Brisbane City Council Archives

Forest Lake Residents Get More Green Waste Recycling Bins After Fee Cut

Several Brisbane suburbs, including Forest Lake have seen an increase in orders for green waste recycling bins after the annual fee was slashed to under $1 per week.

Read: Forest Lake’s Man-Made Lake Contaminated With Microplastics, Global Study Finds

Forest Lake ordered 25 new bins, whilst The Gap and Bracken Ridge ordered 39 and 40 bins respectively.

In total, over 1,300 Brisbane households have adopted new green waste recycling bins since the fee was reduced from $93.68 to $45 annually on 1 July 2023. This is in addition to the 135,000 households that already utilise the bins.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Facebook

The fee slash is part of the council’s $80 million cost of living relief package announced in the 2023/24 budget. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the move aims to encourage recycling whilst easing financial pressure on residents dealing with rising costs.

“Brisbane already has the cheapest residential rates in southeast Queensland and we’re committed to reducing the burden on households,” Cr Schrinner stated.

Collectively, over 36,600 tons of organic waste was diverted from landfills through the green bin program. Cr Schrinner expressed eagerness for more adoption as the city looks to expand food waste recycling initiatives.

What can you put in the green waste bin?

According to Brisbane City Council, acceptable items that can be placed in your green waste bin include:

grass clippings
small garden prunings from shrubs and trees
Palm fronds, twigs, small branches, leaves and loose bark
flowers and foilage
weeds, ivy, creepers and vines.

Homeowners can order a green bin online, by phone, or at a council customer centre using their rate number. The council says new bins can typically be delivered within three working days depending on demand.

Read: Calamvale District Park Named One of Brisbane’s Most Popular Parks

Published 9-August-2023

Jetty Walk Village in Forest Lake Calls For Rezoning

Since last year, Forest Lake residents have been very active in opposing several residential developments in the area. Amidst the protests against the Brisbane City Council and the developers, Cr Charles Strunk has initiated a call for Council to come up with an area rezoning.

Development Woes

One of the most recent developments that elicited protests from the local community is the eight-storey development at 5 The Esplanade. Residents point out that the project does not meet the area’s zoning requirements. Submissions enumerate that the style, visual design, and the bulk of the building clashes with the landscape of the suburb. It also obstructs the lake view of the residents living in the south.

Residents also think that the development will cause traffic congestion and an increase in on-street parking.

Precinct Rezoning

Jetty Walk Village residents have been enjoined to launch a petition asking for the council to rezone the area to low density.

Specifically, the Council is being asked to make changes to the Forest Lake Neighbourhood Plan.

Currently, the area is zoned as medium density, which allows buildings of up to five storeys. Residents have been quick to point out the proposed development at 5 The Esplanade is an 8-storey retirement apartment, so it exceeds even the current zoning.

The precinct is filled with homes that are not higher than two storeys, which is why higher developments in the area are often met with protests from the residents.

Free Four-Hour Use Of The Forest Lake Community Hall In September

The Forest Lake Community Hall has been an integral part of the community as it provides indoor space for community gatherings as well as private functions. This month, the Brisbane City Council is giving those who will book it for a function the first four hours free.

The hall in Forest Lake looks very contemporary having been recently built in 2016. It is located at 60 College Avenue. The hall has a hall space and a balcony that can accommodate over 100 people. It also features a large meeting room, bathroom amenities, storage and kitchen facilities.

The terms and conditions for hiring the hall are:

Event/function must be for a not-for-profit organisation or individual hirer (commercial organisations not eligible)
Clients must provide feedback
Functions longer than four hours must be billed the additional time
Additional fees for the use of AV equipment, kitchen facilities, and security
Limited to one free booking per client

Upon the opening of the $2-million hall on 16 January in 2016, it faced controversy following its unfinished loos that residents posted on social media. A council spokesperson explained then that work on the hall was still underway on the open day.

For more information, you can call 07 3407 0811.