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A shot from the middle of a highway shows a truck in the distance, on a long straight road
A truck heading down the highway between Clermont and Charters Towers.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

A map shows part of the state of Queensland, with a route highlighted in blue from Brisbane to Imbil
Imbil a small rural town inland from the Sunshine Coast in southern Queensland.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

A shop front with open roller doors and signs that read Feed & Hay, Concreting, Garden
Jo Robey and her husband bought the local hardware store in Imbil.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)
Seedlings for sale on a wire shelf attached to a brick wall, a sign reads DIGGERS VEGIES
The building that houses the shop was part of the old saw mill.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
The interior of a hardware shop shows shelves lined with goods, signs saying CAMPING and PLUMBING
It's been locally owned for about 60 years.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A woman wearing bright pink shirt stands behind a counter, looking at a computer screen
Jo says it's important to her to give back to the Imbil community.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

An aerial view above an old railway bridge, its metal structure coloured red with rust
The 1915 bridge on the Mary Valley railway line crosses over Little Yabba Creek.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A sandwich board sign outside a shop reads Country Ayr Gifts & Crafts Antiques, with an arrow
The main street was buzzing on a sunny Saturday in February.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)
A shot of the Imbil Pub with a boat on a trailer in the foreground with a XXXX Gold esky, February 2025.
Imbil's a popular stop for weekend travellers.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

An aerial photo of the Borumba Dam near Imbil, Queensland, February 2025.
The proposed hydro project will expand capacity and build an underground power station to generate 2000MW of electricity.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Anti-renewable billboard featuring a koala with the words "wildlife habitats are unrenewable", February 2025.
Locals say most people support the Borumba Dam project, but there is a campaign against renewables in the area.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

A map shows part of the state of Queensland, with a route highlighted in blue, from Brisbane to Gympie
Gympie is a regional city about 170 kilometres north of Brisbane.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

19-year-old Emily Groves holding her dachshund and sitting outside a fruit shop in Gympie, February 2025.
Emily Groves is working as a barista in Gympie and saving to go to uni.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A close-up on a forearm covered in black tattoos, including a dog's collar with the name SUNNY
She has to drive two-and-a-half hours each way to Ipswich for practical sessions in a tattoo course at TAFE.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)
A sweet brown saudage dog is seen from behind the front seat, peering over the driver's shoulder out a window
Emily takes Sunny everywhere with her. (ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)
A laminated A4 sign stuck to a wooden crate reads LOCAL LIME BAGS $2.99
Her main job is as a barista, but Emily's started a TikTok account for the fruit shop too. (ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

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People hanging out on the banks of the Mary River in Gympie, February 2025.
The Mary River is walking distance from down town Gympie and popular spot for young people.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

A map shows part of the state of Queensland, with a route highlighted in blue, and a label for Gladstone
Gladstone is a port city in central Queensland, home to about 35,000 people.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

An aerial photo of the Gladstone marina with the power station in the background.
Gladstone is an industrial city, but it's also surrounded by a pristine coastal environment and is close to the Great Barrier Reef. (ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Kailu Craigie standing at the Port of Gladstone, with ships in the background.
Kailu Craigie, a Wangkamana and Pita Pita man, works with the Gidarjil Development Corporation.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
Looking down a street towards a marina and hills in the distance, as a blue car waits to pull onto the road
He says housing is one the biggest challenges in Gladstone.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A close-up on a man's wrist on the steering wheel shows two plastic wristbands, one says DON'T WORRY
He's also seen firsthand the effects of climate change on the nearby coral reef.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

James Saylor standing at the Gladstone Port with the coal terminal behind him.
James Saylor, a Goreng Goreng man, says he would like to see more education and work opportunities for young people. (ABC News: Nathan Morris)

A map shows part of the state of Queensland, with a route highlighted in blue, and a label for Comet
Comet is a small town in central Queensland, about halfway between Blackwater and Emerald.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

Chris Elliot in a cut off high vis work shirt with two goats on leads.
Chris Elliot and his two goats keeping the grass on his verge down. (ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)
A brown and white goat on a lead in Comet, Queensland, February 2025.
Maximus is a bit of a handful, according to Chris.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

A map shows part of the state of Queensland, with a route highlighted in blue, and a label for Clermont
Clermont is a rural town in central Queensland.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

