High Country Herald - July 4, 2017

TO THE EDITOR
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spelling, repetition, verbosity, legal considerations, etc. Herald policy is to retain the
writer’s intent in all correspondence. The editor neither agrees nor disagrees with sentiments
expressed by correspondents. High Country Herald, P.O. Box 242, Highfields Q. 4352 or editor@highcountrynews.net.au
Timely reminder - water security
I noticed in a recent council update for the
Toowoomba region that our dam levels are at 59
per cent capacity. We may think that that is good.
There is still plenty of water left.
But, is it good? Each of Toowoomba’s three
dams need a flood event to fill them or a least give
them a major replenishment.
Still fresh in our minds are the 2011 and 2013
floods which is not long ago.
And we are already down to 59 per cent. In the
past, this region has experienced drier periods
over many years' duration.
Youth and the
job market
It is scary when you think one in 10 young
people in the Darling Downs and Maranoa want
a job but cannot get one.
Well, that is sadly the case as youth unemployment
continues to shoot up across Queensland.
The extent of Labor’s jobs crisis has been laid
bare, with new figures showing more than 600
youth jobs slashed from the Darling Downs and
Maranoa jobs market in the past year.
The latest ABS figures now show the region’s
youth unemployment rate at 8.8 per cent, after a
1.9 per cent rise in just the last 12 months.
Statewide, a total of 11,200 young people saw
their jobs disappear in the past year.
All while the Palaszczuk Labor Government
has been at the helm.
Queensland is leading the nation for all the
wrong reasons under Labor, with youth jobs
vanishing in 13 out of 19 regions in Queensland
last year.
These facts irrefutably show Labor’s jobs
budget is nothing more than a con job and
Queensland is being held back by a do-nothing
Labor government.
In contrast to Labor’s inaction, the LNP’s
$100 million Get Queensland Working program
will create up to 20,000 jobs for young Queenslanders,
and reverse Labor’s youth jobs trend by
reducing the cost of working for young apprentices
and offering financial incentives for businesses
who train and retain staff.
Only an LNP Government will create jobs
across Queensland, deliver the vital infrastructure
projects the Darling Downs and
Maranoa needs and Build a Better Queensland.
- Scott Emerson, LNP, Shadow Treasurer.
To find out more details,
please call 131 872 or
visit www.tr.qld.gov.au
Updates from the
Toowoomba Region
Ruthven St Grand Opening
It’s official. The Ruthven Street Streetscape
Upgrade is now complete. From Ruthven St to
Chalk Drive we’ve extended the look and feel
of the CBD. The upgrade includes increased
parking bays, new paved footpaths and artworks.
We’d like to invite you to the official opening on
Friday, 7 July from 9am-12 noon at Cathro Park.
Come along and enjoy a BBQ, radio station
giveaways from 6am and fun activities for the
kids. For more info call 131 872.
Environment grants now open
Grants of up to $5,000 are now available
through our environment grant program.
Applications close 1 August. For more info or to
apply online, visit www.tr.qld.gov.au/grants
Fit for Kids!
Keep your kids’ active over winter with fun
school holiday classes happening at Milne
Bay and Highfields Aquatic and Fitness
Centres. For more info call 4699 6530 or email
aquaticandfitness@tr.qld.gov
Recreation providers
Calling outdoor recreation providers! Do you
run an outdoor recreation activity? Register
your details with us and receive information on
available resources, promotion and upcoming
networking events. Email info@tr.qld.gov.au or
phone 131 872 for more info.
Toowoomba is one of the fastest growing cities
in Queensland with more and more houses and
businesses being hooked up to the same old water
supply - no change since Cressbrook dam was
built in 1983. How much bigger the population
now (and still growing.)
For many people who experienced the situation
before 2011, water restrictions are still fresh
in our minds.
In fact, it was a desperate time, facing the possibility
that Toowoomba could run out of water.
Unfortunately, we could easily face the same
scenario in the not so distant future.
