CATEGORY

Qld

Putting ‘Region’ into Toowoomba Region

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is looking into ways of better connecting with residents outside Toowoomba City by potentially holding meetings in regional towns ... motion proposed ... will see a report outline a variety of options and officer recommendations for additional engagement of councillors into regional communities, to be presented in October. This motion passed unanimously.

Funding win for remote councils

Some of Queensland’s smallest councils are rejoicing after a review will see them receive a bigger slice of the pie from the state government. The Queensland Local Government Grants Commission took a closer look at its financial assistance grants (FAGs) program and although it kept its ungainly name, the revenue will be more fairly distributed across the state.

Survey shows rural debt rise since 2019

Rural debt has increased by $3.34 billion, or 13.89 per cent, on the Eastern Darling Downs regions according to the 2021 Queensland Rural Debt Survey. Over the same period, total rural debt in Queensland has risen to $24.06 billion, an increase of 25.97 per cent ... Since the survey was conducted in December 2021, much of the State has experienced an extended La Niña season with several major flooding events, particularly in South East Queensland.

Camooweal Jockey Club left reeling – Future in doubt

Has the last thoroughbred race been run and won at Camooweal? The president of the race club thinks so ... Camooweal had successfully raced for 132 years until last year when it was deemed by Racing Queensland that the track was no longer fit for racing ... Racing Queensland could have a crisis on its hands, with many other bush clubs under threat of losing their annual meetings due to a lack of funding for infrastructure, especially for track upgrades.

Painting can sure be thirsty work

Alice Melita. Appreciating a cocktail or two while creating their very own Van Gogh-inspired art piece was how about 40 Mount Isa residents spent their Saturday night. The Paint and Sip experience, hosted by Winton-based artist and painting instructor Emma Read, took patrons through step-by-step instructions in painting a field of sunflowers under a blue sky.

From the lab to the classroom

Greenmount State School is one of fifteen schools in Queensland that is taking part in Queensland University of Technology's (QUT) Zoomed-In-Science virtual outreach program ... “For rural communities this program provides access to fabulous lab facilities, and knowledgeable staff who are in tune with students and who demonstrate a real keenness to engage all students in all things science": Greenmount teacher, Kelly Stenzel.

Looking back: Allora’s past – Tidy Town winner again

25 years ago, August 1997. For the second year in succession Allora won gold in the Tidy Towns Environmental Awards in Category D (population 801-1500). Allora Action Association president Peter Briggs said the whole community contributed towards the winning of the award and that the Warwick Shire Council workers played their part by maintaining the parks and gardens.

Clifton hosts karate championships

The Aussie Kids Karate championships were held last Sunday at Clifton with fifty competitors taking part from across the Darling Downs. Allora was represented by six Karate Kids and they competed against clubs from Clifton, Warwick, Dalby, Oakey, Millmerran, Gatton, Highfields and Toowoomba.

Bins 4 Blokes initiative rolls out across the Coast

An initiative to help men with incontinence is being rolled out across the Sunshine Coast. In collaboration with the Continence Foundation, Sunshine Coast Council has installed 102 male incontinence product disposal bins at public amenities locations across the region.

Federally funded projects put under the spotlight    

Lockyer Valley Mayor, Cr Tanya Milligan recently hosted Federal Member for Wright, Mr Scott Buchholz MP, for a tour of the region’s current federally funded projects. Council was successful in securing grant funding of $675,000 from the Australian Government’s Bushfire Recovery Grants Program. The cash injection is designed to reduce the risk of catastrophic bushfires in the Lockyer Valley ...

Councils call for more input into biosecurity – Include us: mayor

Samuel Davis. A proposal to give greater powers to local disaster management groups during public health crises will keep Cape communities safer, a long-time mayor says ... Under Cr Scott’s plan, a health emergency would be treated like a natural disaster, with government agencies working together.

Urgent action needed now: mayor

Samuel Davis. Cape York mayor Patricia Yusia doesn’t want to talk about the Indigenous Voice to parliament. Not while a desperate housing crisis is crippling her communities in the Northern Peninsula Area. So, when Cr Yusia met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Horn Island last Thursday, the discussion was to the point.

Southern Cape claims the crown

Sarah Martin. The Southern Cape was crowned champion after two nights of thrills and spills in the inaugural Cape of Origin event at the Weipa Rodeo. Captained by PBR cowboy Beau Willis, the Southern Cape featured fellow PBR rider Luke Smith, along with local riders Travis Salam-Koolatah, Raymond Bond and Leith Malone.

NIRS: Protecting wildlife during major burn

A Traditional Owner group in South East Queensland have used drones with thermal imaging cameras to undertake a major prescribed burn while avoiding endangering wildlife ... the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation burned off excess vegetation along 440 hectares of swamp at Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) to refresh wildlife habitat and facilitate the regrowth of rare flora species.

TRC, LGI inspect cost-saving generator for energy re-use at Wetalla wastewater treatment plant

Toowoomba Regional Council’s ambitious and cost-saving plan to power most of the city’s wastewater treatment plant with gas captured from the city’s nearby landfill is a step closer to reality ... Cr Sommerfield said the energy re-use project would allow the gas-fired generator to supply up to 70% of the power to run the Wetalla Water Reclamation Facility, along with ongoing environmental benefits.

Water collaborative calls for recycled water to boost economy

The Lockyer Valley and Somerset Water Collaborative is calling on the State Government to release the available supply of untapped recycled water to ensure water and food security for Australia’s Salad Bowl, preventing future supply being imported canned vegetables.

Giru Show, 10 September 2022

Giru Show, 10 September 2022

Small town is desperate for a GP

Following its public campaign to get a child care director in Julia Creek, McKinlay Shire Council is now trying to get a new GP to live in the community. The otherwise burgeoning town is emphatically seeking a new doctor at its brand-new health facility.

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