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Cougar Energy Confident After Successful Tests August 11, 2009 - Cougar Energy Limited has announced the successful completion of air linkage testing at its Kingaroy Power Plant project. The testing in three production wells has verified the suitability of Underground Coal Gasification (USG) technology to the Kunioon coal seam and has given Cougar Energy confidence to move to the operating phase of pre-production of gas at Kingaroy. The State Government has not yet approved Cougar Energy's full-scale UCG project but the company appears hopeful. "We look forward to the imminent receipt of appropriate approvals ... so that further site work on this important commercialisation of the UCG technology can continue," Managing Director and CEO Dr Len Walker said. Download the Cougar Energy press release Listen to a Boardroom Radio interview with Cougar Energy CEO Dr Len Walker. UPDATE August 20: Cougar Energy discovers massive coal deposit near Wandoan

Cropduster Clips Powerlines August 10, 2009 - A blackout occurred in some parts of Kingaroy on Friday morning after a cropduster clipped powerlines near Borcharts Road about 9:20am. About 1600 Ergon Energy customers lost power but fortunately the aircraft was not damaged and the pilot landed the plane safely back at its base. Power was restored to all but 200 houses within an hour with remaining repairs completed by about 2:00pm.

$20,000 Grant To BIEDO August 7, 2009 - The Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO) has been given a $20,000 grant under the State Government's Our Place, Our Future initiative. The program is to assist rural and remote communities to plan and implement practical initiatives that support liveability, sustainability and prosperity. It targets two key issues raised during the Blueprint for the Bush consultation process: the engagement of community members in developing practical plans, and helping to implement action from existing plans and priorities. BIEDO CEO Linda Silburn told ABC Radio the grant would focus on three major points: How can we best capitalise on growth opportunities in our region? How can we ensure that we've got the best stability, particularly at a time of economic hardship or economic change? and How can we minimise our weaknesses?

New CEO at Peanut Company August 5, 2009 - The Peanut Company of Australia today announced the retirement of Managing Director Bob Hansen after 16 years' service to the company. He will be replaced by Craig Mills, (right), former CEO of Golden Circle, who was appointed to fill a temporary vacancy on the PCA Board in July. PCA Chairman Ian Langdon thanked Mr Hansen for his outstanding contribution to PCA. "Bob will be assisting Craig through a transition period over the next three months and the Board is delighted that he has agreed to make himself available for a consulting role beyond that period so his extensive experience and expertise will stay with PCA and the peanut industry," he said. Craig Mills has 20 years' experience in the food industry with Nestlé, Uncle Bens (Mars) and Dairy Farmers. In the financial year to 31 March 2009, PCA increased its revenue from $62.9 million to $71.8 million with net profit after tax increasing from $2.4 million to $3.6 million.

Council Negotiating With Sunwater Over Dam August 5, 2009 - The South Burnett Regional Council Council announced today is is negotiating with Sunwater for the reopening of facilities at Bjelke-Petersen Dam to allow the public to continue using the recreational area. The recent closure of the public toilets at BP Dam was a result of a decision by Sunwater, who owns the land. Council has maintained the area through an agreement with Sunwater for a number of years however Sunwater wishes to discontinue the maintenance agreement. As a result Sunwater has closed the facilities at the day-tripper area of the dam reserve. In the meantime, the general public can access public toilets located near the tennis courts at Yallakool Park. The toilets will be unlocked between 10:00am and 4:30pm each day.

Second Round Of Council Funding Opens August 4, 2009 - The second round of the South Burnett Regional Council's Community Assistance Grants for 2009 opened on 1 August. The program has three strands of funding for not-for-profit organisations: Major Events and Projects - Funding of up to $10,000 per organisation in support of major cultural and/or community events or projects Minor Events and Projects - Funding of up to $4000 per organisation in support of cultural and community events or projects Elite Performance Grant – Funding in support of elite performers in the areas of sport, music, art and education. The amount of funding available in this round is $45,000 however Council has advised that the number of eligible applications received will be a determining factor in allocations.

