Queensland Archives - Ascot News

New Schneider Road Shared Path Fills Key Gap in Moreton Bay Cycleway at Eagle Farm

A new 600-metre shared path connecting the Moreton Bay Cycleway at the Schneider Road underpass in Eagle Farm to the Brisbane Airport precinct at Viola Place is now open, closing a long-standing gap in the cycling network that had frustrated northside riders for years.

The path, completed in late January 2026 after construction began in May 2025, gives cyclists, walkers and scooter riders a safe, continuous off-road connection between Eagle Farm and the airport for the first time. Dozens of cyclists turned out on opening morning to celebrate the new link, with a free pop-up coffee station set up along the path to mark the occasion.

For Ascot and Eagle Farm residents who commute to the airport precinct or connect to the broader cycling network from the northside, the new path removes the last significant off-road gap on this stretch of the Moreton Bay Cycleway. For riders arriving from Brisbane’s southside via the Gateway Bridge, it completes a critical northern link that previously forced cyclists onto road shoulders or into detours to continue their journey toward the airport and TradeCoast Central employment areas.

A Route Through the Gateway Motorway Corridor

The new path begins at the existing cycleway at Schneider Road in Eagle Farm, passes under the Gateway Motorway, and connects to the existing bike lane and footpath at Viola Place inside the Brisbane Airport precinct. The network map shows how the connection slots into a broader web of routes: northbound from Viola Place, riders can continue along Lomandra Drive into the airport precinct, or pick up the Jim Soorley Bikeway toward Nundah, Northgate and the Redcliffe Peninsula. Southbound, the path connects to the Moreton Bay Cycleway running toward Redland Bay and the Gateway Bridge, as well as the Southern Cross Way off-road path and on-road options along Lamington Avenue and Kingsford Smith Drive toward Hamilton and Northshore.

For Eagle Farm and Pinkenba workers, the Schneider Road connection also creates the first direct off-road cycling link to the TradeCoast Central precinct from the south, avoiding the need to navigate Nudgee Road or Sugarmill Road on-road.

What the New Path Includes

The shared path varies between 2.5 and 3 metres in width, comfortably accommodating cyclists and pedestrians travelling in both directions. The path features solar-powered LED lighting along its full length for safe travel at all hours, a reconstructed weir and new waterway crossing where the path crosses a drainage channel near the Gateway Motorway, a kerb ramp at the Viola Place end for smooth access to the airport’s existing bike lane and footpath, and wayfinding signage and line marking throughout to guide riders unfamiliar with the route. Landscaping and turfing are also included, with minor tree removals carried out in consultation with a qualified arborist during construction.

Connecting Eagle Farm to a 150-Kilometre Network

The Moreton Bay Cycleway spans 150 kilometres of Brisbane’s coastline, connecting the Redcliffe Peninsula, the Sandgate and Shorncliffe foreshore, and the Wynnum and Manly foreshore to one another and to major inner-city bikeways. The cycleway links to the Gateway Bridge Bikeway, Kedron Brook Bikeway, Jim Soorley Bikeway and Gateway North Bikeway, and when complete may become one of the longest cycleways on Australia’s east coast spanning three local government areas.

The Gateway Bridge shared path, free for pedestrians and cyclists, is a busy crossing point used daily by commuter and recreational riders connecting Brisbane’s southside to the northside. With the Schneider Road link now in place, a rider can cross the Gateway Bridge from Murrarie, continue through Eagle Farm under the motorway, and reach the Brisbane Airport precinct, the TradeCoast Central employment hub or the Jim Soorley Bikeway entirely on off-road paths. That seamless connection is what active transport advocates in the area have sought for some time.

Around 25,000 people travel to Brisbane Airport each day for work, a number expected to grow by around 20,000 over the next two decades. Brisbane Airport’s draft 2026 Master Plan includes a series of active transport initiatives across the precinct, aimed at giving workers lower-cost and healthier commuting options as the airport precinct expands.

How to Access the New Path

The new shared path is open at all hours. Riders approaching from the south can access the Schneider Road underpass from Kingsford Smith Drive via Lamington Avenue, or from the Moreton Bay Cycleway running north from the Gateway Bridge. Riders within the airport precinct can connect from Viola Place.

More information is available here. The project team can be reached on 07 3178 5413 during business hours, or 07 3403 8888 at any time.

Published 26-February-2026.

Award-Winning Ascot Kindergarten to Build New Nature Play Spaces with Prize Money

Photo Credit: Childcare & Kindergarten Ascot

A local Ascot kindergarten is translating its significant national and internal awards into tangible benefits for its children and families, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of the community’s early learning landscape.

A Commitment to Positive Impact

C&K Ascot Community Kindergarten has recently been the focus of major recognition, celebrating a win at the national HESTA Early Childhood Education & Care Awards. This honour acknowledged the centre’s dedication to advancing pedagogy and practice.

Adding to the accolades, the kindergarten’s team was also named a finalist for the prestigious Department of Education Inspiring Impact Award at the 2025 C&K Awards, highlighting their collaborative efforts to create lasting positive outcomes for the children and families they serve. The Inspiring Impact award specifically celebrates teams that demonstrate a deep commitment to their local communities.

Cultivating Confidence and Respect

The national HESTA award was given for the kindergarten’s ‘Proud to Be Me’ initiative, a program designed specifically for its three- to five-year-old children. The initiative focuses on building a welcoming and inclusive environment where children are empowered to express their authentic selves. It integrates lessons on emotional literacy and respecting diversity into the daily learning program.

Teacher Director Karina Hannan-Lopez stated that the award provides hope that the foundations they lay for children today will inspire brighter futures. She affirmed the team’s encouragement to continue exploring new ways of teaching equity and embracing innovative practices that enrich a child’s development.

