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A Free Picnic To Say Thank You! February 7, 2011 - By now you're probably feeling a bit of "flood exhaustion" ... if so, the people behind the popular Boots'n'Bulldust Festival in Nanango are aiming to help you "recover" from all the recent events. In conjunction with Kingaroy Rotary and the South Burnett Regional Council, the Boots'n'Bulldust volunteers have organised free Flood Recovery Picnics which will be held in Nanango and Kingaroy later this month. This will be an opportunity to thank emergency services teams and council staff for all their hard work during the January floods. There will be free entertainment, games, a sausage sizzle, face painting, drinks and ice creams. As well, there'll be flood recovery information and where to get assistance. Co-ordinator Sandy Towell invited participants to being along their photos of the flood to put up on a "Wall of Water" which will be used to create a pictorial history. The Nanango picnic will be held at the Nanango Showgrounds on Saturday, February 19 from 1:30pm to 5:30pm. The Kingaroy picnic will be held at Memorial Park on Sunday, February 20 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. BYO picnic basket to share for afternoon tea. For more information, contact Sandy on (07) 4171-0753 or by email

Meet'n'Greet To Gauge Impact Of Floods February 4, 2011 - The Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry's next Meet'n'Greet will be held on Monday, February 21, from 5:30pm at the Kingaroy Country Motel in Knight Street, Kingaroy. The topic will be the impact of the recent flooding on local business and the economy. Guest speakers will include Damien O'Sullivan (DEEDI) and Phil Harding (South Burnett Regional Council). There is no cover charge. To RSVP, contact KCCI Project Officer Joanne Thorp on (07) 4162-8466.

Kingaroy Group tells Cougar To Accept the Referee's Decision February 3, 2011 - The Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group has told Cougar Energy to "accept the referee's decision" over the State Government's decision to end the pilot Kingaroy UCG plant. Spokesman John Dalton said the group applauded the decision which reflected the values of the Kingaroy community and also the seriousness of the technical failures identified by Cougar Energy in their reports to DERM. "Recent statements by Cougar Energy that they will challenge the decision seem to ignore the technical incompetence identified by DERM in documents supporting the decision," a statement from KCCG said. "Cougar Energy is still not publicly admitting the nature and seriousness of the events that have contributed to the Government's decision but is instead spinning the decision so that they appear the be the victim of an injustice, thereby trying to resuscitate their share price. "Statements by Cougar Energy . . . that the government decision is depriving the State of a lucrative industry seems at odds with the values of the State and the local community, which values industry, but not at any cost. "KCCG members suggest that so far, the biggest threat to the development of UCG in Queensland would be the spectacular and very public failure of the Cougar Energy trial. "KCCG believes that Cougar Energy will soon have to accept the referee's decision that they are out of step with Queensland and Kingaroy expectations, and cease wasting shareholder and tax payer money on the defence of a seriously flawed venture. " Yorkville Advisors freezes Cougar Energy's line of credit. Download Cougar's statement to the ASX Local Road Damage Update: Kingaroy-Cooyar Road was re-opened to traffic in the Goodger area about 3:45pm today. Warning signs have been erected and a 60km/h speed zone will apply. A 40km/h zone has also been imposed on a stretch near the Lankowski's Road intersection that is showing signs of pavement failure.

Ergon Crews Head North For Cyclone Emergency February 2, 2011 - Ergon Energy employees from Murgon, Kingaroy and Yarraman are on their way north to help with the restoration effort after Cyclone Yasi. The teams will be stationed in Rockhampton tonight so they can move into the cyclone-affected areas as soon as it is safe to do so. General Manager Service Delivery Southern Paul Jordon said Ergon Energy was preparing for significant damage to the electricity network given the warnings about the unprecedented force of Cyclone Yasi. "Ergon Energy crews from all parts of regional Queensland, supported by Energex crews and others from interstate, required four weeks to repair the damage inflicted by Cyclone Larry in 2006," he said. "On that basis, we are expecting similar or greater support will be needed in the coming days and weeks, so we will get our crews from the southern region into North Queensland as soon as possible after the immediate cyclone danger has passed." Local Road Damage Update: Road closures in the South Burnett council area (updated 9:30am)