SQIT Trainees To Compete In State Finals Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE teachers Sharon McFarlane and Debbie Jackson with award winner Mary McCallum, (centre) August 3, 2009 - Three business trainees from Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE's Kingaroy campus competed this month at the Wide Bay/Sunshine Coast Regional Finals of the Queensland Training Awards. Michaela Graaf (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Student of The Year), Mary McCallum (Bob Marshman Trainee of the Year) and Tim De Caluwe (School-Based Trainee/Apprentice of The Year) were nominated for the awards which were held at Caloundra RSL on July 18. Michaela and Mary won their sections and will now compete at the State finals in Brisbane on September 11. Traineeship Co-ordinator Sharon McFarlane said the trio had worked hard for a place in the regional finals. "There were more than 600 nominations for the seven award categories and students had to go through a rigorous interview process prior to being selected," Ms McFarlane said. "We felt all the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE finalists were excellent candidates and we are really proud of them."

Lance Friend Joins Peanut Festival Line-Up! July 31, 2009 - Aussie country music star Lance Friend will be providing live entertainment at this year's PCA Kingaroy Peanut Festival which will be held at the Kingaroy Showgrounds on September 12. Lance's songs have been getting airplay since 2004 with well-known titles including "Just Met an Angel", "Don't Ring This Ringer", "Longreach Sky" and t "Condamine", (below). Lance will also performing a heap of other well-known songs on the Ergon Energy stage.

Get Down and Dirty on National Tree Day July 30, 2009 - Today is the last chance to sign up to take part in the National Tree Day activities which will be held at Carroll Nature Reserve, (corner of Fisher and Coral streets, Kingaroy), on Saturday. Volunteers will be removing environmental weeds and mulching the remnant dry vine scrub area from 1:00pm-3:00pm. Tools and drinking water will be provided and there'll be a sausage sizzle for volunteers afterwards. Participants must wear a hat, sunscreen, long-sleeve shirt, long pants, enclosed shoes and gardening gloves. To RSVP, contact Amy King today at Pest & Livestock Services on (07) 4162-6257. The National Tree Day activities in Kingaroy are being supported by Tarong Energy, the South Burnett Regional Council and Ergon Energy.

Short-Run Digital Press Installed in Kingaroy July 29, 2009 - Martin Stern, from Print and Beyond, is now offering short-run full-colour digital printing in Kingaroy following the installation of his new digital Imagepress on Monday. Martin says this is the first real "short run" press in the South Burnett region and it will be suitable for flyers, posters and brochures and other printing jobs which require a short turnaround time without the freight expense. The press is located at 3 Bunya Highway, Kingaroy (the Tenpin Bowling complex which also houses KJD Digital, South Burnett Computer Services and Rd8 Technology). Martin can be contacted on (07) 4168-0273 or 0437-636-484

Bursary To Assist Indigenous Cattle Producers July 28, 2009 - ABC Rural has reported this week that Queensland Rural Woman of the Year (and partner in the Smithfield feedlot near Proston) Barb Madden has used her $10,000 bursary to fund a pilot program to provide training to indigenous cattle producers. The Beef Industry Indigenous Alliance will assist cattle producers from the Indigenous Land Corporation and from Cherbourg. Both groups already have cattle at the Smithfield feedlot. Read the full story here

Guide To State Government Building Projects Released July 27, 2009 - The State Government has released its 2009-2010 Building Projects: Industry Guide which lists all budgeted capital works projects for the financial year. The guide is a great tool for contractors, sub-contractors, suppliers and consultants looking to find work on upcoming government projects. The Queensland Government Building Projects: Industry Guide 2009-10 can be downloaded here (1Mb PDF)

Rural Producers Surveyed Over Skills Needs July 24, 2009 - Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries is conducting an online survey to find out from industry was skills are required in the agricultural sector. "We want to hear from industry itself about what skills and training requirements they have going forward," Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin said. Rural producers can fill out the survey by visiting the QPIF website "I encourage all producers, business owners and fishers operating in primary industries to complete the survey to ensure we capture a true picture of the sector's training needs," Mr Mulherin said. "The information will go to the Rural Skills Training and Labour Strategy Industry Advisory Group."

