It's a slam dunk!

The new full-sized basketball court at Northview Park is now open.

Located on Schapers Road, Glenella, the newly upgraded Northview Park is sure to be a favourite amongst Mackay families.

Mayor Greg Williamson said Northview Park was one of the region’s most popular parks and playgrounds.

“The installation of the new basketball court means there is now something for both older and younger age groups to enjoy,” he said.

This project was jointly funded by the Australian Government and Mackay Regional Council.

Australian Government funding of $305,000 was provided through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. This program supports local councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects across Australia.

Works at Northview Park in Glenella are now complete

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Stage two of The Great Barrier Reef Arena (GBRA) Development has been announced, with the expansion looking to accommodate a broader range of multi-use facilities.

The new Community Sports and Training Facility will focus on women’s sport, indoor courts, regional programs, and an all-abilities training centre, providing facilities for everyone from local juniors to professional touring athletes.

Two of Australia’s most talented athletes were announced as GBRA’s inaugural ambassadors in Beth Mooney hot off Australia’s 2022 ICC Cricket World Cup win and local legend and Gold Coast Suns AFLW star, Lauren Bella.

Leaders of Mackay Netball, AFL, Cricket, Hockey, Queensland’s Sporting Wheelies Association, and other community organisations also attended to show their support of the development.

“Together with stage one, (stage 2) will cement Mackay as a premier regional Queensland location for multiple sports including cricket, AFL, netball, numerous disability sports, and grow our regional sporting economy,” said Harrup Park General Manager Adrian Young.

Harrup Park and Mackay Cricket Association Chairman Terry Doolan says stage two will directly complement and expand upon the opportunities provided by December’s completion of stage one.

“Together with hosting great events, we have an even stronger focus on participation, education, and skills development,” Mr Doolan said.

“Our growing regional population and central Queensland location sees Mackay ideally placed to become a vital regional centre for community sport, education, and training from grassroots to elite level for people of all abilities.

“With its large-scale multipurpose precinct and connection with a diverse range of popular sports, GBRA provides a perfect base for competition, camps, clinics, carnivals, education, and training.”

Before Beth Mooney and the Australian Cricket Team won The Ashes and the 2022 ICC Cricket World Cup, they played a three-match ODI series against India at GBRA in September last year, which Ms Mooney says was one of the best crowds she’s played in front of.

“The whole team was pumped that we were coming up here,” she said.

“Mackay was really important to impact that generation of people we perhaps might not have reached in the last couple of years.

“The thing that excites me about this project is the community feel of stage two.

“It’s just a really exciting time for this region and something I’m so happy to be supporting.”

Mackay local Lauren Bella thrilled crowds at Great Barrier Reef Arena earlier in the year with her outstanding capacity in the ruck and around the ground for the Gold Coast Suns and says she loves returning to Mackay to inspire the next generation.

“I started when I was 11 and now going back to my junior club, you can see how much Harrup Park and GBRA have progressed, it’s been amazing,” she said.

Sporting Wheelies CEO Amanda Mather says the new GBRA Facility will be a perfect location to inspire the next generation of Paralympians.

“There’s so many opportunities to bring more of our great parasports into this region,” she said.

Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson says he is proud that Harrup Park’s development is locally driven to benefit locals.

“I’ve seen, over the past decade, the passion and the drive that has taken what was a normal community cricket ground into what we are seeing developed today,” he said.

“We are seeing the best facilities coming to our town here at Harrup Park.”

The new Community Sports and Training Facility will include high ball courts and spectator seating, a gym, indoor training facilities, accommodation for regional sporting program participants, administration offices, and fully accessible indoor training facilities and construction is estimated to cost approximately $15-20 million.

