Local schools and young artists have until 1 October 2026 to submit their best work for a chance to feature in a professional-grade gallery exhibition held at the Albany Creek Community Centre.
The competition aims to bridge the gap between school art rooms and professional exhibition spaces. Students living in or attending schools within the City of Moreton Bay have the chance to submit a wide variety of works, including traditional paintings, drawings, photography, digital art, ceramics, and large-scale installations.
By removing the barrier of entry fees, the program seeks to ensure that every young person, regardless of their background, has an equal opportunity to build their confidence and gain public recognition for their creative efforts.
The awards structure recognises the hard work of students through both individual and collaborative categories. For individual entries, the competition is divided by school year levels and artistic categories, with winners receiving cash prizes, trophies, and certificates.
Schools are also encouraged to enter collaborative projects, which offer a unique chance for groups of three or more students to work together. Winning schools in this category receive a $1000 scholarship, providing them with the funds to host professional art workshops for their students.
Beyond the judging panel, the event invites the public to have a direct say in the outcome through the People’s Choice Award. Visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to browse the gallery, reflect on the different perspectives presented by the students, and vote for their favourite piece. The creator of the most popular work will receive a dedicated trophy, a certificate, and a prize pack of high-quality art materials worth up to $100.
City of Moreton Bay Mayor Peter Flannery noted that the event provides a meaningful way for young people to connect with the local arts scene. He added that the program is an important avenue for students to share their imaginative ideas, explore their own identities, and receive feedback from the broader community, highlighting the depth of talent currently growing across the region.
Murrumba Downs motorists who use the northbound Dohles Rocks Road exit are being advised to plan around three weekend closures linked to Bruce Highway upgrade works.
The northbound Dohles Rocks Road exit ramp, Exit 130, is scheduled to close for three successive weekends in July and early August.
The closures are planned from 10am Friday to 4am Monday on 17–20 July, 24–27 July and 31 July–3 August. The ramp may reopen earlier if the scheduled works are completed ahead of time.
Motorists who normally use the Dohles Rocks Road northbound exit will need to continue to the Anzac Avenue exit, Exit 133, and follow the signed detour route during each closure period.
The temporary closure applies to the northbound exit ramp and is expected to affect motorists who use the ramp to access Dohles Rocks Road from the Bruce Highway.
The closures are required for drainage and pavement works connected to the new northbound entry ramp being built as part of the Bruce Highway upgrade from Dohles Rocks Road to Anzac Avenue.
The works cannot be completed while keeping the ramp open because there is not enough space at the work area to safely carry them out with traffic continuing to use the exit.
Nearby residents may notice temporary increases in traffic and construction noise while the works are under way. Motorists have been asked to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and take care when travelling through changed traffic conditions.
Photo Credit: TMR Qld
Stage 1 Works Continue On Bruce Highway
The ramp closure is part of Stage 1 of the Bruce Highway, Dohles Rocks Road to Anzac Avenue upgrade, which is under construction around Murrumba Downs and Griffin.
Main construction for Stage 1 started in April 2025. The project includes extended north-facing ramps between Dohles Rocks Road and Anzac Avenue to manage increasing traffic demand on this section of the highway.
Stage 1 includes a new northbound entry ramp from Dohles Rocks Road to the Bruce Highway, extending towards the Anzac Avenue interchange exit ramp as an auxiliary lane.
Photo Credit: TMR Qld/YouTube
It also includes a new southbound exit ramp from the Bruce Highway to Dohles Rocks Road, extending from the Anzac Avenue interchange entry ramp as an auxiliary lane.
Other works include ramp metering signals on the new northbound entry ramp, changes to signalised intersections on Dohles Rocks Road, a new signalised intersection for the southbound exit ramp, changes to Goodrich Road East access and new or upgraded noise barriers.
Following the massive success of bright public artworks like the popular giant fish display in Arana Hills, local residents across the City of Moreton Bay are about to see their everyday public spaces completely transformed into a massive outdoor gallery featuring eighteen renowned artists.
