Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 34 of 43 - Over The Walter Taylor Bridge

Worries Surface About Possible Disruptions Once Indooroopilly Bikeway Construction Begins

Construction for the Indooroopilly bikeway along Radnor St is anticipated to begin in early 2019.

With that in mind, Councillor Nicole Johnston shared her thoughts on the possible impact and repercussions that the project may have on life in the community.

Cr Johnston is concerned that residents will have to deal with noise disruptions and traffic for a project that will have “little or no benefit” for residents living on the south side.

“The project is a good one but it will not benefit Ambrose Treacy College students, and other cyclists and pedestrians on the southside if it does not connect safely to the Walter Taylor Bridge. My aim here is to make sure the project benefits both northside and southside residents equally,” Cr Johnston wrote in a Facebook post.

The councillor added that it would be a shame if southside residents could see this bikeway but not access it safely and easily.

Referring to the Bikeway Draft Plan released by the Brisbane City Council, Cr Johnston mentioned that it includes an off-road dedicated 5ms wide shared pathway along over the River but does not include a bikeway ramp link to or from the Walter Taylor Bridge.

In response to Cr Johnston’s remarks regarding the project, BCC’s Public and Active Transport chairman Adrian Schrinner said the planned construction works on the south side will be a critical link to the entire bikeway project.

Chairman Schrinner emphasized that there was no suitable location on the north due to “topography,” which leads to the decision of completing construction works on the south side.

He revealed that BCC investigated suitable locations for a temporary jetty and they selected a location at Chelmer because of its close proximity to the works. The Council believes it will reduce potential time and cost impacts and impacts to river traffic that a more distant location would generate.

BCC decided to expand the project into a 6m-wide bikeway and pedestrian path with a design similar to the 900m New Farm Riverwalk which costs around $70 million. The goal of creating the Indooroopilly bikeway is to increase the number of people walking or cycling to work to one-in-five commuters by 2026.

The bikeway project is part of the Council’s Better Bikeways 4 Brisbane program, aiming to create dedicated bikeways and active travel options with a $100 million investment from 2016 to 2020.

Find out more about the Indooroopilly Bikeway project by visiting the Brisbane City Council website.

Woolworths to Anchor Yeerongpilly Green Retail Precinct

The retail precinct development, anchored by Woolworths, at the Yeerongpilly Green urban renewal project has been launched as restoration and refurbishment works of heritage-listed properties — The Institute and The Stables — commences. The recently opened pedestrian walkway provides tennis fans a perfect link from Yeerongpilly Train Station to the Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson.

Acting Premier and Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick announced the official launch of the $250 million development program on 15 January. The 5,000-sqm retail precinct will be anchored by supermarket store chain Woolworths and is expected to generate around 100 jobs once it is completed.

“Woolworths commitment is the catalyst for development of Yeerongpilly Green’s village centre, which will be a major drawcard for prospective purchasers looking to secure a home in the first stage of this vibrant riverfront community,” Mr Dick said.

“With new parklands, new pedestrian-friendly pathways and new roads complete, Yeerongpilly Green is already putting on a show, and this highly-anticipated retail precinct with the new Woolworths will form the heart of the project and provide the shopping experience an urban renewal project of this scale merits,” he said.

Together with the retail precinct launch, Consolidated Properties also announced the commencement of the $10 million restoration program for the two heritage-listed properties.

“Not only are we announcing Woolworths commitment to anchoring our village, we are also commencing development of one of two Heritage buildings,” Consolidated Properties Executive Chairman Don O’Rorke said

“The $5 million building will be completed mid-2019 and will be used as an experience centre incorporating a sales and display suite ready for our sales launch on 3 August at which our first 91 apartments and 10 townhomes will be formally released,” he said.

Yeerongpilly Green from Scharp Creative Studio on Vimeo.

Yeerongpilly Green’s 10-year construction will generate around 6,600 construction jobs. Once completed, the $850 million Yeerongpilly Green development is set be home to about 3,000 residents providing commercial and retail spaces, boutique hotel, parkland, and open spaces; providing 1,000 full-time long-term jobs.

“The Palaszczuk Government has invested $30 million into the creation of parks, plazas and infrastructure at Yeerongpilly Green, which will benefit residents, Brisbane locals and visitors, and we are extremely proud to have backed this economy-boosting project and the jobs it is generating for Queenslanders.”

“It’s fantastic to see this project evolve and the Palaszczuk Government has ensured the public areas are of an extremely high quality,” Member for Miller Mark Bailey said.

“The local community is excited by the notion that once this great new retail precinct is open, they will be able to enjoy the ease of shopping for groceries or grabbing something to eat or drink at their doorstep,” he said.

