Moreton Bay Regional Council Archives

Free Drive-In Movie Night Brings Nostalgic Entertainment to Narangba

Families across North Lakes and Narangba can enjoy a classic drive-in cinema experience when a free outdoor screening comes to Ferrier Road Park on Friday 20 February, featuring the recently released family adventure The Minecraft Movie.

The event runs from 6pm to 9pm and invites residents to park their vehicles, tune car radios to a designated frequency, and watch the film on a large outdoor screen. The screening represents part of an ongoing program of free community events designed to bring residents together across the region.

Drive-In Cinema Resurgence

The drive-in format has experienced renewed interest in recent years, tapping into nostalgia for an entertainment style that once dominated Australian leisure. At their peak in the early 1980s, around 350 drive-in cinemas operated across Australia, with Queensland hosting numerous venues including the Skyline Drive-In at Coopers Plains and Starlight Drive-In at Aspley.

Today, only around a dozen drive-in cinemas continue to operate regularly across Australia, making pop-up screenings like the Narangba event especially appealing for families chasing that classic drive-in experience. The COVID-19 pandemic sparked renewed appreciation for drive-in entertainment as a socially-distanced option, with many operators reviving the format for community events.

Queensland’s remaining permanent drive-in venues include the Tivoli Drive-In Theatre in Ipswich and Yatala Drive-In at Stapylton, both of which report strong attendance during school holidays and summer months despite competition from streaming services and multiplex cinemas.

The Minecraft Movie Draws Families

The featured film for the Narangba screening is The Minecraft Movie, a live-action adaptation of the world’s best-selling video game that was released in Australian cinemas in April 2025. The film stars Jack Black as Steve and Jason Momoa as Garrett “The Garbage Man” Garrison, following four unlikely characters transported into the blocky Overworld where they must work together to find their way home.

Free drive-in movie — Photo Credit: What’s On Moreton Bay / Facebook

The PG-rated adventure emphasizes teamwork, courage, and creativity—themes central to the Minecraft gaming experience that has sold over 300 million copies worldwide. While some scenes may confuse younger viewers, the film targets families with school-aged children who have likely encountered Minecraft through gaming or online content.

The movie generated significant box office success upon release, connecting with both dedicated Minecraft fans and families seeking accessible entertainment. Its selection for the Narangba screening reflects the film’s broad appeal across age groups and its suitability for outdoor family viewing.

Event Details and Accessibility

The Ferrier Road Park screening will display closed captions throughout the film to support accessibility for hearing-impaired attendees. Dogs are welcome at the event but must remain on leads at all times, acknowledging that Ferrier Road Park is a large unfenced area popular with dog owners.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own snacks, embracing the traditional drive-in experience where families would pack food and settle in for an evening under the stars. The film’s runtime allows the screening to conclude before 9pm, making it manageable for families with younger children on a school night.

Ferrier Road Park provides ample space for vehicles to park with clear sightlines to the screen, while maintaining the social aspect of shared entertainment that makes drive-in cinema distinct from home viewing. The park’s location in Narangba makes it accessible to families throughout the northern Moreton Bay region including North Lakes, Mango Hill, and surrounding suburbs.

Practical Considerations

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure good parking, as viewing angles depend on vehicle placement. While the event begins at 6pm to allow for setup, the film will start at dusk, depending on light conditions.

Drivers should monitor car battery use if running accessories, with portable radios recommended as an alternative.

Scheduled near the end of the summer school holidays in parts of Queensland, the free Narangba screening offers a cost-effective option for families, particularly in fast-growing areas like North Lakes and Narangba where demand for community events is rising. Its nostalgic appeal also spans generations, allowing parents and grandparents to share a classic drive-in experience with younger family members.

Make sure to check out whatsonmoretonbay.com.au for more information.

Published 1-February-2026.

Plans Revealed for New 24-Hour Wendy’s on Deception Bay Road

Photo Credit: DA/2025/6275

A quiet corner of the Rothwell Central shopping centre on Deception Bay Road is set to be transformed into a 24-hour Wendy’s restaurant under a new proposal lodged with the Moreton Bay Regional Council.

The development application outlines a plan to build on an underused section of the car park at the intersection of Deception Bay Road and Morris Road West. If approved, the new eatery will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, joining other major fast-food chains like Starbucks and Guzman y Gomez already operating nearby. Deliveries and waste collection trucks will be restricted to operating between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. to manage noise levels.

Zone Design has created the plans for the standalone building, which aims to make better use of the large shopping centre site. Planners at Reel Planning stated that adding a food and drink outlet in this location would strengthen the mix of businesses in the area. They noted that the building is designed to look good from the street and will help turn a quiet patch of ground into a busy, active space.

