<p>Living in Brisbane April 2016 Edition A message from Lord Mayor Graham Quirk</p><p>Following the Council election on 19 March, I want to thank Brisbane residents for the support and confidence they have shown in me and my Administration. With a new Council term now underway, I want to recommit Council to addressing the important matters for our city - tackling traffic congestion, even better public transport and enhancing our lifestyle and leisure opportunities.</p><p>I want to continue Council’s good work to ease traffic congestion by completing 90 new road projects across Brisbane over the coming four years, including the much-needed Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade.</p><p>Over the next four years we will see 240 new buses on the road, all of which will be 100% air- conditioned and wheelchair and pram accessible, ensuring our bus fleet remains the most modern in Australia. We will also grow our iconic CityCat fleet to a record 22 vessels with new SpeedyCat express services to be introduced.</p><p>Over the past month, I have spoken a lot about building a new Metro Subway system to cope with the demands on our public transport system and freeing up more buses for the suburbs. I now look forward to making this a reality over coming years.</p><p>I am committed to making our New World City the best it can be and I look forward to working with all Brisbane residents to deliver on that vision.</p><p>Graham Quirk LORD MAYOR Community Conservation Partnership Programs Volunteer now to protect your local environment this National Volunteer Week from 9-15 May. Call 3403 8888 or visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search for ‘Community Conservation Partnership Programs’.</p><p>Working with the Community to protect Brisbane's biodiversity. Local memorials ready for Anzac Day Brisbane’s westside memorials are getting special attention ahead of Anzac Day this year to make sure they are looking their best for the important commemoration on Monday 25 April.</p><p>The work includes replenishing flower beds, general landscaping, pressure cleaning, repainting furniture and mowing.</p><p>Council regularly carries out maintenance at memorials around the city and also works closely with local RSL groups to help identify sites that need extra work.</p><p>Locations of memorials on the westside include Keating Park in Indooroopilly, Ithaca Memorial in Paddington and Stewart Place Park in Ashgrove.</p><p>Anzac Day services and events will be hosted around the city by RSL sub branches.</p><p>Visit www.rslqld.org or call 134 RSL for details on services near you. Calling young photographers Could you be the next Lord Mayor’s Young Environmental Photographer of the Year?</p><p>The Green Heart Schools competition will once again challenge school students to capture unique and creative images with this year’s focus on Brisbane’s waterways and how we use them. Entries for the 2016 awards open on 18 April and close 8 May.</p><p>Four categories will be judged by the community on Council’s Facebook page from 11-20 May.</p><p>Finalists whose pictures show the beauty and value of water in Brisbane will be invited to attend a special awards ceremony, as well as having their photographs displayed around the city.</p><p>Among the great prizes on offer is the chance to join widely-acclaimed photographer Steve Parish to learn ‘the art of seeing photos’.</p><p>Visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au to find out how to enter. Australia’s most modern bus fleet Council has reached an important milestone with the arrival of the 300th new bus to Brisbane’s fleet since 2012.</p><p>The delivery of the new, air-conditioned and wheelchair-accessible bus means Council has one of the youngest, and the second largest, bus fleets in the country.</p><p>The roll-out of new buses meant some could be reallocated, enabling the introduction of the popular Maroon CityGlider, which continues to grow in patronage since launching three years ago.</p><p>With a fleet of more than 1100, the arrival of the new buses has enabled all older style, high-floor buses to be retired, resulting in a bus fleet that is 100% air-conditioned and low-floor accessible for prams and wheelchairs.</p><p>For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Anzac Day city services Each year, RSL Queensland holds services at memorial sites around Brisbane to commemorate Anzac Day.</p><p>The Dawn Service will be held at 4.28am sharp on Monday 25 April at the Shrine of Remembrance in Anzac Square, between Ann and Adelaide Streets in Brisbane CBD.</p><p>The Anzac Day Parade, together with dawn vigils and memorial services, has been an important part of the commemorations in Brisbane.