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Sandgate District Neighbourhood Plan Now Up for Community Feedback

Did you know that the Sandgate District Neighbourhood Plan is currently being updated and community consultation will be open until June? Have your say!

The Sandgate District Neighbourhood Plan, which encompasses suburbs such as Sandgate, Deagon, Shorncliffe and Brighton, is a project dedicated to ensuring that Brisbane residents are close to the services they need to live the lifestyle they want.

The plan, which is currently in the draft phase, was prepared by the Brisbane City Council based on community feedback and technical reviews of the area. Current comments and suggestions as of May 2021 have led to the following plans for improvement:

With the new draft plan, opportunities will be provided for mixed industry and business uses in Rainbow St, and attempts will be made to balance the protection of low-density character properties with providing housing choice close to the Sandgate railway station.

The draft neighbourhood plan proposes modifications to city plan overlays to protect commercial character buildings, heritage buildings, pre-1911 buildings and traditional buildings — all to preserve character and heritage in the area.

One Facebook post by Councillor Jared Cassidy beseeched the Sandgate community to have their say by emailing the project team or attending planner sessions to share their input. He also encouraged locals to make submissions via their website, City Plan Online. Feedback will be closed on Monday the 21st of June 2021.

Those interested in making their submissions and having their voices heard can follow the instructions listed in the Facebook post above. For more information, read about the Sandgate District Neighbourhood Plan via the Brisbane City Council’s website here.

Latest Hallmark Movie ‘Hearts Down Under’ Filmed in Shorncliffe

Did you know that “Hearts Down Under”, one of the latest movies by The Hallmark Channel, was filmed in Shorncliffe and Sandgate?

Originally scheduled for a May release, “Hearts Down Under”, also known as “Romance on the Menu”, served as the debut film of Australian director Rosie Lourde.

The film stars Canadian actress Cindy Busby and Australian actor Tim Ross, who play the characters Caroline and Simon respectively, with the backdrops of Brisbane coastal suburbs Shorncliffe and Sandgate serving as the setting for the film.

The plot of the film kicks off after Caroline, a restauranteur from New York City, moves “down under” to the fictional town of Lemon Myrtle Cove, Australia after discovering she had inherited the quaint and beloved Seagull Cafe from her aunt. She was faced with the choice of selling the cafe or to keep it running, seeing as it was well-loved by the local community.

In time, Caroline finds herself cosying into the idea of settling in town after falling in love with the cafe, the town, and its inhabitants — especially its chef, Simon. Director Rosie Lourde took full advantage of some of the gorgeous backdrops offered by Shorncliffe.

In fact, Lourde had even remarked that seeing photographs of Shorncliffe’s piers was what motivated her to have the film take place in Australia instead. Initial plans were to have filming in America, however after a quick trip to the coastal suburb, she was convinced that Australia was the perfect setting.

Other noteworthy backdrops include The Hamptons in Hendra, which served as the filming location for the fictional Seagull Cafe. Village scenes, on the other hand, were filmed in various sites all throughout Shorncliffe and Sandgate.

Those interested in watching “Hearts Down Under” can catch it on The Hallmark Channel on Tuesday the 1st of June 2021 at 6:00 p.m./5:00p.m.

Wallflower Expands, Opens New Shop in Deagon

The popular Sandgate flower shop Wallflower has recently expanded, opening their second-ever store in Deagon.

On Saturday the 24th of April 2021, Wallflower held a special celebration to commemorate the grand opening of their second store located along Braun St, Deagon. Their new store officially opened its doors to the Brisbane public at 8:00 a.m.

Wallflower provides its customers with flowers and floral decorations, specialising in large installations, bouquets, curtains and corner pieces for weddings, corporate functions, parties, and other commemorative events. The flower shop takes great pride in its wild and whimsical style, however they also offer more traditional decorations.

Flowers aren’t the only products available at Wallflower. The Deagon store also offers a range of potted plants and succulents, and even accessories like earrings with nature or outdoor motifs also available for purchase.

