November 10, 2008 - Last Friday, members of the South Burnett Regional Council were invited by Tarong Energy to visit the planned Kunioon mine site.

This site visit followed a meeting that Mayor David Carter and CEO Tony Hayward had with senior engineering staff about the intended closure of some local roads when the mine becomes fully operational. They discussed new roads that will be developed to accommodate the transport operations around the proposed new mining site.

We were shown the original test pit from which thousands of tonnes of coal were extracted to determine the burning quality. We were also shown how the site had been remediated and returned to a vegetated landscape. I admit, I was impressed.

The reason for “decking out” in a hard hat and safety gear, (right), was that we were taken on to a site where an actual test bore was being drilled. Samples had been taken to a depth of 220m but the plan was to bore to a depth of 250m. Every 10m an evaluation was made as how much coal was at that point.

There are literally hundreds of these test bores being drilled across the Mineral Development Licence (MDL) to plot the location of the coal and the depth of the coal seams. Technical mapping by geologists will develop an accurate picture of the location and volume of coal.

A recent test bore struck water between coal seams. The discovery of water in coal is not unusual however thousands of litres of water escaped before the bore could be capped with a mixture of gravel, concrete and bentonite.

November 4, 2008 - Although it could not be a more serious subject, it's amazing how "gallows humour" can creep in at the best of times.

Along with Mayor David Carter and fellow councillors Damien Tessmann and Cheryl Dalton, I recently inspected the site where construction has begun on the South Burnett's first crematorium.

The facility is being built by Virgo Funerals adjacent to the Taabinga Lawn Cemetery in Kingaroy. It will include a chapel with seating for 150, a smaller area for more private services and a mortuary.

The crematorium is expected to be finished late next year which will save South Burnett residents the trek outside the area if their loved ones request this service in their wills.

It was after the site inspection that the inevitable jokes began ... it'll be the hottest spot in town! People will be dying to visit!

RIGHT: Cr Damien Tessmann, Cr Keith Campbell, Mayor David Carter, Liam Yewdall, Jason Talbot-Scobie and Gavin Rewald (Virgo Funerals) and Cr Cheryl Dalton. Photo courtesy: South Burnett Times

September 25, 2008 - There is an energy revolution happening in the world! South Burnett residents, (right), have been privy to an update from eminent speakers at a forum hosted by the Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation (BIEDO) at Kingaroy TAFE College.

The aim of the Future Energy Forum was to explain the many and varied ways in which the world can and will be powered in the future. As world supplies of oil decrease and coal-fired energy becomes less attractive, there will be a mass change in the way in which we supply power.

The science attached to discovering processes to turn almost anything organic into energy is quite mind-blowing.

This is the third annual Future Energy Forum hosted by BIEDO that I have attended and every year it becomes clearer as to the progress that has been made. More homes will be fitted with solar panels. Electric cars will be used for city commuting. Industry will find ways to transform waste products into energy. Grass, straw and otherwise inert organic material can make energy.

In my mind we are looking at an energy revolution. The world may run out of crude oil and use less black coal in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gases but energy sources will come from many other different forms. The impact of carbon credits trading is another aspect of the energy revolution that is yet to become clear.

I urge everyone to keep up-to-date with the energy revolution. This exciting world happening is a work in progress!

September 24, 2008 - The Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen Cultural Centre Committee has been formally dissolved by the South Burnett Regional Council. It's been well over three years since this committee was first established as a sub-committee of the former Kingaroy Shire Council.

Council partnered with the Kingaroy State High School and the KSHS P&C Committee in the project and attempted to bring the Kingaroy Show Society on board.

Unfortunately the commitment from the Show Society has suffered at varying times due to a range of opinions from its membership. This has culminated in the Show Society withdrawing its support due to its own difficulties with old pavilions being condemned and requiring urgent replacement.

Council has now handed the project over to the High School and P&C to carry forward.

We will have to wait until they announce the details of the way forward but it would seem that at some time in the future the region will benefit from a Cultural and Conference Centre and a Memorial Museum positioned on High School land.

I wish them well with their endeavours and look forward to this complex being constructed which will bring benefit not only to the school but to every resident in the South Burnett.

September 24, 2008 - Kingaroy is to get another set of traffic lights ... this time at the intersection of Youngman and Markwell streets. This is a dangerous intersection and has been the site of many traffic incidents. The unsupervised zebra crossing is also busy in the morning and afternoon with schoolchildren.

The new traffic lights have nothing to do with the proposed Aldi project on the same corner although it could be argued they WILL help to accommodate any additional traffic that is generated. The lights will be installed in the 2008-09 financial year.

