A colourful and creative wonderland for bubs, cubs, kids and their parents await at Little Treehouse Lane in Canelands and owner Nyomi Davidson invites you to come inside and explore.

A treasure trove of items for every stage and age is in-stock and the team at Little Treehouse Lane prides itself on supplying a range of brands that would not otherwise be available in Mackay.

“Not everyone wants to buy online, a lot of people prefer a personal customer service experience,” said Nyomi.

“We stock products you often can’t get anywhere else locally, from everyday essentials to practical solutions for growing families.”

In 2016 when Nyomi discovered she was pregnant with her sixth child just days after she had accepted a position with a different local company, she knew she needed to re-think her five year plan.

That’s when she decided to put her passion for parenting into a flexible lifestyle business that would allow her to juggle motherhood with her empowered entrepreneurial spirit.

Starting off with just three products - dummies, shoes and lunchboxes – Little Treehouse was born and Nyomi soon hosted a stall at the Baby and Kids Market.

With her waters breaking at the event, Nyomi’s sixth child was born the following day and has since been part of the everyday excitement of running a thriving family business.

Operating at markets, pop-up shops and from a downstairs ‘by appointment only’ retail home-store, Nyomi soon garnered a reputation for quality selling practical and innovative items that parents loved.

Over the years Little Treehouse has broadened the product range to include clothing, toys, kitchen items and quirky ideas for gifts for children right through to their adults.

Popular brands include OiOi, Bed Head Hats, Bibs from Denmark, Go Green and Monty Co.

In 2020, Nyomi opened an extensive retail store in Canelands which became so popular that they expanded to a larger space earlier this year.

Creating a community feel within the store, the friendly team at Little Treehouse Lane is like a family – greeting guests, sharing stories and helpful ideas with other parents.

They also have a website to browse, and items can either be delivered or you can ask hubby to click and collect.

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Another year may nearly be over but one industry that isn’t showing any signs of slowing down is the design industry. You will be spoilt for choice with wall covering trends coming through now and into 2023. As another year rolls on, so does the world of interior design, and it will be an exciting one.

Quite often when I discuss with my clients’ ideas on introducing wall coverings into their homes or commercial spaces they respond immediately with “Oh no, not wallpaper, I’m not sure about that.” I then explain and show them so many ways to enhance that boring wall into something fabulous that transforms it instantly. When you consider it as “art” the mind is now opening to a whole new way of doing things.

We will see stunning murals depicting comfort, wellbeing, biophilia plus a splash of luxury. These are the main themes for interior design in 2023. As expected, the emergent home colour trends are heavily influenced by these design stories, with the main narrative taking cues from the world around us. Earthy and organic are the leading the way, but we’re also seeing some brighter pops of colour shifting into the limelight as well.

Whatever colour palettes draw you in, the design world seems to have one single agenda and that’s to create a homely and inviting space that makes you feel your best. From the soul soothing hues found in your herb garden and mood lifting pastels that instantly create a sense of safety to balmy neutrals tinged with relaxing gold tones, there are so many emotionally empowering colour trends 2023 has in store for us.

Textured nature inspired wallcoverings can add such warmth to your walls without distracting from the overall look. It naturally draws the eyes to want to look for detail and visually becomes tactile which makes it irresistible not to touch. You can achieve the look of brushed concrete, marble, metal, leather, and brick to name but a few. This becomes an interesting yet striking backdrop to enhance your furniture without being overpowering.

If you’re looking for something more impacting the choices are endless from beautiful scenery murals that look like they have been hand painted especially for you to vibrant luxury wallpaper repeats that create a more formal vibe. The categories are endless so think outside the box, consider using a portion of the print within a large picture frame and select an area where you would like to feature it, for example behind a bed as a bedhead, dining area or as a feature in a bathroom plus don’t be afraid to repeat different sections of the mural in the one zone to tell a story. The beauty of this as well if you are renting or wish to move it around it becomes very versatile.

Wall mouldings and flexible wood panelling’s are making a huge comeback and instantly ooze class. Flashbacks from a gone by era we are seeing them modernised, used traditionally & unpredictably by painting them in contrasting colours and placing them differently it can certainly add that wow factor. Consider what “feeling” you are wanting to achieve, whether you are wanting to create a vertical line to add an optical illusion of height or a more formal symmetrical structure which can be further enhanced with clever lighting casting gorgeous shadows.