The proposed layout covers a lease area of 2,354 square metres within the broader 39,350 square metre centre. The restaurant itself will have a gross floor area of 315 square metres. Inside, the design includes a front-of-house dining area capable of seating 54 people. The back-of-house area will house the kitchen, cool room, freezer, storage, and a manager’s office.

To handle the flow of customers, the site will feature a single drive-through lane with two waiting bays for cars. The plans also include 22 car parking spaces specifically for the restaurant. This includes one service vehicle bay and one accessible space for people with disabilities. Planners believe the design will improve how people walk through the area and reduce the visual impact of the car park.

The application suggests that the building’s size and height fit well with the surrounding neighbourhood and the main road frontage. Landscaping is also a key part of the proposal. New plants and greenery are planned to soften the edges of the street and improve the look of the hard paved areas. Planners indicated that the project is designed to offer a positive contribution to the locality by increasing casual surveillance and activity along Morris Street West.

Published Date 21-January-2026

Design For New Narangba Depot Precinct Unveiled

Photo credit: PDT Architects

Construction will soon be underway for the Narangba Depot Precinct, a multi-million dollar project that includes a new works depot with intersection and road upgrade at Boundary Road.

Read: School Planned for North Lakes Common Development

Moreton Bay Regional Council has invested $34.3-million for the project, expecting that the move will help meet the current and future needs of Council staff and the Moreton Bay Region, as well as improve response times to requests by building a major works depot in the heart of the region.

The consolidation of three old works depots at Petrie, Burpengary and Deception Bay into one facility is expected to help reduce maintenance and operational costs in the region.

Mayor Peter Flannery said the new facility, which could accommodate up to 300 Council staff, is part of the Council’s preparation for the growth of Moreton Bay.

Photo credit: https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au

“In less than 15 years, this region will have a greater population than Tasmania, and a greater demand for essential services,” Mayor Flannery said.

Designed by PDT Architects, the precinct includes a new three-storey office building, a warehouse, store, workshop with space for 10 vehicle bays, wash bay with four wash bays and two vacuum bays, a fuel station, a pump house and services building.

“The architectural approach to ensure optimal performance was to review orientation opportunity, to mitigate unnecessary heat gain and glare into office spaces, in particular, and further to the workshop, store and warehouse to improve internal environment and working conditions for all staff across the Depot,” said PDT Architects.

Part of this upgrade will include the construction of a new intersection to provide safe entry and exit points into the new depot. It also includes the rehabilitation of approximately 950m of Boundary Road to improve the surface before the new facility opens.

ADCO Constructions has been awarded to do the project. Depending on weather and construction conditions, the new facility is expected to open in mid-2023.

Large Public Park Planned for North Lakes Golf Course Residential Development

The managing director of a future retirement village planned at the former North Lakes Golf Course has revealed that the majority of the 68-hectare property will become a public park, whilst only 12 hectares will be used for the dwelling and aged care accommodation.

Justin Harrison of the Village Retirement Group (VRG), who bought the controversial property in 2019, said that the potential construction of the retirement facility will still include plenty of green spaces. His statement comes after North Lakes locals have been protesting the golf course’s closure and the replacement of the fairways as an aged care site full of buildings.

From Lensworth to Stockland to VRG

In 2000, Lensworth owned and managed the land where the North Lakes Golf Course was established and developed a master plan for the suburb. This included building an exclusive residential site within an 18-hole championship golf course.

A few years later, Lensworth became part of the property developer, Stockland, in an $846-million acquisition deal. Property owners living within the surrounds of the North Lakes Golf Course said that they were attracted to Stockland’s marketing pitch of owning a home that sits within the view of the green fairways.

Later, Stockland sold the course to a private operator, Global Sports North Lakes, whilst the site continued to be a community hub. In 2019, the golf course was abruptly closed as residents were shocked to learn that Global Sports sold the land to JH Northlakes, Mr Harrison’s aged care development firm, and then officially closed the fairways in August that same year.

Retirement Village Review Process

Dave Laner, the general manager of Stockland Queensland, said they were made aware of the intention to sell the property at the same time as the residents, triggering a review process with the Moreton Bay Regional Council and the stakeholders.

The Council consulted an independent legal time to determine whether it’s feasible to have a retirement village as opposed to sticking to an original plan to have an exclusive residential precinct in the golf course.

The residents, some of whom have formed the Save North Lakes Golf Course group, have been hoping that the golf course will be retained, as it was originally part of the master plan for the suburb.

Today, however, that green space has been riddled with weeds as VRG could not proceed with the development due to the protests, consultations, and discussions with Moreton Bay Regional Council on the future of the site.

