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A Starbucks Development Is Coming to Northgate

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

A Starbucks development is coming to Northgate. The approved development proposal will also include a service station and research tech offices to be built at the former site of the Northgate Foundry building on Toombul Road.

According to the Verve-designed plans, the development will include the establishment of a service station which plans were already approved back in 2020 and two new stand-alone buildings. The development will be integrated with the existing brick building situated on the southwest side of the 7,994sqm site at 185 Toombul Road in Northgate.

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

There will be a Starbucks outlet with a drive-through to be built on the corner of Toombul Road and Holland Street whilst next to it will be one of the research and technology industry buildings.

The approved application will also involve the reconfiguring of the lot into two subdivisions to separate the service station with its associated reciprocal easements. The four buildings will be situated on each of the corner sides of the site with driveways and an 86-car parking area provided at the centre of the development.

The old Northgate Foundry building which has been at the site since the 1950s has been demolished to facilitate the approved development. The project which will cover a total gross floor area of 1,533sqm will provide a new shared driveway to Holland Street and Toombul Road.

The upcoming development at a glance:

Service Station (Tenancy 1)= 193sqm GFA

Fuel canopy, 8 fuel pumps
Shared loading bay
12 car parking
Landscaping

Food and Drink (Tenancy 2-Starbucks) = 200sqm GFA

Single storey (5.5m max. height)
Alfresco area
Single lane drive through (up to 10 queuing cars)
Shared car parking
Shared loading bay
Landscaping

Research and Tech Building (Tenancy 3) = 600sqm GFA

Two storey
Courtyard
Shared loading bay
Landscaping

Research and Tech Building (Tenancy 4) = 540sqm GFA

Two storey
Ground floor awning
Shared car parking
Shared loading bay
Landscaping

185 Toombul Rd, Northgate QLD 4013, Australia

Discussions Ongoing Regarding Possible Toombul Shopping Centre Redevelopment

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Flood-damaged Toombul Shopping Centre in Nundah could soon be reborn, as discussions with Mirvac commence on plans to redevelop the site to make way for the return of retail offerings, with ample open space, and flood resilience measures also to be put in place.

Following the 2022 February flood that heavily damaged the centre, Mirvac announced that the complex was beyond repair. The leases of more than a hundred retailers were cancelled and Toombul Shopping Centre announced its closure in May.

The announcement of the permanent closure of the centre was received with shock and disappointment by locals and businessmen who have since called for the owner to reconsider their decision.

Since then, Mirvac executives have had several talks with Hon Anika Wells MP and Hon Leanne Linard MP who both expressed support for the return of retail offerings at the site. Previous talks with Cr Adam Allan and LNP Member for Clayfield Tim Nicholls were also made. Further discussions wwith stakeholders to discuss redevelopment plans for the site are expected.

Photo Credit: Toombul Shopping Centre / .toombul.com.au

Mr Nicholls would also like for the retail presence reinstated at the site to answer the shopping needs of the local community.

The absence of Toombul mall has left a big void to fill for nearby retail stores and shopping precincts which have since been experiencing nightmarish parking conditions, especially during busy periods.

The redevelopment plans, however, would need to factor in flood resilience measures considering the recent flood events as well as the 2011 and 2015 floods. These flood mitigation plans, according to Mr Nicholls, could also include returning a portion of the lower car park to Brisbane City Council to be used as parkland.

Mirvac acquired the flood-prone property in 2016 for $233 million and spent an additional $35 million for its upgrade. After the February 2022 flooding event, the company’s 2022 Annual Report revealed the $216-m “write-down” of the shopping centre retaiI asset.

Unfinished Pinkenba Quarantine Facility Proposed for Transformation as Housing for DV Victims

A proposal has been raised to transform the unfinished Pinkenba quarantine facility into a dedicated crisis housing complex for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.

In July 2022, the Queensland government announced that the Pinkenba quarantine facility will no longer be required for COVID-19 amidst its delayed opening. The pandemic Wellcamp facility, which opened in February and housed over 700 individuals in the course of six months, has also been ordered closed as of 1 Aug 2022.

