Reef Side Buyers Agent is built around one simple goal – delivering far more than a standard property search. By working exclusively for the buyer, the business ensures every recommendation, negotiation and decision is made with the client’s best interests at the centre.

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Unlike traditional selling agents who represent the seller, Reef Side Buyers Agent provides independent advice and support throughout the entire purchasing process. Its complete Search to Settlement service combines strategic property sourcing, access to off-market opportunities, detailed market research, property inspections, due diligence, price negotiations, and settlement support into one seamless experience.

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By managing every stage of the buying journey, Reef Side Buyers Agent helps clients save valuable time, reduce stress, and make confident decisions when navigating one of the biggest financial decisions they will make — securing the right property at the right price.

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The business is seeing continued demand from interstate buyers relocating to the Whitsundays for lifestyle, employment, and investment opportunities. As coastal property markets remain competitive and housing supply remains limited, buyers are increasingly seeking expert guidance to identify value, understand local market conditions, and avoid costly mistakes.

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While technology has made property research more accessible than ever, Reef Side Buyers Agent believes local expertise and trusted relationships remain critical. Having an experienced advocate on the buyer’s side provides valuable insight into market trends, property opportunities, inspections, negotiations, and due diligence.

Over the past 12 months, one of the key challenges facing the business has been navigating limited housing supply and strong competition for quality properties. In response, Reef Side Buyers Agent has continued to strengthen relationships with local selling agents, expand access to off-market opportunities and refine its research and negotiation strategies.

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The business has also invested in digital education and communication, helping buyers better understand the value of independent representation and the benefits of having professional support throughout the property journey.

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For business owners, Reef Side Buyers Agent believes success comes down to three key principles: building trust, communicating consistently, and focusing on long-term relationships rather than short-term wins.

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Being part of the Chamber business community aligns strongly with these values, providing opportunities to build local connections, collaborate with other businesses and contribute to a stronger regional business community.

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Whitsunday Criminal Investigation Branch detectives have charged a 43-year-old Cannonvale man following investigations into an alleged sexual assault at a Cannonvale medical practice on 11th July.

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Police allege the man sexually assaulted a woman at the business during the course of his duties as a general practitioner.

Following investigations, detectives executed a search warrant at the business on 7th August. The 43-year-old man was subsequently arrested and charged with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault.

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He is due to appear before Proserpine Magistrates Court on 24th August.

Mackay Whitsunday Detective Inspector Emma Novosel said police were urging anyone with further information, or who may have experienced interactions of a similar nature, to come forward.

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“Police have zero tolerance for any person who commits criminal acts of this nature,” said Detective Inspector Novosel.

“These offences are a serious breach of trust, and police are committed to seeking justice for victim-survivors and hold perpetrators to account.

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“We acknowledge the victim-survivor for her bravery in coming forward, and want to reassure any victim-survivors that you are not alone, and support is available.

“We encourage anyone who has information to contact police.”

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Investigations remain ongoing and police are providing support to the woman.

Anyone with information can contact Policelink via the online suspicious activity form, available 24 hours a day, or report information anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Sexual assault can be reported by calling Triple Zero (000) in an emergency, contacting police by phone or in person at a police station, or through the Queensland Police Service's online sexual assault reporting form. Alternative Reporting Options are also available.

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For confidential counselling and support, the State-wide Sexual Assault Helpline can be contacted on 1800 010 120, while 1800RESPECT provides 24-hour support.

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Quote reference: QP2601404002.

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Several community projects are progressing across the Whitsunday region, with new facilities opening and construction moving ahead from Collinsville to Cannonvale and Shute Harbour.

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At Shute Harbour, upgrades to Snows Beach Park and Lion’s Lookout are set to get underway this month.

Snows Beach Park will receive a new shelter complete with picnic settings, an electric barbecue and lighting, replacing the existing shelter and tables.

Nearby at Lion’s Lookout, the existing fence along the top of the hill will be replaced with a new aluminium fence.

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Works are expected to begin in mid-August and wrap up by the end of September, weather permitting. Sections of both areas will be temporarily fenced off while construction is underway.

