Get the appThe South Burnett Regional Council has issued its rate notices covering July 1 to December 31, 2026. Payments made by the November 16 discount deadline must be received by then, and a council spokesperson advised allowing up to three days for BPay transfers. Ratepayers can pay in person at several customer service centres, or through Australia Post. Anyone who has not received a notice by Monday, October 26, can ask their local centre for a copy.
Thirty people have been charged with 91 offences after a three-day police operation across the South Burnett region. Operation Lionrock ran from 19 to 21 October and targeted property, vehicle and drug-related crime. Police allege a 17-year-old boy was involved in a vehicle theft and armed robbery in Murgon and Moffatdale, and he has been charged with 21 offences. A 22-year-old Kingaroy woman has been charged over cocaine found during a search warrant. Acting Inspector Scott Prendergast said police will keep targeting criminal activity across the region.
A 20-year-old Tiaro man faces 10 charges after an alleged dangerous driving spree across the South Burnett. Police allege the grey Holden Commodore forced another vehicle off the road and ran several red lights. The driver allegedly crashed into a Toyota Hilux at Benair, then ran into nearby bushland before he was arrested. A 16-year-old passenger was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The man has been remanded to appear in Maryborough Magistrates Court on November 10. Police have appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage.
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Get the appA 20-year-old Tiaro man has been charged with ten offences over an alleged dangerous driving spree across the South Burnett region on 20 October. Police allege the driver forced another vehicle off the road, ran red lights and drove on the wrong side of the road before a crash at Benair. He fled on foot into bushland but was arrested near the Benair Road and Bunya Highway intersection. A 16-year-old passenger was taken to hospital with minor injuries. He is due to appear in Maryborough Magistrates Court on 10 November.
Almost $2.1 million in state grants will upgrade sporting facilities across the South Burnett and Cherbourg. The money comes from the State Government's $30 million Games On! Grassroots Infrastructure Program. Local MP Deb Frecklington said the projects would improve facilities for current players and give more people the chance to take up sport. Kingaroy Netball Association will receive $498,146 to upgrade its courts. Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council will receive $756,880 for practice nets, a cricket wicket, grandstands and fencing.
A woman in her late teens was taken to Kingaroy Hospital after a single-vehicle crash at Booie on Sunday night. Emergency services were called to Kingaroy-Barkers Creek Road just before 6:30pm. The Queensland Ambulance Service said she was in a stable condition with a shoulder injury. Earlier that day, a single-vehicle crash in Barr Street, Yarraman, caused no injuries. Later that night, a woman in her 20s declined hospital transport after a single-vehicle crash on the D'Aguilar Highway near Kingaroy.
South Burnett Regional Council and emergency services will run an emergency exercise at Kingaroy Aerodrome on Friday 23 October. The drill will test the council's Aerodrome Emergency Plan and how local responders work together. Scenarios include aircraft firefighting and evacuation, rescuing injured and trapped passengers, triage and patient transport, and crash scene management. The council says the exercise aims to keep the community, airport staff and passengers safe. Residents who see emergency activity at the aerodrome on the day are asked to stay calm, as it is part of the planned exercise.
A unit in Kingaroy was badly damaged by fire on Saturday afternoon. Emergency services were called to a unit complex in Arthur Street at 2:05pm, finding smoke pouring from a window. The fire is believed to have started in a bedroom and was contained by 2:15pm. Four fire crews, police, paramedics and an Ergon Energy crew attended. No one was home at the time and no one was injured.
Saints began the 2026-27 South Burnett cricket season with a decisive win over Kingaroy Services. Batting first, Services were all out for 138 in 31.5 overs. Nathan Trace scored 78 for Saints, who reached the target in the 19th over at 2/141. Nicholas Krauksts took 4/29 and Jack Mines took 3/28. Other round one results and this week's fixtures across South Burnett, Gympie and Dalby competitions were also listed.
Regional Queenslanders face widely varying fuel prices, according to RACQ's latest quarterly report. Beaudesert had the cheapest regular unleaded over the September quarter, at 193.5 cents per litre, while Longreach was the most expensive at 229.2 cents. Tully had the lowest diesel prices, and Longreach again the highest. RACQ spokesperson Tristan Vorias said refinery margins for unleaded jumped from 1.2 cents last year to 29 cents in the September quarter, while service station margins on petrol fell.
