LIVING IN
Budget helps households with living costs: Lord Mayor
We’re slashing the cost of green waste recycling bins by more than half.
And we’re capping the price of visiting Council’s 22 pools throughout Summer to just $2 for adults and kids.
These two key initiatives from the 2023-24 Council Budget are part of the wider $80 million commitment to help households with cost of living pressures.
This Budget continues to invest in roads, transport, and other infrastructure our growing city needs.
But primarily it recognises rising everyday costs are the top issue for Brisbane residents. With a strong focus on the future, our Budget will help make Brisbane even better.
Top 10 Budget highlights for 2023-24
$3.7 billion
Total spend across our suburbs
$1.429 billion
Invested into job-creating infrastructure projects across our city and suburbs
Budget helps to bust living costs
Our 2023-24 Budget is all about striking the right balance between keeping costs down for residents while building for Brisbane’s future. With rising living costs front of mind for residents, this Budget includes an $80 million package of initiatives that will benefit Brisbane households.
Along with maintaining South East Queensland’s lowest minimum rates and generous rebates for pensioners, the 2023-24 Budget also includes cuts to the cost of green waste recycling bins and slashing the entry fee to Council’s 22 pools to just $2 throughout summer.
The $4.3 billion Budget also helps build an even better Brisbane with a $1.4 billion investment in road, transport, parks and playgrounds infrastructure through our city.
This also includes progressing our turn-up-and-go Brisbane Metro, two new green bridges and the transformation of Victoria Park.
About 87% of Council’s investment will occur in Brisbane’s suburbs, including record spending on new and improved footpaths, drainage and regular road resurfacing.
To find out more about the Budget, visit Council’s website.
$691.9 million
Delivering Clean and Green initiatives like suburban parks
$320.4 million
Improving roads to get you home quicker and safer
$94.4 million
Total investment into active transport infrastructure
$80 million
Cost of living relief package including cutting cost of green bins
$50.5 million
For our city’s libraries, including a new library for Everton Park and 24/7 library boxes
$8.7 million
Running our annual kerbside collection service
$44 million
Delivering discounts and rebates to residents
$4.1 million
Total investment into safer school travel
Cost of green bins halved
The cost of going green is now a whole lot cheaper.
As announced in the 2023-24 Brisbane City Council Budget, the cost of keeping a green bin will drop from $93.68 to $45 each year from 1 July 2023. That’s less than $1 a week.
Green bins are a great way to dispose of garden waste such as palm fronds, rather than seeing it dumped into landfill. Green bins were first introduced in Brisbane in 2009 and since then, more than 290,000 tonnes of compostable waste has been diverted away from waste depots –that’s almost 26,557 Council buses!
For details on how to get a green bin, visit Council’s website.
Cycling Brisbane: Couch to 40k
If you’ve ever thought of joining a riding event, Cycling Brisbane is offering riders of all abilities a chance to train before the big day.
Couch to 40K, is an affordable six-week online training program to prepare you for the Brisbane to Gold Coast: Cycle for Cancer ride on 27 August.
Participants can reach out to a dedicated coach virtually for support and connect with other riders, as well as receive a jersey, 40K event entry, and a goodie bag from Cycling Brisbane.
To learn more about the training program and tips for cycling in Brisbane, visit cyclingbrisbane.com.au
Get cosy for winter
Beat the chill this winter with some of Council’s best free and affordable events and activities.
Borrow a page turner – Cosy up with popular titles from our libraries including Homecoming by Kate Morton and Dinner by Nagi Maehashi.
Visit a Council pool – Make a splash with the kids in Council’s pools as the heat turns up during the colder months. There will also be reduced pool fees for all visitors during the summer months, with entry fees slashed to $2 between December and February.
Tea and trivia – Have fun testing your knowledge with trivia questions at Council libraries including Bulimba, Brisbane Square and Zillmere.
Art and craft – Get crafty in Carindale Library’s Makerspace with art and craft sessions, sewing lessons and more.
DID YOU KNOW?
Council offers plenty of free and affordable activities for the whole family. Find out more at brisbane.qld.gov.au
Master Plan for Victoria Park revealed
The Master Plan for Victoria Park has been revealed, showcasing the long-term transformation of the park, formed by your ideas and feedback.
The park will become a natural retreat in the heart of our city that celebrates Brisbane’s rich cultural heritage.
The Master Plan will increase tree canopy cover from 10% to 60%, restore natural waterholes and wetlands, and will create new wildlife habitats.