Cougar Energy Weighs Up Legal Challenge February 1, 2011 - Cougar Energy is considering if there are legal grounds upon which to challenge the Queensland Government's decision to axe its Kingaroy UCG project. A spokesman said today the company was receiving legal advice in respect of the next steps which could be taken and would advise the ASX once it had reached a decision on the most appropriate course of action. The Cougar Energy statement emphasised the Department of Environment and Resource Management announcement was a proposed course of action and that Cougar had until February 28 to make representations why the action should not be taken. Cougar was also concerned about "a number of factual inaccuracies" which it alleged were contained in the Independent Scientific Panel's report. It would make a public response to address these inaccuracies and would also explore to what extent DERM had relied on this report. "If the company is not able to convince DERM through consultation that it should be permitted to recommence operations at Kingaroy, consideration will need to be given to whether there would be any merit in challenging DERM's decision by making application to the Queensland Planning and Environment Court," the statement said. Download today's Cougar Energy statement (94kb PDF) Cougar Energy also lodged a Supplementary Prospectus today with ASIC, the fourth such update to be drafted since a fund-raising prospectus was lodged in September 2010. Download the Fourth Supplementary Prospectus

Scientists Puzzled Why UCG Project Site Was Approved January 31, 2011 - The Independent Scientific Panel (ISP) investigating the Cougar Energy UCG Project near Kingaroy has issued a scathing report which criticises both the company and the State Government for allowing the trial to go ahead at that location in the first place. In its summary report, the ISP said a consultant's report, which indicated the site was "not optimal" because of the complex geological conditions, was available to both Cougar Energy and the State Government at the time the project was approved. "It is unclear why the trial was not located in a more simple hydrogeological setting," the report noted. The fact that surrounding farmers relied on the groundwater also made the site not "prudent for trialling UCG production". The ISP said it had been difficult to assess the implications of the environmental evaluations because of a lack of sufficient baseline information. "More systematic monitoring should have been required and undertaken at the outset," it said. The scientists also noted Cougar Energy's reliance "on a whiteboard alone" to explain to them the project's underground design. They said some documentation from the company also "generally lacked detail and had been less-than-clear in explanation with some self-contradictory comments and other comments that were difficult to interpret". Download the ISP Summary Report (128kb PDF) Cougar Energy update on its China projects (76kb PDF)

Lucky Dozen Start Work At Tarong Energy January 31, 2011 - A dozen MRAEL apprentices and trainees, who will be starting work at Tarong Power Station tomorrow, were fitted out with their new Tarong Energy uniforms at an orientation day held recently in Kingaroy. Ranging from school-leavers to mature-age apprentices, the 12 new employees will be working in areas ranging from administration to boilermaking. MRAEL Apprentice Specialist Frances Ross said more than 250 people from all over Australia had applied for the limited positions available. South Burnett residents were particularly successful, with candidates from Blackbutt, Nanango, Maidenwell and Cherbourg among the lucky applicants hired. The MRAEL apprentices and trainees will be appointed an Apprentice Specialist to guide them through their trade and training. ABOVE RIGHT: From left, David Stapleton, Nanango, (1st year Fitter & Turner) and Hal Little, Brisbane (3rd year Electrician) select their uniforms LEFT: 1st year Business Administration Trainees Justine Miller, Maidenwell, and Ashley Maudsley, Blackbutt

