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Cawonga Park Lighting Upgrade
Work has commenced on the lighting upgrade to improve safety through Cawonga Park, Oxley. No trees will be removed during the work and Council arborists will supervise excavation to protect tree roots.

Four new light poles will be installed and one old light near the parks will be removed. Around 140 metres of new underground cable will be installed via a mini tunnel boring machine and connected to a switchboard on Lincoln Street. Hopefully the works will make the park safer and more functional for people heading home from the shops and station at night.

Tom O'Neill Park and Ed Kuepper Park Maintenance
Improvement works for Tom O'Neill Park, Oxley are set to commence before the end of the financial year. The planned works include the removal of weed trees, replacement planting and general weed removal throughout the waterway from Douglas St to Oxley Rd.

Works to remove weeds and invasive species from Ed Kuepper Park, Oxley are scheduled to begin in the next week, beginning with the removal of a number of Chinese elms and replacement planting with local species. Later works will focus on the removal of weeds and replacement plantings around the waterway to improve its overall health. 

Improving the quality of mowing and maintenance works in Oxley parks and along roadsides and drains is one of my top priorities. 

Council

There's some exciting news for the upcoming weekend. As of 16 May, Brisbane City Council is re-opening all outdoor gyms, skate parks, playgrounds, exercise equipment, basketball facilities, BMX tracks and barbecues. All dog parks are already open.

Community halls are re-opening on 16 May with a limit of 10 people.

Council libraries will also re-open on 16 May for pick-up and drop-off only. Library members can also access resources online, including E-books and audiobooks. Membership is free. You can apply via Council's website.

Council's Active and Healthy programs are suspended.

From 7am Monday 18 May on-street parking meters will operate as normal.

Bus passengers (except those requiring assistance) must board from the rear door. Ferry and bus services are only accepting Go Cards no cash ticket sales.

Council pools are closed until further notice.

The kerbside collection that was scheduled for June has been cancelled. Tips remain open.

Pedestrian traffic signals in high demand areas are now automatically triggered. This means you do not have to press the button when wanting to cross the road.

State

QLD Care Army Hotline
1800 173 349
If you need help at home or want to volunteer.

QLD Health
13 43 25 84

The Sherwood Arboretum playground upgrade is ready for you to enjoy this weekend. Two new forts and monkey bars have been installed following a consultation process with Sherwood State School students. My next project at this lovely play space is new basket, child and baby swings when budget funds permit.

Upgrades to the Arboretum continue with carpark resurfacing beginning this Thursday 14 May and scheduled for completion Friday 5 June, 2020. Large sections of the carpark will be closed to facilitate these works.

It might be a good idea to walk to the Arboretum this weekend; however, if you're driving, a small section of the carpark will remain open during works and street parking will still be available.

Laurel Ave, Chelmer Footpath and Street Tree Improvement Project

Over the past few years, the trees on Laurel Ave have been struggling and several have been lost to unknown causes and age. Council are due to commence improvement works which include:

• new footpath treatments;
• tree removals and trimming on both sides of Laurel Ave; and
• creating subterranean drainage around 28 trees to provide a more sympathetic growing environment for the heritage listed Camphor Laurels.

There will be about 1.5m of roadworks with new kerb and asphalt to be replaced on top of the new underground drainage system. The replacements for the trees removed last year are due to be planted throughout May and June. A total of 15 trees are scheduled to be planted.

Thank you to residents who also requested an extra tree on their frontage. Council has those requests as well. Please note that the tree plantings are optional, and property owners can object to a tree being planted outside their home.

The Camphor Laurels along Laurel Avenue are part of what makes it one of Brisbane's most beautiful and sought after streets. I am really pleased that Council has come up with an innovative environmental solution that will not affect the look of Laurel Ave and will help to ensure the longevity of the street trees. 

