St John Fisher College, a secondary girls’ school in Bracken Ridge, has submitted plans to build a new food technology building where the students can train and improve their culinary skills.
The proposal (DA A005794488) lodged with Brisbane City Council calls for a demolition of one building to make way for two new structures that will serve as a training facility for food and design. The developers said that the project will not impact the surrounding buildings which are also part of the school’s property.
Photo Credit: Developmenti/BCC
Improvements to the Kolega Cafe, which have already begun, will be incorporated into the development to provide for a better dining space with proper ventilation for the students and staff.
“The proposed buildings are designed fit for purpose, being specialist learning facilities within an existing school campus, and are considered in keeping with the existing character and amenity of the school and the surrounding locality,” the DA stated.
The new facility should be a worthy addition to a school that develops well-rounded students who excel in academics, sports, music and theatre, science and technology, and culinary.
Catering to Year 7 to 12 students, St John Fisher College, administered by Brisbane Catholic Education, has fully-equipped facilities that support the students’ various interests.
The school’s strong academic outcomes combined with vocational experiences and a strong pastoral community provide the students with the best opportunities to pursue further education or rewarding careers when they graduate.
A development application has been lodged to turn one precinct in Taigum into a mixed-use site with food outlets, a service station, childcare and medical centres, and sports and community venues. The developer also plans to build a multiple dwelling retirement area within the Beams Road location.
Mewing Planning Consultants stated in DA A005727469 that the project’s nature and scale anticipate the needs of an Emerging Community Zone without impacting its ecological surrounding, including the existing swim school nearby. Covering 2.1 hectares, the proposal details a vision for a precinct with at least five distinct areas.
One area will entail repurposing an old church into a health care centre, where it will be surrounded by four other retail buildings with dining options, including a few fast-food drive-thru services.
However, whilst the plan has the support of the residents, some suggested that the precinct should have cafes and fewer fast-food restaurants.
“There are plenty of fast-food restaurants within a short distance,” one resident said in the DA submissions. “What the area does need is a cafe precinct for the community. The area is lacking decent cafes and a development that supports community connection and small business is much needed. I believe a cafe precinct would be of particular value when retirement/aged care living is proposed for the area.”
The DA, filed in May 2021, is still under assessment with Brisbane City Council.
There’s a new place to get a taste of India in Brisbane. Those hungry for dishes such as dosa and idli can head to Sankalp, a world-famous Indian restaurant that recently opened in Aspley.
Here, diners can order authentic South Indian dishes including dosas or thin crepes that come with non-vegetarian flavours; idli or rice pancakes; and uthappa, a thicker version of dosa usually served with toppings.
The restaurant is the brainchild of Sunil Thakkar and Kandarp Makadia, who opened the city’s first Sankalp restaurant in Annerley in 2017. The two Sankalp restaurants in Brisbane are among the 150 Sankalp locations worldwide.
The restaurant, which occupies the space previously occupied by Fasta Pasta on Gympie Rd, looks very similar to its first location in Annerley. The 125-seat venue’s simple interiors, dominated by hues of red and touches of wood, keep the customers’ focus on the food.
Sankalp Aspley (Photo credit: John Smith/Google Maps)
They are proud to use traditional recipes for their curry bases, which are all made with gluten-free and dairy-free ingredients. They use tandoor, a special type of oven made of clay when cooking their naan. Naan is a bread made from maida, an Indian white flour that is similar to pastry flour.
Aside from their flavourful dosas, Sankalp’s paneer methi garlic, a curry made with 28 spices is a crowd favourite in their original location.
Sankalp offers takeaway and delivery services in addition to dine-in. For more information about Sankalp Aspley including trading hours and contactless delivery, visit their website or follow them on social media.
A developer from New South Wales has submitted plans to reconfigure one lot into a 50-lot residential subdivision and create a 5,000-sqm park space in Taigum.
Located at 502 Church Rd in Taigum, the 6.72-ha lot is one of the last untouched blocks of land in north Brisbane. Back in 1981, it was sold for only $25,000. At present, the property is estimated to cost around $1.3- $1.8 million. The value would eventually go higher once the proposed residential subdivision is approved.
