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Haus of Wendy Flagship to Open in Brisbane CBD This October

Brisbane food lovers are set for a bold new dining experience this October, when Wendy’s unveils its flagship Haus of Wendy store in the CBD.

Read: Wendy’s Plans Flagship Restaurant in Brisbane CBD

This announcement follows the fast-food giant securing approval for its development application in June. The green light cleared the way for Wendy’s to transform an Adelaide Street site near the Queen Street Mall into its flagship Haus of Wendy, setting the stage for its highly anticipated opening next month.

Photo credit: Wendy’s Australia/Brisbane PD Online

For many Australians, Wendy’s is a name that carries both nostalgia and novelty. The company first tested local waters in 1982 but bowed out just four years later after financial difficulties. Nearly four decades on, Wendy’s has returned with a new strategy under the Flynn Restaurant Group, which signed a master franchise agreement in 2023 to reintroduce the chain across the country.

The revival began on the Gold Coast in January 2025, when the first store opened on Cavill Avenue in Surfers Paradise. The response was nothing short of extraordinary. Hours before doors opened, queues stretched down the street as curious crowds waited for their first taste of Wendy’s signature square patties, chicken tenders, and classic American sides. Social media buzzed with videos of the launch, and reviews from early tasters praised the food as “mouth-watering.”

Photo credit: Wendy’s Australia/Facebook

Now, the Brisbane flagship is expected to lift that excitement to a whole new level. Billed as “more than a restaurant,” the Haus of Wendy will not only serve the fast food that made the brand famous, but also offer uniquely themed dining spaces that immerse customers in Wendy’s playful spirit.

Company leaders see the CBD location as the perfect stage for this next chapter. Brisbane’s status as one of Australia’s most dynamic and growing cities made it an obvious choice for a landmark store that will introduce thousands of locals and visitors to Wendy’s reimagined vision.

Read: Adelaide Street Tunnel Set to Open for Brisbane Metro and Buses

Looking ahead, Wendy’s has ambitious plans for its Australian expansion. The chain aims to open hundreds of restaurants nationwide over the next decade, setting the stage for what it hopes will be long-term success this time around.

Published 10-September-2025

QUT Scientist Dr Brett Lewis Develops New Coral Restoration Tech

Photo Credit: QUT

Dr Brett Lewis, a marine scientist at Queensland University of Technology based in the CBD, is leading a collaborative project developing world-first eco-friendly technology to stabilise coral rubble and support reef recovery.

Background and Context

The Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s most recognised natural wonders, faces significant threats from climate change, destructive fishing, cyclones, and rising ocean temperatures. These hazards leave behind coral rubble — loose skeletal fragments that prevent coral larvae from attaching and regenerating. Traditional restoration methods have often involved non-biodegradable materials that introduce long-term foreign structures into reef ecosystems.

Dr Lewis, working out of QUT’s CBD campus, has focused on solutions that support natural coral recovery while minimising environmental harm.

Coral Restoration Innovation Led by Dr Lewis

Dr Lewis and his team have developed bio-mesh materials and plant-based adhesives designed to stabilise damaged reef areas. The bio-mesh uses biodegradable plant-based components rather than plastics, while the adhesives combine natural extracts and biocompatible polymers that safely break down over time. These materials aim to provide a stable base for coral regrowth without leaving harmful residues.

His work builds on collaborative research into coral biology and attachment, carried out with partners including the University of Technology Sydney and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. This research contributes to establishing biological baselines for coral out-planting practices and supports the wider goals of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program.

Testing and International Collaboration

The materials are being trialled in partnership with Mars Sustainable Solutions, used alongside steel MARRS Reef Stars to improve reef stability and promote marine life recovery. The Australian Institute of Marine Science is collaborating with QUT to help scale these innovations internationally. Pilot studies are planned at sites in Indonesia, Malaysia, and across the Great Barrier Reef.

Exploring Automation and Next Steps

Dr Lewis and his team are exploring automated deployment methods, including the potential use of autonomous underwater vehicles, to improve the efficiency of applying these materials on a larger scale.

The project continues to refine the bio-mesh and adhesive technologies as part of a broader collaborative effort aimed at minimising environmental impact and enhancing restoration outcomes. Further international pilot deployments are part of ongoing plans to support reef recovery globally.

Published 1-July-2025

Brisbane’s Smarter Suburban Corridors Project to Use AI at Key Intersections

Brisbane’s Smarter Suburban Corridors project will see artificial intelligence take control of traffic signals across key intersections in a $15 million trial set to begin in 2026. While the trial will span the wider city, the Central Business District is expected to be one of the areas where improvements in traffic flow will be closely monitored.

Read: Gregory Terrace May Face Increased Congestion Amid School and Olympic Plans

The initiative, aimed at reducing congestion and modernising Brisbane’s outdated traffic systems, will gradually replace decades-old signal infrastructure with AI-powered technology capable of learning and adapting in real time. By using predictive algorithms and live traffic data, the system will adjust signal timings to ease bottlenecks, reduce delays, and improve safety on some of the city’s most heavily used roads.

Though not the sole focus, the CBD stands to benefit from the rollout. As one of Brisbane’s most congested areas—with limited space, high pedestrian volumes, and heavy reliance on public transport—the inner city is likely to be among the early sites where changes are felt. Smarter signal coordination could particularly help buses and commuter traffic that pass through key CBD corridors daily.

