Almost everybody in Brisbane, or in the west knows about Linc Energy Founder Peter Bond’s mansion in Fig Tree Pocket, the Rivergum Retreat.
When his company went into liquidation in May last year with $320 million in debt, Mr Bond said that he is finished with Queensland and will be moving elsewhere. However, his mansion in the quiet suburb failed to sell and is now about to be used for a reality show.
A French production company is set to start shooting Les Ch’tis (Party Workers in OZ) at Rivergum Retreat from next month until December. Eight to ten partygoers are slated to live at the mansion whilst the show documents them trying to find work and fitting into the Australian way of life.
Locals are appalled by this development as they fear that their quiet neighbourhood will be disturbed by the noise of these partygoers and the hype and attention that come with the show. Judging from the previous seasons of the show, the cast can get pretty wild and the locals surely don’t want their peace disrupted.
When Mr Bond was asked about this, he refused to comment.
Halloween is just around the corner and we know that a lot of you are looking for great activities to do. The good news is, there is quite a lot of activities to do here in the west that you have to check out.
The Biggest Trick or Treat Course
Happening at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre from 26-29 October, enjoy FREE Halloween pumpkin head putt-putt course and centre wide trick or treat course. Make sure that you book this right now.
No Tricks, Just Treats
Special story times are coming. So, if you don’t want any tricks this year, you’re in for great treats. Dress up in your spookiest costume and enjoy scary tales and games at the Kenmore Library on 31 October to 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This event is ideal for children 3 to 12 years old. Bookings are essential.
Make Your Own Monster
Not to be outdone, the Kenmore Library will have an early Halloween event on 21 October, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with some arts and crafts that freak you out! The event is ideal for boys aged 5 to 12 years old. Bookings are essential.
Epic Cemetery Ghost Tour
Craving for the fear factor? If you really want to feel the Halloween spirit and are not afraid to get spooked, then spend the evening at the Toowong Cemetery. From 28 October to 31 October, join the 1-hour ghost tours and the 2-hour ghost tours. You can book your tickets here.
Make the most out of your October and get spooked!
Without a Trustee Lease from the government under the Land Act 1994, plans by the Kenmore Bridge Club to turn the Pullenvale Reserve into a 40-space carpark will not be able to proceed.
According to DNRM, the council cannot use the standard agreement for a Trustee Lease because in principle, it doesn’t have the Minister’s consent for issuing a lease. Also, it seems that the bridge club does not have tenure for the reserve. DNRM has advised the council that the development cannot push through on the reserve unless a trustee lease is in place.
Photo credit: savethekoala.com
Also, the government has announced that the council and the bridge club have yet to demonstrate how the proposed development will match the original legislated purpose of the reserve.
Public backlash against the planned carpark has been strong. Along with the locals who are protesting against the development, the Australian Koala Foundation has also expressed their disapproval. The Pullenvale Reserve is classified as a habitat for koalas.
In light of this, there will be a talk on the 21st of October from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 43 Pullenvale Road. Locals will talk about saving the reserve and the CEO of the foundation will also speak about the importance of protecting the reserve and preserving the natural habitat of koalas. The event also urges locals to plant a Koala tree and to witness a traditional Smoking Ceremony by an elder from the Yuggera people.
BCC hasn’t released any further statements on the matter.
On 14 October, Pullenvale Hall hosts a feast starting from 1:00 p.m. until late! Locals will enjoy Pullenvale on a Platter, an event that features delicious produce and the participation of two well-loved purveyors of great food in the area.
Photo credit: Pullenvale Hall
Three Girls Skipping in Graceville, known for their delicious treats and coffee as well as other food choices will be serving lunch.
Pullenvale on a Platter is a major fundraising events whose proceeds will go to the Hall, whilst 10% of the profits will go towards Oz Harvest. OzHarvest is the leading food rescue organization in Australia that collects quality excess food from commercial outlets and deliver it to more than 1,000 charities supporting people in need across the country.
Each table consists of eight people. The event will be hosted by the Pullenvale Progress Association.
Due to its popularity, tickets to the event have already been sold out.
Residents of Kenmore, Ipswich, Mount Crosby and nearby suburbs have been pushing for a new high school as both Kenmore State High School and Ipswich State High School approach capacity. In fact, the entire Moggill electorate has been pushing for a new facility to house students.
