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Petrie Set To Host One of the World’s Most Advanced Computing Projects

A suburb better known for its university campus and train station is now being linked to one of the biggest technology projects on the planet, with Petrie selected as the future home of PsiQuantum’s planned utility-scale quantum computer and Asia-Pacific headquarters.

The project, backed through partnerships involving PsiQuantum, the City of Moreton Bay and the Queensland and Federal governments, is expected to be built at Moreton Bay Central in Petrie. The proposed site sits beside the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus, an area that has steadily grown into a centre for education, research and new industry.

A Global Technology Race Lands In Moreton Bay

Quantum computing has been described by researchers as the next major leap in computing power, with the potential to solve problems that current supercomputers would struggle to process. PsiQuantum is among a small group of companies worldwide working to build a machine capable of operating at a large commercial scale.

The Australian project forms part of a broader push to strengthen the country’s role in advanced technology and manufacturing. The company’s earlier plans centred on Brisbane Airport before attention shifted north to Petrie and the Moreton Bay region.

In statements released by the City of Moreton Bay and PsiQuantum, both organisations pointed to Petrie’s growing infrastructure, transport access and links to education and research institutions as major reasons behind the move.

The project still needs to pass Council approval and land processes before construction can move ahead. If approved, the project would place Moreton Bay alongside a short list of international locations connected to the global race to build practical quantum computers.

Petrie’s University Precinct Draws International Attention

The choice of Petrie reflects how quickly the area around Moreton Bay Central has changed over the past decade. Once dominated by former paper mill land, the precinct now includes university facilities, commercial developments and expanding transport links connected to Brisbane’s northern corridor.

The University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus has become one of the region’s fastest-growing education sites, with local leaders hoping the quantum computing project could help create stronger pathways between universities, research groups and private industry.

The development could help attract advanced manufacturing businesses and specialist suppliers into the region over time.

PsiQuantum has also signalled plans to work alongside Australian universities and researchers as the project develops. The company previously partnered with government agencies and academic institutions during earlier phases of its Australian expansion.

Jobs, Construction And Long-Term Growth For Locals

Local leaders believe the development could reshape employment opportunities across Moreton Bay over the coming years, particularly in engineering, construction, advanced manufacturing and technology.

Statements from Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery described the proposal as one of the largest technology projects ever connected to the region, with expectations it could support thousands of skilled jobs both during and after construction.

While many of the long-term technical roles would require specialised training, large infrastructure projects of this scale also tend to create demand across local businesses, hospitality, transport and support services.

Australia’s Quantum Industry Continues To Expand

Quantum computing has become an increasingly competitive global industry, with governments and private companies investing heavily in research centres, chip manufacturing and specialist talent.

A Queensland Government statement confirmed significant state and federal support connected to PsiQuantum’s Australian operations, reflecting growing interest in keeping high-level technology development within Australia.

Industry experts believe quantum systems could eventually assist with medical research, logistics, climate modelling, cybersecurity and energy systems, although large-scale commercial use is still years away.

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Local Developer Lodges Grand Plans for Luxury Hotel and Retail Hub at North Lakes

Photo Credit: Comiskey

A local hospitality heavyweight is set to reshape the North Lakes central business district with a massive 180-million-dollar five-star hotel and commercial hub designed to give residents a premium lifestyle destination right on their doorstep.

The proposed development aims to bring a luxurious, resort-style atmosphere to a long-vacant local site. Spanning nearly two hectares, the project will feature a nine-storey luxury hotel towering above a vibrant public precinct.

Planners have designed the ground level to serve as a community gathering space, incorporating a leafy central plaza, a large tavern, boutique retail shops, and a swimming pool. The goal is to replicate the bustling, high-end feel of popular urban dining and shopping strips, creating an area where locals can socialise, shop, and relax without leaving their neighbourhood.

The project blends high-end accommodation with practical commercial spaces to boost the local economy. The upper levels of the main building will house 141 five-star hotel rooms and suites, supported by first-floor function spaces and administration offices. Right next door, a separate three-storey mixed-use building will cater to commercial businesses and retail.

To keep up with the expected influx of visitors and workers, the plans outline a massive parking network, including two levels of basement parking for hotel guests and hundreds of additional spaces dedicated to the commercial precinct, alongside dozens of secure bicycle racks.

The development application recently went before the Moreton Bay City Council following an initial project announcement late last year. The developer, a well-known family-owned group based right in the Moreton Bay region, is drawing on decades of local experience for this build.

