Marian State School has been busy beautifying their town thanks to a Mackay Regional Council’s Activate My Place (AMP!) Program grant.

The school was awarded $10,490 from the 2021 round to establish public art that has potential to be an economic driver for tourism while adding to the region’s growing list of murals. The school engaged artist Joel Fergie.

Additionally, the 2022 round of funding of AMP! is now open with $30,000 currently available for placemakers, artists, musicians, businesspeople and community members to submit their creative ideas to activate public spaces across our region.

AMP! aims to empower communities to create places where people feel connected, resulting in more engaged communities, thriving local economies, and an enhanced quality of life.

Council is keen to work with communities to identify projects that will activate the local pockets of our region for the benefit, pleasure and wellbeing of our communities and visitors.

Applications are open from January 25 until April 8, 2022.

To find out more information about the AMP! placemaking grant program please contact council’s Economic Development program via email business@mackay.qld.gov.au or phone (07) 4961 9587.

Mayor Greg Williamson and showcase mural project manager and local resident Laura Hamilton with students from Marian State School. Images supplied: Mackay Regional Council

Marian State School students in front of Marian’s newest town mural

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I breathed a hefty sigh of relief last Sunday, as flight VA617 pulled itself up through rumbling clouds to break through to the first clear sky I’d seen in days. I looked out of the window at a sodden Brisbane CBD, usually twinkling with the vibrancy of cars in a form of organised chaos, now slowly submerging suburb by suburb under brown muddy water.

The only way I can describe the rain was incessant and relentless, for days it peltered down, never letting up, much like being in a cyclone but with much less wind. A 5-second dash from your car into shelter still soaked you to the bone. Streets quickly became like rivers, making it near impossible to distinguish shallow from deep. I only lost a few hours due to a delayed flight, while others just a few hours further south, from Gympie to northern New South Wales, have lost everything.

Queenslanders are resilient. Brisbane will rebuild, communities will rally and neighbours will look out for one another. But that doesn’t bring back the priceless possessions or loss of life that many families have had to endure. A new house can be built, but it won’t have the marks on the doorframe from children growing up. New clothes can be bought, but a worn wedding dress can’t be replaced. Books can be borrowed from a library, but the stamp collection album handed down by your grandmother will never be seen again.

I’ve taken this opportunity to look at the things I have that can’t be replaced. An old weather station where the man with the umbrella comes out when it’s going to rain, that was my grandmother’s and I ‘checked the weather’ every time I visited her. A painting of Milford Sound, the place I think is one of the prettiest on Earth, painted by my mother and gifted to me for my 21st. My husband’s military medals and a painting of him from the Somme in France when he returned the ‘Unknown Warrior’ back to the Tomb of Remembrance in Wellington.

During a crisis, I might not remember these things, so I’ve written a list to go with my emergency kit, so if I have the opportunity, I can take those things that, in my eyes, are priceless. And a reminder to check your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered for Mother Nature’s fury, whatever form that happens to take.

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Shades of teal scattered Alfred Street last week as many gathered to celebrate the opening of the Trudy Crowley Ovarian Cancer Support Centre.

The Support Centre was the dream of beloved Mackay woman Trudy Crowley, who lost her three-year battle with ovarian cancer in 2018.

“The Trudy Crowley Cancer Support Centre offers unique support services for cancer patients and their families,” said councillor and Trudy Crowley Foundation board member Pauline Townsend, speaking at the event.

“We currently have around 20 patients in our support group who would meet at local venues for coffee and a chat.

“Now they have their very own venue right here at our centre to enjoy.

“This is a proud day for us, we’ve achieved Trudy’s vision.”

As well as providing a space for patients to meet and share their experiences, the centre offers a hub for all cancer sufferers and their families to access education, moral support, counselling, a palliative care nurse, and even a wig room.

The blue ribbon was officially cut by Mackay Regional Council Deputy Mayor Karen May and Daly Bay CEO Steve Rae.

“Wanting to do good in our community and help people is something that’s really been at the forefront of what the Trudy Crowley Foundation is all about and what Trudy was all about,” said the Deputy Mayor before doing the honours.

“So today is really a realisation of Trudy’s dream.”

After being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in 2016, Trudy Crowley found it difficult to source relevant information and support for herself and her family.

The Trudy Crowley Foundation was established in 2018 to provide a source of information, support services, and resources to those directly and indirectly impacted by ovarian cancer.

The Trudy Crowley Ovarian Cancer Support Centre officially opened last week, with many attendees wearing teal

Mackay Regional Council Deputy Mayor Karen May and Daly Bay CEO Steve Rae cutting the ribbon

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Confidence in cruising has never been stronger, with the industry reporting booking demand at pre-pandemic levels. Travel Associates North Queensland General Manager Liam Giudes said as restrictions across the globe ease, COVID-19 is becoming like any other travel consideration.

“Every week we are seeing more restrictions easing globally, giving consumers rising confidence that Covid is just another background consideration, like security or insurance,” Mr Guides said.

It’s a glimmer of hope for the travel industry, who undoubtedly were hit hardest during the pandemic. It means people can plan to travel again, and for those who love cruising, there are cruises you can book now. Travel Associates are a locally Queensland-owned agency who can navigate the changing landscape of restrictions, and have a plethora of cruise and rail journeys available to book now. So much so, they have brought together 19 suppliers for a much-anticipated travel expo, coming to Mackay on Tuesday.

Cruising Is Back!

As the world navigates a new normal, the cruise industry has experienced a remarkable turn-around, with a rising demand from travellers already creating strong bookings throughout 2023 and 2024.

Travel Associates North Queensland Owner Liam Giudes said the way in which we cruise has changed, with a surge in the popularity of smaller, luxury cruises.

“People who cruise love it and are excited to see it return,” Mr Giudes said.

“The industry has invested millions into COVID safety procedures, with many ships now housing COVID-19 testing labs.

“There are cruises already departing American hubs like Miami and Fort Lauderdale, and popular European destinations include the south of France and the Nordic countries.

“There is a resurgence in small-ship cruising where there is almost the same number of staff as passengers, where people have plentiful space and COVID procedures are in place.

“In my opinion, I believe this type of cruising is the safest way to travel overseas at the moment.”

Mr Giudes said that there is availability on cruises for 2022 for those who want to travel now, with 2023 already quickly selling as more COVID restrictions are gradually eased around the World.

“There is a big show of confidence in the industry, we have 19 suppliers coming to the Expo in Mackay, all with products to sell,” he said.

“For those still uneasy about international borders, we have a lot of incredible travel options for within Australia on show too.

“We have already had more than 90 people register for the expo which shows the desire to travel again.”

Travel Associates Mackay Manager Alicia Keese said that while the pandemic was brutal on the travel industry, they have started to experience a swing where more people are heading to a travel agent to book their post-pandemic journey.

“There are many things to navigate travelling in a COVID world, especially with regard to testing and vaccination requirements for every country, but it’s just another consideration of travel that we can assist with,” Ms Keese said.

“We have noticed more people coming in to book through us who previously would book their travel online.

“It’s great having more options on offer, whether it’s a city escape, a snow holiday, a river cruise or a relaxing tropical vacation.”

Whether it's a multigenerational family trip to the Pacific Islands, a luxury European River Cruise, or a journey through the centre of Australia on the Ghan, the team of experienced travel advisers are ready to discuss your 2023-2024 travel plans.

With the world beginning to open, what better time than now to let Travel Associates show you why your next holiday should be on the water or the tracks.

“People who cruise love it and are excited to see it return,”

- Liam Guides

“For those still uneasy about international borders, we have a lot of incredible travel options for within Australia on show too.”

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The Proserpine Guardian 31 October 31 1947 - “The sale is reported of Mrs FG McGrath’s bus service to Mr Stanley Slater who recently arrived from the Nambour district. Mr Slater stated that it was his intention to place a modern bus on the Cannon Valley service as soon as possible. He assured potential customers that he intended covering the same territory as Mrs McGrath; namely, Proserpine to Sugar Loaf to Cannon Vale Beach to Jubilee Pocket.

This is how one past local described his first trip in this bus: “The bus had no doors and seating consisted of wooden benches bolted crosswise to the tray body which was roofed but open. There were rolls of canvas at the sides in case of rain. The driver was dressed in regulation bus driver's uniform of khaki shirt and shorts and bare feet. Five miles from Proserpine, the one lane tarmac ribbon abruptly finished and we were on red gravel, swerving to avoid the ruts and pot holes. There were a number of stops where wheel tracks disappeared into the trees and there would be a wooden box or a rusty kerosene tin on a post for parcels. Another twelve miles and we passed a few scattered houses which was Cannon Valley. Half a mile on we stopped at a stone jetty which was embarkation point for the island resorts.” (John Harper)

In 1951, Bob Filby purchased this run, eventually having a fleet of five buses. Wet weather made for interesting times; like the day when 36 locals and tourists had a miraculous escape when the bus slipped off the flooded causeway at Myrtle Creek and landed upright with only about two feet of the bus above water. Luckily, the passengers, mostly young, were able to scramble out through the doors and windows. The weaker swimmers had to cling to the bus to avoid being swept away. The passengers were helped to the safety of the causeway and the sodden luggage was retrieved from the trailer. Good swimmers volunteered to dive down and gather personal items left behind.

The community of Proserpine rallied. Wet, shivering passengers were transported to town. Clothes were washed and hung on hotel verandahs and in the RSL Hall. At the hospital laundry, Matron McGrath and Red Cross members washed, dried and ironed clothes. Several bags of soggy mail were delivered to the post office.

Still today, when creeks are rising, school buses have to take children home early. On one past occasion, all of the buses had been dispatched and the principal was heaving a sigh of relief when he looked down the road and saw all the children out of the Cannonvale bus and pushing it because it wouldn’t start!

Bob Filby sold to Mr George Sampson who spent some 20 years in the district. Mr Sampson’s long line of fans included hitch-hikers who would be picked up then chastised for partaking in such a dangerous activity; pre-schoolers who were carried free of charge and the elderly who were taken on many trips.  Mr Sampson liked to keep up with the times adding modern buses to his fleet, such as in 1993, the MAN 61-seater with air conditioning, PA system and video. Such luxury!

Fast forward and today this bus run is now known as Whitsunday Transit.

Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum

The 1956 Filby's bus incident at Myrtle Creek

McGrath's bus

Slater's Bus

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Collinsville residents watched as the brand-new 34-wheeler travelling respiratory clinic drove through town last month, opening its doors to local retired mine workers to receive testing for mine dust lung disease.

The condition was thought to be eliminated many years ago, but Collinsville resident Steve Malone said it was flagged once again when Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) District President Stephen Smyth went to a conference in America which offered proof that the disease was still prevalent.

This information led to a Queensland State Government enquiry and after repeat recommendations it became mandatory for mine workers to get x-rays and lung function testing checks every five years.

“This is great news for the younger people, but it means a lot of the retired people, or those that left the mines, have slipped through the system,” said Mr Malone.

It is estimated that 25,000 people may have been missed being assessed for the disease during the gap between testings.

Thanks to the Queensland CFMEU Resource Safety and Health Queensland, I-Med Radiology, and Philips the new purpose-built ‘dust bus’, which features an x-ray and a CT machine, was able to test 74 Bowen residents between Monday, February 14 and Thursday February 17.

The project is operated by Heart Of Australia, a company that take advanced medical equipment to patients in regional areas.

They operate four different trucks and are expected to come to Proserpine soon and also visit Collinsville again within the year.

Mr Malone was a miner for 33 years and says he is happy to chat to anyone who would like assistance with accessing the service.

“I often catch-up with blokes, help them with their application and check if they are eligible,” he said.

“Give me a call and I’ll help if I can.”

To be eligible you need to be permanently retired from the industry and to have not been screened for at least five years.

Steve Malone’s number is 0429 094 857.

The 56 tonne, 26 metre ‘Dust Bus’

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The extreme rain event which plagued the region earlier this month caused many concerned locals to vent their concerns, once again, about Hamilton Plain’s susceptibility to flooding.

Councillor for division 3, John Collins, raised the issue at last week’s ordinary council meeting, asking for an update on what Transport and Main Roads (TMR) will be doing to solve the problem.

Director of Infrastructure Services, Adam Hagy, said that TMR are aware of the ongoing issue and are bringing forward their plans to address it as soon as possible.

“There has been enough pressure from the community to bring the works forward to the first quarter of next year,” he said.

“The aim is to reduce the time of submergence to a maximum of one hour during a rainfall event.”

Mayor Andrew Willcox added that the federal government has $30 million allocated for the job.

“It will be fantastic to see that happening,” he said.

“We are not talking about flood immunity, however, as it is a flood plain – we are talking about flood mitigation.”

With the largest population area regularly at the mercy of the wet weather and running the risk of being cut-off from the hospital and airport during extreme rain events, this work could not come soon enough.

It was decided at the meeting that the Chief Executive Officer of Whitsunday Regional Council, Rod Ferguson, would write a letter to TMR to get an update about the project.

Flood camera footage showing the flooding at Hamilton Plains

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Locals are invited to participate in the annual Clean-up Australia Day this Sunday as many community groups and businesses offer a variety of ways we can all get involved in collecting rubbish from parks, roadsides, beaches and even the ocean.

One local business which is at the forefront of the event this year has decided to unite its clean-up activities with an educational experience planting more coral fragments on endangered areas of the reef.

Aqua5’s dive instructor, Ben Corbishley, has been working with Nathan Cook from Reef Ecologic for some time and together they decided to leverage the day to offer a cost-price tour that incorporates a beach, sea and dive clean-up with the opportunity to re-plant coral.

“It’s good to get to tie the two initiatives together,” said Aqua5 owner Paul Battaglia.

“We want to get the local community involved a bit more and thought this would be a great way to do it.”

The tour will head out to the Whitsunday Islands and all passengers can help collect litter from several locations on the day.

They will then be guided by Reef Ecologic marine biologists on how to plant live coral on discs and tag them so they can be monitored monthly.

Guests can then snorkel above the coral gardens.

A nominal fee of $90 is charged for the trip with snorkel gear and stinger suit provided. Food and drinks are to be brought onboard by guests who can use the esky supplied.

Clean Up Australia Day is held every year on the first Sunday in March.

The event was founded in 1990 when one man, who was so shocked about the pollution and rubbish he saw, decided to get a group of friends together for a clean-up day.

Now in its 32nd year, the event has become part of Australian culture with over 19 million people participating so far.

The Aqua5 vessel visits endangered areas of the reef

Coral fragments are replanted

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The $3 billion Urannah Dam project is inching closer to fruition thanks to a bilateral agreement between the state and federal government this week.

Stakeholders are excited to see the final designs set with the completion of the Environmental Impact Study underway and early stage works due to commence within the next two years.

Forecast to be the biggest economic development in our region in the next decade, the dam will hold 1.5 megalitres of water, create an irrigated agricultural area of up to 25,000 hectares and feature an extensive pipeline which will connect to Moranbah.

The broader project will encompass the Bowen Renewable Energy Hub which is expected to relieve energy consumption throughout the Whitsundays.

The Bowen Collinsville Enterprise non-profit organisation have been the driving force behind the project for the past six years, working with limited resources and lobbying to receive funding where possible.

LNP Candidate for Dawson Andrew Willcox has been supporting project for many years and welcomes this weeks’ announcement.

“I have been backing the plan to build the Urannah Dam for a number of years and I want to pay tribute to the vision and determination of the team at Bowen Collinsville Enterprise group for setting us on a path to transform our region,” he said.

“The construction of Urannah Dam will open up hectares of agricultural land for high value produce like avocadoes, mangoes and macadamias to further grow our reputation as a prime horticultural producer.

“It will also create about 1800 jobs which will be a massive shot in the arm for small communities across our region like Bowen and Collinsville.

“Urannah will be able to provide a reliable water supply to our mining towns and support close to 100 other projects spreading benefits even further.

Chairman of the Bowen Collinsville Enterprise group, Paul McLaughlin, says that this project stands to transform Collinsville in the same way as the Fairbairn Dam helped grow the town of Emerald many years ago.

“This is the biggest economic development this region will see in a decade,” he said.

“It will be fantastic for everyone involved.”

An artist’s impression of the Urannah Dam

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The seascape of our marine rescue organisations across the state are about to go through a significant change when Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) amalgamates with Queensland Coast Guard.

It is anticipated that the merge will enable both services to leverage from each other and receive better overall government funding.

Mal Priday from VMR Whitsunday said that, in his mind it couldn’t happen sooner.

“Bring it on! – The sooner the better!” he said.

“The move means we will receive more realistic funding now – we won’t need to spend so much time on our knees begging for funding.”

Currently, in order to keep VMR Whitsunday operating, volunteers need to raise an astounding $130,000 per year to bank as a contingency fund so they can replace a vessel after it’s served its best years, usually after roughly 10 years.

Four years ago, VMR Whitsunday spent over $1 million on their latest boat and only $160,000 was funded by the state government, the remaining was raised through the kindness of local sponsors and the community.

The amalgamation will instantly give VMR across the state access to a bigger pool of funding.

Concerns have been raised, however, that the merge would mean that all VMR resources, including boats, buildings and cash would become property of the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) based in Canberra.

Having been part of the Blue Water Review fleet working group for some time, Mr Priday is well-informed about the plans and says all assets will remain in the community it serves.

“It would be morally wrong for it to be taken away by our community,” said Mr Priday.

“All assets will not be taken by the QFES.”

There are 26 VMR squadrons in QLD, locally these include Mackay, Midge Point, Whitsundays, Bowen, and Burdekin.

This is compared to 17 Coast Guard Squadrons with the nearest in Townsville or just south of Mackay.

At the moment the Coast Guard is declining to participate in the amalgamation, but Mr Priday believes a merge is inevitable due to the fact that both New South Wales and West Australia are already operating as one enterprise.

Mr Priday hopes this will happen soon so that our local VMR can receive more state funding and focus on the important job of keeping our local waterways safe.

The VMR Whitsunday rescue vessel sponsored by Coral Sea Marina

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E-Scooters have been the talk of the state over the past week, with national plans to halve the speed limit for the transport devices on footpaths, and Whitsunday Regional Council had their own say on local Whitsunday laws at last week’s council meeting.

Councillors came to the decision to limit rental e-scooters speed to six kilometres per hour in well-populated areas and up to a maximum of 12 kilometres per hour in other areas, although this does not apply to privately owned scooters.

Four Whitsunday businesses applied to continue the use of their commercial electronic scooters: Whitsunday Fun, Ocean Dynamics, Le Shack Whitsunday Adventure and Whitsunday Segway Tours.

Three of those businesses were involved in a trial period of six months from April to October 2021 to operate the commercial e-vehicles on footpaths, cycle ways, the foreshore, and boardwalks.

The businesses were successful in their applications to continue operating the E-vehicles, but under new stipulations such as the speed limiting and Geo-Fencing, meaning the vehicles will shut off if they go out of regulated areas.

The applications came at a tenuous time for e-scooters, which under current state law are classed as ‘mobility scooters,’ meaning they can operate everywhere accessible by pedestrians. They also only fall under road laws whilst operating on the road, meaning an individual can operate an e-scooter whilst intoxicated if they remain on the sidewalk.

Police in Brisbane recently issued 84 traffic infringements in just 12 hours of targeting e-scooters in the CBD, and Whitsunday councillors voiced their concerns that the vehicles were dangerous, leading to the limiting of commercial vehicles speed.

“They are an ever-increasing problem, particularly around the Airlie Beach area,” Councillor Jan Clifford told council.

“They’re uncontrolled, nine out of ten times they haven’t got a helmet on.”

The councillors believed that the new conditions would address these issues, at least in the case of hire e-scooters and vehicles.

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A brand-new multistorey apartment complex at the Port of Airlie has been approved by Whitsunday Regional Council at last week’s council meeting.

Councillors voted on the three apartment blocks that will be three to four storeys high and comprise 52 dwellings, granting Port of Airlie owners Meridien preliminary approval to exceed the statutory 12-metre height limit for Airlie Beach.

Councillor Jan Clifford was particularly frustrated by the building heights that “didn’t comply with the town plan.”

“All the nice little carrots they promised the community about a cinema and a bowling alley, they’re gone,” Councillor Clifford said.

“The community did not have an issue with the original concept for the Port of Airlie, but they certainly do now and so do I.”

Councillor Clifford and Councillor Al Grundy were the only dissenting voices in the meeting, both voting against the proposal.

Councillor Grundy said that he had “major concerns of traffic, transportation, housing and how the vision for the area matches with the broader visitation expectations Airlie Beach offers and has today.”

“My message is just be careful, be careful with the growth,” he said.

The complex is set to be built on a vacant lot on Port Drive as part of the contentious Port of Airlie Development which has seen strong opposition, particularly from Save Our Foreshore, a group directly opposed to the development’s high-rise construction.

Councillor Mike Brunker said that Airlie Beach has “got to evolve” and that people were against the original Port of Airlie when it first arrived too.

“I think it’s a gradual evolution and people want to live in paradise and for nothing to change, but it has to be a gradual evolving,” he said.

Mayor Andrew Willcox was one supporter of the development, stating that the proposed building height is still actually lower than the existing Port of Airlie buildings.

Meridien produced a Visual Impact Analysis to dispute the building height objections.

“The conclusions from the VIA are accepted in that there will be a minor to moderate local view impact and from a regional context there will be an extremely limited visual impact,” the report sent to Council reads.

Meridien’s report also stated that restricting the building’s height would result in the loss of six three-bedroom apartments and housing, which would “continue to restrict choice and the capacity to meet the needs of residents seeking an Airlie Beach lifestyle.”

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After four years of dedicated effort by its committee, the 8.2 million Whitsunday Sportspark facility is reaching a milestone moment, with three levels of government set to attend the building completion and handover ceremony at the Jubilee Pocket location next Friday.

The community facility, which will soon deliver first-class sporting amenities as well as a central Clubhouse to the Whitsunday region, is jointly funded by Local, Federal and State Government and all profits will go straight back into the community.

The new Clubhouse will feature a 120-seater bistro dining area which will be open seven days a week.

There will also be a sports bar with TAB and big screens as well as an outdoor terrace overlooking the AFL field.

Adjacent to this is the Pokie Room intended to house 46 machines.

The Sportspark is ultimately owned by the five not-for-profit sporting clubs that call the Whitsunday Sportspark home.

These include AFL, Netball, Rugby Union, Soccer and Touch Football.

The Sportspark will operate the Clubhouse and all profits are directed back into the facility and the community it serves.

Every customer will be eligible for a membership card and each purchase will enable them to accrue points which can be nominated to their favourite sporting or community club anywhere in the Whitsundays and transferred to a dollar sum that will assist the sporting group.

“We look forward to celebrating this milestone on our march towards the opening of a top-class sports and community hospitality club to benefit our growing town and shire,” said Chairman of Whitsunday Sportspark Justin Butler.

The official opening of the facility to the public is expected to take place this July.

Whitsunday Sportspark Chairman, Justin Butler, outside the new building

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Innovative Australian company, Gilmour Space Technologies is one step closer to launching rockets from its spaceport at Abbott Point thanks to an Operational Works approval which was issued by Whitsunday Regional Council earlier this week.

For several years, the space company has been working alongside the state and federal government, as well as local stakeholders, to bring their spaceport to the Whitsundays and this announcement means they are on-track to launch this June.

Mayor Andrew Willcox said the approval will allow Gilmore Space Technologies to commence early works on Australia’s first orbital launch facility at the Abbott Point State Development Area.

“If progress remains on track, then Gilmour Space hope to launch the first rocket from the proposed facility later this year,” said Mr Willcox.

"Bowen is located about 20 degrees south of the equator which geographically makes it the ideal location to actually launch rockets and send satellites into space.

“The construction of the Bowen Orbital Spaceport is exciting for Bowen and will provide an enormous economic and tourism injection for the region.”

From June, Gilmour Space Group plans to launch two rockets per year until 2025, after which they aim to increase launch frequencies to monthly.

Gilmour Space predicts that up to 92 rocket launches annually could be conducted from the Spaceport by 2032.

"It’s exciting to have rockets being launched and there is potential to leverage from this to start the journey making Bowen and Abbot Point a smaller version of America’s Cape Canaveral, the home of the Kennedy Space Center,” said Mr Willcox.

"The new $4 million Flagstaff Hill Cultural and Conference Centre in Bowen is the perfect vantage point and looks straight across to the launch site.”

The rockets will be manufactured at Gilmour's Gold Coast manufacturing hub before being transported to the Bowen launch site.

It is anticipated that the rockets will transport small satellites low-Earth orbit.

They will be used as part of broadband internet constellations.

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Local Dogs Need Space To Run Too! While there are a variety of off-leash areas throughout the Whitsundays many local dog owners feel that their four-legged friends do not have enough freedom to run down the beach and play in the waves - are our local pets becoming marginalised members of the community?

Dog Owners Ask For More Freedom

Many Whitsunday dog owners are baffled by local laws which restrict the free movement of dogs on beaches when, in many cases, they are the only people using the public areas.

A Cannonvale-based dog-loving group who meet up each afternoon at 4pm at the Bicentennial Park opposite Cannonvale Beach say that this has been an ongoing problem, with unfortunate complaints causing off-leash movements of dogs to become increasingly reduced.

They are now only free to use the parkland and the far eastern end of Cannonvale Beach, away from the playground – an area which is close to the road and often dangerous for dogs.

“We probably get more people reading and doing yoga in the off-lead park area and winging than we do coming down here to the beach,” said Larissa Whincop from the group.

“On this beach there is no-one during the early mornings, there might be another person with a dog, but very rarely have I ever encountered someone swimming or enjoying the beach,” said Amy Close.

The group wish that dog-owners were allowed to use common sense in deciding where and when it is safe for their dogs to be off-leash, with many stating that no-one would let a dangerous dog off the lead.

A Whitsunday Regional Council spokesperson said that they have no plans at this stage to increase the number of off-leash locations as they believe sufficient areas exist to accommodate community needs.  

“The designation of off-leash areas is approved by Councillors in an ordinary Council meeting,” said the spokesperson.

“Taken into consideration is protection of public safety, maintenance, amenity of the area and protection of the environment.”

At the mercy of a $250 fine for allowing their dogs to roam free outside designated hours or restricted zones, local dog owners find themselves nervous in using local beaches or feeling forced to break laws that do not make sense when no-one else is using the site.

“Conway Beach is the best beach ever to run your dogs,” said Ms Close.

“It’s very unlikely there would be a ranger to give you a ticket there but it is still a possibility which makes me feel nervous.”

Current off-leash locations:

• Queens Beach, Bowen

• Doughty Creek Mouth, Bowen

• Kings Beach, Bowen

• Denison Park, Bowen

• Shingley Beach, Airlie Beach (Eastern end only)

• Bicentennial Park, Cannonvale

• Cannonvale Beach (Sanded area; Eastern end; Restricted times - 5am to 8am and 5pm to 8pm)

• Gailbraith Park, Cannonvale

• Whisper Bay Boat Ramp, Cannonvale

• Wildlife Park, Jubilee Pocket - enclosure Keith Jones Estate Park, Proserpine

• Hydeaway Bay

Some of the 15 members of a local dog group: Evelyn Cartlidge, Larissa Whincop, Amy Close, Grant Restieaux, Kate Donohoe and baby Charlie with their friendly pets

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