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Construction Ongoing for New Brighton Homes Arena in Springfield Central

Did you know that the Brisbane Lions, the reigning AFLW premiers, will have a new home in Springfield Central? Construction has started for $70 million Brighton Homes Arena, opening opportunities for 187 tradies jobs and boosting the economy of Queensland.

Read: DA to Build a Football Stadium and Training Facility in Springfield Central Lodged

Brighton Homes Arena, projected for completion in September 2022, will be a modern stadium that can accommodate over 10,000 spectators and 600 fans in the grandstand. The facilities will also include shaded and disabled seats, as well as other features — such as a gym, pool, childcare centre, and lawn for events — that will make this sports centre an all-year-round community hub. 

As the new home of the Brisbane Lions, the arena will have a high-performance training and support centre with specially designed equal features for both the men’s and women’s team. 

“It’s fantastic to see the construction team on-site and delivering jobs for tradies,” Member for Jordan Charis Mullen said. “We’ve always wanted to see access to this important sporting infrastructure investment shared with the whole community and that’s what we’ve achieved. It’s an important win for both women’s AFL and our community.”  

Photo Credit: Brisbane Lions

Funding for Brighton Homes Arena was divided among the State Government ($18 million), the Federal Government ($15 million), the Brisbane Lions and the AFL ($10 million) and the Ipswich City Council ($20 million). Architects from Populous did the design that will be built by Hutchinson. 

“We know this complex will inspire the next generation of young girls to chase their sporting goals,” State Sports Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said. “When girls and women have the infrastructure and coaching support they need to be their best, the sky’s the limit.”

Read: New Ipswich Hospital Ward on Track for Completion

“From community to elite football, Queensland is experiencing phenomenal growth in girls and young women playing AFL. Right now, 42 per cent of AFL players in Queensland are female, up by an impressive 331 per cent in just seven years.”

Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann said that the arena will bring a “transformative impact” to the club, the AFL women’s matches and the supporters of this sport in Queensland. On the other hand, Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said that the location is perfect as it is beside the train station and the booming eastern suburbs.

Brighton Homes Arena will also be used for various AFLQ community programs and the NEAF.

New Ipswich Hospital Ward on Track for Completion

The Ipswich community will soon benefit from the much-needed redevelopment at the Ipswich Hospital as the first new ward to be built in seven years is on track for its targeted completion date.

Read: Springfield Lakes Experiencing GP Shortage Amid a Population Boom

The new 26-bed medical and surgical ward, which falls under West Moreton Health’s 15-year Master Plan, is set to open in September 2021. The new facility includes a patient transit lounge, which goes in line with the hospital’s patient-centred care. 

This project is part of Stage 1 of the Ipswich Hospital Expansion following the opening of the Oncology Day Unit in April and the Allied Health Services – Outpatients area in May.

Photo Credit: Paynters

Queensland Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath, Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard and Member for Bundamba Lance McCallum visited the site at the end of May to check the development’s progress and was met by West Moreton Health Chief Executive Dr Kerrie Freeman. 

“These expansion projects will make a significant difference to the patients in our care,” Dr Freeman said. 

“The master-planned Ipswich Hospital Precinct is vital to ensuring we meet the health needs of West Moreton residents now and into the future in a safe and sustainable way as we move towards becoming a tertiary hospital.”

Read: Construction Begins for $91 Million Acute Mental Health Unit in Ipswich Hospital

Construction for the Ipswich Hospital ward started in mid-2020 and was projected to be ready before the flu season. 

“It will help meet a rapid growth in demand and will mean more patients from the region can be treated closer to home,” Ms Howard said. 

Springfield Lakes Experiencing GP Shortage Amid a Population Boom

GP clinics in Springfield Lakes have started turning down requests for appointments of residents due to the shortage of doctors in the area. The problem expected to continue as the region west of Brisbane goes through a population boom unless measures are undertaken to reduce the backlog.

Read: St Augustine’s College in Greater Springfield Switching to Renewable Power

By 2041, the Ipswich region could have more than 550,000 residents, up from 226,857 in 2020, as it is the fastest-growing city in Queensland. However, residents have been raising concerns over the lack of essential services as more families move into housing developments, especially in the Springfield Lakes area, which has been touted as a family-oriented location. 

As it is, families have to leave Springfield Lakes to see a GP because clinics in their own suburb are all booked well in advance. 

