Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 3 of 41

Charcoal Chicken Comes to Banyo as Charco & Co Opens Its Doors on Nudgee Road

A new eatery is putting charcoal chicken Banyo locals on the map, with Charco & Co now open at Shop 3/1022 Nudgee Road and ready to serve the northside community seven days a week.

The restaurant launched with a clear point of difference in mind — offering the speed and affordability of fast food alongside ingredients and cooking methods more commonly associated with sit-down dining. At the centre of the menu is charcoal-cooked chicken, served with the restaurant’s own Charco Chilli sauce, a blend of olive oil, Portuguese chillies and a house herb mix. The result is a smoky, boldly seasoned bird that the team behind the concept says has quickly become a signature of the brand.

Alongside the chicken, Charco & Co rounds out its menu with Wagyu beef burgers, including the Beef Chilli Burger and the Legend Burger — options designed to give diners a bit of variety while keeping the overall offer tightly focused on quality over quantity.

The business was founded by Neil Martin, who says the idea grew from a straightforward but hard-to-execute goal: close the gap between the convenience people expect from fast food and the kind of flavour they’d usually have to sit down somewhere nicer to find.

For Banyo, a suburb that has quietly been gaining new businesses and residents in recent years, it’s the sort of local addition that fills a genuine gap in the dining options along Nudgee Road.

Charco & Co is currently trading from 10am to 3pm daily.

Published 24-March-2026

Harrison Gomez Builds Strong Junior Record In Nudgee

Photo Credit: Golf Australia

Nudgee golfer Harrison Gomez nears end of junior career with major wins and strong amateur results across Australia and early 2026 competitions.

Major Titles Mark 2025 Season

Harrison Gomez, a member of Nudgee Golf Club, recorded two key junior victories in late 2025 with wins at the Jack Newton International Junior Classic and the Greg Norman Junior Masters.

At the Jack Newton event in October 2025, he finished at 14-under par and secured a five-shot win, producing rounds of 66 in both the opening and final stages of the tournament.

He followed this result in December 2025 by winning the Greg Norman Junior Masters after finishing level at two-under and prevailing in a playoff.

Harrison Gomez — *Photo Credit: Nudgee Golf Club Incorporated/Facebook*

Consistent Results Across The Year

Across 2025, Gomez added further results at junior level. He won the Maroochy River Junior Open and tied with Chase Oberle in the Queensland Junior Championship.

He was also part of Queensland’s junior squad in the Interstate Teams Matches series.

In July 2025, he won the Coolangatta-Tweed Heads leg of the Next Gen Amateur Tour. He later finished fifth at the tour’s World Final at Moonah Links in November.

Club Performances In Nudgee

At club level, Gomez has maintained consistent form in Nudgee. He won the Nudgee Golf Club men’s club championship in both 2024 and 2025.

In the 2025 championship, he secured the title with a final round score of 64.

Early 2026 Amateur Results

In early 2026, Gomez continued to compete in higher-level events. He finished fifth in both the South Australia Junior Amateur and South Australia Junior Masters.

He also placed runner-up at the Kooralbyn Junior Masters.

At the SA Classic in Adelaide, he shared the lead after the opening round with a score of 68, four under par.

Pathway And Next Steps

Gomez began playing golf at the age of six and moved from Melbourne to Brisbane in mid-2020. He later became a junior member at Royal Pines before joining Nudgee Golf Club in 2023.

He is part of the Queensland high performance squad and plans to continue competing in leading amateur events, including the Australian Amateur Championship and the Riversdale Cup. He has also identified amateur tournaments in Asia as part of his development.

He has chosen to remain in Australia rather than pursue the United States collegiate pathway, with the aim of progressing towards professional golf.

Outlook

Gomez is closing out his junior career with results across both club and national competitions, while continuing to compete in amateur events in 2026.

His recent performances reflect ongoing participation at higher levels of competition, with further events scheduled.

Published 20-Mar-2026

Nundah Village Flagged for More Apartments Under Brisbane’s Anti-Sprawl Housing Plan

Brisbane has announced the next stage of its anti-sprawl housing strategy, with Nundah Village named as one of three suburban centres earmarked for increased residential density.

Read: Work Set to Begin on Danby Lane Development in Nundah Village

The plan is designed to address the city’s housing shortage by directing new homes toward established, well-serviced locations rather than pushing growth into lower-density neighbourhoods.