On top of these flowers, the shop sells candles both large and small — hand-poured with natural coconut soy wax, which is non-toxic, eco-friendly and slow burning. A variety of high quality fragrance oils can also be purchased to complement these candles to provide homes with floral scents and aromas.

The new Wallflower store can be found at 132 Braun St, Deagon, open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 a.m. onwards. For more information, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates and other special announcements.

Fitzgibbon Prepares for Opening of New Holy Spirit College in 2022

A new Catholic high school in Fitzgibbon is preparing to welcome its first batch of students for the January 2022 school opening as the construction of Holy Spirit College, located on the site of a former golf driving range, is ongoing.

Stirling Hinchliffe MP announced that Holy Spirit College received $1.3 million in funds from the State Government under the Non-State School Capital Assistance Grants. The money will be used for more construction work on the external infrastructure and to pay for related Council headwork charges.

The new school will consist of several blocks of classrooms in buildings that are one to three floors high. The blocks also have a music and performance hall, a sports centre, a cafe and the campus piazza.

Photo Credit: Brisbane Catholic Education

Some 96 Year 7 co-ed students are expected to attend the school in its inaugural year whilst applications have been opened for the next three years (2023, 2024 and 2025). Enrolments are currently accepted at the school’s temporary office at Unit 2, The Clock Corner 521 Beams Road in Carseldine.

Holy Spirit College will be the 147th school under Brisbane Catholic Education. It was named after the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters who founded Zillmere’s St Flannan’s School in 1953. The congregation has done various ministries in education, pastoral work and health care in north Brisbane.

“At Holy Spirit College, we aim to educate our students with an appreciation of the spiritual as well as the intellectual and physical aspects of their lives. We strive to work with our parents/carers to produce young people of faith and character,” Stephan le Roux, the school principal said in a statement on the school’s website.

“We strive to create an environment that puts the student at the centre and where that student supported by dedicated teaching staff and tremendous community spirit. As a team, we are looking forward to developing further, the learning and teaching opportunities that will engage our students and build our teaching tools to deliver a dynamic and progressive curriculum.”

For enquires, phone 07 3375 8500 or email the school administration at secondaryfitzgibbon@bne.catholic.edu.au

Rockpool Reveals New Plans for $43-M Carseldine Aged Care Facility

The residential aged care provider Rockpool is currently in the midst of planning an all-new, eco-friendly aged care facility in Carseldine — one that is estimated to cost a total of $43 million.

Rockpool Residential Aged Care aims to create the first 5-star Green Star rated aged care community in Australia by working with the Queensland State Government to set up a new facility in Carseldine Urban Village, a zero energy emission community.

The proposed aged care facility, which will be six storeys high and capable of housing up to 150 residents, can be split into five separate communities optimised for small-scale living. Each of these communities will contain 30 beds for its residents, a lounge area, and a dining area.

Due to the smaller size of each room, in tandem with their separation to create unique communities, they make for environments reminiscent of traditional homes. Though the facility itself will be large, the residents will still be close.

Render of the proposed aged care facility.
Photo credit: Rockpool

The six-storey development, if approved, will be built from the ground up, with costs reaching a total $43 million. Construction alone is estimated to bring in 120 new jobs to the local community, scheduled to begin in May 2021 and finishing sometime in October 2022.

Carseldine Urban Village can be found at 532 Beams Rd, Carseldine. To learn more about Rockpool Residential Aged Care, visit their website. Follow their Facebook page for the latest updates and announcements concerning their proposed facility.

Zillmere Property Market: House Median Price Rises to $500,000

Interstate buyers looking to settle in Brisbane now have Zillmere on their radar, pushing this northern suburb’s house median price to rise to $500,000. Real estate experts have said that the interest in Zillmere has been astounding, with inquiries increasing following the pandemic.

At the end of 2020, Zillmere was one of the last Brisbane suburbs where investors could affordably buy a house for less than half a million dollars. However, the property market boom during the first quarter of 2021 has recently pulled this suburb’s numbers up by $40,000, joining Richlands in the $500,000 threshold.

