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Facial Recognition AI Helps Save the Koalas in Moggill & Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Did you know that the Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre and the Lone Pine Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket are harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by using facial recognition technology to help save the koalas?

Efforts to bolster the survival of koalas are now complemented by the innovative work of a team of Griffith University AI researchers and ecologists, who have secured funding to advance their ‘facial recognition’ camera technology at koala crossing locations across South East Queensland (SEQ).

For the third consecutive year, these researchers are working to deploy state-of-the-art “facial recognition” camera technology at strategic koala crossing locations across SEQ.

This groundbreaking initiative aims to monitor and understand how koalas utilise these crossing points, ultimately providing invaluable research-based insights to help safeguard this declining population.

Leading this pioneering study is Professor Jun Zhou from Griffith’s School of Information and Communication Technology. The project’s inception was made possible by a $90,000 Community Sustainability Action Grant awarded by the Queensland Government’s Department of Environment and Science in March 2021, followed by an additional $100,000 grant from DES in June 2023.

“This project extends our innovative AI-powered koala monitoring system to cover wider areas of koala habitat in South East Queensland, and engage with 14 local community groups across 10 local government areas to facilitate the installation and maintenance of the camera network,” Professor Zhou shared.

In July 2021, the team successfully deployed 24 AI-powered cameras at strategic koala crossing locations within the Redland City Council area. These cameras automatically activate in response to koala movement, capturing hundreds of videos and images which are then transmitted to a server at Griffith University.

The AI technology developed by the research team studies these videos and images, enabling it to identify individual koalas.

Mogill Rehabilitation Centre — Photo Credit: Google Maps

Caroline Moss, Queensland Rail Group Senior Manager Environment & Sustainability, emphasized the significance of this research.

“A research project like this helps us to understand how this technology can be applied, not only here in the Redlands, but where appropriate in other locations, given that Queensland Rail operates a really large network,” she said.

To ensure the AI can accurately distinguish one koala from another based on their appearance and movements, the research team collaborated closely with conservation groups such as the Koala Action Group Redlands, Daisy Hill Koala Centre, Moggill Koala Rehabilitation Centre, and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

“We can see from the data that koalas are in trouble here. They’ve recently been listed as endangered in Australia, and Southeast Queensland was formally a hotspot. The driver of that decline has been urbanisation,” Dr. Douglas Kerlin, a co-researcher, said.

The research project is particularly relevant during the breeding season when koalas face increased risks, including collisions with vehicles.

“We’re all about sharing information, and it’s really good to be able to put people in contact and create that conduit between researchers so that everyone can get to the same goal faster,” Frank Mikula from Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary near Kenmore, highlighted the importance of collaboration.

“The technology does the heavy lifting for us, and that’s really important moving forward.

“With increased knowledge about how koalas are crossing roads, we can better inform mitigation and management so that we can ensure a better long-term future for koalas.”

Published 2-Oct-2023

Kerbside Collection: When Will Pick-Up Resume in Kenmore & Surrounding Suburbs?

After more than a year’s hiatus, kerbside collection service will be restarting in July 2021. Here’s what residents of Kenmore, Kenmore Hills, Brookfield, Pullenvale and Fig Tree Pocket can expect.

After releasing the budget for the 2021-2022 financial year, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner confirmed that kerbside collection will be back one year earlier than planned.

In April 2020, Mr Schrinner suspended the operations for at least two years, or until July 2022, to direct the service’s expenses to Council’s other initiatives. Despite the unpopular decision, Council used the funds to help struggling small businesses and community groups as a result of the pandemic lockdowns.

“We will start with the suburbs where it was paused…we’ll go back there and then start again in the normal way,” Mr Schinner said in announcing the service’s return.

Here’s the updated kerbside collection schedules for the following suburbs:

DATE	SUBURB
Kenmore Kenmore Hills	26 July 2021
Brookfield Fig Tree Pocket Pullenvale	02 Aug 2021

* Schedules are updated continuously as needed.

SEE UPDATED KERBSIDE COLLECTION SCHEDULE

Prior to the updates, some residents informed Pullenvale Ward Councillor Greg Adermann that Kenmore, Kenmore Hills and Brookfield should be among the first suburbs to restart the service after they saw Council’s page showing a different date.

