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Moreton Bay to Start Transition from ‘Region’ to ‘City’ in 2022

Moreton Bay Region, the third largest local government in Australia, has its sights set on becoming ‘Moreton Bay City,’ and has passed a resolution to commence the transition in early 2022, a process that will have a resounding positive impact in the area.

In early December 2021, a unanimously approved Council resolution was announced, aimed at changing the perception of ‘remoteness’ associated with the word ‘region.’

“This isn’t about semantics. It’s about facts – we are already bigger than Ipswich City, and Logan City, and Redland City,” Mayor Peter Flannery said.

“We are the third largest local government in Australia, we have one of the fastest growth rates in the country and within two short decades our population will exceed 700,000 to be bigger than the entire state of Tasmania,” he added.

For these reasons, the Council CEO pushed for changing the title to put “Moreton Bay City on the national and international map ahead of the Olympics”. He hopes that through this change, Moreton Bay will no longer be thought of as just somewhere in regional Queensland but rather, an economic destination just 30 minutes from Brisbane CBD, Brisbane International Airport and the Port of Brisbane.

Apart from being a greener region, he said that Moreton Bay as a city won’t follow the traditional CBD concept. He explained that it will not stick to a single district but will have multiple satellite CBDs that will focus and amplify the strengths and uniqueness of each community.

Moreton Bay arena — Photo credit: Moreton Bay Regional Council / Facebook

“Moreton Bay City will be committed to more innovation, more space and more collaboration to help businesses think bigger, be bolder and build brighter.

“There will be naysayers, but it’s critically important that our city has a defined brand and identity with new tourism offerings ahead of the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.

“We simply cannot allow tourism dollars to go driving past our spectacular hinterland or beachside destinations in favour of other coasts, so I see this as a coming of age moment for a region that deserves to be so much more than to be the bit in between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.”

Plans

Plans to redefine what it means to be ‘Moreton Bay City’ appear to be focussed on two things: Greening the region, and rethinking the planning response to COVID-19, something that looms large in the lives of people everywhere.

Ahead of the transition, a motion has already been passed by Council to amend the Local Government Infrastructure Plan. Some of the changes include the creation of 100 hectares of new parkland, playgrounds, and open spaces for urban growth areas like Burpengary and Griffin.

Stronger environmental protection is also in the agenda, as Council seeks to ensure that developers are on board with keeping ‘Moreton Bay City’ green and making sure that the urban planning framework integrates nature within the local community.

Moreton Bay road — Photo credit: Moreton Bay Regional Council / Facebook

“Our new Regional Environment and Sustainability Strategy is already in development and will be going out for community consultation mid-way through next year,” Mayor Flannery said.

According to him, the blueprint for the plan can be found in the Regional Economic Development Strategy 2020-41 which articulates growth strategies for the key priority industries in the area: food and agribusiness, knowledge and innovation, advanced manufacturing, and tourism.

“That means focussed agricultural investment in the north, new initiatives to drive innovation and technology uptake at the Petrie Mill site, supporting advanced manufacturing investment in our Brendale industrial precinct, retail opportunities around North Lakes, and developing the eco-tourism potential of our spectacular hinterland,” he added.

An international ‘Invest Moreton’ campaign targeting the key priority industries was launched in November 2021, targeting investors who would like to get in early.

The next step in the process is to seek approval from the Local Government Change Commission for the title change. The Local Government Change Commission, an independent body, is responsible for assessing proposed changes to Queensland councils.

Unique Camping And Recreational Park Proposed For Caboolture

A unique camping and recreational park that will offer everything from drive-through sites to camping or caravan sites, to ‘glamping’ cabin sites, has been proposed at The Abbey Place in Caboolture.

Named Driving Wheels Homestead RV & Camping Park, the proposed development will deliver 173 short-term accommodation sites including powered and unpowered camping and camper trailer sites; powered caravan, RV, and 5th wheeler sites; drive through sites; cabins, glamping, and ensuite sites, among other amenities and ancillary facilities.

The sites will be constructed in two stages: Stage 1 (10 drive through sites, 68 camp or caravan sites, 7 glamping or cabin sites, and 10 small vehicles sites) and Stage 2 (5 drive through sites, 64 camp or caravan sites, and 9 glamping or cabin sites).

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

The proposed development site has a total area of 105,200 sqm and will be divided into three precincts: Reception, Eastern, and Western.

