Homepage Latest News Archives - Page 40 of 65

Swifts Sports Club Proposes to Buy Cameron Park Land to Proceed with Upgrades

For more than 20 years, the sports facility at Cameron Park in Booval has been the home of the Swifts Sports Club. Plans have now been made to sell the land and buildings so that the club can proceed with some much-needed upgrades.

Ipswich’s Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee has received the club’s expression of interest to buy the property and begin a $7.4 million refurbishment over the next few years.

According to Council, allowing Swifts Sports Club to keep its lease, as per the original arrangement, would mean the use of public funding to complete its refurbishment.

However, the budget allocated for the club’s facilities will not be enough to cover the required construction work.

“The club has made a proposal to purchase the land and will upgrade the facilities at its own cost but if the sale doesn’t go ahead, the Council will have to pay for refurbishment,” per Mayor Teresa Harding, who is also the chair of the Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee.

“The sale would only affect the land on which the club facilities are built – the rest of Cameron Park will remain as it is, owned and managed by Council.”

If the sale pushes through, Swifts Sports Club may be able to file a development application for their new building proposal.

“The community would have further opportunities to comment on any changes the club proposes in their development application which considers building heights, noise, parking and visual amenity,” Ms Harding added.

In November 2021, the Council resolved to sell the property after a series of meetings with the club and consultations with the community. Whilst the public consultation has closed as of 17 Sept 2022, locals may still provide feedback about selling the property to Shape Your Ipswich at communityengagement@wsp.com or via phone at 3368 6693.

Swifts Sports Club, a semi-professional rugby league club, was founded in 1919.

Goodna Charity Builds Sleeping Pods For The Homeless

Hoping to make a difference in the community, charity Goodna Street Life has started building sleeping pods to provide emergency sleeping accommodation for homeless individuals.

Read: Environmentalists Challenge Development of Luxe Retirement Eco-Village Abadi Gaia in Goodna

The sleeping pods were placed at the back of Helen’s Haven, a supported tiny homes community development which combines affordable living and the individual supports people need to gain housing independence.

Inspired by Japan’s capsule hotels, there’s a mattress and bed provided, and they come outfitted with USB charger and lights which are all powered by solar.

The sleeping pods provide immediate access to a safe and secure place, free of charge, to get people off the streets and connected with support immediately.

The organisation, which has already built six pods for the initial stage of the project, is aiming to build 30 pods.

Photo credit: Councillor Nicole Jonic – Ipswich City Council/Facebook

The Japanese-inspired sleeping pods are a big help for those who need them the most, but the group is still hoping these individuals will be given long-term housing.

“We believe everyone has the right to a safe and secure home. When we give people the opportunity and support to build themselves up, they have the best chance to overcome the challenges and obstacles they face,” the organisation stated.

Whilst they can offer help as much as they can, the group only relies on funds through donations, op shop sales, contributions from tenants and services offered by volunteers.

The Complex Causes of Homelessness

Goodna Street Life shared that the leading cause of homelessness is accommodation issues (34 percent), which already covers housing crisis and inadequate or inappropriate dwellings.

The latest figures by the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy revealed the Queensland government has built 326 new social homes in the latest financial year, which is only half from what was built from the 2020-2021 fiscal year, with around 631 homes completed.

Read: Landfills in Ipswich Under Investigation as Residents Fight for Clean Air

In relation to housing concerns, CHDE released a Strategic Plan for 2022-2026, which highlights their objectives like creating jobs, increasing the supply of social and affordable homes through new investment, and partnering with the community housing sector and private industry.

To see how you can help Goodna Street Life with their project, visit goodnastreetlife.org.au.

Foul-Smelling Cell Within New Chum Landfill to Shutdown in 2023

Cleanway Waste Management has decided to shut down a foul-smelling cell within the New Chum landfill in 2023, following orders to reduce the volume of its intake and rehabilitate the area.

In June, Cleanway was slapped with an Environmental Protection Order to assess its gas management for Cell 3B and come up with a plan to reduce its emissions after residents complained of the odour reaching their homes.

