A new primary school flexi campus at Deception Bay may soon be opened for children marginalized from mainstream school.
Edmund Rice Education Australia recently submitted a development application for a material change of use of a property at 45 Grosvenor Terrace, Deception Bay. The project is called Deception Bay Flexible Learning Centre Junior Campus. The project will involve the re-use of the existing dwelling for classrooms/educational purposes for primary aged school children.
Subject to approval by the Moreton Bay Regional Council, the junior flexi campus is scheduled to open June 2019 and will cater to students Years 5 and 6. The proposed flexi school was in response to numerous inquiries about places for students that were expelled or unable to cope in mainstream primary school, according to Deception Bay Flexi Campus principal Paul Flanders.
Mr Flanders is confident that the Deception Bay Flexible Learning Centre model can put these children, who are at risk of turning to a life of crime and drugs, back on the right track.
The proposed junior flexi school will operate using the existing flexi campuses’ model. Instead of rules, they will operate on principles of respect, honesty, participation, and safe and legal. The flexi school will also ensure that students are well fed by providing breakfast and lunch every day.
Mr Flanders said that many of Deception Bay Flexible Learning Centre’s students come from dysfunctional families. There are also those who have special needs, mental health issues, and were expelled from school. By teaching them literacy, numeracy, art, music, and sport, the flexi school helps prepare these children to further education or employment, so they could have a better future.
Many of Deception Bay Flexible Learning Centre graduates were able to take up apprenticeships, get a job, and even able to graduate university, Mr Flanders concluded.
Deception Bay Flexible Learning Centre began as an inclusive learning community in 2006. Deception Bay FLC is part of Edmund Rice Education Australia, a national and unified network of Australian schools and educational entities.
North Lakes residents are against the planned sale and development of the North Lakes Resort Golf Club following the announcement of the closure of the golf course.
North Lakes Resort Golf Club announced its plans of selling the course to The Village Retirement Group due to financial losses.
According to the closure statement released by the golf club, it will cease operations at the end of 2019. However, the golf course, practice facilities, restaurant, and function space will continue to operate until then.
Owners of the gold club are proposing to sell the entire course and have already entered into an arrangement with The Village Retirement Group (VRG) .
The gold club claims that it can no longer continue operating due to a downturn in golf participation in the recent years.
Photo credit: www.northlakesgolfclub.com.au
Plans for the North Lakes Resort Golf Club
VRG plans to dedicate 85% or 57 hectares of the land to open space, environmental protection, and possible future sport and recreation use. The remaining land area will see 200 low-rise independent living units and a three-storey 100-bed aged-care facility on the site.
Photo credit: www.northlakesgolfclub.com.au
No development application has been submitted to the Council yet. The development’s indicative timeline shows that the developer will consider community feedback and lodge the development application in the last quarter of 2018.
Plans for the change in use of the golf course was immediately opposed by locals.
Residents have been working together to protest the planned development. A dedicated Facebook group named Save North Lakes Golf Course has been established to oppose the closure of the golf course. The group currently have more than 3,500 members who are fighting the proposed development.
Photo credit: SAVE NORTH LAKES GOLF COURSE/Facebook
The local community is particularly concerned about the implications of the development on the environment.
“North Lakes Golf Course is far more than just a golf course. It provides an essential environmental buffer zone through the central corridor of our community. It has also become home to a variety of wildlife including Koalas and Kangaroos and is a vital channel for flood waters to escape.”
Whilst VRG only plans to build on 15% of the land, Save North Lakes Golf Course says, “15% is still a very large development in the heart of a quiet residential area. It’s the foot-print size of Westfield North Lakes. VRG may not stop at 15%. If the land is rezoned and the DA is approved, they will own all the land; and because it will all be rezoned, they could easily then develop on as much of the land as they want.”
In a letter sent by Gavin Kirkman CEO of PGA of Australia to the group, he said, “the PGA of Australia certainly feels there is a place for the course to remain a pillar in the community …”
“Our PGA Professionals are more than qualified to manage facilities, as well as coach and service the game to ensure the North Lakes Golf Course can remain sustainable well into the future.”
