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Councillors, please stand. Almighty God, we, the representatives of the citizens  of the City of Brisbane, are assembled here to strive and care for the welfare of our city and  all its people. Lord, we ask that you to guide us in the decisions we make here today. Amen.Â
We acknowledge and respect—sorry, Brisbane City Council acknowledges this country and  its traditional custodians. We acknowledge and respect the spiritual relationship between  traditional custodians and this country, which has inspired language, song, dance,  lore, and Dreaming stories over many thousands of years. We pay our respects to Elders, those who Â
Have passed into the Dreaming, those here today, those of tomorrow. May we continue to peacefully  walk together in gratitude, respect and kindness, and in caring for this country and one another. Please be seated, Councillors. I declare the meeting open. Do we have any apologies? No? We have no apologies.Â
Moving on, Councillors, we have a motion of appreciation before us. Councillors, I draw  your attention to the motion of appreciation. LORD MAYOR, could you please move the motion?  As this is the last Council meeting of the year, I move that Brisbane City Councillors thank all Â
Council staff for their hard work and dedication in making Brisbane an even better place to live,  work and relax in 2023. Seconded. It has been moved by the LORD MAYOR and seconded by Councillor  CASSIDY, as this is the last Council meeting of the year, Brisbane City Councillors thank all Â
Council staff in their hard work and dedication to making Brisbane an even better place to live,  work, relax in 2023. Is there any debate? LORD MAYOR. Yes, thank you, Mr Chair. Well,  the end of this week is December, believe it or not. The year has gone by in some ways Â
Incredibly quickly, and in other ways, it’s been a long year. But the time of year that  we are entering now is a time for many things, but particularly, it’s a time for gratitude,  and it’s a time in particular when we express our thanks and gratitude to the incredible Â
Council staff that do so much to make our city a better place. Now, the 27 Councillors in this  Chamber obviously have a really important role in setting strategy and providing guidance on  the direction of the city, but it is the Council staff who implement that strategy, Â
Who implement the work that needs to be done, and this city ticks along because of the great  work that they do, always out and about across the city, talking to the residents of Brisbane. They  also appreciate the work that Council staff do and they also agree that this city does tick along.Â
Things get done. Things happen, and there’s so much across so many different areas of Council  which just happens, whether it’s our staff that are manning the award-winning contact centre 24-7,  whether it’s those driving the buses, maintaining the buses, managing our fleet of cars and trucks, Â
Maintaining the roads, footpaths, parks and reserves. The planners,  assessing DAs and developing future plans to accommodate more housing and jobs. Those  working to identify and spray mosquitoes and gear up our pest management programs across  the city. Those staffing our libraries. Those planners and designers, designing all kinds of Â
Upgrades from the biggest infrastructure upgrade to the local drainage or minor improvement. To  those preparing for natural disasters, and a particularly relevant thing in our city in  the past and also, sadly, in the future. For those keeping our streets and parks clean. To Â
The administrators. To those working in ICT. To the staff that are specialists in all kinds  of interesting and unique areas, whether it’s those working in the Botanic Gardens—and we  have three of those, and I met just the other day some specialists in bonsai at our bonsai house. Â
They are passionate about it, and we have one of the largest bonsai collections in Australia. It  just goes to show the vast range of things that this organisation does and its staff do. In fact,  I started listing different types of jobs, but there are more than 300 different kinds Â
Of jobs. These are different types of jobs, 300 different kinds of jobs in this  organisation across so many different fields, including a lot of specialist areas, as well. We appreciate every single one of our staff members. We are grateful for every single Â
Thing that they do. We also know that they share an incredible passion for this city.  They work for this organisation not because it is just a job, but because they care about our  city and they also want to see the city progress. They also want to protect the great things about Â
Our city, and they do it for so many other reasons, other than just a job. For that,  as I said, we say thank you. We are grateful. It always strikes me, as well, that there are  two sets of awards that I’m involved with with our staff each year. The first is the Dedication Â
To Brisbane or Long Service Awards, and then the second is the Lord Mayor’s Excellence Awards. In  the first, it’s very clear that there are a significant number of people who have built  a long-term career in this organisation. They absolutely love this city. They love Brisbane City Â
Council. They love working for it and they love achieving for our community. It is regular that  we award people who have been working here for 35 years, 40 years, and even 45 years. In fact,  our longest-serving Council officer is over 50 years of service to the City of Brisbane. So, Â
That’s a regular thing we do a couple of times each year. It just goes to show that  this organisation is built on people who care about the city, they care about the  organisation and they love working for it. Secondly, the Lord Mayor’s Excellence Awards Â
Really, really showcase innovation and dedication in a range of fields. The examples that we  see showcased in the Lord Mayor’s Excellence Awards are absolutely incredible. Just the last  edition we had, there was a single, particular officer whose work in financial accounting and Â
Asset management has saved this organisation over $60 million. Just one officer and their  dedication and the work that they had done, that one officer has saved this organisation,  and hence ratepayers, over $60 million. That example is one of so many of dedication, Â
And we celebrate also the officers that develop new ways of doing things, as well,  that make life safer or easier for other officers, and there are countless examples.  We also celebrate some of the groundbreaking projects that are delivered here, and last year, Â
The winning project or the winning team in the Lord Mayor’s Excellence Awards were those that  delivered Australia’s first koala bridge on Boundary Road at Whites Hill, just one of the  many examples of officers doing wonderful things. So, as we head into this Christmas festive season, Â
As we head into the time of year where we give gratitude, we say thank you to each and every  officer in this organisation. We appreciate your work. We thank you for what you do. We certainly  hope that is a lowkey summer period when it comes to the challenges that Brisbane sometimes faces Â
Over summer, but we know that whatever we face, our organisation, our staff will be ready for  what might arise, but we do certainly wish them a lowkey Christmas and an opportunity to have  a bit of a break. We certainly look forward to working with them again in the New Year. Thank Â
You, Mr Chair. Thank you, LORD MAYOR. Councillor CASSIDY. Thanks very much,  Chair. I rise to contribute to this motion of appreciation. I’m thankful for the incredible  work that Council’s employees and Council’s contractors and Council’s labour hire workers Â
Do every day to support us here in this place, in our wards and serving the people of Brisbane  every day of the week. The 2022 flood event was a very defining moment in our city’s recent history,  and the impact that that had on people’s lives is still being felt. I visited people Â
Just recently who, only just in the last month or two, have moved back into their  homes. Some now are just in the process of razing their homes, as well, in my community. The response to the flood showed us what we can achieve when we all work together, Â
Of course, and it confirmed that Council isn’t always just the three Rs. Sometimes it’s about  care and compassion. It’s about support and it’s about being there for each other. So, to those of  you who are still working on the city’s recovery from the February 2022 floods, we appreciate your Â
Commitment to this mammoth effort that continues. Our city will be better and more resilient for it  in the future, thanks to your hard work. While the world around us starts to feel  like it once did again, we understand that there are a different set of challenging circumstances Â
That our Council workforce is facing. Some of the stories we’ve heard from Council employees  are worrying, and they have said they are fearing for their future and for their jobs.  Being told they have nothing to worry about is cold comfort for most of them. We have seen that Â
LNP approach before. It never ends well for workers. We have heard those who aren’t at  risk of losing their jobs directly right now are concerned about having to do more work  next year with less staff, and this is a reality across Council’s indoor and outdoor workforce.Â
I’ve talked a lot recently about the political decisions we’ve seen here and the impact they  can have, and the impact by cutting staff by this Administration, choosing not to backfill leave,  for example, makes it harder for our workers to feel safe to take a break, Â
Which, to be fair, is hard at any time of the year, but at Christmastime, that’s just  plain unkind. Suggesting workers are lazy and reducing the hard work of labour hire workers,  who’ve been with Council for 10 or 20 years, as simple numbers on a spreadsheet tells me Â
That this LNP Administration are just like the LNP at every other level, unfortunately. In thanking you, our workers, for your hard work every day, I also want to assure you that our  Labor team in here hears you, we value you, and we want you to know we have your back and will Â
Continue to fight for you. You are the heart of this organisation and you are what makes it tick.  We thank you for all your effort and dedication that you have shown over this last year, whether  it’s library staff, road crews, mosquito sprayers, those frontline employees with boots on the Â
Ground, those working in compliance or finance, transport planning or asset services or out in  the community daily, we thank you very much. For our city bus drivers, we’ll never stop fighting  to keep you safe, and continue to fight for a safer work environment, more barriers, more clean Â
Rest stops and more toilet facilities. I can’t believe we’re still talking about that in 2023. I just want to make a special mention to those contractors who have been co-opted into doing  basic, ongoing Council work, too. These people are bearing the brunt of this Administration’s Â
Political decisions at the moment. We value you and we value the work that you do. For us,  you are valued and you’re doing a fantastic job. We want to see you protected in safe  and secure employment within Council. So, there’s also the staff here in City Â
Hall that we would be nowhere without in doing our duties here, as Councillors,  once a week. You’re here to help us early in the morning, late into the evening,  always with smiles on your faces. Thank you to Helma, Lucja, Milica, Aiena, Billy, of course, Â
And Raymond, who we occasionally see, not as often as the others, working a different shift. Thank  you for making us feel so supported in your work. I want to especially thank and congratulate Lucy,  who will be retiring after 30 years with Council next week. Lucy tells me she started over at Â
69 Ann Street, not long after she arrived in Australia. She started work on her birthday,  so on 12 November this year, she counted 30 years with Council. I’d like to say thank you  from the bottom of my heart for your dedication to your work. Spending that long around Council, Â
You’ve seen some changes and some changing faces, including five Lord Mayors and dozens  of Councillors come and go. I certainly hope you enjoy your travels in the new caravan. To the IT team, Aaron, Craig, Hope, James, you do a tremendous job in keeping this place and Â
These meetings running smoothly, and our ward offices, as well, and to the clerks here in  the Chamber and others we see in the committee rooms and up on level 23. Thank you for your  work in going above and beyond, week after week, in supporting the work that we do as Councillors. Â
You will have been tested at times during this year, but we appreciate your stewardship  and advice. To Daemon and your team up there in councillor support and the whole team up there,  your support is invaluable again to us as local Councillors in the work that we do in representing Â
Our communities to the best of our abilities. I’d also just like to thank my staff, as well,  ward office staff firstly. I know every Councillor in here understands and appreciates the work that  those staff do every day of the week. It’s not just a nine to five job. There’s a lot Â
Of other effort and work that goes in. They get us here, they help represent our communities in  this place and also serve our communities out in the suburbs. Residents come to them with concerns,  complaints, ideas, and also to ask for help. They wear many hats and each one of them is dedicated, Â
Compassionate, driven, and work tremendously hard. So, thank you to all the ward staff,  and particularly Jen and Quinn in my office. Our team here, Labor team, is also supported  by a small but hardworking team in City Hall. Thank you to Tom and Kyrsten and Daniel and Â
Jess for what you do to keep our team on track, and the support that you give to us, as well. To all those staff, no matter how you are spending the festive season this year, I do wish you all Â
A peaceful and relaxing time, filled with the things that make you most happy. Our Labor team  thanks you for the invaluable work that you do and we look forward to working with you again next  year. Thank you, Councillor. Further speakers? Councillor LANDERS. Thank you, Chair. We all know Â
That it takes a team to get things done, and we certainly have the best team of Council officers  in Brisbane City Council. I know that Councillors on the other side of Brisbane were very sad to  see the northside Councillors gain Tom McHugh as our outcome manager, but we make no apologies. Â
Thank you very much, Tom, and also to Tristan Macrae, for all that you do and the passion and  the commitment that you bring to this job every single day. We know you love delivering for our Â
Community and making Brisbane even better. I know you have a team of people that you work with, too,  that make this happen, but you are our conduit to them and we couldn’t do our job without you all.Â
I think all our parks officers who look after our parks, our family spends so much time  enjoying our greenspaces, and it’s never been more important than this time for them to have  access to free activities for families to stay active and to spend time together. I know that Â
Councillor PARRY and former Councillor Hammond would also want me to thank Andrew Ensbey. He  is our northside treasure, and responsible for creative additions to our parks. The new Bradbury  Park opened this year in Marchant Ward has been such a fantastic addition and destination park Â
For northsiders, and I believe everyone else in Brisbane too have certainly been to check  that out, so thank you, Andrew. Our TPO officers, Kevin Simon,  who has recently been replaced by Ben, and Jared. Jared has been there, Â
Supporting me over the last four years, and I know that they are very passionate about what they do,  too. We thank them all for assisting us to improve our community. I know Councillor DAVIS wanted to  thank Damian Soper for the Keona Road project. We thank Nick Herson and Melvin Boh, as well.Â
Thank you to Jim Lynch, who has filled the role vacated by Shirley on her retirement in the grants  team. This is such a busy but important area in Council, and I know my fellow Councillors would  agree that we value their support immensely. Recently, Dave Armanelli took over from Daemon Â
Hughes as our CARS officer, and all our CARS officers do such a great job, but thank you for  that, and thank you to Daemon for his work in that role and now, of course, in councillor support. I want to thank Cinnamon O’Shanesy, our sport and community officer, who manages our club Â
Leases and ensures that clubs continue to function smoothly, that our kids can be involved in sport,  in Scouts, Girl Guides, boxing. There are endless people whose lives you enrich through this role,  Cinnamon. Thank you to our library staff, who not only run our beautiful libraries, but who also Â
Get out and about in our communities. The Bracken Ridge Library staff have attended School is Out on  the Green, Backyard Bonanza, NAIDOC celebrations, St Joseph’s school fête, just to name a few. I want to particularly thank Pam. Pam, we will farewell you this Friday from Bracken Ridge Â
Library. You have been a librarian for 38 years, working in public libraries across your career  in New Zealand and Australia. You are recognised for your strong commitment to community engagement  and outreach, and increasing awareness of library services and inspiring literacy  and learning for all ages. Pam championed many Indigenous perspectives into library programming, Â
Including the very successful Jarjum storytime at Bracken Ridge Library. She also established the Park Things collection of sports equipment at Bracken Ridge Library this  year, and together, we have worked to engage our local youth. Pam, you have been so wonderful to Â
Work with and I’m really going to miss having you next door, but I can understand that you  are about to have a sea change and that is going to be absolutely wonderful, so we thank you for Â
Your dedication and wish you well for your move. I know the Everton Park Library staff in McDowall  Ward have been continuing to support locals from their temporary digs at Fallon Cottage,  and they’re looking forward to moving into an amazing new library when it’s Â
Completed soon. Thank you for continuing our wonderful library services during the build,  and thank you to Susan Bain, the team leader, and all of the team there at Everton Park. I also want to thank our mosquito spraying teams who, on the northside with our vast wetlands that Â
We have there, they are out every week spraying. We know we’re coming into our busiest season,  but you are consistently working hard there and we really appreciate you. I want to thank my team in the Bracken Ridge Ward, Michelle, Helen, Louise and Kayla. Your Â
Empathy for people and always striving to provide service for our residents, you always go above and  beyond and your extra efforts certainly don’t go unnoticed. I’m so very blessed to have your  support, as the residents of Bracken Ridge Ward are. I know all our northside Councillors Â
Feel the same about their teams, and for the support that they do and going above and beyond. I just want to quickly mention Natalie Costanzo and team from the Downfall Creek Bushland Centre  in Councillor DAVIS’ ward for all that you do, and of course Gayle Smith in Sports and Community. Â
I know there’s quite a few people. It is very hard to remember everyone. I also want to thank  the IT team, Billy, Brodie, Aaron, Hopewell and Craig, our award-winning call centre operators,  our clerks, and, of course, Billy, who is always looking after us here in the Chamber. We thank Â
All of you for your dedication and passion for our city and for making Brisbane even better. I know Chairs will talk about our amazing officers citywide, like Paul and Alan from  the litter team and Simon Alexander, of course, for bringing our seniors’ concerts, in particular, Â
But many, many other things. On behalf of the northside Councillors, I thank you all  for another incredible year of service. I do hope you manage some downtime with family and  friends over the coming weeks. Further speakers? Councillor COLLIER. Thanks, Chair. I too would Â
Like to rise to support this motion and thank the hardworking staff of Council. You work tirelessly  every single day for the residents of Brisbane, so if you work in the call centre, out in the field,  if you are a public space liaison officer, if you are part of the wasteSMART team, if you’re Â
Staff here in City Hall or you’re taking people where they need to go as a Council bus driver,  no matter what you do, please know it makes a real difference what you do and  we appreciate it probably more than any of us are ever going to be able to articulate.Â
There’s a few specific people that I’d really like to acknowledge, and I’ve had the pleasure  of working with you over the past few months. Specifically, I’d like to mention Sara,  who is the Morningside Ward’s outcomes manager. Thank you so much for your work supporting my Â
Community. It’s been a real privilege and a pleasure. I’d also like to acknowledge and  thank Andrea and Matt from community facilities, who have done outstanding work and continue to  support a huge amount of community and sporting groups in the Morningside Ward and afar. Thank Â
You so much for what you do. The entire team, of course, at the beautiful Bulimba Library,  led by Kylie. You are all incredible. I really just can’t tell you how much you mean to our  local community. Thank you so much. Finally, I want to acknowledge and Â
Thank the Morningside Ward office staff who do an outstanding job every single day for  the residents of Morningside Ward. My staff turn up to work eager to make a difference  and live their values. I and the Morningside Ward residents appreciate you so much. I’m Â
So proud to know and work with you, Courtney and Phoebe. I also want to acknowledge Troy,  as well. Thank you for everything you have done to support our beautiful community. Thank you  to all Council staff for everything that you do, not just today but every day. Thank you, Â
Councillor COLLIER. Further speakers? Councillor HUTTON. Thank you,  Mr Chair. I rise to speak on this motion of appreciation to share our gratitude for the  incredible work carried out by our dedicated officers within Brisbane City Council. I want  to express my sincere thanks on behalf of the entire community for their remarkable efforts Â
And your continued passion to make Brisbane an even better place every single day. In  every corner of our beloved city, the tireless commitment of our officers shines brightly,  but they are particularly bright in the west. From maintaining our parks and greenspaces to Â
Ensuring the smooth functioning of bus networks, each one of you play a crucial role in shaping the  vibrant and thriving city that is Brisbane. It is easy for us to take for granted the seamless  operations of our city, the cleanliness of our streets, and the countless events that Â
Bring us together as a community. Yet, behind these daily conveniences and joyful gatherings,  there exists a team of individuals who work diligently, often behind the scenes,  to make it all possible. Today, we take a moment to shine a spotlight on those unsung heroes.Â
While it’s a dangerous thing to do, I want to particularly acknowledge a few officers who,  over the past year, have gone above and beyond in their roles. This includes Mitch Barlow,  for your flood recovery efforts at Jindalee Bowls Club and Centenary Rowing Club. We Â
Couldn’t have done it without you. John, Alvin and Kurt, and the PPI team for your efforts,  particularly in keeping our Centenary Memorial Gardens and Edenbrooke Parklands looking fabulous.  Matt Larney and the entire compliance team for the incredible work that you do. Peta Harwood, Â
Margaret Orr, Emma Mezzina, and the development services teams for your ongoing support  and answering our hundred questions. Dion and the public space liaison team,  you guys do an incredible job and provide an incredible amount of support for our  community. Liz Denning and the entire staff at our Mount Ommaney Library, and also the Â
Library staff at Inala, Corinda, and Kenmore. Luke Manley, Kris Chadwick, Mark Theobald,  and the CPO team for your efforts, particularly in bringing our active transport networks and  our pontoons back online. Damian Soper and the TPO team for your ongoing efforts in keeping our Â
Roads safe. Wesley DeMuth for your energy, passion and love for our local environment. Our local officer Stu, who sprays mosquitos in our local area every week, and the entire  pest control team. Peter Laz and Shane Klepper for always being a fountain of knowledge and Â
Support. Thank you also to our team here in the Chamber, who look after us every single week.  Thank you for always being so warm and welcoming. I want to particularly congratulate Lucy on her 30  years of service. To our ward staff, particularly Marty, Ben, Belle, Pip, Sue, PJ and Sarah. This is Â
No ordinary job and we appreciate the advice and support that you provide both us and our  communities. We would be lost without you. Finally, Grant Murray and Carly Weaver, our  outcome managers, who put their heart and souls into this role. We really appreciate your efforts.Â
As we reflect upon the efforts over the past year, none of this would have been possible  without the passion, expertise and hard work of all of our officers. Brisbane has flourished under  your watchful eye, and for that, we are profoundly grateful. On behalf of the citizens of Brisbane, Â
I want to extend my deepest thanks to each and every one of you. Your dedication does  not go unnoticed and your impact is felt by all who call this incredible city home.  May you continue to be the driving force behind Brisbane’s ongoing success and may your efforts Â
Inspire others to contribute to the prosperity and wellbeing of our remarkable city. Thank you  for your outstanding service and for ensuring that the Brisbane of tomorrow is even better  than the Brisbane of today. Wishing you a very merry Christmas. Thank you, Councillor HUTTON. Further speakers? Councillor GRIFFITHS. Yes, thank you, Â
Mr Chair. I rise to speak to this motion and, in particular, to speak to the people who have been  really nice this year. I’ve got a naughty and a nice list, so I’ll just work through the nice list Â
First, then we’ll come to the naughty list as we go. Here’s the naughty list. Here’s the nice list. Councillors interjecting. Yes. So, to our frontline workers, to our bus drivers and  to the RBTU who support them, thank you, and I’ve spoken to you before. To our library staff, Â
Our call centre staff, and overall, to our many staff who deliver for the residents of Brisbane,  I think out of the three levels of government, local government is the most important. It’s  the closest to the people and it’s certainly the one that I believe we, as representatives, Â
Have the most contact with residents, as well, so it’s a very important role in the community. I would like to acknowledge Lucy, who’s one of the people who works in the tearooms and supports us  as Councillors. I know in my 21 years here, she’s been exceptionally polite. She’s always—I think Â
She’s witnessed some pretty diabolical meetings, and she’s been pretty calm and collected about  it all. I think what they witness, they could write a book about. To Lucy, I hope you have  a wonderful career—not career, a wonderful time travelling in your retirement years.Â
Actually, as one of the senior managers, I’d like to thank and acknowledge Krysten Booth. Krysten,  you’re one of the few managers in my time in Council who have actually reached out  to an Opposition Councillor, come and met with me, and asked me what I think would Â
Make Council function better in terms of PPI. I really appreciate you doing that.  I appreciate you listening and I appreciate your impartialness in wanting to deliver a  service across the city, so thank you for that. I need to—then, one of the outcomes of meeting Â
With Krysten was that we were actually able to, once again, start meeting with Council officers  again, instead of just one officer. I had meetings with Alan Rimmer and Jeremy Rowe in relation to  public space operations in City Standards, and they have been really fantastic in delivering in Â
My ward and achieving a lot of things. We’ve still got a lot to do, but it’s been really  good to be able to speak to the managers who are delivering, that they can understand what  needs to be delivered and they have gone ahead and done that. So thank you, gentlemen, for that. ToÂ
Melissa Doherty and Dan Ellice-Flint, public space operations, for 20 years now, we’ve had an issue  along Ipswich Road where it turns to 80, where we haven’t been able to clean up litter, where  there’s been a lot of damage and a lot of neglect. You’ve gone in and solved that problem, and you’ve Â
Put a solution in place that’s happening every six weeks. Residents are noticing it. The 60,000 or  70,000 vehicles that travel along that section of road are noticing it. I, as a Councillor,  am noticing it. So, thank you for that outcome, as well. It’s much appreciated and it’s just good Â
To see a standard of service across the city. Chris Dailey and Pieter Sytsma, thank you for  working with me on Stable Swamp Creek. We still haven’t delivered on that issue down there yet.  I understand that’s coming at Christmastime, but we will be delivering on that and, once again, Â
I thank you. For many years, I’ve worked with you two in delivering for Rocklea residents.  That’s stopped for the last few years. It’s good to see that’s coming back on track,  and also helping me with the war on Leucaena, which is a weed species growing all through there.Â
Anastasia Browne, to the wonderful—I think you have a new surname, so sorry about that,  Anastasia. I haven’t remembered that, with your marriage, but for the trees and boulevarding  you’ve done and your team have done in my ward. It’s been incredible and I’d like Â
To keep working with you. Keep up the good work. Scott Pointing, operations manager,  construction, keep up the good work. Justin Wells, who was previously with  the teams and was like my go-to person if I needed something resolved. Justin,  you’re a great employee and Councillors should be really using your skills more.Â
To Chris Jameson and Shannon Clarke, I really appreciate the way you’ve stepped up and you’ve  responded so quickly to the issues that I raise, and I have many. I have a big ward, I have a  diverse ward, and that response has really been noticed. I really can’t thank you enough for that.Â
Tom McHugh, we lost you, Tom. Tom, you started doing some really innovative work in terms  of our waterways out there, many of which are polluted and can I say someone, a Council officer,  has described as like the Titanic of Brisbane’s waterways? You’ve actually stepped into that Â
Role and started saying, no, we can restore these creeks, not just so they deal with floodwaters,  but also so that they work for conservation, as well. Thank you for getting that initiative  started, and I want to keep it going. Deb Sketchley, for the work you and your Â
Team do. Thank you for the CARS team. I know you cop a beating. It’s a very  difficult job you do. Thank you once again for doing that. I won’t name people there. Mitch Barlow, Matt Trevor, Nick and Michael, for all the people in our leasing team once Â
Again. Moorooka Ward is a very big ward, lots of community organisations, not well funded and  not particularly well human resourced, so you’re working with quite a difficult area, but you’ve  stepped up and are really seeing that need there. Matt De Glas and his team at Toohey Forest, Â
Thank you, habitat officer Julie Bates, and our parks officer that I see regularly,  Josh Griffiths, who is not related to me. Josh, you’re doing a great everyday job  around the place. I think you work in Councillor JOHNSTON’s ward, but you do a really good job.Â
Now, to my own staff, Lisa, Sue, Tracey and Therese, I have acknowledged you before and,  of course, we work very well together. What I’d like to do is wish all the staff  a merry Christmas, and now to the naughty list. Here’s the naughty list. I’m going to Â
Let the naughty list go, but there is a naughty list tonight, anyway, but thank you very much  and I hope everyone has a good Christmas. Cheers. Thank you, Councillor GRIFFITHS. Are there any further speakers? Councillor ATWOOD. Thank you, Chair. I Â
Also rise today to send my sincere appreciation to each and every one of our Council staff,  in particular my team at the Doboy Ward office. In Council, we have almost 10,000 staff and they do  such an incredible job working behind the scenes each and every day to keep our city looking so Â
Beautiful. I just wanted to say a massive thank you to some, in particular, Council officers, and  those who helped me so much out in the Doboy Ward. To my outcome manager, Shannon Clarke. Thank  you for always being a phone call away and working so hard to achieve the outcomes that Â
My residents desire. This year, we also welcomed back Chris Jameson to the Outcome Manager manager  role. You escaped Council for a hot second, but I think we may have lured you back in,  and I am extremely grateful. I recently spoke to Sam, Chris’ manager, and told Â
Him that he’s not allowed to escape this role anymore, so apologies if you want a promotion,  but not allowed to happen. I also haven’t forgotten my debt to you, Chris, of 48 Weetbix  slices. That may be your Christmas present. While I don’t have a day-to-day line anymore with Â
Brendan Whittaker or Noel Lawrence, every time I receive an email via Shannon, it always brings  a smile to my face knowing that you are still out there, working so hard for our city, so thank you.Â
To Andrew Ensbey and Helenah Mac, I have been so lucky to work with the both of you over the last  four years, delivering Paul Conti Park, Colmslie Beach Reserve, and the Murarrie Recreation Reserve  upgrades. You both want the best outcomes for our city. You both have an extremely Â
Good outlook and innovative look, and it’s been an absolute pleasure to work with both of you. In TPO, we have Benny and Brian taking care of Doboy Ward and helping with the day-to-day  traffic issues, so thank you for taking time out of your day to come on the tour to Doboy Â
Ward office drives with co. They mean the world to my residents. Thank you  to the staff who work on the much bigger projects, such as Damian Soper, Andrew,  and Luke. You’ve been such a big help in tackling some of the bigger issues and helping me fix them.Â
In Community Facilities, I have been so lucky to get to know Matt Trevor and Mitch Barlow so much  better this year, as we build back better for our community clubs. Your corporate  knowledge is honestly incredible, and I want to sincerely thank the both of you for going Â
Above and beyond in trying to resolve issues for our community groups and sporting clubs. To our library teams, thank you, Plantain and Nina. Last Friday, we held an event outside  the Carina Library, and Plantain set up a pop-up library area and came out to read Â
And interact with our littlest residents. Every time I go into any of our libraries,  the staff are always so friendly and happy to help, so thank you for what you do. In development services, we have Peta and Rory, who do such a great job. They help Â
With the most sensitive issues. Whenever a new development application is lodged,  and it may be for someone’s backyard, it scares the heck out of some of our residents. They go  above and beyond to try to help our residents in answering any of their questions, so thank you.Â
In CARS, we have Shannon. You do an incredible job. CARS is a really hard area to work in,  so I appreciate what you do and how you go above and beyond to help our residents in Doboy. In the councillor support team, we welcome Daemon this year, and thank you so much, Â
Daemon. It has been an absolute pleasure to get to know you, and I always know you were  there for us to help and support us, so thank you, but also thank you to Penny and Leonie,  who also worked in the team this year. To our IT services team, James, Benny, Â
Craig, and Aaron, you guys are legends. You’re always happy to jump in the car and come out to  our offices and help us, so thank you. To Kim, from our Carina bus depot,  thank you. You do a great job. You recently helped one of our littlest residents, Â
Sam from Carina’s dream come true when he got to go on a drive with one of the drivers recently. Lastly, to Danielle at the Hemmant Cemetery, losing a loved one is one of the hardest things Â
Anyone has to go through, so for you and your staff, you do such a great job. The feedback  I always receive is how kind and caring you always are to our residents, so thank you. As the LORD MAYOR said, we almost have 10,000 employees working over 300 areas, Â
Many of whom I haven’t met and will never meet, but I want to thank each and every one of you  for going out of your way to make our city so beautiful, to keep running. I just want  to wish you all a very merry Christmas. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor ATWOOD.Â
Further speakers? Councillor MASSEY.  Thank you, Chair. I rise to support the motion of appreciation. I want to begin by thanking deeply  all the Council staff for all the work they do, both frontline service and also organisational.  In every department, the tireless work that you do in delivering for Brisbane is appreciated, Â
Not just by myself, but clearly by everyone in this room, and it’s important for us to  show our appreciation, especially in this time in Brisbane. I haven’t met most of you,  but to the officers that I have met, I want to thank you very personally for the friendliness, Â
Support, and information that you’ve provided me. As an appointed Councillor, it’s not always easy,  so I really want to thank those who I’ve met. I want to do a little bit of a shoutout to West  End Library. It’s a small but beautiful space. The work that you do for community is beyond measure.Â
Big shoutout also to Sara. I know I am one of four Councillors that you take care of.  I like to think that I’m the favourite, but I know all four Councillors will give you hell,  and that you take it on within stride. To the public space liaison officers, Â
Thank you. The work that you do makes a huge difference, especially right now  where times are very tough for those across Brisbane. I also want to thank Matt and Phil. CARS, the team, thank you. You get lots of calls from me, Â
Especially about Dutton Park Primary School. I really appreciate all the work that you’re  doing in that space. I also want to highlight Howard, your work in resilience is inspiring. Thank you to my office staff for your knowledge, your faith, and your support. Gabe, Taylor, Â
Elle and Nick, you’ve been a tremendous help. Then, I would like to finish by thanking Lucy.  Lucy was actually the first person that I met when I entered these Chambers, and as one of 26,  a welcoming face, a smile and a hug has made the difference to my time here. So, Â
To Lucy and all the support staff, please, please have a wonderful holiday, and Lucy,  please enjoy your trip around Australia with your husband, and I know I’ll be seeing you soon. Again, the most thanks and the deepest thanks to the staff at Brisbane City Council for making all Â
Of this happen. Sometimes, the days are good, sometimes, they’re bad, but we still do it and  we do it with joy to delivery for our residents, so much appreciated. Thank you, Councillor MASSEY. Councillor HUANG. Thank you, Mr Chair. I rise, too, in support of this motion to express a Â
Most sincere appreciation for our dedicated Council officers and contractors on behalf  of the southside Councillors. Mr Chair, 2023 hasn’t been an easy year for us all. Cost of  living continues to place enormous pressure on our daily lives, and we all feel the impact of Â
Materials and human resource shortages. However, our Council, led by LORD MAYOR Adrian SCHRINNER,  has been carefully steered. Australia’s largest local government, supported by our dedicated  Council officers, we have continued to deliver for the people of Brisbane. The southside Administration Councillors have worked closely with our Council staff, Â
From the outcome managers to the contractors, to make sure we deliver the most for our residents.  Just take MacGregor Ward, for example. This year, we have delivered Rochedale Road and Priestdale  Road intersection upgrade, Lumley Street Village Precinct Project, Bedser Street Park, Â
A new footprint for SAM signs and many more. Examples like these projects across southside  are delivered by our outstanding team of officers from the south region and across different parts  of the Council. We sincerely thank you for being dedicated to a better Brisbane.Â
I’d also like to thank all the ward office staff for their tireless work in serving our  residents. Thank you also to the Council clerks and IT staff for sticking with us through all  the Council meetings, no matter how late or how rowdy the meetings became. To you all again, I say Â
Thank you. I wish everyone a merry Christmas and a great 2024 ahead. Thank you, Councillor HUANG. Further speakers? Councillor JOHNSTON. Yes. I rise to speak briefly  on the motion of support for Council staff. I’d like to start by also acknowledging Lucy, and just Â
Say that she’s given 30 years of distinguished service to Brisbane City Council. That is to help  democratic process in this Chamber, but also to support the running of the city and, certainly,  her services to the people of Brisbane. So, congratulations to Lucy, who’s very proud, Â
I think a little bit sad, but very proud and is looking forward to retirement. I also will thank  all the other staff that look after us here at Council. They are absolutely wonderful and we’re Â
Lucky to have them, because it can be a robust place and it’s very nice to see a smiling face  and have a cup of tea. So, a big thank you to all the Council officers here at City Hall. I would also like to thank my staff this year, and that is Claire, Camille, Â
And Julia, and we had a new addition on the part-time basis this year, Maddie, who is the  pool between the Gabba office and Tennyson Ward office that Councillors set up. She’s  been a wonderful addition to the team and works very quietly along there, so we welcome Maddie.Â
It’s been an incredibly busy year this year. We are still in the process of flood recovery  in my ward, and just this morning, I’ve been told about a family who finally got buyback at Corinda.  It’s been a really awful process for them over the past nearly two years, over 18 months now, Â
To try and have these issues resolved behind the scenes, but they’ve been resolved today.  The QRA has finally approved the buyback, and now Council can move to contract and sale of the  property. Not only is this lifechanging for that family, it means that no one else will Â
Live in this area that floods so badly. So, it’s been an incredibly busy year.  We’ve had every event that you can think of under the sun in the ward,  and my staff give up their time enormously to support the work we do in the office, Â
To support me, and to support our community and our city. So, a big thank you to Claire, Camille,  Julia, and welcome and thank you to Maddie. Yes, I also want to thank—and I won’t name them Â
All, because they’ve mainly been named here today, but I want to say thank you to all the operational  staff at Council who work on the frontline. I particularly want to mention the bus drivers,  the cleaning staff, the waste team, and there are so many others. Parks, open space, Â
CARS. Someone will be left out. So, most of the people that we work with have been mentioned,  but I will single out Rick. I met Rick this year as part of the restructure. He’s our  outcome manager over in the south region, and he’s about to head off on a little bit of leave Â
And to get some things sorted out, which he’s told me about, but I won’t share here. I have never met somebody so indefatigable. I thought we might break him, but we haven’t,  and he keeps telling me how much he enjoys working with me, so I’m like, right, that’s good. I just Â
Want to thank Rick. There is no job that is too big or too small. He is one of the most genuine  people you will ever meet. He is so hardworking. I know he looks after a number of other Councillors,  as well. He just epitomises, I think, the spirit of many Council officers, Â
And he’s a genuinely good bloke. So, best wishes to Rick over the next few weeks, and we’ll see  him chipper and bigger and better in 2024. I would also just like to mention the library  staff, as well. Obviously, my office is co-located with Fairfield Library, and Fung, Gaylene, Â
And the team at Fairfield do an amazing job. We’re so lucky to have them as neighbours. We do things  that neighbours do, which is one, gossip, and two, share resources. So, we’re very happy that we can Â
Support the team at Fairfield Library, and we feel their support, as well. We’re so lucky to have  that library in the Council pool of libraries. We also want to thank the Corinda Library staff,  as well. There have been some changes to the team over there, and I welcome the new people Â
Who’ve come onboard. I just want to say we are so lucky to have great libraries in our city. Also, I  want to acknowledge our pool lessees and the pool staff. They’re about to have a very busy summer,  I suspect. There are two pools in Tennyson Ward and they’re very valuable community resources.Â
I’m sure there’s a lot of other people that I do need to thank, but I just want to say thank you  to the IT team. We have had some issues during the year. A big thank you to James and all of Â
The team for looking after us. Hopewell, Aaron, Craig, Billy, they’ve just done an amazing job.  I’m sorry, we’ve left poor James with some more problems this week which go beyond our office,  but I’m sure he’ll sort them out, no problems whatsoever. Thank you to all of the staff who Â
Help run the meeting and make sure that the meeting runs along so well. We are incredibly  lucky to have this job, and we are incredibly lucky to represent the people of our city,  but what I would say is that the way in which the LNP and the senior executive of Brisbane Â
City Council have excluded Councillors from many of the more important and  significant decision-making processes of this city is to the detriment of the city. The delegated decision-making is not necessarily the best outcome for local communities and for the Â
City. That’s not a reflection on the hardworking Council staff who are doing the job, but I do—as  everybody knows, I think, there’s a bunch of new Councillors—but the CEO does not have my support.  I think there are very serious problems with the leadership of Brisbane City Council, both through Â
The LORD MAYOR and through the CEO. I certainly hope that, perhaps after the election next year,  there’s some change. We don’t even know, for example, how much the CEO of Brisbane City Council  is paid, because it was a secret arrangement made between the LORD MAYOR and the CEO. That is not a Â
Transparent and accountable Administration. So, to all of the hardworking Council staff  out there and my staff, thank you for your service during the year and have a  wonderful Christmas. Further speakers? Councillor STRUNK. Thank you, Chair. I Â
Rise to speak about the motion of appreciation for Council officers and staff. Let me first kick off  with my outcomes manager, Grant Murray, and his team, and the planning team, I should say. Grant,  Pieter Sytsma, Chris Dailey, Michael, and Noel Lawrence. I want to—I started with Grant because Â
He came onboard as an outcome manager with the change of arrangements, and I did lose Tom McHugh  and I was really sad to see Tom move to another area. I thought I was going to have to start over Â
A little bit, I tell you what, Grant has proven me totally wrong. He was keen as mustard. The first  meeting that I met him, along with his team, I was convinced that they really had my ward at heart Â
And the other wards that they looked after. There has been almost nothing that he hasn’t  been able to achieve on request. It’s just so satisfying to be able to have myself or one of my  team members ring that office, ring Grant directly or send emails, in most cases, and have a quick Â
Response and have a positive response, as well. He came from outside of Council, so it just goes  to prove one thing, that you don’t necessarily have to have a deep knowledge of Council when you  come into these sorts of roles. He obviously—I think he came in from the logistics industry, Â
And he’s really put his stamp on it and I hope he stays with Council for many years to come. Others, of course, our Council support manager, Leonie, of course, for most of the year and,  of course, Daemon Hughes, who’s undertaking that role now and his team. Very important for us, Â
Very important for my team, as well, to be able to ring them up when they have any issues that arise,  and I just wanted to say thank you very much for the work that you do. The grants program—and I  said this last year—is probably one of the hardest, probably, programs to administer, Â
I would think. There’s a lot of moving parts and it’s just—I would imagine it’s one of  the harder ones to actually deal with. Councillor interjecting. Yes, thank you,  Councillor JOHNSTON. Surely, as well, which I mentioned last year, as— Councillor interjecting. Yes, I did mention last year. As I say, it’s an incredible program, Â
So people looking for good outcomes, and they do their best to achieve that. Transport and planning, Kieran and Rolph—Ralph, sorry, I keep pronouncing it wrong—Melvin,  Stephanie, Sam and Nick, thank you for the work you do. there’s been a little bit of Â
Work in this area, quite a lot of work in this area over the last 12 months in my ward,  and they’ve always kept me abreast of what’s going on and I really appreciate that because  it’s important that we work together where we can, and they do, and they do it very well.Â
Moving on to IT, of course, we all survive this IT thing because it’s an ever-moving industry  and they’re trying to keep up to date with all the new systems, like that new telephone system we  had this year. That’s been very challenging, I’m sure, but Billy and Aaron and Craig and Hopewell, Â
And there’s probably a couple of others that I’ve missed out on, but we really appreciate that,  when we have a problem, you drop everything and you come running to sort it out because you know  how important it is that we keep abreast of what’s actually happening within that need.Â
Community facilities operations team, Nick and Matt, again,  I don’t have a lot of facilities in my ward, but I have enough to keep them very busy,  working with those leaseholders and others to keep the facilities up and running and informed as to Â
What’s available to them through the—whether it be a grants program or anything else like that. CARS, just Bill Mansers, thank you very much. I know that the team is not huge in CARS,  but in most cases, the response time is very good. It just depends upon the issue and the Â
Priority of the issue, of course, but usually they do get around to even some of the minor  stuff. We appreciate the work you do, as well. Litter prevention, of course, Paul Cusack and  his small team, that I’m sure every one of the Councillors in this Chamber have used Â
His good work in his team to promote litter prevention right across the city. He came out  recently to one of our larger parks, which is a skate park, actually, and we had a community  litter pick-up day with one of our community groups. He was out there to support. He says, Â
I don’t know why you’re in this park because this park’s pretty good. This park’s quite excellent,  actually. Well, by the time 20 people were done, it was forensically cleaned, I’ll tell you. So,  that says a lot about the work that he’s done with my office over the last eight years to promote Â
Litter prevention in the ward. When you have a skate park plus a lot of other infrastructure  in the park at DJ Sherrington, it really said a lot to me when he said that, because he arrives  early and he has a really good look around, and so he reported that back during the clean-up.Â
Animal management, of course, Kat Groves, thank you very much because we do get a lot of calls  about dogs and cats, but mostly about dogs. We had some really bad incidents this year in  regards to animal management, and they were able to respond fairly quickly to what the issue was.Â
Library staff, I think if we’re lucky enough to have a library—and I know poor Calamvale  doesn’t have a library yet, but I’m sure they’ll get one at some stage,  maybe when Emily Kim becomes Councillor, but anyways, I just think the libraries, of course, Â
Are something that I—and I’ve said this before, I thought they were something that was going out of  fashion when I first became Councillor. Then, I could just see what work that they do, what  programs they work with, the reading programs, the Gold Star and Little Stars program, and all these Â
Other programs that I hear happening because my office is within earshot of the library. There is a lot of good work that gets done. It’s a middle size library, the Inala Library,  but I think it’s probably one of the best in the network. We still haven’t got—I’m still Â
Wanting the Chair to maybe come out and have a look. COVID sort of buggered things up a bit,  back a couple of years ago when it first opened up, but it’s such a beautiful,  beautiful little—well, I won’t say little library because it’s medium size, but it’s a beautiful Â
Library. You just walk into it and the atmosphere just says, fun for the kids, which is really good. Finally, to the ward staff that have supported me over the last 12 months, thank you very  much. Again, we couldn’t do the work—oh gosh, honestly, you couldn’t do the work without that Â
Support team. I don’t know how they used to do it in the old days when they just had maybe an  office and just a Councillor in and there was no support team. I don’t know how they did that work, Â
Especially in the—of course, you had to come in here and do this work, as well. So,  thank you very much to my team, and I’ll leave it at that. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Councillor. Any further speakers? Councillor WHITMEE. Thank you. I want to thank all Â
Council staff who not only live and work in the Wynnum Manly Ward, but all across Brisbane city,  whether you’re cleaning up seagrass, spraying for mozzies, fixing our footpaths, resurfacing  our roads, manning our libraries, working in our contact centre, no matter your role, no Â
Matter your role, I thank you. Whether permanently employed or a contract staff member, I see you,  I hear you, and I know you’re worried about everything right now. Know that I am here with  you and I’m fighting for you. I appreciate all the hard work that you do every day. There’s not a Â
Single one of you who is underworked or overpaid. To Jen and Carly in my ward office, you both know  how much I appreciate you, but I don’t think it can be said enough. You keep me sane and  level-headed. You help make all of my wild ideas become a reality, even when it doubles Â
All of our workloads. A special thank you has to go out to the Council officers who work  with me and my team every day to help fight for Wynnum Manly. Most Councillors in the room have Â
Mentioned all of the amazing staff, and I know if I tried to list all of them, I’ll forget,  but there are a few I wanted to mention by name. Shannon Tille, no matter how big or small my  issues are, you are always there. You’re more than willing to meet with residents, Â
Talk with me whenever I need you, and I thank you. Peta Harwood, you are a wealth of knowledge  to a new Councillor. It doesn’t matter what question I’ve called you with, you’ve come to  me with no judgement, caring and understanding. Brian Nichol and Benny Huang, there really is no Â
End to your patience. I have met you both on the side of the road in blistering heat and torrential  rain, and there’s no stopping you. You are always at the end of the call. You’re always meeting me Â
And my job is just more fun with you around. Noel Lawrence, the level of communication and  care you put into your job is unparalleled. If we could have 50 more of you in Brisbane,  we would all be in a much better place. Matt Trevor, we’ve had a bit of a rocky start, Â
But my God, you’ve been amazing. Thank you. Thank you for everything you’ve done. Nick Te Tana, you were handed a job that was left vacant by someone who knew this ward better than  anyone. You’ve taken that ball and absolutely run with it. No matter what you have been thrown, Â
You’ve handled it with dignity, with grace, with understanding, with everything. We are  in very good hands with you in that role. Shannon Clarke, you are a pocket rocket. You  were built for this job. You’re more efficient than anyone I’ve ever worked with. You’re honest Â
And dependable. You know who to ask, where to ask, what needs to be done to get the job done.  You’re an asset to Brisbane city. I also wanted to give one last special mention to Claire Going. Â
We only worked with you for a few weeks, but the advice and insight you gave me in that time  was invaluable and what I still use today. Metro has gained an asset with you, and we do miss you  still. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor. Any further speakers? No?Â
LORD MAYOR, right of reply. No? We will now put the motion. All those in favour, say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against, say no. The ayes have it. Councillors, can I remind you that  the motion is up here on the front desk to sign? Councillor HUTTON, confirmation of minutes, Â
Please. Mr Chair, I move that the minutes of the 4,728th meeting held on Tuesday  21 November 2023 be received, taken as read, and confirmed. Seconded. It has been moved by  Councillor HUTTON and seconded by Councillor JENKINSON that the minutes of the 4,728th Â
Meeting of Council held on 21 November 2023 be received, taken as read, and confirmed. All those in favour, say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against, say no. Councillors say no. The ayes have it. Councillors, I’d like to call on Ms Ashleigh Gray, Â
Who will address the Chamber on the intersection of Hawthorne and Barton Roads at Hawthorne, and  I’d also like to thank Ms Gray for her patience while we passed our motion of appreciation. Ms Gray, you’ve got five minutes from the time that the microphone starts. Please feel free Â
To either sit or stand. The floor is yours. Mr Chair, LORD MAYOR and Councillors, I sit before  you today not just as a resident, but as a voice for our community, regarding Hawthorne and Barton  Roads. This intersection, a busy crossroads at the heart of our community, demands our attention. Â
The sheer volume of car and pedestrian traffic, particularly during peak periods, highlights its  growing importance as a crucial pathway for our children and our community. Unfortunately, it’s  also become a hotspot for accidents, including a pedestrian injury and numerous near misses. Â
As concerned members of this community, we implore you to prioritise the investigation and design for  safety improvements to this intersection. So, let me paint a clearer picture of the  layout for those who may not be familiar. It’s a four-way intersection where two roads meet, Â
One of which is the major road in and out of our suburb. On the corner is a local shop  where residents purchase daily essentials. There are no traffic lights, no crossings,  and the speed limit is 60 kilometres per hour. To cross the intersection, you need to navigate Â
Traffic coming from four different directions. That’s difficult for an adult, let alone a child. So, picture this—and I’ve brought a prop—older primary school children crossing the road  independently, younger children holding their parents’ hands, many of whom are also juggling Â
Prams and bikes. It’s a constant ebb and flow of pedestrians heading towards two local primary  schools, as well as a number of daycares and kindergartens. This intersection was once a means  of community connection, and it’s now transformed into a source of anxiety for many. Not only that, Â
It marks the transition from a 40 kilometre per hour zone to a 60 kilometre per hour zone  on Hawthorne Road, and that shift often catches drivers off-guard, leading to accelerated speeds  through the intersection. So, for those of us that drive through, the experience can be pretty Â
Nerve-wracking and requires heightened vigilance. Why am I so passionate about this? Because when I  was a new mum, I walked my baby multiple times a day, trying to get him to sleep,  and I covered a lot of the suburb by foot. Fast forward two years and I’ll tell you that, after Â
Seeing so many near misses at that intersection, it always makes me nervous, but I’m a grown up.  What about kids that use it every day to get to the local schools up the road, the corner shop, Â
Or the bus stop? How do they navigate crossing it? I think back to when I was a student at the  local primary school, and I used to cross this very road to go to school. I also loved the Â
Feeling of independence I got from walking to the corner shop. Our suburb didn’t have the population  density back then that it has now, and as the suburb grows in population, the infrastructure has  to evolve to support it. It’s our responsibility as adults to create a safe environment for our Â
Children, but I’m not the only one. When we started talking to residents,  a common thread emerged, and everyone had a story of a near miss or even an accident to recount.  Astonishingly, despite 276 of my neighbours signing the petition and echoing these concerns, Â
The Council asserted that there’s nothing wrong. One resident expressed the urgency. She said,  it’s a deathtrap, only a matter of time. Another told a really chilling story. I almost hit a young  boy on his bike there about four weeks ago. It was one of the scariest moments of my life, Â
And the look on his face stays with me. That could have easily been his last expression. So, we can’t dismiss the collective experiences of our community members. There are hundreds  of comments like this on our community Facebook page, and they emphasise the need for something Â
To be done. It goes beyond the call for a road upgrade. It’s a plea now for a preservation of  life to protect our children, and I really urge the Council to take action. Please will  you investigate the design and safety of the intersection in this financial year, Â
So that it can be considered in the budget for next financial year? Thank you, Ms Gray. Can I now call on Councillor WINES to respond? Councillor WINES. Thanks, Mr Chair, and thank you,  Ms Gray, for coming in and delivering your point so eloquently. As you well know, Â
Hawthorne Road is a very busy road. It’s a key feeder road for your community and the nearby  Bulimba and Balmoral communities. It has, I suppose, a sibling road which is Riding  Road. Both of them come to a common point at that Fiveways Roundabout. We have been—those two roads, Â
Riding Road and Hawthorne Road, have been of interest for us for some time because they  do hold shopping precincts within them. Also, Riding Road holds two primary schools on it. I imagine the children you’re talking to would either go to Bulimba State School or to Saints Â
Peter and Paul’s. Those two schools, the students would, I assume, have to travel to both Hawthrone  and Riding to get to that, and both of them are roads that are one lane in each direction,  but also, they have both been roads of interest, so we actually have reduced the speed limit in Â
Certain parts of both of those roads in the last two years, so we dropped them from 60 to 40. I must concede, it’s a part of town I’m familiar with. My wife’s family are Balmoral people. We Â
Were married at Saint Peter and Paul’s Church only last year, so we know that area very well. We have  got an interest in that particular zone to make sure it’s safe for families, safe for shoppers,  and safe for pedestrians. We are reviewing Barton and Hawthorne at the moment. So, in conjunction Â
