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Darra BMX Facility at Monier Road Park Beginning to Take Shape

The Darra BMX facility at Monier Road Park in Darra is beginning to take shape, as construction commenced in September 2018 and is now well underway.

The project is part of a $2.3-million commitment from the Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to construct two new competition-grade BMX tracks in Brisbane. Expected to be completed by mid-2019, the Darra BMX facility will deliver a new high-quality free-facility that will cater to riders of varying skill-levels— young, beginners, and professionals. Integrated with fields and other park facilities, the new facility will include freestyle jump riding, race training, and tracks for recreational riding.

The Darra BMX facility features:

An asphalt BMX track with entry level, intermediate, and advanced runs
Shaded shelters
A drinking fountain
Landscaping including trees, ground covers, and turf
Signage
Stormwater connections to service the new BMX track

A specialist design team has been commissioned to design the facility after community consultation, whose final detailed concept design was made public in mid-August 2018.

For the facility construction to commence, prior remediation works to the north-eastern section of the former landfill site at Monier Road Park were completed. Despite minimal vegetation removal, about 30 new trees will be planted as part of the landscaping works.

The continuing constructions works in the north-eastern section of Monier Road Park will include:

installing an asphalt BMX track with entry level, intermediate and advanced runs
landscaping including trees, groundcovers and turf
installing drainage, a new shade shelter, drinking fountain and signage
reinstating a grassed public open space area for community use.

For the duration of the construction works, the north-eastern section of Monier Road Park will be fenced off and closed to the public; the playground and the open space to the west of the park remains open.

Construction takes place between 7 A.M. and 5 P.M., Monday to Saturday.

Former Oxley Secondary College Site Redevelopment Underway

Works for the former Oxley Secondary College site redevelopment is now underway as the dismantling of existing buildings on site begin.

As part of the site development, Rosenlund Deconstruction Civil Engineering has now started the demolition works. This includes the removal of existing school buildings on the Oxley Priority Development Area (PDA).

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick said that they have awarded the work to Rosenlund after a competitive tender process.

“Rosenlund has 50 years of experience and have successfully managed the dismantling of many large-scale Queensland developments, including the Gold Coast Hospital and Surfers International Beach Resort,” Mr Dick said.

The government also engaged a licensed subcontractor for the removal and cartage of identified asbestos from the site. These works will be in accordance with all relevant acts, regulations, and guidelines.

The target completion date for the demolition works is by the end of January 2019. This will inlcude the removal of all existing infrastructure and buildings as well as the remediation of the site.

Former Oxley Secondary College Site Redevelopment

Photo credit: haveyoursay.dsdmip.qld.gov.au

The Oxley Priority Development Area (PDA) is part of the state government’s Advancing our cities and regions strategy. The former Oxley Secondary College site is currently an exemplary urban renewal precinct.

Plans for the redevelopment include the construction of a new residential community within a bushland setting, aged care facility, integrated community facilities, and the relocation of the existing C&K Yuingi child care centre.

Member for Mount Ommaney Jess Pugh said this is an exciting time for Oxley residents. Moreover, Economic Development Queensland will conduct community consultation to ensure the delivery of the best possible outcome for the community.

“When works are completed, the 19-hectare site will offer a community hub, sport and playing fields, and will see the relocation of the Yuingi childcare centre to higher ground,” Ms Pugh said.

“Additionally, it will also feature space for 74 residential homes, with a large average block size of 800 square metres.”

Rosenlund Managing Director Neil Rosenlund said neighbouring residents can expect to see perimeter fencing installed and a temporary office set up on site.

Further works will include the disconnection of services and installation of environmental controls and tree protections.

New Childcare Centre Proposed for Riverhills

Council is now assessing a development application for a new childcare centre proposed for 1 and 3 Hazelton Street, Riverhills.

The proposal seeks to develop a two-storey childcare development centre at a low-density residential zone. The developer will remove two houses on-site as part of their development plans.

Perspective from Hazelton Street corner. Photo credit: Brisbane Planning and Development Online

The proposed childcare centre will cater to 104 children and includes three outdoor play areas as well as 21 car park spaces. It also aims to open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Local Residents Unhappy

The proposal is already making a few residents unhappy since the childcare centre’s location raises traffic and safety issues.

Residents claimed that the development application’s traffic report is somehow inaccurate since there are multiple errors in the document including the speed limits on the intersection.

Perspective from Sumners Road corner. Photo credit: Brisbane Planning and Development Online

One resident is particularly concerned about the underground carpark’s access to Sumner’s Road. In the submission, the local resident said that the location considered dangerous. This is due to the fact that there have been many accidents in the area and in some cases, cars have landed in the front yard of 1 Hazelton Street, Riverhills.

“This area is a well-known trouble spot to council. The front yard of 1 Hazelton Street is earmarked as an outdoor play area. I certainly would feel uncomfortable placing my children there knowing the history of the traffic incidents.”

Another Riverhills resident cited that the childcare centre is not necessary for the area since there are already several childcare facilities in the area.

