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Looking For: Operator for New Barge Service from Redcliffe to Moreton Island

Photo credit: Sarah Stewart, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The planned reactivation of a barge service that will transport passengers from Redcliffe to Moreton Island (Mulgumpin) may have to wait a little longer as the State Government opens another tender process to find a willing operator.

Despite strong community support for a new barge service between Redcliffe Peninsula and Moreton Island, the future of the proposed project is still unclear as no decision has been made yet as to who the proponent would be.

The State Government has already committed $4 million to go towards building related infrastructure that will make the project commercially viable. Specifically, the amount will fund the construction of a road to allow access to the barge landing site along with a seawall.

Several calls for a tender have already been made and whilst several proponents responded to the calls, an operator is yet to be officially named. A new invitation to offer was opened on 5 November 2021 and will close at 3:00 p.m. on 14 January 2022.

“The State is seeking offers from appropriately qualified and experienced Proponents with demonstrated experience in developing, owning and operating a commercial barge service and who are willing to establish a new service from a location on the Redcliffe Peninsula to Moreton Island (Mulgumpin),” the new invitation stated.

Combie Trader II ceased to operate beginning 2008 and since then, locals have been calling for the reinstatement of the defunct barge service. In 2017, the State Government funded a business case study and identified that the most suitable spot for the proposed project is at the northern arm of Scarborough Boat Harbor. However, other sites could also be considered depending on the outcome of the invitation to offer.

“While the initial process didn’t find a viable commercial opportunity at this location, we know there is still strong interest to potentially operate it from other sites on the peninsula,” Member for Redcliffe Yvette D’Ath said in a statement late last year.

“That’s why I’ve asked Minister Bailey and his department to expand the EOI process to see what opportunities might be available for other sites.”

Redcliffe Markets Unleash a Fa-Boo-Lous Festival of Frights

Round up the little monsters and come dressed in your scariest costumes for a fa-boo-lous Festival of Frights at the Redcliffe Markets! This spook-tacular night of fun will be packed with activities for young and old souls looking for a ghouly good time.

Happening Saturday, 30 Oct 2021, the Redcliffe Markets Festival of Frights will run from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Redcliffe Farmers and Artisan Markets on Redcliffe Parade.

Guests can expect the following fun things to do and try to entertain and delight all the ghouls and boys!

Trick Or Treating for the little monsters
Explosive display of Fireworks
Sideshow Alley for wicked prizes
Spooky decorations and stalls
Fiendishly good Street Food
Halloween inspired Jumping Castle & Face Painting
Live Music and entertainment

This is a free and safe event but you will need to register for the tickets. Paid parking will be accommodated at Pearson Park or Klinger Road.

Meanwhile, the regular Sunday market will continue at the Redcliffe Markets from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. From December to February, the summer markets will open from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Redcliffe Property Market Exhibits Double-Digit Rise

Redcliffe has shown impressive double-digit growth in the past 12 months ending June 2021, a sure sign that this Moreton Bay suburb 40 km north of Brisbane, long viewed as up-and-coming, has arrived. With its laid-back, family-friendly lifestyle, Redcliffe offers first-rate bayside living in a high-growth location that’s still relatively affordable, compared to other waterfront suburbs.

Over the years, Redcliffe’s property market has had a steady increase as more people seek the seaside and migrate to coastal towns. This peninsula, which has been undervalued for so long, is slowly coming into its own as an enviable lifestyle residential community that’s no longer just appealing to retirees. Even families and first home buyers are moving into this growing area.

From July 2020 to June 2021, the housing market in Redcliffe has performed at an impressive rate, making the property more valuable with the median house price exhibiting a 21 percent rise, according to Property Market Updates.

The uptick shows the median house price above the half-million mark at $530,000, up from $438,000 in the previous year. Redcliffe’s house listings stayed an average of 51 days on the market as an active interest in listings shook up buyers and investors.

A five-bedroom beachfront home on Prince Edward Parade was the most expensive property sold during the period ending June 2021 at $2,150,000. This lavish house with plantation shutters and an upstairs verandah overlooking the bay evokes a resort vibe.

Unit Price Growth

Redcliffe’s unit market also performed very well as the median unit price jumped by 12.50 percent, sitting at $450,000 for the period from July 2020 to June 2021. There were 247 units sold with listings staying an average of 94 days on market.

Though most buyers prefer houses over units in Redcliffe, sales activity for apartment living is still remarkable because of a sizeable market for downsizers.

About Redcliffe

Redcliffe used to be a popular beach hideaway decades ago. As other suburbs laid claim to the stature in recent years, this seaside location evolved into a residential locale, with rapidly changing infrastructure, facilities, and amenities.