If you would like to see how wallcoverings could enhance your home or commercial space, contact Style Central Home for a complimentary initial consult.

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Of course, being a mum is incredibly beautiful and rewarding but it can certainly be challenging as well. The sheer effort it takes to organise the care of little ones is quite often a feat. Anything that saves mums time and money, makes life flow more smoothly and keeps them organised are a huge benefit. So, take a look at this list of products to help save your sanity; invented by mums for mums.

Wet Bags

Wet bags are a favourite product for keeping mess to a minimum. They are an eco-friendly way to keep wet swimmers, nappies, breast pads, anything a bit icky contained until you get home. They can also be used for washing delicates and toys in the washing machine, makeup and toiletry bags, travel laundry bags, for gym clothes and towels or anytime you need a handy little water-proof bag.

DIY Blockout Blinds

If your babies or kids need complete darkness to sleep (and stay asleep later than 5:00am), window blockout blinds will do the trick. They use static cling, not adhesives, and you can cut the roll to suit the shape of your windows. 100% of sun is blocked out and they are reusable.

Stroller Organisers

Your hands are busy pushing the pram, so keeping everything you need close to hand makes life so much easier. Stroller organisers are perfect for keeping keys, purses, phones and baby wipes close at hand without the need for rummaging. There are separate sections, two roomy front pockets and a zipped pocket at the back. With Velcro strips, it attaches to the pram easily and can be detached and used as a handbag.

Wee Target

Mums of small boys, and maybe the big ones too, will know how hard it is to keep the toilet clean. Wee Targets are attached to the back of your toilet and warm urine will make the black spot turn into an image. It teaches kids how to aim correctly and saves the mess and stress.

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“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”. It’s a phrase I’ve used a lot in jest over the past few weeks. Why? Well, with family and new colleagues moving to the area recently and the temps in North QLD really heating up along with the humidity, it needs to be said with every complaint if it’s so hot today when it’s only just scratching the surface!

It's funny watching these newbie Mackay residents experience our brutal but incredible summer weather. Sometimes I feel that it’s almost a sport for locals to watch the newbies suffer through their first summer. I shouldn’t laugh too hard though, it’s not that long ago that I moved back to Mackay and had to go through the brutal reality that we’re only just getting a taste of at this point!

I personally like to use the heat as a reminder to get my emergency kit ready, a reminder that I usually forget anyway. But “do as I say and not as I do” because whether you’ve lived here your entire life or you’re fresh to the area, storm season is just around the corner. You don’t want to be stuck in a cyclone with nothing to see you through. We haven’t had one since 2017, it’s probably worth reacquainting yourself with the Mackay Regional Council Emergency Dashboard at mackay.qld.gov.au/emergency.

Speaking of people new to the region, have you heard of Johnny yet? He’s our brand new 9am-1pm workday announcer! You can catch him on your radio every weekday with me taking over from 1pm-5pm. Keep it locked to Star 101.9 and call us up anytime for a chat on 1300 89 19 29 or update us with something happening in the region by calling or messaging us on Star 101.9 Mackay on Facebook.

Catch the Star 101.9 breakfast show with Scotty and Rach from 5am, Mornings with Johnny from 9am, Kaley for afternoons from 1pm, Will & Woody from 5pm and the Kyle and Jackie-o Hour of Power from 7pm every weekday!

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Buying your own home is a major (and exciting!) financial goal. However, knowing where to start and saving for a deposit can be a little overwhelming. Here are a few of our best tips to help you take those first steps, and save for your first home.

Starting point

These three steps will kick you off in the right direction!

1. Contact your bank to get an overview of the financial requirements needed - how much you can borrow and what deposit you need, based on your wage and current living expenses. This starting point will allow you to build your savings, by having a clear end goal to work towards.

2. Check out properties similar to the one you want, in the area you want, to have an understanding of what prices you might be looking at, and how that compares to your savings goal.

3. Research current government grants and schemes available to find out if you are eligible for any, and what the terms and conditions are.

Don’t be tempted

When saving for your deposit, it can be tempting to use that money for other things. These pointers will help you to stay on track, and speed up the process.

• Open a separate bank account that is dedicated to saving for the deposit

• Make a budget and stick to it

• Cancel unnecessary subscriptions

• Delete instalment payment options like Afterpay

Know the process

Once you have your deposit saved, it’s time to find your first home!  Now is the time to get your application under way. You’ll need a solicitor or conveyancer to assist with all the legal requirements. They will help guide you through the sales process, costs, and any fine details in the contract of sale.

