Homepage Latest News - Page 36 of 39

Mt Ommaney’s Wealth to Blame for Public Transport Woes?

Richer suburbs tend to have weaker public transport and Mount Ommaney is a perfect example.

Public transport experts have established that suburbs perceived to be richer tend to have insufficient public transport systems. Robert Dow, administrator for lobby group Rail Back On Track, told Domain Group that mass transit is weaker in richer suburbs because a huge number of residents own cars.

“I think they said: These people are rich, they’ve got cars, why should we be giving them public transport,” Mr Dow told Domain.

This holds true for suburbs like Mount Ommaney, which is among the inner to middle ring suburbs suffering from the worst access to public transport to CBD. Other inner and middle ring suburbs that ranked lowest include Bulimba, Yeronga, McDowall, Riverhills, Middle Park and Albany Creek.

According to data from TransLink Journey Planner, it takes 45 minutes to travel a distance of around 12.7 km from Mount Ommaney to Brisbane CBD.

Read: With Travel Time from Bulimba to CBD Ranked Among the Worst, Locals Revive Calls for Bridges to Teneriffe and Hamilton

Public Transport Not a Real Estate Factor

A common factor among the seven suburbs with unsatisfactory mass transit is the high cost of houses. Mt Ommaney has a median price of $800,500, while Bulimba median price is at just a little over $1 million. Mr Dow also pointed out that these suburbs do not have good access to trains and their bus networks are poorly structured.

Despite the lack of public transport, real estate agents say that residents and buyers are generally not bothered. Real estate in these areas is still in high demand even without the public transport.

Many people in wealthier suburbs own cars, so their main concern is focused on roads and infrastructure for private vehicles.

Mr Dow believes that public transport connectivity needs to be improved in the inner and middle ring suburbs. He believes that a stronger mass transit network is needed to future-proof these suburbs in case of demographic changes. “We think every demographic group needs public transport,” he said.

Just Poppy’s Slowly But Surely Getting Back on Their Feet in Riverhills

Recognized as Brisbane’s Best in 2011 by the Brisbane Times, Just Poppy’s in Riverhills has endured challenging times to reach the level of success that they are in right now.

Owners Marc Green and Poppy Eugeniou offer 69 types of burgers. Former owners of a convenience store in Red Hill, the couple decided to start their own burger joint when they realised that their focus is slowly shifting to food and customers are responding well to it. Their burgers started getting attention, urging them to move to a new location and put up a burger place.

In 2009, Just Poppy’s was established. Their burgers’ popularity took the owners by surprise. They know that their burgers are good but they didn’t expect the influx of customers due to their location. Nevertheless, customers from various suburbs in Brisbane have been coming through their doors, with some even coming from the Gold Coast regularly. Indeed, the burger shop has become quite a popular institution.

However, it hasn’t been a smooth ride. When the 2011 floods hit, their burger place was submerged in flood waters, ruining their equipment. Even last year, five years hence, the owners admitted that they are still getting back on their feet.

Fortunately for them, because of their popularity, many residents have helped them to recover. Ten weeks after the flood, the restaurant opened its doors again and they were surprised to see a line of people down the street. Some local kids also set up a Facebook page, which is now defunct, called “Friends of Just Poppy’s” for support.

Today, the burger joint continues to flip amazingly good and juicy burgers that will have you coming back for more.

Brisbane City Council Grants Jindalee Boat Ramp Upgrade Following the Discovery of Dangerous Needles

Just last month, Jindalee parents were shocked when they found used needles just near a playground.

Residents have come together to protest the dangerous debris and other litter such as loose bark removed from the area. Diana Dale, one of the parents started an online petition to upgrade the Jindalee Boat Ramp playground. She suggested that the ground covering could have underlying dangers that could be harmful to their kids.

She is endorsing that the ground is replaced with synthetic grass instead. The petition has garnered 58 signatures and is already closed.The council has heard their cries as Jamboree Ward Matthew Bourke announced that the upgrades in the area will begin in July until September.

The ramp and pontoon will be closed. The works will include the replacement of the floating walkway to prevent it from trapping branches and debris and to improve the ramp for additional safety. The council has also released a list of alternative play areas for locals.

The playground is very popular with the locals and is often busy during the weekends. However, due to the current issue, it is facing, the park receives lesser visitors now. It is expected that the park will get back its usual influx of people once the upgrade is complete.

Centenary Not-for-Profit Community Groups Receive Funding

The Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF) has provided funding to eight not-for-profit organisations in the Centenary area.

The funds were part of the one-off grants program, which distributes around $53 million each year to community groups in Queensland. The program allows non-profit organisations to apply for grants ranging from $500 to $35,000.

