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What You Need To Know About Free Service Cuts at Nundah Activity Centre

Changes are coming to the Nundah Activity Centre, which “… remains closed until further notice, excepting essential services delivering food,” due to the coronavirus public health emergency. In an earlier announcement, Aurous, the centre’s main lessee, also revealed that it will be cutting back some of its free services and vacating the building by the end of June due to a shortage of funds.

Aurous’ Chief Executive Officer Rachael Cook posted a notice on Facebook to inform the public of this operational update.

6 April 2020 Aurous Ltd continues to closely monitor the developments regarding the COVID-19 virus and as per…
Posted by Aurous on Sunday, April 5, 2020

Earlier in February, she also confirmed that the non-profit will shift its operations in Nundah to “only a small core” of its Community Visitor Scheme (CVS) program.

“If these programs continue, there is a risk of Aurous being placed into receivership and it is unlawful to operate if the business is insolvent,” Ms Cook wrote.

“Over the last 4 months, the staff and volunteers have worked together to review our services and ways of working and I have been in discussions with our grant providers and worked closely with the Board to consider all options. The choices came down to closing the business or identifying what, if any, activity had potential to be revised and continue.”

Here’s what you need to know about the changes at the Nundah Activity Centre:

1. Queensland Meals on Wheels

Queensland Meals on Wheels has found new providers to continue to serve all of its clients, including those in Chermside and Geebung These providers are local and will serve fresh meals compared to reheating frozen food. This was confirmed by Jen Ulichny, the Chairperson of the Aurous Board of Directors.

” Meals on Wheels clients will continue to receive their meals and will soon be fully transferred to their new supplier,” Ms Ulichny assured the public.

2. Queensland Men’s Shed

Queensland Men’s Shed has opted to leave the centre, along with all of the equipment donated to the service provider.

“We have been working with Men’s Shed Association Qld for possible solutions. There are several other Men’s Shed locations in our surrounding communities, and we are investigating all options,” Ms Ulichny said.

3. Faith City Worship Centre

The church group is also looking for a new location or organisation that may help continue its services at the centre. Faith City Worship Centre provides weekly meals, laundry and shower servicers to the needy under its Compassion for Community program.

4. Demolition of the Nundah Activity Centre

Councillor Adam Allan dispelled speculations that the centre will be demolished and replaced with a high rise. Brisbane City Council owns the property.

“The land is zoned as Sport and Recreation and it will stay that way. The focus of the facility is to support community activities,” Mr Allan said.

Photo Credit: Councillor Adam Allan/Facebook

5. Community groups support

The Council has not asked community groups to leave the centre. Mr Allan assured large or small groups will receive support from the Council. This transition will give everyone a chance to review what should be changed or addressed to sustain the activities.

“As we wind back and transition programs over the coming months, we will continue to provide you with regular updates and as many options as possible,” said Ms Cook.

“When reviewing member activities in particular, we did consider if there were other community suppliers that offered the same or similar services, and if you would receive specialised or a better offering if you transferred elsewhere.”

Other organisations will also benefit from donations once the Nundah operations wind down. “We are pleased to announce we will also donate supplies to Qld Centre for Digital Inclusion (QCDI) and to the local Men’s Shed who are now successfully incorporated. Both organisations are in contact with BCC to identify location opportunities once the COVID-19 closures are past.”

Finally, Ms Ulichny also assured its members that services will not be interrupted during the transition, despite the current limited operations. Those opting to make changes to their membership may do so before the 30th of June for the fees refund.

For questions and clarifications, phone 1800 AUROUS (1800 287 687) or email Jen.Ulichny@aurous.org.au

For other updates about the changes, follow Aurous on Facebook.

Fly-Through of BNE’s Largest Non-Aviation Project Has Been Released

Brisbane Airport Corporation has released the fly-through video of the future BNE Auto Mall. The video shows how motorists would be able to test drive vehicles on the Mark Skaife (Skaife Racing) and iEDM-designed 2.3-kilometre performance track.

