Hervey Bay Gossip

Over the last week the news that the production of a major movie has been halted because irukandji were found off the western shore of Fraser Island has spread across the Internet. It’s also spread around Australia thanks to some sensationalist reporting by the local paper.

It seems that the predicted invasion of Hervey Bay by the irukandji may not be about to happen after all. In fact the irukandji have been found in waters a lot further south than Hervey Bay for quite some years.

There have been recorded irukandji stings in waters off Geelong in Victoria and Cape Town in South Africa so to get hysterical about a few being seen to the north of Hervey Bay seems to be a little silly.

Then read a more level-headed report on the possibility of the irukandji coming south check out the Brisbane Times story - Box jellyfish invasion denied

Residents in the the Hervey Bay City Council water supply area are reminded that Level 3 water restrictions begin today.

You can get all the details on the Wide Bay Water site

And if you don’t think things are bad in this region then perhaps the news that Cooloola Shire has just been drought declared may change your mind.

Way down in Tasmania the mornings and evenings are becoming rather cold according to one of our friends who still lives in Hobart.

But up here in Hervey Bay the beach is still the place to be at any time of the day.

Dinner at Shelly Beach last night

At least one tourist operator here in Hervey Bay is rather upset with the way the Irikanji issue has been handled by the Chronicle. He sees the way the Chronicle has reported the problem as nothing short of sensationalism.

Of course, that wouldn’t be the first time the Chronicle has lapsed into near-hysteria over something could possibly affect Hervey Bay. Remember the last tropical cyclone and the way the paper reported that? It never even arrived but even before it had formed the paper was crying ‘wolf’.

And sadly some people are suggesting a bias towards Maryborough is beginning to appear in the Chronicle once more.

Whatever the local situation might be the fact is that, if there is a cat, it’s well and truly out of the bag now because reports of the finding of Irikanji off Sandy Cape are appearing in papers around Australia and websites in other parts of the world are running with the story too.

Level three water restrictions will come into effect in the Hervey Bay City Council area from Friday.

Under the new restrictions the use of garden irrigation systems will be banned. The use of sprinklers and soaker hoses will also be banned along with the hosing of driveways and paved areas.

Hand-held hosing will be banned between the hours of 8am and 4pm except for washing vehicles and boats.

The current dry weather conditions and water levels are particularly worrying because winter is traditionally the dry season here in Hervey Bay while February is usually our wettest month.

A researcher from James Cook University has made a discovery that no one in Hervey Bay ever expected or wanted to be found.

The deadly irukandji jellyfish has been found in small numbers off the western side of Fraser Island. These jellyfish have never been found this far south before.

Late last week Qantas Link announced that they would be introducing an extra flight between Brisbane and Hervey Bay.

The new flight will be on Wednesday’s only and will commence on March 28 departing Brisbane at 2pm and arriving in Hervey Bay at 2.45. The return journed will depart Hervey Bay at 3.05pm.

Regional priorities will be on the agenda when the Ministerial Regional Community Forum for the Wide Bay Burnett region convenes in Tiaro on Monday (26 March).

Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts, Rod Welford, and Minister for Emergency Services Pat Purcell will attend the forum.

Andrew McNamara – Member for Hervey Bay, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Chair of the Regional Queensland Council said the MPs would discuss regional priorities with local forum members who are drawn from local communities.

The 26 March forum will be the first time that some new forum members from the Wide Bay Burnett region will participate in the important event. New forum members include:

· Cr Keith Campbell, from Kingaroy; director of Bean Growers Aust Limited; member of the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry; treasurer of St John’s Lutheran Primary School; and member of Kingaroy and District Meals on Wheels

· Cr David Carter, from Wondai; mayor of Wondai Shire Council; chairman of the Burnett Inland Economic Development Organisation; member of AgForce; and member of the Boondooma Water Board

· Mr Donald Gayler, from Hervey Bay; a partner of Gayler James law firm; honorary solicitor for various Hervey Bay organisations; and past deputy chairman of the Wide Bay Burnett Electricity Board

· Dr Warren Holloway, a 20-year resident of Bundaberg, an independent professional scientific adviser; a volunteer scientific officer for the North Coast Region Fire Service; and a former member of Hinkler Lions

· Ms Zoe Jameson, from Miriam Vale, a community development officer with Miriam Vale Shire Youth and Community Development Service, and Lifeline Capricorn Coral Coast

· Cr Jim Mullett, from Kolan, who has citrus, cattle and aircraft maintenance business interests; chairman of the Bundaberg and District Hospital Council; chairman of the Kolan Garden Aged Care Facility; and member of Gin Gin Fruit and Vegetable Growers

· Mrs Barbara Paterson, from Maryborough, managing director of the  Paterson Pastoral Company; president of Tiaro and District Meals on Wheels; project director for the Maryborough and District Committee on the Ageing Inc Well Aged Program; and chair of the Fraser Coast District Health Council

· Ms Judith Pippen, from Isis, a cultural sector consultant; grant writer; and member of the Woodgate Beach Tourism Association

· Cr Lorraine Pyefinch, from Bundaberg; a director of the Bundaberg Port Authority; council member of the Wide Bay Institute of TAFE; council member of the Bundaberg Health Service; and director/manager of Best Practice Software

· Mrs Stephanie Whitaker, from Biggenden, a part owner of Noel Andersen and Co Real Estate; member of the Australian Breastfeeding Association; volunteer member of the Unmet Transport Needs Forum; and member of Vision 21 (Building Rural Leaders Past Participants Network).

“I encourage anyone interested in local issues to attend as part of the public audience and listen to the views of Forum Members and the attending MPs,” Mr McNamara said.

The forum will take place at the Tiaro Town Hall, Mayne Street, Tiaro from 9.30 am.

There’s a new bookshop about to open in Hervey Bay.

Mary Ryan’s looks set to open some time this week where the old post office was in Central Avenue.

The new bookshop will include an ABC Centre and that has to be good news for book lovers here in Hervey Bay.

I’ve lived here in Hervey Bay since 2003 but until yesterday I had never made the trip across the water to Fraser Island.

A visit from one of our daughters was a perfect excuse to take a day off and make the trip and I’m so glad I did. If you’ve been living here in Hervey Bay but haven’t made the trip to Fraser Island yet then don’t wait a moment longer.

It is the most interesting place to see and the guided tours are excellent. We went across on the Fraser Island Company’s one day tour and we would recommend that for anyone. Colin the tour guide was excellent and we had plenty of time to see all the places of interest.

One word of warning though, Fraser Island is 4 wheel drive territory - even the buses - and that’s for a very good reason. The roads are nothing but rough tracks and all the seats in the buses are fitted with seat belts for a very good reason … they help to keep you in your seat as the bus bounces around on those rough tracks.

Would we go again? Absolutely!

And even after you leave the island heading home there’s the spectacular sunset to enjoy.