Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 39 of 46

Kenmore Local Group Fights Against Azure Development In Court, Seeks Crowdfunding Help

A number of Kenmore residents continue to fight against the Azure development along Moggill Road and Wyndarra Street and are counting on crowdfunding to help them with their court battle.

Last year, feedback from residents have been collected, with most of the comments opposing the development. Residents do not think that their suburb will be able to cope with the increased density that this project would bring.

Read: Kenmore Residents Actively Campaigning Against Proposed Azure Townhouse Development

Brisbane City Council sent the developer a list of matters to be resolved after reviewing the application. The council did not support the proposal for the 104-unit project, citing issues that remain unaddressed.

Subsequently, the developer received approval on 25 January 2018 after making significant changes to the project plans, such as:

Reducing the number of dwellings from 104 units to 94 units;
Including plans for deep planting and rehabilitation of the site;
Increasing the number of car parking spaces; and
Widening of Margaret Court

Appeal against Decision

These changes do not sit well with the residents, hence their move to take the battle to court.

Kenmore Living Inc, group lodged an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court in February 2018.

However, the group is struggling to cover the entire cost of the legal battle.

To gain assistance with the legal fees, the group has set up a gofundme page. The group is appealing to the locals to help them save the leafy suburb and prevent additional traffic congestion in the area by supporting their court battle.

The group believes that crowdfunding will make more sense to help them move forward with their case. A member of the group estimated that they will need a minimum of $60,000-$80,000.

It is also noted that four families have already shelled out about $10,000 to help fight the development. Legally, the losers in court will have to pay for the legal costs of the winner.

Pressure is now mounting on both sides as they prepare their respective positions on the matter.

Find out more about the project: DA A004627877.

Call for Additional High School and Infrastructure Investment in Kenmore State High School Renewed

The fight continues for an additional high school and infrastructure investment in Kenmore State High School as the State Government is urged to provide analysis on current enrolments and changes to future enrolments and catchment suburbs.

For the past few years, locals have pleaded for urgent building upgrades to Kenmore SHS as the school nears reaching capacity. The Department of Education previously dismissed the statement that the school will soon hit its maximum student enrolment capacity of 2,231 students.

Read: Kenmore State High School Pleads for Urgent Building Upgrades

Read: New High School Facility in Moggill Still Not Possible, Kenmore State High School To Make Changes to Protect Learning Environment

Demand for Analysis

Dr Christian Rowan, MP for Moggill, insists that the need for infrastructure upgrade at the school is an urgent matter. He posed several questions to the Labor of Education Minister, including a request for information on 2018 enrolments and projected enrolments in the school.

Photo credit: Dr Christian Rowan MP/Facebook

The MP also wanted to know the ministry’s projections in terms of future changes to catchment suburbs in the next 10 years. He also asked what analysis has been done in relation to an additional high school in the Moggill or Ipswich West electorates.

By rule, Kenmore SHS restricts enrolment of students from outside its local catchment area to avoid exceeding enrolment capacity. Some residents from outside the catchment are dismayed that the Education Ministry insists that the school is below capacity when in fact, students are getting turned down during enrolment citing that the school is at capacity.

In the past years, Dr Rowan made similar appeals for the state government to fund an expansion of Kenmore SHS and establishment of a new school in the region. Concerned locals support the move and feel that they have been left in dark as to the master plan for the school.

Locals insist that there are issues with the existing facilities of the school. The library, for instance they say, is already cramped and not able to service some 1,900 students.

Dead & Injured Swallows Found In Underground Carpark In Kenmore, RSPCA to Investigate

Kenmore residents woke up to dead swallows in an underground car park at a medical centre on 3 April.

The Verdict

It was discovered later on that glue was applied to the overhead pipes. There were nearly 60 birds affected.

A Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) officer spent the entire morning rescuing birds. He said that there were some who were still alive and could be seen hopping around the area, unable to fly.

