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FREE Fire Ant Eradication Kits at Calamvale Ward

Photo credit: Stephen Ausmus, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

FREE fire ant treatment kits are now available for residents of Algester, Calamvale, Parkinson, Stretton, Drewvale, Pallara, Heathwood, Karawatha, Larapinta, and part of Forest Lake.

The free kits have been made possible through the Calamvale Ward Fire Ant Eradication Project, in partnership with Biosecurity Queensland and the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program, aimed at eradicating fire ants over a period of 10 years.

The national program will cost $411.4 million and will be implemented in three phases: Search and Suppress, Treat, and Search and Clear.

The free treatment kits come in two packs which should be applied eight weeks apart. The kits are now available for distribution at the Calamvale Ward Office from Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Checking for Fire Ants

Fire ants were first detected in Brisbane in 2001. These invasive ants can be very aggressive when disturbed. Their sting can cause a burning sensation and allergic reaction which can sometimes lead to death.

Photo credit: NatalieK, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

What are the best places to check for fire ants? In residential properties, you will most likely find fire ant nests in lawns, garden beds, taps, utility pits, and footpaths. Whilst in rural properties, fire ants tend to build nests in dams and irrigation lines, edges of cultivated land, cropland (post-harvest), fence lines, and piles of organic matter.

Experts advise that it’s best to check your property for fire ants after a heavy downpour, as this would be the time that fire ants typically move their nests above ground.

Fire ants can pose social, economic, and ecological problems if left uncontrolled. The environmental impacts alone can be devastating. If these pests become widely established in Australia, they can cause 45% population decline of birds, 38% of mammals, 69% of reptiles, and 95% of our amphibian population.

If you’re interested in learning more about fire ants and how to get rid of them properly, you can book a slot for an online Fire Ant Awareness training organized by the Queensland Government. The training is FREE and delivered online via video conferencing using MS Teams.

Calamvale Ward Office | Shop 10 Central Park Medical Centre, 168 Algester Rd Calamvale

Pallara State School Receives WasteSMART Award for Environmental Initiatives

Photo credit: Brisbane Sustainability Agency / sustainablebrisbane.com.au

Pallara State School, together with Mt St Michael’s College, won the WasteSMART Schools Award, one of 11 awards handed out to recognise individuals and groups who have contributed to the preservation of Brisbane’s natural environment.

Pallara State School Environment Club won the WasteSMART Schools Award, together with Mt St Michael’s College, and shares in the prize pool worth $4,000.

The club, which is composed of 60 students from Year 3 to 6, holds a before-school session every Tuesday to engage in environmental activities including rostered collection of compost bins, worm farming, garden weeding and watering and plant propagation, as well as environmental art, and native animal nest box building.

Also, Pallara State School Environment Club hosts clean-up drives around the school lunch areas and sorts through campus wastes for data analysis. The Club also has a subset of students who are running projects under the guidance of Eco-Marines.

Photo credit: Brisbane Sustainability Agency / sustainablebrisbane.com.au

The ceremony was held on 18 November 2021 at City Hall. Brisbane City Council delivered the Awards in partnership with Brisbane Sustainability Agency.

Other category winners include:

Councillors’ WasteSMART Choice Award – Karana Downs & Surrounds Community Garden Hub
Brisbane WasteSMART Champions Award – Renae McBrien
WasteSMART Community Award – Ocean Crusaders Foundation Ltd and Tarragindi Community Garden
WasteSMART Business Award (<19 employees) – Vessel Nundah
WasteSMART Business Award ( >20 employees) – Howard Smith Wharves
WasteSMART Early Learning Award – Bellbowrie Early Education Centre
Outstanding WasteSMART Award – Save Our Supplies
People’s Choice WasteSMART Award – Mt St Michael’s College.

The finalists were judged by a panel of experts, except for the People’s Choice Awards which was determined through public voting. Mt St Michael’s College was chosen for their 5-stage plan that aimed at reducing waste at the campus including containers for change, commercial composting, compostable packaging at the canteen, co-mingled recycling, and recycling of soft plastic wastes.

Well done, Pallara State School Environment Club!

Wendy’s Milk Bar Stays Afloat Thanks to a Government Grant

Photo credit: Queensland Government / statements.qld.gov.au

Desley Hable, owner of Wendy’s Milk Bar in Forest Lake, is one of more than 30,000 recipients of the COVID-19 Business Support Grants, which she says helped her be at ease amid the challenges of doing business in a pandemic.

Ms Hable said that because of the grant she is able to give her staff more working hours than her business would allow otherwise. She added that the pandemic has been a stressful time for her because “business costs don’t go away and knowing this grant was coming put me at ease to get through that time.”

