Get the appCanungra, QLD 4275 · 8 stories this week
Nearby: Benobble · Biddaddaba · Bloomfleet · Boyland · Ferny Glen · Flying Fox · Illinbah · Lamington National Park
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Two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Daisy and Poppy, have become familiar visitors to the Canungra office and now feature in the paper. The pair are described as sweet and gentle dogs who look forward to their daily walks through the Canungra township. Their owner, Jo Blair, says the dogs enjoy greeting new people, the occasional swim and being given treats.
The Canungra Owls came within one goal of a perfect season, but lost the midweek soccer grand final 2-1 to Palm Beach. The side had topped the league to win the minor premiership trophy before reaching the decider. Palm Beach scored twice in the first half, leaving Canungra with a steep task. Jimmy Tomlinson pulled one goal back in the 65th minute. Canungra came close in the closing minutes, but full time sounded before they could force extra time.
A local historical association is campaigning to have Mt David, a peak near Canungra, officially gazetted. The peak is named after David Lahey, a founding figure whose family built the region's first major sawmill. Despite the name's long local use, it has never received an official title and does not appear on maps. A request to the Queensland Place Names Board is under way, though the board is busy with many developments. A public submission process is expected, and organisers hope locals will show their support.
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Get the appAnn Roberts, 84, has put her 500-acre Sarabah Road property on the outskirts of Canungra up for sale. She has lived there since 1971 with her late husband, Bob, who died in 1998. Ann says she is not sure where she will move, though a move into Canungra is likely. The couple once ran a dairy, beef cattle and an Arabian horse stud, and their horses won major ribbons at large agricultural shows. Ann says the property has been her peaceful and happy home for decades.
Staying healthy in later life does not have to be expensive, according to a feature by George Bellinger. Walking in local parks and streets is a free way to stay active. Group activities such as lawn bowls, tennis and gardening also build friendships. Meal planning, cooking seasonal produce and community gardens can help keep grocery costs down. Volunteering and local groups, including Canungra Men's Shed, can ease social isolation and cut costs.
Canungra author Dieter Luske is launching his latest crime thriller, The Breakfast Murder, at Canungra Book and Art on Saturday morning, October 17, from 10.30am. The novel follows investigative journalist Blake Newcome, who is drawn into a dangerous web of killings and blackmail. Dieter will sign copies at the event, and each buyer will receive a glass of sparkling wine. The paperback costs $29.95. It is his seventh book, following his first title, It Happened in the Seventies, published five years ago.
Flows in Canungra Creek, the water source for the town of Canungra, have fallen below 15 megalitres per day after a lack of rainfall in the catchment. Seqwater and Urban Utilities have a joint drought response plan that will be activated if flows drop below seven megalitres per day. Seqwater says it is ready to respond if creek levels keep falling and is progressing long-term water supply solutions for the town. Urban Utilities is asking residents to keep saving water, such as taking shorter showers and watering gardens during cooler parts of the day.
Buyers and sellers in Canungra are taking a more cautious approach, with local agents saying the market is levelling out after its peak. Ray White sales consultant Kevin Blanc said buyers now have more power, though demand remains high. Median house prices reached $1.2 million for the 12 months to July 2026, up 13.2 per cent. Listings have also settled after a sharp rise in 2024, and families are moving from the Gold Coast to the town.
The Canungra Owls Under 15 girls lost 7–2 to Northern Rivers in their final game of the season at Moriarty Park. Canungra took an early lead through Chloe Delaney, and Jasmine Thompson converted a penalty to level the score. Many of the girls have played together since they were six and still attend the same team three times a week, despite now studying at four different high schools. The team has spent more than 100 hours each season training and travelling, with the players describing themselves as a group that stands by one another.
Trilogy Accounting, a local accounting firm, is celebrating 15 years in business. Directors Samantha Newsham and Noela Lee say their active community involvement, including helping found the Canungra Chamber, has helped the business grow. Noela said the firm values the long-term trust built with clients. The early years were difficult, with some days passing without payment, but the team has continued to support local residents and businesses with their finances. Samantha said many startups seek advice before making decisions.
Gleneagle State School celebrated 70 years of play on September 16 with an Under 8s Day attended by more than 150 community members. Children, parents and extended family took part in pony rides, cookie decorating, loose parts play, sensory play and hula hoops. Local police and firefighters also visited. Under 8s Day coordinator and Prep teacher Shannon Taylor said the event gave families and younger children a welcoming way to connect with the school before starting Prep.
Tamborine Mountain U3A is bringing mature residents and retirees together through a wide range of classes and events. The group has run on the mountain since 2007. Members can take part in activities including ballet, card games, pickleball, language classes and novel discussions. Branch Secretary Bev Kirk says the group helps prevent loneliness and keeps members engaged. The U3A also runs events at local businesses, including a Great Gatsby Murder Mystery Night on October 23 at the Fox and Hounds.