Nundah joins Indooroopilly Shopping Centre and Carindale Shopping Centre as the focus of the latest round of planning changes. The three centres were selected because of their strong public transport connections. Nundah and Indooroopilly each have train stations, while Carindale is served by a bus interchange.

The Proposal

anti-sprawl — Photo credit: Google Street View

For Nundah Village, the plan covers the area within the boundaries of the rail line, Robinson Road, Ryans Road, Nundah Street, Eton Street, Sandgate Road and Donkin Street.

The proposed changes include a height increase from 12 to 15 storeys in the major centre zone, as well as an increase to 10 storeys in surrounding mixed-use zones, up from the current five-to-eight storey settings. The proposed height increases in Nundah are smaller in scale than those put forward for Indooroopilly and Carindale. Indooroopilly could see heights climb to 25 storeys, up from a current allowable 20, while Carindale is proposed to reach up to 30 storeys in and to the north of the shopping centre, compared to the current 10.

Rather than simply allowing taller buildings, the focus in Nundah is on greater flexibility to deliver more residential homes within mixed-use buildings. To give effect to the changes across all three centres, Brisbane City Plan 2014 will be updated.

The Rationale

Cr Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane was growing rapidly and that the city needed to respond. He noted that more than 600 people move to Brisbane every week, and that the city urgently needs more homes while also resisting sprawl that impacts bushland and adds to traffic congestion. He said the anti-sprawl housing plan was aimed at putting homes where the jobs, transport and services already are, and that Indooroopilly, Carindale and Nundah were the right places for that growth. By 2046, Brisbane is projected to need around 210,800 new homes to support its growing population.

Committee for Brisbane CEO Jen Williams said that one of the biggest challenges facing a growing Brisbane was traffic congestion and car dependency. She said there was no better way to reduce congestion than by ensuring new homes were built close to services and in locations well-served by public transport.

Better Suburbs Initiative Chair Ross Elliott said suburban centres had been evolving for decades, having originally been planned as places people drove to primarily for shopping, but since expanded to include entertainment, medical and a range of other uses. He said allowing more diversity of housing choices within walking distance of these centres made sense for downsizers, essential workers and others, and that the renewal process would be delivered by private capital.

The anti-sprawl housing plan sits alongside Brisbane’s wider Suburban Renewal Precincts program, which began in 2022 and is aimed at transforming underutilised land into mixed-use communities. Work is currently underway or planned across a number of suburbs including Alderley, Stones Corner, Wynnum, Sandgate, Mt Gravatt, Upper Mt Gravatt and Chermside.

Read: New Retirement Village Planned for Nundah

Community consultation on the Nundah Village proposal, along with the Indooroopilly and Carindale changes, is scheduled to open on 24 April, after the end of the school holidays.

Published 19-March-2026

Nundah Queenslander Sells for $2M, Draws 12 Written Offers

Photo Credit: Place

A beloved Nundah Queenslander has sold for $2 million after drawing twelve written offers in just six days — a campaign that laid bare just how fiercely competitive the local property market has become.

The home at 21 Carew Street became a talking point even before buyers stepped through the front door, thanks to a duck sculpted from a hedge that greets visitors at the gate. It was a small detail that left a big impression, but agents say the real draw was the property itself.

Place Ascot agents Olivia Charlton and Drew Davies marketed the home together, and Ms Charlton said the duck had a way of breaking the ice during inspections. The quirky topiary became something of a mascot for the campaign — earning smiles and more than a few photos — but buyers, she noted, were ultimately there for the character and quality of the Queenslander behind it.

The campaign moved at a pace well ahead of the broader Brisbane market. Written offers began arriving within 24 hours of the listing going live — before a single open home had been held. When the first inspection did take place, more than 100 people came through the door.

Mr Davies said the result came down to a combination of factors that, when they align, tend to send buyers into a frenzy. The home sits on a 501 square metre corner block, blends original character features with modern updates, and is positioned close to parkland — the kind of lifestyle package that is increasingly difficult to find.

Adding to the urgency was the property’s ownership history. The home had been held by the same family for close to three decades, and Ms Charlton said that generational turnover is becoming a significant driver of competition across the market. When a home has been off the market for thirty years or more, buyers understand they may not get another chance at something comparable.

The $2 million sale price sits well above Nundah’s current median house price. According to PropTrack data, the suburb’s median sits at $1.5 million — itself up 25 per cent over the past twelve months. Separate data from CoreLogic, cited by Your Investment Property Magazine, puts Nundah’s median house price at $1.25 million as of late 2025, with annual capital growth of around 20 per cent. Across multiple data sources, the direction is the same: values in the suburb are moving sharply upward.

