New Geebung Warehouse Brings Pultron Operations to North Brisbane

A new Geebung warehouse has brought Pultron Composites’ Australian operations into the local industrial precinct, with staff working from the site, products stocked for Queensland projects and planning underway for future local manufacturing.



New Operation Takes Shape in Geebung

The North Brisbane facility gives Pultron an operating presence in Geebung as the New Zealand-based manufacturer expands its Australian operations.

For the local area, the immediate change is the establishment of an active warehouse within Geebung’s industrial precinct. Pultron has identified Sina and Alicia as two employees working from the Brisbane facility, where their work includes organising Mateenbar Mesh and helping keep the warehouse running.

The site is already stocked with Pultron’s Mateenbar range, including GFRP rebar, mesh and bends. Holding the products in Geebung is intended to improve supply efficiency for projects across Queensland and elsewhere in Australia.

Geebung Location Connects With Queensland Projects

Pultron selected the site partly for its access to Brisbane Airport, the Port of Brisbane and the M1 motorway, allowing products held in Geebung to be supplied to projects across Queensland and interstate.

The company opened the warehouse in response to growing demand for glass fibre-reinforced polymer, or GFRP, reinforcement across infrastructure, marine and construction sectors.

That places the Geebung facility within a supply chain serving projects where corrosion resistance is a consideration, particularly in environments exposed to salt, moisture or chemicals.

Pultron says its GFRP reinforcement does not corrode, is about four times lighter than steel and can have a design life of 100 years or more with minimal maintenance.

An estimate attributed to the Australasian Corrosion Association puts the annual cost of corrosion-related infrastructure repair and replacement in Australia at about $8 billion, with steel reinforcement failure inside concrete accounting for part of that cost.

Queensland already has a specification pathway for GFRP reinforcement through Transport and Main Roads’ MRTS271. Sunshine Coast Council has also adopted coastal durability requirements that include corrosion-free reinforcement in specified coastal, marine and tidal-zone applications.

Local Manufacturing Could Be Next Step

The Geebung warehouse currently provides Pultron with local stockholding and an operating base in North Brisbane, but the company has indicated that its presence could extend beyond warehousing.

Planning is underway to begin manufacturing locally in the future.

Pultron develops and manufactures glass fibre-reinforced polymer composites using the pultrusion process. The company traces its origins to Gisborne, New Zealand, where Peter Holdsworth built his first pultrusion machine in 1982 before Pultron Composites was established with Dame Bronwen Holdsworth.



For now, the Geebung facility remains the company’s local stock and operations base, with staff already working on site and preparations underway for a possible future manufacturing operation.

Published 15-September-2026

Geebung Dad Misses Calls for a Week Before Discovering $4 Million Prize

A Geebung retiree has discovered he is $4 million richer after his son helped him check an online entry days after the winning draw, delivering a major windfall just outside Wavell Heights.



The elderly north Brisbane resident held the only division-one winning entry nationally in draw 1697 on Tuesday, 25 August 2026. His six-game QuickPick entry secured the entire $4 million division-one prize.

The winner discovered the extent of his prize after his son visited at the weekend and helped him check the entry. The retiree had been uncertain about the result when his son stepped in and confirmed he won. 

The news prompted an emotional reaction, with the man becoming tearful when he later spoke with officials about the result.

Week of missed calls ends with surprise contact

Officials had attempted to contact the Geebung man each day after the draw because the winning entry had been registered through an online account. Attempts were unsuccessful until the winner reached out about a week later.

The retiree explained that he regularly kept his phone switched off, which meant he had not received the calls. His delayed response left the $4 million prize unclaimed for about a week despite the successful entry being linked to an online account.

Unclaimed prizes can still be collected

Prizes can remain unclaimed when people have not checked their entries or when organisers cannot contact the holder of an unregistered ticket.

In Queensland, winners have up to seven years to claim a prize. Anyone who believes they hold a winning ticket is advised to keep it in a safe place and contact the organiser on 131 868 to confirm the result and begin the claim process. 

People who have lost, damaged or had a winning ticket stolen are also advised to make contact as soon as possible. A claims process is available in those circumstances, although clear and irrefutable evidence may be required when an unregistered ticket cannot be produced for verification

Travel and family visits now on the agenda

The Geebung resident said the money would give him the opportunity to travel and see more places.

