Sue Brooks April 22nd, 2010

Firstly I must apologise for anyone needing an email or phone response from me. This week, and most of last week, has been wall to wall meetings and functions and I’m very behind in answering email and phone calls. Tomorrow is a no meeting day (yippee) so I plan to catch up.

This week Council accepted the reports from the Economic Development Advisory Committee and Maryborough Urban Renewal Reference Group.  The economic development group want to progress a conference type centre in Hervey Bay and will form a smaller group to help progress this.

Council received the Financial report for March which included a list of budget revisions. I decided to vote against this report as I don’t agree with the $500k transfer from reserves for employee costs. Council also received our amended operational plan and a quarterly report on implementation of our Corp Plan and Operational plans which is a good document to read in terms of understanding all the things that Council does and how well we are achieving our aims etc.

Council ratified ‘generally’ the recently amended seafront oval concept master plan which includes the currently being installed All Abilities Playground. This is being constructed where the temporary fencing is currently located.

We also approved our own application to extend the Tavistock complex to incorporate more space for staff and storage. We scaled back the project so the extra space will not be used to provide office space for Councillors or a new Council Chamber. Space in the building was an issue prior to amalgamation and is an even bigger problem now.

Councillor Dalgleish moved a motion to repeal or rescind the decision made at the meeting last week in relation to the tenders for the management of some of the Council owned cravan parks. Cr Muckan seconded this motion and after much debate the recision motion was lost. Councillors against the motion to rescind included myself, Crs Hawes, McNeven, Hovard and Arthur with the remaining Councillors voting for. The Mayor didn’t have a casting vote as per the LGA, so the motion was lost. I am glad that the tenders can now be finalised as per the decision made last week.

In the confidential session of the meeting decisions were made in relation to Council controlled land and options for the ‘structure’ of Council now that the Director of Development Services position is vacant.

The most newsworthy item I have left for last and involves the future upgrading of the Maryborough Swimming Complex. Council has committed to a budget and included plans to retain a 50m length pool within the upgrades. I fully supported this unanimous decision as it was clear that the community strongly values a 50m pool and I’m pleased that we can support their wishes. In the newspaper today there was part of a quote I read out at the meeting that I thought was interesting in light of the debate about the pool. So I will conclude this post with the quote by Shane Gould….

I think lap swimming is done by many, many people other than dedicated Olympic or competitive swimmers so I don’t fully agree with Shane but I do think her comments are food for thought. I wish there was more land available at the complex to allow more variation in the eventual outcome. Cheers, Sue

ORDINARY Aussie swimmers are being forced into “boring” pools for the benefit of an elite few, says triple Olympic gold medallist Shane Gould.

Gould said Australia’s public pools were boring rectangular boxes because they were built for those “copying” the Olympics.

“Unfortunately, for most of the population, swimming for nationalistic projects is preventing more use of swimming pools,” she said.

“The reason this sort of pool is designed this way is to find and nurture the golden fish . . . I was a golden fish. Lap swimmers are just copying what the Olympic model prescribes.”

Speaking at an event in Melbourne yesterday, she said only 40 Australian swimmers went to the Olympics every four years.

“While that’s the peak experience of a swimmer’s career, why should everyone else pay for it?” she said. “Rather than modelling it on competitive swimming, model it on everyday swimming.”

Gould said instead of pools being rectangular boxes divided into lanes with ropes and black lines, they should be built to mimic nature, with uneven surfaces, curved, muddy edges, overhangs and moving waters.

This would make swimming pools more interesting and multi-purpose, helping people to swim confidently in natural environments, where most drownings occur.

http://www.news.com.au/national/shane-gould-slams-boring-olympic-pools/story-e6frfkvr-1225852990667

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Sue Brooks April 19th, 2010

Council life has been very busy this last week so my comments are really old news. At the Planning and Development meeting last Wednesday Council rejected an application to develop land adjacent Anson’s Rd, Dundowran Beach. Main Roads had directed Council to reject the proposed development due to impacts on that road network but I was pleased with the Council decision none the less. I believed the application was over development for this area and the fact that Council received over 250 submissions asking Council to say ‘no’ demonstrates the strong community feelings against the development.

