Brisbane City Council Archives

Majority Favour Allowing Fire Pits Permanently After Council’s Trial and Survey

Backyard fire pits in Brisbane are back to being illegal after the completion of the three-month trial. However, a survey from the Brisbane City Council to determine if fire pits and braziers should be permanently allowed drew over 7,500 responses. About 96 percent of these responses favor having the fire pits.

In May, a resident from Kedron petitioned the council to reconsider the fire pit rules and the $266 fine. Darren Mitchell’s petition received more than a thousand signatures and sparked Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner’s decision to introduce the trial for the winter season.

Mr Schrinner, however, reminded residents to “take notice and show respect for their neighbours” if they were to cook food in the fire pit.

More information about the fire pit rules

Prior to the trial, Brisbane residents need to secure permits or follow an extensive list of specific guidelines for fire pits for safety and environmental reasons. Residents complained as they started receiving notices and fines for setting fire pits at the height of the coronavirus lockdown.

In April, officers from the Council knocked on the door of an Oxley home where a family was cooking marshmallows in a small fire pit on rocks. Kirsty George and her kids were camping in their backyard for the Easter weekend. In their 12 years of living in the neighbourhood, they never received a complaint about their fire pit until that Sunday.

The Council officer told Ms George that their neighbours informed them of the excessive smoke. Ms George said that the fire pit rules were “obviously not something that’s widely known” but she obliged the request and put the backyard fire out with water.

“If that’s the rule, then people need to know about it. If you walk around the streets at the moment, every couple of houses has one,” the mum said on social media. “And especially with a lockdown at the moment, everyone’s trying to create something special and fun for their kids or themselves. There’s only so much you can stare at your four walls.”

Following the trial, the Council thanked the residents for their positive response and for demonstrating responsible use of the fire pits.

“Council will now consider all the feedback received from the community before announcing the outcome of the trial. Please note the Health, Safety and Amenity Local Law 2009, which limits backyard fires in residential areas now applies,” the Council stated.

Kedron Kerbside Collection Coming Up: When is It Time to Throw Out Old Furniture and Appliances?

Photo Credit: terimakasih0/Pixabay

The kerbside collection for Kedron will be on 26 August 2019. If you’re participating in this year’s collection, you still have enough time to prepare your large unwanted items in time for your scheduled date.

But how will you know when it’s time to finally say goodbye to your old furniture or appliances?

It’s not so easy to just get rid of them, especially if it’s cherished family heirloom. To make it easier on your part, here are some clear indications that you probably need a new one.

Fridges

Does your food rapidly spoil when you put it in your fridge? If it begins to smell bad earlier than it normally would, it means your fridge can no longer maintain its temperature. It’s a big waste of money since you will not only be forced to throw away food but also pay more for bills since your fridge uses more energy that way.

Another indication that your fridge needs a replacement is if it condenses excessively. Mildew or water droplets on the rubber sealing around the door can be fixed depending on the damage but it can be quite expensive. If the refrigerator is over a decade old and has multiple faulty parts, chances are you need a new one.

Brisbane City Council accepts fridges and refrigerators given that their doors are removed. You can get rid of your old fridge as long as it can be easily and safely lifted by two people.

Couches

Photo Credit: ArtisticOperations/Pixabay

Does your couch have a creaking sound whenever someone sits there? It’s a sign of structural damage perhaps in the spring or on the frame. Aside from structural damage, you should also keep an eye on the padding and cushions. If the upholstery already looks awful, it’s better to replace it than spend a huge amount of money on reupholstering.

Sporting equipment

Bicycles with cracks usually go to landfill. But this should not always be the case. A carbon-fibre frame is repairable. The repair costs range from $200-$500 but you eventually have to spend a bit more for complicated fixes. If the bike can be easily repaired, you can donate it than throw it away.

BCC encourages residents to look for other resource recovery options to contribute to a cleaner and greener city. Organisations like GIVIT and NACRO accept bike donations. You can recycle your bike and even take it to a local bike recycling facility if it can’t be fully repaired.

For a list of all acceptable items, visit the Brisbane City Council website or download the Brisbane Bin and Recycling app to receive free reminders before your kerbside collection.

Tenders Sought for Stage 4 of North Brisbane Bikeway Project in Kedron

Photo Credit: bedrck/Pixabay

The North Brisbane Bikeway from Price Street to Kedron Brook is a step closer to completion, now that the project has reached its fourth stage.

