Illegal dumping in Brisbane has become a prevalent problem in several suburbs over the years. In the financial year of 2016-2017, the Brisbane City Council has tallied 900 reports of illegal dumping in its various areas. Household furniture are being illegally dumped on the side of the road and in bushlands. Although 900 is less than last year’s 1,450, it is still quite a high number.
This year, Forest Lake has had 22 reports of illegal dumping. Runcorn and Inala received the most complaints with both having 27 reports.
Council Tries to Resolve Illegal Dumping Through…
To resolve the issue, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said that portable surveillance cameras are being introduced in several suburbs to catch the dumpers red-handed. Last year, more surveillance cameras were installed.
Illegal dumpers will be fined if caught in the act.
The council also holds annual kerbside collections to help households get rid of their unwanted items. The next Kerbside collection for Forest Lake is next year, on the 18th of June.
Aside from the surveillance cameras, the council also holds waste reduction services for general household items on a weekly and household recyclables are collected fortnightly. You can view the acceptable items that the council picks up on bin collection days here.
To report illegal dumping in your area, you can fill up the form found here.
The Sunday market in Forest Lake comes to locals on a monthly basis, and it’s totally worth the wait.
The next Sunday market will be on 17 September at 8:00 a.m. on High Street. Don’t miss out this event because there is going to be a whopping line-up of 60+ stalls waiting for you.
Photo credit: Forest Lake Community Market / Facebook
There are so many things to see here. Whether you’re looking for things for your home, or something to wear for that upcoming date night with someone special, or you just want something to feed your brain, you can find all of these here.
Photo credit: Forest Lake Community Market / Facebook
This once-a-month Sunday market also offers free children’s activities such as an Animal Petting Zoo and an animal castle! There are more fun activities for your kids that will keep them preoccupied whilst you roam around to shop.
Photo credit: Forest Lake Community Market / Facebook
Of course, it won’t be a Sunday market without some entertainment. Local singers come by to provide some soothing music or upbeat tunes whilst everybody enjoys the Sunday at the market.
You can check out their Facebook page here to keep updated on the upcoming activities.
On 16 August from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Forest Lake residents and nearby suburbs are in for loads of fun and excitement as Grand Avenue State School celebrates Ekka Fun Day. This year’s fun day is meant to be bigger and better than the previous one.
There are going to be amazing rides such as the Super Whizzer, Let’s Dance, Dodgem Cars, Round Up, and many more. You can now purchase your ultimate ride passes through Flexischools.
Photo credit: Grand Avenue S.S Ekka Fun Day / Facebook
Make sure that you fuel yourself to enjoy the whole day by grabbing a bite from the rows of food stalls lined up on that day. Grab a steaming cup of joe at The Rich Pour, Coffee. Pair it up with some delicious and fluffy pancakes from Joeys Mini Pancakes. Stroll around with a bucket of popcorn from The Popcorn Man. And make sure that you refresh with some Cool info Snowcones.
Photo credit: Grand Avenue S.S Ekka Fun Day / Facebook
If you’re in for some shopping and great finds, choose from a wide selection of scarves from I Love Scarves and there are also some jewelry from Louises Cards & Jewelry. There is a selection of great toys from Melrox Toys as well for your little ones.
Photo credit: Grand Avenue S.S Ekka Fun Day / Facebook
There are also family amusement games that you can enjoy with the family. If you’re feeling more adventurous, why don’t you get a henna tattoo?
Photo credit: Grand Avenue S.S Ekka Fun Day / Facebook
Your kids will also enjoy the Animal Farm where they can engage with friendly four-legged creatures and even ride the cutest ponies!
Whether you count it as contemporary art or urban eyesore, graffiti in Brisbane is on the upswing and that includes the once tidy suburb of Forest Lake.
Between 2009 and 2016, there has been a decline in graffiti tags in Brisbane and its suburbs but a sudden spike in 2016 and 2017 has broken the downtrend. The Brisbane City Council recorded that over the past two years, inner-city suburbs and other suburbs such as Forest Lake, Fortitude Valley, and Greenslopes have recorded a rise in graffiti.
