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Project Forges Links Between Farmers & Tourist Dollars March 4, 2011 - South Burnett rural producers, business owners and residents have been invited to nominate for positions on a new food network/agri-tourism advisory group which aims to boost the local economy. The South Burnett, Southern Downs and Western Downs regional councils, in partnership with Tourism Queensland and the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, have employed Southern Cross University (SCU) to run the two-year program. The project hopes to help farmers "diversify into or connect with" the tourism industry and establish "a local food system that will underpin the development of food and wine experiences". Toowoomba Golden West and South Burnett Regional Tourism General Manager Stuart Perry encouraged growers and businesses to get involved in the project which will be overseen by Rose Wright, from SCU, and managed by Regional Tourism Development Officer Julie McMurtrie. The Project Management Committee is seeking nominations for a stakeholder reference group to "support and inform the implementation of the project". "Any individual or organisation can apply to be part of this reference group," Ms Wright said. "You may be a local farmer, chef or tourism operator, anyone with an interest in supporting the development of South East Queensland Country as a food and agri-tourism destination should apply." Nominees must be from the Darling Downs, South Burnett or the Southern Downs region. Nominations close on March 14. For more information, or to request a nomination form, contact Julie McMurtrie on 0437-008-712 or email her * * * The South Burnett Regional Council has released its draft Arts, Culture and Heritage Policy (63kb PDF) and draft Art in Place Strategy (273kb PDF) for the Kingaroy Town Hall Forecourt and Library Precinct. Comments on both close on March 25. Comments and feedback should be emailed to South Burnett Regional Council Manager - Community Cultural Services Carolyn Knudsen or mailed to PO Box 336 Kingaroy, 4610.

Opportunity For Employers March 3, 2011 - Kingaroy, Murgon and Nanango State High Schools and St Mary's Catholic College are working together to organise a South Burnett Careers Market / Try A Trade day in July. The 2010 event attracted more than 800 students and provided South Burnett employers with an excellent opportunity to showcase career opportunities within their industry/organisation. The 2011 Careers Market/Try A Trade day will be held on Thursday July 29 from 10:00am to 4:00pm at Kingaroy State High School. Employers interested in being involved are invited to contact Jodi Woodall at KSHS on (07) 4160-0683. * * * Murgon residents have been invited to help Clean Up Australia this Sunday from 8:30am at Ted Klohs Park (on the southside of town). A barbecue lunch will be provided. At Widgee volunteers will meet outside the Widgee State School at 7:00am. Participants should wear sturdy footwear and SunSmart attire – long sleeved shirt, wide brimmed hat, suncream and sunglasses.

Goomeri Clocks Up 100 Years March 2, 2011 - Goomeri - the Town of 1911 - will be celebrating its centenary this weekend with a two-day community party. There'll be historic displays, demonstrations, food stalls, a parade of vintage transportation, entertainment and free children's rides at the Centenary Reunion at the Goomeri Showgrounds. Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley will perform the official opening at 2:00pm on Saturday. She will then attend a special public land auction of two blocks in Mayne Street and dedicate a Memorial Stone to the Town of Goomeri in Lions Park. On Saturday night, an old-time dance will be held at the Hall of Memory with a licensed bar. On Sunday morning, old-fashioned games will be held at the sports oval. For more information, contact Sandra Nesbitt on (07) 4168-4520. * * * Cougar Energy looking for merger / acquisition possibilities Latest road closure information from South Burnett Regional Council

