Chat Time - Councillors coming to Goodna

Residents of Divisions 1, 2 and 3 are invited to a Chat Time session with Mayor Paul Pisasale and Councillors Paul Tully, David Morrison and Victor Attwood at Goodna RSL Services Club, 32 Woogaroo Street, Goodna on Saturday 18 October 2008 from 9.00 am to 11.00 am.

Come along to pick up a pride pin and hear about the many exciting things that are happening in our great city.

Event Details
When: 18 October 2008
9.00am - 11.00am

Where: Goodna RSL Services Club
32 Woogaroo Street
Goodna QLD 4300

Contact:
Email: gking@ipswich.qld.gov.au
Phone: (07) 3810 6246
Web: http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/


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Goodna Rugby League hails its greatest team of all time

From The Courier-Mail of 11 October 2008:


Tradition, family rule at Goodna Rugby League Club

Bernie Pramberg


HENRY Jorgensen and his mates used to tie their horses to a hitching rail and then run out for a game of footy for Goodna Rugby League Club.

Henry's son Ray captained the club to its first A grade premiership in the traditionally tough Ipswich competition in 1969.

These days, Ray Jorgensen, 64, delights in turning up to watch his grandsons play junior league in the club colours.



Ray Jorgensen one of Goodna Rugby
League Club's stalwarts.

Since 1912, there's been plenty of blood, sweat and bruises on Goodna's picturesque ground. Backing on to the Brisbane River and surrounded by jacaranda trees which are now in splendid bloom, Goodna is unashamedly a battling, blue-collar club.

If rugby league is the working man's game, then Goodna typifies the game's heartland.

Next Friday, Jorgensen and 200 others will celebrate the naming of the club's greatest team.

One of Goodna's proudest sons, Noel "Ned" Kelly, will be there as captain of the side.

"Ned played his early football here and then went to Ipswich Brothers where he went on to represent Australia," Jorgensen recalled.

"He comes to all our dos and they named a street at the end of the oval after him.

"Just as well Kelly is tough - it's going to be a busy day. After the Goodna lunch, (which usually extends way beyond sunset), he will go to a Brothers function where their "team of the century" will be announced.

Jorgensen is also an ex-Brothers player, winning a premiership in 1967 and representing Ipswich in Bulimba Cup matches.

"I got married and moved to Redbank," he said.

"Once the Goodna blokes found out I was living locally they approached me to come down and help start their first A grade team in '68.

"There were no hard feelings when I left Brothers, and coming here was the best move of my life. I've made lifelong friends. There's a real spirit here.

"This is how it goes at Goodna - if someone's wife gets sick people phone up and send flowers. One of the blokes wants his ashes thrown on the field when he dies, another one has it written in his will that the Goodna song be sung at his funeral.

"On game day there are probably 50 or 60 old Goodna players on the hill having a great afternoon. On Saturday mornings, a lot of us get there to watch our grandsons. It's a real family atmosphere."

Jorgensen said some players signed by the club in the 1970s who had secured employment through officials or supporters were still working in the same jobs and raising families in the district.

Several players from the 1968 inaugural premiership side have been named in Goodna's greatest team.

Jorgensen has vivid memories of that season.

"Goodna had a lot of local talent and got Warren Beck from Brisbane Wests as coach in '69," he said.

"We had the skills, but needed better conditioning and Warren introduced a different attitude to training.

"We played RAAF in the grand final and they flew blokes in from all over Australia to play. They even had jets from Amberley do a flyover just before kick-off. It was a big occasion, but we won the match."

The late Noel "Chips" Harrington, who later became a cult figure in Brisbane club football, played in the premiership side with fullback Max Henderson, who was on $2 a goal, centre Roy Kippen, five-eighth Ken Bretherton, second-rowers Rod Hoffmeister and Ron Daylight, and player-coach Beck - all members of Goodna's greatest team.

Jorgensen coached the team in 1970 when the club lost key players to other clubs.

"We had to rebuild and Eddie Maizey came in as coach and turned the club around," he said.

"Eddie had a lot of new ideas and won premierships in 1973 and '74 as well a losing grand final in '75. He had a brilliant coaching career here."

Although the club started in 1912, the greatest team has been selected from players since World War II because many early records were lost in the 1974 flood.

The team is: Max Henderson; Frank Castles, Roy Kippen, Barry Rissman, Barry Butler; Ken Bretherton, Craig Wehrman; Noel "Chips" Harrington (dec'd), Noel Kelly, Ray Jorgensen, Rod Hoffmeister, Ron Daylight (dec'd), Harry Naylor.