September 24, 2008 - The South Burnett Regional Council has received a letter from Deputy Premier Paul Lucas in regards to the introduction of water fluoridation in Nanango and Kingaroy.

In December last year the State Government announced that all public water supplies which service more than 1000 people must be fluoridated. Kingaroy and Nanango are required to introduce fluoridation by the end of 2010.

There are two issues with this government proposal.

The first is that the current water treatment facilities at Kingaroy and Nanango are old. Although they deliver potable water, the taste is not "high quality". The cost to improve these systems would be many millions of dollars ... dollars that we do not have to invest in upgrading water treatment plants.

The second point is that because of the taste of the water, I believe very few people drink the town water supplies and instead rely on their own rainwater tanks.

Council has decided that a survey of all residents will be undertaken to collect data to substantiate our belief that a large percentage of residents do not rely on the town water for drinking.

However we need to get our facts straight and represent the results accurately.

I want to encourage all residents to fill in the Survey Form when they receive it and return it to Council. You can also fill in the survey form on the Council's website.

In my opinion, the introduction of flouride to our town water supplies will be costly and wasteful. I believe most residents use the town water in the garden, laundry and bathroom, none of which will benefit from being treated with flouride!

September 22, 2008 - Three South Burnett residents were amongst five Wide Bay recipients recognised for their volunteering efforts at the Gayndah Community Forum. Community Hero Awards were presented to Nina Temperton and Warren Cockburn (Kingaroy) and Elaine Madill (Wondai) (pictured at right with Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts, myself and South Burnett Mayor David Carter).

The Community Forum discussed volunteering and the contribution volunteers make to society. Volunteering by members of our community contribute significantly to the economy. In fact, there are now an estimated 700,000 non-profit community organisations in Australia and 5.2 million volunteers. Many of these organisations rely completely on their volunteers to operate.

As a result of the forum, several proposals were submitted to the State Government for consideration. One of these was to request Queensland Premier Anna Bligh to consider elevating volunteering to Ministerial status. This would acknowledge the role of volunteering and enhance the whole-of-government contribution to the sector.

I want to personally thank everyone who contributes to the community as a volunteer and encourage those who do not to consider the benefits and satisfaction it can bring.

September 22, 2008 - Another issue raised at the Wide Bay Burnett Ministerial Regional Forum was the extension of the State Government's Home and Garden Water Wise Rebate Scheme to all Queenslanders - including those who do not have access to town water - after lobbying by the Rural Women's Network.

For more information, visit the Department of Natural Resources website.

This rebate will apply to many of our rural residents in the South Burnett area.

September 22, 2008 - The Wide Bay Burnett Ministerial Regional Community Forum (of which I am a member) met in Gayndah today.

One of the items discussed was the State Goverment's Solar Homes Program which provided 1kW solar power systems to 1000 households in south-east Queensland as well as the regional council areas of Cairns, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Fraser Coast. The successful applicants received an $8000 rebate from the Federal Government after an installation price of $8185 (leaving an out-of-pocket expense to the successful applicants of just $185).

Back in April, the Regional Community Forum asked the Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Andrew McNamara to consider extending the Solar Homes Program to homes within Blueprint for the Bush designated areas. This has now been agreed to. A means test test will now apply and the homes must be capable of having the solar panels fitted.

However even if you miss out on the Solar Homes Program, don't despair! The successful tenderer to supply the solar panels, Eco-Kinetics is now offering ALL Queenslanders who are eligible for the Federal Government's Solar Homes Rebate Plan the opportunity to purchase hugely discounted Solar Home Kits. The "after rebate" cost of these systems in an amazing $355.

I would like to encourage all home owners in the South Burnett Regional Council area to take up this offer.

For more information, visit the Eco-Kinetics website and click on "missed out on the solar homes program". Fill out the details and then hit the send button.

There is likely to be quite a wait before you will be assessed for eligibility.

September 19, 2008 - I spent two days recently manning the South Burnett Regional Council's stand at the Country Week show at the Brisbane Convention Centre. We went there to encourage families and individuals who are thinking of moving to consider the benefits of life in the South Burnett: less stress, a rural atmosphere to bring up their children and just 2.5 hours away from the coast and major cities!

Most Local Government areas in Queensland were represented at the show so visitors had plenty of opportunities to compare regions. The South Burnett had a good number of inquiries from people who were interested in bringing their skills here to seek new jobs as well as from people who are retired who are looking to move to a rural area.

Time will tell if any of these people make the move but in the meantime we will continue to sell the benefits of our beautiful South Burnett and all that it has to offer!