“I was able to use the grant on the business expenses that don’t go away regardless of your takings, things like franchise fees, rent and wages,” she said.

“I really encourage other eligible businesses to get in and apply for this grant because it’s easy to do if you follow the instructions and you would be foolish not to,” concludes Ms Hable.

Wendy’s Milk Bar | Kiosk 3 Forest Lake Village Shopping Centre, Forest Lake Boulevard, FOREST LAKE QLD 4078

Meanwhile, Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer, in her statement, said that the small business support program is part of the government’s $14.5 billion COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. The State Government has already awarded more than $283 million worth of grants to businesses across the state that were impacted by the August lockdown.

“We want to see every eligible business apply in this final week because every eligible business that does before the deadline will receive a grant,” Di Farmer said.

“We are backing businesses with tailor made programs like our Mentoring for Growth service, Small Business Financial Counsellors and the Queensland Small Business Commissioner,” the Minister said.

“It’s also time to see if you’re eligible for grants of between $30,000 and $100,000 in the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Program before it closes on Monday 22 November.

“This grant helps eligible tourism and hospitality businesses that have had turnover reduced by 70 per cent or more for any week between July and September, ensure that they are ready to scale up when interstate tourism returns in December.”

About COVID-19 Business Support Grants

The COVID-19 Business Support Grants is an initiative launched by the Queensland Government. Businesses, such as the Wendy’s Milk Bar Forest Lake, that have a turnover of more than $75,000 a year and had a 30 per cent reduction in turnover during the lockdown period from 31 July to 8 August can apply for grants of up to $30,000.

Acceptance of applications for the grant ended midnight of 16 November. However, sole traders without staff can still submit their application for grants of $1,000 until 30 November.

Forest Lake State School Students Victorious at the Buy Smart Competition 2021

Forest Lake State School has another reason to be proud as their students emerge victorious at the Buy Smart Competition 2021 to educate on consumer awareness.

Year 4 student Kayden Ross achieved third place in his category whilst two Year 6 kids, Suri and Kiara, received certificates of distinction. Kayden will be able to claim part of the $15,000 prize money for himself ($150) and for Forest Lake State School ($500).

Over 7,000 young Queenslanders joined the Buy Smart program for 2021 and 750 kids were shortlisted for their impressive entries.

“From board games to dioramas, music videos, Instagram posts and animations, the Buy Smart Competition had it all, but most importantly it shows us that students are excited and engaged in understanding consumer issues,” Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Shannon Fentiman said.

“These students have learnt valuable skills that will help them for the rest of their lives,” she said.

“We cannot escape consumer issues like buying a first car, avoiding scammers and navigating the online marketplace, but we can learn to be aware of our rights and potential pitfalls.

“In 2021 we again rose to the challenges presented by COVID-19 and held the awards ceremony of the competition virtually.”

The Buy Smart Competition has been running for 20 years and has been growing more popular than ever with the kids. The initiative was created to help the students understand their rights as consumers and be more discerning of scams and other modus against shoppers.

“Back in 2002, Buy Smart was started to help young Queenslanders learn about consumer issues and develop savvy consumer habits to carry with them throughout their lives.

“And with the growing demand for online shopping, Buy Smart is even more important today than it was 20 years ago.”

Learn more about the yearly competition on the official site.

Red Chilli Thai Says Goodbye to Forest Lake After Two Decades

Red Chilli Thai is set to close its doors at the Forest Lake Shopping Centre, after two decades in the hospitality industry.

Mr Kevin Lai, owner of Red Chilli Thai, said that after months of thinking over their options, he and his wife Kate have decided not to renew the lease of the restaurant. November 2021 will be the last time they will serve customers their authentic Thailand dishes like chilli cashew chicken, red curry beef, Pad Mae vegetables, and rice cakes.

Mr Lai bought the lease of Red Chilli Thai from its former owners in 2012 but the restaurant has been open since the shopping centre’s rise in the late 90s. The family has no plans to move the business elsewhere and will mull over their next chapter in the coming months.

Red Chilli Thai has always been the reliable choice for families who need to sort out their lunch or dinner. Far from being a trendy eatery, Mr Lai and his crew have adapted to the times and willingly changed things up to entice repeat and regular customers.

Rebecca McKeown, the manager of Forest Lake Shopping Centre, has not yet named the establishment that will take over the venue but they welcome the opportunity to evolve the selection and meet customers’ needs.

It comes as Forest Lake Shopping Centre, a state-owned estate, ditches its plans to expand the southern section of the mall for more tenancies. The north side’s improvements, on the other hand, will entail a reconfiguration of the parking spaces and some much-needed upgrades and facelifts.

