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$14 Million All-Abilities Splash Park and Playground Underway in Caboolture

Work is officially underway on Caboolture’s largest park project in six years, a fourteen-million-dollar regional playground designed directly from community feedback to reshape local family recreation.

A Modern Shift for a Historic Park

The Centenary Lakes precinct has served as a central hub for local sports and outdoor activities since the 1970s. However, as the population across this fast-growing corridor continues to boom, local needs have evolved significantly. To ensure the area retains its family-friendly lifestyle during this period of rapid growth, regional leaders approved a major overhaul of the grounds.

Heavy machinery is now on-site to transform the space into a modern destination. Construction crews expect to finish the entire project by June 2027, provided the local weather cooperates.

Designed by the Community

The blueprint for the parkland came directly from the people who live in the area. Local authorities surveyed residents to find out what features they wanted most in a modernised park, and a dedicated water play area topped the public wishlist. Families also expressed a strong desire for truly shared spaces where children of all abilities could play side by side.

In response to this feedback, the final design includes custom play structures, sensory trails for tactile learning, and a specialised splash pad. The upgrades also extend beyond the playground, with workers refreshing the existing barbecue spots, picnic areas, and the local off-leash dog yard.

Focus on All-Abilities Access

A major priority for this development is eliminating barriers for children and parents with mobility challenges. The site will feature smooth, accessible pathways that connect all areas of the parkland seamlessly. Furthermore, the public restrooms are being built to meet strict all-abilities standards, including specialised changing facilities and secure wheelchair lockers.

To make the water play features completely inclusive, the park will even provide custom water-accessible wheelchairs, allowing every visitor to join in on the splash pad activities. New parking spaces are also being built close to the entrance to make arrival easier for young families and visitors with disabilities.

A Collaborative Investment

Funding for the massive recreational upgrade comes from a partnership involving multiple levels of government. The Australian and Queensland governments combined forces to contribute just over five million dollars through a regional liveability fund. The federal government provided an additional three million dollars from a dedicated community investment programme, while the City of Moreton Bay supplied the remaining five point eight million dollars to clear the total bill.

Regional representatives note that while the park will undoubtedly become a daily favourite for Caboolture locals, the high-quality facilities are expected to attract day-trippers from well beyond the city borders, sparking future recreation and sports investments in the precinct.

Published Date 04-June-2026

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay

Beachmere Motorsport Park Plan Puts Local Concerns Against Motorsport Demand

Beachmere is at the centre of a growing local debate over a proposed $20 million motorsport park, with nearby residents questioning the scale and setting of the project while supporters say southeast Queensland needs a new venue for racing, training and junior motorsport.

Beachmere Proposal Draws A Strong Response

The proposed Moreton Motorsport Park is planned for land off Bloesch Road, Beachmere, with a development footprint of about 24.8 hectares.

The application was lodged on 23 March 2026 and is moving through a separate infrastructure assessment pathway, rather than the usual local development application process. Formal consultation later opened, with submissions originally listed as closing on 11 June 2026.

The proposed facility includes motocross and speedway tracks, driver training areas, a BMX track, temporary shaded grandstand seating, food and beverage areas, event-day merchandising, amenities, car parking, loading areas, pitting spaces and supporting infrastructure.

The plans also include potential emergency access to Wallace Road north, acoustic mounding and fencing, earthworks, waterbody works, and stormwater and flood management measures.

Residents Question Traffic, Flooding And Noise

Concerns about the proposal were raised at a packed public meeting at Beachmere Hub, where residents discussed traffic, flooding, noise, wildlife, property values and the consultation process.

Some attendees had to sit or stand outside as the proposal was discussed, and the meeting became tense at times.

Traffic was one of the main concerns. Nearby residents questioned whether Beachmere Road and surrounding routes could manage construction vehicles, trailers and event traffic. Emergency access was also raised by residents worried about congestion during major events.

Flooding and drainage were also recurring issues. The proposal includes raised development areas and earthworks, prompting questions from some residents about how changes to the site could affect surrounding properties.

