kenmore brisbane Archives

Treetops at Kenmore: Where Sustainable Living Meets Modern Luxury

A sustainable new community, Treetops at Kenmore, is taking shape and is now selling its stage 3.

Read: Kenmore Business Strip to Get New Restaurants

The final stage of this environment-focused community from CDL Australia is now selling, representing one of the last chances to secure a residence amidst this green oasis.

One of the hallmarks of Treetops at Kenmore is its reverence for the natural environment. The 32,350 sqm community centrepiece is a sprawling 3,100 sqm Environmental Green Zone bordering Moggill Road, where scores of mature trees have been preserved.

Upon completion later this year, Treetops will comprise 96 spacious four-bedroom townhomes nestled under a preserved canopy of towering eucalyptus trees. The residences have been thoughtfully designed to cater to contemporary family needs, with eight different floorplans offering variety and functionality.

Complementing the established canopy will be 100 newly planted native trees, 300 shrubs, and 7,000 ground cover plants integrated throughout the landscaping.

Treetops at Kenmore — Photo credit: treetopskenmore.com.au

Each townhome features an open-concept living and dining area that seamlessly integrates with the sleek kitchen, appointed with marble-inspired stone countertops and integrated Ilve appliances. The luxurious master suite includes an oversized walk-in closet and a bright, dual-vanity ensuite bathroom. Some plans also dedicate space for a media room or study.

Blurring the lines between indoors and out, the homes incorporate decks, balconies, and patios to facilitate an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. But the eco-friendly features don’t stop there – every townhome comes equipped with a 6.6kW solar photovoltaic system and an electric vehicle charging station, enabling residents to truly embrace sustainable living practices.

Residents of Treetops will have access to a wealth of amenities encouraging an active, communal atmosphere, including a central park space, a resort-style swimming pool, barbecue areas, and conveniently located bike racks to explore the neighbourhood’s biking paths.

With its final stages now selling, Treetops at Kenmore offers a unique opportunity to embrace verdant, environmentally-conscious living without sacrificing modern luxury and convenience. For buyers dreaming of a sustainable haven to call home, the time to secure their place in this blossoming community is nigh.

Read: Jacaranda House Charms, Wins House of the Year

With Stage 2 nearing completion by March 2024 and only a few remaining homes available for sale, Stage 3 at Treetops Kenmore is slated for finalisation by April 2024, representing potentially the final opportunity for buyers to join this sustainable community.

Published 20-March-2024

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.

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

New Presbyterian Church Development in Kenmore; Locals React

On the 23rd of January, the Pullenvale Presbyterian Church called for a meeting to discuss their DA to the Brisbane City Council at the Kenmore Library.

The church has lodged a development application covering 1 Pullenvale Rd, just next to the Pullenvale Reserve, in collaboration with the Mantle Group. The application involves the building of a church, childcare centre, a carpark that can accommodate 118 cars, and a rooming accommodation.

Since 2006, the church congregation has been holding their meetings in school halls and other spaces. The DA reflects their desire to build a church that will be a valuable addition to the community in the future.

Controversial Plans

The now-controversial DA has two stages and stage two may be broken down into parts.

Stage 1 of the project involves the retention of the existing house for use by the church for office/administration and small church-related gatherings and activities.

Stage 2 is divided into two parts.

Part 1

Main church auditorium with capacity for 300 visitors
Partial construction of 118-slot car park

Part 2

Entry foyer
Multi-purpose building with removable partitions for Sunday School rooms and various other possibilities during the week
Church administration building
Courtyard and outdoor room
Completion of the 118-slot car park, with two handicap-accessible spaces
Site landscaping such as plans for a community garden in the Moggill Road corner

What Locals Have To Say

So far, locals are skeptical about this development. Most of them are concerned about the koalas found at the Reserve, whilst others express their curiosity as to why an international property developer that specialises in entertainment precincts is building a church.

Another Controversial Development

A campaign against developments on the site is also supported by the Australian Koala Foundation.

Just last year, the Kenmore Bridge Club announced their plans of turning the Reserve into a 40-space carpark. However, loopholes resurfaced that prevented them from pushing through with their development plans.

Despite the fact that the council has approved the Bridge Club development, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) explained that 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, the bridge club doesn’t have tenure for the reserve.

