Sue Brooks August 29th, 2011
Just a reminder that the dog off leash areas are still up for debate and we are asking for your input. http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/web/guest/proposed-dog-off-leash-areas
The maps have been updated and don’t forget that there are two sets of maps. The first set is the proposed ‘new’ areas for dogs on and off beaches and some parks and the second or bottom set is the current dog allowed/not allowed areas. Council decided to extend the time for submissions to Sept 9th. Please take the time to view the maps and tell us if we have got them right or not! Although it will be possible to change the areas in the future the best time to do it is the first time so I hope we have managed to compromise and ensure we have adequate areas for those who wish to use our beaches with or without our trusty canine companions.
It was also pleasing to attend the opening of the entrance to the River Heads Reserve on Sat morning. A big congratulatons to everyone who has helped make the reserve such a lovely place, in particular the CEP volunteers, under Joanne McLaughlin and her team, who began work years ago and also ensured that the HBCC adopted a proper concept plan for the Reserve. A great result when the community and Council get together and both roll their sleeves up to get the work done.
Some discussion in the media recently about Councillors wages. I’m more than happy personally to restrict any future Councillor pay rises but it will be the new Council that does that. In this term of Council I note my income has reduced not risen and this was due to the amalgamation levy. The levy was silly I believe, as it confuses the issue of what Crs are being paid. It was designed to reduce each year. It was not our decision to have the levy but the State Government decided to apply it. Also personally speaking I feel my workload today is similar to what it was on day one but others may have a different view… But anyhow here is my gross pay.. as per the FCRC Annual Reports.. And yes I am sure some of you will believe that Councillors are over paid……
Gross pay for myself 2008-2009 Financial year = $82,739
“ “ “ 2009-2010 Financial year = $82,454
*From annual wage statement for tax 2010-2011 Financial Year = $82,599
Yes there are variations with expenses added on and this will be noted in the Annual Report as it is every year.
See you soon but you can also meet me on Facebook for day to day updates via Councillor Sue Brooks. I tend to use Facebook more than web sites these days…
Sue Brooks August 18th, 2011
Yesterday we decided to extend the consultation for the Maryborough CBD in relation specifically to the Adelaide St area. I believe we do need more input from the residents and we do need to try and get a clear direction whether people do want a one way section here. We have decided to design plans for Kent St upgrading but have not yet budgetted for these future works.
We also decided to extend the community consultation for the dog off leash areas. The areas along the foreshore were proposed to change in some areas and this has caused confusion. The fact that the maps available to demonstrate the changes were very poor and it was hard to see what was changing, didn’t help the process. Council has decided to tweak the areas in view of the responses received so far and provide clear maps that show what is being proposed. Can I also remind everyone that the areas of our beaches that are currently unsigned mean that dogs can be walked only on leash. I think people believe some areas of our beaches are dog off leash now.. and they aren’t! When the process is complete and we have settled on the new areas I will be asking that appropriate signage be installed to better advise people of what is allowed or not. We have extended the off leash areas and made some of these areas timed off leash. So please check the Council web site next week for further details.
The other important item is a Development Application to build 32 houses on the Hervey Bay Golf Course. Councillors decided to defer this report so if you are interested, and I hope you are, please read the report and provide your thoughts. The Golf Course is zoned as open space so I am not sure if I want to see this highly valued open space lost to golfers.
Council also received our financial report, commuity and culture report and a report suggesting changes to the Hervey Bay Aquatic centre entrance prices which will provide better discounts to those in need of them.
We also received a report that outlined the difficulties in obtaining State Government Departmental approval for sand pushing. While the Hervey Bay foreshore between Urangan and Pt Vernon is given the green light to progress with the application the rest of the coast has received a red light. Council was disappointed with this outcome and is endeavouring to set up a delegation to go and sit with the State Government Ministers concerned to try and solve the problems. It is layers of legislation that mean we are losing layers and layers of beach and sand! A very, very frustrating process but at least it is all happening publicly. Feel free to peruse the report which is on the Council web site, Item 11.6. While the State Government has written saying we need to provide more information we do need an indication that providing more information will bring a positive result. At Burrum Heads last night the residents tell me they have asked DERM to provide the scientific evidence as to why the Fish Habitats here are Habitat A and Habitat B? So far they haven’t received an answer. I’m keen to know the answer to that question also.
Lastly it was with great pleasure that Council received a petition calling for compulsory cat desexing to be introduced via our Local laws. In just 10 days 800 plus signatures were collected. The petition is still available and will be circulating for another couple of weeks. I am thrilled that so many people agree with me that it is time we tried to do something to stop all these unwanted litters of kittens.
