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Mueller College Students Shine in Statewide Aerospace Awards

Mueller College highlighted two of its students after they were recognised at the annual Aerospace Industry Education Awards in Brisbane, a statewide event that celebrates achievement in aviation studies across Queensland.

Strong Performance From Local Students

Mueller College reported that Year 11 student Elloise earned runner up for the Year 11 Aerospace Systems Award. This category focuses on students who show understanding of aviation concepts through coursework and assessment completed during the school year.

The school’s announcement noted pride in Elloise’s commitment to her studies and her ability to reach finalist level in a competitive field of students from different regions.

The school also confirmed that Year 10 student David Kennedy won the Year 10 Aerospace Award. His recognition places him among the top Year 10 aerospace students in Queensland. Mueller College staff shared their pride in David’s work and noted the effort he put into developing his knowledge in aviation studies.

Presence at the Minister’s Table

Mueller College stated that representatives from the school were invited to sit at the Minister’s table during the ceremony. Advisers from TAFE, staff from Aviation Australia and representatives from Boeing Defence were also present.

*Photo Credit:* Mueller College Aviation & MUROC/Facebook

The school described the experience as a positive opportunity for its students to be present in a setting with leaders from education and industry. The school noted that moments like this create meaningful exposure for students who are interested in aviation pathways.

Community Connection and School Pride

Mueller College shared the outcomes of the awards online for its school community. The announcement received positive attention from those who support the program and value opportunities that recognise student achievement.

The school continues to promote its aviation subjects as a pathway for students who enjoy practical learning, structured coursework and exposure to real world aviation topics.

Importance of Recognition in Aviation Education

The Aerospace Industry Education Awards provide recognition for students who show interest and performance in aviation studies. Mueller College highlighted the achievements of Elloise and David as important milestones in their learning.

The school continues to support interest in aviation education and encourages future participation among younger students who follow the program.

Published 12-December-2025

Petrie Focuses on Safety as New Sensors Track Flying Fox Health

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay

Petrie is at the centre of a new wildlife protection initiative where innovative heat-tracking sensors are monitoring local flying fox colonies to prevent heat stress during hot weather.

High-Tech Help for Heatwaves

The City of Moreton Bay has joined forces with Queensland technology firm Kallipr to place 16 specialised sensors across eight known roosts. These devices track temperature and humidity in real-time. This data is vital as the region prepares for higher summer temperatures. The sensors are built to withstand harsh environments and can work even in areas with poor phone reception. This means council staff do not have to physically travel to the sites to check conditions.

When the temperature rises above a certain safety level, the system sends an immediate alarm. This alert allows council officers to notify wildlife rescue organisations quickly. Carers can then step in to help the animals before the heat causes serious harm. Mayor Peter Flannery noted that this technology helps researchers understand how heatwaves affect the animals and what can be done to protect them in the future.

Understanding the Locals

Moreton Bay is home to three types of flying foxes. The Black and Grey-headed flying foxes live in the area all year, while the Little Red flying fox visits during the summer. Although it might look like there is a sudden explosion in numbers when the Little Reds arrive, these animals only have one baby a year. They are intelligent, social creatures and play a critical role in pollinating native trees like Eucalypts over long distances.

Despite their importance, living near roosts can sometimes be difficult for residents. The council has started several projects to manage these impacts. In Petrie specifically, park furniture and a footpath at Sweeney Reserve were moved away from a roost to create distance between people and the bats. New signs were also added to keep the community informed.

Safety and Long-Term Plans

Health experts emphasise that residents should never touch a flying fox. While less than one per cent of the population carries Australian Bat Lyssavirus, the virus can be transmitted through bites or scratches. However, living or walking near a roost or coming into contact with droppings does not pose a risk. Mayor Flannery advised that anyone who sees an injured animal should call a professional wildlife carer immediately rather than trying to help it themselves.

