To the CEO Ms Lisa Desmond

Fraser Coast Regional Council

PO Box 1943

Hervey Bay Qld, 4655

Send to lisa.desmond@frasercoast.qld.gov.au

And cc Michael.ellery@frasercoast.qld.gov.au

From (insert your full name and address here please)

I (insert your name here) wish to object to the DA described as MCU-121007, Part Lot 100 CP 896209, Cicada Lane, Urangan as described below.

The grounds for my objection relate to the design of the pound and refuge kennels and the lot layout. I am in favour of a new facility but would prefer a facility designed with the best modern housing options for the animals that find their way to the pound/shelter.

The kennels are designed to house dogs in concrete block and steel compounds. These kennels are not suitable for the housing of dogs long term and it is seen as a waste of Council funds to build kennels that are unsuitable to meeting the needs of dogs being impounded or housed at a pound/refuge facility.

The kennels must incorporate an open area where the dogs can sit in the sunshine. Kennels are required to have a roofed sheltered warm dry area as well as an outside unroofed area. The kennels should be large enough to house a minimum of 2 dogs together. Housing dogs in sociable pairs, where there is no risk on unwanted pregnancy, makes for happier dogs.

The sqm area per dog must be increased. The design that forms part of this DA appears to have a very small area per kennel.

There appears limited capacity for free running outdoor runs where the dogs can be safely housed but able to exercise and toilet etc outside of their kennels. Outside runs must be provided for both the refuge and pound facilities. Forcing a dog to defecate on the same floor space where it both sleeps & eats can reinforce bad toileting behaviours that carry on into the new household.

Cats need totally separate suitable accommodation with a free range large enclosure that also provides shelter and an area where cats can sunbake, socialise and toilet etc.

Respecting the needs of the impounded/refuge animals will make for more contented, relaxed & happy animals that in turn will be more likely to find a new home.

Whelping accommodation is also required.

Car parking must be in excess of 5 spaces. Currently there is often more than 5 vehicles in attendance at the pound. Council staff will require a minimum of 3 spaces and volunteers and visitors will also require car parking spaces.

If Council is prepared to spend approx.. $500 k plus of rate payers money on a new animal housing and care facility then surely it should be using a modern design that includes kennels which will minimise the stress, both mental and physical, of the animals housed within it.

The entrance to Cicada Lane is dangerous as there is not enough room on Elizabeth St to safely pass a vehicle doing a right hand turn into Cicada Lane. At a bare minimum a slip lane is required at this intersection.

1.       The application is MCU-121007, being an application for a Material Change of Use to redevelop the Hervey Bay Animal Pound and Refuge on land located at Cicada Land, Wondunna being part of Lot 100 on CP896209.

The proposal includes the following elements:

•   ·Construction of twenty-four (24) pound kennels, being 13.7 metres x 4.9 metres totalling 67.13m2;
•   ·Construction of twenty-three (23) refuge kennels, being 15.0 metres x 6.0 metres totalling 90m2;
•   ·Construction of one (1) Hydrobath to be included in one of the proposed blocks of refuge kennels,
•   ·Construction of a Reception and Administration Offices, being 15.0 metres x 6.5 metres, totalling 97.5m2, and
•   ·Construction of one (1) Pound Office, being 25.0m2 in total.

The proposed buildings will be approximately 2.3 metres in height, and will be setback in accordance with the requirements of the Urban Locality – Special Purposes Zone Code in the Hervey Bay City Planning Scheme 2006.

The proposal includes the designation of five (5.0) car parking spaces, and one (1) car parking space for persons with a disability, to be located toward to north-east of the site fronting Cicada Lane.

The proposal plans for the Pound Office include space for five (5) separate dedicated office working areas, one (1) kitchen, one (1) bathroom including toilet, basin and shower, and one (1) separate sink area abutting the proposed office space.

Both the Pound and the Refuge Kennels will be screened with Grid Mesh tack welded to the frame columns.

