Dear Neighbours

With climate change effects worsening and an official declaration of El Nino, meteorologists say we'll likely have a hotter and drier summer than usual. This puts us all at risk of heatwaves and bushfire events. 

Heatwaves are of particular concern for our inner-city area due to the urban heat island effect, where structures such as buildings, roads, and other infrastructures absorb and re-emit the sun's heat more than natural landscapes. 

Renters in particular are at risk in extreme heat events, with a report by Better Renting showing that rental properties exceed safe temperatures (25°C) in summer 45% of the time. There are no requirements for rental properties to be properly insulated and no ability for renters to install fans, air conditioning, curtains, or even plant a shade garden. We desperately need the state government to legislate minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties to keep renters safe during heat waves. 

At the local level I constantly work at delivering tree planning and urban greening initiatives (verge planting, community gardens, advocate for pocket parks) to counter the urban heat island effect, with heatwaves posing the most significant threat of any natural disaster in Brisbane this summer, it's essential to take the time to prepare yourself.

Gather information

Use advance warning to find out how you and the people you care for might be affected and what supports are available to you.

• Register for the Brisbane Severe Weather Alert for free severe weather alerts delivered by email, SMS or voice message.
• Register for the Bureau of Meteorology weather app to receive warnings for upcoming events.
• Understand the risks that might be posed to your health in a heatwave event.
• If you have pets, read up on tips for caring for animals during summer from the RSPCA.
• Check in with your friends and neighbours who might be at risk, and see if you can help each other prepare. For friends and family who have a disability, Queenslanders with Disability Network have written this emergency preparedness resource.

Get Prepared

• Those with medical conditions should seek advice from their doctor about handling the heat. 
• Think of ways to make your home cooler. Some ideas include installing curtains, closing the blinds, planting vines to provide cooling shade outside of your home, and getting extra fans.

Plan Ahead

• Plan your day to keep activity to a minimum in the hottest part of the day
• Avoid strenuous activities like gardening and exercising
• Never leave children, adults or animals in parked cars

Find cool spaces

• If your home is too hot, try and visit one of our air conditioned libraries such as West End Library or pools such as Musgrave Park Pool 
• It's always cooler by the water; you could find some shade and a breeze at one of our shady riverside parks, including Orleigh Park, Captain Burke Park, and South Bank Parklands.

The Summer heat is coming, so make sure to be prepared and let's help take care of our neighbours, family, friends and our furry pals. 

Save Our School, Save Our Park

Last weekend the Lord Mayor backflipped on the $2.7 billion Gabba demolition and announced Council will not support the proposal in its current form. This announcement comes after hundreds of locals and city-wide residents gathered to rally to Save East Brisbane State School and Raymond Park. As the housing and cost of living crisis continue to escalate, momentum grows not only locally but also state wide.

I thank residents who came to amplify their voices and acknowledge the work of newly formed community group Rethink The Gabba. If you’d like to stay informed, connect and contribute to this growing community Movement, you can sign up here to keep up to date or join as a member. 

Please help us keep up the pressure by signing the petition calling on Annastacia Palaszczuk, David Crisafulli, and all Labor and LNP Brisbane City Councillors to urgently withdraw their support for the $2.7 billion Gabba Olympics rebuild.

New Murals in Raymond Park

Earlier this year I supported the local community to deliver the Rise Up Festival in Raymond Park. We used this event to highlight the plights of East Brisbane State School and Friends Of Raymond Park due to the community-destroying Gabba Rebuild. 

As a part of the Festival, people of all ages contributed to a collaborative community artwork.

Last week artist Isobelle Dwyer delivered a mural based on this community artwork. She talked of stories and conversations had while delivering the artwork and of the many memories Raymond Park holds for residents and locals. I’m proud to deliver this addition to Raymond Park, but also excited to announce that in the near future Izzy will deliver another mural in the Raymond Park inspired and created in partnership with the students of East Brisbane State School.  

I hope these additions not only bring joy and colour for park users but be a reminder of the community power present in Kangaroo Point.

Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI): Kurilpa Update

On Tuesday last week the LNP Council moved an amendment to the Brisbane City Plan 2014. This amendment is the formal process for planning scheme changes concerning The TLPI. However the motion refers to an accelerated, tailored planning scheme amendment process, of which there is no information about.

The Planning Act 2016: Section 18 clearly states a process for making or amending. Which includes:

• Publishing  at least 1 public notice about the proposal to amend the planning scheme
• Have a 20 business day consultation period
• Deliver a communication strategy about the TLPI
• Consider all properly made submissions about the amendment
• And notify people about how the local government dealt with the submissions.
  • More information available HERE

Yet with the lack of any transparency about the accelerated, tailored planning amendment process, the statutory community consultation promised by the Deputy Mayor is now in question. 

This a great undemocratic overreach not only by the LNP Council Administration but also by the State ALP. Even with these clear concerns on whether  the local community will have a say at all and when residents will stop being kept in the dark, I was one of only two councillors to vote against this motion. All ALP Councillors abstained. All LNP voted Yes.

Montague Road Corridor Study

Consultation has begun on the Montague Road Transportation Study. Are you a walker, rider, driver, or public transport user in the area and surrounds?

If so, it's so important Council hears from you.

The density in 4101 is increasing rapidly and Montague Road is the spine that connects South Brisbane to West End. The connectivity, safety and amenity of this corridor will be critically important in the coming years.

I acknowledge the previous community work by Montague Road Project and Thomas Dixon Centre, ensuring that their report be incorporated into this consultation process.

Link to the online survey and mapping activity below. Consultation will close midnight on Sunday, Dec 10. 

Here is a great article from the Westender about the corridor study!

Best wishes

Trina Massey