From animated family fun to new Australian stories and nostalgic throwbacks, Moreton Bay cinemas are screening a strong mix of fresh releases. Here’s what’s showing across the region this weekend.
March 27
A Working Man Venues: Bribie Cinema, Event Cinemas – North Lakes, Event Cinemas – Strathpine, Limelight Cinemas – Morayfield, HOYTS – Redcliffe A timely Australian drama exploring resilience, family, and the cost of hard work. Event Info
Looney Tunes: The Day the Earth Blew Up Venues: Event Cinemas – North Lakes, Event Cinemas – Strathpine, Limelight Cinemas – Morayfield, HOYTS – Redcliffe A brand-new, full-length Looney Tunes adventure with cosmic chaos and familiar faces. Event Info
Oh Canada Venues: Event Cinemas – North Lakes, Event Cinemas – Strathpine A poetic, introspective drama that journeys across memory, landscape, and identity. Rating: 5.7/10 IMDb | 64% Rotten Tomatoes Event Info
Love of an Icon: The Legend of Crocodile Dundee Venues: Event Cinemas – North Lakes, Event Cinemas – Strathpine, Limelight Cinemas – Morayfield, HOYTS – Redcliffe A documentary-style feature that revisits the legacy of a beloved Australian screen legend. Event Info
Pip and Posy’s Cinema Show Venue: HOYTS – Redcliffe An adorable cinema experience made for preschoolers, featuring games and gentle stories. Event Info
From feel-good Aussie flicks to animated mischief for the kids, this weekend’s film schedule across Moreton Bay has something for every mood. Grab a seat, pick your cinema, and enjoy a night (or day) out.
Moreton Bay is bursting with colour, sound and creative expression this weekend. From orchestral favourites and handmade markets to visual art and immersive theatre, here’s what’s on for art lovers across the region and surrounds.
Friday to Sunday (March 28–30)
Wildlife Sculptures and Paintings Exhibition Venue: Maleny Library, 5 Coral Street, Maleny An inspiring showcase of local talent focused on native wildlife through both sculpture and painting. Event Info
Saturday, 29 March
Sunshine Coast Symphony Orchestra – Feel Good Favourites Venue: Kings Theatre, The Events Centre, 20 Minchinton Street, Caloundra A light and uplifting evening of orchestral music from ABC Classic’s most-loved selections. Event Info
Revival Green Studio – Handmade & Artisans Market (with jazz by @dannyjazzmose) Venue: 24 Baynes Street, Margate Browse artisan goods and enjoy smooth rooftop jazz in this relaxed creative market. Event Info
Indian Open Mic Venue: 47 Cook Court #9, North Lakes Poetry, comedy, music and culture converge in this vibrant open mic night. Event Info
Sunday, 30 March
DrillDance Queensland Competition Venue: Morayfield Sport and Events Centre, 298 Morayfield Road, Morayfield Precision, performance and pageantry on full display with teams from across Queensland. Event Info
Live Music – Ensemble Trivium Venue: Elm House, Mount Glorious A chamber concert with flute, violin and viola set in a tranquil mountain venue. Event Info
Tawny Trails: A Celebration of Women Through Art Venues: Dayboro & 59 Fahey Road, Mount Glorious A self-guided art trail celebrating women artists with exhibitions, open studios and talks. Event Info
Ongoing Exhibitions
Dennis Golding: POWER – The Future is Here Venue: Pine Rivers Art Gallery, 130–134 Gympie Road, Strathpine A powerful exhibition exploring cultural identity and futurism through striking visual art. Event Info
Prepare to Meet Thy Tomb (Theatre) Venue: Gympie Road, Strathpine A darkly comedic theatre production running until early April at Act 1 Theatre. Event Info
Tamara Dean: Leave Only Footprints Venue: Caboolture Regional Art Gallery, 4 Hasking Street, Caboolture Evocative, large-scale photographic works examining nature, human presence and impact. Event Info
From orchestras and open mics to immersive trails and exhibitions, Moreton Bay is brimming with creative energy. Whether you’re planning a day trip or staying local, this weekend is full of opportunities to connect with art in all its forms.
Looking for family-friendly things to do this weekend? Whether you’re diving into digital history, enjoying a library movie, or spending story time in the park, Moreton Bay has something relaxed and enriching for all ages.
