Sue Brooks' Blog

Sue Brooks August 29th, 2010

When I left Teachers College in Melbourne many, many years ago now and actually started teaching a revelation occurred. All the hours of study and all my perceptions of what being a teacher entailed quickly took flight. Nothing I had previously experienced equalled the challenges of being in charge of approx 20 little human beings day in and day out. I quickly learned that the only way to really understand what any job actually entails is to experience it first hand. My ideas of teaching changed yet again when I had children of my own.

It is my own personal experience that has made me critical of too much theoretical teaching (ala University etc) at the expense of hands on ‘work experience’. No one truly has the right to comment about a policemans job, a nurses job or a groundsmens job etc unless one takes some time and spends time ‘on the job’. It is so easy to criticise from afar and so easy to assume that we know what employees should be doing without having a real understanding of their working life.

So it comes as a simple and straightforward sadness to me that so many people think I’m failing at my job. Apparently as the Chronicle blog says I am arrogant and ‘from another planet’ among other things. Well the comments were made in general about Council but Council is me so I take the comments personally.

The Chronicle’s latest front page story about Councillors financial entitlements has brought forth a torrent of anti Council sentiment. I just wish that the persons who are anonymously expressing such disgust and unhappiness with me (as representative of Council) and with how I perform my duties would come and spend a day with me. If not a day then maybe a couple of hours.

My job as a Councillor is at times overwhelmingly pleasant and straightforward but it can also be tiring and depressing. It is sometimes tiring and depressing because I  would like to achieve more. Why can’t I ensure every road is sealed, every park mown, every drain working well, every business profitable and every rate payer satisfied? Why can’t we do what the residents tell me that they want without it costing more and more each year? I expect to achieve results for our region and our community and even though I believe we have achieved much there is always more to do and more to fix and more to improve. And I am but one of a group of eleven and I don’t always get what I want …. but that is to be expected in a democratic system and I accept this readily.

But I want to thank our Director Organisational Services Ms Lisa Desmond. Lisa has been doing exactly what more bosses should do. She is spending time on the job. She has visited the dog pound and aided the staff to clean out the kennels. She has operated a road roller and pruned the roses in the rose garden at Maryborough. Lisa is finding out what exactly our staff do each and every day. I’d also like to thank all our staff as I know you work hard and that you strive to do better and better each and every day. I’d like to thank our CEO as he expects high standards and is driving change through a complex time of merger. Yes he may have said we need rates at 20% but he only ever used this as an example of what rate rise we would require to do and service all of our communities expectations. Our CEO is well aware that any large increase in rates is unaffordable for our community and it is he and his team that have managed to achieve more for less.

But many of you don’t agree with my version of our Council so I ask you this. If you are unhappy with me or with Council please contact me and give me your reasons why. Just generally saying ‘Council stinks’ doesn’t do anything to help improve Council so I ask you to tell us what we are doing wrong and then to please listen to our responses. The saying that ‘we can’t please all the people all the time’ is true. What one person wants and needs another person doesn’t so for all of us on Council it is a balancing act of trying to meet the needs of the majority of you all. I will continue to try as hard as I can to properly represent you and to make decisions that I believe our in the wider community interest. My skin has thickened up and while the criticism stings it doesn’t penetrate too deeply and I am still determined to work hard so…. over to you. How can we do better and what are we doing wrong?

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Sue Brooks August 8th, 2010

The PCYC remains in the news and I wonder to what purpose. If the media wanted to assist the community to gain a better facility that better meets the needs of our community, I believe it would be better spending its time reporting on how we are managing to achieve this outcome. More and more I believe the media plays such a negative role that our community becomes hard pressed to ever believe that our Council really is here to try and make all our lives better not worse.