Noise was another major concern, particularly for residents who value Beachmere’s quieter coastal and semi-rural character. Some residents and commenters also called for acoustic protections, buffer planning and further consideration of environmental impacts.

*Photo Credit: Moreton Motorsport Park/Facebook*

Supporters Point To Lost Motorsport Venues

The proposal has also drawn strong support from motorsport followers who say the region has lost important racing venues.

Supporters have referred to the closure of Archerfield Speedway and Coolum MX, saying the Beachmere proposal could provide a structured place for speedway, motocross, driver training and junior riding. Some have described the project as a chance to bring more motorsport activity back to southeast Queensland.

Online comments in support of the proposal also pointed to possible benefits for local businesses, including accommodation, food and beverage operators. Others said the facility could give young riders and families a safer, organised place to take part in motorsport.

A Moreton Motorsport Park social media post stated that more than 3500 submissions had been made, while supporters encouraged more motorsport fans, competitors and sponsors to lodge feedback.

Beachmere motorsport park — *Photo Credit: MID-0326-1001*

Projected Events And Economic Claims Remain Under Assessment

The proposal has been promoted as a racing and training facility capable of hosting regular motocross and speedway activity.

Projected annual activity includes 13 minor speedway events with about 1000 spectators each, three major speedway events with about 4000 spectators each, 26 minor motocross events with about 100 spectators each, and three major motocross events with about 1000 spectators each.

The project has also been linked to projected economic activity of more than $32 million per year, more than $20 million from an international event, 195 full-time construction jobs and 42 ongoing jobs.

Those figures remain projections attached to the proposal, not confirmed outcomes.

Beachmere Debate Turns On Fit And Impact

The central question for many Beachmere residents is whether a motorsport venue of this scale fits the area and whether proposed management measures would be enough to address local concerns.

The Corbet Group has maintained that the proposal has been supported by assessments covering noise, flooding, ecology, bushfire, traffic, economic need and social benefit. It has also argued that the project’s impacts can be managed.

For supporters, the proposal is seen as a chance to rebuild motorsport access after the loss of other venues. For concerned residents, the focus remains on traffic, flooding, noise, local character and whether the community has had enough opportunity to respond.

The future of the Moreton Motorsport Park proposal now rests with the assessment process and the submissions lodged by residents, supporters and other interested groups.

Published 3-June-2026

Photo Credit: Moreton Motorsport Park/Facebook

Cyclone-Damaged Dohles Rocks Seawall to Be Replaced Under Major Moreton Bay Project

The Dohles Rocks Seawall, a decades-old barrier protecting the Pine River foreshore in Moreton Bay, is set to be completely rebuilt after years of deterioration and severe cyclone damage, with local residents now being asked to help decide where future access points to the waterfront should be located.

The existing seawall has protected the shoreline since the 1960s, but has steadily weakened due to age, tidal forces and coastal weather. Damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March 2025 accelerated concerns about the structure’s condition, prompting plans for a full reconstruction project.

Community Input Sought Before Design Is Finalised

Moreton Bay Council has opened a public consultation process focused on one key question: where people should be able to access the water once the new seawall is built.

Under the proposed design, the number of access stairs and small boat launch points along the foreshore will be reduced. Council representatives are seeking feedback from residents, fishers, boaters, walkers and other regular users of the area before detailed engineering plans are completed.

Community members are being encouraged to complete an online survey and identify preferred locations for access points using an interactive map. Feedback is being accepted until 4 p.m. on 29 June 2026.

The project team is also scheduled to meet residents during community pop-up sessions near the main boat ramp on 6 June and 10 June.

New Design Aims to Strengthen Erosion Protection

The reconstruction proposal centres on a rock armour seawall, a design commonly used in coastal environments to absorb wave energy and reduce erosion.

Council documents show the new structure would stretch about 540 metres along the foreshore, extending from the existing main boat ramp to the eastern end of Dohles Rocks Road. The seawall is expected to be between six and seven metres wide and include a concrete crest wall positioned above the rock structure.