Fly-through the future BNE Auto Mall
Video Credit: Brisbane Airport / YouTube

The $300 million BNE Auto Mall development is located next to the International Terminal and will be delivered in three major stages between 2021 and 2022. Once complete, the BNE Auto Mall will be Australia’s only automotive precinct that will operate with next to no noise restrictions.

The development will cover 51.3 hectares and will bring together in one place automotive dealerships, 2.3-kilometre Mark Skaife designed performance track, wet/dry skid pan, 4WD track, brand exclusive and multi-use experience centres, exhibition and conference facilities, commercial offices, dining, and hotel.

BNE's Largest Non-Aviation Project — *Photo credit: Brisbane Airport Corporation / bneproperty.com.au*

Anchoring the development is the world-class 2.3-kilometre performance track envisaged to serve a range of purposes such as manufacturer launch events, media driving events, driver training, vehicle engineering and development, corporate events and general test driving.

Features of the track, designed by motor racing champ Mark Skaife in partnership with iEDM, include a skid pan, manoeuvring course, dedicated slalom area, 4WD demo course, kick platek, and low-friction handling circuit.

“The test track will be located within the development of an automotive precinct and offers a safe environment for driver training, education programs, car club activities and most significantly for the Brands that will occupy these facilities, access to a circuit direct from the showroom,” iEDM said.

“Having the ability to test drive a new vehicle around a performance track is such a unique concept and will be an asset to any dealership at Auto Mall,” said Head of Property Development at BNE Property, George Delibaltas.

“This will be the benchmark in Australia for a safe test drive experience and will truly cater for a first drive P-plater through to a CAMS licence holder in a Ferrari or Porsche.”

Nundah Local Makes Useful App to Track Safest Routes

Kalinga Park, the site of many picnics, family activities and sporting events, was a huge part of Zanthea Chulio’s childhood. So, when the Nundah urban planner heard about the murder in the park in 2019, it strengthened her resolve to finish an app to help track the safest routes around Brisbane.

Ms Chulio’s initiative aims to boost public safety and, hopefully, prevent another tragedy in her neighbourhood. She is developing an app called Way Safer, in collaboration with Social Pinpoint, to capture the safest routes with CCTV camera locations so that pedestrians and commuters are aware of the conditions in the streets.

Way Safer is designed to work like Google Maps to provide travel directions but with identified safest routes. The app will have an option for users to choose directions with CCTV cameras installed only.

Though Ms Chulio said her project is not going to stop the crimes, she hopes that the app will help vulnerable people or women like her who take the train station near the site of the incident in Kalinga Park. She also hopes that the app will help police in their investigations to find the perpetrators and attackers of other crimes.

Ms Chulio has been working with communities across Brisbane and Logan City to improve the app. She recently came from a government-funded trip in Southeast Asia to gather ideas from flourishing tech start-ups.

The Nundah local has been developing Way Safer for months but needs more help from IT professionals to complete the project. The initiative does not have a projected release date, as of press time.

*Photo Credit: Queensland Police Service/Facebook*

Way Safer is not endorsed by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) but a spokesperson said it’s not against initiatives that can matter to public safety.

The QPS assures the public, however, that the CCTV systems are routinely downloaded and viewed by members of the police force to identify offenders. The QPS also releases some data from the CCTV on their social media to tap the public’s help in their investigations.

Nundah’s Nursery Has Everything You Need For Stunning Urban Jungle

Photo Credit: The Plant Lounge/Facebook

Have you ever thought about adding some plants into your space? They are not only aesthetically pleasing but they also come with health benefits such as fostering positive vibes and purifying the air. If you are new to owning plants and would love to learn more about it, The Plant Lounge in Nundah can help.