Yes the media has a role to play in exposing wrong doing and accurately informing us of what is happening within our wider community but I do wish it would spend more time on helping us do things better than just pointing the finger. Yes mistakes have more than likely occurred in the past but there are many, many hard working people now intently planning a sensible way forward and putting procedures in place to ensure that similar fire compliance related issues don’t occur in the future. I’d also like to mention that I believe at no time has anyone ever been at risk within the PCYC. The building is very fire safe and while it does require improved warning systems and extraction systems etc as per regulations for some activities it has not ever been a place where lives were at any greater risk than any other public building. Also Council was well underway to resolving the situation, (as demonstrated by Council meeting minutes of several weeks ago), so that all activities could remain at PCYC and I don’t believe the media stories have helped this process.

So to this week. We have an Ordinary Meeting this Wednesday with matters to be decided including -

Minutes from previous committee meetings including the Audit Committee. Officers reports include items pertaining to the LGAQ Conference motions. This is a long report as it lists all the motions that Regional Governments want to pursue and these motions are voted on at the conference. Also we decide on whether the issue of Councillor leave should be raised with the Local Government Renumeration Tribunal and we decide on taking National Sea Change Taskforce recommendations to the candidates for the Federal Election.

The confidential items include 3 contracts involving supply of trucks and the Yerra Bridge works and also information pertaining to the proposed Library expansion in Hervey Bay.

We have a Community and Development Meeting on Wednesday following the Ordinary Meeting with items concerning necessary drainage works that will disturb Hervey Bay foreshore vegetation. New pipes are needed to replace old and failing pipes and as much as I detest seeing trees removed to facilitate such work I see no other solution. Revegetation will occur after the works are completed.

Council will receive updates on the recent Structure Planning Projects and Local Heritage Register and we will receive information about Crediting of public park and community land infrastructure contributions as related to the Hervey Bay Planning Scheme Policy Number 4.

In confidential we will discuss Proposed Amenity and Aesthetic considerations for resiting dwellings as well as a legal matter involving a shed on vacant land. Just a reminder that any decisions made on these matters are voted on in the public open session of Council and decisions are minuted publicly.

Lastly to some non Council issues. I have my new ipad and love it. I’m still learning about all the things I can use it for and how to operate it but is is such a joy to be able to sit on my sunny verandah and update this web site for instance. The Whale Festival was held yesterday and from what I witnessed everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely. Council will welcome feedback so that we can continue to improve the festival.

I sadly notice the smoke filled skies as yet again Fraser Island burns. I don’t think that Fraser Island needs anywhere near the amount of burning carried out as happens. What a sad sight to see hazy smoke filled smelly skies from the decks of our whale watch fleet!

And very lastly… PLEASE use the Council web site and Have Your Say. Currently Council wants to know what you think about several issues. Be assured that the development and business related communities will be having their say so do please take the time to voice your feelings on very important issues that will decide the future look and feel of this region. Maybe comment on things such as … Do you want/don’t want parking metres, more/less billboards, advertising on bus stops, high rise or not, more or less development alongside the coast etc, etc. All these issues are up for grabs as we develop and grow so please take the time to contribute a few sentences so that I’m confident that my decisions at Council truly reflect what you, our general resident community, desire.

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Sue Brooks July 30th, 2010

The headlines in The Chronicle while highlighting an issue, could be somewhat misleading. Council has been working closely with PCYC management and the Fire Services to ensure that any necessary fire safety related issues are dealt with in an efficient and timely manner. As the building owner Council must ensure that legislation is adhered to and it goes without saying that everyone has the safety of PCYC users as their first priority.

For background – Council owns the land and the building and PCYC leases the facility from Council. Fire safety issues relate to the differing uses of, and types of, buildings. Sport related uses are classified differently to non sport related uses by fire safety related legislation.

Council together with the PCYC does want to extend the building for a much deserved third court so Council is keen to ensure that the building is safe and that it complies with requirements now and into the future.

I look forward to the third court being built.  The resolution copied below from the Council website outlines the requirements needed to ensure that ALL functions in the centre can continue. Sport and non sport activities. The main point that I personally want to make is that as building owner, I believe Council does have a moral as well as a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of all users of the building.