With the speed limit reduction in those streets, we’re also reviewing how that intersection works  today, so pre any works that you have called for. We’re clipping back trees, for example,  trying our best to get a better line of sight for people who are already on Hawthorne about how to Â
Make that pedestrian island more recognisable to motorists from our current, pre-design work. The petition was received about five-ish weeks ago and we are reviewing that formally at the moment,  and we will continue to work to make Hawthorne Road safer, in conjunction with residents. Thank Â
You. Thank you, Ms Gray, for coming in today. Councillors, before we move on to Question Time,  can I please acknowledge the former Councillor for Hamilton in the gallery, David McLachlan. David,  it’s lovely to see you again back in the Chamber. Councillors interjecting. Well, it’s nicer to see Â
Him in the gallery than the car park, I can say that much. David, thank you for popping in today. Are there any questions of the LORD MAYOR or Civic Cabinet Chair of any Standing Committee? Councillor PARRY. Thank you, Mr Chairman. My question is to the Chair of the Infrastructure Â
Committee, Councillor WINES. Councillor WINES, in March 2022,  the Schrinner Council released its business case for the north-west transport network to help  reduce congestion in Brisbane’s growing northern suburbs. This was followed 15 months later by a  similar proposal from the State Government. Can you please update the Chamber on what was outlined Â
In these proposals and how they might differ? Councillor WINES. Can I thank Councillor PARRY for  her question and her keen interest in making sure that northsiders can get home sooner and safer?  This Council some years ago initiated a program where we would investigate the northside to try Â
And find a way to get people in the northside home in a safer and more efficient way. The Federal  Government gave us $10 million to produce a study, and I can produce that for you now. That is the Â
Result of our study, and this is also Council’s submission that we’ll be making to the QTC or the  QIC in the coming week. This is our work. It is not, I assure the Minister for Transport, feeble Â
Or of low quality. It is a piece of work that speaks to a number of transport opportunities. In this, we have a surface Metro option, we have improved buses, we have improved  pedestrian access, and we have options for two separate tunnels, what we would call the western Â
Alignment and, of course, the eastern alignment. Now, the eastern alignment looks like this. Oh,  hang on. That’s the state’s plan. Hang on, or it looks like this. This is our plan. So, for those  who can’t quite tell the difference, I’ll put them next to each other and you can see a tunnel Â
That goes here from—let’s have a look—Kedron to Carseldine in a straight line, and here  is ours. Kedron to Carseldine in a straight line. Councillors interjecting. The main difference is,  of course, that they have chosen a light blue scheme for the tunnel with orange roads around, Â
But we chose an orange for the tunnel and light blue roads around.  That’s the principal difference between the two proposals. Now,  there is a bizarre and embarrassing insinuation made by northside Labor figures that somehow,  this work is not included in there. I assure you, that is not the case. They—Â
Councillors interjecting. Councillors. The LORD MAYOR is spot on when he says that the Labor  figures of the northside—we’ll name them, Bart Mellish, Jimmy Sullivan—never bothered  to open the document, never bothered to read the papers that said that this was the solution. Now, Â
I understand, I read in today’s papers that they are turning their back on a public transport  solution, but that’s a story for another day. This proposal is a four-lane, subterranean option that  also speaks to a whole range of surface solutions, about taking the surface back for the public. Now, Â
At no point have we heard the State Government talk about taking the service back for the public,  but there is one outrageous claim that’s been made and that is by Mr Bart Mellish,  the Member for Aspley, who says that we proposed to bulldoze the north-west Â
Preservation corridor. That is not true. This— Councillors interjecting. The whole purpose of  this is to save that and to prove that a tunnel would work. Councillor MURPHY. The whole point  of this work is to prove that a tunnel would work and then we could save the surface. I would remind Â
Mr Mellish that it is his government who is proposing a two-to-three-lane train line at  the surface through that location that you can read about in the South-East Queensland Regional  Plan. That is the circumstances. We are trying to save the surface for the environment, for people, Â
And for public transport solutions, while the State Government is planning to demolish the  north-west transport corridor for a proposed train, which I assume would not be to the  benefit of the residents of Councillor DAVIS. I would expect they could watch a train go by Â
And hope that there’s a station somewhere within three or four kilometres of them. Can I say that we are, as a group, very happy to see the State Government adopt  our plan? Of course, it’s called the North-West Transport Network program, option 4B, which is Â
Identical to—our subterranean tunnel proposal is identical to what they are putting forward. So,  what I can say is, I’m glad they got to the party, even though they were very late. We will  be supporting this tunnel, even if the State Labor team don’t know quite where they are on this. This Â
Is something that we believe in. It’s a key part and a key missing link in the network to make  sure that the Beams Road intersection, Beams Road-Gympie Road intersection works together,  and of course, the bane of the vast amount of northsiders’ existences, Â
Gympie Road-Hamilton Road, which is only going to get worse now it’s Christmastime.  It will be addressed as part of this, too. This is all part of our plan to get people  home sooner and safer. So, we set out to get another level of government to build this when Â
We began. We will be submitting—this is what $10 million of technical work looks like in physical  form. Can I thank the officers who spent two days printing this? I can assure the clerks we won’t Â
Be tabling it so you can scan it. All Councillors will be able to read this in the summary in the  letter I tabled last week, but this will be hand delivered by myself to QIC to make sure that this Â
Work is included in as part of their work, to make sure that the outcome is the best that it  can possibly be. Thank you, Councillor WINES. Do you need a hand getting that off the bench? Further speakers. Councillor WHITMEE. Yes, Â
Thank you. My question is to the Chair of the Infrastructure Committee, Councillor WINES. Councillor WINES, you had this to say about the Lindum level crossing works on 31 October 2023,  and I quote, do not blame it on us. If this project is at risk, it is because the Federal Â
Labor Government is withdrawing their funds. Now, this is not the case. The Federal Government has  committed the funds, and it turns out the only ones cutting funding to this vital safety upgrade  is you. Councillor WINES, is that egg on your face and did you—? Councillor WHITMEE, we have Â
A clear—I know it’s a question. We have a clear outline on the use of that word. Would you care  to withdraw the end of that question and choose a different word, please? My understanding is that Â
The clear direction we have on that word is not calling someone a—and using it as a verb. No, no.  It’s not. It’s the use of it as a verb, noun, or any other from. All right. Well, let me rephrase Â
The question. Councillor WINES, is that egg on your face or did you tell a mistruth? Thank you. Councillor WINES. Councillor interjecting. Thank you,  Mr Chair. Who said that? Can I talk about— Sorry, hang on, Councillor WINES. Who said  that? Whoever said that—Councillor JOHNSTON. Point of order, Mr Chair. I believe it was the Â
LORD MAYOR that described a Councillor as a liar. Councillors interjecting. I didn’t see who said  it, but whoever said it, be warned. Councillors interjecting. Be very,  very warned. This is a very long meeting and I have a very short fuse.Â
Councillor WINES. Thank you, Mr Chair. Can I thank Councillor WHITMEE for her question and thank her  for finally getting onboard with this project? Because it’s taken her a while to get onboard  this rather—you know, the train is coming into Lindum station, and I’m glad that she’s there to Â
Join us because we have been leading this project for some years. As many Councillors would recall,  there are two elements—well, there are actually three elements to what’s going on at Lindum.  There’s the initial safety upgrade, which this Council completed all of the work on that, Â
And that is complete. That is, of course, the new road surface, the  engineered concrete barriers to make sure people can’t cross against the bars and, of course,  the extended stopping bars to make sure that people cannot enter when there is a train nearby.Â
Then, we go into what we’ll call stage two, which is what Councillor WHITMEE is talking about, which  is, of course, this one, which is what we call the perpendicular option or the interim solution. Now,  Councillor WHITMEE has been campaigning against the interim solution for some time, Â
And to suggest that we are not committed to this project is the mistruth at the heart of  the question, that Councillor WHITMEE has been— Councillor interjecting. Councillor WINES.  —setting herself up— Sorry, Councillor WHITMEE. Sorry, Councillor WINES. Councillor WHITMEE, you’ve asked a question. You can listen to it in silence, please.Â
Councillor WINES. Councillor WHITMEE has been setting herself up to be the champion of this  project and, regardless of any circumstances, she would have made the exact same claim she’s  making now. The truth of the matter is that the Federal Government’s 90-day review took Â
More than 200 days. It got to a point where we were waiting on confirmation that that project  was coming. We were getting signals from the Federal Government that it was on the block for  removal by the Albanese Government, and Councillor WHITMEE was backing that up with her statements in Â
This place that the Federal Government was preparing to walk away from the project. Councillors interjecting. Councillor CASSIDY and Councillor JOHNSTON,  we do not call out across the Chamber. Councillor WINES. So, this project is  ongoing and this Council will spend in excess of $1 million on the work this financial year. Â
For those who have not been onsite, we have begun site preparation. We have begun site preparation.  I appreciate that Councillor WHITMEE is new to the area and might not know exactly where this is, Â
But this is once upon a—this is site prep for the work that we are going to be doing. There’s a  thing called a SCAs, which is a scheduled closure of the rail network, where Council went in,  in conjunction with the state, in preparation for what is going to happen at this location. So, Â
To say that the project has been cancelled is the mistruth here, and that Councillor WHITMEE chooses  to peddle that to her people is very questionable. We also know full well that the State Government  have the authority over the train line, right? So, to deal with them, Â
You’ve got to work with Queensland Rail. To be able to enter the site, you have to work with  Queensland Rail. It has taken a long time to be able to get the approvals required for the  interim solution. It has been—if anyone finds our organisation slow and bureaucratic, I assure you, Â
It is the hare to the Queensland Rail tortoise. We have been working with them. Our skilled officers  have been working with them to try to get this particular proposal approved through QR. So,  QR has been dragging their feet, the Federal Government’s shaped to cancel the project—Â
Councillor interjecting. For more than 200 days. Now— Just one moment, Councillor WINES. LORD MAYOR, we do not call out across the Chamber. Councillor WINES. So, what we know is that the  State Government made it harder for us to do our job. The Federal Government extended the Â
Timeframes out. We now, even with the $85 million allocation against the Lindum line item within the  Minister’s release of last week—that still actually speaks to a third option, which is  the total removal of the open level crossing, a large bridge. We are still yet to have Federal Â
Government confirmation of the arrangement. For those who don’t know, it is a three-way funding  arrangement for this project, which includes 25% from Council, 25% from the state, and 50%  from the Federal Government. I am in receipt of letters from the State Government. They are Â
Supportive of our plan and we are supportive of our plan, and we are still waiting on confirmation  about whether the Federal Government is going to be coming to the table on this. So, we know full well that Councillor WHITMEE has wanted to campaign on this for a long time. She Â
Had her emails sitting in the draft outbox before we even got to this point. Now, we have started  work. Any sane person can see that work has begun on the site. We have released our plan to the  public. We are spending more than $ million this financial year in preparation, in anticipation Â
That we hope that the Federal Government will in fact come to the table in reality,  not just in— Councillor WINES, your time has expired. Thank you. Are there further questions? Councillor HUANG. Thank you, Mr Chair. My question is to the Chair of the Finance and Â
City Governance Committee, Councillor CUNNINGHAM. Councillor CUNNINGHAM, the Schrinner Council  is working hard to be Australia’s most small-business-friendly Council. Can you  please update the Chamber on the latest milestone supporting Brisbane business?  Councillor CUNNINGHAM. Thanks, Mr Chair, and thank you to my Deputy Chair, Councillor HUANG, Â
For the question and for all his support this term in the Finance Committee. Mr Chair, the Schrinner  Council is indeed committed to being Australia’s most small-business-friendly Council. A key pillar  of the Schrinner Council’s plan to support and grow business and industry in Brisbane is our Â
Buy local procurement policy. The policy backs Brisbane businesses, ensuring local suppliers  are given the best opportunity to deliver Council services and projects. We have set a strong and  accountable target for 80% of Council’s total procurement budget to be spent with Brisbane Â
And South-East Queensland located suppliers. We increased the local benefits waiting to 30% for  all public tenders and made other changes in our policy framework to achieve this target. In the 2017-18 financial year, the proportion of Council’s spend with local firms was 67%. Since Â
The introduction of our targets in mid-2019, we have delivered on our promise to local business  and industry. Mr Chair, I’m pleased to say that not only are we meeting the target, we  are beating the target. In the 2021-22 financial year, our local procurement spend was over 83%, Â
Representing a local spend of $1.1 billion. In the last financial year, though, Councillors,  we did even better. In the 2022-23 year, our local spend was 87%, made up of a record $1.6  billion spend across more than 3,000 local firms. Mr Chair, in the first four months of the current Â
Financial year, we have already invested over half a billion dollars with local businesses  and suppliers. In fact, it is over $575 million that Council has spent with local businesses.  This represents 89% of our spend across all contracts. I’ll say that again, Mr Chair, 89%.Â
We have indeed come a long way over the past four years, and it has all come under the  leadership of our LORD MAYOR Adrian SCHRINNER. We hear others talk a big game when it comes  to supporting locals and local industry, but it was this LORD MAYOR and it was this Â
Schrinner Council that took the initiative and has delivered. The proof, Mr Chair, is in the numbers,  from 67% up to 87% in four years, and we’re at 89% in this year so far. I always like to  read testimonials from our local suppliers when talking about our buy local procurement policy, Â
Because hearing from suppliers really drives home the impact of our policy settings. It  shows how we are making a difference in Brisbane. H2flow director Mark Broekman said the opportunity  to work with Brisbane City Council has played a significant role in the growth and success of his Â
Business across South-East Queensland. He says, in 2004, we started with two sizeable water trucks  plus a small one, but now we have over 100 on the road. Quote, working with Council has given us the  confidence to continue investing in our business, our people, and our equipment. As we have grown, Â
So has our support network of local suppliers, Mr Chair, who provide us with key services such  as mechanical maintenance, tyre, fuel supply to keep the extensive fleet on the road. Mr  Broekman goes on to say, we are very proud to say we have completed the first contract period as a Â
Preferred supplier and have had the contract renewed, which will take us through to 2029. Mr Chair, that ends his quote, but when we say that we want to be Australia’s  most small-business-friendly Council, we on this side of the Chamber mean it. We’re working every Â
Single day to put this into action. In the past four months alone, we’ve been able to support  2,300 businesses across all industries, like construction, transport, civil works, waste,  and resource recovery. We have a record infrastructure spend and it will be locally Â
Based suppliers and businesses, large and small, that will be the driving force behind our projects  on the ground. This would all be put at risk, Mr Chair, under those Opposite. A Green-Labor  coalition of chaos will undermine local industry. Councillor CUNNINGHAM, your time has expired. Further questions? Councillor COLLIER. Thank you, Chair. Â
My question is to the Chair of the Finance and City Governance Committee, Councillor CUNNINGHAM. The budget review has revealed that the much-needed new SES depot at Bracken Ridge  has not survived your cuts. Did the Councillor for the Bracken Ridge Ward, Councillor LANDERS, Â
Make any efforts to lobby you to save the depot or did she sit idly by and accept that her community  would miss out? Councillor CUNNINGHAM, you’ve got the call. Thank you, Mr Chair, and thank  you to Councillor COLLIER for the question. I had hoped that the Opposition would ask this question, Â
Because what it does and what it will is reveal some truths. We on this side of the Chamber,  Mr Chair, remain committed to a new SES depot in Bracken Ridge, but I can’t say the same  about other levels of government. What we are asking for, Mr Chair, is for the State and the Â
Federal Government to also commit to this project. Council significantly contributes to the operation  of the State—that’s the State—Emergency Service in Brisbane and is committed to jointly fund the  development of the new facility with the support of the other levels of government, with the Â
Support from the other levels of government. Mr Chair, we applied for co-funding from the  Disaster Ready fund for this project, and that was clearly set out in the budget. While the  project was scored as a suitable project, it was not prioritised for funding this year, Â
But, Mr Chair, I can assure you and I can assure Councillor COLLIER that we will try  again next year. Additionally, we remain caught up in bureaucratic and ongoing correspondence  loops with the State Government. A site has been identified at the Bracken Ridge TAFE. However, Â
The State Government has now actually asked Brisbane City Council to pay rent. We had asked  for a peppercorn rent and we hope that common sense, Mr Chair, will prevail. We provide a  peppercorn rent to the state for CBD police beat, and we’d certainly hope that the state would come Â
To the party for the State Emergency Service. We are absolutely committed to this project,  as is the local Councillor, and it’s time for the State Government to get onboard. If the Opposition  really cared about this, they would pick up the phone to their colleagues and they would Â
Help make it happen, but here they are today, political grandstanding on it. Thanks, Mr Chair. Councillors interjecting. Hang on. Just one moment, Councillor PARRY.  I will acknowledge you in just one second. Councillor COLLIER and Councillor CASSIDY,  we listen to answers in silence. Councillor PARRY, you’ve got the Â
Call. My question is to the Chair of the Transport Committee, Councillor MURPHY. Councillor MURPHY, I read in the paper this morning some concerning news about  the Northern Transitway, commonly referred to as the Band-Aid busway. With the information we have, Â
Can you please update the Chamber on the latest in this issue-plagued project, including the State  Government’s approach to public transport for the northern suburbs? Councillor MURPHY, you’ve got  the call. Well, thank you, Chair, and thank you to Councillor PARRY for the question. I know that, Â
Since joining the Schrinner Council, Councillor PARRY has spent a lot of time in her community,  talking to her residents, unlike Darren Mitchell, who doesn’t seem to know where  Marchant Ward is. Councillor PARRY sure does. One of the main concerns that Councillor PARRY Â
Is hearing from her residents is the state of congestion on the northside and, Chair,  particularly along Gympie Road. Now, I too was dismayed to read in the paper about the cuts  proposed to the Northern Transitway, Chair. Now, what is the Northern Transitway? Several Â
Years ago, Chair, residents were promised some relief from congestion when the State Government  promised to deliver this project. What was it meant to do? It was meant to make public  transport trip times quicker for residents and to help alleviate congestion. Former Councillor, Â
Fiona Hammond, did call this the Band-Aid busway because it is not a full busway. It’s not a  full-fat busway. This is a skim or trim version of a busway, a transitway, a lighter touch,  cheaper solution, easier to deliver, but what happens when it goes from a transitway to less Â
Than a transitway, Chair? It doesn’t become a Band-Aid anymore. It’s not even a Band-Aid. What the state will deliver here is a sticker. This is a sticker over one of the biggest,  most gaping, oozing flesh wounds in Brisbane’s transport network, which is the nightmare that Â
Is Gympie Road. Now, instead of extending the transitway all the way to Hamilton Road,  as promised, the state will now stop the project short at Rode Road. What was a 2.3-kilometre  transitway is now just 1.4 kilometres, which leaves residents in Chermside with a very nice, Â
Long walk to the bus. Now, Minister Bailey wants to talk about a feeble project? Well,  Chair, projects don’t get more feeble than this one. People have been waiting almost a decade  for this infrastructure, and now they don’t even have certainty on what will be delivered. Â
More importantly, they don’t have any certainty around when this project will be delivered, Chair. This is nothing short of a scandal, what has gone on with the Northern Transitway,  and it is a massive betrayal of the residents of the northern suburbs of the City of Brisbane, Â
But it is far from the first scandal that this project has seen. Now, this project was first  announced by failed Lord Mayoral candidate Rod Harding. Remember him? Remember him? Councillors interjecting. He was another one that they’ve put up over the years. Now, Â
This started as a $66 million, 24-7 bus lane from Kedron all the way to Chermside, so what we wanted  to deliver. In 2017, we saw another Labor election commitment, this time for a $53 million Northern  Transitway bid to be delivered by the Palaszczuk Government. Construction of that project was meant Â
To start in 2020. It didn’t. Instead, Bart Mellish scaled back the project to weekday priority bus  lanes after community feedback. By 2021, the costs of the project had blown out again to  $72 million and works finally started in early 2022. They were meant to finish by the end of Â
That year. Of course, as we know now, Chair, the works are actually far from finished and  construction has been plagued with safety issues, with residents concerned about unsafe crossings,  with flimsy construction fencing. Just last month, it was revealed that the project that was costing Â
$72 million had blown out. Guess what it had blown out to? $172 million, so a cool extra $100 million  on top of what it was. You know, Labor, they talk a lot about workers. Do you know how many workers Â
Have been laid off from the Northern Transitway? Three hundred workers have been laid off from  the Northern—but Councillor CASSIDY hasn’t mentioned those workers in here. There’s been  no urgency motions. There’s been no votes of— Councillors interjecting. Councillor WINES. Â
—motion. I thought they were the party of the worker, but we’d forgotten about all these  construction workers that were working on that important infrastructure project that had been  laid off. Chair, it brings us back to today, Chair, where once again, this project will be Â
Scaled back now as a result of Minister Bailey’s inability to manage and deliver projects. We  have waited six years for a bus lane, and Minister Bailey has the temerity to have a  go at us about the timeframe for Brisbane Metro, which he delayed for 18 months, the most complex Â
Project this Council has ever delivered, and he cannot deliver a bus lane in six years? Come on. Chair, this Northern Transitway was the state’s attempt to build a cut-price busway system,  but like all of Minister Bailey’s other projects, the scope gets smaller and smaller and the costs Â
Get bigger and bigger and bigger every year. He cannot manage money. He cannot deliver  major projects. Cross River Rail has blown out. The Coomera Connector has blown out.  Councillor WINES—Councillor MURPHY— Gold Coast Rail stage three has blown out. —your time has  expired. Thank you, Chair. Councillor interjecting. Councillor ADERMANN, Â
No calling out across the Chamber. Councillor MASSEY. Thank you,  Chair. My question is for the LORD MAYOR. On Saturday, hundreds of community members  from Kangaroo Point, East Brisbane, Greenslopes, Coorparoo, Woolloongabba  and beyond rallied against the costly and financially irresponsible Gabba rebuild, Â
Which will cost at least $2.7 billion. They vow to keep fighting both the LNP Council and the ALP  State Government, and their numbers grow citywide and statewide. Will you now retract your support  for this financially irresponsible, costly, and community devastating project, and listen to the Â
Residents of Brisbane? LORD MAYOR, you’ve got the call. Well, one thing I won’t be doing is  listening to the Greens because they are the most dangerous and destructive political party  our city has ever seen. They promised things to people time and time again they cannot deliver—Â
Councillor interjecting. —and everything— Just one moment, LORD MAYOR. Councillor interjecting. Councillor JOHNSTON, we’re  just going to wait until you compose yourself. Councillor interjecting. It doesn’t sound like it. LORD MAYOR, you’ve got the call. I apologise for laughing, Mr Chair, laughing very loudly. I Â
Apologise, and if any of the LNP Councillors laugh in future, I’ll make sure to bring that to your  attention. Just one moment, LORD MAYOR. Councillor JOHNSTON, I consider that you are displaying  unsuitable meeting conduct in accordance with section 21(4) of the Meetings Local Law, Â
And I hereby you request from raising invalid points of order, if that was a point of order,  because it certainly wasn’t. It just sounded like a statement. LORD MAYOR, you’ve got the call.  Thank you. As I was saying, the Greens political party continues to promise things to residents Â
That they simply cannot deliver. They also propose solutions that will make things so much worse,  like new taxes on housing during a housing crisis. So, I won’t be lectured by the Greens on what they  think is best, because we know they have no idea and no ability to deliver anything. They Â
Are a party of protest. They are only against things. They are never for things. They want  to stop things. They want to break things down. Point of order, Chair. They want to scare people,  as well. Just one moment, LORD MAYOR. Point of order, Councillor MASSEY. The Â
Question was, would the LORD MAYOR retract their support for the Gabba rebuild? I don’t  hear an answer. I believe the LORD MAYOR has plenty of time to answer that question. LORD MAYOR, you’ve got the call. Thank you, Mr Chair. Yes, the Greens want to stop things. They Â
Want to oppose things. We know they are against the Olympics. We know they want to stop the  Olympics. We know that publicly and privately, they have said they do not believe the Olympics  should be coming to Brisbane and South-East Queensland. Their position is clear. We have Â
A different position, but our position when it comes to the delivery of infrastructure relating  to the Olympics is that it should be done and led by an independent authority. That is our position, Â
Has been from day one. It was what we proposed to the IOC when we put our bid in. It is our  position to this day. When you get other levels of government and politicians interfering in the  process, this is what happens, Councillor MASSEY. So, the position remains clear. There should be Â
An independent coordination authority that will plan and deliver Olympic-related infrastructure  and upgrades. That is the only sensible way to do things. If we see the record of the State  Government in botching major projects left, right and centre, we know that if it is left to them, Â
They will not be able to do what needs to be done between now and the Olympics. So,  we repeat again, our position is there should be an independent delivery authority to deliver  Games-related infrastructure and upgrades. That includes a stadium. We know also that there are Â
Different alternatives that can be looked at. There’s been a lot of discussion in public about  that. Only an independent delivery authority will guarantee that all of the options are looked at,  they’re looked at thoroughly, they’re assessed thoroughly. That is our position and it remains  unchanged. Thank you, LORD MAYOR. Further questions?Â
Councillor DIXON. My question is to the Chair of City Planning and  Suburban Renewal Committee, Councillor ALLAN. Councillor ALLAN, the Green-Labor coalition of  chaos and their three new taxes on housing in the middle of a housing crisis couldn’t Â
Come at a worse time. Can you please update the Chamber on what the Schrinner Council is doing  to help increase supply of housing? Councillor ALLAN, you’ve got the call. Thank you, Mr Chair,  and through you, I’d like to thank Councillor DIXON for the question. Mr Chair, as this Â
Chamber would be familiar with the facts, the Brisbane housing crisis is a multifaceted issue  with a myriad of factors contributing to housing availability and cost. The Green-Labor coalition  of chaos proposal to introduce new taxes and increase the cost to the building and construction Â
Industry is astonishingly ill-informed and would ultimately, significantly impact to a detriment  housing in this city. It is amateur hour, Mr Chair, from the Green-Labor coalition of chaos.  Taxes will not create the activity needed. They have no plan of merit, and what they Â
Are proposing is reckless and doomed to failure. For many years, Council has provided a significant  pipeline of latent housing supply available to those who wish to provide housing. This supply  is achieved through continually reviewing our planning framework,  giving consideration to precinct planning, urban renewal, neighbourhood plans, or other planning Â
Scheme opportunities. The state’s own Land Supply and Development Monitoring report from  2021 indicated that Brisbane had nine years of supply available for approved multiple dwellings,  which is more than double the minimum four years of supply sought, but we are also committed to Â
Providing solutions that meet the evolving needs of the community and ongoing urban development.  This includes our development services team, who facilitate high-quality, sustainable development  outcomes for Brisbane through efficient and professional development assessment. Mr Chair, this year, the team has approved 471 new material change-of-use applications, resulting Â
In a net increase of over 5,600 residential dwellings. A further 142 new MCU applications  are under assessment, comprising of approximately 9,200 dwellings. Additionally, over 3,300 lots  have been sealed. Finally, Mr Chair, over 540 pre-lodgement meetings and 34 talk-to-a-planner  sessions were held. Mr Chair, in tackling this housing crisis, action is also required Â
To unleash the latent supply and convert it to housing products and real outcomes on the ground. Our team will continue to look at every opportunity and lever available to help  us convert supply to product, whether this is our incentives for build to rent developments, Â
Which provides an option to defer infrastructure charges to enable long-term rental apartments to  be progressed and constructed, or our housing supply incentive, which will incentivise  approved development applications to commence construction and be delivered within four years.  It is important to note that the planning system is only one contributing factor to housing supply. Â
We acknowledge and are acutely aware that there are many other very significant factors that sit  outside a local government’s planning system that impact housing supply, such as land ownership and  acquisition, accessing financing and funding, construction costs and supply chain issues, Â
And the public attitude towards development. While Council is doing its part to support  housing, we need both the State and Federal Governments to create the economic environment  for the increased construction of new homes. This could be looking further into job creation in the  construction industry, with initiatives and partnerships with builders, community Â
Housing providers, and other groups that could be established to increase the supply of housing, or  this could be addressing the financial barriers, such as reviewing stamp duty and land tax,  and even incentives to encourage more investors back into the market, rather than driving them Â
Away. Instead, the Labor team are willing to increase the costs, or as their state counterparts  have just done, throw money at options that will only increase the cost of new homes, such  as the increase for the first homeowners’ grant. Mr Chair, we understand the increasing supply of Â
Housing will help address affordability and availability. It will bring down prices for  both rentals and property purchases and add to available supply. Whilst the Green-Labor  coalition of chaos will find ways to further hinder the building and construction industry, Â
This side of the Chamber will get on with the job of facilitating more supply and encouraging more  homes to be built. The Schrinner Council will stay committed to ensuring there is sufficient supply  of well-designed housing in the right locations, delivering diverse housing options for all stages Â
Of life and maintaining and enhancing our city’s lifestyle. Councillor ALLAN, your  time has expired. Further questions? Councillor CASSIDY. Thanks very much, Chair. My question is to the LORD MAYOR. LORD MAYOR, you’re letting go of 25% of Brisbane’s prep and paving crews. I’m sure you’re aware these Â
Are the teams that fix potholes, resurface roads, and build new roads. Those workers are devastated  at being sacked, and the workers who remain know that they now won’t have all of the resources  they need to do these vital jobs. I know for a fact that their morale is at an all-time low. As Â
We head into summer, your cuts to this team mean potholes will get bigger, cracks will get deeper,  and roads will become more and more unsafe, costing the people of Brisbane a fortune in the  long run. Why are you trying to keep these cuts secret? LORD MAYOR, you have the call. Thank you, Â
Mr Chair. I’m very pleased to confirm that we are doing as much road resurfacing this financial  year as we did last financial year, which was a significant investment in the road network. So,  what has been happening, very clearly, is an increasing trend of investment over many years Â
In roads and footpaths, and we know that when it comes to the work that Council staff do,  they are continuing to do that work. As we’ve made it very clear, the Council employees are  continuing to resurface roads. Council employees are continuing to build and reconstruct footpaths. Â
The Council employees are continuing to do all types of work right across the city. There’s been a change in the requirements from agency staff, but what Councillor CASSIDY is  very dishonestly trying to do here is suggest that there are Council staff that have been let go of. Â
That is not the case. In fact, they are agency staff who are right now working on other jobs  for other people. So, they’re probably working on one of Mark Bailey’s projects as we speak. Â
There’s a lot of extra work that needs to be done to fill in those extra cost blowouts at the State  Government level. So, there is plenty of work to go around for everyone on the major projects that  are happening right across the state, and those agency staff are being redeployed to other jobs, Â
So the idea that they are sitting on the couch and out of work is just not true. The nature of agency employment is that sometimes you work for one organisation,  sometimes you work for another organisation— Councillor interjecting. Councillor CASSIDY. —and  that is exactly what is happening at the moment, but I can confirm, Â
In terms of the investment that we continue to make in roads, last financial year, we invested  $82.7 million on regular road resurfacing. This financial year, we’re investing,  even with the sensible savings that we’ve made, $84.2 million on regular road resurfacing. It’s Â
Actually more than last year. We hear certain people parroting out this word,  but it’s actually not true. We’re spending more on regular road resurfacing in this year  than we did last year, and there’s been an ongoing trend of increasing investment. Now, Â
We had proposed to do even more than that, but guess what? Queensland Reconstruction  Authority said no. They said no. So, there were $50 million of different funding grants that we  had applied to, to the State Government’s QRA, Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Â
For what we put forward as important betterment works, and they said no, so $50 million denied. So, we continue, as part of our regular road resurfacing program, to do more than we did  last year. Obviously, there’s disappointment that we have that the QRA said no to a significant Â
Amount of funding, including some resurfacing funding, as well, but we will continue doing  that work. We will continue investing $84.2 million in regular road resurfacing figure,  even despite the sensible savings that we are making by reducing our expenditure across the Â
Budget by 10%. We’ve seen time and time again, Councillor CASSIDY has made claims in this place  that have been simply untrue. He has tried to mislead people about the reality of the situation. On day one, we said that Council permanent staff had nothing to fear, and week after week, Â
It has been proven that that is, in fact, the case. There’s been changes to our  requirements when it comes to agency staff and contractors, but our ongoing Council staff who  do resurfacing are still doing resurfacing, and they’re doing a great job. Thank you, Â
LORD MAYOR, and that ends Question Time. Councillors, we move on to— Point of order.  Point of order, Councillor MASSEY. I rise to suspend standing orders to move an emergency  motion. Okay, we’re just going to move a motion to suspend standing orders. Well, Â
That’s what I’m doing. Yes. It’s my first one. Thank you. We knew what you meant. We knew what  you meant. Thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. Seconded. We have a motion before us,  moved by Councillor MASSEY, seconded by Councillor JOHNSTON, to suspend standing orders to move a Â
Motion. Yes. Three minutes, Councillor MASSEY, to why— Yes, of course. —you couldn’t submit it by  one o’clock on Monday. Thank you. Absolutely. Thank you. Just in the questions today,  the LORD MAYOR has made a clear statement that he supports the outcome of an independent assessment Â
On the decision on infrastructure deliveries for the Olympics, which is why I’m moving this motion  right now. That knowledge didn’t exist. The LORD MAYOR will then be surprised to know, possibly,  that the Gabba rebuild wasn’t actually a part of any infrastructure delivery or for assessment, Â
And not only that, that the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References  Committee recently in their report, after an inquiry, a Senate inquiry on the Gabba rebuild,  stated that it would be unwise— Point of order, Mr Chairman. Point of order—sorry, Councillor MASSEY.Â
Point of order, Councillor OWEN. Mr Chairman, given my previous declarations of a potential  conflict of interest in regard to anything relating to the Gabba, given that I have a  property close by, I’m going to excuse myself from the meeting to ensure that I’m not included in any Â
Potential vote in regard to this urgency motion. Thank you, Councillor OWEN. This  is just a procedural motion to suspend standing orders. It’s not actually a substantive motion. Councillor MASSEY. Thank you, Chair. As I was saying, the Rural and Regional Affairs  and Transport References Committee, which did a Senate inquiry on the Gabba rebuild, Â
Stated it may be unwise and inappropriate for the Government to insist that a redevelopment at the  Gabba to host the athletics for the Games. So, there are already many, many details out there. This emergency motion is being moved today because I’m not sure if the LORD MAYOR knew that, and I am Â
Moving this emergency motion because, as the MAYOR stated just previously, the independent inquiry  would be guided and that information would have guided the decision of the LORD MAYOR and this LNP  Council. There is a lot of information out there now about the fact that an independent inquiry Â
And also a Senate inquiry says very, very clearly— Point of order. Point of order, LORD MAYOR. Claim  to be misrepresented. Noted. Councillor MASSEY. —states very,  very clearly that this Gabba rebuild would be an inappropriate expense for the Government,  and that is why I’m moving this emergency motion today. Thank you. Thank you.Â
Before we take the vote, LORD MAYOR, your misrepresentation, please. Yes, I just wanted  to clarify. I wasn’t talking about an independent inquiry. I was talking about an independent  coordination office, which is a different thing altogether. I think Councillor MASSEY was Â
Referring to some inquiry down in Canberra. That’s not what I was referring to. Thank you. Thank you. We will now put the procedural motion before us. All those in favour, say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against, say no. Councillors say no.Â
Division called by Councillor MASSEY and I think it was Councillor JOHNSTON. Ayes to my right,  noes to my left. Clerks, please ring the bells. Councillors,  Councillors, a bit of quiet in Division, please. Clerks, please read the results. Mr Chair, the Â
Noes have it, the voting being two in favour and 24 against. The procedural motion for suspension  of standing orders has been lost. Councillors, please return to your seats. Point of order,  Chair. Point of order, Councillor HUTTON. Chair, I move that Council now adjourn for afternoon tea Â
For a period of 15 minutes, which commences only when all Councillors have vacated the Chamber and  the doors have been locked. Seconded. We have a motion before us for an adjournment for 15  minutes for afternoon tea, moved by Councillor HUTTON, seconded by Councillor JENKINSON.Â
All those in favour, say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against, say no. The ayes have it. LORD MAYOR, Establishment and Coordination Committee report please. Thank you,  Mr Chair. I move the report of the Establishment and Coordination Committee meeting held on Monday Â
20 November 2023 be adopted. Seconded. It has been moved by the LORD MAYOR and seconded by the DEPUTY  MAYOR that the report of the Establishment and Coordination Committee meeting held on  Monday 20 November 2023 be adopted. LORD MAYOR. Point of order. Point of Â
Order. I think Councillor JOHNSTON got in before you, Councillor HOWARD. Councillor JOHNSTON. Yes, thank you. Mr Chair, I move that—or I request that items B and  K are taken seriatim together for debate and voting purposes. Let me repeat that, Â
B and K together for debate and voting purposes? Yes, thank you and item L is taken seriatim for  debate and voting purposes. Item L separate for voting and debate, yes. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor HOWARD, your point of order. Thank you, Mr Chair. I have a declarable conflict of Â
Interest in both Clause D and M, for Mary. I have received gifts totalling more than $500, but less  than $2,000, from NuGrow and Howard Smith Wharves within the relevant period. As such, I will remove  myself from the Chamber for the debate and voting on these items. Thank you, Councillor HOWARD.Â
LORD MAYOR. Sorry, my apologies,  we’re starting on A. We will not be debating B and K or L at this point in time. Thank you,  Mr Chair. Before I move on, I just wanted to acknowledge His Excellency Mr Anil Nayar,  who’s the High Commissioner for Singapore to Australia, who’s in the Public Gallery Â
Right now with us. Welcome, High Commissioner. Before I move on—and I won’t go through in the  interests of time the normal lighting up of assets or other items, but I did want to touch on quickly  this issue of the Lindum open level crossing, which has been mentioned a number of times in this Â
Meeting. I want to make this really, really clear, we have not removed a single cent of funding  from this project, we have not removed a single cent. All that has happened is that as a result  of the lack of action of others, the project has started later than we would have liked, Â
That is what has happened. The investment that we intend on making remains the same and it’s just  the project has been delayed. We heard Councillor Andrew WINES explain exactly why that is. We know  that the Federal Government’s 90-day review took over 200 days, that delayed the project.Â
We also are still to this very day waiting on a confirmation from the Federal Government that  they are prepared to put funding towards this stage 2 project that we have worked on with  the State Government. Now I have a letter here dated 20 April 2023 from Minister Mark Bailey, Â
Who’s confirming that his government supports stage 2 and will contribute funding. But let me  read from this letter where it says, therefore I confirm the Queensland Government will provide an  additional $5 million in funding to the Lindum station level crossing project, Â
Bringing the total contribution to a capped $10 million, subject to the Australian Government  providing a further $10 million contribution to the project, as outlined in your letter. As Councillor WINES said before, each level of government has agreed or has been asked to Â
Put in some extra money to make stage 2 happen. The Council has agreed, the State Government has  agreed, but we are still waiting on the Federal Government to agree. Now what has happened in  this Federal review is that they have said that the Morrison Government’s commitment Â
Of $85 million to the Lindum open level crossing replacement project remains intact, $85 million.  Now this commitment was actually to eliminate the open level crossing altogether as part of a joint  project, so they haven’t actually agreed to our stage 2 project and we are still waiting. Any, Â
Any kind of claim that this project has been reduced in funding by the Council is false. Any kind of claim that we are not committed to the project is false and the only people that  we are waiting for at the moment is the Federal Government to confirm that they will allocate the Â
$20 million, thereabouts, towards this project. That is what we are waiting for right now,  that is the status of the project. I would also point out that it is only the LNP that  has upgraded any level crossings in the last 20 to 30 years, it is only our side of politics Â
That has delivered any open level crossing replacements in the last 30 years. Labor can  talk about it a lot and they have talked about it a lot, but they cannot deliver, they just  play politics and it is really disappointing. Item A in front of us is our participation in Â
The South East Queensland Climate Resilience Alliance. This is something we’ve been working  on with partners in Logan, Noosa and the Sunshine Coast and Ipswich, to develop a  best practice model of regional collaboration. We’ve been able to deliver great outcomes through  partnerships like Resilient Rivers, Climate Alliance—sorry, the Climate Alliance will Â
Provide a great platform for further regional collaboration, knowledge sharing and advocacy. This is the first of its kind partnership in Queensland and we’re very proud to be part of  it. We’re joining up with nine other councils, Ipswich City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Â
Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City Council, Moreton Bay City Council,  Noosa Shire Council, Redland City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council and Sunshine Coast Regional  Council. They’re all going through their own approval processes like this one to be part of Â
The alliance, but obviously we suspect and hope that all Councillors will support this item. Item C is the Moreton Bay Cycleway, Viola Place to Schneider Road. This one is very frustrating,  it is one that we’ve been working to try and deliver for many, many years. There have been Â
Significant objections and challenges with the resumption process. We have been working on it  for a number of years. On 8 September we issued a notice of intention to resume and that was for  an easement for the project. No objection was received by the landowner, which is a positive Â
Step and which was different to the previous situation. Once with the state, this process  should take around 12 months to be approved and gazetted. Obviously we get the easement approved  and then we can get on with the construction of this missing link in the Moreton Bay Cycleway.Â
Item D is the Stores Board submission relating to the contracting plan for organic materials  processing. Obviously we’ve been really gearing up our efforts when it comes to green waste recycling  and organics processing. We are rolling out more green bins and in fact since we reduced Â
The price of the green bins in the budget, we have experienced a bit uptake in extra demand for green  bins. That means more green waste will need to be processed and recycled. Also we announced just a Â
Matter of weeks ago that we would be doubling our pilot program for food and organics recycling via  the green-top bin. We’re adding an extra 5,290 households into that pilot program, which will  bring the total to around 12,000 households. This Stores Board submission will allow us to Â
Gear up for that increasing green waste recycling challenge. We currently have a  panel of providers for managing garden organics, which is set to expire on 30 June 2026. The new  contract is expected to start on 1 July 2023, so the middle of next year the new contract Â
Will come in place to supersede and add to that further—that additional arrangement. Item E is the Stores Board submission for the cartage of quarry products. The original  SCP was approved by Council on 9 May 2023. The submission set out a certain price and sought Â
Tenders from the market for operators who can support Council’s quarry transport needs with  our quarries at Mt Coot-tha and Bracalba. This material gets delivered to our asphalt plants at  Eagle Farm and Riverview to service our ongoing road construction and road maintenance program.Â
Since May, the Stores Board has since reviewed the tenders received and the submission today  recommends increasing the budget by $11.5 million, the maximum term of the contract. Obviously this  is over a period of years, but this reflects what we all know, the cost of building things, the cost Â
Of carting things, the cost of labour, the cost of everything is going up, so we have to amend this  SCP as a result of those inflationary pressures. The item F is a Stores Board submission for  Oracle hardware, software and services. Oracle supports a number of Council’s business critical Â
Applications. The submission seeks approval via an exemption to place orders with Oracle,  to refresh Council’s Oracle platform under the Queensland Government’s standing offer  arrangement. This approval is for a maximum of five-year term and support and maintenance  contracts for Council’s existing Oracle platform are due to expire on 14 July 2024 and will reach Â
The end of their life in February 2025. In coming to this decision, Council sought  independent advice and market analysis. The proposed refresh of Council’s Oracle platform  includes a hybrid cloud solution, which has been identified as the lowest cost and lowest Â
Risk option. In addition, Council officers have negotiated savings over the life of the  contract to provide better value for ratepayers. Item G is contracts and tendering for the month  of October 2023. In this report, 41 out of 44 contracts are awarded to local South East Â
Queensland suppliers, being 93% of all contracts. So far year-to-date, as we heard the Finance Chair  mention, we are at 88% of our contracts being with local suppliers and a total of $575 million worth  of contracts with local suppliers. There are five separate packages for the demolition and Â
Remediation of land through the voluntary home buyback in this package. There’s also the Solus  Library app. There have been around 160,000 downloads of our Brisbane Libraries app under  this new contract. The app will receive better features, like push notifications for holds and Â
Pickups and overdue notices. It also will have over 30 different languages for customers to  choose from to meet their needs. LORD MAYOR, your time has expired. Move for an extension.  Seconded. We have a motion for extension moved by the DEPUTY MAYOR, seconded by Councillor HUTTON.Â
All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. The ayes have it. LORD MAYOR, you have the call. Thank you. Item H is the report of  the Audit Committee that met on 9 November 2023. The Independent Audit Committee reviews Council’s Â
Internal audit reports and assists us on managing and assessing operational risks and control  measures and also works with the Queensland Audit Office as well, who attend every meeting. Item I is the minor amendment to the Brisbane City Plan, package Q. The proposed amendment Â
Will achieve the following outcomes. An update of planning scheme to reflect the  new Woolloongabba priority development area. Updated Brisbane standard drawings  in the infrastructure design planning scheme policy, to align with industry best practice  and Council standards for infrastructure design. There will be updates to 12 Brisbane standard Â
Drawings. If supported and adopted, the proposed amendment will take effect on 8 December 2023. Item J is the disposal of land at 55 Headfort Street in Greenslopes. This one has come to the  Council’s attention before, because it is the old Red Cross site at Greenslopes. We have been Â
Able to secure through our advocacy and Councillor CUNNINGHAM’s advocacy and also Councillor DAVIS’s  advocacy, the land from the Federal Government at a below market rate. The deal that was done  was basically that part of the site would be sold to Legacy to build their new headquarters. Â
The remainder of the site, which is more than 50% of the site, will become a public parkland  space. This particular submission allows us to go forward with the sale of the land to Legacy  and the remainder of the site becoming a public park. Item K is one of the ones that was seriatim, Â
Is that right, Mr Chair? K and L, yes, so we are speaking on all items except B, K and L. Okay,  so moving on to item M, Howard Smith Wharves various lease and sublease tenure arrangements.  Howard Smith Wharves has proposed a new project to improve maritime facilities, Â
With a large pontoon to be constructed. This will boost the local tourism and hospitality  offering by providing a landmark spot for tour operators, for food and beverage outlets operating  from vessels and also moored facilities such as barges. Council is facilitating this project by Â
Submitting a request to the state to enter into a wet lease over the area, which Council will then  sublease to Howard Smith Wharves. Leases on the river are controlled by the State Government, the  State Government has agreed to give us a lease, we are then subleasing to Howard Smith Wharves.Â
The rent payable by Council to the state will be set at six per cent of the rental  value of the lease area, that’s in accordance with the Land Regulation 2020. Additionally,  Council is also in negotiated terms for the sublease with Howard Smith Wharves based on Â
A percentage of the turnover, which will see an income stream coming to the ratepayers of Brisbane  and that will be a good outcome. The lease for this pontoon and wet lease area will align  with the lease for the remainder of Howard Smith Wharves and that lease is until 23 October 2068, Â
Which is the arrangement for the remainder of the Howard Smith Wharves precinct. I commend this item  to the Chamber. Thank you, LORD MAYOR. Further speakers? Councillor CASSIDY, you’ve got the call. Thanks, Chair. Can I just ask that items—it’s in this Â
Group, items G, H, I and M be taken seriatim for voting, which would then leave A, C, D, E, F and J  in a separate group for voting. Okay, just give me one second. G, H and I seriatim for voting. And M. Â
And M, sorry, separate for voting only. Yes. Then we have the other items, okay, thank you. Thanks,  Chair, I’ll just run through these in alphabetical order that are before us at the moment. Clause A  is this participation in the South East Queensland Climate Resilience Alliance. We know and we Â
Believe on this side of the Chamber that climate change is very real and a very complex challenge  for all levels of government to participate in and provide solutions to. Labor at every  level of government is committed to acting on climate change before it is too late. I do want Â
To put on my record for this particular alliance congratulations to Ipswich City Mayor, Teresa  Harding—who is a Member of the LNP, I believe and certainly has been in the past, I presume still  is—and her council for taking the challenge head-on in agreeing to be the host council.Â
Refreshing to see the Ipswich City Council forward thinking for that LNP mayor,  certainly not for this one in Brisbane. That obviously shows leadership and fortitude which  we don’t currently have here in Brisbane. I know that’s been the case for some time when it comes Â
To work on climate change and climate resilience here in Brisbane under this LNP Administration.  Council did recently do some work around coastal hazards, the Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy,  which was looking at the increased—the effects of climate change on our coastal areas, Â
My ward of which is one and obviously down at Wynnum Manly Ward, as well as Northgate. That was funded entirely by the State Government and once that money was used up,  the plan just sits there and gathers dust. There’s no implementation,  no formal adaptation to the effects of climate change here in Brisbane, Â
Because this one like so many others is another case of where the LORD MAYOR just sort of loses  interest. Gets some funding from another level of government, does a little bit of work and then  loses interest going forward and those things just gather dust, instead of doing them properly and Â
Planning for them. What we have at the moment is the Moreton Bay City Council leading in terms of  housing and homelessness to our north. To the west we’ve got Ipswich leading on climate resilience. It never used to be that way, of course, Brisbane used to lead on these things. The Â
Proposed outcomes of the alliance are certainly commendable and we agree that as a collective  these councils will be able to achieve more together than they ever could separately.  Certainly that’s the case for Brisbane under the LNP Administration. We look forward to seeing Â
This—the vision of this alliance come to life and be expanded on under a future Labor Administration  after 16 March next year in this place. Clause C is the next one, the Moreton Bay  Cycleway, Viola Place to Schneider Road project. I first started asking questions about this missing Â
Link of the Moreton Bay Cycleway back in 2016. I raised concerns from members of the public,  cyclists, who were members of BUG groups exposed to cycling and also just people who lived in my  ward and commuted to the airport for work on a regular basis and could see this small missing Â
Link of the bikeway meaning that instead of having a direct and safe route to and from work,  they had to traverse some dangerous roads. It’s a very simple project. Those questions were through Council here and Transport Committees, back when they were called Â
The Public and Active Transport Committee back in the day, Councillor Adrian SCHRINNER was the  Chair of that Committee at the time, raised that with each Chair. Then Councillor ADAMS, I think,  for a brief period and Councillor MURPHY as well. The answer was just always it was all too hard, Â
They couldn’t get anyone to agree to do anything. There were legal fees, the resumption process was  all too hard for the LNP. Every excuse under the sun and seven years or more,  seven years passed since I’ve been raising this. We’re finally seeing now some movement for this Â
Project to proceed. The incredible bit about this impasse is that we’re talking about 600 metres  here, some of which traverses the TradeCoast land of which Council is a shareholder in as well,  so some strange and complex arrangements there around the resumption process which Â
Shouldn’t have been so strange and complex, I think, really, if the LNP really wanted to  get this done, really wanted to do this work. Councillors interjecting. That’s exactly right,  55 lawyers in city legal and millions of dollars worth of external law firms that this Council Â
Engages, you’d think they’d have been able to do something by now. But I mean they would have  had to cut it anyway, wouldn’t they? It’s like the North Brisbane Bikeway project and other  bikeway projects, if they had have proceeded earlier the LNP would have cut it anyway, Â
So I guess it’s a zero-sum game when it comes to the LNP about these projects. But this path connection will provide a genuine alternative for cyclists and pedestrians through  there as well. The terms of both amenity but reduced travel times, but most importantly, Â
Most importantly, increased safety for cyclists through there. I certainly hope that we hear  less whinging and whining from the LNP, blaming others for the delays in this project, when we  now see it’s actually a pretty simple process moving forward that we’re seeing here today.Â
Clause D is the significant contracting plan for organic materials. This particular contracting  plan is extremely important, far too important not to get right. I am concerned in reading through  the attachments here today, the LORD MAYOR and his LNP team have gone back to the old Â
Playbook in creating artificial barriers along the way. Bringing this item in but making it  all very difficult in the future to implement it fully. They talk about how difficult something is,  how the market’s saturated, how there are just too many things to worry about before Â
