Bridgeman Downs Subdivision Plan Revises Beckett Road Access For 43 Lots

A revised subdivision proposal for Beckett Road in Bridgeman Downs would create 43 residential lots across a 7.6-hectare site, with changes to vehicle access, internal roads, staging and retained environmental areas now central to the plan.



Beckett Road Layout Shifts Under Revised Plan

The proposal covers 409, 411, 415 and 427 Beckett Road and is listed under application A007012501. It was submitted on 30 April 2026 and remains in progress.

The amended plan is described as a minor change to an approved subdivision, but it includes several notable layout changes. The proposal would increase the residential yield to 43 lots, introduce staged delivery and remove the previously approved direct vehicle access from Beckett Road.

Instead of direct Beckett Road vehicle access, the layout identifies a future road connection through the adjoining southern subdivision. A pedestrian connection to Beckett Road would be retained.

The internal road network would also be realigned. The proposal includes supporting infrastructure such as a pad mount transformer, stormwater basin, water quality works, bioretention treatment and tree pit treatment systems.

Bridgeman Downs subdivision
Photo Credit: DA/A007012501

Bridgeman Downs Subdivision Includes Covenant And Drainage Areas

The proposed residential lots range from 400 square metres to 764 square metres. The lot mix includes 31 lots between 400 square metres and 499 square metres, eight lots between 500 square metres and 764 square metres, and a retained dwelling lot of 3,707 square metres.

The plan also includes eight rear lots, a 1.29-hectare environmental covenant lot, a retained bushfire covenant area and drainage reserve land. Lot 901 is identified as an environmental and drainage reserve, while Lot 902 is identified as a 1,101-square-metre drainage reserve.

The proposal is planned in two stages. The first stage would reconfigure four lots into 28 residential lots, two balance lots, a park lot, a drainage easement and an access easement. The second stage would reconfigure two lots into 13 residential lots and a drainage lot.

43-lot subdivision
Photo Credit: DA/A007012501

Wildlife, Bushland And Infrastructure Concerns Raised

Opposition submissions lodged in 2025 raised concerns about bushland removal, koalas, wildlife habitat and the capacity of local infrastructure to support additional homes.

One objection opposed the removal of land described as being used by koalas and other wildlife. It sought either a stop to the development or a delay until wildlife relocation could be addressed through an animal welfare process. Other objections raised concern about further clearing of bushland and the pressure of additional properties in the area.

Those concerns sit alongside the revised plan’s retained environmental, bushfire and drainage areas, making the balance between housing yield and site constraints a central part of the local discussion.

residential subdivision
Photo Credit: DA/A007012501

Purser Street Traffic And Noise Issues Added To Debate

A separate objection lodged on 3 May 2026 focused on traffic, road access and noise impacts linked to the amended layout.

The objection referred to earlier traffic material that considered likely vehicle movements on the Purser Street extension. That material estimated that 76 lots across several nearby residential areas could generate up to 760 vehicle movements per day if all traffic used Purser Street.

The traffic material also stated that a 14-metre local street could accommodate up to 1,000 vehicle movements per day. However, the objection argued that the amended Beckett Road layout may have changed the assumptions behind that assessment, particularly because the earlier material referred to a left-in, left-out Beckett Road access.

The objection sought clarification on whether that access remained part of the plan and called for updated traffic assessment material if it had been removed or altered. It also raised concern that no formal noise assessment had addressed the effect of increased traffic on existing Purser Street residents.



The Beckett Road proposal remains under assessment, with no decision notice listed. Its next steps will determine whether the revised 43-lot layout proceeds as planned, changes further, or requires additional assessment of access, traffic, noise and site constraints.

Published 9-June-2026

The Banh Mi Shop That Started as a Market Stall Just Won Queensland’s Best

Banh Mi Factory has been crowned Queensland’s best banh mi place in the 2026 QLD Day All the Best competition, after more than 74,000 votes were cast across 15 categories statewide.



The announcement came on 3 June, the day before Queensland Day, with Banh Mi Factory taking the top spot in a category that put some of Brisbane’s most beloved Vietnamese eateries up against each other for public votes.

For the regulars who have been lining up at Zillmere since this family-run shop opened its first bricks-and-mortar store after years as a market stall, the result will not come as a surprise.

