Planting the future: The City's Urban Forest vision

As your local Councillor, I receive lots of diverse feedback about trees!  This is your opportunity to directly shape our future plans by providing your valued opinion.

The Urban Forest Strategic Plan is a 10-year framework to help protect, manage and expand the City’s trees and canopy cover. A cooler, greener and more liveable city benefits everyone. Trees reduce urban heat, clean the air, support wildlife, and make neighbourhoods more enjoyable.

Importantly, this plan will guide how we plant, protect and maintain trees across public and private land while balancing infrastructure needs. It also aims to address challenges such as tree roots near footpaths or powerlines, ensuring trees and infrastructure can safely co-exist

We need your help to identify opportunities to expand our urban forest. You can use the interactive map to show where more trees or shade are needed, or where trees are struggling. Your feedback will help shape the Urban Forest Strategic Plan and guide priorities for the next decade.

Community consultation runs from 11 to 25 November 2025.

Visit https://gchaveyoursay.com.au/urbanforest to take part and enter the draw to win one of two $250 EFTPOS gift cards.

Remembrance Day 2025

I was honoured to attend another moving Remembrance Day Service arranged by Runaway Bay RSL Sub-Branch.

With a very special surprise appearance from the highly skilled pilots of the Southport Flying Club (mostly ex-service), the ceremony was a testament to the collaborative spirit of this community, its strong bonds across clubs and codes, and the inherited value of service before self.

Lest We Forget

Coombabah Esplanade Park planned upgrade

Last year we asked Coombabah residents to provide feedback on their preferred upgrade options for the Esplanade playground.

We received fantastic levels of engagement both through the survey and via my office, which revealed a marginal preference to retain the current Esplanade playground (upgrading the aged equipment with similar scale activations).

There was also strong community support for each alternative option offered, so we've added Royal Park to the list of parks being investigated for future upgrades, and have added a fitness station to the current project at Esplanade Park.

The design drawings (pictured) are now finalised, and the construction works are ear-marked for delivery around March 2026.

O’Connell Park works have commenced

Improvement works at O'Connell Park, Biggera Waters have commenced.  This project will deliver improved park access including new footpaths and picnic settings designed to meet Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) standards.

Works are expected to be completed by late December (weather permitted) and I’m looking forward to seeing this beautiful green space become even more welcoming and accessible for our whole community.

New Social Sports program

Love the energy of sports but not ready to commit to a team, or maybe you aren't sure which sport is right for you?

Then take a look at the City's Social Sports Program.

These regular sessions offer a fun, informal way to stay active and improve fitness without the pressure of competition. Participants can enjoy a relaxed, social environment while connecting through modified sporting activities like ‘Get fit for footy’, 'Learn to surf' and 'Stand up paddle-boarding'.

There are also workshops for first timers that are perfect for introducing people to a new sport or activity in a fun, relaxed and welcoming environment.

Summers here - swim smart!

The warmer weather has arrived, and with it comes more visits to our favourite swimming spots.

Did you know the City monitors water quality at 25 popular locations to help keep you safe? Real-time predictions, alerts, and the latest test results are available on our website, so you can make informed choices before you dive in.

Check the latest water quality updates now on the City website.

Mobile office time change

Previous newsletters have advised my November mobile office scheduled for 9am-11am on Thursday 27 November at Metro Market, Hollywell Road, Biggera Waters.

Due to a mandatory councillor workshop being scheduled at the same time, I have shifted my mobile office to 12pm-1pm, same day, same location.

My apologies for any inconvenience with this late change.  Hearing directly from residents improves my situational awareness and decision making.

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