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A Bauxite Future For Kingaroy? November 19, 2009 - A report in today's Toowoomba Chronicle has hinted that a bauxite mine and aluminium refinery could form part of the South Burnett's future. Sydney-based bauxite explorer Volcan Holdings has applied for mineral exploration permits at Kingaroy, Childers, Pittsworth, Ravenshoe and Atherton. Volcan chairperson Mrs Pnina Feldman told the newspaper they wouldn't have taken up the tenements if they didn't think they were worth it. She said world demand for aluminium was growing and her company had received a lot of investor interest. In a project report (2Mb PDF), Volcan Group Chief Geoscientist Dr Simon Pecover said extensive deposits had been located previously at Kingaroy. Exploration almost 10 years ago had located major deposits considered to be suitable for establishing local alumina refineries using the Bayer process. The Bayer Process involves washing the ore in a very hot solution of caustic soda converting the alumina to aluminium hydroxide and creating a leftover red mud. Volcan Australia's application area in the South Burnett

Encapsulate Your Memories With Rotary November 18, 2009 - The Rotary Club of Kingaroy is celebrating its 60th birthday by preparing a time capsule which will be buried on Australia Day next year. It has invited all local businesses, corporations and families interested in preserving their history of this time to purchase an envelope from the club to store their memorabilia. Items to be included should not be affected by future changes in technology ... will anyone know what a CD is in 2048? Envelope sizes are A3 (corporate - $500), A4 (business - $200) and DL (family - $75). For more information, contact Time Capsule co-ordinator Ron Roberts on 0429-636-232 or by email

$11,381 To Fix Hall Bungle November 17, 2009 - The South Burnett Regional Council has to pay the State Government more than $11,000 because of an historic bungle which saw the Cloyna Hall being built partially on a road reserve. Council recently applied to the Department of Natural Resources and Water (Environment & Resource Management) to close Cloyna West Road permanently to solve the problem. The Department has agreed to close the Road Reserve and amalgamate it with the adjoining lot to fix the boundary issue. However, the department assessed the value of the land at $10,000 plus GST, lodgement and transfer fees. At the November Council meeting, held in Nanango last Wednesday, councillors voted unanimously to accept the Department's offer to amalgamate the land for a total of $11,381.25.

Sameway Milk Joins Norco November 16, 2009 - Sameway Milk has joined the Norco group following the sale of the well-known South Burnett brand by the Calvert family. Colin and Kim Kay, from Nanango, are now operating the depot at 122 Parsons Road, Nanango. The product range still includes Sameway Fresh (whole milk); Slender (low fat milk) and Skim plus a large variety of flavoured milks and pure and thickened cream.

Leanne Re-Elected KCCI President November 13, 2009 - Leanne Stallwood (PRD Nationwide) has been re-elected President of the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the group's AGM held earlier this week. New Vice-President is Tony Jaques (South Burnett Building Approvals). Also re-elected were Treasurer John Carey (Tarong Energy) and Secretary Polly Birchall (K&P Homes). Executive committee members are Tim Rees (BGA Agriservices), Cathy Goodhew (Struddys Sports) and Mark Reinbott (Subway). Deputy Mayor Cr Keith Campbell is the South Burnett Regional Council liaison to the KCCI. New KCCI Project Office Cathy Jaques has started work at the Chamber office in O'Neill Square. Former Project Officer Polly Birchall is assisting Cathy to settle into her new role. NB. The launch of the KCCI's Heritage Business Excellence Awards competition will be held next Monday (November 16) at 5:30pm at the Heritage Building Society in Kingaroy Shoppingworld. Drinks and nibbles will be served. The awards will be presented at Kingaroy Town Hall on March 27, 2010. For more information, contact the Chamber on (07) 4162-8466.

Apprenticeship Bonus Available For Employers November 12, 2009 - Frances Ross, from Busy At Work Apprenticeship Services in Kingaroy, is keen to get the message out that there will soon be another bonus available for employers who would like to put on an apprentice. The Federal Government announced recently that there will be an extra $3350 Apprentice Kickstart Bonus available - but only for applications between December 1, 2009 and February 28, 2010 - to employers who take on a young person aged 19 and under into a traditional trade Australian Apprenticeship. The Kickstart Bonus is part of the Federal Government's incentive schemes designed to counteract the impact of the global recession.

