Moreton Bay Archives - North Lakes Today

North Lakes Cinema to Screen New Breast Cancer Documentary

Moreton Bay residents can attend screenings of Conquering Breast Cancer at Event Cinemas North Lakes. Featuring survivor stories, medical experts and advocates, the documentary aims to raise awareness and encourage greater support for breast cancer prevention, detection and research.

Presented beginning 10 June by filmmaker Sue Collins and produced by impact filmmakers Mike Hill and Sue Collins, the feature-length documentary combines expert medical insight with the personal experiences of survivors, advocates and researchers working to reduce the impact of breast cancer in Australia.

Among those featured are Olympic legend and breast cancer advocate Raelene Boyle AM, MBE, First Nations survivor and mountaineer Kristal Kinsela, male breast cancer survivor and former professional basketballer Paul Maley, and podcaster Dr Charlotte Tottman. The film also includes insights from leading experts including Professor Bruce Mann, Professor Kelly-Anne Phillips and Associate Professor Christine Chaffer.

conquering breast cancer documentary — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

More Than 20,000 Australians Diagnosed Every Year

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Australian women and the second most commonly diagnosed cancer overall.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, more than 20,000 Australians are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Around 56 people receive a diagnosis every day, while more than 3,300 Australians lose their lives to the disease annually — the equivalent of approximately nine deaths every day.

While the majority of cases occur in women over 50, breast cancer also affects younger Australians. Around 1,000 women under the age of 40 are diagnosed each year, highlighting the importance of awareness and early detection across all age groups.

The Survivors, Advocates and Experts Behind the Film

Rather than focusing solely on statistics, Conquering Breast Cancer tells the stories of Australians whose lives have been changed by the disease.

The documentary follows survivors, patient advocates and researchers from across the country, exploring everything from diagnosis and treatment to survivorship, recurrence, genetic risk and the emotional impact breast cancer can have on individuals and families.

breast cancer patient — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

The film also highlights the experiences of people living with metastatic breast cancer, as well as Australians making difficult decisions around preventative treatment after discovering they are at high genetic risk of developing the disease.

Early Detection Remains One of the Strongest Defences

A central theme throughout the documentary is the importance of prevention and early detection.

Medical experts featured in the film discuss advances in screening technologies, personalised risk assessment, targeted therapies and clinical trials that are helping improve outcomes for patients.

While Australia has achieved five-year survival rates of more than 90 per cent, the filmmakers argue that breast cancer is far from solved and that ongoing investment in research, screening programs and access to treatment remains essential.

The documentary also examines how researchers are working towards reducing recurrence rates and improving long-term outcomes for those who have already undergone treatment.

researchers working on breast cancer improvements — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

The Growing Impact on Australian Families and Communities

Beyond the personal toll, breast cancer continues to have a significant impact on communities across Australia.

More than 160,000 Australians are currently living after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis within the past decade. Research has also shown the disease carries substantial social and economic costs, affecting workforce participation, family wellbeing and quality of life.

breast cancer warriors and supporters — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

The filmmakers hope the documentary will encourage more Australians to understand their personal risk, participate in recommended screening programs and support ongoing efforts to improve prevention, treatment and research.

As the third instalment in the Conquering Cancer documentary series, Conquering Breast Cancer aims to start conversations, challenge complacency and highlight both the progress that has been made and the work that still lies ahead.

For more information and session times, visit ConqueringBreastCancer.com.au.

Published 9-June-2026

Moreton Bay Koala Work Turns To Thermal Drone Surveys

Photo Credit: Save the Koalas and Wallabies of White's Hill/Facebook

North Lakes locals are close to a wider Moreton Bay conservation effort, with a koala population study now using thermal drones, detection dogs and scat analysis to better understand local koala populations.

A Closer Look At Koala Populations

A koala population study is underway in selected Moreton Bay reserves, bringing together drone technology and ground-based surveys to collect information about local koalas.

The work is being supported by the University of the Sunshine Coast and is intended to help improve knowledge of koala population dynamics in parks and reserves. The information gathered will later guide conservation work in the areas being surveyed.

Thermal-camera drones are being flown over specific reserve areas in a systematic scanning pattern. The drones are used to help detect koalas from above before field personnel and detection dogs conduct follow-up scat surveys on the ground.

