Kangaroo Point Archives - Page 12 of 16

Flood Victims in Brisbane, Including Kangaroo Point, May Get Over $1,000 Disaster Assistance

Disaster assistance will be extended to victims of the Queensland flooding crisis, including residents of Kangaroo Point and the rest of Brisbane. Affected locals may get more than $1,000 as compensation for losses because of the disaster.

AGDRP for Families, DRA for Businesses

Brisbane and 16 other local governments in Queensland have been covered under the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Allowance (AGDRP), where the adults will be entitled to $1,000 and $400 for children. This is a one-off payment for residents who “have suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or serious injury.”

Small businesses, employees, and farmers may also claim for payment Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA), covering “a maximum of 13 weeks payment from the date you have or will have a loss of income as a direct result of a disaster.” The DRA is taxable and is set at a rate equivalent to Jobseeker Payment or Youth Allowance. Thus, those already receiving other forms of income support from the government are not eligible for DRA.

Effective 1 March 2022, applications for AGDRP or DRA will open online through Services Australia or locals may also phone 180 22 66 for further assistance. Couples may claim for the payment but will need to apply separately.

Apply for Disaster Assistance

Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA)

Councils, on the other hand, will receive additional assistance through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). The DRFA will be activated by Queensland Government, per Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

“This extension of DRFA assistance to those seven local government authorities will help with their response, clean-up and then reconstruction efforts once floodwaters recede and impact assessments can be undertaken,” Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said.

“We have seen some devastating scenes across South East Queensland but these affected communities can be assured the Australian and Queensland Governments will work together as we identify what additional assistance will be needed.”

To learn more about the DRFA, visit the official site.

Download Self Recovery App

Residents are encouraged to download the Self Recovery App for additional information on grant applications, including Emergency Hardship Assistance. The Self Recovery App is an online portal that also provides referrals for community organisations and other government agencies.

Locals who have poor internet access, on the other hand, may phone Community Recovery Hotline of 1800 173 349 for other resources or 13QGOV (13 74 68) for housing assistance.

Hundreds Of Employees Impacted By Dockside Marina Eviction Order

Photo credit: Dockside Marina/Google Maps

Hundreds of jobs are at risk after a dozen of small businesses in Kangaroo Point’s Dockside Marina have been told to vacate the marina berths due to ‘leasing irregularities.’

Read: ‘Harrow’: Popular Australian TV Show Highlights Kangaroo Point, Other Brisbane Locations

The eviction notice comes from the State Government, which states that businesses, such as Prawnster, Brisbane Jet Skis, GoBoat and Yot Club only have until 4 March 2022 to find a new location. Otherwise, they could risk closing for good, with around 400 staff losing their jobs.

The Dockside Marina is leased by the Queensland Government to private companies, under an ongoing lease. However, the first condition of the lease is that it would only be used for residential boats, but there is a commercial vessel serving out of the Marina.

Wayne Miller, owner and operator at Aquarius Charters, launched a Change.org petition in hopes of saving the hospitality industry in Brisbane River.

Photo credit: Dockside Marina/Google Maps

“Being evicted with nowhere to go is not something we want to face after surviving the onslaught of Covid. Staff will lose their jobs and personal bankruptcy looms,” Miller stated.

“With the Olympics on our doorstep visitors to Brisbane will be crying out for river venues. Every other city supports their marine hospitality industry except Brisbane and we have the best river in all the cities,” he added.

Shadow Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Pat Weir, who met with small business owners and their staff earlier in February, said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her Resources Minister should act now as these businesses are already going through a difficult time.

“They need to either fix the leasing issue by amending one clause, allowing these operators continuity of trade, like they have done for over 17 years. Or they must find another suitable location for these operators to relocate to,” Mr Weir said.

Gabba Ward councillor Jonathan Sri, whose electorate takes in the marina, highlighted that if commercial activities at the Dockside Marina are formalised, this will likely lead to higher rents being charged for the berths, which in turn would lead to residential boat tenants being displaced in favour of more restaurant and party boats.