Friday, 28 March
Unlocking the Past: Learning AI-Powered Family History – Redcliffe Venue: Redcliffe Library, 476 Oxley Avenue, Redcliffe Discover how artificial intelligence is changing the way we explore family history in this free community session. Event Info
Monthly Movie – Redcliffe Library: Everybody’s Oma Venue: Redcliffe Library, 476 Oxley Avenue, Redcliffe A heartfelt and family-focused documentary based on the viral journey of one Australian family’s connection with dementia. Event Info
Playtime Venue: Albany Creek Library, 16 Ferguson Street, Albany Creek Let the little ones explore, learn and connect with other kids in this interactive play session for families. Event Info
Sunday, 30 March
Park Tales – Central Lakes Park Meeting Point: Caboolture Library, 4 Hasking Street, Caboolture Join library staff for a morning of stories, movement and outdoor fun at Central Lakes Park. Event Info
Whether you’re taking the kids to the park, heading to a library movie, or learning something new together, this weekend’s family-friendly events in Moreton Bay are a great way to slow down and connect. Simple, local, and totally free.
From coastal grooves to community sport and rooftop sessions, Moreton Bay and its surrounds are alive with weekend energy. Here’s what’s happening from Friday through Sunday across the region.
Friday, 28 March
Keggin – Cheap Shots EP Tour Venue: Tibe Clubhouse, 457 Oxley Ave, Redcliffe Punk vibes hit the peninsula as Keggin bring their latest EP to Redcliffe. Event Info
J-Funk Venue: Redcliffe Leagues Club, Cnr Klingner Rd & Ashmole Rd, Redcliffe Get into the groove with the smooth, soulful sounds of J-Funk for your Friday night. Event Info
Saturday, 29 March
Queensland Wheelchair Rugby League – City vs Country 2025 Venue: North Street, Caloundra One of the state’s most inclusive and exciting competitions returns. Event Info
Brockenchack Museum Release Wine Lunch Venue: The Tamarind, 88 Obi Lane South, Maleny A relaxed gourmet afternoon celebrating the Brockenchack Museum wine release. Event Info
WSW Legacy Venue: Eatons Hill Hotel – Grand Ballroom, Eatons Hill Pro wrestling returns to Eatons Hill with a stacked legacy card. Event Info
Sunny’s Rooftop Bar Does Ska Venue: Sunny’s Margate Beach, 1 McCulloch Ave, Margate Skank into the sunset with ska beats and beachside views at this rooftop session. Event Info
Sunday, 30 March
Music in the Park – Deception Bay Venue: Apex Park, Deception Bay A free, family-friendly day of music, food trucks, and community vibes by the bay. Event Info
Whether you’re dancing at a rooftop gig in Margate, soaking in the sounds of a seaside park, or catching a unique local event, Moreton Bay has something to keep your weekend buzzing. Explore what’s close to home and enjoy everything the region has to offer from Friday through Sunday.
A grassroots street library, initially placed outside a Clontarf home on Maine Road, was shut down shortly after opening.
The operator, Melissa Forbes, was required by Moreton Bay City Council to apply for a permit under the Alteration of Public Land Local Law and obtain $20 million in Public Liability Insurance. The initial location was near the Beedham Street bus stop.
After the permit application was rejected due to non-compliance, Ms Forbes dismantled the setup pending an alternative.
The original street library setup required formal council approval because it was situated on public land. The insurance requirement added further complications, effectively rendering the initial setup unviable. In response, Ms Forbes repositioned the library onto her front garden fence, which allowed her to circumvent public land regulations.
The library has been rebranded as the “Illegal Book Box” in a tongue-in-cheek nod to the bureaucratic hurdle it faced. The modified setup complies with local laws, making it a fully legal installation under current council guidelines.
No Guidance, No Permit – Just a Workaround
No specific alternatives were advised by council officers following the permit denial. Ms Forbes noted that no workaround was formally provided. Relocating the structure onto private property proved the simplest and most compliant option.
Photo Credit: Melissa Forbes/Instagram
Strong Community Support
Public response to the re-opening has been overwhelmingly supportive. Comments on social media reflected both frustration at the initial complaint and enthusiasm for the library’s return.
Pledges of book donations and visits were common, with some residents describing the re-opening as “terrific for the community.” Others used humour to critique the idea that such a project faced obstacles, calling the situation “insane” and questioning how a free book library could be deemed problematic.
