I thought the following news items, might be of interest to those people living in Sydney or Melbourne, or even coming from overseas, especially, if you are visiting the Wide Bay area of Queensland, ie. Bundaberg to Hervey Bay (including Fraser Island)
* The airport terminal at Hervey Bay is going to be upgraded, and airstrip lengthened to take jet aircraft. It was announced last night on TV, that they hope to have "direct flights" from Sydney & Melbourne, either with Virgin Blue or Jetstar.
* A 78 million dollar Peppers REsort complex will be built on the Esplanade.
* A scallop farm is being planned for waters near Bundaberg (that means lots of seafood scallops, I hope)
* A pearl farm is also planned in the waters between Hervey Bay & Fraser Island (could be interesting, a nice gift to take home)
* The Qld government recently officially opened the "bushwalking trail" on Fraser Island (some of which is boardwalking), and apparently takes 6 days to complete, from one end to the other.
I think the airport issue is the most exciting aspect, allowing tourists & residents/relatives to be able fly direct to either city down south. There is a lot of enthusiasm in the Bay, over this proposed airport extension.
Imagine, flying from Sydney to Hervey Bay airport, then connecting with a small plane out to Fraser Island, landing on the beach (as they do), then 4WD transfer to your private beach house.

Actually I think this is where Queensland is smart.

In NSW I would only travel to one airport, Sydney.

I wish I could fly a decent airplane to other points but I can't. I went to Ballina and they tried to drag me onto a toy airplane but I stuck my heels in and refused to board lol.

NSW shouldn't be considering a second airport for Sydney, they should be planning a second major airport in a regional area.

Then population would spread more evenly as it has in QLD.

IMHO.

Jane

Jane, they announced the airport upgrade would be ready for the commencement of next years Whale Watching Season.
I thought some of the members on this Forum might be interested to know of proposed future developments, especially, if they are considering visiting this part of Qld in 2005.
I am sure there must be other developments in other parts of Australia, that maybe of interest to all of us.

tropo
why don't you tell 'em what hervey bay is like when the tide goes out.

Seeing johhjau wanted to raise the issue - yes, the tides for the majority of Queensland beaches, north of Rainbow Bay all the way to Cairns, have big tidal changes, and more so in the Mackay region. Have you ever stayed on Brampton Island, and watched the tides go out. The guests just swim in the tidal pool.
I really don't think that "Tides" were mentioned as a "news item" in my original posting. Its funny how one can post "positive" news items on this forum, and there is always "one knocker.
Most people in Hervey Bay swim at high tide, or either side of high tide (no problems at all, or swim in the hotel pool, like they do in Cairns)
Anyone who likes windsurfing, would have been stoked today, strong north westerly winds coming into the Bay, causing small waves (for jumping). Never enjoyed myself so much, and the tide was going out, but just a short walk out into the water with my windsurfer.

Troppo - there is no necessity to swim in hotel pools in the centre of Cairns when the ratepayers have gone to great expense to build a free to tourists massive great stinger proof lagoon smack in the middle of town. According to this morning's paper, soon to be replicated in Port Douglas - they have stingers there too. Once upon a time Cairns did have a sandy beach, in those days the only transport to the north was by sea - no planes - no roads. Trinity Inlet, just off Cairns harbour needed to be dredged to allow anchorage for the ships which supplied the necessities of life - this caused mud to settle on the then sandy beach. Because of tourists' complaints about the lack of a pretty sandy beach there was a movement a few years ago to dump more sand, but in the meantime the mud nurtured mangroves which in turn brought an extraordinary amount of migratory seabirds and made the Esplanade one of the most renowned migratory sea-bird spotting areas in the country. Fortunately, sanity for once prevailed, the tourists have somewhere safe to swim and the birds are still here and look remarkably contented.

Pat, like Hervey Bay, low tides in Cairns are no real big problem. I enjoyed your posting, most interesting. The Cairns region is a beautiful part of Australia, I am looking forward to revisiting down the track. I did hear about your lagoon, I guess its similar to the one at Airlie Beach & Southbank in Brisbane, a great concept.
Like you, I feel very passionate about where I now live, and Queensland in general.

Hervey Bay is a one-of type of place where, when the tide goes out, you have to walk for about 1/2 mile in 6 inches of water and the water is like slashing about in a cup of tea. The up-side of this situation is that it is a wonderful place for small children to learn to swim and play in because of this aspect. But it is not anywhere like the beaches at low tide or high further up north and it certainly is not amongst Australia's best beaches - of which there are many. The fact that Fraser Island too is just along side of it means that it is like a sauna in summer.
Tropo, I know that you like it there but do tell it as it is. Hervey Bay is not and will never be an International destination - It is however a marvelous retirement destination or hop off point for Fraser Island.

