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Booker Place Park Lighting Installation for Dog Off-Leash Area to Commence

For years, dog owners using the off-leash area within Booker Place Park in Bellbowrie have been asking for the installation of additional lights for their beloved pets to play and exercise at night. Council has finally signed off on the project, which was announced at the beginning of 2021.

Once the lights are working, fur parents may enjoy extended hours at Booker Place Park with their dogs without worrying about accessibility and safety. The lights will work to automatically switch off by 9:00 p.m., which is more than enough for the locals since the park’s peak hours for dog activities are usually from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Councillor Greg Aldermann confirmed the lighting project in a Facebook post to inform pet owners of a possible temporary closure of the dog off-leash area (DOLA) to “facilitate the work.”

“Signage will be installed on site to advise of this if the temporary closure is required,” Mr Aldermann said. “Every effort will be made to minimise disruption to the local community and Council thanks residents for their patience and understanding while the work is being undertaken.”

Work on the park will take place Monday to Saturday from 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. The site has existing light provisions like cables and conduits.

Residents said that the DOLA is not convenient for dog play and exercise after 5:30 p.m. during the winter months of June and July since the days are shorter. The lack of lighting has also raised concerns over owners who have been unable to clean after their pets since they couldn’t see where the dog has defecated.

“I work full time so during the week the only time I can get down there is after dark mostly. Lights would be fantastic for my safety and my dogs,” a resident said.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to Become a Foodie Precinct

Plans are underway to make the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket into more than just an animal park. The popular koala sanctuary will be developed into a culinary hub and dining destination as well.

Yianni Passaris, who owns Ping Pong restaurant in Newstead and the Morning After cafe in West End, has been tapped as the food and beverage advisor. Mr Passaris will work with the sanctuary management in developing the park as a foodie precinct.

The initial plan is to transform the front cafe near the park entrance to make it more accessible to the general public. Diners won’t need to purchase a ticket to the sanctuary for this main eatery.

Lone Pine Sanctuary cafe’s menu will also undergo a revamp, foregoing the frozen lasagnas and quiches selections in favor of tastier but affordable gourmet options.

The next plan is to build a restaurant and another cafe inside the park. Passaris said that since Fig Tree Pocket hardly has good cafes, so locals would likely be encouraged to visit the park to dine and enjoy the surrounding.

Alex Derlot from the Derlot Studio has been drawing up the redesign of the sanctuary and will choose the furnishing and decorations that will be incorporated in the restaurants. Mr Derlot will also create a space for the park’s new gift shop.

Visitors to the park should notice that renovations to the front cafe is currently underway and will be completed by January 2021. It will boast of 120 seats and recycled or sustainable furniture from Mr Derlot’s LesBasic collection.

Young Rising Stars Topbill Southern Cross Soloists Two-Part Concert in Kenmore

Eager for a wonderful night of music? On two Sundays this December, the internationally acclaimed chamber ensemble, Southern Cross Soloists (SXS), will hold a concert series at the Church of Christ on Brookfield Road in Kenmore as top-billed by eight emerging musicians with impressive abilities.

Expect a delightful night listening to classical music as played by the Sunrise String Quartet, clarinetist Dario Scalabrini and flautist Katya Willett.

But joining them are the next generation of solo artists who will present their fresh and energetic interpretations of music from the Baroque period and compositions from J.S. Bach, Mozart and Mendelssohn, as well as some contemporary original Australian works.

They are Helena Wang, Dario Scalabrini, Julia Hill, Rory Smith, Liam Mallinson, Ann Carew, Jemima Drews, Francis Atkins and Katya Willett.

These rising stars are mentored by Southern Cross Soloists flutist Jonathan Henderson, who also heads the SXS Next Gen Artist program.

“The Next Gen Artists is a platform for young emerging musicians, many of whom will go on to establish orchestral, chamber, and soloist careers both in Australia and abroad,” Mr Henderson said.

“This will be one of the first concerts this year for many of them. With performances put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Next Gen artists are very much looking forward to playing for a live audience.

“Beyond playing high level chamber music, their responsibilities extend to the production side of the series. They are heavily involved and have the opportunity to experience planning these events from both back and front of stage. It’s an enormous learning curve for most and they will come away with real-world skills that will serve their musical careers beyond university life.”

