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.
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.
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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.
Granville Bridge in Maryborough will remain open to traffic, as revised flood forecasts show river levels peaking lower than previously expected. The Bureau of Meteorology has updated its predictions, and Lamington Bridge at Tinana may reopen later today, depending on rainfall and conditions. The Burrum River Bridge at Howard has reopened after a safety inspection. Two lanes of Adelaide Street are open, though a penstock gate remains lowered as a precaution. Motorists are urged to take care on local roads, as some low-lying areas remain flooded.
Six campers were rescued from floodwater at Leyburn in southern Queensland. A man was found dead in floodwaters at Boompa, and police are investigating the circumstances of his death. The Bureau of Meteorology warns of more thunderstorms across south-east Queensland this afternoon, with some possibly severe. Flooding is easing along the Mary River, though several bridges remain closed. Residents are urged not to drive through floodwater.
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.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts minor flooding at Maryborough early Monday, with the Mary River expected to peak near 5.6 metres Monday evening. The latest forecast is lower than earlier modelling, but the bureau warns it may change. Lamington Bridge at Tinana is closed due to rising river levels, while Granville Bridge remains open but may close. Adelaide Street is closed in both directions while council installs a penstock gate to guard the CBD against flooding. Motorists are urged to check road conditions before travelling.
A major flood warning has been issued for Tiaro, where residents are preparing for a high and potentially damaging Mary River tonight and into Monday. The Bureau of Meteorology says the river at Tiaro is at 8.19 metres and rising, with moderate flooding, and may reach the major flood level of 12 metres overnight. The Mary River at Miva is near moderate flood levels, while Gympie is experiencing minor flooding. Further storms with heavy rain are forecast for the region, which could cause flash flooding.
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.
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.
The 150th anniversary of the Avoca to Maryborough railway line has recently been marked with celebrations. Visitors are invited to explore the historic Maryborough Railway Station on a guided tour running from 11.30am to 12.30pm. The tour promises insight into the station's history, its notable architecture and areas not usually open to the public. Participants may also hear some ghost stories tied to the building.
A 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.
Fraser Coast Regional Council will plant a New Zealand native totara tree in Queens Park, Maryborough, on Friday 13 November at 10am to mark 100 years since Mary Poppins first appeared in print. The story, written by Maryborough-born author P.L. Travers, was first published in The Sun in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1926. A morning tea garden party and anniversary cake will follow at Story Bank from 10:45am. Visitors are invited to dress as their favourite Mary Poppins character, with free entry throughout the day and a new exhibition, Mary Poppins the Winds of Change, on display.
A 45-year-old Maryborough man charged with murder has appeared in court over the death of Alan Thomas Christi, 41. Christi was found unresponsive on Slaughterhouse Rd at Maryborough, Queensland, on October 7 and was declared dead at the scene. Police allege the fatal assault happened at the same location. The accused, who was already in custody over another matter, appeared by video link in Maryborough Magistrates Court on Wednesday and was remanded in custody. Police have not disclosed a motive or the cause of death.
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Police have charged a 45-year-old man, Shaun Glen Brett, with the murder of Thomas Christie, 41. Mr Christie's body was found beside a walking trail in Maryborough West on October 7. Police allege he was assaulted in the early hours and died at the scene on Slaughterhouse Road. Both men were known to each other and had been sleeping at a nearby campsite. Mr Brett appeared in Maryborough Magistrates Court, was remanded in custody, and the matter was adjourned until January 19.
Police have charged a 45-year-old Maryborough man with murder following the sudden death of another man in Maryborough West on 7 October. Emergency services were called to Slaughterhouse Road at about 6.52am after a man was found unresponsive. The 41-year-old Maryborough man was declared dead at the scene, where a crime scene was established. The accused is due to face Maryborough Magistrates Court on 21 October.
The Victorian Liberal National Coalition has promised to bring passenger trains back to Mildura and Dimboola by mid-2029 if it wins the November state election. Mildura has been without a passenger train service since 1993, when the Liberal government led by Jeff Kennett axed it. The Coalition says its $51.2 million Wimmera Mallee Rail plan would include three return services a week on each corridor. Liberal leader Jess Wilson said the plan would give people across the region a more affordable way to travel.
Manly West has become Queensland's top home claims hotspot for the 2025-26 financial year, according to new Suncorp Insurance analysis. The leading location has shifted several times over five years, moving between Bracken Ridge, Maryborough, Gympie and Runaway Bay. Suncorp says Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and a giant hail outbreak drove significant claims in Manly West. Queensland SES urged households to prepare before warnings are issued, including clearing gutters and securing loose outdoor items. Suncorp's Future Ready Resilience Program, with a final report due in November 2027, is studying how storms affect Queensland homes.
Queensland's storm damage hotspots have shifted over the past five years, according to an analysis of more than 126,000 home insurance claims lodged with Suncorp. Bracken Ridge recorded the state's highest number of home extreme weather claims in 2022, during major flooding in southeast Queensland. Maryborough, Gympie, Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast and Manly West have each topped the list in later years. Queensland SES is urging residents to prepare homes and families before the higher-risk season peaks. Suncorp says no community should assume it is immune to severe storms.
