Have you had your say? Transport and Main Roads recently released the design of the proposed Deception Bay Road upgrade, and the public has been invited to provide feedback on the proposal until 11 January 2023.
The proposed upgrade aims to reduce travel time and improve safety and efficiency for road users. It involves the final 3.3-kilometre, two-lane sections of the Deception Bay Road situated between Bruce Highway and Park Road/Lipscombe Road which currently caters to more than 20,000 vehicles daily.
The proposed improvements include widening of Deception Bay Road, providing a four-lane, median-divided arterial road; signalised and upgraded intersections; new service roads; off-road active transport pathways; a new signalised pedestrian crossing; and installation of eight bus stops.
“We know how important community consultation is to delivering a quality upgrade that meets the needs of the community, so I encourage locals to get involved,” Member for Bancroft Chris Whiting said.
“Up to 21,000 vehicles use this section of Deception Bay Road each day and we’re expecting traffic volumes to increase as the Moreton Bay region continues to prosper.
“I don’t want to see these people stuck in traffic so it’s important we get it right from the start.
“All feedback will be used to inform the final layout, before we move ahead design and construction down the track.”
Photo Credit: Department of Transport and Main Roads / yoursay-projects.tmr.qld.gov.au
The project will provide road users with a seamless transition from the Bruce Highway Upgrade-Deception Bay Road interchange which construction is currently underway.
Mr Whiting said the proposed upgrade and the $163.3 million Bruce Highway Upgrade-Deception Bay Road interchange project will not only benefit motorists but will also make a huge difference in the safety of the bike riders and pedestrians.
A fauna overpass will also be built to prevent animals from accessing the road. It will connect the northern and southern parts of Freshwater National Park and will be the largest delivered by the Transport and Mains Road to date.
“We already have strong fauna management measures in place on the Bruce Highway and this bridge will add to the safe passage of wildlife.
“It will be a significant piece of infrastructure, allowing native animals to move safely between these habitat areas and away from busy roads.”
Changes are afoot at Harcourt North Lakes after its merger and expansion with Harcourts Unite to widen its reach in areas covering the Redcliffe Peninsula, North Lakes and Burpengary.
The merged offices will be headed by three industry leaders, Steve Hawley, Tara Hawley and Ange Morris, who will ensure sustained success for the company’s next chapters.
Mr Hawley had his start at the North Lakes offices, whilst Ms Hawley has taken care of the business in Redcliffe. Ms Morris joined as a business partner in 2020.
As part of its expansion plans, the trio will open a new office to help the Moreton Bay community and attract more skilled and capable real estate professionals.
The expansion also comes at the right time, as the current market is enthusiastic about making changes.
“We have sellers on the Redcliffe Peninsula looking to make a ‘tree change’ to the Burpengary/Narangba regions, sellers from North Lakes looking at making a ‘sea change’ to the Redcliffe Peninsula, and so on,” Ms Hawley said of their network.
Harcourts Unite has grown from two agents and personal assistants to 25 people, with women making up the majority.
Are you still looking for the best gift items to give to your loved ones this Christmas? Recently opened Seema with Love in North Lakes may just have what you are looking for with its gorgeous array of handmade products from flowers and candles to fashion and skincare.
Seema with Love opened its North Lakes shop in early November 2022, relocating from its Chermside location. The new shop takes pride in its carefully curated selection of scented, pure handmade and hand-poured soy candles, dried native floral arrangements, Australian organic skincare products, and designer fashion dresses.
Seema with Love dress collection | Photo credit: Facebook / Seema_with_Love
Along with their daughter Hannah, the shop is run by husband and wife, Chris and Seema Sajnendra, who put their Christian faith and love at the heart of their family business. They used to run a pharmacy business but decided to close shop after more than two decades.
Seema with Love is located at Shop 7, 1751 Anzac Avenue, Mango Hill. To get a sneak peek of what they offer or to order online, visit their website here.
“Beautiful shop! Beautiful people. Will definitely be a regular customer going forward! Highly recommended. ❤️” – N. Davenport
“Amazing business 🤍💫 Beautiful people, beautiful products! Couldn’t fault Seema with love in any way. 10/10!! Won’t be going anywhere else for my home goods 😍” – K. Priestley
“Absolutely cannot recommend this place more than any other candle and home/gift shop. The lovely owner had closed for the day, saw me looking on a window (with plans to come back the next day) and the lovey owner saw me, recognized I was a repeat buyer and came and came back to the store -insisting that she open the store to help me out.” -C. Leming
Seema_With_Love | North Lakes Junction, Shop 7 / 1751 Anzac Avenue, Mango Hill, QLD 4509, Australia
The wife received the official call of her division one winning entry the next day after the draw on Saturday, the 26th of November 2022. She was told that she was one of seven winners across the country and she will soon be getting $1,428,571.43 in her bank account.