While the group previously missed out on a tender for the same North Lakes site nearly a decade ago, management noted that the delay allowed them to return with a vastly superior, more mature design. The company has a long history of establishing major local landmarks, with a portfolio that includes the Eatons Hill, Sandstone Point, and Dakabin hotels, as well as an active 50-million-dollar country club build in nearby Strathpine.

Published Date 20-May-2026

Old Petrie Town Revival Mirrors Petrie’s Changing Identity

Photo Credit: Peter Akers/Google Maps

For years, Old Petrie Town stood as a reminder of the suburb Petrie used to be — practical, familiar and shaped by its industrial past. Now, as restoration works move ahead across the historic village, the site is becoming part of a much bigger story unfolding north of Brisbane, where Petrie has steadily shifted from a commuter suburb into one of Moreton Bay’s fastest-changing education and lifestyle precincts.

A Suburb Once Defined by the Paper Mill

Long before the arrival of university students and new commercial developments, Petrie was closely tied to the Australian Paper Mill, which operated beside the North Pine River for decades. The mill shaped the local economy and identity until its closure in 2011 left behind a massive industrial site near Petrie railway station.

What followed was one of the largest redevelopment projects in the region.

The Queensland Government later declared the area a Priority Development Area, paving the way for what is now known as Moreton Bay Central. The project spans hundreds of hectares and includes public spaces, commercial land, future housing and the growing UniSC Moreton Bay campus.

This period marked the first major shift in how Petrie was being viewed.

Moreton Bay Central
Photo Credit: EDQ QLD

UniSC Changed More Than the Skyline

When the University of the Sunshine Coast opened its Moreton Bay campus in 2020, the suburb began attracting a different mix of people. Students, researchers, hospitality businesses and new residents started moving through an area once known mainly for train commuters and passing traffic.

The campus has continued expanding, with three major buildings added in 2024, including health, engineering and research facilities.

That growth has flowed into surrounding suburbs including Kallangur, Lawnton and North Lakes, where increased demand for housing and local businesses has followed the area’s population growth.

New student accommodation proposals and upgrades around the lake precinct have added to the sense that Petrie is no longer developing around a single project, but through several layers of change happening at once.

Old Petrie Town Finds a New Place in the Story

Against that backdrop, Old Petrie Town has taken on fresh importance.

City of Moreton Bay has committed millions of dollars towards restoration and maintenance works across the heritage village, including upgrades to ageing buildings, infrastructure repairs and improvements to public areas. The council has also flagged plans to refurbish the Heritage Hotel and Function Centre following the retirement of its long-term leaseholder.

The village has remained a regular stop for markets, weddings, school excursions and community events over the years, even as the surrounding suburb changed around it.

Rather than removing the area’s older identity, the current works aim to keep one of Petrie’s best-known landmarks active while newer developments continue reshaping the district.

Council statements linked the project to preserving the site’s historical value while improving the visitor experience and supporting future tourism activity.

Growth Around Petrie Starts Reaching Further North

The changes taking place in Petrie are also being felt across the northern corridor, particularly in North Lakes, where population growth and transport links have increasingly tied the suburbs together.

Petrie railway station remains a key connection point for workers and students travelling between Brisbane and Moreton Bay, while nearby road upgrades and commercial investment have continued drawing attention to the area.

The transformation has not arrived in the same way as masterplanned suburbs like North Lakes, which expanded rapidly over a shorter period. Petrie’s shift has happened gradually through redevelopment, education investment, public infrastructure and community projects spread over several years.

That slower pace has made the changes less dramatic day-to-day, but more noticeable over time.

A Different Future Taking Shape

Old Petrie Town still looks much the same in many places, with heritage buildings, market stalls and timber shopfronts remaining central to the site’s character. But around it, the suburb has entered a very different chapter from the one many long-term residents remember.

Between the university expansion, redevelopment of the former mill land and continued investment in community spaces, Petrie has become one of the region’s most closely watched growth areas.

The work now happening at Old Petrie Town reflects that broader shift — not replacing the suburb’s past, but finding a place for it inside a rapidly changing part of Moreton Bay.

Published 20-May-2026

Quarter-Million Dollar Win Sparks Mortgage-Free Celebration in Warner

Photo Credit: Pexels

A lucky Warner resident has achieved the ultimate Australian dream of housing security after winning a massive quarter of a million dollar windfall.