</p><p>This year’s parade will commence from 9.30am at the corner of George and Elizabeth Streets and will finish at approximately 1pm.</p><p>Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War.</p><p>For up-to-date public transport information, check the TransLink website at www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30.</p><p>For more information on Anzac Day services, visit www.rslqld.org or call 134 RSL. Anzac Square enhancements nearing completion Stage three of the Anzac Square restoration and enhancement is well underway with work to be complete in time for Anzac Day this year.</p><p>The latest stage of the joint project between the Queensland Government and Council will create a more inviting space in the rooms and galleries below the memorial and improve accessibility for all visitors.</p><p>Initial stages of the project involved restoring the memorial structure to ensure Anzac Square continues to stand as a reminder of the service and sacrifice of all servicemen and women.</p><p>Work includes the part refurbishment and enhancement of heritage spaces, including the Shrine of Memories and Memorial Crypt, to provide visitors with an opportunity to learn about Queensland’s military history.</p><p>For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au. The Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience The Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience is a travelling exhibition that tells the story of Australia’s involvement in World War I, and the ensuing Century of Service of Australia’s armed forces in all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations in which Australia has been involved.</p><p>The Spirit of Anzac Centenary Experience follows a chronological timeline spanning the period from pre-First World War Australia to the present day, using a mix of visuals, artefacts, audio and film to engage visitors.</p><p>An important feature of the experience will be the curated ‘local stories’ zone. These zones are created with local communities and will contribute a legacy for each region.</p><p>The free exhibition will be at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 17-30 June. All tickets are free, but bookings are essential. To book, visit www.spiritofanzac.gov.au. Stormwater harvesting project Council is finalising connections to community clubs and sports grounds as part of a stormwater harvesting and reuse project.</p><p>Once connected, all 17 clubs can collect stormwater from drains, creeks or ponds to be filtered, stored and used for irrigation at local parks and recreational facilities.</p><p>The project involved constructing water storage basins, in-channel storage systems and aboveground tanks which will reduce demand for potable water by up to 185 megalitres per year.</p><p>It will also improve water quality by reducing the discharge of sediments and nutrients into local creeks.</p><p>The project was carried out at:  Whites Hill Sports and Recreation Reserve  CB Mott Park  Ekibin Park East  Langlands Park  Sexton Street Park  Norman Park Sports Precinct  Downey Park Sports Precinct.</p><p>The $10.8 million project was jointly funded by the Australian Government. For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards The Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards is an opportunity for you to become involved in Brisbane’s cultural life by celebrating images that reflect Brisbane’s creative lifestyle.</p><p>Australian photographers and photographic artists are invited to submit original images that represent an expressive, dynamic and vibrant Brisbane.</p><p>There are three categories with cash prizes:  Open  Tertiary  People’s Choice Award.</p><p>Entries open on Monday 9 May and close 5pm, Sunday 29 May 2016.</p><p>The winners of the Open and Tertiary categories will be announced on Monday 11 July 2016.</p><p>To learn more or enter the competition, visit www.lmpa.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Did you know… New to Brisbane? Welcome! Learn more about your neighbourhood, active and healthy events, support services and what’s going on in Brisbane by visiting www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and searching for ‘new residents guide’. Free immunisation clinics. No appointments necessary. Council’s immunisation clinics provide a happy, healthy environment for your child’s vaccinations. Visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/activeandhealthy.</p><p>New facilities for Moggill After extensive planning and consultation with the local community, Council plans to develop the Moggill District Sports Park.</p><p>The proposed sports park will be delivered in stages and provide district-level sporting facilities for the wider Moggill-Bellbowrie and Anstead communities.