Regional IT&T Audit Gets Underway 30-Nov-01: The SBLGA announced today that it will be engaging a professional consultant to conduct a full audit of the region's telecommunications and IT infrastructure in early 2002. The audit - the first of its kind ever undertaken in the South Burnett - will thoroughly assess what IT&T assets the region currently has; what gaps presently exist; and what additional components may be required to help create a solid base for the development of knowledge-based industries in the years ahead. Some of the issues that will be looked at include demand aggregation, mobile telephony, wireless/wide area networks and community training. "Traditionally, regional communities have capitalised on their physical resources," SBLGA Economic Development Officer Cameron Bisley said. "But if we're going to survive and prosper in the Information Age, we'll have to become equally adept at acquiring new skills and and integrating our collective knowledge resources. If we do this well we can establish a regional "knowledge community". And that - in turn - can be used to develop new products and services, establish new industries and attract investment". An advertisement calling for expressions of interest in the proposal will be published in Brisbane's Courier-Mail tomorrow. The complete Terms of Reference can be obtained here as a 23K adobe PDF file.

Rosalie Shire Development Applications Booming 27-Nov-01: Rosalie Shire Council has announced that it processed a record 63 building applications during the first quarter of the current fiscal year with a value in excess of $2 million. In addition, the Council recently approved a new piggery at Brymaroo and has given preliminary approval for the construction of a new shopping centre, childcare centre and tavern at Gowrie Junction. Meanwhile - at the Yarraman end of the Shire - a project group has been formed after a public meeting in the town last week to oversee construction of the Brisbane Valley Heritage Trail. This ambitious $200,000 project will convert the South Burnett stretch of the former Brisbane to Yarraman railway line into a combined walking, cycling and horse-riding track through the eastern part of the region and across the Blackbutt Range, creating a unique new tourist attraction that organisers hope will help fuel the South Burnett's growing tourism base. Plans are now afoot to expand facilities at Yarraman's Heritage House complex to cater for the business the completed Trail is expected to generate. Rosalie Shire's building boom matches similar record applications in adjoining Nanango Shire, announced a few months ago.

Crowds Flock To South Burnett Timber Museum Opening in Wondai 24-Nov-01: A crowd of several hundred enthusiastic supporters attended the opening of the South Burnett Region Timber Industry Museum at Wondai on Saturday when it was officially unveiled by Minister for Primary Industries Henry Palaszczuk. The new $450,000 complex, which was built partly from Government grants and partly by community volunteers, will also be the home of the South Burnett's newest (and fourth) Visitor Information Centre, providing 7 day a week assistance to tourists. Wondai Shire Mayor Percy Iszlaub - who officiated at the opening - praised the enormous effort put in by legions of volunteers to build the Museum, which features an arresting diorama of early South Burnett timber-getters, extensive woodwork and a wealth of information about the development of the industry through the years. Minister Palaszczuk was similarly congratulatory, saying that from his observations one of the distinguishing features of the South Burnett that set it apart from nearly all other areas of Queensland was the extraordinary willingness of local communities to "roll up their sleeves and pitch in" on adventurous, forward-thinking projects.

Community Development Fund Celebrates 2nd Big Year 21-Nov-01: Tarong Coal's Community Development Fund celebrated its second year of operations today with the release of its 2001 Annual Report. The Fund - which was established in 1999 with a grant of $600,000 - has been distributing money to eligible community-based projects throughout the South Burnett since its inception. In September this year it was recognised with a Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships for making a "significant difference" to the region. The latest Annual Report provides details of 11 projects that have been supported by the Community Development Fund with $175,000 in grants during the previous 12 months. They include the Nanango Visitor Information Centre, the Tarong Business Program, Enterprise Angels, the Farmers' Market, the South Burnett's regional tourism web site and a number of educational initiatives designed to provide new opportunities for the region's youth and small businesses. "We are lucky to have such an enlightened corporate citizen in our midst," SBLGA Chairman Roger Nunn said when helping launch the Annual Report. "Tarong Coal's Community Development Fund has made - and continues to make - a magnificent contribution to our region's development."

Push Grows For Indoor Arena At Kingaroy 18-Nov-01: A well-attended public meeting held in Kingaroy on November 14th has called for the creation of a regional indoor equestrian arena in the South Burnett. Attendees at the meeting - organised by the South Burnett Western Performance Club - heard that the creation of such a centre would not only help make the region a hub for horse-based sports but would also have wide community use for concerts, shows and other sporting activities. The 100m x 40m complex is estimated to cost $280,000 and would be sited at Kingaroy Showgrounds when built. An 8-member steering committee has now been formed to help bring the project to fruition.

