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$97,000 Funding For Tractor Tattoo Festival January 17, 2012 - South Burnett Regional Council - with the assistance of Creative Regions - has secured $97,000 in Federal and State arts grants to stage a Tractor Tattoo in September this year (see SBBiz June 16, 2011). Planning for the music and visual arts festival is in the early stages but proposals already put forward include: The construction of a "tractor" which can be played as a percussive musical instrument The commissioning of a special composition that can be played on the tractor and/or by local musical groups and choirs Linked projects involving South Burnett artists, craftspeople and videographers An arts competition run across the region Cr Cheryl Dalton, chair of Council's Arts, Culture and Heritage Committee, said a steering committee had been formed to guide the project. Creative Regions will manage the project co-ordination under Council's direction. The opening event will include a concert and the official unveiling of the tractor - possibly in the Town Hall Forecourt in Kingaroy or Memorial Park. This would be followed by a month of exhibits and projects across the region. "This will be a major community event," Cr Dalton told SBBiz. "There will be a concert, choirs, a real festival atmosphere." Council hopes local High Schools will also get involved as well as artist collectives, choirs, musical groups, dance schools etc. Community arts group Jumping Ant Arts Inc is already on board and has booked the Kingaroy Art Gallery to stage an exhibition to coincide with the festival. South Burnett Arts Inc has also signalled its involvement and hopes to organise a mini-tractor decoration competition involving community groups across the region. Cr Dalton said she was very excited about the project which will have as much community involvement as possible. "We aim to get the whole South Burnett involved together in one common visual arts and musical project," she said. Artists and groups with ideas that may fit into the Tractor Tattoo concept have been invited to apply for funding under the current RADF round which opened on January 13. This round will have a strong focus on applications related to the Tattoo. "What's great about opportunities like Tractor Tattoo is how we can showcase South Burnett talent while also being able to bring professionals (like composers) into the South Burnett that we would not normally have access to. I can't wait until September!" Cr Dalton said. NB. The Tractor Tattoo has nothing whatever to do with "getting inked". The term "tattoo" - as popularised by the annual Edinburgh Military Tattoo - is a ceremonial form of entertainment

Here's What's Been Happening ... January 16, 2012 - Here's a quick catch-up of some of the business news highlights that occurred over the break: On December 21, the Queensland Planning and Environment Court dismissed an application by Cougar Energy seeking a stay of conditions that required it to decommission and rehabilitate its UCG site near Kingaroy. Judge Richard Jones noted that the well failure at the site occurred within just five days of UCG operations starting. "On or about 20 March 2010, the only operational production well being operated by Cougar had a failure involving the fracturing of the cement grout lining of the well wall. As a result of this incident, the well became blocked and gas, including the contaminants benzene and toluene, escaped into the surrounding geology," he said. Judge Jones said Cougar advised DERM staff of a "flare malfunction" and that the well's inner casing had moved due to "thermal expansion" but did not inform them of the well failure for more than a month. Subsequent monitoring of bores revealed elevated levels of benzene. The most recent monitoring, in July 2011, had revealed benzene in the lower Kunioon aquifer "at a level approximately 15 times greater that the water quality trigger level permitted by the environmental authority". Cougar claimed DERM's actions had been politically driven and there was no evidence that environmental harm had occurred. However DERM argued that water in the Kunioon aquifer was "relatively fresh" and considered to be at least a potential future source of human drinking water. They also argued that the contamination plume could spread. Judge Jones said he was satisfied the potential for environmental harm was real. He also said Cougar's argument that the risks must be low "because the government had sat on its hands" was disingenuous. Long-standing Kingaroy vet Julian Mullins, who was awarded an Order of Australia medal in January 2010, closed the doors of his surgery due to ill-health. Dr Mullins campaigned strongly for many years on the importance of pet desexing programs and has also worked long and hard on fund-raising for the Kingaroy Hospital Auxiliary. The Peanut Company of Australia announced on December 22 that it had signed a $13.25 million contract for the sale of its NT properties. However, the sale is conditional on the release by the NT Government of a Draft Water Allocation Plan. If this plan is not released by March 19, the purchaser has the right to terminate the contract. ABC Radio reported that the buyer was sandalwood grower Tropical Forestry Services. The Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO) was awarded a $120,000 grant from the State Government for Phase 2 of its "Clean and Clever Burnett Inland" project to help position the region "for economic development growth and prosperity based on its strategic location in the centre of the triangle formed by SEQ, Sunshine Coast and the Surat Basin". * * * RIGHT: Kingaroy resident Gabrielle Kavanagh was so horrified by a recent front page photograph in a local newspaper that she has organised a petition to present to the publishers. In an echo of the public furore that erupted after Vanity Fair magazine published a cover photo of a heavily pregnant Demi Moore back in 1991, it seems that at least some local residents agree with Mrs Kavanagh. In just a few minutes yesterday morning, she gathered 25 signatures on her petition which she will present to the newspaper this week.