Although it’s a good 40 minutes away from the bustling nightlife and other recreation or entertainment found in Brisbane’s inner-city suburbs, Redcliffe has plenty of good seafood restaurants and cafes for laidback leisure dining for families and couples.

The suburb has several bike paths and walkways, a handful of foreshore swimming pool facilities (Dolphins Fitness and Aquatic), and the beautiful Scarborough Beach Park for outdoor play with the kids.

“We moved here from Sydney 10 years ago and couldn’t be happier. It’s like living in paradise. We’ve got a water view from our unit – such affordable luxury would be out of our price range anywhere else.”
Stella Burnell, Homely

“I fell in love with Redcliffe over 20 years ago, the first time coming over the bridge. I didn’t get the chance to move here until 10 years ago, and couldn’t be happier. I love the well-maintained foreshore, beautiful lagoon area, the restaurants, and the people.”
Linda Peters, Homely

“The Government has invested heavily into the Redcliffe peninsula and this has lead to rapid gentrification over the last decade. This has encouraged developers to build waterfront luxury apartments and small business owners to open up their cafes and restaurants.”
Richardj4, Homely

Aloha Twist Brings Disney’s Iconic Dole Whip To Redcliffe

Photo credit: Aloha Twist - Dole Whip Soft Serve/Facebook

Have you always wanted to go on a Disney vacation? With all the travel restrictions going on right now, that dream may not come true anytime soon. Don’t lose hope though, because you could somehow get a taste of Disney by checking out this new food truck in Redcliffe that sells their iconic ice cream!

Read: This Famous Morningside Patisserie Is Opening A Location In Redcliffe

Dole Whip was first introduced to Walt Disney World in 1984 when it was sold at Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom. Now, it’s being sold in Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and at Dole’s processing plant in Hawaii.

But if you’re in Brisbane, you can finally get them by checking out Aloha Twist, a new mobile dessert van hitting the streets to serve up the frozen treat. This creamy, tropical, and refreshing treat does not only come in the classic pineapple flavour because Aloha Twist rotates an additional flavour each week.

Pineapple, the traditional flavour remains the most popular one. But if you want, you can also opt to combine pineapple with some of their seasonal flavours, which includes orange, cherry, raspberry, strawberry, mango, lemon, lime, cherry, and watermelon.

Pineapple and cherry Dole Whip (Photo credit: Aloha Twist – Dole Whip Soft Serve/Facebook)

This is Brisbane’s first taste of the Dole Whip, but if it looks familiar, it’s because it launched in Sydney’s Royal Easter Show at the Woolworths Fresh Food Dome and the Kids Street Giants Stadium Concours in April 2021.

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A post shared by Aloha Twist (@alohatwist)

Don’t miss this magical experience and head to the Redcliffe Markets for a serving of this iconic dessert! You can even get the chance to win Dole Whip vouchers by looking for the “lost Golden pineapple” nearby. For updates about Aloha Twist’s next locations, visit their Facebook page or follow them on Instagram.

Brisbane Festival: Join the Redcliffe Kitefest for a Safe and Fun Family Activity

Looking for a safe but fun event to do with your family at the Brisbane Festival? Drive down to Pelican Park for the Redcliffe Kitefest, a low-cost outdoor activity that will surely keep the whole family engaged.

Happening on 11 and 12 Sept 2021 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Redcliffe KiteFest will feature colourful kite displays from international and local kite flyers. Soak in the fresh air and connect with nature as you watch those dazzling and majestic kites up in the air.

The event will also feature a kite-making workshop, which will give guests the chance to learn from the experts about the proper designs and the tricks of the trade. Flying a kite can be such a relaxing activity, especially for the children, who will need to focus on what they’re doing whilst their kites fly across the open, blue sky.

Photo Credit: Redcliffe Kitefest/Instagram

Apart from the kite event, Redcliffe Kitefest will also have aerobatic displays, jet ski stunt shows, and stage performances to delight kids of all ages. Characters like Bluey and Bingo will be dancing live on the stage.

A special Kidz Zone will be installed to feature BrizBricks Lego display and workshops, face painting, jumping castles, merry-go-round, pony rides, and a petting zoo.

As with the previous Redcliffe Kitefest, market stalls and food vendors will be setting up shop at the venue.

Download the full program to see what to expect at the kite festival. Tickets have to be purchased in advance online.

Construction of Marine Parade Apartment Complex Begins

Work has started on a new apartment complex in Marine Parade, Redcliffe that features a breathtaking view of the ocean and heaps of amenities to assimilate a resort-like lifestyle.

The 124-unit complex, which will be called Mirada Suttons Beach at launch, will be divided across two eight-storey towers directly opposite Suttons Beach. The apartments have been designed with three bedrooms and a balcony for each unit.

