Virginia Pet Crematorium Development in Brisbane Receives Council Approval

Brisbane City Council has finally approved a proposal from Pet Angel Property Holdings Pty Ltd to build a pet crematorium in Virginia.

Once completed, this establishment will be Pet Angel’s first crematorium in Brisbane. However, the company specializing in pet funerals is also operating a similar establishment in the Gold Coast.

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council

In November 2018, Pet Angel filed the development application to reuse an industrial property at 9/66 Pritchard Road, some 3.6 kilometres away from Wavell Heights, as an animal burial and crematorium. The company cited that its business should meet the rising demands for a pet crematorium in Brisbane without causing significant changes or impact to the surrounding facilities.



Under the proposal, Pet Angel intends to trade daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with cremator hours ending at 4:00 p.m. However, the approved proposal did not indicate when the facility should begin construction or set a projected opening date.

As of April 2019, Pet Angel waived the Appeal Period afforded to development applicants. The pet funeral business instead informed the Council that it was “satisfied with the Decision Notice.”



Pet Angel, a family-owned business, opened in the Gold Coast in 2014. Apart from burial and cremation services, the company also has commemorative products for pet owners to have something to remember their beloved furry best friends by.

Experience Restorative Healing with aromaZen Vibrational Medicine in Geebung

Vibrational medicine focuses on a person’s energy to heal what ails her body and mind and you may experience and learn about this practice by joining an aromaZen session with The Emotions Alchemist Kerrie MacDonald in Geebung.

If you’re curious about what goes on during aromaZen, head to Lauren Street, a kilometre off Main Avenue in Wavell Heights, on Tuesday, the 23rd of April 2019.

The restorative healing session will start at 6:45 p.m. but it’s best to arrive a few minutes earlier so that you can set up your space.



During aromaZen, Ms MacDonald will guide you on how to properly meditate and balance your chakra with the help of Tibetan bowls, chimes, and crystals. You will also be more aware of the energy from your senses as you get a whiff of the doTERRA oils or hear the sound of the Owl Medicine Drum.

Photo Credit: Fuhrer/Pixabay

These elements relax and synchronize your brain waves thus allowing for healing. It also reduces your stress and anxiety as you connect on a deeper level with your body.

Bring a yoga mat, some cushions, and a blanket to use while you meditate. Booking is required for $30.



“I had the most amazing afternoon with Kerrie on Saturday. Extremely interesting to listen to, very experienced and knowledgeable at what she does. The hours flew by and I really didn’t want to leave. I felt healing had taken place. I was in a better place. I felt very comfortable with Kerrie. She was very welcoming and listened to what I had to say. was able to answer all my questions with ease. Loved the meditation session. I loved your passion and compassion. Came away buzzing. Thank you, Kerrie.”

~ Mel Rodwell, via Facebook 

Virginia Bunnings Warehouse to Open in Late 2019

Construction of another Bunnings Warehouse located in Sandgate Road, Virginia is now underway. It is expected to open in late 2019.

The new Bunnings warehouse is located at 1836 – 1840 Sandgate Road, the former site of Campbells Cash and Carry. The elevated Bunnings store, designed by Group 4 Architects, will feature a hardware and trade supplies; garden centre; food and drink outlet; shop; and showroom; and ancillary tenancies of food and drink outlet, showroom, shop and office.

The amended plans will also have an undercroft car parking: Bunnings – 433 car parking spaces including 8 spaces for PDW, 3 trailer bays, and 39 within the Timber and Trade Sales (TTS); New Tenancy – 14 spaces; Existing Tenancy – 35 spaces.

Ground Floor / Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au
Level 1 / Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au

About Bunnings Warehouse

Incorporated in1907 as Bunning Bros by brothers Arthur & Robert Bunning, the company was solely focused on sawmilling. Bunnings expanded as a retail company in 1952 and purchased several hardware stores which paved the way for its entry into the DIY market.

Wesfarmers took ownership of Bunnings Warehouse in 1994 and currently has stores in Australia and New Zealand. In 2018, Bunnings ventured into eCommerce in Australia offering over 20,000 products online.

Today, Bunnings Warehouse has approximately 20 percent market share in the retail hardware store in Australia. and has 59 stores in Queensland and several other stores in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.



Holiday Scooter Camp & Autumn Skatelife by RampAttak in Geebung: Coming this April 2019

This April, RampAttak, located on Bilsen Road in Geebung, offers two exciting camp programs to keep kids busy and active this autumn school holidays.

The RampAttak’s residential camp is open to skateboarders 8-18 years old, from beginners to advanced. The Autumn Holiday camp happens this 14 – 17 April, 2019 and will include accommodation, food, exclusive access to RampAttak Skatepark, and skate park tours, plus professional coaching, professional demos, and lots of  games and fun activities.

