The week that was…

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.

2 Responses to “The week that was…”

  1. # Ben Collingwoodon 19 Apr 2010 at 11:37 pm

    “The need to attract young families to the region and keep them here”

    How will council help solve this? And when?

  2. # Sue Brookson 20 Apr 2010 at 4:57 pm

    I believe by designing attractive towns and cities so that people are attracted to living here is the first step. That’s why I came here and not elsewhere on the Queensland Coast.
    Then we need to ensure we have planning schemes/rules that encourage particular good quality development in appropriate locations.
    I don’t believe Council alone has a great deal of power in achieving this outcome of attracting young families and keeping them here but we must work with other Government agencies to ensure we have a sustainable economy and enough variety in job vacancies. This is why we are asking the State Government to consider these issues. I am all ears for ideas that can be implemented and that we can afford to undertake. So it is over to you for other ideas.

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