Dario Zanesco To Hold Solo Art Exhibition in Inala

Photo credit: Inala Art Gallery/Facebook

Brisbane artist Dario Zanesco will showcase his works from the past six years, in his first solo exhibition at the Inala Art Gallery this October 2021.

Read: Look: New Off-Leash Dog Park And Play Equipment for Drewvale, Heathwood, and Calamvale

Zanesco, whose focus is on wildlife art and nature, will display an array of paintings and drawings including African and South American wildlife. Dario has painted and drawn native wildlife from his recent trip to the Northern Territory. Brolgas, Crocodiles, Kookaburras, Black-necked Storks and Glossy Ibis’ will fill the walls with striking colours.

Born in Brisbane but of Italian descent, Zanesco has been painting for more than 15 years. His first exhibition was held in Ipswich in 2016, attracting the interest of numerous key figures in the local community. Sales followed with exhibitions in Victoria through the Wildlife Art Society of Australia, and in Goondiwindi’s Aspects Art Show.

Councillor for Forest Lake ward Charles Strunk will open the exhibition. The opening day for this year’s exhibition will be a morning tea at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, 10 October 2021, at the Inala Community Gallery, located at the Inala Civic Centre.

“The scale and realism of the artworks are so great that it will feel as though you are being transported to Australia’s remote wilderness,” Cr Strunk said.

“It is clear from this exhibition, that this young artist has devoted much of his life studying the great wild places, and from that, he has created captivating artworks,” he said.

“Not only are there artworks well-suited to a home, but also theatrical canvasses featuring unique textures, shapes, colours and emotions,” he added.

Dario’s artwork is available to view on Bluethumb online art gallery: bluethumb.com.au/dario-zanesco.

Forest Lake Property Market Poised to Enter the Half-Million-Dollar Suburbs List

Brisbane’s housing market has shown steady growth amidst the pandemic lockdowns with areas in the southwest consistently showing resilience. The median house price of properties in Forest Lake, for example, has exhibited a 13.05-percent growth in the 12-month period ending June 2021, making it a likely candidate to be one of Brisbane’s $500-k suburbs soon, if the trend continues.

During this 12-month period, the median house price for Forest Lake is $485,000, up from $429,000 from July 2019 to June 2020, per Property Market Updates. House listings in this suburb stayed on the market for an average of 43 days.

Some 456 houses were sold in Forest Lake during this period, amidst reports that over 30,000 interstate residents moved to the Sunshine State overall in 2020. The race for space has families and investors making a shift to homes with tree-lined streets, seascapes, or coastal and lake views as the trend towards remote working could remain the norm for many companies years after the pandemic.

Unit Growth

Forest Lake’s median unit price took a three-percent dive from July 2020 to June 2021 with only 20 properties sold.

Since the suburb’s master plan from the 1990s has mainly consisted of a series of villages with spread-out houses, apartment living has mostly focused on retirement villages or unit residential dwellings for downsizers and retirees who prefer to live in a quiet neighbourhood without any traffic

Photo Credit: Sivaswamy sithampalam/Google Maps

About Forest Lake

According to the 2016 census data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Forest Lake has a total population of 22,896 with 2.9 people per household, primarily professionally employed couples with children. Residents are predominantly in the 40-49 years age group.

Homebuyers have been flocking to Forest Lake because of its abundance of large homes with backyards, good schools with sporting facilities such as St John’s Anglican College, a 10.9-hectare man-made lake with heaps of recreational spaces for biking, walking, and playing.

Stage Set for Street Serenade in Forest Lake, Heathwood and Inala

Street Serenade, Brisbane’s biggest music extravaganza is back on the road with more unique talents and unforgettable performers who will show what it means to be Boldly Brisbane, this year’s Brisbane Festival theme! Forest Lake, Heathwood and Inala will set the stage for some epic music programs that will surely entertain the locals.

After the success of Street Serenade in 2020, Brisbane Festival will once again connect communities, bringing the joy of music and movement in the neighbourhoods. Because locals appreciated the pop-up performances in parks, sporting fields and public piazzas, bringing it back for a second time was a given.

“At its roots, Street Serenades is all about bringing people together, building positive community connections, and increasing our interactions with people in our neighbourhood and across the city,” Brisbane Festival Artistic Director Louise Bezzina said.

Below are the free performances to watch at three Brisbane south suburbs locations:

RakoPasefika: At Our Place

23 Sept 2021
Show starts at 2:00 p.m.
Hub Community Projects
Inala
https://www.rakopasefika.com/

RakoPasefika is the platform for a group of artists who imbibe the ancient Rotuman and Polynesian art forms and stories. Together with the Inala Hub Community, RakoPasefika will conduct a ukelele workshop and strum along to the music. Come to the venue at least an hour earlier for a sausage sizzle party with kid’s activities.