Photo credit: SAVE NORTH LAKES GOLF COURSE/Facebook
Petitions Against the Development
In July 2018, a North Lakes resident started a petition online against the said plan. Currently, the petition has already gathered 3,265 signatures and aims to reach at least 10,000 signatures.
Another petition has been submitted to the State Government. The online petition was sponsored by Labor MP for Bancroft Chris Whiting.
The latter petition states that residents do not support any change in use of the North Lakes Golf Course. It has already gathered 2,736 signatures and will be closing on 1 February 2019.
Next Steps for the Community
The local community has been very vocal in their stance against the development. In fact, several residents and even businesses have been putting up signs outside their homes to show their support on the Save North Lakes Golf Course initiative.
Photo credit: SAVE NORTH LAKES GOLF COURSE/Facebook
Members of the group have been rallying Council members to support their cause. However, due to the legal obligations set by the State Government Legislation, Council and Councillors cannot provide any comment on their stance on the issue as Council has not received an application for the development of the North Lakes Golf Course.
Photo credit: Sandra Nicholls – SAVE NORTH LAKES GOLF COURSE / Facebook
On the other hand, Matt Constance, Councillor – Division 10 Moreton Bay Regional Council have shared helpful information on what the community can do if a development application is lodged.
In a letter sent to Sandra Nicholls from the Save North Lakes Golf Course group, Mr Constance said, “Should the proposer of this application decided to proceed it is possible that it will likely require Public Notification.”
“Public notification is required for certain development applications to ensure that the public is aware of the development and they have the opportunity to make submissions about it. A properly made submission will secure for the submitter the right to appeal to the Planning and Environment Court about the assessment manager’s decision.”
According to Mr Constance, the submitter must consider the following in making a properly made submission:
After a successful pilot in South Brisbane at Mt Gravatt, Walking Netball passes the ball to North Brisbane this October. Three locations from the Northside have been added including North Lakes.
Netball Queensland’s initial five week Walking Netball trial was well received and registration filled quickly.
“We had the first game for the trial on July 30 and I couldn’t believe the response from the women,” Co-ordinator Rhonda Newton said. “A lady in her 70s scored a goal and was so emotional she came straight over and gave me a hug and thanked me for running Walking Netball.”
“It was the highlight of my day. She said she hadn’t felt this alive in years,” Ms Newton said.
Being a slower paced version of Netball, without any running or jumping involved, Walking Netball is a perfect way to keep one’s body active regardless of age, fitness level, or ability. Walking Netball, in particular, allows senior men and women to once again enjoy active lifestyle and social interaction as the modified rules minimizes risks of injury and foster camaraderie.
She said sessions that would run for eight weeks would be held four times a year during school terms. Men are also encouraged to sign on.
The three new locations for the Walking Netball Fixtures Program:
Morayfield – Morayfield Sports and Events Centre, 298 Morayfield Rd. | Tuesday Mornings 11am starting on the 9th of October
North Lakes – Northside Indoor Sports and Fitness, 17 Flinders Pde. | Wednesday Mornings 11am starting on the 10th of October
Brendale – Southpine Sports Complex, South Pine Rd. | Thursday Mornings 11am starting on the 11th of October
One of the local favourites when it comes to vegan food, MooFree Burgers serves juicy burgers that are 100% plant-based.
The vegan restaurant offers a wide variety of burgers, sliders, nachos, and loaded fries. Teaming up with Charlie’s Raw Squeeze, the restaurant also serves fresh juices, smoothies, and “nice creams”.
Photo credit: MooFree Burgers/Facebook
Their revamped menu includes the crowd favourite Messy Mexican that comes with a black bean patty, avocado, lettuce, tomato, onion, rustic tomato relish, and corn chips.
Photo credit: MooFree Burgers/Facebook
More salad choices are also added to their new menu including Our Ceasar with crispy chicken, smokey rasher, lettuce, croutons, nutritional yeast, and aioli; Wandering Waldorf with green pea, broccoli and spinach bites, apple, cherry tomatoes, super slaw, walnuts, goji berries, and pesto dressing; and the Super Salad with hemp patty, cherry tomatoes, avocado, capsicum, lettuce, coconut chips and supergreen dressing.
