Queensland Labor Party here

Queensland Greens here

Liberal National Party of Queensland here

Brisbane City Council here

Toowong Ward Councillor Peter Matic here

Cr Peter Matic - pack up your office!

Cr Matic today sent an email to the locals concerning the Legacy Way Tunnel Control Centre and announced that a new location will be found for the facility. However the letter also stated:
As part of this announcement I am also pleased to inform you that we can reduce the number of construction workforce car parks in Anzac Park by about one third. The overflow car park on Mt Coot-tha Road previously earmarked for the TCC could be used on a temporary basis for construction workforce parking.

He just doesn't get it, does he! We just don't want a construction workforce car park in Anzac Park, whatever shape or size. It will be dangerous and will destroy the park.

Deliver on this one Cr Matic - no car park, get it! Remove the car park proposal from the Application for Project Change Report, and stop wasting everyone's time and resources in the local community who are opposing this insane proposal.

Read Cr Matic's letter HERE

Picnic in Anzac Park - This Sunday 5 December 2010

At the Pergola by the lake - Noon or thereabouts

The Ada Street group has won back their park!!!
Lets see if we can do the same.

Thank you for your support - Friends of Anzac Park

Hands Off ANZAC PARK as well as ADA PARK Northern Link, thank you very much!

Anzac Park, Toowong - no place for a construction workforce car park for 300 vehicles for the Northern Link Road Tunnel Project - a peculiar, incompatible and dangerous proposal - right next to a playground; in a heritage listed park; a memorial to the fallen; a much loved and used park; a haven for our fauna...and much, much more. (Blue area indicates where proposed car park will go - inside the circuit track and up behind the playground). Hands off please! Hands off or lose the next election for sure - even the staunch liberals around here are planning on changing their vote over this Brisbane City Council proposal to desecrate our park!

People power has led to a BCC backdown over Toll Control Centre

Congratulations to Ada Park over the back down on constructing a Toll Control Centre in Ada Park. Campbell Newman has admitted the proposed parkland site is the wrong location. It must be a fabulous feeling and the champers flowing during tonight's Channel 7 News coverage is well deserved.

It gives our Anzac Park group so much hope that Brisbane City Council will realise that Anzac Park is the wrong location for a car park.

One millionth tree planted in Anzac Park - a park not a car park

Read 'Friends of Anzac Park Toowong' - 'Save Anzac Park' - Group Submission objecting to BCC/Northern Link's construction workforce car park for 300 vehicles within Anzac Park. Take link on right about BLOG ARCHIVE.

Jack's Gully Anzac Park

“Jack’s Gully”
"Pause at this corner of Anzac Park and enjoy ten years’ work by Ansis Paul (Jack) KALNINS, who was born in Riga, Latvia, 17 May 1921 and died in Brisbane 21 December 1998. From his own slender resources, and single handedly, Jack planted and tended countless native trees and shrubs in this area between 1989 and 1998. A meeting of his friends placed his ashes here, as he wished. On Sunday 31 January 1999. If you are seeking Jack’s memorial it is all around you."

Car park proposal – too risky and will breach Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, says Friends of Anzac Park, Toowong

Note that members of Friends of Anzac Park, Toowong, include engineers (including those who build tunnels and roads), safety consultants, lawyers and environmental experts:

As we see it, the only way the Car Park could be built in that space, and accessed via the circuit track by the 900 cars a day which will use it, would involve: either breaching the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995, or fencing off the circuit track and all of the approximately 6 ha within it, including the playground equipment;

The proposed controls, or lack of them are inconsistent with the obligations of the proponent/council under s 30A(2) of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Qld) and of Transcity under s 28 of that same Act.

Read more in Friends of Anzac Park, Toowong, Save Anzac Park, Group Submission. Take link on right above BLOG ARCHIVE.

Friends of Anzac Park Toowong - Save Anzac Park Group Submission

Read it and become enlightened HERE

Northern Link – Application for Project Change, read it and enter the hell realms HERE
(Map of proposed car park on page 118)

The Thinker - The Coordinator-General

While the duration of the submission period was publicly notified as being from 30 October - 19 November 2010, those who sent in a part submission by last Friday requesting an extension were granted a short extension until 5pm, Friday 26 November 2010 - today!

Public comment relating to the project changes, proposed construction workforce car park within Anzac Park, Toowong, in the form of properly made submissions, should now all be with the Coordinator-General at Queensland Government, Department of Infrastructure and Planning.

The Coordinator-General asked for public input to the project changes and we responded wholeheartedly. We now wait for the Coordinator-General to make the evaluation and hope our lovely park will be saved from this peculiar, incompatible and dangerous proposal.

MEDIA: 'Constituents before council' - Speak up - WESTSIDE NEWS, Wednesday, November 24, 2010 page 8

"I'M not surprised that council is trying to butcher Anzac Park to develop the Northern Link Tunnel.
What is surprising is the lack of support from our local member Councillor Peter Matic. He shows no interest or respect for our concerns. We would like to remind Cr Matic that he represents his constituents." Tim Searles, Toowong (Hear, Hear! Tim)

MEDIA: 'Council plans for park offends' Speak up - WESTSIDE NEWS, Wednesday, November 24, 2010 page 8

"I AM shocked the council will destroy this park.
As an ex-servicewoman myself from WWII and a war widow, this park is really a sacred site to me and many others who have visited the park to sit and reflect on our loved ones who have given their lives for their county.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman should be ashamed of himself.
The council must be stopped at this madness." Cynthia Blair, Sherwood

Hot off the Press - Friends of Anzac Park's group submission objecting to the proposal sent to The Coordinator-General today

Friends of Anzac Park - Save Anzac Park - have this afternoon sent by email their group submission, created by the core committee, objecting to Legacy Way's (formerly Northern Link) proposed temporary construction workforce car park within Anzac Park, Toowong.


