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Wood-fired Barbecues To Be Phased Out From Brisbane Parks

Wood-fired barbecues will be phased out from parks throughout Brisbane, in favour of gas barbecues or electric ones, like the one recently installed at Ross Park on Sandgate Road in Nundah.

Read: Speed Limit Reduction Applied in Sections of Melton Road

In a meeting in February 2023, the LNP majority passed a vote to remove wood-fired barbecues, encouraging the use of electric/gas barbecues because of its convenience for residents.

Tracy Davis, Civic Cabinet Chair of the Environment, Parks and Sustainability Committee, highlighted that many residents now prefer electric/gas barbecues because they don’t need to carry logs around a local park or attempt to keep a fire alight.

According to Brisbane City Council’s website, there are barbecues in over 420 parks and natural areas throughout Brisbane and they are either electric or gas. However, there are only a few wood-fired barbecues left, which can be seen mostly in the western and middle ring suburbs.

Whilst there have been electric replacements, Opposition thought these replacements are not keeping up since the total numbers are reportedly at its lowest since 1973. There have also been claims that it’s killing an Australian tradition.

Labor Councillor for Deagon Ward Jared Cassidy revealed there were more than 300 wood versions removed from Brisbane in less than 10 years and the electric/gas replacements are not keeping up.

From 410 barbecues throughout Brisbane parks in 2014, there were allegedly 288 left as of 2019, according to Cr Cassidy.

Read: Mirvac Reveals Outcomes of Community Consultation for Its Toombul Renewal Plans

In response to the alleged declining numbers of barbecues in parks, Cr Davis claimed there are 734 barbecues throughout the city, some of which are newly installed, including the ones at Nundah’s Ross Park, Alderley’s Grinstead Park and Stones Corner’s Hanlon Park.

Published 4-March-2023

Speed Limit Reduction Applied in Sections of Melton Road

Heads up, North Brisbane motorists! The speed limit on a busy section of Melton Road has been reduced to 50km/h from 60km/h.

Signs along Melton Road, specifically between Toombul Road in Northgate to Buckland Road in Nundah, have been installed informing of the speed limit changes, effected February 2023, so that all motorists can slow down and keep the roads safer.

Cr Adam Allan said that the change was adapted to keep the speed consistent and “suitable for the road and the surrounding usage,” especially following the completion of the Melton and Hows Roads.

Per Council, the said intersection is accessed by over 15,000 vehicles, 35 cylists and hundreds of pedestrians a day. Its volume has been projected to increase, especially during peak hours, by 2031. Thus, the new roundabout had to be built, alongside a new pedestrian crossing and shared paths. It has also prompted a need to change the speed limit.

“This will be consistent with the remaining southern section of Melton Road that is already 50km/h and remove confusion where the speed limit currently varies,” Mr Allan said.

“My request for this change was approved via the Speed Management Committee which is comprised of representatives from the State Department of Transport and Main Roads, the Queensland Police Service and the relevant local council.”

Mirvac Reveals Outcomes of Community Consultation for Its Toombul Renewal Plans

Photo credit: Facebook / Leanne Linard MP

Locals do not want to see Toombul dominated by high-density residential development, nor do they want a much larger retail centre at the site, the outcomes of the Mirvac Toombul Renewal community consultation revealed.

In November 2022, Mirvac sought feedback from the community on what they would like to see for the future of the Toombul site. Members of the community were invited to participate in an online survey or at one of the four drop-in sessions held in Nundah, Wavell Heights and Clayfield.

The engagement program aims to identify the community’s needs and ensure that they remain informed on any updates or redevelopment plans for the Toombul site following the closure of the centre in 2022 due to flood damage.

The outcomes of this community consultation, along with planning outcomes and commercial considerations will inform decisions about the future of the Toombul site.

Highlights of the Toombul Renewal community consultations include:

96 per cent of stakeholders who participated in the online consultation identified as former Toombul customers
More than 85 per cent of respondents were from local postcodes
88 per cent of respondents said they visited Toombul once a week or mor

Meanwhile, the community wants a mix of retail and services, flood resilience and mitigation, a mix of dining and entertainment options, enhanced open green and recreation space, and improved connections to public and active transport.

“The community want to see retail return, with loyalty to the former Toombul, while many are open to change and other complementary uses to extend community benefit at the site, including well-considered mixed-use.” Mirvac

Leanne Linard MP in a social media post said that “the results showed what we locals already know: we loved Toombul, and we want to see a mix of retail, services and green space back on-site.”

“We also want to know what’s next, and when.

“The key issues I raised on behalf of our community were the need for Mirvac to deliver ongoing communication of their forward plan, and the safety of local nearby residents when demolition commences.

