Steeped in history and carved with the workmanship of generations, BQC Quarries has provided the stone and the sand that has helped sculpt the landscape of our community. Supplying materials for the construction of many local landmarks, from bridges to schools, highways and subdivisions, it is easy to see how this powerhouse local business is still growing after 50 years. Constantly innovating and setting new benchmarks for the region, this forward-thinking enterprise has ensured the Burdekin region is built with best and supplied by the best.
The company began in 1974 when Ray Wall, who had been operating a sand and trucking business in Ayr, saw the opportunity to purchase a quarry on the banks of the Burdekin River at Mona Park near Clare.  
Ray was supplying his clients from this quarry and was aware that the operation needed much improvement to be able to keep up to the districts demands.  
He approached Frank Fahey to help put together some investors to purchase the business. Frank was already involved with a syndicate of local farmers and they, along with a local builder, Marco Populin, were quickly able to form a partnership (trading as “Burdekin Quarrying Company”) to fund the purchase from the Heuir family.
On the “Rocks Quarry” site there were two houses in poor repair and a shed full of discarded parts and a static compressor. Three-inch steel air lines were laid from the shed to the blast face to power a wagon drill that was all moved about by hand.
The Powder Monkey and staff (one was Ray’s brother Keith) came with the quarry. Crushing gear consisted of a small white metal jaw and screen plant. The crusher was fed with a small tip truck and the crusher operator had to pull each rock by hand into the jaw with a steel hook. There were a couple of loaders on site but in poor repair.
A larger crushing plant was immediately ordered. Marco Populin constructed the footings and the concrete abutment that was required to allow dump trucks to feed the rock directly into the new plant and all operations were to be controlled from an electrical enclosure connected to mains power.
Large front-end Loaders were hard to get and whilst waiting for a CAT 950 and 966 to arrive in Australia, they had to make do with the only large machine we could lay our hands on. It was a four cubic metre Moore LD8 Scoopmobile.
A compressor and Air Track was purchased to enable blasting to keep pace with the new 160 ton per hour plant.
Further purchases included a 13-ton Articulated Volvo Dump Truck, D7 Dozer, and a Cat 12E Grader. An industrial shed, office and ablution block also needed to be built.
Hydraulic excavators were later introduced into the quarry pit which was a first in the industry. The normal practice for loading operations in a hard rock quarry, was with front end loaders or face shovels.
The first excavator was a 30 ton Kato backhoe type machine which was able to sort and load rock at the blast face.
Part of the quarry purchase from Heuir also included a sales permit at Stokes Range Quarry on Rifle Range upriver Home Hill. This quarry had a double toggle jaw crusher with home-made track feeder and a Hazemag impact crusher, none of which was operating at the time.
This quarry has excellent quality rock suitable for high quality Screenings and was used for the concrete in the Burdekin River Bridge. There was limited demand from this quarry at the time, and it was to be 1984 before any further development was continued at this quarry.
At the start sales were sporadic in the district and it was the demand for rock to repair riverbanks after flooding in 1974 and the construction of the Burdekin Weir at Clare which kick started the struggling business. The Burdekin River Irrigation Scheme continued the demand for construction material from the Rocks Quarry but provided little work for Stokes Range.

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1974
Ray Wall who was then operating a sand and trucking business in Ayr, saw the opportunity to purchase a quarry on the banks of the Burdekin River at Mona Park near Clare.  

1977
In 1977 John Fahey, who had a background in Civil Engineering, joined the Business full time which enabled the business to expand into civil construction such as subdivisions and infrastructure work including road and rail projects.

1984
Burdekin Concrete was established at Airdmilan Road to secure outlet of quarry product. At that time the two existing nationally operated readymix plants (Pioneer Concrete and Humes) were sourcing supply from each other using local sand and Townsville Quarry Product.
Within a very short time frame of 7 weeks, BQC Group were able to construct and commission a concrete plant on industrial land they already owned. Two agitator bowls fitted to owner driver trucks were set up to service their first customers.
Ron Sullivan was the first Plant Manager and with the support of loyal local builders the business was able to survive several years of fierce price competition even though we were not a national company with affiliations to Cement manufacturers like our competitors were.
It was quite some time before we were even allowed to have a cement account and had to purchase our cement through a third party until we could prove to North Qld Cement (the only supplier) that we were here to stay.
During the first 10 years various members and their families left the original syndicate of investors and finally coming down to just 3 families left in the business. These were Wall, Fahey and Populin.