Have a Safe and Happy Christmas Everyone! December 19, 2011 - Southburnett.biz would like to wish all our readers a very happy and safe Christmas and a prosperous 2012! The website will be running as usual over the holiday break so please continue to send in any updates or changes to business listings, however our news briefs will be taking a short break until January 16. A huge thank you to everyone who has assisted us over the past 12 months! * * * Just a quick road safety update: The Department of Transport and Main Roads has advised that the D'Aguilar Highway over the Blackbutt Range will remain operating as a single lane under traffic control over Christmas-New Year. Recent wet weather has delayed work that had aimed to have two lanes open by Christmas. Road users can register to receive free SMS updates at www.blackbuttrangesms.com.au

Dick Goes Nuts For Kingaroy Farmers ABOVE: Entrepreneur Dick Smith inspects peanuts at Rob Patch's property near Kingaroy December 16, 2011 - A media scrum followed iconic Aussie entrepreneur Dick Smith, (right), when he visited Kingaroy today to spruik a "Buy Aussie" message in support of local peanut growers. Dick's message was simple ... if Australian peanuts aren't available because it's been a bad season, just be patient and wait until they are. This is what he's doing with his Dick Smith Peanut Butter brand, and he's convinced Coles supermarkets to do the same, to leave an empty space on their shelves until he can source enough Aussie peanuts. With TV crews and newspaper reporters in tow, Dick Smith visited Wayne Weller's peanut property at West Wooroolin (where a TV helicopter startled everyone by landing), Rob Patch's property near Kingaroy, Proteco (where he viewed oils being processed) and PCA's headquarters in Haly Street. At PCA, Managing Director Craig Mills explained that the last harvest had been the second lowest on record and there simply weren't enough Australian peanuts to share around. Dick said he realised it was not PCA's fault that peanuts were being imported; in fact he blamed the Australian public who always wanted the cheapest food. He said that if peanut butter was just 20 cents a jar more expensive, more money could go to Australian peanut growers and more people could be employed in the industry. Peanut farmers face crunch time Dick joins the fight to save Kingaroy peanuts Channel 9 news report The media surround local peanut grower Wayne Weller A Channel 9 team quizzes PCA Managing Director Craig Mills LEFT: The sign that Coles will be placing on their supermarket shelves. FAR LEFT: Australian Junior Gliding Champion Andrew Maddocks, from Ipswich, who is competing in the current junior championships at Kingaroy, had the opportunity to get Dick Smith's autograph

