the gap Archives - Page 12 of 13

Lifestyle, Green Spaces Seen as Top Concerns as The Gap Neighbourhood Plan Nears Completion

Brisbane City Council has released the latest draft of The Gap neighbourhood plan and should be ready to include it in the City Plan come early 2018.

The planning team has incorporated input from the community into the updated neighbourhood plan. Locals are further urged to have their say until Friday 8 December 2017.

The Gap Vision

The vision for the suburb is based on key considerations derived from initial planning studies and community feedback.

Housing for All – The plan is to ensure that there is ample housing available for people from all walks of life. To achieve this, the plan would maintain the suburban character of The Gap. At the same time, the suburb will still accommodate a range of housing options for locals.
Green and Leafy Spaces – Since The Gap is home to some of the biggest conservation parks in the city, the planning team intends to provide protection to the existing greeneries and open spaces. The plan would maintain and enhance public green spaces and provide protection against environmental hazards.
Centres for Village Life – The neighbourhood plan would reinvigorate the suburb with places for dining, shopping and relaxation. The strategy is to create spaces where locals can gather as a community. In particular, planners would revitalise The Gap Village and enhance the local shopping precincts.
Community Connections – The neighbourhood plan would seek opportunities for the community to interact and access services. To achieve this, the council would increase activities and programs at parks and community facilities.

Read: The Gap Neighbourhood Plan – What’s Happened So Far and How to Get Involved

Coverage of The Gap Neighbourhood Plan (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

Feedback on Neighbourhood Plan

Since the neighbourhood plan will form the basis for future developments in The Gap, residents are encouraged to have their say about the updated draft. The neighbourhood plan can alter rules on zoning and what types of development are appropriate.

The Gap residents can provide feedback by:

Emailing the project team
Calling Council on 3403 8888
Or writing to:
Neighbourhood Planning Brisbane (The Gap)
Brisbane City Council
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001

The planning team will receive feedback until Friday 8 December 2017.

Learn more about The Gap neighbourhood plan.

Why Residents Hardly Leave The Gap & Other Brisbane Suburbs

What is it about the The Gap that makes its residents stay put? New data from the Domain Group reveals the 20 most tightly-held suburbs by distance to the CBD in Brisbane, The Gap comes in fourth in the range of 0-5 kms distance from the CBD. Highgate Hill, Newmarket, Wilson and Grange also made it to the 0-5 kms group from the CBD.

Other suburbs on the list:

5-10kms from the CBD:

Nathan
Carindale
Stafford Heights
Chermside West
Keperra

10-15kms from the CBD:

Robertson
Chandler
Brookfield
Durack
Middle Park

15-20kms from the CBD:

Camp Mountain
Wights Mountain
Upper Brookfield
Inala
Sandgate

According to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland Chairman Rob Honeycombe, these suburbs within 0-5 kms from the CBD are family-friendly and are perfectly situated within desirable school catchment areas, hence their high placement on the list.

The Gap is indeed an ideal place for those who want a quiet life in a traditional suburbia setting. One of the things that make the area desirable is the number of good schools in the area such as The Gap State High School, Hilder Road State School, Payne Road State School and St Peter Chanel Primary School.

The Gap also offers a wide range of recreational establishments such as The Gap Village and other cafes and restaurants such as The Lodge, the third best cafe in Australia. Every week, The Gap Farmers’ Market serves up fresh local produce, delicious food, and other great finds that make both locals and visitors wake up early to catch.

Walkabout Creek and the beach sitting on the edge of the Ennogera Reservoir only add to The Gap’s unique attractions.

Andrew Wilson, the Domain Group’s chief economist, says that if homebuyers find a suburb that ticked all the right boxes, they would most likely stay long-term.

“Everyone wants to live in the suburb that has the most liveability, the most amenity, and the most infrastructure and facilities close to everything — and has a quality profile in terms of the types of houses in the area,” he said.

Indeed, The Gap is ticking all the right boxes, as their data shows.

Editor’s Note: The categories reported in this article are based on the Domain study and not classifications made by West Brisbane News. While it is true that The Gap should be in the “5-10km from CBD” category, being listed in the other category in no way diminishes the fact that it has ranked as a tightly held suburb.

Snake Sightings Are On the Rise in The Gap & Nearby Suburbs

At this time of year, carpet snakes are very rampant in the Western suburbs especially in The Gap. Snake Catchers Brisbane has been tirelessly working to remove these reptiles from properties.

One resident in The Gap found a snake in an underwear drawer. The snake was first seen on a window sill and was quickly disregarded thinking that it was just a common tree snake. It turns out, it was an Eastern Brown snake — one of the deadliest species of venomous snakes.

Snakes are very common at this time of the year as the temperatures grow warmer during early spring. During this time of the year, The Gap and Chapel Hill are the suburbs with the most snake sightings. They can just be found anywhere — cars, washing machines, and fridges. In fact, Snake Catchers Brisbane has been getting about 30 inquiries per day about snakes that are sighted.

Snake catcher Lana Field has warned residents who don’t want snakes coming into their homes to make sure that their yards are clean. Also, pet enclosures should be snake proof. Pets cats should be kept inside because there are times that they bring snakes inside, venomous or otherwise.