Tickets reservations to this two-part concert are via Event Brite:

DATE and TIME	MUSICIANS	BUY TICKET
Sun., 13 December 2020 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm AEST	Featuring Julia Hill, violin / Liam Mallinson, viola / Jemima Drews, flute / Rory Smith, cello	BUY TICKET
Sun., 20 December 2020 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm AEST	Featuring Katya Willet, flute / Dario Scalabrini, clarinet / The Sunrise Quartet: Helena Wang, violin / Ann Carew, violin / Liam Mallinson, viola / Rory Smith, cello	BUY TICKET

Upswing Seen in Kenmore Bridge Club COVID-Safe Online Games

The pandemic crisis might have kept people indoors but it won’t stop bridge players from organising their socials. Since the restrictions, some 200 members of the Kenmore Bridge Club reshuffled their bridge activities to the online platform, building more challenges and bringing more excitement among the players who have never played online before.

Whether it’s to avoid boredom or to reconnect with friends, enjoying a bridge game online has been a fun learning experience. Kenmore Bridge Club members in their 80s or 90s patiently learned and got comfortable using technology like the BridgeBase Online (BBO) platform and Zoom, and the response has been overwhelming.

Tournaments online started to double as the members’ family or friends, some of whom live interstate, also joined the bridge games. Former members, who have stopped playing months before the lockdown due to immobility or sickness, have returned as well.

As of 9 Nov 2020, Kenmore Bridge Club has reopened for in-person gaming amidst strict COVID-19 safety procedures. But the online games are not going away and might likely be adopted as the new normal with two to four tournaments at least five times a week.

For a lot of these members, the weekly bridge games are a much-needed reward, escape, or distraction as they sit and concentrate on their strategy for two hours.

The club is also conducting online bridge lessons with eight 2.5 hours sessions followed by supervised bridge games. Some members also get help for setting up their computers and other gadgets.

For more details about the online bridge games, email anne@russellsynergies.com.au for your inquiries.

Plan Hatched for a Community Hub at Historic Hawbryn House Site

Brisbane City Council could turn the former site of the historic Hawbryn House into a community hub if plans come together and once investigations are complete.

Hawbryn House was gutted by a suspicious fire on 17 Oct 2020.

Since none of the house’s magnificent structure could be saved, Council is considering drawing up a new masterplan that will turn the site into a useful community space.

Councillor Greg Adermann confirmed the plans in a message to his constituents.

“Council is developing a concept plan for the site and will soon be undertaking consultation with key stakeholders and the general public,” he wrote.

The Hawbryn House, a classic Federation house with bells in each room, was originally built in Kangaroo Point for Sir John Pidgeon. It was a prominent site in Brisbane’s social scene for many years and was also once the home of Brisbane’s first solicitors, Maldwyn Montgomery Edwards.

In 1981, the Burton-Jones family bought the house from Mr Pidgeon. According to Joan Burton-Jones, Mr Pidgeon agreed to the sale since Council would not allow him to make further developments on his riverside property.

The Burton-Jones family moved Hawbryn House in set pieces to Anstead on 506 Hawkesbury Road. It was next to the cottage of Harold Gordon Sugars.

Mr Sugars lived in Sugars Cottage since the 1920s. After his death, the cottage became part of the Hawbryn site.

The Hawbryn House was integral to the Australian Open Garden Scheme to help the Australian Koala Foundation that protects the bushlands in the western part of Queensland.

In 2013, Stefan and Lisa Dopkin bought and refurbished the property. The ownership would once again change hands in 2017 after the Council acquired the property as part of its Bushland Acquisition Programme.

The Council deemed the site of ecological importance, connecting two bushland blocks.

However, over the years, the house became a regular target for vandals, according to the preliminary police reports after the fire. Ms Burton-Jones, who now resides in England, was devastated to see the house crumble in the fire as she watched the news. Investigations are still on-going.

“The one good thing to come from the fire is that the original Sugars Cottage appears to have survived and I know the Moggill Historical Society is keen to provide their input about the future of the cottage as part of that consultation,” Mr Adermann said.

Reinstate Uniform Swap Day: Kenmore State High School Year 12 Students Petition

Photo Credit: Kenmore State High School / Facebook

Year 12 students of Kenmore State High School are petitioning for the traditional Uniform Swap to be reinstated.

