Tag: Forest Lake

Forest Lake and Surrounds: A Market Moving on Two Fronts

The shift is becoming hard to ignore. Across Forest Lake and its surrounding suburbs, entry prices are rising while top-end homes are pushing into new territory — a market now moving in two directions at once.

Market Overview

Four sales in March so far in Forest Lake were over $1 million, but none breached $1.5m (65 Booloumba Crescent settled at the end of February for $1.6m).

However, in Pallara, a 6-bedroom, 4-bathroom house on 416 square metres at 4 Tambor Crescent sold for $1.53m; and a 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom house on 334 square metres at 45 Botanical Circuit sold for $1.275m, both settling in March.

In Doolandella, a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house on 404 square metres at 17 Rockfield Road sold for $1.3m; whilst a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house on 500 square metres at 17 Sevenhill Place was sold for $1.21m.

The vendor of 123 Bagnall Street, Ellen Grove was delighted with Matt Groves after he mustered 29 bids that realised $1.39m for the property, where the nearest comparison had sold for $980,000 towards the end of last year. Matt takes 21 Durundur Court in Durack to auction on Saturday, a magnificent property on 1,680 square metres.

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So 123 Bagnall Street, Ellen Grove sold at auction for $1.39 million. The bidding opened at $900,000, with around 29 bids and two parties competing right through to the end before the hammer fell. The vendor was absolutely delighted with the outcome of the deceased estate sale.

When the campaign began, the most comparable recent sale was 447 Waterford Road, which achieved $980,000 in the end of November. Reaching $1.39 million at 123 Bagnall Street should give confidence to many other property owners across the area.

This result is also unfolding alongside changes in the surrounding corridor. A proposed new housing estate in Pallara, covering around 5.6 hectares across Kraft Road, Laxton Road and Trivior Street, is set to deliver 82 new homes and reshape part of the area’s traditional large-lot character. The development reflects a broader shift toward more suburban-style living, while still maintaining connections to the established Forest Lake and Inala precincts.

That mix of new supply and strong buyer demand is part of what is driving the current market dynamic across Forest Lake, Ellen Grove, Doolandella and Pallara — where entry prices are lifting, competition is intensifying, and standout properties are pushing into higher price brackets.

I take 21 Durundur Court, Durack to auction on Saturday, March 28 at 12pm. This is a magnificent property on 1,680 square metres that has been held by the owners for 42 years.

21 Durundur Ct, Durack

Over that time, the owners have cultivated an extensive range of fruit and nut trees including mangoes, bananas, paw paws, macadamias, avocados, pineapples, kaffir limes, lychees, Brazilian cherries, loquats, achacha, longan, lemons, arrowroot, pomegranates and olives.

The home itself is substantial, with extensive outdoor entertaining areas, a renovated kitchen and multiple storage spaces and workshops.

Homes offering this level of versatility, outdoor space and long-term care are becoming increasingly rare. Properties like this continue to attract strong interest from buyers looking for space, lifestyle and flexibility within reach of major amenities.

I have sold several properties in Durack over the years, and five years ago I made a prediction that this pocket would be discovered. With a population of around 8,000 people, strong local amenities and access to Inala, Oxley and Forest Lake shopping, as well as schools and rail connections at Salisbury and Richlands, that shift is now clearly taking place.

What’s my property in Forest Lake worth?

Use this list of recent sales to estimate where the value of your property in Forest Lake fits.

Forest Lake Recent Sales (Last 90 days as of 20-March 2026)

These are the Top 5 sales at the top end of the market in Forest Lake:

What’s my property in Durack worth?

Use this list of recent sales to estimate where the value of your property in Durack fits.

Durack Recent Sales – last 90 days as of 20-March 2026

These are the Top 5 sales in Durack for the past 12 months:

Durack — Top 5 Sales (Past 12 months)

What’s my property in Ellen Grove worth?

Use this list of recent sales to estimate where the value of your property in Ellen Grove fits.

Ellen Grove Recent Sales (Nov 2025 to Mar 2026)

What’s my property in Pallara worth?

Use this list of recent sales to estimate where the value of your property in Pallara fits.

Pallara Sales (last 90 days as of 20-March 2026)

What’s my property in Doolandella worth?

Use this list of recent sales to estimate where the value of your property in Doolandella fits.

Recent Listings

Below are some recent listings in Forest Lake and surrounding suburbs:

Some Development Applications

Recent development activity in Forest Lake and surrounds is adding another layer to how the market is evolving. The map below highlights key proposals and applications in the area.

Published 23-March-2026.

Matt Groves is a Proud Promotional Partner of Brisbane Suburbs Online News

Note: This article is based on data from publicly available sources at the time of publication and is intended for general information only. Readers should conduct their own research and seek independent advice before making any property decisions.

Salvos Stores Opens Australia’s First Textile Recovery Facility at Carole Park

Salvos Stores

Salvos Stores has opened Australia’s first automated Textile Recovery Facility at Carole Park, on the boundary of Forest Lake and Brisbane’s south-western industrial corridor, with the site set to process up to 5,000 tonnes of textiles per year and keep millions of items out of landfill.

Read: Carole Park’s Hypersonix Launch Systems Completes World-First Scramjet Test Flight

The facility, which received $4.97 million in Queensland funding, delivers on a plan that was announced under the Project Boomerang initiative and supported by feasibility research from QUT. It is the first of its kind in Australia and draws on the model of an automated textile sorting and decontamination plant already operating in Amsterdam, replicating that technology in a Queensland context for the first time.

The opening marks a significant moment for The Salvation Army’s commercial arm, which has operated Salvos Stores across Australia for more than 140 years. The organisation kept 52 million items in circulation through its network of over 400 stores last year alone, and the Carole Park facility extends that work into a new tier, capturing textiles that cannot be resold in stores and redirecting them into recycling supply chains rather than landfill.