Artists impression of the reconstructed seawall
Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay

Project planners state the design was selected following an assessment of engineering, environmental and planning considerations. The preferred option was identified as a durable long-term solution capable of managing wave action and boat wake impacts while reducing future maintenance requirements.

Protection Against Erosion, Not Flooding

The reconstruction is intended to address coastal erosion affecting the foreshore and nearby public assets.

Council has stated that the seawall is not designed to protect the area from river flooding, storm tide inundation or long-term sea level rise. Instead, the project focuses on stabilising the shoreline and maintaining the safety and usability of the waterfront precinct.

Before the full reconstruction begins, temporary stabilisation works may still be carried out in sections considered most vulnerable. The current seawall will be demolished and removed as part of the project.

Construction is currently expected to begin in mid-2027, subject to funding availability, statutory approvals, weather conditions and other project requirements.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Published 3-June-2026

Woodford Folk Festival Returns For 2026 As Ticket Sales Surge Ahead Of Lineup Reveal

Public tickets for the 2026 Woodford Folk Festival are now on sale, with Queenslanders already locking in plans for the state’s most iconic cultural gathering.

The 39th edition is set to run from 27 December to 1 January 2027 at the 500-acre Woodfordia site near Woodford. Member presales have already recorded a 15 per cent increase on previous years, with organisers linking the rise to growing demand for meaningful in-person experiences rather than any lineup announcement.

The program and artist schedule will not be released until mid-October, yet thousands of Queenslanders continue to buy tickets months in advance for the experience itself.

This year’s festival carries extra weight. Co-founder Bill Hauritz AM, who led the event from its inception in 1994 until his retirement in 2022, died on 8 December 2025. The 2026 edition will be the first Woodford held without him.

A festival that became its own place

The Woodfordia property sits about 72 kilometres north of Brisbane, on what was once a barren dairy farm. Woodfordia Inc, the not-for-profit organisation that owns and operates the site, has planted more than 140,000 subtropical rainforest trees across the grounds over three decades, creating the hidden valley setting that festival-goers now describe as feeling nothing like the outside world.

During the six-day event, the site becomes a temporary village of 27 venues hosting more than 2,000 performers across music, dance, cabaret, circus, comedy, workshops, debate, street theatre, film, forums, visual arts and an entire dedicated Children’s Festival.

A swimming lake, camping options from glamping through to powered sites, and a New Year’s Day fire ceremony have become fixtures that return visitors plan their summer around.

Around 120,000 people attend the festival each year.

“Sometimes I think Woodford should be called a holiday rather than a festival,” said Managing Director Amanda Jackes, who took over the festival’s leadership from Hauritz in 2022.

Why people buy before the lineup drops

Jackes points to a shift in what festival-goers are seeking, one that has worked in Woodford’s favour while other events have struggled. Several Australian music festivals and venues have closed or faced significant difficulty in recent years, squeezed by costs, competition and changing audience behaviour. Woodford has moved in the other direction.

“We have observed over the years that people are seeking meaningful connections, even more so nowadays, with our society becoming so disconnected in human interactions,” she said. “There’s a strong appetite for gathering together in ways that feel human, grounded and hopeful.”

The festival has also become a generational tradition. Jackes notes that children who attended holding their parents’ hands are now bringing their own families. “That continuity creates a very rare kind of cultural memory,” she said.

“In a time when so much of life feels transactional or divided, Woodford remains one of the rare places where people gather to imagine culture, community, and the future together.”

Dates, tickets and what to expect

The 2026 Woodford Folk Festival runs from Saturday 27 December 2026 to Thursday 1 January 2027. Tickets range from $25 to $745, with vehicle passes from $10 to $80. A payment plan option is also available for full festival passes.

The 2026 program and artist lineup will be announced in mid-October. Tickets and full information are available at woodfordfolkfestival.com or by phoning 07 5496 1066.