Kingaroy's UCG Experiment Won't Be Allowed To Restart January 28, 2011 - The Underground Coal Gasification trial plant near Kingaroy, (right), will not be allowed to recommence, Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Kate Jones announced today. Ms Jones said Cougar Energy could not demonstrate to the Department of Environment and Resource Management and the independent Scientific Expert Panel that it could recommence its operations without an unacceptable risk of causing environmental harm. "We take the protection of our environment very seriously and any company that wants to do business in Queensland must meet their environmental obligations," she said. "The trial has not been able to operate while the investigations have been under way. "The only activity that Cougar will be authorised to undertake in the future is the full rehabilitation of the site. "This has been a thorough and rigorous investigation and I would like to acknowledge the patience of the Kingaroy community. "We've always said if the company couldn't provide real evidence that it can recommence safely than we would not allow it to and that is the decision that has been made." DERM Director-General John Bradley said the agency was not satisfied with two of the three reports the company was directed to provide after contaminants resulting from the underground gasification process were detected in groundwater monitoring bores on the Cougar site. "The information contained in the Environmental Reports submitted to the Department by Cougar, particularly in relation to future risk management of processes on the site, was not able to provide sufficient confidence to the department or the independent Panel to allow Cougar to recommence," he said. "The Environmental Protection Order preventing the recommencement of the gasification trial at Kingaroy will remain in place until the Environmental Authority is formally amended and all statutory review and appeal provisions open to Cougar are exhausted." Ms Jones said the independent scientific panel report into the Cougar Energy operations at Kingaroy supports the department's decision to close down the trial at the Kingaroy site. The report stated that "the Cougar Energy trial not be reignited" and "Cougar Energy did not act sufficiently rapidly to shut down the facility when changes to infrastructure were first observed". Kingaroy "celebrates"

Cougar Energy Seeks Halt To Share Trading January 28, 2011 - Cougar Energy has requested an immediate trading halt on its shares after it received a letter last evening from the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM). DERM advised Cougar that it has not accepted all of the environmental reports submitted by the Company for the Kingaroy site in Queensland. No reasons were given for DERM's decision. DERM also advised Cougar that it would issue a statutory notice limiting the activities on the Kingaroy Underground Coal Gasification site as well as issue a media release on UCG. Cougar Energy Managing Director Dr Len Walker said the company was seeking an urgent meeting with DERM to ascertain the reasons for and the consequences of this decision. In a letter to the ASX, Cougar Energy said it needed to consider the statutory notice and the media release before it can make an informed response to the market. "In order to facilitate this, the Company hereby requests that a trading halt be put in place until pre-opening on Tuesday 1 February 2011," it said. "In the event that the Company makes an announcement to the market prior to this time, the Company will request a lifting of the trading halt." * * * Flood Damage Update: Road closures in the South Burnett council area (updated 10:30am) The temporary repair constructed around the severe landslip on the Blackbutt Range will be open to all vehicles, including B-double trucks, on Monday (removing current load restrictions). However a three-metre width restriction will be in place to ensure safety and minimise the risk of further damage to the road. Meeting hears how systems failed Kilkivan region during floods

Denise Captures Floods From Above January 27, 2011 - Kingaroy-based photographer Denise Keelan has produced a coffee-table photo album for sale of the recent flooding around the South Burnett region. The book, which includes extensive aerial photographs, (right), is a record of the amazing water levels seen locally. Proofs of the book can be previewed on Facebook (if you have a Facebook account) or contact Denise directly on 0417-755-581. Denise told SBBiz that she was selling the book at cost - and she needs orders from anyone interested as soon as possible. Photo: Copyright Denise Keelan Flood bill damage could top $350 million

