Comments on: Growing pains! http://suebrooks.com.au/2010/growing-pains/ The Blog of Councillor Sue Brooks, Hervey Bay - Fraser Coast Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:11:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sadman http://suebrooks.com.au/2010/growing-pains/comment-page-1/#comment-1024 Sadman Sun, 17 Jan 2010 22:22:49 +0000 http://suebrooks.com.au/?p=673#comment-1024 Ben, Nice try. "The council was progressing many projects", how many did they finalise? I would suggest this council is "progressing many projects". But it is yet to be seen how many are completed. After all your time in Maryborough Ben, all you can talk of is dreams!!! Sadman Ben,

Nice try. “The council was progressing many projects”, how many did they finalise?

I would suggest this council is “progressing many projects”. But it is yet to be seen how many are completed.

After all your time in Maryborough Ben, all you can talk of is dreams!!!

Sadman

]]> By: Ben Collingwood http://suebrooks.com.au/2010/growing-pains/comment-page-1/#comment-1022 Ben Collingwood Sun, 17 Jan 2010 13:13:05 +0000 http://suebrooks.com.au/?p=673#comment-1022 I've lived in Maryborough long enough to know the last term of Maryborough's council was probably its most progressive and positive for the city. Under Mayor Hovard, the council was progressing many projects ranging from the inner city revitalisation which saw a very run down Wharf Street precinct revitalised, cleaned up and rebranded as Portside. This work has been continued under the new council although in my humble opinion their contractors took far too long to undertake the work and this hurt businesses in the affected area greatly. On an industry attraction level, there was the ill fated flight school, plans for an enhanced airport precinct with new facilities and new businesses. I caught a glimpse of the master plan drawings in one meeting over another project and I was excited to think council was actually looking at improving the viability of the airport even if the flight school was a 'freebie'. Out in Granville, extensive work was done with the former State Development department to develop a marine industry precinct which as I understand would have allowed many of the industrial businesses in Hervey Bay's marina to relocate to specific industry precinct freeing up valuable land for more tourist type development around the marina. My own favourite, the Motorpark was also a joint council initiative aimed at creating many new jobs and industry opportunities also. Crs Hovard, Nioa and O'Connell would certainly be able to enlighten us further but I feel I have listed off enough of the efforts to demonstrate that our councillors were making an effort when it came to Maryborough's future. I’ve lived in Maryborough long enough to know the last term of Maryborough’s council was probably its most progressive and positive for the city.

Under Mayor Hovard, the council was progressing many projects ranging from the inner city revitalisation which saw a very run down Wharf Street precinct revitalised, cleaned up and rebranded as Portside. This work has been continued under the new council although in my humble opinion their contractors took far too long to undertake the work and this hurt businesses in the affected area greatly.

On an industry attraction level, there was the ill fated flight school, plans for an enhanced airport precinct with new facilities and new businesses. I caught a glimpse of the master plan drawings in one meeting over another project and I was excited to think council was actually looking at improving the viability of the airport even if the flight school was a ‘freebie’.

Out in Granville, extensive work was done with the former State Development department to develop a marine industry precinct which as I understand would have allowed many of the industrial businesses in Hervey Bay’s marina to relocate to specific industry precinct freeing up valuable land for more tourist type development around the marina.

My own favourite, the Motorpark was also a joint council initiative aimed at creating many new jobs and industry opportunities also.

Crs Hovard, Nioa and O’Connell would certainly be able to enlighten us further but I feel I have listed off enough of the efforts to demonstrate that our councillors were making an effort when it came to Maryborough’s future.

]]> By: Sadman http://suebrooks.com.au/2010/growing-pains/comment-page-1/#comment-1018 Sadman Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:23:49 +0000 http://suebrooks.com.au/?p=673#comment-1018 Ben, You appear to have lived in Maryborough a long time. So tell us, what have past councils done to attract new business? Based on all I have read and heard, Maryborough has been in decline since the '60's possibly even longer. I know of businesses in Maryborough that have closed since I have lived in the region. The very things you dream of often close businesses eg. Hervey Bay used to have around 4/5 hardware stores, now to the best of my knowledge we have Bunnings and one other. Watch the hardware stores in Maryborough over the next couple of years. As these large all under one roof complexes open up, the strip shops close down, you know your local run and owned shops. The people you or your children went to school with, LOCALS. As I have said many times before parochialism has killed this region, instead of working as one, each town has tried to do it's own thing. In this day and age it just won't work. I hate to be a pessimist, but logic says it is going to get a lot worse before it gets any better. The Fraser Coast Regional Council is going to have to make a lot of very hard decisions, as a result a lot of people are going to be upset. But people's wants are going to have to take second place to peoples needs. End of sermon, Sadman Ben,

You appear to have lived in Maryborough a long time. So tell us, what have past councils done to attract new business?