“Next month will be one year since the loss of Toombul. We will continue to ensure our communities voice is represented in future decisions for the site.

Published 10-February-2023

Authorities Give Tips To Prevent Break-ins Following Cases In Nundah, Other North Brisbane Suburbs

Authorities continue to remind the public about the importance of tightening up the security of their properties, following a spate of home robberies in Nundah and other suburbs north of Brisbane.

Read: Teens Attempting to Steal Vehicle From Banyo Residence Tracked by Dog Squad

According to S/Con Kim Richter, there were around 23 reported cases of break-ins or enter with intent offences across North Brisbane from January 18 to 25.

Around four of these cases happened in Nundah with the majority committed overnight and in the early hours of the morning with most offences occurring between Monday to Wednesday.

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

Queensland Police Service said unit complexes including secure car parks and storage cages have also been targeted over this period with property stolen from vehicles and storage cages.

“When it comes to high-rise residential buildings and apartments, security is essential. Most break-ins are opportunistic, especially when there is evidence of quick and easy entry and unsecured valuables are visible,” said S/Con Richter.

“Diligence in maintaining and monitoring building rules around parking, storage, maintenance and common areas is very effective in preventing crime. A lapse in security of communal areas including garages compromises the security of the whole building.”

Here are some tips from QPS to prevent break ins

Always lock the doors even when you are home.
Use quality locks for all external doors and internal garage door.
Make sure that security screen doors are designed to Australian Standards.
Equip your home with a door viewer so you will be able to see the person before you open the door.
Make sure shutters and security grills are properly installed, but allow for an exit in case of emergency.
If you don’t have it yet, consider having an alarm system and security camera.

Read: Police Team Up With Youth Justice Workers To Guide Young People In Banyo, Other Northern Suburbs

Police advised using a layered approach when reviewing your home security. Here’s a video demonstrating how to apply the layered approach to your own home.

Nudgee Golf Club to Host Queensland Junior Amateur Championship

Photo credit: Nudgee Golf Club / nudgeegolf.com.au

Nudgee Golf Club will host the Queensland Junior Amateur championship for the next three years beginning this 2023. The venue, recently redesigned, also played host to the 2022 QLD – PGA Championship in November 2022.

The next Queensland Junior Amateur will see 162 players comprising 81 boys and 81 girls in action on Nudgee from June 27-30, 2023. This Golf Australia Order of Merit Event is conducted by Golf Australia Queensland for players under the age of 18 and is played over 72-hole stroke play.

Nudgee Golf Club general manager Darren Richards expressed his excitement over the announcement last November 2022. He stated that showcasing the course to these young players and providing them with a platform at their best is something that the club is passionate about.

Photo credit: Nudgee Golf Club / nudgeegolf.com.au

The club also had the opportunity to host the QLD PGA last year, and by having to host the Queensland Junior as well, Richards said, the club can show the course is bringing golf full circle. He added that the Queensland Junior Amateur is a fantastic event to host and that he hopes it will produce some future major champions.

The last time the Queensland Junior Amateur was held was at the Bargara Golf Club which hosted the event in 2018. The four-day tournament played from 28 June to 1 July 2022 saw Dujuan Snyman and Haruhi Nakatini winning their respective championships.

Between 2014 to 2018, the 8 hectares (7 holes) of one of the club’s golf courses were resumed to facilitate the Gateway Upgrade Project. As a result, the Nudgee Golf Club underwent a two-year redevelopment which redesigned the course and turned it into two 18-hole courses.

The two courses namely The Kurrai and The Bulka offer unique challenges with the former being a championship course and the latter being a modern links-style golf course.

Published 22-January-2023

Get To Know the Man Who Lent His Name to Nicholson Place Parkland

Photo Credit: Public Domain - John Henry Nicholson, John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 195834

Born in England in 1838, teacher and writer John H. Nicholson was the first headmaster of the German Station National School (now known as Nundah State School). Get to know the man after whom the Nicholson Place parkland was named.

British-born John Henry Nicholson was the eldest son of theologian and Orientalist Dr John Nicholson and Anne Elizabeth Waring. He was educated privately and likewise attended the Croft House Academy, Brampton, Cumberland.

In 1854 at the age of 16, he emigrated to New South Wales and tried various occupations including whaling and gold prospecting. He then took a brief trip back to England in 1859 before settling in Queensland later that year.

He married German-born Anna Wagner in 1860. The couple did not have children but adopted a daughter. That same year, he opened a private school at Toowoomba and not long after moved to Warwick where he tutored until he started another private school there in 1863.