According to Dr Maria Boulton of the chairperson of Australian Medical Association Queensland, GP shortage is not just a problem in Springfield Lakes but also across the region. She cited that Gold Coast doctors are pressed to see 30 percent more patients on a daily basis to do away with backlogs. 

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Despite the effort to see more patients, GP clinics continue to be booked out, especially for patients seeking support for mental health. In Brisbane, a three to six months waitlist with a psychiatrist is becoming more common, Dr Boulton said. 

The GP also revealed that her clinic in Brisbane’s northside has been busier than ever despite adding three new doctors. She believes the solution is to get more support and funding from the government for general practice. 

The Federal Government has committed $1.8 billion for primary healthcare for the 2021-2022 financial year, where $65 million will go to tackling GP shortages in regional areas. It’s still unclear, however, if Springfield Lakes will benefit from this budget. 

St Augustine’s College in Greater Springfield Switching to Renewable Power

A number of Catholic schools in Queensland are taking concrete actions to reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact, including St Augustine’s College in Greater Springfield.

St Augustine’s College is one of the first institutions, among 115 Queensland Catholic schools, to make the switch to renewable power following the partnership between Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) and ENGIE Australia.  

Read: Environbank Installs Super Kiosk RVM at Springfield Orion Shopping Centre

The provider will be aggregating 26,000 MWh a year of renewable energy to various archdiocese buildings to save on utility costs and to maximise the benefits of solar power. The move is also part of Greater Springfield’s goal to become a 100 percent renewable city by 2038. 

Photo Credit: St Augustine’s College

In a statement, BCE executive director Dr Doug Ashleigh said that they have been educating their students about the value of environmental sustainability. Thus, this move towards green electricity shows how they are leading by example. 

Dr Ashleigh said that the partnership with ENGIE Australia is a win for both the environment and their school budget as it will cut down their power cost.

Read: New STEM Centre Opens at Ipswich Grammar School

ENGIE Australia head Andrew Hyland welcomed the chance to work with a diverse range of businesses that now includes schools that will ramp up their role in net zero energy transition. At the same time, their service demonstrates the stability and reliability of using 100 precent renewable energy. 

Gelatissimo Springfield Now Offers Limited-Edition Flavours from Around the World

Filipino Ube Cheesecake. Hawaiian Tropical Coconut. Belgian Chocolate Marble Seashells. Sample the flavours of the world through gelato at Gelatissimo Orion Springfield Central and other Gelatissimo stores across Brisbane.  

Read:  Moey’s Butcher & Grill: Largest Range of Quality Meat Opens in Springfield Lakes

Available for a limited time only,  “Flavours Around the World” brings three distinct flavours to enjoy. First on the list is their all-new Filipino Ube Cheesecake. This exciting new addition to their selection consists of ube — a delicacy from the Philippines made of mashed and boiled purple yam — as well as chunks of the more local Jiggle Cheesecake. 

Photo credit: Instagram/Gelatissimo

For those wanting a tropical beach vibe, Hawaiian Tropical Coconut consists of coconut gelato topped with pineapple chunks and salted macadamias, harvested from rainforests in Northern New South Wales and Queensland. Their tropical flavours, when blended together, aim to recreate the essence of Hawaii. 

Photo credit: Instagram/Gelatissimo

Belgian Choc Marble Seashells is an inspired creation made out of white chocolate gelato with a hazelnut ripple alongside authentic Italian hazelnut swirls reminiscent of Belgian chocolates. 

Photo credit: Instagram/Gelatissimo

Since these limited flavours have been launched, sales have been brisk with some flavours rapidly selling out due to popularity and demand. The promotion is available for a limited time only, until supplies last, so check your nearest store for availability. 

For more information on stores and store hours, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on scoops and serves, deals and dates, as well as any other special announcements concerning their limited-time flavours.

Moey’s Butcher & Grill: Largest Range of Quality Meat Opens in Springfield Lakes

Did you know that there’s a new butcher shop with an adjacent dining area on Springfield Lakes Boulevard? Moey’s Butcher & Grill is the newest business on the block, opening the butcher section of its operations in mid-April. It will soon launch its grill section as the eatery completes the menu.

Owner Moey Altaaf Sharif has been pleased with the community’s response following the launch of Moey’s butcher. He revealed that the grill will open as they get their meat shop running smoothly.