Students of Kenmore State High School are petitioning for the reinstatement of Uniform Swap — a traditional celebration where male and female students swap school uniforms. The petition says that the Uniform Swap Day, which they say is an innocent celebration, was banned because of a claim that the celebration teases and ridicules boys who want to wear skirts.

However, the Uniform Swap was not the first to be “taken away” from them, the petition says. Other celebrations they are no longer able to take part in include the 100-day celebration, the mural, the last free dress day as character initials, muck up day and the official Schoolies 2020 celebration.

“The Year 12 Uniform Swap is not performed by students with a satirical and insensitive intention, rather it is a representation of the cohorts’ unity and friendship,” the petition said.

“The normalisation of boys wearing skirts will not be a value within Kenmore State High School unless its admin grants students the opportunity of doing so as a tradition and as a promotion to younger grades (who see us as role models).”

The petition, which has gathered 753 signatures so far, likewise stated that students were told that the school formal will be cancelled if they choose to participate in the said tradition. It is a plan of action that they say is “insensitive and harsh” and will leave students feeling helpless and disappointed.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said that the school will put in place a program instead to acknowledge the conclusion of the students’ formal schooling so they can stay focused on the exam preparation. Activities that will be part of the program include a senior formal, a parade, a farewell BBQ organised by their teachers, a special Valedictory celebration, a full day at a theme park.

Kenmore Mitre 10 Absorbs Workers from Closed Down South Brisbane Outlet

Displaced workers at the Lewis Bros Mitre 10 in South Brisbane will start working at the Kenmore site, located at the Kenmore Village Shopping Centre, after the 23-year-old Cordelia Street outlet closed down for good on Sunday, 6 Sept 2020.

Deliveries from the shuttered store will now come from the inner west site as well, which means there will be no job losses or halting of services from the former outlet.

Brett Richardson, the manager at the handyman store on Cordelia St, said that the rents were “unrealistically high” thus they decided not to renew the lease. Warwick Lewis independently owns both the South Brisbane site and the Kenmore store under the Mitre 10 brand.

Photo Credit: Lewis Bros Mitre 10 Kenmore/Google Maps

Currently, the Cordelia St site has no existing development application. With the current public health crisis, the building might remain closed for a long time.

“Sadly this is a common phenomenon in the inner-city… Even when a property owner has no immediate plans to redevelop a site, they often prefer to keep properties empty because they can claim it as a tax write-off. They advertise it for lease at an unreasonably high rent, and when they can’t find any takers, they leave it vacant and declare it as a loss for tax purposes,” Councillor Jonathan Sri posted on Facebook following the business closure.

“The loss of retailers like this means that residents have to drive further away if they need hardware supplies, which in turn generates more traffic, and makes it harder for people to live a car-free lifestyle.”

Kenmore’s Mitre 10 outlet is 12 km off South Brisbane or a 21-minute drive on Milton Rd. The Elizabeth St outlet is closer but it’s owned by a different independent entrepreneur.

Kenmore Views: Rare Brisbane Development Site Up for Grabs

A 3.25-hectare property owned by the Sunland Group is up for grabs in Kenmore. Dubbed Kenmore Views, the site on 20 Margaret Court has existing development approval from the Brisbane City Council.

Kenmore Views was planned as a 96-unit premium townhomes development near the Brisbane CBD and the Indooroopilly Shopping Centre. However, under the new conditions of the Council’s planning parameters, the site will likely be one of the last few townhomes to be built in the western corridor in the next couple of years. Thus, its development approval is now deemed rare.

“In Kenmore, Brisbane City Council planning parameters have effectively ‘banned townhouses’, meaning townhouse sites are becoming increasingly rare and highly sought-after,” Adam Rubie, the development site manager said in a statement.

“At present, there is a very limited supply of new apartments in inner Brisbane, with the inner west representing approximately 4 percent of future apartment supply across Brisbane’s inner city,” he added. “Stock is rapidly declining to a point where our research outlines there will be less than five projects above 50 apartments, under construction across the inner city by the end of 2021.

“For this reason, we are anticipating strong interest for both assets, from local, interstate and international developers and investors.”

