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Local Businesses On Show In Gympie July 18, 2011 - Several South Burnett businesses will be proudly flying the flag for the region at FlavourFest which in on this Saturday at the Gympie Showground. Tipperary Estate, The Peanut Van, Moffatdale Ridge Winery, Taste South Burnett, Bellbird Vineyards, Crane Wines, Fat Hen Farm and Clovely Estate will all have stalls at the inaugural event to showcase food and wine from the Gympie-Cooloola region and South Burnett. FlavourFest will run from 10:00am to 6:00pm in The Pavilion and features wine tastings and cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs Ben O'Donoghue, Matt Golinski and Rita Macali. Entry is $5 with children under 14 free. FlavourFest will be followed in the evening by the FlavourFeast dinner at the Gympic Civic Centre from 7:00pm. Cost is $95 for four courses plus wine tasting.

Tourism Operators To Vote On Second Merger July 15, 2011 - South Burnett tourism operators, just settling down after merging with Toowoomba and Golden West Regional Tourism Organisation late last year, will now be asked at a Special General Meeting in August to approve a merger with a second tourism body, the Southern Downs and Granite Belt (SDGB) Regional Tourism Organisation. Toowoomba, Golden West & South Burnett (TGWSB) general manager Stuart Perry confirmed today that the TGWSB Board had ratified a decision to merge with the Granite Belt group. The SDGB Board ratified the same decision a few months ago. Mr Perry said both boards were now awaiting the outcome of funding applications to implement the merger and increase marketing activity. However, he said the merger was still up to members. "The two RTOs will hold Special General Meetings to discuss the decisions with the members and seek membership approval of the merger," he said. "Between now and then, we will make sure all of the facts are put in front of you so you can make an educated decision on the future of your organisation. "It's exciting times ahead and looking at growth patterns and some of the accommodation occupancies from around our region, we should feel pleased with ourselves that collectively we are ‘punching above our weight. As Mahatma Gandhi once said: 'The future depends on what we do in the present'." A merged Toowoomba, Golden West, South Burnett, Southern Downs and Granite Belt tourism group will see Queensland's two major and competing wine tourism regions being promoted by the same body. UPDATE July 19: South Burnett Wine Industry Association gives merger a thumbs down UPDATE July 25: Toowoomba South Burnett manager Stuart Perry defends proposed merger

Mayor Pleased With Council Budget July 15, 2011 - Mayor Cr David Carter is proud of the 2011/2012 South Burnett Regional Council budget handed down this week (see story, below). "I am sure that there would not be many, if any, other amalgamated councils in the State that could boast that they had turned around an enormous budget deficit and 'weak' financial rating the way this council has," he said. Cr Carter said 8.6 per cent of ratepayers would enjoy an overall reduction in rates and services charges under this latest budget. About 80 per cent of ratepayers would have a rates rise less than 10 per cent. "I do want people to understand that the aim over the last three years has been to minimise the impact to ratepayers," he said. "We have achieved this by reducing our expenditure as much as possible while still delivering effective services across the region. We have used every tool available to us as a Council to limit the large impacts that could have been placed on our community." Some more highlights from the South Burnett Regional Council's Budget handed down this week: $190,000 - new toilet blocks in Memorial Park, Kingaroy, and at Nanango $145,000 - upgrade to Taabinga Cemetery in Kingaroy $75,000 - walking track at Coomba Falls, Maidenwell (externally funded) $40,000 - for Wondai Sports Ground $40,000 - window upgrade and painting of Kingaroy Museum $33,000 - painting of Ringsfield House, Nanango $32,000 - walking track and exercise equipment at Proston (externally funded) $20,000 - maintenance at Boondooma Homestead $15,000 - upgrade of the diorama at the Wondai Timber Museum Download Council press releases (94kb PDF)

