Division 2 News - Councillor Paul Tully City of Ipswich

Land slip on City Point Dr, diagonally opposite Masters at Springfield Central. Take care as it may move further onto the road.

2012-01-26T10:39:00.001+10:00

Australia Day celebrations across Ipswich have been cancelled because of the continuing rain including the Movie in the Park at Goodna and the pool events around Ipswich. They will be rescheduled. Pic shows the waterlogged Evan Marginson Park at Goodna.

2012-01-25T15:36:00.001+10:00

Goodna wrap: Pic shows pathway in Leslie Park off Bertha St under water this morning. Roads are fairly clear but increasing rain could put Albert St, Smiths Rd, Woogaroo St & Lower William St under water again today.

2012-01-25T08:06:00.001+10:00

Flash flooding hits Goodna

2012-01-24T11:49:00.001+10:00

Flash flooding has hit parts of Goodna as heavy rain continues to fall in Ipswich.

Notorious trouble spots closed to traffic include Albert St and Smiths Rd Goodna with Lower James St and parts of Woogaroo St likely to be closed in the next few hours.

Local councillor Paul Tully said no homes were threatened at this stage but the community was "on edge" as localised flooding intensified, bringing back memories of January 2011.

Cr Tully urged motorists and pedestrians to exercise extreme caution around Goodna over the next few hours.

Pic: Albert St Goodna under water as localised flooding hits the suburb.

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST SEVERE WEATHER WARNING for Heavy Rain For people in parts of the Wide Bay and Burnett, Southeast Coast and Darling Downs and Granite Belt districts. Issued at 4:55 am on Tuesday 24 January 2012 Synoptic Situation: At 4am AEST, an upper trough extended over the southern interior of Queensland. The upper trough is expected to remain slow moving today while intensifying a little further into Wednesday. Moist NE winds will otherwise continue to extend across southern Queensland today. Heavy rain which may lead to flash flooding is expected in areas southeast of about Bundaberg to Goondiwindi today; initially developing on the coast and then spreading inland during the day. 24 hour rainfall totals in excess of 150 mm are possible. Locations which may be affected include Hervey Bay, Gympie, Toowoomba, the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Ipswich and the Gold Coast. In the 24 hours to 4am AEST, Bribie Island and Boreen Point received 119mm and 107mm respectively. A Flood Warning is current for coastal rivers and streams from Rainbow Beach to Redcliffe and adjacent inland catchments.

2012-01-24T05:03:00.001+10:00

Ipswich Australia Day Awards have just commenced at the Ipswich Civic Centre, hosted by Mayor Paul Pisasale and Heather Foord from Channel 9.

2012-01-23T19:32:00.001+10:00

Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser officially opens the new Puckles Family Bakehouse at Orion Town Centre at Springfield Central this morning.

2012-01-21T10:53:00.001+10:00

Flood Update: Rats remain a problem

2012-01-18T06:40:00.001+10:00

Brian Kneebone from Common Courtesy Pest Control places a tamper-proof bait station under an outdoor shed.
Twelve months after the floods, rat infestations remain a common problem in Ipswich.

WITH rats breeding up in abandoned flood-affected properties, pest controllers are warning the vermin could become a major problem yet again.

Reports of high rates of infestations follow the rat population explosion last winter in the flood-hit Goodna area.

Ripley-based Common Courtesy Pest Control owner Brian Kneebone said he was attending more rat control jobs this summer than in any of his previous 30 years in the industry.

"Jobs are up, and some places use much more bait than usual," Mr Kneebone said.

"If rodents are this bad in summer, then people will probably start noticing them even more when they seek shelter in winter.

"You'll (usually) get some rats in the summer, but nothing like this.

"We had one job in Ipswich where we found 120 rats, and that's only what we found.

"They're particularly bad in Goodna and Forest Lake, where you have vacant properties so people might not realise what's going on until they move back in."

But Mr Kneebone said people needed to be practical when it came to rat control.

