Little blue penguins at SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast are exploring a new Halloween habitat with pumpkins, tombstones and other surprises. The aquarium says the enrichment encourages the penguins' natural curiosity. On Saturday, October 31, the aquarium will host a Halloween Beach Clean-Up at Mooloolaba Beach from 9am to noon. Children are encouraged to collect rubbish instead of lollies, and free face painting will be offered. Marine animals can mistake rubbish for food or become tangled in it.
Police have charged a 22-year-old Aroona man over a theft in Buddina on Sunday, 25 October. It is alleged he stole a backpack from outside a shopping centre on Point Cartwright Drive at about 4pm. Officers arrested him on Alexandra Parade in Alexandra Headland shortly before 5pm after he allegedly ran off on foot. Police say a knife was found inside the backpack, which was located nearby. He faces charges of unlawful possession of stolen property, possessing a knife in a public place and failing to properly dispose of a needle or syringe.
Queensland has been warned of more storms and flooding this weekend after torrential rain caused severe flash flooding in the southeast. Caboolture, north of Brisbane, was the worst hit, where several people were rescued after driving into floodwaters. Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist David Crock said heavy rain and severe thunderstorms are possible across large parts of the state on Saturday. Storms are expected to peak on Monday as a cold front moves through. Flood warnings are current for rivers and creeks on the Sunshine Coast, in the Brisbane and Lockyer valleys, and in western Queensland.
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A Queensland adjudicator has rejected an urgent application to shut down an electric vehicle charger at The Pavilion Apartments in Bulimba. Resident Kin Chen had argued that the basement car park lacked adequate fire safety systems for a possible EV fire. The adjudicator found there was no immediate urgency, as the charger has operated since about 2020. The body corporate committee later granted retrospective approval with conditions, including annual servicing. The wider challenge to that approval is still to be decided.
Hope Vale angler Justin Convent won the adult prize, a Quintrex boat with a motor and trailer, at the Cooktown barramundi competition. More than 1100 anglers entered the event held from Friday to Sunday. Junior winner Nickalah Cobus also took home a boat. Thomas Hone caught the heaviest fish, weighing 7.4 kilograms. Local business owners said the weekend brought many shoppers into town.
Gympie Regional Council is asking the community to help shape renewed playgrounds at Crab Creek Park in Tin Can Bay and Clive Colburn Park in Kandanga. Both projects were funded in this year's Budget and aim to deliver modern, safe and accessible play spaces. The Crab Creek playground sits on the foreshore and is popular with locals and visitors. The Clive Colburn playground is heavily used on game and training days at nearby sporting fields. Surveys close at 5pm on Thursday, 12 November 2026, and the renewals are expected to be completed by 30 June 2027.
Isaac Regional Council has announced a delay in kerbside waste collection for Moranbah residents. Due to mechanical issues, the general and recycling collections scheduled for Tuesday, 27 October 2026, will be completed on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. Residents are requested to keep their bins at the kerbside until the delayed collection. The council has expressed apologies for the inconvenience caused and thanked residents for their patience. For further details, residents can contact the council's 24/7 Customer Service Centre.
Gleneagle State School celebrated 70 years of play on September 16 with an Under 8s Day attended by more than 150 community members. Children, parents and extended family took part in pony rides, cookie decorating, loose parts play, sensory play and hula hoops. Local police and firefighters also visited. Under 8s Day coordinator and Prep teacher Shannon Taylor said the event gave families and younger children a welcoming way to connect with the school before starting Prep.
Children aged 0 to 5 are invited to a Pop Up Playtime session at the Cooktown Botanic Gardens on Wednesday 18 November. Titled Bugs in my Backyard, the morning takes place at the Botanic Gardens Yarning Circle. Activities include bug hunting, bug-themed stories and hands-on discovery among the plants and pathways. Children can look under leaves for beetles, watch butterflies and find out what else lives in the gardens.
Nebo residents face a planned water supply outage from 9.30am to 12.30pm on Thursday, 29 October 2026, while the council carries out repairs at the Emergency Services Building. About 11 properties on St Lawrence and Kemmis Streets will be affected. Once supply returns, some households may notice discoloured water. Residents in that situation are advised to flush their taps and avoid using washing machines until the water runs clear. Flushing water can be reused on gardens or lawns.
Mining companies in Queensland's North West Minerals Province are struggling to find workers as drilling ramps up and new jobs open. AIC Mines chairman Aaron Colleran said hiring has been difficult everywhere, including at its Eloise copper mine near Cloncurry. The Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association estimates the industry will need 24,000 new workers across the country by 2027. Queensland Resources Council figures point to competing skill needs and fewer young people entering trades and mining careers. Industry leaders say apprenticeships must grow to ease the shortage.
Logan has about 206 hectares of vacant industrial development land, the Property Council says, offering room for new investment as greater Brisbane faces a shortage of industrial space. Property Council Queensland executive director Jess Caire said infrastructure such as roads and water must keep pace with demand. The council is calling for a $500 million industrial infrastructure fund and a coordinated state strategy to unlock more employment land. Average sale prices for smaller industrial sites rose about 44 per cent over the year to June 2026.
City of Moreton Bay and the Brisbane Bullets are calling on residents to nominate people who make a difference in local sport. The Community Hero initiative recognises coaches, volunteers and everyday champions who go above and beyond. Two finalists will each receive four game tickets and a half-time shout-out. The major winner will receive a courtside box experience for four, food and drinks, a signed jersey and an on-court thank you. Nominations close at 11:59pm on Sunday 22 November.
Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour has paid tribute to former councillor James Hansen, who has died. Hansen served one term on the former Woocoo Shire Council from 2004 to 2008 and three terms on Fraser Coast Regional Council from 2012 to 2024. Seymour described Hansen as one of the region's last dairy farmers and a passionate advocate for primary producers. He said Hansen always stood up for his beliefs. Seymour said his thoughts are with Hansen's family and friends after what he called a sudden and tragic loss.
Community and not-for-profit groups have until this Saturday, 31 October 2026, to apply for Council's Community Grants Round 1. Two grant levels are available. Small Grants of up to $5,000 are co-funded by Senex Energy and do not require a co-contribution, although one is favoured. Major Grants range from $5,001 to $20,000 and require a co-contribution of up to 50 per cent. Groups can discuss their projects with Council's Local Development Officers before applying.
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Cassowary Coast Regional Council has won the Local Government Mutual Services Risk Excellence Award for its Flash Flood Sensor Network. The radar sensors monitor water levels at known flood-prone locations across the region. Readings feed into the Cassowary Coast Disaster Dashboard, where residents, emergency services and Council can view local conditions. The network has already helped police and State Emergency Service personnel monitor conditions around Mission Beach. Council is running a three-year trial to verify the sensor readings and assess the system's effectiveness.
