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Mango Hill Families Score Major Win With Local Pub Entertainment Hub

Families in the Mango Hill community are reclaiming their school holiday sanity as the local tavern transforms into a premier entertainment hub designed to keep children engaged while parents relax in the beer garden.

A New Standard for Local Play

The shift toward more robust family offerings follows a significant investment in the area’s social infrastructure. After undergoing a comprehensive upgrade last year, the playground at the Mango Hill Tavern now serves as a central drawcard for local residents. The facility was redesigned to go beyond the standard plastic slide, incorporating modern climbing structures and a dedicated arcade game section.

These features allow the venue to function as a reliable destination for parents seeking a secure environment where kids can burn off energy any day of the week.

Sundays Dedicated to Children

While the play equipment remains a permanent fixture, the tavern has introduced a rotating schedule of live performances to anchor its weekend appeal. Starting at 12:00 PM every Sunday, the venue hosts a variety of interactive events under its “Little Mangoes” program.

These sessions are designed to offer a different experience each visit, moving between high-energy kids’ discos and professional magic shows that encourage audience participation.

Character Visits and Crafting

Beyond the physical activities and magic acts, the holiday program emphasizes variety through guest appearances. Local children have the opportunity to meet popular characters during scheduled visits, adding a sense of occasion to the standard lunch outing. To balance the high-energy activities like dance parties, the venue also incorporates quieter creative outlets such as crafting sessions. This mix of entertainment aims to provide a well-rounded holiday experience that caters to different age groups and personality types within the North Brisbane community.

Published Date 01-April-2026

The Lakes College Officially Opens New Performing Arts Precinct

The Lakes College community came together recently to celebrate the official opening of its new Performing Arts Precinct and Gym, marking one of the most significant milestones in the North Lakes school’s 21-year history.

Read: The Lakes College Shines in Primary and Secondary NAPLAN Results

Families, staff, students and special guests gathered for the occasion, which included student performances and a chance to explore the brand-new facilities firsthand. The mood was celebratory, and for good reason. Just twelve months ago, the space beneath the College’s Multi-Purpose Hall was little more than a muddy undercroft. Today, it has been transformed into a purpose-built 1,000-plus square metre precinct designed to nurture creativity, collaboration and student wellbeing.

The development forms Stage 2 of the College’s Multi-Purpose Hall project, and the scale of the transformation is hard to miss. Where there was once an underutilised void, there is now a music classroom, seven music tutor rooms, an orchestra room, a recording studio connected to rehearsal spaces and tutor rooms, and a versatile dance and drama studio that can expand into a larger performance venue when the occasion calls for it.

Principal Nicole Gregory spoke at the opening ceremony about the significance of the development, describing it as a testament to more than two decades of passion and persistence behind the College’s arts education programs. She said subjects like Music, Drama, Dance, Media and Visual Arts hold an extraordinary capacity to engage, challenge and transform young people.

Gregory also acknowledged the humble origins of those programs, noting that in the early days, teachers and tutors created opportunities wherever space could be found across the campus. The new precinct, she said, honours that hard work while laying the groundwork for what comes next.

Students have been quick to embrace the new spaces. Year 12 student Grace said the precinct had created an inspiring environment for the whole school community, adding that the old space had been far too cramped and that the new facility finally gives students the room to come together and collaborate.

That sense of togetherness appears to be exactly what the College had in mind when planning the precinct. Rather than isolated practice rooms tucked away in unused corners of the campus, the new facility brings students, teachers and tutors into a shared creative hub, one designed to spark the kind of spontaneous collaboration that tends to produce the best work.

Alongside the performing arts spaces, the new Gym adds further value to the precinct by supporting Secondary HPE classes and bolstering the College’s Athletics, Swimming and Dance programs. It rounds out what is now a genuinely comprehensive creative and physical wellbeing facility.

The Lakes College caters to students from Prep through to Year 12, and the opening of this precinct signals a continued commitment to providing learning environments that support the whole student, not just their academic development. The school has long championed the arts as a vehicle for growth, and this investment backs that philosophy with bricks and mortar.

For a school community that has watched these programs grow from the ground up, the opening of the Performing Arts Precinct and Gym is more than just a ribbon-cutting moment. It is the physical realisation of years of dedication from teachers, students and the families who supported them along the way.

Read: Street Spotlight: College St, North Lakes

The Lakes College is located on Elatostema Street in North Lakes. For more information about the College and its programs, visit thelakescollege.com.au.

Published 27-March-2026

Final Phase Of Lakes Vista Office Park To Begin In North Lakes

Photo Credit: Lake Vista

Construction is set to begin on the final stage of Lakes Vista Office Park in North Lakes, with the last three commercial buildings planned for the site at 2–4 Flinders Drive.