Some residents outside Australia, including from the UK, USA, and Serbia, expressed solidarity, noting similar initiatives in their own communities and voicing support for public book-sharing schemes.
With the new location now meeting council requirements, the “Illegal Book Box” is operating legally and continues to function as a local hub for sharing books. The case has highlighted both the regulatory challenges faced by small community projects and the public value placed on local, grassroots initiatives.
A Redcliffe resident slept through the moment when ex-tropical cyclone Alfred tore the roof off his home on Saturday night, sending it onto nearby power lines.
Daniel Goullet, who has lived in his Redcliffe house for five years, was asleep when the severe weather event struck the Moreton Bay region with wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h. The area, located approximately 30 km north of Brisbane’s CBD, was hit around 9pm when Alfred made landfall.
“We were asleep when the roof came off. I had no idea, the wind was so loud so we didn’t notice the roof came up,” Goullet said.
The Redcliffe property, which Goullet described as “the oldest house on the [Moreton Bay] Peninsula,” suffered significant damage during the storm. A severe weather alert had been issued for the area at 8:45pm Saturday.
“I had my doubts because it’s the oldest house on the Peninsula, I thought if anything’s going to happen it’s going to happen to this house,” Goullet said.
The Redcliffe area was particularly hard hit as Alfred, which had been downgraded from a potential category 2 cyclone to a tropical low before making landfall, moved through southeast Queensland.
Despite the downgrade, the storm has caused considerable disruption across the region, with power outages, flooding, and debris reported in numerous locations. Meteorologists warn that residents, including those in the Redcliffe peninsula, should prepare for more rainfall and continued wild weather in the coming days.
Charities in the potential path of Cyclone Alfred are asking to open evacuation centres for rough sleepers, warning that thousands of lives could be at risk as extreme weather intensifies.
Northwest Community Group founder Paul Slater said he made several attempts on Monday, 3 March, to contact Brisbane for advice on evacuation centres but was yet to receive clear information.
Moreton Bay advised residents to check the council’s Disaster Dashboard for up-to-date information on evacuation centres but said crisis accommodation for homeless individuals was a matter for the Department of Housing. However, as of noon on Tuesday, the dashboard still showed no evacuation centres or refuge sites open as Cyclone Alfred nears.
Queensland’s social services body, QCOSS, warned that “a tent or car will not protect [homeless individuals] from the predicted brutality of strong winds and heavy rainfall.”
MPs wrote the Queensland Minister for Housing on Monday, expressing concern for people sleeping rough in the inner city. On Tuesday, Mr Max Chandler-Mather confirmed the Department of Housing had activated Critical Response Teams to visit known areas where homeless people reside and was connecting them with emergency accommodation.
Meanwhile, Nourish Street founder Beau Haywood, who provides outreach services throughout the Moreton Bay region, spent Monday night informing rough sleepers about the risks of Cyclone Alfred.
Moreton Bay Bans Homeless Camping Amid Worsening Crisi
The City of Moreton Bay has officially banned homeless people from camping in public spaces, making it illegal to sleep in parks, streets, or in vehicles across the region.
The crackdown means that as of 12 March 2025, those found camping in public spaces may face removal, with enforcement carried out by eight new council officers alongside Queensland Police Service. Council will operate under a complaint-based system, responding to reports from the community.
The timing of this decision has drawn criticism, with many arguing that banning public camping just as a cyclone threatens the region puts vulnerable people at even greater risk.
“City of Moreton Bay is aware of how complex an issue homelessness is, and we acknowledge that this change will not be welcomed by everyone,” Scott Waters, City of Moreton Bay CEO announced.
“The health and safety of people experiencing homelessness is core to this change and repealing the Framework will enable these individuals to get the critical support they need.”
City of Moreton Bay CEO, Scott Waters
Woody Point’s Gayundah Arboretum Park Shut Down
Gayundah Arboretum Park (Photo credit: City of Moreton Bay/Facebook)
The policy shift has had immediate effects, particularly in Woody Point, where the Gayundah Arboretum Park was closed on February 17 due to worsening public health and safety concerns.
Acting Mayor Jodie Shipway said a review of the site found human waste, drug paraphernalia, and active vermin breeding, making the area unsafe for both campers and the general public.
