Passing the second rate rise in as many years, Whitsunday Regional Council have delivered what Councillor John Collins coined ‘the hardest Budget I’ve seen in 10 years at Council’.

This year’s Budget was announced at a special meeting held at the Bowen Chambers last Friday morning and included a four per cent rate rise, equating to $3.71 per household per week.

“This is less than a Cherry Ripe or a cup of coffee,” said Acting Mayor Mike Brunker when delivering the budget.

With inflation running at six per cent in Queensland, Council had faced increased costs while also having less money coming in through reduced Federal and State government grants.

Cr Brunker said that there have been many robust debates between Councillors since Budget discussions commenced in April and that the finance team has created the best possible outcome in terms of maintaining our standard of liveability during tough times.

“We strive to reduce costs where we can so we can spend it where we must,” said Cr Brunker.

“This is a balanced Budget that continues to deliver services and enhance the liveability of our region, without compromising our future financial sustainability.”

Rates and charges account for $96.3 million out of Council’s $137 million operating costs and the majority of this is put into water and sewerage as well as maintaining roads and footpaths.

While ensuring liveability and services are maintained within the region, Council have also guaranteed sound financial management with a $227,000 operating surplus and are committed to debt reduction by allocating $5.4 million to reduce current loans.

Key Points:

•Inflation and reduced government support means rates have risen by 4 per cent or $3.71 per week per household

•Council will end the next financial year with a debt of less than $70 million for an asset base of $1.2 billion, in simple terms that compares to effectively owing just $70,000 on a $1.2 million home

•The Whitsundays has one of the most generous pensioner rates concessions in Queensland

•Council has a procurement policy that ensures the majority of work is awarded to local business so that money stays within the region

The Finance Team -  L-R: Julie Moller Manager Strategic Finance, Leah Bradley Manager Financial Services and Katie Coates Management Accountant with Acting Mayor Mike Brunker (centre)

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A Bowen icon is thought to be in danger according to local Chamber of Commerce, who believe it could either fall into disrepair or even be demolished.

President of Bowen Chamber of Commerce Bruce Hedditch said the Bowen Jetty, which is currently under commercial lease by North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) Corporation, could soon have no use for the company.

“We’re focused on saving it, because once the tugs leave and go up to Abbot Point, North Queensland Bulk Ports have no further use for it,” Mr Hedditch said.

“[The Chamber] understand – whether it’s true or not – that the council have no interest in it either.”

NQBP currently use the jetty and wharf for tugboat operations at Port of Abbot Point, and recently completed $3.6 million worth of works programs on the wharf.

Those works repaired the worst timber sections to “ensure it remains open for public access and available to meet commercial needs of the tugs”.

Mr Hedditch said – as the chamber understood it – NQBP would be moving their tug operation exclusively to Abbot Point port to limit expenditure, which he “understood entirely.”

Rumours have swirled in past years that the 154-year-old jetty heritage listed site has become too costly to maintain, and should NQBP move, no one would pick up the expensive slack.

An NQBP spokesperson said the company “knows how important the wharf is to the Bowen community” and they were working with key stakeholders to consider “long-term infrastructure options for the Abbot Point tugs.”

“We plan to engage with all relevant stakeholders at the appropriate time when considering the future of the Bowen Wharf as it relates to the Abbot Point towage infrastructure,” the spokesperson said.

“This will involve ongoing consultation with Whitsunday Regional Council, Bowen Collinsville Enterprise, Bowen Chamber of Commerce, our shareholding ministers, and, of course, the community.”

Mr Hedditch said the Bowen Chamber were hoping to come up with a plan to turn the jetty into a tourism venture.

“It’s very early days, but we just can’t let it get knocked over. There are not many tourist attractions in Bowen, so if we can turn it into that, it would be lovely,” he said.

“We’re going to come up with a concept that will create a lot of interest, that’s our next move.”

Bowen Chamber believes the iconic Bowen Jetty could be soon vacated by North Queensland Bulk Ports leading to a potential demolition

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Just six months ago, Airlie Beach welcomed its first organic bulk food store, offering locals and tourists alike the opportunity to purchase pure natural products while reducing single-use plastic along the way.

Owners of Airlie Health Hub, Hayley and Paul Moran, had been planning to open the store for almost a decade and said they finally felt the time was right.

“It’s a store to help everyday families live healthier, more sustainable lives,” said Hayley.

