On Saturday 21st August 2010 we had a full day with Radio Interviews, got down to the local school and had our vote and then drove 35 kms across town to attend a 2 pm to 5 pm lecture at Chermside library with Dr Carlos, slipped next door to the Kedron Wavell Services Club for a quick snack and a cuppa and then down to Barry Parade in the City for fuel and then over to Lang Park (Suncorp Stadium) to catch up with friends for the first home game soccer match of the season: Brisbane vs. Sydney (last years Australian Champions) and then pop into one of the eateries at Park Rd, Milton for a late supper where we could dissect the game (Brisbane won 1-0) and talk about events of the day (a taste of the Spanish night life) ... naturally the talk of Australian Federal Election warmed up by one or two of those brazier's and a hot chocolate would have ended the day on a good note.

However i can say officially announce that Brisbane City Council has killed Brisbane as a place to go to for a nights entertainment and if you have ever contemplated having or opening a restaurant or cafe within 1,000 metre walk from Lang Park (i.e. Caxton St, Petrie Tce, Given Tce, Park Rd) to capture the afternoon or evenings crowd don't bother ... Brisbane City Council just killed your business and this whole area will become like Homebush Olympic Stadium in Sydney "A Ghost Town, devoid of human interaction"

What makes you say, Brisbane is Dead !

Here is the evidence !  Sitting on the window of our car was a parking infringement for A$75.00
So, Well have a look for yourself the sign says 2 hour parking 7 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday and this is Saturday
Is Brisbane City Council employing people who can't read English, they certainly don't want local business to prosper.

They thread their little ticket through
a little card (see to the right) that tells you.

"During events at Suncorp Stadium
(previously Lang Park) a 15 minute parking
limit applies on all unsigned roads between
12 noon and 10 pm on day of event."

So what does the sign say ....
 
........................   well see for yourself

2 Hour Parking
7 am to 7 pm
Monday to Friday

What, Neanderthal just killed our way of life.

Our investigations reveal A$4.50 of the ticket price goes to providing you with free bus and train travel, so effectively Brisbane City Council want you to come out of your home, go to the game on the bus or train, drink as much as you like and go straight home, how boring is that, you might as well stay home and have your mates around !

So with us having a full day out and about Brisbane they saved A$13.50 with us not using the bus/train system

In fact after Saturday night fiasco i have to say you are better off getting yourself the latest Plasma screen TV that's Internet connected with U-Tube and Skype enabled, Telstra's New T Box or Foxtel Sport, Surround Sound System, a couple of Jason loungers and kick back and watch what you like with your family and mates.

As a Tourist the opportunity of actually meeting Queenslanders in the flesh is now reserved to cyberspace on sites like Facebook, RSVP ... Brisbane City Now Pronounced Dead for Sporting Tourists and locals a like.

For the record, if we had taken the free bus from Logan City to Lang Park and stayed for a supper the cab fare home is A$62.00
Here is a handy reference tool for getting a costing a Black & White cab .... cheaper to get 1 months supply of Foxtel Sports http://www.blackandwhitecabs.com.au/cms/pages/TAXI_MENU/Estimate/!/post.do?formname=Quoter

NB:
Brisbane Roar got 10,300 patrons vs Sydney FC: their second home game vs Wellington Phoenix 7,300
that's 3,000 less at A$4.50, a loss of A$13,500.00 in bus/train revenue

Since we broke this story .. we had the fella who drove the 11 kms from Holland Park into Brisbane City to pick up his daughter after hours (what any protective family man would do) and drove around the Queen St, Eagle St, Creek St precinct waiting for his daughter to appear, when a bus that was in front stopped and he himself could only stop  .. his daughter runs up to the car and gets in .. the bus hasn't even pulled away ... Brisbane City Council hits him with A$150.00 ticket.

And now we can tell you, why you don't use Brisbane City Councils, Clem7 tunnel.

Coming from Gold Coast into Brisbane on the freeway .. you will see the sign to take the Clem7 tunnel .. rather then slow down and take the exit on the left hand side of a freeway/motorway which is the norm for countries that drive on the left hand side of the road they engineered it so that you have to remain in the right hand lane (the fastest lane at 100 kms) and peel off to the right and go into a tunnel that not only slopes downhill but is set at 80km .. this tunnel has 4 speed cameras, drivers have entered this tunnel with a full drivers license only to find at the end of the tunnel they have raked up 12 points and lost their license and their ability to keep their job... bottom line, stay clear of this predatory trap for you and your families sake.

Brisbane City Council has lost its way and the panache for she'll be right, mate .. gone out with the bath water !