He also planned to visit relatives connected to his late wife, whose family is from northern Australia. No further details were provided about the destinations he intended to visit or when the trips would take place.

The plans marked one of the first practical ways the retiree expected the windfall to change his life after the result was confirmed.

Geebung entry takes sole division-one prize

The winning entry was a six-game QuickPick purchased online. Numbers drawn on August 25 were 4, 27, 43, 2, 21, 47 and 33, with supplementary numbers 17, 12 and 19.



Only one division-one entry was recorded nationally in the draw, with the successful entry belonging to the Geebung resident. 

Published 30-Aug-2026

Wavell Heights Among 31 Suburbs in Wastewater Inspection Program

Residents in Wavell Heights and several surrounding northside suburbs may see Urban Utilities officers inspecting private properties in the coming months as part of a program aimed at reducing wet-weather wastewater overflows.



Wavell Heights is among 31 Brisbane suburbs covered by the Wet Weather Overflow Reduction Program, which runs until 31 December 2026. Other northside suburbs on the list include Nundah, Nudgee, Banyo, Virginia, Aspley, Zillmere, Taigum, Boondall, Deagon, Shorncliffe, Bracken Ridge and Bald Hills.

Urban Utilities says the program targets areas where wastewater overflows have repeatedly occurred during wet weather or where pumping stations and treatment plants have recorded unusually high inflows.

The utility is trying to determine how stormwater is entering a wastewater system that is not designed to carry large volumes of rainwater. Possible sources include cracked pipes, defects around maintenance holes and non-compliant plumbing or drainage connections on private properties.

During heavy rainfall, stormwater entering the wastewater network can significantly increase flows and contribute to overflows, particularly where the system is already under pressure.

Photo Credit: UrbanUtilities

How Smoke Testing Works

To identify where stormwater may be entering the wastewater network, crews use smoke testing on wastewater pipes and private plumbing. Separately, Urban Utilities uses measures including CCTV inspections and pipe cleaning as part of its broader sewer maintenance work. Non-toxic smoke is pumped into the wastewater lines to trace unwanted flow. 

In a correctly connected system, the smoke should travel through the wastewater pipes and escape through normal plumbing vents. If smoke emerges from stormwater drains, downpipes or other unexpected locations, it can indicate a defect or an incorrect connection.

Photo Credit: UrbanUtilities

Property Access and Inspector Powers

Under Queensland legislation, authorised officers operating within an approved inspection program have statutory powers to enter private properties at reasonable times without prior occupier consent. However, the inspection-program powers have clear limits: officers cannot use those powers to enter any part of a property where a person resides.

Where an occupier is present, officers must make a reasonable attempt to identify themselves, explain the purpose of the entry and advise that the Act permits entry without consent. For an approved inspection program, they must also provide details of the program.

Public Network vs. Private Responsibilities

Urban Utilities says that excess wet-weather flow stems from a mix of local topography, public infrastructure defects, and private plumbing issues. While the program allows testing on private land, an inspection does not automatically mean a property is defective or that the homeowner will incur immediate repair costs. 



The testing is intended to identify where stormwater is entering the network and help inform targeted action. Depending on what is found, further work may involve private plumbing, Urban Utilities infrastructure or both.

For northside residents, knowing why access may be sought, what officers are permitted to inspect and what happens when a defect is identified will be important as testing continues.

Published 5-Aug-2026

Virginia Drivers Sit Within Brisbane’s Hybrid Vehicle Shift

Virginia has been identified as one of Brisbane’s high-hybrid suburbs, with nearly a quarter of registered vehicles in the north Brisbane area recorded as hybrids.



The suburb was listed among Brisbane areas with a high concentration of hybrid vehicles, along with Murarrie, Kedron and Kangaroo Point. Across most Brisbane suburbs, hybrids outnumber full battery electric vehicles.

The Virginia figure places the suburb within a wider vehicle shift where hybrids remain more common than full electric vehicles in many parts of Brisbane.

Virginia Hybrid Uptake Shapes Local Vehicle Trends

The Brisbane data separates Virginia’s hybrid share from suburbs where full electric vehicle ownership is more prominent.

