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Caboolture Connection Road Safety Project Wraps Up With Final Improvements

Motorists can now enjoy a quicker and safer journey home following the final installment of safety improvements on Caboolture Connection Road, also known as King Street and Lower King Street.

Read: Moreton Bay Waives Some Development and Infrastructure Fees To Boost Housing Sector

As part of a larger $7.5 million safety program aimed at reducing accident rates along the road, the final two projects have focused on enhancing safety in identified high-risk areas: Lower King Street between Dux and Charles streets, east of Morayfield Road; and King Street between Watt Street and Wararba Crescent, west of Morayfield Road.

The improvements for Caboolture Connection Road consisted of:

Removing right turns across traffic to reduce the risk of crashes
Adding U-turn facilities
Installing raised islands
Implementing wide centerline treatments
Creating on-road bike lanes

Right-turns at side roads and driveways on Lower King Street were removed between Mewett and William Streets.

According to TMR, traffic data showed most residents and road users already turned left during peak periods, as there were no gaps for right-turns. This arrangement was formalised by providing double lines on Lower King Street.

Commencing in February, the final two projects were completed ahead of schedule.

State Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan said the U-turn facilities, raised centre medians and wide centre lines that have been installed will go a long way to making the road safer.

“Road safety is a top priority for the Palaszczuk Government. That’s why the current budget delivers more than $1.5 billion towards targeted road safety initiatives,” said Mr Ryan.

“And hats off to the hard-working team from RoadTek who have managed to complete the job months ahead of schedule.

Read: New Bunnings Warehouse Opens in Caboolture

The project was delivered as part of the State Government’s Targeted Road Safety Initiatives Program, which has been created to improve the safety of Queensland’s transport network.

Featured image photo credit: Queensland Government

Published 10-April-2023

Police Charged Man Seen Holding Platypus Whilst Boarding Train to Caboolture

Charges will be pressed against a 26-year-old man seen holding a platypus whilst boarding a Caboolture-bound train at Morayfield Station.

The platypus was seen wrapped in a towel as the man with his female companion boarded the train on Tuesday morning, 4 April 2023. The police allege the animal was removed from a waterway in Morayfield.

Police charged the man with one count each of taking a protected animal and breaching restrictions on keeping or taking a protected animal. Both charges are considered class 1 offences under Queensland law and if found guilty, the man could face a fine of more than $430,000.

Whilst police are yet to determine the exact whereabouts of the platypus and its condition, they were advised that it was already released into the Caboolture River.

Police on Wednesday urged the pair to take the monotreme to the nearest vet, police station, or RSPCA shelter, as the longer it stays out of its natural habitat, the higher the chances of it becoming sick or dying.

They reportedly showed the platypus to others on the train and allowed people to pat it. Police expressed concern about the risks of diseases being transmitted between people and animals. The police also said that platypuses have a venomous spur that can cause serious injury.

Photo credit: Tourism & Events Queensland / queensland.com

Platypuses are native to rivers east of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland and some western-flowing streams and have a unique diet which includes crustaceans, shrimps, fish eggs, tadpoles, insects and worms. Their body temperature should not exceed 30 degrees Celsius, or it can be fatal to them.

The man is scheduled to appear in the Caboolture Magistrates Court on Saturday 8 April 2023.

Published 6-April-2023

Moreton Bay Waives Some Development and Infrastructure Fees To Boost Housing Sector

Did you know that Moreton Bay Regional Council is the first Queensland Council to waive development and infrastructure fees as a way to boost housing construction amidst a growing housing crisis in the country?

The move is also aimed at helping at least 1,200 homeless locals in the region and will target areas like Albany Creek, Arana Hills, Burpengary, Caboolture, Deception Bay, Lawnton, Morayfield, Redcliffe and Strathpine.

Under the Attraction of Affordable Social Housing Policy, applicants for the development of affordable social housing in priority areas may apply for a development application fee remittance by 100 per cent. There will be no cap on the remissions and it can be applied for mixed-use or residential projects.

Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery said they want to give incentives to private-sector construction for affordable housing projects.

“We’re coming out of the gates first and sending a strong message to the private sector that we are willing to work with them, we’ve already slashed the usual red tape, and we’re willing to sweeten the deal further by saving them literally hundreds of thousands of dollars on construction,” Mr Flannery said during the press conference.

“There are no tricks, no gimmicks, no hidden costs here for developers. The facility will just need to be managed by a community housing provider, but the building can remain privately owned by the developer.”

