As former state Labor ministers adjust to the cost of living crisis caused by the sudden drop in their salaries and the non-appearance of their chauffeur-driven chariots to convey them to their lovely offices overlooking the city, they will at least be able to take advantage of the 50c public transport fares they introduced in the pre-election every-child-wins-a-prize handout frenzy for which we will now all have to pay.
That is unless they opt to take the CityCat with the Brisbane City Council now posting notices at ferry terminals warning intending patrons that thanks to the 50c fares, there’s a chance they won’t be able to squeeze on board because the ferries are full on weekends.
Those left stranded in the terminals by departing vessels are urged to seek “alternative transport options.”
Kayak, stand-up paddle board, water wings or buses overcrowded with 50c paying punters?
Theatre hangs in balance
Now that the political tongue poking and name calling has subsided and we look forward to something approaching sanity in the decision-making process, it must be hoped that the new LNP government will address the appalling turn of events surrounding the Twelfth Night Theatre complex at Bowen Hills.
Gail Wiltshire, the owner of the prime site in Cintra Road, has refused offers of $10 million from developers who would love to get their hands on it and build more towering apartment blocks.
She has knocked them back because she wants to gift the complex to the people of Queensland so that the theatre, part of the city’s artistic heritage, can be preserved. Her vision is to provide a stage for affordable community theatre with state-of-the art technology but she can’t find anyone in government prepared to take up her generous offer. Twelfth Night Theatre was opened by former Liberal treasurer Sir Gordon Chalk in 1971.
In pre-election the then Treasury spokesman and now Treasurer David Janetzki promised to “continue to engage” with Ms Wiltshire.
If Ms Wiltshire loses patience and decides to sell the site to a developer, it would be a disgrace.
I confess I harbor a certain emotional attachment to the site. The Journalists’ Club once occupied the basement of the building, a place where my colleagues and I spent many a hazy hour and a significant portion of our salaries.
Ozcare to be sold
The For Sale sign has gone up on a significant slice of real estate in New Farm, this being the site occupied by the former Ozcare aged care facility in Bowen Terrace.
The 5727sq m site with a 203m street frontage near Langshaw Street is a prime development site and it is hoped that sanity will prevail when the inevitable development application is lodged with the council and that this part of the peninsula will be spared the towering edifices that continue to despoil other parts of the neighbourhood.
McConnel outcome
Congratulations to Labor MLA Grace Grace for retaining her seat of McConnel in the state election and easily seeing off a much-vaunted challenge from the Greens.
Back again
It’s nice to be back in the neighbourhood after a holiday spent sipping wine in Italy’s sun kissed Tuscan hills and then shivering in minus 4 deg sleet in Norway’s northern reaches. Those familiar with Norwegian prices will appreciate why I have ceased complaining about the cost of drinks in local bars and restaurants but I can’t guarantee this will last.
Three to Nine November 2024
By Mike O’Connor
Transport at capacity
As former state Labor ministers adjust to the cost of living crisis caused by the sudden drop in their salaries and the non-appearance of their chauffeur-driven chariots to convey them to their lovely offices overlooking the city, they will at least be able to take advantage of the 50c public transport fares they introduced in the pre-election every-child-wins-a-prize handout frenzy for which we will now all have to pay.
That is unless they opt to take the CityCat with the Brisbane City Council now posting notices at ferry terminals warning intending patrons that thanks to the 50c fares, there’s a chance they won’t be able to squeeze on board because the ferries are full on weekends.
Those left stranded in the terminals by departing vessels are urged to seek “alternative transport options.”
Kayak, stand-up paddle board, water wings or buses overcrowded with 50c paying punters?
Theatre hangs in balance
Now that the political tongue poking and name calling has subsided and we look forward to something approaching sanity in the decision-making process, it must be hoped that the new LNP government will address the appalling turn of events surrounding the Twelfth Night Theatre complex at Bowen Hills.
Gail Wiltshire, the owner of the prime site in Cintra Road, has refused offers of $10 million from developers who would love to get their hands on it and build more towering apartment blocks.
She has knocked them back because she wants to gift the complex to the people of Queensland so that the theatre, part of the city’s artistic heritage, can be preserved. Her vision is to provide a stage for affordable community theatre with state-of-the art technology but she can’t find anyone in government prepared to take up her generous offer. Twelfth Night Theatre was opened by former Liberal treasurer Sir Gordon Chalk in 1971.
In pre-election the then Treasury spokesman and now Treasurer David Janetzki promised to “continue to engage” with Ms Wiltshire.
If Ms Wiltshire loses patience and decides to sell the site to a developer, it would be a disgrace.
I confess I harbor a certain emotional attachment to the site. The Journalists’ Club once occupied the basement of the building, a place where my colleagues and I spent many a hazy hour and a significant portion of our salaries.
Ozcare to be sold
The For Sale sign has gone up on a significant slice of real estate in New Farm, this being the site occupied by the former Ozcare aged care facility in Bowen Terrace.
The 5727sq m site with a 203m street frontage near Langshaw Street is a prime development site and it is hoped that sanity will prevail when the inevitable development application is lodged with the council and that this part of the peninsula will be spared the towering edifices that continue to despoil other parts of the neighbourhood.
McConnel outcome
Congratulations to Labor MLA Grace Grace for retaining her seat of McConnel in the state election and easily seeing off a much-vaunted challenge from the Greens.
Back again
It’s nice to be back in the neighbourhood after a holiday spent sipping wine in Italy’s sun kissed Tuscan hills and then shivering in minus 4 deg sleet in Norway’s northern reaches. Those familiar with Norwegian prices will appreciate why I have ceased complaining about the cost of drinks in local bars and restaurants but I can’t guarantee this will last.
ends