toowong Archives - Page 8 of 15

Cyclist Sought for Questioning in Five-Year Car Scratching Spree along Sylvan Rd in Toowong

Police are intensifying efforts to identify and locate a cyclist believed to be a person of interest in a series of car-scratching incidents that have plagued Sylvan Road in Toowong for the past five years.

The picturesque road, a favourite among cyclists as it connects two significant bikeways, has been marred by over 20 cases of vehicular damage.

Authorities are urging residents and car owners who have parked their vehicles on Sylvan Road since 2018 to come forward if their cars have been scratched. This plea for information comes as investigators strive to gather any and all leads related to the case.

“Initial information indicates vehicles parked along Sylvan Road have been scratched along the side in a series of incidents since 2018,” shared the police in a recent statement. The deliberate act of scratching vehicles has led to numerous wilful damage reports, leaving car owners both perplexed and frustrated by the ongoing issue.

In a potential breakthrough, law enforcement officials have released photographs of an individual they seek to question regarding the spate of car scratching occurrences. The man, who is often seen cycling in the vicinity, is deemed a person of interest who “may be able to assist with ongoing investigations,” according to the police statement.

Authorities are actively seeking assistance from the public to identify the individual in question. Anyone who recognizes the cyclist or possesses any relevant information is urged to come forward to aid in the ongoing investigation.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

Published 22-Aug-2023

Fitstop Brings Own Brand of Fitness to Toowong

Photo Credit: Fitstop Toowong/Facebook

Fitstop, a popular functional fitness franchise with over 100 locations across Australia, has officially opened in Toowong.

Fitstop’s new tenancy, specially constructed to meet their needs, officially opened on 27 May 2023.

The fitness guru’s long-term lease commitment adds to the growing list of tenants at the commercial building owned by Helmsman Invest on 530 Milton Rd.

“This site offers us superb exposure and superior car parking for our members. We were attracted to the building as the car parking is located right beside the club, providing our customers with the most convenient access,” Luke Beauchamp, a representative from Fitstop, said.

Mr Beauchamp also highlighted the added convenience for Fitstop’s members due to the nearby Cat and Fiddle Deli Café and other retail shops directly opposite Milton Road.

In addition to the prime location and convenience factors, Fitstop is also looking forward to the building refurbishment undertaken by Helmsman Invest, which will ensure members have a classy building to visit.

Helmsman Invest purchased the building in September 2022 and immediately began planning a comprehensive revitalisation project. The refurbishment aims to transform the property into a modern and attractive space for its tenants and visitors alike.

Bernie McKeering, the Managing Director of Helmsman Invest, expressed his delight at securing Fitstop on a long-term lease.

“Fitstop has become a serious brand in the fitness industry, and we are delighted to have secured them for our property,” he said.

Mr McKeering also highlighted the ongoing success of Arthur Conias Real Estate, which operates a successful agency over part levels one and two of the building, and has also signed a new long-term lease.

The refurbishment plans for the building are well underway, with landscaping improvements, a fresh paint job, new tenant signage, and enhanced shopfronts being part of the renovation project. The iconic awning structure at the front of the property will be retained but undergo a remodel to enhance its appeal.

The 530 Milton Rd property already boasts other popular tenants, including the Bangkok Milton Restaurant and the Toowong Fish Market.

Published 19-June-2023

Legends Lunch in Toowong: Laughter, Secrets, and Bucket List Dreams Come True

The Legends Lunch hosted by Triple M Brisbane was certainly one for the books. With NRL greats such as Gorden Tallis and Wendell Sailor, football and TV legend Paul “Fatty” Vautin, and the King himself, Wally Lewis, all in attendance, it was a capacity crowd at the Regatta Hotel in Toowong.

Hosted by Dan Anstey and Liam Flanagan, the lunch was a riot of laughter and inside stories, with Margaux Parker and Greg “Marto” Martin also holding court. Even phones were confiscated before the lunch, with Mr Sailor being caught shedding a tear as his was taken away.

But it wasn’t just all laughs and legends. The event also had a special bucket list surprise for one lucky attendee. Jo Boon, a big footy fan and acute care nurse who is fighting motor neuron disease (MND), had always dreamed of meeting Mr Vautin. That became a reality at the Legends Lunch.