The Moreton Bay local bought her winning twenty dollar ticket from Nextra Warner, located inside the Warner Village Shopping Centre on Samsonvale Road.

She discovered the win recently but kept the valuable ticket hidden away safely at home for a week before she felt ready to officially come forward. The local winner admitted to feeling quite anxious during that week of waiting, but her nerves finally began to ease after she travelled to the headquarters to formally secure her prize money.

The resident explained that the reality of the windfall would truly sink in only when the funds officially landed in her bank account. With the prize money secured, she plans to completely pay off her home loan much earlier than she ever expected, and she hopes to use the leftover funds to take her family on a well-deserved holiday. Russell Went, the owner of Nextra Warner, expressed immense excitement over selling the top prize ticket to a local customer.

He noted that his business has a long history of bringing luck to the community, having previously sold multiple major winning tickets over the years, including a major division prize worth three-quarters of a million dollars.

The recent local win highlights the broader economic footprint of these games across the country. In 2025 alone, players across Australia won a combined total of more than 3.93 billion dollars in prize money across various official lottery games. Beyond making individual winners happy, these games also channel significant funding back into the public sector.

During the last financial year, official Australian lotteries generated more than 1.66 billion dollars through state taxes and direct donations. This money is used to support vital community services nationwide, including funding public hospitals, backing medical research, providing disaster relief, and boosting education. The organization also supports Play For Purpose, a charitable raffle that helps raise money for hundreds of different good causes across Australia.

Published Date 17-May-2026

From Northpine Christian To Northpine Adventist: Dakabin School Adopts New Identity

For generations of families in Moreton Bay, the school on Hughes Road East has been known as Northpine Christian College. In 2026, the Dakabin campus entered a new era, officially becoming Northpine Adventist College after a two-year rebrand designed to align the school more closely with the global Adventist education network while maintaining the community identity it has built since 1953.

Read: Street Spotlight: Hughes Rd E, Dakabin

The college officially unveiled its new name, logo, colours and branding at the beginning of 2026, following consultation with staff, students, families and alumni. The rebrand aligns the Prep to Year 12 school more closely with the wider Adventist education network, which operates schools, churches and aged care services across Australia and internationally.

Photo credit: Northpine Adventist College

Principal Jeanette Martin said the rebrand does not change the core identity of the school, but presents it more clearly within the broader Adventist community. The college says its Christian values, academic programs and community culture remain unchanged under the new name.

Ceremony marks official transition

The college formally marked its transition to Northpine Adventist College with a renaming and ribbon-cutting ceremony held on campus last January. The event was attended by staff, invited guests and former school leaders, including Adventist Schools Australia national education director Jack Ryan, South Queensland education director Gary Marsters and former principal Graham Baird.

Mrs Martin led proceedings, which included the unveiling of the college’s updated branding and signage. Pastor Sarah Redman delivered a dedication for the newly completed Stage 8 building. Staff also participated in a prayer service before gathering for morning tea. The ceremony highlighted the college’s connection to the Adventist education network.

Consultation undertaken during the rebrand process also informed the school’s updated values framework. The college adopted four core values, Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence, grouped under the acronym RISE, alongside a new motto, Together We Rise.

The college entered 2026 following the release of its 2025 senior results. According to figures published by Moreton Daily, all eligible Year 12 students achieved their Queensland Certificate of Education in 2025. Seventeen per cent of students received an ATAR of 95 or above, 43 per cent achieved 90 or higher, and 78 per cent achieved 80 or above.

The campus has also undergone several upgrades. The new Stage 8 building, dedicated during the January ceremony and scheduled to officially open on 18 May, includes specialist art and photography studios, classrooms, a primary staff room and expanded sports facilities.

Read: Infrastructure and Services Expansion in North Lakes, Dakabin and Deception Bay

Other recent works across the Hughes Road East campus include a refurbishment of the Early Learning Centre, upgrades to science laboratories and roofing works over the tennis courts. New signage reflecting the college’s updated branding has also been installed throughout the grounds.

More than 70 years after opening, the college now operates under a revised identity aligned more closely with the Adventist education system.

Published 11-May-2026

North Lakes, Mango Hill And Petrie Commuters Face Longer Waits Under Reduced Train Timetable

Photo Credit: Translink/Facebook

Commuters in and around North Lakes, Mango Hill and Petrie are being urged to allow extra travel time as Queensland Rail runs a reduced weekday timetable across South East Queensland, with key northern services operating less often and some trains reduced to three-car services.