A Long-Awaited Final Stage In North Lakes

The Lakes Vista Office Park development is moving toward completion, with the final three buildings to be delivered as part of the last stage.

The eastern portion of the site has remained undeveloped since the original approval in 2008, and this phase will complete the broader office precinct in North Lakes.

Design Updates Focus On Function And Capacity

The final stage has undergone design refinements through collaboration with Nettleton Tribe Architects, Mewing Planning Consultants and DMA Partners.

These changes aim to meet planning expectations while improving the balance between floor space and parking, a key consideration for future tenants within the precinct.

North Lakes development — Photo Credit: Lake Vista

Leasing Activity Continues Across The Precinct

Lakes Vista Office Park is currently advertising leasing opportunities, highlighting features such as basement parking, an on-site café, advanced IT platforms and dark fibre connectivity.

Flexible leasing options are available from 50 square metres, catering to a range of business sizes. The precinct is also positioned close to major retail centres and public transport links.

Building 5 Availability Signals Ongoing Demand

Leasing information shows that Building 5 has limited remaining space, with 170 square metres available on Level 1 and 88 square metres on the ground floor.

The lower ground level is fully leased, indicating ongoing occupancy within the development.

office leasing North Lakes — Photo Credit: Lake Vista

Construction Activity And What To Expect

Intermittent noise and construction activity are expected as works commence. Plans are in place to minimise disruption and maintain safe access throughout the precinct during the build period.

While a specific construction start date has not been confirmed, the project has been flagged to begin soon.

commercial property Queensland — Photo Credit: Lake Vista

Completion Set To Finalise The Precinct

Once the final buildings are delivered, Lakes Vista Office Park in North Lakes will reach full completion, concluding a development that has been in planning for more than a decade.

Published 25-Mar-2026

Early Intervention Program Targets At-Risk Youth In Deception Bay

Photo Credit: Pexels

A 12-week early intervention program for children aged 8 to 12 is being delivered in Deception Bay through Deception Bay Neighbourhood Centre.

Deception Bay Youth Program Targets Early Signs Of Risk

A structured early intervention initiative is now underway in Deception Bay, delivered by Deception Bay Neighbourhood Centre, a community organisation operating since 1992.

The program, known as STEP-UP, focuses on children showing early signs of antisocial behaviour and social disengagement. It is designed to address these behaviours before they develop into long-term patterns, with a focus on accountability and emotional regulation.

Working With Families To Strengthen Support Systems

The Deception Bay program combines group mentoring with direct family involvement, recognising the role of home and school environments in shaping behaviour.

Families are engaged throughout the 12-week program to help strengthen connections with schools and support positive behavioural development. The approach aims to ensure consistent guidance for children both during and beyond the program.

Part Of Broader Youth Engagement Across The Region

The Deception Bay initiative forms part of a wider rollout of early intervention programs across Greater Brisbane, including areas within Moreton Bay and Redlands.

Four organisations are delivering targeted programs under a shared funding pool exceeding $1 million. These initiatives focus on engaging at-risk youth through structured support such as mentoring, education-linked activities and skill development.

Other programs in the rollout include practical mentoring activities and music-based engagement designed to support emotional development and social connection.

Community Activities Supporting Families In Deception Bay

Alongside the early intervention program, Deception Bay continues to host activities that promote connection and support within the community.

Neighbour Day 2026 is scheduled for Sunday 29 March, encouraging everyday interactions among residents. Weekly Laughter Circle sessions are also held on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at 7 Joseph Crescent.

A free Easter Community Connect Day will take place on Wednesday 1 April from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Deception Bay Hall, offering activities and access to local services for families.

Focus On Early Engagement In Deception Bay

The Deception Bay program centres on early engagement, aiming to respond to behavioural concerns at a stage where intervention can still influence long-term outcomes.

By working with children and their families, the program supports stronger behavioural foundations and improved connections with education and community structures.

Published 23-Mar-2026

Pine Rivers Honour Gates In Kallangur: A Century Of Local Remembrance

Photo Credit: Moreton Bay Region Libraries

Set along Anzac Avenue in Kallangur, the Pine Rivers Honour Gates carry a story that began more than a century ago, when a local community came together to mark the loss of its First World War soldiers.

A District Remembers

The gates were first established at the Lawnton Showgrounds and officially opened on 28 July 1923. At the time, they served as a memorial to district men who died in service or were killed in action during the First World War.