With the bike project approaching the next phase, the Department of Transport and Main Roads is seeking tenders for the project.

Like the earlier phases of the project, Transport and Main Roads Minister Bailey said in a media statement that stage four will include a separated bikeway as well as priority cycle and pedestrian crossings.

“Riders have told us they want the North Brisbane Bikeway to continue along Dickson Street, and that’s the design we’re sticking with,” said Mr Bailey.

Mr Bailey said Stages One to Four of the North Brisbane Bikeway will provide almost 4.5 km of safer, separated bicycle lanes that will link with Brisbane’s broader network of bike infrastructure once complete.

One of those who welcomed the tender offer is Bicycle Queensland CEO Anne Savage, who believes cities that invest in healthy travel enjoy the benefits, with five dollars gained for every dollar spent.

“Bikeway growth is essential to our economic prosperity and will position Brisbane to achieve the vision of a healthy, safe, and sustainable travel future, reducing congestion and promoting healthy urban development,” Ms Savage said.

Bicycle Queensland commends the State Government and its investment in the North Brisbane Bikeway, which will provide a missing link in the bikeway network to help shorten travel times, improve safety, and get cyclists home sooner to their families.

About the North Brisbane Bikeway Project

The North Brisbane Bikeway Project is is part of Brisbane City Council’s Better Bikeways for Brisbane program, creating dedicated bikeways and active travel options with a $100 million investment from 2016 to 2020.

Located in Price Street, near Kent Road at Wooloowin, to the entrance to Kedron Brook Bikeway off Brook Road, the aim of the creating the bikeway is to improve safety and connectivity for cyclists.

It will be delivered by BCC in partnership with the Queensland Government. For further information about the bikeway project, visit the Council’s website.

Council Adopts Ferny Grove-Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan

After almost three years of debates, Brisbane City Council has finally adopted the Ferny Grove-Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan. The updated neighbourhood plan will take effect on 21 September 2018.

The Ferny Grove-Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan has been through extensive updates. From late 2015, Brisbane City Council worked with the community to update the neighbourhood plan which was originally adopted in 2007 for the suburbs of Ferny Grove and Upper Kedron. The neighbourhood plan also focuses on the area south of Cedar Creek.

Cedar Woods Development

On 1 September 2015, the Queensland Government called for an amendment to the neighbourhood plan following a review of a controversial development application at 390 Levitt Road, Upper Kedron.

The DA involves a proposal for the Cedar Woods project that initially involved the development of 1,349 residential lots. The Council approved the development in December 2014 after reducing the scale to 980 lots.

Community Inputs for the Ferny Grove-Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan

The Council had considered feedback from the community in the making of the draft neighbourhood plan.

Between November 2015 and December 2016, Council received 600 online survey responses, 330 submissions on a draft strategy document, four information kiosks, four Community Planning Team (CPT) meetings, and direct contact with Council planners by letter, email, and phone.

Members of the CPT were concerned with the preservation of the area’s bushland and at-risk fauna and also considered options for development being located in clusters away from bushfire-prone areas.

Draft Neighbourhood Plan

The Council’s draft amendment update of the plan was made available for public notification from 1 June to 14 July 2017. On the course of the notification, Council received 685 properly made submissions.

In response to submissions, Council made the following changes to the draft neighbourhood plan:

Reaffirmed our intention to protect and enhance local ecological areas and waterways by replacing the revegetation plan required by the Queensland Government’s conditions of May 2017 with provisions that require future revegetation and rehabilitation of corridors to contribute to local and regional biodiversity values.
Reaffirmed the range of housing types and dwelling unit density preferred in the area through the inclusion of a ‘Cedar Creek south precinct plan’ illustrating the desired outcomes.
Ensured the natural topography of the area is maintained and require site-responsive design for development on steep slopes and at risk of natural hazards.
Ensured the safe development of future homes by including updated bushfire hazard provisions and mapping.

On the other hand, the following components of the draft neighbourhood plan remained unchanged:

Provision of a 40-hectare conservation area along Mt Nebo Road, which recently transferred into public ownership, with a further 51 hectares of rehabilitated ecological and waterway corridors to be transferred to public ownership at no cost to the community in the future.
Minimum lot sizes and preferred dwelling unit densities, to be established through two precincts so that residential lots transition from urban to natural environments.
Support for an efficient transport network and an emergency-access-only connection to Mt Nebo Road.

Updated Ferny Grove-Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan

The Queensland Government advised the Council on 28 May 2018 that the amendment package could be adopted subject to conditions.