Northern Rail Lines Move To Reduced Services

The changes affect the Redcliffe Peninsula and Caboolture lines, both of which are important routes for commuters travelling through Brisbane’s northern corridor.

The reduced timetable began on Tuesday, 5 May, and remains in place until further notice. Weekday services are operating on a modified schedule similar to a Saturday timetable, with extra trains during the morning and afternoon peaks.

The changes have been introduced due to protected industrial action. Across the wider network, the reduction amounts to 273 fewer weekday train services.

North Lakes trains — Photo Credit: Translink/Facebook

North Lakes, Mango Hill And Petrie Passengers Face Busier Trips

During peak travel periods, services on the Redcliffe Peninsula and Caboolture lines are running every 15 minutes. Outside peak times, most trains are operating about every 30 minutes.

For commuters in areas such as North Lakes, Mango Hill and Petrie, that means longer gaps between some services and more pressure on peak-hour travel. Passengers who usually rely on frequent weekday trains may need to adjust their routines while the reduced timetable remains in place.

Some trains will also operate as three-car services until further notice. Passengers have been advised to allow extra travel time and consider catching an earlier or later service where possible, as trains are expected to be more crowded than usual.

Passengers Told To Check Before Travelling

Queensland Rail has advised passengers to check the TransLink journey planner before travelling. The journey planner has been updated until Friday, 8 May, with the latest timetable information.

The advice applies across affected South East Queensland services, including the Redcliffe Peninsula and Caboolture lines. Commuters are being encouraged to replan their journeys before leaving home, particularly during peak travel periods.

No end date has been confirmed for the reduced timetable. Further changes may be made if network conditions change, but passengers are currently being told to expect the altered schedule to remain in place until further notice.

Published 7-May-2026

From North Lakes to Vancouver: Max Cunningham Earns His Junior Dolphins Call-up

Max Cunningham/Instagram

North Lakes swimmer Max Cunningham has earned selection in Australia’s Junior Dolphins squad for the 2026 Junior Pan Pacific Championships in Vancouver, Canada, fulfilling what the 16-year-old described as one of his main goals heading into the Australian Age Championships on the Gold Coast.

The Brisbane Grammar swimmer, whose full name is Maxwell Cunningham, qualified with times in the 100m freestyle and 100m butterfly, events in which he also took out Age 16 Years gold at the championships. His individual program in Vancouver from 17 to 20 August is yet to be confirmed, but the call-up itself represents a significant leap forward in a career that is developing quickly.

“This was always a goal leading up to the Age Championships and will definitely be the toughest level of competition I’ve faced,” Max said.

A breakthrough week on the Gold Coast

Max’s performances across the meet earned him his place in the 32-strong junior squad. He won the Age 16 Years 100m butterfly in 53.37 seconds and the 100m freestyle in 49.97 seconds, both qualifying times for Junior Pan Pacs. He also claimed the 50m butterfly final in 24.17 seconds, having set an Australian age group record of 24.09 in the heats.

That record-breaking swim was not enough to qualify for Vancouver in that event, but it signals the kind of raw speed that has his coaches and supporters paying close attention.

“At the Age Championships my main goal was to make Junior Pan Pacs,” he said. “I already had the 100m butterfly qualifying time from the State titles. I wanted to do the qualifying time again and just missed out on a couple of other targets, but that’s all good. I’m happy with where I am at the moment, but there’s always more to find, more to come.”

Brisbane Grammar provided two swimmers to the Junior Dolphins squad, with Cunningham joined by Eloise McLellan, contributing to a team of 15 Queensland representatives among the 32 selected from across the country.

A step up from New Zealand to the world stage

Max’s previous overseas competition was with Swimming Queensland at the New Zealand Short Course Championships in 2024, a useful introduction to international racing. Vancouver is a considerably bigger stage. The Junior Pan Pacs are held every two years between charter nations Australia, USA, Japan and Canada, and have consistently produced swimmers who go on to represent Australia at senior level.

The 2024 edition, held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, sent graduates straight into senior Dolphins contention.

For a 16-year-old from North Lakes who trained at Grace Lutheran Rothwell before moving to Brisbane Grammar, the competition in Vancouver will mark his first time racing in the green and gold on the international stage.

Bigger goals already in sight

Max is focused on Vancouver rather than the upcoming Commonwealth Games, which he will not trial for. His longer-term targets, however, are set with considerable ambition. Los Angeles 2028 is “kind of in the view,” and Brisbane 2032, a home Olympics, is a “massive goal.”

