Edited speech given by Councillor Abrahams to Council on Tuesday 12 February 2013
Beaconsfield Community Orchard - 13 November
Councl has rejected a submission for a community orchard on the unformed road reserve in Beaconsfield Street, Highgate Hill. It is quite clear that Cr Bourke has not been on site as he argues that the road may be constructed in the future. I suggest that if it has not been constructed in the last 100 years there is no chance of it being built in the future.
To read the debate click here
12 Storey Building Heights for Riverside South
On 18th September, Council debated the amendment to South Brisbane Riversdie Neighbourhood Plan. If you wish to read the debate clilck here
Davies Park and West End Riverside Drive speech
I am very concerned that Council is planning to make improvements to Davies Park but without any consultation withe the community and without finalising the Master Plan. I voiced my concerns at a Council meeting.
Similarly, Council is permitting developers to "beautify" the embankment in West End Riverside Drive. This approach means usable public space is being fenced of from residents by default and inaction by Council
click here to read the speech
Queen Bess Street Parkland, Woolloongabba
I have been working to achieve a new park in Woolloongabba as it is likely that the grounds of St Luke's Church may no longer be available for local children to play in the afternoons. There is a vacant site that is surplus to the needs of the Easern Busway at the end of Queen Bess Street that would make a great local park. I spoke in favour of this proposal and urged Cr Matic and this adminstration to negotiate with the State Government to acquire this land for parkland. If you are interested click here to read my speech
Montague Road traffic lights speech
Resdential Parking Scheme for three streets in Greenslopes
On Tuseday 10 May, Ms Sharon Barney from Panitya Street addressed a Council meeting requesting the installation of a Residential Parking Scheme for Panitya Street, Lilly Street and Lucy Street, Greenslopes. These three streets are innundated by commuter parking and medium term parking from Langlands Pool, East Leagues Club, Est Football Club and the soon to be opened Langlands Bus stop as part of the Eastern Busway.
The obvious answer to reduce long term parking in these streets is a residential parking scheme similar to what is in place arond the PA Hospital and The Gabba Cricket Grounds but Council refuses to introduce such a scheme with not tell the local community why.
It is it an issue for you, please read the very eloquent speech by Sharon Barney, the response from Cr Maragert de Wit and then my rebuttal of Cr de Wit comments.
For the slighted editored transcript of the speeches click here
West End Riverside Park Upgrade
On Tuesday 16 March, I moved a motion regarding the cut of funds for the upgrade of the West End Riverside Park with the intention of clarifying that the funds have been cut and the impact of this decision. Cr Peter Matic, Chairperson, Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee responded and provided no information. This was very disappointing. If you wish to read the debate click here
Approval of the development at 324 Vulture Street, Kangaroo Point
I thought you might be interested in reading my speech, in Council Chamber last Tuesday 1 March 2011, regarding the approval of the development at 324 Vulture Street, Kangaroo Point.
I voted against this application. It is very distressing that the Cultural Heritage Trial proposed by the four churches is prevented or severely restricted as a result of this approval.
To read the Summary of Cr Abrahams speech CLICK HERE
Amended speechs delivered on Tuesday 22 February 2011
Cessation of the #234 bus service to view click here
Parking meters Stephens Road, South Brisbane to view click here
New house at 42 Heidelberg Street, East Brisbane to view click here
Summary of Cr Abrahams’s speech on 13 parking meter petitions to view click here
Draft Kangaroo Point South Neighbourhood Plan
Following consultation with the community, Council brought the Draft Kangaroo Point South Neighbourhood Plan to Council on Tuesday 23rd November.
The NP had significant changes to what was advertised. The back zoning to protect the tin and timber character houses was a major win for the local community and rewarding for me. The development around the Russian Orthodox Cathedral remains a major flaw in the plan.
If you wish to read my edited (English much improved) click here. You might wish to find my press release as well.
Helplessness and loss of telecommunications due to parking meter roll out in Woolloongabba
The roll out of parking meters in Woolloongabba continues to cause disruption for local residents.
I spoke about the apartment building in Trinity Lane Woolloongabba that had been without telecommunication servcies for 11 days due to the parking meter contractors working in the street. In spite of a commitment from Cr Quirk, it took almost three days for temporary repairs. As yet the repairs remain temporary.
To read the speech in detail click here
Parking meters in Kangaroo Point peninsula
The roll out of Parking Meters in Kangaroo Point is meeting severe opposition from residents and business owners alike as there was no consultation.
My speech in the Council Chamber of Tuesday 17th August summaries the list of complaints. If you wish to read the speech please click here
A second speech on 14th September again highlighted the opposition. click here to read this speech.