L-R Harrup Park General Manager Adrian Young, Great Barrier Reef Arena Arena and Facilities Manager John Stock, Australian Cricketer Beth Mooney, Mackay Netball Association President Lyn Law, Mackay Netball Association chairman Allison Bugeja, Gold Coast Suns player Lauren Bella, Sporting Wheelies CEO Amanda Mather, Labor Candidate for Dawson Shane Hamilton, Mackay Regional Council Mayor Greg Williamson, and Harrup Park and Mackay Cricket Association Chairman Terry Doolan. Photo: Sam Gillespie

Great Barrier Reef Arena’s Stage 2 development will complement current developments and include indoor courts, accommodation, all-abilities facilities, and more. Images: supplied

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A new mural has been funded through the Mackay Regional Council AMP grant to breathe fresh life into a dull part of the CBD, adding to the city’s colourful laneway culture.

The location of the new artwork will be in the 9th Lane at the back of the 9th Lane Coffee Shop (Ninth Lane Grind).

Unfortunately, this project had been held up due to covid restrictions over the past year, so the project coordinator Jodie Connolly is excited that it has started to take shape this week.

The artist who is currently in Mackay, is a well-established muralist and place maker from regional NSW and goes by the street art name of “Happy Decay” (Bjarni Wark).

Jodie and Bjarni have been planning this mural since June last year and are looking forward to bringing some colour into a new area of the CBD.

“Off the back of winning a GOLD award for the ‘Best Australian Laneway’, at the Australian Street Art Awards 2022, we are delighted to be activating another space that can be enjoyed by the public,” Ms Connolly said.

“The work will be themed around the reef and the wonderfully coloured creatures that live in the ecosystem. The work is going to be extremely bright and serve as a reminder that we live in a beautiful area with incredible natural beauty that we need to look after.

“While there will be no formal community engagement for this while Bjarni is here, the public are welcome to pop into the CBD and the 9th Lane, grab something to eat or drink, do some shopping and visit the artists while they are working.”

To find out more about what is going on, please visit the Mackay Laneway Project on Facebook.

Bjarni Wark is Happy Decay

A mural pathway created by Happy Decay in Sydney. Images supplied: Happy Decay

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Holy Spirit College, a Catholic co-educational College for Years 7 to 12, welcomes you to their Year 7 in 2023 Information Evening next Thursday 28 April, 5:30pm – 7:30pm. As you learn about the College, there will be family fun activities and a free sausage sizzle.

After 25 years in the Mackay community, Holy Spirit College continues to welcome all types of learners as they are nurtured and given every opportunity to develop their God-given gifts. Skilled and professional staff offer a quality education and extra-curricular opportunities in the areas of sport, culture, service, STEM and academic development.

Mrs Alison Wales, Principal, said “The College strives to achieve a sense of positive community for all, laying the foundation for a successful and fulfilling future for students. Year 7 students are welcomed into Holy Spirit College with experiences designed to make their transition into high school a positive, supportive and enjoyable occasion.”

Students are based in the Year 7 Hub which features a central courtyard and flexible learning, gathering and performance areas. Each room is fully equipped with a digital device for each student. This dedicated Year 7 Precinct also provides students with their home-base and sense of security that will then support them to expand their horizons as they move out and across the campus to participate in the full range of learning opportunities available at HSC.

Our Year 7 Transition Program is designed to provide a breadth of curriculum experience across all Learning Areas, while supporting students to make the change to secondary learning. A Core Teacher, who has pastoral as well as academic oversight of each class, provides support to students and their families. All students study a Core of subjects for the whole year with Rotational term subjects drawn from The Arts, Technologies, Language and Business Learning Areas.

Years 7 and 8 students at Holy Spirit College (HSC), are mentored by Year 12 students through the Adopt-A-Class program. Every week, during their morning Pastoral Care Group class, HSC’s youngest students are guided by Senior students through positive interactions like games and Q&A sessions. This program allows our Years 7 and 8 students to develop appropriate and supportive connections with our Senior students who look out for them and quickly become role models – inspiring them to find their own unique path into young adulthood.

The Year 7 Welcome BBQ is an annual event held for all Year 7 students and their families at the Bluewater Lagoon. This event is an opportunity for parents to meet other parents and teachers of Year 7 and provide an opportunity for students to bond and get to know other students who have joined us from other schools and locations, allowing them to establish a wider circle of friends.