The scat samples collected during the field work will be analysed to assess koala health and demographics. This will help build a more detailed understanding of koalas in the surveyed areas, including information beyond their location.

koala population study — Photo Credit: Save the Koalas and Wallabies of White’s Hill/Facebook

Survey Work Runs Through Selected Reserves

The confirmed survey locations are Murrumba Downs, Kallangur, Strathpine, Petrie, Lawnton, Whiteside and Joyner.

The work is scheduled to continue until 11 June 2026, weather permitting. Survey activity is being carried out between 10pm and 5am, with drone flights followed by ground-based checks where required.

At this stage, the project is still collecting data. No findings have been released about koala numbers, distribution or health, and the results are expected later this year.

koala habitat — Photo Credit: Save the Koalas and Wallabies of White’s Hill/Facebook

Data To Guide Habitat And Movement Measures

Once the results are analysed, they may help inform future koala conservation projects. These may include vegetation and habitat assessments, weed control, infill planting, disease management, koala hatches, underpasses and exclusion fencing.

The study is aimed at filling gaps in knowledge about koalas in selected parks and reserves. By using thermal drones first and detection dogs on the ground, the project can combine wider aerial scanning with targeted sample collection.

The findings will not be known until the analysis is complete. The survey work marks an early but important step in understanding how koalas are using parts of Moreton Bay and what future conservation work may need to address.

Published 1-June-2026

Petrie Set To Host One of the World’s Most Advanced Computing Projects

A suburb better known for its university campus and train station is now being linked to one of the biggest technology projects on the planet, with Petrie selected as the future home of PsiQuantum’s planned utility-scale quantum computer and Asia-Pacific headquarters.

The project, backed through partnerships involving PsiQuantum, the City of Moreton Bay and the Queensland and Federal governments, is expected to be built at Moreton Bay Central in Petrie. The proposed site sits beside the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus, an area that has steadily grown into a centre for education, research and new industry.

A Global Technology Race Lands In Moreton Bay

Quantum computing has been described by researchers as the next major leap in computing power, with the potential to solve problems that current supercomputers would struggle to process. PsiQuantum is among a small group of companies worldwide working to build a machine capable of operating at a large commercial scale.

The Australian project forms part of a broader push to strengthen the country’s role in advanced technology and manufacturing. The company’s earlier plans centred on Brisbane Airport before attention shifted north to Petrie and the Moreton Bay region.

In statements released by the City of Moreton Bay and PsiQuantum, both organisations pointed to Petrie’s growing infrastructure, transport access and links to education and research institutions as major reasons behind the move.

The project still needs to pass Council approval and land processes before construction can move ahead. If approved, the project would place Moreton Bay alongside a short list of international locations connected to the global race to build practical quantum computers.

Petrie’s University Precinct Draws International Attention

The choice of Petrie reflects how quickly the area around Moreton Bay Central has changed over the past decade. Once dominated by former paper mill land, the precinct now includes university facilities, commercial developments and expanding transport links connected to Brisbane’s northern corridor.

The University of the Sunshine Coast’s Moreton Bay campus has become one of the region’s fastest-growing education sites, with local leaders hoping the quantum computing project could help create stronger pathways between universities, research groups and private industry.

The development could help attract advanced manufacturing businesses and specialist suppliers into the region over time.

PsiQuantum has also signalled plans to work alongside Australian universities and researchers as the project develops. The company previously partnered with government agencies and academic institutions during earlier phases of its Australian expansion.

Jobs, Construction And Long-Term Growth For Locals

Local leaders believe the development could reshape employment opportunities across Moreton Bay over the coming years, particularly in engineering, construction, advanced manufacturing and technology.

Statements from Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery described the proposal as one of the largest technology projects ever connected to the region, with expectations it could support thousands of skilled jobs both during and after construction.

While many of the long-term technical roles would require specialised training, large infrastructure projects of this scale also tend to create demand across local businesses, hospitality, transport and support services.

Australia’s Quantum Industry Continues To Expand

Quantum computing has become an increasingly competitive global industry, with governments and private companies investing heavily in research centres, chip manufacturing and specialist talent.

A Queensland Government statement confirmed significant state and federal support connected to PsiQuantum’s Australian operations, reflecting growing interest in keeping high-level technology development within Australia.

