cc290420

Page 1

The Clifton Courier Circulates in the Clifton, Allora, Nobby, Greenmount, Felton, Leyburn, Pilton, Victoria Hill, Cambooya and Wyreema areas.

Vol. 120 $1.40

Wednesday, April `29, 2020

$1.40 Your Local News

Funding secured to keep Darling Downs Zoo alive

Darling Downs Zoo owner Steve Robinson is “cautiously optimistic” after David Littleproud announced $94.6 million worth of funding to help support zoos and wildlife parks through the COVID-19 pandemic. The Member for Maranoa and Minister for Agriculture yesterday made the announcement at the Pilton-based zoo, which will be just one of many zoos to benefit from the funding. Mr Littleproud said he was aware how serious the problem was but wanted to make sure the government handled this right. “We have acknowledged that and worked with organisations who gave us advice on how to do this properly,” he said. “We have been working very closely with industry themselves. “We didn’t want this to be a Canberra-led solution, it had to be from the grassroots, understanding

what was really driving these businesses and the animal welfare decisions they had to make. “These businesses have been without income for months now and you simply can’t do that whilst keeping up with the expenses of keeping animals alive,” Mr Littleproud said. The funding will take into account all costs associated with zoo operations including feed, veterinary care, electricity and more. The funding couldn’t have come at a better time for Darling Downs Zoo, who have been kept alive by the generosity of residents in the region. Owner Steve Robinson said it’s been a morale

booster to see just how many people care about the zoo re-opening. “The last month or two would not have been possible without the generosity of the Darling Downs and the Lockyer Valley people - it would not have been possible for us to still be here today,” he said. The normal operating expenses at Darling Downs Zoo average around $110,000 per month. Mr Robinson said keeping up with these costs was

compounded by closure over the Easter break which resulted in half of the staff being stood down. “Easter is normally our best trading period of the year,” he said. “It’s the time of the year when we normally look to earn the money that we’d spend in the less profitable times of the year “Without Easter, the effects on this zoo and on the exhibited animals industry have been absolutely catastrophic.”

Mr Robinson said this announcement was as good as he could have hoped for, but will still go into the next few months cautiously optimistic. “The devil is going to be in the detail,” he said. “We are extremely grateful that the Federal Government has taken our concerns on board. “It’ been achieved after a lot of working with industry and that, I think, has been critical. “As the minister has said,

it’s not a cookie-cutter approach, its a very well researched approach. “They have been able to come up with a whole package now which is going to be extremely relevant for every individual operator within this industry. “With this announcement today we are really, for the first time, optimistic that we will be able to keep going and maintain the high welfare standard that Australia is well-renowned for,” Mr Robinson said.

King Street, Clifton

Ph: 4697 3155

MAY

MIGHTY

TIE DOWN SET IN TOOLBOX 10 piece

HALF PRICE!

$

15

each

The Minister for Agriculture and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud made the announcement at Darling Downs Zoo yesterday.

ALL FOR

85 acres of farming/grazing lifestyle opportunity

COBBER

WORKING DOG 20kg bag

PRICED FROM

NEW

$

TRADING HOURS

22

BARASTOCK

CALM PERFORMER 20kg bag Horse and Pony Pellet

42

.95

TWO FOR

HEDGETRIMMER

$

35

READ ALL ABOUT Landmark Harcourts’ ‘RE-BRAND’ on page 6!

$699,000

LOCAL DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE • MONDAY – FRIDAY 8AM - 5PM • SATURDAY 8AM - 11.30PM CLOSED SUNDAY & PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

3

2

3

Nutrien Harcourts Cooke 67 King Street, Clifton T 4612 3779

CLIFTON | 388 Barlow Road

Ideally located just 8 km from Clifton & 45 minutes to Toowoomba is this neat, tidy and presentable family timber home on 85 acres of fertile black soil. The home oozes family coziness with the main having its own exclusive private lounge and en suite. The two remaining bedrooms, large office/sun room, sewing/craft room, large dining/lounge with wood heater, spacious kitchen with solid timber bench tops, bathroom and outside laundry. Features include carpet, cork tiles, A/C throughout, and built ins in all bedrooms. A generous covered veranda provides panoramic views to the north and a pergola is located also facing the north. Manicured lawns and gardens surround the home offering privacy and providing a lovely country atmosphere. Water is provided by a large dam, equipped bore suitable for stock, and 23,000 gallons of rainwater. A 2 bay carport is complimented by a large 3 bay shed (1 bay concreted), and the original dairy building. Stock management requirements are met by a set of timber yards with crush and loading ramp and the property is well fenced into 3 paddocks all with a perfect balance of Queensland blue grass and improved pasture (rhodes and purple pidgeon). This property offers the perfect opportunity to secure that sought after lifestyle property ideally located with the school bus past the front gate, very well improved, and featuring very productive soils and pasture with a good water supply - it does not get much better than this. Rod WIlliams 0409 271 794

cooke.nutrienharcourts.com.au


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
cc290420 by advertising - Issuu