New Gem Road planning options released– send comments

This from the Kenmore Bypass Planning study:

Following significant community feedback, the Department of Transport
and Main Roads (DTMR) has developed new planning options to maintain Gem
Road as a through-road.

The new Gem Road options have been designed to complement the current
bypass planning, while also being technically and environmentally
feasible.

Have your say : (continued »)

Write to Premier Anna Bligh about the report on decline of koala population

Thanks Simon Baltais (CEO) of Queensland Wildlife Preservation Society for this:

A report released in May 2009 by the Queensland Government (Department of Environment & Resource Management) titled ‘Decline of the Koala Coast Koala Population: Population Status in 2008’ tells us that effectively koalas will be extinct in the Koala Coast region of South East Queensland by 2010 (next year!). Please write to ask for direct action. (continued »)

Extended! Comment on Environmental Approvals Report ASAP

[The deadline to comment has been extended to 6 July. Please write! Here is the post again:] The final draft of the Environmental Approvals Report (EAR) for the Kenmore Bypass Planning Study has been released for community information. You can view the EAR on the Department of Transport and Main Roads website: http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/Projects/A-Z-Search/K-M/Kenmore-Bypass-Planning-Study.aspx . [Note that this web address mysteriously changed during this comment period...] In short, they don’t see any reason not to do the Bypass, though the impacts are significant, especially to those who enjoy this green space.

The community is invited to provide their comments to the project team until 6 July 2009. Please do! Write to mainroads@ministerial.qld.gov.au to be heard. An analysis follows. (continued »)

Assessment of where we are now

A number of people have raised with SOK one of two schools of thought:

1)    The Government won’t have the money it is never going to happen; or
2)    The study is continuing so it is inevitable.

So,what is right? Read on. (continued »)

Comment on Environmental Approvals Report ASAP

The final draft of the Environmental Approvals Report (EAR) for the Kenmore Bypass Planning Study has been released for community information.  You can view the EAR  on the Department of Transport and Main Roads website: http://www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/web/publicCR.nsf/DOCINDEX/Kenmore+Bypass+Planning+Study . In short, they don’t see any reason not to do the Bypass, though the impacts are significant, especially to those who enjoy this green space.

The community is invited to provide their comments to the project team until 30 June 2009. Please do! Write to mainroads@ministerial.qld.gov.au to be heard. An analysis follows. (continued »)

Give comments on SEQ Regional Plan

The Queensland Government has asked for public comment on the Draft SEQ Regional Plan 2009-2031. See http://www.gecko.org.au/index.php?email_seqplan to take action by Friday.

The Plan determines the future of SEQ:

• What is developed and what is not.
• Which habitat is saved and which is destroyed (continued »)
  

Need signs posted

We need help please! We have several corflute signs with the printed message:  Stop the Ipswich motorway here.

We would like to place these signs on the corridor route through Anstead, Moggill, Pullenvale to Kenmore and Fig Tree Pocket.  We particularly would like some signs on Sugars Road, Mt Crosby Road, Witty Road, O’Brien Road, Rafting Ground Road, Grandview Road, Moggill Road and Pullenvale Road where Main Roads is clearly going to build the alternate Ipswich Highway.

We have proof Main Roads have already started buying up land for the on and off ramps.

If you know anyone on these roads who might be willing to put a sign in their front yard, please let me know as soon as possible.  I am happy to phone them but need contact details.  If you will put up a sign or know someone who might, please email me asap on:  erectasign@gmail.com.

Many thanks,  Marie

Volunteer on election day!

We urgently need more workers for election day and ask everyone to help if they can. Election Day is 21 March from 8AM to 6PM, and even a couple hours would help greatly.

Please write to the email address contact@saveoursuburbs.com and let us know: 1) Your preferred candidate (if any); 2) Your suburb; 3) The times on Election Day when you can volunteer. We will contact you to confirm the booth at which you can work.

Time to fight!

Yesterday, the State Member for Moggill was again advocating for the Kenmore Bypass in Parliament and the need and right to use pre-existing transport corridors for the freeway.  No doubt, he means the whole corridor from Karalee through to the Centenary Highway, like his mate, the Deputy Premier.  If they both want to build the Western Bypass through the middle of the western suburbs (now via Centenary Highway), let them both campaign together on it.  Thanks again to Ronan Lee for his support for local residents, for taxpayers and finding solutions.

• As taxpayers, we have a right to ensure our money is spent wisely
• As commuters, we have a right to ensure transport solutions make real improvements, not waste our money.
• As local residents, we have a right to expect our local member should hold the Government accountable
• As local residents, we have the right to expect our local member to help residents as local property searches haven’t revealed the extent of the Kenmore Bypass, and should be taking it up with the Government
• As Queenslanders, we have the right to expect our Government to stand by their statements regarding our environment and specifically protection of our state fauna emblem, Koalas.