Reserves: Bill McKee (dec'd), Warren Beck, Steven Pierce, Jeff Johnson.

Coach: Eddie Maizey (dec'd).

Strapper-trainer: Dick Gunthorpe (dec'd).


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Sunshine Coast Daily backs nationwide recycling scheme

This is today's editorial in The Sunshine Coast Daily - 18 September 2008



IN OUR OPINION

Bring back the bottle deposits

The State Government should heed calls to encourage the recycling of empty bottles through the introduction of a deposit scheme.

South Australia has had compulsory bottle deposits in place since 1977 to encourage recycling and reduce waste.

A deposit system for empty bottles in Queensland was abolished 30 years ago.

Queensland Consumer Watch spokesman Paul Tully said the time had come for a 10 cent mandatory container deposit scheme.

As he points out, it is a tragedy that millions of empty bottles are dumped at land fills around Queensland every year when they could be recycled.

Generations of Queenslanders will no doubt remember the days when they could earn good pocket money by handing in bottles.

Compulsory deposits on all drink containers would be a major boost for the environment as well as performing an educational role by encouraging everyone to recycle their waste containers.

The Queensland opposition has backed the call, with environment spokesman Dave Gibson labelling the Bligh government "lazy" for ignoring community concerns over the issue.

And with South Australia recycling twice as many drink containers, it's clear the deposit scheme is worth implementing.

Let's hope the idea can be implemented nationally.


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Coca-Cola becomes an anti-environment Australian disgrace

Coca-Cola Amatil Australia has been dealt an embarrassing blow to its national credibility by the company's Corporate Affairs Director Alec Wagstaff.

Despite the overwhelming success and community acceptance of the South Australian Container Deposit Legislation (CDL), Mr Wagstaff has highlighted Coca-Cola's anti-environment and anti-Australian stance with a boots and all attack on the system.

In today's Queensland Times in Ipswich Queensland, this corporate troglodyte is quoted as saying CDL is an outdated and expensive solution.

It has not been tried in Australia outside South Australia, so how can it be outdated? As for being expensive, the consumer pays an extra 10 cents at the point of purchase which is later fully refunded. What could be fairer than that?

Coca-Cola's Corporate Affairs intellectual giant goes onto say:

"It's a very complex system.

"We've got a terrific kerbside recovery that's hassle-free and convenient.

"The challenge is to increase our recycling rate."

Is this guy for real?

Seeing that you claim to be across this complex issue, how do you explain the data from the Total Environment Centre showing that the Australian national drink container recycling rate is about 40% while in South Australia it is as high as 80%. On the latest available annual figures, 420 million drink containers in South Australia were recycled out of a total of 540 million - the highest return rate of any state or territory in Australia.

And now a spokesman for Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett has said container recycling is on the agenda for a future Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) meeting, comprising state and federal environment ministers in early 2009.

But the pace of change is quickening. Are you listening Mr Wagstaff? Family First senator Steve Fielding introduced a drink container recycling bill into the Senate in March of this year, proposing a system similar to South Australia's. Tasmania, Western Australia and Victoria all have draft legislation prepared.

Coca-Cola is proving itself to be anti-environment and anti-Australian on this issue.

At a time when Australia and the rest of the world are becoming environmentally-conscious, Alec Wagstaff has been let loose on the Australian public telling us that Coca-Cola's current second-rate recycling system - outside South Australia - is better than the high-successful model which has been operating in South Australia since 1977.

Coca-Cola is a multi-national conglomerate whose corporate greed outweighs its ability to join in with a new environmental initiative which would be good for Australia, good for the environment and would be a national model for the rest of the world.

Coca-Cola could do a lot worse than dumping its Corporate Affairs Director as its national spokesman and get someone in his place who is more in tune with our evolving environment and the aspirational hopes of millions of ordinary Australians.


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Media Release: Bring back bottle deposits in Queensland

MEDIA RELEASE FROM IPSWICH COUNCILLOR PAUL TULLY

BRING BACK BOTTLE DEPOSITS IN QUEENSLAND

A call has been made for Queensland to follow South Australia with a 10 cent deposit on all plastic and glass bottles sold in the state.


South Australia has had compulsory bottle deposits in place since 1977 to encourage recycling and reduce waste.

Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully said the time had come for mandatory container deposit legislation in this state.