Settlement time

Once your finance is approved, it’s time to sign your loan documents to prepare for settlement. A date will be set, and you can start planning your move. On this day you will receive the keys to your first home!

To help buy your first home, Community Bank Sarina Bendigo Bank is here to help! Call Charmaine and the team on 07 4943 2624.

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Award-winning artist Tia Gabriellah is among seven whose works are on show at the Sarina Art Gallery this month.

Tia’s bright series of paintings Flowers 1 2 3 is among a display which also includes works by Roni Boyle, Jenny Tibbett, Kerry Williams, Robyn Gray, Brizi, and Gail McKeown.

Tia, who won a number of awards at major New South Wales art shows, has been painting for 20 years and moved to Sarina about 18 months ago.

“I’m enjoying painting in Sarina,” Tia said.

“I love painting seascapes.”

Tia said awareness of Sarina’s art scene was growing with 400 people visiting the gallery for the last Sarina 7 exhibition, and the Sarina Arts Council was aiming to increase its membership.

The gallery at the Sarina Field of Dreams is open from 10:00am to 3:30pm daily until October 28.

Contributed with thanks by Charlie Payne

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It’s the big question that many home owners want answered and it’s the question that is asked when a home owner gets an agent around to do an appraisal on their property.

There is an obvious answer. Well, that depends … but let’s try to give a better answer than that.

All things being equal, your property is worth more than it was worth between 2014 and now. Happy days.

However, when that home owner asks the question about what exactly the property is worth there are some things to consider.

If I am doing the appraisal on your place, I will probably suggest some things you can do to increase the potential price of your home.

Some of things won’t cost you anything but they will help you get a better price. Other things might cost a bit of money but I won’t suggest them unless they add more value than the cost of the work.

You only get one chance at a first impression and that first impression occurs when your potential buyer pulls up out the front and looks at the house and grounds.

If you had pressure cleaned the roof and driveway, would that have improved that first impression? Absolutely.

Does the peeling paint on your hardi-plank exterior create an impression about the rest of the property in the mind of the buyers as they walk towards your front door? You bet it does. Some people have already knocked 50 grand off the listing price before they’ve even stepped inside because they assume the peeling paint is only the start of what’s going to be wrong.

Apart from presentation, there is the marketing. There is that old chestnut that some sellers use: “You only need one buyer.” And that is true. But that buyer needs to see and feel he or she is in competition with other buyers for your property.

You’re not going to get the best price for your property unless the buyer who loves it the most feels they have to compete with other people to get it.

I’ll do a whole column on marketing one day but a point I will make here is that the write-up needs to target the right buyers. It needs to connect with the people who want it the most and create an emotional response before that buyer has even been to see the property.

The write-up needs to say more than “three bedrooms, two bathrooms in a nice suburb”. People have different criteria and no property is right for everyone but the write-up needs to convey to all the potential buyers of that specific property that this is the one they must not miss seeing.

That is part of what creates the competition among potential buyers. And when there’s competition for your property it won’t be me telling you what the property is worth … it will be the buyer who loves it the most. And that person’s got the money.

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Image: Members of the Sarina Fibre Arts Group donated 18 children’s rugs to Mackay Women’s Group last week. Photo supplied

Members of the Sarina Fibre Arts Group were involved in making children’s rugs to be donated to the Mackay Women’s Group last week.

Sarina Fibre Arts Group members Mary Whitaker, Val Pearce, Marg Schwarzrock and Jenny Price presented Mackay Women’s Group member Julie with 18 rugs for use by any children in need.  

The presentation was the latest in a number of donations the group has made including 100 Where’s Wally beanies the group knitted for Mackay’s entrant in the Variety Bash rally earlier this year.

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Cr Michelle Green
Mackay Regional Council

My happy place is found on a hiking trail. Hiking is my antidote to a busy life and helps me to “straighten up and fly right”. But don’t listen to me wax lyrical about the tangible benefits of hiking, the science is clear on the positive effects of being in nature while exercising:

• walking in green spaces helps us recover from the “attention overload” from living a digital existence and people who spend time walking in nature are less anxious, helping to protect against depression

• it’s good for your brain. The unpredictable nature of trails versus a concrete urban footpath means your brain is getting stimulation, not just oxygenation, aiding memory and cognitive ability

• being in nature promotes the powerful feeling of awe. Feeling small in the presence of something greater than yourself improves mood and generosity

• when we become connected with nature we care about its fate.

