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Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar Says Goodbye To Bardon, Hello to Fortitude Valley

After bringing a little slice of Spain to Bardon for almost four years, Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar is moving to a new location in Fortitude Valley.

Read: Here’s Where To Go In Rosalie For The Best Croissants

Famous for its paellas and homemade sangrias, Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar opened in Bardon in 2018, and has since been recognised as home to the most authentic Spanish tapas in the city.

Dining at Pata Negra feels like being transported back into the side streets bars of Seville, Madrid or Barcelona, with their traditional tapas and wines and beers which are all imported from Spain.

The restaurant is gearing up for its August 5-7 opening weekend in Brunswick St in Fortitude Valley, after closing its MacGregor Terrace location in July 2022.

tapas bar — Photo credit: Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar/Facebook

The new location, around a 10-minute drive from the original, will still feature all their signature items, their huge, traditional family paella to the tapas, such as tortilla de patatas (potato omelette), croquetas, and albondigas (Spanish meatballs).

“I have been to the Bardon restaurant. Fabulous food. Look forward to trying the Fortitude Valley one,” one of their customers wrote in their social media page.

pata negra brisbane — Photo credit: Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar/Facebook

They will continue to offer their famous Paella cooking class, a master class held every Wednesday night and guided by a Spanish chef. Here, students do not only get to learn how to cook authentic paella, but also a few of the tricks of the trade and its rich history.

flamenco dance — Flamenco show (Photo credit: Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar/Facebook)

More than the food and their paella master class, locals have come to enjoy their flamenco show every month and occasional wine tasting classes.

To book a table for Pata Negra Spanish Tapas Bar’s opening in its new location in Fortitude Valley, visit the website or follow them on Facebook.

Bardon Property Market Continues Stronger Performance Amidst Tight Market

The Bardon property market has maintained a strong performance for the 12-month period ending March 2022, amidst a tight market and off the back of flooding incidents earlier this year.

Bardon Median House Price

From April 2021 to March 2022, Bardon’s house price growth was at 33.33 per cent, pulling the median house price from $1.2 million to $1.6 million, per data from Property Market Updates. Sales volumes also remain high 204 properties sold within 30 days on market, compounding on the high demand that has dominated Brisbane’s housing market for some time.

Median house price Bardon — Photos Credit: Property Market Updates

Buyers hunting for a home in Bardon sought three- or four-bedroom homes, closing deals in less than a month and way above the average Brisbane media value for a house. But one buyer nabbed the highest-price home for the period, which is a 5-bedroom property with a rooftop deck that boasts sweeping views of the city and the picturesque surrounding Mt Coot-tha.

Bardon Median Unit Price

Bardon’s unit market had an uptick for this period at 4.74 per cent following a slump in the previous quarter. The unit median price has settled at $742,500 for this period with 56 properties sold for an average of 44 days onmarket.

median unit price Bardon — Photo Credit: Property Market Updates

Though the housing market has outperformed the unit market every month, the latest figures reveal a gaining momentum as the city recovers from the impact of the pandemic with the re-opening of the borders.

Bardon Property Market Post-Flooding

In 2011, Bardon’s growth post-flooding was at a slow 2.4 percent. The median house price for this period was $735,00 down from $775,000. It took Bardon a few years to pull its median house price upward again.

The rain bombs in late February 2022, which caused millions of dollars in flood damage, were expected to bring down Brisbane’s property market, in general. Yet, Bardon quickly recovered and even had a massive growth rate one month later, as reflected in the Property Market Updates.

Industry insiders said that this was indicative of the market’s significant growth in the last 11 years. With the current imbalance of supply and demand, property prices have been resilient.

Quality buyers who are willing to pay a premium for their investments have also contributed to Bardon’s price growth. In the next few months, however, Bardon could experience a short-term favorable shift because buyers, especially from interstate and overseas, will likely prefer hilltop locations to avoid a flooding disaster.

Latest Research Data Reveals Bardon’s Top 3 Childcare Centres

Photo Credit: Bardon Community Kindy Inc. / Facebook

Looking for a centre-based child care service provider? Here are Bardon’s top three childcare centres, as ranked by a childcare search and compare platform.