Aerial photo of Clermont with a mobile phone tower in the foreground.
Clermont and the surrounding region has a population of about 4,000 people.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A sign reads CLERMONT OPEN CUT GLENCORE next to a road grate and speed signs
Mining is among the key industries in Clermont. (ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A woman walks across a road towards a shop marked FINSTONES with a rack of clothes out front
Jade says it's a bustling little town with plenty to do for young families.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

Jade Davies (left) and Kelly McGrath (right) in Clermont, Queensland, February 2025.
Jade works with Kelly at a free mental health support service called Isaac Navicare. (ABC News: Nathan Morris)

An old tyre in the foreground, two camp sites set up in scrub in the distance
At the reserve behind the Clermont service station, visiting gold prospectors set up camp, alongside more permanent-looking sites.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
Two camp sites are seen in bush land, one has solar panels rigged up next to it
Robyn estimates about 10 of the clients she's seen are set up at the camp.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

An older woman wearing floral printed shirt sits at a table with a mug, papers and glasses in front of her
Robyn Cross runs the not-for-profit Clermont Community Housing.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Ryan Lovell standing next to a national park north of Clermont, Queensland, February 2025.
Wangan and Jagalingou man Ryan Lovell has relocated back to his country and lives in Clermont.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

Ryan looking at a small mountain known as Wolfgang Peak, north of Clermont, Queensland, February 2025.
Ryan says just being out on his own on his people's country has had a restorative effect on him.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

A map shows part of the state of Queensland, with a route highlighted in blue, and a label for Charters Towers
Charters Towers is a regional town about 136 kilometres south-west of Townsville.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

An aerial view over a road and long sign that reads WELCOME TO CHARTERS TOWERS
Charters Towers is among the bigger population centres in the seat of Kennedy.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
Bob Katter, wearing his trademark Akubra and dark aviator sunglasses, frowns with two hands up
Bob Katter has been in politics for more than 50 years.(ABC News: Owain Stia James, file photo)
The Charters Towers electorate office of Robbie Katter, with a photo of him wearing a cowboy hat in the window, February 2025.
Robbie Katter is the state member for Traeger.  (ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A close-up on a tiled mural shows the words YOU ARE HERE pointing to Charters Towers on a map
The town boasts a rich gold mining history.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)
An air conditioner unit sits outside a shop front, white streamers blowing from its vents
The town has diversified from its mining roots.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

A streetscape with a blue water tank on a hill in the background with the words "the world" on it, Charters Towers, Feb 2025.
It was once said you could find just about anything you'd need in Charters Towers — and so the town was nicknamed "The World".(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Melissa Salmond standing at the lookout in Charters Towers, February 2025.
Melissa was born and raised in Charters Towers and is passionate about regional access to health care.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

A map shows part of the state of Queensland, with a route highlighted in blue, and a label for Greenvale
Greenvale has a population of less than 200, and is located about halfway between Charters Towers and the Atherton Tablelands.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

Lou Fletcher pours a beer at the Greenvale hotel, Queensland, February 2025.
When the Bruce Highway is down, Greenvale sees a welcome increase in traffic.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
Hand written "flood 2025" with names and messages on the roof of the Three River's Hotel, Greenvale, Queensland February 2025.
The Three Rivers Hotel hosted dozens of visitors earlier this year when the roads were cut. (ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A framed photo of rugby league great Wally Lewis on a wall next to a jukebox
This part of north Queensland is deep rugby league territory.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Two glasses of water sit on a bar, one on the right is a murky brown colour, the other is more transluscent
Lou kept a sample of the muddy water to show the council — carefully marked "DO NOT TIP".(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Lou Fletcher behind the bar at the Three Rivers Hotel, Greenvale, Queensland, February 2025.
Lou Fletcher has run the Three Rivers Hotel in Greenvale for decades.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

A map shows part of the state of Queensland, with a route highlighted in blue, and a label for Atherton
Atherton sits at the heart of the Tablelands region in Far North Queensland.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

Wind turbines in a green grassy paddock behind a fence at Windy Hill wind farm, Ravenshoe, Queensland, February 2025.
The Windy Hill project at Ravenshoe was one of first wind farms to be built in Queensland.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

Jen Cox standing on the main street of Atherton, Queensland, February 2025.
Jen Cox grew up on the Tablelands and is now raising her own family there.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Aerial photo of Atherton CBD surrounded by green mountains, February 2025.
Atherton is the main hub of the Tablelands region near Cairns, with a population of about 7,700 people.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A view through a car window shows a shop titled THE WATER SHED with farm equipment out front
Agriculture is the biggest industry in the area, while nearby Lake Tinaroo is a popular holiday destination for waterskiers and recreational fishers.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)
A street corner shows an old pub for sale across the road, and in foreground, a 4WD decorated like a geode
Locals say even in a regional fruit bowl, the cost of food and housing can be steep.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

