Council will undertake a 12-month trial of hail-and-ride PPT services from West Lake to Mount Ommaney Shopping Centre, and from Wacol station to Sumner Park Industrial Estate. The trial will begin Monday, 19 August 2019.
The Brisbane City Council recently announced new Personalised Public Transport (PPT) services to be activated in Centenary. The new services come in conjunction with the changes to the Translink Centenary and Western suburbs bus services that will also be implemented 19 August.
Changes happening to how we get around our community on public transport start on the 19th of August. Find out more below about Councils new Personalised Public Transport for the Centenary area
The Wacol to Sumner Park Industrial Estate hail-and-ride PPT service will operate in a loop, travelling between Wacol station, Wilruna Street, Wacol Station Road, Wolston Road, Spine Street, Sumner Road, Wacol Station Road and Wilruna Street.
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council/brisbane.qld.gov.au
PPT hours of operation is from 6:13 a.m. to 9:23 a.m. and 3:33 p.m. to 6:13 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding public and school holidays.
Westlake
Also running in loop, the Westlake service travels between Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre Interchange, Dandenong Road, Horizon Drive, Tennent Street, Westlake Drive and Arrabri Avenue.
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council/brisbane.qld.gov.au Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council/brisbane.qld.gov.au
Westlake PPT hours of operation is from 6:16 a.m. to 6:23 p.m., Monday to Friday, excluding public and school holidays.
PPT is a low-cost hail and ride service, carrying up to 10 passengers per trip and operates in areas where the TransLink services are limited with specially marked wheelchair-accessible and air conditioned maxi-cabs.
PPT fares are $1 each way whilst the service is free for legally blind passengers.
There will be changes to bus services in the Centenary and Western Suburbs region beginning Monday, 19 August 2019 in response to customer feedback and findings of the community research conducted by the BCC last year.
According to the TransLink announcement, these changes will result in improved average travel times, more CBD bus stop locations on selected services, and updated timetables to better reflect road conditions.
Peak-hour rocket services changes
To increase the number of trips to the CBD and provide a more evenly spaced timetables, the Centenary bus network will be made simpler by merging duplicated peak-hour rocket routes: P457 and P459 into P455 and P458 into P456.
After the change, P455 and P456 will have additional trips and will travel via the Legacy Way toll road, avoiding congestion along Milton Road and Coronation Drive and improving average travel times for Centenary customers.
Early morning services changes
Additional morning services will be provided for the early customers:
453 from Mt Ommaney to CBD, departs at 5:10am
454 from Riverhills to CBD, departs at 5:05am
P443 from Moggil to CBD, departs at 6:05am and another at 6:15am.
Route 460 – All morning peak hour services will stop at Mount Ommaney Shopping Centre as Dandenong Road at Centenary Shopping Centre in Mount Ommaney will cease to be serviced by any Route 460 services.
CBD stops – Queen Street bus station will no longer be serviced by Routes P455 and P456 but instead stop at Roma Street busway station, Ann Street stop 12, Margaret Street stop 94a, and Eagle Street stop 155 for all inbound services. Outbound services, on the other hand, will service Charlotte Street stop 90, Charlotte Street stop 91, George Street stop 116, Roma Street stop 130, and Roma Street busway station.
Spring Hill – Customers using ‘The Ridge’ or Wharf Street stops in Spring Hill will need to transfer in the CBD.
Toowong bus depot – Customers catching the bus service from the Mt Coot-tha St at Toowong Cemetary stop going to the CBD will need to take a route 470 service.
Customers may visit this TransLink page to replan their journey. These changes will take effect starting 19 August 2019.
Construction works at the site of the $80-million congestion-busting Sumners Road interchange upgrade has already commenced, following a $15-million budget boost from the State Government.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey announced on 22 July 2019, the start of construction of the interchange upgrade that will see the existing bridge removed and replaced with two new bridges, totalling six lanes.
b and will involve construction of a bike underpass that will link up with the Centenary Bikeway and replacement of the existing roundabouts with new signalised intersections.
“This upgrade will not only tackle congestion, future-proof our roads but is also creating jobs which you will see with so many boots on the ground this week.
“I’m proud the Palaszczuk Government is delivering a record $23 billion roads and transport program for the state, creating 21,500 jobs over the next four years.
“This only adds to the more than 207,000 jobs created under our government. From the Ipswich Motorway Upgrade to the Logan Enhancement Project and now the Sumners Interchange upgrade, thousands of workers are turning up to jobs sites and building the roads Queenslanders need.”
Video Credit: TMRQld / YouTube
“I’m proud that we’ve been able to secure a greater investment for the Mount Ommaney community. It means we’re now able to build a new westbound, four-lane bridge alongside initial plans for a new two-lane bridge,” Member for Mount Ommaney Jess Pugh said.
“It’s also a win for local bike riders with our funding boost enabling us to build a new bike underpass so bike riders no longer have to navigate a 750m dog leg.”
Bicycle Queensland advocacy spokesperson Andrew Demack said the bikeway underpass will make cycling a safer option to travel, apart from increasing road network capacity.
The project, Mr Demack said, will cut out the signalised crossing at Dandenong Road and make riders feel safer on the Centenary Cycleway.
Photo Credit: The State of Queensland (Department of Transport and Main Roads) / tmr.qld.gov.au
One of the best decisions you’ll make in your life would be to take steps to eat healthy by choosing plant-based meals. However, sustaining a diet of mostly vegetables might be harder if you don’t have any idea what to do with the ingredients.
Grab this chance to learn how to prepare tasty but healthy meals at this plant-based cooking class in Sinnamon Park. You’ll pick up tips on the best spices to use to make your plant-based meals flavourful whilst still complementing your health and wellness goals.
Set for Saturday, the 27th of July 2019, this plant-based cook and eat session will be conducted by Roushini’s Fun India. The class runs from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and the venue will be confirmed after booking for a slot.
This plant-based cooking class is open for any age or member of the family, especially the teenagers.
Sessions are at $40 per head. Email service@roushini.com or phone 0408 748 661 if interested. Participants are encouraged to bring a takeaway container.
Mount Ommaney Special School (MOSS) is getting a new $7.7-million state-of-the-art, multi-storey building. Minister for Education and Industrial Relations Grace Grace facilitated the groundbreaking ceremony on 28th of June 2019 with MP for Mount Ommaney Jess Pugh, Principal Wayne Wilkinson and the architects.
The new building will have four classrooms on the second level, a therapy space, multi-skills rooms, an industrial kitchen and laundry section, an outdoor learning area, staff area, a commercial kitchenette, a store and other amenities. An undercroft area on the ground level will also be allotted for additional classrooms and further expansion.
The outdoor learning area is particularly special as it will have sensory gardens and a food garden, which will cater to the school’s vocational programs. These facilities have been designed to create a better environment for the students to learn and develop their skills, as well as experience new things.
The new school building will also create more engagement between the school, the students and the community. It has a target completion date of March 2020.
“This learning centre will be a game-changer for the school and I can’t wait to see the smiles on the students’ faces when it opens next year,” Mr Pugh said.
Deicke Richards (DR) has been commissioned to develop and build the new MOSS learning centre. Architects of the firm have closely consulted with school officials to integrate facets that will provide for the students’ needs.
“This facility will add significant value to our school, assist with enrolment capacity and greatly assist our ever-growing vocational education programs,” Mr Wilkinson relayed.
The Council will invest $1.7 million for the Middle Park intersection upgrade, among other projects designed to attack congestion and help reduce travel times.
Under the 2019-20 Budget, the Brisbane City Council will spend $818 million, out of the total $3.15 billion, for infrastructure projects that will help ease congestion including major intersection upgrades, projects to combat congestion, and road resurfacing.
Road projects fund allocation for Middle Park
Major Traffic Improvements – Intersections
Suburb
Proposed $000
Eumong Street/Riverhills Road
Middle Park
1,770
Roads Network Resurfacing
Suburb
Proposed $000
Dewsbury Street
Middle Park
234
Wirilda Street
Middle Park
120
Footpath Reconstruction
Suburb
Proposed $000
MacFarlane Street
Middle Park
167
*Source: Annual Plan and Budget Brisbane City Council
On the other hand, more than $870 million of funds spread over the next four years will be allocated to deliver the Brisbane Metro. The project aims to reduce travel time by up to 50 percent with peak services every three minutes and 24 hours during weekends. The Federal Government will also contribute $300 million for the project.