‘Harrow’: Popular Australian TV Show Highlights Kangaroo Point, Other Brisbane Locations

Since 2017, Kangaroo Point and other locations in Brisbane have served as the backdrop for the popular Australian TV series, “Harrow,” led by Welsh actor Ioan Gruffudd. The show, now in its fourth season, is the first drama production from ABC Studios International and Disney Media Distribution.

The home-grown episodic thriller, seen across the globe through various platforms and on ABC, is a forensic drama revolving around Dr. Daniel Harrow, a forensic pathologist working for the fictional Queensland Institute of Forensic Medicine. His laboratory is supposedly within the heritage-listed Brisbane Dental Hospital and College on Turbot Street in the city.

In the early seasons of “Harrow,” the show depicted the doctor’s character as living in Kangaroo Point in a sailboat moored somewhere along the Kangaroo Point riverwalk. The actual sailboat is actually called Tiamo, owned by Phillip Smart, a businessman from the Sunshine Coast. For over a decade, Mr Smart has kept Tiamo moored in Kangaroo Point because it has the best views in Brisbane and there are plenty of things happening around his deck.

Kangaroo Point is a major location in the series, with the show taking advantage of the Story Bridge in many of its shots. Other familiar local sites include St. Mary’s and the Story Bridge Hotel.

Most Australian crime dramas are usually set in Sydney or Melbourne thus making “Harrow” an exceptional production for picking Brisbane as its location.

“The development and filming of Harrow in Queensland is a great coup for our state and will drive Queensland’s ongoing momentum for making and attracting quality local and international productions,” said Screen Queensland CEO Tracey Vieira after Hoodlum, the Brisbane-based production, secured the series in 2017.

The show has also been filmed in the CBD, New Farm, Bowen Hills, South Bank, Fortitude Valley, Ashgrove, Yeerongpilly, Coorparoo, Yeronga, Annerley, Chelmer, East Brisbane, Hamilton, Indooroopilly, the Gold Coast and several regional Queensland areas.

The Brisbane locations in “Harrow” aren’t the only standouts as the production has also included many local references, from day-to-day life in Brisbane to the flora and fauna of the Queensland wildlife.

“Harrow” is Mr Gruffudd’s longest-running TV show. ABC has yet to confirm the fourth season following its third season run in early 2021. Presumably, the pandemic has delayed the return of production in Brisbane.

The show also stars Ella Newton, Hunter Page-Lochard, Darren Gilshenan, Jolene Anderson, and Damien Garvey.

Free Parking! Brisbane Turns Off Parking Meters to Help Businesses Bounce Bank

Around 7,869 parking meters across Brisbane, including Kangaroo Point, have been turned off temporarily so that motorists may take advantage of free parking when they visit various establishments to conduct their businesses.

Two major carparks in the city, specifically the Wickham Terrace and King George Square in the city, are also offering parking at discounted rates.

Council launched the free parking service in Brisbane beginning Wednesday, 9 Feb. 2022, which will be in place indefinitely. The discounted parking rates at Wickham Terrace and King George Square, on the other hand, will be good until the end of February.

This is in addition to the 15-minute free parking rule that applies in car spaces in Brisbane, including Kangaroo Point.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner timed the turning off of parking meters during the re-opening of the new school term to attract more people to Brisbane’s major business and shopping centres. The mayor said that this will ensure establishments can survive and continue to employ staff members, which in turn will help the economy recover from the pandemic.

Mr Schrinner hopes that the people will be encouraged to go out, venture in a bit of retail therapy, or dine at restaurants. However, Cr Andrew Wines of the Infrastructure Committee, said that street parking will continue to have its limits thus motorists cannot overstay and parking officers will be checking these limits.

Per the Council, “In a 2P Meter 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday to Friday zone, customers can park for a maximum time of up to two hours then must remove their vehicle from the zone. Customers that overstay the parking limit may receive a fine.”

Download the Parking Guide to Brisbane to find useful information about paid parking, parking restrictions, special use parking and other issues.

