Report tallies $11.5b regional infrastructure spend

By HARRY CLARKE

NEW research has listed the Inland Rail project and the MacIntyre Wind Farm as major components of a total $11.5 billion in projected infrastructure spending to occur between the Darling Downs and Maranoa regions over the next five years.

A report by the Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA), released in partnership with Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE), found the value of projects in the regional pipeline had increased by 22 percent since last year.

The QCMA’s annual Queensland Major Projects Pipeline Report indicates that of $61.9 billion in infrastructure spending across the state, a significant percentage was earmarked for southern regional Queensland.

“The report really highlighted the massive increase in investment that we’ve got coming forward in the next four to five years,” QCMA CEO Andrew Chapman (pictured) told a conference in Toowoomba.

“We haven’t been at these levels since 2013 and 2014.”

Queensland Major Contractors Association CEO Andrew Chapman speaking in Toowoomba. IMAGE: TSBE

The report said the local pipeline was worth $11.5b, with projects such as Inland Rail, MacIntyre and Dulacca Wind Farms, CSG sustaining projects (QGC, Santos, Origin), Gangarri & Western Downs Solar Farms all contributing.

“The Darling Downs, Maranoa and Ipswich area have got $11.5 billion and 88 percent of that is actually funded work, so it’s looking very positive,” Mr Chapman said.

“It gives a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of comfort to industry to invest in skills, invest in technology and invest for the future.

“A bulk of that comes from renewable projects and Inland Rail. Yes, they are singular projects, but they are big investment programs over a long period of time.”

IMAGE: QMCA

The Inland Rail project by ARTC is a new freight rail project, totalling $15 billion, that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane through regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. 

It is expected to be completed by 2026, according to a recent report in The Australian newspaper.

TSBE CEO Ali Davenport said the project was one of dozens in the Toowoomba and Surat Basin region that would continue driving development over the coming years.

“I think it’s a very exciting time in the construction sector,” Ms Davenport said.

“We’ve definitely noticed a lot of strain on the sector at the moment with so many major projects coming, companies fighting for skilled workers as well as challenges with securing products and price rises.

“So there’s a lot of headwinds but it is really exciting overall when you look at how many jobs and how much spending is going to come to the region.”

For the full Queensland Major Projects Pipeline Report visit the Queensland Major Contractors Association website.

Map showing the location of the MacIntyre Wind Farm. IMAGE: Acconia

WATCH: Wendy’s a winner riding “Winx of the bush”

By HARRY CLARKE

DALBY horse trainer David Reynolds and his champion runner Rather Salubrious will return home heroes of Queensland bush racing after storming to victory in the Country Cups Challenge final for 2021.

Despite carrying 60.5kg and jumping wide from barrier 14, apprentice jockey Wendy Peel delivered a sensational ride on Rather Salubrious to win at Doomben by two lengths.

The 6YO bay mare makes history as the first horse to win both the Battle of the Bush and Country Cups Challenge in the same year.

Wendy Peel storms home on Rather Salubrious to win the 2021 Country Cups Challenge at Doomben

The win brings Rather Salubrious’s prize money to more than $320,000, and her track record to 13 wins and 17 placings from 55 starts – a good earner for Reynolds, who purchased the horse as a 3-year-old for $12,000 and retains an 80 percent share.

“I knew that she was going to be right there when it mattered, but I didn’t think she was going to put them way like she did,” Reynolds said.

“She’s a quality horse and that’s what gets them over the line. The weight’s never stopped her before. She was a hundred percent right today and I was really confident.”

Trainer David Reynolds and jockey Wendy Peel in a big embrace after their Country Cups Challenge win.
An elated Wendy Peel celebrates victory with the horse she nicknames the “Winx of the Bush”

Peel and Rather Salubrious have made a hugely successful combination in 2021.

Peel was on board for the horse’s emphatic win in the Battle of the Bush race at Doomben in June, and steered her to victory with 63kg at Yeppoon in September to qualify for the Country Cups Challenge.

“She jumped really well from that outside alley and got to the fence. I popped one off when I got the chance,” Peel said.

“She needs a bit of momentum and she was just too good. She got me into it really strongly from the 700m.

“She’s a funny, quirky mare, she’ll try and bite you and kick you but I love that about her. She’s just so tough and she tried 110 percent.

