The future of the Ellen Grove parks precinct is moving towards its next major planning stage, with detailed design expected to begin in 2026 for proposed improvements at Ellen Grove District Park and Waterford Road Park.
Detailed Design Expected For Ellen Grove Parks Precinct In 2026
The project remains in the planning stage, but the direction is now clearer for two parks intended to support play, sport, gathering spaces and green areas for a growing community.
The plan covers Ellen Grove District Park and Waterford Road Park. Proposed features include open space, shelters, picnic tables, a playground, tennis courts and a clubhouse with a kiosk, pro shop, bathrooms and meeting facilities.
Natural areas are also part of the planning direction. The project material states that surrounding environmental values will be considered, protected and enhanced as future improvements are developed.
Photo Credit: BCC
Local Ideas Helped Shape The Park Plans
Early feedback was gathered from 22 May to 13 June 2023, when more than 100 people contributed ideas for the parks. For Ellen Grove District Park, suggestions included climbing ropes, swings, slides, accessible play equipment and a playground designed to fit with the natural setting.
Local input also pointed to the need for places to gather, including shaded seating, picnic and barbecue areas, shelters and toilets. Improved paths through and around the park were also raised, with interest in routes suitable for walking, cycling, scooters, prams and wheelchairs.
Photo Credit: BCC
For Waterford Road Park, the strongest themes centred on keeping existing trees, maintaining the natural environment and adding practical features that would make the space easier to use.
Suggested improvements included seating, picnic and barbecue areas, and walkable pathways. Broader comments also raised safe access, better connectivity between the parks, secure open spaces and consideration of lighting and noise.
Photo Credit: BCC
Support And Concerns Raised During Later Feedback
A second engagement period ran from 4 November to 1 December 2024 after the draft concept plan was released. During that stage, 144 feedback surveys were submitted and about 80 people attended information kiosks.
Most survey responses supported the proposed features, with 121 of 144 responses indicating support or strong support. A proposed green space for informal gatherings or sport was also positively received, with 109 respondents saying they would likely use that type of area.
More than 70 per cent of survey respondents indicated the proposed clubhouse and kiosk would improve the visitor experience. Accessible pathways were also expected to be well used, with 136 of 143 respondents saying they would use them for exercise, movement through the area or walking dogs.
Photo Credit: BCC
The feedback also identified issues to be considered as the project moves forward. Concerns included stormwater runoff, increased traffic from park visitors and the need for more car parking.
Some attendees also raised the need for better pathways and pedestrian crossings to make access to the parks easier. Others raised concerns about lighting linked to the proposed tennis courts, including light pollution and possible curfews for lights and hours of play.
Additional ideas suggested during engagement included waterplay, table tennis, volleyball space and more shade.
Works are expected to commence in 2028, although construction timing remains subject to weather and future funding.
Early works have begun on the Pallara District Sports Park, with the project entering a new phase ahead of main construction scheduled to start in late 2026, subject to weather conditions and approvals.
The park has been in planning since 2023, shaped by community engagement, a detailed sports needs analysis and technical investigations that together informed a final concept plan released in late 2025. For Pallara residents who have watched the suburb’s population grow rapidly while its sporting infrastructure remained limited, the early works signal that delivery is finally underway.
Construction continues until 2028, delivering a major $15 million to $20 million boost to sporting infrastructure in Brisbane’s south-west.
A park designed around what the community asked for
Community engagement conducted through October 2023 invited Pallara residents to share how they wanted to use the future park. That feedback, combined with a detailed sports needs study, shaped a concept plan that reflects the suburb’s growing and active population.
The concept plan shows two sports fields surrounded by shared pathways, spectator areas and team shelters, a future playground zone, water tanks for irrigation, car parking and a clubhouse. Sports field lighting is also included, along with bus pick-up and drop-off zones, making the park accessible for sporting clubs and community groups travelling to and from the site.
The two-field layout gives the park capacity to host multiple sports simultaneously, and the clubhouse will provide facilities for the local clubs and sporting groups that will eventually call the park home. Those clubs will be identified through future tenders as the project progresses toward construction.
Sporting groups are already taking notice
The scale of the planned facility has already drawn attention from local sporting organisations assessing whether it suits their needs.
Algester Little Athletics centre manager Scott Mackay noted the Pallara District Sports Park would need to include a 400-metre running track for his club to consider relocating there, signalling genuine community interest in what the site could ultimately accommodate.
