GreenUpBrisbane

Kids Ride Free in BCC!

Greens' Lord Mayoral Candidate Jo Bragg launched the Greens' Kids Ride Free policy this morning with the help of students Myora Kane, Hannah Pham and Lucy Marqus-Kyle (pictured left to right). The policy, designed to encourage more young people aged 5-18 to use public transport, will take the strain off family budgets, help young people develop good transport habits and reduce traffic on the roads. Under the $21 million scheme young people living in Brisbane will be eligible for $120 worth of free public transport each year. A similar policy has already been implemented in London, with great results for young people and their families.

Peition for City Cat Terminal submitted

Greens’ candidate for Hamilton, Tristan Peach, has submitted a petition to Council with 110 signatures for a long overdue City Cat terminal to be built at the Teneriffe Ferry stop. Council must commence design and construction of a City Cat Terminal at the Teneriffe Ferry stop immediately, rather than waiting years for a stop to be built at the Newstead River Park.

Bring back the T3 on Coronation Drive

The Brisbane Greens support calls from the Rail Tram and Bus Union for the Coronation Drive transit lane to be reinstated. This is a cost-effective, short-term solution for improving public transport and reducing congestion. The lane was opened to general traffic during 2007 with bipartisan support from Labor and Liberal Councillors, despite the fact that TransLink stated it would reduce the capacity of the road. It has led to a huge increase in trip times and reduced reliability for public transport users. The Greens' transport plan outlines their future plans for transit lanes. Tell us which roads you think need transit lanes by adding a comment below.

Greens launch air quality policy

Brisbane has amongst the worst air quality of Australian Cities. Air pollution has serious implications for our health with children and older people especially vulnerable. If elected the Greens will stop the Hale Street Bridge and restore funding for Brisbane City Council staff to assess and advise on air quality. Staff levels for air quality assessment were slashed by Newman in 2004.  

Greens Launch Walking Policy

On Thursday the Greens launched a pedestrian policy that included a range of practical initiatives for improving conditions for people walking in Brisbane city and suburbs. Click on the link below to read the range of initiatives the Greens have proposed. If you have any ideas for where pedestrian facilities need to be improved then please add your comments below.

Greens Launch Conservation Policy

Today the Greens released their Conservation Policy.  The Centre piece of the policy calls for protection of the Oxley Wedge one of the last areas of Greenspace left in Brisbane. This area is threatened by development. Developer Silvios Pradella Chairs the Oxley Creek Taskforce while the Lower Oxley Creek Planning group is funded by developers who have an interest in pushing development of the fragile region.Those groups control areas that also affect Karawatha Forest such as the Flinders Green bank corridor (Karawatha Section).

Download conservation_policy.doc

Greens setting transport policy agenda for City Hall

The Lord Mayor's recent announcements on City Cat stops and improvements to Riverwalk are seven months late. In July 2007 the Greens launched Green City Links which includes new city cat stops at Milton, West End, Teneriffe, Albion Raceway and Hamilton Northshore. The plan also included the Riverwalk connection between Teneriffe and the Powerhouse which the Lord Mayor recently committed to.

Download GreenCityA0_190707.pdf

Report cycling danger zones

Greens Lord Mayoral Candidate Jo Bragg has invited residents to report areas in Brisbane where cycling facilities need to be improved. Read the media release here.

Submit your comments by clicking on the "comments" link below, and send an email to the Greens candidate in your area. Candidates' contact details can be found in the candidates link on the side bar.

People should also report the problem to Council by phoning 3403-8888 or by submitting a form online. Make sure you keep a record of your correspondence with Council so that you can follow them up if they don't take action.

Cycling Policy - Brisbane City

Principles

For mode share of cycling to increase Brisbane must have a safe and convenient bicycle network that covers the whole city, just like our road network does.

The Greens recognise the needs of recreational cyclists but will also place a greater emphasis on improving conditions for people cycling to shops, schools and workplaces.

The Greens will expand Brisbane’s bicycle network to a total of 1700km by 2015 (from 550km in 2005) and 4000km by 2026. This will include on-road bicycle zones and off-road bike paths, with cyclists and pedestrians separated where possible.   

In 2007-2008 Council allocated less than 3% of its $650 million transport budget to cycling. If elected the Greens will double Council’s cycling budget to $40 million per year.

Under Labor and Liberal construction of Brisbane’s bicycle network has fallen behind schedule. The Greens will speed up construction of cycling infrastructure, with a priority on direct cycle routes rather than paths meandering along creeks.

Labor and Liberal fail on City Cat access

Labor and Liberal have both refused to install a City Cat terminal at the Teneriffe Ferry stop, meaning the Greens are the party to vote for if you want the City Cat to stop there. The upgrade of the Teneriffe Ferry stop to a City Cat terminal has been planned since 1997 but Council has failed to act, with its priorities being on expensive and ineffective road projects.

Petition for a City Cat Stop at Teneriffe

Greens candidate for the Hamilton Ward Tristan Peach has started a petition for the City Cat to stop at Teneriffe. People who want to catch the City Cat from Teneriffe currently have to catch a cross-river ferry to Bulimba to access the Cat. Click below to read the petition.

Greens' Light rail proposal the best for Brisbane

Labor and Liberal have still failed to produce a transport plan to rival the Greens' comprehensive light rail proposal for Brisbane. Lord Mayoral Candidate Jo Bragg released the Greens' light rail plan late last year and the Greens are still the only party to have shown real vision for Brisbane. Labor and Liberal remain locked in useless tunnel vision.

The Greens' proposal, which will service suburbs in the west, north-west, north, south-east and south of Brisbane is far more cost-effective than the TransApex road proposal and is the only plan that addresses the short and long term transport issues facing Brisbane.

Download lr_network_a4.pdf

 

Greens launch Brisbane Light Rail initiative

"Liberal and Labor have failed on public transport because they want everyone using congested toll roads so the tunnel operators can make their billions"

"The current Council administration have squandered their opportunities to improve Brisbane's transport system"

"Newman and Hinchliffe have actively degraded our public transport service by removing transit lanes and failing to buy enough buses"

"The Greens are the only party serious about reducing congestion and offering transport solutions for the suburbs"

"This plan offers far better value for money than Labor and Liberal's disastrous TransApex"

"The plan would be implemented over a 15 year period in cooperation with the State Government"

Continue to read the article for pictures of the plan and details of the policy behind.

Affordable Housing Initiative

The Greens are seeking to establish affordable and sustainable housing benchmarks as part of any future urban development plans:

30 July 2007, Media Release: 2020 vision demands 20 per cent affordability benchmark in new developments

30 July 2007, ABC News: Greens seek mandatory affordable housing | ABC news online

18 September 2007, Media Release:Urban Land Development Authority Act 2007 threatens Brisbane

23 October 2007, Media Release: Greens call for National Affordable Housing Plan