In May 1865 he joined the Board of General Education as an assistant teacher. He later had charge of a number of county state schools including German Station National School at Nundah – later named Nundah State School (1865-68), Springsure in (1870-76) and Enoggera National School (1877-85).

*Nicholson Place Park on Gympie Street | Photo credit: Facebook / Nundah & Districts Historical Society Inc.*

Whilst working as a teacher, Nicholson published three short books of miscellaneous prose and verse, between 1867 and 1878, the first two of which were under the pseudonyms of ‘Tadberry Gilcobs’ and ‘Salathiel Doles’.

In 1882, The Adventures of Halek, a book inspired in part by Pilgrim’s Progress, was published. His work is an allegory focusing on a man’s development from sinful worldliness to ideal goodness. It was considered by some critics as a masterpiece and later had further editions published in Brisbane in 1896 and 1904.

Nicholson resigned from the Education Department in April 1885 and established a private school at Enoggera. He would later suffer from bouts of melancholia and spend time in the mental hospital at Goodna for the most part of 1891.

He rejoined government service and was a head teacher at Cambooya between 1893 and 1894 before he was appointed Registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths at Nundah in 1898.

His wife died in 1901 and four years later remarried. His second wife is German-born translator and scholar, Anna Cordes, who reportedly had become attracted to Nicholson whilst translating Halek for publication.

John Henry Nicholson died on 30 June 1923 at the age of 85 and was survived by his wife and daughter.

Published 1-January-2023

Italian Restaurant Rustichella Pasta Bar Opens In Nundah Village

Rustichella Pasta Bar in Nundah Village will give you a culinary glimpse of Emilia Romagna and its capital city Bologna. Emilia Romagna, a region in northern Italy, is best known for its pasta dishes and some of the best dishes in Italian cuisine.

Read: Genie Delivery Service Launches In Nundah, Other Suburbs In Brisbane

Just like how it’s traditionally done in the Northern Italian region, the pasta bar makes all the pasta on-site, using free-range eggs and flours. They also have vegan pasta, such as the gnocchi di patate, which are made with no eggs.

Photo credit: RUSTICHELLA Pasta Bar/Google Maps

Here, you will find tigelle, a type of bread with filling that’s considered a staple in traditional eateries across Emilia Romagna. It’s cooked in a hot iron and filled with all sorts of toppings.

Photo credit: Rustichella Pasta Bar/Facebook

One of their must-tries here is Tagliatelle with Bolognese Sauce. Tagliatelle is a flat and long pasta made from fresh egg and flour, known for its relatively rough texture ideal to hold all sorts of sauces, especially Bolognese sauce.

Rustichella Pasta Bar — Photo credit: RUSTICHELLA Pasta Bar/Google Maps

Sharing platters include Tagliere di salumi (platter with a selection of meats), served with house breads; and Tagliere di formaggi, which includes different types of cheese.

Leave room for dessert, because they have chocolate pudding, tiramisu, and affogato to conclude your meal.

The restaurant is a fully licensed, no BYO restaurant. Since its opening in late 2022, locals have been raving over its curation of wines, such as the Bericanto Pinot Noir, a red wine from Northern Italy to accompany your pasta dishes.

Read: A Starbucks Development Is Coming to Northgate

Rustichella is located at 16 Aspinall Street, Nundah. You can follow them on Facebook for more information and updates.

Genie Delivery Service Launches In Nundah, Other Suburbs In Brisbane

Nundah will be among the first ones to experience the new Genie delivery service where consumers will be able to get everything instantly, from December 2022 onward.

Read: Discussions Ongoing Regarding Possible Toombul Shopping Centre Redevelopment

Genie, which was launched in the city on Christmas eve, will be operating across a 30-40 kms radius from Brisbane CBD in the initial launch phase.

From there, they will expand to other suburbs once they have grown to cover the rest of Brisbane and eventually other cities in Australia.

In its launch, founders Rohan Bandil and Lucky Goyal are planning to focus their service on convenience stores and food outlets which are very popular in Brisbane. They were also working exclusively with tobacco shops and Deliveroo before the latter quit the Australian market. Rohan shared it’s all about empowering small, local businesses to help scale them.

Bandil and Goyal established Genie in 2021 after realising delivery could do better. Store delivery takes days and can be expensive regardless if a company outsources or uses their own infrastructure. With click-and-collect, on the other hand, consumers still have to pick it up for themselves.

The new delivery service will be welcoming any category or any business owner who wants to sign up with them on their platform. They will also be promoting them, especially those selling at places like farmers’ markets and Facebook marketplace.

“I took the best things from services like Uber Eats, Door Dash and Menulog and made them better for consumers. Genie delivers everything from nearby sellers with just one click,” said Rohan, co-founder and CEO of Genie.

