The owners of Wonga Villa, a colonial Queenslander on Bonney Avenue in Clayfield, are expressing concerns over a new development being built adjacent to their property, so close that they can almost touch them.
The home, located at 194 Bonney Ave, was built in the early 1900s and purchased by the Bird family back in 2001. The family had hoped to sell the property in 2018 to downsize but still remain the owners up to this day.
An original development approval (DA) was granted in 2019 for the construction of a new two-storey complex next door. This DA outlined a 750mm boundary gap, matching the current space between the Wonga Villa and the fence line.
Wonga Villa, a colonial Queenslander in Clayfield (Photo credit: realestate.com.au)
However, when construction started in April 2023, Wonga Villa’s owner Peter Bird claimed the concrete slabs were being placed much closer than approved.
Project perspective for 196, 196A & 198 Bonney Ave (Photo credit: Jazz Designs)
The new development application, designed by architects from Jazz Designs, has since received approval for proposed minor changes, including extending walls nearer to the southern boundary and squaring off unit shapes.
Developers of the multiple dwellings at 196, 196A & 198 Bonney Avenue, also received a go-ahead to add block walls to each side, increase all finished floor levels by 300mm to allow stormwater discharge to be technically feasible, and configure window and door changes to all units.
The owners of Wonga Villa said they reached out to authorities but were reportedly told the issue was “beyond their authority.”
Photo credit: eBIMAP2
In response to the issue, Brisbane City Council noted that they investigated all concerns raised by Mr Bird but found the development complies with City Plan requirements and is being built per the approval. The application did not require public notification or referral to any agencies.
The Bird family remains upset by how close the new buildings are to their home, to the point they can almost touch the new units from their property. They had hoped authorities would have protected the original boundary gap outlined in the first DA, as attempts to halt construction have so far been unsuccessful.
A beautifully renovated five-bedroom, three-bathroom residence on Craven St in Clayfield went under the hammer, capturing the attention of enthusiastic buyers from all over South East Queensland.
The property, which underwent a meticulous 12-month renovation under the watchful eye of an interior designer, became a standout gem in the region’s real estate market.
The previous owners, Bronwyn Pitt and her husband Tony, were overwhelmed with the response from potential buyers as the auction came to a close at the end of July 2023. Whilst the specific details of the auction outcome have not been released yet, it was evident that the transformed property attracted considerable interest from individuals eager to secure their dream home.
Designed by the esteemed Bevan Lynch, the three-level family retreat exudes uncompromised contemporary excellence, offering an abundance of light-filled living spaces and high-quality luxury inclusions throughout.
The northeast facing family living areas, framed by floor-to-ceiling picture windows, provide an impressive view of a large private entertainer’s terrace complete with a swimming pool, water feature, and a spectacular outlook to Moreton Bay.
Inside, brush box floors create a warm and inviting atmosphere, harmonizing with the modern and spacious layout. The open-plan contemporary kitchen, boasting top-of-the-line appliances, stone benchtops, and a walk-in pantry, stands as the heart of the home.
The property also features a private study with floor-to-ceiling bookcases, a media room leading to a serene back courtyard, and five bedrooms with built-in wardrobes.
The master suite serves as a tranquil sanctuary with his-and-hers walk-in robes, a full ensuite, spa bath, and a private terrace offering breathtaking views. The lower level provides added versatility with a rumpus/home office featuring a separate entry and internal access through the double auto lock-up garage.
The soaring demand for premium residences in South East Queensland and the unparalleled craftsmanship displayed in this renovated Clayfield home set the stage for an exciting and competitive bidding process.
In a bid to address the issue of a housing shortage in Brisbane, the first residents of a repurposed former retirement village in Clayfield have moved into the property.
Partnering with Bric Housing and Communify Queensland Ltd., the project for 37 homes aims to provide long-term accommodation for older Queenslanders who are downsizing or facing homelessness. With the first residents safely in their new homes, the Clayfield property marks a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to tackle the housing crisis.
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon expressed her confidence in the new tenants’ well-being.
“I know the new tenants will be well supported in their new homes by Bric Housing and Communify Queensland, who will manage the property and deliver on-site supports.”
The 37 self-contained units offer safe and secure housing options, particularly for older individuals who may be experiencing or at risk of homelessness or seeking smaller homes. The Palaszczuk Government has been proactive in acquiring or leasing vacant former retirement villages to cater to the pressing housing needs of Queenslanders. Alongside the Clayfield property, the government has purchased a vacant former retirement village in Toowoomba and leased another in Redland Bay.
