Brisbane City Council Archives - Fortitude Valley News

Sacked Brisbane Trainee Bus Driver Files Claim Over Harassment Allegations

A former trainee bus driver for Brisbane has filed complaint with the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC), alleging she was subjected to sexual harassment, bullying, and victimisation by five council employees.

The complainant, Annabelle Alistair, began her traineeship on 23 June 2023, under a temporary contract scheduled to conclude on 23 June 2025. However, she was dismissed after an internal investigation found 13 instances of misconduct during her first year.

Ms Alistair contends that her termination was unjust, citing a lack of prior warnings and procedural deficiencies during the investigation.

In her submission to the QIRC, Ms Alistair detailed allegations against five council staff members, from whom she seeks formal apologies. She claims to have endured harassment, bullying, violence, aggression, and inadequate support throughout her employment.

Council has requested the QIRC dismiss her case, arguing that as a temporary employee assigned to a specific task, Ms Alistair is not entitled to unfair dismissal protections.

The QIRC has permitted Council to engage legal representation, acknowledging the complexity of the case and the serious nature of the allegations. The proceedings are ongoing, with the tribunal yet to assess the credibility of witnesses and the validity of the claims.

Brisbane employs over 2,600 bus drivers and is actively recruiting more. They get paid on-the-job training, including customer service and safe bus handling procedures, and provides uniforms and flexible working hours.

Brisbane bus driver files complaint — *Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons*

Council representatives have emphasised their commitment to a safe and respectful workplace, stating that all complaints are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly.

Workplace sexual harassment is a significant issue in Australia. Employers are legally obligated to provide a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment. The Queensland Government emphasises the importance of educating employees to prevent, intervene early, and respond to offensive behaviours in the workplace.

The QIRC will continue to examine the details of Alistair’s case, including her claims of harassment and the council’s justification for her dismissal. The outcome may have broader implications for how temporary employees are treated concerning unfair dismissal protections and workplace harassment allegations.

Published 2-Jan-2025

Council Moves a Step Closer With Construction of Howard Smith Wharves Ferry Terminal

Howard Smith Wharves would soon have its own ferry terminal as Council pushes forward with the project which is now in its design phase.

In 2018, then Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced the Council’s plan to expand the river transport network with a new ferry terminal for revitalised Howard Smith Wharves

The new ferry terminal will be the first expansion since 2015 and would be an addition to the 25 existing terminals from University of Queensland at St Lucia to Northshore Hamilton.

“With regular events planned at Howard Smith Wharves’ exhibition centre, as well as the restaurants, bars and public parkland expected to attract large crowds, the terminal will provide convenient public transport to the site,” Cr Schrinner said.

Brisbane City Council and Howard Smith Wharves Consortium will be jointly funding the Howard Smith Wharves terminal, which location and initial layouts is currently being investigated.

So far, a possible location being considered is towards the upstream end at the River Shed building. River-based geotechnical investigations have been undertaken at the proposed location last April 2019.

Construction of Howard Smith Wharves Ferry Terminal — *Photo Credit: 2019 Howard Smith Wharves / howardsmithwharves.com*

The Howard Smith Wharves terminal project is currently at the design phase and updates are to be released as it progresses.

Any inquiries about the Howard Smith Wharves ferry terminal project may be made by:

phone: the project team on 1800 884 681 during business hours
phone: Council on 07 3403 8888 outside of business hours
email: the project team
write to:

Ferry Infrastructure team

City Projects Office

Brisbane City Council

GPO Box 1434

Brisbane QLD 4001

Construction of the new terminal is expected to commence in mid-2020

Victoria Park to Close in 2021 for 45-Hectare Public Park Transformation

Victoria Park Golf Complex, located in Herston Road, will undergo a massive transformation in 2021 to become a public park spanning 45 hectares.

Once completed, this site, to be named the Victoria Park Vision, will be the second biggest public park in Brisbane next to the Botanic Gardens in Mt Coot-tha.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner announced the Council’s plans for the golf course to the press. Mr Schrinner visualised that the park would be comparable to Central Park in New York City or Hyde Park in London, as a green sanctuary with a number of free attractions and other recreational amenities like pop-up cinemas and markets.

“About 26 hectares of this council land is currently used as a pay and play public golf course, which over recent years has seen a decline in patronage and a reduction in revenue,” Mr Schrinner said on Facebook.

“From 2021, works will start to transform the golf course into public parkland.”

Victoria Park Vision will be twice the size of the current golf course and will likely boost community connectivity across Bowen Hills, Herston, Kelvin Grove and the Brisbane showgrounds. Access and parking around this area will also be improved.

Meanwhile, Mr Schinner also said that the Council will work with current tenants that use Victoria Park Golf Complex as a wedding venue, events place, putt-putt course, and driving range. These features will also be incorporated in the planned public park.

*Photo Credit: Victoria Park Golf Complex/Facebook*

Council has set aside $1 million for this project and public consultations for inputs into the design will soon be underway until 2020.

Valley Fiesta Returns to Fortitude Valley

Valley Fiesta, Brisbane’s biggest street party, returns to Fortitude Valley with an event-filled five-day stretch that promises to deliver a diverse line-up of music, theatre, and cultural events put on by more than 500 performers.

The 22nd edition of Fortitude Valley’s flagship festival offers extended days of live entertainment from Wednesday, 29 August to Sunday, 2 September 2018.

Credit: Brisbane City Council/YouTube

Fortitude Valley is already known for having excellent venues for great food and parties. For this event, the streets, malls, and laneways of the Valley will be packed with live music, theatre and arts performances, art installations, and so much more.

According to Lord Mayor Graham Quirk , Brisbane City Council’s revamped Valley Fiesta expects to welcome up to 65,000 fans to 48 local venues for the festivities.

“Council is committed to creating more to see and do, and with critically-acclaimed shows, larger-than-life projections, flashmobs, laneway parties and inflatable art installations, the new-look Valley Fiesta is set to be one of the stand-out events on this year’s cultural calendar,” Cr Quirk said.

“Valley Fiesta will once again provide a fantastic platform for Brisbane’s emerging creative talent, with Le Coup Cabaret nightly headline shows as well as live sets from Thelma Plum, Seaside, Sweater Curse and local favourites The Steele Syndicate, Gabriella Cohen and The Jensens,” he added.

The 2018 program includes a variety of live entertainment such as live music, performance, food, workshops, and visual arts across three laneways and different venues. Highlights include the Brunswick Street Mall Main Ring, which will host free entertainment daily including Le Coup Cabaret, a high-flying performance by Brisbane’s own contemporary circus troupe Company 2.

Since its first launch in 1997, Valley Fiesta has been showcasing the best of Brisbane’s music and arts scene by providing a platform for the city’s emerging musical and creative talent.

Most events in the Valley Fiesta are free but some require pre-booking or tickets. Check out the complete line-up of events to see individual event listings. For more information about the event, you may visit the FAQ page of the official Valley Fiesta website.

Valley Fiesta is just one of more than 50,000 festivals, events, and markets that the BCC helps to deliver each year as part of their commitment to creating more leisure and lifestyle opportunities in Brisbane. More lifestyle precincts are about to make waves in the city this year with several venues set to open in the coming months.