Blog

There’ll be plenty of flips, spins and kickflips when Narangba’s youth plaza and skate park opens to the public on Saturday 14 April.

To celebrate the event Council is giving away 40 free ‘Ramp Up’ skate lessons with the pros from at Australian Skateboarding Community to help riders aged 5-15 hone their craft.

Division 11 Councillor Darren Grimwade said he was stoked to see Narangba’s skate park become a reality.

“This campaign came about through lobbying from local kids who were crying out for more activities to be provided in their area,” Cr Grimwade said.

Artists Impression

“I want to thank them for their proactive advocacy because their initiative has helped to deliver a very impressive piece of community infrastructure.

“I’m hoping to see a lot of beginners registering for our free learn to skate sessions on Saturday 14, but you’ll need to get in quick because places are strictly limited.

“In addition to the lessons we’re going to be giving away a free scooter and a skateboard just before the official opening gets underway at 9am – all you have to do to enter is be there on the day and put your name in the draw.”

Bookings for ‘Ramp Up’ clinics are essential and can be made online: www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/healthy-active/ramp-up/timetable/

The specially designed skate park will challenge riders with elevated banks, split levels, moguls and ledges, adding to the existing basketball hoop adjacent to the skate park facility.

Cr Grimwade said council had worked closely with the community on the development of this project through a number of online surveys and face-to-face consultation sessions which helped shape the development of the youth plaza and skate park precinct.

“Projects like this encourage young people to lead active and healthy lifestyles,” he said.

Artists Impression

“That’s exactly why council has invested $29 million in this year’s budget towards parks, playgrounds, and sport and recreational facilities across the region to create healthy and active communities.”

Norfolk Lakes Neighbourhood Watch Group, Area Coordinator, Barbara Moloney said the new youth plaza and skate park would make a great addition to the Harris Avenue Sports Grounds for young people.

“This space will give kids the opportunity to head outdoors, get active and enjoy interacting with other young people in their community,” Ms Moloney said.

“We would like to express our thanks to council for allocating substantial funds to this project and we look forward to seeing the youth use this area positively.”

Young people in the northern Brisbane and southern Moreton Bay regions will have access to state of the art facilities and a local tertiary education from 2020.

The Turnbull Government will guarantee funding for student places at the future Petrie Campus of the University of the Sunshine Coast.

The Member for Dickson Peter Dutton and the Member for Petrie Luke Howarth announced that they have secured future Budget funding of $69.4 million over three years from 2019-20.

The funding will provide for 1200 student bachelor places when the new campus opens in 2020, then 2400 bachelor places in 2021 and 3600 ongoing places from 2022.

Mr Dutton said the USC Petrie campus development was an important project for the region. “It will create jobs and revitalise local small businesses as well as making university education more accessible for local students.”

“Luke Howarth and I committed to give significant Federal support for this project. We have delivered $35 million in grant funding and a concessional loan for infrastructure projects. This helps guarantee student places and supports the local economy.”

“We said it would go ahead and it will,” Mr Dutton said.

Mr Howarth said he was excited about the opportunity the university would create for young people in the Petrie and Dickson electorates. “The project is somewhat out of sight-out of mind at the moment, but by 2020 – in just two years – having this new campus open will really help our young people study locally for the jobs of the future.”

USC’s Chief Operating Officer Dr Scott Snyder was informed of the funding guarantee in Canberra this week. “This is great news,” Dr Snyder said. “We are very, very pleased that the Federal Government has secured student places for the new campus so that young people in the Moreton Bay region can really engage in the knowledge economy and make the most of the opportunities it will present.”

If you had outdoor plans for this weekend, be prepared for them to be postponed in lieu of an indoor movie/board game type of weekend!

The forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology is looking rather bleak with showers and a possible thunderstorm forecast for the rest of the day, with falls from 40mm-90mm predicted. The forecast for Saturday and Sunday is similar, with falls between 15mm-50mm forecast for Saturday.

An incredibly moist air mass will combine with a coastal trough to produce areas of heavy rain across Southeast Queensland today and into Saturday morning, which we are currently experiencing.

All river and creek heights in the Moreton Bay region are below minor, at the time of writing.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an initial flood watch, which provides early advice of possible flooding within the specified catchments:

Initial Flood Watch for coastal catchments from Maryborough to Caboolture

Flood Watch Number: 1

River level rises above the minor flood level are possible from Friday.

Moderate to heavy falls are possible across the Flood Watch area from Thursday evening and will continue during Friday and into Saturday.

Rainfall totals of 40-140 mm have been recorded in the Mary River catchment and Sunshine Coast rivers and creeks in the 24 hours to 9:00 am Thursday.

Further widespread rainfall totals of 50-100 mm are expected during Friday and into Saturday, with isolated totals of up to 150 mm possible.

River levels rises above the minor flood level are possible in the Flood Watch area from Friday.

Catchments likely to be affected include:

See www.bom.gov.au/qld/warnings to view the current flood warnings for Queensland.

