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Morningside Post Office Extends Daily Opening Hours for Christmas

The Australian Post is gearing up for the Christmas rush and will extend the opening hours of its operations across 500 locations, including the Morningside Post Office.

Morningside locals may drop by the Post Office from Monday to Friday from 8:45 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. or during Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. These hours will be in effect from today until 23 Dec 2020. 

Photo Credit: PxFuel

Read: 3 Iconic Markets Return to Morningside and Bulimba

“This is traditionally our busiest time of year, but we have seen sustained growth over the last seven months compared to our 2019 pre-Christmas peak period,” Australia Post General Manager Post Office Network David McNamara said.

“With more households shopping online than ever before, we expect this Christmas season to be record-breaking. The Morningside Post Office has extended its opening times to provide our customers greater flexibility with their sending and receiving in the lead up to the big day.”

Read: Love Handmade Markets Morningside Christmas Market Returns!

Mr McNamara also suggested sending presents as early as possible so that the intended recipients may receive these before Christmas.

“For delivery within Australia, presents are recommended to be sent no later than Saturday 12 December for Parcel Post, and Saturday 19 December for Express Post. Items sent after these dates will still be delivered as quickly as possible, but it will be difficult to get them to their destinations by Christmas.”

More details are available at the Australian Post’s official site. 

Love Handmade Markets Morningside Christmas Market Returns!

Love Handmade Markets / Facebook

It’s that time of the year again to discover the best creative talent from across Brisbane and Moreton Bay Region as Love Handmade Markets returns to present the Morningside Christmas Market.

Another day of epic Christmas shopping awaits lovers of fine handmade products at the Love Handmade Markets Morningside Christmas Market. On 29 November 2020 a showcase of 50 curated stalls featuring Brisbane-made wares will greet visitors of this annual event. Each stallholder has been picked for their creativity, workmanship and quality designs, so shoppers are assured of only the best in handmade goods Brisbane could offer. 

Photo Credit:   Love Handmade Markets / Facebook

You will not only support creative small business from Brisbane but you will also get to purchase the goods from the same hands that made them. Discover your own piece of fine Love Handmade product whilst live music plays in the background courtesy of Dorothy May (8 a.m. – 11 a.m.) and Jack Woolrych (11 a.m.-1 p.m.) plus food trucks serving loads of great tasting food to power you up from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Morningside School of Arts Wynnum & Thynne Rds Morningside.

Read: Rivergate Marina Proposes to Establish a Large Superyacht Refit Hub in Murarrie

Photo Credit:   Love Handmade Markets / Facebook


This year’s line up of makers are as follows:

  • Campervan Threads
  • Blue Eyed Girl
  • Vanilla Rose Baked Goods
  • Earthdrawn Studios
  • Me, You & Betty Lu
  • Sew Suzie
  • Sera’s Artisan Pantry
  • Smyle Designs + Flabbergasted
  • Have’a’chat Plants & Upcycling
  • Dainty Candles
  • ​Betty & Lotti
  • Berry Good Jam & Chutney
  • Eb & Flow
  • Bon Bon Fusion
  • Greenslopes Bees + Wrapt Brisbane
  • Westend Pieces
  • My Eco House
  • ​Manresa Design
  • Elise Hilton Design
  • Papercutz
  • Slow Yarn
  • MoSS
  • Kiss My Patootie
  • Scouted Design
  • Amanda Bakes a Cake
  • Blockopedia
  • Time & Tide Art Wear
  • Evie B Paperie
  • ​Grace Candles and Earth Eco Studio
  • Slow Intentions
  • Oh Hey Lovely
  • The Tasty Pocket
  • London Spuds
  • Greens on Grains
  • Kaha Coffee
  • ​Inside
  • Timber Dimensions
  • Lumen + Luxe
  • Myclectic
  • Pattie Murray
  • Pouch
  • ​Crochet & String
  • I am a Song Ceramics
  • ​Nanay Noemi
  • Temperance + Minicouture
  • ​Mouse at Play

Entry to the event is free. To get your free ticket, all you need to do is register here and  complete the pre-screening questionnaire for Love Handmade Markets contact tracing register.