Cost, charging access and driving range remain concerns for some drivers considering a full battery electric vehicle. Plug-in hybrids have been described as a bridge option for consumers who want to reduce fuel use but are not ready to move entirely to a battery electric vehicle.

For Virginia, the available figure supports a clear local focus on hybrids rather than full EV uptake. The suburb’s high hybrid share should not be treated as evidence that it has one of Brisbane’s highest full electric vehicle rates.

Virginia hybrid vehicles
Photo Credit: Pexels

Full electric vehicle adoption has been stronger in some affluent Brisbane suburbs, where households are more likely to manage the upfront cost of an EV and have easier access to home charging.

Charging practicality also affects the pattern. Suburbs with more homes, garages or private parking can be better suited to EV charging than areas where apartment living makes private charging less accessible.

Business registrations also shape the broader data. A large share of Queensland EVs are registered to Brisbane CBD addresses, with company-owned vehicles likely contributing to that concentration.

EV charging
Photo Credit: Pexels

Wider Vehicle Trends Add Context

National vehicle sales provide added context for Virginia’s high hybrid share.

In Q1 2026, hybrids accounted for 46,945 new light vehicle sales across Australia. Over the same period, hybrids made up 16.70 per cent of new light vehicle sales, compared with 12.25 per cent for battery electric vehicles and 6.82 per cent for plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Internal combustion engine vehicles remained the largest category, making up 64.23 per cent of new light vehicle sales.



The Virginia figure sits within that wider market, where hybrids remain a major part of the move away from petrol-only motoring while full electric vehicle uptake continues to vary across suburbs.

Published 17-June-2026

Nook Coffee Brings Together Coffee, Community and Craft in Northgate

Nook Coffee has quickly found its place in the morning routines of Northgate locals, offering specialty coffee, house-made jaffles and a space lined with handmade goods from local artisans, all pulled together by owner Suzanne and her daughter Bijoux.



The café sources its coffee from Tim Adams Specialty Coffee, a Sunshine Coast roaster known for quality single origins and blends, and its pastries from Danny’s Bread, keeping the food offering as local as the rest of the fit-out.

House-made jaffles are made fresh each day, bringing a nostalgic and satisfying edge to the menu that slots naturally alongside the morning coffee crowd.

A café that fills a particular gap

Northgate has long had limited options for a true neighbourhood café, often sitting in the shadow of nearby Nundah’s busier dining and coffee scene. Nook gives locals exactly the kind of venue many residents appreciate: somewhere that remembers your order, supports local makers and gives people a reason to walk rather than drive.

What sets Nook apart from a typical neighbourhood café is its support for local artisans. The shelves showcase ceramics, candles, books and fresh flowers alongside a rotating collection of handmade goods.

Jewellery, soft furnishings, artworks and children’s toys all feature in the display, turning the café into a small marketplace as much as a place to enjoy a flat white.

Community connection and local craft

The combination of specialty coffee and artisan goods is not new to Brisbane, but Nook delivers it with a genuine sense of warmth rather than as a carefully curated concept.

Much of that comes from Suzanne’s vision for the café and the involvement of her daughter Bijoux, whose presence helps create a welcoming family atmosphere.

Suzanne sees the café as a place for community connection as much as a coffee destination. The shelves provide local artisans with a permanent space to showcase their work, giving makers an audience beyond the occasional weekend market and helping strengthen connections within the local community.

A stop worth making if you’re in the area

Nook Coffee is at 135 Northgate Road, Northgate. Follow along at nookcoffee.com.au or on their Instagram page for updates on new artisan stock and café news.



Published 16-June-2026

Norths Rugby Club Reels After Alleged String of Ten Break-Ins in 18 Months

The Norths Eagles rugby club is facing a mounting financial and emotional toll following a series of alleged break-ins at their Hugh Courtney Oval clubhouse. “The Nest” has been hit at least ten times in the last 18 months, with the most recent blow involving three consecutive nights of alleged thefts and property damage that have left club volunteers struggling to keep up with repairs.



CCTV footage from the clubhouse shows groups of young people inside the facility on multiple occasions, taking soft drinks, packaged goods, and bottled water. The most recent run of three consecutive night break-ins has added to a financial toll that club president Shaun McKinnon estimates included $1,300 in goods lost in a single incident alone.

