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Pre-Polling Booth at Buderim Now Open for 2019 Federal Election

Know where to cast your vote in Buderim prior to the 2019 Federal Election Day.

For those of you who cannot make it to the polling booth on 18 May 2019 or for those who want to escape the Election Day mayhem, the pre-polling booths are now open across the region. With more than 600 early voting centres nationwide, voters can now cast in their votes early without any difficulty.

At Buderim, the pre-polling booth is located at the St Marks Anglican Church Hall. The booth also has assisted wheelchair access for the voters’ convenience.

Here are the opening times of the pre-polling booth at Buderim:

Date	Time
6 May 2019 (Monday)	8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
10 May 2019 (Friday)	8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
13 May 2019 (Monday)	8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
15 May 2019 (Wednesday)	8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
16 May 2019 (Thursday)	8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
17 May 2019 (Friday)	8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Eligibility of Early Voting

According to the Electoral Act, to be eligible for early voting the voter must have plans to be either out of the country, interstate or outside of his or her electoral division more than 8 kilometres from the polling place on the Election Day. Other voters who fall within the early voting eligibility guidelines include those with religious duties, poor health, or reasonable fears for their safety.

It must be noted that voting before the scheduled Election Day at any of the pre-polling booth is carried out the same way as the regular voters on the Election Day itself. Voters still get to follow the same process of selecting their preferred candidates on the official ballot papers.

You may click here for more information on how to vote in the 2019 Federal Election.

Buderim Ginger Chosen as Recipient of Government’s $1.3M Exports Grants Program

Eight diverse Queensland food companies were chosen for a second round of funding from the Queensland government’s $1.3 million exports grants program and Buderim Ginger is one of them.

Buderim Ginger

From a small farming community and ginger growers’ cooperative in 1941, Buderim Ginger has grown to be one of the world’s largest suppliers of ginger. It is a proudly Australian business, one of Queensland’s great agricultural success stories.

In the 1990s, Buderim Ginger earned global recognition for producing the World’s Finest Ginger. Buderim Ginger and the Queensland Horticultural Industry (QHI) have joint plant breeders rights to the variety of ginger known as “Buderim Gold”. This particular species of ginger improves harvest yields whilst maintaining the citral flavour characteristics sought after in Australian ginger.

The company now produces a wide range of ginger products that is distributed in over 17 countries.

The funding will not only allow Buderim to grow and manufacture preservative-free ginger products in Queensland for a worldwide consumption, but it will also support the local produce and provide local jobs.

Growing Queensland’s Food Exports

The $1.3 million Growing Queensland’s Food Exports program (GQFE) encourages food businesses to improve their export competitiveness and profitability through better understanding of their markets. The initiative specifically seeks to:

Contribute to regional economic growth and jobs through increasing exports of food products
Co-invest with Queensland agriculture and food businesses that are either export ready or currently exporting to develop export capability
Foster collaborative relationships between export businesses, industry associations, research agencies and government to develop export capability
Capitalise on current markets as well as opportunities arising from new and existing Free Trade Agreements
Enhance agriculture and food businesses understanding of markets and global trends in order to achieve sustainable long-term export growth

Economic growth through increasing exports — *Photo credit: Image by Sarah Richter from Pixabay*

Aside from Buderim Ginger (ginger products), other companies receiving grants in this second round of funding are:

Australian Gulf Seafood (seafood)
Gin Gin & Dry (dried fruits)
Ironbark Citrus (mandarins)
Kominos Wines (wine)
Natural Evolution (green banana flour)
Perfection Fresh (fresh produce)
Qualipac (fresh produce)

Go Extreme with School Holiday Activities on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast

With the upcoming school holidays, kids are sure to get glued to the television or their electronic gadgets, unless they engage in adventure activities like those offered at the Coast Club Easter holiday programme of the Queensland Recreation Centres on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.

The programme will run from Monday, 8^th April 2019, till Thursday, 18^th April 2019, and is open to children 8 years and older as well as their parents and families.

Activities Offered by Both Recreation Centres

Both the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast centres will offer the following activities:

Giant Swing: As the name suggests, it is like the ordinary swing but on a bigger scale. You are harnessed and hauled to a height of about 18 or 20 metres. When you pull the cord to release yourself, you get to swing as high as the tree tops. This awesome activity is ideal for those looking for an adrenaline rush.
Surfing: This is a water sport in which the wave rider or surfer rides on a moving wave.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding: SUP is an offshoot of surfing but unlike traditional surfing where the rider sits until a wave comes, stand up paddle boarders stand on their boards and use a paddle to propel themselves through the water.

