sue July 28th, 2008
Just to set the record straight I spoke to no one last night or yesterday from the media re my Internet site or Facebook account etc. Interesting how I am quoted on the front page of todays local Chronicle. Total surprise to me but yes I like the Internet and enjoy the online world and the way in which it allows us all to interact quickly and accurately with everyone.
sue July 25th, 2008
This is the Media Release (below) in response to the Courier Mail article today. I now drive a Prius. If I didn’t drive a Council provided car then Council would have to reimburse me for my work related use of my own car. It was explained to me that this would end up costing more than a Council provided car does. I now have to reimburse Council for the private kilometres that I do in the Prius and keep a daily log book.
I am very aware of the attention that our cars are causing and I am concerned about the continued focus on them. The previous HBCC - CEO 4WD was sold for a profit. The deals done by Council (and most other large organisations who operate fleet vehicles) directly with car dealers, means that we purchase vehicles at rates not available to you and I individually. I personally worry about the cost of all of us driving around everywhere as now we are doing many more kilometres than we did previously, but unless someone can offer a solution, I believe our Council is headed down a path of responsible fleet management with an aim of reducing the size and number of vehicles. Council does need some 4WD vehicles as we need to be able to travel on Fraser Island to service our responsibilities there.
There are a number of inaccuracies in the Courier Mail article, 25/07/08, on the vehicle supplied to the Chief Executive Officer Andrew Brien.
1: The vehicle is available for other staff to use. The Director of External Services, Ron Smith, who manages the fleet on behalf of Council said that the motor vehicle policy states very clearly that: all vehicles are made available for Council business.
2: Under his employment package Mr Brien is entitled to a Holden Statesman Caprice or similar prestige style vehicle or as otherwise negotiated. The vehicle chosen for Mr Brien is a Toyota Prado Grande, said Mr Smith. This vehicle fits our fleet and operation needs as well as those of the CEO.
3: The DVD player and other fittings were offered by the dealer, and are options on the vehicle. The motor vehicle policy provides details of other “non-standard” options that are fitted to a range of Council vehicles.
4: Mr Brien salary sacrifices $22,000 a year for private use of this vehicle.
5: Mr Brien was not stood down in October 2006 while two independent investigations were conducted and reinstated the next month. The Tiaro Council did suspend Mr Brien. Subsequently there was a CMC investigation into the Council’s actions, not Mr Brien. The CMC directed that the Council re-instate Mr Brien.
6: Rates within the Fraser Coast regional Council have not risen an average of 10 percent and in some cases up to 13 percent as stated in the article. The rates rise was in fact an average of 7 percent.
7: The Director of External Services, Ron Smith, manages the fleet on behalf of Council. Fleet is managed as a NCP compliant business activity. Vehicles are selected that provide the best financial return to Council while containing operating costs. The Council is mindful of rising operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions and is moving towards vehicles that achieve its operational needs while reducing fuel costs and emissions.
8: The Director of External Services ordered the vehicle in March to replace the vehicle used by the interim CEO to take advantage of beneficial sales offers on the existing vehicle. It was to be passed to the new CEO, no matter who was appointed to the position.
sue July 20th, 2008
I am pleased that Council has adopted an Environment Levy. I would personally have preferred the Levy to be $15 but I understand that the cost of living is rising rapidly and that 3 out of the 4 newly amalgamated Councils didn’t previously have such a Levy.
Now I think it is time to focus on the implementation of our programmes and the building of necessary infrastructure to ensure we achieve the targets we have outlined within this budget. I believe we have challenges ahead and I appreciate comments and advice about how we can improve the way we do the things we do.
I will add some new categories to this blog to make it easier for people to post a comment on something other than current discussions.
I have included below my words to Council when speaking in favour of the motion to adopt our budget with the $10 Environment Levy.
“I am personally very sad to see the Environment Levy reduced to $10. While I understand that this budget has been a great challenge and that we are all concerned about rising costs and the overall rising cost of living, $10 a year is a very, very small amount of money.
