Everybody involved with the campaign to preserve the Jimna Fire Tower over the past twelve months will be delighted to receive the news that current owners Forestry Plantations Queensland, (FPQ), have offered to carry out repair work for the purpose of restoring the tower to a structurally sound condition. This welcome and much appreciated development is of course fantastic news for the Jimna Fire Tower Action Group, (JFTAG), and the tower’s legion of supporters, who wish, through this news release, to sincerely thank FPQ, their advisors, the Honourable Tim Mulherin minister for the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, and all the Queensland Government departments and agencies who have been instrumental in this decision. While the threat of demolition appears to be abandoned at least until all other options are evaluated, JFTAG can now focus on formulating a revised strategic plan, which will initially incorporate establishing a more representative committee, for the purpose of working in consultation with FPQ, in relation to both the short and the long term management of the Jimna Fire Tower and it’s Heritage listed site. 

Confirmation has been received that the Model T Owners of Queensland will be touring Kilcoy Shire  this coming weekend 26th and 27th May 07. Club officials have advised, that the tour will incorporate a rally in support of the preservation of the Jimna Fire Tower, which once again demonstrates the present popularity, and the future potential of the Tower as a tourist destination .Public viewing of these beautifully restored vehicles is invited at the designated stopping venues, with all arrival and departure times in relation to the following itinerary approximate only. Saturday 26th May, arrival 9-30am at the Kilcoy State School oval for morning tea, staying until approximately 10-30am,then proceeding to Jimna, arrival 12noon at Bellbird Park for lunch at the Jimna Tourist Information Centre, staying till 1pm, then moving on via Leis Lookout to the Jimna Fire Tower for a photo shoot, depart around 1-30pm for an overnight stay at Kilcoy Exchange Hotel. Aston Park in William St Kilcoy is the venue for Sunday morning muster from 8am till 8-30am,after which the vehicles will proceed via Kennedy St and Mt Kilcoy Road for breakfast at Hunting Lodge Estate, from where the tour will return home via Mary Smokes Creek and Neurum Roads. The Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG) extends a big welcome to the Model T Owners, thank you for choosing Kilcoy Shire for this excursion, and in particular for supporting the Jimna Fire Tower.

GREAT WALKS OF QUEENSLAND. Tourist brochures featuring the great walks of Queensland, are now available at local tourist information centres, courtesy of Tourism Queensland.The booklets contain graphic illustrations of the most popular walks from the New South Wales border to Cape York, including Island and Waterfall Walks, as well as walks to the top five Queensland peaks. As previously stated, JFTAG will be presenting a strong case to Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, for the Maleny to Jimna GREAT WALK (which is currently in the planning stage), to include the Jimna Fire Tower as a major highlight. Being so readily accessible to the rapidly growing centres of South East Queensland, this tourism development is destined to become a vital ingredient in the future sustainability of Kilcoy Shire.

PROMOTIONAL AND PUBLIC AWARENESS EVENTS. Local wine raffle tickets now available at Jack’s Kilcoy Eatery, Please phone 54 973 174 if you can help by selling a book of twenty tickets. Next BIG WALK for Jimna Fire Tower, Queens Birthday Weekend Sunday 10th June 07,BIG CAMP OUT for Jimna Fire Tower, weekend of 28th to 30th of September 07.

Recent announcements by the Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr and the Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin, that State Forests will soon be open to all recreational use as permit requirements relax, verifies verbal advice received by the Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG) some weeks ago, that previously locked roads and closed beauty spots are under review, and that public use should be managed not restricted. Under the new policy, specific- area uses would include four-wheel driving, riding, bushwalking and cycling, with signs to be erected in coming weeks advising of the revised arrangements. It was also announced that people conducting commercial or group events in the 3.4 million hectares of state and plantation forest, would still need permission.

The completion of a new suspension bridge across Yabba Creek, the repairs to a walking track viewing platform, and the upgrading of maintenance work at the Peach Trees Camping Grounds, along with a proposal by Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) to extend existing walking tracks some four kilometres into Jimna, are all positive signs that the State Government is genuine in it’s long overdue and invigorating commitment to the development of tourism in the Jimna area.

GOOD NEWS FOR JIMNA FIRE TOWER IMMINENT. If persistent rumours hold any semblance of credence, then the Forestry Plantations Queensland (FPQ) structural assessment and future ownership recommendations for the Jimna Fire Tower should be made public shortly. Given the tremendous support demonstrated by all tourism stakeholders and the general community, it has become totally inconceivable that future tourism plans for South East Queensland would not include the hugely popular Jimna Fire Tower, and that all levels of government have a duty of care to preserve this heritage listed, historically significant, icon.

Future public awareness promotions include the next BIG WALK FOR JIMNA FIRE TOWER Queens Birthday Weekend Sunday 10th June 07,and the BIG CAMP OUT FOR JIMNA FIRE TOWER weekend of the 28th 29th and 30th Sept 07.

Labour day weekend proved to be a fantastic time for  tourism in Kilcoy Shire and the Jimna Fire Tower, with Peach Trees Camping Grounds booked to capacity, and a seemingly endless stream of day visitors to the area. The Jimna Fire Tower Action Group public awareness promotion and sausage sizzle held on Sunday 6/05/07 was a great success, with much interest and many enquiries for the Jimna Walking Tracks, which are being developed under the guidance of Forestry Plantations Queensland (FPQ) and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QP&WS). A viewing outlook which commands, from ground level, a magnificent panorama west to the Toowoomba Ranges and south to the Glasshouse Mountains as well as the Jimna Fire Tower, is fast becoming an extremely popular vantage point, situated on the site of the FPQ operated camera fire tower.  JFTAG has respectfully and pending official endorsement, named this scenic spot “LEIS LOOKOUT” in honour of the legendary Arthur Leis and his son Gary, builders of the Jimna Fire Tower.

It is patently obvious that the campaign to redevelop the Jimna Fire Tower into a Tourist Destination is generating tremendous public interest judging by the high number of people who are coming to Jimna just to see, and support the Tower. This phenomenon of course, not only gives great encouragement to the JFTAG committee, but also strengthens the argument that the Jimna Fire Tower is capable of becoming a must visit, self funding tourist attraction.

THE MOUNT BUGGERY FACTOR. Jimna is not only famous for having the tallest man made wooden fire tower in the southern hemisphere, it is also, we believe the only place in Australia where you can literally “GO TO BUGGERY”, by travelling north to or from Jimna via Mt Buggery and Imbil. A great trip highlighting Australiana all over, but strictly not recommended for caravans or motorhomes.

Please do not forget our fund raising local wine raffle now underway, JFTAG needs to keep financially viable so as to maintain, and promote it’s objectives, a small book of twenty tickets at one dollar each can be obtained for sale amongst friends, or at work by phoning 54 973 174 or email davbar41@bigpond.com .