How the Facility Works

The Carole Park facility uses automated sorting and decommissioning technology to process donated textiles that fall below resale quality. The system sorts garments by fibre type, removes buttons and zippers, and prepares materials as feedstock for recycling and manufacturing processes. The result is a cleaner, more commercially viable supply of recycled textile material than manual sorting alone can produce.

Salvos Stores' first textile recovery
Photo Credit: Salvos Stores

The facility draws its supply from donations flowing through the broader Salvos Stores network and is designed to pilot and scale textile recovery solutions across Brisbane before expanding its reach. At full capacity, the site will handle up to 5,000 tonnes of textiles annually, generating additional revenue that feeds back into The Salvation Army’s frontline service programmes across the country.

The project has attracted support from a number of significant corporate partners looking to develop local supply chains and markets for recycled textile materials, including Kmart Group, Samsara Eco and Full Circle Fibres. Charitable Recycling Australia has also been involved in the collaborative structure underpinning the initiative. QUT’s feasibility research helped establish the technical and commercial case for the facility before the investment decision was made.

The Scale of Australia’s Textile Waste Problem

The Carole Park facility arrives at a moment when the scale of Australia’s textile waste challenge is becoming harder to ignore. More than 200,000 tonnes of clothing ends up in landfill in Australia each year, a figure that reflects both the volume of fast fashion entering the market and the limited infrastructure available to process garments at end of life. Most donated clothing that cannot be resold has historically had few options beyond landfill or export to lower-income markets, neither of which constitutes a sustainable long-term solution.

The circular economy model that underpins the Carole Park facility offers a different pathway. Rather than treating unsaleable textiles as waste, the facility treats them as raw material. Fibres recovered through the sorting and decommissioning process can re-enter manufacturing supply chains, reducing demand for virgin materials and closing the loop between consumption and production. The Amsterdam facility on which the Carole Park plant is modelled has demonstrated that this approach is commercially viable at scale, and the Queensland site is designed to replicate and build on that proof of concept.

Photo Credit: Salvos Stores

Head of Salvos Stores Nic Baldwin described the opening as a proud moment reflecting the organisation’s commitment to practical environmental action alongside its longstanding social mission. Business Development Manager Meriel Chamberlin connected the facility to the broader Salvos Stores story, noting that the organisation has spent over 140 years turning second-hand goods into hope through its stores and that the recovery facility represents a new expression of that same purpose.

Why This Matters to the Forest Lake and Carole Park Community

For residents of Forest Lake, Carole Park and the surrounding south-western suburbs, the arrival of a nationally significant piece of circular economy infrastructure in their backyard is worth understanding. The facility creates ongoing employment in the local industrial corridor and positions the area as a hub for the kind of sustainable waste management work that is increasingly central to Queensland’s economic future.

More broadly, the facility gives local residents a clearer sense of where their Salvos Store donations go. When a bag of clothes is dropped at a donation point, the garments that cannot be resold now have a destination that keeps them productively in circulation rather than sending them to landfill. That outcome benefits the environment, supports The Salvation Army’s programmes and strengthens the case for donating rather than discarding.

For households across the south-western suburbs who want to reduce their contribution to textile waste, the simplest action remains donating usable and unusable clothing through Salvos Stores rather than placing it in general waste. More information about the Textile Recovery Facility is available at here.

Read: Leading Trailer Manufacturer Secures New Headquarters in Carole Park

Published 17-March-2026.

Carole Park’s Hypersonix Launch Systems Completes World-First Scramjet Test Flight

Hypersonix Launch Systems, the aerospace company based at 2 Ron Boyle Crescent, Carole Park, has successfully completed the first flight of its Australian-made scramjet-powered hypersonic aircraft, reaching speeds greater than Mach 5 in a mission that marks a landmark moment for Australia’s sovereign aerospace capability.

Read: Hypersonix Launch Systems in Carole Park Secures $46M for Hypersonic Innovation

DART AE, Hypersonix’s 3.5-metre autonomous hypersonic aircraft, lifted off at 7pm US Eastern Time on Friday 27 February, which was 11am AEDT on Saturday 28 February, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 2 at the Virginia Spaceport Authority’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island, Virginia. The launch window had originally opened on 25 February but a brief delay pushed the flight to 27 February. The mission, named “That’s not a knife” by Rocket Lab and Cassowary Vex by the US Defence Innovation Unit, was conducted on behalf of US defence innovation authorities.

How the SPARTAN Scramjet Engine Works

The mission centred on the SPARTAN scramjet engine, Hypersonix’s proprietary propulsion system manufactured entirely through 3D printing and containing no moving parts. SPARTAN is designed to propel aircraft to speeds of up to Mach 12, the equivalent of 12 times the speed of sound, or 14,500km/h. At the planned deployment point, DART AE separated from the Rocket Lab HASTE rocket and SPARTAN ignited, powering the aircraft through its hypersonic flight profile and gathering technical data for the team to analyse in the coming weeks.

That propulsion technology traces back to Dr Michael Smart, Hypersonix co-founder, former chair of Hypersonic Propulsion at the University of Queensland and former NASA research scientist. Smart said the mission allowed the team to test propulsion, materials and control systems in real hypersonic conditions, and that the results would directly shape the design of future operational hypersonic aircraft. At the speeds and temperatures involved, he said, there is simply no substitute for flight data.

Hypersonix Launch Systems' DART AE
Photo Credit: Rocket Lab

Hypersonix chief executive Matt Hill described the flight as confirmation that an Australian company could design, build and operate technology in one of the most demanding flight regimes on Earth, and an important step toward delivering hypersonic systems that are operationally relevant for Australia and its allies.

