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 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.
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.
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.
The Lakes College community came together recently to celebrate the official opening of its new Performing Arts Precinct and Gym, marking one of the most significant milestones in the North Lakes school’s 21-year history.
Families, staff, students and special guests gathered for the occasion, which included student performances and a chance to explore the brand-new facilities firsthand. The mood was celebratory, and for good reason. Just twelve months ago, the space beneath the College’s Multi-Purpose Hall was little more than a muddy undercroft. Today, it has been transformed into a purpose-built 1,000-plus square metre precinct designed to nurture creativity, collaboration and student wellbeing.
The development forms Stage 2 of the College’s Multi-Purpose Hall project, and the scale of the transformation is hard to miss. Where there was once an underutilised void, there is now a music classroom, seven music tutor rooms, an orchestra room, a recording studio connected to rehearsal spaces and tutor rooms, and a versatile dance and drama studio that can expand into a larger performance venue when the occasion calls for it.
Photo credit: The Lakes College
Principal Nicole Gregory spoke at the opening ceremony about the significance of the development, describing it as a testament to more than two decades of passion and persistence behind the College’s arts education programs. She said subjects like Music, Drama, Dance, Media and Visual Arts hold an extraordinary capacity to engage, challenge and transform young people.
Gregory also acknowledged the humble origins of those programs, noting that in the early days, teachers and tutors created opportunities wherever space could be found across the campus. The new precinct, she said, honours that hard work while laying the groundwork for what comes next.
Students have been quick to embrace the new spaces. Year 12 student Grace said the precinct had created an inspiring environment for the whole school community, adding that the old space had been far too cramped and that the new facility finally gives students the room to come together and collaborate.
That sense of togetherness appears to be exactly what the College had in mind when planning the precinct. Rather than isolated practice rooms tucked away in unused corners of the campus, the new facility brings students, teachers and tutors into a shared creative hub, one designed to spark the kind of spontaneous collaboration that tends to produce the best work.
Alongside the performing arts spaces, the new Gym adds further value to the precinct by supporting Secondary HPE classes and bolstering the College’s Athletics, Swimming and Dance programs. It rounds out what is now a genuinely comprehensive creative and physical wellbeing facility.
Photo credit: Facebook/The Lakes College
The Lakes College caters to students from Prep through to Year 12, and the opening of this precinct signals a continued commitment to providing learning environments that support the whole student, not just their academic development. The school has long championed the arts as a vehicle for growth, and this investment backs that philosophy with bricks and mortar.
For a school community that has watched these programs grow from the ground up, the opening of the Performing Arts Precinct and Gym is more than just a ribbon-cutting moment. It is the physical realisation of years of dedication from teachers, students and the families who supported them along the way.
The Lakes College is located on Elatostema Street in North Lakes. For more information about the College and its programs, visit thelakescollege.com.au.
Construction is set to begin on the final stage of Lakes Vista Office Park in North Lakes, with the last three commercial buildings planned for the site at 2–4 Flinders Drive.
The Lakes Vista Office Park development is moving toward completion, with the final three buildings to be delivered as part of the last stage.
The eastern portion of the site has remained undeveloped since the original approval in 2008, and this phase will complete the broader office precinct in North Lakes.
Photo Credit: Lake Vista
Design Updates Focus On Function And Capacity
The final stage has undergone design refinements through collaboration with Nettleton Tribe Architects, Mewing Planning Consultants and DMA Partners.
These changes aim to meet planning expectations while improving the balance between floor space and parking, a key consideration for future tenants within the precinct.
Photo Credit: Lake Vista
Leasing Activity Continues Across The Precinct
Lakes Vista Office Park is currently advertising leasing opportunities, highlighting features such as basement parking, an on-site café, advanced IT platforms and dark fibre connectivity.
Flexible leasing options are available from 50 square metres, catering to a range of business sizes. The precinct is also positioned close to major retail centres and public transport links.
Building 5 Availability Signals Ongoing Demand
Leasing information shows that Building 5 has limited remaining space, with 170 square metres available on Level 1 and 88 square metres on the ground floor.
The lower ground level is fully leased, indicating ongoing occupancy within the development.
Photo Credit: Lake Vista
Construction Activity And What To Expect
Intermittent noise and construction activity are expected as works commence. Plans are in place to minimise disruption and maintain safe access throughout the precinct during the build period.
While a specific construction start date has not been confirmed, the project has been flagged to begin soon.