Local authorities do not support trying to scare the bats away with noise or smoke, known as dispersal. This method is expensive and rarely works because the animals often return to their original home or split into smaller, more problematic groups nearby. Instead, the council is working on a ten-year regional plan with 12 other councils to manage roosts sustainably. This includes using DNA analysis to study what the bats eat, which will help with future landscape planning.

Published Date 10-December-2025

Debate Grows Over Proposed School on Former North Lakes Golf Course

Stakeholders are working to shape two different futures for the former North Lakes Golf Course, after a proposal emerged to build an independent school there, expected to grow over a period ten years. The planned school, from pre-prep to Year 12, would eventually have capacity for up to 1,550 students.

Read: School Planned for North Lakes Common Development

Under the plan from JH Northlakes in partnership with the Anglican Schools Commission, around 15 hectares of the former golf course, south of Diamond Jubilee Way, would be used for two school campuses. Developers say roughly two-thirds of that area would remain as open space or playing fields.

JH Northlakes’ CEO, Simon Forsyth, has described the site as under-utilised land located within a growing urban area. The proposal aims to help meet a forecast need for additional school places in the region: the Independent Schools Queensland estimates the City of Moreton Bay may require more than 21,000 extra school places by 2046. Forsyth also noted that school enrolments across the City rose by 646 this year to 14,996, underlining pressure on existing facilities.

Rather than opening at full capacity, the school is expected to grow over about a decade. Proposed amenities include a swimming pool, chapel, playing fields — facilities developers say could benefit both students and the wider community. The developers maintain that education is an allowable use under the relevant planning rules, and note that although the site lies within a broader Koala Priority Area, there is no mapped koala-habitat within the proposed school footprint.

According to JH Northlakes, they plan to lodge a development application through the state-level Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) process in the coming weeks. If accepted, final approval would rest with the state Deputy Premier, who oversees the relevant portfolio. The MID process includes two rounds of public consultation, with formal opportunities for feedback expected as early as 2026.

On the other side, the community group Save North Lakes Golf Course (SNLGC) has renewed its opposition. The group recalls that a similar proposal for the same parcel of land was rejected by the State Government in 2021, and says the land was originally intended to remain recreational open space as part of an environmental corridor under the suburb’s master plan.

Traffic and parking concerns remain central to SNLGC’s objections. The group warns that the proposed main entrance off Endeavour Boulevard could worsen congestion and strain street parking in surrounding areas. Around 50 residents, including SNLGC members, attended a recent community information session, where concerns were raised about the cumulative impact of the school, a proposed driving range, and further development using the former clubhouse and fairways.

JH Northlakes also has a separate development application before council for a 68-bay driving range, restaurant and conference facilities on approximately 2.1 hectares of the former course. That application is currently in a holding period: the applicant paused its response to an information request, with updated material now due by December 19.

For some residents, the school proposal represents a significant shift for North Lakes, from a suburb originally planned with integrated green corridors and open space to one facing denser institutional or commercial development. For others, it is viewed as a pragmatic response to growing demand, offering new education and recreational infrastructure.

Read: North Lakes Faces Another Choice Over its Former Golf Course

At present the school proposal is in preliminary consultation. If the MID lodgement goes ahead, residents will have another opportunity to formally lodge feedback. As the community watches carefully, the coming months may determine whether North Lakes retains more of its original character, or begins a new chapter of redevelopment.

Published 11-December-2025

Deception Bay Shock As Local Beaches Record Surge In Sick And Dead Turtles

Photo Credit: Queensland Conservation Organization

A sudden rise in weak and dead green turtles along the Deception Bay shoreline has alarmed local residents, with at least 19 turtles washing up across the northern end of Moreton Bay in recent weeks.

Turtles Found In Poor Condition

The cases form part of a wider pattern in the bay, where turtles have been arriving on shore with signs of long-term stress and poor health. Recent sightings show many juveniles reaching the shore weak and unable to swim well. Residents reported turtles covered in moss, barnacles and parasites. These signs point to long periods of illness and low strength.

