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Ergon Empowers Local Women February 21, 2012 - Two new apprentices from the South Burnett are among four women from across regional Queensland to become the first to break into the traditionally male role of working on powerlines. Kingaroy's Rachel Gregory and Murgon's Michelle Howson, (right), are among 72 new recruits starting work with Ergon Energy after one of its largest intakes on record. Rachel and Michelle, who have been employed as apprentice distribution linespersons, attended a week-long induction in Brisbane recently which included health, safety and environmental awareness training. They are now undertaking their first block of technical training before starting work at the Kingaroy and Murgon depots. "The apprentices were chosen from more 2000 applicants for the sought-after positions," Ergon Chief Executive Mr Ian McLeod said. * * * Meet Wondai's famous - or infamous - emu which starred in the recent media frenzy, (see SBBiz, January 29). Thank you, Arthur, for sending it to us! PS. Comedian Mandy Nolan, who sparked the controversy by calling Wondai a "sh*thole", seems to have done well out of the furore. Her regular column normally draws only a couple of hundred readers. Her column about Wondai, in comparison, attracted more than 1400 hits, mostly from outraged South Burnett residents, we presume. * * * Regional Development Australia Wide Bay Burnett will hold two workshops in the South Burnett next month so that local residents can provide input on RDA WBB activities. The workshops will be held in Kingaroy on March 22 from 2:00pm-5:00pm at the Kingaroy RSL; and on March 23 from 9:00am-11:00am at the TAFE Nurunderi campus at Cherbourg. For more information, contact RDA WBB on (07) 4125-9272.

Blackout Caused By High Voltage Powerline February 20, 2012 - Ergon Energy crews had to restring high and low voltage powerlines to restore the power supply to Kingaroy customers on Saturday night. The power supply to about 900 customers in the town area was interrupted about 7:30pm when high voltage powerlines came down in William Street. Although the powerlines were not live, police officers remained at the scene to ensure public safety until Ergon Energy crews arrived. The crews initially isolated the damaged section of line so power could be restored to all apart from about 150 customers in the immediate area by 9:30pm. They then completed the repairs to the high-voltage powerlines and also the low-voltage powerlines supplying a street light so power could be fully restored about 10:20pm.

LNP Says 'No' To Acland Mine Expansion February 20, 2012 - LNP Candidate for Nanango Deb Frecklington says she has had a win within the party over the proposed expansion of the Acland coal mine. "After months of lobbying by myself, Ray Hopper and Jeff Seeney, the LNP has made it clear that it will not support the proposal for Acland Stage 3 that would see the expansion of the open cut coal mine digging up strategic cropping land," she said today. If elected, the LNP would introduce Statutory Regional Planning Schemes to protect strategic cropping land. "The fact this regional planning didn't happen a long time ago is just another sign that this 20-year-old Labor government simply doesn't care about regional Queensland," Mrs Frecklington said. She also warned against voting for minor parties or Independents. "Katter's Australia Party has refused to rule out supporting Labor after the election, meaning a vote for Carl Rackemann this election risks three more years of Anna Bligh and Labor," she said. "Anna Bligh is hoping locals will vote for a minor party or an independent this election, meaning we could end up in the same mess we see in Canberra." ABOVE RIGHT: LNP Member for Southern Downs Lawrence Springborg, Federal Parliamentary Leader of The Nationals Warren Truss, Federal LNP Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott and LNP Candidate for Nanango Deb Frecklington in Kumbia at the weekend * * * KAP Candidate for Nanango Carl Rackemann, (right), has "thanked" Senator Barnaby Joyce, claiming the Senator "endorsed" him during his recent visit to Kingaroy (see SBBiz, February 17) He said he was amused to hear about Senator Joyce's comments. "Senator Joyce made a special point of highlighting the boxes that needed that to be ticked by a prospective representative of the people. He said how important it was to know about the land and know the South Burnett," Mr Rackemann said. "I appreciate his endorsement of myself as he may be unaware that my family has been in this district for 114 years, so I might know a bit about it. I live and work on our family farm, so I might know a thing or two about the land as well. "The really disappointing thing is that Senator Joyce made a big point of the importance of having small business experience. Is the LNP position that farms are not recognised as small businesses?" "Senator Joyce also highlighted the need to be a part of the team making decisions. "Should we thank his team for the decisions to deregulate the dairy and sugar industries, introduce gun and tree-clearing laws and most recently support the State Labor Government in making many pocket knives illegal?" * * * Retiring Nanango MP Dorothy Pratt says the State Parliament has too much power. She has told the ABC that an Upper House is needed to stop Ministers dictating "basically what the whole of the state" does.

