Ipswich needs new Honorary Park Rangers

FROM THE DESK OF IPSWICH COUNCILLOR PAUL TULLY

Ipswich City Council is seeking more Honorary Park Rangers.

Expressions of interest early next month will be called next month.

Division 2 Councillor Paul Tully said Council's Honorary Park Ranger Program commenced in August 1997 and had seen a total of 70 honorary park rangers inducted into the program.

Brisbane Terrace Goodna, home to Ipswich's
famous Jacarandas which straddle Richardson
Park to the north and Evan Marginson Park to the
south, where Ipswich City Council's Honorary Park
Rangers are authorised to patrol.

"The program was commenced so that honorary park rangers could patrol Ipswich parks to report vandalism and provide information on hazards and essential maintenance," Cr Tully said.

Over time, the role of the honorary park rangers has expanded and they now assist with duties at council events such as Family Fun Days, Valley Field Days, Enviroplan photographic competition, opening of Nature Centre (stage two), Active Ipswich Week and the Fit and Fuelled Kids Program.

"The rangers have made a tremendous contribution to the city over the past eleven years."

Cr Tully said three resignations in the past twelve months owing to work commitments and health reasons had reduced the number of honorary park rangers to 49.

"In the last year, honorary park rangers have spent over 1,000 hours observing and reporting information to council and assisting at council events.

"We now need more people in the ranks which has prompted the call for expressions of interest commencing 7 July 2008."

Ipswich Council will undertake an information evening on July 24 to inform interested residents of the role of honorary park rangers.

Applications close on August 14 and an induction evening for new members will be held on 11 September 2008.

Cr Tully encouraged people to contact his office at 18 Queen Street Goodna or by phone on 3818 6900 to obtain more information about the honorary park ranger program.


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South East Queensland Regional Plan projects centre on Ipswich

MEDIA RELEASE FROM IPSWICH COUNCILLOR PAUL TULLY

The Ipswich region is currently a hive of activity with a range of infrastructure development projects under way across the city.

Ipswich City Council Planning and Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said one of the key drivers of this activity would be the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2008 - 2026 (SEQIPP) which was released earlier this month.



Construction is continuing on the Centenary Highway
extension from Springfield to Yamanto.

"The SEQIPP outlines the Queensland Government's program of infrastructure and major projects to support the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005-2026 (SEQRP)," Cr Tully said.

Projects covered include transport, water, energy, health, education, vocational education and training, regional sport and recreation, infrastructure for rural development, justice services, activity centres and transit oriented development, community safety and industry development.

"With a programmed expenditure of $107 billion between 2008 and 2026, the SEQIPP represents the largest infrastructure program in Australia."

Cr Tully said a key feature of the SEQRP was that a significant share of the region's population and employment growth would occur in the western corridor underlining the role Ipswich was playing in South-East Queensland's growth.

He said a number of new projects had been listed under the 2008 SEQIPP including the Ipswich to Springfield rail line, the Warrego Highway's Muirlea Interchange and service roads, the Western Ipswich Bypass and Five Mile Bridge, safety improvements on the Ipswich to Gatton stretch of the Warrego Highway and the development of intelligent transport systems to manage congestion.

"These projects represent millions of dollars of investment in this area by the State Government and this infrastructure program will be backed by other development occurring throughout Ipswich.

"Every where you go in Ipswich there are new businesses being established, older businesses being revitalised and roads being either built from scratch or upgraded.

"Major infrastructure and facilities are being put in place to meet the forecast population growth in Ipswich and the western corridor."