To ensure the successful integration and support of residents, the Palaszczuk Government allocated $14 million in funding over two years in the latest budget. This funding will go towards providing on-site supports at the Clayfield property, as well as the former retirement villages in Toowoomba and Redlands.
Minister Scanlon emphasized the government’s commitment to providing immediate housing solutions.
“The Palaszczuk Government is leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to find new ways we can provide immediate housing for Queenslanders.”
The acquisition and repurposing of vacant former retirement villages serve as part of these ongoing efforts, with over 120 households set to benefit from the combined housing solutions offered by the three locations.
For individuals in need of housing assistance, the Palaszczuk Government encourages contacting their local Housing Service Centre during business hours or reaching out to the 24/7 Homeless Hotline at 1800 474 753.
Local authorities are urging Clayfield residents to exercise greater vigilance and take preventive measures to reduce the risk of their motorcycles being stolen.
This comes after two incidents of motorcycle theft were reported in Clayfield during the early hours of Tuesday, 9 May 2023, prompting a warning from the police.
One of the stolen motorcycles, which had been parked on Montpelier Street, suffered damage to its steering lock and ignition before being transported to Oriel Road.
Photo credit: Queensland Police Service
The alleged thieves, however, were interrupted in their attempt to load the vehicle into a white van, resulting in the motorcycle being dropped and sustaining significant damage as they fled the scene.
Meanwhile, the second motorcycle was reportedly taken from a driveway on the same street. Despite ongoing efforts, the stolen Yamaha MT07 with Queensland registration 259XQ has yet to be recovered.
Law enforcement officials suspect that the same culprits are responsible for both thefts, given the close proximity and similarity of the incidents. As a precautionary measure, the police are urging the public to remain alert and report any suspicious individuals or the presence of a white van near motorcycles.
Sergeant Constable Kim Richter stressed the importance of taking necessary precautions, as stolen motorcycles are often repurposed through the replacement of licence plates and sold, or dismantled and sold as separate parts. Owners are strongly advised to ensure their motorcycles are stored securely and appropriately.
Photo credit: Bonus Studio/Pexels
“Their smaller size and weight allows them to be physically picked up and loaded on or into another vehicle,” said S/Con Richter.
In light of these recent thefts, the police are intensifying efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and safeguard the community from further incidents. Clayfield residents are encouraged to cooperate with the authorities and remain vigilant to help maintain a safe and secure neighbourhood.
Individuals with relevant information are urged to contact Policelink. They can provide information via the online suspicious activity form, accessible 24 hours a day, at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting. Alternatively, they can call 131 444 to report any information they may have.
Eyewitness Nicholas reported that four youths drove the stolen BMW X5 involved in a high-speed car chase through Clayfield on Thursday, May 4. The incident caused disruptions along Sandgate Road and endangered the lives of bystanders.
The chase involved nine police cars, which provided ground cover, and a PolAir helicopter, which provided aerial support.
“They almost ran into me and went into the side of my van, and they got bolt cutters in the front seat,” Nicholas remembered.
Although his vehicle sustained some damage, Nicholas himself was lucky to escape unscathed.
The incident raised concerns about the growing number of car thefts and reckless driving in the area. Expect official sources to release further updates and details on the incident soon.
Did you know that the Clayfield property where Harris Farm Markets is located has been sold at auction? Find out why market-goers need not have any cause for alarm.
The property, located on Sandgate Road and spanning 3,300 square metres, has anchored the family-owned supermarket chain and the Clayfield Seafood Markets. The site also has a BWS liquor store, the office of JCDecaux Billboard, and Milk & Froth Cafe.
Following the sale, Harris Farm Markets, which bought Clayfield Seafood Markets next door in 2022 as part of its expansion, will continue to trade on the site alongside the other shops that have been operating for seven years or more.
Essentially, not much will change in the property apart from the new owner. In fact, Harris Farm Markets just signed a 10-year lease and will remain in Clayfield until 2032.
According to Lachlan O’Keeffe of Ray White Commercial, there was strong interest in the Sandgate Road property before its previous owner, who owned the site since 2003, decided to offload assets.
Given its tenant retention history and as the first Queensland home of Harris Farm, the property offered strong investment potential.
As the temperature peaked at 37.4C on Friday, the 3rd of February 2023, Clayfield locals lost power in the afternoon and spent half of the day in the crippling weather.
Traffic lights were out on the streets, causing a build-up along Sandgate Road, Junction Road and Oriel Road. Outdoor activities for the weekend were called off or postponed as the extreme temperature became unbearable and unsafe.