Cougar Challenge 'Last Ditch Attempt': Protest Group March 1, 2011 - The Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group says it is not surprised by today's announcement by Cougar Energy that it will challenge the State Government's ruling on the local UCG project. In a media statement, KCCG president Gary Tessman said he fully supported the government decision to close the plant and commended it for acting decisively. "It seems to be plain to everyone except Cougar Energy that the decision to shut the plant is one that is based simple scientific common sense," Mr Tessman said. "They are responsible for benzene in the local underground water, there are cows testing positive for BTEX chemicals across the road, they had unexplained technical failures, underground cave-ins or explosions, and bore pipes rising out of the ground. They can't seriously expect any government to let that continue." He described Cougar's response as a "last ditch attempt to save the company" by attacking "any possible small fact" in the government ruling, while "ignoring the obvious fact that the operation was a stuff-up". "We think the government and the Independent Scientific Panel was right on the money when they decided that a UCG operation had no place in Kingaroy, and that Cougar Energy has demonstrated its incompetence so clearly. We are somewhat grateful that the failure of the trial happened after only a few tonnes of burning, and saved us from another 20,000 tonnes of whatever happened last April," he said. Boardroom Radio interview today with Cougar Energy Managing Director Dr Len Walker

Cougar Energy Challenges Kingaroy UCG Project Ban March 1, 2011 - Cougar Energy is challenging the State Government's decision to halt its underground coal gasification project, (right), near Kingaroy. It lodged a submission with the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) yesterday which sets out several grounds as to why the proposed orders should not be made, including: The severity of the response proposed by DERM (shutting down an entire mining operation) far exceeds, and is completely disproportionate to, the nature of the grounds, facts and circumstances identified by DERM in its Notice of Proposed Action; The requirements of procedural fairness and jurisdictional limits of the Queensland Environmental Protection Act have not been adhered to; and The need for the government-appointed Independent Scientific Panel (ISP) to appropriately review all of the Cougar Energy reports submitted under three Environmental Evaluation Notices to DERM (17 reports totalling more than 650 pages). The Cougar Energy submission also includes a response by the company to the Summary Report by ISP which was published on January 28. "Cougar Energy believes that DERM's proposed amendment to the existing Environmental Authority is flawed and invalid, and relies on incorrect and flawed statements of the Queensland Government's Independent Scientific Panel," Cougar chairman Malcolm McAully said. Mr McAully said Cougar's Kingaroy project had "never presented any danger to human health, drinking water, livestock nor farming activities in the region". Cougar Energy's response to the Independent Scientific Panel (178kb PDF) Download the full-text of the Cougar Energy shareholder group's letter to the media (134kb PDF)

Business Expo On April 8 March 1, 2011 - A date has been fixed for the South Burnett's inaugural Biz Expo, an initiative of the South Burnett Regional Council, the Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO), Department of Employment, Economic Development & Innovation (DEEDI) and the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE (SQIT). The Expo, at the Kingaroy TAFE College, will run from 9:30am to 5:00pm on April 8. It is aimed both at businesspeople and members of the general public. Guest speakers will cover a wide range of topics including business assistance, innovation, crisis recovery, regional cohesion and sustainable living. Council's new Regional Economic Development Strategy will also be officially launched. For more information or information on how to become a stallholder or event sponsor, contact the South Burnett Regional Council Business & Economic Development Section on (07) 4189-9174 or by email

Fencing Crews Ready To Roll February 28, 2011 - Iron Bark Ridge Services, near Murgon, has taken delivery of a new tractor which will have a double benefit for the local community - help provide work for Indigenous youth plus assist with the task of repairing flood-damaged fencing. Funding for the tractor was made possible through the Indigenous Land Use Agreement which was negotiated between Wakka Wakka elders and Tarong Energy in 2009. Local businesses were also keen to help, including South Burnett Machinery in Murgon and the Wooroolin Machinery Centre. IBRS on-site manager Danny Hoogstraten said he had crews ready to go and plenty of work lined up. The Agreement Implementation Group - which is made up of Wakka Wakka elders and senior Tarong Energy employees - decided last year that the investment in the tractor would help generate more employment opportunities for local Aboriginal youth. Wakka Wakka elder Beryl Gambrill said the group was always searching for ways to improve the employment prospects for the local Aboriginal population. "There's dignity in labour and dignity in providing for your family. Plus there's always a need to link in with other businesses like Iron Bark Ridge Services to make sure that we're getting the best return on our community investment as we can," she said. ABOVE: Many local people pitched in to help organise the fencing equipment which will help improve Aboriginal employment prospects in the South Burnett: agricultural machinery suppliers, Tarong Energy, Wakka Wakke elders and Iron Bark Ridge Services. Also pictured are some of the crew that will be using the tractor and machinery * * * The Blackbutt to Moore Rail Trail - used by hikers, cyclists and horse rides - has been reopened after volunteers repaired damage caused by the January rainfall and floods. A working bee held on February 18 restored the Linville to Moore section of the trail. Volunteers came from as far as Brisbane, Caboolture and Nambour to lend a hand, clear debris and plant seedlings. A similar working bee will be scheduled at Yarraman later this year.

