Council spends money each year to improve the liveability of the region through its events and conference attraction programs. Bringing sporting events and conferences to our region provides bed nights for our hotels and increased spending in our eateries and retail shops. But as important, it exposes visitors to our region in the hope that it will encourage them to come back for a holiday or even better, decide to move here for the lifestyle. The Mackay region can support thousands more residents without the need to drastically upgrade its infrastructure.

The more people that live here, the more the rates burden is shared across the region, leading to lower rates rises. Over the last six years council has worked hard to make the rates burden fairer. In 2016 we had the highest rates in Queensland in our category. Now we are down at eighth spot and moving further down. Rates rises over the same period have been below 1.5 per cent on average.

To help with that we need to take advantage of the other ways to improve and diversify our economy and liveability. I sit on the board of Mackay Isaac Tourism as Mackay Regional Council’s representative to ensure that the money council invests into tourism gets the best return it can for the residents. The national visitor survey results are now in, showing that 679,000 business travellers came through the region over the last 12 months – that’s a 3.6 per cent increase on the previous year and a 65 per cent increase since 2019, making it a new record for the Mackay Isaac Region.

We are on the precipice of tourism making a full comeback to our region just by taking better advantage of what we already have. Council has been helping businesses in the Valley understand the wants and needs of the up to 30,000 mountain bikers visiting to the region at the completion of the world class mountain bike park linking Finch Hatton and Eungella.

As part of the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area Riverside Revitalisation Project, council is building a pontoon in the Pioneer River to create new opportunities for commercial tourism right from the CBD. We have operators already heading out there regularly, go and have a look! We can build tourism back up and past what it used to be if we all believe that we’re all in the business of selling tourism.

Cr Justin Englert

Mackay Regional Council

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In short: a lot.

The proposed dam and hydro scheme in the Pioneer Valley is expected to provide half of Queensland’s energy needs at its planned completion date in over a decade.

This project, which will dwarf the Snowy Hydro Scheme, will employ many thousands of people and, if it goes ahead, will be a major driver of our economy.

The announcement was very short on detail and we really need a lot more information than we had at the time of me writing this column for us to speak confidently about what it will mean.

As always with projects of this magnitude, there will be people who suffer and, in this case, residents in parts of the Pioneer Valley will be forced to sell their properties to accommodate the dam. We need to be conscious of what that means for those people and those residents will need support and consideration.

There are certainly questions to be asked about locations effected and what it will mean for services, transportation and the impact on communities.

Those details will emerge in the months and years ahead but the opportunity a project of this size provides for Mackay cannot be underestimated.

The project will employ thousands of people and will offer enormous opportunities for local companies that, until now, have largely been servicing the mining sector.

This will mean apprenticeships for local kids and career paths for Mackay people who will benefit from the certainty of long-term employment.

We should also expect the project to create an influx of workers to Mackay to help meet the demand for the skills that are required for such an enormous engineering project.

Of course, the Premier said the dam and hydro scheme is part of the Government’s effort to phase out coal, so it will be welcomed by the climate change cheerleaders. But what we know is that she is talking about thermal coal, used in coal-fired power plants, not metallurgical coal.

The vast majority of the coal we dig out and export is metallurgical or coking coal, used to make steel, and there are no plans to phase that out.

So, we could have one of the biggest infrastructure projects in the country being built on our doorstep while we continue to export the best metallurgical coal in the world.

That would be great for businesses, jobs and our economy. The influx of people to Mackay will also be terrific for the real estate sector as it will add to demand for housing and give confidence to those who have bought in Mackay.

With such a long-term project many people who move to Mackay will want to buy properties rather than rent. But if this all goes ahead, our lack of rental properties will become a big issue for the local and state governments.

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The lessons we learn as kids are the ones that stick with us for the rest of our lives. And one of the best things we can impart on our bubs is the importance of exercise.

There are a few ways to make sure the kids are getting out and about in their young days and getting into the habit of moving – regardless of their age.

If they’re a teenager, they might moan, if they’re a bub, they might cry, but they’ll thank you later for it. And it might just get you fit too while you spend the days outside.

