Russell Island News

The Shopping centre opening date has been put back by a week. It is now set to open on the 28th July and the official opening date will be the 2nd August. For photos of the new shopping centre click the following links.
Photo 1 | Photo 2

The Bay Islands will receive $3.7 Million worth of infrastructure projects over the next year. $2 Million of this will be funded by the SMBI differential rates. Some of the planned projects include developing parks and open spaces and sealing roads on the islands.

Shopping Centre Opening Date Set - The countdown is on for the opening of the Cornetts Supa IGA on Russell Island, with work having started on the fit-out for the new supermarket.

The Supa IGA will open the doors to its 1490sqm store on July 21. When the store is opened it will boast grocery ranges and prices that compete with mainland shopping centres’. “Russell Island is becoming more popular each day, and we need infrastructure such as the shopping centre to support this growth,” said Canaipa Developments managing director Mr Larkman. Photo

RP Data Analysis - An RP Data analysis has revealed that Russell Island has made it into the top 50 list for best performing suburbs for price growth in Queensland during the last 12 months. It came in at number 34 with price growth of 29.5 percent. This brings the median house price on Russell Island to $226,000.

Russell Island police station now open - The new police station, located at 28 High Street on Russell Island is currently being run by officers from Redland Bay Police Station. The permanent officer will live in the residence next to the station and be on call 24 hours a day. The station was expected to open last year, but had to be delayed due to rain.

Plan for ferry link from Bay Islands to Brisbane City - The Bayside Bulletin reports: TOURISM chiefs are hoping to boost visitor numbers in Moreton Bay by pushing for a high-quality ferry service to link Brisbane City with island communities.

Eco Resort for Russell Island is coming closer to being approved - According to the Bayside Bulletin the first approvals of an eco-tourist resort have been given by Redland Council. The 4.8 hectare site at Kibbinbikkinwa Point on Russell Island will comprise of 89 units. The village will incorporate a general store, a restaurant or cafe, a gymnasium, a swimming pool and a day spa.

New house and land packages to be sold on the island - Chris Brereton, the island real estate agent, has unveiled plans to sell new house and land packages on Russell Island priced for the first home buyer or investor. "I am expecting the homes to be an enormous hit with first home buyers because they will be terrific homes at prices far cheaper than the mainland," Mr Brereton told the Courier Mail.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has approved plans to build the $185 million Canaipa resort on Russell Island - The application for the 245 apartment luxury resort was submitted in February last year. The proposal is yet to receive Redland Shire Council approval.

Progress on island developements:

1. Swimming Pool - Construction is almost complete. Redland Shire Council expect the pool to be completed by the last week of January 2008 (weather permitting)
2. Shopping Centre - Foundation work is currently underway. The centre is expected to be complete and fitted out before Easter 2008.
3. Police Station - The Police station is almost complete and work on the police residence is also almost complete. The station is expected to open early 2008.
4. The application for the proposed $150 million Canaipa Resort is still with council and awaiting final approval. The outcome will be posted here when it is known.

Russell Island Scoot and Car Hire - Is now up and running. These cute little two seat scoots are an ideal way to check out the island's many sites, and the car is perfect for the family. In the new year we will be boosting to 3 more scoots and 3 more cars. Available from Aunty Alices Cafe only 100mtr walk from the ferry terminal.

Shopping Centre work underway - The Bay Journal reports that work has started on the $4 million shopping centre in the business heart of Russell Island after Redland Shire Council gave the green light to the project on last Tuesday.
The 5955sqm site will be transformed into a commercial centre featuring a supermarket, six specialty stores and 90 car parking spaces. The development is scheduled for completion by Easter next year. Ian Larkman of Canaipa Developments said "We now have the police station, the pool is underway and the concrete plant is now open... Russell Island is really taking off."

Bay islands bridge is inevitable - The Sunday Mail reports that the mayor responsible for the Southern Moreton Bay Islands says that the bridge from the mainland is "inevitable". View full report here.

Kit Homes Nation-wide - Second Hand On-line - Climate Change Articles

Channel Sevens Today Tonight Report - Today Tonight spent the day filming for a story about real estate prices on Russell Island. The story is expected to air across the country at 6:30pm this Monday.

The Australian newspaper report - Look out for a report in the "Weekend Australian" tomorrow about Russell Island land prices.

Sunday Mail Report - A report on the proposed $150 Million dollar Russell Island Canaipa Resort is in today's Sunday Mail. This is expected to increase the Island's popularity and again drive up property prices. The approval for the resort is in its final stages. Once approved, construction will commence and is expected to be completed within three years.

Construction of the new Russell Island police station is underway - The police station will include a three-bedroom home to accommodate a full time police officer on the island.

Russell Island Pool - Ozcrete Pools have confirmed that construction of the new Russell Island swimming pool is to start next week.

Update 30/07/07: Construction has started. View picture here.

CityCat boost for bay islands - The Sunday Mail has reported that there is plans to build a new Moreton Bay terminal linked to the CityCat system to boost Brisbane's tourism infrastructure.

The Sunday Mail has reported on the land frenzy on Russell Island. View report here.

A Gym is opening on Russell Island on Saturday 14th July 2007 - Following the successful Stretch-Fit and Tone-Up classes at the Jackson Rd Community Centre (on Tuesday and Friday mornings at 9am), ‘Play On Oz’ has deemed there is enough community support to open a Gym! The Gym will be located in the Service Station building. For more information you can contact Jane Kugelman via email at: jane@play-on.net.au

Russell Island Pool - Construction of the new Russell Island swimming pool is to start in July.

Demand for real estate on Russell Island has sky rocketed since Thursday when both Channel 7 and Channel 9 aired a story about Russell Island's cheap properties - The real estate agent on Russell Island has been flooded with calls and people wishing to come over to the island in coming days and weeks to view the cheap land.

Channel Seven News are filming on Russell Island today to do a story about the cheap land prices - This story will go to air at 6:00pm tonight.

Channel Nine's Brisbane Extra has spent the day filming a story about Russell Island property prices - The story is due to go to air on Thursday 21st June at 5:30pm. View report here.

The Russell Island Shopping Center has been approved and construction is to commence in two weeks - The center will include a Super IGA convenience store and several other specialty stores. Completion is expected before Christmas.

The Sunday Mail 27th May 2007 - "Tide turns for investers"
"The tide has finally turned for the island, which has shed it's subdivision land scam image to become a rental hotspot". "Having an island community just off the shore of the capital city of Queensland is unique. Buying into the market at such a low price can't last forever."

New ferry to service Bay Islands - The MV Canaipa is the latest addition to the Bay Island Transit Systems fleet to service the Bay Islands. Costing almost 2 million dollars, the new ferry is designed to cater for the dramatic increase in passenger numbers that has been occuring and is predicted to continue into the future. During April BITS carried 93,742 passenger trips up from 43,514 in April 2001--over twice as many people and an increase of about 22% per year.

Cineplex opens - The new Victoria Point 9 screen Cinema complex has opened. Movie tickets are $7.90 for adults, $5.70 students and $4 for children. Daytime and tuesday night screenings are $6, $5 and $4. Sunday screenings are $6.80, $5 and $4.

Petition for a bridge to Russell Island tabled in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland Today.