Enjoy six hours of shopping for your friends and loved ones at The Gap She Shed Christmas Twilight Market on Saturday, the 26th of November 2022. Gates to The Football Club on Glen Affric Street will open from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Expect an array of amazing community stalls, arts crafts, music and food to bring the community together. Below are just some of the great finds at the market:
Rock My Resin is one of the newest stall holders of the She Shed Twilight Market. Owner and creative Helen makes unique and groovy resin jewellery and homewares. She also has an Etsy shop for online customers across the country.
Greg and Lou Canning of Crafty Pirates will be back at the market and will have heaps of Christmas table decorations, ornaments and knick-knacks for your home decorations. Haul some unique handmade treasures and personalised pieces from their collections to make gift-giving more meaningful.
Sandy and Wood is by Helena Pygott, a founding She Shedder. She’s a talented woodcarver and craftsperson who makes chairs, shelves, furniture, bookcases, and wooden decorations. But The Gap Twilight Art & Craft market is the only market she joins every year, where she sells handmade wooden earrings, hand-carved spoons, little houses, earrings & necklace hangers and bookmarks.
The Gap She Shed is a supportive community of retirees, new mothers and young women who enjoy skill-sharing, creating, learning and forging friendships. They regularly meet for business workshops, arts and crafts activities, or even health and well-being sessions.
Learn more about The Gap She Shed via the official site.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
While median house price growth usually outpaces unit price growth in this suburb, both sectors performed well in The Gap property market within the 12-month period ending March 2022. In fact, amidst the pandemic-driven property boom, the robust performance has pushed The Gap into the millionaires club for the first time.
With a 31.61 per cent median house price growth, The Gap joins other new million-mark suburbs like Virginia in the North and Eight Mile Plains in the South from April 2021 to March 2022.
Once considered an affordable location, The Gap’s new record makes the suburb out of reach for entry-level home buyers as the median house price reached $1,020,000.
Data from Property Market Updates shows that during this period, 284 homes were sold within an average listing period of 17 days, proving that The Gap property market is hot and highly sought after.
This 12-month period has seen the largest increase in Greater Brisbane, with more than 40 suburbs moving into the millionaire’s club. One factor driving up home values may be the increase of new modern homes in neighbouring areas that sparked a ripple effect.
Industry insiders also predict that the growth will continue in the next month as very low-interest rates have driven buyers to pay more for properties. The market will still be competitive with huge demands and incredibly tight stocks.
The Gap Unit Price Growth
The Gap’s unit market has also shown an outstanding median growth at 19.26 percent. The median price for the unit market currently sits at $727,500, up from $610,000 last year. There were 68 properties sold for this period within an average of 34 days on the market.
Since the end of 2021, the price difference between houses and unit prices has been narrowing due in part to the loosening of restrictions. Despite the increase, industry experts say buyers may still be able to score relatively affordable, quality dwellings by doing good research.
The Gap Property Market Post-Flooding
Whilst the majority of The Gap is not a flood-prone area, creeks are running through the suburb that may tend to overflow and impact road access in and out of the suburb.
For a few weeks after the February 2022 floodings, the market noticeably dipped as buyer confidence had been shocked and shaken by the rain bombs in many parts of Brisbane.
However, the market quickly recovered by the end of March 2022 and with The Gap’s low supply and high demand, the projection is that price growth will continue in the months to come.
To ensure the health and safety of the children from airborne diseases, The Gap Cubbyhouse Montessori has invested and installed quality carbon dioxide monitoring devices in its facilities.
Sue-Ling Lau, the director of the facility, said that they want all of the classrooms monitored for CO2 levels so the school can “make informed decisions” when it comes to COVID-19.
Ms Lau believes air purifiers and opening the windows will also help keep the air cleaner but knowing the air quality in all areas of the centre will provide more safety options to benefit the kids.
Classrooms with poor air quality may also affect the children’s cognitive ability and productivity, with the kids feeling more tired and groggy than normal. So, The Gap Cubbyhouse Montessori decided to partner with Brisbane-based IAQ monitoring solutions, Zeplin and Thinxtra, to monitor and maintain the site’s air quality, optimum temperature and humidity levels.
Zeplin’s solutions are battery-powered sensors with little or no maintenance for five years. These work to collect data necessary for learning the air quality in the childcare cente. The data is then transmitted to Thinxtra’s network which Lau can access remotely.
Ms Lau said that if she’s not on the site, she can still monitor and receive notifications about the air quality of the facility. With real-time data, Ms Lau and the staff may direct the kids to safer corners or move outside if the ventilation indoors is not ideal for learning.
Until the school had the monitors, Ms Lau said they didn’t realise how fast the CO2 levels rose in The Gap.