Other news from the meeting includes -

Town Planning report for March 14 April 2010

During March 2010, 82 Town Planning applications were received and 86 applications finalised. They included – 

• 39 Material Change of Use
• 9   Reconfiguring a lot
• 3   Combined applications
• 21 Operational works
• 3   Building under planning scheme
• 8   Negotiated decisions/changes/extensions
• 3   Compliance assessments

 The total number of applications since 1 July 2009 is 584.

Telecommunication towers approved

Approval, subject to conditions, was given to the erection of two telecommunications facilities by Optus Mobile Pty Ltd  – one at 612-646 River Heads Road, River Heads and the other at Lot 915 Poona Road, Poona. Consideration was given to the visual impact and the proximity of the facilities to existing residences and park residential land.

 Council defers its building extension application

An application by the Fraser Coast Regional Council for a Development Permit to extend its Tavistock Street administration centre in Hervey Bay was deferred to the next Council meeting for consideration so that the Development Services staff could review amended plans that had recently been submitted and provide an amended report to Council for its consideration.

Consultation process under way for Hervey Bay Structure Planning Projects

A series of stakeholder and public meetings were held this week as part of the consultation process for the Hervey Bay Structure Planning Projects. The plans apply to two areas zoned “Emerging Communities” in the Hervey Bay Planning Scheme that are identified as follows –

• The Eli Waters/Dundowran Structure Plan Area;
• The Doolong Flats/Ghost Hill and Kawungan Northeast/Main Street Structure Plan Area.

Both meetings were well attended and provided positive and valuable feedback for the projects.

Submission lodged to LGAQ Public Enquiry on the need for a State Population Policy

The Fraser Coast Regional Council has lodged a submission to the LGAQ Public Inquiry on the need for a State Population Policy.

The submission outlines the challenges faced in the Fraser Coast Region and asks that consideration be given to a number of matters including –

• The ability to accommodate population growth in a sustained manner, taking into consideration Wide Bay Burnett’s demographic profile that highlights an increasing aged population, accompanied by identified disadvantage in terms of productivity levels, household income and unemployment. Wide Bay Burnett’s population is projected to increase by 137,000 by 2031;
• The region’s natural birth rate is below replacement rates so migration to the region of the appropriate age groups needs to be encouraged;
• The disproportionate number of aged people residing within the Fraser Coast and its effect on the provision of suitable infrastructure, specific transport requirements, health, housing and other support services;
• The percentage of the population that is transient;
• Population distribution within the Fraser Coast Region;
• The need to attract young families to the region and keep them here;
• The need for further industry, education and health services and the relocation of government services to regional areas;
• The effects from the loss of state government subsidies.

The full submission can be accessed in the Planning and Development Committee meeting agenda for 14 April 2010 on the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s website- www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au

Change of date for Burrum Heads community briefing

The Council’s community briefing that was to be held on 24 May at the Burrum Heads Community Hall has been deferred to 31 May to allow Councillors and staff travelling to the Fraser Coast’s Chinese sister city Leshan to attend. The briefing starts at 5.30pm.

 We also received the news that Bundaberg and other Councils didn’t receive any extra funding from the State Government re amalgamation costs. Our Council believed that we would not have qualified for extra funding and the recent State Government decision supports our view.

Lastly there was an item dealt with in confidential relating to the awarding of successful tenders for our beach front caravan parks. The decision on the Scarness and Torquay was made but the Pialba Caravan park tender is to be finalised next week.

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Sue Brooks April 10th, 2010

Last night Graham and I enjoyed the opening of two new exhibitions at the Hervey Bay Regional Gallery. I am continually amazed at the depth of talent that we have here within our very own community and I recommend that you all pop in and view the exhibitions and in particular the works by local artist Mr Ben Gerdsen. http://www.herveybayregionalgallery.org.au/26/Current+Exhibitions/191/Beyond+Decorative

After leaving the Gallery we decided to grab a bite to eat at Thai Diamond at Scarness. It was approx 8.30pm and we were sad to note that many of the restaurants we drove past were all but empty. Retail sellers also are telling us that times are tougher than last year. Our own business has not had as ‘good’ an Easter as we have experienced in past years. I haven’t noticed as many interstate licence plates on cars on our roads either and note that accomodation establishments are reporting that times are tough with higher than desired vacancy rates.