Yarraman - The Forgotten Flood Town January 27, 2011 - While recent flooding in Nanango, Murgon and Kilkivan has received extensive media coverage, there has been little reporting of the effects on Yarraman. Yarraman Creek broke its banks, flooding some premises twice. Local businesses that were affected included Jetson Engineering, the IGA Supermarket and Yarraman Produce. SBBiz spoke to local businesspeople this week and was pleased to discover it was almost "business as usual": Jeff Thomson, from Jetson Engineering, said water went through his workshop twice - once on the Sunday night (900mm) and then on the Monday night / Tuesday morning (1.8m). He had no warning. "We had three to four inches of rain but the ground was that saturated the water had nowhere to go," he said. Jeff said he had spoken to oldtimers in the town and none had seen flooding like this before. Jetson Engineering lost office records, filing cabinets and computers but Jeff said his biggest loss was downtime. After a lot of hard work, he hopes to have the business back open as usual next Monday. Annette Speedy, from Yarraman Produce, was more fortunate. The stock that she lost was mostly feed and the business was closed for just one day. However, she was still stunned by the flooding. "Water has never been in the building before. It was freakish," she said. The IGA Supermarket traded throughout the crisis. Store manager Gary Collins praised his staff for their hard work and the way they helped customers. Floors were being mopped at 4:30am to make sure the store could open on time. Goods were being sourced from private suppliers and deliveries were arriving at midnight. The effort has not gone unappreciated. Gary said IGA had received "thank you" letters, cards and notes from grateful customers who had praised his team for efforts "above and beyond the call of duty" to keep local residents fed and supplied. What his customers may not realise, is that while Gary was keeping their spirits up, he himself was worried about family members missing for days in the Lockyer Valley. Fortunately they have now be located safe and sound!

Congratulations To Our Australia Day Award Winners! January 26, 2011 - Four South Burnett residents were proud recipients of national awards in the 2011 Australia Day Honours. Former Australian representative cricketer Carl Rackemann, from Wooroolin, received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to cricket as an administrator, coach and player; and to the community. Ashley Rewald, from Murgon, received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his service to the community, particularly through the Apex Club of Murgon. Warren Cockburn, from Kingaroy, received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the community of Kingaroy, and to veterans and their families. Kilkivan Hotel owner Fred Brophy - well-known for his country boxing troupe - received a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the entertainment industry, and the community of Birdsville. In local South Burnett honours, former Nanango Shire councillor and Deputy Mayor Ros Gregor was named South Burnett Citizen of the Year in a ceremony in Nanango on Tuesday night. Full list of South Burnett Regional Council Australia Day winners (74kb PDF) Kingaroy man presented with Achievement Medal Medal for former Murgon police officer ABOVE RIGHT: South Burnett Deputy Mayor Keith Campbell with Kingaroy Citizen of the Year award winner, former councillor Marie Shaw, at the Australia Day celebrations in Memorial Park

Updated Information About Flood Recovery Meetings January 24, 2011 - Business owners and primary producers in the South Burnett and adjacent areas have been urged to attend flood recovery information sessions. The meetings will provide information on assistance available, freight subsidies, income subsidies and QRAA grants. Meetings will be held at: Blackbutt – Wednesday, January 26, 8:00am-11:00am at Memorial Hall (part of Australia Day community celebrations) Chinchilla – Tuesday, January 25, 10:00am at RSL Memorial Club Durong - Friday, January 28, 1:30pm-3.30pm at Durong Hall Goomeri - Thursday, January 27, 3:30pm-5:00pm, at Goomeri Hall of Memory (organised by Gympie Regional Council) Kilkivan - Thursday, January 27, 10:00am-noon at Kilkivan Hall Kingaroy - Monday, January 31, 2:00pm-5:00pm at Kingaroy Town Hall supper room Mondure - Friday, January 28, 5:30pm at Mondure Hall (organised by Centacare & BIEDO - followed by a barbecue). Phone 0448-723-130 Murgon - Thursday, January 27, 1:30pm–3:30pm at Murgon Town Hall Nanango - Saturday, January 29, 1:00pm at Nanango High School Hall (organised by Nanango Tourism & Development Association). Phone (07) 4163-2266. Proston - Friday, January 28, 9:00am-11:00am at Proston Hall Tansey - Wednesday, February 9, 2:00pm-4:00pm at Tansey Bowls Club (organised by BIEDO) Widgee - Tuesday, January 25, 3:30pm-5:00pm at Widgee Hall Wondai - Monday, January 31, 9:00am-11:00am at Wondai Town Hall For more information, contact DEEDI Primary Industries & Fisheries Senior Extension Officer Damien O'Sullivan on (07) 4160-0717. NB. Some times have changed from previously published information. * * * UPDATE 5:15pm: The Blackbutt Range will re-open at 7:00am tomorrow (Wednesday) to cars and small vehicles (load limit 4.5 tonnes). Traffic controllers will be on site to direct one lane of traffic along the sidetrack at a time.

Wind Farm Decision Rests With Councils: MP January 25, 2011 - The Federal Government has no power to intervene over the proposed Coopers Gap Wind Farm, Federal Member for Maranoa Bruce Scott told concerned landholders at a meeting at Cooranga North last week. Speaking at a public meeting, Mr Scott said the primary decision regarding the location of the wind farm would rest with the South Burnett Regional Council and the Western Downs Regional Council. AGL Energy Limited acquired the Coopers Gap project - and a similar project in Victoria - for $14 million from Investec Wind Holdings in 2008. The proposal is to create a 300MW power generating capacity from Stage 1. "If and when an application is received from AGL, it will be the regional councils who have the responsibility for approval of the project," Mr Scott told the meeting. "I believe AGL would have to apply for a Material Change of Use to change from rural land under the State's Sustainable Planning Act 2009. As yet, the Federal Government has no power under the Constitution in relation to this decision." Mr Scott said he would continue to talk with regional councils and community members about the proposal. ABOVE RIGHT: From left, Frank Finlayson, Greg Warren, Annabel Finlayson, Bruce Scott and Bryan Lyons

Get Blackbutt Range Updates by SMS January 24, 2011 - The Transport and Main Roads Department has provided details of an SMS service which will provide updates about the Blackbutt Range direct to your mobile phone. To subscribe, click here and follow the instructions. In its advisory, issued this afternoon, the Department confirmed that the D'Aguilar Highway across the Range would be open to cars and light vehicles on Wednesday. Weather permitting, opening dates for the sidetrack are still: Wednesday January 26 - open to small vehicles, load limit 4.5 tonnes Friday January 28 - open to light trucks, load limit 15 tonnes Monday January 31 - open to heavy vehicles, load limit 42.5 tonnes. B-doubles will initially not be able to access the sidetrack. This will be reviewed after the Department receives further geotechnical advice. Download the TMR flyer (957kb PDF)

Another UCG Headache For Cougar Energy January 24, 2011 - Cougar Energy - the company behind the controversial Underground Coal Gasification pilot plant near Kingaroy - is consulting its lawyers over another UCG dispute - this time in Western Australia. Eneabba Gas advised the ASX on Friday that its joint venture with Cougar to develop a UCG project in WA had been cancelled "as a result of a repudiation by (Cougar Energy) of its contractual obligations". A Cougar Energy spokesman said today the company did not accept this allegation and was disappointed that Eneabba Gas had taken the steps it did on Friday. He said the company was taking legal advice and would advise the ASX in due course. Eneabba Gas is developing a 168MW gas-fired power station project, dubbed Centauri 1, near Dongara, about 360km north of Perth. The proposal was to expand the energy capacity at a later date from the joint UCG project. Flood Damage Update: Road closures in the South Burnett council area Weather wreaks havoc in South Burnett vineyards