Kangaroo Point Property Market Red-Hot, Median Rises By 54%

Proving its mettle as a well-connected, highly desirable investment, the Kangaroo Point property market delivered a red-hot 54 per cent increase in median house price in the 12-month period ending October 2021, standing out in a sea of performers in Brisbane.

Highlights

Kangaroo Point’s median house price experienced an astounding 53.77 per cent growth whilst its median unit price increased by 11.17 per cent from October 2020 to September 2021.
Property listings stayed an average of 97 days and 82 days on market, for houses and units, respectively.

Kangaroo Point Median House Price Growth

According to Property Market Updates, the median house price growth for Kangaroo Point has risen by an astounding 53.77 per cent from October 2020 to September 2021. The increase means that the median is now at $1,660,000 — up from $1,079,500 in the previous period.

There were 29 houses sold in Kangaroo Point for this time period with listings staying at an average of 97 days on market. Whilst buyers jumped at the chance whenever a Kangaroo Point house goes on the tightly-held market, it’s a common trend for final price negotiations to take longer.

Kangaroo Point Median House Price Growth — Photo Credit: Property Market Updates

During this period, a couple of significant sales closed that has sparked a wave of excitement from investors.

In March 2021, after a long search, Broncos chairman Karl Morris and his wife Louis bought a luxury trophy home on Leopard Street, with the most exclusive panoramic views of the city. The empty-nesters have downsized from their riverfront mansion in Tennyson.

A stone’s throw away from the Morris mansion is Lamb House, a six-bedroom Queensland mansion from the clifftops of Kangaroo Point, which has been dilapidated due to years of neglect.

In May 2021, this property hit the market for the very first time after 120 years. Its new owners, Brisbane Racing’s power couple Steve and Jane Wilson, plan to restore the heritage-listed property to its former glory.

Kangaroo Point Median Unit Price Growth

Unit sales also performed well for this period with an 11.17 per cent increase, setting the median unit price growth at $570,000. Kangaroo Point unit investors are mostly enticed by the river views and its positioning in Brisbane’s concrete jungle, thus 664 properties were sold in the market for an average of 82 days on market, according to Property Market Updates.

Some of these units fetched prices comparable to high-end estates in other markets yet buyers are still drawn to circle the Kangaroo Point property market because its multimillion-dollar luxury apartments offer prestige for hunters — mostly downsizers and empty nesters — with millions to splash.

The suburb’s infrastructure, where everything residents need is within reach, is also very appealing to investors thus the market continues to perform well, despite the pandemic disruptions.

About Kangaroo Point

One of Brisbane’s oldest suburbs, Kangaroo Point was a former industrial workers’ hub that has dramatically turned into an urban luxury location following a series of developments.

Known as an adventure destination — thanks to the popular climbs at the Kangaroo Point cliffs and Story Bridge, as well as the kayaking tours along the river — this suburb also offers a great dining experience for city slickers.

Kangaroo Point offers high-density living with a vibrant social scene thus it’s also appealing to established young professionals and independent single individuals who work in the inner city. Some 62 per cent of the residents are renters and nearly 70 percent are without kids to raise, who also prefer a low-maintenance lifestyle.

With a location that’s hard to match, Kangaroo Point is a high-demand market where people stroll, hop, bike, drive, catch the bus, or take the City Cat or ferry. Soon, a new green bridge will also improve the transport accessibility in and out of this locale.

The suburb is within easy proximity to Fortitude Valley, South Bank and Woolloongabba where more lifestyle spots could be enjoyed, as well as essential services like hospitals.

“You may be lucky enough to afford a nice apartment with views in the kangaroo point if so I’m sure it’s a great view. Although Kangaroo point may not be in the right in the heart or north side or inner city of Brisbane, it is blessed with having unrealistic views. It faces the city directly so and night you get to see everything from the towers to Story Bridge (depending on your view). Great walkways to take the dog or go for an early evening jog.”
Yingnyang

“Definitely one of the best views in Brisbane. Looks great at night too.”
Andy

“Great if you like waterfront apartment living. Surrounded by water and parkland the city is a 5-minute ferry ride or 5 minutes over the bridge by car. Close enough to the city without the hustle and bustle. I have lived in the area for over ten years and have no plans to leave.”
JKS

200-Million-Year-Old Tree Stump Unearthed During Cross River Rail Tunnelling At Kangaroo Point

Did you know that workers doing tunnelling work at Kangaroo Point for the Cross River Rail project have unearthed a fossilised tree stump estimated to be over 200 million years old?

