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PERCEPT Art Installation Brings Forest, Glass and Quiet Wonder to Albany Creek

Photo Credit: Magdalena Marciniak website

Albany Creek has plenty going for it already. But the PERCEPT art installation offers locals something a little unexpected.

Set in the forest around Glass Artistry Studio, the work by glass artist Magdalena Marciniak blends art and science in a very gentle way. It is not loud. It does not try too hard. Instead, it asks people to slow down and really notice what is around them.

That is part of the charm. The trees, the light and the shadows all become part of the experience. So do the gaps between them. In a place like this, even a small shift in light can change the whole mood.

Glass, light and a steady hand

Marciniak works from the edge of Bunyaville Conservation Park, and nature clearly shapes her work. Her glass pieces often explore the link between people and the natural world. PERCEPT keeps that thread running.

The installation draws on glass, colour, space and attention. It asks a simple question: how do we actually see the world?

That might sound a bit abstract at first. Still, the idea lands easily when you are standing in a forest and looking closely. You begin to notice details you may have missed before. A patch of light. A shadow under a branch. The way your own view changes as you move.

More than just an artwork

The event runs on Saturday 22 August from 4.30pm to 6pm, and it is free. It is part of National Science Week, with support from the City of Moreton Bay and Arts Queensland.

Visitors will also hear from Marciniak in an artist talk. She will share the ideas and process behind the installation. A guest researcher will then speak about the links between art and science.

That combination gives the evening a bit more depth than your usual gallery stop. It is part talk, part walk, part pause. And honestly, that sounds like a nice way to spend a winter afternoon.

A local event worth slowing down for

For Albany Creek locals, the PERCEPT art installation should feel close to home in more ways than one. It sits in a familiar kind of setting, but it asks people to look at it differently.

And that is the point, really. Not every event needs to be busy or flashy. Some are better when they invite you to breathe a little, look closer and head home with a fresh thought or two.

PERCEPT seems to do exactly that.

Published 13-August-2026

First Girders Put Youngs Crossing Bridge Into View in Joyner

The first concrete girder has been installed for the Youngs Crossing bridge in Joyner, bringing the new flood-resilient route into view for the thousands of motorists who use the corridor each day.

It is the first of 83 precast girders that will form the base of the bridge deck above the North Pine River and Sideling Creek.

More than 20,000 vehicles travel along Youngs Crossing Road each day. The existing crossing is affected by flooding, which can lead to road closures, surrounding congestion, delays and diversions.

The new crossing is intended to provide a more reliable route for residents, businesses and emergency services during severe weather.

Concrete girder resting on new bridge supports — Photo Credit: Supplied

Youngs Crossing Bridge Emerges Above the River

The girders measure up to 27 metres long and are made away from the construction site before being transported to Joyner on oversized trucks.

Deliveries will take place intermittently over five weeks, depending on weather and construction conditions. Each girder will travel at night under pilot and police escort before being lifted into position by crane during the day.

The delivery route follows Dayboro Road through Old Petrie Town. Transport has been scheduled during off-peak periods to reduce traffic impacts, with nearby residents to receive information closer to planned movements.

As more girders are installed, the deck of the approximately 200-metre bridge will continue to take form across the waterways.

Crane lifting girder above the construction site — Photo Credit: Supplied

New Route Planned West of Existing Crossing

The four-lane bridge is being built west of the current Youngs Crossing Road crossing as part of an upgrade extending more than one kilometre between Protheroe Road and Dayboro Road.

Three new signalised intersections are included, along with improved pedestrian and active transport connections.

Construction is approaching the halfway point, with the project scheduled for completion in late 2027. The remaining timeline is indicative and may change.

Oversized truck carrying a precast concrete girder — Photo Credit: Supplied

Motorists may encounter delays while work continues. A temporary 40-kilometre-per-hour speed limit is in place along Youngs Crossing Road, while electronic signs are being used to provide updates through the construction corridor.

Public access to Youngs Crossing Park and the waterhole remains unavailable while the new road and bridge are built.

Seymour Whyte is the principal contractor working with the City of Moreton Bay on the upgrade. The Australian Government has committed $51.6 million, while the City is contributing the remaining delivery cost. The Queensland Government has provided another $15 million for intersection upgrades at Dayboro Road.

