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.
Next month, Kenmore will be the home of an art exhibition by 15 students of Art Classes Brisbane at Kenmore Library.
Their works of art will be on display the whole month of September and will be available for sale. There are different themes of art as well as different forms of art techniques.
Photo credit: The Weekend Notes
Art Classes Brisbane is located on Paltarra Steer in The Gap. They hold morning, afternoon and evening lessons. They also hold several workshops and they also welcome parties. Just recently, the school has opened a slot for Psychic Readings as well performed by psychic reader Valerie, who is also a regular at Woodford folk festival.
On the 30th of September, all purchased artworks will be available for collection or you can get them from their school in The Gap.
Right smack in the middle of Brookfield Garden Centre lies the Wild Canary Cafe. Established in 2014, the cafe has gained an excellent reputation amongst the area’s discriminating regulars. This week, the Wild Canary Cafe will have their first on-the-road event in the Lockyer Valley at 9Dorf Farms on 26th August, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Event
Witness how your food goes from the farm to your fork. See the farmers in action and enjoy delicious lunch sourced from the surrounds at the historic Grantham Butter Factory. Engage with the farmers and learn more about their lives, their products and their work. You can also buy the produce and take it home for you to cook on your own.
Photo credit: Wild Canary / Facebook
The Cafe
Wild Canary is a botanical bistro owned by Scott and Robin McLay. Every morning before they open, you will spot their head chef Glen Barratt and head gardener Alex Robinson picking up fresh herbs and spices that they will use for their food service.
The cafe is open for breakfast and lunch. Check out their Pork belly croquettes, Bauer’s organic sweet corn, beans, watercress, confit garlic, sourdough & free range poached egg.
Photo credit: Wild Canary / Facebook
You will also love their Pecan Fed Free Range Pork Burger with grilled pineapple, cos, tomato, cheddar, slaw, chipotle aioli, onion rings & chips.
Photo credit: Wild Canary / Facebook
Their lunch is delicious with their organic chicken terrine with tomato chutney and green salad or their Chermoula Gold Coast tiger prawns with pineapple tabouli and lime.
Photo credit: Wild Canary / Facebook
The farm tour and food experience for a full day costs $165 whilst those who wish to have lunch only will only have to pay $140.
Tickets are limited. For more details about the event and to book, click here.
Vira Lata, that big yellow truck roaming around West Brisbane, is hard to miss! The truck is a treat for the senses, with the delicious cooking smell emitting from it that is enough to send one’s stomach rumbling. Vira Lata drops by Kenmore every Thursday night on 2051 Moggill Rd. from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., serving authentic South American street food with a Portuguese twist.
Photo credit: Vira Lata Food Truck Facebook
Owned by husband and wife Carlo & Taline, they offer delicious Brazilian food concocted from secret family recipes. Vira Lata means “the mixed breed dog that roams the streets.”
One should not miss their Vira Lata signature sandwich with free range pork sausage, palm hearts, house made ketchup, cheddar cheese, kiss peppers, pickles and radishes topped with french fries and coriander.
The Vaca Lock (Crazy Cow) is a slow braised wagyu brisket on baguette with escabeche sauce and madam cheese, Brazilian haloumi with sugar cane sauce, Nordestino, and pat de queijo, gluten-free traditional Brazilian cheese buns.
Photo credit: Vira Lata Food Truck / Facebook
They also have a wide range of snacks but they are subject to availability. When it’s available don’t miss out on their coxinha and unha.
Work has begun on two bridge and pedestrian upgrades in Kenmore. The upgrades will be seen at Katunga and Akuna streets.
The upgrades have been a fund of $1.75 million that will help existing bridges bordering Cubberla Creek Reserve, Moggill Rd, the sports fields at the reserve and the Centenary Bikeway. Wider and stronger bridges along with bike-friendly handrails will be placed. There will also be new footpaths to connect the said bridges.
The Katunga Street bridge upgrade will see the stabilisation of the creek bank, the removal of the existing bridge structure, new bridge foundation, the installation of a concrete pedestrian and cycle bridge, modification of the existing guardrail and the reconstruction of the footpath and road sections to tie in with the new bridge.
Once this is done, the bridge will be three meters wide, following the standard width for a pedestrian and cycle bridge.
While the Akuna Street bridge upgrade will follow the same procedures, it will be 3.6 meters wide when it is finished due to its role in the existing bikeway network.
The Katunga Street Bridge is expected to be complete in mid-2017, whilst the Akuna Street Bridge completion will be completed towards the end of 2017.