According to the RSPCA officer, an animal cruelty investigation is being heavily considered following the discovery of the glue application on the pipes.

The swallows were brought to the RSPCA’s animal hospital and about 20 birds have been euthanised, whilst other birds are still receiving treatments.

Why Are They In A Carpark

Swallows are known to be attracted to open-fronted buildings. In Australia, the most widespread swallow is called the Welcome Swallow and can be seen swooping and fluttering between city buildings, grasslands, and forests.

In the last year alone, RSPCA has received 18,322 animal cruelty complaints and neglect calls whilst their Animal Ambulance received 27,517 Animal Rescue calls.

Kenmore State High’s Inspiring Swimmer Set to Carry the Queen’s Baton in Commonwealth Games

Katja Dedekind may not be competing in the coming Gold Coast Commonwealth Games but she is still going to be an important part of the event. Even though the Games doesn’t have events for vision-impaired swimmers, the young, vision-impaired swimmer will eagerly join approximately 3,800 baton bearers of the Queen’s Baton Relay.

The young swimmer from Kenmore served as an inspiration to many when she won a bronze medal on her debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Embodying her motto, “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you”, Dedekind doesn’t let her visual impairment stop her from doing the things she loves.

Apart from being a Paralympian swimmer, Dedekind is also a great goalball player. Her love for goalball started when she attended a ‘Come and Try’ day in 2012. After a few months of training, she was named as the Best Defensive Junior Player at the Australian Goalball Championships in Melbourne. By 2014, she was given a $250 grant to fuel her pursuit for on-court success.

Photo credit: http://www.sportingdreams.org.au

While playing alongside Australia’s best goalball teams, Dedekind still managed to make waves in the pool in 2015. She was hailed as the Swimmer of the Meet for swimmers with disabilities at the Queensland Sprint Championships. She also managed to collect three gold and five silver medals at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide that year.

By 2016, the unstoppable Kenmore girl did a superb performance at the Australian Swimming Championships. Dedekind won third place in the 200m freestyle and ranked fifth in both the 50m backstroke and 50m butterfly. Swimming with the Paralympic medallists Maddison Elliott, Ashleigh McConnell, and Taylor Corry, they managed to win first place in the 4x50m mixed freestyle relay.

During her first time to represent Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Dedekind surprised her competitors in the S13 100m backstroke as she finished with a time of 1 minute and 12.25 seconds, just a few seconds behind Ukraine’s Anna Stetsenko and Great Britain’s Abby Kane. She was also qualified to race in the 400m freestyle final where she finished in seventh place.

The versatile 16-year-old doesn’t even stop at athletics. She is also an aspiring poet and a recipient of the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Award for her poem ‘The Open Door’.

Dedekind is set to complete her leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay in New Farm on Saturday, 31 March 2018. You can join in the community event celebration of the Queen’s Baton Relay in New Farm hosted by the Brisbane City Council from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Powerhouse Park, 137 Sydney Street, New Farm. Don’t miss the chance to see the baton bearers up close.

Learn Something New and Bond with the Family This Easter Holiday in Fig Tree Pocket & Mt Coot-tha

The Easter holidays is the perfect time to catch up on family time. Why don’t you head on over to these places in Mt Coot-tha and Fig Tree Pocket with your family? You can also keep your little ones entertained through activities that are not only fun, but educational as well!

For the Nature Lovers

Enjoy the easter holidays at the Botanic Gardens in Mt Coot-tha and get close to nature. Bring the whole family along with you and have a picnic, or you can also have a nice meal at the Summit restaurant. This is the perfect place to be during the easter holidays if you just want to take in the fresh air and just simply have fun with your loved ones.

Starry, Starry Sky

The Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium is also packed with so much activities this upcoming holidays. Whether or not you’re interested in astronomy, there are so many interesting nuggets of information that you can get here. The kids will love it and so will you!

Be A Keeper For A Day!

