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Bretts Wharf Plaza Officially Opens in Kingsford Smith Drive

The much-awaited completion of Bretts Wharf Plaza is finally done. The new multi-function park area and public event space officially opened at the end of November 2019 with a special celebration attended by locals and VIPs.

As part of the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade, Bretts Wharf Plaza will connect to the Racecourse Road entertainment precinct, Hamilton Park, and the Lores Bonney Riverwalk. The latter is a modern heritage trail that tells the history of the precinct.

Bretts Wharf Plaza, located just a few metres off the new Brett Wharf terminal built last 2015, will also link with the Portside and Northshore Hamilton.

“The opening of Bretts Wharf Plaza and a new park area is an exciting milestone for the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade, adding to the already opened Lores Bonney Riverwalk and paying tribute to our past with a new heritage trail exploring the history of the local area,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said during the opening ceremonies.

The park may now be enjoyed by locals who would like to take advantage of the spacious green area.

*Photo Credit: Cr David McLachlan/Facebook*

*Photo Credit: Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner/Facebook*

Brief History of Brett’s Wharf

Bretts Wharf was established in 1928 to ferry locals from Hamilton to Bulimba. During the Pacific War, the facility was exclusively used by the U.S. Army to load and ship equipment. After the war, the wharf was also used by commercial shippers until 1993.

In late 1998, Bretts Wharf ceased ferry operations until it was restored and re-opened in 2007. In 2011, the wharf had minor damages due to the catastrophic Brisbane floods and required extensive repairs.

In 2015, the original wharf was completely demolished and was replaced by a new structure 200 metres east of its original location near Kingsford Smith Drive.

Festive Christmas Activities Happening at Portside Wharf Hamilton

Christmas is in full swing in Hamilton as the Portside Wharf unleashes the joy of the Yuletide season with some fun and festive activities for every member of the family. This year, here are what you can expect to see at The Wharf in the days leading up to Christmas.

Christmas Carolers and Elves

Hark! The herald angels will be singing joyful Christmas carols at the Portside Wharf for two weekends. Stop by to listen to the young carolers whilst the Christmas elves hand out sweet candy canes.

DATE	TIME
Saturday 14 December 2019	6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday 15 December 2019	12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Saturday 21 December 2019	6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Sunday 22 December 2019	12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Christmas Frozen Pop-Up

Dendy Cinemas Portside is running Disney’s “Frozen 2” this Christmas season. To supplement this “Frozen” fever, Portside Wharf will host craft activities bearing the movie’s theme from Saturday to Tuesday, the 14th to 17th of Dec 2019.

This FREE Christmas Frozen event will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and kids will learn to make their own snowflake Christmas tree decorations and snow stencil Christmas cards. Stay a while longer and get a chance to meet Elsa of Arendelle.

Christmas Feast

Tired of preparing food for Christmas day? Then leave the preparations to the masters so you won’t have to dampen your holiday mood. Relax and celebrate at these Portside Wharf eateries.

WHERE	SPECIALS
Gusto Da Gianni	Christmas Day Lunch Special Four-Course Set Menu $139 per person
Belvedere Bar N Grill	Christmas Day Lunch Special Three-Course Set Menu $125 per person

For a superb Christmas party to remember, these restaurants at the Portside Wharf are open for hosting holiday functions and group events. Inquire about their food packages or take advantage of the group rates and discounted deals:

Belvedere Bar n Grill
Byblos Bar
Cruisers Alfresco
Gusto Da Gianni
Moda Events
Sono Japanese

One of Brisbane’s shopping and lifestyle landmarks, Portside Wharf is a family-friendly precinct with high-end retailers and top restaurants. Whilst enjoying this year’s Christmas activities, you may also visit this hub to complete your Christmas shopping list.

Studio Thrifty 4 in Albion Sells Everything Half Price This December

Albion’s groovy Op Shop, Studio Thrifty 4, has a special Christmas treat for vintage hunters this December! The store is putting every item at half price for its biggest year-end offering.

Typically, Studio Thrifty 4 already sells their pieces at $5 each but for the remaining days of 2019, every item for sale at the store on Tate Street is priced more affordably at $2.50. To say that this is a steal is an understatement!

Studio Thrifty 4 is set up at a backstreet warehouse but once you step inside, you’ll be transported to a wonderful shoppers mecca with a funky disco ball at the centre. This place houses some of the best vintage and pre-loved collections in Brisbane.

*Photo Credit: Studio Thrifty 4/Facebook*

Snag clothes, shoes and accessories for all genders and assemble a wardrobe that’s uniquely you. Score 1950s jeans and dresses, glamorous evening gowns, fashionable platform shoes, and classic men’s jackets which you can no longer find at any store.

