More than 60 per cent of Australians currently lack a formal plan to handle natural disasters, prompting a specialized emergency response program in North Lakes to help local families bridge this dangerous knowledge gap.
The upcoming session in Moreton Bay is part of a broader national effort to address a growing disconnect between weather patterns and household readiness. Research conducted by NRMA Insurance indicates that roughly one-third of the population does not know the specific steps required to get ready for a local emergency. Furthermore, nearly one in four people admit they do not fully understand the weather risks unique to their own neighborhoods.
These workshops aim to simplify the preparation process, providing residents with the confidence to act when conditions change. The North Lakes event is scheduled for Thursday, 12 March 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm at the North Lakes Community Centre on The Corso.
Building a Personal Survival Plan
Photo Credit: Supplied
The program focuses on the creation of a RediPlan, which serves as a central document for a household’s most important information. Participants are guided through the process of identifying safe meeting places and listing essential emergency contacts. The planning goes beyond basic logistics by helping residents organise medical details, animal safety arrangements, and methods for protecting irreplaceable personal items.
According to Jennifer Cobley of NRMA Insurance, the goal is to help people protect their loved ones and property by taking small, manageable steps before a crisis occurs. By providing these tools, the initiative hopes to reduce the stress and confusion that often follows a sudden weather event.
This local effort is tied to a larger national movement called Help Nation, which seeks to bring together different organisations and residents to strengthen community ties. The Australian Red Cross has already used this format to assist thousands of people across the country in identifying their specific local hazards.
Earlier in the month, a similar session will be held at the Redland Community Centre in Capalaba on Friday, 6 March 2026, starting at 10:00 am. By focusing on practical knowledge and shared responsibility, the program aims to ensure that no household is left behind when the next storm season arrives.
A waterfront development site approved for a multi-building apartment project has been listed for sale in Deception Bay, highlighting renewed interest in residential development within the growing Moreton Bay area.
The land is located at 5–7 Wallin Avenue and 7 Captain Cook Parade, and covers approximately 4,785 square metres with direct access to the foreshore.
Planning approval allows for the construction of 95 apartments across three residential buildings, along with 101 car parks. The approved project includes a range of apartment sizes, including one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom units.
The site is currently being marketed through an expressions of interest campaign closing at 4 p.m. on 9 April 2026.
Photo Credit: DA/10090946
Development Approval Background
Approval for the project was granted in August 2025, allowing redevelopment of the foreshore parcel for residential use.
The site has previously received development approvals in 2013 and 2016, although those proposals were not progressed.
Public descriptions of the approved buildings indicate three structures of varying heights positioned across the site. Some reporting describes the development as including one smaller building and two taller residential buildings, with minor differences in the reported storey counts.
Photo Credit: DA/10090946
Housing Demand In The Area
The listing comes during a period of tight housing supply across the Moreton Bay region, where rental vacancy has been reported at around 0.83 per cent.
Median house prices in the area reached approximately $939,000 in 2025, following several years of sustained growth.
Property listings have also been reported as 18 per cent below the five-year average, reflecting limited available housing stock in the market.
These conditions have increased attention on development sites that already hold planning approval and can move forward without further approval processes.
Photo Credit: DA/10090946
Expressions Of Interest Campaign
Waterfront development sites of this scale are uncommon within established coastal suburbs such as Deception Bay.
The current campaign invites interest from developers and investors seeking approved residential projects within the Moreton Bay growth corridor.
Communities across South East Queensland are seeing more women step into the top jobs at their local Catholic schools, with a growing number of female educators appointed as principals and heads of college in recent years. As International Women’s Day approaches on 8 March, Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) has highlighted the appointment of 29 women to principalship or head of college or campus roles over the past two years, reflecting a shift toward stronger female representation in school leadership.
From Graceville and Bardon to Mango Hill, Birkdale and Scarborough, these appointments are shaping the future of education in neighbourhoods across the region. For families, students and staff, it means welcoming experienced educators who will guide school communities through the next chapter of learning and growth.
BCE’s People and Culture Executive Cathy Heffernan said the appointments reflect a broader effort to support and prepare more women for leadership roles in schools.
“Since the program commenced, 38 per cent of participants have progressed into Head of College, Principal or BCE office leadership roles,” Ms Heffernan said.
“Beyond appointments, the program builds confidence, capability and connection, qualities that are essential for leadership in today’s educational landscape.”