“I call her the Winx of the Bush and basically she is. She tries every time. I just love her.”

Dalby trained mare’s Country Cups Challenge chance

By HARRY CLARKE

PRIZED mare Rather Salubrious will have nothing to prove when she lines up against the best in Queensland’s country racing circuit this weekend, but trainer David Reynolds sure hopes the 6YO can cement her place as the “queen of the bush”.

Rather Salubrious is the top weight in Saturday’s prestigious Country Cups Challenge 1600m at Doomben, carrying 60.5kg with apprentice jockey Wendy Peel.

She won convincingly with 63kg on board at Yeppoon last month, coming off an emphatic victory in the Battle of Bush at Eagle Farm earlier in the year.

“The weight hasn’t really bothered her,” David Reynolds said.

“We’re confident. It would have been nicer if we’d drawn barrier 6 instead of 14, but she’s 10 rating points better than any other horse in the race, so obviously she’s quality.”

The mare Reynolds purchased as a 3YO for $12,000 has since racked up more than $260,000 in prize money at the track.

Her winnings would increase significantly if she were to take home a share in the Country Cups Challenge’s $110,000 in prize money.

“She won Battle of the Bush in June and I suppose she’s really trying to be the queen of the bush by backing up and winning the double,” Reynolds said.

“We got her when she was a 3-year-old. She’d had two starts and we didn’t have much money in the account, so she’s been good to us.”

Wendy Peel rides Rather Salubrious to victory in the Battle of the Bush at Eagle Farm in June. IMGE: racingandsports.com

At the very least, Rather Salubrious has become the queen of the stables at Go 2 Park, Reynolds’ training and breeding operation at Dalby.

Reynolds said as well as the handicap and barrier, the 1600m distance would be a challenge Saturday.

“The bush horses don’t get to have a crack at the mile very often so we don’t really get to test them over that distance,” he said.

“After this race she’s probably going to have to go into town, with her rating country-wise. She’s probably going to have to be up in the weights all the time.”

Rural telehealth provider hits 5000 consultations

By HARRY CLARKE

A RAPIDLY expanding student health and wellbeing program has just notched up some 5,000 telehealth consultations, delivering medical services remotely to children across Queensland’s Western Downs region.

The University of Queensland’s Centre for Online Health team has spent the past week delivering telehealth consultations to students in Dalby, Chinchilla, Miles, Wandoan and Tara as part of the milestone.

The program, Health-e-Regions, has been running for five years in partnership with Shell QGC, one of the region’s major operators in the resources industry.

It remotely provides speech pathology, occupational therapy and audiology services in the Western Downs, where there isn’t an abundance of specialised services for students at school.

Over fives years, the program has expanded to now involve primary six schools as well as a specialised service for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Dalby through the local Goondir Health Services.

Health-e-Regions originated as a research project exploring the benefits of telehealth for children at school in regard to health and well-being and educational outcomes according to teacher feedback.

From this work, UQ’s Centre for Online Health team has published several academic journal articles and now reached more than 5,000 therapy sessions for more than 150 families.

Project Manager Lisa Garner (pictured below) said the unique service had become enormously popular for children as well as their families.

“There’s a great deal of demand for these sorts of services and our program is always full to the brim,” she said.

“The feedback has always been really positive. Most parents are just really grateful that their kids have an opportunity to access the service.

“Some of the families have previously accessed services privately through other providers, but they find that the services provided by UQ students are much more tailored specifically for their child.

“The children don’t get bored, they’re always wanting to come. The sessions are tailored to exactly what the children like. 

“If a kid’s into the Broncos, every exercise that they do will be related to the Broncos, if they’re into fairies, every exercise will be related to fairies, or whatever it might be that the particular child is interested in. 

“The parents find it great – they don’t have to leave home, they don’t have to drive to Toowoomba or another larger centres – the services are provided in an easy care situation where the kids are at school already.”

The University of Queensland’s Health-e-Regions telehealth program has expanded to include six school across Queensland’s Western Downs region. IMAGE supplied

QUOTES FROM PARENTS AND GUARDIANS OF HEALTH-E-REGIONS

“Bentley loves and enjoys his telehealth session at school, and I personally think there should be more sessions because it’s amazing how much a child enjoys and learns.”

We cannot thank Health-e-Regions and QGC enough. This service has been invaluable and has changed our daughters abilities and outlook so much in such a short time. Thank you.”

