Rockhampton Regional Council is asking residents to comment on its Renewable Energy Community Benefit Scheme Policy until 29 November. The recently adopted policy covers the social impacts of solar farms, wind farms and battery storage projects. Under recent legislative changes, eligible projects must complete a Social Impact Assessment and sign a Community Benefit Agreement with Council before lodging a development application. An online survey takes about 10 minutes, and an information session will be held at Southside Library on 4 November.
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.
A man's body has been found in floodwaters at Boompa on Queensland's Fraser Coast. Police said he was declared dead after being found in Smothering Creek on Boompa Road, and an investigation has begun. Separately, six campers were rescued after becoming stranded by floodwaters at a public campground in Leyburn, in the Southern Downs. Torrential rain across Queensland from Thursday to Monday has left rivers and roads flooded, with more rain and flooding forecast.
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Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are forecast to sweep across most Australian states this weekend, adding to flooding in Queensland. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued warnings for South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. Senior meteorologist David Crock said storms are expected across central and eastern Queensland on Saturday. Earlier this week, flash flooding in south-east Queensland prompted hundreds of SES callouts and the closure of several schools. Caboolture and the Sunshine Coast hinterlands recorded seven-day rainfall totals of 300 to 400 millimetres.
A Brahman bull from Cambil Brahmans, Proserpine, sold for $47,500, the top price at the Great Northern sale in Proserpine on Friday, October 23. Vendor Lawson Camm said buyers came from as far west as the Northern Territory. Terry Randall of Crinum Brahmans, Tieri, bought the bull through StockLive. The sale cleared all 63 lots for a gross of $596,000, with an average of $9460. The top red bull, Badilla Dario, sold for $20,000 to the Parker family of Clare Station, Jericho.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan has not confirmed he will switch from the Senate to contest the lower house seat of Capricornia. Michelle Landry announced on Friday she will not recontest the northern Queensland seat at the 2028 election, citing heavy travel demands and family. Speculation has grown that Senator Canavan could make the move, which would avoid a tough Senate fight with One Nation, whose support is rising in the polls. Canavan said the LNP would take time to work out its position and that membership would decide who represents them.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan could seek a move to the House of Representatives after colleague Michelle Landry announced she will not recontest the Queensland seat of Capricornia. Pollster Kos Samaras said Canavan faces losing his Senate seat in 2028 if the One Nation polling surge continues. Canavan has said he would do whatever it takes to hold a seat, but did not rule out the move when asked. Landry criticised One Nation, saying most of her dealings with the party had not been pleasant. Coalition leader Angus Taylor praised Canavan as an extraordinary colleague.
A path has opened for Nationals leader Matt Canavan to enter the House of Representatives by contesting the Queensland seat of Capricornia at the 2028 election. The move follows Michelle Landry's announcement that she will retire at the next election. Landry and Canavan appeared together at a press conference in Rockhampton, though Canavan has not formally declared his bid. He has previously said he would consider leaving the Senate for a lower house vacancy. Landry, the seat's member since 2013, cited the heavy travel demands of the electorate as a key reason, and denied being pushed out.
Capricornia MP Michelle Landry has announced she will retire from federal politics at the next election. Her departure could allow Nationals leader Matt Canavan to move from the Senate to the House of Representatives. Ms Landry, who has held the seat since 2013, said it was the right time to step aside. She pointed to funding for the Rookwood Weir and the Rockhampton Hospital car park among her achievements. Canavan said Ms Landry had been a strong advocate for the region, and he did not confirm whether he would seek the LNP nomination for Capricornia in 2028.
Police in Rockhampton are appealing for public help after an armed robbery at a Kent Street service station on 18 October. Shortly before 10.30pm, an unknown offender entered the business carrying what appeared to be a brick. The offender produced a knife, confronted a 27-year-old male employee and demanded money. The offender then fled on foot with a quantity of cash. The employee was not physically injured. Police have released vision of a person they believe may be able to assist with inquiries and urge anyone with information or footage to come forward.
Rockhampton Regional Council is seeking name suggestions for a section of Boundary Road in Parkhurst. The road section is about 420 metres long and lies east of McLaughlin Street, outside Queensland Magnesia. Residents and community groups can submit nominations under the council's Naming of Infrastructure Assets policy. Submissions close on 7 November 2025 and should be addressed to Infrastructure Planning by email or post.
