Dear Neighbours, 

This week we mark National Reconciliation Week, and for me it is always a week of deep reflection. Sorry Day on 26 May asks us to sit with the ongoing trauma of the Stolen Generations and the weight of the Bringing Them Home report. Mabo Day on 3 June honours Eddie Koiki Mabo's extraordinary courage in taking the fight for land rights all the way to the High Court, overturning the colonial concept and legal fiction of terra nullius and winning Native Title recognition for the first time. Woven through this week is the Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum on 27 May, a reminder of how recently First Nations Australians were excluded from the most basic recognition of citizenship on their own land.

These important events are threads in the same story of dispossession, resistance, and an ongoing fight for sovereignty and self determination that I believe we all have a responsibility to understand and support. Here in the Gabba Ward, on the unceded lands of the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, that responsibility feels close and real.

This year's theme is All In, and it captures something I feel strongly. Reconciliation cannot be a spectator sport, and it cannot be confined to one week a year. For me personally, First Nations justice sits at the foundation of everything I am fighting for in this ward. When I push back against the sell-off of public land, advocate for housing justice, or argue for communities having a genuine say over their future, I am drawing on the same values that make reconciliation not just a concept but a cause worth fighting for every single day. Grounding my work in First Nations sovereignty makes it stronger and more honest, because a community that fights and protects Country, upholds the rights of its most marginalised, and insists on truth in decision making is a community that is safer, fairer and more liveable for everyone who calls it home. 

This week, I encourage you to go beyond acknowledgement. And when the week is over, keep going.

In solidarity, 

Trina

Read on to learn more about: 

• Keep Public Land in Public Hands — Join Me on Thursday 11 June

• Last Chance to Help Make These Projects Impossible to Ignore

• Fire Ants in the Gabba Ward: What You Need to Know

• Lord Mayor scraps the promised crackdown on AirBnB and short stay accommodation 

• Out & About in The Gabba Ward 

Keep Public Land in Public Hands — Join Me on Thursday 11 June

Right now, decisions are being made that will shape our neighbourhood for decades to come and most residents don't even know it's happening.

I'm hosting a community town hall at 5pm on Thursday 11 June to talk openly about two particular issues that I believe every resident in the Gabba Ward deserves to know about - the sale of the Visy site and the Woolloongabba PDA. This is your opportunity to get informed, ask questions, and find out how you can have a say before it's too late.

The Visy Site — The Last Major Public Land in South Brisbane

Many people I've spoken with assume the Visy site in South Brisbane has already been sold. It hasn’t, but it's about to be.

The State Government is moving to sell the Visy Site on Montague Rd, 7.1 hectares of publicly owned land in South Brisbane to private developers; land roughly the size of 5 football fields, or more than 175 average Australian housing blocks. It is the last major parcel of publicly owned land in South Brisbane and West End, and this sale is being progressed with no community consultation and no public say.

The implications for our neighbourhood are significant for green space, for affordable housing, for the kind of community infrastructure that a growing inner city suburb genuinely needs. Once this land is gone, it is gone and there is no getting it back.

The Woolloongabba PDA — Walking Away From Community Commitments

At the same time, State government amendments to the Woolloongabba Priority Development Area (PDA) are quietly winding back commitments to affordable housing, green space, and community infrastructure. Our community fought hard to secure these commitments over many years, including during the Save East Brisbane State School campaign to stop the Gabba demolition. These were not gifts - they were won through sustained community advocacy, led by former Greens MP for South Brisbane Amy MacMahon and the State Government is now walking away from them.

The State government is making these  amendments with little fanfare and minimal public attention. Their impact on what gets built in our ward and who it gets built for will be felt for generations.

My town hall on Thursday 11 June is an opportunity to participate in an open, informational conversation about what is happening, what it means for our community, and what options exist for residents who want to have a say.

I'll be walking through both issues in detail, answering your questions, and sharing what actions are available to you as a resident. Whether you're deeply across these issues or hearing about them for the first time, you are welcome.

