HomepageNews Archives - Page 34 of 50

Gather and Feast Wins Best Caboolture Business at Pumicestone Awards

Gather and Feast in Caboolture took home the Best Caboolture Business award at the second annual 2024 Pumicestone Small Business Awards.

The gala ceremony, held at Bribie Island RSL, celebrated the region’s entrepreneurial spirit, with over 200 business owners and employees in attendance.

Gather & Feast: A Haven for Foodies and the Health-Conscious in Caboolture

Gather & Feast is a vibrant oasis where food enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals alike can gather to savour delectable dishes and unwind in a welcoming ambience. This modern Australian café has garnered a loyal following for its innovative brunch menu, commitment to catering to diverse dietary needs, and eco-conscious practices.

Beyond Brunch: A Commitment to Wellness

Gather & Feast’s commitment to health and wellness extends beyond its menu. The café sources organic and locally-sourced produce whenever possible, supporting sustainable agriculture and minimising its environmental impact. Additionally, the café offers a selection of nourishing smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and speciality coffee to complement its food offerings.

The Pumicestone Awards

With over 8,400 community votes, the awards highlighted the strong support for local businesses.

Ali King, the State Member for Pumicestone, hosted the event, which saw numerous local businesses honoured in various categories. King, a former small business owner herself, emphasised the awards’ role in showcasing the region’s diverse talent, from hospitality to childcare.

Pumicestone Awards — *Photo Credit: Facebook/ TharinaGillenStulting*

Island Dance emerged as a major winner, securing not only the Best Health, Wellbeing, and Fitness category, but also the overall Pumicestone Small Business of the Year award.

Additional awardees included KBeauty for Best Beauty and Hairdressing, Pigface Seafood for Best Hospitality Business, and Hans Electrical Service for Best Trade Business.

The Pumicestone Small Business Award winners were:

Best Beauty and Hairdressing – KBeauty

Best Health, Wellbeing and Fitness – Island Dance

Best Business and Professional Services – Our Wild Hearts Photography

Best Hospitality Business – Pigface Seafood

Best Trade Business – Hans Electrical Service

Best Retail Business – Ang&M

Best Business Newcomer – Ikigai Cafe and Workshop

Best Pet Business – Bribie Pets Supplies

Best Market and Microbusiness – Brooklyn’s Finest – American Hot Dog Company

Best Education and Childcare – Bribie Island Community Kindergarten

Outstanding Customer Service Award – Tyson from Bongaree Bubbles & Clips

Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Callum from Bribie Pets Supplies

Best Bribie Business – Island Dance

Best Sandstone Point Business – Steakout Pizzeria

Best Beachmere Business – Flamingos Ice Creamery

Best Caboolture Business – Gather and Feast

Pumicestone Small Business of the Year – Island Dance

This year’s awards expanded to include new categories like Best Pet Business, Best Education and Childcare, and Young Entrepreneur of the Year, reflecting the region’s evolving business landscape. The event also acknowledged businesses in specific locales, with accolades like Best Bribie Business going to Island Dance, Best Sandstone Point Business to Steakout Pizzeria, and Best Beachmere Business to Flamingos Ice Creamery.

The awards served as a testament to the camaraderie within Pumicestone’s business community, as entrepreneurs united to cheer on each other’s successes.

Published Date 30-May-2024

Photo Credit: Gather and Feast

Local Alicia Melton Lauded at 25th Queensland Ladies Classic

The 25th anniversary edition of the Queensland Ladies Classic (QLC) bowling tournament celebrated a hometown hero this past weekend at Caboolture Bowl.

Read: Youth Foyer Coming to Caboolture: Housing and Education Support for At-Risk Young People

Alicia Melton, a longtime force on the Tenpin Bowling Australia (TBA) women’s circuit, emerged victorious from a talented field that included defending champion Bek Martin and six-time winner Bec Whiting.