Published 2-June-2026

Featured Image Credit: @caloundraholidaycentre/Instagram

Caboolture Winter Highlights Bring Colour, Memory and Identity Into Focus

Caboolture will host a free winter arts program shaped around colour, photography, heritage and personal storytelling, with exhibitions and creative spaces running across The Hub Gallery and Caboolture Regional Art Gallery.

Caboolture Winter Program Brings Together Four Creative Experiences

Caboolture’s winter arts program will bring a series of free exhibitions and creative spaces to 4 Hasking Street, giving visitors a local cultural option built around contemporary art, photography, heritage and hands-on participation.

The Winter Highlights 2026 program includes Excess All Areas, The Shape of Feeling, House of Gold and two creative spaces developed by artist Yin Lu. Together, the program offers a mix of large-scale visual work, black-and-white photography, moving image, sound and participatory art-making.

All four offerings are free to attend and do not require bookings.

The program will be split between The Hub Gallery and Caboolture Regional Art Gallery, allowing visitors to move through different styles and themes within the same Caboolture arts precinct.

Excess All Areas Opens With Colour and Consumer Culture

Excess All Areas will run at The Hub Gallery from 27 June to 23 July 2026.

The exhibition explores consumer culture and throw-away habits through humour, colour and bold contemporary works. It is described as an experimental exhibition that moves beyond traditional boundaries, bringing together works that explore scale, material and intensity.

The exhibition invites audiences into an immersive and layered art experience, with works that are expressive in both form and subject. Its focus on excess and consumption gives the winter program a strong contemporary opening, using colour and visual impact to examine everyday habits around waste and material culture.

Winter Highlights 2026 — *Photo Credit: Supplied*
*Photo Caption:* New Quotidian Collective, Excess All Areas, 2025, digital collage printed on Pearl Rag

Black-and-white Photography Shapes A Local View

From 25 July to 20 August 2026, The Hub Gallery will host The Shape of Feeling, created by emerging local photographer Nicole Jones.

The exhibition explores the intricacies of black-and-white photography and considers how emotion can be expressed, interpreted and shared through visual form.

Jones’ imagery captures the landscape and people of the region, reflecting on what has been recorded and what has changed through history. The exhibition adds a quieter and more reflective layer to the winter program, using photography to consider feeling, place and memory without relying on colour.

The Hub Gallery — *Photo Credit: Supplied*
*Photo Caption: In the shade, 2025*, by Nicole Jones

House of Gold Explores Heritage Through Image, Sound and Movement

At Caboolture Regional Art Gallery, House of Gold will run from 27 June to 12 September 2026.

The exhibition presents an immersive body of work by Dr Christian Thompson AO, spanning photography, moving image and sound. It explores the intersection of Thompson’s Chinese and First Nations Bidjara heritage, shaped by the Gold Rush migrations of the 1850s.

Through shared language, food and history, the exhibition examines influences that have contributed to Thompson’s sense of self. Its combination of personal heritage and broader historical movement gives the winter program a deeper cultural and reflective focus.

Yin Lu Creative Spaces Invite Personal Storytelling

Also running at Caboolture Regional Art Gallery from 27 June to 12 September 2026 are Golden Wishes and My Story Card, new creative spaces developed by artist Yin Lu.

The spaces invite visitors to reimagine their connections and personal stories through visual language. Golden Wishes encourages contributions to a growing installation of personal symbols and stories, while My Story Card gives participants a way to explore identity through art-making.

The creative spaces add a participatory element to the winter program, allowing visitors to move from viewing artworks to making their own visual responses.

Free Entry Keeps The Caboolture Program Accessible

The Caboolture Winter Highlights 2026 program gives visitors several ways to experience art during the cooler months, from the bold and colourful treatment of consumer culture in Excess All Areas to the reflective photography of The Shape of Feeling.

At Caboolture Regional Art Gallery, House of Gold and Yin Lu’s creative spaces extend the program into heritage, identity and personal storytelling.

With free entry and no bookings required, the winter program offers a straightforward cultural visit for Caboolture residents and visitors looking for art that is visual, reflective and interactive.

Published 2-June-2026

Photo Credit: Supplied

Picture: Yin Lu

Photo Caption: Artist Yin Lu and her Yinifity Poker Card series

The Glassie Gets a Glow-Up: Glass House Mountains Icon Reborn as Glass House Local

For locals, it was simply known as the Glassie. Now, one of the Glass House Mountains region’s most recognisable community venues has a new name to match its new chapter.

Read: Caboolture Sports Club Acquires Debt-Ridden Venue to Prevent Closure

Caboolture Sports Club Group has officially rebranded the former Club Glass House as Glass House Local, marking a fresh start for a venue with deep roots in the hinterland community.

The name change follows CSC Group’s amalgamation with the club in 2025, a move that secured the venue’s future after periods of financial uncertainty. For a venue that traces its origins back to the Glasshouse Country Bowls Club, established in 1936, it marks a significant moment in the venue’s long history.

Photo credit: Facebook/Glass House Local

CSC Group chief executive Craig Thomas said Glass House Local was about far more than a name change, describing it as a reflection of who they are, who they have always been, and where they are heading. He said the aim was to create a brand that captures the character of the region and the people who make it special, one that is humble, welcoming, connected and full of heart.

The venue’s social media captured the spirit of the rebrand simply: same friendly faces, bright new look.

The rebrand is not the only thing that has changed at the venue. Since joining the CSC Group family, Glass House Local has already seen improvements including new furniture and upgraded carpark lighting. But the bigger news is what is still to come.

Plans are being formalised for a $15 million expansion of the site, which will include expanded dining options, new entertainment facilities, a children’s playground and improved amenities for the club’s bowlers. The development is expected to create more than 50 new jobs in the local area.

The investment is consistent with how CSC Group operates across its venues. As a not-for-profit organisation, the group reinvests its revenue back into the communities it serves. Over the past five years, CSC Group has directed more than $12 million toward community initiatives.

Read: Moreton Bay Boy in Glass House Mountains Emergency Acknowledged by QAS

In the meantime, there is plenty to look forward to at Glass House Local beyond the bricks and mortar. The venue has launched its Love Our Locals Swipe and Win promotion, running from 21 May to 19 July, with more than 250 prizes on offer valued at over $3,400.

The Glassie may have a new name, but the community spirit that has defined it since 1936 has not gone anywhere. As the club put it on the day of the official unveiling: “Open to all. Connected to place. Full of friendly faces.”

Featured image credit: Facebook/Glass House Local

Published 28-May-2026

PAW Patrol Brings Family Fun To Moreton Kids Festival In Strathpine

Families heading to Strathpine will have a free day of children’s entertainment to look forward to when Moreton Kids Festival returns to Pine Rivers Park with PAW Patrol leading the program.

PAW Patrol Brings A Familiar Favourite To Strathpine

Moreton Kids Festival is set to bring families together at Pine Rivers Park, with PAW Patrol named as the headline act for the free children’s event in Strathpine.

The festival will run from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on Sunday, 14 June 2026, at Pine Rivers Park, 125 Gympie Road. Thousands of visitors are expected to attend, with the event offering a full day of entertainment, activities and interactive experiences for children and families.

PAW Patrol will be the main attraction for the young visitors. Two live shows are scheduled during the day, with performances at 11:00 am and 1:40 pm. Ten families will also have the chance to win a PAW Patrol meet-and-greet experience by subscribing to the event e-newsletter.

The headline act gives the festival a recognisable centrepiece for children, while the wider program is designed to let families move through different activities at their own pace. The event has been promoted as suitable for children of different ages, with one listing describing it as especially suited to children under 10.

Five Worlds Of Play At Pine Rivers Park

Across five themed worlds of discovery, families will be able to explore a mix of stage entertainment, creative workshops, rides, roving performers, food trucks and market stalls.

Hide and Sea will bring a marine-themed activity to the festival, allowing children to see sea stars, crabs, cowries and sea urchins up close. The hands-on setting adds a quieter discovery-based experience alongside the bigger stage shows and rides.

Pine Rivers Park — *Photo Credit: Moreton Kids Festival/Facebook*

Junior Tradies will offer a construction-themed activity where children can dress in hi-vis gear, try bricklaying and operate mini diggers in a safe setting. The attraction has been listed as coming to Queensland for the first time.

Channel 9’s TheatreDome will also be part of the program, with improv games and team challenges led by professional performers known as The Oracles. The live performance space gives children a chance to take part rather than only watch from the crowd.

A Free Day Out For Pine Rivers Families

For families in Pine Rivers and nearby communities, Moreton Kids Festival offers a free local outing built around children’s play, performance and hands-on activities.

The mix of PAW Patrol live shows, rides, workshops, food options and market stalls gives families several ways to plan the day, whether they are arriving for the headline performances or staying for the broader festival program.

With Pine Rivers Park becoming the main gathering place for the event, the festival is expected to draw families looking for an accessible day out close to home. Moreton Kids Festival will run from morning through the afternoon, with further details and meet-and-greet competition entry available through the official festival newsletter.

Published 27-May-2026

Photo Credit: Moreton Kids Festival/Facebook

Caboolture Abbey Medieval Festival Marks 35 Years of Living History

Caboolture’s Abbey Medieval Festival is preparing to mark 35 years of living history at Abbeystowe, where jousting, re-enactments, markets, music and family activities will again bring the medieval world into view.

Caboolture Festival Marks 35 Years Of Medieval Tradition

For 35 years, the Abbey Medieval Festival has brought the sights, sounds and spectacle of the Middle Ages to Caboolture. In 2026, the long-running event will return to Abbeystowe for another milestone celebration of living history, with re-enactors, jousters, performers, merchants and visitors gathering across the festival grounds.

The festival is scheduled from 10 to 12 July 2026, beginning with Friday Family Fun Day on 10 July before the Weekend Tournament takes place on 11 and 12 July. The event will again centre on medieval life across Europe and the Middle East from 600 to 1600AD, presenting history through performance, craft, combat, food and family activities.

Rather than presenting history behind glass, the Abbey Medieval Festival turns it into a full weekend experience. Visitors can move through encampments, watch combat demonstrations, browse market stalls, see performers and take in the atmosphere of a festival built around pageantry, skill and historical interpretation.

Medieval Life Comes Back To Abbeystowe

The 35th year will bring back many of the elements that have shaped the Abbey Medieval Festival’s identity. Listed activities include jousting, knight combat, Birds of Prey, archery, children’s activities, entertainment, markets, food and drink, and the Stag Inn.

Across the grounds, hundreds of re-enactors from around Australia help recreate aspects of medieval life. Their displays cover combat, arts, crafts and practical skills from across 1,000 years of history, with demonstrations that can include swordsmanship, chivalry, armour, siege weaponry, costuming, weaving, pottery, illumination and music.

The result is a festival that blends performance with learning. Families can watch tournament-style displays, children can take part in activities, and visitors can see how medieval clothing, tools, crafts and traditions are brought to life by people who study and practise them.

*Photo Credit: Abbey Medieval Festival/Facebook*

Museum History Behind The Milestone

Behind the festival is the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, which hosts the event as its largest annual gathering. The festival supports the museum’s operations, the care of its collection and its education programs.

The museum’s collection includes objects from around the world, dating from prehistory to the end of the 19th century. Its medieval and renaissance collection holds more than 200 works of art and artefacts, giving the festival a direct connection to the history it presents outdoors at Abbeystowe.

Festival patrons will have access to the museum during the Tournament Weekend. Wristbands can also be used for museum entry until the end of the calendar year, extending the festival experience beyond the weekend itself.

Abbey Museum — *Photo Credit: Abbey Medieval Festival/Facebook*

Tickets And Festival Support

Accommodation and ticket packages for the tournament weekend have been promoted through Holiday Hub Bribie Island, with weekend tickets included for guests who book eligible accommodation. The limited Royal Suites VIP package is listed as sold out.

The event also relies on volunteers working behind the scenes across many parts of the festival, including gates and ticketing, information support, joust arena support, children’s activities, market support, parking and traffic, program sales, hospitality and general site support. Volunteer applications for 2026 are now closed, while photography and videography applications are handled separately.

As the Abbey Medieval Festival reaches its 35th year, the Caboolture event is set to return with the same mix of history, spectacle and community atmosphere that has made it a fixture at Abbeystowe.

Published 27-May-2026

Photo Credit: Abbey Medieval Festival/Facebook

Bellmere Butcher Shop Surges to Top of Queensland Leaderboard

The Bellmere Butcher has surged to the top of Queensland’s All the Best butcher leaderboard, with owner Jackson Miano now leading the state-wide public vote just hours before the competition closes at midnight tonight.

With voting wrapping up on Thursday 28 May, the Bellmere shop has overtaken early frontrunners to sit in first place, ahead of Stafford Heights’ Rode Meats in second and Cannon Hill’s The Butcher Shoppe in third. The All the Best competition, now in its second year, asks Queenslanders to vote for their favourites across 15 categories spanning everything from bakeries and beaches to burger joints and barbers.

For Miano, the nomination landed as a welcome surprise after years of grinding away to build the business into something the Bellmere and Caboolture community could be proud of.

“We’ve been putting in the hard yards over the last couple of years, trying to build something pretty cool, so we think it’s good to be nominated,” Miano says.

From apprentice to TikTok-famous

Miano started out as an apprentice butcher 11 years ago. He met his now-wife Megan at the Caboolture shop, and the pair took over the business together more than three years ago. What followed has been a quiet revolution in how a local butcher shop can connect with its community.

The shop has built a loyal TikTok following, earning it a place in the broader “ButcherTok” movement, which has seen independent butchers across Australia use short-form video to pull back the curtain on their craft. The Bellmere Butcher’s most viral moment came from a single video made during the COVID-19 pandemic: a sausage stuffed with hot chips, rump steak and pepper gravy that has since racked up more than 700,000 views.

The team’s current project is even more ambitious, working toward a spicy ramen sausage with customer input driving the flavour brief.

“Twelve months ago, I didn’t think we’d be getting photos with customers, that’s for sure,” Miano says. “It’s really good to see a lot of people supporting local again.”

Photo Credit: *The Bellmere Butcher/Facebook*

The shop’s growth has been physical as well as digital. The team is preparing to move into a larger space within the same complex by the end of the year to meet demand.

The competition is friendly, but the stakes are real

Despite the leaderboard, the mood between competing shops is anything but hostile. Miano has been vocal about the sense of community the competition has sparked among Queensland’s independent butchers.

“Everyone is getting on and doing this social presence and really bringing the butchers alive together,” he says. “No matter who takes out first place will be well deserving of it. We’re trying to bring the butchering community back together. There’s definitely enough room for us all.”

Rode Meats owner Patrick “Will” Burgoyne echoes that view. His Stafford Heights shop only found out about its nomination recently and has since launched its own campaign to push up the rankings.

Rode Meats has become a household name across Brisbane partly through the work of teenage apprentice Ethan Johns, whose sausage-making videos have drawn enormous online audiences, including one clip that reached more than 5.8 million views. The shop is also expanding, with two new stores set to open within the next year, taking its network to six locations.

“There’s definitely no rivalry between butcher shops. It’s more small retailers against the big guys,” Burgoyne says. “There will be a lot of bragging rights, whoever comes out on top, but it’ll all be in a friendly manner.”

Both owners have promised one thing in common if they win: a celebratory sausage flavour made especially for the occasion.

How to vote before the window shuts

Voting closes tonight, Thursday 28 May, and every vote also enters the voter into a prize draw worth more than $1,800, including theme park annual passes, a Skypoint Dining experience and a Flight Centre travel voucher. Winners across all 15 categories will be announced on Wednesday 3 June, ahead of Queensland Day on Saturday 6 June.

Bellmere locals and Caboolture region residents can cast their vote through this link. Voters need to register with an email address before casting their ballot.

Published 27-May-2026

Featured Image Credit: The Bellmere Butcher/Facebook

Can a Robotic Hawk Save Moreton Bay Strawberries?

A robotic hawk has been flying above strawberry farms in Moreton Bay as growers in Bellmere battle flocks of lorikeets and corellas that can wipe out thousands of dollars’ worth of fruit in just days.

The drone, known as RoBird, sweeps low across the fields like a bird of prey, sending nuisance birds scattering above one of Australia’s largest strawberry-growing regions.

The trial began in Bellmere in May through a partnership involving Hort Innovation, Canadian drone company AERIUM Analytics and the City of Moreton Bay.

The RoBird drone being trialled in Shepparton, Victoria between November 2025 and May 2026.
Photo Credit: AERIUM Analytics/Supplied

For local growers, the problem has become hard to ignore.

During overcast weather, large flocks of birds descend on ripe strawberry fields and tear through fruit faster than workers can pick it. Farms near trees and bushland are often hit the hardest.

At TSL Family Farms in Bellmere, which operates under the Taste’n’See strawberry brand, growers have spent years trying to protect crops from repeated bird attacks. Some weeks bring losses that climb well into the tens of thousands.

According to the City of Moreton Bay, farms in the region can lose between $50,000 and $200,000 worth of strawberries within a single week during severe bird activity. This pressure lands heavily in a region where strawberries are a major part of the local economy.

Moreton Bay Plays Major Role in Australia’s Strawberry Supply

Moreton Bay produces about one in every four punnets of strawberries sold in Australia, with farms across Bellmere, Caboolture and surrounding districts supplying fruit to supermarkets across the country.

City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery with RoBird at Taste’n’See farms in Bellmere, Queensland.
Photo Credit: Supplied

The region’s strawberry industry contributes around $100 million annually and supports growers, seasonal workers, transport operators and local businesses tied to the harvest season. But protecting the fruit has become increasingly difficult.

Growers have long relied on gas cannons, reflective tape and noise deterrents to keep birds away. Many say the methods lose effectiveness once birds become used to them. Some systems have also caused frustration for nearby residents because of the noise during harvesting periods. This has driven interest in newer technology that can protect crops without harming wildlife.

A Drone Designed to Think Like a Predator

Unlike a standard farm drone, the RoBird is built to imitate the movement of a hunting raptor. The aircraft glides, circles and dives above strawberry rows in ways designed to trigger a natural fear response from pest birds. Instead of simply making noise, the drone attempts to convince birds that a predator is actively hunting nearby.

Earlier Australian trials reported by AERIUM Analytics showed strong reductions in bird activity and fruit damage after repeated flights over crops. Researchers involved in the project say the goal is to create a long-term deterrent rather than a short-term scare tactic.

The Bellmere demonstrations drew growers and berry industry representatives from across the region, including members of Berries Australia, who attended field trials to observe how the drone performed above local farms.

Farmers Hope for Relief Before Peak Season

Even small reductions in crop damage could make a major difference during harvest season. Rising labour costs, unpredictable weather and tighter profit margins have already placed pressure on Queensland strawberry farms in recent years. Losing trays of fruit to birds only adds to the challenge.

Drivers travelling through Bellmere during the growing season may now spot the dark-winged drone circling low above the paddocks while workers move through rows beneath it.

The national RoBird project is expected to continue until 2028 as researchers monitor how birds respond over longer periods and across different growing conditions.

A close-up image of the RoBird drone from AERIUM Analytics.
Photo Credit: AERIUM Analytics/Supplied

Whether the robotic hawk becomes a permanent part of farming in Moreton Bay is still unknown. But for growers watching birds descend on valuable crops each season, the trial is giving the region a new option at a time when many say traditional methods are no longer enough.

Published 26-May-2026
Featured Image Credit: AERIUM Analytics/Supplied