Major SEQIPP projects within or directly serving Ipswich currently under construction include:

$255 million Ipswich Motorway Upgrade: Logan Motorway Upgrade (completion 2010);

$366 million Centenary Highway: two lanes from Springfield to Yamanto (completion 2009);

$55 million Subregional Cycle Network (2008-2026) including Brassall Bikeway Connection (September 2008 completion);

$493 million Ipswich Rail Line: Corinda-Redbank: third track (completion 2025-26);

$872 million Springfield Passenger Rail Line (completion 2018-19);

$110 million Ipswich Court House precinct (2009 completion);

$3.6 million Brisbane Valley Rail Trail (2011-12 completion);

$2.4 million Boonah to Ipswich Trail (2011-12 completion);

$125 million Translink subregional station upgrade program (2025-26 completion);

$2.4 billion Western Corridor Recycled Water Project; and

$900 million Southern Regional Water Pipeline.

Other major SEQIPP projects within or directly serving Ipswich include:

$1,170 million Centenary Highway (4 lanes) Ipswich Motorway to Springfield (2008-09 to 2018-19);

$65 million Southern Infrastructure Corridor Road Study (2009-10 to 2018-19);

$1,400 million Ipswich to Springfield rail line (2012-13 to 2025-26);

Southern rail freight corridor study;

$1,300 million Gowrie to Grandchester rail line (2019-20 to 2025-26);

$80 million Intelligent Transport systems (to manage congestion) (2010-11 to 2018-19);

Three major Powerlink upgrades (2012-13 to 2025-26);

$290 million Ipswich Hospital redevelopment (2008-09 to 2025-26); and

$50 million health precincts x two (Ipswich Area) - (2008-09 to 2025-26).


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Ipswich City Council considers discussion paper on hotel and nightclub amenity issues

MEDIA RELEASE FROM IPSWICH COUNCILLOR PAUL TULLY

Ipswich City Council has developed a discussion paper to highlight amenity issues stemming from hotels and nightclubs in the city.

Planning and Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said the continued growth of Ipswich and an increase in development had led to some late night venues having an adverse impact on local residents.

"Often residential communities near these venues are being impacted by the antisocial behaviour of patrons and noise issues," Cr Tully said.

"This discussion paper has been developed since council last month opposed an application for an extended hours permit for the Hotel Metropole.

"Stratison Group Pty Ltd applied to extend its trading hours for the Hotel Metropole to 10am to 5am, seven days a week.

"Currently the hotel holds a general licence and is permitted to trade between 10am and 3am on Monday to Saturday and between 10am and midnight on Sundays.

"Council does not normally support licensed premises trading until 5am as we want to ensure that residential communities are protected."

Cr Tully said council officers had been asked to put together some more in-depth information on this subject for consideration and the discussion paper was the result.

"Through this paper we have looked more closely at the issue of licensed venues in the city and their impact on the local community.

"It is part of our desire to foster an environment in which our licensed venues and the community can co-exist comfortably together and not impact adversely on each other."

This discussion paper reviews:

- the level of assessment for business (hotel) and entertainment (nightclub) uses in the Ipswich Planning Scheme;

- the Planning Scheme code provisions relating to hotels and nightclubs;
State Government responsibilities; and

- Special entertainment precincts.

Cr Tully said the development and operation of hotels and nightclubs was controlled by the Ipswich Planning Scheme and the State Government's Liquor Licensing Division.

"The Planning Scheme identifies the land use of ‘hotel' as a Business Use and a ‘nightclub' as an entertainment use.

"The level of assessment and planning requirements for a business or entertainment use is generally dependent on the hours of operation of the use and its zone."


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Ipswich City Council changes house removal process

MEDIA RELEASE FROM IPSWICH COUNCILLOR PAUL TULLY

THE notification process for companies involved in the house removal business within Ipswich has been further refined by Ipswich City Council.

Planning and Development Committee Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said in response to concerns from local residents council had moved to tighten the conditions applying to these companies.

"We have particularly looked at the process involved in providing notification to local residents of house removals," Cr Tully said.

"Following on from this review council has now recommended a number of changes to improve this process to ensure that the requirements clearly identify which properties and residents are to be notified."

Once council has issued a final letter of approval, the removalist company will be required to:

Contact council to obtain a map of highlighted properties /residents to be notified;

Provide written notification to council in the form of statutory declaration that they have notified the residents in the area as outlined above and provide a copy of the letter.

