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Albany Creek in First Vaccine Rollout for Queensland

Albany Creek has been included among the first 41 locations in Queensland that will carry out Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine program commencing on the week of 21 February 2021.

Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt announced the start of the rollout of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, with priority for aged and disability care residents, as well as the facility workers.

There are over 240 aged and disability care facilities across the country and the Federal Government expects to vaccinate all residents and care workers in the next six weeks.

Mr Hunt confirmed that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines have arrived following approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Supplies of AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccines, on the other hand, are expected to be in Australia by March.

“These are two outstanding vaccines that will be available to people in Australia free of charge,” Mr Hunt said.

“The vaccination program will save and protect lives. Both of our vaccines will prevent serious illness. That is our primary goal.”

Along with the initial rollout, Queensland will activate three vaccine hubs at the Gold Coast University Hospital, Cairns Hospital and the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Woolloongabba.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that 100 vaccines will be given to Gold Coast by Monday, 22 Feb 2021, whilst Princess Alexandra Hospital will receive the vaccines on Wednesday and Cairns will get the vials on Friday.

Ms Palaszczuk also said that rollout will start slowly and individuals will be asked to go to their specific centres. As the next supplies arrive, the hubs will be expanded.

The COVID vaccine will start to roll out in Queensland from next week.

Here’s how it will work 👇 pic.twitter.com/Nkbh4OVG1t
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) February 17, 2021

Meanwhile, border, quarantine and frontline healthcare workers are also part of the first rollout. Health Department head Brendan Murphy said that the vaccination program is expected to be the “single-biggest, and most complex, vaccination task” with many players involved.

Check the full list of vaccination locations for the first rollout via the Department of Health.

Albany Creek Skate Park New Design Needs Your Feedback

The Albany Creek skate park on Old Northern Road, along with the skate parks in Morayfield and Deception Bay, are getting a major redesign.

In line with this development, Moreton Bay Council has opened a feedback page where residents could share their inputs before work on these outdoor community facilities could proceed.

Mayor Peter Flannery said that $3.8 million has been set aside for this project under the Council’s Park and Sporting Facilities. He hopes that many skaters, BMX riders and scooters will share their ideas and comments about the designs since they will be using and enjoying the facilities the most.

Albany Creek Skate Park — Photo Credit: Brennan Gergory Hatton/Google Maps

Mr Flannery said that the range of designs for all three parks was based on 400 survey responses Council received during the initial consultation process in 2020.

The community told Council that they want a family-friendly skate park, with “adequate lighting and shade” and challenging obstacles for the skaters, scooters and riders to improve their skills.

The mayor also said that skate parks in North Lakes, Caboolture, Bray Park and Redcliffe will be up for consultation as well whilst these initial projects are underway.

The Council will need your say about the Albany Creek skate park design until Friday, 26 Feb 2021.

White Horse Ranch: VEND Marketplace Owners Open New Cafe in Albany Creek

Brisbane northside locals will soon have a new watering hole in Albany Creek when the cafe, White Horse Ranch, starts serving customers from breakfast to dinner.

Found at the corner of Ferguson Street, the location of White Horse Ranch is a familiar foodie spot. It was once the home of the burger joint Fritzenberger and The Coffee Club from years ago.

Now the cafe owners, Amy Hinschen and Kyle Steel, hope that their new venture will become an amazing place for families and friends to meet up, catch up, dine and hang around with their dogs.

The partners chose the name White Horse Ranch because it reflects the “feel and style” they’ve wanted for their cafe with its white beams, gorgeous indoor landscape mural and large outdoor space bringing all that laidback vibe.

“It’s great to finally see something a little unique and different from the usual cafes on offer around the area,” a local said. “Well done guys for understanding what we’ve been missing out here in the Northern suburbs! Looking forward to a lovely change of scenery from the home office!”

The cafe also has a function area and homeware section for merchandise that will be regularly curated by the pair. They are also behind Vend, the Virginia warehouse for small businesses with fantastic artisanal finds, including heaps of indoor plants.

Amy and Kyle plan to open White Horse Ranch in late January, which will provide 10 new jobs for locals. The menu hasn’t been unveiled but the partners promised there will be vegan options.

For updates on its opening day and other cafe deals, follow their Facebook page.

Albany Creek Community Centre Makeover to Finish by April

Upgrades are now underway at the Albany Creek Community Centre to improve and increase the facility’s usefulness, and work on the site is expected to finish in early April.

Mayor Peter Flannery said that he is expecting to unveil the “new and improved” centre by Easter “with greater functionality, accessibility and appeal to encourage more people to use this new facility.”

The Albany Creek Community Centre overhaul will include the addition of a kitchenette that will allow the community to cook and prepare meals for their events. The State Government allocated $210,000 for this half a million project that will provide more businesses and jobs necessary for COVID-19 economic recovery.

“Through the COVID Works for Queensland funding, we’re able to fast-track essential infrastructure upgrades, like the Albany Creek Community Centre, which is used and loved by many in the local community,” Member for Pine Rivers Nikki Boyd said. “This program is specifically designed to help Moreton Bay Regional Council get their communities back on their feet as quickly as possible during the coronavirus pandemic.

“While there’s no doubt Queenslanders are resilient, I know this project will create local jobs to support local families put dinner on the table each night.”

Some 10 different groups use the centre on a weekly basis for activities like dance, yoga, martial arts, fitness and enrichment classes. The venue is also hired for parties, training, meetings and other functions.

“This project has been guided by feedback from residents, the centre managers and local community groups that have used the facility in the past, to give the tired, cramped centre a much-needed makeover,” Councillor Cath Tonks said.

“I couldn’t be more excited by this announcement – I’m proud to be part of a Council that acts on the concerns of its residents and I want to recognise the efforts of those who advocated for this upgrade.”

Kimini Constructions in Brendale won the tender for this project.

The Café for The Common Good in Albany Creek Wins Outstanding Social Enterprise

Have you walked by The Café for The Common Good inside Albany Creek Central after you’ve done your grocery shopping? Did you know that this cafe is a social enterprise that helps fund medical researches at a few hospitals around Brisbane?

For their work in “maximising every donor dollar,” The Café for The Common Good won the ISPT Award for Outstanding Social Enterprise in the 2020 Lord Mayor’s Business Awards.

The cafe serves barista-made Merlo coffee, Lick ice cream and light meals or snacks to take home. Open daily as early as 7 a.m., the small eatery is near the shopping centre’s Woolworths outlet. Most of the cafe’s profits, after operating and administration costs, go into life-saving medical research.

“Last year our cafes collectively did some $800,000 which we turned into nearly $5.2million in medical research,” The Common Good Retail Manager Bryce Liyanage said. “Right here in Brisbane, we have 120 researchers, scientists and biomedical engineers tackling problems like COVID in an ICU setting, and a horrific disease called silicosis that’s affecting our tradies. And we’re so proud of the teams we’re backing – one coffee at a time.”

The Café for The Common Good has three sites within The Prince Charles Hospital in Chermside, and one outlet each the Caboolture Hospital and the Kedron Emergency Services Complex.

The store at Albany Creek Central is the first location outside of the hospital environment. The cafe also provides catering services.

“The Common Good sets itself apart from other charities with our social enterprise model,” Mr Liyanage said. “The profits earned from our cafes cover our operating and administration costs, so that all funds raised go exactly where donors expect them to – into our life-saving medical research.”

“It’s a real honour to receive this award amongst such deserving finalists. We’re really grateful to Site8 at Albany Creek Central who have provided the site, and our suppliers particularly Merlo, who have been so generous.”

Currently, the cafe is supporting researches on COVID-19, heart disease, dementia and silicosis.

Brendale to Open a $3.7 million BMX track in 2021

Construction of the long-awaited BMX track in Brendale will soon be underway after Moreton Bay Regional Council recently awarded the tender to a contractor. The track, proposed in 2018, will be built in Nolan Park and will become the new home of the Pine Rivers BMX Club after its target completion by the end of 2021.

This project will not just have a national grade competition BMX track but also a new clubhouse, lights for nighttime games, ample seating for spectators, and parking spaces for all track guests.

Designed to sustain the club’s growth and to be enjoyed by the entire region, this new BMX track is seen as an economic boost for Brendale.

Photo Credit: Moreton Bay Regional Council

JMac Constructions PTY LTD. will begin work on-site in January next year, which is expected to create 40 new jobs.

In August 2020, the Queensland government announced it will help fund the project as part of the Unite and Recover Community Stimulus Package.

“A new home for Pine Rivers BMX will provide not only a new facility for the club, but a new standard for the Moreton Bay region,” Member for Pine Rivers Nikki Boyd said. “The State Government funding means this project can be built sooner,” she added.

“The club will have more capacity to meet its needs for the long term and will see long-term economic stimulus when it hosts regional, state and national competitions. We know Pine Rivers BMX already is the home to world champions, we hope this facility will see many more local stars in the future,” Ms Boyd said.

Mayor Peter Flannery thanked the State Government for contributing to the project.

“The sport already has a strong foothold in our region, but this facility will set it up for decades to come and make Moreton Bay a BMX destination,” Mr Flannery said. “It will have massive flow-on effects for the local economy too, by creating the opportunity to host regional, state and national standard competitions.”

Strathpine Streets Closed as Dwayne Johnson’s ‘Young Rock’ Begins Filming

Some Hollywood stardust is spreading across Strathpine as Bells Pocket Road, Dobson Drive and Fox Street have been ordered closed for the filming of the U.S. TV show Young Rock.

Burke Street and Weston Street in Coorparoo will also be temporarily inaccessible because of the series.

Based on the life of actor and professional wrestler Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson, Young Rock has been in production at the Hemmnant facility of Screen Queensland since the beginning of October.

The show was supposed to be filming in the U.S. before COVID-19. Production moved to Brisbane following a $19 million deal between the government and NBC. The series is expected to continue filming in Queensland’s southeast this month.

According to reports, Council representatives have knocked on houses and sent letters to homeowners in areas where access might be affected when the cameras are rolling.