Calling All Community Groups! July 23, 2009 - The Kingaroy Peanut Festival has $500 to give away ... there has to be someone out there who wants it! Well, not quite give away. There's a bit of work involved, but it's not hard and it won't take that long. The 2009 PCA Kingaroy Peanut Festival is looking for a community group who wants to earn $500 for just four hours work at the Kingaroy Showgrounds on September 12-13. "We need some help at the end of the Festival on the Saturday afternoon and on Sunday morning to tidy up the Festival area, pick up papers, move wheelie bins etc," Festival committee president Dafyd Martindale said. "There will be two hours work from 4:30pm to 6:30pm on Saturday and then, if necessary, another two hours on Sunday morning," he said. "This is an opportunity for a community group such as a sporting team, P&C or charity to earn a few dollars as well as helping the Peanut Festival committee to ensure the Showgrounds are left spic and span." If your group is interested in this fund-raising opportunity, contact the Peanut Festival Committee on (07) 4163-6854 or (07) 4162-3899 as soon as possible. UPDATE July 28: The Kingaroy Peanut Festival Committee would like to thank all the community groups that contacted it. The first in was the Go Getta Girls sports group.

Corrine Cuts A Dash in Toowoomba July 22, 2009 - Corrine Fleischfresser, (right), from Chris Cross Hair Studio in Kingaroy, is a cut above the average apprentice hairdresser and she's proved it by competing in the regional section of the WorldSkills competition in Toowoomba in June. Corrine, a fourth-year TAFE apprentice who is studying at the SQIT campus in Kingaroy, said the contest was fun and well worth entering. "Being from the country we don't always get the opportunity to experience this kind of competition," she said. Corrine competed in the cut, colour and blow dry sections of the competition. Competition judge, current Queensland Hairdresser of the Year Carole Haddad, said the standard of the event was "absolutely amazing".

Celebrate Oaks Day in Kingaroy! July 21, 2009 - Help celebrate the Horses' Birthday on August 1 with Quota International of Kingaroy's very own Oaks Day at the Senior Citizens Centre. Gates open at 1:00pm for an afternoon of novelty horse racing, calcuttas, fashions of the field and raffles. There'll also be a Yesteryear Fashion Parade and a delicious afternoon tea. BYO alcoholic drinks. Admission is just $10 (or $5 for high school students) and tickets will be available at the door. Proceeds will support the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Official Launch of 2009 Kingaroy Business Awards July 20, 2009 - The 2009 KCCI Heritage Business in Excellence awards will be officially launched at a Meet'n'Greet at the Heritage Building Society branch in Kingaroy Shoppingworld on August 3 from 5:30pm. Winners of the awards, which are open to all businesses in the former Kingaroy Shire, will be announced at a gala dinner at Kingaroy Town Hall on November 21. Nomination forms will be available at the Heritage Branch as well as in the South Burnett Times. KCCI Project Officer Polly Birchall said there were still a couple of awards categories available for sponsorship. For more information, contact Polly on (07) 4162-8466 or by email. UPDATE July 28, 2009: The KCCI announced today that the launch of the Business Awards would now be held on November 16 and the awards ceremony will be held on March 27 next year.

New Wine Website Unveiled For Region July 17, 2009: The South Burnett has been a wine region since the late 1990s and was the first in Queensland to get its own GI (Geographic Indicator). Since the first plantings in 1996 it's also steadily grown to become the second largest wine region in the State - one that's bigger than all other Queensand wine regions combined in terms of tonnage (with the exception of the Granite Belt, though in the early 2000s the South Burnett's wine grape growers beat them too). This week the South Burnett Online network released a new website focussed on the South Burnett's wine industry, and the first version went online yesterday at SouthBurnettWine.com.au. At present the new site carries extensive, up-to-date details about eight of region's wineries and more will be added over the next few months as individual wineries assemble their information. However the new site will also be expanded to include weekly news on the local wine industry and additional information about wine tourism-related services.

Internet Toolbox For Primary Producers July 16, 2009 - Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries has launched a website which contains especially designed support tools for primary producers. The website, at www.agbiz.com.au, features more than 100 web-based tools to assist cropping and livestock producers. The pilot project, which is still under evaluation for future expansion, has been developed in partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast. Tools cover budgeting and planning, a gross margins calculator, breeding herd analysis and loan calculators.

Try-A-Trade In August July 15, 2009 - The popular South Burnett Careers Market / Try-A-Trade day will be held at Kingaroy State High School from 10:00am-5:00pm on August 6. The careers day is designed to give young people a "hands-on" experience as well an information so they can make informed decisions about their futures. There will be interactive displays, representatives from university and TAFE and information about apprenticeships and further training. For more information about the day, contact Jodi Woodall on (07) 4160-0625.