Industry experts believe quantum systems could eventually assist with medical research, logistics, climate modelling, cybersecurity and energy systems, although large-scale commercial use is still years away.

Publidhrf

Old Petrie Town Revival Mirrors Petrie’s Changing Identity

Photo Credit: Peter Akers/Google Maps

For years, Old Petrie Town stood as a reminder of the suburb Petrie used to be — practical, familiar and shaped by its industrial past. Now, as restoration works move ahead across the historic village, the site is becoming part of a much bigger story unfolding north of Brisbane, where Petrie has steadily shifted from a commuter suburb into one of Moreton Bay’s fastest-changing education and lifestyle precincts.

A Suburb Once Defined by the Paper Mill

Long before the arrival of university students and new commercial developments, Petrie was closely tied to the Australian Paper Mill, which operated beside the North Pine River for decades. The mill shaped the local economy and identity until its closure in 2011 left behind a massive industrial site near Petrie railway station.

What followed was one of the largest redevelopment projects in the region.

The Queensland Government later declared the area a Priority Development Area, paving the way for what is now known as Moreton Bay Central. The project spans hundreds of hectares and includes public spaces, commercial land, future housing and the growing UniSC Moreton Bay campus.

This period marked the first major shift in how Petrie was being viewed.

Moreton Bay Central
Photo Credit: EDQ QLD

UniSC Changed More Than the Skyline

When the University of the Sunshine Coast opened its Moreton Bay campus in 2020, the suburb began attracting a different mix of people. Students, researchers, hospitality businesses and new residents started moving through an area once known mainly for train commuters and passing traffic.

The campus has continued expanding, with three major buildings added in 2024, including health, engineering and research facilities.

That growth has flowed into surrounding suburbs including Kallangur, Lawnton and North Lakes, where increased demand for housing and local businesses has followed the area’s population growth.

New student accommodation proposals and upgrades around the lake precinct have added to the sense that Petrie is no longer developing around a single project, but through several layers of change happening at once.

Old Petrie Town Finds a New Place in the Story

Against that backdrop, Old Petrie Town has taken on fresh importance.

City of Moreton Bay has committed millions of dollars towards restoration and maintenance works across the heritage village, including upgrades to ageing buildings, infrastructure repairs and improvements to public areas. The council has also flagged plans to refurbish the Heritage Hotel and Function Centre following the retirement of its long-term leaseholder.

The village has remained a regular stop for markets, weddings, school excursions and community events over the years, even as the surrounding suburb changed around it.

Rather than removing the area’s older identity, the current works aim to keep one of Petrie’s best-known landmarks active while newer developments continue reshaping the district.

Council statements linked the project to preserving the site’s historical value while improving the visitor experience and supporting future tourism activity.

Growth Around Petrie Starts Reaching Further North

The changes taking place in Petrie are also being felt across the northern corridor, particularly in North Lakes, where population growth and transport links have increasingly tied the suburbs together.

Petrie railway station remains a key connection point for workers and students travelling between Brisbane and Moreton Bay, while nearby road upgrades and commercial investment have continued drawing attention to the area.

The transformation has not arrived in the same way as masterplanned suburbs like North Lakes, which expanded rapidly over a shorter period. Petrie’s shift has happened gradually through redevelopment, education investment, public infrastructure and community projects spread over several years.

That slower pace has made the changes less dramatic day-to-day, but more noticeable over time.

A Different Future Taking Shape

Old Petrie Town still looks much the same in many places, with heritage buildings, market stalls and timber shopfronts remaining central to the site’s character. But around it, the suburb has entered a very different chapter from the one many long-term residents remember.

Between the university expansion, redevelopment of the former mill land and continued investment in community spaces, Petrie has become one of the region’s most closely watched growth areas.

The work now happening at Old Petrie Town reflects that broader shift — not replacing the suburb’s past, but finding a place for it inside a rapidly changing part of Moreton Bay.

Published 20-May-2026

Deception Bay’s 50m Pool Will Stay Unheated, Despite a Push from Local Swimmers

Deception Bay Aquatic Centre

A petition calling for the 50-metre pool at Deception Bay Aquatic Centre to be heated and opened year-round has not succeeded, with the City of Moreton Bay citing low patronage as the reason heating the outdoor pool is not financially viable.

