Yes 4BU are very “optimistic” when they mention Maryborough/Hervey Bay in their weather reports. Their morning show was also called “Wide Bay Today” which implies it includes Bundaberg, Maryborough and Hervey Bay. The reality is the 4BU signal has never been listenable in Maryborough. Ever so slightly better in Hervey Bay, but only during the day. As you say it’s a real lost opportunity for 4BU. But then their signal is barely receivable in Childers, which is supposed to be within their licence area and they’ve never done anything about that either. I’m convinced they could get an FM repeater for Childers if they asked for one. Despite the obvious drawbacks of the Carralis network, I’m darn sure if he owned 4BU they’d have an FM repeater in Childers.
4GY used to be great in Maryborough/Hervey Bay during the 80s, even ok at night sometimes. Not sure what happened and whether they reduced the power at some point, but it was pretty much a second station in Maryborough in those days.
IMHO they really should have amalgamated Wide Bay in the same way they did Rockhampton/Gladstone. I believe it was an option considered at the time. The Wide Bay has a single TV market. They could have launched 2 high-powered FM’s from Mt Goonanamen and let 4BU and 4MB have repeaters in the other city, just as they did with 4RO and 4CC - although 4RO never took theirs up in Gladstone I don’t think. The 990 signal is pretty good in Gladstone anyway.
The only fortuitous signal into Maryborough is Rebel from Childers, but only in the car. Pity Breeze isn’t on air at least.