Dear neighbours,

We are living through the worst housing crisis since the Great Depression. There are now over 20,000 Queenslanders experiencing homelessness which means that 1 in 200 people in our state are currently unhoused. This is a gross failure in duty and responsibility by the current and former LNP and ALP Government of all levels.

With nowhere else to go, many people have been forced to sleep rough in our parks. There’s been a lot of talk about temporary housing, but this is not a solution. Without support services, temporary housing becomes a very difficult place for anyone trying to become sober or with a history of abuse. There is a lot of violence in temporary housing and easy access to substances, which is why many unhoused residents I’ve spoken to feel safer sleeping rough in a park.

The only long term solution to the current crisis is to ensure everyone in our community is permanently housed and provided with appropriate support services. Finland adopted a “housing first” model which reduced homelessness by 70% and basically eliminated rough sleeping - the only European country where homelessness rates have consistently dropped.

The basic premise is simple: give people permanent housing with no conditions and flexible on-site support services. While perhaps a little counterintuitive, Finland found that increasing temporary housing actually makes homelessness worse. As the architect of Finland’s approach made clear: “To end homelessness permanently, you must reduce the temporary accommodation.”

With Brisbane’s median rent now $580 and West End’s median rent now $752, more luxury towers and private housing will be out of reach for anyone sleeping rough. What we need is public housing. We cannot rely on private developers to build our way out of this crisis. And we certainly cannot police or punish our way out of this crisis.

With an LNP government now in power the Lord Mayor needs to get on the phone with his mate Crisafulli and demand the state collaborates with Council to urgently start building more public housing. 

Instead of actually working to solve the housing crisis, ten days ago the Lord Mayor cruelly cut power and turned BBQs off in Musgrave Park and Kurilpa Point Park (more information below). Decreasing access for frontline services and preventing our most vulnerable residents the basic ability to eat. If like me you are disgusted by this action please send the Lord Mayor a message today. 

Local updates included in this newsletter:

• Power cut to Musgrave and Kurilpa Point Parks
• Bus Network Review Betrayal  (86, 192, 234 update)
• Orleigh Park Dog Park Upgrades
• Kangaroo Point City Hopper: Major Proposed Change
• Major Asbestos Removal - Boggo Road Gaol
• Highgate Hill Community Orchard
• Tree Removals
• Community Events

Power cut to Musgrave and Kurilpa Point Parks

On Tuesday 22 October, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner cut power to both Musgrave Park and Kurilpa Point Park. This callous act denied people sleeping rough the ability to cook food on BBQs or charge their phones - possibly leading to missed calls with offers of housing from the Department of Housing.

Support services and community groups who work closely with people sleeping rough have also been unable to provide their usual services. These front line workers contribute the most to public and community safety. Removing power access prevents them from doing their jobs and keeping our community safe.

The removal of power has already escalated tensions and made our parks less safe for all community members. All week people have resorted to using gas cookers to feed themselves and I’ve already been told that a gas canister exploded on Monday. Some rough sleepers have relocated from Musgrave to Riverside Drive and Orleigh Park, while others remain in the park. Again, permanent housing is the only possible long-term solution here.

These cruel actions by the Lord Mayor set a dangerous precedent that can be replicated across the city. I do not believe that Brisbane residents are cold hearted. I do believe that Brisbane residents want real solutions that will enable people to be housed and end homelessness once and for all.  

We need pressure today, to ensure the most vulnerable can access support services and return dignity to the most vulnerable. Can you help me pressure the Lord Mayor into restoring power to Musgrave Park and Kurilpa Point Park so that service providers can continue their lifesaving work?

In positive news, I was down in Musgrave Park at 3pm today when I came across Council workers who told me they are working to reconnect power to the BBQs. Thank you to everyone who has already put pressure on the Lord Mayor, community pressure works! While an important step, the power boxes in the park are still shut down. So please send an email and keep up the pressure.

Here are the various actions I’ve taken since 22 October 2024:

• 23 Oct: Phone calls with various local stakeholders to discuss response
• 25 Oct: Joint letter with Amy MacMahon MP and Max Chandler-Mather MP sent to Lord Mayor and Parks Chair
• 25 Oct: Meeting with Council’s Corporate Security Manager
• 25 Oct: Social Media update and DoGooder template email promotion
• 29 Oct: Question to Lord Mayor during Council Chambers
• 30 Oct: Roundtable with service providers and grassroots community groups
• 31 Oct: Motion submitted to Council calling for power to be restored
• 1 Nov: Meeting with Manager of Council’s Parks team

Bus Network Review Betrayal (86, 192, 234 update)

Never have I felt so betrayed by Council as I have with this bus network review. While I expect to be disappointed by the LNP administration in so many areas, you would think we would align in wanting the best for Brisbane in terms of public transport.

For Gabba Ward residents the review mostly proposes tweaks to the network. You can read all the details here. It’s what is missing from the review that really gets my blood boiling.

The review makes no mention of the Kurilpa Loop (86). Upon questioning I was told the 86 would stop running in December. Despite repeatedly being told the 86 was a trial, I am now told that it was never a trial, only a temporary service run during the Metro construction period.