Brisbane Metro | Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / brisbane.qld.gov.au
Other key highlights of the Council infrastructure projects budget allocation include key corridor upgrades at Kingsford Smith Drive and intersection upgrade projects which will include the suburbs of Camp Hill, Runcorn, Nundah, Middle Park, and South Brisbane.
Council will also allocate funds for the construction of dedicated river walks and bikeways. This will include a $1.6-million budget allocation to provide safer paths to schools and a $25.5-million investment on bikeway links in Nudgee, Murarrie, Wakerley and Wishart as well as the construction of Botanic Gardens Riverwalk.
Other fund allocations include the $24.6-million for the Wynnum Road corridor upgrade project and $24.8 million to complete the Murphy and Ellison roads roundabout upgrade in Geebung. Lastly, Council have also committed $40 million towards the construction of Lindum Open Level Crossing.
The project is part of the $704-million fund delivered by the State Government towards Queensland Fire and Emergency Services. Key features of the $1.5-million upgrade include a refurbished kitchen, as well as extensions to the exercise and training rooms.
“There have also been extensions to their exercise and training rooms, which will help keep their fitness and skills at peak levels for when they need to respond to emergencies,” Ms Pugh said.
“The upgrades will boost the capacity of our brigade to provide critical emergency services to our community,” she said.
First opened in 1983, the Mount Ommaney Fire and Rescue Station provides primary response to Jindalee, Oxley, Darra, Gailes and all areas in between.
“The Mount Ommaney crew has responded to almost 600 incidents in the past 12 months, of which they were first responders to 350 of them,” Mr Crawford said.
Artist Helen Syron, Fire and Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford, and Member for Mt Ommaney Jess Pugh | Photo Credit: The State of Queensland (Department of the Premier and Cabinet) 1997-2019 / statements.qld.gov.au
As part of the ceremony, local artist Ms Helen Syron received an Assistant Commissioner’s Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of her work on the mural on the station’s engine bay doors.
QFES Brisbane Region Assistant Commissioner Neil Gallant said that Ms Syron’s effectively communicates important safety messages in a highly visible way.
“It’s a pleasure to acknowledge Ms Syron’s commitment to promoting fire safety initiatives here at Mt Ommaney and at Pullenvale fire station,” Mr Gallant said.
Construction of a new world-class Counter Terrorism and Community Safety Centre located at the 140-hectare Wacol Police Complex has commenced and will be named after former Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson.
Commissioner Stewart with former Commissioner Bob Atkinson Photo credit: State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service) 2019 / https://mypolice.qld.gov.au
The Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk turned the sod to mark the commencement of construction of the $46.7-million Bob Atkinson Operational Capabilities Centre at the former site of the John Oxley Memorial Hospital.
Two heritage-listed buildings—Jacaranda House and Silky Oak House—located at the site have already received refurbishment works for workplace accommodation, parking, and some training facilities.
Minister Ryan, Premier Palaszczuk and Commissioner Stewart Photo credit: State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service) 2019 / https://mypolice.qld.gov.au
“My Government announced in 2017 we would invest $46.7 million over three years to construct a world-class Counter Terrorism and Community Safety Centre for the Queensland Police Service to ensure they’re equipped with the best facilities and resources available,” the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
“This will include a multi-function training centre, a scenario village with streetscapes, a service station, private and public transport, a police station and housing, and we’re also constructing a firing range for developing and maintaining weapons-handling skills under a range of conditions.
“It’s a fitting tribute to the long and distinguished career of Bob Atkinson that the centre will be named the Bob Atkinson Operational Capabilities Centre.”
Commissioner Stewart, former Commissioner Bob Atkinson, Premier Palaszczuk and Minister Ryan Photo credit: State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service) 2019 / https://mypolice.qld.gov.au
The Counter Terrorism and Community Safety Centre will have indoor firearms ranges; a scenario village; and specialist training areas to increase capability in managing terrorism and other critical incidents.
The training facility will help enhance Queensland’s frontline and tactical police officers’ communications skills, de-escalation, firearms, batons, handcuffs, tasers, physical skills, responding to an active armed offender, and counter-terrorism.