Tarong Energy Backs Our Junior Chefs February 25, 2011 - Tarong Energy is the latest sponsor to come on board to help make the 2011 South Burnett Wine and Food in the Park Festival on March 12 in Kingaroy even better than ever! Tarong Energy's support will ensure the junior chefs who will be performing on stage in the PCA marquee during the day - and then the "Sample the South Burnett" food and wine master classes with gourmand Peter Scudamore-Smith which will follow immediately afterwards - will have a top-class sound system. Five young chefs aged between 8 and 12 will be preparing dishes on stage in the PCA Junior Cook-Off from 10:45am under the watchful eye of local chef Jason Ford. Their efforts will be judged by three-times cook-off winner Steve Gudzinski, chef Tim La Budde from Endeavour Kitchen and David Costello from the Courier-Mail. Prizes have been donated by Harvey Norman, Big W, Flamingo Wish and SQIT. Then at 4:30pm and 6:30pm Master Of Wine Peter Scudamore-Smith will be conducting two wine tasting classes. He'll be joined by Kingaroy Catering's Sheree Strauss who will serve up gourmet tasting platters of South Burnett foods. Tickets for these two master classes are strictly limited to 40 at each session. To book, contact Sheree on 0417-726-702. * * * Congratulations to well-known regional jockey Jason Hoopert who has been given the all-clear to resume racing after recovering from the life-threatening injuries he suffered in a horrific race fall on July 29, 2006, at Kilcoy. The popular jockey suffered head injuries, broken ribs, a punctured lung and a broken arm and was in an induced coma in hospital for several days after his mount Iris Kiap crashed approaching the home turn in the second race on the program. Jason then faced a long period of intensive rehabilitation. His proud mum, Denise Keelan, from Kingaroy, said on Facebook last night that Jason had been told at the time he would never race again but his recovery proved the saying "never say never".

Kingaroy Landcare Hosts Field Day February 24, 2011 - The Kingaroy Landcare Group will be holding a field day on Saturday (February 26) to discuss ways of improving rainfall infiltration on pastures sown on old cropping land. There will be a comparison of different strategies including placing small check banks in between existing contour banks, ripping and area with no soil disturbance. The field day will be held from 3:00pm to 5:00pm on Neville Jorgensen's property on Jorgensen's Road, Booie (off Kingaroy-Barkers Creek Road). For more information, contact Ian Crosthwaite on 0409-622-319 or by email

New Faces on BIEDO Board February 23, 2011 - The Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO) elected two new Board members at its AGM on February 14. Joining long-term Chairman Cr David Carter and Vice-Chairman Cr Paul Francis are Penny Kennedy, who is taking up the role of Treasurer, and Andrew Bryant who will be the new BIEDO Secretary. Cr Carter welcomed the Board members. He said they were business and community leaders who had demonstrated their commitment to the Inland Burnett in every aspect of their lives. "I'd also like to sincerely thank our two outgoing Executive members, Loris Doessel of Mundubbera Community Development Association and Jenny Todd, formerly of Tarong Energy," Cr Carter said. "Both Jenny and Loris have given generously of their time and energy and offered their leadership and expertise to BIEDO for more than five years." The BIEDO Board meets face-to-face twice a year, once in the North Burnett and once in the South Burnett. Download BIEDO's 2009-10 Annual Report (4.7MB PDF) ABOVE RIGHT: From left, Secretary Andrew Bryant (Lifeline Fraser Coast), Treasurer Penny Kennedy (business owner and primary producer from Booubyjan), Cr David Carter (Chairman) and Cr Paul Francis (Vice-Chair)