Throughout my 18 months as your Councillor I have had multiple meetings with various transport planners, all of whom reaffirmed the 86 was a trial. I was told we needed to get patronage up if we wanted to keep it. So I had the timetable changed and residents came out in force. The 86 is now by far and away the most used of all of Brisbane’s free bus loops.

The free loops were previously funded by Council and they have now secured state funding. Despite being the most popular free loop, Council did not seek state funding for the 86.

If you are also feeling betrayed by the LNP Lord Mayor, I invite you to show your support for the 86 by attending the 1pm Tuesday 12 November Council Meeting at City Hall. I will be presenting the 86 petition and also asking the Lord Mayor a question to demand an explanation.

More Gabba Ward residents provided feedback than almost any other ward. Two clear top priorities were increasing the frequency of the 234 and extending the hours of the 192 to include weekends and weekday evenings. Neither of which will happen under this review. I am more determined than ever to keep fighting for improvements to these services and for free, frequent, and reliable public transport more broadly.

Kangaroo Point City Hopper: Major Proposed Change

After many months of tireless advocacy from local residents as well as myself and Amy MacMahon, Council has proposed a major change to the City Hopper network. The proposal seeks to improve frequency and reliability, so that residents aren’t left behind because of overcrowded ferries.

In short, the existing City Hopper and Cross River services would be replaced with three dedicated Cross River Ferries:

• Dockside to Sydney St
• Holman St to Riverside
• Maritime Museum to QUT Gardens Point

I recognise that this proposal only deals with overcrowding and still does not deliver a CityCat stop in Kangaroo Point. Having said that, it should help with overcrowding and will double frequency at some stops but will mean some trips require a transfer to a CityCat.

There is a Council survey that residents can fill out which closes at midnight this Sunday 3 November. I do not believe two weeks is a sufficient timeframe for consultation, which I have raised with Council. In the general feedback area I strongly encourage you to suggest the cross river services be kept free and make it clear that Kangaroo Point still needs a CityCat stop.

While it doesn’t deliver a CityCat stop, this cross river proposal is a step up in terms of ferry services for the neighbourhood. But I am waiting to hear what residents think before finalising my position. Either way I will keep fighting for a CityCat stop in Kangaroo Point (sign the petition here) and more bus services for the peninsula. Please reply to this email with your feedback. Thank you to anyone who has contacted me already. 

A huge congratulations to the hundreds of residents who have worked so hard to force Council to propose such a major change to the ferry network. Wins like this show the power of engaged and active communities working together with community-minded elected representatives.

Orleigh Park Dog Park Upgrades

Work is progressing on upgrades to the Orleigh Park Dog Off-Leash Area (DOLA). Thank you to all who completed the online survey and shared their feedback at our in-person consultation.

We shared three possible concept designs and there was a clear preference for the option that expanded the DOLA. This design also introduced terracing to manage the slope/erosion issues and included additional shelter and seating.

Council is now working on a final design that will incorporate all the feedback provided during the consultation. I will be allocating funds from my Suburban Enhancement Fund (SEF) to ensure the project proceeds in a timely manner. I expect the project confirmation to occur by early 2025, with delivery by December 2025.

Major Asbestos Removal - Boggo Road Gaol

On Monday 21 October, Dutton Park State School was made aware that Stockwell will be conducting Asbestos Removal works at the Boggo Road Village, 21-41 Boggo Rd.

Many parents have raised concerns about the removal being during school term. They want to know why Stockwell can’t do these works in the school holidays or outside school hours. Particularly because: 

• The Code of Practice appears to require the removal area to be fully enclosed. Stockwell is not fully enclosing its site.
• The Code of Practice appears to require consideration of removal at a time when neighbouring areas are occupied by unprotected people. But the school is expected to continue operating as usual and many students travel by the goal on their way to and from school.
• No information has been provided about the type of asbestos that will be removed.
• No information has been provided about any risk assessments concerning potential exposure to children .
• No information has been provided confirming that the contractor has the appropriate class of license for this type of material. 
• No official publicly available start or end date to enable parents to make transparent decisions. 
• The Department of Education will refuse any requests from parents to have their children accommodated at other schools for the duration of the works.

I thought it was important to inform the Dutton Park surrounding residents of what is occurring and the concern parents and I have around the lack of information provided. To view the full statement by Dutton Park State School P&C click here.

If you have concern please contact the State Workplace Health and Safety Department on 13 74 68.

Highgate Hill Community Orchard

Dozens of residents have put their hands up to come together and strengthen their community, through growing an orchard garden together.

The intention is to create a place of 'Belonging' at the orchard, for everyone - regardless of age, gender, background, or culture where we can all relax and meet new people.

The orchard is at the bottom of Highgate Hill Park, on the Hampstead Road frontage. Orchard gardeners will be meeting there every Saturday morning at 7am and everyone is welcome to join.

If you have any questions you can email the group at [email protected] or send a message to the Kurilpa Community Orchard Facebook page.

Tree Removals

• A Eucalyptus tree in Raymond Park, Kangaroo Point is going to be removed in January due to poor health. A replacement tree will be planted at the location.
• Last newsletter advised that a poinciana was going to be removed and replaced with another poinciana in Orleigh Park. Following community feedback we have requested that Council instead plant a native fig (Ficus Obliqua) as a replacement tree.