YEPPOON TRAVEL AGENCY
Capricorn Coast
Book locally at same price and save travel worries
Shavers Surf Shop OPEN
39 1044
7 DAYS
JAMES STREET
AVIS
rent-a-cars ready to go now!
Downtown Yeppoon
ISSUE 205 SATURDAY, July 18, 1987 — FRIDAY, July 24, 1987
Phone (079) 39 4244 R—egP=DboY,, ANuoStPaZ3P8o4s FREE 6200 Copies
Fire auxiliaries fight downgrading plan
❑ ABOVE: Still 12 holes from victory in the Yeppoon Golf Club Pro-Am on the weekend, Peter McWhinney showed signs of complete confidence as he walked off the sixth green. Euery inch the professional from head to toe, he tipped his 'Greg Norman' Akubra to the gallery.
IT'S on again ... the Yeppoon Fire Brigade Auxiliaries have heard that around-the-clock protection is being withdrawn from Yeppoon and they are threatening to resign en masse. Yeppoon auxiliaries' spokesman Ross Newmann said this week he had "heard on the grapevine" that there were plans to pull three fire officers out of Yeppoon and leave one station officer-in charge ... working daylight hours, Monday to Friday. He said the "grapevine" was "more than a rumour". "I've heard Telecom has been told to pull out the fire phone and transfer it to Rockhampton," he said. "There have been other things we've heard, but we didn't have witnesses at the time." Mr Newmann said the auxiliaries had fought to preserve full-time fire protection for Yeppoon in late 1984 and intended using the same tactics this time if the State Government pushes ahead with what the auxiliaries believe are its plans. "We won't strike ... we'll resign," he said. "That's the only weapon we have, and we'll use it. The moment full-time protection is removed, all auxiliaries at Yeppoon will hand in their resignation." Mr Newmann said no bluff was involved. Auxiliaries would resign because the alternative would be putting out fires on their own ... without fully qualified fire officers giving directions. "Full-time firemen in Rockhampton, and everywhere, train every day," he said. "They are lectured, shown the latest techniques, thoroughly drilled in using their equipment. "An auxiliary trains for two hours a week. How can out knowledge compare with even a fireman's, let alone an officer trained in directing fire-fighting personnel?" Mr Newmann said auxiliaries had written to then Administrative Services Minister Martin Tenni when moves were afoot to down-grade Yeppoon Fire Station in November, 1984. The Minister had been told that Yeppoon had two private schools which took boarders; old wooden houses, old wooden business premises and a huge pensioner population. "All that is still true today," Mr Newmann said. "But now, we have Bayview Tower ... a high-rise building." In addition, Mr Newmann said the brigade 0 CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
Hinton stops resignations with promise from Minister of no change MEMBER for Broadsound Denis Hinton has headed off resignations' by Yeppoon Fire Station auxiliaries by getting a guarantee that there will be no changes at the fire station. Mr Hinton said he had received a guarantee from Administrative Services Minister Don Neal that "no staffing plan will be implemented that will leave the station without at least a full-time officer available 24-hours-a-day, plus the auxiliaries". The auxiliaries had approached Mr Hinton to act on their behalf earlier this week. Mr Hinton had been advised by Mr Neal that his department was conducting a full review across Queensland of all staffing levels, because of criticism of fire levy increases, staffing levels and of the overall efficiency of the service. Confirming part of what the auxiliaries had heard, Mr Hinton said he was initially advised that Yeppoon Fire Brigade was being reduced from a staff of four permanent men working shifts on a 24hour- basis, plus auxiliaries, to a situation involving one permanent officer. Under this situation, the one professional officer would have been a fulltime resident at the fire station and would have been on call 24 hours a day. The officer would have worked a 9am to 5pm shift. In addition, a full-time permanent officer would have also worked five days a week from 9am to 5pm, meaning two permanent officers would have been on hand in these hours, plus auxiliaries. Mr Hinton said this would have been an improvement on the present situation, where there is one man, plus auxiliaries, during daytime hours. "From 5pm until the next day, the resident officer would be call and would have been paid overtime for any duties performed, and auxiliaries would also be available," Mr Hinton said. On weekends, the Rockhampton Fire Board would have provided full-time officers, with one officer on duty at all times. El CONTINUED ON PAGE 4
WATER FILTRATION HELP `BIGGEST ADVANCE IN A DECADE' MEMBER for Broadsound Denis Hinton this week described a State Government offer of help for the council's proposed water filtration plant as the "biggest advance for the Capricorn Coast in a decade". He said the State Government, fulfilling an election promise, had offered Livingstone Shire Council an interest-free loan for three
Come on down to the Barn
years of $2.4 million. In addition, subsidy of up to $1.4 million was available. Mr Hinton said council was looking at two water filtration proposals. The first, which would be capable of filtering existing water use and cater for the next seven years, would cost $3.7 million. The second proposal was more ambitious and would look after the Coast's water needs
GREAT Fish and Chips
QUALITY Takeaways For the Cheapest Liquor on the Coast Queen Street, Yeppoon
7 days-a-week
Seafood & Eat It Anzac Parade, Yeppoon
39 2233
"into the foreseeable future" and provide for water to be sold to the Capricorn Iwasaki Resort. This second scheme would cost $4.8 million and would attract a subsidy of $1.4 million. Mr Hinton said the special Treasury loan of $2.4 million, interest-free for three years, was available for both schemes.
* Fridges * Washers TV Signal Booster NOW IN Tyler's
STOCK at...
PEACH'S
ELECTRICENTRE 26 James St, Yeppoon
39 1066
* We now hire TVs *
Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen's election promise late last year printed in the Capricorn Coast Mirror was for $1 million to be given to council in addition to any subsidy. Mr Hinton said this week the Premier had kept his promise with the special loan. He said the lack of interest for three years had been calculated to be worth $1.008 million.
PIZZAS BBQ Chickens
Fish and Chips Phone your order to...
ANNE'S ...at The Sands 39 3371 NORMANBY STREET, YEPPOON
Open 7 days-a-week from Sam