Morningside Archives - Page 6 of 10

Do-Op Shop Morningside Provides Generous Support to Cannon Hill Family Who Lost Home to Fire

The Do-Op Shop, a non-religious charity focused on community empowerment, have generously decided to give up a day’s worth of profits to help Jon and Amelia Grieve’s family rebuild their lives following a devastating fire that razed their Cannon Hill home.

Jon and Amelia Grieve, along with their two daughters Harper and Mabel, lost their Cannon Hill home in a fire that originated from a faulty charging cord in the kitchen.

Since the unfortunate incident, the Grieve family has received an outpouring of love and support from their community.

Recognising the need to help the family, the owners of Do-Op Shop, Nina and Zoe, located at Morningside Central on Junction Road, have pledged to donate all profits from sales made in-store and online on the 8th of July to the Grieve family.

“Amelia has been a huge supporter & ambassador for Do-Op since the very beginning, and those lucky enough to know Amelia know of her selflessness and love for her community. Now is the time to show our love for her, John, Harper & Maple,” the owners stated.

The Grieve Family — Photo Credit: The Do-Op Shop

The Do-Op Shop is known for its commitment to giving back to local initiatives. As a non-religious charity, it operates with the goal of fighting social isolation and creating a welcoming space where everyone feels valued and empowered. The shop goes beyond being a mere retail space, as it aims to foster meaningful connections among people from all walks of life.

The event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the Do-Op Shop will provide regular updates throughout the day on the amount of funds raised to support the Grieve family’s rebuilding efforts.

For those unable to attend in person, donations can be made directly through the Grieve family’s GoFundMe page opened by Shyree Painter, a neighbour.

By participating in this event, community members have an opportunity to contribute to a worthy cause whilst enjoying the excitement of op shopping. The Do-Op Shop’s initiative to help the Grieve family exemplifies their commitment to their community and their mission.

With their collaborative and authentic environment, the Do-Op Shop continues to inspire community connection and empower individuals to make a difference.

Follow the Do-Op Shop on Facebook for updates.

Published 5-July-2032

Low N Slow Meat Co in Morningside Closes Without Warning

After 18 months in operation, Low N Slow Meat Co, the upmarket and innovative BBQ retailer, unexpectedly announced its permanent closure at the Rivermakers precinct in Morningside.

The decision to shut down came just two days after Rivermakers had over thousands of visitors for a food and music festival, where Low N Slow Meat Co was one of the purveyors.

In an Instagram post on 23 April 2023, owner Brent Poulter disclosed that they were not forced out of the precinct and the decision to close the restaurant was their own. The owners also cited “many factors that went out of control” leading up to their decision.

“Any good BBQer will understand if you starve a fire from oxygen it will go out, unfortunately, due to many factors out of our control the oxygen in our fire has been very limited and the fire is just about out, it’s an impossible situation,” he said.

“Low N Slow started 6 years ago in Tingalpa, it was a passion project that bought a love for great quality meat and live fire cooking together in the one spot. It changed the shape of butchers in general with many implementing a low n slow style into their operations, ultimately lifting the awareness of this style of cooking and eating for the greater good.

“It’s been an awesome 6 years of Low N Slow Meat Co, from back in the early days in Tinglapa all the way until now. We have taught and hopefully improved hundreds of people’s BBQ skills and opened the door for many more to venture down the rabbit hole of BBQ.

“Customers have become friends and experiences had that won’t be forgotten.

“In the recent couple of years since being at Rivermakers, the Bulimba, Morningside, and Hawthorne locals have been so supportive and we are appreciative of their patronage.”

The closure comes following reports that Rivermakers landlord Balfour Irvine has been wrapped up in a legal tussle with Council over the butchery since 2021. Enforcement notices were sent to the landlord to stop the butchery from selling meat until the precinct received “all relevant approvals.” The venue was also not supposed to be used as a meat warehouse for the goods sold at Low N Slow.

However, planning experts representing Rivermakers insisted that the storing, processing and distribution or selling of meat products were considered “ancillary use.” The representatives filed a separate development application (DA A005804996) in early 2022 for Material Change of Use of the site a food and drink outlet. The DA, which received nearly 5,000 submissions, is currently on appeal.

Published 2-May-2023

Developer Submits Plans For Self-storage Facility In Morningside

A seven-storey building for a self-storage facility with office and retail spaces could be built in Wynnum Road, Morningside, if a development application gets approved.

Read: Morningside Picture Theatre, Other Historic Brisbane Theatres We Lost Through the Years

The ground floor will be used for two retail tenancies whilst the first floor will be for two office tenancies. The remaining floors above including a portion of the ground floor will be dedicated for the self-storage facility.

