Home Page

Tourists Will Discover The Magic July 25, 2007 - The South Burnett Times has released the latest version of its popular Touring The South Burnett touring guide, (right). The 64-page glossy magazine has features on all South Burnett towns as well as town maps and the regional map produced by the South Burnett Tourism Association and South Burnett Local Government Association. The magazines will be available at Visitor Information Centres and will be distributed at the Brisbane Exhibition.

More Changes Loom For Local Councils July 24, 2007 - Hot on the heels of the review of council boundaries, the State Government is now calling for submissions for a review of the whole Local Government Act. It has prepared eight Issue Papers for comment which can be downloaded from the Department of Local Government Planning, Recreation and Sport website Closing date for submissions is 5pm Friday October 5, 2007. The issue papers cover: The structures and functions of local government Local government and its place in the wider framework of government The roles and powers of councillors and officers Local government elections Local laws Asset, financial and infrastructure management Performance reporting and compliance; and The role of the department responsible for local government

Check Now To See If You're Enrolled To Vote! July 23, 2007 - With a Federal Election just around the corner, now is probably a good time to check that you're correctly enrolled to vote so that when the time comes you can have your say! To check if you are enrolled, visit the Australian Electoral Commission's enrolment verification web page. If you need to make any changes, download an enrolment form and mail it to: Australian Electoral Commission, Reply Paid 9867, Brisbane, Qld, 4001. NB. If you have just moved to Wondai and wanted to vote in the Council Amalgamation poll, you're too late! The Electoral Roll for this vote closed on Friday.

Burnets Have A New Adventure July 20, 2007 - Dan and Joanna Burnet - the dynamic duo behind Spring Gully Olives and Springbrook Host Farm at Booubyjan, The Grape and Olive Restaurant at Goomeri and the Visit Oz agricultural training scheme - have launched yet another a new venture ... Adventure Marketing. Adventure Marketing builds on the Burnet's extensive overseas contacts to promote Australian adventure travel companies internationally. Dan and Joanna can be contacted on (07) 4168-6185 or by email

ACCC Seeks Feedback On Proposed Media Merger July 19, 2007 - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is seeking feedback from South Burnett residents on the proposed sale of Southern Cross Broadcasting to Macquarie Media Group and Fairfax. If the proposed sale occurs, CFM 89.1, 1071AM and television station Southern Cross TEN would be owned by Macquarie Media. The ACCC is considering whether this would affect the options that listeners/viewers in the South Burnett have, or lower the quality of programming particularly in terms of local news coverage. The ACCC is seeking feedback by July 27, 2007. For more information, visit the ACCC's website.

Tanya Takes Over At Cafe July 18, 2007 - Tanya Barker has taken over Darlene's Cake and Coffee Cafe Bakery at 23 Moore Street, Goomeri. The cafe offers dine-in as well as take away home-style meals, hamburgers, pies, cakes and biscuits and and is open seven days from 8am-5pm Mondays to Saturdays and 8am to 3pm on Sundays. Darlene's Cake and Coffee Cafe Bakery can be contacted on (07) 4168-4144.

Track Down Your Missing Skills in Victoria July 17, 2007 - Do you have job vacancies that you just can't fill locally? Then this could be the solution for your business ... The Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils (an umbrella group which also includes all South Burnett councils) has invited employers to submit job vacancies they would like promoted at the upcoming Queensland on Show, Work & Play Expo in Melbourne in August. The Expo provides information designed to attract new residents to Queensland from southern States. Just download the form (11kb PDF) and fax it back to WBBROC on (07) 4121-7095 by Friday August 10.

Go Karts Off And Running! July 16, 2007 - Alan and Rose Osborne's dream of running a go kart track in Nanango has come true with the opening of South Burnett Kart Hire at 13838 D'Aguilar Highway. The family, better known as the operators of Osbornes Transport, are extremely proud of their new project which has been under development for several years. The 850m track is open Sundays to Thursdays from 9:30am to 7:00pm and on Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays from 9:30am-9:00pm.

Opportunity For Sponsors July 13, 2007 - The 2007 PCA Kingaroy Peanut Festival organising committee has launched a competition to attract both small and large sponsors for this year's totally new-look festival which will be held at Kingaroy Showground on September 8. There are many new opportunities for smaller type cash or merchandise donations to be provided as prizes in the various events of the "Qld Strong Man Games". Sponsors who make cash or goods donations before August 31 will go into the draw for great prizes, including a weekend away for two. For more information, phone the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce on (07) 4162-8466 or download the attached form and fax it to (07) 4162-8431.

A Business With Bite July 12, 2007 - Rohan and Myolene Voller recently opened South Burnett Dentures at 58 Edward Street, Kingaroy (just opposite the Kingaroy Bowls Club). The business offers new full and partial dentures as well as repairs and relines to existing dentures. Mouthguards for sportspeople are also available and health fund members will appreciate the HICAPS payment facility. South Burnett Dentures can be reached on (07) 4162-1008 or by email.

New Website For Artists Cottage July 11, 2007 - The Artists Cottage, located opposite Kingaroy Airport on the Cooyar road, has unveiled its new website. The new site features individual pages for each of the resident artists and craftspeople as well as a What's On page that lists events and workshops that are planned for the gallery and village areas. The next major event planned is in support of Nurse of the Year entrant Joanne Eussen. Decorated bras created by local artists will be sold from 6pm on July 28 to raise funds for breast cancer research.