The petition, organised by local swimmer Emanuela Bassi, gathered 53 signatures from residents calling for the facility at 153 Maine Terrace to remain open through winter, currently May to August. The response, delivered following a general meeting earlier this month, was clear: the numbers do not stack up.

“The very low patronage of Deception Bay’s 50m pool means it is currently not sustainable to install heaters and subsidise the cost of energy, water, staff, and maintenance at this venue,” a City of Moreton Bay spokesperson said.

A Facility with Everything But a Heater

While the Deception Bay Aquatic Centre already hosts a heated indoor programme pool for therapy and rehabilitation, it’s the outdoor 50m pool that lap swimmers rely on that remains cold and closed throughout the winter.

Photo Credit: Deception Bay Aquatic Centre

For Bassi, who swims at the centre four or five times a week, that distinction matters enormously. She drives further to access a heated 50m pool each winter and says she is not alone in that inconvenience.

“I had a chat last year with some people coming to swim and all of them would have stayed in Deception Bay in winter if the pool was heated,” she said. “It’s a beautiful facility. It’s big, has a 50m pool, everything is there. If they organised winter classes, like in Redcliffe and Burpengary, people would come in winter.”

Bassi ran the petition as a trial run rather than an organised campaign, and believes a stronger effort could attract more support.

“I did this as a trial, not knowing if anyone else felt the same way. I think I could have raised more signatures if I was there.”

Where to Swim This Winter

For Deception Bay, Murrumba Downs, Dayboro and Woodford residents whose local pools will close in May, the City of Moreton Bay has pointed to three nearby heated alternatives: Redcliffe War Memorial Pool, which features a 50m indoor heated pool; Burpengary Regional Aquatic and Leisure Centre; and North Lakes Aquatic Centre, which offers both indoor and outdoor heated pools alongside aqua aerobics, squad training and learn-to-swim programmes.

Deception Bay Aquatic Centre is at 153 Maine Terrace, Deception Bay. For seasonal opening hours and programme information, visit deceptionbaypool.com.au or call the centre directly at 07 3204 7845.

Published 29-April-2026

Smoke Drifts Across Moreton Bay as Planned Burn-Offs Begin

Featured Image Credit: City of Moreton Bay/YouTube

Residents across Moreton Bay are waking to smoke drifting over suburbs as planned burn-offs begin across bushland areas, with fire crews lighting controlled fires to reduce the threat of bushfires before peak season. From Bribie Island to Upper Caboolture, these managed burns are already affecting nearby communities, with smoke expected to hang in the air for days even after flames are extinguished.

The burns began with activity recorded around April 15 and continuing through April 16, according to local authorities. Crews carried out operations in areas including Bribie Island, particularly near Mermaid Lagoon, as well as Upper Caboolture, while new sites such as Albany Creek were scheduled to follow as conditions allowed.

Smoke spreads beyond burn zones into nearby suburbs

While the fires are controlled, the effects are not limited to the burn sites themselves. Smoke from operations near Banksia Beach has been reported drifting into nearby areas such as Toorbul and Sandstone Point, affecting visibility and air quality. Authorities have advised residents, especially those with respiratory conditions, to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when smoke is present.

Even after a burn is completed, crews continue to patrol and monitor the area for several days to ensure the fire remains contained. This means some suburbs may continue to experience smoke or restricted access beyond the initial burn period.

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay/YouTube

Moreton Bay hazard reduction burns: affected suburbs and status

Suburb / Area	Burn Status	Community Impact
Bribie Island (Banksia Beach)	Completed / Recent	Smoke lingering, monitoring ongoing
Upper Caboolture	Completed / Recent	Possible residual smoke, patrols in place
Albany Creek	Scheduled / Likely underway	Possible smoke if conditions met
Toorbul	Indirect impact	Smoke drift reported from nearby burns
Sandstone Point	Indirect impact	Smoke drift affecting area
Bellara	Planned	Future burn, timing dependent on weather
Burpengary	Planned	Future burn, no fixed schedule
Caboolture	Planned	Future burn, no fixed schedule
Deception Bay	Planned	Future burn, no fixed schedule
Griffin	Planned	Future burn, no fixed schedule
Mount Glorious	Planned	Future burn in bushland areas
Ningi	Planned	Future burn, timing to be confirmed
Whiteside	Planned	Future burn, no fixed schedule
Woodford	Planned	Future burn, rural bushland areas

No fixed schedule as weather dictates next burns

Although more than a dozen additional burn sites have been identified across Moreton Bay, including Burpengary, Deception Bay, Griffin and Woodford, there is no set timetable for when each location will be treated. Authorities rely on specific weather and environmental conditions before lighting any fire, meaning plans can shift quickly.

