Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 24 of 39

Tenants Still Hoping to Meet With Mirvac Over Planned Demolition of Toombul Shopping Centre

Tenants of Toombul Shopping Centre have expressed disappointment at the cancellation of a requested meeting with Mirvac to discuss previously announced plans to demolish the shopping centre.

The meeting was originally scheduled to take place via Zoom on 7 June 2022. However, not all the Mirvac attendees were available so the meeting did not push through as originally planned

In a statement, MP Leanne Linnard said that she and MP Anika Wells will keep trying to engage with Mirvac for the tenants, who were told that they will not likely receive compensation for losses as a result of the February 2022flood that has rendered the shopping centre too badly damaged.

They have also arranged for the tenants to receive pro bono legal advice on compensation from Brian Noble of Noble Advice. So far, 10 retailers have reached out to discuss the Retail Shop Leases Act.

Prior to the scheduled meeting, Cr Adam Allan stated that Mirvac has decided to completely demolish Toombul Shopping Centre.

“I met with Mirvac executives last week to have an initial discussion about their plans. There will be many discussions between Council’s Development Services team and Mirvac over coming months as their plans for the site are formulated,” Mr Allan said.

“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.

“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.”

No Rent Collection

Meanwhile, Mirvac said that rents and other expenses were not collected from the traders since the February flood and their debts, including those incurred during the COVID closures, have been waived. The company has also not charged retailers for the cost to de-fit and remove their stocks and store equipment and furniture.

Mirvac also said it has been coordinating with each of the retailers on the ongoing issues at hand.

Some tenants have relocated to other vacant sites in Ascot, Taigum, Stafford, Lutwyche, and Newstead. However, for many locals, Toombul was always the hub where everyone could shop and run errands and where the retailers have become longtime friends.

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

Grab Some ‘unbEATable’ Bites at Nundah By Night Markets

Craving for new bites to try? Nundah by Night Markets will feature an unbEATable curation of gourmet eats and craft beers, alongside live music and one-of-a-kind locally made products.

To open Saturday, 11 June 2022, from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m, Nundah by Night Markets will provide wonderful treats for any foodie. So, take your family or tap your group and head to Station Street to partake in gourmet local street eats and decadent desserts.

This event will also have a specialty Stone and Wood Bar serving craft beers and other cheeky refreshments. Here’s your chance to try international taste sensations from over a hundred stalls. We’re talking crusty cob loaves, South American BBQ plates, handmade steamed and fried Tibetan momos, crispy kara-age chicken, no-cheese cheese pulls with decadent vegan pizza, and SO MUCH MORE!

Garnish those tasty bites and bevs with a sprig of live music across TWO STAGES from a range of talented local musicians and buskers to keep the good vibes pumping until late.

Amongst filling up on all that deliciousness, discover our extra special hidden gems within over 120 hand-picked artisan stalls! Watch out for even MORE non-stop entertainment for the kiddies too, with a petting zoo and roving performers to get the whole family buzzing!

RSVP HERE

About Nundah Markets and Goodwill Projects

The Nundah Fresh Farmer’s Markets is the perfect place on a Sunday to pop in for your freshly roasted coffee and breakfast. Nundah’s Fresh Farmers Markets are free each and every Sunday, located in the Nundah Train station Car Park, tucked just below Nundah Village.

Goodwill Projects is one of Queensland’s most dynamic markets, events and venues companies. Curating flawless events and memorable experiences.

Electrical Issues Delay Bus Interchange Normal Operations at the Toombul Shopping Centre

The recommissioning of the bus interchange at the Toombul Shopping Centre has been marred with delays and electrical issues on top of the temporary closure of the shopping area.

The Toombul Shopping Centre bus interchange is one of the largest in Brisbane’s northside. Currently, the buses that service the site have been queueing along the busy Sandgate Rd without any shelter or proper seating for commuters, especially during peak hours.

In April 2021, signages were set up to help commuters identify the routes and stops. A few temporary seatings were also in place at the Sandgate Rd centre, where buses 300, 301, 307, 308, 321, 326, 327, 369 and 590 have been bringing commuters to their destinations, especially students from the Australian Catholic University.