State Govt Takes Back Rail Trail Project (and $1m) February 22, 2011 - A decision to hand over the development of the proposed Kingaroy to Theebine (K2T) Rail Trail to the Department of Infrastructure and Planning (DIP) will mean the South Burnett Regional Council will relinquish $1 million in funding which had been allocated to the project. The funding had been assigned to Council as part of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Transport and Main Roads when the rail line was closed. It was conditional on Council taking over a 30-year lease on the corridor and could be used for the purpose of maintaining the corridor and/or redeveloping it into a rail trail. As part of the MOU, $100,000 from this funding was allocated this financial year for a study to determine if it was feasible to convert the corridor to a rail trail. Tenders had been sought for this study but no contract had been signed when an email offer came from DIP - which has been developing the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. DIP requested Council consider allowing them to take over the K2T lease with the potential of eventually linking the two projects. At its January meeting, South Burnett councillors unanimously approved the proposal that DIP take over development of the K2T rail trail. They also approved that the $1 million previously allocated be redirected to DIP. Council representatives will continue to work in partnership with DIP to develop the trail. However, any decision by Council to take over the lease again in the future would have to be re-negotiated. ABOVE: Kingaroy Railway Station in 1991. Photo courtesy: Stationspast.net

Storms Cause Widespread Blackouts February 21, 2011 - The band of storms that swept through the South Burnett this afternoon caused many blackouts. An Ergon Energy spokesman said 5500 customers in Nanango, Yarraman, Blackbutt and surrounding areas had their power supply interrupted in separate events between 2:00pm and 3.15pm. Power was restored to most within 40 minutes. About 6000 customers in the Murgon region also were affected, mostly for about 15 minutes. Repairs have had to be made at the Kilkivan town substation. Power is expected to be restored to about 600 Kilkivan customers at 7.30pm. There have also been widespread reports of damage affecting supply to individual customers across the South Burnett, including in Kingaroy. Ergon Energy crews will be working on these repairs throughout the night. * * * Today's storms also caused drama at Nanango State School when a pine tree near the staff room crashed down in the high winds, damaging a powerline. Principal Lyal Giles this evening congratulated staff, students and parents on Facebook for remaining calm during the events and being "extraordinarily understanding". To ensure the safety of students the school was put into lockdown. The damaged tree has been cut back and QBuild has begun repairing the damage.

Share Your Memories of Chahpingah February 21, 2011 - Do you have any historic photographs - or memories - you'd like to share about the Burrandowan / Chahpingah area? The Chahpingah Reserves Association is putting together an interpretive board and marking the sites of Burrandowan State School, Burrandowan Bush Nursing Centre, Chahpingah Telephone Exchange and Carriers Depot, and Chahpingah Hall. Anyone who has any photographs, stories or contact with people associated with any of the above are asked to contact Carolyn Stone as soon as possible on (07) 4164-8147 or by email * * * Gympie Regional Council is seeking feedback from residents whether they want to stay with the current whole-of-shire representational system for councillors or whether to introduce divisions. Public meetings have been scheduled this week throughout the shire, including on Thursday at Kilkivan (Public Hall Supper Room from 4:00pm) and Goomeri (Hall of Memory from 2:00pm). Alternatively, residents can fill out a feedback form on council's website