The LNP could act. They throw up their hands and they say it can’t be done and then they  just wait. They just sit by and wait and hope to be led by the market, or getting Â
Someone else to tell them they have to do it. Then if they do, they follow the path of least  resistance, never showing any leadership, going back to the first item there,  being led by others all the time. The LORD MAYOR has shown no leadership when it comes to organic Â
Waste and the reduction of organic waste in Brisbane over the last few years. What we know  on his watch and this LNP Administration’s watch is that 100,000 tonnes of organic waste is dumped  into landfill each and every year and what is his great idea at the moment, right now, to solve this Â
Waste crisis? Outdated and expensive technology from the 1980s and the 1990s. Actually I don’t  think that many people were installing them in the 1990s, but some people were still using them  and that’s of course InSinkErators, Chair. That’s the LNP’s big silver bullet to the Â
Organic waste problem, is to give people—during the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, their  idea is to give people a $200 rebate on something that will cost thousands of dollars to install in  their homes. This is just incredible, it’s such an elite solution to a very common problem that Â
We’re facing here in Brisbane today. Going back to the past is not going to solve one of Brisbane’s  greatest challenges of the future, Chair. It’s time for Brisbane to get with the times,  join the in excess of 100 other councils around Australia who have managed to implement full Â
FOGO organic recycling schemes, and just get serious about implementing this here in Brisbane. A permanent FOGO system here in Brisbane is something that we have long committed to and  will be delivered by a Labor Administration led by Tracey Price. We’re not going to put up all Â
These artificial barriers like the LNP do and talk about it when it’s convenient to do so and  then never do anything about it in the future. Instead offer it’s a couple of thousand bins,  which are no protein, half FOGO bins, no commitment to investing in the jobs of the Â
Future, investing in reducing rates for ratepayers by removing this organic waste  from landfill. The LNP are just trying to make it all too hard for anyone to do this. They might be in denial on that side of the Chamber, Chair, about what a full FOGO scheme Â
Would actually mean for Brisbane, but it’s in front of us in black and white before us today  that if we don’t get on board with a full FOGO scheme and remove that 100,000 tonnes-plus of  organic material from landfill each and every year, we are going to put a $600 million burden Â
On the ratepayers of Brisbane in the future. That’s what’s at stake here. If you go slow,  like the LNP are going slow on FOGO, you put pressure on ratepayers. If they don’t  lead from the front and don’t invest in FOGO, the LNP are going to increase rates Â
By $600 million over the next decade. Under the LNP, by going slow on removing organic waste,  we’re going to see higher rates and less services. But what FOGO means— Councillor CASSIDY, your  time has expired. Point of order, Chair. Point of order, Councillor COLLIER. Move for an extension. Â
Seconded. We have a motion for extension moved by Councillor COLLIER, seconded by Councillor STRUNK. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. The ayes have it. Councillor CASSIDY,  you’ve got the call. Thanks very much, Chair. A full FOGO scheme, full organic recycling, Â
Means lower rates, more jobs and it means less carbon emissions here in Brisbane.  It’s a home-grown carbon reduction scheme and under Labor this will mean more waste services  and less InSinkErators, that’s a guarantee under Labor. But what we know and what we see before us Â
Today in these papers from the LNP is their deep conservatism taking hold of this important policy. They don’t want to really see anything change, that’s how conservative they  are. They’ve been forced to, because without FOGO the Council would be in financial ruin, Â
Not because it’s about the future of Brisbane but because they’re stuck in the past. This is such an  important contract and important one to get right and we’re not confident going forward that the LNP  will do so. But under Labor there is an absolute guarantee that we’ll see increased waste services, Â
Lower rates for people in the future and an investment in local jobs for generations to come. Item E before us today is amending a significant contracting plan. That sounds familiar,  the LNP do that a lot, a lot these days. We hear lots about blowouts on contracts and every single Â
One the LNP does has a blowout, Chair. This one goes back to June, talk about blowouts,  things that were brought here in June, massive blowouts, forcing massive cuts. Back in June,  this contracting plan came to Council and I put my doubts on record at the time. It turns out I Â
Was right. Time and time again in this place we continue to question the contracting plans  by this LORD MAYOR and LNP Council and then we have to sit here and put up with hollow  lectures from the peanut gallery of the LNP. They got the numbers wrong in this instance, Â
Chair, and while I’m sure the excuses will come thick and fast, it’s embarrassing having these  contracting plans come back to Council to be amended over and over and over and over and over  again. All of this could have been avoided if the LORD MAYOR and his LNP Administration could let go Â
Of their obsession with needing to outsource every single basic function of Council. When work is  done in-house it’s done faster, it’s done cheaper and it’s done to a better standard. But as we’ve  discovered in recent weeks, contractors are easier to sack for this LORD MAYOR.Â
He’s confirmed that again today in what he said earlier. He just adjusts the time  for these contractors, pays an invoice that gets sent into Council and they lose their  jobs and he doesn’t care. He treats them as second-class workers who have adjustable hours, Â
That’s the LNP way and they’re doing that to more and more and more of our basic services  here in Council. The shortsightedness of the LNP when it comes to contracting out is the  reason that countless staff are facing the sack between now and Christmas. Whether these Â
Contracting plans go ahead is another story, as we will be debating the horrific state of  the Council budget shortly. This is just another thing that you cannot trust this LORD MAYOR with. Item F, Chair, is the contracting plan for the Oracle hardware and software. Thank Â
Goodness this one’s been taken out of the hands of this LORD MAYOR, in accessing this software,  hardware and associated services is being done under the Department of Communities, Housing  and Digital Economies’ SOA. We’re probably less likely to see this one come back for significant Â
Contracting adjustments, given every other contract this LNP Administration have commenced. Clause G, contracts and tendering, report of contracts accepted by delegates of  Council for— Just—sorry, my apologies. Yes, sorry, Councillor CASSIDY. Seven  items in, we’re finally getting to some of these contracts and expenditure here before us today, Â
Chair. I’m sure all Councillors look closely over the contracts that come through here month after  month. We of course—sometimes the LORD MAYOR says we have control and input over, sometimes he says  he’s totally removed from it, depending on what a debacle that turns out to be. But these are ticked Â
Off and they’re a done deal before us today to review. There are some contracts in there that are  reasonable, of course, but for the last meeting of this term of Council there are some real clangers.  We know they’re directly related to the political decision the LORD MAYOR has made and will be Â
Implementing from the review of his budget. Contract 11 is obviously the most interesting,  I think, when it comes to that, in the context of the LORD MAYOR’s savage cuts and sacking of  staff. That contract is for external contractors for HR and industrial relations being engaged, Â
So I guess if you blow up the budget with two inner-city mega projects and your solution is  to slash projects and sack staff and try to hide the fact that you’re doing it, the first thing Â
You do is engage IR consultants. That really is out of the LNP playbook. They don’t put a high  value on secure work and they make sure of that by bringing in the experts at sacking people when the  LORD MAYOR announces those $400 million in cuts. The report of the Audit Committee again shows Â
Us very little in terms of what this Committee is reviewing and what recommendations they are  making and what actions are being implemented by this Administration. The LORD MAYOR’s approach to  transparency and information sharing is absolutely appalling. Too often in this place what we get Â
Is a sanitised, redacted, cleansed version of events or items that we can’t talk about publicly  because the LNP want to keep details secret. This Committee is extremely important and the work they  do is critical, but we never really ever get the full story from the LORD MAYOR and LNP though.Â
If we as Councillors wanted to speak to members of the Audit Committee about their work and what  they were reviewing, what recommendations they were working, we’d be denied. Their audits are  never presented to a Standing Committee. What we receive is what’s before us today, Â
Just a precis of those meetings, a very high-level version of the minutes and the LNP just want all  Councillors to accept with no question. I’m sure perhaps Councillor CUNNINGHAM will get up and  speak on it, but no other LNP Councillor can, I can guarantee you that. They ask no questions, Â
They just nod along and get what is given to them. So would be able to give a much more  full—it would be great to be able to give much more fulsome response to items like this, but  given the lack of information the LNP are willing to share with Councillors, it is very difficult.Â
Clause I is the amendment to Brisbane City Plan, the minor amendment, package Q,  which includes the addition of the Woolloongabba PDA intercity plan as well as changes to standard  drawings. The Woolloongabba PDA area, priority development area, has the opportunity, we believe, Â
To leave a lasting legacy from the 2032 Games, but the Government must get the legacy right with  this in guaranteeing more affordable housing, public transport and public space outcomes. There are challenges when changes this size come along, but if you’re crystal clear about Â
The opportunities and how you can grasp them, the long-term benefit will be there for everyone. I  would urge the Government to lock in the long-term benefits for this once in a lifetime opportunity  we have before us before it’s too late and certainly hope that they get that right.Â
Item J is the disposal of proposed lot 2 to be created at 55 Headfort Street at Greenslopes.  As the LORD MAYOR said, this came through Council a little while ago. The LORD MAYOR and Councillor  CUNNINGHAM, might have been just before that, came to Council just after did a—had a great photo Â
Opportunity with Legacy back in October. I say photo opportunity rather than announcement because  that’s all the LNP seem to actually care about, is the photo opp. The details always come to light  later though. They’ll announce this, do the media opp, you know, very stage managed and then we find Â
Out the details as these things come to Council. Council supported Legacy in securing this site,  of course, what the press release said at least. It’s disappointing to read in the papers before us  today that the LNP are so desperate for cash to fill their budget black hole that they’re Â
Selling the land to Legacy for $420,000. Now this is a not-for-profit organisation  that’s doing amazing work for veterans here in Brisbane and right around Australia and the LORD  MAYOR and Councillor CUNNINGHAM had some great things to say about that work in the press. But Â
In considering this item, there are certainly some questions I think that do need answering. Should a not-for-profit organisation have to pay so much to Council for this,  given the LORD MAYOR made great announcements about the partnership that he was entering into Â
With Legacy? Was this always part of the deal, or have Legacy had this price tag sprung on them? If  Council were serious about supporting Legacy to continue their important work, surely there is a  less costly solution for it. If Council’s going to make Legacy purchase the land for over $400,000, Â
Then where is that money going to be spent? Councillor CASSIDY, your time has expired.  Point of order, Chair. Point of order, Councillor COLLIER. Move for an extension. Seconded. We have  a motion for extension moved by Councillor COLLIER, seconded by Councillor STRUNK.Â
All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. The ayes have it. Councillor CASSIDY, you’ve got the call. Thanks  very much, Chair. We want to know where this $400,000, or in excess of $400,000 is going to be Â
Spent. We know the LORD MAYOR sent Brisbane broke with Councillor CUNNINGHAM, the local Councillor  being the Finance Chair, watching along as this disaster has unfolded. But I think they need to  be really upfront about what they have planned for this cash that they’re demanding from Legacy.Â
It should be—if this is going to proceed, it certainly should be spent embellishing  the park and green space that’s been earmarked for this site and should be spent on the public  realm elements there as well, that Legacy and the community are going to have the benefit for. It Â
Should not, should not be used to plug the LORD MAYOR and Councillor CUNNINGHAM’s $400 million  budget black hole. But that does leave some disappointment to what otherwise was a fantastic  announcement and a great project, in finding out months later that there’s this huge price tag this Â
Not-for-profit is being lumped with. Clause M, the last in this group,  is the Howard Smith Wharves, the leases and sublease tenure arrangements. There is an awful,  awful lot of bending over backwards here in this item for an inner-city-focused business deal. Â
That’s what it is, this is a business deal. When you look at that and look at the priority that the  LNP have put on bringing this item through here and you compare and contrast that to the support Â
Or lack thereof that our local community groups are getting at the moment, it does say a lot about  the priorities of this Administration, I think. This is an incredibly good deal for Howard Smith  Wharves and the operators down there. It’s a long-term lease, an extremely long-term lease. Â
Council’s doing all of the legwork for those operators down there and as a result of this,  at Howard Smith Wharves, the operators will be able to park a barge alongside the river to expand  their private businesses. Form the land into the river and to make—generate a profit for their Â
Business. There is a natural conflict there which we’re all very aware of, in that there is a public  space with a lot of complex arrangements around the private use on them and private operators,  which has to be carefully managed. But what is missing from this information Â
Before us today is who’s regulating the barge and what happens onsite,  overseeing maintenance of what is proposed to be there for the next few decades. Is Council  recouping the cost for all the work that has to go into getting this wet lease and then subleasing it Â
Out from those operators down there? Or is the administration of these leases being covered by  ratepayers? That information is not available for us today before we make this decision. I’ll bet  in every single one of our wards a community group has struggled with grants or funding Â
Assistance from Council over recent years. I just think of one that’s just popped up  very recently, Aspley Little Athletics out at Geebung. The power supply pole fell down in a  storm recently. Council discovered there was some damage to their assets onsite, Â
The light poles there, so they ripped them all out. The replacement cost of that is $400,000,  so they are now without power, without lights on that site. Council just said apply for a grant,  that was the solution, apply for a grant to $400,000. There’s no grant available Â
To cover that kind of cost, that’s an awful lot of Bunnings sausage sizzles that community group  now is going to have to fund—to run to fund the $400,000 upgrade on a Council-owned facility. It’s a little more than annoying to see these items that the LNP bring to Council, Â
Sort of their pet projects rather than the broad support for the community that we need. But I  guess it shouldn’t be that surprising, given after 20 years in power they do get very insular, they  lose touch with the reality out in the community and get very focused on projects that they are Â
Personally interested in, given the conflicts that we’ve seen arise in Civic Cabinet around this  item as well. I guess it just does speak to the priorities of this 20-year-old LNP Administration  that we see these items coming through today. Our contracts for industrial relations and Â
Human resources at a time when the LORD MAYOR is sacking dozens if not hundreds of staff and  contractors. Contracts and lease arrangements for private businesses operating in public spaces and  yet nothing for community groups coming through these items before us today. It Â
Speaks volumes about this Administration and I think change is coming and change will be  very welcome by the people of Brisbane after 16 March next year. Thank you, Councillor CASSIDY. Further speakers? Councillor DIXON. Mr Chair,  I rise to speak on item C, Moreton Bay Cycleway, Viola Place to Schneider Road project, easements Â
For right of way. I am delighted that Council is seeking approval from the state for this  resumption, confirming the bikeway’s alignment to close a known gap in the Moreton Bay Cycleway.  Council wants to solve this problem for active travellers by providing a shared Â
Cyclist and pedestrian section. This section of the cycleway is a well-known missing link  in the cycling community and is important for both recreational and community cyclists. This  solution will mean that people can ride their bikes to work from Hamilton to the airport.Â
It will mean a safe separated route to travel through the airport precinct and on to the  northern and southern suburbs too. There has been significant consultation on this  project and I look forward to the Department of Resources’ approval, providing the residents of Â
Hamilton Ward another vital piece of active transport infrastructure. While this link is  only approximately 600 metres, the Moreton Bay Cycleway covers three Local Government Areas,  including Brisbane City Council, Moreton Bay City Council and the Redland City Council. This crucial missing link will facilitate the connection of the Moreton Bay Cycleway all Â
The way from Redlands to Redcliffe, so it is fair to say this link between Viola Place and  Schneider Road may be small but its impact will be huge for active transport. It’s all  part of the Schrinner Council’s commitment to providing safe and efficient paths for Â
Those who are riding and walking. Thank you, Mr Chair. Thank you, Councillor. Further speakers? Councillor JOHNSTON. Yes, thank you. I rise to speak on, I think, the relevant items that are  in this section, A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J and M. Correct. I particularly want to just Â
Make a few comments about item A. This is just an artful bit of greenwashing between the councils,  for which Council’s got to pay out fees and then pay out no doubt money for staff and the  empire will just continue to grow. It will—I don’t know about the other councils because Â
I don’t see what their green initiatives are, but I know when we debate item B what Council’s  are. This Council has a horrendous track record when it comes to sustainability and  the report that we’ll get to in B shows that. The alliance and the deed and money and staff, Â
It’s unnecessary. I don’t know why councils can’t cooperate through the existing measures that they  have, the South East Queensland Council of Mayors, the local government association,  there’s one other, there’s capital city—there’s so many, there’s so many. We don’t need another organisation to market greenwashing to south-east Brisbane, Â
We need actual action. The LORD MAYOR’s exposed it here today, he knows that major construction  contributes enormously to emissions and sustainability and yet he’s jumped on  board with the Premier and he is sailing off into the sunset on the Gabba redevelopment, Â
Which was never part of the Olympics plan. Whilst this LORD MAYOR talks about climate change, he  doesn’t actually do anything substantive and this is just another greenwashing episode by the LNP  Administration. I would ask that item A is taken seriatim for voting purposes. Noted, thank you, Â
Councillor JOHNSTON. Thank you. Item Q, the minor amendment to Brisbane City Plan for The Gabba,  adding The Gabba priority development area into— Councillors interjecting. I, sorry. I, I’m sorry,  item I, package Q, yes. Adding the PDA, obviously this reflects what the State Government is doing Â
At the Woolloongabba priority development area, but it also gives me a chance to say now that  both for Councillor Sriranganathan and Councillor MASSEY, I’ve made it clear that I believe that  this Council is committing a grievous error by supporting the demolition of The Gabba and Â
The closure of East Brisbane State School. It’s schools, not stadiums, it should be a  simple proposition for the community, but this Administration continues to push support for a  project that was never part of the Olympics bid. The twofaced behaviour of the LORD MAYOR today Â
In this Chamber, standing up and in answer to a question to Councillor MASSEY saying well,  we support what we’ve put up in the original proposal and that was supposed to be for an  independent delivery authority. Well the LORD MAYOR does not support what was put Â
Up in the original proposal, because the original proposal did not include demolition of The Gabba  and the closure of East Brisbane State School. It was never part of the Olympics package and this  idea that the LORD MAYOR and the Premier, because they’re both on board, drinking the Kool-Aid, Â
Sort of present this as some fait accompli as part of the Olympics package, it was never part of the  Brisbane 2032 bid. It was never part of the plan. Every single Councillor should be sitting back  going we shouldn’t be closing a school in an area where there is huge high-rise development planned, Â
Where there are massive infill developments happening, where there are going to be  thousands of new people. Instead, a beautiful historic school, East Brisbane State School,  is going to be moved two and a half kilometres up the road to a swamp, attached to a high school, Â
With demountable buildings on it. Now, as we find out, some poor elderly  man’s going to lose his house as well, all for something that was never part of the  Olympics bid. It just shows you the LORD MAYOR’s behaviour today in answering this question, oh, Â
We support the original plan, which was to have an independent delivery authority. Well guess what,  no he does not support the original plan because he supports knocking down The Gabba and he’s made  that clear time after time here. I don’t—I stand in solidarity with the East Brisbane State School Â
Community. I think schools before stadiums is absolutely the right course of action. With respect to item M, which is the—I don’t even know what to say. Pretty much the sale of  Brisbane’s riverfront to a private corporation. I mean we know that this is what the Administration Â
Does. They get into bed with their mates, they work out a cosy deal with their mates and then  next thing you see, 90-plus year leases for commercialisation of the Brisbane River. I  don’t support this, I won’t be voting for it and I ask that item M is also taken seriatim Â
For voting purposes. Item M, sorry, Councillor JOHNSTON. M for Mary, yes. It already is,  Councillor JOHNSTON. On its own? Not on its own, no. No, on its own? Yes. Yes,  so I’ve asked for A to be taken seriatim— Yes, correct. —and I’ve asked for M to be taken—just Â
For voting purposes. Yes, got it, thank you. So for those Councillors who weren’t here back when  the Howard Smith Wharves proposal was developed, I think myself and Councillor David Hinchliffe  were the two that raised concerns about Howard Smith Wharves and how true that’s turned out to Â
Be. My concern at that point was the lack of safe pedestrian and cycling access through there and if  you are ever down there, it is dangerous and it’s a miracle no one’s been hurt with the amount of  cars and people. Here we are, this Administration is planning to jam more commercial development Â
Into an extremely constrained and congested site. I doubt there’s been any consultation with any of  the stakeholders down there, other than with the Howard Smith Wharves company,  who unsurprisingly just got an award from the LORD MAYOR just last week or the week before, Â
So there’s a very cosy arrangement going on here. This is wrong, this is wrong. A party barge is  going to be parked out the front of a public space that this Council’s allowed Howard Smith Wharves Â
To take over. There is a public space in the middle of this facility that is now full of tables  for Felons. It is wrong, that is public space, it was parkland. You used to be allowed to go down Â
There and have a picnic and sit outside, but now it is full of tables for a brewery, full of tables  for a brewery. Wall to wall, jam packed and this Administration wants to give more public space, Â
In this case the river, over to a party barge. Well I don’t think that is right. That area is  too constrained. Does this give us any indication of what pedestrian improvements are going to be  made? There are none. Any cycling improvements that are going to be made? There are none. Any Â
Additional parking requirements that are going to be done? There are none. If you try and use  the elevator to go from the top of Kangaroo Point, New Farm—sorry, to go from the top of  the New Farm cliffs down to Howard Smith Wharves, you can wait three or four elevator rides before Â
You can get on, it’s that congested, it is that— Councillors interjecting. I appreciate the DEPUTY  MAYOR’s discussing this and playing along with me. If she’s got something to say she should  stand up and say it. But the issue with the lack of appropriate pedestrian and cycling facilities, Â
Including elevator space, is not appropriate. You are going to jam more people—we don’t even  know how big this space is going to be. Is it going to block the public view? I’m sure it  will. It won’t block the view for Howard Smith Wharves and their bar area, it’s going to block Â
The public view for sure. We don’t know how big this facility’s going to be, we don’t know what  improvements are going to happen. There are no improvements probably going to be made that the  private company’s going to pay for, but here is yet another example of the DEPUTY MAYOR and her Â
Mates doing deals for inner-city businesses. Point of order, Mr Chair. Point of order, DEPUTY MAYOR.  I know she’s trying to bite me, but she’s also bullying me. I have nothing to do with this and  I ask that she withdraw that imputed motive. Councillors interjecting. DEPUTY MAYOR, Â
We don’t recognise imputed motive. However, I can ask to withdraw— Point of order. Point of order.  I am very offended by what she’s saying. This has nothing to do with me. Thank you.  Councillor JOHNSTON, would you care to withdraw your offensive remarks? I’m very offended by the Â
DEPUTY MAYOR gossiping the whole way through what I’ve been saying here today. Mr Chairman,  the DEPUTY MAYOR is a member of E&C— Point of order, Mr Chair. Point of order, DEPUTY MAYOR.  The inferences from Councillor JOHNSTON to my behaviour are inappropriate in this place. I Â
Said three words to a colleague. I ask that she leaves me alone please. Thank you, DEPUTY MAYOR. Councillor JOHNSTON, can you please refrain. Your time has expired. Further speakers? Councillor DAVIS. Call for extension. Councillor interjecting. I’ll move it.  Seconded. We have a motion for extension— Councillors interjecting. —moved by Â
Councillor MASSEY, seconded by Councillor GRIFFITHS. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. Councillors say no. The noes have it. Division called by Councillor JOHNSTON and seconded by Councillor MASSEY. Ayes to my right,  noes to my left. That is bullying. That is not bullying, Councillor JOHNSTON. Councillor Â
JOHNSTON, if you keep yelling out I’m going to give you another warning. In fact I’m not even— Councillor interjecting. Clerks, please read the results. Mr Chair,  the noes have it, the voting being seven in favour and 15 against. The motion has passed.  Councillors, please return to your seats. Councillor interjecting. Councillor JOHNSTON. Â
Councillor JOHNSTON. Councillor JOHNSTON. I’m sorry, I don’t have to take that from Councillor  MURPHY. Councillor JOHNSTON. Point of order. Just one moment, Councillor JOHNSTON, before your point  of order. Councillor JOHNSTON, as you have failed to comply with the request to undertake remedial Â
Action for your unsuitable meetings conduct, I hereby warn you in accordance with section  21(6) of the Meetings Local Law that failing to comply with not calling out across the Chamber  may result in a request or order being issued. Your point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON. Yes, Â
My first point of order is Councillor MURPHY made some unpleasant comments to me as he walked past  me and he’s now walking out of the Chamber, which is why I responded. Mr Chair, I would expect that Â
You would take action against him. If we’re not supposed to speak in this Chamber or call out,  then he certainly did as he passed me and I don’t think that’s appropriate. So will you  take action against him as well? Councillor JOHNSTON, I don’t uphold your point of order.Â
Further speakers? My second point of order, Mr Chairman— Sorry— A point of order. —point or  order, yes, thank you. My second point of order is earlier the DEPUTY MAYOR called me a bully,  which I find to be offensive, unsuitable meeting conduct and I would ask that you ask Â
Her to withdraw. DEPUTY MAYOR, would you care to withdraw? I won’t withdraw how I feel, thank you,  Mr Chairman. Thank you, DEPUTY MAYOR. Further speakers? Councillor DAVIS. Point of order, point of order. Just one moment, Councillor DAVIS. Point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON. Yes, thank you. Mr Chairman, just on a point of order, Â
I feel it is unsuitable meeting conduct to call somebody a bully, but if Councillor ADAMS thinks  that’s appropriate the only person who’s a bully in this Chamber is Councillor ADAMS. Councillor  JOHNSTON, that is not a point of order and as to unsuitable meeting conduct in this Chamber, Â
That is decided by me, not you. Further speakers? Councillor DAVIS. Thank you, Mr Chair. I rise to speak on items A and J. Item A  seeks approval to join 10 other councils across South East Queensland in forming the South East  Queensland Climate Resilient Alliance, or SEQCRA. In 2021, through the LGAQ, Â
We identified the need for a multicity partnership to address the climate challenges that are unique  to our region. Since the 2022 flood event which impacted every LGA in South East Queensland,  this need has become even more apparent. Throughout this period we’ve been working with Â
The other councils to develop a pilot partnership which has ultimately led to Queensland’s first  ever Climate Resilience Alliance. We looked to the model of the Resilient Rivers initiatives,  where we’ve worked together to improve the health of our regional waterways, which as you know, Â
Mr Chair, has been quite successful. The Climate Resilience Alliance aims  to build on this work and leverage the different skills and capabilities of this group of councils  to respond to shared challenges and to embrace new opportunities. This is especially important work, Â
Mr Chair, because as the LORD MAYOR said, the State Government has vacated and just  isn’t interested in doing work in South East Queensland. They’re more interested in big  projects out in marginal seats in Far North and Central Queensland than us here in the south-east Â
Corner, which is particularly short-sighted, Mr Chair, because together SEQCRA represents  Queensland’s biggest cities. That’s 3.6 million people, or 65% of Queensland’s population,  for example, there’s so much potential in our region for more collaboration and to embrace  the green energy transition here in our cities. We’re looking at things like renewable energy, Â
Like batteries, solar and power purchasing agreements, through to joint carbon abatement  projects around Brisbane. I don’t see how that could be seen as greenwashing, Mr Chair. So to  address some of the assertions made by Councillor CASSIDY, I can also confirm by way of this Â
Partnership we’ll work with every member council contributing an annual fee to SEQCRA to fund the  coordination of the alliance. In fact, Brisbane City Council’s contribution will be $40,000, which  is double the amount of money that other councils have been—have committed to this alliance. It’s Â
Scaled by population, of course Brisbane has the largest population, but still we are committed  to working and taking action on climate change along with our neighbouring councils here in the  south-east corner and we will continue to do it. I was pleased to hear Councillor CASSIDY speak so Â
Highly of Councillor Teresa Harding. Mayor Harding is a dear friend and colleague and I speak to her  on a range of issues, including opportunities that we have to deal with climate change. This  is a rotational basis opportunity for Ipswich to put forward themselves as the coordinator in the Â
First iteration, but of course all other councils will take part in that ongoing. As I said, we’re  looking forward to working with them and others to scale up the potential of climate resilience  for across both Brisbane and our entire region. Item J is the Headfort Street disposal and it Â
Authorises the disposal of a soon to be created lot at 55 Headfort Street, for the construction  of the new Legacy house. I’m pleased that with the approval of this submission we are one step  closer, Mr Chair, to delivering a new park in Greenslopes also. As the LORD MAYOR said, this Â
Will be a new home for Legacy Queensland as well. As you know, Mr Chair, Council has purchased the  former Australian Red Cross site at 51-55 Headfort Street from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs on  an off-market concessional basis for $1 million. Under the agreement, DVA has assumed the cost Â
For the demolition and remediation of the site and will provide Council with the certification  that appropriate remediation has taken place. Part of the land then will be onsold at cost  to Legacy, which was always part of the deal, Mr Chair, to construct their new Legacy house Â
Facility and the remainder will become, as I said, public parkland. Under the terms of the  transfer of the land to Council from DVA, this land is valued on a pro-rata basis,  representing the portion of the land relative to the concessional cost paid for it to DVA. This is Â
An outcome that has taken quite a number of years to secure and one that will have a long-lasting,  positive impact for our community. I’d just like to acknowledge Councillor CUNNINGHAM, as well as  the LORD MAYOR, for their strong advocacy for this project. I know Councillor CUNNINGHAM is Â
Very excited to get amongst her community for the first round of consultation on the new urban  common park that will be at Headfort Street. What I would also say, Mr Chair, is that the  previous Labor Federal Member for the area opposed it, opposed this project, opposed selling the land Â
To Legacy. Well she initially opposed it but had to come kicking and screaming to the table. Of  course she’s not here anymore, clearly she cared more about Canberra and not about Coorparoo,  nor the people that Legacy seek to assist. Mr Chair, again this is a great outcome for the local Â
Community and for Legacy and I’m very proud that we have been able to facilitate this opportunity  for Legacy and to provide a great piece of open space in the Coorparoo Ward. Thank you,  Mr Chair. Thank you, Councillor DAVIS. Further speakers?Â
Councillor MASSEY. Thank you, Chair. I rise to speak on item I and also item A. Sorry, item I  and— Item I, so Brisbane City—minor amendment to the Brisbane City— Yes and the other item,  sorry? And M. Thank you, thank you. Thank you, Chair. Sorry, I didn’t hear it properly. That’s Â
All right. My apologies. I should be more clear. That’s all right, you go. The Woolloongabba PDA,  which is now a whopping 106 hectares. We all know that PDAs are used often when there is  a controversial development and in this case it is the $2.7 billion minimum Gabba Â
Rebuild. This is what’s driving this PDA, that is now again a whopping 106 hectares,  it’s massive. What I’m finding as a Councillor of this area is actually really fascinating, because  of course while the designate of what happens in this area is now left to the Deputy Premier Miles, Â
Already developments across the ward are referring to it. Maybe there’s a zoning that’s about 15  storeys and they say we’re going to go to 30, because we think the Gabba PDA is going to be  40 storeys and so it should look fine. This is having a huge effect, not just Â
The Gabba rebuild, but also the development’s uncertainty around what will actually happen in  this 106-hectare PDA. With the Gabba rebuild, you know, as Councillor—through you, Chair,  as Councillor JOHNSTON stated, this was never part of the plan and there are other options. Yet here Â
We are within this PDA and within this Council supporting what will be the heart of a community  ripped out and also what is the largest piece of green space in Kangaroo Point at some point  closed up for an indefinite period of time. Community members are rightfully, rightfully Â
Bitter and outraged by this and they vow to speak not only to their neighbours, but to family  citywide about this and continue to fight this. But the PDA doesn’t just rip out that community,  doesn’t just make those changes for what will be intrinsically a temporary athletics track. Â
Already now we see backflips on the PDA. An example would be for the original public  space in the area a commitment to 50% green space. Since the release of this new PDA,  it is now a commitment to 50% open space and we all in here know that there is a drastic and Â
Dramatic difference between what a green space is and what open space is. Within this area,  which is public land also, the initial area for the PDA, it is now available for privatisation. This is public land and I think we’ll continue on with that message about Â
Privatisation of public land. This is enabling the privatisation of this public land, right,  this land that could have been 50% green space, a great park delivery for the community, a great  delivery for the community not only in potentially community facilities, arts facilities, but instead Â
Now is looking to be much like—you know, if we see what’s happening in something like Howard  Smith Wharves or the casino or elsewhere, what we’re seeing is a privatisation of public space. With the PDA too, I think it’s important to make clear Councillor CASSIDY mentioned earlier the Â
Really—the opportunity with the PDA and of course, you know, the State Labor Government  will go on about affordable housing, but unless it is actually mandated—again not a single one  of these apartments built within this PDA, within the 106 hectares will actually be ever affordable Â
For anyone. When I’m talking about mandated, I’m talking about potentially the inclusion of  inclusionary zoning to make sure that there is a percentage that goes back into public hands. I’m also talking about the term that’s been thrown around in the TLPI, which is the 20% Â
Of housing affordability, which for most people is unaffordable. Unless there is commitment to making  sure that average Brisbane that are struggling today are able to live in these designer towers,  with their reduced park space and reduced community space, the Woolloongabba PDA is Â
Just what it is. It’s an overreach, it’s an undemocratic overreach that sees again the  LNP Council and also the ALP State Government in cahoots with the developers, full stop. I’ll move now to Howard Smith Wharves. Now Howard Smith Wharves, I mean it’s been a challenge, Â
Right, for pedestrians and bike users and anyone that actually wants to use the public  space that was supposed to be delivered there for community, right, which is now  all completely commercialised. What we see here in item M is the continued commercialisation of Â
Public space for private developer, for private developers, for private business. You know,  I’m not here to say that private businesses shouldn’t have a say. You know, when I talk  about the Gabba rebuild you’d be curious to understand that there’s lots of businesses Â
Within that Woolloongabba area, Logan Road, that are completely against the Gabba rebuild, right,  and I work with small businesses across the ward. But while we are gifting private businesses public  land, community facilities struggle, community facilities continue to be unkept, a place like the Â
West End Library continues to have no potential or forward works around becoming—even having an  accessible toilet. There are facilities across the city that struggle, not only for upgrades but also  for delivery and yet here we are, giving Howard Smith Wharves more, more—well it’s a wet lease. Â
We’ll we’re giving them more, right? We’re giving them more as we already know that residents in  that area are having challenges with using that space for free. Public space is supposed to be  useable for people and we’re running out of that public space. If you think about the heatwaves Â
That we’re going to have, where are people going to like to sit to be cool by the river? Councillors interjecting. In the river or in the pub, I’ll take that interjection. Again I will  be voting this down, you know, we have a role to play for our communities in ensuring that public Â
Space is protected and useable by them. Both these, the PDA and also Howard Smith Wharves  clearly take public land, clearly gives them the advantage in privatisation and prioritises them  before community use and so I’ll be voting those things down. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor.Â
Further speakers? Councillor MURPHY. Thank you, Chair. Just rise to  speak on a few items in this part of the report, Moreton Bay Cycleway, Howard Smith Wharves,  et cetera. Firstly, on the Moreton Bay Cycleway, this submission seeks to grant an approval for Â
Us to make an application to the Department of Resources for the resumption of easements to build  the next leg of the Moreton Bay Cycleway, which is the Viola Place to Schneider Road project. We’ve  been following a resumption process with the private landholders and subsequently the State Â
Government, who is responsible for approving the resumption process, as was noted by other speakers  on this item, for the better part of six to seven years now. This has included two previous notices,  one of which Council rescinded on the basis of some land tenure complexities and one that was Â
Not supported by the Department of Resources. Since this advice, we have spent considerable  time and effort with our technical experts to resolve objections raised by the State  Government. We also took umbrage with the entire process with the State Government that it was Â
Very difficult for us to resume land for bikeway purposes, because no such instrument to do this  existed within the Act. We gave clear feedback coming up on three and a half years ago now to  Minister Bailey that the legislation should be reformed to allow councils to resume land for Â
Bikeway purposes. Currently the only way for us to resume land is for purposes of road or  easement and bikeway doesn’t exist as a separate subset. You don’t quite need the amount of land  that you need for a road and you don’t quite need an easement; you need the land for a bikeway, Â
So that doesn’t exist. He said yes, no problems, we’ll do that, we’re a big supporter of cycling. Three and a half years later nothing has happened on that, there’s been no legislation changes. We  have had these land tenure complexities to deal with in this resumption process. I apologise to Â
Those who’ve been waiting for this bikeway for many, many years and I apologise to that poor  skeleton that was chained up against the fence that unfortunately disintegrated because it took  so long for us to get this resumption process. This is one of those sort of Fawlty Towers, Â
Bureaucratic moments, Chair, where literally it’s taken us so long to be able to get the paperwork  right with the various departments. This has also been challenged a number of times, the  LORD MAYOR mentioned that. The landowners are—like a lot of bikeway and road projects, the landowners Â
Here were not keen to part ways with this land. We did look at a number of other alignments for  this bikeway, none of them work as well. This is a really good, really direct connection right off  the Gateway Bridge and through the TradeCoast land to an important connection for the Moreton Bay Â
Cycleway which is, as I mentioned, a very critical link between Redcliffe and the Redlands, 2,607  square metres will be resumed which will allow us to construct new pathways on the easement.  As I mentioned, Redland Bay and Redcliffe will be connected via the Gateway Motorway with a Â
High quality recreational and commuter cycling facility. After this is approved, we expect the  process to take about 12 months to be gazetted by the State Government, as land resumptions often  do. Currently cyclists who want to take this route divert down Sugarmill Road to Lomandra Drive, Â
Which is a great route, Chair. Dominated by heavy vehicles, no footpath, drainage,  a defence site on one side, not very ideal. To the north, this will connect in with the Kedron  Brook Bikeway and the bikeway underneath the Brisbane Airtrain line, before continuing further Â
North to Redcliffe. To the south it will follow Schneider Road and Kingsford Smith Drive, before  linking in with the Gateway Bridge and continuing south towards Redland Bay. We are and remain  committed to constructing this link, we always have. We have suffered many, many setbacks on the Â
Way with the State Government and their lethargy in getting us good, high-quality feedback on this  and obviously with legislation changes as well. But we remain committed to the cause of active  transport in our city and we’ll have more to say about our plans for walking, cycling and scooting Â
Over the coming months, as we head towards March. Chair, just, you know, just in response to what  Councillor CASSIDY said about this, he did say that we said this was all too hard. I actually Â
Would agree with him on this. I would say we have said this is way too hard to do this on  a number of occasions and we’ve said that loud and clearly to the State Government.  We’ve asked them to change the laws to make it a lot easier, they’ve not done so, they’ve Â
Not done so and I think that is a real pity. Finally, Chair, just on Howard Smith Wharves,  in order to cover off on this because a number of other Councillors made comments about Howard Smith  Wharves and this sort of idea that public and open space and how people enjoy themselves within Â
Private space, commercialised space like bars and hotels and things like that, somehow accounts for  less. I just fundamentally disagree with that. I think if people hated Howard Smith Wharves,  we wouldn’t have some of the problems that we have down there with so many people trying Â
To get in. People don’t become private people when they go into a private space; that’s the  public that’s using the bars, the facilities, the open space down there, that’s using the  restaurants and they love Howard Smith Wharves. I don’t think we should ever be—come in here Â
And feel denigrated for pushing that development through when the State Government oppose it, Labor  at a state level oppose it, Labor in this Chamber opposed it. If the Greens were here, I’m sure they  would have opposed it. But all of those opposite have opposed Howard Smith Wharves, but what Â
Has been delivered for the city is a tremendous outcome. The complaint we heard from Councillor  JOHNSTON was just laughable. She complained that it was taking too long for her to get into the  precinct because it was so popular. I mean this is just the ludicrous— Point of order. —nature of Â
Their objections to Howard Smith Wharves. Just one moment, Councillor MURPHY. Point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON. Claim to be misrepresented. Noted, thank you. Councillor MURPHY, you’ve got the call. Well, you know, I have a quote here, Â
I wrote it down because I thought it was so absurd and ridiculous. Councillor JOHNSTON said it was a  beautiful space and now it’s ruined. What was it, Chair, before it was Howard Smith Wharves?  It was a depot for the police to tie up their police boat that they use to patrol the Brisbane Â
River and it was some disused, you know, naval stores and some World War II air raid shelters.  There were chain-link fences— Point of order. —there was— Just one moment, Councillor MURPHY. Point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON. Claim to be misrepresented. Noted, thank you. Well that’s why Â
I always write down what Councillor JOHNSTON says, Chair, because you know, it will be some other  thing that she happened to say afterwards, but I write it down particularly. Councillor MASSEY said  that it was a real challenge for the community. I wrote that one down too because I thought that Â
Was funny. I don’t know, I don’t know, maybe it is a challenge for a minority within the community,  but the feedback that I have received from the vast majority of the community has been that  Howard Smith Wharves is one of the greatest urban redevelopments in this city’s history.Â
Those on this side of the Chamber should be very, very, very proud of what we have achieved  partnering with the private sector to deliver that. We won’t hear any rot about this being  commercialised land that’s not accessible to the public. Almost every part of Howard Smith Wharves, Â
Other than if you want to go inside the kitchens and start cooking, is accessible to the public. Councillor interjecting. It is accessible to the public and we have seen so many  State Members and Ministers down there, partying— Councillor interjecting. DEPUTY MAYOR. —spending Â
Their weekends there, having long lunches. I won’t name who, LORD MAYOR. We should. No,  we won’t, LORD MAYOR, we won’t, because we do like him. Just one moment, Councillor MURPHY.  Can I please remind the MAYOR and the DEPUTY MAYOR that we’re not calling out in the Chamber please.Â
Councillor MURPHY. So look, Chair, I’ll just say it’s been a hit with them,  it’s been a hit with the public. We did a great job with Howard Smith Wharves and  we won’t hear anything from those opposite, who never supported it in the first place. Thank you,  Councillor MURPHY. Further speakers?Â
Sorry, Councillor JOHNSTON, my apologies, your two points of misrepresentation. Yes, Councillor  MURPHY claimed that I’d said something about I’ve not been able to get up and down the elevator. In  fact my comments were about access to pedestrian and cycling access through the site and the fact Â
That people—not me, people have to wait three or four elevator rides to get up or down. That’s  feedback that people give me, Councillor MURPHY. Councillor JOHNSTON, Councillor JOHNSTON, your  misrepresentation is not an opportunity for you to make another speech. Can you please get back Â
On point please. Well I believe that I just did. On the second point, Councillor MURPHY said that I  claimed that it was a beautiful space that Council had ruined. I didn’t make any such statement to  that effect. Thank you. But certainly blocking public space with a barge— Councillor JOHNSTON, Â
I just advised you that misrepresentation is not another opportunity for you to make a  speech. You’ve made your point, thank you. But I’m allowed to correct it, aren’t I? You just did. You  can be seated again, thank you. I, I— Further speakers please. Mr Speaker, sorry, Mr Chair, Â
I’m sorry— No, no, you can resume your seat. Point of order, point of order. Point of order,  Councillor JOHNSTON. My understanding is I’m allowed to say what the misrepresentation  was— Correct. —and correct it. Correct. So you allowed me to say what the misrepresentation Â
Was— Yes. —but you did not allow me to correct it. You had completed that and then we’re moving on to  further basically debating. I was saying what I said, which is correcting the misrepresentation,  Mr Chair, and I would like to finish my point. It should be very concise. Thank you. God. What Â
I said was that it would be ruining a beautiful public space if a barge was  parked in front of it. Thank you, that’s exactly what I’m after, appreciate that. Further speakers? Councillor MARX. Yes, thank you, Mr Â
Chair. I rise to speak on two items, items D and E. Starting with item D, which is a Stores Board  submission for organic materials processing. The Schrinner Council is laser focused on improving  the organics recycling rate in Brisbane. I’m proud that we’ve taken—already taken many steps to Â
Enhance organic recycling in Brisbane, including the reduction in cost of having a green bin. Since  the price of having a green bin was halved, we’re seeing a doubling of the numbers of households  taking up the service, which is absolutely the outcome we wanted to achieve, so I thank all Â
Those residents who have jumped on board. As the Chamber is aware, last week the  Towards Zero Waste Strategy draft was released for community consultation and a number of initiatives  such as investing more locations for advanced community composting harder to service apartments, Â
Rolling out of a citywide household food waste recycling service over the next four years and  the expansion of the food waste recycling service, which will include more than 5,290 new households  from February next year are also included. The strategy included a wide range of cutting edge and Â
Common sense measures that would help residents reduce their waste, regardless of whether they  were at home or out in the community. I encourage all residents and also ask Councillors in the  Chamber to jump online and have their say on the Towards Zero Waste Strategy. It is open right now.Â
The SCP before us today is a critical component of organics recycling, as it will shape what happens  with the materials once collected from households or community composting hubs. As we build the  frontend collection options for residents, the focus for Council remains on ensuring there are Â
Sufficient downstream processing options to turn the organic materials into marketable products,  in an environmentally compliant manner. The current contract arrangement processes  approximately 100,000 tonnes of garden organics of material per year. The establishment of three  categories in the new SCP acknowledges the diversity of sustainable solutions Â
On offer for all types of organics, including food organics and food and garden organics. By establishing their own categories, it allows industry to present target solutions through  the expression of interest process, which will begin in January of next year. Brisbane is the Â
Biggest council in Australia, which means the largest number of tonnes we produce per year  presents a unique opportunity, but also presents challenges for a developing market. Through you,  Mr Chair, I have to say I do agree with the Leader of the Opposition on one item and that Â
Is this is too important to not get right, which is why we cannot trust or risk the ALP with this. Those opposite just want to turn on full FOGO for the city like a light switch, Â
With no thought around how it will be collected, where it’s going to go and what is going to happen  to it. There seems to be a huge disconnect from reality and industry have a right to be  concerned about what the coalition of chaos will do to this city. Council’s early engagement of Â
The market will assist some suppliers that may require a year or most lead time to establish  or expand their facilities. Establishing this panel will ensure diversion of organic waste  from landfill and processing into marketable products, in an environmentally compliant way.Â
I want to highlight a couple of key statistics for the Chamber in regards to the organic recycling  and resource recovery program. Firstly, there are over two—sorry, my apologies,  there are over 12,000 residents registered to the community compost hub across Brisbane and Â
I want to thank them for their contribution to building a better Brisbane and we did see  a few of those people at our Towards Waste Awards that was mentioned earlier. Secondly,  many don’t realise that there is an established gas to energy process at Brisbane Landfill that Â
Produces over 900 homes worth of power each month. The green energy is generated by using  the methane gas created by decomposing organic waste and since it was commissioned in 2004,  has abated more than 5.4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.Â
This is an example of the types of technology in the market that have great outcomes for the  residents of Brisbane and something they can be proud of. It is likely that the technology  solutions will be different for the different types of organics, so a range of end use products Â
Can be developed other than just composting alone, reducing our market risk. On that note,  I also want to make the comment here about the fact that our food waste disposal units, generally  known as InSinkErators, was raised, through you, Mr Chair, by the Leader of the Opposition Â
As something for the elite class. Well I live in a house that’s more than 20 years old and it’s  got one in it and I certainly do not consider myself to be the elite class. For us, this is Â
Just another option that people can choose to use. Yes, it is old technology, so we’re offering  something that’s old and we’re also offering new technology, which is a food waste dehydrator. Councillors interjecting. Councillor COLLIER. Just one moment, Councillor MARX.Â
Councillor COLLIER, that was audible from up here. Show some respect to your colleagues on  the opposite side of the Chamber, or to your other colleagues in general. Councillor MARX, you’ve got the call. Thank you, Mr Chair, I appreciate that. As I was saying, Â
I don’t consider myself to be one of the elite class. I can say right here and now, I came to  this country 37 years ago and lived in Goodna Caravan Park, so I can tell you I’m certainly not  one of the elite class. This is just another— Councillor interjecting. Councillor COLLIER. Â
Councillor COLLIER. Councillor MARX. Thank you, Mr Chair. This, as I  mentioned, is just another option that people have available to them to deal with their food waste  recycling, should they choose to accept that. Moving on to item E, the amendment to the Â
Significant contracting plan for the cartage of quarry products. The transport of gravel  and other construction materials from the Mt Coot-tha quarry is primarily to Council’s  asphalt plants at Eagle Farm and Riverview. Transport of recycled construction material  to Pine Mountain recycling facility for processing and reuse is also included. Â
This is an essential component of the roadmaking process and this contract allows us to transport  material at a lower financial and environmental cost when we have no internal capacity available. This SCP came through—last came through the Chamber earlier this year, as was previously Â
Mentioned. But now that the tender process has been completed, an amendment to the estimated cost  is required due to price escalations. Through you, Mr Chair, as has been mentioned many times by both Â
This side of the Chamber and the other side of the Chamber, that is a sad reality of the life that we  now live, where everything is going up in price and we just have to deal with it. I commend the  items to the Chamber. Thank you, Councillor MARX. Further speakers?Â
Councillor STRUNK. Yes, thank you, Chair. I rise to speak on item D and I just wanted to pick up  on a couple of things that Councillor MARX said in her remarks. The first one that really stood  out and the only reason I’m standing up here at this—because our leader—the Leader of the Â
Opposition, Councillor CASSIDY, did a good job summing up on FOGO and on this particular item.  She said it was cutting edge. Well I’m sorry, Councillor MARX, what you’re doing with FOGO,  what you’re proposing and doing with FOGO and you’re rolling out that particular type of Â
FOGO which I call FOGO-light, which is without protein, is really not cutting  edge. It’s really doing half the job. There are over 100 councils, I believe,  right throughout Australia now that are doing what we should be doing as the largest council Â
In Australia, that has the biggest amount of resources, if we didn’t waste them on  the blowouts of some of these big ticket items that we talked about earlier today. Honestly,  the first time you—and you only actually went to a FOGO trial kicking and screaming because Â
We brought it up and made it very uncomfortable in this Chamber about what you weren’t doing  and what other councils were doing. Some of these other councils are very small councils  so they don’t have a lot of resources, but they decided that the environment was important. The Â
Gases that they are not emitting into the atmosphere because of their FOGO system is  doing a lot of good for Australia and the world. If you had a look at the rollout of the numbers, Â
I think the initial one was a few years ago. I think it was about 1,500 homes and then it got  up to about 3,000 and then it was up to about six and now the LORD MAYOR is saying it’s another five Â
And a half or whatever. At that rate it’s going to take 40 years before there’s a FOGO system  right across this city. Quite frankly, that is just appalling, it’s honestly you’re not really  doing anything to—you’re not doing anything substantial to limit the greenhouse gases into Â
The atmosphere by not doing a proper FOGO right across Brisbane and invest some of that money  that the State Government has made available, what Ipswich City Council is going to do. I think it’s just really telling of this LNP Administration that just because the Opposition Â
Brought it up a few years back it’s not a good idea, or you’re just going to toy with it so  that the media think that you’re doing something, right, which you’re really not doing much at all. Â
Honestly, I would have hoped in this last budget, right, not the budget review we’re about to have,  but the last budget, that you would have done something really substantial. Because listen,  there is—most people across Brisbane, once it’s explained what FOGO is, are right behind it, Â
Because they can see the sense in the amount of greenhouse gases that won’t  be emitted into the atmosphere, that we’re going to do with landfill, that 100,000  tonnes of landfill in this next 12 months. Councillor MARX, you spin a great story, I give Â
You that. You sound very convincing, but really if you just pick it apart and have a think about  it critically, it really doesn’t add up. I just wish this Council would get off their duff and do  something substantial for this city and for this country. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Councillor.Â
Further speakers? Councillor CUNNINGHAM. Thanks, Mr Chair.  I rise to speak on two items before us right now. First to item F, which is the significant  contracting plan for Oracle hardware, software and services. Council requires maintenance of  a fully supported and stable Oracle platform for a number of business-critical applications that Â