Bringing visitors to regions they typically wouldn’t go also increases the local economy. Who hasn’t stopped for a pie after exploring Finch Hatton Gorge?!

It’s easy on the hip pocket and great for all ages. Hiking is wonderful for children and observe your relationship improve with your surly teenager after walking a trail versus the shopping mall.

That brings us to the diverse range of hiking trails in the Mackay region. Here are a few examples:

Komo Toera Trail

A 1.1km boardwalk stroll through a unique ecosystem and wetlands. Don’t forget the mozzie spray in the wet season.

Slade Point Reserve Track

Generally easy 5.3km out-and-back trail. Extend your hike by following the coastline along the Esplanade to the lookout and the water tower. Can you spot whales?

Andrews Point – Cape Hillsborough

More challenging, this 5.2km trail can be completed as a circuit if the tide allows. Breathtaking ocean, island and coastal views are well worth the climb up to Turtle Lookout on this visually stunning walk.

The Mackay Highlands Great Walk

The 56km, one-way track can be completed in three to five days or hike sections during a day trip to the mist-shrouded peaks of Eungella National Park. While it’s considered a grade five track, the first two sections are relatively flat and perfect for newbies.

When you consider all the physical, health, psychological, emotional and mental health benefits of hiking, there really is no reason not to head out into the wilderness. Happy hiking!

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By Kevin Borg, Chairman, CANEGROWERS Mackay

The proposed Queensland Hydro Pioneer-Burdekin Project has been an unexpected and sudden development for our region.

On the day following the State Government announcement of the project, CANEGROWERS Mackay, with Pioneer Valley Water, met with Queensland Hydro's interim CEO Chris Evans and consultants working on stakeholder and community engagement, to directly hear about the proposed project and timeline.

We heard assurances that there would be no effect on existing water allocations for farmers. Equally, the project will not deliver any additional water for rural, industrial or domestic use. The water is purely for electricity generation.

In that meeting, we also took the opportunity to discuss issues for our members – and the wider agricultural community – around land resumptions. It is our highest priority that our members are cared for and compensated fairly for any loss of land and production.

In initial mapping, and from this discussion, it seems that there is only a limited amount of land under cane to be lost - the more significant loss of productive rural land will occur among graziers and other agri-business properties both in the Netherdale and Dalrymple Heights areas. There also appears to be some issues with possible conflicts with established indigenous title areas.

Overall, there seems to have been a significant lack of consultation with landholders prior to the announcement. It’s engendered dismay and confusion, and there is a clear need for rapid transparency, including quality mapping rather than the broad-brushstroke publicity mapping currently available.

CANEGROWERS Mackay sees the project as an opportunity to develop productivity – reaching out to goals for the Mackay-Plane Creek cane growing districts to supply feedstock to plant-based protein manufacturers that will emerge as Mackay takes a stronger role in the biofutures economy.

If the State Government is genuinely committed to developing biofutures and a circular economy in the Mackay Region, delivering direct, localised social benefit from this large-scale renewable energy project would be offering a discounted tariff to local producers for electricity needed to irrigate.

CANEGROWERS Mackay’s Irrigation Project, funded under the Mackay Whitsunday Water Quality Program and led by our Agricultural Economist John Eden is clearly showing that growers applying irrigation in a strategic manner not only has outcomes for the environment in terms of run-off water quality, but also some outstanding productivity results for increases in tonnes of cane per hectare.

It’s a critical link in continuing to meet the region’s milling throughput needs, and creating additional feedstock for future foods and fuels. It would be tremendous to see some lateral thinking and allowing one project to meet another area of government policy. The Sugar-Plus industry roadmap – which was developed by industry in collaboration with the Queensland Government clearly identifies, alongside future foods and fibres- fuel. Biofuel already has a place in our regional technology – with ethanol at Plane Creek and the Mercurius project at Racecourse.

As CANEGROWERS, we support the concept of renewable energy.  There are many opportunities to embrace renewable energy not excluding the barely tapped opportunities within the sugar industry.  

It is certainly pleasing to see the inclusion in the Queensland Jobs and Energy Plan of a planned $4M investment to investigate options for expanding generation from biomass waste streams such as bagasse – derived from cane and used to fuel electricity cogeneration from sugar mills. But it would be better yet to see this opportunity properly acknowledged and realised within the Jobs and Energy Plan as a listed, recognised energy source to be actively developed, rather than merely investigated.