Oxley and Graceville Additional Street Tree Plantings

Over the coming months Council will commence additional street tree plantings throughout Oxley and Graceville in the following streets:

• Bannerman St, Oxley
• Bayford St, Oxley
• Calston St, Oxley
• Campana St, Oxley
• Harraden St, Oxley
• Jutland St, Oxley
• Landstead St, Oxley
• Logan Ave, Oxley
• Price St, Oxley
• Vesta St, Oxley
• Alexander Rd, Oxley
• Boodera St, Oxley
• California Rd, Oxley
• Enright St, Oxley
• Hipper St, Oxley
• Munbilla St, Oxley
• St Clements Rd, Oxley
• Oxley Rd, Oxley
• Hargreaves St, Graceville
• Verney Rd East, Graceville
• Crawford Rd, Graceville
• Frank St, Graceville
• Richardson St, Graceville
• Randolph St, Graceville
• Addison Rd, Graceville
• White St, Graceville
• Oxley Rd, Graceville
• Acacia Ave, Graceville
• Appel St, Graceville
• Churchill St, Graceville
• Connors St, Graceville
• Dan St, Graceville
• Harte St, Graceville
• Leybourne St, Graceville
• Sandon St, Graceville
• Waratah Ave, Graceville

A total of 191 trees will be planted. Residents should have been notified by letter if a street tree planting is scheduled on their property's street frontage.

Oncemore I would like to stress that the tree plantings are completely optional. Please contact my office if you object to a tree being planted on your street frontage.

Braille House #BlindMinute Challenge

Braille House invite you, your family, school, workplace and friends to take up the #BlindMinute Challenge and Spend a minute in their eyes!

To take the challenge simply do something for one minute blindfolded, film it, post it to any social media (including the BlindMinute Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BlindMinute20/ )  with the hashtag #BlindMinute and tag 3 friends to take the challenge.

It can be any task like gardening, washing the car, sweeping, eating, making something out of playdoh, dancing, exercising, singing, tying your shoelaces, telling a story, typing, playing an instrument or even just brushing your hair (Please - just make sure that it is something safe).

We invite everybody to consider making a donation to the challenge and encourage others to do the same (maybe forgo that Cappuccino today and donate the $5 to the Challenge). Donations can be made at www.braillehouse.org.au/blindminute or through the Facebook page where the majority of action will be occurring - @BlindMinute20.

All money raised supports the activities of Braille House. The work of Braille House is important because for every 100 books a sighted child can access, a blind child has access to between 3 and 5 (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions). However, children who are blind and have access to a wide range of resources in braille have a higher chance of finishing university and gaining employment (Journal of Blindness, Innovation and Research).

Council is offering free immunisation clinics throughout 2020. Clinics are held at the Corinda Bowls Club, 58 Hall Avenue, Corinda from 9-11am each Wednesday (excluding public holidays).

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

Graceville Ave, Graceville is posted as 60km/h. The sign collected data for a 7 week period from 9 February to 28 March 2020. During this time 250,683 vehicles (av. 5,223 per day) passed through the portable speed sign zone.

10,614 or 4.2% 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 4km to 62km/h within the speed camera range.

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

Indooroopilly Riverwalk Works
Construction of the Indooroopilly Riverwalk has commenced, with works taking place Monday to Saturday, 7am to 5pm. Two barges have been installed along the river to support a large crane and drill rig for piling works. Residents and businesses may experience an increase in noise and low-level vibration during piling works, but Council will monitor noise and vibration levels to ensure they do not exceed reasonable limits. A temporary jetty has been built to offer access to the barges, and I am still pressuring Council to convert the temporary works pontoon into a permanent public pontoon at the end of construction.

As part of the Indooroopilly Riverwalk project, Council will upgrade the intersection at Foxton St and Radnor St, Indooroopilly. There is currently no access into Foxton St for traffic travelling westbound on Radnor St and vice versa. Alternative access is via Station Rd and Riverview Tce.

Bus Stop Removal Graceville Ave, Stop 46
In the coming weeks, Council will remove bus stop 46 on Graceville Ave, Graceville outside 101 Graceville Ave. The bus stop is being amalgamated with stop 47, Graceville Ave near Erroll St, Graceville located 200m westbound outside 61 Graceville Ave.

Walter Taylor Bridge Works
Council is proposing maintenance works within the southern anchor chambers of the Walter Taylor Bridge. These works include removal of existing corrosion within the chambers by hand, abrasive blasting of surfaces within the chambers to remove damaged protective coating and the application of new protective coating that matches the colour of the existing coating. I am yet to receive confirmation of when these works will take place, but I will keep you updated.