Cougar Energy Shareholders Fight Back February 18, 2011 - A group of angry shareholders has banded together in a last-ditch bid to save Cougar Energy's stalled Underground Coal Gasification project at Kingaroy. The group, which claims shareholders have $25 million invested in the project, has been writing to politicians and the media alleging State Government "discrimination" against Cougar Energy and UCG in favour of Coal Seam Gasification (CSG). They claim some CSG companies have reported 2ppb benzene contamination at their operations without any action being taken. Spokesman Cameron Buchanan, from the Gold Coast, told SBBiz yesterday he believed Cougar Energy had been made a scapegoat. "I believe in this company and I know the technology works," he said. Mr Buchanan said the UCG process which Cougar had licensed for Australia was developed by Canadian company Ergo Exergy Technologies and was successfully operating in South Africa. Other plants using the same technology were under construction in Canada and New Zealand. He said everyone had also "forgotten" about a successful 1999 trial of UCG technology at Chinchilla which Cougar Energy Managing Director Dr Len Walker had initiated and which ran until 2002. The shareholders group has labelled the State Government's handling of the Kingaroy project as a "disgraceful fiasco demanding public and media scrutiny". It also alleged local MP Dorothy Pratt moved from initially supporting the project to attacking it because to have done otherwise would have been "political suicide" in the wake of protests by local farmers. Cougar Energy has until February 28 to appeal the State Government's decision to axe the Kingaroy project.

Kingaroy To Host Queensland Training Awards Regional Final February 17, 2011 - The Queensland Training Awards - which recognise outstanding trainees, apprentices and their workplaces - are celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2011 - and Kingaroy will be playing a special role. Competitors from all over the Darling Downs and south-west Queensland will be coming to Kingaroy on July 29 for the announcement of the regional award winners at a gala event at Kingaroy Town Hall. The regional winners will then compete in the State Final in September and, if successful, will take part in the Australian Training Awards competition which will be held in Brisbane in November. Regional QTA Co-Ordinator Scott Jones-Christ, (pictured, above right, with Sharon French, Murgon SHS, and Leanne Krosch, Kingaroy SHS), briefed attendees about the awards at the first SATS Committee meeting for 2011, held in Kingaroy yesterday. The SATS (School-based Apprentices and Trainees) Committee consists of representatives from local high schools, group training companies, SQIT Kingaroy and other training organisations. Mr Jones-Christ said a new category had been introduced to the Awards this year: VET teacher / Trainer of the Year which will recognise excellence by an individual in vocational training delivery. Other categories are: Apprentice of the Year, Trainee of the Year, Vocational Student of the Year, School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year, Small Employer of the Year and Employer of the Year. Nominations for all categories close on March 18. For more information, visit the QTA website or contact Mr Jones-Christ on (07) 4687-2833. * * * Rival wine tourism regions the South Burnett and the Granite Belt could soon find themselves under the umbrella of the same tourism promotion body if a likely merger takes place. The Warwick Daily News is reporting today that a majority of tourism operators in the Southern Downs and Granite Belt are supportive of a merger between their Regional Tourism Organisation and the Toowoomba Golden West RTO which the South Burnett also recently joined. Read the full report here

Kingaroy Water Almost Back To Normal February 16, 2011 - The South Burnett Regional Council has lifted the emergency water supply conditions imposed on Kingaroy residents after a major water main broke on Monday. Council announced late today that the water main had been repaired and the town's reservoir levels were approaching normal. Residents can now revert to back to Level 1 Water Restrictions however there may be some incidents of dirty water over the next few days.

Kingaroy Water Update February 14, 2011 - Kingaroy has experienced a severe break in the water main supplying the town. The South Burnett Regional Council has advised that the town is now under Emergency Water Supply Arrangements. No external use of water is allowed unless for cleaning of vehicle windscreens, mirrors and pet enclosures or for emergency purposes. Council is endeavouring to repair the main and will advise on any change to the situation. UPDATE February 15: Council expects to finish repairing the main late this afternoon. Pumping has resumed to Kingaroy with a limited flow however water supplies are not expected to return to normal until Wednesday (Feb 16). In the meantime, residents have been advised that dirty water may be experienced intermittently due to low reservoir levels so it is recommended clothes washing be delayed. Local Road Damage Update: Road closure information (updated 3:30pm). NB. Repairs have started on the D'Aguilar Highway just north of Yarraman. Traffic lights may cause some small delays.