From Accolades to Action

Demonstrating a direct link between the recognition and the children’s experience, the kindergarten plans to use the prize money from the HESTA award to enhance its outdoor environment. The funds will go toward developing natural play spaces designed to spark imagination and foster a deeper connection with the natural world.

This project aligns perfectly with the centre’s core philosophy, which uses its beautiful, large landscaped gardens as an open learning environment. The C&K curriculum model, led by university-qualified teachers, centres on the principle of learning through play, with educators skilfully extending children’s experiences in both indoor and outdoor settings.

A Partner for ASCOT Families

Beyond its award-winning programs, C&K Ascot serves as a vital resource for local families through its practical and supportive offerings. The centre provides an extended hours program that runs until 6 p.m. as well as a holiday program during Queensland school holidays, with both services included in the daily fee.

Families can choose from two, three, or five-day-a-week attendance options. To ensure parents remain an integral part of their child’s learning journey, the kindergarten fosters close relationships with families and uses the Storypark app to share documentation and daily highlights, creating a strong, collaborative community.

Published Date 09-October-2025

Eagle Farm Engineer’s Rapid Rise Wins National Aviation Award

Photo Credit: Aaron Pollard/ LinkedIn

Signalling the high quality of emerging Australian talent, an Eagle Farm-based Alliance Airlines engineer, Aaron Pollard, has been awarded a national scholarship for excellence, highlighting the critical role of ground crews in aviation safety.

A New Pace in Aircraft Maintenance

aviation — *Photo Credit:* *Civil Aviation Safety Authority/ Facebook*

Pollard has set a remarkable pace in a field where precision and experience are paramount. His rapid completion of what is normally a three-year apprenticeship has drawn attention from industry leaders, showcasing the high calibre of emerging talent within Australia’s aviation sector. Working from the Alliance Airlines hub in Eagle Farm, Mr Pollard represents a fresh wave of technicians whose swift development is matched only by their commitment to their craft.

National Honour for Safety Commitment

This dedication was formally recognised when Mr Pollard was named a recipient of the 2025 Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) scholarship for aircraft maintenance engineers. He was selected from a competitive field of more than 70 applicants from across the country. The CASA Chief Executive Officer, Pip Spence, noted that Mr Pollard was chosen for his strong commitment to aviation safety and genuine passion for his career. The scholarship, valued at up to $5,000, supports engineers in gaining the final licences needed to certify aircraft for flight.

Building a Career on the Ground

Mr Pollard’s swift rise is built on a solid foundation of training and diverse experience. Before joining Alliance Airlines, he held roles at TAE Aerospace and Northrop Grumman Australia, gaining exposure to different facets of the aerospace industry. He recently completed his Certificate IV in Aeroskills at Aviation Australia, finishing the qualification between 2023 and 2024. This background provided him with the skills to not only excel but also to innovate in his approach to aircraft maintenance.

The Engineer’s Satisfaction

For Mr Pollard, the reward for a long shift comes not just from solving a complex mechanical issue, but from the confirmation that his work is keeping Australians moving safely. He described the satisfaction of checking flight-tracking apps after a tiring night shift to see an aircraft he just serviced back in the air, safely on its way. It is this deep sense of responsibility and purpose that officials believe is vital for maintaining Australia’s world-class aviation safety record.

Published Date 24-September-2025

Catch the Final Pink’d Up BBQ Event in Ascot This Year

Don’t miss the final Pink’d Up BBQ for this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month on October 27!

Everyone is invited to attend the event happening in 111 Racecourse Rd, Ascot. The Bank of Queensland will be selling cupcakes and proceeds will go to Chicks in Pink, a foundation that supports women living with breast cancer.

Pink’d Up 2017 is extra special for the community as they aim to raise $100,000, which could be their highest donation to date. They have always been proud to support women with breast cancer. This year’s efforts promises to contribute more for the women’s needs.

As always, the 72 olden Poinciana trees from the River to the Racetrack on Racecourse Road are decorated with pink ornaments. The community works together to adorn the trees with ribbons and artworks as they participate as one in the annual Pink’d Up Racecourse Rd event.

Credit: Racecourse Rd Facebook

Elsewhere in the state and across Australia, a massive concerted effort is in place to raise awareness about the disease. Concerned groups gather all means of support for affected women, including survivors of breast cancer. In Queensland for example, researchers are now utilizing 3D printers to develop biodegradable implants for breast cancer survivors who have undergone mastectomy.

According to the University of Queensland, there are one in eight Queensland women that will be diagnosed with breast cancer prior the age of 85. Younger women afflicted with the disease have less chance of surviving than their older counterparts. The university highlights that more funding is required for more relevant research and clinical trials to take place.

Credit: ARC ITTC in Additive Biomanufacturing YouTube

In Brisbane, breast cancer survivors find support with Dragons Abreast. These are women who fought the disease and maintain active lifestyle by engaging in Dragon Boat Racing. The group continues to promote breast cancer awareness as they pursue a fun and healthy lifestyle. They train every Saturday morning and meet up at the BRD container, behind the State Hockey Centre, 400 Lytton Road at Colmslie.

Meanwhile, the Brisbane Racing Club is behind the 2017 Spring Racing Carnival, Australia’s most prestigious 2400 metre handicap race and the second biggest Cup race of the spring behind the Melbourne Cup. The activities are done for a good cause as $5 from every General Admission ticket sold is to be given to Breast Cancer Network Australia.

2017 Spring Racing Carnival
Credit: Brisbane Racing Club Facebook

These and other similar activities, usually happening to celebrate October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month, are held yearly. If you couldn’t come to Ascot Pink’d Up barbeque this year, you still have your chance next year.

Click here to be updated about the scheduled events in Ascot.