The subject site, located at 495A, 495C & 497 Wynnum Road, Morningside, is currently vacant after the existing single-storey commercial building was demolished.

It’s located on the boundary of Queensland Railways land and within 25m of the Cleveland Railway Line and Morningside Railway Station.

The self-storage facility is conceptualised to include a mix of storage options and sizes, including 350 storage units with an average floorspace of 12sqm. Besides the larger storage units, the building will also have around 200 smaller storage lockers.

“The proposed self-storage facility on-site will realise a unique opportunity for servicing resident and business needs for off-site storage, particularly in the inner-city suburbs and along major transport corridors where high density residential development is encouraged,” planners at iPlan Town Planning stated.

The applicant stated in the planning documents that the facility’s location on Wynnum Road offers exposure for east-west traffic and convenience for residents throughout the broader locality.

View of subject site (Photo credit: Google Street View)

“Self-storage facilities are significant economic generators offering opportunities for business start-ups and small to medium enterprises to grow and develop their businesses within the Brisbane area, and in particular within Morningside,” planning documents read.

Also part of the proposal is a car parking space for 20 vehicles, including one for PWD and two for trailers. In addition, provision is made for end of trip facilities and designated bicycle parking for the new office and retail tenancies.

Read: Queensland Rail Shows Footage Of Near Misses In New Safety Campaign

To learn more about the proposed self-storage facility in Morningside, visit Brisbane City Council PD Online with the reference A006190276.

Fire Collapses Roof of House on Monmouth St in Morningside

An enormous fire on Monmouth St in Morningside has left a house without its roof and stopped the firefighters from doing a secondary check on the premises because of the risks.

The fire started at about 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, 21 January 2023. It took the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services nearly an hour to contain the fire.

Monmouth Street and Thynne Road were closed to traffic as the firemen worked on the hot spots. Witnesses said that at least seven fire trucks rushed to the site whilst there Queensland Ambulance reported no injuries.

Total Fusion Morningside Sets Opening Date After 2-Year Court Battle

A date finally has been set for the long-awaited opening of Total Fusion Morningside, two years after a court battle with Australian Country Choice. Not only that, they’re recruiting 100 new staff members!

Advertisements for job openings have started running as Total Fusion Morningside, the largest and most highly advanced gym in East Brisbane, plans to hire 100 staff members to serve its clientele beginning the 1st of February 2023.

The gym was granted the approval to open in August 2022, after Judge Nicole Kefford dismissed the appeal of Australian Country Choice (ACC), to stop the gym’s operation at the transformed Rivermakers precinct.

Total Fusion Morningside, Morningside, — *Photo Credit: TotalFusion Morningside/Facebook*

ACC was against having a gym close to its manufacturing facility, citing that there could be frequent complaints from gym members about the noise and odour from its neighbouring meat manufacturing plant. ACC was also concerned about the size of the gym in an industrial precinct.

However, Total Fusion head Leon McNiece said that the plant is not even visible from the carpark at Rivermakers. Thus, gym goers are likely not going to complain about the meatworks.

Mr McNiece said that the court decision has reaffirmed that the community wants to have a premium fitness and wellness facility in Morningside. In preparation for the opening, tours to the facility will be underway in the coming weeks.

Aside from the fitness areas for yoga, pilates and other group workouts, the wellness site will also have saunas, compression booths and massage areas, a cryotherapy section (cold temperature therapy), recovery tools, and an on-site nutritionist.

The gym is set to operate daily from 5:00 a.m. to late evening.

Priestley’s Gourmet Delights: From Humble Beginnings To A Global Footprint

From its humble beginnings distributing cakes in Morningside in 1995, Priestley’s Gourmet Delights has now grown into one of Australia’s leading suppliers of sweet and savoury treats, picking up an ecoBiz Star along the way, all whilst upholding their advocacy for environmental sustainability.

Read: New Multimillion-Dollar Cowch Dream Factory Up and Running in Morningside

For over two decades now, this family-owned business has been an over-achiever, known for supplying cafes with a range of delicious treats, including cheesecakes, slices, muffins, loaves, lamingtons, pavlovas, quiches, and gourmet cakes.

Priestley's Gourmet Delights — Photo credit: Priestley’s Gourmet Delights/Facebook

All the products are manufactured in their purpose-built plants in Morningside, and more recently, in Tauranga and Blenheim in New Zealand. Everything for the international and domestic markets is supplied frozen for optimum quality control.

Some of their creations include Choc Berry Tart, a tangy blueberry and creamy baked cheesecake; Mississippi Mud Cake, their version of mud cake; and the Choc and Raspberry Lamingtons.

