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Hamilton, Sherwood and West End Suncorp Branches to Close Following Major COVID-19 Revamp

Hamilton and Sherwood will join seven other Suncorp Queensland branches that are shutting down due to dwindling customer traffic.

The bank confirmed that nine Queensland branches will cease operation as bank services will migrate online.

Apart from Hamilton and Sherwood, Elanora, Stafford, Victoria Point and the Burpengary business centre will also close, whilst branches in Beenleigh and West End will shut down in October. These branches comprise 16 percent of the bank’s network across the country.

Suncorp has been closing offices since April, when strict COVID-19 restrictions were set in place.

The bank revealed that over-the-counter transactions have declined due to the pandemic. Most of their clients have switched to digital services and have been logging into the app or website instead of going to physical branches.

Suncorp’s app apparently has 10.78 million logins and over 517,000 unique users as of June 30. Usage also accelerated to four times the average early this year, just as the pandemic crisis started.

Several Suncorp staff are expected to lose their jobs but other qualified and suitable workers will be re-assigned at nearby branches or at the call centres.

Suncorp chief executive is Steve Johnston said that they expect more changes, especially with workers’ status, as the bank adopts the new model to respond to COVID-19.

Wendy Streets of the Finance Sector Union of Australia Queensland, however, said that Suncorp’s drastic measures to close branches have been going on for two years. Customers have had no branch services prior to the pandemic but the company attributed the closures to “changing customer behaviours.”

Disney+ Drive-In Cinema Popping Up In Hamilton this September

2020 has been met with a mixed bag of emotions by almost everyone so perhaps a dose of feel-good movies, like Disney classics, might help things seem brighter. For a whole month beginning 17 Sept 2020, a Disney+ drive-in cinema featuring popular movies — including Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar — is popping up at the Northshore Riverfront in Hamilton.

Presented by OpenAir Cinemas, the movies you grew up on or repeatedly enjoyed with families and friends will be beamed on the big screen and you can watch it safely inside your vehicle. Here’s your chance to relive the magic of Disney despite the limitations due to the pandemic.

The drive-in cinema will run until 18 Oct 2020. This event coincides with the launch of the Disney+ streaming service in Australia by November.

Disney+ Drive-In Movie List

Here are just some of the films you can expect to watch at the pop-up drive-in theater:

10 Things I Hate About You
101 Dalmatians (Animated)
Aladdin (Animated)
Aladdin (Live Action) w/ captions
Beauty and the Beast (Animated)
Beauty and the Beast (Live Action)
Black Panther
Captain Marvel
Cars
Cool Runnings
Edward Scissorhands
Finding Nemo
Frozen II Sing-Along
Frozen Sing-Along
Guardians of the Galaxy
Hocus Pocus
Inside Out
Lady and the Tramp (Animated)
Moana Sing-Along
Monsters Inc
Mrs Doubtfire
Ratatouille
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
The Greatest Showman Sing-Along
The Incredibles
The Jungle Book (Animated)
The Jungle Book (Live Action)
The Lion King (Animated)
The Lion King (Live Action) w/ captions
The Little Mermaid Sing-Along
The Mighty Ducks
The Princess Diaries
Thor Ragnarok
Toy Story
Up
Wall-e

OpenAir Cinemas will set up state-of-the-art audio-visual technology to enhance your viewing experience. Operations at the drive-in theater are fully contactless with a QR code system for ordering and customer service.

Check the dates and times of the viewing and book a ticket online. Take note of the movie theme nights to scale down your choices: Marvel Mondays, Star Wars Wednesdays, Throwback Thursdays, Fan Friday, Sing-a-long Saturdays and Pixar Sundays.

Car Park Proposed at Abandoned Post Delivery Centre in Albion

The site of an abandoned delivery centre used by the Australian Post in Albion may soon become a car park garage and warehouse depot.

