More Jacarandas for Central Ward

Purpling Central Ward – More Jacarandas for Central Ward

Since being elected, I have planted hundreds of street trees and thousands of plants in new garden beds in our suburbs.

Locals will have seen the benefits of my intensive plantings along :

• Boundary Street and Gregory Terrace Spring Hill
• Brunswick St Fortitude Valley
• Brunswick Street and Merthyr Road New Farm
• Commercial Road Teneriffe 

I love jacarandas and my favourite time of the year in Brisbane is when they are flowering with in their purple tones.

That’s why I am focussing on “PURPLING” Central Ward with a record spend in this year’s Council Budget to increase Jacaranda tree plantings in suburban parks and wider paths. 

Our Budget includes a major jacaranda planting program and if you have a suggested location for a Jacaranda or another type of tree , email me today at central.ward@bcc.qld.gov.au if you’d like me to investigate a specific location.

I remain dismayed that there are suggestions we should no longer plant trees and garden beds outside cafes and shops in Central Ward, as has been suggested by some locals.

Lord Mayor Schrinner and I will ensure we continue to plant trees and garden beds in our wider footpaths for you. 

Shadier footpaths and streets bring – 

• better amenity for residents,
• a more pleasant atmosphere for our shopping strips, and
• a better environment for flora and fauna and for future generations.

Although Jacarandas are native to Central and South America, they have been planted in Brisbane since 1864 and have become a city favourite.  

The planting of Jacarandas is part of the wider Council program. We will be planting 13,500 trees across our city this financial year.

 

Green Future Fund

I a so excited that future dividends from the City of Brisbane Investment Corporation (CBIC)will be directed towards an accelerated five-year program to buy and create more parks, sports fields and green space for our city. 

This Green Future Fund will be funded by a $20 million dividend from CBIC for the first year.

Brisbane residents have told us they want more greenspace with new places to relax and this five-year program will deliver more land for community sport and recreation.

This is a direct result of the responsible economic management of our council team, our foresight to set up the fund in the first place, and our vision for a cleaner, greener and more liveable Brisbane.

CBIC is the city’s future fund and I cannot think of a better way to plan for the future than by creating more parks, sports fields and green space.

It is an investment in our priceless quality of life that makes Brisbane so popular and so envied. It is the type of investment we need to lock in Brisbane’s place as Australia’s true lifestyle capital.

 

We’ve delivered new greenspaces

Our team has also created new greenspace to make our city liveable and sustainable for our children.

We delivered the Two Million Trees program and created large new community parks in suburbs like Tennyson and Coorparoo and Toowong.

Brisbane was twice named Australia’s Most Sustainable City in 2014 and 2016, reflecting the clean and green status of our suburbs and neighbourhoods.

We delivered the New Farm Riverwalk and stood firm against the Opposition’s resistance to the creation of the Howard Smith Wharves parks precinct. It’s a precinct that is now regarded as one of Brisbane’s premier leisure and lifestyle destinations.

Our team is on track to deliver on our four-year plan to safeguard the city’s important green space and koala habitat for the future with the purchase of 750 hectares of bushland by 2020 as part of the accelerated Bushland Acquisition Program.

Continuing to protect Brisbane’s significant bushland is part of my ambition to ensure the Brisbane of tomorrow is better than the Brisbane of today.

 

Victoria Park Vision

Our most recent Budget also includes initial funding for transforming Victoria Park Golf Course into a world-class public park, creating Brisbane’s biggest new park in 50 years.

Overall, the expanded Victoria Park will be more than double the size of the City Botanic Gardens.

About 26 hectares of land is currently used as a pay and play public golf course, which over recent years has seen a decline in patronage and revenue.

The existing golf course will be transformed into a space that everyone can use, while the popular putt putt course, the driving range and the functions centre – where many wedding receptions and other celebrations are held – will remain open.

During 2019-20, $1 million will be allocated to kick-start the community consultation and design for the Victoria Park Vision, protecting greenspace for future generations and helping to make Brisbane an even better place to live and relax.

The first step in making this vision a reality will be to consult with the community.

Depending on what residents want, it might include water features, gardens, an amphitheatre and play spaces.

Council will involve the community in every step of this planning process and will hold community forums and public consultation to create the best design for this large green space.

Importantly, Brisbane Metro will transport passengers directly to Victoria Park with services from the Metro 2 line at Kelvin Grove and Herston, and Cross River Rail at the Exhibition station.

The Victoria Park Vision will add to the great new lifestyle opportunities that continues to see record numbers of people flocking to our city to enjoy its sunny and laid-back lifestyle.