“That’s exactly how I shopped when I was a kid, and we wanted to introduce the same concept here.”

Customers are invited to browse the unique ‘scoop’ display shelves that allows you to personally pick and measure the produce to your exact specifications.

This flexible way of shopping is both interactive and economical.

“You can buy as little or as much as you like – so there is no limit – if you’ve got that recipe that you’ve been always been wanting to make, you don’t need to go and buy every single product,” Hayley explained.

“You can buy a teaspoon of spice if you like!”

Simply come into the store, which is located at the shopping complex on the corner of Stewart Drive in Cannonvale, and the team will assist.

You are welcome to bring containers with you or use one of the many jars that have been kindly donated by local businesses and meticulously cleaned by Paul.

One of the team will be on-hand to guide you around the store where you can scoop up a range of delicious products.

With over 300 products in stock, choose from dried fruit, grains, pulses, superfoods and spices as well as a range of pastas including chickpea and mung bean fettuccini.

Airlie Health Hub also stock a range of Australian made plant-based cleaning products including the Kin Kin washing detergent which was developed by a man who worked at Omo for 20 years.

Each re-fill container saves over 900 plastic bottles.

“The biggest thing we are trying to do right now is reduce food waste and plastic waste,” said Hayley.

“There is too much single use plastic and we really need to minimise it!”

Airlie Health Hub also cater to a lot of dietary requirements including gluten free, celiac and keto.

“So come and share your story and we’ll find out how we can best help from there,” said Hayley.

Hayley and Paul Moran from Airlie Health Hub

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Queensland environmentalists are celebrating a state budget with unprecedented funding for new national parks, while others are frustrated by its “big fat zero” in addressing the climate crisis.

The government announced a Queensland state budget with a commitment of $262.5 million in protecting more land – the lion’s share of which was going to land acquisition and capital works.

The Worldwide Fund for Nature said the spend is the “largest single investment” in expanding the national park estate in the state’s history.

But the environment spend ends there in a budget comprised of 2032 Brisbane Games planning and catch-up health spending, and conservationists across Queensland have said there’s “nothing for climate” in this budget.

Whitsunday Conservation Council Vice President Tony Fontes said there is “zero money in [the budget] for mitigation of climate change”.

“In a time where we’ve had terrible flooding in Queensland, and a mass coral bleaching event in Queensland, it’s simply not good enough,” he said.

Mr Fontes said that, especially for the Whitsundays, the Great Barrier Reef’s sixth mass coral bleaching event in March this year should act as a wakeup call – even more so considering it was the first ever during a La Nina weather cycle.

The spend on climate has drawn significant ire from Queensland conservationists who have pointed to the Palaszczuk Government’s three-time election promise that they would act on the climate crisis.

Mr Fontes said that those have, thus far, been empty promises, and didn’t reflect a populous who only recently changed its federal government because of its inability to act on climate.

“That 2030 emissions reduction target doesn’t look so good anymore when compared to Victoria and New South Wales cutting their targets by 50 per cent in the same time,” Mr Fontes said.

“The Federal government are aiming for 43 per cent by 2030, and Queensland need to put their hand up with the rest of the country and say we’re with you.”

Mr Fontes said the state government need to approach the issues they’re facing now “holistically” – particularly in reference to the Great Barrier Reef.

“They need transition plans for coal communities and to bump up that emissions target, because those need to be big ticket budget items,” he said.

“The number one goal holistically with reef protection is to mitigate climate change first, then reef restoration second, if you have to put one over the other.”

The state government’s 10-year energy transition plan is scheduled for release later this year.

Queensland’s state budget has a mammoth $262.5 million commitment to national parks, but a conspicuous lack of climate crisis spending according to conservationists

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Lost And Found

Two adventurous dogs, Glock and Winx, went missing in mid-June from their home in Jubilee Pocket, leading their owners on a five-day chase across the Whitsunday suburb before a teary reunion.

Glock, a black Staffordshire terrier, and Winx, what her owners Jessica Fricker and Brad Mitchell call a “bitsa”, were accidentally let out from the back garden of their Erromango Drive home on Saturday, June 18.

The dogs travelled from Erromango all the way up to the highest heights of Jubilee Pocket, mounting Moonlight Drive and eventually venturing out into the Conway Ranges – unbeknownst to their owners.