The remaining girders will be transported and installed during the five-week delivery program, subject to weather and construction conditions.

Published 30-July-2026. Updated 12-August-2026.

Bridgeman Downs Housing To Gain $2.5 Million Sewerage Infrastructure

Photo Credit: JarrodBleijieMP/Facebook

Bridgeman Downs housing is set to receive a $2.5 million sewerage infrastructure investment on Beams Road, with the project intended to unlock 615 homes for residential development.

Sewerage Infrastructure Planned For Beams Road

The Beams Road Sewerage Infrastructure project will include a new sewer pump station, rising main and gravity sewer main. The infrastructure is intended to support residential development along Beams Road.

The $2.5 million investment forms part of the $2 billion Residential Activation Fund, which is designed to accelerate trunk and essential infrastructure needed before housing can proceed. Eligible infrastructure includes water, stormwater, roads, sewage, power and telecommunications.

Turrisi Properties Development Director Ben Kewley said the Beams Road funding would support future housing delivery in the Bridgeman Downs catchment. He also identified enabling infrastructure as necessary to support the delivery of new residential development.

Bridgeman Downs Housing Among Brisbane Projects

The Bridgeman Downs project is one of two newly announced Residential Activation Fund projects in Brisbane. Together, the projects are intended to unlock 938 homes.

The second project is in Pallara, where an $8.4 million stormwater infrastructure upgrade is intended to unlock 323 homes. Those works include box culvert drainage along a 350-metre section of Sweets Road.

Across the first two rounds of the fund, four Brisbane projects are intended to unlock a combined 2,223 homes. Statewide, the Residential Activation Fund has unlocked land for more than 140,000 homes.

The fund supports infrastructure for housing developments in both established and new areas. At least half of its funding is allocated outside South East Queensland.

As at 24 April 2026, almost $994 million had been approved for infrastructure projects through the fund. Round 2 applications closed on the same date, with announcements scheduled from July 2026.

The program is designed to support critical infrastructure that needs to be in place before housing development can proceed, including sewerage infrastructure such as the works announced for Beams Road.

Brisbane housing — Photo Credit: JarrodBleijieMP/Facebook

Queensland Construction Pipeline Reaches Record Level

Australian Bureau of Statistics data for the quarter to March recorded 50,000 homes under construction across Queensland, the first time that level had been reached on record.

The figures also recorded a third consecutive record quarter for Queensland’s housing pipeline, which had increased by 25.6 per cent over 12 months.

For Bridgeman Downs, the announced $2.5 million investment is directed towards the sewer pump station, rising main and gravity sewer main intended to support residential development along Beams Road.

Published 30-July-2026. Updated 12-August-2026.

Local Students Across Various Suburbs Join Forces to Rebuild Native Koala Habitats

Photo Credit: Pine Rivers Koala Care

Schoolchildren across various suburbs in the Moreton Bay region are coming together to plant thousands of native trees that directly sustain the local wild koala population.

A Growing Corridor for Local Wildlife

What does it take to save a threatened species in our own backyards? Seven regional schools are heading to Strathpine to take part in the tenth National Tree Planting Day for Schools. Hands-on effort works. Over the past nine years, local youth have put more than 5,700 koala food trees into the ground, turning scattered patches of greenery into a continuous haven along 4 Mile Creek.

Field surveys from late 2023 proved the project’s worth when spotters counted 22 adult koalas and joeys munching on branches planted by students years earlier.

Broad Community Support Fuels Conservation

Restoring bushland demands more than just enthusiasm; it requires a whole township pulling in the same direction. Pine Rivers Koala Care leads the charge, but regional sponsors make the heavy lifting possible. The local council provides the land, native nurseries supply specialized eucalyptus saplings, and tree services drop off free mulch.

Even local representatives jump in to keep the young diggers fed and hydrated throughout the morning. Preserving these green stretches forever keeps the local gene pool strong as surrounding neighborhoods expand.

A Decade of Hands-On Environmental Care

It all began back in 2016 with just two primary students planting a dozen endangered gum trees for a university experiment. From those humble roots, the movement grew exponentially.

