The Australian Psychic Expo's Konnie Gold shares her 2016 predictions for the Bundaberg region

THE upcoming Bundaberg elections to be held on March 19 this year will see one-term mayor Mal Forman axed in favour of former police officer and Bundaberg MP Jack Dempsey.

It's hard to not feel sorry for Forman; after all, who'd want to be in a political stoush with a candidate bearing the same name as the "Manassa Mauler", the nickname of Jack Dempsey, World Heavyweight Champion boxer from 1919 to 1926.

Good luck Mayor Forman (coincidentally, Forman is the surname of ex-world champion boxer, George Foreman - though with a different spelling).

Bundaberg's sugar industry will continue to play little brother to its far-north rivals.

It's difficult to see this changing for the foreseeable future, despite the federal government's drought relief programs, with many smaller farmers continuing to struggle.

After languishing at the bottom of the house price cycle for some time, Bundaberg is about to enjoy a resurgence in house prices over the next 12 to 24 months, with median house values increasing by upwards of 10% per annum

This is great news, as Bundaberg house prices have borne the scars of the devastating Australia Day floods of 2013.

Small business in Bundaberg will have the best year since the global financial crisis.

This will be largely due to an upsurge in tourism numbers, and a general feeling of positivity in the community resulting in spending figures going through the roof.