LINDAS VINE LINES Feb09
State Member for Kurwongbah
Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had an enjoyable and safe Christmas and festive season. We’ve got a big year ahead of us, with plenty of events being staged to celebrate Queensland’s 150th birthday. I hope everyone gets the chance to experience at least one of these. There’s also an election coming up, which will mean the end to the great honour and privilege I have had of representing you as the State Member for Kurwongbah.
With school starting again for another year, I would urge everyone to remember to drive safely near schools and to be especially careful where buses pick up and drop off children. As you know, children can be unpredictable and drivers need to be prepared for the unexpected.
Draft SEQ Regional Plan Briefing
The Queensland Government is now undertaking a review of the SEQ Regional Plan 2005 to respond to important growth management issues that have emerged since its release. These issues include higher than expected population growth, housing affordability pressures, transport congestion and the urgent need to respond to climate change. The draft SEQ Regional Plan and the draft state planning regulatory provisions are on display from December 2008 to early April 2009. After a review of submissions, an updated SEQ Regional Plan will be finalised in July 2009.
The draft SEQ Regional Plan has been prepared through consultation and cooperation of the state and local government to address the region’s values, challenges and opportunities. The next vital step involves seeking the ideas and concerns of the community in SEQ. Your views are needed to finalise the SEQ Regional Plan and I strongly encourage your feedback during the public consultation process. The release of the draft SEQ Regional Plan gives you the opportunity to have your say, get involved and help shape the future development of SEQ.
There will be a briefing on the Draft SEQ Regional Plan on Friday 6th February 2009 starting at 11:00am at the Council room on Williams Street in Dayboro. If you are interested in attending, could you please let my office know on 3205 6779.
ClimateSmart Home Service
As part of the State Government’s commitment to tackle climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the new Queensland Government ClimateSmart Home Service was announced in June 2008 to help Queenslanders reduce their energy use and energy costs around the home. The program commenced on 5th January 2009 and will deliver 260,000 services across Queensland by December 2010.
The ClimateSmart Home Service involves a qualified electrician conducting a brief home energy audit and installing a household energy monitor for a cost of just $50 to residents. In addition, up to 15 compact fluorescent light globes and a water efficient showerhead will be supplied and installed free of charge. A customised energy and water savings plan will also be provided as a follow up to the in-home audit. It is estimated that the service will help Queensland households to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4 tonnes per year and save up to $250 on their annual electricity and water bills. As a result, this important initiative will not only reduce carbon emissions and help the environment, but can deliver substantial financial savings.
Bookings can be made by calling 13 20 40 or visiting www.climatesmarthome.com .
Queensland Training Awards
The Queensland Training Awards are Queensland’s most prestigious training awards program and continue a 47-year tradition of recognising and rewarding Queensland individuals and organisations who strive for excellence, best practice and innovation in the vocational education and training sector. The awards provide organisations and individuals with increased exposure and recognition throughout their community and industry. Individuals in the student categories also have the opportunity to win fantastic prizes such as cash, computers and overseas trips. Nominations for the employer and organisation awards categories close on 11 March 2009, while nominations for the individual award categories close on 18 March 2009.
I encourage all students, employers, training providers and organisations to nominate and reap the many rewards that accompany this prestigious award. For more information, you can visit the Queensland Training Awards website at www.qta.qld.gov.au or call my office on 3205 6779.
Queensland Seniors Share in National Concession Roll Out
Queensland Seniors can now share in a national transport concessions initiative and Queensland, as the nation’s premier destination, is also set to be a big winner. As many as three million seniors around Australia will be able to access new transport concessions when they travel interstate under a program that began on January 1st. Basically, this means that seniors travelling interstate can now access cheaper fares on local transport in their destination city. For example, a Victorian Seniors Card holder travelling to Brisbane will be able to access seniors’ fares on public transport across the State. In return, Queensland seniors who travel interstate will receive concession fares. Given that Queensland is the nation’s premier destination I expect that we will receive a timely injection of interstate visitors.
For more information please contact my office on 3205 6779.
Driving to Conditions
Queensland’s road death toll in 2008 was 327, the lowest since 2004, but still unsatisfactorily high. As a consequence, the State Government has launched the Below 299 in 2009 campaign aimed at further reducing the death toll on Queensland’s roads. Driving to conditions means that drivers must think critically about the conditions that prevail around them and then drive at a speed that will allow them to react safely to these conditions. Remember, the speed limit is a guide, not a requirement and drivers should slow down to suit the conditions.
