North Lakes Archives - Page 2 of 13

A Cross Built From a Fallen Tree: Mt Maria College Petrie Finds Hope at the Heart of Easter

Students and staff at Mt Maria College in Petrie gathered this Easter to remember the Passion of Good Friday and celebrate the hope of the Resurrection, marking the season with a moment that brought together faith, community and the unexpected beauty of something made from loss.

Petrie parish priest Fr Louie Jimenez blessed and installed a new college cross during the school’s Easter gathering, carved from the timber of a college tree brought down by Cyclone Alfred. For a community that weathered the storm together, the cross carries a meaning that goes well beyond decoration.

Something Beautiful From the Storm

Mt Maria College principal Kerry Maher described the cross as a powerful symbol of resilience and renewal for the whole community. “Easter invites us to pause and reflect on suffering, sacrifice and renewal,” she said. “Even in times of challenge, hope can be restored and new life can emerge.”

The cross was not kept within the school’s walls. It was also used during Petrie Parish’s Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion, deepening the connection between the college and its parish community and giving the symbol a life that reached beyond the school gates.

That connection between school and parish is central to how Mt Maria approaches formation. Students and staff from a wide range of cultural backgrounds and beliefs gathered in shared prayer for the occasion, finding common ground in the season’s themes of suffering, hope and renewal.

“When we educate the whole person, spiritually, academically, socially and emotionally, we create the conditions for young people to grow as hopeful and confident learners,” Ms Maher said.

Part of Something Bigger Than One School

Mt Maria’s Easter gathering took place against a backdrop of Easter activities across Brisbane Catholic Education’s 146 schools, each finding their own way to live out the season’s meaning in community.

St Eugene College in Burpengary raised more than $8,000 for Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion this Easter, channelling their patron saint’s spirit of charity and generosity into house initiatives and whole-school events. The fundraising reflected a conviction that belonging extends beyond the school community and out towards what students described as a global family.

“Their aim was to show how small, shared actions could bring hope and change for people at the margins,” a spokesperson for the college said.

St Ignatius School in Toowong also raised funds for Project Compassion, combining an Easter Hat Parade with donation drives for Easter eggs, soft toys, activities and stickers. Principal Benedict Campbell described hope as the thread running through the whole effort.

“Hope is not about ignoring the challenges people face,” he said. “Rather, hope invites students to walk alongside others with compassion, trusting that love and faith can bring light even in difficult times. At Easter, we are reminded of Jesus’ example; he did not turn away from the suffering of the world but responded with care, generosity and self-giving love.”

Walking the Road Together

Sophia College in Plainland offered its first-ever cohort of Year 12 students an Easter experience designed to be immersive rather than observational. The students walked the Stations of the Cross with Franciscan Father Bernie Thomas at St Mary’s Church in Ipswich, praying and reflecting together at each station.

Principal Narelle Dobson said the experience reminded students that they were not walking alone. “Hope brings people together, gives meaning to shared moments and helps a community grow not just in size but in spirit,” she said.

Why It Resonates Here in Petrie

For the North Lakes and Petrie community, Mt Maria College’s Easter gathering carries a particular local resonance. Cyclone Alfred was not an abstract weather event for this part of southeast Queensland; it was something residents lived through, cleaned up after and are still processing. A cross made from a tree that the cyclone brought down, blessed and installed at the heart of the school, is the kind of thing that turns a religious observance into something genuinely local and deeply felt.

That is what community schools do at their best. They take the universal themes of a season, hope, renewal, the idea that something good can come from something hard, and make them specific to the place and the people who call it home.

Published 8-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

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

The Lakes College Officially Opens New Performing Arts Precinct

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.

Read: The Lakes College Shines in Primary and Secondary NAPLAN Results

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.

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.

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.

Read: Street Spotlight: College St, North Lakes

The Lakes College is located on Elatostema Street in North Lakes. For more information about the College and its programs, visit thelakescollege.com.au.

Published 27-March-2026

Final Phase Of Lakes Vista Office Park To Begin In North Lakes

Photo Credit: Lake Vista

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.

A Long-Awaited Final Stage In North Lakes

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.

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.

North Lakes development — 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.

office leasing North Lakes — 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.

commercial property Queensland — Photo Credit: Lake Vista

Completion Set To Finalise The Precinct

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.

Published 25-Mar-2026

Olympians Back Moreton Bay Rowing Proposal as 850 Homes Planned

City of Moreton Bay/YouTube

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.

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.

Partnership with Boral

The proposal is being advanced as a public-private partnership involving Boral, which owns the quarry land.

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.

Published 19-March-2026

PK Taekwondo’s Evan Han Earns Australian Team Spot for 2026 Oceania Taekwondo Championships

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.

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.

Published 2-March-2026.

Lawnton’s All Star Boxing Academy Celebrates Double Victory at the 2026 Elite Selection Trial

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.

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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.

Published 26-February-2026.

New Owners Set to Rebrand and Expand Popular North Lakes Shopping Site

Photo Credit: Sam Hatcher/ LinkedIn

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.

A Growing Hub for Local 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

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.

Investor Confidence in the Region

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.

Published Date 26-February-2026

Free Drive-In Movie Night Brings Nostalgic Entertainment to Narangba

Brisbane Kids

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

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

Drive-In Cinema Resurgence

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

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

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

The Minecraft Movie Draws Families

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

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

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

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

Event Details and Accessibility

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

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

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

Practical Considerations

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

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

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

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

Published 1-February-2026.