Kingaroy To Seek $15 Million For Regional Convention Centre 15-Feb-07: Kingaroy Shire Council will try to raise $15 million from State Government grants, the corporate sector and community contributions to build a regional convention centre, cultural centre and museum near Kingaroy’s CBD as a memorial to former Queensland Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen. Kingaroy Shire Mayor Roger Nunn (pictured at right) said that a special committee had been considering possible options for a Sir Joh memorial ever since the idea was first proposed more than a year ago. The committee had already discounted “low-key” proposals such a garden or a statue. “I believe that these days it’s best to use funds on something that’s really useful in the community,” he said. “So what we're looking at is a centre for culture in the community. The fact that we give it a name is another issue." Although the committee has yet to release its final report, it’s understood that in addition to badly-needed convention and performing arts facilities the new project would also include music rooms and other amenities that would be used by local school students. The new centre would also house a museum dedicated to the life and times of Sir Joh, injecting another viable tourist attraction into the region’s mix. Early studies also suggest that the convention centre would be profitable from the outset, and that the lack of such a facility in the region was not only hindering the South Burnett’s growth prospects but also depriving residents of access to many major touring shows. It's estimated that school students would make up to 40% of the centre's annual patronage numbers.

Kilkivan To Invest $3.4 Million Into Improved Water Supply 12-Feb-07: Kilkivan Shire Council will seek a $2.73 million grant from the Small Communities Assistance Program and raise another $680,000 from reserves and borrowings to carry out a major upgrade to Kilkivan township’s water supply infrastucture. The Council took the decision at its most recent meeting after an extensive public consultation process showed that 83% of the town’s residents were in favour of the move, even though it will cost them an extra $90 a year in water charges. Kilkivan township has had long-standing problems with the quality and reliability of its water supply. But the new proposal – which will include the construction of a modern water treatment plant and an integrated system of bores, lagoon, creek and flood harvesting and rainwater tanks – is expected to alleviate this and allow the town to continue growing. The Council had attempted to take action on the water supply issue four years ago but ran into some local opposition at the time. This time around, though, the Council initiated a public conultation process from the outset: first by releasing a Water Supply Discuassion Paper in early December; then by holding a public meeting on the matter in January; and then engaging in follow-up phone polling afterwards. Mayor Ron Dyne (pictured) said he felt that the outcome of the public consultation process was “very positive and productive”.

South Burnett Receives $1 Million To Create New Tourist Attractions 09-Feb-07: The South Burnett will receive almost $1 million from a special fund set up by the Queensland State Government to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Queensland’s separation from NSW in 2009. Yesterday Premier Peter Beattie (pictured at rght) and Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser announced that four projects will be funded in the region from the Legacy Infrastructure Funding program, a $100 million capital works program designed to create legacies for Queensland's 150th anniversary. They include $500,000 to the Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council to help create a Corroboree Ring - an amphitheatre style building which will be used as an educational facility as well as providing areas for arts and crafts activities, an art shop and canteen (a new tourist attraction for the region); $400,000 to Nanango Shire Council to help create a Nanango Shire Energy Precinct – a new centre which will reflect on the historical significance of energy technology to Nanango Shire and showcase future energy innovations as they’re developed. (another tourist attraction); $70,000 to Kilkivan Shire Council to help erect a bronze horse statue in the town to mark its long association with horses – in particular, the Kilkivan Great Horse Ride; and $25,000 to Murgon Shire Council for the restoration of its existing Murgon Museum Complex. In all, 79 projects across Queensland have been selected to receive funding from the Legacy Infrastructure program.