The rest of the winners were two from New South Wales, two from Victoria, and one each for South Australia and Western Australia.
Her husband, however, is still in disbelief despite learning of her conversation with The Lott officials. The woman said that her husband thinks it’s all a scam.
“There’s no doubt that he’ll believe the winning news once it hits the bank account,” the Kallangur winner said.
The Kallangur woman bought her winning entry at News Extra Lillybrook inside the Brook Shopping Centre along Old Gympie Road. She and her husband plan to use their lucky win into buying a new family home. They are also going to have a great Christmas celebration.
Photo Credit: News Extra Lilly Brook/Facebook
The woman revealed that she makes it her routine to buy a ticket or the Instant Scratch-Its whenever she goes grocery shopping.
Shoppers in Deception Bay now have more options when shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables, as Mango King Sam Etri opens his third Skippy’s Market Fresh at Rothwell Central.
The largest fruit and vegetable store in Brisbane’s northside at 1,500 square metres, Skippy’s Market Fresh has over 30 workers who can assist customers looking for quality but affordable fresh produce.
The store officially opened its doors on Thursday, the 17th of November 2022, but they will be going all out during the Grand Opening celebrations on the 19th and 20th of November.
Customers in Deception Bay and nearby areas may have the opportunity to meet Mr Etri himself during the store’s event. Delicious, locally grown mangoes will be on offer at the door.
Mr Etri, who also runs Skippy’s Fresh Frootz in Victoria Point and Skippy’s Farmhouse in Southport, sources his products at the Brisbane Markets in Rocklea. He buys the stocks at 4:00 a.m. every day to ensure the quality of the produce and to support Aussie farmers.
“I am dedicated to supporting my local community by employing staff from the area and sourcing the best local produce where I can,” the Mango King said.
Earlier, Mr Etri made a $20,000-bid for a tray of mangoes to support charity and was crowned this year’s Brisbane Markets Mango King.
“I am looking forward to offering great quality fruit and vegetables at competitive prices to the Moreton Bay community.”
Construction is progressing well for the expansion of the Mango Hill park ‘n’ ride facilities, which will also see the relocation of the kiss ‘n’ ride/taxi zone and bus facility on Meyers Circuit.
Temporary route changes to accommodate construction work will begin on 21 November 2022. The bus stop at Mango Hill station will be temporarily closed until December 2022.
Meanwhile, a new bus stop will be located across the road on Meyers Circuit. The relocated bus stop will maintain its existing length to cater for four 12.5m-long buses, which will make it safer and more efficient for passenger drop offs.
Plans for Site 1 (Photo credit: tmr.qld.gov.au)
Commuters who use Bus Routes 681, 682, and 687 are advised to use the alternative stops on Halpine Drive near Talara Way, which 250 metres away, and the Freshwater Creek Road near Brushwood court, which is around 400m away.
The upgrades at the Mango Hill park ‘n’ ride facilities will mean more parking for commuters, as the site is expected to provide up to 150 new parking spaces.
The project also includes lighting and CCTV cameras for the safety of customers and better visibility in the area.
Plans for Site 2 (Photo credit: tmr.qld.gov.au)
Construction of Site 2 is for the informal parking area currently next to the station. A new parking facility will also be created on vacant land adjacent to this.
Once complete, the entire project will provide a total of 280 new free spaces and six accessible parking bays near the Mango Hill train station to improve access to public transport for customers with disabilities.
This project is jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian governments, with the Queensland Government allocating $6 million and the Australian Government, providing $4 million.
Her parents, Rachel and Kieran Thomson wanted to share their daughter’s inspiring story on World Prematurity Day, commemorated on the 17th of November 2022.
Sacrococcygeal teratoma, a tumour that grows from a baby’s tailbone, occurs in one out of 40,000 live births and was detected during Rachel’s 20th week of pregnancy. Following the discovery, Rachel and Kieran received counsel from Mater Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit Professor Sailesh Kumar and senior neonatologist Professor Helen Liley so that they would completely understand what was going on with Saylor’s development. Apparently, sacrococcygeal teratomas divert blood from the baby, raising the risk of heart failure.
“We don’t know why the tumour grows, but it arises from embryonic germ cells and is four times more likely to occur in female infants,” Prof Kumar said.
“Saylor’s tumour was extremely large and very complex. The tumour extended into her pelvis and abdomen.
“Many of these babies do not survive the pregnancy. Essentially these tumours function like a large vascular shunt causing a lot of blood to return to the heart. In some babies the heart can’t cope with this extra volume and heart failure occurs.”