Developer Reeljez Pty Ltd submitted a development application with the Brisbane City Council to transform the site on Lever St as a car park for commuters and residents who have been parking in the streets. The warehouse facility, on the other hand, is for storing materials for construction projects in the inner northeast suburbs.

Photo Credit: PD Online/Brisbane City Council

Despite the rezoning of the area for residential use, the developer nixed plans to build a large medium-density residential building. Instead, Reeljez Pty Ltd optioned a Material Change since the company deemed a residential development is “commercially premature” at this time.

The abandoned site has an existing car park with 31 slots but Reeljez Pty Ltd said that, if approved, this new facility will be electronic and managed on a day-to-day basis. Customers of the car park will also be allowed to use the space until 7:00 p.m. only.

But the Council informed the developer during the pre-lodgement meeting on 29 July 2020 to submit a strategic framework demonstrating how it plans to correct the issues seen, given that the area is for residential use. The parking and warehouse might also generate non-residential traffic that could lead to conflicts with pedestrians on Lever St and the nearby streets.

David McLachlan Delivers Decisive LNP Victory in Hamilton Ward

Photo Credit: https://mclachlan.com.au/news

Incumbent Councillor David McLachlan is delivering a decisive win in his 2020 re-election bid as councillor of Hamilton ward with 71% of the votes against Labor candidate Leah Malzard, and approximately 35% of the votes still to be counted, as of the 5^th of April 2020.

Traditionally a safe LNP/Liberal ward on the BCC, Hamilton ward has been represented by Cr McLachlan since 2006, when he succeeded Tim Nicholls who was elected MLA for Clayfield at the 2006 state parliamentary election. The LNP/Liberal Party has had more than 65 of the two-party preferred vote in the ward at every election for the past 16 years.

Solid Track Record

Hamilton Ward Councillor McLachlan — *Photo Credit : https://davidmclachlan.com.au/news/*

Prior to pursuing a political career, Cr David McLachlan was a journalist, working as a radio and television reporter, and then as a consultant for media management, issues management, and government relations. He has also been an advisor for a Federal Cabinet Minister.

Known to be an active proponent of various community projects, Cr McLachlan currently serves as Chair of the Infrastructure Committee of the Civic Cabinet and has also served on the Council’s front bench, the Establishment and Coordination Committee since 2008. Constituents will also recall his previous portfolios which include City Business and Water Supply; Field Services; and Environment, Parks and Sustainability.

About Hamilton Ward

Hamilton ward extends from Enoggera Creek to Moreton Bay between Kedron Brook and the Brisbane River.

Hamilton Ward Map — *Photo Credit : Screenshot from ABC News election results page*

As a whole, it includes all or most of Albion, Clayfield, Hendra, Ascot, Hamilton, Eagle Farm, Pinkenba, Kalinga, Wooloowin, and portions of Bowen Hills and Newstead. It lost parts of Wooloowin, Lutwyche, and Windsor to Enoggera ward and Marchant ward during the last redistribution.

Brisbane Airport, along with the port and industrial areas on the northern bank of the Brisbane River, take up a large part of the ward.

3 Reasons You ‘Gouda’ Check Portside Wharf’s Amazing Cheese Week

Does eating cheese feel like you’re being rewarded and comforted? Experts say that there’s a science behind the irresistibility of ooey-gooey, melty, salty and tangy cheese, which has been proven to boost the happy hormones. If you’re cheese-obsessed, you might want to drop by Portside Wharf as it’s celebrating its annual Cheese Week this March. Here are three reasons why you’ve got to be there.

1. It’s an 8-Day celebration!

This is not just going to be a one-day pop-up event. Cheese Week is taking place from the 13th to the 20th of March 2020, so you have plenty of time not to miss out on the good deals and exciting activities.

2. There are so many “grate” offers!

Over a dozen bars and restaurants at the Portside Wharf will be offering discounted deals and special meals with cheese on the menu. For instance, IGA is slashing off 20 percent from its Sprout & Kernel Vegan Cheese range. Byblos Bar has a Cheesy Platter for two for $25. The platter includes yummy pumpkin kebbi, rekakat, goats cheese balls, halloumi and sauces.

