The Palaszczuk Government’s decision to close Queensland’s two agricultural colleges in Longreach and Emerald has left rural communities reeling.

The state government says the Ag College teaching model is outdated and only 16 students are due to graduate from the two colleges by the end of next year.

Michael Guerin, the CEO of the peak farming group AgForce, tells Mark if the government can’t run the colleges rural groups should be given the chance.

Christmas can be a difficult time when extended families get together to celebrate.

They can be even more of a minefield for ‘blended’ families which is the fastest growing family type in Australia.

Phoebe Wallish from Stepfamilies Australia tells Mark the key to a happy Christmas for blended families is to have ‘realistic expectations’.

As house prices in Sydney and Melbourne plummet homeowners across southeast Queensland are seeing values rise.

The latest Real Estate Institute of Queensland quarterly report shows Brisbane’s median house price has reached a new high of $675,000.

REIQ Chief Executive Antonia Mercorella tells Mark there are no indications that the falls in the other capitals will flow through to Brisbane.

The Morrison Government has announced a parliamentary inquiry into the way Palaszczuk Government’s management on native vegetation.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud had been trying to get one going since August but the recent bushfires has provided the catalyst to get the numbers to make the inquiry a reality.

He tells Mark country people are the best managers of the land and it’s time Premier Palaszczuk started listening to them.

Southeast Queensland’s population is forecast to exploded by 1.8 million over the next 25 years placing mounting pressure on housing and infrastructure.

A new survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia found that while 71% of Brisbanites believe population growth can be good 60% thought it was happening too fast.

Property Council CEO Ken Morrison tells Mark the problem is that too often politicians aren’t interested in real long term planning.

Environmentalists on Bribie Island are calling for a ban on four wheel drives using Ocean Beach, a 34 kilometre long stretch of sand reaching up to Caloundra.

They say that 4WDs are having an impact on the dunes and wildlife, especially loggerhead turtles during breeding season.

Diane Oxenford from the Bribie Island Environmental Protection Agency tells Mark the numbers of off roaders using the beach is out of control.

Time is running out for people to lodge submissions on the controversial proposal to build ziplines and a skywalk on Mount Coot-tha.

The opportunity to comment of the DA closes next Friday and so far fewer than 200 submissions have been lodged.

Opponents including Greens MP Michael Berkman will door knock surrounding suburbs this weekend and he tells Mark the zipline is ‘far from a done deal’.

There is much debate right now about the demise of the quarter acre block and the changing face of Brisbane.

The Corley Collection, a new exhibition opening at the State Library of Queensland, is providing an incredible window on the homes of the 60s and 70s.

Co-curator of the exhibition Chenoa Pettrup tells Mark the collection is the byproduct of Frank and Eunice Corley’s commercial photography business.

Residents living around the former Goodman Fielder bakery at Carina are squaring for a fight over plans for a huge townhouse development on the 5 hectare site.

Locals say the 173 units and 21 residential lots will threaten an important koala corridor.

Submissions on the development application close in a week and residents spokesperson Jennifer Matton tells Mark the project is simply not in keeping with the area.

It’s almost impossible to pigeonhole Michael Palin - comedy icon, actor, best selling author, travel show presenter and former President of the Royal Geographical Society.

Tomorrow night he will take the stage at the Brisbane’s Southbank Piazza to talk about his career and relive some of his legendary comedic repertoire

Michael tells Mark he also has a new passion project involving the triumphs and tragedy of a 19th century British navy ship.