LizF, I guess you have to come to terms with the aspect, that there are different people in this world who like different places, for different reasons (thank god not everyone is the same)- some like Cairns, some Sydney, some Melbourne, some Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, and myself I personally like the Wide Bay region, from Hervey Bay to Bundaberg. Yes, the tide does go out a bit, but then all the smart people, I know in this city, swim at high tide, or either side of high tide. Low tide is no big deal in the Bay (wonderful time to go cycling along the Esplanade on the 16km cycle way). Perhaps you are not aware that the largest tidal movement in Qld, is in the Mackay/Sarina, not Hervey bay (and thats a fact). We are lucky in Hervey Bay, no stingers in the water, friendly locals who talk to one another (not like in the capital cities), affordable real estate for everyone, great climate (that why so many Sydney & Melbourne people drive here for the winter, to escape the cold). I'm not sure where you live LizF? I do hope, wherever you live, that you are enjoying this wonderful winter season, like we have in Qld, bright sunny warm days, and swimming most days throughout winter, something I couldn't do at all in Sydney, freezing waters & occasionally polluted.
Anyway, I enjoy living 4 blocks back from Scarness Beach, able to stroll to the beach, for that morning or afternoon swim, and then call into one of the cafes for a coffee and read the papers. If we want "surf" then we drive down to Rainbow Beach for a fun weekend. If we want to dive on the GReat Barrier Reef, then we can fly out to Lady Elliot Island (35 minute flight).
Then if you want to swim in pristine frehswater lakes, or fish the surf, then its out with the 4WD and onto Fraser Island, to stay a few days in a beach house rental.
I wonder why Hervey Bay is the fastest growing city in Queensland?

LizF, I guess you have to come to terms with the aspect, that there are different people in this world who like different places, for different reasons (thank god not everyone is the same)- some like Cairns, some Sydney, some Melbourne, some Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast, and myself I personally like the Wide Bay region, from Hervey Bay to Bundaberg. Yes, the tide does go out a bit, but then all the smart people, I know in this city, swim at high tide, or either side of high tide. Low tide is no big deal in the Bay (wonderful time to go cycling along the Esplanade on the 16km cycle way). Perhaps you are not aware that the largest tidal movement in Qld, is in the Mackay/Sarina, not Hervey bay (and thats a fact). We are lucky in Hervey Bay, no stingers in the water, friendly locals who talk to one another (not like in the capital cities), affordable real estate for everyone, great climate (that why so many Sydney & Melbourne people drive here for the winter, to escape the cold). I'm not sure where you live LizF? I do hope, wherever you live, that you are enjoying this wonderful winter season, like we have in Qld, bright sunny warm days, and swimming most days throughout winter, something I couldn't do at all in Sydney, freezing waters & occasionally polluted.
Anyway, I enjoy living 4 blocks back from Scarness Beach, able to stroll to the beach, for that morning or afternoon swim, and then call into one of the cafes for a coffee and read the papers. If we want "surf" then we drive down to Rainbow Beach for a fun weekend. If we want to dive on the GReat Barrier Reef, then we can fly out to Lady Elliot Island (35 minute flight).
Then if you want to swim in pristine frehswater lakes, or fish the surf, then its out with the 4WD and onto Fraser Island, to stay a few days in a beach house rental.
As for the aspect of retirement. Again, I don't know if you realise, that the southern States are experiencing a hugh migration movement in people retiring & moving north to Qld. Just about everyone in Hervey Bay, seems to come from somewhere else, and now love living here. I guess the same could be said for most Qld cities & towns. I guess the baby boomers, are sick of living in capital cities, and want to enjoy what the Queensland coast can offer, even if its a little low tide now & then. Windsurfing and Kite surfing are a big sport here, together, with fishing, diving, jet skiing, and sailing.
I wonder why Hervey Bay is the fastest growing city in Queensland?

Whoops, had a small glitch with this website, I thought my 2nd last message fell out, before I dropped off on line, hence, 2 replies.
LizF, I think you should read my "original" message properly, and not try to "read into" it too much. Where did I say, that H/bay was going to become an international destination??? Please try to read postings correctly! or otherwise don't reply to them, until you have read them correctly.
I know there is a low tide here in the Bay, and it doesn't seem to bother the locals, nor the tourists, including the huge numer of backpackers that now visit the Bay. Also I know Hervey Bay will never be considered one of the great beaches of OZ, but that doesn't bother us either.
My original message was to INFORM people on this board, that moves are underway, to have jet aircraft fly into & out of H/bay. This can only mean one thing, an increase in tourism, which is good for our economy, and employment.
Also it will allow locals to be able to fly DIRECT to Sydney or Melbourne, without connections.
That fact that Peppers, along with other companies, are building resort hotels, shows that these companies can see the potential in Hervey Bay.
As for the scallop farm near Bundaberg, this could mean, a good supply of scallops, both for the city markets, and local markets. The Pearl Farm, I thought was an interesting new aspect, that someone might find interesting.
Lastly, the long distance walking track on Fraser Island, will no doubt attract people who like bushwalking on a grand scale.
LizF, I think you will find that people are retiring ALL ALONG THE QLD COAST, but more so in south east Qld, especially, on the Gold Coast & Sunshine Coast. You may not have heard the news re these 2 coasts, where there now so many people living there, that there was a water & power problem. Unfortunately, people love these places to death, everyone wants to live there, and eventually, it ends having huge problems, like crime, etc. I have heard of residents selling up in the Noosa area, and moving north to other locations, to escape these problems. Personally, I hope Hervey Bay, never ends up like the Sunshine Coast, all the new families that move here, don't what that to happen either.