SBLGA To Sit On Regional Tourism Body 15-Nov-01: Former SBLGA Chairman and Mayor of Wondai Shire Cr Percy Iszlaub will be one of four South Burnett representatives on the Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board following the Board's annual meeting at Wondai on Monday 12th November. Other South Burnett representatives for 2001-2002 are Cr Roslyn Gregor from Nanango Shire Council and Messrs Alan Walters and Bob Mitchell, representing South Burnett tourism operators. The meeting heard that during the last year the Tourism Board had been reorganising a number of its fundamental operations (such as its membership scheme, its relations with Tourism Queensland and its focus on locating and exploiting the most lucrative markets) and hoped for a much improved and expanded programme in 2002.

Wine Industry Looks At Regional Branding 12-Nov-01: The South Burnett wine industry has announced that it will look at the issue of regional branding in 2002 as part of a concerted push to continue developing new markets for the region's burgeoning wine production. The push comes in light of recent research which indicates that consumers are just as strongly influenced - and often more strongly influenced - by a wine-making region's name rather than an individual winery's brand name. "Research indicates that the South Burnett is still not well known in Australia as a wine-making region even though many of the region's wineries have won state, national and international awards over the last few years," a wine industry spokesperson said. "Stronger identification of the South Burnett as Australia's newest and most vigorous wine region will benefit everybody."

South Burnett Businesses Win Top Tourism Awards 08-Nov-01: South Burnett businesses won a large number of awards at the annual Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism Awards For Excellence 2001 when they were announced last week. South Burnett businesses selected for special recognition included Passchendaele Farm (winner of the Hosted Accommodation category); the Kingaroy Visitor Information Centre (winner of the Tourism Association/Visitor Information Centre category); Crane Wines (winner of the Wineries category) and the VisitOz Scheme (winner of the Unique Accommodation category). Other South Burnett businesses to do well at the awards included Stuart Range Estates Wines (special commendation in the Wineries category); the Goomeri Pumpkin Festival (special commendation in the Regional Festivals and Special Events category); the Wondai Shire Art Gallery (special commendation in the Heritage and Cultural Tourism category); and Sunset Ridge (finalists in the Wineries category).

Professional e-Business Workshops In Kingaroy 05-Nov-01: The Department of State Development, BDO Kendalls and the University of Queensland will be delivering two professional IT workshops at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre at 6 Cornish Street in Kingaroy on Wednesday 14th November 2001. The first workshop (from 9:00am to 1:00pm) will look at the essentials of e-business that any professional advisor should know. The second workshop (from 2:00pm to 5:00pm) will look at the technical issues involved in delivering e-business solutions online. Admission to either workshop is $20 and bookings and further info can be obtained by phoning Alan or Amanda on (07) 3221-9227. You can also obtain a complete outline of the workshops and a booking form in Adobe PDF format (51K) by clicking here.

Regional Waste Management Public Meetings 02-Nov-01: A series of public meetings will be held across the South Burnett this month to draw public feedback on the Regional Waste Management Study currently being undertaken for the region's Councils by consultants Meinhardt Infrastructure & Environment Group (with assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency). The objectives of the study are to: Develop a regionalwaste management system to replace existing landfills Develop strategies for the minimisation of waste Develop a cost-effective solution for each Shire and the region as a whole Develop a sound technical solution that satisfies engineering, environmental and economic criteria Maintain a high level of service by ensuring sites for public delivery of waste are strategically located. A full copy of the study's Terms of Reference can be obtained as an Adobe PDF file by clicking here. The draft and final reports - expected in 2002 - will also be made available on our web site when they become available. In the meantime, public meetings will be held throughout the region as follows: Town Date Location Time Contact Yarraman 6th Nov Yarraman Community Hall 7:00pm (07) 4696 7950 Kingaroy 8th Nov Kingaroy Council Chambers 7:00pm (07) 4162 6251 Wondai 12th Nov Wondai Council Chambers 7:00pm (07) 4168 5155 Cherbourg 13th Nov Cherbourg Community Hall 10:30am (07) 4168 2553 Murgon 13th Nov Murgon Council Chambers 7:00pm (07) 4168 1499 Nanango 14th Nov Nanango Council Chambers 7:00pm (07) 4171 6833 Kilkivan 15th Nov Kilkivan Council Chambers 7:00pm (07) 5484 1133