“Thank you for allowing my son the chance to participate in this great program.”

“Ryder has come so far with this program; he enjoys it and comes home and tells us all about his session.”

Kids from St Joseph’s Primary School in Tara celebrate the milestone of 5,000 telehealth consultations. IMAGE: Supplied

Outback Qld’s biggest new tourism event announced

By HARRY CLARKE

TRAVELLING all the way to Brisbane from their home in faraway Mount Isa, rodeo siblings Byron and Willow Kirk came to crack the whip in a room full of politicians at Parliament House.

As a bonus, their efforts may have helped to discipline a few of Queensland’s elected officials, but the main reason for their visit to the halls of government was to promote the state’s most exciting new tourism event.

In 2022, organisers behind the iconic Mount Isa Rodeo will be holding a ‘Road to Rodeo’ event in the outback town of Longreach.

Set down for next year’s May long weekend, Road to Road – An Isa Rodeo Experience will bring all the action of Queensland’s famous Mount Isa Rodeo to a new audience at Longreach.

Coverage of the 2021 Mount Isa Rodeo by COUNTRY CALLER

The event will be the first in a new four-rodeo series across Queensland by 2024, representing a long-term economic injection to the state of over $4 million and accommodating the ever-growing sport of rodeo.

“In 1959, a group of passionate Rotarians with an intrinsic sense of potential formed Isa Rodeo,” said Isa Rodeo CEO Natalie Flecker (pictured).

“Their vision was to put the remote town of Mount Isa on the map and raise funds for local charities. Over 62 years of whip-cracking vision and dedication, this event has evolved into one of legendary status globally.

“Labelled as one of the most electrifying events in the country, the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is on the bucket list of many, has won numerous awards and generated millions of dollars in economic benefit to Mount Isa, Outback Queensland and Queensland.

“Now, it’s time to take this experience state-wide and develop, champion and share it across Queensland.

“Longreach, in the heart of Outback Queensland, is the perfect first location. It is a proud rodeo-loving region, it’s home to the Stockman’s Hall of Fame and has a long rodeo and campdrafting history.

“As we re-open borders and reconnect with Australia’s own backyard, Road to Rodeo Longreach is set to be one of the must-attend events of 2022, and a new annual event on the calendar.”

Siblings Byron and Willow Kirk with reigning Mount Isa Rodeo bull riding champion Troy Wilkinson. IMAGE: Pete Wallace

Byron Kirk, 8, and Willow, 6, are miniature stars on Queensland’s rodeo circuit. Byron is the reigning Mount Isa Rodeo poddy calf ride champion while Willow is the state’s cutest line dancer and pony barrel racer.

The siblings were joined by champion cowboy Troy Wilkinson, who in August took home $30,000 in prize money by winning his first, long awaited Mount Isa Rodeo open bull ride trophy belt buckle.

“It took me nearly 10 years to get my first win at Mount Isa. It’s the biggest rodeo in the southern hemisphere and such a prestigious rodeo event,” Wilkinson said.

“If you compete in rodeo, you want to win at Mount Isa. Anything that adds excitement to the challenge of winning Mount Isa is a good thing.

“It think it (the Road to Rodeo event series) is a fantastic idea. It creates opportunities and pathways for us competitors, and I can’t wait to see how it grows.”

Rising country music star James Johnson. IMAGE: Pete Wallis

As well the thrilling rodeo arena events such as rough stock riding, roping and barrel racing, there’ll also be a raft of other entertainment offering which rodeo audience have com to expect.

Rising country music star James Johnston performed at the launch event at Parliament House. He’ll be joined on the bill at Longreach by renowned country musicians, The Wolfe Brothers.

Tourism Minister Sterling Hinchliffe said the government was excited to continue working with the Mount Isa Rodeo committee to boost the profile of our iconic outback sports and tourism.

“The partnership that the Palaszczuk Government has, through Tourism and Events Queensland, with Mount Isa Rodeo has been outstanding,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“When I heard that there was a prospect to take a little bit off that joy and opportunity further afield and have a Road to Rodeo, and see the first of those events being launched at Longreach, I was very excited.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity for that partnership to be extended and I look forward to that opportunity to work together in supporting the outback.