Grant Recipients

Centenary Suburbs Men’s Shed. Recipients of the grants include the Centenary Suburbs Men’s Shed, which is getting $29,000 to help it install solar and renovate its building. Also called Men’s Shed 100 Inc, the Seventeen Mile Rocks group provides a venue for men in the community to get together regularly and share common interests.
St Catherine’s Football Club. A new kitchen equipment will be purchased by Middle Park-based St Cats using the $25,002-grant it received from GCBF.
Good News Community Playgroup. The community playgroup based in Jamboree Heights will use the $21,230 grant to build softball areas. The playgroup provides indoor activities for children ages 0 to 5 years,
Centenary Combined Sporting Association. The Centenary group received funding of $20,000, which it will allocate for new office furniture and video equipment.
Western Districts Baseball Club. The amateur team based in Darra will be buying a new grandstand using the $17,998 grant it has received.
Parents and Citizens Association of Oxley State School. The P&C association of Oxley State School received $15,290 which it will use to purchase an industrial fan.
McLeod Country Golf Club. The Mount Ommaney golf club requested funding and received a grant of $10,000 to be used for roof repair and carpet replacement.
Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA). The Oxley branch of the QCWA received $7,200 from GCBF. It will use the money to buy a solar system for its facility.

The next round of funding by the GCBF will open in mid-July and will close on 31 August 2017 at 11:59 p.m.

Need funding for your community group? Watch this tutorial to learn how to apply for a grant through the Gambling Community Fund.

Visit the GCBF website to learn more.

All Roads Lead to Inala Dental Clinic After Jindalee School Dental Clinic Closes

The Jindalee School Dental Clinic has decided to close its doors following the recent maintenance issue involving the air conditioning system in January. Due to the air conditioning failure, the clinic wasn’t able to reopen until the unit was replaced.

According to Metro South Health acting chief executive Robert Mackway-Jones, the maintenance issues caused by the recent air conditioning unit failure as well as the replacement were too costly for a clinic that wasn’t being used at full capacity. In fact, the clinic only opens six months per year.

Since 2015, only a total of 2,337 children had appointments at the dental clinic. It was also recorded that most of the families in the suburb prefer to set appointments at the Inala Dental Clinic because of its better facilities and longer opening hours.

The closure may seem like a sound decision when viewed from a business perspective but some people weren’t happy with this decision. According to Tarnya Smith, a Mt Ommaney state LNP MP, the community wasn’t consulted about this. Ms Smith said that the dental clinic has been providing services for 30 years. It has become an institution in the community. She expressed disappointment that the dental clinic did not consult the local community prior to closure.

However, Mr Mackway-Jones denied that they neglected to consult the community. He said that they have discussions with the school community and patients about the planned closure.

The closing of the dental clinic means that patients from Jindalee, Jamboree, and Middle Park state schools to travel further for their dental appointments. The Inala Dental Clinic seems to be a popular alternative choice. To know if your child if eligible for free dental care at this clinic, you can click here.

Mt Ommaney Centre To Get its Own Cinema; Identity of Operator Still “Top-Secret”

The Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre isn’t new to major extensions. Since it opened in 1979, the mall had undergone major changes such as the 2008 17,700 square metre extension. This time around, it gets a little bit mysterious as it preps for another expansion.

Here is what we know so far. The new entertainment and dining area for the shopping centre has been recently approved by the Brisbane City Council. This new area will be located the south-west part of the centre. It took only a few months for the proposal to be approved. The proposal for the expansion was just submitted in December 2016, laying out plans for a new multiplex cinema, new restaurant, and indoor sport and recreation facilities.

The operator of the new cinema is being kept under wraps. According to the planning chairman of BCC, Julian Simmons, the operator remains “top secret.” The new cinema will be situated across two levels near the Kmart end of the centre.

The proposal shows development would be in two stages:

Stage 1. Construction of roof deck car park to accommodate the expansion
Stage 2. Construction of cinema, restaurant, entertainment tenancy, and parking.

The new entertainment area will revitalise the suburb, providing more entertainment options for the residents of the area.

Music at the Hub is Back to Entertain at Mt Ommaney

It’s time for some relaxing and entertaining music again as Music at the Hub returns at the Centenary Community Hub in Mount Ommaney in June.

Music at the Hub is presenting musicians Jodi Murtha and Angela Toohey on Saturday, 17 June 2017. The event will be from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Jodi is a Brisbane-based folk musician known for her laid back style of acoustic songs. Her music is described to have strong melodies with interesting stories. Jodi performs all over South East Queensland as a soloist, bass player or backing vocalist. She released her first solo EP called “Contents Unknown” in 2016.

Listen to Jodi’s music at Soundcloud.

Visit Jodi’s website at www.jodimurtha.com for more information.

Angela writes emotive ballads exuding love, loss and growth. Her music is rich in imagery and occasional howling at the moon. Angela draws from her musical theatre experience to entertain and captivate the audience. Learn more about Angela’s music at www.angelatoohey.com.au.

(credit: lisaminooli42/YouTube)

Angela’s top notch vocals and strong rhythm guitar amazingly blended with Jodi Murtha’s instinctive bass and harmonies will surely make the mid-year Music at the Hub one enthralling evening.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, 17 June 2017,
Venue: Centenary Community Hub, 171 Dandenong Rd, Mount Ommaney
Cost: $10 per person. Free entry for those 14 years old and below.