Main Roads take a number of factors into consideration when determining speed limits, including pedestrian activity, visibility and road condition. However, it is up to each driver to make an assessment every time they drive to determine how these factors vary on any given day. Only you, as the driver, can choose to slow down and give yourself a chance to react to varied conditions. Please help make sure everyone goes home to their families by driving to conditions.
Draft SEQ Regional Plan Briefing
The Queensland Government is now undertaking a review of the SEQ Regional Plan 2005 to respond to important growth management issues that have emerged since its release. These issues include higher than expected population growth, housing affordability pressures, transport congestion and the urgent need to respond to climate change. The draft SEQ Regional Plan and the draft state planning regulatory provisions are on display from December 2008 to early April 2009. After a review of submissions, an updated SEQ Regional Plan will be finalised in July 2009.
The draft SEQ Regional Plan has been prepared through consultation and cooperation of the state and local government to address the region’s values, challenges and opportunities. The next vital step involves seeking the ideas and concerns of the community in SEQ. Your views are needed to finalise the SEQ Regional Plan and I strongly encourage your feedback during the public consultation process. The release of the draft SEQ Regional Plan gives you the opportunity to have your say, get involved and help shape the future development of SEQ.
There will be a briefing on the Draft SEQ Regional Plan on Friday 6th February 2009 starting at 11:00am at the Council room on Williams Street in Dayboro. If you are interested in attending, could you please let my office know on 3205 6779.
ClimateSmart Home Service
As part of the State Government’s commitment to tackle climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the new Queensland Government ClimateSmart Home Service was announced in June 2008 to help Queenslanders reduce their energy use and energy costs around the home. The program commenced on 5th January 2009 and will deliver 260,000 services across Queensland by December 2010.
The ClimateSmart Home Service involves a qualified electrician conducting a brief home energy audit and installing a household energy monitor for a cost of just $50 to residents. In addition, up to 15 compact fluorescent light globes and a water efficient showerhead will be supplied and installed free of charge. A customised energy and water savings plan will also be provided as a follow up to the in-home audit. It is estimated that the service will help Queensland households to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 4 tonnes per year and save up to $250 on their annual electricity and water bills. As a result, this important initiative will not only reduce carbon emissions and help the environment, but can deliver substantial financial savings.
Bookings can be made by calling 13 20 40 or visiting www.climatesmarthome.com .
Queensland Training Awards
The Queensland Training Awards are Queensland’s most prestigious training awards program and continue a 47-year tradition of recognising and rewarding Queensland individuals and organisations who strive for excellence, best practice and innovation in the vocational education and training sector. The awards provide organisations and individuals with increased exposure and recognition throughout their community and industry. Individuals in the student categories also have the opportunity to win fantastic prizes such as cash, computers and overseas trips. Nominations for the employer and organisation awards categories close on 11 March 2009, while nominations for the individual award categories close on 18 March 2009.
I encourage all students, employers, training providers and organisations to nominate and reap the many rewards that accompany this prestigious award. For more information, you can visit the Queensland Training Awards website at www.qta.qld.gov.au or call my office on 3205 6779.
Queensland Seniors Share in National Concession Roll Out
Queensland Seniors can now share in a national transport concessions initiative and Queensland, as the nation’s premier destination, is also set to be a big winner. As many as three million seniors around Australia will be able to access new transport concessions when they travel interstate under a program that began on January 1st. Basically, this means that seniors travelling interstate can now access cheaper fares on local transport in their destination city. For example, a Victorian Seniors Card holder travelling to Brisbane will be able to access seniors’ fares on public transport across the State. In return, Queensland seniors who travel interstate will receive concession fares. Given that Queensland is the nation’s premier destination I expect that we will receive a timely injection of interstate visitors.
For more information please contact my office on 3205 6779.
Driving to Conditions
Queensland’s road death toll in 2008 was 327, the lowest since 2004, but still unsatisfactorily high. As a consequence, the State Government has launched the Below 299 in 2009 campaign aimed at further reducing the death toll on Queensland’s roads. Driving to conditions means that drivers must think critically about the conditions that prevail around them and then drive at a speed that will allow them to react safely to these conditions. Remember, the speed limit is a guide, not a requirement and drivers should slow down to suit the conditions.
Main Roads take a number of factors into consideration when determining speed limits, including pedestrian activity, visibility and road condition. However, it is up to each driver to make an assessment every time they drive to determine how these factors vary on any given day. Only you, as the driver, can choose to slow down and give yourself a chance to react to varied conditions. Please help make sure everyone goes home to their families by driving to conditions.
Until next time,
Linda
