Over 300 residents of Spring Hill, one of Brisbane’s heritage areas are petitioning Brisbane City Council over the Keylin Group’s proposal to build two modern, reflective-glass fifteen storey apartment blocks. The petition against the Gregory Terrace application says this is Brisbane’s oldest suburb and it’s renowned for its character housing and structures. The two blocks are proposed to be built on the corner of Warry Street and Gregory Terrace, next to the heritage listed home Grangehill making nearby residents question the development.

The initiative to revitalise Roma Street is continuing with a proposal being lodged with the council to construct a third new luxury hotel in the area. Along with the two other hotels, the new Cross River Rail station and the proposed Brisbane Live entertainment precinct, this hotel is part of the council’s effort to spruce up what has long been the CBD’s least developed area. The proposed site for the new hotel is on the corner of Roma Street and Turbot Street, placing it between King George Square and the courts precinct.

Hurstville Aquatic Centre in Sydney has closed temporarily after 70 litres of Hydrochloric Acid spilled into the spa area due to a faulty valve leaking. The leak caused three hospitalisations and a major evacuation of 150 people. New South Wales Fire and Rescue were called after reports of a toxic smell. Ambulances were called as a precaution and 9 people were treated at the scene due to inhaling the fumes. The scene has now been cleared and the centre will reopen.

More than 100 people have now lost their lives and many more are missing after flash flooding and landslides hit Indonesia and East Timor over the weekend. Disaster relief efforts are already underway to provide health and basic needs assistance to residents and repair the towns and villages that were destroyed. East Timor, one of the Pacific’s poorest nations, is causing particular concern internationally, with the Australian government saying it stands ready to help relief efforts.

More than 400,000 people in 2 Kenyan refugee camps face an uncertain future as the Kenyan government persists with its ultimatum that the United Nations must present a plan to shut down the camps by tomorrow. If the UN fails to come up with a plan to shut down the camps, Kenyan authorities say they will forcibly remove the refugees and take them to the Somali border. The Kenyan government tried to shut down the camps in twenty sixteen following intelligence reports linking elements within the camps to two terrorist attacks, but the order was overturned when the high court deemed it unconsti

Shay Hayston, the owner of Cafe Froth on Brunswick, a popular cafe in Brisbane has apologised after he posted a photo to his public snapchat online calling customers “two very annoying Asians”. The image was taken in the kitchen at the cafe with the caption “Omg I love my staff” over it. Mr Hayston has since said he is deeply disappointed and embarrassed by his actions. The apology comes after many community members saw the image and began sharing it saying it was unacceptable and absolutely appalling.

More than 1500 Queensland primary producers will be given a rent reprieve until September first. Resources Minister Scott Stewart says the deferral of more than $200,000 of land rent is in response to a series of successive hardships for farmers including COVID-19 and Tropical Cyclone Niran. Queensland’s food and fibre industry is worth $60 billion and accounts for more than a tenth of the state’s exports each year.

Queensland tourism operators continue to have bad luck with last week's lockdown and now dangerous weather conditions continuing. The 3 day Lockdown and severe weather warnings caused cancellations and loss of business over the Easter weekend. As 2 weeks of school holidays started this week, the industry hopes the weather will improve for the remainder of the holidays. The Bureau Of Meteorology predicted rain from a trough off the Coral Sea could hit a large area of the state from the central coast to the New South Wales Border.

As the federal government continues to face criticism over the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, acting chief medical officer Michael Kidd says in the coming weeks both administration and supply will increase. Mr Kidd says mega-vaccination sites seen in the US such as stadiums and sporting grounds are unnecessary in Australia as our system is effective. The number of GP’s administering the vaccine will double by the end of this week and by phase 2, pharmacies will be involved. According to the government, by October all willing Australians are to have the vaccine.