Given these changes, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said that there is now an “opportunity to step-up and ensure their Pinkenba quarantine facility becomes a valuable asset rather than a white elephant.”

The Federal Government owns the site, which was originally set to open in 2021 with an initial 500 beds and was also due for a handover to the State Government in March. Delays due to inclement weather pushed back its opening but the completion date of the facility has not yet been announced.

Mr Schrinner said that a number of organisations that have the expertise in crisis housing may run the site on behalf of the government. However, Micah Projects chief executive Karyn Walsh said that the Pinkenba quarantine facility won’t be a quick fix.

Pinkenba Quarantine Facility — Wellcamp Quarantine Facility
Photo Credit: QueenslandGovt

Whilst Ms Walsh backs the mayor’s idea, she said housing accommodation for domestic violence victims should be planned by the right people. She said DV victims will need to have the “security of housing” where the location is near support services as opposed to a quarantine facility in a well-known site.

The quarantine facility was also mainly built for infection control and prevention, supporting the health systems and humanitarian efforts of the government.

A spokesperson for the Federal Government’s Finance Minister and Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said that the $400 million site may instead have future uses for health and emergency situations or as a temporary crisis accommodation following a natural disaster and similar events.

Quarantine facilities in Victoria and Perth have had similar problems and are now vacant or have yet to open.

Mirvac Doubles Payment for Eligible Toombul Shopping Centre Retailers

Some of the embattled shop owners of the flood-ravaged Toombul Shopping Centre will receive a further cash boost after Mirvac announced it will double their payments for eligible small businesses.

Mirvac chief executive Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz said that retailers with an annual turnover of less than $50 million a year will get another three months’ worth of rent payments on top of the three months’ rent payments already promised in June 2022.

Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz said that they have been meeting with these retailers, who communicated their challenging experiences after the February floods that shut down the Toombul Shopping Centre permanently. Mirvac’s decision to terminate the leases placed many of the retailers in debt.

The company determined that it was no longer practical to reinstate the site given its risks of immense flooding. Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz said that the flood caused significant damage to their electricity, electricity, fire and air-conditioning systems, lifts and escalators. Mould has also impacted the shopping centre, which was declared hazardous for people’s health.

Toombul tenants — Meeting with tenants and lawyer Brian Noble
Photo Credit: LeanneLinardMP/Facebook

In June, Cr Adam Allan said that a decision was reached to demolish the existing shopping centre and construct a new one.

“The site is zoned Major Centre zoning under the Brisbane City Plan 2014. This type of zoning provides for a wide range of uses including retail, commercial, residential, entertainment, government, residential care, retirement, and community uses to name some,” Cr Adam sad.

“While Mirvac are only in the early stages of their planning on the future of the site the uses above provide a high level guide of some potential uses.

“There will be some outcomes from the site that Brisbane City Council will be keen to see delivered or retained such as a bus interchange, public space, better connectivity, improved flood resilience, a better interface to Kedron Brook etc

“There will be many discussions between Council’s Development Services team and Mirvac over coming months as their plans for the site are formulated.”

Urban Utilities Unveils Cannery Creek Wetlands Concept Design

Photo Credit: Urban Utilities / Facebook

Urban Utilities has unveiled the Wetland Concept Design for the proposed Cannery Creek Sewer Upgrade project. The water distributor-retailer is eyeing a nature-based approach to address the impact of extreme weather on the wastewater network within the Northgate and Banyo catchment.

The proposed $65-million upgrade aims to better manage the local wastewater network that tends to overflow during intense rainfall events and impacts private properties in low-lying areas of Northgate and Banyo.

To address the issue, Urban Utilities considered two potential solutions:

A traditional ‘grey infrastructure’ which meant building larger, more expensive pipes
A nature-based solution in the form of constructed wetlands that would naturally treat the overflow water before entering the creek.

Of the two solutions, the planning committee opted for the nature-based concept approach as it would achieve “the same customer overflow, public health and environmental outcomes as the traditional solution” yet at a significantly lower project cost.