The park will offer recreational facilities and amenities including a reception and dining building, a large picnic shelter, children’s fig tree playground, a “beach style” shallow pool, a fire tower with climbing activities, a zero depth water splash play area, a mountain bike trail, glamping accommodation, water splash park, a camp kitchen, children’s cycle circuit, children’s play area, visitor facility centre, pool and leisure area, a bike pump track, and a waterside deck.

There will be a number of formal open areas as well, including a food truck plaza and an open grassed area located next to the fire tower. Also, there will be a dog exercise area and dry creek channels plus a total of 173 car park spaces.

“Driving Wheels Homestead RV & Camping Park will provide a unique style of tourist and visitor accommodation with recreational facilities, taking advantage of, and enhancing the existing natural features of the site and complementing them with innovative and intuitive landscaping, building, and activity assets,” the planners at ADAPT said.

“The Park will be an environmental park full of natural and constructed features designed to provide a variety of short-term accommodation options for visitors to the Pumicestone and Moreton Bay Region. These accommodations will be complemented by numerous service and recreational facilities.“

New York Style Burger Joint, 5 Boroughs, Expands to Morayfield

Prepare to experience a slice of New York as 5 Boroughs expands with their biggest venture yet, a sixth outlet to open in Morayfield which is expected to create at least 60 jobs for the local employment market.

On 4 November 2021, owners Todd and Marisa Clayton will welcome hungry diners craving American-style burgers, steaks, and sandwiches to 5 Boroughs at the Morayfield Retail Village, taking over the former site of Harris Scarfe. In the last few months, the Claytons have been busy overseeing the renovation that will accommodate some 200 guests.

Setting up a food business in Morayfield is not new to the Claytons, who ran a cafe in the area before they hit it big with 5 Boroughs. They know the untapped market pretty well and saw the potential of bringing the “New York state of mind” to this growing suburb.

After hiring a local manager, the Claytons are still filling up the rest of the staff positions who can work part-time or full-time at 5 Boroughs Morayfield. The restaurant and bar will be busy seven days a week.

Meanwhile, guests may expect to order from the same mouth-watering menu enjoyed by diners from the other five locations, including the store’s popular hand-rolled Angus beef patties.

“Since 2015 we have been serving up hand-crafted burgers, NY style sandwiches, wings, tacos, waffle fries, steaks and pork ribs with a full cocktail and bar menu delivered to you in a lively atmosphere leaving you in that New York state of mind,” the Claytons said. Eventually, the Morayfield store might offer live music as well.

To celebrate opening day, 5 Boroughs Morayfield will hold a raffle draw for a chance to win a burger a week for one year. Details will be finalised on their Facebook page.

Caboolture Exhibits Stable Growth, Remains Affordable

The Caboolture property market is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the areas to watch in the Moreton Bay region. Located 50 kilometres north of Brisbane CBD, it is exhibiting steady growth but remains attractively affordable to first-time homeowners and savvy investors who are taking notice of what is rapidly becoming a thriving, new urban growth centre.

With a population that has grown and doubled every decade since the seventies, Caboolture is now experiencing an influx of new families that has led to a boom in housing developments in the area.

Businesses have also been quick to contribute to the area’s urbanisation as shopping centres, homemaker centres, and other commercial establishments start occupying prime locations in the area and its surroundings, notably in nearby suburbs such as Burpengary, Bellmere, and Morayfield.

Property Market — Houses

From July 2020 to June 2021, the housing market in Caboolture exhibited a 6.30 percent increase in a busy market which showed 665 houses sold within this period.

Data from Property Market Updates showed that house listings spent an average of 51 days on the market for the first quarter. The second quarter showed faster turnover, with houses selling within almost half the time at just 23 days on market.

In the last 12 months, first-home buyers have taken advantage of Caboolture’s affordability, coupled with low-interest rates as sales reflected a median house price of $374,000. Interstate and international investors impacted by the long lockdowns in this pandemic look past traditional markets in Sydney and Melbourne to cash in on dynamic property markets in Queensland.

Photo Credit: Property Market Updates

This comes as the Queensland Government and Moreton Bay Region Council, in collaboration with developers, continue to deliver new housing developments and infrastructure, which are slowly changing this northside locale. Once the quiet suburb preferred by retirees and farmers, Caboolture is now home to many young families.

