The Dangers of Rodent Baits

The recent cold weather has seen an increase in rat infestation. Unfortunately, consumers reach for the easy-fix solution, that is the common poison bought off supermarket shelves. 

However, these baits kill rodents effectively but also prove to be fatal to pets and wildlife that have fed on the poisoned rats. 

These animals suffer horrific deaths as a consequence of pecking on or consuming poisoned rats. This occurs especially in the raptors, specifically owls.

To avoid these fatalities, consumers should be aware in purchasing baits and seek the correct advice. There are pet-friendly baits available. 

However, these are not found in supermarkets. They are available from rural supply stores. You need to ask specially for “pet-friendly” baits and check that the product contains the chemical Coumatetralyt. 

These baits are available in sachet form and must be secured within a bait station that pets and wildlife cannot access but rodents can.

The chemical Coumatetralyt is a first-generation anti-coagulant that is metabolised quickly and carries very low residual poison in the dead rodent. As an experiment, rats poisoned by this chemical were fed to dogs with no harmless effects.

When tackling a rodent infestation, it is our responsibility to choose the correct baits that will not harm our pets and wildlife thereby preventing unnecessary suffering and death.

Diane Christensen

Doubled Rates

Everyone is talking about supermarkets and price gouging, what about our council?

They should be on top of the list, our daughter put another dwelling on our land, our intention was to subdivide and give her the land.

Due to this councils greedy and unreasonable demands we can no longer afford to go ahead with the subdivision.

We are not land developers, we have to go dual occupancy now, a week after final inspection my rates have doubled.

The council say we are a drain on the infrastructure, we paid them $18,000 for infrastructure when we applied to subdivide.

Both houses are on septic, all the second house services come of our house, ONE water metre, one garbage collection, we are getting charged for services we haven’t got.

Nothing has changed here for three years.

Our daughter has moved out of our house into hers, if any other business did what the council do, they would end up in court.

I have been told to suck it up and pay up. They don’t care how much we have to pay out, so much for cost of living stress, but that’s our council.

Unhappy rate payer.

Jan - Urangan

Young Drivers

My name is Noela May, and as a nearly 80-year-old Great Grandma. In my earlier years I raised a family of four children and helped many others in my community. Now I’m enjoying my retirement in the peaceful suburb of Wondunna.  

I write to you as I am deeply concerned about the safety of our young drivers who enjoy fast cars and engaging in activities like burnouts and donuts. While I’m certainly not opposed to this sporting activity, I do wish to make some safer suggestions to support the development and more importantly, safety, of this community and its youth. 

I believe it would be beneficial for our community if the local council or government could allocate a piece of land on the outskirts of our city specifically for these activities. This dedicated space would not only provide a safe environment for young drivers to practice their skills but also help keep such activities off our streets. When you think about it, we already have facilities for various sports, such as cricket fields, golf courses, gun ranges, speedways, and motocross tracks. Why not extend this to include a space for car enthusiasts? 

Charging a small fee for entry or membership could help cover the costs of insurance and supervision. In addition to providing a safe venue, this initiative could save lives. Those caught driving recklessly on the roads will continue to face hefty fines or have their vehicles impounded for a significant period however, these incidences may be reduced due to having a designated ‘safe space’ to utilise their skills. 

Another suggestion for offenders is community service in hospitals, where they could assist car crash victims or provide comfort to families affected by such incidents. I understand this kind of reprimand goes beyond local council and I’m happy for you to put my suggestions forward to the relevant members or reference me as your voice in the community. 

I am eager to hear feedback from the council and/or community on this proposal. My heartfelt sympathies go out to those who have lost loved ones due to reckless driving. I truly believe that this initiative could greatly benefit our young drivers and enhance safety in our city. 

Mrs Noela May - Wondunna

Bank Staff

My husband and I had need to go to the bank today regarding EOFY information.

Jaimie at the ANZ Bank was exceptionally helpful and was quite happy to spend time explaining the puzzling processes (for we elderly!!)

I then met Jessica at the NAB, who was also very helpful and happy to help in any way she could.

Don’t the hierarchy of the banks, sitting in their ivory towers in Sydney or Melbourne, realise that they have the best asset of all - their staff. By forcing us into doing everything online, we miss that personal touch and no one will ever convince us that this is the way to go.

Thank you Jaimie and Jessica.

Sue & Lindsay Woodforde - Torquay

Developer thanks the community

The developer of a world-class resort and apartments project on the Hervey Bay waterfront has welcomed Fraser Coast Regional Council’s approval and thanked the local community for their support.

Dan Cuda, director of developer Sunny Beach Land, said the group had voluntarily agreed to reduce the project height from 21 storeys to 18 storeys in response to community feedback.

Mr Cuda said the approval was the trigger for a major economic, employment and social boost for the Fraser Coast region.

“We thank Councillors for listening to the community, recognising the huge benefits that will flow from this project, and having the faith in us to deliver a world-class outcome for Hervey Bay,” he said.

“We also extend our deepest appreciation to Hervey Bay residents and the wider Fraser Coast community for their incredible support for a Sheraton Resort Hervey Bay.

“While we understand and appreciate that not everyone was in favour of this proposal, we are very grateful for the overwhelming feedback received and thank everyone for their interest in the project and their willingness to participate in the discussion.

“There is no doubt the Sheraton Resort Hervey Bay will be a catalyst for continued growth and progress that will ensure a more sustainable and prosperous future for the Bay. 

“We are committed to seeing this project through and creating a landmark development that will put our region on the world stage today and for future generations.”

Mr Cuda said Sunny Beach Land would review Council’s approval conditions and actively commence planning for the project’s commencement.