In February of this year, a formal petition calling on the State Government to build a new high school in Ipswich has gone live, which was sponsored by the LNP’s Moggill MP Dr Christian Rowan. However, the state government was quick to reply by saying that the area does not support calls for a new school facility.
Although this has dampened the spirits of parents, they are still willing to fight. Due to the growing population, parents believe that a new school facility must be built.
However, Education Minister Kate Jones is determined to not get the parents’ hopes up. Last week, she wrote to the petition organisers to forget about the whole idea because the Education Department has identified the area as not of high growth. She further added that there is no strong evidence to support the delivery of a new school infrastructure.
Ms Jones said that they will closely monitor growth in student numbers. As of now, however, they have found a low number of secondary school-aged students, which means that a new school facility isn’t ideal.
Following this announcement, Scott Meehan, the council chairman of Kenmore State High School said that the council would meet again to discuss the issue this term. Mr Meehan said that they need to make some difficult decisions just to be able to protect the learning environment that their school has worked hard for many years. Also, they have to enforce the enrollment management plan and limit enrollments from out-of-catchment suburbs.
Digital Finance Analytics has seen a spike in mortgage stress in September that involves suburbs in west Brisbane, Brookfield and Fig Tree Pocket.
Their new analysis shows that there are now more than 905,000 households in mortgage stress, with 18,000 in severe stress. Even affluent neighbourhoods are also feeling the pressure. Brookfield, like Fig Tree Pocket, is known to house higher income homes. The mortgage stress that they are experiencing is being driven by the rising mortgage rates and living costs, whilst real incomes continue to remain stagnant or worse, fall.
There are also plenty of households that are spending bigger money on mortgage repayments, higher power prices, childcare costs and other expenses. All of these are considered to be a deadly combination.
According to Martin North, the Principal of Digital Finance Analytics, “continued pressure from low wage and rising costs means those with bigger mortgages are especially under the gun. These stressed households are less likely to spend at the shops, which will act as a further drag anchor on future growth.”
“The number of households impacted are economically significant, especially as household debt continues to climb to new record levels,” he added.
The good news is, there are still ways to escape this vicious cycle of debt:
Have a clear budget – make a list of everything that you spend on, down to the tiniest detail. This may seem time-consuming but you will thank yourself in the end. Keeping a record of everything that you spend on will help you manage your finances.
Prioritise what you spend on – once you have written down all the things that you spend on, you can now prioritise how and where you spend your money. You will be surprised at how effective this is to your budget.
Consider going to the bank – the bank can provide you with loans to help you pay off your mortgage. Going to the bank to know what your options are will be a huge help.
With this growing trend, it is always best to remember that change begins in oneself. So, if you want to get out of your mortgage stress, start by knowing all the expenses you make on a monthly basis and don’t be afraid to ask for help in considering your options.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has committed a $2-million koala research centre in Fig Tree Pocket, which is to be finished in June 2018. A development application has now been lodged to the Brisbane City Council for the project.
The Plan
Located at 708 Jesmond Road, the upcoming research centre will be within the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary. A number of existing enclosures will have to be demolished to make way for the research facility.
The proposal, designed by Giarola Architects, aims to have an Animal Enclosure and Research Centre within the centre of the overall Sanctuary Master Plan. A single storey building will be built.
Stage One of the proposed development involves the Animal Enclosure whilst Stage Two involves the Sky Deck Extension.
The Sky Deck Extension will be located on the southern side of the building, which will provide a circular viewing platform with additional functions to aid research.
Koalas are one of Australia’s iconic animals. Unfortunately, their numbers are rapidly dwindling due to the loss of habitat, dog attacks, disease and vehicle strike. Koalas are now listed as “vulnerable” under the national and state environmental law. The research centre is one of the efforts of the council to protect and preserve koalas across the country.
Aside from that, the council is also buying land with significant koala habitat through the Bushland Acquisition Program. They are also implementing the Natural Assets Local Law, which adds a layer of protection over significant vegetation that includes the homes of the koalas.
The Habitat Brisbane Program also aims to plant more koala food trees on council’s land. These are just some of the efforts of the council to preserve these beautiful animals.
View the development application for the research centre here.
Have you ever heard of a job that doesn’t cause an undue amount of stress or burnout? How about one with an unlimited supply of cuddles and love? At Kenmore, there is one job that fits the bill.