“The idea of having an event in April that will lead into the great event that happens downs the road in Mount Isa is a tremendous way of extending the experience for more people.”

Follow the Country Caller for more information about the Road to Rodeo as the event approaches on April 30 – May 1.

Kleier crowned king after conquering King Kong

PROFESSIONAL bull rider Aaron Kleier has etched his name in the sport’s record books after being crowned the 2021 PBR Australia Champion, winning an unprecedented fourth consecutive national title.

Only one other bull rider in history has won a national title four times in any of PBR’s international divisions.

As the first to achieve the feat in successive years, Kleier (from Clermont, Queensland) is now tied David Kennedy (Kyogle, New South Wales) for most Australian national titles won by one rider in the league’s history.

Kennedy topped the national standings in 2009, 2010, 2012 and 2014.

2021 PBR Australian Champion Aaron Kleier

Kleier began Saturday’s Australia Monster Energy Tour Grand Finals in Townsville with a 195.83-point lead over No. 2 contender Macaulie Leather (Calliope, Queensland).

He furthered his stronghold on the No. 1 position and inched closer to history by sweeping the opening rounds of competition.

Quick to strike, Kleier tied for the Round 1 win at the Grand Finals with an 85.5-point effort aboard Suga Boom Boom (BK Bucking Bullls). He then faced a rubber match with King Kong (Fred Kleier) in Round 2.

King Kong, currently the largest bull bucking in PBR competition with a weight of 990kg, threw Kleier in their first meeting at Rockhampton in 2018, sending him to the ground in a heartbreaking 7.97 seconds.

But the Queensland cowboy exacted revenge in their next showdown, beating the commanding animal athlete for 88 back at Rockhampton in July this year.

Continuing his success, Kleier matched King Kong jump-for-jump en route to the 8-second whistle, marked a Round 2-winning 85.25 points.

His successes continued to mount at Townsville, delivering what tied for the third-best score of Round 3 of the Grand Finals when he rode Forever Amen (Brandenburg Bucking Bulls) for 84.75 points.

Aaron Kleier rides Forever Amen in the PBR Grand Finals in Townsville

Kleier, 23, was unable to make the 8 aboard his final two animal athlete opponents, coming off Roam Aviation High Risk (Dunne Bulls) in 2.25 seconds in Round 4 and Razor Sharp (Peter Wallace) in 3.06 seconds in the championship round.

But his third-place effort at the season-culminating event, which netted him 106.5 national points, clinched him the 2021 PBR Australia Championship

Throughout the season, Kleier went a PBR Australia-best 23-for-35, covering 65.71% of the nation’s top bovine athletes.

He concluded the year 248.01 points ahead of No. 2 Brady Fielder (Clermont, Queensland).

Including the $25,000 bonus for being crowed the 2021 PBR Australia Champion, Kleier earned a check for $31,533.33 at the two-day event in Townsville.

Dittmann Bucking Bulls takes out the PBR stock contractor of the year

In the bull pen, Cattle King Boogers Beach (Dittmann Bucking Bulls) capped his dominant season with both the 2021 YETI Bull and Rookie Bull of the Year honours. After winning a league-leading nine Bull of the Event honors throughout the regular season, Boogers Beach clinched both year-end honours compliments of a monstrous 45.25-point out in the championship round of the 2021 PBR Australia Grand Finals. The fierce bovine athlete earned the score after tossing seven-time PBR World Finals qualifier Lachlan Richardson (Gresford, New South Wales) in 5.02 seconds.

Cattle King Boogers Beach left the Townsville Entertainment & Convention Centre having collected $9,080 in bonus money for both year-end titles. Dittmann Bucking Bulls was also anointed the 2021 PBR Australia Stock Contractor of the Year, earning a $5,000 bonus. In addition to Cattle King Boogers Beach, other standout bovines from the outfit’s roster that bucked at the Grand Finals included Roid Rage (Dittmann Bucking Bulls), Reloaded (Dittmann Bucking Bulls) and POA Fully Locked & Loaded (Dittmann Bucking Bulls).

Courtesy of a near-perfect 3-for-5 showing Sam Woodall (Heywood, Victoria) won the prestigious 2021 PBR Australia Grand Finals event title, along with $11,800. Woodall was electric on Championship Saturday, rebounding from a dismal opening day of competition when he was bested by Breaking Bad (MJ/Keliher Bucking Bulls) in 4.63 seconds in Round 1, and Blinky Bill (BK Bucking Bulls) in 4.96 seconds in Round 2.

