Former Fraser Coast councillor and One Nation candidate James Hansen, 57, has been found dead in a flooded creek in Queensland. He went missing on Monday after trying to cross flooded Smothering Creek on Boompa Road, near Maryborough. Police say a report will go to the coroner while investigations continue. Mr Hansen was a dairy farmer and served on Fraser Coast Regional Council for three terms. Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour paid tribute to him as a passionate advocate for rural producers. Severe weather and rising floodwaters continue to affect parts of Queensland.
A man has died after being found unresponsive in floodwaters at Smothering Creek on the Fraser Coast in Queensland. Emergency crews were called shortly after 11am on Monday and declared him dead at the scene. Police are investigating whether the 57-year-old drove into the floodwaters before his death, and a report will go to the Coroner. The death follows torrential rain across the Wide Bay-Burnett region, which triggered flash flooding, road closures and major flood warnings. Authorities have urged motorists not to drive through floodwaters.
Former Fraser Coast councillor James Hansen, 57, has been identified as the man found dead in floodwaters at Boompa, police say. He served on the Fraser Coast regional council from 2012 to 2024 and ran for One Nation in 2017. Mayor George Seymour called his death a great loss to the community. Police have begun an investigation and will prepare a report for the coroner. Separately, six campers were rescued from flood waters at Leyburn on the Southern Downs.
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A 57-year-old man found dead in floodwaters on Queensland's Fraser Coast has been identified as former councillor James Hansen. Emergency services were called to Smothering Creek at Boompa Road in Boompa, west of Maryborough, just after 11am on Monday, after heavy rain. Officers declared him dead on arrival. Police will prepare a report for the coroner while the cause of death is investigated. Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour paid tribute to Mr Hansen, one of the region's last dairy farmers, who served on Fraser Coast Regional Council from 2012 to 2024.
Police are investigating the death of a man found in floodwaters at Boompa on the Fraser Coast on Monday, 26 October. Emergency services were called to Smothering Creek on Boompa Road shortly after 11am after reports that a man had been found unresponsive. Crews declared him dead on arrival. Investigations into the circumstances of his death are ongoing, and police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
The Bureau of Meteorology warns the Mary River may exceed minor flood level at Maryborough early Monday. Two bridges are already closed, and Lamington Bridge is expected to close Sunday evening. Granville Bridge may also close depending on river levels. Motorists are urged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time and check road conditions. Residents should never drive through floodwaters, even without closure signs.
Five new SES vehicles will be deployed across the Fraser Coast's six SES groups, with the fleet upgrade costing $328,610. Funding comes from the Queensland Government's SES Priority Fleet Replacement Grant Program, which paid for three vehicles, and from Council's Disaster Management and Resilience Levy, which paid for two. Mayor George Seymour said the vehicles would help volunteers respond safely to storms, floods and other emergencies. Residents are urged to prepare for storm season and can attend the free Get Ready Food n Groove event in Maryborough on Friday 30 October, from 4pm to 9pm.
Registered dog owners on the Fraser Coast can now enter the 2026 Cutest Dog Competition by uploading a photo before 4 November. The winner receives a $250 Buy Local Gift Card and the title of Fraser Coast's Cutest Dog, while the runner-up receives $100. Mayor George Seymour said the competition celebrates local pets and promotes responsible dog ownership. Dogs must be registered with Council to take part. A judging panel will choose ten finalists, and the public will then vote for the winner on Council's Facebook page.
Registrations are now open for the Fraser Coast Christmas Lights Trail, which invites residents and businesses to decorate their properties. Entries will appear on the Christmas Lights map from 1 December. Mayor George Seymour said 174 homes and businesses registered in 2025, along with nine Christmas Street entries. Christmas Street entries need at least three registered properties. Registrations close at 5pm on Friday 20 November 2026.
Student leaders from 13 Fraser Coast high schools have presented recommendations to Fraser Coast Regional Council. They want more local university study options and better pathways for young athletes, so young people do not have to leave the region. Students suggested partnerships with education providers, a Youth and Industry Reference Group, greater promotion of local sporting achievements and more specialist coaching clinics. Mayor George Seymour said the ideas could help shape the region's future, including ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. No formal decisions or funding were sought at the meeting.
The Fraser Coast unemployment rate has held at a record low of 4.5% for the second quarter in a row. The rate was 12.1% in December 2020. Mayor George Seymour said the region had come a long way and that more work was needed to give local people rewarding jobs. The estimated number of unemployed residents fell by 941 over the year to June 2026, to 2,427. Council is working towards a goal of growing the local economy by $2 billion by 2036.
A woman and a 10-year-old girl have been found dead after a car crashed into a dam at Tinana South, on Queensland's Fraser Coast. Emergency services were called to Springvale Road just before 5.30pm on Thursday after a blue Subaru Tribeca was reported in the water. A 36-year-old Tinana South woman and the girl were inside the vehicle and had died before first responders arrived. The Queensland Police Forensic Crash Unit has begun an investigation. Police have urged any witnesses, or anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage, to come forward.
A 36-year-old woman and her 10-year-old daughter were found dead inside their car in a dam on a property in Tinana South, south of Maryborough, Queensland. Police believe the crash happened around 2.45pm while the woman was driving to collect other children from school. The girl's father, who had been alerted by the school, was among the first at the scene. Property owner Joel Hinschen pulled both from the water and his father performed CPR on the girl until emergency services arrived. Police have appealed for information about the vehicle or events leading up to the crash.