"Not every house has rats, but they are bad this year," Mr Kneebone said.

"You're going to smell and hear something if there is a problem.

"The best thing home owners can do ahead of winter is clean up to deter the rats.

"Get rid of any rubbish and tidy up overgrown gardens, and also seal up any dog or chook food."

Councillor Paul Tully said he had not received any complaints since Ipswich City Council used fox terriers and baits to combat the initial plague.

"We're under the impression that they weren't completely eliminated, but they're under control," Cr Tully said.

"They are in the Goodna area and it could be an issue for another 12 months.

"Abandoned buildings are unusual and they make it difficult because rats can go unnoticed for some time and breed up."

Cr Tully said council had taken a number of proactive steps to reduce rat numbers.

"We have served a number of notices in relation to people not mowing and maintaining their property," he said.

He advised anyone who notices rats in the area to contact his office on 3818 6900.

Rat facts

A group of rats is called a pack or a mischief

A pair of rats can reproduce at a rate of six to eight offspring every two months

Diseases linked to rats include classical swine fever, foot and mouth disease and the bubonic plague.

More Ipswich News: www.QT.com.au

Goodna Flood Update: Higher-set homes worth higher values

2012-01-18T06:38:00.001+10:00

A Goodna home raised after the 2011 flood.

IPSWICH home owners in flood areas who lift their homes to meet a post-flood planning standard can expect the value of their homes to be higher than those who don't or can't.

An Australian Property Institute report has found house prices have dropped in flood-hit suburbs but that the market "may view more favourably the properties that have been raised to try and mitigate any future flooding events."

These include properties where "the owners have raised the dwelling to the new minimum habitable floor level (to 500mm above the January 2011 flood level) as well as carrying out repairs."

Ipswich councillor Paul Tully pointed to a Goodna home on the corner of Lower James and Norfolk Sts that has been lifted out of the flood level.

"If people can do that, it gives them a high level of flood immunity in most cases," Cr Tully said.

"Most people have had their houses repaired and have gone back in - so the prospects of raising their houses are quite limited. But for those people who do it, the value of their houses will be significantly higher in the short term than other properties."

More Ipswich News: www.QT.com.au

2012/2013 Viva Cribb Bursary

2012-01-16T08:02:00.001+10:00

Applications for the 2012/2013 Viva Cribb Bursary open on 16 January and close on 2 March 2012. The Bursary of up to $5000 is available to an individual or Group in Ipswich to assist with the costs of a project to document, record or publish a significant aspect of the local history of Ipswich. Bursary winners will be advised during May 2012.

For further information regarding the Viva Cribb Bursary or a current application form please contact the Ipswich Library and Information Service on 3810 7272 or visit Council's website athttp://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/community/grants_sponsorships/index.php

BOM Radar shows some rain heading towards Ipswich and Brisbane

2012-01-15T06:38:00.001+10:00

Tony Caswell of Brisbane Tce Goodna addresses friends & other flood victims this afternoon remembering the great flood of 11 January 2011. It was great to remember the support we all received from volunteers across Australia. Lots of memories today and a few tears.

2012-01-14T20:03:00.000+10:00

Call for Aussies to back the McOz burger and keep Australia's beetroot industry alive

2012-01-13T06:32:00.001+10:00

The future of Australia's beetroot industry based in the Lockyer
Valley west of Ipswich could depend on how many Australians tuck in to
the revived McOz burger over the next month.

The McOz burger is back by popular demand according to McDonald's
television advertisements across the nation with a message flashing
across TV screens that it is only for a short time.

Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully, Queensland's longest serving city
councillor, has launched a Facebook campaign to help the farmers of
the Lockyer Valley who produce 90% of Australia's beetroot crop.

Cr Tully said he was urging individuals and families to "Buy a McOz
Today" and save Australia's beetroot industry.

"Locker Valley beetroot farmers have gained a small reprieve signing a
temporary deal with a cannery at Cowra in New South Wales.