The letter must comply with the following conditions:

Minimum notice of two clear business days to be given to affected properties and residents;

Letters to be hand delivered;

The letter must be on official company letterhead and contain a contact person for the company and a mobile number that is available for any inquires.

Cr Tully said these steps would help to ensure that residents were made aware of any potential disturbances which could occur from houses arriving in or being removed from the city.

He said further to the new conditions, once the escort arrived within Ipswich a council representative would follow the escort to ensure full compliance with the referral agency response.

"They will also act as a point of contact with members of the public if any complaints arise once the house arrives at its final destination.

"Council's representative will also be on hand to gather evidence if required on any damage that might occur to a council asset such as a footpath."

Cr Tully said this process would apply both to houses being moved into or relocated within Ipswich.


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Goodna and Springfield attacks may be linked

THE COURIER-MAIL - 26 June 2008

Nazi swastika ring clue to attempted abduction


IPSWICH police have released a sketch of a ring with Nazi swastikas similar to one worn by a man they said tried to abduct a teenage girl last week.

The 14-year-old girl was walking to school up Bridgewater St, Springfield, about 7.50am on June 19 when a man grabbed her from behind and dragged her about 5m up a small path leading to a housing estate.

The girl managed to escape after struggling and kicking the man's shins.

He was wearing a 1cm gold and silver ring with slightly raised Nazi swastikas around the circumference.In another effort to trigger the memory of potential witnesses, police placed a mannequin in the spot on Bridgewater Rd where the assault happened.

The mannequin was dressed in clothing matching that worn by the man.

The assailant is described as Caucasian.

He was wearing a pair of faded and torn jeans, and a dark blue or black long-sleeved shirt.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

THE COURIER-MAIL - 22 June 2008

Abduction attempts could be linked

A TEENAGE girl has been assaulted in the latest of three abduction attempts in the Ipswich region in the past two months.

Police believe at least two are linked.
Ipswich Police District Detective Inspector Michael Niland said the girl, 14, was- walking to school up Bridgewater St in Springfield about 7.50am Thursday when a man grabbed her from behind before dragging her for about 5m up a small path leading to a housing estate.

"She was grabbed in a bear hug by the offender and dragged up the easement," he said.

The girl managed to escape after struggling and kicking the man in his shins.

A teacher driving by stopped to help the girl.Det Insp Niland praised the girl's actions.

"She has been particularly brave, it would have been a very frightening situation," he said.

Police are asking the public for help in finding the man, who was wearing a gold ring of about 1cm wide, with slightly raised Nazi swastikas around the circumference.

The Caucasian man was wearing a pair of faded and torn jeans, and a blue long-sleeved shirt.

Det Insp Niland said the attempted abduction was similar to one on Queen St in Goodna on June 5.

He said a 16-year-old girl was walking home from work when she was grabbed from behind opposite the Goodna Special School.

A nearby resident heard the girl screaming and came to her aid, chasing the man away.

That offender is described as between 16 and 19 years old, about 170cm tall with a slim build and dark hair.

He was wearing dark track pants and a dark coloured, short sleeved shirt.

Det Insp Niland stopped short of saying police thought the same offender could be responsible for each assault, but said police "were investigating the similarities".

About two weeks earlier, police said two teenage girls were sexually assaulted by a man near Clancy Reserve Park near the Greenway Arterial roundabout and only about 1km from Bridgewater St.

Police said the man threatened the girls with a knife as they were walking down Springfield Parkway about 8.40pm on May 22.

He then allegedly sexually assaulted both girls before suddenly leaving.

The man was last seen heading towards Springfield Parkway.

He is described as being Caucasian, in his mid-20s, between 170cm to 175cm tall, dark hair and eyes and with a tanned complexion.

The man was last seen wearing a pair of black shorts with a white stripe down each side, a white T-shirt and socks with no shoes.

After the first two assaults, Det Insp Niland said a program had been brought into the six schools in the region to educate children on safety in numbers.

If anyone has any information call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.