Young swimmers from across Queensland will compete at the Beef City Swimming Carnival this weekend at the 2nd World War Memorial Pool, Rockhampton. Rockhampton Regional Council is backing the event, hosted by Caribeae Swimming Club, with a $4,500 sponsorship through its Community Assistance Program. Councillor Cherie Rutherford said such carnivals help athletes build confidence, learn from peers and gain pathways to national and international competition, while also boosting local visitor spending. Competitors aged eight and over will race across all strokes and medley events, and the fastest will contest the David Milburn Top Gun event.
Queensland MP Michelle Landry has announced she will retire from federal politics at the 2028 federal election. She has held the central Queensland seat of Capricornia since 2013. Nationals leader Matt Canavan, a senator, attended the announcement in Rockhampton but did not say whether he would seek preselection for the seat. Ms Landry said she would not nominate a successor, leaving that to the party. She also criticised One Nation, which could pose a serious challenge to the LNP in the seat.
Two Queensland Brahman studs, Burdekin Brahmans and Yacamunda Investments, have jointly bought the top-priced heifer at the Great Northern Brahman Heifer and Genetics sale in Airlie Beach. Vella Macey 6976 sold for $16,000 on Thursday, October 22. The heifer was offered by Ray and Leah Vella of Vella Brahmans. The buyers said they wanted polled genetics for their herds. The sale's heifers grossed $116,000, with an average of $9666 and a 92 per cent clearance rate. The top semen package sold for $1700 a straw to Reginald Valmadre.
Federal Nationals MP Michelle Landry is set to announce her retirement from politics on Friday, according to several LNP sources. Her office said she would make a significant announcement alongside Senator Matt Canavan. Canavan, the Nationals leader, is expected to nominate as the LNP candidate for the Queensland seat of Capricornia, which Landry has held since 2013. Canavan has said he would do whatever it takes to hold the seat as One Nation surges in the polls.
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Rockhampton's Smoked Festival will return to Rockhampton Showgrounds on 5 and 6 February 2027, with expanded barbecue competitions, live music, bull riding and wrestling. Organisers are also taking the event to Nambour Showgrounds on 19 and 20 March 2027. The inaugural festival drew nearly 15,000 people over two days, and about a quarter of visitors came from outside the Rockhampton region. Organiser Callan Buchholz said ticket prices were kept low so cost would not stop people attending. Local butchers and businesses have backed the event, and community groups used it to start conversations about men's mental health.
Police in Rockhampton are appealing for public help after an armed robbery at a Kent Street service station on 18 October. Shortly before 10.30pm, an unknown offender entered the business carrying what appeared to be a brick. The offender produced a knife, confronted a 27-year-old male employee and demanded money. The offender then fled on foot with a quantity of cash. The employee was not physically injured. Police have released vision of a person they believe may be able to assist with inquiries and urge anyone with information or footage to come forward.
Rockhampton woman Norma Tucker has marked her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends at Carinity Shalom aged care home. Born on 13 October 1926, she arrived one day before the first Winnie-the-Pooh book was published. Norma met her husband, Gordon, on a train journey from Yeppoon to Rockhampton and later raised his two orphaned nieces alongside their daughter. Her family says she has spent her life caring for others, and she is known for her baking and her card-playing. Norma continues to live at Carinity Shalom.
A man in his 40s was airlifted to hospital after a two-truck crash on the Bruce Highway, north of Calliope, on Sunday morning. Firefighters freed a driver trapped in one of the trucks. The man suffered face and leg injuries and is in a potentially life-threatening condition. The Bundaberg-based LifeFlight helicopter landed at West Stowe and flew him to Rockhampton Airport. He was then taken by road to Rockhampton Hospital.
First Nations businesses have been recognised at Rockhampton's annual Indigenous Business Month Celebration, held on Darumbal Country. The event explored the economic and social value Indigenous businesses add to the region through community ties and partnerships. The third iteration of the Business Recognition Awards added two new categories, Empowering Communities and Shared Prosperity. Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Tony Williams said the event recognised the outstanding contribution of local Indigenous leaders and businesses.
