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New Pedestrian Footbridge at Cannon Hill Station Laid Down

Accessibility improvements at the Cannon Hill station have been moving forward with the addition of a brand new pedestrian footbridge, which will make it easier for older commuters and people with disabilities.

On 20 March 2021, Member for Bulimba Di Farmer and Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey were on-site as a 500-tonne crane, acquired all the way from Sydney, lifted the 35 metre overpass and setting it in place.

Ms Farmer shared the milestone on Facebook and thanked Mr Bailey for lobbying for the funding of this upgrade.

In 2020, Ms Farmer said relayed the story of an elderly woman who found it challenging to use the facilities at the Cannon Hill station to visit her sister.

“Some days when she would go to get on the train at Cannon Hill station, the gap between the platform and the train would be so great that she just couldn’t manage it. So she would have to just go back home and miss the visit,” Ms Farmer said.

“Well, once we finish our big upgrade at Cannon Hill station, it will be accessible for everyone, but especially for the elderly, for people with small children and prams, and for people with disabilities. And it won’t be just about platforms.”

The facility is one of 17 stations in east Brisbane that will benefit from the overhauls and revamps under the State Government’s half-a-billion-dollar station accessibility program. Also up for improvements are the stations in Dakabin, Auchenflower, East Ipswich, Fairfield and Yeronga, whilst suburbs like Yeerongpilly, Moorooka, Rocklea, Salisbury, Banyo, Bundamba, Burpengary, Wooloowin, Lindum and Morningside are the next ones in line.

“What we’ve seen during COVID is more people moving to Queensland because of the way we continue to manage the health response, and it’s vital from a public transport perspective that the accessibility is there to accommodate our diverse and growing population,” Mr Bailey said.

“Importantly, we also want the jobs in fields like construction there for people who want work and are choosing Queensland as the place to be.”

Ms Farmer also said that this project has opened 250 created jobs for tradies, which has been a big boost to the suburb’s economic recovery.

Cannon Hill stations’ upgrade is expected to be finished by early 2022.

“To date, the station’s new 35 metre footbridge is the longest footbridge installed as part of the program,” Ms Farmer said. “Following the bridge’s lift-in, fit-out works will commence ahead of its opening with lift installation works to follow.”

BrewDog Plans to Open New Murarrie Beer Hotel “The DogHouse”

Renowned global brewery BrewDog recently announced that plans are in the works to create a new beer-themed hotel dubbed “The DogHouse Brisbane” in Murarrie.

Scottish-founded brewing company BrewDog intends to launch a four-storey 730-sqm hotel dubbed “The DogHouse Brisbane” in an empty lot of land beside its brewing facilities and taproom in Murarrie, creating a beer campus of sorts.

The DogHouse Brisbane is a tourist destination based on The DogHouse Columbus, making the Brisbane branch BrewDog’s second beer hotel.

Finances for the project are being obtained through a crowdfunding initiative titled Equity for Punks which gives Aussie beer enthusiasts a chance to own a part of their own brewery.

A room at the DogHouse Columbus in Ohio, USA.
Photo credit: BrewDog

The hotel will have a total of 30 rooms, each modeled in the likeness of a different BrewDog beer, and guests are free to drink in the shower as beer fridges are installed inside for people to enjoy a frothie whilst cleaning up. Even the DogHouse’s soap and body wash contains beer.

The minibars will be stocked with international craft and liquors. The hotel’s more luxurious suites, aptly named BrewMaster suites, will feature a draught beer tap inside the rooms for guests to enjoy.

Though the bulk of the project’s details are still currently kept under wraps, those interested are free to visit the BrewDog website. For the latest updates concerning the company, The DogHouse Brisbane and BrewDog products, follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.

The BrewDog brewing facilities and the future site of The DogHouse Brisbane can be found at 77 Metroplex Ave, Murarrie.

Rivergate is Proud to Have Australia’s First Female Marine Apprentice of the Year

Rivergate in Murarrie is globally known in the marine industry for its highly-skilled workforce. This has been proven yet again by Jasmine Willoughby, a Rivergate apprentice and Australia’s first female Marine Apprentice of the Year at the Australian Marine Industry Awards.

Jasmine is riding the waves of success in a work environment dominated by men as a second-year fabrication trade apprentice (boiler making/welding) at the Aus Ships Group within the Rivergate marine precinct. As the world celebrates International Women’s Day, Jasmine is a shining inspiration for young women who are looking for options to work for the marine industry.

