» 2020
Read the Dec20/Jan21 Holiday Edition of Best Of Local Moreton Bay.
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After last summer’s fires destroyed vast tracts of bushland across eastern Australia, USC’s Detection Dogs for Conservation team spent many days searching for surviving koalas using heat-seeking drones and the now world-famous USC x International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) koala detection dog Bear.
The detection dogs team, which was co-founded in 2015 by USC researchers Associate Professor Celine Frere and Dr Romane Cristescu, searched for koalas across more than 5,000 hectares of land in partnership with IFAW.
Dr Romane Cristescu (left) and Associate Professor Celine Frere.
Dr Cristescu said the team was now bracing itself for another long summer of scouring scorched bushland.
“While it is unlikely that we will see bushfires to the scale of last year, we are still preparing for multiple fires that can impact many hectares of koala habitat during the next fire season – especially, this year, Queensland has higher than average risk of bushfires,” Dr Cristescu said.
“We expect we might be called upon, with our partners at IFAW, by different wildlife rescue groups, to help them locate koalas – as with drones and dogs we can find many koalas that otherwise can escape the naked human eye. And in places such as QLD and NSW, where populations are already declining, every koala counts.
“Last year we found koalas struggling with and dying from burns, dehydration and malnutrition weeks after the fires had been contained, and we were able to find help for them. That is why we are preparing now for the 2020-2021 season.”
Bear: A USC Koala Detection Dog
Bear, whose skills last year caught the attention of Hollywood actor Tom Hanks, is one of a team of USC detection dogs.
Bear, the Koala Detection Dog has been specially trained to sniff out koalas by the scent of their fur, which enabled the team last fire season to locate more than 100 koalas, many of which needed help and were rescued.
IFAW wildlife campaigner Josey Sharrad said post-fire wildlife rescue was critical to koala survival.
“Bear was our secret weapon during these fires. His ability to smell what we can’t see was crucial to locating survivors,” she said.
“Many of the koalas that were rescued have now been released back into the wild after months of rehabilitation. With over 6,000 koalas perishing in New South Wales alone last bushfire season, every one that we can save counts towards the future survival of the species.”
This work by USC’s Detection Dogs for Conservation and IFAW is supported by Wildcare, Qld Koala Crusaders, AZWH, Friends of the Koalas, Jali Aboriginal Land Council, Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital, Two Thumbs Wildlife Trust, Australian National University, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Vets for Compassion and the Native Animal Rescue Group.
Read the November 2020 edition of Best Of Local Moreton Bay.
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Read the October 2020 edition of Best Of Local Moreton Bay.
To subscribe and have the magazine delivered to your inbox once a month and for advertising enquiries, visit – https://www.bestoflocal.com.au/qld/moretonbay/
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Read the September 2020 edition of Best Of Local Moreton Bay.
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The project team, led by Hansen Yuncken, won the Master Builders Association Award (Brisbane) for an education facility over $10 million at the 2020 Housing and Construction Awards and is now in the running for the Queensland state finals in October.
The three-story, 16,000 square-metre USC Moreton Bay building at Petrie features modern labs, teaching spaces and technology and is Australia’s newest university campus.
USC Chief Operating Officer Dr Scott Snyder said the win recognised the achievement of an exceptional project team, and the completion of a world-class facility that would become a long-standing knowledge and innovation hub for the Moreton Bay region.
“USC Moreton Bay has 1,800 enrolled students and growing, and by 2030 it is expected to cater for 10,000 students across more than 100 study programs,” Dr Snyder said.
“It has everything you’d expect from a modern university, including a 460-seat capacity auditorium, $15 million worth of state-of-the-art technology, nursing simulation and science labs, engineering labs as well as a library, student support facilities, a café and shops.”
Hansen Yuncken Queensland State Manager Greg Baumann said the award was a tribute to how the team worked with USC to deliver such an ambitious project.
“The attention to detail, workmanship and level of quality on this project speak for themselves and these awards are a terrific recognition of the team’s hard work and effort,” Mr Baumann said.
The foundation building is the first stage in a planned 10.5-hectare university precinct that will form the heart of The Mill at Moreton Bay, a vibrant civic, cultural and educational precinct planned by Moreton Bay Regional Council.
It was designed by award-winning architects Hassell Studios.
Read the August 2020 edition of Best Of Local Moreton Bay.
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It’s one of a suite of initiatives designed to rejuvenate the tourism sector and attract more private sector investment in the wake of COVID-19, with a focus on developing the drive tourism sector.
“The breathtaking mountain vistas atop the D’Aguilar Ranges are a secret to most people in southeast Queensland and that’s something we want to change,” he said.
“We want to inspire locals and travellers alike to get off the Bruce Highway and explore more of Moreton Bay by building architecturally astounding lookouts in panoramic locations around our region.
“The key will be building structures that are irresistible to Instagrammers, so that they become destinations in their own right and promote themselves online.
“One third of internet users own an Instagram account and 70% of the 95 million photos uploaded to the platform every day are travel-related – so finding an amazing photo location is a real tourism motivator.”