On 5 August, be ready to celebrate an exciting festival at Kenmore South State School. The fete, aptly called “Celebrate,” will be held at the school grounds from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to celebrate the school’s 50th birthday.
Photo credit: Kenmore South State School Fete / Facebook
Of course, it will not be a festival without fun rides such as the Sizzler, Giant Chairs, Super Slide and Rock Wall. You can now get your ride pass on Munch Monitor, here’s how.
There will be stalls of great food as well. Stalls will have an eclectic line-up of delicious goodies such as sushi, Mexican, BBQ, and other International treats that you don’t want to miss.
Aside from food stalls, there will be other stalls selling second hand books, kids clothes, toys, plants and many more interesting tidbits that will make you want to walk around and explore.
Live musical entertainment featuring David Kidd and other artists will keep the excitement meter up.
What makes this FETE even more special is that there’s going to be a bar. Happy hour is actually happening over a two-hour stretch, from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Make sure that your schedule is free this Saturday because all roads in Kenmore lead to KSSS!
Kenmore residents are still fighting against the Azure townhouse development plan on Moggill Road and Wyndarra St., with the concerns centering on the number of townhouses and resultant overdevelopment in the area, along with the higher volume of traffic going on to Moggill Road.
State LNP MP for Moggill Christian Rowan and Councillor Kate Richards (Pullenvale) are of like mind that because of the Southeast Queensland Regional Plan, the Brisbane City Council’s role in approving development applications such as that of Azure has been somewhat diminished to that of being “administrator” of the SEQ regional plan, which calls for the approval of 223,000 homes in the next 30 years. They point to this planning policy as something that is pressuring Council to give approvals for high-density housing developments in suburbs. Also, since the objection period has been limited to just three weeks, dissenters have a limited time to voice their objections.
The South East Queensland Regional Plan
Photo credit: Wikipedia
Brisbane supports the largest proportion of SEQ’s population. The first statutory regional plan for SEQ took effect in 2005. As part of the the government’s ongoing commitment to planning in SEQ, a review was made along with a community conversations program. These resulted in a draft SEQ plan called ShapingSEQ that details a framework to manage the region’s growth during the next 25 years along with a vision for the next 50 years.
In the draft, a focus on infill is brought to light, which aims for higher density living. It aims to guarantee that people in urban areas will be given various housing options that have close access to transportation.
In a statement made as part of the Regional Planning Committee for the SEQ Regional Plan, a state planning department spokeswoman was quick to respond to the residents’ backlash saying that the Queensland Government isn’t forcing councils to increase their density. She said that councils still have the power to approve or disapprove development applications as they deem fit.
“Regional plans are strategic, high-level documents. It remains the responsibility of councils to determine where new development occurs through their planning schemes and neighbourhood plans,” she said.
Over-development?
Photo credit: Your Neighbourhood
Many believe though that quiet Kenmore is being “over-developed,” with the number of townhouses being built in the suburb, along with other establishments and structures. Aside from the looming prospect of the Azure development, the recent construction of the Churches of Christ Community Centre has been the subject of much discussion in the neighbourhood.
Given the objections to recent development approvals, and the discussion concerning what may have been the influence of the State planning policy on recent decisions, it seems that Council needs to assure residents that its role in assessing and approving developments remains undiminished and with a continuing view towards keeping the suburbs’ best interests in mind.
Kenmore residents don’t seem too happy with the current developments in their suburb as well as potential ones. The new Churches of Christ being built in the area has recently gotten negative feedback from the local community. On the other hand, the Azure townhouse development plan that was proposed along Moggill Road and Wyndarra St. is still gaining a lot of feedback whilst the community continues to campaign against it.
The collection of feedback from residents against the residential development has been completed. Based on the feedback gathered, residents are very much against this development because they believe that the suburb will not be able to cope with the increased density that the project will bring.
Another touchy issue is the concern that it will cause further traffic congestion on Moggill Rd., which is already one of the busiest roads in the western suburbs.
The Brisbane City Council has acted on the pleas of the residents and sent a request for further information to the developer, Azure. It states that the proposal was not supported in its current form, outlining flooding concerns and adherence to the multiple dwelling code, stormwater code and filling and excavation code. This also includes traffic issues, waste collection, and many more.
Azure, eager to build in the area, submitted an updated proposal reiterating that they are adhering to the council’s requirements. You can view the plans here.
Kenmore Living Inc, is a local community organisation that has been actively campaigning against the proposed development plan. They have also submitted their former objection to the council. You can view their full objection here.
The local group also campaigns at various locations in the suburb to gain support and to spread awareness as to why such development cannot be given the go-signal.
