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Forest Lake State High School Expansion Gets Funding Boost

The ongoing expansion of Forest Lake State High School gets a funding boost from the State Government under its 2019-20 Budget.

For 2019-20, Forest Lake State High School gets $1,947,000 fund allocation out of the total $7.9 million spend for the ongoing construction of a new performing arts centre and six general learning spaces. The project is part of the Department of Education’s 2020 Ready Program and will cater for six full cohorts by the year 2020.

*Forest Lake State High School PAC’s earlier stage of construction*
*Photo Credit: The State of Queensland (Department of Education) / forestlakeshs.eq.edu.au*

The two-level performing arts centre will include lift access on the lower ground level; a performance stage, dance studio, two drama learning areas, change rooms, six unisex toilets, two PWD toilets, staff room, Box office, and kitchennette on the ground level; and two general learning areas, recording room, green room, editing annex, and spot light gallery on level one.

Forest Lake State High School PAC’s earlier stage of construction
Photo Credit: Forest Lake State High School / Facebook

The State Government will invest a record $1.464 billion for new schools and upgrading, maintaining, and expanding of existing state schools across Queensland.

Identified existing state schools under the Renewing Our Schools Program will get an additional $235 million over four years to 2021–22 to improve and upgrade facilities.

Increased funding of $251.3 million over three years from 2018–19 will also be provided for the provision of additional facilities at existing state schools to meet increasing demand.

In Ipswich, the State Government will invest $107.3 Million in 2019-20 to maintain, improve, and upgrade existing schools and $94.1 million for the first stage of two new schools:

Lowood State High School – $550,000 out of a $3.6 million total budget that will be spent to extend the manual arts and install a relocatable building with two learning areas
Ipswich State High School – $2 million out of the $6.7 million total spend to construct a new building with 12 general learning spaces
Laidley State High School – $3.6 million out of the $8.1 million total spend to construct a new building and expand existing buildings, adding three new learning areas and eight new specialist spaces
Springfield Central State High School – $5.2 million out of the $17.8 million total spend to construct additional classrooms and a new multipurpose hall
Fernbrooke State School – $7 million out of the $10.2 million total spend to construct a new building with 12 general learning spaces plus a covered area.
Goodna Special School – $2.6 million out of the $10.5 million total spend to construct a new building with eight general learning space and a hospitality kitchen.
New primary and secondary schools in Ripley with a budget of $60.6 million in 2019-20 out of a $94.1 million total spend to construct stage 1 of two new schools.

Forest Lake: Among Top Suburbs with Highest Rental Yield

A recent study revealed that Forest Lake is among the top suburbs with the highest rental yield.

Place Advisory’s latest property data crunch showed that among Brisbane suburbs, Forest Lake along with Darra, Ellen Grove, and Kuraby have the highest weekly rental yield for a 3-bedroom house at five percent. Considering the median price, however, Darra tops the list with a more affordable median house price of $350,500.

Forest Lake, on the other hand, has a median price of $382,000 and weekly rental price of $365. Looking at CoreLogic’s propertyvalue.com.au suburb profile report for Forest Lake, covering data over the last 12 months, the median asking rent for houses is at $395 per week and a gross yield of 4.6%.

The suburbs of Durack, Richlands, Inala, Doolandella, Acacia Ridge, Willawong, Pallara, Larapinta, Heathwood follow with a weekly rent yield of 4.7 percent. Experts believe that a move towards six percent yield is possible, although five percent is already a good yield.

In terms of rental income, New Farm is the top suburb with a weekly rental income of $650 and a yield of 2.5 percent. New Farm is followed by Spring Hill and Petrie Terrace ($600 / 3.6%); Paddington and Milton ($600 / 3.4%); Red Hill and Kelvin Grove ($565 / 3.6 %); and Auchenflower and Toowong ($555 / 3.6).

During the first quarter of 2019, the rental market in Brisbane continued to tighten, as Inner Brisbane and Brisbane LGA record their lowest vacancy rates — 2.1% and 2.5%, respectively — years after the local market was hit by supply glut.

Experts at Place Advisory attributes the strong performance to the increasing rate of population growth in these two markets; conversely, the rate of supply of new dwellings entering the market is declining. The tightening supply has also resulted in rental price growth during the first quarter of 2019, across all property types.

Motor Neurone Disease Association of Queensland – Inala Gets GCBF Grant

Motor Neurone Disease Association of Queensland in Inala, and ten other not-for-profit organisations will share in the almost $1.2-million grant to mark the silver anniversary of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF).

