What I Learned on My Summer Vacation

Brisbane is a mostly a young city
 with decent architecture.

It's been a long time since I've used that phrase, but I did learn something this summer.

I visited Australia and I am very excited to share what I saw. [Yes, this is work-related]

I saw bicycles, catamarans, buses, trains, pedestrian bridges, taxis, hints of bicycle sharing, pedestrian only streets and parks (which I might highlight parks with a follow-up blog). Where did I see all this? The beautiful City of Brisbane, located in the southeast corner of Queensland on the country's east coast.

The city is a big one! The country's third largest city has over one million people spread over an area of 727 sq. mi. That's not quite as big as the entire Florence County area which is 799 sq. mi., but a lot more density than the whole Pee Dee region combined.

Mostly, I wanted to share photos that I took while tooling around the City and I'll describe what I could gather from my exploration. And, of course, if driving on the wrong side of the road has you worried, be comforted by the following alternatives...

Queen Street has been converted into a pedestrian street. No bicycles allowed. Note the overhangs to protect pedestrians from the weather. Mid-block cut-throughs were common as were shopping center-sized 'arcades'. The bus depot is located on the next parallel block consisting of a close series of designated stops.

CityCycle is a new program just starting for the City and some surrounding suburbs. Shown here is one of the pick-up, drop-off locations. In theory, a small fee would allow you to rent a bicycle. A rechargeable 'Go' card allows you get discounted prices to ride the bus, train, catamaran and utilize this service.

This is a pedestrian only bridge over Brisbane River. It connects the Queensland Technical College and Botanical Garden area to an neighborhood of green space, cafes, shops, apartments and offices. Note the bulb out portion of the bridge - there was a cafe there, too.

Probably one of the most exciting ways to travel was by catamaran. Since the Brisbane River connected the heart of the city as seen in the right of this photo to the arts district, Queensland University, Technical College, residences, shopping and parks, the catamaran was an efficient and fun way to travel or commute.

If you are still reading, then all these pictures were not just fun to do. In fact, this is what I would refer to as a technical photo. Yes, as a planner, this photo would be considered to embody the very intention of a complete street. Note on the left side of the photo the pedestrian walk including sitting areas, curb-outs for parking, bollards that protect pedestrians from vehicles and, what is that??; oh, trees and landscaping. Nice! Even the road where the peds cross is raised and has a different texture. Also noteworthy is the layout of the area: apartments to the right and to the left a large area park complete with gardens, main lawn, picnic area and amphitheater!

Pedestrian walkways along the Brisbane River within a park setting. Bougainvillea are trained to the sculpture-like boundary.  One of these parks included an artificial beach and water playground.

A riverside promenade. This turned into a roadway of bicycles, pedestrians and runners in the morning and afternoon hours. Note the sign which explains that walkers should stay left for bicycles to pass. Bicyclists use bells to make known of passing, too. Storey Bridge in the background includes a pedestrian lane - plus for fun, you can walk on the top!

Well, there you have it for now. I have a lot more photos; and hopefully, I can compile some that show the importance of public spaces, which Brisbane is full of. Until then, tell me what you think about these amenities and how we could possible integrate here.

Attention All Paddlers!

Anyone out there familiar with The Scenic Rivers Program, established by the SC Scenic Rivers Act 1989? I wasn't until I was fortunate enough to be asked to join the Lynches Scenic River Advisory Committee. The upper section of the Lynches River was designated a State Scenic River on March 24, 1994, while the lower section was designated on June 11, 2008.

Thanks to the efforts of SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism and SC Department of Natural Resources a grant was received from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration and a Lynches Scenic River Water Trail Guide has been created. The guidebook contains information on the portion which flows roughly 111 miles from U.S. Highway 15 Bridge in Lee County to its confluence with the Great Pee Dee River, which by the way, is another SC State Scenic River.

The guidebook is waterproof, however there are specific instructions on how to dry the sheets if the book gets wet. These instructions can be found on the DNR website under Managed Lands and Secenic Rivers. A pdf of the guidebook is also available at this site.

You can pick up a copy of the booklet (FREE!) at any of these locations:
- Florence DNR office;
- Florence County Planning Department;
- Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Library;
(carded copies will also be available here and at each of the Florence County libraries)
- Naturally Outdoors;
- Two outfitters on the Lynches River (River Ratz & Swamp Fox);
- Lynches River County Park;
- Woods Bay State Park;
- Lee State Park; and
- The Cotton Museum in Bishopville.

Poster size signs with specific information will be placed at the following landings:
- Highway 15, Lee County;
- Highway 76, Sumter County;
- Highway 401, outside of Olanta;
- Half Moon Landing, above Johnsonville;
- Highway 41/51, Odell Venters Landing;
- Lynches River County Park @ canoe landing and @ Highway 52 landing.

Small blue "South Carolina Scenic River" tree signs will be posted visible by water or land at other landings available to the public. No signs will be posted on private landings.

The date, time and location of the Dedication has yet to be determined. I'll keep you posted.

I can't begin to elaborate on all of the great information this guidebook contains. So, run out and pick one up soon (limited supply of FREE books) and take it with you on your next outting on the Lynches River. I've got mine and my outting is in the works. See you on the river!

Water is Wet. What else do you want to know?

It's been a wild week here at the Planning Services Division: it started with a GIS (maps) conference in Columbia ending mid-day Tuesday, then diffusing a potential FLATS (our urban transportation planning side) issue with the long-range plan and reviewing text on the future land use element (coming to areas around the City of Florence in March). All of this, together with figuring out how to compile a list of annual obligations for FLATS, an update to the background material to support the TIP and a federal government survey!

...are you still there?

We are! And we are making some great strides moving Florence County forward. But I want to discuss the water survey that was sitting to the right for so long (I moved it further down the page for now).

Water
It seems like everyone who took the survey (thank you!) has a great perspective on where their water comes from... and for most of us, it comes from the same place - the Pee Dee River and aquifer (not a survey option). There was another option that I failed to offer: anyone collect rainwater? ...don't laugh; many settlers to the Florida Keys had large cisterns installed under the house - provides water and keeps a constant temperature in the house.

Surprisingly, the survey shows more than 25% of us get our water from a bottle!

The Great Pee Dee River runs along the northeastern side of Florence County, making its way towards Johnsonville. In addition to multiple wells tapping the aquifer around town, the City of Florence operates a surface water treatment plant at the Industrial Park at 327 and I-95. The photo to the left is the education center; also see it in the drafted Community Facilities Element (public hearing, County Council, March 5th).

Everyone knows that diversifying an investment portfolio maximi... nevermind... This plant enables the City to diversify its water source. With the growing population of Florence, the more different sources, the better. It's all about capacity: having the capability to treat and supply the residents with clean drinking water. Currently, the City has a permit from DHEC to pull 15 million gallons a day (mgd) from its sources!

Water Conservation
I practically grew up with water restrictions. Do you know what the biggest use of water (other than indutrial processes)? Irrigation! ...I couldn't believe it when I heard that. How could anyone consider watering their lawn if they know what it took to supply it.

Taking the trip of a water molecule, you are first free in an aquifer or in the river when you are sucked into a treatment plant (think day spa for water molecules), then stored along with other molecules (those large tanks you see on the horizon), then directed through tunnels (water mains, to neighborhood distribution, to the meter at your house)... then - all over your lawn. Personal wells are a bit more practical for this purpose - but be sure to water at the early morning hours.

Bottom line - conserve this precious and expensive resource. These are your tax dollars and natural resources at work!