Yours sincerely

So to the agenda. We receive the minutes from the most recent Economic Development Advisory Committee, the Quarterly report on Councillors attendance at Conference and Industry events and decide whether to give delegated authority to the CEO regarding some Development Applications that may require a decision prior to the sitting of the new Council. Two Development Applications are listed on the agenda one for MCU multiple units exceeding 2 storeys in height at 229 Esplanade and 238 Long St and the other relates to a reconfiguring a lot from two lots to 105 lots at 222 Doolomg South Rd. I believe the first DA will be held over as it is not yet ready. As usual we deal with Questions on Notice and then make decisions on Confidential items including the Contract for the Doolong Road footpath, the Eli Waters, Dundowran Structure Plan, Mary River Flood Study, Planning Scheme workshop minutes, Hervey Bay Transport Strategy and finally two land acquisition matters in relation to land at Colyton St and Nissen St. The agenda should be listed here shortly. http://frasercoast.qld.gov.au/web/guest/2012-ordinary-meetings

ELECTION LOOMING

Yes it is that dreaded time when I have to state my case for re-election. I am supposed to convince everyone that I am made of the right stuff and deserve another 4 years in Council. I am keen, still passionate and yes I do hope to be your representative for another 4 years. But it sits uncomfortably with me to bang my own drum. I would much rather just continue working… While there is a mood for change this will be rewarded as the Council will change with 5 sitting Councillors not being a part of the new Council. I do believe I am an effective Councillor and while not always succeeding in getting everything I desire (on your behalf), a lot of the time I contribute positively to needed change.

Pre Polling will be happening from the 16th April and while this can be a boring job I will need assistance both at pre polling and on election day. Please pop an email my way if you can spare some time. I expect it will be a tough contest with 5 opponents.

As always I am still working hard to answer your queries and fix your problems as best I can so don’t hesitate to call. Take care, Sue

Down the bottom as usual. Now the hard work gets harder…..congratulations to all candidates.

Yes it is easy to be critical and I am always among the first to suggest ways to improve and to ‘get things done properly the first time” but I have to give credit for a change sweeping through the ranks. This Council is here to help our community at each and every level. If you encounter problems with Council simply call an elected member and we should be able to assist. We can’t always get what you want but if we can’t we ususally have a good reason for the position that Council takes.

So at this weeks Council meeting Ordinary Number 5, we will be introduced to our Junior Council Mayor Maria Anderson and her Deputy Jacquelyn Jolly. We also receive reports on recent petitions, the Environmental Advisory Committee meeting minutes and recommendations and our open resolutions which are matters Counil has requested requiring decisions or further information and are not yet finalised. We deal with our Financial Report for February, learn how much the floods have cost us and how much NDRAA (State Government) funding we will receive from the State Government for our Jan 2011 flood event, receive the excellent CEP Annual Report which outlines all the great deeds accomplished by our Environmental volunteers and receive the list of candidates both successful and unsuccessful for the Community Grants Scheme. We have two question on notice reports to receive one of which deals with the proposal to place playground equipment in Pier Park and the other about parking isues at Urangan. I am pleased that the officers are focussed on improving the playground at Dayman Park and leaving the Pier precinct as is which is the way it was planned to be. I still hope to see community markets at this location some time soon! Regarding car parking everyone may have noticed that some spots have now been reduced to 30 mins to ensure shoppers can access spots close to the shops.

Lastly it was with great joy that I witnessed the erection of gates, padlocks and signage along side the private property at the beach end of Anson’s Rd, Dundowran Beach. This privately owned land has been used illegally for quite some time and many residents had complained to Council. Alas Council is not permitted to trespass onto private land to erect signs and gates, nor should it do this, but I was determined to try to help. I contacted the property owners who met me on site recently. The land owners agreed that the illegal access required stopping so they have paid for the recent works including gates and signs. But now it is up to us. Please report any illegal access to myself and the police. I will notify the land owner directly of any complaints and they will be forwarded to the police with a promise of charging trespasses and ensuring they are brought to justice. I believe with the community helping we can stop the trespassing and better protect this beautiful natural beach front block of land. I will always also do my very best to see that this land is either undeveloped or developed in a limited way in keeping with its biodiversity and high natural attributes.

Please let me know if there are issues of interest to you and as always I will endeavour to advise or to assist you. I wish I could call a stop to the rain as I think we have had enough now but alas I don’t have the required influence it seems….

Anson's Road land better protected now..

I spent this morning with school children, residents, Council staff and Mayor Mick at the Pier Park foreshore as part of Clean Up Australia Day. We weeded and we planted. We agreed that the high profile garden beds and the areas alongside pathways all need to be kept tidy, weed and broken timber and rubbish free and planted with predominantly native plants. My belief is that we can attain a happy balance. Ensure that the areas where the most people frequent have a slightly more garden like appearance but with a range of textures, treatments and plants. In other words a lot more variety and colour and wildlife friendly than mown lawn and a few trees would provide. I also believe that there are many, many areas of foreshore that can remain basically natural! Yes we need your help to control the weeds so join in and roll up your sleeves to keep the natural areas weed free… but NATURAL!

