Category: Homepage Latest News

Cheaper to Buy Versus Rent in Mount Gravatt

Here’s an interesting point to ponder for Mount Gravatt residents and would-be residents. Given Mount Gravatt’s excellent location, just eight kilometres away from Brisbane’s CBD, recent research data shows that it is actually cheaper for people looking for property in Mount Gravatt to buy, rather than pay rent to a landlord. At Mount Gravatt, renting a unit costs a median amount of $1,918, while the mortgage repayment of the same unit would only be an estimated $1,364 per month.

RealEstate.com cites research conducted by RP Data which shows the fairly unusual discrepancy, observed in Mount Gravatt, Spring Hill, Brisbane City, and 3,227 other Australian suburbs. Apparently, it would be cheaper to take out a three-year fixed interest rate mortgage (with a 5.15% rate) on a property, than it would be to pay rent on it. Tim Lawless, RP Data’s Research Director, says that the “possible reasons for this change in fortune for potential home buyers includes a decrease of capital city home values (2.9% lower than when they peaked in October 2010), lower mortgage rates and tighter rental markets.”

Results also show that rentals are higher for apartment-style housing, and that houses are better options for those looking to purchase, rather than rent, as one moves away from the CBD. This is certainly good news for residents in 71 Queensland suburbs, including those looking for houses in Goodna, Holmview and Burleigh Waters, where mortgage repayments are also found to be significantly lower than median house rental rates.

To read more about the other places in Australia where it’s cheaper to buy rather than rent, click here.

If you are a renter and want to know how much you can afford to borrow based on your current rental payments, use this Reverse Rent Calculator.

If you want to find out how much you will need to cover your desired mortgage loan, use this Mortgage Calculator.

And if you have absolutely no idea what you can afford to borrow and pay, this Borrowing Power Calculator might be able to help.

Photo Credit: Mount Gravatt Mansfield Lions Club

 

New Oval and Path for Mt Gravatt School Causes Erosion Concerns At Ekibin Creek

The installation of a path adjacent to a new sports oval at Nursery Road State Special School in Mount Gravatt, near the banks of Ekibin Creek has caused concern among two environmental groups in the area.

The Norman Creek Catchment Coordinating Committee (N4C) and the Mt Gravatt Environment Group, citing a lack of coordination by the Department of Education and Training, raised the issues of potential erosion of the Ekibin Creek’s banks and damage to the planned infrastructure of the school, due to the relatively short distance between the creek bank and the path.

Mr. Michael Fox, president of the Mt Gravatt Environment Group, is asking for the release of the Department of Education and Training’s hydrology report. “We’re concerned they didn’t want to talk to us. If what they are doing is not done with proper care, then they could lose the infrastructure they are building.”

For their part, Stephanie Ford, president of N4C, would like to reassure the Nursery Road State Special School of their good intentions. “I want to make it clear that we totally agree with Nursery Road Special School (sic) having more sporting facilities. But it seems what they’re trying to do to the creek won’t work… There is already evidence of erosion and some of the creek banks are not looking too good.”

Ekibin Creek is considered a key wildlife link between the Norman Creek Catchment and the Mount Gravatt Conservation Reserve.

Mount Gravatt School Proves Itself Worthy

What do these high achievers have in common? Erika Yamasaki, weightlifting champion and holder of 23 Queensland, 15 Australian, and one Oceania record. Ross Clark, award-winning poet and recipient of the Centenary Medal. Dean Felton, senior journalist and presenter at Melbourne’s Seven Network.

They are all alumni of Mount Gravatt State High School, who have taken to heart the school’s motto, “Digna Petamus”, and gone on to “seek worthy things”.

A co-educational public secondary school along Loveburn Street with a strong tradition for academic excellence and well-rounded foundation for its graduates, Mount Gravatt State High School ranks ninth in Better Education Australia’s list of the Top Ten Public High Schools for 2016. Better Education Australia’s rankings consider English, Math and overall academic performance. Mount Gravatt State High School has consistently appeared in their Top Ten rankings for public high schools since 2010.

With a population of 1,500 students, the school is actively involved in promoting digital education as part of Queensland’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Industry Project. Currently one of six schools that have been chosen as “Gateway Schools to the ICT Industry”, Mount Gravatt State High School has a curriculum that promotes learning development through the use of appropriate technology in the school setting.

Also, as a Registered Training Organisation under the Australian Qualification Framework, the school is able to issue, deliver and assess associated training and qualifications in vocational education.

Over recent years, the Mount Gravatt area has seen high demand on real estate rentals and sales. Data from realestate.com.au shows a compound annual growth rate of 4.8%, when one considers that the median house sales price for houses in the area increased by 26.3% compared to the same period five years ago.