Once the final buildings are delivered, Lakes Vista Office Park in North Lakes will reach full completion, concluding a development that has been in planning for more than a decade.
Olympic athletes Emily Seebohm and Curtis McGrath have joined the campaign for a purpose-built rowing venue in Moreton Bay for the Brisbane 2032 Games, as the city highlights plans for 850 homes within the broader precinct.
The proposal centres on the former Boral quarry site at Lawnton, near Petrie, which the City of Moreton Bay is promoting as a permanent flatwater venue for rowing and canoe sprint events. The site is being presented as an alternative to the preferred location on the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton.
Athlete support adds weight to the proposal
Seebohm and McGrath have appeared in promotional material backing the Moreton Bay bid.
McGrath has previously raised concerns about whether river conditions in Rockhampton would provide an even course for Olympic competition. In supporting the Moreton Bay plan, he pointed to the value of a purpose-built venue designed for consistent racing conditions.
Seebohm’s support focused on the long-term value of a permanent facility, including its potential use by future athletes and the wider community.
Their involvement gives the proposal added public profile as debate continues over where rowing and canoe sprint events should be staged in 2032.
Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay/YouTube
Housing and legacy plans brought into focus
City of Moreton Bay has now placed greater emphasis on the precinct’s housing component, saying the development could deliver 850 homes through a staged rollout.
The project would combine the sporting venue with residential areas, commercial space, recreation facilities and transport links connected to Petrie railway station. The planned housing mix includes family homes, smaller options for downsizers and medium-density dwellings.
Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay/YouTube
Mayor Peter Flannery said the proposal was intended to leave a lasting benefit for the region rather than serve only as Games infrastructure.
Council has also identified the possibility of student accommodation linked to the nearby University of the Sunshine Coast campus, arguing that the project could support both housing supply and future workforce needs.
Boral executive general manager Kate Jackson said the project showed how a former quarry site could be repurposed through coordinated planning involving industry, housing and education uses.
Council says the approach would allow Games-related investment to be tied to infrastructure with an ongoing local use after 2032.
Still an alternative to Rockhampton
While support for the Moreton Bay option is growing, Rockhampton remains the state’s nominated venue for rowing and canoe sprint events.
That plan is still subject to review by the International Olympic Committee, World Rowing and the International Canoe Federation.
But with athlete support, a housing component now clearly defined, and council continuing to press the legacy case, the Lawnton-Petrie site is being positioned as more than just a sporting venue.
Evan Han of North Lakes-based PK Taekwondo has secured his place on the Australian team for the 2026 Oceania Taekwondo Championships after winning a bronze medal in the Cadet -41kg division at the Junior World and Oceania Championship Team Selections in Sydney.
Han came through five fights in a single day at the selections event to earn his team berth, a physically and mentally demanding feat that underlines just how competitive the pathway to an Australian singlet is. His third-place finish in the Cadet -41kg division was enough to lock in his place on the squad heading to the championships on 28 and 29 March.
That result carries real weight. The 2026 Oceania Taekwondo Championships is a World Taekwondo-sanctioned G-4 event, placing it among the most significant regional competitions on the international taekwondo calendar. The championships take place at the Whitlam Leisure Centre at 90A Memorial Avenue, Liverpool, in Sydney.
A Club with a Long Record of Producing Champions
Han’s selection continues a strong run for PK Taekwondo, the North Lakes club that has operated from Unit 4/9 Flinders Parade since becoming a full-time centre in January 2021. The club runs under Kukkiwon standards and holds affiliations with World Taekwondo, World Taekwondo Oceania, Australian Taekwondo and Australian Taekwondo Queensland, and has produced medallists at local, state, national and international levels of competition.
Han’s competition record at the club stretches back several years. At nine years old, he won a bronze medal in the 10-11 Years Black Belt 25-28kg division at the Australian National Championships held at Nissan Arena in Brisbane, with Head Instructor Master Kangho Park leading the coaching team. He also claimed a gold medal in the World Taekwondo Oceania online flying side kick competition, part of a 36-medal haul PK Taekwondo amassed across state and Oceania competitions. More recently, competition records from the 2024 National Championships confirm Han competing for PK Taekwondo at national level.
Photo Credit: PK Taekwondo
That consistency across age groups and competition levels reflects what the club aims to build in its athletes from an early age.
Jeffrey Park Goes Deep at Junior World Championship Selections
Han was not the only PK Taekwondo athlete to make an impression at the Sydney selections. Clubmate Jeffrey Park reached the quarter-finals of the Junior World Championship selections in the Junior -55kg division before his run ended against the eventual gold medallist. Park has been among PK Taekwondo’s established competitors, winning gold medals at both the ATQ Open and World Taekwondo Oceania online competitions in earlier seasons.