Here in Mackay, Racecourse Mill cogeneration plant has been pumping out 38MW for the past seven years, delivering one third of Mackay’s energy needs to the grid, alongside producing enough energy to power the mill and the neighbouring refinery. Cogenerating mills across the Australian sugar industry currently produce over one million megawatt hours every year, of which 44% goes to the domestic grid. Imagine further developing and harnessing that potential at all mills, conceivably at a lower price tag than a $12billion greenfields pumped hydro project.

A recent report by the Australian Sugar Milling Council found that Queensland’s milling sector had the capacity to almost quadruple its current generation from bagasse from 438MW to 1,736MW. This could see the industry exporting up to 7,588 gigawatt hours of energy a year

Food for thought when the question on a lot of people lips is “Is this hydro a pipe dream when there are many cheaper options?”

Cogen is a tried-and-true process that makes great use of a waste product. If we are talking Queensland, then a biomass waste streaming process from a major crop is a no-brainer if we are aiming to create a diverse and strong energy mix. It’s a product we have right here, right now, and a host of mills that could be brought online to power a renewable future for Queensland.

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There has been an alarming decline in the number of Queensland women attending mammograms this year and local medical teams are concerned this will result in an uptick of late presentation breast cancers which are much harder to treat.

The latest figures show a 16 per cent reduction in the number of Queensland women having BreastScreen mammograms in the first three months of 2022.

This means 10,700 fewer women were screened than during the same period last year.

In addition, experts believe that the long-term effects of the COVID pandemic coupled with patient’s reluctance to attend routine hospital appointments, could mean that breast cancers are being discovered at much later stages.

Karen Coningham was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer after failing to attend screening for five years.

While her cancer is incurable, her cancer is now being controlled by drug therapy from the Mater Private Hospital.

Having experienced the real impacts of a late diagnosis due to skipping regular mammograms, Karen implores other women not to make the same mistake as her.

“I used to go regularly for scans, but then life just seemed to get in the way,” the 61-year-old former teacher said.

“I’d felt a lump in my breast but thought it was just a harmless cyst like I’d had before.

“When it became painful I went to get it checked and was eventually told I had advanced breast cancer – and that it had metastasised to my bones and lymph nodes.

“I know that if I had been screened earlier it would not have got to this point, so I want other women to not make the same mistake that I did.

“When it’s time for your mammogram make yourself accountable – and just do it.”

One in every four Queensland breast cancer patients are treated at Mater facilities and Ashleigh Mondolo, Clinical Nurse Consultant at Mater Private Hospital Brisbane, said that the incidence of breast cancer was steadily growing in Australia.

Fortunately, improvements in treatment and care mean that more women are successfully beating or living with breast cancer.

“Breast cancer doesn’t care if you’re busy. A 10-minute mammogram could save your life.”

FAST FACTS

• 92% people diagnosed with breast cancer survive

• If cancer is limited to the breast this increases to 96%

• More than 20,000 women and 200 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year

• The earlier it is found the easier and more successful the treatment plan will be

Image: Karen Coningham, who is living with breast cancer and Mackay Mater Private Health Hospital Clinical Nurse Consultant Maria Maxwell

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Hi Everyone,

It has been another huge week producing your local paper and, with our Mackay Editor away on annual leave, I have been taking on extra duties overseeing both sides of the newspaper.

One of the most prominent stories over the past few weeks has been about Mackay Urologist Daryl Stephens who entrusted me to write an exclusive story about his alleged misconduct which caused him to be placed on suspension.

The story I wrote last week attracted national attention with channel 7 News reporter, Marlina Whop, calling me to gather more intel for her story, which aired on the local news.

In addition, I received a call from a disgruntled Editor from a national media company who questioned some of my content, specifically my comments of the media’s misrepresentation of Dr Stephens.

Being given an exclusive story is a great honour but also a great responsibility.

I wanted to tell Dr Stephens’ version but, in doing so, understood there is another side that would also need to be told.

This week I was able to dig deeper into the broader issues this article raised and talk with previous patients and current co-workers to unearth more details of what has unfolded. You can read this on page 5 of the Mackay side.

At the end of the day, this story is about people and the heartache they have suffered.

Regardless of the outcome, who was wrong and who was right, this is the one fact that doesn’t change.

My heart and thoughts are with all those involved.