Graceville: One of top Brisbane Suburbs to Watch for in 2019

Graceville, along with Indooroopilly and Kippa-Ring, make up the top three Greater Brisbane suburbs to watch for in 2019, according to the latest research.

Brisbane house prices are seen to grow at a faster rate than any other markets, this year, predicts Domain. House prices did not move over the year to December 2018, however, in 2019, prices are expected to rise by four percent and will rise again by about five percent in 2020

After slipping by about six percent in 2018 and dropping by about nine percent from its 2016 peak of $411,000, unit prices are expected to grow by three percent in 2019 and 2020.

Hotspotting’s Price Predictor Index named the 29 Brisbane suburbs which steadily rose in demand in 2018 and should be watched for price growth in 2019. The report tracks increases in sales demand, which usually triggers price growth.

Among the Greater Brisbane regions, Moreton Bay Region tops with seven suburbs, followed by Brisbane-south region with five suburbs in the list. Brisbane-west has three, which include Graceville.

*Photo Credit: J Brew [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)] / via Wikimedia Commons*

The Greater Brisbane Suburbs to Watch in 2019 according to The Price Predictor Index:
(Region / Suburb / Median Price)

Moreton Bay

Albany Creek – $585,000
Banksia Beach – $560,000
Clontarf – $445,000
Eatons Hill – $600,000
Kippa-Ring – $430,000
Redcliffe (Houses) – $440,000
Redcliffe (Units) – $415,000
Burpengary – $465,000

Logan

Bethania Logan – $365,000
Logan Reserve – $410,000

Redland

Alexandra Hills – $470,000
Cleveland – $620,000
Mt Cotton – $550,000
Ormiston – $680,000

Brisbane-south

Annerley – $720,000
Corinda – $745,000
Mansfield – $680,000
Sunnybank Hills – $680,000
Tarragindi – $775,000

Brisbane-north

Bald Hills – $440,000
Geebung – $545,000
Gordon Park – $845,000
Stafford Heights – $605,000

Ipswich

Camira – $407,000
Brisbane-west
Graceville – $905,000
Indooroopilly (Houses) – $905,000
Indooroopilly (Units) – $475,000
Kenmore – $700,000

Brisbane-east

Tingalpa – $555,000
Wakerley – $755,000
Wynnum West – $540,000

Industry experts believe that the Brisbane housing market will rely on its relative housing affordability, rising population, dropping unemployment, infrastructure spending, and tightening supply to stay afloat this 2019.

Stellar Line-up of Grand Slam Champs to Highlight Brisbane International 2019 at Tennyson

It will be a star-studded tennis spectacle in Brisbane as seven Grand Slam champions converge at Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson for Brisbane International 2019.

Leading the pack is world number 2 Rafael Nadal, who is ready to challenge Novak Djokovic for the world number 1 ranking. Nadal first featured in Brisbane International in 2017, with fans filling up the Queensland Tennis Centre.

“I am really looking forward to starting another season in Brisbane. I’m so excited to be coming back in 2019,” said Nadal.

“The field is always strong and the venue is amazing.”

Rafa, who missed the last couple of months of the 2018 season due to injury, is on track to recovery and is currently playing at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship. He will be playing in Brisbane, then travel to Sydney as part of his preparation for the Australian Open in Melbourne.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Brisbane, it’s such a great tournament and is always played in front of amazing fans,” Nadal added.

Other Grand Slam champs starting their summer in Brisbane are Andy Murray (GBR), Sloane Stephens (USA), Petra Kvitova (CZE), Jelena Ostapeno (LAT) and Sam Stosur (QLD).

Fans are also sure to have their eyes on Naomi Osaka, who made headlines after winning her first Grand Slam when she beat Serena Williams in the controversial 2018 US Open.

Osaka arrived in Australia on Christmas Eve.

Brisbane International Andy Murray Naomi Osaka — Andy Murray and Naomi Osaka all set for Brisbane International 2019 (Photo credit: naomiosakatennis/Instagram)

Defending men’s champion Nick Kyrgios (ACT) will also be coming back to Brisbane to defend his title. Brisbane’s own, and undoubtedly crowd favourite, John Millman will also feature at this year’s Brisbane International.