According to the archeogeologists assigned to the Cross River Rail project, the fossilised tree stump was found 30 metres underground. It looked like a mound of rock and appeared to have been perfectly preserved by what experts believe to be volcanic activity that may have split Australia from the rest of the continents during the Pangea era.

“The wood got preserved, got covered up, and has since been silicified,” Dr. Andrew Rozefelds of the Queensland Museum of Geosciences said.

“The exciting thing is it tells us a bit about Australia’s geo heritage. It tells us about our history in Brisbane. It tells us about the kind of plants and the kind of flora that was around at this time.”

The experts are trying to reconstruct the vegetation that existed at the Kangaroo Point spot over 220 million years ago. Now an inner-city suburb, Kangaroo Point may have been a swamp valley and the home of giant lizard-like animals and amphibians.

Brad Sandford, one of the managers working on the Cross River Rail project, said that this was the oldest artefact they’ve uncovered. Based on initial findings, the fossilised tree stump predated dinosaurs.

Meanwhile, just before Christmas, the huge tunnel boring machine for the Cross River Rail project has started breaking ground at the Northern Portal in the inner city.

Eventually, it will break through to the end point at the Bowen Bridge Road, which will signal the end of the tunnelling for the state’s largest infrastructure project.

“To see both tunnels now complete is a feat of engineering and a credit to all those who have worked tirelessly to deliver these tunnels ahead of schedule,” said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

“In a massive project full of huge milestones, today’s breakthrough is the biggest one yet,” she added.

Fast Facts About the Cross River Rail

TBM Merle has broken through at Cross River Rail’s northern portal, having excavated 3.8km of tunnel since launching from Woolloongabba in early 2021.
The project’s other TBM – Else – completed tunnelling in late November.
TBMs excavate the bulk (3.8km) of Cross River Rail’s 5.9km twin tunnels, with the rest excavated by roadheaders.
The TBMs have excavated 310,000 cubic metres of spoil and installed approximately 27,000 concrete segments to line the tunnel’s walls, each weighing about 4.2 tonnes.
At their deepest point, the TBMs tunnelled 58 metres below the surface of Kangaroo Point, and 42 metres below the Brisbane River.
Each TBM weighs 1,350 tonnes and is 165 metres long.
A crew of up to 15 people work in a TBM at any one time.
TBMs work at a rate of 20 to 30 metres a day.
Roadheaders excavated 85,000 cubic metres of spoil while tunnelling almost 900 metres from Woolloongabba to Boggo Road.
The roadheaders are 22-metres long and weigh 115-tonnes.

“Cross River Rail will transform travel in South East Queensland meaning less cars on the road, faster journeys, more stations in more convenient locations and the capacity to increase train services on every line as our population grows,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk explains.

“I look forward to the next phase of the project next year with attention turning to tracks being laid and building new underground stations. Queensland’s golden age is well and truly on track,” she added.

Story House Residential Building Proposed for Kangaroo Point

Story House, an eight-storey residential building with 86 units and a communal rooftop, could soon rise in Kangaroo Point, if development plans from Pellicano receive approval.

Named after the Story Bridge, the residential site designed by DBI Architecture will be built on Duke Street, within walking distance to The Gabba, widely expected to become the centre of action in the 2023 Brisbane Olympics.

Per the development application (DA A005878209) filed in November 2021, Story House will provide studio apartments on the first to third level for short-term accommodation, or a stay averaging less than three months, given its location near the stadium. The rest of the apartments, on the other hand, will be for multiple dwellings.