That trend is consistent with what analysts have been saying about Nundah more broadly. Property experts have identified Nundah as a likely outperformer in 2026, pointing to its excellent connectivity — including rail access and proximity to the airport — strong rental demand, and low vacancy rates. As of September 2025, Nundah’s rental vacancy rate sat at just 0.7 per cent, well below the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s healthy benchmark of 3 per cent.

With no new standalone houses in the development pipeline and high sales volumes in recent months, analysts have flagged that the current undersupply in Nundah is likely to persist — and that prices could rise further as a result.

For now, the Carew Street campaign offers a vivid snapshot of where the Nundah market stands. Homes like it — character-filled, tightly held, and in lifestyle locations — are not coming to market often. When they do, it seems all of Brisbane takes notice.

Published 6-March-2026

Nundah Man Secures $200,000 Windfall on His Birthday

A local man from Nundah has received the ultimate birthday gift in the form of a $200,000 windfall that will fund a long-awaited medical procedure.

The local man received the news of his luck through a phone call on Friday, 13 February 2026. The timing was particularly special as the announcement coincided exactly with his birthday. The North Brisbane resident had purchased an entry into the Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot 1767, which resulted in a first-place win of $200,000. Upon hearing the news, the winner expressed total shock and noted that his heart was racing from the excitement.

He mentioned that he had originally intended to have a very quiet evening at home, but the unexpected financial boost meant those plans would likely change to something more celebratory.

While many might look toward luxury cars or overseas holidays, this winner has a very specific and practical goal for his windfall. He shared that he has wanted to undergo a major dental procedure for a long time but had been held back by the potential expense. With the $200,000 now secured, he intends to finally book the work to get a new set of teeth.

He explained that being able to afford the dental work without any financial stress was a dream come true. The man described the situation as a beautiful way to mark his birthday and expressed deep gratitude for the win.

Published Date 27-February-2026

Nundah Two-Bedroom Apartment Smashes $1M in Suburb Milestone

When Apartment 603 at 1 York Street sold for more than $1 million, it joined a very short list — becoming one of the highest prices ever paid for a two-bedroom apartment in Nundah, a suburb where only a handful of units have cracked seven figures.

Read: Nundah Windfall Win Among Back-To-Back Brisbane Region Results

In a market that has delivered strong results across Brisbane in recent years, this one still stood out. The sale unfolded during a busy auction weekend across South East Queensland, where 149 properties were scheduled to go under the hammer. Preliminary figures from Domain recorded a 54.5 per cent clearance rate from 99 reported results, with 14 properties withdrawn. Yet it was the Nundah two-bedder auctioned by Ray White that drew particular attention.

Bidding reportedly opened in the $700,000s before climbing steadily past reserve and eventually breaching the $1 million mark, which is a rare feat for a two-bedroom apartment in the suburb. According to Domain’s latest House Price Report, Nundah’s median unit price now sits at $715,000, representing a 19 per cent increase over the past 12 months. Five years ago, the median was $385,000 — underscoring the scale of change.

The property itself helps explain the strong competition. Apartment 603 is positioned within a modern complex in the heart of Nundah Village. The residence features two well-proportioned bedrooms, including a master with ensuite, alongside an open-plan living and dining area filled with natural light.

A private balcony extends from the living space, while the contemporary kitchen is fitted with quality appliances and ample storage. The layout includes a main bathroom with integrated laundry, secure car accommodation and additional internal storage, with lift access servicing the building. Its location, which is just moments from cafés, shops and public transport, places it squarely within the walkable village precinct that has become central to Nundah’s appeal.

Nundah, located about eight kilometres north of the CBD, has steadily evolved over the past decade. Once seen as a more affordable alternative to neighbouring Clayfield and Wooloowin, it has benefited from urban renewal projects, improved infrastructure and the continued revitalisation of Nundah Village. Rail connectivity, proximity to the Airport Link tunnel and access to major arterials have further strengthened its appeal.

Brisbane’s broader market performance provides context. Since the pandemic, the city has experienced significant value growth, fuelled by interstate migration and comparatively affordable housing relative to Sydney and Melbourne. While higher interest rates have prompted some buyers to reassess borrowing capacity, activity remains steady, particularly for well-presented properties in tightly held pockets.

