Mining boom boosts Howard

Fraser Coast Chronicle

Stephen O’Grady | 9th March 2010

Henry Sapiecha on his land at Howard.

Photo by Alistair Brightman

A RESURGENT mining boom on the Fraser Coast may be in its infancy but that is not stopping Henry Sapiecha from plotting a Burrum revolution.

Howard is close to Henry’s heart and as the publicity officer of the Burrum and District Chamber of Commerce, he believes that striking before the coal is out of the ground – let alone hot – is paramount for the little town.

“I’m working out a way to reinvent Howard,” Mr Sapiecha said.

“This is an area that should be going ahead. This is the start of a new beginning.

“This can be an important location for the industry during the upcoming decade.”

The Burrum chamber’s economic advisory committee hosted a meeting last week where a Mackay-based mining expert presented an idea of what would be required if mining corporations Santos and Northern Energy get the go-ahead in this region.

“He was talking about thousands of jobs,” Mr Sapiecha said.

“He is into training people for the mines so as not to suck the talent out of the community.

“He spoke about feeling out the community, getting the mining people what they want without disrupting the local community.

“This is about getting apprentices trained and knowing about the mining industry.”

Mr Sapiecha is determined for his town to reap the benefits and is proposing to develop a parcel of land near the Howard railway line into a custom-built trade centre.

His company, Wide Bay District Developments, and Semfield, owned by John Turnbull, own the adjoining sites.

“All areas of the Fraser Coast will benefit. All areas will get work and will interact with the industry in some way.

“But I’m biased; I want this area to be its base.

“This industry will need to be serviced and supported.”

He has set up Fraser Coast Trades and Service Centre at Howard which – aligned with nearby rail and highway infrastructure – can make Howard the hub of a mining boom.

“I want this area to interact with them as quickly as possible.

“They will still utilise services in the whole region but will need a more immediate back-up to service their requirements.

“We want to make it harder for these people not to use this place as a centre.”

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

We would like to thank Steve and the Chronicle for giving us the coverage for the project and for the area generally especially in the light of the existing mining interests and the positive impact it would have on our local economy.

Hopefully more of the same in the near future.

Be aware that lots are available now for purchase as are sheds to be constructed for rent.  VIEW HERE. www.fctsc.com.au

CASH IN NOW ON YOUR BUSINESS BY LOCATING HERE – OR MISS OUT

Published by Henry Sapiecha 10th March 2010

A new name for a new direction for businesses in the Burrum District to reflect an independant view of what the businesses of the area want, not just partaking in talkfests about the same stuff over and over again with very few results

This site is not about power plays or political BS.

This is about real needs and real issues with real results.

Send us your views on any business matters in the Burrum district and we will publish it for you here in the site.

If you have a pet project or event worthy of promotion,send that as well.

As things unfold there will be interesting developments in this site and associated sites.

Our new newsletter will shortly be available. Will keep you posted.

WATCH THIS SPACE

A ll association with the current structure of the Burrum Chamber of Commerce will be erased from this site as it does not adequately support the needs of the local business community but merely panders to the views of a ‘presidents club’ mindset  and  a misconception of their importance in the local business community.

Published by Henry Sapiecha 12th Nov 2009

Henry Sapiecha

BREAKFAST MEETING GREAT SUCCESS

@ AROUND 200 ATTENDEES @ AT THE BOAT CLUB HB. QLD

LOCAL HIGH PROFILE SPEAKERS ON FRASER COAST DEVELOPMENT PRESENT THEIR CASE FROM COUNCILS VIEWPOINT AND THE DEVELOPERS POSITION.

Further details can be obtained by request [on a need to know basis only] as to transcripted content of proceedings and contents of presentation.

Congratulations on a well organized and successful event .

We as the Burrum Chamber had an opportunity with Henry Sapiecha at the meeting to present the case of the Howard Torbanlea area as the epicentre of growth in providing major services to the entire Fraser Coast because of our strategic location here and our Highway-Electric rail-Power-Water.

