Qld

“Policing can’t just be about responding to crime,” says Senior Sergeant Warren Flegg. “It’s about having a connection to the community and encouraging strong behaviours, especially with the younger generation.” ... “It’s on every community member to do their bit to stop domestic and family violence,” he said.

Cape York’s fragile tourism industry has been exposed as a result of this month’s spotlight on supposed closures of the Tip. And even though there will be no closures to sites this year – just as predicted by Cape York Weekly – something must be done about the region’s tourism industry.

Rockhampton Regional Council aren’t taking any rubbish when it comes to polluting our waterways. Last year Council installed a device known as a ‘Baffle Box’ on the riverbank, opposite the Pilbeam Theatre. Baffle Boxes are underground structures made up of different chambers that trap gross pollutants such as debris, trash, and other pollutants from stormwater that flows off streets and into storm drains after heavy rain.

At the November 2020 Council meeting, following the presentation of the 2020-21 Plant Replacement Report, Cloncurry Councillors voted to purchase a new grader. In partnership with Hastings Deering, part of the machine was painted blue to help raise awareness for men’s mental health.

This turtle nesting season, Sunshine Coast TurtleCare volunteers have been gifted with three separate visits from a special tagged (K90712) loggerhead turtle known as Mystify, who has laid her eggs at Buddina beach. Volunteers suspect that she lives close to the Sunshine Coast as she returns frequently to lay eggs – the normal or expected interval is four years, but Mystify returns every one or two years.

The Downs & District Ladies Bowling Association will be celebrating their 70th year this year. The district recently bestowed the honour of life membership to five members.

A scare campaign driven by the Cairns Post to deter tourists from visiting Cape York will fall flat after Traditional Owners said they did not want to close the Tip to southern visitors. However, tourism operators are asking for strong leadership on the matter to make sure that both the Tip is kept open and that better facilities are created to cater for the growth in visitor numbers.

Confidence is growing that Aurukun’s bauxite deposit will one day be mined after Glencore last week struck a significant deal with Mitsubishi ­Development. Under the agreement, Mitsubishi will acquire a 30 per cent interest in the project, with the remaining interest retained by Glencore.

Michelle Elvy is happy to bring a little bit of boring to her newly created role as she looks to put her stamp on Rio Tinto in Weipa. The new general manager of bauxite, replacing the GM roles at Weipa and Gove, says that safety and stability will be pillars of her leadership.

A new creative art exhibition highlighting the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail will be on display at the Somerset Regional Art Gallery – The Condensery in Toogoolawah from Saturday, 20 March. The exhibition, Somerset Country – Canvas and Cloth, by Somerset artists Noela Lowein and Jodie Wade features a diversity of work.

Sunshine Coast foodie Martin Duncan said he started the Scone Time events as a way to combat isolation experienced by our elderly residents and to breathe life into Sunshine Coast heritage halls. “Now, Scone Time is about bringing everyone together for a good old-fashioned chat, in person, while enjoying a sweet treat,” Mr Duncan said.

Watch the snapshot of the Words Out West, Western Downs Readers & Writers Festival

The Brolga Theatre in Maryborough is getting back to normal with the first sold out performance since COVID-19 emerged and a bumper line up of big name shows over the next few months ... “One of Australia’s favourite comedians, Carl Barron, will have a full house in stitches next Tuesday night (23 March) when he brings his new show ‘Skating Rink for Flies’ to the Brolga stage,” Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said.

A special tribute to merchant marine has been gaining plenty of attention in its off-beat location. You can find it at the 7th tee at Carpentaria Golf Club in Weipa. Erected by team members from Smit Lamnalco, the anchor in the garden bed is a tribute “to honour the Australian Merchant Navy who sailed in all wars, past, present and future”.

There will be no Laura rodeo and races this year after both committees decided to pull the pin for a second straight year. Last year’s events were made impossible by the closure of Cape York to outsiders and this year’s event was abandoned as a result of strict COVID-19 rules.

A misleading front page story went viral on social media pages last week, causing great angst for Cape York tourism operators. The Cairns Post ran the headline “CAPE ACCESS DENIED”, with a story pointing to a number of Cape York locations that were closed to visitors.

When it was built in 1924, the Rockhampton War Memorial was the largest and most expensive war memorial to be built in Queensland, outside of Brisbane. The plants surrounding the spire are symmetrically apart at precisely 30 °– this allows the daylight shadow cast by the spire to cross the encircling palms like the hour hand of a clock from sunrise to sunset

Mayor Greg Christensen said a survey will open next Wednesday 17 March and encouraged the Scenic Rim community to have their say on Council's first-ever region-wide growth management strategy.

The future of funerals is in the spotlight following community feedback showing increased interest in more eco-friendly burial options. Sunshine Coast Council is investigating natural burial sites within existing cemeteries.