For local homeowners, the seven-figure result will likely be seen as a milestone, a tangible proof that Nundah has come of age. For first-home buyers, it may signal a narrowing window of opportunity in a suburb once prized for its relative affordability.

Read: Brisbane City Plan Update: Nundah Avoids Height Increase but Faces Housing Review

Whether the $1 million two-bedder proves to be an outlier or a sign of more to come, the benchmark has now been set. And for Nundah, that benchmark speaks volumes about how the suburb is viewed — not as an underdog, but as a confident inner-north contender firmly on Brisbane’s property map.

Published 19-February-2026

$940M Quantum Computer Project at Brisbane Airport Faces Delays as Consultation Period Stalls

More than a year after it was scheduled to begin, construction of a $940-million quantum computing facility at Brisbane Airport has remained stalled, with the site remaining vacant as regulatory hurdles continue to push back the timeline for Silicon Valley tech firm PsiQuantum’s project.

Read: Brisbane Airport Industrial Precinct Set to Become Global Quantum Hub

The 13-hectare site tucked behind the airport was scheduled to see construction activity in 2025, but the land remains empty with no indication of when work might commence. A mandatory two-month public consultation process—the first step in securing Commonwealth approval—has yet to start, which may affect PsiQuantum’s stated target of completing the facility’s infrastructure by 2027.

Federal and state authorities have committed $470 million each to the venture through share purchases, grants, and loans. The project aims to establish what PsiQuantum describes as the world’s first commercially useful, fault-tolerant quantum computer.

The location behind Brisbane Airport was selected for its strategic advantages. Proximity to the Port of Brisbane enables transportation of large computing components, whilst high-capacity power infrastructure can support the energy-intensive operations required for quantum computing.

Brisbane Airport Corporation, which leases the land from the Commonwealth, must submit a major development plan before any construction activity can begin. That process cannot proceed until public consultation concludes and submissions are reviewed—steps that remain pending.

When questioned about the timeline during Senate estimates hearings in October, the federal Department of Industry, Science and Resources indicated it had not prepared contingency plans for delays extending beyond 2025.

Brisbane Airport’s Scott Norris, executive general manager for commercial operations, verified the airport’s engagement with PsiQuantum on precinct matters but did not elaborate on delay factors.

PsiQuantum has stated the project remains on track despite the visible lack of activity. A company spokesperson noted the importance of following proper development approval processes, indicating that construction will begin once Brisbane Airport receives the necessary permissions.

Behind the scenes, preparatory work continues. Engineering consultancy Jacobs has finalised the schematic design for the complex, whilst construction firm Lendlease has been engaged early to provide expertise on buildability and logistics.

The facility’s design is substantial in scope and technical complexity. Plans include a main office building, quantum computing operations buildings housing hundreds of cryogenic cabinets containing silicon photonic chips, and an enormous cryoplant that will maintain temperatures of minus 269 degrees Celsius, a mere four degrees above absolute zero.

That cryoplant, described as a critical component of the facility, is currently being manufactured in partnership with Linde Engineering and remains scheduled for delivery in 2027. The company has indicated building completion is still targeted for that year, with the quantum computer becoming operational several years later.

The project centres on quantum computing technology with potential applications in drug discovery, materials science, and complex system modelling. If completed as planned, the facility would position Queensland as a participant in quantum computing infrastructure development.

Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki has said the Crisafulli administration, which reviewed and ultimately proceeded with the agreement, expects PsiQuantum to fulfil its commitments. The venture is projected to generate up to 400 technology jobs in Brisbane.

Meanwhile, PsiQuantum’s related project at Griffith University’s Nathan campus faces its own timeline adjustments. A test and validation laboratory originally scheduled to open in 2025 has been rescheduled to May due to renovation work tied to broader building upgrades. That facility will feature a custom cryostat, described as one of Australia’s most powerful cryogenic systems, for testing quantum components before their integration into the main computer.

Read: Quantum Cooling Facility to Power Computer Project Near Brisbane Airport

The company has been expanding its Brisbane presence, establishing local headquarters in the CBD last year. Recent leadership transitions saw Australian co-founder Jeremy O’Brien move from chief executive to executive chairman, with industry veteran Victor Peng stepping in as interim CEO.

As 2026 progresses, observers are watching to see whether PsiQuantum can navigate the regulatory process in time to meet its 2027 construction deadline. The vacant site at Brisbane Airport remains a visible indicator that Australia’s largest quantum computing investment has yet to commence construction.

