Brisbane City Council has confirmed that works will soon commence to install a heat pump for the 50-metre pool at Bellbowrie Swimming Pool. This will ensure the facility is heated for the 2025 winter season.
The pool will remain open during construction, with minimal disruption of swimming and exercise classes.
Additionally, the Council has announced plans to create a dedicated area for smaller dogs within the off-leash dog park at Booker Place Park. This decision follows ongoing advocacy from local dog owners who expressed concerns about the safety of their smaller pets.
The new small dog enclosure will comprise approximately one-tenth of the total off-leash dog area. It will include concrete pathways, a dedicated entry gate, additional seating, shade trees, and a new water tap and dog bowl. Construction is expected to begin in early 2025.
After nearly two years of deliberation, plans have been announced to create a dedicated area for smaller dogs within the existing dog off-leash park at Booker Place Park in Bellbowrie.
This decision comes as a response to ongoing concerns from owners of smaller dogs about the safety of their pets in the mixed-size dog park.
Plans (Photo credit: Cr Greg Adermann/Facebook)
Cr Greg Adermann, who initially hesitated to proceed with the project due to divided public opinion, has now allocated funding for the creation of this specialised area. He explained, “While I’m not aware of any nasty attacks on smaller dogs at this park, I do know of such instances in other parks in Brisbane. I don’t want to leave it to chance so when I was allocated funding in the recent Schrinner Council budget to provide a fenced area within the park, I took it.”
Photo credit: Joseph Foley/Google Maps
The new small dog enclosure will occupy approximately one-tenth of the overall Dog Off-Leash Area. This addition aims to provide a safer environment for smaller breeds to play and socialise without the risk of intimidation or injury from larger dogs.
In addition to the new enclosure, the project will include several improvements to enhance the overall park experience for all users. These include:
Concrete pathways from the entry gate to both shelters
A dedicated entry gate for the smaller enclosure
Additional seating and trees between the enclosures for shade cover
A new tap and dog bowl in the larger dog area
These enhancements are designed to improve accessibility, comfort, and functionality for both dogs and their owners.
The decision to move forward with this project comes after a community consultation conducted in November 2022. Although opinions were initially divided, continued advocacy from small dog owners highlighted the need for reconsideration.
Work on this exciting new addition to Booker Place Park is expected to commence in the new year, offering a welcome solution for dog owners in the Bellbowrie community.
Mount Crosby Vehicle Bridge is now open, significantly enhancing traffic flow and improving the area’s flood resilience by safeguarding the surrounding community against natural disasters.
Engineered to be approximately three metres higher than its predecessor, the bridge features a robust combination of steel and concrete guardrails designed to withstand severe flooding. Its construction has not only supported 30 jobs but has also been a boon for local suppliers, utilising locally sourced materials such as ready-mix concrete and quarry materials.
The 187-metre-long and nine-metre-wide bridge accommodates two-way traffic and significantly enhances connectivity across the Brisbane River in Mount Crosby.
This project is a key component of Seqwater’s East Bank Flood Resilience Program, representing a substantial investment exceeding $100 million to improve flood resilience in the Mount Crosby precinct. Additionally, upgrades to nearby water infrastructure, including the East Bank Pump Station, are set further to enhance the area’s defence against flood events.
The project demonstrates a strong commitment to infrastructure resilience and supports the local economy by providing jobs and engaging local suppliers. Quotes from various stakeholders, including the Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher, and representatives from Seqwater, BMD Constructions, and Mt Marrow Blue Metal Quarries, highlight the collaborative effort and the importance of the bridge to the community’s safety and connectivity.
Photo Credit: QLDGovt
Looking ahead, the original 97-year-old weir bridge is set to be repurposed as a pedestrian and cycle path. Works will commence soon and are expected to be completed in 2025.
Meanwhile, final footpath and landscaping works on the new vehicle bridge will continue until mid-April, after which Brisbane City Council will manage and maintain the bridge.
The annual celebration, happening on 26 Jan 2024, is all set to make waves as 70 Sugarwood St comes alive with water slides, free water squirters for kids, and a slew of other summer shenanigans for the guests. It’s all about making a splash!
There will be live music, games for all ages, food trucks, a charity Sausage Sizzle, and Aussie food specials at the Bistro.