Whilst the beach is nearby, residents may also enjoy a dip in the 25-metre swimming pool on the ground floor. Mirada Suttons Beach has been designed with various communal facilities like a gym, games room, barbecue pavilions, and lounges for socialising among the apartment neighbours.

Photo Credit: DA Tracker/Moreton Bay Council

Moreton Bay Regional Council first approved the Marine Parade block for development in 2017 but the community expressed concerns for the proposal, such as issues like traffic, noise, and privacy. After some amendments and a change in the developer, Council signed off on the plans (DA/37680/2018/VCHG/1) in 2019.

Almost 60 percent of the units have been sold with 95 percent of the owners intending to move in once the construction has finished in late 2022. Construction will be simultaneous for the two towers to limit the disturbance within the community.

Olympics Latest: Redcliffe’s Kaylee McKeown Sets New Record

Photo credit: Australian Olympic Team/Facebook

Queensland’s pride Kaylee McKeown secured a gold medal for Australia in the women’s 100-m backstroke final in her first Olympic Games foray, leaving everyone at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre in awe of her record-breaking moment.

Read: Moreton Bay Celebrates 25 Years of Whale Watching at Humpback Highway

Kaylee McKeown touched first with a time of 57.47 seconds, 0.02 seconds off her own world record. It was a close match against Canada’s Kylie Masse and USA’s Regan Smith, who finished with 57.72 seconds and 58.05 respectively. This win made her the first female in Australian history to win an Olympic gold medal in this event.

Highlights

She was born in Redcliffe and went to school at St Paul’s Lutheran Primary in Caboolture
Kaylee now joins her sister Taylor as an Olympic medalist, who represented Australia, and won 200m breaststroke gold at the 2015 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
She is coached by Chris Mooney, head coach of University of Sunshine Coast in Australia

McKeown’s gold medal is the second for Australia at Tokyo 2020, following the women’s 4×100 freestyle relay team’s victory on 25 July 2021. The team, formed by the quartet of Meg Harris, Emma McKeon, and sisters Bronte and Cate Campbell won with a record of 3.29.69, which is 0.36 seconds off their record in April 2018.

From L-R: Kylie Masse, Kaylee McKeown, and Regan Smith (Photo credit: Kaylee McGeown/Instagram)

Unique Training Cycles

Coach Chris Mooney and Mark McKean, head of physical performance at University of Sunshine Coast, designed and implemented their own training cycles, allowing McKeown and her teammates to work off a 17-day on, 4-day off schedule.

An emotional world record at the Australian Olympic Swim Trials 🇦🇺 for Kaylee McKeown!

She clocks 57.45s in the women’s 100m backstroke to take 0.12s off the existing mark, 10 months after the death of her father.@SwimmingAUS @AUSOlympicTeam @fina1908 https://t.co/FK4htVjMe2
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) June 13, 2021

This is an unusual cycle, because most swimmers will say that taking four days out of the pool is akin to sacrilege, as it only takes two days to lose their feel for the water.

But the coaches applied traditional physiological science to a new structure that they believe gives them more time to implement their programme, and also ensures that the swimmers get adequate rest.

Big Inspiration

Born in Redcliffe but now living in Sunshine Coast, the 20-year-old swimming champ dedicated this victory to her late father Sholto McKeown who died of cancer in August 2020. The tattoo on her foot, bearing the words “I’ll always be with you” was in honour of her dad.

The Olympic Games being postponed due to Covid was a ‘blessing in disguise’ as they allowed her to spend time with her father before he died.

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A post shared by Kaylee McKeown (@kaylee_mckeown)

Whenever she gets up for her backstroke starts, McKeown would see her tattoo –a reminder that her father is always with him in every match. Her father was her big inspiration and used him in the last 50 of the race to help her cross the line, knowing he’s just there.

Moreton Bay Celebrates 25 Years of Whale Watching at Humpback Highway

Did you know that it’s been 25 years since humpback highway in Moreton Bay became a favourite tourist destination for whale watching? The region has recently re-opened this annual winter spectacular.

In early June 2021, Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe and State Member for Redcliffe Yvette D’Ath joined Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Peter Flannery aboard the MV Eye Spy, one of the vessels from Brisbane Whale Watching, to officially open this year’s whale watching season. The vessel took the officials around Moreton Bay for some sightseeing and to potentially spot a trail of humpback whales in the water.

Mr Hinchcliffe said that Brisbane Whale Watching, the only whale watching provider in the region, has been a shining example of resilience as Queensland rebuilds from the pandemic fallout.

“It was terrific to see Captain Kerry take the first booking of our Brisbane Holiday Dollars initiative and then benefit from a further 650 bookings, as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s Economic Recovery Plan,” the minister said.

Before the pandemic, humpback highway received over 1.5 million tourists a year both from international and interstate locations. With international borders still under restriction, Mr Hinchcliffe hopes that locals will take advantage of this opportunity to reconnect with the magnificence that happens in Moreton Bay every June to November.