It Was Better Than All Right! February 17, 2012 - Ex-Redgum members John Schumann and Hugh McDonald, with their band The Vagabond Crew, rocked the Kingaroy Town Hall forecourt last night to help spread the word about health and well-being. A crowd of more than 500 sang and clapped along as the band performed on the Town Hall steps. Glendon Street was closed to allow displays from a range of health providers. Local award-winning country music performer Amber Goldsmith,(right), won over the crowd at the start of the night with her performance of her self-penned pieces as well as popular covers. The evening was presented by the Centre For Rural and Remote Mental Health in association with Centacare South Burnett, the Qld Alliance For Mental Health, RHealth and Stanwell - Tarong Power Station.

Senator Bowls Over LNP Candidate February 17, 2012 - National Party Senate Leader Barnaby Joyce visited Kingaroy this week to meet local residents and provide moral support for LNP candidate for Nanango Deb Frecklington in the upcoming State election. More than 115 people heard Senator Joyce speak at the Booie Bella Vista on Wednesday night. He then did the rounds of local radio stations yesterday. He was particularly scathing about how the Federal Government's Regional Development Australia Fund has ignored projects in rural areas in favour of projects in city areas - including an art gallery in Newcastle, $10m to the Geelong Football Club and the construction of a ring-road in Perth - while genuine projects in rural areas, including extensions to a Kingaroy kindergarten, missed out. Speaking to SBBiz, Senator Joyce said the LNP would win the 2012 Queensland election. "Let's be completely ruthless. Who do you want to represent you? Do you want someone who is part of the government or someone who is sitting in the stands?" he said. "It's not a personality contest. It's about who can deliver the best outcome." Using a cricket analogy, Senator Joyce said to achieve anything, a player needed to be on the field. "You need to be on the field with the team, probably in slips standing close to the captain. Carl Rackemann was a brilliant cricketer and I'm sure he's a decent bloke, but the reality in the political game is that you've got to be standing next to the person who's making the decisions. "You can scream and yell from the stands all you like but the people in the middle won't hear you." He sang Deb Frecklington's praises: "She has the core characteristics, the core traits ... she knows about the land, she knows about the South Burnett, she's clever and strong enough to get stuck into study to get a law degree. She ticks a lot of the boxes that we need." She was also running a successful small business. "If you can't run a small business, you can't run an economy and you can't run a state," Senator Joyce said. He said voters should always ask "How much is it going to cost?", "Where is the money coming from?" and "Is that the best project to spend the money on?" whenever they heard "random" promises from would-be MPs. "You can't promise them golf courses on the moon because you can't deliver it," he said. The reality in Queensland was that there was no money in the bank. "The credit card is maxxed out," he said. Senator Joyce will be visiting Kumbia at the weekend. ABOVE RIGHT: Deb Frecklington and Barnaby Joyce meet some Kingaroy locals, Maggie, D'Arcy and Zac Hay who were on their way to school

Delegates Inspect Plans For New Ambulance Station February 16, 2012 - Local Ambulance Committee delegates inspected plans for the new Kingaroy Ambulance Station, (above and below), at their Area meeting held in Kingaroy last weekend. The delegates - from Buderim, Caloundra, Cooroy, Gympie, Kingaroy, Murgon, Nanango and Yarraman - also discussed the increase of paramedic staffing levels at Nanango ambulance station and the associated building works which would have to be completed to accommodate them. Suzette Dakin and Linley Macleod, (above right), from the Cooroy LAC, presented information about the LAC's Community Safety Program and answered questions about the "Rescue Roos" project which is a volunteer program to teach school students from prep to Year 7 the basics of first aid. The new Kingaroy Ambulance Station will feature a plant room that can house six vehicles, a multi-purpose training area with kitchen and rest/study areas, locker room, storage areas, shower and offices.