An Eyesore for the Council
The Council sees these tags as an eyesore. They have funded $3 million per year for the prevention and removal of graffiti. The next three years have an even bigger budget with an additional $500,000 to allocate for the review and upgrade of the graffiti intelligence system that they use.
Matthew Bourke, the Council’s Lifestyle and Community Services Chairman, revealed that there were 119 offenders with 3774 graffiti charges last year. In light of this, they are now putting a graffiti vandals on notice, and people caught will be charged. They also have 11 dedicated removal crews to monitor over 400 graffiti hot spots in the city.
Spotless No More?
For the suburb of Forest Lake, this came as quite a surprise. In 2010, it was named the city’s tidiest suburb during the Spotless Suburb competition in partnership with Keep Australia Beautiful. The suburb was a clear winner when it came to litter and graffiti control as well as environmental awareness.
Still, Forest Lake residents have been very proactive in reporting graffiti in the area. With their efforts, it may not be long until we see the suburb graffiti-free and a tough competition for others as the most Spotless Suburb of the year.
If you are looking for an enjoyable evening spent doing something for a worthy cause, mark your calendars for the 26th of July, Wednesday, next week. Forest Lake Hotel’s Woodfires restaurant will be the venue for “The Colourful Life of Shannon”, a trivia night to celebrate Shannon Knapp’s brave “journey from breast cancer.” The evening will be a fun charity event, the proceeds of which will be used to help Ms Knapp as she continues on her brave journey to recovery.
Attendees are requested to be in bright and colourful attires to match the event theme and title. A special prize will be awarded for the person with the best wig. With competition, trivia, raffles, face painting for kids, and a sumptuous special dinner, this charity night promises not to be a boring event!
The event will start at 6:00 p.m. with the evening’s host giving a welcome speech. A trivia session will run from 7:00 p.m. to late night. Meanwhile, drawing of raffles will be done prior to starting the trivia session, during its break, and after the end.
Photo Credit: Shannon Knapp/Facebook
Attendees will enjoy a list of highly-recommended specials per table. The three-course menu is priced at $35. Proceeds from each order will be given to the charity night’s worthwhile cause.
The set menu for the entrée includes Satay chicken skewers with steamed rice and smothered in Satay sauce or wild mushroom Arancini balls with lime aioli. For the main course, there is a choice of either oven-baked chicken breast, stuffed with avocado and brie, served with sweet potato stack, steamed broccolini, and rosemary jus or Mediterranean vegetable stack with sweet potato crisps. As for the dessert, you can choose Vanilla Crème Brulee with Chantilly cream and strawberry garnish or home-made chocolate brownie with Vanilla ice cream.
As part of its effort to reduce crime incidence in the neighbourhood, Forest Lake will be the first Brisbane suburb to implement the Community Camera Alliance program of Queensland Police Service (QPS).
Photo credit: CC-BY/Mike_fleming/Flickr
Community Camera Alliance is an initiative by the QPS to allow Forest Lake residents to take part in safeguarding the community.
Under the program, the police will have access to a greater number of closed circuit television (CCTV) systems to help them solve crimes and ultimately prevent criminal activities in the suburb.
How It Works
The Community Camera Alliance allows the police to get more eyes on the scene with the help of registered CCTVs.
Any resident or business who owns a CCTV can join the program by registering their CCTV system with QPS. Police with then get access to footages from these CCTVs in case they will need them for their investigative work.
Investigators have used CCTVs from private individuals and businesses in the past. However, it is time-consuming and resource intensive to locate security cameras. With private CCTVs registered, the police can easily find the necessary cameras they will need for crucial investigations.
Photo credit: Queensland Police Service/Facebook
If the police see that a registered security camera can be helpful in an investigation, they will contact the owner to ask for help. CCTV footages may also be used for court procedures.
Participants in the program can rest assured that the information they have provided during registration will be kept secure.
In case the CCTV owner decides to be de-register, they can do by notifying QPS.
Registration
To jumpstart the program, QPS is working with the Salvation Army and the Forest Lake Community Safety Working Group for Village Connect. Village Connect will be a gathering of Forest Lake residents to discuss the voluntary CCTV registration program. Officers from the Centenary patrol will be on hand to explain the program.