Studio Thrifty 4 sources clothes from donations as well as other Op Shops in Brisbane. Every sale made at this store helps fund Pay a Sack Forward to support the homeless.

Open every Friday and Saturday at 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Studio Thrifty 4 is next to She Bangs. Most shoppers hang out at this cafe before or after scoring great deals at the Op Shop.

Four New Commercial Buildings to Rise at Hamilton Northshore

Hamilton Northshore will be the site of four new commercial buildings following a multi-million land agreement between Economic Development Queensland (EDQ), the Queensland Government’s property development and community-shaping agency, and investment company Alceon.

“This agreement unlocks land to support business growth and will create more local jobs,” Minister for State Development Cameron Dick said.

“This is also a vote of confidence by Alceon in the Queensland economy with the company set to build four new commercial buildings over the next six years.”

Alceon, which has already invested $100 million in the Brisbane Technology Park (BTP) Northshore, is set to inject $40 million for the project which is expected to generate more than 20 construction jobs annually for a period of six years.

Mr Dick added that more national and international companies, such as BTP Northshore’s existing tenants Puma Energy, Harris Communications, Fujitsu, Becton Dickinson and Clinical Network Services, will be encouraged to move to the “Sunrise State” as the site expands its portfolio of world-class commercial buildings.

Four New Commercial Buildings to Rise at Hamilton Northshore — *Northshore Hamilton Urban Development Area*
*Photo credit: The State of Queensland (Department of State Development) 2019 / dsdmip.qld.gov.au*

“Our developments provide accommodation for a range of land uses including commercial office, research and development and high-tech warehousing together with café amenities and ample secure car parking,” Alceon Project Director Paul Huston said.

“Located strategically between the airport and CBD, Northshore’s bikeways, recreation spaces, retail and childcare offerings provide a unique proposition for both residents and businesses who can live, work and play in a thriving riverfront precinct.

“The success of Northshore is directly linked to continual investment by EDQ in precinct infrastructure and place-making activities.

“Alceon is proud to be part of this exciting long-term project that will benefit Queensland.”

The first of the four buildings to be located at 385 Macarthur Avenue is expected to commence by the end of 2019. These buildings will be home to up to 1,200 employees once completed.

The Northshore Hamilton master plan is the state’s largest urban renewal project, located on the 304-hectare former wharf and port area, that will deliver residential and office accommodation, as well as entertainment, commercial, retail, and leisure facilities over the next 30 years.

Proposed Breakfast Creek Green Bridge Up for Community Feedback

An under-utilised part of the Brisbane River will soon be activated once the proposed Breakfast Creek green bridge is delivered, and as part of the Council’s preliminary planning, locals are invited to have their say about the proposed project before Friday 6 December 2019.

The Breakfast Creek green bridge is intended for pedestrians and cyclists use, improving walking and cycling experience between the new Lores Bonney Riverwalk, a recently delivered project as part of Council’s Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade, as well as enhancing recreational experiences along the River

*Breakfast Creek green bridge proposed alignment*
*Photo credit: Brisbane City Council / brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-and-transport/roads-infrastructure-and-bikeways/*

The proposed alignment for the new green bridge stretches from Kingsford Smith Drive at Albion to Breakfast Creek Road at Newstead. Members of the community are invited to have their say by answering the online survey here.

Alternatively, they may visit any of the following community information sessions:

Date	Time	Location
Thursday 14 November 2019	11 a.m. – 2 p.m.	Reddacliff Place, 266 George Street, Brisbane City
Saturday 16 November 2019	7 a.m. – 12 p.m.	Davies Park Markets, West End
Monday 18 November 2019	4 p.m. – 7 p.m.	South Brisbane Sailing Club, West End
Tuesday 19 November 2019	4 p.m. – 7 p.m.	Ground level foyer, Queensland Multicultural Centre, 102 Main Street, Kangaroo Point
Friday 22 November 2019	10 a.m. – 1 p.m.	St Lucia Community Hall, 27 Guilfoyle Street, St Lucia
Saturday 23 November 2019	10 a.m. – 2 p.m.	Captain Burke Park, 117 Holman Street, Kangaroo Point
Monday 25 November 2019	3 a.m. – 6 p.m.	Toowong Library, Toowong Village Shopping Centre, 9 Sherwood Road, Toowong
Tuesday 26 November 2019	10 a.m. – 1 p.m.	Queen Street Mall main stage, Brisbane City
Thursday 28 November 2019	10 a.m. – 2 p.m.	Bellbowrie Mobile Library, Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza, 37 Birkin Road, Bellbowrie
Saturday 30 November 2019	2 p.m. – 8 p.m.	Bretts Wharf, Hamilton
Sunday 1 December 2019	8 a.m. – 3 p.m.	Riverside Markets, City Botanic Gardens, Alice and Albert streets, Brisbane City
Tuesday 3 December 2019	3 p.m. – 6 p.m.	City Botanic Gardens (near Alice Street and Edward Street roundabout), Brisbane City

