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Inala, Durack, and Richland Conduct Anti-Mosquito Spraying Blitz Due to Japanese Encephalitis Threat

Over 70 suburbs in Brisbane, including Inala, Durack, and Richland, have had an anti-mosquito spraying blitz to ward off threats of the mosquito-borne virus, Japanese encephalitis.

The spraying blitz happened in early March following reports of the first confirmed case in Queensland since 1998, who was treated at the Prince Charles Hospital.

Per Brisbane City Council, the following locations have been targeted for the spraying blitz whilst experts continued to monitor the mosquito traps across the city. Clinicians in the region have been on high on alert as well since the infections of the mosquito-borne virus do not usually present any symptoms.

Albion Alderley Anstead Ashgrove Bald Hills Balmoral Banyo Bardon Beachmere Bellbowrie Belmont Brighton Brisbane Airport Brisbane City Council Bulimba Burbank Camp Hill	Cannon Hill Carina Carindale Carseldine Chelmer Clayfield Clontarf Corinda Darra Deagon Deception Bay Durack Enoggera Everton Park Ferny Grove Fitzgibbon Gaythorne
Graceville Grange Gumdale Hemmant Hendra Holland Park Holland Park West Inala Karana Downs Keperra Kippa-Ring Kuraby Macgregor	Mackenzie Mango Hill Manly West Milton Mitchelton Moggill Moreton Bay Council Morningside Mt Crosby Mt Gravatt East Murarrie Ningi Norman Park
Oxley Pinjarra Hills Pinkenba Port of Brisbane Redland Council Richlands Rothwell Sandgate Sandstone Point Seven Hills Seventeen Mile Rocks Sherwood	Shorncliffe St Lucia Taringa The Gap Tingalpa Toorbul Toowong Upper Mt Gravatt Victoria Point Wellington Point Wynnum Wynnum West

What is Japanese Encephalitis?

Japanese encephalitis presents as an inflammation of the brain but most of the infected usually suffer from mild symptoms only, such as headache or fever. In rare or extreme cases, the infected might experience high fever and chills, vomiting, sensitivity to light, neck stiffness and severe headache.

The virus is transmitted only through an infected mosquito bite that may manifest symptoms within 5 to 15 days of the infection. Claims that the Japanese encephalitis outbreak in Austalia may be due to the Pfizer vaccine has been debunked by the RMIT FactLab. University of Queensland virologist Jody Peters reiterated that humans may only contract the virus from a “Japanese encephalitis virus-infected mosquito.”

Protecting Yourself

Nonetheless, health agencies are encouraging people to take extra measures to reduce their risks. The Australian Department of Health advice the following:

applying and regularly reapplying an effective insect repellent on exposed skin
wearing long, loose fitting clothing when outside
ensuring accommodation, including tents, are properly fitted with mosquito nettings or screens
using insecticide sprays, vapour dispensing units (indoors) and mosquito coils (outdoors) to clear rooms and repel mosquitoes from an area
covering all windows, doors, vents and other entrances with insect screens
removing any water-holding containers where mosquitoes may breed

The best mosquito repellents to use must contain diethyltoluamide (DEET), picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

Subsequently, locals may be immunised against JE. Distribution and administration of the vaccines will be focused on at-risk groups, such as workers in piggeries, pork abattoirs, or pork-processing plants, laboratory workers who could be exposed to the virus, environmental health workers, and people who reside in locations with confirmed cases.

The vaccines are expected to be available from late March to April through the Communicable Diseases Network Australia.

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How Mater Volunteers Like Kevin Kelly Make a Difference in Cancer Patients

Cancer patients too sick to drive for their medical appointments at Brisbane’s Mater Cancer Centre from their residences in Eagleby, Carole Park, and Goodna can rely on Mater volunteers like Kevin Kelly.

The former police officer signed up as a Mater volunteer driver less than six months ago and has already formed strong friendships with patients.

“I am a good listener and that’s important,” he said. “I really admire them sharing their stories with me and I enjoy seeing their health progress.”

Mr Kelly, 71, resides in Thornlands and has been “in and out” of hospitals with several cancer patients as he ensures they get to their treatments and check-ups safely. He is no stranger to the process as he lost his wife to cancer more than three years ago after a couple of years of fighting the disease. Being a Mater volunteer is his way of giving back to the community.

Mater Volunteer Senior Manager Judy Johnson said that Mr Kelly exemplifies the passion and dedication they need to make a difference.