Take care and do visit me via Facebook. Till next time, Sue
Sue Brooks August 9th, 2011
Wonderul news to hear that our community is getting behind a petition that asks Council to introduce stricter controls on cats. Fraser Coast Pet Warriors, Maryborough Animal Refuge and Fraser Coast Wildlife are all helping collect signatures. The petition is a response to the new Local Laws process and requests Council to ensure that cats and kittens are desexed on any change of ownership. This will mean existing cat owners will not need to do anything but all cats and kittens being sold or given away will be required to be desexed unless used for breeding. Breeders will need a permit. While this seems like a fairly harsh requirement I am utterly sick and tired of the many little tiny lives that are lost because there are not enough homes for all the kittens being produced either intentionally or unintentionally. My two mature cats are a brother and sister born to my daughters cat. The mother cat was only 5 months old when she became pregnant much to our surprise and dismay. 12 years later I still have the offspring.
The petition is available at Mind Games in Pialba Place (yes this is my shop..) , the Maryborough Animal Refuge and if I hear of more places I will let you know. If you want a copy please email me or print out or copy this that follows…..
To the Chief Executive Officer and Councillors of the Fraser Coast Regional Council.
PO Box 1943 Hervey Bay, Qld, 4655
I write to you to voice my support for the introduction of compulsory cat desexing.
I/we the undersigned, request that the Fraser Coast Regional Council introduce mandatory cat desexing requirements via the new Local Laws (or by whatever other suitable means), as soon as possible.
I/we believe that the number of unwanted cats and kittens currently euthanized and/or dumped throughout our region is unacceptable. We believe that animal ownership should be a privilege not a right. I/we believe that it is socially unacceptable that cats are allowed to breed indiscriminately resulting in a surplus of kittens that cannot be homed. While education and incentives to desex cats and kittens are welcome and necessary, their impact alone is not sufficient to combat the problem of overpopulation of cats and kittens within our region. Cats that are dumped become feral and are causing ongoing harm to our unique and precious native fauna.
I/we request that Council introduce a law (or laws), that require every cat or kitten to be desexed (or booked into a vet to be desexed), on transfer of ownership via selling or giving away or any other means, unless via a registered breeder. Cat breeding must be regulated by registration of all cat breeders with suitable requirements relating to the number of cats per property and their housing requirements etc.
Thank you for your time and consideration to this matter.
Date:
Name and Address:
Signature:
Sue Brooks August 8th, 2011
I note that the Indy editor and a Council candidate or two, believes Council is guilty of waste. While there is much diversity of opinion on what projects should be prioritized by Council and which should be shelved or completed sooner, especially in the area of roads, drains and footpaths, it is a difficult task to balance conflicting desires while honoring commitments made by the 4 individual Councils prior to amalgamation. Not forgetting that rates income needs to be distributed fairly and provide a fair level of service to our entire community, which in itself is a challenge. The community has made it very clear that they want to retain their facilities so projects like the Maryborough Swimming Pool have been pursued with a combinationn of rates and other funding.
This Council has inherited a large geographical area containing two large cities and many smaller towns with many roads, drains, sewers and other infrastructure that needs upgrading or constructing. This Council also inherited monies that were already earmarked for projects such as the Community Centre and Library extensions (new Gallery) in Hervey Bay. Prior to amalgamation Tiaro had money allocated for bridges etc to name just one example of prior commitments! Sometimes it is forgotten that the Capital Budget includes monies saved and carried forward from one year to the next to enable expensive projects to be paid for over a period of several years.
Council also has had to operate under restrictions placed upon it in relation to staff retention for the last 3 years. We may not be perfect but I don’t think this Council has been wasteful. Not everyone will agree and not everyone can get what they want but I think we have done a pretty good job considering the challenges we have faced.
Sue Brooks July 30th, 2011
It is very important to all our beach walkers, to have a quick look at the proposed changes for dog walking areas throughout the Fraser Coast. These areas are being updated and administered as part of the new Local Laws process and feedback is being requested up to Aug 15th. Here is the link to the information on the Council web site. http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/web/guest/proposed-dog-off-leash-areas
Annoyingly the area at Tooan Tooan Creek East of Main St and opposite Apex Park in Hervey Bay seems to have been missed out on remaining as an off lead area. Firstly my apologies as I didn’t realise this had been changed via staff processes prior to the recent Council Meeting or I would have enquired as to the need for change at that time. I understand many people do use this are as an off lead beach and it is well suited to that purpose. It is away from the more frequented bathing beaches and not the best place to swim seeing as the creek is more a drain than a creek these days! I will be asking that this small area be returned to off leash status. In other areas dogs are totally banned or allowed on leash and then we have some other areas where dogs are on leash during the day and allowed off leash from 4pm to 8am. I understand that it will be difficult to suit everyone but I hope that most of these changes do suit the majority of our beach users.
