Commuters unhappy at train crowding

Commuters in south-east Queensland are angry at shoulder-to-shoulder crowding on trains and soaring ticket prices across the public transport network, according to a Newsbytes street poll. One Brisbane commuter said trains were “packed to the rafters” in peak hours. “I think they need more trains to allow people to get in and out,” he said. A woman we spoke to said the train from the Gold Coast was called the “Bombay express”. Head of lobby... Read More

Two rail corridors to service coal mines

The State Government will restrict rail services to new and existing coal mines in the Galilee and Bowen Basins to only two corridors. Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney told Parliament the plan would replace the eight railways proposed by the previous government. There would be an extension for the east to west corridor on the existing QR National network from near Moranbah to the central Galilee Basin. Mr Seeney, who is also Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning,... Read More

Endeavour sails rough seas for historic Transit viewing

In a tribute to Captain Cook’s famous 18th century voyage to observe the Transit of Venus, the Endeavour replica sailed to Lord Howe Island in rough seas for the 2012 transit. The expedition by the national maritime museum and Sydney Observatory commemorated transit observations by the NSW government at Lord Howe in 1882 as well as by Captain Cook and astronomer Charles Green in Tahiti in 1769. The Australian National Maritime Museum’s land crew flew to the island with... Read More

Maroon supporters meet Origin team

Origin fever reached the heart of the city today as hundreds of loyal maroon supporters lined up in the Myer Centre to meet the Queensland State of Origin team. Queensland Origin coach Mal Meninga has called in Corey Parker as 18th man in the only change made for next Wednesday night’s rugby league blockbuster. Parker replaces Daly Cherry-Evans as 18th man but has been brought in specifically to cover forwards Matt Scott (family reasons) and Ashley Harrison (groin injury). Queensland... Read More

Newman accused of twisting election promise on jobs

A union has accused Premier Campbell Newman of distorting an election promise by getting rid of thousands of public servants. Up to 40,000 public sector workers will be out of a job by the end of June. Secretary of key public sector union Together Queensland, Alex Scott, said the Government had twisted its pre-election stance by using the indiscriminate non-renewal of temporary appointments. He said it meant Mr Newman would not be breaking his election promise that the government... Read More

Valves to reduce flood risks

Flood prevention backflow valves to be rolled out across Brisbane over the next four years will have to be individually designed. Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said this week the prevention devices would be implemented in 80 percent of the flood prone areas. The valves for each of the 39 outlets would all have different design. “This is not a one size fits all,” Cr Quirk told the Brisbane City Council meeting. The valves would be manufactured overseas as Australia did not... Read More

A date with history as Venus transits the sun

It’s a date! On Wednesday 6 June 2012, the silhouette of Venus will transit across the sun for the last time this century. School children around Australia will be citizen scientists for a day as they repeat the same scientific experiment conducted by Captain Cook and astronomer Charles Green that led to the discovery of Australia. As the Transit of Venus is similar to a solar eclipse, it needs to be viewed safely. The surveying and spatial sciences industry in association... Read More

Council accused of not trimming overgrown trees

People are having to wait too long for overgrown trees on footpaths to be trimmed by council workers, according to independent councillor Nicole Johnston. Cr Johnston told last week’s Brisbane Council meeting it was taking more than 12 months for trees to be trimmed. She said the chairman of the Environment, Parks & Sustainability Committee, Cr Peter Matic, had changed the maintenance cycles without announcing the fact. “We have residents asking why the trees... Read More

Concerns over health risks of shared bike helmets

A leading Queensland hairdresser and members of the public have expressed concern over hygiene risks of shared bike helmets, although a scientist says the danger of head lice is low. The hairdresser criticised Brisbane City Council for providing helmets as part of the city cycle scheme, claiming the helmets are a violation of the council’s own by-laws. Tony Mitchell Hair co-principal Tony Mitchell said the council was putting people at risk of contracting bacteria or head... Read More

Support for Newman’s ‘new-world city’

While controversy raged over government plans for the top end of George Street, plans for the lower section nearer Roma Street station received a better reception. The construction union and the Property Council have welcomed the State Government’s reconstruction plan to introduce new work spaces for public sector workers in Brisbane. Premier Campbell Newman told Parliament this week the plan would focus on the lower section of George Street and help establish Brisbane... Read More