The Whitsunday Climate Change Innovation Hub welcomed tourism operators on its deep dive of the latest renewable energy options available in its Green Electricity Information Session on Tuesday.

Part of The Hub’s Whitsunday Healthy Heart Project (WHHP) workshop series, the session was aimed at supporting the Whitsunday tourism sector and the wider community by showing them the options available for reducing their carbon emissions and improving sustainability.

Partnering with the Coral Sea Academy, The Hub brought together speakers from Ergon Energy, Green Energy Technologies, and Edify Energy.

The Green Electricity Information Session was hosted at The Lookout Lounge, Coral Sea Marina.

Lee Hawkins, Climate Change Resilience Officer at The Hub said around “50 per cent of the municipal or human sourced carbon emissions in the Whitsunday region comes from electricity consumption.”

“At this information session, the Whitsunday community learned more about how they can explore ways to reduce their direct emissions,” Ms Hawkins said.

Presenters at the event covered the gamut of climate change topics relevant to Whitsunday Business Owners and how they could change their approach.

It included optimising energy ratings for property portfolios, case studies on successful renewable energy installations, how to buy green electricity through the grid, and Power Purchase Agreements with local solar farms.

The talks of carbon emission reduction came at an incredibly salient time for the region as a Unesco Delegation oversees the Great Barrier Reef’s health ahead of a major decision which is due to be announced in July.

The Hub agreed that the Whitsunday Islands are one of three key locations with current projects underway as part of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation’s Reef Islands Initiative, which is working to restore critical island habitats to protect ecosystems and save vulnerable species.

The initiative is a 10-year program supported by funding from Lendlease, the Australian Government’s Reef Trust, the Queensland Government, and the Fitzgerald Family Foundation.

Climate Innovation Hub’s Olivia Brodhurst, Lee Hawkins, Edify Energy representative Manas Choudhury, Kon Flaherty from Green Energy Technologies Whitsunday, and Damien Krauklis from Edify Energy

Whitsunday Councillor Al Grundy attended, as well as Tony Fontes, Whitsunday Conservation Council Spokesperson

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The young people of the Whitsundays and their families are invited to Proserpine Youth Space next Friday for a fun afternoon of activities with the opportunity to chat with a range of local services.

Whitsunday Ballers are setting up their gel-blasting range for attendees to experience, a gladiator duel to challenge guests, and there will be free face-painting, fun workshops, demonstrations, games and prizes.

Many of the activities will be held by local youth service representatives who will be available for questions by young people and their families in a relaxed and easy-going environment.

“This is a great opportunity to see local services that help support youth all together in one place, so they know what’s out there to help them,” said Youth Space Coordinator Renee Buckley.

“There will be loads of fun activities too – we even have an obstacle course where you can time yourself going round the course with and without ‘beer goggles’ on so you can see the effects of alcohol on your response rates.”

Also in attendance will be PCYC Whitsundays who will be providing information about their new ‘Braking the Cycle’ program which helps kids attain their drivers licence by matching them with older mentors who assist with accruing the 100 hours needed to take the test.

Whitsunday Counselling and Support, MADEC, Selectability, Real Mates Talk, Lives Lived well and Headspace will also be present on the day.

The Lions will be cooking up a free BBQ for everyone.

The event kicks-off at 3pm on Friday 8th April and winds down at 7pm.

Youth Space is open from Tuesday to Friday throughout the school holidays from 11.30am to 5.30pm.

A home away from home for young people between the ages of 8 and 21, the centre has a pool table, TV, kitchen, arts activities and more.

Everyone is welcome anytime to the Youth Space centre located at 69 Marathon Street in Proserpine.

Free face painting

Free gel blasting experience

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This Whitsunday’s newest mental health and counselling service for local youth was officially launched to the community last week with a formal ceremony followed by relaxed lunch.

Headspace Whitsundays, located on Proserpine Main Street, is a free service that offers early intervention and mental health support to those aged 12-25 years old.

The team offer face to face counselling for issues such as alcohol and other drugs, vocational support as well as sexual and physical health needs.

Over 50 people attended the event including Member for Whitsundays Amanda Camm MP and local elder, Aunty Sue with her son Ryan.

Members of the health industry, groups connected with the service such as PCYC, high school students and contractors who helped construct the space were also invited to the celebrations.

The launch party began with a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony and storytelling by Aunty Sue and her son Ryan.

Afterwards, there were speeches and the cutting of the ribbon, followed by an opportunity for guests to take a tour of the facilities in small groups.

Lunch and refreshments were then served and young local musicians played music to entertain the crowd while everyone mingled and enjoyed the festivities.

Headspace Whitsunday is a is a satellite office which is open to the public three days a week from Monday through to Thursday.

With a Clinical lead, two clinicians, a Youth and Community Engagement Officer and a Clinical Receptionist as well as a Youth Reference Group the team have a wealth of knowledge which can assist with a broad range of issues.

Alannah Fitzpatrick (headspace Whitsundays Youth Reference Group Member), Abbie O’Sheehy (headspace Whitsundays Youth Reference Group Member), Amanda Camm (Member for Whitsunday)

Abbie O’Sheehy (headspace Whitsundays Youth Reference Group Member), Kiera Mansfield (Head of Centre Services, headspace National), Whitsunday Elder Aunty Sue, Robin Whyte (CEO – Northern Queensland Primary Health Network) and Luke Guazzo (CEO – Northern Australia Primary Health Ltd)

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Thieves Steal Yellow Ute From Bowen

Shortly after 8am, a yellow 1990 Toyota Hilux utility was stolen from a shed at a rural property on the Bruce Highway near Sandy Creek in Bowen.

At the time of the theft, the car was parked in the shed and was left unlocked.

The early hours robbery occurred on 17 March, and the yellow utility’s registration number is 655ZSJ.

Since then, the stolen vehicle has been linked to a stealing incident on Palmerston Street, Pimlico in Townsville on 19 March.

Police are encouraging anyone who might have information about the original offence or the current location of the stolen car to contact Policelink as soon as possible.

As well, local law enforcement has taken the opportunity to remind all vehicle owners that they need to ensure that their cars are secured at all times – even when unattended.

“If you witness any suspicious activity, at any time of the day, please report the matter as soon as possible,” Senior Constable Steve Smith said.

To report any information quote these reference numbers via Crime Stoppers: QP2200475569, QP2200482901.

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The brave heroes at VMR Whitsunday were tasked to attend a serious situation on Sunday morning when a man suffered a suspected Box Jellyfish sting at Butterfly Bay on Hook Island.

The individual was a guest on a charter boat vessel.

With the RACQ CQ Rescue Helicopter unable to attend the incident, the volunteers at VMR Whitsunday jumped to action, transporting Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics to the remote location as quickly as possible.

Whale Song VMR2 was deployed first, racing the paramedics to the site at 37 knots and arriving at the scene in just 27 minutes.

Coral Sea Marina VMR1, the patient transfer vessel, followed shortly behind arriving 45 minutes later.

By the time the teams attended to the patient he had been transferred to Hayman Island Resort marina where he was being looked after by the island’s emergency care staff.

As soon as the paramedics arrived, they stabilised the patient which took roughly 45 minutes.

A third paramedic from Hamilton Island also came to support the crew, transported to the site on a fast charter boat to ensure there was enough assistance.

The patient was transferred to Coral Sea Marina VMR1 along with his brother and the pair were brought back to the marina, tying up alongside at 12.55pm.

The entire operation had taken less than two hours.

After the incident, a test uncovered that there was a troponin leak in the patient’s body – this is an enzyme that is released when the heart is under extreme stress like a heart attack – and it was likely the paramedics saved his life.  

“A great team effort by all concerned!” said Mal Priday from Whitsunday VMR.

“Di at the base, staff at Hayman Island Resort, the Hamilton and Airlie Beach paramedics, and both rescue boat crews – to help a patient that was in a very dangerous situation. Well done, everybody!”

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A surprise announcement this week caused discontent among many locals in the region who believe they should have been consulted before our northern-most township was named Capital of the Whitsundays.

Following discussions at a state level, all regions in Australia are now being asked to nominate a capital town as part of a nationwide movement that will see individual regions work more autonomously and with a more centralised approach.

The decision has been made using such credentials as which township showcases the best beaches, provides the most industry and income for its region, has the friendliest townsfolk and is generally better than the other towns in the region.

Mr Loof from Airlie Beach said that he has resided in the Whitsundays for 20 years and believes it should have been Airlie Beach instead.

“This must be a joke!” he said.

“Airlie Beach is the best town by far – we are the gateway to the Whitsundays – we have all the restaurants, bars and nightlife – we are the most progressive place to live by far!”

Ms Jan Kidd from Proserpine disagreed, saying that they should have picked a country town that is steeped in history and has a wealth of farming knowledge.

“Proserpine was the first town in the Whitsundays and therefore should be the one named as its capital,” she said.

A resident from Collinsville also voiced her concerns, stating that the mining town of Collinsville always gets overlooked when in fact it is the one bringing in all the money for the region.

“We have the mines here in Collinsville - it is all our hard work that makes the rest of the region rich, so we should be the best – I will be complaining about this for sure!” said Ms Longnose.

Meanwhile, many locals and business owners in Bowen are celebrating the news and welcoming the special treatment which will undoubtedly follow.

“This news is great for our town and finally means that we have an answer to the age-old question about which town in the Whitsundays is the best - now we all know it is Bowen,” said Mr Gotya.

“Hopefully this will mean that we get a larger portion of state and federal funding – because we deserve it!”

It seems that so far this rash move by the state is only breeding contention and divisive behaviour which is the opposite of its original intention.

Due to the uproar that has ensued, the state is asking for residents to stop calling directly on the matter and to please submit all correspondence in a calm and orderly fashion through the proper means and send all letters directly to aprilfoolsjoke@state.gov.au.

 “This news is great for our town and finally means that we have an answer to the age-old question about which town in the Whitsundays is the best - now we all know it is Bowen,” said Mr Gotya.

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The Federal Budget was announced on Tuesday evening with an impressive $37.9 billion allocated for regional Australia, $1.7 billion of which is due to be spent directly on Central and North Queensland.

Some key highlights include $1 billion for the Great Barrier Reef to help protect its health and resilience - this is in addition to the $3 billion Reef 2050 plan.

A Gas Wells Trials initiative was also allocated $15.6 million in the North Bowen and Galilee basins, its aim is to improve gas recovery and lower production costs by trialling innovative gas drilling and well completion techniques.

In addition, the hospitality, agricultural, and tourism sectors will be able to secure more casual workers thanks to an extra 11,000 working holiday-maker visas available for prospective backpackers.

Infrastructure also saw substantial investment with significant improvements to the Bruce Highway, a $11.6 million spend over five years to Bowen-based North Queensland Water Infrastructure Authority, $80 million to the future construction of the Bowen Pipeline, and of course $483 million towards the construction of the Urannah Dam.

LNP candidate for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, said that everyone from Mackay through to Townsville will reap the rewards when the much-anticipated Urannah Dam goes ahead.

“We’ve got the good news on funding for some terrific projects and the biggest of these for me is almost half a billion dollars to build Urannah Dam,” he said.

“I’ll keep shouting this news from the rooftops because it is a game-changer for our region through the creation of about 1800 jobs, the opening up of 20,000 hectares of irrigated land for high value crops, the provision of water for our towns and for our mines and the potential to create hydro power.

“It’s a project that will transform our region and will reap benefits for future generations.”

Meanwhile, Labor candidate for Dawson Shane Hamilton said he is concerned that the vast majority of working families in this region won't get any relief from this budget.  

“I'm very sceptical that the Urannah Dam project will even get the funding - we have seen many times the LNP announce the shiny brochure but never deliver on their promises,” he said.

“It would have been good to see more on housing pressure relief - people can't find houses to live in at the moment, the cost of rent or purchasing a house is quickly getting away from people with many at risk of becoming homeless.  

“There is also no long-term vision on extreme weather proofing our region from cyclones or floods which would help lower insurance premiums and our service sectors have missed out with no additional public hospital funding keeping people on waiting lists for longer.”

Dissenting voices from Labour and other political commentators have noted that the budget can be viewed as a "short term cash splash" aimed at pleasing voters ahead of a Federal election.

The overall consensus, however, is that the budget is positive, reserved and realistic – in many ways Australia being the envy of nations around the world for how our unemployment rates are decreasing and our general standard of living improving as we emerge from COVID.

In Your Pocket

• A saving of 22 cents at the fuel pump for six months

• $420 cost of living tax offset for low-to-middle income earners

• $250 cost of living supplement for six million Australians

• Small businesses tax deduction boost of 20 per cent

• Incentives for small business to train staff and employ apprentices

• 20 weeks of paid parental leave (single parents included)

• Cheaper medicines and more regional medical centres

• More mental health and social services, aged care and NDIS funding

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The Airlie Beach Festival of Music has been voted Festival of the Year at the Queensland Music Awards, representing the Whitsunday region and carving a commanding place at the top.

After 10 years delivering music magic to thousands of people from their iconic main stage tent at the Whitsunday Sailing Club, the festival has been acknowledged among the best of the best in their field.

One of our region’s favourite local festivals has just been named ‘People’s Choice’ Festival of the Year at the Queensland Music Awards which was held at the Fortitude Music Hall in Brisbane on Tuesday evening.

The Airlie Beach Festival of Music has been running for a decade come November and organisers say this announcement is a wonderful way to celebrate 10 years of passion, dedication, and determination.  

“For a small boutique festival like ours to even get a look-in is a huge thing for us – it’s definitely given us an amazing kick-along for 10 years hard work,” said Festival Coordinator Ellie Hanlon.

“It was awesome to be up here and to be recognised alongside other big names – and then to take it out! – I really don’t know any words.

A small contingent from Airlie Beach attended the event, including Ellie Hanlon, Margie Murphy from Airlie Events and Passport to Airlie Organiser Stacey Robertson-Falvey along with Festival Ambassador Sarah McLeod from Superjesus.

Festival founder, Gavin Butlin, said given the event was one of only two finalists, and up against the much larger ‘Big Red Bash’, he was stunned, honoured, and humbled by the win.

“Ten years ago, this festival was just a dream and now look where we’ve come,” he said.

“I am so proud of what our small but dedicated team has achieved, and I can’t wait to make this year’s 10th anniversary festival our best yet.”

Around 400 people from the music industry packed the hall for the gala dinner event which saw over 20 awards handed out to winners from a range of categories which included song of the year, video of the year, highest selling single as well as winners from the different music genres.

Airlie Beach Festival of Music were thrilled to represent the region and take home the lucrative state award in honour of their popular event.

“To all our Airlie Beach Festival of Music family – thank you!” said Ellie Hanlon.

“We’ve got such a dedicated team – and to everyone in the community who comes along and supports our events – thank you!”

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L-R: Margie Murphy from Airlie Events, Passport to Airlie Organiser Stacey Robertson-Falvey, Airlie Beach Festival of Music Coordinator Ellie Hanlon and Festival Ambassador Sarah McLeod from Superjesus

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Sixty per cent of people who own shares identify as male, and sixty-one per cent of women agree with the statement “I find investing confusing”, versus forty-one per cent of men.

Liz, a 31-year-old high school teacher working and living in Mackay is one of the many women who feels that the investing world is a male-dominated one.

Her investing journey began three months ago, meaning she’s in the very early stages, and already she’s found that breaking the bias has been not only incredibly rewarding, but also empowering.

“I really believed it wasn’t something for me,” Liz said.

“I thought it was too hard, and exclusively for the smart or rich people – the grownups.

“I’ve never spoken to another woman about investing, and even at work it’s my male colleagues, and the male doctors at my partners work that are doing the investing.”

In a world of ever-changing gender roles, women like Liz are making headway in male-dominated industries, both through their own head-first dives into the world of investment, and through sharing their stories with others.

Her own story began when she and her partner were saving furiously for a deposit for a home loan.

“The market is insane and we don’t know what our long-term plan is, or whether we wanted to buy in Mackay,” Liz said.

“We decided we weren’t ready to make the commitment yet, and we had the deposit sitting there and we thought, should we invest it?”

Both Liz and her partner are quite risk averse, but Liz started doing a bit of research and heard of Sharesies, as well as micro-investing.

The Sharesies platform is an accessible digital investment platform was a no-brainer with over 500,000 people using the platform in Australia and NZ, with the aim of breaking down the barriers to investing.

Through the platform, Liz joined the investing world, and is now advocating to other women in Mackay to keep breaking the bias and join the world of investing.

“It’s been interesting [trying to convince my co-workers], my staff room at school is all female and I come in and tell them I’m investing,” Liz said.

“It’s interesting to see the reaction – they’re unsure about it. We don’t usually talk about money.

“They’re still on the fence, but I think I’ve convinced two of them that they should get started. I look forward to discussing my shares with them.”

Liz said that she feels more confident in her financial future and managing her wealth thanks to delving into the world of shares, and she is just one of the normal people in Mackay doing their part to represent in an often male-dominated world.

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The Australian Government announced that they will be donating 70,000 tonnes of thermal coal to Ukraine in an effort to support the war-torn country’s energy sector earlier this week.

Part of a broader multimillion-dollar support package from the federal government, the coal is to be provided by Australian coal producer Whitehaven Coal, with several mining companies contributing to the cause.

Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Andrew Willcox says the ability of one of Australia’s thermal coal producers to provide vital support to the people of Ukraine highlights the significance of the sector.

“We are all horrified by what we are seeing unfold in Ukraine, where so many lives are being lost, and whole cities being destroyed in this bloody conflict,” Councillor Willcox said.

“So to see that Australia has been able to respond to a call for help from the Ukraine and supply thermal coal to keep power stations operating, providing electricity at a crucial time, is amazing.

“Those who work in the coal sector are under-appreciated in their own country for the work they do to provide us with these vital resources.

“Today those workers can take comfort from knowing that what they do can contribute in some small way to assisting the Ukrainian people, and I for one am proud of the work they do.”

Ukraine specifically requested assistance from the Australian Government and Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt has thanked Whitehaven Coal for providing this assistance so promptly.

“This will make a real difference for the people of Ukraine by providing continued energy security, ensuring continued electricity supply to homes and industry,” Minister Pitt said.

“Energy supply will be critical to Ukraine’s ability to sustain its people and to continue to defend itself against appalling Russian aggression.

“At a time of great need, the Ukrainian Government sought assistance from Australia and I’m very pleased we’ve been able to provide that support with the help of our resources sector.”

Whitehaven Coal released a statement on Sunday expressing pride in being able to contribute the donation.

“Whitehaven is proud to be a part of this humanitarian effort and to help deliver the inputs for essential energy and heating in circumstances of extreme and ongoing suffering for the people of Ukraine.

“In a very tight supply market, Whitehaven has been able to commit this important shipment while ensuring contracted customer demand is met.”

Whitehaven Coal will also contribute $250,000 to the Australian Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

Minister for Resources and Water Keith Pitt and Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Andrew Willcox have expressed their pride and gratitude towards Australia’s contributions to Ukraine

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It is a regular occurrence that high school graduates will be lamenting on missing out in the final round of university offers at the beginning of March, but research suggests it’s no time to stress.

The skills and job organisation Careers Department research suggests that many school leavers are applying for university because they think it is expected of them.

“Our research shows more than a third of students (38%) graduate high school not knowing what they want to do as a career,” Co-Founder The Careers Department, Samantha Devlin said.

“Many students choose university preferences based on what they feel they should do, or conversations they’ve had with their parents.”

The figures also show that one in five students drop out of their first year of university.

“What this tells us, is that there needs to be a stronger focus on educating teenagers about what job opportunities exist and what career paths, scholarships, and work programs are available,” Ms Devlin said.

More than 600 schools across Australia have partnered with The Careers Department to provide students with insights into industries from education to economics, agriculture to advertising, food to fashion.