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Elsewhere in the region, residents and visitors can now make use of newly completed public amenities at Dingo Beach and Collinsville Cemetery, with both projects recently completed as part of Council’s ongoing investment in community facilities.

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Meanwhile, one of the region’s biggest community projects is beginning to take shape at Galbraith Park in Cannonvale.

Construction is continuing on the new $30 million Cannonvale Community Hub, with crews spending the past month completing bored piers, preparing footings and progressing water, stormwater and other underground infrastructure.

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The next stage will see the development begin to emerge above ground, with concrete footings, ground beams and column plinths to be poured and blockwork commencing.

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Once completed, the hub will bring several important community services under one roof, including a modern library, Council customer service centre, meeting rooms and flexible community spaces connected with the surrounding Galbraith Park precinct.

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The project is jointly funded, with the Australian Government contributing $15 million alongside funding from Whitsunday Regional Council.

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With projects both large and small progressing across the region, the latest works aim to provide improved public spaces and facilities for Whitsunday communities now and into the future.

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Meet Elliot, the three-month-old puppy who’s ready to steal your heart and probably a few socks as well.  

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This Sharpei x Staffy pup has plenty of classic puppy energy on show, but at just three months old, he’s still got plenty of growing and learning ahead of him.

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Elliot is sweet, cuddly, playful and confident around people. He gets along well with other dogs and children, though at just three months old, he’s still figuring out his puppy manners so just keep an eye peeled.  

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He’s currently showing plenty of curiosity around cats and other livestock, with his young age giving him a good chance to learn how to live alongside other animals.

Elliot is microchipped, has received his first vaccination, while also being up to date on heartworm prevention, flea, tick and worming treatments.

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Whether it’s a home with a yard or apartment living, Elliot is ready to find a family with plenty of time for play, cuddles and maybe the occasional pup cup every now and then.  

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If you think Elliot could be the perfect addition to your home, contact Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue by direct messaging your name, phone number and "Paisley" to begin the adoption process.

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After 20 years learning the blinds and awnings ropes through his family's business, a North Queenslander spotted an opening in the Whitsundays and decided to fill it himself.

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Launching his mobile business six months ago, Len Melville brought Queensland-made blinds and awnings to the area, using his locally honed eyes to help residents find the best fit for their homes.

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“I’m born and bred in North Queensland, so I know the weather conditions well and I know what’s suited for here,” Len said.  

“I’ve sold these particular products for the last 20 years and I know they’re good quality products.”

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Len’s knowledge of the trade was built over two decades working in his family business in Townsville, where he learnt the industry from his former father-in-law, who had already spent 25 years managing a North Queensland blinds and awnings business.

“He trained me in everything from going out, measuring, quoting, running the factory, ordering, quality control, dealing with reps and administration,” Len said.

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Len’s range covers plenty of options inside and outside the home, set to add flair, shade or a little extra comfort, from roller blinds, vertical drapes and panel glides to fabric and aluminium awnings, fixed louvres and polycarbonate hoods.

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With summer rolling in, Len stressed the importance of thinking ahead, whether that means adding some extra shade or better preparing your home for storm season.  

“I realise now that we’re coming into summer, so it’d be a good time for people to start to think of their, especially their external awnings, to keep out the sun and the heat,” Len said.  

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After two decades in the industry, Len’s drive to start something fresh comes from his love of meeting new people and using his knowledge to improve something they take plenty of pride in, their home.  

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“Every job’s a new experience. I love to meet people,” Len said.

“You meet some great people, you try and solve problems for them or make their home more usable and livable.”

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Eco Barge. Photo supplied: Libby Edge.

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By Zach Houtenville  

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Four community groups across the Whitsundays have received a funding boost of up to $10,000 each, as Alinta Energy announces the first recipients of its Mt Challenger Wind Farm Community Fund.

From protecting the Whitsundays’ marine environment and educating the next generation to getting locals active and improving sporting facilities, the grants will support projects from the Whitsunday Conservation Council, Eco Barge Clean Seas, Healthy Kids Project and Bowen Golf Club.