Property Market — Units

The apartment market in Caboolture has exhibited a modest but stable, upward trend as well. From July 2020 to June 2021, the market grew by 2.53 percent compared to the previous year. Unit listings stayed an average of 56 days on market with 191 properties sold.

Photo Credit: Property Market Updates

Attractive to Investors as a Rental Market

In markets like Caboolture, known as a suburb with affordable rent, investors are leveraging record-low interest rates and their ability to buy, with a view towards cashing in on the strong rental market.

Around 15% of the total houses for rent in the Moreton Bay Region is located in Caboolture. The area has 4,800 houses registered as rental properties with the Qld Residential Tenancies Authority. Rental demand is greatest for houses, followed by units, townhouses, and acreage.

Population-Driven Growth

Industry observers note that interstate migration is currently growing at its fastest rate in 18 years, pushing demand for housing up as the population grows.

According to data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Brisbane had the highest growth rate among all of Australia’s capital cities, growing by 1.9 per cent during 2019-2020. Also, Queensland’s population is expected to grow significantly as more people come in from other states, with some sectors predicting a gain of almost 85,000 new residents in the state by mid-2025. As such, demand for property in Caboolture, still an “affordable” suburb by 2021 standards, will likely also continue to rise as people look to the outlying suburbs for housing options.

New Hospital Being Planned For Caboolture

Did you know that a parcel of land on Rowe Street was chosen to become the location of a planned satellite hospital in Caboolture?

Read: Morayfield Couple Dedicates Life To Saving Senior Dogs

The satellite hospital at Rowe St is expected to offer a range of services, including community health services, ambulatories and low acuity day therapy services such as renal dialysis, chemotherapy, complex wound management, urgent care for minor injury and illness, and outpatient activities.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the news earlier this month, stating that it’s all about investing in health and infrastructure as well as creating jobs and strengthening the economy.

At present, a business case for the whole Satellite Hospital Program is being prepared to identify which services will be offered at each location. It’s expected that it will support up to 773 local jobs once the program is rolled out.

Following the completion of the business case and acquisition of land, the next stage would be the construction of the hospital which is expected to take around one year.

Caboolture, along with Redlands, Pine Rivers and the Gold Coast are among the seven areas where satellite hospitals are being built under a $265-million commitment made by the state government.

“Satellite hospitals will take pressure off our health system by easing the demand on major hospitals and also support hundreds of jobs for Queenslanders,” the Premier said.

The selected areas, according to Health Minister Yvette D’Ath, have experienced significant growth in recent years and it has seen increased demand for health services.

Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan said the satellite hospital will be a game-changer for his constituents. He said it would be a smart way to reduce demand on Caboolture hospital and will allow locals to get health treatment quickly and efficiently.

Featured Image Photo credit: Queensland Government (Indicative only)

Morayfield Couple Dedicates Life To Saving Senior Dogs

Senior dogs are less likely to be adopted because of the belief that they are more expensive to look after. But for Karen and Jamie Goullet, Morayfield locals who have spent more than a decade caring for senior dogs, this is further from the truth.

Read: See Stockland’s Plans For New Suburb In Queensland

It all started around 15 years ago when Karen and her husband Jamie adopted a dog named Sally. She was a 15-year-old Staffordshire abandoned by her owners in an animal shelter in Clontarf. The shelter manager asked for the Goullets’ help because Sally was so helpless by then that they were not sure if she will survive another week at the shelter.

Karen and Jamie gladly took her in and in just a week, Sally incredibly transformed into a happy dog, playing around with the other dogs they have at home. Sally was given a second chance at life, having been lived a year and a half with Karen and Jamie’s family before she passed away.

Karen with their dogs (Photo credit: JamieandKaren Goullet/Facebook)

Since then, the couple has fostered more than 50 old dogs in their own home. It helps that they live in two-acre property north of Brisbane, where the dogs have enough space to run around. They even built a special cemetery to honour the memories of dogs who died.

Karen, a contract manager by profession, shared that they have never accepted donations from anyone. They pay for everything, right from the food, toys, and the vet bills of their dogs. Being able to work from home full time also allows her to keep a close eye on them.

The Goullets, who fondly call their home ‘The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs,’ have a simple message for everyone –that is to foster a senior dog so they can finally have their forever home.

“It will change your life, but more importantly, it will change the life of that senior dog. Senior dogs are amazing,” the Goullets shared.