For more information on the Flood Watch Service: http://www.bom.gov.au/water/floods/floodWarningServices.shtml

Flood Safety Advice:

This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and creeks should monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings.

Remember: If it’s flooded, forget it.

For flood emergency assistance contact the SES on 132 500.

For life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Current emergency information is available at www.qld.gov.au/alerts.

This advice is also available by dialling 1300 659 219 at a low call cost of 27.5 cents, more from mobile, public and satellite phones.

Warning, rainfall and river information are available at www.bom.gov.au/qld/flood/

The Queensland Police Service has also issued a timely warning:

With heavy rain falling across large parts of the state today, police are urging motorists to drive to conditions and heed the message: if it’s flooded, forget it.

A number of drivers were rescued after proceeding through flooded roads in the Wide Bay area yesterday.

As the rain moves further south, police are warning drivers particularly around the Sunshine Coast, Caboolture and Brisbane areas to slow down, turn their headlights on and increase their stopping distance.

Under severe storms or heavy rain bands, flash flooding can occur very quickly and without any notice – even on roads that you usually travel on without any issues.

Flash flooding can cause significant structural damage to roads, so even if you think it looks safe, you can never be sure exactly what is underneath the water.

No matter what car you drive, no matter what bike you ride, no matter what shoes you wear – if it’s flooded, forget it.

Seqwater have advised that low flow releases from Somerset Dam are planned in the next 48 hours. Wivenhoe lake level rise will be less than 0.5 metres over the 48 hour period. Somerset Dam is currently operating on a temporary full capacity of 80% due to the  Somerset Dam Improvement Program which began in January 2016. Somerset is currently 77.3% full, while Wivenhoe is only 68.2% full.

It might be worthwhile heading to Chipmunks Playland and Cafe with the kids, for a well deserved coffee while they expend all of the masses of energy they have!

At any one time, there may be over six hundred special dogs and puppies being trained to be a Guide Dog in communities throughout the nation.

To help identify these special dogs, Guide Dogs Australia, along with their partner ADVANCE has unveiled a fresh new look for their iconic Guide Dog coats to make the dogs-in-training more easily recognisable to the public.

The new coats feature a reflective bright orange colour for visibility and are made of a highly breathable material to keep the dogs cool – and looking cool – when they are working. What’s more important though, is what they represent.

When you see a Guide Dog wearing one of the new coats out in the community, it means they are on an important journey and working towards fulfilling the life-changing role of being someone’s guiding eyes.

They’re asking everyone in the community to look out for the dogs wearing the new bright orange coats and give them space when working, so they can learn their important new job!

Whether a Guide Dog is walking, sitting or sleeping in its coat or harness, it should not be patted, fed or distracted. These coats also show that the dog is legally allowed to go anywhere their trainer or handler can, to assist with their training.

You can do your bit by making sure Guide Dog handlers and their dogs feel welcome, and that your pet dog is on a leash and under control whenever you see a Guide Dog in a harness or in one of the new bright orange training coats.

“I thank everyone in the community in advance for helping our incredible Guide Dogs on their journey and for your ongoing generous support as we continue to change lives.” Michael Kightley, CEO of Guide Dogs Queensland said.

You can help Guide Dogs Queensland provide freedom, independence and mobility by showing your support.
Head to www.guidedogsqld.com.au to find out more.

Here is the video from their fur-shion show, just because they’re so darn cute!

Pine Rivers is home to many wonderful community based not-for-profit agencies,
all with the same goal: helping those in need.

Moreton Bay Commmunity Matters, a charitable organisation based in Kallangur, has been providing support to the Pine Rivers Community since April 2015. It is run purely by volunteers and donations by wonderful people and companies that all lend a hand to help make the community a better place for everyone. The organisation hopes to help all walks of life through different activities and support networks where everyone’s welcome!

On a weekly basis, they prepare up to one hundred and thirty food baskets for those in need, as well as providing other valuable services including running a Cafe with free tea, coffee, sandwiches and treats, which serves as a community centre connection. They operate a community garden, as well as hosting a yearly Christmas party for local families to have the opportunity to mingle and have Christmas photos with Santa, that they might not otherwise be able to afford. They run a secondhand store that gifts locals in need of clothing, free of charge.

Also, a movie night is hosted bi-monthly on the church grounds, inclusive of icecream and popcorn! Head to their Facebook page to be in the know with the details and keep an eye out for their Trivia Nights there as well. You can say g’day to the volunteers or even lend a hand at Bunnings North Lakes every second Thursday. Grab a snag and a drink to support their work.

Moreton Bay Community Matters (MBCM) is run out of the hall at the Rivers Church of Christ. Although the Organisation has connections with the church, there is no pressure to attend church services and they welcome all comers.

Last year, the Organisation was nominated for a Community Achievement Award which was a big morale boost for the team of approximately thirty volunteers.

The team are always in need of volunteers and donations. If you can help, contact them via their Facebook page.