Over five days, Brad and Jessica, along with Jessica’s two children – Lincoln and Indy – worked their way around the suburb calling out the dog’s names and even leaving clothes at a few sites, hoping to entice the dogs to stick around the area.

They were joined in the hunt by Whitsunday residents and good Samaritans from as far afield as Bloomsbury.

The only clue for the local parents came from an older gentleman named Chris, who said he had seen the dogs the night they went missing. They had been barking in his back garden on Moonlight Drive, just 800-or-so metres from where they would eventually be found.

They stayed lost for five more days.

“Every day from the moment we dropped the kids off at school, we were out looking for them, calling for them,” Jessica said.

“I was driving up near Moonlight and luckily, I knocked on Chris’s door and asked him if he’d seen them, and he said: ‘Yeah, they were trying to eat my dogs last night!’”

That glimmer of hope dimmed over the next few days as no further sightings were reported. No one was more devastated than the 11-year-old Indy.

Indy shares a special bond with Glock, who acts as an emotional support dog for her disability.

“I could get her a thousand other dogs, but it wouldn’t be him,” Brad said.

“That’s why we had to find him. And they certainly know they’re loved now.”

After five days with no news and as many sleepless nights, the family received a call from Chris, who said he had heard the dogs near his property again on Wednesday morning.

“We got there, we called out for them and they howled back. I said: ‘That’s them’ and we just walked straight through the rainforest,” Jessica said.

Brad and Jessica trekked through thick brush and winding rock paths into a gully and around 120 metres of elevation in the Conway Ranges to follow the sounds of Winx and Glock.

“The SES said to us later, ‘How did you get through this?’ and they had come up in long pants, boots. We were wearing thongs – which we both lost our pairs of, so we were barefoot - and shorts!” Brad said.

They found Winx and Glock at a three-tiered waterfall. Winx had fallen into the lowest tier pool, while Glock was watching over her from the top.

Jessica said that, when she saw they were both together, she “went to water”.

“I just cried and cried – I couldn’t stop and Glock tried to come over to me. He almost fell off the rocks!” she said.

The dogs were wet, scrawny, and shaking, but “elated”.

The family was partially reunited; now they just needed to get home.

Brad and Jessica had been in contact with friends, updating them continually on the journey. Brad reached out to his mother to contact Whitsunday Police, who filed a report to alert the local SES branch.

The pair found Winx and Glock at around 3.00pm – they’d began their own trek at around midday, and it was 9.00pm before they heard the team of five SES operators coming up through the rainforest.

Whitsunday SES Controller Mark Connors said they hadn’t performed that kind of rescue operation for some time – especially one with dogs.

“In the Conway, it gets extremely dense so it was pretty rough going for all of the operators,” he said.

“We were able to get an exact location, but we just had to work out a way to get there. We took some food up for the dogs because we knew they were undernourished, and we just had to walk them out.

“They were hoping for a helicopter but with the dogs that just wasn’t possible.”

Mr Connors said it is always a great feeling when a mission ends as a good news story, but as an animal lover, he was particularly pleased.

“One of the dogs came out first with the first part of the team and promptly sat down on my foot!” Mark said.

“It was also, for some of my guys, their first search and rescue and they loved every minute of it.”

Jessica and Brad arrived back home by 10.00pm, opening the door to a sleeping Indy, who woke up with some sloppy wet kisses from her favourite dogs.

Glock and Winx, who usually sleep alone on a bed in the living room, have been joined every night this week by Indy curled up on the couch nearby.

“It meant more to her than it did to anyone else,” Brad said.

A Facebook post on a local group, Whitsundays Chat, alerting locals the dogs were home has since received upwards of 1000 likes and overwhelming positive feedback.

Winx and Glock are finally home, a little skinnier, but safe after their rainforest adventure.

Jessica Fricker, Glock, Winx, and Brad Mitchell unified at last

Jessica Fricker, Brad Mitchell, and their two dogs were helped down from the Conway Ranges by local SES after rescuing their lost pups

Jessica and Brad found Glock and Winx near a waterfall one kilometre into the Conway National Park

The SES trekked through the same tough terrain that Jessica and Brad did to find the quartet

Jessica’s daughter, Indy, with Glock, who acts as an emotional support dog

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A woman has died after developing chest pain and difficulty breathing during a snorkelling trip in Whitsunday waters.

