The O’Keefe Street Velobridge project has reached a major milestone, as part of the wider Veloway 1 upgrade which is scheduled for completion before 2023 ends.
In October, construction works commenced for the installation and completion of a steel truss bridge over O’Keefe Street in Woolloongabba. The structure is a key component of the Velobridge, which will provide a new dedicated crossing for cyclists and other active transport users along the Veloway 1 route.
Through the bridge, “…V1 users will be able safely and efficiently continue their journey north or south without having to cross at Carl Street,” Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said.
The O’Keefe Street Velobridge is part of the larger Veloway 1 upgrade, a dedicated cycleway between South Brisbane and Underwood. More than 1,800 weekday cyclists who utilize the route will benefit from this project.
“With the … installation of the steel truss bridge, we can really begin to visualise this valuable new connection for the V1,” Minister Bailey stated.
When a Greenslopes man got up for a midnight drink of water, he did not expect to be heading back to bed $1 million richer. But that’s exactly what happened!
The shock windfall has left the winner understandably stunned, admitting he thought he was dreaming when he first saw the seven-figure sum. The man had to shake his sleeping partner awake to confirm if the life-changing news was real.
“After that I don’t think I went back to sleep,” said the man.
Photo credit: The Lott/Facebook
“My partner woke up and saw me sitting there and asked, ‘what’s going on, are you alright?’
“I think I just laughed before telling her, ‘I won the lottery!’
For the humble winner, the timing couldn’t be better. He revealed plans to finally buy a property in the area’s competitive market. But first, as a thank you for their support, he intends to set up his parents financially for the rest of their lives.
The fortunate Greenslopes resident had purchased his lucky 12-game QuickPick ticket online through thelott.com.
The life-changing winning numbers drawn in Monday & Wednesday Gold Lotto on September 25th were 9, 34, 3, 5, 35 and 43. The supplementary numbers that rounded out the draw were 19 and 8.
Incredibly, there was only a single division one winning entry across the entire country – belonging to the thrilled Queensland man.
The man’s $1 million prize marks the second major lottery win for Greenslopes residents in recent weeks. Just last month, a local Greenslopes mother also scored $1 million in the Saturday Gold Lotto competition.
After such a huge win, the lucky Greenslopes man will certainly be raising a glass to his late night thirst. It seems you never know what a trip to the kitchen in the middle of the night might bring.
Jamie Bedson, a medical records administrator who has worked at Princess Alexandra Hospital for 23 years, has made the extraordinary decision to leave his entire estate to the Princess Alexandra Research Foundation.
Describing his decision as an easy one, Mr Bedson cited the hospital as more than just a workplace but a community and family and he made this decision because he wants to support medical breakthroughs and enhance the lives of patients.
“I’m on my own and I’ve got no family. I’ve got friends, but no one that I really want to give the money to,” he said. “I thought, who can I give it to? So that’s why I went straight to the foundation.”
The loyal administrator acknowledged that he had considered the hospital’s impact on his life and the lives of countless others during his long tenure.
“Because I work in a hospital in medical records, I can understand the medical side of things and what people are going through in a hospital.”
“People might be going through a smaller situation through to something more life-threatening, but regardless it is going to a good cause, and that’s what I’m happy about.”
“If it’s going to help someone get an operation, or help someone with cancer, or maybe even cure someone through research, I’m happy to do that.”
Mr Bedson’s decision coincides with the Princess Alexandra Research Foundation‘s annual Giving Day fundraiser, which took place on 7 Sept 2023. Remarkably, all donations received on Giving Day, up to $10,000, were doubled, thanks to the generosity of matching donors.
Photo Credit: Princess Alexandra Foundation
This year, for the first time, the foundation allowed people to make donations to support patients and services at all Metro South hospitals, including QEII Jubilee, Redland, Logan, and Beaudesert hospitals. These contributions can be directed to various hospital departments, such as spinal injury rehabilitation, breast cancer research, or enhancing patient treatment areas.
“People who choose to make a gift of any size and remember an organization after they’re gone is pretty humbling. It means we will be able to keep investing in our medical research and medical support at the hospital far beyond our own lifetimes,” said Damian Topp, the Foundation’s Chief Executive.
A number of residents have challenged the approval received by St Maroun’s Maronite Church on Bunya Street in Greenslopes to redevelop its ageing facilities.
St Maroun’s Church, located on a 3,645-sqm property in Bunya Street submitted a plan to Council to construct an entirely new church building with auditorium, a community hall, and a church administration building.