To help save Saylor’s life and reduce the risk for Rachel during the delivery, a team of 25 surgeons, neonatologists, anaesthetists, theatre staff, nurses and midwives were on board during the birth.
Dr Peter Borzi, a neonatal and paediatric surgeon at Mater Mothers’ Hospital and Queensland Children’s Hospital, performed the painstaking operation to remove the tumour and said its size was extremely rare.
The surgery involved removing part of Saylor’s tailbone to prevent the tumour growing back again.
Photo Credit: Supplied
Dr Borzi said Saylor required five blood transfusions during the surgery, but she had proven to be “strong and resilient.”
“She has made a fantastic recovery, with the help of the Mater Mothers’ Hospital and Queensland Children’s Hospital teams,” he said.
The Thomsons were able to hold their “strong-willed little fighter” 10 days after birth.
“When the social worker and surgeons first gathered to tell us she had little chance of making it due to prematurity and the tumour, I cried hysterically,” Mrs Thomson said.
“But being able to hold Saylor in my arms and know she has come through the other side is something special.”
Mater Neonatologist Dr Richard Mausling said that without the expertise and skill of Mater’s nursing staff and allied health teams, Saylor would not be alive today.
“Being born prematurely, even at 28 weeks, carries its own potential risks,” Dr Mausling said.
“Without a doubt, this was the biggest teratoma I have seen removed from any newborn baby, regardless of gestation.
Dr Mausling said Saylor had gone from “strength to strength” and had gained weight since her birth, almost reaching 3 kilograms.
Mango Hill State School Principal Tracy Eganreceived the Griffith University Jack Pizzey Award for Excellence in School Leadershipat the2022 Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools awards.
Seven out of ten award categories went to winners from schools in South East QLD, which was strongly represented at the awards held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Ms Egan has three decades of experience in the field of education, as Lead Principal, Deputy Principal, Head of Curriculum, Education Advisor, Internal School Reviewer and classroom teacher in various schools across Queensland.
The mother-of-three was appointed foundation principal of Mango Hill State School in 2011. The school opened in 2012 with 244 enrolled students and has since grown to more than 1,200 students.
Mango Hill State School is also part of the North Coast Cluster which took home the Network 10 Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early and Primary Years for their “Critical friends network” entry.
Apart from MHSS, the North Coast Cluster, comprises Moreton Downs State School, Burpengary State School, Caboolture East State School, Elimbah State School, Jinibara State School, and Narangba Valley State School.
North Coast cluster – Network 10 Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early & Primary Years | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Another individual award went to Wavell State High School teacher Brett Dascombe who was awarded The QUT Showcase Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Brett Dascombe, Wavell SHS – QUT Showcase Award for Excellence in Teaching | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Moreover, the Pine Rivers South Primary Cluster – Bray Park, Strathpine, Strathpine West and Lawnton State Schools – bagged the RemServ Showcase Award for Excellence in Parent and Community Engagement.
Pine Rivers South Primary cluster – RemServ Showcase Award for Excellence in Parent and Community Engagement | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Likewise, the Whites Hill State College Cluster, which includes Indooroopilly State High School, Kelvin Grove State College, Sunnybank State High School, Coolum State High School, Mount Gravatt State High School, Centenary Heights State High School, North Lakes State College and Springfield Central State High School, is the year’s The Education Queensland International Showcase Award for Excellence in Global Engagement thanks to their “Blended/hybrid virtual high school preparation”.
Whites Hill State College cluster – Education Qld International Showcase Award for Excellence in Global Engagement | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Whilst Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre’s entry “Building cultural understanding and capabilities on Quandamooka Country” won them the QTU Showcase Award for Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education.
Moreton Bay EEC – QTU Showcase Award for Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
Lastly, Lawnton State School shared honours with Western Cape College for the Bevan Brennan ‘Every Child Needs a Champion’ Award with their “We grow leaders”.
Lawnton SS – Bevan Brennan ‘Every Child Needs a Champion’ Award | Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au
“The Showcase Awards allow us to recognise and celebrate the great work our educators are doing every day to ensure that students in Queensland state schools are getting a world-class education,” Education Minister Grace Grace said.
“That there were so many high-quality entries to this year’s awards shows the hard work, dedication and expertise of Queensland school staff.