Combining local expertise, many hours of research and writing, this document is truly a work of art with detailed information for The Coordinator-General to consider in his assessment.

Read Our Submission HERE

Thanks to the Committee of Friends of Anzac Park - Save Anzac Park, in particular JF & PF. Thanks also to all members of Friends of Anzac Park - Save Anzac Park.

(The attached copy of our submission is published on this blog without the names and addresses of the contributors from the core committee of Friends of Anzac Park - Save Anzac Park.)

E-petition - Anzac Park not car park - closed yesterday with 591 e-signatures

Thanks to all who e-signed it and to those who have brought this ridiculous car park proposal to the attention of others.

Time for some entertainment - The Lord Mayor giveth and the Lord Mayor taketh away

Watch Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Campbell Newman planteth the 1 millionth tree in Anzac Park Toowong, also featuring our very own local celebrity Cr Matic here
Then watch him taketh away our beautiful park here
But wait, then watch him giveth 1 cent per toll for the Diggers here

He giveth and He taketh away, He planteth and He uprooteth. He buildeth up and He throweth down. He beautifieth and He deformeth; for everything belongeth to Him, and everything is from Him, and everything existeth in Him.

Something more interesting? Old Spice add here

Ecological Surveys - Letter to Residents from Peter Livesey 22 November 2010

ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS - after hours 29 November - 3 December 2010 Peter Livesey, Project Director Legacy Way

LETTER TO THE RESIDENTS 22 November 2010

You can read about it here.

THANK YOU

Friends of Anzac Park Toowong would like to say thank you to each and every individual who had the pizazz and gumption to write submissions to The Coordinator-General, sign the e-petition, and contact local members, to oppose BCC Northern Link’s proposed construction workers’ car park in Anzac Park Toowong.

E-petition still open until 24 November 2010 take link at right or here

‘I’m walking here”! NO CAR PARK IN ANZAC PARK

BCC Open Space Strategy here

New ABC TV programme Making Australian Happy, Science of Happiness here

Physical Activities
Traditionally, the body and mind have been viewed as two separate entities but the latest research shows that they are part of the same integrated system. Just as negative mental states like stress can have a detrimental impact on our bodies, improving your physical health may be the shortest route to increased happiness. The mind-body connection runs both ways, whether the effect is positive or negative. In Making Australia Happy, leading physiotherapist Anna-Louise Bouvier was recruited to look after the body basics - sleep, diet and exercise. In order to get the most out of their mental training, it was vital that the volunteers were in good physical shape.

Watch Episode 1 online here

Enjoy your weekend (at Anzac Park, Toowong, perhaps?)

Listen to Friends of Anzac Park Toowong - Save Anzac Park theme song if you like:



Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi (live) here
Counting Crows Big Yellow Taxi (Live @ Pinkpop 2003) here
Counting Crows - Big Yellow Taxi ft Vanessa Carlton here
Sarah McLachlan and others - Big Yellow Taxi here
Amy Grant - Big Yellow Taxi here

E-PETITION 'Anzac Park not car park' is open until 24 November 2010

Closing date to sign the E-petition is not until 24 November 2010, next week. Queensland residents are eligible to sign it.

Email your friends and ask them to take a moment to sign the e-petition.

Take the link on the right or HERE

Q. Can people under 18 years of age sign a petition?
A. Yes, if the petition is from residents of Queensland, and the person signing the petition is a resident of Queensland and they are old enough to understand what is it they are signing.

Written submissions to The Coordinator-General closed today at 5pm unless you sent in a part-submission by that time, in which case you have until 5pm 26 November 2010 to complete and send it. Thanks to everyone who have sent in submissions and signed the e-petition (Over 500 residents have signed it.)

Finished writing your submission? Signed the E-petition? Listen again to Arthur Palmer's ABC Radio interview - Breakfast with Spencer Howson

Listen here

Tunnel scheme taking a big toll

Westside News 18 November 2010 online

WEB WORDS, Westside News Page 9 "NO TO CAR PARK"

"COUNCIL has been encouraging people to use the parks for recreation and exercise. I am one of the daily walkers in Anzac Park, together with dozens of others. Needless to say, we all walk on the circuit road provided inside the perimeter. Fitness groups use the grassy areas as well. On a personal level, the introduction of another car park, with construction traffic coming and going, will destroy the venue of my, and many others', daily physical activities. Aside from the disruption to peoples lives, the beauty and serenity of the park with its mature trees will be lost. I protest most strongly about the proposal to interfere with the tranquillity of this much needed and loved green space that is our local Anzac Park." Dinah Johnson via website

Local Researcher Documents Bird Life, Mammals/Reptiles and Humans in Anzac Park Toowong from April - June 2010

The fauna within Anzac Park is extraordinary. The person who conducted this research is also extraordinary. The researcher is a local Toowong resident in Grade 8 who chose Anzac Park, as the subject of his research, on his own initiative, and completed this park project for school over a 10 week term from April - June 2010.

