Category: News

“Parks can improve physical and mental health, ecosystem services and urban biodiversity. You don’t have to use these spaces to benefit from them.” wrote senior lecturer Jason Byrne, Griffith University (9 January 2012).

Brisbane City Council is furiously approving all kinds of new apartment buildings, all over West End. The LNP’s ambition is to bring a further 26,000 residents into 4101. Since the last census in 2011 an additional 3,000 residents have already moved in.

However Council hasn’t been as quick to bring in the social and trunk infrastructure, such as additional parks and green space.

Unless City Council rezones sites identified for new parks, the people of West End will lose out in many, many ways.

Seven (7) new sites were listed in the 2011 Local Area Plan (LAP) in West End. They include:

1. a lot immediately adjacent to Davies Park on Montague Road.
2. the long-standing dirt carpark on the corner of Vulture and Thomas Streets.
3. the lawn in front of the ABSOE site on Boundary Street.
4. an unspecified space to be reclaimed from redevelopment at the end of Bailey St and the new extension of Rogers Street in Hill End.
5. a pocket in the redeveloped Parmalat milk factory site on Montague Road and Hope Street.
6. an unspecified site located immediately to the south of the Go-Between tollbridge.
7. an unspecified site near the South Bank train station,

In a worrying failure, three years after delivering developers a windfall only one of these sites has been rezoned by City Council for the purpose of a park.

Why does that matter? It matters because unless Council rezones those sites then it will have to set aside extra ratepayer money to purchase these properties on the open market. Not a wise move in anyone’s books.

Council is frequently lamenting its financial pressures, so the prospect of tens of millions of dollars in new money found for purchasing these sites is improbable – it would also be a waste of public funds when there is the purpose built option of rezoning.

Recent controversy over the Bailey Street park is illustrative. Because the LNP administration has failed to follow-through on its own 2011 amendments to the local plan, those locations remain undefined and uncertainty tears at community. All we are getting so far is reassurances without action.

Without a rezoning there are no specifics, nor have any clear purposes been defined. Who knows what you’ll get? Maybe a park. Or maybe a plaza ala King George Square remake. Or maybe nowhere to lie on the grass at all?

The galling irony is that the same Council is rushing through schemes from developers, without setting aside the official notices listing the requirements for new parks, yet it continues to charge and collect tens of millions from the same developers for “contribution charges” on matters including the provision of new parks.

Councillor Amanda Cooper oversaw the LAP process. It’s incumbent upon her to explain why those sites have not been provided for before granting the DA’s in the same locations. If Councillor Cooper can’t provide immediate rezoning, then clearly its time for Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to sort the mess out. Beware the day when legislators claim they can’t legislate.

<caption p2 of Davies Park Pt1> Davies Park is a break in a relentless 15 storey canyon along the Brisbane river.

 

On Friday May 2, the organisers of the Brisbane G20 provided a moderately well attended community information forum at Brisbane Town Hall. Bernadette Welch head of operations from the Department Premier Cabinet, Terry Crane, Executive Director of the G20 state coordination unit in the Department of Premier and Cabinet, and Peter Rule, Executive Manager for the Coordination Unit with the Brisbane City Council, were at pains to sell the positive benefits of the G20.

The G20 summit will be held in Brisbane on the 15^th and 16^th of November and it is expected that as well as the leaders of the 25 most influential economies, it will attract 4000 delegates and some 3000 media.

In addition to the immediate benefits to accommodation and hospitality businesses, the organisers anticipate some long-term benefits for Brisbane due to the enormous amount of publicity it will generate. According to Peter Rule, for that one weekend in November 2014, Brisbane will be the “capital city of the world”.

So, on the plus side they told the audience that parts of the CBD are getting a facelift: you can already see the work being done in Queen Street for example; and free Wi-Fi in the mall and in other areas of the city will be an ongoing legacy of the event.

To make the event more attractive for us locals, and to showcase the arts in Brisbane, associated cultural events are planned. What’s not clear, with the projected transport and access restrictions, is just who will be able to attend these events.

A number of audience members showed up to hear more about the summit volunteer program. The program is looking for up to 700 members of the public to provide assistance at various venues providing advice on transport assisting the media and providing information at host hotel accommodation venues. Those interested in volunteering can call Volunteering Queensland on (07) 3002 7600 or go to the summit website www.G20.org.

The not so good news was left to Katarina Carroll, Assistant Commissioner with the G20 group from the Queensland Police Service (QPS). Assistant Commissioner Carroll reminded us that there will be considerable restrictions on our movements and access to the city during the summit.

