Continued Covid restrictions have seen an iconic Brisbane establishment close their doors on Saturday night.

Stafford Skate Centre announced in April they would close permanently, on Saturday they closed their doors for the last time. 

They cited being forced to turn away many customers due to the pandemic. 

Stafford Skate Center has been operating for over 4 decades and was home to Brisbane indoor hockey in the 1990s and 2000s. The iconic location will be set to now operate as a gym. 

A $5.5 million dollar highway upgrade is set to begin for Esk.

Funded under the Australian and Queensland governments’ four hundred and $15 million dollar economic stimulus package, upgrades of this 1km section of the Brisbane Valley highway will improve conditions and reduce maintenance costs. 

Minister for Transport, infrastructure and regional development, Barnaby Joyce says he believes the main street upgrade will provide Esk locals and freight workers a safer route along the highway area.

Federal Labour says it will deliver a new twenty five kilometre rail line for south east Queensland.

The federal opposition promised $2million to push for a new rail line between Springfield central and Ipswich central. 

The population is Australia’s fastest growing region.Labour’s shadow treasurer Jim Chalmers says planning transport is vital with a growing population.

Australia is set to trial a new vaccine passport this week.

The Federal Government says the trial is the latest step in opening Australia up to the rest of the world. 

Some of the countries flagged in the announcement were the US, UK, Japan as well as the Pacific Islands. 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says once eighty percent of the population have received both doses of the vaccine, people will again be allowed to travel overseas, a target Australia is on track to reach by November.

The Adelaide Festival centre is showcasing a First Nations Exhibition, titled “OUR MOB.”

The gallery will feature Aboriginal artists across South Australia, with a section dedicated to Aboriginal artists aged 18 and under.

The free event will take place this month and aims to bring together people of all ages through culture and shared knowledge.

These pieces can be viewed via the Adelaide Festival centre website under “Our Mob” store.

England is backflipping on its plan to introduce a COVID-19 passport.

Plans for the Covid-19 passport were set to be introduced by the end of the month to grant access to large, indoor events. 

The UK health minister Sajid Javid announced the government had dropped the initial plan for the time being. Javid says he wouldn’t rule out revisiting the vaccine passport in the future. 

This comes as Australia is set to trial the vaccine passport technology overseas this week.  

Queensland records two new locally acquired COVID-19 cases in Brisbane. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the local cases are considered low-risk as both students are from St Thomas More College which is linked to the Sunnybank cluster. 

Chief health officer Jeannette Young says one of the new cases was infectious in the community but it was only for a short period of time.

Dr Young today lifted ongoing restrictions on aged care, hospitals and prisons. She also urges those in affected areas to get tested if they experience any symptoms.

The state government has released a tender to design the Birdwood Road Velobridge. 

Minister for transport and main roads Mark Bailey, says the ultimate goal is to create a safe, separated connection for bike riders between Brisbane's CBD and Eight Mile Plains. 

The design phase is expected to be completed by mid-2022.

The Queensland government has announced a $5 million renovation for Newstead house built in 1846.  

The house is Queensland’s oldest remaining building and was added to Queensland’s Heritage Register in 1992.

The Newstead House’s long-serving program manager Jen Garcia, says that the refurbishment sends a message to Brisbane residents that heritage is of value. 

The house will reopen in about 18 months