Are currently deployed on the platform and used by many employees. These applications are not  due to be retired or migrated until 2030. Support and maintenance contracts for Council’s existing  Oracle platform are due to expire on 14 July 2024 and will reach end of life in February 2025.Â
Four options were explored by Council officers to address our ageing Oracle platform and refreshing  Council’s existing Oracle platform with Oracle’s hybrid cloud solution, as deemed as the lowest  risk option. Also the lowest cost option, Mr Chair, with minimal change to existing Â
Application architecture required. Over the first four years of the proposed refresh solution,  Council will save approximately $5.5 million when compared with the cost of continuing to run the  current platform solution and moving to extended support. The independent industry analysis Â
Organisation has advised Council that the offers that have been provided by Oracle are market  leading and I commend this report to the Chamber. Mr Chair, turning now to item M. This is the lease  and the tenure arrangements to facilitate a new tourism and hospitality outcome down Â
At Howard Smith Wharves and it’s one that I’m pleased to be able to speak to today. As part of  ongoing activation plans by Howard Smith Wharves, they’ve proposed a new project that will deliver  improvements to maritime infrastructure and facilities in the area, through the construction Â
Of a large commercial pontoon. The plans are aimed at increasing tourism opportunities by providing a  landing spot for tour operators, private tour operators, and for food and beverage outlets  operating from permanently moored vessels there. The area proposed for this purpose is obviously Â
Part of the Brisbane River and is not owned or controlled by Council. As a result, Council has  submitted a request to the Department of Resources to enter into wet leases over the required area,  which Council can then subsequently sublease to Howard Smith Wharves. The State Government Â
Has provided offers to Council to lease these areas until 23 October 2068, this being the  date that the current wet lease at Howard Smith Wharves expires, with rent to be set by the state  at six per cent of the rental value of the lease area, in accordance with the Land Regulation 2020.Â
Subject to Council obtaining approvals, tenure and consent from the state, the item  before us proposes to grant Howard Smith Wharves subleases over these areas until 22 October 2068,  which is when Howard Smith Wharves’ current sublease expires. Importantly—and I want to Â
Assure all Councillors—an agreement has been made for a percentage of turnover from the new  activations to be passed through to Council in addition to the rent which is payable to  the state. Importantly, Howard Smith Wharves is solely responsible for all costs associated with Â
The construction of the pontoon and associated infrastructure and the ongoing costs to operate,  maintain, repair and replace the improvements, Mr Chair. So through you, Mr, Chair, I trust  that this allays Councillor CASSIDY’s concerns. Council has certainly been focused on seeing Â
Our costs recovered at least and Howard Smith Wharves is solely responsible for those costs. Now Councillor MASSEY talked in terms of gifting this public land, Mr Chair. Once again,  for the record, so that Councillors understand. It is a lease and as to gifting, she is ignoring the Â
Revenue opportunities that this will create for Council to help pay for the nice things  that she wants to deliver for her residents. Howard Smith Wharves is popular with Brisbane  residents, newsflash, it has been hugely successful to our tourism and hospitality Â
Offering in this city. This Administration is pleased to be able to work with the Howard Smith  Wharves team on this project. This project, which has also been spruiked and strongly  supported by the Deputy Premier. Thanks, Mr Chair. Thank you, Councillor CUNNINGHAM. Further speakers? Councillor ALLAN. Thank you, Â
Mr Chair. I rise to speak on item A, the minor amendment to Brisbane City Plan 2014. So minor  amendment, Package Q. As the LORD MAYOR said, this proposed amendment will seek to update  the Planning Scheme to reflect the declaration of the new Woolloongabba Priority Development Â
Area and also update Brisbane standard drawings in the Infrastructure Design Planning Scheme  Policy. To align with industry best practice and Council standards for infrastructure design. On 22 September 2023, the new Woolloongabba Priority Development Area was declared by  the State Government. The new PDA superseded the Woolloongabba Cross River Rail Priority Â
Development Area and as such the change references the new PDA and relevant  Interim Land Use Plan. Also considered within this minor amendment package are updates to  12 Brisbane standard drawings. This includes implementing new drawings to provide clarity  on best practice infrastructure design for Council delivered infrastructure. It also Â
Revises existing drawings to reflect changes to current standards and availability of materials. Although these changes may seem minor in nature. Without updating respective drawings, there may be  more significant flow-on consequences in the future. For example, one of the new drawings Â
Relate to braille for mounted wayfinding signage, as there was previously no standardised drawing  for this type of signage. Another example is updating the standard drawing for kerb ramps,  with the preference for these ramps to be 1.5 metres wide and at a minimum 1.2 meters.Â
If supported and adopted today, the proposed amendment will take effect from 8 December  2023. Mr Chair, the City Plan guides how land in Brisbane can be used and  developed to support economic growth, while protecting our city’s enviable way of life.  Changes such as this amendment ensures our Planning Scheme remains robust and resilient Â
And able to reflect changes over time, in line with both community and industry expectations. Just popping back to the PDA. One of the points that Councillor CASSIDY  made and one I do agree with, is that the Government definitely needs to move to lock Â
In the benefits that can accrue from this PDA. I also wanted to touch upon some of the points  that Councillor MASSEY made, particularly around the PDA. A lot of negativity around the PDA.  No real sort of consciousness as to the benefits that can accrue from this PDA. As I noted earlier, Â
This is a State Government PDA. If she wants something changed in this PDA or wants to give  effect to changes in this PDA, can I suggest she just talks to her really, really effective Green  Members in the State Government and see what they can deliver for her. Thank you, Mr Chair.Â
Councillor interjecting. Thank you, Councillor ALLAN. Are there any further speakers? I see no one rising. Right of reply? No right of reply. So Councillors, bear with me. We will now put  item A to the vote. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no.Â
Councillor says no. The ayes have it. Division. No seconder. We will now items C, D, E, F and J to the vote. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. The ayes have it. Division. No, Â
Seconder. We will now move on. We will now put items G, H and I to the vote. All those in favour say aye. Councillors  say aye. Those against say no. Councillor says no. The ayes have it. Division called by Councillor CASSIDY and seconded by Councillor COLLIER. Â
That was Councillor COLLIER, wasn’t it? Councillor interjecting. Yes, thank you.  Ayes to my right, noes to my left. Clerks, please ring the bells. Quiet please. Clerk  please read the results. Mr Chair, the ayes have  it. The voting being 17 in favour and seven abstentions. Sorry, Councillors, Â
Those items of the report have passed. Can you please return to your seats please? DEPUTY MAYOR, can you please—oh, sorry— Point of order, Chair. —my apologies, thank you. We will now put item M. Those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. Councillors say no. The ayes have it.Â
Division called by, I think that was Councillor JOHNSTON and Councillor MASSEY. Ayes to my right,  noes to my left. Clerks, please ring the bells. Clerks, please read the results. Mr Chair,  the ayes have it. The voting being 17 in favour, two against and five abstentions. Thank you, Â
Councillors, item M has passed. Point of order, Mr Chair. Point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON. Yes,  could I just check item J, when was the voting for item J? Councillor JOHNSTON we grouped item  J in on the second vote after item A. I’m sorry so could you just repeat which items they were? Okay, Â
We first voted on item A. Yes. Then the second vote was on C, D, E, F and J. J in the—okay,  thank you. Then G and H and then I forgot M, until Councillor CASSIDY reminded me and Â
We voted on M. So now we’re about to open debate on items B and K. You with us? Yes. DEPUTY MAYOR can you please open up debate on items B and K, please? Thank you, Â
Mr Chair. We have item B and K before us in this second session of the E&C report. Item B is our  annual report to the Federal Government’s Climate Active program, including our carbon  accounts and our public disclosure statement. With this item, Brisbane will remain carbon Â
Neutral for another year. Despite some real challenges, we remain in a strong position to  meet our targets of a minimum 30% reduction in emissions and reach net zero by 2050. We are one of the first, and we are still the largest certified carbon neutral public sector Â
Organisation in Australia. No State or Federal Government department or agency is carbon neutral  but we are. This is achieved all by running a public transport fleet of more than 1,200 buses,  30 ferries, delivering roads, bridges and infrastructure and operating landfill.Â
We have been able to achieve this by taking practical emission reduction action. Investing  in green infrastructure and embracing innovation to help offset our remaining emissions. We have  done so without declaring a climate emergency. As the LORD MAYOR has consistently said, Â
Right now we are building more than ever before. This is exactly what this report today confirms  is the case. Overall, our carbon footprint has increased slightly to 665,419 tonnes of  carbon dioxide, equivalent in 2022-23. Which is about seven per cent from 2016-17. But when Â
We first became a carbon neutral city, which was in 2016-17, we did have a lot  less on the books to what we are doing now. This is a short-term peak in emissions for  three key reasons. I hope the Opposition are listening because I’m anticipating Â
What we’re going to hear here this afternoon. In 2022-23 we had a massive flood. The damage  bill for Council was more than $300 million. In the immediate aftermath of that flood there was  a huge cleanup operation. Everybody knows that and those of us here in the Chamber remember it Â
Very clearly. Initially we cleared 3,357 streets and collected 75,535 tonnes of waste as part of  Operation Collect. So our Resource Recovery Centres received 29,000 flood waste loads,  more than 26 tonnes of hazardous waste dropped off by residents following that. Which is more than Â
The entire 2021 financial year, the year before. So the scale of this operation has had a huge  impact on our carbon emissions. We’re going to keep feeling those impacts for some time to come. Secondly, as I just mentioned, and the LORD MAYOR says many times in this place, Â
We are delivering unprecedented investment in city-shaping infrastructure. We are building  more than we have ever had before because our city is growing faster than it ever has  before. But this is infrastructure which is going to drastically reduce our carbon Â
Emissions in the long term. It’s a little bit of short-term pain for long term gain. The third, of course, is cost pressures. A lot of people don’t realise but under the Federal  Government’s Climate Active methodology, a lot of emissions are calculated by dollar spend. So, Â
For example, every $1 million dollars spent on road and bridge construction is equivalent to  220 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. Even for our zero emissions, all electric Metro vehicles,  we still have to account for emission costs of 330 tonnes for every million spent on Â
Electric vehicles. So there’s a lot to be said about the methodology in this space as well. So if we are spending more because of cost pressures, even the projects that will actually in  the long run significantly reduce our emissions, then our carbon footprint increases for a little Â
While as well. So delivery of things like the Brisbane Metro, Green Bridges program, flood  recovery, have seen Council’s capital expenditure budget increase to more than $1 billion annually  over three years, from 2021 to 2023-24. Driving a significant increase in construction activity. Â
Because we are planning for the future and we are building for the future of Brisbane. Despite these  realities, this report paints a picture of a city that has unrelenting commitment to sustainability. When it comes to item K, Mr Chair. This seeks the approval to amend the City Plan to create Â
The Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct. So the State Government introduced the TLPI for  the Kurilpa Precinct on the 9 October. They brought it straight through and gazetted it  to unlock the housing supply, affordability diversity in a very well serviced and connected Â
Part of the city. The TLPI will have effect for a period of up to two years or until  the amendment is adopted in City Plan. It is now proposed to formally commence  the process to amend City Plan to include the TLPI and any supporting amendments that will Â
Result from the precinct planning process, including full community consultation. What  the actual E&C does in front of us today is the proposal to send the amendments to the  State Government to take a tailored amendment process under section 18 of the Planning Act Â
Which will facilitate a shortened timeframe and include early engagement with State agencies. It’s something that the State Government have been pushing through the South East  Queensland Regional Plan and this is our first test case. Somewhere we need to make Â
Sure we can get this amendment in. I know the Opposition are going to support this because  they’ve been talking about tailored amendment and moving it through quickly. If approved today,  this notice will be given to the Chief Executive of the Department of State Development, Â
Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning to undertake the amendment under a section 18. The Chief Executive will then outline to Council the process of amending the  Planning Scheme under a section 18 because it hasn’t been done before. So we’re going to be Â
Working side by side in the section 18. But the State Government have already done their  first interest check, they have already done consultation, they have already Gazetted it. So we need to work through our process now of making sure we can talk through Â
What the Precinct Plan will look like, go out to community consultation. Maybe at the same time  as we go through Second Interest State Review. The State comes back to us on what this process  is going to look like now. But we will confirm that with the relevant State agencies and scopes Â
Of that Interest Review over the coming months as well. I comment both item B and K to the Chamber.  Thank you, DEPUTY MAYOR. Further speakers? Councillor CASSIDY, you’ve got the call. Thanks very much, Chair. On Council’s—Clause B,  Council’s 2022-23 annual report to the Climate Active Carbon Neutral program. The DEPUTY Â
MAYOR’s just confirmed something that we have thought for a very long time. That the vast,  vast, vast majority of Council’s infrastructure spend, $3 billion is what the DEPUTY MAYOR said,  $3 billion over the last three years has been spent on those inner-city projects. On Brisbane Â
Metro and those Green Bridges, $3 billion over the last three years on these inner-city projects. What we know from one of those projects, the Metro project, is that it’s not increasing any public  transport infrastructure, except for a 200 metre tunnel. Two hundred metres of tunnel, 200 metres Â
Of tunnel under Adelaide Street here, Cultural Centre remains above ground and they run on the  existing busway and it will increase capacity on the busway by a couple of thousand seats. A couple  of thousand passengers an hour in peak hour. That’s what the $3 billion now—I’ll be generous, Â
The $2 billion on the Metro is going to deliver. So if the LNP think that once that project is  complete we’re going to see a massive reduction in carbon emissions as a result of that, I think  they’re not only trying to kid the people of Brisbane, they’re trying to kid themselves about Â
That. Because what we have seen, as the DEPUTY MAYOR has rightly pointed out, under the LNP  emissions are rising from Council’s operations, 16% this year. The solution, apparently,  as we’ve heard from the DEPUTY MAYOR, is that once these inner-city projects come online, apparently Â
Emissions are supposed to rapidly drop. What we know from the actions of this LNP Administration  is that their way of accounting for this, not just the increase in emissions we’ve seen over the last  year. But also all of the emissions they continue to refuse to remove entirely, by going slow on Â
Organic recycling and going slow on FOGO, are accounted for by buying overseas carbon credits. Overseas carbon credits, the LORD MAYOR just throws money at this problem and hopes that  it goes away. But sadly, that’s not how addressing climate change in a global context actually works. Â
We’ll take this self-assessment that this LNP Administration do with a grain of salt. Like most  other things that this LORD MAYOR and his LNP team try to pass off as genuine reports or achievements  on their progress on projects. I mean recent history tells us that after 12 weeks it won’t Â
Be worth the paper it’s written on anyway. Councillors interjecting. If you take their  budget approach, they’ll have to revise it, yes, yes. So it will be up to a new Administration to  come in and revise it. Because all the figures will, of course be wrong, Chair, if the LNP’s Â
Track record has anything to do with it. We know, it’s well known and well agreed,  I think and even if the LNP won’t admit it. They know that the only substantial, substantial thing  that a Council can do to reduce its carbon emissions is to stop dumping 100,000 tonnes of Â
Organic waste into landfill each and every year. As this LNP Administration continues to do. Yet  year after year the LNP are happy to dump that 100,000 tonnes of organic material and continue  to add to Brisbane City Council’s emissions, let alone the emissions of our residents. Who might Â
Like to do something about that by having an extra bin service each and every week. But are denied  that from this LNP Administration because they really don’t care about the future of Brisbane. They care about buying carbon credits to meet this sort of carbon neutrality on paper. But they don’t Â
Actually care what their decision will mean in the future. They just try and get through the next  week, the next month, the next election cycle. So we know the only substantial thing a council  can do, that we could electrify every vehicle in the fleet, electrify every Â
Bus in the fleet. We could put solar panels on every square centimetre of roof that we  own. That wouldn’t come close, that wouldn’t come close to the kind of impact that removing  organic waste from landfill would have. Then the only answer from the LNP and the Â
Only contribution we’ve had from the LNP Chair in charge, is to say that Councillor MARX’s  house has an InSinkErator, therefore nothing to see here. That’s the level of debate we  have around reducing our emergent emissions. Councillors interjecting. It does defy belief, Â
It’s incredible. So you can’t just buy your way out of this problem, it just doesn’t work  like that. It doesn’t actually reduce our carbon footprint at all by buying carbon credits from  overseas. If you’re relying on others to do that hard work instead of actually doing the right Â
Thing and the hard work here in Brisbane, we’re not actually making a dent in the global problem  at all. Which is having local impacts, we’ve been living through that. The February 2022 flood  disaster, what is happening to our coastlines at the moment in Brisbane. We’re seeing that. The Â
Localised flooding that happens as a result of increasing tide heights in my community. We’re seeing that all the time. But by simply buying some overseas carbon credits from markets  that have been proven to produce dodgy carbon credits. So this LNP Council uses a market that Â
Has dodgy carbon credits, has been exposed. Those in that market are supposedly having  reforestation projects, that was in fact bulldozing rainforest in Papua New Guinea. So we know, we know those issues are well documented in those markets in which Brisbane City Â
Council is engaging in. Obviously the sensible, long-term thing to do would be presenting a case  for change in the way in which Council does things in planning for the future and not switching on  FOGO overnight, like Council MARX suggests. But actually doing some work. They’ve been in power Â
For 20 years. They’ve been talking about this and I know Council officers in the Waste Team have  been talking about this for years and years and years. The need to plan for this for the future.  What do they get from the political leadership here in Council? Roadblocks. Roadblock after Â
Roadblock because of their conservative ways. So I just don’t think these reports are worth  the paper they’re written on. When you are relying on carbon credits, when we’re seeing in real terms  an increase in emissions. This Administration has absolutely no plan to reduce them. Except to say Â
That once the Metro is built and the Green Bridges are complete, they hope and cross their fingers  that it will reduce emissions. With no concrete plans going forward as to how they will achieve  that over the next five, 10, 20 years. Point of order, Chair. Just one moment, Councillor CASSIDY.Â
Point of order Councillor MURPHY. Will Councillor CASSIDY take a question? Councillor CASSIDY,  would you care to take a question? Not from him, no. No. My apologies, Councillor  MURPHY. Councillor— Anyone else, you can pass it on if you want. —just—Councillor CASSIDY, Â
There’s no need for that. You have the call. On Clause K, Chair, the amendment to City Plan 2014,  the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct. We’ve just heard from the— Point of order, Chair. Just  one moment, Councillor CASSIDY. Point of— Will Councillor CASSIDY take a question? Councillor Â
CASSIDY, will you take a question from— On Kurilpa? Yes, on Kurilpa,  absolutely, yes. —Councillor HUTTON? Oh well, considering you’ve been—the Opposition— Sorry,  just one moment. Was that a yes? Yes, I’m on— Thank you. —Item—Clause K, so on Kurilpa,  yes. Well we were— Thank you, Councillor HUTTON. Well, we were actually talking—yes. Would Â
Councillor CASSIDY tell us his plans, considering he’s been the Opposition Leader for the last four  years? On Kurilpa you’re talking about? The last five years. About what you would do in recycling  and waste. You’ve developed nothing. FOGO. That’s it? I’ll take a question, Chair. This is important Â
Because it does demonstrate to me that Councillor MURPHY and Councillor HUTTON have absolutely no  idea when it comes to the single biggest thing and the only thing that Council can do to reduce  carbon emissions on a mass scale. There are plenty of experts out there in the organic Â
Recycling industry that would be very willing to talk to you, Councillor HUTTON. I don’t know  whether you—Mike Ritchie, for example, has worked with Council, Brisbane City Council in the past.  MRA Consulting, they do a lot of work in this space. Have you spoken to him Councillor HUTTON? Â
Councillor CASSIDY, you will direct your— Councillor interjecting. Just one moment,  Councillor MURPHY. Just stop, for a second. Councillor CASSIDY, please go through the  Chair. Yes, a question to Councillor HUTTON and Councillor MURPHY. Have  they consulted with experts in the industry? Councillor interjecting. I guess they haven’t. I Â
Guess they haven’t. He laughs and he just giggles along and says FOGO’s the answer. Well, when you  remove 100,000 tonnes annually of organic material that is generating—Brisbane’s single biggest  generator of carbon emissions, then yes, that is the answer. But under this LNP Administration, Â
The giggling we have from LNP Chairs, Civic Cabinet Chairs, about organic recycling and  FOGO tells you everything you need to know, Chair. So we had this Stores Board submission we just  debated and the LNP are apparently on board. But these are the concerns I just raised, Chair. Â
Because when we start to talk about that as the solution to reducing Brisbane’s carbon emissions,  we’ve got senior Members of the LNP giggling along and making a joke of it. So there is  the difference. They have just let the cat out of the bag, Chair. If the LNP are re-elected, Â
They’re not going to go down the road of FOGO. They’re not going to be serious about—they’re  ruling it out. That’s amazing. We’ve just had the LNP now rule out organic recycling in  Brisbane if they are— Point of order, Chair. —re-elected at the next election. Just one Â
Moment, Councillor CASSIDY. Claim to be misrepresented. Noted. Councillor CASSIDY,  you’ve got the call. Thanks very much, Chair. Councillor CASSIDY, your time has expired. Point  of order, Chair. Point of order, Councillor. Move for an extension. Seconded. We have a  motion for an extension. Moved by Councillor COLLIER, seconded by Councillor WHITMEE.Â
All those in favour, say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against, say no. The ayes have it. Councillor CASSIDY,  you’ve got the call. Thanks very much, Chair. So just in summary, the LNP are against FOGO  and Labor is for it. So there’s a big difference in this election. Point of order, Mr Chair. Just Â
One moment, Councillor CASSIDY. Point of order, DEPUTY MAYOR. Claim  to be misrepresented. Noted thank you. Councillors interjecting. Councillor CASSIDY,  you’ve got the call. So on the amendment to City Plan, Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct,  Chair. The DEPUTY MAYOR has said that the reason that this is coming through and will now trigger Â
Community consultation, although that’s not included in the amendment before us today. Is  because the State Government is introducing a tailored amendment process. Which is,  as the DEPUTY MAYOR described in her opening, all about streamlining the State Interest Check  requirements. It’s not about— Point of order, Mr Chair. Just one moment, Councillor CASSIDY.Â
Point of order, DEPUTY MAYOR. Claim to be misrepresented. Noted thank you. So it’s  not about engaging in a community consultation process, the tailored amendment. What that is  about is a quicker State Interest Check process. So it’s not about the community Â
And that’s what we were led to believe from the DEPUTY MAYOR all those months ago. That  when the Planning Scheme amendment would come through, there would be a full-blown community  process. Well, that’s not included in the— Councillors interjecting. —amendment before us Â
Today. It was apparently, Chair, so urgent in June that it had to be debated in the Chamber  right there and then, of course when they brought it, the TLPI. The DEPUTY MAYOR and the LORD MAYOR,  they couldn’t stress enough at the time about how important the TLPI was for them Â
To address the housing crisis. As if that would have delivered in the last six months,  housing in the Kurilpa precinct. As if the housing crisis we are in right here and right  now would be addressed by the Kurilpa TLPI. I had my doubts that we would see an amendment Â
Come through here, a City Plan amendment before the election. So I was—when I saw the heading,  thought oh, here we go, this is the Planning Scheme amendment,  which will include the full-blown process of around planning of infrastructure. Looking about Â
What is going to go where in terms of densities, all that sort of stuff, in specific locations. The report before us talks about what the amendment seeks to do. In very simple terms,  it says it seeks to increase the supply of housing, it seeks to provide new public space Â
And it seeks to increase housing affordability. But what is the amendment that is before us today?  What is the actual amendment that we’re being asked to vote on? Because the only attachments  in here, apart from the E&C report is a map. It’s a map with boundaries. So where it says Â
In there about the increase of housing supply in specific locations and public space. The amendment  doesn’t include any of that. It is just lines on a map. So there’s no mention in that report or  in the amendment itself, which is that map, of community consultation or an engagement Â
Process. Other than through what we’ve heard from the DEPUTY MAYOR, the tailored amendment  which is around State Interest Checks. So I don’t actually understand what the big secret is, Chair.  Point of order, Mr Chair. Point of order DEPUTY MAYOR. Claim to be misrepresented. Thank you.Â
Councillor CASSIDY, you’ve got the call. Yes, thanks very much, Chair. So I don’t know what the  DEPUTY MAYOR is being so secretive about this. Given in June they were talking—the LNP were  talking such a big game and were so proud of this. But now they’re keeping all of these details so Â
Secret. I guess that is the LNP way. Point of order, Mr Chair. Point of order, DEPUTY MAYOR.  Claim to be misrepresented. Noted thank you. So I guess the LORD MAYOR and DEPUTY MAYOR obviously  take the people of Kurilpa and South Brisbane as mugs. They don’t really care, I think, about what Â
They would like to contribute to this amendment and to what their community will look like after  we see increased densities introduced there. They certainly had a Media strategy and a plan  around sort of winning the day with this and certainly around keeping developers happy. Â
Certainly around increasing the land values and returns on landholders there, there’s no dispute  about that. Increase the density on that side and that’s what the DEPUTY MAYOR said back in June.  It would be an incentive for those landholders to either develop that land or sell it to someone. I Â
Don’t think we’ve seen any of that occur in the last six months. I’m not sure, I could be wrong. Councillor interjecting. But I’m sure the DEPUTY MAYOR— DEPUTY MAYOR. I’m sure  the DEPUTY MAYOR will be able to run through a list of applications that Council has received Â
For residential developments in Kurilpa since the TLPI was introduced. But from the outset  we suspected that it was all a show and it does certainly appear that way. It appeared that when  they introduced the TLPI and it is now appearing that way when they’re introducing the so-called Â
Planning amendment, which is just a map. The LORD AYOR got caught out very badly,  Chair, on his lack of action on housing. He sat on his hands for years, I think it was four or five  years, in not producing a Housing strategy that, not only was he required to do, but it’s something Â
He should have done as well, in future-proofing Brisbane for an oncoming housing crisis that a lot  of people were warning about at the time. But when he did produce the so-called Housing strategy,  it just basically was one dot point, which was Kurilpa. They’ve tried to build on that in saying Â
They’re going to do this precinct planning. So they released another map which had a few dots.  One of them was at Carindale, one was down at Wynnum, one was at Chermside, Lutwyche,  Mount Gravatt. They put a few more dots on maps. But six months has passed since this so-called Â
LNP silver bullet to the housing crisis was introduced. But it hasn’t fired. What has changed? What has changed since the LNP introduced their TLPI? Well in fact it’s got worse,  hasn’t it? So housing supply has reduced, rents have increased exponentially, as well as the cost Â
Of housing. If you listen to the LNP back in June, they said that this TLPI was the silver  bullet to Brisbane’s housing crisis. Well it’s turned out—it’s turned out to not be the case.  But when we circle back to what the DEPUTY MAYOR said back in June. This has also come true and Â
Maybe it probably didn’t sink in a lot with LNP Councillors as it was said. But it is important  to note that the DEPUTY MAYOR said back in June that it might be years, it may even be a decade Â
Away when we start to see the kind of development that was talked about in this TLPI in the Kurilpa  precinct area. It certainly provides an uplift in the value of that land for those owners.Â
But if, if the LNP knew that any development might be five or 10 years away in this area and may even  be beyond the Olympics, Chair. This was never about addressing the housing crisis, clearly it  was never about addressing the housing crisis. If they were planning for the development to occur in Â
10 or 12 or 15 years’ time. You would—if they were upfront and honest about that at the start, they  would have progressed a Planning Scheme amendment which would have included the community at every  step of the way. But the LNP decided not to. They decided to proceed with the TLPI, Â
Their narrative was— Point of order, Mr Chair. Just one moment. Councillor CASSIDY, point of order. Claim to be misrepresented. Noted, thank you. Councillor CASSIDY, you’ve got the call. So if that was the case, if the LNP, they did Â
Know that and the DEPUTY MAYOR accidentally let that one slip out. Why not have just done the  planning properly? Why did the LNP wait? Why did they, through their actions, concoct the crisis  that we are in now after 20 years in power? It doesn’t add up does it, Chair? I mean Â
They’re either totally incompetent or it’s something worse. But either way,  they might think they were going to gain out of this. They might think they have won a  little game here with their actions. But I think they’re going to be bitterly disappointed when Â
People cast their judgement on their actions in March next year. Thank you, Councillor. DEPUTY MAYOR, your six points of misrepresentation, please. Oh yes, I have  two of the same. The first one was LNP confirm they won’t do FOGO. That is absolutely incorrect. Â
ALP are for it, LNP against it, that is absolutely incorrect. It’s all about streamlining the State  Interest Checks he said twice. That is not what I said, I said that is an opportunity. We still  have to go through an amendment process which will involve community consultation, it has to.Â
Number five. So secret, that they don’t even have the plans there. The precincts, the densities,  everything, the transport plans are fully Gazetted online, on the 9 October by the Deputy Premier.  Because the misrepresentation of number six is it is not our TLPI. The State Government took it, Â
Changed it, did it themselves and are now asking us to do the amendment. Thank you,  DEPUTY MAYOR for keeping your comments concise, I appreciate that. Further speakers on items B or K? Councillor MASSEY. Thank you, Chair. I Â
Rise to speak on items B and K. Firstly, people of Brisbane need to know that the greenwashing that  this LNP Administration has been marketing to them, and that’s what it is, it’s greenwashing.  I said it in June during the budget review. The problem with emissions offsets is that we Â
Aren’t actually reducing our carbon footprint. That’s the problem with offsets. We’re not  actually reducing the carbon footprint. At the time, we had reduced emissions by  only seven per cent from 2016. Here we have—there’s a damning, damning report  that shows not only are we not reducing them, we’re actually increasing them. A 16% increase Â
From 2021-22 to 2022-23. Meaning that this Administration sites achieving carbon neutrality,  has increased emissions by seven per cent. There are certainly plenty of excuses. The  return of pre-pandemic activity, which has been stated. Recovery response to flooding,  infrastructure investment and construction, which we all recognise is the most—one Â
Of the most significant contributions to carbon for urban cities. But the truth is,  this LNP Administration hasn’t shown leadership over the past 20 years to  reduce its emissions enough for foreseeable increases, due to construction in 2021 and 2023.Â
There seems to be a little bit of a pattern, foreseeable increases that are not actually  seen. While constructing two Green Bridges and electric buses on the Metro will contribute to  some reduction in emissions in the future. The trends of waste emissions still staying high, Â
Transportation fuel costs increasing from base levels and purchasing and goods and services are  also growing. Making it clear, making it clear the LNP target to reduce operational emissions by at  least 30% by 2031-32 is (1) probably a little too little too late and clearly won’t be met.Â
Because it is practically 2024 and so here seven to eight years away,  this Council actually needs to reduce emissions by 37%. Remembering that only earlier this year  in June that we had only reduced emissions by seven per cent in seven to eight years.Â
Then, of course we turn to the offsets, the 95% offsets that are used by Brisbane Council but,  is it Verra? Whose CEO stepped down in May this year after repeatedly being accused of  approving worthless offsets that could harm climate commitments. Is that them? Yes by the Â
Ones that multiple media outlets have claimed that are literally doing worthless offsets. Of course this is the same company that most recently was a topic of a New Yorker  long read. With the title of The Great Cash for Carbon Hustle. Offset has been hailed as Â
A fix for runaway emissions and climate change. But the market’s largest firm  sold millions of credits for carbon reductions that weren’t real. Like that was the company,  they immediately after that exposé did an investigation because they knew it was happening. Just as recently as four days ago, the same company actually publicly said, Â
We’ll vow to clean up forest carbon credits. This is four days ago. This is the company that the  LNP Administration for Brisbane City Council uses. Dodgy, dodgy. Brisbane needs authentic leadership  that will push forward with decarbonisation of the electricity grid. Optimising energy Â
Efficiency in buildings. Offering residents low carbon transport options and, of course,  improving how we manage waste. The climate crisis is upon us and Brisbane will experience extreme  weather events more frequently and more severely. The LNP Council and the LORD MAYOR market a clean, Â
Green and sustainable Council fantasy, while increasing emissions and buying dodgy offsets  from a dodgy company. But, luckily, the Brisbane—the people of Brisbane are waking  up to this. What they want is true action on the climate emergency and there are members of people Â
Across each and every one of our communities across Council. They want no more greenwashing,  they want true action on the climate emergency. In relation to item K, which is the amendment to  the Brisbane City Plan 2014, Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct. For those sitting at home, this Â
Amendment is the formal process, as the DEPUTY MAYOR stated, for the Planning Scheme changes  concerning the State Government mandated and edited, from pretty much homework done for the LNP  Council. There was only one significant change. The changes to Planning Schemes are supposed Â
To take longer. But, as we can see, this document continues to refer to an accelerated,  tailored Planning Scheme amendment process. I appreciate that the DEPUTY MAYOR mentioned that  no one’s sure what this process is. I think that’s you know probably a glaring problem right here.Â
You know I’ve talked about the TLPI a lot, obviously. The lack of infrastructure  investment for the hyper density, the lack of mandated housing affordability within the TLPI.  We know no one currently sleeping rough in parks across Brisbane will be able to afford a single Â
One of these developments. Certainly not today and since they’re probably not going to be built any  time soon, what we’ll see is the worsening, of course, the rental and housing crisis. Most recently I’ve talked about how this is a furphy. How even the developers aren’t interested Â
In building limitlessly, even after all the tax cuts they’ve received. Most importantly  I’ve talked through about the undemocratic overreach that this mandated policy with  blunt tools, without any meaningful community consultation, input or feedback, delivers. This is a crucial point because it is terrifying. Because we do not know what this amendment process Â
Will deliver. We do not know the timeframe. We do not even know if the Local Government will  consider the submissions that are delivered through the amendment process. Everything is  unclear. However, what is clear is the LNP Council are continuing to push this TLPI. Even though they Â
State very clearly and I acknowledge, that it is the ALP State Government that has mandated it. The scary thing, the dangerous thing, is the process is unknown. That process keeps  constituents in the dark. It keeps us, even here, the Councillors, in the dark. That is a dangerous, Â
Dangerous, dangerous precedent for the city. Especially when you do have all those,  as Councillor—through you, Chair, as Councillor CASSIDY said. All those inner-city suburbs that  were tagged for precinct planning. All those outer city suburbs, Toowong, Indooroopilly,  Mount Gravatt, Chermside onwards, that are tagged for this sort of hyper development.Â
Will communities ever have a say? Will communities ever have meaningful say at all? Here we are  months, months later, after the TLPI, which was am emergency measure that this LNP Council used. We  still certainly don’t have anything built in that area and won’t have any time soon. We still don’t Â
Know the process of community consultation. What we see here is a lack of accountability,  a lack of transparency and again, an override of the democratic process. I’m not just talking about  the LNP Council, I’m also talking about the ALP State Council. Undeniably going over and above to Â
Make sure that there is no democratic process. Not only with the TLPI but also with the Woolloongabba  PDA. That’s why I’ll be voting both of these motions down. Thank you, Councillor MASSEY. Further speakers on items B or K? LORD MAYOR. Yes, thank you, Â
I’d like to speak on both items. Firstly, in item K, the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct. It’s  interesting that the Greens’ Councillor has thrown around the word dodgy a few times and let’s talk  about that. Because I think it’s particularly dodgy when you claim, and your party claims, Â
To support more housing. But at every single opportunity you oppose more housing. It is dodgy to say you care about the environment when you oppose going up rather than going out.  It is dodgy to say— Point of order, Chair. Point of order, Councillor MASSEY. Misrepresentation.  Noted, thank you. LORD MAYOR, you’ve got Â
The call. It is dodgy to say that you care about sustainability and climate change when you support  densification of the inner city—when you don’t support densification of the inner city. Because  you are being dodgy and dishonest if you oppose urban consolidation. Because the alternative Â
Is urban sprawl. The alternative is locking people into car-dependent communities. This is  how fundamentally dodgy and dishonest the Greens are. Because they can fundamentally be for more  housing and against more housing at the same time and not have a problem going to sleep at night.Â
They can fundamentally propose measures that will make housing affordability worse and drive up the  cost of new housing and somehow have no problem going to sleep at night. When they can make dodgy  claims about supporting renters, when all of their policies drive up costs for renters. That is dodgy Â
Policy, it is lazy policy it is dishonest policy. The Greens Labor Coalition of chaos and their  approach on Kurilpa is the ultimate evidence of dodgy policy, of dishonesty policy and of  an approach that will actually do the opposite to everything they claim to believe in. It Â
Will create a less sustainable Brisbane, their approach. It will create a more car-dependent  Brisbane, their approach. It will create the destruction of more green space, their approach.  It will create homes in places that people have to drive a long distance to get to anywhere.Â
Yet when you make the simple proposal of effectively expanding the CBD across the  Brisbane River, to allow more homes to be built and not expanding the CBD for business  purposes but for the purposes of building new homes, they oppose it. That’s dodgy, Â
That’s dishonest. Yet you also have Labor Councillors who seem to have this divergent  policy to their own Labor State colleagues. That’s dodgy and dishonest as well. The Deputy Premier,  the State Government, implemented the Kurilpa TLPI. We proposed it, they took it, Â
They said thanks very much, we’ll implement it. Yet Labor Councillors here can’t even accept  that their own State Government has done the sensible thing. Because they are so wed to  being part of the Labor Green—well the Green Labor Coalition of chaos. They are so keen to Â
Jump in bed with the Greens that they will even do the extraordinary thing about going  against their own State Government. This is the first time I’ve ever seen them do that.  That’s how eager they are to jump into bed with the dangerous and destructive Greens.Â
It’s extraordinary. So while we continue to bring through plans that will deliver more housing,  while we continue to put forward initiatives that will bring down the cost of building housing.  Everything, the Green Labor Coalition of chaos does is driving up costs, will drive up costs, Â
Will make housing less affordable, they will make housing less affordable. They will punish renters,  they will cause investors to flee the market and they will make the situation so much worse. It is  diabolical, these dangerous and dodgy policies offered by the Green Labor Coalition of chaos.Â
Now, let’s talk about the Climate Active report. This is one of those things where it’s—you read  the report and you’re like well, I’m sure the Greens and Labor will not be able to resist having Â
A crack. Because we own their space, the space that they claim to own, we own it and we’ve owned  it for two decades almost. We proudly have led the way and they do silly, virtue signalling things  like oh, let’s declare a climate emergency. They actually don’t have any real policies, they don’t Â
Have any record. They don’t actually do anything. When they’re given the chance up in George Street,  is the Queensland Government carbon neutral? Is even one single department carbon neutral? Councillors interjecting. No, not a single department. Councillor interjecting. Councillor ADERMANN. They have the temerity to Â
Question the assessment that is done by Climate Active, a Federal Government agency. Look,  I can imagine that they would criticise that when it was an LNP Federal Government. But,  guess what? Chris Bowen is running the show. He’s doubled down on it, this is his program now. We Â
Are certified by the Labor Federal Government as carbon neutral. Yet, they’ll try and question it.  They’ll try and throw shade on that assessment. They’ll be like oh, this is greenwashing. Well, okay if the Labor Federal Government’s stamp of approval is not good enough, Â
How about the UN? Is that good enough? Councillors interjecting. No, no,  apparently that’s not good enough either. What about if Elon Musk— Councillor— —signed off on it? Councillors interjecting. Councillors, just one moment— Well I don’t know what  would keep you happy. Just one moment, LORD MAYOR. Councillor MURPHY, Councillor MASSEY.Â
LORD MAYOR. So, look, they can question the Federal Government agency that gives us our  carbon neutrality. They can question the UN. But what we really know is they’re just jealous. They  are just jealous. They are just green with envy. It is sad. Because you would think that they would Â
Be supportive of us leading the way when it comes to our climate adaptation, our sustainability  agenda. Guess what? This year, this year, on our balance sheet is included three projects which  have temporarily increased our emissions. What three projects are they? Building a Metro and Â
Building two active travel bridges. Actually it’s four projects. It’s the flood recovery as well. So flood recovery, it is what it is. We had—all of the effort to do that recovery and clean-up  process generated a significant amount of emissions and a significant amount went into Â
Landfill as well. If they want to try an blame us for that, good luck. That’s a natural disaster,  that was certainly beyond our control and we stepped up to respond on behalf of the community.  But the other three projects are projects which will help the community decarbonise.Â
It’s an investment now that will allow people to travel more sustainably and reduce their  carbon emissions, all three of those projects. So whether it’s catching public transport on  the turn up and go Brisbane Metro. Whether it is walking, cycling or scooting across one of Â
Our new Green Bridges. These are things that are genuine sustainability projects. Yes, they involve a bit of concrete and steel. Yes, in building them,  there are some emissions that have being generated, significant emissions in building  them. But the emissions in building them allow us to help reduce our ongoing emissions, not only as Â
A Council but as a community, going forward. Yet all these people can do is criticise and  attack. It is sad, it is sad from people that I would expect would genuinely care about the  environment and climate change. Their approach, Mr Chair, is just plain dodgy. Thank you, Â
LORD MAYOR. Point of order, Mr Chair. Just one moment, please, just one moment. There’s Councillor MASSEY’s misrepresentation. Thanks, Chair. As I have said multiple times,  I support high density as within the City Plan, multiple times. Thank you. Point Â
Of order. Point of order, DEPUTY MAYOR. Can I have item B and K taken seriatim for voting, please?  Yes, we can do that. Thank you. Point of order, Chair. Point of order, Councillor JENKINSON. Mr  Chair, I move that the Council now adjourn for dinner for one hour. Which commences only when all Â
Councillors have vacated the Chamber and the doors have been locked. Seconded. We have a motion for  an adjournment for dinner. Moved by Councillor JENKINSON and seconded by Councillor WOLFF. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. The ayes have it. Thank you. Okay, Councillors, thank you.Â
Further speakers and I believe, Councillor JOHNSTON, you had risen to your feet just  before we went off for dinner. You’ve got the call. Sorry. No, you’re all right, take your  time. It’s just showing 1.58, I’ll just reset, thank you. Thank you, Mr Chair, I rise to speak Â
On items B and K. It was interesting that the LORD MAYOR popped in for a few minutes to talk about  these items before us today, because he’s been missing in action from this Council Chamber for Â
Most of the year and certainly most of today. But I have to say it was one of the more entertaining  displays that we’ve had for some time. Councillor interjecting. Yes, thank  you, Councillor GRIFFITHS. Councillor GRIFFITHS, can you not interrupt Councillor JOHNSTON please. Â
Councillor GRIFFITHS is not interrupting me at all. I appreciate those words of support that  he is providing. Sorry, Councillor JOHNSTON, I just thought he might be throwing you off your  track. No, no, as you know, Councillor TOOMEY, I’m pretty good on my feet, so we’ll keep going, Â
Please. But the LORD MAYOR of course trotted out a few trite lines and I just would like to— Councillor interjecting. He wrote them down. Councillor GRIFFITHS. Or perhaps someone wrote  it for him. He trotted out a few trite lines and I just wanted to talk about those issues Â
In relation to the two items before us. Firstly, Councillor ADAMS and the LORD MAYOR appear to be  in denial about their responsibility for running the city. One is the DEPUTY MAYOR and one is the  LORD MAYOR. They are the statutory officeholders and in fact the DEPUTY MAYOR often acts as the Â
LORD MAYOR as well. They are the statutory officeholders who make decisions for the city. Now Councillor ADAMS of course denies she has any responsibility for anything, but then she  says everything that happens in the 5K ring of the inner-city is definitely her responsibility. We Â
Know that Councillor ADAMS and the LORD MAYOR are very proud of their plan for the Kurilpa  peninsula. Tonight of course though they said it’s not their fault, the State Government made  them do it. Now I know the Labor Party will not be happy with what I’m going to say either here, Â
But the only coalition of chaos and—what’s the other word? Chaos and—I don’t know, the only— Councillors interjecting. The only coalition of chaos that’s going on when it comes to Kurilpa  are the LNP Council Administration and the ALP State Labor Government. They have sold residents Â
In the inner-south literally up the river, because they have sold residents who live into  the Kurilpa point into years of future misery and harm. This is an area that is flood prone,  it should not be built on and people should not be put in harm’s way. It is appalling that the Â
LNP Administration have openly supported high-rise in a known flooding precinct. Now I represent a  ward that floods and I know that we are trying to buy back houses in areas that flood, but instead  the LNP Administration, in cahoots with the Palaszczuk State Government up at George Street, Â
Are selling residents in the Kurilpa peninsula up the river, peninsula, sorry, up the river. The only dodgy and dishonest behaviour that is actually going on is that from the LORD MAYOR  and the DEPUTY MAYOR, Councillor ADAMS, because they say it’s not their fault that the Palaszczuk Â
Government made them do it. Well they brought forward the TLPI, they have supported 90 storeys,  they are giving the developers a rails run. They were out there consulting with the developers  prior to the community even knowing about this. We know all this because they’ve told Â
Us and they come in here today and the LORD MAYOR particularly comes in here today and says oh, no,  the State Government made me do it, that it’s diabolical what the State Government is doing. Here’s another quote, the State Government have done the sensible thing, that’s what the LORD Â
MAYOR actually did say in here earlier. They’ve done the sensible thing by upscaling development  in a flood prone area of Brisbane. I don’t think that’s a good idea. I do not support the TLPI. It  is a blunt instrument that is going to do harm to a community, that does not allow planning to Â
Happen in a sensible and a consultative way with the local community. When I started 15 years ago,  this Council was going to go street by street to consult with residents to develop neighbourhood  plans. Then Campbell Newman came along and didn’t do what he said he was going to do. Â
Then Graham Quirk came along and delivered the most diabolical piece of planning going,  which is City Plan 2014, which I didn’t vote for. Now this Administration has ceded all power to  Council officers and allows developments to happen in areas that should not be happening. Oh, and Â
A Better Suburbs Board that gives them direction behind the scene on what to do. So the only people  who are dodgy, lazy and dishonest are the LNP Administration, who have brought in 90 storeys  in a known flood prone area. This is bad planning, this is bad policy and I absolutely do not support Â
It. I say to the people of Kurilpa fight hard at your next election. Send the LORD MAYOR a message  that bad planning should not be part of our city’s planning scheme, nor is accelerated—quote—tailored  planning a good idea. That just means that you’re going to be ignored in the process, Â
Whereby the State Labor Government and the LNP Council, who like to criticise each other but  are special mates when it comes to planning, will do you over, because that’s what it means. Now the other item before us today is item B. Now we’ve had this discussion previously and it is of Â
Course astonishing to me that the LNP is still standing up and trying to defend what is clearly  an appalling sustainability strategy. This LNP Administration buys 90% of its offsets from a  disgraced company called Verra, disgraced. There have been multiple investigations, Â
The CEO has stood down and yet this Council is proud of funding dodgy carbon credits  for rainforests and other projects that don’t actually deliver any offsets, any real offsets  or any environmental benefits. That is this Administration’s track record that you heard Â
The LORD MAYOR in here saying he’s so proud of and how did he do it? In the same way he just did  it with the other dodgy issue on the agenda we’re debating, which is oh, the ALP Federal Government Â
Said it was okay, therefore it must be okay. You know the LNP are in real trouble with  their debates when they stand up and they say the ALP have told me we’re doing a good job,  so we know we’re doing a good job. That was the LORD MAYOR’s debate here this evening, Â
Chris Bowen says I’m doing a good job. Does anybody think that’s the case? I don’t think so,  I’m pretty sure Chris Bowen would have no idea who Adrian Schrinner is, but that’s a whole different  issue. What we’ve got is an LNP Administration who have seen emissions rise by 16%, not the decrease Â
That they are working towards but they have risen. Again we’ve heard the DEPUTY MAYOR and the LORD  MAYOR and others stand up and say it’s not our fault, we’re building a bus project and the bus  project is short-term pain, long-term gain. Well I’m just wondering where’s the power Â
For the buses going to come from. Would it be, for example, from the electricity grid,  which is largely funded by coal-fired power stations? Which State Labor Government  might be trying to reduce that that they’re critical of all the time? This Administration Â
Is saying that the uptick in emissions at the moment is really only a short-term problem,  but longer term we’re creating zero emissions. That’s because they’re going to buy dodgy offsets  to offset their carbon use of the coal-fired power station that runs the buses. That’s what Â
This LNP Administration’s going to do. Or that runs the lights, or the telemetry or whatever  it might be on the bridges that they’re going to set up. That’s this Administration’s record. They’re not thinking about true sustainability, reducing emissions, looking at renewable power, Â
They’re not looking at any of that. Instead, they are wedded into this idea that there are—a  brokerage company called Verra will just buy 95% of our emissions from there. We won’t even try and  reduce emissions any—sorry, our carbon offsets from there. We won’t even try and reduce our Â
Emissions anymore, they’re just going up, we’ll just blame others for them going up. Meanwhile,  this Administration don’t think about sustainability as part of their projects. The  greenwashing by the LNP Administration has reached critical mass. When you stand up and say that Â
Our increase in emissions is going to decrease longer term and then still rely on coal-fired  power to run your new networks, then you’ve got a problem. When you rely on Verra, a disgraced,  disgraced carbon offset company to say that you’re meeting your obligations, you have lost the plot. Â
Councillor JOHNSTON, your time has expired. Further speakers? Councillor COLLIER. Thank you, Chair. Well just on Clause K today, so here we are again looking  at Council’s grand master plan for the future of Kurilpa, but all it is is a couple of lines Â
On a map. It is completely astounding that this Council refuses to listen to residents,  nor do the real work to forward plan for the future. Today Council could be bringing the  community on the journey for the next big ideas, but instead all they bring is some pictures, Â
Some excuses and no great detail. They didn’t do their homework and it is worrying that this is  the way that the LNP think that they can do things. It is no wonder that this LNP  Council—everything that this LNP Council touches blows out by millions and billions of dollars, Â
Because clearly they’re asleep at the wheel with no plan or vision for the future. Instead, what we get from the LNP are kneejerk reactions, after the LNP finally realised that  they actually have to do something about housing supply in this city. They should Â
Have known the need to plan for growth years and years ago. This LNP Council definitely shouldn’t  have behind closed doors cooked up a process that the community clearly doesn’t want. It  deeply concerns me that this is all this Council has got. The best rhetoric that this LNP Council Â
Has is this is solving all the housing woes of the city. But between now and April next year,  there will actually be no opportunity to look beyond Kurilpa and talk to communities  about what is going to happen in five years, or 10 years or 15 years time.Â
So when we’re talking about precinct plans—and the DEPUTY MAYOR mentioned earlier the precedent  is set by what we are doing here in Kurilpa. For example, the Colmslie precinct master plan  has been pushed off into the never-never and not one person including the Planning Chair of this Â
Council can actually tell me or my community when it is really going to come. The DEPUTY MAYOR said  earlier there is community consultation apparently in these precinct plans. Well  community consultation for the Colmslie draft precinct plan was two sessions on a weekday, Â
With no notice, in a place with no public transport. That is community consultation  apparently, according to this LNP Council. It’s completely tired, it’s completely out  of touch with what communities want. Like Kurilpa, will there be 90 storeys for Morningside? This is Â
The precedent set for planning in the city by this LNP Council. Through the Kurilpa  experience it is clear that the LNP Council are completely locked in to a developer-led approach  that absconds themselves of any involvement with a community. On the other hand, a Labor council led Â
By Tracey Price would put the community at the heart of decision-making. After 20 long years,  this LNP Council have stuffed up planning in this city, they’re asleep at the wheel and  their only plan for Brisbane is cuts and more cost blowouts. Councillors, further speakers?Â
Councillor MURPHY. Thank you, Chair. Just on B and K, I have to follow on from Councillor COLLIER,  who said we should have known that there was going to be a need for housing in this city.  I agree with you, Councillor COLLIER, which is why over the last 15 years we brought so many Â
Neighbourhood plans through this Chamber and do you know what Labor’s voting record was on  those neighbourhood plans which provided supply of housing into our city? They voted against 80%  of them. Not only did they vote— Councillors interjecting. Just  one moment, Councillor MURPHY. Councillor COLLIER and Councillor CASSIDY, Â
Enough. One more, you’ll get a serious warning. Councillor MURPHY, you’ve got the call. Thank you,  Chair. They voted against 80% of neighbourhood plans, which have delivered the latent supply  that the city has, that the city has used in order to provide extra housing. But that wasn’t enough, Â
Not only did they oppose those neighbourhood plans when they came through the Chamber, they  opposed them in the communities out there in the suburbs. They spent years building up resentment  and creating grief and mayhem when it comes to providing housing in this city. Councillor COLLIER Â
May not have done a lot of that admittedly, but her predecessor certainly did and her predecessor  certainly did and Councillor CASSIDY has done it. He voted against his own neighbourhood plan in his  own area, he wouldn’t have even a modest increase in density in his own area and his predecessor did Â