Well, at least we have the Wivenhoe pipeline
to fall back on if and when needed. But is that
the complete answer? Will the supply always be
there if we need it?
Not to mention the exorbitant cost for the
power required to pump it up to Toowoomba
at ratepayer’s expense. A dam built on Emu
Creek could help, but once again, a flood would
be needed to fill it. Then there is recycled water
which also was considered a few years ago, but
which was one of the most divisive issues that
Toowoomba has ever experienced.
It is great that our region ins booming with
such potential for continuing development, but I
just hope that the powers that be are considering
the future of our water supply as seriously as they
are all other areas of development.
At the very least, individual households and
business owners, where possible, can at least be
taking steps even now to harvest their own rainwater
as an insurance for when the time will surely
come that we are faced with a critical shortage
of water once again. - Jim Watson, Highfields.
Wedding
Expo
pictorial
pages
8 - 9
Toowoomba Camellia Show
Most of our garden’s flowers fade in winter, but
the beautiful Camellia thrives! Joining us at the
2017 Toowoomba Camellia Show & Garden
Expo on 15-16 July, 9am-4pm at the TAFE
Horticulture Centre, Campbell Street. Entry
for the show and expo is $8 OR just $5 for the
Winter Garden OR $10 for both. For more info,
visit www.toowoombacamelliashow.com
Council meetings
The next meetings of Council’s Standing
Committees will be held on 11 and 12 July
commencing at 9am. The next Ordinary Meeting
of Council will be held on 18 July commencing at
10am. All meetings are at City Hall, 541 Ruthven
Street, Toowoomba.
NZ Friendship Tour
We have a sister city relationship with Whanganui
in New Zealand. This year we’re visiting and
we’d like to take you with us! We’ve partnered
with Stonestreets Travel to create a stunning 14
day tour through the North Island. Departing from
Toowoomba’s Wellcamp airport on 7 November,
this legendary tour begins in Auckland and will
show you highlights including New Plymouth,
Wellington, Napier, Rotorua and Paihia before
returning to Toowoomba on 20 November. For
more info or to book, call Stonestreets Travel on
4687 5555 or visit www.stonestreets.com.au
TRC_SEC_040717_HCH_16x4
Dissatisfaction with bus timetable
With regard to the recent
change by Translink to the bus
services, may I bring to your attention
the neglectful frame of
mind by the company to Crows
Nest.
There is only the one example;
allow me now to present
it. Firstly, the 6.20am departure
is simply too early. The next is
10am which now takes 90 mins
to achieve its destination; the
bus terminal.
With regard of a return
trip, the next departure from
Toowoomba is an hour later
which would not be suitable in
the least after the initial lengthy
I am a six year resident of Highfields and have
noticed a large increase in the amount of rubbish
strewn on the footpaths and roadways of the Highfields
and Toowoomba district.
I do a walking litter run a few times a week and
have no problem collecting several large bags of
rubbish.
I have contacted the council in regards to trying
to organise volunteers to help out and clean
We have received so much
publicity recently about the proposed
Acland Stage 3 mining development
and local jobs.
However, it appears that no
one has mentioned the jobs that
could be created by the alternative
of new farms.
During the Land Court hearings
an experienced local farmer
was asked about the area
of about 10,000 ha acquired
through the sale of farms to New
Hope at Acland. He said that 20
good farmers could make a wonderful
living there for the rest of
Litter getting worse
Toowoomba but to no avail.oowoomba and districts
are becoming very unsightly. It seems to me
that people are just stepping over the problem.
I would like to put the problem out there and see
if we can form a group here in Highfields to get
the ball rolling.
My Facebook group is called, Our War on Litter
Waste. - Bill Kelly, Highfields.
2-4 Plaza Circle Operating Hours:
Highfields 4352
Mon-Fri: 8.30am-6.00pm
Phone: (07) 4615 5600
& Sat: 8.30am-4.00pm
Fax: (07) 4615 5700
Email: highfields@discountdrugstores.com.au
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circuitous bus ride.