Could I also draw attention to the fact that while this matter was discussed in the confidential section of the Council meeting the outcome of this matter is voted on and clearly outlined publicly and openly. Minutes also show how all the Councillors voted.

http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=f1006dfe-5a00-4df4-a3b7-b608a2389099&groupId=12430

(Any formatting errors below are mine as copying sometimes muddles text)

RESOLUTION

Remove locks to the gates on the awning side of the PCYC building and replace with single release action hardware;

Demolish the illegal pergola structure located at the northern aspect of the building; and Remove the roller door from the first floor stairwell;

3. Council advises the PCYC that to enable the continuation of non-sports related activities the PCYC is required to implement the following:

Install a temporary auditory warning system that could be used in the event of an emergency to instruct occupants to evacuate the building;

Ensure an appropriate number of trained fire wardens are onsite during times of peak occupancy and special events;

Undertake pressure testing on existing hydrant system to ensure that adequate levels of water pressure are available in the event of an emergency;

Engage QFRS for 1-off events, emergency evacuation and fire fighting;

Ensure good housekeeping of the venue;

5. Upon finalisation of point 4. above, forward a report to Council recommending a suitable solution.

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Sue Brooks July 23rd, 2010

I sometimes worry how perception and generalisations colour our thinking. The Chronicle front page headline today screams ‘Secret Council’. The only justification that I then read about why Council is so secret is the number of items dealt with in the closed or confidential sessions of our Council meetings versus the number of issues dealt with in the public or open section of our meetings. No analysis has been done to examine the content of the agenda items or to explain why these items are dealt with confidentially.

Council is required by Law, Law not of Council’s making but rather Law made by the Queensland State Government, to deal with certain matters confidentially. If we don’t abide by the Law our Council could face serious consequences. While I don’t always agree with all the Laws that I have to abide by, I respect the fact that I should abide by them and I believe the FCRC does a good job of abiding by the Law.

Sometimes I, or a fellow Councillor, has questioned why a particular report is listed within the confidential section of the agenda. On making enquiries we either agree that the item should remain there or we ask that it be moved into the open and public section of Council. This has happened and will continue to happen. Also it is to be remebered that any decisions made as a result of a confidential report are made in the public and open part of the meetings and these decisions are on the public record including the Councillors voting.

I’m saddened by the general inference that our Council is secretive and would prefer that any focus on the openness of Council is done by examining the actual content of reports and items discussed not just on the number of reports. Human nature is such that we prefer to know everything about everything all of the time and we don’t appreciate secrecy. I understand that it is unpleasant to know someone is dealing with an issue behind closed doors as our inquisitive nature automatically leads us to wanting to know who said what and what was said. Even if the private meeting was as boring as the proverbial we would still feel a need to know about it simply because we aren’t included.

Councillors also have a very important responsibility to keep confidential matters confidential. It is a breach of the Local Government Act to talk about confidential discussions and with the new Local Government Act now in force, there is the possibility of an individual Councillor being stood down rather than an entire Council. I expect that one of the reasons that a Councillor could be required to leave office would be for breaching the Local Governmant Act.

I have copied the section from the Local Government (Operations) Regulation 2010 which outlines the issues frequently dealt with by Council confidentially-

71 Meetings in public unless otherwise resolved

A meeting is open to the public unless the local government or

committee has resolved that the meeting is to be closed under

section 72.

72 Closed meetings

(1) A local government or committee may resolve that a meeting

be closed to the public if its councillors or members consider

it necessary to close the meeting to discuss—

(a) the appointment, dismissal or discipline of employees;

or

(b) industrial matters affecting employees; or(c) the local government’s budget; or

(d) rating concessions; or

(e) contracts proposed to be made by it; or

(f) starting or defending legal proceedings involving it; or

(g) any action to be taken by the local government under the

Planning Act, including deciding applications made to it

under that Act; or

(h) other business for which a public discussion would be

likely to prejudice the interests of the local government

or someone else, or enable a person to gain a financial

advantage.

(2) However, a local government or committee can not resolve

that a meeting be closed to the public if any person is to take

part in the meeting by teleconferencing.