Jessica Lusk, Head of College Unity College (Secondary), Caloundra West Photo Credit: Supplied
Across BCE schools, female principalship has increased from 33 per cent in 2021 to 50 per cent in 2026. In BCE offices, women now make up 64 per cent of leadership roles, up from 48 per cent in 2021.
Many of the recently appointed leaders have participated in BCE’s Women in Leadership program, which was reimagined in 2024 to strengthen leadership pathways and build a pipeline of future-ready female leaders.
For educators like Notre Dame College, Bells Creek Head of College Jasmine Brown, the program has had a lasting impact.
“For me the program highlighted the importance of women actively supporting and advocating for one another,” she said.
“I also found the course an opportunity to connect with other like-minded women who shared the same aspirations for senior leadership.
“The impact of the program has endured well beyond its conclusion, particularly for me through the lasting professional relationships I have built.”
Jasmine Brown, Head of College Notre Dame College, Bells Creek Photo Credit: Supplied
Since March 2024, a number of schools across South East Queensland have welcomed new female leaders, including appointments at St Mary’s College in Ipswich, St Patrick’s Primary School in Nanango, Unity College in Caloundra West, and St Francis College in Crestmead.
Other appointments span communities including Graceville, Bardon, Mango Hill, Ferny Grove, Birkdale, Zillmere, New Farm, Scarborough and Enoggera, where local school communities are now led by experienced educators committed to supporting students, families and staff.
For BCE, the growing number of women stepping into leadership roles reflects a commitment to creating inclusive leadership pathways and recognising the vital contribution women make to education and their communities.
As schools across the region celebrate International Women’s Day, these appointments highlight the strong role women continue to play in shaping the future of Catholic education across South East Queensland.
A New Zealand advanced manufacturer is set to build its Australian base beside the UniSC Moreton Bay campus in Petrie after winning the City of Moreton Bay’s $1 million Ultimate HQ competition, a prize package aimed at bringing more skilled jobs and investment into the local community.
Headquarters Set for Moreton Bay Central Near UniSC
On 4 March 2026, the City of Moreton Bay announced Pultron Composites as the winner of the Ultimate HQ headquarters package, with the new base to be established at Moreton Bay Central next to the UniSC Moreton Bay campus. The precinct has been described as a place built to connect businesses with researchers, students and facilities in a growing education-and-industry hub.
The prize includes five years of rent-free headquarters space, a $250,000 contribution towards a fit-out and professional support from partners including BDO, Constant Contact, K&L Gates, Telstra, Westpac and Innovate Moreton Bay.
Pultron Composites is an advanced manufacturer specialising in corrosion-resistant composite technologies. The company’s Mateenbar glass fibre reinforced polymer rebar is used in major infrastructure projects internationally and is promoted as supporting lower-carbon, longer-life construction solutions in the council material.
Global Contest, Local Pitch Week
Organisers said the competition attracted entries from six countries, reached more than six million people, and represented a group of applicants worth more than $500 million in potential capital investment, along with 1,000 prospective jobs.
Finalists spent five days in the City of Moreton Bay as part of an “Investor Safari” program, which included meetings with business and industry stakeholders, UniSC researchers and civic leaders, along with site visits and a live pitch. Council said the program included experiences such as the “Beach Boardroom” on Bribie Island, designed to give finalists a sense of the region and its business networks.
UniSC leadership said the headquarters location at Moreton Bay Central would place the company close to UniSC researchers, facilities and students across engineering, technology and business, creating scope for research partnerships and talent pathways.
Pultron’s spokesperson said the company valued the chance to build locally, work with UniSC and tap into the region’s strengths, based on statements included in the media release.
Photo Credit: The Ultimate HQ
A Precinct Built on a Former Mill Site
Moreton Bay Central forms part of a major redevelopment of the former paper mill site in Petrie. The Economic Development Queensland project page for Moreton Bay Central describes plans for a mixed-use precinct that includes the UniSC Moreton Bay campus along with commercial and community infrastructure.
With more than 5,800 volunteer hours under her belt, Lynda Barry OAM has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for her relentless work in lifeguard training.
Lynda Barry began her journey with the Caloundra City Life Saving Club in 1989 and has since become a fixture of the local coastline. Over nearly four decades, she moved from a patrolling member to taking on leadership roles, including serving as the Club Captain for twenty years.
Her work has not been limited to the beach itself; she has also spent a significant portion of her life as a trainer, teaching others the vital skills of first aid and resuscitation. By mid-2025, her records showed she had completed over 5,800 hours of volunteer patrol work, a feat that led to her being named a Life Member of her club.