Melton’s impressive performance ensured the coveted trophy remained in Caboolture, where she will now set her sights on an even bigger stage – her debut for the Australian national team at September’s Asian Tenpin Bowling Championships.

TBA Interim CEO Ryan Edgar with Champion Alicia Melton (Photo credit: tenpin.org.au)

Melton quickly stamped her authority on the competition, firing off a blistering 977 over her first four games in the opening squad to seize an early lead. She maintained her momentum through the first eight-game block, posting a 1,758 series and 219.8 average to top the standings. Hot on her heels were Bek Martin just 11 pins back and legendary bowler Bec Whiting trailing by 27.

Day two kicked off in dramatic fashion, with six-time champion Whiting rolling a perfect 300 game to vault into the lead. But the local favourite refused to be denied her moment, battling back over the final six games.

When the pins settled, it was Melton celebrating her second QLC crown, posting a combined 12-game score of 2,987 (249 average) to edge out Whiting (3,043) and third-place Dena Buxton.

Read: Emergency Preparedness Workshop Comes to Caboolture, Offering Crucial Weather Safety Training

For the tenpin bowling community in Caboolture, Melton’s stirring triumph on home lanes serves as a fitting celebration of the Queensland Ladies Classic’s impressive 25-year legacy. With their hometown hero leading the charge, the future looks bright for women’s bowling both locally and on the national stage.

Featured Image credit: tenpin.org.au

Published 30-May-2024

High-Priority Arrest at Burpengary Shopping Centre

Police have charged a 19-year-old Deception Bay man with multiple offences following a high-priority arrest at a Burpengary shopping centre, marking a significant step in Operation Whiskey Legion.

During a routine surveillance operation on Sunday, the 26th of May 2024, police officers spotted the suspect, who was already wanted for several offences, at a busy shopping centre in Burpengary. The sighting triggered a swift response, leading to a foot chase after the man and an accompanying woman attempted to flee the scene.

The pursuit, captured on police body cameras, ended shortly thereafter with the arrest of both individuals near the shopping centre.

The man faces three counts each of driving a motor vehicle without a licence—disqualified by court order, and using or permitting the use of a vehicle with a number plate not assigned to it.

Additional charges against him include one count each of wilful damage and obstructing a police officer. He has been remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Caboolture Magistrates Court on the 28th of May. Meanwhile, the 19-year-old woman from Deception Bay was issued an infringement notice for obstructing police.

*Photo Credit: Queensland Police Services*

Authorities are urging anyone with further information about the incident to come forward. Information can be reported confidentially to Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au, quoting reference number QP2400667224.

Alternatively, suspicious activities can be reported directly to the police through their online form available at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

This arrest is part of the broader Operation Whiskey Legion, aimed at addressing high-priority criminal activities in the region, underscoring the ongoing commitment of local law enforcement to maintain public safety and order.

Published 30-May-2024

Women Charged With Murder Of A Police Officer

Two women have been charged with the murder of police officer Senior Constable David Masters, who was struck and killed while attempting to stop an allegedly stolen vehicle on Bruce Highway in June 2021.

Skye Anne Wallis and Kari O’Brien appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday for a committal hearing. Prosecutors allege that Wallis was driving the stolen car at speeds between 147-153 km/h when she struck and killed the 53-year-old police officer around 3am on June 27th, 2021.

O’Brien was allegedly a passenger in the stolen vehicle. The Crown will argue that the two women were engaged in evading police for hours before the incident, constituting felony murder.

Detective Sergeant Troy Weston testified that while Senior Constable Masters’ body camera was not activated, footage from another officer’s camera helped investigators calculate the vehicle’s speed at the time of the collision.

A witness, Leif Haas, recounted seeing “a hell of a lot of debris” as the vehicle struck Masters and sped away rapidly from the scene.

In addition to murder charges, Wallis and O’Brien face counts of arson and unlawful use of a motor vehicle. O’Brien’s lawyer indicated he would apply to dismiss her murder charge on Tuesday.

