Sun Community Newspapers

05/05/2021

18/06/2020

THE TOP END REOPENS FOR VISITORS
The Northern Territory borders will officially re-open on 17 July with iconic destinations including World Heritage-listed Kakadu National Park and Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park accessible again for all Australians to enjoy.
Tourism Northern Territory is inviting everyone to turn their holiday dreaming into holiday bookings so you can all enjoy the warm tropical North and spectacular blue skies of the Red Centre.
From 17 July, self-quarantine for domestic travellers arriving in the Territory is no longer required. Our tourist destinations, attractions, restaurants and tour operators are getting ready to welcome new and returning visitors.
As one of the safest places in Australia, those bucket list experiences that are synonymous with the Northern Territory are ready and waiting. Exploring the Territory has moved from your ‘one day’ list to the best place to be from 17 July.
Tourism NT Executive General Manager of Marketing Tony Quarmby anticipates first-time visitors will be keen to visit popular NT destinations including Darwin, Alice Springs, Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Kakadu National Park, Kings Canyon, Nitmiluk National Park, Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands.
From the Red Centre to the Top End, the Territory is the envy of international locations with beautiful outback adventures, an abundance of wildlife, World Heritage-listed National Parks, waterfalls, swimming holes and the world’s oldest living culture all waiting for you.

18/06/2020

SEND US YOUR MEMORIES!
The Gold Coast Sun team are working on the final edition of your newspaper. We would love to hear your favourite moments, stories, and memories from the past 53 years in print as we say a sad goodbye to Australia's most read community newspaper! Email us at [email protected] by COB today to be included.

11/06/2020

TRIO CHARGED OVER BOAT FIRES
Police have charged three men over a number of boat fires at Hope Harbour Marina in early June this year.
It is alleged around 11.15pm on June 2, a number of boats were engulfed in flames at the John Lund Drive marina.
It will be alleged a number of people were seen throwing petrol onto one of the boats before setting it alight.
There were five boats in total sustaining various degrees of fire and heat damage.
No one was injured during the incident.
A 33-year-old man from Dugandan has been charged with three counts of arson and one count each of attempted fraud, enter premises with intent to commit an indictable offence and endanger property by fire.
He is due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on August 26.
Two men aged 21 and 25 years from Fernvale have both been charged with three counts of arson and one count each of enter premises with intent to commit indicatable offence and endanger property by fire.
Both men will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on August 10.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

02/06/2020

SENIORS URGED TO CHECK OUT COMMONWEALTH SENIORS HEALTH CARD
National Seniors Australia says hundreds of thousands of older Australians now qualify for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC), and probably don’t realise it.
The country’s peak advocacy and consumer group for seniors says they would also qualify for a $750 stimulus
payment if they are an eligible CSHC holder on July 10.
National Seniors Chief Advocate, Ian Henschke says the reason so many more seniors would qualify is because
of the recent cuts to the deeming rates.
“Lower deeming rates mean more retirees fall below the income test threshold for the card.”
“There could be hundreds of thousands of older Australians eligible and they don’t even realise,” Mr Henschke said.
The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card provides a range of concessions including up to $1,180 a year due to
a lower Medicare safety net and similar savings via the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. It also offers retirees
access to some state and territory concessions and the likelihood of being bulk billed by a doctor.
“Not only that, but if they don’t apply and are not a Seniors Health Card holder by July 10, they could miss out
on the $750 stimulus payment.”
To qualify for the card, you must have reached the pension age, meet an income test, are not receiving any
payment from Veterans Affairs and are an Australian resident living in Australia.
To meet the income test you must earn below the following income thresholds:
 $55,808 for singles
 $89,290 for couples
 $111,616 for couples who are separated by illness, respite care or prison.