</p><p>A number of suggestions made by the community were integrated into the proposal including a playground, public toilets, picnic facilities, barbecues and drinking fountains. The carpark and hardcourts will also be reconfigured within the parkland to reduce noise impacts.</p><p>Council is committed to building an active and healthy city where residents and visitors can enjoy Brisbane’s beautiful parks and sport and recreational facilities.</p><p>We will keep the community informed about the construction and delivery of the multi-staged project as it progresses.</p><p>For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or phone 3403 8888. Great results for Active School Travel in 2015 Congratulations to the 15 new schools from the 2015 Active School Travel program for achieving a 13% reduction in the number of single-family car trips taken to school. During 2015 more than 24,600 students from 45 schools took part in the program, which educates and motivates students, parents and teachers to leave the car at home and actively travel to school.</p><p>Results of the 2015 program were positive across the board, with:  car trips down 13%, from 68% to 55%  walking trips up 10%, from 20% to 30%  carpooling trips up 2%, from 4% to 6%.</p><p>For more information about the Active School Travel program, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or phone 3403 8888. Safer school travel for families Families travelling to and from school will soon benefit from increased safety enhancements with the Safe School Travel program underway across Brisbane.</p><p>The Safe School Travel program, funded in partnership with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, aims to improve transport infrastructure around schools, such as children’s crossings and bicycle facilities.</p><p>At Algester State and St Catherine’s primary schools, Council plans to enhance access and passenger loading facilities.</p><p>This financial year, Council allocated $693,000 towards the program to provide a safer and more efficient travel environment.</p><p>For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or phone Council on 3403 8888. Caring for your pet Brisbane is a pet-friendly city and it’s important that residents properly care for their animals and ensure they are healthy and safe.</p><p>Being a responsible dog owner means your dog must be registered, microchipped and walked on a lead, unless in a designated dog off-leash area.</p><p>Dog owners are encouraged to make use of more than 120 off-leash areas across Brisbane for their dogs to exercise and roam free.</p><p>Part of caring for your dog is ensuring it has a safe, secure environment to live, including having adequate fencing around your property to protect both your dog and your neighbourhood.</p><p>For more information about responsible pet ownership, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search for ‘animals and pets’. Brisbane celebrates National Youth Week Young people across Brisbane will be in the spotlight this month when the city celebrates Youth Week from 4-17 April.</p><p>A series of activities and events across the city will showcase young people’s ideas and talents, including The QUBE Effect, a competition for young and emerging musicians.</p><p>For details on Youth Week visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call 3403 8888. Did you know… Council hosts events for pet owners to microchip their dog or cat at a reduced fee. Four events will be held across April and May. For details visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Planned burns Do you live near bushland in Brisbane? Council’s fire management program protects the city’s bushland and adjoining neighbourhoods with planned burns taking place when conditions are right.</p><p>Burning defined areas of bushland when it’s safe to do so helps to reduce potential fire hazards and maintain bushland health.</p><p>Weather and air quality forecasts, and other technical readings, are used to determine if and when a planned burn goes ahead. Neighbours adjoining burn areas will receive a notice before a burn takes place.</p><p>Planned burn alerts will appear on Council’s Facebook and Twitter pages, and you can also request to be notified on the day of a planned burn by calling Council on 3403 8888.</p><p>To view the list of potential sites for planned burns in 2016, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search for ‘fire management’. Refugees to be welcomed to the Brisbane community Community members from refugee backgrounds will be officially welcomed at the Lord Mayor’s Refugee Welcome Ceremony on 21 April at Brisbane City Hall.</p><p>Celebrating its tenth anniversary, the event recognises the contributions of refugees to Brisbane’s multicultural community, bringing with them skills and customs that will enhance our city’s enviable lifestyle.