New Council Website Goes Lives For the most up to date information regarding Council news and services, please see our new website at www.southburnett.qld.gov.au. Some areas of the website are still under construction, and we thank you for your understanding as we continue to collate and upload information for our online visitors. The websites for the former shire Councils of Kingaroy, Murgon, Nanango and Wondai will remain static and will no longer be updated. If you are seeking information which is not currently available online, please contact your nearest office for assistance.

South Burnett Regional Council On the 15 March 2008, Kingaroy Shire Council amalgamated with Wondai, Murgon and Nanango Shire Councils to form the new South Burnett Regional Council. Throughout the transition process, the South Burnett Regional Council is committed to maintaining the current level of services provided to our residents and ratepayers. We encourage all residents and ratepayers to continue visiting your local Council office for enquiries on council services and facilities, paying bills and lodging applications, just as you do now. All current local laws, policies, fees and charges of the four former authorities will continue to apply within the former Council areas. These will be reviewed by the new Council at a later date. This website will continue to operate, with local area information together with details of the transition process and South Burnett Regional Council information. Other information can also be obtained from South Burnett Regional Council's LTC website and the former websites of Nanango, Murgon and Wondai Shire Councils. A new South Burnett Regional Council website is being developed to incorporate the new region. We thank you for your patience during this process. For any further information please don't hesistate to call South Burnett Regional Council. Our current telephone directory is available in PDF format by clicking here.

Notice of Meetings In accordance with Section 464(1) of the Local Government Act, notice is hereby given that the ordinary General Meeting of the South Burnett Regional Council will be held every third Wednesday until December 2008. A decision beyond December will be made prior to this time. The following is a full listing of meeting dates and venues:- Wednesday 24 September 2008 at Wondai Chambers, Mackenzie St at 9:00 am Wednesday 15 October 2008 at Kingaroy Chambers, Glendon St at 9:00 am Wednesday 5 November 2008 at Murgon Chambers, Stephens St West at 9:00 am Wednesday 26 November 2008 at Nanango Chambers, Drayton St at 9:00 am Wednesday 17 December 2008 at Wondai Chambers, Mackenzie St at 9:00 am Any alteration to the above days or times will be advised by public notice. A V Hayward CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Reopening of Yallakool Park on BP Dam Council will like to advise that Yallakool Park on BP Dam (positioned on the foreshores of Bjelke-Petersen Dam) will be reopen for accommodation bookings as of Saturday 20th of September. The Park offers a variety of accommodation options for the whole family with 9 self contained villas, 2 self contained deluxe cabins, 8 ensuited caravan sites and numerous powered and unpowered sites throughout the complex. Yallakool Park on BP Dam offers a great experience with a swimming pool, tennis court, dam leisure activities and much much more. For more information or bookings please contact the South Burnett Regional Council (Murgon Office) on 4169 9000.

Gordonbrook Dam Recreation Area Users of Gordonbrook Dam Recreation Area are notified that the dam is closed to the public until further notice due to the fluctuating presence of high levels of blue green algae. This includes access to the Gordonbrook Dam Reserve via private property adjacent to this area. The picnic area is still open to the public. It has tables and composting toilets but no barbecues. Use of the dam is to be conducted in accordance with the following conditions: Boat fishing is not permitted. The boat ramp is closed. Fishing is confined to bank areas and only with a relevant Permit from the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (Phone 13 25 23). Access onto the dam is not permitted for activities such as water skiing, canoeing, boating etc Access to Gordonbrook Dam Recreation Area can be gained by turning into Recreation Drive on the northern side of Memerambi. Part of the access road is gravel. An "Activities on Parks and Reserves" form needs to be completed for group users of the park/ reserve area and/or in the event of a special event. The Activities on Parks and Reserves form can be downloaded here, completed and then emailed or faxed (fax: 07 4162 4806) back to Council. The cooperation of the public is sought in observing these conditions. Please contact the Infrastructure Services Department of Council on 4162 6240 for further enquiries.

