Thank you Chair.
I rise to speak in support of Item B – the leasing of Council land to community organisations.
My interest specifically relates to the three organisations which operate on Council land at 98 Brookfield Road Kenmore – Men’s Shed West, the Kenmore Bridge Club and e-Waste Connection.
Each of these three tenants provide valuable services for residents of all ages in my community.
Men’s Sheds help improve the health, wellbeing, and social connection of men, particularly those who may be retired, unemployed, socially isolated, or experiencing life changes.
e-Waste is a social enterprise which provides opportunities to recycle, volunteer, train, and empower people of all abilities in an inclusive environment. Residents can volunteer in workshops, donate electrical items, purchase recycled working items or donate funds or equipment.
And the Kenmore Bridge Club, with more than 400 members is one of the largest in Brisbane and provides opportunities to play one of the world’s most popular card games, be it socially or competitively.
Chair, I’ve spoken in this Chamber during the past five years about the need to provide upgraded facilities on this site for all three tenants.
And thanks to the Schrinner Council, that has now happened.
With funding provided by both the Federal Government and our Council, works have been occurring on this site during the past eight months to provide improvements for all three groups.
And the good news is that we are planning an official opening later this month to celebrate the occasion.
I look forward to joining Senator the Honourable Anthony Chisholm, who is representing Federal Infrastructure Minister, Catherine King to cut the ribbon and cake to mark the completion of this upgrade.
I thank the Federal Government for their contribution to this upgrade but it would be remiss of me not to mention how this funding was secured in the first place.
Full credit goes to the former Member for Ryan, Julian Simmonds for his advocacy in securing this Federal grant.
When I raised this with him soon after my election in 2020, he understood the importance of delivering something at 98 Brookfield Road that benefitted all three tenants.
He was insistent on that point and made it a condition of securing the funding.
It was an interesting journey with some bumpy rides along the way but he secured the grant for the Schrinner Council to do what it does best – delivering community infrastructure in the suburbs.
I know Mr. Simmonds will be proud to see the results of his advocacy and I intend ensuring he receives an invitation to the official opening on 25th September.
Chair for the record, the improvements include:
- A brand-new central building with a communal meeting space, a card dealing room for the Bridge Club, a Tech Hub area for the Men’s Shed, and upgraded amenities including two new ambulant toilets and a toilet for people with a disability.
- The Kenmore Bridge Club now has more room to play. Internal walls were removed to maximise space, a new kitchen and ambulant toilet have been added, plus a covered outdoor seating area.
- eWaste Connection now has exclusive use of the building opposite their workshop for extra office and storage space, complete with a new ambulant toilet and a pedestrian crossing for safer site access.
- And Men’s Shed West has a new dust extraction system and an upgraded kitchenette, helping keep things cleaner and more comfortable.
Chair, in summary, these three tenants tick all the boxes in terms of serving our community and I’m pleased that the Schrinner Council is proposing to extend their respective leases at the Kenmore Community Centre.
I urge those opposite to support this recommendation.
Thank you.