The Network 10 Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early and Primary Years
North Coast Cluster (Moreton Downs State School, Burpengary State School, Caboolture East State School, Elimbah State School, Jinibara State School, Mango Hill State School and Narangba Valley State School), Critical friends network
The QSuper Showcase Award for Excellence in the Secondary Years
Urangan State High School, CAPIP – time for the right work
The TUH Health Fund Showcase Award for Excellence in Inclusive Education
Tinana State School, Everyone’s welcome in the room – whatever it takes
The RemServ Showcase Award for Excellence in Parent and Community Engagement
Pine Rivers South Primary Cluster (Lawnton State School, Bray Park State School, Strathpine State School and Strathpine West State School), Engagement and attendance matters – The more you go the more you know
The Showcase Award for Excellence in Global Engagement
Whites Hill State College Cluster (Indooroopilly State High School, Kelvin Grove State College, Sunnybank State High School, Coolum State High School, Mount Gravatt State High School, Centenary Heights State High School, North Lakes State College and Springfield Central State High School), Blended/hybrid virtual high school preparation
The Queensland Teachers’ Union Showcase Award for Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education
Moreton Bay Environmental Education Centre, Building cultural understanding and capabilities on Quandamooka Country
The Showcase Award for Excellence in Rural and Remote Education
Happy Valley State School, Leading from the classroom: a model of distributive leadership
The QUT Showcase Award for Excellence in Teaching
Brett Dascombe, Wavell State High School
The Griffith University Jack Pizzey Award for Excellence in School Leadership
Tracy Egan, Mango Hill State School
The Bevan Brennan Every Child Needs a Champion Award
Lawnton State School, We grow leaders
The 2022 Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools saw 86 submissions representing 220 state schools vying. Each state award group category winner will receive $10,000 development grants with two individuals to each receive a $5,000 development grant.
“Educators have benefitted from a total of $166,000 in grant support from this year’s Showcase Awards for Excellence in Schools, including regional winners who received $1,000 each and regional commendations receiving $500 each,” Ms Grace said.
A baby and kids boutique has recently opened its brand new (and much larger!) store in Mango Hill, with a kids’ play area and wider aisles for prams to make shopping more convenient for customers.
The twin sister tandem of Ashlea Soto and Lauren Rune has just opened their new Peppa Penny flagship store on 22 October 2022 on Mango Hill. The brand has evolved from a homewares and gift store to a baby and kids boutique during its five-year journey.
Before Ahslea and Lauren finished college with a business management degree, the pair honed their entrepreneurial skills at markets when they were still teenagers. They then explored the world of internet commerce, selling foil prints back in 2014. After three years, the twin sisters opened their first brick-and-mortar store, Peppa Penny, in March 2017.
Photo credit: Facebook / Peppa Penny
For about two years, the store has been selling a range of homewares from leading brands including Axel & Ash, Zakkia, Olli Ella, and H&G Designs, along with vases, furniture pieces and other gift items with just a small dedicated space for the baby gift section.
Photo credit: Facebook / Peppa Penny
At some point, they thought of closing the shop as it wasn’t doing well during its first couple of years but decided to rebrand it instead as a full-fledged baby and kids store since this section has been quite popular among its patrons. And it was then that things started to turn around.
“Starting your own business is no joke! There is definitely a steep learning curve, it’s very true when people say you don’t make money for the first 2-3 years. But the journey has been so worth it and we still pinch ourselves that this month we will be moving to our new store that is TWICE as big so we can make Peppa Penny even more worth the visit for all our lovely customers..” – Peppa Penny
Photo credit: Facebook / Peppa Penny
And today, the shop has grown bigger and better. Apart from baby and kids products, the new flagship store offers a kids’ play area to keep the little ones busy as you shop plus free gift wrapping and in-store events. The interior is fitted with wide aisles for prams so there’s plenty of space to move around.
Peppa Penny is located at Shop 8/1751 Anzac Avenue in Mango Hill. Hours of operations are from Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm; Saturday, 9 am – 3:30 pm; and Sunday, 9 am-2 pm.
Peppa Penny | Shop 8/1751 Anzac Ave, Mango Hill QLD 4509, Australia
Quintess Retirement Community, the new retirement village in Mango Hill has just passed a significant milestone, with homes starting to take shape and some residents preparing to move in by the end of the year.
As of September 2022, the team at Quintess Retirement Community revealed they are aiming to make the first villas available to move into in the last week of October.
For the first block, all plaster and kitchens have been installed, as well as the garage doors, and all type 1 villas have all been painted internally. Works on the construction of the roads have commenced and many truckloads of road base were delivered to the site in September.
The development will provide 117 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom townhouses for over-65s and each townhouse will have its own car parking.
It’s also the first retirement village in Brisbane to incorporate a childcare centre. It’s a multigenerational community which aims to link all ages and stages with parks, shared facilities and retirement homes.
Designed by Plus Architecture, the retirement village features flowing open floorplans which offer generous spaces and inclusive design that allows residents to personalise townhomes to suit their needs.