Cannery Creek Wetlands Concept Design; near Station Avenue — *Cannery Creek Wetlands Concept Design;* near Station Avenue | Photo Credit: Urban Utilities / urbanutilities.com.au

The project will include building an underground pump station to be located on the opposite side of the Cannery Creek at Frederick Street and a new two-kilometre underground pipe that will direct flows to a new wetland and bioretention basins that will then serve as natural filters.

Cannery Creek Wetlands Concept Design; near Progress Park | Photo Credit: Urban Utilities / urbanutilities.com.au

The project will also entail the rehabilitation of the creek with a series of sediment basins to be built between Earnshaw and Nudgee roads along with the beautification of the creek banks and its surrounding area as well as providing the community with better access via new shared paths.

The Community Planning Team (CPT), which was formed in 2019 and included members of the community, collaborated with external subject matter experts, landscape architects and stormwater treatment specialists in determining the best option to put forward.

“Urban Utilities is proud to have worked alongside the local community in designing this project and we thank the community planning team members for their input. Thanks to this collaborative approach we’ll be able to make cannery creek and its surrounds more resilient to wet weather events to ensure the community can enjoy this beautiful area for years to come.” – Urban Utilities

Fulton Hogan, Urban Utilities’ delivery partner, has recommenced investigation works between Earnshaw Road and Southern Cross Way on Monday, 16 May 2022. These works will continue until the proposed site’s establishment and construction activities commence in mid-June 2022.

Prepare to be Blown Away! The World’s Greatest Freakshow Comes to Nundah

Get ready to be blown away and watch in awe as The World’s Greatest Freakshow mounts an immersive stage experience in Nundah.

Set for Friday, 23 Sept 2022, The World’s Greatest Freakshow will be staged at The Lounge at The Royal on Sandgate Road. Doors will open at 8:00 p.m.

The mesmerising production has been inspired by the Hollywood blockbuster, “The Greatest Showman,” starring Australia’s son, Hugh Jackman.

The stage presentation is made up of an all-Aussie production, performing stunts that defy the imagination. The show is headlined by glass-eating/body stapling certified freak, Aleksandra The Great; the stretchy and slimy, Samora the Squid; the Guinness World Records holder, The Great Gordo Gamsby; former ballerina now nails and glass dancer, Sian Brigid; and formidable satirist Miss Friby.

The World's Greatest Freakshow — Photo Credit: World’s Greatest Freakshow/Facebook

Artists’ Profiles for Nundah Show

ALEKSANDRA THE GREAT	Dubbed ‘gruesome yet oddly sexy’ by The Advertiser, Aleksandra the Great found their feet in the worlds of both Burlesque and Sideshow Circus and from there fashioned this amazing hybrid entertainer who is truly one of a kind. Electrifying audiences all over Australia, this Boss Babe is a Certified Freak and Weirdo for Hire, celebrated for their deadly talents and sensual, captivating striptease.
THE GREAT GORDO GAMSBY	From the big stage to the little sideshow tent Gordo has done it all. Performing on TV shows around the world and with 11 Guinness World Records under his belt he has left his mark on every audience that he has performed for.
SAMORA SQUID	This stretchy, slimy and strangely sexy sweet-heart of sideshow, has spent the last fifteen years touring the globe with their unique blend of contortion, sword-swallowing, live body piercing, characterisation, and music. Prepare to be dazzled with their dry wit, exceptional talents and mind-blowing stunts that will leave you questioning the bounds of human dexterity.
SIAN BRIGID	Trading her ballet slippers in for a bed of nails, Sian Brigid’s eloquent performance includes dancing on glass, laying on nails and inserting God knows what into God knows where. Travelling the country performing in a myriad of circus, sideshow, cabaret events, and festivals, Sian is also the title holder for Burlesque Muse Canberra and the Apprentease ACT, combining her refined technique with her reckless sensibilities.
MISS FRIBY	Melbourne’s wise-cracking, sequin-clad satirist has been described as a ‘twenty-first century Lucille Ball’ by the Adelaide Theatre Guide, with mile-high kicks and hilarious gags, Miss Friby’s acts and shows have been featured all over Australia. Green Room Award nominee, Fields Award Nominee, and Australia’s Got Talent 2013 Finalist, Miss Friby is sure to lead this evening in style.

