South Burnett Free Press

02/08/2026

Aussies are facing a double hip-pocket hit, with petrol prices rising and the cost of alcohol set to increase from today.

The federal government is imposing its 79th alcohol tax increase in 40 years, meaning consumers will pay more for spirits and packaged beer.

25/07/2026

One of the many scam email currently.
Pretty obvious if you look at the highlighted email addresses

23/07/2026

Police have charged two men in relation to an alleged deliberate dangerous driving incident at Kingaroy on 21 July.

It will be alleged at around 8.10am police were conducting patrols when they observed a 1996 Honda Civic and a 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer rapidly accelerate from traffic lights at the intersection of Haly Street and Fisher Street.

It will be further alleged both vehicles continued travelling side by side, east along Haly Street before being intercepted by police.

Officers seized both vehicles impounding them for 90 days.

A 20-year-old Ellesmere man, and a 21-year-old Kingaroy man, have each been given a notice to appear for one count of race between vehicles on the road.

Both men are due to appear before the Kingaroy Magistrates Court on 2 September.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1769800977510271

16/07/2026

Recent comments in the public domain, regarding the worker’s accommodation development application, may be considered misleading and the governance of the project is sound.

Council understands members of the community have mixed reactions and emotions to new development in the region be it renewable energy, aerodrome developments or expansions of commercial land into rural areas. Council also respects residents right to have their opinion heard and the freedom to express that view point.

As part of the feedback to the State Government that approved the Tarong West Wind Farm project, Council advocated for the proponent to include a housing solution for the proposed workforce to undertake the construction.

Councils’ position on any large infrastructure project is that they must include an accommodation solution, this is a result of the community feedback received in the lead up to and through the community led housing and homelessness forum.

Council strives to be solution focused. The proponent attended a Council workshop on 23 July 2025 to discuss the project as a whole (the wind turbine construction and the accommodation), in which Council offered the option of utilising land at the aerodrome that had no current lease.

Councils’ objective in this offer was to ease the burden on the Kumbia community.

A report to Council was provided for consideration as part of the November Ordinary General Meeting which was approved:

The resolution provided officers with the delegation to enter into negotiations. The position of Council is that the terms and conditions of the lease would not be finalised until an approved Development Application was obtained. Council made its position clear to the proponent that it sought to have a legacy project of infrastructure that could be utilised to improve the services to the wider aerodrome and broader community.

Council in good faith provided landowners consent to allow the proponent to lodge the application. The application is now going through the planning process.

The Development Application process provides an adequate community engagement avenue for residents to provide feedback to Council on the Development. Council encourages residents and interested stakeholders to review the applicants information on the website and when the applicant provides public notification, provide a properly made submission. Please see Council’s website for more information: Planning and Development | South Burnett Regional Council.

Council has accepted and attended workshops with residents and members of the public with a commercial conflict with the project at their request which demonstrates the openness and accessibility to Councillors by any member of the community.

Council will continue to investigate and work with private individuals, not for profits and companies to increase the use of the aerodrome and improve its financial sustainability to ease the burden on the wider regions rate payers.

15/07/2026

Police have charged three people after drugs and weapons were located during the ex*****on of two separate search warrants in Murgon and Cherbourg yesterday, 14 July.

Targeting the unlawful supply of dangerous drugs, officers from Cherbourg, Murgon and Murgon Criminal Investigation Branch attended a Lamb Street, Murgon, residence around 12.30pm where they located nearly 13grams of methylamphetamine, a small quantity of co***ne and cannabis, drug utensils, unlawfully possessed controlled medicines and knuckledusters.

A 33-year-old Murgon man was arrested and charged with 15 offences including four counts of possess dangerous drug, two counts of supply dangerous drug and one count of possess category M weapon.

A 28-year-old Murgon woman was arrested and charged with nine offences including four counts of possess dangerous drug, one count of supply dangerous drug, one count of possess category M weapon and other drug-related offences.

Both are due to appear before Murgon Magistrates Court on 11 August.

A 45-year-old Cherbourg man was also arrested and charged following a search warrant being executed at a Marshall Street, Cherbourg, residence around 9.30am.

The man has been charged with one count each of supplying dangerous drugs, possessing dangerous drugs and other drug-related offences.

He has been issued a Notice to Appear before Murgon Magistrates Court on 11 August.

12/07/2026

06/07/2026

Police have charged six male teenagers following an investigation into the wilful damage of gravesites in Cherbourg on 3 July.

Around 4.30am police received reports a fence and several headstones on Cemetery Road had allegedly been damaged after being driven over by a vehicle.

When officers arrived at the scene, they located a 2017 Toyota RAV4 and a 2006 Honda Accord, allegedly stolen from a Wieden Street address in Kingaroy around 3.30am the same day.

It is further alleged police located a third vehicle linked to the offence, a black 2012 Citroen C5 stolen from an Avoca Street address in Kingaroy on the night of 2 July, extensively damaged by fire at a nearby address a short time later.

A 14-year-old Cherbourg boy has been charged with four counts of enter dwelling and commit and unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one count each of enter premises with intent, enter dwelling with intent, wilful damage and driving without a licence.

He appeared in the Caloundra Childrens Court on 4 July.

A 15-year-old Cherbourg boy has been charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and is due to appear before the Murgon Childrens Court on 14 July.

A 17-year-old Kingaroy boy has been charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and is due to appear before the Kingaroy Childrens Court on 3 August.

A 17-year-old Kingaroy boy has been charged with two counts each of stealing a motor vehicle and enter dwelling and commit and one count each of enter premises with intent and attempted enter dwelling with intent to commit.

He is due to appear in the Kingaroy Childrens Court on 6 July.

An 18-year-old Kingaroy man has been charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and is due to appear before the Kingaroy Magistrates Court on 6 July.

A 17-year-old Cherbourg boy has been charged with one count each of enter dwelling and commit, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and wilful damage and has been dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act.

03/07/2026

Police are appealing for information as part of ongoing investigations into the wilful damage of gravesites in Cherbourg early morning, 3 July.

Around 4.30am police received reports a fence and several headstones on Cemetery Road had been damaged after being driven over by a vehicle.

When officers arrived at the scene, they located a 2017 Toyota RAV4 which had been stolen from a Duke Street address in Kingaroy at around 3.30am this morning, 3 July.

Two other vehicles, a grey Honda Civic and a black Citroen C5 both stolen from Kingaroy overnight and also believed to be linked to the offence, were located damaged in Cherbourg a short time later.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have relevant information, CCTV or dashcam vision that may assist to contact police.

29/06/2026

Detectives from the Kingaroy Rural and Stock Crime Squad (RSCS) have charged a 55-year-old Clermont woman after she allegedly stole 100 head of cattle, a tractor and 4km of barbed wire fencing, worth a combined value of over $280,000.

Police initially received a report in May 2026, after the victim mustered a Boondoomba property and noted cattle and property were missing.

It will be alleged that the Clermont woman had access to the property and committed the offences over a three-year period.

RSCS detectives later recovered the stolen tractor and barbed wire while executing a search at a Wooroolin address.

The woman was charged with six counts each of stock stealing and stock fraud, and one count each of enter and commit and insecure fi****ms and issued a Notice to Appear (NTA) in Clermont Magistrates Court on 5 August.