This week in Council – June 17th 2009

Sue Brooks June 18th, 2009

This morning Council held a Special Meeting to debate the implementation of the Infrastructure Charges Policy. Without getting technical the Policy was adopted with roll in provisions and with the commitment to review the policy within 3 months to ensure any necessary adjustments are identified and adjusted if and where necessary.

Councillors Hawes, McNeven, Harris and Hovard along with the Mayor Cr Kruger and myself voted in support of the policy with Councillors Dalgleish, Muckan, O’Connell and Arthur voting against it. Cr Nioa was absent due to ill health.

Now next week we have the budget to bring down and then hopefully a rest from making such far reaching and important decisions for a few days!

Council briefs media release follows with my underlining!

Briefs – Fraser Coast Regional Council meeting held Wednesday 17 June 2009

 Petitions

Councillor Sue Brooks presented a 412-signature petition from the Burrum Heads Progress Association asking the Council to carry out work to prevent foreshore erosion from Dudley Street eastwards. The petitioners said erosion was occurring at an alarming rate.

 Environmental Advisory Committee report

The Council approved a report from its Environmental Advisory Committee. Chairperson Councillor Sue Brooks said the committee was investigating the recycling of light globes containing mercury. In its report the committee asked the Council to investigate the implementation of sustainable herbicide Fulvic Acid for use in the region’s public places and strongly recommended that the Council retain the Environment Levy, at least at its current value, in the upcoming budget.

 Hervey Bay Community Trust wound up

 The Council agreed to wind up the Hervey Bay Community Trust and transfer all its funds to the Council for the Fraser Coast Cultural Trust. The amount of $10,000 allocated in the 2008/09 budget for the Hervey Bay Community Trust will also be transferred. The Hervey Bay Community Trust resolved to wind up on its meeting held on 5 May 2009.

 Transition Action Plan signed off

 The final Transition Action Plan (TAP) Status Report was approved by the Council.  The 15-plus volume plan, which was developed before amalgamation by the Local Transition Committee and adopted by the new Regional Council on 16 April 2008, detailed all the procedures necessary to amalgamate the four former Councils into the single Regional Council. The adoption of the final TAP status report signifies that the completion of the initial phase of the transition.

 Regional Development Australia Committee nominations

 The Council will nominate CEO Andrew Brien and Councillor Gerard O’Connell for the new Regional Development Australia (RDA) Committee which supersedes the 12 Australian Government area Consultative committees in Queensland. The role of RDA is to advance regional priorities and retain jobs. It will have a broader, more strategic role than the previous Area Consultative Committee to facilitate effective engagement between government and regional communities and responsiveness to local needs.

The 10-member RDA Wide Bay Burnett Committee will represent the broad interest of the Wide Bay region and provide advice to the Australian and Queensland Governments. Committee appointments will be for either two or four years.

 Nomination of Mayor to National Sea Change Task Force

 The Council nominated the Deputy Mayor Belinda McNeven for election as the Queensland representative on the National Sea Change Taskforce Committee of Management for the 2009-2011 term. The National Sea Change Task Force provides national leadership in addressing the impact of the sea change phenomenon and provides support and guidance to coastal Councils attempting to manage the impact of rapid growth.

 Special Council budget meeting

 A special meeting will be held in Maryborough’s City Hall Council Chamber on Friday 26 June for the adoption of the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s 2009/10 budget.

One Response to “This week in Council – June 17th 2009”

  1. # Sadmanon 18 Jun 2009 at 7:45 am

    Sue,
    While I have a great deal of sympathy with those living at
    Burrum Heads. I believe their request for council to do
    work to prevent foreshore erosion should be rejected.
    Erosion by the sea is a natural event. Even King Cunute
    could not stop the waves.

    If council agrees this would set a precident and council has
    a lot of foreshore under it’s jurisdiction. Rates would have
    to double or treble if erosion became a council responsibilty.

    Next council will be asked to foot the costs of floods, hail
    damage, lightning strikes, birds craping your car etc.
    Sorry Sue, it’s just not on.

    Sadman

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