Park’s progress to the quarter-finals of a national selection event against the field’s eventual winner points to the depth PK Taekwondo continues to develop across weight categories and age groups.
What the Oceania Championships Represent
For any Australian taekwondo athlete, making the national team for a World Taekwondo-sanctioned Oceania Championships represents a significant step in the sport’s high-performance pathway. The Oceania Taekwondo Union governs the sport across the region and oversees championships that bring together competitors from across the Pacific, with the 2026 event one of the region’s flagship competitions for the season.
PK Taekwondo operates elite sparring and poomsae classes specifically for registered competitors, alongside its broader community programmes, providing the structured training environment that produces athletes capable of competing at this level. Head Instructor Master Kangho Park coaches the competitive team, with Pauline Boyama also serving as coach at national events.
Follow Evan Han and PK Taekwondo
The 2026 Oceania Taekwondo Championships take place on 28 and 29 March at the Whitlam Leisure Centre, Liverpool, Sydney. Families wanting to follow PK Taekwondo’s competitive squad or enquire about training programmes can visit pktkdaus.com or find the club at Unit 4/9 Flinders Parade, North Lakes. Registration and event details for the championships are available here.
Jye Dixon and Darcy O’Malley from All Star Boxing Academy in Lawnton have both won their weight divisions at the 2026 Elite Selection Trial held at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra, putting them firmly in contention for selection in Australia’s boxing team for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The pair’s victories at the Elite Selection Trial mark one of the biggest results in the Lawnton gym’s history, with two fighters from the same club winning national titles in the same week. Dixon, 21, dominated the 55kg division, winning all of his bouts 5-0. O’Malley, 18, fought five times in seven days to claim the 60kg title. Both athletes started at All Star Boxing Academy when they were around 11 or 12 years old, making their rise from junior members to national Elite Selection Trial champions a story that runs the full length of what the club has built at Lawnton.
Two Champions, Two Paths to the Same Result
Dixon grew up in Caboolture and now trains from Brendale, but his boxing development has been shaped entirely by the All Star program. His performance at the Elite Selection Trial was near-flawless, winning every bout by unanimous decision, and he describes the result as among the defining moments of his career alongside his appearance at last year’s World Championships in Liverpool.
The selection trial win carries particular significance for Dixon given his proximity to the Commonwealth Games story. While preparing for the world titles in Liverpool, he spent time in Glasgow and was close to the venues where this year’s Games will take place. He knows what is at stake and what the city looks like. After the final bout in Canberra, he described the feeling as equal parts relief and disbelief: he had done it, and the magnitude of it took a moment to land.
O’Malley’s path to the same Elite Selection Trial podium has been built across years of state and national age-group competition. He is a five-time Queensland Under-19 60kg Champion and the Australian Schools Youth Champion, and the trial final in Canberra represented his first bout without headguard, marking his formal transition into senior competition. A recent graduate of St Paul’s School at Bald Hills, he is 18 years old and already measuring himself against the best senior men in the country.
A Gym and a Coach Behind Every Win
All Star Boxing Academy operates from Lawnton in the Moreton Bay region and has developed a reputation as one of Queensland’s most productive pathways for amateur boxing talent. Coach Paul Utia has overseen both Dixon and O’Malley’s development across the years since they first walked into the gym as preteens, and the club was direct in acknowledging his role in the week’s results.
Winning at the Elite Selection Trial against the best men in Australia requires more than talent. It requires years of structured preparation, disciplined weight management, tactical development and the mental toughness to compete at full intensity five times in seven days. The academy’s statement put it plainly: to win at this level is a testament to the dedication, sacrifice and relentless daily work both athletes put in, and to the standards Utia drives inside the program.
When the pair returned from Canberra, a large group of All Star boxers, supporters and family greeted them at Brisbane Airport, showing how strongly the Lawnton and North Lakes community felt their success.
What Comes Next
Boxing Australia will announce the Commonwealth Games team on 8 April 2026. Both Dixon and O’Malley now sit in strong contention for selection following their Elite Selection Trial victories, though final team composition remains the national body’s decision. If selected, Australia’s boxing team will follow an extensive preparation program ahead of the Games, including potential international training camps in Brazil and China.