The Council voted on banning townhomes and apartment blocks to protect the character of low-density residential suburbs in November 2019. The move came after a series of consultations with the developers and the community since September 2018.

“We regularly see amendments to the plan come through and the plans are a living, breathing thing, so we will continue to see changes going forward, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said. “These changes are based on the changing needs of the community, based on feedback, and also based on the need to provide more housing in Brisbane as our population grows. It is my belief that low density should be low density, and that is exactly what we are putting forward.”

New Schools Planned Between Kenmore and Indooroopilly, Other SEQ Sites

A special school and three new primary schools are set to be built and completed in 2022-2023 in Queensland’s southeast region, including one that will stand between Kenmore and Indooroopilly in the western suburbs.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the plans in the Parliament Tuesday, adding that the projects will have an allocated budget of $245 million.

Ms Palaszczuk has identified the location of the special school in Coomera. The new site should ease off the overwhelming number of children in existing special needs schools in Logan (Beenleigh Special School) and Southport (Southport Special School).

The new primary schools, on the other hand, have been planned for Greenbank in North Maclean near Logan, the south of Caloundra, and a yet to be determined suburb in Brisbane.

“A new primary school will also be built at a location to be identified in Brisbane’s inner west,” the Premier said. This school, which will have a $65 million budget, is expected to reduce overcrowding at schools in Indooroopilly, Toowong, Kenmore and St. Lucia.

Education Minister Grace Grace said that there will be an “extensive community consultation process” to determine which Brisbane inner west community will best benefit from having a new school. Preparing Queensland’s education infrastructure will also provide employment opportunities.

“We are focused on getting people back to work as we unite and recover from the global COVID-19 pandemic, with these projects expected to support more than 870 local jobs,” Ms Grace said. “These projects are building on our record investment in building new schools and expanding existing schools in high growth areas.”

MP for Moggill Dr Christian Rowan welcomed the news with much excitement, having campaigned for a new school in Brisbane’s inner west for years.

“Our schools have been so severely overcrowded that classrooms are full, pool and library time is limited, before and after-school care services have long waitlists and demountable classrooms are being erected on school ovals, encroaching on students’ play area,” he said. “I’m so excited they’ve listened to the community.”

Demand Rising For Impressive Brookfield And Pullenvale Acreage

Despite the economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, Brisbane’s highly desired areas for buying acreages are reportedly experiencing an upswing.

Suburbs like Brookfield and Pullenvale are attracting plenty of interest from people who are considering a move to a semi-rural property where they can have plenty of outdoor space to relish in the beauty of nature and its natural benefits.

Brookfield and Pullenvale, both ideal areas for acreage living, are experiencing a Renaissance of sorts. In both suburbs, eager buyers are looking at properties that can range anywhere from one to 20 acres.

Those exploring to get back to basics, to slow down their pace, and to figure out how to build a sustainable lifestyle — amid the hoarding and depletion of supplies as highlighted in this pandemic — are finding that these suburbs southwest of the city remain seemingly untouched by modern developments.

Yet Brookfield and Pullenvale are still close to the hub in Brisbane CBD that it’s fine to miss most of what’s happening there. It’s also easy to plan a quick trip to the city when needed.

This 1.12ha property on McMullen Road, Brookfield has its own swimming pool, tennis court, rainwater storage tank and solar hot water. The space is great for riding horses or bikes in the paddocks, with a 360-degree view of mountains and valleys.

Photo Credit: Rachael Spinks/Spinks & Co Residential/Domain

In Kamala Drive, Pullenvale sits a 4ha house that looks like a plantation mansion. Impressive for private and family entertainment, this home has a gourmet kitchen and casual kitchen, as well as an alfresco area with an in-ground pool and spa.

Photo Credit: Paris Arthur/Place Graceville/Domain

Observers note that this trend has been building up for some time. The isolation during the coronavirus lockdown has had people thinking that living close to a densely-populated community does have its drawbacks and risks, as it’s these places where outbreaks usually start.

People are starting to realise that there are other things you can do in your own house than sit on the couch or be stuck indoors. The idea of having a bigger backyard has never been more appealing than today.

At least three distinct markets find the allure of living in Brookfield and Pullenvale — the knockdown market, the city-dwellers and people with money to invest in a bigger property, according to Domain.