Despite this, Clayfield Seafood Markets remained open but stall operators were unable to cook as they needed electricity for the customers’ orders. Visitors to the markets were also not able to use the internet.
Power was also out in a large section of Jamboree Heights, Middle Park, Warren Park and Beaudesert but Clayfield had the biggest outage in Brisbane with over 1,800 customers impacted.
However, Energex restored the power by the evening and reported no more interruptions in South East Queensland as of 8:00 a.m. Saturday.
Justin Coomber, the Energex spokesman, clarified that the outage was not because of the heatwave.
“The network is coping pretty well at the moment,” he said on Neil Breen’s radio show. “[They were] just run-on-the-mill outages on the network.”
Planned power outages for critical maintenance will also continue for the rest of the schedule. However, Commber also asked locals to call 131962 if they are still experiencing power interruptions so they could investigate if there are unusual incidents.
Coomber also said that the peak load of the network is usually between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. when most people are back at home from work or school and are powering up all their appliances and gadgets.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said that the heat is expected to cool down by early Sunday with the temperatures going back to average by Monday. On the other hand, Energy Minister Mick de Brenni said that they have been doing system tests to ensure that any issues with the power supply will be manageable.
Locals are advised to look after the vulnerables like babies, the elderly, and people with medical conditions, and make sure that they are in a cool, well-ventilated area.
Low to severe intensity heatwave conditions are forecast today and tomorrow for #QLD and #WA. With Fire Weather Warnings in WA and Thunderstorm warnings for SE QLD and NE #NSW
The Queensland Police Service has issued a warning about a new scam being reported across North Brisbane, that recently targeted a local business in Clayfield.
Senior Constable Diana Kratochvil said the police received information that a group of travelling men were alleged to be over charging, completing substandard work and using stand over and aggressive pressure tactics to attempt to secure payments.
With the new scam, victims are being approached to complete line marking services in car parks.
Photo credit: Queensland Police Service/Facebook
“The men have claimed to work for a line marking company which has since been found to be false,” S/Con Kratochvil said.
The men have been described by the Queensland Police as having Irish accents and driving a white Toyota Hilux utility with a modified tray.
Businesses who have any information regarding the scam are urged to contact local police. Members of the public are also being reminded to be cautious for scams.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission launched Scamwatch to help consumers and small businesses in recognising, avoiding and reporting scams.
Scamwatch emphasises that scammers are getting increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to get your money or personal details. Hence, it’s important to be alert and protect yourself from being scammed by following these tips:
Recognise the fact that scams do exist. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Do a bit more research to check the legitimacy of a business. If you’re not sure about the legitimacy of a business or if you just met them online, take some time to do more research.
Don’t open suspicious messages. Immediately delete strange-looking texts or emails and don’t open pop-up windows nor click on links.
Ensure that your personal details are secure. When it comes to important documents and bills, shred them if you’re planning to throw them away or better lock them in your mailbox.
Celebrating a year at Oriel Place in Clayfield, Dr James Allen and Dr Emily Allen, the husband-and-wife teambehind The Aesthetic Smile Collective,have brought very high standards to the area. Dentistry has become a major growth sector across Brisbane but the story of the Allen family can only bring a sense of respect for their passion.
When James was a kid, he had a very friendly and relaxed dentist whose process of attending was very much around avoiding pain and discomfort. As he got older, his passion to combine science and art in dentistry became stronger and the importance of the patient’s comfort in the chair remained.
Having qualified in Dentistry at King’s College, London in 2005, he and Emily crossed the globe and 16 years later, The Aesthetic Smile Collective was born in Clayfield, offering their combined 32 years of dental experience.
“Our main aim is to reduce the stress and anxiety that is so common with dental treatment, to enable our patients to avoid problems with their teeth and optimise their smiles,” Dr Emily said.
“As a family-owned practice, there is no outside influence from the dental corporates or health funds. For example, we invested in a 3D scanner which helps us avoid impressions and moulds in the process of creating crowns, bridges, veneers, mouthguards, or night-time splints. It is extremely accurate and is much quicker than traditional methods.” Dr James added.
The Aesthetic Smile Collective also offers “happy gas” to help patients feel more relaxed and interest-free payment plans where a series of planned dental treatments are recommended. Patients can be helped with early access of their Superannuation funds to help with more expensive plans.