With access to better schools being one of the main motivations of people who are looking to buy property, proximity to a good public school with a strong, consistent record of excellence, such as Mount Gravatt State High School, certainly looks to boost the Mount Gravatt area’s growth prospects even more.

Photo from YouTube.

Free Immunisations Scheduled for Mount Gravatt Kids

Mount Gravatt children between the ages of six weeks and ten years old now have access to free vaccinations from the childhood immunisation clinic at the Upper Mount Gravatt Progress Hall. A project by the Brisbane City Council, vaccinations are scheduled weekly until the end of June. This comes as a welcome development to parents in the area, as the latest Queensland health data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System shows a significant increase for 2016, in cases of pertussis (whooping cough) and varicella zoster (chicken pox, shingles and unspecified cases), annually from the year 2014.

Graph

Paul Bartley, AMA Queensland’s spokesman for infectious diseases, reminds parents about the importance of immunisations, given the rise in these infectious, and potentially fatal, diseases. He said, “The increase is certainly still under review, but it is a timely reminder for parents to ensure their children are appropriately vaccinated for their age.” Bartley also calls on pregnant women to make sure that they have their booster vaccinations.

The Brisbane City Council’s local immunisation clinic is located on 1873 Logan Road in Upper Mount Gravatt. Bookings are not required to organise immunization services; however, parents should have the Medicare number, along with their child’s immunisation records and the required consent forms. The weekly schedule and blank forms can be downloaded below.

January-June 2017 Schedule

Consent Form

Comparison of Effects Form

Photo credit: CCO Public Domain/Amanda Mills/Pixnio

Early Warning Alert System Raises Awareness for Mount Gravatt Residents

After the major drenching that Carindale and Chandler suffered last Sunday, 15 January, Mount Gravatt residents can now breathe a little easier, as the Brisbane City Council has launched a free Early Warning Alert Service. The EWAS will broadcast updates on severe weather from the Bureau of Meterology, and advance information on public safety events for residents and visitors in Brisbane and its suburbs.

Register online for free alerts or download the app for more convenience.

For more information, click here.

QRA Holds Australia Day Photo Competition

Winners to be awarded on 25 January!

Do you love living in Australia? Do you want to show some Mount Gravatt pride? The Queensland Reconstruction Authority is holding a photography competition to celebrate Australia Day. Spend the weekend getting creative. Show everyone that spectacular snap amongst your family photos that you just know will stand out from the pack. Pick your best shot and share the love that you have for Australian living!

Espresso Engine vouchers and prizes for “CEO’s Choice” and “People’s Choice” will be awarded on Wednesday, 25 January at 10:00 am. Bring a dollar to cast your vote. Everyone is welcome to participate in the judging, located at the Tank Street side of the QRA building in Brisbane. Sausage sizzle is available for $2. Join the morning tea, and feel free to bring a plate to share the love.

All entries must be received by the close of business on Monday, 23 January. All photographs should not be older than November 2016. Limit of only one entry per person. For more information, click here.

(Photo credit: CCO Public Domain/marselmajid/Pixabay)

Griffith University Alumni Dr. Kerry Kriger Becomes African Chief

Dr. Kerry Kriger, a Griffith University Alumni, has become an African Chief to the small village of Yawkrom, in Ghana.

He has been given the official name Nana Kojo Agyeman Bosompem Nkosuohene the First, which translates to Elder, Born on Monday, He Who Fought for the Town, Great Deity, Development Chief. This title comes from his work for his organization, SAVE THE FROGS!, the leading amphibian conservation group.

Read More

Mount Gravatt Home Sells in 2 Hours After First Open Home

A beautiful 4-bedroom home was sold 2 hours after its first open home, a mere 3 days after being listed. The house offers ample natural lighting; a lush, green backyard; and short distances from schools and a large shopping centre.

“We held the open house on Saturday morning at 9am and by about 11am the sales contract was signed” said Tommy Connolly, a real estate agent at LJ Hooker Mount Gravatt.

Read More

Mount Gravatt Officers Apprehend Woman, Find Baby Koala in Her Bag

A woman undergoing arrest on Sunday evening shocked police when, before being taken into custody, she admitted she was keeping a baby koala inside her green canvas bag.

The 50-year-old woman told the officers that she had found him on Kessels Road at Nathan, and had been caring for him. There were no charges pressed against her in relation to her keeping the koala joey. She was arrested for “outstanding matters”.

The animal has since been rescued from the precinct by an ambulance from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Officials say the koala is about 6 months old and has no sign of injury and disease apart from a bit of dehydration. Now called Alfred, he was placed on fluids and had been sent out to a carer shortly after the incident.

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty urges anyone who finds a koala not to attempt handling it and instead call their hotline at 1-300-ANIMAL.

“Often the animal may have no obvious signs of injury but it can have internal injuries that need immediate attention.”

Alfred is expected to be all right despite the stress of this incident.