The World’s Greatest Freakshow is from Play Nation Events and Big Deal Touring, and follows a sold-out series of shows in Melbourne and an ongoing Las Vegas run residency.

Powerful, enchanting and jaw-dropping, the Nundah show is part of the Queensland and New South Wales tour that started in late August 2022.

GET TICKETS

New ‘Real World Kids’ Book Series Launches First Story on Thomas from Australia

Nundah-based author Rebecca Evens was on a bus in the middle of a two-and-a-half-year trip around the world when she had an idea for a ‘Real World Kids’ series of books. Now, the first book in the series is out, a real-life story of a six-year-old country boy, Thomas, from New South Wales.

Canadian-born author Rebecca Evens has always loved to travel. During a long trip around the world in 2017, Rebecca and her Australian partner visited 47 countries and 350 cities.

After meeting a lot of amazing children filled with joy and happiness during their trip, Rebecca had the idea to encapsulate who they are and why they can still relate to kids in other countries.

Her book aims to allow kids, and even adults, to learn about each other and expand their understanding of the different cultures so that the “foreign” becomes “familiar.” The stories on Real World Kids will enable the readers to be more open and accepting of the people they encounter who may appear to be different.

At the end of each story, readers discover more fun, easy-to-understand facts about the country the child is from, including their native animals, languages, foods, and activities. Young readers are then encouraged to continue the conversation about what they’ve learned by answering the discussion questions with friends and family.

“The world is getting smaller every day due to the increased ease of travel and the availability of technology. Without knowledge and understanding of other countries and cultures, sometimes differences we see in other places can seem strange or scary,” Rebecca said.

“I want kids reading it to be excited to learn about far-off places, to discover if kids living there play the same games, eat different foods and what they learn in school.”

“Read World Kids: Thomas from Australia” is a story of a 6-year-old who lives in the countryside in New South Wales, Australia. Thomas lives with his Mum, Dad, brother and sisters. He is in Year 1, plays Rugby League and wants to be a fireman when he grows up.

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In Thomas’ book, he shares his favourite recipe, and the reader can learn more about Australia, its native animals and Australian words that might not be common in other countries.

Each child featured in the series will also be asked how they would help other kids around the world if they could. Five per cent of royalties from each book will be donated yearly to a charity aligned with the answer given. Thomas would like to help other kids around the world by giving them food and clean water.

Rebecca, born in Pickle Lake, Ontario, Canada, has lived in eight countries. She is currently based in Brisbane with her partner, Shane, and their dog, Kivu (named after a lake they visited in Rwanda during their around-the-world trip).

The first book, Thomas-Australia, is available online through the REAL WORLD KIDS website, FriesenPress publisher bookstore and Amazon. It is also available by Ingram Wholesale for local bookstores.

Follow Real World Kids on Facebook and Instagram.

Albert Bishop Park in Nundah Will Host the National Inline Speed Skating Championships

Albert Bishop Park on Hedley Ave will welcome the competitors of the National Inline Speed Skating Championships for exciting road events and marathons to pick the fastest skaters who will represent the country at the World Championships.

On the 4th and 5th of July 2022, Albert Bishop Park will be filled with action as racing representatives from Queensland and other Australian states and territories try to earn a spot at the championships. The marathons, on the other hand, will take place on the 8th of July.

Indoor track events will be taking place on Thursday 7th of July at the Logan Metro Sports and Events Centre at Crestmead.

These skaters are raring to show their best as the competitions in any national or international events since January 2020 have been on pause.

The 27-member Queensland team has skaters ranging in age from 6 to 68 with 10 skaters competing at a national level for the first time this year. At speeds of up to 40km per hour, our sprinters are as fast as Usain Bolt!