Sunshine Coast Programme
Gold Coast Programme

Exclusive Activities at Sunshine Coast

The Sunshine Coast Recreation Centre at 80 Currimundi Road offers the following fantastic activities which won’t be provided at the Gold Coast centre:

Caving: Explore wild cave systems in this recreational activity. For participants to experience the unique thrill and challenge of cave exploration, Sunshine Recreation Centre built 150 metres of artificial caving to recreate natural caves. Cavers are equipped with head torches as they navigate through the complex maze of passages.
Rock Climbing: Participants climb up, down or across artificial rock walls which have over ten different climbs of varying degrees of difficulty.
Vertical Climb: In this activity, the climber often uses his head, back and feet to apply opposite pressure on vertical walls that are mostly parallel and large enough to fit the climber’s body into.

Rock Climbing
Caving

Exclusive Activities at Gold Coast

Likewise, Gold Coast Recreation Centre at 1525 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach exclusively offers the following activities:

Abseiling and Quick Jumps: Abseiling or rappelling is a controlled descent off a near-vertical surface with the use of a rope. The bungy-style ‘quick jump’ from the top platform was conceived for the more bold and daring.
Canoeing to David Fleay Wildlife Park: This activity entails paddling along the Tallebudgera Creek and then having a guided tour of David Fleay Wildlife Park, a very natural and unspoiled park that demonstrates the conservation initiatives of the person for whom it is named after.
High Ropes: The high ropes courses allow participants to traverse swinging bridges and other elements 10 metres off the ground, so much like walking a tightrope.

High ropes — *Photo credit: Queensland Recreation Centres / Facebook*

Extreme sports can push you to your physical and mental limits, but engaging in such activities often tests your strength, endurance, agility, and balance as well as mental control. More importantly, the holiday programme is a good way for families to disconnect from their devices and reconnect with each other.

You can register for either the half day (3 hours) or full day (6 hours) programme.

All sessions start at 9:00am. Drop off time is between 8:30am – 9:00am. Pick up time is between 12:00 noon – 12:30pm for the half day programme, and 3:00pm – 3:30pm for the full day programme.

For other details, see their FB page or website.

Follow the Winding Trail of Buderim Forest Park and Falls

Among the hinterland sites in the Sunshine Coast, Buderim Forest Park and Falls is a must visit place for locals and tourists.

Buderim Forest Park is a 45 hectare subtropical oasis less than a kilometre from the north side of Buderim Village. It has towering trees, strangler figs and ferns, meandering tracks, and a stunning waterfall.

The forest park is a popular tourist attraction for its waterfall, widely known as Serenity Falls. The waterfall is actually the most photographed place in Buderim. It’s a wonderful place to visit at any time of the year, but the waterfall looks more stunning during or right after rainfall when the water powerfully cascades down into the waterhole below.

There are two entry points to reach Serenity Falls:

From Lindsay Road

You can park at the bottom of the forest, off Lindsay Road. At the end of the short loop road, you’ll find an elevated wooden boardwalk. This 600-metre walkway takes you on an easy stroll through the lush forest, along the banks of Martins Creek. The walkway ends halfway to the falls though, so you must continue along a more rugged path to the base of the waterfall.

Even if the wooden boardwalk is stroller- and wheelchair-accessible, people with a walking disability may not make it to the waterfalls.

600-metre walkway — *Photo credit: HollyS0 / Wikimedia Commons*

From Quorn Close

You can also reach the waterfall through the top of the forest at Quorn Close. The 350-metre route gives you direct access to the falls, but it is quite steep.

To get to this trail, take Lindsey Road off the Main Street in Buderim Village and then take the first right onto Quorn Close.

In the middle of the parking area is the Edna Walling Memorial Garden, a memorial to one of Australia’s greatest and most innovative garden designers. From there you can walk to the entryway of the bushwalk where you’ll need to navigate a number of stairs as you make your way down.

The dirt path takes you straight to the high arch wooden bridge overlooking the waterfall and creek. A set of steps on the other side of the bridge leads down to the base of the falls and the rock pool below.

This route is definitely not accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

Although you’ll find some people taking a dip in the waterhole at the bottom of the falls, the Council does not recommend swimming because water in the creek goes through urban areas and stormwater drains. But you can cool your feet to test the water temperature which is almost always freezing cold, even in summer.

Cool your feet in the water — *Photo credit: Taliesi / Pixabay*

There are no facilities or toilets at the waterfalls. You’ll find the barbecues, picnic tables, and toilets at both entrances to the forest park.

