Welcome to Cr Helen Abrahams Website
Helen is the Councillor for The Gabba Ward on Brisbane's inner southside. She is the Shadow Chairperson of Council's Environment and Sustainability Committee.
A former Medical Doctor and Council Officer, Helen is committed to ensuring Brisbane grows sustainably, so that our grandchildren inherit a healthy, clean and green city .
N4C win Environment Award, Brisbane Spotless Suburbs 2010
On Wednesday, 28 July, Norman Creek Catchment Coordination Committee N4C won the Environment Award in Brisbane Spotless Suburbs 2010.
The award was in appreciation for Moorhen Flats being an excellent example of N4C's work - "it is a superb bushland surrounded by land in industrial zone- the transofrmationof this are has been micaculous."
Well Done N4C and congratulations for your major catchment management project.
Fran Thomas and Cr Abrahams with their Environment Spotless Suburbs Award
Knowing me Knowing you
On 17July, ACRO's Knowing me knowing you Photographic exhibition opened at the Queensland College of Photography, Merivale Street South Brisbane.
Eleven refugee youth participated in this project that was conducted by Melly Niotakis and Ally Wakefield.
The photographs relted to the personal experiences of refugees and yet were full of life, colour and humour.
I would encourage everyone to go and see the photographs that are hanging so they can be seen from outside the College at all times.
Trees destroy without warning in West End Park
Sixteen gum trees in front of a development site were removed from West End Riverside Drive park on Wednesday 30th June. The Council officers I contacted had no knowledge of this project.
After a day of detective work, I established the works were legal as a landscape plan for the embankment had been approved by Council officers as operational works approval in September 2008. This approval was an internal approval, I was not included in the consultation on these works.
Understandably the community is outraged that they had no say in the process. 50 people came to protest at short notice to let Council know what they think of the process.
local community members letting Council know what they think
The trees going
Heat 4 Senior Superstars
Heat 4 Senior Superstars was held on Sunday 4th July at the Coorparoo RSL club.
This venue was superb and the stage makes it a real performance. All performers had the audience participating, clapping and the gentleman beside me in the back row joined me to sing Green, Green Grass of Home (quietly of course)
The heat winners who will proceed to the next stage Bill Healey, Linda Lee, Max Johnson, Herbert and Sonia Shapcott (from left to right0
The Woolloongabba "loo" including update
Mr Glendon Young, Woolloongabba Traders Association spoke to ABC morning radio with Cr Cooper and she conceded that the current location of the $200 000 toilet is a 'trial" and if after 12 months it is a 'real issue' Council will relocate the toilet. Well done Glendon
Glendon Young standing on the site (photo provided by ABC radio)
Some of you may have read about the local traders concerns about the new public toilets being sited in the middle of a traffic intersection. I attach for your information the plans so that you might make up your own mind.
The toilet is going in the middle of the picture beside the red triangle
The toilet is the small box to the left of the tree!!!!
Did the character house at 1 Orleigh Street, West End have to be demolished? What do you think?
I have been contacted by residents who are concerned about the Town Plan application for the demolition of the two remaining houses at 5-9 Orleigh Street, West End.
The most important information I have to forward onto you is the design of the roundabout. You can see that it has minimal encroachment into site at 1 Orleigh Street. In fact, it would appear that the house could remain on site. Certainly, if it were located at the rear of the site, it should have been possible to retain the house and construct the roundabout for the CityGliders.
The plans are a little difficult to read for a better quality map click here
Celebration of Thorn Lane Contraflow bikelane
On a very Chilly Wednesday 30 June moring, Cr Helen Abrahams and Rolf Kuelson, President East BUG held a breakfast and petition signing event in Thorn Lane to celebrate the contraflow bike lane.
Many cyclist stopped and were more that happy to provide information on the next project to improve the safety of their bike route to work.
Contraflow bikelanes are an answer to missing links in several inner city routes. Bikes are premitted to ride in the opposite direction in one way streets but in a safe designated bikelane.
Cyclist offering suggestions for futher safety measures
World Refugee Day Festival
World Refugee Day Celebrations were held at Annerley Soccer fields from 10 an to 4 pm on 27 June 2010.
It was even more well attended than last year with the soccer games being an important part of the day. The two stages were busy with refugees entertaining everyone with national dances, hip hop singers and great food.
It was great to see so many families enjoying themselves Congratulations to Multicultural Development Association and everyone who worked so hard to organise the day.
Youthful hip hop dancers entertained everyone
For more photos click here
Shafston College Birthday Celebrations
On Friday 2nd July, Shafston College celebrated their 15th Birthday with games, musics and of course four huge cakes.
The river bank grassed terraces was a fantastic site for the events. The tug of war was more strongly contested and supported than soccer!!!
For more photos click here
Hill End Dog Off Leash Area
The Hill End Puppy Park members held a BBQ on Saturday 26 June to celebrate their Dog Off Leash Area. it took approximately 12 months, numberous phone calls and four letters to local residents to reject the three alternative proposals and install the off leash area where residents first suggested.
Everyone was delighted to their perservence resulted in legal place for their dogs. Normal Morgan's determination was recognised as having broken through much of the bureaucratic barriers to achieve the dog off leash area.
Well Done Norma.
The casual atmosphere of the dog off leash park celebrations
Cr Helen Abrahams submission on the Kangaroo Point South Neighbourhood Plan
Click Here to view the first part of my submission to Council on the Kangaroo Point South Neighbourhood Plan for your information and consultation when making your own submission.
Please note the closing date of the submissions has been extended to Monday 21 June 2010.