Police Minister Mark Ryan said that with more than 15,000 daily interactions with the public, often requiring officers to make split-second decisions that may involve the use of force, continual and best practice training, and co-locating of facilities are needed to enable an integrated curriculum to be developed and delivered.
Video Credit: QueenslandPolice / YouTube
“The new facility is aimed at building operational capability around frontline and tactical officers in responding to all incidents, including terrorist related matters,” Commissioner Ian Stewart said.
“After a 44-year policing career, Mr Atkinson will always be remembered for his dedication to the Queensland Police Service and the work that he has done when terrorism was in its earlier iterations.
“I am very pleased that Mr Atkinson has graciously accepted the offer regarding the proposal to name the new facility in his honour.”
Seventeen of the 75 new police officers that were inducted on 15 May 2019 at the QPS Academy, Oxley campus will be deployed to the Brisbane Region, including the Mt Ommaney and Inala stations.
Minister for Police and Minister for Corrective Services, the Honourable Mark Ryan MP, and Commissioner Ian Stewart were in attendance during the induction ceremony that welcomed 75 First Year Constables (FYC) who completed 25 weeks of intensive training.
Photo Credit: State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service) 2019 / mypolice.qld.gov.au
“On behalf of the Queensland Government, I am grateful to the 75 FYCs who have accepted this responsibility today,” Minister Ryan said.
“Each has sworn they will maintain integrity, professionalism and accountability when serving and protecting the people of Queensland. Queenslanders should feel confident these standards will be met.
“They will help to create a safe environment for residents and visitors, working in partnership with their communities and other government agencies around Queensland.
“First Year Constables breathe new life into the Service with their unique experiences and enthusiasm. I would like to acknowledge the education and support services provided by the QPS People Capability Command and wish the 75 FYCs good luck as they embark on their new careers,” he said.
Photo Credit: State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service) 2019 / mypolice.qld.gov.au
Commissioner Stewart announced that the new officers will be allocated to the Brisbane Region (17), South Eastern Region (16 ), Central Region (21), Northern Region (1), and to the Southern Region (20). This is Commissioner Stewart’s last induction with the QPS.
“I remember my induction well and I hope this afternoon’s ceremony is a memory each FYC carries with them throughout a successful career in the QPS,” Commissioner Stewart said.
Photo Credit: State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service) 2019 / mypolice.qld.gov.au
“The role of a police officer is like no other – responsible for the safety and security of Queensland. There is no doubt each of these new officers will experience some challenging situations, however, there will also be many rewarding and humbling times.
“I wish luck to every officer in their career and feel confident they will uphold the values expected of a police officer in Queensland.”
Photo Credit: State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service) 2019 / mypolice.qld.gov.au
Another class of recruits from the Townsville Police Academy will be graduating soon to help reinforce QPS resources in the state’s north and northwest side.
Apart from the Northern, Central, Southern, and South Eastern regions, the new FYCs will be initially deployed to the following stations in the Brisbane region:
The Monier Road Park BMX Track in Darra, Brisbane’s second of such kind of facility, has been opened to the public.
The Monier Road Park BMX Track officially opened to the public on 4 May 2019 with activities that included two hours of free BMX coaching for new riders. The modern competition-grade facility, one of Australia’s largest BMX tracks, is free to use. It also caters to riders of all skill level, from the young and beginners to the more advanced riders, allowing them to practice their tricks or just enjoy recreational riding.
The BMX facility features an asphalted track with entry level, intermediate, and advanced runs. There are two shade shelters, pathways as well as landscaping including trees, groundcovers and turf. Riders also have access to toilet facilities, drinking fountains, and rubbish bins.
Throughout the design phase, Council has consulted with residents and local community to ensure that the project meets the needs of the users and the broader community. Construction of Monier Road Park BMX Track commenced around September 2018 after the final detail concept design was made public.
The entire development involved site remediation works, installation of new drainage, BMX track, shade shelters, pathway connections, and installation of signage and drinking fountain.
The Darra BMX facility is located in the north-eastern section, close to the Monier Road Park’s existing playground, and can be accessed via Monier Road.