The shop holds a 4.8 out of 5 Google rating across hundreds of customer reviews.

What makes a banh mi worth driving across Brisbane for

The banh mi at Zillmere is built the way it should be: a crunchy baguette, housemade mayo and pâté, pickled carrots, cucumber, and your choice of filling from chicken, beef, pork, tofu or mixed.

The Friday crispy pork special has earned its own following. Orders move fast at the counter, even during the lunch rush that reliably builds by mid-morning.

Beyond the banh mi, the menu includes pho made with a 24-hour broth, rice paper rolls, rice bowls and noodle salads. Everything is affordable, and portions are generous by any measure. The shop is alfresco-friendly, child-friendly and accessible, with dine-in seating inside and outdoor tables when the weather suits.

Banh Mi Factory has a second location at 10 Austin Street, Newstead, for inner-city regulars. The Zillmere original is open Monday to Saturday from 7am to 3pm and closed Sunday. Phone (07) 3061 5067 or visit banhmifactory.com.au.



Published 5-June-2026

Bonfires, Live Music and 200 Stalls Set for Carseldine Winter Wonderland

A familiar twilight market featuring live music, food, entertainment and family activities is set to return to Carseldine, with organisers expecting large crowds for one of North Brisbane’s biggest seasonal events: Winter Wonderland!



The Carseldine event will take place on Saturday, 6 June, from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at 133 Dorville Road. The event will transform the regular market site into a winter-inspired destination filled with specialty stalls, food vendors and live entertainment.

Organisers say more than 200 stalls will take part in the event, offering a mix of gourmet food, artisan products and locally made goods from across South East Queensland. The market has become a regular feature on the region’s events calendar, drawing visitors from across Brisbane’s northern suburbs.

Bonfires and Mulled Wine Add a Seasonal Touch

Winter-themed attractions will be a major feature of the event, with visitors able to gather around bonfires throughout the evening while enjoying food and drinks from two dedicated food courts.

A pop-up bar will also serve traditional Glühwein, commonly known as mulled wine, adding to the European-inspired winter atmosphere.

Glühwein
Photo Credit: Supplied

Market organisers have promoted the event as a chance for residents to experience a different side of the popular Saturday market, with extended trading hours and entertainment continuing into the evening.

Live Entertainment Planned Across Two Stages

Music will play a central role in the Winter Wonderland event, with performances scheduled across two live music stages during the six-hour market.

Photo Credit: Supplied

Roving entertainers will move throughout the venue, while winter-themed performers are also expected to add to the atmosphere.

The combination of live music, food, shopping and entertainment is designed to create a festival-style experience for visitors looking for a weekend outing in Brisbane’s north.

Family Activities to Keep Children Entertained

Families attending the event will have access to a range of activities aimed at younger visitors.

Photo Credit: Supplied

Children can take part in a dedicated kids’ disco, while face painting, circus acts, stilt walkers and roaming winter characters will provide entertainment throughout the evening.

The family-focused activities reflect the broader community role the markets have developed over the years, attracting residents from surrounding suburbs including Aspley, Bracken Ridge, Bald Hills and Fitzgibbon.

Carseldine Markets Continue to Draw Thousands Each Week

Carseldine Markets remains one of North Brisbane’s largest community markets, attracting more than 5,000 visitors during its regular Saturday morning operations.

In addition to its weekly farmers and artisan markets, the venue hosts a range of themed events and twilight markets throughout the year.



The Winter Wonderland Twilight Market forms part of that events program, offering a seasonal gathering that combines local businesses, food vendors, entertainment and community activities in one location.

Entry to the event is $4, with gates opening at 4:00 p.m.

Published 3-June-2026

Zillmere Teacher Ryan St John’s Full-Circle Journey Into The Classroom 

Ryan St John’s path into teaching has come full circle at St Flannan’s School in Zillmere, where the former Brisbane Catholic Education student is now guiding a Year 3 class after first working at the school as a teacher aide. 



A Zillmere Classroom With A Familiar Start

Ryan St John’s teaching journey has brought him back into a Brisbane Catholic Education classroom, this time as a Year 3 teacher at St Flannan’s School in Zillmere.