At over half a billion dollars, to cut four minutes off peak trips, one minute off off-peak trips for about 4,500 return trips to the city, at the cost to the health and wellbeing of almost 4000 people, when there are better alternatives, we have every RIGHT to demand quick, better and cheaper alternatives.  We have every RIGHT to demand decent representation. Do this on our Actions page. (continued »)

Submissions for areas of koala habitation closing Friday

GHD (who did the KB pre-feasibility study for Main Roads) are closing submissions on areas of koala habitation for mapping.  You must email  SEQkoalastudy@ghd.com.au with the UBD reference points before this Friday the 13th at 5PM.

I will be emailing them tonight mentioning the habitat between Kersley and Kenmore Roads, along with the BCC owned park between Gem and Kenmore Roads, and the bushland from Gem Road to Rafting Ground Park.  Also, I will be sending the photos I have taken of evidence of the koalas living in the area.  Please do what you can also!

Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday 1st March

From Julie Hagans:

Clean Up Australia Day is on Sunday 1st March this year.  Atkinson and Kingfisher Parks are now a registered clean up site.

Meeting point is Atkinson Park on Sunset road from 10 am until noon. Look for the Clean Up Australia Day signs.  This a great way to help show community pride in our beautiful parks and do something really positive for the environment which is in our backyards. (continued »)

Next steps for Stage 2 comment period

We wanted to wish you all a very happy festive season.

We welcome Main roads extension of the Stage 2 comment, but Main Roads still have a lot of information to release (noise studies, environmental reports, revised designs etc).  The results of the Government studies looking at transport in Western Brisbane is well overdue. (continued »)

Greens meeting 7PM 10 December, Bellbowrie Community Church

From Philip Machanick:

West Brisbane Greens will be running a last meeting for 2008, to catch everyone before the school break and summer takes everyone to the beaches etc.

This time we are moving across the border to Bellbowrie, to get a wider group into the discussion of alternatives.

Everyone in Kenmore interested in the bypass and alternatives to fixing Moggill Road is obviously welcome to attend. Please also ask friends and relatives in other areas to show up.

I hope we see as many of you as can make it.

Details: 7pm Wednesday 10 December, Bellbowrie Community Church, 3077 Moggill Road.

Report on Stage 2 of Kenmore Bypass

Main Roads have moved to Stage 2 of the Kenmore Bypass Study.

It is my opinion, the impact of the options proposed by Main Roads Kenmore Bypass Study are far too great on the environment, individuals and the community to be considered.

At our recent meeting it was suggested that we should not support any of the Main Roads options and draw a line through their options, and instead take the opportunity to list your concerns on the comment section of the form.

From my CRG report you can see just some of the concerns I have of the impacts and the inadequate mitigation attempts by the Engineering company advising Main Roads have proposed. (continued »)

Article on Bruce Flegg’s phone poll

The Westside news has an article reporting on the results of a phone poll conducted by Bruce Flegg. Please read the full article and leave comments. Many people polled must not know how drastically the Bypass will affect the area, and how little it will actually affect commute times. It is our job to inform people by directing them to the Save Our Kenmore site and this blog.

Please take our new survey!

We have made a new survey which will help us understand everyone’s viewpoints and reasons for supporting or opposing the Kenmore Bypass. Please see the survey here, and pass this link to others.  http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pgnjbTaf-OQzOzG1XQ4JFdQ&hl=en_GB

Sign the e-petition today!

I was sent this and thought it was so good I would share it with you in case you want to cut and paste and forward it around.

We need to keep this e-petition in front of mind for the Government. Please, please do what you can to get signatures for it prior to Tuesday the 30th of September. THANKS AGAIN - Penny (continued »)

Northern Link Tunnel Forum report - Also: Greens meeting 5 October 2PM

On 7 August 2008, the West Brisbane Greens hosted the Northern Link Tunnel Forum. Here is a summary of the meeting and links to more resources. Also: The West Brisbane Greens Branch will be hold its AGM and pre-selection for the State electorates of Indooroopilly and Moggill at 2pm on Sunday 5th of October 2008 at the Indooroopilly Library meeting room, Indooroopilly Shoppingtown - all welcome. (continued »)

Save Our Kenmore meeting Sunday 14 Sept 2PM — all welcome

Our next public meeting is Sunday 14 September 2 - 4 PM, at the Kenmore South State school’s activity Hall (entry via Glen Frew Street in Kenmore). Please attend!