Last time I visited Noosa and Mission Beach both these places still have natural foreshores and yet tourism is their biggest drawcard. We need to place ourselves alongside these places not with the denuded windswept foreshores found at places like the Gold Coast etc. Our foreshore is our gold mine. It is what draws residents and tourists alike. Nuke it and you will destroy what we all love and care for. I just wonder how much longer we can battle the wishes of developers and the seemingly growing number of beach front residents who want a treeless, wildlife less, sand strewn and windswept foreshore which affords them the views they crave? As to the Mayoral candidates wanting my vote. I will not vote for anyone that even hints at a vision of the foreshore markedly different from what we already have!

Fire.. Without any consultation of my knowledge to Council, the State Government decided to build a new Urban Fires Station at Craignish. I watched the station being built with interest but without any knowledge of what the impact on my community this station would bring! This station will not be manned! It will rely on on call staff to use the fire truck stationed there. So on first glance one would think we are receiving an improved service wouldn’t one. But at what cost? Not only will it still take heaps of time for an urban fire truck to attend if our house is burning down it means that our rural fire brigades will miss out on their component of the rural fire levy they usually receive.

In one swift move an entire section of countryside including Dundowran, Craignish, Toogoom etc is now classed as urban. This means our fire levy fees will rise an enormous amount. But what does it mean to the rural fire brigades which still are needed to fight ‘rural’ type fires? It means that they won’t have access to rural fire levy income usually collected from the househlds in this area. You see they receive no direct funding from the State Government and depend on the Fire Levy collected by your Council. Now there will be less rural fire levy collected come rates time.

What does this mean for Council? Other than raising the Fire Levy fee for everyone else still classified as rural, and so spreading the burden to every single ratepayer, I do not know. Should these rural brigades simply close down? I don’t think we want to lose them do we? These brigades are the backbone of our rural areas and often help urban brigades and travel far and wide in times of disaster. I believe Council has been left in a no win situation. I cannot see any easy solution so please have your say about it. Talk to your State Member and ring and write to let us all know what you think is the best way forward. After all I am sure the State Government won’t dismantle the station now. We are stuck with this situation like it or not! But maybe with enough community pressure the State Government will consider more adequately funding our rural fire brigades. Residents have until 23 March to provide feedback on these changes by emailing servicedelivery&levymanagementunit@dcs.qld.gov.auor by writing to the Commissioners at GPO Box 1425, Brisbane Q  4001. The local rural fire brigade office is Maryborough..

Jim MacKellar (FCC 4/2/12), asks the question of the Council Revenue Policy in relation to the recently announced Responsible Pet Ownership Initiatives. FCRC does aim to maintain a user pays focus when setting its fees and charges but this is a general approach and by the nature of the work that Council does it has to be this way. Library, Gallery and Parks users don’t pay to use these facilities directly so the cost of maintaining them has to be obtained from somewhere. Our community has a right to have access to many and varied services and facilities and it also has the right and the expectation that Council will deal with wandering and/or homeless dogs and cats. The money spent on customer service calls, compliance officers driving around and collecting stray animals, pound services and feeding the poor pets that end up in the pound and ultimately euthanizing animals etc, far exceeds the income derived from animal registration charges.

Council has committed to the Responsible Pet Ownership incentives to try and reduce the overall cost to the community that wandering and homeless animals cause. The initatives are aimed at assisting those that can least afford desexing costs such as pensioners, to have their pets desexed. The RSPCA desexing van should run on a cost neutral basis and Council will also undertake a compliance door knock where persons with unregistered animals will be fined.

All residents are paying towards animal compliance and therefore it is important for those who own animals to do the right thing and have them registered, thereby reducing the cost burden on all of us. What we have done in the past, while achieving some positive outcomes, has not had any measurable success in decreasing the problem of homeless pets or the numbers of pets being euthanized. Sometimes it is necessary to invest some funds to gain a future saving. If these initiatives show no positive results I don’t expect that they will be continued.

I believe these initiatives will actually save ratepayers money in the long term and I will continue to ask that Council also introduces compulsory dog and cat desexing and breeder permits via its Local Laws. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to live in a society where owning a desexed cat or dog was the socially acceptable thing to do and where so many Council pounds and animal rescue shelters were no longer required.