Run by local plant enthusiast Rhiannon Campbell, The Plant Lounge specialises in indoor plants, workshops, botanical wares, and ceramics as well as designer pots that will add a little zen to any living space. Whether you’re looking for small potted plants for your home office or some hanging plants for your garden, The Plant Lounge has it in store for you.

This boutique nursery located in Station Street has a heap of gorgeous and locally grown indoor plants, like caladiums, heartleaf philodendron, peperomia, Scindapsus pictus or satin pothos, and monstera. They source new plants each week with the help of local suppliers, to help customers get beautiful plants for their homes.

Australian-made planters and accessories of different sizes can also be found at the nursery. Here you’ll find pots made by local ceramicists and artists, as well as some beautiful Australian made ceramic brands such as Angus & Celeste and Jones & Co. You can choose from loads of pots for your plants to live in, from sophisticated pots to quirky ones that are great as gifts.

The workshops, which are done every Thursday, Friday and Sunday, range from candle making and coil basket weaving to hand pottery. They also hold a workshop on Kokedama, an age-old Japanese art form transforming plants into ornamental pieces by wrapping their root ball in moss and twine. Ms Campbell regularly hosts workshops for budding and seasoned plant lovers who might want to branch out into making a terrarium or learning pottery for personalised pots.

The Plant Lounge is open daily, except on Mondays. See below for trading hours. Those who can’t make it out to their physical shop may also order plants online and have them shipped to their homes.

Saturday 9:00 am–4:00 pm

Sunday 9:00 am–1:00 pm

Monday Closed

Tuesday 9:00 am–4:00 pm

Wednesday 9:00 am–4:00 pm

Thursday 11:00 am–7:00 pm

Friday 11:00 am–7:00 pm

Habitat Early Learning Centre Opens in Nundah

A full-service childcare centre with an on-site general practitioner and a chef is holding its Open Day in Nundah on Saturday, the 4th of Jan 2020. Habitat Early Learning at 79 Bage Street is giving parents and their kids the chance to experience the difference of this facility, which promises to go beyond childminding.

The Open Day will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Aside from a tour of the centre and a chance to ask the staff questions about their services, parents and children may also join the yoga session at 10:30 a.m. and receive food samples from the in-house kitchen.

*Photo Credit: Habitat Early Learning Nundah/Facebook*

Habitat Early Learning Programs

The Nundah site, with its beautifully designed amenities, is the second for Habitat Early Learning. The inaugural facility was established in Ferny Grove in 2009.

The centre provides various educational programs to support a child’s learning and development, such as:

Emergent Curriculum
Montessori Program
Kindergarten Program with Long Day Care Service (approved under the Queensland Kindergarten Funding Scheme)
Inclusive Extra-Curricular Programs
Performing Arts (under Disney star and opera singer Kirby Thompson)
Mandarin Language
Happy Habits (yoga and mindfulness)

The classes are spearheaded by a master qualified leadership team trained to focus on child’s education, nutrition and health.

*Photo Credit: Habitat Early Learning Nundah*

Habitat Early Learning Amenities

As mentioned, the centre has its own kitchen, where a chef serves freshly prepared food for the children and its staff in the al fresco dining area. Parents may also order packaged meals if they do not have time to cook at home.

Come March, the facility will have a GP and a nurse to tend to sick children and give parents peace of mind.

Murray and Toni Thornton had the vision to build an early childhood facility that will enhance the learning experience of children between three to five years old. After listening to feedback from parents and staff, the Thortons developed a full-service model for Habitat Early Learning

In 2016, National Quality Standards recognised Habitat Early Learning for its building design. A similar design has been carried over to its Nundah site, which has five classrooms for its Emergent Curriculum and three for its Montessori and Kindergarten programs.

Habitat Early Learning in Nundah will welcome 40 kids as it begins its classes on Monday, the 6th of Jan 2020.

Banyo-Northgate Neighbourhood Plan Included in Brisbane City Plan

Brisbane City Council has officially adopted an amendment to Brisbane City Plan 2014 to include the Banyo-Northgate Neighbourhood Plan, which will take effect on 28 February 2020.

