Kedron Brook Archives

Nundah Looks Ahead As Toombul’s Next Chapter Takes Shape

For many in Brisbane’s north, Toombul was more than a shopping centre. The long-vacant Nundah site is now being shaped for a new chapter, with plans for a retail-led precinct that would bring shops, dining, open space and stronger connections back to one of the area’s most familiar locations.

Toombul’s Next Chapter Begins In Nundah

For decades, Toombul was part of everyday life in Brisbane’s northern suburbs. It was a place for groceries, errands, food court stops, bus connections and casual catch-ups, sitting beside Kedron Brook and close to surrounding neighbourhoods that had long relied on it as a local hub.

That role changed after the 2022 Brisbane floods, when the former Toombul Shopping Centre closed and was later demolished. The large site at 1015 Sandgate Road has remained one of Nundah’s most closely watched vacant properties, with many locals waiting to see what would happen next.

A new direction is now taking shape, with Irvine Group preparing a master plan for a staged redevelopment of the flood-affected site. The proposal is being framed around a renewed retail precinct, public spaces, dining, transport links and flood-resilient design.

Irvine Group acquired the site in late 2025 and is working with Urbis on the planning process. The master plan is intended to set the broader structure for the precinct, including future land uses, building areas, public spaces and how people would move through the site.

The first-stage application has not yet been lodged. Current project details indicate it is expected to be lodged in late July 2026, with assessment to follow before any construction can begin.

Toombul redevelopment — *Photo Credit: Toombul by Irvine*

Retail Remains At The Heart Of The Toombul Plan

The proposed first stage is focused on bringing retail back to Toombul. Current details point to a department store, supermarket or grocery store, food court and specialty retail tenancies as part of the initial retail precinct.

No specific tenants have been confirmed. The final mix of shops is expected to be settled closer to each stage of delivery, once detailed designs are further progressed and market conditions are clearer.

The broader plan also includes dining areas, public spaces, landscaped areas, pedestrian links and residential components. While residential uses are proposed as part of the wider site, the main focus remains on restoring Toombul as a place for everyday shopping, services and social activity.

The site has been identified as serving a primary catchment that includes Nundah, Clayfield, Kalinga, Hendra and Northgate, reflecting its long-standing role across Brisbane’s inner north.

Flood Resilience Shapes The Future Site

Any return of Toombul must also respond to the site’s flood history. The former centre was heavily affected by major flooding, and the new proposal places flood resilience at the centre of the design approach.

The future precinct is expected to consider building form, site levels, layout and landscape treatments to improve how the site performs during major rain events. The project is planned as a multi-year redevelopment, delivered progressively in stages.

Green and open space is also proposed along the Kedron Brook edge of the site. Plans point to landscaped areas, shaded spaces and improved pedestrian movement, with the precinct intended to feel more open and easier to navigate than a traditional enclosed shopping centre.

The proposal also includes stronger links through the site and better connections to existing transport, including the Toombul bus interchange and nearby Toombul Train Station.

Nundah Toombul site — *Photo Credit: Toombul by Irvine*

A Familiar Local Hub Reimagined

Community feedback is now part of the planning process, with residents being encouraged to register for updates and share what shops, services and public spaces they would like to see included.

The project team has acknowledged strong local interest in the return of everyday retailers similar to those that operated at the former centre. However, no retailers have been formally named.

Construction is being targeted for April 2027, subject to the first-stage application being lodged and assessed. Until then, the project remains in the planning phase, with the master plan intended to guide Toombul’s gradual return as a retail, dining and community-focused precinct.

The proposal marks a significant step towards a renewed use for a site that has carried both practical and personal importance for generations of locals.

Published 26-May-2026

The Creek That Runs Through Nundah and Nudgee Has the Most Plastic of Any in Brisbane, New Research Finds

Wikimedia Commons

Kedron Brook, the waterway that winds through Brisbane’s north before emptying into Moreton Bay at Nudgee Beach, carries the highest plastic microparticle load of any creek studied in the city, according to new research from Queensland University of Te chnolo gy.