Photo Credit: Vanessa Ropiha/Google Maps

However, Mr Harrison acknowledged that the residents continue to use the space even though it is privately owned, thus highlighting the need for a public park.

Following a series of legal consultations, the Council declared in March 2021 that a retirement village project could proceed on the said site. VRG, however, has not yet lodged a development application with Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Mr Harrison said that their next important step was to turn over part of the land to the Council and his company would be meeting with concerned officials to discuss the process.

Locals Say No to Approved Housing Development in Deception Bay

33 Joseph Crescent, Deception Bay (Photo Credit: Google Street View)

A plan to develop a paddock into a subdivision has met a storm of opposition from Deception Bay residents.

The subject site, located at 33 Joseph Crescent and 46 Bancroft Terrace, has been earmarked for housing as part of Tricrest Developments and Makepaar Pty Ltd’s plan to develop a range of dwelling options.

Local homeowners oppose reconfiguring two lots into 35 lots, citing traffic, noise, and possible effects on property prices.

“This project for reconfiguration to provide for 35 residential lots on this low lying ground has many adverse consequences both to the environment and to residents in Joseph Crescent and Beach road. Moreover, it adds to congestion; impedes traffic; reduces benefits from development of the fisheries complex and does nothing to aid quality of life in the community,” residents wrote in a petition containing multiple signatures.

Proposed subdivision (Photo credit: pdonline.moretonbay.qld.gov.au)

Concept Plan

Located in an established low-density residential setting, the 32,789sqm site is on the northern side of Bancroft Terrace and western side of Joseph Crescent. A report prepared by I.B. Town Planning on behalf of the applicants states that site is relatively clear of significant vegetation.

Based on the original plan, the subdivision will feature a mix of lot sizes, ranging from 350sqm to 1910sqm. Twenty of the proposed 39 lots are less than 600sqm in area. It is proposed that the existing house located on Lot 9 be retained in the north-western corner of the property.

The building height will be 8.5 metres and 2 storeys, in compliance with the Caboolture Shire Plan. Each lot will be accessed via a new dedicated 16m wide road reserve connecting to Joseph Crescent on the eastern side of the property.

Aerial photo of the site (Photo credit: pdonline.moretonbay.qld.gov.au)

Despite receiving 11 submissions and a petition with more than 80 signatures, Moreton Bay Regional Council approved the proposed subdivision.

In response to outstanding matters, the applicants state that the lot sizes will maintain an area of at least 600 sqm around the perimeter of the subject site with all other lot sizes in the development being at least 400sqm in size. The subdivision maintains a total of 35 residential lots consistent with the version advertised during the public notification stage of the application.

For more information about this approved development in Deception Bay, see 2017 / 34780 / V34R.

DA Objection List Now Up to Save North Lakes Golf Course

Photo Credit: golfaustralia.com.au

Residents continue to oppose a retirement village proposed for North Lakes Golf Course, this time thru a DA Objection List.

The online form was initiated by Save North Lakes Golf Course (SNLGC), a group of locals opposing the closure. As part of the DA Objection process, they need to identify as many people as possible who are potentially willing to submit an objection to the Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) against the proposed redevelopment.

The group believes North Lakes Golf Course is far more than just a golf course. It also serves as the focal point of a thriving community that boasts a population of over 25,000 residents.

“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,” the organisation wrote in their page.

SNLGC believes there are far more viable uses to the golf course instead of selling it to developers, like maintaining it for present and future generations.

About the Golf Course

Located 25 kilometres north of Brisbane, the golf course opened for play in November 2002 as the centrepiece of a fully planned community.

Graham Marsh, one of the leading Australian professional golfers of his generation, created its par-72 layout. He kept Lake Eden, the natural waterways on the site and enhanced it to become a feature of the course.

Plans for North Lakes Golf Course

In 2018, the Club’s management discussed selling 11ha of its land to The Village Retirement Group to build a 200-unit low-rise retirement village and a three-storey aged care facility following its closure because of financial losses.

The remaining 57ha of land would be kept for open space, environmental protection and possible sports and recreation facilities for the community, something that proponents of the plan and those supporting it have also pointed out.

If you are against this development, you can fill up the online form here to register your interest regarding lodgement of DA Objections to rezoning and redevelopment of the golf course.

Aside from signing the objection form, the group has urged residents to join their Facebook page, as well as share and like their FB posts to create awareness.

North Lakes Blues Netball Club Secures $1M for its Own Courts

North Lakes Blues (Photo Credit: Pine Rivers Netball Association Inc/Facebook)

The North Lakes Blues Netball Club will no longer have to rent courts for training after securing $1 million from the Federal budget, which will be used for putting forward their much-needed clubhouse and courts.

