Caboolture Archives - Page 12 of 12

New Caboolture Watchhouse Opens in Moreton Bay

Following a year-long construction, the new Caboolture watchhouse with bigger and more modern facilities has opened in Moreton Bay.

Unveiled in mid-June 2021, the new Caboolture watchhouse is expected to boost the capabilities of the Caboolture Police Station and Moreton District Office in ensuring the safety of the community.

The former watchhouse had just 14 beds but the new building could now accommodate 40 individuals at a given time, who will be monitored with state-of-the-art tools and equipment.

Photo Credit: Queensland Police Service/Facebook

“The rapid growth of this region in recent years means police facilities need to keep pace with the requirements of the local community,” Mark Ryan MP, Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, said during the opening ceremonies, which was also attended by Commissioner Katarina Carrol. “With the population increasing in suburbs north of Brisbane, modern facilities like this one are vital to maintaining community safety.”

Commissioner Carol said that this $14.4 million building will allow the police to continue their work to uphold a high standard of service. The new Caboolture watchhouse is also home to the police’s support staff from the Caboolture Prosecution Corp, Domestic and Family Violence Unit, Moreton District Youth Co-Responder Team and the Moreton District Tasking and Coordination Unit.

“Housing important specialist units within this building ensures our officers are available where they are needed throughout the Moreton District.”

Meanwhile, Terry Young MP had the chance to tour the facilities as well and said that whilst it was unfortunate they needed to expand the facilities to accommodate more prisoners, the completion of this project will be a big help to the police units.

According to the Queensland Police Service, about 4,000 and 5,000 prisoners are processed annually at the Caboolture Watchhouse.

Kmart Caboolture Holds Major Sale Before Closing for Good

After 34 years of trading, the popular Kmart outlet at the Caboolture Square Shopping Centre is closing down permanently. However, before the doors are locked for good, Kmart Caboolture is slashing down the prices of its last remaining items.

Kmart Caboolture will no longer trade by 12 June 2021. In January, a spokesperson for the company confirmed that the store will close as they have opted not to renew the lease at the Caboolture Square Shopping Centre. Following the confirmation, Kmart posted signs around the store to inform the shoppers, stating that the Kmart Morayfield or Kmart Burpengary outlets will be their nearest options.

The spokesperson also said that they are pushing for online orders and assisting customers with their purchases on the Kmart website, especially for shoppers who would like to avoid the commute to the shopping centre.

Photo Credit: Alexander Williams/Google Maps

The staff at the Caboolture outlets will get to keep their jobs as they will be re-assigned to Kmart Group’s other shops. The company has plans to open at least 80 redeveloped and reconfigured stores across the country in 2021.

During COVID-19’s first wave, Kmart Caboolture was the first Queensland outlet to close for an indefinite period, as it became an online fulfilment site for essential orders like grocery items and medical care.

Meanwhile, some sections of Kmart Caboolture have been nearly empty since shoppers got wind of the major discounts. However, bargain hunters can still peruse through the stationery and books section, the clothes department, as well as the toy corners.

On the other hand, the management of Caboolture Square Shopping Centre has not yet revealed the new tenant that will take over the space vacated by Kmart but there are indications that the area will be subdivided for smaller tenancies.

New RSPCA Report: Caboolture Remains the Cruelest Suburb to Animals

Based on a 2020 report by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), Caboolture is once again the suburb with the highest number of incidences of animal cruelty in Queensland.

With 178 cases and complaints according to the RSPCA’s Animal Cruelty Hotspots report 2020, Caboolture has been revealed to have the worst record among Brisbane’s suburbs in terms of animal cruelty.

The suburb also secured the number one spot in the 2019 Hotspots Report with over 200 cases. The 2021 report showed a reduced number of cases compared to the 2020 figures.

Brisbane as a whole experienced a reduction in animal cruelty over the past two years, with statewide cases decreasing from 18,692 in 2019 to 17,146 the following year — numbers dropping by a little over 8 per cent.

Some of the most common complaints included animals with poor living conditions brought about by insufficient food and water, neglect and lack of exercise, abandonment, heat, lack of healthcare and veterinary treatment, and abuse and cruelty.

An estimated 1,116 emergency calls made to RSPCA Queensland were about animals suffering from heat stress, either by being left in a hot car or being tethered to the yard and unable to reach shade and water. Cars can reach up to 73 degrees Celsius in summertime — fatal for pets if left unattended, even if the vehicle is in shade with the windows rolled down.

As part of the RSPCA’s report, an interactive map was created which allows users to pinpoint their suburbs and discover how many reported cases of animal cruelty there were in the past year.