The fact is also that here are vast tracts of government owned land where extensive industrial estates could be built, large land parcels for affordable housing for the workforce could be made available and a more suitable airport for conveyancing of goods, materials and people on a larger scale to that currently existing in the Fraser Coast.

This new centre of growth will be within half an hour to all points of the compass from Maryborough, Hervey Bay,Childers and beyond.

The new amalgamated council is now the Fraser Coast which in the long term should be serviced by a more strategically located base central to all villages and towns that they have been entrusted to serve.

Mr King of FCRC has replied that they are in the process of discussing with state government the possibilities and feasabilities of such endeavours in the Burrum area with the intention of utilizing effectively the existing services that Torbanlea and Howard possess.

We at the Burrum Chamber shall keep you posted as we get updates.

The execs of the Burrum Chamber fell justifiably satisfied that our endeavours in promoting this event in conjunction with the other chambers contributed significantly to the success of this breakfast meeting attendance.

The quality of content by the speakers was exceptional and we all thank them for that.

The Burrum Chamber has distributed many hundreds of flyers on the event earlier via an email data base that has been collated over time as well as posting a version of the event in our web site.

To all involved CONGATULATIONS ON A JOB WELL DONE

Published by Henry Sapiecha [Publicity Officer]

1st Oct 2009

TILT TRAIN DERAILMENT PROMPTS ACTION BY QR

On the 20th Sept 2009 [Sunday] Queensland Rail had operated equipment along the rail line through Howard where the electric tilt train runs from Brisbane to Nth Qld.

In the past derailment possibilities have caused gief to patrons and to the  Queensland Government.

The equipment used on the rail line was there to make sure that the existing rail line was at the correct camber and that it was solidly positioned into its sleepers and that subsidence has not created a non-level set of tracks , that if alligned incorrectly  could comprimise the integrity of the trains running at their optimum safe standard.

It was interesting to watch as they inserted large metal teeth into the ground adjacent the track and consolidated any errors and realigned the tracks to be at their preferred safe level.

Another machine followed and carried out further works to finish off.

Here is hoping that all will be well with the tilt train and its ability to travel at higher speeds safely.

We all here know how important this train is to Queensland and the Towns it stops at along the way. Howard especially.

Photographed and published by Henry Sapiecha 24th Sept 2009

22 September 2009

Howard SES sheds – NOW OPEN

Response from council re our posting

The State Emergency building at Howard has not been closed.

The building is ready for use and SES volunteers do not have to go to use facilities in other towns as reported on the Burrum Chamber of Commerce Website.

The council did not place a sign [above?]on the building warning people not to enter the building and that it could not be used until further notice.

Volunteers did have concerns about the safety of an electrical switchboard at the building.

Those fears were allayed after the Council employed an electrician to examine the switchboard as part of a project to rewire the building to install more lights and so it could operate on power from generators in an emergency.

The electrician told the Council that the switchboard had been added to many times and while it was cluttered and messy, it was not dangerous.

The Council resolved to install a new switchboard rather than add more wiring to the circuitry.

A contractor has been appointed to install the new switchboard and, while they have been delayed, the contractor will start as soon installing the new switchboard as they can.

In the meantime the SES can continue to use the building.

ENDS

Kevin Corcoran
Principal Officer Corporate Communications
Corporate Marketing and Communications
Fraser Coast Regional Council
Telephone: (07) 4197 4500
Mobile: 0409 724 803
Fax: (07) 4197 4455

Our initial posting was as a result of a visit from the recent leader of the SES and an inspection and photos taken of the closure notice and the buildings generally as posted into our site.

No opinion was formed nor any statements made by myself or the chamber outside of the fact that the premises were closed and the members were to go to other locations for meetings etc as stated by the recent SES leader now retired.

Great to see it back on track. WELL DONE.