View Larger Map

Northern Link Tunnel Forum, 7:30pm, Thursday 7 August

The West Brisbane Greens are hosting the Northern Link Tunnel Forum at 7:30pm on Thursday 7 August at the Queensland Academy of Science, Maths and Technology (formerly Toowong High), Bywong Street, Toowong. Councilors Peter Matic and Shayne Sutton; and Anderew Fraser MP have been invited to attend. All welcome. (continued »)

Sustainable Suburbs meeting — Margaret de Wit attending

Got this from a faithful subscriber:

There is a ‘Sustainable Suburbs’ meeting on tonight and Margaret de Wit’s office confirmed Margaret is attending.  Wed 30 July, 7.30pm, Uniting Church Kenmore, Moggill Rd. (continued »)

Battling on: How to take action

The community’s strong opposition has been delivered and recorded by Main Roads in Stage 1 of the Kenmore Bypass Planning Study.  In Stage 2 Main Roads is consulting a Community Reference Group (CRG) to formulate three options for presentation to the community.   I was selected to represent the group opposed to the Kenmore Bypass.  Please see my report on the first meeting of the CRG here.

The politicians are starting to listen, but we need your help to keep the pressure on so that at the end of Stage 3, we ensure the politicians opt for better, cheaper and quicker alternatives to the Kenmore Bypass.  Alternatives that do not divide our community, bulldoze the trees, fill the waterways, take away our parks, pollute our environment or steal from our children’s future.   Your continued voice by writing to our politicians and responding to the e-petition lets them know we are not going to go away. Our action page has been completely redone with all the contact information for everyone who needs to hear your voice.

With a state election due by September 2009, the Kenmore Bypass will be a state election issue.  Make sure our politicians know that this is an issue that will decide how you vote.  Tell them - NO KENMORE BYPASS!  Don’t let the party you vote for take you for granted.  Tell them again - NO KENMORE BYPASS!  Our suburbs have been those known for our green space, the lungs of Brisbane, natural habitat for endangered species, where it is safe for people to raise children.   Make sure our politicians hear you when you shout - NO KENMORE BYPASS!  Go to our action page and complete the actions.  TAKE ACTION TODAY, TOMORROW DEPENDS ON IT!

Sign the E-Petitition - Keep the Pressure on the Government

Through the public consultation process, we have shown that there is significant (and majority) opposition to this out-dated, community-wrecking freeway and that better alternatives are available. We need to keep on voicing our opinion to Government to keep the pressure on. Please sign this new e-petition, and write to the Government.

Video shoot

From Sarah Atkins: Hi everyone, I made [my] eleventh hour video about the Kenmore Bypass and my backyard. I know the deadline has passed for community feedback, but I think we can and should still keep campaigning.

I would like to film another video with interested people (and dogs) on Saturday morning. If you would like to be in the video (walking your dog and talking to friends and neighbours) please turn up in the off-leash area at the Peace, harmony and Freedom sign at 10am on Saturday. (continued »)

Public feedback to Main Roads closing– write today!

Public feedback affecting the Kenmore Bypass decision will be closed at end of business on Monday, 16 June 2008 so we must make a last big push immediately. This feedback does matter and gets counted up yea or nay in an objective manner, so we need everyone to put in their bit. If you have not written to Main Roads, please, please do so today. Read on for how to do it. (continued »)

Be sure to subscribe to get email updates!

We have a lot of new viewers, and many of you might not be signed up to get automatic updates by email. Please, everyone, click here to subscribe. You get just one email a day at most, your address will never be given to spammers, and you will find out right away about news and actions we need you to take. This is the only way that Save Our Kenmore communicates to all its supporters, so be sure to sign up!

Public meeting Thursday June 12 7:00pm

Passing this along from The Greens who are organising a public meeting. It will be Thursday June 12 7:00pm at Kenmore State High School Hall (Mabb Street entrance). Please come! Thank you Greens for your support. (continued »)

Answer the Westside News poll!

The Westside News are running an online poll on whether you want the Kenmore Bypass or not. This is an important one, everyone — please be sure to register your opinion! It literally only takes ten seconds! Tell all of your friends and neighbors as well. Have your say at http://www.questnews.com.au/polls.html. (continued »)

Resumption letter from Main Roads

We have had a huge number of calls today and tonight from people telling our volunteers that they have received a letter from Main Roads. [See this article in Brisbane Times for details.] If you received a letter, please contact our volunteers or email or fax us a copy. (continued »)

Submit your community reference group forms by Monday!

Main Roads are closing applications for the Community Reference Groups on Monday, May 26th! If you have been mailed the application form, please send it in today. If you have not gotten it, read on. (continued »)