attend group fitness classes or cool off and unwind at Acacia Ridge Leisure Centre Public holidays: 9am-5pm (Anzac Day: 1pm-5pm) Lagoon pool and Toddler pool hours: Closed for the winter Visit the website There is also a heated learn-to-swim pool for young swimmers (3 months to 6 years) During school holidays and on weekends in summer you can cool off and unwind in the outdoor lagoon pool and toddlers' play pool.  For more information on pool/venue facilities, lane availability for lap swimming, activities, bookings and fees, phone the venue on 07 5610 4938 or visit the Acacia Ridge Leisure Centre website you can cool off and unwind in the outdoor lagoon pool and toddlers' play pool.  For more information on pool/venue facilities, lane availability for lap swimming, activities, bookings and fees, phone the venue on 07 5610 4938 or visit the Acacia Ridge Leisure Centre website fees and safety information before entering For more information about multi-visit passes and membership options, contact the pool For more information about multi-visit passes and membership options, contact the pool. 1391 Beaudesert Road, Acacia Ridge Qld 4110 Free parking is available in the onsite car park. Image courtesy of the Queensland Government. The ActivUs Alliance has been awarded the design and pre-construction contract for the main works package on the $5.75 billion Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project. The alliance consists of CPB Contractors, UGL, ACCIONA, SMEC and WSP. These companies will work in partnership with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, as well as Queensland Rail to progress design and project planning activities. The Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project will double the capacity of the Gold Coast rail line and reduce waiting times at stations between Brisbane, Logan and the Gold Coast. The project will also upgrade stations to improve accessibility, remove five level crossings, improve park ‘n’ ride facilities, and provide a new continuous active travel path connecting to stations along the 20-kilometre project corridor. The Alliance will now commence the design process and project planning activities and undertake further site investigations to ensure the project is completed ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The project is being jointly funded by the Federal and Queensland governments. Major construction has kicked off on the Suburban Rail Loop in Victoria, ahead of tunnelling commencing at the start of... An intricate timber net structure has been completed on the northern portal of Victoria’s West Gate Tunnel project. The structure... Applications for the Western Australian Government’s Zero Emissions Vehicle rebate scheme, which has so far paid back over $41 million... © 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited © 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Learn about Council’s shared transport service Eligible users can book this service to help them with essential shopping Council offers a shared transport service for those who find it difficult to access essentials Council Cabs transports eligible users to and from shopping centres within their local area on set days and times Each one-way trip costs between $1 to $2.50 Check the schedule to find available Council Cabs services in your area You can search using your destination or suburb You can search using your destination or suburb To book a Council Cab, phone 07 3403 2227 To book a Council Cab, phone 07 3403 2227. Council’s low-cost Personal Public Transport service helps connect Brisbane residents to their local hubs.\r\n Council’s low-cost Personal Public Transport service helps connect Brisbane residents to their local hubs. Link copiedShareShare articleSome South-East Queensland residents have had power restored on Sunday with 230,000 people affected down from 330,000 on Saturday night.12,500 homes were without power in northern NSW on Sunday afternoon.We're gathering live power outage data from the affected areas' electricity distribution network providers Energex* Essential Energy and Ergon.*Energex map data was last reported at 11:15pm on Sunday See the table below the map for an up-to-date list of suburbs in South-East Queensland experiencing power outages ABC Emergency will broadcast regular warnings on ABC Radio. You can find more information, including a map of all the warnings, by clicking here. You can also find these stations on the ABC Listen App The next edition of Roads & Infrastructure will highlight the role that highways play in keeping Australians moving equipment and methods that are delivering this essential transport infrastructure Are you contributing to a highway project of note Have you recently delivered equipment or seen your equipment used on a highway project Is your technology being used to plan and deliver highway projects Have you supplied sustainable materials for highway project use we want to hear your story and give you exposure to those who matter in the infrastructure space Roads & Infrastructure partners can reach: Roads & Infrastructure is the