Hervey Bay Gossip

What a poor candidate Labor seems to have given the people of Hinkler and Hervey Bay to vote for in the upcoming federal election.

Last week he was too busy to talk to the press - now it seems he thinks that parents of those serving in the military forces are ‘warmongers’ and isn’t afraid to tell them so. I wonder what excuse he has this time.

Sorry Mr Parr … you just lost my vote - something no Labor candidate has ever managed to do in the past 40 years. My son is proud to be a serving member of the Australian Army - and I’m proud of my son for being prepared to defend our great country.

Another small business in Hervey Bay has decided to take their business online and extend the area they can market to.

So if you’re looking for jet ski sales and jet ski repairs in Hervey Bay then be sure to follow the link to Hervey Bay Jet Ski’s new website.

Here is some good news for those of us in Hervey Bay who think that the last people who should set their own rates of pay are our local councillors.

The Queensland Government has established an independent body to determine salaries for mayors and councillors in all local government areas across the state.

Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said the new three-member Local Government Remuneration Tribunal would finalise its first determinations by 1 December.

“The establishment of the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal is the next step in the Queensland Government’s local government reform program,” Mr Pitt said.

“Queensland’s new local government sector will be founded on independent boundaries, independently run local elections and, now, an independent tribunal that sets salaries.”

Mr Pitt said panel members were chosen based on their extensive knowledge and experience in local government, public administration, law, finance, industrial relations and community affairs.

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The installation of traffic lights at the intersection of Boat Harbour Drive and Central Avenue here in Hervey Bay is now underway but that’s not the only change to Boat Harbour Drive that’s set to happen.

Funds were set aside in the last State budget for the widening of Boat Harbour Drive between Hunter Street and McNally Street (if you’re not sure where that is then this map will help you locate the area) and now the time to start spending those funds is drawing near.

Hervey Bay residents will have the chance to provide input into plans for the $10 million Boat Harbour Drive upgrade project, ahead of construction starting early next year.

Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the upgrade on Boat Harbour Drive between Hunter Street and McNally Street would cater for traffic growth in the area.

“Boat Harbour Drive is the city’s busiest road, with about 20,000 vehicles travelling along it each day,” Mr Pitt said.

“With Hervey Bay’s rising population, there is a need to cater for a growing amount of traffic using Boat Harbour Drive.”

Member for Hervey Bay and Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation Andrew McNamara said the project would involve resurfacing and widening the road to four lanes, as well as upgrading eight intersections.

“In addition, two new sets of traffic signals will be installed - at Taylor Street and Banksia Park Drive,” Mr McNamara said.

“A new concrete pedestrian footpath will link existing council pathways, between Banksia Park Drive and McNally Street, to the new signalised pedestrian crossing at Banksia Park Drive, ensuring pedestrians can cross Boat Harbour Drive safely.”

Mr McNamara said Main Roads’ public displays would be held at the Centro Shopping Centre, Hervey Bay Library and Hervey Bay City Council from now until 1 November.

“Staff will be at the Centro Shopping Centre on Saturday 27 October from 10am to 12pm and on Thursday 1 November from 11am to 2pm, to address any questions about the upgrade,” he said.

“The community’s input will assist Main Roads in completing the final road design before construction starts early next year.”

The public can also contact Main Roads on 1300 728 390.

If you live in Hervey Bay then it’s time to check your junk mail again. Tucked in amongst all the bumpf that was delivered this weekend was an important brochure from Ergon Energy.

Cyclone season is upon us - some would suggest that we’ve already had our first one - and Ergon Energy have released the 2007-2008 edition of the Storm and Cyclone Survival Guide.

It’s important reading so don’t let it get thrown away with the rest of the rubbish.

… for all the wrong reasons.

When trained nurses are forced to kidnap their own mother from the hospital to ensure that she receives proper care and attention you know something has to be wrong. You can read the full story in today’s Courier Mail by following this link.

Hervey Bay plays host to lots of vessels of all shapes and most sizes and here’s a link to one that was found down in Urangan Boat Harbour recently.

If you click on the thumbnail that you’ll find at the end of the link you will be taken to the big picture.

That was quite a nasty storm that swept through Hervey Bay just after 5pm yesterday. Watching it sweep over the Bay was rather awe inspiring too.

This is how it looked just before it reached Kawungan.

Established or aspiring business operators can get some tips on growing their firm by attending a range of informative workshops in October.

Regional Development and Industry Minister Desley Boyle said the Maryborough and Hervey State Development Centres would run sessions on managing finances, improving marketing and getting a small business off the ground.

“Coming up is a Managing your Profits and Cash workshop in Maryborough and a Marketing Edge session in Gympie. There’ll also be a Small Business Pilot workshop series for business people in Maryborough, Hervey Bay and Kingaroy,” Ms Boyle said.

“Small business is vital to the Queensland economy and the State Government is supporting workshops like these to give owners the best chance of success.”

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If you can remember back to the days of pounds, shillings and pence here in Australia you may also remember that the slang term for a pound was ‘quid’

I’m sure that everybody thought that endearing term had disappeared along with the old currency but it’s about to reappear in a form that most Australians from the days of pounds, shillings and pence never thought possible.

In the future inter-planetary travellers will take a new currency with them - the Quasi Universal Intergalactic Denomination … or Quid.

You can read more about it here