Regional Health Focus For Federal MP's Visit December 16, 2011 - Federal Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health Services and Indigenous Health (and Member for the bayside seat of Bowman) Andrew Laming visited the South Burnett yesterday to inspect the Barambah Health Centre at Cherbourg. Andrew, who worked as a doctor in the remote Aboriginal community of Lajamanu in the Northern Territory before entering politics, was impressed with what he saw at Cherbourg. However, he said many of the health concerns between the two communities were similar. Deb Frecklington, the LNP candidate for the State seat of Nanango, accompanied Andrew on his visit. She was particularly impressed with the activities for women offered by the Centre, including special gym times allotted just for their use. "It is a clean, fantastic facility which is well-utilised by the town," she said. Andrew said he supported LNP Leader Campbell Newman's strong focus on work as a way of assisting communities such as Cherbourg. "Campbell has a focus of getting people into work, into the real economy," he said. However to achieve this people had to be encouraged to step down from what Aboriginal lawyer Noel Pearson has described as the "welfare pedestal" by making welfare seem less attractive. Health issues outside Cherbourg were also a focus of the visit. Deb Frecklington raised the issue of the long waiting times for local dental patients and Andrew predicted there would be funding problems ahead for regional hospitals with the introduction of a "case mix" system in 2014-15 as part of the Federal Government's national health reform package. The duo later visited local GPs to hear their concerns about local health issues. ABOVE: LNP candidate Deb Frecklington discusses health issues with Andrew Laming, MP * * * AusNiCo has concluded its test drilling program, (see SBBiz, November 21), on the Black Snake Plateau near Kilkivan which was designed to determine the tonnage potential of copper-gold-silver deposits in the area. In a statement to the ASX today, the company said results were encouraging.

Another 12 Months For Thiess December 15, 2011 - Thiess has been awarded a $185 million one-year extension to its contract to operate the Meandu coal mine at Tarong. Managing Director Bruce Munro said the contract extension until December 2012 reaffirms the strong relationship between Stanwell Corporation (which operates the Tarong and Tarong North power stations) and Thiess. "Thiess is proud of the critical role we play in providing coal for electricity generation in Queensland and we're delighted to continue our partnership with Stanwell Corporation," Mr Munro said. Thiess Australian Mining Executive General Manager Michael Wright said the contract extension was particularly significant as it's a vote of confidence in the company's management of last summer's floods. "The floods presented enormous challenges at Meandu but innovative mine management minimised the impact on coal delivery." The mine, which has been operated by Thiess since 2008, supplies up to 5.5 million tonnes of coal per year to Tarong and Tarong North. * * * Mary-Clare Power has been appointed CEO of the boards of Toowoomba Golden West and South Burnett Tourism and Southern Downs and Granite Belt Regional Tourism. She has more than 20 years experience in tourism, including roles at Tourism Queensland and Events Queensland. * * * Three charges against Cougar Energy which allege breaches of the Environmental Protection Act at the company's Underground Coal Gasification project at Kingaroy were adjourned today in Kingaroy Magistrates' Court to February 23.

Kingaroy Christmas Carnival On Tonight! December 15, 2011 - Don't forget to come into Kingaroy tonight for the annual Christmas Carnival! Clare & Corky from CROW-FM will be hosting the fun in and around O'Neill Square from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. There'll be plenty of food and other stalls plus $2 rides for the kids. There'll also be dodg'ems for just $6, face-painting and live entertainment. Most importantly, Santa has promised to make an appearance despite his incredibly tight social schedule at this time of the year. The old gent in red will drop by at 6:15pm. Also, there'll be an opportunity to take potshots at local celebrities - including councillor Damien Tessmann, Corky, Michael "DJdirex" Monk, LNP candidate for Nanango Deb Frecklington and Kingaroy cricketer Nigel Megaw - in the dunking chair. A few local small businesses have also joined together to have a stall selling personalised Christmas baubles for a gold coin donation. All money raised will be donated to the Kids Christmas Charity appeal. Also available will be gift vouchers from Somethings Country, Kingaroy Office Central, Everlasting Creations, Kingaroy Pet World, Temptations Lingerie, Kingaroy Butchery and NC's Beauty Spot. The 2011 Kingaroy Christmas Carnival has been organised by the South Burnett Young Leaders Association. Thank you guys and gals!

New Kindy To Open In Nanango December 14, 2011 - A new kindergarten will be opening in Nanango next month. The Community Kids Kindy, run by South Burnett CTC, will be open five days a week from 10:00am to 6:00pm for children aged 3 to 5 years. The kindy - a new venture for CTC which is better known for its employment and social welfare programs - is located at 42 Drayton Street, opposite Nanango State School. It will open on Tuesday, January 3. Co-ordinator Michael Griffiths said the activities would include painting, cooking, craft and sport. For more information, contact Michael on (07) 4171-0033.