Nanango Candidates Invited To Forum February 15, 2012 - The Australian Christian Lobby will be holding a Candidate Forum in Kingaroy next Monday night (February 20) so that voters in the State seat of Nanango can compare candidates and party policies. The forum will be held from 7:00pm at the Church of Christ Hall, 254 Haly Street, Kingaroy. All candidates who have put up their hands so far for Nanango have been invited to attend. The ACL is a Christian lobby group which is not aligned with any denomination or political party. A spokesman for the group told SBBiz today the the purpose of the forum was for Christian voters to meet the candidates, discuss the issues and make up their own minds. * * * Hand Made In Country will be holding a workshop in Kingaroy next month for local artists and craftspeople to have a say about the future direction of the project. Handmade in Country is an initiative of Toowoomba Golden West and South Burnett Tourism and Southern Downs Tourism. The workshop will be held on March 3 at Taste South Burnett, 67 William Street, from 9:30am-11:30am. RSVP to organiser Julie McMurtrie by email

Community Bank Has $30,000 To Share February 15, 2012 - South Burnett Community Enterprises Limited, the company that operates the Yarraman & District Community Bank Branch and Blackbutt branch, will launch the bank's annual Community Grants Program at a information evening in Yarraman tonight. Chairman Frank Smith said he was pleased to announce that the Board had increased the total for grants amount from $25,000 to $30,000 for 2012. "Since opening our doors in 2005, we have seen our business grow, and this brings huge rewards for local people who may not have the financial support they seek without the support of their local Community Bank Branch," Mr Smith said. "Our community continues to tell us about the many worthy projects in the South Burnett community, and thanks to our customers, our local Community Bank can contribute to these important initiatives and organisations. The more a community gets behind its local Community Bank branch, the more it can return funds to support local projects and future sustainability." Community groups to receive grants in 2011 included: Tanduringie State School P&C - $6600 for shade covers for the school sandpits. Yarraman & District Community Kindergarten - $4000 for a patio Blackbutt Singers - $3000 for uniforms Bloomin' Beautiful Blackbutt Festival - $2870 towards promotion. Yarraman & District Historical Society Community Radio - $2320 to fund outside broadcasting equipment Blackbutt Golf Club - $2000 for chairs Yarraman Memorial Society - $1960 for Queensland's Flood Relief Appeal Blackbutt District Tourism and Heritage - $1918.20 for office equipment Timbertowns Woodworking Group Inc - $798 to fund health and safety equipment Yarraman & District Historical Society Inc - $750 to purchase new fridge Students' Christmas project - $750 to fund craft Tonight's function will be held from 7:00pm at the Yarraman Memorial Hall in Browne Street. For more information, contact Anne Woodrow at Yarraman & District Community Bank Branch on (07) 4163-8162 or visit the website. Applications close on March 14, 2012. The Yarraman & Blackbutt Community Grants Program will offer grants to charitable and not-for-profit organisations for the benefit of the Yarraman, Blackbutt and surrounding communities. * * * Lynnelle Richardson's popular Network 5 for local businesswomen will be holding "Drinks on the Ridge" from 5:30pm on February 22 at Sunny Ridge Gardens. Cost is $19 which includes a cold drink on arrival (alcoholic or non) plus High Tea sweet and savoury treats. Bookings can be made online or by contacting Lynnelle on 0419-719-120.