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“They will help people explore and better understand the region’s natural environment, learn more about protecting our seas, get active together and enjoy improved community facilities,” said Alinta Energy’s Head of Power Development (East Coast), Amanda Weston.  

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“We’re pleased to be able to give these organisations a hand to turn their ideas into action.”

The funding will support a number of specific projects across the four groups, including the Whitsunday Conservation Council’s Heart of the Reef Discovery Trail, the Healthy Kids Project’s Sugar2Sea run/walk event, a new fridge for Bowen Golf Club and upgrades to Eco Barge Clean Seas’ Reef Room Community Education Facility.

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“This is really beautiful to help us keep going with our mission of cleaning the islands, protecting turtles, and educating on how we best protect our Sunday marine life from the threat of marine debris,” Libby Edge, the founder of Eco Barge Clean Seas.

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“It's good to see that they are giving back to the community, I do know the community is very concerned - so they should be.  

“But look, if this funding is going to help us promote, support and educate on how we all care for the reef, that's wonderful support to us.”  

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Ms Weston said the range of applications received highlighted the work already being carried out by community groups across the region.

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“Local organisations understand what matters to their communities because they are part of them,” Ms Weston said.

“We saw thoughtful, practical proposals from groups committed to making the Bowen and Proserpine region an even better place to live, work and visit.”  

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However, the grants come with some mixed reviews, as some community members continue to protest the company’s Wind Farm proposal, with the Whitsunday Wind Farm Action group labelling the donations ‘disingenuous’.  

“I believe it is inappropriate for Alinta to offer community grants while the proposed Mt Challenger Wind Farm is still at the feasibility and engagement stage, according to Alinta Energy’s project website,” said Sandra Mitchell, a Whitsunday Wind Farm Action, who lives near the northern end of the project still being proposed.  

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“Our community should be able to assess the project on its merits and express its views without financial incentives being introduced before approval is granted.

“Alinta still needs to significantly improve its community engagement, many residents in Bowen are still unaware of the proposed project and its potential impacts.”  

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Applications for the next round of grants will open in early 2027, as part of the organisation’s continued efforts to build stronger connections with the local community.  

“While we couldn’t support every application in this round, we appreciate the time, care and local knowledge that went into each one.”

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Protesters asking for a rethink outside of Whitsundays Electorate office. Photo credit: Zach Houtenville.

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By Zach Houtenville

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Whitsunday residents have thrown their support behind calls to reconsider a controversial State Development Bill, amassing 350 signatures on an open letter to Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm, before gathering outside her Proserpine office to express concerns surrounding landholder rights, community consultation and environmental protections.

The Whitsunday Conservation Council (WCC), alongside Save Our Foreshore, organised the protest on Tuesday 18th August, ahead of the State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026being debated in Parliament.  

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The groups formally presented Amanda Camm’s office with the letter outlining their concerns in an effort to have their voices heard before next week.  

“If this bill passes, it'll be a very black day for Queensland in that it removes many environmental assessments,” said President of the Whitsundays Conservation Council Tony Fontes.

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“Amanda is a very important person in our community as our member of parliament.  

“She has the opportunity to vote on this bill very shortly, which is why we're here today, as we're hoping that she will vote no.”

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The Bill was introduced to Queensland Parliament by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie on June 2nd, aiming to speed up and simplify decisions around major development projects, particularly in the critical minerals sector.

It proposes changes to the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971, including new and expanded powers for facilitating significant projects, changes to land use and infrastructure planning for resources and heavy industry, and measures designed to streamline existing approval processes.  

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It is those expanded powers and streamlined processes that have drawn concern from the WCC and Save Our Foreshore, who fear faster approvals could come at the expense of landholder rights, community consultation and environmental protections.

WCC President Tony Fontes said his concern extended beyond impacts on private land, alleging the changes could also have consequences for the Great Barrier Reef.

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“It basically strips away many environmental protections, which will impact not just terrestrial environments, but the Great Barrier Reef itself,” Tony said.

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Save Our Foreshore expressed fear the Bill would concentrate greater decision-making power with the State while reducing public consultation.

“The Government exists to represent the people, not override them,” said Save Our Foreshore President Suzette Pelt.

