A joyride through Sandfly Creek Reserve has landed an adventurous driving enthusiast in a "sticky situation." This environmental escapade, which left extensive damage in its wake, led to the issuance of Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs).

Senior Conservation Officer Craig Dunk said a member of the public provided information to the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) about a four-wheel-drive that became bogged in the reserve.

“As part of our investigation, we went to Sandfly Creek Reserve and obtained drone footage of the area,” Mr Dunk said.

“The driver has deliberately driven through the wetland, which is a sensitive environment, and gotten bogged to the axles.

“They have then contacted a towing company for assistance, and our investigation found the company sent two retrieval vehicles into the reserve.”

Mr Dunk added that in trying to find a point to set their winches, the towing company has caused further environmental harm to the wetland.

“They were able to retrieve the four-wheel-drive, and we thank the member of the public for providing us with information,” he said.

“That information allowed us to contact the driver of the vehicle and the towing company, and both admitted to entering the reserve unlawfully.

“When we reviewed the drone footage we were dismayed because the extensive environmental damage looks like scars and could take years to recover.”

Mr Dunk said rangers routinely conducted patrols of reserves under their control and use covert cameras and drones for compliance purposes and members of the community provide another set of eyes.

“Members of the community generally love and respect natural areas and will report any illegal or suspicious activity,” he said.

“We issued the driver of the four-wheel-drive and the towing company with a $1,437 fine, and we make no apologies for that―such areas should not be treated like a four-wheel-drive playground.”

Mr Dunk said that towing companies also need to check with QPWS before they attempt to retrieve any vehicles from its lands, as they may require permits for off-road retrievals.

“Rangers and the Queensland Police Service also intercepted a man leaving Bowling Green Bay National Park in an unregistered side by side vehicle,” he added.

“The man used the national park to access a fishing spot and was issued with a $287 PIN for driving an unregistered vehicle and a $287 PIN for driving off road in the national park.”

Anyone with information about unlawful access to our protected areas, or people causing environmental damage, can report it by calling 1300 130 372.

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Photo credit: Department of Environment and Science

Under the watchful eye of Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP, the promise of new facilities at Home Hill State High School has been carefully monitored and it has now become apparent that the deadline has not been met.

Mr Last asserts that greenhouses and a shed that were promised to the school were expected to be complete by the second half of 2023, however, the time frame has lapsed and so too have the promises.

“You would think that, in an area like ours, providing the resources to educate students for the ag and horticulture industries would be a priority,” Mr Last said.  

“The reality is the project is three years behind schedule and the Minister’s most recent commitment to the project hasn’t been honoured.”

“In October last year, parents of students at the school raised the issue and I took it straight to the Minister.  

“Minister Grace’s response was that it would be ‘ready for use in the second half of 2023’ but that obviously is not going to happen.”

“The parents, students and school staff deserve answers, not more delays.”

The Burdekin economy is largely dependent on a skilled agricultural workforce with 20 per cent of the population working within the sector.

There are over 1000 sugar and produce growers in the region, with an annual output of $2.1 billion.

With these figures in mind, it is easy to see how essential facilities, like those promised to Home Hill State High, are integral to both students and the future of the broader community.

Mr Last said resources for schools were one of his highest priorities given the need to equip students for future careers, the benefit for the community and the already high workload for teachers and staff.

“Facilities like these are essential for our schools because they mean we have students who graduate with skills they can use locally that also make an impact on the community through primary industries,” he said.  

“Teachers are doing their best but, because they don’t have the resources they need, it means extra work for them and outcomes for students that aren’t as beneficial as they could be.”

“In government terms this isn’t a huge project but the benefits that it will provide for students at Home Hill High are huge.  All we are asking for is for the Minister to honour her commitment and for students in our area to get their fair share.”

“You can’t make promises and not keep them, especially promises about our kids future.”

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Home Hill High students enjoy agricultural lessons and would really benefit from new facilities. Photo supplied

By Gracie Hosie

Over the months of 2023, Burdekin has witnessed some of its local youth truly shine, and Darcy Miller is one of them.

On the night of August 24, Darcy was awarded Service Apprentice of the Year at the annual John Deere Technician Awards in Brisbane.

