House prices in seven Queensland suburbs could more than double by 2036, according to new realestate.com.au data. Woodridge is forecast to rise from $781,000 to $1.64 million, a gain of more than $858,000. Kingston is also tipped to climb sharply. West End's median unit value could reach $1.84 million, while economists warn that such growth would come at a high cost to housing affordability. The projections assume historical trends continue and are not guaranteed forecasts.
The award-winning stage show Paddington: The Musical will be staged at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney for 10 weeks from September 2027. The production has run in London's West End since 2025 and will continue there until at least 2028. It won seven Olivier awards earlier this year, including best new musical. Its producers said they wanted to open only in cities where the show could match the scale of its London staging. Dates for other Australian cities and the cast have not yet been announced.
The award-winning stage show Paddington: The Musical will be staged at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney for 10 weeks from September 2027. The production has run in London's West End since 2025 and will continue there until at least 2028. It won seven Olivier awards earlier this year, including best new musical. Its producers said they wanted to open only in cities where the show could match the scale of its London staging. Dates for other Australian cities and the cast have not yet been announced.
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Eleven Edge Early Learning childcare centres in Queensland, South Australia and the ACT have been ordered to close within 48 hours. The centres could not be sold after the group entered voluntary administration in August. Many families had little notice and are now scrambling to find alternative childcare. Administrators at KordaMentha say families are being contacted in writing and given details of nearby services with spare places. Goodstart Early Learning has acquired 31 other centres in the sale process.
Eleven childcare centres run by collapsed operator Edge Early Learning will close, after administrators could not find buyers for them. Administrators KordaMentha found offers for 53 centres in Queensland and South Australia, including 31 proposed for GoodStart Early Learning. Seven closing centres are in Queensland, three in South Australia and one in the ACT. Some parents learned of the closures only days before they take effect, on October 14. Families who prepaid fees will be refunded by the end of October, and parents have been told of nearby centres with some vacancies.
Ian McKellen and Roger Allam star in Frank & Percy, a film about two older men who fall in love after meeting while walking their dogs on Hampstead Heath. The film was adapted from a West End play and has the same cast and director. It premiered at the 2026 London Film Festival. Supporting cast includes Stephen Fry, Joanna Lumley and Derek Jacobi. The film will have its Australian premiere at the Palace Cinema in late October.
Debra Rule is well known in Fremantle for her work in establishing and running the Fremantle Community Bank. She arrived in the city from Tasmania at age five, attended local primary and high schools, and later returned to South Fremantle Senior High School as a teacher librarian. She then built a career in strategic information and change management. Before that, she held a range of jobs in old Fremantle and was a member of the South Freo Bulldogs Cheer Squad.
The Melt Festival of Queer Arts will feature over 100 events in Brisbane from 21 October to 8 November 2026. Highlights include a 15-metre pink duck leading the River Pride Parade, free family-friendly Mini-Melt sessions, and performances by Courtney Barnett and Mel C. The festival, run by Brisbane Powerhouse, offers a mix of ticketed and free events, including workshops, parades, and live music. Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said the Crisafulli Government supports events that boost tourism and showcase Queensland's arts scene.
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.
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.
Retired dentist Peter Lynch has designed a $4 plastic basket that lets pickers pack mulberries directly into punnets. His Sunshine Coast hinterland farm, Kureelpa Mulberry Company, says the change has cut fruit damage by 80 per cent and reduced labour costs. The farm's four-week harvest depends on daily pickers, and the couple is concerned that cuts to working holiday visa numbers could make hiring difficult. Two French working holiday makers on the farm said a second year in Australia is uncertain.
Children aged 0 to 5 are invited to a Pop Up Playtime session at the Cooktown Botanic Gardens on Wednesday 18 November. Titled Bugs in my Backyard, the morning takes place at the Botanic Gardens Yarning Circle. Activities include bug hunting, bug-themed stories and hands-on discovery among the plants and pathways. Children can look under leaves for beetles, watch butterflies and find out what else lives in the gardens.
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Nebo residents face a planned water supply outage from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Thursday, 29 October 2026, while the council carries out repairs at the Emergency Services Building. About 11 properties on St Lawrence and Kemmis Streets will be affected. Once supply returns, some households may notice discoloured water. Residents in that situation are advised to flush their taps and avoid using washing machines until the water runs clear. Flushing water can be reused on gardens or lawns.
Mining companies in Queensland's North West Minerals Province are struggling to find workers as drilling ramps up and new jobs open. AIC Mines chairman Aaron Colleran said hiring has been difficult everywhere, including at its Eloise copper mine near Cloncurry. The Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association estimates the industry will need 24,000 new workers across the country by 2027. Queensland Resources Council figures point to competing skill needs and fewer young people entering trades and mining careers. Industry leaders say apprenticeships must grow to ease the shortage.
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.
Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour has paid tribute to former councillor James Hansen, who has died. Hansen served one term on the former Woocoo Shire Council from 2004 to 2008 and three terms on Fraser Coast Regional Council from 2012 to 2024. Seymour described Hansen as one of the region's last dairy farmers and a passionate advocate for primary producers. He said Hansen always stood up for his beliefs. Seymour said his thoughts are with Hansen's family and friends after what he called a sudden and tragic loss.