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“These new laws would hand sweeping and more extraordinary powers along with unilateral unaccountable authority to the Coordinator General and single Ministers.”

Member for Whitsunday Amanda Camm has acknowledged the concerns raised by the groups and wider community.  

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“I acknowledge and thank the Whitsunday Conservation Council for their continued advocacy and also many across the community who have raised concerns around The State Development and Public Works Organisation (Critical Minerals) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2026,” said Amanda Camm MP.  

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Ms Camm highlighted safeguards for landholders, including at least six months of negotiations before compulsory acquisition could be considered, with the powers limited to State strategic projects.

She said landholders would retain rights to be consulted, object and receive compensation, while any proposal would require Parliamentary scrutiny, and advised that the bill ‘does not remove environmental approval requirements.’

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“As a former farmer, I know Landholders need to be assured there are safeguards in place,” Ms Camm said.  

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“While the committee has recommended the Bill be passed it will be debated in Parliament and I will raise the concerns of my community.”

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Photo source: Ocean Crusaders.  

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Airlie Beach Race Week’s Lay Day wasn’t all about sailors kicking back on the foreshore, with a different kind of crew taking to the water for a clean-up of the Whitsunday coastline.

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The mid-week break from one of Airlie Beach’s premier sailing events saw Ocean Crusaders lead a beach clean-up cruise, with Ocean Rafting once again lending one of its vessels to transport volunteers to the clean-up sites.

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Dedicated to protecting the marine environment, Ocean Crusaders combine community and commercial clean-up events with education around the importance of keeping rubbish out of the ocean.

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The crusade saw 27 volunteers hop on board, and over the course of their 5 hour journey the team collected an official weight of around 550 kilograms, mostly consisting of boat parts, hard plastics, far too many beverage containers and an unusual amount of ‘floater’ golf balls.

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OP-ED by Federal Member For Dawson Andrew Willcox

Every Australian family sitting around the kitchen table knows the reality, our standard of living is under severe pressure. Since the Albanese Labor government took office, Australians have experienced some of the steepest declines in living standards in the developed world. With national debt fast approaching $1 trillion and structural budget deficits locked in for a decade, Labor is spending more and taxing more, while households are forced to get by with less.

The challenge facing our nation is not just identifying these economic headwinds; it is putting forward a clear, constructive alternative. That’s why I’m often asked, what a Coalition government would do differently to steer the country back on track. The answer lies in structural economic reform that rewards hard work, protects aspiration, and respects the money you earn.

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At the heart of our plan is a landmark policy designed to end secret tax hikes, the Tax Back Guarantee.

Under the current system, when your wages rise to keep pace with inflation, you can easily be pushed into a higher tax bracket. This process, known as "bracket creep," allows the government to collect higher tax revenues every year without ever having to pass a law. It penalises workers for simply trying to keep up with the rising cost of groceries, rent, and power bills.

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It equally penalises businesses, too. Employers feel a genuine responsibility to increase wages so their workers can afford to live, yet these rising expenses drive up business overheads at a time when everyone is struggling to swim against a tide of high inflation fuelled by the Albanese Labor Government.

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The Coalition will fix this by permanently indexing income tax thresholds to inflation. Starting in the 2028-29 financial year, we will index the bottom two income tax thresholds, a measure that will protect approximately 85 per cent of Australian income earners.

By year three, that relief would climb to $1,200 a year: providing a substantial, ongoing boost to household budgets when families need it most. From the 2031-32 financial year, we will extend this indexation to the top two thresholds, ensuring that no Australian is penalised with higher taxes simply because of inflation.

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This is a fair, simple, and honest reform. It forces the government to live within its means rather than relying on inflation to balance the budget.

True economic recovery also requires us to scrap this new suite of toxic taxes that punish success and stifle investment. The Albanese Labor Government's approach is a direct assault on aspiration. It imposes higher taxes on housing, savings, investments, and small businesses.

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This includes a 30 per cent tax rate on discretionary trusts, which acts as an inheritance tax by stealth on the family structures everyday Australians use to pass assets to their children.