(3) A resolution that a meeting be closed must state the nature of

the matters to be considered while the meeting is closed.

(4) A local government or committee must not make a resolution

(other than a procedural resolution) in a closed meeting.

So these are the types of issues that we deal with privately. If there is anything listed on the Council agenda for discussion privately please do ask for clarification if you believe the item should not be dealt with confidentially and I will endeavour to clarify the reasons.

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Sue Brooks July 16th, 2010

Well this week saw the first time that the FCRC conducted two formal Council meetings under the new committee structure, on the one day. The first meeting was our Ordinary Meeting where we ratified the minutes from the Environment and Infrastructure Committee meeting and then we held the first Community and Development Committee Meeting. A long day broken up by the enjoyable presentation of the Ergon Tidy Towns awards for our region.

So to the outcomes. Council decided to acknowledge that the sensible way forward in relation to making a decision on circus animals is to include the issue as part of the upcoming Local Laws review. The ‘new’ Laws do go out for public consultation so it will provide an opportunity for our community to contribute feedback on this issue. Meanwhile we are asking the LGAQ to progress the issue at a state wide level.

The Volunteer Propagators will be relocated within the Botanic Gardens grounds to a new area where they can continue their good works at growing local plants and trees for public use. The loss of two trees to facilitate the move is sad but the trees will be replaced with new, and double the number, of  trees.

Council heard from some concerned residents unhappy about the way the Environmental Levy has changed under the new budget. They voiced concerns that the Levy was not now used for the purchase of land even though it had been raised to $25 a property. They are also concerned that there is no money earmarked for land purchase in the next 10 years. I personally don’t agree with the rise in the cost of the Levy as well as the changed focus of it and voiced my opinion (as minuted) when Council adopted the budget.

Council voted together on all the other items that we dealt with apart from the request via the UDIA to extend the discount period for infrastructure charges. While I was hesitant but supportive of a roll in phase and discount period so that developers had time to adjust to the new charges, I don’t agree that they should be given extended discounts. I voted against giving the extension of time as I believe the entire community cannot afford to lose the revenue that won’t be collected and the entire community will have to bear the costs of providing the needed infrastructure in the future.

Council did agree to provide discounts to two other projects under the current policy. Council also discussed the proposed St Stephens hospital building in Hervey Bay and I was saddened to see in the Chronicle today, a front page story about this project, apparently quoting from two Councillors. The discussion was held in confidential as per the LGA guidelines, due to the commercial nature of this development. I am not sure the Directors of the Board of Uniting Care Health will be very impressed with the resulting media speculation.

Feel free to peruse the agenda’s and minutes of the Council meetings on the Council web site and while you are there don’t forget to join up to receive the free and easy to get, electronic enews. If you want to keep in touch with all things Council this is a quick and easy and painless way to do it.

Lastly the 5 baby Guinea Fowl are thriving and are now over 2 weeks old. I have been offered a new home for them on a 10 acre property so in another 2 weeks they should be ready to go. I am sure they will enjoy their new lives where there are already some Guinea’s in residence.

5 baby guineas 2 weeks old

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Sue Brooks July 9th, 2010

Well our first Environment and Infrastructure meeting has come and gone. The main items dealt with on Wednesday include advice from staff that at least two traffic bridges in the Western parts of our region require major repairs which will cost approx $800k to $1mil per bridge. The bridges are old and require major surgery and although Tiaro had budgetted approx $500k prior to amalgamation, and were intending to match the funds the following year, we are still short on the amounts needed. It is expected the funds will have to come from the roads budget.

Drainage problems that impact on Eurong second valley properties was discussed and Councillors asked staff for a formal report on the situation and how it can be resolved. I don’t believe any property owner should suffer water inundation that is directed to their property via a road. Roads should alleviate or improve if possible, flood imunity for property owners although natural overland water flows will still occur. Flooding is a constant issue in many parts of our region and I do wish that engineering and planning decisions made in the past had been done more efficiently.