The Commonwealth Games run from 23 July to 2 August 2026 in Glasgow. All Star Boxing Academy is based in Lawnton and can be found via its Facebook page. The club welcomes junior members from around the North Lakes, Petrie and Moreton Bay region.
Centennial Property Group has invested 52 million dollars to purchase the HomeCo retail centre in North Lakes to anchor the suburb’s future as a primary independent shopping destination for Brisbane families.
The recent acquisition of the four-hectare site on North Lakes Drive marks a major shift for the area as it moves toward becoming a self-sustaining community hub. With the local population growing at 1.9 per cent, which is significantly faster than the national average, the demand for local services and household goods is rising.
This specific location was chosen because it sits in a land-constrained market, meaning there is limited room for new competing developments. The property is already a well-known landmark for residents, sitting in a busy cluster next to the major Westfield and visible to thousands of commuters travelling along the Bruce Highway each day.
Plans for Expansion and Rebranding
The new owners plan to rename the facility Home+ North Lakes as part of a broader strategy to serve the Moreton Bay region. Because the current buildings only cover 34 per cent of the total land, there is a significant amount of surplus space available for future construction. Centennial executives have indicated that this extra land provides a rare chance to build more shops or services to meet the needs of the community as more people move into the area.
This purchase follows other recent investments by the group in 2025, including the Portside Wharf precinct, showing a clear focus on high-growth Queensland locations.
Supporting the Moreton Bay Economy
Photo Credit: Google Maps
The centre is already home to several national brands that locals rely on, such as Chemist Warehouse, Nick Scali, and Anaconda. These tenants represent 95 per cent of the income for the site, providing a stable foundation for the local economy. Industry experts noted that the area is particularly popular with young couples and families, with a median age of 35. This demographic typically seeks out lifestyle and hardware goods, which are the main focus of this retail centre.
Recent land sales in the surrounding area suggest that up to 1,400 new homes could be built nearby soon, further increasing the number of people who will use these local facilities.
When the opportunity to invest in this North Lakes site was first offered to wholesale backers, the interest was so high that the fund became oversubscribed before it officially closed. This level of interest reflects a strong belief in the long-term value of the Moreton Bay catchment area, which now services residents all the way from Brisbane’s outer suburbs up to the Sunshine Coast. Centennial leadership believes that securing such a high-quality asset in one of the fastest-growing urban corridors in the country will help protect against broader market changes while providing essential services to the growing population.
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.
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.
When Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers opened in North Lakes, it wasn’t a speculative move into a new market. It was a return shaped by memory — and by unfinished business.
From Market Stall to Neighbourhood Fixture
Several years earlier, the business had tested the area with a pop-up at Westfield North Lakes. The response surprised even its founders. Locals flooded social media asking when it would be back, and many were openly disappointed when the temporary store closed. For a business that began with a folding table at weekend markets, it was a clear signal. This wasn’t novelty. People here wanted the food to stay.
Photo Credit: Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers
That market-stall beginning still sits at the centre of the story. Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers was founded by Ben Cleary-Corradini and Theodor Roduner, two friends drawn together by Italian food rather than formal business plans. Cleary-Corradini grew up in an Italian-Australian household where time with his nonna meant time in the kitchen, learning pasta by repetition rather than instruction. Roduner, who comes from a Swiss hospitality family, spent years in professional kitchens before the idea of gnocchi as a standalone offering ever took shape.
In this video, founders Ben Cleary-Corradini and Theo Roduner explain their way of working — shaped by nonnas, early mornings, market crowds and a belief that gnocchi is worth taking seriously.
Behind the scenes, the business is split along clear lines. Theo, a trained chef with more than 25 years in kitchens, leads menu development and kitchen operations, drawing on traditional recipes, fine-dining experience and seasonal produce. Ben, who describes himself first as a food lover rather than a chef, focuses on sourcing, product development and the broader direction of the brand.
The “early mornings” aren’t shorthand. In the early days, Theo was getting up before dawn to peel potatoes by hand, working between lunch and dinner services in borrowed kitchens. When the markets sold out — which they did, repeatedly — they simply made more the following week, then more again. Eventually, the scale outgrew favours and borrowed space, forcing a decision: either stop, or commit.
Each year, Ben travels back to Italy, paying close attention to how food is evolving there — from ingredients and flavours to how casual dining is shifting.
In this video, Ben talks about sourcing the porcini mushrooms that he uses to make the bestselling Wild Mushroom and Truffle gnocchi.
Those observations feed back into the business, shaping monthly chef specials and menu updates rather than wholesale changes. The aim, they say, is to evolve without drifting.