Where To Start:

• Whenever possible, indulge your child’s interest in physical activity – kick the ball with them when they ask.

• Show your child how to perform basic sporting skills – like kicking the ball. Research suggests that children whose basic skills are poor tend to avoid sports, so start them kicking early.

• Take them to the playground and help them to use the equipment. Have a go yourself – slides and swings are fun!

• Make sure that family outings are (sometimes) physically active.

• Take your kids for regular walks around the neighbourhood. Babies and young children can be pushed along in prams – once they get older, encourage them to walk part of the way.

• But, for our number one tip, try out different sports in age-appropriate classes. Not only is it good for the body, but it’s also good for the soul. Get your kid hanging out with other kids in a team environment!

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There is no denying that the kitchen is the heart of the home – and to keep it pumping and healthy, you need to be giving it some tender loving care.

And tender loving care is just what the team at Porters Mitre 10 are great at! Designing or updating your home’s heart is a lot easier when you have Porters Mitre 10 and Principal Kitchens on your side.

Designed for contemporary living and durability, Principal Kitchens products are backed with a 10-year warranty on cabinets and a lifetime warranty on hardware – ensuring your home’s heart is always beating at its best.

All In The Details

Your new kitchen will come with Italian soft close hinges as standard – perfect for kids who like to swing open the cupboard doors. All hardware, including hinges, soft close runners, screws and cabinet feet, come with your new Principal Kitchen, meaning there are no additional purchases required. All cabinets are Australian made, ensuring high quality and long-lasting wear.

DIY

If you’re handy on the tools, you can build and install your new kitchen – yourself! Delivered in flatpacks, your new kitchen can easily be assembled by dowel and screw method for a stronger build. Or if you aren’t so savvy on the tools, the team at Porters Mitre 10 can refer you to a local trade professional to assist in the installation.

One Stop Shop

The best part? Your entire kitchen, including cabinets, handles, tapware, sinks, storage solutions and lighting, can all be ordered from one place – Porters Mitre 10! With three kitchen displays and a laundry display already setup for you to walk through, organise a meeting with trained and experienced designers to order your new Principal Kitchen. If you want to start designing your dream kitchen early, use the 3D online planner to then bring to your consultation for the experts to finalise.

Contact the team at Porters Mitre 10 to help bring life back into your kitchen - 07 4967 3386.

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In the wake of Queensland Government state coal royalty tax increases in the June State Budget, there was uproar from mining giants.

But now an independent body representing the commercial resources sector is jumping onboard the criticism train: The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) are calling on the Palaszczuk Government to review the decision.

QRC have queried the state government over their choice to increase the tax to what are the highest rates in the world – all with no consultation to industry.

“Earlier this year, and almost overnight, the State Government increased Queensland’s top coal royalty tax rate from 15 percent to 40 percent,” QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said.

“This is an outrageous impost on our industry, which was done with no consultation or consideration of the damage this will do to regional communities, which rely so heavily on the employment and business opportunities that come from the resources sector.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and her ministers have been stalwart on the decision, though, even with it receiving staunch opposition upon announcement and in the months since.

“I believe that Queenslanders are on our side,” she said.

“Queenslanders will see that some of these companies are making billions of dollars, coal’s being exported overseas and we can reinvest that money for Queenslanders into hospitals and schools and regional Queensland.”

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Moranbah Bulldogs AFC junior Abbey Rankin was awarded the 2022 Troy Clarke Scholarship by AFL Queensland last month, named after the late Brisbane Bears player and AFL Queensland Development Manager Troy Clarke.

The scholarship is designed to support a young person from regional Queensland who displays the core values Troy, a South Cairns junior, embodied during his football journey including dedication, passion and respect.

The scholarship will specifically look to focus and improve Abbey’s football, education and personal development.

The scholarship was presented at Gold Coast’s Bond University on September 22 ahead of the Under 16 Girls Championships where Abbey represented the Gold Coast SUNS Academy Team who defeated the Brisbane Lions 45-7.

AFL Queensland say they selected Abbey for this prestigious scholarship due to her genuine commitment to pursuing her football ambitions.