"I am urging all Australians to take up the fight and buy a McOz every
day to send a message of support to our farmers and to McDonald's to
keep the McOz burger on its menu permanently.

"From today, I will be putting my money where my mouth is and buying a
lunchtime McOz burger from my local store.

Cr Tully said Australia was being overwhelmed with foreign imports
including New Zealand apples and Philippines bananas.

"Australia's beetroot farmers deserve a break.

"That's why all Australians should join the campaign of support.

"I am urging McDonald's to come to the party and keep Australia's
beetroot tradition alive," Cr Tully said.

Media Release: Call for Aussies to back the McOz burger and keep Australia's beetroot industry alive

2012-01-13T06:28:00.001+10:00

MEDIA RELEASE FROM IPSWICH CITY COUNCILLOR PAUL TULLY

[Cr Tully will be at his local McDonald's store cnr Brisbane Rd and William St Goodna at 12.00pm today to launch his "Buy a McOz Today" campaign]

The future of Australia's beetroot industry based in the Lockyer Valley west of Ipswich could depend on how many Australians tuck in to the revived McOz burger over the next month.

The McOz burger is back by popular demand according to McDonald's television advertisements across the nation with a message flashing across TV screens that it is only for a short time.

Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully, Queensland's longest serving city councillor, has launched a Facebook campaign to help the farmers of the Lockyer Valley who produce 90% of Australia's beetroot crop.

Cr Tully said he was urging individuals and families to "Buy a McOz Today" and save Australia's beetroot industry.

"Locker Valley beetroot farmers have gained a small reprieve signing a temporary deal with a cannery at Cowra in New South Wales.

"I am urging all Australians to take up the fight and buy a McOz every day to send a message of support to our farmers and to McDonald's to keep the McOz burger on its menu permanently.

"From today, I will be putting my money where my mouth is and buying a lunchtime McOz burger from my local store.

Cr Tully said Australia was being overwhelmed with foreign imports including New Zealand apples and Philippines bananas.

"Australia's beetroot farmers deserve a break.

"That's why all Australians should join the campaign of support.

"I am urging McDonald's to come to the party and keep Australia's beetroot tradition alive," Cr Tully said.

ends

CR PAUL TULLY - 0418 729 899

www.facebook.com/paultully

Prime Miniater Julia Gillard at the flood marker unveiling at Goodna this morning

2012-01-11T10:17:00.000+10:00

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One year on and the people of Goodna are still suffering from the 2011 flood

2012-01-11T06:38:00.001+10:00

A year ago today, the residents of Goodna awoke to light showers not realising that within 12 hours the suburb would be inundated with a flood almost as high as the one which devastated Ipswich and Brisbane in 1974.

By nightfall, the Brisbane River was a kilometre wide between Goodna and Moggill.

Six hundred homes and 70 businesses were destroyed over the next 24 hours making Goodna the worst affected suburb in southeast Queensland.

As flood efforts continued in the Lockyer Valley, Ipswich and Brisbane, the extent of Goodna's plight did not emerge until the following Thursday.

Local Councillor Paul Tully who lost his own home in the flood described the situation as a natural disaster on an unprecedented scale.

Cr Tully said the floodwaters did not recede until the Friday morning leaving a scene of devastation with hundreds of families fending for themselves in emergency accommodation.

"By the weekend, thousands of volunteers had descended on the suburb in a cleanup effort which is still going on.

"Goodna was forced to endure sightseers, looters and six hundred destroyed homes.

"Even today, many absentee landlords with no insurance have left their homes to rot surrounded by unkempt lawns which have become a habitat for rats and snakes."

Today, an historic flood marker depicting all major floods in Goodna since 1893 will be unveiled at 10.00am at the corner of Queen and Church Sts.

Cr Tully said the marker would be colour-coded to identify the individual flood levels with the flood of 1893 eclipsing all other known floods at Goodna on February 5, 1893 at 22.77 metres.