Deline Briscoe

25 Sept 2021
Show starts at 5:30 p.m.
The Lake Parklands
Forest Lake
https://www.delinebriscoe.com

Deline Briscoe is a strong Yalanji woman of song from the Daintree Region of Far North Queensland. She has enjoyed a flourishing music career for over two decades, interweaving Wulngkabadi (Yalanji traditional singing) with jazz, hip-hop and soul infusion.

The Little Red Company

25 Sept 2021
Show starts at 6:20 p.m.
Dunvegan Street Park
Heathwood
https://www.thelittleredcompany.com/

The Little Red Company is one of Australia’s most vital independent production houses, pioneering in a unique brand of music and theatre experience from artists with diverse backgrounds. In 2020, The Little Red Company was recognised as a finalist at the Lord Mayor’s Business Awards. Its show Rumor Has It also won the Matilda Award for Best Musical/Cabaret.

Incidentally, the company has just received a grant from Arts Queensland’s Organisations Fund 2022 to 2025, which means there will be more creative work to come.

Street Serenade will follow a COVID safe protocol. Be sure to download the QR code before coming to the park parties and maintain social distancing.

Look: New Off-Leash Dog Park And Play Equipment for Drewvale, Heathwood, and Calamvale

Photo credit: Bulat Khamitov/Pexels

A new off-leash dog park in Drewvale was unveiled in August 2021, along with new play equipment for Calamvale and Heathwood.

Read: Planned Aquatic Centre at St John’s Anglican College to Put Forest Lake On the Map

Dunvegan Park, Heathwood

Photo credit: Cr Angela Owen – Councillor for Calamvale Ward/Facebook

Locals were happy to see the new play equipment and shade sails at Dunvegan Park, which only had a pathway prior to the upgrades. Councillor for Calamvale Ward Angela Owen said they will consider a basketball half-court and a dog park in the area for future stages when funding becomes available.

Peden Court Park, Calamvale

Parents can enjoy the shady spaces whilst letting their little ones have fun with the new play equipment at Peden Court Park in Calamvale. Aside from a playground area, the park also features a picnic area that would be perfect for families.

Macquarie Way Park, Drewvale

Brisbane City Council has successfully delivered an off-leash dog park in Drewvale. Before, dog owners in the area would have to go all the way to Brown Plains, which is 1.9 km away from Drewvale for a fenced dog park. After years of asking for a dog park, residents can now enjoy an off-leash dog park nearby.

Cr Owen reminded dog owners to follow BCC’s important rules for using off-leash parks, such as cleaning after the dog, walking the dog on a lead, and training and socialising it. Cr Owen also highlighted the importance of following the Council’s requirement for dog owners to construct an adequate fence around their property to protect both their dog and their neighbourhood.

Read: Flavour Over Form! BurgerMe Aims for the Classics at New Calamvale Shop

The new off-leash dog park and new play equipment have been delivered as part of the Schrinner Council Better Suburbs vision, which aims to enhance the suburban quality of life through enhanced economic performance and infrastructure investment in the suburbs of Brisbane.

Forest Lake Shopping Centre Expansion Plans Changed

Plans to expand Forest Lake Shopping Centre to accommodate more retailers and food establishments will no longer push through despite an approved development application. However, the reconfiguration of the parking spaces and upgrades on the outdoor sites at the north section of the property will proceed.

Queensland Investment Corporation, the owner of the Forest Lake Shopping Centre, has ditched the original plan to extend the south section to include spaces for two more cafes and a discount store. Brisbane City Council approved the plans in late 2019.

Instead, in May 2021, the company applied for a new development plan (DA A005742977) to incorporate the following changes:

Removal of the mall extension and specialty store component;
Car parking layout within the southern part of the site maintained as per current site conditions;
Revised Aldi extension and amended landscape and servicing arrangement.

“The revised siting and design of the extension does not result in dramatic changes to the built form in terms of scale, bulk or appearance,” the developers noted. “The extension is small in scale, has a reduced floor area and is of bulk and appearance similar to the existing approval.”

“The revised Aldi tenancy extension comprises a building footprint and external appearance is consistent with outcomes regarding bulk, scale, articulation and variation in the Centre or Mixed Use Code.

“The proposed extension remains as a single storey and adopts materials and building form to maintain consistency with the existing building. The proposed change includes a new roof deck which includes appropriate screening of services to ensure the rooftop does not appear cluttered.”

According to the manager, Rebecca McKeown, the decision to slim down its redevelopment plans was based on the changing needs of consumers. The enhancements will also complement its new tenancies, Kmart and Magnifique Hair Salon.

Council approved the new plans in July.