The 53-year-old woman is understood to have been snorkelling near Hook Island with a commercial tour operator from Airlie Beach when she suffered a cardiac arrest.

She returned to the commercial tour vessel which then immediately re-routed to Coral Sea Marina where Queensland Ambulance paramedics and police met them.

It is understood her condition worsened once onboard and crew attempted to revive her through first aid.

She sadly passed during transit before the vessel arrived at the Marina at 12.30pm.

Whitsunday Ambulance Station Officer In Charge Steve Thurtell said the woman’s heart had stopped while she was onboard the vessel.

“The crew determined she had stopped breathing and the boat immediately high tailed it to Airlie Beach,” Mr Thurtell said.

“While we have great med-evac plans in place and it was good the tourism operators could perform CPR, unfortunately the distance was working against them.”

Mr Thurtell said a team of four paramedics took over at the scene once the vessel arrived.

“I think the team onboard the tour operator performed above and beyond expectations and did well on all accounts,” he said

“But unfortunately, despite all treatments, she passed away.”

It is understood the woman was on holiday with her partner and friends, who were also onboard the vessel.

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COUNCIL will be carrying out work that will improve safety at the Sydney and Alfred streets roundabout from this Sunday (June 26).

The work involves installing new median islands, pedestrian refuge islands, all abilities ramps, new road pavement and line marking.

This will improve the overall safety of the area and improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians.

Construction is expected to take about six weeks to complete, weather permitting.

To help minimise the impacts to businesses and traffic in the area, work will be undertaken at night between the hours of 6pm and 6am, Sunday to Thursday. There will also be some instances where day works are required for specific activities.  

Road closures and detours will be in place each night with normal traffic conditions reinstated each morning.

Motorists are asked to follow the directions of all signage in the area and the instructions of traffic controllers.  

Some centre car parking on Alfred Street will be removed during the works, these parks will be barricaded off when they are unavailable.  

No changes will occur to the existing bus stop locations on either Alfred or Sydney streets.  

This project is funded by the Australian Government’s Black Spot Program and Mackay Regional Council.

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“My husband’s motorbike is literally a puddle with a chain sitting on top.”

A family lost the entire contents of their rural shed near Sarina earlier this week, when a fully involved blaze engulfed a shed on West Plane Creek Road.

Property occupant Katya Galley said on a Facebook post that she was thankful to the emergency services (firefighters, ambulance and police) for their care.

“We woke up to the sound of the solar panels and other stuff exploding,” she said.

“A granite sink that was going into our kitchen in coming weeks even exploded.

“Nothing is recognisable.”

Ms Galley said the fire was extinguished within half an hour and that emergency services and Ergon stayed to ensure their power supply was safe.

She said the cause of the fire was unknown.

What was left after a fire destroyed a shed on West Plane Creek Road in the early hours of Monday morning, June 20. Photo credit: Katya Galley

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Men’s Sheds from across the region kicked off Men’s Health Week with a display of man-made handiworks in the Jubilee Community Centre.

Iona West Men’s Shed, Sarina & District Men's Shed and the newly formed Mackay Men’s Shed all contributed meticulously handcrafted items including toys, clocks, fishing lures, walking sticks, furniture and more to the display.

The works are inspired by the 2022 Men’s Health Week theme, “building healthy environments for men and boys”, which is what Allen Grant from Iona West Men’s Shed said they strive to do.

“We build a lot of projects, so we try to encourage men to come,” Mr Grant said.

“There’s a lot of men who have a lot of talents out there and they finish work and then the talents disappear.”

Mr Grant said Men’s Sheds also provide men with physical and mental health information.

“Nurses come down and talk to the guys about how to look after themselves – we find it’s very positive for guys to come down,” Mr Grant said.

“You don’t have to come and do all these jobs; you can come and have a cup of coffee and talk to the guys.”

Pointing to his heart and his head, Mr Grant said, “It does you good in here and good up here that you’re volunteering and giving something back to the community.”

Rob Foot of Mackay Men’s Shed has been retired for six years and involved in Men’s Sheds for five of those and specialises in carving walking sticks and fishing lures.

“I have an absolute ball,” Mr Foot said.

“Other people go along just to have a cup of tea or coffee with their mates.

“It’s a real breath of fresh air.

“There’s all walks of life, from doctors down to labourers, and we’re all as one, shoulder to shoulder, and they do a very good job in society.”