Burn season typically runs from March to August, but officials note that operations can take place at any time of the year if conditions are safe. This flexible approach is designed to ensure each burn can be carried out with minimal risk to surrounding communities.

Balancing fire prevention with environmental care

Officials say the burns play a key role in reducing fuel loads such as dry leaves and fallen branches, which can feed dangerous bushfires during hotter months. At the same time, the process is managed to protect local wildlife and vegetation.

Before each burn, teams assess the site to identify sensitive habitats and species. Measures such as clearing around trees and monitoring wildlife during the burn are put in place. The use of aerial incendiary drones has also been introduced to help crews ignite fires more precisely, particularly in hard-to-reach terrain.

Authorities say these planned burns also support the natural cycle of some native plants, which rely on fire or smoke to trigger growth and seed release, helping maintain the region’s biodiversity.

Published 20-April-2026

Narangba Residents Back Plan to Manage Flying Fox Colony Near Homes

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay

A plan to manage a long-standing flying fox colony in Narangba has drawn support from the community, with residents backing a solution aimed at reducing impacts on nearby homes while keeping the protected animals within the parkland.

Feedback shows strong local interest in finding an approach that improves daily life for neighbours while limiting harm to the bats. After a consultation period from 12 January to 6 February 2026, a report in March summarised feedback on a proposal to install canopy-mounted sprinklers in the parkland next to New Settlement Road.

The system is designed to encourage flying foxes to move deeper into the reserve, increasing the distance between the colony and surrounding homes rather than forcing them out of the area entirely.

A Management Approach Council Has Used Before

Council has pointed to previous use of similar sprinkler systems, including at Redcliffe Botanic Gardens, where the method was found to move flying foxes away from residential edges while allowing them to remain in the broader area.

The approach uses intermittent water sprays in the tree canopy to make certain roosting spots less attractive, with the aim of shifting the colony farther from nearby homes.

The Your Say Moreton Bay project page explains that the goal is not removal, but better positioning of the colony within the parkland.

Narangba Residents Show Measured Support

Survey results show that many residents are open to the proposed solution. Overall, 58 per cent of respondents supported or strongly supported measures to increase the distance between homes and the colony. Among residents living directly beside the parkland, support was higher, with 63 per cent backing the approach.

Photo Credit: Flying Fox Management Consultation Report

While views differ, the results show support for action alongside concern about how the approach would work. Many respondents highlighted the need to reduce impacts on nearby homes while also recognising the importance of protecting flying foxes, which are native species covered by state and federal laws.

Residents living closest to the colony have reported challenges such as noise, odour and droppings affecting their homes and outdoor spaces. The consultation highlights that these impacts are most strongly felt by households bordering the parkland, where more than half described themselves as severely affected.

Residents Favour Council Oversight of Any Sprinkler System

Another strong theme in the feedback is a preference for Council to manage the process. Among residents living adjacent to the parkland, most said they would prefer Council to control the sprinkler system rather than individual households.

Residents also showed interest in how the system would be rolled out, how its success would be measured and what safeguards would be in place for the animals.

While questions remain about implementation and long-term outcomes, the response reflects a mix of support and caution from the community.

Published 17-April-2026

Haley Cobb Heads to National Final with Focus on Cancer Prevention and Mental Health

Haley Cobb/Facebook

Haley Cobb has spent five years turning a love of pageantry into something much larger than a crown, and this month the 28-year-old Narangba resident steps onto the national stage as one of eight finalists in the Ms Galaxy Australia division of the 2026 Australia Galaxy Pageants National Final.