There’ll also be plenty of opportunity for play with an adventure playground, nature water play gully and mountain bike trail.
New park furniture and shelters have been delivered, with early works to continue later in the year.
Local news
BUSHFIRE PREPAREDNESS
Be prepared this fire season. Keep an eye out for Council’s free bushfire information sessions to find out how to best prepare your property and emergency plans ahead of summer and this bushfire season. Search ‘bushfire preparedness information session’ on Council’s website.
2023 WASTESMART AWARDS
Do you know an individual or group that goes above and beyond to keep Brisbane clean, green and sustainable? Give them the recognition they deserve and nominate them for a WasteSMART Brisbane Award at wastesmartawards.com.au Award nominations close 2 September.
40,000 street trees planted in four years
Brisbane’s suburban streets have become cooler and greener thanks to Council’s Greener Suburbs program. Since 2019, more than 40,000 street trees have been planted in local streets.
Urban trees are important to the liveability of our city as they provide much-needed shade to support our outdoor and subtropical lifestyle.
Our Free Native Plants program further delivers on our plans for a more sustainable Brisbane by distributing free native plants to the community.
Be sure to keep your eye out for any upcoming Community Street Tree Planting events near you to help make our local roads greener.
REVITALISING SHOPPING PRECINCTS
Shopping precincts in Wynnum Town Centre and Banyo are the latest to benefit from Council’s Growing Precincts Together initiative. As part of the program, Council will work closely with local businesses to promote, activate and refresh key shopping precincts for everyone to enjoy.
Get moving with senior’s free off-peak travel
Older residents can move around the city and connect with loved ones with ease with Council providing free off-peak travel on our buses, CityCats and ferries.
Enjoy unlimited free off-peak travel by:
• having a Senior go card or a Seniors card +go
• adding the minimum credit amount
• touching on and off with your Senior go card or Seniors card +go on your chosen off-peak service.
Available on Brisbane buses, CityCats and ferries from 8.30am-3.30pm and 7pm-6am weekdays, and on buses on weekends and public holidays.
For more information visit brisbane.qld.gov.au
Road safety awareness top of mind for SAM
More than a billion motorists have passed Council’s Speed Awareness Monitors in the last decade.
Brisbane Metro’s construction progress
Council is upgrading existing infrastructure as part of the city-shaping Brisbane Metro project.
Bus stations at Cultural Centre, Buranda and UQ Lakes are getting major upgrades to increase capacity, improve accessibility and provide end-of-route charging for the electric metro fleet.
We’re also creating more connections with active transport options including bikeways and enhanced pedestrian pathways as part of these works.
Through smart planning, Council is providing cleaner and greener public transport options for Brisbane.
Scan the QR code to see how construction is taking shape.
Data shows the highly successful program has encouraged Brisbane drivers to reduce their speed by an average of 7.4 kilometres per hour after passing a SAM.
In one location, SAM prompted speeding motorists to reduce their speeds by up to 18km per hour on average, making the road safer for all users.
There are currently 190 SAMs rotating across 894 locations in Brisbane and 83 permanent signs near schools.
You can suggest a new location for a SAM by contacting your local ward office.
DID YOU KNOW?
Brisbane’s parking meters no longer print receipts. Simply park, pay via the meter or CelloPark, and go! Your receipt can be downloaded or emailed to you.
VARIOUS
$10 PER CHILD
FREE AND AFFORDABLE EVENTS
CLAY: COLLECTED CERAMICS, UNTIL 22 OCTOBER
City Hall, Brisbane City
Immerse yourself in the world of ceramics as the Museum of Brisbane present more than 300 talented makers to showcase 60 years of creativity. museumofbrisbane.com.au
LE FESTIVAL, 21–23 JULY
Victoria Park, Herston
Experience the allure of France with a specially curated French market, live performances, champagne and an opportunity to win exciting prizes. lefestival.com.au
ART EXPLORERS, 19 & 26 JULY
QAGOMA, South Brisbane
Let children have fun learning about art through games, story telling and a guided gallery tour. Suitable for children aged 3-5 years. qagoma.qld.gov.au
FIFA FAN FESTIVAL, VARIOUS DATES 20 JULY – 20 AUG
South Bank, South Brisbane
Celebrate the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Don’t miss the chance to cheer on the world’s top women’s football teams with live matches and music at Riverside Green. fifa.com
BRISBANE OPEN HOUSE, 15–16 JULY
Various locations
Discover Brisbane’s heritage and modern-day architecture as selected buildings are opened to the public, inviting visitors to explore, re-examine and engage with the built environment. brisbaneopenhouse.com.au
BRISBANE WINTER SESSIONS FESTIVAL, 27–28 JULY AND 5–6 AUGUST Various Locations
Celebrate live music in Fortitude Valley across two weekends and more than 10 events at favourite live music venues including The Triffid, Cloudland and Black Bear Lodge. briswintersessions.com
Please check event details and confirm with organisers that events are still going ahead before you make plans.
