Queensland Archives - Morningside News

Murarrie Generated More Pothole Reports Than Any Other East Brisbane Suburb During the City’s Biggest-Ever Road Blitz

Murarrie residents logged more calls about road damage than any other suburb in Brisbane’s east during a record five-day pothole repair blitz, with 39 potholes fixed across Murarrie and Hemmant combined as crews tore through more than 1,800 repairs citywide.

The “Big Fill” operation ran from 19 to 23 May, triggered by heavy rain on 18 and 19 May that opened fresh potholes across Brisbane’s 5,700-kilometre road network. At its peak on 21 May, crews filled 565 potholes in a single day, more than three times the usual daily average of 157. At that rate, a pothole was being filled somewhere in Brisbane every two minutes.

Murarrie generated 20 customer reports during the campaign, the highest contact rate of any suburb across Brisbane’s east. Hemmant added another 10 reports. Combined, the two suburbs saw 39 potholes filled across the five-day period, with Murarrie accounting for 32 of those repairs.

Why potholes appear after heavy rain

The damage pattern from mid-May’s wet weather follows a well-understood sequence. Water enters small cracks in the road surface during rainfall, weakening the pavement structure underneath.

Potholes repaired during the “Big Fill” blitz (May 19–23)

Suburb	Number of Potholes Repaired
Wynnum West	84
Gumdale	67
Murarrie	32
Wakerley	13
Ransome	13
Chandler	12
Wynnum	9
Hemmant	7
Manly	5
Manly West	4
Total	246

Heavy vehicles then fracture the weakened surface from above, opening a pothole that can appear seemingly overnight after a single downpour.

Roads that carry significant freight and industrial traffic, as many of Murarrie’s arterial streets do given the suburb’s mix of warehousing and logistics operations, tend to deteriorate faster under this cycle than quieter residential streets. The damage concentrates at the edges of wheel tracks, where repeated load impact is greatest.

Customer reports received during the blitz

Suburb	Number of Customer Reports
Murarrie	20
Tingalpa	14
Hemmant	10
Wakerley	9
Wynnum West	8
Manly West	7
Chandler	6
Wynnum	6
Lytton	4
Manly	4
Gumdale	3
Lota	1
Ransome	1
Total	93

The heavy rain of 18 and 19 May came on top of an already active repair season. Brisbane had filled 47,645 potholes city-wide between January and the end of April alone, and the mid-May event added more than 1,800 to that total in just five days. Around 100 tonnes of asphalt was used during the blitz.

The broader picture across east Brisbane

Across all east Brisbane suburbs combined, 246 potholes were fixed during the Big Fill period. Wynnum West led the Bayside area with 84 repairs, followed by Gumdale with 67. Murarrie ranked third across the east with 32 repairs.

Summary

Metric	Number
Total potholes repaired citywide during blitz	1,800+
Record repairs in one day (May 21)	565
Bayside potholes repaired	246
Bayside customer reports	93
Resident reports citywide	1,134
Asphalt used	100 tonnes
Potholes repaired citywide by end of April 2025	47,645
Average daily repairs before blitz	157

Tingalpa generated 14 community reports during the campaign, the second-highest in the area after Murarrie’s 20. Wakerley, Wynnum West, Manly West, Chandler and Wynnum all recorded between six and nine reports each, while Lytton, Manly, Gumdale, Lota and Ransome added smaller numbers to the total.

The community reporting made a measurable difference. More than 1,134 reports came in across the city during the five-day operation, helping crews locate and reach damaged roads faster than standard patrol schedules allow. The Big Fill was described as the largest pothole repair operation Brisbane had ever conducted.

How to report a road problem

The repair blitz has ended, but the reporting line remains open. Potholes and road surface damage can be reported around the clock by calling 3403 8888 or by lodging a request online.

Published 8-June-2026

Morningside Retail Freehold Sells for $1.56 Million in Sharp 2026 Result

Real Commercial

A retail freehold at 600 Wynnum Road in Morningside has sold for $1.56 million, setting the sharpest commercial yield recorded in Brisbane so far in 2026 and confirming strong investor appetite for well-located inner-east retail assets.

The 232 square metre building, which sits on a 405 square metre site, achieved a 3.48 per cent net yield. The transaction was agreed in less than four days on the market, with a local private investor securing the fully leased asset following an expressions of interest campaign managed by Colliers. The sale was handled by Shaun Seeto and Xavier Cooke from Colliers on behalf of St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland.

The property is occupied by Bicycle Riders, a long-standing local bicycle retailer that has operated at the Wynnum Road site for more than 20 years. The new owner intends to renew the lease with the existing tenant, meaning Bicycle Riders will continue trading at the Morningside location it has called home for over two decades.