The 2011 flood at Goodna was 16.4 metres.

"The new marker will also be the pillar of courage representing the strength and resilience of the Goodna community as it dealt with floods over the past 120 years."

Goodna marks flood disasters from 1890 to 2011

2012-01-10T11:59:00.001+10:00

Joy Rissman, Division 2 Councillor Paul Tully and Barry Rissman look at photos of the past two major floods, in 1974 and 2011.

IT'S a monument that will, quite literally, mark some of the worst disasters in Goodna's history.

Coinciding with the anniversary of last January's flood, Queensland's tallest flood marker will be unveiled at Goodna today (January 11).

The 10-metre high flood marker depicts all the major floods at Goodna since 1893, and pays tribute to the local community, emergency services workers and volunteers.

Ipswich councillor Paul Tully, himself a victim of January's flood, said the marker would be an important historical and art installation.

"It will serve as a way in which we can recall the effect of the flood and how the community has come together in a time of need,"Cr Tully said.

The marker will be broken into different coloured sections representing each major flood and will be lit up at night.

It will be erected in Alf Harris Park, just off the main Goodna roundabout, and will also include paths and landscaping.

The flood waters at Goodna peaked at 16.4 metres above sea level on January 12.

A special commemoration event will be held on January 11 - from 10am to 11am - when the flood marker is unveiled.

Cr Tully said the event would be an opportunity for the community to come together, support one another and remember the events of a year ago.

"The Goodna community has endured so much, particularly during the last year of rebuilding," Cr Tully said.

"And as we approach the first anniversary, the marker serves as a timely reminder of this event."

The unveiling is just one of a number of events planned for the January 11 anniversary.

Mayor Paul Pisasale said Ipswich City Council would host an Ipswich Flood Commemoration Event from 5.30pm to 6.30pm at River Heart Parklands on Roseberry Pde, Woodend.

Goodna Flood: Invitation to official opening Wednesday 11 January 2012

2012-01-10T07:01:00.001+10:00

All residents are invited at 10am tomorrow (Wednesday 12 January 2012) to the official unveiling of the Pillar of Courage / Historic Flood Marker at Alf Harris Park corner Queen and Church Sts Goodna, next to the old Chemist Shop near the Ipswich Motorway.

This will be an opportunity for the people of Goodna to come together after the flood of 11 January 2011 and thank all the emergency service workers and volunteers who helped in the massive cleanup.

A light morning tea will be served after the unveiling.

Goodna residents still fighting on

2012-01-10T05:33:00.001+10:00

With her home fully restored and refurbished after last year's flood disaster, Goodna resident Marie Manski's hardest recovery will be the emotional one.

"I don't want to remember it. There was too much stress and trauma and emotions," 73-year-old Mrs Manski said.

One year on and the terrible memories of the 2011 are just starting to settle for Mrs Manski.

The Spalding Crescent home she shares with her partner William Fellows, 60, was flooded up to its skylights at the height of the floods.

Mrs Manski said with the mammoth rebuilding effort behind her, she now has time to rest and reflect on the events of 2011.

"I think it's more or less catching up with me now," she said. "It leaves you feeling very flat."

Before the flood hit some volunteers helped stack everything up on furniture but it was a waste of time, she said.

When they evacuated she took her medication, some books and photo albums.

Not much else survived the flood, just her prized crockery and a precious glass bowl which she found wedged behind debris in her kitchen.

Mrs Manski and Mr Fellows moved back to their home last July.

Mrs Manski thanked all the volunteers who helped the couple rebuild and for the support they received from The Salvation Army, the St Vincent de Paul Society and Springfield's Westlife Church.

www.couriermail.com.au

Alice St Goodna resurfacing commences tomorrow

2012-01-08T06:38:00.001+10:00

Road resurfacing works at Alice Street, Goodna (Stuart Street and Albert Street) will take place on Monday 09 January 2012.

The works involves placing a new asphalt surface to this section.