Marble plaques were placed on the structure, recording the names of 28 local soldiers. A dedication dated July 1923 states that the gates honour those who fell in the Great War, forming the central purpose of the memorial.

Pine Rivers Honour Gates — *Photo Caption: Memorial gates at entrance to Pine Rivers R.S.L. (Returned Services League) Kallangur in 1995*
Photo Credit: Moreton Bay Region Libraries

Built As An Entrance

Rather than a standalone monument, the memorial was designed as a gateway. The structure features four pillars fitted with white marble plaques, with wrought iron gates spanning the entrance.

Decorative scrollwork and carved detailing form part of the design, reflecting how the memorial was integrated into a public space at the showgrounds. Positioned at an entrance, the gates were part of everyday community life from the beginning.

Kallangur memorial gates — *Photo Caption: Entrance Gates to Pine Rivers Showgrounds, early 1900s*
Photo Credit: Moreton Bay Region Libraries

More Names, More Conflicts

Over time, the memorial expanded beyond its original focus. Additional plaques were added to recognise service connected to World War II, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam and Borneo.

These additions extended the record of service across several decades, with inscriptions covering the period from 1939 to 1973. World War II plaques also include names, continuing the memorial’s role in documenting those connected to the district.

war memorial — *Photo Caption: Pine Rivers Honour Gates, North Leagues and Services Club, Kallangur, 1998*
Photo Credit: Moreton Bay Region Libraries

A Move To Kallangur

The gates did not remain at Lawnton. After later relocations, they were moved to their current position at the Pine Rivers RSL memorial precinct in Kallangur.

Records place the final relocation in the mid-1980s, with accounts noting 1986 or 1987. The move shifted the memorial from its original showground setting into a dedicated commemorative precinct.

Kallangur Memorial Gates Today

Today, the Kallangur memorial gates stand within a broader memorial complex that includes several other structures recognising military service.

The original 1923 dedication remains part of the site, alongside later additions that expanded the scope of the memorial. The gates now reflect both their origin as a First World War tribute and their continued role in recording service across multiple conflicts linked to the Pine Rivers district.

Published 20-Mar-2026

Olympians Back Moreton Bay Rowing Proposal as 850 Homes Planned

City of Moreton Bay/YouTube

Olympic athletes Emily Seebohm and Curtis McGrath have joined the campaign for a purpose-built rowing venue in Moreton Bay for the Brisbane 2032 Games, as the city highlights plans for 850 homes within the broader precinct.

The proposal centres on the former Boral quarry site at Lawnton, near Petrie, which the City of Moreton Bay is promoting as a permanent flatwater venue for rowing and canoe sprint events. The site is being presented as an alternative to the preferred location on the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton.

Athlete support adds weight to the proposal

Seebohm and McGrath have appeared in promotional material backing the Moreton Bay bid.

McGrath has previously raised concerns about whether river conditions in Rockhampton would provide an even course for Olympic competition. In supporting the Moreton Bay plan, he pointed to the value of a purpose-built venue designed for consistent racing conditions.

Seebohm’s support focused on the long-term value of a permanent facility, including its potential use by future athletes and the wider community.

Their involvement gives the proposal added public profile as debate continues over where rowing and canoe sprint events should be staged in 2032.

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay/YouTube

Housing and legacy plans brought into focus

City of Moreton Bay has now placed greater emphasis on the precinct’s housing component, saying the development could deliver 850 homes through a staged rollout.

The project would combine the sporting venue with residential areas, commercial space, recreation facilities and transport links connected to Petrie railway station. The planned housing mix includes family homes, smaller options for downsizers and medium-density dwellings.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the proposal was intended to leave a lasting benefit for the region rather than serve only as Games infrastructure.

Council has also identified the possibility of student accommodation linked to the nearby University of the Sunshine Coast campus, arguing that the project could support both housing supply and future workforce needs.

Partnership with Boral

The proposal is being advanced as a public-private partnership involving Boral, which owns the quarry land.

Boral executive general manager Kate Jackson said the project showed how a former quarry site could be repurposed through coordinated planning involving industry, housing and education uses.

Council says the approach would allow Games-related investment to be tied to infrastructure with an ongoing local use after 2032.

Still an alternative to Rockhampton

While support for the Moreton Bay option is growing, Rockhampton remains the state’s nominated venue for rowing and canoe sprint events.

That plan is still subject to review by the International Olympic Committee, World Rowing and the International Canoe Federation.

But with athlete support, a housing component now clearly defined, and council continuing to press the legacy case, the Lawnton-Petrie site is being positioned as more than just a sporting venue.

