Whitsundays Australia.com News

A new campaign has been launched to protect the Whitsundays’ environment, in north Queensland, from over-development. It is part of ongoing efforts to block a multi-million dollar marina development at Shute Harbour.

Full Story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/07/2026640.htm?site=tropic

Crews contesting today’s 21 nautical mile race around the picturesque islands of the Whitsundays, race five of Audi Hamilton Island Race Week, were treated to a spectacle of two mother humpback whales, one already accompanied by its calf and the other giving birth as the yachts passed by.

Full Story: http://www.sail-world.com/australia/Whale-of-a-Time-at-Hamilton-Island/36891

Five outlaw motorcycle gang members from Western Australia have been charged over a disturbance at a north Queensland bar early on Wednesday. Police said officers were called to the Evolution lounge bar on Shute Harbour Road at Airlie Beach around 3am (AEST) after complaints about a number of patrons.

Full Story: http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Bikies-in-court-after-bar-disturbance/2007/08/22/1187462308985.html

Queensland’s Local Government Minister says new legislation protecting Queensland icons cannot be used to stop a proposed marina development at Shute Harbour in the state’s north. The State Government hopes the laws will ease concerns that unique areas of the state could be compromised under forced amalgamations.

Full Story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/20/2009417.htm?site=tropic

Judging by the interstate and international interest received for Far North Queensland’s latest regatta, we might have a sailing tiger by the tail. The inaugural Sunferries Magnetic Island Race Week, which has been organised by the Townsville Cruising Yacht Club, starts on September 7th 2007 with strong entries coming from the length of Queensland and pleasing numbers coming from the southern states.

Full Story: http://www.sail-world.com/australia/Magnetic-Island-Race-Week-set-to-boom/36462

The chief executive officer of the Whitsunday Shire Council says new state laws protecting iconic areas could help the region better manage its land assets. The legislation is expected to be introduced to Parliament this week after concerns that unique areas like Noosa and Port Douglas could be overdeveloped once amalgamated with bigger councils.

Full Story: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/08/08/1999693.htm?site=tropic

Flying fox deaths in pockets across Queensland are due to cold weather and hunger rather than disease, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) believes.

Full story: http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Weather-blamed-for-Qld-flying-fox-deaths/2007/07/24/1185043100519.html

DIVISION 2 Councillor Kieran McCarthy has spoken this week of his frustration at representing the beach in an ‘unbalanced’ Council. Cr McCarthy, a councillor for close to 10 years, said he was almost “driven to distraction” in his early days representing the beach.

Full story; http://www.whitsundaytimes.com.au/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3742200&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

IN PICTURESQUE settings with the ground in perfect condition, Whitsunday proved too good for Bakers Creek to grind out a solid win 12.12.74 to 8.8.54 on Saturday.

Full Story: http://www.whitsundaytimes.com.au/localsport/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3735293&thesection=localsport&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

A 28-YEAR-OLD German tourist died while scuba diving in the Whitsundays on Sunday July 1. Despite frantic efforts to revive the man for more than two hours, he was pronounced dead at the scene by Dr Vip Thiagarasah after he was winched aboard the RACQ-CQ Rescue helicopter at 1.20pm.

Full Story: http://www.whitsundaytimes.com.au/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3740527&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=