Here in Hervey Bay we seem to be gathering an interesting crop of candidates ranging from councillors from the current Fraser Coast Regional Council to people with business experience who want to see something better for the region than what we currently have and others who are just plain enthusiastic.

In the past it’s been hard for ordinary residents to actually get to know the candidates … and for those candidates to get their message out to the voters. But these days … thanks to all the various types of social media … it’s a little easier than it once was.

These days we have candidates advertising on Facebook and even running their own blogs where ordinary people like you and I can actually question them … and hopefully get a response.

One such candidate is Stuart Taylor … the guy who runs Charlie Bucket’s down on the Esplanade at Scarness. He has an interesting blog that gives you some insight into the man behind the election advertising and if you want to know what his vision is for the Fraser Coast … and Hervey Bay … then head over to this entry.

Perhaps you can even surprise him with a few questions to see if there’s some substance to his ideas. Visions are wonderful things but what’s behind all those wonderful ideas?

Another new candidate who is using the web to get his message out is George Seymour. Follow that link and you will find that he has policies on everything from abandoned shopping trolleys (cattle grids at car park entrances … really?) to bigger recycling bins and cat desexing.

And of course there’s Jim MacKellar who has his own website and at the same time is busy sending out press releases to every local news website he can find … and that’s not such a bad thing.

So let’s have a look at some that have left Hervey Bay and some that have arrived or are in the process of arriving.

If you’re a foodie then you may already know that Dom’s Cantina on the Esplanade has closed as has his other restaurant … the Wheelhouse … down at the marina. It was definitely sad to see Dom go and we wish him well with his new venture in Melbourne.

While Dom’s departure was fairly public with garage sales at both venues the closing of another restaurant here in Hervey Bay happened much more quietly. We lost one of the best chef’s in town when the owner of Smoked Pepper decided to close and move to Qatar.

While we have lost a few cafes/restaurants we have also gained one or two. Hog’s Breath has opened behind Pizza Hut/KFC and down at the Wetside end of the Esplanade at Scarness … next to the Indian restaurant we now have Cobbers Cove Café.

We also have a new café down at Wetside … Whale Tale opened a month or two ago and we would certainly recommend it for breakfast. Sadly early mornings are about the only time you can get parking anywhere near the café.

Other businesses to have moved on include Metaland … on Boat Harbour Drive … and Scrappers Haven in Liuzzi Street.

Danny the hairdresser on the Esplanade at Scarness has also moved on. He decided that it was time to retire and he’s now living the life of a Gray Nomad while a new owner continues to operate from Danny’s old shop.

And coming to Hervey Bay soon is a new Woolworths/Caltex service station down on Boat Harbour Drive between Pialba and Eli Waters.

The servo is currently in the early stages of construction but it shouldn’t be long before we have another servo in town that offers fuel discounts to people that shop at Woolworths.

As conditions have steadily got worse it’s often been the lease conditions that have meant the difference between closing the doors or battling on and that difficult situation that many small retailers find themselves in.

As sales drop it becomes harder and harder to pay the rent and at a time when landlords … especially those in major shopping centres … should be more understanding many have refused to consider reducing rents and have even gone so far as to increase rents when it came time to renegotiate a lease.

Now the state government is reviewing the retail leasing legislation … the Retail Shop Leases Act 1994 … that was initially introduced to address a power imbalance between shopping centre landlords and small retail tenants.

The Attorney General is urging Queensland retail tenants, landlords and other stakeholders to have some input into the review and anyone who does want to have their say should start by downloading the discussion paper that’s available at www.justice.qld.gov.au.

Comments will be received until 30 January 2012.

Local Government Minister Paul Lucas has just  announced that the Government had accepted the recommendations of the independent Change Commission to change the Fraser Coast from an undivided council to a divided council.

The Change Commission will now work out where boundaries will be drawn to ensure quotas comply with requirements of the Local Government Act 2009.

And what will all that mean? Only time will tell but perhaps some of the current members of Council will be struggling to make the new Council … and that may not be such a bad thing.

We might even get some Councillors who are prepared to look at their role in a whole new light. Hopefully we’ll at least see an end to complaints that Council is biased towards Hervey Bay or Maryborough.

On Saturday night a particularly nasty storm cell went over the town delivering a storm that was about the worst we’ve experienced since we moved here in 2003. During the day on Saturday the weather wasn’t so great either as this video that we shot during the morning shows.

Overnight the main road between Eurong and Kingfisher Bay was closed by the fire and emergency crews were called out to fight the fire which was reported to be burning just 700 metres from the Kingfisher Bay Resort.

Low humidity and windy conditions are forecast for the next few days so the fire may take some time to bring under control and completely extinguish.

If you’re thinking of heading to Hervey Bay to see the whales … or if you live here and have never been out to do some whale watching … then now is the time to do it.

And just to give you a hint of what you’re missing here is one of the best whale watching videos around.

Yes that’s right come along to the Boat Club for a concert featuring some of our best local bands and your support will benefit the Hervey Bay Special School.

The concert will be held upstairs from 2pm with performances from Frank Benn, Dogwood Crossing, 3 On The Tree and Red Betty along with heaps of raffles and slave auctions.

There’s a $10 cover charge (includes nibblies and a ticket in the Lucky Door prize) and all money raised will help to fund much needed equipment for the students.

HBSS P&C secretary and concert organiser Karen O’Connor said iPads and touch screen computers were high on the fundraising wishlist.

“This kind of technology opens up new education doorways, particularly for students with communication challenges.

“And as all parents of special-needs kids know, getting access to the right resources isn’t always easy but it can be life-changing.

“Like any parent we do whatever we can to improve our children’s chances in life and that’s why supporting this event is so worthwhile.

“Everybody who comes to the concert can be sure their support will make a direct, positive difference to the life of a child and that child’s family.”

Ms O’Connor said the group had decided to swap pie drives for partying this year in an attempt to upscale its fundraising activities.

“So far it seems to be working and we hope the concert will become our main annual event.

“There’s lots of interest on Facebook via our social networking front Special Things For Special Kids.

“And Wide Bay Meet and Greet have gotten on board and helped spread the word.

“Not to mention the great response we’ve had from businesses who’ve donated raffle prizes.

“We know it’s not the easiest economic time so it makes their support all the more valuable and we really, really appreciate it.”

Today at 2pm down at the Seafront All Abilities Playground a special Liberty Swing will be presented to the kids of Hervey Bay. This is a swing that caters for kids with physical impairments and those who are confined to wheelchairs so it’s going to be something that will really benefit the kids here.

Funding for the Liberty Swing was supported through the Fraser Coast Regional Council and also via the efforts of all three of Hervey Bay’s generous Rotary Clubs: the Rotary Club of Hervey Bay City, Rotary Club of Hervey Bay and the Rotary Club of Hervey Bay Sunrise and by Variety Queensland.
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The Children’s Charity Riders are holding a show and shine event next Saturday at the Maryborough School oval at 164 Woodstock Street Maryborough with all proceeds going towards the cost of heating the swimming pool so that kids with special needs can use it all year round.

Gates open at 9am and the show will run through until 3pm. There will be plenty of great cars and motorbikes on display as well as entertainment for the whole family so it’s definitely the place to be this Saturday!