He spent a lot of time at the park after school and on weekends, and during this time he identified all the native birds and animals he saw in Anzac Park. He also had to count all the people in the park in a 1 hour period 1-2pm on a Sunday and document their activities. See his statistics here.

Fauna Within Anzac Park

Birds: Sulphur crested cockatoos, Pale-headed rosellas, Blue winged kookaburras, Australian white ibises, Dusky Moorhens, Different species of ducks (commonly pacific black duck), Rainbow lorikeets, Scaly-breasted lorikeets, Welcome Swallows - Noisy miners, Blue faced honeyeaters, Eastern Rosellas, Fig birds, Southern boobook owls (mopoke), Masked lapwings, Pheasant coucals, King parrots, Australian magpies, Pied butcherbirds, Grey butcherbirds, Torresian crows, Tawny frogmouths, Galahs, Indian miners, Blue billed ducks, Northern pin tailed ducks, Hard head ducks, Pied currawongs, and Channel-billed cuckoo, which flies from overseas to breed in Anzac Park.

Mammals/Reptiles: Stop-over point for flying foxes, Micro bats, Water dragons, Ringtail possums, Common brush tail possums, Goannas, Skinks

Friends of Anzac Park Toowong would like to thank this student for agreeing to publish his results. Note that this research was done back before we knew about the proposed construction workers' car park in Anzac Park. The workforce car park is incompatible with the fauna in Anzac Park. Anzac Park is essential for the education and development of young people.

Feel Inspired? Write a submission and/or sign the E-petition.

Andrew Fraser MP, State Member for Mt Coot-tha, Speaks Out for the Constituents and Anzac Park, and Contacts the Coordinator-General, Graeme Newton

Read The Honourable Andrew Fraser MP letter & The Coordinator-General, Graeme Newton's reply HERE

Our Own Royal Jewel – Anzac Park Toowong

No time to waste on distractions. Grab a coffee and write your letters to The Coordinator General. Instructions in earlier posts on this blog. Check your email for emails from Friends of Anzac Park Toowong.

Email: saveanzacpark@gmail.com

Submissions due 19 November 2010 (or email a part-submission to the Coordinator General and request an extension of one week. He is granting a short extension to those who ask.)

Sign the E-PETITION – take link on right above blog archive. Closes on 24 November 2010.

A TEXT BOOK CASE…

Civil Engineer Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, Brisbane City Council Legacy Way (Formerly Northern Link) Joint Venture - SKM/CONNELL WAGNER, Transcity Consortium – Acciona (Spain), Ghella (Italy) and Brisbane-based firm BMD Constructions here

Friends of Anzac Park Toowong - Save Anzac Park, Theme song here

Westside News Page 8 Wednesday 17 November 2010

Speak up

Council paving our paradise

Diane Cox emailed in to the Westside News this week:

'WHO do the council think they are? Aren't parks for the community? Don't we pay our rates to enjoy beautiful open spaces where we can have birthday parties, after-school gatherings, and be active - somewhere to throw the footy, to train, to walk the dog?'... read more of what she has to say on page 8 of the paper.

Right on Diane! Right on!

Listen to our theme song again here

And another version, dedicated to all the mums who take their kids to Anzac Park Toowong HERE

LEGACY WAY (FORMERLY NORTHERN LINK) DON'T MESS WITH THE LOCAL MUMS! SERIOUSLY. YOUR CAR PARK WILL ENDANGER THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN.

Northern Link EIS Submission Example

A friend of Anzac Park has provided their personal submission as a great example of how you can build your own submission while supporting the comments provided by the Friends of Anzac Park and also the concerns of the Mt Coot-tha Residents Group about the Toll Control Centre. You can view it here.

Submission to save Anzac Park

Friends of Anzac Park

The most important part of the campaign to save Anzac Park is making a submission to the Co-ordinator General.

While submissions are due by 19 November (this Friday), the Co-ordinator General has advised that if a part submission is made by that date, an extension of up to a week will be granted to complete the submission.

A core group is working on a complete submission which will be quite detailed.

With that in mind, we have prepared the attached template submission which:

• summarizes key points of objection
• requests an extension for a week to complete the submission

Suggested action

In the next two days, do one of the following:

1. adjust the attached letter to add your personal views as you see fit and send it (preferably by post, but email will be accepted) to the Co-ordinator General at the address on the letter so that he receives it by 5 pm on Friday 19 November 2010; or
   
2. complete the attached form of letter by filling in your name and address and send that; or
   
3. cut and paste the content of the attached letter into an email and send that; or
   
4. draft your own. The attached letter may give you some ideas; or
   
5. You can place one submission (and not bother with the extension and the detailed submission) provided the Co-ordinator General receives it by 5 pm Friday. You could adjust the attached format or draft your own.

When the detailed submission is completed, we will issue it in the same way.

--
Thank you for your support
Friends of Anzac Park

Epetition: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_QLD/CurrentEPetition.aspx?PetNum=1563&lIndex=-1
(Children can sign it provided they understand what they are signing.)

Early investigation works begin next week

Letters have been received today advising that work will start next week to collect information for the project. It won’t impact Anzac Park this time around but will involve drilling a small hole with road and footpath closures on a section of Mt Coot-tha Road. You can read about it here.

