Next week, I will be writing to all residents of Bellbowrie and Moggill outlining Council’s plans for the skatebowl in Booker Place Park and seeking feedback.
 
I will be conducting public consultation onsite on Saturday 24^th October and would welcome the opportunity to discuss our plans and answer any question you might have.
 
Briefly, this is the situation with the skatebowl. The existing bowl is in need of significant maintenance and Council allocated more than $300,000 for that purpose in the recent Budget. In my recent discussions with local Police, we believe a better option might be to decommission the existing skatebowl and use those funds towards building a new one, closer to the Sports and Recreation Club carpark.
 
This has merit so I have asked Council officers to develop a concept of how a new skatebowl facility could look. This is what they’ve come back with – a new, larger skatebowl nearer to the carpark.
 
I stress that this is still a concept. Your feedback either through comments/emails to the Ward office or at the community consultation at 2pm on 24^th October, will help shape this exciting project.

I'm counting down to 6^th October when the much awaited Bellbowrie and Moggill Personalised Public Transport Service commences.
 
By now, residents in these suburbs should have received an information sheet from Brisbane City Council outlining details of the service, the route and timetable.
 
I arranged for Council officers recently to conduct an information session for the residents of Sugarwood Grove Garden Villas, Bellbowrie. It was initially after hearing their request for such a service earlier this year that I lobbied and was ultimately successful in securing the funding in Council’s Budget to for this trial.
 
I reiterate this service is a trial and for it to continue long term, we need to demonstrate to Council that the local community needs it.
 
So my advice again is “use it because we don’t want to lose it”!

Cr. James Mackay and I would appreciate your support/feedback for our campaign to have the speed limit on Chapel Hill Road lowered to 50km an hour. Residents on this road and nearby streets should have received by now a letter from us seeking your views. Even if you don’t receive this letter and would like to comment, you can by emailing pullenvale.ward@bcc.qld.gov.au

All schools within the Pullenvale Ward face a range of challenges particularly around road safety and I am already working with each of them to find solutions where we can.
 
So I was particularly pleased to learn that the State Department of Transport and Main Roads had allocated funding for a crossing supervisor at Grandview Road for Pullenvale State School.
 
TMR has requested Council now provide a suitable crossing facility for supervision.  We are currently in the process of assessing the changes/additions to the existing refuge that are required in order to provide a suitable facility for supervision. 

One of the most important services Council undertakes, particularly in the Pullenvale Ward, is the management of animal species that are a risk to people, their property, livelihoods and livestock.
 
Deer, wild dogs and foxes are all restricted invasive animals that cause significant damage throughout the Ward. To highlight the seriousness of this, I'm told that if left unmanaged over a five year period, there could be an additional 750 deer on top of the existing herd roaming the Ward, mainly in the Brookfield, Kholo and Lake Manchester areas.  
 
Council works closely with property owners to manage the problem. If you are experiencing problems with deer, wild dogs or any other invasive animal on your property, I urge you to report it immediately to Council’s 24/7 Contact Centre on 3403 8888. Alternatively, you can report it online at https://forms.brisbane.qld.gov.au/report-it-feral-animal-sightings
 
Please don’t feed these animals or approach them because they can be dangerous, and definitely watch out for them while driving at night.

Sporting clubs throughout the country have done it tough this year not being able to raise funds to cover costs for kids to play sport.
 
When I met with Kenmore Centenary Rugby President, Alicia Rossiter and learned of the challenges they were facing this year, I wanted to help so I donated two Rugby items from my personal collection to use to raise funds.
 
There’s a framed 2003 Wallabies World Cup jersey signed by the entire squad and a match ball in a case signed by arguably the greatest Wallaby in the modern era, John Eales.
 
When they decide how they will auction/raffle them, I’ll promote details so you can be in the running to win and support a great local club.