Following her MND diagnosis in October 2019, Ms. Boon’s life shifted within a matter of weeks. She quickly became unable to speak and then developed muscle aches and cramps that impacted her mobility. Despite battling MND, she managed to raise money for MND Queensland for three years and counting, and has been an inspiration to others.

It was a heartwarming moment that reminded everyone of the power of sport and the importance of making someone’s day a little bit brighter. Plus, to top off an already unforgettable event, the musical guest was none other than ARIA Music Hall of Famer Ian Moss.

It’s safe to say that the Legends Lunch is now on the bucket list of every Triple M listener in Brisbane, and who knows what surprises they’ll have in store next year.

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A post shared by Triple M Brisbane 104.5 (@triplembrisbane)

Published 6-May-2023

Toowong Has One of the Highest Numbers of Complaints About Unmanaged Vehicles

Did you know that Toowong ranks among the suburbs with the most complaints about unmanaged vehicles, specifically abandoned, unsightly, hazardous, or unregistered vehicles, alongside Coorparoo, Moorooka, New Farm and Rocklea?

For a 14-month period from January 2022, Brisbane City Council has received over 9,100 complaints and removed 280 of these vehicles, including trailers, utility vehicles, vans, caravans/campervans, and trucks.

According to a council spokeswoman, parking registered trailers, caravans and even boats on the road is permissible as long as the owners abide by road rules, parking signs and any other rules applicable to the location. However, road parking for unregistered vehicles is unlawful.

The Heavy and Long Vehicle Local Law 1999 specifies that vehicles over 7.5 metres long should not be parked within 100 meters of any residential area, or for more than one hour, unless parked according to a permissive parking sign. However, some exceptions may apply to broken-down vehicles and those used for delivering goods, undertaking construction or maintenance, or carrying out emergency work.

Council has tasked personnel to remove abandoned, unsightly, or unregistered vehicles as soon as possible, especially if these may impact public safety. Council will also attempt to identify the owner of these unmanaged vehicles and work with them to achieve voluntary compliance.

Locals have told the “Afternoons” show that this parking issue is widespread across South East Queensland. Some expressed leasing out their garages for someone to use as a bedroom and park their cars on the street.

Other locals mentioned that they could not park by their front gates because they do not own that area, whilst some complained that Council painted yellow lines in front of their houses, preventing them from parking in front of their homes.

Another resident shared that people park in their driveway as if it’s public property, and they had to tow these cars away.

Published 29-April-2023

Lesley Trotter Case: ‘Items of Interest’ Discovered At Rubbish Tip Not Linked to Toowong Woman

Heaps of “items of interest” found at a waste site in Swanbank in Ipswich have been confirmed as unrelated to Lesley Trotter, the 78-year-old Toowong woman whose disappearance in late March has prompted a massive police search.

Investigators said that the preliminary examination of the items of interest discovered at the rubbish tip were not tied to the ongoing investigations and that efforts to find Ms Trotter’s body will continue.

The Toowong woman disappeared on 28 March 2023 while her wallet, mobile phone and car were still at home. The police believe that she was killed around midnight and her body was dumped inside a wheelie bin, which was collected and compacted at two possible landfill sites.

Police started their search in Swanbank, where 3,000 tonnes of waste had to be sifted thoroughly, using rakes and other tools, from a landfill measuring 30 centimetres deep. Until her body is recovered, the police plan to examine over 200 tonnes of rubbish daily. Det Supt Massingham said that the process might take more than three weeks. Once recovered, Ms Trotter’s remains will still undergo forensic examination.

Meanwhile, Ms Trotter’s neighbours told “A Current Affair” that she was always “out and about” in their neighbourhood despite her age. They said they were shocked to learn about the strange circumstances surrounding her death.

“Toowong’s a very nice suburb (with) a lot of affluent people and properties,” said one neighbour, Kirby. “(It’s) very scary to think about what the sinister implications could be of this case.”

Ms Trotter was planning to move to a retirement facility after selling her unit, where she had lived for over 40 years.

Published 24-April-2023

Stuartholme School To Represent Australia In First Rugby Heritage Cup In France

Did you know that Stuartholme School in Toowong has been selected as the only girls’ school in Australia to compete in the inaugural Rugby Heritage Cup 2023 to be held in France in September?

Read: Brisbane Boys’ College Named State Champion At 2023 Tennis Queensland Primary Schools Cup

The announcement was met with excitement and anticipation as the 12 students from Years 8 and 9 prepare to compete against 24 international teams in Pontlevoy, France, in the week leading up to the Rugby World Cup.