Published 19-March-2026

Mango Hill Man Hospitalised After Lake Wivenhoe Crash

Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

A Mango Hill man has been taken to hospital with serious injuries following a head-on crash near Lake Wivenhoe that also resulted in a fatality.

Collision On Brisbane Valley Highway

The incident took place on Brisbane Valley Highway at Lake Wivenhoe at about 11:10 p.m. on 14 March 2026.

Police indicated a white Holden Commodore and a black BMW collided head-on while travelling in opposite directions. Investigations are continuing into how the crash occurred.

Mango Hill crash — Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

Mango Hill Man Treated For Serious Injuries

A 24-year-old man from Mango Hill, who was travelling as a passenger in the Commodore, suffered serious injuries and was transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital.

The driver of the same vehicle, a 23-year-old woman from Bracken Ridge, died at the scene.

The BMW driver, a 30-year-old woman from Coominya, was also taken to hospital, with injuries described as non-life-threatening.

Lake Wivenhoe crash — Photo Credit: QPS/Facebook

Pre-Crash Activity Under Review

Police are assessing reports that the Commodore had been seen in the area shortly before the collision alongside a group of vehicles, including reports of hooning.

That aspect remains under investigation and has not been confirmed.

Public Asked To Assist

Investigators are seeking assistance from anyone who witnessed the crash or has dashcam footage from the area.

The Forensic Crash Unit is continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Ongoing Inquiries

Police inquiries are ongoing as officers work to determine the events leading up to the collision.

Published 16-Mar-2026

Newly Built Griffin Childcare Centre to Go Under the Hammer as Demand for Places Soars

A purpose-built Goodstart Early Learning centre on Wesley Road, Griffin is heading to auction later this month, listed as part of a national commercial property portfolio campaign.

Read: Childcare Centre Added to Neighbourhood Hub Plans in Joyner

The 110-place centre at 60 Wesley Road, Griffin, has been listed by commercial real estate firm Stonebridge Property Group as part of its March National Portfolio, with the auction scheduled for Wednesday, 25 March at 11am (AEDT).

Goodstart Early Learning will continue operating the centre under its existing lease arrangements. The not-for-profit childcare operator holds a 15-year net lease running through to 2035, with further options that could see it remain in place until 2055, according to the listing.

The listing highlights a combination of factors that have been reshaping Griffin over recent years.

The suburb’s population is forecast to increase by more than 60 per cent by 2046, making it one of Brisbane’s fastest-growing residential catchments. That growth is visible on the ground — Griffin State Primary School, which sits directly opposite the Wesley Road childcare centre, underwent a $22 million expansion in 2020 and now enrols more than 1,159 students. A new Woolworths-anchored shopping centre is also under construction in close proximity to the centre.

Against that backdrop, the childcare numbers are telling. Griffin currently has a demand ratio of approximately 3.3 children aged zero to five for every available childcare place, according to data cited in the Stonebridge listing. That means for every available childcare place in the suburb, there are more than three children aged zero to five in the catchment — a ratio that points to significant unmet demand.

Stonebridge Partner Tom Moreland described the listing as a rare opportunity, saying it is “extremely rare for a newly built Goodstart childcare freehold to hit the public market.” He noted that Goodstart had identified Griffin as an under-supplied metropolitan growth catchment and selected a site directly opposite the primary school.

His colleague Thomas Proberts pointed to the broader investment picture, noting that recent sales of metro childcare centres had demonstrated sustained demand for well-located assets in South East Queensland’s growth corridors. “South East Queensland in particular continues to benefit from strong population growth,” Proberts said, singling out Griffin’s projected 60 per cent expansion over the next two decades as a key drawcard.

The auction is being managed by Stonebridge’s Tom Moreland, Michael Collins, Thomas Proberts and James Freemantle, and forms part of the firm’s wider March National Portfolio campaign.

Read: Retirement Village, Childcare Centre, and Residential Care Facility on Mango Hill Proposed

For the local community, the transaction raises a question that goes beyond property investment: as Griffin continues to grow, will childcare supply keep pace with demand? The centre at Wesley Road was completed in 2021, purpose-built for a suburb already experiencing rapid population growth. With population forecasts pointing sharply upward, and a demand ratio that already leans heavily against families seeking a place, it is a question worth asking.

Published 14-March-2026

First Nations Youth Mental Health Service Opens In Deception Bay

Photo Credit: Brisbane North PHN

A youth mental health service in Deception Bay is now providing culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people across Brisbane and the Moreton Bay region.

The service, known as Staying Deadly | headspace Deception Bay, offers support for young people aged 10 to 25 who are experiencing, or may be at risk of, mild to moderate mental health concerns. It is located on the lands of the Kabi Kabi people along Deception Bay Road.

