City of Moreton Bay Archives - Albany Creek News

Arana Hills Playground Expands with Sensory Haven for Low-Vision Residents

Arana Hills is now home to a groundbreaking half-million-dollar sensory playground at Leslie Patrick Park, giving children and adults with low or no vision a completely custom-built environment to explore safely.

The City of Moreton Bay has expanded its popular inclusive recreation area with a new section dedicated entirely to tactile and auditory experiences. The community is invited to celebrate the completion of the project during a free event on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, from 10 a.m. to noon.

The fresh addition connects seamlessly to the original award-winning play area that was completed in late 2019, creating a massive, unified space for the region.

Rather than guessing what families needed, planners went straight to the experts. The council worked closely with Vision Australia, local residents who have lived experience with vision loss, and clinical specialists such as speech pathologists and occupational therapists.

This team effort resulted in highly specialised equipment designed for easy navigation and sensory feedback. The new layout features a braille trail that guides visitors between play areas, a vibration post, and overhead optic sensory panels. Visitors can also enjoy a beehive cubby, pavement art, quiet hangout zones, and gardens filled with fragrant, sensory plants.

Local leaders view the project as a major practical step toward making the region the most accessible city in Queensland. Mayor Peter Flannery noted that the upgrades deliver on a commitment to inclusive community spaces, adding that the new elements provide valuable education and communication opportunities alongside quiet spaces.

Councillor Matt Constance also expressed gratitude to the advocates and therapists who shaped the design, pointing out that their practical feedback will influence how the city builds future parks. The latest improvements ensure the park remains a central place where friends and families of all ages and abilities can connect and enjoy the outdoors.

Updated 8-July-2026

Pine Rivers Heritage Museum Among Highlights of Moreton Bay Holiday Program

Families in Albany Creek will have plenty of opportunities to keep children busy during the winter school holidays, with Moreton Bay preparing a wide range of free activities across libraries, museums, galleries and recreation venues.

From farm-themed experiences at Pine Rivers Heritage Museum to visits from alpacas and babydoll lambs, this year’s program offers a mix of hands-on learning, creative workshops and active recreation designed to appeal to children of different ages and interests.

The winter holiday schedule includes dozens of activities aimed at helping young people stay engaged during the school break while giving families affordable options close to home.

Farmyard Family Fun Day returns to Pine Rivers Heritage Museum

One of the standout attractions for families in the Pine Rivers region is the popular Farmyard Family Fun Day at Pine Rivers Heritage Museum.

The event has become a regular feature of school holiday programs and gives children an opportunity to connect with farm-themed experiences while exploring one of the area’s key cultural attractions.

The museum will also host other family-focused activities during the holiday period, helping children learn through hands-on experiences that combine history, creativity and play.

Alpacas and lambs heading to library events

Children will also have the opportunity to learn more about natural fibres and wool production through City of Moreton Bay’s Winter Woollies program. The initiative will bring alpacas and babydoll lambs to selected libraries, where families can discover how wool is processed and used in everyday products.

Live demonstrations of carding and spinning will show how raw fleece is prepared and transformed into yarn, giving children a closer look at traditional fibre-processing techniques.

The educational sessions are designed to encourage curiosity while helping children better understand the connection between farming and the products they use.

Creative workshops encourage curiosity and imagination

Libraries across the city will host a range of activities that encourage children to try something new during the holidays. The program includes beginner 3D printing workshops, improv sessions, magic shows and circus-themed experiences.

These activities provide opportunities for children to explore creativity, develop confidence and build new skills outside the classroom environment. The program aims to cater to different interests while helping young people remain engaged during the break.

Sport and recreation round out the holiday program

For children who enjoy physical activity, City of Moreton Bay’s Active Holidays program includes a broad selection of sporting and recreational experiences. Activities include target archery, hip hop dance, tennis, junior boxing, multicultural games and survival skills sessions.

Mayor Peter Flannery said Council’s school holiday program was designed to help young people stay active, explore new interests, spend time with family and create positive memories during the winter break.

Want to go? Check the full details, locations, and booking information below:

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS – LIBRARIES

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS – GALLERIES & MUSEUMS

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS – ACTIVE PLAY

Published 24-June-2026

Moreton Bay Expands Koala Road Safety Program After Successful 12-Month Trial

The City of Moreton Bay has installed 49 permanent wildlife escape hatches across active koala corridors in Joyner, Petrie, Lawnton, Cashmere, Bray Park and Griffin, as part of a coordinated effort to reduce wildlife road deaths.

Read: Koalas and Community: Albany Creek Scouts Lend a Hand at Élan, Warner

The installations are spread across several roads in these northern suburbs. Seven hatches were placed at Youngs Crossing in Joyner, four along Samsonvale Road at Joyner, and two along Samsonvale Road at Bray Park.

In Cashmere, five were installed on Kremzow Road, four on Lilley Road, and three on Old Northern Road. Gympie Road received nine hatches at Petrie and two at Lawnton. Griffin was covered with two hatches each on Henry Road and Dohles Rocks Road.

One of the fauna escape hatches (Photo credit: City of Moreton Bay)

The devices, known as Fauna Escape Hatches, were developed by local business Endeavour Veterinary Ecology (EVE) in partnership with Council. Fitted into roadside fencing, they are one-way egress points that allow koalas and other native animals to exit road corridors into nearby bushland, while preventing re-entry.

The rollout follows a successful Australia-first trial of 16 hatches across seven Council-managed roads. Over the 12-month trial period, no koala fatalities were recorded at wildlife crossings where the devices had been installed. Camera monitoring showed that koalas, echidnas and bandicoots were using the hatches to exit road corridors into bushland, according to the City of Moreton Bay.