One of the advantages of using the app is that customers will be able to get cheaper products, too, because sellers can cater to the same customer from the garage or warehouse.

They developed both a mobile app and a web portal that allows stores to manage orders and includes a complementary POS system for small businesses to manage their businesses. A support system has been built to provide customer service support.

Genie has three apps–or consumers, delivery riders, and merchants. The apps are available to download on iOs and Android devices starting 30 November 2022.

Read: Sanofi Australia Reveals Plans to Expand Solar Farm Project at Its Virginia-Based Manufacturing Campus

The delivery fee will range from $2 to $10, and in the future, Genie will even be able to buy products for users and deliver, all for a set delivery fee of $10. You can visit https://geniedelivery.co/ for more information.

Teens Attempting to Steal Vehicle From Banyo Residence Tracked by Dog Squad

Photo credit: Queensland Police Service / mypolice.qld.gov.au

A dog squad from Hendra Station was able to successfully track two of three teens who allegedly broke into a house in Banyo and attempted to steal a vehicle. All three youth offenders have been charged with burglary offences.

At approximately 9.30 pm on 24 November 2022, police were alerted to an attempted burglary and car theft at a Banyo residence. Three teenagers were disturbed by the owner of the house whilst attempting to steal a vehicle. Two of them ran from the residence.

Multiple crews from Hendra Station with their dog squad cordoned the area off and tracked the offenders who attempted to escape.

Investigations revealed that two of the youth offenders had allegedly broken into the residence the previous day and stolen car keys, returning the next day to attempt to steal the car.

A 13-year-old Nudgee boy, a 13-year-old Sandgate girl, and a 15-year-old Bracken Ridge girl will appear in Brisbane Children’s Court to face burglary charges.

Youths Attempting to Steal Vehicle From a Banyo Residence Tracked by Dog Squad — Photo Credit: Kris from Pixabay

Police said that house-breaking, also called a break and enter or burglary, is one of the most common crimes and can occur at any time of the day or night.

Residents are then advised to regularly assess their home security, introduce targeted security measures and make changes to their everyday behaviours to help keep one’s home safe.

Good home security makes it easy for an offender to be seen, difficult for an offender to gain entry, difficult for an offender to exit with your property, and difficult for an offender to gain benefit from your property.

Have any information for the police? Please contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form. Or report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au.

Boys Boarding School to Review Naming of ‘House’ After a Christian Brother, Following Allegations of Child Abuse in 1970s

Photo credit: T_ushar / Pixabay

In October 2022, accusations of child abuse against a Christian Brother surfaced. The report prompted an exclusive boys boarding school in Boondall to review its naming of a ‘house’ after him.

The naming of a house at St Joseph’s Nudgee College after Brother Darcy Fidelis Murphy, the school’s boarding master and deputy headmaster in the 1980s and early 1990s, will be subject to review.

The statement follows a report in early October, revealing that in 1978, Brother Murphy had been involved in orchestrating a cover-up of his own abuse of a teen boarder at St Brendan College.

Brother Murphy who was the headmaster of the school at the time was accused of sneaking into the boardinghouse to molest the 14-year-old. The victim, who was in year 10 then, said that the first time it happened, he shouted and told Murphy to get away.

The abuse happened again on another night, prompting him to jump up and turn on the lights so he could run from Murphy who was chasing him. He then ended up sleeping on the oval that night after he was unable to find his brother who was also boarding at the school.

His brother reported the assaults but the victim was instead made to sign a false confession indicating that he was homosexual and was acting out his fantasies. He was then forced by Murphy and two other Brothers to read it to his father over the phone.

After they hung up the phone, the teen immediately walked out of the office and called his father using a public phone to tell him that whatever he heard was not true.

After the school term ended, he transferred to another school. Murphy left the school in 1981.

Former Christian Brother Mick Devlin, who was also teaching at St Brendan College at the time, confirmed the allegations and said that other staff at the school wanted Brother Murphy out. He recalled that a member of the Christian Brothers’ leadership team assured them that Murphy would never be appointed to a boarding school again.

In 1983, however, Murphy was listed on St Joseph’s Nudgee College’s academic staff and also appeared as the Year 11 boarding house dormitory master the following year. Beginning in 1987 until the early 1990s, he was the school’s deputy headmaster.

Murphy died of throat cancer in 1995.

One of St Brendan College’s four boarding houses was named after Murphy but the school said it ended when the premises were renovated in 2015. Nudgee College said that in light of the allegations raised, they will review the naming decision.

The school did clarify that they have no record of any complaint against Brother Murphy but anyone who has any information is encouraged to contact the authorities.