He is pursuing all of this while juggling Year 12 schoolwork and a part-time job, a balancing act that most 16-year-olds would find daunting without the training load. Max is matter-of-fact about it. “After that we’ll see where the wind takes me,” he said. “I’m almost 17, so hopefully I’ll also be able to drive myself soon.”

For a swimmer who has already set an Australian age record and earned a national junior call-up in the same week, the wind seems to be blowing in the right direction.

Published 7-May-2026

New Homes Coming to Deception Bay as Part of Moreton Bay Housing Push

The first sod has been turned on a new housing development in Deception Bay, marking a significant step forward in efforts to ease the region’s growing affordability crisis.

Read: Deception Bay Team Takes Part In Couch Surf Fundraiser For Youth Housing Support

Construction is now officially underway on 36 social and affordable homes. The development is being delivered by Coast2Bay Housing and constructed by Badge Constructions. The site will include 18 one-bedroom, 12 two-bedroom and six three-bedroom homes. Half of the 36 properties will be social housing, with the remaining 18 designated as affordable rental homes for low- and moderate-income households.

Who It’s For

Photo credit: Facebook/City of Moreton Bay

Coast2Bay CEO Andrew Elvin said at the sod-turning ceremony that the homes are intended for people on low and moderate incomes who need secure homes close to jobs, services and family. He noted that the organisation’s local office in Caboolture gives them direct knowledge of housing pressures in the Moreton Bay region and allows them to provide hands-on support to tenants.

Public Funding and Support

The Deception Bay project is one of 620 social and affordable homes being delivered across the Moreton Bay region. It is supported by Queensland and funded in part through the federal Housing Australia Future Fund.

Read: Waterfront Apartment Development Site Listed In Deception Bay

Queensland Housing Minister Sam O’Connor attended the sod-turning, saying the project is the kind of development he wants to see more of to meet housing need in the region. He said the priority is getting homes built where they are needed most.

Federal Member for Petrie Emma Comer, Queensland Senator Corinne Mulholland and Moreton Bay Acting Mayor Jodie Shipway also attended the ceremony.

Badge Constructions will carry out the build, with Coast2Bay Housing providing and managing the social and affordable homes on the site. The development is scheduled to be finished by mid-2027.

Published 6-May-2026

Small Wins, Big Love: A Mother’s Day Story from North Lakes

Across North Lakes, many mums will be celebrated this Mother’s Day, but for Caitlyn Pyatt, the day carries a deeper meaning shaped by resilience. It’s not about grand gestures, but small victories — a pain-free afternoon, a successful recovery, a moment where her 8-year-old son, Jack, can simply keep up with his friends.

A different kind of motherhood

Motherhood, for Caitlyn, has always come with an added layer of uncertainty.

Little Jack Pyatt was born with a small growth on his shoulder blade.

At two years old, he was diagnosed with a rare genetic bone condition, known as Multiple Hereditary Exostoses, requiring regular surgeries throughout his childhood.

The disorder causes benign cartilage-capped bone tumours to grow from bone surfaces primarily near growth plates, leading to pain, deformities, limited joint motion and a slight risk of turning into a slow-growing bone cancer.

Between home and hospital

Jack has been admitted to hospital nearly every second year to remove or reduce the bone growths that affect his movement, all performed by paediatric orthopaedic surgeon Dr Sarah Murgatroyd at Redcliffe Hospital.

Each procedure is delicate, each recovery uncertain.

“When the tumours grow, they cause pain and reduced mobility.”

“The surgeries involve using specialised tools to remove additional bone growth, requiring precision as surgeons work with smaller ligaments, muscles, nerves and arteries in a confined space.”

In some cases, the bone can be easily removed from its position, while in others, it must be shaved down, she explained.

“Throughout these procedures, the surgical team remains mindful that they are working on a child – the ligaments, muscles, nerves, and arteries are significantly smaller than those of an adult, the workspace is much more confined and requires extreme precision,” she explains.

“The most difficult moments are when Jack goes under anaesthesia and wakes up disoriented and in pain during recovery – it’s more than I can handle as a mother,” Caitlyn says.

Without the surgeries, Jack would not be able to walk properly and his fine motor skills would be impaired, she said.

“The hardest part is seeing him struggle with basic tasks like writing or running. It’s heartbreaking when he gets frustrated because he can’t keep up with his peers,” Caitlyn says.