Brisbane and the Gold Coast are on track for their wettest October in six years. Brisbane has recorded about 170 millimetres this month, roughly double its October average of 87 millimetres. Flash floods hit Caboolture and Morayfield, where more than 400 millimetres fell over the past week. The Sunshine Coast is likely to break its October record, with 369 millimetres already recorded at its airport. The Bureau of Meteorology says Brisbane is not expecting heavy falls, apart from possible showers.
Former Fraser Coast councillor James Hansen, 57, has been identified as the man found dead in floodwaters at Boompa, police say. He served on the Fraser Coast regional council from 2012 to 2024 and ran for One Nation in 2017. Mayor George Seymour called his death a great loss to the community. Police have begun an investigation and will prepare a report for the coroner. Separately, six campers were rescued from flood waters at Leyburn on the Southern Downs.
Police say they do not believe there will be a retaliatory attack after a drive-by shooting outside a pub south of Brisbane left four people injured. Two masked men opened fire on a crowd at a boxing night at Fitzys on Bryants Road at Loganholme on Saturday. A 19-year-old woman from Jimboomba is in a critical condition, while three men are stable after surgery. Chief Superintendent Mel Adams said the attack was not targeted but was not random, and police are asking the community for information. The hunt for the offenders continues.
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Get the appReal estate professionals Peter and Liza Conaghan have launched their own independent agency, Local Properties Australia, alongside sales agent Ethan Johnston. The business will focus mainly on its local region, drawing on the team's knowledge of local properties, communities and the market. Peter said the team is excited by growth across the Scenic Rim, pointing to new housing, businesses and services. He said patience and sensible pricing can be important when a property does not sell quickly. The agency combines the couple's experience in sales, marketing, negotiation and client care.
The Gold Coast Titans will receive $15 million in federal funding towards a new high-performance and community sports centre in Carrara. The centre will bring the club's NRL and NRLW programs and Titans Netball together at one site. It is also intended to support preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Planned facilities include playing fields, shared amenities and inclusive facilities for Para-athletes, plus a First Nations cultural education centre. More than 100 people are expected to be employed during construction, with over 145 ongoing roles supported.
The first apartment development in the $600m Serenity 4212 community on the northern Gold Coast has topped out. Lakeside at Helensvale is being built by joint venture partners Keylin and Kinstone Group. Developers say 70 per cent of buyers so far are aged over 50. A new collection of top floor residences, with two and three-bedroom homes starting at $1.22m, has been released. Residents are expected to move in by spring 2027.
Shop owners on Gallery Walk were left shocked after a plant was stolen from outside their business on September 23. Kenneth Veitch, who owns A Wee Bit o' Scotland with his wife Laura, saw a woman take the plant and walk away up the road. Laura said the shop has often had cuttings taken from its plants, but removing a whole plant was different. Volunteers from the Tamborine Mountain Garden Club had recently revitalised the gardens ahead of Springtime on the Mountain. Kenneth said the theft has made him reconsider replacing the plant.
Shontae Iafeta is building practical experience while she studies journalism. She feels a strong commitment to regional reporting and believes it matters to the communities it serves. Iafeta is known for forming genuine relationships with the people she interviews. She holds the view that everyone deserves a chance to have their experiences shared publicly, and she often points to the idea that everyone has a story worth telling.
First-home buyers have been locked out of 169 previously affordable Queensland property markets since the federal 5 per cent deposit scheme was expanded a year ago. An analysis of Realestate.com.au data found that 852 of 890 house and unit markets have risen in value. Deagon houses jumped 31.2 per cent to $1.187 million. Since October, new Queensland mortgage lodgements have fallen 30 per cent, with first-home buyer applications down 18 per cent, according to Loan Market. Buyer's agent Lauren Jones said rising interest rates and living costs have cut borrowing power, leaving young buyers largely absent from the market.
Police are investigating a dangerous driving incident in Surfers Paradise on the evening of 23 October. A Toyota Hilux was reportedly driven erratically along the Esplanade before stopping near a metal barrier at the Staghorn Avenue intersection. The vehicle was allegedly driven deliberately into the barrier, causing it to fall and injure a 40-year-old Labrador man. Bystanders tried to restrain the 31-year-old Surfers Paradise driver, who allegedly fled before officers arrived. Police located him nearby shortly afterwards, and he received a dog bite during arrest. Both men were taken to hospital, and inquiries are continuing.
A Queensland adjudicator has rejected an urgent bid to switch off an electric vehicle charger at The Pavilion Apartments in Bulimba. Resident Kin Chen argued that the basement car park lacked fire safety systems to deal with a possible electric vehicle fire. The adjudicator found there was no immediate urgency, noting the charger has operated since about 2020. The body corporate committee had granted retrospective approval last month, with conditions including annual servicing. The broader challenge to that approval has yet to be decided, and the charger remains in use for now.
Hope Vale angler Justin Convent won the adult prize, a Quintrex boat with a motor and trailer, at the Cooktown barramundi competition. More than 1100 anglers entered the event held from Friday to Sunday. Junior winner Nickalah Cobus also took home a boat. Thomas Hone caught the heaviest fish, weighing 7.4 kilograms. Local business owners said the weekend brought many shoppers into town.