Read: New Stellar STEM Program Launched in a Springfield Indigenous School

The butcher has been serving Springfield Lakes locals daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. but once the restaurant starts trading, the meat shop will extend its opening hours to 9:00 p.m. 

Customers have also been asking Moey’s butcher to come up with a delivery system and it’s under consideration. However, Moey said that they would “prefer interacting with our customers face to face so we can recommend the best cuts and have a chat.” 

Moey’s also stocks up on supplies for the 15 variants of Lanes seasonings and rubs. 

“Lanes do not contain any animal products, just pure spices to enhance your meat to the next level!” Moey said. 

The butcher shop sources their products from Australia’s best producers, delivering tender and juicy cuts.

“We only sell the best Beef from Australia’s most exclusive export producers.”

Meanwhile, Moey’s restaurant will be serving burgers (both meat and plant-based), steaks and steak sandwich, wraps and rolls, charcoal-grilled meats and veggies, and an abundance of side orders, including Turkish bread and dips. They’ll also offer Baklava with ice cream for dessert lovers. 

Read: Environbank Installs Super Kiosk RVM at Springfield Orion Shopping Centre

Follow Moey’s Butcher & Grill on Facebook for updates on deals and their restaurant’s opening day. 

New Stellar STEM Program Launched in a Springfield Indigenous School

Hymba Yumba Independent School, a Springfield indigenous school, was the site of the national unveiling of the Stellar STEM Program for 14 schools in Springfield, Ipswich, Logan and Brisbane. The program is a project of PFI Aerospace Richland.

Read: New STEM Centre Opens at Ipswich Grammar School

PFI Aerospace general manager Megan Badger and her team were at the school on 19 April 2021 to guide the students on how to make a Hybrid rocket motor, which was then ignited at the school grounds. The event became a symbolic “launchpad” for female students to consider pursuing a passion for STEM.  

Also present during the launch were Dr Kaye Spark (Ph.D. soil science, environmental science, research scientist) and Harriet Angus (mechanical engineer) who answered questions from the students as they presented a hands-on workshop. 

The students said that they thought it was cool and empowering to see women in science demonstrating how to build a functioning rocket.

Principal Peter Foster said that Hymba Yumba Independent School’s female population consists of 140 jarjums (Aboriginal word for children) from a total of 280 students. Mr Forster welcomed the program as the girls could learn from the best at STEM. The principal also said that he hopes to see more female jarjums enjoying science and expressing an interest in a science-based career when they graduate from school.  

Read: Environbank Installs Super Kiosk RVM at Springfield Orion Shopping Centre

Incidentally, Hymba Yumba Independent School moved into its new $3.5 million science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics building in February 2021, which has been the centre of learning for the jarjums. 

Construction Begins for $91 Million Acute Mental Health Unit in Ipswich Hospital

Work on a 50-bed Acute Mental Health Unit (AMHU) will start at West Moreton Health amidst the government’s commitment to expand the Ipswich hospital precinct.

The AMHU, which is part of the Stage 1 expansion and was funded $91 million, is set for construction in mid-April 2021 with a projected opening date for late 2022. Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Yvette D’Ath confirmed that BESIX Watpac will build the three-storey facility. 

Read: Environbank Installs Super Kiosk RVM at Springfield Orion Shopping Centre

Designed with three courtyards for the patients and their families, the mental health unit will also be surrounded by native trees, shrubs and a bush tucker garden. 

“When staff and consumers transition to the new building, the existing mental health unit at the hospital will be demolished,” Member for Ipswich West Jim Madden said. “An enclosed overhead bridge will link the new facility with Ipswich Hospital for the safe movement of patients, staff and equipment.

“The demolition will free up valuable land on the hospital site for future expansion and development of the Ipswich Hospital Precinct.”

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Apart from the construction of AMHU, the project has moved on to the business case study of Stage 2 of the master plan, putting West Moreton Health a step closer to reaching its goals to provide person-centred care as Ipswich’s population increases.

Experts predict that in 15 years, more than half a million people will consider West Moreton in Ipswich their home, doubling the region’s current population.

Read: New STEM Centre Opens at Ipswich Grammar School

“The Palaszczuk Government has invested more than $146.3 million over 5 years for Stage 1 of the master-planned expansion of Ipswich Hospital and related health services to meet the needs of the fast-growing region,” Ms D’Ath said.

