
Earlier this year, laws were passed to bring Queensland into line with New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT by limiting rent increases to once per year to assist in stabilising rents. However, reports have emerged of some landlords and agents ending leases with tenants in order to increase rents more frequently than once per year. A discussion paper has been released to ensure annual rent increase frequency limits are effective. The discussion paper considers a propos
Read more
Light up the barbeque and fill your buckets, Porters Mitre 10 is keen to help you raise funds for your organisation. From sausage sizzles to car washes, your not-for-profit can raise funds and have some fun at Mackay Porters Mitre 10. To help your fundraiser run smoothly, they also provide the water, hose, and detergent for car washes, as well as a barbeque, gas, tables, and marquees for sausage sizzles. What’s more, for a limited time Porters Mitre 10 is also donating $100 meat vouchers to or
Read more
Nothing lights up our region like Daly Bay Illuminate. Queens Park will come alive with giant neon dogs, unworldly flowers, glowing sea creatures and so much more, from next Thursday, July 27, to Sunday, July 30. Better still, entry to this all-ages, illuminated wonderland is completely free. The event will run from 6pm to 9pm each night. Mayor Greg Williamson said this year’s massive drawcard installation was the Lost Dogs’ Disco by ENESS. “This is an immersive installation of 16 dogs, some up
Read more
My dog, Millie, is a three-year-old black and white border collie/kelpie/something else cross, that looks a bit like the dog in the recent New Yorker magazine cartoon we’ve put in this column, though she has shorter fur. When she was about six months old, my wife and kids took her to visit some neighbours, who had recently acquired two fluffy little miniature poodle puppies. Millie is a friendly dog so they left her with the two little poodles in the backyard while they went inside the neighbour
Read more.jpg)
OPINION PIECE The Mackay region is quickly becoming a premier fishing destination, offering 365 days a year fishing. Reef Catchments, as part of their “Turning Rubble to Reef in the Mackay Whitsundays” project, seeks to facilitate the expansion of coral reef habitat into otherwise bare areas of the marine environment. This will be achieved through the deployment of 30 Habitat Reef modules in the coastal waters off Mackay in the second half of this year. Installation of the Habitat Reef module
Read more
By Sam Gillespie She’s mesmerised audiences across the world on the stage and the screen, and now Mackay gets its chance to experience acclaimed singer/songwriter Bloom performing her Stevie Nicks, Carole King and Linda Ronstadt Songbook. Sam spoke to Bloom about her musical motivation, what we can expect from the show and her important fundraising work. You’ve clearly got a wide variety of experiences in the music industry, from writing your own music to tribute shows and even The Voice. How d
Read more
As you read this, I’ll be just about to jump on a plane at the Mackay Airport and head down to Sydney with my daughter for one of the best holidays you could ask for. A few months ago, my 19-year-old daughter asked me if I wanted to come for a trip to the home of the Opera House with her so I could show her around my old hometown. I of course said yes and here we are, Friday about to start a weekend of fun. One of the big reasons my daughter wanted to travel to Sydney was to see Lizzo in conce
Read more
Local students of Mackay will experience the opportunity of a lifetime when they perform alongside Australia’s finest professional opera vocalists at the MECC this month. Opera Australia is Australia’s largest performing arts company, presenting over 700 performances to more than half a million people every year. The company will return to Mackay with its 27th annual national tour, showcasing crowd favourite The Barber of Seville with a choir of local students as part of the company’s Regional
Read more
Film and Arts Mackay (FAM) is renowned for delivering alternative cinema to the region and their flagship event, the Mackay International Film Festival, is returning across two weekends in 2023. Showcasing a diverse range of thought-provoking stories from around the world, the festival will screen six films, beginning with Three Thousand Years of Longing on Saturday, July 29 at Pinnacle Playhouse. Described by The Guardian as “a heartfelt Aladdinesque adventure for grownups”, visionary director
Read more
Friday 21 July Friday SUN.sets Every Friday Evening From 6pm Knock off drinks, lakeside dinner, good friends, and LIVE MUSIC. Wake House Australia Mushroom Valley Presents...Techno Dinner Party Friday, 6:00pm to 11:00pm Mushroom Valley presents Soundfood, a unique fusion of Mark's two biggest passions - music and food. During a Soundfood session this Melbourne based Kiwi simultaneously DJs and cooks, resulting in a sensory explosion; bringing the heat with sweet treats and phat beats. Get yo
Read more
Champion Mackay point guard Isaac White is racing the clock to be fit for this Saturday night’s NBL 1 North Basketball Conference quarter final showdown with South West Metro Pirates at Brisbane’s Hibiscus Sports Stadium. The mercurial White was a late withdrawal from the Meteors side that tossed Red City Roar 102-84 at Mackay Basketball Stadium to clinch a finals berth but is hopeful he can overcome a torn quadricep injury to lead the club in a do-or-die fixture. On the final night of the pre
Read more
The final of the B singles and the open singles were played on North Mackay greens on June 21. The open singles game was between Nuggy Pratt and Lorna Bowers. Nuggy got away from Lorna early, but Lorna managed to come back, but unfortunately just a bit too late, so the winner was Nuggy Pratt. The B singles was between Maryann Bartolo and Brenda Trannore. In much the same vein as the open ladies; Maryann got away to a substantial lead early, but Brenda clawed her way back to only lose by a few p
Read more
Les Stagg Oval in Proserpine is the established home base for the Whitsunday Brahmans Rugby League Club. Last Saturday night the high-flying Souths Logan Magpies nearly described it as a “graveyard” after snatching a 14-12 victory over the Mackay Cutters in QRL Hostplus Cup action. With ten minutes left on the clock the Cutters were poised to spring the boilover of the season when they led the competition leaders 12-10 in an absorbing tussle. But a late try by centre Jesse Jennings enabled th
Read more
Mackay SLSC recently held their annual awards presentations on the grounds of the surf club overlooking Mackay’s beautiful Harbour Beach. Club President Brendan Smith opened the afternoon recognising the club’s contribution of “Vigilance and Service” to the Mackay community as the “Guardians of Harbour Beach” for over 70 years, as well as another challenging yet rewarding season. Mr. Smith said, “Being a volunteer organisation there are many people who make sacrifices to contribute to the runni
Read more
Mackay Road Runners held a very social 5km and 10km afternoon run/walk from Bluewater Quay in perfectly cool and sunny conditions, although the seriously swirling headwind on the return trip across Forgan Smith Bridge was a bit testing. Great to see the return of Colin Hardy, Carol Brown and Jarrod Mackie for a rare Sunday afternoon event with the Mackay Road Runners. Carolyn Mapes had a sensational 10km run backing up well after her third place in the Eungella King of the Mountain the previ
Read more
Mackay Bowls Club is hosting the Championship Men’s District Fours this weekend. Representing Mackay Bowls Club is K Tranberg, A Gibson, G Edmonds, and N Wilson. Tuesday Social Bowls was back to normal with 28 players rolling up, the club welcoming visitors P Hancock and P Nikitin. Winners of Winners: Leanne Jenner, Barry Jenner, Peter Taaffe. Winner of Losers: P Hancox, P Nikitin. Thursday Scroungers started late after a few showers put the afternoon on hold for a while. In the final Brad Robe
Read more
Mackay Table Tennis Tuesday night fixtures July 11, 2023 (round 1): Division 1: Andro (George Camilleri, Robbie Richards, Barry Patterson) d Donic (Anne Sheridan, Graham Drury, Ivan Perkins) 7-4. Ivan d George -6, 4, 12, 7. Joola (Andrew McHugh, Geoff Denman, Janice Kent) d Tibhar (Vince Boeske, Steven Whiting, Tim Shehan) 9-2. Janice d Geoff -8, 12, 6, -11 7. Butterfly (Emma Widdup, Allan Edwards, Graeme Walker) d Radak (Graham Brake, Mick Ruhl, Lee Brake) 9-2. Emma d Mick 11, -9, 10, -6, 5. Di
Read more
The Whitsunday region could soon have two multi-million dollar on-land eco-tourism developments underway if the new Twin Creeks Eco Park, located at the end of Rifle Range Road in Cannon Valley, is approved by Council. This new development will join the ground-breaking Whitsunday Skyway Project which is seven years away from completion.
Read more
Korean Han-Ho H2 Consortium has partnered with the Queensland Government and Ark Energy to move forward with their proposed mega-project. The proposed mega-project will see 1.8 million tonnes of green ammonia, a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, produced per year in the Whitsundays and exported to Korea.
Read more
Hi Everyone,Wow - what a week! I feel like I have truly experienced the depth and diversity of our wonderful region over the past seven days, and it reminds me not only how lucky I am to have such a cool job, but also how lucky we all are to live in this incredible region.
Read more
The evening had been perfectly planned, meticulously organised, and beautifully decorated. The crowds were eager, sweeping past the bar to collect the complimentary drink before settling at a table for an evening of fun and laughter.The Tiny Homes Project’s newest fundraising event was another massive hit with locals and visitors alike.
Read more
A group of concerned community members living in Cannonvale have banded together to share information and fight back against a recent spate of vehicle break-ins.What is believed to be one young boy, aged around 12-years-old, has been plaguing unlocked vehicles and stealing money.
Read more
The last bulk billing doctor’s surgery in the Whitsundays changed its practices in May and will now only offer free medical services to certain patients, such as concession card holders.
Read more
Remembering a man “who would do anything for anyone”, the family and friends of Gavin Hussey, who tragically passed away in a road accident near Proserpine two weeks ago, celebrated his life at his funeral in Townsville yesterday.
Read more
The Whitsundays Songwriter Festival has announced Emmy Winner and three-time Grammy nominated American artist Toni Childs to their line-up. Now in its second year, the Whitsundays Songwriter Festival provides an opportunity for local singer-songwriters to learn from seasoned professionals in an intensive one-day workshop.
Read more