Hervey Bay Gossip

The fish weren’t really biting at Toogoom yesterday … but no one seemed to care

It’s a hard life taking these photographs but someone has to do it

New traffic lights are being installed on Boat Harbour Drive Pialba between the Main Street intersection and the entrance to the Centro Shopping Plaza carpark.

You will need to exercise some caution as you approach the site because two lanes of traffic is being quickly condensed into just one with very little warning.

The lights being installed are for pedestrians but the site chosen does raise some questions about traffic flow. It’s quite close to the Main Street intersection and it could be that traffic stopped at the lights will bank up back across the intersection.

Only time will tell.

Traffic conditions are set to change on Boat Harbour Drive where the road widening is taking place. The new changes will begin on May 24 and some signs are suggesting that the road could be closed.

We had an aborted trip to Brisbane today - a specialist appointment that we had to wait weeks for was cancelled just south of Gympie because the doctor was ill - oh well.

But it did give us a chance to look at petrol prices - 116.9 cents a litre on the south side of Brisbane (as reported on the front page of the Courier Mail’s website right up to 140.9 cents a litre cents on the highway north of Gympie (as reported by my own eyeballs )

Matilda’s north of Gympie was around 123.9 cents a litre.

I wonder just how many of us take the time to actually watch the advertising for motor vehicles that tends to litter our television screens?

While there have been some very good examples overseas here in Australia the advertising tends to bland and … well … crappy.

I mean how often do we see and ad like this one here in Australia - be warned, if strong language offends you there is a little bit of it in the post that goes with the ad.

Several weeks ago the Hervey Bay City Council announced that they would be inspecting local food outlets to ensure that they were complying with regulations governings things such as cleanliness, food preparation, temperature settings for hot and cold food displays etc.

The Gossip heard today that 43% of businesses tested by the Hervey Bay City Council inspectors failed the inspections.

Businesses that passed where given a sticker to display in their public area - can you see it in the fast food outlets and cafes that you regularly visit?

Four athletes with international sporting experience - including a rugby league player, cricketer, touch footballer and soccer player - today swapped their jerseys for uniforms when they joined the ranks of the Queensland Police Service.

Police Minister Judy Spence and Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson congratulated the new recruits, who were among 114 First Year Constables to join Queensland’s frontline response to combating crime.

Ms Spence said the graduates, who range in age from 22 to 46, brought diverse experience to the job through previous work in the defence force, hospitality, education, finance - and sport.

“It doesn’t take one ‘type’ of person to become a good police officer. But it takes many people - of different backgrounds - to make a great police service,” Ms Spence said.

“The Queensland Police Service already has many sporting achievers in its ranks, including a very successful team of officers who represent Queensland in the annual Police Games.

“These skills translate well in to the Service, which prides itself on team work and personal goal setting - not to mention physical fitness - and add depth to a profession that is constantly responding to new challenges and demands.”

“As police officers, they will have the opportunity to make a difference to many people’s lives, and to whole communities,” Ms Spence said.

“There are few careers that offer this - and even fewer that offer such varied career opportunities.

“With 63 specialist areas, from the bomb squad to the stock squad, the drug investigation unit to school based police officers - there are numerous opportunities for recruits to expand or refine their skills.”

Commissioner Atkinson said the new recruits will perform an important role in the maintenance of law and order, public safety and the protection of property.

“It is always encouraging to see new officers as they bring a mix of enthusiasm, skill and life experience to the service,” he said.

“There are many worthwhile occupations, but to have the responsibility for the safety and security of all people in Queensland is the equal of any.”

The four athletes are:

Constable Paul Bell played in the National Rugby League competition for the Cronulla Sharks 1990-1994, Western Suburbs Magpies 1995 and 1996, Perth Reds 1997 and Melbourne Storm 1998 and 1999. He was part of the Melbourne Storm premiership team in 1999 and played Super League for Leeds Rhino’s England 2000.

Constable Louise Broadfoot played cricket for Victoria 1996-2005, played for Queensland in the 2005-06 season and played for Australia in the 2000 World Cup, 2001 Ashes tour and 2005 World Cup.

Constable Amanda Bourne has represented Queensland and Australia at school level for touch football and for Queensland in the Open Women’s and mixed competitions. She is currently in the Queensland Women’s over 30’s team to play in the State of Origin against New South Wales in August. She has been selected in the Australian Women’s over 30’s training squad for the World Cup in South Africa next year.

Constable Martin Lynch played for Queens Park Football Club in Scotland in 1993 and was signed for Green Gully Premier State League Soccer Club in Melbourne in 1996. After returning to Scotland in 1996 he finally immigrated to Australia in 1999. He played in a NSW representative side in the Australia and New Zealand Police Games on the Gold Coast.

If you have seen them in the supermarkets and wondered where they come from then wonder no more. They’re produced by Pacific Coast Eco Bananas at Mourilyan and now they have won the Rural Sustainability Award in the inaugural Environmental Protection Agency Sustainable Industries Awards.

Environment Minister Desley Boyle said Pacific Coast Eco Bananas won the award despite being extensively damaged by Cyclone Larry, due to its environmentally-sustainable farming system that relies on the interaction of plants, weeds and insects instead of artificial fertilizers.

“Scientific evidence shows using less chemicals and pesticides on farms can actually improve the quality of the soil, which in turn improves the quality of the produce,” Ms Boyle said.

“By using nature’s own pest control methods, Pacific Coast Eco Bananas has improved its farm management practises and cut the use of pesticides, fungicides and fertilisers.

“It has reduced runoff entering waterways which eventually enter the Great Barrier Reef lagoon - a worthy achievement.”

Pacific Coast Eco Banana founders Frank and Dianne Sciacca said they were excited to have won the inaugural award, which was a much-needed boost as they continued to rebuild their business in the wake of Cyclone Larry.

“Cyclone Larry has definitely been devastating for us, but we are well on our way to restoring the plantations,” Ms Sciacca said.

“We realised some time ago that farmers can only reduce their production inputs and achieve sustainability when the farming system is not reliant on achieving an unnatural level of yield.

“Through making improvements in integrated pest management, reduced water, energy and waste management, we received financial, brand and environmental rewards,” Ms Sciacca said.

Ms Boyle said the winners across six different categories had been selected from a total of 115 entries and showcased Queensland’s “champions of sustainability”.

“The state’s first industry sustainability awards highlight the effort being made by many businesses to implement sustainable practices that are good for the environment and the balance sheet,” Ms Boyle said.

“Sustainable industries are about smart strategies like eco-efficiency, socially-responsible investment and building competitiveness through sustainability.”

The Rural Sustainability Award, sponsored by Queensland Farmers’ Federation, was awarded to Pacific Coast Eco Bananas for innovation in sustainable agribusiness.

Finalists were judged by a panel of industry representatives. The other finalists in this category were Barramundi Blue Acquaculture, Multi Farming Systems, and Total Grower Services.

The Hervey Bay Whale Festival is again this year from August 4 to 13 and volunteers are needed to staff the events.

For further details you can call 4125 9858 or visit the Hervey Bay Whale Festival by following the link.

Hervey Bay City Council is advising property owners who are paying their council rates by instalments that the final payment is due on Wednesday May 24.