The Queensland Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) and the Queensland Police Service (QPS) are looking into the incident that took place on Thursday, 16 February 2023.
Just before noontime on that day, a resident along Prince St found the injured bird and tried to nurse it back to safety. However, the ibis succumbed to its injuries as it was shot by an 80-centimetre arrow.
“Cruelty to animals is a punishable offence and along with the RSPCA, we will investigate this matter fully,” said Senior Sergeant Kenneth Rogers of the Carseldine Criminal Investigation. “I’d appeal for the person responsible to come forward, likewise, I’d encourage nearby residents along Prince, Princess, Bayview and Shepherd Streets to come forward with relevant CCTV or dashcam between 9am-12pm yesterday.”
“Via Crimestoppers 1800333000, anonymous reports can be made, and I’d appeal to anyone with information to make that call.
“I want to thank the resident for raising the alarm and providing the bird with comfort and safety after this horrendous and cowardly attack.”
The park will be among the first 41 playgrounds in Brisbane set to receive shade over the next six months or by early 2023.
Brisbane City Council has allocated $10 million to ensure every playground in Brisbane has shade which will help protect parents, carers and children and potentially save lives.
Photo credit: Marco Tanzi/Google Maps
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said under the Sun Safe Suburban Playgrounds Program, Council will identify those playgrounds that need cover and ensure they receive it over the next three years.
“Brisbane has an enviable lifestyle as well as a network of more than 2000 fantastic parks that make for great free fun for families,” said Cr Schrinner.
“However, we also live in a state that’s known as one of the world’s skin cancer capitals,” he added.
Photo credit: Zaid Isaac/Pexels
“While we incorporate shade in all our new playgrounds when required, there are unfortunately some that still need to be retrofitted with some form of cover.
Cancer Council Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mr Andrew Donne supports the Brisbane City Council Sun Safe Suburban Playgrounds program as a great step in reducing skin damage and risk of skin cancer for Brisbane kids.
“It is well known that Australia has the highest rate of melanoma in the world, and without sun protection skin damage can occur in as little as 15 minutes,” Mr Donne said.
“What I must convey however, is that skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers.”
About Harry Kirby Park
Photo credit: Andrew Brewer/Google Maps
Harry Kirby Park is a recreational park which features a playground and shared pathway network. It also includes facilities for Aspley Leagues Club and the Aspley Rugby League.
The park was named after Harry Kirby, an advisor from the Northern Suburbs Devils or simply Norths, who oversaw the setting up of the club and decided to stay with the rugby league club Aspley Broncos.
Refurbishments have started at Zillmere Library as of February 2023 and will entail a new dedicated site for children and young adults. New seating will be brought in to make the library more conducive to reading and studying.
The toilet amenities will be upgraded with modern fixtures, alongside the addition of new lighting, furniture and carpet. Visitors to the library will see landscape improvements on the site’s external appearance.
Zillmere Library will get a bush tucker garden as a cultural and learning focal point for the library and the local community. Local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander horticulturalists/specialists and groups will be developing and growing this garden.
In line with the construction, some access and restrictions will be enforced in stages that may disrupt work and visits to the library. Jenning Street will be temporarily closed off for staging works and machinery access.
The last refurbishments done on Zillmere Library were from 2007 to 2008. Thus, the current construction and improvement works are much warranted.
Council estimates that this project will be completed in mid-2023. For questions or feedback, phone 1800 884 681 during business hours or 07 3403 8888 after hours.
New speed awareness monitors (SAM) have been installed across Brisbane, including one at St Dympna’s Primary School in Aspley just in time for the start of the 2023 school year.
St Dympna’s Primary School has been chosen as one of the 22 locations for the SAM signs as part of the SAM for Schools program, to help create safer environments for students to travel to and from school.
Like how it works in other locations across the city, the monitors will display a smiley face when vehicles are travelling at or below the speed limit. However, if vehicles are travelling above the posted speed limit, it will display the vehicle’s speed followed by a reminder to “slow down.”
Photo credit: St Dympna’s Primary School/Google Maps
Council considers some factors when assessing if a certain location will be suitable for the speed awareness monitors. Factors include:
visual impact on adjacent residents
obstructions such as trees and other traffic signs
clearance from driveways and infrastructure such as power poles, service pits and pipelines
clearance from power lines and lower-hanging communication cables
adequate sunlight for the monitor solar panels
separation between other traffic signs to ensure drivers have sufficient time to read messagesst
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council/Facebook
All monitors are individually solar-powered and fitted with a Doppler radar. They are limited to measuring only a single approaching vehicle at a time within its radar range of 3 km/h to 255 km/h.