Village Connect will be held on Saturday, 15 July 2017, starting 2:00 p.m., at the Claremont Parade Park, Forest Park. Initial registration of private CCTV systems for Community Camera Alliance will be held on that day.
Find out what’s happening in Forest Lake this week.
Wednesday, 12 July 2017 (6:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.)
Origin 3: The Decider
Photo Credit: Forest Lake Hotel/Facebook
Colour yourself maroon and enjoy a $40 drinks package. The offer is inclusive of half a kilo of wings, three hours of beers and wine, waitresses in bikinis, raffles, and a QLD jersey giveaway.
Business Booster Breakfast – Increase Sales, Revenue and Profit
Photo Credit: Featured image from http://www.goodfood.com.au/eat-out
Connect with corporate movers and shakers to expand or boost “yourself, your business or your organisation.” This business breakfast aims to help you see an improvement from your business tax return this financial year.
Photo Credit: Featured image from http://www.aroundyou.com.au/whats-on
The new Aveo Durack retirement community home has been opened. They’re inviting everyone in for an afternoon of delicious food, wine, cheese, and other special treats. Don’t forget to bring along your families and friends!
Got any plans yet for the upcoming school holiday? For residents of Forest Lake and nearby areas, the Brisbane City Council (BCC) has come up with a “Chill Out” program. This is a set of FREE recreation activities for young people aged 10 to 17-years-old, that will have them spending time in the cool, great outdoors. Here is a rundown of activities for two full days of fun, fun, fun!
Fitness Bootcamp
An active and healthy lifestyle should start at a young age.Photo Credit: Featured image from https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
For the active youth and those aspiring to be active, prepare those rubberized mats and get sweaty during the “Fitness Bootcamp” on 26 June (Monday) at 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The “high and low intensity interval training” is guaranteed to kick-start your energy and keep you pumped throughout the day.
Attendees will also get to do “bootcamp type” activities in this hour-long fitness session. Surely, this is one “Chill Out” event that encourages an active lifestyle among today’s “millennial” (and quite digital) generation of young people.
Bookings are essential in this free school holiday bootcamp. To confirm your attendance, contact 0487 070 174 and look for Nadia, the organiser. Bootcampers are to meet up on the oval by the Settler’s Circuit entrance. Fitness and well-being activities will be held in the Forest Lake Sports Fields, which is located at 310 Forest Lake Boulevard. The BCC strongly advises young people to wear proper exercise clothes and shoes, put on sun protection, and bring water bottles.
Fish Wise™ Recreational Fishing Instruction
Let your kids learn how to fish wisely with Fish Wise™. Photo Credit: Featured Image from https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au
For kids and teens who literally want to “Chill Out” with a more laid-back activity, head over this 2 July to 55 The Esplanade at Forest Lake for a worthwhile activity under the sun. Join the “Fish Wise™ Recreational Fishing Instruction” workshop where they will teach you how to fish responsibly and sustainably. Aspiring anglers will learn the art of knot tying, bait presentation, and rod casting.
There are many native fishes in the water but locals need not worry as the targets for this fishing session will be pest species. This way, young ones will also learn the importance of keeping the waters clean for beloved native species of fish.
The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. As bookings are essential, contact Sam, the facilitator, to confirm your place on 0403 713 820. You may also email him at sam@2bentrods.com.au. Attendees will meet near the playground of the stated address.
BCC recommends wearing “shoes and clothes that can get wet or muddy.” Putting on sunglasses and sun protection is also highly advised. And of course, don’t forget to bring your own trusty water bottle.
Rock Climbing — just one of the few BCC-sponsored “Chill Out” activities for youths. Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council/Facebook
BCC’s “Chill Out” is one of the most appreciated youth programs in Brisbane. Events vary from free to low-cost recreation workshops. Activities also vary to fit the needs and interests of the local youth. These include water sports, rock climbing, skateboarding, circus skills, as well as music and dance. For bookings, cancellations or general inquiries, simply contact the organiser for the specific event.
The festival is scheduled on Sunday, 4 June at The Lake Parklands, 5 Alexandrina Circuit, Forest Lake.
