KANGAROO POINT NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH

Newsletter February 2012

Area Coordinators Column
New Year Greetings to you all, Weve come a long way since the terrible January floods of last year and the Point is looking great again. However, the current ongoing rain and rising tides do make us a little nervous as we keep an anxious watch on the river levels and the areas which flooded last year. We hope that the improvements many of us made to flood-proof properties, garages, carparks etc will work and that we will never have a repeat of the 2011 disaster. 2012 promises to be a big year for our NHW community as we have many events planned to improve the sense of community and its safety and amenities. On Sunday March 4 well take part in Clean Up Australia Day and clean-up the KP parks, mangrove areas, beaches and surrounding streets. I hope many of you will come and help to keep our Point beautiful and litter-free. Well send out details closer to the date, but contact us any time for further information. On Sunday 25 March well take part in National Neighbour Day and have our very own KP celebrations, details to be finalised at the meeting on February 13. On Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 April well take part in State Heritage Week and take visitors and locals on free guided Heritage Walks to show off our beautiful heritage buildings. Well continue the popular post-meeting dinners at Deerys Restaurant, Story Bridge Hotel, with a special reasonably priced menu (a choice of four delicious main courses at $25 each) after the first meeting of the year on February 13 and after the AGM on 13 August. A constantly recurring topic in the news and at our meetings is the safety of cyclists and pedestrians and how to avoid conflict between them. As more and more people make use of the convenient CityCycle scheme or get back on their own bikes, it is vital that everyone knows the correct etiquette. Come to the next meeting and listen and talk to the experts on this issue which affects us all.

Next meeting:

MONDAY 13 February 2012, 6:00 for 6:30 pm

Upstairs meeting room, Story Bridge Hotel (Main Street entrance). Pick up a drink in the Corner Bar on your way up & chat with your neighbours before the meeting. Guest Speakers: Ben Wilson, Manager, Bicycling Qld, will talk to us about safety of cyclists and pedestrians on roads, shared paths, boardwalks. He will be joined by a representative from the Council Transport Department. Kind regards, Christa Gerard, Area Coordinator, Christa.Gerard@kangaroopointnw.com

DISCLAIMER The information contained herein has been obtained from sources deemed to be reliable, however we cannot guarantee its accuracy and interested persons should rely upon their own enquires.

HERITAGE BUILDINGS AROUND THE POINT

LECKHAMPTON (No 14 in the KP Heritage Walk and main picture on the front and back cover). There is currently a Development Application for one of the Leckhampton buildings. However, this relates to the copy, the commercial building on the left of the driveway, which was built in 1984. The application does not affect the original heritage-listed building on the right.

This elegant two-storey brick building at 59 Shafston Avenue is a great example of the type of house that well-to-do businessmen of the late nineteenth century used to call home. It is now listed on both the National and State Heritage Register so that its unique character and features can be admired by present and future generations. The cast iron work on the verandahs, the beautiful stained glass windows, three chimneys and the imposing lookout/observation deck all contribute to the unique character of this charming building. Leckhampton has an interesting history. It was designed by noted Brisbane architect Alexander Brown Wilson and built in 1889-1890 as a residence for Charles S. Snow, a successful city jeweller, organist at the nearby St Marys, and founder of the Boy Scouts in Qld. From Snows death in 1913 to 1924 the house remained in the Snow family. In 1924 it was sold and later converted into flats. In 1984 the interior underwent another major refit to office accommodation and a similarly styled commercial office building was built next door.

Leckhampton in the early days and today.

Photo: State Library of Qld #68750

Photo: John Gerard

For a personal, close -up look at Leckhampton and other heritage buildings in beautiful Kangaroo Point, why not join one of our next free Guided Heritage Walks during State Heritage Week on Saturday 21 April or Sunday 22 April 2012 at 10:00 am. Contact us for further details, see contact details on back page.