Write, sign, send - by post, by fax, by email - Due by 5pm Friday 19 November 2010 to The Coordinator-General

Northern Link ‘Application for Project Change’ Northern Link Road Tunnel Project October 2010 is available here.

Refer to section:

4 Project Changes to Western Connection
4.2.2 Workforce Car Parking
Construction car parking at Anzac Park (page 117)
(See the map on pg 118)

Reference to the car park is also made in the Executive Summary:
4 Project Changes – Western Connection
4.2 Construction Changes and Effects
Temporary Workforce Car Parking (page 16)

Significant Project Change process - How to have your say on a proposed change for a Significant Project form is here.

The Coodinator-General is the independent umpire between the community and Northern Link.

Theme Song Counting Crows - Big Yellow Taxi with Lyrics here.

'Quote of the Day'

From Northern Link - EIS - Volume 3 - Technical Papers

10.2.3 Construction Access

Any vehicles involved in construction activities must not use Anzac Park as a means of access to the project area nor can it be used for the storage of construction materials.

Read the document where this section came from, The University of Queensland Archaeological Services Unit Report No. 423b Cultural Heritage Report for the Proposed Northern Link Project September 2008 here.

Other Northern Link EIS Documents are available here.

(Can you believe it! So what do Northern Link decide to do? Put a construction workforce car park in Anzac Park Toowong, of course.)

E-PETITION Anzac Park not car park

E-PETITION Anzac Park not car park

Sign it HERE

"Flying-fox", "fig-trees", "furious" and other "f-words" starting to fly over proposed car park

Park users, locals and others are extremely angry over the Northern Link proposed construction workers car park in our beautiful park. Some of the comments:

Does Northern Link expect the local community to do the Environmental Impact Statement for this car park proposal for them? We should send them a bill, a huge bill!

We’ve had to spend so much of our personal time trying to find out basic information about the proposal which should have been provided by Northern Link. Must be something shady going on.

We love our park, Northern Link’s not getting a speck of it. The park’s for recreation not cars.

I walk on the Circuit Track everyday, how will the BCC guarantee my safety from 300 cars coming up behind me using the same track?

The community wasn't consulted if we wanted the temporary car park in the first place so there's no way we will be consulted about its removal after the tunnel project's over. It'll just stay there in our park. What a joke!

This is the most illogical place for a car park.

Can-Do is just keeping his engineering mates in a job.

What a disgusting thing to do to the memory of our diggers!

Matic better deliver on this one.

Significant Project Change process - How to have your say on a proposed change for a Significant Project form is here.

Under Section Write: Application for Project Change Section 4.2 Temporary Workforce Car Parking (Temporary construction workforce car park for up to 300 vehicles within Anzac Park)

Under Describe the issue Write: e.g. (What are the issues you have?) Safety, Cultural Heritage, Environmental, Noise, etc

Under Suggested solution Write: e.g.
There is no acceptable solution. The car park is an unacceptable risk to community safety, or
There is no acceptable solution. The car park is in an inappropriate location and should be placed somewhere other than Anzac Park, or
There is no acceptable solution...

Write your name, address, and sign and send it in to the Coordinator-General - Must be there by this Friday 19 November 2010.

The park is looking beautiful at the moment. Go and recharge you body, mind and spirit and de-stress at the park.

Watch this space - Pre-written letters and more tips coming

As soon as we have time. In the meantime have a look at what Save Ada Park are doing about letters and submissions.

Let's get cracking - Write letters and submissions to The Coordinator-General by 19 November 2010

See earlier post on this blog:

How to have your say on a proposed change for a Significant Project

The Coordinator-General

Who is this interesting person called The Coordinator-General, Queensland Government, Department of Infrastructure and Planning, who is waiting for our submissions, due on 19 November 2010? Find out here.

Read the background to Northern Link Road Tunnel Project with Queensland Government Department of Infrastructure and Planning here.

The Coordinator-General operates under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 and is a separate legal entity to government. Therefore he is an independent umpire.

Brisbane City Council has a “Duty of Care” for public safety in parks

Duty of care is a broad ranging legal principle

A duty of care is a duty to take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which you can reasonably foresee would be likely to injure persons who are so closely and directly affected by your act or omission that you ought reasonably to have them in contemplation as being so affected when directing your mind to the act or omission in question.

Stated simply, it means that one must take reasonable steps to ensure their actions do not knowingly cause harm to another individual.

In such cases, the courts look to:
• the nature of the relationship between the parties;
• whether the incident resulting in harm was reasonably foreseeable; and
• the proximity or causal connection between one person's conduct and the other person's injury.

Who has a Duty of Care?

• Brisbane City Council has a “Duty of Care” in respect of community safety in public parks
• People who have control of workplaces or the access to or egress from a workplace
• Corporate bodies that engage workers under one of the labour relationships covered in an act
• Principals (people who engage contractors in the course of their trade or business
• Erectors or installers of plant for use at a workplace
• Contractors and persons engaged or employed by the contractor
• Employers
• Employees
• Self-employed people
• Designers or constructors of buildings or structures for use at a workplace
• Agents who are in the business of hiring out workers (labour hire organisations) and their clients (host employers)
• Workers who are hired out to a host employer by a labour hire company
• People who are in a working relationship that mirrors a contract of employment but is not a contract of employment
• The Government of Queensland and those employed
• The BCC and those employed
• Operators of vehicles

Just to name a few.

How many safety issues will a construction worker’s car park in a public park raise?