Fishing Bonanza At Boondooma Dam February 14, 2012 - More than 640 competitors - just short of the all-time record - weighed in 471 fish at the 22nd Boondooma Dam Yellowbelly Fishing Competition held at the dam at the weekend. Adult angler Graham Scanlan, Proston, had the heaviest Yellowbelly at 2.095kg. Graham won a Lowrance Fish Finder sponsored by the Lake Boondooma Kiosk. Adult angler Kathleen Elliott, Proston, had the heaviest Australian Bass at 1.720kg. Kathleen won a trophy and prize money sponsored by Wondai Accounting and Tax Services. There were an impressive 132 junior anglers. Hanwood Fish Hatchery champion juniors were Maitland Collins, Nanango, who weighed-in a 1.805kg Yellowbelly and Blake Manthey, Nanango, with a 1.2kg Australian Bass. Major prize winning draws for Yellowbelly, Australian Bass, Silver Perch, Jew and Spangled Perch were won by Amanda Boyce, Toowoomba; Ashley Davies, Meringandan; Louise McHugh, Bell, Keith Eastment, Moores Pocket, and Kathy Dennis, Proston. The event provided an enormous boost to the local economy with more than 1400 campers enjoying the dam facilities. Mark your calendars ... the 2013 competition will be held on February 9-10, 2013. ABOVE RIGHT: Boondooma Dam Fish Stocking Group president Glenn Munro with Graham Scanlan, the winner of the heaviest Australian Bass LEFT: Kathleen Elliott who caught the heaviest Australian Bass

Road Crews Heading To Ironpot February 13, 2012 - The South Burnett Regional Council has prioritised road repairs in the Ironpot area following a reassessment by Council staff. This follows action by local residents who approached Council recently to push their case for urgent repairs. Division 6 councillor Cheryl Dalton inspected the roads in question and then spoke with SBRC Chief Executive Officer Ken McLoughlin. Burra Burri Road at Johnson Gully has been closed temporarily and a detour put in place. Council staff will work on a temporary repair so the road can be reopened as soon as possible. Permanent repairs will be completed at a future date by Flood Restoration contractors. Road shoulders will also be repaired on the Kingaroy-Burrandowan and Ironpot roads and patching completed on the floodway on Ironpot Road near the Kingaroy-Burrandowan Road intersection. UPDATE: Residents in the same area who had been pressing to improve their telephone links, (SBBiz, January 23) have also had a win. The work on replacing the radio link between Chahpingah and Chilton Hill has now been completed. * * * The South Burnett Regional Council has put out a media release slamming the "Anna Bligh" government for forcing councils to put fluoride into water supplies. Mayor David Carter said the scheme would cost the SBRC about $300,000 a year in operation and maintenance costs. He said this was "one of many examples of the State Government making a decision and forcing the on-going costs onto Council". "These costs have been passed down to the ratepayers of the South Burnett, but they did not vote for it nor do they get a say in whether they can opt out of this scheme," he said. "This is clearly about cost shifting between two levels of government, with the Bligh government introducing this scheme and not funding it for its whole of life costs. The State government then sits back and lets Council take the heat from the ratepayers despite this not being a decision of Council. "It is about time the State government acted with more integrity when making decisions and not keep cutting into the little money that Councils have, when we are desperately trying to pay for the essential services delivered to our community." Cr Carter said he would write to all of the Nanango and Callide electorate candidates and party leaders requesting in writing their position on this matter. Is there an election in the air? How Council originally announced this news in December 2010