Councillors had a long debate about Xavier College using a Council public park for car parking in Endeavour Way, Eli Waters. I argued as strongly as I could that the situation be allowed to continue only for the remainder of this year and that the school ensure it can accomodate its parking needs on its own land prior to the start of the 2011 school year. I lost the argument however as Cr O’Connell thought the school should be able to use our public land for the next 12 months. I believe this is unfair to our residents and sets a dangerous precedent. Council controlled parklands should not, in my opinion, be given over to car parking for non public park related uses. Contrary to what is reported in the Chronicle today Council will need to fund the upkeep of this ‘car park’ for the next 12 months as the school does not have to contribute financially. The sad thing is that schools generate heaps of traffic and I don’t believe they are planned well enough to cope with this traffic.

We also decided to relocate 7 big fig trees to the seafront oval and one to Maryborough. The trees were ordered several years ago by HBCC for our entrance to the city but now there are constraints on that side of the highway so we thought we had best use the trees elsewhere. They are expensive and all the Councillors were concerned about the costs to plant them. Staff have been asked to find a cheaper way to actually plant the trees.

Councillors also supported the adoption of a policy which outlines a straightforward approach to rehabilitating and preserving natural areas. The policy will ensure a whole of Council approach to restoring disturbed land and preserving our precious valuable natural environment.

Councillors also supported the move to form an airport users group to discuss landing fees and other management and operational related issues. I believe with improved consultation we can improve the way our airports are managed.

Cr O’Connell has stated in the paper today that he will support a move to extend the discount period to developers next week. At this stage I won’t be inclined to support him. I believe the discount does place a direct burden on the rate payers as the funds discounted are going to have to be replaced via general rates and/or fees and charges. While I agree that the development industry is a key economic driver within Hervey Bay especially, there is a limit to how much costs our community can bare and an extension to the discount, I believe, places an unfair burden directly on our entire community who ends up funding the badly needed supporting infrastructure.

Don’t forget to Have Your Say about our future as per our 2031 Community Planning process. If we don’t have a say I believe we don’t have a right to complain later…… Deatils are available via the Council web site. Cheers, Sue

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Sue Brooks June 21st, 2010

How on earth we can bring down a budget that won’t cause people grief? Personally speaking it is a challenge that I struggle with each and every year. Council is more or less in a no win position as no matter what we decide we will receive criticism. I believe the budget that we voted unanimously for today is a sensible one. Council has cut programmes and reduced spending where ever it can to reduce the burden on our rate payers but the challenge is to keep staff employed and deliver on the committments that are part and parcel of local government. It seems that the community wants more for less which is an unrealistic or unattainable goal, so while I am sure that this budget will be met with some criticism I hope that the community can look at it with an eye for fairness and objectivity and a belief that this Council is delivering the best outcome it can in an environment of restraint.

I personally have made public comment that I do not believe a $25 per property Environmental Levy, that doesn’t actually quarantine an amount for land acquisition, is not of my liking. I believe this levy is a cost shifting exercise that sees council keep general rates at a reasonable level of percentage increase while offsetting these costs via the increased environmental levy. At the end of the day everyone has to pay both a levy and the general rate and other charges so the reduced general rate increase is countered by an increased Environment Levy.

I wonder why we target the environment? Why not an economic development levy or a tourism levy or a roads levy? So personally speaking the environment seems to become a scapegoat for finding a way to retain income by shifting programmes, both operational and capital based, to this ‘new’ levy. Why is this so? Why isn’t the ‘environment’ treated just the same as every other aspect of Council activity? This new levy now pays for or funds many activities that were previously funded via the Capital Works budget funded via General Rates. I disagree with the increase in the Environmental Levy and also with the focus of the levy which is now not primarily for the purchase of land.

Today I also received an email from the State Government acknowledging my comment to the Open Space policy that they are developing… 

“Dear Sue,

Thank you for your submission on the Draft Queensland Greenspace Strategy. Strong interest was shown in the Draft Strategy and your submission was one of 244 received. Feedback from all responses are currently being assessed to inform the final Queensland Greenspace Strategy. The reference number of your submission is Greenspace Submission # 62. If you have any questions regarding your submission, or progress of the Strategy please contact Mr John Rush on (07) 3235 4560″.