This is why a Coalition government will repeal this entire suite of toxic taxes. We will reverse changes to negative gearing that restrict housing supply, undo capital gains tax hikes that discourage investment, and protect small businesses from punitive tax structures.

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Furthermore, we will abolish the Safeguard Mechanism, removing a regulatory burden that inflates building material costs and drives local manufacturing offshore.

It is a basic economic reality that when you tax something, you get less of it.

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If you tax savings, housing, investment, and small business, you get less of all of them. The Coalition wants more aspiration, not less, which is why we will back the hard-working Australians who want to get ahead.

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By cutting these penalties on success, we are offering a positive, practical plan to restore home ownership, lower national debt, and secure Australia's economic future.

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Photo source: Shutterstock  

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The Queensland Mining Awards brought together businesses and organisations from across the state’s minerals and energy resources sector, recognising the work being undertaken across an industry that plays a significant role in regional Queensland.

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Now in its 12th year, the awards provided an opportunity for companies of all sizes, from mining operations to contractors and suppliers, to showcase their achievements and gain recognition from industry peers.

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The awards covered a broad range of areas across the sector, including productivity, innovation, safety, collaboration, environmental initiatives, and community and staff programs.

Winners were announced at a Gala Presentation Dinner held as part of the Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition in Mackay in July, bringing industry representatives together to celebrate achievements across Queensland’s resources sector.

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For businesses operating in regional communities, the awards provided a platform to highlight projects, initiatives and expertise beyond their individual operations. The program also created opportunities for businesses to build connections with industry representatives and decision-makers.

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As a signature event of the Queensland Mining & Engineering Exhibition, described by organisers as Australia’s largest regional mining exhibition, the awards provided access to an audience of more than 600 industry decision-makers.

Entries were assessed through peer judging by senior leaders within the mining industry, allowing projects and initiatives to be considered by people with an understanding of the operational environment in which they were delivered.

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The Queensland Resources Council was the major event partner, further connecting the awards with Queensland’s broader resources sector.

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Beyond the awards themselves, finalists and winners gained opportunities for industry exposure, networking and business connections. The program also provided year-round marketing opportunities and national media coverage, helping to highlight achievements within Queensland’s resources industry.

For the regions, the awards offered an opportunity to recognise the businesses, workers and organisations contributing to an industry that extends well beyond mine sites. From innovative projects and safety initiatives to environmental, community and staff programs, the categories reflected the range of work taking place across Queensland’s resources sector.

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The Queensland Mining Awards ultimately provided a forum to acknowledge that contribution, while giving businesses an opportunity to share their achievements with peers and a wider industry audience.

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Congratulations to all the winners and finalists!

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BUMA is known for delivering leading mining and rehabilitation services across Queensland. Beyond its operations, the company is also helping create opportunities in the regional communities where it operates.

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With a history spanning more than 100 years and as part of the global BUMA International Group, the company works alongside its clients to deliver safe, efficient and sustainable mining solutions while maintaining a strong focus on supporting local communities.

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One example is BUMA's partnership with PCYC Queensland's Braking the Cycle program in Blackwater.

The initiative helps address a challenge faced by many young people in the community: obtaining a driver's licence. Without access to a vehicle, a qualified supervisor or affordable driving lessons, completing the required supervised driving hours can be difficult, limiting access to employment, education and training opportunities.

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BUMA began supporting the program in 2022 through financial sponsorship. As the partnership evolved, discussions with PCYC Blackwater identified a key barrier to the program's success: a shortage of volunteer driving mentors. In response, BUMA developed a practical workforce-led solution, encouraging employees to become trained mentors and volunteer their time to support local learner drivers.

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Today, BUMA volunteers continue providing consistent one-on-one supervised driving sessions, helping participants build confidence, develop safe driving habits and work towards obtaining their driver's licence.

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The BUMA Braking the Cycle driving mentoring initiative was recently recognised as a finalist in the Queensland Mining Awards, held as part of the Queensland Mining and Engineering Exhibition.

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The recognition highlighted the role industry partnerships and employee volunteering can play in addressing practical challenges in regional communities.

