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4 Things to Watch Out for When Living in a Pre-’90s Home in Mt Gravatt or Other Suburbs

Living in an old home means that your property comes with a lot of history and its own unique set of idiosyncrasies and challenges. Property values have a lot to do with location, age, and condition, among other things. If you live in a home in Mt Gravatt that dates back to before the 1990s, you should be wary of issues such as the presence of dangerous asbestos and lead-based paints.

Here are four things to watch out for in pre-90s homes.

1. Asbestos in Mt Gravatt Homes

Structures built before 1990 in Mt Gravatt, and Queensland in general, are more than likely to have the presence of asbestos since this was widely used in house and building construction then.

Asbestos may be present in the following structures around your old house:

roof
ceiling tiles
floor and wall sheeting, such as linoleum or vinyl
carpet underlay
window caulking and glazing
pipe and electrical insulation
gutter and water tanks
ducts for smoke or gas
steelwork
paintwork and patching

Asbestos may pose a serious danger to health once its fibres are exposed. Diseases linked to asbestos include lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis. Unfortunately, disturbances in the environment may easily expose asbestos in an old house.

“Fibro, cladding, gutters, down pipes, ceiling liners, fences, wall linings are some of the most likely areas we check for clients. A common misconception is that when you buy a house, the building inspection or the conveyancing will identify issues like asbestos. But they don’t,” Rob Berry, an asbestos expert from BBM Contracts explains.

“Often, exposure can come as a result of some simple home DIY. Or rotted or disturbed ceiling matter. Or even drilling holes to hang a picture.” he said.

2. Appearance of Moulds

Mould can live and spread in damp and humid conditions, especially when the house doesn’t have sufficient ventilation or air circulation, as is the case with the design of older houses. Studies from the World Health Organization found links to these spore-filled fungi against an increase in cases of asthma and allergies, sinus congestion, skin irritation, and even headaches.

The House of Parliament advised that residents in Queensland must frequently have their air conditioning and vents checked to prevent moulds. Additionally, it may be a good idea to hire professional cleaners to deal with this problem properly.

Another key to preventing mould formation is to mould-proof your old house. Does your property have a basement prone to flooding? Are there leaks in the windows or ceiling? Consider undertaking home repairs with the help of professionals as soon as possible.

3. Lead-based Paint

As with asbestos, lead-based paint, which was commonly used in home construction before the 1970s, may cause serious harm to health if it’s broken, damaged or disturbed. However, if the old paint is still intact then there is no reason to panic over lead exposure.

But what are the chances that old paint in an old house would still be in good condition? If you see paint chipping off your walls then a repaint should be in order but it might not be a good idea to do this DIY.

The Department of Environment and Energy said that this renovation project entails the proper handling, removal and disposal of old paint to minimize lead exposure. Thus, homeowners in Mount Gravatt have to ensure they hire experienced workers for this job.

Lead has been proven to be a toxic substance and lead poisoning is a global health concern that affects even unborn children of pregnant mums. A blood test will determine if a person has been exposed to lead so that they may receive the necessary treatment.

4. Infestation of Pests, Termites and Fire Ants

Pests, termites and fire ants can do costly damages to an old house. Unfortunately, structures built decades ago are prone to these infestations because of its age, natural settling, expansion and contraction as the weather changes, and its general deterioration.

You’ll need to have regular home inspections if you live in an old house. If you’re renting a property, it’s your responsibility as a tenant to check for termite and other pest activity and report this to your landlord as soon as possible.

*Photo Credit: Department of Agriculture and Fisheries*

Mt Gravatt, in particular, belongs to the list of suburbs under the Council’s Fire Ant Biosecurity Zone 2. Here are the top 5 places to check for the presence of fire ants in your property. Also, it is important that you are aware of your responsibilities when moving or storing materials that could carry fire ants. Report any fire ant infestation here.

Contact Reputable Mt Gravatt Asbestos Removal Service Providers

It’s best to address these four issues as soon as you find them in your old house since delaying the repair work may lead to more problems that cost more money.

For asbestos testing, Rob Berry of BBM Contracts offers a free asbestos home testing service. To book a slot for free testing to check for asbestos in your home, contact Rob Berry at 1300 427 237.

The Queensland Government also has a Housing Service Centre resource page if you have no idea where to look for the right service providers for your needs.

Wishart-Based Business Attracts Global Market thru Wireless Swimming Timing System

Wylas Timing CEO and founder William Ferguson (far left) at the FINA World Aquatics Convention in December 2018 (Photo Credit: Wylas Timing/Twitter)

William Ferguson, a businessman from Wishart and CEO of Wylas Timing, is gaining attention from the global market with his new wireless swimming timing system.

