Plans for North Lakes-Mango Hill’s New State Secondary School Seen to Ease Facilities vs Enrolment Gap

Plans for the new state secondary school in the North Lakes-Mango Hill area for North Brisbane are already underway.

Ms. Palaszczuk with students
(Photo credit: Kate Jones/Twitter)

The population of the North Lakes area, which includes Mango Hill, Kallangur, Dakabin, Murrumba Downs, and Griffin, is expected to grow by about 13,000 by the year 2021. Also, the population is predicted to grow from the present 70,000 to 103,000 by 2036.

With the predicted statistics, North Lakes-Mango Hill is the preferred location to build the new school in the whole North Brisbane area.

The new state high school construction will ease the number of enrolments at the North Lakes State College. Because of the enrolment growth year after year, the school may not be able to keep up with the estimated number of population growth in the next few years. North Lakes State College has a maximum student enrolment capacity of 3,320 students. The number of students entering Prep should not exceed 200 in every 8 classrooms.

 

Building Future Schools

The Queensland Government has dedicated $28 million (2017-2018) for the Building Future Schools Fund, out of the $500 million total proposed budget for the five-year project.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that the Building Future Schools Fund will be used to build new schools to cater more students, provide 1,500 jobs over the five-year scheme, and secure the fastest growing regions in Queensland.

“We want every child to benefit from a quality education no matter where they live. That’s why we are investing $500 million over five years to help deliver world class education facilities where they are needed most … We will always build new schools and new classrooms to cater for enrolments in our growing state,” Ms. Palaszczuk said.

More Schools to Open

An artist’s impression of Fortitude Valley’s new school
(Photo credit: www.qld.gov.au)

Two new high schools will be built in inner-Brisbane this year. The Fortitude Valley State School, in partnership with Queensland University of Technology, will become a high-rise secondary school. Another high school will be built in the catchment of Brisbane State High School, in conjunction with University of Queensland. These two new schools will each cater up to 1,500 students.

The $500 million Building Future Schools Fund will also be used for land acquisitions in Mount Low in Townsville, Calliope near Gladstone, and Yarrabilba in South Logan. Like the plan in North Lakes-Mango Hills, the plans in these areas are also underway.

Photo credit: www.advancingeducation.qld.gov.au

“We will continue to build new schools in growth areas … We need to continue to act to meet the increasing demands for student enrolments and plan ahead for next generation learning needs,” Education Minister Kate Jones said.

The secondary schools construction will continue in Brisbane and the final Public Private Partnership School will be built in Springfield by 2019. Ms. Jones said that the Department of Education will work on communicating with the school communities to come up with the best solutions for each school.

Network Boost for North Lakes Area: Telstra 4GX is Now in Town

North Lakes can now experience Telstra 4GX! Telstra 4GX is the fastest 4G speed recorded in Australia. It is a 700MHz network frequency that could now provide 4G coverage in both rural and regional areas.

 

The Start of 4GX

Telstra first launched the 4GX in 2015 based on an agreement with the Federal Government. When analogue television was switched off in Australia, the 700MHz spectrum was sold to different telcos under the hammer during the Digital Dividend, a digital spectrum auction by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), back in 2013.

Photo credit: RoundupResistance/Wikimedia Commons

Telstra spent $1.3 billion for the spectrum and secured two 20 MHz spectrum blocks in the 700 MHz band and two 40 MHz blocks in the 2.56GHz band. Other telcos that spent millions for the spectrum were Optus ($649 million for two 10 MHz blocks in the 700MHz band and two 20 MHz spectrum blocks in the 2.5GHz block) and TPG Internet ($13.5 million for two 10 MHz spectrum blocks in the 2.5GHz band).

After the billion-dollar investment, Telstra announced their plan to use the spectrum to enhance the network support. The low frequency nature of the 700MHz can help signal travel longer distances, catering to both urban and rural areas.

“The spectrum will be used to enhance our network to help support extraordinary demand growth for mobile services and data. With the 700 MHz and 2.5 GHz spectrum we will be able to deliver faster speeds, more capacity and expansive, wide area coverage of 4G LTE (long-term evolution) technology on our Next G network … Together with ongoing investment in our wireless network, which will total $1.2 billion in the 2012-13 financial year … the additional spectrum will help ensure we continue to deliver Australia’s leading mobile network for our customers,” Telstra Chief Executive David Thodey said.

 

Telstra 4GX Today

The 4GX’s multiple 4G spectrum bands means faster speedy web access using a compatible device, category 6 and higher, in a 4GX area, while its double bandwidth feature allows multiple devices to download, stream, and share at the same time with less slowdowns.