Based on KindiCare Rating data released in May 2022, Bardon ranks among the top Qld suburbs offering quality childcare, with six childcare centres in the area having a combined average rating of 9.06.

Here are the top three early childhood learning and care providers (9 or higher) in Bardon based on real-time KindiCare Rating data.

Bardon Community Kindy Inc.

Bardon Community Kindy Inc. received a KidiCare rating of 9.7 compared to an average rating of 8.8 for the Bardon area. The not-for-profit organisation is licensed to provide care for up to fifty children.

In August 2021, Bardon Community Kindy Inc. also received the National Quality Standard (NQS) rating of Exceeding NQS, which means its service went above the requirements of NQS in at least four of its seven quality areas.

Location: Bowman Park, 247 Simpsons Road

Opening Hours: 7.15 am to 5.40 pm, Monday to Saturday

Phone: 07 3369 4697

Ithaca Creek State School P&C Association OSHC

Ithaca Creek State School P&C Association OSHC received a 9.5 KindiCare rating and is also rated as Exceeding NQS standards. The centre is licensed to provide centre-based child care for up to 120 children.

Location: Ithaca Creek State School, Lugg Street

Opening Hours: 7 am to 8.45 am and 3 pm to 6 pm, Monday to Friday; Holiday hours are from 7 am to 6 pm

Phone: 07 3368 1060

Communify Childcare Qld

Communify Childcare is a Long Day Care Queensland Government-approved Kindergarten Program provider. The 21-children-capacity centre received a KindiCare rating of 9.3 and an Exceeding NQS rating.

Location: 180 Jubilee Terrace

Opening Hours: 7.30 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday

Phone: 07 3510 2711

The four other facilities rated by KindiCare are:

St Joseph’s Bardon Outside School Hours Care – 8.8 rating
PCYC Inala – Bardon School Age Care – 8.6 rating
Little Ducks Childcare Bardon – 8.6 rating
Eden Academy Bardon – 7.9 rating

About KindiCare Rating

KindiCare is a two-sided marketplace platform for parents and guardians in search of early childhood education and care providers. Their KindiCare Rating is a unique rating system designed to show the relative quality, performance and customer satisfaction of individual childcare centres or service providers as compared to all childcare centres and services in Australia.

To assess the providers, factors including government service quality audits and reviews, community feedback collated from various sources and the type of childcare service as well as the characteristics of their offering were considered.

The KindiCare numerical ratings, with 10 being the highest, are as follows:

9.0 and above: Excellent
8.5 – 9.0: Very Good
7.5 – 8.5: Good
5.0 – 7.5: Fair
5.0 and below: Poor
NR: Not Rated

Gold Coast-based Operator Eyeing New Childcare Centre In Bardon

A Gold Coast-based childcare centre operator is looking to expand its services across South East Queensland, with new centres planned for the region including one in Bardon.

Read: Bardon’s Childcare Cost Among Highest In QLD

Harmony Early Learning Journey, based at Hope Island in Gold Coast, is eyeing to invest $85 million across several locations in Australia.

Aside from Bardon, the organisation is planning to establish additional centres in Bulimba, East Brisbane, Griffin, Thornlands, Graceville and Yeerongpilly as well as the Broadbeach Waters and Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.

Harmony has not announced much about the Bardon childcare centre, but three (Broadbeach Waters, Griffin, and East Brisbane) are expected to open in 2022 and all of them will operate from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Harmony’s site selection was based on suburbs with the strongest population growth in Australia. Bardon’s population as of 2021 is estimated to be at around 10,723.

The organisation is eager to expand in Queensland, despite claims that the state’s childcare sector is facing an oversupply.

In January 2022, the Australian Childcare Alliance revealed there’s an oversupply of childcare centres in Queensland since 2017, not to mention the additional 200 centres currently in planning stages.

Earlier this year, another developer was bombarded with objections from locals regarding its proposal for a childcare centre along Chiswick Road in Bardon. Residents worried that the centre will be built in a ‘dangerous intersection’ and the additional traffic it would bring, given that there are already three primary schools in the area.