Photo Credit: Screengrabbed from Council’s official site

“[Kerbside collection] was paused on 3rd of April 2020, not May,” said a local, Ben Ponting, on Mr Adermann’s Facebook page. “Brookfield, Chapel Hill, Kenmore and Kenmore Hills were due to start 27th April 2020.”

“Kenmore was supposed to have their kerbside collection in April 2020 yet the new schedule says Kenmore is only getting kerbside collection in June 2022,” Melinda Waldeck said. “Since kerbside collection was paused in March 2020, if the statement about the starting in July with the suburbs where it was paused is correct then Kenmore should be scheduled to have kerbside collection in August 2021. Kenmore’s last kerbside collection was April 2019, so if we aren’t scheduled until June 2022 it will be over 3 years between collections!”

Cr Adermann was quick to reassure concerned locals and updated them about the situation.

“After receiving a large number of enquiries from local residents, I made enquiries which confirmed that the scheduled services to these areas were postponed just before they were due in April 2020, meaning they should have been among the first to receive a collection upon the resumption of kerbside collection,” he pointed out.

“To Council’s credit, they acknowledged this oversight and today agreed to my request to amend the collection schedule … Council’s website has been amended to reflect these changes,” he added.

Meanwhile, Brisbane residents are encouraged to check the list of items that are acceptable and not acceptable for kerbside collection so that nothing will be left behind by their kerb. Uncollected and improper disposal of household wastes could lead to an illegal dumping fine.

Fig Tree Pocket State School Prepares To Celebrate New Milestone: 150 Years

Generations of Fig Tree Pocket State School (FTPSS) alumni will come together to celebrate a major milestone in September 2021, the school’s 150th founding anniversary, and preparations have started for this special event.

On Facebook, parents of the current students have set up the group Fig Tree Pocket State School 150 Birthday Celebrations in anticipation of this momentous occasion whilst they mobilize online efforts in planning activities and disseminating updates for students old and new, parents, educators and the wider community.

The group is also collecting photos, videos, stories and anecdotes of their best memories at the FTPSS for a special 150th Birthday Book.

*Photo Credit: Sonya Mizzi for the Fig Tree Pocket State School 150th Birthday Celebrations Group Page / Facebook*

“My earliest memory at FTP was from Year 1,” Vanessa Rualini shared to the group, who said she’s still best friends with her school mate, Sonja Gustafson.

“I had a baby brother who I desperately wanted to come to our classroom so he could see our pet mice. As he wasn’t allowed to, one afternoon I carefully put one of the mice into my lunchbox (with some grass) and took it home. You can imagine the strife I got into. The poor mouse survived thank god.

“I was lucky enough to have three years with Mrs Cox. I loved our walks to see the Tawny Frogmouth Owls. I loved our story writing lessons, and even won some awards under Mrs Cox’s guidance. She was amazing, my favourite teacher.

And I loved the swamp. I loved making pathways through the middle with planks of wood as mentioned by Tara Sanderson.”

A commemorative T-shirt design was already announced after student Tiah won the design contest, giving the best interpretation of the school’s motto, “Learning for a better world.” Tiah’s design had the school colors blue and white and the symbolic emblem of the Fig Tree.

Photo Credit: Julie Jelley for the Fig Tree Pocket State School 150th Birthday Celebrations Group Page / Facebook

Where is Fig Tree Pocket State School?

Nestled on five hectares of this lush expanse in the western suburbs of Brisbane, this institution has come a long way since September 1871 when it was established as a government primary school that provides quality education to children from Prep to Year 6 in Fig Tree Pocket, in the Queensland, Brisbane City Central & Northern Suburbs region.

From the colonial curriculum of teaching basic reading, writing, and arithmetic until 1905 when major changes were made to the syllabus — the focus shifted to the child (rather than the teacher) as the centre of the learning process.

To date, Fig Tree Pocket State School is a very highly rated primary school that has a minimum capacity of 500 students with a student-to-teacher ratio of 1 to 13.