1988
BQC Group ceased being involved in construction projects and concentrated on just its quarry and concrete operations as suppliers only and was able to consolidate core operations.
It was around this time that they purchased and developed operations at Mt Kelly mainly as a supplement to Rocks Quarry operations but also able to supply quality fill for local roadworks projects.

1994
West Euri suffered a major setback when an arsonist set fire to the weighbridge, three machines and the hay shed. Artie (the Quarry Manager at the time) lost personal items including his tractor and his car.  It was devastating for all at the time.

1998
The construction of the first truly mobile pugmill commenced. After several modifications this machine proved capable of handling over 300 t/h.
Tylden in Melbourne was able to modify a transportable cement silo fitted with a rotary valve, variable speed gear box all mounted on weigh cells, so that they were able to accurately control cement feed into the new pugmill.
The final set up which now included a large generator, compressor and operators’ cabin was not very mobile, but this prototype has served the team well to this day. A few years later we were able to duplicate this setup at the Bowen Quarry.

2000
Saw the retirement of Ray Wall and his wife from the BQC Group partnership and Ross & Gay Lewis took up a share in the quarrying operations as a supplement to their transport and sand operations. Both quarry and concrete operations continued to grow over the following years and equipment purchases changed to larger and more mobile machines, more able to cope with ever increasing product demands and changing specifications.

2000 onwards
Over time since 2000 BQC Group has supplied some major projects including:
Coalstream – Collinsville (approx. 250,000 tonne) which had a heavy hand in developing West Euri Quarry
Many Bruce Highway projects including West Barratta, Didgeridoo, Yellow Gin Creek crossing and the BSES overpass and sandy corner. All of these included concrete supply as well.

2017
John Fahey’s son, Lawrence, was introduced to the business and he brought with him the skills to help manage the complex project requirements associated with the large supply contracts that were becoming more common.
The largest train of mobile crushing equipment was also purchased this year which is now known as the Red Devil. Similar machinery has since been introduced at West Euri Quarry.

2018
BQC Group was able to develop Bahr’s pit in Giru to supply large amounts of select fill for the Haughton Floodplain Project on the Bruce Highway as well as supplying the high spec material from Rocks Quarry.  At the time this was the largest supply contract they had ever undertaken, and included establishment of a Foam Bitumen Plant in the quarry which was a first for North Queensland, with regards to plant mixed Foam Bitumen. The results achieved with respect to the Foam Bitumen strength were the highest ever seen in Australia and forced TMR to rewrite the spec to put conditions on the mix design to limit the strengths achieved. They were at the time chasing a flexible pavement.

2020
The business upgraded the batchplant to automatic batching software.

2022
The company installed the Chilled Water system at the batchplant which reduced the quantity of ice required in high spec concrete but also put the plant on par with any metropolitan batchplant.

2022
BQC Group took over Ross & Gay Lewis’s sand allocations in the Burdekin River as part of their retirement strategy. This would ensure the business always had access to sand supply and the purchase was timely as large amounts of sand was required for upcoming pipeline projects. In 2023 the operation moved across to the Home Hill side to gain access to more resource in preparation for the upcoming Haughton Pipeline project.

2024
BQC Quarries celebrates 50 years in business, Burdekin Concrete celebrates 40 years and BQC Sands marks 2 years. 

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ItaloWorld Inc. stands as a dedicated not-for-profit organisation committed to the preservation and promotion of Italian culture in all its facets – past, present and future.

The organisation has proposed the publishment of a book like no other, which will encompass 107 recipes sourced from Italian grandmothers (nonne) living in the Northern Territory and Queensland.

“We are excited to announce a project which aims to celebrate and maintain traditional Italian recipes still in use in our corner of the world,” shared Cofounder of ItaloWorld Inc. Armando Cristofori.

“The initiative aims to highlight the rich culinary heritage of Italy and ensure its preservation for future Australian generations.”

Residents of the Burdekin community have been invited to be part of the publishment, with Italian seniors encouraged to contribute their cherished traditional recipes, to celebrate the culinary heritage of the region.

