Hi Everyone

We are trialling a new look and feel to the e-newsletter to make it more user friendly for mobile devices. This means that many of the usual Council and community events are now available through a link to my community calendar. There are so many great events on, so make sure you check them out here  (there's also going to be a link that lives down in the 'What's On' section). We welcome your feedback on whether the information and new style is useful - please let me know.

Council’s decision to provide very late notice to residents about a full closure of the Walter Taylor Bridge from 13 to 30 September is troubling. It’s the first time since 1993 that there’ s been a full closure of the Bridge. Chaos lies ahead.

I am not sure if this decision can be changed but I have asked a lot of questions. Please see the story below for more details. I am sharing urgent updates on my Facebook page.

Regards, Nicole.

On Friday I was advised that Council will be fully closing the Walter Taylor Bridge from 9pm 13 Sept to 5am 30 Sept 2024 for maintenance. It’s been presented to me as a fait accompli with business notification already underway and residents to be notified this week. 

We all want a safe and reliable Bridge and maintenance works to the bridge joints and resurfacing are critically important. However, doing it in a way that minimises disruption to local residents who rely in the Bridge is critical. That's why I have raised practical issues about the disruption, detours, timing and logistics with the CEO in my correspondence you can read here.

• The detours plans are grossly inadequate and I have raised these issues directly with the CEO of Council. The lengthy detour is via two major road projects at the Centenary Motorway and Moggill Road roundabout that are already causing chaos and delays. 
• Bus users are being diverted to a rail station with no universal access making it incredibly difficult for the elderly those with disabilities or parents with prams to access public transport. Plus there will be long delays between bus and rail services. I asked the Lord Mayor a question about whether he thought the lack of universal access to public transport as a result of the Bridge closure was acceptable, and he refused to answer the question and instead personally attacked me. I am worried that inadequate arrangements have been made for the elderly, the disabled and parents with prams who cannot manage the stairs at Sherwood rail station where all buses are terminating during the Bridge closure.
• No temporary upgrades are in place to manage traffic volume increases at key intersections like Cook St and Oxley Rd Oxley that are already congested. 

Two weeks in January (e.g. 5 - 18 January) may be a better option as the Moggill Rd roundabout project is supposed to finish before Christmas and traffic will be lighter.

I have written to the CEO of Council about my concerns and I will keep you updated. As a local resident and your local Councillor, I am appalled at the Lord Mayor’s and Council’s failure to have open and honest conversation with us or provide timely advice to enable long-term planning for major disruptions.

Maintaining the Bridge is important but fully closing it for weeks is not necessary. Given the Moggill Rd project is a year behind schedule let’s hope that Council don’ t mismanage the bridge repairs as well and timeframes don’t blow out further.

You can read more about the Bridge closure on my website here.

As residents would know, numerous trees were damaged in Yeronga Memorial Park  as a result of the supercell storm in December 2023. Council is now undertaking significant tree  works that include removal of dead trees and replacement plantings between August and October.

The good news is that a replacement planting plan is in place and plantings are scheduled to take place by the end of October. A list of trees for removal, their location on the map and species for replanting is noted in the table below. 

Please ensure your items are placed on the kerb before 6am on the first day of the collection period.  The next kerbside collection for suburbs not listed below will take place in 2025.

Graceville Ave, Graceville is posted as 60km/h. The sign collected data for a 25 week period from 4 October, 2023 to 30 March, 2024. During this time 634,576 vehicles (av. 3,545 per day) passed through the portable speed sign zone.

31,676 or 5% of all drivers were recorded travelling above the posted speed limit. Of the vehicles speeding, 85% were travelling at or below 65km/h. When prompted, speeding drivers reduced their speeds by an average of 3km to 62km/h within the speed camera range.

Villa St, Yeronga is posted as 40km/h. The sign collected data for a 30 week period from 1 September, 2023 to 28 March, 2024. During this time 190,956 vehicles (av. 909 per day) passed through the portable speed sign zone.

90,170 or 47.2% of all drivers were recorded travelling above the posted speed limit. Of the vehicles speeding, 85% were travelling at or below 52km/h. When prompted, speeding drivers reduced their speeds by an average of 3km to 49km/h within the speed camera range

Please slow down around busy school and pedestrian hot spots!

Boardwalk Repairs Sherwood Arboretum

Maintenance works on the boardwalk along the Brisbane River in the Sherwood Arboretum are scheduled to take place from 12 August to mid-September 2024,  weather and maintenance conditions permitting.

Work hours are 6:30am to 3:30pm, Monday to Friday. The boardwalk will be partially closed allowing for pedestrian access.

Works will include sanding and cleaning timber decking boards, replacing deteriorating timber boards, and oiling the boardwalk.

Buy-Back House Removals

The following flood-affected houses are scheduled for removal during August after they were purchased by Council as part of the Voluntary Home Buy-Back programme. I have asked Council to preserve as many trees as possible during the demolition phase. I will also be speaking with residents who live adjoining these sites and in the local neighbourhood about future revegetation once demolitions have been finalised.

• 58 Hall St, Sherwood
• 27 Turner Ave, Fairfield

The sites will be converted to parkland following the removal.

Tree Removals

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

• 1 x Paperbark tree, 1 x Brush Box tree and 2 x Gum trees will be removed from Norm Rose Park, Fairfield by September 2024 due to poor health. Replacement plantings will take place at the location.
• 1 x Hoop Pine tree will be removed from 11 Oriana Cres, Yeronga by October 2024 due to poor health. As the location is unsuitable for replanting, a replacement tree will be planted elsewhere in the area.

Moggill Rd Corridor Upgrade

The following traffic conditions changes are in place on Moggill Rd as of mid-July 2024:

• Access to Coonan Street (travelling outbound on Moggill Road) is now via the left lane only prior to Swann Road, using the commercial service road.
• All other outbound traffic on Moggill Road heading to the western suburbs must travel under the newly opened overpass.
• Access to Indooroopilly Central Shopping Centre from Coonan Street is via the middle driveway (previously an exit only driveway). The driveway on Keating Street is also available.
• Reduced speed limits are in place and short-term traffic disruptions are expected.

Urban Utilities Works

Urban Utilities have advised that the following works are scheduled:

• Sewer rehabilitation works are underway behind Thalia Ct, Corinda. Works will take place intermittently between 6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday, until mid-September.
• Water main replacement works are underway beneath the Sherwood Road Rail Tunnel, Sherwood. Works will take place intermittently between 6am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday, until the end of September. Traffic control will be in place where required.
• Sewer rehabilitation works are due to commence this week at Ipswich Rd, Annerley (between Norman St and Dudley St, Dudley St and Fanny St, and Torren St and Laurier St); Palmerston St, Annerley; and Brisbane St, Annerley. Works will take place intermittently between 7pm and 5am, Sunday to Thursday, until the end of August.

QUU will notify residents in the event that works are required outside scheduled hours.

Cross River Rail Update

The Wilkie St overpass stairs at Yeerongpilly station  are closed until late 2024 to facilitate construction of the station entry. The lift remains open.