When you’ve forgotten to bring along a picnic basket, you can head to Buderim Village shops for some food at the end of your hike. It’s only a few minutes away.

Please note that Buderim Forest Park and Falls are a nature reserve, so you are not allowed to bring your dogs along.

Also, please take your litter with you. Do your part to help conserve these areas.

Lastly, you might want to consider bringing an aeroguard for the mozzies.

Buderim: One of Most Sought-After Qld Suburbs Among Brits as Brexit Looms

Amidst political uncertainties in the UK, British property searchers looking for homes to buy turn to Queensland suburbs, such as the Sunshine Coast suburb of Buderim, the latest report from realestate.com.au reveals.

Among the most sought-after suburbs in Qld, Noosa Heads was the top suburb, whilst Buderim and Mooloolaba follows Noosa Heads among the most searched Sunshine Coast suburb, based on December 2018 property search data from realestate.com.au.

As for Brisbane suburbs, New Farm was the most popular among British property seekers, followed by Redcliffe, North Lakes, Bulimba, Paddington, Kangaroo Point, West End, Macleay Island, St Lucia, and Cleveland.

The house median price in Buderim, from 1 Mar 2018 – 1 Mar 2018, was $675,000, higher than the state median house price of $495,000. Demand is also higher in Buderim than the Qld average, with 420 visits per property as compared to the state’s 382, according to realestate.com.au. Corelogic’s propertyvalue.com.au, on the other hand, reports the median sale price in Buderim at $665,000 for a one-year price change of 3.10 percent.

UK-originating property searches in Queensland rose 31 percent, according to December 2018 searches data from realestate.com.au, making Qld as top search location among UK property seekers. Those searching for property to buy mostly target the beachside, the report said.

Analysts believe that uncertainties in Britain are making British buyers turn their attention to Australian property market, especially in Brisbane where there are more job opportunities and the housing market has been steady.

End of Story for Books of Buderim

Books of Buderim, an independent bookshop in the Sunshine Coast town of Buderim, closed down on Christmas Eve 2018 after doing business for 51 years.

Since it started operating in 1967, Books of Buderim had provided books for everyone from all walks of life and all ages. They had an eclectic stock of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s picture stories, board books and bestsellers.

The owner, book enthusiast Fiona Blond, and her friendly staff were proud of their book-finding skills. Name it and, most of the time, they can hunt it down for you. They can source books from across the globe in as little as over a week.

Fiona Blond, owner — *Photo credit: Books of Buderim/Facebook*

Community interaction was integral to the bookshop so it participated in events that provided many opportunities to fall in love with books. It also supported local causes including Gardens of Buderim Festival, Readers cup, Reading Hour, Voices on the Coast, Imagineers and School and Kindy fundraising raffles.

Located at the end of the lovely courtyard across from Buderim Tavern, it has been the venue for Anywhere Theatre festival to stage “The Likely Story” play amongst its bookshelves.

Bookshop at end of lovely courtyard — *Photo credit: Books of Buderim/Facebook*

The place also offered author events in conjunction with schools and the council. Many local authors launched their books and writing careers in this bookshop. Authors like Lynette Noni, Jessica Townsend, and Peter Phelps provided crowds with lines that reached way down Burnett Street.

Classics Bookclub was a monthly book club that allowed people to engage in interesting conversations or just come together and network, creating a sense of belonging in the community.

End of story — *Photo credit: Books of Buderim/Facebook*

But the evolving changes of the digital age presented a challenge to the bookstore. The increasing overhead costs and the slowly declining sales due to the increase in online retail shopping took a heavy toll so there was a need to shut the shop.

The bookshop traded up until the 24th of December 2018, after which a farewell gathering was held in the premises.

Having been part of the community for 51 years, Books of Buderim will certainly be missed.

PETstock Maroochydore Participates in 5th Annual National Pet Adoption Day

PETstock Maroochydore is participating in the 5th Annual National Pet Adoption Day on Saturday, 9th February 2019, to be held from 10am to 2pm.

In 2015, PETstock partnered with leading adoption site and not-for-profit charity PetRescue to find forever homes for unclaimed animals in Australian pounds. Every year thereafter, National Pet Adoption Day has been celebrated in more than 100 PETstock stores across the country as a campaign to rehome rescue pets. Maroochydore is only one of 26 PETstock stores in Queensland.

*Photo credit: PixelwunderByRebecca/Pixabay*

With many rescue pets being cared for in out-of-the-way shelters, National Pet Adoption Day gives the opportunity for rescue pets to visit the community and meet families looking to adopt.

Last year’s campaign found loving homes for 520 pets. This year, PETstock hopes to outmatch, if not double, last year’s adoption numbers.

