Be a FAN of producers in our towns

Coffee Connections is a collaboration between FAN and Montville Coffee to provide new and existing members the opportunity to exchange ideas and contacts.

FANtastic: The Food and Agribusiness Network is helping local businesses. Picture: NATHAN DUMLAO

WE NEED real rural production to stay real in country towns, so on February 7, I was pleased to attend the first Food and Agribusiness Network event of the year.

Coffee Connections is a collaboration between FAN and Montville Coffee to provide new and existing members the opportunity to exchange ideas and contacts in an informal setting over a cup of Montville Coffee.

It's very encouraging to see so many committed local agribusinesses offering a wide scope of quality products under one roof. We are fortunate to have real rural production as part of our economy and these networks keep it a viable part of our country towns. There were honey producers, coffee roasters, microbreweries, a cider maker and many more. Visit www.foodagribusiness.org.au for more information.

Flexilink service

FLEXILINK trial services provide affordable, reliable and accessible public transport for people with fewer transport options. Residents living between Peachester and Beerwah can access this transport service to help connect them to the main township and transport hub in Beerwah. Flexilink services are funded by the council's Transport Levy on a trial basis and current passenger numbers are low, with an average of 17 passenger trips per month recorded between July and December last year. The steady decline in passenger numbers is of concern to the council, so I really encourage the Peachester community to use the service or work out how it can be usefully improved to grow the usage. The Transport Levy must be considered and confirmed each year. The council continually assesses how levy funds will benefit the community and as this service is a trial, without reasonable demand it will be hard to argue for it to remain. Residents need to use it to keep it. Timetables are available on the council's website and from Beerwah Library.

Next meet-and-greet

THE Beerburrum meet-and-greet session saw various inquiries such as changing local laws, township planning and the quarry development application among the topics discussed. My next session is on Friday, March 29, between 10am and noon at the Glass House Mountains Visitor Centre.