Mount Ommaney now has the perfect spot for all your Asian cuisine cravings as 8 Street opens at Mt Ommaney Centre.
8 Street is an Asian hawkers market style street food precinct designed with traditional Asian architecture. Stalls are structured with wooden fixtures and customers can see the food being prepared whilst they watch. Indeed, the place gives that authentic hawker market style experience that one can experience on the streets of Hong Kong or Singapore.
This market street food has already won multiple awards such as the 2015 Queensland Retail Property Awards.
The new 8 Street at the centre has ten new retailers:
BOBA Chicken
WonTonTon
Rolling Man
Burlington
BBQ
Mr Curry
Japanice
8 Street Bar
8 Thai
Sizzling Gourmet
Sunlit Asian Supermarket
Now you don’t have to go far for your Asian foodie fix!
One question that keeps popping up in Brisbane is, “Why is the Brisbane River so brown?”
Jesper Nielsen Photo credit: Healthy Land & Water
Most people will automatically equate the brown colour to the idea that the river water is dirty or polluted. The colour of the river doesn’t mean it’s polluted or dirty – in fact, it’s cleaner than it’ll ever be. However, seeing it blue does looks more pleasing to the eye, as most people will agree.
AUniversity of Queensland student is determined to turn the water into blue. Jesper Nielsen, who has been planting bacopa in Jindalee, believes that this can change the river’s colour.
Mr Nielsen is close to completing his PhD looking for a solution to the river’s brown colour. His findings show sand in the middle of the river whilst mud is all on the mud banks. According to him, it’s this mud that turns the water into brown as it gets re-suspended continuously by the tide.
Last year, Mr Nielsen built a 10m vertical “turbulence tower” that would help get the job done. The tower consists of a mast supported on a legged base that sits on the river bed. It has a capacity to support various testing mechanisms. He won the research award at the Healthy Waterways Awards gala event last year for this. The tower will help him understand the flow of the river in order to solve its murky suspended sediment issue.
Photo credit: AquaPortail
With his findings, he devised a “cure,” which he said lies with the river’s mudbank and a freshwater plant called Bacopa monnieri. This fresh water plant showed up along the river following the 2011 floods and despite the saltier conditions, it flourished on the river’s muddy shores. Having seen this, Mr Nielsen and his team started replanting the plant to keep the mud on the banks. His timeline? He’s confident that if he gets more people to help, he can complete this project in four years or even less.
Paul Maxwell of Healthy Land and Water said, however, that while Mr Nielsen’s efforts are truly admirable, given the sediment coming down from the upper catchment and from stormwater in urban areas, the problem is more complex. He said that replanting of the plants is a good thing but a wider approach is needed.
In the meantime, the Brisbane River flows on, in all its murky, brown glory.
The worst bus routes in Brisbane have been revealed and the ones that are perennially late in the west use the Centenary Motorway, such as the Riverhills to Spring Hill route and the Mount Ommaney to Queen St, CBD route.
The council realises that one of the main reasons why these routes arrive late is because of the traffic congestion on the Centenary Motorway. The motorway has long been the topic of discussion and there have been plenty of proposals for its upgrade, yet the peak hours remain horrible.
In April of this year, RACQ named it the slowest motorway during the morning and afternoon journeys. Their findings showed that speed in the am is approximately at 22km/h and 26km/h in the afternoon.
Because the said motorway is under the State Government, the Department of Main Roads and Transport responded to this and said that the Master Plan for Centenary Motorway (Toowong to Ipswich) is already being prepared and will be ready early next year. It will include all recommendations to improve the traffic flow on the motorway.
As of now, the council redirects buses through the Legacy Way and has been providing bus upgrades on the Inner City Bypass to improve bus services on key peak hour routes here in the west.
If you’re looking for simple food around the western suburbs of Brisbane, then you’re in luck. Located in the heart of Jindalee Home is the Bare Bones Society, a place which offers simplicity on a plate but promises wonderful flavours that will suit all types of taste palates.
Photo credit: Bare Bones Society / Facebook
The restaurant caters to all types of appetites – whether you’re living a strict healthy lifestyle, or you’re on a paleo diet, you will find something for you on their menu. They are open as early as 8:00 a.m., welcoming customers who are looking to fill their stomachs with heart breakfast food to fuel them throughout the day.
Here you get served simple breakfast food with a twist from Chai Tea Quinoa and Chia Porridge. There is also a breakfast burger on brioche if you’re looking for something on the heavier side.
Photo credit: Bare Bones Society / Facebook
As breakfast ends, the kitchen starts to prepare for lunch. Try their pulled pork quesadilla with guacamole, tomato and corn salsa, jalapeños, green mole and sour cream if you want some spice.
For something healthier, don’t miss the Bones poke bowl that consists of marinated ocean trout, edameme, cucumber, pickled vegetables and tempura nori with coconut rice.
Photo credit: Bare Bones Society / Facebook
Every Friday and Saturday, they are open for all-day dining, which means that you can have a sumptuous dinner meal here. Currently, they offer modern American dinner.
Try out the grilled sirloin and smoked brisket duo on medley of roasted root vegetables, charged garlic puree and bacon jus.
Photo credit: Bare Bones Society / Facebook
They also serve some delicious bottles of fresh juices and smoothies. They also serve delicious coffee from Toby’s Estate.
You can also pair your meals with beer, wine or champagne.
Established in 1992, the school now has close to a hundred students. In celebration of their Silver Anniversary, the school will also pay tribute to their principal, Ian Lowe, who has presided over the faculty for almost 20 years. To recognise his dedication and service to the school, a playground will be named after him, to be officially launched in his honour on that day as well.
