The detailed design for the $53-million Northern Transitway from Kedron to Chermside is underway, with the final design expected to be delivered in mid-2019.
The project is being touted as a cost-efficient solution to support high-frequency bus services along Gympie Arterial Road. The project is part of the government’s effort to encourage more people to use public transport, thereby decongesting the roads.
Starting from Sadlier Street in Kedron to Hamilton Road in Chermside, the Northern Transitway will be a 2.3-km public transport corridor delivering targeted bus priority.
Photo credit: Department of Transport and Main Roads
a safer and more efficient public transport system for northern Brisbane customers, by separating buses from general traffic
improved and more reliable travel times along the corridor for bus customers
a facility to support high-frequency bus services, encouraging more people to use public transport
greater capacity on the public transport system
assist in managing congestion along the corridor and broader northern Brisbane transport network
improvements to footpaths along some sections of the alignment, improving pedestrian capacity and safety
an average of 88 direct jobs over the life of the project.
The Queensland Government will shoulder the cost of the project as part of its Passenger Transport Infrastructure Investment Program. This program targets critical infrastructure to build a connected and integrated network that will make public transportation the commuting choice of residents.
Community consultation will happen in early 2019 and construction is expected to start in early 2020.
To have your say on the Northern Transitway project, contact TMR at:
Festive Christmas carols will blend with church bells ringing when St Andrew’s Anglican Church Lutwyche hosts its pre-Christmas celebrations on Sunday, 16 December 2018.
As part of the festivities, the church will be presenting their community carols from 5:00 p.m. which will also include the Brisbane Symphonic Band and the BSB Swing Band. Don’t miss the chance to meet these talented musicians. Some of them have already performed with Opera Queensland as well as a number of cabaret-style concerts.
Photo credit: CC-BY/bertknot/Flickr
Christmas carols will not only come from musicians but will also be heard from the church bells.
Blessed with 13 bells in the belfry capable of playing Christmas carols, St Andrew’s Anglican Church Lutwyche will also have a 30-minute Carols on Church Bells.
Apart from the sounds of Christmas, a sausage sizzle and various market stalls will also be available at the event. Don’t forget to bring your own bags for your shopping needs.
This festive celebration is open for all ages so feel free to come along with your family and friends. Parking will be available in Kedron Park Hotel Carpark.
An alternative route for the North Brisbane Bikeway Stage 5 has been revealed by the Council. The revised plan seemed to be BCC’s response to an uproar over the loss of parking spaces in the previous plans for the bikeway.
BCC had previously announced its plans for an on-road separated bikeway at Price Street, Wooloowin that will link the North Brisbane Bikeway to Kedron Brook. However, residents and business owners in the area were unhappy. This is primarily due to the loss of around 100 parking spaces as part of the original plan.
North Brisbane Bikeway – Price Street to Kedron Brook Plans. Photo credit: Brisbane City Council
Because of this, BCC has prepared an alternate route that will connect the State Government sections to Wellington Street from Bridge Street to Chalk Street. This will then be connected to Kedron Park Road (instead of continuing north along Dickson Street to Price Street).
Map comparing parking loss between the previous and the new route. Photo credit: Tim Nicholls MP/Facebook
Council’s proposed new route will use Wellington Street, going under Lutwyche Road through an existing tunnel to Bradshaw Street. It will further connect to the Kedron Brook Bikeway via Thistle Street.
Since parking loss is a big concern in the original plans, the revised plan will only require the loss of around six parking spaces.
The alternate route would mostly be a combination of a shared street and two-way cycle track along Wellington Street and Bradshaw Street. It would also link in with Lutwyche Bus Station and Lutwyche Centro.
Moreover, the new proposed route would still provide a connection from Herston via Albion to the Kedron Brook Bikeway.
Reactions from Cyclists
Photo credit: CC0 Public Domain / Max Pixel
The move in redesigning the plans seemed to be beneficial for residents and businesses who want to avoid parking inconveniences, however, cyclists are not in favour of the decision.
According to Space for Cycling Brisbane, a coalition of Brisbane’s grass root cycling advocacy groups, cyclists support the original plan since it offers a fully separated cycleway along the busiest streets. It also passed a number of local businesses which would have benefited from being on a family-friendly cycleway.
Cyclists have also expressed their reactions on social media saying:
“It’s a useful east west link. It is not the north Brisbane bikeway. A direct north south route from Shaw Road to Bridge Street is essential and this is a complementary solution. Not a replacement.