A car park is proposed to be provided for the Northern Link workers in Anzac Park Toowong when the BBC and Queensland Government know or ought to know about such safety risks. Corporate bodies know these risks too. This is pretty basic stuff isn't it.

Access and Speed Limit - Construction car parking at Anzac Park

Application for Project Change page 117:

Access to the workforce parking for construction workers would be limited to and from Dean Street, with no access for construction workers from Wool Street. From this temporary parking area, construction workers could walk between the car park and the western worksite using the existing pedestrian/cycle bridge over the Centenary Motorway.

Protocols and procedures for all construction personnel in interacting with the community will be established and implemented through ongoing workforce induction, training and an agreed code of conduct or code of behaviour to be adhered to by all personnel while on any construction site associated with the Changed Project.

Q. How will access by construction workers only from Dean Street and the 10km speed limit in the park be monitored?

A. With a Code of Conduct.

Q. What, like a Football Code of Conduct they have for footballers, but for construction workers?

A copy of Cr Matic's letters to residents. Not many residents received the letters.

Take link to letters from Cr Matic and Northern Link about the car park. Not many locals seem to receive these. Please read and then write your submission/letter to The Coordinator General to voice your complete disgust for the proposal.

Take this link to - Anzac Park letters

Take this link to - Northern Link brochure

Saturday 13 November Queensland Orienteering use ANZAC Park

Orienteering Queensland used Anzac Park today.

Anzac Park (Toowong) Park-O #3 Supported by Paddy Pallin - Park Orienteering
Peter Matic said in his letter of November 3 2010 To Residents (not many people received this letter, I didn't) that, No community activities or facilities will be affected by the temporary placement of this car park in the northern section of the park.

Another porky-pie. They were using the area where the proposed car park is going.

Some of the BMD Faces Behind the $1.5 BILLION Northern Link Project

Wow, was that $1.5 Billion I heard!

Take the links to some of the faces behind the Northern Link Project.

Well, they all look like nice gentlemen who you think would care about Anzac Park Toowong.

BMD Board of Directors
http://www.bmd.com.au/About/Board-of-Directors.aspx

BMD Executive Management
http://www.bmd.com.au/About/Executive-Management.aspx

Transcity, an integrated team comprising of Brisbane based BMD Constructions, Ghella and Acciona is the winning contractor for the design, construction and operation of the Northern Link project.

The Transcity Consortium

Is the Transcity consortium comprising Acciona, Ghella and Brisbane-based firm BMD Constructions, the winning contractor for Brisbane City Council's Northern Link Project, really comfortable with the idea that the plan for one of their workforce car parks to go in Anzac Park Toowong, will result in their workforce parking on the urns and ashes of our Diggers and more than likely endanger the lives of children playing in the park?

How do their workers feel about this disrespect and safety concern?

FRIENDS OF ANZAC PARK DRAW THEIR ATTENTION TO THIS

BMD
http://www.bmdconstructions.com.au/About/Management.aspx

http://www.bmd.com.au/

Contact BMD
http://www.bmdconstructions.com.au/contact-us.aspx

Acciona
http://www.acciona.com/

Ghella
http://www.ghella.com/

Desecration of Anzac Park Toowong a serious non-indigenous cultural heritage law matter among a multitude of other issues.

BCC is supposed to conserve, protect and care for Anzac Park following the guidelines of The Burra Charter.

Anzac Park was listed on the City Plan Heritage Register in January 2004 under - Schedule 1 Heritage places and heritage precincts of cultural heritage significance:

‘Anzac Park 170 Mt Coot–tha Rd, Toowong 1 (part) RP18899 01/01/2004’

Check it out:
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/bccwr/lib181/appendix2_heritageregister_psp.pdf

Places listed on the Council's Heritage Register are protected by the Heritage Place Code in Chapter 5 of the City Plan 2000. Check it out and especially 3.2.1 Development of or in a heritage place or heritage precinct:

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/bccwr/lib181/chapter5_heritageplace_code.pdf

The Burra Charter was adopted by Australia ICOMOS (the Australian National Committee of ICOMOS)

The Burra Charter advocates a cautious approach to change: do as much as necessary to care for the place and to make it useable, but otherwise change it as little as possible so the history of the place can continue to be recognised in its physical material. (So a construction workers car park is out of the question)

http://www.nationaltrust.com.au/burracharter.html

The Burra Charter of Australia ICOMOS is the accepted standard for conservation analysis in this country. A Heritage Impact Statement should be based on the principles and processes of the Burra Charter, insofar as the cultural significance of the building/site/place should be determined through an analysis of its documentary and physical evidence. The Heritage Impact Statement should encourage conservation of the Heritage Place; the aim of conservation is to retain the cultural significance of a place.

Where is this Heritage Impact Statement done by BCC on the change to the project with this new plan for the car park in Anzac Park? Not done! (Bad bad BCC!)

It gets better with the fact that Anzac Park is adjacent to Toowong Cemetery listed on Qld Heritage Register. With new facts about Anzac Park Toowong coming to light each day an application is being prepared to have the park also listed on the Qld Heritage Register.

The Coordinator-General from Queensland Government advises in the Terms of Reference for the Northern Link Tunnel states:

5.8 Cultural heritage

5.8.1 Description of existing environment

The EIS should describe the existing values for indigenous and non-indigenous cultural heritage areas and objects that may be affected by the project activities. This assessment should be developed in accordance with the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act (2003), administered by NRW, and the Queensland Heritage Act (1992), administered by EPA. Reference to the Brisbane City Council Cultural Heritage Manual and City Plan’s Heritage Register Planning Scheme Policy is advised.