Arts network’s best advice for Queensland creatives

By HARRY CLARKE | Advertorial

A NETWORK of leading arts and entertainment experts will for the next several weeks be conducting online workshops to help practitioners across regional Queensland capitalise on new opportunities in the post-pandemic industry.

The Regional Arts Services Network (RASN) is a network of regional arts service providers who work together, and liaise with government, to deliver on-the-ground arts services in communities across the state.

For a large part of 2021, RASN has commissioned eleven ‘Creative Business Champions’, a diverse group of arts industry professionals who’ve been mentoring artists and performers, from Toowoomba and Longreach to the Gulf and Cape York, on best business practice.

The Creative Business Champions will over the coming weeks deliver informative webinars, open to the public, which will focus on how to ensure artists’ careers and enterprises can be financially sustainable for the long term.

The Regional Arts Services Network’s Creative Business Champions, who’ll be hosting webinars over the coming weeks

“Creative Business Champions has been a phenomenal program for anyone within Queensland to have access to mentors at no cost, and to help them develop themselves in whatever capacity they need support in,” said RASN state coordinator, Michelle Blair.

“Our arts champions have all got many years of experience within their part of the arts industry and are definitely seen as pillars of their area.

“The best thing about these webinars is that they’re open to everyone.

“Needless to say the arts industry has been hit hard by the pandemic and lockdowns. Arts events across the state have had to be cancelled and that meant a loss of business.

“But there are new opportunities in the post pandemic arts industry, and our Creative Business Champions will have the best advice you could ask for on how practitioners in both larger centres and remote areas can continue working for a sustainable and rewarding business.”

Among the topics to be covered in the webinars are business leadership, grant writing and fundraising, digital arts marketing, First Nations community engagement, cultural tourism product development, music business opportunities and more.

Webinars will be delivered through the official RASN website. All details about how to access the webinars and when they’ll be available can be found on the RASN Facebook page )in the news feed or by clicking the “Events” tab).

Among the eleven Creative Business Champions to be hosting webinars is Ruth Atkinson (pictured), a Toowoomba-based producer and the CEO/owner of Visual Focus, an audio-visual integration and events company.

Atkinson has extensive experience in arts management, working as an independent creative producer for RAVA Productions and as co-director of the Curious Arts Festival.

“In the webinar I’ll be focussing on leadership, business structure and business growth for arts companies, particularly for small businesses,” she said.

“Creative people have a creative brain but it doesn’t always mean that they also have a fine, developed business brain.

“Helping someone learn those skills is really important, so they can balance the creative side with how to get their work marketed, or get commissions from people to create something. 

“My webinar will look at structure – whether you should be a not-for-profit or a for-profit organisation, how that works with the ATO, and what legal and accounting advice is needed to set yourself up so that you have good governance.”

Stuart Watters (pictured) is a renowned music industry professional with decades of experience not only as a musician, but as an music industry administrator in the government, private and non-profits sectors.

Currently the head of Morph Consulting, Watters has also held senior roles at leading industry bodies including QMusic and the Australian Performing Right Association (APRA).

His webinar will focus on how musicians can rethink how they do business – how they can make operational changes to become a more sustainable enterprise for the longer term.

“I’ve been mentoring people in an informal capacity for a very long time, so it’s been great to be able to sit down and work with people all over Queensland in an organised setting through RASN,” Watters said.

“One of the things that came out of the pandemic is that a lot of businesses fell through the gaps of support that were being made available by the federal and state governments in terms of subsidies and support, because of the way they were structured.

“People get involved in music from a passion perspective, and they end up working more in their business but not on their business.

“What I focus heavily on is what their commercial structure looks like and how they can make changes to how they operate as a business so that they are better placed for crises.”

The first RASN Websinar is schedule for Friday, November 19, hosted by Giuliana Bonel, Cathy de Silva and Elliott Bledsoe on the topic of arts marketing.

Winners and survivors of November rain deluge

By HARRY CLARKE

FOR the best part of a week, corrugated iron roofs from the South West to the Lockyer Valley and across large parts of central Queensland sung the glorious song of soaking Spring rain.

