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Inaugural Tourism Summit At Toowoomba October 26, 2005 - Five south-east Queensland regional tourism organisations, including the Fraser Coast South Burnett Tourism Board, have come together with Tourism Queensland to organise the inaugural South East Queensland Country Conference which will be held on November 10. The all-day conference will be held at Picnic Point, 164 Tourist Road, Toowoomba. Cost for RTO members is $75 ($95 for non-members). The program includes keynote speakers and workshops on topics such as Drive Tourism, Food and Wine Tourism, and Events and Festivals. For details about registration, contact Kerrie Beck on (07) 3535-5470 or by email

Changes At Youngman Street Estate October 25, 2005 - Perfect Pets is the latest new business to open in the Youngman Street Industrial Estate, Kingaroy. Perfect Pets sells fish, birds, guinea pigs, rats, mice and puppies (and will have reptiles in stock for Christmas) as well as pet accessories and pet food. Owner Joanne Trask can be reached on (07) 4162-4886. Tuff-Span carports, sheds and garages has also opened a Kingaroy branch in the Industrial Estate. Tuff-Span sheds are offered in kit form or they can erect them on your property. Phone (07) 4163-6589 or send an email.

Hervey Bay Team Holds Kingaroy Clinics October 24, 2005 - A new listing added to SBBiz last week was Aggregate Corporation, Hervey Bay-based psychologists and counsellors who conduct regular clinics at the Markwell Street medical centre in Kingaroy. James and Elizabeth Stott also can arrange workplace-related counselling (including on-site services) covering human resources issues such as morale-building and conflict resolution Aggregate Corporation can be reached on 1800-118-912 or visit their website for more information.

New Website For Ascot October 21, 2005 - Kingaroy's Ascot Lodge Motor Inn, located next door to Red Rooster in Kingaroy Street, has a new website. The website features information about room and conference facilities as well as tariffs and bookings. The motel, which opened just 12 months ago, can be contacted on 1800-766-376 or by email

Are You Ready for Gen Y? October 20, 2005 - If you have no idea who or what Gen Y is ... this is the seminar for you! The KCCI, the Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee, and Sustainable Regions are bringing Generation Y expert Peter Sheahan (right) to Kingaroy on November 21 for a breakfast and workshop. Cost is $20 and bookings must be made before November 11 to the WBBACC on (07) 4121-7099. PS. Generation Y are the 4.5 million Australians born between 1978 and 1994 - "lifestyle-centred, impatient and socially aware" says Peter.

Camping Park For You ... And Your Pets! October 19, 2005 - Kilkivan Bush Camping Park, at 577 Rossmore Road, Kilkivan, has new owners and a brand new website. Steve Edwards and Sue Curtis took over earlier this year but their website has only been live for a few weeks. The park features powered and camping sites as well as camping huts for hire. There are also hot showers and a laundry. And as Steve emphasises ... pets are very welcome, including horses! (right) Kilkivan Bush Camping Park can be contacted on (07) 5484-1340 or by email.

Having Trouble Finding Skilled Staff? October 18, 2005 - Did you know that the Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO) is the regional contact point for the Skilled Migrant Visa Program? BIEDO's new website includes details of migrants willing to work in Australia and their skills. The website also includes a guestbook (currently under development) Employme which allows local businesses to advertise a vacancy or skills shortage to potential workers all over Australia and beyond. For more information on these two initiatives contact Linda Silburn on (07) 5484-1652 or by email STOP PRESS! BIEDO has organised FREE Safe Food Handling Courses to be held in Wondai (Oct 22), Kingaroy (Oct 23), Murgon (Oct 29) and Kilkivan (Oct 30). Phone Monika on (07) 5484-1652 for details.

Retreat Centre Launches Website October 17, 2005 - Southburnett.biz also lists many community groups including the Amitabha Buddhist Retreat Centre at Nanango which has just unveiled a new website. The centre, at 160 Greenwood Creek Road, is open for Sunday meditation and offers retreats, lectures, and a library of Buddhist books and tapes. It can be contacted on (07) 4171-0421 or by email.

NRA Appeals Against Sunday Trading Ban October 14, 2005 - The National Retail Association has appealed against a Qld Industrial Relations Commission decision which rejected Sunday trading for Kingaroy and other regional centres in south-east Queensland. The NRA is seeking to have the decision set aside on the grounds that it was wrong because: It was reached by taking into account irrelevant considerations; Misconstrued the terms of the Trading (Allowable Hours) Act; Drew inferences without evidence to support them; Maintained a view of the facts found which could not reasonably be entertained on the evidence; Ignored relevant material; Relied on irrelevant material; and Applied the wrong standard of proof. No date has been set for the appeal hearing.