Our natural environment and our beautiful climate, I believe, are the main reason why many of us choose to live here and why we are the happiest region in Australia. I believe our Natural Environment is our biggest assest but our human activities often negatively impact on this most precious natural resource.
When I look to the detail within this budget we are raising over $65 million to spend on Capital Works. With a $10 Environment Levy we will raise just $454,390. Last year in Hervey Bay 56 hectares of land was purchased via funds raised by the Environment Levy there. This valuable land is now owned by the entire Fraser Coast community. An extremely positive outcome for our regional community I believe.
While I would personally much prefer that the Environment Levy could be levied at a higher amount I am very thankful that Council is retaining an Environment Levy within this complex budget.
I am confident that the funds raised via this Environmental Levy will be put to excellent use and be of great benefit to our region”.
sue July 8th, 2008
Subject: HOW MUCH IS OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WORTH?
Fraser Coast residents are taking an active role in protecting the environment.
They could take a bigger role, Fraser Coast Regional Council Environmental Sustainability Portfolio Chairman, Councillor Sue Brooks said.
The Fraser Coast Regional Council is considering whether to continue the Environment Levy introduced by the former Hervey Bay City Council across all properties in our new larger region.
Councillor Brooks said that the $25 levy introduced by the ‘old’ Hervey Bay City Council was used to buy over 56 hectares of environmentally sensitive land which is now protected from development.
“The levy, equal to 50 cents a week for a ratepayer, was used to buy three large blocks of land at Booral. These blocks are thickly covered in natural vegetation and will assist in linking areas that are known koala habitat,” Councillor Brooks said.
“I expect in the future carbon credits obtained from this land will be of financial benefit to the entire Fraser Coast community.”
Cr Brooks said an Environment Levy allowed the Council to place ratepayers’ investment directly into land within the community.
“This land becomes your land. You directly assist in preserving our local biodiversity by protecting our natural areas from development,” she said.
“I hope that residents from our new regional area embrace the benefits of this levy and I encourage them to contact Councillors to let us know how they feel” Councillor Brooks said.
“We need to know now because the budget could be adopted next week (July 16).
“I also want to know if residents have other ideas and suggestions on how to best use funds generated by an Environmental Levy.
“The levy has nothing to do with rubbish collection or waste management. It is totally focussed on preserving our natural environment which is under increasing threat from development.”
“I am very mindful that the cost of living continues to rise but I truly believe that 50cents a week is a small sacrifice for each of us and results in enormous benefits for our region.”
Councillor Brooks believes that retaining the levy across our new region is very important and wants to hear from residents before the budget is decided next week.
Councillor Sue Brooks can be contacted by email at sue.brooks@frasercoast.qld.gov.au or on her blog http://suebrooks.com.au.
STOP PRESS
Some clarification may be needed. The decision about how to use an Environment Levy, including where to purchase any land in the future, will be made by the FCRC Councillors. There are more non Hervey Bay resident Councillors on the FCRC than Hervey Bay resident Councillors and I am very sure that any decision on Environment Levy expenditure will be made according to where the greatest need is. After all the Councillors now represent our entire region not just specific areas within our region. I definitely don’t expect that the money will necessarily be spent in Hervey Bay. Our natural environment doesn’t have ‘borders’ and some of our most vulnerable natural areas have been identified as being outside of the ‘old’ Hervey Bay Local Government Area.
Thanks, Sue
sue July 7th, 2008
Just a quick note to clarify the story in the Chronicle on Saturday. I have not ’backed’ any group of people in any ‘opposition’ against any development since I have been elected to Council. I always offer advice and assistance to anyone asking me how to write a submission either against or for a development. A Councillor can not pre-judge a Development Application. I take my responsibility seriously and I make decisions on reports received by Council which are assessed against the Planning Scheme. No decision can be based on personal likes or dislikes but MUST be based on Planning Scheme criteria. My comments as a resident quoted at the end of the article are correct and made in general terms. Cheers, Sue