Some More Training Opportunities July 15, 2011 - There's a few more training courses coming our way ... Manufacturing Skills Queensland will be holding a one-day Leadership Workshop to help businesses "get the most" out of their employees. The workshop covers topics including team building, motivation, feedback and delivering results. It will be held on September 9 at the Kingaroy Service Centre (the old DPI&F research station) at 214 Kingaroy-Cooyar Road, Kingaroy (opposite the airport). Cost is $380 per person (lunch provided) and places are limited. To register visit the QMI Solutions website Zero Harm Safety & Training is conducting four two-day Bridging Courses for the new GI Coal standard for health and safety obligations in the coal mining industry which was introduced on July 1. The courses will be held at Taste South Burnett's function room at 67 William Street in Kingaroy on July 18-19, 21-22, 23-24 and 30-31. Cost is $850 per person. For more information and to book, contact Nathan Andrews on 0417-425-176.

Highway To Close Briefly For Blasting July 14, 2011 - The Department of Transport and Main Roads has advised South Burnett residents that the D'Aguilar Highway through the Blackbutt Range will be closed for a brief period next Friday to allow blasting to take place. The blasting is part of the reconstruction works on the Range. For safety reasons, it cannot be done at night. The highway will be closed between Benarkin and Moore from 1:45pm to 2:15pm on July 22. Major landslips damaged the highway across the Blackbutt Range during the January floods. Reconstruction work is well underway. Further blasting will be required so further closures are also expected but have not yet been scheduled. When blasting is not in progress, the highway is open to a single lane through the range under 24-hour traffic control, with a 3m width limit. Traffic is allowed up the Range on the hour and half-hour, and down the Range at a quarter past and a quarter to the hour.

Carbon Tax Won't Lead To Job Losses At Tarong July 14, 2011 - Any fears that the Federal Government's new carbon price scheme could lead to the closure of the local Tarong and Tarong North coal-fired power stations is misplaced. An official statement from the stations' owner, Stanwell Corporation, confirmed yesterday that the weekend announcement regarding a price on carbon was not expected to close any of Stanwell's power stations or assets, including Tarong, Tarong North or the adjacent Meandu Mine. The statement also said there was expected to be no impact on jobs.

Council Rates Rise More Than 25% Since Amalgamation July 13, 2011 - South Burnett rates bills will rise a total 5.94 per cent - generating $1.72 million in extra revenue - in the 2011-12 Budget brought down today. At their Budget meeting, South Burnett councillors approved a general rate revenue rise of 4.3 per cent. The extra percentage above this covers service charges, including water, waste water and waste collection. Mayor Cr David Carter said that since amalgamation Council had reduced its operating costs by a total of 19.7 per cent or $6.2 million. Overall debt has been reduced by $2.86 million to $9.43 million with minimal loans proposed for the next few years. He said it would have been "very easy" to only have a very small rate rise this year but this would have been "both a cynical and irresponsible action" in a election year. "Three years ago the starting point was a huge deficit and a 'weak' financial rating," Cr Carter said. "Today we are rated as 'moderate', meaning Council is considered able to manage unforeseen financial shocks and any adverse changes in our business and in general economic conditions." Other Budget highlights: $22 million on capital works (renewing or replacing assets) - an increase of more than $4 million per annum since amalgamation $40.61 million for "Strategic Priority 5" which covers service delivery and infrastructure, including $4.3 million for road maintenance and $8.97 million for water supply and waste water collection and processing. Since amalgamation, South Burnett general rate revenue has risen a total of more than 25 per cent: 9 per cent in 2008-09, 7.5 per cent in 2009, 5 per cent in 2010-11 and 4.3 per cent in 2011-12.