Other reports across the bay described turtles drifting into beaches or mudflats because they lacked the energy to stay in deeper water. Wildlife teams caring for sick turtles noted similar issues linked to poor condition and reduced access to food after heavy rain and flooding.

Water Quality And Food Loss

Residents and local groups said runoff from recent rainfall lowered water clarity and affected seagrass areas. Seagrass is the main food source for green turtles. When the water becomes too cloudy, less sunlight reaches the seagrass and growth slows.

Reports from other parts of the region showed that places with healthier seagrass had fewer cases of soft shell and sickness, which highlights the link between habitat quality and turtle health. In Deception Bay, many strandings were recorded during periods of poor water conditions in nearby rivers and creeks.

Human Impacts Also Present

Most turtles showed signs of weakness, although some had injuries from boats or fishing gear. Residents and volunteer rescuers shared photos of cuts, propeller marks and rope impressions.

These cases added pressure to animals already struggling with low strength and poor habitat conditions.

Community Response

The community in Deception Bay has been quick to report strandings. These reports helped rescue groups locate sick turtles faster and transport the few survivors for treatment. Local groups encouraged residents to keep reporting any animals found on the shore.

Understanding the timing and location of each case helps track changes in water quality, food supply and weather events. This information guides local efforts to support the long-term recovery of the bay.

Published 10-December-2025

Street Spotlight: Anzac Av, Rothwell

When Grace Lutheran College chose its Rothwell campus location in 1980, the decision to front Anzac Av was more than practical—it was symbolic. This long, historically important memorial avenue gave the school instant visibility and connected it to one of the peninsula’s main arterials. For families moving to the region through the 1980s and beyond, the sight of the college campus along Anzac Avenue became a stable landmark, a reassuring sign of established community infrastructure in what was still a developing area.

Over the decades, Anzac Avenue’s dual role as both memorial thoroughfare and regional connector has shaped the character of properties along its length. The heritage plantings that line sections of the avenue, combined with its function as a key route to schools, shopping centres, and the broader peninsula, have made homes here particularly attractive to buyers seeking convenience without sacrificing the feel of an established neighbourhood. The avenue carries the rhythms of school life—morning drop-offs, afternoon pickups, weekend sports events—and that steady pulse of activity has, over time, translated into steady capital growth for nearby properties.

The numbers tell their own story. Properties along and near Anzac Avenue have seen remarkable appreciation over the years. While specific Anzac Avenue addresses in Rothwell show strong holding patterns among owner-occupiers, comparable properties in the broader corridor illustrate the scale of change: homes that changed hands for modest sums in the early 2000s now command prices several times higher, reflecting both the peninsula’s population growth and the enduring appeal of school-adjacent locations.

Anzac Av, Rothwell Residents

NUMBER OF PROPERTIES: 14 houses, 6 others
% OF OWNER OCCUPIERS ON STREET: 100%
AVERAGE TIME FOR OWNER OCCUPIERS: 13 years and 4 months
% OF PEOPLE 10+ YEARS: 50%

Anzac Av, Rothwell – As It Looked in 1936

SOME TYPICAL PROPERTY SALES ON ANZAC AV FROM YESTERYEAR

Property Address	Sale Price	Sale Date
315 Old Gympie Rd, Dakabin	$210,000	Oct 2003
313 Old Gympie Rd, Dakabin	$90,000	Oct 2000
379 Old Gympie Rd, Dakabin	$1,000,000	Mar 1997

SUBURB PROFILE

The median price of a 4 Bedroom House in Rothwell in 2025 was $825,000
The median price of a 4 Bedroom House in Rothwell in 2021 was $470,000
TYPICAL INCREASE OF A 4 BEDROOM HOUSE IN ROTHWELL SINCE 2021: $355,000

If you know Anzac Av, Rothwell well and you have some anecdotes or details to add, please email us at editor@brisbanesuburbsonlinenews.com.au.