Year after year, despite weather delays and pandemic shifts, hundreds of kids cycled through sites like Rob Akers Reserve and Eddie Hyland Reserve to dirt-stained victory. Today, those early saplings stand tall as living proof that persistent local action yields real ecological results.

Published Date 31-July-2026

Australian Dolphins Dominate Glasgow as Sam Short Wins Inaugural 800m Freestyle in Super Sweep

Photo Credit: Sam Short/ Instagram

Queensland powerhouse Sam Short has cemented his place in swimming history by leading the Australian Dolphins to a series of stunning podium sweeps at the Tollcross Swimming Centre in Glasgow.

Making Waves and Sweeping Podiums

The Australian swim team transformed the Scottish venue into their own community stronghold, fueled by a deep sense of mateship and an elite training programme. Short kicked off his golden run on Sunday morning Australian Eastern Standard Time, destroying the field in the 400m freestyle event by more than four seconds with a time of 3 minutes 41.25 seconds. Teammate Elijah Winnington secured silver after fighting off a severe case of food poisoning the previous night, while Ben Goedemans took bronze to complete the first sweep.

Following the 400m victory, Short explained that such dominant performances are rare and he wanted to mimic his childhood idols by celebrating with a muscle flex on the lane ropes. Winnington added that the sweep highlighted the deep history of Australian success in the 400m freestyle event, calling the team result incredibly special.

The 800m Masterclass

The domination continued later in the meet during the inaugural Commonwealth 800m freestyle. Short led from the very first lap, touching the wall in 7:39.81 to claim his third gold medal of the Games. His St Peters Western training partners quickly followed suit. Goedemans and Matt Galea surged past the Northern Irish Olympic champion in the final stages to secure silver and bronze. This marked the Dolphins’ fourth clean sweep of the meet, heavily influenced by the loud poolside encouragement of their Sydney-based coach Dean Boxall.

Courage Over Adversity

Beyond the clean sweeps, the Australian squad showed massive heart by overcoming severe physical hurdles. Sam Williamson provided one of the most emotional moments of the competition by winning the 100m breaststroke against the British world record holder. Only a year prior, Williamson ruptured his patella tendon in training and feared he would never walk again. Williamson shared that his recovery was the hardest mental challenge he had ever faced, adding that he often wanted to quit but kept pushing forward by remembering how much effort he had already invested in his career.

Mollie O’Callaghan mirrored this resilience in the women’s events. Despite dealing with painful stress fractures and bone bruising in her back, she controlled the 200m freestyle final to win gold ahead of fellow Australian Lani Pallister. O’Callaghan expressed that while dealing with an injury is difficult, athletes must find ways to adapt to the situation. She noted that the best part of the sport is bouncing back after a run of bad luck and seeing positive results from a modified training routine

Breaking Droughts and Chasing Records

The Games also provided breakthrough moments for long-serving team members. Alex Perkins shed her history of near-misses to win the 50m butterfly just two days before her 26th birthday. Perkins admitted that she never fully believed she could reach the top level and was simply absorbing the moment after finally claiming a major individual gold medal.

Meanwhile, the mixed freestyle relay team consisting of Flynn Southam, Kyle Chalmers, Shayna Jack, and Meg Harris clocked a time of 3:19.36 to set a new Games record. The victory gave Chalmers his ninth career Commonwealth Games gold medal. If he secures one more in the 100m freestyle, he will surpass Ian Thorpe as the most successful Australian male swimmer in the history of the competition. Adding to the overall medal tally, Paralympic silver medallist Jack Ireland proudly took home a silver in the 200m freestyle S14 final, cementing a fantastic opening haul for the entire Australian swimming community.

Published Date 28-July-2026

Murrumba Downs Upgrade Clears Way for New Bruce Highway Ramps

Photo Credit: TMR Qld

Completion of the centre median widening at Dohles Rocks Road has opened the next phase of the Bruce Highway upgrade, allowing work to proceed on new ramps through the Murrumba Downs and Griffin corridor.

Ramp Construction Follows Median Milestone

The finished median pavement will allow traffic to be moved onto the newly constructed surface while crews begin building a northbound entry ramp and a southbound exit ramp.

The northbound ramp will extend from Dohles Rocks Road towards Anzac Avenue and continue as an auxiliary lane to the interchange exit. In the opposite direction, the southbound exit will extend from the Anzac Avenue interchange entry ramp towards Dohles Rocks Road.