The finding comes from a year-long study published in the journal Environmental Pollution, which examined microplastics in the sediment of three Brisbane creeks: Kedron Brook, Bulimba Creek and Enoggera Creek.

For residents in Nundah, Nudgee and the suburbs along the brook’s lower stretches, the results put into scientific focus something many may have long suspected: the waterway that runs through their backyards is carrying the weight of decades of urban runoff.

Kedron Brook recorded a median abundance of approximately 4,400 plastic microparticles per kilogram of dry sediment, the highest of the three waterways. Bulimba Creek came in second at roughly 4,100 items per kilogram, while Enoggera Creek recorded the lowest load at approximately 2,800 items per kilogram.

A waterway shaped by what surrounds it

The research team, led by PhD candidate Heshani Mudalige from QUT’s School of Chemistry and Physics, sampled six sites on each creek from their upstream headwaters down to estuarine level, repeating the process four times across a full year to capture seasonal variation.

*Photo Credit: CC BY-SA 4.0/Q8682/Wikimedia Commons*

The results point squarely to land use as the driving force behind Kedron Brook’s elevated plastic load. The brook passes through commercial and industrial areas along its journey to Moreton Bay, including the Brisbane Airport precinct, where ongoing construction, single-use plastic disposal, food packaging waste and adjacent recreational areas all add to the plastic burden washing into the waterway.

Stormwater runoff from residential households, sports fields and parks further upstream in suburbs including Mitchelton, Stafford and Grange contributes to the accumulation.

“Kedron Brook has extensive flat areas surrounded by impervious surfaces which favour depositing of microplastics through runoff and the retention of them,” Mudalige said.

The dominant plastic types found across the waterways included polyethylene, polypropylene and polymethyl methacrylate, with Kedron Brook specifically showing high levels of polyethylene alongside polypropylene and polystyrene.

These are, in other words, the everyday materials of suburban life, broken down into particles small enough to travel undetected through stormwater drains and into the creek system.

Mudalige found that seasonal variation played a significant role in the plastic load. Kedron Brook’s levels peaked in March, driven by high-flow periods from summer rains that deposit and trap particles in the sediment. By September, its load had dropped to its lowest point.

The brook’s path to Moreton Bay

Kedron Brook originates in the Upper Kedron and Ferny Grove area before winding through Keperra, Mitchelton, Everton Park, Stafford, Grange, Lutwyche, Wooloowin, Clayfield and Hendra. In its lower reaches, it becomes the Kedron Brook Floodway, passing through Nundah and Nudgee before discharging into Moreton Bay at Nudgee Beach.

The brook’s relatively flat gradient in these lower suburban stretches means plastic particles slow down and settle into the sediment rather than flushing through.

Associate Professor Prasanna Egodawatta, from QUT’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a co-researcher on the study, described highly urbanised creek catchments in South-East Queensland as major contributors to microplastic pollution in Moreton Bay.

“This study is a first step towards quantifying land-based microplastic inputs to Moreton Bay via the stormwater pathway,” Professor Egodawatta said. “The hydrologic and hydraulic characteristics of a creek, shaped by its morphology and longitudinal profile, dictate microplastic transport processes within the system.”

Enoggera Creek’s comparatively lower plastic load came with an explanation of its own. The Enoggera Dam sits upstream, regulating flow and trapping a significant portion of the plastic load before it travels further downstream, effectively acting as an unintended filter.

A first step, not a final answer

The research team, which also included Professor Godwin Ayoko from QUT’s School of Chemistry and Physics and Professor Ashantha Goonetilleke from Civil and Environmental Engineering, framed the study as foundational groundwork rather than a complete picture.

Understanding how much plastic reaches Moreton Bay through the stormwater pathway is still being mapped, and this study provides the first comparative data set across three catchments with distinct land-use profiles.

For Nundah and Nudgee residents who swim, fish or simply walk along the brook’s final stretches, the research underlines the connection between what ends up in street drains kilometres away and what accumulates in the waterway that passes their suburb before reaching the bay.