At present, there are already 200 monitors in place across Brisbane and around 31 have been installed near schools. Council is planning to install 69 more over the next three years.
“Nothing is more important than kids’ safety and this is just one of the projects we’re investing in as part of our school safety initiatives,” said Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.
One of the two new rail tracks could be built in Everton Park, which would be adjacent to Everton Park State School at Deakin Street.
This comes after Brisbane City Council finalised the program business case for the North west transport network and has submitted it to Infrastructure Australia, the Australian Government’s independent infrastructure advisor, who will consider the business case recommendations.
Councillor Andrew Wines, Chair of the Infrastructure Committee, said the business case speaks about a 160km/hr train at 24 trains per hour.
According to the business case, there is a potential for eight to 12 extra trains in the peak hour, along with 24 trains per hour service pattern by 2041.
Photo credit: Video still credit from Brisbane City Council/YouTube
Because the trains would be faster, it will not be possible to build stops at McDowall and Stafford, although there would be a park-and-ride at Bridgeman Downs that can accommodate 750 vehicles and another one at Everton Park with 175 spaces.
If approved, works for the underground rail station at Bridgeman Downs are anticipated to be complete by 2041.
Strathpine to Albion station upgrade
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council
The 14-kilometre underground line between Albion and Strathpine, has been proposed to increase capacity for more express service and connections to public transport network and employment, services and facilities.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council
Because of the increase of trips in Brisbane’s north west, Council believes there’s a need to change how we move around the network, whether it’s for commuting, freight, tourism or leisure.
“Transforming the network requires a range of solutions that cater to the growing demand for these different trip types while making it easier to choose sustainable transport options,” said Council.
The program business case, which sets out a suite of projects for the NWTN, has been submitted to Infrastructure Australia for consideration. This may result in some or all elements being included in their Infrastructure Priority List.
Mr Claassen started his career as an Honorary Officer at Caloundra. He got a permanent position at Rockhampton in 1985 before moving to Spring Hill in 1988.
Since 1988, Mr Claassen has been serving at Sandgate Ambulance Station, where he has many memorable moments. At the time, they had no equipment and women were not allowed to work in the service, only until 10 years later, when they have become a big part of the service.
Photo credit: Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)/Facebook
Mr Claassen remembered the good old days, especially after seeing the photos of the old stations.
“We used to have the bowls club behind us, and people used to walk straight through the station to the shops on the other side instead of just going around the footpath. You would walk out and find some of the local characters in the middle of the station,” he said.
Although he has many memorable moments at QAS over the last 40 years, his favourite one was the first time he used a defibrillator.
Photo credit: Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)/Facebook
He was at a church in Red Hill and a gentleman had collapsed on the altar. They defibrillated him, got him back and transported him up to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital where Mr Claassen saw him in CCU a couple of days later.
Mr Claassen inspired many people, including his own father who also became a paramedic. In fact, he was the one who trained him as an Honorary Officer. His father, who already retired from service, enjoyed the job as much as he did.
Photo credit: Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)/Facebook
Sandgate Ambulance Station celebrated its 100th year last November 2022, with barbecue, face painting, and coffee. Vintage ambulance vehicles were also put on display and attendees got to learn some life saving CPR skills from experts.
Sandgate station originally started out as a sub-centre of the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade at the local town hall in 1922. The first station was located at 137 Brighton Road, in a house called “Laguna,” which was rented to become a temporary station.
Photo credit: Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS)/Facebook
In August 1924, The first purpose-built ambulance station in Sandgate officially opened. The building was replaced with a new one in 1967.
Sandgate Ambulance Station was relocated in 2001 to Bracken Ridge, where it’s currently located.
Did you know that a free fishing lesson is set to take place at the Bald Hills boat ramp this school holidays? Fish Wise is open for kids between 10 to 17 years old, who will be taught the basics of fishing by 2 Bent Rods.
Samantha and Jeremy Beckmann, the award-winning team behind 2 Bent Rods, has been operating since 2004. Aside from teaching fun fundamentals of fishing, the pair also imparts safe and responsible fishing practices as a life skill for kids.
Fishing allows kids to unplug from technology and gain the benefits of spending time with nature. Learning the skill develops their confidence and brings a positive feeling of empowerment. The memories of that first catch will always be very special.
The activity is also a fantastic teachable moment in understanding marine life and the food chain, as well as gaining insights into conservation and fishing regulations.
Photo Credit: BCC
Fish Wise in Bald Hills will run on Sunday, the 22nd of January 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Kids will be taught to tie a fishing knot, gather bait, cast a rod and hopefully land a fish. Equipment and bait will be supplied but the children are asked to bring their own sunglasses.
Booking is essential for this activity. Phone 0403 713 820 for more information.
