Business

The Sunshine Coast’s passion for innovation, growth and commitment to community has been highlighted with three major international awards. Sunshine Coast Council won three Gold awards at the 2024 International Economic Development Council (IEDC) awards ceremony held in Denver, Colorado, in the United States.

Rachel Hagan. Viterra's proposed purchase of the Maitland AWB Grainflow site, along with two other facilities, has been reported to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission by T-Ports. The proposed acquisition of Grainflow sites at Maitland and Crystal Brook, and Cargill’s mobile shiploader at Port Adelaide, has caused backlash from T-Ports…

Let’s be clear, any team environment must be emotionally safe, respectful, inclusive, and welcoming. This should be a “do not pass go” expectation of any team in any setting. But do not confuse being nice with a winning mindset ... "Good, better, best" mindset is a key attribute of a wining culture.

...the administrators for Rex Airlines have advised the sale of Pel-Air, part of the Rex business, to Helicorp Pty Ltd, part of Toll Aviation. Pel-Air is the contractor supplying ambulance services to Ambulance Victoria and NSW Ambulance, along with specially-modified aircraft for international and domestic aeromedical transfers.  

Farmers have called on telecommunications providers to ensure farming communities don’t lose connectivity as the 3G network is shut down ... Telstra and Optus commenced the process of switching  off their 3G networks as they transitioned to 4G and 5G networks across Australia.  

GrainGrowers today launched a comprehensive report shedding light on the significant implications of the upcoming United States presidential election for Australian grain growers … the report, Navigating Uncertainty: What the United States Election Means for Australia's Grain Industry addresses concerns about increasing trade protectionism and geopolitical tensions.

Birrang Enterprise Development Company is bringing its Driver Licence Access Program (DLAP) to the back country, in the final outreach services for 2024. The program will be available in Wilcannia ... and Balranald … a free program providing support to people in NSW who face extra challenges in getting a licence.

Amidst changes to regulations and community engagement requirements, the Queensland Government is seeking feedback on its approach to renewable energy projects ... From over 1,000 conversations during the REZ readiness assessment for the anticipated Callide Renewable Energy Zone in Central Queensland, locals showed that regional communities want greater engagement, accessible advice, real choices, clearer information...

A local businessman is calling for more police presence in the town, particularly at night. Multicultural grocery store BWD Trading on McRae Street was broken into last Friday night—twice in two months, sustaining alleged losses and damage of about $30,000.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has completed a timber testing trial investigating the best ways to implement technologies verifying claims of species and harvest origin of regulated timber and timber products ... Deputy Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Policy Matt Lowe said globally, it has been estimated that about 15-30 per cent of all wood traded is a product of illegal logging and illicit wood.

The Nationals Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, says with regional Victoria’s dangerously below par ambulance response times, it is essential people make submissions to the parliamentary inquiry into the performance, workplace culture, and procurement practices of Ambulance Victoria. Ms Benham says with the Victorian health system in crisis, our overworked and undermanned ambos are reaching breaking point.

The Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA) presented David Brown with the ALFA Outstanding service to the Australia Lot Feeding Sector Award, at the BeefEx Conference held in Brisbane last week. Dr David Brown owns and operates the West Talgai Feedlot near Allora.

Ian Riley. One of the best things about the museum, other than the exhibits, is the people you meet there. I have always been a history tragic, but on my last visit to the museum, I met Michelle Ross. Michelle has a YouTube channel with 9,000 followers and a website called Goldfields Guide ...

The annual Mallee Root Round Up B’n’S Ball brought rural spirit and good fun to the fore this past weekend, drawing 637 attendees from across Victoria to the Birchip Trotting Track. With an exuberant crowd, fantastic music and plenty of country hospitality and camaraderie, this year's event was a resounding success, raising $100,000 in ticket and merchandise sales.

Oh glorious springtime Saturday in October, the air around Mount Tarrengower filled with the sound of bees and pobblebonks and roaring, revving engines. It was the Historic Hill Climb on Saturday 19 October, so motor-heads from miles around converged at Butts Reserve to admire each other’s chassis and race up and down the hill, as has been the tradition since 1928.

Hooray for the 160th Maldon and Baringhup Show on 20 October. It was a winner of a day under blue skies at the Maldon Racecourse and Recreation Reserve, where folks gathered to appreciate the achievements of growers, breeders, makers, doers and animals of our region. There was something for everyone to enjoy.

The proposed Cooba Solar Project will cover a massive 665 hectares of some of the best wine country in Victoria with 740,000 solar panels and 300 batteries the size of shipping containers. There are over 30 wineries along the Heathcote-Rochester Road that bring a constant stream of tourists to the area ... The area is prime agricultural land, with high-quality soil that is particularly suited to grape-growing ...

Sean Cunningham. The added attraction of former Hawthorn Australian footballer Robert “Dipper” DiPierdomenico helped to draw a crowd of about 350 people at the recent Mirrool Silo Kick competition ... “About 30 blokes had a kick,” Silo Kick competition President Jason Bryce said. “Only three got to the grand final ..."

How many adults would know where to start if asked to program a robot? But that’s exactly what a bunch of students from our local primary schools did at the First Lego League Competition held in the Clifton State High School Hall last Friday.

Following the arrest of a man alleged to have scammed 12 buyers in South-East Queensland, police are urging the public to assess sellers diligently when purchasing livestock ... Police identified 12 buyers who deposited more than $7,500 to the alleged seller, who never delivered the animals or feed.

It’s well known that one of the best way to fight mental illness is to begin the conversation and the Westbrook Truck Drivers Association is doing exactly that with a get-together on 16th November at Nobby’s iconic Rudd’s Pub. Spokesperson for the group, Darren Eyers said truck drivers in particular are reluctant to talk about any form of mental illness and hopes that the day at Rudd’s Pub will provide an avenue for discussion.