country’s leading specialist road management The magazine is distributed to thousands of decision makers in the $120 billion + roads and infrastructure industry and is a central tool used in making purchasing decisions We’re currently taking bookings for the highway issue – if you’d like to discuss our options, click here to email Business Development Manager Brad Marshall; or click the link below to download our media kit MK link: Media Kit_RI 2025 Major construction has kicked off on the Suburban Rail Loop in Victoria ahead of tunnelling commencing at the start of.. An intricate timber net structure has been completed on the northern portal of Victoria’s West Gate Tunnel project Applications for the Western Australian Government’s Zero Emissions Vehicle rebate scheme which has so far paid back over $41 million.. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media Image courtesy of the New South Wales Government Construction is set to commence earlier than scheduled on the Muswellbrook Bypass as planning kicks off on the new Cessnock Bypass both situated in the Hunter region of New South Wales The fast-tracking of works on the Muswellbrook Bypass is the result of the Federal Government bringing forward its $304.8 million investment Utility relocation work will start this year ahead of the tender for major construction being announced in late 2026 before major construction commences in 2027 The bypass will take traffic away from the town centre of Muswellbrook town centre by moving the New England Highway to an alternate route to the town’s east The new route will allow highway traffic to avoid traffic lights and flow freely at highway speeds saving time for motorists and truck drivers who are travelling through the Hunter toward Aberdeen in the north Residents will also benefit from less congested traffic and less wear and tear on local roads with 13,000 to 20,000 vehicles using the route daily currently The Muswellbrook Bypass project forms part of the New England Highway Corridor upgrades The Federal Government has also announced $5 million to support future planning on the Cessnock bypass reducing traffic and congestion in and around the town for motorists Planning will identify an alternative safe route to connect new housing developments at Bellbird in Cessnock’s south west to Nulkaba in the north and then onwards to the Hunter Expressway Federal Member for Hunter Dan Repacholi said both projects would help to increase capacity and efficiency for both communities Muswellbrook will see less heavy traffic through its main streets making it a more inviting place for locals and visitors to stop and enjoy everything our town has to offer,” Repacholi said “The $5 million investment from the Australian Government to kickstart planning for the Cessnock Bypass is another critical step in improving connectivity in the Hunter Cessnock’s roads are under significant pressure and this project will provide much-needed relief to residents and businesses alike The Schrinner Council will kick off another financial year of the free kerbside collection services where residents will be able to dispose of large household items for free saving costs and reducing illegal dumping in our suburbs Items must be placed on the kerbside by 6am on the first day of the collection period and should not obstruct the footpath The annual calendar helps residents plan ahead for the free kerbside collection and reduce unnecessary trips to the tip donate household items in usable condition to friends or family or reuse and recycling organisations before you place them for collection on the kerb Donated items that can be resold may be taken to Council’s Treasure Troves in Acacia Ridge and Geebung so residents can shop pre-loved items at a fraction of the cost The initiative is one of the many other ways Council is tackling waste including dropping the price of owning a green garden waste bin to less than $1 a week and introducing $100 and $200 rebates for composting equipment at home I am Council is committed to keeping costs down for residents while delivering the services that make our suburbs even better which saves them money and helps keep our suburbs clean We will continue to provide more budget-busting incentives for residents to help them stay sustainable at home For more information on the kerbside large item collection services, or to see your suburb’s collection date, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search ‘kerbside large item collection service’ or download the free Brisbane Bin and Recycling app today Central Ward residents can now mark their calendar for when our popular kerbside collection service will go through their suburb You must place your items for collection on the kerbside in front of your property by 6am on the first day of the collection period Image courtesy of the Victorian Government Major works are now underway on the construction of the Ison Road Extension in Victoria which will deliver a new four lane road that will provide a new link to the Princes Freeway The $80 million Ison Road Extension will connect with the Ison Road Overpass