, Dutton Park;
  • replace existing signalised pedestrian crossing on Annerley Rd with a new signalised intersection at Annerley Rd, Clarence St and Catherine St;
  • some intersection modification;
  • closing the left-turn slip lane to the South East Freeway on-ramp from Stanley St;
  • reconfiguring some bus stops to reduce conflicts between cyclists and buses;
  • installing a CityCycle station on Annerley Rd; and
  • providing left-in only access to Merton Road from Stanley Street.

I am concerned that Council is closing the Stanley St on ramp to the freeway and did object to this closure. I am concerned this will force additional traffic onto Juliette St and Cornwall St unnecessarily. 

The project is scheduled to begin in mid-2018. You can view more information and the detailed design on Council's website here.

BBQ TO A GOOD HOME!

A very generous resident recently donated a used electric BBQ and stand to my office to give away to a good home.

If you know of a community group or giving family that could use this BBQ (pictured), please let me know and I would be happy to pass this on to them.

HOMELESS CONNECT

Council is seeking donations for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

You can assist by donating non-perishable food items until 15 June at my office at Fairfield Gardens Shopping Centre, 180 Fairfield Rd, Fairfield.

Homeless Connect brings together business and community groups at a one-day event to give free services to people experiencing homelessness or those at risk of homelessness. The project has helped more than 14,700 people since Brisbane City Council held the first Homeless Connect in Australia in November 2006.

Homeless Connect events provide the following:

  • volunteer medical and allied health care professionals including doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists and massage therapists
  • housing support
  • haircuts by volunteer barbers and hairdressers
  • immunisation delivered by Council's immunisation team
  • personal grooming items such as towels and face washers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant
  • clothes for adults, children and babies, including shoes
  • bedding.

The event will be held on Thursday, 28 June 2018 at the Brisbane Racing Club, Doomben Racecourse (Hampden Street, Ascot). Guests can enjoy a meal, socialise, participate in activities and access much needed services.

BRISBANE METRO UPDATE

Council has released the Brisbane Metro draft Design Report for consultation and is inviting residents and stakeholders to have their say until Friday 25 May 2018.

The draft Design Report provides an overview of the planning and consultation outcomes, as well as a concept design and environmental assessment.

The project will cut approximately 125 buses from travelling into the City and Lord Mayor Graham Quirk refuses to say which services will be cut. This is a huge concern, as it may lengthen journeys when residents are forced to change buses around the Cultural Centre to get into town. 

The project has minimal benefits for Tennyson Ward along the eastern edge through Annerley closest to the busway. My Main concern is that we are not adversely impacted by bus route changes or cuts. 

To have your say and view the plan in detail, visit Council's website here. 

LIVING WITH WILDLIFE

Brisbane has more species of plants, animals and insects than any other capital city in Australia. Brisbane's native animals and birds play an important role in our city's biodiversity and are protected under State Government legislation, as they help to control pest insects and spread native vegetation.

While some native animals can have nuisance behaviours, such as swooping magpies and noisy crows, the benefits of living with wildlife outweigh the negative impacts.

If you see any dead or sick wildlife, please let us know. Council operates a 24/7 native animal ambulance service through the RSPCA. If you find a sick, injured and/or orphaned wild animal, call the RSPCA on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) and ask for help from the animal ambulance.

To report deceased wildlife on roads or in Council parks, phone Council on 07 3403 8888.

ROAD AND CONSTRUCTION WORKS

Road Resurfacing

Tennyson Memorial Ave, Yeerongpilly
4 April, 2018 until 24 May, 2018

Taunton St, Annerley
28 May, 2018 until 1 June, 2018