The remaining suburbs getting to close to the half a million mark are Durack ($490,000), Ellen Grove ($484,750), Fitzgibbon ($469,000), and Forest Lake ($469,000).

Industry experts said that buyers coming from Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney get more for their property investments in Zillmere by first putting up the house for rent, and then eventually moving in. This is great news for homeowners who were not expecting their Zillmere houses, bought nearly a decade ago, would gain in the property market.

A lot has changed in Zillmere in the last 10 years as well, especially in terms of safety and liveability. Per Domain.com.au, this suburb has improved in terms of education, walkability and coastal lifestyle.

Today, it’s very appealing to average families who are looking for charming wood houses with decent space for a nice front lawn or a beautiful garden backyard. The suburb is roughly 16 kilometres away from the CBD, close to businesses for basic necessities.

New North Brisbane Police Campaign Places Officers in Geebung Bikeways

As part of a newly-launched crime prevention campaign called “Tune Into Your Surroundings,” the Queensland Police Service has stationed police personnel in bikeways in Geebung, Chermside, and Boondall to interact with the community and teach them how to stay safe in public spaces.

‘Tune Into Your Surroundings’ aims to help reduce robberies and assault offenses against people who go outside to exercise, or those who walk to and from school or work.

The campaign is primarily informative, warning people to put their phones down when they walk and take in their surroundings. Removing headphones is also highly recommended as loud music can prevent people from realising that danger is approaching.

Police officers in North Brisbane will be stationed in Geebung, Chermside, and Boondall to inform passersby of the initiative, as well as do their part to keep the community safe from criminals.

All in all, Tune Into Your Surroundings states that there are three primary things people who are out and about must watch out for in order to stay safe as crime rates increase: their surroundings, their valuables, and their phone.

Their Surroundings

Those who walk must survey their surroundings and pay attention to those around them.
If a person has a bad feeling about the area they’re in, or if they feel unsafe or threatened, it is advised for them to leave and take another route.
In order to avoid getting lost, people must plan their routes.
People should inform a trusted person of their expected arrival times and travel routes when walking.
Sticking to well-lit and populated areas is a must.

Their Valuables

Bags must always be closed.
Those who bring bags with them must keep them securely attached to their body and avoid simply holding them.
Records of bags and valuables inside it must be kept as proof of ownership.
Other valuables should be kept out of sight and stored in pockets.
Valuables should not be left unattended, and carrying large amounts of money is ill-advised.

Their Phone

People must check their surroundings to see if it’s safe to use their phones.
Phones should be kept out of sight or secured in a bag when in public.
Install anti-theft apps such as “Find my Phone” in the event that it gets stolen.
Keep a record of the phone’s serial number or photo of proof of ownership in case it goes missing or gets stolen.
Secure phones with PINs, patterns, and biometric locks.
Don’t store sensitive or personal information such as passwords or bank information on phones.

Retirees Attend QPS Session on Avoiding Online Scams at Geebung RSL

A group of retirees from the northside recently gained more knowledge in avoiding online scams through the information session conducted by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) at the Geebung RSL.

Attended by the members of the North Brisbane Association of Independent Retirees, the session took place on 18 March and covered topics relating to email scams and cybersecurity.

According to QPS, it’s always wise to never open emails or click on documents and attachments from senders that they are not familiar with. If unsure, retirees can always call up the bank or the agency supposedly sending the email, and verify if it’s legitimate.

Scamwatch Australia said that older people are more vulnerable to scams because of their accumulated wealth. These scammers usually target social media and dating sites, where there are many vulnerable divorcees, widows and widowers. Retirees are also often less savvy when it comes to computers or the internet, hence they are easy targets of scams.

Another indication of a potential scam is “poor spelling or grammar.” The tone of the message also sounds urgent, often asking the person to “act now.”