I found it disapointing that out of all the residents in Queensland only 244 submissions were received on this important issue. It really becomes apparent that without a voice we are all governed by a very small percentage of politicians making decisions based on a very small number of people who bother to have a say.

But on a happier note. I returned from Melb last night after visiting family. A few days away makes one appreciate just how lucky we are to be living in such a beautiful and climatically friendly part of the world. It is great to get away but ever so pleasing to arrive back home again. Thank goodness we can live in such a beautiful (and not too cold) part of this great wide brown (and green) land!

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Sue Brooks June 11th, 2010

It seems that every time there is an accident on our roads or an unwelcome health diagnosis involving family or friends or someone we are simply acquainted to, we take an extra interest in driving carefully or leading a more healthy lifestyle… for a while. The car accident this week resulting in serious injuries to Cr Anne Nioa and the extremely sad loss of a well loved and treasured father and husband really brings home how fragile our existence truly is. Life can literally change in an instant.

The saying about living for today as if there is possibly no tomorrow rings loudly. Evey time I hop into my car I honestly don’t think this drive will be my last ever, but the reality is that driving is a dangerous activity because a small loss of attention or a wrong decision can have such tragic consequences. My heart goes out to the family and friends of everyone touched by the trauma’s of road accidents and I wish Anne a very speedy recovery.

This week at Council we approved a 4 storey building on the Esplanade at Pialba near the Sapphire development. We rejected two shovel ready applications and approved several others and also approved a reconfiguration or amalgamation of some blocks in the Maryborough CBD to better provide access to adjacent businesses and car parking.

I asked a question about amending the current Hervey Bay Planning Scheme in relation to the Pialba CBD. I am concerned that the area needs better zoning to accomodate the eventual sized CBD precinct that our city will require. The current scheme focuses development around the Main St/Torquay Rd area and the Boat Harbour Dve area is treated differently. I would also like Council to consider opportunities for commercial/retail development alongside Main St to the South of BHD. Do we really want housing alongside a 4 lane section of road that will be one of the busiest in the city? Council officers will prepare a response and Council can then consider what it would like to do in relation to this issue.

Pialpa Place have lodged an application for a further extension which would see the joining up under roof of the two sections. This seems to be the expected and logical progression for that shopping centre but it is very disappointing that Centro is not looking like commencing construction on their approved extensions any time soon. I have waited for nearly 10 years now, to see the access to Centro directly via Main St become a reality and am still waiting. Don’t forget you can view applications via PD Online found via the Council home page.

Lastly a plea to our residents. All the retailers that I speak to throughout our region, are struggling. Retailers are locked into leases and have costs they simply can’t reduce when times get tough like they are right now. Please consider shopping locally if you can possibly afford to. Just a few dollars spent here and there will assist our local small businesses to survive.

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Sue Brooks June 6th, 2010

Yesterday was a fantastic day. Once again Vicki Neville and her hard working volunteers ably assisted by Larry Burch from Aqua Vue, hosted an absolutely wonderful tribute to our whales. I’m not sure of the numbers but lots and lots of us paddled out into the beautiful waters of Hervey Bay and formed a wiggly circle in the water. We laid over 500 flowers in the water to signify the number of whales killed last year. The feeling out on the water was one of dedication to the future of our whales and also the simple but heartfelt joy that we all felt because we get to live in and enjoy such a pristine and beautiful patch of planet earth.

Yes the traffic on the Esplanade was banked up and we had to park a bit further away than one would normally do, but for a couple of hours of a very small inconvenience to some Esplanade travellers the outcome, in my mind, was very well worth it. Thank you Vicki for making sure that whaling is kept well and truly in the spotlight. I can’t support an industry that kills animals for nothing more than traditional or cultural or mere profit motives. Surely we are mature enough to realise that some natural ecosystems are sacrosant and our large harmless elephants of the sea should be protected. No one is actually going to starve to death because they can’t hunt whale!