There will also be a showcase of photos and artefacts that show the school being built. The current Principal, Susan Christensen, is excited for their anniversary and very eager to see what lies for them in the future.
The school has won numerous awards through the years. In 2015, the school was awarded a regional Award for Inclusive Practices by Showcase Awards. In 2014, they also won an award for Excellence in Community Partnerships in recognition for their drama program.
Part of the school’s vision for the future is to have each student communicate independently through a system where technology will play a significant role.
South west Brisbane, be prepared as a home in Jindalee gets transformed into a spooky place just in time for Halloween. The home is located at 20 Curragundi Road in Jindalee.
For six years, the Horswill family has been decorating their home every Halloween. Walking past it, it really is a spooky sight to behold – red lights adorn the home giving it that eerie glow whilst displays of ghouls and other scary designs lure you to come closer.
This year, though, the family wants to take things a notch higher. All of the family members will be wearing a costume and there will be a haunted tunnel and Halloween soundtrack. There are also going to be a smoke machine and lasers.
Also, this will also be the first time that they will be using a projector which will display holographic ghosts.
This year’s Halloween display may be something but nothing beats their annual Christmas Lights. They raise money from the displays for Mater Little Miracles. All of their children and grandchildren were born there. So far, they have raised approximately $30,000 and their Christmas display has won the annual 4KQ Christmas Lights competition.
But for now, don’t miss out on their halloween display from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the 31st of October.
Deer seem to be roaming the night in Jindalee. A resident spotted a herd of deer snacking on her neighbor’s gerberas.
It seems like the deer hopped over the fence and just started feasting on the neigbourhood lawns. Residents are not actually surprised because this dry season has urged deer to take advantage of watered lawns.
However, they are concerned with the damage that the deer can bring to their properties. The deer are known to destroy foliage and spread a seed of weeds as well as trample on seedlings.
According to the Glen Alchin, the director of All Critter Pest Control, trapping is the best option and there’s little one can do to prevent the deer from coming, especially when they are hungry.
The Brisbane City Council has also set some guidelines to control deer from coming into people’s property. They urge residents not to feed or attempt to befriend them. Also, collecting fallen fruit from trees from around your property as well as the removal of bird feeders will help prevent deer from getting inside your property.
Exclusion fencing will also keep them out. Lights can also deter deer especially the ones that flash a red light strobe but this has to be moved frequently so the deer doesn’t get used to it.
After years of being stuck in traffic on Sumners Road, motorists will be glad to know that the road will now finally get an upgrade. An LNP Government will build the Sumners Road overpass upgrade to ease traffic congestion and also help improve the traffic flow on the Centenary Motorway.
LNP’s local MP Tarnya Smith has been lobbying for this upgrade for three years and now she has reached victory. It wasn’t an easy battle.
In 2016, residents signed a petition that gained more than 3000 signatures. However, there was no allocated funding for the project then, although a Transport and Main Roads study in 2010-11 supports the idea. There is a study that says that a duplication of the overpass would help reduce traffic congestion. The overpass serves the residents of Sumner, Jamboree, Riverhills, Middle Park, and Darra.
Residents have been trying their best to avoid the overpass when going to work or school because it would take you a long time to get to where you’re going if you go by this route. A lot of Centenary residents would drive to Oxley or Darra train stations instead of taking the buses as well.
Next to the Brisbane River, the Sumners Road park in Riverhills is the perfect spot for skate and BMX lovers because of the tracks and dirt jumps.
Located at the very end of Sumners Road, you’ll see dirt jumps next to a concrete ramp area with ramps and other formations where you can practice riding, doing tricks with your skateboard or BMX, and jumping.
Recently, Councilor Matthew Bourke posted the dirt jumps on his Facebook page, thanking Deluxe Dirt Innovations for the improvements done on the dirt jumps. They recently made improvements to the dirt jumps to make it suitable for all levels, from beginner to intermediate levels, and even those with professional experience.
The residents are very pleased with the repairs and developments that have been done. In early September, locals came by to give these jumps a try and get their wheels dirty with some action.
For younger kids, there are available play equipment and a picnic table at the park. The area is also accessible for those with special needs.
After a long wait, Centenary Highway could soon see some improvements as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced that the government will spend $65 million for its upgrade.
The upgrade will involve the upgrade of the Sumners Road Interchange, which is used by 35,000 vehicles every day.
“This intersection has been a headache for commuters for a long time – now my government is committed to fixing it,” said the Premier.
“This upgrade, which will also create 50 jobs, will reduce congestion on the daily commute, and cut travel times for 5,500 heavy trucks that use this interchange daily, improving freight connections and supporting local businesses.”
The project involves adding two signalised intersections in place of the current roundabouts. A new two-lane eastbound bridge will also be constructed as part of the upgrade.
The plan will also see additional bike lanes, shared paths and crossings to provide active transport options to daily commuters.
Development is expected to start within 12 months, after completion of the design and the bidding process. The project should be done after two years.
Preliminary plan for the Sumners Road Interchange
(Photo credit: www.qld.gov.au)
Easing Traffic
The announcement is a welcome development for commuters, considering the importance of the highway to residents driving to the CBD from Brisbane’s western suburbs.
Steven Miles, who is the Acting Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety, stressed that the project will have a positive impact on traffic flow in other parts of the city’s transport network.
“This is the closest city-bound interchange to the Ipswich-Centenary Motorway intersection, so easing congestion at Sumners road has far-reaching consequences,” said Mr Miles.
“It also improves connectivity to Darra train station through reduced bus travel times. That benefits passengers travelling towards Ipswich, Springfield or Brisbane.”
