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.”
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.
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.
Photo credit: _Alicja_/Pixabay
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.
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.
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!”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
Photo credit: Brisbane City Council
To avoid being charged for illegal dumping and to keep those unwanted items from going to landfill, consider taking them to recycling centres.
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.
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.
Photo credit: Efraimstochter/Pixabay
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.
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.
Bardon’s Rainworth State School has topped the list of Queensland’s Index of Community Socio-educational Advantage (ICSEA), suggesting that families with the highest level of educational advantage prefer to send their children to one of the highest rated public schools in the State.
Created by the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), ICSEA serves as a comprehensive evaluation of social factors, including family background and parents’ education level. It’s worth noting that it does not describe or reflect the wealth of parents of students in particular.
Other than the parents’ education and occupation, ICSEA is also being calculated based on the school’s geographical location and the proportion of indigenous students. A higher ICSEA means the greater advantage the school has. In the case of Rainworth State School, it was named more ‘educationally advantaged’ compared to the majority of schools in Australia.
Rainworth State School’s ICSEA score is 1224, higher than the average which is 1,000. Around 87% of the school’s families come from the top socio-educational quartile.
It’s not surprising that those with the highest educational attainment or highest socio-economic status choose Rainworth State School. It’s a highly rated primary school in Bardon, having been named as the third highest-performing primary school in Queensland based on the latest NAPLAN results.
Photo credit: Rainworth State School
Established in 1928, the school’s vision is to “provide a holistic approach to childhood development” whilst also focusing on helping children reach their full academic potential.
“Great school grounds, I’ve read a lot about the state primary schools in Brisbane to ascertain where to send my kids and Rainworth school is the best one to send them to,”
-Elizabeth Yi
“Rainworth has taught me a lot about myself and how I can improve as a person. All the teachers have given me an amazing 6 years and I have no idea how to repay them. Becoming school captain last year made me feel a part of the school and being able to help the new children and just giving them a hand when they really needed it. Rainworth is the most amazing school because all the people are so inclusive and the teacher gives you a proper chance to learn. thank you to Rainworth i am the best version of myself.”
Eden Academy Bardon is running a fundraiser for the sister of one of its students who has been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at six years old. Alongside the fundraiser, the school community is also hosting a Crazy Hair and Crazy Sock Day in support of the Leukaemia Foundation.
Emily, the sister of four-year-old Lucy, who attends Eden Academy Bardon, experienced lethargy and some unusual bruising for some weeks. Doctors diagnosed the child with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), an aggressive type of blood cancer that needs immediate treatment.
Within 24 hours of her diagnosis, Emily was rushed to the hospital to start her chemotherapy, receive multiple blood transfusions, and take antibiotics.
“The news of her diagnosis was made even more devastating as Emily’s dad had died from bowel cancer only two and a half years ago,” according to their mother.
“Emily is doing well. She has moved into the next phase of her two-year treatment after achieving remission.”
Photo Credit: Supplied
However, the six-year-old had to stop attending Bardon State School until Term 2 in 2022 due to her gruelling treatment protocols. Despite her remission, she has had multiple admissions to the hospital for unexpected complications.
Needless to say, the disease has affected the entire family but they are hopeful more research for the management or treatment of ALL and other forms of blood cancer would continue to improve.
Photo Credit: SuppliedPhoto Credit: Supplied
To help with the cause, the Eden Academy Bardon community is hoping to raise funds for the research. Thus, on 1 December 2021, the children and the staff will be in their craziest hairstyle and socks to raise awareness for the foundation.
Mark Gilham, who works at the academy, will also be running 14.7km from Middle Park to Bardon. Parents and friends are enjoined to guess Mark’s time and the closest will win a $50 voucher from The Bardon Shed.
For a taste of authentic French cuisine, La Belle Vie, located in the beautiful hills of Bardon, lives up to the promise of a “Good Life.” Led by head chef Samuel Perrin, the revitalised restaurant, which changed hands in mid-2020, has found the right recipe for success despite a challenging time for the industry.