Saw the lights on again there with some of the lads last night

Received and posted by Henry Sapiecha 23rd Sept 2009

WHY IS THE SES BUILDING CLOSED – SAFETY REASONS?

Our local ex SES leader Arthur Thompson has made some comments on the reasons. Talk to him @ 41294826.

Refer catergory people herein on Arthur Thompson

The local SES team now has to go and do it’s stuff in other towns.

Is there an issue with the local council?

Any issues with same should be resolved forthwith to avoid us looking like village idiots here at Howard

Story published by Henry Sapiecha 7th Sept 2009

YOU ARE INVITED TO

ATTEND, SPONSOR OR

DONATE

THE BOB CARLSON

BENEFIT CONCERT

‘Help Bob in his personal fight against Motor Neurone Disease’

www.newcures.info

Well known and well loved rock and roll, country, and jazz keyboard player Bob Carlson, who formerly worked with The Blue Heeler Band and many of Australia’s biggest music artists, needs your support to raise funds for him to undergo Stem Cell treatment.

Bob is fighting Motor Neurone Disease

.

Full program of entertainers

to be anounced soon

Some of Australia’s finest national and regional artists will be performing. Entertainment packed show not to be missed!!!

Host: KERI McINERNEY

Time: 6:30PM Thursday, October 22nd

Location: The Brolga Riverside Theatre

BOOKINGS, DONATIONS OR SPONSORSHIP

Please contact

Keri McInerney
KMM MUSIC AUSTRALIA
Email: kerimcinerney@gmail.com
Email: keri@kerimcinerney.com
Official Website: http:www.kerimcinerney.com
Phone: (0407) 155993

or

BOOKINGS ONLINE FROM SEPTEMBER 14TH 2009

http://www.brolgatheatre.org/default.asp?PageID=43&n=Purchase+Tickets

Received and published by Henry Sapiecha 3rd Sept 2009

John- Owner of  the Torbanlea sawmill  Contract Timbers

A POTENTIAL NEW MEMBER OF THE BURRUM CHAMBER

Recently you may have heard of a lone traveller getting attacked and killed on the highway near Gin Gin Qld.

1…It was Johns wifes’ brother. Brutally bashed a couple of weeks ago by a total stranger it seems when he ran out of petrol on the highway. Used dental records etc to identify him.

I was visiting John on another matter when he and his family were making funeral arrangements.

2….He tells me that recently two of his best mates were blown up into little pieces when an industrial accident in Brisbane  involving acetyline and bottled gas took place. Scraping body parts off the walls I was told.

3….Also on top of all this his younger sister was diagnosed with spinal cancer.

I WAS THERE TO VIEW HIS HUGE NEW 15 FT X 5FT X 5FT FISH TANK

A one off creation made from laminated glass specially brought up from Melbourne.

This huge expensive aquarium lay in a grossly mangled shattered pile in the yard at John’s place .

It has self destructed into fragments a few days earlier because of a faulty design he had used to manufacture same.

ALL THIS IN A SHORT SPACE OF A FEW  MONTHS.

THE WORST 4 MONTHS OF MY LIFE WAS HIS COMMENT

41294772 Contract Timbers Torbanlea

Published by Henry Sapiecha 18th August 2009

GOLF DAY

Raising funds for local Special Schools

When:   18 September (Friday)
Where:  Hervey Bay Golf & Country Club

Bob Bridgestone Tyre Centre is organising a 3 Ball Ambrose Golf Day in which it is hoped they will raise $5000 towards a new bus for the Hervey Bay Special School and a further $5000 for the Maryborough Special School.

There will be food and drinks provided on the course + lots of raffles (so bring your wallet).

The day is all about raising lots of money for the local Special Schools.

Sponsorship fee is $350 or goods to that value.

Please contact Bob Wicks on 0419 722 746 or Steve at Hervey Bay Golf Club on 4124 4544 if you are interested in attending or putting a team together; or interested in sponsoring this event.

Received and published by Henry Sapiecha 17th August 2009