TfA Project Group, on behalf of Ampol, has submitted plans to upgrade the servo, located at 581 Milton Road, Toowong. The 2,817sqm site is currently used as a service station with supporting workshops, but with the recently lodged proposal, it could be transformed into a service station with food and drink outlets.
The coffee shop, to be located at the northern boundary of the site, will only be 78sqm and will feature a drive-thru.
Photo credit: TfA Project Group
The proposal also includes the removal of the existing building and associated structures to provide for the construction of a modern service station with a new 135 sqm pay point retail building.
Also designed by the TfA Project Group, the servo will have a double drive-thru with the ability to stack 14 vehicles for the food and drink outlet, along with 11 car parks and a loading bay and service yard.
Subject site (Photo credit: Google Street View)
“The development site will incorporate new areas of landscaping and a higher quality of built form and modern design, which will enhance the overall appearance of the site,” planners at TfA Project Group stated.
“The modern convenience offers within both the service station building and attached food and drink will better service the local community needs of surrounding businesses,” planning documents read.
Photo credit: TfA Project Group
If approved, the new servo will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
At present, there are only six Starbucks stores in Brisbane: South Brisbane, Myer Centre at Queen St, Grey St at South Bank, Festival Towers, Edward St, and one at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Woolloongabba.
Did you know that the Toowong Women’s Homelessness Service, an Anglicare organisation, has been supporting thousands of women who are rebuilding their lives after experiencing homelessness?
Assisting women over 18 years old, the Toowong Women’s Homelessness Service provides temporary accommodation for parents, pregnant mums, or those working towards reunification. The help offered also creates an equitable future as the women rediscover their self-worth to motivate their improvement in life.
The team at the holistic service facility teaches the women to develop positive parenting skills or to sustain their tenancies by following a trauma-informed recovery-oriented, strengths-based case management framework. For a lot of these women, it’s the very first time they find themselves on a lease.
Anglicare’s Community properties open the opportunity for homeless women to have access to affordable housing for up to six months, alongside continued support and case management as they wait for a new home.
“We provide them with a place to stay as they have some stability and someone to work with who understands the challenges that they might go through,” Anglicare Women’s Homelessness Service Manager Carol Birrell said.
“An important part of our role is supporting people while they are waiting for housing because it is hard for people to wait and not know where they’ll be living, or what space and location they have to build their life around in terms of connecting with doctors or psychologists.”
Photo Credit: Supplied
The Toowong Women’s Homelessness Service also runs the Women’s Early Intervention Service which is an outreach program designed at assisting at-risk women and to help connect them with vital support services.
Ms Birrell said homelessness is such a complex issue which can spiral into a domino effect.
“The reality is that we’ve had women here that have had jobs and rentals and it can sometimes only take an event in their life which challenges them to reach out to services to seek support, and it’s not necessarily a loss of property or it could be a loss of property or something else, but that might not be the first thing,” Ms Birrell said.
“It’s like the chicken or the egg. Which one comes first? Is it the issues that were going on in that property or relationship or mental health? What is the reason? It’s not always the loss of property, but it might end in a loss of property, but that might not be the first thing.”
In observance of International Women’s Day on 8 March 2023, Ms Birrell said the theme of embracing equity resonated with her and her team as it’s all about supporting those who are most vulnerable and ensuring they have the same opportunities as everyone else regardless of their background and upbringing.
“I think the significant thing Anglicare has done for women is that we have identified the need to do more for women and it’s about women working with women and trying to see them in a better position in life,” Ms Birrell said.
Despite a pause in the construction of the West End-Toowong Green Bridge project, steps have now been undertaken to acquire a portion of the property owned by the Consolidate Properties Group along Coronation Drive in Toowong as it will become the bridge’s landing site.
The developer has plans to build a residential complex near the West End-Toowong Green Bridge project. However, roughly 2,365 square metres of the 1.2-hectare apartment development will need to be resumed to the government for the green bridge.
The Toowong landing site will be built on the southeast corner of the property near the Middenbury House. The plans indicate that the area will include a small riverside park with seating and landscaping. The landing site is also going to connect to Archer Street via walking and riding routes, allowing bikers to ride toward the Bicentennial Bikeway from Coronation Drive.
“We have paused our two green bridges connecting to West End while we concentrate on Brisbane’s rebuild and recovery following the devastating floods,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said in a statement.
“However, we remain committed to building these two bridges which are strongly supported by local residents.
“Buying the Toowong location now so it is available when we are ready to proceed just makes sense.
“While this is just a small section of the site, the riverside property isn’t going to get cheaper in the long term so making this purchase now is in the best interests of ratepayers.”
Photo Credit: BCC
Council’s move to acquire the land has downplayed fears that the pause on the West End-Toowong Green Bridge project would be permanent. However, Schrinner also said that Council is working to secure funding for the project.