Official field for the 2019 Brisbane International:

Men – includes world rankings

Rafael Nadal (ESP) – No.2
Andy Murray (GBR) – No.2 ** Entry Protected
Kei Nishikori (JPN) – No.9
Kyle Edmund (GBR) – No.14
Daniil Medvedev (RUS) – No.16
Milos Raonic (CAN) – No.18
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) – No.19
Alex De Minaur (NSW) – No.31
John Millman (Qld) – No.34
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) – No.34** Entry Protected
Nick Kyrgios (ACT) – No.36
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) – No.40
Taylor Fritz (USA) – No.49
Ryan Harrison (USA) – No.47
Leonardo Mayer (ARG) – No.56
Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) – No.57
Tennys Sandgren (USA) – No.61
Denis Kudla (USA) – No.63
Aljaz Bedene (SLO) – No.67
Mischa Zverev (GER) – No.69
Jordan Thompson (NSW) – No.72

Women – includes world rankings

Elina Svitolina (UKR) – No.4
Naomi Osaka (JPN) – No.5
Sloane Stephens (USA) – No.6
Petra Kvitova (CZE) – No. 7
Karolina Pliskova (CZE) – No.8
Kiki Bertens (NED) – No.9
Daria Kasatkina (RUS) – No.10
Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) – No.12
Elise Mertens (BEL) – No.13
Anna Kontaveit (EST) – No.21
Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) – No.23
Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU) – No.24
Camila Giorgi (ITA) – No.26
Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) – No.27
Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) – No.30
Katerina Siniakova (CZE) – No.31
Donna Vekic (CRO) – No.34
Danielle Collins (USA) – No.35
Daria Gavrilova (Vic) – No.36
Johanna Konta (GBR) – No.37
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) – No.43
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) – No.45
Samantha Stosur (AUS) – No.73 (WC)

Watching the games at Ticket holders can avail of free transport to and from Queensland Tennis Centre via Queensland Rail train and Brisbane Transport bus services.

Tennis Fans With Pre-purchased Tickets Get to Travel Free to the Brisbane International 2019 to be Held in Tennyson

Tennis fans who have pre-purchased tickets for the Brisbane International 2019 will get to enjoy free rides, to and from the Queensland Tennis Centre in Tennyson.

Pre-purchased ticket holders could travel for free on Queensland Rail city network trains, Transport for Brisbane buses, and dedicated shuttle buses, according to Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey.

“Some of the best players in the world, including seven Grand Slam champions, will be on court and they are certain to draw huge support,” Mr Bailey said.

“I recommend spectators leave the car at home and enjoy a hassle-free visit on public transport.”

“The shuttle buses will run from Corinda train station to the Queensland Tennis Centre at a 20-minute frequency from 45 minutes before gates open until after the last match each night,” he said.

For Gold Coast line trains in both directions, there will be an additional stop at Yeerongpilly train station outside peak times.

“Yeerongpilly train station is less than a 15-minute walk to the Queensland Tennis Centre for customers travelling by train,” Mr Bailey said.

About Brisbane International

The Brisbane International is a professional tennis tournament established in 2009. The tournament is held every year at the Queensland Tennis Centre as part of the Australian Open Series, just before the first of the Grand Slam tournaments.

The Countdown is ON | Brisbane International 2018

Video Credit: Brisbane International / YouTube

The 2018 Brisbane International was held 31 December 2017 – 7 January 2018. Nick Kyrgios (AUS) defeated Ryan Harrison (USA) for the Men’ Singles. Whilst, Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) emerged victorious over Aliaksandra Sasnovich (Belarus) for the Women’s Singles.

Henri Kontinen (Finland) and John Peers (Aus) won the Men’s Doubles against Leonardo Mayer and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina. The Women’s Doubles was won, on the other hand, by Kiki Bertens and Demi Schuurs of The Netherlands against the duo of Andreja Klepač (Slovenia) and María José Martínez Sánchez (Spain)

The Brisbane International 2019 happens on 30 December 2018 – 6 January 2019 at the Queensland Tennis Centre, Tennyson.

For more information about the tournament, you may visit their website.

To plan your trip to the venue, visit the TRANSLink website here.

Queensland Tennis Centre | 190 King Arthur Terrace, Tennyson QLD 4105, Australia

Le Pig Cafe Offers a Unique Cafe Experience in Archerfield Airport

Located at Archerfield airport, Le Pig Cafe’s quirky set up offers a unique cafe experience to customers looking for good food and a quick caffeine fix before or after their flight.

Le Pig Cafe‘s ideal location makes it a great spot for travellers as well as history buffs. Apart from being a part of the Archerfield airport, the cafe also stands right next to God’s Acre cemetery.

The cafe’s French-inspired interior also suits its location with its feature wall showcasing posters of Paris and planes.

Customers may also choose to have a sip of their coffee on the cafe’s outdoor shaded tables with big umbrellas and under leafy trees. The outdoor setting has a great view of the adjacent burial grounds.