Telstra 4GX has now expanded to North Lakes, Dakabin, Lawnton, Petrie, Whiteside, Bray Park, and Joyner. To find out more about your area’s coverage, check out Telstra’s coverage map.

New School in North Lakes Region Could Become a Reality with New Education Fund

Thanks to government allocation to build new schools in Queensland, the wish of parents to have a new school or campus in the North Lakes area could become a reality soon.

The state government is investing $200 million for the Advancing Queensland State Schools program, which is intended to fast-track state school infrastructure projects. The investment includes a $45-million fund to acquire new school sites in the state.

Chris Whiting, MP for Murrumba, is pushing to get funding for a new high school site in the North Lakes area. Whiting said that since he was elected, parents in the area have been urging him to push for a new local high school or campus. He believes that the Advancing Queensland Schools fund is an excellent opportunity for the booming region to finally get its wish.

Parents from North Lakes, Mango Hill and Griffin have been asking the Department of Education and Training to give locals another option for their kids.

The residents’ demand found support in an independent proposal by Building Queensland in December 2016 indicating a need for a secondary school in North Brisbane. The Building Queensland report states that the current schools in the North Lakes area may not be able to handle future enrolment demand.

The region has seen strong growth over the years and the population has grown significantly. Parents believe that the educational infrastructure needed to meet the region’s growth must be built the soonest time possible.

“Advancing Queensland” Grants Applications To End this June; MP from North Lakes Calls for Community Support

The first round of Advancing Queensland, an age-friendly grants application, will be closing on 16th of June by 5 p.m. This is a program that will give grants of up to $100,000 to organisations who will deliver innovative age-friendly projects for seniors.

This year’s program will focus on transport, outdoor spaces, and building & housing domains.

State Labor MP for Murrumba Chris Whiting said that this is a wonderful opportunity for the North Lakes community to receive support and develop innovative and creative programs for its senior group

 

Age-Friendly Model

The “age-friendly model” was designed by the World Health Organisation in 2007 for seniors to ensure their access to all of the aspects of community life. These are transportation, outdoor spaces and building, housing, respect and social inclusion, social participation, communication and information, civic participation and employment opportunities, and community support and health services.

This design is effective in bringing a healthy and happy life of the seniors in every community.

 

Ageing in Queensland and North Lakes

(Photo credit: daveynin/Flickr)

Queensland’s senior population aged 65 years and over is about 14% of the total population. This segment is projected to rise to almost 20% by year 2036. In North Lakes, almost 20% of the total suburb population are seniors.

An age-friendly community will be helpful for the senior population in North Lakes and Queensland as a whole, to free them from any age-related barriers. The grants program will provide organisations with an opportunity to support the aged people in living in a safe and healthy community.

 

Last Call for Application

To apply online for “Advancing Queensland” grants, visit the SmartyGrants Application Form. New users of SmartyGrants need to register first before they can proceed. For information on how to register and fill out the form, click here.

Another option is to request an application form by sending an email to the Office of Seniors.

This is open for all community groups, local councils, non-government organisations, research institutions, and universities. All successful applicants will be announced by the Minister for Disability Services, Minister for Seniors and Minister Assisting the Premier of North Queensland, and on every Queensland government publications.

The approved applicants will be required to enter into an agreement with the department and acknowledge the government funding by placing the “Queensland Government” crest on all promotional materials produced in line with the project.

Learn More Apply for Grant

Laguna North Lakes Development Hailed as Brisbane’s New, World-Class, Mixed-Use Precinct

Heads up North Lakes peeps, a new, one-of-a-kind destination is coming to town! The George Group and local developer Pointcorp have recently announced their joint venture for the “Laguna North Lakes” development project. Conveniently located adjacent to Westfield at 40 North Lakes Drive, this project’s master plan has just been finalised. Construction will begin in early 2018 with a scheduled completion in mid-2020.

In deciding to build Laguna in the area, The George Group has given North Lakes a massive vote of confidence. As a fast-growing community with increased levels of commercial investment and population growth made up of young couples and families, North Lakes does seem to be an ideal location for the project.

With the recently completed Redcliffe Peninsula Rail Line, North Lakes has become very accessible and increasingly desirable to growing businesses. The opening of Laguna North Lakes will also open more doors for employment and businesses that will affect the North Lakes community positively, increasing commercial investments and employment rate.

 

Laguna North Lakes is the next James Street

James Street, Fortitude Valley’s iconic retail precinct
(Photo credit: www.espresso-and-matcha.blogspot.com)

George Group is the team behind Fortitude Valley’s iconic James Street precinct. Seeing Brisbane’s James Street as one the most successful retail precincts in Australia, George Group Director Peter George is determined to create a next-level mixed-use precinct, not just for the North Lakes community, but for the whole Australia as well.

