North Lakes Archives - Page 10 of 12

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.

Calls for Building North Lakes Fire Station Renewed After Tragic Death of 75-Year-Old Resident

Calls to build a North Lakes fire station have been made again after a 75-year-old resident perished in a blaze that reduced her house to ashes whilst she was trapped inside.

Some 30 firefighters and emergency services personnel tried to put out the fire, which happened in the morning of Friday, 9 April 2021, on Harvey Street. Initial investigations revealed that the fire immediately engulfed the home of Precy Hopyek, a Filipina immigrant. The Queensland Police Service is also investigating if there was foul play involved.

Neighbours also tried to help the victim out but the fire had been so intense. Her animals, however, got out in the nick of time and are now under the care of animal services.

North Lakes locals and members of the Mango Hill Progress Association have been asking for their own fire station since 2016 as the nearest services are in Deception Bay, Petrie, Kippa-Ring or Burpengary. It takes longer for fire services in these locations to respond to emergencies in the suburbs bordering North Lakes, Mango Hill and Griffin, which has over 40,000 residents.

The residents said that the element of time is crucial in saving a victim’s life thus they have renewed calls to allocate funds for the North Lakes fire station from the state budget, in the soonest, including purchasing land or property to build this facility.

The Queensland Government has approved funding for the fire station in 2020 after State Labor MP for Bancroft Chris Whiting said that they will build a fire station as part of an election promise. He said that the services will be “operational within 2-3 years.”

Mr Whiting expressed his sympathy for the family of the victim and updated that the project to build a fire station is currently in the land acquisition and planning stage.

Backyard Fire Pits: Public Consultation Opens as Moreton Bay Reviews Local Law

Backyard fire pits and outdoor barbeques might be appealing for some residents, especially when the autumn weather brings crisp, cool winds and brisk weather. Moreton Bay Regional Council is conducting a review of the local law prohibiting the use of backyard fire pits, in order to set a new standard for the benefit of the community in North Lakes and other suburbs in the region.

Currently, Moreton Bay Regional Council prohibits the lighting or maintaining of backyard fire pits or outdoor fires in properties with an allotment of less than 3,000 square metres, except if the fire is enclosed or contained in a pit, cooking device or fireplace.

As much as possible, locals may also only use clean, dry and non-toxic combustible materials for burning and the pit must also be completely “wetted down” or extinguished after use. Any resident lighting fires in the open is expected to inform their neighbours at least 48 hours before, either verbally or through a written message.

The law on backyard fire pits also requires a responsible person to be “in attendance” at all times until the fire is out.

The Council disallows the lighting of fires before 7:00 a.m. and at dusk, whilst fire pits at public lands, such as parks or beaches, are generally prohibited unless a written approval has been secured.

Residents who might have issues with the current law have until 30 June 2021 to submit their suggestions, comments and ideas about backyard fire pits, as well as 40 other local laws through the online survey or through email at local.laws@moretonbay.qld.gov.au. Also up for review are the Local Laws on animal control, advertising signs, public land activities, festivals and events, overgrown lawns, parking and community gardens.

Controversial North Lakes Golf Course Plan Now Eligible for Development

The controversial plan to rebuild the former North Lakes Golf Course into a retirement village can now proceed to the development planning stage. Though nothing has been lodged as of late, the project is one step closer towards realisation.

A proposal made by the Village Retirement Group in 2019 was the source of much community anxiety and disapproval. After two years of questioning the legality of building a retirement village on the golf course — because the course was part of the suburb’s master area plan — the verdict finally came, and the answer was yes.

Based on updates, the Village Retirement Group intends to create a retirement village and aged care facility on the site of the former North Lakes Golf Course. Since only a portion of the course will be used for the village, the retirement group plans to turn the leftover land into a public park and greenspace for the community to use.

Despite its legality, the plan is not without opposition. Some members of the North Lakes community have formed a community group dubbed Save North Lakes Golf Course to stand against the creation of the new retirement home.

One of the many reasons cited was that the golf course has always been a part of the area plan, contributing to the suburb’s beauty as well as its biodiversity.

The golf course is home to dozens of animal species such as kangaroos, echidnas, possums and koalas. With the destruction of the golf course to make way for a retirement village, these animals will lose not only their habitats, but their final chance to survive in a suburban environment.

Though no official development plans have been lodged, Moreton Bay Regional Council confirmed that the retirement village can legally be established on the North Lakes Golf Course. This does not necessarily mean, however, that the development plans have been approved.

Get Green Solutions from Green Life Warehouse in North Lakes

Do you practice a reduce, reuse and recycle mindset? If you support going green and like anything organic, you might want to swing by this recently-opened North Lakes store, Green Life Warehouse, for more green solutions.

In business since late 2020, Green Life Warehouse on Finders Parade is the latest one-stop green shop to open for homes and small businesses in Brisbane.

