Parks across Brisbane will receive around $115 million dollars worth of improvements in Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s latest budget – a 23.3 per cent increase on last year’s budget.
The $115 million dollars will go towards maintaining and improving trees, expanding our parks network, new parklands, shelter and playground upgrades and a Wifi trial.
More than $11 million is allocated to maintaining and improving trees in our parks and along our streets, not to mention $1.715 million to go towards increased grass cutting.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the people of Brisbane enjoyed a subtropical lifestyle and it was important to reflect this with attractive parks that everyone could enjoy.
“Council’s aim is to provide parks that are well looked after and maintained to be enjoyed by residents,” he said.
“We are getting on with the job of improving the parks that Labor Councillors neglected right up until they lost the election in 2008.”
This includes $300,000 to replace diseased trees in the iconic New Farm Park and $427,000 to refurbish the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens.
“We have an extensive and expanding network of over 2000 parks within the Brisbane City Council boundaries, including almost 6000 hectares in urban parks. We want to keep them at a high standard,” Cr Newman said.
Coorparoo will benefit from $250,000 allocated to start work on a new park and $476,000 will go towards shelter upgrades, and $3.6 million to upgrade key neighbourhood parks.
A further $500,000 will be spent on the installation of exercise equipment and $200,000 will be spent on a trial of WIFI internet services in some of the popular parks.
“Council is determined to keep Brisbane a shady city with varied opportunities for leisure,” Cr Newman said.
As part of this commitment, Council is also putting aside $17 million for the Howard Smith Wharves Parkland, a once in a lifetime opportunity to create an iconic riverside parkland development.
The Lord Mayor has also allocated $1.248 million for a toilets upgrade program, $766,000 to improve the safety of playground equipment and $1.471 million to upgrade metropolitan and district playgrounds.
One of the major projects includes a further $2.227 million for foreshore parks in the Brighton and Lota areas including planting trees and building shade structures, playgrounds and drinking fountains.
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