As part of the Holy Spirit College Year 7 Pastoral Care program, students take part in a Team Building Day at Seaforth Pines Outdoor Education Centre and a Pastoral Care Activity Day at Holy Spirit College. The students will participate in a range of team building and leadership activities and a series of physical activities to develop bonding and team spirit among the Year 7 Pastoral Care Groups. Students will also develop group cooperation, trust, communication skills and problem solving skills.

For more information, contact: Natasha McCallum, Media & Communications Officer, Holy Spirit College, Ph: 07 4994 8600 Email: media@hsc.qld.edu.au

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Walk a long way – or just a little – every step counts for Rotary Mackay Corporate’s Lift the Lid Walk on Sunday April 24 in Mackay.

The walk funds research, through Australian Rotary Health, which delivers the knowledge and tools for local mental health organisations to use on the ground in Mackay.

Event organiser, Brendan Hughes, said the morning’s walk was not about distance but taking part and making a positive step toward better mental health outcomes.

“The course goes from Bluewater Quay to a turning point near the harbour on Harbour Road. But you can turn around any time you want,” he said.

“For those who reach the top of the course, there is a coffee voucher reward, which provides a bit of incentive for those able to walk the full distance.”

Check-ins and late registrations on the day start from 7am with the walk commencing at 9am.

Local mental health organisations will be at the Bluewater Quay start-finish point where participants can catch up for a chat about issues for themselves, friends or family before and after the walk.

“We have made great progress towards removing the stigma around mental health in recent years,” Mr Hughes said.

“This walk brings mental health into the open, starts conversations, and also raises money for that vital research.

“When we gain a better understanding of mental health, we can create better ways of dealing with mental health at the local level.

“We are very blessed to have such strong mental health organisations in Mackay who do a great job with awareness and advocacy.

“What we can achieve with this walk is help those organisations be even more effective in their work.”

Mr Hughes encouraged locals to register on the website – www.liftthelidwalk.com.au/mackay and make a family day of it.

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Let’s talk Aussie made and Aussie manufacturing. The iconic logo of the green and gold kangaroo is a choice we as consumers make time and time again; supporting locals, supporting jobs and supporting industry. Australians take pride in our work, and we recognise Australian Made as a quality product.

Throughout my career I have unfortunately seen firsthand the decline in Australian Made. As a boilermaker, I used to fabricate dragline tubs and revolving frames in a workshop right here in Mackay. Nowadays these items are fabricated in South Korea or China, often to a lower quality, then shipped over here. This is just one example of the many products we now buy back once the value adding has been completed by other countries and their workers.  

I get there may be some who point to high wages as the cause for driving manufacturing offshore. However, my vision for Australian manufacturing is to compete with Germany who are known for their high tech, high quality and highly engineered products. Australia has this same opportunity. We have some of the best technology, engineers and tradespeople in the world and match this with targeted marketing; we will not only be competitive but market leading. The Paget industrial area is proof of this with the private sector already taking up many opportunities, imagine how many more there would be if we had government assistance.    

The facts around manufacturing are staggering. How is it possible that we are ranked dead last in the OECD when it comes to manufacturing, but we are resource rich in people, minerals and energy?  Australian resources and energy exports were forecasted to reach a record $425 billion in 21/22. So essentially, we are the world’s quarry. We send our resources overseas to be processed and then we buy them back as products; products that we could be making here.

The pandemic exposed Australia’s dependency on the global supply chain. We were waiting on products, vital products such as medical supplies, that could have been made on Australian soil. In true Aussie spirt, our existing industries stepped up and adapted to meet this market demand with distilleries making hand sanitizer and fashion labels making PPE.  If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that Australian Made should be at the forefront of this election.

Labor is prioritising manufacturing this election. We want to make things locally again and create good, secure jobs along the way. Labor will invest $15 billion in a national reconstruction fund. This will drive investment into new industries and technologies. I personally believe Dawson could be an energy superhub. We already have a well-established coal sector but there is much more we can be doing. Our cane farmers have big plans for biofuels, bioplastics and laminated building products. Bowen could also be a massive hydrogen producer, exporter and power generator. All this backed by the industrial might of Mackay will mean more jobs in more industries.

We have a real opportunity here to bring back manufacturing, bring back Aussie Made and develop new industries along the way.

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Sarina couple Les and Del Smith started something big when they married 70 years ago.

Their marriage has produced an astonishing 43 direct descendants in a five-generation family, including four children, 15 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, so their platinum anniversary this weekend on April 24 will be a big occasion.

It could have been more, but Del called a halt after the birth of her four children – Lynette Nicholas of Toowoomba, Debbie Fay of Sarina, Robyn Metcalf of Bundaberg and Jon Smith of Brisbane – each born at separate locations as the couple moved north on transfers with the railways towards their ultimate destination of Sarina.

“Every time I moved I got pregnant,” Del said.

“We moved four times, every time I moved I got pregnant. We got to Sarina and I said I’m not moving anymore.”

Lynette, the eldest, was born at Maryborough. She has seven children and 10 grandchildren.

Debbie was born at Mackay and has two children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; Robyn was born at St Lawrence and has four boys and four grandchildren; and Jon was born at Sarina and has two children and three grandchildren.

Les and Del’s adored great-great grandchildren are Piper, 6, and Finn, 3, the children of Storm and Dan Sweeney of Mackay, and the ‘great-greats’ of Debbie.

Les and Del were married by the Rev Allan Kidd at the Methodist Manse, Pialba, on April 24, 1952. Del’s friend Irene Searle was her bridesmaid and a man with the famous name of John Kingsford Smith (Les’s brother) stood as best man.

The family cannot find any photos of the couple from the wedding, as Del says they didn’t have enough money for a photographer.

The couple are both from the Hervey Bay region and first met when Del was 14, at a dance at the Pialba Memorial Hall.

Del was born at Childers, where she lived with her mother Jean at Apple Tree Creek. Her first job was at a Childers chemist before the family moved to Hervey Bay where she worked at a pharmacy until the couple’s marriage.

Les was born at his family’s home at George St, Pialba, where he lived with his mother Martha until his marriage.

He worked for the railways for more than 50 years, starting on February 1, 1949, with job titles changing from load porter to station master to area coordinator as he was transferred north.

An avid golfer from the age of 25, he cut cane to supplement his railways pay to buy golf clubs. His best handicap was 3, he was a Sarina club president and won six club championships, his first in 1975.

Les was also a keen cricketer, footballer and tennis player.

Del is known for her community service to a range of groups.

One of her great achievements was raising money with friends Marca and Glad for the Sarina Aged Care Residence before it was built. They raised $10,000 which the government matched dollar for dollar.

She also helped Meals on Wheels, worked for the show society and school committees, assisted with   bingo, volunteered for hospital fetes to raise money for Sarina Hospital, and school sports days at Sarina primary and secondary schools.

She was a long-time tuck shop convenor at Sarina State High School which her children attended.

Her favourite relaxations are playing cards and mah jong  - and no doubt keeping track of her growing family.

“We’ve lived in Sarina for 63 years and we’re nearly locals,” Del said.

By Charlie Payne

Del and Les Smith look back on 70 years of marriage with love. Photo: Charlie Payne

Del Smith when she was 16. This photo was retouched with paint, a custom at the time.

Les Smith in his army gear at the age of 18, when he was serving National Service. Photos: Contributed

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Mackay Regional Council has adopted a new Corporate Plan that provides an exciting blueprint for the region over the next five years.

The Mayor and Councillors’ Corporate Plan 2022-2027 is a major overhaul of the previous plan and developed through consultation with senior leadership, staff, and the community.

Mayor Greg Williamson said councillors were excited about the new and invigorated blueprint that was adopted at last week’s ordinary meeting.

“It builds on the previous work of the council and sets an exciting and innovative strategic direction for the next five years,’’ Mayor Williamson said.

“The plan includes many of our key projects already under way, such as the Mackay Waterfront, Pioneer Valley Mountain Bike Trails and Northern Beaches Community Hub,’’ he said.

“But it is a living document, so that means other key projects can be added throughout the life of the Corporate Plan.

“We firmly believe that we are on the way to creating Australia’s best region to live in, to work in and to play in. This Corporate Plan will help guide that journey for the council for the next five years.”

The new Corporate Plan has three outward facing pillars, including:

● Invest and work

● Live and visit

● Community and environment.

It also has two inward facing pillars, including:

● Financial strength

● Operational excellence

Mayor Williamson said council’s new purpose was to: “Create opportunity to thrive”.

He said council’s vision was: “To become the best region for liveability and livelihood”.

“Outlined in our new Corporate Plan are key themes and projects for the next five years to deliver that purpose and vision.

“We have also adopted indicators to measure our success against the goals we have set.”

A new feature of the plan is a section at the back outlining what residents could do for their community.

“This information ranges from responsible pet ownership to recycling right,’’ Mayor Williamson said.

The full plan can be viewed at mackay.qld.gov.au/corporate

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There’s been no retirement from politics for George Christensen.

Mere days after resigning from the LNP as the Federal Member for the seat of Dawson, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson announced that Mr Christensen will join her party on the senate ticket for Queensland.

Senator Hanson said Mr Christensen had been an outspoken defender of the rights and freedoms which underpin Australian democracy.

“George has been a strong advocate for the fundamental principles of Australian democracy which have been trampled by our governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a great representative for the people of Dawson,” she said.

“Standing for Australians’ rights and freedoms obviously has no place in the Liberal National Party, but it’s top priority for One Nation and I’m delighted to welcome George to our team.”

Senator Hanson and Mr Christensen will also be joined on the ticket by former Adani senior executive Raj Guruswamy. However, with Mr Christensen third on the ticket, political analysts have said it will be near impossible for him to be elected.

Labor Senator Murray Watt accused Senator Hanson of chasing a taxpayer-funded payday for Mr Christensen.

“If you’re wondering why George Christensen is running number 3 for Hanson it’s easy,” Senator Watt tweeted.

"If he boosts her vote, her party gets more public funding.

"So Christensen gets more money if he runs and loses. One Nation gets more money if Christensen boosts her vote. And you pay."

Senator Hanson said that One Nation’s membership has grown exponentially over the past two years and her party is fielding candidates for all 151 seats in the House of Representatives at this election.

“We will continue to put Australia and Australians first by advocating for immigration to be reduced to sustainable levels, ensuring foreign-owned multinationals operating in Australia pay their fair share of tax, and reforming Australia’s family law and child support systems.

“And we will demand a Royal Commission into the management of the pandemic by all Australian governments.”

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Council have completed major overhauls to one of the region’s main water recycling plants which services more than 63,000 residents.

In what was a coordinated effort of spring cleaning between both council and specialist contractors, the Mackay South Water Recycling Facility (MSWRF) underwent one of the biggest maintenance projects ever undertaken by council at a water treatment plant.

Council said the Bakers Creek facility is an integral part of the region.

Mayor Greg Williamson said after council took management of the facility back in 2019, investigations were undertaken to assess its condition and asset life.

“It was essential the facility was maintained in order to continue to provide the best outcome for our water recycling scheme and to future-proof it for the growing population of our region,” Mayor Williamson said.

The key assets at this facility are its four sequence batch reactors (SBRs), or processing tanks, which treat the wastewater.

These SBRs are aerated by racks of pipe-mounted diffusers that pump air into the water to assist with breaking down the pollutants.

“In order to ensure the highest quality water was being produced, the diffusers across the four batch reactors were replaced,” Mayor Williamson said.

“This was a process that took place over three months and with a huge team effort between contractors, council’s own maintenance operations teams and our environmental and laboratory staff.”

Each SBR, holding over one million litres of water each, had to be taken offline and emptied one at a time so that plant operations could be maintained with only reduced capacity.

Once emptied, the solid waste remaining in each tank had to be removed – over 100 tonnes from each tank – in a massive operation for council and MSWRF.

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As we are now in the heat of an election campaign you are being hit with a lot of information on issues which are really important to us all.

While we were raised to think ‘if it’s in print, it must be true’ that sadly is no longer the case.

Though I would prefer to dedicate space to positive announcements from your Liberal Nationals Government, I must correct the record on claims made by the Labor candidate for Dawson in this publication (08/04/22).

The 22,000 seniors living in this electorate deserve to know the truth.

The Labor candidate made the claim that the Government “has not acted on a single recommendation of the Royal Commission (into Aged Care).”

This is an outrageous lie, and just one of many peddled by Labor in this campaign.

Let’s start by noting it was this Government, the Liberal National Government, which called the Royal Commission into Aged Care, and this Government has been responding to recommendations since the interim report landed back in November 2019.

We have a five-point plan which responds to all recommendations from the Aged Care Royal Commission and to date we’ve made an investment of $18.3 billion into the sector.

This includes funding 40,000 additional home care packages, 34,000 additional training places, 7,000 new personal care workers and 8,400 respite places and these are being rolled out this year.

The March Budget also included $340 million to embed pharmacy services within residential aged care facilities to improve medication management for the elderly.

Another Labor lie directed at seniors which I’d like to address is downright disgusting and cruel.

Labor politicians across the country are peddling the story that this Government will be ‘forcing aged pensioners onto a cashless debit card’.

The Liberal National Government has never proposed or even discussed such a plan, and anyone who tells you different is lying.

I’ve recently seen a Labor MP scaring our elderly by sharing this lie at a seniors forum.

The Labor candidate for Dawson has also peddled this lie on his Facebook page, and frankly he should be ashamed of sharing such rubbish.

A Queensland state Labor MP, the Member for Keppel, recently had to get up in state parliament and apologise for lying about this.

She was forced to apologise because her claims were completely false!

Here are the words of the Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga.

“I want to address a contribution I made on 30 November 2021 in MPIs (Matters of Public Importance). I made statements that the current Federal Coalition Government was planning to force every aged pensioner in Australia onto the Cashless Debit Card. I wish to withdraw this statement and apologise if in making this statement I intentionally misled the House.

So seniors, please be reassured that this is a Labor scare campaign, without a skerrick of truth behind it.

I want to finish on a note of respect.

On the eve of ANZAC Day, I wish to acknowledge the contribution of our current and former service men and women in putting their lives on the line and even paying the ultimate sacrifice to protect the people of our nation.

On Monday April 25 we will gather at various locations, and even quietly in our homes or on our streets to reflect.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.

Lest We Forget.

Andrew Willcox, LNP Candidate for Dawson

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The Australian Labor Party, in partnership with Central Queensland University (CQU), has announced a funding commitment to establish an electric vehicle and sustainable energy training centre in Mackay.

$9 million has been pledged towards the Mackay Electric Vehicle and Energy Training Centre (MEVET) to be built alongside the Ooralea Trades Training Centre.

More and more businesses are looking to turn green, with mining operators such as BHP finding electric vehicles perform well both above and below ground while reducing noise and fumes.

MEVET will train the workforce to meet the growing demand from the mining industry for mechanics to convert and maintain hydrogen-powered vehicles, as well as hybrid engine maintenance and repair, maintenance of infrastructure such as charging stations, and installation and maintenance of alternative energy such as solar and wind.

MEVET will also cater to the growing demand for hybrid diesel-electric and solar-powered vehicles across both the marine industry and the private market.

Labor Candidate for Dawson Shane Hamilton made the announcement at CQU last week, speaking of the importance of preparing for the future.

“When I started out in the mining industry, it was all diesel engines,” Mr Hamilton said.