O’Brien was recently granted bail after three years in custody, while Wallis remains in jail. Senior Constable Masters, a father, and husband, had served with the Queensland mounted police before his death.

The committal hearing is expected to continue Tuesday. If committed to stand trial, Wallis and O’Brien could face life sentences if convicted of Masters’ murder.

Published 27-May-2024

Soaring Expenses Force Developer to Abandon 3,500 Affordable Housing Lots in Waraba

Plans for around 3,500 affordable housing lots at Waraba (formerly Caboolture West) have been scrapped by a major developer, citing rapidly escalating infrastructure and development costs.

Read: $1.8B Unitywater Project Preps Underground for Waraba

Developer AVJennings announced it will drop the plans for its project in Rocksberg, which were slated to accommodate around 7,000 residents. The figures make up roughly one-tenth of the anticipated 70,000-person population for Caboolture West over the next 40 years.

The company informed the Australian Securities Exchange last week that escalating infrastructure and development expenses could not be covered by expected increases in sales revenue from the project.

“In line with an enhanced focus on prudent capital management, and subsequent to other options being exhausted, management worked closely with the landowner and other key stakeholders recently to negotiate a restructure of the agreement to the satisfaction of all parties,” AVJennings stated.

“Unfortunately, agreement has not been able to be reached prior to the next Option payment date in May 2024, and as a result the Company has decided to terminate its Option. Whilst the decision to terminate the Option was a difficult one, the Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.”

Whilst the Rocksberg development had not yet received the green light from local authorities nor had any home sales or deposits been accepted, AVJennings’ CEO Phil Kearns had just last week criticised the excessive fees and charges imposed by federal, state, and local governments that add around $200,000 to the cost of constructing a new home.

The company’s choice to abandon the project will also result in a $17.2 million write-off of capitalised development costs, whilst also reducing its inventory of available lots by 3,500 units.

Read: Caboolture West Growth Continues with Proposed 24/7 Service Station, Shops in Lillywood

Housing advocacy groups quickly responded, decrying the decision and calling on all levels of government to urgently address escalating development costs putting affordable projects at risk. With the housing crisis continuing to worsen, the market failure at Rocksberg highlights the challenges in delivering new affordable housing.

Featured image: Caboolture West (Photo credit: AVJennings/Facebook)

Published 27-May-2024

Youth Foyer Coming to Caboolture: Housing and Education Support for At-Risk Young People

The Foyer Foundation has big plans to support young people at risk of homelessness in the Caboolture region. The organisation is spearheading efforts to establish a new Youth Foyer in the area, providing integrated housing and education opportunities for vulnerable youth.

Read: Narangba Set for New Faith-Based School Amidst Community Consultation

Youth Foyers are more than just accommodation facilities – they adopt an “Advantaged Thinking” approach that taps into young people’s goals and talents whilst building essential life skills.

The proposed Caboolture Foyer, intended for youth aged 16-24, would be strategically located alongside the local TAFE, giving residents access to vocational training, childcare services, transportation, and additional student support resources.

This innovative model has already proven successful at the Foyer Logan, run by Wesley Mission Queensland, who are leading the charge for the Caboolture project.

The Foyer Foundation highlights the urgency, with at least six potential sites in Queensland alone – including Caboolture, Mango Hill, Cairns, Hervey Bay, Toowoomba and Brisbane – ready for development within the next three years.

Foyer Foundation CEO Liz Cameron Smith emphasises the wide-ranging benefits of expanding the Youth Foyers network.

“Building more Youth Foyers will directly address some of Australia’s biggest problems across three fronts — the housing crisis, cost-of-living crisis and domestic violence crisis,” she stated.

With over 33 communities vying for investment to meet young people’s critical housing and education needs, Smith stresses the immense potential of nurturing this future workforce amid growing national skills shortages.