“Initially, we were getting alerts several times per day but now need less with procedures in place to increase airflow,” Ms Lau said. “Our trigger point is 800 parts per million (ppm) – which is an acceptable level of CO2. Complaints of drowsiness and poor air quality start once CO2 exceeds 1000ppm.”
As a result of these installations, parents feel more confident sending their kids to the childcare centre.
The Gap Cubbyhouse Montessori also does deep cleaning regularly. Their staff also follow the recommended health and safety protocols of the Queensland Government.
More than 50 million hot cross buns have been consumed across Australia since Boxing Day and The Gap locals have snapped up more than 123,200 of these spiced sweet buns, earning the fourth-highest sales on record across Queensland.
Hot cross buns are just some of the favourite Easter products for Coles shoppers, which were rolled out across all outlets earlier in the year, including The Gap Shopping Village. Named as the best in the country for the second year in a row by Canstar Blue, these hot cross buns have been made more affordable with 2 packs for just $6 or 50c per mouth-watering bun.
Coles’ irresistible and CHOICE recommended chocolate hot cross buns, with 25% real chocolate chips, are made using cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified farms, ensuring better opportunities for farmers and safeguarding the environment for the future.
Photo Credit: Supplied
This year, Coles was the first major supermarket in Australia to develop a savoury flavoured hot cross bun range, launching the iconic, limited-edition VEGEMITE hot cross buns which sold out within weeks of arriving in store, and recently adding a fiery new flavour – Jalapeno and Cheese.
Photo Credit: Supplied
In addition to the variety of super affordable hot cross buns, Coles is also offering the best value seafood spread during the second busiest holiday season of the year:
Coles Deli Fresh Tasmanian Salmon Skin on $29
Coles Deli Raw Banana Prawns $23 p/kg, down from$26 p/kg
Coles Deli Fresh Black Tiger Prawns $27 p/kg down from $30 p/kg (ex. WA)
3kg Box of XL Black Tiger Prawns $75 p/box, down from $102 per box
Coles Tasmanian Salmon Portions with Lemon & Herb Crumb, $14.50 per pack
Coles General Manager for Bakery, Deli and Seafood, Andy Mossop said it’s important to reflect on customer sentiments.
“We know it’s been a challenging few years for many Australians, and it’s important to understand what our customers are feeling to ensure we can provide the best value and quality on products they need most this Easter,” Andy said.
For conscious adults who love a fresh beverage, Coles Liquor’s newly launched White Peach Surplus Sour brings together two of the hottest global beer trends – sustainable production and sour style craft beer. Sour beers are one of the fastest-growing styles in the innovative craft beer segment and also came out as one of the top new beverage trends in Coles’ Easter research.
The White Peach Surplus Sour is the result of a unique partnership between craft star, Local Brewing Co, Coles Liquor and fruit grower Cutri Fruit. It is brewed from unsold white peaches and supermarket bread with the equivalent of one meal donated to food rescue organisation and Coles partner SecondBite with the sale of each can.
The Gap State High School, one of the largest student communities in Brisbane, will no longer be supervising students at the bus stops after school when classes resume for Term 2.
Before the Easter holidays, school officials informed parents that the standard practice of supervising students at public transportation sites when they go home will no longer follow due to “industrial direction.”
Per the Queensland Teachers Union, school staff workers are expected to look out for the children for at least 30 minutes but only for school bus riders. However, The Gap High School is on the busy Waterworks Road and for some time, the school has been coming up with ways to manage and ensure the safety of the number of students taking the public buses.
GSHS principal Anne McLauchlan said that they have coordinated with local officials, as well as councillors, over concerns about the flow of traffic on Waterworks Road versus the flow of students at the end of the school day.
During Term 1, the school has trialled different school exits, with school workers initially guiding the students, to manage the foot traffic. According to an Education Department spokesperson, the trial proved to be a success and eased the crowding of kids on the roadside during peak hours.
Meanwhile, The Gap State High School will keep conducting sessions with the students on safe travels on the road. Parents will also be given constant reminders to guide their children as well and talk about proper behaviour, especially when taking public transport after school.
In March 2022, You Choose Youth Road Safety held a road safety session at the school, which was attended by 250 kids.
The Gap property market has seen strong growth and brisk demand in 2021, as both house and unit markets posted double-digit median growth rates within the 12-month period ending September 2021.
Highlights
The median house price for The Gap picked up by 17.77 per cent from October 2020 to September 2021, whilst the median unit price also grew by 15.57 for the same period.
The median house price in The Gap now sits at $870,000 and the median unit price is nearly in the same price range at $705,000.
The Gap is defying all odds with the housing and unit sectors both performing well as pre-COVID activities have returned in recent months.