However, with existing electrical problems caused by the flooding, the interchange is still unable to provide safe access for the commuters.

Mirvac, the developer, has not given any clear date on when the interchange’s operation will resume to normal. A spokesperson for the shopping centre believes that the interchange, as well as the carpark, have to be closed indefinitely because contractors are still doing critical decontamination works.

While this has inconvenienced Brisbane’s northside community, the safety of the commuters is the priority.

After the February flooding, Mirvac confirmed that Toombul Shopping Centre will be closed for six to eight months of refurbishment. However, may traders believe it will likely be a year before the shopping centre fully reopens without any more issues.

‘Disappearing Acts’ at Nudgee Beach: Exploring Loss of Biodiversity

Photo Credit: Vulcana Circus / Facebook

Presented by Vulcana Circus, ‘Disappearing Acts’ explores the loss of biodiversity through circus, clowning, and magical sleight of hand. From 6 May to 22 May 2022, performances will be held in Nudgee Beach and nine other venues as part of the 2022 Anywhere Festival.

Disappearing Acts performances will be held at various parks and green spaces in ten venues across Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay as part of the annual Festival. The Nudgee Beach performance will take place at Nudgee Beach Environmental Education Centre at 2.30 pm.

Developed in collaboration with environmental scientist Ayesha Tulloch, the compact circus looks into the impacts of human activity on our fragile landscape and challenges us to reflect on how we value our relationship with nature, wild spaces and its inhabitants.

“…from the first moments, the experience was so positive: seated and standing outside, with suitable distancing (and even welcoming sanitiser…) it was great to gather with a small number of fellow audience members…”
Geoff Lawrence, Creative Futures Photography

Performance locations range from parks to environmental education centres and community farms, so there are plenty of venues to choose from that suit one’s choice of adventure or location.

The following are the two possible circus deliveries:

Consignment 1 with performers Abbey Church and Jodie Rottle
Consignment 2 with performers Mayu Muto and Phoebe Manning

DISAPPEARING ACTS at Nudgee Beach – Consignment 1 happens at Nudgee Beach Environmental Education Centre, 588 Nudgee Rd, Nudgee Beach. Entry is at Chaseley St, Nudgee Beach.

Ticket Price is $30 – Standard and $20 – Unwaged.

CLICK HERE FOR list of VENUES / BOOKING

About Vulcana

Established in 1995, Vulcana aims to close the gap between women’s and men’s experience of the circus through its inclusive training, performance making projects, and community engagement programs.

Throughout the year, Vulcana offers workshops in aerials, hula hoops, juggling, partner/group acrobatics (balancing on each other), handstands, flexibility, fitness and performance classes for beginners through advanced levels and regardless of fitness level.

A 10-Storey Mixed-Use Development on Sandgate Road Proposed

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

A development application has been lodged, for plans to build a ten-storey residential building with office, recreation, and dining spaces on Sandgate Road, Nundah.

Conceptual 3D view of the North and West elevations
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

The proposal involves the establishment of a 49-unit apartment building at 1175 Sandgate Road, Nundah. The development, “Danby Lane”, will have a maximum height of 11 storeys with landscaped, high-ceiling ground level plaza containing 294sqm of dining space (including a 52sqm alfresco area).

Conceptual 3D view of the North-West corner
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

The 49 apartment units are broken down into 19 single bedroom units, 8 two-bedroom, 16 three-bedroom units and 6 four-bedroom units. A covered rooftop with a communal swimming pool, barbecue facilities and gym are also proposed.

Designed by Gardner Vaughan Group, the podium will feature a brick arch built form to visually present the two levels as a single component whilst a large public art mural located at the Danby Lane frontage is also proposed.

The proposed podium will be two storeys high and will comprise 568sqm of office space and recreation area for the residential building. The covered area of the proposed site allocated for the podium up to the second level and the residential tower is 82.1 per cent and 62.6 per cent, respectively.

