I rise today to speak on the sad passing of a leader in the Pine Rivers community, Mrs Betty Blake. While I did not have the honour of personally knowing Betty Blake, I would like to acknowledge the great legacy that she has left behind in Pine Rivers. Betty moved to the Pine Rivers area in 1987 to enjoy a quiet and peaceful retirement with her husband, Tom Blake. At this time, the Pine Rivers Neighbourhood Centre was being established and Betty offered her assistance to the project. A founding member of the centre, Betty also established the community information and referral service and used her skills as a former legal secretary in New South Wales to write funding submissions for the centre. Betty also oversaw many activities and was secretary to the management committee. » more

State Members for Pine Rivers and Kallangur, Carolyn Male MP and Mary-Anne O’Neill MP, are urging local residents and businesses to switch off on Saturday, 27 March for Earth Hour 2010. » more

State Member for Pine Rivers, Carolyn Male MP, said that an all-party State Parliament Committee is inquiring into the road safety benefits of fixed speed cameras. » more

State Member for Pine Rivers, Carolyn Male MP, today congratulated Nadine Brayley from Cashmere and other recipients of the State Government’s Smart Futures PhD Scholarships 2010 program, who will each receive $24,000 over the next three years. » more

Carolyn Male MP looking over plans for the Expansion of the Carpark with Bray Park Railway Station Manager Mark

Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers, has announced that the $1.1 million Bray Park station park ‘n’ ride upgrade is due to commence construction in April and is expected to take six months to complete.

Carolyn Male MP said that the Bligh Government is delivering on their election commitment to provide Bray Park rail commuters with 76 extra parking bays and a secure bike locker at their local station.

“The Bray Park station car park upgrade will provide an extra 76 all-day car parks, increasing current capacity by 50 per cent,” Carolyn Male MP said.

“The car park extension will also feature new secure bike storage facilities, Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) technology, bright lighting and secure fencing to help ensure commuters feel safe and secure when parking their cars at the station.” » more

State Member for Pine Rivers, Carolyn Male MP, reminded Pine Rivers students in grades 5 to 7 that they have just one week left to get their entries in to win one of 89 bikes up for grabs as part of Bike Week 2010 celebrations (13 to 21 March). » more

Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers, said that the State Government will this year change the way body corporate fees are decided for Queensland’s more than 350,000 unit owners. » more

I support the motion to revoke the setting apart and declaration of land as state forest under section 26(2) of the Forestry Act 1959. This proposal involves the revocation of 114.6 hectares from part of Beerwah State Forest-SF561-located directly south of Australia Zoo. The area proposed for revocation is exotic pine plantation forest with little conservation value. It should be noted that native title over this land has been extinguished. » more

I rise to inform the House of the great service that the Pine Rivers Community Assisted Transport Service, CATS, provides to the people of Pine Rivers. CATS is a volunteer based community organisation funded by Home and Community Care and is delivered by Moreton Bay Regional Council. The volunteers at CATS provide a door-to-door transport service specifically for HACC funded eligible people who are unable to access other forms of public transport for health and accessibility reasons. » more

Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers, said Pine Rivers students in grades 5 to 7 could be in the running to win 1 of 89 bikes up for grabs in a special competition to celebrate Bike Week 2010 (13 to 21 March). » more

In rising to participate in the debate on the Valuation of Land and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 I would like to address the importance of the valuation system to Queensland. Every year State Valuation Services in the Department of Environment and Resource Management provides valuations to property owners across Queensland. These valuations are critical to local and state governments as the basis for determining rates, land tax and state land rental. How valuations are undertaken and their validity impacts every Queenslander in one way or another. This bill introduces amendments to give certainty to the way in which valuations have been prepared so that Queenslanders can have confidence that their valuations are assessed on a consistent and legislatively sound basis and so ensure equity for all landowners. Opposition members have spent the last hour trotting out every bit of scare tactic they could. Once again they have shown no concern for the running of the state of Queensland in a sensible and sound manner to ensure certainty in the valuation system. » more

Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers, would like to make people aware that the Queensland Government has begun the roll out of school swine flu vaccination clinics across the State. » more

Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers, would like to inform Pine Rivers residents that they have an opportunity to shape the future of Queensland’s education system. » more

Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers and Mary-Anne O’Neill MP, State Member for Kallangur would like to invite landholders in South East Queensland to apply for funding to rehabilitate their land to help boost koala habitat. » more

With millions of motorists driving on south east Queensland’s motorways everyday, the Bligh Government has embarked on a major clean up campaign, Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers said. » more

Carolyn Male MP, State Member for Pine Rivers, said the Bligh Government would deliver a new package of sport and recreation funding programs worth more than $138 million to create jobs, help build infrastructure and deliver initiatives to encourage Queenslanders to take part in sport and recreation activities. » more