Your kids can also be a Junior and Teen Keeper for a day at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket. This should be a great way for them to get up close and personal with the wildlife. They will clean enclosures, feed the animals, and train them as well. Your kids will have a packed day here that they will never forget!

Make sure you and your family get a productive and fun Easter holidays!

Good Friday At The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary In Fig Tree Pocket

Thinking of fun activities to do for this upcoming long weekend? The Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket will be open all long weekend from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

On Good Friday, drop by at the Fig Tree Market near the Riverside Cafe outside the sanctuary.

Starting at 12:00 p.m., rows of food stalls will be at the venue for you and your loved ones. You definitely won’t go hungry here.

Your kids will surely be entertained as there will also be two free jumping castles that will open at 2:00 p.m. By 3:00 p.m., head on over to the face painting booth and transform into a koala.

By 6:30 p.m., gather the kids, plop down on a picnic blanket, bring out the popcorn and enjoy a free screening of Finding Dory.

Expect a full day of fun at this event. It’s free and it’s the perfect place to be with your family.

Local Mum Submits Petition To Improve Road Safety at Pullenvale State School

A Pullenvale mum has submitted a petition to the Brisbane City Council calling for pedestrian crossing and school zone signages to be installed at their local school.

Lack Of School Road Safety Signs

Nicole Heath feels that they are being discriminated as evidenced by the lack of road safety measures in their local school, Pullenvale State School.

In her petition, she highlighted how other schools have road security features in their vicinity. Moggill State School has lit-up signs, a lolly-pop lady, and two pedestrian crossing. Kenmore State School and Our Lady of the Rosary School also implemented the same features.

The petitioner is requesting installation of 40 km/hr lit up signs and a pedestrian crossing where the school grounds begin. Another request for a pedestrian crossing is being proposed along with school zone hours sign near the school car park.

So far, the petition has garnered 79 signatures and it will close on 26 April. Read the e-petition.

The council said that they take into consideration every petition that is submitted to them. Their council engineers will make recommendations to the council’s infrastructure committee.

However, the council said that they have offered to work with the school to come up with a traffic management plan but the school is yet to respond.

Flashing Road Signs in Brisbane

Last year, safety concerns about Brisbane school zones were highlighted.

One of the council’s solutions was to install flashing road signs that will catch the attention of motorists. They started distributing these signs to schools last year.

However, not all schools are eligible. Schools are selected based on a detailed risk analysis as well as nominations by schools and communities.

The schools are assessed but priority is given to school zones with a significant crash history, high level of pedestrian traffic, or visibility problems.

12-year-old Kenmore Girl Shaving Her Head for the World’s Greatest Shave

Issy O’Keef, a shy girl from Kenmore State High School, is taking a big step to raise money to help children struggling with blood cancer. On Saturday, 24 March, the young girl will cut off all her beautiful long hair for cancer, as she takes part in the World’s Greatest Shave for the Leukaemia Foundation.

When Issy decided to participate in the World’s Greatest Shave, her initial goal was to raise $500; but now, thanks to the help and support she got from her family, friends, and her school, she has been able to raise $1,342 to date.

“The reason I want to take part in this is because I was sad to learn that 26.7 percent of children worldwide struggle through leukaemia, causing heartache, pain, and major hair loss. I wanted to be able to help one or more of these children by donating my hair to WigsForKids and raising some money to help with specialist care and research,” said Issy.

At first, Issy’s mother, Anna Leatham, was surprised to hear that her daughter was joining the World’s Greatest Shave.

“When Issy came home from school and announced with total conviction that she was going to raise money for kids with cancer by doing the World’s Greatest Shave, I must admit to being a bit taken aback, to say the least,” said Anna.

Anna admitted that, at first, she was doubtful that the idea would stay appealing to her daughter, since shaving all her hair off is quite extreme for her. She said, “I got her all wrong! She is determined to do this, and in fact is pretty excited!”

“I am extremely proud of this girl, who is very empathetic, courageous, and thoughtful. She cannot wait to be able to donate the money she has raised and also her hair to WigsForKids,” she added.