(Note that any EIS done by BCC was done before the idea came up for the car park so the impact of the car park has not been assessed.)

Spare a thought

Spare a thought for our friends across the overpass who are fighting their own Northern Link Road Tunnel monstrosity.

Save Ada Park
http://mtcoottha.posterous.com/pages/save-ada-park

Their website is fantastic and has lots of information relevant to Save Anzac Park including submission tips.

Save Ada Park, go for it!
Save Anzac Park, go for it!

ALP chooses Ray Smith as Brisbane mayoral candidate

The Labor Party has announced businessman Ray Smith as its Lord Mayoral candidate for the next Brisbane City Council election.

Mr Smith will take on incumbent Liberal National Party (LNP) Mayor Campbell Newman at the March 2012 poll.

Mr Smith is the chief executive of Brisbane post-production business Cutting Edge.

He says he will stand down from that job while campaigning.

Mr Smith says his opponent is plunging the city into debt.

"Campbell Newman's got a reckless plan for more tunnels and toll roads," he said.

"It's a plan for massive debt and it's a plan for skyrocketing rates and if we look at Clem7, we can see that it's no guarantee that it will even fix Brisbane's traffic congestion issues."

Take link for story:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/12/3064851.htm

Cr Matic “Minimal impact upon residents and park users” - untrue

Has the BCC just whacked in this illogical idea for the Anzac Park car park into the ‘Application for Project Change’, just to try to satisfy, on paper, The Coordinator-General’s conditions with regards to workforce car parking? It seems like this to the locals.

Where is the required EIS done for this new plan for Anzac Park?

How do you just spray down bitumen on a slope like this for a 300 bay car park?

How is it that no ‘significant trees’ in this photograph will not be lost? Peter Matic said that no trees would be removed. (Photo taken today)

BCC Application for Project Change, states:

Temporary construction workforce parking areas would be established in Anzac Park for up to 300 vehicles, without any loss of significant trees in the park, and with access from Dean Street only.

The proposed temporary construction workforce car park in Anzac Park comprises open grassland with scattered trees. Existing trees within the proposed car park would be retained and protected during its construction and use.

Is it ‘significant trees’ or ‘existing trees' or as Peter Matic said "No trees"?

Cr Matic's comments on 612 ABC Brisbane offensive and yet another mark of disrespect for our diggers.

Peter Matic stated that there are no BCC records for permits to scatter the ashes of returned servicemen in Anzac Park.

Just because BCC does not have records of permits to scatter ashes or bury urns in Anzac Park – it doesn’t mean that ashes were not scattered and urns not buried in Anzac Park. New facts can pop up at anytime, that’s why historians and even lawyers will continue to research this park. Arthur Palmer and others are witnesses to these culturally significant events. Anzac Park is actually Anzac War Memorial Park. Thanks Arthur, we now have this ABC recording.

What Peter Matic said on 612 ABC Brisbane is very offensive. Does he realise he's digging his own grave over this?

Locals and many others speak out loud and clear - 'NO CAR PARK' - banner goes up opposite Anzac Park Toowong

Breakfast with Spencer Howson - Arthur Palmer witness to urns buried and ashes scattered in Anzac Park

Listen to Arthur Palmer talk:


http://blogs.abc.net.au/queensland/2010/11/locals-fear-desecration-of-anzac-park.html


This is a very interesting interview. Please listen to it.


Cr Matic says the BCC will spray bitumen on the side of the hill to make the car park - is he mad?

Also - Environmental Impact Statement Documents

EIS documents to help with your submission at:

http://www.northernlinkeis.com.au/EISDocuments.html

You might need to give up your day job to get through them all.


Also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrBaV5MvX_4&feature=related

Long after this BCC Council has gone we'll be discussing this too!

How to have your say on a proposed change for a Significant Project

You only have until Friday 19 November 2010 to make your written submissions to the Coordinator General regarding the proposed construction workers car park in Anzac Park Toowong.

It's easier than you might think. To assist with making a submission, please complete the change request submission form at:

http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/resources/project/northern-link-tunnel/northern-link-road-tunnel-change-form.pdf

(Or write your own letter using your own template)

A 'properly made submission' must:

-be made to the Coordinator-General in writing and be received on or before the last day of the submission period

-be signed by each person who makes the submission

-state the name and address of each person who makes the submission

-state the grounds of the submission and facts and circumstances relied on.

Note: Under s.34(3) of the Act, the Coordinator-General may accept a submission that is not a 'properly made submission,' for example an e-mail, that is not signed. (i.e. has the discretion to do this, but a properly made submission is smarter.)

You will be referring to the BCC document 'Application for Change Northern Link Road Tunnel Project' October 2010 and specifically to 'Temporary Workforce Car Parking' under Section 4.2 (page 18) at:

http://www.northernlinkeis.com.au/pdf/northern-link-road-tunnel-change-report.pdf

Also check any other references to Anzac Park in this document for further information.