Would-Be MPs In The Media Spotlight February 13, 2012 - The tussle for the State seat of Nanango played out again in the city media at the weekend with stories in the Sunday papers featuring both LNP candidate Deb Frecklington and Katter's Australian Party candidate Carl Rackemann. Frecklington was one of three LNP candidates tipped by the Sunday Mail to be promoted straight into Cabinet if elected. The other two LNP newbies are Lisa France (Pumicestone) and Saxon Rice (Mount Coot-tha). The Sun-Herald reported Bob Katter and other KAP candidates took part in a "flash mob" dance at the party's National Conference in Brisbane. On a more serious note, Rackemann was one of a number of guest speakers who addressed the conference, alongside radio personality Alan Jones (who appeared on videotape). He told the conference audience it was "time for a change". Campbell Newman plans "jobs for the girls" in an LNP Cabinet Bob Katter's "flash mob" in action at the KAP conference in Brisbane on Saturday Katter party promises to reduce market share of Woolworths and Coles (PDF) * * * To avoid clashes with other events in South Burnett, the 2012 Colours of Yarraman Festival will now be held on October 19-21. All the highlights of the inaugural event will be back, including a garden competition, art and photography competitions and garden tours. There'll also be a Blue Light Disco on the Friday night, a Saturday night dinner-dance and a weekend of sporting competitions.

Lucky Envelope Van Served Kingaroy Faithfully February 10, 2012 - The Kingaroy Local Ambulance Committee's hardworking Lucky Envelope caravan is now enjoying a well-earned retirement. The van had been in use for at least 40 years. Long-term paramedic Barney Wyatt recalled it was always parked in the loading zone near the zebra crossing in Kingaroy Street when he started with the Ambulance in 1977. Back then, the money raised was used to pay one officer's wages. "There was a dollar-for-dollar subsidy from the State Government," Barney said. The van was manned by volunteers, with relief from ambulance staff when required, and tickets were 20 cents each. It was moved into place at 6:00am on weekdays and returned to the ambulance station at 4:30pm. On Saturdays, it was open from 6:00am-noon. It was also a familiar sight at the Burrandowan Picnic Races, Kingaroy Peanut and Christmas carnivals and the Kingaroy Show. The van has now been retired to the ambulance section of the Highfields Museum. * * * Local Ambulance Committee members will be meeting in Kingaroy tomorrow to discuss various matters including community safety programs and the upcoming North Coast Regional Conference which will be held in Kingaroy on August 31-September 1. The regional conference, which will be held in the Tobruk Room at the Kingaroy RSL, will attract LAC delegates from the Sunshine Coast, North and Central Burnett as well as across the South Burnett.

Thiess Wins $325m Gas Contract February 9, 2012 - Thiess has won a $325 million contract from coal seam gas producer QGC Pty Limited to construct gas processing facilities about 30km north-west of Dalby. The six field compression stations and one central processing plant will process gas for transport via an underground pipeline to Gladstone. On Curtis Island, off Gladstone, the gas will be converted into liquefied natural gas for export. Work on the stations - which will be located between Dalby and Chinchilla - will begin this month and is expected to be completed in April next year. At its peak the project will employ about 570 workers. Thiess said it would look to maximise local sub-contractors and suppliers during the project, and would seek to recruit employees from areas around the site. Video about new Thiess gas project * * * Gordonbrook Dam was reopened yesterday for limited boating and recreational use. The South Burnett Regional Council said algae levels at the dam have fallen to "moderate". Only boats with electric motors (max 6 knots) will be able to use the dam, as will man-powered vessels such as kayaks and canoes. No ski-boats, jet skis or other fuel-powered boats are permitted. * * * Graham House Community Centre at Murgon will receive $230,952 from the State Government over the next three years to help vulnerable local families who need support to get back on track. Community Services Minister Karen Struthers said Graham House provided access to specialist services such as counselling and community education. "The funding will specifically target families who face problems such as domestic and family violence, mental illness and abuse of drugs, alcohol or other substances." she said. * * * Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies Tim Mulherin yesterday announced more than $61,000 funding to assist local groups in the South Burnett area. The grants came from the final round of the Building Rural Communities Fund. Successful applicants were: South Burnett Community Orchestra - $8500 Toowoomba, Golden West and South Burnett Tourism - $15,000 Bell Bunya Community Association Inc - $4399 South Burnett Arts (South Burnett Youth Choir) - $15,000 Bloomin' Beautiful Blackbutt Festival - $12,751