All Emergency Services have been notified.

Residents adjacent this section have been notified by letter box drop.

11 year old Goodna boy on arson charges

2012-01-08T06:19:00.001+10:00

An 11-year-old boy is one of four young people charged with vandalising and setting fire to about 40 vehicles at a car dealership south of Brisbane.

The attack occurred at Slacks Creek on New Year's Day, police say.

The 11-year-old boy from Goodna has been charged with wilful damage and entering a premise and committing an indictable offence.

A 13-year-old Slacks Creek boy has been charged with arson, five counts of wilful damage and entering a premise with intent to commit an indictable offence.

A 16-year-old Slacks Creek boy faces charges of entering a premise and committing an indictable offence.

These three are being dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.

A 17-year-old boy from Kingston is facing similar charges, as well as unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He is due to appear in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court on February 1.

Emerging talent Goodna's Lama Tasi in QAS squad

2011-12-31T05:24:00.001+10:00

Rising Roosters enforcer Lama Tasi takes a break at his family home in Goodna.

IF YOU want to know why Lama Tasi has been named in the QAS Emerging Origin squad after only nine games of top grade football, you may want to ask Greg Bird.

In his first top grade NRL match, the new Sydney Roosters enforcer delivered a bone-crunching shoulder charge to the Gold Coast Titans lock that had left Bird seeing stars and Roosters fans screaming for more.

So despite an injury-interrupted first season where he missed as many games as he played, Tasi has made enough of an impression to secure a place at the Emerging Origin camp in Brisbane from January 20-22.

No one was more surprised at his selection than the softly spoken-footballer himself.

"I was shocked more than anything, I really didn't expect it," Tasi said of his reaction when told he was in the squad.

Tasi's selection may be as much about securing the 104kg prop as a future Queensland and Australian player as rewarding his debut season.

Having already played for the New Zealand under-20 team, Tasi, like many other NRL stars with family ties to New Zealand, found himself having to decide where his representative future lay.

Would he commit to a representative career for the Kiwis, where he lived until the age of four, or take his chances on a future with Queensland and Australia?

The former Goodna player said, in the end, the choice wasn't really a choice at all.

"In the last off-season, I had a talk to my family and close friends and everything just started to make sense," he said.

"I've played all my junior footy in Queensland.

"This is where I developed as a player.

"This is where I've been brought up my whole life."

After spending nearly his entire childhood in Queensland, Tasi said there was one reason above all that confirmed his representative future.

"Internationals are good but at the end of the day the pinnacle of rugby league is State of Origin," he said. "Everyone around the world no matter who you are ... everyone watches Origin."

If toughness is the key ingredient to a successful transition to Origin football, then Tasi may have already shown Maroons powerbrokers he has what it takes.

The 190cm (6ft 3in) forward's pain threshold was on display during the Roosters match against the Newcastle Knights in May when he returned to the field in the second half despite suffering a fractured ankle.

The decision proved the 21-year-old was willing to put his team ahead of himself, a key ingredient to Origin success.

"We were running low on troops so I got an injection and kept playing," he said

"I probably shouldn't have."

The injury kept Tasi on the sidelines for six weeks but he returned late in the season and rubber stamped his talent with a series of strong performances.

Tasi will join Roosters team-mate and former Ipswich player Martin Kennedy at the January camp which will be overseen by QAS head coach Wayne Bennett and Maroons mentor Mal Meninga.

More Ipswich News: www.QT.com.au

A star of a house at Goodna to be heritage listed

2011-12-30T05:38:00.001+10:00

Vvvvgggarroll, of birch carroll and coyle

Contributed

Goodna resident Dot McGreevy and Ipswich Councillor Paul Tully admire the historic home at Queen St Goodna which once hosted Hollywood entertainers.

THE childhood home of cinema mogul Edward Carroll has been identified as a place of historical significance to Ipswich.