A Result That Speaks to Morningside’s Investment Appeal

The speed and sharpness of the result reflect the underlying strength of the Morningside retail market and the specific qualities of the 600 Wynnum Road site. The property sits less than 400 metres from Morningside railway station, with approximately 10 metres of frontage along one of the inner east’s most heavily trafficked arterial roads and direct access to major motorway links. That combination of public transport proximity, main road visibility and motorway connectivity gives the site a locational profile that appeals to both tenants and investors.

Retail freehold at Wynnum Rd — Photo Credit: Real Commercial

The expressions of interest campaign generated a cash-unconditional offer on the second day and fielded six offers within the first nine days online. Contracts were executed on day ten of the formal marketing period, a timeline that Colliers’ Seeto described as reflecting the strength of competition for the asset. Cooke noted that the buyer was specifically attracted to the property’s prominent road exposure and the security of a long-term, established tenant.

The site carries district centre zoning, which allows for a broad range of future uses beyond retail, including office, medical and professional services. That zoning flexibility adds a layer of long-term optionality that investors in the current market are prepared to pay for, particularly in a suburb undergoing the kind of steady transformation that Wynnum Road has seen in recent years, with several development applications lodged along the corridor for mixed-use residential and commercial buildings.

Bicycle Riders and the Local Retail Landscape

Bicycle Riders has been a fixture of the Morningside retail strip for more than 20 years, operating as a full-service bicycle retail and repair shop stocking brands including Specialized, Avanti and Raleigh alongside e-bikes, clothing, accessories and components. The shop positions itself as more than a standard suburban bike store, offering product expertise, test rides and personalised service to customers ranging from daily commuters to recreational riders and cycling enthusiasts.

The fact that the new owner intends to renew the lease provides continuity for the Morningside community. Long-standing local businesses are part of what gives a suburban retail strip its character, and Bicycle Riders’ two decades of trading at the Wynnum Road site have embedded it in the fabric of the neighbourhood in a way that a newly arrived tenant could not replicate immediately.

Why This Matters to the Morningside Community

For Morningside residents, the sale of 600 Wynnum Road is a signal about the suburb’s commercial trajectory. A 3.48 per cent yield on a retail freehold is not achieved by accident. It reflects a buyer’s confidence that the location, the tenant and the suburb’s fundamentals justify paying a sharp price for a long-term hold. That confidence is grounded in observable trends: the Wynnum Road corridor is increasingly active with development interest, Morningside’s proximity to the Brisbane CBD and the Cross River Rail network positions it well for continued growth, and the suburb’s district centre zoning supports the kind of mixed-use intensification that tends to drive commercial property values over time.

For residents who use and value local businesses like Bicycle Riders, the practical takeaway from the sale is simple: the shop stays, under a new owner who has made clear their intention to keep it there. In a retail environment where independent local businesses face constant pressure, that outcome is worth noting.

Bicycle Riders at 600 Wynnum Road, Morningside, is open Tuesday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm, Saturday 8.30am to 3.00pm and Sunday 10.00am to 2.00pm. Further information is available at bicycleriders.com.au or by calling (07) 3899 8232.

Published 17-March-2026.

Colmslie Wharves Marina Takes Shape in Morningside, Promising $100 Million Tourism Boost

Construction is advancing on Colmslie Wharves in Morningside, set to become Brisbane’s only dedicated commercial marina when it opens in mid-2026, with the project forecast to inject more than $100 million annually into the local economy and create 337 ongoing jobs.

Located on the Brisbane River just nine kilometres from the CBD, the marina will offer 50 berths capable of accommodating vessels up to 50 metres in length. Leasing for the first berths is already underway ahead of the expected mid-2026 opening. The project is being delivered by Raptis Investments, with $4 million in support from a Queensland tourism infrastructure fund.

The marina fills a long-standing gap in Brisbane’s marine infrastructure. For years, tourism and commercial vessel operators on the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay have faced a shortage of overnight berthing options, with many forced to work around inadequate facilities or redirect their operations to other ports. Colmslie Wharves is designed to provide the permanent, purpose-built solution that operators have been waiting for.

What the Marina Will Offer

The 50-berth facility will provide crew amenities, fuel services, waste management systems and ample parking, giving commercial operators a fully serviced base for river and bay tourism. Its position on the river provides quick access to key pick-up and drop-off points across the broader south-east Queensland marine network, including the bay islands and Moreton Bay.

Construction of the Colmslie Wharves — Photo Credit: Supplied

Developers designed the marina with environmental safeguards to minimise its impact on the Brisbane River and surrounding ecosystems. The approach reflects growing recognition of the river corridor’s tourism and recreational potential ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Leasing interest has already come from existing local operators, new entrants to the market and major interstate marine businesses looking to establish a Brisbane presence. The Australian Commercial Marine Group has pointed to the shortage of long-term berthing options as a factor that has historically pushed potential operators to other cities, with the Olympics now accelerating demand for river and bay-based tourism infrastructure in Brisbane.

