Hervey Bay Gossip

Hervey Bay takes another step into the aviation industry.

Hervey Bay has been selected  by Observair as its base for operations within Queensland. Observair, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Aerospace, provides specialised aerial surveillance, spotting and asset management services to numerous Government organisations. 

Using the worlds most advanced and efficient single-engine fixed-wing aircraft, the Seabird Seeker, Observair has recently been approved to provide aerial support to the Victorian Rural Fire Service and has submitted tenders to both Queensland and New South Wales for the forthcoming fire season.

With an unrivalled and unobstructed 270 degree field of vision from the cockpit, the Seeker allows quick and precise detection of targets “without the need of covering the same ground twice”. Managing Director of Southern Aerospace, Mr Jon Davies said “until one experiences flight in the Seeker, it is difficult to understand that there is simply no other fixed-wing aircraft capable of doing what the Seeker does.

“It provides the visibility of a helicopter and lower operating costs than a Cessna 172”. He added “and being a new fully certified Lycoming powered GA aircraft, it will prove more reliable and less expensive to operate than 20-30 year old Cessna sometimes used in such roles.

“Being a major regional airport, Hervey Bay was chosen as our Queensland base because all facilities are available, Seabird Aviation Australia the Seeker’s manufacturer is based there, airport and hangarage costs are still reasonable, and personnel can be conveniently located from elsewhere with Hervey Bay’s direct connections”.  Plans are in place so that by mid 2008 an additional 4 pilots and 4 maintenance staff will be employed.

For long range patrols requiring a faster cruise speed, Observair operates Australia’s only twin-engine fixed-wing specialised observation aircraft, the Partenavia Observer. With a seven hour endurance at 150kts, full glass nose section and convex side bubble observation windows, the Partenavia provides a comfortable, air conditioned environment from which to co-ordinate fire attack roles or spot lightning strikes after a storm front.

The Partenavia is fitted with dual five-place audio panels, numerous VHF and RFS radios, an HF radio and is fully IFR equipped and capable.

Together, the Seeker and the Partenavia offer an attractive fire attack and spotting opportunity allowing the cost effective use of single engine aircraft where permitted and twin engine speed where required. The Seeker is best suited to slow and low patrols and is capable of providing continuous visual contact with a ground target at a patrol speed of 65 kts as a result of its extensive glazing in front of, below, above and next to, the crew.

The latest business to open in Hervey Bay is the Cold Rock Ice Creamery on the corner of Main Street and Boat Harbour Drive.

While it might look rather quiety around 9am on a Sunday morning when it’s open the queue can be out the door.

As you can see from this photo, even at 9am on a Sunday morning people are waiting for the shop to open.

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.

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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The ABC is currently carrying a brief story about rent stress in the Wide Bay and names Hervey Bay as one of the areas where high demand for limited rental properties has led to the cost of rents going up.

To the casual observer it would seem that there are quite a few rental properties  currently available in Hervey Bay. There are a number of houses around town that are displaying signs that they are for rent.  There is a block of Main Street units in the centre of Pialba that have never been fully occupied since they were completed over 12 months ago and there is a modern block of units down on the Esplanade between Scarness and Torquay that haven’t been fully occupied for months.

At the same time demand business premises is at an all time high and rents are soaring. One shop in the centre adjacent to Viva Italia that will soon become vacant has had numerous people inspect it with a view to renting it and the annual rental will go from under a thousand dollars a month for the old tenant to several thousand dollars a month for whoever moves in.

It’s hard to believe but Kentucky Fried Chicken in Hervey Bay will close at the end of trade on August 29. It will re-open in a new location on Boat Harbour Drive … but not until sometime next year.

A Hervey Bay real estate agent has been banned for life after he failed to declare he was director of a company that bought a property from one of his employer’s clients.

Fair Trading Minister, Margaret Keech, said Philip John Dickins, of Uraween, committed a serious breach of trust resulting in financial gain.

“When handing down its decision the Commercial and Consumer Tribunal described him as ‘devious’,” Mrs Keech said.

“The penalty handed to Mr Dickins should be a warning to others in the industry that agents will not get away with deceiving their clients.

“Mr Dickins was the director of Caltowie Nominees Pty Ltd when the company bought a Point Vernon house for $200,000.

“As the director of the purchasing company, he illegally charged the vendor commission on the sale. The company sold the property less than a month later for $230,000.

“He knew it was illegal for a person acting as a real estate agent or sales person to gain a beneficial interest from the sale of property on their books, unless full disclosure of the interest was first made clear to the vendor.

“Vendors should not be out of pocket as a result of this kind of deal. The client should certainly not have to pay commission to the person or company who is buying the property.

“Mr Dickins was prosecuted under the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000, losing his registration certificate and paying more than $3,000 in fines and costs.

“Mr Dickins withheld the details of his dealings from his employer, who was the licensee of the real estate office.

“His employer became aware of the suspect dealings during an internal audit, and lodged a complaint with the Office of Fair Trading.

“Laws are in place to protect consumers from this kind of unprofessional conduct.”

There’s a new real estate agency about to open its doors in Hervey Bay. Aquamarine Reality will soon be opening next to the Scarness Newsagency on The Esplanade at Scarness.

If you live in Hervey Bay or surrounding areas and your computer needs repairs but you can’t get out to take it to our recommended computer shop in Hervey Bay then check out Computer Assist.

Computer Assist comes right to you to look after your computer needs in your own home.

It’s fully imported, it’s easier to operate than driving a car, it’s more fun on the water than any other wind-powered vessel and it’s right here in Hervey Bay.

The Windkart is a unique craft that’s now making it’s debut in Australia and Aquavue Cafewatersports down on the Esplanade at Torquay has four of them available for hire as part of their jet ski and beach equipment hire inventory.

These four vessels are just the start of an exciting new business venture for Larry and the crew at Aquavue because Larry has been appointed as the sole distributor for Windkart here in Australia.

It looks so simple to operate that even I might be tempted to venture out in one (and she-who-must-be-obeyed even said I could).