Club president Samantha Malopito said it would take a year to plan and six months to build, with the $1-M enough to cover most of the cost.

The club wanted four courts and a clubhouse on vacant land at the Kinsellas Sports Complex in Innovation Place, but the Moreton Bay Regional Council now has no choice because they have to put something in their 2019-2020 budget.

Federal LNP MP for Petrie Luke Howarth led the petition to support the Netball Club and North Lakes Eels Australian Football Club, getting more than 600 signatures for it.

Like the netball club, the football club will also receive money from the Federal budget, an amount of $263,000 which will be used for lighting.

“Sporting infrastructure in particular is important because to be part of a team, to keep fit and healthy has such a positive impact on people, whether we’re talking about kids or adults. Sport brings people together,” Mr Howarth said.

Mr Howarth said North Lakes doubled in population in the past few years and has a massive shortage of sporting facilities. Apart from supporting sports clubs, he has been so vocal and strongly against the sale of North Lakes Golf Course.

“We want to make sure the council doesn’t rezone that sport and recreational facility to residential aged care. The new courts for the Blues will be great for young girls and women who play netball,” Mr Howarth said.

About the North Lakes Blues Netball Club

The club is a non-for-profit organisation and has been in existence in its current format for over 10 years. The club now has 25 teams ranging from under 8 to competitive and social seniors.

All committee members are unpaid and volunteer their services for the benefit of club members. Players can play for the club if they are born 2012 or earlier.

Younger players can register directly with Pine Rivers Netball Association to participate in their skills training sessions run on Saturday mornings at PRNA courts.

Development Starts on North Lakes MIxed-use Housing for Young People with High Physical-Care Needs

Work on a mixed-use housing development in North Lakes, intended for young people with high physical-care needs, has officially commenced with the sod-turning ceremony held on 27 March 2019.

Non-for-profit organisation Youngcare, in partnership with the Moreton Bay Regional Council and the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane, is set to deliver North Lake’s first integrated housing development by 2020.

The Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane will fund the design and construction as well as purchase the land which will then be leased to Youngcare.

Youngcare CEO Anthony Ryan said that the development is an essential step forward “in putting an end to young people with a disability being left behind in inappropriate and unacceptable accommodation due to a lack of suitable housing options.”

*Photo Credit: Youngcare / youngcare.com.au*

The development follows Minister for Families and Social Services Paul Fletcher’s recent announcement of a national action plan aimed at reducing the number of young people with a disability in aged care.

“There are currently around 2,500 young Queenslanders with high care needs living in inappropriate accommodation like aged care, hospital rooms and institutionalised housing, with more than 200 living in the Moreton Bay Region,” Mr Ryan said.

“By working with the Moreton Bay Regional Council and Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane to build an integrated development at North Lakes, we can make a real difference in the lives of young people in our community who deserve to live where and how they want,” Mr Ryan said.

The complex will feature seven two-bedroom accessible apartments with onsite and around-the-clock care to cater to the individual needs of its residents. At the ground floor will feature a café, rehabilitation therapy tenancies, and retail outlets.

“The mix of uses is designed to engage the external community, create vibrancy and ensure that young people with high care needs are fully integrated in a true community, avoiding isolation and segregation,” the Youngcare’s website said.

New Primary School Flexi Campus to Open in Deception Bay Soon

Photo credit: picjumbo_com/Pixabay

The development application for a new primary school flexi campus at 45 Grosvenor Terrace, Deception Bay just received a green-light.

Edmund Rice Education Australia received an approval from the Moreton Bay Regional Council to push through with their proposed development, which will be called the Deception Bay Flexible Learning Centre.

Designed by Carol Dowd Architect, the soon-to-rise Deception Bay FLC will have two small classrooms to cater to primary aged students along with a 37.5-sqm general learning area, 14-sqm kitchen, and an 11-sqm “quiet room.”

Deception Bay Flexi Campus principal Paul Flanders said the flexi school was proposed in response to numerous inquiries about places for students that were expelled or unable to cope in mainstream primary school.

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 learning centre will follow the existing flexi campuses’ model, which revolves around 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.

Meanwhile, Edmund Rice Education Australia has not confirmed if they will stick to the originally planned opening of the flexi campus in June 2019.

Once open, the primary school will cater to students Years 5 and 6 and will operate between 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday to Friday.

Taco Bell Set to Open a New Store in North Lakes

North Lakes will soon have its own Taco Bell outlet following Moreton Bay Regional Council’s approval of the development application on 120 Flinders Parade.

Photo credit: Facebook/Taco Bell Australia

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.

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.

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.