Date: Thursday 11 June

Time: 5 - 7 pm 

Location: Father Bacinskas Lithuanian Cultural Hall, 49 Gladstone Rd, Highgate Hill 

Public land belongs to all of us: not to developers, and not to ministers making decisions behind closed doors. I hope to see you there!

Last Chance  to Help Make These Projects Impossible to Ignore

Brisbane City Council manages a $4 billion budget, and every budget is a clear statement of priorities by the LNP administration. What gets funded reflects political choices.

I’m sharing two petitions which close soon, before the Council’s annual Budget in mid-June. This is your last chance to add your name and make your voice count. I’m excited that hundreds of residents have already signed; your support is exactly what makes these priorities impossible to ignore. If you haven't yet, please add your name and share with your neighbours.

Wellington Road Crossing

A signalised pedestrian crossing (traffic lights) on Wellington Road is already designed, costed, and ready to build. It sits at a well-known pedestrian safety blackspot on the boundary of Kangaroo Point and East Brisbane, where residents, families, school children and commuters cross a busy four-lane road every day, often without a safe signalised option.

I have asked the LNP Lord Mayor to fund this project three years in a row via my budget submission. At its current cost estimate of $2 million, it is a modest investment in the context of a $4 billion Council budget, and for the community it serves, it is essential. Years of delay has meant years of unnecessary risk. There is no reason this project cannot be delivered in 2026–27.

Thank you to everyone who has already signed and shared this petition. Our nearby Raymond Park community BBQ was cancelled due to rain, however if you have any questions about this project or the petition, please don't hesitate to reach out to our office directly.

West End Second Ferry Terminal

West End has been waiting for a second ferry terminal since 2011. In that time, it has become one of Brisbane's most densely populated inner city suburbs without the public transport infrastructure originally promised to support that growth.

The terminal was finally reinstated into Council's infrastructure plan in 2025, with an estimated cost of $17.8 million and a delivery window of 2026–2031. While this is progress, the timeframe does not reflect current demand or population growth. Even though it’s in their plan, the LNP administration don’t actually have to fund it or build it. 

There remains a 5.5km gap in river crossing options for southside residents along a rapidly intensifying corridor.

In June 2025, I moved an emergency motion to fund and deliver the terminal immediately. The LNP voted it down, and they didn’t include any funding in the 2025 Budget. Fifteen years of delay is enough, and the hundreds of residents who have already signed this petition agree.

I'd love to see you at the Riverside Drive Community BBQ on 4 June, from 4pm–7pm. Come along to talk about the ferry terminal, the petition, and other local issues over a bite to eat.

Fire Ants in the Gabba Ward: What You Need to Know

My office has received a growing number of enquiries from residents about fire ants, including reports of nests in Musgrave Park. Here's what you need to know:

Fire ant eradication is led through the National Fire Ant Eradication Program, with the State government taking lead responsibility. For public land in Brisbane like parks and footpaths, Council officers are responsible for eradicating (“treating”) these dangerous ants . 

The Gabba Ward is currently a suppression area, meaning full eradication treatment is not yet underway here but it will be. In the meantime, community reporting is critical.

My office has been in direct contact with Council operational teams, the National Fire Ant Eradication Program, and the Invasive Species Council. I also raised fire ants in Musgrave Park in Chambers on 12 May, which led to the immediate treatment of seven nests in the park, followed by a retreatment the following week.

If you'd like to be kept informed or get involved in community education on this issue, please reach out to my team at [email protected].

How to Report

Report suspected fire ants as soon as possible at: 

🔗 https://ants.daf.qld.gov.au/help-me-report/

The State government will assess your report, confirm identification using any photos or videos you provide, and arrange treatment if confirmed, prioritising high-risk locations such as schools, childcare centres, aged-care facilities, and any situation where people or animals have been stung. If the area in on public land, Council teams will come to treat the nests. Even a negative report helps monitor and protect the community.

If you find fire ants in a park or public space in the Gabba Ward, contact our office directly on · (07) 3403 2165 and we'll escalate on your behalf.