to form a link to the freeway Earthworks for the 1.3-kilometre extension have begun which will run between the overpass and Geelong Road at the Werribee Main Road-Princes Freeway interchange The new connection will enhance connectivity The Ison Road Overpass is also currently under construction with drivers expected to be able to use the link by the end of next year catering for over 29,000 daily journeys by 2036 The Ison Road Extension will include active transport routes along the overpass and the extension to Geelong Road Decmil is a construction partner on the project which is being delivered on behalf of the Wyndham City Council The $80 million extension project is jointly funded by the Victorian Government and Wyndham City Council with $60 million from the Victorian Government’s Growth Area Infrastructure Contribution (GAIC) fund The main function of the GAIC is to provide suitable infrastructure in Melbourne’s expanding fringe suburbs For more information on the project, click here. Essential rail maintenance and improvement works are set to be undertaken by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) across the Hunter Valley and New South Wales North Coast railway networks Works will close the Hunter Valley line between Islington Junction and Telarah from 3:00am 8 February to 1:00am 10 February as well as the North Coast line between Telarah and Acacia Ridge from 5:00am 8 February to 7:00pm 9 February The shutdown is part of ARTC’s annual maintenance program and is a significant investment in the network said that this shutdown gives ARTC the opportunity to carry out significant work across the Hunter Valley line re-sleepering and essential maintenance to various structures The New South Wales North Coast railway works will involve:   “Regular maintenance ensures that the North Coast line continues to operate as a vital part of the economic supply chain and provide travel connections throughout New South Wales and south east Queensland,” Mr Crump said “With freight and passenger services paused during this time our teams can focus on detailed structural inspections and other essential tasks that can’t be completed while trains are operating “These works are being carried out in the middle of summer under challenging conditions and we truly appreciate the efforts of our crews ARTC also thanks the community for their understanding and patience as we make these important long-term improvements.”  ARTC crews will minimise the impact of the work wherever possible including positioning light towers to shine away from residences watering down work areas and limiting the number of machines operating at any one time ARTC has reminded motorists and pedestrians to remain vigilant for altered traffic conditions near the rail corridor pay attention to signage and to obey all road rules at level crossings The Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility (NAIF) has reported on its impact across the country’s north Melbourne Airport has completed its largest airfield expansion in nearly a decade unveiling a new 800-metre taxiway that paves the.. Detailed designs for two major infrastructure upgrades near Broadford have been released giving engineers and contractors a clearer view of.. Construction on the $40 million Tuggerah Station upgrade in New South Wales has been completed The upgrade is being delivered as part of the New South Wales Government’s commitment to making public transport safe inclusive and easy to use for all passengers people with prams or luggage and others who might be experiencing mobility problems The upgrade includes a new boarding assistance zone There are also 15 new accessible parking spaces in the commuter car park These latest works come as part of the New South Wales Government’s $800 million Safe Accessible Transport program which is accelerating train station upgrades across the network Other features include new and extended canopies at station platforms and a widened platform around the entrance Two new lifts at Tuggerah were opened in October 2024 as the two-year project progressed A small amount of finishing work will continue through mid-2025 This is the first upgrade at Tuggerah since ramps and a footbridge were added in 1988 Transport for NSW awarded the contract for the design and construction of the upgrade of Tuggerah Station to DT Infrastructure in December 2022 Minister for Transport said this upgrade is important to ensuring everyone in the Central Coast community has equality of opportunity and can lead their lives without impediment “We continue to work towards delivering accessibility to all public transport passengers regardless of their needs or where they live,” he said Minister for Disability Inclusion said investing in accessible public transport is an investment in an inclusive society where everyone can travel with dignity and independence “Upgrades like this don’t just improve infrastructure they improve lives by enabling everyone to fully participate in their communities,” she said For more information, visit: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/ You can now click/tap