Mark Has The Drive For Success! July 10, 2007 - Mark Delgarno recently started Drive Master - an underbody car parts speciality supplier in Nanango - and the business has grown so quickly that he will be soon relocating to the old Butter Factory in George Street. Drive Master offers CV shafts, steering and suspension parts as well as gearboxes and differentials and high performance engine parts. Mark can be contacted on (07) 4163-3185 or by email

Business Workshops Scheduled For Kingaroy July 9, 2007 - The Department of State Development will be holding a series of workshops in the South Burnett later this year for people interested in starting a small business or already in business: August 22 or October 30 - Starting a Business. This free workshop covers the issues and processes involved in starting a business. November 14 - The Marketing Edge. This workshop is designed to improve marketing practices to give your business a leading edge. Cost is $33. The workshops will be held in Kingaroy at a venue to be announced. For more information, or to register, phone 13-26-50

Hayden To Open For The Peanut Van July 6, 2007 - Kingaroy's favourite sporting son Matthew Hayden, (right), more used to opening for Australia on Test wickets around the world, will be opening The Peanut Van's new outlet at Chermside this Saturday. Hayden will be doing the honours at owners Rob and Chris Patch's first store in Brisbane ... their third overall (with plans in the pipeline for more to come). The Chermside store is located at 725 Gympie Road (on the eastern side of the street) and will sell all the great tasting, fresh peanut products available at the Kingaroy and Childers vans.

Art Prize For Peanut Festival! July 5, 2007 - Attention artists! The Kingaroy Information, Art and Heritage Precinct will be holding an acquisitive art competition in September to coincide with the 2007 Peanut Festival. First prize (traditional) and second prize (contemporary) are both $400 and the winning paintings will be added to Kingaroy Shire Council's art collection. All paintings will be displayed at the Kingaroy Shire Art Gallery during September 2007 and awards will be presented on Festival eve, Friday September 7. Closing date for entries is 3pm, August 31. For more information, phone Fran or Paul on (07) 4162-6273 from 9am-3pm Monday or Friday or download an entry form (18kb PDF) PS. Catch tourism highlights from the South Burnett this Saturday at 5:30pm when Channel 7's Weekender visits Shady Lane Vineyard Cottages

KCCI Meet and Greet at Mission July 4, 2007 - The KCCI's next Meet'n'Greet will be held next Monday (July 9) at Mission Australia's offices in Youngman Street, Kingaroy. Guest speakers will be: Cameron Bisley from the Wide Bay Area Consultative Committee who will be discussing the Regional Partnerships Program; John Box from Ergon Energy who will explain the changes to the electricity market which occurred on July 1; An update from the South Burnett Visitor Information Centre on the business opportunities linked to Cycle Queensland's stay in Kingaroy; and Karen Miller will explain the role of Mission Australia Cost is $11 for KCCI members and $14 for non-members which includes all food, wine and drinks. RSVP by Friday (July 6) for catering purposes to John Carey at the KCCI on (07) 4162 8466 or by email

2007 Touring Guide Released July 3, 2007 - Tourism Queensland has just released the latest version of its 120-page South-East Queensland Country Touring Guide 2007, (right), which details all the attractions which lure tourists every year to the South Burnett, Bunya Mountains and surrounding areas. This year's guide, which will be distributed at Visitor Information Centres and other locations, features short articles on each town in the region as well as highlighting the South Burnett Wine Trail, lakes and national parks.

SBBiz On The Move! July 2, 2007 - Southburnett.biz wishes to apologise for the disruptions in its news stories last week but promises we're back to normal now! AM Publishing, which looks after this website on behalf of the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Kingaroy Shire Council, has relocated to the South Burnett Enterprise Centre at 6 Cornish Street, Kingaroy. We may have missed a few emails over this period, so if you have sent us any changes which have not been completed please contact us on (07) 4163-6854 or 0419-739-689.

Tourism Volunteers Discover the South Burnett June 22, 2007 - The latest of the “Taste and Uncork the Magic of the South Burnett” sessions for visitor information centre staff and volunteers was held in Noosa recently. Kingaroy Tourism, Art and Heritage Manager Carolyn Knudsen provided an insight into Kingaroy and South Burnett at the workshop held at the Noosa Blue Resort. She said the day was very successful with more than 40 volunteers - the important people who actually deal with tourists! - attending. They were impressed with the variety and depth of tourism experiences and products available in the South Burnett.

Psychologists Schedule Free Workshops June 21, 2007 - Kingaroy psychologists and counsellors Aggregate Corporation have scheduled a series of free workshops at Nurunderi TAFE College, Cherbourg, for South Burnett professionals and residents: Tuesday June 26 - 10am-3pm, Domestic and Family Violence (for professionals) Wednesday June 27 - 10am-3pm, Men's Issues (for men) Wednesday July 4 - 9am-noon, Spiritual Healing and Mental Wholeness (substance abuse, mood, connection) For more information or to register, phone Elizabeth Benson-Stott on 1800-118-912. These workshops have been funded by the Federal Department of Health and Ageing.