“In the future though, we know there are going to be more electric vehicles operating both above and below ground.

“I’m proud to have secured this funding, ensuring that local kids will have the opportunity to learn the skills needed to maintain these vehicles and work in secure local jobs right here in our region.”

The centre is hoped to train 100-120 skilled tradespeople each year.

The project will create up to 45 jobs throughout construction and 20 ongoing full-time jobs in training, administration, and support.

Mr Hamilton welcomed Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers to Mackay last week to make the announcement.

“As the national economy recovers from COVID we want regional Queensland to be a much bigger part of the story,” Mr Chalmers said.

“What this announcement today means is that as the needs of heavy industry change, the Mackay Whitsunday region will have the skills and the workforce to create good, secure, and sustainable jobs for locals.”

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The Easter road toll took a devastating turn on Monday morning when a motorcycle collided with a car near Koumala, resulting in a 60-year-old man passing away at the scene.

Police reported that the man was the driver of the motorcycle and his 19-year-old pillion passenger was flown to the Townsville Hospital with critical head injuries.

A 63-year-old woman, the driver of the car, had moderate injuries and was transported to the Mackay Base Hospital for treatment.  Police said the four passengers in the car were not injured.

The Forensic Crash Unit investigations are continuing, and investigators would like to speak to anyone with relevant dashcam footage from that area or anyone with information that could assist.

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Mackay detectives have charged a 28-year-old South Mackay man in relation to allegations of a firearm being discharged in Rural View on Monday afternoon (April 11).

Police will allege at approximately 2.30pm in McHugh Street, a 34-year-old man was sitting alone in a vehicle when he was approached by a black SUV. It is alleged that a man and a woman were in the SUV.

A 28-year-old man from that SUV allegedly threatened him with a firearm in an attempt to steal the car and in the course of events a firearm was discharged injuring the man’s lower legs. Mackay Police said the men were known to each other.

The 24-year-old woman was arrested last week and charged with unrelated drug possession and possession of S4 and S8 medicine.

Investigations led detectives to locate the 28-year-old man who was subsequently charged with attempted robbery with violence.

He was denied police bail and faced Mackay Magistrates Court on April 14.

Investigations continue and there is no ongoing risk to the community.

Anybody who sighted a black SUV in the area or has relevant dashcam footage is urged to contact police.

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Two cases of extremely significant vegetation vandalism will cost the community more than $7000 to remediate, the Mackay Regional Council reported at its ordinary meeting last week.

The first case involved ongoing damage to foreshore vegetation on Haliday Bay Road dating back to 2013. The second case was in relation to at least 20 trees being cut down with a saw on O’Brien Esplanade at Shoal Point.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council would take immediate action to deter any further environmental damage.

“It is disappointing that we continue to see some residents in the community willfully damaging the environment to improve views to their properties,” he said.

“As a result, we will be installing a large billboard to block views at Shoal Point and we will restart the timeframe on the existing billboard in Haliday Bay.

“This sign will remain in place for five more years after 15 trees that were revegetated in 2020 were recently found damaged or removed.

“We will also install fencing behind the sign at Haliday Bay to prevent the area being used as a walkway.

“The damaged vegetation will be replanted at both sites, using a replanting rate of three trees planted for every one tree that was damaged.

“This means we will be planting 60 new trees in Shoal Point and 45 new trees in Haliday Bay.”

The cost to replant the vegetation at Haliday Bay, including a minimum six months of maintenance, is $2950. Ratepayers will also have to cover the cost of $1000 to install the new billboard at Shoal Point, plus an additional $3100 to plant and maintain the new vegetation at this location for at least six months.

Mayor Williamson said the vegetation in these areas not only provided critical habitat for fauna, but it also prevented erosion.

“Our foreshore vegetation helps stabilise the sand dunes and provides protection to coastal properties in severe weather events, such as cyclones, by acting as a barrier,” he said

“It is frustrating that some locals prioritise the view of the beach from their property over the stability, habitat and safety the foreshore provides.”

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