May 8, 2008 - Sydney scientists may have found a new use for the 14 million tonnes of waste flyash created every year by Australia's coal-fired power stations.

The May-June edition of Groundcover, the journal of the Grains Research Development Corporation (GRDC), reports that a team from the University of Technology used flyash to correct soil acidity in a range of different soil types.

Importantly, there was no evidence of heavy metals getting into the food chain and the yields of their canola test crops also increased!

Who knows? One day we may see the flyash trucks heading west from Tarong rather than down the Blackbutt Range!

May 7, 2008 - A recent business added to SBBiz is Johnno's Camper Trailers, located at 375 West Wooroolin Road, Wooroolin.

Barney and Anita Horne launched their business in March and had a large display at the recent Kingaroy Show. They have a range of on-road and off-road camping trailers for hire or purchase as well as camper tops to fit trailers and camping accessories.

They can be contacted on (07) 4164-2300 or by email.

May 6, 2008 - The new SupaIGA Supermarket on the corner of Avoca and Kingaroy Streets will open its doors to the public for the first time at 8:00am next Tuesday (May 13).

Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce members and local businesspeople have been invited to attend a "grand opening" the evening before where food and wine will be served and Mayor David Carter will officially cut the ribbon.

If you would like to attend this official opening ceremony - and you haven't already received an invitation - please contact KCCI Project Officer Polly Birchall on (07) 4162-8466 as soon as possible.

May 2, 2008 - While some South Burnett fillies will be kicking up their heels in the equestrian ring at this weekend's Kingaroy Show, may of the two-legged variety will be staying at home and studying the fashion pages to work out just what they should wear to next weekend's Burrandowan Picnic Races.

An amazing $3000 in total prizes is up for grabs in the Fashions On The Field competition at Burrandowan on May 10. Categories include best-dressed woman, best-dressed man, best-dressed couple and best-dressed group. Prizes include accommodation packages, watches, a swag, wine and gift certificates.

Shuttle buses will be running from Kingaroy to the Burrandowan racetrack. For more information or to buy tickets phone the Kingaroy Visitor Information Centre on (07) 4162-6272.

May 1, 2008 - The purchase of Southern Cross Broadcasting by Macquarie Media Group late last year has forced the sale of 19 radio stations across Australia to meet regulatory requirements - including Kingaroy's Heart 10.71AM (4SB).

10.71 is now owned by Brad & Judy Smart’s Smart Radio/Pinecam network, joining stations at Mt Isa, Emerald, Roma, Dalby and Charleville. 89.1CFM remains with Macquarie Southern Cross Media (formerly known as Macquarie Regional Radioworks).

This has led to the odd situation where two radio stations owned by different companies are now operating out of the South Burnett Radio Centre on the corner of Glendon and Alford Streets, Kingaroy.

For the moment contact details remain the same however this is expected to change within the next few weeks.

April 30, 2008: Traffic lights will be installed on the corner of Kingaroy and Avoca streets, Kingaroy, to handle increased traffic to the new SupaIGA complex but probably not before the store opens.

Store manager Stephen Anderson told the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce Meet'n'Greet on Monday night that the opening date of the store would be announced "very shortly".

Stephen also explained the IGA Community Chest concept where the store supports local charitable causes with a donation from every sale. Last year IGA stores around Australia donated more than $6 million to schools, fire brigades, youth groups etc

Meanwhile, John Hyslop, owner of the new Kingaroy store, the Yarraman IGA and the Gatton SupaIGA, is not letting the grass grow beneath his feet. He will begin construction soon on a new 200sq m SupaIGA store in Warwick.

April 29, 2008 - The latest edition of the Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee's electronic Regional Update is now available online.

This edition includes information about two part-time positions available at the Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO) and the Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism Awards information meeting which will be held in Kingaroy on May 23.

The electronic newsletter is designed to provide all the latest information on events, activities and grant opportunities distributed by the Federal Government.
To join the email mailing list, contact Cameron Bisley at the WBBACC on (07) 4121-7099 or email him

April 28, 2008 - South Burnett Regional Council Mayor David Carter confirmed today that the sale of the Murgon Saleyards would go ahead.

Cr Carter told ABC Radio the new Council had approved the sale and expected a settlement soon.

The sale had been delayed by a technicality during the council amalgamation process while Murgon Shire Council was in "caretaker mode".

FOOTNOTE: If you haven't traded in your old CDMA mobile phone, you'd better do it today! At midnight tonight, Telstra will be switching off its CDMA network ...

April 24, 2008 - There's no longer any excuse for getting lost on the backroads and byways of the South Burnett!

CKSmaps from Blackbutt (in reality Karyn and Colin Simpson) have got the area covered in detail in their home-published Rural Roads & Local Town Maps street directory, (right).

The idea for the directory began in 2004 as a simple guide to around Blackbutt and Nanango when the couple, newly arrived from NSW, felt the need for such a publication. It quickly expanded to cover from Bell to Goomeri and all points in between. Karyn says she received a lot of help from the former local councils in her project but has also relied heavily on local knowledge to fill in the gaps.

The book, which is continually being updated, is available from several local outlets including Pomfrets Plumbing in Kingaroy, the Blackbutt Newsagency, the Nanango Visitor Information Centre and the Kingaroy Visitor Information Centre.

April 23, 2008 - Kingaroy's The Peanut Van has released two new flavoured peanut products to add to their ever-expanding range.

The new flavours are Salt & Pepper and Cinnamon Sugar which have been officially released after six weeks of customer trials.

The new flavours will be available in 1kg, 375g and 200g packets at The Peanut Van's Kingaroy, Childers, Sunshine Coast and Chermside stores.