Published 17-February-2026

Mary MacKillop College Names 2026 College Captains In Nundah

Two students at Mary MacKillop College in Nundah have been selected to lead their school community in 2026 as part of Brisbane Catholic Education’s annual student leadership appointments.

Leadership Appointments Announced For 2026

Mary MacKillop College in Nundah has appointed Isabella and Giselle as its College Captains for the 2026 school year.

The announcement was included in Brisbane Catholic Education’s update published on 11 February 2026, marking the beginning of the academic year across its 146 schools in South East Queensland. A total of 86 College Captains were confirmed across secondary and Prep to Year 12 camp

Integrity Theme At Mary MacKillop In Nundah

For 2026, Mary MacKillop College in Nundah has adopted Integrity as its annual theme. The newly appointed captains outlined a focus on encouraging collective responsibility among students and within the broader college community throughout the year.

The appointments form part of the wider leadership announcements made across Brisbane Catholic Education secondary schools for 2026.

About Mary MacKillop College, Nundah

Mary MacKillop College is a Catholic girls’ secondary college for Years 7 to 12 located at 60 Bage Street, Nundah QLD 4012. The college was founded by the Sisters of St Joseph and serves approximately 500 students.

The school outlines a commitment to supporting students’ intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development. It delivers a diverse curriculum and operates a one-to-one laptop program, with each student provided access to a computer for learning.

In addition to standard classroom programs, the college offers extended opportunities including social justice initiatives, university studies, work placements, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships. Students are supported through a Learning and Enrichment Faculty, as well as access to a Career Advisor and Counsellor.

Brisbane Catholic Education’s 2026 announcement confirms student leadership appointments across its network as the school year commences, with Mary MacKillop College in Nundah among those represented.

Published 16-Feb-2026

New Seminarians Welcomed At Holy Spirit Seminary In Banyo

Photo Credit: Archdiocese of Brisbane/Facebook

Four men have entered Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary in Banyo and were welcomed during a Mass marking the beginning of their formation.

Welcome Mass At Banyo Seminary

Noah Keenan, Daniel Pietrobon, Vincent (Phu Quoc) Nguyen and Xavier Mape were welcomed into Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary at the annual opening Mass held this week.

A Welcome Mass was celebrated at the Holy Spirit Chapel to mark the occasion. Families, friends, formators and supporters gathered for the liturgy as the four men began their journey of faith and formation in Banyo.

Holy Spirit Seminary — *Photo Credit: Archdiocese of Brisbane/Facebook*

Focus On Faith And Discernment

Seminary rector Fr Neil Muir addressed the congregation during his homily, reflecting on the meaning of faith lived in community.

He spoke about the call to be a gift in the world and used the imagery of salt and light to describe how faith should influence daily life. He also emphasised that seminary life is not separate from the realities of the wider community, but part of a process of discernment and growth.

The new seminarians were encouraged to recognise their gifts and continue responding to their vocation through formation.

Banyo seminary intake — *Photo Credit: Archdiocese of Brisbane/Facebook*

Seminary Community And History

There are 19 seminarians in formation this year, described as sustained growth in the Brisbane archdiocese.

Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary has been a place of formation since 1939. The Banyo seminary community now includes the four new entrants alongside those already undertaking formation.

Community Support

Public messages shared online offered congratulations and prayers for the four men. Supporters expressed encouragement as they begin this new stage of preparation for the priesthood at the Banyo seminary.

The Welcome Mass formally marked the start of their formation year within the seminary community.

Published 12-Feb-2026

Todd Winther of Nundah Advocates for Mandatory Fire Sprinklers in Disability Housing

Team DSC

Todd Winther, a 42-year-old Nundah resident with cerebral palsy, leads advocacy efforts to mandate fire sprinklers in all Specialist Disability Accommodation properties across Australia, citing severe safety risks for residents unable to evacuate independently during emergencies.

Winther lives in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom High Physical Support SDA property in Nundah, approximately 15 minutes north of Brisbane CBD. His home includes water sprinklers, but he describes the terror of knowing such safety features remain optional rather than mandatory in disability accommodation despite residents’ heightened vulnerability.

The wheelchair user cannot get out of bed independently and acknowledges that even when mobile, evacuating his apartment would take considerable time. Fire sprinklers provide another safety barrier for someone unable to handle fire extinguishers independently, yet current regulations only recommend rather than require these systems.