Submissions can be made by emailing Armando at Armando.Cristofori@icloud.com, and the shortlist of the submission finalists will be released in September of this year, with the official publishment date set for 9 April 2025.

The initiative hopes to both honour and sustain Italian cultural traditions in Queensland and the Northern Territory and ultimately create a meaningful and lasting tribute to the region’s shared Italo-Australian heritage.

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Rehoming fee: $195
DOB: 9/04/2022
Sex: Female
Breed: Domestic Short Hair
Kid friendly: Yes
Dog Friendly: Slowly introduce
Other cats: No
Indoors/Outdoors: Indoors

Bubbles has mastered the art of being the perfect companion with her
mesmerising black fur and gorgeous amber eyes you won’t be able to resist snuggling up to her.

Her sleek coat and striking features make heads turn wherever she goes, but it's her charming personality that truly steals hearts.

Whether it’s curling up on your lap for a cozy nap or rubbing against your legs to say hello, Bubbles is always ready to shower you with love and purrs.

Bubbles enjoys scaling the tallest cat trees to chasing after feather toys, she embraces life with gusto and curiosity.

Bubbles is available for adoption and is desexed, microchipped, up to date vaccines and flea/tick/worm treated.

To meet Bubbles please fill out an animal inquiry form at: https://www.angelpawsinc.com.au/forms.html.

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Join the upcoming free informative morning tea at Gudjura Deck Cafe on Thursday July 25th, at 10am to discover the ins and outs of lymphoedema - a condition affecting individuals, particularly women, navigating breast cancer and its aftermath.

Hosted by The Restore Clinic, this event aims to illuminate the pivotal role of physiotherapy across the spectrum of cancer care:

What is lymphoedema? Lymphoedema is described as the accumulation of excessive amounts of interstitial fluid in the tissues which results in swelling and other associated symptoms in one or more regions of the body. Lymphoedema occurs when the body’s lymphatic system is not working properly, meaning the excess fluid from your limbs is not draining.

Stages and Symptoms: From latent (Stage 0) to advanced (Stage III), lymphoedema presents symptoms like limb heaviness, tightness and skin changes. Physiotherapy treatments encompass compression therapy, manual lymphatic drainage and low-level laser therapy to effectively manage symptoms.

Early Detection and Diagnosis of Lymphoedema: Utilising advanced technology like the SOZO Bioimpedance Spectroscopy (BIS) device, The Restore Clinic pioneers’ early detection of lymphoedema. This non-invasive tool accurately measures fluid volumes, enabling proactive management strategies that prevent progression and improve outcomes.

Recovery from Surgery: Physiotherapists specialise in addressing post-surgical challenges such as cording or axillary web syndrome, scar tissue management, movement restrictions, and fatigue. These interventions are crucial for optimising recovery and restoring mobility.

Exercise and Rehabilitation: Tailored exercise programs designed by physiotherapists enhance movement, strength and endurance while alleviating pain, thereby improving overall quality of life and mitigating cancer-related fatigue.

This morning tea offers a nurturing environment for individuals seeking information on lymphoedema prevention, early symptom recognition and comprehensive treatment options.

For further details or to RSVP, please contact (07) 4722 3880.

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What: FREE Lymphoedema Information Morning
When: Thursday 10am, July 25
Where: Gudjura Deck Cafe, Plantation Park, Ayr

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The Burdekin PCYC has welcomed their new intake of students for their Get Set for Work 10-week program which commenced on Monday 8 July.

The program allows its students to engage with accredited training in the Certificate II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways, resume writing, cover letter preparation, online First Aid training, team building activities and visiting local history sites and businesses around the district.

A successful start, last week saw the students undertake online training through TEAMS meetings with the Aurora Training Institute. The group also travelled to Charlies Hill to learn a history of the World War II site and paid a visit to Wunjunga to gain knowledge on the region’s unique eco system and environment.

These educational activities will continue over the coming weeks, and the students will also complete job applications as part of the program.

All the students have shown great initiative through beginning the program, and are working towards employment opportunities in their chosen fields, or to simply get a start by building confidence, and skills for their working journey.

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The students engaged with online training with the Aurora Training Institute.
An educational adventure, the students travelled to Wunjunga last week for the Burdekin PCYC’s Get Set for Work Program.