Beyond the stolen stock, the alleged offenders have set the club’s wooden outdoor tables alight on multiple occasions, destroying custom-made property that cannot simply be replaced off a shelf.

The club, known to members and supporters as The Nest, is one of Brisbane’s most historically significant rugby union clubs. Tracing its origins to the Teachers Training College Football Club in 1933, Norths has spent more than 90 years developing players at every level, from juniors through to Wallabies, with alumni including Will Genia, Greg Cornelsen and Michael O’Connor. It competes in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition, the highest level of club rugby in the state below Super Rugby.

The Pattern the Club Keeps Seeing

What frustrates club officials is not just the frequency but the consistency of the method. McKinnon says the alleged intruders access the clubhouse the same way each time, finding the same entry point regardless of security improvements. Each repair and upgrade is followed by another break-in using the same approach, creating a cycle that drains both money and morale.

One incident about a month ago unfolded differently. A community member arrived at the club at around 7:00 pm to drop off supplies and spotted a group of young people on the roof of the clubhouse. Police responded quickly, but as officers arrived, the alleged offenders fled on e-bikes, heading onto the Kedron Brook Bikeway and disappearing before police could locate them.

That detail connects to a broader pattern in the area. Police have been conducting targeted operations along the Kedron Brook Bikeway in recent years in response to complaints about the use of non-compliant and unregistered electric bikes, including enforcement action involving young people. The bikeway, which runs almost 20 kilometres from Mitchelton to Nundah and passes close to Hugh Courtney Oval, provides rapid movement through the northern suburbs and has featured in incidents extending well beyond the Wavell Heights area.

A Community Club Absorbing Costs It Was Never Built to Carry

Norths Eagles operates, like most community rugby clubs, on tight margins that depend heavily on match-day income, bar and canteen takings, memberships and sponsorships. The Australian Sports Foundation has noted that the club’s infrastructure and facilities depend significantly on grant funding, given the difficulty of funding capital upgrades through operating revenue alone. Against that backdrop, repeated losses to theft and property damage are not a minor inconvenience. They represent a direct hit to the resources the club uses to run junior programmes, maintain fields and support its players.

McKinnon has called on the Wavell Heights and broader northern suburbs community to back the club in a practical way: come out to home games at Hugh Courtney Oval during the Queensland Premier Rugby season, and support the bar and canteen while there. For a club that has been running in this community for over nine decades, the ask is a reminder that local sporting clubs survive on local support, and that support matters most when things are difficult.

How to Back the Eagles

Norths Eagles play their home games at Hugh Courtney Oval, 128-150 Shaw Road, Wavell Heights. The 2026 Queensland Premier Rugby season is currently underway. Fixture information, news and sponsorship enquiries are available via the club’s website at northsrugbyclub.com or through their Facebook page. Anyone with information about the alleged break-ins can contact Policelink on 131 444 or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.



Published 17-April-2026

Wavell Heights Student Zahra Patel Named Runner-Up at 2026 WIMARQ Resources Awards for Women

Wavell State High School Year 12 student Zahra Patel has been named runner-up in the Exceptional Female QMEA Student Award at the 2026 Women in Mining and Resources Queensland International Women’s Day Luncheon and Resources Awards for Women, recognising years of dedication to STEM pathways and the resources sector.



Zahra attended the Brisbane luncheon alongside fellow Wavell student and University of Queensland Science Ambassador Nia Benson and teacher Mr Drago, representing a school that has been part of the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy since its founding in 2005. The event brought together industry leaders, keynote speakers and students from across Queensland to celebrate the contribution women are making to the resources and energy sector. Attendees heard from keynote speaker Claire Parkinson, a former mining executive and prison governor, who shared insights on leadership and career resilience.

The runner-up recognition in the Exceptional Female QMEA Student category reflects Zahra’s sustained involvement in STEM opportunities over many years, rather than a single standout achievement. She celebrated the result with her family, who were present at the luncheon. Zahra is also a participant in the WIMARQ Mentoring Program, which pairs female Year 12 students with women working in the resources sector, providing one-on-one guidance and professional support as they complete their final year of school and plan for what comes next.

