Lamb Island Queensland Australia

http://www.lambisland.com.au/

Lamb Island is the second smallest of the southern bay islands.  Russell, Macleay and Karragarra Islands are just a five minute ferry trip away

Bird life is abundant.  Lorikeets, kookaburras waking you up, curlews and plenty more.

 The Swimming pool and picnic area where you can see the sunrise over Stradbroke Island

 Queensland Australia

Wind Farm at Ravenshoe Queensland Australia

Windy Hill Wind Farm is a wind power station near Ravenshoe on the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland, Australia. Windy Hill has 20 wind turbines with a generating capacity of 12MW of electricity.

The power station was commissioned in 2000 and was initially operated by the Stanwell Corporation. However, as of December 2007, Windy Hill was sold to Transfield Services Infrastructure Fund as part of Queensland Government's ClimateSmart 2050 strategy.

http://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/cec/resourcecentre/casestudies/Wind/Windy-Hill.html


Windy Hill Wind Farm is Queensland's largest wind farm with 20 windmills producing enough power for 3500 homes.
Windy Hill Wind Farm is located about three kilometres from Ravenshoe, which is situated 920 metres above sea level (highest town in Queensland,) on privately owned Atherton Tableland dairy farmland.
It is capable of a generating capacity of 12 megawatts, and the number of wind turbines is 20.

Wind turbine operation

Phase 1 of Windy Hill wind farm consists of 20 turbines with a combined capacity of 12 MW. The turbines are Enercon E40, each with an electrical capacity of 600 kW. The turbines are mounted on tubular towers 44 metres high, the hub height is 46 metres. The rotors have total diameters of 46 metres. The blades pitch to optimise the power produced and to control the rotational speed. The turbine rotates from 14 rpm to 38 rpm maximum.

The rated output is produced at wind speeds of between 13 m/s (47 km/hour) and 25 m/s (90 km/hour), the cut-in wind speed is 2.5 m/s (9 km/hour).
Transmission

Power is generated at 400 volts and is stepped up to 22,000 volts with a transformer for connection to the grid. The turbines are connected through underground cables before being connected to the overhead transmission lines passing through the wind farm. Ergon has constructed a new substation closer to Ravenshoe to enable the wind farm power to join the 66kV service to the Tablelands and North Queensland.
Site Ownership

Stanwell Corporation does not own the land around the wind farm. Two local farmers have entered into lease access agreements with Stanwell. The wind turbines have minimal impact on their activities and the farmers continue with normal land use.
Phase 2

Phase 2 of the project is planned to consist of another 22 turbines, taking the total capacity to 25 MW. The project will proceed if the Shire Council and the local community are fully satisfied with project impacts.
Environmental impact

Windy Hill's 12 MW wind farm will produce enough energy to supply 3500 homes (equivalent to the towns of Atherton and Mareeba) and will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from non-renewable sources by 25,000 tonnes. Stanwell undertook wind monitoring to assess the potential of the site and optimum turbine layout. The consultation process with stakeholders considered issues such as aesthetics, impact on wildlife, noise levels and compatibility with telecommunications systems.

Karumba North Queensland..the Sunset

Karumba is famous for its magnificent sunsets.
Tours regularly take boatloads of tourists to sit in the middle of the ocean out of Karumba, in what is like a bowl of sunset to enjoy the spectacular changing of colors as the sunset deepens and changes and finally burns to the night.

Wongaling Beach south of Mission Beach Queensland Australia

Mission Beach is a natural mid way point between Townsville and Cairns. Mission Beach is made up of four beach villages linked by 14 kilometres of wide golden beach, a perfect base to relax and explore this unspoilt natural environment. A blend of sophisticated eateries, boutiques and art galleries nestle against lush tropical rainforest. Mission Beach reminds us of how beautiful little beachside towns can be, blending vibrant art and culture with unique tourism attractions.

Visitors to Tropical North Queensland can plan a day trip from Cairns or Port Douglas; it’s just under two hours from Cairns to Mission Beach. Experiencing the beauty of Mission Beach, Cairns visitors often return.