A Carole Park Operation With Global Ambitions

The Hypersonix Launch Systems team operates from its Carole Park facility across aerospace engineering, advanced manufacturing and flight testing. The company currently employs more than 50 staff in Brisbane, positioning it at the forefront of Australia’s emerging hypersonic industry and making South-East Queensland a genuine hub for what has historically been a domain dominated by a handful of major powers.

That local base has attracted significant international confidence. Hypersonix raised $46 million in a Series A capital raise, led by UK-based investor High Tor Capital with support from European defence company Saab and Polish investment firm RKKVC. The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation and Queensland Investment Corporation also participated, reflecting strong backing from both domestic and international investors in the technology’s commercial and defence applications.

What Comes Next: The VISR Platform

The successful test flight accelerates more than the SPARTAN engine’s development. The capital raise is also fast-tracking Hypersonix’s next reusable hypersonic platform, VISR, short for Velos Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, while expanding advanced manufacturing capacity in Queensland.

The Hypersonix Launch Systems model positions the company to serve both civil and defence markets as hypersonic technology matures from experimental to operational. With the Carole Park facility serving as the primary engineering and development base, the work to apply the lessons from DART AE’s maiden flight begins here.

Further information about Hypersonix Launch Systems and its programmes is available at hypersonix.com.au. The company operates from 2 Ron Boyle Crescent, Carole Park QLD 4300.

Read: Carole Park Firm Hypersonix Advancing Sustainable Hypersonic Flight

Published 2-March-2026.

4-Bedroom Medians Break $1M in Forest Lake, Pallara & Doolandella

The numbers don’t lie — Forest Lake and its neighbouring suburbs are holding firm at elevated price levels. Resilience defines this market right now — and the median figures across Forest Lake, Ellen Grove, Doolandella and Pallara prove it.

Quick Links:

Market Overview

House prices across the Forest Lake corridor remain firmly anchored at elevated levels. Forest Lake continues to lead the established suburbs, with four-bedroom houses holding around the $1.2 million mark and five-bedroom homes reaching $1.4 million or more. Pallara is also performing strongly, with four-bedroom houses sitting around $1.15 million and reinforcing its position in the upper tier of the local market.

Doolandella is tracking closely behind, with four-bedroom houses also holding near $1.2 million and larger homes moving into the low $1.2 million-plus range. Ellen Grove remains the more accessible entry point, with four-bedroom houses sitting near $1 million while still benefiting from the strength of surrounding suburbs. Overall, the data points to a market consolidating at higher price floors rather than showing sharp volatility.

Data reflects sales from November 2025 to February 2026 (as of presstime).

Meanwhile, the market for apartments/townhouses and units across Forest Lake, Ellen Grove, Doolandella and Pallara tells a slightly different story from detached housing, with prices sitting within tight bands and buyer demand remaining steady.

Overall, the figures suggest that townhouse prices across the four suburbs are remarkably consistent, generally clustering between $750,000 and $775,000, reinforcing their role as the key entry point for buyers seeking family-sized accommodation in the area.

Trend Direction

What stands out most over the last three months is not volatility, but resilience. Detached homes are holding steady across all four suburbs, and townhouse pricing is tightly grouped with little sign of downward pressure.

Pallara and Forest Lake continue to command the upper end of the market, Doolandella shows strong liquidity in its townhouse segment, and Ellen Grove maintains its position as the value-driven alternative.

Doolandella has always been considered the younger brother to Forest Lake. On average the properties are newer and since the Woolworths moved into the area 10 months ago, it feels like Doolandella has become more attractive. The store on the corner of Blunder Road and Crossacres Street has an 8 bay direct-to-boot service which is convenient for time-poor couples.

As the auction for 123 Bagnall Street in Ellen Grove moves nearer, it will be a great test of what 10,000+ square metres is worth in an area that is evolving rapidly. The house is unliveable but with over a hectare of land, this property will sell very well and as i write, I am delighted with the interest shown so far and we will be hoping to sell under the hammer on March 7.

Our recent sale at Panda Close in Doolandella was a complex record, it sold after 2 Open Homes for $780,000, $50,000 more than the previous highest price achieved in the complex. Surprisingly it sold to an investor, I say surprisingly because the first home buyer market has really taken off since October last year when the 5% deposit scheme was introduced for first home buyers. This has had an immediate impact on increasing house prices under the $1m mark.
We recently sold 2 properties off-market in Ellen Grove and 1 in Seventeen Mile Rocks. It’s an interesting case study for people who are constantly mising out on a purchase. We know a lot of properties that may sell soon and it’s always worth letting us know if you are in the market and pre-approved for finance.

I hear a lot of vendors say they would like to move but they have a list of things they want to do to their house first. Sometimes that list is not the same list that would get the best price on the market, we have a team of trades that work with us, and so it’s really easy to create the right to-do list and have it priced in preparation for sale, saving you money and hopefully doubling or trebling your return on that spend. Depending on the property, new carpet and paint for $10-15,000 can generate $50,000 in this market. I’m a big fan of red mulch and colour in a garden bed, it can make a big difference in the photography of the property.

What’s My House Worth?

Properties for Sale – Recent Listings

Below is a snapshot of some recent listings on Forest Lake, Ellen Grove, Doolandella, and Pallara, revealing a diverse market with varied price points and configurations. While broader trends suggest price growth, these listings demonstrate the actual inventory available, from family homes to high-value estates.

A Deeper Dive Into the Numbers

Over the past six months, the Forest Lake corridor property market has shown steady, disciplined growth rather than rapid price spikes. Comparing three-month medians with six-month benchmarks reveals a pattern of gradual upward movement across both houses and townhouses.