New Urgent Care Clinic Progresses In Deception Bay

Photo Credit: Pexels

A new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Deception Bay is moving closer to opening following the appointment of ForHealth as operator for the Bailey Road site.

ForHealth Confirmed As Clinic Operator

ForHealth has been selected to run the upcoming Medicare Urgent Care Clinic at 75–79 Bailey Road, Deception Bay. The appointment followed a competitive tender process completed by the region’s primary health network. The clinic is expected to open in the coming months.

Role Of The Clinic In The Local Area

The Deception Bay clinic aims to provide timely treatment for non-life-threatening conditions and help reduce demand on nearby emergency departments. In 2023–24, about one-fifth of presentations at Caboolture Hospital involved semi-urgent or non-urgent matters.

The site will operate seven days a week with extended hours for people who cannot access routine general practice appointments.

What Medicare Urgent Care Clinics Provide

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics offer walk-in, fully bulk-billed care for urgent conditions requiring same-day attention.

They are designed to manage minor illnesses and injuries such as respiratory issues, gastrointestinal illness, urinary infections, closed fractures, simple lacerations, minor burns and eye injuries.

These clinics can also perform wound management, abscess drainage, basic fracture care, IV fluids, catheter changes and removal of foreign bodies. As at May 2024, three Medicare Urgent Care Clinics were already operating in the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region.

Deception Bay urgent care — Photo Credit: Pexels

Background On ForHealth

ForHealth supports independent health practitioners through a national network of medical and dental centres. Its network includes more than 1600 doctors, 200 allied health practitioners, 180 dentists, 500 nurses and 95 medical centres, delivering over 7 million patient consultations each year.

Next Steps For The Deception Bay Clinic

The Deception Bay clinic will join the wider national network of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, which has recorded more than 2.2 million presentations since June 2023, including more than 439,800 in Queensland. Final preparations will continue ahead of the clinic’s planned opening in the coming months.

Published 9-Dec-2025

Police Seek Public Help to Identify Man Following North Lakes Business Robbery

Photo Credit: myPolice Queensland Police News

Police are asking North Lakes residents to help identify a man they believe can assist with their enquiries into a robbery that occurred at a local business last month.

The incident took place on Thursday, 13 November at approximately 7.45pm at a business located on North Lakes Drive.

According to Queensland Police Service, the man departed the premises with several items without paying. Staff members who attempted to intervene were allegedly assaulted before the offender fled the scene on foot.

Authorities have released CCTV footage showing the man arriving at and leaving the business around the time of the incident.

The man is described as Caucasian, believed to be in his 30s, approximately 173 centimetres tall, with brown hair and a brown beard. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a grey hoodie, dark navy-blue shorts, black socks and white shoes.

Police are urging anyone who recognises the man or has information that could assist with their investigation to come forward.

Members of the public can provide information by contacting Policelink through the online suspicious activity form available 24 hours a day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting, quoting reference number QP2502060788.

Published 7-December-2025

Delivery Truck Driver Freed After Multi-Vehicle Crash on Lipscombe Road

Photo Credit: myPolice Moreton

A delivery truck driver was trapped for nearly two hours after a multi-vehicle crash in Deception Bay on Friday evening that damaged two homes and involved a parked car.

Emergency services responded to the incident on Lipscombe Road at approximately 5.45pm on 5 December, following reports of a serious traffic crash.

According to Queensland Police Service, preliminary investigations show a delivery truck travelling northbound struck a traffic light at an intersection before colliding with a parked vehicle and two residential properties.

The impact caused structural damage to the homes, with debris from one of the buildings falling onto the truck and trapping the driver inside the vehicle. Queensland Fire Department personnel worked to free the driver, who was eventually extracted at around 7.25pm.

Queensland Ambulance Service assessed two people at the scene, with both reported to be in stable condition. Police have confirmed there were no physical injuries resulting from the incident.