Cafe-goers can enjoy a cup of Somerset Artisan coffee which can be paired with the cafe’s banana bread, chocolate brownies, carrot cake, or caramel slice.

For hungry travellers, the cafe also serves sausage rolls, meat pies, and fresh sandwiches. They even have some Vietnamese fare such as rice paper rolls, noodle salads, and banh mi (baguettes).

If you have time to spare, you may also visit the nearby burial grounds of the original owners of the land, the Grennier family.

The Story Behind God’s Acre Cemetery

Photo credit: Kerry Raymond/Wikimedia Commons

In 1855, publican of South Brisbane’s Grenier’s Inn, Thomas Grenier, purchased and built on the land where Archerfield airport is currently located.

Unfortunately, in 1859, he lost his 16-year-old son Volney in a riding accident. It was said that the boy fell from his horse during a fox hunt.

Headstone for Volney Grenier, first burial in the cemetery. Photo credit: Kerry Raymond/Wikimedia Commons

Thomas Grenier and his wife then decided to bury their son on three quarters an acre of their land and called it God’s Acre.

It was subsequently used as burial grounds for members of the Grenier family. A number of local families in the district were also buried onsite.

Listed on the Brisbane heritage register, the cemetery remains to be a part of the Archerfield Airport.

Works on Former Oxley Secondary College Site Transformation Start

Transformation of the former Oxley secondary school site is now underway as works to dismantle existing buildings on site begin.

As part of the site development, principal contractor Rosenlund Deconstruction Civil Engineering has started the demolition of existing school buildings on the Priority Development Area (PDA).

According to Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Cameron Dick, they have awarded the work to Rosenlund following 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.

Apart from the principal contractor, the government also engaged a licensed subcontractor. This is 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 demolition and removal of all existing infrastructure and buildings, as well as the remediation of the site, is expected to be completed by the end of January 2019.

Former Oxley Secondary College Site Transformation

Interim Land Use Plan Photo credit: www.dsdmip.qld.gov.au

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

“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.”

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

“We will then begin to disconnect services, install environmental controls and tree protections,” Mr Rosenlund said.

Graceville: One of Brisbane’s Most Generous Suburbs

Graceville is not only one of Brisbane’s healthiest suburbs, but it’s also one of the most generous, according to the Domain Healthy Suburbs study.

The first ever Domain Healthy Suburbs is a project of Domain, in partnership with Deloitte Access Economics and Tract Consultants. The study aimed to look into how suburbs in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane provide health opportunities to its residents. To determine how healthy a suburb is, a total of 10 indicators that either help or hinder health were used.

These indicators are further categorised under:

Recovery – helps in recovery from illness or injury
Hindrance – elements that hinder an individual’s ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle
Promotion – helps promote and encourage healthy lifestyle

The healthy suburb indicators:

Walkability
Active transport to work
Open space
Tree cover
Access to fresh food/supermarkets
Volunteering
Fast food stores
Liquor stores
Hospitals
Allied/Community health

Whilst volunteering may not be a full representation of social connectivity and community interaction, the data may be useful in providing insight into the level of connectivity of the community in the suburb. The volunteering indicator measured the proportion of population of volunteers in the suburb.

Graceville, as the study showed, is among Brisbane suburbs with the most number of civic-minded individuals. John Fitzwalter of Graceville Community Gardens, attests to how volunteer work help him develop a bond with the people in his community. As chairperson of the garden since 2015, he has been balancing his volunteering-work life keeping plants healthy and green and helping the community.

*Graceville Community Garden/gracevillecommunitygarden.org.au*

Authors of the study also underscored the difficulty of measuring social indicators such as feelings of community and belonging, yet they are important and can influence the mental health outcomes.

For this study, the use of volunteering as an indicator is based on the assumption that the level of volunteerism in a community affects the level of social connection amongst its residents.

The top ten suburbs teeming with kind-hearted individuals are Chelmer, St Lucia, Ashgrove, Kenmore, Bardon, Fig Tree Pocket, Corinda, Chapel Hill, Grange, and Graceville.

Yeerongpilly Green Opens Pedestrian Link in Time for Brisbane International

Tennis fans looking forward to the upcoming Brisbane International in December 2018 will have a much easier transport after the Yeerongpilly Green opened its public parks and pedestrian ‘spine.’

Yeerongpilly Green is an $850-million master-planned development that will incorporate residential, retail, commercial and lifestyle spaces. The Queensland Government has put in $30 million in investment for community infrastructure and green space for the urban renewal precinct.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said that the State Government contribution is important in realising a community where the architecture is inspired by the landscape.