Jobs For Dogs in Kenmore is a dog walking service in the West that helps dog owners provide their dog with regular physical, socialisation, and mental stimulation. Not all dog owners have the time to take their dogs for a walk amidst work and other commitments, which is why this service is available for everyone in the western suburbs.
Dog walks are conducted in stimulating natural environments in the following suburbs:
Chapel Hill
Kenmore
Kenmore Hills
Brookfield
Pullenvale
Bellbowrie
Newstead
Moggill
Indooroopilly
Fig Tree Pocket
Taringa
Bardon
Auchenflower
Red Hill
Paddington
Milton
Toowong
Saint Lucia
Jobs for Dogs offers various services such as nature walks and play dates. Recently, the founder, Heidi Flaxman, has put out an ad announcing that they are looking for a new staff member. Since her announcement, a massive influx of applications has come flying in. Everyone seems to want the job! This is not surprising given that being with these four-legged furries a couple of hours a day can really calm the mind, body, and soul.
Ms Flaxman started Jogs for Dogs in Canberra over ten years ago, when she merged her twin passion for dogs and jogging, and her lifelong crusade for health and fitness.
The Pullenvale Reserve has long been a topic of discussion with the Kenmore Bridge Club eyeing the place for conversion into a 40-space carpark. On 8 July 2016, the Brisbane City Council approved the development plan.
Majority of the Community Against the Development
Landpartners Ltd, the company behind the development proposal, is facing stiff opposition from numerous residents who have been vocal in expressing their disapproval over the application. During the review stage, the council received 252 objection letters versus 137 submissions of support for the development. Most of the objections were about the inconsistencies with the application whilst the letters of support were mainly personal opinions about the development.
The reserve is considered a public reserve owned by the State Government of Queensland. The council is considered a trustee of the reserve, vested with the responsibility of maintaining and managing the land.
A number of locals are very disappointed with the approval of the development application, which to them a significant lifestyle change. Pullenvale residents currently enjoy a peaceful, semi-rural lifestyle. Some think that the development will have a huge environmental impact considering that the area is home to native wildlife especially koalas and native birds.
Save The Reserve, Save The Koalas
In light of this, those who are against the development continue to hold their ground and fight for the reserve. There are new tree signages at the reserve that are meant to identify likely koala trees. This follows the Australian Koala Foundation’s analysis of the area, which revealed that the koala activity in the area is at 23%.
The CEO of AKF, Deborah Tabart, is calling out to the council to have the reserve protected and to provide the locals with certainty on the plans about the reserve. To strengthen their support, the AKF is now holding a Tree Planting and BBQ Day at the reserve on 21 October at 3:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend and AKF experts. will also educate attendees on the importance of biodiversity of parklands.
Today, the development has been stalled due lack of funds. The community has taken advantage of the lull to keep on fighting for the reserve.
Parents of Kenmore South State School are outraged over the rollout of the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program, which will start next year. When this project rolls out, parents will have to pay $1000 per child to be on the program.
Photo credit: https://www.qcoss.org.au/
Their Concerns
The main concern of the parents is how prolonged use of technology can affect their children. They also said that they weren’t properly consulted about this. In fact, an online petition was made, which garnered 125 signatures.
The online petition details the parents’ take on the BYOD program. It details how everything seems rushed and introducing such a significant change in the teaching process can affect children’s learning adaptabilities. They also said that the staff at KSSS haven’t discussed the educational benefit of the use of BYOD.
Also according to the parents, the school hasn’t provided enough details regarding the program such as what happens to the parents who choose not to participate in the program. They also worry about the health effects of excessive screen time to their children.
Not Against The Use of Technology
KSSS parents made it clear though that they are not against the use of technology for learning but what they are against is the excessive use of it especially for younger ones. They are seeking proper consultation from the executives of the schools.
KSSS Keeps Mum
However, a recent update on the petition said that the KSSS hasn’t responded to their concerns and is proceeding with the BYOD program. There has also been requests from the person who started the petition online for parents to boycott the program.
They school says that they held consultations with parents regarding the BYOD program, on the 25th of July.
Photo credit: Elanora State High School
Not A First In the West
This isn’t the first school that has gained negative feedback in the West. Rainworth State School in Bardon also experienced adverse feedback and some resistance over the rollout of a similar program to its students from Year 4 and up. Executives of RSS engaged a consultant to work with parents after complaints.
