Brisbane City Council, a local government responsible for over 2,193 parks and gardens across 188 suburbs, has just 3 parks and gardens apprentices on the books, it can be revealed.
The data came via an answer to Questions on Notice from the Labor Opposition Leader in Council, Jared Cassidy. Labor wanted to know how many apprentices and trainees are currently employed with Brisbane City Council.
There are currently two apprentices undertaking a Certificate III in Horticulture – Parks and Gardens, one apprentice undertaking a Certificate III in Arboriculture and no trainees undertaking a Certificate II in Horticulture.
Last year, the ABC reported that not only was Council failing to meet its tree canopy target ahead of the 2032 Games, but it was also failing to maintain the trees it already has, putting people and property at risk during severe weather events.
However, the LNP City Council rejected this claim, labelling it as ‘nonsense’.
BrisbaneNow has seen a fresh set of Questions on Notice submitted where Labor has also asked how many apprentices and trainees have gone on to secure full-time employment with Council. Those answers are due to come back in two weeks.
The mid-year financial review showed that BCC had slashed $6 million in staff from the City Projects Office, which Council claimed was due to the finishing off the Brisbane Metro project.
But Cr. Cassidy said that “you wouldn’t cut $6 million from the City Projects office, unless your intention was to wind down services and infrastructure delivery before the 2032 Games.”
Meanwhile, Labor Councillor Steve Griffiths of Moorooka Ward has just launched a petition to call on Council to stop clearing bushland that used to be protected, and to spend funds from the Bushland Preservation Levy to buy back bushland in key ecological corridors.
Griffiths said that “Currently, Brisbane City Council is approving the destruction of bushland that it had previously protected.”
“After 23 years in Council, this administration still has not achieved its own bushland preservation target.”
“I’ve launched a petition calling on Council to stop bulldozing Brisbane bushland and use the 21 million dollars rate payers pay in bushland preservation levy each year to buy back the bush.”
Residents across Brisbane can sign the petition here.