A detailed sports needs analysis has helped shape the plans, with local clubs to be identified through future tenders. The final mix of sports and user groups will be determined through that process, giving the community an ongoing stake in how the park takes shape.
What comes next on the timeline
The project’s current phase is early works, with main construction planned to begin in late 2026, subject to weather conditions and planning approvals. The full project timeline runs through to 2028, with further stages of the broader Pallara Open Space Network Corridor subject to future funding allocations and development agreements in the area.
Project budgets will be confirmed once planning, design and tender stages are complete.
For more information or to follow the project’s progress, contact the project team on 07 3178 5413 during business hours, email cityprojects@brisbane.qld.gov.au, or click here.
Baber Studio has won the House of the Year title for the Inala Infill Apartments, a mass timber social housing project that provides 14 sustainable homes within the Greater Brisbane community.
The Australian Institute of Architects revealed the winners of the Greater Brisbane Architecture Awards this month. The ceremony celebrated projects that improve the way people live and work in the city. Along with the residential win in Inala, the University of Queensland also took home the highest overall prize.
Their new facility for plant research, known as the Plant Futures Facility, received the prestigious John Dalton Award for Building of the Year. Both projects were recognised for their focus on the environment and clever use of materials.
The project in Inala stands out because of its focus on community well-being and natural materials. Built as a low-rise complex, the development uses cross-laminated timber instead of traditional concrete. This choice helped the environment by saving roughly 170 tonnes of carbon from being released.
The design includes 14 homes that feel like a natural part of the neighbourhood. Residents have access to private gardens and walkways designed for everyone to use, including those with mobility needs. The layout also helps fresh air flow through the buildings, reducing the need for artificial cooling.
The Building of the Year winner at the University of Queensland also shares a commitment to a greener future. The Plant Futures Facility was created by M3 Architecture to help scientists study how plants can survive in a changing climate.
The building features unique brickwork that looks like layers of soil, changing from dark to light as the walls go up. On the roof, glasshouses allow the public to see the science happening inside. This facility is now a key part of the university’s work toward sustainable food and fuel production.
Many other local buildings were mentioned for their quality and design. Projects like the new Brisbane Metro and several local primary schools were also praised for helping the city grow in a smart way.
All the winners and commended projects from the Brisbane event will now move forward to a larger competition. The Queensland Architecture Awards will be held at Brisbane City Hall on 26 June. This upcoming event will decide which designs from across the entire state are the best for 2026.
Construction on the first of two new bus stops on Ritchie Road in Pallara will begin next month. Crews will work between 8pm and 9am, Monday to Saturday, near Hideaway Street to deliver public transport infrastructure to the southern Brisbane suburb.
The announcement follows ongoing community petitions for improved bus access along Ritchie Road. The new stop near Hideaway Street will be the first to proceed to construction, scheduled to commence in June 2026.
Work on a second stop closer to Van Dieren Road is still in the consultation phase, with further planning updates expected in the coming months as design teams finalise utility and corridor requirements.
Years of growth, years of waiting
Pallara remains one of Brisbane’s fastest-growing suburbs, but local public transport options and civic amenities have historically lagged behind residential development approvals. Families moving into newly created estates anticipated future facilities including shops and public transport, though the delivery of these services has taken longer than early planning frameworks suggested.
Translink Route 126 provides Pallara’s primary public transport connection, linking the suburb through Sunnybank Plaza and Altandi Station to the broader network. Previous infrastructure work on Ritchie Road, completed in stages between 2022 and 2023, delivered bus stops near Pallara State School at Falkland Street and Atlantic Place as part of a broader corridor upgrade.
However, dedicated stops along the Hideaway Street and Van Dieren Road sections of the corridor have remained absent until now.
Daily traffic counts document significant pressure on Ritchie Road. The road functions as the primary arterial connector for the suburb, and peak-hour congestion persists because the resident population has grown faster than the surrounding road and transport network.
One stop confirmed, one still in progress
Construction on the first new stop near Hideaway Street is set to begin in June 2026, with works scheduled overnight and in the early morning to reduce disruption to daytime traffic on Ritchie Road.
Project teams are currently consulting stakeholders on the second stop near Van Dieren Road, with a construction timeline yet to be confirmed while design work awaits final utility and corridor clearances.
Together, the two stops will extend the usable bus network along Ritchie Road. The new infrastructure shortens walking distances to Route 126 for the surrounding catchment, dropping the commute down to under 400 metres for nearby estates.