“It’s just not safe for people to be residing in these conditions, nor for the community to continue to use this public space,” Shipway said. The park has been fenced off, and remediation works—expected to take six months—will involve sanitation, ground maintenance, and restoration of vegetation.
Showgrounds as a Possible Alternative?
In response to the looming displacement of homeless people, Mayor Peter Flannery has proposed allowing rough sleepers to stay in state-owned showgrounds. He called on the Queensland Government to lift restrictions preventing their use as emergency housing and to fund necessary amenities such as security, water, and power.
Photo credit: City of Moreton Bay/Facebook
The council’s tough stance has drawn mixed reactions. While some residents support the measures due to safety concerns, others argue that criminalising homelessness does not address the root causes.
Q Shelter, the peak body for frontline housing and homelessness services in Queensland, called the repeal “disappointing” and expressed concern that it will further disadvantage vulnerable individuals impacted by the worsening housing and homelessness crisis.
“We appreciate that homelessness and rough sleeping are highly complex issues, particularly when also managing public safety considerations. But the challenge remains that these highly vulnerable people are living in public spaces because they have nowhere else to go.”
Meanwhile, the City of Moreton Bay reassured the public that it will keep working with the State Government’s Department of Housing to help individuals find alternative accommodation and access necessary support.
With homeless individuals now facing tighter restrictions, the focus will be on whether alternative solutions, like the use of showgrounds, gain government support—or if more people are left struggling to find shelter.
A group of unhoused residents at Woody Point were forced to leave their makeshift camp after Moreton Bay Council fenced off the site, citing serious health concerns. The eviction left several people, including a woman escaping domestic violence, without a place to go. Despite offers of emergency housing, some say they have been left stranded with nowhere suitable to live.
Residents at the Gayundah Coastal Arboretum camp were given seven days’ notice before authorities arrived to clear the site on Monday, 17 February. The decision followed a review that found human waste, drug paraphernalia, and other health hazards. Fencing around the area was installed while police supervised as the last few residents packed their belongings and left.
One woman, who had been living at the site for six months while hiding from a domestic violence perpetrator, said she had not yet secured safe housing. She expressed frustration, stating that while housing services had been in contact, they had not yet found suitable accommodation for her and her dog.
Another resident, who gave his name as “Toothpick,” acknowledged the camp was not a long-term solution but felt that the situation could have been handled better. He had secured housing in Caboolture but worried about others who had nowhere to go.
While some community members welcomed the eviction, calling the site an eyesore, others believed the situation exposed the lack of support for people with no home.
Photo Credit: Chris Forbes/Facebook
Suttons Beach Park Residents Face Fines for Staying Put
The evictions at Woody Point were not an isolated incident. Just days earlier, on Friday, 14 February, Council also issued compliance notices to unhoused people at Suttons Beach Park in Redcliffe, threatening them with fines of up to $8,065 if they did not remove their belongings from public land by Sunday at midnight.
According to the notices, their presence violated council rules about “storing goods on public land,” a regulation that advocates argue unfairly targets unhoused people with no private land to store their possessions.
Beau Haywood, a local charity worker, said the fines were unreasonable, as those affected had no choice but to keep their belongings in public spaces. Some residents, like Trent Heselden, had been living in the park for nine months while waiting for social housing. He described the experience as a cycle of constantly moving from one location to another, hoping not to be evicted again.
Council denied accusations that they were trying to criminalise the unhoused and said the regulations were about keeping public spaces accessible to the broader community. A spokesperson stated that no fines had been issued yet, only warnings.
Council Defends Action, But Housing Support Falls Short
Moreton Bay Council insists that all affected individuals were offered emergency accommodation through Queensland’s Department of Housing. However, some residents dispute this, saying they were not given realistic or suitable options.
Council argues that the removals were necessary due to public health risks, particularly at Woody Point, where the park will now undergo a six-month remediation process to restore the area. Acting Mayor Jodie Shipway defended the decision, saying that camping in these conditions was unsafe for both the unhoused and the broader community.
However, unhoused advocates warn that simply moving people from one location to another does not solve the problem. They say Queensland’s housing shortage is the real issue, with Moreton Bay experiencing a 90% increase in homelessness over the last decade.
While some displaced residents have found alternative housing, others remain uncertain about their future. Without enough emergency or long-term housing options, advocates worry that many will simply move to another park or street, continuing the cycle of displacement.