Council has decided to await for another report on circus animals before making a final decision. While we will ask the LGAQ to lobby at the State level for a consistent approach state wide, some Councillors expressed concerns about the definition of the word exotic and also about what would happen to animals currently used in circuses if they had no where left to perform. I put a motion to Council to ask for another report that better defines the types of animals we could ban from performing in the Fraser Coast region and this was seconded by Cr McNeven. The vote was not unanimous with myself, Cr’s McNeven, Hawes, Nioa, O’Connell, Arthur and Hovard voting in favour of the further report and Crs Kruger, Dalgleish, Muckan and Harris voting against.

I also notice that a considerable number of residents are concerned about a 6 storey planned development adjacent the Beach Rd - Esplanade roundabout at Pialba. If you would like to submit and voice your opinion (for or against)about this proposed development let me know and I can put you in touch with the residents who are concerned.

Friday was a busy day. In the afternoon I attended the Mangrove Watch workshop where many of our river keepers listened to a presentation about how the data that they are collecting will be used to better understand our mangroves. I then travelled to Urangan for the announcement of and presentation to the winners of the FCRC Mayoral Environment awards. A wonderful ceremony with many worthy nominees in attendance. I do want to thank all the sponsors and all the nominators as without you these awards that recognise the hard work of volunteers would not happen. Congratulations to all the winners and to Marilyn Connell who was awarded the environmentalist of the year for her work in protecting the Mary River Turtle. Marilyn has raised awareness of this special turtle on the International stage!

After the awards it was off to Z Pac to see the wonderful Dad’s Army production. A very entertaining evening and it is hard to pick out a stand out performer from the large cast. I highly recommend a night at our local theatre. Once again Z Pac shows how the contribution of people who simply roll up their sleeves and get on with doing something enriches our community. Do go along and see this show before it closes in a couple of weeks.

Lastly the announcement that we will receive just over $5million dollars from the Federal Government towards our Community Centre and Library extension project is exceptionally good news. Both these projects have been in the pipeline for over 10 years now and are very badly needed. When I worked in the Hervey Bay Library (5 years ago now) the staff were continually riding a roller coaster. Yes we will expand… no we can’t… yes we can.. no we can’t! At long, long last this much needed project should come to reality and Hervey Bay will gain a Library service that provides the space needed to properly cater for a growing population of both community and University members. Our Library has one of the biggest percentage of members per head of population in the country and has not expanded in the 15 years plus since it was built while the population of Hervey bay has grown by tens of thousands. Our oft spoken about missing built ‘heart’ in Hervey Bay may finally begin beating!

The project involves a new Gallery being built across the road on the corner of Old Maryborough Rd and behind Main St and the USQ will take up the space of the current Gallery providing a seamless service to all Library users. The Community Centre will be constructed on the corner Charles St and the Torquay Rd extension on the same parcel of land.

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Sue Brooks June 1st, 2010

Tomorrow Council will consider several options in relation to allowing Circuses that use exotic animals, to perform here. Many other Councils have put a stop to circuses that use animals such as lions and elephants etc and I personally believe this is a good thing. I don’t think animals should be kept in cages and travelled around the countryside purely as entertainment for humans and I like to think our society is developing a much more humane attitude to the treatment of all animals. But tomorrow is decision day so feel free to peruse the report on the Council agenda and let me know what you think. http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/web/guest/ordinary-meetings

The other important item for discussion tomorrow is our Draft Sustainability Charter. This is an important document as it sets out our aspirations and implementation strategies in relation to developing a more sustainable Fraser Coast. Comment on this document is also encouraged.

Other items include minutes from the Economic Development Advisory Committee, an admin building at the Showgrounds and delegations for the new Development and Community Services Committee.

Lastly it was great to see the Hervey Bay Pier featured on Sunrise this morning. So good to see our whales and our wonderful Fraser Coast weather so very well presented. Cheers, Sue

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