WATCH to start the live stream You can now click/tap LISTEN to start the live stream You can now click/tap LATEST NEWS to start the live stream A small Catholic parish in Brisbane’s south is locked in a battle with Brisbane City Council over the fate of a heritage-listed church hall that’s falling apart The parish has said the hall will cost $700,000 to fix and instead wants to demolish it and build a new one The Brisbane City Council has rejected their bid arguing the hall has historical and social significance and should be preserved Secretary of the Our Lady Fatima Parish Financial Council “It doesn’t make any sense to me.” “If you just look at the building and think why would anybody think that there’s any heritage listing importance of this building It’s just not,” Mr Sweeney continued Image: Our Lady of Fatima Parish Acacia Ridge West Gate Tunnel works continue as crews prepare to asphalt the new freeway and continue construction on the tunnel exit structure to prepare the West Gate Freeway for completion later this year Ramp closures will occur between the West Gate Bridge and Millers Road until Saturday These works will deliver permanent road barriers additional signage and smoother roads – along with new inbound express lanes that will run between the M80 Ring Road and the West Gate Bridge The West Gate Tunnel Project will deliver a vital alternative to the West Gate Bridge widening the West Gate Freeway from 8 to 12 lanes and taking 9,000 trucks a day off local roads The West Gate Freeway will be reduced to three lanes in both directions between Williamstown Road and Millers Road There will also be ramp closures in place at the West Gate Freeway outbound exit ramps to Millers Road and Grieve Parade – drivers who usually exit the freeway at Millers Road or Grieve Parade will need to exit early at Williamstown Road For more information, bigbuild.vic.gov.au/ All lanes have opened on the Mickleham Road Upgrade – Stage One project in Victoria with 25,000 daily drivers set to benefit from enhanced safety and reduced congestion Drivers are now travelling on three lanes in either direction providing a significant boost to the capacity of the busy connection The opening recently marked the end of the project’s major works to add lanes and upgrade key intersections between Somerton Road and Dellamore Boulevard lane and road closures may take place at certain times in the coming weeks as crews complete finishing works including landscaping The project has also built sections of shared path for walking and cycling to improve connectivity along the road and increase opportunities for active transport Originally slated for completion in mid-2025 the Mickleham Road Upgrade – Stage One was finished over six months ahead of schedule Major Road Projects Victoria delivered the project with construction partner BMD Planning and development is underway on Mickleham Road Upgrade – Stage Two with the Victorian and Federal governments already committing funding to commence planning on the potential upgrade To learn more about both stages of the project, click here. Image courtesy of the New South Wales Government. Planning on the $940 million Milton Ulladulla Bypass continues to power ahead, with Secretary Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) being issued to Transport for New South Wales, outlining issues that need to be addressed in the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). These specific instructions to the EIS form a key part of the development application process. Aurecon were awarded the contract to carry out the concept design and environmental assessment for the project. Following the issuing of SEARs, these works will now include the preparation of the EIS. The project will increase the safety, reliability and efficiency of travel through the Milton and Ulladulla town centres by providing a new bypass along the Princes Highway. The new bypass would also improve freight access for the region and provide a boost for liveability in the area. The project has been identified as a priority project in Transport for New South Wales’s 20-year plan. Member for South Coast Liza Butler said the planning progression milestone was “wonderful news for the community.” “This ensures the project will receive the prioritisation it deserves from both the State and Federal governments, reinforcing its importance to the South Coast region,” Butler said. The $940 million project is being jointly funded with $752 million committed from the Federal Government and $188 million from the New South Wales Government. Share via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe Housing affordability in some of Australia’s cheapest markets is rapidly deteriorating as strong demand fuels price rises of as much as 37 per cent over the past 12 months Most affected are some Perth’s lower-end markets such as Kwinana These areas posted some of the sharpest declines in housing affordability in the June quarter along with Brisbane’s Springwood-Kingston and Rocklea-Acacia Ridge districts SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy link Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Work is now complete on the upgrade of Brighton Road and Edwards Street junction at South Brighton in Adelaide The jointly funded project from the Federal and South Australian governments included the installation of traffic lights, a signalised pedestrian and a cyclist crossing. The $30 million works considered relevant environmental, economic, social and safety factors which has been designed to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety. As part of the Brighton Road Intersection Improvements project, a dedicated right-turn lane has been installed on Edwards Street into the Brighton Central Shopping Centre. This junction serves as the main access from Brighton Road to and from Brighton Central Shopping Centre which frequently experiences long delays. For those who catch public transport, a new bus stop 37 (east) has been installed south of the junction. Further improvements to the junction include upgraded LED lighting, new kerbing and gutters, resurfaced road pavement and new line-marking. Following community consultation in 2022, designs included retaining the pedestrian actuated crossing on Brighton Road, south of Gregory Street, which has been sequenced with the new junction to manage traffic flow. Tom Koutsantonis, South Australia Infrastructure and Transport Minister said the junction has long been a source of frustration for locals. “With this upgrade, we have delivered improved accessibility, improved safety and decreased congestion – not only across the intersection, but also in the surrounding area,” he said. The Fowler Road–South Gippsland Highway intersection will soon be upgraded and signalised with new traffic lights and the addition of indented parking along Fowler Road seven T-beams weighting up to 40 tonnes were lifted into place to support the road bridge now supporting current works on the bridge deck Underneath the bridge on either side of Eumemmerring Creek 790 tonnes of rock has been placed to prevent erosion and retain the creek embankment the team also removed large amounts of dumped waste from sections of the creek uncovering some old glass bottles and other materials Project works will occur in stages to minimise disruptions with the project team continuing to work closely with businesses throughout construction Contracts have been awarded to two project alliances to deliver four level crossing removals at Coburns and Exford Roads in Melton A $560 million contract has been awarded to John Holland This alliance will deliver the new Melton Station and remove the level crossings at Coburns and Exford Roads by constructing a rail bridge a $229 million contract has been awarded to an alliance comprising Fulton Hogan This team will deliver new road bridges to get rid of the level crossings at Ferris Road The removal of the Melton level crossings will also see the introduction of larger nine-car VLocity trains as part of the $650 million Melton Line Upgrade boosting passenger capacity by 50 per cent The new Melton Station will have an expansive pedestrian walkway and platform accessibility via lifts and stairs It will also feature an air-conditioned waiting room and lighting and security cameras throughout the area The new Melton Station will also feature two additional platforms to accommodate Ballarat train services Crews have been on site testing ground conditions with geotechnical drills and preparing for construction paving the way for a workforce of 550 construction workers from recent crossing removal projects Final designs for all four level crossing removals and the new Melton Station will be released later this year These level crossings are on track to be removed in 2026 Works on the elevated rail line at Pakenham are powering ahead following significant progress on the Level Crossing Removal project with new stations now open at Pakenham and East Pakenham along with three level crossing removals in the area After the successful removal of level crossings at Main Street associated works are continuing to remove older infrastructure Main Street has now reopened with a brand-new roundabout in place after construction crews removed old railway infrastructure from the road Works at Main Street will wrap up in a few weeks Attention will now shift to McGregor Road to remove the old rail tracks build a new signalised pedestrian crossing and resurface and line mark the road McGregor Road will be closed at the rail bridge until Friday 16 August Around 63,000 vehicles passed through these former level crossings each day where the boom gates were down for 30 per cent of the morning peak hour The metropolitan rail line has also been extended by two kilometres as part of these works Works are also progressing on the development of open space around the area with new community spaces to include the planting of thousands of new trees shrubs and grasses at the new Pakenham Station and open space areas Melbourne’s West Gate Tunnel Project is nearing completion as an extra lane on the M80 entry ramp begins construction to widen the West Gate Freeway from eight to 12 lanes crews will undertake