“When you help others, you end up feeling really good,” Ms Johnson said.

“Kevin is a great driver, and not only does he drive patients, some who are chronically ill, to where they need to be, but he also helps reduce their stress and takes time to make a difference to their lives.”

Other volunteers provide a variety of roles depending on their skills and professional background. Student volunteers above 18 years old are also encouraged to sign up.

Learn About Volunteering

Century Yuasa Factory in Carole Park Plans Expansion, More Jobs

Century Yuasa, the oldest battery manufacturer in Australia, is planning a major expansion that will not only boost production but also increase job opportunities as demand for cars, boats, and motorbikes batteries ramp up.

After acquiring new machinery for manufacturing battery lead plates, Century Yuasa operations manager Matthieu Anquetil said that demands have been dictated by the COVID trends that saw more commuters ditching public transport to take private cars or to refurbished used cars that need new batteries.

With new machinery in place, estimated to produce 380,000 lead plates per day, the Carole Park factory is also going to have more staff to help with production. The plan is to increase the workforce from 20 to 160 within the year. The move comes after the factory added a night shift line in October 2020, and a second night shift line in February 2021.

Mr Anquetil said that Century Yuasa’s focus on building batteries made for the Australian setting has been rewarding despite stiff competition from cheap imports and foreign battery manufacturers. However, the quality of a battery made for Australians has given the company its edge.

“We design our products to be specially tailored to the Australian market, inclusive of Australian conditions and Australian consumers,” Mr Anquetil said.

“We go from a temperate climate in Melbourne to a more tropical one in Darwin. Usually, that’s a different environment for the battery; and whether it’s for a deep cycle application, marine application, your day-to-day metro run, or long-haul trucks around Australia, all these products require specific attention and a different mix of elements inside the batteries.”  

The Carole Park site produces about 1.2 million car batteries every year, including vehicles for marine and defence use.

Century Yuasa was established in Sydney in 1928. Across the country and New Zealand, the company employs more than 650 individuals who are into sales, distribution, and research or development, aside from manufacturing.

Medicinal Cannabis Use Expands Amidst Mass Hiring, New Therapy Service in Logan

Two establishments in Logan are becoming the forerunners in expanding medicinal cannabis use in Queensland, with Medcan Australia opening 50 new jobs to meet growing demand and Pharmaceutical Rehabilitation Services now providing medicinal cannabis therapy.

MedCan Australia Mass Hiring

Medcan Australia, which obtained licence to cultivate and produce medicinal cannabis in 2017, has been mass hiring doctors, nurses, biologists, health administrators, agriculturalists, general administration staff, and distribution specialists following the approval of more medicinal cannabis products by the Therapeutic Goods Administration in October 2021.

The move is projected to double the number of products to be released this year and has been seen as a positive sign to remove the stigma around medical cannabis use. Around 400 General Practitioners are legally prescribing medical cannabis to treat chronic pain, epilepsy, anxiety, among a number of other ailments.

Medcan Australia has also partnered with a network of doctors for its initiative, Cann I Help, for telehealth and in-person consultations. The service also provides medicinal cannabis subsidy schemes for qualified patients since the drugs are not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Check Career Opportunities at MedCan

Pharmaceutical Rehabilitation Services Expansion

Meanwhile, Pharmaceutical Rehabilitation Services (PRS) in Beenleigh, which specialises in the holistic care and mental health treatment of drug dependents, has expanded to include medicinal cannabis therapy with more than 50 clients now taking full advantage of the service following its launch in February.

Photo Credit: Pharmaceutical Rehabilitation Services/Facebook

According to Dr Guy Wright, Logan patients used to travel to Brisbane or Gold Coast for their medicinal cannabis therapy but they may now conveniently visit the clinic on City Road, which also dispenses the cannabis drugs on the spot.

“If you have had a condition such as arthritis, anxiety or chronic pain, you may be eligible for special access approval to use medicinal cannabis as a treatment,” PRS stated.

“Applying for treatment is easy – all we need is a copy of your medical records. If standard treatments have not worked after three months, TGA approval usually takes less than 2 days.”

Amidst its expansion, PRS has attracted a number of complaints from other businesses and local school operators within the area. They have been asking the business to relocate after some commotion with patients rejected by the clinic.

Forest Lake-Ellen Grove Among South-west Brisbane Areas With High Covid-19 Numbers

Photo credit: geralt/Pixabay

Did you know that Forest Lake-Ellen Grove area is among the South-west Brisbane areas with the highest number of COVID-19 cases?