Mayor Peter Flannery said Council was proud to be early adopters of the Australian-first device. “We are committed to protecting our wildlife including the iconic koala, and EVE’s fauna hatches are helping us do just that,” he said. “The trial showed us that these hatches provide effective exits for native animals when navigating roads, preventing them and road users from being injured or killed.”

EVE Environmental Manager for Technology, Natasha Banville, said the program had grown out of the original trial through monitoring and design refinement. “What started as a trial to understand how koalas navigate roads has evolved into the Fauna Escape Hatch program through ongoing monitoring, design refinement and collaboration with Council,” she said. The hatches have since been verified by the Infrastructure Sustainability Council and are becoming a standard feature in road infrastructure projects across Queensland.

Read: AI Drone Mapping Revolutionises Conservation Efforts for Koalas in Albany Creek

Funding was secured through Queensland’s SEQ Koala Threat Management Initiatives (KTMI) program. Council is also trialling larger hatches for macropods on Bribie Island and continuing to install seasonal wildlife warning signs at collision hotspots during peak breeding and dispersal periods.

Further installations are planned for Kallangur and Caboolture. The City has also granted a 10-year community lease for the Moreton Bay Wildlife Hospital, which will operate as the region’s first dedicated wildlife hospital on Council-allocated land.

Published 27-April-2026

Albany Creek Swimmers Prepare for Major Aquatic Centre Overhaul

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay

Thousands of local lap swimmers and families in Albany Creek are bracing for a massive logistical reshuffle as the officials initiate a top-to-bottom refurbishment of their highly trafficked aquatic centre.

The Scope of the Overhaul

Work on the extensive upgrade is scheduled to begin on 5 May 2026, marking a significant investment in the longevity and safety of the popular community hub. The renovation project will require the total closure of the indoor program pool for approximately seven weeks, while work on the outdoor 50-metre pool will extend until mid-August.

During this time, construction crews will strip away the existing pool shell finishes, repaint the surfaces, and completely replace all underwater tiles, including the specific finger grip tiles located at both ends of the 50-metre pool. Further structural updates include the installation of compliant depth and warning tiles, new wet-deck grates, and the replacement of backstroke anchors, posts, and stair handrails.

The moveable bulkhead will also undergo a complete refurbishment, alongside improvements to the surrounding concourse and pool furniture. Council representatives stated that these improvements are part of an ongoing effort to maintain and modernise crucial community infrastructure, ensuring high-quality facilities for the long term.

Keeping the Community Afloat

Rather than leaving members high and dry during the months-long closure, facility management has arranged a comprehensive relocation strategy to keep the community active. Swim-only members and visit pass holders are being offered seamless access to both the Ferny Hills Pool and the Lawnton Aquatic Centre at no additional cost.

Those who prefer to stay dry also have the option to temporarily convert their swimming passes into gym memberships for the duration of the construction, while others can choose to simply suspend their accounts until the upgrades are complete. Management staff noted their commitment to clear communication and a smooth transition throughout the renovation period, acknowledging the disruption while focusing on the long-term benefits for the area.

Squad Relocations and Upcoming Plans

The reshuffle requires significant coordination for local sporting groups, particularly the competitive swimming squads. To maintain consistency in their training schedules, Junior, Intermediate, State, and National squads are being temporarily relocated across the Ferny Hills and Lawnton facilities. These relocations are carefully split between morning and afternoon sessions to accommodate the large influx of athletes. For casual fitness enthusiasts, morning SwimFit sessions will be integrated into existing groups at Ferny Hills, though evening sessions are temporarily paused.

Meanwhile, facility leaders are actively finalising alternative arrangements for GOswim lessons and aqua aerobics classes. These plans include potentially hosting classes at partner pools and introducing gentle, land-based fitness sessions directly at the Albany Creek location, ensuring that all age groups and fitness levels remain engaged while their primary pool receives its much-needed facelift.

Published Date 31-March-2026

South Pine River Shared Pathway Progresses in Albany Creek

Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay

The City of Moreton Bay is progressing with the Albany Creek Active Transport Project, delivering a shared pathway along the South Pine River to enhance connectivity for walkers and cyclists.

Connecting Albany Creek Through Active Travel

The Albany Creek Active Transport Project forms part of the City of Moreton Bay’s plan to improve safe and accessible active transport. The project will create a continuous shared pathway through parklands near the South Pine River, linking key destinations such as schools, shops, and local facilities on the eastern side of South Pine Road.

Community consultation and preliminary design were completed in 2021, followed by detailed design finalised in 2024.

Project Features and Scope

The project covers around 1.5 kilometres of new and upgraded pathways from Faheys Road West to James Cash Court via Stanton Reserve, extending to Old Northern Road. The 2 to 2.5-metre-wide pathway is designed for shared use by pedestrians and cyclists, supported by landscaping and lighting upgrades within Stanton Reserve.

Construction Timeline

The works are being delivered in three stages, subject to weather and contractor availability:

Stage 3: October 2025
Stage 2: November 2025
Stage 1: February 2026

The total construction period is expected to take around 30 weeks. Stage 1 will build a new path along Kingfisher Street and Barwing Court; Stage 2 will upgrade existing paths, including a new ramp to South Pine Road; and Stage 3 will improve the southern section of James Cash Court, connecting to the Albany Creek Road roundabout.

Community Benefits

The South Pine River shared pathway will link homes, schools, and recreational areas, providing safer, more convenient routes for walking and cycling. Landscaping and lighting improvements will enhance visibility and usability while maintaining the natural environment of Stanton Reserve.

Upon completion across 2025–2026, the shared path will strengthen Albany Creek’s local connections and contribute to a broader active transport network across the City of Moreton Bay.

Published 30-Sep-2025