The preliminary business case for the West End-Toowong Green Bridge project cites that mobility will be much improved in this part of the city once it’s completed.
Meanwhile, a West End-St Lucia green bridge construction has also been paused as funding needs to be secured.
Did you know that Josie North, a popular breakfast and brunch place at the Clements Arcade in Toowong is now operating on extended hours three nights a week as a wine bar?
Matt Roggenkamp, the owner of Josie North, has introduced the wine bar concept to his specialty-coffee destination after realising that Toowong was missing such pleasure. In fact, a customer once kidded Roggenkamp that he should host wine nights at the coffee shop.
From Thursday to Saturday, the coffee shop opens late to serve vino from small-scale producers in Australia, France, and Italy. At least six bottles are on regular rotation and can be ordered by the glass, like Fistful of Flowers Vermentino from Momento Mori or Bloody Hill shiraz from Mayer.
Once in a while, however, the wine list will have rare bottles for returning diners who may be on the lookout for something new.
Photo Credit: JosieNorth/Facebook
As for the food, the wine bar offers a small selection on the menu, such as ‘nduja toast with tomato and basil oil, burrata with broad bean and herbs, or the chicken cotoletta with Italian slaw and truffle hot sauce. Though short on choices, these flavourful food go well with the wine list.
Josie North’s layout and seating arrangements remain the same for wine nights, except with dimmer lights and louder relaxing music. Though coffee is still its star product, the after-dark crowd has embraced this refreshing change so far.
“Love this Cafe. A bit hidden away in the back of an arcade type alley so can easily miss it, but the coffee they serve here is always high quality. Service is impeccable.”
James Cameron
“A must try if you’re in the area! The customer service was exceptional, as was the iced oat latte and avocado smash! Will definitely be back!”
Jack Smith
“A nice little spot for speciality coffee and a quick catch up. Had a share serving of the filter coffee with a friend. Would recommend sitting inside on very sunny days as the outside/walkway seating can get fairly warm from the skylights.”
A new Woolworths site has finally opened at the Toowong Village on Sherwood Rd five years after the supermarket chain closed its stand-alone outlet on the opposite side of the road.
The 4,000-sqm location, which officially welcomed shoppers on the 7th of December 2022, offers the full line and will have about 100 staff members to assist the customers. It’s the first new supermarket to open in Brisbane’s inner west after more than a decade.
In 2017, the old Woolworths opposite Toowong Village, which had been one of the very first supermarkets in the precinct, had to permanently close as the property was up for redevelopment as a multi-level residential and commercial centre.
Toowong Village, which recently revamped its retail lineup, has Coles on the ground floor and just welcomed The Source, a grocery store for bulk purchases. The shopping centre has two Asian supermarkets as well, Hanamart and Fresco.
For the first time in 36 years, Toowong Village also upgraded its travelators and glass lifts to improve accessibility, especially for its senior customers.
The refurbishments and update come as Coles is also in the midst of an inner west expansion with Coles Local in Taringa and plans lodged for Bardon and Milton.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Woolworths Toowong has taken over the space formerly occupied by David Jones at the gallery level of the shopping centre.
The supermarket includes a new onsite bakery that serves freshly-baked bread, gourmet pastries and bespoke cakes. The outlet also features a large deli section and a sushi bar from Sushi Izu.
Woolworths Toowong is open as early as 7:00 a.m. amidst the Christmas rush. Incidentally during this holiday season, Toowong Village is offering ticketless free parking for the first three hours effective the 1st of December 2022.
Absolutely incredible, words cannot describe how delighted I am for Woolworths to bless me with it’s presence, I have been counting down the days and staying up all night in anticipation for the opening. And Woolworths has delivered above and beyond, absolutely pogchamp, to say the least.
Angus
Beautifully presented store with really fresh produce and friendly staff. Smaller floor area than Woolworths Indooroopilly yet surprisingly had items I can’t find at Indro. Makes the Coles downstairs look like a Bi-Lo (sorry Coles!)
Nick
I have been looking forward to this Woolworths since it was announced. So excited to see it finally open and be just as good as I imagined. Very well presented store that I will be going to everytime I need groceries.
Brisbane Boys’ College Pipe Band One and Pipe Band Two delivered solid, memorable performances at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2022, where they placed firmly amongst the best, earning top places in a gruelling competition against other bands from Canada, USA, Mexico, Switzerland, and New Zealand.
BBC’s Pipe Band One clinched second place Division 4A, against a combination of adult and schoolboy bands in the competition, whilst the Pipe Band Two came away with a creditable fifth place in Division 4B.
The competition, held as part of a series during the Edinburgh Festivals in August, was televised across 40 countries and followed by over 220,000 people who watch the spectacular live production every year.
Pomp and pageantry at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Photo Credit: https://www.army.mod.uk/
The 2022 production saw 800 performers from around the world come together again at the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade in Scotland, after a two-year hiatus brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
A selection of BBC Old Boys playing at the Royal Edimburgh Military Tattoo 2022 Photo Credit: Facebook/BBCPipeBand
This year’s theme was ‘Voices,’ aptly chosen to demonstrate that the world is closely connected through music, song, and dance despite cultural differences and geographical distances.
World-Class Pipe Band
Mr Andre Casson, headmaster at Brisbane Boys’ College, couldn’t be more proud of the boys.
“In addition to the Tattoo shows, BBC involvement in key championships continued and resulted in a final total of nine trophies. Our Pipe Band, along with 145 bands from across the globe, competed for the top prize at the World Championships at Glasgow Green in front of 40,000 spectators,” Headmaster Casson said.
“This event marks the pinnacle of the pipe band competitions and was the culmination of months of dedicated practice from our boys under the indefatigable guidance of our brilliant director, Mr Stevie Stanley assisted by Mr Liam Cox, and Mr Aidan Scott,” he added.
The College Pipe Bands put on an impressive show, with the BBC Number Two band placing sixth and the BBC Number One band placing third at the World Championships.
These trophies were added to ones already won at the North Berwick Highland Games, where both bands achieved first place in their respective grades and also won the drumming.
The Number One band also secured first place in Division 4A and the Number Two band secured fourth place in Division 4B at the Bridge of Allan Highland Games.
“Although located on the other side of the world, BBC embodies the spirit of Scotland, not just in the foundations of our Presbyterian and Methodist Church organisation, but in the evocative sounds of the Pipe Band where ‘our Hunting MacLean tartan speaks of our origin, the drum line our heartbeat, and the bagpipes our voice,” Mr Casson said.
Maintaining a Culture of Excellence
Photo Credit: Facebook/BBCPipeBand
“This success is made all the more remarkable since the boys were able to maintain a full academic program, being taught during the day by school staff,” Mr Casson said.
“We are immensely proud of each and every one of our boys for sustaining such a high level of performance and commitment and for representing the College so well on a global stage.”
The BBC Pipe Band will be performing with local musicians and dancers, featuring a night of Scottish musical entertainment, at the “Sounds of Scotland” outdoor concert on Saturday, 12 November 2022.
There will be an array of refreshments, a BBQ, and an interesting line-up of stalls with Scottish wares at the event which will be held at the Brisbane Boys’ College Junior School Green.
The discovery of more than 20 mutilated and decapitated animals, including a koala and a Border Collie, in Anzac Park has caused much distress among Toowong residents. A police investigation is underway.
The RSPCA and the Queensland Police Service are already investigating and scouring a number of CCTV footage around Anzac Park after Council workers found dumped plastic bags two 44-litre drums on the scene. The bags and drums contained the remains of the animals, which were discovered on the evening of Thursday, 28 July 2022.
The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and a scientific unit have also been called to investigate, where an established zone was determined for testing. However, the tests have not returned any significant readings.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner condemned the sick act and said he’s “saddened, disturbed and appalled” by the discovery. The Council workers who stumbled upon the remains have been offered counselling. Anyone with information or leads may also contact QPS or Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.
“Hurting defenceless animals usually escalates to hurting humans. Please, if anyone knows who is responsible for this, please contact the police,” a local said.
Most visitors to Anzac Park, however, were mostly unaware of the discovery as activities around the area have remained normal by the weekend. Anzac Park has dense bushland in the northern boundary with heaps of beautiful Queenslander homes in its surrounding.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
The maximum penalty for an individual convicted of cruelty to animals is $275,700 or 3 years imprisonment under the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001. However, the offender may also serve seven years in prison under the Criminal Code Act 1899 for severe animal cruelty.
Residents in Toowong were unnerved by the sight of bulldozers at a large vacant lot by the old theological college along Elizabeth St, where workers apparently cut down and cleared a number of Eucalypt trees believed to be over 350 years old.
The site, comprising 4,307 square metres of natural habitat for birds and other wildlife, does not seem to be covered by a development application yet but it was sold in March 2022 by Savills.
Touted as a “significant land holding” for six adjoining lots, the location is within the Low-Density Residential Zone of the Indooroopilly District Neighbourhood Plan.
No VPO for the properties?
Locals believe the lots are currently not under a protected mapping overlay and residents think that the clearing allegedly received verbal approval from Council.
Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkan said he previously alerted Council regarding the sale of the six lots when it was advertised. He said he wrote the Lord Mayor asking to purchase the land using the Bushland Acquisition Fund. However, Mr Berkman was told that the property is not a “significant natural asset.”