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For BUMA, the initiative reflects its commitment to creating opportunities and positive outcomes beyond the mine site, with employees using their time and skills to support the communities where they live and work.

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Queensland’s construction industry is set to receive a boost, with 4,500 new apprenticeships to be supported through two programs aimed at addressing skills shortages across the state.

The Government has launched the new TradieStart program alongside an extension of the Small Business Apprenticeship Program, with the initiatives expected to support thousands of new construction apprentices.

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TradieStart will support 2,500 apprenticeships across construction, plumbing, engineering and electrical trades.

Eligible small businesses taking on their first apprentice will receive a base payment of $10,000, with an additional $4,000 available where the apprentice is aged over 21.

A further $2,000 can be provided when an apprentice is hired from a priority cohort, including veterans, women, people with a disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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Medium and large businesses and Group Training Organisations can also receive $10,000 for employing an apprentice from a priority cohort, with a further $4,000 available for apprentices aged over 21.

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The Small Business Apprenticeship Program will also be extended to provide wage subsidies for a further 2,000 construction apprenticeships.

Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said the programs would help address workforce shortages while supporting Queensland’s growing construction pipeline.

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“We’re not just battling a skills crisis, we’re also fighting a Federal Labor Government which seems intent on making things worse,” Minister Bates said.

“Queensland construction workers have a golden era in front of them thanks to the Crisafulli Government’s ambitious infrastructure pipeline, and we’re delivering the help businesses need to get more hands on the tools.

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“Steven Miles’ legacy was a construction skills shortage the size of a Suncorp Stadium crowd and his mates in Canberra don’t seem to understand that we need to back businesses and workers to get things built.

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“While the Albanese Labor Government continues its cash grab by cutting support for apprentices, the Crisafulli Government is opening doors for Queenslanders keen to get on the tools and backing the businesses that put them on.”

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Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin said the programs would provide additional opportunities for Queenslanders considering careers in the trades.

"The Small Business Apprenticeship Pilot Program proved incredibly popular, and by extending that initiative while also introducing TradieStart, we’re creating even more opportunities for Queenslanders to pursue a career in the trades and help build our State’s future," Minister Minnikin said.

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"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and these programs will give them the confidence and support they need to take on apprentices, creating jobs and strengthening communities across Queensland."

Construction Skills Queensland Chair Sue-Ann Fresneda said the new program would help employers overcome some of the barriers associated with taking on apprentices.

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"Queensland's construction pipeline presents a generational opportunity for the state but delivering it will depend on our ability to attract, retain and develop the skilled workforce needed to support it," Ms Fresneda said.

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"TradieStart helps employers invest in the next generation of tradies by reducing barriers to employing apprentices and creating more pathways into meaningful, long-term careers in construction.”

For Mackay and regional Queensland, the additional apprenticeship opportunities come as the construction sector continues to require a skilled workforce to support major infrastructure and development projects.

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Small business owner and KALM Construct Director Calum Moore said financial incentives could make a significant difference to businesses considering taking on an apprentice.

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“Taking on an apprentice is a big commitment as an employer and without incentives like TradieStart and the Small Business Apprentice Program a lot of small businesses wouldn’t be able to make it happen, financially,” Mr Moore said.

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“For us, these incentives make taking on an apprentice and giving back to the industry possible and I’d recommend them to other construction business owners."

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Janice Cash, Rental Department Manager at Blacks Real Estate. Photo source: Blacks Real Estate

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With more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry, Janice Cash continues to lead the rental division at Blacks Real Estate as Rental Department Manager.

Janice first entered the real estate industry in 1977 before later joining the Air Force and raising her three daughters. She has since built an extensive career in property management, developing strong knowledge of Mackay’s rental market and investment property sector.

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At Blacks Real Estate, Janice leads a team of property managers focused on supporting landlords and tenants across the region.

The agency said her decades of industry experience continue to play an important role in helping investors navigate the property market while ensuring rental properties are professionally managed.

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Operating from offices in Mackay and Dysart, Blacks Real Estate services residential, commercial and rural clients throughout the wider region.

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Janice Cash can be contacted on 07 4963 2500.

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My dog wakes up every morning convinced she is about to win lotto.