Whats new in KP?

www.mypolice.qld.gov.au/duttonpark

Did you know that our Dutton Park Police have successfully closed down a drug and theft operation which had been going on for some time in the South Brisbane area? Do you know what criminals are targeting in your area at the moment? If not, you have not yet checked out the newly launched police blog, the first such blog in Qld and probably Australia. You should have received a letter and fridge magnet with the details a couple of weeks ago. Log on to this user-friendly blog at <www.mypolice.qld.gov.au/duttonpark> and get the latest crime alerts and crime information, help police identify offenders, locate stolen property, post your comments and find out what others in your area think. There are also many useful links and a regular online forum, the next one will be on 14 or 28 February (see blog for times) where you talk directly about community matters to the blog organiser, Sr Sergeant Greg Bishop and have your questions answered. Response to the blog has been excellent so far and will no doubt increase as more people become aware of it. So: be aware, become involved and make our local communities stronger and safer for all! New for the coffee addicts: PUK ESPRESSO at 98 Main Street under the Story Bridge and near the big old fig tree. This new espresso bar is open 6:30 am 3:00pm seven days. The focus is on good coffee and gourmet healthy bites, mainly take away but theres a small seating area with good views of the fig tree. Why not try it? Check it out on< http://www.facebook.com/ilovepuk> =============================================================================

Have you seen Venus Rising: Out of the Water and into the Light?
The 23 m high sculpture by British artist Wolfgang Buttress was installed in Kangaroo Point Park (No 15 on our KP Heritage Walk) on 19 January 2012. The artist came from the UK to oversee the assembly and installation. The stainless steel sculpture consists of hundreds of polished tubes and rings that twist around the base, forming a hollow spiral. It will be illuminated from the base to become a visible marker on the Brisbane skyline. The sculpture was the winner of a state-wide public poll held in 2010 by Arts Queensland.

Watch the installation at : <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJZM8diYub4

CRIME REPORT
Andy ODay, our local police liaison officer, reports that there have only been two offences committed in our area recently. There has been a huge drop in crime in the area atrributable to some known offenders being arrested and others moved on from the area. Whilst this is good news, the warmer weather and the approach of the festive season typically lead to an increase in alcohol related offences and violence, so Andy asks us to be watchful of ourselves and our surroundings and to report any concerns to police.

Kangaroo Point Neighbourhood Watch (KPNHW) Meetings

Our meetings are open to all residents of Kangaroo Point. At meetings the floor will be open for your comments and questions regarding Kangaroo Point, its security and amenity and we have regular crime and Council updates. If you cannot attend meetings, please contact us via the website to let us know of any interests or concerns. Our database and the website are regularly updated. If you have any changes contacts are shown below on this page. Meeting dates for this year are:

Monday 13 February, 16 April, 18 June, 13 August (+AGM), 8 October, 10 December

OUR NEXT MEETING IS MONDAY 13 February @ 6:00 for 6:30 pm Followed by dinner at Deerys Restaurant, special menu at reasonable price Contact us if youd like to come to the dinner.
Other date claimers for the first part of 2012: Sat 3 March and St Marys Heavenly Market http://www.saintmarys.org.au/what'sSat 7 April on/events.aspx>. Sunday 4 March: Clean Up Australia Day Sunday 25 March National Neighbour Day Saturday 21 April Guided KP Heritage Walks as part of Qld Heritage Week Sunday 22 April

IMPORTANT POLICE CONTACTS

Keep 000 for emergencies:

Call 3020 8111 Dutton Park Police - to speak to a local police officer

KPNHW contacts Area Coordinator Christa Gerard 3891 6262 / 0418 983 188
Christa.Gerard@kangaroopointnw.com

Secretary Margaret Adamson 0409 484 348 Treasurer David Rees 3391 4374 Newsletter Editor Annemarie Vuorinen 3392 0250 Website www.kangaroopointnw.com

We thank Cr Helen Abrahams office for distributing the minutes of KPNHW meetings; Jane and Richard Deery for the meeting venue; and LJ Hooker for printing our newsletter.

Phone 3391 5399 Sales and Rentals