The 4th of March was the 2018 Clean Up Australia Day (CUAD) and Ipswich City Council encouraged locals to participate by taking photos of the most littered item – cigarette butts. In Greater Springfield, more focus was put on Spring Lake, Regatta Lake and Discovery Lake. Canoeists were also encouraged to get rubbish from the lakes.
Registered participants in CUAD were also encouraged to join the Ipswich City Council’s Clean Up Australia Day Photo Competition, where the entries with the most interesting photos will be given gift vouchers to The Source Bulk Foods.
Entries close on Friday 16 March 2018.
Cash and Prizes
CUAD rubbish collection winning photo (open category): Winner – $200 The Source Bulk Foods Springfield Voucher
CUAD rubbish collection winning photo (school categories): Winner – $200 The Source Bulk Foods Springfield Voucher
CUAD smoke butt winning photo (open category): Winner – $200 The Source Bulk Foods Springfield Voucher
CUAD smoke butt winning photo (school categories): Winner – $200 The Source Bulk Foods Springfield Voucher
Discovery Lake is so murky and is often referred to by the locals as “brown lake.” Last year, a boy got into an accident at the Discovery Lake when he launched himself into the lake using a rope swing. The boy landed on submerged rocks. Luckily, the boy was quickly rescued by his friend who was on a boogie board when the accident happened.
When the story was shared on online, many residents emphasised the fact that swimming was banned at Springfield Lakes. Some even voiced out how dirty the lake was as it caught stormwater hence the ‘No Swimming’ sign.
Clean Up Australia Everyday
CUAD is an annual movement where individuals, schools and businesses come together for a clean-up project. However, concerned communities are encouraged to help Clean Up Australia every day. Organisations can organise Clean Up Sites on any day of the year. This can be a weekly, monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly event.
Springfield Central becomes smarter with their smart buses that drive themselves. The trial period runs from 26 February to 3 March.
Called EasyMile EZ10, the driverless shuttle operates from Orion Lagoon to USQ Springfield.
Everybody is welcome to ride the bus during public demonstration times. Demonstration times are as follows:
Monday-Thursday
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Saturday
9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Designed by French company EasyMile, the EZ10 reaches speeds up to 40 kmh. It has a capacity for 12 people and is accessible for people with disabilities.
The bus is designed to cover short routes that are predefined. It can also detect environmental changes such as cyclists, other vehicles and pedestrians.
Transportation of the Future
USQ Springfield students have already tried riding the bus. The students were very pleased with the ride. Upon experiencing what it could do, they were more eager to see this kind of transportation system in the future.
Australian Electric Infrastructure Transport (AEIT), a Springfield-based manufacturer of driverless electric vehicles, welcomes the EZ10 trial and does not see the driverless shuttle as competition. AEIT is focused on developing a driverless bus in Greater Springfield or a tram public transport system. They aim to launch their transport system by December this year.
While the planned on-site off-leash dog park is still underway at Orion Springfield Central, the shopping centre is showing more love to animals as they submitted a new development application for a pet-friendly dining deck.
The application has received several feedback from locals. Residents expressed their views on The Springfield News Facebook page. Some are not keen on the application as they fear that the dogs might hurt people whilst others are concerned about the smell. On the other hand, there are also a lot of people who have expressed enthusiasm over the application.
Photo credit: The Springfield News / Facebook
The deck will be an extension of the existing food court at the shopping centre. Detailed plans to develop a new structure for the deck have been submitted for approval. Plans will ensure that it will only have a minimal impact on the turtle pond landscape.
Photo credit: Ipswich City Council
A spokeswoman for the shopping centre said that although animals will be welcome at the centre, there will be certain restricted areas. Also, dogs must always be under the close supervision of their owners and leashed at all times unless in the off-leash dog park. There will be dog services and facilities available in the area.
The shopping centre also assures that dog areas in the centre will be clearly marked.
Along with a new pet deck, the new application also includes seating pods, lounges, cabanas and other pet-friendly areas. The new dog park, which is currently under construction is at the top of Main Street, is set to open in early 2018.
Cathy Uechtritz will be the guest speaker for the even. Ms Uechtritz handles media and communications at New Home Group, a mining company that is based in Brookwater, She will talk about her successes over the past years, achieving the highest degree possible from the SOHK and the “tea bag theory.”
The tea bag theory simply means – the longer you put a woman in hot water, the stronger she gets. Ms Uechtritz will discuss this and how adversity builds strength.
GSCC facilitates business to business activities and services for members in the Greater Springfield region. They focus on assistance, advice and creative business networking opportunities.
Guests are encouraged to bring pre-loved workwear for men and women to be donated to Into The View Workwear.
Tickets are priced at $60 per person and they are selling fast. For more information, click here.
Plans to transform Masters Springfield Central into a Homemaker Centre have recently been submitted to the Ipswich City Council for approval.
Home Consortium has submitted a DA to the Ipswich City Council last week showing plans to have 10 tenancies and a small cafe onsite. The location is one of 40 of the former hardware centres which they plan to transform into hypermarkets that will feature various brands for lifestyle, health and appliance. Depending on the location, possible tenancies include gyms, medical centres, childcare services, and children’s play centres.
Photo credit: Ipswich City Council
The development at Masters Springfield Central represents a huge opportunity for the developer, given the growing population in the Springfield area. “The proposed development represents an enhanced retail offer for residents, repurposing a vacant site that if not fully occupied or underutilised could detract from success story,” the developer said.
