Hervey Bay Gossip

The next time you’re heading south from Hervey Bay to Brisbane watch for some new speed limits between Curra and Cooroy.

During the next few weeks new signs will be installed in this section of the Bruce Highway that will reduce the speed limit to 90 km/h.

The Premier has announced today that the Traveston Dam project has been delayed by at least two years.

It seems that there are some environmental issues that will prevent the Federal Government from approving the project and it will take several years to rectify these issues.

Are we seeing the back door escape route the Government needed to get out of building the dam here?

The weather here in Hervey Bay has been a bit changeable lately and here’s an example of how much it can change in just 23 hours.

Here is the view up the beach from the Torquay Pier at 7.30am on Saturday.

The video is here

And here was the view that I posted last week taken from the same position at 8.30am on Friday.

Hopefully this coming week will be free of storms.

So far this storm season Hervey Bay has been fairly lucky. While other parts of the south-east have been hit with wild storms, flooding and power outages Hervey Bay has missed out … until last night.

Late yesterday afternoon a number of storm cells moved down from the north and north-west and we experience some vivid lightning, lots of rolling thunder and some heavy rain. Fortunately it was nothing like centres further south have experienced and this morning was another beautiful day.

This was the beach at Torquay at 8.30 this morning. It was hard to go back to work.

Today’s Fraser Coast Chronicle is carrying a report that the flying school that was to have come to Maryborough has now changed it’s mind and withdrawn the development application.

Hervey Bay Whale Watch’s Quick Cat II has been named a finalist in the tour and transport operators category at the prestigious 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards, Tourism Minister Desley Boyle announced.

The awards, presented by Queensland Airports Limited, were announced in a gala ceremony at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre this evening.

Ms Boyle congratulated operators Brian and Jill Perry on another outstanding achievement.

“Hervey Bay Whale Watch has thrilled hundreds of visitors to Hervey Bay since its inception 20 years ago and it’s terrific to see their hard work and vision recognised,” she said.

“It’s this level of enthusiasm and a commitment to providing quality service and imaginative experiences which really epitomises what the awards – and indeed the tourism industry in Queensland – is all about.”

Ms Boyle said competition had been strong at this year’s awards, with more than 200 entries across 29 categories.

“The awards recognise and reward excellence, innovation and success in our industry and all winners and finalists are to be commended for their efforts,” she said.

“Congratulations to Tourism Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) for organising and hosting the 2008 Queensland Tourism Awards.

“Thank you to our awards’ platinum sponsor Queensland Airports Limited for its generous support in presenting the 2008 awards.”

QTIC chief executive Daniel Gschwind said the awards’ 13-member judging panel was impressed by entrants’ high degree of professionalism and business acumen.

“In these tough economic times, it becomes more imperative than ever for tourism businesses to employ sound planning and rigorous self-assessment,” Mr Gschwind said.

“The Queensland Tourism Awards remains one of the best tools to guide operators through this process, with business planning a key component of every entry.

“Competition was as strong as ever this year and judges were pleased to see such high standards applied to submissions.”

You know that Christmas is almost here when the residents in Christmas Street (otherwise known as Hayman Court) Hervey Bay start decorating their houses.

 If you live in Hervey Bay and haven’t had a look at the stunning Christmas lights display the people in Hayman Court put on every year you really should go an take a look … it’s spectacular!

The very first Queensland driver’s licence was issued in 1910 and ever since then the licence that Queensland drivers must carry with them has been evolving. Yesterday the Transport Minister introduced legislation into Parliament to clear the way for a new hi-tech licence.

Unfortunately there is no guarantee that the new licence will also improve the photos that all drivers’ licences carry.

Mr Mickel said the new driver’s licence will have higher security and better protection against identity fraud than the now-outdated laminated cards.

“We are getting on with the job and advancing our Towards Q2 strategy – the new licence will be smart and secure,” Mr Mickel said.

The new licence is still being developed but it will be plastic, credit card-sized, and embedded with a computer chip.

It will replace the current laminated card which has been used in Queensland for nearly 20 years.

As with the current laminated licence, the new licence will feature an image of the motorist and their signature.

But by using improved technology, the photograph and signature will be digital – making it much harder to fake.

“Cards with embedded chips are increasingly being adopted around the world because they provide better security than the traditional laminated cards or plastic magnetic stripe cards,” Mr Mickel said.

Along with the new driver’s licence, the cards will also be introduced for Adult Proof of Age cards (formerly the 18 plus card), driver authorisations for passenger transport, and a variety of licensing industry authorisations.

“Fake driver licences can be used to commit a wide range of crimes, such as money laundering, creating false identities and identity theft,” Mr Mickel said.

Between July and December 2007, the Queensland Police Service recorded 1193 offences of identity theft.

In addition, the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Personal Fraud Survey, released in June 2008, showed there were 806,000 victims of personal fraud in Australia over 12 months, costing individuals a combined $977 million.

Information to appear on the new licence will include the licence number, class, expiry date, name, date of birth, gender and height.

Minister Mickel said the motorist’s address will not be shown. Instead it will be stored electronically on the smart chip.

“This new feature is aimed at personal safety and protection of property,” he said.

“Think of it this way – does your ATM card show your address ? Your credit card ? Your Medicare card ?

“No – none of these display your home address. From now on, if a person has lost or had their handbag or wallet stolen, the chance of the driver’s licence being used to break into their house is significantly decreased.”

It’s always sad to see beautiful trees getting bulldozed to make way for a road upgrade but these days the government is becoming more environmentally aware and the latest upgrade to the Maryborough to Hervey Bay Road is one example of that awareness.

Main Roads will do its bit for the environment when 1500 trees are planted as part of the $11.5 million upgrade of Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road.

Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt and Member for Hervey Bay Andrew McNamara said the planting would offset the environmental effects of removing vegetation to widen and strengthen a 6.9 kilometre section of road.

“During the planning stage of the Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road project, Main Roads environmental officers worked to find a way to offset the effects of any necessary vegetation removal,” Mr Pitt said.

“The team was able to identify a revegetation site about 2.5 kilometres from the roadworks, in an area remote from future development needs.

“Main Roads recognises the value of protecting our environment and where possible, will work with the community to make up for any loss of vegetation.

“I’m pleased the department has been able to play its part to keep this project as green-friendly as po ssible, while at the same time improving an important road link that connects Maryborough to Hervey Bay.”

Mr McNamara said the planting was expected to begin in March next year, which provided ideal conditions for tree planting.

“Investigations have shown the site conditions are favourable for the planting of endemic species – the soil is good and water is available onsite,” he said.

“The Department of Natural Resources has approved this project to re-plant vegetation in the new area. Fraser Coast Regional Council will act as trustees for the site, which should guarantee the long-term protection of the trees.

“The revegetation works and locations of the new plant life will be designed to provide a wildlife corridor link between substantial ecosystems and habitats.”

The planting will be carried out by Fraser Coast Regional Council.

The Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road upgrade project includes upgrading five intersections, installing new overhead lighting, and improving bus stop areas, private property accesses and signage. Works are expected to be completed in April 2009, weather permitting.

If you’re a senior citizen and you live in Hervey Bay then Seniors Hervey Bay is a website that you should find quite helpful.

You’ll find local news, important links for seniors in Hervey Bay and much more.