Skilling Solutions May Be The Answer February 10, 2011 - Have you got skills and experience but need the "piece of paper" to prove it? Then this may be what you're looking for! The State Government's free training and career information service Skilling Solutions Queensland regularly visits Kingaroy and Murgon to talk to people who are looking for a career change, want to up-skill or re-enter the workforce. The team usually visits Murgon on the 3rd Monday of every month from 12:30pm-4:30pm and Kingaroy on the 3rd Tuesday of every month (9.00am-5.00pm) and 3rd Wednesday (9.00am-1.00pm). However, due to disruptions caused by the recent weather, their next visits will be: Murgon - Monday, February 14, at CTC Employment, 76B Lamb Street, Murgon; and Kingaroy - Tuesday, February 15, and Wednesday morning, February 16 at the Southern Qld Institute of TAFE, Geritz Road, Kingaroy Customers of Skilling Solutions Queensland may be eligible for a subsidy of up to $1000, depending on the qualification being sought. Local Road Damage Update: The South Burnett Regional Council announced today that the Bunya Mountains Road is now open at Burtons Well. However, there are areas where work is still continuing and the road is "one lane" only near the Alice Creek Road intersection where a 40km/h speed zone is in place. Road closure information (updated 3:30pm). NB. Kingaroy-Burrandowan Road is now open but drive with extreme caution. * * * The South Burnett Mayor's 2011 Flood Appeal has raised more than $23,000 so far to assist local SES groups. Cr David Carter announced on Facebook today that more than $8000 had been raised at Wondai. Heritage Nanango Community Branch has contributed $10,000.

2011 Peanut Festival Axed February 9, 2011 - The 50-year history of the Kingaroy Peanut Festival looks to be over with a decision last night to cancel the 2011 Festival - which had been set down for June 4 - and a recommendation that Peanut Festival Inc be wound up. A meeting of the not-for-profit Incorporated Association held in Kingaroy was told community support for the Festival was lacking. There had also been little response from advertisements calling for volunteers in the local newspaper. It was feared that local businesses - which are suffering a trading slump - wouldn't be able to offer strong support for the 2011 event. Final blows were the failure to secure State Government Queensland Day funding, which it had been hoped would offset the cost of re-locating the festival back to the Kingaroy CBD, and the resignation of the Association's Secretary. Peanut Festival Inc successfully ran the 2009 Festival - achieving a small profit - after taking over from the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A Special General Meeting of Peanut Festival Inc will be held from 5:30pm in Shed 1 at the South Burnett Enterprise Centre on March 29 to consider motions to officially wind up the Association.

Afloman Targets Disease Risk For Peanut Growers February 8, 2011 - An online computer program designed to help local peanut growers minimise quality issues during drought, can now help the same growers assess the risk of their crops developing leaf disease during wet growing seasons such as we're now experiencing. The Afloman website - which was developed by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Industry (formerly the DPI&F) in conjunction with PCA, the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC), the Agricultural Production Systems Research Unit (APSRU) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) - allows growers to gain updates from sample growing areas at Kumbia, Wooroolin, Memerambi and Coalstoun Lakes. A new drop-down menu allows growers to select either "Aflo" or "FDR" (foliar disease risk) charts. The FDR menu leads to graphs that assess the risk of rust and leafspot diseases. Peanut growers are also given the opportunity on the website to register to join the Afloman program which will then provide real-time estimates of risk in their own individual paddocks. For more information about Afloman, contact Dr Yash Chauhan at DEEDI - Primary Industries and Fisheries - Kingaroy on (07) 4160-0700. * * * Cougar Energy, the company behind the failed UCG project near Kingaroy, has hired PricewaterhouseCoopers Securities Limited to find investors. In a statement today to the ASX, Cougar Energy said PwCS would approach "a select number of companies" to explore options including investment in Cougar Energy as well as merger and acquisition opportunities in Australia and/or offshore.