The neighbourhood plan has been amended to include:

an emergency services and active transport link connecting the Cedar Creek south precinct to Mt Nebo Road (subject to further detailed transport planning and community consultation) in the road hierarchy overlay map
future bushfire risk mapping provided by the Queensland Government in the bushfire overlay map
a revegetation map (including regional ecosystem types), provided by the Queensland Government, for reference within the bushfire overlay code.

Brisbane City Council formally adopted the updated neighbourhood plan, including Queensland Government conditions, on 28 August 2018.

The Ferny Grove-Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan is a legal document that forms part of Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan), to guide future development in the local area.

You may visit the neighbourhood plan’s official page to learn more.

You may also download the adopted neighbourhood plan for more details.

Plans for a Separate Bikeway at Wooloowin to Link North Brisbane Bikeway to Kedron Brook Making Residents Unhappy

The Council has recently announced its plans for an on-road separated bikeway at Price Street, Wooloowin to link the North Brisbane Bikeway to Kedron Brook. Some residents and business owners are not happy about the plans as the proposed bikeway can cause tons of inconveniences for the community while serving an estimate of one hundred cyclists.

The project is open for community consultation until the 8th of May 2018. Residents are encouraged to have their say on the project by completing the survey form provided by the Brisbane City Council or sending them an email at bikewayprojects@brisbane.qld.gov.au.

The North Brisbane Bikeway – Price Street to Kedron Brook project is part of the Council’s Better Bikeways for Brisbane program, which aims to create dedicated bikeways and active travel options with a $100 million investment.

Construction Plans

The project plans include installations of three-metre-wide on-road separated bikeways along the western side of Kent Road, between Price Street and Rose Street; along the eastern side of Park Road, between Rose Street and Brook Road; and along the northern side of Rose Street, between Kent Road and Park Road with an addition of 1.5-metre-wide pedestrian footpath.

A new cycle street along Brook Road will also be built for shared use by vehicles and cyclists. Another 150-metre-long concrete path will also be constructed along the southern side of Brook Road.

Expected benefits

The Council has identified several benefits that the project will bring to the community. Such benefits include an uninterrupted recreation and commuter route for residents from the northern suburbs, enhanced access to local destinations and the CBD, road safety improvements, and reduction of traffic congestion.

Impact on the local community

A parking survey commissioned by the Council as part of their investigations has found that several car parking spaces were currently underutilised or used by commuters. With this, they plan to remove approximately 69 informal on-street parking spaces to accommodate the bike lanes.

Residential bin zones will also be changed and placed on the road, between the bikeway and road carriageway for collection.

Some of the trees that will be removed along Kent Road. Photo credit: Google Street View

Five trees from Kent Road and four trees from Rose Street will also need to be removed in order to complete the project.

Such decisions has elicited negative reactions from residents who claim that the plans are focused on providing advantages for cyclists without regard to the local community. Residents are also concerned about drainage problems that cause frequent flooding on the corner of Kent and Junction Roads. They claim that such problems should be prioritised before the construction of the project.

Provide your feedback

Members of the local community can provide their feedback for the project until Tuesday, 8 May 2018 through the following:

Call the project team on 1800 010 705 (during business hours) or the Council on 07 3403 8888 (after hours).
Email the project team at bikewayprojects@brisbane.qld.gov.au.
Complete the online survey.
Write to:

North Brisbane Bikeway – Price Street to Kedron Brook project
City Projects
Brisbane City Council
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001

What’s Happening in Kedron This Week

It’s going to be a busy week in Kedron as the locals usher in September with a bang. Here is a line-up of events for the week.

Thursday, 31 August

Rolls Pho Mi

Time: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Venue: JB Hi-Fi, 555 Gympie Road, Kedron

The Bratmobile will bring Rolls Pho Mi to Kedron. It is a food mobile that has served Vietnamese street food since March 2016. They will be at JB Hi-Fi at the end of this month.

Friday, 1 September

Hello Spring

Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Venue: Freeborne

Freeborne is inviting everyone to welcome Spring with a toast. Join Freeborne as they raise their glasses of Chardonnay and Champagne to welcome spring and browse their new season’s range.

There will be bargains on the day as they say goodbye to Winter.

Saturday, 2 September

Community Tree Planting

Tickets: FREE

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Venue: Trevallyn Place Park

Join the Brisbane City Council in making Upper Kedron clean and green. Bring the kids and teach them how to plant trees. All participants will receive three plants for free.