Rackemann Tipped To Win Nanango February 9, 2012 - Election analyst Malcolm Mackerras has predicted that Katter party candidate Carl Rackemann will win the State seat of Nanango, one of just four seats he has tipped the new party could take at the upcoming Queensland election. Interviewed by the Fairfax media today, Mackerras also expects Katter's Australian Party to be successful in Mt Isa (where Katter's son Robbie is standing), Beaudesert and Dalrymple. Other pundits agreed with this assessment, emphasising it was unlikely the party would be able to replicate the One Nation landslide of 1998. Carl will be heading to Brisbane this weekend to take part in the Katter Australian Party's first "national convention". Topics include a moratorium on Coal Seam Gas mining, State assets and "the removal of unnecessary restrictions" on Queenslanders. In a media release about the convention, Carl said he was deeply concerned about the direction successive governments were taking Australia. He was particularly critical of the Howard Federal Government's deregulation of the dairy industry in 2000. Before deregulation Queensland had more than 1500 dairy farmers, he said. "We now have about 560 and found ourselves last winter importing 1 million litres of milk per week from southern States," he said. Katter unlikely to repeat the success of One Nation, say pundits Katter predicts he'll seize 34pc of the vote

Cougar Energy Presses Ahead With Appeal February 8, 2011 - Cougar Energy advised shareholders yesterday that it intends to continue with its appeal against the State Government's closure of its Coolabunia Underground Coal Gasification site. In a statement to the ASX, Cougar said the company would seek to have a full hearing set down before the Planning and Environment Court "at the earliest possible date". A directions hearing on the matter is scheduled for March 1. On December 21, the Queensland Planning and Environment Court dismissed an application by Cougar seeking a stay of conditions that required it to decommission and rehabilitate its UCG site. Cougar said yesterday it would not appeal this decision but it had "no relevance or bearing" upon its Planning and Environment Court appeal. Cougar is also proceeding with its damages writ against the State Government and several DERM officials (see SBBiz, October 17, 2011). It expects this matter to go to trial later this year. Three charges against Cougar which allege breaches of the Environmental Protection Act are due back in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on February 23. * * * Ergon Energy volunteers from the South Burnett have gone west to help restore power to the flood-affected communities of Roma and Mitchell. General Manager Service Delivery Paul Jordon said more than 20 staff from Maryborough, Hervey Bay, Kingaroy and Murgon had volunteered for the task. "They arrived in Roma on Sunday and are making a real difference," he said. "More than 1000 customers have been reconnected since the floods peaked." Mr Jordon said Ergon Energy crews had a history of supporting their colleagues and communities in disaster zones. "But we are always careful to ensure sufficient resources remain at their home depots to respond to any emergency situations that could arise," he said. * * * Yesterday afternoon's wild storm caused about 5700 Ergon Energy customers in the Nanango and Yarraman areas to lose power. Tree branches fell onto main high-voltage powerlines about 10km south of Kingaroy at 4:15pm. Power was restored to customers about 6:00pm by re-energising the Nanango substation from another high-voltage powerline. Ergon crews subsequently removed the tree debris from the powerlines so the network could be returned to its normal configuration. An intermittent fault connected to the same storm caused about 930 customers on the West Kingaroy feeder to lose power at 4:09am this morning. Power was restored successfully at 4:24am.

Greens Back Coopers Gap Wind Farm February 7, 2012 - The Greens candidate for Nanango Grant Newson has come out in support of AGL's proposed Coopers Gap wind farm, saying it will boost the economy, create jobs and reduce electricity prices. "It is urgent that we find renewable energy sources that tackle climate change and ensure Queensland remains economically competitive into the future," he said. "Unlike coal and coal seam gas, wind turbines have negligible impact on water resources and food producing land. "After the initial set-up costs, wind farms deliver energy that is practically free of charge and emissions-free. They're also very beautiful and have the potential to become tourist attractions." While not wanting to dismiss people's concerns, Mr Newson said it was important that the decision about Coopers Gap be based on facts and solid research. "Wind farms have been used in Europe and America for many years and there are no credible, peer-reviewed studies that indicate wind farms directly impact human health. By contract, burning fossil fuels causes serious and well-documented health problems including cancer, heart disease and respiratory disorders," he said. He said wind turbine blades were responsible for only a very small percentage of bird deaths (approximately 0.02%), far fewer than those caused by cars, cats, powerlines or birds flying into glass windows. "I can be sure every person would rather have a wind turbine on their property than either an open cut coal mine, CSG well or UCG plant," he said. The blue dots show the nominal position of the wind turbines proposed for the Cooranga North / Boyneside areas