Detached homes in Forest Lake, Pallara and Doolandella continue to anchor the market at higher price tiers, while the townhouse segment is tightening into a narrow pricing band driven by consistent buyer demand. The data suggests a market that is consolidating at stronger price floors, with modest gains of roughly $10,000 to $30,000 across many segments rather than sharp volatility.

Below are the median comparisons between houses and apartments, 3 months vs 6 months.

Local property market performance

Some Development Applications in Forest Lake and Surrounds

Click on the pins to view the details. Click +/- to zoom in/out.

Published 27-February-2026

Matt Groves is a Proud Promotional Partner of Brisbane Suburbs Online News

Note: This article is based on data from publicly available sources at the time of publication and is intended for general information only. Readers should conduct their own research and seek independent advice before making any property decisions

Have Your Say, Forest Lake: More Homes, Sooner Consultation Opens

Adrian Schrinner

Forest Lake is one of 18 Brisbane suburbs where planning rules for low-medium density residential zones may change under the More Homes, Sooner initiative, but local residents are making clear that their support for new housing hinges on whether schools, roads and public transport can keep pace with any growth the changes deliver.

Read: Unliveable House on 10.6k sqm Property in Ellen Grove Up For Sale, Auction March 7

The proposed changes to the LMR zone affect pockets of Forest Lake close to public transport stops and the Forest Lake Shopping Centre on Forest Lake Boulevard. Community consultation is open until Friday 20 March 2026. Forest Lake residents have delivered a pointed and practical response, cutting through abstract planning language to ask a question local families face every day: what comes first, the homes or the infrastructure to support them?

A Suburb Already Under Pressure

Developers master-planned Forest Lake from the ground up in 1991 as Brisbane’s first purpose-designed community, creating 7,700 house lots, 120 hectares of parks and the 10.9-hectare recreational lake that defines the suburb’s identity. That deliberate design gave Forest Lake its community character, but it also created fixed infrastructure and a fixed school catchment that is now under genuine strain.

Forest Lake State High School introduced an Enrolment Management Plan in August 2025, meaning the school is operating at or near capacity and is now restricting out-of-catchment enrolments. Families already living in Forest Lake say the suburb’s secondary schooling infrastructure cannot currently absorb significant additional enrolments. Community members have raised this directly in response to the More Homes, Sooner proposals, with the concern that more dwellings means more families, and more families means more pressure on schools that are already full.

The transport picture adds to that concern. Forest Lake has no train station within its boundaries. The suburb’s main public transport connections to the city are the Route 100 CityXpress from Forest Lake Shops to the city, and the Routes 460 and 461 via the Centenary Highway and Western Freeway. For the More Homes, Sooner framework to designate areas near bus stops as Key Locations eligible for four-storey development, the frequency and reliability of those services matters enormously to residents who would rely on them.

What Is Being Proposed

The changes focus on Low Medium Density Residential LMR zones, typically located near transport corridors and shopping centres rather than across entire suburbs. The proposal would lift the base building height to three storeys across all LMR land. Properties within 400 metres walking distance of a shopping centre or a bus stop with services at least every 20 minutes during the day would qualify as Key Locations and could rise to four storeys on lots of 800 square metres or more.

More Homes, Sooner initiative
Photo Credit: BCC

In Forest Lake, only areas close to high-frequency routes would meet that threshold, while streets served by lower-frequency services would remain subject to the three-storey limit.

Minimum lot sizes would reduce to 120 square metres in some circumstances, enabling small freehold houses and terrace-style homes on compact blocks in well-serviced locations. The proposal would adjust on-site car parking requirements, reducing the requirement for two-bedroom units from two spaces to 1.5 spaces citywide and to 1.2 spaces in Key Locations, reflecting declining car ownership and the significant cost car spaces add to new homes.

Design safeguards are part of the framework, including minimum setbacks from freestanding houses, maximum building footprints and requirements for street tree planting.

Affordability: The Real Question

Beyond the infrastructure debate, Forest Lake residents have raised a point that goes to the heart of why the housing crisis persists regardless of what planning rules say. More dwellings do not automatically mean affordable dwellings. Builders and developers face rising costs for labour, materials and financing, along with the tax embedded in every new build, which pushes the price of new townhouses and compact apartments in established suburban Brisbane beyond the reach of many buyers on typical incomes.

Community members have noted that easing planning controls is only one part of the equation, and that without addressing the underlying cost of construction and the viability gap that affects smaller infill projects, the number of homes actually built as a result of these changes may be far fewer than the headline figures suggest. That concern has some grounding in recent history: new dwelling approvals across Brisbane’s LMR zones fell from around 1,100 homes per year to just 445 in 2023, not because the planning rules prevented development, but because the economics of building did not stack up.

Planning-aware residents view the initiative’s adjustment of car parking requirements as one of the more practical levers, noting that a single basement car space can add up to $82,000 to the cost of a unit. Whether that alone is enough to shift the economics meaningfully is a genuine question the community is raising through this consultation.

How to Have Your Say

Consultation on the More Homes, Sooner draft amendments is open until Friday 20 March 2026. Residents can share feedback online at brisbane.qld.gov.au by searching “More Homes, Sooner”, by emailing strategicplanninghousing@brisbane.qld.gov.au, or by calling 07 3403 8888. Written submissions can be posted to Strategic Planning (More Homes Sooner), Brisbane City Council, GPO Box 1434, Brisbane QLD 4001.

Photo Credit: BCC

Read: Woodvale Village Works Begin at Forest Lake as 151-Home Plan Moves Forward

Published 26-February-2026.