Netflix is a great asset with children
Having two young children themselves, Dr James and Dr Emily know that there are many factors that can affect both parents and children from attending dental appointments. They can help with a wide range of issues such as helping with brushing techniques, fillings, cleaning, sports trauma and orthodontic assessment.
A TV on the ceiling above the dental chair can help patients feel more comfortable and zone out. It is great for children to be able to put their favourite Netflix show on.
The great Teeth Whitening debate
A very common question they get from patients is, “What is the best way to whiten my teeth?”
Dr James says, “There are many ways to whiten teeth and the two most common ways are home whitening and in-chair whitening.”
“Home whitening is the most common technique as it is something that can be done at home (1-2 hours per day or overnight). It can take 2-4 weeks to achieve the desired effect, has minimal sensitivity at an affordable cost.”
“In-chair whitening is done with a product called Zoom and this enables the teeth to be whitened in one appointment over one hour to a lighter shade. This can suit patients who are time-conscious or have teeth that are darker. There is some short-term sensitivity with this procedure which fades after 1-2 days. The cost is also higher compared to home whitening.”
Before Home Teeth Whitening Photo Credit: The Aesthetic Smile Collective After Home Teeth Whitening Photo Credit: The Aesthetic Smile Collective
New Technology to combat snoring and sleep apnoea
Recent research says that snoring and sleep apnoea have become prevalent in Australia. 5% of the population have severe sleep apnoea and a further 20% have it on a mild level. If left untreated this can have considerable effects on your health, including cracked and chipped teeth.
“We invested in a device called the Watchpat 200 Home Sleep Monitor. Patients can take it home for 24 hours, it slides onto one of your fingers and attaches to the patient’s wrist like a watch. It monitors sleep patterns and enables us to download the data afterward to advise our patients on the most appropriate treatment for them.”
Photo Credit: Supplied
Passion to optimise your smile
James’s decision to pursue a Master’s Degree in Aesthetic Dentistry from King’s College, from which he graduated in 2019, was born from a passion to optimise the smile.
“Aesthetic dentistry is a style of dentistry that enables natural-looking smiles with a functional foundation to ensure the work that is done lasts as long as possible. Cosmetic dentistry is different as the aim for that is to make the teeth appear whiter but often at a high cost to the underlying teeth structure,” Dr James said.
Before a Smile Makeover Photo Credit: The Aesthetic Smile Collective After a Smile Makeover Photo Credit: The Aesthetic Smile Collective
“The main dental problems which can be improved with Aesthetic Dentistry would be improving patient’s smiles through measures such as composite bonding, veneers, crowns, bridges, clear aligner therapy and dental implants.”
The Aesthetic Smile Collective is at Oriel Place at 531 Sandgate Road, Clayfield. You can see their website, which includes an online booking facility here.
Food Standards Australia has issued a major recall for a particular batch of eggs sold at Woolworths and IGA Queensland, Harris Farms in Clayfield and West End, and a number of independent food retailers due to possible Salmonella contamination.
Published on Saturday, 21 January 2023, the recall order warned of the development of illnesses from eating contaminated eggs sold by Watson Family Produce Pasture Raised Free Range Eggs. The items are packed in 350g and 700g containers marked with a “best before” date up to 25 Feb 2023.
Food Standards Australia said that consumers who have bought these products return their purchases to get a full refund. Those who have consumed the eggs, however, are advised to seek medical advice as soon as possible. Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning may include fever, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, headache, gastro issues and blood in the stool or mucus.
⚠️ Food Recall Notice ⚠️
700g Watson Family Produce Pasture Raised Free Range Eggs 350g Watson Family Produce Pasture Raised Free Range Eggs
In a statement, Watson Family Produce confirmed that a low number of Salmonella detections were identified at their chicken coop and packing facilities following a regular quality assessment from Biosecurity Queensland (BQ) and Safe Food Queensland (SFQ).
Watson Family Produce said they have voluntarily submitted to the process of a food recall and have launched precautionary measures after receiving a Queensland Health report that some consumers have been sick with Salmonella poisoning after eating their eggs.
“We will do everything we can to get back to normal supply and have our great product back into the market,” the company stated.
“We will continue to work closely with government authorities to help identify and trace a potential route of transmission into our property.
“SFQ and BQ have been absolutely amazing during this process and have supported us in every way that they can. We have spoken to more than a handful of vets surrounding this as well as our mentors.
“This isn’t the end of Watson Family Produce. We will survive this with your support.
“If you know us personally some love wouldn’t go astray at the moment. And if you’re a supporter of our business, please continue to be as we will really need it right now.