Tropo, I don't know how long you have lived in the area you are now but I lived in that area for 22 years - not a brief visit but a substantial chunk of my life and I know it very, very well. I am not putting it down, just trying to tell it as it is. I try to make sure that I give information that is not coloured by rose tinted glasses as I have travelled extensively throughout the world and one of the most annoying things is to have a place blown up to be something it is not, nor ever will be, and arrive there and be disappointed. Each area of Australia has some attraction to it ( there are some exceptions to that though I must admit as we have our fair share of "arm pit" places) but if people have spent thousands of $$ to get here I would expect that they would expect to see something that is different, something exceptional, and something memorable. For me the time for Perth is when the wild flowers are out and the weather is mild, Hervey Bay is a family place in the school holidays and a jump off for Fraser Island, it does not have anything unusual, interesting or different from thousands of other areas in Australia or other countries. Same with Lady Elliot and Lady Musgrave Islands - they are not part of the GBR, they have good diving off them but then so does Morton Island off Brisbane and Ningaloo Reef W.A.(sp??) and many other islands off the Qld coast line, but they are not GBR. The reason that I point that out strongly is that any American can go diving in the Carribean and get a similiar experience to Elliot, Musgrave and Morton but not the GBR because that is different and special.
No I am not enjoying Queensland's weather at present as it is too tinder dry, with westerly winds and its the most dangerous situation in 50 years in terms of bush fires ( wild fires to those from the US ). I would enjoy it much more if we had 3 inches of rain.

LizF, have you ever visited Lady Musgrave or Lady Elliot Island? Do you know that they are stituated in the Capricorn/Bunker Group of reefs.
Where do you consider the southern portion of the Barrier Reef starts? Can you give a location? or a reef name?
I agree with you that Hervey Bay will always be a great holiday place for families & couples, and also a jumping place for visiting Fraser Island, no argument from me on that one.
"Rose tinted glasses"....I disagree. I am only telling people of the some of interesting things that are happening in the Wide Bay region, and that includes BUNDABERG.
Just heard of another interesting thing happening in wide bay region, and that is the proposed installation of a power house, to be run on sugar cane. This power house will provide electricity to people nearby (great stuff, and good for the cane farmers)
Whereabouts in Hervey Bay did you live LIzF? and where do you live now?
I'm proud to say where I live.

LizF, this posting is becoming interesting now. Like you, I have travelled the world extensively, so does that entitled me to post messages on this board?
I guess your right, I probably don't know a thing about H/Bay, as I only lived in the Bay for the past 4 months ago, then I wouldn't know a thing about this lovely place, but I do enjoy the sailing & windsurfing. Like you I think that H/bay will always be just what you say, a great holiday place for families & couples, and a jumping off place for Fraser Island. Unfortunately, as the Sunshine Coast grows beyond its capacity, people will move further north, and I guess the next growth area north of Noosa, is Rainbow Beach, then Hervey Bay.
My original points of interest are really only "directed" towards people (especially Australians) who often visit the Bay, to know of the some of new happenings up this way, and also the chance in the future to fly directly to Hervey Bay from either Melbourne or Sydney. I personally will find it great to able to fly direct to Sydney, to see friends & relatives, and I am sure there would others, that would utilise the new jet services, to do likewise. I guess down the track, overseas visitors, would also like to fly "Direct" from these two capital cities to h/bay to visit Fraser Island.
I am going to write to the owners of Lady Elliot Island and inform them that their brochures, which says" Southern Great Barrier Reef - Lady Elliot Island" and inform them that it is false & misleading advertising, gawd, you would think the Great Barrier Reef MArine Park Authority should also know better.
Anyway, LizF,....I will sign off on this posting now, I think we have both enjoyed a bit of stirring, it was good fun. Cheers.

Thought you might be interested that both Virgin Blue and Jetstar will be flying into Hervey Bay once the upgrade is completed. Looking at
7 flights a week between them going SYD/HVB with MEL an option down the track. Will be front page of the Fraser Coast Chronicle tomorrow morning.
Great news for the region and the local economy..Should be a photo of Brett Godfrey/Premier Pete and Mayor Ted Sorensen with the article.

Would that be premier Pete who can't fix the Tully River Crossing?

AndrewDavid

Fraser01 - yes I did hear about Virgin Blue & Jetstar, both vying for this run.
Also heard that the upgrading to the airstrip & terminal would be finished in time for next years Whales Watching season. No doubt it can only lead to a stronger tourism in this region, which seems to growing so quickly.
I guess thats the reason for Peppers & others building new Resorts along the Esplanade, in time for Virgin Blue/Jetstars introduction.
I know in my case, it will give me "easy" access to fly "direct" to Sydney, to see my relatives & friends every so often. At the moment, one flys with Sunshine Express to Brisbane, then waits & changes for a flight to Sydney. Other people take the bus to Maryborough West Railway Station, then catch the train to Brisbane, and then a flight to Sydney/Melbourne, etc.