Richlands Tesla Superfan Clocks 417,000km in Rideshare Work

Nathan Meritt / gofundme

A Richlands Tesla superfan has reached 417,000 kilometres in his Model 3 while maintaining 88 per cent battery health, providing real-world evidence that electric vehicles can handle intensive commercial use.

Read: Forest Lake School Zones To Be Patrolled Under Safer Parking Program

Nathan Merritt operates his rideshare business from the Forest Lake and Richlands area, using his 2021 Tesla Model 3 for full-time Uber and private transfer services. The vehicle, nicknamed Mr Sparkle, has completed more than 38,000 trips since Merritt purchased it in late 2020 with help from a $20,000 loan from his grandfather.

The Tesla superfan also administers the Tesla Owners Australia Facebook group, which has grown to over 116,000 members. Through his rideshare work and online community involvement, he has introduced Tesla technology to tens of thousands of passengers across Brisbane’s south-west.

Breakdown Sparks Fundraising Response

On January 30, while charging in Brisbane, Mr Sparkle suffered a sudden shutdown that locked Merritt out of the vehicle. Tesla Roadside Assistance replaced the low-voltage battery on site, but further diagnostics revealed high-voltage battery issues requiring the car to be towed to the Mount Gravatt service centre.

Photo Credit: Nathan Meritt / gofundme

Repair costs are expected to be under $1,000, significantly less than comparable repairs for a petrol vehicle with similar mileage. Following the breakdown, Merritt launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover repair costs and lost income. As a sole trader, the unexpected breakdown meant immediate loss of his primary income source.

The campaign attracted both support and criticism within the Tesla community. Some questioned whether business repair expenses should be crowdfunded, while others argued the high mileage justified community support. As of early February, the campaign had raised approximately $1,427 toward an $1,800 goal.

Real-World Performance Data

Over more than four years of operation, the vehicle has required minimal maintenance, with early costs limited to a tyre rotation of about $50 and a new set of tyres before reaching 50,000 kilometres. The 88 per cent battery retention after 417,000 kilometres places Mr Sparkle among the highest-mileage Tesla Model 3 vehicles documented globally, with the car still achieving approximately 375 kilometres of range on a full charge.

Merritt has documented fuel savings of approximately $900 per month compared to operating a petrol vehicle for rideshare work. His Richlands home solar system and two Tesla Powerwall batteries enable him to charge predominantly from renewable energy, with electricity bills averaging around $72.50 per month including household consumption.

Tesla superfan Nathan Meritt
Photo Credit: Nathan Meritt / gofundme

The Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus uses Lithium Iron Phosphate battery chemistry, engineered for high cycle counts and durability. The 88 per cent capacity retention after an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 full charge cycles demonstrates the technology’s resilience under intensive commercial conditions.

What This Means for Local EV Adoption

Merritt’s operation demonstrates electric vehicle viability for commercial transport in Brisbane’s south-west corridor including Forest Lake, Richlands, Springfield and surrounding suburbs. The extensive road network connecting these areas to Brisbane CBD, airports and major employment centres suits electric vehicle range capabilities.

For Forest Lake and surrounding suburbs, where many residents own homes with suitable roof space for solar installation, the combination of electric vehicles and home renewable energy systems offers significant potential for household cost savings on both transport and energy.

High-mileage success stories like Mr Sparkle help address battery longevity concerns that remain barriers to electric vehicle adoption. For potential buyers in the area, real-world data from intensive commercial operations provides more relevant information than manufacturer claims.

Merritt has indicated intentions to continue operating Mr Sparkle well beyond 500,000 kilometres, potentially demonstrating whether electric vehicles can achieve the durability seen in commercial diesel applications.

Support the repair effort: Help get Mr.Sparkle Back on the road!

Read: Woodvale Village Works Begin at Forest Lake as 151-Home Plan Moves Forward

Published 07-February-2026.

Woodvale Village Works Begin at Forest Lake as 151-Home Plan Moves Forward

Work crews have moved in at Woodvale Village—bringing the promise of more homes to Forest Lake, and a fresh wave of questions about roads, services, and suburban character.

Read: Property Market Snapshot for Forest Lake

Construction has started on a $100-million infill project along Woodvale Crescent, which the developer consortium says will deliver 151 new homes for first-home buyers and families. 

Photo Credit: Supplied

The local conversation: housing need and neighbourhood fit

It’s a familiar local balancing act: the need for more housing in Brisbane’s south, and the desire to protect what residents value about how Forest Lake functions day to day.

With work now underway, much of the conversation will likely focus on practical impacts—how construction is staged, what congestion looks like during peak hours, and whether infrastructure upgrades can accommodate the extra demand.

Supporters describe the project as a housing-supply boost, while some residents have raised concerns about how additional homes may change the area and whether local infrastructure will keep pace.

“While we are seeing incredible demand for affordable homes in the area, I am intrigued to see how the developer goes with designing a master planned community within another well-designed master planned community. I can only hope that the government also looks to improve the infrastructure to deal with the extra demand.”

What’s being built—and who’s behind it

Photo Credit: Supplied

The consortium, Marquee, Cohere and LHPP, held a sod-turning ceremony at the site. Those attending included Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Queensland chief executive Kirsty Chessher-Brown and consortium representatives. 

The homes are described as a mix of three- and four-bedroom terrace-style designs, with the developers saying that smaller lot sizes could reduce prices for incoming buyers.  The building partner is Urbane Homes. 

Photo Credit: Supplied

Why this project is moving quickly

A key part of the announcement is the approval pathway used. The consortium says the development received support through the Queensland Government’s State Facilitated Development (SFD) process, along with an Incentivising Infill Development Fund (IIFD) grant to help cover infrastructure charges and speed up delivery. 

