Editorial: New Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner set to put a green stamp on Brisbane

New Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is putting his stamp on his newly-acquired municipality and it is bright green, building on the work of outgoing mayor Graham Quirk, writes THE EDITOR.

New Brisbane City Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has a green dream for Brisbane. Picture: Annette Dew

NEW Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is putting his stamp on his newly-acquired municipality and it is bright green.

Today, Councillor Schrinner will open his account as the administrator of Australia’s most liveable city with a speech that pays back to the community through the biggest investment in new parkland and open space that Brisbane has seen.

Australia’s most liveable city is to have the biggest investment in new parkland and open space that Brisbane has seen. Picture: AAP/Darren England

Using money forecast to be earned through the City of Brisbane Investment Corporation over the next five years, Cr Schrinner is going to return the funds to the community with more parks, sporting fields and green space.

The earning power of the CBIC has been on a par with the best investment institutions – having delivered $110 million in dividends to the Brisbane City Council since its foundation in 2008 – and there’s no reason this level of income will not continue into the near future.

As Cr Schrinner plans to say in his inaugural Lord Mayoral speech today, this is the equivalent of a municipal future fund that can be used to build upon one of the city’s greatest assets – its clean and green reputation supported by the liveability and sustainability that is the foundation of our treasured lifestyle.

Cr Schrinner is right when he says the need for more green and open spaces is almost always the top response when people are asked what they want from the City Council.

An investment in green spaces, parks and sporting facilities will make Brisbane an even better place to live and play.

Brisbane city from Mount Coot-tha Picture: AAP/Sarah Marshall

The plans to be outlined today are in addition to parkland, green spaces and sports fields already on the council’s forward agenda.

These new spaces, spread across Brisbane’s vast municipal footprint, will give families, community, sporting groups and individuals new opportunities to pursue leisure and other activities.

The plan for greater open, green and sports spaces comes after Cr Schrinner revealed – on the day he was nominated as the new mayor – his plan for five new bridges across and adjacent to the Brisbane River, from Breakfast Creek in the northeast to Bellbowrie in the city’s west.

These bridges will be mostly used for so-called “green transport”, reserved for pedestrians, cyclists, scooter riders and public buses and similar vehicles.

The new Lord Mayor will have to make a final decision on the proposed Mount Coot-tha zipline.

Cr Schrinner’s green dream for Brisbane builds on the work of outgoing mayor Graham Quirk, who has left his own mark as conservationist, having secured almost all the 750ha of bushland in public ownership since the last election in March, 2016 – there is a parcel of just 50ha left to be sourced.

The new proposals from Cr Schrinner will sit next to whatever final decision he makes on Cr Quirk’s controversial backing for a sightseeing zipline from the apex of Mount Coot-tha and across the tree line to a landing platform below.

Cr Quirk’s time and achievements as lord mayor add up to much more than the zipline – he was a true servant of the city and Cr Schrinner has some big municipal boots to fill.

GET ON WITH IT AND CALL THE ELECTION

THOSE people paying attention to our political class went to bed last night groaning that another opportunity had passed when the Morrison Government could have called an election.

Given there was never any plan to pass the Budget handed down last Tuesday, this weekend just past was the best opportunity to lower the starter’s flag and have the writs issued today for a poll on May 11.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison chose to leave the opportunity to announce an election yesterday. Picture: AAP/Joel Carrett

For reasons that are speculated upon, but not explained, we now have to wait at least another week and have voting day put off to a new likely date of May 18.

Apart from the Government getting to enjoy the perks of incumbency for another week, there is no sensible explanation for this delay.

Delaying the poll until May 18 (it seems impossible to think it would be May 25, as that would require Scott Morrison to call it over the Easter weekend) presents some major challenges for politicians campaigning in Queensland.

If the election is called next weekend, the first three subsequent weekends are holidays – Easter, Anzac Day and Labour Day – which will take the momentum out of everyone’s politicking north of the Tweed River.

Whatever the mystery prognostications that are taking place, we’d make just one simple request. Call this election as soon as is humanly possible, name an early date and get it over with.

No one minds having a serious debate about the big issues at stake, but let’s do it as quickly as possible.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Sam Weir, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details are available at couriermail.com.au