New Mapping System Online October 13, 2005 - The State Government has unveiled a new online atlas which provides information about regions, councils, towns and suburbs - right down to individual property lot numbers (right). The atlas provides demographic information and details such as bus stops, schools, TAFE colleges and hospitals. Users can also make "straightline" measurements and there are satellite maps and a trial weather service. The government plans to extend the atlas over the next three years to include information such as population trends and online pay-as-you-go information services.

Olive Producers Added To Listings October 12, 2005 - A rural business recently added to Southburnett.biz is Thom and Jo Kennedy's olive plantation O'Cinneide Grove, located at 457 Ellesmere Road, Haly Creek. The Kennedys produce olive oil under the South Burnett Blue label which is marketed at a few boutique outlets including Ziebarth Wines at Goodger. O'Cinneide Grove can be contacted on (07) 4164-5792.

SBBiz Now Available On Council Website October 11, 2005 - Southburnett.biz is now also available through Nanango Shire Council's website, making access to up-to-date business listings even easier for Nanango residents. Nanango Shire Council was one of the original supporters of the Tarong Business Program from which Southburnett.biz grew, so we're proud to renew the link. Plans are now underway for SBBiz to become available on other South Burnett Council websites.

Computer Consultancy Opens In Nanango October 10, 2005 - A new business for Nanango is Superior Studios, located at 17 Brisbane Street. Wayne Hoggett and Selby Matheson have established a computer consultancy business which offers a range of services including web design, image/logo design, computer repairs and maintenance, software installation and computer training. They are available for after hours callouts to anywhere in the South Burnett and can be contacted on (07) 4163-1579 or by email.

SB Foods Changes Hands October 7, 2005 - SB Food Service Distributors, the wholesale food, stationery and cleaning supplies business which has been servicing the South Burnett for 27 years, has changed hands. Morty and Kelly Douglass and Col and Michelle Forsyth have purchased SB Foods, located at 12 Kingaroy Street, Kingaroy. Barry and Lexie Randall, who built the business from scratch, will still retain an interest. SB Foods can be contacted on (07) 4162-2754 or by email

New Community Development Worker October 6, 2005 - There's a new face at the South Burnett Community Development Program, based in St Mary's Hall, 15 Albert Street, Kingaroy. Louise Judge, (left), has replaced Jo O'Gorman who resigned earlier this year. The role of the SBCDP is to work with the different South Burnett communities to identify needs and then find solutions. You can contact Louise on (07) 4162-5711 or by email

Little Peanuts for the Peanut Capital October 5, 2005 - Kingaroy has a new childcare centre ... the aptly named Little Peanuts Early Learning Centre located at 215 Haly Street (just down the road from McDonalds). Little Peanuts offers before and after school care (6:30am to 6:30pm) for children aged from six weeks to 12 years. It also has its own courtesy bus and morning and afternoon teas are provided. For more information, contact Peta Hagger on (07) 3712-4136.

Two New Eateries In Nanango October 4, 2005 - Two new eating spots have opened recently in Nanango, both in Drayton Street and open from Wednesdays to Sundays: KuZo's Bar and Restaurant is located at The Palace Hotel (77 Drayton Street) and is open for lunch Wednesday to Friday, and dinner Wednesday-Sunday. Phone Zoe Jensen on (07) 4163-3256. Crusty's Pizza and Pasta (at 67 Drayton Street) offers dine-in, takeaway and home-delivery pizzas, lasagne and spaghetti from Wednesdays to Sundays. Phone (07) 4171-0631.

Free Seminar For Small Businesses October 3, 2005 - What are the new business opportunities for the next five years? How can you position your business to profit from future trends? What are the three biggest emerging consumer types and how do you reach them? If you don't know the answers, maybe this free seminar organised by the Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee for home-based and small business operators can help! The seminar, presented by Dr Kim Houghton from Strategic Economic Solutions, will be held at the Kingaroy RSL Club on Thursday October 13 from 9:15am to 12:30pm. Registrations are essential. Phone (07) 4121-7099 or send an email. For more information, download a flyer (47kb PDF)

Have Your Say On The Blueprint For The Bush September 30, 2005 - The joint Agforce / Qld Government "Blueprint For The Bush" will be one of the topics discussed at the KCCI Meet'n'Greet which will be held in Kingaroy on Monday October 3. Guest speaker will be Phil Casey who will explain the 10-year plan to help rural and remote communities and industries manage change. As well, Cameron Bisley from the Wide Bay Burnett Area Consultative Committee, will discuss the Regional Partnerships Program. The Meet'n'Greet will be held at the Kingaroy Hotel Motel in Youngman Street from 6:00pm. Admission is $5 for KCCI members and $8 for non-members.

Smart Move For Owner-Builders September 29, 2005 - A new business aimed at owner-builders has moved into the former Fitness Centre premises in the Youngman Street Industrial Estate in Kingaroy. Paul Hume has opened a South Burnett branch of Steelsmart Kit Homes and offers a range of affordable steel-frame kit houses to choose from. South Burnett Steelsmart Kit Homes can also be contacted on (07) 4162-8317 or by email