02/06/2020

DRIVING TESTS TO RESUME
Queensland’s learner drivers will soon be able to sit for their P-plates again with practical driving tests to resume on June 15.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said with coronavirus restrictions easing and Queenslanders smashing the curve, transport authorities have begun preparing for the return of driving tests with new measures in place to ensure examiners and learner drivers are safe.
The approved COVID-safe plan includes mandatory screening questions, vehicle cleaning requirements and reinforcement of general health and hygiene measures.
“Heavy vehicle driving tests resumed last week and with Queensland being among the best-performing states in stopping the spread of COVID-19, light vehicle tests will recommence on June 15 to support jobs and keep our economy moving,” Mr Bailey said.
“New driving examiners are being brought on board and tests will be conducted six days a week to help catch up on the number of learner drivers whose tests were suspended."
Mr Bailey said a booking process would be introduced to prioritise learner drivers who had their tests suspended due to the pandemic, and those who urgently needed their P-plates for economic, health, and job reasons.
The fee for learner licence renewals is being waived until three months after practical driving tests resume. This includes learner licences that have expired.
For more information on the resumption of testing visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au

01/06/2020

SPEEDING MOTORCYCLIST FACES CHARGES OVER STOLEN PROPERTY
A Tugun man allegedly caught riding an unregistered motorcycle at excessive speeds has been charged with 15 offences after a number of stolen vehicles were located at a Clear Island Waters property on Friday night.
Shortly before 9pm, the 30-year-old was observed by police allegedly travelling around 140km/h in an 80km/h speed zone at Mermaid Waters.
The Suzuki GSXR6R was monitored by Polair as it travelled to a Tortuga Place residence at Clear Island Waters where the rider briefly stopped then travelled to a vacant block where it will be alleged he attempted to hide the motorcycle in bushes.
When officers arrived, it will be alleged they located a bag on the rider containing a large quantity of dangerous drugs.
Further investigations at a Tortuga Place address where officers located a 2011 Landrover Discovery, two boat trailers and two jet skis all alleged to have been stolen.
Officers also allegedly uncovered Methylamphetamine, M**A, a homemade conductive energy device and flick knife.
A 30-year-old Tugun man has been given a Notice to Appear in the Southport Magistrates Court in August on possessing dangerous drugs, unlawful possession of suspected stolen property, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, driving without a licence and unlawful possession of weapons charges.

23/05/2020

POLICE PROBE SURFERS PARADISE DEATH
Gold Coast detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Surfers Paradise early Saturday morning.
Police were called to a View Avenue apartment block just after 3am where the body of a 19-year-old Brisbane man was located.
Initial investigations indicate the man fell from a balcony.
As a result, police attended a unit above where four teenage males were in a semi- conscious state, after consuming prescription drugs.
All four were transported to Robina Hospital in a stable condition.
Earlier, around 2:20am, two 16-year-old boys believed to be from the same group were arrested between View Avenue and the Esplanade for possession of prescription drugs.
Investigations are continuing.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

21/05/2020

MAN CHARGED OVER ALLEGED HIT AND RUN
Police have charged a 21-year-old Burleigh Heads man over an alleged hit and run incident that injured a police officer in March this year.
Around 11am Tuesday police observed a Ford Falcon on Queen Street, Southport, that was wanted in connection to the alleged hit and run incident. The car was allegedly bearing false number plates.
The vehicle turned into a mechanical business on Ferry Road at Southport where police arrested the man without incident.
He has been charged with one count each of failing to stop at an incident, failing to comply with requirement to stop a private vehicle, dangerous operation of a vehicle, driving with false number plates, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving while unlicensed.
The man was bailed and will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on August 17.
The arrest relates to an incident on March 28, where it is alleged police attended a service station on Olsen Road when they noticed a group of people allegedly behaving suspiciously inside a parked car.
A 48-year-old male senior constable approached the vehicle to investigate the suspicious activity between the five occupants when the driver allegedly reversed into the officer. The silver Ford Falcon then allegedly failed to stop and left the service station.
The officer was knocked to the ground, hitting his head. He was conveyed to hospital for treatment of minor injuries and has since made a full recovery.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.