Beyond creating high-quality and show-stopping treats, they support local businesses by sourcing their ingredients, packaging, and equipment from fellow Australian manufacturers.

Around a decade ago, the business started its journey to sustainability by reducing its carbon emissions by 38 percent and water usage by 31 percent.

Despite increasing the number of cakes they bake, they have also managed to reduce their energy consumption by 6.4 percent since 2016, attributing it all to their effective implementation of energy-saving initiatives.

The business is all about sustainability and has set production initiatives, such as recycling bins introduced in the factory and reducing water consumption, with that in mind. They have also installed solar lighting in their bin area, as well as installed motion sensors in the toilets and locker rooms.

In recognition of their resource efficiency improvements, the Queensland government has given them an ecoBiz star rating, which is being given to businesses with excellent practice measures in places, verified by experts.

Their core value is to consistently improve, not just for their customers, but also for their staff and the planet. Some of their goals include eliminating plastics from packaging by 2022, and using recyclable packaging by 2025.

The Christophersen and Jones families will celebrate 27 years in the business in December 2022.

Read: Morningside Businesses Team Up To Feed Hungry Families

To learn more about Priestley’s Gourmet Delights, visit their website or check out their Facebook page.

4 Tips for Mitigating Flooding Disasters for Morningside Residents

Since the start of the wet season, Queenslanders have been told to be prepared for flooding as La Niña 2022 is expected to make it harder to predict the intensity of rainfall, especially in areas near the river like Morningside.

Showers, thunderstorms, and rain bombs will cause flooding that will change quickly and likely not provide enough time to warn the locals but here are five tips to mitigate flooding disasters for Morningside residents.

1. Fix your home or property, especially outdoors.

Home and business owners must survey their lawns and outdoor area and then cut down overhanging branches to prevent these from falling and damaging properties. Check and clean the gutters and then get on with fixing broken roof tiles and other minor damages around your house or building.

Come up with an evacuation plan in case of major flooding and consider moving valued possessions from the lower level of your house to the upper floors.

2. Collect your free sandbags.

For the first time ever, Brisbane City Council is giving away 150,000 free sandbags for residents. Morningside homeowners may collect these at either the Balmoral Depot on Redfern Street or the Lota Depot on Herbert Street.

Morningside flooding — Photo Credit: CrKaraCook/Facebook

Staff and volunteers from the State Emergency Service (SES) will train locals on how to use these sandbags.

Per Council, “Sandbags can be used to reduce the impact of flooding on your home or business. Sandbags will not stop flood water entirely but can reduce the amount of water entering your premises.”

3. Don’t forget to pack an emergency bag.

Be sure to pack an emergency bag that has all your essentials in case the family needs to move out. Get Ready Queensland has a comprehensive list of items that should be in the bag, including toiletries, drinking water, and batteries.

4. Sign up for the new Flood Information app.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is urging all residents to sign up for the new Flood Information service so they can be better prepared during a major weather event.

“During the February flood event, this service distributed about 2.7 million email and SMS alerts to residents who had signed up to receive them,” the mayor said. “These alerts are based on the latest Bureau of Meteorology advice. We need more Brisbane residents signed up for this service.”

Residents who sign up for the alert system before 1 December 2022 may have a chance to win prizes, including an all-expense paid holiday to Tangalooma Island Resort in Moreton Island. Learn more about this incentive.

Remember, hope for the best but prepare for the worst!

Queenslanders Move to Save Cairncross Naval Graving Dry Dock in Morningside

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Attempts to stop plans to remove the Cairncross Naval Graving Dry Dock, a World War II facility in Morningside, have been gathering steam as more people say they want the site added to the Heritage Register.

Nikki Archer, an activist based in Gold Coast, and architectural historian Marianne Taylor are working with a group to help save and protect the Cairncross Naval Graving Dry Dock from future redevelopments.

It comes as Lendlease filed a DA A006123190 on 10th October 2022 to carry out operational works to fill the dry docks and prepare the site for the River Gateway Neighbourhood Plan, which includes no provisions to save the retain and protect the facility.

Bulimba East Development Pty Limited currently owns the land where the dry dock exists and has given its consent to the developers.

Absence of Heritage Protection Explained

Ms Archer believes that the government is aware of the site’s cultural and historical significance to Australia but was not proactive in preserving its heritage. Ms Taylor, on the other hand immediately filed a request to Brisbane City Council to add the dry dock to the Queensland Heritage Register.