The Coordinator-General, Terms of Reference for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to help with your submissions are here:

http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/docs/library/Northern_Link_Road_Tunnel_ToR.pdf

You will have your own concerns about the proposed car park. Some of the issues are: Safety, Pedestrian and cyclist issues, Environmental issues - flora and fauna etc; Noise, Traffic, Cultural Heritage, Kids safety, etc etc etc. (And we don't even have any information on how the car park will be constructed from BCC- lighting, excavation, fencing, removal of trees???? or what the other alternatives for workforce car parking are.)

I probably don't need to mention that in your written submission there is no need for exclamation marks!, unnecessary bolding of text or UPPER CASE!...and nothing like the poor fellow in this You tube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA1hyqA6UTY

Good Luck.

Have you signed the E-petition yet?

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_QLD/CurrentEPetition.aspx?PetNum=1563&lIndex=-1

If you wish to sign this petition please sign it as soon as you can.

Very recent history of heritage listed Anzac Park Toowong - Lord Mayor Newman plants the 1 millionth tree of the four-year 2 Million Trees Project

Only recently on 23 May, 2010, did we enjoy a wonderful community event at Anzac Park, Toowong. Little did we know that a few months down the track there would be a proposal for a huge car park in our park for the workers of the Northern Link Road Tunnel Project.

Take the link below and watch Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Campbell Newman plant the 1 millionth tree and listen to his speech.

http://www.waterandcarbon.com.au/news/10/39/1-Million-Trees-Planted

(Please note that The Water & Carbon Group have no direct connection with this blog or Friends of Anzac Park)

Remembrance Day Today

Take the link to The Last Post bugle call:

http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/customs/last_post.asp

More Parks Not Less! Save Anzac Park! Parks 4 Dogs! - Locals Unite to Protest

The meeting with Cr Matic at Anzac Park Toowong on Saturday, 6 November, 2010, united park users of all sorts. Anzac Park has a very popular off-leash dog park in the west corner. Many dog park regulars attended the meeting and are concerned about issues of safety, increased traffic, restricted access and use of Anzac Park as a whole, reduction of public park space in Toowong, as well as the cultural heritage law issues relating to the heritage listed park.

For 'Dudley', pictured, a daily visit to Anzac Park off-leash dog park and catching up with his friends is the highlight of his day, as it is for many of the dog owners - sad but true! Some great human and canine friendships have been formed at the dog park over the years.

Northern Link tunnel carpark plan for Toowong's Anzac Park angers residents

Courier Mail 3 November 2010

RESIDENTS in Brisbane's inner west have hit plans to convert part of a local park in Toowong into a carpark for workers during construction of the $1.5 billion Northern Link tunnel.


http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/northern-link-tunnel-carpark-plan-for-toowongs-anzac-park-angers-residents/story-e6freoof-1225946926685

Northern Link tunnel named Legacy Way to honour Diggers - Oh the irony of it all!

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman announced today the tunnel, which will be completed in 2014, will be renamed in honour of the men and women serving in the Australian Defence Force, those who have passed away.


http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/northern-link-tunnel-named-legacy-way-to-honour-diggers/comments-e6freoof-1225950922274


(One cent of every toll donated to the families of veterans as well as the complete desecration of sacred memorial ground, our heritage listed Anzac Park, Toowong. Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, this just gets better and better every day!)

Anzac anger on park plan

Westside News

http://westside-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/anzac-anger-on-park-plan/

A Huge Chunk of Anzac Park, Toowong - Doesn't look like 6 per cent!

The blue area indicates where the construction workers' car park will be - on the side of the hill which is often used for picnickers because of the view, inside the Anzac Park Circuit Track. A huge chunk!

Councillor Peter Matic (Toowong) said the car park would take up only 6 per cent of the park’s area.

Doesn't look like 6 per cent.

'Artist's impression'

Above: Friends of Anzac Park artist's impression of the Northern Link Road Tunnel Project construction workforce car park in the middle of Anzac Park, Toowong, from top of circuit track used by walkers, joggers and kids on bikes, facing north-east.

Familiar with those glossy, colourful BCC Northern Link brochures with the 'artist's impressions' you receive in your letter box? I received another one just yesterday. There's not much detail on them so...

The Northern Link has been declared by the Coordinator-General (at the Department of Infrastructure and Planning, Queensland Government) as a significant project for which an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required - s.26(1)(a)of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWOA). The BCC has done the EIS but after concluding the EIS the BCC then came up with the insane idea to put a construction workforce car park in the middle of heritage listed Anzac Park, Toowong. There are other changes to the project as well. These changes then required the BCC to submit the Northern Link Road Tunnel Project 'Application for Project Change' to the Coordinator-General. Follow the link and note that this was done recently, October 2010. You'll find the insane idea for the car park in this document. Note that submissions for the community to respond close just next week, Friday 19 November 2010.

http://www.northernlinkeis.com.au/pdf/northern-link-road-tunnel-change-report.pdf

This is not just another fancy document, it is a requirement under the SDPWOA - see Division 3A-Changes to Project. However this document is seriously lacking in information, especially for the proposed car park in Anzac Park. It is required to include specific information. Some of the information regarding Anzac Park, that is included, is incorrect. Can the BCC Application even be considered to be an application under the requirements of the Act.

There isn' t even an 'artist's impression' of how the car park will look, so Friends of Anzac Park have had to come up with their own.

Friends of Anzac Park!!

Lend me your . . .um . . .fingers.

The epetition is up. Link below.

You can sign it even if you have signed the written petition. In fact, you must, because there is a little counter which everybody can see which tells the world how many people care.