The New Chum landfill was heavily affected during the February floods and had to undertake excessive remediations. More rains, however, impacted the facility and added to the damage of a new cell, which was yet to finish construction.

According to the State Government, 4.9 ML of water still remains in the new cell as of the end of August 2022, which is roughly the size of two Olympic-sized swimming pools. Cleanway has until the 6th of September 2022 to comply with the Notice of Proposed Amendment with the Department of Environment and Science before the company will be cleared for expansion.

Cleanway has been pumping and dosing the water, whilst aeration and deodorising have continued. These remediations have apparently cost the company millions in expenses.

“As a result of the extended timeframe for remediation, the site is likely to be closed throughout FY23,” the company said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Teresa Harding said that whilst Cleanway has been working closely with Council, the Department and the community, the State Government’s action is already a win for Ispwich.

“Unfortunately, our residents are all too familiar with the offensive odours that arise from private landfills sites in Ipswich,” Mayor Harding said.

“The extreme rainfall from Ipswich’s February floods had pooled in a landfill cell at the Cleanaway site which has contributed significantly to a powerful odour blanketing several suburbs.

“Residents will no doubt be relieved to hear that the State intends to direct Cleanaway to permanently close the landfill cell and fully restore it.”

‘The World’s Greatest Freakshow’ Is Coming to Springfield Lakes

Photo Credit: World's Greatest Freakshow / Facebook

‘The World’s Greatest Freakshow’ is coming to Springfield Lakes! After successfully staging sold-out shows in Melbourne, this unique production will tour Queensland and New South Wales throughout spring and summer.

Inspired by the Hollywood mega-hit “The Greatest Showman”, Play Nation Events and Big Deal Touring are bringing to Australia a one-of-a-kind freaky production that showcases unrivalled talents from some of the most unique, freakiest acts around.

The World’s Greatest Freakshow is currently being staged in Las Vegas where it enjoys sold-out performances. Now, this mind-blowing theatrical piece is coming to Queensland and New South Wales beginning in late August touring multiple venues in major cities and regional towns.

So, who’s headlining the Springfield Lakes performance?

The Great Gordo Gamsby

Gordo has performed on TV shows around the world, from the little sideshow to the big stage. With Guinness World Records tucked under his belt, why wouldn’t anyone be impressed?

Samora Squid

Prepare yourself for some mesmerising performance from Samora as this stretchy, slimy and sexy sweetheart of the sideshow delivers stunts that will leave you breathless.

Sian Brigid

Dancing on glass, laying on nails and other thrilling and unimaginable stunts. Who would have thought that these performances would come from a former ballerina? Witness why Sian is one of Canberra’s most celebrated circus acts.

Aleksandra The Great

The Advertiser dubbed Aleksandra The Great as “gruesome yet oddly sexy”. Celebrated for their deadly talents and sensual striptease, this act is a definite must-see.

Miss Friby

Expect this modern-day Lucille Ball to deliver the most hilarious gags that earned this wise-cracking satirist a spot in the 2013 Australia’s Got Talent Finals and nominations for Green Room Awards and Field Awards.

This epic theatrical show is scheduled to perform in Springfield Lakes at the Springfield Lakes Hotel this Friday, 9 September 2022. Doors will open at 8 pm, the show starts at 8.30 pm

Get your tickets here

For a full list of other performance dates and venues, click here.

1 Springfield Lakes Blvd, Springfield Lakes, Qld

HOYTS Named Flagship Cinema for Nicholas Street Precinct

The redeveloped Nicholas Street Precinct will soon have a state-of-the-art cinema with six screens and power recliner seats after securing HOYTS as its newest tenant.

Dubbed “one of the world’s leading entertainment corporations,” the movie company will be established at the Venue Building and open in late 2023, offering more than 90 jobs.

The site was formerly occupied by Birch Carroll & Coyle Cinemas, which shut down in mid-2019 due to the “declining retail environment” and the redevelopment of the precinct.

