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A Mackay school has topped the list for the rate of growing enrolment numbers across the wider Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region.
Farleigh State School had a 260 per cent increase in student numbers over the five years from 2016 to 2021, data from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority has shown.
Its total pupils soared from just 20 to 72. Dundula State School students laying a wreath at the Mackay Anzac Day Main Service, 2021. Picture: Heidi Petith
The next fastest growing schools were St Lawrence State School which more than doubled its students from five to 12 and Dundula State School which went from 41 pupils to 88.
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Healthcare across the Mackay Isaac Whitsunday region will soon be more affordable with the government introducing a $65m package for rural communities.
From January 2022, the Rural Bulk Billing Incentive rate will increase between 10 to 40 per cent for doctors working in small regional, rural and remote towns.
The Rural Doctors Association of Australia has applauded the initiative which it says will “significantly increase” bulk-billing rebates.
RDAA president Dr John Hall said it was the first time Medicare recognised healthcare was delivered differently outside larger regional and metropolitan cities.
“This investment will be a game changer for rural and remote primary care,” Dr Hall said.
Proserpine had a minimum of 13.3C this morning, which Mr Regano said was “quite nippy”.
The region is forecast for a top of 27C today before dipping to 12C overnight and into Friday morning, 13C on Saturday and 16C on Sunday.
Overnight and into Friday morning will still be slightly below the May average for Mackay at 14C, increasing to 15C for Saturday morning, 17C for Sunday and up to 20C for Monday.
Mr Regano said showers were expected to return next week.
In Clermont temperatures will jump to 10C overnight and into Friday morning, 11C on Saturday morning and 13C on Sunday morning.
“The development will enable the region to capture a greater share of cattle sales which will result in a significant direct and indirect value-add to the region.”
“We believe in the future of Northern Australia. This means we need to take further action to boost the resilience for Australians to live and work in Northern Australia,” Mr Morrison said.
“Homeowners and businesses have been faced with crippling insurance costs, and in some cases, can’t get insurance at all. It’s not OK, and we’re going to change that. The average strata premium was $6800 in North Queensland, twice the Australian average of $3300.
“Our plan will give more Australians in cyclone-prone areas access to affordable insurance.”
The report, handed down in January 2021, revealed Northern Australians were being slugged with premiums twice the national average.