Beyond her own time on patrol, Barry has focused heavily on the future of Australian lifesaving. Since 2002, she has led junior lifeguard programs, helping young people find their own path into the service. She has also worked with the Royal Life Saving Society Queensland in various roles, from managing state teams at national competitions to acting as a referee for beach carnivals.
Her influence even reached overseas when she travelled to China in 2010 to help train a delegation in Xiamen. Her professional life similarly revolved around supporting young people, including a long career as a teacher and her ongoing work with the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.
The announcement of her Medal of the Order of Australia on Australia Day 2026 served as a formal acknowledgement of her 37 years of dedication. Barry described the award as a significant honour that felt like a final reward for her years of teamwork. She noted that the true value of her work comes from the personal satisfaction of helping the community and being part of a team that puts others first.
This latest accolade follows a string of previous awards, including a National Medal in 2025 and her induction into a local community Hall of Fame, all of which highlight her status as a pillar of the Mango Hill and Caloundra areas.
Evan Han of North Lakes-based PK Taekwondo has secured his place on the Australian team for the 2026 Oceania Taekwondo Championships after winning a bronze medal in the Cadet -41kg division at the Junior World and Oceania Championship Team Selections in Sydney.
Han came through five fights in a single day at the selections event to earn his team berth, a physically and mentally demanding feat that underlines just how competitive the pathway to an Australian singlet is. His third-place finish in the Cadet -41kg division was enough to lock in his place on the squad heading to the championships on 28 and 29 March.
That result carries real weight. The 2026 Oceania Taekwondo Championships is a World Taekwondo-sanctioned G-4 event, placing it among the most significant regional competitions on the international taekwondo calendar. The championships take place at the Whitlam Leisure Centre at 90A Memorial Avenue, Liverpool, in Sydney.
A Club with a Long Record of Producing Champions
Han’s selection continues a strong run for PK Taekwondo, the North Lakes club that has operated from Unit 4/9 Flinders Parade since becoming a full-time centre in January 2021. The club runs under Kukkiwon standards and holds affiliations with World Taekwondo, World Taekwondo Oceania, Australian Taekwondo and Australian Taekwondo Queensland, and has produced medallists at local, state, national and international levels of competition.
Han’s competition record at the club stretches back several years. At nine years old, he won a bronze medal in the 10-11 Years Black Belt 25-28kg division at the Australian National Championships held at Nissan Arena in Brisbane, with Head Instructor Master Kangho Park leading the coaching team. He also claimed a gold medal in the World Taekwondo Oceania online flying side kick competition, part of a 36-medal haul PK Taekwondo amassed across state and Oceania competitions. More recently, competition records from the 2024 National Championships confirm Han competing for PK Taekwondo at national level.
Photo Credit: PK Taekwondo
That consistency across age groups and competition levels reflects what the club aims to build in its athletes from an early age.
Jeffrey Park Goes Deep at Junior World Championship Selections
Han was not the only PK Taekwondo athlete to make an impression at the Sydney selections. Clubmate Jeffrey Park reached the quarter-finals of the Junior World Championship selections in the Junior -55kg division before his run ended against the eventual gold medallist. Park has been among PK Taekwondo’s established competitors, winning gold medals at both the ATQ Open and World Taekwondo Oceania online competitions in earlier seasons.
Park’s progress to the quarter-finals of a national selection event against the field’s eventual winner points to the depth PK Taekwondo continues to develop across weight categories and age groups.
What the Oceania Championships Represent
For any Australian taekwondo athlete, making the national team for a World Taekwondo-sanctioned Oceania Championships represents a significant step in the sport’s high-performance pathway. The Oceania Taekwondo Union governs the sport across the region and oversees championships that bring together competitors from across the Pacific, with the 2026 event one of the region’s flagship competitions for the season.
PK Taekwondo operates elite sparring and poomsae classes specifically for registered competitors, alongside its broader community programmes, providing the structured training environment that produces athletes capable of competing at this level. Head Instructor Master Kangho Park coaches the competitive team, with Pauline Boyama also serving as coach at national events.
Follow Evan Han and PK Taekwondo
The 2026 Oceania Taekwondo Championships take place on 28 and 29 March at the Whitlam Leisure Centre, Liverpool, Sydney. Families wanting to follow PK Taekwondo’s competitive squad or enquire about training programmes can visit pktkdaus.com or find the club at Unit 4/9 Flinders Parade, North Lakes. Registration and event details for the championships are available here.
