Qld

Rockhampton Regional Council is being inundated with reports of Prickly Acacia and Parthenium spreading in the region, and they are calling on the community to assist. Planning and Regulation Councillor Grant Mathers said officers have been working closely with landholders and community stakeholders to establish the extent of the areas of concern, and to treat areas on a priority basis.

A massive, stunningly beautiful former grazing property will soon belong to Queenslanders as the state’s newest national park. “The Lakes”, north of Hughenden, will increase Queensland’s protected area estate by 35,300 hectares, with the Palaszczuk Government now finalising the multi-million-dollar purchase.

Chinchilla will be home to the region’s first micro-brewery tourist experience following Western Downs Regional Council’s approval of an expansion of a popular tourist park in the area, Clover Hill Accommodation and Camping.

The fresh produce sector and supply chain in Queensland has agreed on four key fields of strategic interest to pursue over the first two years of its new industry plan, Future Fields.

Fortescue Future Industries is acquiring an interest in Sparc Hydrogen Pty Ltd, a company which has an exclusive licence to develop and commercialise next-generation green hydrogen technology created by the University of Adelaide and Flinders University. Sparc Hydrogen is researching technology which would see green hydrogen produced by only sunlight and water (photocatalytic water splitting coupled with solar radiation), instead of renewable energy and electrolysis.

“From music and the arts, to sport and the passionate commitment of the many tireless volunteers in our community, our award recipients and nominees are to be applauded for their hard work and dedication. Their passion demonstrates the Australian spirit in action” : Cook Shire mayor, Peter Scott.

Case numbers continue to grow in the Torres and Cape but health officials are happy with the rate of spread of COVID-19 across the region. On Monday morning, there were 451 active cases in the Torres and Cape, up almost 100 from the week before.

The small-town kid from Cape York has been given the task of turning around the Far North's biggest rugby league club, the Northern Pride. Garreth Smith explains how his background will help restore the Pride and provide a pathway for kids from the Cape and Torres Strait.

More investment in aerial incendiary fire management, greater communication and collaboration between landholder groups and neighbours, and more information about opportunities in the Carbon industry were among some of the key call-outs from the 2021 Fire Forum held in Cairns in December. Organised by Cape York Natural Resource Management, the Forum brought more than 130 people together from Cape York, the Tablelands, Brisbane and Darwin.  

The countdown to the 2022 barramundi season is well and truly on with keen anglers across the Rockhampton region and country ready to wet a line and chase their New Year barra personal bests (PB’s) from the 1st of February. Rockhampton Region Mayor Tony Williams said the number of trophy Barra over the magic metre in length continues to grow each season.

New penalties will be in place in the coming weeks for non-electric vehicle owners who illegally park in an electric vehicle (EV) charging bay in Queensland. Transport and Main Roads Minister (Qld) Mark Bailey said the issue had been a pain point for the rapidly increasing number of Queensland EV drivers.

This month a lot of cane toads are going to die. That is the purpose of the big Australian cane toad bust happening from January 24-30. Communities across Australia are joining in as organised groups or individually.

She might not sound like it with her prominent London accent, but Abbey Martin is a fair dinkum, true blue, dinki-di Australian. The only thing she’s missing is the piece of paper to prove it. Tomorrow, on Australia Day, Abbey will take the pledge and become a bona fide Aussie.

Native plants and a safe, usable site will eventually replace the abandoned Collingwood Tin mine site near Cooktown with a partnership between Traditional Owners and the state government.

An important project is currently being undertaken in the Torres and Cape to develop a Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan for the region ... This year, the team are turning their attention to community members in the Torres and Cape to lend their voice for the development of a region-specific, Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan.

Peter Rookas. The first of the finals for this year’s Bowls Queensland Junior State Championships being conducted in Toowoomba were played on Tuesday 18/1/22 in superb summer weather at North Toowoomba bowls greens.

Townsville is a step closer to welcoming ships up to 300 metres long with the arrival of Australia’s largest backhoe dredge, Woomera, at the Port of Townsville. The $232 million Channel Upgrade is the largest infrastructure project in the Port’s 158-year history and is vital to ensuring trade, defence and cruise opportunities no longer bypass Townsville.

The Torres Strait Regional Authority has welcomed the public release of the Indigenous Voice Co-design Process Final Report to the federal government – including recommendations to ensure Torres Strait Islanders from the Torres Strait and mainland Australia are represented ... Chair Pedro Stephen said the TSRA was among thousands of people, communities and organisations involved in the co-design process to develop models and options for an Indigenous Voice and to enhance local and regional decision-making.

A Midwifery Group Practice is up and running at the Weipa Hospital in preparation for the new birthing service due to open later this year. Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said three new midwives were already in place at Weipa, with recruitment under way for a fourth.

Diatreme Resources has discovered a second high-grade silica sand deposit within the northern area of its Si 2 North Project, which could result in a second mine for the ASX-listed company ... Diatreme CEO Neil McIntyre said the finding showed the potential for a second new silica sand mine that could generate new jobs and investment for Far North Queensland.