Men’s sheds are available to people 18 and over and Rob said he’s seen many examples of troubled youth work alongside Men’s Sheds to get their lives back on track.

“We’ve fostered them along and you see them six months down the track on the right track and going well within society,” he said.

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson said Men’s Sheds play a vital role in maintaining men’s health.

“When you think about the stats, they’re quite alarming,” Mr Williamson said, referring to the fact that women outlive men by about five years.

The three leading causes of death in men are cardiovascular disease, motor vehicle accidents and suicide.

“We, as a community, can do something about and we should,” Mr Williamson said.

“Men’s sheds are really important and help to get guys back out into an activity that they probably thought they didn’t have much interest in before.”

“When you see what the men’s sheds are producing today and how they actually work as a networking environment for people in our community, it’s a fabulous thing.”

“The organisations that actually invite you along and say ‘hey, tell us your story,’ it tends to get people to open up,”

“If blokes can learn to talk about their problems, then perhaps we can drive the suicide rate down.”

Reach out to your local Men’s Shed to find out more about getting involved.

Today is your last chance to see the display at the Jubilee Community Centre, located in the council’s Civic Precinct area on Gordon Street.

L-R Councillor Laurence Bonaventura, Mayor Greg Williamson, Councillor Pauline Townsend, Rob Foot and Allen Grant peruse the handiworks of Mackay’s Men’s Sheds. Photo credit: Sam GIllespie

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With many communities dotted along the Mackay and Isaac coastline, Mackay Regional Council is taking action to better understand and prepare for the effects that climate change will have.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council had been awarded funding to undertake a coastal hazard adaptation study to help identify and prepare for future impacts associated with coastal hazards.

“Council’s Mackay Coast Our Future study will improve our understanding of coastal hazards and provide a proactive plan to manage the impact of coastal hazards on our communities, environment, cultural values and built assets,” Mayor Greg Williamson said.

“We’ve appointed consulting company Alluvium to assist us with the study,” he said.

“The study will be undertaken over the next twelve months and will address issues such as coastal erosion, coastal flooding and rising sea levels.”

The Mackay Coast Our Future study will focus on the following areas:

•Coastal values: What communities and stakeholders value most about living near the Mackay coast and how we currently use the coast, what we value about our coastlines and how we connect with them.

•Coastal hazard risk: Current and future risks of erosion and flooding, and how this may impact our coastal values.

•Adaptation options: The range of adaptation options available to assist council in avoiding, mitigating and managing coastal hazard risks, and the appropriateness of each option for different locations along the coastline.

Mayor Williamson said community views were also an important part of the study.  

“Our current focus is on getting out into the community to understand key issues and values and to gain more knowledge about the history of our coastline,” he said.

“Over the next month our project team will be out and about talking to interested residents about the project and asking important questions such as how locals currently use and enjoy the coast, and what important historical events have helped shape the coastline over time.”

The public can complete the community values survey online and subscribe to update emails to stay informed on the project’s progress and public events by visiting connectingmackay.com.au/future-coast.

Lamberts Beach

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Whitsunday-based business Holiday in the Whitsundays has an offer for sports teams across the region: come party on Airlie Beach’s main strip with your entire squad.

Able to host 29 people under one roof, the company’s accommodation Airlie Sun and Sands is perfect for not just nights out with teammates, but for the ultimate stag-do, hens’ night, birthday, or just a big night out in a one-of-a-kind extravaganza.

With a terrace overlooking the Airlie Beach main street and the entire town at your fingertips, the accommodation is a unique set of studio rooms above Garuma café and across from the Airlie Beach Lagoon.

Best of all, it’s located smack dab in the middle of town, well within walking distance from every pub, club, and restaurant on the strip.

Its large decking that overlooks the main street is perfect for large-scale hangouts with mates. Featuring a barbecue, bar fridge, smart TV, party lights and more on the spacious deck, it’s a dream party palace.

Airlie Sun and Sands is the perfect launching pad to spend a night bar hopping, and the best crash pad once the party night turns into a sleepy morning.

The one-stop accommodation is for those special occasions that just need good music, great friends, and magical views across the Airlie Esplanade.

With long tables perfect for big dinners – sausage sizzle, anyone? – this place can be brimming with beer and laughter and is certainly perfect for your sporting group to get together to celebrate a successful campaign on the pitch with a lively weekend on the town.