Conceptual 3D view of the North-East corner
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au

“The distinctive face brick and arches provide visual texture to the streetscape and a reference to the Nundah State School and the former telephone exchange located at 99 Buckland Road”
Urban Strategies

The pool and barbecue area will cover a total of 284sqm. A rooftop garden will also be provided that will have a combined area of 230sqm comprising covered and uncovered landscaped areas.

There will be 132 car parking spaces – 83 for residents, 36 for commercial uses and 13 for visitors – spread across five basement levels which will be provided from Danby Lane.

To facilitate the development, the existing two commercial buildings and their associated caretaker dwellings will be demolished.

Inside Expansion Plans For $100-M Summerlin Estate In Banyo

Developers of Summerlin Estate, a $100-million, master-planned development in Banyo, have lodged plans to expand its existing community north of Brisbane.

Read: Happening Soon! Banyo Railway Station Upgrades

Based on the application documents submitted to Brisbane City Council, the proposal is for five-storey multiple dwellings with 30 two and three-bedroom units within Stage 3A and part of Stage 3B of the Summerlin Estate at 15 Solomon St, Banyo.

Apartments at the Stage 3A will have their own courtyards at the ground level and balconies above ground level to provide residents with a private open space. It will also feature communal open space, which has been delivered as part of earlier stages of the Summerlin Estate.

summerlin banyo plans — Ground floor plans (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

The $100 million Summerlin Master Planned development, a new community and lifestyle destination in the heart of Banyo consisting of unique terrace homes and boutique apartments.

summerlin banyo — Level 1 (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

summerlin brisbane — Level 2 (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

The DA also includes a total of 40 car parking spaces for residents and eight car parking spaces for visitors. Both the vehicle and pedestrian access will be via Rochat Avenue.

Designed by Arqus Design, the buildings feature a contemporary design and assorted layouts suitable for varied households. A planning report for the DA highlighted that each unit has been designed to accommodate large internal layouts and private courtyards and balconies interfacing high quality communal open space and landscaped areas.

masterplan summerlin banyo — Summerlin Banyo Masterplan (Photo credit: https://summerlin.com.au/)

Aside from the DA lodged to the Brisbane City Council, developers are planning to build three more buildings (still under Council assessment) with three storeys each, in addition to townhouses currently being built.

“The site is well serviced being in close proximity to transport, education, and community facilities, being within walking distance to Nudgee Station,” a report by Wolter Consulting Group stated.

Wolter Consulting Group has also noted that the proposal is consistent with the maximum five-storey height and provisions of the Residential Design – Medium Density Zone Under the City Plan 2000.

For more details, visit Council’s PD Online with the Reference A005957767.

New Brisbane International Cruise Terminal in Pinkenba To Welcome First Vessels After 2-Year Pause

The new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal in Pinkenba is preparing to welcome the first cruise passengers to use the facilities, as cruising activities restart after a two-year pause.

The Pinkenba facility was raring to establish Queensland as the country’s cruise ship capital when the $180-million development of the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal finished in early 2020. However, due to border closures, not a single cruise ship docked at the state-of-the-art facility.

But as the Federal Government announced, the ban on cruises will be lifted by 17 April 2022, consistent with the reopening of Australia’s international borders. Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd, the operators of the Pinkenba site, also confirmed that the terminal will open on 2 June 2022.

Port of Brisbane CEO Neil Stephens said that they are finalising the health protocols before the terminal is expected to welcome P&O’s Pacific Explorer as the first cruise ship to arrive in Queensland.

Mr Stephens welcomes the restart as it’s a much-needed boost for the state’s tourism industry. It will also provide more jobs for Queenslanders.

Dan Tehan, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, on the other hand, said that this was an important milestone in Australia’s response to COVID-19.

“This is great news for the cruise industry, tourism, the broader economy and the Australians who love to take a cruise holiday,” Mr Tehan said.

“The resumption of cruising is another key step forward in the tourism sector’s recovery from COVID-19.

“We look forward to welcoming cruise ships and passengers back to Australian waters.”

For details about the cruise terminal, visit its official FAQs page.