The Gap Residents Wake Up to Colourful Security Bollards

The Gap has colourful new security bollards and they are a sight to behold. Some residents have said that they just woke up one morning to see that their neighbourhood has become a world of colourful “Legos!”

Around Yoorala Street Reserve, mysterious artists have turned 30 cement bollards into multi-hued works of art. This is not the first time that this has happened, though. In May, Simpson characters were scattered all over the suburb. And now in July, the theme seems to be Legos!

Photo credit: Preserve our Parks, Civic Centres for Community Groups: The Gap Qld / Facebook

All of the creations are made from paper mache. The Gap Resident’s Association member Chris Taylor said that these decorations just came out of nowhere and they have no idea who’s done it. However they came to be, the neighbourhood seems to be appreciative of the colourful displays. Families actually stop around to admire them. The Gap residents are pleased with these beautiful art creations.

This occurence seems to be part of a growing trend. Also in July, Melbourne residents also woke up to colourful bollards in their neighbourhood. Over 200 bollards were installed around the city to prevent vehicle-based attacks. Artists quickly took this an opportunity to express their creativity. They added their unique touch to Melbourne’s temporary concrete cubes. Now, they are covered in colourful materials and graffiti art.

Photo credit: http://toplike.us/u/melbournebyfoot/

The Gap Residents Adamant to Prevent Emergency Access Onto Mt Nebo Road

The Gap residents are still against the plan for a second access onto Mt Nebo Road as part of the Ferny Grove-Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan.

The last day of submission of suggestions to the council has passed and a lot of residents have expressed animosity towards the plan to build a second access onto Mt Nebo Road, citing the inevitable increase of traffic in the area.

Their Issues

The draft for the neighbourhood plan only proposes emergency access onto the road. Residents are worried that over time, “emergency access” will turn into a full vehicle access road. Creating another access onto Mt Nebo Road is deemed unacceptable by the residents saying that this would worsen the existing traffic congestion along the Waterworks Road corridor.

They also think that such access can cause harm to their health due to an increase in air pollutants. Other issues include an increase on vehicle strikes on the conservation of significant fauna, compromise accessibility to residential and business areas, higher risk of injuries to leisure users since there are a lot of people who use the road especially cyclists on the weekends.

Unnecessary?

To add to that, the Western Brisbane Transport Network Strategy published by the Queensland Government’s Department of Transport and Main Roads, doesn’t see any necessary improvements to be done on the Waterworks Road corridor. This places limitations on the road’s capacity to accommodate an increase in transportation associated with the Cedar Woods development.

The council is now reviewing the submissions they have received on the draft neighborhood plan. And once everything is complete, this neighborhood plan will be a part of Brisbane’s planning scheme, Brisbane City Plan 2014.

Coles The Gap and Other Queensland Stores to Phase Out Plastic Bags

A few hours after Woolworths announced that it is phasing out single-use plastic bags at its stores across the country, Coles made a similar announcement to stop using plastic bags.

The supermarket giant confirmed that it is implementing the phase out at its stores in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.

The move will put the stores into line with Coles supermarkets in South Australia, the Northern Territory and ACT, which have laws banning single-use plastic bags.

Queensland has legislated a similar ban, which will take effect on 1 July 2018.

Transition

Coles Chief Customer Officer Simon McDowell said the company has been working towards the announcement for some time now as it improves environmental outcomes throughout its business.

To help customers adjust to the coming ban, Coles is making sure that the transition will be smooth.

“We know customers like the convenience of single-use bags, so we’ll make sure we have plenty of other options for them if they forget to bring their own bags from home,” said Mr McDowell.

Coles is already encouraging shoppers to bring reusable bags and is providing recycling bins for soft plastics at 630 of its stores.

As part of the phase-out, the supermarket will provide a range of reusable bags at different prices.

The St. Peter Chanel Fair in The Gap Promises a Lot of Fun for a Good Cause

St. Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School in The Gap will be holding their fair on 30 July from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 41 Chaprowe Rd.

The fair happens every other year. The fundraising event aims to raise funds to aid the school’s needs such as upgrades and daily operations.

A line-up of food stalls and lots of treats will be available, perfect for those looking for new things to try or craving to satisfy a sweet tooth. There are also fantastic gift stalls where you can purchase stationery and other arts & crafts.

The fair will also have some great rides, raffles, and programs.

Don’t miss this fair! It’s not every year that you get to enjoy something like this right smack in the suburb.

The Gap’s LOCO Shop Promotes Sustainability and Cooperation To Local Community

Is there any better way to support your local economy and at the same time, ensure that you and your loved ones eat healthy? At The Gap’s local food co-op, there is a way. The LOCO Shop in the SOWN Environment Centre Shed between Yoorala Street Community Garden and the Balaangala Garden Space is The Gap’s way of supporting community nutrition and the local economy.

The LOCO Shop is a local community initiative that is managed by people with a background in organics as growers, farmers, buyer’s group managers and consumers. They highly promote certified organic food and how it is better for personal, community and environmental health. The business itself, as a co-op, is based on cooperation, community and environmental sustainability.