asphalting and other construction works on the ramp from the M80 Ring Road to the West Gate Freeway citybound the West Gate Freeway Williamstown Road citybound exit ramp will be closed until mid-November to install a new walking and cycling bridge over the top of the ramp A section of Footscray Road eastbound will be closed for most of October as crews edge closer to finishing the new 2.5 kilometre cycling super-highway above Footscray Road The West Gate Tunnel Project will deliver an alternative to the West Gate Bridge removing 9000 trucks a day off local road by providing a second river crossing and creating 14 kilometres of new walking and cycling paths and drivers are advised to allow an extra 45 minutes travel time as motorists detour via Boundary Road they can take a later detour by making a U-turn at Kororoit Creek Road along the Princes Freeway Danny Pearson Minister for Transport Infrastructure said widening the West Gate Freeway from eight to 12 through lanes is a key part of the West Gate Tunnel Project that will ease congestion and cut travel times for Victoria’s growing population an extra lane will open to traffic heading from the M80 Ring Road to the West Gate Freeway,” he said A $20 million road contract has been awarded to Highway Construction Pty Ltd to develop the clean energy hub Oakajee SIA in Western Australia The project will include a new intersection at North West Coastal Highway construction of the first stage of the access road and about four kilometres of highway widening in the area with new acceleration and deceleration lanes to be built The upgrades will begin soon to support heavy freight movements in and out of the industrial area The Oakajee SIA is located about 20 kilometres north of Geraldton and is recognised for its world-class wind and solar potential said this is an important first step for the future of Oakajee SIA “Importantly it will provide a safer road environment for the heavy freight vehicles that will operate in the area,” she said “Oakajee is one of 13 SIAs attracting important investment into Western Australia to grow emerging industries “These SIAs not only provide massive economic opportunity right across the state but will also create more long-term jobs for Western Australians.” https://roadsonline.com.au/construction-complete-for-new-selgar-avenue-link-road/ a newly formed Joint Venture between Transdev and John Holland has been selected to operate and maintain Melbourne’s 250-kilometre tram network for an initial term of nine years This represents a $6.8 billion contract to operate the world’s largest tram network 24 routes and more than 250 kilometres of double track The new contract has a focus on performance with strict benchmarks and more monitoring points across day and night services – holding the operator to account to deliver reliable services while making sure the right tram is used for the right trip The agreement will also roll out more accessible Next Generation Trams which will replace the longer serving high floor fleets – further modernising Melbourne’s transport network new technology will be rolled out to provide passengers more consistent information in real time including possible alternative transport options during disruptions and tailored updates for blind and low vision passengers in large text and text to speech Melbourne’s tram network transports more than 147 million passenger trips each year Credit: James Ross/AAPIMAGEA man is fighting for his life after a bloody stabbing attack in Brisbane’s south Police were called to a home in Gregory Street and Rothesay Street about 2.30pm local time amid reports a man had been injured Officers located one man with life-threatening injuries and have taken a second man into custody He is now helping police with their inquiries Get the first look at the digital newspaper curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson told 7NEWS that paramedics treated two men for stab wounds. One received wounds to his abdomen and back and was taken to Princess Alexandria Hospital in a serious condition. Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T For more information about multi-visit passes and membership options, contact the pool Free parking is available in the onsite car park A change to a development approval has been lodged for Fast Food and Retail Designed by 77 Architecture the current approval is for Centre Activities (Food & Drink Outlet and Shop) which include a Fast Food Restaurant and Commercial Building over 2 stages The approval is also for seeks a subdivision to separate the new retail from the retained Acacia Ridge Hotel The key details of the proposal are provided below 37 vehicle car parking spaces (including 3 PWD) are provided with separate loading bays for each building and 14 drive through spaces are accommodated on site Vehicle access is provided via the existing entrances/exit locations along O’Connel Street and Beaudesert Road The planners at Place Design Group state that “The proposed changes do not alter the proposed development’s overall compliance with the planning framework in place at the time