Children can sign it! The parliamentary website, says they can if they are residents of Queensland and are old enough to understand what they are signing.

Epetition

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_QLD/CurrentEPetition.aspx?PetNum=1563&lIndex=-1

To be added to the Friends of Anzac Park email list, simply email:

saveanzacpark@gmail.com

Rifle training in Anzac Park, Toowong, Brisbane, ca. 1912

Rifle training, Anzac Park, Toowong, looking towards Mount Coot-tha Road and Brisbane General Cemetery. Tents appear in the background.

Image sourced from Picture Queensland, State Library of Queensland
This image is free of copyright restrictions.

Click on the image to make it bigger.

Remember to buy a poppy!

Remembrance Day, Thursday 11 November 2010 marks the anniversary of the armistice which ended the First World War (1914 - 18). Each year Australians observe one minute silence at 11 am on 11 November, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.

Also remember from earlier posts on this blog that Anzac Park, Toowong, is in fact listed on the Brisbane City Council’s very own City Plan Heritage Register.

It was listed for a few reasons one important one being, as a place for remembering the fallen from the district in the Great War, it has a strong or special association with the life or work of a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.

Now read on....

On the Northern Link website under EIS Volume 3 - Technical papers

The Cultural Heritage Report for the Proposed Northern Link Project completed by The University of Queensland Archaeological Services Unit Report No. 423b states at 10.2.3:

10.2.3 Construction Access
Any vehicles involved in construction activities must not use Anzac Park as a means of access to the project area nor can it be used for the storage of construction materials.

Take the direct link to this document and have a read. It’s almost at the bottom of this 408 page document.

http://www.northernlinkeis.com.au/pdf/eis/Vol3/Vol3_TechReport12_Cultural%20Heritage.pdf

Does the BCC think the locals of Toowong came down in the last shower, which was in fact today?

There can be no car park in Anzac Park so what is the alternative?

Westside News front page, "Hands off our park" - RSL Upset!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010, front page of the local Westside News has a photograph of Mr Kerry Gallagher Toowong RSL Sub Branch President seated in front of the ANZAC PARK sign at the park. The article on page 6 quotes Mr Gallagher as saying that there has to be better ways of accommodating workers. "It degrades the significance of the Anzac name."

The article goes on to quote Toowong resident Arthur Palmer, "Members of fallen soldiers' families have scattered the ashes of their loved ones in that park, and this plan from council is a show of contempt for the sacrifices they've made." He said the plan was utterly offensive and a complete desecration of sacred memorial ground.

Last Saturday's Meeting at Anzac Park mentioned in this week's Westside News

It was a great turn out on Saturday, 6 November, 2010, at Anzac Park, Toowong, to meet with Cr Matic.

The drive around was sensational and showed how the Circuit Track, which is usually used by walkers, joggers and kids on bikes, and hardly any cars, could be inappropriately turned into something like a Grand Prix Circuit.

The Anzac Park Circuit Track is a one-way, narrow circuit so the plan to let workers enter the car park only from Dean Street will mean they still need to do a lap of the park to get to the car park. If they enter the park at Wool Street they still need to do part of the lap. How will the workers be monitored on which entry they use? With a number of shift changes this will mean hundreds and hundreds of comings and goings to our well used, but quiet park.

The rally last Saturday was a magnificent indication of what it will be like to have 300 cars entering the park at the same time: the 50 which turned up on Saturday afternoon caused a traffic jam, but a very cheerful one.

Joanna Freeburn from Friends of Anzac Park was quoted in the Westside News saying she was not sure what figures Cr Matic was looking at, but the car park would take up around 20 per cent of the usable areas of the park.

If you didn't receive a copy of the Westside News this week, then there is a stack down at the Information Booth at Toowong Village Shopping Centre, opposite Fruity Capers.

No More Fun for Kids Down on the Farm in Anzac Park, Toowong

No more fun for kids, grown-ups, dogs and all other sorts of fauna, if the proposed car park behind the Australian farmstead playground at Anzac Park, Toowong, goes ahead.

Properly made submissions to the Coordinator General close soon, on Friday 19 November 2010, and we have only just become aware of this proposal for the car park! This is not enough time seeing that the community has not been provided with enough information by the BCC.

BCC Application for Project Change Northern Link Road Tunnel Project submitted to Queensland's Coordinator General

The Brisbane City Council's 'Application for Project Change Northern Link Road Tunnel Project October 2010', can be viewed by taking the below link. Buried in this 165 page document is the plan for the construction workforce car park in Anzac Park, Toowong. Please see, on page 118, of this document, the image of where the proposed car park will go. It will certainly ruin the integrity of this heritage listed park.

Strangely, there is next to nothing in this document on how the Council intends to construct this proposed car park.

http://www.northernlinkeis.com.au/changeReport.html

Have Your Say - Cr Peter Matic

The Brisbane City Council's Councillor for Toowong is Cr Peter Matic,
His website is:

http://www.petermatic.com.au/

His email address is:

toowong.ward@ecn.net.au

Have Your Say - Queensland Government Department of Infrastructure and Planning

Visit the website of the Queensland Government Department of Infrastructure and Plannning and take the link to the proponents change request report. Note that the car park proposal in Anzac Park is a new idea of BCC that the locals have only just found out about. You can find out how to make a submission on this website also.

http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/projects/transport/tunnels-and-bridges/northern-link-road-tunnel.html#consultation