Two old blokes sit on bar stools at the Barron Valley Hotel front bar, Atherton, Queensland, February 2025.
The Barron Valley Hotel was taken over by the army in World War II, before it was returned to the Nassers.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A chalkboard on a wall lists a pub menu next to framed sporting paraphernalia
Michael says his business relies heavily on a backpacker workforce.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)
Michael Nasser standing in front of a photo of his grandfather as a boxer who was the first Nasser to own the hotel, Feb 2025.
Michael Nasser's family has run the Barron Valley Hotel in Atherton for generations.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Cars and utes backed up along a windy road surrounded by lush green forest
Roadworks to repair damage from Cyclone Jasper are still underway more than a year later.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

A map shows part of the state of Queensland, with a route highlighted in blue, and a label for Cairns
Cairns is a large regional city in Far North Queensland.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

Jimmy in a high vis work shirt sits out the front of a cafe north of Cairns, Queensland, February 2024.
Jimmy lives south of Cairns and works fly in fly out in the Queensland coal industry.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

A green street sign reads BARRON RIVER ESP. Behind it a boat covered by a tarp is parked on someone's lawn
The Barron River winds its way from Lake Tinaroo up on the Tablelands, through Kuranda and over the Barron Falls, down the range and out to sea.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A view down an esplanade shows a rock wall separating the concrete path from sand and ocean
Machans Beach is just north of the mouth of the Barron River and Cairns airport.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Mary Brodie standing in the Machan's Beach community hall, Queensland, February 2025.
Mary Brodie is one of the volunteers who runs the Machan's Beach Community Association.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
The Machan's Beach community hall, Queensland, February 2025.
The hall is owned by the community, and during Cyclone Jasper in 2023, it became an evacuation centre and recovery hub.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
Leaflets are pinned to a board, the first one is titled MACHINATIONS
The association distributes a local newsletter, Machinations.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)
A wooden piano leans against a wall with paper flood maps pinned to it, inside a hall
Residents have been keeping tabs on local flooding events for years.(ABC News: Lucy Sweeney)

Blue building wrap on a house in Machan's Beach, Queensland, February 2025.
Many houses in Machans Beach are still being rebuilt or repaired.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Shipping containers on the side of a street, and the back half of a ute with fuel containers
While some have been slowly working through insurance claims and recovery grants, not everyone has been able to afford to rebuild.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

A black for sale sign outside a white house with green roof, palm trees in the front and a carport at the side
Mary says some long-term Machans residents are now selling up and moving away.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Signs nailed to a fence read CLIMATE ACTION NOW and MORE DEVELOPMENT ON BARRON RIVER FLOOD PLAIN = MORE FLOODING
Several Machans residents have joined the Barron River Flood Plain Action Group, over concerns about development, climate change and the risk of more extreme weather events.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Libby Cook-Black sits on the foreshore at Cairns, Queensland, February 2025.
Libby says the Cairns community as a whole are proud of the area's rich Indigenous culture and passionate about outdoor living. (ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A carved dugong necklace.
Libby maintains a strong connection to her culture and country in the Torres Strait.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

Aerial photo of the foreshore at Trinity beach north of Cairns, Queensland, February 2025.
Libby says outdoor living and enjoying the natural beauty of the region is a big part of the Far North Queensland lifestyle.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A man busks on the street outside a market, as other people walk past or browse stalls
She wants to see investment in the region serving the community in a tangible way.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
Mangoes, avocadoes and other fruit arranged at a stall inside a market, people milling past
For Libby, that extends not only to First Nations communities, but to the families growing the food we eat.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

A large truck signed ROAD TRAIN on a bitumen road with green vegetation either side
From the far north to the edge of the Sunshine Coast, roads are a hot topic.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A herd of cattle stand behind a wire fence, in a field of lush green grass
Regional Queensland contributes hundreds of billions to the economy each year. (ABC News: Nathan Morris)
A handmade sign reads GUM TANK, hung from a fence to a dirt road extending towards the horizon
Many voters in this part of the country say they're just looking for the basics from their politicians.(ABC News: Nathan Morris)

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