Disability Community Fire Risk

People with disability face disproportionate risk from residential fires. A 2019 Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre report found that 62 per cent of Australians who died in preventable residential fires between 2003 and 2017 had a disability, despite this group comprising a much smaller proportion of the overall population.

More than 15,500 NDIS participants currently live in SDAs designed to help them live more independently, according to the NDIS Quarterly Report released in September. These properties house residents with extreme functional impairment requiring very high support levels, yet fire sprinklers remain recommended rather than required.

Current SDA design standards mandate smoke alarms in bedroom and living spaces alongside evacuation plans. However, sprinklers carry recommendation status only. The National Disability Insurance Agency confirmed SDA design standards are under review, with outcomes expected later this year.

Advocacy Campaign and Technology Effectiveness

The Specialist Disability Accommodation Alliance, led by CEO Jeramy Hope, has called for mandatory home fire sprinklers and interconnected smoke alarms across all SDA properties. Hope reports that SDA residents express fear at night, knowing inadequate safety measures could prove fatal.

The alliance positions fire sprinklers as proven technology costing between $5,000 and $20,000 per dwelling. Hope characterises this as fairly inexpensive implementation that prevents people with disability dying in their homes.

Mark Whybro, chair of Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition Australia and former assistant commissioner of Fire and Rescue New South Wales, advocates for the same regulatory changes applied to aged care following the 2011 Quakers Hill nursing home fire that killed 11 elderly residents. Whybro successfully campaigned for retrofitting sprinklers in residential aged care in New South Wales, which subsequently became mandatory nationally under the National Construction Code.

Smoke alarms alone provide approximately 50 per cent improvement in surviving typical house fires whilst doing nothing to suppress blazes. Home fire sprinklers deliver around 90 per cent improvement in surviving house fires by managing flames to allow evacuation.

Modern fires involving plastics, synthetics, and polystyrene foam can engulf entire rooms in two to three minutes. Fire sprinklers manage fire spread to allow people to exit safely, particularly critical for residents requiring assistance or using mobility devices.

Background and Advocacy

Todd Winther works as NDIS subject matter specialist, providing training for service providers on housing policy, best practice, and the social model of disability. His professional expertise combines with personal experience as NDIS participant receiving approximately 7 hours per day of support through core funding, plus Supported Independent Living funding of approximately $140,000 annually.

His SIL funding operates under the Concierge model, where funding across tenants of 10 high physical support apartments combines to enable emergency on-call response mechanisms outside core hours. This represented the first time Winther could choose where he lived with consumer power to determine the best options.

Winther authored the Australian Disability Dialogue on Housing discussion paper in 2023, examining how housing and living supply responses can be more innovative and aligned with participant needs. The paper explores foundational principles of choice, change, community, and cost-benefit in disability housing.

His discussion paper identifies that only 6 per cent of NDIS participants receive purpose-built accommodation or SDA funding. The work questions how legacy group housing models can transform into systems offering real choice and control.

Living in SDA has transformed Winther’s life, enabling full-time employment and independent living that facilitated meeting his wife. Without disability accommodation, he would likely still be living with parents. Winther emphasises SDAs as one of the most important parts of the NDIS, stressing the need for enhanced safety measures including mandatory fire sprinklers.

NDIS Housing Context

Todd Winther’s discussion paper examines tensions between choice and control for people with disability and commercial imperatives to deliver sustainable supports. The number of NDIS participants with housing and living supports has doubled in the last four years, creating opportunities for investment whilst supply lags behind demand.

SDA active participants increased 18 per cent annually over three years, reaching 22,680 as of March 2023. Average plan budgets increased approximately 12 per cent per annum, leading to total SDA supports rising around 31 per cent annually from $156 million to $353 million. The Australian Disability Dialogue framework identified design challenges focusing on participant voice, community connections, models that people want, and long-term economic independence.

Nundah and Fire Safety Advocacy

Nundah, located approximately 8 kilometres northeast of Brisbane CBD, developed as railway suburb following the 1882 opening of Nundah railway station. Public transport access via the station and multiple bus routes enables residents with mobility requirements to access Brisbane services.

The suburb’s relatively flat topography and established footpath network support wheelchair accessibility. Proximity to medical services, shopping facilities, and community amenities creates suitable environment for independent living through NDIS supports.

Specialist Disability Accommodation Alliance continues advocacy efforts whilst awaiting NDIA design standard review outcomes, urging immediate action to mandate fire sprinklers in all SDA properties.

Published 08-February-2026.