Eduardstrete Medical Centre To Re-Open January 23, 2011 - The Eduardstrete Medical Centre in Edward Street, Kingaroy, will re-open for patients on February 14. Red-tape over the registration of Fijian-born Dr Kamal Banerjee forced the surgery to start turning away patients in early 2010, leaving thousands of people on the Centre's books in the lurch. Dr Banerjee had been at the Centre since 2001, most of the time practising as a solo GP. However in the wake of the Bundaberg Hospital fiasco the State Government introduced new laws that meant that for him to continue working he must always have a FRACGP-registered doctor at the surgery. Dr Janet Ackinboye from Cherbourg filled this role for some time but left in January 2010. Dr Banerjee then began seeing patients at Dr Peter Wynn's surgery while the Eduardstrete Centre remained closed. Dr Banerjee's secretary Barbara Wittmann told SBBiz the Eduardstrete Centre would now be able to re-open in February as FRACGP-registered Dr Pinnamaraju - or Dr Raju as he is known locally - would be joining the practice. Dr Raju has been working at Kingaroy Hospital. UPDATE January 26: The clinic advised SBBiz today that due to unforeseen circumstances they've had to delay their re-opening by two weeks. They now hope to reopen on February 28. UPDATE February 21: The clinic will now open on March 7. * * * At Blackbutt, Dr Jack Tsai started work today at the Timbertown Medical Centre, joining Dr Daphene Connor at the practice.

Okeden Creek Washout Repaired BEFORE: AFTER: January 22, 2011 - The Okeden Creek washout on the Wondai-Chinchilla Road was successfully repaired today and the road re-opened to traffic. South Burnett Mayor David Carter announced this afternoon on Facebook that the temporary repairs on the major thoroughfare, severely damaged by recent flooding, had been completed. Council staff have spent the day working on the damaged section which has been preventing residents from the Ballogie area accessing Wondai or other parts of the South Burnett without a major detour. Speed restrictions and warning signs are still in place in a number of locations along this road. Cr Carter urged drivers to proceed with caution and drive to the road conditions. Photos: Courtesy Martin Stern and the South Burnett Regional Council

Countdown To Blackbutt Range Re-Opening January 21, 2011 - Work has started on constructing a sidetrack to restore connectivity along the D'Aguilar Highway across the Blackbutt Range. The sidetrack will allow one lane of traffic to proceed under traffic control. Transport and Main Roads crews will remain on-site all weekend to ensure that work is completed as soon as possible. Weather permitting, opening dates for the sidetrack are: Wednesday, January 26 - Open to small vehicles, load limit 4.5 tonnes Friday, January 28 - Open to light trucks, load limit 15 tonnes Monday, January 31 - Open to heavy vehicles, load limit 42.5 tonnes. The additional delay for heavier vehicles is to ensure the pavement can carry the extra load without compromising safety.

Volunteers Lend a Hand In Murgon January 21, 2011 - Thirty volunteers are available to help with flood cleaning - both indoor or outdoor - tomorrow (Saturday) in the Murgon area. If you need a hand, phone Laila Gordon on 0418-194-755. The South Burnett Regional Council also has names of other volunteers that are willing to help if anyone requires assistance. The council is also keen to hear from any more people who could assist. Other assistance is also available: Council will also help with taking loads of rubbish away. Phone Stan Taylor on (07) 4189-9100. Murgon SES is helping people to remove furniture from flooded houses Murgon Fire Brigade is helping with hosing out flooded houses. Local photographer Sherrianne Talon has offered a free service for insurance purposes for flood victims in the Murgon area. Her number is 0410-028-603. Help may also become available for fencing. Marg Enkelman is taking names of people that require help with fencing in a bid to to get "Blazeaid" volunteers to come to the area. Marg can be contacted on (07) 4168-9728. * * * South Burnett Regional Councillor Kathy Duff, (right) - who asked SBBiz this afternoon to pass on the above information - had first-hand experience of the recent floods. She was isolated on her family's Di-Di Station at Proston for several days during the height of the flooding, and said today she had spent most of her time under a tree in the backyard with her mobile phone and an umbrella, attending to Council business and helping to co-ordinate flood relief efforts. Cr Duff said she would like to thank everyone in the Murgon community for the way that they had rallied together during the flood disaster. "History shows that communities that recover from disasters are the communities that work together - so I'm confident that Murgon will recover well," she said. She urged residents seeking information about financial assistance to contact Manny Hegarty from the Department of Communities on 0413-530-197. People with emergency road issues should contact Council on 1300-789-279. Cr Duff also invited concerned residents to contact her on 0437-020-705.