This year’s National Pet Adoption Day aims to encourage people to look for an individual pet rather than a particular breed. In line with this year’s slogan, “Love knows no breed”, all breed labels will be removed from the listed pets as a way to forget breed stereotypes.

Stereotypes make dogs of certain breeds less likely to be adopted because the slightest negative information can influence people’s perception. But just like humans, each animal is unique. An animal’s personality and temperament is often influenced by environment and previous experiences, not just their breed. That is why there is so much variation both within and between breeds.

Even if a pet has had a rough start in life, they thrive and can become wonderful companions when provided with constant love and care. With a loving family, their personalities shine.

Removing breed labels hopes to encourage people to get to know the animal’s own individual personality, which ensures that pets of all types find the homes they deserve.

Try adopting a pet instead of buying one. There’s a pet to suit every lifestyle and National Pet Adoption Day is the fantastic opportunity to find your perfect match.

Housing Development Happening at Buderim’s Previous Urban Food Street

What was once a hugely popular sustainable living initiative in Sunshine Coast—the Urban Food Street at Buderim— is now being turned into a housing development plan.

A lot of residents living along the Urban Food Street precinct at Clithero Avenue in Buderim expressed their disappointment after discovering that a number land owned by one of the pioneers of the Urban Food Street initiative, Duncan McNaught, were recently just signed off into a housing development company.

Members of the community further stated how they were still recovering from the aftermath of the Council’s decision to chop down 18 fruit trees last 2017. The latest news involving the housing development plan in the area has become another unexpected and unfortunate controversy.

Despite the negative reactions expressed by the residents of the Urban Food Street precinct, no comments have been given by Mr. McNaught and his partner regarding this matter.

Urban Food Street

The Urban Food Street at Buderim was co-founded by Caroline Kemp and Duncan McNaught in 2009. Over the years, this environmental initiative grew and it became popular amongst the locals at Buderim.

In fact, the Urban Food Street was a considered as a model of a pioneering neighbourhood in Australia that grows and produces large quantities of a variety of fresh and pesticide-free vegetables, fruits, and herbs in public spaces. By simply strolling down the 11 streets at Clithero Avenue, you get to see, enjoy, and even hand-pick a number of food that you need.

Urban Food Street Buderim — Photo credit: URBAN FOOD STREET/ Facebook

Locals feel that a sense of community has been fostered within the neighbourhood thanks to this gardening and produce initiative done by the Urban Food Street.

Given the growing community, the Council has requested the residents participating at the Urban Food Street to obtain a public liability insurance and a free permit in order for them to retain the trees planted on the public footpaths of the streets.

But after six months of ongoing disagreements between the Council and the residents over this matter, the Council was left with no other choice but to chop down 18 fruit trees last May 2017. Apparently, there should be a proper permit applied for by a resident of the area, or the said trees were supposed to be relocated to a private property. Locals were displeased over the Council’s decision to chop the trees down.

Housing Development Plan

Photo credit: URBAN FOOD STREET/ Facebook

Condora Investments, owned by the Rafter family of Sunshine Coast, is behind this Buderim development. The proposed parcels of land to be used in this project were described as underdeveloped by the developer, who also stressed the importance of improving the landscape and streetscape in the area.

The housing development project proposed subdividing the current 4 lots in the area into 14 lots, with block sizes ranging from 700 to 1,500 square metres. The Clithero House, a historic property situated at Clithero Avenue, will be retained. However, most properties are expected to face onto new internal streets after the housing development plan has been completed.

Concerned residents were distraught by this development plan for reasons which include the destruction of trees and vegetation in the area, and the impact of construction in the neighbourhood. Generally, they consider the project to be deeply disruptive to the community’s day-to-day living.

New Luxury Apartment Avalon Coming to Sunshine Coast

Maroochydore’s Avalon of the Mosaic Property Group has won UDIA-Queensland’s Design Excellence Award. Avalon is an innovative up and coming luxury apartment at Sunshine Coast.

2018 Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Queensland Excellence Awards

Since 1994, it has been an annual tradition for the the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA)-Queensland to acknowledge the state’s best property developments through a thorough full-site inspection and exhibition of nominated projects to an independent panel of judges.

The awards given celebrate the outstanding achievements of different properties in various categories that foster thriving and carefree communities.

Winners of the Mitchell Brandtman Awards for Excellence are highly praised and recognised by the entire property development industry. Being an awardee can raise the brand’s profile by earning a valuable endorsement in order to support and boost the sales and marketing efforts of the property.