Prospector Buys Two Coal Exploration Permits February 7, 2012: Mining Projects Group Limited has entered into an agreement to buy two prospective coal exploration permits in the Kingaroy, Wondai and Murgon areas. The Exploration Permits For Coal Applications, (right), cover approximately 1030sq km of land straddling the Bunya and D'Aguilar highways. Mining Projects Groups - which has extensive holdings in South Africa - has entered into an Heads of Agreement to purchase Delcarmen Energy Limited for $1 million. Delcarmen has filed the two EPCAs, ie applications for EPC 2527 and EPC 2528. In a statement to the ASX today, Mining Projects Group chairman Bryan Frost said an initial geological study of the area suggested the potential for high energy thermal coal and well as semi-soft coking coal. However "any potential quantity and grade is conceptual in nature and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the determination of a coal resource". He also noted that "existing rail infrastructure" - presumably the currently closed Kingaroy-Theebine rail line - runs through the tenements. Mining Group Projects will seek to raise up to $800,000 by a share issue to provide working capital to proceed with the project. UPDATE February 29: Mining Projects Group announced yesterday that it had completed its due diligence and intends to proceed with its acquisition of Delcarmen. The company said an initial study of the geological prospectiveness of the EPCAs suggests the area demonstrates potential for high energy thermal coal as well as semi-soft coking coal. However any potential quantity and grade is "conceptual in nature" and "it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the determination of a coal resource". MPJ's first step after acquisition would be to engage an independent consultant to develop a conceptual target and initial drill program. * * * The remaining obstacle for the sale of PCA's Northern Territory properties has been removed with the release of the Draft Water Allocation Plan for the Oolloo Aquifer by the Northern Territory government. This was the one outstanding condition in regards to the sale of PCA's Katherine properties (see SBBiz, January 16). Settlement is now expected to occur on February 13, 2012. * * * South Burnett Regional Council and the Kingaroy Landcare Group will be holding a Parthenium Management workshop at the Cherbourg Conference Centre (Bert Button Lookout) on Friday, February 24. The workshop, from 9:00am-11:00am, will cover identification, treatment techniques, grazing land management practices to assist with control, and weed hygiene. For more information - and to RSVP - contact Natural Resource Management Officer Denise Whyte on (07) 4189-9122 by February 22.

Mariner Corp Buys Major Stake In PCA February 6, 2012 - Corporate investor Mariner Corporation has secured a substantial shareholding in the Kingaroy-based Peanut Company of Australia after purchasing a 19.83% stake in the company. Mariner announced its purchase to the ASX last Thursday. PCA majority shareholder GPG Nominees Pty Ltd - a subsidiary of the Guinness Peat Group - sold 1,441,039 shares to Mariner, reducing its holding in the unlisted company from 24.78% to 4.95%. A new management team headed by Darren Olney-Fraser took control of Mariner in November 2010. According to its website, Mariner is now focussed on exploring and pursuing investment opportunities that have emerged as a result of the GFC. "Mariner will identify investment opportunities where change is occurring, because change creates value," the website says. "We can drive change through mergers and acquisitions, consolidation and aggregation, company restructuring, and bringing in the right people to execute a clear strategy for a growing business. We will make meaningful, strategic investments in other listed companies, agitate for change at board level where warranted, and work with management to deliver improved results." Mariner sailing happily into food business * * * Wondai residents may soon have a taxi service again. South Burnett mayor David Carter said the service would go out to tender before the end of this month. The Wondai taxi service stopped in 2010.