The store offers heaps of organic wholefood, earthy homeware and other innovative eco-friendly products that support the green lifestyle. Aside from top-of-the-line organic grocery items, they also have chemical-free cleaning products and earth-friendly packing and party supplies.

In between shopping at the warehouse, visitors may also dine at the cafe, which serves mostly vegan food, or take a few moments to chat with the friendly staff for more tips and advice on going green.

Green Life Warehouse also welcomes traders and resellers, especially for recycle and reusable items. The store prides itself as the Guardians of Green by conducting regular donation drives to local charities.

“We take pride in supporting those who align with our beliefs or that fit within our culture and seek out local initiatives rather than mainstream ventures. We are always looking for new people to support so contact us if you think we can help you.”

Whether you’re just starting on this journey or you’ve been making major changes to help planet Earth, this shop has likely what you need. Guaranteed, you’ll be spending a few hours of your weekend at this North Lakes shop after your first visit.

“I love this place! Whenever I’m in North Lakes I come here either for lunch / a tea at the cafe or a gander at the health food shop. They always have different vegan foods then all the other places. The staff are welcoming and willing to help carry my bags to the car with me.”
Lauren Padmore, Google Reviews

“Excellent & Happy Service
Delicious Food & Drink!
Pretzel Donut, apricot slice plus energy chai latte wow!
spacious outdoor area & amazing range inside plus
awesome bulk food store like nothing I have seen before
highly recommend!”
Rachael Fitzgerald, Facebook

Café 63’s Latest Branch to Open Soon in Burpengary

Burpengary Station Village is about to become home to numerous new tenants, including a branch of the iconic Café 63, which expects to provide 25 new job openings for staff positions when it opens.

Café 63, which has been around for a little over 15 years, is finally coming to Burpengary. The café-restaurant takes pride in not only its food and beverages, but also the flowers up for sale in every branch. The café also happens to be pet-friendly, meaning dog-owners are free to bring their canine companions inside while they order a hot cup of coffee.

With a wide range of drinks to choose from, there’s no shortage of options at Café 63 — whether someone’s after shakes or smoothies, beer or cider, or coffee and frappes, this chain restaurant has them covered. The restaurant also offers a variety of pastas, burgers, and salads; some of which are plant-based, low in gluten, or vegetarian to cater to those with dietary restrictions.

The *PAB*, a pasta made with prawns, avocado, and bacon.
Photo credit: Facebook

The Burpengary branch is set to open by the end of March under the ownership of Suman Ranabhat, Diwash Ranabhat, Suman Shrestha, and Rajan Koju. Be sure to follow Café 63 on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on their meals, deals, and special events.

Updates on 3 New Shopping Centre Development Near North Lakes

North Brisbane is bustling with a trio of shopping centre developments. The significant commercial sites to watch out for are in the North Lakes area — the Dakabin Shopping Centre, Kallangur’s Murrumba Village complex and the Narangba Heights Shopping Centre.

Dakabin

Woolworths Dakabin is set to open Stage One on 19 Aug. 2020. The 3,300 sqm site’s specialty stores, as well as a child care centre, a service station, and health service shops, are set for Stage Two of the opening in October.

The commercial centre is conveniently accessible via train stations within the 5 km radius: Dakabin station, Narangba station (3.6 km), Kallangur station (3.9 km), Murrumba Downs station (4 km), and the Petrie station (4.5 km). It’s also accessible to the North Lakes community via the M1 motorway.

Kallangur

Moreton Bay Council approved the development of a shopping village in Kallangur in 2019. Construction will officially begin for a Fresh and Save supermarket in September 2020.

The supermarket is just one part of the massive commercial and residential development in the areas around Anzac Ave, Brays Road and Cecily St. The plan is to develop a Murrumba Village complex that will also include a health and medical precinct, child care facility, playground, and heaps of retail shops and restaurants.

These sites have target opening dates for October 2021 but the childcare facility might be ready by July next year.

*Photo Credit: PD Online/Moreton Bay Council*

Aside from Fresh and Save, other confirmed tenancy include Palace Kebabs, On A Roll, SG Cafe, and Liquorland. Also moving in are a laundromat, barbershop and salon, and a pick-up centre for the Australian Post. The shopping complex will replace the Tulip Town shopping centre demolished in 2003.

This development comes on the heels of the completion of Stage 1 of a townhouse complex development, which has reportedly sold out.

Narangba

Earthworks at the site of the Narangba Heights Shopping Centre was completed in May and residents are likely seeing the first level construction of the new site. Located around the corner of Sovereign Drv and Oakey Flat Rd, this centre will have Coles supermarket aside from restaurants and retail stores. Oxmar Properties is in the process of locking in tenants.

Last Call For Drinks! White Brick Brewing Closes In North Lakes

North Lake’s White Brick Brewing will tighten its taps and make its last call for drinks on Sunday, July 12, as its owner confirmed in a social media post that the business will be shutting down for good.