REGIONAL EVENTS
Check out the Brisbane app for more event listings!
FUNCTIONAL FITNESS
Wednesdays, 8-9am, Drevesen Park, Manly
Improve balance, stability, coordination and strength. To book, visit lifebeinitfunworks.com.au
LITTLE STARS PLAYTIME
18 July, 10am-12noon, Cannon Hill Community Centre, Cannon Hill
Improve hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills. To book, visit bazilgrumble.com
GROWING AND CARING FOR CITRUS
27 July, 10am-12noon, Cox Park, Lota
Learn how to plant a variety of citrus trees. To book, visit bethaniabooking@gmail.com
ZUMBA GOLD FITNESS
28 July, 9.30-10.30am, Pattison Avenue Park, Norman Park
FALLS PREVENTION & STRENGTH
Fridays, 9.30-10.30am, Bulimba Riverside Park
Improve posture while increasing overall stability. To book, call 0413 214 017.
SOCCER FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
20 July, 9.30-10.30am, Bulimba Memorial Park
Develop motor skills, balance and coordination. To book, visit grasshoppersoccer.com.au
Shake it at your own pace to zesty world music. Improve your balance and coordination. brisbane.qld.gov.au
GENTLE YOGA
3 August, 9.30-10.30am, Balmoral Park, Morningside Focus on movement, breath, stretching and relaxation. Suitable for beginners to advanced yoga participants. brisbane.qld.gov.au
GROUP BOXING
EMAIL BASICS
16 July, 2-3pm, Garden City Library, Upper Mount Gravatt
Learn email essentials. Suitable for seniors. To book, call 3403 7745
STRETCH BAND PILATES
24 July, 9-10am, Ray Lynch Park, Holland Park
Improve posture, reduce stress and tone your body. brisbane.qld.gov.au
5 August, 8-9am, Wakerley Park, Wakerley A combination of cardio, strength and coordination. Family-friendly and suitable for seniors. To book, visit lifebeinitfunworks.com.au
Continued support for local charities
The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust recently donated over $100,000 to local charities through the Ratepayer Grant Round.
Thanks to Brisbane residents who generously donated their $15 early rates discounts, the Trust was able to fund 16 grassroots charities and their projects, including the Coffee Brigade Brisbane Inc. Coffee Brigade Brisbane Inc had a facility fit out, enabling them to increase their meals to residents in need thanks to the funding injection.
The Lord Mayor’s Charitable Trust has cared for the Brisbane community since the 1950s, helping to fund over 100 different charities and activities tackling issues like homelessness, domestic violence and food scarcity.
Plan your Brisbane Festival weekends
Brisbane Festival makes the impossible possible for 23 days each September.
The city will come alive with arts performances and cultural experiences for everyone, as well as a myriad of premiere productions, cutting edge collaborations, award-winning performances and installations. There will be inspiring community events taking place on our stages, in our parks and cul-de-sacs, community halls and warehouses, and of course, in our night skies for Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust on 2 September.
Make planning your Brisbane Festival weekends easy with program updates at brisbanefestival.com.au
Celebrate Country Spirit and City Heart at Ekka
Celebrate the country coming to the city when the Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) returns to the Brisbane Showgrounds from 12-20 August. Enjoy agricultural displays, the cutest farm animals, showbags, thrilling rides, award-winning food, and world-class entertainment and fireworks.
Don’t forget to visit Council’s Be Prepared stand this year to make sure you and your home are ready for bush fires and storm season.
Subscribe at ekka.com.au for special offers and discounted tickets.
COMPETITION
Win one of 5 family passes to the Ekka! To enter, visit our website and search ‘Living in Brisbane competition’. Entries close at 5pm Friday 28 July.
Brisbane City Council acknowledges this Country and its Traditional Custodians. We pay our respects to the Elders, those who have passed into the dreaming; those here today; those of tomorrow.