Featured Image Photo credit: JamieandKaren Goullet/Facebook

See Stockland’s Plans For New Suburb In Queensland

Sydney-based developer Stockland could be one of the first developers to undertake projects in a new, yet-to-be-named suburb in Moreton Bay Region’s Caboolture West.

Read: Headspace Caboolture Receives Grant for Youth Services

Before Caboolture West was selected as a pilot site to meet the demand for residential development in southeast Queensland, Stockland had already submitted an application (DA/41766/2020/V23P) to transform a 175-ha parcel of land into residential urban areas.

Stockland’s plan (Photo credit: www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au)

If given the green light, Stockland will be allowed to roll out their plans, which includes 2,000 new homes in Caboolture West over the next three decades. It will also feature a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) centre, private hospital, three high schools, nine primary schools and rapid transit connection to Caboolture Central.

Minister for Planning Steven Miles said the Neighbourhood Development Plan 1 within Caboolture West, will be the first pilot site in a future growth program that will unlock growth, housing choice and affordability. Work will also identify the infrastructure necessary to support more affordable, livable communities.

“The department is already working with the Moreton Bay Regional Council, Unitywater, the Department of Transport and Main Roads and land-owners on the initial stage and ongoing development of this area,” Mr Miles said.

Mr Miles said the area was identified as a major expansion area within the South East Queensland Regional Plan, and as a pilot, has land challenges typically found in SEQ.

Neighbourhood Development Plan 1 map (Photo credit: www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au)

Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan said the Queensland Government has awarded $10.5 million in loan funding from the Building Acceleration Fund to deliver water supply and sewerage networks and a sewerage pumping station to support the pilot.

“The provision of water and sewerage will be instrumental in kickstarting the delivery of up to 3,000 new homes in Caboolture West Neighbourhood Development Plan 1,” he said.

“The site is expected to eventually provide approximately 30,000 homes for around 70,000 people,” Mr Ryan said.

Read: New Caboolture Watchhouse Opens in Moreton Bay

The new suburb is approximately 5 km west of Caboolture and Morayfield, bounded by the D’Aguilar Highway to the north, Caboolture River Road to the south and low hills to the west of Old North Road.

Over the next 40 years, the area is expected to become More ton Bay Region’s biggest emerging community containing a mixed-use city centre and a range of residential neighbourhoods. Plans include making it a tech-friendly city with plenty of green space, multiple retail hubs, schools and rapid bus service.

This is all part of the State Government’s economic recovery plan, to create more jobs and development in Queensland.

Featured Image Photo credit: www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au

North Harbour Marina in Burpengary East to Bring 7,000 Jobs

Over the next two decades, the North Harbour Marina development in Burpengary East is expected to be the biggest job provider in the Moreton Bay region. Part of the plan for nearly 20 years, the harbour precinct project is set to be the next Priority Development Area (PDA) in QLD.

Once declared as a PDA, the North Harbour Marina is expected to deliver a game changer for Moreton Bay because of the massive economic benefits. Per a study by Ubris, this project is set to create at least 6,547 ongoing jobs and an average of 805 new jobs every year during the construction phase.

The study also indicated that 90 percent of these jobs will be available to workers in the region who will compound the expected $40 billion economies that will be generated from this precinct.

Highlights

The North Harbour Marina development in Burpengary East is on track to be a Priority Development Area (PDA).
The project is expected to create 7,000 jobs for Moreton Bay residents over two decades.
Most of these jobs will be related to marine trade but there will also be many opportunities to work in retail, offices, and specialty stores.

Much of the workers to be supported by the North Harbour Marina development are skilled individuals in the boating industry and marine trade. However, the project will also deliver hundreds of jobs industries related to food and beverage, retail, education, and aged care.

Jobs by the Numbers

Mixed industry and business (including marine industry)	1,833
Retail showrooms	455
Suburban offices	333
Specialty stores	283
Supermarket	235
Teachers and childcare	166
Tavern and club	134
Food and beverage	101
Retirement & aged care	100
Dry boat stacker & hardstand operations	72
Indoor sports	69
Short-term accommodation	54
Medical Centre	38

Beauty salon owner Sarah Gaffney said that she welcomes the development because it will bring in more than 12,000 new residents in Burpengary East. Gaffney said it will be exciting to see new families setting their roots in this region, amidst the generations that have lived in the area.