Based on all I have read and heard, Maryborough has been in decline since the ’60′s possibly even longer. I know of businesses in Maryborough that have closed since I have lived in the region.

The very things you dream of often close businesses eg.
Hervey Bay used to have around 4/5 hardware stores, now to the best of my knowledge we have Bunnings and one other. Watch the hardware stores in Maryborough over the next couple of years. As these large all under one roof complexes open up, the strip shops close down,
you know your local run and owned shops. The people you or your children went to school with, LOCALS.

As I have said many times before parochialism has killed this region, instead of working as one, each town has tried to do it’s own thing. In this day and age it just won’t work. I hate to be a pessimist, but logic says it is going to get a lot worse before it gets any better.

The Fraser Coast Regional Council is going to have to make a lot of very hard decisions, as a result a lot of people are going to be upset. But people’s wants are going to have to take second place to peoples needs.

End of sermon,

Sadman

]]> By: Ben Collingwood http://suebrooks.com.au/2010/growing-pains/comment-page-1/#comment-1015 Ben Collingwood Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:31:31 +0000 http://suebrooks.com.au/?p=673#comment-1015 Why DON'T we read all those good stories Sue? Apart from Bunnings coming to Maryborough, when WAS the last time any new business came to the region and created more than a handful of jobs? I don't know that I care any more, I too am joining others in looking elsewhere for my future. Unless things turn around the Fraser Coast is destined to become another sleepy retirement village. Might suit those of you heading towards the end of your working careers but the younger generation need jobs and a future too! Why DON’T we read all those good stories Sue?

Apart from Bunnings coming to Maryborough, when WAS the last time any new business came to the region and created more than a handful of jobs?

I don’t know that I care any more, I too am joining others in looking elsewhere for my future. Unless things turn around the Fraser Coast is destined to become another sleepy retirement village. Might suit those of you heading towards the end of your working careers but the younger generation need jobs and a future too!

