In Mount Isa, nearly 50 properties, some abandoned, have accrued years of unpaid rates and could be forced to sale.

Pilungah Reserve, south-west of Mount Isa, has become Queensland's third special wildlife reserve, barring any future mining activity.

The C-27J Spartan aircraft took off from Darwin, and the ABC understood it was heading towards Brisbane and near Longreach when personnel observed "signs of smoke" onboard. 

A potentially 'catastrophic' drop in traffic has outback residents concerned for the rest of the tourist season. Community members in remote Queensland have come together for the grand opening of a new outdoor theatre and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, declaring their town open for business.

The state government has announced the Accelerating Fuel Infrastructure Program, which it says is intended to ease fuel costs and protect against future price shocks.

It's been a big week in the news. Did you catch these stories?

Gregory canoe race: Mareeba paddler John van Ryt won the 2026 Gregory River Canoe Marathon in a time of 3 hours and 24 minutes. Van Ryt had previously won the iconic canoe race in 2022. Around 120 people paddled in all sorts of boats either paddling 15 or 38 kilometre in this years race through the picturesque waters of the lower Gulf.

Image supplied: John van Ryt

NQ Cup: Three Mount Isa students have made a strong debut at the North Queensland High School Cup, taking home top awards in Charters Towers. Savanna and Sasha Little and Kate Iraci represented Good Shepherd Catholic College against 19 schools, winning Best Presented School, while 12-year-old Sasha was also awarded Best Announcing Youth.

Doomadgee reopens: A remote Gulf Indigenous community leader is reigniting calls to construct a raised bridge at a river near the township, after four months of isolation during this year's wet season. Doomadgee became isolated in late December, with roads only reopening to freight traffic last week, refilling dwindling fuel supplies. Council chief executive Troy Fraser says a Nicholson River bridge should be a priority.

Cycle network: Mount Isa City Council is adding an extra $95,000 price tag to its cycle network project, by voting to keep construction work in local hands. The next stage of the Soldiers Hill cycling path has gone to tender, with councillors electing a local construction company, increasing the project cost to about $3.5 million.

Science ambassador: An outback pharmacology student is hoping to inspire more Indigenous researchers after being appointed as a science ambassador. Only half a per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians currently hold a university STEM qualification. Deadly Science ambassador and Mount Isa local Rilee Webber says she never thought about a career in science until she met First Nation researchers.