Herald 20220816

Fast-tracking flood reconstruction
As the region bounces back from four recent
flooding events, Toowoomba Regional Council
will consider fast-tracking more than $6 million of
priority flood reconstruction works.
At the Infrastructure Committee on Tuesday,
August 9, Councillors voted in favour of a recommendation
to begin the works, prior to obtaining
formal Queensland Reconstruction Authority approval.
“Fast-tracking priority flood reconstruction
works is the right thing to do for our community.
These projects have to be done ASAP to address a
number of severely impacted roads,” TRC Infrastructure
Committee Chair Cr Carol Taylor said.
“The overall flood reconstruction works will
take at least two years to complete due to the substantial
damage we’ve experienced throughout the
entire region.
“Our road network has been severely damaged
and because of the repeated rain events, we haven’t
had an opportunity to commence repairing the
network as quickly as we did following previous
flood events, such as 2011.
“In saying this, our crews have done an amazing
job to date, having completed nearly 5500 temporary
emergency repairs since November 2021 and
are now moving into the next phase of undertaking
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4 - HIGH COUNTRY HERALD - AUGUST 16, 2022
priority permanent reconstruction work.”
The council’s Flood Recovery Team has identified
priority works in consultation with the QRA
in its ongoing assessment of the total widespread
flood-related damage, which may total more than
$100 million in the Toowoomba Region alone.
“Our Flood Recovery Team is working closely
with the QRA to ensure funding for these works
can be reimbursed from QRA funding sources at a
later date,” Cr Taylor said.
“While it’s important we go through the necessary
processes, our community has high expectations
for roads being repaired ASAP and this motion
shows we’re prepared to respond accordingly.
“We appreciate this is only the start of permanent
reconstruction works as part of our massive
recovery program and sincerely thank the community
for their continued understanding and patience
through this time.”
The council voted to give the CEO delegated
authority to start reconstruction of essential public
assets, prior to formal funding approval from
QRA, and that the budget be amended accordingly
at Budget Review 1.
• The committee recommendation will go to the
council meeting this week for endorsement.
Pat
WEIR MP
Member for Condamine
Pat Weir MP is sponsoring an E-Petition for
an additional bus stop at the Kingsthorpe
Skate Park on Petersens Road Kingsthorpe
for the Oakey State High School students
who live in Kingsthorpe.
If you would like to sign the E-Petition go
to www.parliament.qld.gov.au
101 Campbell Street, Oakey, Qld. 4401
PO Box 65, Oakey, Qld. 4401
P 07 4570 4100 E condamine@parliament.qld.gov.au
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Operation Nighthawk at Goombungee
More than 1000 Scouts from across South
East Queensland converged at Goombungee on
the weekend for one of Darling Downs Region
Scouts’s largest events.
Scout groups met at the Goombungee Showgrounds
for Operation Nighthawk, a weekend
filled with overnight hikes and other activities in
the bush.
Operation Nighthawk started about 40 years
ago, having grown into one of Darling Downs Region
Scout’s largest annual activity.
Darling Downs Scout Region assistant commission
Barry Keleher said over the course of the
weekend, the scouts would complete a 12km hike
filled with activities such as first aid, construction
and pioneering.
“This started as a small activity with about 30
CHRISTIAN COMMENT
Fact or fiction? - Know the truth
In today's world of TV, movies, onscreen games
and interaction with people online, it can be hard
to discern truth from fiction.
Much can be done these days with all screen
images to make things appear different to reality.
Depending on what we watch and what we believe
to be true, it is possible to actually be led
completely down the garden path.
‘Reality’ TV shows are a prime example, where
people take part in a show which is supposed to
show live situations.
However, the over the top drama in many of
them makes it clear to most people that much of
what is presented is both staged and acted out.
There are times when pictures shown on the
news are also misleading and can also be enacted
rather than a real live event.
Even some government advertising has proved
to be incorrect further down the track.
And then there is fake news. This term has been
applied to many social media articles, all of which
can sometimes be false and sometimes true, but
end up with a ‘fake news’ tag regardless.
Studies show that of our five senses, it is through
our vision that over 75 per cent of what we see is
retained.
This makes what is presented to us visually, a
very effective tool for advertising.
It is also a powerful tool for shaping our
thoughts and perceptions by training us to believe
what we see, especially when it is accompanied
by words as hearing is the second strongest of our
five senses in terms of learning.
It is how propaganda has worked down through
the ages, conditioning people to believe what is
continually presented to them.
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Scouts 40 years ago and it has grown over time.
We have moved around from Crows Nest, Goombungee,
Pittsworth and Clifton,” he said.
“Despite having a wet start to the weekend, it
won’t stop the Scouts from enjoying Operation
Nighthawk.
"It’s amazing to see enthusiasm from the young
people who have made it this weekend.
“This year we have 1200 Scouts from Bundaberg,
Brisbane, Gold Coast, Darling Downs and
even Armidale.”
The night-based activity began in 1982 with the
Rangeville Scout Group when one of the leaders
with the surname Hawk, gave the event its name.
Mr Keleher said he was grateful for the effort
and help from the volunteers and surrounding
landholders to ensure the event went ahead.
Participants in Operation Nighhawk at Goombungee
As someone once said "If you repeat a lie often
enough, people will believe it is true."
So what is the answer for those of us that desire
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Is there a way we can shield ourselves from falling
into the trap of believing in something that is
fiction rather than fact?
I believe a good place to start is to remind ourselves
that not everything we see on a screen is
truth.
No matter, whether it’s the news, advertising,
movies, games or shows, much of what is presented
is designed to govern our way of thinking, and
what we believe in.
Secondly, we need to turn to a reliable source
of truth. The Bible is the highest selling book of
all time.
It is responsible for changing the lives of thousands
of people for the better and has been translated
into over 700 languages.
Many people down through the ages have set
out to disprove its contents, only to end up becoming
believers themselves. Only by reading truth
will we come to know truth.
Jesus said in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth,
and the life, no one comes to the Father except
through me.”
Your response could be taken from Psalm 25:5
“Lead me in your truth, and teach me.”
Our prayer for you is taken from John 17:17
“Set them apart through your truth, your word is
truth.”
If you would like a Bible, the word of truth,
please contact David Hiscock on 0448 982 919
- Contributed by John 15 Christian Fellowship,
Crows Nest
To advertise phone 4615 4416 or email herald@highcountrynews.net.au