</p><p>More than 300 attendees are welcomed at Brisbane City Hall annually, providing the opportunity for refugees to network, meet with community leaders and access information on a range of programs and initiatives delivered by government and non-government agencies.</p><p>The ceremony celebrates Brisbane as an inclusive city which values diversity and the contribution of people from all backgrounds.</p><p>For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au. Look out for kerbside collection in your area Council’s kerbside collection service continues in 2016 to help you dispose of large household items such as old furniture.</p><p>If you have quality, reusable furniture, you can also take it to Council’s new resource recovery centres for free. Donated items will be sold at Council tip shops to support the Endeavour Foundation.</p><p>Each household is asked to keep their kerbside collection pile smaller than two cubic metres to help keep our streets safe and tidy.</p><p>Every suburb is scheduled for collection in a specific week, and you will receive a notification prior to your collection date. You can also look up your suburb’s collection date on Council’s website, and receive a notification via Council’s free Brisbane Bin and Recycling app.</p><p>For more information, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call 3403 8888. Post your #ViewsofBrisbane Brisbane has many exciting places, green spaces and friendly faces providing plenty of opportunities to capture a great photo. Council is calling on residents and visitors to post their own photos of Brisbane on Instagram using #ViewsofBrisbane.</p><p>Share with us how you see your suburb, shining a light on Brisbane, our vibrant New World City.</p><p>Simply use #ViewsofBrisbane on Instagram for your chance to be featured on Council’s Instagram account (@brisbanecitycouncil) and keep an eye out for images featured in next month’s Living in Brisbane. What’s On Brisbane Facebook.com/BNEWhatsOn City</p><p>17 April – The QUBE Effect – experience 24 of Brisbane’s hottest musical acts as they perform live on stage and inside a cube, Valley Malls, 11am-5pm, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au – FREE</p><p>18-24 April – Festival of Tibet – a celebration of the resilience and optimism of a people and culture under threat, Brisbane Powerhouse, visit www.brisbanepowerhouse.org – Various costs</p><p>21 April – Meet Michelle Payne – the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup. Join Michelle as she shares her book Life As I Know It, Brisbane City Hall, 6.30-8pm, to book call 3403 4166 – FREE</p><p>Until 30 April – Medibank Feel Good Program – qualified instructors run classes in yoga, pilates, bubacise and aqua aerobics, South Bank Parklands, visit www.visitbrisbane.com.au – FREE</p><p>Until 22 May 2016 – Kenji Uranishi: Momentary – Kenji Uranishi captures the memory of that moment and the constant state of change, Museum of Brisbane, 10am-5pm, visit www.museumofbrisbane.com.au – FREE</p><p>Every Tuesday – Powerkids: Little Artists at Play – your favourite children’s festival turns into a year round program, 9am-12 noon, Brisbane Powerhouse, visit www.brisbanepowerhouse.org – FREE Local</p><p>17 April – Compost and worm farm workshop – learn how to turn kitchen scraps into rich nutrients for your garden, Paten Park Native Nursery, 9am-12 noon, to book call 3403 8888 – FREE </p><p>18 April – Rainbow adventures – interactive workshop using drama and creative movement to learn all the colours, ideal ages 3-5 years, New Farm Park, 10am-12 noon, to book call 0411 246 487 – FREE </p><p>21 April – Tea and trivia – test your general knowledge, Indooroopilly Library, 10.30-11.30am, to book call 3407 0009 – FREE </p><p>22 April – Children’s book club – for April, read Cooper by Justin D’Ath, ideal ages 8-12 years, Ashgrove Library, 3.30-4.15pm, no booking required – FREE </p><p>28 April – Intro to Dash and Dot robots – learn programming concepts and send simple commands to a robot, Toowong Library, 4.30-6pm, to book call 3403 8888 – FREE 30 April – Fish wise – learn how to catch your bait, knot tying, bait presentation, rod casting and other tips to make your next fishing trip more successful, Kookaburra Park, 12.30-3.30pm, to book call 0403 713 820 – FREE </p><p>Brisbane City Council GPO Box 1434, Brisbane Qld 4001 Every effort is made to ensure that information is correct at time of printing For more information call (07) 3403 8888 or visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au Facebook.com/BrisbaneCityCouncil @brisbanecityqld Youtube.com/BrisbaneCityCouncil CA15-1043465-00-1521 © Brisbane City Council 2016</p>