And Councillor GRIFFITHS has for every single neighbourhood plan in his area. Councillor  STRUNK, I don’t know, hard to say, he’s one of the better Councillors on their side. Councillor  WHITMEE, I will say this about, Councillor WHITMEE has not had a neighbourhood plan yet, Â
But Councillor CUMMING was the only— Point of order. Just one moment, Councillor MURPHY. Councillor JOHNSTON— Relevance. —your point of order? Yes, relevance. This  is about the Kurilpa plan. We’re talking about neighbourhood plans. Just one moment,  Councillor MURPHY. I realise that. Councillors interjecting. No,  no. Councillor COLLIER brought Colmslie neighbourhood plan into the debate.Â
Councillor MURPHY— Councillors interjecting. No, Councillor COLLIER. Councillor MURPHY, you’ve got the call. Councillors interjecting. Thank you, Chair,  and I was about to— Just one moment, Councillor MURPHY. Point of order then. Just hang on,  Councillor JOHNSTON. I’ll get to you in a minute. Councillor COLLIER, I consider that you are Â
Displaying unsuitable meeting conduct and in accordance with section 21(4) of the Meetings  Local Law, I hereby request that you refrain from calling out across the Chamber. Point of order,  Chair. Just one moment please. Councillor JOHNSTON had a point of order before you.Â
Councillor JOHNSTON. Yes, so you’re just ruling that that was not—that Councillor MURPHY’s being  relevant? That’s your ruling, is it? Because you didn’t make a ruling on what I said. You  just said something about Colmslie. I don’t uphold your point of order. Sit down. No, no— Councillor Â
COLLIER. —Councillor— Just one—Councillor. I’m sorry, waving your hand at me is not appropriate,  number 1. But number 2, I made a relevant point about relevance and you ignored it. Councillor  MURPHY is taking about every neighbourhood plan by every other person, which is not relevant to the Â
Kurilpa plan, so I’d like a ruling on my point of order. No, Councillor JOHNSTON, Councillor  JOHNSTON, I don’t uphold your point of order. Councillor COLLIER. So— Don’t, Councillor  JOHNSTON. Point of order. Just one moment. I’ve already ruled— I move dissent in your ruling. Â
Seconded. Right, finally we get something done right. There’s a ruling of dissent in my order,  moved by Councillor JOHNSTON and seconded by Councillor MASSEY. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. Councillors say no. Thank you, the noes have it. No seconder. Now, Â
Where was I? Just one moment, Councillors. Councillors interjecting. Just one moment, please. Councillor COLLIER, can you just resume your seat for a second. I will get to you, I do apologise. Councillor JOHNSTON, as you continue to fail to comply with my request to take remedial action for Â
Your unsuitable meeting conduct, in accordance with section 21(8) of the Meetings Local Law,  I hereby make an order reprimanding you for your conduct. Your conduct and this reprimand will be  noted in the minutes of this meeting. Councillor COLLIER, your point of  order. Chair, just on what you— Councillors interjecting. Councillor Â
JOHNSTON, do not go there. Sorry, Councillor COLLIER. Earlier  you said that I spoke of neighbourhood plans and that’s not the case; I spoke of precinct plans,  which are different. Thank you, thank you. So sorry, you said that, so would you care to Â
Correct that? Because I didn’t say neighbourhood plan. No, I don’t uphold your point of order. Councillor MURPHY, you’ve got the call. Thank you, Chair, and I might add, Chair,  that you’re tougher on me in this Chamber than almost any other Councillor and I think everyone Â
Here knows that. I think everyone can see that, Chair. Councillor MURPHY, I will give you a  warning. Sure, Chair, and look, I’ll get back on to the topic. We’re talking about Kurilpa,  but I think it’s really important, because we’re about to have a voting record on this next, Â
You know, this next planning effort, this next plan. I think it’s important to reflect on the  other neighbourhood plans, the many of which that have come before this Chamber and their voting  record on it. I know why they’re interjecting and I know why they’re point of ordering me, Chair, Â
Because their voting record is shameful. Point of order, Chair. Just one moment, Councillor MURPHY. Councillor— I’d just like a question. This isn’t—the TLPI is not a neighbourhood plan;  it’s a temporary local planning instrument. I called it a planning instrument. Just one moment,  Councillor MURPHY. I’d just like a decision about the fact that Â
Neighbourhood plans are being brought up. I’ll take it as a point of order,  even though Councillor MASSEY didn’t say it. It’s okay, it’s all right, it’s Christmas, right? I don’t uphold your point of order. Councillor MURPHY,  please continue. Thank you, Chair, and look— Councillors interjecting. Point of order. —this Â
Is a planning instrument. Point of order. The TLPI is a planning instrument. Point of order.  Councillor JOHNSTON. Mr Chair, you are required under the Brisbane City Act and under the Meetings  Local Law to make a ruling on a point of order. Councillor MASSEY has raised a point of order Â
About relevance and you ignored her. Councillor JOHNSTON, I don’t uphold your point of order. Will  you please make a ruling, as you are required to do. Councillor JOHNSTON, I made the ruling,  you clearly were not listening. I don’t uphold your point of order.Â
Councillor MURPHY, you’ve got the call. Okay, we’re going to talk about planning instruments,  Chair. We had the South Brisbane neighbourhood plan, we sent that off to the state. We didn’t  hear back from them for seven years and we tried to increase density in that area, Â
So that’s why we have a temporary local planning instrument, one that’s supported by the State  Government. But again, I understand why they’re angry, I understand why they’re  trying to shut me down and silence me, Chair, because all of a sudden they’ve realised about Â
18 months ago there’s a housing crisis. People are finding it very precarious out  there at the moment and their voting record is abhorrent on housing. They have voted against  so much housing in the last eight years in this place that their record is 80% against Â
Neighbourhood plans that have created housing in our city. If that was my record and then  I stood up and tried to tell people oh, we’re for housing, we support people in more housing,  I’d be humiliated and embarrassed as well. I’d feel that I needed to be extremely aggressive Â
To the Administration in order to counter that and that’s what you see is happening right now. That’s  why they’re so upset, it’s why they’re so angry. Now let’s talk about the climate active carbon  neutral policy. Now, I wonder, Chair, where they would like us to buy our carbon credits, Â
Because we know we can be a lot less effective in terms of reducing our carbon emissions if we buy  them solely in Australia. We have a mix of what we do, but we know that we can in fact have a Â
Much greater carbon impact in projects outside this country. That’s the reality, that’s the  reality that every organisation, every government in the world is in. But if the Labor Party have a  different policy, then it’s incumbent on them to tell the people of Brisbane what that policy is.Â
Of course they haven’t, they’ve talked about FOGO as if FOGO is the solution to everything.  We know waste makes up 28% of the city’s total emissions, so what are they doing about the  remaining 60%? What’s their plan for transport? What’s their plan for construction? It’s nothing, Â
It’s crickets. Listen, Chair, you can hear the plan, can you hear it? It’s nothing from them.  They’ve had five years to develop a policy on carbon neutrality and they’ve done nothing.  They say FOGO as if that’s it. That’s one part of it and that’s just one part of the many Â
Things that this Council is doing. What about Visy? Sold to the state, sold to the state. I  mean come on, there are so many things, Chair. Councillor MASSEY said emissions have increased  by seven per cent and that’s true. Well let me ask you a question, through you, Chair, Â
To Councillor MASSEY, what does she think about the State Government’s energy and jobs plan? A $62  billion infrastructure and green energy plan to transition our state away from coal-fired energy  towards renewables. Do you think we can do that without building anything? Or do you think we Â
Have to build a hell of a lot of transmission infrastructure, generation infrastructure? Do  you think we have to build a lot of storage? Yes, yes, we do, so emissions in this state  will go up as we build the infrastructure to allow us to decarbonise the economy. Unless Â
Councillor MASSEY, through you, Chair, you believe all that’s bad and all that’s wrong,  then you should say so. Or is it just because we’re Liberals that are doing it  you don’t like it and you would do it better? Because yes, our emissions have increased by Â
Seven per cent, can I tell you, for us to decrease our emissions by 38%, as you said we’d have to  return the city to like the pre-industrial age. Councillor interjecting. Councillor MASSEY. We’d  have to ask people to get horses and— Councillor interjecting. Yes, Â
She said—I’ll take the interjection from Councillor MASSEY, she said that’s right. Councillor interjecting. She said that’s right. That’s what the Greens want, Chair.  Point of order. Just one moment, Councillor— That’s what the Greens want. Councillor MURPHY. Councillor MASSEY, your point of order. Point of order, that was not Â
My like—misrepresentation. Thank you. Councillor MURPHY. Okay, Chair,  well I will take Councillor MASSEY at her word that she didn’t say that. But understand that to  reduce the city’s emissions by 40% next year, that is stopping everything and that includes Â
Building housing in our city. The impacts of the things that you want, Councillor MASSEY— Councillor interjecting. Councillor MASSEY. Yes, look, it’s hard, it’s hard being in government.  You can’t just glue yourself to roads and expect to change policies. You have to actually make Â
Difficult decisions and we’ve made many of them— Councillor interjecting. —and that  includes— Councillor MASSEY. Just one moment,  just one moment, Councillor MURPHY. Councillor interjecting. Yes, Councillor MASSEY,  you are next, you are next. Councillor MASSEY, I consider that you are displaying unsuitable Â
Meeting conduct and in accordance with section 21(4) of the Meetings Local Law 2001, I hereby  request that you stop calling out across the Chamber. I believe that’s your first,  Councillor MASSEY, please don’t make it a second. Councillor MURPHY, you’ve got the call. Chair, Â
I must be the most interjected on Councillor here tonight and I don’t understand why,  because all I’m spitting are the facts. All I’m telling is the truth when it comes to their  policy record in this place on housing, on the environment, on decarbonisation, on transport. Â
This stuff is all true, it’s all true, it all happened. I’ve been here for now 11 years, a long  time and not as long as Councillor GRIFFITHS but a pretty long time, Chair. Over that time you get Â
To see the policy flavour come through, rises to the top and we’re not seeing honest policy  from Labor or the Greens when it comes to housing particularly, or the environment, two issues which  are being debated here tonight in these items. I just wanted to highlight for the Chamber some of Â
Their voting record on these things and I think I’ve been successful in doing that. Thank you,  Chair. Thank you, Councillor MURPHY. Are there any further speakers? Sorry, Councillor MASSEY, my apologies, your misrepresentation. Yes, I think Councillor MURPHY Â
Suggested my intersection was after one year that we’d have to reduce emissions by 40% and that I  said—and that he would have to go—we’d have to go back to wind it all the way back. I said I didn’t Â
Agree, I actually disagreed, because no one is expecting emissions to go down by 40% in one year.  Thank you, thank you, Councillor MASSEY. Are there any further speakers? Councillor DAVIS. Thank you, Mr Chair. I rise to speak on item B, which is Council’s annual report Â
To the Australian Government’s Climate Active program. Mr Chair, we bring this report through  every year and as part of that we publish information on Brisbane’s carbon emissions,  our emissions reduction progress and of course the offsets that we purchase to negate our remaining Â
Emissions. Every year those opposite ride into the Chamber on their very high horse and repeat the  same baseless assertions about carbon offsetting and reducing Council’s emissions. Mr Chair,  it must be very hard to read the report from that high horse, because it actually Â
Contains all the information in there to show very clearly that those opposite have  absolutely no idea what they’re talking about. Everybody out there in the real world, whether  it’s business or other levels of government and even other councils, know that carbon offsetting Â
Is the responsible, practical thing to do. It’s a very legitimate way to help contribute to  lowering global emissions and this is because we need to build roads, bridges, tunnels and  run buses and ferries. This means unavoidable emissions which we offset and those have been Â
Spoken about by other people contributing to this debate. Purchasing reputable, accredited  carbon offsets is recognised by the United Nations, the State Labor Government, the Federal  Labor Government and other local governments, including those run by Labor councils, as the  only practical solution to unavoidable emissions. The State Government’s climate action for councils Â
Policy even goes so far as to say buy offsets to reduce your council’s carbon emissions, so we do,  Mr Chair, and we’re very proud of the way that we do it. We have an incredibly stringent integrity  criteria that we apply to carbon abatement projects that we invest in and it’s contained in a Â
Corporate policy document which I’ve spoken about before, but for the benefit of those opposite they  might like to read it. It’s available at any time and that’s CS6 carbon offset purchasing  policy. All of our offsets are registered with a recognised global standard and accredited by Â
The Federal Government’s Climate Active program. We publish an annual public disclosure statement  through Climate Active, with details of all offsets that we purchase each year and where  they are from. These offsets are purchased through an independent broker and are annually audited and Â
Assessed by Climate Active. We don’t invest in the kind of international offsets we have seen  reported in the media for exactly that reason. Instead, the projects that we do invest in are  vetted for the highest integrity, as well as social and economic co-benefits and they’re all Â
Detailed in that report. When we do buy overseas offsets, we invest in projects like solar farms,  landfill gas capture, wind farms and waste water treatment and biogas utilisation projects. These projects have measurable scientific impacts on carbon reduction or avoidance, as well as the Â
Benefit of providing clean energy and drinkable water in the developing world. I don’t think  anyone would suggest that providing energy and clean water in the developing world would not be  a noble pursuit. We also apply these standards to domestic projects that we invest in and in 2022-23 Â
We supported two projects in Western Queensland to regenerate degraded habitat into a thriving native  forest. An innovative cattle management project which embraces sustainable regeneration of the  land and savanna burning at the Piccaninny Plains wildlife sanctuary in Cape York.Â
As well as delivering carbon capture outcomes and improving the health of the land, these projects  will also support employment in remote First Nations communities. As I said, Mr Chair, we are  very proud of this work and also on the emissions reduction work we’re proactively undertaking under Â
Our emissions reduction strategy. We actually receive great feedback from Climate Active  themselves that Brisbane is a national leader in this space. Our reporting is comprehensive  and includes a lot of scope 3 emissions that other councils don’t even bother with.Â
But we do, because we committed to integrity and transparency and we just don’t talk the talk;  we walk the walk. In 2022-23 we permanently removed over 44,000  tonnes of emissions from Council’s carbon footprint through the installation of solar,  upgrading energy systems to be more efficient and using recycled materials in our road resurfacing. Â
This asphalt is actually recycled right here in Brisbane at the Pine Mountain quarry site. All  of this is without counting the obvious carbon abatement benefits of the tens of thousands of  trees we plant and hundreds of hectares of natural environment we restore every single Â
Year. Even at our Rochedale landfill we found a way to take harmful fugitive gas emissions and  turned it into renewable power for 17,000 homes and Councillor MARX spoke about that earlier. In 2022-23 our carbon footprint did increase slightly and that is directly linked to our Â
Unprecedented investment in infrastructure, as well as feeling the effects of flood recovery.  As you know, Mr Chair, this was a huge job and our first priority was to clear waste,  repair damaged assets and make the city safe again. Naturally that meant we saw a spike in Â
Carbon emissions and of course we’re continuing to deliver construction across the city. Building  things produces emissions, it’s as simple as that. The more that you build and the bigger you build,  the more emissions that you produce. This is unfortunately unavoidable, which is why we offset Â
And look to reduce our emissions in other areas. But for Australia’s biggest local government,  the only way to completely avoid emissions is to do nothing. Stop building roads and bridges,  stop running buses and ferries, stop collecting waste and stop work on our flood recovery Â
Projects. Well that, Mr Chair, is not an option. Over the long term, our emissions are forecast to  decrease in line with our commitment to reduce by 30% by 2031, 2032. But our modelling shows that  the only way to get there without drastically cutting suburban projects is for the State Â
Government to get on board with decarbonising the public transport fleet. This is critical to  reducing one of Brisbane’s largest emission sources and it’s the State Government’s own  policy, but their dithering is putting their targets and local bus manufacturers at risk. Â
So instead of sitting here and sniping at us for actually delivering projects across  suburban Brisbane, perhaps Councillor CASSIDY’s time would be better spent trying to convince  his mates in George Street to put their money where their mouth is and join us in trying to Â
Reduce emissions while still delivering a world-class public transport sector. Because while Brisbane City Council is carbon neutral, Mr Chair, as the LORD MAYOR said, not one  State Government department or agency is the same, is carbon neutral. In the meantime, Mr Chair, Â
We’re going to keep doing what we’re doing to keep Brisbane the most sustainable city in Australia  and a leader in emissions reduction. Mr Chair, there are also a couple of assertions Councillor  CASSIDY has put forward that I think need to be addressed. He suggested that if Brisbane Â
Were to embrace—quote—full FOGO, by which he means slashing red-top bin collection and leaving dirty  nappies and old fish rotting in people’s bins for weeks, our city would become truly carbon neutral. Now I’m sure Councillor MARX could talk about the work we’re doing to explore ways, again, Â
To make organic waste recycling feasible in a city the size of Brisbane, but I want to address  this from an emissions perspective. First, we are carbon neutral. We have been certified as carbon  neutral by the Federal Government’s Climate Active program every year since 2016-17 finance year. As Â
Part of that process, we submit a comprehensive report, before us today, which is subjected to  rigorous scrutiny by both Federal bureaucrats and independent auditors. So the claim Councillor  CASSIDY continues to repeat, that Brisbane is not carbon neutral, is simply not true.Â
Second, I have no faith that Councillor CASSIDY’s figures of 100,000 tonnes of  organic waste are correct, because I haven’t seen anything from him to back that up. But  let’s assume that they are for a minute. Councillor interjecting. Councillor CASSIDY.  Because by Councillor CASSIDY’s own estimation, full FOGO wouldn’t even come close to negating Â
Council’s carbon footprint. Point of order, Chair. Just one moment, Councillor DAVIS. Point of order, Councillor CASSIDY. Claim to be misrepresented. Thank you. Councillor DAVIS. Thank  you, Mr Chair. When we talk about our entire footprint as the second largest carbon neutral Â
Organisation in Australia, our footprint is more than 665,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.  That is literally in this report before us on page 11, if Councillor CASSIDY is interested in looking  at it. Even with some back of the napkin maths, if we assume Councillor CASSIDY’s figures are Â
Correct we are still left with 565,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent to offset. Those  are emissions from building infrastructure, running public transport systems, providing  public service and pretty much everything else that we do. What is Councillor CASSIDY’s plan to  reduce these emissions? Has he even looked at Council’s emission reduction strategy Â
Or the item before us? The only alternative to offsetting at this stage is cutting projects and  services and we will not be doing that. Thank you, Mr Chair. Thank you, Councillor DAVIS. Councillor CASSIDY, your misrepresentation please. Thanks, Chair. Councillor DAVIS Â
Suggested I made up the figure of 100,000 tonnes of organic waste being dumped into  landfill each and every year. I in fact got that figure from the LORD MAYOR, your leader,  Councillor DAVIS. Thank you, Councillor CASSIDY. Further speakers? I see no one rising.Â
DEPUTY MAYOR, right of reply. Thank you, Mr Chair. I am very happy to stand up and sum  up on the debate tonight, because I can assure you after listening to the debate on items B and K,  that team Schrinner are a loud and proud Administration of a clean, green and sustainable Â
City. We are the largest carbon neutral government in Australia. We have gold certification for that  fact by the UN-Habitat and we’re at the forefront of the largest infrastructure build in this city’s  history that will support our growing city to the decades to come. We have a plan and we Â
Have vision, that is very, very clear difference between us and the other side of this Chamber. As for Kurilpa, it is a State Government TLPI that we are talking about and yes,  we did the work and they took the credit, but we’re happy that at least the State ALP have Â
Seen the light on what needs to be done for this city’s future. Let me be clear,  because I was misquoted many, many times tonight, I said this plan would encourage industrial sites  to move out of that area, industrial sites that are not suitable more—just under one kilometre Â
From the CBD and they are. The Visy site, bought by the State Government, it’s doing exactly what  we want to see, the movement of old industrial sites. We want to see renewal like we see at the  Gasometer at Newstead over the last 15 years. The precinct plan in its finest detail has been Â
Gazetted by the state and can be seen online by anyone who wants to see it. The plan put forward  the E&C put through today was a generalised map of the area that is going up for the commencement of Â
The section 18. It is there for everyone to see and I can tell you right now that there will be  full community consultation on this project, as all statutory amendments require. We are  the clean, green and sustainable local government Administration, we are carbon neutral and we are Â
Growing up, not out. But let me warn you, for all those playing at home and watching on TV,  beware, beware of the Green-Labor coalition of chaos, because we still don’t know their vision.  We do not know their vision because they have no vision. We don’t know how they’re going to deal Â
With growth, but I can assure you they’re coming to a suburb near you. Thank you, DEPUTY MAYOR. We will now put the items to the vote. We’re going to start with item B first. All those in favour of item B say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no.Â
Councillors say no. The ayes have it. Division called by the DEPUTY MAYOR and  Councillor MURPHY. Ayes to my right, noes to my left. Clerks, please ring the bells. Clerks, please read the results. Mr Chair, the ayes have it, the voting being 19 in favour, Â
Two against and five abstentions. Councillors, item B has passed. We will now put item K to the vote. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. Councillors say no. The ayes have it. Division called by the DEPUTY MAYOR and Councillor JOHNSTON. Ayes to my right, Â
Noes to my left. Clerks, please ring the bells. Clerks, please read the results. Mr  Chair, the ayes have it, the voting being 19 in favour, two against and five abstentions.  Councillors, item K has now passed. Could you please return to your seats and we will—Â
Councillors interjecting. Councillors, we will open the debate on item L. LORD MAYOR. Thank you, Mr Chair. Item L, which is what I flagged in advance last week and spoke  at length about, this is about making sure that we can keep pressure down on rates in the future Â
While continuing to deliver the record investment in infrastructure that’s occurring and record  investment in the suburbs that’s occurring. The principles that we’ve used in bringing together  this budget review are keeping rates down in the future, supporting the provision of new housing Â
Without our infrastructure charges incentives, to bring down the cost of new housing and to support  new housing being built. To continue investing in the infrastructure our growing city needs,  particularly that infrastructure that makes life easier for people getting around the Â
City and the improvements around the city that are being made. Finally, to continue  our record level of investment in the suburbs. We are achieving all of those things through  this budget review and we know that our suburbs first guarantee is that we will spend at least Â
80% of the entire Council budget in the suburbs. When I delivered the budget in June, our ambition  and aim was 87% of the budget will be spent in the suburbs. As a result of this budget review,  it will be 86% of the budget will be spent in the suburbs. Obviously record investment continues, Â
Even while we find savings to make sure that we can keep the costs down for residents. We also have made sure that we continue to deliver our cost of living package, the $80 million cost  of living package which sees us maintaining the cheapest residential rates in South East Â
Queensland, which sees us supporting initiatives such as half price green bins, $2 summer dips,  free travel for seniors in off-peak periods and a whole range of other low cost and affordable  initiatives. We’re seeing many of those available to the residents of Brisbane as we speak.Â
Now in terms of the context of what’s happened since we formulated the budget,  as I mentioned last year—sorry, last week, we base our budget calculations on figures from the March  quarter each year. The budget is finalised in May, it is released in June, but at that point it is Â
Based on figures from the March quarter. What’s changed since March? Well inflation has remained  higher for longer than it was forecast and that is a fact, there is no disputing that fact. We  have seen a further interest rate increase as well just on Melbourne Cup Day. We have Â
Seen significant above-forecast rises in costs. We have seen $50 million worth of applications  to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority denied, so a loss of revenue of $50 million  into our budget. We have seen a reduction in infrastructure charges as a result of lower Â
Than expected building activity of $60 million. We’ve seen an almost $6 million decline in rates  revenues as a result of properties being transferred from investment properties to  owner-occupier properties, as Labor and the Greens continue to scare investors out of the Â
Marketplace and drive up rents for people. We’ve seen $12 million less in parking infringements— Councillors interjecting. Councillor JOHNSTON. Sorry, LORD MAYOR, just one moment. Councillor JOHNSTON, do not call out across the Chamber. Councillors interjecting. Councillor MASSEY, please don’t call out across Â
The Chamber, the same goes for you too. LORD MAYOR. When Labor and Greens politicians call  investors greedy parasites, what do you think the investors end up doing? They think well, I’m going  to put my money somewhere else and that drives up rents even further. So take a bow, you’ve really Â
Done well here, you’ve really done well. Point of order. Point of order, Councillor MASSEY. Would  the LORD MAYOR take a question? LORD MAYOR, would you care to take a question? No, not at this time, Councillor MASSEY. LORD MAYOR. You target people who invest Â
In property and help provide more—in normal times help provide more accommodation and  look what happens. They leave the market and there’s a shortage of accommodation,  rents go up even further. This is the implications of Labor and Greens policy playing out as we speak Â
And it impacts on the Council as well. Almost $6 million in rates revenue lost as a result of the  transfer from investors to owner-occupiers. $12 million less in parking infringements. Councillor interjecting. Councillor GRIFFITHS is laughing about $12  million less in parking infringements. Councillor interjecting. Councillor GRIFFITHS. Â
Higher than budgeted wage increases to Council workers. The Moggill Road corridor project,  which has experienced significant cost pressure and escalation, in particular relating to  underground service locations, relocations. An extra $9 million to Telstra, an extra $1.8 million Â
To the gas company, an extra $1.2 million to Energex. These are costs that can’t be negotiated,  these are costs that we don’t have a choice about and are obviously placing pressure on  projects like Moggill Road. $56 million in bring forwards for Brisbane Metro and the green bridges.Â
Having said that, we’ve worked hard to make sure we find savings in a sensible manner across the  organisation, including the $70 million in savings in IT contracts, back office efficiencies, fleet  replacements, consultancies, contractors, catering and travel. Also $1.5 million in savings through Â
Ward offices and ward office upgrades and ward office budgets. $1 million advertising reduction,  $3 million that was saved during the dry period on grass cutting without impacting on service  standards. We also confirmed that the $80 million cost of living package would not be impacted, Â
That bin collections and kerbside collections would not be impacted  and the bus services and ferry services would not be impacted. That permanent Council staff  have nothing to fear and we also made sure that we continue to support our incentive Â
Policy to bring down the cost of new housing. These initiatives come, as I said last week,  in a way that’s been dealt with in a sensible manner, to relieve the pressure on ratepayers  but also make sure we can keep doing the things that are really important. They also Â
Come against the background where we have seen the Federal Government remove $33 billion worth  of infrastructure funding from their budget, $33 million. The Labor Federal Government has removed  $33 billion of infrastructure funding, just last week in fact. We see even tonight on the TV Â
Minister Bailey, Minister Bailey’s greatest hits. We know that his tally to this point were budget  blowouts in excess of the size of the Council budget and in fact the Council budget is $4.3  billion, the Council budget is $4.3 billion— Councillors interjecting. Councillor CASSIDY. Â
The Council budget is $4.3 billion and— Councillors interjecting. The Council budget is  $4.3 billion—yes, yes, yes, yes. Minister Bailey’s blowouts tallied up to $4.5 billion, but that  was until tonight when an extra $3.1 billion blowout was revealed in a press conference.Â
Councillors interjecting. Councillor ADERMANN. That makes up about 72% of the entire Council  budget in one project, in one project. When Labor Councillors get up and say what’s changed,  what’s changed since the budget, a lot has changed. Every other level of government knows it, Â
The other two Labor governments that we have at the Federal and state level are experiencing  similar pressures. They’re dealing with it in very different ways, the Federal Government is  taking the scissors to infrastructure. In fact we’re doing the opposite, we’re making sure that Â
We can build more infrastructure. We’re building a record of $1.7 billion worth of infrastructure  this year and that is our commitment. The Federal Government is cutting infrastructure  projects, the State Government, I don’t know what their strategy is, they’re just sort of—it’s like Â
An out of control train. It is rolling forward, no one’s at the wheel and there’s no expenditure  control, there’s no control of projects, it is extraordinary. The level of cost overrun  at the state level would be able to pay for the Brisbane City Council budget a number of times Â
Over. It is quite clear that we are in challenging times from a cost point of view, it’s not just  us experiencing it; everyone is experiencing it and we’re doing the right and responsible  thing. LORD MAYOR, your time has— Thank you, Mr Chair. Thank you, your time has expired.Â
Councillor CASSIDY. Yes, thanks very much, Chair. I rise to speak on this item,  Clause L, before us today. It’s day 42 of LORD MAYOR Adrian SCHRINNER’s cuts,  which means $70 million has been ripped from suburban projects, from Council services and Â
We now know that there are dozens and potentially hundreds of workers who are doing basic ongoing  Council work that are being sacked because of the political decisions of this LNP LORD MAYOR. The  LORD MAYOR just got up and claimed that his budget was $4.3 billion, despite the fact that he’s Â
Gutting $400 million from it and despite the fact that there’s hundreds of millions of dollars in  carryovers from last year’s budget into this year. We know that on their watch there’ll be hundreds  of millions of carryovers from this year into next year. We know there’s hundreds of millions Â
Of dollars in depreciation and written down assets that aren’t expenditure in the suburbs  of Brisbane like the LORD MAYOR claims. When he gets up and says that his budget is $4.3 billion,  nobody believes that and I’m sure the reason he can’t really look around when he says Â
That is because he can’t say that without smiling, because he knows that is terribly untrue. The  LORD MAYOR’s talked about lower than expected rates increase this year in real dollar terms. He’s cutting $400 million in this budget review, which means less projects, Â
Less services and sacked staff, so he’s removing $400 million and he’s crying poor because there’s  a $6 million reduction in the rates take this year than what was budgeted. He had budgeted $113  million increase in rates, so he’s still reaching into the pockets of ratepayers to the tune of Â
$107 million more this year than last year, but he’s cutting $400 million in suburban projects,  Council services and he is sacking staff. He’s waited to the last meeting, he’s put it down the  very bottom of the agenda to bring this item— Councillors interjecting. Yes, there’s the Â
Priority. He just wanted to take out the trash as late as he possibly could,  this LORD MAYOR. The series of events that led up to the release of this budget review are almost  comical and we’ve got the LORD MAYOR getting up today and claiming that despite inflation Â
Decreasing since the March quarter, that it was inflation’s fault. Then he got up and said it was  the State Government’s fault and he blamed the Federal Government, he blamed, he blamed us, he  blamed the Opposition for it as well. He forgot— Councillors interjecting. Councillor MASSEY. He Â
Forgot that he was in charge for a minute. Councillors interjecting. Councillor JOHNSTON.  The LORD MAYOR’s already slipped into Opposition mode, I think. Maybe they’re getting ready, I mean  this is just really quite incredible that after 12 weeks apparently the LORD MAYOR had done so much Â
Work and poured over this budget of his, within 12 weeks there was a $400 million bombshell. Well  something should have pointed to that coming down the line for the LORD MAYOR. Maybe it was the $400  million in blowouts and extra borrowings that this Council had to undertake in November last year, Â
Because his Metro blew out and his bridges program blew out and we’ve seen a blowout  on his inner-city Victoria Park project. He’s overseen $400 million of blowouts last year,  he claimed that wouldn’t have an impact on the budget going forward. Lo and behold, Â
12 months later, where we are today, there’s a $400 million deterioration in the budget. A bit  of a theme, a bit of a theme, I think, there. The documents that the LORD MAYOR tabled last  week and we are debating here today were supposed to reveal and explain what really went wrong, Â
But they don’t, of course they don’t. The LORD MAYOR is expecting us—he’s a bit of a combination  of Campbell Newman and Joe. He’s gone today and said that staff shouldn’t fear him apparently, I  remember that when Campbell Newman announced that and then went and sacked 14,000 public servants. Â
We know that he’s started the sacking already, this guy here. He also then says you don’t need  to worry about that, just we’re supposed to take his word for it. So I guess they’re his— Councillor interjecting. Yes, maybe their position will change in 12 weeks. Who will know? We won’t Â
Be back in here before the election. But the four pages at the end of the budget review which have  a couple of explanatory notes, I guess, are the most revealing part of this budget review. They  still don’t account for the $400 million deterioration in the budget and they still Â
Don’t fully explain the $400 million in cuts that the LORD MAYOR is inflicting on the suburbs of  Brisbane. But what the document does do, it confirms that under the LNP you pay more and  get less. That’s in black and white. This LORD MAYOR’s jacking up rates by $107 million this Â
Year now after this budget review goes through, but he is slashing suburban projects, suburban  services and he is slashing staff here in Council. The pages at the back of the review confirm some  of the LORD MAYOR’s targets of course. The Lindum Road open level crossing project, that’s been cut. Â
Now according to the LNP, even though they’ve got all the funding from the State and Federal  Governments, according to the LNP it’s not a cut if you don’t do it; it’s just a cut if you push it Â
Away out of the budget. Well I think any ordinary, normal person that would look at that would think  that was a cut. Drainage projects, park and road maintenance projects, they’re being cut.  I know the people that I’ve spoken to recently out when I was doorknocking with Cath Palmer, Â
Labor’s candidate in Bracken Ridge, out at Bald Hills, I know those people out at Hemmant,  at Kedron, who we’ve spoken to recently, or in my ward, in Brighton, Deagon, Zillmere, Boondall and  places will be furious when they find out this LORD MAYOR and those LNP Councillors have tonight Â
Voted to cut drainage projects this year. In the wake of the February 2022 flood  disaster and going into another uncertain storm season, the message from this LNP  Administration is they don’t care, they don’t care. They won’t care their inner-city projects;  they are going to cut drainage projects instead. Ferry terminals have been cut, Â
Ferry terminal upgrades cut and the Bracken Ridge SES depot cut. I know Councillor LANDERS has  been particularly quiet about this cut. I know how badly her ward was affected, as was mine,  in the floods and I can guarantee that Cath Palmer will fight for her community. Won’t just sit back Â
And say to LORD MAYOR Adrian Schrinner you want to cut the Bracken Ridge SES depot, well yes, that’s  okay with the LNP, that’s okay with the LNP, they don’t have any worries about that at all. Fig Tree Pocket and Kenmore Road project cut as well and now we are able to publicly talk Â
About how badly managed the Moggill Road project has gone and how much over budget that is. The  LORD MAYOR, true to form, still won’t accept any responsibility, he blames Telstra now. Apparently  it’s all their fault that his Administration couldn’t plan a project properly to understand Â
Where those services are and what work needed to be done to move those services. It’s history  repeating itself because this was the same problem that they had with Kingsford Smith Drive,  which led to a $100 million blowout, because they hollowed out Council’s engineering capability and Â
They can’t plan projects properly in advance. Then we see a $100 million cost blowout on that  one, a $50 million cost blowout on this one and the people who are paying, lo and behold,  are ratepayers. He’s still jacking up their rates, Chair, 17% on his watch alone he’s increased rates Â
By and they’re going up again this year. He’s cutting projects, cutting services,  slashing staff, but he’s not cutting the rates take, he’s not cutting that one cent. These cuts  are real and they will affect the liveability of our suburbs. We know the LORD MAYOR will Â
Continue to—and he plans to continue to jack up rates. We see that trend in the budget and the  forward estimates, he’s expecting to increase rates by over five per cent next year. That’s  what’s built in, in terms of an increase. So he’s planning on jacking up rates but Â
He’s continuing to slash suburban projects and those rates increases are going to fund  the blowouts on his pet projects. Before the Victoria Park project even started we saw an  $83 million cost blowout on that one alone. So it is absolutely no coincidence that this Â
LNP Administration’s mismanagement of the budget and mismanagement of major projects, like a $400  million blowout 12 months ago which has led to $400 million in cuts this year, are all on them  and it’s all because of their political decision. Now we know one thing—we know one thing that Â
Has survived the cuts. The LORD MAYOR said that he’s cut $1 million from the advertising budget,  but he hasn’t detailed what that actually looks like. Because what we have seen since he  announced his cuts is more TV ads, more TV ads on commercial TV and primetime. That doesn’t, Â
That doesn’t quite—new billboards, big billboards are claiming—a billboard claiming  a State Government project on a State Government road, paid for by, guess who— Councillors interjecting. No, well the State Government didn’t pay for the billboard,  the ratepayers did. Councillor CASSIDY— So they’re paying for the project.Â
Councillors interjecting. Councillors— They’re going to be paying for their project,  but the LNP are billing the ratepayers for the advertising that they are doing, plastering their  faces all over. So true to form, the LNP have always been addicted to self-promotion. It’s Â
Clear that the LORD MAYOR cares more about his political future than he does— Councillor CASSIDY,  your time has expired. Point of order. Point of order, Councillor COLLIER. Move for an extension.  Seconded. We have a motion for extension moved by Councillor COLLIER, seconded by Councillor STRUNK.Â
All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. The ayes have it. Councillor CASSIDY,  you have the call. Thank you, Chair. So perhaps maybe, maybe if the LNP cut those TV ads and the Â
Billboard spend that they’re doing at the moment in an effort to get re-elected and put that money  into the Bracken Ridge SES depot, we would have a better community outcome. People would think  that they’re getting better value for money than they are from this LNP Administration. Every day Â
Since October 2017, when the LORD MAYOR announced these cuts in Council meetings and everywhere,  we’ve asked the LORD MAYOR to just stop the spin and come clean with the people of  Brisbane. He is seeking re-election, this is his big pitch, in cutting suburban services, Â
Suburban projects and Council staffing. This is his big pitch, but he still hasn’t come clean with  the people of Brisbane and these pages before us today don’t answer the questions that people have. Why are they paying more and getting less in the suburbs of Brisbane under the LNP? Â
All he ever responds with are glib soundbites and standard lines, pre-rehearsed things and whining  and whinging and blaming. You wouldn’t think these people are in charge of such a commanding majority  in the way they are carrying—the way the LORD MAYOR’s carrying on tonight. You would think that Â
They are on the verge of losing and they’re losing their grip on power the way that he is carrying on  here tonight. The reality we have now is that the LORD MAYOR—and we know the LNP have thought this Â
And they think this at every level and we know the LORD MAYOR has now confirmed this in public  statements he has made at today’s meeting and last week’s meeting and the week before that, is that  he thinks that—he doesn’t value the dignity of work. He thinks that contractors are second-class Â
Citizens and a different class of workers. We know the LNP, from their comments over the  last few weeks, think Council employees are lazy and he thinks he’s gotten away with the greatest  swindle this city has ever seen. We’ve spoken to workers and the LORD MAYOR made out today as if Â
Contractors that are working in the asphalt and aggregates area of Council are just some sort of  day by day labour hire workers. He thinks it’s okay to reduce their hours to zero in his terms,  but in other words that means sack them and cancel those contracts and he thinks they’ll be fine, Â
They’ll go and get another job. Some of those workers have been doing Council work,  working for Council for 10 and 20 years, Chair. Some of them are up to 20 years working on  Council road resurfacing and Council road repairs. This LORD MAYOR comes in with the stroke of a pen, Â
Cancels their hours to zero, says sorry, goodbye, he never really cared about them and the work that  they did. That’s got to be pretty devastating to those workers to know that the LORD MAYOR of this Â
City, the leader of this city thinks so lowly of those workers and the work they do no behalf of  the people of Brisbane. The LORD MAYOR’s budget in June made promises he knew that he couldn’t keep, Â
But he never came clean with the truth back then. No one knew at the time when he built in all of  these projects that if the QRA didn’t approve those grants the LORD MAYOR was relying on so Â
Heavily, that this budget would be in a hole. In fact, in fact I understand that some of  the projects that the LORD MAYOR and his Administration actually applied for funding  through the QRA were never eligible. So it’s little wonder, it’s little wonder they were Â
Rejected. Maybe they’re so inept they didn’t know that they weren’t eligible, or maybe they knew  they weren’t eligible and they kicked it down the road and this was just some big concoction  to blame someone else again. There’s the theme of the LNP, isn’t it. So we know that there are Â
Council workers and no amount of spin from the LORD MAYOR will be able to take away from that. These people were Council workers that were doing basic Council work have at Christmastime been let  go, some of which have had decades of service to the people of Brisbane. That says everything you Â
Need to know about this LNP Administration. They are no different, they are no different  from the LNP at any other level whatsoever. They have the same values, which do not align,  I think, with a modern and progressive Brisbane. People who value secure work, Â
Like us on this side of the Chamber. We’re very different to them, very, very different to people  on that side of the Chamber if this is the kind of behaviour that they are carrying on with now.Â
On the point the LORD MAYOR made earlier about the Federal Government, he’s saying I think in his  claim was that the Federal Government was spending $33 billion less in infrastructure. It’s not true,  again this is the LORD MAYOR’s spin. They are spending the exact same amount that they had Â
Committed to on infrastructure, they’re in fact not cutting projects like the LORD MAYOR is.  What happened under the Morrison Government, of which Scott Morrison was a mentor, a political  mentor of this LORD MAYOR apparently, he loved to get into photos with him, Â
They promised a whole heap of uncosted and unfunded projects to seek re-election. Didn’t really work out for them, didn’t work out for them at all in fact. Certainly not here in  Brisbane and not in those teal seats down in New South Wales, or anywhere in suburban Melbourne Â
Either. So all of those unfunded and uncosted projects, a bit like the ones that the LORD  MAYOR goes around promising in his budget as well, they clearly were unfunded and uncosted,  $400 million worth of them, when he cut them from the budget, or he’s about it, when he’s about to Â
Vote in favour of these cuts tonight. So we don’t support this item, we don’t support the LORD  MAYOR and his Civic Cabinet’s complete and utter disregard for anyone in Brisbane but themselves. What we do support is a new and fresh approach in Council, a Labor-led Administration which will Â
Put ratepayers first and their interests first and the suburbs of Brisbane first,  before the political future of ourselves, which is what the LNP are all about in the  dying days of their 20 year old Administration. A guarantee of ours is that a Tracey Price-led Â
Council is one that is all about the 190 suburbs of Brisbane, about giving people value for money  and the services that they deserve. Not just about political games, like this LNP Administration. We’ll be voting against this item today and we’ll spend every day until 16 March next year telling Â
The people of Brisbane as often, as frequently as we can, how it is time for this LORD MAYOR and his  tired old Administration to go. If there was ever a case for change from a tired old conservative Â
LNP Council, this is it before us today. They have no vision for the future of Brisbane and  it’s not that they don’t have any values, Chair, it’s just that they’d kept them hidden for a long  time and they’re actually starting to shine through. I suspect when people find out the Â
Values of this LNP Administration, they will realise they do not align with them. They do  not align with a modern Brisbane and 16 March cannot come quick enough. Thank you, Councillor. Further speakers? Councillor JOHNSTON. Goodness me. I Â
Rise to speak on item—sorry, item— L, we’re up to, thank you. L, which is the second budget review.  It is astonishing to me that the LNP Councillors, many of whom are new, are just going to sit back, Â
Say nothing and watch the LORD MAYOR trash the trust that he did have, the little bit of trust  he probably did have with the Brisbane community, by bringing through these budget cuts. Now we know  that the reason that this is happening is that the LORD MAYOR, under his leadership, this Council Â
Has failed to deliver on the major projects that they have promised. Not anybody else,  what they have promised. Instead of those projects that we’ve been told were carefully planned,  they spent years being planned and then funded, those projects have blown out because they weren’t Â
Properly scoped, they weren’t properly planned. The residents of Brisbane have to pay the price  for the incompetence of this LNP Administration. Now they’ll stand up and they’ll say well,  anybody who doesn’t support our budget cuts, you know, doesn’t know what they’re doing, Â
Or they can’t manage money. You know, the usual kind of LNP excuses. The LNP has had their hands  on the tiller for 20 years, successive Lord Mayors for 20 years and this LORD MAYOR,  Adrian Schrinner, has run the budget into the ground through his incompetence, as Finance Chair, Â
Public and Active Transport Chair and as the LORD MAYOR of Brisbane. The Moggill Road roundabout  project—and I really feel sorry for Councillor WOLFF because she’s walked into a nightmare,  whereby for I don’t know how long the LORD MAYOR and Councillor Mackay were out there going look Â
How great our project is, our project’s fantastic. They spent years planning that project,  years and years doing all of the work to find the services, to plan and that’s now the reason,  all the prep work is now the reason that the project is blowing out. That just speaks to Â
How inept this Administration is when it comes to planning and delivering infrastructure. You  can see it, the Brisbane Metro is another great example, it’s doubled in cost, doubled. Yes,  Councillor MURPHY’s laughing, he’s not going to be hauled up for laughing, as I was. But Â
He’s laughing— Councillor JOHNSTON, to the report. Councillors interjecting. Yes, it’s the acoustics.  But it’s not funny, I don’t think it’s funny that he’s presiding over one of the worst projects  that’s ever happened in this city from a financial point of view. That’s it, there’s nothing else Â
That’s been as big and bad. Maybe Kingsford Smith Drive where they sent a company into bankruptcy,  but this LNP Administration has botched a bus project. There was supposed to be a rail  project. Now the LORD MAYOR has stood up today and to try and justify these cuts that he didn’t Â
Know about—like you know, the Finance Chair, we haven’t heard from her, she’s probably not  going to speak. I’d be hiding too on this issue. But they stand up and say that they didn’t know  that there were these pressures in March, they didn’t know. I mean everybody in Brisbane and Â
Australia seems to know there’s some problems with supply chains and inflation. It’s not been  a secret, but apparently to the LNP they didn’t know in March when they were prepping the budget.  It was all a bit hard for them to understand and see. I mean it’s quite fascinating in the report Â
Before us today, it actually says that materials and services are going down in cost, so Council’s  actually cutting. It’s quite interesting. But what I want to talk about specifically  is what the LORD MAYOR has said and that is the dishonest, the deliberately dishonest statements Â
Of the LORD MAYOR here today. When he said—and he said it repeatedly and he’s said it week after  week now—that these budget cuts are about keeping rates down in future. The LORD MAYOR has said it  repeatedly, that this is about—these budget cuts are about keeping rates down in future. Now the Â
LNP, who’ve been running the budget process, it’s the LORD MAYOR who runs the budget process, have  increased rates every year for 20 years. There has never been no increase or even a decrease,  there has never ever been one. Every single year, every single year rates Â
Have gone up under the LNP Administration. They say oh, we had a rates freeze for six  months and then they put rates up in the second half. Not even in the 2011 floods or the 2022  flood years did this LNP Administration keep rates the same or decrease rates. They went Â
Up every single year. That is the legacy of the LNP Administration, every single year. I know the  DEPUTY MAYOR wants to stand up and speak, because she’s interested in speaking to Councillor MURPHY,  but she didn’t, she didn’t have that chance. Maybe she’ll hop up after me, Â
I don’t know. But the LNP have presided under—over the biggest rates increases for 20 years. Yet the  LORD MAYOR says these cuts will mean rates will be lower next year. Rubbish. He cannot be trusted.  His performance and his actions speak volumes. What is the LORD MAYOR actually cutting? Let’s Â
Have a look at that. Road projects, footpaths, 10% cut to footpaths. There is a one-year waiting list  to have a footpath repaired, one year minimum, minimum to have a footpath repaired. But the  LORD MAYOR thinks that going on TV and advertising a better Brisbane is more important than funding Â
Footpaths in suburban Brisbane. That is the wrong priorities. It’s very clear the LORD MAYOR has  also deliberately misled and been dishonest, I have to say dishonest, about flood recovery. He  stood up in here and said yes, we will undertake all the flood recovery our city needs within the Â
Next two years. What do we see in this budget before us today? Cuts to flood recovery. Now Cactoblastis Corner is the only park left in Brisbane that is fully closed. There was a  major slump and this riverside park has dropped by three metres. There are both horizontal and Â
Vertical cracks in this riverside park in Sherwood. Instead of fixing these problems,  this LNP Administration have said we’re not going to do it. Now this year they were supposed to be  doing some river wall improvements to stabilise the problem, because there could be further Â
Problems. Not repair the park but stabilise the problem, they’ve not even done that. For  18 months this Administration’s been doing testing, they haven’t fixed anything. Now in  this budget they’re not going to, they’ve admitted it. They’re trying to blame the State Government.Â
Meanwhile, what happened on the northside where there are marginal LNP wards along Kedron Brook,  within a year Kedron Brook was fully restored. The bikeways were open, the creek was fixed,  stabilisation works were done. In every single marginal northside LNP ward the creek was fixed. Â
But the Brisbane River in Sherwood, nothing, nothing. This is an appalling betrayal of the  community by the LORD MAYOR. He promised that he would ensure our parks and our public areas would  be fixed after the floods and he has failed to do so. That is his legacy to the people of Brisbane. Â
Rates have gone up, major projects have blown out, footpaths have been cut, road projects have  been cut. He’s cut mowing, for God’s sake. Who cuts mowing in the middle of a Brisbane summer? He says oh, but it’ll only impact on the dry seasons. Well come to a couple of months down Â
The track and there’ll be no mowing to be had. This LORD MAYOR has lost the plot when he thinks  travel’s okay, advertising’s okay, largesse on his whatever, whatever, just—how can you cut mowing,  parks, roads and footpaths? How can you cut fixing up a flood damaged public park? But that’s what Â
This LORD MAYOR’s done, all under the big, fat, dishonest statement that rates will be down and  rates will be lower in future. The only thing that this LNP Administration stands for is deceptive  behaviour and that deceptive behaviour is going to be found out. You cannot promise to do something Â
And then not deliver it, but take people’s money and that is what this LNP Administration  have done. It’s appalling and I don’t support it. Councillor JOHNSTON, your time has expired, thank  you. Further speakers? Councillor WINES. Thanks, Mr Chair. I just rise to make a comment about the item L in Â
The E&C report. Can I begin by making some general statements. In our organisation the conduct of the  ordinary business of the Council has gotten much more expensive over the last few years. To put  some context on that, last year and maybe the year before concrete was—a concrete footpath cost about Â
$200 a square metre. It now costs $300 a square metre, same footpath, same concrete, same effort  is now $300 a square metre. That does not include labour costs, that does not include machinery hire  required for that. To be able to maintain the standards that we expect, what we are able—we Â
Must be responsible about how that is done. The costs associated with bitumen,  40% up. Kerb and channel, 50% up. To be able to maintain the standard we have to be responsible  and realistic about what can be done with the money that we do have. There’s been some Â
Criticism that we should be maintaining a certain level of project work while consistently bringing  rates in under inflation, which we did this year. My recollection of how rates have gone these last  few years is very different from Councillor JOHNSTON. I clearly recall a zero rates year, Â
I have a very clear recollection, at the peak of the COVID panic we brought in a zero per cent rate  increase. Now this last year we brought in our rates under inflation and that’s basket of goods  inflation, that’s not industry inflation. Point of order. Just one moment, Councillor WINES.Â
Point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON. Misrepresentation. Noted, thank you. Councillor WINES. That’s industry inflation is double digits into the 30s and 40s,  so to be able to maintain the standard of spending that Councillor CASSIDY and Councillor  JOHNSTON have indicated would require a corresponding 30% to 40% rates increase, Â
Which is not realistic and is not going to—and we’re not going to do it. Perhaps that’s what  they would do in the same circumstance, but that’s not what we’ll be doing. Point of order. There was  a— Just one moment, Councillor WINES. Point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON. Â
Misrepresentation. Noted, thank you. Councillor WINES. I was placing some  context on what would have to be required for the level of spending that Councillor  JOHNSTON is talking about to be maintained. But I think what sits at the heart of this and you see Â
It in a lot of the Labor Party’s attitude to things, left wing attitudes to things,  that spending money is an outcome in itself. The point of government, to the Labor Party  and probably to the Greens Party I’d expect, is to spend the money. There’s no better example of Â
That than when Councillor CASSIDY pointed at the Kenmore Road and Fig Tree Pocket intersection and  said $2 million have been cut from that project. When in reality what had happened is that that  project had come in $2 million under budget and that underspend had been accounted for Â
Within this work. So what Councillor CASSIDY is arguing for in that instance is that we should  have just kept spending that $2 million in place until it was all gone. Well that would be deeply  irresponsible, but that also is the Labor way. To be able to—as I say, what this organisation, Â
That the Schrinner—the team Schrinner’s about is being able to deliver the outcome. Now how  do we do that best? That’s to be able to maintain our financial position long  term to be able to deliver what’s important. Now I also just wanted to make some general Â
Comment about agency staff and can I say thank you to all the people who’ve come from agencies,  who’ve worked with our permanent staff to deliver a whole range of assets,  a whole range of projects, we’re very grateful. We hope that when you return to the agency you are Â
Redeployed quickly and that to you there’s just a new opportunity elsewhere on other major projects  in South East Queensland. One of the benefits of being able to do it—of using agency staff,  however, is that when inflation is under control, when prices are more predictable, Â
We’ll be able to bring those people back quickly and we’ll be able to use their skills to deliver  for the people of Brisbane and we’ll be able to manage the workflow as it arrives. I think it’s important to spend some time reflecting on some of the comments about Â
The flood funding. We had been engaged with the Queensland Recovery Authority for some time to  be able to get them to engage meaningfully with us about what sorts of projects that they would  be funding. Would they be funding betterment projects, would they be funding projects that Â
Would mean that when another flood occurs in this city that we will be able to return at a reduced  cost. The works that we will do would be able to become a certain way that would mean that things Â
Are more resilient. We had argued with them about betterment a great deal and we submitted—and we  have—and our budget did reflect an expectation of a significant amount of financial contributions  from the QRA, which they have not provided. I hope that Councillors have heard me talk Â
