Only one rental market in Queensland is classed as healthy, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland's September quarter vacancy report. The Bay Islands, near Redland, recorded a vacancy rate of 3.5 per cent. Forty-eight of the 50 regions tracked remain tight, with vacancy rates of 2.5 per cent or below. Thirty-four regions recorded rates of 1 per cent or less. Antonia Mercorella, the institute's chief executive, said the shortage was changing how Queenslanders live, with more multigenerational households forming and more friends sharing homes to split costs.
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.
A 39-year-old children's domestic violence support worker has been sentenced after pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm against her autistic teenage son in Hervey Bay District Court. The woman threw her phone at the boy and punched him in the nose and cheek during an argument at their home in January last year. The boy suffered a deviated septum, nosebleeds and bruising around his eyes, and has since stayed with his father. The court heard the woman was a victim of domestic violence herself.
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Tourism businesses in the Bundaberg region of regional Queensland say fewer people are travelling, which they link to rising fuel and other costs. Carly Clark, who runs Splitters Farm, says her tourist numbers have fallen by 30 per cent. Bundaberg Tourism says visitors are booking later and spending more carefully. Whale tour operator Ben Duffy says bookings in Hervey Bay are down 30 per cent on last year, and he wants a cut to the fuel excise.
Queensland's Hervey Bay and Agnes Water have seen a significant increase in property sales, with over-50s estates generating $39 million in transactions. This surge reflects a growing trend of downsizers seeking coastal retirement locations.
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.
Police have charged a 34-year-old Booral man over a traffic crash in Wondunna on 9 October. Initial reports indicate a white Kia Sorento lost control on Goodwood Drive, striking a fence and a bike before allegedly leaving the scene. No injuries were reported. Following further investigations, the man was issued a Notice to Appear for dangerous operation of a vehicle. He is due to face Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on 5 November.
Home security footage has captured two speeding cars nearly hitting children in Hervey Bay, Queensland. The children were riding a bike and scooter on a footpath in The Glades, Wondunna, at about 5pm on Friday. A white SUV clipped one child's bike, damaged a fence and drove off. Police have confirmed an investigation is underway and have called the incident troubling. Anyone with vision or information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
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.
Hervey Bay filmmaker Violet Whitaker has made a 40-minute film about horses from K'gari that were sent to serve in World War I. The Forgotten Horses of Fraser (K'gari) is narrated by a fictional brumby that travels to the Middle East. The project was made on a budget of $20,000 from community donations and Ms Whitaker's savings. The film will have a limited release at select cinemas across the Fraser Coast later this month.
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.
Australia's native animal populations, including gentoo penguins, lemuroid and green ringtail possums, have declined by over 70% in recent years, according to the WWF's Living Planet Report 2026. Habitat loss, climate change, and overexploitation are cited as key drivers. However, global trends show half of surveyed species are stable or increasing, with successes like humpback whale recovery. Experts urge immediate action to address systemic failures and protect endangered species.
The new Hervey Bay Library has attracted over 31,000 visitors in its first month, with 7,300 attending programs and activities. Mayor George Seymour highlighted the library's expanded facilities and community engagement. The Makerspace, featuring creative technology, has been particularly popular, with nearly 3,000 tours and 171 equipment skills checks completed. The library hosted a successful event with authors Craig Smith and Deano Yipadee, drawing 905 attendees. The upcoming Lines in the Sand Festival in November will bring authors and creative activities to the library.