The Gap Property Market
From October 2020 to September 2021, The Gap’s housing market tracked a 17.77 per cent median house price growth compared to last year, from $738,750 to $870,000. Figures from Property Market Updates indicated that 308 houses were sold for this period, moving at a brisk pace of just 20 days on market.
More than half of the properties sold were three and four-bedroom homes, perfect for established families. Supplies for two-bedroom properties in The Gap are currently low, whilst competition is tight among buyers looking to acquire spacious character-filled wooden homes in this leafy and hilly suburb.
In the past, city dwellers visit The Gap for weekend picnics at its abundant bush retreats. Today, city professionals have this suburb under their radar as a residential option with the tighly-held property market raking in an average of 1,239 property visits from interested investors, per realestate.com.au.
The apartment market in The Gap has also gained significantly, with the median rising from October 2020 to September 2021 by 15.57 per cent. The median unit price has landed at $705,000, up from $610,000 in the previous year.
Unlike the housing market, however, movement in the unit market was slower, with listings averaging 55 days on market. There were 77 units sold for this particular time period, with more sales for three-bedroom apartments.
The housing sector has generally outperformed the apartment sector, especially at the height of the pandemic crisis. However, a shift in the market has slowly emerged as pre-COVID activities have returned.
About The Gap
This family-friendly suburb located nine kilometres northwest of the CBD boasts of many sites for nature sports as it sits on the foothills of mountains like Mount Coot-tha, Mount Glorious, and Mount Nebo. The Gap is one of the greenest places in Brisbane, where outdoor fun is the main recreational activity.
The community predominantly consists of professionals who are mostly long-term homeowners with older children. Families are spoilt for choice at the number of parks, walking or biking tracks, and wildlife adventures to be enjoyed around its natural riches.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
The Gap provides plenty of school options for young kids, including the award-winning The Gap State High School.
Though The Gap doesn’t offer a fast-paced urban lifestyle compared to other middle-ring suburbs, the residents still enjoy adequate access to shopping and dining hubs. For the more selective locals, more choices for dining and shopping are within 10-20 minutes away by car at Chermide, Indooroopilly, Ashgrove, Bardon, or Paddington.
“Lived there for 10 years, its very scenic but I just wish there was more to do locally.”
Flatcherox
“The Gap is only 9/10 km from Brisbane city centre and has clean air, beautiful walking / cycling tracks; great schools and a real sense of community. Its safe and very friendly – the kind of neighbourhood where children play in the street and many of the people who live there grow their own herb gardens, sharing their produce with their neighbours. Its quite an affluent suburb with many residents being business owners. There is a village centre where you can buy all your groceries and daily needs.”
Ts40
“Having lived in many different places around Brisbane and overseas, I’ve come to the conclusion that I will ALWAYS call The Gap my home and will live here as long as possible (and considering there’s a retirement place, that’s gonna be a while!).The Gap is a beautiful leafy suburb filled to the brim with friendly people (not creepily so, mind!). The main reason I love living in The Gap is the peace and quiet and ease of access to the hustle and bustle when you decide you’re in need of a night out.”
Beginning May 2022, The Gap State High School will be one of 50 Queensland schools that will have a GP on-site, as part of a pilot program launched in aid of students may who need consultations for their health and wellbeing.
A budget of $100 million has been allocated for this program that will see GP clinics up and running within the 50 school campuses. These clinics are meant to provide timely healthcare that bears no cost to the student’s families.
The Education Department was supposed to have only 20 state secondary schools in the pilot but after asking schools to register their interest to participate, Minister Grace Grace said they were inundated with requests and so they decided to expand coverage to 50 schools.
“[This] will have a positive impact on students’ health, mental health, and their readiness and ability to engage at school, and we want to ensure as many students as possible can benefit,” Ms Grace said.
However, Australian Medical Association Queensland president Chris Perry said whilst they welcome more access to primary healthcare, he hopes that this initiative will not impact and further overwhelm the “under-resourced” and exacerbate GP shortage problems across Queensland.
Photo Credit: Julio Ceasar Mejia/Pixabay
The move encompasses an election promise from Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who said that there must be a wellness program for every student of the state.
“Every Queenslander deserves to be able to book a doctor’s appointment when they need one. But for many young people, getting in to see a GP is often difficult and expensive,” Palaszczuk said.
“We know that one of the greatest barriers for many young people is the difficulty in finding a GP that bulk bills.
“This will make a difference for thousands of students throughout the state.
“The last 18 months have affected us all. Our students, in particular, have had to overcome great challenges throughout the pandemic. This has undoubtedly had an impact on their health and wellbeing.
“This is an important investment. Delivering quality healthcare and education for all Queenslanders is what good Labor governments do best,” she said.