Like it or not, street space is not best served for parking. Council and MPs have a responsibility to change this invalid perception that parking private property on public land should take priority over the movement of hundreds of people by bicycle.”
“Far inferior design outcome. Doesn’t actually provide a proper direct route for North and airport bound cyclists (which should be along Dickson, Dawson and Shaw Rds). Storage space for private vehicles should never take precedence over the safety and lives of humans.”
Project Updates
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council
Whilst the revised plans were already unveiled, the State Government has not approved it yet.
Retirees who wish to downsize without compromise will soon have the option to live in a high-end apartment-style retirement community in Lutwyche.
Named Fancutts Retirement Living, the retirement development aims to offer seniors a vibrant environment with the lifestyle facilities they desire. It is the first apartment type project of RetireAustralia in Queensland.
The project will be built on the Fancutts Tennis Centre site at 39 Laura Street. Under the plan, there will be a rich line-up of recreational facilities, including a rooftop sky deck, a café and restaurant, a sports bar, and wellness hub. There will also be a private resident dining room and wine cellar for entertaining guests on special occasions.
Residents will also be provided with walking tracks for those who want to do regular casual walks. Those looking for a more rigorous workout can use the purpose-built senior’s outdoor exercise equipment.
The sky roof will be a communal space where seniors can enjoy a BBQ whilst taking in panoramic views of the city.
RetireAustralia revealed that Fancutts is its first apartment-type retirement development in Brisbane. This project will set the standard for the developer’s future villages, catering to lifestyle and independent living for seniors.
The integrated housing development is one of the latest projects of Cedar Woods. The 3.8-hectare estate aims to provide a connected community which is just five kilometres from the CBD and walking distance to public transport.
Plans for Bexley include the development of three mid-rise premium apartment buildings with 85 premium terrace homes.
Photo credit: Brisbane Planning and Development Online
As part of the project, demolition at the former convent site in Wooloowin will be carried out by the developer and heritage buildings will be preserved and adapted for multipurpose residential and community use.
The project will transform the original 1889-built laundry building into residences. On the other hand, the former convent built in 1912 will probably become a child care centre.
The development will also feature a community centrepiece consisting of 4,000 sqm of an onsite recreational park. It will include a community park with car and bicycle parking for visitors. The development will also include a heritage trail to pay homage to the history of the site.
According to the proposal, the developer will deliver the project over a five-year period.
The REIQ recently reported the latest housing market statistics which showed Kedron median house price jumping to $744,500, an increase of 11.1% from the last 12 months and 44.2% over the last 5 years. In the 2nd quarter of 2018, there were 23 homes sold in the suburb.
“In the last quarter, the number of sales was down by 41% on the same time last year. However, demand has remained strong,” says Kedron agent Brooke Copping of Ray White Wilston.
“In my experience, there has been a lot of extra demand to buy 3-bedroom homes in Kedron this year. Most of my open homes have had 15 plus attendees.”
There have been quite a few instances of magpie swooping in Kedron. In particular, a swooping magpie has been spotted at 1 Benelong Street.
In the report sent to Magpie Alert, the magpie made contact with a man walking along 1 Benelong Street on 14 September 2018. Fortunately, the attack did not cause any injury.
Fast Facts About Magpies
The Australian magpie is a native Australian bird that is protected under the State Wildlife Legislation (Nature Conservation Act 1992). It is a serious offence to harm magpies and penalties apply for attempting to harm them.
Photo credit: JJ Harrison/Wikimedia Commons
Understanding how magpies behave can also help you stay safe around them. Here are just a few good-to-know facts about magpies:
Only nine per cent of magpies are aggressive towards people. Magpie attacks usually happen during their breeding season between July and November.
It is important to remember that a magpie becomes aggressive when it is defending its nest. A magpie will only defend its nest within a ‘defence zone’. For pedestrians, this is usually an area within 110m and for cyclists it is 150m.
Not all magpies swoop. Almost all swooping magpies are male ones who are defending their eggs and chicks.
A magpie’s defensive behaviour can range from a non-contact swoop with or without beak snapping, through to pecking, dive-bombing, and sometimes front-on attacks from the ground.
A few attacks are more serious leading to bloodied ears and cheeks or even eye injury. The risk of eye injury means all magpie attacks need to be taken seriously.
With the reported cases of magpie swooping in Kedron, here are some tips to keep yourself safe during the magpie swooping season.