A barbeque with a view is what this destination is all about: celebration!

Invite your extended family for a night on the terrace, enjoy the Airlie Beach sunset and catch up with old friends, teammates, or just about anyone.

Available for big group bookings and small intimate occasions, Airlie Sun and Sand is versatile and adaptable to all groups and moods – a team of travellers or a romancing couple.

Holiday In The Whitsundays have you covered, whatever your needs – give them a ring on 0448 253 469.

Airlie Beach Sun and Sands is party central on Airlie Beach’s main strip

The venue can host a birthday bash, your themed pirate party, or a sports team looking to launch to pubs and clubs across town

It’s the perfect destination for any need, right in the heart of Airlie Beach

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When the supermarket shelves are looking dire, it’s not the end of the world as some may think.

Cliff Ward of George Street Butcher Shoppe says your local butcher will always have a supply, and the quality is incomparable.

“We do all our production in-store – that’s the difference between supermarkets and butchers,” said Cliff.

“If you look at the price per kilo, if you’re getting more quality from a butcher, you’re way ahead.”

“A butcher is guaranteeing the quality, and they do that by processing everything in-store.”

The team at George Street Butcher Shoppe pride themselves in processing their huge range of meat products in-store, whether that be smoking their own ham and bacon, rolling and hand-stitching their own roasts or making beer sticks, kabana and sausages the old-fashioned way.

“We make a proper sausage manually, with no big machines to do it for us, and do it all the old way, in the hog skin and hand linked,” said Cliff.

“That’s where you get your quality, from processing in-store as well as buying quality product.

“We can select our quality product; we shop around through wholesalers and buy what we think is the best product for the consumer.”

George Street Butcher Shoppe also produces their own beef through a property at Bloomsbury.

Cliff says small business is essential in the local economy and has first-year apprentice Zane on board, ensuring the future of the butcher industry.

“If there’s no young people coming on and doing trades, then there’s no future,” he said.

“If you shop locally, you’re guaranteeing a future, so the next generation has a fresh supply of meat.”

Explore the huge range of meat and smallgoods at George Street Butcher Shoppe located at 26 George St, Mackay.

First-year apprentice Zane is the future of the butcher industry

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Whitsunday Anglican School Students took to the stage amongst a flurry of colour, music and house spirit last Tuesday for the 2022 House Choir Competition.

A much-loved feature on the school’s calendar, the competition sees Junior and Senior School students perform a song they have been practicing all term.

In a great display of Junior and Senior School synergy, Senior students mentored younger performers throughout the term, guiding and coordinating rehearsals.

All houses delivered outstanding performances with Charles House crowned the 2022 House Choir Champions.

Junior and Senior School dressed up and sung their hearts out at the 2022 House Choir Competition last week. Photos supplied

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Preparing children for school can be a particularly daunting experience for the parents of children living with a disability.

The Victoria Park State School Early Childhood Development Program (ECDP) provides early intervention for children from birth to five years who have a suspected or diagnosed disability, supporting skills and behaviour development to successfully transition children into prep and maximise participation in schooling.

Head of Special Education Olivia Burford said early intervention is key for giving children the skills they may be missing in preparation for schooling.

“We see a higher success rate than those who haven’t gone through early intervention,” Mrs Burford said.

ECDP also liaise with daycares, kindergartens and schools throughout the community, ensuring a holistic approach to a child’s early development.

“We prepare the school so that they are ready for the children to transition into the classroom and school environment, regardless of their disability,” Mrs Burford said.

The program is free for eligible children with visual, hearing, physical, speech and language impairments and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Programs are run in groups of a maximum of six and focus on communication, self-care and independence, incorporating singing, story time, gross motor obstacle courses and fine motor activities.

“What each of those activities looks like for each child is very different,” said ECDP Teacher Kylie Elkins.

“Although we have a general program, it’s quite individualised depending on what our children’s needs are.”

ECDP also holds weekly playgroups, providing a space for parents to meet fellow parents and liaise with staff and experts.

“We’ve had many kids over the years transition well and the feedback we’ve received from many schools has always been positive,” said Mrs Burford.

ECDP has centres at Victoria Park State School and West Mackay State School.

They are currently raising funds for the purchase of specialised toys and equipment as well as professional development for their staff.