Blackbutt Range Crossing Identified As Local Priority July 12, 2011 - Improvements to the Blackbutt Range Crossing have been identified as a major task for the Wide Bay region in the State Government's Queensland Infrastructure Plan (QIP) released today for comment. Other priorities identified for the Wide Bay area are Bruce Highway upgrades, the development of a cycle network, trade training centres in schools and an expansion of Bundaberg Hospital. The QIP sketches the infrastructure blueprint for Queensland for the next 20 years. Premier Anna Bligh said it was a "visionary plan" that would strengthen regional Queensland and the entire State. It is the foundation document to the Queensland Regionalisation Strategy. "Queensland is now the only State in Australia with a 20 year infrastructure plan for the entire state," Ms Bligh said. The State Government is now seeking feedback from local residents. To view the consultation version of the QIP and find out more about planned discussion forums and how to provide feedback, phone 1800-093-903. Community consultation will run until September 9. * * * Regional pay-TV company Austar announced today it had reached an agreement for Foxtel to take over Austar in a $2.5 billion deal. At least 75 per cent of minority Austar shareholders must approve the scheme at a proposed scheme meeting later this year. Foxtel's major shareholders, Telstra, News Corp and Consolidated Media Holdings have already endorsed the deal. UPDATE July 22: The ACCC has delayed ruling on the proposed takeover, saying it is concerned the deal could create a near-monopoly

ACCC Won't Stop Teys Bros Merger July 11, 2011 - The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will not intervene in the proposed merger of Cargill Beef Australia and Teys Bros, owners of Murgon Leather, (see SBBiz May 13, 2011). However the companies said today the proposed joint venture still required approval from the Foreign Investment Review Board and foreign antitrust regulators before it could be finalised. "We are pleased to be one more step closer in joining our business with Cargill," Teys Bros CEO Mr Brad Teys said. "The new joint venture will give us the scale and flexibility to better service our domestic and export customers to grow our business. This will also help us to expand the number of foreign markets we are currently selling Australian beef. "Both Teys and Cargill are committed to keeping the plants that are operating today open after the merger."

Trudi Shares Seven Successful Strategies July 11, 2011 - Kingaroy businesswoman Trudi Bartlett is keen to share her "Seven Successful Proven Business Strategies". Trudi is holding a free workshop this Wednesday (July 13) from 6:00pm at Kingaroy RSL Club where she aims to pass on strategies to help businesspeople make more money in less time with less stress, including: How to effortlessly create a successful set of business processes How to ignite passion in the people who work for you How to train, develop and motivate your team; and How to manage your business in under two hours per week Places are limited. To book, contact Trudi on 0488-112-298 or by email

Cougar Takes Legal Advice Over DERM Decision July 8, 2011 - Cougar Energy advised the ASX this morning that it was taking legal advice over the recent actions of the Department of Environment and Resource Management, (see story below). Cougar advised that it had received notification via a telephone call and a media release from DERM that the department had "upheld its proposal to stop Cougar Energy recommencing Underground Coal Gasification" at Kingaroy. The company said it had so far received no formal notification of this announcement. "(Cougar Energy) finds it unsatisfactory that the formal notification has not been released at the same time as the Media Release," the company statement said. "Therefore the company is presently not in a position to assess the extent of the amendments or their implications. "The company is not in a position to verify the statements made in the media release and will provide a further update to the market once it has received and considered the amended Environmental Authority." The statement said that Cougar Energy was disappointed that despite co-operating with DERM and the Independent Scientific Panel (ISP), the company "had not been afforded the opportunity to meet with DERM and the ISP to seek a satisfactory resolution or even to discuss the technical issues involved". "DERM has chosen to make a decision based on what the Company views are flawed conclusions," the statement said. "Cougar Energy maintains that the Kingaroy project has not caused any environmental harm to the operating site, surrounding landowner properties nor the Kingaroy township. "This is supported by the DERM acknowledgment that 'contaminants have not been detected outside the Cougar Energy site'." Download Cougar Energy's statement to the ASX (118kb PDF) Listen to an interview with DERM Acting Director-General Terry Wall broadcast this morning on ABC's AM Radio program