Read: 3 Iconic Markets Return to Morningside and Bulimba

Love Handmade Markets Morningside Christmas Market happens this Sunday, 29 November 2020 from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. AEST at the Morningside School of Arts, 590 Wynnum Road, Morningside.

3 Iconic Markets Return to Morningside and Bulimba

Local makers, traders and shoppers alike will have some community events to look forward to this November and December as three iconic markets mark their return in Morningside and Bulimba following months of shutdown.

Love Eco Markets, Southside ART Market and Bulimba Community Market are setting up shops again amidst COVID-safe guidelines and other safety protocols. 

Read: Rivergate Marina Proposes to Establish a Large Superyacht Refit Hub in Murarrie

Keen to shop for quality locally-made stuff and support small businesses? Take note of these reopening dates and times:

Love Eco Markets

When: Sunday 8 Nov 2020 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: Morningside School of Arts at the corner of Wynnum and Thynne Roads

About 40 green makers will be selling their creations and there will be eats and drinks as well. To follow the event’s updates, including the line-up of expected makers, check out the Facebook event page. 

Photo Credit: Love Eco Markets

Bulimba Community Market

When: Sunday 15 Nov 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Bulimba Memorial Park on Oxford Street

Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own picnic blankets or rugs, as well as some good vibes. There will be stalls from creators, as well as traders of food and drinks. Live tunes will keep the crowd entertained. Follow the market’s updates on Facebook. 

Photo Credit: The Design Collective Markets

Southside ART Market

When: Saturday, 19 Dec 2020 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Morningside School of Arts at the corner of Wynnum and Thynne Roads

Stall applications are still open until 9 Nov 2020. If you’re an artist or maker with creative goods to sell, you may still apply for a spot. Read the FAQ page to learn how to become part of this event. 

Photo Credit: Southside ART Market

This year’s community markets will have a different layout and foot traffic to facilitate social distancing. Shoppers can expect to line up before entering the premises as they might need to register for contract tracing. 

Read: BCC Closes Norman Park Terminal, Cancels Cross River Ferry Service

Rivergate Marina Proposes to Establish a Large Superyacht Refit Hub in Murarrie

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au

A proposal has been lodged to redevelop Rivergate Marina in Murarrie and establish a large superyacht refit hub to capitalise on the “superyacht building boom.”

The proposed redevelopment site is located at 7 Rivergate Place, Murarrie. Lodged by Rivergate Marina, the project will create the largest superyacht refit facility in the Asia-Pacific 

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au

The new industry hub for Australia will service international and domestic superyachts, commercial vessels, micro cruise ships and defence (arafura-class offshore patrol boats). 

Under the proposal, the Rivergate shipyard and marina, spanning 8.4-hectare, would be refurbished to include three single-storey large sheds, with a maximum building height of 35m, that will accommodate the superyachts while being repaired or refitted.

Aerial view of the Rivergate Marina (looking northeast)
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au

To facilitate the redevelopment of the eastern portion of the site, the existing marina office will be replaced, the car park and several of the mooring berths will be relocated. 

Read: BCC Closes Norman Park Terminal, Cancels Cross River Ferry Service

Once completed, the hub can accommodate between 8 to 12 vessels, including superyachts of up to 90m in length. It will also house 3 large superyacht refit and boat building sheds as well as 3 new in-water Superyacht berths

The proposal also involves the establishment of a five-storey trade centre that will contain a cafe, marine offices, gym, swimming pool, cinema, library and meeting rooms, training rooms, and crew accommodation.The application also proposes a total of 126 car parking spaces across the site.

To be completed in several stages, the  proposal will have code assessable application for its shed and a $35 million ship lift platform in the Brisbane River, and a separate impact assessable application for the additional offices. 

“The proposed development will be a catalyst for employment and economic benefit for Brisbane with 433 jobs being created and $154.6 million economic benefit locally during construction, and 1,457 jobs and $459.4 million output being created during the operational phase. Further to this, up to $525 million annually and 520 jobs will be created in tourism that will mostly be felt in the regional areas of Cairns and the Whitsundays,” the planners at URBIS said.

Read:

BCC Closes Norman Park Terminal, Cancels Cross River Ferry Service

Photo credit: Public Domain

Brisbane City Council has announced its decision to permanently withdraw Norman Park to New Farm Park Cross River Ferry service and close the Norman Park Ferry terminal.