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Selling a home can be a daunting task, but with careful planning and execution, you can navigate the process smoothly and achieve a successful sale. Whether you're a first-time seller or have sold homes before, these tips will help you prepare your home, attract potential buyers, and negotiate the best deal.

   1. Prepare your Home for Sale
Before listing your home, invest time and effort in making it look its best:
   • Declutter and Depersonalize: Remove personal items and excess clutter to help potential buyers envision themselves in the space.
   • Clean Thoroughly: Deep clean every room, including carpets, windows, and appliances. A clean home creates a positive impression.
   • Make Repairs: Fix any visible issues like leaky faucets, cracked tiles, or peeling paint. Small repairs can make a big difference in buyer perception.

   2. Set the Right Price
Pricing your home correctly is critical for attracting buyers:
   • Research Comparable Properties: Look at recent sales of similar homes in your area to gauge the market value.
   • Consider Market Conditions: Assess whether it's a buyer's or seller's market, as this can impact pricing strategy.
   • Consult with a Real Estate Agent: An experienced agent can provide a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help you set a competitive price.

   3. Market Effectively
Effective marketing increases visibility and attracts potential buyers:
   • Professional Photography: High-quality photos highlight your home's best features and attract more online views.
   • Online Listings: Utilize multiple online platforms and social media to reach a broad audience.
   • Open Houses and Showings: Make your home accessible for showings and consider hosting open houses to generate interest.

   4. Highlight Key Selling Points
Showcase what makes your home unique and desirable:
   • Curb Appeal: Enhance the exterior with landscaping, a fresh coat of paint, or minor repairs.
   • Interior Appeal: Highlight features like updated kitchens, spacious closets, or energy-efficient appliances.
   • Highlight Neighbourhood Benefits: Mention nearby amenities such as schools, parks, shopping centres, and transportation options.

   5. Be Flexible and Responsive
Stay adaptable throughout the selling process:
   • Accommodate Showings: Be flexible with showing times to accommodate potential buyers' schedules.
   • Respond Promptly: Address inquiries and offers promptly to demonstrate your commitment to selling.

   6. Negotiate Wisley
Navigating negotiations requires patience and strategy
   • Review Offers Carefully: Consider not only the price but also contingencies and closing timelines.
   • Counteroffers: Be prepared to negotiate terms that are favourable to both parties.
   • Consider All Offers: Evaluate each offer objectively before making a decision.

   7. Prepare for Closing
Once you’ve accepted an offer, prepare for the final steps:
   • Coordinate with Professionals: Work closely with your real estate agent, attorney, and lender to ensure a smooth closing process.
   • Address Inspection Findings: Address any issues identified during the home inspection promptly.
   • Final Walk-Through: Ensure the buyer's final walk-through goes smoothly by having the home in the agreed-upon condition.

Selling your home involves careful planning, preparation, and effective execution. By following these tips, you can maximize your chances of a successful sale while minimizing stress. Remember, each home sale is unique, so adapt these strategies to suit your specific circumstances and market conditions. With the right approach, you can confidently navigate the selling process and achieve your desired outcome.

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Hi everyone, I hope you have all had a great week! It’s been lovely hearing from you all, and please feel free to reach out to me to just say hi or share your stories with me – my email is chelsea@lifepublishinggroup.com!

With university resuming for Trimester 2 this week, I’ve been busily working away already on my final few courses before I graduate from my Bachelor of Communications and Journalism degree later this year! It’s all flown by and I’m so excited!

Along with university resuming, this week was origin week! My friends and I watched the game on Caxton Street, like we have the past Brisbane Origin games, as the atmosphere never disappoints no matter the results of the game. My grandparents are actually visiting Brisbane at the moment too and went to the game themselves. It’s always fun to have my family and friends visit me, and to catch up with them here and there while they’re on “holiday” in the city I’ve called home for almost 3 years!

My busy week has not stopped yet as it’s my 21st birthday on Saturday! I’m calling this one my “Brisbane birthday”, and then I’ll be popping back at the start of August for a weekend with my family to have my “Ayr birthday”! I’m excited to visit everyone again, especially to see my 2 dogs, Holly and Minus! My Mum always tries to put them on Facetime to me but it’s not always a successful activity!