There is also the RampAttak Holiday Scooter Camp for scooter-riders, which will happen on 8 – 10 April. Lunch, snacks and drinks will be provided during this 3-day fun-filled event as participants will be taken to skate park tours, enjoy mini-competitions, plus professional coaching.

SKatelife Camp Ramp Attak Summer 2019  |Video Credit: RampAttak / YouTube

About RampAttak

RampAttak Indoor Skatepark offers a controlled space for kids (6 years old and older), regardless of skill level, to enjoy extreme sports such as skateboarding, BMX, and scooters. RampAttak offers a variety of timber obstacles to practise: Street, Mini Bowl, Bowl, Vert Ramp, Box Jump, Foam Pit, and Resi Quarter.

RampAttak is not just a venue to hone one’s riding skills, though, as parents who are planning to celebrate their kid’s birthdays can also hire the place for that one-of-a-kind birthday party that everyone will definitely enjoy. Plus a scooter and skate specialty store to boot.

For more details, check out their website here or visit their Facebook page.



RampAttak Indoor Skatepark | 393 Bilsen Road, Geebung, 4034

Latest Update on Wavell Heights’ Shaw Road Rugby Field Upgrades

The sporting and local community of Wavell Heights will soon enjoy a safer and improved Shaw Road rugby field as its upgrades are expected to wrap up in mid-2019.

The Shaw Road rugby field’s closed landfill remediation works and lighting replacement started in September 2018. Depending on weather and construction conditions, the project should meet its target completion date in the middle of the year.

On 19 February, an electrical wholesale store shared photos of the newly installed lightings they supplied on the field.

The replaced lighting will be used to meet the basic standard required for night practice, with capacity for further improvements in the future.

About the Shaw Road Project

The upgrades are part of the Brisbane City Council’s ongoing Landfill Remediation and Maintenance Program under the Restoration for Recreation program. Works will involve:

  • compacting and capping the existing closed landfill
  • re-grading the rugby field
  • installing irrigation, drainage, topsoil and sports field grade turf and collapsible goal posts
  • upgrading the existing lighting infrastructure to LED lights in compliance with basic sports field playing standards
  • constructing a ramp to the car park that is in line with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA)
  • reinstating the existing public address system (PA system)

Construction at the Shaw Road rugby field takes place between 7:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday to Saturday. Council ensures they will keep the community informed of construction in their area and will provide advance notification of out-of-hours activities.



Take a Nature Walk with Your Dog at Downfall Creek Reserve in Virginia

Wavell Heights’ love for pets is evident in the growing number of dog-friendly cafes, bars, and parks across the suburb. For locals looking for an off-leash park for their furry little friends, the Downfall Creek Reserve along Brickyard Rd in Virginia is the perfect destination.

More commonly known to the locals as the Downfall Creek Dog Park, this 4-hectare off-leash area is one of the largest off-leash areas across Brisbane. Apart from the Brickyard Road in Virginia, the nearest entries are from the Jefferis Street or Bilsen Rd in Wavell Heights.

A haven for dogs, the park is unfenced so dogs can play and run around freely. It is dotted with shady trees and the odd picnic shelter, so it’s a nice place for pet parents to enjoy nature.



Dog bins and water taps are provided at each end, so bringing pets along the Downfall Creek Dog Park at will not be much of a hassle.

You’ll also find the Downfall Creek Bikeway and fitness circuits at the park. The 10-km cycle path is great for kids while Fox Coffee, a nine-minute walk from the reserve is a nice way to fuel up before taking a stroll.

If you are up for more adventure, the nearby parks like the A.R.C. Hill Park in Virginia, Turquoise Place Park in Wavell Heights, and Nicholson Place in Northgate await.

The Home Collective Is Back in Wavell Heights With More Stalls For Homeware, Greenery!

The secret to beautiful homes is not so secret at all. Add some art, accessorize with unique homeware, and add some life to empty space by including some plants. For all your needs, stop by The Home Collective Market on 3 March 2019 and shop for handmade homeware and garden goodies!

With a gold coin donation, anyone can take part in this event hosted by Junk to Funk. The Home Collective Market begins 9:00 am and finishes at 1:00 pm. More than 50 stalls await home and garden lovers at 175 Edinburgh Castle Rd in Wavell Heights.

“Due to our lovely hall getting a small refresh, The Home Collective will be a little different on March 3rd… We’re going completely OUTDOORS! Still the same location, our 50+ stall holders will just be outside altogether,” The Home Collective posted on Instagram.