“The pedestrian walkway provides a perfect link from the train station through the site, creating a direct route to the Queensland Tennis Centre, Ken Fletcher Park and Tennyson Reach,” he said.

“This enhanced connectivity between Pat Rafter Arena and the railway station is going to make getting to and from the Brisbane International so much easier.

“Around 90,000 people attend this great tournament over its seven days, so this infrastructure is really vital to managing the masses and growing the event further.”

Tennis Queensland CEO Mark Handley applauded the opening of the Yeerongpilly Green and the pedestrian spine, which will redefine the journey of tennis fans as they get off the train.

“Whether people are attending the Brisbane International, or just visiting the Queensland Tennis Centre throughout the year, their walk towards the iconic Pat Rafter Arena will now be so much more, with restaurants and social spaces enhancing the experience,” Mr Handley said.

“The beautification of the Yeerongpilly precinct makes it an even more attractive pocket of Brisbane for residents, families, and everyone using the tennis centre.”

Brisbane’s Next Lifestyle Village

Yeerongpilly Green promises to be the city’s next lifestyle village. Perfectly positioned near Tennyson, Graceville, Chelmer and Sherwood, the urban village is within reach of the best attractions and facilities in the city.

The community will be surrounded by various parks specialty retail establishments to create a laidback village atmosphere. Once completed, Yeerongpilly Green will have 3,000 new homes and a varied line-up of commercial, including a boutique hotel.

At the centre of the development is the 2.4 hectares of parkland and open space. The pedestrian and cycle network provides an interesting link between the new precinct to the Yeerongpilly Station to the tennis centre.

“People now have a fantastic space to enjoy, on their way to the tennis centre or experiencing the restaurants, parks, playgrounds, and future apartments and offices of Yeerongpilly Green,” Member for Miller Mark Bailey stressed.

QPS Inala Asks As Tropical Cyclone Season Nears—”Are You Storm Ready?”

The tropical cyclone season is coming and the Queensland Police Service, Inala wants to know—“Are you storm ready?”

As part of the “What’s Your ‘WHAT-IF’ Plan” of the government, The Queensland Police Service and Energex have launched the awareness campaign—“Take care, stay line aware”, to remind residents of the potential deadly situations that power outages and fallen powerlines can bring especially during severe weather.

During extreme weather conditions, electricity is most vulnerable to direct lightning strikes, high winds, heavy rain, flooding, and flying debris. Such situations can cause power outages and fallen power lines. It is never too early, therefore, to prepare and be storm-ready.

Take care, stay line aware TVC
Video credit: EnergexLtd/YouTube

Electrical Safety Tips From Energex

If you are in a bushfire area:

Stay away from electrical equipment which may be threatened by fire.
Be mindful of overhead power lines when the smoke is dense.
Once the fire has passed through, be on the lookout for exposed underground cables and melted pillar boxes.

If you are in a flood-prone area:

If water is coming through electrical fittings, contact your electrician.
If flood waters rise to the level of electrical equipment, stay well away to avoid the risk of electric shock.
Using a boat? Look up and live. You’ll be closer to overhead power lines.
Think about relocating your switchboard and wiring.
Household appliances affected by water can be extremely dangerous. Always have it checked by an authorised electrical contractor before using it. If in doubt, throw it out.

Protect your home and family from high winds:

Maintain trees and shrubbery in your yard. Removing weak branches and eliminating trees that could fall on your home during a storm.
Secure outside items like furniture, toys and garden equipment as these could be potential missiles.

How to stay safe when lightning strikes:

Unplug computers, TVs (including the external aerial), stereos and other unnecessary electronic equipment to avoid damage from a power surge.
Avoid using the fixed telephone. If lightning strikes close by the phone system may become highly charged.
Stay inside or away from trees and poles. Lightning usually strikes the tallest point.

Take care, stay line aware during storms TVC
Video credit: EnergexLtd/YouTube

The Inala Police would also like to remind residents to be mindful of the following flooding hotspots during periods of heavy rain:

Bowhill Road
Durack Road
Paradise Road
Larapinta Road
Blunder Road, Oxley

Locals are further reminded not to drive through flooded roads as well as prepare their homes for the upcoming storm season by:

Cleaning the gutters out
Trimming any overhanging branches
Securing loose items in the backyard to prevent them from becoming dangerous missiles during a storm.

Lastly, any individual caught driving during a storm should slow down, turn the lights on, and seek a safe place to shelter as soon as practicable.

For more information about electrical safety visit the Energex website and report any emergency involving power lines or electric shock at 13 19 62.

If you want to know more about how you can better prepare during emergencies, visit the Get Ready Queensland webpage.