The Crowning Gala takes place on Saturday 2 May at Bankstown Sports Club in Sydney, marking the pageant system’s 15th anniversary. But for Haley, the competition itself is only part of what drives her. Since entering her first pageant in 2021, she has raised almost $15,000 for various causes, earned the Miss Australia International and Miss Charity Australia titles, and built a community presence in Moreton Bay that stretches from school classrooms to retirement villages to clean-up days along the coast.

“I fell in love with pageantry,” said Haley, who graduated from UniSC Moreton Bay at Petrie. The campus at Petrie, approximately 30 kilometres north of Brisbane, was the first full-service university campus ever built in the Moreton Bay region and the place where Haley’s identity as both a student and a community advocate began to take shape. She now holds a Masters in teaching and works as a financial controller.

A Platform That Actually Does Something

Haley’s pageant platform is cancer prevention, and she has developed her own approach to communicating it. She visits schools and distributes health and wellness colouring-in books for children, accompanied by information flyers designed to help parents understand the message behind the activities. The approach is deliberately accessible: complex health conversations translated into something a child can engage with and take home.

Haley Cobb uses pageantry as her platform to spread awareness — Photo Credit: Haley Cobb/Facebook

“Pageant is about getting individuals out and about in the community, volunteering and fundraising and making sure the next generation of leaders is out there advocating for change,” Haley said. “We have our own platform, mine is cancer prevention. I do things like going to schools and helping educate children about being preventative in a kid-friendly way.”

Beyond cancer prevention, her diary reads like a map of Moreton Bay’s community calendar. In a single five-day stretch recently, she helped at a Share the Dignity collection in Petrie, delivered a school speech, attended a hospital Giving Day, joined a Tour de Cure lunch for cancer research, participated in a Conservation Australia Clean Up Day, and helped restore houses with Habitat for Humanity. She has also helped with gift wrapping, marshalled fun runs and spoken in retirement villages.

“I find my way into every community and charity group!” she said.

Why Mental Health Is Personal

This year’s Australia Galaxy Pageants competition requires every finalist to raise $2,000 for batyr, the national youth preventative mental health charity. Batyr is a youth-led mental health organisation pioneering preventative approaches through peer-to-peer education and lived experience storytelling, creating safe, stigma-free spaces where young people feel empowered to prioritise their mental health before challenges escalate.

For Haley, the connection is personal. She moved out of the family farm at 17, began university, and navigated those years with the support batyr provides. “I grew up with mental health issues. Batyr guided me,” she said. “It has young adults, those your own age, talking to you, rather than people like your mum or dad. It focuses on young adults or those who have been through similar situations, helping those from teenagers to university students make their way through mental health.”

The experience has shaped not just what she advocates for, but how she does it. Knowing firsthand what it feels like to arrive somewhere unfamiliar and uncertain has made her a more grounded and empathetic voice in the Moreton Bay communities she serves.

The Community Behind Haley’s Journey

Haley’s connection to the region is not incidental. She credits the Moreton Bay community with shaping who she has become, and that sense of belonging is what makes representing it on a national stage feel meaningful rather than simply competitive.

“I genuinely find the Moreton Bay community to be incredibly welcoming and supportive,” she said. “Moreton Bay has played a significant role in shaping my journey, which is why it feels especially meaningful to be representing and fundraising within the region.”

The 2026 Australia Galaxy Pageants National Final runs from 29 April to 2 May at Bankstown Sports Club in Sydney. Tickets are available here. To support Haley’s fundraising for batyr, visit australiagalaxypageants.com or follow her journey on social media.

Published 13-April-2026

Digital Water Meters Rolled Out in Kallangur and Mango Hill as Expansion Begins

Kallangur and Mango Hill are among the Moreton Bay suburbs now receiving digital water meters, as part of a broader rollout designed to improve leak detection, provide clearer billing and strengthen visibility across the water network.

Digital Rollout Targets Older Areas

Kallangur and Mango Hill are included in a regional rollout of digital water meters, with installations prioritised in older parts of the network where leaks are more likely to occur. The upgrade involves replacing traditional mechanical meters with modern digital devices that support earlier identification of potential issues within both individual properties and the wider system.

The rollout forms part of a broader program extending across multiple suburbs, with further installations scheduled to continue over the coming months. Additional suburbs in Noosa are set to receive digital meters as the expansion progresses.

