Ellen Grove Archives - Forest Lake News

120-Place Childcare Centre Proposed to Meet Demands in Ellen Grove

A 120-place, single-storey childcare centre on Waterford Road in Ellen Grove has been proposed in a recently submitted development application to meet surging demand for local childcare services in the area.

Read: Developers Propose 24-Hour Drive-Through for Willawong

The 998 sqm centre will include three outdoor play areas, as well as 37 parking spaces for staff and visitors.

If approved, it will replace an existing residential dwelling on the site. The dwelling house will be demolished without needing planning approval prior to construction of the proposed 120-place childcare facility.

Plans (Photo credit: Verve Design Group)

Verve Design Group designed the modern facility, which will feature spaces for nursery, and children aged 16-24 months, 2-3 years, and 3-5 years.

3D Perspective (Photo credit: Verve Design Group)

The proposed childcare facility will assist in providing an essential service to the growing local community, as population projections estimate a continued increase in demand for childcare from the current catchment area population of 22,926 residents, a figure expected to reach over 28,000 by 2041.

“The proposed development of 120 places will only partially address the current structural shortfall in places supply, even if two other proposed (but not yet approved) centres are also progressed. This reflects the predominance of supply within the adjacent suburb of Forest Lake and the current paucity of supply in the suburb of Ellen Grove,” planners stated.

Read: Pallara State School Among Brisbane Schools Facing Enrollment Surge

Temporary vehicle access is provided via Waterford Road along the eastern boundary until the rear road is constructed, while a dedicated pedestrian entrance directly connects the facility to Waterford Rd.

If approved, the proposed childcare centre will operate Monday to Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to utilise its accessibility to nearby transportation corridors in order to provide a needed service for local families and caregivers.

Published 29-November-2023

Owner of Stolen Vehicle In Ellen Grove Shares Trauma After ‘Horrifying’ Incident

A resident from Ellen Grove was left traumatised after being a victim of a break-and-enter incident, which resulted in his vehicle being stolen on New Year’s Day.

Read: Notorious Forest Lake Blvd and Rudyard St Intersection to Get Safety Upgrade

Zak Kelly, the man from Ellen Grove was traumatised after having his Land Cruiser stolen. The vehicle reportedly has a value of $150,000.

The horrifying incident was caught on his CCTV camera, and Kelly couldn’t help but feel concerned especially after seeing that one of the thieves, who happened to be a woman, was holding a gun.

The armed woman was believed to be the lookout, whilst two men broke into their Ellen Grove property.

Kelly said the fact that the woman has a weapon is very daunting and frightening, and it’s giving him sleepless nights. The thieves reportedly rammed the Land Cruiser through the fence.

Unfortunately, the persons of interest are not yet caught by authorities as of writing. For now, the Ellen Grove resident only wishes to have his vehicle, which he got after years of hard work, returned to him.

If there’s only one thing the man is thankful for, it’s that he did not caught the thieves in the act. Otherwise, things might have become worse, according to the man, who is also a father of four.

Meanwhile, authorities are urging members of the public to Immediately dial 000 for Police if they sighted the vehicle. The stolen vehicle is a dark grey 79 series Toyota Land Cruiser bearing the Queensland Registration V87RB0.

Read: Locals Say They Didn’t Know About Proposed Parkinson Subdivision Until It Was Too Late

Under Queensland’s laws, an offender who gains entry to the premises by any break, and then commits an indictable offence, is liable to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

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.

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.