latest news

01.02.12 - CityGlider2-Paddington to Stones Cnr via SthBank

A new CityGlider bus service is proposed for mid 2012. The service will run from Paddington to Stones Corner linking Suncorp Stadium, the SouthBank Cultural Precinct and The Gabba....however Lord Mayor Quirk hasn't funded it yet, go figure???

31.01.12 - 2012 Management Committee Appointments

The first Management Committee meeting for 2012 has elected the Association's officebearers: President-Darren Godwell; VicePresident-David Bratchford; Secretary-Dr Erin Evans; Treasurer-Adrian Buzolic and Committee Members Emma-Kate Rose, Jacqui Walters & Hazel Parkins.

20.01.12 - Appeal 321 Montague Rd

UPDATE--WECA WINS AGAIN IN SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY INTERESTS!

It took the P+E Court less than five minutes to issue orders upholding WECA's appeal and to throw out Council's approval. The key message is clear: this community will not tolerate political interference in planning nor will we stand-by if developers lodge DA's that fall outside the legal planning scheme. Read the press release

 

BREAKING NEWS--WECA's appeal prospects have improved markedly. Further news pending! WECA support for sound future development continues, as does our vigilance against senseless development that is outside the law and inconsistent with local ambitions.

19.01.12 - MORE Success for Safer Streets

UPDATE: More good news to report. Energex have replaced the yellow bulbs in all the streetlights along Melbourne St and up along Boundary St into West End. The white light has significantly improved visibility. Congrats to those couple of hundred people that attended the rally last year. This is more evidence of your efforts.

 

16Oct2011-Thanks in part to the rally for the Safer Streets (organised by WECA members) the street lights in Manning Street, South Brisbane have been improved, made brighter and are more reliable. This small step goes some way to improving safety on our streets. Thanks to each of you that participated in the rally to make this public statement of support for safer streets.

06.12.11 - AGM Outcome

The AGM elected the following members to the Association's Management Committee--Dr Erin Evans, Jacqui Walters, Hazel Parkins, Adrian Buzolic, David Bratchford and Darren Godwell. And the MC intends to appoint Emma-Kate Rose at its first meeting in 2012. Emma was ill on the day and unable to attend.

Special thanks and recognition to Chris Thompson for his contributions to the MC over several years, and welcome to new MC member Jacqui Walters.

23.11.11 - 2011 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

When: 10am Saturday 3rd December.

Where: Souths Leagues Club, Davies Park, West End.

Who: All are welcome, renew or join WECA on the morning. Only members will be eligible to vote for the election of the Management Committee.

Its been an incredible year in Kurilpa and your community association has been as active and involved as ever. Join us to recap and reflect...we promise the shortest AGM you've ever been to...gives us more time to catch up.

10.11.11 - RENEW TODAY

Its that time of year again, the weather is warmer, the plants are growing, Musgrave Park pool is open and YOU NEED TO RENEW YOUR WECA MEMBERSHIP.

Please RENEW or JOIN TODAY

14.10.11 - Be Prepared-Storm Season

With the first of the summer storms striking yesterday its another reminder to prepare for the coming storm season. Emergency Services Qld have a great checklist to help, click here 

14.09.11 - Thousands Celebrate Kurilpa Derby

Thanks to everyone that joined the 4th Kurilpa Derby. 2,000-3,000 locals filled Boundary St with life, love and fun to celebrate life on wheels. Thanks to all who paraded, attended and contributed. Thanks also to all those local businesses that donated prizes.

Lots of photos are being posted into the Kurilpa Derby facebook pages. 

27.07.11 - Cities rethink Urban Spaces

'Pop-up' urban planning gives cities the freedom to experiment with projects on a temporary basis, allowing innovative ideas a trial run..Cities around the world are embracing the idea..any ideas for West End? read full article

26.07.11 - CityCat returns to West End

Services to resume Monday 1 August out of the West End terminal.