The crash has prompted an investigation by Queensland Police Service, with officers appealing for anyone with information about the truck’s movements prior to the collision to come forward. Authorities are particularly interested in dashcam or CCTV footage from the area.

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has been notified and will be involved in the ongoing investigation.

Residents with relevant information are encouraged to contact Policelink at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Published 6-December-2025

North Lakes Residents Eligible For State Hardship Grants After Severe Hail

North Lakes residents are on the official list for Queensland hardship grants after severe hail, with Mango Hill and Deception Bay included among eligible suburbs.

Community Impact And Eligibility

North Lakes residents and nearby suburbs, Mango Hill and Deception Bay, should confirm their address on the Queensland disaster site now to see if they qualify for hardship grants and local recovery support.

*Photo Credit:* *Queensland Reconstruction Authority*/Facebook

The state website lists those suburbs among eligible localities, and residents should check their address on the disaster assistance page to confirm eligibility.

Available Grants And What They Cover

The joint state and federal program includes emergency hardship assistance for essentials such as food and temporary shelter. Essential services hardship payments support people who lost power, water or sewage for more than five days. The essential household contents grant replaces items such as bedding and whitegoods for people who are uninsured or unable to claim.

*Photo Credit:* *City of Moreton Bay*/Facebook

The Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme funds safety inspections and repairs to reconnect utilities. The Structural Assistance Grant provides up to $80,000 for uninsured, low income owner occupiers whose homes are structurally unsafe.

How To Apply And Where To Get Help

Residents should use the Queensland disaster form, enter their address from the list or enter it manually if needed, and supply identification and bank details. The form asks whether the residence is owned or rented.

Community recovery hubs operate across Moreton Bay and nearby regions, with pop up hubs listed for Bribie Island and Beachmere. People who need help with applications or who require welfare referrals can call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Local Services And Practical Recovery Support

Recovery staff at community hubs are offering application help and referrals to local services for mental health, financial counselling and safe clean up advice. Some councils arranged free green waste drop off for storm debris in affected areas, as reported by local media.

Support service centres have operating hours posted on the government website and are available if a hub has closed.

Published 03-December-2025

North Lakes Teen Posts World-Class Results in Busy Triathlon Season

Photo Credit: TLC Swim Club/Facebook

A rising young athlete from North Lakes has stunned the triathlon world after achieving top results on both national and global stages, marking one of the strongest junior seasons the region has seen from a school-aged competitor.

William McNally, from The Lakes College, delivered a standout performance at the World Triathlon Age-Group Sprint Championships in Wollongong. Official timing data shows he finished eighth in the 16–19 age group, placing him among the world’s best young sprint triathletes.

Local Talent Rising Through the Ranks

Only weeks after competing against the top juniors globally, McNally claimed silver in the Olympic-distance age group at the highly competitive Noosa Triathlon. His individual result is recorded in the official Noosa Triathlon results, confirming his second-place finish in the 15–19 category with a time of 2:02:56.

Before stepping into national and international arenas, McNally built his foundation through Queensland school sport. The 2025 QRSS Triathlon State Championship results list him representing The Lakes College with competitive times across all three disciplines.

Regional junior events also captured his early podiums. He placed third in the Senior Triathlon Male category at the Triathlon Queensland, a result that signalled his trajectory even before his final year of school.

Community Spirit at The Lakes College

The Lakes College has celebrated McNally’s achievements both in and out of the water. The TLC Learn to Swim page highlights the pride felt by students and families, noting his role as a swimming instructor who is well-liked by younger learners.

The school community has recognised him across multiple years, naming him Sports Person of the Year more than once and inviting him to speak at celebrations of sport. His training schedule includes regular swim, bike and run sessions that reflect his commitment to long-term development.

McNally has expressed that he aims to continue through Triathlon Australia’s talent programme and hopes to qualify for elite junior representation. He is driven by a desire to compete professionally and eventually earn a place on the start line when Brisbane hosts the 2032 Olympic Games.

Published 2-Dec-2025