Photo Credit: Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers
It’s a partnership built less on hierarchy than repetition. The same approach that defined the early market days — turning up, refining the process, and doing the work again the next week — still underpins how decisions are made now, even as the business has grown across multiple locations.
Doing One Thing Well
The partners chose to commit, but narrowly. The idea wasn’t to open an Italian restaurant. It was to build a gnoccheria — a restaurant where gnocchi wasn’t a supporting player but the point of the exercise.
That decision still defines the business. Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers describes itself as Australia’s first gnoccheria, and the menu has never drifted far from that original constraint. From its Brisbane beginnings, the group has expanded steadily and now lists locations at South Bank, Paddington, Clayfield, Stafford, Middle Park, Cleveland, Ipswich, Morayfield, Maroochydore, Southport, Newtown in New South Wales, and North Lakes.
Despite that growth, the fundamentals haven’t changed much since the market days. Gnocchi is made daily using potatoes, Australian-milled flour, free-range eggs, parmesan and a small but deliberate addition of nutmeg. No other pasta shapes, no pizza, no shortcuts. The reasoning is simple: if you do one thing, you get better at it.
What People Keep Ordering
Wild mushroom and truffe gnocchi. Photo credit: Gnocchi Gnocchi
Across the venues, the most popular dishes remain consistent. Wild Mushroom and Truffle gnocchi continues to lead the way, followed closely by the slow-cooked beef bolognese — the kind of traditional dish people order because they already know what it tastes like.
Lobster Bisque. Photo credit: Gnocchi Gnocchi
There are richer options too: lobster bisque with barramundi for seafood lovers, pork and fennel Italian sausage for those chasing comfort. These aren’t novelty plates. They’re dishes built to be returned to.
At North Lakes, the menu has broadened slightly to reflect how locals dine. Gnocchi remains the anchor, but lasagne, arancini and classic Italian desserts such as cannoli, tiramisù and panna cotta now sit alongside it.
The shift isn’t about dilution; it’s about fitting into a suburb where dinner often involves families, shared tables and repeat visits rather than quick lunches.
A Local Business in Practice
North Lakes is run by owner-operators Kajal and Roshan, and its day-to-day rhythm reflects that local ownership. The venue sits just off the main road, next door to McDonald’s, with undercover alfresco seating and easy parking. Some locals still remember the space as a former fish-and-chip shop, which has made it easy to miss at first glance.
Community involvement is handled in much the same way as everything else — quietly and locally. At North Lakes, the team regularly donates dine-in gnocchi vouchers as player-of-the-match awards to junior sporting clubs across North Lakes and nearby suburbs, including softball, netball, rugby and soccer teams.
Clubs supported include Lakers Softball, Griffin Netball Club, Narangba Rangers Rugby Club and Grasshopper Soccer Club in Griffin. For the business, the connection is practical rather than performative: feeding families, supporting volunteers, and staying visible in everyday community spaces.
The approach reflects how the founders and their owner-operators see their suburban venues functioning long term — not as destination dining, but as reliable neighbourhood restaurants that become part of local routines.
The customers aren’t chasing theatre. They’re looking for food that feels handmade, filling and reliable. Families, young professionals and takeaway regulars move through the space for the same reason people lined up at the markets years ago: they know what they’re getting.
Ben and Theo have been open about plans to keep expanding, particularly across South-East Queensland. But the approach remains close to the one that started it all — long mornings, simple menus, and a belief that gnocchi, done properly, is enough.
For North Lakes, that means a restaurant shaped as much by local response as by Italian tradition. The pop-up showed the appetite was there. The permanent stores are about keeping it.
Police are asking North Lakes residents to help identify a man they believe can assist with their enquiries into a robbery that occurred at a local business last month.
The incident took place on Thursday, 13 November at approximately 7.45pm at a business located on North Lakes Drive.
According to Queensland Police Service, the man departed the premises with several items without paying. Staff members who attempted to intervene were allegedly assaulted before the offender fled the scene on foot.
Authorities have released CCTV footage showing the man arriving at and leaving the business around the time of the incident.
The man is described as Caucasian, believed to be in his 30s, approximately 173 centimetres tall, with brown hair and a brown beard. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a grey hoodie, dark navy-blue shorts, black socks and white shoes.
Police are urging anyone who recognises the man or has information that could assist with their investigation to come forward.
Members of the public can provide information by contacting Policelink through the online suspicious activity form available 24 hours a day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting, quoting reference number QP2502060788.