Meanwhile, due to the impact of the coronavirus crisis, details to the event are yet to be finalised as activities will be made in compliance with the necessary health protocols.

The alumni and those who served in FTPSS can send in their stories to the school’s email ftpsspandc@gmail.com or connect through the Facebook group.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary to Become a Foodie Precinct

Plans are underway to make the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Fig Tree Pocket into more than just an animal park. The popular koala sanctuary will be developed into a culinary hub and dining destination as well.

Yianni Passaris, who owns Ping Pong restaurant in Newstead and the Morning After cafe in West End, has been tapped as the food and beverage advisor. Mr Passaris will work with the sanctuary management in developing the park as a foodie precinct.

The initial plan is to transform the front cafe near the park entrance to make it more accessible to the general public. Diners won’t need to purchase a ticket to the sanctuary for this main eatery.

Lone Pine Sanctuary cafe’s menu will also undergo a revamp, foregoing the frozen lasagnas and quiches selections in favor of tastier but affordable gourmet options.

The next plan is to build a restaurant and another cafe inside the park. Passaris said that since Fig Tree Pocket hardly has good cafes, so locals would likely be encouraged to visit the park to dine and enjoy the surrounding.

Alex Derlot from the Derlot Studio has been drawing up the redesign of the sanctuary and will choose the furnishing and decorations that will be incorporated in the restaurants. Mr Derlot will also create a space for the park’s new gift shop.

Visitors to the park should notice that renovations to the front cafe is currently underway and will be completed by January 2021. It will boast of 120 seats and recycled or sustainable furniture from Mr Derlot’s LesBasic collection.

Chris Saad Finds Home, Sweet Home in Fig Tree Pocket

For Chris Saad, who spent years away from his native Brisbane, working in San Francisco’s Silicon Valley, the homecoming that began in 2017 is now all the sweeter, as he exchanged his posh, inner-city digs for a new home in Fig Tree Pocket.

Before coming back to Brisbane, the self-described product & startup builder, serial entrepreneur, strategic advisor, angel investor, and podcaster had made quite a name for himself amidst Silicon Valley’s highly competitive tech environment.

Photo Credit : https://www.chrissaad.com/

Mr Saad was the Head of Product at Uber. He is also a co-founder of the DataPortability Project. “I build strategies, products, messages, brands, ecosystems, standards and startups,” is how he describes what he does.

He and his wife Aliya closed the deal in May 2020 on the purchase of a $2.42 million retreat situated on a quiet, leafy cul de sac in River Park Place.

Photo Credit: McGrath Estate Agents Paddington

The sprawling 1,358-square-metre property, listed by Alex Jordan of McGrath Estate Agents and designed by Tabrizi Home Builders, embodies the laid-back, family-oriented lifestyle that Mr Saad and his wife Aliya have envisioned for their family.

“I think we had this inkling that we wanted to go to a leafy area we were ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’ and we loved our apartment that we were in but when COVID hit it solidified the idea in our mind about having our own sanctuary. I think, trend-wise, that urbanisation of people moving into the cities will reverse now,” Mr Saad said.

As people used to high-rise apartment living, the couple said that the coronavirus pandemic has given them fresh insights about their priorities in life.

Photo Credit : https://www.chrissaad.com/photographer

“My whole career I had been living in these high rise apartments … but we realised our priority was about our family and creating a sanctuary where family can come and enjoy a special place,” Mr Saad said.

“Sanctuary” is certainly the vibe of his new home, with luxury features that include an outdoor entertainment area with a fire pit, Instagram-worthy gradens, a gourmet kitchen, and other amenities that give the home the qualities of a luxurious, urban retreat.

Both Mr Saad and his wife work remotely so the daily commute to an office that most people deal with was not an issue.

Their new, elevated abode is located metres from riverfront parks, the boat ramp, city express buses, and in the catchment of excellent private and public schools.

Three years after moving back to Brisbane, Chris and Aliya Saad are finally home.

Fig Tree Pocket: Best performing Suburb For House Price Growth

It was an outstanding year for Fig Tree Pocket as it led the list of Brisbane suburbs for house price growth, the latest Domain report reveals.