This achievement is nothing short of spectacular, in fact, a public statement by John Deere stated the service apprentice of the year is one of their “most competitive categories”.

More than 100 nominations were received across all categories within Australia.

In July, Darcy was chosen to represent Queensland and Northern Territory as a finalist in his category, making him one of six finalists across Australia and New Zealand for service apprentice of the year.

From a young age, Darcy knew what he was destined for: “I’ve loved tractors since I was a kid and regularly volunteered for work experience at Honeycombes before starting a school-based apprenticeship which led to full-time work,” he said.

Darcy thanks his grandfather for sharing his love for machinery with him from a young age, which led him to progress from working on mowers to cane harvesters and tractors.

As Darcy progresses towards the end of his apprenticeship, he feels a great sense of gratitude for his passions being rewarded.

“Receiving an award like this reassures me that my efforts and level of work is of a great standard…as well as reassuring that this is an industry for me,” he said.

The Burdekin region is extremely proud of Darcy’s achievements and to have him a part of not only our community but our local agricultural industry confirms that the future of our community is bright.

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Mark Barrett with Darcy Miller and Steve Wright being awarded service apprentice of the year. Photo supplied

When Ross Romeo lost a close friend to suicide in 2005, he went searching for answers, ultimately leading him to his role with Community Response to Eliminating Suicide (CORES).

“At the time, you just go into survival mode, do what you can and get through as best you can and later on, when things settled down, the questions started coming along so I went looking for some answers,” Mr Romeo said.

CORES is a community-based program relying on volunteers to educate members of the community on how to intervene when they encounter a person they believe may be suicidal.

Originating in regional Tasmania, the program held its first training session in the Burdekin in 2008 thanks to Peter Shadforth.

“I went along and found it quite easy to understand and practical,” Mr Romeo said.

“While it didn’t change what had happened, it definitely helped me understand it better.”

A cane farmer of over 30 years, Mr Romeo trained to become a facilitator which led him to his role as Queensland Coordinator and Counsellor.

He now leads the program that provides suicide prevention training and free counselling to the Burdekin and surrounding regions.

“We give people some basic skills to know what to look out for and, more importantly, what to say, what to do and where to go for help,” Mr Romeo said.

“The rural communities are open to it and want to take ownership, so the training gives them some skills to help them recognise that they can’t fix anything for anyone - in the end change has got to come from the individual - our job as a friend or community member is to create the environment for that and help people unlock the tools.”

Up until two years ago, the program was reliant on fundraising and community donations, for which Mr Romeo thanked the Burdekin community.

“While the money raised here stays here, it has helped lift our profile which then gets people wanting more information from different communities and that’s how we’ve been able to spread,” he said.

“What was started here in the Burdekin has reached a long way, so people don’t know what good they’ve done not just for this community but a lot of other communities.”

Being a community-led organisation, CORES relies on volunteers to facilitate its training sessions.

“The volunteers are everything to us,” Mr Romeo said.

“I really admire them; they give up their time simply because they want to give something back and stand in a room and talk to people about such a heavy subject.

“It’s a big job, but we’ve got a lot of terrific facilitators here in the Burdekin and other communities.”

CORES will be holding a training session in the Burdekin before the end of the year.

To learn more, visit cores.org.au/queensland or email coresqld@kentishrc.com.au.

If this story raises any issues, please visit your regular GP, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, contact CORES on 0427 455 313 or, in a crisis, present to an emergency department.

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CORES Queensland Coordinator Ross Romeo

It’s become an annual tradition that has the whole region talking, and the Halloween House is back in 2023.

Held on the corner of Edwards and Darwin Streets in Ayr, the annual Halloween Party is hosted by Leon McCormack and Jeff Lunn who have been decorating their house for Halloween for six years and for Christmas since 2007.

“Each year we do a big Christmas display, so people suggested we do Halloween as well,” said Leon.

“One year we did it and we were just astounded with the number of people who turned up.

“Before we were doing the party thing, we’d be running the lights and we’d come out and people would be here, so we’d be chatting to them and hand out candy canes, so then we thought we’d do popcorn and snow cones, and it grew from there.”

“It just gets bigger every year,” added Jeff.

“Normally we get about 200 people turn up.”