Police have charged four teenage boys over the alleged theft of a vehicle from Bjelke-Peterson Dam and an armed robbery in Murgon. Police allege the group stole a 2018 Hyundai Tucson overnight on Monday. Early Tuesday, one occupant allegedly threatened staff with a hammer at a Macalister Street service station while another filled the vehicle with fuel, and the group drove off without paying. The vehicle was found burnt out in Cherbourg later that morning, and the four boys were taken into custody shortly after. Three of the boys were due to appear in Kingaroy Children's Court on Wednesday.
The second Wondai Garden Expo, held at the Wondai Showgrounds last month, was a success for organisers. Stalls were spread across the grounds, the cattle ring and two pavilions. Brisbane horticulturalist Claire Bickle spoke at the event. The Wondai & District Garden Club staged a display and a mini horticultural competition. Val Crawford of Kingaroy won the Champion Specimen ribbon, while Delwyn Schultz took the Best Exhibit In Pots and Champion Orchid.
The South Burnett Relay For Life marked its 21st birthday with an overnight event at Kingaroy's T.J. O'Neill Oval. Walkers stayed active through games, live music and fundraising challenges, including dressing up as South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff. Cancer Council Queensland CEO Matt Gardiner said the event was worth attending even without funds raised, as it brings the community together to discuss cancer. Organisers said the event has raised more than $2 million over 21 years and expect this year's total to pass $2.5 million.
Dr Charlotte Lovejoy has been named General Practitioner in Training of the Year by the Royal Australian College of GPs. The college recognised her commitment to rural and regional healthcare, her leadership and her advocacy. Dr Lovejoy completed the past two years of her Rural Generalist training in Kingaroy, where she worked at Kingaroy Hospital and the Bunya Pines Medical Centre. She shared her experiences as a rural registrar at the college's GP25 conference. She has started work this month at James Street Medical in Brisbane.
AgForce South-East Queensland will hold its annual biosecurity forum on October 30 at Bethany, just outside Kingaroy. The all-day event brings together producers, researchers, contractors and government agencies. Topics include invasive weeds, wild dogs, feral pigs, deer, cattle ticks and buffalo flies. Speakers include national wild dog management coordinator Greg Mifsud and feral pig coordinator John Scriven. Tickets are free for AgForce members and can be booked online.
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Get the appA man in his 30s has suffered neck and back injuries after a single-vehicle crash in Nanango on Friday evening. Emergency services were called just before 7:00pm to Cairns Street after reports that a vehicle had struck a pole. The driver was taken by ambulance to Kingaroy Hospital in a stable condition. Early on Saturday, a separate crash was reported at about 4:45am at the intersection of Haly Street and Mt Wooroolin Road in Kingaroy. A vehicle was found in a ditch beside the road, with no occupants at the scene.
Representatives from the Australian Defence Force, the Kingaroy-Memerambi RSL Sub-Branch and South Burnett Regional Council met in Kingaroy to discuss a possible Freedom Of Entry celebration in late 2027. The original plan was for the Carbarlah signals unit to exercise its right of entry to Kingaroy, marking ten years since the 2017 grant. Mayor Kathy Duff wants other South Burnett towns involved. The revised proposal is a celebration at Kingaroy's Memorial Park, with buses bringing former personnel from across the region.
South Burnett Regional Council has partnered with Golden West Apprenticeships and TAFE Queensland's Kingaroy campus to offer Work Skills Traineeships to local job seekers. Eleven trainees will work for 26 weeks, from mid-October to mid-March, on council projects. Tasks include building Christmas display boxes, restoring park benches, installing parking bollards and welding pig traps. Trainees will study a Certificate I in Construction. The project is funded by the State Government's Skilling Queenslanders for Work program.
South Burnett CTC has officially opened a $3.96 million redevelopment in Somerset Street, Kingaroy. The project was funded partly by a $1.98 million Federal Government grant, which CTC matched dollar-for-dollar. Staff moved into the new offices on September 7, 2026. The expansion includes four single-storey buildings, connected walkways, landscaping and a sealed 34-space car park. CTC chief executive Jason Erbacher said the company now employs nearly 300 people and that further stages could follow on the site.
The South Burnett Cricket Association’s 2026-27 competition begins on Saturday with three games. The Saints will play Kingaroy Services at Taabinga State School, while Murgon Diggers face Wooroolin Warriors at Murgon Showground. Meanwhile, the Wooroolin Warriors’ A Grade team competes in the Gympie Cricket Association’s competition, and the Tingoora Vikings play in the Dalby Cricket Association competition. A grading day for junior cricketers in the South Burnett will be held on October 17 at Murgon Showground.