Dan Crump, Principal at Stuartholme School, expressed pride in the school’s Rugby Sevens program, which was introduced only in 2020. He mentioned that the girls who have a passion for rugby and are prepared to compete will be given the opportunity to participate in the tournament.

Rugby Heritage Cup — Photo credit: Stuartholme School (official)/Facebook

“This is certainly an unprecedented sporting event,” said Mr Crump.

“Over the coming weeks we will be selecting our team based on their exceptional athletic ability and ready them for this epic tournament on the world stage.”

The school’s French heritage, coupled with the tournament’s celebration of the 200th anniversary of Rugby, makes this a momentous occasion for the school. The Society of the Sacred Heart, an international congregation of Catholic religious women established by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat in France in 1800, operates Stuartholme School.

About the Rugby Heritage Cup

The 2023 Rugby Heritage Cup, which will take place in Pontlevoy, France one week before the 2023 Rugby World Cup kick-off, is the first-ever world tournament for school rugby world for boys and girls.

To qualify for the tournament, the 12 players must be under 15 years of age and born between 8 September 2008 and 7 September 2010. They will be accompanied by three team officials on their trip.

Read: Toowong’s Max Harding Named Brisbane’s Best Hockey Player

The Stuartholme students will travel with Iona College, the Australian representative schoolboys’ team.

Published 20-April-2023

Lesley Trotter Update: Missing Toowong Woman’s Body Dumped in Bin Collected By Rubbish Truck

Investigators from the Queensland Police Service are convinced that the body of the missing Toowong woman, Lesley Trotter, was dumped inside a wheelie bin, which was collected by a rubbish truck on the day of her disappearance.

After almost two weeks of investigations, the focus has shifted to locating her body in two possible dump sites in Rosedale and Swanbank, now under quarantine. The truck first took the bins to the Nudgee transfer station, where wastes are usually compressed before being taken to the dump sites.

The police could not yet say how they were convinced the Toowong woman has died. According to reports, traces of blood were discovered in the bin area of Ms Trotter’s unit complex in Toowong. Forensic samples were taken for further examination.

“It was evident she was deceased. Due to the positioning of the body, we can’t rule out foul play,” Queensland Police Detective Superintendent Andrew Massingham said.

Two crime scenes were set up close to her unit block in Merivale St, Toowong. Police have not ruled out the possibility that the 78-year-old’s disappearance may be tied to a neighbourhood recycling dispute.

Ms Trotter was last in touch with her family before noon on 27 March 2023. They called the police when they did not find her at home during their visit the next day.

When the police checked, they discovered that Ms Trotter left her mobile and wallet behind. Also, her car was still in the garage. A large-scale search then followed.

Despite finding no traces of a body, senior officers of the investigation concluded on 7 April 2023 that Ms Trotter, may have died close to her Toowong unit on Maryvale St between midnight on Monday, 27 March, and midday on Tuesday, 28 March.

“Two crime scenes have been established at the Maryvale Street unit complex where Lesley resides,” the QPS said. “Police appeal to anyone with relevant dashcam vision or CCTV, particularly between 5am and 7am on Tuesday, March 28, to come forward.”

Mr Massingham said during the press conference that Ms Trotter was in the habit of sorting through her neighbours’ rubbish bins to recycle waste.

“Whether that’s created some angst amongst the tenants, we’re working through that at the moment,” Mr Massingham said. “That’s one line of inquiry we’re following. We have not ruled out that this activity in some way is linked to her death.”

Ms Trotter, a retired teacher, was looking forward to moving to a retirement village.

Published 9-April-2023

Starbucks With Drive-thru Part Of Proposed Upgrade of Ampol Toowong

Did you know that there could soon be a new Starbucks stand-alone drive-thru cafe at the Ampol servo on Milton Road in Toowong?

Read: Inside West Brisbane’s New Cafes Mis.spelt And Riser Bread

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.

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.

If approved, the new servo will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Read: Where To Go In Toowong For Sweet And Savoury Treats

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.

Published 12-March-2023

Toowong Women’s Homelessness Service Creates an Equitable Future for Rebuilding Individuals

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.”

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.

Learn more about Toowong Women’s Homelessness Service by visiting Anglicare’s official site.

Published 8 March 2023

Steps Taken to Acquire Toowong Green Bridge Landing Site

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.”

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.