Hervey Bay Gossip

Premier Anna Bligh today announced significant changes to the Queensland land valuations system to provide greater certainty and align Queensland with other States.

The Premier has today committed to moving to site valuation, consistent with other jurisdictions and in line with what the property industry and local government have been seeking for some time.

The Government will put in place a new structure to reform the state valuation services including the appointment of an independent Valuer General to provide transparency in the assessment and issuing of valuations.

“In dealing with the past, the Government will legislate to maintain the status quo by validating valuations already issued.

“The Government is determined to protect Queenslanders from the potential for hundreds of millions in repayments which has emerged after a recent Court decision.

“The Government will pass legislation so the method for valuing property is crystal clear, now and into the future,” Ms Bligh said.

“This will allow us to complete the 2010 valuation with certainty, but we will then go further and introduce the simpler method of valuation - ’site value’ - for non-rural lands from the following year.

The Premier announced today the state would:

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We get plenty of sunshine all year round here in Hervey Bay and that makes power from the sun a very sensible option.

So if you want to find out more about solar hot water in Hervey Bay or solar electricity in Hervey Bay then follow the links to Solarhart Fraser Coast’s website and discover how easy it is to get your power from the sun.

Even though it might be a while before the Premier of Queensland makes it back to Hervey Bay that doesn’t mean that you can’t ask her a question.

The people of Queensland will have an opportunity to have their say on the future of the education system, during the first on-line People’s Question Time next week.

The Premier is inviting members of the public to send in their questions ahead of the forum, to be held on Friday 26 February.

“This forum is an opportunity for the people of Queensland to make their voices heard on the best way to ensure all Queensland children are given a flying start,” Ms Bligh said.

“The Education Minister and I, together with education experts and stakeholders, will take part in the forum giving Queenslanders the chance to ask questions and put forward suggestions.

“I urge Queenslanders to get online and get involved in this important conversation about our children’s future.

“Whether it is new ideas to get parents reading with their children or questions about shifting Year 7 into high school, I want to hear your views.

Ms Bligh said questions can be submitted in the lead up to the forum via www.qld.gov.au/questiontime, or people watch live and lodge questions online during the event.

“From the success of last year’s on-line Integrity and Accountability Forums it was clear that Queenslanders valued the opportunity to have greater access to their Government,” Ms Bligh said.

“This forum will be the first of a regular program of People’s Question Time, which will take community consultation to a new level.

“Visual and audio footage of the forum will be streamed live via the web for people to watch online.

“This means, no matter where they live, Queenslanders can have their say and ask the questions they want to hear answered.”

The forum will be streamed live on 26 February 12:00-1:00pm. For more information, or to view the live stream go to www.qld.gov.au/questiontime.

Remember back to the days just before concil amalgamation?

That was the time when the good people of Maryborough were complaining that they would have to carry the people of Hervey Bay because Hervey Bay had such high debt levels … and Maryborogh council knew that Hervey Bay had high debt levels because the Hervey Bay Council didn’t try to hide that information.

Well now it seems that it’s not the good people of Maryborough who are going to have to carry the Hervey Bay community … instead it’s us, the people of Tiaro Shire and the people of the old Woocoo Shire who are going to have to chip in to support Maryborough and their failing sewerage and water system.

It seems that these were problems that the Maryborough Council knew about well before amalgamation but decided not to tell anyone about.

Of course now there are some questions that we’d all like answers to … questions that are asked over on Strewth is Back … questions that are probably way too hard for anyone from the old Maryborough Council to answer.

Hervey Bay can expect some very high tides over the next few days and this morning’s peak at Urangan  at 9am was set for 4.15 metres.

At around 7.15 this morning an onshore breeze was already pushing spray over the seawall at Urangan and this was the view from the pier at Torquay. There is a beach somewhere under all that water.

Hervey Bay is seeing a real return to the great holiday times back before the recession. Drive along the Esplanade and you will see ‘no vacancy’ signs up at quite a few of the holiday apartments … the caravan parks are packed … and there are people everywhere.

In the shopping areas and along Boat Harbour Drive the traffic is like nothing we’ve ever seen before in Hervey Bay.

Let’s hope these great times continue on through January.

Last week the Fraser Coast Chronicle reported a very happy Councillor Nioa announcing that Hervey Bay now had direct flights to Sydney and Melbourne thanks to QantasLink but it seems that our esteemed Councillor has a different interpretation of the word “direct” to what most other people have.

When I think “direct flight” I think of boarding the plane in Hervey Bay and not getting out of my seat till I arrive at my destination … you know … direct flights like Virgin Blue still has to Sydney and Jetstar used to have to Sydney.

However, if you take the “direct flight” to Sydney or Melbourne that QantasLink is offering and our Councillor was so happy about you’re still going to have to get off the plane in Brisbane … find your way to the departure gate for the Sydney or Melbourne flight and then board a different plane to continue your journey.

Isn’t that the way it’s always been?

This was the scene outside Vinnies in Liuzzi Street Hervey Bay on Monday morning after some local idiots had set fire to the collection bins on Sunday night.

You have to wonder how many of those vandals can’t afford to shop anywhere else but at Vinnies

If you’re heading south into New South Wales these holidays then here are a few tips we can share with you after making the trip south from Hervey Bay to Newcastle last Thursday.

Brisbane
Try to get through Brisbane outside of the peak travel times. This was the scene at about 7am on this side of the Pine ‘River as traffic slowed to a crawl and stayed that way almost right through to the Gateway Bridge.

New South Wales
Once you’re across the border and through the Tugun Bypass be prepared for a lot of roadwork with plenty of lengthy delays right through till you’ve reached Woolgoolga and then more delays south of Port Macquarie around Kew.

We travelled home on Sunday and most of the roadworks had stopped for the weekend so the trip home took about an hour less than the trip down.

The Hervey Bay Water Park was officially opened last Sunday and without a doubt it’s the most popular place in Hervey Bay. Every time any of the Gossip’s crew have been past it the place has been packed and we’re not even into the school holidays yet.

Unfortunately it seems that someone forgot to allow for sufficient parking spaces and every day this week there have been a large number of cars parked under the trees on the Point Vernon side of the roundabout. That’s a problem that’s sure to get worse once the school holidays start.