A Gamilaroi man and former BCE student, Ryan’s path into education began well before he became a classroom teacher. While studying, he worked at St Flannan’s School as a teacher aide, gaining practical experience in the same school community where he now teaches.

That early classroom experience helped shape his understanding of teaching and gave him a foundation for his career. It also allowed him to work in education while completing his Bachelor of Education at Australian Catholic University.

Ryan was supported through a BCE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teaching scholarship, which formed part of his pathway into the profession.

St Flannan's School
Photo Credit: St Flannan’s School

From Teacher Aide To Year 3 Teacher

This year, Ryan teaches Year 3 at St Flannan’s School, with the role carrying an added sense of familiarity. Before becoming the class teacher, he had already worked with the same students when they were in Year 2.

That connection has helped create a smoother start to the school year, with teacher and students already familiar with one another. His move from teacher aide to classroom teacher shows how early school-based experience can support future educators as they move from study into teaching.

For Ryan, the pathway also helped him understand what primary teaching involved in a practical way. His experience at St Flannan’s became part of the route that led him into the classroom as a qualified teacher.

A Pathway Shared During National Reconciliation Week

Ryan’s story was shared during National Reconciliation Week, held from 27 May to 3 June, as part of a focus on shared histories, cultures and achievements in Australia.

His journey highlights a supported pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students considering teaching careers. Through teacher aide work, university study and scholarship support, Ryan was able to build experience while preparing for a career in education.

He has reflected on the role education plays in First Nations communities and the way teaching can contribute back through the classroom.

Ryan St John
Photo Credit: St Flannan’s School

St Flannan’s Zillmere And The Next Stage

St Flannan’s School in Zillmere enrols students from Prep to Year 6 and describes itself as a welcoming Catholic school community focused on learning, care and student growth.

For Ryan, teaching Year 3 at St Flannan’s brings together several parts of his education journey: his time as a BCE student, his teacher aide experience, his university study and the scholarship support that helped him move into teaching.



His story is a feature of steady progression rather than sudden change. It follows a student who found a pathway into education, gained experience inside the classroom and returned as a teacher helping guide young learners at St Flannan’s Zillmere.

Published 2-June-2026

Bridgeman Downs Creek Restoration Brings Community Focus To Wendon Way Park

A creek restoration project at Wendon Way Park in Bridgeman Downs is bringing together habitat protection, waterway repair and community planting as the parkland moves through a scheduled rehabilitation period near the Aspley area.



Creek Restoration At Wendon Way Park

Wendon Way Park is home to a mix of native plants and wildlife, with the local creek forming an important part of the area’s natural environment. Over time, sections of the creek bank have worn down and weeds have grown through the waterway, prompting rehabilitation works designed to improve creek health and strengthen the surrounding habitat.

The Wendon Way rehabilitation project was planned for May to June 2026, depending on weather and site conditions. The works focus on stabilising creek banks, removing invasive weeds and planting more native vegetation along the waterway.

The aim is to support a cleaner and healthier creek environment while reducing erosion and improving habitat for native wildlife. The project also places a strong focus on protecting an important platypus area, with local wildlife including platypus and koalas linked to the habitat work.

Wendon Way Park
Photo Credit: BCC

Community Planting Adds To The Rehabilitation Effort

The project included a community planting day at Wendon Way Park on 31 May 2026, giving residents a direct role in the creek restoration effort.

The day was held as a family-friendly event, with native planting supported by wildlife activities, children’s entertainment, community stalls, food and coffee. Nearly 2,000 native plants were prepared for the event, with the planting connected to efforts to restore vital platypus habitat.

Wendon Way Bushcare later confirmed the planting had taken place, thanking those who joined the weekend activity and gave their time to care for the local environment.

A platypus named Wendy, chosen by popular vote during the Sunday event, was reported by Wendon Way Bushcare to have been seen the following morning in its usual spot.

Wendon Way Bushcare Continues Local Habitat Work

The planting day was one part of a wider rehabilitation effort at Wendon Way Park, rather than a standalone activity. The broader works remain focused on creek bank stability, weed removal, water quality and native habitat.

Before the works began, a neighbourhood information session was held on 12 April 2026. Rehabilitation works then began in May, with completion scheduled for June 2026.