Don’t forget to wear your hat and sunscreen.

Friday, 2 September

Vision Board Workshop

Ticket: $75

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Venue: 63 Somerset Road, Kedron

Discover and learn a new way of living at the Vision Board workshop by Transitions Coach. This will be held at the Shalom Vale Coaching Retreat.

Sunday & Monday, 3-4 September

Father’s Day at the KP

Time: 11:30 a.m.

Venue: Kedron Park Hotel

Photo credit: Kedron Park Hotel/Facebook

Celebrate Father’s Day at the Kedron Park Hotel. Treat dads to a special programme and a money clip of goodies.

Sunday, 3 September

Father’s Day at the Edi

Time:

Lunch – 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Dinner – 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Venue: Edinburgh Castle Hotel

Another treat for Dad this Father’s Day is the “meat-tastic” celebration and raffles at Edi. Dad will receive a care package including a complimentary drink and a ticket for the Father’s Day Hamper.

Kerbside Collection in Kedron: Dump it or GIVIT

Kedron is next up for BCC’s kerbside collection pick-up on Monday, the 21st of August. It’s the time of the year again to get rid of those unwanted items inside your home that are just too big for the wheelie bins. Thinking about what to do with those items that you no longer need but seem to have a few good uses left in them?

One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure

Photo credit: www.nationalstorage.com.au

Old blankets, rugs, and carpets; coffee makers, fans, and refrigerators that just need a little tinkering; sofas that need new upholstery to be reborn; faded cupboards and wooden furniture that are still usable; all of these can be placed on the kerbside.

However, one man’s trash can be another man’s treasure. Why don’t you save these items from getting dumped and donate the items to charity?

According to the February 2017 NAB Charitable Giving Index, total charitable giving fell in Queensland by 2.5% over the year course since February 2016. This has made Queensland the lowest of all the states in terms of total donations.

Kedron residents who have usable items among their planned kerbside piles can show that their giving hearts by checking out charities that accept item donations.

GIVIT

“We match generosity with genuine need.” — GIVIT

GIVIT is a national non-profit virtual organisation founded by CEO Juliette Wright. They support all agencies, services, and charities in Australia to store, sort out, and distribute the donations to specific individuals or communities who exactly need the items.

This virtual organisation is currently supporting over 1,240 charities and community service providers all over Australia. The Kedron-based charities Cystic Fibrosis Queensland and Meals On Wheels are just two of the charities that GIVIT supports.

How to Donate?

Interested donors can check the list of the items needed by other people and the charities. Some of the items that are often needed are the blankets, rugs, toys, beddings, and some kinds of big furniture or appliances.

GIVIT does not deliver or pick-up items, but they can provide the recipient’s contact details of people who can help you sort out the transportation and delivery of the items.

Donors can also pledge the items into the virtual warehouse by registering every item on their website with specifications on the delivery preferences. Just be mindful of the list of prohibited items to avoid inconvenience.

Recycle to Donate

You can donate as much as you can, but make sure these items are usable. People in need deserve to receive quality items, too. Charitable institutions do not accept defective items that are worn out, because they don’t receive funding from the government to refurbish these items.

Recycle and refurbish the items you think that other people can still use. Recycling can also be great QT for the whole family. The kids will want to get their hands involved in this creative activity.

No Time to Recycle?

If recycling is not your thing or if you simply have no time to make it your thing, BCC has another option on how to get rid of your clutter. The Resource Recovery Centre is open for both recyclable and green or general waste. The centres are located at Nudgee, Willawong, Ferny Grove, and Chandler.

The centres turn over all recyclable items that they receive to the tip shops in Acacia Ridge and Geebung. The tip shops are operated by the Endeavour Foundation, one of the largest non-government organisations in the country that helps people with disabilities.

Items for sale includes household furnishings, collectables, books, and toys. The shops are only open on Saturdays and Sundays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All of the proceeds are reinvested back into providing assistance to people with disabilities.

By donating, you can get rid of your unwanted items and help people in need at the same time. Kerbside Collection only happens once a year, but donating can happen anytime. Plan your piles and look at what you consider to be “trash.” See if you should dump it or GIVIT.

Kedron Bowls to be Developed into a New Fresh Food Hub

In a proposal submitted last June, Carbone Developments has lodged a proposal with the Brisbane City Council to transform the Kedron Bowls at 278 Gympie Road into a “Farmer Joe’s inspired fresh food centre.”