Plans (A005748925)lodged by JFP Urban Consultants on behalf of the applicant reveals that the residential lots would be designed to accommodate detached one and two-storey residential dwellings.
Based on the attached documents, there are also plans to fill in an existing dam and build new roads connecting Church Rd and Brushbox St. However, a large portion of the land will be retained for a drainage reserve area.
The subject site has been identified within the Local Government Infrastructure Plan as requiring a 5,000-sqm future trunk park. The LGIP stipulates land within the subject site is to be acquired and embellished to provide local recreation infrastructure between the years 2021 and 2026.
In response to this, the applicant stated during a pre-lodgement meeting with the Brisbane City Council in December 2020 that the proposed development has been designed to dedicate the 5,000-sqm trunk park in accordance with the application LGIP mapping.
“This can be further increased via the dedication of additional parkland on the property at 468 Church Rd. On-street bicycle pathway connections will be provided in accordance with the applicable overlay mapping and it is anticipated that Council will condition any development to provide this,” said the applicant.
To stay updated regarding this development, see DA-A005748925.
Dylia* was 16 years old when she ran away from home. She was fortunate enough to have found refuge at a Bald Hills shelter that provides crisis accommodation and emergency housing for young people. At Carinity Orana, she found a “very positive environment” where she got the support and encouragement to turn her life around.
While at the Bald Hills centre, Dylia was able to complete a course in business studies that led to her acceptance at the Queensland University of Technology, where she has received her dual degree in Social Work and Justice.
Coincidentally, Dylia, now 23, received her diploma during National Homelessness Week.
The young woman still has a vivid recollection of the hand-written letter given to her by the Carinity Orana staff when she moved out to finish a degree.
“We know that you will continue to move forward and we know that you have the determination to make things happen for yourself,” those were some of the encouraging words in the letter.
Dylia was a resident of Carinity Orana for four months. Despite the short period, the staff made her feel that she could achieve something with her life.
“They were never judgemental, and I never felt I had been shamed about my life choices,” said Dylia. “I was trying to figure myself out. I was 16. I had only recently run away from home. They helped me to open up and figure out what I want to do with my life.”
Photo Credit: Supplied. Carinity Orana Program Manager Dave McNair with former managers Nikki Brown, Helen Ford and Kim Bertwhistle at the house which has accommodated around 6,000 homeless youths.
“If you can overcome homelessness, you’ve already done something incredibly difficult,” Dylia added. “If you want to take up a passion or become a doctor, you’re no less talented than anyone else. You are no less deserving of working towards a dream or goal than anyone else.”
For 40 years, Carinity Orana has been helping homeless people between 16 to 21 years old through develop new social networks, secure education, counselling, training, employment, or find more permanent accommodation. Residents usually stay a maximum of six months before they moved to long-term accommodation.
For enquiries or to support the shelter through donations phone (07) 3261 3969 or visit their official site.
It’s Kaylee McKeown’s first Olympics game and she went for the gold and got it, clinching the top spot in the women’s 100-metre backstroke final at the Tokyo Olympics. The 20-year-old Redcliffe swimmer was nervous going into the race but four-time Olympian and Bracken Ridge local Emily Seebohm, who finished fifth, helped her fend off the nerves.
Seebohm, 29, has had talks with McKeown about her experience and gave the younger Olympian guidance and advice on how to fend off the nerves. When McKeown won first place, Seebohm swam to her to embrace her in the water.
During the press conference, Seebohm said McKeown did “effing special” whilst the latter said she hopes to reach Seebohm’s standard one day.
Highlights
Kaylee McKeown, 20, won gold at the women’s 100-metre backstroke final at the Tokyo Olympics.
Her idol, four-time Olympian Emily Seebohm, 29, also swam at the race and landed 5th place.
Seebohm, who nurtured the young swimmer, said McKeown did “effing special” at the race.
When McKeown was eight, she watched a 15-year-old Emily Seebohm win two gold medals as a first-timer at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Seebohm is one of her idols, according to her sister, Taylor McKeown, who also swam with Bracken Ridge’s pride at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Taylor also said that Seebohm has been nurturing towards her sister in fulfilling her Olympic dream.
Passing the Baton
In a way, it was as if Seebohm was handing over the baton to McKeown. Tokyo Olympics could be Seebohm’s last.
