jent8

As a young adult, I have lived with my family in Tanah Merah for most of my childhood and adult life. In comparison to inner city suburbs I have lived in to be closer to uni or work, what I really appreciate now when I come home is how quiet, spacious and environmentally lush and diverse my neighbourhood is. Close to me is Tansey Park and Alexander Clark Park, the latter a huge reserve with multiple sections to run around, where I walk my dog to after work and have a quick chat to other walkers some evenings. The local primary school I attended was Loganholme State School, a five minute drive from most of Tanah Merah, which back in the day when I attended had a great music program with inter-school camps, some brilliant, empathetic teachers (if you get Miss Beaumont, she is the best) and had undergone major investment/renovations when I visited last year to vote. I would spend long afternoons playing with kids from school and still keep in touch with two of them. We know our neighbours well, a mix of those who were here when we built 25 years ago and some new with young families.

For those who similarly work in the city, public transport in the morning and the evenings is regularly available with the 566 bus coming in from 6:30am. You can also drive five minutes to the Hyperdome, park for free and catch the more regular busses that go to the city or other areas from there too. For local shopping, we also have a block of shops on Tansey Drive made up of a convenience store, a lovely Indian restaurant we go to (Curry Patta - 4.5 stars on google, with a great lamb shank curry), a BWS and a few other eateries and shops. Crime in affordable areas is understandably something to be wary of, however in the 25 years that my parents have lived here, they have never had a break-in or felt unsafe when they have gone on their nightly walks.

My biggest frustration would have to be being stuck in the highway traffic some mornings (going from the Jalan St onramp to the busway which starts at Eight Mile Plains can take from 20-50 minutes in really bad traffic), however I have read that after the Springwood extension is complete, council will be extending the busway to the Hyperdome, fixing this issue for busses.