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Kerbside Collection 2018 In Kedron: How Do You Know It’s Time To Get Rid Of Your Stuff?

This year’s Kerbside Collection in Kedron will be happening on 27 August and this is the perfect time to declutter your home!

With less than a week to go, as per Brisbane City Council’s rules, you can now take out your items by the kerb. However, if you’re still having a hard time deciding whether or not you should keep some items, here are some tips to help you decide.

What About All the Clothes That You Never Wear?

If your closet is full, this is the perfect time to get rid of other clothes especially if you only wear a third of the ones you have in there. This is also a great way to fix your closet.

Your Home Items Don’t Reflect Your Lifestyle

You have probably bought a lot of stuff just because they’re trendy or you’ve seen a lot of them on social media. There’s nothing wrong with this and we are all guilty of this. However, when reality sets in, you will realise that some of them aren’t really useful. If you haven’t touched any of these items for months, then it only means that you really don’t need them and it’s time to put them inside the box and by the kerb.

If They’re Not Worth Selling, It’s Time It Hits The Kerb

This could be an old appliance or a stained sheet. If you’re thinking of selling these items but realised that you won’t be able to get the price that you want from them or worse, that no one will actually buy them, then don’t store them! Such items will be the perfect addition to this year’s kerb pile. Who knows? Some people may even find a use for it.

To view the council’s acceptable and unacceptable items, click here.

Kedron State School to Get New Learning Centre

With $4-million funding from the Education Department, Kedron State School is set to get a new three-storey learning centre.

With this new learning centre, Kedron Tree House, the school will be able to increase its capacity as more students are expected to enrol in the school in the coming years.

Aside from the “tree house”, the multi-million allocation will also cover the cost of a covered link between the new building and the school, a new hire building to decant classes, the removal of existing temporary hire buildings on the oval and tennis courts, and the refurbishment of current facilities.

Artist’s impression of the Kedron Tree House. Photo credit: kedronss.eq.edu.au

Initial prep work that will facilitate the construction of the new building has already started in the early weeks of August 2018. Once the proposed design for the Kedron Tree House is approved, full-scale construction is set to begin later in the year.

Preparations for the construction site will include removal of three classrooms at the end of the term. With this, classes will be relocated to a temporary classroom located on the school tennis court and tennis coaching lessons will be conducted at the local tennis courts a short walk from school.

The Kedron Tree House is anticipated to be completed by 2020.

Preparing for 2020

Kedron State School is not the only one getting an upgrade in preparation for 2020. Kedron State High receives $5.1 million funding under the government’s “2020 Ready” Program. The funds will be used to to build a new two-storey learning centre with additional classrooms, a union kitchen, and an industrial kitchen.

Read: Kedron State High School Receives Over $5 Million For ‘2020 Ready Program’

How Kedron Lodge In Kalinga Became A Significant Part Of Queensland’s History

Walking along Nelson Street in Kalinga, you will notice a sizeable house that is handsome enough to make you do a double-take. Kedron Lodge, a heritage-listed villa, projects an image and facade as magnificent and imposing as the day it was first built in 1859. The property is an iconic figure in local lore and Queensland history.

Justice Alfred Lutwyche was the first owner of the home. He had John Petrie and Christopher Potter build his home following his new appointment as judge of Queensland’s Supreme Court, which also makes him the first ever judge of the state.

The villa is a two-storey, 20-room property that sits beside Kedron Brook. It was built using sandstone material with distinctive gable roofs and five brick chimneys.

The home was named “Kedron Lodge.” In the early 1890s, the name was further adopted as the name for the locality, subsequently referred to as “Kedron,” by John King.

After the death of Mr Lutwyche, the property was sub-divided. For a long time, it was owned by the Catholic Church. Since then, the site has changed hands, undergone gentrification and is now a private residential property.

Gordon Park Among Brisbane’s Cheapest Suburbs To Rent

Gordon Park has been listed as the fifth cheapest suburb to rent a unit in Brisbane, based on Domain Group’s median weekly rent data over the past 12 months.

According to Domain Group’s latest property reports, Brisbane is one of the capital cities where you can rent the most affordable house or unit in Australia. Current median rent price for units in Brisbane is at $370 per week while units in Sydney and Melbourne are priced at $550 and $410 per week respectively.

Making it to the top of the list of Brisbane’s cheapest suburbs to rent is Grange with a median weekly rent of $295 a week. Others suburbs that followed are Bardon at $305 a week, Gordon Park at $325 a week and Newmarket at $328 a week.