For residents in the southern sections of the suburb, a stop near Van Dieren Road expands accessible public transport coverage to an area previously outside standard walking catchments.
Community concerns
Pallara residents have raised longstanding concerns over inadequate infrastructure, noting that the local road network and public transport services have struggled to keep pace with the suburb’s population growth.
Community advocates have consistently called for investment in Ritchie Road infrastructure, and the confirmation of these two new bus stops follows years of organised resident feedback.
The construction of the first stop begins in June 2026. For the latest updates on Translink bus services in Pallara, visit click here or call 13 12 30.
In this latest edition of our Local Property Market Snapshot, recent sales activity, current listings, median pricing, and a peek into local development applications, along with market commentary from Local Expert Matt Groves, provide a multi-layered view of how the market is tracking across Forest Lake and surrounding suburbs.
Rather than relying on a single metric, the combination of what’s selling, where prices are sitting and how activity varies between suburbs offers a practical benchmark for homeowners and buyers to assess value and compare conditions across the local area.
Property investors are very nervous about the potential impending CGT budget policy.
It is difficult to advise clients because there is a tendency to wait until after the budget on May 12, but that could mean selling into a glut of new listings, which may cause downward pressure on prices.
Despite testing economic conditions, with the oil price situation pushing diesel costs and the price of many plastic products, including plumber’s piping, through the roof, we had a satisfactory auction of 21 Durundur Court, Durack. Three bidders ended up taking the property to $1.45 million when the hammer came down, the vendor was happy, and when other properties in that price range are having to sell at a discount currently, this was fair value.
We are currently listing a 3-bedroom property in Inala at 19 Centaurus Street, set on 693 square metres of land. Subject to the necessary approvals, a buyer could decide to build a granny flat as it has good side access.
Did you know that until the 1950s, Inala was known as Serviceton because after World War II a group of ex-servicemen formed the Serviceton Co-Operative Society to build homes for their families. The word “Inala” is Aboriginal, meaning a peaceful or restful place.
On August 9, 1975, 326 Vietnamese refugees arrived in Brisbane and Inala became their favoured home. Inala Plaza is now an extraordinary cultural experience.
Over the last 90 days, 3-bedroom houses in Inala have ranged from $792,000 to $1,050,000, while 4-bedroom houses have ranged from $780,000 to $1,098,000, which is quite unusual as they seem very close. The sample size is small, being six 3-bedroom house sales in Inala, with five 4-bedroom house sales in Inala. However, this still seems out of whack.
For example, in Forest Lake, the 90-day window shows the following for the same 90-day window:
#Beds
#Sales
Median
Price Range
3
28
$979K
$800K – $1.18M
4
16
$1.25M
$985K – $1.65M
5
7
$1.42M
$1.15M – $1.60M
What’s my house worth in Forest Lake?
Use these lists of recent property listings and recent top sales to estimate where the value of your property fits, along with the pulse of the market in Forest Lake.
RECENT PROPERTY LISTINGS
FOREST LAKE
Address
Price
9 Paton Cres
5
2
$1.03M+
26 Dulwich Pl
4
2
$1.1M+
12 Cassatt Pl
4
2
$1.435M+
24 Harrison Cres
4
2
$900K+
78 Augusta Cres
3
2
$949K
FOREST LAKE
TOP 10 SALES | LAST 90 DAYS
Address
Price
17 Santorini Pl
$1.65M
4
2
65 Booloumba Cres
$1.60M
5
2
8 Unley Pl
$1.60M
5
2
14 Lilydale Pl
$1.56M
5
2
5 Fitzroy Pl
$1.42M
5
2
62 Toolara Cct
$1.379M
4
2
36 Pendula Cct
$1.365M
6
3
4 Burnside Pl
$1.355M
4
2
44 Pacific Pde
$1.35M
4
2
5 Baccata Pl
$1.29M
4
2
Forest Lake Medians (90-day and 1-year Overview)
Forest Lake’s recent sales point to a clear concentration of demand in the 3- and 4-bedroom segments, with the 3-bedroom market driving the highest transaction volume while 4-bedroom homes maintain a strong price premium without matching that volume.
Recent sales show higher pricing across all house segments compared to the 12-month figures, particularly in the core 3- and 4-bedroom markets.
The price ranges between these two segments show only limited overlap at the margins, suggesting buyers are largely operating within defined budget bands rather than stretching between categories. The 5-bedroom market, while naturally achieving higher prices, remains comparatively thin, indicating it plays a much smaller role in overall market movement than the core 3- and 4-bedroom segments.