Read: Forest Lake Property Market Delivers 20% Price Growth

Based on data from Queensland Health from 13 December 2021 to 26 January 2022, the area has recorded 1,727 cases. Nearby areas such as Acacia Ridge and Goodna recorded fewer cases, with 1,255 cases and 898 cases respectively.

As of the latest census, the 4078 postcode which covers Forest Lake-Ellen Grove has a population of around 27,488.

Just this January 2022, seven residents from an aged care provider in Forest Lake had died with the virus, after the nursing home was linked with 130 cases, including 77 residents and 53 staff.

Meanwhile, here’s an overview of some areas around South Brisbane, from 13 Dec 2021 to 26 Jan 2022

Brisbane Suburb	Covid-19 Cases
Inala-Richlands	2719
Forest Lake-Ellen Grove	1727
Acacia Ridge	1255
Goodna	898
Pallara-Willawong	780
Wacol	675
Durack	466
Camira-Gailes	462

Read: Pallara State School Receives WasteSMART Award for Environmental Initiatives

Queensland ended all domestic border restrictions as of 15 Jan 2022, removing the need for border passes and the presentation of negative COVID-19 test results for anyone entering the state.

Although unvaccinated individuals no longer have to present quarantine requirements, establishments will still require proof of vaccination from their customers.

Photo credit: Michael_Kretzchmar/Pixabay

As of 26 Jan 2022, Queensland’s new COVID cases were 9,974 with 818 patients undergoing hospital treatment and 54 patients currently in the ICU.

Since the beginning of the pandemic up to 26 January, the state has had 379,793 cases in total. Queensland has administered over 3.5 million doses, which accounts for 89.3 per cent of fully vaccinated individuals.

Join The Filipino Community In Celebrating Australia Day 2022

Photo credit: Barrio Fiesta Brisbane/Facebook

Filipino Barrio Fiesta Brisbane is hosting a FREE festival, ‘Salamat Po! Australia,’ a free festival in Willawong to celebrate Australia Day 2022.

Read: Brisbane Parks and Reserves Identified for Future Mountain Bike Trails

The SALAMAT PO! Australia (Thank you! Australia) Festival expresses the Filipino community’s gratitude to Australia, through a cultural celebration which will showcase both cultures and honour each other’s uniqueness.

Barrio Fiesta Australia Day event poster — Photo credit: Barrio Fiesta Brisbane/Facebook

This free event will start with a Thanksgiving Mass officiated by Fr Francis Belciña from St James Catholic Parish at 165 Old Cleveland Road, Coorparoo before the celebration commences at 12:00 p.m. at the Unidus Community Centre.

What	SALAMAT PO! Australia celebration
Where	Unidus Community Centre, 204 Sherbrook Road, Willawong
When	26 January 2022, from 8:00 a.m.

Here are the activities and community events to look forward to throughout the day:

A FREE BBQ Sausage Sizzle and cultural activities for children hosted by members of the local Aborigine community, with face painting led by an Aborigine Artist, Aunty Peggy Tidyman, a Gunggari Elder.
Cultural production Binittuwon – a showcase of different cultures through music and dance.
Entertainment from didgeridoo player Rhys Monaghan and indigenous dancer, Taleatha Wright-Morgan, whose family comes from the Gubbi Gubbi tribe on the Sunshine Coast.
Cultural dance performances from the Filipino, with the Chinese and the Sri Lankan communities.
Music provided by three bands playing live alternately and for aspiring singers, the 4EB Radio Van Jam will also be on site.

Groove Street Band — Photo credit: Barrio Fiesta Brisbane/Facebook

The venue has plenty of space for picnics and for people to sit and enjoy the day as well as a basketball court. As for food, Indigenous Chef Nathan Skinner and Filipino Chef Rejoice Guevara – Thomson will collaborate to showcase food from each culture and will also show how ingredients from both cultures can be used together to create a dessert.

Read: Forest Lake Property Market Delivers 20% Price Growth

Filipino Barrio Fiesta Brisbane spokesperson Honey Binny said doing something Australian like getting together with family or friends or going to a local community event is what Australia Day is all about, and there is something for everyone at SALAMAT PO! Australia.

Purple Hearts — Photo credit: Barrio Fiesta Brisbane/Facebook

“On this day we come together to value the contribution of each and every citizen and celebrate Australia Day as a friend, as a family, and as one nation,” she said.

