Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 19 of 35

The Gap Among Brisbane Suburbs At High Risk Of Tick Infestation

Being surrounded by trees and bushland, The Gap is one of the suburbs in Brisbane at high risk of tick infestation, as Australia faces a shortage of tick serum amidst its worst tick season in years.

Read: The Gap LOCO: Here’s Where to Go for Affordable, Certified Organic Produce

Tick infestation is considered as a year-round threat, but the peak season normally occurs during warmer months.

According to the Australian Veterinary Association, the Australia-wide shortage of tick paralysis antiserum is a result of sudden increase in demand due to tick resurgence with the change of weather.

“There are anecdotal reports that there may have been some complacency in tick prevention by owners during the winter and drought in many locations, leaving many animals unprotected,” AVA said.

Because of the strong demand recently, a manufacturer in Lismore, NSW, the only remaining bulk manufacturer for serums in Australia is already at full production capacity.

tick infestation — Photo credit: Jean Alves/Pexels

The past floods in northern NSW, which also affected Lismore, was also seen as one of the reasons for the manufacturer’s reduced production of tick serums.

Supplies of tick serums, according to vets, could take weeks to arrive gradually into surgeries. Many vets throughout the country have been informed that the next supplies could reach clinics by late November to early December 2022.

What Pet Owners Can Do For Now

Whilst tick serums are not yet available, the best thing pet parents can do is to consistently work on preventing ticks. As the old adage goes, prevention is better than cure.

The best method to spot and get rid of any ticks promptly is to continue checking your dogs and cats for ticks. They are commonly found on the head and ears, though they may also appear under the tail or in nasal passages.

Tick infestation can be life-threatening if not prevented. Fortunately, there are already many kinds of treatments already available in the market. Some known preventive drugs in Australia include Simparica, Bravecto, and Nexgard.

Read: How Repair Cafe The Gap Champions Sustainability

Although these medications are easy to administer, vets remind pet owners to be diligent in using these drugs, and that missing their scheduled treatment even just for days, can be harmful.

Great Western Super Centre in Keperra Gets Major Overhaul

Photo credit: Facebook / Great Western Super Centre

Great Western Super Centre in Keperra is undergoing a $22-million makeover to modernise and update its building and amenities, renewing long-term leases and introducing a topnotch line-up of new tenants it has acquired over the last two years.

Opened in 2000, Great Western Super Centre is anchored by ALDI and Woolworths, alongside six mini-majors and 44 specialty stores. The centre that was acquired in 2020 for $84.5 million boasts a 15,400sqm of floor space.

The centre, under Consolidated Properties Group (CPG) and CVS Lane Capital Partners , will undergo a $22-million makeover, following an $8-million revamp of anchor tenant Woolworths in 2021. The update will include expansions and upgrades for Aldi supermarket, BCF, and Anytime Fitness.

The project will also see the centre get a full repaint of its interior and exterior plus the addition of brand-new amenities including parents’ rooms. There will also be an overhaul of air conditioning, an upgrade of entry statements and signage and extensive landscaping.

Consolidated Properties Group chairman Don O’Rorke described the project as the centre’s most significant overhaul in its more than two-decade history.

The partnership introduces several top-notch tenants into the centre since its acquisition in 2020, including Rivers, HMB Barber, Kebab Masters, On a Roll Sushi, Thai So-Ho and Aux Delices Bakery.

Meanwhile, Woolworths, Ampol Fuel, Hungry Jacks, Keperra Medical Centre, Terry White Chemmart, Australia Post, Aussie Home Loans, The Reject Shop, Subway and Pepper n Salt Café have also committed to renewing their long-term leases

The company said that the first stage of renovations was well received by its customers and that they are confident the latest refurbishments will be met with similar enthusiasm.

Consolidated Properties Group has also submitted its plans for a new 24/7 Sparkletown Car Wash which if approved by Council is slated to commence construction in early 2023 and open by mid-year.

The renovation works at the Great Western Super Centre is expected to continue until 2023.