Not all important cropping country in the upper Murray Darling catchment has had the desired drenching, but districts around Roma, Miles and Chinchilla in particular have all been set up nicely for the upcoming planting period.

For some the deluge interrupted harvests and even threatened entire crops, with one farmer lamenting that “it never rains, it pours”.

Ergon Energy workers repairing storm damage at Roma. IMAGE: Supplied

The wildest weather was felt at Roma, where powerful storms tore roofs off houses, felled trees and powerlines and left residents in the dark.

Some 146mm of rain fell over the town, according to rain gauge aggregator Oz Forecast. Thankfully most crop growers in the district had finished their Winter harvests by the time the heavens opened.

Further south around Surat farmers were underwhelmed by what was ultimately a rather lacklustre fall.

Steve Davies, based in Chinchilla, said a heavy downpour would have been the perfect lead up for next season at his block in Surat, but some growers barely had a drop.

“We got all the crop off, thank God, but the sad thing was there was only 4 to 5mm in places out there,” Davies said.

“Some people were putting a heap of residual chemicals down which needs rain to wash it in and that didn’t happen. 

“I think most of them got their crops off. Some people were panicking a bit and got extra headers. They had a good forecast and went like a cut cat.

“At Surat I need another 150mm before planting. Hopefully that happens by Christmas. I won’t plant now because we’ll probably run into that heat wave.” 

Most of the big rain stayed north of the Warrego Highway as it swept east across the upper Murray Darling catchment.

Miles had 124mm, while heavy falls at Jimbour (122mm), Pirrinuan (154mm) and Dalby (138mm) caused flash flooding and cut roads all along the Myall Creek catchment.

Soggy fields at Dalby

There were nervous farmers around Goondiwindi, where close to 40mm fell the previous week and where follow up forecasts of up to 150mm would have all but spoiled a whole year’s work for some.

The Bureau of Meteorology had warned of moderate to major flooding in the McIntyre River catchment between Goondoowindi and Inglewood, but by the end of the week the threat had ultimately fizzled across to the north.

Scott Baker, of “Doonkami” at Yetman, said a large downpour would likely have destroyed both a wheat crop he had ready to harvest and a cotton crop that was only recently planted.

“It’s a massive relief that it didn’t eventuate,” Baker said.

“If we had any of the the rain that was forecast in our area, or upstream in the catchment that we’re on, we would have had a major flood for sure.

“It’s not very often as a farmer that you say you don’t want the rain, and you don’t like saying it.

“But at this time of the year, when you’ve got fresh crops planted and crops sitting in the paddock ready to be harvested, that’s definitely the case.”

Freshly planted sorghum will relish in the 86mm which fell over Nick Gordon’s property at Boonarga, near Chinchilla.

But Gordon was one of many still in the middle of a wheat harvest. He’s now hoping a solid week of sunny weather will dry the remainder of his crop before it spoils.

“We got about half the crop off but there’s about another 200 acres to go. It’s a bit of a later wheat crop,” Gordon said.

“We could have sprouting issues with the wheat, so that could knock it back from good quality wheat to even feeder wheat, depending on how bad the sprouting gets.

“I’ve seen a fair bit around Warra and Macalister that’s still got wheat that was ripe from two or three weeks ago.

“That would be starting to hurt a bit as far as getting weather and sprouting goes, especially in chickpeas – they’d be starting to become an issue.”

King Kleier closes in on tightest PBR title in years

By HARRY CLARKE

SATURDAY night’s PBR Rockhampton Invitational could be a game changer for the results of the PBR Grand Finals in two weeks’ time, as vital points go up for grabs on the homestretch to crown Australia’s best bull rider. 

After the shakeup of standings at last weekend’s Caboolture Invitational at QSEC arena, PBR Australia general manager Glen Young said all pended on the results of tomorrow’s event at Rockhampton’s iconic Great Western Hotel. 

“This weekend in Rockhampton really is ‘make or break’ as it is the last event before the Grand Finals and has the potential to drastically change the standings,” Young said.

“The top-6 in the 2021 PBR Australia National Standings are separated by under 175 points, making it one of the tightest title races that we have seen in many years.

“Nothing is set in stone yet – it is still anyone’s game, and we could see any rider walk away with the title.”

COUNTRY CALLER COVERAGE OF 2020 ROCKHAMPTON PBR

Current No. 1 Aaron Kleier is chasing history this year as he attempts his fourth consecutive national title.