“The site is in a highly accessible location and the specialty tenants envisaged are not expected to affect the local activity centre hierarchy, being a complementary offer to that within the balance of the Springfield Town Centre,” the development application states.
Should it be approved, the development is expected to create over 100 jobs.
When completed, this project will provide residents better access to retail stores in a highly accessible location. Established chains will be opened in these stories with expected retailers like the Good Guys, Spotlight, Woolworths, and Chemist Warehousepossibly occupying tenancies in the location.
The annual BraveheartsHats for High Tea Garden Party charity event is almost here and the ladies of Greater Springfield are keen to raise funds again for the organisation. The group aims to raise $20,000 this year.
Bravehearts
The group is one of Australia’s leading child protection organisations. It was founded in 1997 by Hetty Johnston, who established the organisation following the sexual assault of her daughter. At the time, she couldn’t find any organisation to turn to for help.
They have now 65 people across Australia that are providing world-class child protection training and education initiatives. They also offer counselling and support. They also do research that promotes an evidence-based approach to addressing child sexual assault.
Event Details
The fundraiser will be on 17 March from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets start at $70 and they have started to go on sale.
Now on its fourth year, the event will be held at a new venue year. Normally always held at the Brookwater Golf and Country Club, it will be held at the Hillstone in Saint Lucia this year because they are expecting a higher number of attendees. This year’s hosts will be Kat and Stav Davidson.
The Run 2 Give Foundationhas officially launched the McGrath Springfield Greater Springfield Marathon Festival last month and they have high hopes for the event as this is the first that it came to the region.
They are expecting to see over 1,000 runners to turn up for the event. This is the foundation’s third event in Queensland. So far, their events have received positive feedback, which serves as their inspiration to grow the event in the next couple of years to getting 5,000 runners.
The Greater Springfield Marathon Festival will include:
42km
35km
28km
21km
14km
7km
Kid’s 1km fun run
The foundation is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for registered charities through sporting events.
Steven Hodgson fo McGrath Springfield is involved in this event, something that they see as a great way to give back to the community. This will be one of the biggest events in the area and this will also be the first marathon in Ipswich.
The new pontoon and boat ramp at Springfield Lakes’ Regatta Lake officially opened in the first weekend of February and residents in the Greater Springfield area are encouraged to enjoy the new facilities at what is being called the Regatta Lake Pad Hub.
To celebrate the opening, Ipswich Mayor Andrew Antoniolli, Charis Mullen MP, Councillors Ireland and Morrison did the official cutting of the ribbon.
The afternoon included activities on the lake and demonstrations from local maritime modellers. There were also free snow cones for the kids as well as fun water activities.
Funded by the State Government through its Get Playing grant program and Lendlease, the $500,000 upgrade to the lake has given better access to residents and lake goers.
The Springfield Centenary Canoe Clubwill be one of the local groups to use the facility. Expressing their thrill at the latest improvements, they are also hoping that the new facility will boost the local kayaking and water sport community of Springfield Lakes and the region.
Springfield Centenary Canoe Club, which also operates Riverhills, aims to make their club the biggest in Queensland. Currently, six members of the club are canoe polo masters world champions.
Masterchef 2017 runner-up Ben Ungermann has finally opened up his ice cream parlour, the Ungermann Brothers Ice Cream Parlour on Limestone St., Ipswich.
Photo credit: Ben Ungermann / Facebook
After quitting his day job, he decided to go into business with his brother, Danny. Originally, their plan was to build a Dutch-themed cafe to pay homage to their grandmother. But the clamor from Ben’s fans was for an ice cream shop. So, ice cream shop it is.
The ice cream parlour opened on Australia Day this year. The whole place emits good vibes with its chequered floors and blue retro lounges, it’s the perfect spot to be.
Offering gourmet ice cream, customers have 15 flavours of hand-crafted ice cream to choose from.
Some of the popular “adult ice cream” flavour is the lavender honeycomb, lemon, honey and thyme, Dutch spice, roasted garlic or liquorice and fennel.
Photo credit: Must Do Brisbane
The fairy bread ice cream and the vanilla bean are winners for kids.
Ben has also hired an apprentice from among the people from all over the nation who submitted their applications. Lauren Bishop from Jimboomba now enjoys the singular opportunity of being Ben’s apprentice chef at the Ungermann Brothers Ice Cream Parlour.
Following the opening, Ben and his brother have been very happy with the overwhelming support. They thanks their customers as well as fans via Ben’s Facebook page.
Food is within your reach in Greater Springfield, which will delight the culinary souls out there. Foodoramight be coming to town!
According to Foodora, the Greater Springfield area is part of their priorities this year. News of the potential project has delighted many restaurant owners because this could help them widen their reach and better cater to people who doesn’t have the time to eat out.
Other food deliveries UberEats and DeliveRoohaven’t shown interest yet in the area and it is only Foodora for now that sees an opportunity in the Greater Springfield area. For UberEats, the area does not have enough restaurants for them to consider providing their services yet, whilst DeliveRoo has kept mum about the possibility.
Foodora is being used in 22 countries and caters to over 36,000 restaurants all over the world.
For residents of the Greater Springfield area the likes of Journey’s Kitchen arriving at your doorstep no longer seems like a far-fetched notion now.
