Speech by Councillor Seal Chong Wah
Council Chambers
30th April 2024
While this is not in my Ward, my colleagues who are very connected to the local community in The Gap, have advised me that this community of over 17,000 residents feel that they are often left out of Brisbane City Council infrastructure and services. This includes a lack of high frequency public transport and a library.
This community believes the Brisbane City Council are not supporting them equally to other suburbs and we can see, evidenced by this petition and the council’s response that there is indeed a lack of infrastructure and support to this community. Our Council libraries are too few and too far between.
The council’s response to the submission says that The Gap residents are serviced by good public transport to the library in Ashgrove, with only 30 minute intervals. To this council administration, I say, this is not ‘good enough’ and that this is not high frequency public transport.
Libraries are important nodes for communities and they play an important part in local culture. They are a key public space for many community members. They are safe and free spaces where residents can study, read, relax and celebrate community diversity.
While this Council’s development strategy is highly focused on the inner-city, we are seeing residents in suburbs like ‘The Gap’ being left behind in regard to council services and infrastructure.