“It truly teaches you never to take simple things like movement, sight and hearing for granted,” she added.

Holding onto normal

Back in North Lakes, Caitlyn works hard to keep life feeling as normal as possible. School drop-offs, homework, sibling dynamics — all continue alongside hospital appointments and recovery periods.

Caitlyn is a property manager at Ray White North Lakes. She has managed the demands of her career while ensuring Jack receives the medical care he needs.

Her family includes husband Ashley, stepchildren Nathan (14) and Mahalia (13), and daughter Dakota (9). Nathan also has the genetic condition and has undergone several surgeries, including a fixator on his arm.

“I feel very fortunate to have my husband and such a strong support network so that I never have to face those moments, or any of this journey, alone.”

Despite the challenges, Caitlyn avoids wrapping her children in cotton wool.

“We don’t overprotect him,” she says. “Jack sets his own limits.”

It’s an admirable philosophy — one that gives her children space to grow, even within constraints.

The balancing act

Like many mums, Caitlyn juggles work at Ray White North Lakes and family — but with added unpredictability.

Working in property management, she relies on clear and transparent communication when Jack is in hospital, letting clients know when family needs come first.

When Jack is in hospital, she keeps clients informed about her availability.

“I’m upfront with clients if I have appointments scheduled when Jack is in hospital,” she says. “They understand that if I’m not responding as quickly as usual, there’s a personal matter requiring my attention.”

Still, it requires constant adjustment, and it’s a mental load familiar to many mothers, intensified by medical uncertainty.

Mother’s Day is in the everyday things

For Caitlyn, Mother’s Day isn’t defined by flowers or cards. It’s found in the everyday things. It’s in resilience, patience, and the ability to keep going through the hardest moments.

“It truly teaches you never to take simple things like movement, sight and hearing for granted.”

This year, like every year, she’ll likely spend it the same way she spends most days — showing up, supporting her children, and finding strength in the small wins.

Many mothers will recognise that kind of love.

Published 5-May-2026

Deception Bay’s 50m Pool Will Stay Unheated, Despite a Push from Local Swimmers

Deception Bay Aquatic Centre

A petition calling for the 50-metre pool at Deception Bay Aquatic Centre to be heated and opened year-round has not succeeded, with the City of Moreton Bay citing low patronage as the reason heating the outdoor pool is not financially viable.

The petition, organised by local swimmer Emanuela Bassi, gathered 53 signatures from residents calling for the facility at 153 Maine Terrace to remain open through winter, currently May to August. The response, delivered following a general meeting earlier this month, was clear: the numbers do not stack up.

“The very low patronage of Deception Bay’s 50m pool means it is currently not sustainable to install heaters and subsidise the cost of energy, water, staff, and maintenance at this venue,” a City of Moreton Bay spokesperson said.

A Facility with Everything But a Heater

While the Deception Bay Aquatic Centre already hosts a heated indoor programme pool for therapy and rehabilitation, it’s the outdoor 50m pool that lap swimmers rely on that remains cold and closed throughout the winter.

Photo Credit: Deception Bay Aquatic Centre

For Bassi, who swims at the centre four or five times a week, that distinction matters enormously. She drives further to access a heated 50m pool each winter and says she is not alone in that inconvenience.

“I had a chat last year with some people coming to swim and all of them would have stayed in Deception Bay in winter if the pool was heated,” she said. “It’s a beautiful facility. It’s big, has a 50m pool, everything is there. If they organised winter classes, like in Redcliffe and Burpengary, people would come in winter.”

Bassi ran the petition as a trial run rather than an organised campaign, and believes a stronger effort could attract more support.

“I did this as a trial, not knowing if anyone else felt the same way. I think I could have raised more signatures if I was there.”

Where to Swim This Winter

For Deception Bay, Murrumba Downs, Dayboro and Woodford residents whose local pools will close in May, the City of Moreton Bay has pointed to three nearby heated alternatives: Redcliffe War Memorial Pool, which features a 50m indoor heated pool; Burpengary Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre; and North Lakes Aquatic Centre, which offers both indoor and outdoor heated pools alongside aqua aerobics, squad training and learn-to-swim programmes.

Deception Bay Aquatic Centre is at 153 Maine Terrace, Deception Bay. For seasonal opening hours and programme information, visit deceptionbaypool.com.au or call the centre directly at 07 3204 7845.

Published 29-April-2026