Leon and Jeff started setting up the lights display at the start of October and will run it for the week leading up to October 31.

They said they enjoy bringing the Halloween spirit to the region, particularly appreciating the effort and creativity of costumes.

“Some of the families who come with their kids, it’s amazing to see how much effort they put in,” said Jeff.

The family friendly event will feature a sausage sizzle provided by the Home Hill - Ayr Lions Club as well as free popcorn, fairy floss and snow cones.

WHAT: Halloween Party

WHEN: Tuesday, October 31 from 6:30pm

WHERE: ‘The Halloween House’, on the corner of Edwards and Darwin Streets, Ayr

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Do you enjoy creating beautiful and useful items from timber? Would you like to learn how?  

Perhaps Burdekin Woodcrafts is the place for you. They are a mixed group of people who enjoy working with their hands to produce something they can admire and find useful, from cutting boards, to jewellery boxes, to items of furniture.

They offer a warm welcome to all and have a mixed membership of all ages from twelve to early eighties, and they are an active club. Rather than sitting around talking, they are usually busily at work, cutting, planning, sanding, etc. to produce their projects, but are also very quick to offer guidance to new members in a genuine spirit of fellowship.

Their well-stocked workshop has a full range of tools from scroll saws to produce fine and delicate work, through to a “Wood Wizz” for levelling large slabs for table tops. All are available for members’ use at a moderate charge to cover running expenses.

Part of their work is providing services for community needs, creating tables, cupboards, benches, or whatever. They will also help in restoring cherished possessions where economically feasible.

Their workshop is at 30 Little Drysdale Street just before the tennis courts. Call in and see them on Wednesday or Saturday mornings from 8:00am to 12:00pm, phone them on 0409 615 559 or 0409 834 156, or find them on Facebook.

Contributed by Burdekin Woodcraft Association

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Sandy Smith cutting timber

Lance harness at the scroll saw

The Burdekin region has a rich Indigenous history and has been home to the Bindal and Juru Aboriginal people for centuries.

This week, 10 Townsville-based trainees visited the region to learn about the history and culture of its Traditional Owners as part of a traineeship with the Gudjuda Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation.

The traineeship, funded through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work Program, is a full-time, paid traineeship opportunity for First Nations participants aged between 17 and 21.

“We are training young First Nations people around land and sea management activities and exposing them to opportunities in the workplace around becoming land and sea rangers,” said Gudjuda Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation Project Manager Leah Saltner.

While in the Burdekin, the trainees interacted with Gudjuda Reference Group’s rangers across a number of projects on country.

They were also guided through the Juru Walk where Bindal Traditional Owner and Gudjuda Reference Group Ranger Eddie Smallwood guided them on a cultural tour of the native plant life.

“I just assist in teaching the younger fellas about bush tucker and what the medicines are for,” Mr Smallwood said.

“Our people have been using medicines for thousands of years so it’s good to see these young people learning about our culture.”

As the trainees learn about trees and vegetation, they’ll move onto reading the landscape and controlling cultural burning.

In the next two weeks, the trainees will then learn about turtle nesting where they will get the opportunity to camp with the rangers at Wunjunga, watch turtles come to the beach to lay their eggs and assist rangers to relocate the eggs away from predators.

They will also complete training and certification in Conservation and Ecosystem Management, scuba diving, cultural fire burning, boat and drone operation and seagrass monitoring throughout the program.

“It’s giving them work experience but it’s also creating a culturally safe space where they can learn and see whether this type of ranger work suits them or not,” said Ms Saltner.

“We’re also giving them opportunities to talk to other employers to see what fits, what they like, what they don’t like, and supporting them in whatever that career choice is going to be.”

“We want to get them career ready, so if they want to look after country, there might be opportunities for ranger jobs as not only Indigenous rangers but non-Indigenous rangers, so we’re looking at trying to skill them up to give them better opportunity in the workforce,” added Mr Smallwood.

“Our elders passed on a lot of stuff to me so it’s important for me to pass it on to our younger generation.”

Gudjuda Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation was established in 1999 to support Traditional Owner groups, becoming a not-for-profit Indigenous social enterprise with a focus on education, employment and training.

The Reference Group run a number of education and land and sea management programs, and Mr Smallwood urges everyone to get involved.

“You don’t have to be a traditional owner to learn all this, you can be a non-Indigenous person too, to work together and learn about what’s out there, what the bush tucker means to us as Indigenous people and what sorts of medicines it is for our people,” he said.

“Try and have a listen and go and have a look around your own backyard.

“Everything’s got a purpose and everything’s got something to say, so just listen to the trees.”

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A group of 10 First Nations Trainees visited the Burdekin this week

Eddie Smallwood of Gudjuda Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation guided a ‘Bush Tukka Tour’ at Juru Walk. Photo credit: Sam Gillespie

At 3.25pm on Monday 16 October, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on Jones Street, Ayr.  The driver, a 48yr old Sunshine Coast man, was issued a NTA driving with a relevant drug in his saliva and is due to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on 19 December.  

At 6.50pm on Monday 16 October, Ayr Police intercepted a vehicle on Bruce Highway, McDesme.  The driver, a 41yr old Burdekin man, was issued a NTA driving with a relevant drug in his saliva and unlicenced driving.  He is due to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on 19 December.  

At about 6.50pm on Tuesday 17 October, Ayr Police attended Sutcliffe Estate, Ayr in relation to an altercation between two persons.  As a result, a 73yr old Burdekin man was charged with one count of common assault and is due to appear in Ayr Magistrates Court on 14 November.

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In an exciting development for rugby league enthusiasts, the Burdekin Roosters have kicked off preparations for the 2024 season by unveiling their coaching team across all four grades set to compete in the RLTD.

Dan Beazley, a former captain of the Townsville Blackhawks and former Roosters player, is making a return to the club as the A Grade coach. Beazley, who decided to hang up his boots after a career that led him to France, is ready to take the helm after touring Australia in a van. Roosters president Mick Brombal had been pursuing his signature as coach since his return, and now that goal has been achieved. Beazley's wealth of experience will be invaluable for the predominantly young A Grade team.

Working alongside Beazley will be Kieran Dawes, who has already gained coaching experience this year.

The Reserve Grade will continue under the guidance of Chris Perry, who is both a long-term player and a coach. Perry's coaching prowess shone when he led the reserves to the Grand Final in 2022. Though he thought he had retired, the persistent calls from players led to his return to the coaching arena. Perry made a comeback earlier this year when he took over the Hens, proving his dedication to the Roosters.

Joining the coaching lineup is Peter Horan, a former player who once captained the A Grade in the TDRL. Horan relocated to Townsville but returned to the Burdekin this year to guide his son, coached by Ross Olsen, in the under-17 team. His passion for coaching led him to apply for the under-19 position, which he secured. Horan's experience will be a great asset to the Roosters.

The Hens will be under the tutelage of the well-known Townsville Touch coach Anita Hagarty. Hagarty brings a wealth of experience and coaching expertise to the team. She has a strong connection to the Burdekin, with her father being the former Home Hill winger and Burdekin Referee Joe Cantarella. Her son, Ethan Hagarty, was named Ayr Anzac Memorial Club A Grade Player of the Year.

To kick off the season's preparations, a meet and greet session is expected to be arranged soon, with pre-season training schedules to be finalised.

The club's Annual General Meeting (AGM) is scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 12, at 3:00 p.m. at the Ayr Anzac Club.

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Daniel Beasley. Photo credit: Mendi Blackhawks

The senior community gathered at the Ayr Showgrounds on Monday for the Seniors Health and Wellbeing Expo and Luncheon.

A day of insights, connections and inspiration, the event was aimed at promoting a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle with the assistance of local businesses and the Burdekin Shire Youth Council.

“This event provides a platform for seniors to access valuable resources and connect with essential services, ensuring their wellbeing remains a priority in our community,” Burdekin Shire Council Mayor Lyn McLaughlin said.

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Photos supplied: Burdekin Regional Council

Hello Burdekin

It’s wonderful to see a local paper back, congrats to all involved and welcome Sam to the bountiful Burdekin.

My name is John Furnell and I have been a Councillor since being elected in 2020. Having grown up in Sydney where I pursued a teaching degree after completing school, it was a visit to South Molle Island in 1984 with two friends from college that ultimately prompted my relocation to North Queensland. Two years of island life changed in 1986 with a transition to the Burdekin with Lisa Perry and our first business venture “LJs Pizza”. From there Lisa went on to another business venture with sister-in-law Kay Perry in “Fabrics n Décor”.