Committed to giving diners the ultimate French dining experience, La Belle Vie’s menu consists of classics like Ratatouille (roast vegetables), Haricot Verts (fried beans), escargot in butter, and a selection of sumptuous cured meats with Arnaud French rillette and pickles (charcuterie).
For the entrees, the foie gras and Saint-Jacques (pan-seared scallops, truffle oil, sweet potatoes purée, crispy serrano) essentially paired with French baguette with butter, come highly recommended especially if this is your first time at the restaurant.
Diners put a seal of approval for the Caille (quail coq au vin style with red wine sauce, bacon, mushrooms, onions and carrots) and the Margret (Aylesbury duck breast, honey & spice sauce, mushrooms, roast chat potatoes), showcasing Perrin’s exceptional cooking technique. The ingredients used at the La Belle Vie kitchen are all locally-sourced and the chef perfectly plays up the tastes and texture, with the right consistency and temperature, once served to the guests.
To cap the dining experience, La Belle Vie has a fantastic line-up of desserts, including the gorgeous tarte and crème brûlée with a smidge of the authentic hardtop. Meanwhile, Jean-Jacques Peyre’s brilliant wine selection perfectly complements the chef’s menu.
Photo Credit: LaBelleVieBistro&Bar/Facebook
Despite the lockdowns within the last 12 months, La Belle Vie has managed to host special COVID-safe events and private functions, which allowed the operations to thrive. Once the restrictions slowly eased off, the restaurant was also the premier choice for wine and lifestyle workshops.
Meanwhile, it has been indeed a great start for La Belle Vie as was it named as one of the top four French restaurants at the 2021 SEQ Awards for Excellence for the Restaurant and Catering category alongside Bisou Bisou in Fortitude Valley, Haig Rd Bistro in Auchenflower and the winner, Montrachet in Bowen Hills.
For the menu, opening hours, workshops, functions, and bookings, check out their Facebook page for the details.
“My husband and my second time here, our first time we knew we wanted to come back to celebrate our anniversary and we did just that. Such an amazing experience and a thoughtful, deliciously, wonderful dessert. Thank you to the team at La Belle Vie, we will have nothing but great things to tell everyone we know.”
BM
“Loved my food, view and staff here. We had the lunch time two course which I couldn’t believe the quality for the price it was delicious. Can’t wait to bring my girlfriends here. The vibe is just gorgeous.”
Amy Hughes
“Such a great dining experience … it was our first time and we both went with the steak and beans on the side. Both steaks were cooked perfectly to medium rare and the beans were delicious. Service was great as was the ambiance. lots of other happy faces around as well. We’ll be back for sure.”
Bardon, one of the more expensive property markets in Brisbane, continues to be highly desirable because it provides families a suburban dream home close to the city and within premier school catchments. Thus, it’s no surprise that houses in this west Brisbane suburb remain in high demand, continuing to deliver fairly high capital growth rates for homeowners.
Bardon is a family hotspot with desirable school zones that attract house hunters who prioritize education.
The median house price of Bardon rose to 25.06 per cent from July 2020 to June 2021, hitting $1,300,000, a sizeable leap from $1,039,500 from the previous 12-month period.
The median unit price dropped to 1.14 per cent due to low stocks despite high demand.
House Price Growth
As a family hotspot, Bardon remains at the top of the list of house hunters who prioritise education. Reports cite that houses in desirable school zones across Greater Brisbane have logged the fastest property growth amid the pandemic. In Bardon’s case, the median house price rose by 25.06 per cent from July 2020 to June 2021, hitting $1,300,000, a sizeable leap from $1,039,500 from the previous 12-month period, according to data from Property Market Updates.
Buyers and investors are competing strongly for highly-coveted Bardon houses which currently stay on market an average of 44 days, quite brisk for the price points involved. There were 212 house sales closed during this time period. Of the stocks sold, 70 were three-bedroom houses, which were wrapped up at a snappy pace of just 23 days on market, with an average asking price of $1,100,000.
A restored 150-year-old Colonial Queenslander on an acreage property on Moonya Street, with most of its original architectural facets intact, sold at $4,095,000, the highest price for the period. This house, which features a children’s play fort and a gorgeous botanic oasis for family games and celebrations, is within an easy walk to St Joseph’s School or Bardon State School, the Girls Guides Clubhouse, and Bardon Bowls Club.