UDIA Queensland Moreton Bay president Keith Cairns commended the proactive policy and hoped that other governments will follow. Encircle Community Services CEO Chris Stains said that the initiative will make a difference for community housing providers and non-profit organisations.

Published 23 March 2023

Chemist Warehouse Joins Bunnings, Coles and More At Elimbah Park Development

Elimbah Park in Caboolture will get its very own Chemist Warehouse joining new Bunnings, Coles and PetStock outlets.

DA/2022/1778, lodged in mid-2022, has been approved for the construction of Chemist Warehouse, which has been laid out in the SunGATE Masterplan for the Pumicestone Road development.

Alongside Chemist Warehouse, a section of the building will also include the establishment of a medical centre with at least seven consultation rooms, a treatment room, and a pathology laboratory. Little changes will be done to the previous architectural design.

“The proposal is considered consistent with the intent of the SunGATE Masterplan. The proposal is integrated well into the existing development for the site and doesn’t propose an increase to the GFA of the site,” the planners stated.

The SunGATE Masterplan covers 15 tenancies with 10 already set for retail stores. Apart from the medical tenancies, Coles, and PetStock, the site will also have a KFC outlet with a drive-through, Indian and Japanese restaurants, a nail salon, a hair salon and spa, a discount centre and a bakery.

A section of the complex has an existing Caltex service station and McDonald’s whilst a Red Rooster outlet has been eyed for construction as well.

“The centre will service the high volume of traffic heading north to the Sunshine Coast, as well as the large, currently under-serviced catchment of Caboolture North, in addition to established rural residential properties that extend to the north, south and west and surrounding workers,” Eildon Capital Group CEO Laurence Parisi said following the State Government’s announcement of the development acceleration of Caboolture West.

New Over-50s Retirement Village on Atherton Road, Caboolture Proposed

Did you know that an over-50s retirement village complete with an extensive range of luxurious facilities has been proposed, to be built on Atherton Road in Caboolture?

GTH Project No. 4 Pty Ltd recently lodged a development application for an over-50s lifestyle resort at 38 Atherton Road in Caboolture to be constructed in seven stages. The subject site, which currently has no existing building or structure, is described as largely irregular in shape and has a frontage and access to Atherton Road of about 20 metres.

New Over-50s Retirement Village on Atherton Road, Caboolture Proposed — Typical house design 1 | Photo credit: Moreton Bay Regional Council / moretonbay.qld.gov.au

The proposed development will have a net residential density of approximately 25 dwellings per hectare or 400 dwellings plus a manager’s unit. Each of the dwellings is designed to accommodate a maximum of two people.

The retirement village will provide a range of community facilities including a Summer House which will be delivered in Stage 1. It will serve as a lifestyle hub for its residents and will feature a heated indoor swimming pool, a covered championship-grade bowling green and ten-pin bowling alley, a cinema, a library, and a bar and cafe.

The Resident’s Clubhouse, meanwhile, will be delivered in Stage 2. The luxury facility will include a pool house, a club room, a resort-style pool, outdoor entertainment and dining, among other ancillary recreational uses.

Also included in the plans is a pedestrian walkway, a dog run area and pickleball area, a private open space in each home in the form of an al fresco dining, and a rear courtyard area. The rest of the proposed homes will be delivered over the next 5 stages

Access to the site is proposed from Atherton Road with an emergency exit that links to Semple Lane.

“Over the longer term, based on the current penetration rate of the catchment area (16.0%) ~9,556 persons demand for retirement village/manufactured home park places. Based on current and proposed developments within the catchment area, this indicates a long-term undersupply of approximately 4,038 retirement living/manufactured home park places by 2041, “ the Economic Need Assessment report prepared by Location IQ states.

“This undersupply could be brought into equilibrium through the development of either 3,106 independent living units or 2,524 manufactured homes, based on current dwelling sizes of 1.3 persons and 1.6 persons, respectively.

“This would indicate that there is demand for a retirement facility of at least 400 dwellings at the subject site, with a development of this size representing less than 15% of the growth in demand for persons who would be accommodated within retirement facilities over the period to 2041.”

The proposed development will allow each dwelling unit to accommodate a double garage and an additional 116 visitor spaces across the retirement village. A minibus service for residents and 47 RV parking spaces are also provided.

Published 6-February-2023

New Bunnings Warehouse Opens in Caboolture

Photo credit: Moreton Bay Regional Council / moretonbay.qld.gov.au

Shopping for your next home improvement or DIY project has just gotten easier with the opening of the new, $32-million Bunnings Warehouse on Pumicestone Road in Caboolture.