Mr Ferguson has only been operating his business for three years but a number of Australian clients have already signed up to use his revolutionary timing and recording technology. The company is now also looking to expand overseas.

Coming from his local swim club, the Wishart Sharks, Mr Ferguson has found it humbling yet exhilarating to present the system on the world swimming stage at the FINA World Aquatics Convention in December 2018.

About Wylas Timing

Developed by one of Australia’s leading android developers, Wylas Timing’s software coordinates the collection, recording and display of timing information for swimming and athletics.

Wylas Timing boasts a fast, efficient and affordable technology that corresponds with the International Swimming Federation timing regulations, allowing for splits, multiple timekeepers per lane and touch-pad integration.

The system has been developed with advanced user interface capabilities to allow for a multitude of hardware and display choices.

Because the system utilises a software-centric approach, users can access improvements and updates through regular software releases. There is no need to purchase upgraded hardware upon software advancements because the updates and releases do not come at an additional cost.

For further information about Wylas Timing, check out their website or follow them on Facebook.

Mt Gravatt Community Centre to Receive $422,000 Worth of Funding

Mt Gravatt Community Centre will receive $422,000 worth of funding to support the upgrade projects for the community hub.

Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta MP made the announcement on 28 March 2019. Mt Gravatt Community Centre CEO Deb Crompton expressed gratitude and said that the Federal Government funding will transform the local community centre and will allow more people and more groups to access and utilise the community space.

“These renovations will allow us to provide improved services and support to all our community members, including our most vulnerable people – those experiencing homelessness or domestic violence. This space will enable individuals to shower, cook a meal and watch television and just do regular things not afforded to them during their time of need,” Ms Crompton said.

“The Liberal National Government is delivering local infrastructure that our communities expect and deserve,” Mr Vasta said.

“I am proud to deliver this important funding for Mt Gravatt Community Centre, or “Bernie’s Place” as it is known locally, because it is an invaluable space that benefits the entire community.”

About Mount Gravatt Community Centre

The Mount Gravatt Community Centre is a not-for-profit charitable organisation that offers services for older people, people with disabilities, and family and carers. MGCCI officially opened 7 November 1991 by the then Minister for the former Department of Family Services, Aboriginal and Islander Affairs – Anne Warner.

Some of the services and programs that the centre provides include emergency relief, storm safe program, social support, community development, and home and community care, among others. In response to the growing and changing needs of the community, “Bernie’s Place” was established to provide additional community space, apart from the existing centre, and serve as non-threatening and homely location for small group activities.

What to Expect from the Second Stage of Toohey Forest Park Upgrades

Photo credit: wazz9188/Google Street View

Residents of Nathan and surrounding suburbs such as Mount Gravatt, Tarragindi, and Holland Park West will see a better Toohey Forest Park now that the second part of the facility upgrades is underway.

The second stage of the project will include installing a new accessible compost toilet facility. CCTV cameras will also be placed at the picnic facility to enhance security and safety.

There will also be upgrades on the existing lookout areas along the Sandstone Circuit walking trail, one to include a dedicated timber viewing platform and the other to include a timber deck and picnic setting.

Depending on weather conditions, works are expected to finish in July 2019. The Brisbane City Council assured all works will be carried out in accordance with the relevant environmental guidelines.

The Council reminds residents that two car parks would be inaccessible during the works but access will still be possible to walking trails.

Construction will be on weekdays, between 6:30 am and 6:00 pm. The Council will advise locals if there will be works on weekends.

In July 2018, the first part of the Toohey Forest Park upgrades already completed. This involved widening the entrance of the park, increasing the number of car park spaces, installing an access path between the Toohey Road entrance and the picnic area.

Other completed improvements include installing new picnic facilities, upgrading a section of the Toohey Ridge Track, upgrading existing lighting in the car park to LED lighting, and upgrading the existing picnic area to ensure all-abilities access.

About the Toohey Forest Park Project

The $625,000 project is part of the Council’s commitment to keeping Brisbane clean, green and sustainable.

It aims to improve accessibility and connectivity through Toohey Forest as well as provide enhanced amenity and safety for park visitors.

Brisbane Small Business Expo: Learn From Professionals at the Biggest Networking Event in Upper Mt Gravatt

Photo Credit: Small Business Expo/Facebook

The biggest networking event in Brisbane is happening on the 4th of April 2019 in Upper Mt Gravatt! Some 1,600 local business professionals are expected to be at the Hibiscus Sports Complex on Klumpp Road for the Brisbane Small Business Expo.

The event, mounted by Paula Brand Small Business Expos, will feature more than 200 exhibitors. It’s set up to be a great opportunity to find sales leads or reliable suppliers, as well as exchange business cards with different professionals.