DERM Rejects Appeal From Cougar July 7, 2011 - The State Government has now officially rejected Cougar Energy's appeal against the suspension of its trial UCG plant near Kingaroy. The Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) announced tonight that no further gasification would be permitted on the site, making final the suspension announced earlier this year (SBBiz, January 28). DERM Acting Director-General Terry Wall said Cougar must now remove all infrastructure from the site, unless agreed otherwise by the landowner. "It also means Cougar must treat and dispose of any contaminated water in surface storages and clean up groundwater at the site," Mr Wall said. "Cougar is required to continue groundwater sampling until the department is satisfied that rehabilitation has been completed." DERM said it would also do its own sampling to ensure Cougar complied with the requirements. However, the fight may not yet be over for local residents, (above right), concerned about the project. The ABC was reporting last night that Cougar could still have the decision reviewed and that the company would release a statement about the decision on the ASX website before the opening of trade tomorrow. Read the full DERM media release Nanango MP Dorothy Pratt says the local community is "relieved" ABOVE RIGHT: Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group member Damien O'Sullivan with Member for Nanango Dorothy Pratt at an anti-UCG protest rally last month

Sculpture Takes Shape At Kingaroy Catholic College July 6, 2011 - June 27, 2011 - Work is almost complete on a 2.2m sandstone sculpture which will take pride of place later this year in the grounds of St Mary's Catholic College in Kingaroy. The statue, only the second monumental sculpture in the South Burnett, has been hand-carved by Kingaroy artist Mark Shellshear, (right), from a solid block of Helidon sandstone. Mark has been working on the project for just over two months, seven days a week. He has achieved a "grotto effect" with parts of the block left roughly hewn and other areas finely polished. The sandstone block is expected to "have moods" in the open air, changing colour according to the weather and sunlight. During rain, it will appear pink. The sculpture will be re-located to the centre of a courtyard which has been prepared at the school. Assistant School Principal John Dalton said the statue would probably be officially unveiled during a ceremony later this year to mark the completion of $5 million worth of upgrades at the school. These include a new $1 million Trade Training Centre, library, science centre, P-6 computer room and sports centre. PS. Mark Shellshear is also responsible for the only other stone sculpture in the area, "A Cry In The Wildnerness" which is located in Autumn Park in Nanango.

Macquarie Radio Network Signs Kingaroy Deal July 5, 2011 - Macquarie Radio Network may soon become the new owners of Kingaroy radio station 1071 (4SB). In a statement to the ASX today, MRN confirmed it had signed a "Heads of Agreement" with Smart Radio to purchase eight commercial radio stations in Queensland. Smart Radio operates stations at Mt Isa, Emerald, Charleville, St George, Roma and Goondiwindi as well as Kingaroy. MRN said the Heads of Agreement was subject to "customary conditions" including securing finance, Board approval and the conclusion of a long-term agreement. * * * Mining company AusNiCo has has identified "a potentially large copper‐silver mineralised system" at its Silver Valley prospect near Gympie. In a release to the ASX yesterday, AusNiCo - a subisidiary of D'Aguilar Gold - said the mineralised zone had the potential to extend more than 5km. In 2008, AusNiCo announced that it had discovered ore grade nickel sulphide at its Pembroke Prospect on the Black Snake Plateau near Kilkivan. New drilling targets have also been identified in the region at Boyne River, Kilkivan East and Poperima Creek. In June this year, D'Aguilar Gold reported that another subsidiary, Archer Resources, had returned high silver and base metal grades from recent sampling programs at the Rossmore Silver Prospect. Download the AusNiCo release (1.21Mb PDF)

Tall Poppy Is Bringing Science Week To Kingaroy July 4, 2011 - "Tall Poppy" and molecular biologist Dr Kerry Manton, (right), will be hosting two special school holiday activities in Kingaroy next Monday (July 11) to help celebrate National Science Week. Kerry, who has worked in local science education since 2007 with the Science in Schools Program, was one of 10 Queensland winners of the 2010 Young Tall Poppy Science Awards which recognise the achievements of Australia's outstanding young scientific researchers. She sits on the Queensland University of Technology's Ethics Committee and has published several papers on her research specialty: biological regeneration. Kerry hopes her work will one day enable doctors to heal skin without scars and re-generate lungs damaged by smoking. Kerry will be joined at the Kingaroy Town Hall by Kingaroy State High School science teacher Steve Langton to present two free sessions open to the public, families, teachers and students: 2:00pm-4:00pm - "It's Not Science Fiction" activities for all ages: investigate enzymes and biofuels, check out your own DNA and take part in brain-teasing activities; 4:00pm-5:00pm - "Regrowing Limbs & Seeking A Cure For Cancer" public lecture The cost is free and afternoon tea will be provided. Please RSVP by July 6 by email. Kerry, accompanied by scientists from DEEDI, will also be conducting hands-ion experiments with local students from July 11-13.