Meanwhile, Bardon is among the suburbs in QLD with the highest childcare cost, averaging at $123.50/day as of May 2022.

Issues Raised on Proposed Stuartholme School Sporting Precinct Development in Bardon

The Freer’s Farm Action Group has outlined several issues concerning the proposed redevelopment of the Freer’s Farm farm site in Bardon into a sporting precinct for Stuartholme School.

The group cites that they are not opposed to the plans per se (MID-1021-0542 – Stuartholme School) but there are potential problems that the developers need to address before the redevelopment gets a green light.

Among the most concerning issue is the sports field’s impact on flood levels, especially on the properties downstream. The group said that the flood modelling used in the proposal “don’t reflect actual historical flows.”

Photo Credit: The State of Queensland (Planning) / planning.dsdmip.qld.gov.au

Additionally, the earthworks within the flood zone call for filling land that will raise its level higher than the neighbouring properties. Essentially, this will remove the flood plain and increase the risk of flooding onto the other sites.

Freer’s Farm is near Sir Samuel Griffiths Drive and picnic areas at Hoop Pine and Silky Oak within the Mt Coot-the Reserve. The sports field may also cause parking and traffic issues at these sites.

The residents are also concerned about light and noise pollution when there are games at night that will likely bring ecological impacts to the wildlife, parkland users, and the neighbourhood. For years, most of the area at Freer’s Farm is completely free of artificial light at night.

Last week, some of the locals have met with representatives of the developer, Ethos Urban, Stuartholme School, and the consulting firm, Blight Tanner, to clearly discuss the concerns of the community. Cr Peter Matic was also in the said meeting.

According to the Freer’s Farm Action Group, the flood modelling used in the proposal is not accurate, thus they have asked for a revised model. The planners said they are willing to work with the community to deliver a final model that will be agreeable to all concerned.

The planners also acknowledged providing more information on the sports field lighting information. They have agreed to defer the start of construction to August 2022.

The MID submission, on the other hand, has been extended until 19 May 2022. Follow the guide on how to make a submission from this group.

Bardon Tech Company Receives ‘Ignite Ideas’ Funding for Innovative Firearms Training Solution

Video Still: Simulation Training Group / simulationtraininggroup.com

Bardon technology companyu Simulation Training Group, a provider of mobile training solutions to the defence, policing and sports sectors, is one of the Round 8 recipients of the Ignite Ideas Fund.

A total of 21 innovations will share in the $2.4 million funding as announced by Innovation Minister Stirling Hinchliffe. The latest round of funding is expected to generate up to 100 jobs from various sectors including manufacturing, finance, energy, infrastructure, agriculture, construction, and health.

Among the Round 8 – Ignite Ideas recipients is Simulation Training Group which is one of Australia’s leading providers of innovative virtual reality training solutions. The State Government will invest $100,000 in the company’s Virtual-Shot system – virtual firearms training platform and smartphone mount for military and law enforcement applications – under the funding program.

The Virtual-Shot system comprises a lightweight smartphone mount and a comprehensive Mobile Application. Utilising the screen, sensors and microphone on the rifle-mounted smartphone, the application creates a ballistically accurate shooting range, sensitive to the movements of the user.

“Ignite Ideas supports Queenslanders to take their innovations to the next level by tapping into new markets and helping to attract investment,” Innovation Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said.

“This round also includes funding for a sea rescue marine drone, AI technology for mine and major infrastructure inspections and a robot system that picks and packs fruit and vegetables.”

About Ignite Ideas

The Ignite Ideas Fund is a Queensland Government initiative that aims to support small to medium businesses that have the potential to undertake commercialisation projects. Funding is divided into two tiers: Tier 1 (up to $100,000 for projects of up to 12 months duration) and Tier 2 (greater than $100,000 and up to $200,000 for projects of up to 24 months duration).

Eligibility requirements include:

be a business headquartered in Queensland
have no more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees
not be a subsidiary of a group of companies that has more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees
not have received funding for the proposed project activity from either the State, Federal or Local Government
be registered for GST (at the time of Full Application submission).