For the GCBF’s commemorative round, Motor Neurone Disease Association of Queensland will receive $93,350 to fund the purchase of equipment for its equipment loan program. `

MND Queensland provides equipment loan, among other services, to registered clients like air mattresses, bath transfer benches, beds, recliner chairs, wheelchairs and other equipment, devices, and specialist aids.

“There are many not-for-profit organisations undertaking projects – big and small – to benefit their local communities, and I’m pleased we are able to support these groups to complete their projects in our 25th year,” Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath said.

“Eleven organisations from Townsville down to South Brisbane, have shared in close to $1.2 million to improve local facilities, provide vital services and purchase much needed equipment.”

Apart from MND Queensland, nine other not-for-profit organisations will each receive a grant of up to $100,000 whilst Townsville Hospital Foundation will get $232,700 to be invested on dialysis machines and blood monitors.

Below are the other recipients of the grant:

Children’s Hospital Foundation Queensland, Brisbane – purchase 3D stationary camera for paediatric head and facial surgeries ($100,000);
Radio Lollipop, South Brisbane – develop a new Radio Lollipop listening platform ($90,745);
Lions Club of Withcott Helidon – establish Emergency Response Centre and Men’s Shed ($100,000);
Outback Festival Winton – festival to be held September 2019 ($100,000);
Stanthorpe Agricultural Society – extend Exhibition Centre ($100,000);
Sheltered by Grace, Waterford – construct Homeless transition and Training Centre ($97,795);
4 Aussie Heroes Foundation, Mount Ommaney – construct horse arena for equine assisted therapy for first responders and military personnel ($84,440);
Volunteer Marine Rescue Association Queensland– Yorke Island– purchase rescue vessel ($100,000); and
Queensland Maritime Museum Association, South Brisbane – construct function centre ($93,380).

“These are much-needed community projects that are being fulfilled and I’m thrilled these grants can help important services be delivered sooner,” Mrs D’Ath said.

Apart from the one-time commemorative grant, not-for-profit organisations may still apply for one of five annual GCBF grant rounds which provide funding between $500 and $35,000 per funding round..

“If your organisation has a project in mind, the GCBF want to hear about it,” Mrs D’Ath said.

BCC Funds Allocation for Forest Lake, Other Southwest Suburbs Road Projects Revealed

The Council has allocated funds under its 2019-20 Budget for several road projects for Brisbane’s southwest suburbs including Forest Lake, Ellen Grove, Richlands, Pallara, and Inala.

Out of the $3.15 billion budget, the Brisbane City Council will spend $818 million for infrastructure projects that will help ease congestion including major intersection upgrades, projects to combat congestion, and road resurfacing.

“Team Schrinner is investing $818 million to help get residents home quicker and safer,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.

Some key highlights of the Council infrastructure projects budget allocation, according to Lord Mayor Schrinner, include key corridor upgrades at Kingsford Smith Drive with additional lanes, as well as intersection upgrade projects which will include Camp Hill, Runcorn, Nundah, Middle Park, and South Brisbane.

Budget allocation for Southwest suburbs Forest Lake, Ellen Grove, Richlands, Inala, and Pallara infrastructure project:

Roads Network Resurfacing	Suburb	Proposed $000
Grand Avenue	Forest Lake	160
Joseph Banks Avenue	Forest Lake	215
June Court	Ellen Grove	33
Muriel Avenue	Ellen Grove	123
Pauline Avenue	Ellen Grove	68
Wedgetail Street	Inala	161
Acer Street	Inala	49
Aquarius Street	Inala	60
Clematis Street	Inala	108
Goldfinch Street	Inala	182
Lepus Street	Inala	45
Magnolia Street	Inala	135
Wedgetail Street	Inala	161
Freeman Road	Richlands	503
Kimberley Street	Richlands	55
Blunder Road	Pallara	278

Congestion Busting Projects	Suburb	Proposed $000
Inala Avenue at Blunder Road	Inala	619
Progress Rd at Archerfield Rd	Richlands	540

Major Traffic Improvements – Intersections	Suburb	Proposed $000
Azalea Street/Eugenia Street	Inala	201

*Source: Annual Plan and Budget Brisbane City Council

Council will also allocate funds for the construction of dedicated river walks and bikeways. This will include a $1.6-million budget allocation to provide safer paths to schools and a $25.5-million investment on bikeway links in Nudgee, Murarrie, Wakerley and Wishart as well as the construction of Botanic Gardens Riverwalk.

Other fund allocations include the $24.6-million for the Wynnum Road corridor upgrade project and $24.8 million to complete the Murphy and Ellison roads roundabout upgrade in Geebung. Lastly, Council have also committed $40 million towards the construction of Lindum Open Level Crossing.