Free Treatment Kit

• Private property owners can request a free treatment kit here: 
• 🔗 https://www.fireants.org.au/treat/residents/free-kit

If You're Stung

• Call 000 immediately if you experience rapid flushing, hives, facial or throat swelling, chest pain, rapid pulse, nausea, breathing difficulties or faintness.
• For most stings: move away from the nest, wash with soap and water, apply an icepack, use pain relief and antihistamine, and do not break any blisters that form.
• If an animal is stung, move it away from the ants, remove ants with a brush or comb (wear gloves), give it a cool bath and avoid using a hose. Contact a vet if the animal shows signs of pain or allergic reaction.
• Stay informed, stay vigilant and don't hesitate to reach out to my office with any questions.

Lord Mayor scraps the promised crackdown on AirBnB and short stay accommodation 

On 12 May, the Lord Mayor announced that Brisbane City Council would be scrapping its plans to crack down on short-stay accommodation platforms like Airbnb and Stayz meaning no permits, no restrictions, and no action. This hurts renters and first home buyers in the Gabba Ward, and it’s another promise broken - plain and simple.

Under pressure from the Greens, the LNP administration had committed to a permit system preventing landlords in low and low-medium density zones from operating short-stays without approval, with reforms due by July. The Lord Mayor himself said these changes would free up hundreds of homes and ease rental market pressure. Then big corporations and landlords lobbied him, and he folded. He blamed federal government "uncertainty" rather than acknowledging that the short-stay industry lobbied hard and this LNP Council chose their interests over renters and first time home buyers.

I have been advocating for stronger restrictions since 2023. Brisbane is in a housing crisis. Residents are being pushed out of their neighbourhoods, more people are sleeping rough, and long-term rentals are disappearing. Every home converted to a short-stay is a home a Brisbane family cannot live in.

On 19 May I asked the Lord Mayor in Council Chambers why should residents trust anything he says?  That’s because this decision is part of a pattern of broken promises: 

• Victoria Park and Barrambin promised as green space — handed to developers; 
• Brisbane Metro promised by 2032 — confirmed not ready; 
• Mt Coot-tha Quarry promised to close by 2025 — now extended past 2032. 

Residents deserve a Council that follows through. I will keep holding this LNP Administration to account and pushing for the strong action on short-stay accommodation that Brisbane's renters actually need.

Out & About in the Gabba Ward

It's been a full and meaningful month. I joined residents at working bees at the Highgate Hill and Gloucester Street Community Gardens, marched in the May Day parade, and attended the Micah candlelight vigil remembering those lost to domestic and family violence. I stood alongside the community at the NDIS Rally, attended P&C meetings at local schools, joined Link Up's Sorry Day breakfast, workshopped with Queensland Endo (QENDO) to better advocate for people dealing with endometriosis, hosted our office volunteer night, and spent time doorknocking neighbourhoods and attending community group meetings across the ward.

Every one of these moments reminds me of why this work matters. It brings me genuine joy to work alongside such a passionate and thoughtful community to celebrate wins, recognise wrongs, and keep pushing for better. Thank you for having me.

Community Notices

Urban Utilities Works

Preliminary investigations ahead of upgrades to West End's water network will begin on M1 June, taking place overnight between 7:00pm and 5:00am for up to four weeks.Works will occur along Hardgrave Road, Jane Street, Bank Street, Mollison Street, Montague Road and Vulture Street, and will include service locating, potholing, surveying and ground material testing.

Residents can expect changed traffic conditions with road closures and detours, construction vehicles in the area, nonpermanent spray markings on roads and footpaths, and temporary surface restoration during works.

Household Hazardous Waste – Free Drop-Off Day

It is important to dispose of household hazardous waste safely. Household hazardous waste includes everyday products that can be corrosive, flammable, explosive, toxic or poisonous. These can include bleach, petrol, garden and pool chemicals, and cleaning solvents purchased from supermarkets and hardware stores.

Brisbane residents can drop-off hazardous items for free on designated collection days throughout the year. The next hazardous waste drop-off day is coming up on Saturday 6th June at Ferny Grove Resource Recovery Centre. Find out more, including opening times and limits, visit Council’s website. 