MooFree Burgers is open from 10:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. daily. If you are on the lookout for a hearty meal that’s good for you, visit the store at 53 Endeavour Blvd, North Lakes.
After the successful opening of their store in Annerley, the US fast food giant is set to expand across Southeast Queensland. Their plan is open more Taco Bell fast-food outlets in the area.
Photo credit: Facebook/Taco Bell Australia
Plans for Taco Bell North Lakes include a drive-through, parking for 18 vehicles, a 35-sqm outdoor dining area, and 250 sqm of internal dining.
Tenders for the new outlet were closed on 4 July 2018, and according to an online notice board which called for tenders for the fast food chain, the cost for the construction of the store may reach up to $3 million.
Photo credit: Facebook/Taco Bell Australia
Taco Bell in Annerley has been a huge hit to locals as the tex-mex fast-food outlet offers free WiFi, charging ports at each table, and unlimited drink refills.
For North Lakes residents eager to find out when the store will open, there is no timeline yet for the project.
Robert Rey and his wife, Donna, will be the Mighty Maroon. The air race is a GPS-based navigation time trial throughout the Australian outback. This year, there will be 102 competitors in 42 aircraft. Pilots will nominate an elapsed time between two visual waypoints and they will receive points for both time and location accuracy.
This year’s air race will be from Archerfield in Brisbane to Broome in Western Australia. There are only under 40 aircraft that have been nominated. The 12-day outback air route will go through Bundaberg, Longreach, Mount Isa, Adels Grove, Daly Waters, Katherine/Tindal and Kununurra.
Racers will have to raise $4,000 before they can take part in the race whilst the event aims to raise $500,000 this year. The participants will raise money at the places that they will stop at along the way.
Since 1996, this race has garnered over $2.1 million. All of the funds that have been raised will go to the RFDS to outfit their aircraft and to help fund better medical equipment. The race is held every three years.
The RFDS is one of the biggest aeromedical organisations in the world. They provide extensive primary health care and 24-hour emergency service to people over an area of 7.69 million square kilometres.
Mighty In The Sky
Luckily, Mr Rey is no stranger to flying — aside from being the principal of the CPRM Property Group, he is also an experienced pilot. He has been flying for 13 years and for the past six years or so, he is a pilot for Angel Flights in Queensland and New South Wales where he helps get sick children and adults in remote areas to and from medical visits.
He will be using his Beechcraft Bonanza with hopes to win this race and raise funds for the organisation he has long been a firm supporter of.
Wyndham Hotel Group has announced that TRYP North Lakes will be a part of the 1.7 hectare Laguna North Lakes development. This marks their second property in Australia, with the first one located in Fortitude Valley.
TRYP by Wyndham, which is set to open in 2021, will have 138 rooms, a huge resort-style swimming pool, restaurant, bar, gym, and health facility.
There will also be a 5,000 square metres of curated fashion retail stores and eaters. It can also accommodate large function and events. The hotel will also offer A-grade commercial office space.
Matt Taplin, Senior Vice President Hotel and Resort Operations and Property Development of the Wyndham Hotel Group in South East Asia and Pacific Rim is thrilled to announce this new development in the upcoming Laguna North Lakes.
“Located in Queensland’s Moreton Bay Region, 25 km north of Brisbane, Laguna North Lakes has been designed to be a vibrant and active destination offering its visitors access to cafes, restaurants, events spaces, retail offerings and family friendly pool throughout the day and into the night. it is an ideal new location for TRYP as we expand into destinations travellers want to discover,” he said.
The decision to build a hotel in one of the fastest growing areas and promising developments in Queensland seems like a good idea. These upcoming developments are expected to boost population growth and allow northsiders to be in close proximity to commercial establishments.
The vision for the Laguna North Lakes is to make it a must-visit destination for leisure, events, and conferencing thus making the hotel development a great fit.