Growing up in Moranbah, Abbey started playing Aussie Rules for the Moranbah Bulldogs only four years ago before being selected in the Gold Coast SUNS Academy.

During this time, she has travelled to pursue playing football at the highest level available.

Abbey and her family have now moved to Mackay where she plays for the Mackay City Hawks, this year’s 2022 AFL Mackay Premiers.

Head of AFL Queensland Trisha Squires congratulated Abbey on receiving this scholarship.

“Abbey is a worthy recipient of our Troy Clarke Scholarship,” she said.

“Her dedication to chasing her football pursuits through travel to training and seeking additional opportunities to improve her game, is demonstrative of her passion.

“We look forward to watching Abbey’s development as a footballer and person.”

The 16-year-old said she was honoured to receive this scholarship.

“It’s such an honour to receive this scholarship,” Abbey said.

“It has encouraged and inspired me to push even harder towards my goals.

“I know from personal experience that regional kids feel like they are always overlooked and forgotten about.

“This scholarship has done the opposite and inspired me to train and play harder.

“My ultimate dream is to play in the AFLW and be a role model for other regional kids.”

Abbey is the second player from the region to receive the Troy Clarke Scholarship, with Alana Gee from Mackay receiving the scholarship in 2019 before being drafted to the SUNS AFLW team earlier this year.

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In the Bowen Basin, the people of Moranbah and Dysart - two communities central to BHP’s Queensland mining operations – are having their voices be heard by a multi-billion-dollar company.

Home to the new Smart Transformation Advisory Council (STAC), a community-led forum that brings together BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) with community representatives, these two towns are helping the major company navigate the opportunities and impacts of what they call the “fourth industrial revolution”.

Moranbah State School Principal, Anthony Edwards said the forum is providing an avenue for the whole community to impact the direction of Moranbah’s future.

“I think the big thing that Smart Transformation has achieved is bringing community members to the table and to the conversation,” he said.

Since it began in 2019, the Smart Transformation Advisory Council has delivered several important outcomes for Dysart and Moranbah.

It saw the introduction of the Digital Connectivity Project, which is enhancing digital connectivity to both towns in a jointly funded by BHP and Telstra effort.

It initiated a new skills and training project, where an innovative new Careers Navigator role was established as part of the Queensland Future Skills Partnership. And it’s seen the establishment of the Isaac Childcare Leadership Alliance to help improve access to childcare - underpinned by a $1m commitment from BHP over two years.

Moranbah Discount Tyres & Mechanical Owner and Greater Whitsunday Alliance (GW3) Director, Carolyn Fritz said the variety of voices helps to distil the core community needs.

“It’s very important to bring those voices all together and understand the real and basic requirements that the community and business owners alike, need and value,” she said.

“It’s amazing BHP are willing to listen to that.”

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Image: Mayor Greg Williamson and Local Laws staff cut the ribbon to officially open the new Mackay Animal Management Centre. Photo supplied: Mackay Regional Council

The new Mackay Animal Management Centre was officially opened last week with the help of Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson.

Mr Williamson said the new facility would ensure council continues to meet the needs of the community into the future.

“The new facility is three times the size of the existing Animal Management Centre and the upgrades have brought the facility into line with current animal management standards,” he said.

The facility upgrades include 42 dog enclosures, increased from 18, and 22 cat condos, increased from nine cat cages.

“This is a great result for the community, as it means we will be less likely to reach capacity and can provide the best possible care for abandoned animals,” Mr Williamson said.

“The new dog enclosures have also been designed with improved health and safety features, allowing staff to clean one side of the enclosure at a time so they don’t need to be in the enclosure with a dog.

“We have also introduced larger cages for cats called cat condos, background music for the animals, a hydrobath, and improved security measures such as CCTV cameras throughout the facility.”

Julieanne Gilbert MP said the State Government was proud to support important community projects like this.

“The new Mackay Animal Management Centre will be a place that residents can not only adopt a new pet, but also be reunited with their furry loved ones,” Ms Gilbert said.

“Should your pet go missing, you can be rest assured that it will be provided with the best possible care until you can collect it.”