Starting in late 2026, the City of Moreton Bay will launch an enormous 12-month outdoor art exhibition. Artist Martin Edge, who previously delighted the Arana Hills community with his Big Coral Cod artwork along Dawson Parade, is returning to feature his work on a much larger scale. He joins a lineup of well-known creatives, including Phoebe Paradise and the duo Man & Wah, who will help bring the theme of “Half a Million Imaginations” to life. The project aims to foster a more inclusive, diverse, and connected community through accessible creative expression.
This massive push for public art is backed by a $1.28 million grant. The funding comes from the national Public Art Initiative as part of the broader South East Queensland City Deal. Instead of keeping the art locked away in traditional museums, organizers are bringing the pieces directly to the people.
The upcoming gallery has a distinctly local flavour. Event organisers put out a call for artists earlier this year, drawing 79 responses from across Australia. The final group of 18 chosen artists includes five locals from the City of Moreton Bay area. These creators are already heavily involved in the region, having recently hosted a series of creative workshops that attracted more than 575 local participants, with even more community sessions planned for the future.
Local government officials shared their enthusiasm for the upcoming project, noting that the outdoor gallery will breathe fresh energy into shared public spaces. They explained that spreading the artwork across multiple sites reflects the sprawling nature of the city. Officials also expressed their hope that the striking displays will encourage residents to travel from suburb to suburb, turning the gallery into a major attraction that delivers fresh exhibitions year after year.
When the exhibition launches, ordinary buildings and parks will become massive canvases. Digital screens, large billboards, and light boxes will light up the North Lakes Library, featuring moving image artworks and colourful designs. Similar light box installations will brighten the Redcliffe Library and Pine Rivers Park.
Meanwhile, Caboolture Town Square will host dynamic moving image projections. Sports fans will also get to enjoy the artwork, as huge billboards are planned for both the Morayfield Sports and Events Centre and the South Pine Indoor Sports Complex. By spreading these installations across six major community hubs, the project ensures that world-class art is just a short walk or drive away for everyone in the region.
Albany Creek locals have a nearby conservation story to watch as a koala population study moves through selected Moreton Bay reserves, using thermal-camera drones and detection dogs to collect data for future habitat work.
In selected reserves across Moreton Bay, koala survey work is taking place after dark, when thermal-camera drones are being used to scan the landscape from above.
The population study is designed to improve understanding of koalas in local parks and reserves. With support from the University of the Sunshine Coast, the project is collecting data that will later help guide conservation work in the surveyed areas.
The method brings together technology and field work. Drones fitted with thermal cameras are flown in organised back-and-forth routes across specific reserves to help locate koalas. After that aerial survey work, field personnel move through the area with detection dogs to carry out scat surveys on the ground.
The samples collected through those ground checks will be analysed to assess koala health and demographics. That process is expected to help build a clearer picture of the animals living in the study areas.
The study is being carried out in Murrumba Downs, Kallangur, Strathpine, Petrie, Lawnton, Whiteside and Joyner.
Survey activity is scheduled to continue until 11 June 2026, depending on weather conditions. Work is being undertaken between 10pm and 5am, giving teams an overnight window for the drone flights and follow-up ground checks.
No results have yet been released, and the study remains focused on gathering information. The aim is to fill gaps in knowledge about koala populations before future conservation work is planned for the surveyed reserves.
Once the survey data has been analysed, the results may help guide work such as vegetation and koala habitat assessments, weed control, infill planting, disease management, koala hatches, underpasses and exclusion fencing.
The project is not only looking for where koalas are present. Through scat analysis, it is also seeking information about their health and demographics, giving the study a broader conservation purpose than a simple location survey.
By pairing thermal drone detection with trained dogs and field sampling, the work uses several methods to understand koala activity across the selected reserves. The findings are expected later this year and may help determine where future habitat and movement-support measures are most needed.
The Moreton Bay resident discovered his luck following the Weekday Windfall draw 4696, which took place on a recent Wednesday night. After purchasing a System 7 entry through The Lott’s official website, he checked his numbers before heading to bed. The local winner mentioned that the discovery led to his most restful night of sleep ever.
He explained that the timing of the win is particularly helpful because he is currently very close to finishing his working years and entering retirement.