Why not become a Volunteer!! If you are looking to volunteer in a fun and social environment – contact the Kingaroy Information, Art and Heritage Precinct on (07) 4162 6272 or email us. The Precinct is open seven (7) days a week and incorporates the Kingaroy Visitor Information Centre, the Kingaroy Heritage Museum and the Kingaroy Art Gallery.

Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme The State Government has recently announced that they'll be operating a second stage of their Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme. The new stage offers all Queensland householders cash rebates for a number of water-saving devices purchased between 16th August 2006 and 30th June 2009. Rebateable items include shower heads, rainwater tanks, dual-flush toilet systems, water-efficient clothes washers, swimming pool covers/rollers and grey water systems. The Department of Natural Resources and Water’s website offers a number of fact sheets designed to inform householders of the conditions and eligibility for claims the rebate. The DNR’s Home WaterWise.section can be viewed by clicking here. Residents should note that that these rebates are offered by the State Government, so application forms should be sent to the Home WaterWise Rebate Scheme office in Brisbane. Council nonetheless encourages all householders to take advantage of this scheme, which will help conserve our Shire's valuable water resources in the future.

"Cartridges 4 Planet Ark" Planet Ark has set up 'Cartridges 4 Planet Ark' and the Kingaroy Shire Council has decided to support this worthwhile program. It has been estimated that over 80% of our used cartridges are going directly to landfill. Australians throw away more than 18 million printer cartridges every year. All cartridges collected will be remanufactured or recycled, regardless of their brand, age, make or model. So now you can drop off your used or empty laser and inkjet cartridges into the special Planet Ark recycling boxes provided at the Council Office in Glendon Street or the Visitor Information Centre in Haly Street, Kingaroy. Any type of toner or ink cartridge from a fax, photocopier or printer will be accepted in the drop off bins. For more information about how the cartridges are remanufactured or recycled visit www.planetark.com.au/cartridges. So “Don’t throw them away, throw them Planet Ark's way!”

Round ’Em Up and Hand ’Em In! Disused Mobile Telephones The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association’s Mobile Muster and Council have teamed up to offer members of the community the opportunity to recycle their disused mobile telephones. The aim of the partnership is to divert disused mobile telephones away from entering landfill. Mobile phones contain plastic and a range of precious metals, which can be recovered and used in the manufacture of products such as stainless steel, batteries and jewellery. Council encourages all residents to “round ’em up and hand ’em in”. You can drop off your old mobile phones to the Council Office in Glendon Street or the Visitor Information Centre in Haly Street, as well as at most mobile phone retailers.

Level 4 Water Restrictions Now In Force Because the Gordonbrook Dam level has been dropping quickly and with minimal rainfall since February, resulting in no inflow to the Dam, Level 4 Water Restrictions will take effect from Monday 9 June 2008. These restrictions will apply to Kingaroy and Wooroolin consumers. Water usage has been 16% above the target rate of 140 litres per person per day and with the onset of cooler winter weather, the requirement for outside water usage is reduced. Residents will still have 2 hours (every second day) on their allocated days to attend to gardening needs. A total ban on all sprinklers will apply. Level 7 restrictions remain in force at Kumbia and this includes a total ban on all outside watering. Conditions: During the hours shown on the days listed in the All-Seasons Watering Chart: Micro-irrigation systems may be used with a Council Permit. Hand-held hosing with trigger nozzle, is permitted. Bucket watering is permitted anytime A total ban is in force on the use of travelling irrigators, soaker hoses and sprinklers. All Seasons Watering Chart Watering Days Street Number Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun Odd Even or Unnumbered Watering Times Residential 6:00am to 8:00am and 5:00pm to 7:00pm Others 8:00am to 10:00am and 3:00pm to 5:00pm Business Owners should obtain details about water use in the Commercial Sector by downloading a copy of the Water Triggers for Level 4 Document. Council thanks consumers for their water wise practices. Please contact Council on phone: 4162 6244 if you have any further enquiries.