Out-of-Hours Construction Works – McDonald’s West End
Out-of-hours construction works are scheduled as part of the McDonalds West End project at 2/220 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane. Works will occur between the hours of 9am-6am on various dates between 1st June and 3rd July, subject to weather conditions. The developers had said niworks are required to minimise disruption to daytime traffic, local businesses, and community activities. Noise and vibration will be minimised where practicable, lighting will be directed away from residential properties, and traffic control will be in place to manage road and footpath closures. 

Road Closures in Kangaroo Point – Brisbane Marathon
Temporary road closures will be in place in Kangaroo Point on Sunday 7th June for the Brisbane Marathon Festival. The Story Bridge, Main St (between Story Bridge & River Tce), River Tce and Leopard St will be closed from approx 4am to 11:30am. Shafston Ave and the rest of Main St will remain open, with delays expected during this time. Please avoid the area or make alternate travel arrangements, and allow extra time to reach your destination. Full details and map here.

Neighbourhood Notification – Against The Grain Festival
Against The Grain Block Party is coming to Clarence Corner, Woolloongabba on Saturday 20th June from 12pm–10pm. Live music will be performed across multiple venues including The Princess Theatre, Brisbane Brewing Co, Echo & Bounce, Can You Keep A Secret, C’est Bon, Woolloongabba Art Gallery, and the Mater Carpark (located behind Brisbane Brewing Co). A temporary footpath and traffic lane closure will be in place on Annerley Road (between Brisbane Brewing Co and The Princess Theatre) to ensure the safety of patrons within the festival site. 

Homeless Connect May 2026 – Thank You!
Council extends its warm and sincere appreciation to residents for their donations to the recent Homeless Connect event. This volunteer-run event supported over 850 guests with meals, food packages, clothing, health services and more. Every bit counts – thank you! 

Baby Give Back – Clothing Donations Needed
Baby Give Back is critically low on preloved clothing in sizes 3 – 5 (Boys and Girls). Since January, they have issued over 6,000 clothing boxes, more than the total distributed in 2024. Donations of clothes can be dropped at the Gabba Ward Office to help families in need.

Share the Dignity – Council Cares Initiative
The Gabba Ward Office has partnered with Share the Dignity as part of their new Council Cares initiative. The program aims to increase awareness and understanding of menstruation and help break down barriers. Check out the resources and tools available on the menstruation education hub today: Share the Dignity Education Hub

New Podcast – Friends of Brisbane Botanic Gardens and Sherwood Arboretum
FBBGSA (Friends of Brisbane Botanic Gardens and Sherwood Arboretum) are producing podcasts each month of this 50th Anniversary year to discuss with people who have been involved with the Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha. Guest speakers have included Mr Dale Arvidsson, past Curator; Ms Kim Woods-Rabbidge, Australian Institute of Horticulture; and Mr Lawrie Smith AM, Landscape Architect. The episodes are available to listen now and can be found on their website here. 

Tree Removals

• 45 Deakin St, Kangaroo Point: 1x dead Jacaranda mimosifolia (Jacaranda) has been removed. A replacement Banksia integrifolia (Coast Banksia) will be planted at the same location within 30 days of the removal.
• 138 River Tce, Kangaroo Point: 1x unidentified species tree will be removed due to severe decay and lack of viable remedial options. Removal work will be completed by the end of July. A replacement Corymbia citriodora (Lemon-scented Gum) will be planted at the same location. 
• Musgrave Park at Cnr Russell St & Cordelia St, South Brisbane: 1x Ficus (Fig Tree) has been urgently removed due to significant degradation of the internal structure. The tree has been subject to monitoring and treatment options over recent years however these measures have not been successful and the tree could not be safely retained. A replacement tree (species yet to be confirmed) will be planted at the same location as soon as possible. 
• 663 Main St, Kangaroo Point: 1x Celtis sinensis (Chinese Elm) will be removed due to being a weed species, impacting private property and road infrastructure. Removal work will be completed within 90 days. This location is unsuitable for replanting due to proximity of infrastructure and underground services so alternative replanting locations will be considered. 
• Kurilpa Bridge, South Brisbane: 1x Delonix regia tree has been urgently removed due to a large limb falling, compromising the rest of the tree and causing extensive damage. Replacement planting details are yet to be determined.