“Leveraging our twenty-year history creating and sustaining Fortitude Valley’s James Street, one of the most successful retail precincts in Australia, we’ll be creating a brand-new, world class mixed-use precinct,” Mr. George said.

 

The Master Plan

Soon to rise “Laguna North Lakes”
(Photo credit: Laguna North Lakes/Facebook)

The $250 million Laguna North Lakes project is a mixed-use development that will blend commercial, industrial, and institutional uses with integrated functionality. Laguna will be the newest one-stop destination for the North Lakes community to relax, shop, work, eat, drink, and play round-the-clock.

“We’ve worked tirelessly with the design team to create an exciting new location alternative for companies requiring highly functional office space, supported with a diverse retail offering as well as health and wellness facilities that will maintain a high level of employee engagement,” Pointcorp Director Chris Vitale said.

An artist impression of the retail hub
(Photo credit: www.lagunanorthlakes.com.au)

The development’s 1.7 hectare land will be divided into different areas. Laguna’s two towers, a 10,500 square meter area, will be built just for the A-grade offices, in accordance with the highest environmental standards. Over 900 car parking spaces, both on-street and underground, and accessible public transport links, will also be built as a priority undertaking, to provide ease of access for both the employees and clients.

Some of the highlights are the retail facilities for fashion boutiques, restaurants, and cafes that will cover the 5,000 square meters area with a shaded green pathway, the 2,000 square meters area dedicated for the gym and other health and fitness facilities, the 140-room hotel that will soon rise in the community.

An artist impression of the Lagoon Pool
(Photo credit: www.lagunanorthlakes.com.au)

To further bolster Laguna’s potential as the next family destination in 2020, a childcare centre is also a part of the plan. This will also be the home of the Lagoon Precinct, the facility for the large lagoon pool, a zero-depth recreational play area, and a swimming school, with a resort-style bar and restaurant.

The opening of Laguna North Lakes will also mark the opening of the largest function space in North Lakes with an area of 2,500 square meters. According to the plan, the function hall will provide a “flexible space for all types of events”.

Laguna North Lakes is now ready for leasing
(Photo credit: laguna North Lakes/Facebook)

The leasing campaign has already been launched, and Laguna North Lakes’ construction marches on according to schedule. Updates and leasing opportunities can be viewed on their website or on their Facebook page.

 

Laguna North Lakes Facebook

Tips and Treats for North Lakes Mums on Mother’s Day

For Mother’s Day, celebrate the special women in your life. Here are some options from around town on how to make Mother’s Day extra special for your mum.

 

Schedule a spa date, for a massage and facial.

An all-in treat for your mum
(Photo credit: www.pureindulgence.com.au)

Drop by at Pure Indulgence for their special “Mum’s Favorite Package”, available until the 14th of May. The package includes its signature microdermabrasion, ultrasound infusion, 30-minute face, neck, shoulder, and scalp massage, and stress-relief foot massage. Great for unwinding and for some makeover magic.

 

Give a “spa-at-home” gift, for some DIY beauty care.

Body Butter Heart Trio of Body Shop for your mum with love
(Photo credit: www.thebodyshop.com.au)

Mum-on-the-go can still have that head-to-toe pampering that they deserve even from the comforts of their home. Give your mum a “Body Butter Heart Trio” from the Body Shop, where exclusive offers and discounts just for Mother’s Day are available until the 14th of May.

Lush bath bomb just for mum
(Photo credit: au.lush.com)

If your mum loves natural cosmetics, give her Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics. They have a great selection of products made just for mums at amazing Mother’s Day discounts.

 

Sweets for the sweet.

IKEA North Lakes Restaurant
(Photo credit: TripAdvisor)

Have a date with mum at IKEA North Lakes Restaurant in Westfield North Lakes. Sample a taste of Sweden from IKEA’s menu, including its signature Swedish meatballs and Swedish apple cake.

A sweet treat for your sweet mum
(Photo credit: TripAdvisor)

Get a free cake for any purchase of coffee or tea between 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Mother’s Day. Take the time to go shopping with her too. It’s almost impossible to leave without buying anything from IKEA. Who knows what you might find?

Remember, this Mother’s Day and everyday, give your mum some one-on-one QT and show her the care she deserves. Happy Mother’s Day!

 

Eat, Drink & Play at the North Lakes Sports Club

North Lakes now has its first-ever licensed greenfield club. The North Lakes Sports Club opened its doors last Saturday 6th of May at 36-42 Flinders Parade, North Lakes.