The Banyo-Northgate Neighbourhood Plan will serve to guide development and coordinate land use in the areas covered by the neighbourhood plan, including Banyo, Northgate, and parts of Nudgee, Nundah, Virginia and Hendra.

The boundaries of the Banyo-Northgate plan area include: Nundah Creek and the Virginia Golf Club to the north; the East-West Arterial Road to the south; Southern Cross Way and the Gateway Motorway to the east; and Sandgate Road and the Toombul-Nundah Neighbourhood Plan to the west.

*Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / brisbane.qld.gov.au*

The amendment package includes a new neighbourhood plan code for the neighbourhood plan area, revised precinct, zone and overlay mapping, and consequential amendments to City Plan.

The six precincts under the Banyo-Northgate Neighbourhood Plan:

Northgate Station precinct
Bindha Station precinct
- Bindha Station north sub-precinct
- Bindha Station south sub-precinct
Banyo Station precinct
Nudgee Station precinct
Nudgee north precinct
Blinzinger Road precinct

Key highlights of the Banyo-Northgate Neighbourhood Plan:

extending protections to 119 additional properties to maintain traditional building character
protecting five additional heritage, four additional pre-1911 and nine additional commercial character buildings
creating more space for businesses to expand and host up to 5,000 new jobs, and support two future employment precincts at Northgate and Virginia (around Bindha station)
ensuring that industrial activities important for Brisbane’s jobs and economy can continue to thrive in the area
allowing the Banyo centre to expand and provide more local services
increasing opportunities to provide housing diversity.

Timeline

In late 2016, the neighbourhood planning process commenced with the launch of an online survey, information kiosks, and the formation of a CPT, which met four times between April 2017 and October 2017.

The Banyo-Northgate Neighbourhood Plan strategy was released for public consultation, from 27 October 2017 to 8 December 2017. The public consultation had nine submissions sent by email, letter, or submitted in person; 64 online survey responses including a mix of “ratings” and comments; and 18 survey responses including satisfaction ratings.

In early mid-2018, the first draft of the neighbourhood plan was prepared which the Queensland Government reviewed and approved for public notification and final community submissions.

From 2 November to 17 December 208, the draft neighbourhood plan was released for final community submissions which had received 85 submissions. The community feedback were instrumental in the number of changes to the draft plan which was then submitted for a second review by the State Government.

Council adopted the amendments in late November, to take effect beginning 28 February 2020.

Eat Your Way Through Italy at Il Gancio Restaurant in Nundah

Photo Credit: Il Gancio/Facebook

Hungry for cheese wheel pasta, risotto or wood-fired pizza? If you have a love affair with Italian cuisine, you will not want to miss Il Gancio, the newest pizzeria and bar in Nundah.

Positioned within the highly anticipated UPSTAIRS at Toombul Shopping Centre, the exquisite restaurant is a destination in its own right, attracting locals with their chic-industrial interior. Food is crafted from the finest fresh and local produce and they have an impressive list of drinks, ranging from classic cocktails to tap beers.

With its inviting ambience, you’ll want to stick around and try a wood-fired pizza with toppings such as mushrooms, housemade sausage, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, beetroot puree, salami and provolone cheese. Or indulge in their signature scallops, served with herb butter and flying fish roe, or maybe go for their handmade pasta.

Brought by the team behind Il Verde in Bowen Hills and Il Vento in Mooloolaba, Il Gancio translates to “The Hook.” Owners Ibrahim Haddad and Dom Barakat wanted to come up with a place that will have people hooked from the moment they pass through UPSTAIRS.

Il Gancio is open seven days a week. Walk-ins are welcome but bookings are essential if you are more than 10 in the group. As for the cheese wheel pasta, they only have 10 exclusive seats so you better book your spot ahead if you want to experience it.