The city’s two current traffic management systems date back to the 1980s and 1990s, using fixed-timing programs and basic road sensors that have struggled to keep up with rising demand. With Brisbane’s population expected to grow from 1.3 million to 1.7 million by 2046, and with road freight traffic increasing even faster, planners are looking to AI as a scalable and more responsive solution.

International examples from cities like Manchester and Seattle show that AI-managed traffic signals can deliver time savings of over 20 percent. Brisbane hopes to achieve similar results, with a 12-month trial beginning in mid-2026, following a competitive tender process starting in June this year.

The system will be introduced in phases and delivered in partnership with the state government. If successful, the initial two-year contract could extend up to ten years, forming a backbone for Brisbane’s broader smart city ambitions in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

While transport experts and stakeholders have broadly welcomed the trial, they also note that AI is only one part of the solution. Without improvements in public transport capacity and a shift toward more sustainable travel modes, congestion will remain a challenge—particularly in high-demand areas like the CBD.

Read: Parking Loss from Bus Layover Zones in Fortitude Valley Triggers Backlash

Nonetheless, the Smarter Suburban Corridors project represents a significant step forward in how Brisbane manages its growing transport network, with AI at the centre of efforts to create a faster, safer, and more efficient city.

Published 5-June-2025

Brisbane’s CBD: 400+ Facial Scans Per Visit, Expert Reveals

A cyber technology expert has highlighted the extensive surveillance network operating in Brisbane’s Central Business District (CBD), suggesting that an individual’s facial data could be captured over 400 times during a single visit.

Read: Justin Lane Breathes New Life into Iconic Valley Corner

This comprehensive monitoring system includes more than 3,750 cameras operated by Brisbane, along with numerous devices on public transportation.

David Tuffley, a senior lecturer in cyber technology at Griffith University, notes that many residents might be unaware of the prevalence of such surveillance. He points out that while some organisations using facial recognition technology may not publicise this fact, these systems are becoming increasingly common throughout the city.

The recently opened Star Casino in Brisbane exemplifies this trend, having implemented advanced facial recognition technology. The system’s effectiveness was demonstrated when it identified and subsequently banned a woman for five years who had voluntarily registered as a problematic gambler.

According to Tuffley, the council’s camera network operates in conjunction with the Police Department’s Q-Face system. This integration allows for rapid identification of individuals by comparing live footage against a database containing millions of images, including those with outstanding arrest warrants.

Read: Viral Fortitude Valley ‘Succulent Chinese Meal Guy’ Battles Prostate Cancer

On a positive note, the extensive CCTV network in Brisbane has shown potential benefits for public safety and crime prevention. Earlier this year, Brisbane deployed an additional 240 cameras to strengthen its surveillance system, aiming to deter criminal activity and support law enforcement efforts.

This expansion was partly in response to increasing reports of youth crime, with the new cameras providing round-the-clock monitoring in strategically chosen locations.

According to local authorities, the positioning of these devices was determined in collaboration with the Queensland Police Service, focusing on areas deemed high-risk or with high pedestrian traffic.

The enhanced surveillance network may not only aid in crime prevention but also assist in rapid response to incidents and provide valuable evidence for investigations, potentially contributing to a safer urban environment for Brisbane residents and visitors.

Published 30-September-2024

Improved CBD Transport Part of Brisbane Election Pitches

Operating hours for night buses in the CBD could be expanded, and fares could be waived to guarantee safe and economical transportation home from the City and Fortitude Valley.

Read: E-Scooter Safety Heightens Concerns Following Fortitude Valley Collision

This would happen if one particular party wins the next election in Brisbane. Under the proposal, fareboxes would be turned off between midnight and 5:00 a.m. to ensure people have a safe and affordable way of getting home.

It’s part of Brisbane Labor’s three-tiered approach to transport in Brisbane, which includes cheaper public transport, making buses more accessible and more frequent, and tackling roads and congestion.

Labor candidate for Lord Mayor Tracey Price stated that rising costs are challenging residents who want to save money and time when travelling. She emphasised the need for safe, affordable transit as the population grows.

The Labor party has also proposed a 50 percent reduction in bus fares for Zone 1 and Zone 2 in Brisbane, which they believe would save commuters around $1,000 a year in fares.

Meanwhile, LNP councillor Ryan Murphy critiqued Labor’s pledge to subsidise bus fares, which he argues would unfairly burden Brisbane ratepayers to benefit the whole South East Queensland region. Murphy also suggested Labor’s plans allow no room to expand the Brisbane Metro beyond 2024.

Brisbane Metro is an all-electric, high-capacity turn-up-and-go public transport system, which is designed to link the city to the suburbs. It will deliver major infrastructure throughout the city, including a new tunnel beneath Adelaide Street and revitalised streetscape from North Quay to Edward Street.

Greens’ Proposal

The Greens outlined their own vision for the CBD, pushing to create a “green spine” along Albert Street closed to cars. Lord mayoral hopeful Jonathan Sriranganathan also called for lowering speed limits from 40 to 30kph to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety. He believes most drivers already struggle to reach 40kph in congested peak times.

“Our plan would turn Albert St into a relaxed and lively ‘Green Spine’ linking together the whole CBD. It would run from the entrance to Roma St Parklands at Turbot St, through King George Square, the Queen Street Mall, past the new Albert St train station all the way to the Botanic Gardens,” said Sriranganathan.

Read: Works Progressing Well on Adelaide Street for Brisbane Metro

The election promises showcase each party’s approach to upgrading transit infrastructure and improving affordability and accessibility for Brisbane residents. With the election nearing, the campaigns are ramping up efforts to showcase their transportation solutions.

Published 30-January-2024