Wendon Way Bushcare remains active in the park, with a monthly working bee scheduled for Sunday, 14 June, from 8 am near the playground at Wendon Way Park.



The ongoing bushcare activity keeps the restoration effort connected to regular local care, as the Bridgeman Downs waterway moves through its planned rehabilitation period.

Published 2-June-2026

Brisbane and Housing4Change Team Up To Deliver New Community Housing In Zillmere

Brisbane has sold a portion of a depot site in Zillmere to not-for-profit organisation Housing4Change, with plans to build 16 new modular community housing on the land.


Read: Zillmere Included in Plan to Expand Brisbane’s Housing Supply


The 3,000-square-metre parcel at 39 Jennings Street forms part of a larger 13,600-square-metre council depot. The sale price has not been disclosed. The remaining land will continue to be used for public activities, including as a sandbag distribution point during storm season.

Housing4Change will deliver one- and two-bedroom homes on the site, with a focus on housing women experiencing insecurity. The organisation will lead planning approvals and full project delivery, while Council is covering survey and development application costs associated with subdividing the land. Modular construction has been chosen to accelerate delivery and manage costs.

Photo credit: Google Street View

Once residents move in, Housing4Change will work to connect them with frontline support services including counselling, education and employment assistance.

Housing4Change chair Kirsty Rourke said access to well-located land close to transport and services has long been one of the key obstacles facing not-for-profit housing providers. She said meaningful progress required strategic collaboration across multiple sectors to unlock land, funding and delivery models that would otherwise not be possible.

Photo credit: Google Street View

Deputy Mayor Fiona Cunningham, speaking at a meeting, said the north side location was selected because it sits within walking distance of public transport, shops and support services. She said Brisbane was using its land to support the construction of more homes.

Cr Adrian Schrinner has stated that increasing housing supply is key to helping more people access a home sooner.

Housing4Change could also become eligible for a full waiver of infrastructure fees and charges if it registers as an official community housing provider. Council has already provided more than $3 million in infrastructure charge discounts to social housing providers across Brisbane, including projects in Stones Corner and Chermside.

Cr Jared Cassidy, in whose ward the site sits, acknowledged the project but called on local officials to do more, including pursuing affordable housing targets, inclusionary zoning and supportive housing in suburban renewal precincts.


Read: Three-Bedroom Zillmere Cottage Fetches $1.12M At Auction


Housing4Change will need to submit a development application before construction can begin.

Featured image credit: Pexels/Jakub Zerdzicki

Published 25-May-2026

Boondall ViP Elaine Celebrated for 22 Years Supporting Local Police and Community Safety

While many residents may recognise the uniformed officers at Coffee with a Cop or local Neighbourhood Watch events, one of the most consistent contributors to community safety in Brisbane’s north has worked quietly in the background for more than two decades.

As part of National Volunteers Week, the Gateway Crime Prevention Unit in Boondall is recognising Elaine, a Volunteer in Police (VIP) member who has spent 22 years supporting the Queensland Police Service.

Elaine has become a familiar part of the unit’s community-facing work, assisting at public engagement events including Coffee with a Cop sessions and Neighbourhood Watch activities, while also providing behind-the-scenes support in the office.

National Volunteers Week, running from 18 to 24 May, is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering, recognising the millions of people who donate their time to strengthen local communities.

For policing teams like the Gateway Crime Prevention Unit, volunteers can play a significant role in helping officers stay connected with the communities they serve.

That local relevance is particularly clear in the Aspley district, where the Boondall-based unit regularly runs outreach programs aimed at crime prevention, road safety awareness and community engagement across Brisbane’s north.

While frontline officers are often the public face of those efforts, volunteers like Elaine help keep many of those initiatives running.

After 22 years of service, that contribution is now being formally recognised as part of the national celebration of volunteerism.

Published 23-May-2026

From Scouted Boxer to Olympic Talent Spotter: Sammy Leone to Speak at Free Men’s Breakfast

When Sammy Leone roped up his first makeshift boxing ring at the UAICC in Zillmere in 2012, he would have had no idea that this would lead to him becoming a talent scout for the 2032 Olympics.

“We had several small boxing rings rigged up in the back yard on the grass. The kids loved the sparring sessions. They didn’t love the mozzies, but I think they developed faster hands by constantly swatting them.”