Just like the TRYP Hotel in Fortitude Valley which syncs with the pulse of the city, the North Lakes hotel promises to give off the same vibe.
North Lakes continues to be a family-friendly suburb as revealed by recent data from CoreLogic via Your Investment Property shows that the suburb is among the most popular neighbourhoods among homebuyers looking in the outer Brisbane areas.
The attractiveness of living in the suburb is primarily due to the relatively low real estate prices. The median price of the houses is less than $500,000. As a result, the suburb has a recorded 436 houses sold in the past 12 months.
However, aside from the property price, homebuyers are lured in by the North Lakes lifestyle that is ideal for families with children.
Newly-developed homes around the North Lakes Golf Course form one of the most popular neighbourhoods in the suburb. Notable schools such as the North Lakes State College and The Lakes College as well as a good number of childcare and early learning centres are among the appealing factors for families.
The new development, Laguna North Lakes, is also a bright spot in the property scene in the suburb. The mixed-use development within the North Lakes town centre, includes a 138-room hotel, commercial office spaces, health and wellness facilities, aquatic centre, restaurant and bar, and a lagoon-style pool. It is being hailed as Brisbane’s new world-class mixed-use precinct.
Bounty Boulevard State School, the largest state primary school, has recently opened its much awaited multi-purpose hall.
After years of campaigning, with the help of a $5-million funding from the Queensland government, the school was finally able to build the multi-purpose hall that it badly needs.
Constructed between May and December 2017, the new facility was officially opened in 18 April 2018.
The new school hall is a state-of-the-art facility capable of hosting the school’s musical and sporting events. Not only that, the school community also benefits from the additional 46 parking spaces which have also been included in the project.
According to Education Minister Grace Grace, the government is pleased to deliver the project to support the school community for many years to come.
“I know this wonderful new hall has been a welcome addition for the school,” Ms Grace said.
“Bounty Boulevard State School has grown in step with the surrounding local community, opening with 130 students in 2009 and growing to an enrolment today of more than 1,400,” she added.
Education Minister Grace Grace and Member for Murrumba Chris Whiting at the Official Opening of the New Hall Photo credit: chriswhiting.com.au
Member for Murrumba Chris Whiting was the one who helped to secure the $5 million funding for the Bounty Boulevard State School.
Together with the school leadership, the P&C, and school community, their efforts in campaigning for the school hall were finally rewarded as the project successfully became a part of the Government’s $200 million Advancing Queensland Schools Fund.
“It has been a privilege to work with the Bounty Boulevard school community to secure this much-needed hall for them,” Mr Whiting said.
“It was clear that Queensland’s largest primary school needed a hall, and it is great the current Education Minister Grace Grace was able to open it,” he added.
Photo credit: chriswhiting.com.au
The new hall currently houses a multipurpose sports court, stage area, storage rooms, amenities, and change rooms. It also includes kitchen facilities, a multi-purpose area, and an outside school hours care office and activity area.
According to Bounty Boulevard State School principal Paul McSwiney, they have been using the hall since February 2018.
The facility is perfect for wet weather play and PE lessons. It also enhances music, drama, and sport in the school.
“This is a fabulous addition both for our school and for the local community,” Mr McSwiney said.
“Already the community is on board, with basketball being played here two nights a week and the hall acting as a venue for church services on Sundays,” he added.
The school is very excited as the latest addition to their facilities was officially opened. Certainly, the new school hall will be a great asset not only for the school but also for the local community for years to come.
The veterinary hospital’s post on Facebook was quickly shared by several people more than 300 times since the search for the cat’s owner started on 18 April 2018.
The three-legged cat does not have a microchip or collar which has made the search quite difficult and the efforts of finding the owner have relied mostly on the Facebook post.
Luckily, the photo of this cranky-looking cat (which reminded people of the famous Grumpy Cat) became an internet sensation.
Photo credit: Twitter/RealGrumpyCat
Contrary to its looks in the photo, the cat is actually sweet and gentle, according to the veterinary nurse who took care of her in the hospital.