From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., guests may participate in a flurry of activities:

catch four speaker sessions
speak with the employees of the Office of the Small Business, Brisbane City Council
listen to eight TINAx Talks (for women in business)
get free headshots for their business profile
take advantage of a free massage and brow waxing
Speed Networking (from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.)

Exhibitors and sponsors of the Brisbane Small Business Expo will also be giving away several prizes with a combined worth over $20,000.

Entrance to this event is free for all businesspeople, but you have to register your attendance online. To keep things livelier, there will be food trucks on site while Jodie Joy will provide the entertainment.

*Photo Credit:* *Small Business Expo/Facebook*

If this will be your first time to attend the event, take a look at what happened at the Brisbane Small Business Expo in 2018 in the video below:

Thieves Eyeing Parked Cars in Upper Mt Gravatt Area

Car owners parking in the Upper Mt Gravatt area are being warned as about 104 vehicles have been broken into by opportunist thieves since January, South Brisbane District Crime Prevention Unit reported.

Senior Constable Vernon Wootton said that opportunist offenders are recently targeting parked vehicles “trying doors or smashing windows and rifling through consoles and glove compartments to obtain money and valuables.”

The reported 104 vehicles that were targeted either had property stolen or there were attempts to steal the vehicle.

To prevent these offences, police urges car owners parking in the Upper Mt Gravatt area to observe the following:

Lock your car and roll up windows even if parked on the street, in a secure garage or in the driveway
Remove all valuables, including purses, cash, wallets, mobiles, bags, briefcases or other electronic items. If valuables are to be left in vehicles secure them out of sight
Don’t leave personal documents in your vehicle. Stolen documents may be used to commit fraud in your name
Consider fitting an alarm, immobiliser or other security device
Never leave spare house, car or business keys in the vehicle
Keep garage, vehicle access or gate remote controls out of sight or remove from the vehicle and keep on your person
Consider fitting one-way registration plate screws readily available at motor vehicle supply stores.

Contact Policelink on 131 444 to report any crime or provide information using the online form.

You can also report about a crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au.

Mt Gravatt East Backyard Block Saved from Development

Photo credit: Mount Gravatt East Townhouse Development Action Group/Facebook

The fight to save 68 Carrara Street and 8 Nurran Street in Mt Gravatt East has had another boost.

It was after the Brisbane City Council finalised the purchase of three of the four properties earmarked for development, through the Council’s Bushland Acquisition Program.

This means the lots will continue to provide safe passage for local koalas, green tree frogs, and other wildlife. Lord Mayor Graham Quirk stated that all of the land chosen for purchase contributes to the rich tapestry of Brisbane’s ecology, with acquired sites including koala movement corridors, locations with rare and endangered plants and animals or freshwater and wetland habitats.

“This 4,320 square-metre parcel of land sits right in the middle of a koala corridor that runs between Toohey Forest, Whites Hill Reserve and the Mt Gravatt Lookout and will prove invaluable to the local koala population that is known to move through this area,” Cr Quirk said.

There has been a huge campaign, led by the Mount Gravatt East Townhouse Development Action Group, to protect Carrara and Nurran Street from developments which would threaten the green spaces in the community.

Apart from its impact on wildlife, locals are worried the development will overcrowd the neighborhood. This means more cars and more congestion in case the proposed development was approved.

Above all, locals cited that the development is not consistent with the low-density living that they all expected when they bought a property in Mount Gravatt East.

Mt Gravatt East Development

Photo credit: pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au

The development application which campaigners feared threatened its future was for a 29-unit multiple dwelling. As part of the plan, the developers proposed wider access driveway and realigning the boundary between 6 and 8 Nurran Street.

In preparation for the development, the developer had already cleared the site. This earned the ire of residents, stating that 1ha of land was bulldozed without notice to local residents.

Photo credit: Mount Gravatt East Townhouse Development Action Group/Facebook

Upon acquisition of the land, the Council will revegetate the parcels of land with a range of plants, including fast-growing Eucalypt.

Stay up to date with proposed developments in the suburb by following the Mount Gravatt East Townhouse Development Action Group on Facebook.

Mt Gravatt Kerbside Collection 2019: Should You Throw Away All Unwanted Items?

Photo credit: dokumol/Pixabay

It’s that time of the year again! Kerbside Collection in Mt Gravatt is coming up, on 11 March 2019, so be prepared to let go of large, unwanted household items. However, whilst it’s good to declutter, we have to help reduce landfill too so maybe it’s good to take a second (or third!) look at those items you’ve been meaning to let go and see if maybe it deserves a second chance at life.