In the past about our ambition to do a road reconstruction and resurfacing project for  all flood undermined roads. There was a number of, for example, roads that were inundated,  as we know that roads have for certain levels—some of the roads that were inundated were damaged Â
In a subsurface way and we would be able to reconstruct those roads, so that when a flood  would occur again we wouldn’t have to be able—we wouldn’t be required to spend as much money, or  even as we learned from when we did it last time, even need to rebuild them again. The Queensland Â
Recovery Authority has declined almost all of those, so almost—so that means that that work  that we had hoped to do through flood recovery and through QRA is now within our ordinary work. That has to be reflected, that lack of commitment from the QRA has to be reflected in the reality Â
Of our financial position. There’s also a range of projects within other program areas of the Council  where we expected—well we expected the QRA to engage with us. We were hoping that they would  be the principal contributor for some major works. Councillor JOHNSTON touched on a few of them. They Â
Are not as enthusiastic about engaging with the tens of millions of dollars that we would need to  be able to do a lot of this work as we had hoped. So that means that the work we had hoped to do, Â
That we had allocated for with QRA funding, would now—now can no longer occur. Either that  or we take it on as debt or we take it on as a rates increase, which we were not prepared to do.Â
As a result of that, a reduction in the scope of the works we were hoping to do through the—for  example, I’m spending quite a bit of time on road resurfacing, but I think that gives context to Â
What we’re talking about. That work will now be done by this Council, but without the tens of  millions of dollars allocated that we anticipated from the QRA. To make a general statement about  dealing with the QRA, it took a long time for them to be clear about what they were Â
Prepared to fund and what they weren’t. Some—and I appreciate the—I’m not sure if you heard that,  Mr Chair, but the Councillors near me also indicated that that was their experience too.  When it came to road resurfacing, sometimes the road was in, sometimes it was out and it Â
Depended on—it was not a consistent application. We have to budget in preparation of that work,  we have to—however, when the revenue didn’t arrive from the state, well what are we supposed to do?  So what we’ve done is accept our responsibility, but recognise our position in a revenue sense and Â
In a cost sense. Too much of the comments made by earlier speakers on this matter indicated  a real magic pudding attitude towards how this organisation’s finances work. That you can have  a project like the Cactoblastis Place, which is a piece of parkland that interacts with the State Â
Government asset, the river. Then what the Council has to—has to do all the work for the state while  the state refuses to put any funds in, while we also don’t put rates up in line with inflation.Â
It doesn’t—we can’t—you can’t have it all, I guess, no matter how much we’d like to do it. In a  perfect world we would do a lot of this work, but the fact is that the state, in my opinion, have Â
Not lived up to their obligations to look after—to embetter projects, to save parts of Sherwood that  Councillor JOHNSTON was referring to. They are not willing partners, so what do we—so in these  circumstances we have to reflect upon our own position and ensure that we are able to deliver Â
What we can and then plan into the future to be able to do the work that we intended to, but in  an order that is responsible and respectful of the ratepayer dollar. Thank you, Councillor WINES. Further speakers? Councillor COLLIER. Point of order. My apologies, Â
Councillor JOHNSTON. My apologies, my deepest apologies, your two points of misrepresentation.  Yes, the first one was—well they’re both on rates, but the first one was Councillor  WINES made statements that I’d said specific things about rates. I said rates had gone up Â
Every year under the LNP and that’s definitely the case. The second one was Councillor WINES  implied and stated that if things I said had happened, that rates would have to go up 30%  to 40%. I certainly made no statements about what should be done, I only commented on what the LNP Â
Are proposing to do in the budget cuts. Thank you. Councillor COLLIER, you’ve got the call. Thanks,  Chair. Just on Clause L, what we see today here is $400 million of cuts, that is what  this budget review is all about. Subsequently that is this LNP Council’s legacy of this term. Â
It’s cost blowouts on big inner-city projects, it’s cuts to our suburbs to make up for those  cost blowouts. Mark this date because every single one of those LNP Councillors will proclaim their  unanimous support to cuts to their communities. It’s playground upgrades cut, it’s local road Â
Resurfacing projects cut, it’s footpath repairs cut. Real-time reporting on footpath repairs as  promised, gone. Intersection upgrades cut and that is all we know of so far,  right? This is what this LNP Council and every single LNP Councillor stands for. Cuts to their Â
Communities, they are okay with it and they refuse to put their communities first. The  trust that is put in us as local representatives by our communities to do the absolute best that  we can for them. The best that this LNP Council have got for residents right across Brisbane is Â
That you will miss out. That is what this budget review says. What it fails to deliver is clarity. It’s actually just smoke and mirrors, so I would ask the LORD MAYOR and this LNP Administration,  I know some of you, if you’re brave enough, will get up with your key lines about why it’s Â
Okay to cut nearly $0.5 billion dollars from a Council budget, but please just be honest with  people. Table the list, what exactly are you cutting and where are you going to do it? It  beggars belief that this LNP Council think the people of Brisbane deserve this, deserve what Â
They’re getting tonight. The people of Brisbane deserve a Council who will put residents first,  who—they’ve deserve local representatives who will be true community champions and  stand up for their suburbs. Not more LNP City Hall mouthpieces out in their communities.Â
I would love to know what LNP Councillors are going to go out and tell people when they say  this drainage project’s going to be cut, or I’m not able to fix that footpath, oh,  but it’s okay because the LORD MAYOR said we had to do it. Every single day between Â
Now and 16 March, on this side of the Chamber we know that we have to highlight your cuts to  our communities and your neglect in our suburbs. The choice could not be clearer. It’s a tired,  20 year old LNP Council with $400 million of cuts to our suburbs, or a Labor Administration led Â
By Tracey Price putting residents first and that is what is right for Brisbane. Further speakers? Councillor WHITMEE. Yes, thank you. I rise to speak on item L. Sorry, my— You’re all right, take  your time. There’s been a lot of conversation, I originally was getting up here just purely to talk Â
On Lindum level crossing, but every Councillor in this room should probably check their ward emails  and see what other projects have been cut, because I’ve also lost the Glenora boat ramp upgrade just  tonight. Cuts to—the LORD MAYOR sprouted all about how he’s going to be—87% of the budget’s going Â
To—is still getting spent on the suburbs, but all we’re seeing is cuts, cuts, cuts, cuts, cuts from  everywhere. I’m going to—I echo what Councillor COLLIER said, provide us a list. Provide us a list  of what’s actually getting cut. Don’t just put it in drips and drabs over the next week, two weeks, Â
Three weeks, four weeks, couple of months. What are we losing? What’s actually getting cut? Now when I first heard about the $400 million in cuts, I made it no secret on where my brain  went. Twelve years ago I worked at a café that’s attached to Lindum train station. My hairdresser Â
Was there, shut down now, I’m quite sad about it, but 12 years ago people were having the  conversations with me because, you know, baristas are the new bartenders. Having the conversations  with me about how horrific that train station was, how horrific that intersection is, Â
The traffic build-up up Sibley Road. When I put my video up last week about seeing the cuts to Lindum  train station—Lindum level crossing in the Council budget, community leaders got phone calls from  certain LNP Councillors saying it’s all—it’s not. Councillors interjecting. I’ll take that Â
Interjection from Councillor ATWOOD. It’s not, it’s been admitted by Councillor WINES, by the  LORD MAYOR, they’ve all said it. The money has been cut from the 2023-24 budget. If it wasn’t—and  I know that Councillor ATWOOD had words with the State Member for Lytton, Joan Pease and said Â
It’s only a delay of six months. If it was only a delay of six months, it wouldn’t be in the budget  review at all because spoiler alert— Claim to be misrepresented. You haven’t entered the debate  so— Councillors, I chair the meeting, not you. Councillor ATWOOD, you haven’t spoken sorry, Â
Your misrepresentation can’t be upheld. Councillor WINES,  are you rising on a point of order? Councillor interjecting. Oh, nice. Councillor WHITMEE, you’ve got the call. Thank you. Yes, if it was actually just a delay of six  months it wouldn’t be in the review, because spoiler alert, there’s more than six months Â
Left in the financial year. Now, Councillor ATWOOD also made some interesting comments on my Facebook  saying that—claiming, quite falsely, that this is the only level of government spending any  money down there, referring to Lindum. Completely ignoring the fact that the State MP for Lytton, Â
Joan Pease, has been very, very, very vocal about their significant investment into Lindum train  station, which commences in January, significant investment. It is quite false, quite—anyway. The conversation about Lindum has been going on for over 30 years and this Council will blame Â
The Federal Government, they’ll blame the State Government, they’ll blame absolutely everybody  else, but the only level of government that has pulled any funding out of Lindum, is this one. The  Federal Government hasn’t pulled any money, the Federal Government reaffirmed their commitment. Â
The State Government reaffirmed their commitment. Local, no. No, we’re going to put it on hold. Is this something that’s going to be brought to the next election, the next re-elections?  The only dates that are provided in that section of the budget review is the 2025-26 budget, it’s Â
The only dates that are mentioned. It mentions the deferral of funds from the 2023-24 and the 2024-25  budget and with funds entering again in 2025-26. All of this debate never would have happened,  this conversation didn’t need to be brought up, if the LORD MAYOR owned up, if the LORD Â
MAYOR just provided a list, what’s getting cut. It’s a simple request, it’s not complicated,  it’s not outlandish. What’s getting cut? It’s our job as Councillors, like Councillor  COLLIER said, it’s our job to stand up for our communities. We get told that we Â
Obviously only support rate rises because we don’t support these cuts. No, that’s not true,  we support transparency, it’s all we’ve ever asked for. What’s actually getting cut? What  does this mean? We can’t blindly support a budget review when we don’t know what’s Â
Getting cut. We don’t know what’s in it. How can anyone with a shred of integrity support  something when you don’t have the detail? Everyone on the other side of this Chamber  has the ability to stand up tonight and stand up for their communities, stand up for transparency. Â
I challenge everyone to do it. Further speakers? Councillor ATWOOD. Thank you, Chair. I also rise  to join the debate tonight and I just wanted to set the record straight for Lindum. We’ve  already heard from two of the speakers on this side tonight regarding Lindum and both of them Â
Were very, very clear, we still have $1 million in the budget for this year, $1 million. I’m not sure  where Councillor WHITMEE is getting her figures from, but I’m not sure what $1 million means,  that’s not quite a lot of money. Also, Councillor WHITMEE spoke about the Lindum station upgrade Â
From the State Government. I’m not quite sure if a station and an open level crossing are  the same things, because they’re not. While I appreciate it’s an extremely  important upgrade, to say that the Council are—sorry, the State Member for Lytton has Â
Funded the upgrade of the open level crossing by doing a station platform upgrade, is completely  misleading and I am just so confused by that. But anyway, so just to correct the record. Yes,  the State Member does support it, but we haven’t received any money from the Â
State Government yet or the Federal Government. Whilst they said to you on Facebook this past  week, yes, there has been a lot of work on this site, $8 million dollars so far, I’m not sure who  you think are paying for those upgrades if we’re not. Like I also mentioned, we must have some Â
Incredible philanthropists in our community. But guess what, it’s Council who are paying for it and  we are doing the upgrade and we’re the only one at the moment. Whilst we can keep peddling this  narrative, Councillor WHITMEE, it is not true. Councillor interjecting. It is not true at all. Â
Anyway, you can keep trying but I promise you, like I said on Facebook, if you talk about the  wonderful things Brisbane City Council are doing down at Lindum, your community will  actually thank you and support you and vote for you, if you talk about these upgrades. Â
Not trying to paddle a petition once again, it makes no sense. But anyway, if you want to  keep talking about it, I’ll keep correcting the record because we are spending money,  we’ll continue to spend money and that’s Lindum. Councillors interjecting. Thank you. Thank you,  Councillor. Further speakers?Â
Councillor MASSEY. Thank you, Chair. I stand to speak on item L. What we see here is an amendment  of the budget after the LORD MAYOR’s own goal. Remembering that the LORD MAYOR delivers the  budget and less than four months later, must now roam Council to make cuts, facilitate delays, Â
Find the spin to dispel the depths of this terrible situation for Brisbane residents.  The LORD MAYOR has said previously that about 90% of services are going to go ahead, but this in  itself is disingenuous at best because we know not 100% of the budget is delivered just in services.Â
There have been Councillors here and other Councillors and there might be more after  me that will list the projects that they can find and point to them and point to the gaps  and delays and hint at the fact that delays under the LNP Administration tend to be a little bit Â
More permanent than just a delay. But what I read in these papers was a darker story for residents  of Brisbane, one that will reverberate effects for years and years to come in future budgets. Councillors interjecting. Councillors, please. Councillor MASSEY, you’ve got the call. Thank you, Â
Chair. As I was saying, the dark story here for residents of Brisbane is going to have  effects for years and years to come. We can see that in the budget estimates because  what I see here is a budget allocation of feast, to get through this budget year, Â
To find a way to deliver what they can. That will however, for years ahead, lead to famine. We can  see in program for Transport Brisbane, feasting for now but restricted clearly in the future. It’s clear, as I’ve been stating since budgets, there is no budget line for bridges, Â
While future ferry terminals and upgrades are clearly on the line. You can see this  through the capital budget expense decline. The same is there for program three, Clean,  Green and Sustainable, as soon as we hit 2024 the capital expense drops dramatically, so does Â
The expenses and this is after the delay of flood projects, cuts to consultants, travel, et cetera. In program five, Lifestyle and Community Services, we see some of the most significant tragedy,  possibly a fault, for the future of Brisbane. A budget that is already thin compared to its Â
Counterparts. We look here, and we see a capital expense in 2026-27 of $11 million  within three years. Think about how many Council facilities we all have that need  to be upgraded in the future, that need to be built in the future, across the city.Â
The truth is the damage of the LORD MAYOR’s own goal, will go on for years. As we see projects  initially delayed, then delayed for more extended periods, then eventually cancelled. Across the  board, we see cuts and delays for active transport, parks, park upgrades, community Â
Facilities, intersection upgrades, road corridors, libraries, pools, et cetera. All the while,  there’s reductions of income with infrastructure charges to developers and reduced staff capacity.  I hear some roles aren’t actually being backfilled now, when they go on leave, which I can only Â
Imagine is incredibly stressful for stuff. Of course, we don’t know the full numbers  of the casuals or contractors that are now unemployed before Christmas,  but they probably have bitterness in their mouths and how depressing is that? What a betrayal of the Â
Residents for Brisbane, for whom this Council are supposed to deliver services to. The spin  just earlier today, we just heard the LORD MAYOR talk about investors leaving the market, right,  because apparently houses just disappear. Is that what happens to properties? It seems to Â
Suggest that a renter buying a house for the first time is a bad thing, is a bad thing. I wonder what first time homeowners across Brisbane who have finally been able to buy their  first property and leave their rental behind, think about that. I also wonder what many, Â
Many people under the age of 40 across our city, that are dreaming of buying a property,  thinks about what the LORD MAYOR just said. That they should be stuck being renters for what,  forever? Rather than having the opportunity to buy their first property. Point of order. Â
Just one moment, Councillor MASSEY. Point of order, Councillor MURPHY.  Will Councillor MASSEY take a question? Councillor MASSEY, would you care to take— No, Councillor MURPHY. Councillor MASSEY, you’ve got the call. I think  the worst thing about this situation is the fact that the sight of what these cuts will cost in the Â
Future, not just today, we see these cuts, we know the Administration is trying to do whatever it can  to plug that hole. We know that Administration is doing the spin, like it’s binary, like options of  binary. If you don’t support us, it’s just a rate increase. But the worst thing is the Â
Fact that the sight of destruction for future budgets is years away from true transparency. I think the saddest thing too, is that the LORD MAYOR thinks he’s going to get away with it.  Is banking that not a single Member of the LNP Administration questions the financial Â
Mismanagement of this budget. Is banking on playing on the fear of rate increases, while  residents across Brisbane will not only get less today, but tomorrow and potentially every year  after. I think that’s incredibly depressing, and I take no joy in what we’re doing here tonight, Â
And I don’t think any Councillors should. But I will also say, I don’t think it’s  going to work and the reason I don’t think it’s going to work is because  people are going to notice. We’re not going to be able to pretend that these cuts, this spin, Â
Is going to continue. We can see it in the budget, we can see it’s all publicly known. I just don’t  think it’s going to work this time and I think, how sad for the City of Brisbane and its residents Â
That it’s come down to this, four months after the budget was passed. Thank you, Chair. Thank you. Further speakers? Councillor CUNNINGHAM. Thanks, Mr Chair. I  rise to speak on item L. Mr Chair, the budget was handed down in June and different to what those Â
Opposite have suggested, the budget doesn’t just appear out of thin air a week later. As the LORD  MAYOR had said, it comes after months and months of planning, development, modelling and it’s all  based on the March quarter economic indicators. As I referenced last week, the November RBA Â
Statement of Monetary Policy said, while inflation in Australia has passed its peak,  it’s still too high and is proving more persistent than expected a few months ago. They also said,  the updated forecasts have inflation in Australia higher in the near term and taking a bit longer to Â
Return to the top of the bank’s target range. This is borne out in real figures, Mr Chair,  published by the ABS. This is the environment in which this budget review is responding to. In addition, there are a number of other factors which have driven the sensible savings that this Â
Administration is pursuing. We’ve discussed the reduced funding from QRA, compared to what we’d  hoped to receive in the budget. We also concluded the last EBA process after budget development,  this is an important point because it saw Council workers provided with a higher than budgeted Â
Wage increase. One that specifically provides larger increases to staff in the lower bands,  to give them the much needed support that those families need in difficult cost of living times. As Councillor WINES has said to this Chamber, we’ve seen cost increases on our capital projects, Â
Both large and small. When it comes to our major congestion busting projects, they have been  brought into this Chamber in a very transparent fashion. Because unlike the Labor State Government  we have been honest and upfront with all residents in Brisbane about the cost increases that this Â
Council is facing. Since the budget was handed down, the Chamber was informed of escalation on  the Moggill Road corridor upgrade project. Unlike the State Government, we don’t have  revenue taps to switch on at will. There’s no coal mine, there’s no coal royalties. Â
We’re projecting up to $60 million of reduced infrastructure charges this financial year alone,  due to lower than expected building completions. We have a $5.9 million decline in forecast rates  revenue year to date, as properties transfer from investors to owner occupiers. In this review we’ve Â
Loaded a budget reduction of $12 million in terms of reducing what we expect will come in parking  infringements. We’re bringing forward $56 million in expenditure this financial year for Brisbane  Metro and Green Bridges, due to projects meeting their key milestones earlier than forecast.Â
We’ve seen reduced revenue in a number of areas and we’re seeing increased costs in a number of  areas and we’re less than five months into a financial year. We need to reduce the costs  of this Council and we need to do it now. There’s no kicking the can down the road, Â
That would be a destructive approach. Those opposite might think that the answer is to  charge residents more, but our answer is to find sensible savings and keep the focus on cost of  living relief. incentivising housing supply and building congestion busting projects.Â
Labor’s approach, on the other hand though, is to pretend there’s no issue and double down by  announcing well over $100 million in unfunded promises, not even to start on the commitments  made by their future coalition partners, the Greens. On this side of the Chamber, Â
Mr Chair, we’re doing the sensible thing. Just because you find modest savings doesn’t mean  the city grinds to a halt, far from it in fact. This Labor Opposition doesn’t  understand how to manage finances and they don’t respect residents’ ratepayer dollars.Â
They measure success in terms of how many dollars are spent, not on the actual outcomes that are  delivered in our communities. In their world the concepts of savings and efficiencies are  foreign. We’ve seen other governments announce savings plans in the past, and we’ve seen it Â
From Cameron Dick, and we’ve even seen it from Dan Andrews. The second budget review before  us today reflects the savings to be made and the cost pressures that we are experiencing. In finding savings, we’ve identified $24 million in scope productions for Brisbane Metro, and we Â
Will have a $7 million saving on the Breakfast Creek Green Bridge. We’re saving $4 million this  year by deferring the delivery of upgrades at Victoria Bridge. We’ve identified $70 million in  sensible savings over the next four years in areas like IT contracts, back of office efficiencies, Â
Fleet replacement, consultants, contractors, catering and travel, even advertising has  had reductions, by $1 million. We’ve reduced Councillor ward budgets by 10% and will delay  renovations or relocations of ward offices, saving $1.5 million. We also have savings of $3 million, Â
Due to the drier start to spring, which simply meant that as not as much cutting was required. Labor opposes responsible approach to service delivery. and they want a new  in-house team for grass cutting it seems, which ratepayers would pay all year round, Â
Whether or not it’s needed. Mr Chair, due to not receiving $50 million in QRA funding for  various projects, there will be some projects in the space which are rolled into our BAU program  for future funding and that is something that Councillor WINES has discussed in this place. Â
Despite what they may say, our investments in areas like road resurfacing and footpaths,  remains broadly in line with what they were last year, if not higher in some circumstances. Mr Chair, the budget review before us sees Council’s operating capability surplus decrease Â
By $11.8 million. Loaded revenue reductions total $17.3 million. Forecast reductions in QRA revenue,  rates revenue and developer contributions, are being actively monitored but are not loaded in  this review and the savings policies we’re putting in place respond to these expected  further reductions. For example. there are some final items which we’re still waiting Â
For an outcome from the QRA, and we remain hopeful. There is an overall decrease in  operating expenses of $5.4 million and the capital spend is projected to decrease by $12 million. Despite this, our budgeted investment in capital infrastructure for our growing city this financial Â
Year, remains a record. Our borrowings remain at published levels and there is no material change  in net debt per capita. I’m just going to say that again for Councillors, there is no material change  in the net debt per capita despite all of this. In program eight, we’ll see many corporate savings Â
Initiatives, but we want to ensure ratepayers that our back of house is as efficient as it can be,  to ensure that the money that we spend is focused on outcomes on the ground and in our suburbs. As  I’ve mentioned $70 million in savings has been identified. It includes $4.5 million in deferred Â
Fleet replacement and a number of savings on ICT and contracts. Sorry, point of order. Point of  order, Councillor JOHNSTON. Do we have a 9 o’clock problem? No. Okay. No, no, no. That was removed. Councillor CUNNINGHAM, you’ve got the call. Mr Chair, as was discussed during Question Time, Â
The allocation with associated revenue for a new SES depot at Bracken Ridge. I want to be  clear that we still support this project, we are just seeking the commitment and contribution from  the State and Federal Government and a bit of common sense wouldn’t go astray from the State, Â
To come to a deal on the land, in the interests of both of our residents. It’s clear that work  won’t start this financial year and so we’ll put it back in the budget when the outstanding matters  with the other level of governments are resolved. Tonight, Mr Chair, Councillor CASSIDY has once Â
Again showed he can’t read papers or understand financial statements. He said that last year  we had to borrow more in November, but what actually happened was our annual application  to QTC was exactly in line with what was approved in the— Councillor CUNNINGHAM— —June 2022 budget.  —your time has expired. Further speakers.Â
Councillor STRUNK. Thank you, Chair. I rise to speak on this item, as I think every Councillor  should in this Chamber, even if we’re here till midnight. You’ve got to stand up for  your community, you’ve got to stand up for the right to get a good percentage of their rates to Â
Support their community or the ward that they live in. When this first was announced by the  LORD MAYOR, a $400 million cut or 10%, right, I thought, well I thought like a lot of my  residents thought, well what are we going to lose? What are we going to lose in services and support? Â
Even in some of the funding that comes out of the ward offices, out of a ward fund of course,  because a lot of mine, as I know probably a lot of the other Councillors, use some of that to Â
Support community groups for all sorts of things. When they started asking about maybe a little bit  of extra funding, whatever, I said, well it would have been helpful not to have had about  the $9,000 cut, but we still try to work out as much as we could to help them out, of course.Â
But anyway, to Councillor WHITMEE’s point in regard to a list of what is going to be cut in  every one of our wards right, potentially, what can we tell our residents? All we can say is,  there’s going to be a 10% cut, because that’s all the LORD MAYOR has told us. Â
He hasn’t given us an itemised list, on grass cutting, on lake maintenance, which  is a big issue as every Councillor here knows. Of course, over the years I’ve had a lot of  issues with the maintenance, and it finally has been corrected, right. But if we lose any of that Â
$1.2 million and that’s just not my lake, that’s other lakes as well, if we lose that sort of money  or even $120,000, which is probably about four or five harvests, in my lake anyways, that will be Â
A great impact on my lake and I’m sure the other lake in Parkinson, not too far from Forest Lake as  well and there are other lakes across Brisbane. Parks is another one and you only have to look  at some of the age of some of our park infrastructure, playgrounds especially. Â
I know Emily Kim has just gone through the Calamvale Ward park and she’s pointed out some  really bad stuff in there that’s been all taped off and everything. There’s just not enough money  already being spent in upgrading those parks, let alone the cuts that potentially can happen for Â
Those park upgrades outside of our set funding. That’s about $2.5 million, which isn’t a lot of  money quite frankly, when you consider how many parks and how much playground equipment there is  across Brisbane that needs to be maintained. Now as I say, the other issue of course is a Â
Road resurfacing and we know how much is being cut out of that, thank you, LORD MAYOR. I just  hope Boundary Road isn’t one of them, because this is the road during the 2022 floods that I lost two Â
Tires in on two occasions, one tire each, because of the potholes and it’s really hard to maintain,  well especially the floods on it. Yes, you’re getting a great lot of water hitting the road  and it does hollow out, but it just showed me how bad Boundary Road actually was and Â
Hadn’t been properly maintained over the years, that that could happen during the 2022 floods. But that wasn’t the only road, but that was certainly one of the worst and I just hope that  resurfacing, of a bit over $1 million, is not going to be kicked down the road or just cut, Â
Because it would be very disappointing. Especially, as it leads into an industrial  estates as well, but a golf course, the Oxley Golf Course and they’re looking at  doing a major upgrade to the course leading up to the next Olympics, so that’s a pretty Â
Important road to the Oxley Golf Club, along with the industrial estate at Richlands as well. If we have a look at some of the upgrades of some of the—well I suppose footpaths is another one,  footpath reconstruction is one that’s been a been a bit of an issue. We’ve had to wait Â
For a reasonable length, well not reasonable length of time, an unreasonable length of time,  to get some of the reconstruction done, because we have had people that have tripped. Yes,  they’ve gone out and tried to make it as safe as possible, but of course those patches don’t really Â
Last a long time and they become problematic as well, so that reconstruction. I do have a  lot of footpaths in my ward and a lot of them of course are of the old design, which is probably Â
Well less than one meter wide, about 600 in some cases, especially in the Inala and Durack areas. When we do the reconstruction and when we do put new footpaths in, but mostly the reconstruction,  of course it’s got to be to the code that exists today. As Council pointed out how much that costs Â
But safety is really important for people to be able to get around, so they don’t have to walk  onto the roads to push a pram or just to walk to a school. It’s fairly important that we have  that infrastructure and we’ve been saying this for a number of years, we’re just not investing Â
Enough in footpaths and now the reconstruction is being cut, it just doubles down on the fact  that we’re just not doing enough to return the ratepayers money to them where they live. Illegal dumping, I still have a bit of that left over from the cancellation Â
Kerbside collection a few years back. I mean we’ve always had some illegal dumping right,  don’t get me wrong. I have a lot of units of accommodation in my area, a lot of the townhouse  unit complexes and things like that and in a lot of cases the people of course if they do move, Â
They tend to leave it out on the verge. Now the managers of those complexes are trying to do their  best to stop that of course, but when people move out—I mean in most cases of course they don’t have Â
Trailers and things like that to take it off to the—even though they got the vouchers, they just  don’t have the wherewithal to be able to take it to the refuge centre, so I understand that. The teams come out and take care of it but if there’s going to be some cuts—I mean, Â
If we have a look at what we call the flying gangs, of course there’s $4.3 million, again,  not a lot of money when you consider right across Brisbane, but you certainly wouldn’t want to cut Â
Any of that right, at this time or at any time, for that matter. But we don’t know what you’re  cutting because we don’t have a list, we don’t have a list to be able to tell our residents, Â
This is what you can expect over the next—well for the rest of the financial year. I think it’s  reasonable that we should be able to at least tell them, for the LORD MAYOR to come clean and say Â
Listen, yes, we’ve had to do this because we have a big black hole in our budget of $400 million. That’s the other thing too that really irks me, is the fact that when they were putting together Â
The 2023-24 budget they knew, they knew that they were going to have to bring down a mini budget,  they knew that. But don’t let a good press release get in front of a problem. What they did do is,  they just brought down that budget and said, aren’t we great managers of money, Â
We’re still going to show a surplus, it won’t be as big as the previous year, but it will be  a substantial surplus. Then within 12 weeks guess what happened, the chickens came home to roost. Honestly if you think people out there don’t understand how budgets work, there’s many, Â
Many people that know how budgets work because they budget their own household so they know  how—if they knew that there was going to be problems, you knew there was going to be problems  but you didn’t want to deal with them, you wanted to kick it down the road and then bring it down Â
Just before Christmas and then you would hope that everyone would forget about it come January—it’s  like taking out the trash or as the Opposition leader said, Councillor CASSIDY said, taking out  the trash and that’s exactly what has happened. Then if you only have to look at of course the Â
Priority in the E&C, is virtually the last item on the E&C, there was a few hundred people watching  earlier today when we were talking about very positive things and now there’s probably less than  80 watching. You knew the fact that you were going to bring it to the last meeting of this session. Â
You knew that it was going to happen before Christmas. You’re hoping that everyone’s going  to forget about it by January. But I can assure you, we’re not going to let people forget and  all of the candidates out there in their field, whether they be Greens or ALP candidates, we’re Â
Going to remind people— Councillor STRUNK, your time has expired. Thank you. Further speakers. Councillor GRIFFITHS. Thanks, Mr Chair, and I thought I’d allow the LNP Councillors to get  up and speak. I suppose I’m disturbed at how few LNP Councillors have actually offered any opinion Â
In this Chamber, just silent. I wonder if they speak up in the party room, Councillor JOHNSTON?  I wonder if they just sit there like dummies— Councillors interjecting. —just like  dummies and don’t— Councillors. —say anything. Councillor GRIFFITHS, if you are going to direct Â
Any comments to other Councillors in this Chamber, it is to be done through the Chair. I’m just  wondering, I wasn’t directing it to any— No, I was talking about when you were talking to Councillor  JOHNSTON. Oh right, okay, thank you. Through you, Mr Chair. Thank you. Anyway, I’m really concerned, Â
And electors should be concerned. The residents of Brisbane should be concerned about the performance  of their Councillors. Because what I see and what I’ve seen constantly, is that Councillors in this  Chamber, LNP Councillors in this Chamber, come in here and vote one way and then go out to the Â
Community and go, that’s that bad Council. The bad Council they belong to and that they vote  through the policies and through the finances of. It’s like this hypocrisy that’s going on. So yes,  I am disturbed that so few LNP Councillors have got up to speak. Now, it’s been eight hours since Â
This meeting opened, eight hours we’ve been going and we’re now talking about item L. It’s eight  hours since we started the last meeting of this term. Point of order, Mr Chair. Point of order.  Relevance. It is eight hours, could he speak to the report please? I’m actually speaking—Â
Councillors interjecting. —I’m speaking— Councillors. I don’t  know if that was— Councillor GRIFFITHS. Councillors interjecting. Just wait. I  will draw you back to the report, Councillor GRIFFITHS. The point I’m making, Mr Chair,  is that this Administration is complaining about the time it’s taken for this meeting. It Â
Has been—this Administration— Point of order, Chair. Just one moment. Councillor GRIFFITHS. Point of order, DEPUTY MAYOR. I know I can’t claim misrepresentation, but my point of order  was relevance. He’s the one complaining about the time. Thank you. No, I think your complaining Â
About the time. Councillor GRIFFITHS, through the Chair. My point is— Through the Chair. Through the  Chair, my point is that this is the last meeting, eight hours into the last meeting of the last  term, that we’re talking about $400 million worth of cuts, that hasn’t been brought in by this LNP Â
Administration for the whole term. There are so many agenda items here, yes, we’re all back here  late, there are so many agenda items here because you have done so poorly in managing the agenda Â
For so long and we’re all wearing it. Yes, I get it’s a strategy not to talk about it. I get it’s a  strategy that you don’t want media drawn on it. I understand all that. But what I don’t get is that Â
You aren’t facing the residents of Brisbane and actually facing up to what you’re doing. Now, let’s not—over this term and over the 20 years this LNP Administration have been here,  let’s not forget about their spending. It’s been focused on the inner city, hugely focused on the Â
Inner city. There is project after project after project, in the inner city. In the last few years,  I figured that to be over $3 billion has been spent on projects on inner city infrastructure.  When you spend money on inner city infrastructure it means the suburbs are missing out, it means Â
We’re seeing staff cuts. I’m really disturbed, I am very disturbed by the LORD MAYOR and the LNP,  by the way they view contractors as opposed to our permanent workforce, I’m really disturbed. But that comes down to the Liberal view of workers, they’re just a commodity, they’re just Â
To be purchased, they’re not to be valued, they don’t have anything to offer, other than what we  can buy at the time we need them. There are people out there who are really hurting at the moment in  relation to their cut from Brisbane City Council. Yes, it is a significant point of difference Â
Between the LNP And the Labor Party and that’s why I sit on this side of the Chamber. That’s  why I didn’t join the Liberal Party, because I don’t agree with the way you treat your workers. Â
I don’t agree with the way you value your workers. But let’s see what sort of cuts are happening in  our suburbs. We’re now seeing that it takes over one year, over one year to fix a footpath that a Â
Disabled person can’t use, one year. It now takes over one year to get a tree trimmed.  The Bus Stop program, Accessibility program, has been cut. There’s less being spent on our  facilities in the suburbs. What I’m seeing in terms of the facilities that my residents use Â
Who have accessibility issues, is that we can’t afford to put new lights in bus stops, we can’t  afford—and just drive past, if any of you cared to drive past, drive past the PA Hospital and have a Â
Look at the dimly lit bus stop that we provide for patients and residents outside the PA Hospital. Goodness knows, I’ve put that through so many times and it’s, Councillor,  we can’t do that. Sorry Councillor, we think it’s okay. There’s another bus stop on the corner of Â
Victoria Terrace and Ipswich Road, no lights. I often drive past there, seeing residents in  that stop waiting for a bus service and there is no—it’s total blackness, total darkness.  I’ve written in and asked for a light to be put there. Oh no, Councillor, not many people use it.Â
In Rocklea, we recently did an upgrade of a bus stop. We did the lighting, we put the new concrete  in, we just didn’t have any money to connect that footpath to the shopping centre so the goat track,  the dirt goat track that people have to push their wheelchairs through still exists. Written off, Â
Put memos in, oh Councillor, we can’t find money for that. These are the services I can’t find  money for residents because of the cuts. I was interested to hear Councillor ADAMS  before, she’s always spruiking on, the most small-business-friendly Council in Australia, Â
Where you’ve just cut the Suburban Shopping Centre program, that’s been cut, it’s gone. Certainly,  the businesses that were going to experience good times from that program in Salisbury are  very disappointed. Councillor DAVIS parks, we just can’t get things repaired. There are light poles—I Â
Noticed Councillor CASSIDY talked about a major light pole that fell across a field. I had a pole,  a light pole in a park, just fall across a pathway. Oh, we can’t get it repaired,  we’ve made it safe, we’ve stopped the electricity. We’ve made it safe, but we Â
Don’t know how long it will be to repair it. Councillor WINES was going on about the flood  authority, QRA, not providing enough money to repair roads. Well, I got the inside goss on  that and apparently if the roads were in bad condition before the flooding occurred, the Â
QRA won’t fund us to repair them to a level that they were before the flooding. How’s that amazing?  In my ward there’s so many roads that won’t be repaired under QRA money because they were in such  a bad condition before the flooding. That’s the story I’m getting from officers. It was the duping Â
We were trying to do, the cost shifting we were trying to do on to another level of government. There’s been a lot of blame tonight, there’s been a lot of blame of the Federal Government,  on Labor Government, there’s a lot of blame on the State Government, everyone’s to blame, Â
We’re to blame apparently. Councillor CASSIDY, you’re to blame. You’re in control,  you’re in control, you desperately wanted it, you’ve held onto it,  you’ve done everything to hold it, own it, own it. I just think really what I’d say the LORD Â
MAYOR is it has to be— Councillor GRIFFITHS, your time has expired. —about the residents. Thank you. Further speakers. Councillor HOWARD. Thank you,  Mr Chair. Well, I rise to enter the debate on item L. I was disturbed, of course, to hear  that Councillor GRIFFITHS is disturbed. Councillors interjecting. Yes. Well, Â
We’ve been listening to a lot of talk from the other side tonight. Through you, Mr Chair,  households across Brisbane are tightening their budgets and they’re making responsible decisions,  just as we are doing. This budget is sensible, it means that 90% of the work that Council does will Â
Remain unchanged. If you listen to the rhetoric that we’ve heard in the last, I don’t know  how many hours was it, eight, eight hours, you would think that the world is coming to an end. Well, it’s not, we’re being sensible, this side of the Chamber is the sensible grownup Â
Side of the Chamber, that realises that we have a global inflation crisis. It realises that when  these sorts of things start happening, when costs start rising, we’ve got emerging issues requiring  changes to the timing of expenditure for key projects, to allow for maximum efficiency and Â
Effectiveness and delivery, it says right here in our papers. Do these people read the papers?  For eight hours we’ve been listening to this. Councillor interjecting. Councillor GRIFFITHS. Councillor interjecting. Councillor JOHNSTON. Councillor HOWARD. You see, Mr Chair, when Â
They’ve really got nothing to say, they just want to use name calling, it’s just ridiculous We just  really need to understand that everyone is facing a cost of living crisis and we have the Schrinner  Administration, which has taken the positive steps that we’ve taken, to make sure that we Â
Are keeping our costs down, sensible savings. Councillors interjecting. You know, Mr Chair,  I don’t very often interrupt people but it’s a shame that when I do stand,  that the Leader of the Opposition is constantly. Councillors interjecting. So, through you,  Mr Chair. If I may continue. Just one moment, Councillor HOWARD. Thank you, Â
Mr Chair. Councillor CASSIDY, I consider that you are displaying unsuitable meeting conduct  and in accordance with section 21(4) of Meetings Local Law 2001, I hereby request that you refrain  from interjecting while others are speaking. Councillor HOWARD, you’ve got the call. Thank you, Â
Mr Chair. Mr Chair, can I just remind the Chamber that we are keeping costs down, we’re  building better transport, we’re incentivising housing and we’re investing in our suburbs,  that is our priorities. Our $2 summer dips and our half price green waste recycling bins will Â
Continue, because we’re determined to do what we can help residents with the rising  living costs. Councils collect just three per cent of the revenue and we’d be able to do so  much more if the Federal Labor Government was backing Brisbane, that just doesn’t Â
Happen and it’s often that we don’t even hear— Councillor interjecting. Councillor CASSIDY,  you’ve just been warned. You’ve just been warned. Don’t ruin my Christmas. Councillor HOWARD, you’ve got the call. Thank you, Mr Chair. It is really difficult, Â
And I know it’s quite late, but I just really want to put on the record our thanks,  this side of the Chamber, the thanks to all of our Council officers out there who are working  side by side with us to make sure that we can— Councillor interjecting. Councillor HOWARD, Â
You’ve got the call. Thank you, Mr Chair. Please continue, Councillor HOWARD. It’s very difficult,  Mr Chair. Yes, I do understand, but please continue. Mr Chair, through you I just want  to put on the record our thanks to all of the Council officers out there who are working Â
Side by side with us and making sure that we are delivering for the residents of Brisbane.  It’s a choice between spending less or making residents pay more and we’ve chosen to spend  less and those who oppose our approach support charging residents more. I just want to say—Â
Councillor interjecting. Councillor WHITMEE. Honestly, Mr Chair. Please continue,  Councillor HOWARD. Thank you. Mr Chair, I just want to again put on the record  my thanks to all of our Council officers and to just remind the Chamber that those on this side, Â
The Schrinner Council, is about making sure that we are having sensible savings to put downward  pressure on our rates. Thank you. Thank you. Any further speakers? I see no one rising. LORD MAYOR, right of reply. Thank you, Mr Chair. There’s been a couple of comments made Â
This evening that is a very clear difference between the approach of those on the Labor  side and the Green side and our side and that is absolutely correct, because we actually care about  the money that is managed on behalf of the people of Brisbane. Instead of continuing to spend like Â
Drunken sailors like they appear to be doing up the road at George Street, we show some restraint. We’ve been very clear with people that we’ve needed to reduce Council spending  across the board by 10% in a time when people are doing the same thing in their own budgets, Â
In a time where businesses and in a time when even the Federal Government is reducing the pressure  on their spending, we are doing that in a very clear matter with the people of Brisbane. We’ve  been up front, we announced what we’d be doing last month. We’ve continued through and tabled Â
This document last week in Council. It’s come through to this meeting for debate and approval. There is a very clear difference because while we’ll continue to invest record amounts in the  suburbs of Brisbane and building for the future growth of our city and the infrastructure that our Â
City needs, the other side has no plans whatsoever on anything. They’ve had now a full four year term  to come up with any kind of alternative. This is the last meeting of not only this year but of the Â
Entire four year term and what they’ve got is, they’ve got a really poor copy of the campaign  against Campbell Newman, that they have used for years and years up in the State. But they haven’t  realised that that’s wearing out for the State Government, and it won’t work for them either.Â
Because right now, more than ever, people want governments to treat the money that they pay in  rates and taxes with respect, to spend it wisely, to not waste it and they want it to be spent on  building things that will make their lives better in the future. This idea that we should magically Â
Just keep spending money that we don’t have, is a real point of difference. Because really,  I go back to the point I made last week and in October, there are two choices here, either we  reduce our spending in a sensible manner, or the pressure is on for future rate increases.Â
Now we’ve been very careful to keep rating increase as low as possible and they have  been under inflation throughout the entire time that I’ve been LORD MAYOR, that entire stretch,  rates have risen less than inflation for that period of time. Our record is very clear, it’s a Â
Demonstrated record and Labor’s record by the same token is very clear because they increased rates  by more than six per cent four times, when they— Councillor interjecting. No, it’s true,  it is a fact. It is it is a fact of history that under the last Labor Administration rates were Â
Increased by six per cent, not once— Councillor interjecting. Do you hear  that? Ye, I can LORD MAYOR. Councillor interjecting.  That’s actually less than inflation, Councillor CASSIDY. I know these basic  principles are a mystery to you. Councillors interjecting. Actually, Â
Speaking of basic principles, Mr Chair, do you remember earlier when I spoke, I said it’s a  $4.3 billion budget. Councillor CASSIDY goes, no it’s not. I said, yes, it is. He goes, no it’s  not. Yes. Okay, page two of the budget review, I draw you down, right near the bottom of the page—Â
Councillor interjecting. —the line that says— Councillor interjecting. LORD MAYOR,  just one moment, please. Councillors interjecting. This Muppet. Seriously,  this Muppet needs— LORD MAYOR, please. —to do the company director’s course. Councillor CASSIDY,  as you’ve failed to comply with the request to take remedial action for your unsuitable meeting Â
Conduct, I hereby warn you in accordance with section 21(6) of Meetings Local Law,  that failing to comply with the request may result in an order being issued. Councillors interjecting. LORD MAYOR. Thank you, Mr Chair.  So— Point of order. —basic understanding— Councillor interjecting. Sorry, Â
Sorry. LORD MAYOR, just one moment. Councillor JOHNSTON. I know you’d be  very concerned about name calling, is that suitable meeting behaviour? I know  Councillor HOWARD would also be very concerned. Sorry, I missed—sorry, who called who what? Councillors interjecting. Yes. Councillors interjecting. Councillor Â
JOHNSTON, I don’t uphold your point of order. LORD MAYOR, you’ve got the call. Thank you. Look,  I know understanding basic financial statements is a challenge for Councillor  CASSIDY— Just one moment, LORD MAYOR. If everyone would shut the hell up,  I would be able to hear things. LORD MAYOR. Thank you, Mr Chair. So— Â
Point of order. —let’s go back to— Point of order. Just one moment, LORD MAYOR. Councillor JOHNSTON. That’s not appropriate, I wasn’t interjecting,  and a lot of other people weren’t interjecting and telling us to shut the hell up is not  appropriate, so I ask you to withdraw. Councillors interjecting. I don’t uphold Â
Your point of order. I did tell you I had a short fuse coming into this meeting. Councillors interjecting. LORD MAYOR, you’ve got the call. Councillor interjecting. Thank you. Okay. Back to page two, Mr Chair. Councillors interjecting. Councillor CASSIDY. Councillors interjecting. Councillor CASSIDY. Â
Mr Chair, back to page two. Thank you. A basic simple fact about this budget review, which shows  that they haven’t even read the document and even if they have read it, they certainly don’t  understand it. At the bottom of the expenses line, it says approved budget 2023-24 $4.3 billion. The Â
Budget review, approved expenses $4.3 billion. Councillor interjecting. If they can’t understand  a basic fact that it was a $4.3 billion budget, it still is a $4.3 billion budget, then you can’t  believe anything that they say, but that’s been the case all term because they have continued Â
To take the lazy route, they’ve continued to just be negative and bitter and angry,  to tonight not come with any alternative policy position. Meanwhile under their very eyes they  have enabled the most dangerous and destructive political party, the Greens, to get to a position Â
Where Labor will be overtaken by the Greens at the next election. I have no doubt that Labor  will be going backwards at the next election and the Greens will be going forward and— Councillor interjecting. Councillor MASSEY. —and it is thanks to the vacuum of leadership Â
That we have seen, the vacuum of policies that we’ve seen on the Labor side of the Chamber. It  is really quite remarkable, it is really quite remarkable that a party that has one Councillor,  has eclipsed the Labor Party, a once great party that stood for something, a once great party that Â
Cared. But it has happened and tonight and in March we will see the evidence of that decline. Councillor interjecting. Councillor STRUNK. Look, Councillor CASSIDY,  I am worried that you have allowed a dangerous and destructive party to eclipse the Labor Party,  I am very worried because— Point of order. Councillors interjecting. Just Â
One moment, LORD MAYOR. Councillors interjecting. Just  give me a second. It’s past his bedtime. You with us, Councillor MASSEY? Thank you. Councillor JOHNSTON, you’ve got a point of order. Yes. Thank you, Mr Chairman. I’m sure you’ll want Â
To pull the LORD MAYOR up on directly referring to Councillor CASSIDY in his speech. Thank you. LORD MAYOR, any comments to other Councillors, please pass them through the Chair, for the  remainder of every meeting in this quadrennial. I will. I promise. Thank you. Through you, Â
To Mr CASSIDY—Councillor CASSIDY—yes, look, I am actually worried because, look, we’ve seen  in the past, Labor Administrations—we’ve seen good Labor Administrations. We’ve  seen not so good Labor Administrations. We have obviously seen a significant period of  growth and progress with our side of politics in City Hall, and it’s something that we are Â
All determined to continue—that progress. But I think we have seen the last ever Labor  Administration in City Hall. I think that is in the rear view mirror, now. It is due to the vacuum  created by this mob to my right who have spent the last four years being negative and squandering Â
Their time, not developing any agenda, just full of bile and bitterness and personal attacks and  negativity. It is really quite a shame. But I can tell you that we will not allow Australia’s  largest Council to be ruined by Australia’s most dangerous political party. We will continue to Â
Do the right thing for the people of Brisbane. Right, now the right thing involves reigning in  spending in a sensible way to keep the pressure on rates down—something that the Greens or the  Labor Party would never do because they don’t believe in it. But it’s something that we’re Â
Doing because it’s the right thing to do because we are conscious that the people of Brisbane  are doing it tough and they need our support and they need us to keep the pressure on rates down, Â
Just like we have for the time that I’ve been LORD MAYOR and just like we are committed to continue  doing. Thank you, Mr Chair. Thank you, LORD MAYOR. Councillors, we will now put item L to the vote. All those in favour say, aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say, no.Â
Councillors say no. The ayes have it. Division called by Councillor CASSIDY,  seconded by Councillor COLLIER. Ayes to my right, noes to my left. Clerks,  please ring the bells. Councillors, quiet, please. Clerks, please read the results. Mr Chair, Â
The ayes have it, the voting being 19 in favour and seven against. Councillors, the item has  passed. Could you please return to your seats? DEPUTY MAYOR. Mr Chair, I move that the report  of the Economic Development and Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee, Â
Held on Tuesday 21 November 2023, be adopted. Seconded. It has been moved by the DEPUTY MAYOR  and seconded by Councillor HUTTON, that the report of the Economic Development and Brisbane  2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee, held on Tuesday 21 November 2023, be adopted.Â
DEPUTY MAYOR, you’ve got the call. Thank you, Mr Chair. I’m very proud, Chair,  of the Economic Development and Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee tonight,  to stand at the end of this session to go through some of the fantastic achievements that we’ve seen Â
Over the last four years and to give my very big thanks to the officers within the many  branches of this portfolio. Small business are the backbone of Brisbane’s economy and  sit at the core of every industry sector. There’s 136,000 businesses in Brisbane, Â
97% of those are small. These businesses bring our neighbourhoods to life, lead innovation, support  our economy and create employment opportunities for the community. We are committed to being  Australia’s most small-business-friendly city and help vibrant economies right across Brisbane.Â
Some of the list—just some of the list that we’ve done over the last four years—obviously economic  recovery, unwavering support through COVID and the 2022 flood event, the Economic Recovery Taskforce  established in 2020 to support and rebuild our economy in the wake of COVID, relieve, reboot Â
And recover through 88 initiatives, 23,900,000 in relief package provided to local businesses. 41% of businesses surveyed said that when it comes to supporting businesses, growing our local  economy was their number one priority, focusing on long-term financial stability to recover and build  resilience. Business Resilience Program—physical assessments and flood continuity planning to help Â
Businesses bounce back and be better prepared for future disasters, business liaison officers,  a dedicated team of business liaison officers, who post-COVID, proactively visited more than  6,500 businesses across Brisbane. 133 BNE continues—our 24-7 dedicated business hotline,  which gives small business more options. When it comes to support online—online, Â
Call, text, or in person. The Business Hub opened in 2020—23,000 visitors,  12,950 unique businesses, 370 workshops, 445 mentoring sessions with 90 mentors and 100%  satisfaction rate. The Suburban Business Hub opened in 2021, supporting more than  3.5 businesses through business excellence workshops, skill shops, business workshops, Â
Stronger Social Enterprise program, Maker Entrepreneurship Program, Networking In  The Suburbs, connecting and supporting thousands of businesses across Brisbane. Suburban shopfront improvement and shopfront activation programs, improving our suburban  shopping precincts to be more vibrant and attract new tenants. Local retail and activation toolkit, Â
Getting local retail precincts to collaborate and work together to achieve a shared vision,  local business partnerships initiative at Oxford Street and Mount Gravatt Central,  growing precincts together at Racecourse Road and Rosalie Village, and now, Wynnum and Banyo. Women in business grants—$500,000 provided in grant funding to female led businesses, Â
106 women in businesses supported today, $250,000 to be awarded in 2024 and then supporting another  nearly 50 female business owners. Dedicated Business Engagement team engagement team  connecting with local not-for-profit chambers and traders groups on a regular basis, 317,000  downloads of the Brisbane app, free promotion for local businesses and business precincts.Â
A new food truck feature, the Rediscover Brisbane campaign, which gave 5,075 offers through tourism  and experience based local businesses. The city and valley malls, our premier economic precincts,  more than 15,000 events in the CBD in Queen Street Mall—City Sounds, Dine BNE, Shop BNE, Â
Sea To The City, Fridays in the City, festivals like Valley Fiesta, Moon Festival, Lunar New Years  Festival, and the latest, Brunswick Street Live. Delivered more than 600 scholarships through the  LORD MAYOR’s Multicultural Business Scholarship Program, our International Internship Program  matching Brisbane business with local or multicultural international students. The Â
18th year of the LORD MAYOR’s Business Awards just recently, and the Multicultural Business Awards,  making Brisbane’s economy strong through creative resilience and innovative businesses. Then BEDA driving our economy through major events, Proptech, Future Food, MedTech,  the Best of Brisbane Region Experience, our Indigenous relationship building program, Â
And our TIME magazine and Frommer’s travel guide, Best Destinations to Visit. The APCS  held twice in this term—2021 was online, 2023, the biggest and best yet—118 Mayors,  171 cities. Silver and now gold certification for our progress towards the sustainable Â
Development goals given to us by the UN-Habitat. Inner Spark and City Strategy engagement with  more than 6,700 residents at community popup events, which generated 1,960 ideas about the  future of the city. We got close to 30,000 events—votes received on those outcomes, Â
And it led us through the Inner City Strategy and into the Kurilpa Sustainable Growth Precinct. As I said, a long list, but not comprehensive. I want to take this opportunity to thank my  Committee, in particular, my Deputy Chair, Sarah HUTTON, who I know has done a lot of Â
Support for me through many events that I couldn’t be at absolutely everything,  to the team at Economic Development, headed by Ross Giudice, the team at IRMA,  headed by Nicole Andronicus, Brisbane Host City office, headed by Dy Currie, and BEDA, headed by Â