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Do you want your kids to learn some invaluable skills for both life and sport? If so, take them to Rugbytots, a non-code associated play program for 2–7-year-olds that teaches the basics of rugby.

Whether you are a league or union fan, the coaches at Rugbytots can show your children ball skills like catching, kicking and passing right through to life skills such as teamwork, listening to instruction and taking turns.

A friendly and fun atmosphere, this unique rugby program is dedicated to little ones and not only lets them share in the sport you love, but also helps to create strong, confident and resilient children.

Rugbytots first started in the UK in 2006 when a rugby-playing dad couldn’t find a pre-school rugby class for his three young boys.

Almost 20 years later and over 80,000 children in 20 different countries participate in Rugbytots and we are lucky enough to have one of them here in Mackay.

When Krystal Berrigan brought her children to Rugbytots several years ago as a parent, she loved it so much that she soon progressed into the role of a Coach and, almost 7 years ago she took over the reins, running the business ever since.

“Rugbytots is wonderful for your child’s development skills such as hand-eye coordination, social development, balance and agility,” she said.

“It’s a fun environment that gets kids out and active, away from the screens!”

“They love the structure of the sessions and, with their parents close-by, they can find their independence with the comfort of having a parent with them.”

Suitable for both boys and girls, these weekly classes are available, year-round, right across the Mackay Region.

Monday classes are in Marian, Friday in Ooralea and Saturday in Beaconsfield.

Reach out to Krystal to find out more details about how your child can enjoy learning about rugby and gain more confidence for life along the way.

Image: Rugbytots is a unique rugby program with a fun and friendly atmosphere

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In the midst of grieving for a young life lost too soon, the family and friends of Cody Gibbs who tragically passed away from cancer earlier this year, decided to turn their sadness into a positive outlet by raising money for a cause close to their heart.

Hummingbird House is Queensland’s only palliative care service where babies, children and young people can receive the support they need while being surrounded by loved ones in a comfortable and uplifting setting.

This is where 15-year-old Cody Gibbs was able to spend his final days and his family will be forever grateful for this.

To show their appreciation, for the last five weeks family friend Maz McDougall has been running a series of fundraising initiatives to give back to the charity that gave them so much.

Over 20 volunteers, who range from Cody’s friends to their parents, gave up time on their weekends to stand outside Coles supermarket in Cannonvale, flip some sausages, sell raffle tickets and offer cupcakes to passers-by.

“It blew us away to see how generous everyone was!” said Maz.

“As soon as they knew about the cause, they couldn’t get their money out quick enough!”

“A huge thank you to all the volunteers, it was truly amazing seeing how many of Cody’s friends turned up to help.”

The fundraising stall has been outside Coles every weekend for the past five weeks and it even went down to the Lion’s Club markets for the day.

In addition, Cody’s sporting club, the Whitsunday Sea Eagles, held a raffle at their presentation night where they raised an incredible $800 for the charity.

All the money will be put towards the Cannonvale Coles Hummingbird House tally and donated straight to helping other families who are going through the same situation.

Image: Volunteers at the market stall: Jorja Finch, Madeline Beale and Keely Skinner

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An application for a large retail precinct on Shute Harbour Road has been approved at Whitsunday Regional Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday, and in turn a new set of traffic lights for the major main road.

The traffic lights will be constructed across Galbraith Park Drive and Shute Harbour Road to manage the “impact on traffic movement” of the new Whitsunday Commercial Centre.

BCF and Supercheap Auto will become two of the three tenants for the planned showroom precinct which will be built on the corner of Galbraith Park Drive and Shute Harbour Road, opposite Whitsunday Plaza.

The 7167 square metres with 74 carparking spaces will be accessible from both Galbraith Park Drive and Central Avenue.

The development “triggered the requirement for the intersection of Shute Harbour Road and Galbraith Park to be upgraded to a signalised intersection,” according to the Council report and Tourism and Main Roads (TMR).

In consultation between Whitsunday Commercial Centre and TMR – the state body in charge of Shute Harbour Road – the Centre agreed to pay a $378,900 contribution in infrastructure charges for the traffic lights and new footpaths.