Kenmore Welcomes a New Greek Restaurant Plus a New Cocktail Bar on Wongabel Street

Kenmore welcomes a Greek restaurant from Renata Roberts, the owner of other boldly conceptualised restaurants in the western suburbs such as the Sichuan Bang Bang and Pizzeria Violetta.

Stavros, located on Wongabel Street, can accommodate 100 people and will come with a separate 20-seat cocktail bar just beside it, which will be called the Sunset Bar.

Ms Roberts aims to offer simple Greek dishes such as saganaki graver with herbs served with pepper and lemon. She also said that they will be making their own pita bread in the ovens at Pizzeria Violetta. They will also offer four-five souvlaki, slow-cooked lamb shoulder and a wide selection of seasonal salads.

Different kind of dishes from snacks up to a $49 multi-course banquet will be available. The banquet and the menu will change each season. However, guests can expect some delicious slow-cooked lamb shoulder with skordalia to mark the opening of the restaurant.

Sadly, those who are excited to get a few drinks at the bar will have to wait until January of next year due to liquor licensing delays.

They also have a plan to make their Greek-style gelato whilst the Sunset Bar, maintains an intimate and elegant vibe.

Are you excited for these new additions to the Kenmore scene? Official opening will be on 2nd January 2018.

Driver Spotted Using Snapchat While Driving in Kenmore

Social media is a huge part of our lives and although sharing your life on various social media platforms can be fun — there are times when it can be downright dangerous, posing a risk to one’s life and that of others’. Recently, an unknown motorist driving at 60km/h in Kenmore posted on Snapchat whilst driving.

The said video has gone viral after a netizen saw the video on Snapchat and commented about it, catching the attention of the Brisbane police. The police reminds the public to concentrate on driving and to put their mobile phones and cameras away while behind the wheel.

Just recently, RACQ has revealed that around 7% of drivers, particularly in southeast Queensland, have been caught using their phones whilst driving. The study ran between February and May of this year. It showed that plenty of drivers were on their phones while driving. Chermside takes the top spot from among the suburbs with the greatest number of offenders.

The Queensland University of Technology also conducted a study for Accident Research and Road Safety-Queensland, which revealed that eight in 10 drivers aged 17-25 have admitted to be using their phones whilst they’re driving. Interestingly enough, 40% of them admitted to using Snapchat.

As of press time, the Kenmore driver’s identity remains unknown.

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

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.

The Most Stress-Free Job is Up For Grabs In Kenmore

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.

Kenmore Seen as a Victim of Overdevelopment Because of a State Government Planning Policy?

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

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?

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.

Read: Churches of Christ Community Centre in Kenmore Continues To Get Backlash From Residents

Read: Kenmore Residents Actively Campaigning Against Proposed Azure Townhouse Development

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.

Churches of Christ Community Centre in Kenmore Continues to Get Backlash From Residents

The new Churches of Christ Headquarters in Kenmore just can’t really catch a break. Residents around the area seem appalled at how it’s shaping up. Apparently, they didn’t expect the building to be “so modern” and many consider it to look out of place in the suburb. There are other issues as well that have been raising eyebrows among the locals.

Last year, residents were complaining about how the whole construction process of this development seemed so disorganised. In fact, it was described as literally a “messy work-in-progress.” The development had brought in roadwork and footpath closures that adversely affected traffic around the area.

Now, as the Churches of Christ community centre slowly begins to take shape towards the end of its stage two completion, residents are shocked at how big it is turning out to be. The centre will house a 350-seat auditorium, a 75-seater cafe, and over 240 car spaces. Many say that its modern aesthetic makes it unseemly in a suburb that for the most part is not so modern.

According to one resident, at night, the centre is so well-lit that it’s hard to miss. The loss of trees to pave way for the development has also increased road noise by reducing sound cover. She also said that they didn’t understand how it would look like when it was proposed, hence their surprise now.

The nearby roundabout is also a cause for worry as it is anticipated that more vehicles will use this once the centre is finished, which can take longer travel time to get through it at school leaving time.

The acting chief executive of Churches of Christ David Swain said that their design and construction adhere to the development approval and the topography of the site. Mr Swain said that they are about to begin landscaping soon which will add more greenery to the area. To address the traffic issues, he said that there will be a new turning lane into the campus and the driveway to improve the flow of traffic.