Those who make the grade will be chosen to represent Australia at the Oceania Championships in September in New Zealand, or the World Skate Games in Argentina in October.

Spectators, especially skating enthusiasts, are welcome and there is no cost for entry at the venues.

Virginia Spiritual Mentor Sailesh Chand Building His Dreams with NDIS Support

Sailesh Chand is a Virginia local with a goal of creating an online presence as a spiritual mentor and he is building on this dream with the help of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

As a meditation teacher and Hindu priest, Sailesh said that he has been sought by people for guiding their personal and spiritual concerns. He realises that he can help more people if he works in the digital space to share his skills in the community.

“I give many talks and have developed quite a social media following; I am trying to work out how I could channel this into earning a living,” Sailesh said.

“I realise that I need good social media skills to advertise my services and I am getting some training support for this.

“I have a support worker who is just really nifty at that and she is showing me how to create content, and I have recently started learning more and getting help from a professional digital marketing specialist who has shown me the basics of how to build my online presence, which is different to creating content.”

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Born in Fiji, Sailesh was diagnosed with a giant cell tumour at 20 years old and was given six months to live. He went on a spiritual journey to India for his healing but he soon found himself settled in Australia, where he had his left leg amputated.

He managed to thrive without NDIS support, initially, but realized that the quality of his life can still improve if he had the assistance, particularly for someone with physical challenges as a person with a disability.

“Being able to access the NDIS changed a lot of things for me.

“Currently I have a support worker who helps me with a lot of the physical challenges I have and he is also a qualified allied health assistant, so, he also helps me with health appointments and prosthesis appointments.”

“NDIS has had a big impact on my family’s life; having access to help in the house and garden has changed things a lot, especially for my wife.

“I feel that overall these supports have helped me play my role as a husband and father better as I am less reliant on my family members to do things that I would normally be able to do.”

Eventually, Sailesh wants to be more independent even while walking on crutches and a prosthetic leg, which he was able to access through NDIS. He’s also learning to run his own webinars and create a podcast for his online community, I Pure Soul.

“I just ran my first webinar, for free, just as a test run and I had 56 people sign up for it and they were based all around the world.

“My next step is to turn the next webinar into a paid webinar and hopefully I can build from there.

“I would also like to learn how to create and record a podcast; I haven’t accessed any support for this as yet but, I would like to do that in the future.

“I am really passionate about helping others and if I can help them in some way while earning a living, it would be a dream come true.”

To learn more about NDIS, contact Carers Queensland on 1300 999 636, or email cq.enquiries@ndis.gov.au

Mirvac Offers Support Package for Toombul Retailers Equivalent to 3 Months’ Rent

Over 100 Toombul retailers are going to receive a support package from Mirvac following its decision to shut down the shopping centre permanently due to flood damage.

Mirvac CEO Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz said that the tenants will be compensated worth three months’ rent, alongside other measures already in place. The company has waived the debts incurred by Toombul retailers during the lockdowns and it has also not charged rent since the February floods.

Tenants have also received assistance with the removal of their fit-outs and stocks as Mirvac plans to demolish the property and rebuild it anew. Mirvac said that they are also in touch with other organizations with free spaces so their former tenants could move in.

The support package is welcome news, after the criticism Mirvac received from the public for their initial announcement of no compensation for tenants. Some retailers have explored legal options in the face of looming financial ruin due to the closure of their businesses at the Toombul Shopping Centre.

Darren Bain, the owner of Function Well, said that their lease has a demolition clause that underscored a “reasonable compensation” but Mirvac said there is another clause stating no compensation for “impracticable or undesirable” repairs.

Prior to the announcement of the support package, Mirvac wasn’t able to attend the scheduled dialogue with the tenants and MPs Anika Wells and Leanne Linard. Ms Wells and Ms Linard have been calling on the property giant to engage with the local community.

Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz said that she has been arranging meetings with the retailers in the coming days and has heard their frustrations.

Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz’s full statement below: