Moreton Bay Archives - Page 2 of 24

Caboolture Hospital Launches Queensland-First Post-Discharge Support Service

Caboolture Hospital has launched Queensland’s first nurse-led Medical Discharge Support Service, giving patients from both medical and surgical wards a direct line to an expert clinical nurse consultant for up to 30 days after they leave hospital, in a move that aims to significantly reduce unnecessary emergency department presentations across the Moreton Bay region.

The service, led by Clinical Nurse Consultant Lynette Smith, officially commenced on 30 March 2026. The service operates as a phone-based point of contact, allowing patients to consult the nursing team from home regarding recovery concerns. This provides an immediate alternative to presenting at an emergency department or seeking a standard GP appointment for non-urgent post-hospital queries.

“Patients can contact the service within 30 days of leaving hospital to receive advice and support from our nursing team,” Smith said. “We’re helping with all aspects, from wound care and pain management to answering questions about recovery and coordinating referrals to GPs or outpatient services.”

The model makes Caboolture Hospital the first site in Queensland to extend the discharge support concept beyond surgical patients to cover medical ward discharges as well.

The problem it was built to solve

The statistics behind the new service reveal the scale of the gap it fills. Queensland data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program shows that one in ten post-operative patients presents to an emergency department within 30 days of being discharged, often with questions or concerns that do not require emergency-level care.

Photo Credit: Clinical Excellence Queensland

For a busy regional hospital like Caboolture, which serves one of the fastest-growing catchment areas in Queensland, that translates to a significant and largely avoidable burden on its emergency department. Patients who have just had surgery or been discharged after a medical admission are often uncertain about what is normal in their recovery, when to worry, and who to call. Without a clear answer, many default to the ED.

The Discharge Support Service is designed to be the answer to that question. A trained Clinical Nurse Consultant on the other end of a phone call can assess a patient’s concern, provide clinical advice, arrange a referral to an appropriate service or, where genuine emergency care is needed, direct the patient accordingly.

Built on an award-winning foundation

The new service extends the proven model of PODSS, the Post-Operative Discharge Support Service first developed and piloted at Metro North Health’s Surgical, Treatment and Rehabilitation Service in Brisbane.

PODSS was designed specifically for surgical patients and proved its value quickly. In its first five weeks of operation at STARS, the service received more than 305 calls covering everything from pain management and wound care queries to more serious complications requiring rapid referral.

The results were strong enough that six further Queensland hospitals, including sites in Mackay, Cairns, Rockhampton, Brisbane, Ipswich and on the Gold Coast, have since adopted the model. Several hospitals, including Queensland Children’s Hospital, Redcliffe Hospital and Gold Coast University Hospital, have chosen to self-fund ongoing PODSS operations based on the clinical outcomes and high patient satisfaction they experienced.

Caboolture’s Discharge Support Service takes that foundation and widens the net. Where PODSS covered surgical patients, the new service also encompasses patients discharged from medical wards, the first time this expanded model has been implemented anywhere in Queensland.

“I’m passionate about making a positive difference in our patients’ recovery journeys and ensuring they feel supported once they leave hospital,” Smith said.

A phone call that can change a recovery

For Caboolture and Moreton Bay residents who have recently been discharged from Caboolture Hospital’s medical or surgical wards, the Discharge Support Service is available for 30 days from the date of discharge. Patients with concerns about their recovery, wound care, pain levels or any aspect of their post-hospital health are encouraged to use the service rather than waiting or presenting to an emergency department for non-urgent concerns.

For more information about the Discharge Support Service and other services at Caboolture Hospital, click here or call Caboolture Hospital on 07 5433 8888.

Published 29-April-2026

Featured Image Credit: Metro North Health

Construction Starts on Beachmere’s $295 Million Over-50s Waterfront Community

Construction has officially begun on GemLife Beachmere Waterfront, a $295 million over-50s land lease development on Gillian Street in Beachmere that will deliver 335 homes across a 62-hectare site beside the Caboolture River, with first residents expected to move in by the end of 2026.

GemLife Managing Director and Group CEO Adrian Puljich marked the start of works at a sod-turning ceremony on 23 April, joined by local community representatives.

The three-year project is expected to create around 400 jobs across housing construction, resort amenities and road upgrades, including new turning lanes and the widening of a section of Beachmere Road. A further $2.5 million will be spent on infrastructure as part of the development.

For a coastal township that has long sat in the quieter corners of Moreton Bay’s growth story, the scale of investment arriving on Gillian Street represents a significant shift.

A site designed around what’s already there

One of the most striking aspects of GemLife Beachmere Waterfront is how much of the 62-hectare site will remain untouched.

More than 80 per cent of the site will remain untouched, headlined by a 52.1-hectare wetland reserve. GemLife will rehabilitate this natural corridor before formally transferring the land to the City of Moreton Bay as a permanent, protected public asset.

At the heart of the site, an existing 1.1-hectare artificial lake with a tidal connection to the Caboolture River will be preserved and enhanced as a central feature of the community. A network of walking and cycling trails will thread through the wetland reserve, giving residents direct access to one of the bayside region’s most significant natural corridors.

GemLife Beachmere Waterfront is located 58 kilometres north of Brisbane in Beachmere, a coastal rural town, close to Beachmere Shopping Centre, local restaurants and Main Beach, with Caboolture just 15 minutes away.

What life inside will look like

The $15.5 million Country Club will anchor the community’s social heart, overlooking both the lake and the Caboolture River. Inside, residents will find an indoor heated pool, cinema, hall, bar and café, salon, golf simulator, lawn bowls, art room and dance floor, alongside a separate Summer House with an outdoor pool.

The homes themselves are designed around the sub-tropical climate, with open-plan indoor-outdoor living, generous outdoor spaces, solar panels connected to battery storage and access to GemLife’s 5G wireless internet network. Two-bedroom plus multipurpose-room homes are priced from $815,000. A weekly site fee covers all maintenance, management and amenities, with no stamp duty, entry or exit fees applicable.

Meeting a real gap in Moreton Bay’s housing supply

The Beachmere development addresses a genuine and growing demand. Early interest shows a distinct regional draw; while around a third of enquiries are coming from locals within a 30-kilometre radius, nearly half are from buyers in the 30 to 100-kilometre bracket looking to secure a spot on the coast.

The land lease model GemLife uses is distinct from a traditional retirement village. Residents own their homes outright and lease the land beneath them, retaining 100 per cent of any capital gains if they choose to sell, with no exit fees attached. That structure, combined with a one-level home format right-sized for active over-50s, has driven strong demand across GemLife’s existing Moreton Bay communities.

GemLife Beachmere Waterfront is GemLife’s fourth land lease community in Moreton Bay, joining GemLife Moreton Bay in Burpengary East, GemLife Bribie Island and GemLife Elimbah, bringing the total number of homes it is delivering across the region to more than 1,685.

The City of Moreton Bay is expected to welcome 210,000 additional residents over the next two decades, and GemLife has consistently positioned its regional investment around that long-term trajectory.

When to expect the first homes

GemLife Beachmere Waterfront will be released to market in June, in line with the opening of its onsite sales office. The first homes are expected to take shape from mid-2026, with first residents anticipated to move in before the end of 2026.

For more information or to register interest, visit click here or contact GemLife directly on 1800 GEMLIFE.

Published 27-April-2026

Featured Image Credit: GemLife

25,000 Tickets Gone in 12 Hours: How Caboolture’s Medieval Festival Became Australia’s Best

The Abbey Medieval Festival has sold out all 25,000 tickets for its 35th anniversary edition in under 12 hours, just weeks after winning gold at the national Qantas Australian Tourism Awards to be officially crowned Australia’s best festival.

The sell-out, which crashed the ticketing website under the weight of demand, caught even the organisers off guard. Events and Public Programs Manager Joel Stephens said the scale of the response was unlike anything the festival had experienced before.

“Selling out so quickly was a definite surprise,” Stephens said. “We were not expecting the huge demand we saw yesterday and a full sellout in less than 12 hours. It shows how popular and exciting the festival is.”

The ticketing platform buckled under the surge. Stephens acknowledged the team had made some improvements to the booking process before the sale opened, but the adjustments had the opposite effect to what was intended.

“It was a little bit of a perfect storm, to be honest,” he said. “We made some improvements to the process, made a few tweaks and unfortunately they backfired a little bit. But we’re constantly working to improve the systems and structure in place and deliver the smoothest experience possible to our customers.”

All tickets, including Saturday, Sunday and the Friday Family Fun Day on 10 July, are now fully sold out. No further tickets will be made available. Organisers recommend using the official resale partner Tixel for those seeking returned tickets.

From Queensland Gold to National Champion

The sell-out arrives at the peak of a remarkable run for the festival. In November 2025, the Abbey Medieval Festival took gold at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council Awards in the Festivals and Events category, becoming the state’s nominee for the national competition.

Then in March 2026, it went all the way, winning gold at the prestigious Qantas Australian Tourism Awards, beating more than 170 finalists across 26 categories to be recognised as Australia’s best festival. Perth’s Subi Blooms x Gather festival took silver, while South Australia’s Streaky Sounds Music Festival claimed bronze.

From Abbey Medieval Festival's Facebook post — Photo Credit: Abbey Medieval Festival/Facebook

Stephens said the national result caught the team just as off guard as the ticket sell-out.

“We won the Queensland Tourism Industry award late last year which put us in the running for the national awards and were not expecting to take that out,” he said. “So we’re really honoured the judges looked at the festival we offer and had the same feeling the public does.”

The award recognised not just the scale of the event but the effort behind it. The festival runs with more than 300 volunteers and draws more than 1,000 reenactors, performers and speciality stallholders to Abbeystowe each July.

What July 10-12 Holds for Ticket Holders

For the 25,000 people heading to Caboolture on 10, 11 and 12 July, the 35th anniversary edition promises everything that has made the festival a national landmark event, with the added weight of a milestone year.

Photo Credit: Abbey Medieval Festival/Facebook

The festival spans approximately 600 to 1600AD in European and Middle Eastern history, and the programme brings that breadth to life across three days. The Moreton Bay Medieval Joust Championship, where Australia’s top jousters compete at speeds of 30 kilometres per hour, runs three sessions on both Saturday and Sunday, with the grand final on Sunday at 3pm to crown the new champion.

Knight combat, Turkish oil wrestling, archery, Birds of Prey demonstrations, storytelling, period music, traditional dancing and interactive encampment activities fill out the programme across the weekend.

The Friday Family Fun Day on 10 July is the festival’s sensory-friendly day, designed to welcome visitors who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour, including people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome and acquired brain injury. The Knighting Ceremony on Friday is a separate, strictly limited ticketed event.

Kids Kingdom, a dedicated children’s activity area, operates on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the space transitions to the University Pavilion, with a schedule of presentations.

A New Festival Is Coming in September

The Abbey Museum is not stopping at July. Stephens confirmed the team is also developing a brand-new event: the Abbey History Festival, locked in for 26 and 27 September 2026.

“Our main festival does have a limit on the timeline in terms of the Middle Ages, so we’re looking to launch the Abbey History Festival,” he said. “This will bring a broader timeline of re-enactments, culture and food to our Abbey Precinct helping us celebrate 40 years of the Abbey Museum, which is what all this goes to support.”

The Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology, which the festival exists to support, holds one of Australia’s most significant collections of medieval and ancient artefacts, including rare examples of European, Asian and Pacific material culture.

Getting to Abbeystowe

The festival is located at 1-63 The Abbey Place, Caboolture, off Old Toorbul Point Road. A free shuttle bus service operates every 30 minutes from Caboolture train station from 7.45am on both Saturday and Sunday.

Paid parking passes at $11 per vehicle are required for Saturday and Sunday on-site parking, with proceeds supporting the Wamuran Progress Society. Free parking is available on the existing site on Friday. A disability car park is available for permit holders, located approximately 250 metres from the front gate.

Festival ticket holders can also use their ticket for one free entry to the Abbey Museum before 30 September 2026. For more information, visit abbeymedievalfestival.com or contact the Abbey Museum on (07) 5495 1652.

Published 24-April-2026

Featured Image Credit: Abbey Medieval Festival

Smoke Drifts Across Moreton Bay as Planned Burn-Offs Begin

Residents across Moreton Bay are waking to smoke drifting over suburbs as planned burn-offs begin across bushland areas, with fire crews lighting controlled fires to reduce the threat of bushfires before peak season. From Bribie Island to Upper Caboolture, these managed burns are already affecting nearby communities, with smoke expected to hang in the air for days even after flames are extinguished.

The burns began with activity recorded around April 15 and continuing through April 16, according to local authorities. Crews carried out operations in areas including Bribie Island, particularly near Mermaid Lagoon, as well as Upper Caboolture, while new sites such as Albany Creek were scheduled to follow as conditions allowed.

Smoke spreads beyond burn zones into nearby suburbs

While the fires are controlled, the effects are not limited to the burn sites themselves. Smoke from operations near Banksia Beach has been reported drifting into nearby areas such as Toorbul and Sandstone Point, affecting visibility and air quality. Authorities have advised residents, especially those with respiratory conditions, to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when smoke is present.

Even after a burn is completed, crews continue to patrol and monitor the area for several days to ensure the fire remains contained. This means some suburbs may continue to experience smoke or restricted access beyond the initial burn period.

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay/YouTube

Moreton Bay hazard reduction burns: affected suburbs and status

Suburb / Area	Burn Status	Community Impact
Bribie Island (Banksia Beach)	Completed / Recent	Smoke lingering, monitoring ongoing
Upper Caboolture	Completed / Recent	Possible residual smoke, patrols in place
Albany Creek	Scheduled / Likely underway	Possible smoke if conditions met
Toorbul	Indirect impact	Smoke drift reported from nearby burns
Sandstone Point	Indirect impact	Smoke drift affecting area
Bellara	Planned	Future burn, timing dependent on weather
Burpengary	Planned	Future burn, no fixed schedule
Caboolture	Planned	Future burn, no fixed schedule
Deception Bay	Planned	Future burn, no fixed schedule
Griffin	Planned	Future burn, no fixed schedule
Mount Glorious	Planned	Future burn in bushland areas
Ningi	Planned	Future burn, timing to be confirmed
Whiteside	Planned	Future burn, no fixed schedule
Woodford	Planned	Future burn, rural bushland areas

No fixed schedule as weather dictates next burns

Although more than a dozen additional burn sites have been identified across Moreton Bay, including Burpengary, Deception Bay, Griffin and Woodford, there is no set timetable for when each location will be treated. Authorities rely on specific weather and environmental conditions before lighting any fire, meaning plans can shift quickly.

Burn season typically runs from March to August, but officials note that operations can take place at any time of the year if conditions are safe. This flexible approach is designed to ensure each burn can be carried out with minimal risk to surrounding communities.

Balancing fire prevention with environmental care

Officials say the burns play a key role in reducing fuel loads such as dry leaves and fallen branches, which can feed dangerous bushfires during hotter months. At the same time, the process is managed to protect local wildlife and vegetation.

Before each burn, teams assess the site to identify sensitive habitats and species. Measures such as clearing around trees and monitoring wildlife during the burn are put in place. The use of aerial incendiary drones has also been introduced to help crews ignite fires more precisely, particularly in hard-to-reach terrain.

Authorities say these planned burns also support the natural cycle of some native plants, which rely on fire or smoke to trigger growth and seed release, helping maintain the region’s biodiversity.

Published 20-April-2026
Featured Image Credit: City of Moreton Bay/YouTube

Caboolture Mum Sarah Gutzke Lands National Kmart Campaign After TikTok Catches the Brand’s Eye

Caboolture mother-of-two Sarah Gutzke has gone from posting everyday mum content on TikTok to appearing on national billboards, after Kmart spotted her social media presence and invited her to front its March Apparel campaign.

Sarah, who works as Head of People and Culture at Ray White Caboolture and grew up in Moorina before settling in Caboolture, was one of just eight real Kmart customers selected from across Australia to model the brand’s new womenswear range. Her face appeared on billboards and digital marketing displays nationwide from 16 March as part of a campaign that deliberately turned away from professional models in favour of the community that wears the brand every day.

The TikTok Posts That Started It All

Sarah did not set out to build a platform or land a modelling gig. When she was on maternity leave with her second baby, she started posting on TikTok as a creative outlet, sharing everyday life as a new mum alongside her love of colourful fashion. Kmart hauls, shopping trips and outfit content filled her feed, all of it genuine and unsponsored.

@sarahgutzke
A little goodie bag for some of the crew I work with to say thank ya for everything ☀️🫶🏻 and yes I have temporarily blocked some people so they don’t see this hehe 🤭💛 but actually let’s be serious for a minute, admin and receptionist are often the forgotten heroes of a business. They keep the wheels turning and always show up and drive the ship. So grateful for them ❤️ #thankyougift #appreciationgift #kmart #kmartgifts #kmartfinds
♬ original sound – sarahgutzke

“I created some Kmart related videos like hauls, shopping trips etc and they found me through that,” she said. The TikTok posts caught the attention of Kmart’s marketing team, who reached out with an invitation to be part of something considerably larger than anything Sarah had previously done.

“I have never done anything like that before but thought it would be a fun opportunity to be a part of and enjoy doing things outside of my comfort zone,” she said.

What the Campaign Involved

Kmart’s March Apparel campaign launched nationally from 16 March 2026, with eight real customers featured across billboards and digital displays around the country. The campaign grew out of the #GetReadyWithKmart movement, which had been building momentum on social media from 12 March, and was built around the idea of putting genuine customers, not professional models, at the centre of its fashion marketing.

Rennie Freer, GM of Marketing for Kmart, said the decision to feature real shoppers came directly from what the brand was already seeing online. “When we saw the incredible creativity customers were sharing across social media, we knew we had to turn the camera back on them,” she said. “We’re proudly shining the spotlight directly on our customers, celebrating our community and the unique ways they make every trend their own.”

For Sarah, the photoshoot itself brought its share of nerves. “They are great. It was a really fun experience and my little claim to fame that I get to be a part of a Kmart campaign,” she said. “All of my friends and family have been so excited for me, which is so nice!”

Back to Real Estate and Everyday Life

Despite the national exposure the campaign has brought, Sarah has no plans to pivot into modelling. Her focus remains firmly on her career in real estate and her life as a mum, with content creation continuing as a creative side project.

Sarah is currently working as a real estate agent for Ray White Caboolture — Photo Credit: Ray White Caboolture

“I love real estate and will stick with that career, along with being a mum and a content creator on the side!” she said.

The campaign has, however, opened doors beyond the Kmart collaboration. Sarah said the experience had created opportunities to work with other brands she genuinely uses, a natural extension of the authentic content approach that caught Kmart’s attention in the first place.

Sarah can be followed on TikTok at @sarahgutzke.

Published 7-April-2026

Featured Image Credit: Ray White Caboolture

Beachmere Boaters Caught Off Guard by Tiny Stowaway at Sea

A routine day on the water took a sharp turn for Beachmere boaters when a sugar glider emerged from the folds of a sail in the middle of Moreton Bay, turning a simple trip into a rescue story with a very local heart.

The incident happened in late March 2026, after the couple had left the Caboolture River and headed into the bay, unaware they had a sleeping stowaway onboard. The tiny marsupial, a native animal better known for gliding between trees than riding on yachts, only appeared once the sails were opened and the boat was already well out on the water.

Photo Credit: Wildlife Rescue Queensland

A Startling Discovery Above Deck

One of the boat owners was at the helm when she spotted movement and saw the sugar glider poke its head out. In that instant, the calm of the trip gave way to surprise. She later said the fright seemed to be shared by both human and animal. Her husband checked the sail and rigging and quickly realised they were dealing with an unplanned passenger.

The boat was already out in Moreton Bay, and the tides meant there was no simple way to turn around and head straight back. Instead, the couple had to think fast and call Wildlife Rescue Queensland, a group familiar with the region and its wildlife emergencies.

A Bay-Side Stand-Off

What followed was less a straight rescue than a small stand-off between a determined glider and equally determined people trying to help it. After anchoring near Moreton Island, the group tried to contain the animal with towels and a pillowcase. Each time they got close, the glider darted away and scrambled up the rigging, staying just out of reach.

The scene had all the ingredients of a strange bay-side drama: open water, a restless native animal, and a handful of people trying to do the right thing without making matters worse. After a hard effort, they finally secured the glider and arranged for it to be collected by staff from Tangalooma Island Resort, which has facilities for wildlife care on the island.

From Boat Sail to Wildlife Care

The sugar glider spent the night at the resort before being taken by ferry back to the mainland, where Wildlife Rescue Queensland staff were waiting to move it on for assessment. By then, the story had already become one of those rare local episodes that feels both unusual and deeply familiar in coastal Queensland, where wildlife can appear in the most unexpected places.

Veterinary staff found the glider to be in strong condition and notably well-fed. Rescuers even considered whether its size pointed to a different species at first. They later identified it as a mature male sugar glider, which added another layer to the story, because adult males are usually part of a group rather than on their own.

The animal was nicknamed Wilson, a nod to its accidental adventure away from home. Soon after, it was released back in Beachmere, close to where the boat had been docked, giving it the best chance of returning to known habitat.

Wildlife groups say sugar gliders normally spend their days asleep in tree hollows and live in family groups. They also note that habitat loss and tree removal can disrupt those patterns, leaving animals displaced and searching for the next safe place they can find. In this case, that place may simply have been the wrong one at the wrong time.

Published 6-April-2026

New Patrol Vehicle Brings Smarter Parking Enforcement to Caboolture and Moreton Bay

A new parking patrol vehicle equipped with number plate recognition technology is now operating across Moreton Bay, including Caboolture, to help manage overstaying and illegal parking in the region’s busiest town centres.

The vehicle uses high-resolution cameras and GPS to monitor regulated parking zones as it moves through the area. When it detects a vehicle that has overstayed its time limit or parked illegally, it captures time-stamped images and precise location data. Those records are reviewed by officers before an infringement notice is issued by post, meaning drivers no longer need to be caught in the act on the spot.

The patrol vehicle operates across regulated zones in Caboolture, North Lakes, Redcliffe, Strathpine and Petrie.

How the Technology Works

Unlike traditional parking officers working on foot, the vehicle can cover significantly more ground in a single patrol. The number plate recognition system reads plates continuously as the car moves, cross-referencing them against time limit data for each zone. If a vehicle has been in the same spot beyond its permitted time, the system flags it automatically.

New patrol vehicle — Photo *Credit: City of Moreton Bay*

The shift to camera-based enforcement also creates a more consistent evidence trail. Because each detection includes a time-stamped image and GPS coordinates, the record is highly accurate. Officers still review each case before any notice is issued, providing a human check on the automated data. This move to vehicle-based monitoring also creates a safer work environment for parking officers by reducing the potential for on-street conflict.

Foot patrols by parking officers will continue alongside the vehicle, with the two approaches working in parallel across regulated areas.

Addressing Growing Parking Demand in Caboolture

Parking availability in Caboolture town centre has long been a pressure point. Kerbside spots around King Street and near Caboolture train station fill quickly during weekday mornings, and vehicles that overstay their time limits reduce turnover for shoppers and business customers who need short-stay access. The town also hosts regular community events, including the Caboolture Country Markets, which push demand even higher on those days.

An example of cars parked legally at an intersection without traffic lights. Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay

The problem is only growing. Moreton Bay is one of the fastest-growing regions in Queensland, with Caboolture West alone projected to eventually house tens of thousands of new residents. More people means more vehicles and more pressure on existing parking infrastructure across all the region’s centres.

The city authority said the new patrol vehicle was part of a broader approach to delivering smarter parking solutions that kept centres accessible and attractive as the population grows, and that keeping car parks turning over ensures a fair go for everyone and directly supports local businesses by making it easier for customers to find a space.

How This Impacts Everyday Parking

Drivers parking in regulated zones across Caboolture and the other listed areas should ensure they observe posted time limits, as the new patrol vehicle removes the buffer that sometimes existed when enforcement relied solely on officers walking circuits on foot.

Infringement notices are issued by post after officer review, so a fine may arrive days after the overstay. Residents with questions about parking rules, time limits in specific areas, or how to dispute an infringement notice can contact the City of Moreton Bay on 07 5475 9999 or visit moretonbay.qld.gov.au.

Published 02-April-2026

Featured Image Credit: City of Moreton Bay

Moreton Bay’s Award-Winning Wildlife Network Puts Bribie and Morayfield on the Map

A wildlife road safety network that includes dedicated monitoring sites at Bribie Island and Morayfield has earned national recognition, with the Australasian Network for Ecology and Transportation (ANET) presenting City of Moreton Bay its Project Award for the Green Infrastructure Network Delivery Program.

The award acknowledges a decade of infrastructure built to help native animals cross roads safely, with Bribie Island and Morayfield among the 14 locations where a permanent camera network keeps watch over fauna crossing structures around the clock.

A Decade of Infrastructure Across the Region

Since 2014, the programme has constructed more than 47 canopy bridges, 48 wildlife underpasses, 21 kilometres of wildlife exclusion fencing and 16 fauna escape hatches across the region’s road network. More than 150 vehicle-activated LED signs now alert motorists in real time when they are travelling through koala and kangaroo zones.

Green Infrastructure Network Delivery Program — Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay/Facebook

The monitoring network, which includes sites at Bribie and Morayfield alongside North Lakes, Narangba and Everton Hills, has recorded more than 80,000 animal crossings since crews installed the cameras in 2020. Among the species captured are the Brush-tailed Phascogale, a rarely seen marsupial, and the Feather-tailed Glider, the world’s smallest gliding mammal.

Why Bribie and Morayfield Are Central to This Story

Bribie Island and the Morayfield corridor sit at a particular pressure point for wildlife movement. Bribie’s island geography means animal populations have limited room to move, and the causeway and surrounding roads represent genuine pinch points for species navigating between bushland patches. Morayfield, meanwhile, sits at the northern edge of Brisbane’s expanding suburban fringe, where new development continues to push against established wildlife habitat.

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay/Facebook

The combination of exclusion fencing, underpasses and canopy bridges gives animals in these areas structured pathways through what would otherwise be unbroken stretches of road. Cameras at both locations actively track the crossings, ensuring crews do not simply build and forget them and instead generate data that informs where future infrastructure is most needed.

ANET Chairperson Rodney Van der Ree described the programme as a model for local governments across Australia, noting it demonstrated what different departments could achieve by working toward a shared goal.

The national award from ANET follows the Australian Road Safety Foundation’s Local Government Programs Award, which the programme received at last year’s Australian Road Safety Awards.

Getting Involved and Reporting Wildlife

Residents around Bribie Island, Morayfield and Caboolture who spot injured or distressed wildlife near roads can contact RSPCA Queensland on 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625) or Wildcare Australia on 07 5527 2444. More information about the Green Infrastructure Network Delivery Program is available here.

Published 02-April-2026

Featured Image Credit: City of Moreton Bay/Facebook

Caboolture Big Fish Coles Ranks Second in Queensland as State Cracks National Top Three for Easter Buns

Queensland has secured third place nationally in Coles’ Easter hot cross bun sales, with more than 8.5 million buns sold across the state since Boxing Day and Coles Caboolture Big Fish ranking among the top performers in Queensland, sitting just behind Carindale in the state’s store-by-store breakdown.

The figures place Queensland behind Victoria, which has sold more than 10 million buns, and New South Wales at nine million, but well clear of the other states and territories. For Caboolture and the broader Moreton Bay region, the Big Fish store’s position in the Queensland top three reflects the suburb’s status as one of southeast Queensland’s highest-volume retail destinations, drawing shoppers from across a wide northern catchment that extends from Morayfield and Narangba through to Bribie Island.

A Season That Starts at Boxing Day

The scale of Australia’s hot cross bun season has grown well beyond its traditional Easter window. Coles expects to sell more than 55 million hot cross buns nationally between Boxing Day and Easter this year, a volume sufficient to fill more than a quarter of a million shopping trolleys. That figure points to a product that has shifted from a specifically religious seasonal food into one of Australia’s most broadly observed calendar rituals, consumed across months rather than days.

To meet that demand, Coles has used more than 568 tonnes of fruit mix across its hot cross bun range this Easter, reflecting the scale of production planning required for what the retailer’s General Manager for Bakery, Dairy and Frozen, Brad Gorman, describes as a range that begins development more than a year before it reaches shelves. The 2026 range is the biggest Coles has offered, spanning traditional fruit, chocolate, gluten free and fruit free varieties alongside a selection of limited-edition flavours.

Queensland’s Store-by-Store Battle

Within Queensland, Coles Carindale leads the state with more than 15,500 packs sold, followed by Caboolture Big Fish at more than 15,000 packs and Thornlands at more than 14,500 packs. The spread across three very different retail locations, an inner-southern Brisbane centre, a high-volume Moreton Bay destination and a Redlands suburban store, reflects the consistency of Easter bun demand across southeast Queensland’s diverse residential catchments rather than concentration in any single type of location.

Eastern bun debate settled — Photo Credit: Supplied

Caboolture Big Fish’s position in the Queensland top three is consistent with its broader retail performance. The centre sits on the Bruce Highway at Caboolture and serves one of Queensland’s fastest-growing regional populations, drawing regular shoppers from across the Moreton Bay local government area and the outer northern Brisbane corridor. That catchment, which added roughly 10,000 new residents in 2025 alone according to Sunshine Coast regional planning data, continues to support high-volume grocery sales across all categories and all seasons.

The Great Hot Cross Bun Debate, Settled

Beyond the sales volumes, Coles data has settled one of Easter’s more contested domestic questions. The microwave has overtaken the toaster as Australia’s preferred method of warming a hot cross bun, with 32 per cent of customers choosing the microwave compared with 29 per cent for the toaster. A further 25 per cent of customers bypass warming altogether, eating their buns straight from the packet.

On flavour, Australians remain firmly attached to the classics. Two in five customers, or 40 per cent, choose traditional fruit hot cross buns as their preferred variety, with chocolate chip varieties the second most popular choice across the Coles range.

A Simple Easter Tradition for Caboolture Households

It also points to the practical reality of what Easter means for Caboolture households. For families managing busy schedules across school holidays, hot cross buns are an accessible, affordable and universally enjoyed ritual, one that sits comfortably alongside the broader Easter weekend of footy, family gatherings and long lunches. The two for $6 deal on Coles Brand six-packs until 7 April makes stocking up for the long weekend easy on the grocery budget, which matters in a community where value for money consistently drives purchasing decisions.

A Good Time to Stock Up

Coles Brand Hot Cross Buns in a six-pack are available two for $6 until 7 April, giving Caboolture shoppers a practical window to stock up before Easter weekend. The full range, including traditional fruit, chocolate, gluten free and limited-edition varieties, is available at Coles Caboolture Big Fish and across the broader Coles network.

Published 30-March-2026

Featured Image Credit: Coles Group

Solander Esplanade Park Set for Major Upgrade Across Banksia Beach Foreshore

The project team will upgrade the popular foreshore park at Banksia Beach along Solander Esplanade from April 2026, delivering new pathways, play equipment, seating, BBQs and relocating the Matthew Flinders monument to create more usable space for the community.

The team will deliver the project under the District Parks and Open Spaces New and Upgrade Programme and will roll it out across three stages along the Solander Esplanade corridor, with works expected to take around 16 weeks to complete, weather permitting. Banksia Beach Park is a large waterfront park along Solander Esplanade with existing facilities including a basketball half-court, barbecues, and fitness and playground equipment. The upgrade builds on those existing amenities, bringing the foreshore in line with the needs of a growing community that uses the park year-round.

The works cover a stretch of the esplanade that sits directly opposite the calm waters of Pumicestone Passage, one of the most scenic and well-used recreational corridors on Bribie Island. For Banksia Beach residents, this is the park families walk to on weekends, where children play cricket and kick a football in the open oval area, and where visitors pause at the Flinders monument to take in the views toward the Glasshouse Mountains.

Three Stages, One Transformed Foreshore

The upgrade divides the Solander Esplanade corridor into three stages, each addressing a different section of the park.

Stage 1, covering the western green at the northern end of the esplanade, involves removing a section of the existing path to open up a larger kick-and-play area, relocating the Matthew Flinders monument to a more prominent and accessible position, and installing a new footpath, bench seating and a water fountain.

Stage 2, the central section along the esplanade, delivers two new DDA-compliant basket swing elements, replacement of old picnic settings and park benches, and installation of new water fountains and bin enclosures. DDA basket swings, which allow children using wheelchairs and those with limited mobility to swing alongside their peers, represent a meaningful step toward a fully inclusive foreshore space.

Stage 3, at the southern end near the Sunderland Drive amenities, adds a new picnic setting and BBQ adjacent to the existing toilet block, replaces old picnic settings and park benches, and installs new water fountains and bin enclosures.

The Matthew Flinders Monument: A Landmark Worth Knowing

The relocation of the Matthew Flinders monument, currently positioned in the northern section of the park, is one of the more historically significant aspects of the project. The monument commemorates Captain Matthew Flinders’ exploration of the area, and was unveiled on the anniversary of his landing on Bribie Island on 16 July 1799.

Flinders, aboard the sloop Norfolk, sailed into Moreton Bay in July 1799, and on 16 July made first landfall on Bribie Island near what is now Banksia Beach, becoming the first recorded European to set foot on the island. The monument marks one of Queensland’s most significant moments of European exploration. Relocating it to a position with better sight lines and surrounding open space will allow it to serve as a genuine focal point within the upgraded park, rather than sitting on the edge of a pathway.

What This Means for the Banksia Beach Community

For Banksia Beach residents, the upgrade addresses years of incremental wear on a park that, despite its exceptional setting, had been running on ageing infrastructure. New DDA-compliant swings mean children and adults of all abilities can use the play equipment together. Replacement picnic settings and BBQ facilities across all three stages mean families can gather comfortably along the entire esplanade stretch, not just near the southern end. New bin enclosures help keep the foreshore clean alongside the calm passage waters, and additional water fountains reduce the need to bring supplies for longer visits.

The open kick-and-play space created in Stage 1 gives families and younger residents more room to use the park’s green, which previously had its usable area narrowed by the existing path alignment. Taken together, the three stages transform a well-loved but tired foreshore into an accessible, well-equipped community space that reflects the growing residential population of Banksia Beach.

Construction Details and Contact Information

Works are scheduled to commence in April 2026 and run for approximately 16 weeks, weather permitting. Construction will take place during daytime hours between 7:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday. Contractors will work to minimise disruption to surrounding properties, and residents will be notified in advance of any changes to working hours. The works may affect resident access and traffic flow along Solander Esplanade, and the project contractor will liaise directly with affected residents to maintain access where needed.

Residents with questions about the project can contact the Project Development and Delivery team on (07) 3205 0555 or via email at council@moretonbay.qld.gov.au, quoting reference 107476.

Published 20-March-2026.

Featured Image Credit: Google Earth