The North Harbour Marina development, a joint project from North Harbour Holdings and Trask Land Corporation, comprises a 400-berth marina with a waterfront boardwalk and a range of restaurants and shops. It will be surrounded by 2,000 new dwellings and a 319-hectare recreational park by the Caboolture riverside.

Photo Credit: Artist’s Impression/North Harbour Marina/Facebook

North Harbour Project Director Bryan Finney expects that the development’s pace will be accelerated once the PDA has been declared. The site is projected to become a world-class mini-city focused on marine industries by 2035.

Follow the Facebook page for this project for updates.

Headspace Caboolture Receives Grant for Youth Services

To ensure that young people can access mental health services where and when they need them, a total of $26 million in grant funding will be given to headspace services across Australia, including the one in Caboolture.

Read: Distracted Driving: Secret Cameras to Catch, Penalise Erring Drivers to Stay

Around 40 headspace centres located in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory will benefit from grants of up to $1.8 million each. The additional funding will help headspace services that are experiencing high demand across the country to:

expand services, improving access to high quality, youth-friendly mental health support
refurbish, expand or relocate headspace facilities to increase service capacity and make them more welcoming
deliver new strategies such as triage and a walk-in single session approach, workforce training, and access to more group activities.

headspace provides free or low cost youth-friendly support in four key areas—mental health, related physical health, substance misuse, and social and vocational support. It offers a safe, welcoming place where young people can get non-judgmental professional help and peer support, so they can tackle their challenges in a way that is right for them.

Aside from Caboolture, four headspace locations in Queensland –Cairns, Toowoomba, Taringa, and Woolloongabba will also receive the funding from the Government.

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt said these investments will ensure better social and health outcomes for young Australians, giving them the opportunity to reach their full potential in life.

“The funding reinforces our Government’s strong commitment to achieving better mental health for all Australians, and will complement the existing investment of $6.5 billion in mental health services in 2021-22,” Minister Hunt said.

About headspace

headspace provides a range of services to improve the health and wellbeing of young people aged between 12 to 25 years. Their services cover four core areas: mental health and wellbeing, physical and sexual health, work and study support, and alcohol and other drug services.

headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health. It is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health.

To learn more about headspace services, visit headspace.org.au. If you’re in Caboolture or nearby, you may call 07 5428 1599 or call in to see them at the Lakes Centre. headspace Caboolture is located at Suite 38, The Lakes Centre, 8/24 King St, Caboolture.

Find Out What Makes Life A Bit Easier For This Woman With Spina Bifida

Moreton Bay local Madonna O’Brien is living with spina bifida, but she continues to provide care and support in her work as a wildlife carer, getting by and thriving with support from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Read: New Caboolture Watchhouse Opens in Moreton Bay

Madonna, a retired teacher from Ocean View, has spina bifida – a neural tube defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don’t form properly.

She has been receiving support from NDIS since 2019. With help from a support worker who assists her to complete her role, she’s able to look after the animals, such as marsupials, possums, gliders, wallabies, and kangaroos. – a passion that started more than 25 years ago.

“My support worker helps me clean out the cages, will pick up the animals for me when I get a call out for a rescue and will take them to the vet for me if I can’t get there,” she said.

Madonna is using a four-wheel-drive wheelchair to enable her to easily get around her rural property. It allows her to access her mailbox up the road without having to walk or drive or even get out on walks to national parks with her husband, like to Girraween, Mount Archer, Mt Mee, and Mary Cairncross.

She has worked all her life and was a teacher for 21 years. She said she didn’t have any help at all because she used to pay for everything herself, until a couple of years ago, when she was invited to apply for NDIS through Carers Queensland’s NDIS Local Area Coordinator.

Kimberley, her Local Area Coordinator, helped her to develop her goals of maintaining her independence and continuing as an active member of her community. LACs are people who work for their partners in the community and they help people with disabilities find and use services and support.

“The NDIS has been an absolute godsend; to not have to pay for everything out of my own pocket now is fantastic,” she said.

About NDIS

Photo credit: National Disability Insurance Scheme/Facebook

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is an Australia-wide scheme that pays for support and services for people with disability. This can include help with daily life, aids and equipment, and help to meet their goals and do the things they want to do.

To be eligible, one has to be under 65 years old, living in Australia, and has a permanent disability or significant disability, meaning it affects the way they live their day-to-day life.

The NDIS is run by the National Disability Insurance Agency, which is part of the Australian Government. To know more about how NDIS works or how to apply, visit their website.