Kerbside Collection Coming to Forest Lake

Photo Credit: Hans/Pixabay

Kerbside collection is here again and is now moving to Forest Lake next. If you are looking to dispose of large household items, here’s your chance.

To help with the collection, residents are reminded that bins should be placed on the kerbside in front of their property by 6:00 am on Monday, 17 June 2019.

When putting out items for collection, see Brisbane City Council’s checklist of acceptable items. You can place them the weekend before the collection, otherwise you may be charged with illegal dumping fines.

Council will not collect items like bricks and concrete; commercial builders waste; dirt and stones; garden waste; gas bottles; general household waste; glass and mirrors; hazardous wastes; liquids; and household waste that normally goes into your waste or recycling bin.

If you’re planning to get rid of old refrigerators and cupboards, remember to remove doors and keep the items secure if severe weather is expected.

For recycling tips and to receive push notification about your next kerbside collection service, download the Brisbane bin and recycling app. It can be downloaded for free through App Store, Google Play, and Microsoft app store.

Aside from providing residents with general information about bin collection, the app also provides general information Council’s waste facilities, with maps and directions.

Resource Recovery Options

If in usable condition, you can donate your large household items to contribute to a cleaner and greener city.

GIVIT is one of the organisations that can help you reuse and recycle large household items. It connects you to trusted charities in a private and safe way.

Like GIVIT, the National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations Inc. (NACRO) accepts clothing, furniture, household and workplace goods to provide for the disadvantaged and fund vital community welfare programs.

Get Your Toastie and Coffee Fix at The Espresso Lab in Forest Lake

Located at a shopping centre on Joseph Banks Avenue in Forest Lake is the tiny cafe known as The Espresso Lab.

Since it opened in 2017, this restaurant has been known for its diverse choices of toasties paired with a cup of nutty-flavoured Italian roasted coffee.

The Espresso Lab’s menu changes from time to time so it’s hard to pick a classic favourite to stick with. However, you’ll likely keep coming back to try the toasties to spice up your breakfast or brunch.

In the past, The Espresso Lab has served a Hawaiian Toastie with pineapple, pizza sauce, ham and cheese and a Minced Toastie filled with beefy and cheesy goodness. They’ve also prepared Blueberries with Cream Toastie, which could pass off as a meal and dessert rolled into one.

*Photo Credit: ForestLakeCoffe/Facebook*

The cafe also offers heartwarming soup on a chilly winter’s day. At certain periods, the toasties come with a free drink.

This business prides in its homemade preparations. The coffee choices, on the other hand, are decent and the store also offers eggnogs, chai latte, hot chocolate and tea if coffee isn’t your thing.

Store hours for The Espresso Lab change by the season. However, the cafe is usually open for breakfast at 6:00 a.m. until brunch.

“Amazing coffee.
Amazing Avocado on toast.
Amazing friendly owner & staff.
Never disappointed.”
~ Tonia Russo, Facebook

“Best $2 cheese toasties in the city. Love supporting local businesses and The Expresso Lab customer service is second to none.”
~ Steven Trlin, Google Reviews

The Long Road to Complete Fire Ants Eradication in Forest Lake, Rest of SEQ

Eighteen years after it was first detected, suburbs such as Forest Lake, Richlands, Wacol, Inala, Ellen Grove, Darra, Goodna, Oxley, and Gailes, are still fighting persistent fire ants infestation as these invasive ants continue to spread through South East Queensland.

Dr Pam Swepson — writer, researcher, and a former community engagement manager for the government’s fire ant program — questioned the effectiveness of the government’s efforts to control the infestation and totally eradicate the pest.

“Fire ants are out of control. The infestation is now at least ten times worse than when they were detected in 2001: infesting Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands and Gold Coast cities and the Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Somerset, Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley regional areas.”
Dr Pam Swepson

A recent fire ants infestation, reported last April 2019 in Logan, saw the Canterbury College rescheduling its sports days upon discovering 20 fire ants nest on the school’s playing field.

Fire ants are infamous for its potent venom. An encounter with fire ants could inflict a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which could potentially lead to death. Fire ants are also known to attack cattle and wildlife as well as damage vegetation.

Their impact on the economy, environment, and public health is such a pressing concern that funding of $411.4 million over 10 years was committed during the Agricultural Ministers’ Forum (AGMIN) to find, contain, and eradicate fire ants.

The National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program

The National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program is meant to control the infestation in a staged, rolling planned treatment plan from the west and progressively move to the east.

Priority area 1 was the first to receive intensive treatment during 2017-2018. Planned surveillance, suppression treatment, and responsive treatment will continue in priority areas 2, 3, and 4 and will successively undergo intensive treatment

Fire ants treatment involves distribution of non-toxic bait — corn grit soaked in a mixture of soybean oil and an insect growth regulator — either on foot; from an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or quad bike; or by air, using a helicopter.