Unit sales are only reflected in the 12-month data, with relatively low volumes across all configurations, indicating that recent activity is concentrated almost entirely in detached housing.
FOREST LAKE
90-day Overview
Type
Beds
Sales
Median
Price Range
House
3
28
$979K
$800K – $1.175M
House
4
16
$1.25M
$985K – $1.65M
House
5
7
$1.42M
$1.15M – $1.6M
1-year Overview
Type
Beds
Sales
Median
Price Range
House
3
156
$870.5K
$600K – $1.3M
House
4
146
$1.03M
$750K – $1.825M
House
5
34
$1.401M
$967.3K – $1.815M
Unit
2
8
$605K
$460K – $797K
Unit
3
15
$630K
$530K – $830K
Unit
4
1
$710K
$710K only
What’s my house worth in Pallara?
Use these lists of recent property listings and recent top sales to estimate where the value of your property fits, along with the pulse of the market in Pallara.
RECENT PROPERTY LISTINGS
PALLARA
Address
Price
14 Magnolia St
5
2
$1.649M+
86 Devries St
5
3
$1.435M
20 Tambor Cres
4
2
$1.1M+
12 Bill Watson Way
4
2
$1.079M+
42 Ferdinando St
4
2
$1.15M
PALLARA
TOP 10 SALES | LAST 90 DAYS
Address
Price
46 Landel St
$1.636M
2
1
4 Tambor Cres
$1.53M
6
4
30 Brookbent Rd
$1.395M
4
2
14 Harper St
$1.38M
5
3
16 Diamond St
$1.342M
4
2
18 Gilding Pl
$1.30M
4
2
12 Miami Pl
$1.30M
4
2
115 Brookbent Rd
$1.29M
4
2
35 Escalade Cct
$1.26M
4
2
7 Ponting Cct
$1.256M
4
2
Pallara Medians (90-day and 1-year Overview)
Pallara’s recent sales activity is concentrated in larger family homes, with 4-bedroom houses recording 17 sales in the past 90 days at a median of $1.16M, above the 12-month median of $1.09M.
Over the full year, 4-bedroom homes dominate in volume with 90 sales, while both 3- and 5-bedroom categories have comparatively lower transaction counts, indicating that most measurable pricing movement is centred in the 4-bedroom market.
PALLARA
90-day Overview
Type
Beds
Sales
Median
Price Range
House
4
17
$1.16M
$980K – $1.395M
House
5
3
$1.275M
$1.275M – $1.38M
1-year Overview
Type
Beds
Sales
Median
Price Range
House
3
5
$885K
$815K – $1.22M
House
4
90
$1.09M
$628K – $1.672M
House
5
21
$1.38M
$970K – $1.685M
What’s my house worth in Doolandella?
Use these lists of recent property listings and recent top sales to estimate where the value of your property fits, along with the pulse of the market in Doolandella.
RECENT PROPERTY LISTINGS
DOOLANDELLA
Address
Price
39/25 Paddington St
5
3
$1.5M+
11 Redhead St
4
2
$1.178M
67 Fred Pham Cres
4
2
$1.1M+
5 Cloverdale Rd
4
2
$1.0675M+
36 Westminster Blvd
4
2
$1.05-$1.1M
DOOLANDELLA
TOP 10 SALES | LAST 90 DAYS
Address
Price
17 Rockfield Rd
$1.30M
4
2
23/53 Crossacres St
$1.225M
4
2
17 Muhammad St
$1.215M
4
2
17 Sevenhill Pl
$1.21M
4
2
35 Mayfair St
$1.12M
4
2
5 Agostino Cl
$1.098M
4
2
9 Kokuso Pl
$1.076M
4
2
13 Redhead St
$1.05M
4
2
3 Hillingdon St
$1.05M
4
2
19 Tulip Ln
$1.03M
4
2
Doolandella Medians (90-day and 1-year Overview)
Doolandella’s recent sales data shows that 4-bedroom houses are the most active segment, with 8 sales in the past 90 days and a median of $1.087M, compared to a 12-month median of $987.5K, indicating stronger recent pricing in that category.
Unit and townhouse activity is more concentrated in the 3-bedroom segment, with the 90-day median broadly aligned with the 12-month median, indicating stable pricing for that segment over the last 12 months.
Other segments, including 5-bedroom houses and 4-bedroom units/townhouses, have relatively low recent sales volumes, making short-term comparisons less conclusive based on the available data.
