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SBBiz On The Move June 12, 2006 - Southburnett.biz is being relocated to a more powerful server over this long weekend. This may cause some problems when searching for entries. Some outages have already occurred and may reoccur over the next few days. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and assure you everything will be back to normal ASAP!

Public Input Sought On Draft Regional Plan June 9, 2006 - The draft Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan - covering 22 shires including all South Burnett shires except Rosalie - has been released by the State Government for public comment. Planning Minister Desley Boyle said the plan would set guidelines to help local councils cater for the region's expected population growth of 100,000 people over the next 20 years. A community meeting to discuss the draft will be held in Kingaroy next Tuesday, June 13, at the Town Common Hall, Oliver Bond Street, from 7pm-8:30pm. The draft regional plan can be downloaded from the department's website. Feedback should be provided in writing to the Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport and Recreation, PO Box 979, Bundaberg, 4670 (or by email) by Friday July 7, 2006.

Great Bunya Drive Map On SBBiz June 8, 2006 - The map of the Great Bunya Drive, which winds its way from Toowoomba to Gympie via the South Burnett, is now available on Southburnett.biz to help readers locate the numerous towns and districts in the region. The map also provides quick and easy "clickable" links to each town's business directory (from the South Burnett Towns link in the column at left). The Great Bunya Drive map has been reproduced with the permission of the Great Bunya Drive Steering Committee, a joint project of Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism and Toowoomba & Golden West Tourism

Regional Forum To Meet In Kingaroy June 7, 2006 - The next Wide Bay Burnett Ministerial Regional Community Forum will be held in Kingaroy on June 19 ... and everyone is invited to attend! The forum, which follows community consultations earlier this year (see story April 19), will discuss how the region can best meet its employment needs. It will be held at the Kingaroy State High School Sports Complex in Markwell Street from noon to 4pm. Employment Minister Tom Barton and Emergency Services Minister Pat Purcell are scheduled to attend. There is no formal opportunity at the Forum for public input however the public can raise relevant points with Forum members during breaks. To RSVP phone (07) 4151-9751.

B&B Cottages Offer Panoramic Views June 6, 2006 - A new luxury B&B will be opening soon on Deep Creek Road at Inverlaw (just 18km south of Kingaroy). Mulanah Gardens is set on a 170 acre cattle property and features two self-contained B&B cottages with wood heaters, reverse-cycle air conditioning, spas and panoramic views to the Bunya Mountains. As a special bonus, Swedish massages are also available from a fully qualified masseuse. Owners Lindsay and Rhonda Kath can be contacted on (07) 4164-3142 or by by email.

Free Seminar To Explain Retirement Loans June 5, 2006 - Jaime Warner's Mortgage Maestro mortgage broking business is holding a free seminar in Kingaroy on June 15 to explain the pros and cons of home equity loans to fund retirement. The seminar, entitled "Under Funded, Over 60 - A New Solution", will be held in the Anzac Room at Kingaroy RSL Club from 10am to noon. The guest speaker will be from Bluestone Equity Release. Contact Jaime on 0421-546-223 to book a seat.

Place For The Leaders Of Tomorrow June 2, 2006 - The National Indigenous Centre for Enterprise Development, at the Silver Lining Foundation's Bahun Jal Mono ("Place For People Of Tomorrow") property at Ficks Crossing, was officially opened by High Court Justice Ian Callinan and lawyer Noel Pearson on Wednesday. The centre, which will assist Aboriginal people to reach career goals, is directed by Eric Law, well-known in the South Burnett through his work at Nurunderi TAFE College. For more information about the new centre, download the Silver Lining Foundation's June newsletter Stepping Stones (731kb PDF)

Coalition Vows To Seal Bunya Mountains Road June 1, 2006 - While the national media was in a spin about merger talk, Nanango Shire residents will probably be more interested in another result from the gathering of National and Liberal Party politicians in Kingaroy yesterday. If elected at the next State poll, they've promised to seal the "missing link", the gravel gap in the Maidenwell-Bunya Mountains Road which has been discouraging tourists from visiting the Bunya Mountains from the Nanango side. National Party candidate John Bjelke-Petersen has been pushing for some time for the Coalition to look at including this in their election package. Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg (pictured above with John Bjelke-Petersen and Shadow Treasurer and Deputy Opposition Leader Bob Quinn), confirmed last night that this was now the case ...

Food Forum At Taabinga Homestead May 31, 2006 - An all-day forum aimed at food manufacturing businesses will be held from 9:45am on Tuesday June 13 at Taabinga Homestead, just south of Kingaroy on Stuart Valley Drive (off the Bunya Highway). The free forum - organised by the State Development Centre Maryborough / Hervey Bay - will include an update on the Food Act 2006, a talk by Mr Bryant Ham (president of the Food Industry Machinery Manufacturers Australia) and an overview of "Latitude 25", a food and beverage network. Morning tea and lunch will be provided. For more information or to book, phone Bridget Evans on (07) 4125-9270 or download the attached registration form (218kb PDF)

Bunya Mountains Guide To Be Launched May 30, 2006 - A new tourism publication, A Guide To The Bunya Mountains, will be officially unveiled this Saturday (June 3) at the Bunya Mountains. The 60-page guide has been written by Wayne Ellis, author of "Silent Sentinels: A Guide to the Glasshouse Mountains", and is designed to help tourists discover the natural beauty and secrets of the Bunya Mountains. Copies will be available at the Bunya Forest Gallery.

Warm Welcome To Lis! May 29, 2006 - A big hello to the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry's new project officer Lis Buzzo, right, who officially took up her new role today! Lis will be organising all the Chamber's functions from now on, including Meet'n'Greets and Women In Business lunches, and will have a major role in the Peanut Festival, Christmas Carnival and 2006 Business Awards. She was formerly with Centacare South Burnett. Welcome aboard Lis!

Two More Real Estate Agencies Open May 26, 2006 - Two new real estate agencies have opened their doors in Kingaroy. Former Booie vintner John Crane is the principal at Ray White - Kingaroy located at 179 Kingaroy Street. The agency can be contacted on (07) 4160-4700 or by email BGA Real Estate, currently operating from BGA Agriservices in Youngman Street, will open in new premises at 27 Alford Street (the old Workcover office) in a fortnight. Principal Maria Lynch can be contacted on (07) 4162-5787.

Jacaranda View Moves To Widgee May 25, 2006 - Jacaranda View Stables has relocated from Kingaroy to Widgee and has a new website The business sells custom-made riding clothing for children and tiny tots as well as a large range of equestrian accessories. Owner Dianna Kimball can be contacted on (07) 5484-0265 or by email. Jacaranda View is also the home of Jacaview Australian Stock Horses and Ponies.

Learn More About New WorkChoices Legislation May 24, 2006 - Two free seminars will be held in Kingaroy soon to help bring residents up to speed about the Federal Government's new WorkChoices industrial relations legislation. The first will be held on May 31 at Kingaroy RSL Club. This has been organised by the Federal Government's Office of the Employment Advocate which is the body that accepts lodgements of workplace agreements. The OEA provides free supports for both employers and employees on agreement making. For more information and to book phone (07) 3223-1490. Download brochure (33kb PDF) The second seminar is an Employer Advice seminar being held by Commerce Queensland in conjunction with the Federal Government's Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. This will be held at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre on June 13 from 6pm-9pm. Registrations are necessary. Phone 1300-138-470. Download brochure (164kb PDF)

New Phone Number For Council May 23, 2006 - Wondai Shire Council has a new phone number for its main switchboard: (07) 4169-2555 All calls to the old (07) 4168-5155 number will be re-directed for 12 months which will give ratepayers plenty of time to learn the new number. All other contact details, including the fax (07) 4168-5808, will remain the same.

Come Along Tonight! May 22, 2006 - The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry's regular six-weekly Meet'n'Greet will be held tonight at the Kingaroy Art Gallery, Haly Street, Kingaroy. Guest speaker will be Storme Vunderink who will explain the upcoming Qld Cancer Fund "Relay For Life" event and gallery curator Paul Van Vegchel. There'll also be the opportunity to enjoy local South Burnett wines as well as all the usual hot nibblies and cold beer! Cost is $5 for KCCI members and $7.50 for non-members and everyone is welcome.

James Can Solve Your Rural Fencing Problems May 19, 2006 - James Mulcahy's Jammar Rural Fencing Contractors, based in Kingaroy, is the latest listing added to Southburnett.biz. The team has new, modern equipment and will travel anywhere in south-east Queensland for any size job (from one acre to 10,000 acres, says James). Jammar Rural Fencing can be contacted on 0427-621-442 or by email.

Take Control Of Your Computer! May 18, 2006 - Roley Jacobsen has opened a new Wondai-based business, PC Skills, to service the needs of computer users throughout the South Burnett. Roley, who has a Diploma in IT, offers on-site computer training in homes and businesses. He will design a package to suit your needs rather than squeezing you into a pre-designed training program. He can be contacted on 0448-830-451 or by email

Tourism Forums Invite Discussion May 17, 2006 - Two tourism forums are being held in the South Burnett within days, a demonstration of the importance this industry now plays in the local economy. The Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO) is holding its annual "Practitioners Long Lunch" at the Belltower Restaurant on the Booie Range this Friday from noon. This is an opportunity for people involved in economic and community development to share ideas about inland tourism development and community renewal. RSVP to BIEDO on (07) 5484-1652 as soon as possible. Next Monday (May 22), the Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism Board (in conjunction with the South Burnett Tourism Association and the South Burnett Wine Industry Association) will be holding a Tourism Industry Update from 2pm-3:30pm at the Nanango Cultural Centre. RSVP to Narelle Duggan on (07) 4162-6271 by Friday.

WH&S Workshop For Small Business May 16, 2006 - A State Government workshop on Workplace Health and Safety will be held on Monday May 29 from 6-9pm at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre, 6 Cornish Street, Kingaroy. The workshop will be presented by a Small Business Adviser from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. Cost is $27.50 which includes refreshments. To book, contact the State Development Centre Maryborough on (07) 4121-1780 or visit their website. Download press release (24kb PDF)