The inimitable Mr Anthony Ryan. You do an amazing job for this city, and I look forward to working  with you in the Schrinner Administration for the next four years as well. Thank you, DEPUTY MAYOR. Further speakers on the report. Councillor CASSIDY. Thanks very much, Â
Chair. I rise to speak on the Economic Development of Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games  Committee, and something’s missing. Something’s missing, Chair. Councillor ADAMS was given  this plum role as the Chair of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Committee by this LORD MAYOR, Â
Who did a deal with the Mayor of—what was that Council—Redlands—LNP Mayor of Redlands Council,  because Councillor ADAMS couldn’t get on the OCOG, was given this special plum  role which was specifically about the Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2032.Â
Councillor ADAMS just done the big sum up of everything that this Committee’s looked at and  didn’t mention the Olympic or Paralympic Games once, so what a joke this Committee actually  was. They’re the concerns we raised. By creating this extra Committee position, we know the LNP Â
Is spending another $250,000 a year by having an extra Civic Cabinet Chair. That’s $1,000,000  over a term this LORD MAYOR’s invested in this Chair of this Committee, who couldn’t think to  mention the Olympic and Paralympic Games once. Well, woops. Further speakers? No one rising.Â
DEPUTY MAYOR, right of reply. No? Councillors interjecting. We will  now put the report. Councillors, can we just have a moment just to let Councillors on this  side of the Chamber calm down. Councillors interjecting. Mm. I  just might, Councillor CASSIDY. We will now put the report to the vote.Â
All those in favour say, aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say, no. The ayes have it. Councillor MURPHY, transport, please? Thank you,  Mr Chair. Last week at the—sorry, I’ll move the report first. How about we do that? I move that Â
The report of the Transport Committee meeting, held on Tuesday 21 November 2023, be adopted.  Seconded. It has been moved by Councillor MURPHY and seconded by Councillor HUTTON, that the report  of the Transport Committee meeting, held on Tuesday 21 November 2023, be adopted.Â
Councillor MURPHY, you’ve got the call. Thank you, Chair. Last week at the Transport Committee,  we had a presentation from our Principal Project Delivery Manager, Phil Stedman,  on the Breakfast Creek green bridge, and the Committee also considered three petitions  requesting Council install bike lane on Annerley Road, requesting Council make Â
Cycling improvements on Sugarmill Road, and an extension of the 199 bus to the RBWH station. But back to Breakfast Creek, Chair, I’m thrilled to share with the Chamber that the bridge arch  has been successfully installed. After a week of meticulous manoeuvring by the Project Team, Â
Breakfast Creek is now reopened to all marine vessels without navigation channel  restrictions and the barge Leanora is making its final departure from the project as of  last Friday. In early December, we will complete the concrete bridge deck and put  the final touches on the landscaping, both in Newstead Park and Cameron Rocks Reserve.Â
I’m proud to say this bridge will be delivered on time and under budget—$7,000,000 under budget,  which is, I think, a testament to the fantastic project management of our Council officers who  have done a great job with this one. I’m also pleased to report, Chair, that the masthead of Â
The Kangaroo Point Green Bridge arrived just underneath the Storey Bridge at low  tide this afternoon. Tomorrow morning, early, it will be hauled up by the world’s largest,  strongest crane to the top of the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge which is under construction. So, Â
All things are coming together green bridges at the moment, Chair, so it is fantastic news. Now, as we look forward to the early 2024 opening of the bridge,  I am reminded of the many achievements we’ve made over the last four years in this portfolio. I’ve Â
Had the pleasure of being the Transport Chair for the entirety of this term, Chair. Although  it has not always been easy, it has always been rewarding and I want to just remind the  Chamber of what a four years it’s been for us. I’ll begin with our public transport network, Â
Chair. The last four years, Transport for Brisbane has moved 200,000,000 passengers. That’s what this  Council has done in Brisbane—200,000,000 passengers across buses and ferries. Now,  remember, at the start of this term, it was a very, very difficult time for public transport—we Â
Had COVID—and I’m very pleased to report that in the month of October 2023, our patronage  is back to 90% of pre-COVID levels. We are one of the very few cities in the world to achieve  90% of pre-COVID levels, and I think that is a fantastic achievement for transport for Brisbane.Â
But one of the main highlights of this year has been our successful bus driver recruitment  campaign. We’re still on track to now recruit 500 new bus drivers before the year is finished. That  has allowed us to focus on our service delivery for Brisbane residents, and we are now amongst the Â
Nation’s best with 99.8% service reliability—an incredible figure which I’m so proud of, Chair. With such a large and valued workforce of bus drivers, we’ve worked really hard to improve  the conditions of our bus drivers, whether it’s implementing additional health measures during Â
COVID, upgrading driver facilities all around the city, or giving our drivers one of the record  largest pay rises that they have received in living memory, Chair—in this term, and  we did it. Most recently, we developed an in-house design for bus driver barriers and we’re well into Â
Installing our first batch of those on the fleet. But this term, Chair, has really been all about  preparing our transport network for the future. In the last four years, our investment in public  transport has increased from $360,000,000 in 2019-20 to almost $600,000,000 in 2023-24. Â
Under LORD MAYOR ADRIAN SCHRINNER, we delivered accessibility and amenity upgrades to over 700  bus stops in Brisbane. In 2021, we added additional capacity to our existing fleet.  We rolled out 18 more articulated buses on the Blue CityGlider and we boosted the route Â
By an extra 480 passengers per hour as a result. On CityGlider, Chair, this term, we developed and  submitted the gold CityGlider business case, proposing a new high frequency route between  Hamilton and Woolloongabba. Earlier this year, we launched the free South Brisbane Loop bus service, Â
100% funded by the Schrinner Council. It was also the Schrinner Council that introduced  off-peak free travel for seniors on ferries and buses and over 10,000,000 trips have been taken  by our seniors since we introduced that measure, saving our seniors $13,000,000 in fares back in Â
Their back pocket. We took a big step forward in the decarbonisation of our bus fleet with  the delivery of our four fully electric buses in mid-2021, and they remain in service on the City  Loop today following a successful trial. But of course, the electric City Loop is Â
Just the start of our decarbonisation task, Chair. The real centrepiece is Brisbane Metro,  and in the last four years, we have seen the Brisbane Metro project start to come  to life. In 2020, TMR finally signed off the state project deed for Brisbane Metro and we Â
Announced Brisbane Move as the preferred tenderer for major construction works. Since then, we’ve been full steam ahead on the project. In 2021, we started piling the  Adelaide Street tunnel and now we’re about 90% progressed underground, and very soon,  we’ll be breaking through to the King George Square station. We’ve opened platform one at Â
The Cultural Centre. Platform two and three will be completed early next year and Buranda and UK  Lake stations will as well. All of the charges are now installed at four locations across the city,  and we’ve just commenced the commissioning program to get all of them online and operational.Â
We’re eagerly awaiting the completion of our Brisbane Metro depot, which will be  Australia’s largest electric bus depot, Chair. Earthworks on this massive 10 hectare site began  all the way back in 2021 and the depot’s now more than 90% complete so this will be Â
Finished early next year and that’ll be a very exciting achievement, again, for this Council. Of course, one of the biggest milestones of the project so far, Chair, is the rollout of  our pilot Metro back in April 2022. We ran a successful testing period, and we placed the Â
Orders for the remaining fleet which we’ll start to see them arrive on ships all the way through  the end of this year and into next year. But with Brisbane Metro, we aren’t just building  new infrastructure or adding new modern vehicles to our fleet. We’re transforming the entire public Â
Transport experience for Brisbane residents. We also launched community consultation on  Brisbane’s new bus network—the biggest bus network our city has seen in a decade. Translink’s  feedback was, quote, we set a new benchmark for community consultation with this review.  It’s award winning as well. It’s been recognised by the International Union of Public Transport, Â
The best union going, Chair. Indra was awarded the contract for the Metro systems  package which will dramatically improve onboard passenger experience, as well as our operational  capability and our ability to run on time. We added six trophies to the Metro cabinet  with both national and international recognition for our charging strategy, Â
Our sustainability outcomes and our accessibility working group—something I’m very proud of, Chair. It’s only one year before we will launch Brisbane Metro services, and before the year is out,  we’ll also finalise the work that will help shape the next chapter of Brisbane’s transport future. Â
We’re close to completing the Eastern Metro Study and Partnership with the Redlands City Council  and State Government to help us plan those future extensions once stage one is complete. We’re also looking to the future of our ferry network, Chair. As part of the last budget, Â
We announced a feasibility study into an electric ferry on the Brisbane River, which we’ll finalise  before the end of the year. This is in close partnership with our amazing local ship builder,  Aus Ships. They’ve been able to provide us a modern and innovative fleet for our residents. Â
On that, Chair, in this term, we delivered six new double decker generation four CityCats with  Mooroolbin II being the first in our fleet to feature a shade sail on the top deck. We’ve modernised our ferry fleet by adding the five new KittyCats, which provide a Â
Faster and safer trip for residents. In 2021, we completed and implemented a ferry network review  which delivered an extra 59 all-top CityCat services during the week and enhanced express  services. That same year, we opened two new terminals in our network—Howard Smith Wharves Â
And the upgraded South Bank terminal. Unfortunately, then, we had the 2022  floods. Although every single one of our terminals sustained some level of damage,  we have worked so hard to ensure that all of our ferry terminals were reopened within 12 months of Â
The flood, which is an amazing achievement, Chair. I’m very pleased to advise that residents will  soon be able to hop back on a ferry at Dockside, with construction there now well underway on the  upgraded terminal. I’m looking forward for residents early next year to be seeing the Â
Start of works at Mowbray Park terminal. I’ll leave further debate to the Chamber for now,  Chair, and I will speak to further things in summing up. Thank you, Councillor MURPHY. Further speakers on the report? Sorry. Councillor CASSIDY, I’ll call you first.Â
Councillor JOHNSTON, can I call you second, please? Thanks very much, Chair. I rise to  speak on the Transport Committee report before us tonight and Councillor MURPHY’s big achievements  over the last four years of Chinese made buses, Swiss made buses, and 20,000,000 Â
Fewer bus passengers on our network than there were 10 years ago. Well done. Some achievement.  If that’s the best the LNP can do, then they deserve to lose in March next year—absolutely  deserve to lose in March in next year. Item C, the petition request in Council make Â
Sugarmill Road, Pinkenba safe for cyclists and pedestrians before us today, here,  is one in which the cycling community has raised some issues with and I’m sure they’ve contacted  quite a few Councillors in here around the potentially misleading response that’s before us Â
Today. There’s a letter which Councillor MURPHY’s received from Space for Cycling which I will quote  from in here. I’m sure they wanted Councillor MURPHY to be across the details of this. In the response, it basically says that Councillor MURPHY disputes the fact that Â
Safety improvements are not possible without the purchase—well, they dispute Councillor MURPHY’s  assertions that safety improvements are not possible without the purchase of additional  land along Sugarmill Road, here. True to form, the LNP just put in their response, thanks but Â
No thanks and go away, basically, to petitioners. The letter in which Councillor MURPHY’s received  from Space for Cycling includes the following passages, which I’ll quote from them, now. Anyone  who travels on Sugarmill Road will know the road is wide, measuring at 12.8 metres kerb to kerb. Â
In addition, the road has approximately four metres of grass verge on either side, making  the total width of the road corridor 20.8 metres. There is plenty of space for active transport  infrastructure in the Sugarmill Road corridor without the need to purchase any additional land.Â
So, I do wonder—I’m not quoting right now—I do wonder why the LNP then tried to claim that  there wasn’t sufficient space in the road corridor, and they would have to purchase  land. It sounds a lot like they’re trying to conflate the Moreton Bay Cycleway with Â
The Viola road to Schneider Road issue with this one as well and trying to muddy the waters a bit. I go on to quote, the Department of Transport and Main Road guideline’s selection and design Â
Of cycle tracks, on page 106, has a design showing how a road with the same width as Sugarmill Road  may be retrofitted to incorporate a parking protected by directional lane. In addition, the  four metre verge widths on Sugarmill Road would allow for a 2.4 metre offroad shared path to be Â
Constructed most of the length of Sugarmill Road. The petition draft response argues that Sugarmill  Road is deemed to be less suitable for cycling due to the speed and volumes of  traffic using the roundabout at Lomandra Drive. But the letter goes on to say, Â
This statement gives the impression that cyclists on Sugarmill Road will have to use the Lomandra  Drive roundabout. Cyclists using Sugarmill Road will not have to negotiate the Lomandra Drive  roundabout because the Lomandra Drive shared path will join Sugarmill Road prior to the roundabout.Â
I’ve had discussions with Brisbane Airport Corporation regarding the Lomandra shared path and  believe that that Lomandra Drive shared path will be completed in 2024. Sugarmill Road is currently  used by people on bicycles accessing the airport and connecting to the Kedron Brook Bikeway and Â
Gateway North Bikeway. Currently, people riding bicycles on Sugarmill Road are at risk of injury  because of the parked cars and heavy vehicles. There is no sealed footpath for pedestrians  and scooters are prohibited on Sugarmill Road. So, it sounds like Councillor MURPHY didn’t quite Â
Know what he was talking about when presenting this draft response to the petition. I’m sure  Councillor DIXON, who’s on the Committee, would have—knowing this area very well,  I’m sure would have talked to Councillor MURPHY, I presume, about this, I think, surely—surely. So,  I presume Councillor MURPHY’s ignored—would have ignored Councillor DIXON, I presume, Â
Because Councillor DIXON would have known all of these details when she cast her vote on the draft  resolution—the draft petition response. However, she did vote in favour of this,  which seems quite strange to me—that the local Councillor would endorse something Â
That is potentially misleading to people who have signed this petition before us today. So,  I’m sure Councillor MURPHY will, in his summing up, clear up any of those issues there and  correct the record about this issue. Because I fear that things like this and this project, Â
Which are clearly very achievable—and again, like the one we discussed earlier on the  Moreton Bay Cycleway—are very achievable if you have a Council Administration that  wants to pursue active travel infrastructure. But, again, we know that they are not future Â
Planning any projects. Councillor MURPHY let that one slip in a Committee meeting a couple of weeks  ago and said, there are no bikeway projects planned from 2024 onwards because no political  parties had promised any of them yet, which is a bit disturbing when you do have—when you have Â
A petition and—petitions—multiple petitions for projects and they’re investigated, and clearly,  at some level of Council, investigated and deemed to be suitable projects going forward. But you have, then, the political leadership here in Council with the LNP, who are quite deluded—and  we heard that earlier in Councillor MURPHY’s opening around those public transport figures Â
And the investment in overseas jobs and overseas made buses and then these misleading responses to  petitions. So, after 20 long years of this LNP Administration—at every level—every Committee,  we can see that they’re out of puff, they’re out of ideas, they have no vision for the future, Â
No forward planning for the future. In fact, they are trying to stop the future  coming at them. They’re doing everything they possibly can to put roadblocks up to innovative  ideas and projects being suggested. They are so deeply conservative. That Courier-Mail Â
Piece which described this LORD MAYOR as the safe, conservative pair of hands who’s  deeply conservative, is pretty spot on—very spot on, because they are against progress,  they’re against new ideas and new thinking. People have suffered long enough and there’s certainly a Â
Different approach that we can take after the 2024 election when this tired old LNP Administration is  shown the door. Thank you, Councillor. Further speakers? No? Councillor JOHNSTON. Yes. Thank you. I rise to speak briefly on perhaps all four items. Can I Â
Just start by thanking all for the LNP Chairs who are giving their valedictory speeches this  evening. I presume some of them think they won’t be back, so I look forward to hearing the rest  of the Chairs hop up and speak about their last four years. After nine hours here at Council, Â
I’m sure everybody is thrilled that they feel they have to give a valedictory. But I’m rising today to speak particularly to item B, which is the petition to install bike lanes,  undertake pedestrian safety upgrades, reduce the speed limit and improve bus services along Â
Annerley Road for Annerley and surrounding residents. There is an organisation in my  ward that started a year or so ago called, Active Travel for Annerley. I’ve met with  them a few times, and it’s wonderful that they’re supporting some of the initiatives that I’ve been Â
Pushing for over the past 15 years, but also have brought a number of new initiatives on,  particularly in regards to cycling. This petition was signed by over 1,000  residents from within Tennyson Ward and suburbs nearby in Brisbane. There are a number of key Â
Things that the petitioners are asking for. I’d just like to put those on the record,  today. Firstly, they are asking for bike lanes along Annerley Road between Ipswich  Road and connecting up to the bikeway running down into The Gabba Ward. That is number one.Â
I’ve mentioned it a few times, in fact—that the bike way to the University of Queensland  just stopped at the boundary to my ward. It’s like nobody on the southside cycles.  It’s just the inner city to the University of Queensland. Nobody cycles to the University Â
Of Queensland from the southside according to the LNP. So, bike lanes is number one. Number two are pedestrian improvements. Most importantly, across Cornwall Street and Annerley  Road where there is no safe crossing point and on the corner of Annerley Road and Noble Street Â
In Annerley where there is a dangerous slip lane and an uncontrolled slip lane. They’re  also seeking a pedestrian refuge or safe crossing point along Annerley Road—in the  middle of Annerley Road near Laurier Street. In addition to that, they’re seeking a speed Â
Reduction along Annerley Road. The suggestion is for 50 or 40. I would probably support  50 in this case because it is still quite a busy road, but if Council came back with 40,  I’m sure that’s something that our community would consider and support. Finally, Â
They’re calling for improvements to the bus services in Brisbane that service Annerley Road,  and that’s namely the 112 and the 116 bus service. Now, Brisbane City Council has essentially failed  to take action on any of these suggestions put forward in the petition. Not one single Â
Response or action from the LNP—not one. The request for cycling lanes—well, privately,  the group—apparently, Councillor MURPHY’s been telling them he’s going to do it, but I think  they’re finding out what happens when Councillor MURPHY tells them something. They know that it’s Â
Not true and they found that out the hard way. But there’s no commitment to install cycling  lanes here and there’s no funding to install cycling lanes. Council just flat out refuses  to put in the zebra crossing across Cornwall Street and then it basically Â
Delays and refuses to fund the removal of the slip lane at Annerley Road and Cornwall Street. Both of these intersections are ones that I’ve moved motions in Council,  supported by Councillor GRIFFITHS and Councillor MASSEY, and the LNP have voted against funding. Â
Here we see them again, refusing to support pedestrian upgrades that will move people  behind huge pedestrian traffic generators—the PA Hospital, the University of Queensland,  and the Brisbane State South Secondary College—a brand new high school, and Cross River Rail—the Â
New entrance to the Cross River Rail project. It is appalling that the LNP refused to support  pedestrian safety upgrades in Annerley. Again, they’ll be voting against doing anything in  response to over 1,000 people asking for a zebra crossing. You’d think they’d asked for Â
$100,000,000 to build something. It’s a Zebra crossing, this group wants. But it gets better.  Council then goes on to say, well, we might get around to doing a speed survey. I mean,  they’ve had this petition for months and months, and they haven’t done it. So, they might do it Â
Or they might not, maybe we’ll have a look, and they’ll determine if the speed limit is warranted. We know I’ve been waiting for over a year now for the Brisbane Corso speed limit review—a year. This  one hasn’t even started. So, we know that based on—or over at Graceville on Honour Avenue—that Â
One’s over a year as well. So, we know that when the LNP says they might do something,  you’ve got to wait at least a year or longer. Councillor interjecting. Oh, yes. But over in  our marginal LNP ward, they can do a trial and reduce the speed limit immediately. Not only Â
Immediately—the Council officers jump, then they bring out the variable message signs and  they help facilitate the media opportunities. So, there’s no commitment to do anything here,  the review hasn’t been done, and again, this area’s being neglected and marginal LNP wards Â
Get a much better service from this Council. In a year’s time, we’ll still be talking about  this because I know that the current ones are outstanding for more than a year. But finally,  the biggest and the fattest—ooh, I’m sorry. I take that back. The biggest and the fattest Â
Dishonest statement in this petition report is the following. Network documents indicate that the 112  and the 116 may see higher frequencies along Annerley Road which will improve connectivity  for bus users. However, the frequency of services do not warrant bus priority lanes at this time.Â
Now, the one thing Councillor MURPHY did not mention earlier today was the bus network  review. There was a commitment from the LORD MAYOR and Councillor MURPHY that that review  would be brought back to Council before the end of the year. Instead, we are going into an election Â
Period where residents will not know whether their local bus service is going to be cut. Councillor  MURPHY and the LNP are putting fear into the hearts of public transport users in Brisbane. We know he’s even said, oh, and the Metro will be starting at the end of the year. I don’t know how Â
They’re going to get the bus review through from May to December including further consultation  approval by the State, but the reason I mention it is because I’m not sure if Councillor MURPHY is  aware, but the 112 is to be cut under his proposed bus network review, so the statement in this Â
Report on page 6 that says, there may be higher frequencies along Annerley Road for the 112,  is completely false. The route for the proposed 112 is now going to run between Mount Gravatt and  Greenslopes. It won’t even go up Annerley Road. So, not only are the LNP refusing to support Â
Any of the initiatives and actions that the community are calling for, they have provided  false information in the petition response today to members of the public. I table the pages from  the Brisbane Bus Network Review that demonstrate Councillor MURPHY has provided false information Â
In this petition response. I state again that the proposal removes the 112 from Annerley  Road altogether, so you can’t actually get more services when you’re actually cutting the 112  bus service. I don’t know what Councillor MURPHY thinks is appropriate, but I don’t think cutting Â
A bus service and then publicly telling people false information is appropriate. But the worst part from my point of view is the failure to take action, and I move the following  amendment. I move that this Council deletes paragraph 21 on page three and replaces it with, Â
Council funds installation of a zebra crossing or wombat crossing, as appropriate, at the  intersection of Annerley Road and Cornwall Street, Annerley to improve—thank you, Billy—to improve  pedestrian safety in the 2024-25 budget, and two, amends the recommendation in paragraph 20, Â
Attachment A, by deleting the fifth paragraph and replacing it with, Council funds installation of a  zebra crossing or wombat crossing, as appropriate, at the intersection of Annerley Road and Cornwall  Street, Annerley to improve pedestrian safety in 2024-25 Council budget. Sorry, and I’ve got the Â
Signed one here if you want that. I second the motion. Thank you. Councillor JOHNSTON,  I’ve got one. Thank you. Thank you. It has been moved by Councillor JOHNSTON and seconded by  Councillor MASSEY to make an amendment to item B. It’s been moved that this Council (1) deletes Â
Paragraph 21 on page three and replaces it with, Council funds the installation  of a zebra crossing or wombat crossing, as appropriate, at the intersection of  Annerley Road and Cornwall Street, Annerley to improve pedestrian safety in the 2024-25 budget,  and two, amends the recommendation, paragraph 20, attachment A, by deleting the fifth paragraph and Â
Replacing it with, Council funds installation of a zebra crossing or wombat crossing,  as appropriate, at the intersection of Annerley Road and Cornwall Street, Annerley to improve  pedestrian safety in 2024-25 Council budget. Councillor JOHNSTON, to the motion, please—the  amendment. Sorry. Yes. Thank you. Whilst there are a number of problems with this petition response Â
Today, the most serious of them is an uncontrolled crossing point at Cornwall Street at Annerley  Road. This is the connection for residents heading to school, hospital and university,  and there is no safe crossing point. There is no break—natural break in the traffic, Â
Because when the lights change at the intersection of Annerley Road and Noble Street, traffic comes  from multiple directions, as well as northbound on Annerley Road turning into Cornwall Street. So, pedestrians take their life in their hands when they and cross this road. Particularly, Â
We now have a major high school that is on the next block, and every year,  another 300 students join that high school. So, it is young people whose lives are being put at risk,  particularly. It is elderly people and workers going to the hospital and students Â
And workers going to the University of Queensland. Now, I have previously done petitions calling for  a zebra crossing. Now, the Annerley—Active Travel for Annerley group are calling for  a wombat crossing. In this case, I don’t know what technically would be the most appropriate Â
Solution given that that is an arterial road that carries buses, ambulances, and so forth,  but we need at least a zebra crossing, and if not, a wombat crossing. It has to be funded  in the budget in 2024-25. It’s been at least 15 years that I’ve been calling for this improvement.Â
Council bent over backwards to accommodate Cross River Rail by actually widening the  intersection for the big trucks and extending the turning lane, but there’s been no consideration  given to pedestrians at this location. It’s a critical safety issue. We know that without a Â
Safe crossing point, pedestrians are at risk. What is Council’s response to the lack of a pedestrian  crossing point? Motorists not giving way to pedestrians. Entering a side street is considered  poor driver behaviour, best addressed through enforcement by the Queensland Police Service. Given the number of pedestrians that cross there—thousands of them every week—perhaps Â
Councillor MURPHY is suggesting that we set up a police station right on the corner so  that the police can spend their time there stopping traffic to help pedestrians cross  the road. Does that sound like a good use of resources? No, I don’t think so. What is Â
A good use of resources is to install a zebra crossing. It is a low cost solution that would  deliver a safer outcome for pedestrians. There may be some other changes that have  to be made—perhaps at the lights to make sure that there are warning signs and clarity for Â
Drivers as they approach the intersection, but these things can be properly planned,  and it is critically important that Council does not continue to ignore this intersection. I find  it staggering that Council refuses to list this intersection for an upgrade. It’s very Â
Straightforward. With that many people crossing at this location, ignoring it is not good practice. Now, Council has installed—I’m sure Councillor MURPHY will stand up and say, well, sightlines,  and all these sorts of things, but I’ve noticed on—I think it’s Foxton Street in  Indooroopilly—just along the Riverwalk, there’s the zebra crossing that’s been Â
Installed there on a really sharp angle and around a really sharp bend so I’d be pretty  certain that that doesn’t meet Council’s either universal access requirements for wheelchair  users and I certainly don’t think it would meet the sightline requirements for Council.Â
So, this Council will bend over backwards, again, for a marginal LNP seat holder to put a zebra  crossing in to a place that it will often stand up and say is unsafe in other people’s wards.  But what we know is pedestrians are being ignored by this LNP Administration and this Â
Improvement needs to be made in the Council budget. The other request, of course, is to  remove—or to provide a safe crossing point across Annerley Road and Council at least has committed  to that. It did commit to do it last year and didn’t do it and it’s not in this year’s budget.Â
They’re saying it’ll be in next year’s budget because it’s agreed as part of Cross River Rail,  but the Council’s had to be dragged kicking and screaming to this point, again,  after multiple motions by me, Councillor MASSEY, and Councillor GRIFFITHS. So, Â
This can’t be ignored any longer. It’s a zebra crossing. It’s very straightforward and I urge  all Councillors to support it so children can get safely to school, workers and people going  to the hospital can get safely to the hospital and workers and students can get safely to Â
The University of Queensland. I encourage all Councillors to support the motion. Thank you,  Councillor JOHNSTON. Further speakers? Councillor HUTTON. Point of order, Chair. Point of order. Chair, I move that Council now  adjourn for supper for a period of 15 minutes, which commences only when all Councillors have Â
Vacated the Chamber and the doors have been locked. Seconded. Councillors, we have an  adjournment for 15 minutes, moved by Councillor HUTTON, seconded by Councillor JENKINSON. All those in favour say, aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say, no. The ayes have it. Thank you, Councillors. Â
Councillors, are there further speakers? Councillor MASSEY. Thank you, Chair. I  rise to speak on the amended motion and also the response to this petition. Councillor JOHNSTON,  through you, Chair, highlighted so many issues with this response and of course, for me it comes Â
Down to action. What does it take for a community to compel Council to do something? You know,  here we have Active Travel for Annerley, an incredibly engaged community group,  working hard enough to get 1,107 signatures into a petition, to get a petition response that does Â
Nothing and not just does nothing, leaves room to blame State Government. We’re supportive, we’ll do  a funding application for State Government, but we’re not going to allocate, we’re not going to  prioritise. I think that’s a continual problem that we’re seeing here with these petition Â
Responses and that’s the initial reason why I actually rejected the response to this petition. It’s about the lack of action. We will say one thing to these community groups and then we’ll  do a complete other thing that borders around the lines of maybe something will happen and Â
I just think that’s wrong. We’ve just got to go in. If we do support it, we’ve got to go in and  actually support it and you know, speak true to our words. Again, what does it take? To me, Â
That’s one of the most important things here. This is a community group that has a lot of investment,  they made a lot of investment with this petition, a lot of effort, they were so detailed  in it and yet there’s no action in the response. What I do welcome, however, is these amendments to Â
Item B, because at least maybe then we’ll actually be able to deliver something. While I don’t think  it goes far enough because the separated bikeways should be connected from Stanley  Street up Annerley Street and all the way through to Fairfield, yes, the reason why I support this Â
Amendment is the fact that pedestrian safety is of the uttermost importance. We know that these  intersections are problems. We know that community members for years have been asking this Council  to speak and act in unison and in unison in a sense that they say, this Council says that it Â
Prioritise pedestrian safety, but hasn’t acted in the space, not once. I’ve been here six months and  I can’t remember how many different motions have been moved about these intersections or how many  times yourself, through you, Councillor JOHNSTON and Councillor GRIFFITHS, have spoken to it.Â
Here we have an amendment, again that doesn’t go so far, the separated bike lanes are incredibly  important, the 112 and the 116 are actually buses that I sometimes catch or try to catch to come to  Chambers, but not anymore. But also really hard to catch because they get stuck in traffic, Â
So it’s actually quicker for me to walk to the Mater Hospital. Some of the things that  these petitioners are talking about, they’re talking about the fact that they want people  to use active transport, they want people to use public transport, we should build Â
The infrastructure to make that possible. While again some of that stuff, I hope,  will come back to Chambers in the future, especially with the next budget,  I am so supportive of this amended motion, I think this will deliver something for these community Â
Members and the residents of this area that will deliver pedestrian safety. It will deliver  pedestrian safety especially in Annerley Road and Cornwall Street, which is an incredibly dangerous,  dangerous, dangerous area. I really do hope that all the Councillors in this Chamber Â
At how many hours in are we, 10, nine? So many. Councillors interjecting. Ten, we’re 10 hours in,  I really hope that you see the sense in the delivery of something like this within the budget  for this really active group, because they’re watching, they’ll always be watching. Whether Â
They’re watching right now, they’ll be looking at it, they’ll be listening to us, they want action,  they’re sick of no longer—of Council not acting. Deliver something, deliver safety for pedestrians.  It’s a good place to start and then hopefully next year we can continue the work to deliver complete Â
Safety, active public transport routes, better pedestrian safety and expediated bus lanes for  what will be an incredibly, with the PDA coming into place, higher density area. So please,  please support this amendment to this motion. Thank you, Councillor MASSEY. Further speakers? I see no one rising. Councillor JOHNSTON, right of reply. Thank Â
You, Mr Chair. For those of you who watch, be watching or perhaps read this at a later point,  Councillor Ryan MURPHY, the relevant Chair for this area, could not be bothered to speak to this  amendment. No doubt they will just vote this down in a few minutes, but what I say to the Â
More than 1,000 people that signed this and to the Active Travel for Annerley Committee,  this is Brisbane’s Transport Chair. So lazy and so disinterested in considering a suggestion from  another Councillor representing a community that is passionate about active travel and  improving pedestrian safety, that he can’t even spend two minutes explaining why he’s Â
Going to vote down this important amendment. I find that behaviour to be disgusting. It  is disrespectful to the residents who have petitioned and who are seeking action from  Council. The motion before us today and perhaps I’m wrong, I don’t think I am but perhaps I’m Â
Wrong and he’s going to stand up and support it and all the LNP Councillors are going to  stand up and support this, but that would be a miracle because that’s not usually what they  do. I think we’ve had one motion in the 13 years I’ve been an independent that’s been Â
Supported. So you know, they usually vote it down. But what they’ll be voting down today is a safe  pedestrian crossing across Cornwall Street to facilitate students getting to school, staff and  visitors getting to the PA Hospital and students and staff getting to the University of Queensland, Â
As well as all the commuter movements that happen around getting to work and getting home safely.  There is no safe crossing point across this road and there does need to be one. I thank  Councillor MASSEY for speaking up in support of the amendment. I too think there could be Â
More done. I agree that—and again, this is the trick in this petition response, that Councillor  MURPHY is saying that they’re going to apply for a grant from the State Government to help advance  planning for a bikeway. So that’s it, so if they don’t get the grant, then that’s it, Council Â
Won’t do anything with respect to a bikeway. Councillor interjecting. Yes, that’s right,  it’ll be all Mark Bailey’s fault, we know that’s Councillor MURPHY’s number one catch cry. But if  we look at the other motion on here, which is item C about Sugarmill Road, Council is actually going Â
To resume land to facilitate a bikeway there. I’m just wondering, where would that be? Would that be  in an LNP Ward? Yes. Sorry, Councillor JOHNSTON, this is—item C doesn’t come into this amendment,  it’s item B that the amendment is about. Yes, sorry. Can you draw your comments back to your Â
Proposed amendment please. Just making a comparison, but what I will say is this is  a very straightforward motion, it calls for an important pedestrian safety improvement.  I thank Councillor MASSEY for her support and I hope that all Councillors will vote for this Â
Amendment. Thank you, Councillor JOHNSTON. We will now put the proposed amendment. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against, say no. Councillors say no. Nos have it. Division. Division. Division called by Councillor JOHNSTON and Councillor MASSEY. Ayes to my right, Â
Nos to my left. Clerks please ring the bells. Councillors, bit of quiet please. Clerks,  please read the results. Mr Chair, the nos have it, the voting being seven in  favour and 18 against. Councillors, the proposed amendment has been lost. Please resume your seats.Â
Councillors, we now resume debate on the transport report and it’s Councillors to my right. if they  wish to speak. Any further speakers? Point of order. Point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON.  Could I ask that Items B and C be taken seriatim for voting purposes? B and C for voting purposes, Â
Definitely, thank you. Councillor JOHNSTON, were they together or separate—together, yes,  thank you. B and C together for voting. Further speakers? I see no one rising. Councillor MURPHY, right of reply. Thanks, Chair. Just in summing up, Councillor CASSIDY Â
Made some comments in his remarks that compared our patronage post COVID to 10 years ago and just  want to say that is thoroughly disingenuous. It’s a very sad parlour trick. No city post COVID has  the same level of patronage they did 10 years ago. Every city is down. Brisbane is the Â
Closest to recovering of any Australian city right now, which is a remarkable achievement. In terms of his comments on Sugarmill Road, the petition response is really clear. We don’t  support cyclists going down Sugarmill Road because the alternative alignment for that Â
Is Viola Place through to Lomandra Drive. We’ve been really clear about that, in fact it was a  previous item that was discussed in E&C today and I actually don’t think Councillor CASSIDY knows,  understands or appreciates where Sugarmill Road is versus Viola Place and Lomandra Drive. So Â
He accused me of not understanding it, but I don’t think he’s actually seen where they are. The issue is we disagree with what the BUG groups have said. We don’t agree with the BUG  groups on this and as the road manager, it’s our responsibility to decide where we actually support Â
Additional cyclists moving. We don’t support cyclists interacting with the massive amount  of heavy vehicles that travel down Sugarmill Road, which is why Councillor Dixson is being asked to  investigate the footpath, sorry, the alignment for purposes of a footpath, not a separated cycling Â
Facility and that’s clear in the petition. Now Chair, let’s talk about active transport  and I want to just say this city and I don’t think there is any doubt about this, this city is better  connected as a result of the Schrinner Council’s record investment into active transport in this Â
Term. Now Minister Bailey recently boasted in a media release about how the State Government  was spending $300 million across Queensland on active transport in the next four years,  yet our Council has invested more than $0.5 billion in active transport in just four Â
Years in Brisbane alone. A reminder that in the Labor years, this Council— Councillor JOHNSTON. Councillor MURPHY, you’ve got the call. A reminder, Chair, that in the Labor years this  Council spent just $5 million on active transport. In 2020, we completed the first step towards our Â
Record of investment with completion of community consultation on the Green Bridges program,  more than 3,000 pieces of feedback we received, 1,000 people attending community information  sessions resulting in four bridges handpicked by the residents of Brisbane. In 2021 we saw the Â
Contract awarded for the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge to the Connect Brisbane consortium and  the final design of the Breakfast Creek Green Bridge was finalised in 2022. The community  backed our case for the Toowong to West End Green Bridge and the St Lucia to West End Green Bridge Â
And we also saw the contract for the Breakfast Creek Green Bridge awarded to Georgiou Brady. In 2023, Chair, we’re seeing that hard work pay off as those two bridges near completion.  Kangaroo Point is set to become the tallest bridge in the city this afternoon or tomorrow morning as Â
The masthead is installed which will top out the structure and as I mentioned previously,  Breakfast Creek is set to open on time and under budget. So further downstream,  this time next year residents of Woolloongabba and East Brisbane will be saving 30 minutes if Â
Walking or seven minutes if riding when travelling to the CBD. These are the runs on the board when  it comes to active transport in our city. In addition to our Green Bridges program,  we’ve also massively expanded the city’s active transport network in 2020, we were buoyed by the Â
Positive momentum for our Green Bridges. We constructed the Botanic Gardens riverwalk and  the River Hub, which provided a safe access to the city reach through to the Botanic Gardens. In 2021  we opened the CityLink cycleway, which as of 2022, carried more than 2,500 cyclists and e-scooters Â
Every single day. It’s now carried more than two million users since the beginning of the trial,  two million users. In the same year, we opened the Indooroopilly riverwalk,  spanning almost a kilometre along the Brisbane River, providing a great avenue for cyclists Â
And pedestrians away from Witton Road. Of course, Chair, 2022 was undoubtedly shaped  by the February floods which impacted both our public and active transport networks. We worked  really hard to restore our active transport network as quickly as possible. We cleared Â
Debris from over 170 kilometres of bikeway and we completed several restoration projects at our  worst-affected bikeway, which was Kedron Brook, which spans a number of wards in the city. More  than 3,000 cubic metres of sediment we removed. More than three—which is roughly three busloads Â
Full of waste. After the flood, we identified five key sites that needed to be rebuilt last  year. We finished works on three of those sites which provided not just that restoration,  but also improved resilience for next time. We connected the bikeway and remediated the Â
Creek at Royal Parade crossing. We restored the culvert crossing and provided improved resilience  at Kalinga Park. We returned Walter Bourke Park crossing and improved the flood resilience  of that site was well. At Uxbridge Street, we realigned the path so it sits higher on the bank, Â
Meaning it’s less likely to be inundated. Of course at Wolverhampton Street, we completed a  temporary bridge structure, which was the final piece in providing the full connectivity of the  Brook. We’re also rebuilding and improving several other sits around the city with construction Â
Starting on bridge replacements for Kooringal Drive and Hawera Court over the next few months. In 2023 we completed several projects, like Bill Brown Reserve shared path and the Joachim Street  shared path. Cyclists will also be happy to learn that the new Barr Street bridge, which I know is Â
A favourite project of the DEPUTY MAYORs, will be completed just in time for Christmas, so Christmas  presents for residence of Holland Park Ward. It’s all part of the Schrinner Council’s commitment,  Chair, to providing safe and efficient paths for those who are walking and riding in our Â
City. Chair, who could forget about the mode of transportation that has seen exponential  growth under this administration and LORD MAYOR Adrian SCHRINNER and I’m of course talking about  e-mobility. To illustrate this growth, four years ago our scheme consisted of 2,800 devices, e-bikes Â
And e-scooters. In 2023 we’re now looking at just under 4,000 devices deployed all across Brisbane.  This term started with our draft e-mobility strategy in 2021, which allowed the public to  have their say on the direction of the scheme. We received more than 900 submissions, 90% in favour Â
Of the strategy and in favour of e-mobility. Collating all the feedback, the final strategy  was released in 2021 alongside our new operators of the scheme,  Beam and Neuron and of course Brisbane was one of the first cities in the world to embrace and Â
Release such a strategy and we’ve become a beacon for others who are navigating this landscape and  new forms of transport and e-mobility and how to best regulate them. Now whether they are looking  at our rollout of the scheme across the city or our integration of mobility as a service, Â
Our first mile and last mile trials, which we started in 2021, the strategy has put us in a  very unique place in order to lead that charge. We have this year reached the milestone of over  10 million trips on this scheme and a record breaking 333,000 trips in a month we’re now Â
Getting regularly month by month, which attests to the success of the LORD MAYOR’s vision when  it comes to e-mobility and also the hard work of the operators, the private sector operators,  who provide the scheme for the city. Our journey in transforming urban mobility Â
Has been nothing short of remarkable. I’m very grateful to have had had the opportunity to foster  and grow the scheme in the last four years. Chair, as I wrap up, I just want to thank in  particular a couple of people. The divisional managers who I work very closely with in Scott Â
Stewart and Samantha Abeydeera. Scott of course is a Council workhorse and a stalwart of the  Council, has been amazing in managing the major projects, but Sam as a new addition to the EMT,  has been incredible and has seen great change at Transport for Brisbane as we modernise that Â
Organisation. I’ve also very much enjoyed my time working with previous divisional manager,  Geoff Beck and I do particularly want to note inside Transport for Brisbane Brian  Bothwell and Dr Greg Spelman, both of whom have left Council recently and the great work that Â
They have put into Brisbane Metro, the network review and a number of aspects in that regard. I of course won’t name all of the branch managers that I’ve had the pleasure of working with, but Â
Each of them is very special and talented and they do a fantastic job. I’d like to thank the CEO,  Colin Jensen, for his work in helping to take care of many aspects of the Transport portfolio. Â
Of course the Lord Mayor’s office and the great work that they do in helping us to shape policy  in this city and to reach out to the residents of Brisbane and engage them in the process. My  wonderful Cabinet colleagues and all Councillors, particularly those on the Transport Committee—Â
Councillors interjecting. —on both sides and I say that genuinely, we’ve had a great time in  the Transport Committee. It has been very, very much enjoyable. My PLOs, Toby and Catherine,  Dr Morison, have been fantastic and a number of other PLOs throughout the term. I also want to Â
Thank my ward staff, Deb and Ash who keep the home fires burning. It’s been an amazing time,  Chair and I very much look forward to vigorously contesting the election in March next year and  hopefully the return of all team Schrinner Councillors and potentially one or two more, Â
We’ll see how we go. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Councillor MURPHY. We will now put the report. We will first put item A and D. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. The ayes have it. We will now put Items B and C together.Â
All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. Councillors say no. No? They ayes have it. Division. Division. ChairDivision called by Councillor MASSEY and Councillor CASSIDY. Ayes to my right,  nos to my left. Clerks, please ring the bells. Councillors, quiet please.Â
Councillor Jenkinson. Clerks, please read the results. Mr Chair,  the ayes have it, the voting being 18 in favour, two against and five abstentions. Councillors,  the report has passed. Please resume your seats. Councillor Wines, Infrastructure Committee please.  Mr Chair, I move the Infrastructure Committee meeting held on Tuesday 21 November 2023 be Â
Adopted. Seconded. It has been moved by Councillor WINES and seconded by Councillor PARRY that the  report of the Infrastructure Committee meeting held on Tuesday 21 November 2023 be adopted. Councillor WINES, you have the call. Thank you. In the theme of gratitude, Â
I’d like to take some time just to thank some people who have worked in the infrastructure  space and have been part of the Committee for my time as Chair. So can I begin by obviously,  can I begin by recognising all of my Committee members. I think it’s been a pretty constructive Â
Couple of years and I’ve tried to make it engaging and meaningful for all of our Committee members  and I thank all of them for their commitment and their diligence in participating in our meetings, Â
So thanks to all of them. Can I also recognise the team in the city who make my life a lot easier,  all everyone who’s worked for me, but in particular the current team of Don, Martine and Â
Zach. Thank you so much for all of your support. Can I recognise the management team across the  groups that I have involvement with, can I begin by recognising the head of BI, Mr Scott Stewart,  who again has been recognised earlier, but very much a stalwart of this organisation, Â
Thanks to him. Can I recognise Ms Tania Orr, the head of TPO and her team of managers who are of a  very high quality and do make the road network hum, as they say. Can I also recognise Mr Alan Â
Evans and his team, in particular Luke Manley who I deal with regularly and his team, thank you. Can  I recognise as well Mr Joe Bannan and his team in Asset Management as well, who are all—these  are the groups who we deal with on a regular basis. All of them are highly professional Â
Individuals who are committed, who live the city motto, dedicated to a better Brisbane. I would also like to take an opportunity to talk about some highlights. People raise with me,  what were the highlights of the past term and I looked at you, Mr Chair, and the highlight Â
Screamed out to me. It was when we opened the Gresham Street Bridge and of course the Gresham  Street Bridge is next to a kindergarten and the children had been watching the works through the  window, a new bridge build. The children had been working on it and the first vehicles over Â
That bridge were a series of—excuse me. Councillors interjecting. Excuse me,  the children watched the work on it, the children watched the work on it. Councillors interjecting. They were welcome to work on it,  it’s a pro-enterprise group. Councillors, please. Sorry, Councillor WINES, just to put a picture Â
Inside your head, Councillor MURPHY, the kids were like this, up against the screen. It was awesome. Councillor WINES. They were not hostages, they were staring out the window of their  kindergarten at the works. But what we did for them, the first vehicles over the bridge were Â
A series of cardboard boxes painted up to be cars so the children drove over the bridge as they wore  them and drove over the bridge. That was a really nice moment and testimony of that project being a Â
Really important part for St John’s Wood but also the damage it had received through the floods. I looked around and I thought to myself, there has been a light turn on in basically every ward  that I could think of. I looked at—I saw Monier and Bellwood, I saw Blamey Street, I saw Kenmore, Â
Fig Tree Pocket, I saw Murphy and Ellison Road. I saw with Councillor Dixon one of the big projects  of her was the restoration of the ICB tunnel, which was the removal of 25 million cubic metres Â
Of water, then the restoration of that so that her community could use that. In so many ways the  Infrastructure Committee’s capital works program touches all corners of the city and there’s been  works across the term to be able to make getting around the city just that little bit easier.Â
On the topic of, the two things I would normally say, we try to do in BI, is we try to make moving  around the city safer and easier and so a lot of things we do are about ease, Â
But this week’s presentation was on safety. So it was a discussion that spoke to the Black  Spot program, which is of course a Federally funded Council-delivered partnership. So the  Black Spot program has been going for some years and speaks to projects that are of a value of less Â
Than $2 million and can be delivered in 12 months and those two things often move together so that  they can—because sometimes if a project takes more than 12 months, it will often involve restoration,  excuse me, land resumption and things like this which will extend the time.Â
So last week’s presentation heard about the four projects that were done last year. They were of  course Bay Terrace and Chestnut Street in Wynnum, Kittyhawk Avenue in Inala, Bennetts Road in Normal  Park and Crown Street and Macrossan Avenue and Johnson Road, which I think is in Forest Â
Lake Ward. Just by nature, that last project in particular is on the very boundary of the city,  so Johnson Road is the boundary of the city between Brisbane and Logan and represents,  I think in a lot of ways, these four projects represent both a commitment to the outer suburbs Â
But also show balance in the delivery of projects when it comes to safety because  all four of those projects were of course in Opposition or in fact Labor-held wards. So it’s  part of also the balance and fairness that we have worked through, through the BI Committee Â
Program and also through our focus on safety, has always been about need and where it’s required. On the topic of need, someone raised with me that the blue folders I brought in, they challenged me  and they thought, someone said that they were for show and that they were empty. I said, no, Â
No, no, this cannot stand. So I grabbed folder number five, grabbed one out of the middle  and this is of course Business Case Stage 3 Appendix A, Active Transport Technical Note. Councillors interjecting. Oh read us a few lines, well, since you asked. The Brisbane City Council Â
Is developing a business case for the north-west transport network, like this is riveting stuff, it  leaps off the page at you. But this is of course the active transport considerations. So while— Councillors interjecting. Yes, so this is, so as some Councillors have noted, Â
This is a huge volume, but I just wanted to show the camera, there is in fact, there is printing  on each page and that this is more than—this is roughly 6,000 pages of work and can I thank the Â
Staff member who was tasked with printing it. It appreciate it. It’s not the most fun or engaging  thing, but it is a valuable contribution. Now the north-west transport network work  was something that when I became Chair of this Committee that we wanted to see bear fruit, Â
We wanted to see this completed in a meaningful way and hope for a government, whether it be  Federal or State, engage meaningfully in the topic and produce an outcome that would  materially improve the motoring experience in this city. But while we did that for motorists, Â
We also wanted to look for an opportunity to, what I call, preserve the service for people,  so whether it be public transport, pedestrian improvements, cycling improvements and as I say,  this is number five, this is the work we did for cycling as part of this network study.Â
So I assure you all of that work is genuine and the fact that we’ve been able to convince  the state to engage meaningfully and they are proposing a tunnel that corresponds to one of  our submissions is a matter of great pride for me, something I really hope that they Â
Remain committed to and that I think will, in the long term, make life a lot better for northside  residents and southsiders who like to go to the Sunshine Coast as well, stand to benefit from this  over the long term. I note, however, that there are some concerns about it from Peter Flannery, Â
The Mayor of Moreton Bay City Council. They have grown up before our very eyes. He is now concerned  about the traffic beyond the border of Brisbane City and what it will happen at, I suppose,  Northlakes, particularly since it does appear that the Federal Government has actually cut the Â
Support for the Bruce Highway duplication that they were discussing for that area. There’s always a new problem, but our problem is how do you get Gympie Road to work,  how do you get the public transport system to work in a high volume and consistent way through there, Â
How do you fix up the Hamilton Road-Gympie Road intersection. I remember when I was in  my first term, I met with a guy called Stirling Hinchcliff, some of you may know him. He was at  that time the MP for Stafford and I said to him, you know, you really should fix up that Â
Hamilton Road-Gympie Road intersection, it’s a mess. He said to me, well the problem is that  you Councillors made Hamilton Road too good. I thought, what a fascinating attitude. But  Hamilton Road is good and I can assure Councillor PARRY it will be getting better soon. But should Â
We improving that intersection or be improving how people interact with the Beams Road-Gympie  Road intersection and also trying to tidy up a lot of that movement through Kedron. So I think it is going to be great work. I want to assure people that the folders were in fact Â
Full of the technical advice that the State should take on board. As I said, we have done $10 million  worth of technical work, hopefully that gets them a discount on the $35 million that they’ve  committed to the project, to the study component of that project. But can I say once again, Â
Can I thank all Councillors for their work in their own communities to make our roads better, to  make our parking system work better, to make our assets more durable in the long term and accept  more recyclable, higher levels of recyclable material within them. Can I also recognise Â
The efforts to work with our communities to get major projects completed in the area. It’s been a  wonderful term and all the best to everyone in the future. Councillor WINES, your time has expired. Any further debate? Councillor JOHNSTON. Yes, I Â
Rise to speak briefly on item B and here’s another LNP Councillor that feels the need to stand up and  make a valedictory speech. I suspect when it comes to Enoggera Ward and Councillor WINES,  that actually may be the last time that he does speak in here. But it’s my pleasure this evening Â
To make sure his very last act as the Councillor is to vote against his own residents. Item B,  the petitioners of Newmarket, are calling for a footpath to be widened leading to Newmarket rail  station and this is on Wilston Road between Daisy Street and Newmarket rail station. Interestingly, Â
The petition response offers to do things the petitioners don’t want. They literally want  their footpath widened. But Council says no, no, no can do and Councillor WINES supports  Council’s response, not his own residents. So as the very last act that Councillor WINES Â
Performs in this place, I move that item B is taken seriatim for voting purposes  and I’m going to watch Councillor WINES vote against his own residents who are petitioning  for footpath improvements. His buffoonery tonight in what he has done will stand in stark contrast Â
To his last action, which is to vote against his own residents. I feel certain that both—I’m sure  there’s probably a Greens candidate and a Labor candidate for Enoggera Ward—and I hope that the  Labor Party and the Greens take that information back to those local candidates and make it clear Â
On the public record that their own local Councillor doesn’t support their request  for a footpath upgrade. Any further speakers? Councillor CASSIDY. Yes, thanks very much,  Chair. I rise to speak on item B and the Infrastructure Report. The petition requesting Â
Council widen the footpaths there and I’m sure Councillor WINES maybe knows this area, maybe not,  not sure he would traverse it on a daily basis there, I don’t think he lives quite close by  to that area of the city and we all remember— Councillor interjecting. Yes, I’m not sure how Â
