New vet surgery gains approval

A NEW expanded veterinary surgery will be constructed in Atherton after Tablelands Regional Council approved the project.

The new premises for Tablelands Veterinary Services will be built opposite the Big 4 caravan and holiday park on Herberton Road, and it is understood that once the building is completed, the business will relocate from its current location at 1 Tolga Road.

Council acknowledged the project did have some inconsistencies with the planning scheme insofar that it was not in keeping with the scale and character of the surrounding neighbourhood, but the application only attracted one formal objection.

The objection, from residents in Newton Close, was primarily based on the project not meeting the requirements of the low-density residential zoning, and potential traffic issues.

The project was approved unanimously.

BY ROBYN HOLMES

THE Facebook post attracted well over 500 responses and revealed many people want to see a discount supermarket such as Aldi in the town, amidst claims that Woolworths Atherton was failing to meet their needs with shelves often empty of basic items such as sugar, rice, pasta and water.

“I want all the current shops in Atherton to carry more stock. Sick of shopping at two supermarkets every week to complete my shopping list,” one person wrote.

“This goes for a lot of the other stores as well - Big W, Bunnings, Supercheap, Reject shop, the list goes on. You can find it online but never have stock in Atherton.”

The Express asked Woolworths why so many basic items were regularly missing from the shelves in the past weeks, given there had been no flooding issues preventing transport getting through.

A Woolworths spokesperson blamed the lack of available grocery items on a railway closure between Rockhampton and Gladstone.

“We’ve recently seen some pressures on getting a variety of items to our Atherton store as a result of a railway closure,” the spokesperson said.

“We put a number of contingencies in place including trucking stock to the store, however, that did mean reduced capacity and delivery times.

“We apologise to the local community for not being able to offer our full range of items over the last few weeks.

“We thank customers for their patience as our store team continues to replenish the shelves as quickly as possible.”

It is understood that the railway closure occurred from 29 January until 11 February.

A bigger Bunnings store was also a common theme throughout the Facebook post comments, with some suggesting a larger outlet could be established on land near John Cole Toyota.

Many also lamented the lack of clothing stores in the town, especially for young people, while others wanted more options for takeaway food and a “decent restaurant”.

“A better clothes shop - maybe a surf shop or more funkier clothing. Nothing up here for teenagers,” one woman wrote.

“A great Italian restaurant and honestly we need more clothing stores for the young teenagers (I’m not young) but not much to pick from for my 15-18 year old grandkids,” another said.

While many had a long wish list of stores they would like to see open such as Aldi, Hungry Jacks, Best’n’Less, Target, Kmart and others, some people wanted to bring some balance to the conversation.

“All these ideas are great but we simply do not have the population to support many of them and when anyone tries, they do not get the support long term,” one wrote.

Not surprisingly, another common theme that emerged in the comments was the lack of doctors and the absence of bulk billing.

Atherton Chamber of Commerce president Louise Livingstone said while she recognised the desire of residents to have more variety in retail outlets, the right environment had to be present to attract new business.

“For example, we have to look at things like planning guidelines and how doing business with the council can be made more user-friendly, how there could more incentives to open a business here,” she said.

“We are also looking at how we can support new businesses – maybe how to link them with those that have been here a long time,” she added, noting many businesses over the years had opened and then folded due to a lack of support from customers.

Ms Livingstone said the chamber was working with Tablelands Regional Council on how the Atherton CBD could be re-energised and realigned, and part of that vision was the exciting Prior Creek development.

Car returns ‘home’ after 100 years

A CAR that was seen around the streets of Herberton 100 years ago has been returned to the town by the company that sold the vehicle as it prepares to celebrate a century in business.

The five-seat 1924 Chrysler Tourer was the first car sold by Francis R. Ireland MBE and has now been gifted to the Herberton Historic Village.

The car was very advanced for the times and had plenty of room for passengers and luggage and a folding back hood with a decent coat of enamel paint. The model sold in huge numbers.

Back in 1924, the Chrysler Queensland distributors entrusted Mr Ireland with the job of demonstrating the new car. He travelled via the recently opened Range Road through Yungaburra to Herberton, a real feat in those days.

He had to carry extra water and engine oil to replenish the engine along the way because the steep inclines made the motor overheat and oil leak out of the rear main bearing.

While in Irvinebank, Mr Ireland heard that a local school teacher might be interested in the car. It turns out the whispers of the town were correct, and Mr Pienegar bought the vehicle after several demonstrations by Mr Ireland.

Before Mr Pienegar took ownership of the vehicle, Mr Ireland had to borrow the car to return to Cairns.

The car was passed down to Mr Pienegar's sons. The vehicle was then restored in the 1980s by Keith “Snowy” Liekefett of Innisfail, who offered it to Irelands in 1991. The car has been at the Ireland dealership since then but often had to be hidden away in a shed due to lack of floor space.

Richard and David Ireland decided the car deserved better and should be more accessible to the public, so as part of the family's preparations for celebrating 100 years of business in Cairns, the brothers contacted one of the Far Northern region's best historical displays to see if they would take it in.

Now, the car will have pride of place at the Herberton Historic Village.

Historic village curator Darryl Cooper said the 1924 Chrysler was the perfect complement to the vintage vehicle collection already on display.

“While the Chrysler was a mid-range priced vehicle, they were considered a prestige vehicle and rather special for the time,” he said.

“It is very fitting that in the year this longstanding local business celebrates 100 years in Far North Queensland, we are able to display the first car ever sold, and that this car was actually used right here in the local area.”

Mr Cooper said the vehicle, which was in excellent condition, would be exhibited in Day’s Garage, alongside its big sister, the Chrysler 60 Tourer as well as the Village’s 1923 Model-T

Ford, 1923 Harley Davidson and 1925 Indian Prince motorcycle, 1934 Packard Super 8, 1933 Continental Flyer, 1927 Morris Cowley Van (from The Sullivan’s TV series) and the 1937 Chevrolet Master Deluxe sedan, which operated the Atherton/Cairns White Car passenger service.

“Car enthusiasts love visiting the Village –