]]> By: sue http://suebrooks.com.au/2010/growing-pains/comment-page-1/#comment-1014 sue Fri, 15 Jan 2010 07:33:56 +0000 http://suebrooks.com.au/?p=673#comment-1014 Ben Council does not play ball as hard as some developers do. Council is not perfect and I have always said there is room for improvement but we have had great difficulties attracting qualified planning staff and have done our best with what we have. Yes maybe we could process some applications more quickly but how do you get blood out of a stone? In relation to Centro. It is my understanding that Centro were very aware that Council was doing its utmost to facilitate this development in light of the fact that the Planning Scheme did not support a retail development of this size at this time. The Planning Scheme looks to the future and predicts that the future population would need X metres of retail space and so declares a development the size of Centro to be premature. There is also much debate on retail developments across both Maryborough and Hervey Bay impacting negatively on each other. The conditions mentioned in the Chronicle in relation to Centro are not new conditions and were recently negotiated. I recommend anyone interested in the truth to read the Council agenda and minutes from that meeting held late last year. The Public Art component, for example can incorporate landscaping, signage, seating, paving etc. In other words all the things that a shopping centre would be doing anyway so is not 'an extra charge' as such and this had been explained to the developers ages ago. The million dollars does not need to be spent on a fancy statue or sculpture is what I mean. The mobility corridor work is in lieu of a footpath which all developers have to provide these days and was agreed to early on. What may have changed is infrastructure charges and possibly Main Roads contributions. Main Roads is very demanding on the provision of adequate services at the intersections with Boat Harbour Drive. So Ben I don't believe Council is being difficult. Council is trying to facilitate a development and get the best outcome for both the developer and the community. Council is not going to simply let any developer develop without supplying the required infrastructure and without building to a certain standard etc. I certainly do not want developers to be permitted to develop inferior quality product. But sometimes even that does occur. Pialba Place was given approval even though that centre is now somewhat disjointed. But future development should improve that centre and at the time Council thought that the development was needed so it was approved even though we were concerned about the layout etc. The same for the Souvlis development in Maryborough. Council was determined to facilitate it which was difficult as again the development did not meet Planning Scheme guidelines So maye the lesson is to read Council agenda's and minutes and not believe the senstationalist criticism of Council and pro 'development at any cost' stance that the Chronicle is taking of late! And lastly why don't we read stories about the successful developments around town that were approved and constructed and are functioning well now? All this negative press does nothing to attract people to want to come and live here now does it! Ben Council does not play ball as hard as some developers do. Council is not perfect and I have always said there is room for improvement but we have had great difficulties attracting qualified planning staff and have done our best with what we have. Yes maybe we could process some applications more quickly but how do you get blood out of a stone?
In relation to Centro. It is my understanding that Centro were very aware that Council was doing its utmost to facilitate this development in light of the fact that the Planning Scheme did not support a retail development of this size at this time. The Planning Scheme looks to the future and predicts that the future population would need X metres of retail space and so declares a development the size of Centro to be premature. There is also much debate on retail developments across both Maryborough and Hervey Bay impacting negatively on each other.
The conditions mentioned in the Chronicle in relation to Centro are not new conditions and were recently negotiated. I recommend anyone interested in the truth to read the Council agenda and minutes from that meeting held late last year. The Public Art component, for example can incorporate landscaping, signage, seating, paving etc. In other words all the things that a shopping centre would be doing anyway so is not ‘an extra charge’ as such and this had been explained to the developers ages ago. The million dollars does not need to be spent on a fancy statue or sculpture is what I mean.
The mobility corridor work is in lieu of a footpath which all developers have to provide these days and was agreed to early on. What may have changed is infrastructure charges and possibly Main Roads contributions. Main Roads is very demanding on the provision of adequate services at the intersections with Boat Harbour Drive.
So Ben I don’t believe Council is being difficult. Council is trying to facilitate a development and get the best outcome for both the developer and the community. Council is not going to simply let any developer develop without supplying the required infrastructure and without building to a certain standard etc. I certainly do not want developers to be permitted to develop inferior quality product. But sometimes even that does occur. Pialba Place was given approval even though that centre is now somewhat disjointed. But future development should improve that centre and at the time Council thought that the development was needed so it was approved even though we were concerned about the layout etc.
The same for the Souvlis development in Maryborough. Council was determined to facilitate it which was difficult as again the development did not meet Planning Scheme guidelines
So maye the lesson is to read Council agenda’s and minutes and not believe the senstationalist criticism of Council and pro ‘development at any cost’ stance that the Chronicle is taking of late!
And lastly why don’t we read stories about the successful developments around town that were approved and constructed and are functioning well now? All this negative press does nothing to attract people to want to come and live here now does it!

]]> By: Ben Collingwood http://suebrooks.com.au/2010/growing-pains/comment-page-1/#comment-1013 Ben Collingwood Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:05:09 +0000 http://suebrooks.com.au/?p=673#comment-1013 Sue The new planning scheme can not come fast enough and in the meantime it would be good for council to work with developers rather than 'play hard ball' as admitted in yesterday's paper in relation to the Centro project. Coming out of difficult economic times and in a region desperate for jobs, there is absolutely no cause for council to be difficult for projects that are close to fitting 'within the box'. If the region was already bursting with major projects and excess shopping centres and so on then I'd think differently. As for the Dela Vista and MSF projects, my suggestion for those people is that if they can stump up the dollars to build a second bridge into Granville, doing so alleviating the additional traffic their projects would create over the existing bridge, then they have every right to be upset with council. If not.. they probably need to give up or go to another region. Sue

The new planning scheme can not come fast enough and in the meantime it would be good for council to work with developers rather than ‘play hard ball’ as admitted in yesterday’s paper in relation to the Centro project.

Coming out of difficult economic times and in a region desperate for jobs, there is absolutely no cause for council to be difficult for projects that are close to fitting ‘within the box’. If the region was already bursting with major projects and excess shopping centres and so on then I’d think differently.

As for the Dela Vista and MSF projects, my suggestion for those people is that if they can stump up the dollars to build a second bridge into Granville, doing so alleviating the additional traffic their projects would create over the existing bridge, then they have every right to be upset with council. If not.. they probably need to give up or go to another region.

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