HOYTS Nicholas St Precint — Photo Credit: Google Maps

“Activating the cinema site is critical to the precinct’s success, which is why Council has endorsed additional investment to deliver this important piece of the puzzle,” Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said.

“The total boost to the local economy from the Nicholas Street Precinct is expected to total $1.196 billion between 2020 and 2032, so in the long-term, this is a great outcome for the city.

“The opening of the cinema will be a huge step forward in reinvigorating this area by providing an anchor tenant that will not only bring additional people to the Nicholas Street Precinct but will also create local employment and have a positive economic and social impact on the surrounding areas.”

Location IQ, a property economics consultancy, produced a report indicating Ipswich has an undersupply of cinema venues.

However, the operator of Limelight Cinemas nearby has opened a petition to stop Ipswich City Council’s plan to bring a “foreign mega-conglomerate to operate these cinemas, in direct competition with existing local operators.” The petition has since garnered more than 2,000 signatures.

Leda Holdings Chairman Bob Ell, who owns the said boutique arts-style cinema just 500 metres away from the Venues Building, said that while he supports the rejuvenation of the precinct, he believes Council should have invested in providing office spaces for companies and government departments instead of more retail and lifestyle tenants.

Optus Plans to Install 5G Telecommunications Facility on Springfield Lakes Boulevard

Telecommunications giant, Optus, has submitted plans to install a 5G telecommunications facility in Springfield Lakes to meet the rising demand for faster internet as more people work or study at home.

Under the proposal (DA 6935/2022/MCU) filed in July 2022, Optus plans to install a 10m monopole with a 5m turret mount and six-panel antennas, 12 Remote Radio Units and ancillary equipment. The site in contention for the 5G telecommunications facility is within the parking area on 18 Springfield Lakes Boulevard.

“A thorough analysis of potential sites was done during the initial investigation, which included factors such as the ability to meet the required coverage and technical objectives, landowner interest, opportunities for co-location, the surrounding landscape and community needs,” Jessica Bradbury, the senior town planner wrote in the proposal.

“Based on this assessment, Optus determined that the above address would be the most appropriate location to establish a facility to provide mobile voice and data coverage to Springfield Lakes area.”

5g telecommunications facility — Photo Credit: Development Application 6935/2022/MCU

However, Tom Foote, Ipswich City Council’s development assessment manager, wrote Ms Bradbury on 5 Aug 2022 to withdraw the application and resubmit a new proposal to comply with section 51 of the Planning Act 2016, among other issues with the chosen location.

“It is recommended that the applicant withdraw the current application and lodge an application for an Area Development Plan to nominate the land for a Public Utility and permit the development of a Public Utility.”

“The applicant is encouraged to liaise with Council with respect to withdrawing the current application and lodging a new application for the proposed use pursuant to the Springfield Structure Plan.”

The town planner has heeded the advice and has yet to submit a new DA within 20 days.

Environmentalists Challenge Development of Luxe Retirement Eco-Village Abadi Gaia in Goodna

Abadi Gaia, a planned development consisting of a luxe retirement eco-village and aged care facility across five hectares of bushland in Goodna, has been met with strong objections from locals and environmentalists.

PGS Invest Pty Ltd lodged the development application (DA 11756/2021/MCU) with the City of Ipswich for Abadi Gaia, which means “Mother Earth,” in July 2021. Its approval is still under review following a public notification from May to June 2022.

Billed as the “world’s best-designed eco-retirement village,” Abadi Gaia will comprise 189 independent living units and a dementia facility with 81 beds and 15 special disability units. The facility will also have a hub and piazza precinct with restaurants and community venues, like a gym, sauna, business centre, and library.

“Abadi Gaia Adult Residential Village is an active resort retirement, aged care & dementia and SDA facility in keeping with, and enhancing the environmental attributes of the site, presenting a quality in design concept and build intended as a hallmark in retirement excellence, offering benefits not only to residents and tenants but also serving the greater community,” the company said.