“How is this not already on a heritage register? Great question! It seems it used to be on the BCC Heritage Overlay but has since been removed. It is not on the Queensland or any National Registers and as it is now privately owned, there should be no reason it couldn’t be,” Ms Taylor outlined on her Facebook Page, The House Detective, where she also encouraged locals to file their objection to the development application.

“I don’t normally get involved in these 11th hour protests, but this is too big and too important to ignore!”

Ms Taylor and Ms Archer’s campaign has the support of the Friends of the Heritage Movement.

Peter Lawler, a member of the group, believes that there were never any attempts to save the site because no one thought of the property’s potential redevelopment until now. The locals believe that the dry dock could be turned into an educational site for both residents and tourists, especially among the students, who should learn more about the history of Brisbane and its contribution to the world.

Despite the objection, Lendlease said it will be working with stakeholders on the options for the dry dock.

History of the Cairncross Naval Graving Dry Dock

The Cairncross dockyard is one of the country’s largest graving docks and was built in late 1942 after the bombing of the Darwin dockyard during World War II. It was built at a remarkable speed with more than 1,000 workers employed and working 24/7 to complete the facility.

The dockyard was ready for the first ships by June 1944. Until May 1946, 128 ships from Australia and the Allied Forces were serviced at the dockyard, which was capable of receiving vessels “800 feet long, with an 80 foot beam and a draught of 32 feet,” including aircraft carriers, merchant ships, tankers, destroyers, and submarine tenders.

Cairncross Dockyard — Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The government closed the dockyard in 1987 but was re-opened by a private consortium in 1995. It has been private property since then. In 2016, the Forgacs Group sold the 14-hectare property for potential housing redevelopment and rezoning.

Engineering Australia considers the dockyard as an Australian engineering heritage.

New Baby Motivates Morningside Olympian Mum for Paris Olympics

Genevieve Gregson, Morningside Olympian mum, is enjoying as much time as she can spend with her new baby, Archer James Gregson, born at Mater Mothers’ Hospital on June 15, whilst she eagerly awaits her clearance to start training for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The new mum is also taking the time to heal and regain her strength and endurance before she starts another chapter in her Olympic career, with a renewed perspective and motivation.

Genevieve, a middle-distance runner, had a major setback at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics when she ruptured her right Achilles after falling on the last water jump of the women’s 3000m steeple chase final. She left the stadium in a wheelchair but had a stark realization that this was her chance to finally get on with her plans to expand her family with her husband, Ryan Gregson.

“Up until Tokyo, my main goal and what drove me was running and my sport. It’s my hobby and passion,” the Morningside Olympian mum said.

“The way Tokyo unfolded was heartbreaking at the time. As an athlete, I was looking for something to set in my sights. My injury was horrible, and it was going to be a long recovery.

“If I hadn’t done that injury, I wouldn’t have had Archer. It’s a blessing in disguise. I have put everything into perspective.

“I still have so many running goals and plan on qualifying for my fourth Olympics.”

The Gregsons have been enjoying having Archer in the family, who was home from the hospital two days after he was born. Genevieve acknowledges the exceptional care extended to her and her baby at the Mater Mother’s Hospital.

“I didn’t know you could love something so much,” the new mum said.

“I did too much research prior to having him and heard all the scary stories of sleepless nights and scary birth stories, but it has been a dream run for us.

“I think it also helps that I am a high-energy person and used to running off little sleep.”

Judge Approves Opening of Total Fusion Morningside Following Long Legal Battle

Following a two-year court battle with Australian Country Choice, a judge has ruled that Total Fusion Morningside may proceed with opening the largest gym complex in the industrial area of East Brisbane.

In her decision, Judge Nicole Kefford turned down the appeal of ACC despite gaining support from a town planning expert. The 5,577-square-metre fitness complex is within the new recreation and leisure precinct Rivermakers, owned by mogul Balfour Irvine. Rivermakers is 500 metres away from the ACC’s facilities.

ACC’s owner, the billionaire Trevor Lee, has lobbied against the development following the fallout of his long friendship with Irvine. Lee insisted that the gym was not appropriate for an industrial precinct.

Photo Credit: TotalFusionMorningside/Facebook

Judge Kefford noted that ACC had town planner Greg Ovenden on retainer, who tried to convince Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Steven Miles to establish a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) for the Morningside location.

However, the judge said that Rivermakers’ development was not inconsistent with the TLPI. She also didn’t have any confidence in Mr Ovenden “to express objective opinions about the appropriateness of the proposed development,” as the town planner.

Judge Kefford gave Total Fusion Morningside a two-year condition to operate as a gym with only 300 patrons at a time. She said that after two years, the gym’s building must be reverted for industrial use, which would support the workers in the area.

For updates about the gym’s opening, follow the Facebook page.