Video Credit: BiosecurityQld / YouTube

Crucial to the total eradication after treatment is finding the surviving ants, as these could again multiply. Odour-detection dogs are being used to check areas that have been treated to determine if there are any surviving fire ants.

Locals are also encouraged to notify authorities of suspicious ants in their area. For residential properties, the recommended places to check for fire ants: lawns, footpaths, garden beds, taps, utility pits.

Dams and irrigation lines; edges of cultivated land; cropland post-harvest; fence lines; and piles of organic matter are the best places to check for fire ants on rural properties.

To report suspected ants in your area, you may use the Biosecurity Queensland online reporting form or call 13 25 23.

Plans to Rebuild Inala Civic Centre Get Green Light

Southeast view of the new Inala Civic Centre (Photo Credit: pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au)

Redevelopment of the Inala Civic Centre is finally approved, two years after it went up in flames that destroyed up to 15 stores.

A development application filed by Tripple J.T. Pty Ltd showed the four-storey retail and commercial building will have food and drink outlets, offices, function rooms, and health care services.

The ground level, which will have an arcade-style walkway, will consist of two food and drink outlets, five health care services, and three shops.

Level 1 will be exclusive for health care service tenancies, Level 2 will be for offices, and Level 3 will be dedicated to function facilities and one food and drink outlet.

The health care services, shops, offices and food and drink outlets on Levels 1 to 3 will operate between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. while the function facility and restaurant on Level 4 will operate between 6:00 a.m. and 01:00 a.m.

There are plans to include 16 carparking spaces and a loading area on the western section of the building, in addition to 22 basement staff car parks.

The 2125-sqm site, located at 37 Corsair Avenue is one of the 19 lots that made up the Inala Civic Centre. It contained a medical centre, shops and food and drink outlets, but was destroyed by fire in August 2017 and the site has been vacant since.

Photo Credit: pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au

According to reports, the fire was likely caused by electrical fault. It took 50 hours to bring the fire under control. The fire caused an estimate $10 million in damage.

For more information about the redevelopment, see Full DA- A005045249.

Develop and Explore Your Gift of Intuition at this Interactive Psychic Workshop in Forest Lake

Photo Credit: Uki-71/Pixabay

An interactive workshop to develop and explore your gift of intuition and psychic abilities will be carried out in Forest Lake on Saturday, the 27th of April 2019, at 10:00 a.m.

This one-date event at Woogaroo Street will cover different resources and mediums to help participants discover what they can do best.

Hosted by Here & Beyond, the psychic workshop will be guided by Tania Shaw, a psychic medium. The day’s session will involve the following activities:

Opening Meditation
Tarot Cards
Dreams with Di & Jenna
Pendulum (Body & Crystals)
Aura Clearing with Oils by Kris
Crystals
Closing Meditation

The psychic workshop teaches that every person has the capacity to hone their abilities and intuition to help with spiritual healing, to gain enlightenment, or to fine-tune their energy. However, they explain that proper techniques must be learned so that the person will be guided to the right path.

Psychic workshop slots are at $127.69 per person and may be booked online.

Celebrate a Family Fun Day at Forest Lake Toy Library This April

If you’re looking for something to do with the whole family this Sunday, the 14th of April 2019, drop by Forest Lake Toy Library on High Street for a Family Fun Day!

This event will run from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., where the children may participate in activities like face painting or experience a wonderful time in messy play or the jumping castle.

Raffle prizes for the children will also be given away during the Family Fun Day. The entrance fee is good for one gold coin per person but once inside, the kids can play with any toy or equipment to their heart’s desire.

*Photo Credit:* *Forest Lake Toy Library/Facebook*

But there’s also something for the adults attending this event. There will be various food stalls for moms and dads to try, as well as market stalls to buy keepsakes and other interesting items.

This Sunday will also be a good opportunity to talk to the volunteers to learn more about the Forest Lake Toy Library membership, playgroups and toy swaps. MP Charles Strunk will also be expected to join the event at 1:00 p.m. to meet and mingle with the families.

The Forest Lake Toy Library is an innovative and environment-friendly way of keeping the kids occupied. Members can borrow any toy from the library. If the kid gets bored with the toy, simply bring the toy back to the library and borrow another toy.

The toy library not only gives members access to heaps of toys, but also promotes a sustainable environment and a home free from toy clutter.

Overall, the Family Fun Day should be a great opportunity to get to know the people in the community. But the event also serves as a way to express the community’s appreciation to these local businesses, which have contributed to the improvement of the Forest Lake Toy Library: