Sue Brooks' Blog

Sue Brooks August 29th, 2010

When I left Teachers College in Melbourne many, many years ago now and actually started teaching a revelation occurred. All the hours of study and all my perceptions of what being a teacher entailed quickly took flight. Nothing I had previously experienced equalled the challenges of being in charge of approx 20 little human beings day in and day out. I quickly learned that the only way to really understand what any job actually entails is to experience it first hand. My ideas of teaching changed yet again when I had children of my own.

It is my own personal experience that has made me critical of too much theoretical teaching (ala University etc) at the expense of hands on ‘work experience’. No one truly has the right to comment about a policemans job, a nurses job or a groundsmens job etc unless one takes some time and spends time ‘on the job’. It is so easy to criticise from afar and so easy to assume that we know what employees should be doing without having a real understanding of their working life.

So it comes as a simple and straightforward sadness to me that so many people think I’m failing at my job. Apparently as the Chronicle blog says I am arrogant and ‘from another planet’ among other things. Well the comments were made in general about Council but Council is me so I take the comments personally.

The Chronicle’s latest front page story about Councillors financial entitlements has brought forth a torrent of anti Council sentiment. I just wish that the persons who are anonymously expressing such disgust and unhappiness with me (as representative of Council) and with how I perform my duties would come and spend a day with me. If not a day then maybe a couple of hours.

My job as a Councillor is at times overwhelmingly pleasant and straightforward but it can also be tiring and depressing. It is sometimes tiring and depressing because I  would like to achieve more. Why can’t I ensure every road is sealed, every park mown, every drain working well, every business profitable and every rate payer satisfied? Why can’t we do what the residents tell me that they want without it costing more and more each year? I expect to achieve results for our region and our community and even though I believe we have achieved much there is always more to do and more to fix and more to improve. And I am but one of a group of eleven and I don’t always get what I want …. but that is to be expected in a democratic system and I accept this readily.

But I want to thank our Director Organisational Services Ms Lisa Desmond. Lisa has been doing exactly what more bosses should do. She is spending time on the job. She has visited the dog pound and aided the staff to clean out the kennels. She has operated a road roller and pruned the roses in the rose garden at Maryborough. Lisa is finding out what exactly our staff do each and every day. I’d also like to thank all our staff as I know you work hard and that you strive to do better and better each and every day. I’d like to thank our CEO as he expects high standards and is driving change through a complex time of merger. Yes he may have said we need rates at 20% but he only ever used this as an example of what rate rise we would require to do and service all of our communities expectations. Our CEO is well aware that any large increase in rates is unaffordable for our community and it is he and his team that have managed to achieve more for less.

But many of you don’t agree with my version of our Council so I ask you this. If you are unhappy with me or with Council please contact me and give me your reasons why. Just generally saying ‘Council stinks’ doesn’t do anything to help improve Council so I ask you to tell us what we are doing wrong and then to please listen to our responses. The saying that ‘we can’t please all the people all the time’ is true. What one person wants and needs another person doesn’t so for all of us on Council it is a balancing act of trying to meet the needs of the majority of you all. I will continue to try as hard as I can to properly represent you and to make decisions that I believe our in the wider community interest. My skin has thickened up and while the criticism stings it doesn’t penetrate too deeply and I am still determined to work hard so…. over to you. How can we do better and what are we doing wrong?

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Sue Brooks August 23rd, 2010

Well the weekend is done and dusted and we all now await the result of some more counting. I am sure all of us have our political leanings for whatever reasons. Maybe we prefer a party because of our family upbringing, our student experiences, or make up our own mind based on TV adverts etc. Maybe we like a candidate or maybe we actually take the time to peruse policies but whatever our reasons for voting as we do I think this past weekend has sounded a clear message or two.

The first message to the Labor Party is “we will follow where you lead as long as you deliver on your promises and don’t stuff thinks up.. including your leadership”  I thought that in 2007 Kevin Rudd was offering a chance for change and some real vision for our nation and it’s place on the International stage. I think he was daring and reacted well to the financial crisis that followed his win but the delivery of his promises left a lot to be desired. None of us wants to see our hard earned taxes squandered and we don’t want to see mates of mates profiting at the wider communities’ expense. Maybe programmes failed because of our political and bureacratic systems but at the end of the day, the politicians have to face the music. Sadly Kevin didn’t even get the chance to do that!

The Liberal party had a few goes at finding a leader but settled on Tony. Tony grates on my nerves for many reasons (as does Julia..) but he galvanised the country with his down to earth attitude and he did gather party support behind him. I think we need a Government very separated from religion and I want a National fast broadband scheme. I also worry about the Liberal preference for profit rather than environmental care and concern.

So for me the choice this weekend past was more difficult than at some previous elections. As a small business owner and Councillor and someone contemplating retirement without much of a Super saving, I am worried about how we finance both my personal future and the future of this region that I love so dearly.

 I wish we could do away with the adversarial (predominantly 2 party) political system that we have. Why is it a case of point scoring and who can criticise the other side the best rather than working positively to make our lives better?

So to our future. While I would like to think that the 4 non ALP/Lib reps will put our collective needs first, expereince tells me this may not be likely. I have heard Bob Katter already say ‘what’s in it for me’ or more correctly quoted, ‘my corner of the country’ rather than ‘what can I do to help the entire country’… and shouldn’t that equate to one and the same anyway?

Independants, like Bob Katter, hardly ever have to actually go to work and attend Parliament. You see, in the last term of Government, what Bob thought or voted made utterly no differnce and I’m interested to peruse attendance records and hope I’m proved wrong.

With a minority Government Independants will have to attend every session I believe. Now I can’t help but wonder if their own future workloads will influence what happens next. Will they all buckle down and work hard to Govern in the best interests of all of us and possibly this could see the country benefit enormously or will we all be trotting off to the polls again some time soon?

I hope that our political leaders can cease the bickering and the ’she said he did’ rhetoric which I find so off putting, and concentrate on making decisions that they believe are in the best interests of the majority of us. In other words truly represent us and get on with governing us respnsibly, efficiently and effectively.

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Sue Brooks August 16th, 2010

I received this comment posted below after some personal email activity.  Fishing is a good topic to generate comment it seems and certainly gets the blood boiling in some people. I decided to pop the comment under this post as I thought the topic worthy of a separate thread to the general news of my last post.

So to fishing. I strongly, firmly and entirely believe that there is room in our oceans and freshwater ways for fishing. I believe that the oceans (and rivers and streams etc) can’t produce more than a certain finite number of fish as the size and conditions of the oceans/waterways limits the ability to produce an increasing number of fish by natural means.

I believe that the human population is growing rapidly and also our ability to catch fish has become more sophisticated so we are much more efficient hunters. That means we now can catch much more fish than in the past. And by the past I mean as recently ago as my own childhood.

As a result of these two points I believe that some areas of our oceans and rivers and waterways should be protected and kept free of fishing. All other areas free for fishing, should be monitored to ensure that fish numbers stay viable. Any areas chosen to be set aside as no fish zones should be selected as a result of good scientific evidence based research. I have no idea how many or big or small these areas should be but they need to be located with the intent to preserve fish and natural ocean or marine habitat. Benthic etc.

I believe if we treat our waterways like our land and have National Parks in the sea (Marine Parks) this will be a good thing for the future health of our planet and be of benefit to those generations that will come after us. How these are selected and managed however is important.

I don’t believe all modern/recent decisions in relation to our waterways are sensible and that some rules and regulations that have evolved over time are faulty in application and enforcement.

I also don’t believe any political party has the totally right formula finalised in relation to protecting our natural environment while preserving our economy and caring for a country that welcomes a free thinking, democratic abiding and humane way of life. So next Saturday I will be voting for the person or party that demonstrates the best overall attempt at doing just that and I won’t be making my decision on one issue or on scare tactic type advertising. After listening to the Family First candidate however I can assure everyone FF will be way down the bottom of my ballot paper!

So over to you and the great fishing debate. Cheers, Sue

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Sue Brooks August 14th, 2010

Howard Progress Association – Monday evening saw us at the Howard Progress Association. A well conducted meeting and residents thankful for improved communication with and the activities of Council locally. Several questions were raised including queries about entrance signs, rating categories, mulch surviving the wet weather etc. Information was provided to the president in the following days in response and I wish to congratulate the residents on their progressive attitude and for their hard work in raising funds for their local community. Council is hoping to use community newsletters such as the highly successful Burrum River News to improve its communication with residents across the region. But don’t forget to subscribe to the Council enews also.

Meet the candiates Tuesday evening saw a poor turnout to listen to all the Federal candidates for Hinkler at USQ. I was impressed and surprised with the Greens candidate who was articulate and down to earth sensible. I was upset with the Family First candidate whose grasp on what it means to be a ‘non  traditional family’ left me cold. He simply recited a series of beliefs with no evidence of how the Family First party would ever be able to implement any of their policies. I was a single mum for a time and have children who survived bumpy patches but are now living successful lives so I don’t enjoy hearing my own family being labelled as somehow insufficient or undesirable. Paul and Belinda recited party rhetoric mostly, but I was pleased to hear Belinda speak passionately about issues like abortion and the proposed Aldershot mine. Paul spoke more negatively as per party lines and promised more money for yet more studies….. but he doesn’t seem to be slowing down with age and sounds keen to carry on. I think by the time I reach 70 years of age I will be putting my feet up! Maybe I am slightly biased but I want to hear what politicians can actually do for my neighbours and I, rather than a repeated litany of  how everyone else is terrible and they are the best!

Council meeting and Aldershot Mine

On Wednesday Council did decide to reduce the footpath dining fees as a result of queries from Maryborough based businesses among other things. Council is undertaking drainage works on the Hervey Bay foreshore and a long list of resolutions to be discussed at the upcoming LGAQ Confernece were discussed. All the minutes are available on the Council web site so feel free to check them out for more details.

I attended the AADAM meeting in Aldershot on Wednesday evening and yet again was totally impressed with the hard work being undertaken by the residents to demonstrate the negative impacts of the proposed coal mine on their back doorstep. A very progfessional and sobering DVD has been made and I expect that the group will pop it up onto facebook for everyone to see. I can’t see enough economic benefit to our region to support this mine. Jobs will be few and far between for locals and at what cost? The proximity of the site to Aldershot and the RAMSAR listed Great Sandy Strait and the wonderful natural ecosystems found on the site combine to make one wonder if any corner of our planet will be preserved and saved from the hungry jaws of the mining machines and the need for more of us.

A night at the Opera

Graham and I attended The Merry Widow at the Brolga on Wednesday evening. This Opera Queensland performance with a live orchestra was superb. The Opera was in English which made it very easy to follow the story and the beautiful costumes and staging complimented an entirely talented cast. Well done to all the sponsors and our Governments for enabling regional dwellers to experience such a wonderful evening out.

Fishing Zones

Lastly I am receiving a hammering about a comment I made via email to a group of recreational fisher people. My comment was along the lines of the opposition to ‘no fishing zones’ generally speaking but primarily to the focus in this election of fisherpeople saying that they will only vote for the party that promises not to close any areas for fishing.

I tried to argue that I only support closures based on scientific evidence based research, but that I do believe the ocean should be treated like the land and have some areas preserved or kept free of fishing like we do on land by way of National Parks. My inbox lit up with an influx of passionate opinions against anything that stops recreational fisher people from fishing. This disappointed me and I do believe there are many fisher people out there that can see the benefit of protecting some areas of our waterways into the future.  This morning as I walked my beach I saw 18 boats out on the water. When I moved here 13 odd years ago there would probably have been less boats. If in another 10 years there are 40 odd boats and so on and so on, how will we ever find fish to catch? But some recreational fisher people tell me that there would be heaps of fish for them if the Commercial fishers were more restricted. I don’t agree with this argument entirely. I believe we all should take responsibility and demand our governments undertake proper research and listen to the locals about their experiences. Only then can we make informed and sensible decisions to ensure the ocean is full of fish for generations to come.

The sun is shining it is too nice to be stuck inside so enjoy your weekend and maybe I will see you at the Walk Against Warming tomorrow. Cheers, Sue

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Sue Brooks August 8th, 2010

The PCYC remains in the news and I wonder to what purpose. If the media wanted to assist the community to gain a better facility that better meets the needs of our community, I believe it would be better spending its time reporting on how we are managing to achieve this outcome. More and more I believe the media plays such a negative role that our community becomes hard pressed to ever believe that our Council really is here to try and make all our lives better not worse.

Yes the media has a role to play in exposing wrong doing and accurately informing us of what is happening within our wider community but I do wish it would spend more time on helping us do things better than just pointing the finger. Yes mistakes have more than likely occurred in the past but there are many, many hard working people now intently planning a sensible way forward and putting procedures in place to ensure that similar fire compliance related issues don’t occur in the future. I’d also like to mention that I believe at no time has anyone ever been at risk within the PCYC. The building is very fire safe and while it does require improved warning systems and extraction systems etc as per regulations for some activities it has not ever been a place where lives were at any greater risk than any other public building. Also Council was well underway to resolving the situation, (as demonstrated by Council meeting minutes of several weeks ago), so that all activities could remain at PCYC and I don’t believe the media stories have helped this process.

So to this week. We have an Ordinary Meeting this Wednesday with matters to be decided including -

Minutes from previous committee meetings including the Audit Committee. Officers reports include items pertaining to the LGAQ Conference motions. This is a long report as it lists all the motions that Regional Governments want to pursue and these motions are voted on at the conference. Also we decide on whether the issue of Councillor leave should be raised with the Local Government Renumeration Tribunal and we decide on taking National Sea Change Taskforce recommendations to the candidates for the Federal Election.

The confidential items include 3 contracts involving supply of trucks and the Yerra Bridge works and also information pertaining to the proposed Library expansion in Hervey Bay.

We have a Community and Development Meeting on Wednesday following the Ordinary Meeting with items concerning necessary drainage works that will disturb Hervey Bay foreshore vegetation. New pipes are needed to replace old and failing pipes and as much as I detest seeing trees removed to facilitate such work I see no other solution. Revegetation will occur after the works are completed.

Council will receive updates on the recent Structure Planning Projects and Local Heritage Register and we will receive information about Crediting of public park and community land infrastructure contributions as related to the Hervey Bay Planning Scheme Policy Number 4.

In confidential we will discuss Proposed Amenity and Aesthetic considerations for resiting dwellings as well as a legal matter involving a shed on vacant land. Just a reminder that any decisions made on these matters are voted on in the public open session of Council and decisions are minuted publicly.

Lastly to some non Council issues. I have my new ipad and love it. I’m still learning about all the things I can use it for and how to operate it but is is such a joy to be able to sit on my sunny verandah and update this web site for instance. The Whale Festival was held yesterday and from what I witnessed everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. Council will welcome feedback so that we can continue to improve the festival.

I sadly notice the smoke filled skies as yet again Fraser Island burns. I don’t think that Fraser Island needs anywhere near the amount of burning carried out as happens. What a sad sight to see hazy smoke filled smelly skies from the decks of our whale watch fleet!

And very lastly… PLEASE use the Council web site and Have Your Say. Currently Council wants to know what you think about several issues. Be assured that the development and business related communities will be having their say so do please take the time to voice your feelings on very important issues that will decide the future look and feel of this region. Maybe comment on things such as … Do you want/don’t want parking metres, more/less billboards, advertising on bus stops, high rise or not, more or less development alongside the coast etc, etc. All these issues are up for grabs as we develop and grow so please take the time to contribute a few sentences so that I’m confident that my decisions at Council truly reflect what you, our general resident community, desire.

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Sue Brooks July 30th, 2010

The headlines in The Chronicle while highlighting an issue, could be somewhat misleading. Council has been working closely with PCYC management and the Fire Services to ensure that any necessary fire safety related issues are dealt with in an efficient and timely manner. As the building owner Council must ensure that legislation is adhered to and it goes without saying that everyone has the safety of PCYC users as their first priority.

For background – Council owns the land and the building and PCYC leases the facility from Council. Fire safety issues relate to the differing uses of, and types of, buildings. Sport related uses are classified differently to non sport related uses by fire safety related legislation.

Council together with the PCYC does want to extend the building for a much deserved third court so Council is keen to ensure that the building is safe and that it complies with requirements now and into the future.

I look forward to the third court being built.  The resolution copied below from the Council website outlines the requirements needed to ensure that ALL functions in the centre can continue. Sport and non sport activities. The main point that I personally want to make is that as building owner, I believe Council does have a moral as well as a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of all users of the building.

Could I also draw attention to the fact that while this matter was discussed in the confidential section of the Council meeting the outcome of this matter is voted on and clearly outlined publicly and openly. Minutes also show how all the Councillors voted.

http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=f1006dfe-5a00-4df4-a3b7-b608a2389099&groupId=12430

(Any formatting errors below are mine as copying sometimes muddles text)

RESOLUTION

Remove locks to the gates on the awning side of the PCYC building and replace with single release action hardware;

Demolish the illegal pergola structure located at the northern aspect of the building; and Remove the roller door from the first floor stairwell;

3. Council advises the PCYC that to enable the continuation of non-sports related activities the PCYC is required to implement the following:

Install a temporary auditory warning system that could be used in the event of an emergency to instruct occupants to evacuate the building;

Ensure an appropriate number of trained fire wardens are onsite during times of peak occupancy and special events;

Undertake pressure testing on existing hydrant system to ensure that adequate levels of water pressure are available in the event of an emergency;

Engage QFRS for 1-off events, emergency evacuation and fire fighting;

Ensure good housekeeping of the venue;

5. Upon finalisation of point 4. above, forward a report to Council recommending a suitable solution.

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Sue Brooks July 25th, 2010

I’m continually amazed at the reach of the internet these days as I have received numerous responses in response to the media coverage of the anti circus animals discussion that we have had in Council recently. The responses have come from as far away as India!

Briefly.. Council received a request from the RSPCA to consider banning circuses that use exotic animals to perform and Council has considered this proposal twice. The first time we discussed the request we asked that the LGAQ take the issue to the State to try and resolve the issue at the State level but we also asked for a definition of what was meant by the word exotic. During the debate in Council I felt that not all Councillors thought banning circuses that use exotic animals was supported although many questions were asked. The second follow up report dealt with options to Councillors including a suggested group of animals to be banned. The animals included lions, tigers, elephants and monkeys as I recall. The term exotic animal actually refers to animals not native to Australia so many dog and bird breeds etc could be called exotic.

I moved that we accept the report after clarifying that the way to actually ban circus animals was by way of a Local Law. As Council is rapidly approaching the time to adopt new Local Laws I felt that this process would give the community the option to have ‘their say’ and this is what will now happen.

Personally I believe no animal should be used purely for human entertainment. I don’t enjoy watching an animal perform for people and although I think that the polar bears at Seaworld and the dolphins there are very well cared for I don’t place them in the same category as circus animals. Zoos and places that house animals like Seaworld and Dreamworld are now very aware of the emotional and social needs of the animals under their care and cater for these needs. They also ensure the animals receive appropriate health care and good nutrition and undertake carefully managed breeding programmes. I am quite certain that circus animals receive that same level of care.

Now I’m talking about lions, tigers and elephants rather than dogs or little piglets etc but I prefer to be entertained by clever performers of the human variety when I pay to go to a circus and Circus Oz and Cirque du Soliel are excellent examples of this type of entertainment. I don’t like rodeos or bull fighting either but I acknowledge that not everyone shares my views. I recently spoke to a woman who works near the Sunshine Coast in an office that overlooks a paddock. Some time ago a circus came to town and the paddock became the home of the circus elephant. The woma said she was nearly at the point of taking leave as it saddened her so much to have to watch the elephant chained up and swaying from side to side all day long. This woman did not think this particular solitary elephant was a contented and happy elephant!

So it is over to you the community. Please do have your say and when the new Local Laws come out for public consultation do use your voice and let Council know what you think. I expect that the Laws will be available for comment later this year. I hope that our community supports a ban on the few circuses left in Australia that use animals to boost their income. Children should see animals in a more natural environment not jumping through hoops in my opinion!

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Sue Brooks July 23rd, 2010

I sometimes worry how perception and generalisations colour our thinking. The Chronicle front page headline today screams ‘Secret Council’. The only justification that I then read about why Council is so secret is the number of items dealt with in the closed or confidential sessions of our Council meetings versus the number of issues dealt with in the public or open section of our meetings. No analysis has been done to examine the content of the agenda items or to explain why these items are dealt with confidentially.

Council is required by Law, Law not of Council’s making but rather Law made by the Queensland State Government, to deal with certain matters confidentially. If we don’t abide by the Law our Council could face serious consequences. While I don’t always agree with all the Laws that I have to abide by, I respect the fact that I should abide by them and I believe the FCRC does a good job of abiding by the Law.

Sometimes I, or a fellow Councillor, has questioned why a particular report is listed within the confidential section of the agenda. On making enquiries we either agree that the item should remain there or we ask that it be moved into the open and public section of Council. This has happened and will continue to happen. Also it is to be remebered that any decisions made as a result of a confidential report are made in the public and open part of the meetings and these decisions are on the public record including the Councillors voting.

I’m saddened by the general inference that our Council is secretive and would prefer that any focus on the openness of Council is done by examining the actual content of reports and items discussed not just on the number of reports. Human nature is such that we prefer to know everything about everything all of the time and we don’t appreciate secrecy. I understand that it is unpleasant to know someone is dealing with an issue behind closed doors as our inquisitive nature automatically leads us to wanting to know who said what and what was said. Even if the private meeting was as boring as the proverbial we would still feel a need to know about it simply because we aren’t included.

Councillors also have a very important responsibility to keep confidential matters confidential. It is a breach of the Local Government Act to talk about confidential discussions and with the new Local Government Act now in force, there is the possibility of an individual Councillor being stood down rather than an entire Council. I expect that one of the reasons that a Councillor could be required to leave office would be for breaching the Local Governmant Act.

I have copied the section from the Local Government (Operations) Regulation 2010 which outlines the issues frequently dealt with by Council confidentially-

71 Meetings in public unless otherwise resolved

A meeting is open to the public unless the local government or

committee has resolved that the meeting is to be closed under

section 72.

72 Closed meetings

(1) A local government or committee may resolve that a meeting

be closed to the public if its councillors or members consider

it necessary to close the meeting to discuss—

(a) the appointment, dismissal or discipline of employees;

or

(b) industrial matters affecting employees; or(c) the local government’s budget; or

(d) rating concessions; or

(e) contracts proposed to be made by it; or

(f) starting or defending legal proceedings involving it; or

(g) any action to be taken by the local government under the

Planning Act, including deciding applications made to it

under that Act; or

(h) other business for which a public discussion would be

likely to prejudice the interests of the local government

or someone else, or enable a person to gain a financial

advantage.

(2) However, a local government or committee can not resolve

that a meeting be closed to the public if any person is to take

part in the meeting by teleconferencing.

(3) A resolution that a meeting be closed must state the nature of

the matters to be considered while the meeting is closed.

(4) A local government or committee must not make a resolution

(other than a procedural resolution) in a closed meeting.

So these are the types of issues that we deal with privately. If there is anything listed on the Council agenda for discussion privately please do ask for clarification if you believe the item should not be dealt with confidentially and I will endeavour to clarify the reasons.

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Sue Brooks July 16th, 2010

Well this week saw the first time that the FCRC conducted two formal Council meetings under the new committee structure, on the one day. The first meeting was our Ordinary Meeting where we ratified the minutes from the Environment and Infrastructure Committee meeting and then we held the first Community and Development Committee Meeting. A long day broken up by the enjoyable presentation of the Ergon Tidy Towns awards for our region.

So to the outcomes. Council decided to acknowledge that the sensible way forward in relation to making a decision on circus animals is to include the issue as part of the upcoming Local Laws review. The ‘new’ Laws do go out for public consultation so it will provide an opportunity for our community to contribute feedback on this issue. Meanwhile we are asking the LGAQ to progress the issue at a state wide level.

The Volunteer Propagators will be relocated within the Botanic Gardens grounds to a new area where they can continue their good works at growing local plants and trees for public use. The loss of two trees to facilitate the move is sad but the trees will be replaced with new, and double the number, of  trees.

Council heard from some concerned residents unhappy about the way the Environmental Levy has changed under the new budget. They voiced concerns that the Levy was not now used for the purchase of land even though it had been raised to $25 a property. They are also concerned that there is no money earmarked for land purchase in the next 10 years. I personally don’t agree with the rise in the cost of the Levy as well as the changed focus of it and voiced my opinion (as minuted) when Council adopted the budget.