Some of the most common scams include unexpected lottery wins, rebates and inheritance. In this pandemic, at least 6,120 online scams were reported with over $8.4 million in losses in the country.

Meanwhile, Geebung RSL was recently recognised as Best Licensed Club – 3rd Place – at the Keno and Club Queensland Awards for 2021.

“Geebung RSL Board, Management & Staff are proud to advise our 14,000 service and social members of the recognition the Club received last night at the Clubs Queensland Awards for Excellence,” the management said.

“The Award is a tribute to our amazing staff and loyal club members who support the club from week to week and during challenging times such as the numerous COVID business closures over the past 12 months.

“The Award importantly, pays recognition to our hardworking Sub Branch administration and volunteer welfare and support advocates who take care of the needs of our local veterans each and every day.”

New Opportunities in the Energy Industry Bring Apprentices to Geebung

Careers in Brisbane’s energy industry have started to take off again, thanks to the state government’s plan for economic recovery and the cooperation of energy businesses in Geebung and beyond.

With the help of some of Queensland’s publicly-owned energy businesses, veterans, students, and school leavers across Brisbane were able to find employment and apprenticeship in the energy industry, developing valuable skills related to depots and power stations all over the state.

Apprentice roles in Geebung and elsewhere include electricians, communications technicians, linespersons, and operations trainees, among others.

“Getting on with the job of delivering Queensland’s plan for economic recovery means ensuring Queenslanders get the opportunity to secure a trade that will set them up for life,” Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said.

Thanks to the help of RSL Queensland, an ex-service advocacy group, nine ex-service personnel are now training to become cable jointers, linespersons, and electricians in Geebung and six other suburbs after being taken on by Energy Queensland.

Energy distributors Energex and Energon have taken on 88 apprentices to learn about how the Queensland electricity supply industry works, based on figures provided by Mr de Brenni.

On the other hand, Powerlink is taking on six new apprentices to work on their 1,700-km transmission network while 20 apprentices have been hired to learn how to operate power stations by CS Energy and Stanwell.

Workers in the energy industry strive to provide residents of the state with a safe and reliable power supply by connecting and maintaining energy assets across the state. According to Minister de Brenni, “…these apprentices will help Queensland power ahead to 50 percent renewables, while also ensuring their friends, family and communities continue to enjoy reliable electricity.”

With the local energy industry more active than ever, Queenslanders can expect a reduction in power outages as well-trained and well-equipped up-and-coming technicians steadily populate the state.

Peebo and Dagwood Place: Sandgate Playground Name Earns Over 2,000 Signatures

A petition to name a new playground after beloved Brisbane clowns, Peebo and Dagwood, has raked in over 2,000 signatures. The site is at the end of Fifth Avenue on the Sandgate Foreshore.

Initiated by Councillor Jared Cassidy, the petition explained why the brothers deserved to have their name on the Sandgate playground as they “spent 20 years bringing joy to the lives of countless Brisbane residents,” even as they struggled with their own health issues.

“This naming would help Peebo and Dagwood’s motto ‘live life, love life and laugh’ live on forever,” Mr Cassidy wrote.

The petition closed just days after the first year anniversary of Peebo’s passing.

Peebo, whose real name was Peter Bissel, passed away on 4 March 2020 at the age of 46 after battling cystic fibrosis since birth. His twin brother David (Dagwood) announced the sad news on Facebook.

David is also battling this debilitating illness, which is a common but life-threatening disease and has no cure. After his twin’s death, David set up a GoFundMe page for his memorial. He also shared Peter’s dying wish.

“One of Peebo’s last wishes before he passed away, was for a Peebo & Dagwood bronze statue to be erected down at the foreshore at Sandgate so that people of all ages can come and visit and be inspired to Live Life, Love Life & Laugh – a lasting legacy for everyone.”

Meanwhile, Mr Cassidy said that his petition received “a huge show of support” from the community. “[This] only reflects the giant impact these two have had.”

Sign-up for the petition was closed on 11 March 2021 and is now awaiting Council’s response.