The complete list of Ignite Ideas Funding Round 8 recipients can be found here.

Bardon’s Childcare Cost Among Highest In QLD

Did you know that at an average cost of childcare is $123.50/day, Bardon is one of the most expensive suburbs for childcare in Queensland?

Read: Why Well-off Families Choose This Bardon School For Their Kids

Based on Care for Kids’ estimates, the average cost of childcare in Bardon is slightly higher than that of Queensland overall, which recorded an average of $10.83 hourly or $108.33 per day for 10 hours.

One of the leading long daycares in Bardon, located at Boundary Rd and has 64 approved places, charges up to $133 per day but currently has no vacancy.

Childcare costs in Brisbane increased by up to 6.5 percent in 2021, driven by staff shortages and high rents. To somewhat help families with the soaring childcare costs, the State Government has invested more than $1 billion for the kindy funding reform package.

The reform, which has been created to help make kindy more affordable and more accessible, will benefit more than 40,000 Queensland children a year, regardless of whether they attend a community kindergarten or kindy in long day care.

A family with one child in kindy could save up to $3,200 per year whilst a family with two children in kindy could save up to $6,400.

Education Minister Grace Grace said the reforms would kick in at the start of 2023.

“Fourteen thousand children will also be able to access completely free kindy: this will be for our most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in areas we know kids can miss out.

Ms Grace said around 20,000 children have reduced kindy fees at present and a very small number of them receive free kindy, so this investment will benefit thousands of families.

childcare cost — Photo credit: Engin Akyurt/Pixabay

“This is a significant change for the sector, and we’ll be working closely with providers in the coming months on things like software upgrades, contracts, and consultation with families to ensure they’re ready for the new program in 2023.”

Minister Grace said the package also included an expansion of the Kindy Uplift program and extra funding for children with disabilities.

“We’re thrilled that this increased funding means we can more than double the number of services covered by the successful Kindy Uplift program to 930,” Ms Grace said.

Bardon Boundary Rd Roundabout Safety Upgrade Coming Soon!

Photo Credit: Google Maps

The notoriously dangerous Bardon Boundary Rd roundabout is set for a minor safety upgrade which will see the existing painted centre island converted into a concrete island that will serve as a pedestrian refuge.

The Bardon roundabout, at Rouen Rd, Boundary Rd and Rainworth Rd, is notorious for being dangerous for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike.

Compounding the safety concerns is the introduction of The Bardon Shed and the new childcare centre on Runic St. which has made the street a lot busier and more dangerous.

“That means even though lots of people want to walk down to the Bardon Shed, Rainworth State School and the new childcare centre, it’s more dangerous than ever,” Greens MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman, wrote on his social media.

“Due to high speeds on the roundabout, the entrance to Runic St is very wide, with nowhere to stop safely, especially if you’re pushing a pram.

Photo Credit: Michael Berkman – Greens MP for Maiwar / Facebook

“Interestingly, there are **two more** proposed or approved childcare centres within a couple of blocks, one in Vimy St and another on Boundary Rd near Rainworth SS. Unless we make the streets a lot safer and more walkable, all those parents will be driving to drop off and pick up, adding even more danger.

Mr Berkman said that he has secured a small safety upgrade for that section of the roundabout during his meeting with the Department of Transport and Main Roads which manages the State-controlled road; no date has been set yet as to when the project will commence.

“It’s worth noting that we got this win because a local resident took the time to write me an email drawing it to my attention – thanks very much to them!”

Other changes for the Boundary Rd roundabout that Mr Berkman pushes for include:

Implementing safer speeds (40km/hr) for the roundabout to help minimise the incidence of crashes
A raised “wombat” crossing for the infamous pedestrian crossing on Boundary Rd north of the roundabout (at Norm Buchan Park).
Streetscape changes to prioritise local residents, kids, cyclists and other vulnerable road users above speeding traffic.
More and better buses to reduce mandatory car dependency for Bardon residents.

Here’s Where To Go In Rosalie For The Best Croissants

Banette is a bakery and cafe in Rosalie that offers a large choice of pastries and cakes lovingly made in the French tradition, using butter and flour from France.