In 2015, the swimmer had a knee injury from riding a horse and had been struggling with endometriosis before the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Seebohm has also gone public with her eating disorders.
Her appearance at the Tokyo Olympics surprised some but she was determined to return after missing out at the FINA 2019 World Championships.
Seebohm once said she plans on retiring after her fourth Olympics. Only a handful of Australian Olympians have had opportunities to make four stints. However, since the next one is just three years off, she’s considering her options and asking herself if she would still compete at 32.
Emily Seebohm’s Accomplishments
Emily Jane Seebohm, born in 1992 in Adelaide, moved with her family to Brisbane when she was a toddler. The Bracken Ridge local went to St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School and St John Fisher College.
At age 14, Seebohm demonstrated her backstroke prowess at the 2007 Australian Championships. A year later, she became the one to watch at the Australian Championships, the Commonwealth Games, and the Olympics.
Following her impressive performance at various international competitions in her teens, Seebohm was given the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2009. In 2016, Brisbane opened the Emily Seebohm Aquatic Centre in Fitzgibbon.
Seebohm continues to collect medals by representing Australia at various international relays. Until McKeown’s latest win, her personal best time for backstroke (58.23) was unbroken by any Australian swimmer.
Following the release of the amended Sandgate Neighbourhood Plan draft, residents have united to oppose the proposed construction of five-storey buildings in the bayside village.
If approved, Sandgate residents fear that the tall buildings in a mostly single and double-storey landscape would alter the area completely. Members of the Protect Sandgate’s Character community group have come up with a mock-up scale of the 5-storey buildings against the existing surround.
“These images do not illustrate building design (that’s entirely up to the developers), but instead illustrate the SCALE of the buildings that are allowed for in the draft plan, by showing the space in which buildings could be built,” Neil McCrossin said.
“These images make much clearer to us the building heights in the draft plan for the Lagoon St sub-precinct. Is this good for the historical suburb of Sandgate?”
Photo Credit: Neil McCrossin/Facebook
In a petition on Brisbane City Council’s official site, the residents stated their reasons for rejecting the Sandgate Neighbourhood Plan draft:
To protect the appearance of one of the entry points (Rainbow Street) for residents and visitors to the Historic Sandgate shopping village.
To protect our unique Historic Bayside Village identity and lifestyle of over 100 years of history.
To protect our heritage and character of commercial and residential buildings which are integral to the community village feel of low-level buildings and architecture with 360-degree views, no matter where you stand.
To protect our fragile environment, wildlife, lagoons, wetlands, parklands and waterfront from pollution and overpopulating such a small area.
To protect Residents and visitors alike from overshadowing, while preserving the exceptional views, right to privacy, unobstructed sunlight and natural sea breezes.
To prevent major problems with traffic congestion, parking, public transport, pollution, flooding issues, overfull schools. The safety of residents and children must come first with the problems this would raise in an already built-up Historical village.
Protect Sandgate Character members said that they are not against changes and have mostly agreed that the medical hub included in the plan would benefit the community. However, the group said that they want the changes to “incorporate the history of the area, and enhance the lives of people of Sandgate” by giving value to the suburb’s natural environment and open green spaces.
The plan’s draft is under review with Council and the Queensland Government after submissions for community feedback have been closed on 21 June. Should the plan go ahead, Council expects to adopt the changes by late 2021 or early 2022.
Preparations are nearly set for one of the largest community events in North Brisbane, where there’s something for every visitor. It’s all systems go for the Einbunpin Festival to be held at the lagoon and parkland on Brighton Road in Sandgate.
Happening on Sunday, 25 July 2021, the Einbunpin Festival pools the artistic talents of the locals and the vibrancy of the Sandgate community. As with previous events, hundreds of stalls will be lined up at the park, whilst entertaining performances, games and activities will be underway from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The annual event, mounted for the last 28 years with the support of the Sandgate & Bracken Ridge Action Group and the Brisbane City Council, is a wonderful opportunity for discovering good food, treasures and great finds from local artisans and musical talents. It’s also an exciting chance to catch up with the residents.
