Former Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson PSM, has been appointed as the new Health Ombudsman for Queensland. Ms Anderson takes on the role from outgoing Health Ombudsman Dr Lynne Coulson Barr OAM.  With more than 20 years of experience in senior executive and statutory roles, Ms Anderson has taken on multiple leadership roles. Most recently she was the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner from 2019 until January 2025 and previously worked a

A total of 3500 native trees will be planted to provide shade along more than 100km of roads in City of Moreton Bay and around community facilities. The $2.6 million ‘Cool City Streets’ program will primarily benefit vulnerable residents, with the trees providing shade to protect them from the effects of urban heat when walking to and from public transport stops, shops and other public amenities. Destinations along the key routes where the trees will be planted include pu

Applications for the highly anticipated $35 million  Zero Litter to the Bay by 2030  program, a game-changing initiative to clean up litter in Moreton Bay, are now open. The  Zero Litter to the Bay by 2030  program will remove an estimated 6000 wheelie bins’ worth of plastic and litter from Moreton Bay each year by installing new stormwater treatment assets to build on the missing links of the existing network, focusing on high litter generating areas. These devices will t

By Sheree Hoddinett A 79-year-old Banksia Beach woman has died and a 41-year-old Ningi man was injured in an accident at Banksia Beach on Tuesday January 20. Police were called to the intersection of Reef Street and Sunderland Drive (near Solander Lake Bowls Club) about 12.30pm following reports a blue Nissan Navara and a white MG hatchback had collided. The driver of the MG, the woman from Banksia Beach, died at the scene. The male driver of the Nissan was transported to Cab

By Sheree Hoddinett The usual Friday afternoon traffic chaos has been amplified due to a crash. Northbound lanes of the Bruce Highway have been closed at Morayfield due to a serious traffic crash. Emergency services were called to the scene after reports of a collision between a truck and a car about 10am this morning (Friday). The truck has rolled on its side and the car was also seriously damaged, but there are believed to be only minor injuries as a result of the incident,

By Sheree Hoddinett Every new year, on the stroke of midnight, we often perform the same ritual. Fireworks crackle and pop, glasses clink and somewhere between the usual “Happy New Year” chorus and the first regret of the year, we make promises to ourselves that would impress even the most optimistic life coach. This year will be different, we say. This year, I will wake up at 5am, drink lemon water, meditate, run 10 kilometres and still arrive at work glowing with inner

By Sheree Hoddinett From splash-tastic thrills to laid-back tunes by the water and a step back in time, Australia Day across the community is shaping up to be an absolute ripper for 2026. If your idea of celebrating starts with slipping, sliding and laughing until your cheeks hurt, Sandstone Point Hotel is the place to be from 10am on Monday, January 26. Ready to slip, slop, slap and slide this Aussie Day? Grab your kit, pack your sunnies and make tracks early, because th

The headspace team provide free mental health support to all young people aged 12-25 who present mild to moderate complexities. Their team was recently asked the following question:  What if we could radically transform the way we look at mental health? UNSW Big Anxiety Research Centre offered headspace satellite centre Bribie Island the possibility to take part in the Edge of The Present (EOTP) project. The research study aims to evaluate the impact of mixed reality ex

An interactive time capsule that tells the story of Moreton Bay’s early European settlers for generations will be able to continue its mission after a funding boost from council. City of Moreton Bay has granted $140,000 per annum over three years to support operations at the Caboolture Historical Village. Caboolture Historical Society (CHS), which manages the Caboolture Historical Village, will utilise the funding to ensure the village continues to provide a place of educat

Beat up batteries carelessly tossed in the bin are causing headaches for City of Moreton Bay’s waste facility workers. As we dive into a new year, council is calling on residents to dispose of old batteries the right way as it faces an average of 12 battery-related fires a month at its waste facilities due to incorrect disposal by residents. Used general household and rechargeable batteries – including lithium batteries - can now be dropped off at any one of City of Moreton

By Sheree Hoddinett It’s going to be a long process, but the first step in a line of upgrade work for the super busy Caboolture River Road is underway. Ageing car park facilities at Morayfield State School are already being transformed as part of City of Moreton Bay’s much-anticipated improvements to Caboolture River Road. This work forms part of the broader Caboolture River Road upgrade, jointly funded under the Southeast Queensland City Deal Growth Area Compact. Th

By Sheree Hoddinett A wagging tail and a fluffy listening ear are helping children across the City of Moreton Bay fall in love with reading, one page at a time. For the past six years, City of Moreton Bay Libraries has proudly partnered with Story Dogs, a heart-warming program that pairs children with gentle, trained dogs who listen as they read aloud. What might seem like a simple idea has transformed the reading experience for countless local kids. Scout the Story

By Sheree Hoddinett Harmony Haven Singing Group was born from a lifelong love of music, community and connection. For Frances Hiam, singing director of the newly launched group, singing has always been more than a pastime, it has been a constant thread woven through her life. That journey began many years ago, singing and performing in churches and festivals and later developing her voice with the guidance of a singing coach. What started as personal growth soon grew i

By Chase Christensen It’s the busiest time of year for parents, as the summer school holidays are here, lasting 6-8 weeks, but may feel like 20 for some. Due to winter sports such as rugby league, soccer and Australian rules football being the pinnacle of our local sports base and most popular in the Moreton Bay area, it may be challenging to find suitable sporting activities for children. Bribie Island Golf Club Golf isn’t always seen as a top-tier sport for youth; how

By Chase Christensen The Caboolture Snakes have long been regarded as a heavyweight club across multiple sporting codes, boasting a proud history filled with premiership success. However, the 2025 season proved challenging at the junior representative level. The club failed to reach a grand final in the junior international divisions, from under 13 to under 17, with their only grand final appearance coming in the open women’s competition, where they fell short of victory. Ra

In the golden haze of a Sydney summer evening, where the waves of Bondi Beach usually whisper promises of leisure and light, the first night of Hanukkah turned into a nightmare of gunfire and grief. On December 14, 2025, at least 16 souls – including a child and Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman – were gunned down in a brazen terrorist attack targeting a joyful Jewish community gathering. Two gunmen, identified as a father-son duo from Sydney's southwest – with one, Naveed Akr

As we settle into the heart of another Queensland summer, gardens across Bribie Island and the surrounding Sunshine Coast region are ready for a fresh burst of colour. With long, hot days already upon us and the humidity cranking up, now is the ideal time to plant tough, vibrant flowers that thrive in our coastal conditions and turn sandy backyards into floral spectacles. Whether you’re in Bongaree, Bellara or just across the bridge in Caboolture or the Glass House area, thes

Construction will soon begin on new clubhouse facilities at Caboolture Rugby League Club. The new clubhouse will replace the Caboolture Snakes’ ageing headquarters, benefiting the 2000 players and spectators who use the grounds. City of Moreton Bay Council has also awarded a tender for construction. Mayor Peter Flannery said the $14.5 million project was significant, with works over two stages to transform the community sports facility. “Our residents absolutely love r

The City of Moreton Bay is on track to become home to one million people in the next 30 years, with a new report showing what it will take to make that future prosperous, connected and sustainable. A new economic white paper, Towards One Million: Our Moment of Opportunity, developed by the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) in partnership with City of Moreton Bay, strengthens the evidence for council's recent City of Tomorrow Strategy, which sets the framework for co