Premier Visits Tarong Algal Biomass Plant December 13, 2011 - Queensland Premier Anna Bligh visited the South Burnett today to inspect MBD Energy's trial algal biomass plant at Tarong Power Station (see SBBiz December 7). Ms Bligh said the State Government has committed $1 million to Phase 1 of the project. "Here we have an example of Queensland innovation and scientific expertise being put to work in an Australian-first project," Ms Bligh said. Energy and Water Utilities Minister Stephen Robertson said when fully operational, it was anticipated that per hectare per annum, the project would capture up to 700 tonnes of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of taking 170 cars off the road for a year. "It is also expected to produce one tonne of algal biomass per day, 120 tonnes per annum of algal oil and 240 tonnes per annum of algal meal," Mr Robertson said. "The first stage of the one-hectare Tarong Power Station facility is complete, with earthworks finalised, most services connected and vertical growth columns for the algae installed. The project is scheduled to be fully commissioned in 2012. "MBD Energy expects to use the Tarong Power Station display plant as a blueprint for one or more potentially much larger projects that seek to recycle waste flue gases into algae biomass on a commercial scale. In order to protect local biodiversity, only strains of micro-algae local to Tarong Power Station have been selected for growing." The project is a joint initiative between MBD Energy and Stanwell Corporation Ltd. ABOVE RIGHT: MBD Energy Managing Director Andrew Lawson, Premier Anna Bligh and Stanwell CEO Helen Gluer

Three Land Rehabilitation Experts (and a Farmer) Appointed To Strategic Cropping Land Committee December 9, 2011 - The State Government has announced the members of the soil science committee which is integral to the implementation of its Strategic Cropping Land policy. The committee will be made up of four scientists, two put forward by the Australian Society of Soil Science, one by the Queensland Resources Council and one by the Queensland Farmers' Federation. Prof Clive Bell - former Head of the Department of Agriculture and Director of the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation at the University of Queensland, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and the Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology. Prof Bell, who will chair the committee, is internationally recognised as an expert on post-mining land rehabilitation. Simon Buchanan - a soil and environmental scientist with a Master of Philosophy in Disturbed Land Rehabilitation and over 11 years practice as an environmental scientist in consulting and research; currently an Environmental Consultant. Terry Short - career has had a focus on soil chemistry in mining rehabilitation; previously worked for the former Department of Mines and Energy (Queensland), BHP, Rio Tinto and Ensham Resources; and is currently General Manager Sustainability Services for Palaris (consultants); Masters Degree in Agricultural Science. David Hamilton - a consultant and farm manager, Director of Cotton Catchments Communities Research Centre, and Director of Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology; Master of Science in Agronomy.

Hutton Fined $2000 For CSG Blockade December 9, 2011 - Greens Candidate for Nanango Grant Newson travelled to Dalby yesterday to support Lock the Gate protest movement president Drew Hutton when he appeared in Dalby Magistrates' Court charged with obstructing a mining activity. Hutton was arrested in March this year after joining a blockade against the construction of a coal seam gas pipeline near Chinchilla. He was found guilty and fined $2000 but no conviction was recorded. The charge had a maximum penalty of $50,000. "I am disappointed with the Dalby Magistrate's judgment in this case and believe it will have major ramifications within Queensland. People will now realise they need to stand and support each other against these mining and gas industries," Mr Newson said. "Mr Hutton had to endure handcuffs, three different watchhouses and a day-and-a-half in jail. It was badly handled by the police and no doubt further investigations will continue into this matter. Mining and gas companies are being allowed to do whatever to whoever they want. Queenslanders need to stand up and Lock the Gate before it is too late. The South Burnett region is not going to be spared from these industries." Greens leader Bob Brown, Greens Senator Larissa Waters and Federal leader of the Australian Party Bob Katter were also among Hutton supporters who attended the hearing. ABOVE RIGHT: Grant Newson and Drew Hutton at Dalby * * * South Burnett CTC will receive $1.14 million from the State Government to deliver family and domestic violence counselling at Cherbourg over the next three years. Community Services Minister Karen Struthers announced the funding today which will help expand South Burnett CTC's Wondin-dee Indigenous Family Violence Counselling Service. "This service works with whole families, teaching them how to form stronger relationships and make positive changes," she said. Ms Struthers said Wondin-dee provided 155 counselling sessions between January and June this year. "The safety and well-being of Queenslanders is our primary concern and I am confident this funding will help more families stay together in Cherbourg," she said.

