Heritage body ‘not branch of government’

LETTERS


Dear Editor
On 30 September 2009, The Independent reported the concerns of the Queensland Heritage Council (QHC) about the draft Fortitude Valley Neighbourhood Plan. It also reported a statement by Cr Amanda Cooper that the QHC and the Department of Infrastructure and Planning were “two branches of the State government”.
This is an unfortunate misconception since the QHC is an independent statutory authority. It provides independent advice to the community and the Queensland Government on heritage. It is not a branch of government.
As an independent body, the QHC has asked the Brisbane City Council to quickly enter into a dialogue about the best way of protecting the very considerable heritage significance of the Valley.
Howard Guille Queensland Heritage Council Policy Committee Chair
Via email October 27.

Not happy on the avenue

Dear Editor,
Newstead Avenue residents are unimpressed by the “parking changes”, especially press adverts which claim that they were developed with “community feedback”. What a laugh! With indecent haste were the machines installed, signs erected and new line markings painted on, just a matter of days before the starter's whistle on October 26.
It was a waste of time trying to contact the local councillor for Hamilton. He hasn't yet responded to several messages. Of course, this is no surprise. As the local representative of the Brisbane City Council, he's not exactly the flavour of the month among the unconsulted residents of Newstead north.
Just a grab for cash? Must be!
Bemused (name and addressed supplied)
Newstead Avenue
Via email October 30