Residents of the Mount Isa suburb of Sunset say a huge influx of flying foxes is damaging trees, coating homes and cars in droppings, and leaving them desperate for action. 

Properties owned by an Aboriginal housing corporation caught up in an unpaid-rates saga that left dozens of Mount Isa residents facing an uncertain future are sold.

Nearly a third of medical graduates are taking up general practice, and health experts say it is an opportunity to rebuild rural practices from the ground up. 

Fishing industry and Indigenous community leaders in Australia's north are calling for further investigation into why dugong numbers appear to have declined by 50 per cent in the Gulf of Carpentaria, and what can be done to stop it.

The Mount Isa Rodeo is one of the biggest events on the outback calendar.

It's more than just big buckles and bull rides, it's where a love of the sport is passed from one generation to the next.

One young up and coming cowboy was keen on taking on a rather different role in between events.

Story by Kavina Kumar with additional production by Josie Sargent.

Motox upgrades: Mount Isa motocross riders will have access to competition-style training at home following a major redevelopment of the city's Dirt Bike Club track. Local riders regularly travel long distances to compete across Queensland, with the upgraded track designed to better reflect the conditions they encounter at other clubs. Mount Isa Dirt Bike Club sponsorship and PR officer Kimberly Trott says the redevelopment could also help attract major motocross events to the city.

Photo supplied: Mount Isa Dirt Bike Club

Meeting of the mines: Mining and government leaders gathered in North West Queensland last week to tackle some of the biggest barriers to new resources projects. Approximately 250 delegates attended Cloncurry's fourth annual Meeting of the Mines, up 25 per cent on last year, with energy, infrastructure and regulation on the agenda. Cloncurry Shire Mayor Greg Campbell says previous conferences have helped drive government action, including a state review of environmental bonding costs.

Community grant funding: North West Queensland communities have secured funding for five projects in what a rural grant provider says is its largest round in the region in years. The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal's Strengthening Rural Communities program is funding projects ranging from digital skills and social connection initiatives, to a Hughenden Bull Sale, a first for the foundation's grant applications. Grants team manager April Merrick says rising costs are driving increasingly diverse requests for funding.

Hughenden leisure precinct: A North West council has unveiled a long-term plan to overhaul the ageing leisure precinct in one of its major towns over the next 10 to 15 years. The Hughenden 38.7 million dollar master plan includes a new heated 25-metre pool, caravan park upgrades, better footpaths and expanded youth facilities, with council planning to pursue grants and renewable energy contributions to help fund the work. Flinders Shire Mayor Kate Peddle says planning now is crucial to capitalising on the town's projected growth.

Aviation infrastructure: Aviation infrastructure handed to councils by the federal government decades ago is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain across Western Queensland, one advocate says. Ageing regional airports and growing aviation regulation is putting strain on regional councils with a small rate payer base. Western Queensland Alliance of Councils chief executive Greg Hoffman says if federal authorities impose new requirements, they should help councils cover the cost.

Your challenge in today's More or Less quiz is to work out which TV shows lasted longer (even if they didn't deserve to).