Residents Traffic Action Group (RTA) – who have campaigned from 2006 for roundabouts instead of traffic lights - had previously outlined their concerns for the Galbraith Park Drive and Shute Harbour corner, seeking for the development to be deferred.

The meeting saw fierce discussion between Councillors prior to the approval.

Councillors Al Grundy and Jan Clifford had no “problems with the development, only problems with the traffic lights.”

“I for one, do not believe a Nebo Road type approach is the approach we need to deliver as an entry statement to the tourism destination that we are,” Councillor Al Grundy said.

“Ever since I got into Council, I have been discussing Shute Harbour Road and our management plan for managing our growth. We are the number one tourism destination in the Great Barrier Reef.

“This comes back to the stronger point of what is our vision for this destination. Who do we want to be as a destination and how do we manage our growth?”

Councillor Clifford agreed: “I won’t be supporting this either. I have nothing against the development; I think it’s fantastic. I cannot support another set of traffic lights.”

“Noosa seems to survive without traffic lights, and I don’t see how they’re any different than we are. I don’t want Nebo Road in Airlie,” she said.

Councillor Mike Brunker rallied against Councillor Grundy and Clifford’s sentiments: “It’s not our road; State Government are saying lights are the only solution.”

“I like roundabouts as much as anyone else, but with what we know is going to be there [at Whitsunday Commercial Centre] it will be a calamity [without lights]; this development will be on the table for two or more years if we don’t approve it now,” he said.

“If we want to cap Airlie Beach development now, then let’s do it and save all this crap. We’ve only got one road into Airlie Beach unless we’re talking boring over hills or the other way round,” he said.

Councillor Al Grundy said, regardless of the development, there was a “big picture” to consider.

“I asked TMR: how many traffic lights are going to be between Gregory Cannon Valley Road and Shute Harbour. It’s what the residents want to know,” he said.

“My major concern is how are we going to deal with the population growth along this main road. This is just a microcosm of that.”

Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Julie Hall chimed in with a closing remark: “If we go down the aspect of the roundabout, that will take a lot longer to [build].

“Then we’ve got drainage issues and shifting power poles to think about; that will cost more for the ratepayer,” she said.

The motion to approve the development was carried 5-2, with Councillor Clifford and Councillor Grundy recording their names against.

Faye Chapman of RTA said of the development approval that she was fed up seeing major decisions made “without an overall vision for the Whitsunday Way.”

"Once again we are very disappointed to see the views and aspiration of Division 1 and 2 Councillors who represent their community's expectations be over-ruled by planning," said Ms Chapman.

"How long can we let the entrance to world renowned Whitsundays and Airlie Beach be decided by development and not by Council policy?"

Construction dates for the new Centre have yet to be released, as well as construction of the traffic lights on Shute Harbour Road which must be completed before the site can be considered open for business.

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Collinsville is looking to be the centre of a $20 billion renewable energy and ammonia/hydrogen project courtesy of foreign investors.

Three of Korea’s largest conglomerate groups – the Han-Ho consortium of Korea Zinc, Hanwha Impact, and SK Gas - have joined forces to develop a scheme to deliver 3000 megawatts of renewable energy and an export supply chain for ammonia from Collinsville to Korea.

The three companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a supply chain to export more than 1 million tonnes of green ammonia a year by 2032.

Korea Zinc subsidiary Ark Energy is now developing plans to build the ‘3GW renewables hub’ at Collinsville.

The Collinsville green energy hub will cover an area of 190,000 hectares.

Queensland premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said the green energy export corridor could create up to 700 jobs.

“When we are talking about the transformation, it is happening in regional Queensland,” the Premier said.

“This MOU signals their intention to develop future green hydrogen and ammonia opportunities in North Queensland which means more local jobs and more investment.”

The exports could be sent to Asia from the nearby Abbot Point port, or from Townsville, according to the Premier.

Daniel Kim, the chief executive of Ark Energy, said “The scale of what we’re embarking upon doesn’t exist today”.

“It is a very historic day for Australia and Korea”.

Details have yet to be confirmed on what will be built in Collinsville.