The cheese wheel pasta is only available at their intimate pasta bar every Wednesday at 6:00 pm. Like the trading hours of UPSTAIRS, Il Gancio opens at 11:00 am daily until late, ready to serve lunch or dinner.

Service Station and Warehouse on Toombul Road, Northgate Proposed

A development application seeking to establish a service station and warehouse on Toombul Road, Northgate has been lodged.

Located at 185 Toombul Road, Northgate, the subject site has an area of 7,994 sqm currently occupied by a large industrial building which used to be a foundry on the easter half and a large hardstand area with two smaller ancillary buildings (patternmaking shed and works office) on the western half.

The site is accessible via a single crossover to Holland Street and is located approximately 200 metres from the Northgate Train Station. Two new crossovers to Toombul Road are proposed, which will provide left in and left out movements.

Designed by 77 Architecture, the proposal seeks approval to construct a service station, including a canopy and 8 bowsers, and two-storey warehouse building. To facilitate the development, all structures and hardstand areas on-site will be demolished.

The service station will have a gross floor area of 246 sqm and will have 15 car parking spaces whilst the warehouse building will have a gross floor area of 1,655 sqm with 27 car parking spaces, along with the existing 15.

“Proposed development is of a built form, mass and setback that contribute to a high standard of amenity and complies with relevant provisions within the Industry Code relating to building height, site cover and setbacks,” the Urbicus Urban Planning report said.

Australia’s First Cinnabon Confirms Grand Opening Date in Nundah

The luring fragrance of cinnamon will be filling the Christmas air in Nundah as American bakery chain Cinnabon announces the grand opening date of its very first Australian store at Toombul Shopping Centre.

Cinnabon in Nundah will officially begin rolling out fresh batches of its popular cinnamon rolls every 30 minutes on Saturday, the 14th of Dec. 2019. News of the opening date was confirmed in Cinnabon Australia’s Facebook page.

“Life is about to get sweeter Brisbane Cinnabon lovers. We can confirm we’re rolling into Toombul Shopping Centre at Nundah on December 14.”

The first Cinnabon Australia layout will be a kiosk, based on the 3D rendering shared on the Facebook page. It will take over the site vacated by Donut King.

*Photo Credit: Cinnabon Australia/Facebook*

Bansai Group, which brought U.S. burger brand Carl’s Jr. to these shores, is behind Cinnabon Australia. The company also confirmed its plans to roll out a second store in Mt Gravatt by January and two more outlets to be located in Chermside and Mt Ommaney.

Over the next five years, Bansai Group foresees at least 50 Cinnabon outlets across the country. Cinnabon has over 1,500 other outlets globally since launching nearly 35 years ago.

Cinnabon customers trooping to the store at the Toombul Shopping Centre can expect to order its perennial favourites:

Classic Makara Cinnamon Roll, which has the finest Makara cinnamon from Sumatra and signature frosting
Chocobon, its chocolate-filled roll
Caramel Pecanbon, a twist on the classic with caramel frosting and pecan toppings

Cinnabon also serves classic coffee, warm or iced drinks, as well as blended beverages.

Hendra Police Stages Nudgee Summer Safety Expo for Families

A summer safety expo at the Nudgee Boat Ramp will be conducted by the Hendra Police on Sunday, the 17th of Nov 2019. The event will provide safety guides and tips for families who will be spending a lot of their time at the beach this summer.

Experts will be present to answer questions and concerns about water safety and keeping your home safe during the summer season. The officers of the Crime Prevention Unit and Water Police will be sharing information about:

summer preparedness
vessel safety
vehicle and personal safety

*Photo Credit: Leanne Linard MP/Facebook*

The event is made possible by MP Leanne Linard who will be present on Sunday to hand out free sausage sizzles and coffee for the guests. Also expected to be present are the members of local SES and Volunteer Marine Rescue, Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

The Nudgee Summer Safety Expo will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.