The Queenslander, built in 1906 at 16 Queen St, Goodna, will be marked with an Ipswich City Council historical plaque to encourage its conservation.

Carroll, of Birch Carroll and Coyle cinema fame, lived in the Goodna home with his brother Dan and teacher parents.

The boys grew up to co-own local theatres and screened silent films in Brisbane and Ipswich in the early 20th century.

Carroll achieved fame when he partnered with Birch and Coyle to build some of Queensland's first cinemas in the 1920s.

They built the first cinemas in Ipswich and Rockhampton before expanding across Queensland.

Over the years, the family hosted many famous entertainers at their Goodna home, and became well-known for their large parties and dances.

Current owner Dot McGreevy said she was surprised to learn that Scottish entertainer Harry Lauder had visited the house.

"They always had famous violinists, singers and pianists over, but to hear Harry Lauder stayed here was very exciting," Ms McGreevy said.

"We bought the house not knowing anything about its past, and the neighbours used to tell us all these amazing stories.

"Apparently Harry Lauder came to a party here one night and burst out in song.

"It's a very nice, ordinary home, so you wouldn't suspect a thing about all those ballroom parties and big, glamorous events."

Planning and Development Committee chairman Paul Tully said council launched the historical marker project in 1999 to promote public awareness of historic sites.

"Through these markers we are providing a permanent and enduring way for the memories of the past to be kept alive," he said.

OTHER MARKERS

Former Blackstone Congregational Church, 14 Mary St, Blackstone. Built in 1879.

Rhossilli, 4 Glebe Road, Newtown. Originally a dairy farm, now a family residence.

Chasely, 51 Salisbury Rd, Eastern Heights. Built in 1908.

Home is where the heart is for Goodna's ex-Eagle and Roosters' recruit Lama Tasi

2011-12-29T07:11:00.001+10:00

Former Goodna Eagle's player Lama Tasi (far left) with his family at their Goodna home.

TO SAY family is important to Sydney Roosters forward Lama Tasi is possibly the understatement of the year.

Anyone who has the opportunity to sit down and chat to the former Goodna Eagles enforcer will quickly find out family comes first, second and last on his list of priorities.

It's not surprising then the Auckland born 21-year-old was smiling from ear to ear this week as he spent Christmas with his family at their Goodna home.

The oldest of seven children, Lama said he was finally getting used to life in Sydney but Goodna is never far from his thoughts.

"It (Sydney) was hard at the start, but at the end of the day you just have to think you're doing it for your family and yourself," Lama said.

"I come home whenever I can.

"Obviously during the off-season, whenever I get a couple of days off or even when we have the bye."

Lama will return to Sydney next week after enjoying a 10-day break with proud dad Faasaai, mum Sialaia and siblings Sia, 19, Tautaltasi, 17, Sani, 15, Faatali, 13, Anne-Marie, 10 and Laki 8.

But he may not be alone at the Roosters for long.

After graduating from Ipswich Grammar School last month, 17-year-old Tautaltasi is also packing his bags for Bondi as he prepares to trial with the Roosters S.G. Ball development side.

With 15-year-old Sani also on the Roosters books, the Tasi family may soon have a home away from home in the New South Wales capital.

Big brother Lama said he was excited about the prospect of having his younger brother at the club.

"It would be exciting - everything would change," he said. "We'd have to get a place together."

For now, Lama will focus on building a name for himself after his breakout season in the NRL this year.

One thing is certain though, this family man's heart will remain in Goodna long after his plane lands back in Sydney.

More Ipswich News: www.QT.com.au

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING for DAMAGING WIND and LARGE HAILSTONES For people in parts of the Capricornia, Darling Downs and Granite Belt and Southeast Coast Forecast Districts. Issued at 12:33 pm Tuesday, 27 December 2011. Severe thunderstorms are likely to produce damaging winds and large hailstones in the warning area over the next several hours. Locations which may be affected include Warwick, Ipswich, Boonah and Allora.

2011-12-27T12:41:00.001+10:00