In a post on Facebook, White Brick Brewing’s owner, Adam Gibb, said that COVID-19 hit the business hard.

“We have been unable to find a workable solution to go forward,” Mr Gibb’s message stated. “It has been an amazing almost 3 years, and I am so very humbled by all the support and friendships we have made from so many of you. We have achieved some great things due to your support and encouragement.”

Mr Gibb said that they availed of the government’s support for community businesses and also did JobKeeper. Ultimately, however, the stimulus package wasn’t enough to pay for the costs of rent, staff wages and other needs for maintaining a brewery.

Though White Brick craft products were also sold in 22 bottle shops across Brisbane, the retail sales were also down as customers preferred buying budget bulk beer during this crisis. Other bars and restaurants who served White Brick also ceased trading.

*Photo Credit: White Brick Brewing/Facebook*

In May, Mr Gibb was one of the most vocal Brisbane business owners who said that clubs, pubs and restaurants will not survive the stringent reopening restrictions, such as limiting customers to 10 patrons.

Mr Gibb is putting his business up for sale and he’s hoping that a new brewer will step up to the challenge.

White Brick Brewing opened in November 2017 and won commendations from the Australian International Beer Awards.

North Lakes Peacocks: Community Torn Over Moving Muster Of Peafowls

Should Moreton Bay Council start moving its most splendid but sometimes noisy prowlers, the North Lakes peacocks, away to a different place? It’s a question that has been raised by the community in recent weeks amidst a muster of peafowls roaming, sneaking and scavenging the streets.

Paul Martin of the Coochie Hydrogreen Lawn Care caught sight of the party one early morning as he was working in a client’s home. About 10 peacocks were running towards him and he braced for an attack.

But the peacocks only strolled past Mr Martin, who described the muster he encountered as “very tame.” It was the first time Mr Martin witnessed the strange but beautiful sight, one that he said felt like a dream.

His client told him that some residents love seeing the peacocks in the neighbourhood and would happily feed the fowls.

On Facebook, residents have been sharing their peacock sightings.

“We have about 15 living in our neighbourhood. They just roam from house to house marching down the road and get fed by many. We love them!”

“They come round almost every arvo and keep the yard bug free for us.”

But not everyone is impressed by these birds. The peacocks have apparently been ruffling feathers by causing traffic to stall or damaging cars, gardens and rooftops.

“When the buggers dig the yard up, tear out anything you plant and carry on on the roof they are not fun. Have over 50 running around.”

The council has been receiving increasing complaints from the residents thus it might be time to consider relocating these colorful pheasants in the nearby bushland. According to reports, the council is assessing a potential new home with the help of the RSPCA.

Though the North Lakes peacocks have endeared themselves to the residents, it could raise more problems in the future as either pheasant or humans might end up getting injured in the next accidental encounter. Feeding the birds human food may also have long-term health effects.

The North Lakes peacocks were formerly residents of the Alma Park Zoo in Dakabin. The zoo closed down in 2014 and while most of the animals have been relocated, the peacocks remained.

$2.1-B ‘Moreton Connector’ Arterial Road Project Set to Ease North Brisbane Congestion

Plans for a new arterial road, dubbed the “Moreton Connector,” have been revealed by the state government. The project is part of a $2.1-billion package aimed at busting congestion and easing travel for North Brisbane and Moreton Bay commuters.

The project involves redesigning the Gateway Motorway, Bruce Highway and Gympie Road interchange near Bald Hills and other upgrades.

The proposed arterial would link Dohles Rocks Road at Murrumba Downs to Anzac Avenue in Mango Hill. New northbound ramps will be built to service the Bruce Highway and Dohles Rocks Road interchange.

$23-B Over the Next Four Years

The $2.1-billion project is part of a record amount of $23 billion allocated by the Queensland government as part of the infrastructure investment on state roads and transport over the next four years.

“The Federal Government is eager to look at what jobs we can create and what projects we have across Queensland,” a statement from Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has given assurances that funding has been “locked” for the planned upgrades in Brisbane’s northside.An estimated 80 percent of the funds have been set aside by the federal government and the state government is expected to provide funds for the rest.

“The Gateway Motorway, Bruce Highway and Gympie Road in this part of Brisbane’s outer northern suburbs collectively carry about 310,000 vehicles a day. We have the blueprint to deliver significant improvements to major roads right across the northern reaches of Brisbane,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said.

Emphasis is being made in transforming Brisbane’s northern gateway by redesigning the interchange and building the new arterial road because of the heavy vehicular traffic the region experiences every day, easily 100,000 more than the volume of traffic on the busiest section of the M1, according to Mr Bailey.

The project will be a three-way collaboration between the federal government, the state government, and Moreton Bay Regional Council.

“The next step is for us to get all three levels of government together so we can get work started as soon as possible,” Mr Bailey said.