Update of the traffic calming projects associated with 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. If you wish to read my speech
The Lord Mayor's response to a Question in Council relating to traffic calming as part of the Hale Street Toll Bridge
Councillor ABRAHAMS:
Thank you, Madam Chair. My question is to the LORD MAYOR. You said you would allocate $2 million for traffic calming of local streets in the Hale Street Bridge project. Now that the bridge is nearing completion, when will the residents of West End and South Brisbane see the installation of the traffic calming you promised?
LORD MAYOR:
Madam Chairman, I would put that down as the first reasonable question I have seen in quite a few weeks, because it is a relevant, reasonable question about a matter of interest to the Councillor and her residents. I will do my best to answer it. The answer is this: the $2 million is there. It is part of the budget. It will be spent. There is also money there, if you recall, Madam Chairman, there is $15 million that I still believe quite strongly should not be being spent, but the Labor Councillors forced us to spend in relation to State High. There is also St Marys.
But in terms of the $2 million on traffic calming on the streets back into the West End residential precinct, that was a very reasonable item of expenditure. The answer is this, Madam Chairman: it will be done over the coming months. The point is, I believe, though, we really need to see how traffic flows change as a result of the bridge. There is modelling that has been done; modelling is modelling, reality is reality. I would suggest that Councillor ABRAHAMS might want to work with myself and Councillor QUIRK to actually gear up now in relation to the $2 million. But I would suggest that perhaps what we need to do is see how the traffic flows change. Because there is no point in us putting in various traffic calming or local area traffic management measures—
A Councillor: On a hunch?
LORD MAYOR:
—on that modelling. I think we should see what actually happens. But my commitment to do that for Councillor ABRAHAMS as part of the project is still there, absolutely unequivocally. This is the right sort of thing, and is one of the few bits of expenditure that they tacked on the project that I actually agree with.
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
Cr Abrahams speeches on CityGlider roundabout terminus
Cr Abrahams supports the wishes of the local residents to have the CityGlider terminus constructed as a roundabout at Orleigh Park. This proposal has been reject out of hand by Cr Prentice and the Lord Mayor.
You might wish to read my speech in the Council Chamber on 10th November
Edited speech supporting the contraflow bikelane for Thorn Lane, Kangaroo Point
This speech was given in response to a petition presented to Council on February 2010. click here
Should apartment buildings adjacent to railway and busway stations adopt innovative ways to reduce reliance on the private motorcar?
This was the question debated in the Council chamber yesterday with the LNP Councillors ruling out any change to the current parking requirements in the City Plan.
In my submission to Council on the Eastern Corridor Renewal Strategy, I suggested the medium-and-high density Buranda Station Precinct development implement a car pooling scheme where Body Corporates would provide a range of vehicles for hire by their tenants, to reduce the need for private vehicle ownership.
The car fleet would take a number of standard car parks in the building and use them for cars that are hired out to tenants through an internal booking system. Experience shows that residents near high quality reliable public transport will use public transport for most of their travel but will need a car for some trips. The car fleet is designed to meet this car based transport.
I am told the average cost of a car park in an apartment building is $50 000. When the cost of a unit, the interest on the loan and the cost of the vehicle during the time of the loan are taken into account, the total cost to the new unit owner for a car park has been estimated as closer to $100 000.
My suggestion aims to reduce the cost of inner city living near public transport; to make new units more affordable.
There are also environmental reasons for introducing car fleets. Our planet is in a climate change crisis. Everyone must be working out what changes they can make to reduce their carbon emissions without adversely affecting their quality of life. This proposal is one such initiative.
Developers seeking to construct green buildings would gain merit from incorporating a car fleet in their development.
The LNP Councillors rejected even exploring the possibility of my proposal. They argued it would be an expensive impost and add to the cost of living for unit owners but as I have indicated above, my proposal has the potential to reduce the up front capital cost, not increase it. Their argument gives no consideration to environmental or social costs of more and more cars in inner city streets. They did not mention traffic congestion once in the debate.
My proposal to mandate this initiative sent the LNP Councillors into a tail spin. Yet every development approval mandates car spaces – what is new?
I shall continue to raise and promote innovative ways to deliver a Carbon Neutral City by 2026 for Brisbane in the face of resistance and spurious arguments by the LNP Lord Mayor and his Civic Cabinet.
I welcome your feedback on this issue.
Edited speech on the need for public toilets to be incorporated into the design of the West End ferry Terminal. click here
Dr Lucy Cameron speech on the South Brisbane Riverside Renewal Strategy
De Lucy Cameron, West End addressed the Councillors in the Council Chamber on Tuesday 24 November. She gave a very thoughtful and personal account of what she thought of the proposals of the South Brisbane Riverside Renewal Strategy.
If you are interested in reading her speech and Cr Amanda Cooper's reply click here