More than 400 hectares will be burnt off over 30 sites around Brisbane in coming months in an effort to prevent disaster in the bushfire season. Brisbane City Council says it has already done 16 burns of more than 200 hectares. The council plans to burn up to 417 hectares this year. The council’s hazard […]

Queensland primary schools will be taking a healthier approach to lunchtime meals with a nationwide kitchen garden program to be adopted by 25 schools next month. The successful program run by author and cook Stephanie Alexander has had positive results in 193 schools across Australia since 2001. Last year the program won the Premier’s Design […]

A petition to create the world’s largest marine Park in Australia’s Coral Sea has stirred controversy with claims the park would damage the nation’s fishing industry. The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has organised a petition calling for protection of marine life in the Coral Sea. But the proposal has left many in the fishing […]

It would be cheaper to buy bikes for everyone in Brisbane than continue to hire them out through the under-utilised CityCycle scheme, Opposition Leader Shayne Sutton said at yesterday’s Brisbane City Council meeting. The Opposition called for the council to review the transport program, which began under former Lord Mayor Campbell Newman in 2010. “Barely […]

Four new facilities including a cafe and a village green will be developed at the Queensland University of Technology end of the Goodwill Bridge. The plans were outlined at Tuesday’s Brisbane City Council meeting. Chairman of Neighbourhood Planning Amanda Cooper said the development would be conducted in partnership with QUT. “I’d have to commend QUT […]

Thousands of people today rallied in Brisbane to support the federal government’s proposed carbon tax ‘Say YES’ organisers believe that up to 5000 people attended the rally at the Brisbane Riverstage. Waving placards, people called for action on climate change and supported a price on carbon. Among the audience was federal treasurer Wayne Swan and […]

A load of “boat people” sailed up the Brisbane River on Sunday. It was a hi-tech solar ship with a crew of Europeans on a mission to prove that an entirely solar-powered ship can sail around the world. As the futuristic, flat topped, bat-winged marine wonder silently and efficiently sliced up the Brisbane river against […]

Information was released today on how floods affected 60,000 homes across Brisbane. Sources of flooding, predicted flood levels, habitable floor levels and whether homes are located in a flood zone have been provided to the public. Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the report was written in a way that would improve customer comprehension and understanding. […]

The relevance of the annual Earth Hour has been questioned by a Labor councillor. Helen Abrahams said participation rates failed to impress, with only eight schools across Brisbane being involved in the event. According to Cr Abrahams only 14 restaurants took part in the “candle-light dinner” initiative. Participation was “extremely disappointing”, she said. “Earth Hour […]

Skin cancer victim Daryl Braithwaite endured the strong Queensland sun yesterday, to wow the crowd at the Council’s Green Heart Fair at Chermside. The Australian pop icon, who made his name in the ’70s band Sherbet, was the climax of the festival, a initiative of Council’s Green Heart (sustainability) campaign. Green Heart is Council’s attempt […]

Emergency services responses at the time of Toowoomba’s tragic January 10 flash flood have come under scrutiny at the Toowoomba Hearings of the Queensland Floods Commission Inquiry. Husband and father of flood victims Donna and Jordan Rice told the inquiry of his sorrow. “I’m of the understanding that a triple-0 call is for emergency response […]

Campbell Newman today had his first big win in Queensland state politics according to parliamentary Opposition leader Geoff Seeney.   The Premier announced in Parliament today that retail water and sewerage price increases would be capped at CPI for the next two years. Local councils will be able to opt out of current water utilities […]

For Campbell Newman to become Premier he must first defeat Minister for the Environment Kate Jones in the seat of Ashgrove. Ms Jones today fired her first broadside in defence of her job by asking the parliamentary Opposition leader if under Campbell Newman the LNP would continue to oppose the 2006 reduction of tree clearing. […]

Brisbane’s new Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk, was sworn in at the Brisbane City Council Chambers today. Cr Quirk has been deputy for the past three years to former mayor Campbell Newman, who resigned last week to enter state politics. He said although existing plans for Brisbane would continue, there would be some changes in emphasis […]

My dear late mother always said when one door closes another opens. How right she was. Confined to my home – can’t drive, can’t walk – after a really stupid domestic accident, I find myself increasingly bereft of my loss of mobility and freedom. Each day is the same. After reading the morning newspaper, being […]