“Because our laws don’t automatically protect trees of historical significance, the clearing was likely lawful (although still inappropriate),” Mr Berkman said.
“I own the property in Elizabeth Street directly opposite this land. From 1962 this was part of my childhood playground. Elizabeth Street had not been pushed through to Emerson Street until the 1970s. I was told a bulldozer was there, and went to check on Sunday. I am devastated by the destruction of these ancient trees..the birds were standing silently on the shredded remains of their homes,” neighbouring property owner Melissa McGhie said in a comment on a post in the Toowong and District Historical Society group page.
Botanist confirms trees were centuries old
Meanwhile, a botanist who has worked on the trees found data showing that they were over three centuries old, and would have likely qualified as a “significant natural asset.”
“This is going to come as a shock. I am the botanist that made the initial estimate of the age of this tree. I was basing my estimate of around 144 years old for this eucalyptus on some general data found on the internet, but new information has come to light and it is actually closer to 350 years old,” said Rob Price.
Photo Credit: Rob Price/Facebook
“My original estimate was based on some data from eucalypt plantation growth rates of a different species in a different location, not for tallowwood growth rates, and not in the local context specifically. I’ve just been able to obtain a paper from Queensland’s foremost eucalypt expert about the growth rates of specific species of eucalypts in the SE QLD context and my revised estimate is that this tallowwood was about 350 years old based on a 0.41cm annual diameter growth rate.”
“So this tree actually predates Captain Cook’s charting of the east coast of Australia by 108 years as it germinated around the year 1672. Let that sink in.
“It is only replaceable on a 350-year timescale, so it will be the year 2372 before a sapling in the neighbourhood reaches this size. So it was a sapling during the American revolutionary war and predates the US constitution by 11 years.”
Mr Price urges locals to contact Councillor Mackay at Walter.Taylor.Ward@bcc.qld.gov.au and the Lord Mayor at lord.mayor@brisbane.qld.gov.au regarding the razing of old trees, whilst Mr Berkman urged locals to nominate a VPO “if there are any trees that you think should be protected.”
“While a VPO won’t necessarily stop developers from being able to chop it down, it adds a layer of protection in cases like this where there is no development application,” the MP said.
The Centenary Motorway, which stretches from Frederick St in Toowong to Ipswich Mtwy in Darra, could receive some much-needed upgrades soon, to help increase traffic flow in the area, through a $10-million masterplan.
This comes after the Department of Transport and Main Roads announced that they are updating previous planning for the Centenary Motorway between Toowong and Darra.
The high volumes of traffic between the Ipswich Motorway interchange in the south and Toowong in the north result in road congestion and poor trip reliability and road safety.
The masterplan, which already received a $10million commitment from the Federal Government, will involve outlining measures to improve safety, travel-time reliability and efficiency on an arterial road. It will also identify the most effective “staging approach’’ to deliver the motorway upgrade.
Additional options to improve capacity along the motorway might include intersection and on-ramp and off-ramp improvements, implementing smart freeway technology, and road widening.
Groups, especially the RACQ, welcomed the announcement given that they have been campaigning for the said upgrades to the section for several years now.
Gregory Miszkowycz, traffic and safety engineering manager at RACQ, said the section of the thoroughfare is one of the slowest highway commutes in southeast Queensland.
Photo credit: Google Street View
According to RACQ, it’s the Brisbane road with the lowest inbound peak hour speed, with vehicles moving at an average speed of 39.9 km/h on the motorway.
With regard to the planned Centenary Motorway upgrades, TMR said it would be upgraded in stages as funding becomes available.
“When completed, the fully upgraded motorway will cater for the transport demands along the corridor in the medium to long-term with upgrades focusing on safety, improving travel-times, and active transport facilities,” TMR announced.
For more information about the Centenary Motorway upgrades, visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au
Motorists are advised to plan their travels as the Legacy Way Tunnel in Toowong will be closed for all traffic on specific days and times in March 2022, due to planned roadworks across Brisbane.
Toll has also resumed on Monday, 7 March on public transport and council-operated toll roads, including Legacy Way, after it was announced for free from 3 Mar- 6 Mar, to help Brisbane residents in the clean-up efforts brought by the devastating flood.
See the date and time of upcoming planned roadworks:
Works
Date and Time
Legacy Way eastbound tunnel closure
16-17 March, 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Legacy Way tunnel closure both directions:
19 March, 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Legacy Way westbound tunnel closure:
14-15 March, 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.
Linkt Brisbane regularly carry out maintenance on the roads and tunnels and while they do their best to avoid disruptions, sometimes temporary traffic changes are needed to keep everyone safe.
“In the event of adverse weather conditions or other delays, works will be postponed to the next available shift,” Linkt stated in its website.