Here are things you can do with still usable, unwanted house items that do not involve putting them out to the kerb:

Donate

One of the ways to reduce landfill is to donate household items in usable condition to friends or family, a local charity or other reuse and recycling organisations. Quality donations give dignity to all members of our community.

GIVIT is a national not-for-profit organisation connecting those who have, with those who need, in a private and safe way. How will you know if something is still of good quality? Juliette Wright, GIVIT’s founder said, “If you would give it to your mother, your sister or friend – it’s good to give!!”

Repurpose

Upcycling is the best thing you can do with old stuff just lying around that you cannot bear to throw away because it has sentimental value. It only takes a little of bit creativity to turn junk into treasure.

Sell the item

Household items like old bed frames and bookcases are stuff people don’t bother buying in second-hand. If yours is an antique one then you will likely garner quick cash. You can easily find online furniture marketplace for buying and consigning designer furniture.

Reupholster or refinish

How will you know when furniture deserves to go to hit the kerb? Fabric sofa, for instance, is prone to wear and tear but it can still be reupholstered. You might need a new one if your sofa starts creaking because the structure itself starts to break down and it may be difficult to have it fixed.

If you are definitely going the disposal route, make sure to follow the Council’s guidelines, like keeping piles tidy on the kerb, sticking to the allowed pile size, not leaving sharp or dangerous objects on the footpath, and removing doors from refrigerators and cupboards.

For free reminders before your kerbside collection, download the Council’s free Brisbane Bin and Recycling app and keep push notifications enabled.

Mount Gravatt State High School Tops its own Record

With the release of the 2018 Year 12 Outcomes report, Mount Gravatt State High School has again topped its own record by achieving its best ever OP result, as four of its graduating Year 12 students landed on the list of OP1 achievers.

Year 12 Outcomes 2018 for Mt Gravatt State High School

*Photo Credit: Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority / qcaa.qld.edu.au*

Mount Gravatt State High School is one of the top schools in Brisbane as far as 2018 OP results. Data released from Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority show that there are 29 students from Mount Gravatt State High School who achieved OP1-5 or 23.20 percent of the 125 OP-eligible students. This OP 1-5 result marks an 8.9 percentage-point improvement from 2012 which was at 14.30 percent, according to Better Education website.

Better Education School Trend 2012 – 2018 for Mount Gravatt State High

*Photo Credit: Better Education / bettereducation.com.au*

Better Education OP/IBD School Ranking – 2018

Also, apart from achieving 100% QCE, the state school announced that their 2018 graduates completed Certificate II, III and IV courses and school based apprenticeships, among other academic highlights. The school also congratulated its elite OP1 achievers: Aidan Demmers, Lauren Ockendon, Jayden Webster, and Rebecca Gong.

Introduced in 1992, OP or Overall Position, is the statewide rank based on a student’s overall achievement in Authority subjects and is used for tertiary entrance purposes. OP measures a student’s performance as compared to other OP-eligible students, on a scale from 1 to 25 with 1 as the highest and 25 as the lowest.

MacGregor in First Wave of 5G Broadband Service Rollout in Queensland

Photo Credit: Optus/optus.com.au

Optus is targeting to launch 1,200 sites in Australia by March 2020. For the first wave of the 5G Home Broadband service, 60 suburbs were selected to experience a 50Mbps Internet speed and 13 will be from Queensland. MacGregor will be one of the Queensland suburbs where Optus is planning to rollout their 5G service.

The other 12 are Clayfield, Newmarket, Gailes, Camira, Kallangur, Auchenflower, Goodna, Burpengary, Kenmore, Brookwater, Kenmore Hills, and Bellbird Park.

If successful, Optus will outrank Telstra as the fastest Internet provider in Australia with a 45.28Mbps Speed Score on mobile devices. The 5G services are expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2019.

In the present, Optus already has five live-in network 5G cells. There are two in Canberra, two in Sydney, and the last one, which is going through an interoperability testing is in Kellyville.

Optus 5G Home Broadband Features

Optus offers the 5G Broadband at $70/month. It comes with a 5G modem by Nokia, unlimited data, and a superior speed of 50mbps. Optus has a 50mps Satisfaction Guarantee, wherein they will cancel the contract without cancellation fees if subscribers are not satisfied with their download speeds.

For Optus, being the first carrier to commercialize a 5G Home Broadband Service is not just an exciting journey. As the company’s Chief Executive Allen Lew described it, this will be an historic day for Optus.

“I encourage eligible Optus customers to register their expression of interest,” Mr Lew said. Customers will be selected based on 5G serviceability at their address to ensure they enjoy the best possible 5G experience.

For updates on Optus’ 5G Home Broadband Service, visit their website.