A camp filled with rough sleepers in Woody Point will be shut down after officials from the City of Moreton Bay declared the site a serious public health risk, forcing the unhoused to vacate within seven days.
Human waste, drug paraphernalia, and vermin were cited as the key reasons for the move, stating that the area at the Gayundah Arboretum will require six months of remediation work costing more than $110,000.
Community Concerns and Council’s Decision
On Monday, 10 February, eviction notices were issued to around a dozen unhoused individuals living in the park. City officials, along with Queensland Police and the Department of Housing, oversaw the closure, with fencing expected to be installed to block access.
Acting Mayor Jodie Shipway said the decision was based on urgent health and safety concerns rather than a broader discussion on homelessness. She said using syringes, toilet paper, rotting food, and breeding mosquitoes posed a risk to the camp’s residents and the wider community.
Residents had previously voiced frustration over the park’s state, saying it had become unsafe and unclean. Some community members welcomed the action from officials, while others questioned the lack of permanent housing solutions for those being moved.
Impact on Unhoused Locals
For many of the park’s residents, eviction is another destabilising blow. Aiden Thomson, who has been living at Woody Point on and off for years, said he and others feel like they are being punished for the actions of a few.
Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay
While some individuals at the camp may have hoarding tendencies, he said, the entire group should not be made to suffer. Thomson added that many will simply move to another park, as affordable housing options remain out of reach.
Jaki Rose, a 59-year-old hospitality worker, said she had been promised temporary accommodation but was given no indication of whether it would be permanent or suitable. She had previously been denied social housing because her income was slightly over the eligibility threshold, yet she still couldn’t afford private rentals in Moreton Bay’s soaring market. She described the situation as falling through the cracks, with no real pathway to stable housing.
Temporary Housing: A Short-Term Fix?
In a previous eviction at Woody Point, the rough sleepers were temporarily placed in motels for a food and wine festival. Some fear the same cycle will repeat—a short-term solution without lasting support.
Advocate Beau Heywood, from Nourish Street, said he hopes the housing provided this time is long-term and suited to individual needs. He has been working with homeless individuals in Moreton Bay for nearly a year and said the process of securing stable accommodation is painfully slow, with only 11 people housed in 11 months.
For some, temporary accommodation is not an option. Aiden Quinn, a long-time park resident, said he would rather stay on the streets than be placed in a motel, which he compared to a jail cell. Others pointed out that motel rooms lack basic facilities like cooking appliances, making them unsuitable for long-term living.
While Council insists the Woody Point eviction is a health matter, homelessness advocates argue that without proper support, those affected will simply be displaced again.
In a landmark development that reinforces the Dolphins’ commitment to nurturing local talent, the NRL’s newest franchise is set to play a pivotal role in an innovative youth competition alongside Queensland’s established clubs.
The collaboration between the NRL Dolphins and their Queensland rivals—the Brisbane Broncos, North Queensland Cowboys, and Gold Coast Titans—represents a significant step forward for the club. For supporters in the Moreton Bay region, this competition offers an exciting opportunity to watch emerging talent don the Dolphins’ colours while taking part in a crucial development program.
The timing is ideal, as the club continues to establish its long-term development structures. By providing a platform for identifying and refining young players, the competition ensures a sustainable future built on home-grown talent.
Bridging the Development Gap
Scheduled to commence in May, after the Mal Meninga Cup concludes, the nine-week competition addresses a critical gap in the development pathway. It offers valuable high-level experience for young Dolphins prospects who may not yet be ready for Queensland Cup action with the Redcliffe Dolphins.
The round-robin format will see the Dolphins face each of their Queensland rivals twice. Some games could even serve as curtain-raisers to NRL fixtures, giving fans additional opportunities to support their club’s future stars while experiencing the development of promising young players firsthand.
Strategic Advantage for 2026
This initiative arrives at a crucial moment for the Dolphins, particularly with the NRL planning to reintroduce the National Youth Competition as an under-21s league in 2026. The new competition provides the club with an opportunity to build a robust junior development system from the ground up, unlike their more established Queensland counterparts. By taking a proactive approach now, the Dolphins will be well-positioned when the national competition launches, having already laid strong foundations for their youth program.
The competition particularly resonates with the Dolphins’ commitment to their local community. Young players from the Moreton Bay region and surrounding areas will have a clearer pathway to professional rugby league without leaving their home region, strengthening the bond between the club and its grassroots supporters.