It'll Be Alright In The Long Run February 3, 2012 - Former Redgum singers John Schumann and Hugh McDonald and their band The Vagabond Crew will be bringing a message of hope to the South Burnett next week in a free concert in the Dr Ellen Kent Hughes Forecourt (outside Kingaroy Town Hall). Joining them on stage will be award-winning Nanango country music artist Amber Goldsmith. "It'll Be Alright In The Long Run" is a free community event to promote health and well-being. It's being brought to the region by the Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health in association with Centacare South Burnett, the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health, RHealth, and Tarong Power Station - Stanwell. The concert - and a free barbecue - will start at 6:00pm on Thursday, February 16. There'll be free buses running from both Blackbutt and Goomeri. To book a seat, contact Centacare South Burnett on (07) 4162-5439 or by email Redgum were one of Australia's most popular folk bands during the 1970s and 1980s. Their hits included "I Was Only 19" and "I've Been To Bali, Too". The title for the Kingaroy concert comes from the Redgum track "Long Run", below:

Tarong Signs Up 11 New Faces February 2, 2012 - Congratulations to the 11 new MRAEL apprentices and trainees who have started work recently at Stanwell Corporation's Tarong power stations. The latest intake brings the number of apprentices and trainees at Tarong to 29. Pictured above are: Back row, Dave Layton (Apprentice Electrical Fitter Mechanic) Nanango, Cameron Kerr (Apprentice Mechanical Fitter & Turner) Nanango, Craig Sippel (Warehousing Operations Trainee) Kingaroy, Jim Ryan (Apprentice Electrical Fitter Mechanic) Cooyar, Ashley Carroll (Apprentice Electrical Fitter Mechanic) Kingaroy, Ashley Bird (Apprentice Boilermaker) Kingaroy, Leigh Devlin (Apprentice Mechanical Fitter & Turner) Kingaroy, Robbie Hartley (Rigging Trainee) Nanango, Skip Litzow (Apprentice Electrical Fitter Mechanic) Kingaroy, Frances Ross (Apprentice Specialist - MRAEL), Aimee Sutcliffe (Learning & Development Coordinator - Stanwell), Helen De Vries (Business Administration Trainee) Yarraman, and Jayde Heckendorf (Business Administration Trainee) Kingaroy. Front row, Richard Van Breda (Acting Chief Executive Officer - Stanwell), Dennis Franklin (Site Manager Tarong - Stanwell) and Rob Woodall (Maintenance Manager - Stanwell) * * * The South Burnett Regional Council, in conjunction with DEEDI and the Australian Industry Group, will present a SMART Exhibiting workshop for small businesses in Kingaroy later this month. The workshop will be presented by events trainer Ron McDermott, who has been presenting exhibitor education workshops and seminars across Australia for the past 10 years. It will cover how to make the most of your exhibition space, how to plan for the event and how to bring your show to life. The cost is $25, which includes a handbook, tool kit and morning tea. The workshop will be held at the Taabinga Road at the DEEDI Service Centre opposite Kingaroy Airport (the former DPI complex). To book, contact the AI Group on (07) 3244-1727 or by email * * * Toowoomba Regional Council Deputy Mayor Paul Antonio and councillor Joe Ramia have announced they will be challenging Mayor Peter Taylor at the April council elections. Prior to amalgamation, Cr Antonio was mayor of Millmerran Shire Council for eight years and Cr Ramia was Deputy Mayor of the former Toowoomba City Council. * * * Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney has sponsored an E-petition to State Parliament from a Cherbourg resident critical of the "ineffective" Youth Justice Act. Katina Leedie has attracted 28 signatures so far for her online petition which aims to draw the attention of MPs to juvenile crime. The petition calls on the Minister for Community Services Karen Struthers to conduct a major overhaul of the Youth Justice Act 1992 with particular reference to the enforcement of restitution and compensation.