“Delivering the master-planned Ipswich Health Precinct has been a top priority for the Palaszczuk Government because it means that locals will have improved access to top-quality healthcare and create local jobs along the way.”

Environbank Installs Super Kiosk RVM at Springfield Orion Shopping Centre

Do you need to dispose of bottles, cans and other recyclables at home? There’s now a convenient and contactless way to do this at the Springfield Orion Shopping Centre, where Environbank has installed a Super Kiosk RVM (reverse vending machine).

Read: YMCA Springfield Lakes Community Centre Lines Up On-Site School Holiday Activities

Found at the centre’s carpark, the Super Kiosk RVM is a piece of high-tech equipment that can process over 100 bottles per minute and recycle up to 1,120 glass bottles or 3,000 PET per unit. As a reverse vending machine, this facility allows users to earn rewards like cash via a bank refund if people sign up with Envirobank’s Crunch app. 

Photo Credit: Environbank

For every recycled container, users can earn up to 15 Crunch credits equivalent to 10 cents. When users have accumulated a set amount, they may redeem these for rewards or transfer the cash with Environbank’s participating partners. 

The Crunch app is linked to various stores where users may redeem their credits, such as Coles, Target, KMart, Dominos, iTunes, PlayStation, Optus and Vodafone. 

Here’s what can and can be “deposited” at the Super Kiosk RVM: 

Photo Credit: Environbank

Additionally, the RVM has a scanner for reading the container’s barcode, which will determine the eligibility.

Environbank, established in 2008, is an Indigenous-owned company that aims to create social impact and boost the public’s recycling habits. It works in conjunction with Containers for Change to improve Queensland’s recycling rate to 85 percent by 2022. 

Read: New STEM Centre Opens at Ipswich Grammar School

Despite recycling over two billion plastic, cans and bottles in the last two years, Queensland still has less than 45 percent recycling rate and it’s lower compared to other regions. The pandemic lockdowns forced some facilities to close as work-from-home became the norm. The Super Kiosk RVM could be the innovation to usher more changes, to benefit the environment, as it also partners with businesses. 

YMCA Springfield Lakes Community Centre Lines Up On-Site School Holiday Activities

Did you know that YMCA Springfield Lakes Community Centre on Springfield Lakes Boulevard has some fun and enriching on-site activities for children for this school holiday? School might be out for the next two weeks following Easter but that doesn’t mean they have to stop learning or interacting socially.

Read: New STEM Centre Opens at Ipswich Grammar School

To keep the children occupied and to help them discover new skills to nurture their development, YMCA Springfield Lakes Community Centre has prepared heaps of daily sessions for children between three to 12 years old.

The program will take place from 6 to 16 April 2021, between 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 

Photo Credit: Facebook

Here are the activities lined up for the April 2021 School Holiday Program: 

WHENWHAT
6 April 2021Easter Hat ParadeDecorate an Easter hat and parade around the centre 
7 April 2021DecoupageGlue coloured paper cutouts in the shape of a dinosaur, rabbit or unicorn
8 April 2021African DrummingLearn about the African culture using instruments* with singing and dancing
9 April 2021Pysalla Beads
For above 5-years-old		Design patterns and melt beads to create beautiful, decorative plaques
12 April 2021LEGO Morning Creative play with building blocks
13 April 2021Rainbow Wall HangingCraft a decorative rainbow wall hanging piece
14 April 2021Pirates DayDress up as a pirate and join the games, arts & crafts
15 April 2021Cupcake Pan ArtCreate cupcake pan art with patty pans
16 April 2021 Yarn Wrap LettersLearn how to make yarn wrap letters to hang in the bedroom

Interested? All the parents need to do is to register for a slot online and then bring their kids on the site and pay the $2 donation to join in the activities. They have to present a digital copy of their booked ticket at the entrance. 

Photo Credit: Facebook

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only one adult is allowed to accompany per child. Participants are also expected to observe protocols like sanitizing, proper hygiene and social distancing. 

Read: New Learning Facilities Delivered to Goodna State Special School

If a child or a parent feels unwell or has symptoms of the cold or flu, it’s highly recommended that they sit this one out and forfeit their booking. They may, however, transfer their registration to someone else in case they won’t be able to use it. 

For enquiries and other concerns, contact the YMCA centre at 07 3288 2292 or program.officersl@ymcabrisbane.org.