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Keperra Kerbside Collection: 4 Important Things To Remember to Avoid Illegal Dumping Fines

Another round of kerbside collection will be underway in Keperra on Monday, the 16th of Sept 2019. As practiced, residents are encouraged to place their items by the kerb before 6:00 a.m. during collection day.

Workers from the Waste and Resource Recovery Services will be driving by to pick up the items but not just everything will be collected. So, here are four important things to remember to avoid incurring illegal dumping fines.

1. Keep it tidy.

Keperra residents are expected to pile their kerbside collection items in a tidy manner. It should be off footpaths and roadways so as not to disrupt the flow of traffic. The items must also be secured in case the weather is bad on collection day. You won’t want your items scattered on the ground because of strong winds.

2. Keep it at two cubic metres.

The Council will not pick up kerbside collection items that are piled in a box that’s more than two cubic metres. This is roughly the size equal to a small box trailer load. If you have long or tall items, ensure that these are not longer than one metre. Otherwise, you might need to bring larger items yourself to recycling centres or tip shops in Brisbane.

3. Keep it safe.

Your kerbside collection pile must not contain sharp or dangerous objects. It must also not be too heavy for two people to pick up the box. If you are putting away furniture or appliances like cupboards, fridges or eskies, you need to take off the doors and covers. This ensures that no curious animals or kids would be trapped inside the container.

4. Keep unacceptable items off your pile.

The Council will not accept these items below for kerbside collection. If you need to get rid of these, you need to make other arrangements:

bricks and concrete
commercial builders waste
car parts and tyres, including car batteries
dirt and stones
garden waste (e.g. trees, grass, potted plants)
gas bottles
general household waste (e.g. food scraps)
glass and mirrors
hazardous wastes (e.g. chemicals, oil, asbestos)
household waste that normally goes into your waste or recycling bin
Liquids

Items that are not picked up must be removed off the kerb as soon as possible. The penalty for illegal dumping is $133.45 per unit.

Residents can download the Brisbane bin and recycling app to receive notifications and learn general information on how to dispose of unwanted items properly.

Enjoy Father’s Day Breakfast or Lunch at the Walkabout Creek this September

Celebrating Father’s Day on the 1st of September at the Walkabout Creek in The Gap can be pretty special and remarkable. Your dad will love nothing more than to have a relaxing meal with the whole family amidst the lush surrounds of the D’Aguilar National Park.

Apart from enjoying the food with family members, however, a Father’s Day celebration at the Walkabout Creek can be filled with heaps of outdoor activities focused on dad. You can go cycling, swimming, paddling and exploring, or simply play games on the grounds before or after you have your meals.

*Photo Credit: Queensland National Park*

Father’s Day Breakfast

Start your day with dad at this year’s Father’s Day preparations at the Walkabout Creek at 8:00 a.m. for the first breakfast session, while a second breakfast session will follow at 10:00 a.m.

Both schedules will feature the following breakfast menu:

Bacon Rashers	Pork chipolatas
Scrambled eggs (V, GF)	Mini golden hash browns (V)
Frittata (GF, V)	Roasted tomatoes with garlic and rosemary (V, GF)
Honey Yoghurt with berry compote and muesli (V)	Pancakes with maple syrup
Danish pastries and croissants (V)	Sweet mini muffins (V)
Fresh fruit platters (V, GF, DF)	A selection of bread with assorted condiments (GF options available)

All breakfast meals are served with a selection of teas, freshly brewed coffee and premium juice.

After having breakfast, take dad strolling near the beautiful Enoggera Reservoir or the bush to burn those calories. Or, if everyone’s up for it, you can spend the rest of the morning swimming and cooling off at the designated areas.

Father’s Day Lunch

Lunch, on the other hand, will be ready by 12:00 noon so you can head to the park earlier to bike or other fun outdoor activities to stretch those muscles and joints. When you’re famished, you can have a satisfying lunch with dad at the Walkabout Creek.

This year’s Father’s Day lunch special includes the following dishes:

Beef Burger with a side of fries	Chicken Caesar burger with a side of fries
Seafood Basket with lemon and tartare sauce	Grilled chicken salad with avocado, radish and black sesame dressing
Pan-fried Barramundi fillet with garden salad and fresh lemon wedges	Pesto, fetta and cherry tomato frittata w garden salad

Guests may also choose from a selection of assorted sandwiches and Turkish dishes. Just ask for the menu from the waitstaff.

Booking is required for Father’s Day breakfast or lunch at the Walkabout Creek. Phone 07 3300 2558 for more information.

The Gap to Spring Hill 380 Bus Route Ranked Worst in Brisbane

Did you know that the 380 bus route between The Gap and Spring Hill has had the highest number of blow outs and delays in the last financial year? As a result, commuters have ranked this bus service as the worst route in Brisbane and there’s a strong clamor for its improvements.

On average, the 380 bus route is 12 minutes behind its 35-minute schedule. While its delay is only second to the 100 bus service on Forest Lake, which runs 13 minutes behind schedule, the 380 bus route has had 34 percent of blow outs compared to 24 percent for the 100 bus route.

According to Public Transport Chair Krista Adams, these delays will be solved with the planned construction and improvement of the Brisbane Metro. The $944 million infrastructure project is expected to begin construction in 2019 with a targeted 2023 completion date.

Despite this massive road project, bus routes will still struggle if the service itself will not be improved and reformed.

“The patronage is really struggling on Brisbane’s buses because it’s taking too long for people to be able to get where they need to go,” Jared Cassidy from the Labor said. “But also as important is reliability — not just in terms of turning up on time, but also in terms of getting you to the end destination on time.”

Rebecca Michael of RACQ identified some of the problems plaguing Brisbane’s bus services, such as multiple transfers and inefficient timetabling and relayed complaints from the public towards any efforts made to fix these problems.

Wittonga Park Upgrades in The Gap Now Complete

Residents of The Gap now have a new reason to celebrate as the upgrades to Wittonga Park along Alutha Road have been completed. Councillor Steve Toomey confirmed on social media that these upgrades, which were initiated over two months ago, may now be enjoyed by the locals.

First up, a new parking area with 16 bays and easily accessible parkways has been added to Wittonga Park. It’s close to the new BMX track and perfect for the occasional outdoor movie nights in the area.

Work on the parking space
Photo Credit: Cr Steven Toomey/Facebook

After the completion of the parking space
Photo Credit: Cr Steven Toomey/Facebook

Young and active kids have since been using the challenging BMX tracks at Wittonga Park when it opened in early July. This dirt bike circuit is bigger, slightly higher and better for testing your skills.

“If you like to have air between your wheels and the ground, this is the place to be,” Mr Toomey said.

Work on the BMX Track
Photo Credit: Cr Steven Toomey/Facebook

After the completion of the BMX Track
Photo Credit: Cr Steven Toomey/Facebook

Meanwhile, past the bike tracks near Alutha Road is the Dog Park, which has a new encasement. There are also additional shaded areas with seating for dog owners to hang around whilst they watch their furry pets play.

*Photo Credit: Cr Steven Toomey/Facebook*

Wittonga Park may be accessed by car or on foot. It’s a wonderful place to bring family members outdoors to enjoy the picturesque atmosphere or to do your regular exercises, walks and sports activities with friends.

Art Classes Brisbane in The Gap Opens Term 3 Sessions for 2019

When you’ve got a busy schedule, fitting an art class in your daily routine might be challenging. However, joining an art class has its benefits as it can be a stress-reliever and a way to exercise your brain muscles or unleash your creative side.

Art classes bring an exciting challenge as you re-learn skills you’ve had as a child. And you’re quite in luck because Art Classes Brisbane in The Gap has just opened its Term 3 sessions for 2019.

Set every Tuesday and Saturday, beginning the 16th of July 2019, Art Classes Brisbane’s Term 3 will run for eight weeks, or until the 7th of September 2019. The sessions are held three hours per class and you can choose your time from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Each class has a minimum of four students. A session on Thursday evening from 6:00 to 9:00 may also be arranged if the number of students is enough.

You’ll be taught to draw using pencil, charcoal or pen and ink. You’ll also learn the following painting techniques from Art Classes Brisbane

acrylic
watercolour
gouache
pastel
oil
mixed media/abstract
potassium

*Photo Credit: Art Classes Brisbane/Facebook*

Check the rates and deals for the classes at Art Classes Brisbane’s Facebook page. Prices include art materials and tea. Contact Mrs Debra Pickering at 0402-111-173 for enquiries.

Keperra Tops List of Brisbane’s Most Affordable Suburbs for Houses

The latest Domain report names Keperra as the most affordable suburb for houses under 10 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD.

Just less than 10 kilometres from the CBD, Keperra offers the most affordable houses with a median price of $530,000, the Domain report said. Moorooka, on the other hand is the most affordable suburb for units with a median of $350,000.

Experts say that being close to the city, a lot is going for the suburb of Keperra such as transportation, schools, retail shops, and most of all, a good number of post-war homes, which are popular with young home buyers.

The latest median house price in Keperra, based on realestate.com.au data from 1 May 2018 – 28 May 2019, is $535,000; the median house price within 10 kilometres of Brisbane CBD is $845,000, according to Domain.

Following Keperra in the list of most affordable suburbs for houses less than 10-kilometres from the CBD are Chermside, Chermside West, Everton Park, and Stafford Heights.

As for units, Bowen Hills, Clayfield, Spring Hill, and East Brisbane round out the list of most affordable suburbs.

Most Affordable Suburbs Under 10 Kilometres from Brisbane CBD according to Domain

Suburb for Houses	Median Sale Price
Keperra	$530,000
Chermside	$580,000
Chermside West	$588,168
Everton Park	$591,000
Stafford Heights	$600,000

Suburb for Units	Median Sale Price
Moorooka	$350,000
Bowen Hills	$368,000
Clayfield	$375,000
Spring Hill	$382,000
East Brisbane	$387,000

Whilst there is not one specific reason why a suburb would have relatively low price despite proximity to the CBD, experts say that factors like being placed near industrial parks; having relatively low socioeconomics in the area; being close to an airport or under a flight path; and the nature of the housing stock can have an effect on dwelling prices.

The Gap State High School Celebrates New Cutting-Edge STEM Building

The Gap State High School is celebrating the completion and opening of its new cutting-edge STEM Building, which houses seven classrooms, four science laboratories, two robotics labs, three flexible learning areas, amenities, staff rooms and associated spaces.

On 19 June 2019, Labor MP for Cooper, Kate Jones officially opened the three-storey STEM structure to cater to Years 10 to 12 and junior classes taking STEM subjects.

*Photo Credit: The State of Queensland (Department of Education) 2019 /education.qld.gov.au*

The construction of the $10.7-million STEM building was made possible through the State Government’s 2020 Ready Program — which targets to deliver additional school infrastructure at 61 schools across the state.

Apart from providing state-of-the-art learning spaces, the new building will also ensure that TGSHS will have enough classrooms to accommodate its growing enrollment, which is expected to grow to about 1,770 in 2020 from this year’s 1,550 students.

In 2002, The Gap State High School’s Leadership Training Centre was opened which features 22 adventure courses such as indoor rock climbing. The school also has a state-of-the-art performance hall which has a seating capacity of 750, an auditorium that can accommodate up to 15 students, rehearsal rooms, practice rooms, and storage areas.

*Photo Credit: The State of Queensland (Department of Education) 2019 / thegapshs.eq.edu.au*

The school’s sporting facilities, on the other hand, boasts of four basketball courts, turf cricket pitch, a concrete cricket pitch, and two full size soccer fields.

The Gap State High School opened its new $5-million sports hall in 2014, which is one of the largest indoor school sporting facilities and features 4 volleyball courts, storerooms, mezzanine level for weights, cardio rooms, and a large spectator area.

Other school facilities include an independent learning centre; film and television editing suites; industrial technology facility; and a trade training centre for electrotechnology, renewable energy and engineering.

Learn to Cook South American Tapas with Nicole Cabezas in The Gap

Would you like to learn how to make South American Tapas? Mark your calendars for this special cooking class with Chilean chef Nicole Cabezas.

Hosted by Come and Cook, the South American Tapas Evening class will happen on Friday, the 28th of June, at 9:30 p.m. at 11 Grenoble Street in The Gap. Open for adults, Ms Cabezas will guide participants in preparing the tapas and learning what best fresh ingredients to use.

In Spanish cuisine, tapas are snacks or appetizers served either cold or hot. You’ll learn how to mix olives, cold cuts and cheese tapas, or make perfect batter-fried appetizers in this workshop.

The South American Tapas Evening will run for two and a half hours. Ticket prices are at $65 to $67.

The Gap Pet Fair 2019 to Officially Open Off-Leash Dog Park on Paten Road

After months of refurbishment, the off-leash dog park on Paten Road in The Gap will officially be opened by the Brisbane City Council’s Steven Toomey and Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner.

On the 8th of June 2019 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Paten Park will be the site of The Gap Pet Fair.

This day’s event will be filled with activities for both humans and dogs. On top of the food and pet merchandise to score at various stalls, there will be discounted health services like vaccinations, deworming, flea and tick protection, as well as microchipping.

A dog registration and animal adoption area will also be established on the park grounds.

The highlights of The Gap Pet Fair 2019 include:

11:00 a.m.	Opening of Pet Fair and dog off-leash area
11:30 a.m.	Dog obedience demonstration
12:00 a.m.	Pet care information
12:15 p.m.	Reptile care and demonstration
1:00 p.m.	Dog agility demonstration

Guests coming to this event with their furry pals are expected to have carriers for the cats and observe areas that aren’t off-leash.

This is a free event which requires no pre-registration. Just come with your pet pals to learn and enjoy the activities.

Koala Habitat Gets Protection as Council Acquires Bushland Across The Gap and Other Areas

The Council is on track in its bid to protect koala habitat as it acquired more than 700 hectares of bushland in the last three years, with the newly acquired lands spanning across 33 sites including The Gap.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said that the Council has so far invested about $75 million of the $120-million that was allocated for the Bushland Acquisition Program which aims to acquire a total of 750 hectares of bushland by the year 2020.

“Continuing to protect Brisbane’s significant bushland is part of my plan to ensure the Brisbane of tomorrow is better than the Brisbane of today,” Cr Schrinner said.

*Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / Flickr*

“Council has invested about $75 million of the $120 million budget acquiring bushland, with an emphasis on protecting koala habitat like the Brisbane Koala Bushlands in Burbank.

“The newly protected land under the program spans across 33 sites including Chandler, Carindale, Kholo, Wakerley, The Gap, Bracken Ridge and Chermside.

“There are 18 sites that were secured through the Bushland Acquisition Program which are part of the current 23 sites undergoing restoration as part of the Environmental Offsets Program.”

The program will allow the Council to not only protect the bushland’s current state but to enhance the habitat through tree planting efforts, maintaining the green spaces, creating more homes for local wildlife.

Since 2016, there have been over 130,000 trees planted under the Environment Offsets Program, including the more than 11,000 trees planted across the 25 hectares of land at Burbank.

There is about 37 percent natural green cover across Brisbane, Cr Schrinner said, and the Council is aiming to increase this to about 40 percent by 2031 by acquiring and turning into conservation reserves those lands that support significant ecosystems, plants, and animals.

“Keeping Brisbane clean and green is all about making our city liveable and sustainable for future generations.

“Most of the at-risk bushland which has been brought into public ownership is accessible to the public so residents and visitors can get outside and enjoy Brisbane’s lifestyle and leisure opportunities,” Lord Mayor Schrinner said.