45 FLOATS. ONE BIG FINALE.

45 FLOATS. ONE BIG FINALE.

Crowds lined Queen Street for the marquee event which, alongside the Mardi Gras, brought an end to the three-month festival calendar. Photo: Shay Kratzman‍A bumper crowd packed Queen Street on Saturday night as 45 floats brought the 2026 Water Festival to a spectacular close.‍Read more here: www.burdekinlife.com/article/45-float-finale-caps-off-2026-water-festival

FRESH START FOR AYR'S QUEEN STREET STAPLE

FRESH START FOR AYR'S QUEEN STREET STAPLE

Red Rooster might be a national brand, but for new owner Peter Walsh, the Ayr store is strictly local. As he rolls out a series of storewide upgrades, the North Queenslander is determined to make that clear. “The community deserves to have a nice place to come and eat,” Peter said. “We're working on getting the right people, upgrading our service, and creating that family, community atmosphere.” The plan is already in motion. With upgraded kitchen equipment and refreshed operational processes, Peter says locals are already seeing quicker service. Those tweaks are part of a broader makeover for the Queen Street store, featuring fresh paint, general refurbishments and new digital kiosks to make ordering easier. Peter says the changes complement an already extensive menu designed to “cater for almost anyone.” But according to him, just as important as any meal or upgrade are the people behind the counter. “The team is everything. They’re the people at the front of it,” he said. “We’ve got a funny bunch. They're very loyal, they’re very dedicated, and they want to be part of the journey.” As the team strides forward, Peter says the mission remains what it always has been. “We want to be part of the community,” he said. “Previous owners did a lot for charitable organisations, sporting clubs, sponsorships, and the store had a really good community reputation. We want to build all that back.” With operations expanding, the team is currently on the lookout for new members. To find out more about employment opportunities, pop into the store and hand in a resume. CAPTION: “The team is everything. They’re the people at the front of it,” says Peter. Photo: Jacob Casha.

“I HEARD THIS LOUD ‘BANG!’” TWO PUPPIES LEFT IN BRANDON WRECK AS DRIVER FLEES

“I HEARD THIS LOUD ‘BANG!’” TWO PUPPIES LEFT IN BRANDON WRECK AS DRIVER FLEES

Police are investigating a single-vehicle crash that tore through a Brandon front yard late last month. Police say the driver of a white Nissan Navara lost control at around 2.45am on Friday, 28th of August, ploughing through two palm trees before colliding with the front of a Drysdale Street property. The male driver reportedly fled the scene on foot with a dog, leaving two Bull Arab puppies inside the vehicle. “Significant damage was caused to the resident’s fence, property and vehicle,” said Ayr Police Sergeant Daniel Dew. “Thankfully, no persons or animals were injured.” Homeowner Denise Hudd said she was readying herself for bed when the vehicle struck her fence, waking neighbours along the street. “I’m laying in bed and I hear this loud ‘bang!’ Then I look out the window, and there's a car in my fence,” she recalled. “I've never seen that many people out on the street at 3am.” Denise said the crash had “destroyed” her $37,000 front fence, while damaging her car, barbecue, and a gazebo that was set to be converted into a cattery. She said the cattery was intended to support her partner’s charitable work training cats to detect cancers. “We don’t know what we're gonna do now. We’ve got four cats and two dogs that we can't let outside because there's no front fence,” Denise said. Sgt. Dew said police have identified a suspect, who is yet to be named, and are considering charges for failing to provide particulars under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act. Police are also investigating possible animal cruelty offences and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. Sgt. Dew said the puppies involved in the crash were handed over to Burdekin Shire Council, which passed them on to Bowen Collinsville Pet Rescue to be desexed, microchipped, and vaccinated. A potential owner has already been vetted, with a ‘meet and greet’ scheduled this Sunday to rehome one of the puppies. Sgt. Dew said two other dogs—believed to have been involved in the crash—were located by residents in separate areas of Brandon later that day. It remains unknown whether either was the dog taken from the scene by the driver. Anyone with information, dashcam footage or CCTV footage is urged to contact Ayr Police Station, PoliceLink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers. CAPTIONS: 1—Police are investigating a single-vehicle accident that tore through a Brandon front yard late last month. 2—Police report the driver of a white Nissan Navarra lost control of the vehicle at around 2.45am on Friday 28th of August, ploughing through two palm trees before colliding with the front of a Drysdale Street property. 3— Denise said the crash had “destroyed” her $37,000 front fence, while significantly damaging her car, barbecue, and a gazebo that was set to be converted into a cattery. Photos supplied.

NEW SOUTH AYR FILTRATION PLANT COMPLETED

NEW SOUTH AYR FILTRATION PLANT COMPLETED

A new $54.88 million filtration plant has been completed at South Ayr, promising more reliable and higher-quality drinking water for Ayr, Brandon and Alva. The South Ayr Filtration Plant was officially opened last Thursday following a major project delivered by the Queensland Government in partnership with Burdekin Shire Council. The facility treats water from the South Ayr borefield through a multi-stage process involving iron and manganese pre-treatment, dual media filtration, disinfection and solids handling. The project is designed to address longstanding water quality issues in the South Ayr area while strengthening the reliability of the region’s drinking water supply. Member for Burdekin Dale Last said the plant would make a significant difference to the local community. “Our local communities of Ayr, Brandon and Alva deserve access to clean, safe and reliable drinking water, and this new filtration plant will make a real difference to the quality of our supply,” Mr Last said. “This is a major investment in the Burdekin’s future and I’m proud to see the Crisafulli Government delivering the essential infrastructure our community has been calling for.” Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort said the project would help secure the region’s long-term water supply. “This project is a major step forward in securing our region’s long-term water supply and ensuring our residents continue to have access to safe, high-quality drinking water,” Mayor Dalle Cort said. “Council has worked closely with the Queensland Government and project partners to deliver this critical piece of infrastructure, and we acknowledge the funding support that has made this project possible.” Water Minister Ann Leahy said the project represented a significant investment in regional water infrastructure. “This $54.88 million investment will deliver clean, safe and more reliable water for Ayr, Brandon and Alva, while addressing the long-standing water quality issues experienced by the community,” Ms Leahy said. CAPTIONS: 1—A new $54.88 million filtration plant has been completed at South Ayr, promising more reliable and higher-quality drinking water for Ayr, Brandon and Alva. 2—Mayor Pierina Dalle Cort, Member for Burdekin Dale Last, and Water Minister Ann Leahy officially opened the facility last week. Photos: Jacob Casha.

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