22.07.11 - 96% support medium-rise redevelopment-NOT 30 storeys

Aria lodges DA for 30storey monolith into West End. WECA members currently reviewing full documentation and plans. If you'd like to support any action on this particular DA please contact WECA via email .

21.07.11 - Aria 30storeys out of step, out of character

BREAKING NEWS----Aria Property Developments have lodged a development application with Brisbane City Council for a 30 storey tower in a residential street of West End, near Melbourne and Boundary Streets.

WECA supports development that advances our ambitions and is consistent with our values.

WECA believes eight is enough--8 storeys is high enough to achieve the population density that adds to a vibrant community.

If this application is approved by the City Council it will go against the overwhelming wishes of the community that contributed to an extended consultation process. That huge building is out of step, out of character and will be out of place. To recap:

·            a total of 5,487 submissions and petitions were made to this process across the two windows for public input (Council sometimes refers to select aspects of the process for effect and to distort the import of the total consultations). 

·            This is the most submissions ever made to a draft neighbourhood planning exercise. More than any other suburb in Brisbane. The first round alone had 4,664 submissions/petitioners.

·            96% supported predominantly residential into medium-rise (6-8storeys) built form and mixed-use (re)development.

·            Less than 4% of submissions received supported Campbell Newman's proposal for CBD-style high-rise.

·            1 solitary condition was listed by state govt Minister Sterling Hinchcliff on the draft presented by Council for area south of Davies Park: he capped building heights to seven storeys. Council ignored that requirement and approved a 12 storey complex at 321 Montague Road, South Brisbane that is currently before the Planning and Environment Court on appeal.

·            these amendments and this process began in 2007; its been an unusually long process.

A 30 storey tower in the middle of West End will be a glaring example of everything that is wrong with City Council planning processes and we will have to live with this for the next 50 years.

18.07.11 - Local Love Fest 2011

This is how we do it West End-a celebration of everything that is local and everything that we love..organising is ramping-up for a calender of local happenings across the month of September.

19.06.11 - Bikes are Better--safer for all road users

Why Bike Friendly Cities are Safer for all users: street design strategies that attract bike riders are the same ones that improve road safety for all road users…read full article here

20.05.11 - Lantern Walk: Support Safer Streets for All

6pm Friday 3 June, cnr Melbourne & Manning St, South Brisbane. FULL FLYER HERE

An act of unity as we carry lights (candles, lanterns, torches) to support people who have survived violence including sexual violence.

This event is open to all people that value respect,diversity and community.
Illuminate the darkness between Manning Street & Russell Street and to support our efforts to avert the silence and stop the violence!

13.05.11 - SAFE STREETS: SAFE FOR ALL, SAFE AT ANYTIME

WECA members are organising a community event to declare West End streets safe: safe for all, safe at anytime. The values of our neighbourhood are about respect, tolerance & community.

If you dont share these values then maybe West End is not for you.

Stay posted for details on the community event, likely to be early June.

WECA is seeking the support of the local Police, the West End Liquor Accord, West End Community House and the West End Traders.

12.05.11 - Ret. Riverside Park to the People

Community Picnic, Riverside Park, 1pm Sat 21 May.

All welcome to join the kids races, dog parade, bike obstacle race and enjoy the BBQ & entertainment.

This community event is intended to remind Council to honour their commitment to return Riverside Park to the people but removing the illegal road. Full flyer is here

06.05.11 - Bicycles 5 Times More Worthy than Cars

The small area of public space required for bike parking suggests that each square metre allocated to bike parking generates $31 per hour, compared to $6 generated for each square metre used for a car parking space, with food/drink and clothing retailers benefiting the most from bike riders...read full study here

More people in West End use bicycles, regularly & to commute, than any other neighbourhood in Brisbane. Are local businesses missing out on valuable sales because we don't have sufficient bike racks?

24.03.11 - Does West End need LightRail now?

Full buses, services leaving passengers behind & 'bus bunching' are all signs that route demand has exceeded supply. Have buses reached their use-by date in West End? BrisUrbane explores feasibility

18.03.11 - A Greater Brisbane

"Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody": Jane Jacobs

…Brisbane is a great city. It has wonderful natural advantages. The people who live and thrive in this great city are each making a contribution to its prosperity. However both of these advantages can be threatened by poor civic leadership and bad planning outcomes....[read the full article by WECA President here]

07.03.11 - 40km Boundary & Melbourne Street

Maximum speed limits for Boundary and Melbourne Streets has been reduced to 40 km/h. WECA wants safe steets-safe for all users especially people walking, riding bicycles, the elderly and the young.

Drivers be aware of new speed limit and keep pedestrians and cyclists safe.

02.03.11 - West End Film Fest: Sun 27 March

Be sure to buy your tickets to one of West End's favourite events, happening behind Rumpus Room on Sunday 27th March!!!

15.02.11 - Creative Cities Legend David Engwicht

Art of Place Making & Creating Resilient Cities--Two inspirational workshops with Legendary Ringmaster David Engwicht, Mar 31 and 1 Feb 2011, click here for more details and to register

14.02.11 - CARNIVALE ON BOUNDARY ST

Rio Carnival Parade

9pm Saturday 26th February down Boundary St, join the party inside at Rio Rhythmics by buying a ticket...be quick, its a huge night.

More details here

13.12.10 - $23.8 million reasons for better neighbourhood

Did you know that last year the City Council took over $23.8million in rates out of the suburbs of West End, South Bris and Highgate Hill? This was just one years worth of council rates. And next year they'll take more.

WECA regularly supports better planning outcomes that improve amenity, initiatives that make streets safer, appropriate redevelopment, more and better green and open space. We give you our commitment to continue suppotring better outcomes.

Can anyone explain why Council suspended the implementation of the West End Riverside Parks masterplan in 2010 with these rivers of revenues pouring in the door?...read the story here

10.12.10 -

West End Community Association president Darren Godwell is calling for locals to join the Bureau of Urban Ideas Living and Designs (BUILD) to brainstorm better plans for the area, to improve street amenity and prioritise roads for light rail, buses and cycleways...read full article here

16.06.10 - Sustainable Cities 2010

The Australian Conservation Foundation has released its Sustainable Cities Index for 2010. It tracks Australia's top twenty cities across fifteen measures. "No city did well across all 15 indicators; and while each has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, no Australian city can yet be held up as a real champion in sustainable urban development." ...read the article.

WECA contacted the ACF and has obtained the full report.

28.05.10 - Safe Streets a Priority

Thanks and congrats to Linda Hogendoorn who did her part in maintaining the safety of our streets for our children, elderly and pets alike. Linda made her way into the City Council sittings on Tuesday to address the Mayor and full Council with a petition for improved safety on Montague Road. Linda is very active at the State School and had a personal story of a family pet being struck by a car while being walked by her children.

This week Lord Mayor Newman accepted Linda's suggestion and has made a commitment to fund and install traffic lights for a safe pedestrian crossing at the intersection of Jane Street and Montague Road in 2009/10.

04.05.10 - Council Approves Demolition of tin&timber heritage

On this matter Lord Mayor Newman made this assurance: "We're going to protect the 'tin and timber' through West End, that's what this is about. The tin and timbers areas are protected" (21 May 2008)...however Newman's planning bureaucrats have recently approved a demolition of precisely the tin and timber that was supposed to be protected, read the BCC demolition notice here..and click here to see exactly those streets that have lost demolition protection.

For all the words from Cr Cooper and Cr Newman the actions of the Council reveal the true intent.

WECA supports developing our suburb not destroying it.

30.04.10 - Record numbers left behind

RECORD numbers of buses left commuters stranded by the road in Brisbane last month, after a surge in passenger numbers swamped the bus network. Brisbane City Council said more than 5,200 buses were too full to pick up commuters last month. It is the highest number of full buses since records began 2 1/2 years ago.

Public and Active Transport chair Jane Prentice said the full services could be partly attributed to increasing numbers of out-of-towners driving to the city's outskirts and catching Brisbane's buses, leaving residents closer to the CBD waiting.