Cohere director Claire O’Rourke says the project is “the only residential subdivision approved under the SFD process” and that the streamlined pathway, combined with the IIDF grant, has accelerated delivery “by 18 months.”

For context, the state describes SFD as an alternative assessment route intended to help deliver projects considered priorities for Queensland, while the IIDF supports well-located housing and can include relief from infrastructure charges.

The consortium says it expects to launch the project to market in March and “welcome our first residents in mid-2027.”  Woodville Crescent is close to local amenities, including schools, parks, childcare, Forest Lake Shopping Centre, and public transport links to the Brisbane CBD. 

Read: Forest Lake School Zones To Be Patrolled Under Safer Parking Program

Published 5-Feb-2026

Forest Lake School Zones To Be Patrolled Under Safer Parking Program

Photo Credit: BCC

Two Forest Lake schools will be monitored under a school-zone parking compliance program, with regular patrols planned to address parking behaviour and improve safety around school areas.

Read: Vaccine Delivery Disruption In Richlands Affects Brisbane GP Clinics

Targeted Parking Patrols In Forest Lake

Forest Lake State School and Western Suburbs State Special School have been selected for monitoring under the BCC Safer Schools Parking Program during Term 1, 2026.

The program focuses on parking compliance around school zones, with an emphasis on safe parking practices and adherence to local traffic regulations. Child safety has been identified as a key concern, particularly during school drop-off and pick-up periods.

How Monitoring Will Occur

Authorised officers will carry out regular patrols in streets surrounding the two Forest Lake schools throughout the school term. These patrols will monitor compliance with existing parking and traffic rules.

Where breaches are observed, compliance action may be taken. Parents, guardians and visitors are expected to follow all posted parking restrictions when accessing school precincts.

parking compliance
Photo Credit: Forest Lake State School/Facebook

Reason For School Selection

The two Forest Lake schools were identified as priority locations after recording the highest number of parking-related complaints during the previous school term.

Community discussion has acknowledged that parking issues are not limited to these sites. Residents were encouraged to report parking concerns through the call centre, with complaint levels described as influencing where compliance patrols are directed.

Forest Lake schools
Photo Credit: Google Maps

Broader School Road Safety Context

Road safety information outlines wider efforts aimed at improving safety around schools across Brisbane. These include precinct-based planning designed to improve pedestrian connectivity, ease congestion and support safer travel options for students and families.

Initial precinct activity has been identified in Kedron and Mansfield, with future precincts planned for Wynnum Manly and Indooroopilly. These initiatives sit alongside parking compliance measures but operate as distinct programs.

Community Response

Community reaction has been mixed. Some residents have supported stronger compliance action, citing recurring parking issues near Forest Lake State School.

Others have expressed concern that naming only two schools could create confusion, suggesting clearer messaging that parking rules and enforcement apply across school areas more broadly.

What Happens Next

Read: Save the Lake: Forest Lake Community Seeks Long-Term Solution as Water Quality Concerns Continue

Parking patrols are scheduled to continue around Forest Lake State School and Western Suburbs State Special School for the duration of Term 1, 2026. Monitoring and compliance activity will remain focused on these locations during that period.

Published 4-Feb-2026

Property Market Snapshot for Forest Lake

Forest Lake is new to conversations about multi-million-dollar property markets, which is why the results recorded in 2025 deserve closer attention. While top-end sales remain the exception rather than the rule, the year delivered a clear signal that the suburb’s upper ceiling has shifted — with a small number of standout transactions redefining what buyers are now prepared to pay for the right home, in the right street.

2026 will be a massive year for real estate in Forest Lake.

First Home Owner Grants are pushing anything below $1m to $1m and above.

We recently sold 32 Milliken Court for $1.29m, a 4-Bedroom, 2-Bathroom house.

We had previously sold the vendor’s investment unit, and they liked our family-owned business approach so they asked us to sell 32 Milliken. They were fantastic clients as they followed every detail of the advice I gave them to renovate their 1999 built property, including landscaping, adding ducted air-con, tiling, painting and a new kitchen among other changes.

In neighbouring Ellen Grove, there is a demographic change happening before our eyes. It is moving from a market dominated by investors to owner-occupiers.

We have sold 2 properties off market in the last few weeks (and in the process of selling a third), because we have so much pent-up buyer demand, as well as set a new suburb record for a 3 Bedroom Townhouse when we sold 74/8 Milan Street.

Townhouses in Ellen Grove have risen by as much as $200,000 in the last 12 months, there is so much entry-level buyer demand in the Forest Lake and surrounding area.

A Record-Setting Year at the Top End

At the very top of the market, 57 Rudyard Street set a clear benchmark when it sold for $2.27 million in August 2025. It was the only residential sale in Forest Lake to exceed $2 million during the year, sitting well above the suburb’s long-term norms and establishing a new upper ceiling.

Below that standout result, a small but clearly defined upper tier emerged. Five further homes sold between $1.5 million and $1.83 million, including sales at Camberwell Place, Alexandrina Circuit, Boudin Place, Claremont Parade and Peppermint Lane.

These transactions were overwhelmingly large family homes with four or more bedrooms, reinforcing the premium buyers continue to place on space, layout and established residential streets within the suburb.

Zooming out, the broader context is just as telling. The top 19 confirmed house sales in Forest Lake during 2025 all exceeded $1.25 million, highlighting how far the suburb’s upper end has lifted compared with previous cycles — even if those higher results remain selective rather than widespread.

Looking ahead, January 2026 has already delivered two confirmed seven-figure house sales, with 5 Bellthorpe Place selling for $1.46 million and 32 Milliken Circuit settling at $1.29 million.