Winners of each category are then considered as finalists for the UDIA National Award for Excellence, regarded as top-most award for “the best of the best” in the industry.

UDIA Qld 2018 — Photo credit: UDIA Qld/ Facebook

The 2018 UDIA-Queensland Mitchell Brandtman Awards for Excellence luncheon was held last November at the Brisbane City Hall. About 750 property developers and experts were present at this feast, and everyone was excited for the outcome of the awards. More importantly, the attendees were all looking forward to know what is up and coming with the property development industry of Queensland.

Included in the list of 19 Excellence awardees for 2018 was Maroochydore’s Avalon of the Mosaic Property Group. Avalon, a new luxury apartment that is currently being built on Sunshine Coast, received the Design Excellence award from the UDIA.

Sophisticated Living at Sunshine Coast

Located at the side of the beautiful Maroochy River, Avalon is expected to bring a revitalised and more sophisticated lifestyle in Sunshine Coast.

Developers agree that Avalon’s elegantly designed towers are groundbreaking in the property development industry. Diligently and creatively designed to work with its coastal surroundings, Avalon’s design innovations set the stage for the future of an emerging Maroochydore central business district.

Avalon is strategically located and residents will enjoy first class amenities such as a spacious, 2-bedroom apartment with open plan layout, plus high quality and customised appliances.

Avalon by Mosaic offers a total of 92 luxury apartments that are up for lease. The site is still currently under construction until May of 2020.

Buderim: One of Snake Hotspots in Sunshine Coast

Sunshine Coast has been reported the most number of snake bites in the last 12 months from November 2017. Data revealed that Buderim is one of the snake hotspots in the area.

With the onset of warmer weather, the incidence of snake bites from venomous snakes trying to escape the heat is on the rise. Data from Queensland Ambulance Services recorded around 790 snake bite reports since November 2017; so far, 100 were from Sunshine Coast. Snake catching experts, on the other hand, named Buderim as the top hot spot for snakes in Sunshine Coast.

Apart from extreme weather, experts also believe that developments that disturb the natural habitat of the snakes are also contributing to the rising incidence of snake encounters. QAS snake bites statistics showed that over 150 cases have been reported in the Metro North and Metro South compared to the North West and Southwest combined total of about 15 incidence.

What to Do When You Encounter a Snake in Your House?

Close the internal doors in the house and open the external doors and windows.
Block the gaps underneath internal doors with rolled up towels.
Place chairs and boxes under windows to make it easier for snakes to climb out.
Keep everyone well clear of the snake.
If the snake is in a place away from electricity and valuable items, try directing a gentle jet of water from the garden hose or squirt bottle towards the snake to encourage it to move away.
Remember that snakes on the move will naturally try to find shelter, so hosing the snake may not always work.
When you encounter a snake outside, don’t panic, back away to a safe distance, and allow it to move away.

“Snakes found on your premises can be removed and relocated by snake catchers authorised under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Contact details of local snake catchers can be obtained through the Yellow Pages or via the internet. It is important to remember that snakes are an important part of the environment and the relocated snake is often replaced by another living nearby. The best approach is to snake-proof your house,” the website said.

Here are the top 5 things you need to do if you get bitten by a snake according to Queensland Health:

Call an ambulance immediately – Call Triple Zero (000) and ask for an ambulance, or use the Emergency+ app to call an ambulance.
Don’t panic and don’t move – Not moving and staying calm can help slow down the spread of venom.
Leave the snake alone.
Apply a pressure immobilisation bandage and splint.
Don’t wash, suck, cut or tourniquet the bite – don’t wash the bite site as hospital staff may need to use the venom to identify the snake that bit you.

Treating snake bites

Video Credit:Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) / Facebook

How Do You Snake-proof Your House and Your Yard?

Block holes in your rock wall or other structure that can be potential dwellings of house frogs and rats, that attract snakes.
Keep your yard and shed tidy and well-maintained.
Keep shrubs and gardens tidy and away from the house. Snakes will shelter in houses, under shrubs and in timber stacks to avoid the hottest parts of the day.
Ensure that food scraps are disposed of properly to discourage rats and mice.
Bird owners should also discourage rodents by ensuring that aviaries are kept clean and hygienic and that the mesh is small enough to keep snakes from entering.
Install screens on doors and windows. Block any holes around the house including those between the roof and ceiling.

By blocking off all potential access points, you limit the chance of snakes entering your house. Residents are also advised to take extra care during summer as snakes are most active during this time. Also, extra precautions should be taken when in an area that experiences flooding, as flooding will cause snakes to seek higher ground.

For more information about snakes, you may visit the Queensland Government website.