I hope you all enjoy the read! Chat soon.

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In a heartwarming display of compassion and community spirit, Year 7 students at Burdekin Catholic High School came together to make a significant contribution to childhood cancer support.

Through their dedicated efforts, they raised an impressive $953.50, demonstrating the power of unity and generosity among the school's youngest members.

This fundraising initiative was further bolstered by a generous donation of $1,000 from Queensland Country Bank in 2023, underscoring the local community's commitment to supporting vital causes.

The funds raised, along with the bank's contribution, have been directed towards the 2024 Townsville to Cairns Bike Ride (TCBR). The TCBR will commence on Thursday 25 July with nine Burdekin locals set to ride, raising awareness and funds for childhood cancer research and support services.

The school extends its gratitude to the Year 7 families for their support, Queensland Country Bank for their generous donation, and Burdekin Distributors for their contribution of bags for the lolly fundraising efforts.

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As the spotlight turns to how the state government plans to roll out future funding for services and projects across Queensland, Member for Burdekin Dale Last has called for a commitment of transparency as Budget Estimates approaches.
Mr Last said with allegations already swirling that one state government department had employed and since ceased separate media training ahead of Estimates proceedings, Queenslanders deserved assurances the parliamentary process of Budget Estimates would be held with the utmost integrity.
“The Budget Estimates process is about ensuring that revenue and taxpayer funds paid by Queenslanders funds state government projects efficiently and supports our front-line services according to the needs of the communities they serve,” Mr Last said.
“We know that in rural and regional Queensland we have to fight tooth and nail for every cent of funding we need to keep our roads, health services, schools and emergency services at a standard where they can effectively service their communities and that is why Budget Estimates is so important to me.”
“When we look at the Burdekin we already know we have seen our full-time firefighters on call 24/7 due to a reduction in the number of auxiliary firefighters and we as a community have called for additional plain clothes police officers and a CT scanner at our local hospital to reduce pressure on our local ambulance services.”
“These are the sorts of issues that ministers and their director generals need to answer for during Budget Estimates because when it comes to our front-line services in particular, quite often the price paid is someone’s life.”
Mr Last said the looming state election in October was all the more reason for ministers to be transparent during Estimates hearings.
“People in rural and regional Queensland deserve to know that they aren’t going to go without a full-time doctor at their hospital or that their front-line services aren’t being left understaffed and fatigued because this state government are more focused on sandbagging their jobs ahead of the state election.”
“If this state government is focused on keeping people safe, it will ensure that every one of its Ministers answers Estimates questions to the best of their ability.”
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Opinion Piece By Member For Burdekin Dale Last.

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Burdekin Shire Council is calling on residents to review and provide feedback on the newly developed Draft Flying-Fox Roost Management Plan.

After extensive collaboration with community members, conservationists, and wildlife experts, the Council has crafted a comprehensive plan aimed at managing flying-fox populations in urban roost areas. This critical document is open for public review until 31 July, 2024.
 
Acknowledging the impact flying-foxes can have on residents, Cr Dalle Cort assured that the plan adheres to relevant legislation and incorporates feedback gathered through both in-person and online consultations.

“Council is committed to implementing management actions that minimise the impact on the community whilst also encouraging coexistence,” added Cr Dalle Cort.
 
The Council looks forward to active community participation in ensuring the sustainable coexistence of flying-foxes within the Burdekin community.

A copy of the draft plan is available online at https://bit.ly/Flying-Fox-Management-Plan and printed copies are available at the Ayr Library, Home Hill Library and Council Chambers. 

Feedback can be emailed to enquiries@burdekin.qld.gov.au or post to 145 Young Street Ayr Qld 4807 or PO Box 974 by Wednesday 31 July 2024.

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The Vietnam Veterans Australia Burdekin Subbranch have secured a significant boost for their Deep Creek Retreat thanks to a successful Bendigo Bank Community Grant application.

Situated approximately 45km upstream along the Burdekin River, the retreat spans 7 hectares of leased land from the Burdekin Shire Council.

Established to provide a tranquil haven for veterans and their families, the retreat features essential amenities such as caravan and camping facilities, showers, septic toilets, camping and kitchen facilities, sheds, and covered BBQ shelters. However, maintaining the grounds has become increasingly challenging due to invasive weeds like bindi-eyes and nut grass, exacerbated by feral pigs that cause extensive damage, especially around the Cenotaph.