A consortium called FoyerInvest, comprising 13 community organisations, is advocating for $184 million in funding to construct 10 new 40-unit Youth Foyers over the next three years, with an ambitious target of 50 centres nationwide by 2030. These facilities could provide housing and support pathways for over 40,000 homeless or at-risk youth across Australia.

Read: New PCYC Caboolture Facility Underway, Set to Finish in Mid-2025

Established in 2008, the Foyer Foundation aims to facilitate the growth of Australia’s Foyer Movement, modelled after the successful UK initiative. As the demand for youth-centric services continues rising, the proposed Caboolture Foyer represents a beacon of hope – offering young people a solid foundation to build brighter, more secure futures.

Featured image credit: Foyer Foundation/Facebook

Published 24-May-2024

Investor Snaps Up Carl’s Jr in Caboolture for $5.1M

A new Carl’s Jr restaurant that only opened its doors last March in the fast-growing Caboolture region has sold for a hefty $5.1 million under the hammer.

Read: Caboolture South Servo with 3 Fast Food Stores Approved

The transaction involving the global fast-food chain’s brand new, state-of-the-art freestanding dual drive-thru facility was part of a portfolio auction conducted by Burgess Rawson earlier this month in Sydney.

The successful sale of Carl’s Jr Morayfield highlighted the robust investor appetite for prime fast-food real estate assets. Nearly 120 bids were received across six properties auctioned, with all of them finding new owners and generating over $20 million in total sales.

Developed by the Fortitude Valley-based Belmonde Property Group, the Carl’s Jr restaurant was secured by a buyer on a 5.1 percent yield after being offered with a 15-year lease.

Its strategic position adjacent to major shopping centres like the Woolworths-anchored Market Plaza and Leda Property’s Morayfield Shopping Centre, which attract over 6 million annual visitors combined, was a key selling point.

The location offers high exposure to the busy Morayfield arterial road with over 33,000 vehicles per day and direct access. Other fast-food titans like McDonald’s, Hungry Jack’s, and Pizza Hut were also among the auctioned properties.

In a separate transaction, Belmonde Property Group pocketed another $7.985 million through the sale of an EG petrol station with an Oporto restaurant next door to the Carl’s Jr site. That asset changed hands on a 6.1 percent yield.

Read: Fast-Growing Moreton Bay Seeks More Infrastructure to Handle Population Growth

The strong investor interest and record prices demonstrated the premium pricing for fast-food outlets with long leases from major tenants in growth corridors across Southeast Queensland.

Featured image credit: belmonde.com.au

Published 23-May-2024

Caboolture Set for 36 New Luxury Townhouses

Caboolture is poised for further expansion, with Brisbane-based Sherlock Construction Homes lodging a development application for 36 upscale townhouses.

The proposed project, located at 14 Cassowary Court, seeks to capitalise on the area’s growth, offering residents close proximity to essential amenities such as schools and shopping centres.

The planned two-level townhouses promise a luxurious living experience, each boasting three bedrooms, a single-car garage, an open-plan kitchen, and dining areas flowing seamlessly into covered terraces and private courtyards. With a modern architectural style featuring diverse materials and finishes, the development aims to complement the evolving urban landscape of the neighbourhood.

The development site, currently occupied by a house and associated structures, sits adjacent to the Halycon Retirement Community. This project follows a recent townhouse development at 32 Cassowary Court, highlighting the suburb’s ongoing transition from a rural residential settlement to a more urbanised environment.

Access to the new development is planned via a single, two-way crossover from Cassowary Court, with ample parking provisions including 62 car spaces and a service vehicle loading bay. The developer also envisions a landscaped setting with screened bin storage areas to ensure a visually pleasing environment for residents.

Sherlock Construction Homes has emphasised the design’s contemporary expression and varied colour schemes, creating an interesting and visually appealing composition.

The scale of the project aligns with medium-density development goals, providing low-set townhouses that seamlessly integrate into the surrounding landscape.