Great Western Super Centre | 1028 Samford Rd, Keperra QLD 4054, Australia

The Gap LOCO: Here’s Where to Go for Affordable, Certified Organic Produce

Photo credit: Facebook / The Gap Local Organic Co-Op

This social enterprise in The Gap has supplied affordable, certified organic produce and groceries for the past ten years, a decade-long commitment that has earned the support and admiration of the community it serves.

“Organic food is Good for you, the farmers and the planet.” – The Gap LOCO

“The Gap LOCO provides only certified organic food unlike other suppliers who use terms like “spray free”. Without certification, you have no certainty that the food you are buying is really organic and grown on soil that is tested for residues. Support farmers who are willing to be inspected by independent bodies,” co-founder Michelle Peile said.

Founders Colin and Michelle Peile were running a small organic buying group since 2004. Building on the buying group and in consultation with their customers, the pair developed a new style of business that is based on cooperation and a concern for the community and the environment. Aware of the prevalence of ‘organic’ products and the shortage of affordable and ‘certified’ ones in the market, The Gap LOCO concept.

The Gap LOCO: affordable certified organic produce and groceries | Photo credit: Facebook / The Gap Local Organic Co-Op

Shortly thereafter, the buying group began recruiting workers in the co-op and other people who would eventually serve as the support group to help in the development and implementation of the business concept.

And so in January 2013, the new co-op started with Deb Leigh, Colln, Michelle, Kate Donnely and Monique Filet as workers. Camille joined them in 2014.

Months later, they became a formally registered worker cooperative with the Queensland Department of Fair Trading. In 2014, the co-op found a home in the SOWN Environment Centre Sheda shed at Yoorala Street but had to move out after four years following SWON relinquishing their lease on the BCC-owned property. The Gap LOCO relocated to its new home and has been there since.

The whole LOCO team | Photo credit: Facebook / The Gap Local Organic Co-Op

Currently, The Gap LOCO is run by seven part-time workers: Cille, Colin, James, Kerry, Leslie, Michelle and Tallulah.

One thing has been unchanged through the years: their commitment to providing certified organic produce and groceries. That means regular soils test and inspections by certifying bodies to make sure that their produce and products are up to organic practices standards.

The Gap LOCO also offers home delivery services and has a pop-up shop on Mondays in an Oakleigh Scouts shed between 13 and 17 High Street in Ashgrove.

Their delivery service is available in Ashgrove, Bardon, Enoggerra, Ferny Grove, Ferny Hills, Keperra, Kelvin Grove, Gaythorne, Mitchelton, Red Hill, Paddington, Milton, The Gap and Toowong.

For orders, email them at thegaploco@gmail.com or visit their website.

How Repair Cafe The Gap Champions Sustainability

It’s easier to throw things out than to fix them, but for Repair Cafe The Gap, things should be used longer and don’t have to be simply thrown away.

Read: ‘Men Of The Trees’ Turns 100! QLD Chapter in The Gap Joins Worldwide Celebration

Repair Cafe The Gap (RCTG) is a not-for-profit community group run by volunteers, whose mission is to kindle people’s enthusiasm for a sustainable society by fixing their broken household items rather than tossing them out.

Every month, they accept broken household items such as lamps, toasters, and CD players, and have them repaired for free. If there’s any costs involved, it will only be for components that need to be replaced and if there’s no spare parts in stock at the cafe.

As the name suggests, the cafe is all about repairing things together. But if you have nothing to repair, you can drop by to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea or lend a hand with someone’s repair job. Visitors can also leaf through books on repairs and DIY.

Aside from electrical appliances, volunteer repairers can also help fix clocks, bicycles, electronics, and small furniture items. You can even bring clothes and toys that need repair.

Ever since launching this initiative in March 2022, the group has received around 150 items, and most of these items, which mostly consist of electrical appliances, have been successfully repaired.

How It Started

Whilst Repair Cafe The Gap has only started this year, Repair Cafe has been around since 2009. In fact, there are 2,200 Repair Cafes all over the world. In Australia, there are around 70, including eight in Southeast Queensland alone.

This worldwide movement was initiated by Dutch environmentalist and former journalist Martine Postma.

Postma opened the first Repair Cafe in Amsterdam, after feeling a frustration with the world’s throwaway culture.

Repairing things not only reduce the volume of raw materials and energy needed to make new products, but also cut CO2 emissions, for example, because manufacturing new products and recycling old ones causes CO2 to be released.

“The Repair Cafe teaches people to see their possessions in a new light. And, once again, to appreciate their value,” the cafe stated in their website.

If you love repairing things or love organising, you can lend a hand in an up-and-running Repair Cafe. You can get in touch directly with a cafe close to where you live.

Read: The Gap Community Rallies Behind Teen’s Campaign to Upgrade The Gap Bowl

To learn more about Repair Cafe and their initiative, visit www.repaircafe.org. The website also provides tips and tricks in repairing common household items and furniture.

The Gap Community Rallies Behind Teen’s Campaign to Upgrade The Gap Bowl

Photo Credit: Jake Woodiwiss/Change.Org

Over a thousand locals are supporting a petition, started by a high school kid, to upgrade The Gap Bowl, a unique skate park in Brisbane’s northside, as a full-featured bike, skate and scooter facility.

Jake Woodiwiss, a student from The Gap State High School, opened a petition via Change.Org and cited that The Gap Bowl needs to have two sections for beginners and advanced bikers or skateboarders.

“At the moment there is only the one section that is for advanced riders and by adding a second section it would create possibilities for beginner riders and provide a way for those that are glued to their screens a way to get active and socialise,” he said.

“Screen time is an ever increasing number in the youth of today’s society and has many negative effects including not getting enough exercise, not socialising with friends and family and can even lead to obesity and sleep problems.”

One supporter who signed the petition said that it’s high time for the upgrades as The Gap Bowl will serve the community for decades to come.

Woodiwiss’ passionate call for an upgrade to The Gap Bowl has prompted Elizabeth Watson-Brown, the MP for Ryan, to host a Community BBQ on Sunday, 6 November 2022, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. to discuss the upgrades, alongside other amenities and facilities needed in The Gap.

The Gap Bowl Community BBQ — Photo Credit: ElizabethWatsonBrown.com

“Jake’s pitch about The Gap Bowl made me wonder: What other amenities and facilities are needed in The Gap? How well served is The Gap community by public transport? Are the diverse needs of the community catered for?”

“My team and I are keen to support locals who take action on issues that matter to them, so that sort of initiative from a high school student caught our attention!” Ms Watson-Brown said.

Send your RSVP to the Community BBQ

Construction of Bridge Over Cedar Creek in Upper Kedron Well Underway

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Construction works on the bridge over Cedar Creek are now well underway as a local community group advocates for Minnie Street’s realignment. as well as the activation of a bus route along the street.

The project that will build a bridge over Cedar Creek to Rosella Street and the corner of Levitt Road and Minnie Street is now well underway. The Westera Partners-designed bridge will provide residents with access from the Ellendale development in Upper Kedron to Ferny Grove, linking Hasties Avenue with Rosella Street.

Bridge Over Cedar Creek at Upper Kedron — Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

“The Bridge is a simple three span bridge designed to suit the natural geotechnical characteristics and riparian conditions. The three-span design ensures limited impact to the natural flows of the creek whilst achieving an optimised construction time to minimise construction works in Cedar Creek. Rockwork has been designed to protect abutments from higher velocity flows.” – PEAKURBAN

Under the Development Application A005564638, the project will also include improvements to Minnie Street through minor widening, as well as enhancements to the intersection at McAlroy Road and Upper Kedron Road, and a section of Levitt Road.

Levitt Road and Minnie Street Intersection Upgrade / McAlroy Road and Upper Kedron Road Intersection Upgrade | Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

The Ferny Grove & Upper Kedron Residents Association noted that the minor widening of Minnie Street will benefit residents with safer traffic and easier access to the bus service. The Group is working with government and council representatives to further its advocacy to straighten Minnie Street rather than widening.

FGUKRA also revealed that funding has been secured for the design of Minnie Street’s realignment and would work with government and council representatives should any community consultation be required in the future. They are also advocating for a bus route along Minnie Street to provide more public transportation options to the wider part of the community.

The bridgework and upgrades, which commenced in May 2022, are estimated to be completed in nine months, in early 2023.

Queensland Approves Renting Out Granny Flats in The Gap, Other Suburbs to Fix Housing Crisis

Queensland property owners who own secondary dwellings, also known as granny flats, will now be allowed to rent these out to non-relatives in a bid to fix the housing crisis. Heaps of properties suitable as granny flats have been identified in The Gap, as well as 17 other suburbs.

Previous restrictions on secondary dwellings will no longer apply for the next three years, following discussions with the Queensland Housing Roundtable stakeholders in early September.

However, homeowners who plan to rent out their granny flats need to make sure that their properties are compliant with fire and building provisions as well as the state’s safety guidelines. Thus, they might have to undergo a safety inspection.

“Many homeowners have granny flats that they’ve built or converted for family members or teenagers who have since moved out,” Deputy Premier and Minister for Planning Steven Miles said. “Right now, most homeowners can’t rent secondary dwellings, such as granny flats, to anyone other than their immediate family. At the same time, some Queenslanders are sleeping in their cars or in tents.”

“It just makes sense to allow existing accommodation to be occupied by someone other than a relative to provide more affordable accommodation for Queenslanders,” Mr Miles added.

“It also allows homeowners to earn rent, helping them meet the increased cost of living.”

The Gap Has the Largest Number of Secondary Dwellings

Granny flats are essentially dwellings designed for one or two people. It can be a detached or attached accommodation with its own kitchen/dining, laundry room, living area and bedrooms. Granny flats may also drive up the value of a house by as much as 30 per cent and increase its rental potential by 27 per cent.

Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch said that the majority of single people above the age of 55 years old currently make up the social housing register, making them ideal for granny flats tenancy. Such a solution will be further discussed at the Queensland Housing Summit on 20th Oct 2022.

A 2019 study from CoreLogic and Archistar revealed that The Gap has the largest number of granny flats in Brisbane at 42.8 percent. The study identified 18 suburbs with many properties that can potentially have granny flats for renting out.

1. The Gap
2. Albany Creek
3. Morayfield
4. Deception Bay
5. Kallangur
6. Alexandra Hills
7. Redbank Plains
8. Narangba
9. Rochedale South
10. Ferny Hills
11. Sunnybank Hills
12. Aspley
13. Chapel Hill
14. Inala
15. Bray Park
16. Strathpine
17. Kingston
18. Petrie

Caution on Renting Out

However, the tenancy law overhaul to allow granny flats rentals could prove to be a headache, rather than a solution, for some homeowners or tenants, warned lawyer Frank Higginson. He said that some landlords might have to do more work and incur unexpected expenses for their secondary dwellings. The tenants could also be shortchanged and won’t get what they are actually entitled to.

Mr Higginsons also believes that most people interested in renting out their granny flats are not going to get professional help from property managers when there are a lot of complicated issues that have to be ironed out.

Real Estate Institute of Queensland chief executive Antonia Mercorella also advised property owners to investigate the tax implications of renting out granny flats. She also belies that the government has to provide education for those interested in entering the rental property market with their secondary dwelling, on top of establishing a stable policy.

“We appreciate that sometimes red tape gets in the way of creative solutions, but equally, we don’t want to see a ‘free for all’ where there’s no regulation, leaving people vulnerable to being exploited,” Ms Mercorella said in a statement.

“We don’t want people to think they can suddenly use inappropriate structures such as garden sheds or garages and pass these off as granny flats.”

Did You Know That The Gap Had Over 2,000 Potholes After the 2022 Brisbane Floods?

Did you know that The Gap has had 2,653 potholes filled in the six-month period following the February 2022 floods in Brisbane?

Council data shows that Hemmant, Pinkenba, Wynnum, Eagle Farm, and Moggill also had more than 2,000 pothole fillings during the same period.

Kim Marx, the civic cabinet chair, said that Brisbane had a record 70,461 potholes as of the end of August 2022, due to the extraordinary amount of rain when usual pothole fillings comprise about 80,000 per year.

“Crews are out working hard across the suburbs to respond, and we appreciate the efforts of residents reporting issues to us,” Ms Marx said.

Brisbane City Council also said that an average of 400 potholes a day needed to be filled after the February floods, as some road pavements have become compressed by the rain and floodwaters, thus weakening their quality.

The rebuilding continues as there is an allocated $40 million budget for road repairs and Council has dedicated crews working to inspect and restore the roads that locals have reported.

Engineers Australia General Manager Stacey Rawlings said that better preventive measures should be adopted instead of simply patching potholes. She recommended adding a waterproof bitumen layer on the asphalt, either on top or below, to lessen the cracks. This solution might be costly for Council but it’s better long-term, especially for busy roads and older roads.

She also suggested road repairs that are resilient to flooding, such as using high-quality materials, adding effective water and surface drainage, as well as frequent maintenance of these systems.

For reports about potholes, locals may phone 3407 0566 or the Call Centre at 3403 8888.

Published 12-Sept-2022

New Scooter Track Coming to Wittonga Park in The Gap

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Wittonga Park will soon have a new scooter track! Work on this new project in The Gap, one of four scooter tracks earmarked for completion in 2022, commenced in early August.

The scooter track at Wittonga Park was designed for children of various ages to build confidence as they use the course. Younger players will be able to start by mastering small sections of the course. Older children, on the other hand, should be able to master and complete the whole track loop fairly quickly.

The construction works at Wittonga Park include the installation of raised roundabout platforms, a series of moguls, a two-way concrete track, and a series of texture panels.

Photo Credit: Cr Steven Toomey / Facebook

Cr Steven Toomey also said that there will also be a vine-covered tunnel for the flora & fauna of area.

Apart from Wittonga Park, three other parks will also get their own scooter park:

Paul Conti Park, Hemmant – includes a new playground next to the track and a new picnic shelter (Start of construction in late May 2022)
Shaftesbury Street Park, Tarragindi – includes a new picnic shelter (Start of construction mid-May 2022)
Kathleen Street Park, Richlands (Start of construction late July 2022)

Council said that the new scooter tracks will be based on the award-winning track in Bradbury Park in Kedron that was unveiled in June 2021.

All four tracks are slated to be completed before 2022 ends.

‘Men Of The Trees’ Turns 100! QLD Chapter in The Gap Joins Worldwide Celebration

Men of the Trees, an organisation dedicated to fostering the planting, maintenance, and protection of trees worldwide turns 100 this year! Its Queensland chapter, based in The Gap, joins the worldwide organisation in celebrating its founding anniversary.

Read: The Gap Property Market Breaches Million-Dollar Median Price

On 22 July 1922, the organisation was founded by the late Dr Richard St Barbe Baker, an English government forestry officer, who was concerned for the rapidly decreasing fertility of the land when he started working in Kenya.

He saw the effects of centuries of land mismanagement in North Africa, from wheat farming in the later days of the Roman Empire to the grazing of goats first introduced by Arabs.

Dr St Barbe Baker believed it was necessary to plant more trees to combat the shifting methods of agriculture.

That’s when he came up with the idea of voluntary tree planting by the native tribesmen of the highlands. The activity was most successful and the highlanders became known as forest planters instead of forest destroyers.

The highlanders, also known as the Kikuyu tribe, carried out managed reforestation in the region, and utilised native species in their land.

When he went back from Kenya to England, this concept quickly spread in his home country by 1924 and since then, branches have developed in many parts of the world, bringing together men, women and children who were conscious about planting trees.

Dr Richard St. Barbe Baker with Ngairetta Brennan, MOTT’s president for the first 19 years, photo taken in Brisbane in early ‘80s (Photo credit: Men of The Trees Queensland/Facebook)

In time for their centennial celebration, Cr Steven Toomey, who is currently the president of Men of The Trees Queensland, thanked all members past, present and an army of volunteers who have been preserving and restoring tree canopy across the globe.

Photo credit: Men of The Trees Queensland/Facebook

Today, the Men of the Trees is also known as the International Tree Foundation (ITF) and operates in several countries, with over 100 chapters worldwide. In Australia, it still goes by its original name though in England, the original charity has now been fully rebranded as ITF.