Kindergarten funding the latest government debacle

Wednesday, 01 September 2010 14:01

The LNP has conducted a vigorous campaign against a new funding model for kindergartens that would see huge reductions in State government support for kindergartens and dramatic increases in fees. 

Click here to read my latest speech to Parliament  Click here to read Questions in Estimates Sitting  Click here to read response to Estimates

In response to pressure, the government announced that it would make one-off payments to kindergartens in the 2011 year to offset the funding cuts. 

 

Quite bizarrely, on the eve of a federal election, the State government has circulated a letter through the C&K organisation to parents whose children attend community kindergartens, claiming that they have in fact dramatically backflipped and will not cut funding to individual kindergartens prior to 2014.

Read more: Kindergarten funding the latest government debacle

New pool fence laws on the way

Tuesday, 24 August 2010 11:02

New pool fencing laws are set to commence operation for summer 2010. 

Stage 1 of the new laws that commenced last summer applied to newly constructed swimming pools. 

Stage 2 set for the upcoming summer applies to existing swimming pools. 

The following dot points detail the major changes pool owners can expect:- 

Compliance with new and stricter safety rules (Click here to read Queensland Development Code MP 3.4 ).Owners of existing pools will be given five years to bring their pool up to the current standard;

A compliance certificate is required on any swimming pool if the property is sold or a new lease is entered into.  This will be an additional requirement for people selling a property with a pool or renting a property with a pool;

Previously exempt pools, such as indoor pools and pools in hotels, motels and caravan parks, will now be required to be compliant;

Local councils will no longer be given discretion to ease pool fencing requirements for properties in rural areas or ocean front properties;

Local governments will be required by law to conduct a mandatory pool safety inspection if there is a drowning or near drowning or a complaint is received in relation to the pool.  Safety inspectors will be given the power to enter pool owners property;

An electronic pool register.  Pool owners will be given six months from the introduction of the new law (expected to be 1 December 2010) to have their pool on the register.  Further advice of this deadline will be posted at www.moggill.net and in a later Moggill Monitor;

It is estimated that the average cost for pool owners of meeting compliance would be between $430 and $730;

It was previously allowed for one of the four sides of a pool enclosure to be the wall of the house.  Under the new standards as detailed above, this will no longer be allowed.  A pool fence away from the house will be required on all four sides of the pool.

Read more: New pool fence laws on the way

Birkin Road Lights at Last !

Thursday, 19 August 2010 12:57

Safety improvements works we have fought so hard to get are due to commence very shortly on the intersection of Birkin Road and Moggill Road at Bellbowrie. They will include:

 

 ·    Installing traffic lights

·    Extending right turn lane from Moggill Road into Birkin Road

·    Upgrade pedestrian crossing facilities 

I had previously been advised this work would commence at the end of August and be completed by December (which seemed an inordinately long time). 

I have now been informed that the work will be finished by the end of October, a much more realistic time frame I believe, given the scope of the work. 

Read more: Birkin Road Lights at Last !

Brisbane’s Worst Road – It’s official!

Tuesday, 17 August 2010 16:00

Results of the RACQ Redspot survey for 2010 (published in the Courier Mail Aug 5) has ranked Moggill Road (Kenmore to Chapel Hill) as the second worst section of road in Brisbane.  

As part of that same survey Moggill Road at Kenmore has been given the dubious honor of being the fourth worst intersection in Brisbane. 

These findings add up to Moggill road being the worst local road in Brisbane.  

This survey tells us what every local resident already knows and that is – Moggill Road is a disgrace. 

The government should be ashamed and embarrassed that they have allowed this road, our only access road to Brisbane to repeatedly be on the RACQ’s Red Spot list as being one of Brisbane’s worst local roads. 

Read more: Brisbane’s Worst Road – It’s official!