Well done Metro Central Community Church
On Saturday 19th June, members of the Metro Central Community Church on Annerley Road worked tirelessly for five hours to assist Gabba Ward resident remove stored goods from their property. Nine volunteers with a hired trailer, a ute and a wagon undertook many trips to the dump to clear a back yard. This shows a great community spirit.
Claire Pattearson and other church members did not hesitate when I asked if they could help.
I publically thank everyone for their efforts to make the "community spirit" of their church a reality.
Some of the volunteers. Can you see the load behind?
There was fun as well as hard work.
Brisbane City Council's budget speeches.
The 2010-11 Brisbane City Council budget was presented to Council on Wednesday 9th June. Two days later Cr Shayne Sutton presented the reply to the Lord Mayor address. I attach both speeches for your perusal.
click here for Cr Shayne Sutton , Leader of the Opposition Councillors
Update on the traffic calming of local streets funded as part of the Hale Street Toll Bridge Project
For residents of South Brisbane and West End interested in knowing when the $2 million traffic calming projects that are part of the Hale Street Toll Bridge project will be constructed please go to the Council Speech's section of the website
Consultation on Kangaroo Point South Neighbourhood Plan
Saturday 5th June saw the second "meet the planner' session at Kangaroo Point Park. Approximately 80 people attended, many with multiple questions they wanted answered. The seven Council officers were keep busy for the three hours.
The main issues raised were:
A number of transport issues including reducing the rat running in Princess, Linton and Toohey Streets, safer turns from Main Street in Anglesley Street for the St Joseph's community, concern that the narrowness of streets will be a traffic hazard with the future development, access to new development in Shafston Avenue, reduction in right hand turns into Main Street.
Objection to the loss of 155 tin and timber houses in Raymond South Precinct ( the streets between Raymond Park and Stanley Street, Wellington Road and Main Street.
Need for improved access to the river bank at the bottom of Kangaroo Cliffs.
Improved public transport service along Main Street
Protection of character of the first suburb of Brisbane incuding the diversity of income, people and housing opportunity.
I would encourage anyone who can to come along to the last 'meet the planner' session on Thursday between 11am-1pm at the IGA shop in Shafston Avenue.
Cr Abrahams talking to people attending the the information session on Saturday 5th June
Cr Abrahams believes the planning strategy for the Kangaroo Point South Neighbourhood Plan should adopt the approach outlined in Transforming Australian Cities a Melbourne based stratetgy. You can access this document by click here
The Boundaries of the newly named Kangaroo Point South Neighbourhood Plan
Woolloongabba Rotary Club's working bee
The Woolloongabba Rotary Club participated int their regular Adopt a Street clean up of Stanley Street. While the amount of rubbish was less, the number of cigarette butts was increased.
The workers at the end of the day
Sorry Day Breakfast
The annual Sorry Day Breakfast celebrations were held at Orleigh Park, Hill End Terrace.
The day was organised by Link Up and was attended by sixty people a number of whom were the stolen generation.
Sam Watson talking to the Sorry Day breakfast attendees.
For more photos click here
King George Square memorial returns
A Sorry day celebration was also held at King George Square with the replacing of the Stolen Generation Plaque back in the Square.
Aunties laying wreaths on the new memorial that includes words from PM Rudd's speech
Paniyiri 2010 was fabulous
The Greek Community excelled with Paniyiri 2010. The weather was superb, the dancing and cultural events fabulous and the queues for the food bigger than ever before. The number of people coming to share one of Australia's largest multicultural event was greater than expected and added to the buzz of the two days.
Congratulations to everyone who volunteered on the day. I took a number of photographs of the active members of the Greek Community who worked tireless on the two days. Click here to see the photos.
My heartfelt thanks to everyone who worked for weeks before to cater for the event. Well done to Jim Georgiou, Chris Kalzonis and everyone on the organising Committee.
The Mt Gravat School pupils doing a traditional dance.
Hove, Baynes, Ewart and Colville Streets petitions
The residents of these streets were threatened with parking fines as they were parking with wheels on the footpath. This was to ensure vehicles, particularly emergency vehicles, could drive safely through their streets.
Dr Josef Latten addressed the Council chamber. As a result of his speech and the petitions, Council has back down. If you wish to read the speeches click here .
I have attached the speech in the Council Speeches section of my website for your information.
ANZAC DAY 2010
There were numerous ANZAC Day events at schools on Friday as well as the traditional marches on Sunday 25th April.
One ceremony that was particularly moving was at Dutton Park State School. Max Burne, a past pupil returned to the school to play the "last Post" on his bugle.
Roundabout win for local residents and Councillor
Council has purchased 1 Orleigh Street to provide a roundabout for the CityGlider roundabout at the West End ferry terminal. This is great news and vindicates my position that was shared by local residents that the loss of the fig trees was not necessary.
This is a great win for residens who lobbied not to have the oversized CityGlider buses in their lresidential streets including Morry Street, Hoogley Stret and Gray Road.
These streets will be used in the interim till the roundabout is constructed and now that the land has been purchased the roundabout should be completed in 9 months.
To see a colour copy of the plan click here
Fit and Fresh Friday at St Josephs
St Josephs, Kangaroo Point held the first Fit and Fresh Friday on 19th February. It was a great success with many pupils and their parents walking some or all of the way to school.
The stamping of the Passports was an exciting time.
.Hale Street Bridge the most expensive Toll Bridge
The graph below shows the true cost of the toll on the Hale Street Toll Bridge - The Go Between Bridge. This graph was calcuated when the proposed toll was $1.85 no $2.70. So in your minds eye stretch the top bar even further to the right.
If you wish to see a better graph go to hale street graph