Located at 459 Pumicestone Rd, the new Bunnings spans more than 13,000 square metres and was constructed in two stages. It includes a 9,000 sqm main warehouse, an outdoor nursery area and a timber trade sales area plus a cafe and playground.

The 400 car parking spaces, meanwhile, include accessible parking, trailer bays, truck bays and trolley bays.

On weekdays, Bunnings Caboolture will be open from 6 am to 9 pm and then from 7 am to 7 pm every Saturday and from 7 am to 6 pm every Sunday. And taking care of the customers’ needs is a team of experts specialising in tools, kitchens, paint, timber, gardening and outdoor living.

Bunnings Complex Manager Emily Sweet said that the new warehouse is a significant investment for the retail giant and is expected to provide greater shopping convenience for Caboolture locals and those living near the area.

The warehouse is the newest Bunnings to open in the Caboolture area which is slightly bigger than its Morayfield counterpart. Ms Sweet also underscored the store layout which is quite different from others to make it more convenient for their customers to do their shopping.

The $32 million Bunnings Warehouse Caboolture is the latest addition to the lineup of tenants at the $80 million Big Fish Business Park which now includes Coles, Chemist Warehouse, an Indian restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, and KFC. The business park is also home to a new Calter service station and a new McDonald’s outlet.

Construction Of Edge Early Learning Morayfield East Gets Underway

Construction is well underway for Edge Early Learning Morayfield East to meet the growing demand for childcare spaces in the area.

Read: Bounce Inc to Open Huge Indoor Trampoline Centre in Morayfield

Edge Early Learning Morayfield East is a 114-space learning centre that will cater to children from six weeks to school age.

The new learning centre will feature state of the art facilities, including atelier spaces and spacious indoor learning rooms. There will be bike tracks, water play areas, and sandpits at the outdoor areas, along with the climbing forts and vegetable gardens.

At the childcare centre, children will be trained to regulate emotions through activities such as yoga, which will support learning milestones and will help young ones develop new skills.

They implement an inquiry-based approach where children are encouraged to ask questions, explore new interests and develop a love of learning through play-based experiences.

“This type of learning is particularly beneficial in developing problem-solving and communication skills. We aim to foster strong relationships with their peers, helping build their confidence as they move into our Kindergarten program and school,” the school stated in its website.

The centre will hire in-house chefs who will be in charge of preparing daily meals for the kids, including morning tea, lunch, and afternoon snacks.

Edge Early Learning CEO, Annie Bryce, said they are excited to join the Morayfield community and look forward to inviting families in for a tour as soon as they open.

“At Edge Early Learning we are passionate about developing quality early learning centres that not only give children access to state-of-the-art resources but also provide them with an enriching environment where they are encouraged to ask questions, explore new ideas and develop a love of learning through play,” said Ms Bryce.

The childcare centre, which is expected to open in mid-2023, is anticipated to create around 30 jobs. Once open, it will operate between 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Read: Plan for New Caboolture West Primary School Revealed

Edge Early Learning Morayfield is located at 1 Laver Street, Morayfield, near Morayfield East State School.

Community Feedback Sought on Caboolture West Locality and Boundary Proposal

Community consultation is ongoing on a proposal that seeks to amend four existing locality boundaries to make way for a fifth one and to give names to the resulting five new localities within the Caboolture West area.

The Department of Resources, in partnership with Moreton Bay Regional Council, is seeking community feedback on the proposal.

The boundaries of the localities of Upper Caboolture, Wamuran, Bellmere, and Rocksberg are proposed to be altered, creating new localities of Lilywood, Wagtail Grove, Greenstone, Corymbia, and Waraba.

“Over the next 40 years Caboolture West will develop to be the size of a regional city ultimately accommodating 70,000 residents, 30,000 new homes, providing access to 17,000 job opportunities,” Deputy Premier Steven Miles said.

“With more people moving to Queensland, we are prioritising planning of growth areas like Caboolture West to unlock land supply and make more residential lots available quicker.

“Defining the new suburb names and boundaries is the next step in delivering this community.”

The names for the new localities were a result of Moreton Bay Regional Council’s community consultation undertaken in 2021. More than 572 names were nominated by the local community. Engagement and consultation with the Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation, the registered Cultural Heritage Body for the area, were also undertaken.

“These proposed names celebrate local wildlife, plants and rocks found in the area and were endorsed by the Traditional Owners, the Kabi Kabi People,” Minister for Resources Scott Stewart said.

“It’s now time for the wider community to have their say.”

Furthermore, Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan said the Queensland Government has committed over $25 million in loans to co-fund water and sewerage infrastructure, to unlock the first stages of residential development in the Caboolture West area.