However, the location of the residential village is also along a passageway for the endangered koalas. Members of the Bellbird Park Preservation Group said that the development would impact the animals navigating through the bushlands.

“This site represents a critically important linkage role as part of a Koala Corridor stretching from Ric Nattrass Environmental Park, through to the Church Street Reserve, and further on to the Redbank Rifle Range. These sites are within the Redbank Urban Consolidated Area as defined within ICC’s 2017 Koala Conservation and Habitat Management Plan,” Terry Winston of the preservation group said.

“The proposed development will have a detrimental impact by restricting the Koala movement trying to navigate through a Corridor that not only runs parallel to the High Voltage Transmission Power Lines, but has a minimal width varying from 45 metres (narrowest) to 51 metres.

“The fact that over 1,700 Non-Juvenile Koala Habitat Trees will be cleared as a result of this proposed development is not justifiable in this set of circumstances.”

However, Adam Slijderink, the head of PGS, believes that the multi-million dollar development will improve the koala habitat as provisions have been included to add more trees in the area.

Prior to submitting the development application, the PGS team reviewed environmental reports from 2007 to current to know the risks to wildlife. As he understands it, koalas have not been using the corridor for years due to a lack of vegetation, and their project will fix this gap.

Mr Slijderink, a globally recognised builder, is also an environmental specialist, who is dealing with his own health and disability concerns and is expecting his health to deteriorate in the next five years. Thus, he understands the need for such a specialized facility in Ipswich.

The preservation group, however, said that tree replanting will not be enough as endangered species do not have enough time to wait for the trees to grow. They are hoping that the Council will also buy part of the bushland and work with the developer to completely rehabilitate the surrounding.

Brisbane Lions’ New Home Christened As Brighton Homes Arena

Brisbane Lions’ new home in Springfield is anticipated to open in 2022, and it will go by the name Brighton Homes Arena.

Read: Springfield Lakes Property Market Continues to Surpass Previous Records

The Brighton Homes Arena, which will also be called Springfield Central Stadium will feature a $70-million high-performance training and support centre and an adjoining sport and leisure hub that’s expected to cost $100 million.

The name Brighton Homes Arena will be used for commercial purposes, taken after the Lions’ official partner, Brighton Homes.

brisbane lions new hq — Photo credit: lions.com.au

It will accommodate up to 10,000 spectators for major sports matches and community events. A grandstand, seating over 600 spectators, will include technical infrastructure to support the broadcasting of major events.

Currently undergoing construction, the arena will also play host to the club’s AFL Women’s home matches. It’s expected to become Queensland’s best sports training complex and the first purpose-built arena to showcase women’s football in Australia.

To meet the audience’s expectations in terms of comfort and accessibility, the facility will have pedestrian concourses, seating, shade and catering facilities.

It will be home to the Lions’ Hyundai Help For Kids Academy, community education and meeting spaces, a café and aquatic facilities.

Also part of the project is a new multi-storey car park, located adjacent to the arena, that will provide more than 1,000 car parks for rail commuters on weekdays and for attendees of major arena events.

brighton homes — Photo credit: lions.com.au

“Community sports matches will be played on the main oval as scheduling permits, with infrastructure to support community use to be built underneath the grandstand. The arena will also be suitable to stage non-sporting events including festivals and community gatherings,” the Brisbane Lions announced.

Based on the timeline for the project, works are expected to be complete this September, with the Lions planning to move into their new facility in late 2022.

Intervention Initiative Helps African-Australian Youths Reconnect With Their Community and Culture

Photo Credit: Lance McCallum MP / Facebook

Established last year by the Queensland African Communities Council, the African Youth Support Council has been actively involved in reconnecting African-Australian youths with their culture and communities through mentoring, life skill workshops and more.

The African Youth Centre opened in Redbank Plains in 2021 as an intervention and rehabilitation initiative to help disengaged African Australian youth in detention. Their program has since expanded to include youths in schools to help mitigate the rising number of juvenile offenders.