Toombul Shopping Centre Could Take Up to 8 Months Before It Could Reopen

Photo Credit: Leanne Linard MP / Facebook

Initial assessments of the devastation that the recent flooding has caused at Toombul Shopping Centre revealed that many of the 140 shops could remain closed for six to eight months and the cost of rebuilding may force some tenants to close permanently.

“We can confirm the centre and car park are closed and will remain this way for some time. Our specialist consultants have assessed the damage and the initial assessments show that the inundation has caused extensive damage,” the Mirvac statement posted on social media reads.

“This is the worst flood we have seen at Toombul and the impact is devastating, not only for us, but for all our retailers, many of whom are small business owners. Our priority is working with and supporting all our retailers.”

The rain bomb that battered the city for days has hit Toombul Shopping Centre hard, leaving dozens of shops with mud-ruined equipment and stocks. Toombul retailers say that the recent inundation was different from the 2011 flood in that it is the first time that flood water has penetrated the shopping centre’s ground-floor shops.

Mirvac said that it is too early to ascertain when the centre could reopen but estimates a 24- to 32-week window. However, many small retailers fear that they may not be able to afford the cost of rebuilding considering the extent of damage which could mean that they would need to start from scratch.

Some of these tenants do not have insurance either because of the cost or because no insurer was willing to cover flood risk. Other store owners who do have insurance fear that their insurers might classify the event as a flood, making them unqualified to claim for storm damage.

For now, some traders have reopened on temporary premises whilst major shops had employees deployed to other locations. But the closure of the Toombul Shopping Centre not only impacted shop owners but their loyal customers as well who are now forced to shop elsewhere.

To mitigate the impact on Toombul Shopping Centre customers, particularly the elderly shoppers, Council’s cab services have been adjusted to provide other destination options including Westfield Chermside and Lutwyche Shopping Centre. Customers will be advised of the available alternative at the time of booking.

Toombul Shopping Centre was opened in 1967 by Westfield Group and was Brisbane northside’s largest shopping centre then. Mirvac acquired the centre in 2016 and opened Upstairs Toombul, a new dining precinct anchored by Archie Brothers.

Active Truth in Nundah Launches Wonder Woman Collection; Sends Relief Package to Flood Victims

Just like Wonder Woman, the star of its recently released line of activewear collection, Active Truth is championing women power and helping those in need. Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear Active Wear!

The Nundah-based business has collaborated with Warner Bros Consumer Products and DC to launch a Wonder Woman-inspired collection to celebrate International Women’s Day. They are also sending relief packages out to flood-affected victims in Brisbane.

The 18-piece collection from sizes 6 to 26 highlights the year’s theme, “Break the Bias,” and shines the spotlight on the power and strength of the modern everyday woman. The collection also encourages women to don 2022’s version of a superhero costume, the activewear, to make a statement mimicking Wonder Woman’s powerful values of “strength, truth, and compassion.”

“Just like WONDER WOMAN, Active Truth is committed to using our platform to make a difference,” Nadia Tucker, the founder of Active Truth, said.

“We are a brand that actively champions women’s representation, inclusivity and diversity. We know the confidence and power that come when you put on a great pair of tights. With the addition of WONDER WOMAN, the feeling will be amplified.”

CHECK THE WONDER WOMAN COLLECTION

“WONDER WOMAN is iconic in her strength and this partnership with Active Truth further encapsulates the essence of both brands that aims to empower women, promote diversity and equality to people everywhere,” said Andrew Bromell, Executive Director for Warner Bros. Consumer Products ANZ.

“It feels very fitting that this epic collaboration launches to mark International Women’s Day with WONDER WOMAN at the helm.”

Help for Flood-Affected Brisbane Residents

Meanwhile, Active Truth is sending relief packages worth $50,000 of clothes to flood-affected Brisbane residents. Whilst the Nundah shop and its team members were also affected by the floods, the establishment has committed to helping the local community rise from the natural calamity.

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Active Truth (@activetruth)

Active Truth is a recipient of the Lord Mayor’s Business Award for Outstanding Small Business. Launch in 2016, the company saw rapid growth with female customers all over the world.

Follow Active Truth’s Instagram page for updates.