In July, nine CityHopper and Cross River ferry services were pulled after the council said that it discovered safety issues in the timber vessels. The council then announced that it will activate five new “KittyCat” services beginning early November.

In a letter to the residents, Council said that they reviewed the network before the KittyCats service would commence, analysing the existing terminals’ compatibility with the new KittyCats, the patronage of each service, and the number of vessels needed to service each network.

Norman Park terminal is at the end-of-life 

The review showed that the Norman Park terminal is at the end-of-life and that it is not compliant with modern disability standards. The terminal is also said to be not compatible with docking the new KittyCats in terms of height and upgrading the terminal would require a rebuild of the onshore and marine infrastructure. 

Read: The Prince Charles Hospital Emergency Services Expansion Fast-Tracked

Moreover, the council said that the review found that Norman Park to New Farm Park ferry service has the lowest patronage of any ferry services, carrying 133 passengers on 136 services per day (pre-COVID) or an average of less than one passenger per trip. That is a stark contrast to the 574 passengers carried by the Bulimba to Teneriffe ferry on 150 services per day.

Based on the findings, the council decided to cancel all Norman Park to New Farm Park ferry services to the dismay of Morningside councillor Kara Cook. She said that the council’s decision has outraged Norman Park residents and is an example of how their local needs are “blatantly ignored.”

The council urged Norman Park residents to use existing bus services and either the Mowbray Park or Hawthorne terminals to connect to New Farm.

Read: Short-Term Hotel on Hamilton Road, Chermside Proposed

7 Wonderful Street Art to Check Out in Brisbane’s Southeast

Sometimes, the most impressive artworks aren’t found in galleries. Did you know that Brisbane has over 500 kinds of public art displays?

There are numerous street art installations — or murals and graffiti fonts — splashed all over the city and seven are in the southeast. In Morningside, there are two masterpieces worth checking out.  

Read: Cannon Hill Apartment Project Hiring More Women Tradies

Over at the Jack Flynn Memorial Drive near Waminda St, you’ll notice the graffiti fonts created by Kyle Jenkins (main photo). “Take Me Away to Bring Me Home” is a reference to World War II soldier Jack Flynn’s resolve to return home while fighting the war but it may also apply to daily commuters literally taking this street to go home to their families after a busy working day.

A few meters off on Wynnum Road is an untitled masterpiece from Thirawut Bunyasakseri. It’s been there for three years and it remains vibrant and colourful. The artwork depicts the dancing mythological figure, Ramayana.

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council

Here’s the rest of southeast Brisbane’s Street Art displays. It’s worth checking out for an Instagram photo or for simply admiring the creative effort poured into these pieces: 

ARTISTLOCATIONARTWORK
Kyle JenkinsJack Flynn Memorial Drive near Waminda Street, MorningsideTake Me Away to Bring Me Home
Thirawut BunyasakseriWynnum Road, MorningsideUntitled
Daniel BrookView Street, AnnerleyIce Cream Dreams
Kirsten BaadeCornwall Street, GreenslopesPods
Carley CornelissenGreendale Way, CarindaleBirdland
Vanghoua AnthonyMains Road, SunnybankBeyondanOasis 
Bronte NaylorMains Road, SunnybankThe Collection
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council
Ice Cream Dreams by Daniel Brook
Daniel Brook has engaged colour and movement to create a pastel landscape of bubbles and candy. The light-hearted artwork communicates a universal view of nostalgia and positivity through child-like symbols.
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council
Ice Cream Dreams by Daniel Brook
Pods is inspired by seedpods and the tessellating patterns found in nature. It embraces the ideas of hope, growth and renewal. Kirsten Baade has a love of all things bright and colourful. She has an intellectual and creative curiosity in subjects involving art, design and music.