By providing an environment where youths feel a sense of belonging without feeling judged and discover their own identity and re-engage with their culture, the program hopes to build trust for service providers and divert them from a life of crime.

“When I came to the leadership of the Queensland African Communities Council, issues I identified with young people were around crime, disengagement and issues around parenting and engagement with the schools and the system in general,” Beny Bol, President of the Queensland African Communities Council said.

He said that being born or coming to Australia at a very young age, many of these African-Australian youths are often confused and don’t feel connected to their culture and Australian community thus they engage in antisocial behaviour.

“I realised most of our young people in the African community are going through an identity crisis, because they probably were born in Australia, or came here when they were relatively younger but have a different cultural background, so in order to come up with a strategy to solve these problems, you have to think of something that is different from what you would deliver with a mainstream service program.

At the heart of the program are youth mentors who run intervention and rehabilitation programs across Ipswich, Brisbane and Logan. Mr Bol believes that a way to help solve social issues that youths face is to empower them and put them into leadership roles.

“I identified some leading young people in our community and I challenged them. “ I said, ‘This is your problem, so you must take the lead, and I will advocate for you, support you and help you look for the resources’.

“We observed young people would listen to other young people, so the best way to turn things around and engage them was to empower them in these leadership roles.”

QACC is already eyeing an expansion and is seeking funding to establish two new centres to help more African-Australian youths who are at risk or who are already engaged in antisocial and criminal behaviour.

Springfield Lakes Property Market Continues to Surpass Previous Records

Despite the pandemic’s impact on many property markets, April 2021 to March 2022 has been quite a lucrative period for many investors in the Springfield Lakes property market, where home values have continued to surpass previous records.

Springfield Lakes House Price Growth

Figures from Property Market Updates for the period of April 2021 to March 2022 show that house prices in Springfield Lakes tracked a robust growth at 27.68 per cent. Home values have risen to a $565,000 median price compared to $442,500 last year.

Some 671 homes were sold for this period within an average of 23 days, reflecting a busy and active market. Four-bedroom homes were very popular with investors, accounting for 435 completed transactions.

Springfield Lakes Unit Price Growth

On the other hand, unit prices for Springfield Lakes have tracked a slow but steady pace from April 2021 to March 2022. The median price for apartments is now at $442,900 with just a fragment of growth at 2.07 per cent compared to the previous period.

Only 119 units were acquired during this period, which was up the market for an average of 46 days. Because of the minimal price difference between houses and units, buyers are more likely to invest in a house than live in an apartment. Unit dwellers wouldn’t be hard-pressed to upgrade as well.

Springfield Lakes Property Market Post-Flooding

Despite the devastating February 2022 floods, impacted suburbs in Brisbane have shown high resilience. It took Springfield Lakes and other Brisbane suburbs three years to recover from the 2011 flooding, amidst the dwindling confidence in the market.

However, more growth is projected in the next few months after the 2022 flooding. In fact, Springfield Lakes’ property market grew to 31 per cent between 2011 and 2022. The suburb continues to attract investors due to its growth potential.

Suburbs all across Brisbane haven’t seen a decrease in house prices for over a year, despite the calamity. Industry experts forecast a continuation of the favourable conditions smaller Australian cities have enjoyed due to affordability, heightened demand but low stock, and interstate migration.

The growth will be supported by heaps of infrastructure projects in the coming years leading up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. The $1.8 billion South East Queensland City Deal will usher in the construction of a handful of train stations in residential growth areas in Springfield and Ipswich.

“The area is very well planned, and has a great community spirit – there is always plenty to do and people to meet. There are a lot of plans for the future of the area too, which is promising and in terms of accessibility to the city, trains will be going to the area very soon and other transport is already in place if you don’t want to deal with CBD traffic.”
Em

“It is a FANTASTIC community. Very family orientated with great schools and childcare. People are just friendly here when you go walking around the lakes – and plenty of parks (the water park is wonderful for younger children). You will not regret living here.”
Happy