DOOLANDELLA
90-day Overview
Type
Beds
Sales
Median
Price Range
House
4
8
$1.087M
$1.03M – $1.3M
Unit/TH
3
11
$781K
$700K – $850K
Unit/TH
4
2
$1.125M
$1.025M – $1.225M
1-year Overview
Type
Beds
Sales
Median
Price Range
House
3
4
$837.5K
$780K – $1M
House
4
50
$987.5K
$850K – $1.3M
House
5
7
$1.025M
$850K – $1.235M
Unit/TH
3
66
$712.75K
$596K – $890K
Unit/TH
4
6
$976K
$800K – $1.225M
What’s my property worth in Inala?
Use these lists of recent property listings and recent top sales to estimate where the value of your property fits, along with the pulse of the market in Inala.
RECENT PROPERTY LISTINGS
INALA
Address
Price
19 Japonica St
4
2
$950K
278 Freeman Rd
3
2
$875K
23 Hook St
3
2
$989K+
34 Sycamore St
3
1
$998,888
19 Centaurus St
3
1
$929K+
INALA
TOP 10 SALES | LAST 90 DAYS
Address
Price
46 Rosemary St
$1.10M
4
2
6 Lapwing St
$1.00M
3
1
55 Rosella St
$970K
3
1
30 Cypress St
$968K
3
1
32 Crater St
$965K
3
2
49 Crater St
$955K
3
1
81 Deodar St
$932K
3
1
50 Crater St
$928K
3
1
11 Yulan St
$905K
2
1
14 Aldebaran St
$792K
3
1
Inala Medians (90-day and 1-year Overview)
Inala shows evidence that recent detached-house sales are sitting above their broader 12-month medians, particularly in the core family-house categories.
The 3-bedroom house segment shows the strongest recent movement, with the 90-day median sitting about 8% above the 12-month median. The 5-bedroom category remains too thin in the recent period to draw a reliable short-term trend.
INALA
90-day Overview
Type
Beds
Sales
Median
House
3
8
$943,500
House
4
5
$850,000
House
5
0
—
1-year Overview
Type
Beds
Sales
Median
House
3
75
$870,000
House
4
15
$850,000
House
5
3
$975,000
What’s my property worth in Durack?
Use these lists of recent property listings and recent top sales to estimate where the value of your property fits, along with the pulse of the market in Durack.
RECENT PROPERTY LISTINGS
DURACK
Address
Price
28 Dionigan Cres
6
3
Auction
8 Chanel Pl
4
2
Auction
36 Thornlaw St
3
2
Inviting Offers
1 Jarrah Pl
3
1
Inviting Offers
27/8 Saint Kilda Ct
3
2
$759K – $789K
DURACK
TOP 10 SALES | LAST 90 DAYS
Address
Price
21 Durundur Ct
$1.45M
4
2
5 Boulia Ct
$1.31M
4
2
16 Emerson Cl
$1.26M
4
3
9 Kurrajong St
$1.13M
3
2
13 Chanel Pl
$1.10M
4
2
20 Glenala Rd
$1.10M
3
1
7 Altola St
$1.10M
3
2
57 Dinnigan Cres
$1.075M
4
2
87 Tinaroo St
$1.059M
4
2
40 Finetti Cct
$1.00M
4
2
Durack Medians (90-day and 1-year Overview)
Like Inala, recent detached-house sales in Durack are sitting above their broader 12-month medians, particularly in the core family-house categories.
The clearest lift in Durack is in 4-bedroom houses, where the recent median is around 10% higher than the 12-month figure.
DURACK
90-day Overview
Type
Beds
Sales
Median
House
3
3
$940,000
House
4
7
$1,075,000
House
5
0
—
1-year Overview
Type
Beds
Sales
Median
House
3
19
$910,000
House
4
30
$976,500
House
5
3
$1,015,000
Some Development Applications in Forest Lake and Surrounds
Click on the pins to view the details.Click +/- to zoom in/out
Published 30-April-2026
Matt Groves is a Proud Promotional Partner of Brisbane Suburbs Online News
Note: This article is based on data from publicly available sources at the time of publication and is intended for general information only. Readers should conduct their own research and seek independent advice before making any property decisio
Locals have put together a wish list of projects for Forest Lake, Inala, Richlands, Doolandella, Durack, and Ellen Grove, ahead of the new budget for FY 2026-2027.