Minister for Health & Ambulance Services Steven Miles also issued a clarification on rumors that the Hollywood superstar is in town.

“Filming of the ‘Young Rock’ production did commence in Strathpine today,” Mr Miles wrote on Facebook. “All cast and crew have completed 14 days quarantine in a hotel environment under a quarantine management plan approved by the Chief Health Officer.

“Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnson is not part of the filming cohort and the production manager has confirmed he is not in Queensland. Rumours he has entered under an alias aren’t true. I’m told there is a driver that is part of the production crew who has some resemblance to ‘the Rock’ – this may be where the confusion has arisen.”

Young Rock stars Australian actor Uli Latukefu as Mr Johnson in his college years, before he was recruited to play football for the University of Miami. The series will have 11 episodes charting the Hollywood superstar’s formative years.

The show also stars New Zealand’s Stacey Leilua as Mr Johnson’s mother, Ata. Mr Johnson is one of the executive producers.

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Blessings from the top as we begin the next phase of our #youngrock journey this week 🎬✨ @therock Manuia! 🥃🙌🏽🇼🇸 #teremana #tequilatuesday #teremanatuesday 🧡 @nbcyoungrock @teremana

A post shared by Stacey Leilua (@staceyleilua) on Oct 12, 2020 at 11:17pm PDT

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Peter Flannery said that there are over 100 cast and crew members from the show, which will help boost the local economy.

Fritzenberger Albany Creek Launches Its Mushroom Kiev Burger

Burger lovers and foodies have a new staple to try at Fritzenberger Albany Creek beginning the 14th of Oct 2020 as the store launches its Mushroom Kiev Burger.

A catering staple in Soviet cities in the ’90s, the Kiev burger’s cornerstone is its garlic butter flavouring. Fritzenberger Albany Creek‘s Mushroom Kiev Burger is prepared with house-made garlic and parsley butter, which enhances the taste of the grass-fed beef patty covered in panko crumbs.

Completing this ensemble are the burger’s Swiss cheese-filled portobello mushroom, American mustard and aioli.

Burgers are best enjoyed with beer and Fritzenberger brews small batches of unique-tasting drinks for your drinking pleasure. Occasionally, the store offers limited editions from international breweries. So, before you head to the store, you can check what’s on the tap in real-time up via their website.

Fritzenberger recently celebrated its one year anniversary at the corner of Albany Creek Road and Ferguson Street. The restaurant reopened in July after 129 days of lockdown due to the pandemic.

Strathpine Taco Bell Construction to Proceed After Denied Development

The planned construction of a Taco Bell outlet on Stanley East Street in Strathpine is going to proceed, following the approval of the appeal in September 2020.

The Planning and Environment Court has rescinded the development application’s denial, which happened in February, and ordered “the Development Application be approved subject to conditions.”

Documents under Development Application 2019 / 38756 / V24P showed that Moreton Bay Council refused because the proposal’s future land development wasn’t maximised. Complaints also stated that the construction would become a flood hazard around the areas on Gympie Rd, Stanley St East and Railway Ave.

ICP Developments Pty Ltd filed an appeal with a new building plan showing how the construction will be able to address and meet the conditions set by the Council.

Apart from Taco Bell, a service station with eight fuel pumps will be built at the corner of Railway Ave and Gympie Rd. The site will have around 19 carparks and ample access to the streets.

The development application was first lodged in mid-2019.

This will be the second Taco Bell in the Moreton Bay region, after the opening of the North Lakes store in 2018. Another outlet is also being planned within a shopping centre expansion on Morayfield Rd.

Collins Food Limited aims to have at least 100 stores in Australia within a four-year period.

DannyBoys Opens Brand New Store In Brendale

The food and hospitality industry may be struggling in recent months due to the pandemic but this hasn’t held back DannyBoys from opening a brand new gourmet sandwich shop in Brendale.

The store, located at South Pine Road, serves the same famous “rockstar” sandwiches the food chain is known for, using authentic and flavourful ingredients that you don’t normally come across fast food joints.

It’s no wonder that business is picking up at the newly-opened outlet despite the public health restrictions. For who can resist DannyBoys’ filling sandwich meals and tasty soups?

Photo Credit: DannyBoys Rockstar Sandwiches/Facebook

“We’ve seen a flurry of customers including familiar faces and brand new fans trying our signature sandwiches, homemade hearty soups and our delicious selection of sweet treats for the first time,” Daniel McKennariey, the Founder and Director of DannyBoys Rockstar Sandwiches, said.

Coinciding with the opening of DannyBoys in Brendale is the launch of the brand’s free app for faster online ordering. Users of the app may start earning points and loyalty rewards to get discounts on their next orders.

The sandwich shop is also set to open more stores in Brisbane, according to James Young, the Head of Franchise Sales and Development at DC Strategy.

“While there was a slight pause over March and April, we’re now back into the swing of things with excellent franchise partners moving forward in key locations across Queensland,” Mr. Young said.

Possible new locations are being eyed in West End, Chermside and Carindale for 2021.