Designed by Hayes Anderson Lynch, the redevelopment includes a large elevated outdoor seating area and terrace adjoining the church and church hall, and a basement car park with 55 car parking spaces.
Artist’s visualisation of St Maroun’s Maronite Church redevelopment (Photo credit: Hayes Anderson Lynch)
However, a group of residents has brought an appeal against the development approval to the Planning and Environment Court. The residents listed several grounds for their appeal, including concerns about the height, size, and scale of the proposed development.
Photo credit: Hayes Anderson Lynch
They argued that the church plans should be refused because the new buildings would be incompatible with the local character and feel of the area. The residents were worried the development would negatively impact things like noise levels, operating hours, and the overall look of the buildings.
“Multi vehicle and bicycle accidents can already be a weekly occurrence on Dunellan Street. A significant increase in traffic will only increase the likelihood of accidents as there are no plans to address even the current situation, let alone a significant increase in peak hour traffic. This increased traffic will be focussed in peak hour for child care drop-offs and pickups, so the extra traffic will add to local congestion as well as increase risk to children attending Greenslopes Primary School,” one local has written in a submission to Council.
During proceedings, St Maroun’s pointed to insufficient space in its current ageing facilities forcing parishioners to worship outdoors, even during important services. Ultimately, Justice Amanda McDonnell found only the scale was non-compliant, ruling this would not create adverse planning outcomes. She approved the redevelopment subject to conditions like noise management.
The residents have been left disappointed and the parties must now negotiate suitable conditions before final consent is issued. Observers note that the case exemplifies the challenges of balancing community infrastructure needs with minimising local impacts, as progress marches on.
Toll fees at the Clem Jones Tunnel (CLEM7) have increased starting this month, despite Transurban reporting record revenue last December, sparking criticism about the increase amidst the rising cost of living.
The CLEM7, a privately financed inner-city toll road in Greenslopes and Coorparoo, spans 4.8 kilometres beneath the Brisbane River, linking Woolloongabba and Bowen Hills. As one of Queensland’s largest infrastructure projects, it plays a vital role in the state’s transportation network.
Recent discussions about the toll increase for the use of the CLEM7 have raised questions about the affordability and accessibility of this significant thoroughfare.
Effective 1 July 2023, motorists driving a car through the CLEM7 have been paying 42 cents more, as the toll rose from $5.70 to $6.12. Heavy commercial vehicles in Class 4 faced a higher increase, with peak hour rates up by $17.09 to $18.36 and off-peak rates up by $15.09 to $16.21.
Transurban, the sole toll operator in South East Queensland, has justified the fee adjustment by citing the Brisbane Consumer Price Index (CPI). Although the increase may appear modest, it could have a cumulative impact on commuters who frequently use the CLEM7 to navigate Brisbane’s congested roads.
The toll hike comes on the heels of Transurban’s impressive 16 per cent revenue growth, as reported in their half-yearly financial report for December 2022, a detail that has critics up in arms.
Outgoing CEO Scott Charlton expressed confidence in the strength of Transurban’s business model, citing built-in inflation protection due to approximately 68 per cent of toll revenue being linked to CPI escalations. However, critics argue that such increases may disproportionately burden commuters, especially amid rising living costs.
Transurban has assured motorists experiencing financial hardship that they can seek support from their Linkt Assist team, which offers payment plans, toll credits, and more flexible payment options.
Nevertheless, with the rising toll fees, drivers using the CLEM7 will need to carefully evaluate the impact on their budgets and explore alternative commuting options to mitigate the potential strain.
Plans to build a 24-hour Greenslopes McDonald’s outlet have been met with strong objections from locals who believe that a fast food outlet will have an adverse impact on their neighbourhood.
DA A006025123, lodged in May 2022, proposes the construction of a fast food outlet along the corner of Logan Road and Plimsoll Street. The site is near the Greenslopes Mall and also close to other convenient fast food chains like KFC, Subway, Dominos and Pizza Hut.
According to Cr Krista Adams, the location of Greenslopes McDonald’s is within the District Centre (Corridor) Zone, essentially allowing a food and drink outlet, retail, supermarket or service stations. The site has been part of CityPlan 2000’s higher-level multipurpose zone. Based on this, the DA is Code Assessable and does not require a community consultation for residents to raise their concerns, objections or appeals.
Cr Adams also said that the Council’s planners have raised issues with the developer during the assessment period. The developer made changes to the designs after previous meetings with Council in 2021.
Despite this, locals have lodged more than 50 submissions to the development. Dr Dragan Talic, the owner of Greenslopes Family Practice (GFP) on Plimsoll Street, said that the McDonald’s plan is a major concern as it surrounds their property on three sides.
“If the application is approved, not only will this have a significant impact of my business, and the ability of our practice to provide medical care to the community, it will also restrict my ability to develop the site in the future.”
Dr Talic added that their clinic will become “an island among McDonald’s” and will also affect their elderly and disabled patients.
Photo Credit: DA A006025123
The “Don’t Let McDonald’s Trash our Neighbourhood Coalition” has also been campaigning against Greenslopes McDonald’s. Mr Bob Carnegie, the group’s spokesperson, said that proposal is not compliant with the code and their objections were initially dismissed by Council.
“It’s interesting that the removal of pre-1911 house on Logan Road would only benefit McDonald’s and there has been no regard for the ‘greater good’. It appears that character or heritage listings only matter when they don’t get in the way of developers and international big business,” Mr Carnegie said.
“There are MANY McDonald’s within a short drive of this development site,” said Kathryn Heyworth of the Greenslopes Neighbours Coalition. “McDonalds Australia has a plan to have EVERY house in a city within 3 minutes of Mcdonald’s! Looks like it is already a reality for 7 minute.”
Most of the objections also cite traffic concerns given its location near the shopping centre. However, Greenslopes McDonald’s proposal includes 26 carparks and a space for 10 cars queued in the drive-through. The DA has an attached traffic study indicating that the road network will not have any disruptions coming from the fast food chain, even during peak hours.
A car caught fire in the underground parking area of Brisbane’s Greenslopes Mall, forcing the evacuation of shoppers. Approximately 40 minutes after the incident started, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) personnel arrived on the scene.
On 20th April 2020, two QFES crews were sent to the retail centre, they managed to put out the fire by 9:50 a.m. The Fire Investigation Unit was also notified of the incident.
Peter Shaer, who was at the mall at the time of the fire, recalled that people were running to get their cars away from the “horrible” smoke and odours from the fire.
The shopper criticised the mall’s response to the situation as Mr Shaer claimed that “the shopping center reacted very slowly.” He didn’t not notice the sprinklers working and the lift was still operating “even in the den’s smog.”
Crews from the Queensland Police Service (QPS) were also on the scene. A short while later, it was said that the mall was once again accessible to shoppers.
Greenslopes Mall’s Center Management was unavailable for comment.
A new program with no out-of-pocket costs aimed at supporting lung cancer patients who are undergoing both chemotherapy and radiotherapy has been launched at the Greenslopes Private Hospital and seven other Ramsay Health Care facilities.
The Ramsay Lung Cancer Rehabilitation Pilot Program is a six-month program that delivers rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and nutrition support to patients with unresectable stage 3 non-small-cell lung cancer, the most common type of lung cancer.
With support from AstraZeneca Australia & New Zealand, the program provides patients access to a Cancer Care Navigator who will work with an allied health team during chemotherapy and radiotherapy in supporting the patients when it comes to their nutrition and physiotherapy to regain their strength, mobility, and function.
Ramsay Health Plus and its facilities will provide qualified physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, and dieticians.
Photo Credit: Greenslopes Private Hospital
Aside from Greenslopes Private Hospital, the Ramsay Lung Cancer Rehabilitation Pilot Program is also available at St George Private Hospital, Hollywood Private Hospital, John Flynn Private Hospital, Warringal Private Hospital, Wollongong Private Hospital, Lake Macquarie Private Hospital, and The Border Cancer Hospital. AstraZeneca Australia & New Zealand will pay for any cost that will not be covered by the patient’s health insurance.
“The Ramsay Lung Cancer Rehabilitation Pilot Program will provide patients with appropriate exercise and nutrition plans to put them in the best health to undergo their cancer treatment,” Physiotherapist and National Manager of Ramsay Health Plus, Dylan Rowley, said.
“Eating well and feeling strong and fit can have a big impact on your mental health, reduce the side effects of treatment and optimise your treatment outcomes.”
Regulated parking, including a three-hour parking restriction, could soon be adopted in some of the busiest streets in Greenslopes to ease traffic in the area. Have your say on the proposal before it’s implemented!
Under the Greenslopes Parking Study, which was conducted and reviewed in 2021, the proposed parking scheme will include not just a three-hour parking limit but also open applications for residents to secure a Resident Parking Permit and a Visitor Parking Permit.
The permits carry a minimal fee of $16.25 but future residents of multi-unit dwellings could be restricted from applying for permits as well, whilst the use of public transport will be encouraged.
According to Council, residents have raised concerns about the volume of vehicles in street parking areas, especially around the Greenslopes Private Hospital, the Greenslopes State School, and Club Greenslopes. Customers of local businesses along Logan Road, Ridge Street and Dunellen Street also generate a high demand for street parking.
The hospital has a paid parking facility for 300 vehicles with a maximum cost of $25. However, the space is not enough given the number of patients, staff, and visitors in and out of the area.
Currently, about 97.6 per cent of the off-street parking is unrestricted without any time limits. It was determined during the review that the average parking duration for 60 per cent of the vehicles is at three hours, 25 per cent are parked for three to nine hours, whilst 16 per cent park for 10 hours or more.
More than 80 per cent of motorists take up parking spaces along Denman Street, Headfort Street, Hunter Street, Newdegate Street and Nicholson Street, which are near the hospital. Given these demands, the review determined a need for parking time limits and permits.
“If a 3-hour parking limit with resident permit exception is implemented in all unrestricted streets, vehicles parked for 3 to 9 hours (some 25% of all parked vehicles) would be displaced from streets,” Council stated. “The number of streets with high parking occupancy is dramatically reduced from the current situation at 9 AM, 12 PM and 3 PM.”
Photo Credit: BCC
Greenslopes residents may submit their feedback via the online survey until Friday, 2 September.
Students at Cavendish Road State High School in Holland Park are supporting SecondBite for the third year in a row, making regular runs to Coles Greenslopes, Carindale, and Coorparoo.
Cavendish Road State High School Deputy Principal Amanda Nuell said the students were fully engaged in what has now become an annual community action campaign, and they delight in seeing the pallets of tins ready to send off to those in need.
Shoppers can assist the kids in having more to distribute to the needy by placing canned goods in SecondBite donation bins at Coles Greenslopes, Carindale, and Coorparoo or by dropping off their donations to the school until 24 June 2022. .
Photo Credit: Supplied
“Last year we hit a record with 26,000 cans donated, but I think we can do better this year and our students are very much excited to break the record,” she said.
“Good quality, shelf-stable items such as canned vegetables, soups, tuna, sauces and baked beans are in short supply at SecondBite warehouses. We can’t get enough of them, so to have the students and staff at Cav Road help out is just a blessing for us and the charity partners we support.”
“The students’ can drive is a great initiative because the food they’re collecting complements the unsold, edible fruit and vegetables that we donate to SecondBite every day. Our Coles team has also set the goal to donate six cans each to the drive — we’re excited to see how many we can donate.”
Canned good donations are ideal as these are easily stored and distributed without spoiling, and are a great supplement to the fresh produce that SecondBite primarily provides its charity partners.
SecondBite is a national food rescue organisation founded in 2005 by Ian and Simone Carson. With a reach that now extends to every territory and state in Australia, the initiative started small.
At first, the dedicated couple would drop by market stalls in Melbourne with their friends and collect surplus food. They would drop these off at a local charity as contributions to the charity’s food program.
The effort soon snowballed and in 2011, SecondBite and Coles formed a nationwide partnership.
Coles is proud of its partnership with SecondBite in the last 10 years and Coles Carindale Store Manager Jason Williams is equally proud of the students’ initiative, made particularly timely in the face of recent challenges and continuing difficulties in many sectors of society.
Photo Credit: Supplied
The long-term impact of the COVID lockdowns, as well as the devastating flood events earlier in the year, have been more challenging for many people dealing with food insecurity this winter.
“A hot meal in winter seems like such a basic right but for far too many, it’s simply not possible. Our research has highlighted that food insecurity is hitting a new demographic we haven’t previously seen before,” SecondBite CEO Steve Clifford said.
Beyond the school’s drive, Coles shoppers may continue to support SecondBite by buying a $2 donation card between Wednesday 22 June to Tuesday 5 July at a Coles supermarket or by making a donation at Liquorland, First Choice liquor Market or Vintage Cellars, as part of Coles’ annual Winter Appeal for the charity.
All of the funds raised will be directed to SecondBite to help support its food rescue programs for Aussies in need.