The full study, Catchment characteristics and land-use influence on microplastics distribution in freshwater sediments, is available through the journal Environmental Pollution.

Published 25-May-2026

New Toombul Road Retail Precinct Listed For Sale in Northgate

Photo Credit: Stonebridge

Thousands of motorists pass through Toombul Road every day, and one of Northgate’s newest drive-thru developments is now at the centre of a major commercial property campaign.

The adjoining Toombul Road properties — completed in 2023 by Brisbane developer Deluca — are being offered individually to investors through a campaign managed by Stonebridge Property Group. While the sale itself is aimed at commercial buyers, the development also reflects broader shifts underway across Northgate, where industrial land, commuter traffic and expanding retail services increasingly overlap.

Located about nine kilometres north of the Brisbane CBD, the site sits within one of Brisbane’s busiest transport and logistics corridors, connecting nearby industrial precincts with the Gateway Motorway, Brisbane Airport and surrounding northern suburbs.

Toombul Road becoming a key stop for commuters and workers

For many residents and commuters travelling through Northgate each day, the new drive-thru development has become one of the corridor’s most visible recent additions.

Positioned along busy Toombul Road, the precinct is exposed to more than 40,000 vehicles daily, according to marketing material released as part of the sales campaign. The site combines a standalone Starbucks café with an adjoining 7-Eleven fuel and convenience outlet, catering largely to passing commuters, shift workers and nearby industrial employees.

The surrounding corridor has increasingly attracted national retailers and large-format businesses, including Bunnings Warehouse, Officeworks, Supercheap Auto and Petbarn, reinforcing the area’s role as a growing commercial hub within Brisbane’s north.

Northgate’s industrial identity continues to evolve

Traditionally associated with warehousing, freight and industrial activity, Northgate has gradually transformed into a mixed-use suburb balancing logistics infrastructure with residential growth and modern retail services.

The suburb’s strategic position between Brisbane’s CBD and airport has made it increasingly attractive for both employers and developers seeking access to major transport links and established workforce catchments.

Nearby facilities operated by companies including Australia Post, Arnott’s and Lite n’ Easy contribute to significant daytime worker movement throughout the precinct, helping drive demand for convenience-based businesses and hospitality services.

At the same time, suburban growth across Brisbane’s north has placed additional pressure on infrastructure and local services, particularly in areas closely connected to major arterial roads.

According to the Statistician’s Office, South East Queensland’s population is forecast to continue growing strongly over coming decades, contributing to increased development activity across middle-ring suburbs such as Northgate.

Commercial sale reflects confidence in Brisbane’s northern corridor

While the Starbucks and 7-Eleven sites are primarily being marketed as long-term commercial investments, the campaign also highlights growing confidence in Brisbane’s northern suburban corridor more broadly.

The properties are being offered separately despite operating as a complementary retail precinct, with the Starbucks site occupying a 2,594 sqm landholding and the adjoining 7-Eleven positioned on a separate corner allotment.

Industry observers say newer convenience-based developments continue to attract strong interest in high-traffic suburban corridors, particularly in areas benefiting from population growth and transport connectivity.

Published 8-May-2026

Nundah Retail Plans Move Ahead For Former Toombul Shopping Centre Site

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The former Toombul Shopping Centre site in Nundah is moving closer to redevelopment, with Irvine Group progressing plans for a staged mixed-use precinct at 1015 Sandgate Road.

The first development application is expected to be lodged in late July 2026, covering the initial retail stage of the project. That first stage is anticipated to include a department store, grocery store, food court and specialty retail tenancies.

The proposal marks the clearest step so far towards returning retail activity to the former shopping centre site, which has remained vacant after flood damage and demolition. No architectural concept plans have been publicly released.

Project representatives are working on an assumed assessment period of about six months from lodgement to approval. If that process proceeds as hoped, construction works are being targeted for April 2027.

Toombul Shopping Centre Site Set For Staged Renewal

The redevelopment is planned as a multi-stage mixed-use precinct, with retail forming the first stage.