The centre provides free access to a range of health and wellbeing services designed to support young people and their families in a culturally safe environment.

Culturally Focused Youth Support In Deception Bay

The Deception Bay service has been described as a headspace model in an urban setting with a strong focus on care for First Nations young people.

Support is available across several areas including mental health care, physical and sexual health, assistance with work and study, and counselling related to alcohol and other drug use.

Young people can walk into the centre or contact the service directly to seek help, with no referral required. Practitioners may meet young people at the centre or within community settings depending on individual needs.

Deception Bay youth mental health — Photo Credit: Brisbane North PHN

Community-Based Care Model

The centre operates with a multidisciplinary team including mental health clinicians, health practitioners and care coordinators from the local community. Identified Indigenous roles are included in the workforce to strengthen cultural understanding and trust.

Programs delivered through the centre include cultural connection activities, community-led programs and early intervention support designed to help young people access assistance before concerns escalate.

Instead of a formal intake process, the service begins with a “connection yarn”, a conversation that focuses on building trust and understanding between young people and practitioners from the first interaction.

Addressing Youth Mental Health Needs

The service was established to strengthen mental health literacy and encourage young people to seek support earlier when they experience distress.

National data referenced in service information indicates suicide rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain more than twice those of non-Indigenous Australians, with almost 80 per cent of deaths occurring among people aged 15 to 44.

By providing culturally grounded care within the community, the Deception Bay service aims to improve access to mental health support for young people across the region.

Part Of A National Youth Mental Health Network

The centre forms part of the national headspace network of youth mental health services.

Across Australia there are currently 175 headspace centres, with plans to expand the network to 203 locations.

The Deception Bay service was commissioned by Brisbane North Primary Health Network and is delivered through a partnership with the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and the headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation.

The centre operates Monday to Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., providing walk-in support as well as scheduled appointments.

Published 12-Mar-2026

How One Buyer Used Her Superannuation to Score a Dakabin Investment

A Dakabin property might look like any other rental from the outside, but for its new owner, it represents something far more deliberate: a retirement plan funded by superannuation, and a first step onto the property ladder taken in a way most Australians have never considered.

Read: New Deception Bay Urgent Care Clinic Opens Near Dakabin

Yvette Buckley, a renter from Nundah, paid $720,000 for the Dakabin property in November 2025. She has never lived in it, and under Australian law, she never can. That is not a problem — it is the whole point.

Buckley used her superannuation to fund the deposit and purchase the property as an investment asset. Because the home is held inside a super fund, she is legally prohibited from living in it, as are her family and friends. It must remain permanently tenanted, with rental income and ongoing super contributions directed toward repaying the mortgage.

It is a strategy that sits within the broader concept of “rentvesting,” which is buying an investment property while continuing to rent where you want to live, but with superannuation doing the work of the deposit. While it is not widely known, it gave Buckley options she felt she did not have through conventional home ownership. Despite having worked since she was 16, she did not want to be weighed down by a mortgage she could not comfortably afford.

Her inspiration came from a Defence Force housing program that operated along similar lines. Once she understood the structure, she applied the same logic to her own superannuation, allowing her to access a larger deposit than she could have saved independently and take on a smaller overall loan. She has continued renting in Nundah while the Dakabin property remains tenanted.

The process was far from straightforward. Very few banks offer loans for this type of purchase, and finding a property that both qualified and sat within her budget proved exhausting. She described the search as nearly a full-time job in itself, and came close to abandoning the plan altogether before enlisting the help of a buyers agent.

The buyers agent who assisted with the purchase, helped Buckley secure the Dakabin property before the market moved on. The speed of that shift was telling, an identical property in the same complex sold for $770,000 just one week later. Jones has noted that buyers in Brisbane now need a budget of around $800,000 to find something suitable for a super fund.

The strategy carries real risks, and Buckley has been candid about that. When a retirement fund is tied to a single property, the fund’s performance becomes inseparable from that asset’s value. A poor purchase can put retirement savings at serious risk. Her advice to anyone considering this path is to focus on properties that appeal to owner-occupiers, not just investors.

Her decision was also shaped by what she had witnessed in her own family. Watching her parents reach older age without sufficient savings, unable to access the care or housing they needed, made her determined to plan differently while she still had time. She believes many people her age are watching their parents face the same situation.

Read: Street Spotlight: Hughes Rd E, Dakabin

For North Lakes and Dakabin residents, Buckley’s story is a reminder that the area is attracting buyers with a long view, and that the window to buy in this price range may not stay open for long.

Published 12-March-2026