Her thriving career growth comes as this Murarrie precinct will undergo a major expansion that will provide for 1,500 new marine industry jobs.

“There will be more and more opportunities for women to learn a trade and have a career in the marine industry,” Jasmine said. “The expansion would be a huge boom for the companies at Rivergate but also Brisbane as a whole. We will see more superyachts coming to the dock which will require more hands on deck.”

Jasmine was a former pharmacy assistant before shifting to the marine industry. A graduate of East Coast Apprenticeships Launch, she aimed to land a job at the superyacht sector, where she stood out and was honored as the top apprentice.

“It is always daunting being the first person to go through something, but I’m happy to be a role model to young women to show them what is possible and that they can try a trade, enjoy it and excel at it.”

The top apprentice of the year also said her male co-workers have been very supportive of her work.

“Of all people, it was men who said they had a great experience working with women as they had excellent attention to detail.”

Judy Brinsmead, Rivergate Marina and Shipyard Director, said that their training and apprenticeship programs provide long-term sustainability for workers, including women who also want to grow in the industry, just like Jasmine.

“It’s not so much about finding women who want to be in this industry but giving them the opportunity that they may not have been aware they had,” Jasmine said.

Brisbane Cemeteries, Including Morningside, Overloaded With Hundreds of Applications

Since 2019, Council has received more than 400 applications for full family gravesites but nine of the 12 open cemeteries in Brisbane, including Balmoral Cemetery in Morningside, are squaring up to problems with space.

Despite an increasing preference for cremation, many locals still want to be buried at historical cemeteries in their local area. While Council has tried to accommodate most requests, there has been a growing need for new sections or other burial options like memorial walls or ash burials.

As listed on the official site, there are no more new gravesites at Balmoral Cemetery. To fix the lack of space, however, burials here cemetery may still be possible for family graves, if it’s not full.

However, Council may also approve a burial application if the family grave is full but the last burial was more than 30 years ago.

The re-use of family gravesites is also implemented in cemeteries at the following sites:

Bald Hills
Brookfield
Cedar Creek
Lutwyche
Moggill
Nundah
South Brisbane
Toowong

A resident planning to re-use a gravesite might have to shell out for test dig fees or hire an authorised stonemason on top of other fees like internment and other services. Some cemeteries offer free services but others may cost the resident less than $32,000 for the burials.

Balmoral Cemetery, located at the corner of Wynnum and Bennett Roads in Morningside, is managed by Toowong Cemetery.

For enquiries about services, fees or the re-use of your family gravesite, email CB-CEM-TOOWONG@brisbane.qld.gov.au. You’ll need to download and submit a re-use application form to start.

Rivergate Marina Announces Expansion, New Jobs

Wright Marine owner Shannon Wright (Photo credit: rivergate.com.au)

Queensland’s premier shipbuilding facility, Rivergate Marina, is pressing ahead with plans to develop a $200-million maintenance and refit hub in partnership with general contractor Wright Marine.

Wright Marine, an established name in marine refits and repairs, expects to see their workforce increasing in the coming years once the plan receives the greenlight. Owner Shannon Wright acknowledges Rivergate’s premier location and strong reputation for outstanding tradesmen in helping their business go from strength-to-strength and in generating new jobs and creating career pathways for apprentices in the marine industry.

“We currently have eight staff but with the expansion, we see that growing to at least 20, including apprentices,” said Wright, who was the first official tenant at Rivergate 16 years ago.

Rivergate is aiming to be the largest superyacht hub in the Asia Pacific, with a new hub that would be capable of lifting vessels up to 3,000 tonne and the capacity for 8 to 12 vessels in refit sheds and on the hardstand. It will feature an on-site crew accommodation and resort-style recreation, as well as a 5-storey trade centre with offices, training rooms, café and car parking.

Once complete, the new hub will create an even greater ongoing contribution to Brisbane’s economy. Based on the advisory group AEC’s economic impact assessment report, the superyacht hub will generate $154.6 million for local businesses during construction and create a total of 433 direct and indirect jobs.

About Rivergate

Photo credit: Rivergate Marina and Shipyard/Facebook

Rivergate is recognised as Australia’s premier superyacht facility with an enviable track record that has placed them among the top three shipyards in the world and earned numerous industry awards. In November 2020, they were named Superyacht industry Service Provider of the year at the Australian Maritime Industry Awards.