Photo Credit: Bellbowrie Sports & Community Club
Australia Day commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. Over the years, it has evolved into a national holiday marked by various events and ceremonies.
Initially known as Foundation Day and later as Anniversary Day, it became an official holiday in 1938. Fast forward to 1988, and the 26th of January became a national public holiday.
The date has evolved to recognize the Indigenous nations and their rich culture, ensuring that Australia Day is a day of reflection and celebration for all. So, as you splash and slide through the festivities, remember the significance of this historic day.
Upgrades are underway at the Bellbowrie Sports & Community Club, one of nine community clubs across Brisbane to receive a grant that will help improve facilities and sustain ongoing club projects.
The Bellbowrie Sports & Community Club received $86,875.00 from a $1 million grant earmarked for the Better Suburbs Grants program in Brisbane.
The club was tasked to submit a master plan to determine the improvements needed. The process entailed consultations and discussions with experts in urban design and landscape architecture. Stakeholders were also asked for their input and expectations on the project.
“Our community clubs are run by locals for locals and we know how challenging it can be for our community clubs to fund and deliver upgrades,” Cr Greg Adermman said.
“… these grants had proven extremely effective in getting much-needed funds to community groups so they can improve their facilities for all to enjoy,” he added.
The Bellbowrie Sports & Community Club is a non-profit club where locals get together for fun, entertainment and great food. Activities like Bingo Nights, Dart Competitions, Live Music and regular raffle draws for members take place at the facility.
It might take more than the $12-million redevelopment of Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza to convince retailers to stay on. Locals seem to be hoping that the site would be transformed into a health services precinct, a high school, or a community facility.
In a poll via the 4070 & 4069 Action Group, at least 39 per cent of the locals think Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza should be replaced with a 24/7 health centre or a high school building after ensuring its safety from floods. Some 23 per cent said the plaza must be turned into a library or a community facility with food and drinks options and a garden.
At least 16 per cent said that the shopping centre should be rebuilt with units, cafes and small retailers, whilst nine per cent believe Bunnings could take over the site. Four per cent said it could be used as a transport terminal for a new green bridge, whilst three per cent said it should be renovated with a limited line from a supermarket and small shops.
The suggestions come as Metcash, the parent company of IGA, recently confirmed they have no plans to build a supermarket at Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza, much to the disappointment of both shoppers and the remaining tenants who have been hoping that a supermarket would bring foot traffic.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
After Coles moved out of Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza in June 2021, several closures followed suit, such as the Bellbowrie Bakery, Woka Woka Thai restaurant, Star Seafood & Burger, a hair salon and a doctor’s clinic.
Elizabeth Watson-Brown, Greens MP for Ryan, said: “The floods of early 2022 were the last straw for many tenants, but the decision of supermarket giant Coles to move to higher ground had already seen many shops in the centre close.”
The MP has earlier proposed to turn the site into a public facility.
“Moggill-Bellbowrie is in desperate need of more amenities, especially education and health. When people can access essential services near their homes, there’s much less need for them to get in the car and add to the traffic on congested roads!”
Meanwhile, upgrades and floodproofing are underway at Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza, which the owner hopes will entice new business as there are currently no plans to sell the property.
It’s fair to say that one of the most asked questions between significant others in the Western Suburbs in the days leading up to the Sugarwood Music Festival in Bellbowrie on March 26 will be taken directly from the Mark Knopfler Opus – Romeo and Juliet – “You and me babe, how about it?” What else would you do on a beautiful March evening but attend a Free concert with the billy lids and a blanket under the stars in God’s own country?
The free event is taking place from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Booker Park Place on Sugarwood Road.
Unfortunately, Elton John is indisposed but Mark Knopfler was available at the last minute so the Money For Nothin Dire Straits Tribute Show will play all your Dire Straits favourites accompanied by the energetic dance power house Octofunk and The John Fegan Band. And in a marvellous add-on amongst all the pros some young locals, Emily, Jensen and Ben will play their first-ever gig! Come along and give them something to remember.
Photo Credit: Pexels/Pixabay
The aim of this fabulous event is to celebrate community, connection, and resilience.
Kenmore Rotary has stuck their hand deep in their pockets to provide this free night as a hedge against the past two very tough years, they understand the powerful healing power of music. Brisbane City Council and The Bellbowrie Sports and Recreation Club are also supporting the event.