Rach

Quote of the Week: “A lie gets half-way round the world before the truth has a chance to put its pants on” (Winston Churchill)

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Local sporting clubs are often run on a tight budget with limited funds for the little extras that seem to add up over the season.

Supporting your club as they support you is an excellent way of giving back directly to the community that you love.

This is what 32 swimmers from Cannonvale Cannons Swim Club experienced last Sunday when they took part in the annual lapathon, swimming as many lengths as they could within a certain amount of time.

Each lap equated to a dollar amount that their sponsors had committed to so the more laps they managed to do, the more money they raised for their club.

Participants swam a total of 80,000 metres which equates to 3,200 laps over the course of one hour.  

Coaches, Ken Crittenden and Mark Erickson would like to congratulate everyone for their amazing effort.

Jy Parkinson (4.45km), Jacob Bell (4.2km), Sophie Fletcher (3km), Roxy Groom (2.9km), Abi Maher (2.5km), Harris Delac (2.1km), Jax Clayworth (2.8km), Nelson Malady (3.15km), Don Algie (3.15km), Levi Smith (2.05km), Indi Smith (2.15km), Celeste Orenshaw (2.4km), Addie Sanders (2.05km), Lily Maher (3.05km), Millie Groom (3.35km), Tora Delac (2.8km), Lochlan Jamieson (3.85km) and Holly Perrin (4km) who swam for one hour.

Also, Zane Clayworth (0.9km), Jasper Korosec (1.3km) and Lucas Korosec (1km) who swam for 30 minutes.

They would also like to thank the Whitsunday Masters Swimming Club for supporting the lapathon.  

Money raised is still being calculated by participants and all funds go directly back into the club for extra supplies, awards nights and general running costs.

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A total of 80,000 metres was swum by 32 lapathon participants. Photo supplied

The $7 million replacement fire and rescue station set for construction in Airlie Beach raised alarm bells for local councillors this week.

The proposed location in a low-density residential area on the corner of Shute Harbour Road and Macarthur Drive in Cannonvale raised eyebrows for locals when it was announced in July, and the site is now set for a noise and light impact assessment, but not one that will impact its approval by the State Government.

In Whitsunday Regional Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday, Councillors discussed sending a submission to Queensland’s Deputy Premier, Steven Miles, seeking that the approval for the development be deferred until the assessment results were considered.

Whitsunday Regional Council Director Planning and Development Neil McGaffin explained that the original site was chosen by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) because it met the bodies’ strict criteria.

“QFES need to consider the time it takes to leave the station to get where the fire is – that needs to be 16 or 17 minutes, and they can’t achieve that by leaving the [current station] in Jubilee Pocket,” he said.

Other sites had been suggested to QFES further from residential areas, according to Mr McGaffin, but they unfortunately did not meet the parameters.

Councillor Jan Clifford said the proposed location was “highly inappropriate place for a fire station.”

“My concerns are for Airlie Beach, Jubilee Pocket, Shute Harbour if they’ve got a time frame of 14 and a half minutes,” she said.

“The road is frequently blocked between Airlie Beach and Jubilee Pocket, only for a few minutes, but that can be the difference between life and death.”

Councillor Al Grundy suggested that QFES could keep the current station as an auxiliary, which would change the proposed stations requirement criteria, meaning it would no longer be needed to be built at the Shute Harbour and Macarthur Drive location.

“If it was deemed an auxiliary was required to service that area, it would change the impact requirement on this location and allow it to be moved closer to the Gregory Cannon Valley area or the edge of town,” he said.

“When people moved into this medium-low density area, they weren’t expecting a fire station to be built across the road.”

Councillor Michelle Wright was one of the few dissenting voices amongst the Councillors, speaking to the positioning of Bowen and Collinsville’s Fire Stations – both in residential areas.

“This is an essential service. We are putting it there to help the people, and I just don’t understand how some people think,” she said.

“To me, this is saving lives, it’s saving families, it’s saving properties. It’s selfish, I believe.”

Council voted in favour of sending the submission to the Deputy Premier and are now awaiting response.

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The Colonel is touching down in Airlie Beach after a proposal for a new KFC at Reef Plaza complex in Cannonvale is approved by Whitsunday Regional Council.

After a long hiatus – with the original KFC on Airlie Beach’s main road shut down – the new outlet on 16 Paluma Road, adjacent to an existing McDonalds, will be constructed.

The 24-hour restaurant and free-standing drive thru joins a soon-to-be completed KFC in Bowen and is expected to open mid-next year.

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