The 2020-21 Budget provides $250,000 for a new tourism strategy to:
Mayor Flannery said accessible tourism is estimated to be worth $10.8 billion in Australia.
“By 2050 it’s estimated that nearly one-quarter of the Australian population will be aged 65 or over and within the next five years, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will provide more than $22 billion in funding a year to an estimated 500,000 Australians,” he said.
“This is a real growth industry and a logical fit for Moreton Bay Region given our proximity to Brisbane.
“We already have a significant amount of accessible infrastructure in key locations like Bribie Island and Redcliffe, including boardwalks, pathways, accessible playgrounds, and even accessible beach matting.
“But I’m sure there is more we can do, and this strategy might uncover other great ideas we haven’t thought of.”
Read the July 2020 edition of Best Of Local Moreton Bay.
To subscribe, have the magazine delivered to your inbox once a month or for advertising enquiries, visit – https://www.bestoflocal.com.au/qld/moretonbay/
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Read the May 2020 edition of Best Of Local, Moreton Bay.
To have the magazine delivered to your inbox every month and for all other enquiries, visit – https://www.bestoflocal.com.au/qld/moretonbay/
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In a landmark first for the Council, the voting for Deputy Mayor was conducted publicly via a livestream on Council’s website.
“I’m looking forward to working with our new look Council, bringing diversity of thinking and skills that will help our region flourish,” Cr Sims said.
“I see it as my duty now to be a loyal supporter of the Mayor, act as a conduit between the Council Chamber and the Mayor’s office, and also step up in the Mayor’s absence.
“As we chart a path to economic recovery through the COVID-19 crisis, I don’t want to see any community groups, charities, sporting organisations or our environment forgotten in our planning.
“I am passionate about green space, and want to see communities with higher densities get additional parks and infrastructure.
“I’ve worked to change our desired standard of service and the amounts developers are charged to help meet community needs.
“That’s how in the last term I delivered 23 park installations or improvements in my own division, now I want to roll that out regionally to green Moreton Bay.
“I’m passionate about making our region more accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities, so that our buildings, parks and amenities work for everyone.
“The work council has delivered in this space is nothing short of amazing winning several awards like the Backstage Pass for quiet hour in our libraries for those with autism or requiring individual assistance
“I cant wait to get started in the role. Its an immense privilege for me to have this opportunity and I want to serve the residents of Moreton Bay to the highest standard.
“The most important part of being a local Councillor is listening and acting and local residents can count on me to do both.
“Alongside this commitment residents can expect unity across Council.
“We can only achieve things if we work together.
“I’m looking forward to working for Mayor Peter Flannery and with my fellow councillor to make Moreton Bay Region the best it can be.
On Wednesday 22nd April our new Mayor and 12 Local Councillors officially took office with seven of the thirteen Council positions having new representation.
The newly elected Mayor and Councillors could not meet as a group due to social distancing requirements.
Councillors took the Declaration of Office in front of CEO Greg Chemello, on a rotation spaced 15 minutes apart.
The new Moreton Bay Regional Council is:
(Newly elected representatives highlighted)
Mayor: Peter Flannery
Division 1: Brooke Savige
Division 2: Mark Booth
Division 3: Adam Hain
Division 4: Jodie Shipway
Division 5: Sandra Ruck
Division 6: Karl Winchester
Division 7: Denise Sims
Division 8: Mick Gillam
Division 9: Cath Tonks
Division 10: Matt Constance
Division 11: Darren Grimwade
Division 12: Tony Latter
“Having met with all our councillors to discuss their priorities and ideas for our region, I’m pleased that they are collectively focussed on the immediate need for financial support and economic recovery, as our region fights to come back from coronavirus.
“I’m very pleased to have six returning councillors bringing their experience back to the chamber, and six new councillors bringing fresh ideas with them.
“I’d particularly like to welcome our three new female Councillors – Jodie Shipway (Div 4), Sandra Ruck (Div 5) and Cath Tonks (Div 9) – increasing female representation in our team of 12 up to five alongside Brooke Savige (Div 1) and Denise Sims (Div 7).
“I also want to thank the community for putting their faith in me to lead through this uncertain time.
“When we started this campaign, we didn’t know we’d be hit with the global pandemic that is COVID-19. So, locals have certainly made the right choice in electing an experienced councillor and a safe set of hands. That’s critically important at an uncertain time like this.
“I promise locals that my door and the door of every councillor you have elected will always be open to people who have their hearts in this community and have ideas on how we can get through this challenging time together.”
“We may be living in uncertain times and no one knows what the world will look like on the other side, but between the experience of our returning councillors and the fresh ideas of our new councillors, I think we already have the foundations for success.
“My door will always be open to anyone who has ideas on how we can do things differently here in Moreton Bay Region.”
Mayor Flannery said that the community had to be at the heart of every economic, strategic, and stimulus decision they make in the Chamber and he has committed to leading an open and accountable Council that’s united in its focus on economic recovery.
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