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

People who work for the co-op are paid a minimum wage and customers are encouraged to pre-order to help minimise waste. By doing so, customers can expect prices to be low compared to other food establishments that sell organic produce. However, the prices may fluctuate depending on the wholesale rates since they usually get their supplies from organic wholesalers and farmers. At this local co-op, people know exactly where their food is coming from as the supply chain is very transparent.

Interested customers can drop by the shop which is open two days a week, Mondays and Fridays, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Customers can also pre-order via email by noon on Sundays and you can pick-up your order the next day after 1:00 p.m.

To keep up-to-date with their prices and the products available, they can be reached at thegaploco@gmail.com. They also send out weekly and monthly updates to customers.

Every second Sunday of the month, The LOCO Shop operates a stall at The Gap Farmer’s Market from 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Mt Zero Promoted By The Gap Neighbourhood Watch and the Inner West Patrol Group

Mt Glorious Road has witnessed plenty of riding accidents. Popular amongst motorcycle riders, the road is perfect for adrenaline junkies with its twists and turns that motorcycle riders find thrilling.

Despite the riveting ride it gives motorcycle riders and car drivers, the road remains a hazard. The Department of Transport and Main Roads have recorded 567 injured, of which 304 are motoryclists. Of the 13 fatalities from November 2011 to October 2016, seven were motorcycle riders.

This prompted the Inner West Patrol Group along with The Gap Neighborhood Watch to start a campaign, Mt Zero, to spread awareness and road safety messages to riders. The main goal of Mt Zero is to lessen what seems to be an alarming number of accidents on the road and possibly lowering it down to zero.

Photo credit: http://mypolice.qld.gov.au/

This is not the first time that the police will educate riders in the area. They have been going to various places in Brisbane to spread road safety and awareness.

For more information on this event, you can contact the Crime Prevention Unit.

Mt Glorious Cafe, the venue where the speaking event will be held on 24-25 June, is a popular spot for riders.

Photo credit: Mount Glorious Cafe / Facebook

The cafe boasts a beautiful view overlooking the mountains with an extensive menu offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Sunlit Sounds Festival to be Held at The Gap Farmers’ Market; New Changes Welcome Visitors

The Gap Farmers’ Market continues to enhance life in the suburbs by bringing the Sunlit Sounds Festival to Brisbane on Sunday, 25 June. Scheduled to bring an afternoon of creativity and entertainment, the event will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Hilder Road State School in The Gap to honour Brisbane’s diverse striped sunlight sounds.

The Market and the Festival

The Farmers’ Market, as an initiative of The Gap Residents Association (GAPRA), a non-profit organisation, supports a number of causes and values. Their regular markets will be paying for the performance fees for the event for three years, a value totalling $25,000. They will also contribute much-needed funds for Hilder Road State School and Micah Projects. The upcoming festival also has a line-up of professional volunteers who will serve as the media manager, graphic designer, accountant, lawyer, and music coordinator for the event.

Photo credit: Sunlit Sounds Festival / Facebook

The list of performers include:

We All Want To (featuring Tim Steward of Screamfeeder)
Burning Circuits (Ben Ely from Regurgitator)
Mick Medew and the Mesmerisers
Yuuca
Port Royal

A Creative Hub

The Sunlit Sounds Festival is also the artists’ way of bringing together inner west suburbs such as Ashgrove and The Gap. These suburbs have been growing rapidly with a growing number of creative hubs that have plenty of sound and film studios set up from home, which has caught the attention of the artists.

Ben Ely of Regurgitator lives in Ashgrove. He says that the housing affordability and the constant socio-cultural changes in these suburbs are paving the way for more creative souls to come out. This, in turn, helps The Gap evolve into a suburb brimming with creativity and culture.

Tim Steward of Screamfeeder also noticed this trend. Tim lives in The Gap. He compared the cultural undercurrents rippling out from West End to Manhattan Island in New York City.

He said that wealthy people move to artistic areas to “absorb some cool, by osmosis” but fail. Instead, the wealthy folks attract similar people into the area, eventually changing the nature of the suburb, turning it inside out and making it a wealthy suburb. This then drives the artists away due to the higher housing prices. Another cycle then begins, when these displaced artists look for other suburbs to live in, set in a new artistic feel in the suburb and so on.

Mr Steward also mentioned that The Gap is less expensive than other nearby suburbs such as Bardon and Red Hill. He wishes that it will stay this way in the suburb for a while longer.

Changes To the Market

The Gap Farmers’ Market has also made some changes. They have moved to a place with a more relaxed vibe, under the shade of trees which provides a fresh canopy for a batch of new stallholders:

Photo credit: The Gap Farmers’ Market / Facebook

Liam the Farmer from Lot 81 Microfarm
Gourmet Crispy Potato Cakes
Marcus from Amalua Farm
Hetty’s Juices

They will also be welcoming new musicians from the Jazz Music Institute, The Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and local talents to entertain the crowd whilst shopping.

Follow their schedule updates on their Facebook page and their event page.