She is so excited about her numbers coming up and winning the big one, again, that she can’t stop wagging her tail, smooching up to me and following me around as I get up and start the day.

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She wants to be right next to me, pressed up against my leg, when the announcement is made.

She also does stretches in front of me, front legs extended, warming up for what’s ahead.

For Millie, the daily lotto win is not a financial thing but her regular morning walk. It means more to her that anything and it is equivalent to winning lotto every day in terms of the joy it brings her.

The excitement and anticipation builds as I start getting dressed … runners, shorts, tracksuit top all indicating the numbers are falling into place. Then the final number slots into place when I go to the cupboard in the laundry where I keep the leash. Like anyone who has won lotto, she goes a bit over the top with her excitement … running around, yelping and generally giving it the big thumbs up.

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Every now and then I have to break the news to her that she hasn’t won lotto this morning. Sometimes life gets in the way and there’s no time for the morning walk but I promise her there will be a walk later in the afternoon.

I’m not sure if Millie has a full understanding of the term “afternoon” but when I get home later in the day she is certainly excited about having the walk we didn’t get to do in the morning.

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But more often than not her early morning anticipation of her numbers coming up Is correct and she’s won lotto again first thing in the day. What a way to start the day!

People who have made good real estate decisions, or maybe just struck it lucky, have felt a similar joy to Millie in terms of their numbers coming up.

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Property owners in Sydney in recent years might not have got up in the morning and run around in a state of over-the-top excitement like Millie does but many would have thought their property purchase was a bit like winning lotto.

Properties bought for $800,000 were worth $2m in a matter of a few years. People who had bought many years ago for $200,000 or $300,000 found their family home was now worth two or three million dollars.  

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It was like winning lotto for most of them because it really was a matter of luck. They happened to live in Sydney, bought a house and, thanks to a strong economy, being in a city people want to live in and an immigration policy that created a big demand for housing, property values went through the roof.

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The world of real estate has changed since the May Federal budget and property values in Sydney are plummeting. People’s houses are still worth a lot but not what they were. People who bought properties relatively recently are, in many cases, in negative territory with their properties worth less than they paid for them.

It’s like losing your lotto ticket.

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People who have owned their property in Mackay have also done well, with properties more than doubling from around 2018 to 2026. The numbers aren’t as big as Sydney but there has still been a very handy win.

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Every real estate market in the country has been affected by the tax changes but the situation in Mackay has been steady. There’s plenty of activity and there’s nothing like the panic being felt in Sydney.

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Buyers are still buying and they are still applying for loans so while you might not be running around your loungeroom in excitement like Millie, it feels like there is room for optimism in Mackay.

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New housing rules are set to give Queensland builders, homeowners and councils greater flexibility, with a new Queensland Housing Code and updated Modern Homes Standards due to take effect this month.

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The reforms aim to simplify design and siting requirements for homes while reducing construction costs and providing greater consistency across local government areas. The new Queensland Housing Code will establish contemporary standards for detached houses and secondary dwellings covering building height, setbacks, privacy, car parking, site cover and private open space.

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Councils will have a three-year transition period from September 1st to consider adopting the new Code, with guidance and implementation support to be provided.  

Changes to the Modern Homes Standards are also expected to provide more flexibility around energy efficiency and accessibility requirements. These include a reduced five-star energy-efficiency requirement for homes under 50 square metres and a six-star requirement for raised-floor homes, including traditional Queenslander-style properties.

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A new “ramp-ready” option will allow elevated homes to be designed so a compliant ramp can be installed when required, while greater flexibility will also be introduced for accessible bathroom designs.

The narrow-lot exemption from liveable housing requirements will also be extended until 30th September, 2029.

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Housing Industry Association Queensland Executive Director Michael Roberts said the reforms would provide greater certainty for builders, designers and homeowners.

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“Greater consistency means greater certainty for builders, designers and homeowners,” Mr Roberts said.

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Master Builders Queensland Deputy CEO Michael Hopkins said the changes would help address costs and practical challenges experienced by the industry.

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The Modern Homes Standards amendments are proposed to commence on 14th August 2026.

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