Future stages are expected after 2026 and are planned to include further retail extensions and residential development. Current planning is understood to include four to five residential towers, with early planning referring to an approximate range of eight to ten storeys.

The residential component remains subject to ongoing design work. Possible short-term accommodation use has also been identified for later stages, but the final mix has not been confirmed.

retail redevelopment — Caption: The former Toombul Shopping Centre site (2005).
Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Green Space Planned Along Kedron Brook

A significant part of the wider plan is the inclusion of landscaped green space along Kedron Brook, which fronts the site.

The open space is intended to connect with the creek-side parkland network and improve pedestrian movement through the precinct. It is also planned to form part of the early-stage works connected with the retail component.

The green space proposal adds another layer to the redevelopment, which is being shaped around retail, future residential uses and improved movement through the former shopping centre land.

Long-Empty Site Remains A Local Focus

Toombul Shopping Centre was established in 1967 and became a major retail destination for the surrounding area. After major flood damage in 2022, the centre closed and was later demolished.

Its absence has left a gap in local retail services, with community discussion continuing around what should return to the site. Much of that discussion has centred on the size of the future retail offer, flood resilience, parking, traffic, residential height and the need for everyday services such as supermarkets and essential shops.

Irvine Group acquired the site from Mirvac, with earlier plans already pointing to a retail-led mixed-use future for the land. The latest update now gives a clearer indication of the first stage, with the return of retail and grocery uses forming the immediate focus.

The next key step is the expected lodgement of the first retail-stage development application in late July 2026. The project remains in planning, but the former Toombul Shopping Centre site is now moving towards a defined redevelopment path after years of uncertainty.

Published 7-May-2026

Shape Kedron Brook for the Next 20 Years: Input Sought from Banyo Community

Photo Credit: CrStevenToomey/ Facebook

Residents across the city, including those in Banyo and nearby areas, are being asked for ideas on a 20-year plan to improve Kedron Brook by boosting flood protection and enhancing community spaces and lifestyle.

Planning for the Brook’s Future

Council has started early community talks for the Kedron Brook Vision and Master Plan. This long-term project aims to revitalise the well-loved waterway and its surrounding areas over the next two decades.

Key goals include making the area more resilient to floods and improving the liveability and lifestyle of residents using the brook. Council sources are keen to understand what the community wants to see happen over the next 20 years to help create a transformative plan for the Kedron Brook catchment area.

How Residents Can Share Their Views

People can share their thoughts and ideas to help shape the plan. Feedback can be given online through the Council website by completing a survey or by using an interactive map to place pins with comments about specific locations along the brook.

Residents can also speak directly with the project team by attending planned information kiosks in local parks. Feedback is being collected until 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, 2025.

Upcoming Community Session

The first information kiosk is scheduled soon for those wanting to learn more in person. Council staff will be available to chat and answer questions at Dash Street Park in Keperra on Thursday, 1 May, between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. More details about this session and any future events can be found by searching ‘Kedron Brook Vision and Master Plan’ on the Council website or by phoning the Council directly.

Areas Included in the Vision

The plan covers the entire Kedron Brook area, from its beginnings to where it meets Moreton Bay. The upper catchment includes suburbs like Upper Kedron, Keperra, Ferny Grove, Mitchelton, Arana Hills, Ferny Hills, Everton Park, and Everton Hills.

The middle section, which is largely developed with homes, businesses, and industry, includes Alderley, Enoggera, Gordon Park, Grange, Kalinga, Kedron, Lutwyche, Stafford, Wavell Heights, and Wooloowin. This part also features regional parks and popular bikeways between Webster Road and Sandgate Road.

Further downstream, the lower catchment area includes communities such as Banyo, Clayfield, Hendra, Northgate, and Nundah. This section features heritage areas, established industries, the Brisbane Airport, and ends in an engineered channel next to the Boondall Wetlands flowing into Moreton Bay.

Next Steps for the Plan

Council has indicated that all community contributions will be considered alongside technical studies and Council requirements. This combined information will help prepare a draft version of the Kedron Brook Vision and Master Plan for the future.