If successful, the 23-year-old sensation would make history and tie with David Kennedy for most Australian national titles won by one rider in league history. 

“Aaron is a strong rider and he has had a great run this season,” Glen Young said.

“However he didn’t have his best rides last weekend in Caboolture and placed fourth, so I think he will be looking to redeem himself in Rockhampton and keep his eye firmly on the national title.

“Rookie sensation Macaulie Leather, who is currently ranked No. 2, is also only 106 points behind Aaron Kleier, so everything is really depending on the outcome of tomorrow night.”

As the season enters the homestretch, the anticipation is building amongst riders and contractors alike for who will be crowned the 2021 PBR Australian Champion rider, Bull of the Year, and Contractor of the Year at the Monster Energy PBR Australia Grand Finals that will be held at the Townsville Entertainment Centre on November 26-27.

“The PBR is the biggest event in the country with 1.6 million avid fans across Australia,” Glen Young said.

“We’ve had a great season and we’re looking forward to the Grand Finals in Townsville to see who takes out the title.”

The Monster Energy PBR Australia Grand Finals will be held in Townsville, Queensland at the Townsville Entertainment Centre on November 26 & 27.

EXCLUSIVE: CEO’s vision for state’s first hydrogen plant

By HARRY CLARKE

THE company behind Queensland’s ambitious push to commercialise hydrogen power has revealed the most detail yet about how its “demonstration plant” being built on the Western Downs will spearhead the renewable energy initiative.

Government owned operator CS Energy, in partnership with Japanese firm IHI Corporation, will next year begin building a Hydrogen Demonstration Plant on the site of CS Energy’s coal-fired Kogan Creek Power Station and mine.

Speaking at a conference in Chinchilla hosted by Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE), CS Energy CEO Andrew Bills said the region’s rapidly advancing and diversifying energy sector made it the ideal location to pilot the state’s hydrogen production.

CS Energy CEO Andrew Bills, speaking at a conference in Chinchilla hosted by Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise

“When you think about the Downs (Western Downs region), within a 300km radius you’ve got every form of energy you could possibly get,” Mr Bills said.

“There’s nowhere else in the world that has that. You’ve got solar, you’ve got gas, you’ve got battery storage, you’ve got coal, you’ve got hydrogen and ethanol.

“We’re talking about an energy hub on the Downs. This is about using those attributes – connection, transmission, water, the land, the approvals, the workforce and proximity to business in the Downs, to create an energy hub at Kogan which is beyond its coal-fired power plant.”

The coal-fired Kogan Creek Power Station and mine, southeast of Chinchilla on Queensland’s Western Downs

The hydrogen plant will be powered by a 2MW solar farm and a 2MW battery being built at Kogan Creek.

Up to 50,000 litres of hydrogen will be generated using a water electrolyser, before being stored in high pressure cylinders and tested on the domestic market.

“Unlike what you’ve heard about other hydrogen projects, this is pure green,” Mr Bills said.

“There is no synthetic washing – this is us generating green energy, storing it, and running that electrolyser to produce hydrogen.

“We’ll be particularly interested in the domestic market. I do believe the immediate domestic opportunity will be in trucking – long hauling and heavy vehicles.

“We’re already in quite advanced discussions with local transportation companies who also have a similar philosophy as us. 

“Since we’ve announced this project the amount of companies that have come out and said we need to understand hydrogen as well, and understand how it fits into our business.” 

“We need to understand – is it viable? Is it the right fuel for us to transition to? But no one wants to make that massive $100 million commitment. But we’re minimising it, basing it on a research approach.”

Stakeholders in Queensland’s burgeoning hydrogen power industry at Chinchilla

Among the most vocal sceptics of whether hydrogen could become a commercially viable source of renewable energy is high profile Tesla founder is Elon Musk.

Musk has dismissed hydrogen fuel cells as “mind-bogglingly stupid”, saying that its potential for success as a fuel source is “simply not possible”.

Mr Bills said: “I know it’s not commercial. It’s absolutely not commercial.”

“It’s a pilot plant to understand the technology, the opportunity, what services, what capability, what workforce, what challenges we are going to have, and what are the opportunities domestically,” he said.

Diagram showing components of CS Energy’s Hydrogen Demonstration Plant being built at Kogan