On the other hand, Mayor Flannery said some 30,000-plus humpback whales are expected to turn out the coast.

“We’re hoping for one of our biggest whale watching seasons yet. Moreton Bay waters off Redcliffe are the home-run on the east coast humpback highway and the place to see these wonderful creatures at their playful and entertaining best,” the mayor said.

MV Eye Spy Captain Kerry Lopez said that the number of humpback whales has grown from 2,000 to 33,000 when they first started the tours in 1996.

“Seeing a whale on TV is nothing like the power of seeing these majestic animals in real life, we regularly get grown adults crying and saying it’s one of the best things they’ve seen in their life, it’s a real bucket list thing to do.”

Bookings are highly encouraged for the tours amidst COVID-safe circumstances. The tours depart from the Redcliffe Jetty.

Paraplegic Scarborough Resident on the Road to Recovery with NDIS Support

Robert Van Kuyl, a 65-year-old paraplegic and Scarborough resident, is on the road to recovery, with goals set to be out of his wheelchair by Christmas.

After a helicopter accident in 2018, Robert was left paralysed and unable to walk, but with the help of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, or NDIS, he is finally gaining strength and aims to be out of his wheelchair by the end of 2021.

The 65-year-old Scarborough resident regularly exercises to improve his strength and his ability to walk with crutches. With the aid of his NDIS support workers, Robert is able to regularly exercise and build up his muscles to help him navigate and maneuver around.

“My support worker drives me to exercise therapy at Burleigh where I do my two-hour training session,” said Robert. “The job they do there is amazing; they push you in that gym and the improvements are mind-blowing.”

“I can now stand up in the kitchen and get food ready for cooking independently, can walk 30 metres and getting even better over the last year; I couldn’t do a leg press when I started, but now I can do a 55 kilogram leg press.”

Robert’s daily routine starts with him performing stretches in the morning with the aid of his supports, who then accompany him and help him do the rounds as he goes to see his friends, do some gardening, and go to hydrotherapy. As part of his exercises, Robert also busies himself with the pool and weight training.

Exercise alone wasn’t enough to help Robert recover, as he had also received a stem cell transplant in Germany in 2018. “The stem cells have opened enough doors to make my life better than it was four years ago, with my exercise therapy helping too,” he commented.

With the aid of his NDIS supports, Robert has managed to adapt and become strong enough to step in and out of his motorhome and have a hand walker to help him walk around. Now, his goal is to be able to get in and out using only crutches.

Robert received help to apply for, and make use of his NDIS funding from Carers Queensland’s NDIS Local Area Coordination Partner in the Community Program for the Moreton Bay region. To learn more about the NDIS, visit their website here. Follow their social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest on the services they can provide, as well as any other relevant events, dates, and exciting updates.

You’re Invited to ‘Utopia! And the Caravan Calamity’ at the Redcliffe Museum

Save the date and book some seats! On the 15th of May 2021, Observatory Theatre’s all-new production “Utopia! And the Caravan Calamity” will be played at Redcliffe Museum. The best part? It’s all free!

Featuring a curious combination of tap dancing, interactive performers, gypsy jazz music, slapstick comedy, and dramatic eye-popping visuals, “Utopia! And the Caravan Calamity” aims to take full advantage of Redcliffe Museum’s new steampunk-themed exhibit, aptly titled “Brain Child”, which celebrates outlandish inventions and sheer imagination.

Co-director Rory Cooper remarks that the world created within the show offers a heart-warming story of mateship and cooperation that will immerse the audience and rope them into the experience.

“Audiences should expect to be immediately immersed into the world as some very skilled and enthusiastic actors embark on this journey,” says Mr Cooper. “The performance will take audiences on an adventure that is fun for the whole family.”

The story follows a group of oddballs on a faraway planet traveling aboard a rickety caravan towards paradise. Things don’t go as planned as the caravan collapses en route and the group is left stranded in a desolate wasteland. The only way out is to work together.

Observatory Theatre director Lachlan Driscoll and choreographer Kara Fisher created “Utopia! And the Caravan Calamity.” The production also features set design by The Black Box Collective.

Book a free ticket for the show on the 15th of May 2021 by visiting this website. The performance will run from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Observatory Theatre is an up-and-coming theatre company that aims to create meaningful and vibrant experiences for the audience in ways that conventional theatres do not. They specialise in transporting the audience into the world of their productions, making for interactive and immersive experiences that bend the boundaries of traditional theatre. To learn more about Observatory Theatre, visit their website here. Follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on deals, dates, events, and other special announcements concerning their productions.

Redcliffe Museum is at 75 Anzac Ave, Redcliffe.