Photo credit: Brisbane Planning and Development Online

With these reactions, it seems that the childcare centre will not be supported by the local community.

Learn more about the proposed new childcare centre in Riverhills by reading the Application Details for A005035700.

Proposed Mt Ommaney Entertainment and Leisure Precinct in Details

A more vibrant and lively Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre could become reality in the near future should the application for the Mt Ommaney Entertainment and Leisure Precinct be approved by Council.

The development application for the expansion of the shopping centre is currently being reviewed by Brisbane City Council. Vicinity Centres, owner of Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre, intends to create what the designer describes as a sculptural entertainment precinct. The sculptural area will be formed with cinemas in cubic forms and linked to the main mall via a serpentine bridge.

Along the sides of the serpentine bridge will be food and beverage outlets. There will also be open areas designed as gathering spaces for the community. Part of the open spaces will incorporate play structures for children, BBQ facilities and lawn mounds.

Landscaping along Dandenong Road will also be intensified as part of the proposed plan. From the cinema foyers, people will have a view of the green spaces.

Retail Spaces and Community Hub

Under the plan, some 11,000 square metres of dining and entertainment space will be added to the existing shopping centre. The expansion plan includes seven cinemas, food outlets, lifestyle and leisure spaces and a pub.

The proposal also involves the integration of the council’s library into the shopping centre. The DA also proposes to build a new community hub and a town centre to encourage after-hours activities. The existing community hub will be demolished and replaced by the new community centre under the plan.

Should the DA be approved according to schedule, construction should start before the end of the year. Completion is expected at the end of 2019 or early 2020.

Find out more about the proposed Mt Ommaney Entertainment and Leisure Precinct (DA A004984677).

Mount Ommaney Home Value Makes Gains, Reaches $944K

The REIQ recently reported the latest housing market statistics which showed Mount Ommaney median house price at $944,000, a 13.7% increase over the last 12 months and 44.1% over the last 5 years. In the 2nd quarter of 2018, there were 6 homes sold in the suburb.

Neighbouring suburb Jindalee also made some gains, with home sale reaching an average of $571,000, up 2.4% from last year and 22.8% in 5 years. Fifteen homes were sold in Jindalee during the 2nd quarter.

Old Inala Hall And Inala Hall (New Hall) | “Free Hire” This September

This September, the Brisbane City Council is offering eligible new customers a “free hire” of the Inala Hall (New Hall) and the Old Inala Hall for the first 4 hours!

Old Inala Hall

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/brisbane.qld.gov.au

The move to wave the booking fees is in line with the Council’s effort to enhance the appeal of using community halls for local events and festivities. Booking for the use of the New Inala Hall, Old Inala Hall, or any of the more than 20 community halls and facilities around Brisbane is free this September.

This is a great opportunity to take advantage of these venues, for eligible individuals and not-for-profit organisations planning to hold club meetings, wedding receptions, business functions, conferences, or cultural and religious events.

Inside the Inala Hall (New Hall)

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/brisbane.qld.gov.au

Inside the Old Inala Hall

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/brisbane.qld.gov.au

As part of the terms and conditions, new customers taking advantage of the “free hire” must answer a Community Halls attendee feedback survey regarding their overall experience in using the venue and its facilities. The information gathered from customer feedback will provide the Council with an insight into areas where they are doing well as well as opportunities for improvement.

The following are the Terms and conditions for the Community Halls free hire:

first four hours of a customer’s booking in September 2018 will be free
customer has not previously hired a community hall space in the last 12 months
must be a not-for-profit organisation or individual hirer (commercial organisations not eligible)
customer must provide feedback
bookings longer than four hours must be billed the additional time
use of AV equipment, kitchen facilities and security will incur additional fees
limited to one free booking per customer.

About the Old Inala Hall

Located in a park at the corner of Abelia and Rosemary Streets, the Old Inala Hall is a refurbished old style hall that can accommodate about 100 people. The hall has a kitchen, piano, basic audiovisual, on-premise disability parking, and an accessible toilet.

About the Inala Civic or Community Centre (New Inala Hall)

The New Inala Civic or Community Centre is located on the corner of Corsair Avenue and Wirraway Parade. The new Inala Hall features include a kitchen, piano, basic audiovisual equipment, on-premise disability parking, and an accessible toilet. The hall can hold up to 150 people.

For any booking enquiry, you may fill out the online Community Halls booking enquiry form or call the Community Halls office on 07 3407 0811.

“Extraordinary” Flu Outbreak Forces Middle Park School to Close for a Day

August 3rd was no ordinary day for Middle Park School as it was forced to close whilst its cleaning team complete their work disinfecting the school premises. The action was brought about by an extraordinary flu outbreak in the school which saw 182 students and 15 teachers down with Influenza.

Additionally, students with influenza-like symptoms were advised to stay at home until the symptoms had dissipated.