For more information, contact ECDP at mackayecdp@victoriaparkss.eq.edu.au.

To make a donation, contact the Victoria Park State School P&C Association by emailing pandc@victoriaparkss.eq.edu.au.

ECDP uses a variety of activities to prepare children living with a disability for prep. Photo supplied: Olivia Burford

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Following a 10-year coal royalty freeze in Queensland, new progressive rates will support state-wide investment, reflecting unprecedented pricing and revenues being collected by multinational coal companies.

Treasurer Cameron Dick said the new progressive royalty regime will minimise impacts on the coal industry yet deliver $1.2 billion in revenue to support regional Queensland.

“The budget provides more than $4 billion dedicated to hospitals in regional Queensland, including a new hospital for Moranbah, and major expansions for Mackay,” Treasurer Dick said.

Mackay will gain 128 extra hospital beds as the State Government embarks on the biggest expansion program ever seen in a State Budget focused squarely on health.

The $9.78 billion hospital and health infrastructure plan will include a $250 million investment to expand the Mackay Hospital by 2026.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the State Budget showed the government is acting to address a health bottleneck being experienced in every state in Australia.

“We are acting on a solution and part of that is investing in more health services and health infrastructure for Mackay,” the Premier said.

“We’re delivering more beds, more doctors, more nurses and more ambos.”

Member for Mackay Julianne Gilbert said an expanded hospital was vital for the region.

“More people are moving here which means we need more hospital beds to deliver the services we need,” Ms Gilbert said.

The new Sarina Hospital will also receive $20.6m this year.

As well as health, Mackay featured in transport and infrastructure spending.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the seventh record roads and transport budget in a row is helping to build an even more impressive pipeline of projects.

“Queensland is growing rapidly, with our world leading pandemic response making our state the place to be, but we know we need infrastructure to support this growth and that’s what this budget delivers for Queenslanders,” Mr Bailey said.

Assistant Regional Roads and Train Manufacturing Minister Bruce Saunders said major regional corridors such as the Bruce Highway are getting further significant investment, improving capacity, flood immunity and road safety.

“More than half of this record-breaking investment will directly support regional Queensland, with over $18 billion worth of road and transport projects being delivered outside the Brisbane region,” Mr Saunders said.

“This includes funding for major regional projects like the $350 million Mackay Port Access Road.”

Other key investments for the Mackay region included $497.4 million Mackay Ring Road (Stage 1), including works between the intersection of the Mackay Ring Road and Bald Hill Road, $186.6 million Walkerston Bypass, $144.6 million Mackay Northern Access upgrade, $35 million Peak Downs Highway (Clermont - Nebo), Wuthung Road to Caval Ridge Mine widening and strengthening pavement, $23 million Bruce Highway (Mackay - Proserpine), Jumper Creek flood immunity upgrade.

Almost $80 million will be invested in growing and transforming Queensland’s resources sector which includes $5.7 million over three years to add a future industries delivery hub to the existing Resources Centre of Excellence in Mackay.

The record police budget means that for the first time ever more than $3 billion will be invested in better policing services, which will include upgraded police facilities in Mackay, while $23.7m has been allocated to provide social housing across the region.

Resource Industry Network (RIN) says this week’s State Budget announcement that mining royalties are set to increase progressively based coal prices needs to come with a guarantee - to return the difference in royalties to the regions that generate the wealth.

In the last financial year, resources boosted the Queensland economy by a whopping $84.3 billion, with the Mackay region contributing a significant $18 billion of this total.

RIN General Manager Dean Kirkwood said as the industry moved into a new era of carbon neutral mining, it was essential that the regions driving the innovative solutions to make this happen, were supported in their journey.

“Investing in the regions just makes sense when it comes to delivering net zero solutions. The Mackay region, including Isaac and Whitsunday, has the capability and experience to fast track the new mineral economy,” he said.

“Given that resources account for one in every $5 spent in the Queensland economy, investing the royalties back into a region that’s embracing new industries and advanced manufacturing is vital.

“It means we can continue to be at the forefront of global mining innovation and technology, and as a result, allow Queensland to benefit and prosper from our immense natural resources,” Mr Kirkwood said.

Treasurer Cameron Dick and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk delivered the State Budget on Tuesday 21 June

Member or Mackay Julieanne Gilbert said Mackay Hospital will be expanded and an additional 128 new hospital beds added as part of the State Budget

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