"The best thing is it's only a five minute drive to work," that person said.

"Yes," I replied, "Unless of course you are driving five hours to Hughenden."

Distances in town are short indeed, but it's a big region if you need to cover.

That was my situation on Friday, off to the lovely town of Hughenden for the opening of their recreational lake.

I cheated a little having driven down to Cloncurry on Thursday night for their business awards. They have a thriving business community in the Curry and the Local Business Network have done a terrific job to promote the sector.

As well as running the awards, the LBN runs a Christmas Shop Local Campaign, a shop local gift card program, small business week, digital workshops, network events and welcome to town packs.

Having watched the awards, I stayed the night in the Curry and was up at 4am for the four hour drive on to Hughenden.

I saw a few dead roos on the road but thankfully no live ones and the journey was peaceful and unremarkable (and made shorter thanks to the great podcasts put out by The Economist).

After brekkie at Lights on the Hill, I quickly made my way to the lake for the formalities. I'd seen photos of it, but this was my first time seeing it in the flesh.

And it's enormous.

As Flinders Shire Mayor Jane McNamara said this is a substantial amenity for local people.

The lake sits on hectares of lake to a depth of 3.2 metres (when full after rains, it's curently just 1m deep).

It has parkland, a playground, 2.9km of walking and bike track, a boatramp and pontoon, swimming and water-skiing, a fishing jetty, two barbecues and picnic facilities.

After listening to the speeches including Deputy PM Michael McCormack's amusing call for "Hughenden Royal Yacht Club" - which sounds like a wonderful idea - I enjoyed a half hour stroll around the lake admiring it from all angles.

Then back in the car five hours to Isa. And I wouldn't have it any other way.