Leafy Fig Tree Pocket soared 30 percent year-on-year to $1,150,000 to emerge on top of the best performing suburbs in Brisbane. Whilst data from REA Group’s realestate.com.au, reveals Fig Tree Pocket also showing an impressive price growth with its median house price rising to $1,137,500 in 2019 from $950,0000 in 2018.

The Domain House Price Report, December 2019 quarter report showed mixed results for the Greater Brisbane market. Houses showed steady price growth over the last seven years whilst the units market continued to slump, dropping annually over the past two-and-a-half years.

House prices grew a respectable 1.3 percent over the last quarter and 0.4 percent overall growth in 2019. Whilst that may be considered modest, a few suburbs managed to perform much better, even recording double-digit median house price growth such as Windsor, Wilston, Yamanto, and Newmarket..

Top 10 Brisbane suburbs according to the Domain House Price Report, December 2019 quarter and based on year-on-year growth:

Fig Tree Pocket	$1,150,000	30.2%
Windsor	$980,000	22.1%
Wilston	$1,060,000	17.5%
Yamanto	$415,000	15.6%
Newmarket	$870,000	10.1%
Balmoral	$1,050,000	9.8%
Woodridge	$327,000	9%
Coorparoo	$900,000	8.4%
Morningside	$763,000	8.2%
Bridgeman Downs	$775,000	7.3%

Meanwhile, the units market continues to soften, dropping to 3.4 percent quarter-on-quarter in December 2019. In spite of lackluster performance, analysts are still optimistic that excess in units supply will ultimately be absorbed as the number of new constructions continue to fall.

House prices in Brisbane appear to be taking its cue from other markets, particularly Sydney and Melbourne, which are showing stronger price growth and will likely to continue to perform well in 2020.

Cliveden Park in Fig Tree Pocket Designated as Launch Area for Drones

Drones weighing 500 grams to 2 kilograms can now take off and land at Cliveden Park in Fig Tree Pocket.

Following Brisbane City Council’s six-month trial of the designated areas for launch and landing of recreational drones in 10 parks across the city, permanent drone launch pads have been established in the selected public parks.

According to Environment, Parks and Sustainability Chairman Cr David McLachlan, the trial, which started in December 2017, is a response to the growing number of hobbyists and drone users across the city.

Cliveden Park in Fig Tree Pocket Photo credit: www.brisparks.com.au

Cr McLachlan said that the Council has received positive feedbacks from its trial of 10 sites and hundreds of people have been taking advantage of the designated areas to take off land their drones that are up to 2 kilograms.

“More than 700 people provided feedback to Council following the trial and 80 percent of those support Council in providing spaces in parks for the launch and landing of drones,” Cr McLachlan said.

“After reviewing the current locations, Council has determined the current sites will remain available to drone users and Council will look to additional sites that could be leased by clubs for drone racing and fixed-wing aircraft activities,” he added.

flying drone — Photo credit: CC0 Public Domain / Max Pixel

Cr McLachlan stated that regulations for drone activities during flight will still be governed by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority while the Council is responsible for the regulation of the launching and landing of these unmanned aircraft from Council land, including parks.

Drones weighing less than 500 grams can be launched from any Council park but users must comply with CASA restrictions and flight-restricted areas for the Brisbane Airport, Archerfield Airport, and helipads. Here are helpful drone resources and links that every drone user should know.

For drones weighing 500 grams to 2 kilograms, other designated areas for launching drones, apart from the Cliveden Park in Fig Tree Pocket, include The Common Park in Coorparoo; Preston Road Park in Carina; Carindale Recreation Reserve; Canterbury Park in Bald Hills; Lacey Road Park in Carseldine; Wishart Community Park; Voyager Drive Park in Kuraby; Moggill Ferry Reserve; and Keperra Picnic Ground Park.

Learn more about the CASA rules for flying drones recreationally from the CASA droneflyer website. These rules are designed to protect other people, both in the air and on the ground and must be followed at all times, even when you are flying from Council parklands.

Visit the Council’s flying drones in Council parks page for more information.