Photo Credit: Facebook
Eibunpin is based on magical winter creatures that live in the lagoon and come out during winter’s first dark moon and then disappear after August’s first full moon. A German missionary named Christopher Eipper found out about their existence in 1840 among the Aborigines of the Turrbal tribe living around the Sandgate lagoon, where there was an abundance of tuberous roots for food. He claimed that he heard the tribes refer to something in the lagoon as a Bun Yun Pin or Yin Pin Bun.
“Ein in EinBunPin is German and so today we have a word that is part aboriginal and part German that we now broadly interpret as the lagoon where one gathers roots,” local Jeff Cheyne revealed and described the Bunpins as naughty and mischievous creatures that dress up in flower petals and leaves, flying from tree to tree.
Meanwhile, the festival program and the stallholder or food vendor showcase have not yet been revealed but you can follow the updates on the official site or the Facebook page.
Mark your calendars! Kerbside collection is returning to Brisbane one year after the service went on hiatus, and Aspley and Geebung are among the suburbs due to receive the service in October and November.
After a yearlong hiatus, kerbside collection is finally returning to Brisbane in a slew of suburbs — two of which includes Aspley and Geebung. The service was brought back early after the Brisbane City Council was able to save $6 million across 2020-2021. Geebung residents can expect to see the service return to the suburb starting the 18th of October 2021, whereas Aspley residents will receive the service on the 22nd of October 2021.
Kerbside collection has been a regular Council service created to help people get rid of large household items that would be difficult to dispose of otherwise. All one has to do is leave the belongings they no longer want on the kerbside at 6:00 a.m.
Acceptable items include bath and laundry tubs, bicycles and sporting equipment, carpets and rugs, furniture, household appliances, and wood products smaller than 1.5 metres among many other things. Conversely, bricks, car parts, garden waste, glass and mirrors, hazardous waste, and liquids will not be collected.
Photo credit: CC BY-SA/avlxyz/Flickr
Labor councillors worked to have the popular service return as it was a basic and essential service that many Brisbane residents relied on. However, Lord Mayor Schrinner had commented that he had no regrets putting the service on hold.
The service was paused in 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in a bid to save $13 million over two years, however it is returning ahead of schedule, starting with the suburbs that were affected by its sudden hiatus.
Of the $6 million saved as a result of Kerbside Collection’s temporary cancellation, half was given to community groups, charities and sporting clubs to recover from the pandemic and prosper. Business fee waivers were also given to small businesses that were negatively affected by the virus.
Kerbside collection is scheduled to return to the following suburbs at the following dates:
Brighton, Deagon, Sandgate and Talgum: September 13, 2021
Shorncliffe: October 4, 2021
Boondall, Zillmere and Virginia: October 11, 2021
Geebung: October 18, 2021
Aspley: November 22, 2021
For more information, read about the service here.
Cadets from all disciplines across Queensland are converging at PCYC Sandgate for the 7th Brisbane Cadet Games, an annual event celebrating the physical skills, problem-solving abilities and camaraderie of the different Police-Citizens Youth Clubs in the region.
Happening on Saturday, 19 June 2021, on Kemper Street, the Brisbane Cadet Games will include participants from the PCYC Queensland Emergency Services Cadets, Rural Fire Service, Surf Life Saving Queensland, Australian Army Cadets, Royal Australian Air Force Cadets, Australian Navy Cadets and Military Cadets. Hundreds of cadets will be competing for the title of the Ultimate Cadet Crew.
A separate Cadet Games will also take place in Townsville on Saturday, 17 July 2021. The competitions expect to welcome 246 cadets at both events, whilst 60 personnel from the emergency and defence services have volunteered to judge the games.
Photo Credit: PCYC Queensland/Facebook
“The Cadet Games represent the ultimate gathering of cadets from all disciplines, many of whom travel from all over Queensland. At this year’s Townsville Games we even have our first all-female team coming from Thursday Island!” PCYC Queensland Emergency Services Cadets Program Manager, Storm Richter, said.
PCYC Emergency Services Cadets (ESC) Wolffdene Coordinator, Suzanne Bernard, said that the cadet program gives young people a safe and inclusive space where they can develop their leadership abilities and life skills.
“A lot of cadets go on to pursue a career in the Emergency Services, so it is really exciting to see them interacting with the very people they aspire to be!” Ms Bernard said.