While both sit below the exceptional peak reached in 2025, they indicate continued depth at the upper end of Forest Lake’s market as the new year begins.

Forest Lake – Top Residential Sales (2025: Rank 1–10)

AddressBeds / BathPrice
57 Rudyard Street
Sold 27 Aug 2025		Beds: 6
Bath: 3		$2,270,000
11 Camberwell Place
Sold 02 Nov 2025		Beds: 4
Bath: 2		$1,825,000
25 Alexandrina Circuit
Sold 21 Aug 2025		Beds: 5
Bath: 3		$1,521,000
17 Boudin Place
Sold 05 Dec 2025		Beds: 4
Bath: 2		$1,520,000
84 Claremont Parade
Sold 19 Dec 2025		Beds: 5
Bath: 3		$1,520,000
6 Peppermint Lane
Sold 06 Nov 2025		Beds: 5
Bath: 2		$1,500,000
14 Manet Crescent
Sold 04 Aug 2025		Beds: 6
Bath: 3		$1,430,000
14 Mauritius Parade
Sold 05 Nov 2025		Beds: 5
Bath: 2		$1,407,000
8 Malvern Place
Sold 26 Nov 2025		Beds: 5
Bath: 2		$1,402,000
6 Birkenhead Crescent
Sold 14 Oct 2025		Beds: 4
Bath: 2		$1,350,000

Forest Lake – Top Residential Sales (2025: Rank 11–19)

AddressBeds / BathPrice
33 Brighton Parade
Sold 18 Nov 2025		Beds: 4
Bath: 2		$1,342,000
12 Renoir Crescent
Sold 16 Oct 2025		Beds: 4
Bath: 2		$1,300,000
18 Montserrat Place
Sold 15 Nov 2025		Beds: 3
Bath: 2		$1,300,000
48 Carisbrook Circuit
Sold 04 Jun 2025		Beds: 5
Bath: 2		$1,300,000
8 Grevillea Place
Sold 24 Jun 2025		Beds: 5
Bath: 2		$1,300,000
8 Battersea Close
Sold 25 Nov 2025		Beds: 4
Bath: 2		$1,280,888
17 Purdie Place
Sold 31 Aug 2025		Beds: 5
Bath: 2		$1,280,000
66 Laricina Circuit
Sold 26 Nov 2025		Beds: 4
Bath: 2		$1,260,000
10 Boudin Place
Sold 25 Aug 2025		Beds: 5
Bath: 2		$1,260,000
The above lists are based on publicly disclosed prices that could be independently verified at the address level. It excludes off-market transactions and sales that are withheld, agent-estimated, or not formally disclosed, to maintain accuracy and consistency in the ranking.

A Comparison of Recent Sales

As of press time, the 10 most recent sales in Forest Lake show consistent pricing patterns when comparing similar family homes. 32 Milliken Circuit, a four-bedroom home on a generous 861sqm allotment with a renovated kitchen, alfresco area and pool, sold for $1,290,000, demonstrating the premium buyers are prepared to pay for larger land components and updated presentation.

Further evidence is provided by 5 Bellthorpe Place, also offering four bedrooms and positioned on an expansive 1,125sqm block with high-quality outdoor entertaining features, which achieved $1,460,000. This sale reflects strong demand for larger, well-appointed family homes with lifestyle appeal.

Lower in the market, three-bedroom homes provide useful contrast. 27 Central Street, a more modest cottage-style dwelling on a compact 253sqm allotment, sold for $844,000, while the superior three-bedroom home at 1 Blue Lake Court, offering renovation appeal and direct parkland access, achieved $1,175,000. This comparison illustrates the overlap between high-quality three-bedroom homes and entry-level four-bedroom properties, reinforcing that condition, land size and overall appeal significantly influence value beyond bedroom count alone.

How Features and Presentation Are Shaping Sale Prices

The recent Forest Lake sales shown above illustrate how price outcomes are being shaped by a combination of land size, renovation level and lifestyle features, rather than bedroom count alone.

Among four-bedroom homes, results span a wide range. At the upper end, 5 Bellthorpe Place ($1.46 million) and 32 Milliken Circuit ($1.29 million) both demonstrate the premium attached to larger blocks and substantial upgrades. Bellthorpe Place, set on a 1,125sqm allotment with multiple outdoor entertaining features and a pool, achieved a clear step up from Milliken Circuit, which also benefited from a renovated kitchen, alfresco area and pool but sat on a smaller 861sqm block. Together, these sales highlight how land size and outdoor amenity can materially influence price even when bedroom and bathroom counts are similar.

Further down the four-bedroom bracket, 15 Mannix Place ($1.18 million) and 26 Gippsland Circuit ($1.05 million) show how pricing adjusts where block sizes are smaller or renovations are more selective. Mannix Place achieved a stronger result through inclusions such as a home theatre, pool and powered shed, while Gippsland Circuit, closer to the shopping centre and offering a flexible layout with media room, traded at a lower level consistent with its more compact land holding and standard presentation.

Three-bedroom homes in the infographic provide a useful contrast. 1 Blue Lake Court ($1.175 million) sits at the upper end of this segment, reflecting its renovation appeal and direct parkland access, allowing it to compete with entry-level four-bedroom homes. By comparison, 28 Prospect Crescent ($1.0 million) and 16 Hampstead Street ($941,000) illustrate how quieter streets, modest block sizes and fewer standout features temper price outcomes, even where homes are well presented. At the lower end, 27 Central Street ($844,000) demonstrates the pricing impact of a compact 253sqm allotment, despite refreshed interiors and proximity to parks and schools.