Photo credit: 2015 Parkinson Multicultural and Dragonboat Festival/Facebook
The main highlight will see more than 15 Dragon Boat teams racing on Forest Lake. Attendees from in and around Forest Lake can also enjoy live cultural performances by participating groups. The Dragon Boat Festival will also see heaps of delicious rice dumplings and other traditional Chinese food and drinks.
Event Details:
When: Sunday, 4 June 2017, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Where: The Lake Parklands, 5 Alexandrina Circuit, Forest Lake Cost: Free
Photo credit: 2015 Parkinson Multicultural and Dragonboat Festival/Facebook
Story Behind the Festival
Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated across the globe and is one of the biggest holidays in China. The festival commemorates the life and death of the famous Chinese poet and scholar Qu Yuan. In China, it is also called Poet’s Day in honour of Qu Yuan, known to be the country’s first poet.
Statue of Qu Yuan in Jingzhou (Photo credit: Popolon/Wikimedia Commons
He served in high offices during the Chu Empire. But he was soon banished and sent to exile. Stories are varied as to the politics behind his banishment.
Some say that the emperor banished Qu Yuan for opposing the emperor’s alliance with the state of Qin. Others say that his intellect antagonised some court officials, who threw false accusations at him leading to his exile.
While in exile, Qu Yuan wrote a huge amount of poetry. When Qin captured the Chu capital, Qu Yuan was driven to desperation and committed suicide by attaching a heavy stone to his chest and throwing himself in the Miluo River.
It was believed that the people who believed in him raced out in their boats to try to save him or at least retrieve his body. This is believed to be the origin of the dragon boat race tradition.
When the people could not find his body, they dropped balls of rice into the river so that the fishes would eat the rice and not Qu Yuan’s body.
Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. This date fell on 30 May 2017.
Although it has been a cultural holiday in China for a long time, it was not until 2008 that it became a public holiday.
Roaming dogs have become an alarming issue in Forest Lake recently. The Brisbane City Council reports that the suburb is ranked third among suburbs with the highest incidence of unleashed dogs in the streets of Brisbane in 2016. The BCC issued a total of 74 fines to residents of Forest Lake in 2015/16. Inala received 82 fines, while Bracken Ridge is at the top of the list with 125 fines.
According to Charles Strunk, Labor Councillor of Forest Lake, among the “biggest complaints” from various residents was that a number of dogs were being walked off-leash, something that apparently becomes a problem when the dog “… sees something of interest – say a cat, bird or another dog.”
In January this year, Forest Lake resident Monica Miller was deeply heartbroken when her beloved 17-year-old cat, Marcus, was allegedly killed by a stray husky. She and her husband reportedly awoke at 4:00 a.m. and found two huskies barking at the front door. They gave them water and dog biscuits while waiting for the dog pound. According to Ms Miller, one of the huskies vomited animal innards and the biscuits that she gave. Alarmed, the couple then looked for their house cat. Sadly, they found Marcus already dead in the front yard.
The couple voiced their disappointment in other pet owners for not securing their dogs. They also expressed their concern and apprehension that people could be victimised, such as a child or an elderly person.
A spokeswoman from the city council said that reports of dog attacks are taken “very seriously” and investigations are conducted immediately. With the mandated fines for pet gripe, the council hopes that dog owners will become more responsible so that no further dog incidents might occur. According to Mr Strunk, the owners usually shape up once they are levied with fines for endangering public safety, which could reach up to hundreds of dollars. The concerned Forest Lake Labor councillor also plans to push for the establishment of more dog parks in the suburb.
Meanwhile, other suburbs with similar issues on a high number of roaming dogs include Woollongabba with 70 fines, Holland Park (56 fines), Aspley (50 fines), Acacia Ridge (48 fines), Moorooka (46 fines), and Stafford (44 fines). Chairman Matthew Bourke of the Lifestyle and Community Services explained that there are already 120 dedicated off-leash parks. Within these parks, dogs without a leash are safely allowed to mingle and roam, with clear rules for use.
Locals who find roaming dogs in the streets are encouraged by the Council to call 3403 8888 and make the appropriate report.
Photo Credit: Forest Lake Off-Leash Dog Park/Facebook