While the man immediately informed his wife of the million-dollar surprise, the couple has chosen to handle the news with a bit of privacy. He noted that although they have children, they have decided to keep the windfall a secret between the two of them for the time being. This gives them space to process the change and figure out their next steps as a family. The winner expressed great excitement and gratitude when officials confirmed his million-dollar bounty the following morning.
The Arana Hills local does not plan on spending the money on a whim. He shared his intention to book an appointment with a financial professional to ensure the win sets up a comfortable and secure future. This specific win was one of over 340 division one prizes handed out so far this financial year. For the local community, it serves as a reminder that major wins can happen right in their own neighbourhood.
Fire trail works have commenced at 309 Eatons Crossing Road in Eatons Hill and 519 Bunya Road in Bunya, two of five sites across Moreton Bay where access tracks are being established to support controlled ecological burns and protect native species from the threat of uncontrolled wildfire.
The works, which run through to late June, are taking place on land acquired through the Land Buyback for Environmental Purposes Program, a voluntary scheme that has secured more than 100 hectares of key environmental land across the City of Moreton Bay since its introduction in 2020.
For Albany Creek residents, both the Eatons Hill and Bunya locations sit within the Hills District bushland corridor that forms the green backdrop of the suburb’s western and southern edges.
At 519 Bunya Road, the works also include targeted vegetation management to reduce a section of weed infestation and understory bushfire fuel load alongside the fire trail establishment. The same additional vegetation work is occurring at the fifth site, 114 Collins Road in Everton Hills. The remaining two sites in the current program are at 2 Flowers Road, Caboolture and 18 Jagera Court, Closeburn.
Tracks built to follow what was already there
The new fire trails have been specifically designed to minimise ecological impact. The majority follow pre-existing trails or farm tracks that already cross these properties, reducing the need for new vegetation clearing.
Native canopy trees will remain in place throughout, and the design of each trail has been guided by the need to avoid or minimise impact on sensitive ecological features and protected species.
Qualified and licensed fauna spotter-catchers are present on site during all works to monitor and protect native wildlife. It is the same precautionary approach used during the ecological burns themselves, where fauna spotters watch for koalas and other animals in and around the burn area throughout the operation.
Fire as a tool for biodiversity
The purpose of establishing fire trails is not simply about access for fire trucks. In the ecology of South East Queensland’s bushland, controlled fire is an active management tool. Banksias rely on heat to open their seed cones.
Grass trees, abundant in the Hills District bushland, regenerate strongly after burns and produce the flower spikes that provide critical nectar for birds and native bees. Ground-layer species that are gradually suppressed by fuel build-up recover after a burn that removes competing material and allows light back to the soil.
Without controlled burns, fuel loads accumulate to the point where any ignition, whether from lightning, ember cast from a distant fire or another source, produces an uncontrolled fire of much greater intensity. That kind of fire can destroy the nesting hollows, streamside vegetation and ground habitat that koalas, platypus and ground-nesting birds depend on.
The Moreton Bay region has recorded platypus across 37 creeks and waterways, and some of those run through the bushland connected to the Eatons Hill and Bunya sites.
The Land Buyback Program was updated in July 2025 to place greater emphasis on conservation-significant wildlife habitats and restoring native vegetation on previously cleared areas. The program supports a target to maintain 42 per cent native vegetation cover across the City of Moreton Bay, with a view to increasing that figure over time.
Stay informed during burns
Works are expected to run through to late June 2026. Residents near any of the five sites may notice machinery activity in the coming weeks as trail construction progresses. When controlled burns are carried out on these sites in the future, MoretonAlert notifications will go to registered residents in the surrounding area ahead of ignition.
To sign up for MoretonAlert and receive planned burn notifications for your area, click this link. More information about the Land Buyback for Environmental Purposes Program can be viewed here.
Hip Hops Brewers is heading to Japan, joining a Moreton Bay trade delegation bound for SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, one of Asia’s largest global innovation conferences, armed with award-winning beer, a gold medal lager already known in Japan, and serious ambitions for what a small regional brewery can achieve on the world stage.
The timing is significant. The brewery won 19 medals at the recent Royal Queensland Beer Awards, its best result yet, including three gold, 11 silver and four bronze.
That haul arrives just as owner and director Shaun Reeves boards a flight to Tokyo Big Sight, where the three-day event runs from 27–29 April 2026 and draws city leaders from 49 countries, 750 startup exhibitors and more than 10,000 pre-arranged business meetings between organisations looking for international partners and collaborators.
For a brewery that opened inside The Sheds precinct in 2023 and took years to get off the ground through freight delays, construction holdups and licensing complexity, the invitation to join the Moreton Bay overseas trade mission is a meaningful chapter.
“If you look at our little brewery you might say we’re a fair way away from having this sort of capacity to be a major export player,” Reeves said. “But if we had niche collaborations, niche partnerships we could look at possibilities and take advantage.”
The Beer That Already Has a Fan in Japan
Hip Hops Brewers is not walking into Tokyo cold. The brewery already has a profile there, built around one of its most inventive recent creations.
Late last year, when a delegation from Sanyo-Onoda visited Moreton Bay to mark the region’s 33-year friendship city relationship with the Japanese city, Reeves was asked to create a commemorative beer for the occasion.
The result was Tomodachi Lager, which translates to “friendship beer,” a Japanese-style rice lager built around two locally sourced ingredients: sea lettuce grown by researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast Moreton Bay campus and yuzu citrus from a farm in Gympie.
“I had an idea for a sushi beer,” Reeves said. “(We) used fresh Moreton Bay seaweed sea lettuce, produced by UniSC, balanced it with yuzu from a farm in Gympie and came up with a beer we were happy with.”
The beer went on to win gold in the Hybrid Beer section at this year’s Royal Queensland Beer Awards. Last week, the Mayor of Sanyo-Onoda sent Reeves a letter of congratulations. “Which made my day!” Reeves said.
What Tokyo Holds for a Regional Brewery
Moreton Bay is one of the confirmed city partners at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026, running its own reverse pitch session at the event, essentially inviting Japanese startups and organisations to identify collaboration opportunities with Moreton Bay businesses.
It is a format designed for deal-making, not just networking, and it places the delegation, and Hip Hops Brewers alongside it, in front of exactly the kind of Japanese organisations the brewery could partner with.
Reeves is going in with two parallel lines of inquiry. Through connections the City of Moreton Bay holds with Sanyo-Onoda and other Japanese partners, he wants to explore whether niche collaboration, perhaps a contract brewing arrangement, a co-branded product or a distribution foothold, could create a genuine export pathway for a brewery of Hip Hops’ scale.
The second thread is about what to bring back. Reeves has flagged one particular ambition.
“Is there a way we can get Queensland’s first sake production going?” Reeves said.
The delegation is paying its own way. Reeves is clear-eyed about what the trip is and is not.
“This is certainly not a junket. It’s a great opportunity to go because it can open doors a business operator would not be able to open,” he said.
He has also been working with Trade and Investment Queensland ahead of the trip to explore specific opportunities, going to Tokyo with groundwork already laid rather than starting from scratch at the conference.
Beers Built from Local Stories
Back in Brendale, the Royal Queensland medal haul reflects a brewing programme that is deeply embedded in the geography and history of the region.
Reeves’ approach to naming his beers, built around alliteration, local history and a genuine love of a good backstory, has produced a range that reads like a map of the Moreton Bay and northern Brisbane area: Lakeside Lager, Samford Sessions, Redcliffe Red, Petrie Pilsner, Samsonvale Stout and Griffin Golden Ale among them.
One recent award winner carries a story worth telling. Brentdale Buddies, which won silver in the Amber Dark Ale category, was a collaboration with Buddy Brewing from Burpengary. Buddy Brewing proposed an Irish red ale, and Reeves went looking for the Irish heritage in South Pine Road’s history.
“It was from the Davis family that (developer) Bill Bowden bought land and named his horse stud Brendale,” Reeves said. “That was after the Davis family’s original property back in Ireland called Brentdale. So there’s no spelling mistake… Bill just shortened it to Brendale.”
Visit the Taproom
Hip Hops Brewers operates from The Sheds at 264 South Pine Road, Brendale, a converted truck workshop with 21 taps, an in-house kitchen, a beer garden, live music and a dog-friendly outdoor area. The brewery is family-friendly and open for walk-ins, with weekend bookings recommended to avoid disappointment. Surcharges apply on public holidays.
For bookings and enquiries, phone (07) 3448 9339 or message via the Hip Hops Brewers Facebook page. Follow the brewery on Instagram at @hiphopsbrewers for updates on the Tokyo trip and new seasonal releases.
Residents across Moreton Bay are waking to smoke drifting over suburbs as planned burn-offs begin across bushland areas, with fire crews lighting controlled fires to reduce the threat of bushfires before peak season. From Bribie Island to Upper Caboolture, these managed burns are already affecting nearby communities, with smoke expected to hang in the air for days even after flames are extinguished.
The burns began with activity recorded around April 15 and continuing through April 16, according to local authorities. Crews carried out operations in areas including Bribie Island, particularly near Mermaid Lagoon, as well as Upper Caboolture, while new sites such as Albany Creek were scheduled to follow as conditions allowed.
Smoke spreads beyond burn zones into nearby suburbs
While the fires are controlled, the effects are not limited to the burn sites themselves. Smoke from operations near Banksia Beach has been reported drifting into nearby areas such as Toorbul and Sandstone Point, affecting visibility and air quality. Authorities have advised residents, especially those with respiratory conditions, to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when smoke is present.
Even after a burn is completed, crews continue to patrol and monitor the area for several days to ensure the fire remains contained. This means some suburbs may continue to experience smoke or restricted access beyond the initial burn period.
Moreton Bay hazard reduction burns: affected suburbs and status
Suburb / Area
Burn Status
Community Impact
Bribie Island (Banksia Beach)
Completed / Recent
Smoke lingering, monitoring ongoing
Upper Caboolture
Completed / Recent
Possible residual smoke, patrols in place
Albany Creek
Scheduled / Likely underway
Possible smoke if conditions met
Toorbul
Indirect impact
Smoke drift reported from nearby burns
Sandstone Point
Indirect impact
Smoke drift affecting area
Bellara
Planned
Future burn, timing dependent on weather
Burpengary
Planned
Future burn, no fixed schedule
Caboolture
Planned
Future burn, no fixed schedule
Deception Bay
Planned
Future burn, no fixed schedule
Griffin
Planned
Future burn, no fixed schedule
Mount Glorious
Planned
Future burn in bushland areas
Ningi
Planned
Future burn, timing to be confirmed
Whiteside
Planned
Future burn, no fixed schedule
Woodford
Planned
Future burn, rural bushland areas
No fixed schedule as weather dictates next burns
Although more than a dozen additional burn sites have been identified across Moreton Bay, including Burpengary, Deception Bay, Griffin and Woodford, there is no set timetable for when each location will be treated. Authorities rely on specific weather and environmental conditions before lighting any fire, meaning plans can shift quickly.
Burn season typically runs from March to August, but officials note that operations can take place at any time of the year if conditions are safe. This flexible approach is designed to ensure each burn can be carried out with minimal risk to surrounding communities.
Officials say the burns play a key role in reducing fuel loads such as dry leaves and fallen branches, which can feed dangerous bushfires during hotter months. At the same time, the process is managed to protect local wildlife and vegetation.
Before each burn, teams assess the site to identify sensitive habitats and species. Measures such as clearing around trees and monitoring wildlife during the burn are put in place. The use of aerial incendiary drones has also been introduced to help crews ignite fires more precisely, particularly in hard-to-reach terrain.
Authorities say these planned burns also support the natural cycle of some native plants, which rely on fire or smoke to trigger growth and seed release, helping maintain the region’s biodiversity.
Arana Hills and Ferny Hills could see major changes to their suburban landscape, with new planning proposals opening the door to higher-density housing in key areas.
The City of Moreton Bay has since extended the consultation period to 4:00 p.m. on April 24, 2026, and has urged residents to refer to official project information amid reports of misinformation circulating in the community.
Growth targets driving changes across local suburbs
Council’s statement confirms the scale of change facing the region, as it works to meet targets under the Shaping SEQ 2023. The plan requires Moreton Bay to prepare for more than 300,000 additional residents and over 125,000 new homes by 2046.
Council leaders have indicated that population growth is unavoidable and must be planned carefully to avoid strain on services and the environment. Rather than expanding further into undeveloped land, the approach focuses on increasing housing in already built-up areas.
This means directing future development into well-connected parts of Arana Hills and Ferny Hills, particularly near public transport, shopping centres and existing community services.
Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay
Higher-density pockets proposed near transport and centres
The draft plans outline potential zoning and building height changes aimed at supporting more housing in selected areas. Council representatives have indicated that higher-density development would be concentrated in pockets, including around the Ferny Grove train station and the Arana Hills commercial centre.
Photo Credit: City of Moreton Bay
While the official release does not specify exact building heights, it confirms that changes are being considered to allow more diverse housing types. These may include apartments, retirement living and specialist accommodation, giving residents a broader range of housing options within their own communities.
Housing supply concerns raised alongside development plans
The planning push comes amid wider concerns about whether enough new homes can be delivered across South East Queensland. Industry analysis has suggested that a large share of the apartment pipeline could face delays in the coming years due to rising construction costs and labour shortages.
There are also expectations that major infrastructure projects linked to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games may draw workers away from residential construction, placing further pressure on housing delivery timelines.
At the same time, population growth in Queensland has outpaced new home construction in recent years, adding to the urgency around planning for future supply.
Community response highlights need for clearer detail
Locally, the proposals have prompted mixed reactions. Concerns raised include the need for clearer planning around infrastructure, design standards, and how natural risks and environmental impacts will be addressed.
Council representatives have acknowledged that infrastructure planning remains a key challenge and have indicated that more detailed work will follow after the current consultation phase. They encourage residents to review official materials, including draft Future Direction Reports and frequently asked questions, to better understand what is being proposed.
Officials have also stressed that the plans are still at an early stage and that community feedback will play an important role in shaping the final outcome.
A major transformation is planned for James Drysdale Reserve, with the City of Moreton Bay moving to turn the Bunya site into a large-scale sports and recreation hub designed to meet the needs of a fast-growing community.
The plan outlines staged upgrades across the 29-hectare reserve in response to rising demand for quality sporting and community spaces.
Growing demand drives long-term vision
Moreton Bay has been working on the revised master plan for several years, following earlier planning in 2015 that no longer matched current conditions. Changes in waste management operations meant the reserve could not expand into nearby land as originally expected, prompting Council to rethink how the existing space could be used more efficiently.
At the same time, population growth across the Hills District and Albany Creek areas has increased pressure on local sporting facilities. Council identified the need to plan ahead to support both current users and future residents.
Community input shapes the design
Consultation played a central role in shaping the revised plan. In 2023, Council engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including sporting clubs, user groups and nearby organisations.
This process involved surveys, workshops and meetings aimed at understanding how the reserve is currently used and what improvements are needed. Feedback highlighted gaps in facilities, concerns about future changes, and a shared interest in creating a more functional and inclusive space.
The master plan includes a wide range of proposed upgrades designed to support multiple sports and community activities. These include new courts, upgraded playing fields, shared clubhouses and improved open spaces.
Plans also feature a multi-level car park with additional courts, athletics facilities, expanded baseball areas, and outdoor fitness and play zones. Spaces for events and spectator seating are also included to support larger gatherings and competitions.
These additions aim to create a more flexible and accessible precinct that caters to different age groups and interests, while supporting local clubs that have used the reserve for many years.
Part of a broader community network
The project is not being planned in isolation. Council has indicated the reserve will work alongside nearby sites such as Leslie Patrick Park and other future community locations to form a connected network of recreational spaces.
While the master plan has now been adopted, development will take place in stages over time, depending on funding and priorities. Council has already allocated some budget for early improvements, with further works expected in the coming years.
The long-term goal is to ensure James Drysdale Reserve continues to serve as a central gathering place for sport, recreation and community life as the area grows.