When advised that organisers are considering giving free public transport passes to summit delegates, one audience member asked if organisers would also consider providing free transport access to Brisbane residents. There was some hesitation from the panel, but the reality is they do not want locals travelling to the city during summit, and to this end there will be a Brisbane-only public holiday on Friday November 14.

So oddly, while the world’s media will be focused on Brisbane, it will be a city empty of its usual inhabitants.

Ms Carroll said the summit will be the largest peace-time security operation in Australia’s history with around 3500 QPS Officers and 1500 officers from New Zealand and interstate deployed to Brisbane.

The motorcades for heads of state will create the greatest restrictions to transport and access during the summit. 25 world leaders and 8 heads of international organisations will transported by motorcade throughout the event, with up to 35 vehicles in each. No traffic will be permitted on the routes while motorcades are travelling.

Only limited detail was provided on transport and access restrictions. Nevertheless, people were encouraged to talk with the QPS G20 External Engagement Team. A number of QPS members were available at the forum and several of us took the opportunity to speak with them separately.

The concerns of people living in the CBD and South Brisbane and the West End were both business-related, and related to residential access.

These access concerns do not just relate to transport restrictions but to the probable effects of protest action. The QPS is already working with activist groups and acknowledges that there could be significant associated disruption. It is urging anyone wishing to mount a protest to talk to them about what they want to achieve and how they want to achieve it.

QPS representatives said that while there are no officially designated protest sites, Musgrave Park in South Brisbane is likely to be a strategic rallying point for activists groups.

In response to concerns about the potential for violence, and the mismanagement of protests, Assistant Commissioner Carroll said that the QPS has closely studied and learnt from the G20 event held in Toronto in 2010. Violent clashes between police and protesters in Toronto resulted in injuries to both protestors and police, as well as considerable property damage. It should also be noted that in Toronto, protests commenced 10 days before the start of the summit itself.

A QPS representative was unable to tell me exactly what restrictions will be in place for those of us wanting to access the South Brisbane and West End during the summit. For example, no decisions have yet been made about which bridges will be closed.

While none has been planned yet, he agreed that a public forum in the West End could be a constructive option for those wanting to ask more detailed questions about the impacts of the forum, and how they can contribute to any plans to manage the impacts.

The QPS External Engagement Team is currently working directly with the West End Community Association, so stay tuned for updates.

Details of the declared and restricted area maps are on-line here: Brisbane’s Restricted Areas

If you think you may be affected by the 2014 G20 events you can use the G20 Group Contact Form to ask your questions, or you can email g20.info@police.qld.gov.au or call the QPS on 07 3015 3460.

West End has long welcomed new migrants to its streets, churches, shops and tin and timber houses. The most celebrated being the Vietnamese and Greeks. But has this changed forever?
The 2011 census from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) documents a fundamental shift – the Greeks have officially left West End.
By birthplace of parents, those that identified as being of Greek heritage fell to 9th place.
Today in West End there are more people that identify as being of Irish, English, Chinese, Scottish and German ethnic heritage than those who claim to be Greek.
There’s probably more cause for the St Patrick’s Day Parade to roll down Boundary Street than continuing with Paniyiri in Musgrave Park. And that raises a serious question – what is the on-going future for the Greeks?
West End’s ethnic diversity has been a defining characteristic. The demise of affordable housing options in West End is having a negative impact on this quality. For new migrants cheaper housing was the first step into the suburb. The presence of large Queenslanders and multi-roomed workers cottages provided options.
For the former Greek migrants institutions remain – the church, support services for old people, the Greek Orthodox community of St George, and this month’s Paniyiri Festival; but for how much longer?
The demographic shift is real. More elderly will require more support services. The census charts that ‘Zorba’ has left West End for life and work in other suburbs. The looming intergenerational transfer of houses and assets will bring some soul-searching. Who gets to stay in the family home? If it gets sold what comes in its place? What will be the on-going contribution of the Greeks to the streets of West End?
These questions, ultimately, can only be answered by the Greek community themselves in their choices, conduct, actions and vision. Now that the bulk of the Greek population has voted with their feet and have left West End in the thousands what does the future hold for their community in West End?

Did you know some downlights can cause fires?

They can set fire to roof installation or timbers which burn in the roof space above fire alarms and so remain undetected until too late. Often people only know their house is on fire when flaming material comes through the air vents or the ceiling collapses. It makes a safe escape difficult and causes significant damage.

In over 30 years’ experience as an electrician I have found many instances where this type of house fire is highly probable.

One of the main culprits is the dichroic downlight, also known as the halogen globe. A 50 watt dichroic downlight can reach temperatures of up to 370 degrees Celsius. If they haven’t been installed correctly and come in contact with the insulation, leaf litter or timber, that represents a serious fire hazard.