Seriously Home will be back for The Home Collection Market’s first market event this year, along with Broadcroft Design and Home Dweller. New stall holders include The Tea Whisperer, CazCreations, and Papercutz. There will be stunning artwork from Fabulous Frida and tropical-inspired artworks from Annie Moncrieff Creative.

The first Home Collective Market in 2016 was a successful event and it was followed by another event in just two weeks time. Junk to Funk, who will be hosting this year’s event, is known for creating handmade, unique, and vintage-inspired projects from recycled materials.  

The gold coin entry will be used by The Home Collective for raising funds for the Animal Welfare QLD. Participants could drink some coffee from Two Hounds Espresso and eat at The Collective Kitchen during the event.

For more information about the upcoming event, check out the Facebook pages of The Home Collective and Junk to Funk.



Council Cabs Service At Banyo Retail Centre Available Beginning February

Selected residents of Banyo, Nudgee and Nudgee Beach and Banyo Village will be able to avail of the Council Cabs Service at the Banyo Retail Centre fortnightly beginning 21 Feb.

Councillor Adam Allan announced the extension of the service for Brisbane residents who are above 60 years old, or with mobility impairment, or a holder of the  Pensioner Concession Card or the Centrelink Seniors Card.



The Council Cabs are scheduled taxis that may pick up residents from their home to the Banyo Retail Centre or bring residents home after shopping with their companions. A one-way trip costs $1.50, which shall be paid to the driver upon boarding.

Photo Credit: Facebook/BanyoRetailCentre

Commuters may book the service before 12 noon or make prior arrangements should they require regular pick-ups. The Council Cabs Service number is 07 3403 2227.



Cr Allan, however, said that the exact location of the service pick-up point at the Banyo Retail Centre would still be determined. It’s likely that the chosen location may be near the supermarket to help residents with groceries. A limit of five regular-sized plastic bags or three recycled bags may be required per passenger.

Wavell Heights’ Commuters to Benefit from Improved Security of North Brisbane Train Station

To reduce the likelihood of crime and make commuters feel more secure, Queensland Rail has invested $1.9 million to construct a new Queensland Police Service outpost at Northgate station.

The railway police outpost will be the eighth across the South East Queensland network, joining Robina, Roma Street, Manly, Beenleigh, Petrie, Ipswich, and Redbank.

Although Brisbane is a safe city by world standards, the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services revealed that half of the Queenslanders surveyed preferred walking alone at night. They avoided buses and trains due to danger of assault.

QR station at night

Not only do railway stations have issues with youth gangs and individuals harassing passengers, but alighting at a poorly lit, eerily quiet train station can also be unsettling.

Committed to improving the safety of their passengers, QR has implemented various security measures that includes closed-circuit television at stations and within trains as well as patrols by Revenue Protection Officers, uniformed and plain-clothed police officers of the network’s own squad, and security guards.

Police on patrol
Photo credit: mypolice.qld.gov.au

The additional outpost at Northgate is expected to boost police presence on the northern rail network and enable quicker response times to incidents on the inner Caboolture, Shorncliffe and Doomben lines.

Construction of the new outpost is well underway and expected to be completed by early 2019. It will be located on the western side of Northgate station, on the corner of Ridges and Ryan streets.

BCC Prepares Proposal for Wavell Heights Village Precinct Project

The Brisbane City Council is now in the process of preparing the strategy and improvement proposal for the Wavell Heights Village Precinct Project to revitalise the neighbourhood shopping precinct in Hamilton Road, Wavell Heights.

As part of the Village Precinct Projectsthe Council is committing $400,000 to the upgrade project that aims to: improve the amenity, connectivity, and safety for the locals and residents in the centre; contribute to and encourage local economic development; enhance the community’s sense of place at this neighbourhood centre.

Photo Credit: Brisbane City Council / brisbane.qld.gov.au

During the three-week consultation, the Council received more than 110 survey responses and more than 30 people have engaged at the onsite information kiosk last 8 December 2018. The scope of the project stretches from Hamilton Road, Millcan, and Stadcor Street intersection on the right to just past the Hamilton Road and Albar Street corner on the left.

A number of possible improvements include: new footpath surface; shrub and tree planting; improved accessibility to shops through works such as kerb ramp and pavement changes; placemaking elements to enhance centre character and identity and to create a focal point for the community.

By late March 2019, improvement proposal will be on display in the Wavell Heights shopping centre and other key locations and construction is expected to begin in April 2019. Upon completion, which should be around mid-2019, locals and businesses will be invited to an activation event to celebrate and promote the revitalised neighbourhood centre.



Milcan/Stadcor Sts & Hamilton Rd, Wavell Heights QLD 4012, Australia