“No words can express the gratitude we feel to the Australian people for welcoming us with open arms and with their hearts. Australia Day is a befitting day for us to celebrate and shout with our hearts, SALAMAT PO! Australia (Thank you, Australia),” Ms Binny said.

Please note that attendees must have completed both their vaccination shots. Those who would like to join can get their entry tickets by registering using their QR code. Further details are available at Barrio Fiesta Brisbane’s official Facebook page.

New Pedestrian Safety Barriers Installed Near Forest Lake Schools

Another resident said the safety barrier is a great idea but believes it may still be dangerous for students when it becomes crowded and waiting to cross at the lights. Still, he hopes it will help with students not darting and pushing onto the road.

In 2015, an eight-year-old student was crossing the road on his way to Grand Avenue State School when he was hit by a car. He was taken to Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital for face and knee injuries. Similar incidents have happened throughout Brisbane, prompting concerned locals and schools to be vigilant about safety in school zones.

Mixed Reactions To Proposed Shopping Centre In Pallara

) submitted to the Brisbane City Council, BluePoint Property is seeking to build a new shopping centre with a range of centre activity uses, including food and drink outlets, health care service, indoor sport and recreation, offices and shops.

Based on the plans, the total gross floor area of the shopping centre will be 6,797 sqm. According to QIC, this size exceeds the threshold of 4,000 sqm previously considered for a neighbourhood centre on the site.

Pallara Common artist's rendition — Pallara Common (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

Locals’ Feedback

The development application has received mixed reactions from residents, with some residents supporting the plan and some a bit uncertain about it because of traffic concerns.

“The report did not assess the impact to AM peak. Increase in turning movements onto Pallara Ave coupled with greater proportion of egress movements from Pallara Ave onto Gooderham Rd potentially have increased delay,” said one resident who supports the proposal but has some traffic concerns which were not allegedly not addressed in the applicant’s submitted traffic statement.

Pallara shopping centre site — Subject site (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

“The traffic report indicates that the 294 car parks is less than the recommended 322 parks according to the TAPS Planning Scheme Policy. This reduction is explained away because of the varying usages of tenancies, but it doesn’t appear to consider that this would be the only neighbourhood center to service Pallara and is likely to attract increased usage from residents who currently commute outside of the suburb for shopping purposes,” said another local.

On a positive note, those who supported the new shopping centre believe it will create hundreds of jobs for locals and families will also be able to walk to the shops which will reduce the amount of traffic in the area.

“The elderly residents and young children of Pallara who are unable to travel to other suburbs, and are at high risk of isolation, will have access to food and drink outlets; health care services; sports and recreation facilities; shopping facilities; and veterinary services,” said one resident who approves of the plan.

To stay updated about the status of this proposed development, see DA-A005772656.

Brisbane Parks and Reserves Identified for Future Mountain Bike Trails

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

The Brisbane Off-Road Cycling Strategy, which identifies potential development areas for bike trails and tracks in Inala, Pallara, Ellen Grove, and other areas, has been released.

Before the release of the Brisbane Off-Road Cycling Strategy by Brisbane City Council, off-road cycling opportunities were mostly confined to single tracks and a skills track in Mt Coot-tha Reserve, as well as designated shared-use tracks located in Toohey Forest Park and bikeways in and adjacent to bushland reserves and parks. Currently, Mt Coot-tha is the lone designated site for mountain bike single track.

The growing demand for off-road facilities has led to instances of unauthorised construction of tracks in bushland reserves and parks, an occurrence which Council now aims to mitigate.

The Brisbane Off-Road Cycling Strategy provides a high-level strategic guide and framework for future projects involving the delivery of recreational off-road cycling and opportunities.

In 2019, the Council conducted consultations with key stakeholder groups and the rest of the community. More than 1,400 responses were received which were then used as inputs in developing the Brisbane Off-Road Cycling Strategy draft.

In December 2020, the draft was released for community feedback. A great majority agreed that Council should authorise more off-road cycling opportunities, pointing out that such a move will be good for the environmentally sensitive areas.

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

The off-road cycling opportunities identified in the Strategy are divided into short- and long-term opportunites.

These are further categorised according to the off-road cycling type: A (Skills track, dirt jumps or pump track), B (Mountain bike single trail), C (Cyclo-cross circuit), and D (Riding on shared-use trails and/or fire tracks in natural areas).

Included in the list of potential future off-road cycling opportunities (short term) are Armisfield Street Park (Type D) and Blunder Creek Reserve (Type D) in Doolandella; Sergeant Dan Stiller Memorial Reserve (Type – D) in Heathwood; Warril Parkland (Type D) and Glider Forest (Type A, B and D) in Larapinta; Beaudesert Road Park – No. 2911 (Type D), Greenways Esplanade Park (Type A) and Parkinson Bushlands (Type D) in Parkinson; and D.J. Sherrington Park (Type A) and Thrush Street Park (Type A) in Inala. These short-term locations are for Council’s consideration in the next five years.

On the other hand, the long-term opportunities, which are for Council’s consideration beyond the next five years, include Pallara Park (Types A, C and D) and Warren Ritchie Memorial Complex Park (Type A) in Ellen Grove. Further detailed design, budget and environmental assessment will be undertaken in relation to these potential off-road cycling opportunities.

Visit this link for more information on the Brisbane Off-Road Cycling Strategy.

Forest Lake Property Market Delivers 20% Price Growth

The property market in Forest Lake has outperformed itself, with a 20% growth that has taken the median house price above the half-million-dollar mark for the period October 2020 to September 2021.

Highlights

Forest Lake continues its upward trend with the property market rising to 20.05 per cent for October 2020 to September 2021.
Despite being short on supply since Forest Lake has mostly detached dwelling options, the suburb’s unit market has risen to 6.73 per cent.
This suburb’s median house price is now at $515,000 and the median unit price is at $293,500.

House Price Growth

Figures from Property Market Updates reflect a high demand for Forest Lake properties, as it experiences a 20.05 per cent growth from last year, with the median house price now sitting at $515,000.

From October 2020 to September 2021, 459 properties were sold for an average of 29 days on market, proving that the property boom in this southern suburb has continued post-pandemic.

Whilst the boom is good news for sellers and investors, industry experts believe that the rising trend will be sustained well into the next year. Thus, buyers are no longer sitting on the sidelines to wait for the cooling period.

Most buyers looking at Forest Lake go for four-bedroom properties, although three-bedroom homes are also selling fast.

About 92 per cent of dwelling options in this suburb are detached houses with nearly half on the mortgage, which has been one of the main drivers of the rumbling market with the current low-interest rates.

Unit Price Growth

While first-home buyers are struggling to compete in other markets with million-dollar price ranges, they could easily get on the property market with much less budget. The median unit price in Forest Lake is currently at $293,500 for the period October 2020 to September 2021.

During this 12-month period, 20 units had new owners following 52 days on market. Most of these have been three-bedroom homes, an ideal size for a growing family. The growth has been notable since unit stocks are low on supply in Forest Lake and apartment values in Brisbane generally do not enjoy the same rise in values as detached houses.

About Forest Lake

Established in the early 1990s, Forest Lake was developed and master-planned with families in mind and that has remained the same in the last 30 years. To the centre of the suburb is the parkland and lake from which Forest Lake was named.

Covering 10-hectares of natural space, the Forest Lake parkland offers residents plenty of things to do. With its careful layout as a leafy and relaxed community, this beautiful suburb has plenty of bike and walking tracks, playgrounds, and sports fields for adults and kids to enjoy.

The suburb also offers comprehensive school options for both primary and secondary education. Public transport access for trips to the city and neighbouring suburbs is fairly regular and residents could easily get everything they need at the Forest Lake Shopping Village.

“We have lived in Forest Lake for 5 years now and we adore it! We were inner city Dinks when we moved here almost 6 years ago, and had only lived in West End Wooloongabba and East Brisbane. Needless to say it was a change of pace! The first few nights we were shocked at how early everyone seemed to go to bed! We joked it was “lights out at 9:30 in Forest Lake!”. It’s very safe, very quiet, leafy, clean and so very very pretty!”
Vanessa Soma

“Forest Lake is a great place for kids with all the parks and families of all ages in the area. The neighbors on my street are all well educated, friendly professional types, and maintain their properties immaculately unlike other suburbs in Brisbane. Lots of community events like BBQs and kids parties as well which is fun for the family. Many of my family members are cops and they say the southwest of Brisbane has dramatically improved over the last year as patrols have increased and more first time home buyers are moving in.”
Jana 15

“I purchased in this suburb in late 2019. I was a bit worried at first, being 30 minutes with no traffic from the CBD and not in one of the so called “blue chip suburbs” that are shilled so much by “property experts”. The truth is, this suburb is great for young families that want to own their own property and have great outdoor recreation activities around and plenty of schools to choose from.”
Brendon