Forum to find ways to grow a stronger Brisbane

The following Press release came from the Qld State Government in August 2011.

I suspect they are barking up the wrong tree....

There seems to be very little in any of the Qld State Government Strategies on how to transition our society to be resilient in the face of the challenges of Climate Change and/or Peak Oil......

Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
11/08/2011
Forum to find ways to grow a stronger Brisbane

Brisbane residents are being urged to attend a public forum on Monday night to share their ideas on new plans to help shape the South East's future.

The State Government has released three visionary long-term planning documents that aim to strengthen the state's regions: the Queensland Regionalisation Strategy (QRS), the Queensland Infrastructure Plan (QIP), and the Bruce Highway Upgrade Strategy (BHUS).

Minister for Regional Economies Tim Mulherin said the government now needed Queenslanders to share their ideas on the plans.

"These are exciting times as we move to shape the growth of every region across the state over the next 20 years and beyond," Mr Mulherin said.

"Given the importance of these plans it's vital they reflect the views, values and opinions of the locals who live and breathe these areas.

"That's why we're holding this forum in Brisbane - specifically to hear from local residents.

"This is your opportunity to share your ideas directly with senior government ministers, provide feedback on the plans, and participate in consultation workshops."

Mr Mulherin said South East Queensland was one of Australia's fastest-growing metropolitan areas, contained within just 1.3 per cent of the state's area.

"By 2031 this region is expected to grow from just under 3 million people to nearly 4.4 million," he said.

"While we are encouraging people to reside in other areas of the state, we have to recognise that many people will continue to want to live in the south-east corner.

"This means we have to continue to build on the region's current strengths - that of the area being the service centre and skills, distribution and logistics hub for regional supply chains - while developing new opportunities.

"South East Queensland is a significant tourism destination and the gateway to the rest of Queensland, and we want to boost food processing, mining services and mining technology capabilities to service regional industries.

"Other ways to improve the region's prosperity will focus on it being a key hub for Queensland's service economy, with specialised skills in professional services such as information and communications technology, and biomedical services.

"Some of the priority projects that will help drive the region are Cross River Rail, Ipswich Motorway upgrade, Airport Link, Moreton Bay Rail Link, Springfield passenger line (Richlands to Springfield), the Smart State Medical Research Centre, Queensland Police Academy, the Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct, the Queensland Children's Hospital, expansion of the Ipswich and Princess Alexandra hospitals, and the Port Connect (Lindum Road - Pritchard Street) project."

The Brisbane Way to Grow forum will be held from 4.30pm for 5pm start (until 7pm) on Monday, August 15 at the State Library of Queensland, Cultural Centre, Stanley Place, Southbank.

Register your attendance by emailing waytogrow@qld.gov.au or calling 1800 093 903, and to view the documents go to www.qld.gov.au or call the number above.

Community consultation on the documents runs until September 9, 2011.

Capt Quirk's response to my correspondence

I have written to the Lord Mayor on numerous occasions, expressing my concerns at the impacts & costs of the Northern Link Road Tunnel from Toowong to Kelvin Grove.

Here is his response.....and it makes me wonder.

We all know that Can-Do was passionate about urban cleansing and tunnels.

What is Quirky passionate about?

* Disability services?

* Race horses?

* Cutting down trees?

OFFICE OF THE LORD MAYOR

Brisbane

6 July 2011

Dear Mr Barber

Thank you for your emails of 9 April, 15, 16, 19 May, 2 and 11 June 2011 and for call on the ABC on 1 June about Legacy Way, footpaths and amenities in Normanby Terrace.

While I appreciate your concerns, as I mentioned during our discussion on the ABC, Legacy Way is a must-do critical project. In planning for the future, we must look at ii whole of city basis.

The Clem Jones Tunnel (CLEM7) is proving to be a vital addition to Brisbane’s transport network each day, relieving pressure on alternative routes, like the Story Bridge. Recent travel time surveys have revealed CLEM7 is offering savings ranging from 40 to 70% across a variety of routes, which has resulted in a significant decrease in congestion around the city. CLEM7 also provided an important link during the recent Brisbane flood.

I am confident that Council’s traffic forecasts are reliable and a sound basis to plan for the future. The Go Between Bridge is regularly meeting Council’s forecast traffic volumes. Evidence from operational toll roads throughout Australia has shown that governments are generally accurate in forecasting traffic and even tend to understate long-term growth on toll roads. Short-term variations in traffic volumes are typically within 20% of government forecasts.

The competitive tender process from Legacy Way generated a $300 million saving, through cost-effective innovative designs. Due to this significant saving, traffic could be low as 50% of Council’s forecast after opening, or approximately 12,000 vehicles per day and still remain financially sound, according to the Queensland Treasury Corporation’s 2009 credit approval for the project.

You have requested a copy of the Legacy Way Business Case. I am told that this is available to be viewed in person at the Legacy Way site office. Please contact the project team on 1800 692 333 to arrange a suitable viewing time. In addition, you may not be aware that the Business Case for Legacy Way was approved by the Queensland Government as part of their approval for the funding approach.

It has always been Council’s commitment to minimise impacts for residents at the eastern end of the Legacy Way tunnel. Throughout the recent consultation process, Council and Trancity have assessed noise modelling data and the upcoming construction activities for the project.

