Thousands of households are being warned that artificial smoke may billow from lawns and roof vents over coming weeks. Unitywater crews are pumping non-toxic vapour through wastewater pipes to find illegal connections, leaks and defects. Residents in targeted suburbs around Moreton Bay will receive letters two weeks before testing. Property owners found with defects will need a licensed plumber to make repairs, with fines of up to $32,000 possible for illegal plumbing work. Other utilities across the country, including Sydney Water, are running similar testing programs.
Scarborough Public School's 28th annual Art Show launched on Friday night, run entirely by parents and volunteers. More than 150 people are displaying paintings, prints, sculpture, photography, jewellery and ceramics. The show includes work from established Illawarra artists and student creations from the school's ArtSpark program. The Sophia Rose Quartet performed for the opening crowd. The show runs Sunday, October 11, from 10am to 3pm, with adult admission at $5 and children under 13 free.
A turn-of-the-century miner's cottage at 417 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Scarborough, is heading to auction with a guide of $1,850,000. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home sits on almost 430 square metres on the clifftop and has ocean views. A walking track leads down to the rock platform below, which agent Trever Molenaar of Molenaar describes as rare for the area. Original features include 3.5-metre ceilings, timber floors and a combustion fireplace. A large rear studio and space for an extension, subject to council approval, add to the appeal.
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The City of Stirling will consider a proposal to explore unrestricted trading hours in Scarborough, with councillor Tony Krsticevic arguing it could attract major retailers and boost local tourism. He suggests current restrictions, such as Sunday morning closures, limit convenience and business opportunities. Resident Amy Dawson supports earlier openings, citing reduced congestion and alignment with eastern states. However, the state government has no plans to extend trading hours, citing potential impacts on workers and small businesses. The council will decide on the proposal at its October meeting.
Nine events are taking place in the Illawarra region this week, including a stage production by local playwright Stephen Goldrick, an art show at Scarborough Public School, and a Spartan Race at WIN Stadium. Other highlights include a women's health forum, a cultural festival in Kiama, a quilt and craft exhibition in Dapto, a comedy night, and an environmental festival in Port Kembla. The events cater to a range of interests, from theatre and art to sports and community celebrations.
Scarborough Beach in Western Australia has a new outdoor gym with a beach view. The Beachfit Zone features a range of equipment designed for all ages and fitness levels. The facility includes workout stations with instruction videos and has been built to withstand coastal conditions. City of Stirling mayor Mark Irwin said the new gym offers a beachside fitness experience similar to well-known destinations overseas. The Beachfit Zone has been heavily used since it opened last week and is expected to become more popular.
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.
Moreton District police have charged a 15-year-old Burpengary boy over alleged dangerous driving in Caboolture on 22 October. Police allege a black Ford Falcon was driven dangerously across several northern suburbs, and its occupants leaned out of the windows on the Bruce Highway. The car was found abandoned and seized on 25 October. The boy faces nine charges and is due in Caboolture Childrens Court on 26 October. Police are asking anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.
Police are investigating a house fire in Caboolture that initial inquiries suggest was deliberately lit. Officers driving along King Street around 12.30am saw smoke coming from a home. They entered the property and helped a woman in her 30s, the only occupant, to safety. Police then put out the fire before it could spread. The woman was not injured. Anyone who was in King Street around 12.15am and saw anything unusual is asked to contact police.
The family of 86-year-old Leo Barraclough say his death at Caboolture Hospital in June 2024 was not reported to the coroner. An ABC investigation found multiple problems with his care, including delayed antibiotics, missed observations and an opioid dose that was higher than recommended. Hospital staff recorded his death as not unexpected. After the ABC raised questions, Metro North Health Service referred the death to the coroner out of an abundance of caution. The family has welcomed the referral.
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.
Queensland has been warned of more storms and flooding this weekend after torrential rain caused severe flash flooding in the southeast. Caboolture, north of Brisbane, was the worst hit, where several people were rescued after driving into floodwaters. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist David Crock said heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are possible across large parts of the state on Saturday. Storms are expected to peak on Monday as a cold front moves through. Flood warnings are current for rivers and creeks on the Sunshine Coast, in the Brisbane and Lockyer valleys, and in western Queensland.
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.
Gympie Regional Council is asking the community to help shape renewed playgrounds at Crab Creek Park in Tin Can Bay and Clive Colburn Park in Kandanga. Both projects were funded in this year's Budget and aim to deliver modern, safe and accessible play spaces. The Crab Creek playground sits on the foreshore and is popular with locals and visitors. The Clive Colburn playground is heavily used on game and training days at nearby sporting fields. Surveys close at 5pm on Thursday, 12 November 2026, and the renewals are expected to be completed by 30 June 2027.
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Isaac Regional Council has announced a delay in kerbside waste collection for Moranbah residents. Due to mechanical issues, the general and recycling collections scheduled for Tuesday, 27 October 2026, will be completed on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. Residents are requested to keep their bins at the kerbside until the delayed collection. The council has expressed apologies for the inconvenience caused and thanked residents for their patience. For further details, residents can contact the council's 24/7 Customer Service Centre.
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.
Fans of The Block have rallied around Queensland contestants Chantel and Wyatt, claiming they were mistreated by production and unfairly judged. Viewers on Reddit argue the couple was targeted, given a bad edit, and unfairly portrayed as the show's villains. Others believe the judges were harsh, as the couple did not win a single room reveal despite completing their renovations on time. Meanwhile, the cast is reportedly divided, with separate after-parties planned for the upcoming auction.
Logan has about 206 hectares of vacant industrial development land, the Property Council says, offering room for new investment as greater Brisbane faces a shortage of industrial space. Property Council Queensland executive director Jess Caire said infrastructure such as roads and water must keep pace with demand. The council is calling for a $500 million industrial infrastructure fund and a coordinated state strategy to unlock more employment land. Average sale prices for smaller industrial sites rose about 44 per cent over the year to June 2026.
Property owners and managers have been given the meeting sites and times for a 1080 baiting program running from 16 to 20 November 2026. Each day has a set location, starting at 7.30am, except Friday at Urandangie Airstrip, which starts at 8.30am. Landholders unable to take part in this round can register interest for the next program. All baits must be injected.
Livingstone Shire Council is asking residents to nominate people who make a difference in their community for the 2027 Australia Day Awards. Nominations open on Tuesday 27 October and close at midnight on Friday 11 December 2026. Recent winners include 2026 Citizen of the Year Robert Lang, who has spent 53 years with the Rural Fire Service, and 2026 Young Citizen of the Year Myilly Symington, a former Cultural Captain at Yeppoon State High School. Award categories include Citizen of the Year, Arts and Culture, Environmental Achievement and Business, Innovation and Corporate Responsibility.
City of Moreton Bay and the Brisbane Bullets are calling on residents to nominate people who make a difference in local sport. The Community Hero initiative recognises coaches, volunteers and everyday champions who go above and beyond. Two finalists will each receive four game tickets and a half-time shout-out. The major winner will receive a courtside box experience for four, food and drinks, a signed jersey and an on-court thank you. Nominations close at 11:59pm on Sunday 22 November.
Council's Essential Services Team is flushing the town water mains. Some consumers may see temporary discolouration in their water while the work is carried out. The work is expected to be finished today. Residents who see discoloured water are asked to run their taps briefly until the water runs clear. Council has apologised for any inconvenience and thanked residents for their patience.