So I ask that if you can possibly afford it please do patronise our local small businesses. While small businesses can tighten the proverbial belt they still have to pay staff, rents and ongoing overheads etc and it is very sad to see businesses fail. By just going out for a meal now and then and spending our hard earned dollars locally we can do our bit to help these businesses survive so that our community continues to thrive and prosper.

So to Council -

STRUCTURE PLANNING

This Monday evening there is a community meeting scheduled to inform interested residents about the Structure Planning process that is being undertaken for land between Dundowran and Eli Waters as well as land at Doolong Flats and Ghost Hill. This planning process is to decide where we want our major connector roads and drains etc to be located when this land is developed. I am very pleased that Council is committed to this process as forward planning our development should mean much better road connectivity and drainage and other service provision than has occurred in some areas in the past. The public meeting is at The Hervey Bay Hotel, 249 Esplanade, Pialba at 6pm. Council has a new web site and more information can be found there rather than me copying it all here. If you visit the web site and click on the Latest News link you should find the detailed information. http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au

Council can now be followed on twitter and I encourage those that don’t want to tweet to sign up for the electronic newsletter. There is much information about Council and many opportunities for community participation so do visit the new web site and have a look around.

Lastly I thought I might take a swing at the petition doing the rounds. I am all for public discussion and public communication but please ‘think before you sign’ may be a worthy motto. The petition currently doing the rounds is calling for Council and the CEO and the administration to be sacked! Now if the petition included evidence and grounds to support the call for a mass sacking I would take it seriously but it doesn’t. I understand people are dissatisfied with Council as I hear the constant pleas for Council to fix everything today and to somehow do this while not putting up rates and fees and charges.

In other words I’m a tiny bit cranky. Council has faced enormous challenge to make the best of a change the majority of us didn’t want. Council is not perfect and we don’t get everything right all of the time but from where I sit things are constantly improving. Customer service has improved, financial management is excellent and I believe the leadership of staff under our CEO is aligned with Councillors  expectations and we are delivering a good standard of service to our community.

I hear moans that we are losing development. Well from reading widely I find that this is the case nation wide and we are in fact better off than many other cities and towns. I definitely won’t be voting to support development that is not of good quality and in line with Planning Scheme requirements as I don’t want cheap low quality inappropriate development within this region. While I support a period of discounting of infrastructure charges to provide a buffer in this tough economic climate, Council cannot comtinue to subsidise development unless we raise rates. At the end of the day someone has to pay for our roads, our rubbish collection and disposal, our drains and our bridges and everything else that the community demands and desires.

I hear calls now in the local paper for more events. Council spends hundreds of thousands of dollars currently on events and tourism related activities and if we are expected to spend more then I ask that someone looks closely at our budget and explains to me where we can take the money from. This is but one example of requests made to Council and I shudder when I think of all the road and footpath works we need to do and the simple lack of funds to dedicate to these works. The State Government has reduced funding which exacerbates our problems.

So Mr Primavera if you want the Council ‘sacked’ can you provide me with some solid evidence that Council is broken and beyond repair please?

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Sue Brooks April 8th, 2010

Just a quick question. When you consider all that Council does from roads to drains, to parks to community services eg libraries and galleries and events and tourism and economic related activities could I pose a quick question. Not forgetting we need staff to provide the services to all of us and a HR dept and and IT dept etc could I ask you to tell me how you would like us to prioritise our spending.

To put it simply. If you have $100 how much of that $100 do you want to see used in which areas? How much on roads, how much on our coast, our community services etc?

Here is an example of one persons ideas..

On salary increase and perks for employees at all levels from

Mayor to street sweeper               $0.00

 On fun parks, water worlds, and ‘tourist attractions’ -               $0.00

(If commercial operators want to attract tourists let them

spend their own dollars not ours.)