Cheese platters, cheese pizzas, cheesy nachos, cheese naan or cheesecake — there are heaps of choices from these eateries:

3. There’s some cheesy events, too!

Samantha and Lisa of @Mr & Mrs Jones are hosting a Wine and Cheese pairing experience. They’ll guide and explain which cheese goes perfectly well with which wine so you’d be a pro in a short time.

This event is on Wednesday, the 18th of March, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Booking is required online.

On the same day, Sense of Taste is hosting a Beer Meats Cheese event featuring Bentspoke Brewery beers and Le Fromage Yard cheeses, as well as some cured meats. It happens from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and online booking is a must as well.

Portside Wharf opens at 7:00 a.m. Check with your favourite retailer for its specific trading hours.

Albion Is Top 9 Greater Brisbane Suburbs for Liveability

What makes a suburb a liveable place? A recent Domain study aims to determine just that, and you’ll surely be happy to know that across 17 indicators, Albion ranks high among the 260 Greater Brisbane suburbs in terms of liveability.

The Domain Liveable Brisbane study findings have shown that the ten most liveable suburbs were situated in the inner north. Sitting at the ninth spot is Albion, thanks to its cultural and cafe offerings. Albion residents also benefit from ease of access to bus services and access to employment.

Top ranking Alderley, scored 10 out of 10 in public transport and open space, and also scored well across other criteria including low crime rate and access to schools. Apart from public transport and open space, however, Alderley scored best for tree cover and topographic variation.

The top 10 Greater Brisbane suburbs for liveability are Alderley, Wilston, Ascot, Paddington, Newmarket, Red Hill, Kelvin Grove, Windsor, Albion, and Grange.

The Domain Liveable Cities study is authored by Deloitte Access Economics and Tract Consultants which, based on several indicators, measures liveability in suburbs across Melbourne, Sydney, and for the first time this year, Brisbane.

The indicators used in the study for Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane were:

Culture – the density of cultural services such as libraries, museums, and galleries
Retail – the density of retail offerings and the proportion of a suburb covered by retail outlets
Cafes and restaurants – the density and proximity of cafes and restaurants in a suburb
Employment – the proportion of a suburb’s population that can walk to work
Train/bus/tram – measures the access to train stations and bus stops
Ferry – the average distance from the suburb’s centre to the closest ferry wharf
Open space – percentage of a suburb that is a public open space
Tree cover- percentage of a suburb’s tree canopy cover
Crime – the number of offences per 100,00 resident population
Education – the proximity to primary and secondary schools from the centre of a suburb
Airport noise – only for Sydney and Brisbane
Mobile and Broadband – the quality and availability of mobile and broadband services
Topography variation
Walkability – measures a suburb’s walkable access to employment, shops and or transport
Traffic congestion – measure the difference in average trip time between peak and off-peak hours
Coast proximity – measures the average straight line from a suburb’s centre to the closest coastline or beach
Harbour and ocean views – the proportion of the suburb that has harbour, bay, or ocean views.

Access to ferries was also used as an additional indicator in Sydney and Brisbane and access to trams was measured in Melbourne. Also, for Brisbane and Sydney, airport noise was also considered, and for Sydney alone, harbour and ocean views.

The study revealed that higher-density suburbs are more likely to be liveable, particularly because older suburbs undergoing transformation may likely experience increased traffic congestion. The findings underscored the importance of a suburb’s ability to provide amenity for its residents to make it more liveable.

Brisbane Airport’s New Runway Launch Date Announced

The long wait will soon be over. Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has confirmed the official launch date of Brisbane Airport’s new runway, following the commencement of the final component of the construction programme.

Whilst the timings of the first arrival and departure have not been confirmed yet, BAC has proudly announced that the first historic flights will take off and land Brisbane’s new runway (BNR) on 12 July 2020, after eight of construction.