Community Bank Launches Tertiary Scholarship Scheme December 8, 2011 - The Yarraman & District Community Bank Branch and Blackbutt branch have pledged to support a local student in a new scholarship program. Branch Chairman Frank Smith said the South Burnett Community Enterprises' Scholarship would support a disadvantaged local student with tertiary study-related costs. Successful applicants will initially receive funding for one year and depending on academic performance, the scholarship may be renewed to assist a second year of study. Mr Smith said the scholarship was part of the Community Bank's commitment to building stronger communities. "Since our first branch in Yarraman opened its doors in 2005 we have assisted local children and youth to get the most out of living in our community," he said. This included the recent sponsorship of a Nanango State High School team of 33 students to compete in the Science and Engineering Challenge held in Melbourne. The bank is also sponsoring the Western Downs Development Tennis Squad which includes several local children. Mr Smith said family circumstances such as illness, drought and natural disasters can have a significant impact on a young person's ability to further their education. Faced with the huge costs of university education, some local youth may never get the chance to achieve their academic dreams. "Our Community Bank branches are proud to support local youth to further their education, and maybe one day our local South Burnett community will benefit directly from the skills and knowledge they bring," he said. Download an information sheet about the scholarship (207kb PDF) * * * The South Burnett Regional Council has invited local residents to attend the official opening of the new Dr Ellen Kent Hughes Forecourt (formerly known as the Glendon Street Forecourt) in Kingaroy at 9:30am next Wednesday. Mayor David Carter will give a brief history of the upgrade, followed by addresses by Kathy Benstead, President of the Australian Local Government Women's Association Queensland, and Senator Claire Moore, on behalf of the Federal Government.

Vandals Knock Radio Station Off Air December 7, 2011 - A spree by young vandals in the early hours of Monday morning has forced Cherbourg community radio station Us Mob (4UM) temporarily off the air. Station spokeswoman Jeanette Brown told SBBiz a group of between 8 and 10 children broke into the station building, trashing offices, smashing computers and scattering files around the floor. "Thank God, not the studio," she said. However the children did trash the station's electricity meter box and Ergon Energy was forced to switch off the power for safety reasons. Jeanette estimated somewhere between $20,000-$30,000 damage has been caused - and she wished she could send this bill to the children's parents. She said police had spoken to some children thought to have been involved but because of their ages, she believed they would probably "get away with it". Jeanette said she hoped the station could resume broadcasting tomorrow - or by the end of the week at the latest.

MBD Energy Wins NAB Award December 7, 2011 - MBD Energy, the company behind an innovative carbon capture algal project at Tarong Power Station, has won the "Innovation in New and Emerging Industries Award" at the 2011 NAB Agribusiness Awards for Excellence. MBD's Tarong project involves a one hectare algal biomass display plant. Algal synthesisers capture waste greenhouse gases from the power station and use them to promote the growth of oil-rich micro-algae. These algae produce oils which are suitable for plastic, fuel and fertiliser production. All the algae is recycled: 35 per cent as oil and 65 per cent as low-methane stockfeed. The process also produces fresh water and oxygen. In 2008, MBD Energy built a 5000sq m test plant at James Cook University in Townsville to prove the technology. NAB noted that MBD's trials in Townsville had confirmed that it could consistently select a strain of algae (local to any given industrial emissions site, therefore posing no threat to local biodiversity) and propagate that strain from a single sell to large-scale production, with the algae typically doubling in mass every 24-48 hours. In October 2010, the State Government committed $1 million to MBD's project at Tarong. At the time, Premier Anna Bligh said Tarong would be the first coal-fired power station in Australia to try the technology as part of a $5 million trial. ABOVE: OriginOil's Michael Green in the harvest shed at Tarong with MBD's Laurent Pochat-Pochatoux [Photo: OriginOil]