Anyone interested in learning more about the job opportunities at Rivergate Marina are encouraged to visit rivergatesuperyachts.com.au.

Quality of Life Upgrades Scheduled for Morningside’s Keralgerie Park

With over 2,100 parks under the management of the Brisbane City Council, plans are being set in motion to upgrade those in need of improvement, including Morningside’s very own Keralgerie Park.

During an environment, parks and sustainability committee, plans were drawn for nine suburban park upgrade projects spread across Brisbane by the Brisbane City Council. Morningside’s Keralgerie Park was among the list of parks due for improvement, and these improvements were set to happen within the year.

One of the additions the Brisbane City Council intends to bring is the implementation of easily-accessible public toilets close to the parking lot in Keralgerie Park — a necessary quality-of-life and convenience upgrade for drivers and passengers alike.

Parking is also set to become more accessible, and there are plans to install fitness equipment for public use throughout the area. There are also plans to plant additional trees for shade, and to create a new pedestrian and scooter path that encircles the entirety of the park to facilitate navigation.

With $71 million allocated to parks in the 2020-21 budget, an estimated $5.8 million is being put towards park recreation projects, with $2.7 million being spent on neighbourhood park upgrades and $3 million on suburban park maintenance.

“There’s a lot of work that goes upfront to make sure we’re getting the appropriate facilities to the community,” says Wade Fitzgerald, Brisbane City Council Major Projects and Asset Coordination Manager, stressing the importance of community feedback to the planning process.

Australian Country Choice in Legal Disputes with New Morningside Businesses

Beef supplier Australian Country Choice is wrapped up in legal disputes against two new businesses, TotalFusion and Revel Brewing Co, over their plans to open outlets on Colmsie Road in Morningside.

Gym in Limbo

TotalFusion Morningside was set to open the biggest gym facility in Queensland on 32 Colmsie Road in December 2020 but a court dispute with Australian Country Choice has caused a major delay, leaving hundreds of staff jobless. About 2,000 gym members anticipating the opening could not yet take advantage of their membership whilst the legal battle is ongoing.

Photo Credit: TotalFusion Morningside/Facebook

Following a failed arbitration, a trial is expected to go ahead in July 2021. Lawyers for Australian Country Choice are contesting the gym’s location in an industrial zone. Until the court dispute is settled, TotalFusion cannot open its Morningside outlet.

Not in This Neighbourhood

In December 2020, Australian Country Choice had also lodged a legal dispute with Bulimba-based Revel Brewing Co, which submitted a development application (DA A005586380) to open another restaurant, bar and brewery along a three-building complex on 82 Colmsie Road.

The beef supplier said that patrons of the brewery won’t likely enjoy dining in an area with a meat processing facility.

In an appeal filed with the Planning & Environment Court, ACC’s lawyers stated that the construction of Revel “will result in, or has the potential to result in, adverse and unreasonable constraints being placed upon the lawful operation of the present and future industrial uses as intended/approved on the land and adjoining industry zoned/designated properties.”

The Council is not commenting on the disputes, citing that it’s up to the courts to decide.

Australia Picks Toyota HiLux as Bestselling Car for 2020; Where to Buy in Brisbane’s East?

Australians have, once again, picked the Toyota HiLux as the most favoured car to own for 2020 as sales of the Japanese four-wheel utility vehicle rose to 42.3 percent in the yearend.

According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, most Australians prefer an SUV or ute to any type of car as seven of the top 10 most sellable vehicles in the past year have been huge 4x4s.

The Toyota HiLux has been the number one selling car in Australia for the fifth year in a row but here’s how the rest of the cars ranked for 2020:

1. Toyota HiLux	45,176
2. Ford Ranger	40,973
3. Toyota RAV4	38,537
4. Toyota Corolla	25,882
5. Toyota LandCruiser	25,142
6. Mazda CX-5	21,979
7. Hyundai i30	20,734
8. Mitsubishi Triton	18,136
9. Toyota Prado	18,034
10. Kia Cerato	17,559

Tony Weber, the FCAI chief executive, said that car sales were down 13.7 percent in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic but the numbers for December have given the industry some hope of a turnaround.

“The automotive industry in Australia accounts for more than 60,000 employees with over 4000 dealerships across the country,” the chief said. “The contribution made by these businesses is critically important to the economic wellbeing of communities across Australia.

“It is therefore with great relief that the industry, along with the general economy, is finally noting some positive signs within the market.”

Residents in the eastern side of Brisbane may check out the top selling Toyota HiLux at Downtown Toyota on Wynnum Road in Morningside or at Freight Street in Lytton.

By August 2021, the latest model of the Toyota HiLux will arrive in the Australian market and will boast of new modern features for its infotainment system, better airbags protection, reworked suspension and a 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine.

Couple Who Met at Pizzeria Opens The Pizza Garden in Morningside

Opening a pizzeria has been a longtime dream for couple Francesco and Jelena Buonomo, who first met and fell in love at a pizza place where Francesco used to work. Now, the pair has been blessed with the chance to realise their dream by revamping an old pizza joint on Asquith Street in Morningside into The Pizza Garden.

The Buonomos are actually based in Gold Coast but they picked the old DC Pizza Co. site in Morningside to open their very first pizza joint. The pair decided to take the place after learning that the store owners, Christine and Drewe, will relocate to Adelaide.

“Our family are embarking on a new chapter and are relocating to Adelaide for a work opportunity for Drewe (the D of DC!). It’s an exciting sea change for us, but with 2 young kids to wrangle as well, running DC from a distance was just not going to be practical for us so we’ve made the difficult decision to sell,” Christine and Drewe said on Facebook in October.

“It’s not all bad news, we have found the perfect young family to continue the 32 Asquith street, pizza shop legacy and we will introduce you soon! Having been a pizza chef for many years, they are excited to put their final touches before reopening in the very near future – stay tuned for more details.”

With a few refurbishments and some changes, The Pizza Garden was ready to trade by 9 Dec 2020.

According to Jelena, the size of the store was exactly what they had in mind and they felt that Morningside has a really great suburban vibe whilst still close to the CBD.

The couple envisions The Pizza Garden to become a family dining spot, where outdoor dining and takeaway options are also available.

Francesco, who has been in the hospitality business for 15 years, takes inspiration from his parents and grandparents, who have their own restaurants in Italy. His wife said he is passionate about offering authentic Italian food to customers.

The Buonomos used to live in Brisbane and have plans to move back with their son, Sebastian, to completely focus on their new pizzeria.

For the store’s menu and opening hours, visit the official site or their Facebook page.

“This place just recently open. It’s incredible. Authentic Italian pizza. The service was excellent and very fast! We had Luigi and Bambino and both were soooo delicious!! Will be definitely my number one pizza destination. Thank you guys!”
Yulia Adrych, Google Reviews

“Amazing pizzas and antipasto platters! The atmosphere is very nice and relaxing. Very child friendly with a high chair, plastic cups and a lot of space for prams. Highly recommend for a relaxing and yummy dinner with friends or family”
Sonja Grubisa, Facebook

“Great authentic Italian food and the quality is outstanding. Gnocchi, pizzas and the Conchiglioni pasta is a must to eat. Another thing that I really enjoyed is the wine list….True Italian wine at great price. We will be coming back to try more items from their menu.”
Riccardo Paradisi, Facebook

Drive In Circus in Morningside at Vulcana Circus

This summer, drive-in circus experience comes to life at Morningside as Vulcana Circus makes their first performance at their new home.

For its debut season at their new venue, Vulcana Circus delivers “Rear Vision,” a unique ensemble performance featuring twenty female circus performers aged twenty-five to fifty-five. Directed by Vulcana Artistic Director Celia White, the drive-in circus is a response to our collective experience of dislocation, isolation and craving for connection, using circus, poetry and sound.

With sound by acclaimed soundscape artist Anna Whittaker and words by award-winning poet Angela Peita, witness how the show portrays the chaos, cleanliness, lack of control, anxiety, fire, joy, loneliness, wilderness, empathy, antagonism, and imagine how we find our way out of here.

Experience the spectacle as magnetic pull and repulsion gets enacted by circus bodies who will showcase their circus skills including group bike, hula hoop and fire play, whilst observing social distancing.

Audience gets to view the performance in the safety of their cars as the soundtrack gets channeled straight to the car speakers through a downloadable free app. 

Rear Vision runs from December 17-19 at Vulcana Circus Carpark, 420 Lytton Rd, Morningside. Tickets are available at $90 per car, but if you don’t have a car you can register for a seat for $35. Food will be available on booking and drinks available from 6.30 p.m.

Do take note that latecomers will not be admitted after 7.20 p.m. This event is recommended for 15+.

You may book your tickets here.