Is it Related to Farmer Joe’s?

Farmer Joe’s Country Market
Photo credit: www.chermsidedistrict.org.au

Farmer Joe’s Country Market was a fresh food market that sold variety of fruits, vegetables, gourmet cheese, and meats. It operated once in the same proximity as the Kedron Bowls, but was closed in 2009 to give way to the inner-northern busway.

Although the plan is to construct a fresh food market in the same vicinity as the Farmer Joe’s was operating before its closure, Carbone Developments spokesman John O’Neil clarified that the former owners of Farmer Joe’s are not involved in this redevelopment project.

The Proposed Plan

Photo credit: DA Ref. No. A004685330, Brisbane City Council

The CDI Architects designed the plans for the “Kedron Market”. The project aims to modernise the facility into a place where the community can get fresh produce. The redevelopment plan includes having an anchor tenant, with an additional five tenancies available to accommodate supporting businesses

“We want a gourmet butcher, boutique bakery, perhaps fresh seafood, pasta and even a bottleshop which may specialise in craft beer or boutique wines,” Mr. O’Neil said.

The proposal also seeks to retain parts of the existing structure with some demolition works and extensions including raising of the roof height. It also includes creating a market lane from the frontage of Gympie Road through the building and onto the car park. This will improve accessibility.

The Development Details:

1,033 square metres for the Fresh Food Market
69 – 141 square metres for each tenancies
104 square metres for other amenities
72 shared car parks (commercial, motorbike, and disabled spaces)

Competition?

Photo credit: DA Ref. No. A003973633, Brisbane City Council

The proposed development is just 450 metres away from the soon-to-open Cole’s Supermarket, a supermarket giant that will offer retail, dining, and service stations to the Kedron community.

Although some may say that the Kedron Market is a bold move, Mr. O’Neil cleared that the proposed fresh food market will offer everything that Coles does not have. There will be no competition since the Kedron Market and Coles will have different range of products and items on offer.

“We don’t want to compete against them. You can’t compete against them. We will be offering high-level service and a line of specialty stores they didn’t provide in their development,” Mr. O’Neil said.

“We want this to be a community hub,” Mr O’Neil said.

If the application is approved, Kedron Market will begin serving the community by mid- to late 2018.

Completed Leg of Kedron Brook Bikeway Brings Ease of Access to the Community and Nearby Suburbs

The construction of shared pathway in Grinstead Park, Stage 2 of the Kedron Brook Bikeway leg, commenced in March and was completed in June 2017, with an allocated budget of $1.2 million. The bikeway is now in use as an alternative link that connects to the existing Royal Parade’s bikeway.

Benefits of Stage 2

This project completes the missing link in the off-road Kedron Brook Bikeway and provides ease of access and connectivity to Grinstead Park and the Stafford City Shopping Centre.

The 370-metre long shared pathway also provides a safe and secured connection between the dog off-leash area at Grinstead Park to the bikeway. This will also provide leisure opportunities for park users and residents in the area through recreational walking and cycling.

View the project details here.

Previous Upgrades

Kedron Brook Bikeway is one of the Brisbane’s busiest bikeways. Upgrades to the Kedron Brook Bikeway between Grinstead Park and Grange Forest Park started in 2015. Designed for multi-stage implementation, these upgrades are parts of 10 upgrades that have been rolled out over the past few years.

The first stage (Stage 0: Royal Parade) started in March 2015, resulting in a three-metre-wide pathway from the Kedron Brook Bikeway behind the Stafford City Shopping Centre to the Shand Street and safe crossing point across the Shand Street.

Stage 0 upgrade required the removal of 30 trees around the area to improve the safety of the pedestrians and cyclists. The Council replanted 120 native trees in the project’s vicinity as a solution to its environmental impact.

In 2016, the Stage 1 of the upgrade in Grinstead Park was completed. This involved the construction of a pathway that connects the Grinstead Park’s carpark to the western side of Shand Street.

More Bikeways Development to Come

The Kedron Brook Bikeway: Grinstead Park Shared Pathway Stage 2 is all part of “Better Bikeways 4 Brisbane” (BB4B), a program that was launched in July 2016. The four-year program aims to extend Brisbane’s network of bikeways to provide ease of access to different destinations, especially to the CBD, and to promote healthy and active living through cycling and walking.

Current bikeway and pathway projects can be viewed on the Brisbane City Council’s official website.