 On new better or improved buildings for council meetings          $0.00

 On improving existing drainage, sewerage, and water                             $10.00

 On improvements and maintenance of existing roads                 $20.00

 On provision of footpaths in established areas                          $20.00

 On provision of a better bus service including destinations

Apart from shopping centres during out of shopping hours

And by way of ‘Kango’style door to door flexible service            $5.00

Wherever appropriate.

 On improving parks, libraries, and other existing services           $5.00

 On wages, overheads, and anything I forgot, the remaining       $50.00

$100.00

No contribution by ratepayers to the infrastructure costs

Of commercial undertakings and as little as possible to

New subdivisions.   Let those standing to make profit

Fund the costs of so doing. If they go elsewhere, good.

 No, Karl Marx was no relative.   Just see no reason why

The poor old taxpayer should support developers of

Any kind.  “Creating employment” is the province of

Employers, not taxpayers.  Nor legislators and governments

At any level.

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Sue Brooks April 5th, 2010

I hope everyone has had a restful and pleasant Easter and that the waistline hasn’t taken a pounding as mine has. I am sure I will need a couple of weeks back on the Tony Ferguson programme to make up for the hot cross buns and chocolate that I can’t resist during Easter time.

Annoyingly negativity seems to be still taking centre stage within some sections of our community and the recent publicity about a petition to sack the CEO and sack Councillors currently doing the rounds is upsetting if not somewhat amusing. I’m all for community involvement and raising public awareness about issues but to call for a sacking I would think, would require some evidence about why? This current petition has no basis to back up it’s demands. If it did list some factual reasons as to why Council should be dismissed I would be all ears. Financially we are in a healthy position and we are spending more of our capital works budget this year than we did our first year so from where I sit we are doing OK.  As always there is room for continual improvement but we need to dig down and find out whether community dissatisfaction is based on perception or reality. If there is cause for discontent lets identify it, examine it and analyse  ways to fix it.

Swimming against the tide…..

I’m not sitting on the fence re the pool issue. Rather I support the community in its collective voice about retaining a 50m pool in Maryborough. What I regret, in hindsight, is the way Council approached this issue. Instead of collectively going out to the entire community with several options and associated costings we directed staff to consult with the Swimming Club with the now infamous ‘preferred plan’.

I have read the submission presented to Council via the Swimming Club and look forward to their presentation to us on Wednesday. Publicly I believe it is my duty to await more facts and figures prior to declaring my ‘decision’ on the future pool upgrade. I do unequivocally support the community in its desire to retain a 50m pool. What I fear has been lost in the emotionally charged debate is the ability for us to examine the site and examine best use outcomes for the complex. If the primary reason of the complex is to facilitate 50m training and competitions requiring a 50m length then it stands to reason we retain a 50m facility.

In doing this we will lose some options to introduce other water based options within the grounds. So while we all tend to think traditionally in that a 50m pool is an essential item I was still keen to explore if in these modern day times a 50m pool is still an essential item. It seems that it is, so now we will have to face the reality of a design that incorporates a pool of this size and figure out what else is essential  in terms of upgrading facilities in a way in which we can afford. Maybe firstly the 50m pool and the kiosk and changing rooms and we leave the other 2 pools alone and don’t alter the site plan? Whatever we do decide the final decision will be made based on as much data and as much public input as is possible. Don’t forget to raise $5m is about a $105 levy per rate property across the region.

Many other water based facilities incorporate ‘play’ activities and other water based activities and don’t have the facilities for swimming training. I have heard of many non Bay residents visiting Hervey Bay to try out the water park which has no pool at all. How many families visit ‘pools’ simply for recreation and learning to swim related activities? My daughter enjoyed diving and undertook diving training when we lived in Darwin at one of the pools there. I spent many hours as a child diving off the local springboard and find it very sad that due to safety concerns a diving board has practically become extinct at all public pools! The sad thing for me on visiting the Maryborough site is its small size and the lack of opportunity to be more flexible. The challenge for all of us is to find out how to make the best use of this patch of ground to suit the majority of users. I’m sure that if we work together and listen to each other we can succeed.

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