New Variable Speed Limit Signs Installed On Fig Tree Pocket & Waverley Roads

New Variable Speed Limit Signs (VSLS) have been installed on the Western Freeway (outbound) between Waverley and Fig Tree Pocket Roads as part of the $1 million State Road Network Upgrade program.

The VSLS aims to reduce crash-related congestion and help improve the safety of motorists. These signs allow the speed limit on the motorway to be reduced when road conditions change during bad weather or as a result of an accident or congestion. With this, it will keep traffic flowing.

The new signs are installed in the following locations:

After the Waverley Road overpass
Near the Moggill Road overpass
On the Moggill Road on-ramp
After the Russell Terrace/Moggill Road on-ramp
After the Jerrang Street overpass
On the Fig Tree Pocket Road on-ramp

The flashing red circle on the VSLS will indicate that the speed limit has changes and motorists should adjust accordingly.

The installation of these new signs was announced last year. This is in line with the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to build safer road networks.

According to Main Roads and Safety Minister Mark Bailey, “The signs aim to reduce the frequency of read-end crashes on the motorway.”

VSLS have also been used in other locations across the state. “The signs will operate by monitoring live traffic conditions via CCTV cameras and in-pavement vehicle detectors. If vehicles are approaching congestion, the signs will reduce the speed limit to 80 km/h. The speed limit will continue to be reduced in 20km/h increments to slow vehicles down safely,” Mr Bailey Said.

How Fig Tree Pocket Got Its Name

Fig Tree Pocket is a residential suburb known for being the home of the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Biami Yumba Park, and Cliveden Park, but did you know how the suburb got its name?

Fig Tree Pocket’s name was derived from Moreton Bay fig trees with the scientific name Ficus macrophylla and for a particularly large tree in the area.

The trunk of an immense fig tree in the scrub fringing the Brisbane River at Fig Tree Pocket. A person appears to be standing at the base of the tree. The photographer was Mr. G.W. Sweet of South Brisbane. Photo credit: State Library of Queensland, Australia/Wikimedia Commons

In 1866, the huge tree was photographed and was said to be so large that it can shelter a herd of cattle or up to 400 people. A reserve of 1.6 hectares was created around the fig tree the same year.

The giant tree was considered so iconic that it became a major landmark in the area.

The suburb was also bounded by the river on three sides which creates a land pocket.

The name and boundaries of Fig Tree Pocket were approved by Queensland Place Names Board on 11 August 1975. The boundary has been altered by the Minister for Natural Resources and Minister for Mines on 23 August 2002.

The famous tree no longer exists and the cause of its disappearance is still unknown.

Read: Fig Tree Pocket’s Iconic Moreton Bay Fig Tree’s Disappearance Remains a Mystery

Fig Tree Pocket House Prices Continue to Grow, Defies Post-Flood Expectations

The 2011 floods devastated many suburbs in the city of Brisbane, but suburbs such as Fig Tree Pocket are still seeing high property price growth despite the unfortunate event.

Data from RiskWise Property Research shows that 95% of the adversely affected Brisbane suburbs during the 2011 floods registered strong 5-year price growth.

Fig Tree Pocket is on top of the list with a recorded 52.7% 5-year price growth.

According to the RiskWise CEO Dolon Peleg, the demand for these properties proves a counterbalance to the 2011 floods and that people are willing to take that risk. He also said that there should be no cause for alarm because insurance companies have changed their product offering and premiums.

Mr Peleg believes that the research helps disprove the notion that these once-flooded areas will suffer poor capital growth and will gain negative buyer reaction. The price growth is boosted by the excellent location of the properties, most of which are on highly sought riverside areas.

Here is the list of the top 10 Brisbane suburbs that have bounced back well in terms of property prices from the recent 2011 tragedy:

Rank	Suburb	5-Year Price Growth
1.	Fig Tree Pocket	52.7%
2.	Yeronga	42.4%
3.	New Farm	40.5%
4.	Tennyson	40%
5.	Indooroopilly	39.8%
6.	Windsor	38.8%
7.	Hamilton	35.7%
8.	Norman Park	34.8 %
9.	Corinda	34.7%
10.	Auchenflower	31.5%

Source: Riskwise Property Research