Cougar Energy Faces $2.4m Fine July 1, 2011 - Cougar Energy could be fined up to $2.4m if found guilty of three charges laid today over its failed Underground Coal Gasification project near Kingaroy. The Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management alleges the company released benzene and toluene into groundwater but did not notify authorities for more than three weeks. DERM Acting Director-General Terry Wall said Cougar had been charged with three counts under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Cougar faces a maximum $832,500 fine on each count. Download the DERM media release UPDATE July 4: Cougar Energy's reply to the ASX (75kb PDF)

Our Latest Business ... the Stanwell Corporation July 1 , 2011 - The State Government's electricity generators will start operating under their new structures from today. As announced in November last year, the three "gencos", CS Energy Ltd, Stanwell Corporation Ltd and Tarong Energy Corporation Ltd, will now trade as two bodies. From today, Tarong Energy has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stanwell Corporation. Finance Minister Rachel Nolan said the reform "would allow the generators to meet the challenges of a competitive national electricity market". She said the restructure had been undertaken in consultation with unions and the companies' 1500 employees and all award employees had been given a three-year job guarantee. In April, former Tarong Energy CEO Helen Gluer was appointed interim CEO of the restructured Stanwell Corporation.

Electric Car On Trial In South Burnett June 30, 2011 - You may have seen the little Mitsubishi, (above), tootling around South Burnett roads recently ... but you probably didn't hear it! The iMiEV is all electric - not a petrol-electric hybrid - and has been loaned to Ergon Energy by Mitsubishi for evaluation. The Ergon project is focussing on the way electrical vehicles such as the iMiEV could complement the energy grid in homes fitted with PV systems and "demand" smart meters. The idea is that the electric cars could act as a mobile "battery pack" that could feed back into the grid at peak periods. The iMiEV is based on Mitsubishi's "i" minicar with the petrol engine and transmission removed. These have been replaced by 330v permanent magnet electric motor that develops 180Nm. The battery is a 16kW/h advanced lithium ion pack mounted under the centre of the car. On full charge, the iMiEV has a range of 160km (highway) or 110km (urban) and also features air conditioning, ABS brakes, and airbags.

Council Slashes Red Tape and Application Fee June 28, 2011 - Complaints from local shed supply companies about unnecessary delays and complicated permit applications have been heard by the South Burnett Regional Council with a decision to slash approval times and reduce fees. Sheds erected on vacant Rural or Rural Residential blocks of less than 10ha can now receive a development permit in five business days through the use of a simplified application form. As well, the approval fee has been cut from $600 to $200. A new Risk Smart application kit for Class 10 buildings (ie sheds) was shown to local building companies who gave it the thumbs up before it was put to Council at its May meeting for approval. The kit is free and is available from Council's customer service centres or can be downloaded from the Council website. This is an interim measure while Council moves to amend its Planning Scheme to permanently remove the requirement for a development permit for these types of buildings. A Council spokesman said it was hoped the amendment could be approved by the State Government within six months.

I Wish I Was ... An Author! June 27, 2011 - Kingaroy teacher Lyn Jackson has teamed up with probably the South Burnett's youngest author, Megan Underwood, (right), to produce a new children's book to help youngsters "turn that frown upside down". "I Wish I Was" came about as a joint venture between the unlikely duo after one day Lyn noticed Megan looking a bit sad at kindy. "I saw this as an opportunity not just to lift Megan's spirits but also a way to encourage literacy among the kindergarten children," Lyn said. "I hope with its publication that it will continue to do so." The book, which is available as both a paperback and hardcover, was officially launched at St John's Lutheran Kindergarten last week. It was written and illustrated by Lyn, who is director of St John's Kindy, and Megan. Copies can be ordered from Lyn online