I am told as a result of this process a number of residents, including yourself, were offered resident-based mitigation. If you have not already met with a Transcity representative to discuss what resident-based mitigation measures are proposed at your property, then I encourage to you contact the Transcity team on 1800 778 772.

In your email dated 15 May, you mention poor pedestrian connectivity with the city. The former Lord Mayor Campbell Newman wrote you to about this issue in his letter dated 15 February 2011. However, I have asked Council’s Local Asset Service branch to investigate pedestrian access in Normanby Terrace, as it does not fall within the scope of the Legacy Way project.

New footpath funding has been distributed evenly between each ward through the Ward Footpath Trust Fund. It is up to local Councillors to decide which new footpath projects get funded following consultation with property owners.

With this in mind, I have written to Councillor David Hinchliffe, Councillor for Central Ward, for his consideration and action. If you would like to discuss your request directly with

Councillor Hinchliffe, please contact his office on 3403 0254.

I appreciate your feedback, however, we have exchanged correspondence several times now on Legacy Way and our transport agenda. I do not believe there is much to be gained by writing further on this issue.

Yours sincerely

Graham Quirk

LORD MAYOR

Ref:LM14289-2011

stuck in a hydrocarbon based paradigm

The following Media Release came from my Premier.

I cannot believe we are so stuck in a hydrocarbon based paradigm.

We could be looking to renewable energy, mass public transport systems and transition towns.

Our industrial food system is vulnerable. Permaculture & local food offers so much more in terms of resilience and variety.

The future is bright but our Governments are failing us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Premier and Minister for Reconstruction The Honourable Anna Bligh 29/06/2011

Queensland positions itself as LNG Asia Pacific hub

Texas: Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has signed an historic agreement with Texas Governor Rick Perry, to cement the ties between the two great growth states of the developed world.

The signing signified that Queensland is positioning itself to become an energy hub for the Asia Pacific, Ms Bligh said.

"Texas has now surpassed New York as the second largest economy of the USA. And over the next two years Queensland economic growth is expected to surpass five per cent per annum and lead Australia.

"The Agreement recognizes the importance of developing and expanding ties of cooperation between Queensland and Texas focusing on oil and gas primarily, as well as agribusiness and creative industries.

"Given Queensland's economic projections over the next two years both States are leading economies in their respective countries.

"The Agreement will commit both States to enhancing their business networks, alliances and collaborative projects between the respective Governments, industry organizations, educational and research institutes."

Both Texas and Queensland will also use the Agreement to support collaborations that increase knowledge and expertise in the fields of LNG, agribusiness and creative industries.

"To underpin this new agreement the Government will appoint a Queensland Trade representative in Texas for the first time and convene a two-day international Gas Symposium later this year," Ms Bligh.

"This Symposium will cater for international and Australian gas sector policy-makers, government regulators, gas industry participants and allied businesses that support the sector.

"The event will help to develop the commercial-scale coal seam gas extraction industry, and will help us to develop extraction techniques that can be done in a sustainable and responsible manner."

Texas has agreed to support a high level delegation to travel to the Symposium.

Ms Bligh said Queensland had two of the nine LNG projects occurring worldwide with committed investment totalling nearly $40 billion and exports to commence from 2014.

"By 2020, Australia could be the largest producer of LNG in the world, overtaking Qatar.

"Meryl Lynch forecast demand for global LNG is expected to grow by 130% between 2008 and 2020."

As part of todays historic signing, Ms Bligh has announced the appointment of the Queensland Government's first ever Trade representative in Texas.

Ms Bligh said former Director of the US Commercial Service in Houston, Mr Duaine Priestley had taken up the position based in Houston, Texas.

"The new LNG Investment Advisor will forge international ties with key businesses and industry players in the USA.

"Houston is considered the oil and gas capital of the world - and Queensland is well on its way to becoming the LNG capital of the Asia Pacific,'' Ms Bligh said.

"The appointment of Mr Priestley is part of the Queensland Government's continued commitment to strengthening the state's economy and positioning it for future growth.

"The LNG industry is expected to generate over 18,000 jobs in Queensland and Mr Priestley will be a great asset for Queensland and our energy sector.''

"This is an industry that delivers cleaner, greener energy for the future and it's subject to some of the toughest regulations in the world.''

Ms Bligh said Mr Priestley would be charged with targeting US companies that can invest in and grow Queensland's multibillion dollar gas opportunities and assist Queensland companies into the U.S. market.

"He has worked in various trade, investment and advisory roles, including the management of five trade specialists in the Houston-Baytown-Sugarland metro region.

"Houston houses the headquarters for leading resource companies including Shell, Conoco Phillips, and Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemicals.

"Mr Priestley will continue to forge international ties with key businesses and industry players in Houston, generating leads and organising introductions to major US gas suppliers, promoting opportunities for these companies to tap into Queensland's lucrative energy market.''

Ms Bligh said the signing of the historic Agreement builds on existing relationships between Queensland government departments and researchers and those in Texas in areas including agribusiness and creative industries.

"This includes work on drought proof sorghum, livestock genetics and collaboration at Austin's world famous music festival the South by Southwest music and film interactive conference."