Kingaroy DPI&F Station 'Won't Be Sold': MP November 11, 2009 - Member for Nanango Dorothy Pratt has told ABC Radio today that she has received assurances from the State Government that Kingaroy's Bjelke-Petersen DPI&F Research Station will not be sold. Mrs Pratt told the ABC the DPI&F's Redvale property would be sold but the station itself was safe. On October 2, SBBiz reported the Research Station would be downgraded and stripped of assets under the State Government proposal and rebadged as an "Agribusiness Service Centre". Mrs Pratt's office emphasised to SBBiz that they were still trying to discover what other assets belonging to the Research Station were to be sold. Download Mrs Pratt's Media Statement (7kb PDF)

Interesting New Websites To Explore November 10, 2009 - There have been a string of new (or updated) websites added to SBBiz over the past week. Here's some great new websites (and products) to explore: Endeavour Kingaroy Kitchen - Biscuits and fine foods including chutneys and gift boxes Peanut Wagon - Roasted, salted and flavoured peanuts available online SKYShades South-West Queensland - Photovoltaic shade sails Football South Burnett - a new website for local soccer Red Heart Gifts - Gift hampers, just in time for Christmas! Environmentally Sustainable Initiatives - Environmentally friendly LED lighting Mermaid Art - a new website for well-known local artist Tina-Renae

Interested In a Career in Retailing? November 9, 2009 - The Kingaroy TAFE college is holding a Retailing For The Future information session at the campus this Wednesday (November 11) from 10:00am. Members of the community and representatives from local businesses have been invited to attend to provide feedback to the College on training needs in the retail sector. There will also be information about current training courses available - including Certificates in Retail, Retail Management and Franchising - and advice on how existing skills can be turned into qualifications. For more information and to RSVP contact Kingaroy Campus Business Co-Ordinator Rhonda McDade tomorrow (Tuesday) on (07) 4160-4409.

Bad News For Toowoomba Is Good News For Swickers November 6, 2009 - Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory will pick up extra work following the decision by George Weston Foods to close its Don KRC (Don Smallgoods / KR Castlemaine) plant in Toowoomba on November 27. A spokesman for Don KRC Fresh, Mr Todd Menegola told ABC Radio yesterday the move to shut the Toowoomba smallgoods processing facility was "purely a commercial decision". "Basically the site has lost $5 million already this year," he said. Mr Menegola said Swickers would now be used to kill and bone its pigs. George Weston Foods acquired KR Castlemaine Foods, including the Toowoomba abattoir, in April 2008. The closure will cost 190 jobs. Don KRC is currently spending more than $150 million expanding its smallgoods manufacturing plant at Castlemaine in Victoria.

Your Skills Can Be Formally Recognised November 5, 2009 - Skilling Solutions Queensland - in conjunction with the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE - is helping workers get their skills formally recognised. The free service is based on the concept of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is the process that is used to recognise skills and knowledge that have been acquired through life and work experience (paid or unpaid) and matches them to part of, or a complete, nationally recognised qualification. The Skilling Solutions service is suitable for employees who do not have a formal qualification, people who would like to gain a new qualification to start or change a career, are heading back to work after a break, or who have been retrenched or made redundant. For more information, contact Donna McMah on (07) 4131-5622 or by email

Farmers Criticise EPA Over UCG Project November 4, 2009 - Coolabunia residents have complained that the Environmental Protection Agency has approved Cougar Energy's underground coal gasification pilot project near Kingaroy "without visiting the site". Farmer Damien O'Sullivan told the Courier-Mail newspaper on Monday that local primary producers had not been consulted by the State Government and no Environmental Impact Study had been required. The residents, who have formed a protest group, fear the project will contaminate groundwater and could cause subsidence on prime farming land. They are also concerned how the underground coal fires will be extinguished and how poisonous fumes will be controlled. Mr O'Sullivan told the Courier-Mail his grazing and cropping property was just 300m from where it was proposed to burn 20,000 tonnes of coal. He said the first time EPA staff had visited the area was when he complained about a mess left after test drilling was conducted on his property. "They didn't even know about the springs down the road that are used as drinking water," he said.

BSA Urges Us To Build Smarter November 3, 2009 - If you're thinking of building or renovating, the Building Services Authority (the State Government body that regulates the building industry) is urging you to attend a free seminar that will be held in Kingaroy on Thursday November 12. The Smart Building and Renovating Presentation includes information on how to choose a contractor, contracts, and how to finance your project. Although the seminar is free, bookings are essential. For more information, contact the BSA on 1300-272-272 or by email. Bookings can also be made using the BSA's Fax Back Form. Just fill it out and fax to (07) 3225-2889. Footnote: BSA is also holding an Education Seminar in Kingaroy next Thursday for building contractors. The interactive education event will be held at Kingaroy RSL from 3:00pm-6:00pm. For more information, use the contact details above.