“Caboolture West is set to transform into a well serviced community with nine primary and four secondary schools, extensive greenspace and environmental corridors, diverse and affordable housing, quality transport connections, land for industry, neighbourhood hubs and local retail and civic activity centres,” Mr Ryan said.

0“Given the current pressure our housing market is experiencing, it is more important than ever to unlock more land for housing.”

To have your say on the proposal, visit this page. Consultation ends 3 February 2023.

Published 5-January-2023

Bounce Inc to Open Huge Indoor Trampoline Centre in Morayfield

Did you know that Bounce Australia will soon have a new adventure playground, a massive playground and indoor trampoline centre, in Morayfield?

Bounce Australia Pty Ltd has lodged a development application to open another high-performance playground, after opening in the Gold Coast, Tingalpa, Macgregor and Carindale.

The company is eyeing an empty warehouse beside a veterinary clinic and an auto showroom as the site of the fun trampoline centre.

DA/2022/5195, filed on the 21st of December 2022, shows that the 1,800-sqm facility will have high-performance trampoline areas, dodgeball trampoline courts, free jump arena, a mini bounce court, and a basketball jumping court. The playground will have an X-Park that incorporates more than a dozen options of rock climbing walls, ninja warrior warped walls, and parkour.

The building will have a mezzanine area for the ancillary café/eatery for patrons and parents to relax whilst their kids are playing. The eatery will have its own commercial kitchen.

“Building works to upgrade the façade of the building to create an attractive frontage to Morayfield Road and enhance the streetscape and character of the area. The proposed development has incorporated a new glazed pedestrian entry (within the part of the existing location of the loading dock) and new painted/applied façade of varying colours, which visual interest and articulation to the building,” the DA stated.

Bounce Inc Trampoline Centre — Photo Credit: DA/2022/5195

The proposal does not include any changes to the existing parking lot or the vehicular access on Morayfield Road.

If approved, the trampoline park is expected to operate daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Moreton Bay Regional Council is still assessing the application.

Bounce Inc opened its first venue in Melbourne in 2012 and now they have over 33 indoor trampoline centres in 16 countries.

2022 ATAR Results: Caboolture Distance Education Student Among Top 30

Congratulations to Kate Sanderson, a distance education graduate of Australian Christian College in Caboolture, for receiving one of 30 highest ATAR scores in Queensland for 2022.

Ms Sanderson, who decided to complete her studies via distance education at the start of the pandemic, received a score of 99.95 in her Australian Tertiary Admission Rank. Her score has allowed her provisional entry to Griffith University, where she intends to pursue a Bachelor of Medical Science degree and realise her childhood ambition of becoming a doctor.

The future doctor was also inspired to take up medicine after her personal health battle at 11 years old. A hospital stay lasting many months opened her eyes to the valuable work of the medical community that saved her life. So, she aimed to be part of this world, to contribute and save lives as well.

The student used to attend a Gold Coast school but took advantage of the distance learning program at Australian Christian College in Caboolture amidst the uncertainty of COVID. Ms Sanderson said that landing in the Top 30 has been such a surreal moment, but she’s very grateful for her teachers, and the support of her family and friends.

ATAR Result Kate Sanderson Caboolture — Photo Credit: Australian Christian College – Moreton/Facebook

Across Queensland, 27,245 Year 12 students received their ATAR results. Education Minister Grace Grace congratulated the students for exceeding expectations.

“Congratulations to our amazing and resilient school graduates, 94 per cent of whom have achieved a QCE (Queensland Certificate of Education) or a QCIA (Queensland Certificate of Individual Achievement),” Ms Grace said in a statement.

“27,245 of these students also received an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank), with 33 achieving the highest possible result of 99.95 after studying a combination of 13 different subjects including Mathematical Methods, English, Engineering, Physics and Languages.

“We also celebrate the success of our education system as a whole.

“I’d like to congratulate the teachers, principals, school staff, families and carers who have worked so hard to support all of the Year 12s on their learning journey.

“Students who didn’t get the results they hoped for should remember the many education and training pathways open to them, whether they want to head to university, start a vocational course, or go straight into work.

“There’s no need to be disheartened, and there are plenty of resources and people out there to support you.”

QTAC Chief Executive Officer Dr John Griffiths also reminded Year 12 students of their tertiary study options, regardless of their ATAR results.

“First and foremost, graduates should be proud of all they accomplished and remember that the outcome of today doesn’t define them – it’s a milestone that now opens the door to further opportunity,” Mr Griffiths said.