The auxiliary lanes are intended to increase capacity between the two interchanges and improve traffic flow along this section of the highway. The project is also designed to improve local highway access and reduce pressure on nearby roads.

Murrumba Downs Upgrade — Photo Credit: TMR Qld

Local Intersections to Be Reworked

Stage 1 includes new ramp-metering signals on the northbound entry to manage vehicles joining the highway.

The existing signalised intersection on Dohles Rocks Road will be upgraded to accommodate traffic movements associated with the northbound ramp. A separate signalised intersection will be constructed for the new southbound exit.

Access to Goodrich Road East from its existing intersection with Dohles Rocks Road will close as part of the southbound ramp works. Access will instead be available through the Silvereye Drive intersection.

New noise barriers will also be installed, while existing barriers within the project area will be upgraded.

$290 Million Works Across Murrumba Downs and Griffin

The Stage 1 works are located in Murrumba Downs and Griffin, where the corridor connects local residential areas with the Bruce Highway.

The project has a total investment of $290 million. The Australian Government is contributing $232 million, while the State is providing $58 million.

Early works began in June 2024, with main construction starting in April 2025. The business case was completed in May 2023, detailed design was released in June 2024 and the main construction contract was awarded in January 2025.

The works form part of the wider Bruce Highway Upgrade Program, which covers safety, flood resilience and capacity projects between Brisbane and Cairns.

Future Stages Remain Subject to Funding

Possible later stages include collector-distributor roads on both sides of the Bruce Highway and upgrades to the Anzac Avenue interchange.

A shared pedestrian and bicycle path is also proposed for the eastern side of the highway between Dohles Rocks Road and Anzac Avenue.

Detailed design and construction for these future stages have not been confirmed and remain dependent on further approvals and funding.

Published 22-July-2026

Albany Creek And Bray Park Swimmers Return To Commonwealth Stage

Albany Creek and Bray Park will both have a place in the Commonwealth Games pool this week, as Moreton Bay swimmers Sam Short and Kirralee Hayes return to race for Australia in Glasgow. Short is a former Albany Creek swimmer, while Hayes was a founding member of Genesis Aquatics at Genesis Christian College in Bray Park.

Short arrives with a crowded freestyle program and medals from some of international swimming’s largest competitions. Hayes returns after stepping away from competitive swimming for two years before rebuilding her place in the Australian team.

Short Takes Albany Creek Connection Into Four Events

Short will contest the men’s 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle events, with a possible place in Australia’s 4x200m freestyle relay team.

The 22-year-old is competing at his second Commonwealth Games after winning the 1500m freestyle and taking silver in the 400m at Birmingham 2022.

His results since then include three medals at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka. Short won the 400m freestyle in 3 minutes 40.68 seconds, claimed silver in the 800m and finished third in the 1500m.

Sam Short — *Photo Credit:* *Commonwealth Games Australia*/Instagram

His 800m performance also broke the Australian record previously held by Grant Hackett.

Illness affected Short at his next two major international meets. He was recovering from gastroenteritis during the Paris Olympics, where he finished fourth in the 400m freestyle, ninth in the 800m heats and 13th in the 1500m heats.

At the 2025 World Championships in Singapore, he won silver in the 400m before withdrawing from the 800m final because of foodborne illness. He later returned to finish fourth in the 1500m final.

Short recorded 3 minutes 40.67 seconds in the 400m at the Australian trials for Glasgow, placing him close to Ian Thorpe’s Commonwealth record of 3 minutes 40.08 seconds from 2002.

The Glasgow program will also feature the men’s 800m freestyle for the first time.

Bray Park Program Remains Part Of Hayes’ Return

Hayes’ pathway began at Genesis Aquatics, where she was among the program’s founding members.

Vision-impaired since birth, the Brisbane-born swimmer took up competitive swimming at 11 and went on to represent Australia at the Tokyo Paralympics.

Her Commonwealth Games debut followed in Birmingham, where she earned her first international medal by placing third in the women’s 50m freestyle S13 in 28.24 seconds.

Kirralee Hayes — *Photo Credit: Commonwealth Games Australia*

Hayes stepped away from competitive swimming between 2023 and 2025 while dealing with challenges involving her mental health and identity. Her interest in returning developed during 2025, before contact from a former coach helped bring her back to the pool.

The 22-year-old now trains at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra under Yuriy Vdovychenko. She also continues to work with Genesis Aquatics coach Rick Pendleton when she returns to Brisbane.

Glasgow will bring an expanded program for Hayes. Along with returning to the 50m freestyle S13, she will contest the 100m freestyle S13.

When The Moreton Bay Swimmers Race

Hayes will begin with the women’s 100m freestyle S13 heats on Friday, July 24 from 7:30pm AEST. The final is scheduled for early Saturday, July 25.

Her 50m freestyle S13 heats will be held on Tuesday, July 28, followed by the final early on Wednesday, July 29.

Short’s first individual event will be the 400m freestyle, with heats on Saturday, July 25 and the final early the following morning.

The 800m heats and final will follow on July 27 and 28. His 200m and 1500m freestyle heats are both scheduled for Wednesday, July 29, with the finals to be held early on Thursday, July 30.

Published 20-July-2026

$50-M Country Club Hotel Takes Shape In Strathpine

Photo Credit: The Country Club Hotel/Facebook

Construction is advancing on the $50 million Country Club Hotel in Strathpine, with the main structures taking shape and recreation, fitness and food tenants secured ahead of an estimated early 2027 opening.

The five-hectare development at 90 Gympie Road has reached a visible stage of construction, with the frameworks and roofs of its main buildings now in place.

Work on the car park and entrance is also being finalised. About 1000 piers support the car park as work continues across the site.

Country Club Hotel Tenants Confirmed

Area 51 was among the first operators secured for the complex and is planning a 6000sqm indoor play centre.

Its proposed facilities include climbing walls, a trampoline park, a high ropes course and a ninja park. Earlier project plans also list multi-storey playgrounds, large inflatables, slides and sports courts.

Area 51 already operates a centre at Underwood that hosts activities for children and adults, including birthday parties and school excursions.

Fitness Cartel has also been confirmed for the Strathpine development after recently opening centres at Morayfield and Kippa-Ring.

Guzman y Gomez will be located within the adjoining food precinct. Further tenants are expected to be announced as construction continues, while additional leasing spaces remain available.

Comiskey Group — *Photo Credit: Comiskey*

Sport And Hospitality Facilities Planned

The Country Club Hotel is planned as a venue for both recreational activities and watching sport.

The proposed entertainment facilities include an arcade room, eight bowling lanes, two pickleball courts, two virtual baseball simulators, four karaoke rooms and two half-sized basketball courts.

Plans for the hotel also include indoor and outdoor dining areas, several bars and an outdoor beer garden stage for regular live music.

An American-style sports bar is expected to screen sporting events on a large high-definition display. A steakhouse and barbecue pit are also included in the plans.

Name Retains A Strathpine Connection

The development takes its name from an earlier Country Club Hotel built in Strathpine during the late 1950s.

The former hotel operated as a pub and wedding venue before being demolished about 15 to 20 years ago.

The name also connects the development with the Comiskey family’s earlier sporting facilities in the suburb. Paul Comiskey opened a Strathpine squash centre with a gym and indoor cricket facility in 1974.

That complex was expanded in 1988 to include what the group describes as Australia’s first indoor skate park.

Paul Comiskey’s sons, Rob and David, grew up near Strathpine. David Comiskey’s first job was at the liquor barn of the former Country Club Hotel.

Leasing inquiries for the new development can be directed to Michael Manis at leasing@comiskey.com.au.

Published 20-July-2026

Local creativity takes centre stage at Pine Rivers Art Gallery

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay Galleries and Museums

Albany Creek and Strathpine locals don’t have to travel far to see some of the region’s best emerging and established artistic talent, with the Moreton Bay Art Prize 2026 now on show at Pine Rivers Art Gallery.

The annual exhibition brings together 36 shortlisted artists from across the City of Moreton Bay, offering a snapshot of the people, places and stories shaping the region’s creative community.

This year’s first prize has been awarded to Elimbah-based artist Rachel South for Sun-Kissed Chestnut (2025), a richly detailed painting that turns something as familiar as hair into a striking and almost landscape-like work.

A closer look at the everyday

South’s painting is part of an ongoing series exploring hair as both a personal detail and a broader visual landscape. In Sun-Kissed Chestnut, warm copper and chestnut tones are used to capture strands of hair in close detail, creating a work that feels both intimate and expansive.

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay Galleries and Museums

Judge Dr Simon Degroot praised the painting for the way it transforms an everyday subject into something monumental. He noted South’s technical skill in capturing light, texture and movement, and said the work encourages viewers to slow down and look more closely.

South’s wider practice explores connections between nature, the body and emotion, drawing inspiration from the natural environments of the Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast regions.

Stories that feel close to home

While the winning work is a highlight, the broader exhibition offers plenty for local visitors to connect with.

Second prize was awarded to Lucie Verhelst for The Dance of Compassion (2026), a textile work that invites people to think about empathy, vulnerability and the quiet strength found in human connection.

Third prize went to Redcliffe artist Blair Garland for Greetings from Redcliffe (2025), a handmade album featuring 19 painted portraits of local homes. The work reflects on the changing face of suburban neighbourhoods and the distinctive houses that can disappear as areas grow and redevelop. For residents in Albany Creek, Strathpine and nearby suburbs, that theme may feel especially familiar.

Highly commended works included Belinda Krumm’s Garland of Beads (2025), a large-scale ceramic installation shaped by 108 community wishes for the future; Shan Michaels’ Narratives We Wear (2026), a textile work exploring identity, connection and belonging; and Mel Brady’s Grasp the sparrow’s tail (2026), a personal reflection on grief, family and memory.

A local outing worth making

Mayor Peter Flannery said the Art Prize highlights the depth of creative talent across Moreton Bay and shows how arts and culture help build connected, vibrant communities.

For Albany Creek and Strathpine residents, the exhibition is a simple way to support local artists and enjoy a cultural outing close to home. Visitors can also have their say by voting in the People’s Choice Award before Saturday 18 July.

The Moreton Bay Art Prize 2026 exhibition is on display at Pine Rivers Art Gallery, 130-134 Gympie Rd, Strathpine QLD 4500, Australia.

Published – 17 July 2026

Fraser McReight Scores Twice As Wallabies Fall To France

Former Albany Creek Brumbies junior Fraser McReight produced one of Australia’s best performances, scoring twice before halftime as the Wallabies fell 42-26 to France at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

The Queensland Reds flanker played a leading role in Australia’s strongest period of the match, helping turn an early deficit into a 21-12 halftime lead. France then responded with 30 second-half points to claim victory in Round 2 of the Nations Championship.

McReight Helps Australia Into The Lead

France opened the scoring after just two minutes when Emmanuel Meafou crossed from close range and Maxime Lucu converted.

Australia was forced into an early change when hooker Josh Nasser left the field with a head injury. Brandon Paenga-Amosa came on and soon scored the Wallabies’ first try, with Ryan Lonergan adding the conversion.

France restored its advantage through debutant Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, who gathered a Romain Ntamack kick to score in the corner.

The match began to swing Australia’s way when Meafou was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Rob Valetini.

McReight scored from close range before crossing again from a driving maul seven minutes later. Lonergan converted both tries, sending the Wallabies into halftime with a nine-point lead.

France Take Over After Halftime

Lucu reduced the margin with an early penalty before Tom Wright was sent to the sin bin.

France then began to find space more regularly. Grandidier-Nkanang collected another attacking kick for his second try, while Ntamack cut through the Wallabies’ defence to put the visitors in front.

Florian Verhaeghe and Theo Attissogbe added further tries, and Lucu’s goal-kicking kept the scoreboard moving as France pulled clear.

Jeremy Williams scored late for Australia, but the Wallabies were unable to close the gap.

From Albany Creek To Test Rugby

McReight’s two tries were one of the few positives for Australia on a difficult night.

Before establishing himself with the Queensland Reds and the Wallabies, he played junior rugby with the Albany Creek Brumbies. His performance against France offered another reminder of the pathway from local junior rugby to the international stage.

The result leaves Australia still searching for its first win of the Nations Championship, while France leaves Brisbane with a convincing away victory.

Published 11-July-2026