Sammy’s pilgrimage to teaching boxing and developing a youth group (whilst helping people who had nothing where he could), actually started when his talent was spotted leading to a fully paid scholarship as a teenager to the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

“It was an incredible experience that came out of the blue, daily boxing training and I had always had a passion for youthwork so i started studying it down there,” says Sammy.

Whilst the AIS was instrumental in forming Sammy’s future career, it also had a very harsh lesson. From a group of seven in Canberra, three were picked to go to the Olympics. Sammy was one of the four that didn’t make it.

The devastating blow forged an inner strength and motivation to build something. It took a long time germinating inside him — 20 years of work inside the community services sector, whilst pursuing an amateur boxing career (including turning pro), winning the State Title, and developing a strong reputation in the sport.

He trained in multiple gyms on the northside and southside of Brisbane, got a Cert 4 and other diplomas in community service, all whilst teaching the kids at the UAICC everyday, until a point where he needed a full-time venue.

That led to a move to establish “The Boss Boxing” at a commercial property in Zillmere. The coaches were and still are volunteers, people who have a passion to coach and help people of all ages to better themselves.

“We’ve had children as young as five up to a lady of 71 years of age, and all ages in between.”

The Boss Boxing is now established at 388 Newman Road in Geebung, where Sammy has also established the First Nations Boxing Academy, to work with the best young talent around.

In 2023, he also developed the inaugural First Nations Boxing Championships at the Hamilton Hotel. The event is due to take place again for the fourth consecutive year on September 19 in the conference hall above the Hamilton Hotel. It is open to First Nations people and anyone else.

These days, Sammy is working on a new exciting project of identifying a team of First Nations Boxers to take as a squad for a challenge to take on a team from Fiji in Fiji. As ever, that will involve plenty of fundraising efforts to enable costs of the trip to be covered.

Now recognised as a “Futures Development Club” for the metro north area of Brisbane, a pathway through the state body of Boxing Qld, the Geebung gym hosts regular sessions for the up nd coming talent of the state.

The evolution of Sammy and the organisation has been noticed. Recently, he was asked to become a talent scout for the 2032 Olympics, a program supported by the Queensland Academy of Sport and the AIS, called “Youth for 2032” which will hold regular scouting programs at Sammy’s joint.

“It’s all about assessing the physical attributes of the talent early, so that as we head towards 2032, we are developing kids who have the agility and physique that can be built on.” says Sammy.

The full circle of Sammy’s life going from scouted to Olympic scout has come from resilience, discipline and the desire to pass on his lived experience to the youth. He has also continually helped others from his own pocket, where people have fallen through the cracks of the system.

This weekend Sammy is the guest speaker at the Brisbane Men’s Breakfast, held in Fitzgibbon.

The event has seen a strong boxing contingent including former Kickboxing World Champion, Ian Jacobs, and a fresh talent in Isaac “Heasdsplitter” Hardman who fights in the IBC, the T20 version of MMA, a smaller ring, less grappling, very brutal.

Past guest speakers have included MMA fighter Jason Lonergan, as well as Olympic Gold Medalist, Duncan Armstrong and former Brisbane Bullets star, Andre Moore.

The event is the brainchild of Hudson Dale, a series of great speakers with a free breakfast all covered by incredibly generous sponsors.

Dale Farm is one of the most extraordinary properties in Brisbane. Dale, a Commercial Property Agent with Raine and Horne in Kedron, fell in love with the place but the floods were not kind to it; however, he is very focused on continually upgrading it and adding new elements towards his vision as a centre for men’s health.

Sammy Leone will add a new chapter to the Men’s Breakfast series on Saturday morning with a 6.30-7am start at 42A Desert Willow Way in Fitzgibbon.

This has to be the best free event in Brisbane. You’d be crazy to miss it.

Published 17-May-2026

Road Safety Week Campaign Heads to Boondall and Geebung with Community Events

A morning coffee stop in Boondall and a motorcycle-focused community gathering in Geebung will become part of a wider road safety push this week, as police take National Road Safety Week messaging directly into North Brisbane neighbourhoods.

Queensland Police, alongside the Department of Transport and Main Roads, are hosting a series of community events across the region as part of the annual campaign, which runs from 17 to 24 May and focuses on reducing road trauma while encouraging safer driving habits.