Photo credit: CC-BY/Brisbane City Council/Flickr

When it comes to the choices of rental properties, Brisbane has lots to offer with the number of new residential developments in and around the CBD. According to experts, one of the factors that affected the prices of units in the said suburbs is the number of older apartment buildings in those areas. While the prices of units in suburbs close to the city centre remain competitive, units in other suburbs have reportedly suffered.

In order to compete with newer developments, older buildings with no facilities needed to bring down their prices to increase their demand.

According to Domain Group, rents in Gordon Park fell by three percent over the past year, as did rents in Grange which went down down by 1.7 percent, Newmarket down by 0.8 percent, and Bardon down by 4.7 percent.

When it comes to the current demand for properties in Gordon Park, figures from realestate.com.au show that the suburb currently has a high demand market with 953 visits per property over the last 12 months.

If you want to know other suburbs in Brisbane with the lowest prices for units for rent, here are the 10 cheapest suburbs to rent a unit in Brisbane.

Grange: $295
Strathpine: $300
Bardon: $305
Red Hill: $320
Gordon Park: $325
Newmarket: $328
Camp Hill: $330
Herston: $330
Clayfield: $335
Wooloowin: $335

*Based on median weekly rent data over the past 12 months. Source: Domain Group

Queensland To See A Rise In Catholic Students By 2036, Mt Alvernia College In Kedron One Of First Schools To Make Changes To Accommodate Growth

In anticipation of a rise in the number of Catholic students in the near future, Queensland Catholic schools such as Mt Alveria College in Kedron have been expanding their infrastructure.

There are currently 304 Catholic schools in Queensland based on Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC). However, recent data shows that these schools may need to expand or the state may need to build more schools due to the projected additional 47,000 Catholic students by 2036.

QCEC, which is the peak body for Catholic schools, is tasked to deal with government funding, but the diocese or religious institutions are responsible for building and expanding schools. Dr Lee-Anne Perry, the executive director of QCEC, said that the government’s decision to include Capital Assistance funding of $45 million every year for three years in this year’s State Budget will help them with the infrastructure needs.

The government also prepares for the influx of students in state schools via their 2020 Ready Program. In the suburb, Kedron State High was also given a $5.1-million funding to build new facilities within the campus. The $250-million program aims to helps state schools in Queensland with their infrastructure needs following the two educational reforms that took place in the past years.

Better Facilities At Mt Alvernia College

In Kedron, Mt Alvernia College has taken on a number of expansions to accommodate more students in the future. It collaborates with the firm m3architecture that has shown interest in supporting Catholic schools with the growing number of students in the state.

Mt Alvernia College’s masterplan commenced in 2011 and by then, the firm was able to complete establishments within the campus such as the la verna building and the la foresta garden.

The master plan centers around the patron saint of flora and fauna, St Francis. It proposed a school based around three gardens. The la foresta garden is also a place where students can learn. It has science labs, economics spaces, and General Learning Areas (GLAs).

Photo credit: http://www.m3architecture.com/

Overall, the project includes 20 classrooms, six laboratories, three home economics spaces, commercial kitchen and cafeteria, administration, a prayer space, a roof terrace, and the community garden.

Photo credit: https://www.designboom.com/

Michael Lavery, the director of the architecture firm also said that they are working with Catholic schools to build newer infrastructure that can accommodate the influx of students in the coming years.

Kedron State High School Receives Over $5 Million For ‘2020 Ready Program’

Kedron State High is set to benefit from the State Government’s $250 million budget for the ‘2020 Ready Program.’

The program’ is helping schools across the state to build more infrastructure to accommodate the influx of students come 2020.

Kedron State High will be getting $5.1 million in funds, which will be used to build a new two-storey learning centre with additional classrooms, a union kitchen, and an industrial kitchen.

Other high schools that will receive funds from the ‘2020 Ready Program’ include:

Albany Creek SHS
Alexandra Hills SHS
Beenleigh SHS
Bremer SHS
Bribie Island SHS
Caboolture SHS
Cairns SHS
Cavendish Road SHS
Centenary Heights SHS
Centenary SHS
Chancellor State College
Cleveland District SHS
Coolum SHS
Ferny Grove SHS
Flagstone State Community College
Forest Lake SHS
Glenala SHS
Harristown SHS
Helensvale SHS
Highfields State Secondary College
Indooroopilly SHS
Ipswich State High School
James Nash SHS
Kawana Waters State College
Kedron SHS
Kelvin Grove State College
Laidley SHS
Lowood SHS
Mackay Northern Beaches SHS
Mansfield SHS
Maroochydore SHS
Marsden SHS
Meridan State College
Mount Gravatt SHS
Mountain Creek SHS
North Lakes State College
Ormeau Woods SHS
Pacific Pines SHS
Palm Beach-Currumbin SHS
Park Ridge SHS
Pimlico SHS
Pimpama State Secondary College
Proserpine SHS
Rochedale SHS
Southport SHS
Springfield Central SHS
Stretton State College
Sunshine Beach SHS
Tamborine Mountain SHS
The Gap SHS
Toolooa SHS
Trinity Bay SHS
Varsity College
Windaroo Valley SHS
Wynnum SHS
Yeppoon SHS

Education Minister Grace Grace said that the funds will accommodate additional students in the state’s high schools in 2020 following the two education reforms that took place in the past years.

“This funding is a major boost and it will mean more than $470 million has been invested by this Government over the period 2017-18 to 2019-20 to increase the capacity of our state secondary schools,” she said.

Top Breakfast Places in Kedron

Kedron is home to a number of cafes and restaurants serving tasty and Instagram-worthy dishes that are sure to brighten up your day. While breakfast is considered as the most important meal of the day, most people don’t have the time to prepare a hearty meal early in the morning. Good thing is, you can kickstart your day with healthy and delicious breakfast meals from these top breakfast places in Kedron.

Nana & Da’s

One of the most visited breakfast stops in Kedron, Nana & Da’s is a popular pet-friendly cafe serving homestyle food. The cafe has an outdoor dining area where pet lovers can enjoy dining with their furry friends.

Read: Dog Friendly Café Lets Kedron Pet Lovers Enjoy Time With Furry Friends

Their freshly brewed coffee is a local favourite paired with a vast offering from their breakfast menu.

You can also indulge in this decadent apple crumble pancakes with slow-cooked cinnamon apples that is sure to satisfy your sweet cravings in the morning.

Nana & Da’s is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and they serve dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Fridays.

Location: 12 Homebush Road, Kedron

Farm House, Kedron

Farm House, Kedron is one of the most recommended breakfast places Kedron. The cafe is popular for serving healthy dishes made with ingredients sourced from local and regional fresh food producers and dairy farms.

Read: Farm House Pays Tribute to Fresh Food Producers

Try their beautiful and tasty ricotta hot cake or check out their early and all day breakfast menu which includes Breakfast Gnocchi, Crispy Cheese & Potato Cake, and New Farmhouse Summer Bowl.

Farm House, Kedron is open from 6:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. seven days a week. To learn more, visit their website and their Facebook page.

Location: 9, Somerset Road, Kedron

Fuzzy Duck Cafe

Another local favourite, Fuzzy Duck features a vibrant, quirky cafe located on the busy Kitchener Road. The family-owned cafe is known for their good food and laid-back atmosphere.

Have a taste of their Instagram-worthy Breakfast Panna Cotta and check out their selection of all-day brunch menu.

Fuzzy Duck is open from Mondays to Fridays, 6:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and until 3:00 p.m. on weekends. Visit their website or Facebook page to learn more.

Location:145 Kitchener Road, Kedron

Plans for a Separate Bikeway at Wooloowin to Link North Brisbane Bikeway to Kedron Brook Making Residents Unhappy

The Council has recently announced its plans for an on-road separated bikeway at Price Street, Wooloowin to link the North Brisbane Bikeway to Kedron Brook. Some residents and business owners are not happy about the plans as the proposed bikeway can cause tons of inconveniences for the community while serving an estimate of one hundred cyclists.

The project is open for community consultation until the 8th of May 2018. Residents are encouraged to have their say on the project by completing the survey form provided by the Brisbane City Council or sending them an email at bikewayprojects@brisbane.qld.gov.au.

The North Brisbane Bikeway – Price Street to Kedron Brook project is part of the Council’s Better Bikeways for Brisbane program, which aims to create dedicated bikeways and active travel options with a $100 million investment.

Construction Plans

The project plans include installations of three-metre-wide on-road separated bikeways along the western side of Kent Road, between Price Street and Rose Street; along the eastern side of Park Road, between Rose Street and Brook Road; and along the northern side of Rose Street, between Kent Road and Park Road with an addition of 1.5-metre-wide pedestrian footpath.

A new cycle street along Brook Road will also be built for shared use by vehicles and cyclists. Another 150-metre-long concrete path will also be constructed along the southern side of Brook Road.