The $5360.75 grant from Bendigo Bank Community Bank Ayr has enabled the veterans to purchase essential spraying equipment and chemicals. This investment is crucial for implementing a comprehensive spraying program aimed at controlling the invasive plants and minimising damage caused by feral pigs. Previously reliant on manual spraying, which proved insufficient given the retreat's size, the veterans can now efficiently cover the entire area with a newly acquired 100-litre trailing spray tank and necessary personal protective equipment.

Since acquiring the leased land in 2011, the Burdekin Subbranch of the Australian Vietnam Veterans Association Inc. has been dedicated to enhancing the welfare and wellbeing of veterans and their families. They host a range of activities and services, including welfare support, pension advocacy, and an annual Memorial Service commemorating the Battle of Long Tan. This service invites community members to honour fallen Australian Defence Force members who have served in conflicts worldwide.

The retreat also serves as a hub for community engagement, hosting monthly meetings and fundraising events like the Plantation Park markets, held every third Sunday. These events not only raise funds but also foster community spirit, offering stallholder sites and a sausage sizzle BBQ for attendees.

The impact of the Bendigo Bank Community Grant extends far beyond financial assistance; it represents a vital partnership in preserving the Deep Creek Retreat as a sanctuary for reflection, community, and support for those who have served our country.

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The Vietnam Veterans Australia Burdekin Subbranch have secured a significant boost for their Deep Creek Retreat. Photo supplied

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Opinion Piece

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Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox said Labor’s new mandatory emissions reporting is yet another attack on Australian farmers and will impose costly regulatory burdens.
 
“In a cost-of-living crisis, this reckless policy making is going to see an added cost of $2.3 billion to farmers, which will ultimately increase the cost of fresh food and produce nationally, and will be passed onto consumers at the checkout,” Mr Willcox said.
 
Under the new reporting requirements, farmers and businesses will have to report their indirect greenhouse gas emissions right along their supply chain that aren’t being generated by the company directly.
 
Mr Willcox explained that large reporting entities could pass their risk down through the supply chain, with banks factoring in farmer’s emissions data into lending decisions, or supermarkets could require farmers to report their emissions, even though farmers don’t have the science to do so.
 
“There are currently no standardised methods for calculating land and livestock emissions in Australia, plus there are no real alternatives available for lines used in their operations, such as fertiliser and diesel that have the same value or impact,” he said.
 
“This is yet another demonstration of the Government’s contempt for farmers and is punishing these hard-working Aussies, despite our farming industry already having some of the best land management practices in the world.”
 
Mr Willcox said the reporting requirements are going to impose significant compliance costs with accounting and recording on-farm emissions.

“And with these increase costs, we will see them being passed on at the checkout, making the cost-of-living and cost-of-food crisis worse for our families,” he added.
 
“Our Aussie farmers are already drowning in green and red tape, and this will add even more complexity to that and unfairly increases the burden on our farming industry.
 
“This policy has the potential to push some farmers and small businesses out of business altogether, and there are legitimate concerns about how this data will be used, who it will be shared with, or if some industry groups might be discriminated against.
 
“In Australia, we can support our farmers and fulfill our international climate commitments at the same time, without creating reckless and harmful policies such as this.”

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Dear Editor,

Burdekin LNP member, Dale Last, highlights a section of the Bruce Highway in his electorate that has had a-high number of fatalities over a 10-year period.

Dale is quick to point out that the Federal ALP, who have responsibility for Main Roads, have allocated monies to upgrades of the highway but there have has been nothing implemented.

However, Dale, in his 10-year time frame, has failed to say the Federal LNP was responsible for 8 of the 10 years highlighted and for a couple of years prior to that time.
Dale is quite vocal to highlight the failing of the ALP in government but in the years of the LNP in government there was not a sound from Dale, and he has been in the Burdekin seat for an extended period.

We all understand the trauma of a road fatality and the need to have up-grades to ensure safe travelling and the time frame and costs for the required upgrade will require lots of time and different Federal Governments. Hopefully the focus of one is the same as the other. Time will tell.

Dale may even retain the seat so hopefully he keeps up his vocal crusade to fix the “Bruce”.