Operators Ready to Expand

The infrastructure gap has had tangible consequences for businesses already operating on the river. The owner and operator of luxury river cruise provider Yot Club described having to put expansion plans on hold, including new vessels, additional staff and wider supply chain activity, despite strong customer demand. Colmslie Wharves completing construction is the trigger that allows those plans to move forward.

The Australian Commercial Marine Group also highlighted the untapped potential of Moreton Bay as a tourism destination. Thousands of visitors travel north to Hervey Bay each year for whale watching, despite Moreton Bay hosting whales on Brisbane’s doorstep. The absence of suitable berthing infrastructure has been a key reason that potential has gone undeveloped. With Colmslie Wharves providing the launching pad, operators anticipate a range of new offerings including boutique cruises, eco-tourism experiences, adventure sports and private water taxi services.

Why This Matters to Morningside and Murarrie

For residents of Morningside and Murarrie, Colmslie Wharves represents a significant change to what has historically been a quietly industrial stretch of the riverfront. A new commercial marina will increase activity along the waterfront, attract new businesses to the area and bring the foot traffic that follows well-placed tourism infrastructure.

The forecast of nearly 110,000 additional visitors to Brisbane per year translates into real local economic activity. Visitors arriving by vessel need accommodation, food, transport and services, much of which will flow through the suburbs closest to the marina. For a community like Morningside, which sits between the river and some of Brisbane’s busiest inner-east corridors, that kind of economic activation has the potential to strengthen local businesses and support long-term growth in the area.

With the 2032 Olympics on the horizon and the Brisbane River increasingly central to how the city presents itself to the world, Colmslie Wharves places Morningside and Murarrie at the start of something the river corridor has needed for a long time.

For leasing enquiries or more information, visit colmsliewharves.com.au.

Published 16-March-2026.

Farmers Pick Grocery Subscription Service Expands to QLD via Morningside

Photo Credit: Farmers Pick/Facebook

Farmers Pick, a Melbourne-based sustainable grocery subscription service specialising in rescuing “imperfect” fruits and vegetables, is making its Queensland debut, with the opening of its new warehouse in Morningside.

Co-founded by Josh Ball and Josh Brooks-Duncan in 2020, the company has rapidly grown and is now expanding its operations to serve over 1.5 million households in the region.

With its Morningside base, opened in August 2023, Farmers Pick will be able to deliver its fresh but aesthetically non-conforming produce to areas spanning from the Gold Coast to Bundaberg.

“Our expansion into Queensland is a huge milestone for the business and a goal we have always wanted to achieve,” Mr Ball said.

“With food waste costing Australians $36.6 billion per annum, we believe that everyone across the country is deserving of convenient and simple solutions to make a difference. We are thrilled to now be able to make a difference to Queenslanders, bringing us one step closer to our mission of building a sustainable food system for all.”

Rescuing Imperfect Produce to Combat Food Waste

Since its inception, Farmers Pick has rescued over 1.5 million kilograms of produce that would have otherwise gone to waste due to not meeting the stringent aesthetic standards set by major supermarket chains and buyers. These are fruits and vegetables deemed “not big enough or too big, blemished, too bendy and not quite perfect looking,” according to Mr Ball.

The idea for Farmers Pick sprouted during the COVID-19 pandemic when the two friends stumbled upon discarded yet delicious fruits and vegetables at a farmer’s market.

They soon discovered that a staggering 1.7 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables, roughly 30 percent of the crop, were left unharvested on Australian farms each year, contributing to the nation’s annual food waste of 7.6 million tonnes.

Making a Mark with a Range of Offerings

In the financial year 2021-22, Farmers Pick generated $2.7 million in revenue, a figure that surged to $7.8 million in 2023. The company’s products are priced at a remarkable 30 per cent lower than supermarket equivalents.

The Farmers Pick subscription service offers fruit and vegetable boxes starting at $36 for a solo box, containing 6 kilograms of fresh, perfectly imperfect produce across 16 to 20 varieties.

Additionally, customers in Queensland will have access to The Farmers Pick Pantry, which offers preserves, alternative kinds of milk, and spreads such as peanut butter.

While Farmers Pick currently employs around 45 staff members, their expansion into Queensland will initially bring on board five new employees. To fund their expansion plans in both Queensland and New South Wales, the co-founders are aiming to raise $1.2 million in capital through crowdsourced funding via the Equitise platform.

A Win for Consumers Amidst Rising Prices

Mr Brooks-Duncan emphasized that as grocery prices continue to rise across Queensland, Farmers Pick’s expansion represents a significant victory for consumers. By rescuing fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste, the company helps households save up to 30 per cent on their weekly grocery bills, offering much-needed relief in an era of soaring food prices.

With its mission to combat food waste and provide affordable, sustainable food options, Farmers Pick’s expansion into Queensland marks a crucial step towards building a more sustainable food system for all Australians.

Published 27-Sept-2023