Footpaths with missing links. A sports complex described as well past its use-by date. A notorious intersection that has seen crashes and fatalities for a decade. Here’s a line-up of what residents could see funded, and what has been waiting years to be addressed.
Footpaths with missing links. A sports complex described as well past its use-by date. A notorious intersection that has seen crashes and fatalities for a decade. For residents across Brisbane’s southwest, these are not new problems. But with the city’s annual budget due in June, a detailed list of requested fixes has now been formally put on the table.
The submission for Forest Lake Ward covers more than 130 individual projects spanning Forest Lake, Inala, Richlands, Doolandella, Durack and Ellen Grove, ranging from minor path connections to multimillion-dollar sporting and aquatic facilities.
Getting around safely
Photo credit: Google Street View
Active transport and road safety account for a large share of the requests, with over 30 new or upgraded footpaths and shared path connections put forward. Many are small but critical missing links used daily by schoolchildren, commuters and residents travelling to bus stops.
One request flags that pedestrians on High Street, Forest Lake, including children and grandparents, are currently forced to walk on uneven dirt and grass due to a gap in the existing path network. A shared-path upgrade along Acanthus Street in Richlands is also sought, to give cyclists a safer route away from heavy industrial traffic.
New traffic signals are being requested at several locations, including Grand Avenue and Woogaroo Street, Government Road and Forest Lake Boulevard, and Woogaroo Street and Johnston Road.
The long-troubled Archerfield Road and Pine Road intersection in Inala is again among the priorities. Three designs have been proposed over the past decade without any construction proceeding, and multiple crashes and fatalities have occurred at the site in that time. The project recently received a boost, with the Federal Government committing $3 million towards fixing the intersection and a further $667,000 for nearby works on Azalea Street. The submission calls for construction to now get underway.
Parks, pools, and places to play
McEwan Park (Photo credit: Google Maps/J C)
An $8 million design and planning request has been put forward for a new aquatic complex for Forest Lake, a facility that has long been requested by local residents.
McEwan Sports Fields in Inala is listed for a $2.5 million full upgrade, with the submission noting the ovals and facilities are extremely old and in need of comprehensive renewal. Kev Hooper Park is also nominated for a potential $5 million investment, to include water playground equipment and free Wi-Fi.
A wide range of parks across the ward are put forward for smaller but practical improvements, including new or upgraded playgrounds, half-courts, fitness equipment, shade sails and BBQ facilities at Augusta Crescent, Forbes Park, Desoto Place Park and Jubilee Park, among others.
Sporting infrastructure requests include netball courts for Ellen Grove or Forest Lake ($200,000) and a BMX track for Ellen Grove ($250,000).
Roads and infrastructure
Photo credit: Google Street View
More than 20 roads across the ward are nominated for resurfacing, widening or kerb and channel upgrades, with many in Inala, Richlands and Doolandella where heavy vehicle use and ongoing development have accelerated wear on ageing road surfaces. The largest single resurfacing request covers Waterford Road in Ellen Grove, estimated at $500,000, and described as carrying large amounts of traffic including trucks, with persistent pothole problems.
The 2026–27 Brisbane City budget is expected to be handed down in June. With more than 130 projects on the list, residents across the ward will find out which of the requested improvements make the final cut.
Both students will be the first in their families to attend university, a milestone that carries a particular kind of weight. There is no parent who has been through orientation week, no sibling who can explain how HECS works, no family shorthand for navigating the early months of a university degree.
The bursary exists precisely for students in that position, covering the upfront costs that can derail a capable student before they even begin: textbooks, technology, equipment and other essentials.
For Shahd and Salman, the recognition is a signal that the talent and determination they have brought to their studies at Forest Lake State High School and Glenala State High School respectively has not gone unnoticed in their own community.
Two Schools, Two Suburbs, One Step That Changes Everything
Forest Lake State High School has served the western suburbs of Brisbane since 2001, building a reputation across academic and sporting programmes for over 1,600 students in Years 7 to 12. The school draws from a broad and diverse community, and Shahd’s selection reflects the kind of academic drive the school works to cultivate.
Glenala State High School in Durack has been a cornerstone of the Inala and Forest Lake area since 1996, formed from the amalgamation of Inala State High School and Richlands State High School. Its motto, “Believe and Achieve,” and its four core values of respect and responsibility, commitment to learning, pride and perseverance frame a school that serves some of Brisbane’s most culturally diverse communities. Salman’s path to university through Glenala is the kind of story that school motto was written for.