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The Whitsunday region has once again toppled previous records by exceeding visitation numbers to emerge as one of Queensland’s most popular holiday destinations.

“We are clearly the stand-out region in Queensland, with the highest percentage increase of overnight visitor expenditure, along with record increases in domestic holiday visitors,” said Tourism Whitsunday’s Chief Executive Officer, Rick Hamilton.

The latest National Visitor Survey (NVS) revealed visitors to the region welcomed a record 811,000 domestic visitors, who spent a collective $1.3 billion in the year to June 2022, an increase of 31.2 per cent.

Domestic visitors enjoyed 3.7 million nights in the Whitsundays, with an average spend per visitor of $1,613.

“This underlines the significant contribution that tourism makes here, as we are a region that relies on tourism for 1 in 3 jobs,” said Mr Hamilton.

“These results are an excellent validation of our unparalleled product offering and the investment our operators have been making in new experiences for all visitor demographics.”

“The results released yesterday show that The Whitsundays is one of the most desirable destinations in Australia and we’re looking forward to continued growth in the interstate and international markets.”

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Image: Kyle Danns’ backyard is no longer a torn up mess thanks to Damien Bennetts’ generosity. Photo supplied: Kyle Danns

When Kyle Danns and his family became the victims of a scammer, they were left $4,000 out of pocket with a torn-up garden and nowhere to turn.

“We’d been meaning to do something with the backyard for a while,” said Kyle.

Through a miscommunication, Kyle paid someone he thought was trustworthy to do work on their backyard before the scammer did a runner with his money.

“We spent ages trying to chase him and get in contact with him to no avail,” he said.

Kyle posted in a community Facebook group, hoping someone would be able to assist in finding the scammer, only to be told by many others that they’d been scammed by the same person.

One comment from a gentleman named Damien Bennetts, however, would save the day for Kyle and his family.

“Damien put a post up basically saying, ‘I’d be happy to come and do that for you free of charge,’” Kyle said.

“He came around the next day and he was awesome; he was so good.”

After a couple of days work, Damien had rejuvenated the backyard space.

“I don’t know what I would have done without him,” said Kyle.

“I didn’t want to go out in the backyard because it just made me so angry.

“Now I get to go out there and think about all the good people in our community and one of them was Damien who was just so generous with his time.

“I can’t thank him enough.”

Kyle posted to Facebook to thank Damien, in turn, garnering more exposure and work for Damien and his concreting business Damo’s Concreting Construction.

Kyle says Damien has definitely become a friend.

“He’ll be someone I keep in touch with,” he said.

“Whenever I go out into that yard, I’m going to think of him and his generosity.”

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A controversial Urologist who had previously made headlines across the country for incompetence and unconventional practices has now shot into the spotlight once again following an incident which saw him suspended from duties at Mackay Base Hospital.

Dr Daryl Stephens was the first doctor to be arrested and charged with murder in 2000 when he allegedly helped his patient, Freeda Hayes, who had terminal kidney cancer, end her life in a palliative care hospice.

It took a Supreme Court jury just 10 minutes to acquit him in 2001.

Moving to West Australia and taking up a position in a Perth Hospital, Dr Stephens’ methods were once again thrown into question when he was fined for engaging in professional misconduct.

He then commenced work as a Urologist at Mackay Base Hospital in 2016 and, despite the findings of the tribunal in 2018, was allowed to continue working at the hospital, with lack of urological services cited as the reason he retained his position.

During his tribunal, it was heard that Dr Stephens mishandled a case in Perth which led to a cancer patient not being given pathology results for three months.

He was instructed to work under supervision for 12 months.

Four years later and Dr Stephens was once again in the spotlight when he was suspended from Mackay Base Hospital following hygiene concerns this week.

The hospital gave a brief statement saying that they have systems and processes in place to encourage staff and patients to speak up for safety.

“If there are concerns about the capacity of a clinician to provide safe care these reports are taken very seriously,” said the spokesperson.

“It is important for anyone involved to be provided with procedural fairness while the concerns are investigated.”

Image: Urologist Dr Darryl Stephens suspended from Mackay Base Hospital. Photo credit: The West Australian

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