The four other proposed green bridges are:

Kangaroo Point Bridge -from Alice/Edward Street roundabout (near the City Botanic Gardens) to Scott Street, Kangaroo Point
Toowong to West End Bridge – from near Archer Street in Toowong, across the Brisbane River to Orleigh Park, and near Forbes Street in West End.
St Lucia to West End Bridge – from the corner of Keith Street and Macquarie Street in St Lucia across the Brisbane River to the southern end of Boundary Street in West End
Bellbowrie Bridge – from the river end of Weekes Road in Bellbowrie to Grindle Road in Wacol

Members of the community may also request information about these projects and or provide feedback by:

emailing the project team
writing to:
Green Bridges for Brisbane
City Projects Office
Brisbane City Council
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane Qld 4001

Eat Street Northshore Recognised as “Highly Recommended” at Brisbane’s Cleaner Suburbs Awards

A dining and entertainment venue situated at the old container wharf at Northshore Hamilton received a “Highly Recommended” recognition at the Brisbane’s Cleaner Suburbs Awards.

Eat Street Northshore, along with Loop Growers, has been cited “Highly Recommended” in the Cleanaway Waste Innovation category of the Brisbane’s Cleaner Suburbs Awards held last 17 October 2019.

Eat Street Northshore highly Recommended Brisbane's Cleaner Suburbs Awards — *Photo credit:* *Eat Street Northshore* */ Facebook*

Eat Street Northshore was recognised for taking action to eliminate all general waste requiring all vendors to eliminate plastics and convert to compostable items, recycling everything “from cans and bottles, to cardboard, oyster shells, oil, food scraps, and scrap metal.”

Eat Street Northshore is also the first location in Australia to use a state-of-the-art vertical hydroponic farm to grow food right at the site. This enabled vendors to get fresh supplies of veggies and herbs direct from its onsite garden, inside a repurposed shipping container.

*Photo credit:* *Eat Street Northshore* */ Facebook*

Renae McBrien, on the other hand, took home the Cleanaway Waste Innovation Award for her contribution in the reduction of waste that goes to landfill by designing and delivering community gardens, and impacting large scale recycling segregation and sustainable staff education, across 16 health care facilities. Her efforts resulted in the removal of over 1 million plastic units per year.

Brisbane’s Cleaner Suburbs Awards recognise organisations and individuals for their contribution to the environment and creating a clear and green city. Brisbane City Council worked in partnership with CitySmart to deliver the awards.

Individuals, community groups, P&C, multicultural groups and associations, businesses, workplaces, universities, and schools are eligible to enter the Cleaner Suburbs Awards.

There were seven categories and 11 Cleaner Suburbs Awards given this year:

Councillors’ Clean Green Choice Award
Litter Prevention Awards – Individual 5-17yrs, Individual 18+ yrs, and two (2) Groups
Waste Innovation Award
Brisbane’s Clean Green Award
People’s Choice Litter Prevention Award
Clean Schools Awards – Primary School and Secondary School
Outstanding Clean Green Award.

The Cat is Out! New CityCat Double-Decker Water Trials Begin

CityCat’s new double-decker water trials have commenced. CityCat 22 will undergo testing over the next few weeks, before its official launch in November 2019.

The Aus Ships built double-decker was moved from the warehouse and has hit the waters on 23 October. It will cruise the Brisbane River for weeks of testing.

The first of the seven new CityCat vessels to be delivered over the next four years, CityCat 22 cost $3.7 million to build. Billed as Brisbane’s most modern CityCat, the next generation vessel will join the current fleet next month.

The Council currently operates a fleet of 21 CityCats, along with nine monohull ferries, within a network of 25 terminals from Northshore Hamilton to St Lucia.

*Video Still Credit:* *Brisbane City Council* */ Facebook*

The new CityCat 22 vessel will be able to carry a total of 170 passengers. The upper deck is accessible via rear stairs and will provide seating for 16 passengers..

Timelapse footage of CityCat 22 Hitting the Water
Video Credit: Brisbane Development / YouTube

The rear deck seating provides seating for 16 passengers and space for up to ten bikes. The open front deck, on the other hand, offers a clear viewing panel below the handrail.

The vessel will also have up to 6 dedicated wheelchair and mobility scooter areas. Lower windows in sections of the main cabin will also allow passengers in mobility devices and children to enjoy the view.

There will be a table and lounge seating options including USB device charging ports, free Wi-Fi, as well as hearing augmentation loops.