To read the full story click here

Does anyone else wonder how much public transport system $2billion could buy Brisbane?

23.04.10 - Is this how you'd spend $2billion?

Today the State government gave the greenlight to the proposed Northern Link car tunnel. This is another of Campbell Newman's traffic tunnels. The current quote for the tunnel is $1.87billlion...so the question is what will the final price look like?-remember the Clem7 began at just $1billion and finished at $3billion. And secondly, is this the best way for Brisbane City to spend $2billion? ....these are questions that every ratepayer and resident should answer before a single cent is spent on more roads....

 

This was reported yesterday:

"The QTC report specifically says: "BCC's commitment to Northern Link may limit its ability to fund other capital expenditure and could result in deferral of projects related to core activities."

"will increase Brisbane City Council's gross debt from $345 million (2009) to $1.17 billion in 2010, peaking at $2.323 billion in 2014"

"It should be within BCC's capacity to fund this shortfall through higher rates and utility charge increases, based on BCC's current forecast increases of 2.5 per cent per annum after 2012."

09.04.10 - Update on BCC's Local Area Plan drafting

click here to read the WECA update on this latest version prepared by BCC.

Ever wondered of the full impact of population increases as proposed by Brisbane City Council? For example; what about mobility impacts of such a population proposal --how many extra cars? what would be the most efficient mode of transport? how many extra trips does moving 70,000 workers into and out of Kurilpa each morning and afternoon create? And why aren't these answers outlined in BCC's document?

------a transport expert has offered WECA some insight, this will be posted out to WECA Members shortly....not a Member? Join us to find out.

18.03.10 - Report into Alcohol Related Violence

"alcohol related violence" - Parliament Committee Reports Back

This important report will influence how the State government considers liquor licencing laws and the general approach to licenced premises in our community. Click here to see the report...

The shape and look of West End's night time life is something Members have commented on. WECA's members have expressed support for a nighttime culture that is local, low key and low impact.

Please contact WECA if you want your view recorded or wish to get involved with any future initiatives about this topic.

12.02.10 - Magic on Melb St

Those that walk along Melbourne Street were greeted with a little magic on the footpath. Along the border from Manning St down to Hope St someone has written a poem....does anyone know its title or the poet?

It's written with chalk so probably wont last the day. Thanks for a wonderful moment.

09.02.10 - Special Interests Hijack LAP

Today Lord Mayor Campbell Newman and Cr Amanda Cooper bowed to the pressures of special interests and their lobbyists. Cr Newman ignored the wishes of 97% of submitters that called for medium-rise (6-8storeys), medium-density predominantly residential redevelopment of South Brisbane & West End.BCC's highly contentious, secretive neighbourhood planning exercise has been hijacked by special interests presenting less than 1% of the submissions made in the consultations. These numbers reveal the true story:

• 97% of West Enders support medium-rise (6-8 storeys) predominantly residential redevelopment.
• Less than 1% pushed for highrise buildings of the kind outlined by Cr Newman (just 5 of 530 submissions made to the Council's formal consultations).
• 72,000 office workers and 33,000 residential populations projected by Council --Cr Newman's priority is about creating more office towers NOT more residential dwellings.
• 0 additional parks - this plan MAKES NO PROVISION for rezoned land for the purposes of green space or parks, Council talks about new parks but the legal plan being presented has no changed land zoning for that purpose.
• 4,600 people made their views clear in petitions and individual submissions to last year's Council consultations (local area plans usually get less than 100 submissions).

 Please stay in touch updates will be posted regularly

--please renew your membership and encourage others to join WECA so we can continue to monitor and campaign for better neighbourhood planning outcomes.

06.04.09 - Flood & Fire Fundraiser - over $2,000 raised

Congrats to all those that lent a hand to the Fire & Flood Fund-raiser held on last Saturday night (4 April) at Ahimsa House. Another great effort as locals, neighbours, artists and supporters raised over $2,000. A great effort for a great pair of causes-thanks to all.