Unit Price Growth
In recent years, attractive low-rise apartments and townhouses have popped up in Bardon with slightly bumped up prices compared to most unit markets in Brisbane. For the period ending June 2021, however, Bardon’s unit market dropped by 1.14 per cent, pulling the median price down from $703,000 to $695,000.
Though units were quickly bought at an average of 38 days on the market, there were not enough stocks to meet buyer demands. Just 48 properties were sold during this period with three-bedroom units selling the most stocks for downsizers who want to remain in the area.
About Bardon
It’s easy to forget that the city is just five or six kilometres away for those living in peaceful Bardon. Located at the foothills of Mount Coot-tha, this suburb connects the residents to 1,500 hectares of tranquil and gorgeous green space with heaps of parks and walking tracks.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
The majority of homeowners in Bardon are owner-occupiers living in large blocks of free-standing colonial or modern houses, enjoying an enviable work-life balance. They spend their weekends unwinding at the local parks and community hubs or visiting the clusters of businesses at Macgregor Terrace, where most quaint cafes and restaurants operate.
Bardon is also close to the cafe culture of Paddington and Red Hill, its neighbouring suburbs. Residents can drive to the city within 20 minutes whilst bus services help the locals get around but quite a number do love to cycle in Bardon and take advantage of its natural beauty.
“We moved out from Paddington to Bardon because we needed more bedrooms and a larger garden. Bardon is a great mix of both inner-city charm and large blocks which are harder to find in Paddington. GREAT for family life. Lots of lovely cottages and Queenslanders. We live next to a park. Have been here a year and love it.
RightwingNuclearArmedAussie
“Bardon is a spectacular and quiet place which is close to the CBD. In my whole 20 years of living here, I have only ever been waiting at a traffic light for over one minute once and that was in Milton the neighbouring suburb. It is diverse and great for people with average incomes or those who are affluent. Very good public and private schools and there is a park entrance on almost every street!”
RileyN
“Bardon is a quaint, leafy suburb close to the city. The Queenslander houses and narrow streets give the suburban old-world charm, and there are plenty of trees and greenery to lend this suburb a peaceful vibe. I have lived in this suburb for 15 years (on the “Rainworth” side of Bardon) and have always found it to be quiet, clean and safe. It is also very close to the restaurants of Rosalie and a short drive to the city. However, I do not recommend this suburb for anyone without a car, as the public transport is limited to buses that are not very reliable.”
The developer of a planned childcare centre on Chiswick Road in Bardon has filed an appeal with the Planning and Environment Court months after the rejection of its original proposal. The controversial project received nearly 500 objections from locals who said there were too many childcare centres in the precinct.
Corella Property Investment Trust submitted plans to build a childcare centre on 56-60 Chiswick Road in mid-2020, gaining hundreds of submissions from the residents during the public notification. Council asked the developers to outline its plans to demonstrate the potential traffic impact as the property is adjacent to Cecil Road, a hilly but narrow street that has had a number of traffic incidents.
Those who object to the proposal pointed out that the junction on Cecil and Chiswick roads have had traffic buildups during the weekdays as cars access these areas to get to St Joseph’s Primary School.
Photo Credit: Developmenti/BCC
Meanwhile, another childcare centre has been lodged by a different developer along Vimy Street nearby, whilst there are a couple of childcare centres proposed or has been in the middle of the construction along the busy Boundary Road where Rainworth State School stands.
Photo Credit: Developmenti/BCC
“The significant number of public submissions already received for the application aligns with Council’s view that traffic impacts remain unresolved and the bulk and scale of the proposed development are not compatible with, nor integrate, with the built form intent of the character residential zone,” Council cited in its letter to Corella Property Investment Trust (DA A005563407).
Corella, however, has referred their proposal to the Planning and Environment Court in August 2021, citing that its application was properly made and compliant with the relevant assessment benchmarks. The developer said that their application did not trigger referral agencies.