Today is D-Day For Analogue TV December 6, 2011 - The analogue TV signal will be switched off forever in the South Burnett region today. Old TVs will no longer be able to pick up TV signals unless you have installed a digital set-top box. If you can already see "new" channels such as ABC2, 7mate, Gem and Go! (and you don't have pay TV), it means your TV is capable of receiving digital broadcasts and you won't be affected today's switchover. The Federal Government's Digital Switchover Taskforce is urging people who may be confused to either: Visit the Digital Ready website Contact a local TV installer or TV retailer for advice Ask family and friends for assistance. There's also information on the Digital Ready website about the Federal Government's Household Assistance Scheme which will be provide a free digital set-top box to eligible participants. Applications for regional Queensland close on January 25. UPDATE - The analogue network was switched off at 9:00am exactly this morning. * * * APN News & Media, publishers of the South Burnett Times, is expecting a 25 per cent fall in profit this financial year. Speaking at the company's Investor Day, held at the InterContinental Hotel in Sydney yesterday, chief executive Brett Chenoweth said the second-half result would reflect weakness in advertising markets. APN downgraded its profit forecast to between $75m-$77m, down from its last year's profit of $103 million. * * * Gordonbrook Dam has been closed temporarily again due to high levels of blue-green algae in the water. The South Burnett Regional Council said the water area was closed for recreational use yesterday however residents should not be concerned about the quality of their drinking water as treatment processes remove all toxins before it reaches consumers. * * *Kilkivan Historical Society has proposed that an historic site about 12km east of Kilkivan be formally named Byrnes Reserve in honour of Mark Hobson Byrne who bought a nearby property in 1876. The land is a former Cobb & Co coaches changeover point. DERM is inviting public comments on the proposal. Submissions may be lodged with DERM Regional Services Director, PO Box 573, Nambour, 4560 until Feb 3.

Greens Say Loggers Inside National Park December 6, 2011 - The Greens candidate for the State seat of Nanango, Grant Newson, says he was shocked to discover recently that areas inside the Bunya Mountains National Park boundary are being logged. Mr Newson said he had inspected logging areas in the Barkers Creek and Middle Creek areas. "There is absolutely no way inside any National Park area should be allowed to be harvested," he said. Mr Newson said the loggers were leaving open areas which allowed weeds such as lantana to thrive. He was also worried that the park was vulnerable to bushfires because of poor government management. "We have just witnessed the destruction that can be caused by fire in Western Australia and the Bunya Mountains had a lucky escape from a similar incident not long ago," he said. "It is a ticking time bomb with more and more houses being built and no fuel reduction program being continually maintained." ABOVE RIGHT: Toowoomba Greens Frida Fosberg (the Greens candidate for Groom) and Michael Kane at a logging site near the Bunya Mountains