Read: La Belle Vie in Bardon Lives Up to the Promise of a ‘Good Life’

One of the most popular items on Banette’s menu is its croissants, which are made over two days using a slow fermentation process that uses premium butter imported from France. Aside from butter, the bakery also sources flour from France, for use in making their pastries.

french croissants — Photo credit: Banette/Facebook

As most diners would describe it, Banette’s croissants boast that “melt in your mouth” goodness. The croissants, which come in chocolate, almond cream, and ham and cheese flavours, are airy and pleasantly moist.

banette french bakery — Photo credit: Banette/Facebook

Banette’s menu also includes pain au raisin’ or ‘escargot/snail’, baguette, choquette, eclairs in coffee and praline flavours, Fougasse (a flat bread from Provence in the south of France), and macarons in many different flavours.

Those who want to know what a classic French cake tastes like should not miss the bakery’s Opera cake, which are three layers of Arabica coffee with soaked Joconde biscuit, Callebaut dark chocolate ganache, light coffee buttercream, and chocolate glaze.

banette rosalie — Photo credit: Banette/Facebook

As for the cafe, there are tables outfront where customers can dine and enjoy their treats. The pastries and cakes go perfectly with coffee from Clandestino Coffee, which is a Noosa-based specialty coffee roaster.

Banette is open daily, from 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on weekdays and from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekends. You can check out their Facebook page or Instagram @banette.rosalie for updates.

“This place saved my life, though it’s still 25mins drive from me, it offers the best croissants I could find in Brisbane, stretchy inside and pops outside, French buttery flavour, with a coffee, oh my, I’m back in Paris.”
-Sherry Zhang

“Having lived in France, this place is pretty damn close to the real deal. Very friendly staff and the Croissants and AMAZING. Baked fresh daily, and the French produce for sale is a really nice touch.”
Katie Kochanski

2022 Bardon Kerbside Collection Is Almost Here: What To Do With Your Unacceptable Items

Photo credit: manfredrichter/Pixabay

Bardon is gearing up for the suburb’s annual kerbside collection on the 7th of February 2022 and here are some quick reminders and tips for items that may or may not make it to the kerb on that day.

Read: Here’s Why Bardon is the Coolest Inner City Suburb of Brisbane

What if some of the items cannot be collected? Remember, Brisbane City Council will not collect unacceptable items placed on the kerb and if they are not removed within seven days of the notified collection period, illegal dumping fines may apply.

To avoid being charged for illegal dumping and to keep those unwanted items from going to landfill, consider taking them to recycling centres.

tyre-waste — Photo credit: 652234/Pixabay

BCC has resource recovery centres where the items are taken for recycling. For instance, waste tyres can be used for manufacturing new rubber products such as soft fall surfaces, artificial turf and conveyor belts.

These centres accept almost any item you can’t put on the kerb for collection, including garden waste, batteries, paint and solvents, gas bottles, glass containers, and other metals.

paint-waste — Photo credit: stux/Pixabay

Did you know that most of these centres are already a Paintback site? This means they are part of Paintback, an industry-led initiative designed to divert unwanted paint and packaging from ending up in landfill and vital waterways.

Paintback finds new ways to repurpose unwanted paint materials and help develop a circular economy. Paintback accepts up to 100 litres per visit stowed in containers of up to 20 litres.

Garden waste, like other wastes, can have many more uses. If you’re not composting at home, you can bring them to recycling centres where they are recycled as a nutrient-rich soil conditioner for land reclamation sites and agriculture areas. However, make sure not to include garden wastes that have contaminants, such as grass cuttings with herbicides.

Check the schedule of the centres below:

Read: Bardon Property Market Continues to Deliver High Capital Growth Rates

Those with recyclable donations can go directly to Brisbane’s resource and sort your items there. In Bardon, the nearest recycling centre is Ferny Grove Resource Recovery Centre, which is a 16-minute drive via Waterworks Rd.

You can drop off your items for free when you have the waste voucher, which is issued by Council annually to Brisbane households. For more information on how to use the centres, including waste vouchers, fees and charges, visit BCC’s website.