The revised Sandgate Neighbourhood Plan is almost ready, and will be adopted in March 2023. Here are some changes coming to Sandgate and neighbouring suburbs once the amended plan becomes official.
The Sandgate Neighbourhood Plan includes the suburbs of Sandgate, Deagon, Shorncliffe and Brighton.
The plan received support from the Queensland Government with no changes required, after a huge majority of the LNP Council voted for the plan in November 2022. There were only seven from Greens, Labor, and independent councillors who voted against the revised plan.
Sandgate
Lagoon St, Sandgate (Photo credit: Google Street View)
Sandgate, one of the oldest bayside villages in Brisbane, will undergo major changes as part of the new neighbourhood plan, as it would allow a maximum building height of five storeys for the Lagoon Street sub-precinct.
The draft amendment package also seeks to maintain and enhance the Sandgate centre as the primary centre for the area, providing a balance of commercial and residential development close to public transport.
Deagon
Deagon railway station (Photo credit: R V/Google Maps)
Separated from Sandgate from a series of lagoons, Deagon is a residential suburb which has been selected as one of the focus of the neighbourhood plan.
Council has removed plans to rezone the area around Deagon railway station to low-medium residential (units and townhouses) after some residents raised their concerns regarding the plan.
The draft amendment package retains the Low-density residential zoning and Character residential zoning around the Deagon railway station.
Connaught St, located north of Deagon sports grounds will be retained to low impact industry zoning to support local employment and business opportunities in the area.
Shorncliffe
Photo credit: Google Street View
Shorncliffe, which was once part of Sandgate, became a separate suburb in Brisbane in 1975.
Shorncliffe has been identified as one of the study areas having potential growth. The draft proposes character residential zoning in Shorncliffe to better protect traditional building character in the suburb.
The bayside suburb is home to many character homes or those built in 1946 or earlier. Many homes in Shorncliffe even have a history that dates back to the early 1900s.
Brighton
Photo credit: Mark Stewart/Google Maps
Brighton, an established area of low-density housing, was not included in the neighbourhood planning process. All current planning outcomes for Brighton are retained in the draft amendment package.
The draft Sandgate District Neighbourhood Plan became a subject of discussion in the last three years, after the initial plan suggested up to six storeys for Sandgate’s main street, Brighton Rd. The draft plan was eventually revised after residents voiced their opposition. No major policy changes have been proposed to the suburb, based on the updated draft.
Sing and dance, as the Aspley Hornets bring you four hours of family entertainment this coming 3 December 2022 from 3 pm to 7 pm.
And to make the event even more special, Santa’s sleigh bells will be ringing and jing ting tingling too as he makes a stop off at the Hornets to join in the festivities and meet the kids and get a photo with him. Apart from meeting Santa Claus, kids will also get to enjoy free rides, face painting and jumping castles.
Don’t forget to bring your own camp chairs or picnic blankets whilst singing along to the greatest Christmas hits that we have all loved through the years as performed by the great New Black Band.
But if you need to be somewhere else in Brisbane this December, you may want to check out these other Community Carols happening across the city.
This comes as Queensland’s smart ticketing system for adult full-fare customers went online for both the Shorncliffe and Doomben lines, on Monday, 14 November 2022.
For the Shorncliffe station, the trial applies to anywhere between Shorncliffe, Sandgate, Deagon, North Boondall, Boondall, Nudgee, Banyo, Bindha, Northgate, Nundah, Toombul, Eagle Junction, Wooloowin, Albion, Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley/ and Central stations.
This new smart ticketing trial also comes on the heels of the success of the Gold Coast light rail trial, which started in December 2020. The Gold Coast trial has recorded up to 1.7 million trips on the network since it started.
Smart ticketing was introduced to Brisbane in August 2022 and is now being rolled out across the Redcliffe Peninsula, Ferny Grove, Springfield, Ipswich/Rosewood, Caboolture, and the Sunshine Coast.
TransLink encourages commuters to try smart ticketing because it offers contactless payment methods in addition to Go Cards and paper tickets to pay for public transport.
Passengers who would like to use their bank cards will be able to tap on and off to pay for travel using their Visa, Mastercard, and American Express linked card or device.
“The current card-based system is more than 19 years old and is approaching end of life, meaning the current system and equipment does not have the capability to evolve with changing technology and customer needs and has been superseded by new cloud-based ticketing systems and secure contactless payment technology,” TransLink stated.
Photo credit: translink.com.au
Meanwhile, those who would still like to use their go cards may continue doing so. Paying with the go card also still applies to customers travelling on a child or concession fare and those who travel beyond Roma Street station or using a connecting bus service.