Last year, 76,000 students participated in the organisations virtual work experience programs, and more than 40,000 took part in The Careers Department’s face-to-face workshops, and this year a national tour of more than 100 locations across every state and territory would reach another 40,000.

Her advice to those who missed out today and do have their hearts set on a university degree is to find alternative ways to gain entry, including internships, graduate programs, diplomas, bridging courses, and vocational studies.

“Take the opportunity to research your chosen career path, contact different universities for advice, and look at work experience options. With borders now open again, it might even be the perfect opportunity to take a gap year and go travelling.”

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Calling all university students; now’s your chance to get a head-start on your career through Mackay Regional Council’s popular academic bursary program.

The program offers university students the chance to gain valuable work experience and financial assistance.

Council has five academic bursaries up for grabs, worth $5000 each, plus paid work experience with a council team that aligns with your area of study.

Mayor Greg Williamson said the council hoped by offering these bursaries it would be able to retain these professionals in the Mackay region.

“Mackay is a great place to live and work and the academic bursary program gives students a taste of what it’s like to work in their chosen field and the opportunity to make great work connections,” Mayor Williamson said.

2019 Academic Bursary recipient Brodie French, who studied a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), has gone on to work full time for council as a graduate engineer in the Water and Sewerage Infrastructure Planning department.

“While working with the Water and Sewerage Infrastructure Planning team over the last two years, I’ve gained an appreciation for the work that goes into making sure our community has quality drinking water and sustainable sewerage networks in the near and distant future,” Mr French said.

“The bursary allowed me to fund equipment for my final year engineering thesis and help with other on-going university costs, and the work experience gave me an on-the-ground perspective of how my studies were translated into the real world,” he said.

Applications for this year’s Academic Bursaries are currently open and close on Monday, April 4.

To be eligible for a council bursary, students must be from the Mackay region – preferably studying in the region – and in their second-last year of studies.

They must also be studying in a skills shortage area including:

> Engineering

> Planning

> Business (Accounting/Marketing/HR/Public Relations/Social Innovation)

> Business Services (IS, Procurement, Projects)

> Workplace Health and Safety/Emergency Services, Social Work or Environmental Science/Health.

To apply, go to www.mackay.qld.gov.au/academicbursary

For more details contact the Recruitment Team on jobs@mackay.qld.gov.au or 1300 MACKAY (622 529).

2019 Academic Bursary recipient Brodie French, second from left, is pictured with Mayor Greg Williamson and fellow recipients, from left, Jackson Lamb, Hunter Aitchison and Taitianna McGrath. Brodie and Taitianna now work full-time with Mackay Regional Council

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I had the great fortune of living in Melbourne for about 10 years and there is a lot to love about that town. Superb restaurants, cool bars, a compelling brand of football, excellent arts culture and layered clothing among the delights.

Some readers might not be with me on the football comment but I think the rest stacks up. The “layered clothing” line reflects another, less admired, feature of the city … its weather.

The popular saying is that if you don’t like Melbourne’s weather, wait five minutes. Hence the layered clothing.

“Oh, the sun’s come out.” Coat off, scarf off, jumper off. That’s better. Dark T-shirt, dark jeans, black boots … fitting in.

Investing can be like Melbourne’s fickle weather, although the change doesn’t usually happen in five minutes. Whether you have invested in stocks or real estate, things change.

For Mackay real estate owners and investors, the climate changed around 2013.

The market plunged, rents dropped, sale prices fell and while some people were forced to sell, many held on to their properties. Well, you had to wait more than five minutes, but I can tell you the climate has changed again.

Prices are up dramatically from where they fell to during the downturn. About four months ago I sold a house for $570,000 that I sold for $476,000 in 2015, and the market continued to fall for another few years after 2015. Prices have bounced back dramatically and this is now a hot market.

One of the reasons is that thanks to a strong economy and the covid experience, a lot of people are moving to Mackay. But, due to the downturn, nothing was built from 2013 to 2019 so high demand and lack of supply has created a massive shortage of rental properties, with vacancies at under 1 per cent.

People moving to Mackay are finding there is nothing to rent so they are buying straight up. Others who have been living in Mackay for a while have decided they love the place but don’t like rent increases so they’re taking the plunge and buying.

And the supply side of sales is tight because very few people are leaving Mackay and selling. It’s a great place to live and the Covid experience down south has locked people into Mackay.

So, who gets an opportunity out of this? Investors. That property you bought years ago but couldn’t sell during the downturn is now worth a lot more than it was. You might want to put money into super, pay off your main property or put away some cash and, if so, now is a great time to get an appraisal on your investment to find out what it’s worth.

It’s also important to get good advice on the strategy for selling. Do you allow your tenants to sign another 12-month lease? If not, when do you give them notice? Do you sell with tenants in there or not? Do we need to freshen up the property or is that a waste of money?

Good, experienced real estate agents will have a strategy that gets you the best result.

Of course, as Melburnians know, the climate can change so give us a call at Gardian to get some good advice on what to do, and when to do it, to get you the best result.

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Residents and visitors are encouraged to have their say to help chart the next phase of one of the Isaac region’s premier recreational hubs.

Theresa Creek Dam – a family favourite near Clermont – is set to be reimagined as Isaac Regional Council seeks community feedback on the concept development plan this March.

The dam in the Isaac region’s west is a core social and economic pillar and the public consultation hopes to understand usage, the areas that need to be enhanced and what benefits the dam provides. This information will be used as a guide to create the Theresa Creek Dam Concept Development Plan.

Mayor Anne Baker said the concept development plan will focus on the recreational assets of the dam to help build a management strategy for the next 20 years.

“This community consultation is a fantastic opportunity as it nears 40 years since it was built. Here’s our chance to improve and enhance one of our region’s key recreational areas providing a boost to the local economy and attracting more visitors to Isaac,” Mayor Baker said.

“Clermont’s primary water source offers a kiosk, picnic areas, camping, boating, fishing, recreational water sports and birdwatching. Our families, our visitors enjoy the calm and beauty the dam has on offer and as a community we want to harness and protect that through a formalised process.”

Councillor Carolyn Moriarty said Council is seeking feedback to help shape its planning considerations for the dam’s recreational management.

“Any plans for the dam need to be balanced carefully with the ongoing water quality needs of our area and require state, federal or private investment,” Cr Moriarty said.

“Theresa Creek Dam has been a major drawcard and much-loved destination for our residents and visitors, this plan gives community the chance to have their say on what changes they would like to see.”

Residents and visitors can click https://speakup.isaac.qld.gov.au/theresa-creek-dam-concept-plan to have their say by 1 April 2022. Hardcopies of the survey will be available at Council libraries and offices throughout the Isaac region.

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Mackay Regional Council’s Councillor Alison Jones donated part of a recent pay rise to local not-for-profit arts organisation Crossroad Arts earlier this week.

Councillor Jones says that, as a council, the Mackay Regional Council opted out of a pay rise set by the state government.

The pay rise was given regardless to stay on par with state-regulated remuneration.

“I just felt that, if we made that decision to not accept a pay rise, that I wanted to give mine back to the community,” she said.

Having previously worked in the disability sector and with family members with a disability, Councillor Jones says that Crossroad Arts is a very meaningful cause.

“It’s in my heart,” she said.

The donation came at an opportune time, as Crossroad Arts are currently holding their Annual Giving Program for 2022.

“It’s very generous,” said Crossroad Arts Artistic Director and CEO Alison Richardson.

“Last year we started our first annual giving program.

“This year the community champions, ReNew Mackay, are able to match what we make up to $5000, which is really great,” she said.

“It’s nice that more of a local business community is getting on board,” added Crossroad Arts Artistic Associate Autumn Skuthorpe.

Crossroads Arts is a local not-for-profit organisation and registered charity that provides inclusive art experiences for artists with disability with the goal of building a stronger community.

The 2022 Annual Giving Program will run until June 30, 2022.

To donate to Crossroad Arts, visit www.givenow.com.au/crossroadarts.

Councillor Alison Jones presents her donation to local artist Erin, helping Crossroad Arts on their way to their goal of $5000

Crossroad Arts offer a variety of workshops including making wearable art, filmmaking, and theatre

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