Keates Testimonial Dinner Draws A Capacity Crowd 06-Feb-07: A capacity crowd packed the Wondai Memorial Hall on Saturday evening, February 3rd to bid farewell to long-serving Wondai Shire CEO Mr Alan Keates at a gala Testimonial Dinner arranged to mark the occasion. Special guests including Federal Minister for Trade and Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss (pictured at right), Wondai Shire Mayor David Carter; former Mayor Percy Iszlaub, representatives from the Department of Local Government and Planning and large numbers of people from Wondai Shire’s sporting and community groups all paid glowing tributes to his abilities and expressed regret at his inevitable retirement after more than a quarter of a century in the post. The meeting was also attended by Mayors, CEOs and former CEOs from all the South Burnett’s Shires, as well as Wondai Shire Council staff and many others who’d traveled from far afield to attend. Mayor David Carter – thanking the Council’s staff for the hard work they’d put into arranging the event– said that the night was a testament to the genuine affection and respect in which Mr Keates was held. He went on to say that Mr. Keates work had had “a profoundly prositive impact” on the growth and development of the Shire during his term of office, and that his fondest memories of working with him over many years would be “Joe” Keates’ “unique problem-solving abilities and his ability to relate to people from all walks of life”. The role of Wondai Shire CEO has now been assumed former Wondai Deputy CEO and 2007 SBLGA Secretary Mr. Peter O’May, who'll assume the mantle towards mid-year.

Rosalie Shire To Hold SSS Information Sessions Next Week 03-Feb-2007: Rosalie Shire Council will be holding several information sessions and public meetings across Rosalie Shire over the coming week to update residents on the progress of their Size, Shape and Sustainability (SSS) review. In recent months Rosalie have been undertaking their SSS review in conjunction with neighbouring Crows Nest Shire. Both Councils have established a separate web site to record progress and agreed milestones in the process. Information sessions – where attendees will be presented with the Shire’s SSS Preliminary Report - will be held between 11:00am and 4:00pm. These information sessions will be followed by public meetings at 7:00pm in the evening to discuss report and seek feedback. The meetings and information sessions will be held at the following venues on the following dates: DATE VENUE Monday 05-Feb-2007 Gowrie Junction Community Hall Tuesday 06-Feb-2007 Cooyar Memorial Hall Wednesday 07-Feb-2007 Crows Nest Council Office Friday 09-Feb-2007 Highfields Cultural Centre

Region May Bid An Early Farewell To Rio Tinto 31-Jan-07: Mining giant Rio Tinto Ltd may leave the South Burnett in either October this year or some time after 2010 if Tarong Energy decide to go into the coal mining business, it was announced today. Rio Tinto will either wind down its Meandu coal mining operation when its current contract with Tarong Energy expires in 2010, or hand over all its South Burnett mining operations to Tarong Energy as early as October this year if the State Government selects Kunioon as the replacement coal source for the Tarong power stations and Rio Tinto accepts an offer from Tarong Energy for its local assets. The news came at a Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry breakfast meeting held in Kingaroy this morning. The meeting was addressed by Mr Mark Turner, Tarong Energy's Group Manager for Coal Mining Operations, who explained the processes the company is currently undertaking to detemine whether Kunioon, New Acland or Glen Wilga will be selected as the power stations' new coal source. The KCCI had recently expressed concerns that if Kunioon isn't selected, the impact on the region's economy could be significant. At the present time Rio Tinto own the Kunioon deposit while Glen Wilga is owned by Tarong Energy and Acland by New Hope Coal Ltd. But Mr Turner confirmed that in March 2006 Tarong Energy had taken an option to buy Rio Tinto's Meandu mine and the Kunioon deposits. That option will expire in June this year - the same time the decision on the new coal supplier will be announced.

News Search Facility Added To Our Web Site 28-Jan-07: A search faciity which allows online visitors to search SBLGA news stories back to our web site's inception in April 2001 was added to our site today. The new search facility can be accessed from the "Search Our News Files" box that appears in the upper left of our front page. It will search our entire news archives for any word or phrase entered in the box and retrieve all news stories that contain the item of interest (for example, "Tourism" or "Scott Greensill"). To help ensure maximum speed, the news search facility returns selected news stories in plain text without accompanying illustrations. The search facility is also case-insensitive and will return items of interest regardless of how they're capitalised in the stories themselves. The new facility provides a much faster and easier way to search our news archives than paging through them (which can be done from the base of our front page). It also allows visitors to quickly review the history of particular issues that the SBLGA has dealt with over the years. The "Search Our News Files" box will be added to all other pages of our site over the coming weeks.

