Hanlon Park Archives - Greenslopes News

Greenslopes Residents Stunned by Sudden Flash Flooding

Photo Credit: Facebook / Higgins Storm Chasing

Greenslopes experienced sudden flash flooding on Sunday, December 1, 2024 as intense rainfall transformed local streets and parks into raging waterways, with some areas receiving up to 88 mm of rain in just two hours.

The suburb was among the hardest-hit areas in Brisbane’s inner south, with AJ Hanlon Park turning into what locals described as a “raging torrent” in a matter of minutes.

Photo Credit: Facebook / Higgins Storm Chasing

Sarah and Jake Barros, local residents, described the unprecedented flooding in their neighbourhood. “It is pretty scary,” Sarah Barros said.

“Our backyard and garage have been flooded, though our house itself remains okay. We see the park flood regularly, but it hasn’t been this bad in a while. It just happened so quickly – only ten minutes from the first raindrops to full flash flooding.”

Emergency services were active in the area, with multiple cars on Lincoln Street submerged up to their roofs. The speed and intensity of the water rise caught many residents off guard, highlighting the sudden and unpredictable nature of the storm.

The flooding was part of a broader severe weather event across southeast Queensland, characterised by the Bureau of Meteorology as a result of a “humid and unstable” air mass causing slow-moving storms.

Local authorities continue to monitor the situation and advise residents to remain cautious and avoid unnecessary travel.

Published 1-December-2024

Three Months After Baby Luka’s Hanlon Park Coffee Incident

Photo Credit: Facebook / True Crime Trending

A mother has revealed her baby’s challenging recovery journey, three months after he was doused with scalding coffee at Hanlon Park.

Baby Luka, now one-year old, has undergone seven operations at Queensland Children’s Hospital since the August 27 attack, which left him with serious burns to 60 percent of his body, including his face, upper body, and arms.

Photo Credit: Facebook / True Crime Trending

“In those first few weeks, we had no idea what his future was going to look like, especially because the burns were so significant,” his mother told The Courier Mail.

While Luka’s skin has “healed really well” since receiving synthetic skin grafts, his father indicated it could take years for the scars to settle. The infant remains wary around people and becomes shy in group settings, often hiding behind his mother’s legs before gradually warming up to others.

The 33-year-old suspect, captured on CCTV leaving the park, fled overseas via Sydney Airport three days after the attack, just hours before police confirmed his identity. Queensland Police and the Australian Federal Police have issued an arrest warrant for acts intending to cause grievous bodily harm.

**The police are searching for this man who poured a thermos of scalding coffee over the infant.**
Photo Credit: Facebook / True Crime Trending

According to extradition expert Jasmina Ceic from Nyman Gibson Miralis law firm, the process to bring the suspect back to Australia could take between three to five years due to the complexity of international extradition procedures.

Published 16-November-2024

New Electric Barbecue in Hanlon Park Amidst a Wood-Fired Barbecue Phase Out

Photo Credit: Susanne Jutzeler, Schweiz/Pixabay

Hanlon Park has a new electric barbecue for Stones Corner visitors to use and enjoy amidst the phase-out of wood-fired barbecues across many Brisbane parks.

The replacements, however, have drawn complaints from some councillors who said that the removal of wood-fired barbecues could spell the end of an Australian tradition.

Reports cited that at least 300 wood-fired barbecues have been removed from Brisbane parks and replaced with either gas or electric varieties. However, the replacements have not been enough to keep pace with losses.

Cr Nicole Johnston also said that sausage sizzles taste better when grilled on a wood-fired rather than an electric or gas barbecue. She has been waiting for new barbecue equipment for her ward in Fairfield and claimed the request has been on the list for 12 years.

The complaints also cited that barbecue equipment across the parks is down to 288 from 410 in nearly a decade. Whilst Council has been spending for park improvements, barbecue equipment is not a priority on some of the parks.

However, per the Council’s official site, the facilities are available at over 420 parks and reserves but some electric equipment could be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance.

Cr Tracy Davis, the parks chairperson, said that the removal of wood-fired barbecues was asked by the locals who didn’t want to carry logs to the parks or ensure that the fires don’t put out whilst they were still having a barbecue. She also said that some parks also have cooking plates.

Hanlon Park Development and Transformation Now Complete

After more than a year of development and transformation, Hanlon Park, considered to be the heart of Stones Corner, has finally been completed. Residents now have a beautiful, new, public green space to enjoy.

The new green space boasts the following:

a meandering natural waterway to support native plants and animals
more than 462 new trees and 43,000 shrubs and groundcover plants
a nature-themed play area with a climbing tower, sand pit, water pump, swing set, balancing play features and dry creek bed to encourage imaginative play
public artworks along the waterway representing local flora

Hanlon Park was formerly a massive concrete drain. After a $21.5-million redevelopment, it is now one of the best parks in the city “with Norman Creek flowing through the park once again,” Ms Cunningham said.

The park will also be known for its Aboriginal name, Bur’uda, which means Oak Tree Forest. This area around Norman Creek was the source of food and culture for the Aboriginal people.

On Saturday, 23 July 2022, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner, alongside Councillor Fiona Cunningham, will lead the official opening of Hanlon Park along 56 Junction St, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

The weekend’s event will be free for all and will begin with a traditional custodian smoking ceremony. There will be family entertainment and information stalls in some of the areas, alongside a bake sale and BBQ.

“The opening event is a celebration inviting the local community to enjoy their new naturalised waterway, enhanced environment, recreation facilities, nature-themed play area and improved connectivity,” the Council stated.

Stage 3 Of The Hanlon Park Rejuvenation Project Now Complete

Once known for its massive concrete drain, Hanlon Park is now one of Brisbane’s best parks with Norman Creek flowing through the park once again, thanks to the recently completed Stage 3 of the Hanlon Park rejuvenation project.

Read: Proposed Towers Next To Stones Corner Roundabout Met With Opposition From Locals

The Hanlon Park rejuvenation project aims to transform Hanlon Park into an attractive and versatile public space to support the growing Stones Corner Precinct.

The major transformation has included a new nature-themed playground, flood resilient landscaping (which has held up incredibly well this year) and an underpass providing a safe connection under busy Logan Road for cyclists and pedestrians.

Logan Road underpass, which is now open, will allow continuous travel along the Norman Creek Bikeway without the need to cross a road from Tarragindi to Woolloongabba.

The nature-themed playground is close to the Stones Corner Community Kindergarten which provides natural play opportunities for children aged 0-12 years, including sliding and climbing equipment, sand play and swings, as well as shelter and seating areas for the community.

Aside from removing the concrete drain and returning Norman Creek to a natural waterway through the park, a new toilet block will also be constructed.

The toilet block will be located on the Junction Street side of Hanlon Park, between Myrtle and Oxford Streets, opposite the nature-themed play area located on the Lincoln Street side of the park.

Construction of the toilet block at Hanlon Park commenced in early March 2022 and is anticipated to be completed by mid-2022, weather and site conditions permitting. Council warned that ome areas will be temporarily fenced off for safety reasons whilst construction works take place.

Meanwhile, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said a public celebration of the major transformation will be held in the coming months.

To learn more about the Hanlon Park rejuvenation project, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au.

Stage 2 Completed for Hanlon Park Revitalisation in Stones Corner

The second stage of the Hanlon Park development in Stones Corner is done and locals may now enjoy the public park. Work on Stage 3 has also commenced with a target opening sometime in early 2022.

Cr Fiona Cunningham led the opening of Hanlon Park Stage 2 on 4 Oct 2021 along with members of the N4C Norman Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee, the families and kids of Stones Corner Kindergarten, and some residents.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner graced the opening as well and said that this green space is “quickly becoming Brisbane’s best kept secret.”

Photo Credit: Cr Fiona Cunningham/Facebook

The Hanlon Park revitalisation between Cornwall Street and O’Keefe Street in Stones Corner was included in the Norman Creek 2012-2031 Master Plan. The project, which started in mid-2020, was designed to transform a 100-year-old concrete drain into “a thriving community greenspace with a natural waterway, adventure playground, shared pathways and public art.”

“Our revitalisation of this community greenspace is quickly taking shape, with a new nature themed playground and, for the first time in about 100 years, Norman Creek is flowing through the park once again,” Mr Schrinner said.

Meanwhile, Stage 3 of Hanlon Park will run along O’Keefe Street, which will include more vegetation, shaded areas, pathways, and additional facilities. It will set the groundwork for the Brisbane Metro’s construction beginning 2022, which will include an underpass over Gladys Street.

Hanlon Park Rejuvenation Project Ready for Stage 2

Work on the Hanlon Park Rejuvenation Project in Greenslopes is moving along swiftly and will progress to the second stage soon with the completion of the nature-themed play area.

The playground off Lincoln Street is near the Stones Corner Community Kindergarten and is equipped with new sliding and climbing all abilities equipment, sand play and swings, and seating areas for groups and families.

On 11 Dec. 2020, Councillor Fiona Cunningham confirmed that the playground has re-opened with the following features:

Multi-level adventure play tower with slide and swing set
Sandpit with diggers
Water hand pump to activate water flow along the creek bed
Nature-based climbing structures
Shade sails
Paths
Natural rock creek beds

Photo Credit: Councillor Fiona Cunningham/Facebook

The open green space, however, is not yet completely ready for use for safety reasons as construction work is still taking place.

Part of the work includes ripping off a section of the concreted waterway to build a natural ecosystem.

Some 462 trees and 43,000 shrubs will also be planted all around the park to boost the greenery, which will make the Norman Creek water cleaner. Sometime in the year, the community will be asked to get involved with the planting activities.

The Hanlon Park Rejuvenation Project, which is estimated for completion by late 2021, aims to:

revitalise Norman Creek, which runs through the park
enhance the environment with more trees and natural spaces
increase recreational and social opportunities for residents and visitors
enhance connectivity and accessibility within the park and local area
boost local economic vibrancy with a new place to relax and enjoy

For concerns and questions about this project, phone the team at 1800 669 416 (business hours) or 07 3403 8888 (off business hours), or send an email through cityprojects@brisbane.qld.gov.au.