Although a bit nervous, Issy’s family is very proud and supportive of her. Her big sister is very proud and protective of her. Her brother instantly posted her sponsor page on social media, with a shoutout to all of his friends. He was blown away upon hearing that his sister is taking such a bold move to help those in need.

Even her grandparents shared how proud they are of Issy for doing such a great thing.

One of the things that has inspired Issy the most in this endeavour is the experience of her Auntie Sue who had cancer. Because of her, Issy is doubly determined to help in supporting this charity.

Issy, with her dear Aunt Sue (Photo Supplied)

“My Auntie Sue did not have Leukaemia but she did lose all of her beautiful hair after twice fighting a different cancer. That motivated me to want to help support a charity like this,” said Issy.

Auntie Sue is her mother’s older sister in the UK that went through two separate bouts of breast cancer.

Her mother said, “She, of course, lost all her hair and this seems to have stuck in Issy’s mind, particularly thinking of how hard it would be for kids to lose their hair.”

Issy is set to show her bravery and have her hair shaved this Saturday, 9:00 a.m. at Etticut Hair, Marshall Lane, Kenmore.

You can still show your support for this courageous young girl and help her in her quest to help children afflicted with blood cancer.

SPONSOR ISSY

This Is Why You Need To Go To The Retro Bar in Kenmore

If you want to hear some good live tunes whilst you sip on delicious cocktails amongst people with the same taste in music, you’re going to have to visit The Retro Bar in Kenmore.

The bar lives up to its name – everything inside is retro. From the swivel chairs and the booths, it’s the perfect spot to chill if you’re feeling nostalgic for the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.

Established in 2010 by Peter & Carmel Costigan, the local bar creates a friendly atmosphere with great entertainment and food.

All The Best Drinks In Town

At the bar, guests can indulge in the bar’s Japanese Slipper or their Piña Colada.

They also have Peroni on tap and other beers that are reminiscent of the decades past. If you’re looking for a glass of red, don’t worry because they also have a selection of wines to choose from.

Pair your drinks with delicious bar chow such as the mini cheese plates or their pizzas.

For The Music Lovers

The bar has transformed into a local hub for local talents. They offer a wide variety of musical genres and entertainment with local and international artists.

Every Thursday night is Open Mic night, which is purely dedicated to local musicians.

Address: 2071 Moggill Road

ThinkUKnow Cyber Safety Reaches Brookfield State School

On 6 March, Inner West Crime Prevention Unit presented their first ThinkUKnow cyber safety presentation at the Brookfield State School to Grades 4 & 5 and 6 & 7 students. It is the first nationally delivered crime prevention program in Australia.

ThinkUKnow provides cyber safety presentations that cover a wide range of topics that include:

Sexting
Cyber bullying
Online child exploitation
Online privacy
What to do when something goes wrong online

The presentations are targeted at parents, teachers, carers, and young people from Kindergarten to Grade 12.

Ongoing Cyberbullying Issues

In January, an urgent roundtable was called by Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to tackle cyberbullying. This was prompted by the death of “Dolly” Amy Jayne Everette who committed suicide at 14 after she was bullied.

The government then announced that they would establish an anti-bullying taskforce for a new anti-bullying framework for Queensland. They will also provide $60,000 to Yourtown, a charity that manages the Kids Helpline and Parentline. The government will also launch an anti-bullying public awareness campaign.

Queensland Schools Take Action

Bullying has been an ongoing issue in the nation. In fact, last year, there have been talks about a crackdown on smartphones in schools to stifle online bullying. Top Queensland schools such as Hillbrook in Enoggera made a decision to ban the use of smartphone this year.

On the other hand, Kelvin Grove State College also banned students in junior and middle schools from using their mobile phones on school grounds last year.

The ThinkUKnow program is in partnership with the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Microsoft Australia, Datacom and the Commonwealth Bank.