He said consumers would be encouraged to return all bottles as part of a major environmental initiative from Coolangatta to Cape York and west to Mt Isa.

"It is a tragedy that millions of empty bottles are dumped at land fills around Queensland every year when they could be recycled.

"We used to have bottle deposits in Queensland under a scheme managed by soft drink manufacturers.

"Generations of Queenslanders will remember the days when they could earn good pocket money by handing in bottles but that system was abolished thirty years ago."

Cr Tully said compulsory deposits on all drink containers would be a major boost for the environment as well as performing an educational role by encouraging everyone to recycle their waste containers.

He said littering would be reduced because people would have real incentive to cash in their bottles or for collectors to pick them up from the side of the road.

"South Australia's initiative is widely supported by local residents in that state and could be easily extended to the other states and territories."

The only opponents of this measure are the big manufacturers and bottle users who have a vested interest in ignoring the environmental damage they are causing in order to maximise their profits," Cr Tully said.

He called for Queensland to go-it-alone if the Federal Government was not prepared to introduce national container deposit legislation.


LINK TO SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CONTAINER DEPOSIT LEGISLATION SCHEME: www.epa.sa.gov.au/cdl.html


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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.

What a lovely bunch of coconuts - in downtown Goodna!

The Barrier Reef Islands and the nearby cities of Townsville and Cairns in Far North Queensland are home to some of the most prolific specimens of coconut trees you could find anywhere in the world.

But in beautiful downtown Goodna, 1700 km south of Cairns, there is a thriving 15 metre coconut tree full of large, healthy coconuts.

Goodna often has sub-zero temperatures in winter with frosts covering the lower parts of the suburb, yet somehow this coconut tree has not only managed to survive but has emerged as one of the largest and most-prolific coconut trees you would see anywhere in Australia.

The amazing 15 metre coconut tree in downtown Goodna.

This freak floral specimen is located in Stanley Street Goodna opposite the Goodna State School and despite winter temperatures down to minus 5 degrees, it is currently displaying a magnificent collection of large coconuts.

Around Main Beach on the Gold Coast, scrawny coconut trees are barely surviving - despite the average temperatures being much higher than the daily temperatures in summer and winter in downtown Goodna.

For those who say that Ipswich is a cold place in winter, just remind them of this amazing coconut tree in the middle of Goodna - the geographic centre of southeast Queensland - which thinks it is in Tropical North Queensland!

So whether you are in Goodna, Gailes, Camira, Bellbird Park, Redbank or Augustine Heights, why not plant a coconut tree in your backyard and see if you can beat this remarkable specimen in downtown Goodna.

Close-up of the lovely bunch of coconuts
in Goodna which experiences temperatures
in winter as low as minus 5 degrees.

CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW FAR GOODNA IS FROM CAIRNS.


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Goodna trounces Laidley in Rugby League boilover

Goodna trounced Laidley 66-24 at Richardson Park Goodna this afternoon in a spectacular win over their Rugby League rivals from the other side of the Little Liverpool Range.

Cheered on by their supporters - with Bay 13 doing its usual roaring trade - Goodna scored a decisive and well-deserved win.

Back for the first time this year, Craig Wehrman played a solid game with a bit of verbal biff from the football veterans in Bay 13 - who became experts the day they retired from the game!

Colonel Keiron Butler had the ground in fine form for today's clash.

With today's performance as any guide, the Goodna Eagles stand an excellent chance of winning this year's Grand Final.

The scoreboard tells its all at Richardson Park
at Goodna for the clash between the Mightly
Eagles and the Laidley Lions who were turned
into pussy cats after 80 minutes.

Otto Simon, a true stalwart and life member of the Goodna Rugby League Club celebrated his 70th birthday and was overwhelmed as he cut a cake in his honour, with Colonel Butler looking on after staying up all night baking the beautiful Bavarian cheesecake.

Otto Simon was presented with a special certificate by Cr Paul Tully in recognition of his birthday and his contribution to the club.

Colonel Keiron Butler stayed up all night Saturday baking a Bavarian cheesecake for Otto Simon who celebrated his 70th birthday today.

Pictures of today's clash of Goodna vs Laidley:

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Goodna Hungry Jacks is open for business

Hungry Jacks Goodna is doing a roaring trade after its official opening last Tuesday 22 April 2008.