As Caboolture continues to evolve, this proposed townhouse development represents another step towards meeting the growing demand for quality housing in this thriving Moreton Bay community.

Published Date 21-May-2024

Photo Credit: DA/2024/1833

Emergency Preparedness Workshop Comes to Caboolture, Offering Crucial Weather Safety Training

To combat the growing threat of extreme weather, Moreton Bay residents are invited to a free emergency preparedness workshop by NRMA Insurance and the Australian Red Cross. This crucial EmergencyRedi™ workshop, tailored to address specific local weather risks, will take place in Caboolture, underlining the urgent need for community readiness.

Research from NRMA Insurance highlights a concerning gap in local emergency preparedness. A striking 32 per cent of Australians lack a solid understanding of the extreme weather risks pertinent to their areas. At the same time, nearly half are unaware of the necessary steps to prepare for such emergencies.

These statistics underline the critical need for targeted educational efforts like the EmergencyRedi™ Workshop.

Workshop Details and Benefits

Scheduled at 4 Hasking St in Caboolture on Tuesday, the 28th of May 2024 at 1:30 p.m., the workshops offer attendees a comprehensive plan to tackle emergencies. Participants will walk away with a RediPlan, an all-encompassing emergency strategy developed by the Australian Red Cross, featuring essential components such as key contacts, meeting places, and strategies for managing stress during emergencies.

The workshop is part of the larger Help Nation initiative by NRMA Insurance, aimed at fostering a culture of preparedness across Australia.

“Our goal is to empower residents to understand their local risks and equip them with the tools necessary for preparedness. Proactive preparation can significantly mitigate the impacts of extreme weather,” Michelle Klein, Chief Customer and Marketing Officer at NRMA Insurance, asserts.

Emergency Preparedness Caboolture — *Photo Credit: Supplied*

This initiative is about immediate education and long-term safety. Over the next three years, NRMA Insurance and the Australian Red Cross plan to host thousands of such workshops, potentially preparing tens of thousands of Australians for a range of emergencies, from floods to bushfires.

About NRMA Insurance

NRMA Insurance is one of Australia’s most trusted general insurance providers, helping people protect the things they care about since 1925. It has a long proud history of working with communities to build their resilience against severe weather and keep people safer on the road.

More than three million customers across Australia choose NRMA Insurance to protect their homes, vehicles, businesses, motorcycles, boats, pets and travel.

NRMA Insurance is backed by IAG, the largest general insurer in Australia and New Zealand.

Narangba Set for New Faith-Based School Amidst Community Consultation

Narangba is poised for the addition of a large, faith-based school and childcare centre for Prep to Year 12, currently under public scrutiny.

The ambitious project, proposed by The Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane four years after acquiring a 13-hectare site in the Narangba growth hub, is generating both anticipation and concern within the community.

The site is along Callaghan and Morgan roads.

Public input on the development concludes this week, marking a crucial stage in the approval process for the school, which aims to accommodate up to 1836 students and 100 childcare places. The Catholic Church envisions a phased construction, with initial stages possibly encompassing Prep to Year 3 and Year 7 classes, along with the childcare facilities.

While the proposal promises a high-quality, coeducational learning environment with modern facilities and extensive outdoor areas, it has also drawn opposition from some neighbouring residents. Concerns have been raised regarding the site’s rural residential zoning and the potential impact on traffic in the vicinity.

Despite this, the Church remains committed to its vision, emphasising the school’s potential to provide a values-based education and contribute to the community.

Detailed plans outline a range of educational buildings, sports facilities, and even the possibility of a future church on the site.

The proposed school’s design also incorporates measures to protect the natural landscape, including a waterway corridor and existing koala habitat.

The community’s feedback will play a crucial role in determining whether this ambitious project will ultimately come to fruition, shaping the educational landscape of this area for years to come.

Published Date 14-May-2024

Photo Credit: MID-1223-0803