 

Eat

Who can resist this mouthwatering dish in Banyan Restaurant?
(Photo credit: www.northlakessports.com.au)

The centerpiece of dining experience in the new Sports Club is the Banyan Restaurant & Deck. Modern Australian cuisine along with vegan options and a full table service are the main draws of the restaurant.

View Menu

 

Drink

Different craft beers for different taste
(Photo credit: www.northlakessports.com.au)

The sports club also has a well-stocked bar where members and visitors can indulge on a premium selection of beers, wines, cocktails, and spirits. The club’s Craft Beer Bar offers six different variants of craft beer to suit every taste.

View Menu

 

Play

Entertainment at its finest
(Photo credit: www.northlakessports.com.au)

Arcade enthusiasts will have an exciting time checking out 178 of the latest Pokies, including Lightning Link & Dragon Link. Bingo, Keno, and UBET TAB. Definitely something to keep the “big kids” busy.

 

A Club for All Ages

Let the fun begin
(Photo credit: www.northlakessports.com.au)

Proving that relaxing at the North Lakes Sports Club can be a family affair, there is something for the little kids too. The Explorers Kids Club is a fully-supervised Kids Club where your kids can play and be entertained with arts and crafts, DVDs, Xbox consoles, outdoor games, and other fun activities to keep them busy.

The Explorer Kids Club membership has a one-time payment of only $5 until your kids reach the age of 15. Kids Club members receive exclusive benefits such as their own personalised membership cards, invitations to annual club events, special offers and special birthday vouchers to help celebrate their Big Day. Find out more about the Kids Club here.

 

Sports Club Membership Perks

A membership to the North Lakes Sports Club includes rewards and discounts on all of the club’s facilities, from the restaurant and bars, to the gaming zones and Kids Club.

Entries to events exclusively for members, benefits for Diamond Rewards, and use of the free Members Courtesy Bus are included in the membership.

The North Lakes Sports Club is a part of a non-profit membership-based organisation, Caboolture Sports Club Limited. There are over nine sporting clubs across North Lakes and its outskirts that have benefited from community grants offered by Caboolture. Sporting groups that would like to apply for grants may register for sponsorship and community support opportunities.

 

Apply for Membership Register for Grants

North Lakes Design Studio Helps Home Owners Decide

A huge design showroom has opened in North Lakes with the aim of helping home owners get some fresh design ideas that they can use for their abode.

The Evolve Design Studio is a showroom by residential builder Bold Properties. The showroom is open to the public and people do not have to be a client of Bold to browse through the home interior displays.

The home developer recognises the difficulty that people face when they think of building a new home. Brett Boulton, owner and director of Bold, wants the design studio to make home building as stress-free as possible for everyone.

Not only will home builders see what a certain fixture or furniture looks like, visitors of the showroom will learn how every item functions or fits in the room.

Evolve Design Studio boasts 500 sq m of space with full-sized kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and media room displays. Home owners and builders can also choose and try out different colours, finishes or fitting schemes in a full-scale interior.

Mr Boulton realises that people tend to have some difficulty making decisions about details. People would visit a display home and know what they want in general, but they usually hit a snag choosing materials and details because they cannot visualise how everything will look in a real room. This is the gap that the showroom would like to fill.

People coming to Evolve Design Studio do not have to commit to build with Bold. “A key point of difference is that anyone can come in at any time,” Mr Boulton stressed.

Visitors can also enjoy a cup of coffee while going around the rooms on display, thanks to a Bold Bean café brewing some fresh coffee for guests.

North Lakes Wildlife Crossing Not a Priority, Says State Government

An initiative to build wildlife crossing has been blocked by state government as it decided that it is not a top priority project.

Dave Norman, founder of North Lakes and Mango Hill Environment Group is urging the government to help protect native animals by constructing a wildlife crossing between two key nature reserves. In September, the group pushed for the crossing to be built over Anzac Avenue after a kangaroo was hit and killed on that road.

Adding a wildlife crossing on Anzac Ave would make it safer for animals to move between North Lakes Environmental Reserve and Hays Inlet Conservation Park.

Mr Norman said that at least half a dozen kangaroos got hit on Anzac Ave in the last five years.

The group is asking the government to build a rope bridge for koalas and possums. They are also asking for an upgrade of the bridge over Saltwater Creek, which can be used by animals to follow the creek bed and cross under the road.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads explained that such an upgrade would need major modifications. Installation of an overhead crossing or underpass on Anzac Ave would also compete with other priorities in the state.