Expected benefits

The Council has identified several benefits that the project will bring to the community. Such benefits include an uninterrupted recreation and commuter route for residents from the northern suburbs, enhanced access to local destinations and the CBD, road safety improvements, and reduction of traffic congestion.

Impact on the local community

A parking survey commissioned by the Council as part of their investigations has found that several car parking spaces were currently underutilised or used by commuters. With this, they plan to remove approximately 69 informal on-street parking spaces to accommodate the bike lanes.

Residential bin zones will also be changed and placed on the road, between the bikeway and road carriageway for collection.

Some of the trees that will be removed along Kent Road. Photo credit: Google Street View

Five trees from Kent Road and four trees from Rose Street will also need to be removed in order to complete the project.

Such decisions has elicited negative reactions from residents who claim that the plans are focused on providing advantages for cyclists without regard to the local community. Residents are also concerned about drainage problems that cause frequent flooding on the corner of Kent and Junction Roads. They claim that such problems should be prioritised before the construction of the project.

Provide your feedback

Members of the local community can provide their feedback for the project until Tuesday, 8 May 2018 through the following:

Call the project team on 1800 010 705 (during business hours) or the Council on 07 3403 8888 (after hours).
Email the project team at bikewayprojects@brisbane.qld.gov.au.
Complete the online survey.
Write to:

North Brisbane Bikeway – Price Street to Kedron Brook project
City Projects
Brisbane City Council
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001

New Childcare Centre Development For Kedron Approved

Despite a couple of objections for the development, the Council has approved the proposal submitted by AAD Design for a mixed-use development which includes a new childcare centre, multiple dwellings, and a cafe at 26, 28 & 30 Lawley Street and Gallagher Terrace, Kedron.

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

The seven-storey development was designed by Regional Design Studio to have a childcare centre, thirty medium density apartments, and a food and drink outlet.

The development was initially objected to by some residents who raised their concerns regarding traffic safety for current and future road users. The number of cars that would probably park along the road was cited as an issue. In response, the plans included basement parking provisions for 40 resident car parks, five for visitors, 16 for childcare use, one for PWD and one for a van.

The childcare centre is set to accommodate up to 80 children and will have two outdoor play areas. Positioned on the ground floor, the indoor area consists of a reception area, group rooms, changing facilities, a sleeping room, and a kitchen. Once completed, the child care centre will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays.

Famous Aussies Support Call for Renovated Kedron State High School Performing Arts Centre

Photo Credit: Kedron SHS P&C Performing Arts Centre

Brisbane Bronco Sam Thaiday, Australian acting legend John Howard, ‘All Our Exes Live in Texas’ band member Katie Wighton, and Melissa Downes of 9News have all rallied behind a call for the QLD State Government to prioritise funding for a new Performing Arts Centre for Kedron State High School.

The current Performing Arts Centre in Kedron State High School is 61 years old. At present, it can no longer accommodate the needs of the school’s award-winning Performing Arts and Music Department. A new hall will also benefit the outside community because the hall can serve as venue for concerts, events, meetings, and other community events.

A petition for a new hall has actually been lodged in October 2017 but has only been able to acquire 500 signatures to date. The petition will close on the 30th of March.

To raise more awareness to the said petition, Australian professional rugby league footballer Thaiday agreed to appear in a campaign video that is now going viral in the internet.

The video demonstrated that the size, technology, and practicality of the old performing arts hall can no longer accommodate the increasing members of the Performing Arts and Music Department as well as concerts, events, meetings, competitions, and similar community events.

Credit: Jack Greentree YouTube

In media interviews, School P&C President Tony Howell said the students of the graduating class of 2016 asked Thaiday if he will be willing to appear in the campaign video. The same class co-starred with Thaiday in the video. They also shot and edited the film.

The school could not thank Thaiday enough for agreeing to the offer. He is not a former student in the school and only said yes in order to give back to the community.

The school has also expressed its gratitude to Ms Downes of 9News for visiting the school page and sharing the campaign video.

The same gratitude has been given to Ms Wighton, a former student at the school, who went out of her way to record a video showing her support for a new Performing Arts Centre at Kedron.

Mr Howard, for his part, has been active in posting about the campaign. He has also shared the campaign video which starred Thaiday.

Mr Howell told media that the school has raised a few thousand dollars. However, the new hall they have in mind will cost around $8-10 million.

Everyone is encouraged to support the campaign for the Performing Arts Centre in Kedron by liking its official Facebook page here and sharing the video which can be found here.

Anyone is also welcome to sign the petition here.