The following bus to take
home would be the 3.30pm
which takes another 90 minutes
return journey, resulting in a trip
to and from Toowoomba taking
three hours and would mean a
total of six and half hours away
from home, irrespective of what
one had planned.
Previously, the same expedition
would take four hours; in
that a person would leave at 9am
and return home at 1pm - just in
time to make lunch.
The community has depended
on the same timetable for many
a commute over many a year but
Switch to NBN
their days and their children’s
days. Consider the employment
that could be created by the
farmers and all businesses that
serve them.
Consider how the aquifer
water supplies would be secured
for the future. This is in stark
contrast to the lowering of bore
water levels predicted across
more than 22,000 ha as a result
of proceeding with the Manning
West, Manningvale East and
Willeroo pits. What happens to
employment when mining ceases?
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I received a generic letter from Telstra advising
that the NBN was coming to Highfields in the near
future.
This has left me feeling a bit anxious considering
the stories I have read over the past 12
months which have been critical of the NBN, especially
in relation to the reported loss of speed
compared to existing ADSL connections, wild
fluctuations of speed with the NBN, poor installations
and inability to get the provider and/or NBN
Co to rectify the problems.
Our existing ADSL connection speed and reliability
have been great and I am anxious and fearful
that NBN will not maintain that performance.
Are there any households in the readership area
that have any good stories to tell about their NBN
switch? - Steve Kropp, Highfields - s.kropp@
bigpond.com.
Acland and local jobs
Sitting watching the carpark at Coles Supermarket,
it surprises me how many parents put their
groceries in the car before they put the children
in the car.
I have seen little children run to the back of the
car where mum or dad are and if they don’t stop,
Thank you to all those who have signing the
Highfields petition. As your strong local voice I
will soon be presenting this Petition to our Mayor
Paul Antonio, so I have a favour to ask.
Could you please forward the link for the Highfields
Petition to any friends you believe might be
interested in supporting this cause.
Children first
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the recent changes have been
without rhyme or reason.
The result of Translink's
changes has been decidedly negative
in its consequences with
not only the elderly being left
feeling confused isolated and
without value.
I urge all those in charge to
fully appreciate what damage in
my local community has been
done to the lives of families,
workers, aged and the disabled
as a result of the much heralded
new bus service.
Please contact Translink 13
12 30 to express your concerns.
- S. M. Thomas, Crows Nest.
Remember that about 10 million
litres of milk are produced
annually from four dairy farms
near Acland. We cannot afford
to risk losing these dairy farms
because of a lack of water.
Consider the potential for exporting
“clean, green” produce
from the Acland area through
Wellcamp airport.
Agricultural development
means more guaranteed long
term employment for Oakey and
district. - Dr John Standley,
Rockville.
the risk of being hit is inevitable by cars trying to
get a park and who cannot see this little person.
Please mums and dads put the kids in the car
first before some little one gets hurt. - Lyn Collier,
Crows Nest.
Highfields petition
This will ensure that the TRC does not continue
with its plan of forcing people to sell their homes
to open up cul de sacs for a new road network at
Highfields. toowoomba.north@parliament.qld.
gov.au - Trevor Watts, Member for Toowoomba
North. - Authorised by L. Folo, 66-68 Bowen
Street, Spring Hill Q.
Congratulations to Pony Club
The team at Zeller and Co. would like to congratulate
the Crows Nest Pony Club for a very
successful campdraft held recently. Congratulations
too, to those who organised the day as it is
good to see local events being held.
In addition, we would like to thank the organisers
of the Pony Club for conducting the fortnightly
canteen at Zeller and Co. Rocky Dip sale.
It is magnificent food and the best patty cakes. -
Rick Zeller, Crows Nest.
2 - HIGH COUNTRY HERALD, JULY 4, 2017
To advertise phone 4615 4416