September 27, 2019
We all know how precious water is – especially right now when more than 66 per cent of Queensland is in drought.
If only the Palaszczuk Labor Government knew that.
I was out at Paradise Dam on Wednesday with the Member for Burnett, Stephen Bennett.
The Palaszczuk Labor Government had just announced they are frivolously releasing 32,000 Olympic swimming pools worth of water from that dam.
To release this amount of water without any consultation from the community shows how out of touch this government is.
I’ve spoken to many growers and landowners who are devastated by this decision.
When we have the state of Queensland in so much drought, we cannot afford to waste a precious drop.
How can the Government use $250 million of taxpayers money for bonuses for public servants but can’t invest in water security?
Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to step up and reverse this out of touch decision.
If elected next year, the LNP will prioritise investment in our current dams and build new dams.
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Bees Are One Of My Local Heroes
The weekend of September 14-15 was a huge couple of days for the Kingaroy Junior Motorcycle Speedway Club (The Bees) when they hosted three Under 16 State Title Events at their track in Kingaroy.
I was pleased to offer the club one of my Local Hero Grants to help them with the costs of holding the Titles.
Hundreds of riders and their families converged on Kingaroy to take part.
This is one of our hardest working local clubs.
The Bees started just five years ago and now have their own track and club house and are securing State events.
Congrats to President Simon Rogerson, Secretary Tracey Tunstall, and all the families and riders!
Congratulations also to the following young sportspeople who were also successful in the latest round of my Local Hero grants:
- Lucy Dyson – to help her attend the 10-12 yrs Queensland Athletics Championships
- Cooper Weil – to help him attend the 10-12 yrs National Athletics Championships
- Taylay Kidman – to help her attend the U16 State Netball Championships
- Kai Allan – to help him attend the USKU Karate Championships in Japan
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Kingaroy’s Clontarf Academy Kicking Goals
Kingaroy State High School’s Clontarf Academy is certainly kicking goals in and out of the classroom.
The aim of the Clontarf Academy is to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.
The boys very proudly gave me a tour of their room and it was an honour to present a Queensland flag for such a passionate group.
I will make sure I brush up on my table tennis skills before my next visit!
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Av’in A Great Time In Blackbutt
The annual Blackbutt Avocado Festival just keeps getting bigger and better!
From the skydiving ‘Avo Drop’ to the avo roll, toss and golf, the day celebrated all things avocado.
I loved sharing my pesto (made with Avocado oil) with chef Jason Ford for a cooking demonstration making Pesto Avocado & Tomato Fettuccine.
Well done again to Jeff Connor and his organising team for another ‘smashing’ event!
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Michelle’s Our Raffle Winner!
I recently held a raffle on my Facebook page to raise money for the South Burnett Suicide Prevention Group.
Congratulations to the lucky winner, Kingaroy local, Michelle Rutley who won a weekend away in Bargara.
Michelle (left) popped down to my office to pick up her prize and Danita Potter came down to collect the raffle proceeds!
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Thank You To Our Emergency Services
Mother nature threw everything it could at our parched regions recently and we saw fire emergencies across our State.
Our own patch saw fires being fought at Linville, Esk and in the northern rural areas of the Nanango Electorate.
The smoke haze was a constant reminder of the serious conditions being experienced and the constant threat of bushfire on our doorstep.
I would like to sincerely thank our local crews who helped contain the Linville and Esk fires, along with all the volunteers who supported their hard work.
I know crews also travelled to the North Burnett to assist with the Hawkwood fires.
I travelled to the communities affected in Stanthorpe, Peregian Beach, Bundaberg and the Gold Coast Hinterland.
There is no doubt that this has been a really tough start to the fire season and the firefighters and emergency workers have worked incredibly hard to save properties and lives.
We have a long fire season ahead of us and I encourage all landholders – whether you’re in town or on a property – to complete a bushfire survival plan.
Remember, you don’t have to live in the bush to be threatened by a bushfire.
You just have to be close enough to be affected by burning material, embers and smoke.
Please remain vigilant as the dry weather continues, and let’s all pray that rain is on our horizon.
[Photos: Nanango Electorate Office and southburnett.com.au]