Published Date 05-May-2025

Suminoe Oysters Pest Alert: Invasive Species Detected in Pinkenba & Surrounding SEQ Waterways

Photo Credit: DAF Queensland

Biosecurity Queensland has discovered Suminoe oysters (Magallana ariakensis) in Moreton Bay and several Brisbane waterways, including Pinkenba and Kedron Brook. This marks the first known presence of the species in Australia.

The Suminoe oysters were first spotted in 2023, with its presence confirmed at locales such as Bribie Island, Boggy Creek, Kedron Brook and Pinkenba, near the Brisbane River’s mouth.

Impact and Characteristics

According to Michael Reid, Queensland’s acting chief biosecurity officer, the Suminoe oyster poses a significant threat to local ecosystems and industries. As a highly invasive species, it not only competes with indigenous oyster populations but can also displace native oysters, severely impacting commercial oyster culture.

This large rock oyster species is fast-growing and can be found in both submerged and floating structures, such as pylons and boats. It typically thrives in disturbed habitats, including shallow subtidal sites and the muddy creeks of warm estuaries, by fouling these structures.

The Queensland Oyster Growers Association, in collaboration with Biosecurity Queensland, is taking steps to mitigate potential impacts on both the environment and the oyster industry.

Although invasive species are present, the quality and supply of commercial oysters in Moreton Bay have not been affected. Oyster production in Queensland is considered safe for consumption.

However, invasive species can foul infrastructure and adapt to disturbed habitats, which highlights the importance of detecting and reporting them early to protect Queensland’s natural environment.

Community Call to Action

Mr Reid is urging the Queensland community, especially those who are involved in fishing, boating, and recreational water activities, to remain vigilant and report any suspected sightings of the Suminoe oyster to Biosecurity Queensland.

Watercraft owners are encouraged to thoroughly inspect, clean, and dry their equipment to prevent the spread of this species. The community’s compliance with these guidelines plays a vital role in protecting Queensland’s biosecurity and ensuring the safeguarding of its waterways and marine life.

Published 5-April-2024

Inside Ferns On The Brook, The New Neighbourhood In Nundah

Photo credit: https://fernsonthebrook.com.au/

Did you know that a new neighbourhood is coming to Nundah? Ferns on the Brook, a community of luxury two- and three-storey townhouses will soon rise in a prime location adjacent to Kedron Brook.

Read: Australia’s Oldest Person Born in Nundah, Dexter Kruger, Dies Peacefully at 111

Located at 77 Walkers Way, Nundah, the townhouse development is ideally positioned close to shops, cafes, restaurants, parks, and medical centres. With frontages to Bishop Park and Kedron Brook waterways and parklands, it will be easy for residents to maintain their fitness in this exercise-friendly neighbourhood.

Photo credit: Ferns on the Brook/Facebook

Designed by Ellivo Architects, Ferns on the Brook features a sophisticated design for luxurious living, offering natural light and inviting hues throughout the spaces. It comes with sophisticated calming natural palette including timber and stone materials plus top-of-the-range appliances.

“The variety of the floor plans offered across these 30 terrace homes provide flexibility for whatever life stage you are in. Starting out, blended families, or downsizing but need additional rooms, Ferns on the Brook will provide exceptional choices for all owner-occupiers,” the Dennis Family, the developers of the complex stated.

“At 220sqm, it is suitable for a large growing family, and all rooms are generously sized and tastefully appointed. With a balcony at front and rear there is an excellent flow of air and an abundance of natural light flooding the living area; architecturally designed to fully maximise comfort,” the developers added.

Dennis Family (Photo credit: https://denniscorp.com.au/)

The units at Ferns on the Brook, which come with a price range of $680,000 to $799,000 have already been sold out. Construction is expected to start in mid-2021.

Ferns on the Brook adds to the Dennis Family’s growing portfolio of developments in Queensland, which includes Archer’s Way in the Moreton Bay Region, Summerlin in Banyo, and Tide Residences in Sunshine Coast.