Friday night was chaos with carloads of parents and children backed around the corner past the Church Street roundabout eagerly awaiting Goodna's new food outlet, next to the Caltex Service Station on Brisbane Road which is the service road which runs parallel to the Ipswich Motorway.

Friendly and alert staff have the Goodna drive-through operation running like clockwork.

The store provides work for many local people including high school students in the local area.

Goodna's Hungry Jacks store which opened this week
on Brisbane Road adjacent to the Ipswich Motorway.

This new outlet will undoubtedly give the nearby McDonalds store a run for its money with what many people regard as a superior product.

Congratulations to the management of the Hungry Jacks Head Office in Brisbane for their foresight in selecting Goodna as the location of their newest store in Queensland and best wishes to the staff of the newest, brightest and friendliest Hungry Jacks store in Australia.



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Collingwood Park mine collapse sparks old memories

Yesterday's collapse of a disused coal mine below a residential area in Duncan Street at Collingwood Park would not surprise old timers in the area.

Last week was the 80th anniversary of a major mine explosion on St Georges Day 23 April 1928 when an early morning mine explosion saw three miners tragically killed beneath what is now Redbank Plaza .

Redbank Plaza is one kilometre northeast of yesterday's subsidence in Duncan Street.


Town Planning map of Collingwood Park
showing a large area of the suburb affected
by former underground coal mining.

MAP LEGEND:

Grey area is the 'mining influence constrained area' which
includes the 'angle of draw' from the actual underground workings.

Purple line denotes the 'area affected by underground workings'
(ie the boundary of the actual workings) .

Green line denotes the 'surface disturbance' which includes open
cut workings and spoil heaps and other surface mining activities.


When the Redbank Plaza opened in September 1985, the $20 million project needed $6 million of foundations to fill the former coal mining void beneath the building.

Shortly after the opening of Redbank Plaza, a major mine collapse in Lawrie Drive Collingwood Park, 800 metres from yesterday's mine cave-in, saw houses evacuated and several of them condemned, with property owners forced out of their homes.

The nearby Westfalen Coal Mine, at the western end of Duncan Street, ceased operations in 1987. The remnants of its operations - and a myriad of earlier mine shafts and tunnels - have created a honeycomb of abandoned tunnels beneath Collingwood Park and Redbank.

The RSPCA, which is planning to relocate from Fairfield to Redbank, has encountered significant old mine workings beneath its preferred new site on the former Redbank Rifle Range.

The Queensland Government's rapid response to the latest mine collapse is commendable.

The Redbank/Collingwood Park area was the site of Queensland's first coal mine in 1843 with all coal mining to cease permanently in Ipswich in 2009.

It is extremely rare for these old mine workings to cause surface subsidence but residents should be aware of the possibility.

Redbank Plaza, Collingwood Drive Redbank -

scene of an horrific coal mine explosion on

St George's Day 23 April 1928

when three miners were killed.

FREE IPSWICH PROPERTY SEARCH.

IF YOU WANT TO CHECK ANY PROPERTY
IN IPSWICH FREE OF CHARGE FOR ITS
ZONING, UNDERGROUND MINING, FLOODING ETC
CLICK HERE.



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Goodna Gladiators take on Wests Bulldogs

The Evan Marginson Oval at Woogaroo Street Goodna - opposite the Goodna RSL - played host to today's junior Rugby Union games between the Goodna Gladiators and Wests Bulldogs headquartered at Toowong.

The weather was absolutely perfect for the matches with the oval in top condition.

Players and parents can recall last year when early winter frosts combined with the on-going drought turned the oval into a dry and dusty pitch.

Goodna's Under 7 and Under 8 teams played exceptionally well with the usual drive and vigour expected from our youngsters.


Goodna Gladiators Under 7 team
takes on Wests Bulldogs


The senior Goodna Galadiators teams are going well with a major Touch competition kicking off at the Evan Marginson Oval next Saturday afternoon.

Players and spectators are welcome to attend the Touch kickoff at 1.00pm on Saturday 3 May 2008.

The Under 8 Goodna Gladiators
in a mighty battle with
Wests Bulldogs

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Moonie to Brisbane Oil Pipeline to Close

MEDIA RELEASE FROM IPSWICH CITY COUNCILLOR PAUL TULLY

Thousands of southeast Queensland properties are set to increase dramatically in value following the closure of the Moonie to Brisbane oil pipeline.

Energy giant Santos announced late yesterday the pipeline would close permanently after last year's major oil spill at Algester which forced the evacuation of 500 homes.

Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully - who has fought for the scrapping of the 44-year old pipeline for more than a decade - welcomed the decision saying it was a tremendous relief for thousands of residents living next to the pipeline between Ipswich and Brisbane.



Picture of a Moonie oil pipeline warning sign adjacent
to a residential area on Jones Road at Bellbird Park.

Last July, Cr Tully called for the the 300km pipeline to be closed after a series of oil spills in residential areas.

The pipeline has never been re-opened since the major spill at Algester.

Cr Tully said the pipeline - which was laid in 1964 - should have been shut down years ago as it had become an environmental disaster waiting to happen.

The pipeline runs from Moonie passing south of Toowoomba, through the Lockyer Valley to Ipswich then across the Logan Motorway into Brisbane's southern suburbs terminating at the oil refineries at Lytton.

Cr Tully said the pipeline operator Santos has treated the public very poorly with many residents unable to build pools or house extensions because the pipeline ran within metres of their homes.

He said the Algester disaster had followed a $300,000 fine on the company with estimated cleanup costs of $2 million after the pipeline burst in 2003 adjacent to the Brisbane River at Lytton spilling 1.9 million litres of crude oil into nearby mangroves.

Cr Tully has called on Santos to relinquish their easements along the pipeline route immediately saying it would boost the value of some properties by up to $100,000.

He said hundreds of property owners in Ipswich eastern suburbs particularly around Redbank Plains, Bellbird Park and Camira would benefit from the pipeline closure enabling many existing properties to be subdivided and house owners to expand their homes and construct pools and garden sheds for the first time.


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NEW GOODNA GROUP TO PUBLISH LOCAL HISTORY

MEDIA RELEASE FROM IPSWICH CITY COUNCILLOR PAUL TULLY

Nominations are being sought from local residents who would like to be part of a newly-formed Goodna History Group which is researching the area.

The group has been established by local Councillor Paul Tully who plans to publish a complete history of the Goodna area including Gailes, Redbank, Camira and Bellbird Park.

Goodna celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2006 having been proclaimed as a township in 1856.

Originally part of the Yeerongpilly Divisional Board, Goodna was later incorporated into the Moreton Shire and in 1949 was transferred to the City of Ipswich.



Rare 1912 photograph of the Goodna Football Club. The Goodna

Football Club was a Rugby Union Club until at least 1908 and

switched to Rugby League after the split in the code in that year.
Do you know any of the players in this photograph or their families?
Email Councillor Paul Tully with details.

Cr Tully said there was an enormous amount of historical information about the area and called for local residents with old maps, photos, plans or memorabilia to contact his office at 18 Queen St Goodna or by telephone on 3818 6900.

Cr Tully asked for local residents who wish to be part of the local history group to contact his office to enable them to attend meetings of the group.

As part of his local historical research, Cr Tully is examining a rare photograph of the 1912 Goodna Football Club which shows 13 players and one official.

It is believed the Goodna Rugby Union Club which dates back to at least 1908 switched to Rugby League in 1912 following a major split in the code four years earlier.

Cr Tully has asked for any local residents who recognise any of the people in the 96-year old photograph to contact him so that a full set of players' names can be put to one of the oldest surviving sporting clubs in Ipswich.


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Postal and Pre-Poll Voting available for local election

If you live in Division 2 of the City of Ipswich and will be away on polling day on Saturday 15 March 2008, or otherwise unable to attend a local polling booth, you can apply for a postal vote.

Please email Cr Paul Tully for a Postal Vote application or telephone (07) 3818 1222.

Pre-poll voting is also available at the W G Hayden Humanities Centre at the corner of Nicholas Street and South Street in Ipswich. The pre-poll voting times are:

8.30am - 4.30pm (Monday - Friday)

8.30am - 6.00pm (Friday 14 March - the day before the election).

Local polling booths in Division 2 on 15 March are:

• St Francis Xavier School, Church Street, Goodna
  
• Karate Hall, 83 Old Logan Road, Gailes
  
• Redbank Pre-School, Brisbane Road, Redbank
  
• Kruger State School, Kruger Parade, Bellbird Park
  
• St Augustine's College, St Augustine's Drive, Augustine Heights.
  

There is NO ABSENTEE VOTING for local governments on election day.

If you are an enrolled voter in Division 2, you must vote at one of the 5 booths mentioned above or cast a postal vote or pre-poll vote.

If you have any queries regarding election day, please email Cr Paul Tully.

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