For Aspley district residents, two of the closest events will take place in Boondall and Geebung.

The first is a Coffee with a Cop session at Zarraffa’s Boondall on Thursday 21 May from 7am to 8.30am, giving commuters and locals a chance to speak with police about road safety concerns over a morning coffee.

Later in the week, attention shifts to two wheels, with police launching a motorcycle safety initiative at Bike Night at Café Elle in Geebung on Saturday 23 May from 5pm to 7.30pm.

While community engagement is the public face of the campaign, the message behind it is far more serious.

National Road Safety Week was established to raise awareness of the lasting impact of road trauma, honour those killed or seriously injured in crashes, and encourage Australians to make safer decisions behind the wheel.

Queensland Police say enforcement remains important, but changing behaviour before dangerous choices are made is just as critical.

That includes the habits authorities continue to link to serious crashes and fatalities: speeding, driving while distracted, fatigue, drink or drug driving, and failing to wear seatbelts.

Police will also be taking the campaign into other parts of North Brisbane, including a rural road safety-themed parkrun activation in Samford and a football round community event at Norths Devils in Nundah alongside ambulance and fire crews.

But for motorists in the Aspley catchment, the Boondall and Geebung events bring the campaign closer to home.

Rather than relying solely on patrol cars and roadside enforcement, the week is designed to start conversations in places where people already gather, whether that is a café before work or a community bike meet on a Saturday evening.

The underlying message is simple: road safety is not just a policing issue. It is a responsibility shared by everyone who gets behind the wheel or throws a leg over a bike.

Published 17-May-2026

Carselgrove Avenue Closure Planned Ahead of Beams Road Rail Overpass Works

Residents and motorists in the Fitzgibbon and Carseldine area are being urged to plan ahead, with a partial closure of Carselgrove Avenue at Beams Road on the way. 


Read: Carseldine-Area Beams Road Upgrade Addresses Daily Traffic Snarls and Future Demands


The closure takes effect from 7pm on Friday, 8 May, through to 5am on Monday, 11 May 2026. The temporary closure is part of ongoing pavement works connected to the Beams Road rail level crossing project, being delivered by the Transport and Main Roads Department (TMR).

What’s Changing at the Intersection?

Photo credit: Facebook/Cr Sandy Landers

The works will bring several changes to traffic conditions at the Carselgrove Avenue and Beams Road intersection that locals will need to factor into their weekend plans.

Motorists will be unable to enter Carselgrove Avenue from Beams Road during the closure period. Those looking to depart Carselgrove Avenue will also find their options limited, with exit onto Beams Road westbound not available and only a left-turn arrangement in place for drivers heading eastbound.

The intersection of Beams Road and Golden Place will be managed under traffic control, with controllers on the ground to facilitate access to Golden Downs. Beams Road itself will remain open to both eastbound and westbound traffic, though it will operate under police control for the duration of the works.

Pedestrian and cycle paths will not be affected, which means those travelling on foot or by bike should be unaffected by the closure.

Residents living nearby can expect some short-term noise, dust and odour while works are underway. TMR has indicated that noisier activities will be scheduled for the earlier part of the evening where possible, in an effort to minimise disruption to the neighbourhood.

The Bigger Picture: Why the Works Are Happening

Photo credit: TMR

The temporary disruption is part of a much larger infrastructure project. The Beams Road rail level crossing project aims to replace the existing at-grade rail crossing on Beams Road with a grade-separated overpass, eliminating the point where road and rail currently intersect.

According to TMR, the project is designed to reduce congestion and address safety concerns at the crossing, a change that will benefit residents and motorists in the area.

For those who are travelling in the Carselgrove Avenue or Beams Road area between Friday evening and early Monday morning, allow extra time and consider your route in advance.


Read: Stage 1 of Beams Road Upgrade Complete – Here’s What’s Next


Cr Sandy Landers shared the traffic notice via her Facebook page, encouraging residents to stay informed ahead of the weekend works.

For more information about the project or the upcoming works, residents can contact the TMR project team directly:

Email: metropolitanregion@tmr.qld.gov.au Phone: 3066 4338 (during business hours).

Published 6-May-2026