Council voted together on all the other items that we dealt with apart from the request via the UDIA to extend the discount period for infrastructure charges. While I was hesitant but supportive of a roll in phase and discount period so that developers had time to adjust to the new charges, I don’t agree that they should be given extended discounts. I voted against giving the extension of time as I believe the entire community cannot afford to lose the revenue that won’t be collected and the entire community will have to bear the costs of providing the needed infrastructure in the future.

Council did agree to provide discounts to two other projects under the current policy. Council also discussed the proposed St Stephens hospital building in Hervey Bay and I was saddened to see in the Chronicle today, a front page story about this project, apparently quoting from two Councillors. The discussion was held in confidential as per the LGA guidelines, due to the commercial nature of this development. I am not sure the Directors of the Board of Uniting Care Health will be very impressed with the resulting media speculation.

Feel free to peruse the agenda’s and minutes of the Council meetings on the Council web site and while you are there don’t forget to join up to receive the free and easy to get, electronic enews. If you want to keep in touch with all things Council this is a quick and easy and painless way to do it.

Lastly the 5 baby Guinea Fowl are thriving and are now over 2 weeks old. I have been offered a new home for them on a 10 acre property so in another 2 weeks they should be ready to go. I am sure they will enjoy their new lives where there are already some Guinea’s in residence.

5 baby guineas 2 weeks old

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Sue Brooks July 9th, 2010

Well our first Environment and Infrastructure meeting has come and gone. The main items dealt with on Wednesday include advice from staff that at least two traffic bridges in the Western parts of our region require major repairs which will cost approx $800k to $1mil per bridge. The bridges are old and require major surgery and although Tiaro had budgetted approx $500k prior to amalgamation, and were intending to match the funds the following year, we are still short on the amounts needed. It is expected the funds will have to come from the roads budget.

Drainage problems that impact on Eurong second valley properties was discussed and Councillors asked staff for a formal report on the situation and how it can be resolved. I don’t believe any property owner should suffer water inundation that is directed to their property via a road. Roads should alleviate or improve if possible, flood imunity for property owners although natural overland water flows will still occur. Flooding is a constant issue in many parts of our region and I do wish that engineering and planning decisions made in the past had been done more efficiently.

Councillors had a long debate about Xavier College using a Council public park for car parking in Endeavour Way, Eli Waters. I argued as strongly as I could that the situation be allowed to continue only for the remainder of this year and that the school ensure it can accomodate its parking needs on its own land prior to the start of the 2011 school year. I lost the argument however as Cr O’Connell thought the school should be able to use our public land for the next 12 months. I believe this is unfair to our residents and sets a dangerous precedent. Council controlled parklands should not, in my opinion, be given over to car parking for non public park related uses. Contrary to what is reported in the Chronicle today Council will need to fund the upkeep of this ‘car park’ for the next 12 months as the school does not have to contribute financially. The sad thing is that schools generate heaps of traffic and I don’t believe they are planned well enough to cope with this traffic.

We also decided to relocate 7 big fig trees to the seafront oval and one to Maryborough. The trees were ordered several years ago by HBCC for our entrance to the city but now there are constraints on that side of the highway so we thought we had best use the trees elsewhere. They are expensive and all the Councillors were concerned about the costs to plant them. Staff have been asked to find a cheaper way to actually plant the trees.

Councillors also supported the adoption of a policy which outlines a straightforward approach to rehabilitating and preserving natural areas. The policy will ensure a whole of Council approach to restoring disturbed land and preserving our precious valuable natural environment.

Councillors also supported the move to form an airport users group to discuss landing fees and other management and operational related issues. I believe with improved consultation we can improve the way our airports are managed.

Cr O’Connell has stated in the paper today that he will support a move to extend the discount period to developers next week. At this stage I won’t be inclined to support him. I believe the discount does place a direct burden on the rate payers as the funds discounted are going to have to be replaced via general rates and/or fees and charges. While I agree that the development industry is a key economic driver within Hervey Bay especially, there is a limit to how much costs our community can bare and an extension to the discount, I believe, places an unfair burden directly on our entire community who ends up funding the badly needed supporting infrastructure.

Don’t forget to Have Your Say about our future as per our 2031 Community Planning process. If we don’t have a say I believe we don’t have a right to complain later…… Deatils are available via the Council web site. Cheers, Sue

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