“Today is a culmination of eight years of physical construction, many years before that in planning, and foresight from nearly half a century ago for one of the most exciting projects in Brisbane’s history,” Gert-Jan de Graaff, BAC Chief Executive Officer, said.

“It’s surreal to think we are just months away from seeing the first aircraft land and depart on this infrastructure masterpiece.

Photo credit: 2020 Brisbane Airport Corporation / newsroom.bne.com.au

The new runway, Mr de Graaff said, is an enabler for growth across all facets, with an estimated 7,800 new jobs created by 2035, as well as an additional five billion in annual economic benefit to the region.

“We are seeing firsthand that the new runway is bringing more flights, destinations and choices for the travelling public, and this growth will only strengthen from 12 July 2020,” Mr de Graaff said.

“We encourage everyone residing in Brisbane to visit the dedicated Flight Path Tool, available on Brisbane Airport’s website, which allows you to search any address to find out specific information in relation to aircraft volume forecasts and the expected noise footprint for the current and future flight paths,” Mr de Graaff said.

Photo credit: 2020 Brisbane Airport Corporation / newsroom.bne.com.au

Coinciding with the announcement, the line marking of the new runway and accompanying taxiways commenced, which marks the final component of the construction programme and will be undertaken over the next four to six weeks.

Once the line marking has been completed, the detailed commissioning process for the new ground lighting, navigational aids and control tower systems will follow.

Brisbane’s new runway is expected to be delivered under budget at a cost of $1.1 billion or a saving of $200 million.

Byblos Brings A Feast of Authentic Mediterranean Flavours

Step into Byblos and be transported to a world of authentic Mediterranean flair, where the food is flavourful and the vibe is perfect for relaxing with your group. Specialising in Lebanese cuisine, this restaurant is located within the lovely Portside Wharf in Hamilton.

Byblos, so named after the oldest Lebanese city, has a mix of seating options by the riverside patio, the curtained lounge and the large dining areas for family gatherings. Every part of this dining spot exudes luxury Middle Eastern ambience.

Open since 2005, the secret to Byblos’ longevity isn’t just because of its food. Northeasterners often pick this place for enjoying a few after-work shenanigans or catching up with friends.

Byblos’ menu is extensive and ideal for even the fussiest eater. The rekakat (lightly fried filo pastries filled with feta and mozzarella cheese, chopped onion and fresh herbs) comes highly recommended and goes well with the long list of cocktails and drinks from its award-winning bar.

As it is a Mediterranean restaurant, Byblos isn’t lacking in healthy options. Choices of salads, grilled skewers and mezat (meat) dishes are plenty. These are often served for sharing with a friend. The Lebanese love dining so much that meals are always social events.

If this is your first visit, the restaurant has a Mezza banquet option ideal for four people minimum. It includes starters, entrees and desserts, so you can try every flavours that this eatery has to offer.

Byblos is open daily from for lunch and dinner. There’s a live music performance every Sunday afternoon. For its trading hours, refer to its Facebook Page.

“Authentic Mediterranean food! Arrived and Brisbane at night and we wanted a small fancy place for dinner. The place is relatively crowded and hyped up. Many locals I assume, came for drinks. Food was really nice, especially the hummus dip. Worth the price tag and the visit!”
Dennis Chan, Google Reviews

“We had the best night out here. The food was amazing, the ambience was so relaxing and the wait staff were just so helpful and lovely. 2 very enthusiastic thumbs up!”
Geri Davie, Facebook

“Good food, came quickly. Booked a last minute table with ease. Would recommend. They have booths which makes it easy when you have a number of kids with you.”
Tablefor6, Zomato

2019 Was a Record-Breaking Year for Brisbane Airport

In 2019, the total number of passengers at Brisbane Airport (BNE) crossed the 24 million mark for the first time, helping Brisbane Airport Corporation record the strongest international and domestic growth among Australia’s major airports.