the original application was made; however the development continues to seek a performance outcome with respect to a short fall of car parking spaces on site in accordance with the Transport parking and servicing planning scheme policy” The proposal adds 708.41sqm of gross floor area over the 18,740sqm site We encourage you to like the Your Neighbourhood Facebook page to be updated on other projects or developments in Brisbane or surrounds News articles are presented in an unbiased manner from information publicly accessible that includes referenced links for the reader to obtain any further information The facts of the proposed government projects school upgrades and development applications are based on the available information at the time of the published date with information sourced directly from company websites media releases and development application material We reference all our information at the end of the articles and promote the creators with website back links Contact us: mail@yourneighbourhood.com.au Image courtesy of Sydney Metro/NSW Government Waterloo Station has become the first station to be completed on the new city section of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project Following more than four years’ worth of major construction the works to transform the 25-metre-deep station box into a brand new station The station will now be handed over to Metro Trains Sydney (MTS) with MTS set to undertake testing and commissioning before the station fully opens The underground Waterloo Station is the first of six new stations that will be delivered in the city section the new station will see 18,800 passengers pass through daily Works will continue on the other Sydney Metro stations which will be completed and opened progressively It took more than 5000 people a total of five million work hours to complete the new station Priestley’s Gourmet Delights (PGD) has officially opened its new $53 million 7740 m2 AI-powered facility in Brisbane’s Acacia Ridge Founded by Marilyn Jones on the Sunshine Coast back in 1996 PGD originally produced a tonne of cakes a week for local cafes across Brisbane Now the business produces around 100 tonnes of cakes and desserts each week which are sold to foodservice distributors across Australia and New Zealand It also has plans to launch a retail range of five individually packaged cakes and tarts is Jones’s niece and has been involved with the business since she was around 10 years old She said: “Our new facility is something we’re incredibly proud of — the advanced manufacturing technology we’re using here will enable us to expand our production significantly and launch into the retail space.” With a 55% increase on the footprint of the company’s previous premises the new facility is a data-led SMART factory which can instantly harness real-time data to boost productivity Mobile autonomous robots streamline the baking process — stacking product onto baking racks as well as safely moving the racks around the facility — doubling production capacity and ensuring the safety of employees by reducing the need for repetitive manual tasks “We’ve been using our new MES system which uses real-time data to coordinate and provide visibility across all the critical functions in our new facility process automation and real-time analytics the MES system can make better decisions to optimise our productivity,” Christophersen said “Due to this technology we’ve been able to streamline our production to craft our cakes at a higher volume and — crucially — in a way that is safer and smarter which means — through our automated line — we can now produce an additional 2500 muffins per hour (increased from 2900 to 5400 per hour) Our automated packing line is able to pack 25% more cakes per hour (an increase of 2800 to 3600 per hour).” PGD’s employees remain an integral part of the company with staff involved in everything from hand decorating the products and selecting ingredients to tasting and quality control Employees whose jobs are now automated are being upskilled towards higher-value roles which will enable them to develop their expertise and drive innovation of future products and processes the business is set to increase staff numbers by a projected 56 roles by 2026 “The technology we’re harnessing will allow us to boost productivity while also enabling us to grow our people — supporting them to upskill and creating a substantial number of new jobs for Queenslanders as well as adding to the state’s economy,” Christophersen said PGD will launch a new range of five desserts into independent retail chains Drakes Supermarkets and Ritchies IGA with the view to expand to additional outlets across Australia The range will include individually packaged cakes and tarts “Our expansion into retail under the brand Gourmet Delights will be consumers’ first direct exposure to our brand and will assist in growing their awareness of what we offer it is a key part of our overall business futureproofing strategy,” Christophersen said the business expansion into retail had some challenges along the way — one of these was with the