Larger homes continue to attract premiums where they offer flexibility and multiple living options. 84 Claremont Parade ($1.52 million), with five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a dual-living layout supported by extensive indoor and outdoor kitchen facilities, sits at the top of the examples shown, underscoring the value buyers place on adaptability for extended families or multi-generational living.

Across the sales illustrated, certain features recur in the stronger results: renovated kitchens, multiple bathrooms, covered alfresco areas, pools, solar systems and usable outdoor space. Properties such as 9 Norfolk Street ($1.215 million), which combined solar, spa and a large alfresco area, further reinforce how lifestyle inclusions can lift values within comparable bedroom brackets.

Viewed together, the examples in the infographic suggest that buyers in Forest Lake are increasingly weighing overall functionality, land size and presentation alongside bedroom count. For homeowners assessing their own property’s position, the most relevant comparisons are those that align not just in size, but in level of finish, outdoor amenity and street context.

Recent Development Applications in Forest Lake and Surrounds

AddressReference No.DescriptionDate of Application
40 Woodvale Cres, Forest LakeA006919417Carry Out Operational Work9 Dec 2025
40 Woodvale Cres, Forest LakeA006923623Carry Out Operational Work (separate application)15 Dec 2025
6 Reuben Cl, Forest LakeA006938135Carry Out Building Work11 Jan 2026
20 Greentree Cres, Forest LakeA006943829Reconfigure a Lot18 Jan 2026
235 Forest Lake Blvd, Forest LakeA006945245Carry Out Building Work + Material Change of Use22 Jan 2026
15 Bagnall St, Ellen GroveA006875369Reconfigure a Lot7 Oct 2025
549 Waterford Rd, Ellen GroveA006902403Carry Out Operational Work17 Nov 2025
415 Bowhill Rd, DurackA006367244Request for Compliance Assessment9 Sept 2023
226 King Ave, DurackA006894140Material Change of Use + Reconfigure a Lot3 Nov 2025
22 Buddleia St, InalaA006934795Carry Out Building Work6 Jan 2026
290 Freeman Rd, InalaA006548499Reconfigure a Lot6 Oct 2024
58 Crossacres St, DoolandellaA006938065Reconfigure a Lot12 Jan 2026
816 Boundary Rd, RichlandsA006939151Carry Out Building Work + Material Change of Use14 Jan 2026

Published 26-Jan-2026

Disclaimer: The list of properties appearing in this article is provided for illustrative purposes only and is listed as Sold as of press time. Since listing status is dynamic and subject to change, readers are encouraged to verify updated status independently.

Save the Lake: Forest Lake Community Seeks Long-Term Solution as Water Quality Concerns Continue

The lake has once again become the focus of community action, with residents launching a fresh petition calling for long-term solutions to persistent water quality issues.

Read: $1M Allocated to Improve Water Quality, Address Ibis Infestation in Forest Lake

Local florist Debra Page has submitted a petition through Brisbane’s official e-petitions platform, requesting the establishment of a dedicated taskforce and formal action plan to address the lake’s ongoing challenges. As of January 21, the petition has attracted 233 signatures and will remain open until April 2026.

The petition marks the latest chapter in a more than decade-long effort by residents to see meaningful improvements to the lake’s condition. In 2018, a Change.org petition gathered over 3,000 signatures, leading to the formation of the Lake Action Group. 

Photo credit: Desleigh Monaghan/Google Maps

“For more than a decade, residents of Forest Lake have been frustrated with the poor condition of the Lake,” the current petition states, emphasising that the waterway serves as “the centrepiece of our suburb” and that “residents need a long term solution.”

The petition outlines specific requests for council action, including maintenance scheduled according to seasonal changes, implementation of research-backed practices proven successful in similar waterways, continued water testing, pest species management, and wildlife protection. Central to the request is the formation of an ongoing taskforce bringing together local community members, council representatives, universities and environmental experts to develop an agreed, written, formal action plan.

Cr Charles Strunk, who represents the Forest Lake Ward, has acknowledged the community’s concerns whilst outlining current council initiatives. In a public statement, he described the complexity of managing the lake’s ecosystem.

“The lake is a complex catchment,” Cr Strunk said. “Things like stormwater run-off, garden fertilisers and bird droppings can build up in the water, and combined with Brisbane’s hot weather, can lead to algae growth and blue-green algae blooms.”

Photo credit: Wesley Tang/Google Maps

According to Cr Strunk’s update, Brisbane has partnered with Monash University to conduct a 12-month trial of Diatomix, a natural treatment designed to boost beneficial algae whilst limiting harmful varieties. The treatment is part of the city’s approach to addressing algae issues in the lake.

Brisbane’s officials also highlighted the role residents can play in protecting the lake’s water quality. Educational campaigns have emphasised that stormwater runoff carries pollutants including pet waste, leaves, fertilisers, motor oil, detergents and rubbish directly into waterways. The message “When it rains, it drains and it has to go somewhere” underscores the connection between everyday activities and lake health.

The petition reflects residents’ desire for measures that go beyond current initiatives. Whilst the Diatomix trial represents one approach, the community is calling for a more comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy backed by formal commitments and regular accountability.

Read: BCC Continues to Implement Long-term Solutions to Improve Water Quality in Forest Lake

The petition emphasises the lake’s role as “the centrepiece of our suburb” and its importance to local residents. The gap between community expectations and the pace of change remains a point of tension. Residents have demonstrated persistence in advocating for their lake, returning to the issue repeatedly over more than a decade. 

As the petition period continues through early April, both council and community await the outcome of this latest effort alongside results from the Diatomix trial. With results from the Monash University Diatomix trial expected later this year, 2026 may prove to be a pivotal year in determining the lake’s future.

The petition remains open for signatures on Brisbane’s e-petitions website until 9 April 2026.

Published 21-January-2026