BAC’s international passenger volume posted growth of 266,182 or 4.5 percent to more than 6.3 million for the calendar year. Domestic passengers, on the other hand, grew by 1.3 percent to more than 17.7 million.

“Brisbane as we know it is evolving and going from strength to strength thanks to a number of major infrastructure projects currently underway,” Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) Chief Executive Officer, Gert-Jan de Graaff said.

*Photo credit: Brisbane Airport / Facebook*

“With Brisbane Airport recording the strongest passenger growth amongst Australia’s major gateway airports, it is clear the rest of the world is taking notice of our great city and region and all it has to offer,” he said.

“The growth in visitor numbers is good news for our city, with the latest International and National Visitor Surveys conducted by Tourism Research Australia showing record expenditure occurring in Brisbane by both domestic and international visitors.

“It is through the collaboration and the collective strength of government, tourism and industry partners in promoting the unique and world-class offerings of Queensland that we continue to see visitor arrivals rise,” Mr de Graaff said.

BNE recorded its busiest day for international passengers on 21 December with 23,063 arrivals and departures within 24 hours. Whilst November posted the biggest passenger growth, an additional 41,991 international travellers, compared to November 2018.

Brisbane Airport Traffic performance – 2019 calendar year

	2018	2019	Year-on-year growth
International arrivals and departures	6,073,988	6,346,082	+4.5%
Domestic-on-carriage	8,423	2,511	-70.2%
Total international passengers	6,082,411	6,348,593	+4.4%
Domestic arrivals and departures	17,538,428	17,766,240	+1.3%
Total passengers	23,620,839	24,114,833	+2.1%

Meanwhile, BNE recorded its busiest day of the year for domestic arrivals and departures with a record-breaking 63,525 passengers. In terms of growth, April recorded the biggest domestic passenger growth with additional 65,738 travellers as compared to the same month in 2018.

In mid-2020, BNE is expected to double its capacity with the opening of its newest runway whilst the $40-million redevelopment of Domestic Terminal is also expected to be completed this year.

Have Your Wine Nights at This New Bar in Portside Wharf

Photo Credit: At Mr & Mrs Jones/Facebook

If your idea of a great bar is a relaxed atmosphere, live music, diverse selection of drinks and foods highlighting the flavours coming out of your glass, then you might just want to hit At Mr & Mrs Jones, bar and restaurant in Portside Wharf.

Opened November 2019, At Mr & Mrs Jones has a solid drinks menu. Whether you’re looking for sparkling wine, champagne, rosé wine, red wine, white wine, cocktails, beer, cider, bourbon, whiskey, and even liqueur, every item on the long menu is carefully curated.

Photo Credit: At Mr & Mrs Jones/Facebook

At Mr & Mrs Jones focuses on top quality Australian wines served by the glass or by the bottle. There’s plenty of Barossa Valley gems, plus a selection of bottles from the wine regions of Canberra District in New South Wales and Pipers River in Tasmania. The wine bar also have affordable options hailing from all over the world, including France, Italy, Spain, and many other places.

Enjoy the atmosphere with live jazz jams every Sunday, and if you can play the old piano, you are welcome to tickle the ivories. All these, along with the restaurant’s subtle lighting and cosy ambience just makes it an ideal destination for small and intimate gatherings.

Head chef Warren Turnbull takes care of the ever-changing menu, but since they focus on wines, expect cheese and charcuterie served at all times. Recent favourites were Moreton Bay Bug Meatballs and crispy lemon chicken wings served with pistachio and zaatar spice.

When you’re up for some wine nights with friends or loved ones or just a simple meal in a relaxed bar, check out their place at Portside Wharf, 39 Hercules St, Hamilton. At Mr & Mrs Jones is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and opens from Wednesday to Sunday. Trading hours start at 10:00 am on weekends. You can find more information about them on Facebook and on Instagram.