packaging design which needed to be visually appealing while also considering the environment “It’s great that our plastic containers are made with Recycled PET in Australia and both the container and sleeve are readily recyclable.” Sustainable is a big focus for the business which received a $2.5m Made in Queensland grant to help build the new facility and scale up its operation “All of our ovens have changed from gas to solar electricity We have built an extensive solar panel system which is powering our new electric ovens and reducing our carbon footprint,” Christophersen said “It’s fantastic to be at the helm of such an innovative company I’ve watched the business grow over the years and our new facility is testament not only to her drive but the hard work of all of our employees.” Image caption: Original founder of Priestley’s Gourmet Delights Marilyn Jones (left) pictured with her niece and current MD and CEO Xanny Christophersen at the opening of the new facility in Brisbane’s Acacia Ridge Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills DevelopmentThe Honourable Di Farmer TAFE Queensland will start to train future apprentices to build and service heavy machinery caravans and recreation vehicles thanks to the Palaszczuk Government’s investment in brand new purpose-built facilities at Acacia Ridge TAFE Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer officially opened the new Acacia Ridge Heavy Plant (Automotive) Centre of Excellence and the Caravan Industry Training facilities which are part of $6.65 million worth of upgrades at the campus Minister Farmer said that the new facilities would help train more apprentices in cutting-edge technology and leading industry practices “It’s very exciting to open the Heavy Plant Centre of Excellence and the Caravan Training facilities in Acacia Ridge,” Minister Farmer said “We put investing in skills at the heart of our COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan and with over $1 billion in this year’s budget we are making that commitment a reality “The work here at Acacia Ridge is part of the $220 million the Palaszczuk Government has invested into rebuilding and renewing TAFE campuses across Queensland “As Queensland moves towards a greener future the new Heavy Plant Centre of Excellence will also help provide world-class training for the electric hybrid and autonomous vehicle industry using new machinery which produces lower emissions “The construction of the new Caravan Industry Training Facility will also cater for the growth in demand for recreational vehicles and the workers needed to build and maintain them “Both facilities are building on TAFE Queensland’s industry partnerships to focus their training on preparing Queensland apprentices for a cleaner Member for Toohey Peter Russo said that the new training facilities will help address the demand for more skilled workers in the heavy automotive and recreational vehicle industries “The new facilities will help put the SkillsTech campus on the map when it comes to getting more apprentices trained in the industry,” Mr Russo said “The caravan and recreational vehicle industry has been calling out for more workers and these new facilities at Acacia Ridge will help fill the gap in the industry “The new Heavy Plant Centre of Excellence will also ensure the Palaszczuk Government can continue to support booming industries like construction and transport.” said free qualifications are available for young Queenslanders who are just starting out or upskilling their career training in the Algester electorate.      “The Palaszczuk Government’s free TAFE and free apprenticeships for under 25s program gives Queenslanders access to world class training in 139 priority qualifications,” Ms Enoch said “These include training in the automotive and RV industries which students will be able to do right here at the Acacia Ridge campus.” said there would now be even more training opportunities for local students “TAFE already offers so many opportunities for students to learn and get qualifications and these new facilities will mean they have even more options vocational training from TAFE really sets people up for success and helps them get the job they want.” Christian Batic from Cambooya said that he became a qualified heavy commercial vehicle mechanic after studying with TAFE Queensland and now he is back to complete the Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology with some of his workmates from Mader Contracting “I’m really excited about getting my second qualification through TAFE Queensland and it’s great to be doing that training at such a great facility,” Mr Batic said “I’ve worked at a mine in Western Australia as a heavy vehicle mechanic and becoming a dual-trade worker is just going to give me that ability to work more widely across other industries and in different roles “The training I’ll get from SkillsTech at the new facilities will really help put me at the front of my industry.” To learn more about courses delivered at the Acacia Ridge TAFE campus visit www.tafeqld.edu.au Please use our complaints and compliments form.