Story House will also feature a building design that has a “more natural feel” with plenty of deep planting areas, especially on the ground floor. The top floors, on the other hand, will incorporate natural and neutral textures and provide a rooftop communal space with facilities like a pool with a deck, a yoga lawn, and an outdoor gym, as well as a barbecue area and a lounge terrace.

Car parking options at two basement levels will provide for 73 cars and 54 bikes. Provisions for a solar array system are also outlined in the plans, which will likely be installed on the rooftop.

Residents, however, have made their submissions to the development application citing that there is already an oversupply of apartment blocks within the precinct. The busy location has also been riddled with parking issues and the development has not provided enough parking spaces in its plan.

Instead, the residents said that Duke Street could use an underground parking complex or a public park. Residents in the neighbouring apartment buildings said that they were not consulted before the development application was filed with Brisbane City Council. The project is currently under assessment.

Meanwhile, Pellicano is also developing a $700-million build-to-rent residential/commercial complex at a nearby site in Woolloonggaba, which is already on Stage 7. This project will include a tree-filled secret garden next to the heritage-listed Hillyard’s Shop House.

Kangaroo Point Locals Oppose O’Connell St Development

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

An application for a 14-storey building on O’Connell St in Kangaroo Point has received a number of submissions from residents concerned about traffic congestion and over-development.

Read: Digital Transformation of Queen’s Wharf Brisbane Now Underway

Located at 44 O’Connell St in Kangaroo Point, the site contains a residential apartment that was built in the 1960s, which will be removed to facilitate the development.

Level 1 Plans (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

Plans (A005871704) submitted by the developer revealed they are seeking to establish multiple dwellings with a rooftop terrace that will have a swimming pool, lounge area, entertainment/dining area, landscape planters, and lift wells and stairs.

The proposed $80-million building, though only 14 storeys in height, will have a maximum building height of 15 storeys. Each floor will have a combination of three-bedroom and four-bedroom apartments whilst the basement will provide 39 car parks and three visitor car park spaces.

Plans for rooftop terrace (Photo credit: Brisbane City Council)

Locals’ concerns

Nearby residents have already expressed their concerns regarding the potential traffic problems it could create. Because the building has a battle-axe shape and would stand around 15 storeys tall, it would require residents dealing with up to seven sets of traffic lights from the front gate to the car park.

A series of traffic lights that will control car movements will also be essential for a vehicle to enter or exit the car park.

One resident, in particular, mentioned that it could bring traffic chaos to the area. Based on the development application, pedestrian access will be via O’Connell Street, providing ground floor access to the tower.

In response to the concerns of residents, developers said there will be no problem regarding access to the property and that they met all the requirements for the proposed development.

“The development is consistent with the anticipated density and assumed infrastructure demand. The proposal represents a high density development outcome, consistent with the intent of the zone,” Mewing Planning Consultants stated in a planning report.

Kangaroo Point Unit Market Underscores Strength of Brisbane Property Market

Kangaroo Point might be one of Brisbane’s oldest suburbs but its urbanisation has brought on changes that have pushed its property market growth ever upward. In a suburb where both stately heritage houses and modern, high-rise apartment units co-exist impressively, the median prices on the property market have grown by almost 17% and 9% for units and houses, respectively.

Housing Market

For the period covering July 2020 to June 2021, 25 houses were sold in Kangaroo Point. Houses here are traditionally tightly held and while they may change hands, not a lot of properties go on the market. Still, data from Property Market Updates show that the suburb’s housing market grew by 9.09 percent for this time period, with an average median house price of $725,000. Most of the houses stayed 51 days on the market.

Lamb-House-Kangaroo-Point — Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

One of the most talked-about house sales happened in May 2021 for the over 118-year-old heritage-listed property called the Lamb House, bought for more than $12,000,000. Its new owners plan to renovate and faithfully restore the federation-style riverside mansion and spend another $15,000,000 over the span of three years so it could become a family home. The new owners also plan to open the Lamb House for the public for tours and exhibits from time to time, when the refurbishments are done.

However, the highest-selling house for the period ending June 2021 was also on Leopard St, a stone’s throw away from Lamb House, at $15,000.000.

Unit Market

Unlike other markets in Brisbane, where units lag behind house sales, Kangaroo Point is firmly a unit market, achieving a 16.97 percent growth, with a whopping 337 apartments sold for the same period. The impressive sales volume has pushed the unit median price to $579,000 with the most expensive apartment selling for $5,000,000.

Supplies of units in this river peninsula have been steady and in demand, amidst several construction projects because of the Kangaroo Point Peninsula Neighbourhood Plan that rezoned the area near Story Bridge for high-density residential and community developments. Main Street has also been approved as a mixed-use zone to encourage new business.

More than 60 percent of Kangaroo Point residents are renters.

Kangaroo-Point-unit-market — Photo Credit: Property Market Updates

About Kangaroo Point

Once an industrial hub, Kangaroo Point is now known as an inner-city lifestyle and recreational hub bounded by the Brisbane River as a narrow peninsula. This suburb has the popular Kangaroo Point Cliffs for families or groups to enjoy a perfect river spot picnic whilst the outdoorsy and adventurous types love its bike and running trails, kayaking tours, and cliffside activities.

As a high-density residential suburb, Kangaroo Point is home to a lot of young professionals in their 20s to 30s, along with growing families drawn to the area due to its proximity to some of the best schools in Brisbane, like St Joseph’s Primary School on Leopard St, or the universities in nearby St Lucia or South Bank.

Kangaroo-Point-apartment-units — Photo Credit: Google Map

Accessible through the Story Bridge and the M3 Riverside expressway, traffic may sometimes be a problem in this, especially when the games are in season at The Gabba, which is just a few minutes off Main St.

As development has rapidly changed Kangaroo Point, the construction of new buildings, both for residential and commercial use, is still expected to continue in the coming years. Locals are also eager for the new Kangaroo Point Green Bridge that will connect the CBD and the eastern suburbs.

“KP is one of the most underrated localities close to the city. Pubs, CBD, Southbank all within walk distance, KP Cliffs are stunning. Great for the young up and coming professional or young families.”
Disco, Homely

“Great if you like waterfront apartment living. Surrounded by water and parkland the city is a 5-minute ferry ride or 5 minutes over the bridge by car. Close enough to the city without the hustle and bustle. I have lived in the area for over ten years and have no plans to leave.”
JKS, Homely

“Great access to the City of Brisbane and its River. We could live there and spend a week there at least once a year. The development of the area is all very well done and it has the Story Bridge Hotel, the city, and Southbank nearby.”
FredFellini, Homely

St Vincent’s Hospital in Kangaroo Point Up for a 20-Year Transformation

St Vincent’s Hospital in Kangaroo Point has submitted plans for a wellness campus, a redevelopment which will be undertaken in six stages for the next 20 years.

Gaskell Planning Consultants is overseeing the plans on behalf of St Vincent Healthcare Limited whilst Bickerton Masters has been tapped to design the complex.

St Vincent’s development (DA A005844698) will accommodate spaces for residential and commercial uses, including a new aged care accommodation. There will be three towers, between 14 to 18-storeys tall for the residential precinct. It will also have an education precinct for its research and healthcare facilities.

Photo Credit: Artist Impression from Bickerton Masters/BCC

Public green spaces will be incorporated in the plans, including an accessway to the river walk. The buildings will be designed to interconnect via landscaped podiums. The development is aimed at innovating the healthcare offering of St Vincent Healthcare Limited to support Brisbane’s ageing population.

The old building will be gradually knocked down during the stages of the development, whilst the existing aged care facility will be temporarily relocated to the Maycrest site, which has been earmarked for Stage 2.

Lincoln Hopper, the chief executive of St Vincent’s made it clear that the construction phases will consider the relocations carefully as they do not plan to shut down operations. Mr Hopper expects that work on the property will start in a matter of years.

Formerly know as the Mt Olivet Hospital, the private facility built around the mid-1950s to cater to the elderly has been underdeveloped. As the needs of the patients change, the operators believe that redevelopment would help them provide a range of complex health requirements.