Close. Yes, that side of the—it’s the wrong side of the river, I guess. When we know that  Councillor WINES of course, instead of supporting his community during the flood disaster, flew off  to Dubai, we all remember that one and— Councillor CASSIDY. Point of order. Just one moment, Â
DEPUTY MAYOR Those Facebook photos— Councillor CASSIDY. —pretending that he was there— Councillor  CASSIDY. To the report please. So I’m not sure Councillor WINES really knows them very well,  doesn’t spend a lot of time there in the community day to day and when the going gets tough in the Â
Community, flees when there’s a flood disaster there, so I’m not sure if he does actually know  the issues that those people are facing there, maybe it’s just accepted what was put in front  of him and ticked off on that without looking at different ways in which better and more Â
Accessible footpaths can be delivered in that community. But Labor does have that commitment  and that’s why we announced our mobility plan which will see more and improved— Point of order,  Mr Chair. —footpaths— Just one moment. Councillor CASSIDY. —which will see an extra 200  kilometres— Councillor CASSIDY, just one moment. Councillor MURPHY.Â
DEPUTY MAYOR, your point of order. The relevance to—he specifically said he was speaking item B,  Newmarket and the mobility plan is actually in the Transport portfolio, so relevance to  item B as he said he was speaking to. Thank you. Councillors interjecting. I’m not going to take Â
A lecture from Councillor ADAMS what’s in— Councillor CASSIDY. —which portfolio Labor’s  policy is in, thank you very much. Councillor CASSIDY. Item B is regarding a footpath in  Wilston, Newmarket, sorry. Yes, thanks very much. Thank you, yes. So can you keep it to Â
Item B please? Yes, so Labor’s plan for increased funding for footpaths will see more footpaths  being built in the suburbs of Brisbane, like in Newmarket, like on Wilston Road between Daisy  Street and Newmarket train station. This is a very reasonable request from people. Perhaps Â
They approach Councillor WINES, maybe couldn’t find him locally, was residing elsewhere at the  time and probably a very reasonable request for people wanting to get more safely to and  from public transport. It’s not an unreasonable request. Sure, there are constraints here, but to Â
Simply just say to these residents, no, too bad, you can’t have anything because god knows there’s  no funding for it anymore with the LNP cutting $4 million from the footpath budget this year alone,  it’s not a good enough response for a local Councillor to be getting up in here and endorsing Â
This response which is, no thanks, go away, to the local community. That’s not good enough. I know Taylar Wojtasik, Labor’s candidate out there doorknocking, talking to local residents,  you know, is from the area at least, makes connections with local people and I’m sure Â
She’ll go and talk to people living on Wilston Road between Daisy Street and Newmarket train  station and connecting with these people that have signed this petition and talk to them  about their priorities. Clearly their priorities, this community’s priorities, aren’t aligning with Â
Councillor WINES’ priorities. Clearly there is a big disconnect between what Councillor WINES is  talking about in here and what is going on in his community. He’s clearly not advocating for that  community. What we do need there is a strong community champion and a Labor Councillor in Â
Enoggera and that’s something that we’re going to see after 16 March next year. Thank you,  Councillor CASSIDY. Further speakers? Councillor MASSEY. Thanks, Chair. I’m going to speak to this quickly. Or I could take my time,  what’s the time? Ten minutes. Like the thing about supporting community and being a local Â
Councillor is being able to listen to your residents when they’re asking for  something incredibly practical, right, like a footpath to get to public transport. Yes,  of course there’s constraints, yes of course there’s going to be challenges involved,  but to just outright say no is pretty incredible. It’s pretty incredible because our candidate, Â
Quintessa, is out there doorknocking also, talking to residents, understanding what they want to do,  what they would like to see in their neighbourhood, how they’d like to see  changes and updates to footpaths. I think it is incredible and I thank Councillor JOHNSTON Â
For separating this vote because I think it is incredible after that valedictorian bolstering,  a big speech here at 11.30, the last vote will be to vote against your constituents. You know, I’m not going to take the full 10 minutes because there’s no need to because Â
I just want to make sure that Councillor WINES does understand that we will be also making sure  that these constituents know that Councillor WINES voted against them at a very simple ask,  footpath to get safely to public transport. Anyway, looking forward to this vote.Â
Councillor interjecting. The big blue folders were very big and they were very impressive.  Thank you, Councillor MASSEY. Are there any further speakers? Being none, Councillor WINES, right of reply. Thanks, Mr Chair. What a bizarre series of Â
Speeches. It is as though I’m living in a mirror world where no one actually understands what’s in  front of them and makes outrageous claims that are not relevant and not true. I don’t know how  to tell the three speakers this, but Wilston Road has a footpath on both sides, the entire length. Â
I don’t know what they’re talking about. They’re telling me that the candidates are working hard.  They’re not. My own—they may do things to tell you they’re doing things, but I am—I know what’s going  on, particularly in Wilston Road. Just to clarify, Wilston Road is one block from my house and I know Â
It very well and as I say, there are concrete footpaths, the width of the footpath, on both  sides of Wilston Road within the area in question. The problem is that in older roads and in older  communities, they’re not very wide, so I suppose Councillor CASSIDY can go, can send Â
His candidate doorknocking down that street and she can tell them which side of the street she  intends to resume for a footpath, because that’s the only way it can be done. So she, I think she  should go and she should petition each and every house asking them to be resumed for a footpath, Â
Because that’s effectively what he’s saying and that’s effectively what his half-page mobility  policy is worth anyway, it’s about half an A4 page worth of notes and a commitment to spend roughly  what we do already. Actually, I’m pretty sure, you know, there’s a—five years in Opposition has Â
Led to a half-page mobility plan which speaks to a $20 million cut in footpaths. Then he sits there,  this is a person who barely leaves this building and spends his whole time dreaming up funny memes,  as though that is the secret to electoral success. I assure you it isn’t and it won’t be.Â
People want to talk about where I’ll be next term. Well, I will tell Councillor CASSIDY where he’ll  be, no higher than he is now and if any of his colleagues had half a spine or half a brain, Â
They would roll him and put themselves in because they can’t do any worse. I know a few of them,  okay, that will do better, they would all do better. How many, this is the real question,  how many Opposition leaders in Council have lost—have led their team to two defeats in Â
A row? It’s going back a while. I actually couldn’t think of anyone. We ran Bob Mills,  we ran Bob Ward, we had new people each time through the 1990s. But Councillor CASSIDY is  realistically staring down two defeats in a row. Councillor interjecting.. DEPUTY MAYOR. What Â
Can he do? He can take some cheap shots about a footpath. Well, I would say to Councillor CASSIDY,  you’re not going anywhere, you’re stuck right there at best and I would—and if you’re—and the  same thing I’d say to Councillor JOHNSTON, the best she can hope for is to stay exactly where Â
She is. So, you know, perhaps people, perhaps some Opposition figures wish ill of me that I  would not be a member of this Council next term, but what I’ll say to them is that they’re going Â
To stay exactly where they are and that is their curse that they can bear, that they can bear for  years and years. So the issue with Wilston Road is it’s very narrow, it’s a very narrow carriageway. Councillors interjecting. It’s a very narrow carriageway. Just one moment, Councillor WINES.Â
Please continue. It’s a very narrow carriageway, there are light, excuse me, there are power poles  in the middle of the footpath, it’s only 60 centimetres wide. We have organised—it’s funny  how like Councillor MASSEY takes this view that you should just hand over a concrete footpath to Â
A place that already has a concrete footpath, solved. Again, this is a person who tells me  that her candidate is out there. Well if she were out there, she would have told Councillor  MASSEY about this. But she doesn’t. She lives in Red Hill, she doesn’t live in the ward, Â
She lives in Paddington Ward. I don’t think the candidate for the Labor Party lives in  Enoggera either, by the way, I’m pretty sure she lives in Councillor CUNNINGHAM’s ward. Councillor interjecting. Councillor JOHNSTON. But all I’ll say is this, the accusation that I have Â
Not supported my community is wrong because if you were to bother to read the draft response,  you would say notwithstanding this, the Wilston Road corridor is currently being  investigated as a project under Council’s Suburban Corridor Modernisation program, Â
Which is a $100,000 allocation solely to the benefit of Wilston Road, to work out with skilled  officers, such as Damian Soper, how to manage the limitations of a narrow carriageway. So Damian,  Mr Soper, I should say, is working on this project right now because you can’t just build a footpath Â
And you can’t just resume a whole side of the street to widen the footpath, you have to work  it out. So Mr Soper from the Suburban Corridor management group is working on it right now. So not only—had anyone bothered to read the papers, they would have learnt this. Â
But I don’t think anyone in Opposition does read the papers. I think they just warm up,  take cheap shots and get that seat they’re in nice and comfy because they’re going to be there for a  little while yet. Thank you Councillor. We will now put item A of the report.Â
All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. The ayes have it. We will now put item B of the report. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. Councillors say no. The ayes have it. Division. Division.Â
Division called by Councillor JOHSTON and seconded by Councillor CASSIDY. Ayes to my right,  nos to my left. Clerks please ring the bells. Councillors, please. Clerks, please read the  results. Mr Chair, the ayes have it, the voting being 18 in favour and seven Â
Against. Councillors the report has passed. Councillors, we will move onto the next report. Councillor ALLAN, City Planning and Suburban Renewal please. Mr Chair,  I move that the report of the City Planning and Suburban Renewal Committee meeting held  on Tuesday 21 November 2023 be adopted. Seconded. It has been moved by Councillor Â
ALLAN and seconded by Councillor ATWOOD that the report of the City Planning and  Suburban Renewal Committee meeting held on Tuesday 21 November 2023 be adopted. Councillor ALLAN, you’ve got the call. Thank you, Mr Chair. Before I get to the Committee report, Â
I’d like to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of the City Planning and Suburban  Renewal team during this year. Mr Chair, earlier today I already acknowledged the hard work of our  Development Services team in assessing development applications across the city. These high-quality Â
And sustainable development applications and outcomes have been guided by a range of strategies  and planning scheme amendments. A key priority this year was planning for our future city while  addressing the challenges of population growth and changing housing needs. In March we released  Brisbane’s Sustainable Growth strategy, our Housing and Homelessness strategy, that outlines Â
The important work we’re undertaking to facilitate housing supply and diversity within our city. One of these new initiatives was to support the construction of build-to-rent accommodation  in appropriate locations and in July we announced our build-to-rent incentive policy,  which enables eligible projects to defer infrastructure charges. The financial impact Â
Associated with recovering upfront construction costs when developing new residential housing  for Brisbane can be significant and can act as a deterrent in delivering managed rental  accommodation direct to market. By using the upfront cost for rental housing development, Â
The policy aims to increase housing supply in the short term and contribute to better diversity and  supply in housing for the residents of Brisbane. In October we released our Housing Supply Action  Plan and Housing Supply Incentive. We acknowledge that 96% of all new residential properties are Â
Delivered by the private sector and this initiative will help tackle the current  housing shortage by incentivising private industry and the community sector to kickstart construction  sooner. Additionally, the policy also provides for a 100% permanent and ongoing reduction for Â
Our community housing providers to make it even easier for them to deliver vital social housing. These strategies and policies are supported by our ongoing amendments to the planning  scheme to ensure the city plan and supporting planning instruments are current and effective. Â
This includes delivering three new neighbourhood plans, namely the Eight Mile Plains Gateway plan,  Sandgate district and the Bridgeman Downs plan and progressing the Nathan, Salisbury,  Moorooka neighbourhood plan. It also includes our major and minor amendments that provide further  information guidance and advice to the industry and community about how planning outcomes can Â
Be achieved. We will continue to advocate to the State and Federal Governments for improvements to  the planning regulations, including pushing for an expedited planning scheme amendment  process to help unlock more housing sooner. We also understand that good subtropical design  can deliver economic, social and environmental outcomes and benefit residents health and Â
Wellbeing. Not only have we introduced a new subtropical design planning scheme policy this  year, but we also launched the green factor tool in May. This online tool provides urban  development practitioners with guidance to assess the quality of any proposed green infrastructure Â
And new developments to optimise landscape designs and maximise the ecosystem services they provide  in the context of Council’s strategic priorities. The success of this tool was recently acknowledged  at the Planning Institute of Australia Queensland 2023 awards by taking out the Improving Planning  Processes Award and receiving a commendation for technology and digital innovation.Â
But, Mr Chair, the City Planning and Suburban Renewal portfolio isn’t just about development  and planning schemes. It is also about how we make Brisbane a better place to live,  work and relax. It is our Public Realm Improvement programs that create liveable places with vibrant Â
Neighbourhoods. This year we completed our 20th village precinct project at Lumley Street,  Upper Mount Gravatt. We have also completed VPPs at Sandgate Road, Boondall and Park Road,  Milton, with planning and works underway at Rosalie Village and Aminya Street. We also want high quality, attractive public spaces that encourage the local community to meet, Â
Linger and enjoy and we do so by transforming our public spaces, laneways and city streets  into imaginative, curious and engaging spaces. In addition to supporting our extensive public  art collection of over 200 artworks, Council also supports a dynamic visual art program of Â
Exhibitions, events and projections. This includes Botanica, our 10-day free outdoor exhibition,  which this year was visited by over 110,000 people and our outdoor gallery program,  which celebrates its 10th year in 2023. The last exhibition, Make Visible, will run from October  to April 2025 and explores the relationship between climate and the urban environment.Â
We also want to create a sense of place and this includes reinforcing the local  character and heritage for our local residents, businesses and visitors to connect with. This  week we released our latest heritage trail, a river-based trail that explores 32 places along Â
The river. This heritage trail can be enjoyed by jumping on a CityCat and listening to audio  re-enactments. We also introduced the general exemption certificate for local heritage places  this year. This process makes it easier for owners and managers of local heritage places by providing Â
Upfront permission to undertake works that keep heritage places in active use and good repair. Mr Chair, it’s evident that the City Planning and Suburban Renewal portfolio has had many  achievements this year and all this would not be possible without the support and ongoing hard work Â
Of the officers from Development Services and City Planning and Economic Development,  led by divisional manager, David Chick and general managers Peta Harwood, John Cowie and  Martin Reason. I’d also like to thank the clerks from the Council and Committee Liaison Office, Â
Megan, Dorian and Victor, who have supported the City Planning and Suburban Renewal Committees  and this Chamber. I would also like to thank the members of the City Planning and Suburban Renewal  Committee and finally and importantly, I’d like to thank Donna and Lisa in the Northgate Ward office, Â
Steph, Tony and Vanessa in the Chair’s office. Mr Chair, just moving on to the Committee report  from last week. Item A was a presentation updating the Committee on the draft Nathan, Salisbury,  Moorooka Neighbourhood Plan. Council recently received the draft neighbourhood plan back from Â
The State Government following their first state interest review. Council will now work through the  conditions with the state prior to undertaking public consultation on the draft neighbourhood  plan in 2024. The Committee also considered two petitions and I’ll leave further debate to the  Chamber. Thank you, Councillor ALLAN. Are there any further speakers?Â
Councillor GRIFFITHS. Thank you, Mr Chair. I rise to speak on the draft Moorooka,  Salisbury, Nathan plan. This plan has been in development for about three years and my  understanding is one of the last neighbourhood plans this Council will do. I was interested in Â
Following the presentation last week and thank Councillor ALLAN for letting me ask a couple of  questions at the presentation. At some point it would be good to get a more detailed briefing on  the plan. I’ve worked really strongly with my community in relation to this plan. This plan Â
Has or proposed to have a significant impact on the community, in particular to impact or  the upzoning of at least 200 character homes in the area and with that upzoning would be the loss  of protection of those character homes. It also looked at increasing significantly the density, Â
Not just for employment, but the density of accommodation in the area. In terms of working at the local community, we were able to get 260 written submissions  to feed into this Local Plan, I think there were also about 1,000 other engagements that Council Â
Undertook as well. I attended numerous public meetings, many public meetings, with small groups,  as well as a very large public meeting of over 400 residents and all the media of Brisbane.  That was at the Moorooka Community Club and it was a very interesting and very focused meeting, Â
Where very strong views were expressed about the plan and what people wanted and didn’t want. Councillor CASSIDY also attended that meeting with me and we certainly spoke about the work of the  Better Suburbs Board, and, can I say, the majority of residents were very concerned about the work of Â
The Better Suburbs Board. We have since taken a position that we don’t support the work of  the Better Suburbs Board; the LNP do support the work of the Better Suburbs Board. As well as that,  out of the planning process, six community action groups formed separately to each other. I brought Â
All those community action groups together and offered them to meet with me. So they’ve  subsequently over that three-year timeframe have formed into one very strong community  action group that are very clear about what they want to achieve for the suburb.Â
Now, it was really good on the weekend to be invited to drinks and a catch-up with  that community action group to talk about what is proposed in this plan. What I’m pleased or what I  think I’m pleased to understand, that it sounds like in the plan that I was briefed on that the Â
200 character homes will not be upzoned. There will be a review of the character homes and  that much of the planned upzoning for the area will not go ahead in the areas where there are  character homes, but there are other locations that are industrial land that will be upzoned for Â
High-rise development, which broadly we would support and broadly the community supports. So my understanding is as a result of this plan in its current working form, we’ll see an additional  2,500 residents created in Moorooka, Nathan and Salisbury and an additional 12,000 jobs created Â
By an increase in density, particularly along the Magic Mile and the industrial land adjoining  that. I think that broadly to me, based on the representations I’ve seen, seems reasonable. I  would also like to thank the State MPs who have been involved with me in relation to Â
This plan. That’s Peter Russo and Mark Bailey, as well as the Planning Minister, Steve Miles,  who met with myself and the resident action groups and we presented all 260 written submissions to  the State, because I note Council hadn’t done that and I’ve raised that previously in the Chamber.Â
The other part of the plan is residents in the war workers’ homes, and that’s been divided off into a  separate submission, that part of this process. I did request that this come through at this  meeting, because those residents are very keen to see the heritage level of protection that was on Â
Their homes returned back to character protection. I’ve attended meetings with those residents,  and what this Council has agreed to is that the majority of residents—if we can get the majority  of residents to put in written submissions about that, that we will amend the plan from Â
Heritage to character. I support that. I’m disappointed it wasn’t brought through at  this meeting. The difficulty is we’ve had so much brought through in this meeting,  and we’re still meeting at 12 o’clock. It’s crazy. So, overall, this plan looks like it’s a move in Â
The right direction. Next year, my understanding, after the Council election and if I’m still here,  I’ll be supporting it going out for consultation to residents, so that they can give their review  during the statutory period. Once again, I want to stress that it is—I don’t know Â
The fine print of what’s in the plan, as residents don’t know either. I really think  it’s been a very long and arduous process, and certainly some of the residents aren’t happy,  particularly the residents in Nathan. During the whole planning process, their suburb, nothing Â
Has been said to happen in their particular area. Yet, as part of this planning process,  now, they’re looking at, I think, medium density in a section of their suburb. They’re feeling a bit deceived, because at no time has Council indicated that and, in fact, Â
Council worked with those residents and myself to support a court challenge to a proposal  for 800 units to go into that particular area, that particular suburb. So residents in there,  in Nathan, are feeling that they’ve been deceived by Council in fighting a court case that says one Â
Thing, but then coming in with a plan that says, actually, we’re looking at putting density there.  So that’s a discussion and a fight yet to be had. Overall, I look forward to taking this  out to the community and I think, really, in the future, it’s going to be looking at infrastructure Â
And looking at getting a definite list of character homes in Moorooka and Salisbury and  Nathan. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor. Further speakers? I see no one rising. Councillor ALLAN, right of reply. No? We will now put the report. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no.Â
The ayes have it. Councillor DAVIS, Environment,  Parks and Sustainability, please. Thank you, Mr Chair. I move that the report of the Environment,  Parks and Sustainability Committee meeting held on Tuesday 21 November 2023 be adopted.  Seconded. It has been moved by Councillor DAVIS and seconded by Councillor WOLFF that Â
The report of the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee meeting held on  Tuesday 21 November 2023 be adopted. Councillor DAVIS. Well, thank you,  Mr Chair. 2023 has been yet another massive year in Program Three, and despite the challenges  that we faced in strong population growth and unprecedent cost pressures, we’ve continued Â
Our strong record of delivering for residents of Brisbane. We hit the ground running in 2023 with  the delivery of ongoing flood recovery work and we began to acquire the first properties under the  Voluntary Home Buy-Back program. This program has assisted hundreds of Brisbane residents with no Â
Other place to turn following the devastation of their homes during the 2022 flood event. We’ve had feedback from program participants that the dedication and professionalism of our  acquisitions team had made a really positive impact during what has been a very stressful Â
Time for those residents. We’ve now acquired 222 properties under the program of which 52 have been  demolished. Wherever possible, we try and embrace the circular economy, so we’ve relocated 27 homes,  which can be given a new lease on life in the future. Mr Chair, this year, we achieved a Â
Significant milestone in our Bushland Acquisition program with the 400th parcel acquired since the  beginning of this initiative back in 1990. Since then, we’ve protected and enhanced more than 4,400  hectares of natural habitat across our city. In 2023, we’ve been busy across Brisbane’s park Â
Network to create more to see and enjoy for residents and visitors to Brisbane’s parks,  which are such an important part of our city’s vibrant outdoor lifestyle. As you know, Mr Chair,  we delivered the Victoria Park Master Plan, which is the culmination of four years of Â
Community consultation and thousands of hours of behind the scenes work by the  team. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform 64 hectares of urban green space  into a thriving public parkland and we’ve got to work straightaway on it. The first new shelters, Â
Pathways in the Kelvin Grove Busway entrance have been completed and work has commenced on  the first big projects, and those are the urban pump track at Herston and the Spring Hill Common. Meanwhile, Victoria Park remains as popular as ever. We hosted several major events in Â
The park in 2023, including the Green Heart Fair, which attracted nearly 20,000 attendees  from right across the city, and our inaugural Outdoor Adventure Festival celebrating all  of the opportunities to get active and enjoy Brisbane’s great outdoors. This year, we also Â
Completed work on Brisbane’s new mini theme park at Bradbury Park. I can say that the feedback has  been tremendous. We’ve had visitors come from far and wide to check it out, including a delegation  of mayors from Western Australia, which I mentioned a few weeks ago. We have created a Â
True suburban destination at Bradbury Park, that’s changing the way families think of playgrounds. It’s targeted at older kids, with an appetite for a bit of risk and adventure,  and Bradbury Park has been a great success in getting tweens and teens off TikTok and into Â
Nature for many hours of explorative fun. We’ve also delivered another new major play-space on  the southside at Kitchener Park in Wynnum, with the new nautical-themed playground, as well as a  towering new playscape and fresh kickabout space at Castamore Way Park in Richlands. This year, Â
We completed work at the Shorncliffe Escarpment, which includes new heritage-inspired bollards,  a viewing terrace, replacement staircase, as well as plantings and escarpment stabilisation, to  help make sure residents and visitors can cherish this iconic seaside spot for generations to come. We’ve also made great strides towards delivering two major park projects: the Nudgee Recreation Â
Reserve and Brisbane International Cycle Park at Murarrie Recreation Reserve. Both of  these projects will massively enhance Brisbane’s opportunities for active recreation and community  connection, especially in the leadup to the 2032 Games with the BICP providing Olympic-level  training facilities for local cyclists and maybe even budding future Olympians. Mr Chair, we have Â
Also been busy planning for the future. We have opened consultation to being a visioning process  for Brisbane’s two remaining quarries at Pine Mountain and Mt Coot-tha. These two sites have  almost unlimited potential to create an iconic destination for our city and I know the community Â
Is very excited to share their thoughts on what we could see in those spaces in the future. We’ve also developed concept plans for the Kingfisher Creek Precinct, our next priority  precinct as part of the Norman Creek Master Plan and, of course, with Brighton Foreshore. Â
Like what we did at Shorncliffe Escarpment, there’s a lot of potential here to unlock this  foreshore destination with new opportunities for the community and visitors to enjoy. As well as  building and delivering new projects in 2023, we also saw some welcome recognition of one of Â
Our most ambitious park and waterway projects at Hanlon Park, Bur’uda, which was showcased  on Gardening Australia and was the talk of the town at the Asia Pacific Cities Summit. Earlier this year, we won three national awards from the Australian Institute of Landscape Â
Architects, and I’m very proud to announce that Hanlon Park has been recognised again  last week by the Planning Institute of Australia, winning the 2023 Great Place Award. Speaking of  recognition, Brisbane was acknowledged as a global sustainability leader again by the United Nations, Â
Becoming the first and only Australian city to receive gold certification under the Sustainable  Development Goals program. Mr Chair, we also launched the Biodiverse Brisbane Initiative,  which is the LORD MAYOR’s commitment to place one million native plants  along 500 hectares of riparian habitat by 2032. For the first time, we’re partnering with Greening Â
Australia to secure private investment in restoring Brisbane’s urban habitat,  which is a really great outcome. Planting is underway right now at Archerfield Wetlands,  with close to 20,000 plants in the ground already. But to round off this snapshot, we  have also delivered an offroad cycling strategy. We’ve built the world’s first koala bridge. We’ve Â
Introduced koalas into Pooh Corner. We’ve given out 250,000 free native plants over the term.  We’ve created 64 new parks, increased playground shade from 72% to 92%. We’ve installed 79 new  electric and gas barbecues and, of course, we established the Brisbane Sustainability Agency by Â
Merging Oxley Creek Transformation and CitySmart. So that’s just a little bit of a snapshot of what  we’ve done over the term, but, of course, there’s much more than that. But moving  on to the Committee report, Mr Chair, last week’s Committee presentation was a report Â
On Brisbane’s native flora. We are proud that as Australia’s most biodiverse city we are host to  81 ecosystems. These ecosystems are home to more than 2,000 different species. In fact,  some of our flora even dates back to the time of Gondwana in the Triassic and early Jurassic Â
Periods. The presentation included some quite beautiful images of our impressive flora that  flourishes in Brisbane from native shrubs and trees to some species that are under  threat and, of course, needing our protection. We learnt that our native flora has had to adapt Â
To extremes in both dry and wet conditions, with some plants adapting to low nutrient environments,  where others have adapted to drier conditions. It was very clear that the Committee really enjoyed  what was a very interesting, informative and colourful final Committee presentation. Mr Chair, Â
We also had two petitions, the formal naming of the park known as Holdsworth Street Park at Old  Cleveland Road, Coorparoo to Wallace Place Park and another petition requesting Council install  wildlife fencing at Rode Road. But, Mr Chair, before I finish, I’d just like to take the Â
Opportunity to thank officers for all their hard work in support of Program 3. These officers are  very passionate and committed to delivering our clean, green and sustainable agenda. A particular thank you to Divisional Manager David Chick, General Manager of the News Branch, Brad Â
Wilson, and his managers, Elizabeth Sisson, Wade Fitzgerald and Lachlan Carkeet, with a mention to  Dave Henry, Kate Wise, and the very lovely Alena. But to Sean Madigan and the CPS team, thank you,  for the work that you’ve been doing, not only in Victoria Park, but at other parks across the city: Â
Roma Street Parklands and, of course, South Bank. To Tracy Melenewycz and the BSA team, thank you  for what you do. Natalie Costanzo and the teams at our Environment Centres, they do amazing work,  not only with volunteers, but working with the community, so that they can learn about Â
How we can protect our environment better. Of course, to Petria Forword and the Victoria  Park project team, whilst those opposite like to come into this Chamber and have a crack at  the work that those dedicated officers are doing in creating what will be a magnificent park—64 Â
Hectares—that will become an iconic destination for our city in years to come. I’d also like to  thank the clerks. Thank you for your support, both here in the Chamber and, of course, in the  Committee rooms. I’d also like to give a shoutout to the amazing team who support me in the EPS Â
Chair’s office: Tanya, Ethan and Steve and to the team at the McDowall Ward office: Natasha, Trish,  Keila and Matilda. Thank you for everything that you do working— Councillor DAVIS, your time has  expired. Thank you very much, Mr Chair. Thank you. Further speakers? I see no one Â
Rising to their feet. We will now put the report. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. The ayes have it. Councillor MARX,  City Standards, please. Mr Chair, I move that the report of the City Standards Committee meeting Â
Held on Tuesday 21 November 2023 be adopted. Seconded. It has been moved by Councillor MARX  and seconded by Councillor ADERMANN that the report of the City Standards Committee meeting  held on Tuesday 21 November 2023 be adopted. Councillor MARX, you’ve got the call. Yes. Thank Â
You, Mr Chair. Being the last Council meeting of the year, I’d like to take some to reflect  on what has been a massive year for Program Six. I’d like to acknowledge the hard work and  dedication of our City Standards and Compliance and Regulatory Service officers. It is your Â
Dedication and hard work that helps to maintain the high standard that our residents see across  Brisbane every day. It gives me a great sense of pride when I see new footpaths being constructed,  the community participating in education programs, roads being resurfaced or one of the many other Â
Important pieces of work that you help deliver. I want to say thank you on behalf of not only our  team of Councillors here, but also the residents of the City of Brisbane for the hard work that Â
You’ve done over the last 12 months and three and a half years as my role as Chair. To Christian,  thank you for the tremendous amount of work you’ve done this year. Your passion  and commitment to this job and the residents of Brisbane are second to none, and I know that he Â
Is continuing to listen right now. To Pip, thank you for your knowledge. Thank you for  your enthusiasm and thank you for your support, and I hope you get better soon. To Kirsty, your  dedication to a better Brisbane and your pragmatic approach is wonderful to work with. To you and all Â
Of your team, thank you for all your work. To Paula, we miss you and we hope you’re  enjoying your new role. I would also like to acknowledge Sam, Shane, Mark, Matt, Sonya,  Peter and Anthony. Thank you for your professionalism and the countless hours Â
Of discussions around the brilliant work you and your teams have been undertaking for the community  this year and previous years to that. I have to say, I do enjoy our robust discussions and look  forward to many more to come. To Lizzie, Danny, Luke, Caitlin, Levanya and Carly, thank you for Â
A brilliant year. It has been a great pleasure working with such a passionate team. We certainly  could not have delivered our Towards Zero Waste strategy without all of you. There’s been so many  things and wonderful things done in this program. I just can’t say that—we can’t say each day is Â
The same. Everything—when you get up here in the morning is just something different all the time,  whether it’s Des swimming to the island and who knows what. Lots of various things. I just want  to say, if I missed anyone in that thank you list, that’s Kate’s fault, not mine. Last week, Â
We did a Committee presentation on the Bracalba Quarry and I was actually so impressed with the  slide that the officer had produced for that, I promised the Committee members I would do a copy  for that, and I’ve got some here for you, which I’ve even had laminated. I think they’re—it’s Â
A pretty impressive piece of work. There was—Councillor JOHNSTON had a question on notice  about the clearing of trees regarding the quarry. Council is currently still working with State and  Federal Government in the planning flows, so any future plans will be raised on quarry demands. Â
Also to just clarify, there was an email sent to your ward office yesterday regarding the footpath  query that you had. I also want to make mention of—thank you to all my ward and city office staff. Â
I’ve had a few over the last 10 years in this role and three years as the Chair. I also want  to make mention that I was particularly pleased to hear this morning or earlier this afternoon the  accolades that all the Councillors on both sides of the Chambers had for the outcome managers.Â
Councillor interjecting. Yes. I don’t know why they’re laughing,  because I think the outcome managers do a tremendous job through you, Mr Chair. Councillors interjecting. I do remember quite clearly that there was opposition  to the restructuring when it was first introduced and talked about. I always said—Â
Councillor interjecting. Councillor JOHNSTON. I always said that the restructure was not set in  stone and that if changes needed to happen, then they would. So I’m very pleased to hear  that all the Councillors are very happy with the outcome managers and that they are dedicated to Â
Their job and their role is to continue to make our life and the life of residents—  A point of order. —easier. Thank you, Mr Chair. Just one moment, Councillor MARX. Point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON. Claim to be misrepresented. You haven’t spoken. Councillors interjecting. Councillor MARX. No? Councillor JOHNSTON, your misrepresentation. Yes. Â
Councillor MARX has stated that apparently all Councillors are thrilled with the restructure.  Earlier today, I actually thanked Rick Larkin for his hard work. Certainly,  the restructure’s still a dud and always has been. Further speakers. I see no one. We will now put the report. All those in favour say aye.Â
Councillors say aye. Those against say no. The ayes have it. Councillor HOWARD. Thank you, Mr Chair. I move the report of the Community,  Arts and Nighttime Economy Committee meeting held on Tuesday 21 November 2023 be adopted.  Seconded. It has been moved by Councillor HOWARD and seconded by Councillor LANDERS Â
That the report of the Community, Arts and Nighttime Economy Committee meeting  held on Tuesday 21 November 2023 be adopted. Councillor HOWARD, you’ve got the call. So,  Mr Chair, I never really realised that the night-time part of my portfolio would be so Â
Relevant, but here we are. I just want—I’m going to be brief, because normally I spend a great deal  of time telling everyone what a beautiful city we have, but I know that you all know that and I want Â
To—I’m not going to mention anybody’s name from Lifestyle, because they all do the most fabulous,  fabulous job, as you all know. So I just want to say to each and every wonderful person that  works in Lifestyle, thank you, thank you, thank you. You do a fantastic job. You make me very, Â
Very proud of you and it is my great honour to stand up for you whenever I need to and some of  you do some really difficult jobs. I think our Public Space Liaison officers fit that category.Â
They are doing it tough out there at the moment, and I just want to call you out as someone that  just goes above and beyond at the moment. But can I just say to each and every one of you from my Â
Lifestyle portfolio, I really, really appreciate everything that you do. Our Committee report was,  in fact, a wrap up of 2023 and we had a great time. We have a great time at our Committee,  because we really do have some fantastic stories to tell. I think one of the important aspects of Â
That report was that our customer services have been recognised for their excellence by the  Auscontact Association. It was—we received several awards for customer service excellence and were  announced as the 2023 Queensland Contact Centre of the Year. So that is something really special.Â
We talked about our community facilities, our libraries and all of the amazing activities that  we do in our Lifestyle portfolio. But I also want to say a big thank you to our River City Pride.  They are also a group of people who have really done us proud this year. There was an amazing Â
IDAHOBIT event that was organised by River City Pride and I think it’s the first time that we’ve  invited people from all over Brisbane and it was a great success. So on that note, I would  just like to say to everyone in the Lifestyle portfolio have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas, Â
Enjoy your break and I look forward to working with you next year. Thank you, Councillor HOWARD. Are there further speakers? I see no one rising. We will now put the report. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. The ayes have it. Councillor— Point of order, Â
Chair. Point of order, Councillor COLLIER. I move that the motion currently lying on the table,  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags on the Story Bridge come off the table for  debate. Seconded. We have a procedural motion before us to remove a motion on Â
The table that was moved by Councillor COOK and seconded by Councillor CASSIDY and the motion  reads that Brisbane City Council commits to urgently installing the Aboriginal and  Torres Strait Islander flags on the Story Bridge in addition to the Australian flag. All those in favour to that motion coming off the table say aye.Â
Councillors say aye. Those against say no. Councillors say no. The nos have it. Division called by Councillor COLLIER and seconded by Councillor GRIFFITHS. Ayes to my right,  nos to my left. Clerks, please ring the bells. Councillors, a bit of quiet, please. Clerks, Â
Please read the results. Mr Chair, the nos have it, the voting being seven in favour  and 19 against. Councillors, the procedural motion has not passed. Please resume your seats, please. Councillor CUNNINGHAM, you are— Point of order. Sorry, Councillor CUNNINGHAM.Â
A point of order, Councillor JOHNSTON. Yes, Mr Chairman, I move that the motion to re-establish  Council’s flood buy-back scheme is taken off the table. Seconded. Thank you. We have a  motion before us moved by Councillor JOHNSTON and seconded by Councillor GRIFFITHS that the Â
Motion that reads that Brisbane City Council re-establishes a flood buy-back scheme as part  of the 2024-25 Council Budget to provide ongoing flood buy-back following the conclusion of the  State and Federal Government scheme in 2023. We’ll now put the procedural motion for that Â
Motion to come off the table. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. Councillors say no. The nos have it. Division called by Councillor JOHNSTON and seconded by Councillor CASSIDY. Ayes  to my right, nos to my left. Sorry. Sorry. My apologies. My apologies. It Â
Is 12.20. Clerks, please ring the bells. Sorry, mate. All the pretzels are gone. Clerks, please read the results. Mr Chair, the nos have it, the voting being seven in  favour and 19 against. Councillors, the procedural motion has not passed. Please resume your seats.Â
My apologies, Councillor GRIFFITHS. Sorry. There’s not much left, mate. They do make  you thirsty, though, those pretzels. Councillors, as it is 12.21 and it is  Councillor HUANG’s birthday today, happy birthday, Councillor HUANG. Councillor CUNNINGHAM, you’ve got the call. Thanks, Mr Chair. I move that the report of the Â
Finance and City Governance Committee meeting held on Tuesday 21 November 2023 be adopted. Seconded.  It has been moved by Councillor CUNNINGHAM and seconded by the birthday boy that the report of  the Finance and City Governance Committee meeting held on Tuesday 21 November 2023 be adopted.Â
Councillor CUNNINGHAM. Thanks, Mr Chair. I’ll be as brief as I can be. Our presentation last week  was from our City Resilience manager to provide an update on Council’s activity to prepare for the  upcoming season. Councillor MASSEY specifically mentioned Howard in her remarks earlier today or, Â
Should I say, yesterday. I join with her in acknowledging the tremendous job that Howard has  done in this role. It was informative report, as always, and I want to thank the staff right across  Council for their efforts in reducing risk and promoting Committee preparedness and resilience, Â
Particularly at this time of year. We hope the season ahead is a quiet one, but we know that  despite the weather today bushfire remains a real risk this summer, as are storms. In the report is the bank and investment report for October and the quarterly Committee financial Â
Reports as well. As this is my final report for the term, I will take the opportunity to  acknowledge the achievements in the Finance and City Governance program area. Mr Chair, we have  backed local businesses and suppliers throughout our procurement policies like never before. It’s Â
Something we are really proud of. We are gearing up, the Council, for a digital transformation,  which will provide residents with more accessible and better value services. We’ve delivered great  reforms in terms of rating policies, whether that be new rebates or our categories for Â
Transitory accommodation, which have been since replicated right across the nation. We’re now doing a huge body of work to further investigate policy reform in the short-stay sector  as well. We continue, importantly, to have the cheapest rates in South East Queensland Â
And the most generous pensioner rebate scheme in Queensland. We’ve made great gains in the  disaster management space. I’m proud of the many small, but important wins we’ve had in terms of  modernising ward office processes and support for our Councillors. I could go on, but in the Â
Interests of time I simply won’t. Thanks to the dozen of Council officers I’ve had the privilege  of working with in my portfolio every day, especially led by Anne and Tim, but the hundreds  and hundreds more who support them. Thank you to the LORD MAYOR and to my Cabinet colleagues. Thank Â
You to my fellow Councillors, especially those on the Finance Committee and, of course, the clerks,  who help facilitate those meetings. Finally, thanks to my team in the city and ward for  their ongoing support. Merry Christmas and enjoy your summer. Thank you, Councillor CUNNINGHAM. Are there further speakers? Councillor STRUNK. Yes. Thank Â
You. Thank you, Chair. Listen, I rise to speak on not any particular item here, but an item  that actually doesn’t appear on the papers, but it’s very much a part of our Committee work,  and that is the payments that are approved every week. I just wanted to—not debate those, Â
Obviously, because I’m not allowed to, but I just want to give credit where credit is  due. I worked out some time ago that for the eight years that I’ve undertaken this work to  read every payment and come with those questions that looked interesting—and we’ve had a few—that Â
I couldn’t have done that work without someone from my ward office, Pam McCreadie. Councillor,  sorry. Forgive me. Councillor STRUNK— Yes. Would you mind holding these comments over  until General Business? Would you not indulge me? No. It is part of the Finance portfolio. Â
But it’s not in the report. I know and I say I’m not debating. I know, and I realise that,  but it’s still not in the report. If you would like me to move it in GB, that’ll be fine. Yes. I Â
Would love it if you would— Okay. —keep your comments to General Business. Thank you. Further speakers. There being none,  Councillor CUNNINGHAM, right of reply. No? We will now put the report. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. The ayes have it. Councillors, are there any petitions?Â
DEPUTY MAYOR. Yes. I’d like to table a petition around reducing the speed  limit on Ekibin Road East. Thank you. Councillor STRUNK. Yes, Chair. I’ve got  a petition here by a number of residents asking for an upgrade of the roundabout at Â
Forest Lake Boulevard and Garden Road to a set of traffic lights. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Councillor WOLFF. Yes. I have a petition for the five-way intersection soundproofing for loud  vehicles on Gailey Road, St Lucia. Councillor WHITMEE. Yes. I have a petition with 306 Â
Signatures opposing the proposed intersection improvements at Cambridge Parade, Melville  Terrace and Arnold Street. Thank you very much. Can I have a motion to accept the petitions,  please. Sure, Chair. Mr Chair, I move that the petitions as presented be received and referred Â
To the Committee concerned for consideration and report. Seconded. It has been moved by  Councillor HUTTON and seconded by Councillor STRUNK that all petitions as presented be  received and referred to the Committee concerned for consideration and report. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. All those against say no.Â
The ayes have it. Councillors, are there any statements required  as a result of the Office of the Independent Assessor or Councillor Ethics Committee order? I see no one rising. Councillors,  are there any items of General Business? Councillor DIXON. Mr Chair, I wish to rise on Â
General Business to speak about Christmas events in Hamilton Ward. So the Christmas spirit is truly  around my local community and there are many great events that are happening. Last Saturday,  I attended the St Mark’s Christmas Tree Festival, and as part of the festivities the church invited Â
People to enter a decorated tree and I definitely took that opportunity up. So I had a Hamilton  Ward-inspired decorated tree. Some other community organisations got involved as well, such as Meals  on Wheels, Hamilton Girls Guides and even the Brisbane Pickleball Club as well decorated a Â
Tree. Visitors were also able to walk through market stalls and purchase some afternoon tea. This coming week, I’m excited to be attending the St Augustine’s Christmas Carols, where Racecourse  Road will be filled with Christmas joy from about 3pm on Friday. There will be a sausage sizzle, Â
Market stalls and a carol service led by local choirs, the Ascot State School, Hendra and  Hamilton State School Choirs as well. So I invite everyone to bring a picnic banquet and enjoy the  evening on the lawn. I’m also looking forward to the Hamilton Neighbourhood Hubs Baubles, Bells & Â
Bows, which will be on Saturday at St Luke’s from 3pm. Now, finally, it’s 20 years since the movie  Elf first screened. So I’ll be hosting a Christmas music and movie in the park on 9 December. We will Â
Have a band called Swingalicious from 5.30pm and then a screening of the movie Elf at 7pm. It will be a great evening at Ascot Park. Finally, I just want to wish everyone in  Hamilton Ward a Merry Christmas, and I also just want to quickly thank my ward staff as Â
Well. They’ve been great since I started in the role. I can’t wait to celebrate  with everyone in the community over the festive season. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor DIXON. Councillor STRUNK. Yes. Thank you, Chair. I’ll continue my remarks from before. So we undertake Â
This work on a weekly basis to go through all those payments that the Brisbane City Council  makes. I worked it out that there is—over the last two terms we were the—I would have—not  just myself, but Pam McCreadie, as I said, my ward advisor. We’ve gone through over a million lines Â
Of text or payments. We came up with at least on average around about 10 questions per week, so  that works out around 2,000 questions. Some of the answers were very interesting, especially for some  of our fellow Councillors, who made payments or payments were allowed to be made on their behalf Â
And they were—had to be a little bit embarrassing, I suppose, is probably the best way of putting it. But, as I say, I couldn’t do it myself alone. Pam McCreadie, my ward advisor, undertook all  the legal stuff, and that was challenging at times, because sometimes it wasn’t obvious who Â
The payment was being made to, because there was no acknowledgement that it was actually a  legal payment. But we were able to identify those barristers and solicitors that worked outside of  Council and we were able to come up with those questions in regard to those legal payments.Â
It’s work that I think’s pretty important and over the years I’ve found that most—you know,  probably 99% of the payments were correct insofar as there wasn’t many double payments, but we did  find a few over the years with double payments on computers and things like that, which was, Â
Again, interesting that that sort of work wasn’t properly picked up by people that were a lot more  competent in this area than I was that do this work every day. But humans, we can make mistakes,  but—and it was good that we were able to pick those up, so that the Council didn’t actually Â
Have to make double payments or those double payments didn’t occur. So, anyways, I just  wanted to put that on the record after eight years and who knows what’s going to happen next year? Hopefully, I won’t have to continue to do this. Leader. Because my optometrist says to me, Â
He says, you just better watch out. You know, look after your eyes, you know,  because they’re pretty important. But, anyways, it was gratifying in a lot of ways when you find  stuff that isn’t quite right and you can bring it to the attention of the Committee. Thank you, Â
Chair. Thank you, Councillor STRUNK. Further items of General Business? Councillor LANDERS. Thank you, Chair. I rise to speak about the Sandgate Men’s Shed who recently  worked on a beautiful new railway tunnel for the Bracken Ridge Lions’ Train Day. Last weekend, Â
We actually tried out the tunnel. It was absolutely stunning. The kids loved it. We train  drivers loved it and the only downside was it’s another thing that we’ve got to take down at the Â
End of the day and put away. But, anyway, everyone chips in and gets it done. So the Men’s Shed have  been fantastic. They do incredible things in our community. Whenever there’s a little job  that needs to be done, they’re willing to do it. Of course, we had several of them there selling Â
Their toys at Train Day, the wooden toys that they make, which of course the community loved. We also had the local family who have been raising funds for the Tara Bushfire Appeal. They ran the  barbecue at Train Day on Sunday, which everyone supported. It was great to see. I do want to give Â
A shoutout to our Bracken Ridge Lions Club. They are absolutely fantastic and, of course,  were there during the floods and are here now helping with this Tara Bushfire Appeal. They’re  always there when we call upon them too. So we’re very, very lucky in Bracken Ridge. The last Train Â
Day for the year is not on the fourth Sunday as it normally is, because that would be Christmas.  So it is on 10 December. Hopefully, the weather is on our side. It should be a lovely day, so,  Councillor MURPHY, please bring along Allidy and Councillor ATWOOD, I know, yes. Yes.Â
New Councillors, if you want to bring along your little ones to McPherson Park in Brecken Ridge,  it is a really fun day out. The important thing is that Santa will be at this Train Day,  so hopefully you can make it along. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor LANDERS.Â
Further speakers? Councillor COLLIER. Thanks. Just one item of  General Business tonight—this morning—Chair. This morning. First matter is— That is highly accurate,  Councillor COLLIER. Can I say, congratulations on picking that one up. Well done. Thanks so much.  Just about local small business support. Now, more than ever, local businesses need our support and Â
That is why I am working alongside traders in both Oxford Street and Asquith Street in Morningside  to get more support from Council. To these local businesses, I hear your calls loud and clear and,  unlike this LNP Council, who say our businesses already get enough support, I will listen and Â
Act. Council supports other local precincts with projects that deliver things like landscaping,  artwork, lighting and more, so why can’t they support ours? For far too long, this LNP Council  has prioritised other areas over our locals. Oxford Street is a beautiful hub of Bulimba Â
And boasts a huge array of local businesses. They are represented by passionate advocates  at the Oxford Street Business Association. The Asquith Street shops in Morningside are  another group of excellent local traders, who help make Morningside special and they are truly Â
Deserving of Council’s resources. When they ask for help, they have my full support. I did just  want to touch on the DEPUTY MAYOR’s comments last week that I’d like to clarify. I know it’s very  easy for the DEPUTY MAYOR to get confused, given she’s likely never spoken to any of Â
These small businesses before. But that’s okay, because I do. So in the Oxford Street Business  Association’s own words, they say Oxford Street is an important community hub, but many locals have  raised concerns that the streetscape is looking tired and in need of improvements and support to Â
Attract residents and visitors to the precinct. We are asking Council to fund a Village Precinct  and Growing Precincts Together project for Oxford Street, Bulimba as a priority. Local traders in  the Oxford Street Business Association make specific requests for hands-on support from Â
Council to make the public realm improvements to the precincts. These are the words of the  association. DEPUTY MAYOR, I will just note the OSBA, as they’re known, came to me specifically  this year and said, Lucy, Council did this project earlier. They put some fairy lights Â
Up. They put some artwork up, I guess, and they didn’t actually speak to any of us about if it was  what we wanted. They put some—Council put some sparkly lights up and walked away. They said,  job done. According to Council, it is all fine and dandy in Oxford Street.Â
DEPUTY MAYOR, I know that it’s your first instinct to jump to conclusions and personal  attacks. After all, it is the LNP way to say that residents are not being truthful,  but this is the reality for local traders. This is what they have told me. Unlike the LNP, I actually Â
Do speak to people who are affected and not some thirdhand report of what might have happened. I  certainly won’t be ringing the DEPUTY MAYOR to get a local problem solved, because through you,  Chair, all that will achieve is the DEPUTY MAYOR will come into this place in City Hall, Â
Blame small businesses, call them lazy and say it’s only her job to look after the inner city. The reason why I bring this up today is to highlight the hypocrisy of this LNP Council,  who say they’re business friendly, but reality could not be further from the truth. One of Â
The small businesses who were affected by road resurfacing recently in my ward asked me to read  these words on their behalf here in this place today. They said, we were notified but a couple of Â
Days was certainly not time for us to prepare. Due to the nature of works, we were unable to trade,  as the dust, debris and smell affected the health and safety of our staff and customers. This forced  us to close. As a small business, every small change directly impacts us. We lost financial Â
Income, and the ability to provide stability for our staff. We were devastated that Council was not  able to support us at all during this time. This just further proves my point that I  raised in a Committee meeting a few weeks ago, which is the absolute breakdown in Â
Communication that affects small businesses and community organisations. Council could  improve their processes instead of blaming small businesses. We can do so much better,  and under a Labor Administration we absolutely will. Are there further items of business? DEPUTY MAYOR. Yes. Thank you. I’d just like to speak about the behaviour of Â
Those on the opposite side of the Chamber tonight; the bullying, bickering, vicious,  personal attacks on every person on this side of the Chamber, every single Chair in this Chamber.  I don’t even need to speak about that last one, because the lack of communication from a Â
Councillor bickering about something that happened July and never picking the phone up to the Chair,  that is lack of representation. That is lack. Councillor interjecting. Councillor COLLIER.  You were heard in silence. DEPUTY MAYOR. I hear Councillor Â
COLLIER say she’ll never pick up the phone to me and for me; great. But she could ask any Council  officer that’s working in that team. The team spoke with that shop and, from my understanding,  they didn’t shut down, but I hear what they’re saying. I wish they had reached out to the team Â
And spoke to them, because that was not—having. Councillor interjecting. Well, I wish Councillor  COLLIER—this isn’t a conversation. Thank you, Councillor MURPHY. I’ll take the interjection.  But this is not about Councillor COLLIER’s speech. This is about Councillor JOHNSTON’s speech. This Â
Is about the nasty, vicious Councillor CASSIDY, who was backed into a corner, because they know  what they’re staring down in March, and it isn’t pretty. It isn’t pretty. It’s desperate and  it’s sad and the results will show in March. This side of the Chamber are proud of our achievements Â
We’ve done the last four years, which is why it wasn’t a valedictory. It was shouting it from the  rooftops of the wonderful work that not only the Cabinet Chairs, our deputies, our backbenchers,  but the whole Council team, has done over the last four years has been absolutely fantastic.Â
We will stand on that record every day of the week and every minute of the day right up to 16 March,  where I am sure the rest of Brisbane will agree with us that the only people that can  manage this city is Team Schrinner. On that note, I move the meeting Â
Be closed. Seconded We have a motion to— Councillor interjecting. We have a motion  to close the meeting moved by the DEPUTY MAYOR, seconded by Councillor HUTTON. All those in favour say aye. Councillors say aye. Those against say no. Councillors say no. The ayes have it. Councillors, before we leave the Chamber, Â
Can I please—Councillors. Before we leave the Chamber, can you please extend thanks to Billy,  who has stayed with us all this evening. Our clerks, Victor and Dorian, as well. Also City  Hall Operations, thank you for staying behind. Councillors, I declare the meeting closed.