Have You Updated Your Details Recently? November 2, 2009 - If you've tried to update your details - or added a new listing - recently on www.southburnett.biz, you may have experienced some problems. Unfortunately, a server error has been blocking notifications of updates since mid-September and listings were not being passed along for final approval. The hosting company has assured SBBiz that they are working to solve the problem. However in the meantime, if you have submitted a listing that is not now live, please contact us on (07) 4163-6854.

Disappointing Results At Booubyjan October 30, 2009 - ActivEX Limited has reported disappointing results to the Australian Stock Exchange from its joint drilling project at Booubyjan. The drilling of five test holes - fewer than planned - began on May 20 and has now been completed. All holes found only weak or very weak copper mineralisation. Broad zones of magnetite were confirmed as the source of the anomalies which had originally sparked the company's interest. However the magnetite appears to be occurring without any associated copper or gold. Core sections have been cut and submitted for assay. The Booubyjan joint venture is owned 51 per cent by Minotaur and 49 per cent by ActivEX. The $650,000 drilling program was fully funded by Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation who had an option to earn 24 per cent in the project.

Kingaroy One Of "Australia's Best Property Bargains" October 29, 2009 - News Limited has identified Kingaroy as one of Australia's "hottest" places to buy property. This month's Australian Property Investor magazine asked property experts to list 100 locations across the nation poised for "strong capital growth" over the next 12 months. News Limited journalists then analysed this list and selected their "hottest" picks with the lowest average house prices. The Queensland selections were Kingaroy (with an average house price of $270,000), Gympie, Ipswich and Beaudesert. Read the full story on the Courier-Mail website

October Newsletter From BIEDO October 28, 2009 - The Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO) has circulated the latest version of their regular electronic newsletter. The October 2009 edition contains details about a new jobs fund for the South Burnett and upcoming grants and events. If you'd like to join BIEDO's mailing list, contact Belinda on (07) 4169-7851 or via email. Download the October newsletter (856kb pdf)

Storms Bring Down Two Powerlines October 27, 2009 - The wild weather yesterday afternoon in the South Burnett brought down high-voltage powerlines in two locations, cutting power to about 1200 Ergon Energy customers. Powerlines came down in Trouts Road, Crawford, about 2:30pm, affecting homes and businesses in Kingaroy, Nanango, Wooroolin, Memerambi and Crawford. Ergon crews also responded quickly to a report of downed powerlines beside the Bunya Highway and were able to isolate this section of the line. All power was restored by 6:30pm.

South Burnett Scores More Tourism Awards October 26, 2009 - The South Burnett has again scooped the pool at the Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Awards with six local tourism organisations be honoured in Maryborough on Saturday night. This year's South Burnett winners were: Wineries – Moffatdale Ridge (for the second consecutive year) Regional Attractions: South Burnett Region Timber Industry Museum complex (for the third consecutive year) Heritage and Cultural Tourism – Wondai Regional Art Gallery Unique Accommodation – Redrock on Booie Tourism Retailing – Endeavour Industries Kingaroy. As well, the Kingaroy Information, Art and Heritage Precinct was inducted into the Hall of Fame after winning the General Tourism Services category for the past three years. The South Burnett Region Timber Industry Museum now also qualifies for entry into Hall of Fame for an amazing second time. It was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005 after three wins in the Heritage and Cultural Tourism category.

3D Google Earth To Help Ergon Manage Network October 23, 2009 - Ergon Energy has turned to Google Earth to help it manage its massive regional Queensland electricity network. It has taken three years to map Ergon's 15,000km network of 70,000-plus substations and high voltage transformers onto the Google Earth Enterprise system. "This system – at the touch of a computer's mouse button – will allow our people to see an almost exact 3D representation of where powerlines run and what kind of terrain or areas of a town or city they run through," Ergon Energy Chief Executive Mr Ian McLeod said. "In the future we would hope to be able to use this system to show real-time network status, ie show sections of our network off due to storms or maintenance. It could eventually show the movement of storms and lightning across our network map as it happens so we can better inform the public of such impacts. "Ultimately, the uses of this system will probably only be limited to our imagination and innovation."