Students With Influenza-Like Symptoms Advised to Stay Home

In her letter to the parents, Middle Park State School Principal Anne Kitchin explained that the school’s action was based on the recent outbreak of Influenza A and B in the school. “The Health Department has stressed the importance of keeping students home who have any influenza-like symptoms and their absence should continue until they have no influenza-like symptoms,” Principal Kitchin said.

She further added that the symptoms usually take five to seven days before they are gone but can be longer. “We urge parents to keep all students home tomorrow, Friday, 3 August. In response to the situation, we will have a cleaning team here to run additional shifts. If you are unable to provide care for your child there will be a small skeleton staff here,” she advised.

Government Influenza Vaccine Program

This year, the Queensland Health Department launched a free influenza vaccine program for children aged 6 months to less than 5 years.

“The initiative will expand on current program offered through the National Immunisation Program,” the Queensland Health Department stated on their website.

The Health Department further explained that children are at a high risk of contracting influenza and they contribute greatly to the spread of the disease in the community. Vaccination also protects the wider community through the reduction of circulating influenza strains.

About the School Immunisation Program (SIP)

Queensland’s School Immunisation Program provides free vaccinations for a range of diseases to Year 7 and Year 10 children through all the state and non-state secondary schools. The vaccines are available for free to registered providers that are implementing the immunisations.

Year 7 students who will miss any doses of vaccine at school may still receive their missing doses up to the end of the following year. After the specified time frame, vaccinations that were not completed will need to be purchased with a private prescription.

Additionally, adolescents not attending school and who would have normally been in Year 7 are also eligible for the vaccinations recommended by the National Immunisation Program Schedule.

It is important to note that to be entitled to the government’s Child Care Subsidy, your child must be immunized according to the NIP schedule. Should there be a missed vaccination shot, your child must be placed on a recognized and recorded in a catch-up schedule to still be entitled to the child care subsidy.

2018 Influenza Vaccination

Influenza vaccines are generally funded by the state and national influenza programs. The influenza programs aim to immunize all children from 6 months to less than 5 years of age.

Other individuals included in the program:

Pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that are 15 years and younger.
Individuals 6 months of age and older, with medical conditions predisposing them to severe influenza.
65 years and older individuals.

Further information about the influenza vaccination guidelines can be found at the Queensland Health Department website.

Celebrate National Tree Day In Middle Park As Part Of Peaks To Points Festival 2018

On 29 July, be part of the National Tree Day event as part of the Points To Peaks Festival this year in Middle Park.

Happening from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., this event promises to be a great way to give back to Mother Nature through tree planting. The event is hosted by Wilson and Centenary Catchments Inc and will be a commemoration of National Tree Day as well.

The event will be held at Wood Park and participants should wear enclosed shoes, pants, long sleeves, and a hat.

You will get free snacks and water at the event. Children can come as long as they have parental supervision.

The event will also provide gloves, tools, and other equipment needed for planting, and watering cans.

Peaks To Points Festival is a biennial event that celebrates the efforts of the government and the communities to care for their creek catchments along the southern side of the Brisbane River.

You can register here.

Easing Traffic Congestion On Centenary Motorway: $16 Million Announced For A Detailed Business Case

A plan to help ease the infamous traffic on the Centenary Motorway is finally coming together. Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey recently announced the allocation of an additional $16 million for a detailed business case on top of the $4 million budget that has already been earmarked for the project.

The State Government is planning for a second bridge to be built across the Brisbane River in Jindalee. This will help ease congestion and will allow for three lanes on the stretch of the highway. The project will also include bikeway upgrades and a longer merging lane.

The government’s action to ease congestion on the highway comes amidst widespread public clamor that the traffic situation has become untenable and will only likely get worse as the population in the area grows.

The project’s business case is expected to be finished by mid-2019. After this, the government will allocate capital funding for the project.

Last year, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that the government will spend $65 million to upgrade the highway. She said that her government is committed to fixing the traffic congestion.

Read: Centenary Highway To Get $65-Million Upgrade Within 12 Months
Read: Centenary Motorway Registers Slowest Traffic In The City

Jindalee Woman Nabs Guinness World Record For The Most Dogs Walked

The Guinness world record for the most dogs walked has recently been broken by a Jindalee resident.

Professional dog trainer Maria Harman was able to grab the record by taking 36 dogs for a 1-kilometre walk, all at the same time.

Ms Harman’s plan was to originally walk 40 dogs. However, that didn’t go as planned. One dog didn’t like the grass, whilst the other one got tangled, and the others got stressed. This put her down to 36 and she was victorious.

She took 36 dogs in two straight lines down Wilson Creek Reserve making her the one deserving of this year’s Guinness world record.

Being in the pet industry, Ms Harman focuses on canine behaviour. It is also to her advantage that she knows the dogs very well as she had trained most of them.

In 2016, a man in Los Angeles attempted to snag the same world record by walking 45 dogs. Bob Morris, a professional dog walker who often walk four dogs and more at the same time, attempted to break the Guinness record that same year. However, things took a nasty turn when he overestimated himself and didn’t foresee the problems that occured.