Old or poorly installed ceiling downlights are through to cause at least one house fire each week in West Australia alone.

This need not be the case. There are Australian Standards to ensure safe installation of down lights. They do not pose a fire risk if they are installed so that flammable material does not come in contact with them and there is air flow around them to prevent temperatures building to extreme levels.

Let’s be upbeat about downlights

On a cheerier note, there is an alternative. Let’s look at four good reasons to consider LED (light emitting diode) downlights in your home or business.

1.       LED downlights are low power, and so low temperature, alternatives. The better quality LED globes and fittings give off as much or more light as the old 50 watt dichroic globes. In most cases the new globe inserts simply slot into the existing downlight fittings, or a new fitting fits into the hole cut for the original downlight.
2.       Because they consume much less power to produce the same amount of light, LED lights (of any shape and size) use much less electricity and are considerably cheaper to run.
3.       Because they produce very little heat they do not heat up the rooms or the roof cavity. Did you know that over 75 percent of the energy consumed by traditional light globes is converted to heat rather than light? Installing LED lights not only reduces electricity consumption required to light your house it will also save you considerable money on the costs of air conditioning.
4.       LED globes generally last for up to 50,000 hours of use. This low maintenance and long life makes them even more cost effective in the long run.

The challenge for the average householder in replacing existing light globes with LED lights is the alarming variation in quality out there in the market.

With my considerable experience in buying and installing all sorts of LED globes I often see advertisements and claims made on market stalls about the brightness of LED globes that are completely misleading.

The best globes on the market at the moment, which are not cheap but are cost effective, are only four or five times more efficient that typical old fashioned incandescent globes, or halogen downlights.

Look for sensible numbers about the claim of how many times more efficient the globes are. Low cost LEDs will rarely achieve anything like the four or five times greater efficiency of the high quality globes.

Compare the specifications of the globe with other products. What is its power rating (watts) and how much light does it produce (lumens)? Realistically an LED lamp claiming to be equivalent to a 60 watt globe would consume between 10 and 15 watts of power.

Next month for Westender, Mal will look at the running costs of various forms of lighting in the average business.

Running costs based on Origin Energy standard rates. Other statistics sourced from Aust. Govt. Dept of Industry and WA Fire and Energy Services Authority.

Malcom Mackenzie is owner of Mackenzie Electrical, and specialises in cost-saving solutions for homes and businesses.

 

 

Australia’s largest Mother’s Day event makes a difference for breast cancer.

Mother’s Day Classic is Australia’s largest breast cancer research fundraiser, and organisers are encouraging people to get on board for the Sunday May 11 event in the fight against a disease that impacts one in 8 women.

This year there will be 97 around Australia – in every capital city as well as regional and rural locations in every state and territory, from Ararat (Vic) to Yamba (NSW), from Karratha (WA) to Weipa (Qld).

In 2013, a record $5 million was raised by 135,000 supporters who took part in the event around Australia.

Local super fundraiser, Sheree McLeod told Westender readers her story earlier this year. Following a miscarriage at age 35, she found out she had a rare form of breast cancer which led to many complications, two mastectomies, further cancers and ongoing treatment. Last year she and her team raised $28,500 in the Mother’s Day Classic. Sheree has two boys under 10 and is fundraising again.

In 2014 a major milestone will be celebrated – the event, which began in 1998, will pass the $20 million mark in funds it has raised for the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s research program. This research has had a real impact on survival statistics and has also helped answer research questions for a range of other cancers.

Registrations are open now, find the event nearest you at mothersdayclassic.com.au/events.

Read Sheree McLeod’s full story at Westender.com.au

Why wait for Paniyiri?

You can enjoy Greek food in West End 365 days of the year. Here’s the editor’s top ten

Eros Cafe
76 Boundary Street
Greek sweets, pastries and meals

Delta Continental Foods
49 Vulture Street
Wholesale delicatessen

Cafe Meze
56 Mollison Street
Traditional Greek Taverna

Lefkas Taverna
170 Hardgrave Road
Traditional Greek food

Little Greek Taverna
1 Browning Street
Authentic Greek Cuisine

Ouzeri Greek Restaurant
120 Boundary Street
A West End favourite

Char Char Yiros
56 Russell Street
Slow cooked kebabs and yiros

Hellene Food Brokers
17 Duncan Street
Wholesale Delicatessen

Odyssey Taverna and Bar
The Greek Club, 29 Edmonstone Street
Authentic Greek Cuisine

Hellenic House
32 Russell Street
Traditional Greek Cuisine