Jye Dixon and Darcy O’Malley from All Star Boxing Academy in Lawnton have both won their weight divisions at the 2026 Elite Selection Trial held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, putting them firmly in contention for selection in Australia’s boxing team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The pair’s victories at the Elite Selection Trial mark one of the biggest results in the Lawnton gym’s history, with two fighters from the same club winning national titles in the same week. Dixon, 21, dominated the 55kg division, winning all of his bouts 5-0. O’Malley, 18, fought five times in seven days to claim the 60kg title. Both athletes started at All Star Boxing Academy when they were around 11 or 12 years old, making their rise from junior members to national Elite Selection Trial champions a story that runs the full length of what the club has built at Lawnton.
Two Champions, Two Paths to the Same Result
Dixon grew up in Caboolture and now trains from Brendale, but his boxing development has been shaped entirely by the All Star program. His performance at the Elite Selection Trial was near-flawless, winning every bout by unanimous decision, and he describes the result as among the defining moments of his career alongside his appearance at last year’s World Championships in Liverpool.
The selection trial win carries particular significance for Dixon given his proximity to the Commonwealth Games story. While preparing for the world titles in Liverpool, he spent time in Glasgow and was close to the venues where this year’s Games will take place. He knows what is at stake and what the city looks like. After the final bout in Canberra, he described the feeling as equal parts relief and disbelief: he had done it, and the magnitude of it took a moment to land.
O’Malley’s path to the same Elite Selection Trial podium has been built across years of state and national age-group competition. He is a five-time Queensland Under-19 60kg Champion and the Australian Schools Youth Champion, and the trial final in Canberra represented his first bout without headguard, marking his formal transition into senior competition. A recent graduate of St Paul’s School at Bald Hills, he is 18 years old and already measuring himself against the best senior men in the country.
A Gym and a Coach Behind Every Win
All Star Boxing Academy operates from Lawnton in the Moreton Bay region and has developed a reputation as one of Queensland’s most productive pathways for amateur boxing talent. Coach Paul Utia has overseen both Dixon and O’Malley’s development across the years since they first walked into the gym as preteens, and the club was direct in acknowledging his role in the week’s results.
Winning at the Elite Selection Trial against the best men in Australia requires more than talent. It requires years of structured preparation, disciplined weight management, tactical development and the mental toughness to compete at full intensity five times in seven days. The academy’s statement put it plainly: to win at this level is a testament to the dedication, sacrifice and relentless daily work both athletes put in, and to the standards Utia drives inside the program.
When the pair returned from Canberra, a large group of All Star boxers, supporters and family greeted them at Brisbane Airport, showing how strongly the Lawnton and North Lakes community felt their success.
What Comes Next
Boxing Australia will announce the Commonwealth Games team on 8 April 2026. Both Dixon and O’Malley now sit in strong contention for selection following their Elite Selection Trial victories, though final team composition remains the national body’s decision. If selected, Australia’s boxing team will follow an extensive preparation program ahead of the Games, including potential international training camps in Brazil and China.
The Commonwealth Games run from 23 July to 2 August 2026 in Glasgow. All Star Boxing Academy is based in Lawnton and can be found via its Facebook page. The club welcomes junior members from around the North Lakes, Petrie and Moreton Bay region.
Centennial Property Group has invested 52 million dollars to purchase the HomeCo retail centre in North Lakes to anchor the suburb’s future as a primary independent shopping destination for Brisbane families.
The recent acquisition of the four-hectare site on North Lakes Drive marks a major shift for the area as it moves toward becoming a self-sustaining community hub. With the local population growing at 1.9 per cent, which is significantly faster than the national average, the demand for local services and household goods is rising.
This specific location was chosen because it sits in a land-constrained market, meaning there is limited room for new competing developments. The property is already a well-known landmark for residents, sitting in a busy cluster next to the major Westfield and visible to thousands of commuters travelling along the Bruce Highway each day.
Plans for Expansion and Rebranding
The new owners plan to rename the facility Home+ North Lakes as part of a broader strategy to serve the Moreton Bay region. Because the current buildings only cover 34 per cent of the total land, there is a significant amount of surplus space available for future construction. Centennial executives have indicated that this extra land provides a rare chance to build more shops or services to meet the needs of the community as more people move into the area.
This purchase follows other recent investments by the group in 2025, including the Portside Wharf precinct, showing a clear focus on high-growth Queensland locations.