Daily Data Improves Leak Detection

The introduction of digital meters changes how water use is monitored, shifting from quarterly readings to daily data transmission. The devices securely send water usage information, allowing for quicker detection of concealed leaks that may otherwise go unnoticed until a billing cycle is completed.

This increased frequency provides a clearer picture of water use across the network, supporting earlier notifications to customers and clearer billing.

Network-Based Installation Approach

The installation process in Kallangur and Mango Hill follows a network-based approach rather than a street-by-street rollout. This method aligns with the layout of water supply infrastructure, allowing more effective monitoring of defined sections of the network.

As a result, some residents may see neighbouring properties upgraded ahead of their own, depending on how each section of the system is scheduled. This approach supports more accurate identification of potential leaks beyond the household level.

Pilot Results Support Expansion

Earlier testing of digital metering across 10,000 properties demonstrated measurable results, including more than 800 million litres of water saved and over $5 million in customer savings. The program also assisted more than 3,000 households in identifying leaks early.

These outcomes have supported the broader rollout now reaching suburbs including Kallangur and Mango Hill.

Kallangur Mango Hill — *Photo Credit: Unitywater/YouTube*

How Meter Upgrades Will Be Carried Out

Households selected for upgrades in Kallangur and Mango Hill will receive a letter from Unitywater, followed by a notice several days before installation.

The process takes between five minutes and one hour, with no requirement for residents to be present. There is no cost for the upgrade, and any temporary water shutdowns are communicated in advance.

As the rollout expands, an option for customers to opt in earlier is set to be introduced.

Published 12-Apr-2026

Moreton Bay Wildlife Road Safety Network Wins National Recognition

City of Moreton Bay/Facebook

A wildlife road safety network spanning more than 3,800 kilometres of roads across the Moreton Bay region has received a national project award from the peak body for ecology and transportation research.

The Australasian Network for Ecology and Transportation (ANET) presented City of Moreton Bay with its Project Award for the Green Infrastructure Network Delivery Program, recognising over a decade of work to help native animals cross roads safely across suburbs including North Lakes, Narangba, Morayfield, Bribie and Everton Hills.

The programme has been running since 2014 and has grown into one of the most comprehensive wildlife road safety networks in the country.

What the Network Has Built Since 2014

The scale of the infrastructure is considerable. The programme has delivered more than 47 canopy bridges, 21 kilometres of wildlife exclusion fencing, 16 fauna escape hatches and 48 wildlife underpasses across the region. More than 150 vehicle-activated LED signs now provide real-time alerts to motorists in koala and kangaroo zones, raising awareness at the moments it matters most.

Green Infrastructure Network Delivery Program — Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay/Facebook

A permanent 4G camera network monitors fauna crossing structures at 14 locations across the region. Since 2020, those cameras have recorded more than 80,000 crossings, capturing not just kangaroos and koalas but rarely seen species including the marsupial Brush-tailed Phascogale and the Feather-tailed Glider, recognised as the world’s smallest gliding mammal.

Connecting Habitats Across Busy Roads

For communities in North Lakes and Narangba, where residential development sits alongside bushland corridors, the programme addresses a daily reality. As population growth pushes new housing closer to reserves and parks, the pressure on wildlife to navigate roads to move between habitat patches increases alongside it.

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay/Facebook

The network provides those animals with safer options, whether that is a canopy bridge allowing possums and gliders to move through the treetops above a busy road, or a wildlife underpass letting ground-dwelling species cross beneath it. The exclusion fencing channels animals toward these dedicated crossing points rather than onto the road surface itself.

ANET Chairperson Rodney Van der Ree noted that the programme demonstrated what becomes possible when different departments work together toward a shared outcome, and pointed to it as a model for local governments around the country.

The recognition from ANET follows the Australian Road Safety Foundation presenting the programme with its Local Government Programs Award at last year’s Australian Road Safety Awards, making it back-to-back national acknowledgements for the work.

Finding Out More

Residents who want to learn more about the Green Infrastructure Network Delivery Program or the fauna monitoring network can visit the City of Moreton Bay website. Sightings of injured or distressed wildlife on or near roads can be reported to RSPCA Queensland on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) or Wildcare Australia on 07 5527 2444.

Published 02-April-2026