Bookings are appreciated and recommended to help organisers in setting up the venue. Vegetarian and gluten-free choices are also available. There will be light meals such as cheese, nibble platters and snacks. Limited beer, wine, coffee, tea and soft drinks will be sold at affordable prices.

For bookings, email info@ccconnect.asn.au or call 0499 999 772 to secure your table.

Youth Unemployment Hits 17-Year High in Brisbane’s Western Corridor

There are more unemployed young people in Brisbane’s western corridor in March 2017 compared to 12 months ago.

Recently released figures are causing alarm as unemployment among the youth has risen to a 17-year high at 15.7%. This represents an 8.2% increase from the previous year and the second-highest increase in Queensland, next only to Outback.

The information suggests that young people ages 15-24 years are having a difficult time finding a job. Tarnya Smith, State LNP MP for Mt Ommaney, is among those who expressed alarm over the decline in employment opportunities for young residents in the area.

Ms. Smith said that she has received several calls from parents who were frustrated about the lack of work opportunities for their children. She said that the situation worsened due to inaction from the government to ensure that young residents will be able to find work.

According to Ms Smith, the unemployment rate would have been higher if not for the number of young people who simply gave up looking for work.

Young jobseekers exclaimed that there are not a lot of jobs out there for them. It appears that there is a huge number of people graduating, but only a limited number of jobs are available for them.

Ms Smith sees this as a wake-up call to locals who should be calling their local member to seek what needs to be done to address the issue. She calls for a plan to invest in Tools for Tradies, job start incentives and small business incentives to create more jobs for young people in the area.

Learn New Gardening Skills at Rocks Riverside Park

Residents within the Centenary area can learn some gardening skills this Saturday, May 20, at the Rocks Riverside Park in Seventeen Mile Rocks.

Two practical gardening workshops are scheduled at the Rocks Riverside Park as part of Brisbane City Council’s Active Parks program. The program brings free or low-cost activities at over 50 local parks in Brisbane to improve health, fitness and well-being of residents.

Grow Organic Food

Locals can learn to grow organic food through a workshop scheduled at 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. In this workshop, participants will learn practical skills in gardening, including growing organic food in small spaces. After the workshop, participants can take home the wicking pot that they have made.

This workshop can help locals to grow their own food, ensuring that they are eating healthy, organic veggies and fruits that are devoid of artificial fertilisers and pesticides.

Self-Watering Planter Workshop

Following the organic gardening session, there will be another gardening-related workshop, where participants can learn to make their own self-watering planter box. This workshop is perfect for busy folks who tend to forget or may not have time to water plants daily.

With self-watering planters, gardeners need not worry about their plants drying up when they go on vacation or leave the house for days or weeks. In this workshop, gardeners will learn to make a fruit and vegetable pyramid from self-watering boxes.

This workshop will happen from 3 pm to 5 pm.

Participants must book prior to joining the two events. To book, call Roman at 0434 842 870 or email spurtupia@gmail.com.

Event Details:

Date:	20 May 2017
Venue:	Community Garden, Rocks Riverside Park, 531 Seventeen Mile Rocks Road, Seventeen Mile Rocks
Cost:	$5 per event

Get directions to Rocks Riverside Park

Adopt a Snake – RSPCA Wacol Seeks New Homes for Rescued Snakes

They are usually associated with fear and danger. But snakes can also be an excellent pet to those who are looking for extraordinary animal companions.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) Wacol admits that interest for snake adoption is lacklustre, unlike the clamour for pet dogs and cats. Since the centre started putting snakes for adoption, it has received lukewarm response from the public. RSPCA, however, counters the negative perception about pet snakes.

Unlike regular pets, snakes are fairly low maintenance pets. They do not need a lot of room and don’t make any noise. Snake pets are not messy and owners need not worry about shedding.

The snakes at RSPCA centre were mostly surrendered to them by parents of children who lost interest in their pet snakes. Some of the snakes were taken to the centre after growing beyond the expectation of the owner.

Before Adopting a Snake

Before adopting a snake, the prospective pet owner needs to obtain a Recreational Wildlife License. This license is required for anyone who wishes to take care of certain protected animals. The license holder will not be allowed to use the animals they keep for commercial use.

One of the snakes in RSPCA Wacol up for adoption. *(Photo credit: RSPCA Queensland/Facebook)*

Anyone interested in taking home a snake from RSPCA’s Brisbane Animal Care Campus will have to do their own research to learn about proper care for such type of pet.

Pet owners should know the commitment they have to keep if they adopt a snake. Snakes have different life expectancies, so the potential owner will have to be familiar with the species and how long they are expected to live. Snake pets can be challenging. They can get ill easily if not fed correctly or if not kept warm.

Potential pet owners should also realise that snakes have different temperament and personality. At RSPCA Brisbane, experts are ready to assist prospective snake owners in choosing the right pet to take home.

Interested in adopting a snake for a pet? View all the snakes up for adoption at Brisbane Animal Care.

Visit RSPCA Brisbane Animal Care Campus at Wacol to find a pet for adoption. The centre is located at 139 Wacol Station Rd, Wacol.