What the QMEA Pathway Offers Students

The Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy is designed to encourage students to enter careers in the minerals and energy sector, providing clear pathways into one of the state’s most innovative and economically important industries. As Australia’s largest industry-led initiative, QMEA bridges education and industry, inspiring students to pursue pathways in the resources sector and STEM fields through innovative programmes that prepare students for future careers and support teachers in delivering engaging STEM education.

Wavell State High School has been a foundation partner school of the QMEA since the academy’s inception in 2005. That two-decade relationship has given Wavell students consistent access to mine site excursions, engineering camps, curriculum-linked forums, industry mentoring and nationally recognised qualifications in resource and infrastructure operations. QMEA Ambassadors, like Zahra, take on additional leadership responsibilities within the programme, representing their school at major industry events and promoting resources and STEM careers to younger students.

The results of the QMEA model are measurable. Female students at QMEA schools who entered a post-school apprenticeship or traineeship did so in the mining industry at almost five times the rate of students from non-QMEA schools. For young women in particular, the combination of industry exposure, mentoring and peer networks that QMEA and WIMARQ provide significantly changes the likelihood of pursuing a career in a sector that has historically underrepresented them.

WIMARQ and the Mentoring Programme

The Women in Mining and Resources Queensland organisation works to attract, retain and advance women across Queensland’s resources sector through advocacy, events and structured mentoring. The WIMARQ Mentoring Program that Zahra participates in pairs selected female Year 12 students with experienced women from the resources industry, creating a direct line of connection between school life and professional careers. For students navigating the transition from Year 12 into university, apprenticeships or employment, that kind of personal guidance from someone already working in the field carries practical value that no classroom programme can replicate.

The International Women’s Day Luncheon and Resources Awards for Women is the centrepiece event of WIMARQ’s annual calendar, drawing senior industry figures and student participants from across Queensland together to recognise excellence and build the networks that sustain women’s participation in the sector over the long term.

Why This Matters to the Wavell Heights Community

For families in Wavell Heights and the surrounding northern Brisbane suburbs, Zahra’s recognition is a reminder that Wavell State High School offers its students access to opportunities that extend well beyond the standard secondary curriculum. The school’s two-decade partnership with the QMEA has opened doors for hundreds of Wavell students into careers in engineering, resources, energy and related STEM fields, and Zahra’s runner-up award is one of the most visible expressions of what that partnership can produce.

For young women in the community who are weighing up their options beyond Year 12, the combination of QMEA membership, WIMARQ mentoring and industry events like the International Women’s Day Luncheon represents a genuine pathway into one of Queensland’s most economically significant sectors. Queensland’s resources sector contributed $116.8 billion to the state economy in the most recent financial year and supports the jobs of more than 532,000 Queenslanders, making the pipeline of skilled graduates into the sector a matter of real economic importance for the state.

Students at Wavell State High School interested in the QMEA programme can speak with their school’s QMEA coordinator, or find more information at qmea.org.au. Information about the WIMARQ Mentoring Program is available at wimarq.com.au.



Published 13-March-2026.

Wavell Heights Clinic Expands Counselling Team to Meet Local Mental Health Needs

Families and individuals in Wavell Heights now have greater access to mental health support, as the Brisbane Livewell Clinic expands its counselling services to meet a growing need in the local community. The clinic has strengthened its team with two new counsellors, bringing a broader range of therapeutic approaches and more flexible appointment options to residents in North Brisbane.



The expansion, announced on 22 October 2025, reflects an increasing awareness of mental health care and the demand for accessible counselling in suburban areas. Counsellors Alicia Kent-Rooney and Nathan Gurry have joined the Wavell Heights practice, each bringing distinct specialisations in emotional wellbeing, relationship support, and holistic mental health strategies.

Photo Credit: AB Newswire

Both professionals are based at 1/52 Jeffcott Street, Wavell Heights, where they offer individual, couples, and family counselling sessions. The clinic’s holistic approach includes attention to emotional, physical, and lifestyle factors, aligning with its broader wellness philosophy. 

The team shared that expanding local services aims to make quality counselling more accessible to the surrounding community and provide ongoing care closer to home.

The Brisbane Livewell Clinic, established as a multidisciplinary wellness practice, continues to integrate counselling alongside its nutrition, naturopathy, and acupuncture services. The Wavell Heights expansion demonstrates its commitment to supporting residents through both mental and physical wellbeing programs — particularly as awareness grows around the value of professional counselling as part of everyday health care.



Residents can find more information or book appointments through the clinic’s official Wavell Heights counselling page.

Published 24-Oct-2025. Updated 1-Nov-2025

Arrest Made After Break-In at Northgate State School

In recent weeks, offenders have targeted several schools across North Brisbane, including Northgate State School, for unlawful entry, theft, and property damage.



According to local police, a specific technique has been identified in these incidents. Offenders gain access to school grounds by cutting and peeling back metal panels on groundskeeping sheds. This allows them to steal valuable equipment such as ride-on mowers, power tools, air compressors, plumbing equipment, and other items. Additionally, scrap metal has also been reported missing from the school premises.

Beyond stealing, offenders have trespassed onto school grounds and caused significant damage. Some incidents include graffiti on walls, the trashing of classrooms, and pouring an unknown substance over sporting courts, which now require resurfacing.

On 28 August at around 4:00 a.m., a Protective Service Officer patrolling Northgate State School caught a male suspect breaking into the school. Police arrived shortly after and arrested the 47-year-old Northgate man at the scene. 

He has been charged with Enter Premises and Commit Indictable Offence and is scheduled to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on 25 September.

In response to these incidents, police have urged residents to remain vigilant for any suspicious activity near schools and to report any concerns. The School Watch program, a partnership between the Department of Education, the Queensland Police Service, and Protective Services Group, encourages community members to report any suspicious behaviour around school premises, particularly after hours.

Northgate State School
Photo Credit: QPS

The program highlights the importance of protecting school properties, which are at increased risk during school holidays when buildings are unoccupied. Damage caused by unlawful entry, arson, theft, and vandalism comes at a significant cost to the community, both financially and in terms of safety.

Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity by calling School Watch on 13 17 88.

Schools are central to local communities, so these offences extend beyond the cost of repairs. The damage affects students, teachers, and local families who rely on these institutions for education and extracurricular activities. Police emphasise that community vigilance is crucial in preventing further incidents and safeguarding school properties for the benefit of everyone.



Local authorities continue to monitor the situation and are urging anyone with information regarding these offences to come forward.

Published 10-Sept-2024

Virginia Vehicle Thefts Lead to Multiple Arrests by North Brisbane Dog Squad

The Dog Squad Unit of the Queensland Police Service successfully tracked and apprehended several suspects involved in multiple vehicle thefts from a business in Virginia and other places in North Brisbane.



At approximately 9:10 p.m. on Sunday, the 19th of May 2024, officers noticed a suspicious white Audi Q7, equipped with allegedly stolen number plates, while patrolling the Stafford area. After keeping the vehicle under surveillance, the police deployed a tyre deflation device to stop the car as it travelled onto Southern Cross Way. 

Despite deflated tyres, the vehicle attempted to flee but eventually halted. The two male occupants attempted to escape on foot but were swiftly apprehended by the Dog Squad.

The stolen white Audi and three other vehicles—a black Mitsubishi ASX, a beige Toyota LC Military, and a white Toyota RAV4—had been reported stolen from a local business in Virginia between the 11th and 13th of  May. The latter three vehicles have not yet been recovered.

A 30-year-old man from Baringa was arrested and has faced multiple charges including unlawful use of a motor vehicle and possession of dangerous drugs. He is scheduled for a court appearance at the Brisbane Magistrates Court on the 19th of June.

Additionally, a 35-year-old man from Bellara was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and obstruction of police among other charges. He appeared before the Brisbane Magistrates Court on the 20th of May.

In a related incident that same night, a grey Toyota Hilux was stolen from Gordon Street in Gordon Park and later found abandoned in Deagon.

The Dog Squad traced the suspect to a nearby yard where an 18-year-old man from Chermside was arrested. He faces charges including breaking and entering and unlawful use of a motor vehicle and appeared in court on the 22nd of May.

Dog Squad
Photo Credit: QPS

The Queensland Police urge anyone with information about these incidents or the whereabouts of the missing vehicles to contact Policelink or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers. Your cooperation can help resolve these cases and prevent further criminal activities.



Reference numbers for these incidents are QP2400811329 and QP2400851899.

Published 2-June-2024