The ferry masters and crew will undergo onboard training for 20 days before the new double-decker gets launched for service. The new CityCat will operate under the existing contract with Transdev Brisbane Ferries.

Public Okays Dogs on Ferries and CityCats, Three-Month Trial Formally Proposed

A three-month trial allowing pet dogs on ferries and CityCats has been formally proposed, following a month-long survey which revealed an overwhelming public support for the idea.

Between 30 August to 30 September 2019, feedback was sought from the community, the ferry operator and other stakeholders, regarding the proposed trial. The survey received almost 5,000 responses, of which, 85 percent supported the idea of allowing pet dogs to travel on CityCats, 80 percent on cross river ferries, and 77 percent on City Hoppers.

“People have been telling us for a while now that they wanted us to give this idea a go, but it was important that we asked people for their views on how the trial could be run,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said.

“It probably isn’t surprising that the vast majority of dog owners and assistance dog owners supported the trial, but more than half of respondents who did not own a dog also thought the trial was a good idea,” Mr Bailey said.

However, during the trial, dogs can only travel during off-peak times. Pet dogs will not be permitted between 6am-8.30am and 3.30pm-7pm Monday to Friday.

Also, pet dogs need to be in a carrier, or on a lead and wearing a muzzle; and remain under the control of their handler at all times.

During the three-month period, Translink will monitor how people respond to the trial and use the service, and see if an extension or policy changes are necessary.

The start date of the trial will be announced after Translink has analysed the survey feedback and concluded its discussions with Brisbane City Council, ferry operator Transdev and accessibility reference groups.

Brisbane Metro Airport Connection Proposed

Brisbane City Council has included a proposal for the expansion of the Brisbane Metro out to the airport in its submission to the 2020 Brisbane Airport Master Plan. This will provide airport workers with a quicker and more affordable public transport alternative.

The proposed Brisbane Metro Airport Connection service will potentially run along Airport Drive and possibly through the Airportlink tunnel. The proposal was welcomed by Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff and stated that they have been very vocal about the need for similar investments in roads and public transport infrastructure connecting the airport to the city and the region.

Brisbane Metro airport expansion | Video Credit: Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner / YouTube

Brisbane Airport currently serves more than 23 million passengers per year, which is projected to more than double by 2040. The Airport is also the fastest-growing employment hub in the Qld with the number of people working there projected to double from 24,000 to 46,000 by 2040.

Lord Mayor Schrinner is pushing for the extension of the Brisbane Metro services to the airport to make everyday commuting more affordable for workers and even for tourists. As Airtrain’s long term exclusivity contract will expire 2036, Cr Schrinner said he would be seeking to talk to relevant authorities to make it possible to deliver the affordable public transport project earlier.

Brisbane Metro Airport Connection proposed — *Photo credit: Brisbane Airport Corporation/bne.com.au*

About the 2020 Brisbane Airport Draft Master Plan

The Draft Master Plan provides an overview of the strategic direction for future development of the airport between now and 2040, with special focus on development plans for 2020-25.

Once approved, the Master Plan will form the basis for future development of airport facilities over the next 20 years, with particular focus on the next five years. The final draft of the Master Plan will be submitted to the Federal Government in December 2019.

New Hawker-Style Food Hall to Open at Brisbane Domestic Airport

A new hawker-style food hall, a first of its kind in Australian Airports, is set to land in November 2019 at the Brisbane Airport as part of the airport’s Domestic Terminal Redevelopment.

A seven-year contract, estimated to be worth US$49.2 million, was awarded to SSP Group to open and operate the new international food hall, which is inspired by local outdoor dining and farmers markets.

Situated at the Qantas end of the domestic terminal on the second level of the departures zone, the new food hall, called Food Collective, will feature five international and local brands:

Ze Pickle – Australian burger-bar offering food, craft beer, and a unique selection of cocktail and wine

Brisbane Airport hawker-style food hall — *Photo credit:* *Ze Pickle* */ Facebook*

Upper West Side Deli – New York-inspired concept offering sandwiches and bagels
Yo! Sushi – serves sushi, sashimi and other authentic Japanese dishes

Nippon Ramen – serves dumplings and ramen noodles

Mi Casa Burritos – serves traditional Mexican dishes including burritos, tortillas, and tacos

The Food Collective | Domestic Terminal
Video Credit: Brisbane Airport / YouTube

Food Collective will have a large centralised seating area with on-site self-order kiosks that will allow passengers to order food across all five restaurants.

SSP Group will rotate new food and beverage concepts to keep its offerings current, fresh, and exciting throughout its seven-year contract.

Food Collective will open at the newly redeveloped Qantas Café Court which is part of the $40-million redevelopment of the Qantas and Central Terminal areas. The domestic airport redevelopment started in July 2018 and will be due for completion in late 2020.