Read: Morningside Childcare Centre Development to Proceed After Rejection in 2018

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council
Birdland by Carley Cornelissen
Using a mixed media process, artist Carley Cornelissen is inspired by experimentation, colour and pattern. The artwork reflects the artist’s daydreams of an idyllic paradise where birds and animals live together with no fear of threat from humans. Their habitats are untouched, colourful and bright.
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council
BeyondanOasis by Vanghoua Anthony
Once a premier tourist destination with the Oasis Tourist Gardens, Sunnybank is now a thriving multicultural ‘oasis’ for locals and visitors. This vibrant mural reflects Brisbane’s openness to intercultural engagement and exchange, which will continue to contribute to Brisbane’s vibrancy and dynamism.
Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council
The Collection by Bronte Naylor
This mural depicts the old Oasis Tourist Gardens, a much-loved place that exhibited a collection of local and exotic flora and natural artefacts. The design portrays these relics as a tribute to Sunnybank’s history with the colour palette inspired by the tones of the Oasis Tourist Gardens’ butterfly and shell collection.

These street art displays are part of the Brisbane Canvas initiative. If you would like to take part or know someone who’s creations should be for public display, sign up for the Creative Register.

Cannon Hill Apartment Project Hiring More Women Tradies

A 20-unit apartment construction project in Cannon Hill is aiming to close the gender gap by increasing the number of its women tradies by 20 percent. Priority is given to hiring women roofers who will join the current 16 female workers on the site. 

The Exemplar apartments, funded by the Department of Housing and Public Works and awarded to a tender in July, needs at least 64 women tradies until the project’s target completion in June 2021.  

A registration with QBuild is necessary to qualify for work at a construction site backed by the government. 

Casey Bell said that the vibe at the Cannon Hill site is “very different and exciting” and she is learning more about the electrical trade amidst the challenges of her job. She believes she made the best decision to chart a career path in a male-dominated industry and hopes that more women will consider construction.

Read: Morningside Childcare Centre Development to Proceed After Rejection in 2018

According to the National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) Queensland president Jennifer Gillett, this pandemic has highlighted the value of an untapped resource among female tradies. There is a solid career waiting for many women who are needed in various roles in construction. 

Photo Credit: NAWIC Queensland/Facebook

NAWIC said that women make up only two percent of the construction workforce in Queensland and the hope is to improve this number to 11 percent. 

But the opportunity for women to join construction was hatched before the pandemic. In October 2019, the government announced a plan to provide thousands of jobs for women in at least 20 social housing construction projects across the state. 

The Cannon Hill site is the pilot project.

Read: Morningside Historical House in Danger of Being Destroyed for New Townhouse

“We know that a diverse workforce allows the best talent to rise to the top, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, cultural background or beliefs,” Minister for Women and Member for Bulimba Di Farmer said. “Around 15 percent of apprentices in QBuild are female and one in four of the 16,000 young people who applied for a place in the Manufacturing Industry Group Apprenticeship Scheme last financial year were female. 

“To retain this emerging talent in the workforce, we’ve got to make working environments more accessible, to do better than 2.4 percent female participation in our state’s construction industry.”

Morningside Childcare Centre Development to Proceed After Rejection in 2018

Boussal Pty Ltd has finally secured approval for a childcare center on Richmond Road, Morningside, two years after an initial rejection. Residents opposed the project in 2018 because of concerns that it would cause traffic and increase street parking on the busy street.

Changes to the development application were submitted in July 2020 and a Planning and Environment Court ruling supported the modifications. The judge stated that the changed development application may be approved “subject to the amended conditions.” 

The changes include reducing the number of apartments and the bulk of the building as well as improving the car park area and landscaping within the facility.

Photo Credit: PD Online/Brisbane City Council

Read: Several Childcare Development Applications in Morningside Opposed by Residents

Residents submitted objections against the project two years ago, stating that a large childcare centre would cause traffic and increase street parking in a busy street like Richmond Rd. The locals also said that the centre is located beside a railway, where the air quality isn’t ideal for kids. 

“I’ve heard from residents further up that line who say the pollution from freight trains is terrible,” a resident said. “I was told the black pollution quite literally discoloured their external wall nearest to the tracks. I’m not a doctor but I don’t think little children should be playing next to this day in and day out.”

Meanwhile, a Councillor Kara Cook said that the community might no longer need another childcare centre. Half a mile away from this Richmond site is a recently-built facility that may cater to 120 children. 

“Incredibly disappointed to report that the childcare centre and unit development at 2-8 Richmond Rd is going ahead. This is despite Council originally giving 47 reasons for rejecting the application,” Ms Cook wrote on Facebook. 

