Information about Brisbane

Area Code: 07
Time Zone: EST
Population: 1.2 Million

Introduction

With a population of just over 1.2 million, Brisbane is Australia's third largest city and the state capital of Queensland. Brisbane is considered to be one of the most vibrant and fastest growing centers in Australia today.

What makes Brisbane Australia's "most liveable" city is climate, geography and natural beauty. There are the amenities you would expect from a large urbanized city, some of this country's most beautiful beaches (50 minutes south to the Gold Coast and one hour north to the Sunshine Coast), as well as national parks and waterways. Brisbane is minus the hustle, bustle and high property prices and rents you find in most other capital cities.

The city offers considerable choice in terms of employment and investment, recreation, entertainment, education, culture, as well as retail and commercial facilities.

Queensland operates on Eastern Standard Time. Summertime or Daylight Saving is not observed.

Canungra

The Army Promotion and Training Centre at Kokoda Barracks is located close to the small historic town of Canungra. The town is surrounded by the lush Canungra Valley in the Gold Coast Hinterland, where residents experience warm summers and cold winter nights. Canungra is approximately one and a half hours drive south of Brisbane and close to the Gold Coast. It is also situated beneath the Lamington National Park rainforest, the Tamborine Mountain Historic Village and the Canungra Valley Vineyards on the banks of the picturesque creek.

Defence Housing

DHA manages over 1,400 dwellings in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Canungra area.

Homes in newer suburbs including Enoggera, Upper Kedron, Albany Creek, Mitchelton, Bridgeman Downs and McDowall tend to feature brick and tile housing similar to other developments found around Australia. DHA also has a range of townhouses in suburbs closer to Brisbane City and apartments on the city fringe. As Brisbane is a holiday destination and accommodation during peak season can sometimes be difficult to obtain, early notification will enable the HMC to book preferred accommodation. This also applies for members posted to Canungra wanting to be accommodated at the Gold Coast. During peak season, once again, early notification for preferred accommodation is needed.

Defence Locations

The Army has the largest presence in Brisbane, with the major establishment located in the suburb of Enoggera. There is also a Naval establishment at Bulimba on the south side of Brisbane and an Army Promotion and Training Centre located in the Gold Coast Hinterland at Canungra. The RAAF base at Amberley is located in Ipswich about a 50 minute drive west of Brisbane and is serviced by the Ipswich HMC.

Electricity

Due to the deregulation of Electricity Supply in South East Queensland, any property that has had the electricity supply disconnected, will require a Safety Inspection prior to re-connection. This Legislative requirement will effect a large percent of Service Residences as the electricity is usually disconnected the day after vacation of the previous Tennant.

If an inspection is required, you will need to obtain an appointment time no less than FIVE days prior to occupancy. The electricity supplier of your choice will advise if an inspection is required and will organise the Inspector on your behalf. You will be given an appointment time of either morning between 0800 -1300 or afternoon between 1300-1800. As the requirement for the inspection is State Legislation, no exceptions are permitted. Unfortunately smaller time frames for appointments are not possible.

We suggest you arrange the appointment for your delivery day to ensure you are at the property when the inspector arrives. Once the inspection has been conducted, the officer will then connect the electricity on site.

Currently there are only two companies that service this area that supply both electricity and gas. There are a further 12 companies that supply electricity only. All contact details can be found on the internet.

Please be aware that the connection of services is a Member responsibility and as such should connection not be completed prior to or on the day of the previously agreed occupancy date, any additional costs incurred will be the responsibility of the Member.

The following links have been supplied for further information.

Energex website (Not Toowoomba)
Ergon Energy (regional QLD)
Energy Ombudsman website
The power to choose the power you use website

Services

There is an excellent health and community service system, with 32 public hospitals as well as over 30 private hospitals. Specialised community groups exist for a range of support and social activities. Sporting is a major part of the lifestyle in Brisbane and as such there are a variety of clubs and associations available.

Climate

Due to the sub-tropical climate, Brisbane has high average temperatures nearly all year round. In the winter months daily temperatures average 20 degrees most days, with lows around 10 degrees.

All DHA homes in Brisbane are fitted with ceiling fans for your comfort. Heating is not included in the fit-out of the homes - wood burning heaters are the only form of heating for those cold winter nights. Humidity levels are high and mould can be an issue if you encounter a particularly wet summer.

Education

Brisbane has a wide mix of public and private schools for all levels. In Queensland children under 6 years of age attend Pre-School, children from 6 years onwards attend Primary School (Year 1-7), children 12 years and over attend high school (Years 8 - 12).
High school students sit the Year 10 Certificate and the Queensland Core Skills test in Year 12. Students wishing to undertake further study will also need to sit the Overall Position and Field Positions exams in their final year of schooling. Within Brisbane there are a mix of tertiary institutions including:

The University of Queensland,
The Queensland University of Technology,
Griffith University,
The Conservatorium of Music, and
a number of TAFE colleges.

Things to do and places to see

Brisbane attracts major national and international events, such as those seen at the River Festival held each year in August and September. The city's cultural centre plays host to significant exhibitions.
One generalisation that can be made about Brisbane is the emphasis placed on outdoor living areas. Having a paved area or wooden deck for the barbecue in your back yard is virtually mandatory. With weather this good, entertaining in outdoor areas is the best way to capitalise on Brisbane's climate.

Travel

Brisbane's public transport network is wide, and is complemented by a growing number of dedicated cycle pathways. QRails network is highly successful and is complemented by the City Council's bus, ferry and catamaran services. Brisbane City Council buses cover all suburbs within a 20km radius of the city and ferry services cover the inner city from Newstead in the south to St Lucia in the west.

South Queensland Housing Management Centre

The South Queensland HMC (SQ HMC) is located in Brisbane, at suites 3-6 on the ground floor of Highpoint Plaza, 240 Waterworks Rd Ashgrove (next door to the Ashgrove Post Office). Customer parking is available on site at the front of the building and in the underground carpark. The SQ HMC is your point of contact for housing allocations, rent assistance and housing maintenance supporting the Enoggera and Bulimba, Amberley, Canungra and Oakey Bases.