My journey turned back to the health field by completing my Enrolled Nursing at Ayr Hospital, Registered Nurse training at the old Townsville General Hospital and into the Queensland Ambulance Service for the next twenty years at Ayr Station. During this time I was able to complete a Nursing Degree and Masters in Health Science (majoring in Health Promotion). It was also a chance to return to the Army Reserve achieving the Rank of Captain.  

A medical challenge in 2013 led to three years of rehabilitation and workplace testing before being medically discharged from Queensland Ambulance Service and a reassessment of my future. I was fortunate to be able to return to nursing at Ayr Hospital and continue involvement with our current business, ‘Burdekin Swim School’ led by Lisa Furnell, now nudging 30 years teaching Burdekin children to swim. Lisa is one of the hardest workers I’ve come across, next to my mother Val who raised five children on her own after the death of my father Douglas when I was eight and Lisa’s parents Norm and Maureen Perry.    

We have three adult children, Ryan, Sarah and Joshua who all lived away but have now moved back to the Burdekin. Along with their partners, Jamie, Matt and Brittany they have bought houses and set down roots in the Burdekin. We are now blessed with five grandchildren, Ali 2, Milla 2, Olly 1, Abby 1 and newborn Summer.

This has given me a greater impetus to work towards making Burdekin the best it can be and work towards a liveability we can all be proud of. I find Council a positive way to contribute to the betterment of the Burdekin. My Council areas are the Burdekin Community Association, Burdekin Neighbourhood Centre, Burdekin Local Disaster Management Group, Community and Cultural Development Advisory Group, Local Authority Waste Management Advisory Committee, North Queensland Resource Recovery Group and Townsville Area Palliative Care Group. Along with my personal interest organisations Ayr SLSC, Burdekin Men’s Shed, Burdekin Youth Council, Friends of the Theatre and the Home Hill Choral Society to name a few, I have the opportunity to interact with many ‘Burdekinites’ of all ages.

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Mayor Lyn McLaughlin

Council's Library facilities in Ayr and Home Hill are vibrant hubs for learning and engagement.

The libraries go beyond being places to read books; they offer diverse programs for all ages and interests, focusing on breaking down barriers to access.

The libraries in the Burdekin offer a range of programs to enhance digital literacy and provide crucial computer skills to navigate the digital world effectively.

The First Five Forever program dedicated to children, focuses on early literacy and utilises interactive storytelling, creative play and age-appropriate resources to instil a love for reading and learning in young minds, building a strong foundation for their educational journey.

The Burdekin Library offers robotics and coding courses suitable for all age groups to equip residents with essential skills needed in today's digital era, allowing them to engage with technology in a meaningful and productive manner.

Not forgetting the seniors in the community, the libraries have tailored programs to ensure they remain connected, engaged, and empowered in their later years. The senior programs cater to their unique needs and provide opportunities for continued learning and social interaction.

In the past year, the library facilities have welcomed over 1,500 guests and visitors and have delivered hundreds of sessions, from book launches to board games, school holiday programs and more.

Discover what your library has to offer today — beyond books lie hubs of learning and growth.

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By Gracie Hosie

It’s been 10 whole months since I’ve embarked on my biggest life adventure of moving to Brisbane, and since leaving the Burdekin I’ve been faced with more challenges and opportunities than I expected.

For generations, my family has been lucky enough to call Burdekin home, and it truly makes me happy to represent the region in all that I do, even if that is 1,200km away. Since finishing up my traineeship at the Burdekin Library and concluding my role as Youth Mayor I have commenced my first year of studies in Media and Communications at Queensland University of Technology. Within my first semester, I successfully secured a four-month internship with community radio station 4ZZZ and an employment position with QUT as a Student Ambassador, both positions which heavily utilised my experience in youth council and love for the community. Most recently, I have been selected to volunteer at the Brisbane International Film Festival which I’m thrilled to experience in the coming days as well as gaining work experience with Burdekin Life.

Amongst my studies at QUT, I have been offered several opportunities through assignments to showcase entrepreneurial skills, pitching business ideas to Brisbane based businesses, ranging from social media campaigns, and business solutions to marketing proposals all opportunities that have allowed me to successfully network in the industry.

Since completing my internship at 4ZZZ I have become a casual volunteer on air, mainly working graveyard shifts – 2:00am to 6:00am - as well as creating my own online digital radio show, which is currently in the works.

As the year progresses and my first year comes to a close, I am beyond ecstatic to see what 2024 has to offer. With the opportunities I have secured I hope to inspire others within our region who are hesitant to embark on such a big change.

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Gracie at QUT Kelvin Grove. Photo supplied

Whether you are a homeowner looking for a reliable electrician or a large commercial premises looking for dependable maintenance, NQ Electrical can offer you great service, that will also get you on-track for an energy efficient future.

“We’ve noticed that energy efficiency is slowly becoming a big part of people’s lives,” said NQ Electrical owner, Michael Saunders.

“I’m big on sustainability and helping people reduce their carbon footprint – they also save a lot of money for a small outlay.”

Having opened its doors 10 years ago, NQ Electrical has grown and expanded over the decade to now incorporate a team of 14 qualified staff who provide a flexible workforce that travel between Townsville and Mackay.

With a reliable and timely service, NQ Electrical are always professional and ready to deliver high standards of service, no matter your needs.

“We understand the importance of getting your electrical work done on time, and our team is committed to meeting all deadlines,” said Michael.

“Whether you need installation, repair, or maintenance services, we have the expertise to get the job done efficiently and effectively.

“Our focus on timely service delivery sets us apart in the industry, and we take pride in exceeding our commitment to on-time service delivery.”

With his invaluable team at the heart of the business, NQ Electricals’ core values are centred around people and customer service.

A professional initial phone call will establish your needs, and this will be backed up with a timely quote and efficient delivery.

This level of service has garnered a sterling reputation and created many long-term relationships where NQ Electrical is considered the contractor of choice for many national companies.

Bring this five-star service to your door in the Burdekin by giving Michael and the team a call today.

Top Tips

For A Sustainable Future

• Go Electric – remove all gas including hot water and hot plates.

• Install Solar – solar panels will soon generate a return in investment.

• LED Lighting – upgrade all your lighting to energy efficient LED lightbulbs.

• Clean Fuel – buy and electric car and completely remove your fuel bill.

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The future direction of Burdekin TAFE was a central point of discussion this week when interested parties met to open a conversation about a 10-year TAFE infrastructure Strategy.

Topics of conversation included the challenges currently existing within the campus facilities, opportunities for improvement, how the facilities meet the needs of local industry and what impact TAFE has on the local community.

The meeting, however, was only attended by two local business representatives and neither of the Chamber of Commerce were invited, a situation that frustrated Member for Burdekin, Dale Last MP.

“The government has tasked a Brisbane-based consultancy firm with identifying the community’s priorities when it comes to TAFE, but the community hasn’t been invited,” he said.  

“The invite list was provided by a Minister’s office and that should have alarm bells ringing in the community.”

Mr Last asserts that the Home Hill Chamber of Commerce has been calling for better utilisation of the facility for the benefit of students and the community.  

“The fact that the local Chamber of Commerce wasn’t invited is an absolute insult,” he said.

“The meeting was on Wednesday and it was only Monday afternoon that I got the chance to nominate some additional attendees.  I was told that any additional invitees would have to be approved by the Minister’s office, making it virtually impossible.”

Mr Last said the restricted invite list and short notice meant the opportunities to revitalise the facility would almost undoubtedly be missed despite the best efforts of attendees.

“I know that the people who do attend will do their best, but you can’t honestly expect such a small group of representatives to do this alone,” he said.  

“What you need is a broad range of input from businesses, representative groups, teachers, past students, and potential students.

“I’m calling on the Minister to schedule additional face to face consultation and to allow people and groups to nominate to attend so that we get the best outcome.  

“If the Minister refuses to do that we know that the decisions have already been made and that the consultation process is nothing but a smoke screen.”

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Burdekin TAFE offers a range of engineering courses specialising in mechanical trades, fitting and turning, boiler-making, and metal fabrication. Photo supplied

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