Wear a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses or shelter under an umbrella to protect your face from swooping magpies. Painting or sticking large ‘eyes’ on the back of your hat can also deter magpies—but this won’t work for cyclists.
If a magpie swoops while you are cycling, it will probably stop swooping if you get off your bike and walk.
Avoid ‘defence zones’ by taking alternative routes during the breeding season.
If you must enter a ‘defence zone’, magpies will be less likely to swoop if they are watched constantly, or if people walk in a close group.
Use signs to warn others of the location of nests and defence zones, particularly in areas used by children and the elderly.
Waving sticks or umbrellas in the air or attaching a brightly coloured flag on a long pole to your bicycle can stop magpies from swooping.
Important reminder: If a magpie that is defending its nest becomes aggressive and a risk to human safety, the magpie may, in some instances, be removed.
Contact your local council to see if they have a removal program. Alternatively, you can search for a nearest licensed magpie relocator from the Yellow Pages. This commercial service usually charge fees, typically paid by the complainant or landowner.
After almost three years of debates, Brisbane City Council has finally adopted the Ferny Grove-Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan. The updated neighbourhood plan will take effect on 21 September 2018.
The Ferny Grove-Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan has been through extensive updates. From late 2015, Brisbane City Council worked with the community to update the neighbourhood plan which was originally adopted in 2007 for the suburbs of Ferny Grove and Upper Kedron. The neighbourhood plan also focuses on the area south of Cedar Creek.
The DA involves a proposal for the Cedar Woods project that initially involved the development of 1,349 residential lots. The Council approved the development in December 2014 after reducing the scale to 980 lots.
Community Inputs for the Ferny Grove-Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan
The Council had considered feedback from the community in the making of the draft neighbourhood plan.
Between November 2015 and December 2016, Council received 600 online survey responses, 330 submissions on a draft strategy document, four information kiosks, four Community Planning Team (CPT) meetings, and direct contact with Council planners by letter, email, and phone.
Members of the CPT were concerned with the preservation of the area’s bushland and at-risk fauna and also considered options for development being located in clusters away from bushfire-prone areas.
The Council’s draft amendment update of the plan was made available for public notification from 1 June to 14 July 2017. On the course of the notification, Council received 685 properly made submissions.
In response to submissions, Council made the following changes to the draft neighbourhood plan:
Reaffirmed our intention to protect and enhance local ecological areas and waterways by replacing the revegetation plan required by the Queensland Government’s conditions of May 2017 with provisions that require future revegetation and rehabilitation of corridors to contribute to local and regional biodiversity values.
Reaffirmed the range of housing types and dwelling unit density preferred in the area through the inclusion of a ‘Cedar Creek south precinct plan’ illustrating the desired outcomes.
Ensured the natural topography of the area is maintained and require site-responsive design for development on steep slopes and at risk of natural hazards.
Ensured the safe development of future homes by including updated bushfire hazard provisions and mapping.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council
On the other hand, the following components of the draft neighbourhood plan remained unchanged:
Provision of a 40-hectare conservation area along Mt Nebo Road, which recently transferred into public ownership, with a further 51 hectares of rehabilitated ecological and waterway corridors to be transferred to public ownership at no cost to the community in the future.
Minimum lot sizes and preferred dwelling unit densities, to be established through two precincts so that residential lots transition from urban to natural environments.
Support for an efficient transport network and an emergency-access-only connection to Mt Nebo Road.
Mt Nebo Road, Upper Kedron Photo credit: Google Street View
Updated Ferny Grove-Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan
The Queensland Government advised the Council on 28 May 2018 that the amendment package could be adopted subject to conditions.
The neighbourhood plan has been amended to include:
an emergency services and active transport link connecting the Cedar Creek south precinct to Mt Nebo Road (subject to further detailed transport planning and community consultation) in the road hierarchy overlay map
future bushfire risk mapping provided by the Queensland Government in the bushfire overlay map
a revegetation map (including regional ecosystem types), provided by the Queensland Government, for reference within the bushfire overlay code.
Brisbane City Council formally adopted the updated neighbourhood plan, including Queensland Government conditions, on 28 August 2018.
The Ferny Grove-Upper Kedron Neighbourhood Plan is a legal document that forms part of Brisbane City Plan 2014 (City Plan), to guide future development in the local area.
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?
Photo credit: TippyTopx
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
Photo credit: LifeHacker Australia
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.
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.