Both schools sit within the same community, a south-western Brisbane corridor where families from many different cultural and linguistic backgrounds have built their lives, and where being the first in a family to attend university is not unusual. It is, in many of these households, a quiet aspiration held for years before someone finally makes it real.
Helping Students Get Started
The bursary targets that gap directly, providing recipients with a one-off payment to establish a financial foundation. By covering these initial costs, the initiative ensures students focus on their studies rather than their bank balances from day one. The intent is not just to support the two individuals receiving it but to open a pathway for the generations that follow.
This practical support addresses a significant hurdle. Textbooks, a laptop, software licences, transport costs and enrolment fees can add up to hundreds or even thousands of dollars in the first weeks of semester. For a student without family experience in higher education, there is often no roadmap for managing those early expenses.
“Being the first in a family to attend university can be daunting, but with the right support and encouragement, it can also be life-changing,” the bursary announcement noted.
A Community Initiative from a Local Who Knows the Path
The First-in-Family Bursary is a personal initiative of Ms Margie Nightingale, the local member for the Inala electorate, which covers Forest Lake and the surrounding suburbs. Ms Nightingale has deep roots in the area, having grown up in Inala, attended local schools and raised her family in the community. She was herself the first in her family to attend university, a connection to this bursary that goes beyond policy.
The bursary reflects a view of community that is anchored in long-term investment: that supporting one student through a financial barrier at the right moment can ripple forward through families and communities for decades. Both Shahd and Salman represent, in Ms Nightingale’s words, “the talent, determination and potential that exists right in our electorate.”
Forest Lake State High School can be contacted at admin@forestlakeshs.eq.edu.au. Glenala State High School can be reached at admin@glenalashs.eq.edu.au.
A newly refurbished canteen has opened at a school in Forest Lake, providing students with a refreshed food service space and a varied menu for daily use.
Students at a Forest Lake high school are now using a refurbished canteen that opened in the first week of term earlier this year. The upgraded facility marked the completion of a project that had been a long-standing priority, particularly for canteen staff.
The redevelopment focused on improving the working environment behind the counter, where staff manage high demand during peak periods. The updated layout provides a more functional space to support daily operations during busy lunch breaks.
Photo Credit: Forest Lake SHS/Facebook
Menu Brings Familiar Favourites And Variety
The Forest Lake canteen offers a range of food options across the week, with a rotating schedule that includes items such as sausage sizzles, tacos and loaded nachos. Daily offerings also include burrito bowls, meatball subs, fried rice and roast vegetable wraps.
Students can choose from wraps and sandwiches, with fillings such as tuna, chicken, or egg and lettuce. Lighter options including fruit, yoghurt, salad cups and salad trays are available alongside hot foods such as noodles, pizza and potato wedges.
Lower-cost items are available on the menu, including loaded nachos priced at $6.50. The menu has also been revised to meet the Smart Choices Healthy Food and Drink Strategy, which encourages balanced food and drink choices for students.
Space Supports Daily School Use In Forest Lake
The refurbished Forest Lake canteen provides a more practical space for staff while serving students during the school day. The improved layout supports food preparation and service during high-demand periods, with students able to access meals between classes.
Students have already begun using the space regularly, with many contributing suggestions for menu updates during the early weeks of operation.
Photo Credit: Forest Lake SHS/Facebook
Opening Attended By School And Community Members
The official opening was attended by senior students, school leadership and members of the parent-led association. Ms Margie Nightingale also attended the opening and noted the role of the upgraded space in improving access to food and supporting working conditions for staff.
The canteen upgrade has been supported by the school’s parent-led association, which continues to assist with operations as the new facility becomes part of the school routine. A casual retail assistant role has also been advertised to support both the canteen and the uniform shop.
Fifteen-year-old Sabina Locke is making her mark on the Queensland pageant scene, having already secured a first runner-up finish in the teen division at Face of Australia Queensland. After traveling to Bangkok, Thailand, where she earned a massive medal haul at Kids Star International, the Forest Lake local is now preparing to take to the national stage this April for the Miss Teen Galaxy Australia competition.
At a young age, Sabina is proving that pageantry is about far more than just sashes and stage lights. Balancing her secondary school exams with a packed community schedule, she is using the stage to build her confidence and forge lasting connections. While she already has her sights set on university, Sabina’s current focus is firmly on the future opportunities her successes might bring, from modelling to community advocacy.
