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 .
Cr Helen Abrahams, council speech of Tuesday 17 August 2010, regarding the parking meter rollout in Kangaroo Point.
To view it Click Here
Gold Star Awards
At this time each year, Council librays conduct the Gold Star Awards to encourage children to read. Over several weeks, children are encouraged to submit a list of the books they have read each week to Library staff. All children who have read more than two books a week for five weeks are rewarded with a medalian and certificate at the Gold Star Awards.
It is an event of proud parents and excited children.
There were lots of smiles at the Stones Corner Libary Golden Star Awards
The West End Library Gold Star Awards night packed the upstairs room
Brisbane Serbian Festival
The Serbian Orthodox church community celebrated their food, dancing and culture with a festival on Sunday 29th August in the grounds of Dutton Park State School. More than 500 people enjoyed serbian hospitality under covered marques.
Dancers ranged from preschool to young adults and all were in traditional dress.
This traditional dance was very energetic and great to watch
For more photos click here
Black, Bold and Beautiful Calender 2010
last week, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the launch of the Black Bold nd Beautiful Calender 2010.
The calender features 12 aboriginal women who are leading women in their community in all fields of life. The calender features the women in their working clothes as well as in a studio photograph. It is really an amazing calender and I would encourage anyone intnerested one to contact the ward office.
St Joseph's Active School project
Several classes at St Joseph's School have completed their bike skills training. The number of bikes at the rask as school have increased seen below.
St Joseph's is achieving 70% of pupils travelling to school using active travel- walking, cycling, public transport and car pooling. Well done everybody.
Roadstar teaching how to cross the road
The bike racks in use
West End saved from the excesses of the Lord Mayor's Neighbourhood Plan
Minister Stirling Hinchliffe has approved the South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood Plan with reduced density and heights in Riverside South Precinct.
The building heights in this precinct (along the River south of Davies Park) has been reduced from the proposed 12 storeys to the current 7 storey height limit and the mixed use buildings along Montague Road will stay at 4 storeys.
The reason for the reduced heights are limited access to shops, schools and other social infrastructure in the area.
This is great news. I have worked hard for this outcome. It is a win for the local community. It is a win for common sense.
I have made strong representation to Premier Anna Bligh. I am delighted she listened to the wishes of the community and acted. I know that the Lord Mayor was not listening.
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
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
Kangaroo Point South Neighbourhood Plan
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
.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