Drought Takes Toll On Region's Rural Festivals 25-Jan-07: Prolonged drought conditions across the South Burnett have begun to take a toll on the region's major events. In the last fortnight four major campdrafts at Yarraman (January 27th), Burrandowan (February 3rd-4th), Nanango (February 10th-11th) and Proston (February 17th-18th) have all had to be postponed due to the unavailability of cattle. In the case of Proston, this postponement is only the second time this has occurred in 42 years. Other campdrafts planned for Bell (March 4th), the Proston Show (March 11th) and Cooyar (April 27th-28th) are now also in doubt unless conditions improve. Campdraft organisers have expressed disappointment at the loss of the events but said the situation was "unavoidable" in current circumstances. However - despite declining water levels - major fishing competitions planned for Lake Boondooma and the Bjelke-Petrsen Dam so far remain unaffected. The next of these will be the 19th annual Boondoomas Dam Yellowbelly Fishing Competition which will be held on February 10th. The 9th annual Wine and Food In The Park Festival in Kingaroy on March 10th is also not imperilled by the drought, with wine growers reporting that while total tonnages are likely to be lower and berries much smaller in 2007, the quality of the season's vintage should be "very good indeed".

Rosalie-Crows Nest SSS Review Preliminary Report Released for Public Comment 22-Jan-07: The preliminary report of the investigation into the sustainability of Rosalie and Crows Nest Councils has been released for public comment. “Now that the specialist consultant has finished his analysis of the merits of a merger of Rosalie and Crows Nest Shire Councils, our residents can see what they think of the advantages and disadvantages contained in the report,” Crows Nest Mayor Cr Geoff Patch said. “The report identifies a range of possible changes for consideration. They include the Councils forming a joint business for works construction and maintenance and a major boundary change between the two Councils, as well as a merger. But the report contains no recommendations at this stage of the process,” he said. Rosalie Mayor Cr Noel Strohfeld said that the preliminary report was designed to provide information so that residents can have their say before any recommendations are made. “We hope that everyone in the two Shires will read the report and tell us what they think would be best for the community,” he said. “The community comment phase closes on February 19. The community’s views will be considered by the independent review facilitator who will then make recommendations in a draft final report. The draft final report and its recommendations will also be made available for community comment before the Councils consider whether to implement the recommendations.” The preliminary report can be obtained by logging onto www.councilreview.com.au or free of charge from Rosalie and Crows Nest Council offices and libraries.”

Testimonial Dinner For Alan Keates OAM On Saturday 3 February 2007 19-Jan-07: A special Testimonial Dinner for former Wondai Shire CEO Alan Keates OAM will be held at the Wondai Town Hall in Mackenzie Street, Wondai at 6:30pm on Saturday 3 February 2007. Mr. Keates retired in December 2006 after 42 years service with the Council, including 32 years as Shire Clerk/CEO. He also acted as the SBLGA's Secretary on many occasions, following the SBLGA's tradition of rotating the positions of Chairman and Secretary to the Mayor and CEO of one of its 7 member Councils each year. Some of the major projects undertaken by Mr Keates and Wondai Shire Council during his period at the helm include the development of the Lake Boondooma Tourist Park; the Wondai Shire Regional Art Gallery; the South Burnett Region Timber Industry Museum and Wondai Shire Visitor Information Centre; and the Wondai Shire Heritage Muserum. Mr Keates also oversaw the beautification of the Wondai CBD; electrification of many parts of the Shire; the creation of the Wondai Shire Industrial Estate and several modern residential land developments which have seen Wondai Shire's population steadily expand over the years. The dinner will take the form a three-course meal and everyone is most welcome along! Tickets - at $20 per head - need to be booked with Wondai Shire Council prior to the event to assist with catering. They can be obtained by phoning Council on (07) 4169-2555 or by email.