From Forest Lake to the International Stage
Her journey through the Galaxy system emphasizes real-world skills like public speaking, interview techniques, and community involvement. This April, she steps onto the national stage for the Miss Teen Galaxy Australia competition, continuing a rapid rise that has already seen her represent her community abroad. Her previous success at Kids Star International in Bangkok saw her compete against a global field including entrants from Bulgaria, Thailand, and the Philippines where she secured a significant medal haul for her talent, catwalk, and costume.
Her placement as Runner Up at Face of Australia Queensland, one of Brisbane’s most prominent multicultural pageants, preceded her Galaxy journey and helped lay the groundwork for the confidence and platform skills she brought to the international stage. Face of Australia Queensland has grown steadily since its 2019 inauguration, placing a strong emphasis on empowerment, diversity and community connection, values that clearly resonated with Sabina’s own approach.
Her friends from the competition have been quick to support her, and she credits the connections she has built through pageantry as one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience. “Everything I have earned has been a new learning experience for me and I hope that continues with the years to come,” she said.
More Than a Title
What sets Sabina apart is the way she has translated pageant participation into tangible community action. She is a regular at the local op shop and gives her time to Wendy’s Community Care. Both commitments point to a young woman who sees her platform not as something to display but as something to use.
Her advocacy interests are growing in focus too. Sabina has begun engaging more seriously with youth mental health, attending events and exploring how she can contribute to that space in a meaningful way. She is also planning to participate in Brisbane’s International Women’s Day Fun Run, with a particular gesture that says a lot about her character: rather than keeping her ticket, she intends to give it to someone who needs it.
Eyes on What Comes Next
While Sabina Locke is clear-eyed about her future, she is currently a 15-year-old student balancing her pageant commitments with secondary school exams. She hopes to attend university after finishing school while continuing to build her presence in the pageant world. Sabina views these experiences as a way to gain skills in public speaking, community service, and traditional runway categories that will open doors for future modelling and media opportunities. She remains focused on the learning process, noting that everything she has earned so far has been a new experience she hopes to build on in the years to come.
The Galaxy system she competes in provides a genuine pathway for that ambition. Sabina is now putting her energy into April’s national competition, where she will represent her community on the Australian stage. Community support has already begun to grow around her, and she has secured local sponsorship from a skincare clinic and a traditional Filipino clothing boutique.
For more information about Australia Galaxy Pageants and the 2026 national final, visit australiagalaxypageants.com.
In Inala, Jianming Su is leading a Containers for Change initiative that is expanding access to recycling while supporting everyday community participation through his social enterprise, Panda Recycling.
Jianming Su’s path to establishing a recycling initiative in Inala began with a strong engineering background, holding qualifications from Finland and China and experience in the energy sector overseas. After relocating to Australia, he encountered challenges entering his professional field, prompting a shift toward building a local, community-focused enterprise.
That transition led to the creation of Panda Recycling, a social enterprise designed to deliver practical recycling services while supporting the people and places it serves. In Inala, this approach has taken shape through the operation of a Containers for Change shopfront at the Inala Civic Centre.
Photo Credit: COEX/LinkedIn
Building A Recycling Hub In Inala
Through Jianming Su’s efforts, the Inala shopfront provides residents with a convenient and accessible way to return eligible containers. Open seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., the site offers both automated and assisted services to suit different needs.
The facility includes two reverse vending machines, along with manual counting options for customers who prefer direct assistance. To improve accessibility, instructions are available in both English and Vietnamese, reflecting the needs of the local community.
Since opening in late October, the Inala shopfront has processed more than 178,000 containers, returning approximately $17,800 to the community through container refunds.
Combining Practical Service With Community Focus
Jianming Su’s approach through Panda Recycling centres on making recycling simple and accessible while maintaining a strong community focus. The Inala site integrates technology with in-person support, allowing customers to choose how they engage with the service.
Residents can receive refunds in cash, transfer funds directly to their bank accounts, or donate to Brisbane South Toy Mission, a local organisation supporting children and families. Free collection services for homes and businesses further extend the reach of the initiative across Inala.
Photo Credit: COEX/LinkedIn
Expanding Access Through Local Leadership In Inala
The Inala shopfront forms part of a wider expansion of Containers for Change locations, bringing recycling services closer to where people live and work. Through Jianming Su’s leadership, the local site has contributed to reducing litter while improving access to container refunds within the community.
By focusing on practical service delivery and accessibility, the Inala initiative highlights how individual-led efforts can support both environmental outcomes and everyday use within local communities.