The night will include many food vans plus hot and cold beverages and even a breastfeed tent for new mums.
Parking will be a breeze with the wonderful folk at the Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza offering their carpark so please consider the neighbours and park there and take the short walk to the park.
A petition to turn Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza into a community space or a public service site has been created following the departure of Coles, its anchor tenant, and other businesses in early 2021.
The owner of the plaza has reportedly been in talks to bring in IGA but with no confirmation or official announcements on the deal, Greens for Ryan MP Elizabeth Watson-Brown started a petition to revitalise the commercial precinct as a public space.
Ms Ryan said that while the plaza is not yet vacant and small retailers continue to trade and thrive, there are large and under-utilised sections in the property that could be repurposed into other potential public facilities.
She suggested that these vacant spaces be turned into any of the following, pending community consultations:
A public high school, taking pressure off Kenmore and Indooroopilly State High Schools
A transit hub with a light rail or busway across the river via Riverhills to Darra, giving commuters a reliable and traffic-free route into the city
Public specialist medical services, functioning as a satellite hospital for the western suburbs
A library with meeting rooms, or other community facilities
Ms Ryan also pointed out that the growing population in Bellbowrie has been lacking in public services for years.
“This would be a perfect location to fill a need for public services in the area,” she said.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Ms Ryan thought that putting an elevated high school or a similar community facility in a former shopping precinct would be ideal since this is a walkable area.
“Studies suggest secondary-age students will walk or bike to school if there’s a safe route taking about that time or less. Right now almost every secondary student in the area must be driven to school and back.”
However, some of the residents said that Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza is a flood-prone area which was partly why Coles vacated the site. The MP said that the flooding issues should be accounted for in the community consultations, which will entail coming up with a good design solution.
“The site is not completely deserted, but our suggestions don’t necessitate that the whole site is used – the vacant lot portion alone could fit a high school or transit hub as we’re suggesting,” Ms Ryan added.
“I’d love to see the site become a nexus of community activity and there’s no reason that can’t include businesses.”
Refurbishment Plans Lodged
However, in November 2021, Planning Solutions filed a development application (DA A005894017) on behalf of the plaza’s owners to build an elevated car parking area on the property.
Photo Credit: Developmenti/BCC
Sparc Architects was hired for the designs that will provide shoppers with direct access to the supermarket section from the elevated car park. The plans also underscored a refurbishment of the centre to improve customer experience and amenities.
“It is proposed to renovate the existing Centre and to improve shopper convenience and amenity. The existing supermarket at (circa 2020) the eastern end of the shopping centre was built at RL 13.1m AHD to meet flood immunity standards applicable at the time, and it is proposed to raise the level of the adjacent car park (from a surface level of 11.5m AHD) to 12.92m AHD to be at a similar level as the supermarket floor to cater for ease of movement for customers and for ‘click and collect’ services and also to increase its flood immunity.”
Following a six-month trial in late 2020, the Personalised Public Transport Service from Bellbowrie to Moggill has been extended and will still be available for commuters from Monday to Friday for the next six months.
Beginning 1 July 2021, the Personalised Public Transport Service has been realigned to include and remove some routes. Per Councillor Greg Adermann, the $1 ride with 12 services will run on the following locations and take about 18 minutes per trip:
from Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza to Weekes Road (at Bloomsbury Crescent)
to Livesay Road (at Beaufort Crescent)
to Moggill Village Shopping Centre
to Moggill Road bus stop near Montanus Drive (to connect to the 444 bus service)
back to Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza
Photo Credit: Brisbane City CouncilPhoto Credit: Cr Greg Adermann/Facebook
Mr Adermann said that the new six-month trial will be funded by the 2021/22 Council budget but some realignments were necessary based on the allocation.
“We had to make some tough decisions around the realignment of the route and the number of daily services, based on the funding allocation we received to extend the trial for 6 months,” he wrote.
“To include the new shopping centre and school, we had to lose a section of the old route and our data indicated the section cut had the lowest number of users. If we can make this trial work, it will give me something to work with to expand the service and hopefully make it permanent.”
The Personalised Public Transport Service is separate from the Council Cabs service and runs on a fixed route or loop. The vehicle may only carry up to 10 passengers.
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.