Tarong Helps Power Young Trainees December 5, 2011 - Ashlee Maudsley, 18, of Blackbutt, is set to electrify the business world after a traineeship at Tarong Power Station led to a permanent job at the Burnett Business Centre in Nanango. Ashlee was one of three trainees at Tarong recognised recently by the MRAEL Scholarship Program for outstanding commitment and drive. She completed her Certificate III in Business Administration on November 25, two months ahead of schedule, after impressing her supervisors during the past 10 months. Ashlee, Nigel Daisy (Community Services Trainee) and Justine Miller (Business Administration – Health and Safety) were all awarded scholarships in the MRAEL Scholarship Program's Trainee Category, which recognises trainees who display leadership in the workplace and a consistent attitude towards their vocational studies. Tarong Power Station Human Resource Administrator Sharron Coughlan, who has worked closely with Ashlee, was awarded a scholarship in the Mentor Category, which recognises and rewards the important contribution provided by workplace mentors. "I've assisted with the development of trainees as they rotate through the Human Resources area and it's a part of my role that I really enjoy," Sharron said. "It's great to see the trainees develop their skills and to be able to take on more complicated mini projects as the year progresses." During her traineeship, Ashlee worked in the Human Resources Department at Tarong Power Station and undertook a variety of tasks from general duties to assisting the learning and development team with scheduling training sessions and organising catering. ABOVE: Sharron Coughlan, Justine Miller, Ashlee Maudsley and Nigel Daisy * * * Water supply to businesses and homes in parts of Murgon will be cut tomorrow and Wednesday between 7:00am-4:00pm. The South Burnett Regional Council says the affected areas include Gore Street, Taylor Street West, Palmer Street West, Black Street, Thompson Street and surrounding areas. The interruption is to allow council to replace a water main.

Thinking Of Starting A Business? December 5, 2011 - Tourism, Manufacturing and Small Business Minister Jan Jarratt has urged potential business owners in Kingaroy to take advantage of a free "Considering a Business" seminar being held this week. The free two-hour session will be offered by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation at 12.30pm on Friday in the Taabinga Room at the DEEDI Service Centre (the former DPI Research Station, opposite Kingaroy Airport). "Small business should be looking to capitalise on the many opportunities being created by Queensland's spectacular growth rate," Ms Jarratt said. "Our aim is to provide small business with as much support as possible when they start their ventures. Attendees will receive a take-home research workbook that will assist with making business decisions." The seminar is free but bookings are required. For more information, or to register, contact DEEDI on (07) 4121-1780, by email or register online

Local Farmers Disappointed By Vote December 2, 2011 - In a blow to South Burnett farmers, the State Government's new Strategic Cropping Land legislation was passed yesterday but a move to amend the Bill to include much South Burnett land was not successful (see story, below). Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group (KCCG) Secretary, and Independent candidate for Nanango, John Dalton said this morning local farmers would feel a lot of disappointment. "There is not one person in the government - or one person who advises the government - who could deny that what we were asking for was worth doing or necessary," Mr Dalton said. A letter from Mr Dalton was tabled in State Parliament during the debate. He said the KCCG would be meeting within the next week to consider their next move. LNP Parliamentary Leader Jeff Seeney did not oppose the amendment but noted that it would not be necessary if the LNP gained government at the next State election. "We will protect those areas with a proper regional planning process ... that contains statutory land use maps that defines appropriate land uses, that defines the best land uses for particular areas and maps them accordingly," he said. However Natural Resources Minister Rachel Nolan said the new Act got "the balance right". "We have worked closely with, and will continue to work with, our Strategic Cropping Land Advisory Committee, which includes representatives from the agriculture, resource and urban development sectors, as well as local government and natural resource management groups," she said. "Queensland's top soil scientists assessed 128 samples from across five land zones to develop the legislation's criteria to ensure the State's best cropping land was conserved and managed. "All new developments within the protection and management zones will be assessed under the new legislation." The new legislation is expected to come into effect from January 30.

Breakfast To Mark IDPwD December 2, 2011 - To help celebrate International Day of People With a Disability (IDPwD), a free breakfast will be held this morning from 7:30am-10:00am at the new Town Hall forecourt in Kingaroy. The breakfast, organised by CTC Disability Support Services in conjunction with the Department of Human Services, will feature a "report back" from local councillors who have been spending time with people with a disability. In the lead-up to the breakfast, councillors were asked to met, spend time with and experience the communities of local people with a disability and/or their families. Hear the councillors report: What have they learned? How inclusive are our communities? How can we all act the improve the participation of people with a disability in community life? What can Council do? Wayne Kratzmann will be broadcasting live from the breakfast for CROW-FM. All people with a disability and other community members are invited to attend. Let's make the South Burnett the most accessible in the community!