Archive for December, 2006

NEW ENGINEERING REPORT CONFIRMS JIMNA FIRE TOWER CAN BE PRESERVED

Monday, December 18th, 2006
The campaign to save the Jimna Fire Tower could not have received a better Christmas Gift, with the news that a new engineering report commissioned by the Queensland Heritage Council has confirmed that the tower does not have the same extent of structural damage as first reported, and can be restored. Although this is great news for the Jimna Fire Tower Action Group JFTAG and it’s supporters, there are a number of issues to be resolved before we can start popping champagne corks.
Matters such as Future Ownership, Risk Assessment, Public Safety issues, Infrastructure Planning, Structural Design, Final Costings, Grant and Funding opportunities, and a feasible Management Business Plan, can now be addressed from a much clearer and more positive platform, in year 2007, than where we were six months ago. Consultation on relevant issues shall begin ,at a proposed meeting set down for Friday 19/01/07 between JFTAG and Forestry Plantations Queensland, the current owners of the Jimna Fire Tower.
 
It is quite possible that the Jimna Fire Tower would not be with us today, had it not been for the few initial believers that now make up the JFTAG committee, the immediate local public response, followed by strong local business support, and then the ever increasing interest shown by Tourist Operators and stakeholders throughout

Posted in Tower Updates | Comments Off on NEW ENGINEERING REPORT CONFIRMS JIMNA FIRE TOWER CAN BE PRESERVED

JIMNA FIRE TOWER RECEIVES STRONG SUPPORT FROM KENILWORTH TO GYMPIE

Monday, December 11th, 2006

Following numerous inquiries from tourism stakeholders and news outlets in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, a Jimna Fire Tower Action Group JFTAG deputation toured the adjacent Conondale National Park and Mary Valley regions on Thursday 7/12/06.Departing Jimna at 8am via Sunday Creek Road and arriving back at 6pm via Mt Buggery (yes Jimna is possibly the only place in Australia where you can literally go to buggery),the party enjoyed magnificent diverse scenery and views from the native hardwood and rain forests of the Jimna and Conondale Ranges to the beautiful salad bowl farmlands of the Mary Valley, highlighted by the serene charm of Kenilworth, Amamoor, Kandanga, and Imbil.

The tropical setting at Booloumba Creek Camping Grounds, followed by the wonderful displays at the Gympie Woodworks and Gold Mining Museums, plus a visit to the Valley Rattler are just a few of the many attractions in this historic and tourist rich area. Tourist brochures were exchanged at all information centres and many business houses along the way, where the Jimna Fire Tower’s role as a valuable tourist destination received absolute unanimous support.
 
Many thanks to Russell Small of Lightning Information Systems for getting our computer back on line. Russell services the Caboolture area with computer repairs and can be contacted on PH 54 992599.

Posted in Tower Updates | Comments Off on JIMNA FIRE TOWER RECEIVES STRONG SUPPORT FROM KENILWORTH TO GYMPIE

State Heritage funding boost welcomed

Monday, December 4th, 2006
The recent announcement of a $5 million heritage conservation fund by the Heritage Minister Lindy Nelson- Carr, may be  great news for the Heritage Listed Jimna Fire Tower which is threatened with demolition, due to lack of money available for maintenance. Remember the main reason given by Forestry Plantations Queensland FPQ for terminating the towers maintenance program, was that money spent on upkeep was considered to be a waste, because fire surveillance is now performed by camera.
 
It is worth noting that this funding is provided to give struggling owners of heritage listed places some relief from maintenance costs, which places the Jimna fire tower in the untenable position where the current owners, FPQ ,who have repeatedly stated that their core business does not include maintenance of the heritage listed Jimna fire tower, appears to be prevented from accessing this welcome heritage funding.
 
Many letters, faxes, phone calls, meetings, media releases, petitions, appeals by email and website information over the past six months, involving the Queensland State Government, the National Trust of Qld, the Qld Heritage Council, Forestry Plantations Qld, and the Qld Parks & Wildlife Service, appears to have resulted in the future fate of the Jimna fire tower being determined by the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries the Honourable Tim Mulherin MP.
 
The Jimna Fire Tower Action Group JFTAG unreservedly appeals to Mr Mulherin to consolidate his Governments commitment to the preservation of Queensland Heritage Culture, by ruling to ensure that all options to the demolition of the Jimna fire tower be evaluated without further delay. This popular tourist icon with such undeniable tourism potential, surely deserves better treatment than what it has received thus far.

Posted in Tower Updates | Comments Off on State Heritage funding boost welcomed