The four villages of Mission Beach offer an excellent array of accommodation, from luxury resorts, and upmarket holiday homes to secluded rainforest retreats and superbly appointed B & Bs. Romantic getaways, family holidays, birdwatchers, backpackers, adventure travellers, campers and caravanners are all catered for. Mission Beach also offers the tourist a vast array of activities ranging from eco-friendly and environmental tours to extreme sports such as tandem skydiving and white water rafting for adrenaline junkies.

Wongaling Beach is the closest point to Dunk Island and enjoys spectacular views. Launch your boat directly off the beach or catch the water taxi to Dunk Island. Alternatively, take in the shops at the Wongaling shopping centre or enjoy a beer with your lunch in one of the beachfront bars.

Childers Queensland Australia

Well preserved historic town on the main road between Brisbane and Bundaberg.
Located 325 km north of Brisbane, 60 km north of Maryborough, 52 km south of Bundaberg

Childers is a town which was created and sustained by the sugar cane which grew around it until there were 8 years of drought. The local council, determined to capitalize on the tourist traffic which drove through town without stopping, then embarked on a campaign which has resulted in the title 'Historic Childers - The National Trust Town' and now offers people speeding north to the resorts an ideal place to stop and explore a little of the region's interesting past.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Queensland/Childers/2005/02/17/1108500202242.html

The area grew slowly as teamsters stopped in the town and the land around was taken up by pastoralists eager to raise cattle on the fertile soil. In 1902 the town was virtually wiped out by a fire which demolished nearly all the buildings on one side of the main street. Those that survived are now the interesting and important buildings in the town.

Childers Pharmaceutical Museum
The centrepieces of Childers charm are the Childers Pharmaceutical Museum and the Olde Butcher Shoppe, both of which are specialist museums where the history of particular trades can be explored.
The Pharmaceutical Museum in the main street (it is also the Tourist Information Office) was originally built in 1894 and retains much of the charm of the late nineteenth century. The shop fittings are made from cedar, there are old leather bound prescription books, mortars and pestles that are works of art and a very early cash register dating back to 1906. The shop is now owned by the local council and it is the centrepiece of the town's regeneration as a tourist destination. There are brochures available which list all the interesting historic buildings in town and for those who really want to know the history of the area there is an excellent book available titled Taming the Isis by B. W. O'Neill.

Olde Butcher Shoppe
Just around the corner from the Federal Hotel (1907) is the Olde Butcher Shoppe which, it is claimed, was the first tiled butcher's shop outside Brisbane when it set up in 1896. The owner is a true enthusiast who happily takes visitors through explaining early butchering techniques and the history of the building which, by luck, managed to escape the disastrous fire of 1902.
Over the road is the Childers Court House (1897) which is a fine and well preserved example of the kind of country Court Houses built throughout Queensland at the turn of the century.
Just up the road is the famous Palace Hotel, the most ornate and ostentatious building in town. It was recently converted into a backpacker destination but in late June, 2000 it was severely damaged by fire. Tragically 15 backpackers were killed in the fire.
Today it is the home of the Childers Information Centre and the Childers Regional Art Gallery upstairs, which is also a memorial to the Backpackers who lost their lives in the fire.

Soldiers Room Memorial
At the Maryborough end of the main street there is the Soldiers Room Memorial a touching memorial to the soldiers from the local area who were killed in all the wars this century. Each soldier is honoured with a bronze plaque and, where possible, a photograph. The images of young men who were killed is tragic and powerful. The building itself was built in 1926 and is designed in the shape of a Maltese Cross.

Historical Complex
Over the road in Taylor Street is the newly established Historical Complex with an impressive sugar cane locomotive imported from England in 1916, a cottage from Isis Central Mill which was once rented out to mill workers for the modest sum of 2 shillings a week, and the old Isis Central Mill School. Both buildings contain interesting collections of local artefacts and memorabilia.

Isis Central Mill
It is possible to visit the Isis Central Mill between July and November at 2.00 pm Mondays-Fridays. Contact the Tourist Information Office or ring the mill on (07) 4126 6166 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (07) 4126 6166      end_of_the_skype_highlighting for more details.