Supporting the Moreton Bay Economy
Photo Credit: Google Maps
The centre is already home to several national brands that locals rely on, such as Chemist Warehouse, Nick Scali, and Anaconda. These tenants represent 95 per cent of the income for the site, providing a stable foundation for the local economy. Industry experts noted that the area is particularly popular with young couples and families, with a median age of 35. This demographic typically seeks out lifestyle and hardware goods, which are the main focus of this retail centre.
Recent land sales in the surrounding area suggest that up to 1,400 new homes could be built nearby soon, further increasing the number of people who will use these local facilities.
When the opportunity to invest in this North Lakes site was first offered to wholesale backers, the interest was so high that the fund became oversubscribed before it officially closed. This level of interest reflects a strong belief in the long-term value of the Moreton Bay catchment area, which now services residents all the way from Brisbane’s outer suburbs up to the Sunshine Coast. Centennial leadership believes that securing such a high-quality asset in one of the fastest-growing urban corridors in the country will help protect against broader market changes while providing essential services to the growing population.
Sat, February 21, 2026 (John Fredericks Park – Capalaba FC – Field 1) – FQPL1 – Men – Round 1 • Capalaba FC 1 | Caboolture Sports FC 3
Fri, February 20, 2026 (Eric Evans Oval – Ipswich Knights Soccer Club – Field 1) – Kappa Pro Series – Women – Regional Round 1 • Ipswich Knights 4 | Samford Rangers 2
Fri, February 20, 2026 (Prentice Park – North Brisbane FC – Field 1) – Kappa Pro Series – Women – Regional Round 1 • North Brisbane 6 | Moggill FC 2
Fri, February 20, 2026 (Lanham Park – Grange Thistle Soccer Club – Field 1) – Kappa Pro Series – Women – Regional Round 1 • Grange Thistle 0 | North Lakes United 4
Fri, February 20, 2026 (Albert Bishop Park – Virginia United FC – Field 1) – Kappa Pro Series – Women – Regional Round 1 • Virginia United 1 | Peninsula Power 0
Sat, February 21, 2026 (Wolter Park – Moreton City Excelsior – Field 1) – NPL – Men – Round 1 • Moreton City Excelsior 4 | Gold Coast Knights 1
Sat, February 21, 2026 (AJ Kelly Park – Peninsula Power FC – Field 1) – NPL – Men – Round 1 • Peninsula Power 1 | Eastern Suburbs 0
Sat, February 14, 2026 & Sat, February 21, 2026 (2 Day – Trevor Hohns Field) – Queensland Premier Cricket – Men 1st Grade – Round 14 • Sandgate-Redcliffe Mens 1st Grade 6-322 | Western Suburbs Mens 1st Grade 3-324
New student leaders have been confirmed for 2026 at Catholic secondary colleges in Mango Hill and Petrie, following a wider announcement across South East Queensland.
Brisbane Catholic Education published its 2026 College Captain update on 11 February 2026, confirming 86 captains across its 146 schools. The appointments include Sophie and Thomas at St Benedict’s College, and Lilly and John at Mt Maria College.
Leadership In Mango Hill And Petrie
At St Benedict’s College in Mango Hill, Sophie and Thomas have been appointed College Captains for the 2026 school year.
Photo Credit: Supplied
The Mango Hill campus opened in February 2013 and operates as a regional co-educational Catholic secondary college. Its ethos is based on the Rule of St Benedict, with a stated emphasis on maintaining balance between work and life. The college motto, In Omnibus Deus — translated as God in All Things — reflects its spiritual foundation.
The college also identifies strong connections with nearby Catholic primary schools, including St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School, Our Lady of the Way Catholic Primary School in Petrie and Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School in Bray Park, as well as schools in the Northern Bayside and Bracken Ridge areas.
In Petrie, Lilly and John will serve as College Captains at Mt Maria College in 2026.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Mt Maria College is part of the Marist Schools Australia network and combines Marist values with contemporary learning approaches. The college highlights faith formation and social justice opportunities grounded in the Marist Charism, alongside a focus on student development within a supportive school community.
Part Of A Broader 2026 Appointment
The Mango Hill and Petrie appointments form part of Brisbane Catholic Education’s broader confirmation of student leaders for the 2026 academic year across secondary and Prep to Year 12 campuses in South East Queensland.
Across the network, College Captains take on roles that include representing their peers, supporting school initiatives and contributing to the life of their college communities throughout the year.