Read: Morningside Historical House in Danger of Being Destroyed for New Townhouse

Morningside Historical House in Danger of Being Destroyed for New Townhouse

A Morningside historical house, believed to have been built before 1911, could be destroyed amidst plans to develop a new townhouse complex in its place. 

The property on 50 Richmond Rd is “code assessable,” which means that the development application (DA), filed by Wisan Hawa in June 2020, does not need public notice. The public also has “no formal rights of submission or appeal” to contest the DA. Hawa’s DA proposes that an eight-unit townhouse will be built on the site. 

However, Morningside locals, led by Councillor Kara Cook, want the Council to investigate before approving the DA as the house could be a heritage. A number of residents also submitted their reasons for opposing the planned development. 

“Character homes should be prevented from demolition to preserve the historic character of Brisbane,” one resident wrote. 

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council PD Online

Read: Community Calls for Safer Riding Rd and Pashen St Intersection in Morningside

Another resident submitted a detailed compilation that may likely prove that the majestic plantation house was part of the Federation era 1890-1914. 

“I believe this property is from the Federation Era 1890-1914 and should be protected and listed as Heritage as it is an important part of Morningside’s history,” the resident said. “I believe 50 Richmond Road is a combination of Federation Filigree with echoes of Queen Anne style due to the bay windows and attached front gazebo shape verandah.”

Gazebo verandah houses during the Federation period had geometric brackets and dowel balustrades, as well as tin roofing and timber cladding, among other features. 

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council PD Online

City Planning Chair Krista Adams confirmed that the property does not have any heritage protection. However, the Council has issues with the DA for its building height, design, landscaping and communal space. 

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council PD Online

Following the complaints from the residents, Anthony Colwell of Insight Planning and Development, the development’s planner, said that they are considering options to relocate the house. 

Mr Colwell, however, insisted that, as it stands, they have been abiding by all the codes and if approved, the project could provide more than 100 jobs.

Read: Commonwealth Acetate of Lime: An English Migrant Hostel Revisited

Community Calls for Safer Riding Rd and Pashen St Intersection in Morningside

Calls for a full upgrade of the Riding Road and Pashen Street intersection in Morningside are again being made, with Councillor Kara Cook at the forefront, as residents ask for Council attention to prioritise the safety of children using the zebra crossing to the local school.

Children use the Pashen Street crossing daily, to get to Morningside State School, located on the same street. Last year, Natalie Munro’s daughters, Layla and Jasmine, were hit and seriously injured whilst crossing Pashen Street, whilst their mum helplessly looked on.

Photo Credit: Google Maps

“I was on [the Hawthorne Park] side, I stopped. I honestly can’t say where that car came from, it happened so fast.”

“I looked back at the girls and just in my left vision, saw a car and screamed out to stop, but there wasn’t time,” Mrs Munro recollected to other media at the time.

The intersection is a busy one, with a combined traffic count of 17,000 vehicles for both street, according to Morningside Councillor Kara Cook.

Cr Cook has asked Council to explain why the Morningside intersection hasn’t been prioritised for a full traffic signal lights upgrade, similar to the one planned for the Sylvan Road and Kate Street intersection in Toowong.

Like the Morningside intersection, the Toowong intersection is also across from a school and children also use it often. However, there is significantly less traffic at the Toowong intersection, with a daily count of almost 8,000 vehicles, less than half that in Morningside.

Also, data released by Council shows that the Morningside intersection has over 700 pedestrian movements daily, and a record of two collisions. The Toowong intersection has less than 300 pedestrian movements and fortunately, no collisions on record.

Yet, Cr Cook points out, the Toowong intersection is getting a full traffic signal lights upgrade and the Morningside intersection, despite repeated calls and a rally held in 2019 for Council support, has yet to be prioritised for funds allocation.

Infrastructure Committee chairman David McLachlan has given assurances that the Morningside intersection upgrade in under consideration and that decisions made by Council on what projects to prioritise were not based on which Councillor represents a Ward.

“Council is aware of the safety issues at Riding Road and is considering the future allocation of funds towards an intersection upgrade at this location,” he said, also pointing out that additional safety measures had been added after the accident in 2019.

Flashing LED signages had been installed in the area in 2019 and speed limit reduced in an attempt to prevent future accidents in the crossing.