T.P. Chandler.

Response From Member For Burdekin Dale Last

From the outset it is important to note that responsibility for the Bruce Highway is shared between the federal and state governments. “Main Roads”, as Mr Chandler refers to, is solely a state government department.

Until recently, federal governments were responsible for 80% of the cost of maintenance and upgrades of the Bruce Highway.  Well, they were until Albo decided to reduce the amount contributed by the federal government.

Other than for major projects, such as the Haughton Floodplain Project for example, the money is simply handed to the states who are left to make the decisions about where it is spent and when.

The system is far from perfect but to say that a federal government has control over how the funding is spent is simply incorrect.

The perfect example of the current state government’s attitude towards the Bruce Highway is the recent announcement of a second bridge to Bribie Island.  Perhaps Mr Chandler would like to justify the fact that the cost of an 800m bridge in the South East will be more than 3 years of funding for the entire length of the Bruce Highway.

I sincerely agree with Mr Chandler that we need upgrades for safety and efficiency and that those upgrades are not cheap and, realistically, won’t happen overnight.  At the same time I can assure Mr Chandler, and your readers, that I will continue to fight for those upgrades regardless of who is in power.

Yours sincerely,
Dale Last MP, Member for Burdekin

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Burdekin Life has written on Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox’s support for the LNP Opposition Leader Peter Dutton nuclear plan for the Australian nation.

The LNP are also seeking net zero emissions by the year 2050 and their proposal is supposed to support this goal. The most reliable date available at this time suggests that nuclear power is a long-term proposal, and Australians would not see any benefit from nuclear power until at least 2040. It’s too late to save Australia from global warming as the critical date is 2035 when extreme damage will occur.

The present Dutton plan is in direct opposition to the plan LNP Prime Minister John Howard put in place when he and his government introduced the plan to not be a nuclear nation. Even a number of the Opposition Ministers themselves are opposed to the nuclear plan and that is without mentioning State Opposition Leader David Crisafulli’s refusal to lead the State Opposition down that path.

The cost must also be a concern 4 to 6 times that of solar and wind generation. Convincing Australians might be hard. Remember the LNP call during the Voice referendum IF YOU DON’T KNOW VOTE NO.
 
Yours,
T.P. Chandler

Response by Federal Member For Dawson Andrew Willcox

It is important for Australia to have base load power that is affordable, reliable, and available 24/7. 

Renewables simply do not provide this. So, if coal and gas are phased out, no emission nuclear technology is the only option. 

Nuclear generators can be fitted in the same locations as existing coal fired power stations. This will alleviate the need for the extra 28,000kms of poles and wires, and stop the massive destruction of good quality agricultural land and virgin native vegetation for solar panels and wind turbines. 

Labor’s reckless renewables only plan is forecast to cost between $1.2 and $1.5 trillion. Solar panels only last between 10 & 15 years, wind turbines, 15 to 20 years, not to mention neither are recyclable. Whereas nuclear technology has a lifespan of 80 plus years which I’m confident will be more cost effective in the longer term.  

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Debbie Searle and a group of dedicated friends orchestrated a delightful event at the Ayr Golf Club on 30 June. Their efforts were to host a Biggest Morning Tea, an annual fundraiser that combines the simple pleasures of tea and treats with the noble cause of supporting Cancer Research.

Approximately 50 enthusiastic ladies gathered at the Ayr Golf Club to partake in a morning filled with camaraderie and goodwill. Among the highlights of the event was a captivating fashion parade featuring the latest collections from Glen Dell Boutique. Attendees enjoyed a delightful array of homemade delicacies, all savoured over warm cups of tea.

The morning proved not only enjoyable but immensely successful as well, with an impressive $2,600 raised for Cancer Research. The success of such an event would not have been possible without the generosity and support of the community. Special thanks and gratitude were extended towards the Ayr Golf Club, Delta Dry Cleaners, Dominique’s, Maria Porters Bakehouse, Shannon Peckham from Eyecare plus Optometrist, Rachael Southern, Kay York, Gudjuda Cafe, Bev Andrew’s and Di Wheadon, whose donations and support were instrumental in making the event a resounding triumph.

"A fabulous morning was had by all,” shared the Ayr Golf Club.

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