But it is also important to take the time to ask questions or read through the new drafts of these Local Laws as they are difficult to change once in place. I am still hopeful that the Fraser Coast will mandate cat desexing. Wouldn’t it be exciting to be the first Council in Queensland to do this? I suggest that cats are not allowed to change ownership (sold or given away) unless desexed or booked in to be desexed, with the only exception being breeders. Breeding would then have added value and we would greatly reduce the number of unwanted and gone feral cats and kittens in our region. Now is the time to be heard if you agree with me as there is nothing yet added to the Laws about this and only a very, very strong public voice will see it happen.
On a personal note we visited Mission Beach for a very short break last weekend. It was terrible to see the damage that Cyclone Yasi had wrought with hardly one tall old tree left standing for kilometres and kilometres. Instead of a green shady forest and foreshore that I remember so fondly, there is sunshine and palm trees. Yes palm trees survived the best which is another good reason why they should be included in all foreshore plantings. Graham and I took two lovely morning nature walks through the national Forest Parks and we were ever so lucky to come face to face with a juvenile Cassowary. It wouldn’t budge off the track and we didn’t want to go back the way we came so we bravely crept forward until ‘Cassie’ decided to detour off the track for us. It was an encounter I won’t forget and you can see photos on my facebook page. The other interesting thing is that human feeding of Cassowaries is causing the same problems for their survival and threat to human safety as is human feeding of dingoes on Fraser Island. Also I was pleased to note the big red signs that the Cassowary Council has erected to deter foreshore vandalism. Like our big blue sign at Pialba. We are ever so lucky to have survived the summer so well and the Fraser Coast is faring no worse than Nth Queensland in terms of a sad economy so let us be glad we live here and keep helping to make our region the best region in Queensland.
Yesterday I drove to Walkabout Creek at Mt Nebo to attend the 40th Birthday FIDO conference. The Save Fraser Island Defenders Organisation has been around for 40 years now and John Sinclair is still fighting to proect the island. Kate Jones made a quick apperance as this is her electorate, and she sounds as positive as ever and is also personally concerned about environmental protection as we mine more and grow more houses etc. The conference was worthwhile but the drive there and back tiring and frustrating. As readers may be aware I don’t tend to drive slowly and being made to travel at 90kmh for many kilometres with little chance to overtake can be frustrating when one is stuck behind someone doing 75kmh! Patience is something I am developing much more of as I age but it was sorely tested yesterday….. But now there are big flashing signs telling you YOU ARE TAILGATING – BACK OFF NOW (this just 500m from the first overtaking lane with me and another car waiting to get past the 75kmh traveller), and YOU ARE SPEEDING – SLOW DOWN! (this when I just couldn’t stick to 90 and accidentally crept up a bit….oops). So watch out as there are many electronic eyes on that dangerous stretch of undivided highway…. But earlier we all crawled along for 5kms or so to pass an accident at the Bribie exit. It looked nasty with ambulances etc there and was an excellent reminder of how careful we have to be while driving.
Take care, keep safe and try to find the time to take a look at all things Council and Have Your Say. Cheers, Sue
Sue Brooks July 19th, 2011
This week we meet in Maryborough and have a not too heavy agenda. Firstly we have our regular customer service awards and also a presentation to us by Paul Coffey from the Honiara City Council about the computer project. I look forward to learning more about this.
We then receive reports about previous Council resolutions and the Quarterly Report about attendance at Conferences and Seminars as well as deciding the Show Holiday for next year and the Investment Policy for Council. We move on to decide about the Local Laws review and the outcomes of the recent consultation on electoral divisions. There is a report about a temporary closure of 62 Burgowan Rd and also about the disability beach access options for Hervey Bay and a proposal to forward budget to complete the extension of Picnic Street in Hervey Bay to meet Boat Harbour Drive. It will be good to finalise the beach accesses as this issue has taken several years to be resolved. There are questions on notice to be answered and one item in the confidential section of the agenda which is in relation to the purchase of land.
Don’t forget that Facebook is also an easy way to communicate and I tend to use it more these days than I do this web site. I started a Facebook page called Councillor Sue Brooks so that I could keep my Councillor life somewhat separate from my personal life and feel free to friend me and ask questions and make comments via that means if you are a facebook user. I must also find the time to meet with my wonderful web guru and update this site. Time is moving so swiftly it is hard to believe we are over half way through 2011. Take care and keep safe and let me know if you have any concerns. Sue
Sue Brooks July 12th, 2011
It is a Planning and Development meeting tomorrow and a not too large agenda. Reports include an application to give Council permission to redevelop the Maryborough Swimming Pool. This is normal procedure as Council has to follow SPA rules itself when undertaking our own developments. It is exciting to see this important project come closer to reality. Then we have the applicaton to subdivide the Arkarra Tea gardens at Dundowran Beach. The officers recommend this land be subdivided into two housing blocks! Sad to see this happen but from my reading the outcome is in line with our Planning Scheme so it is difficult to argue against it happening.
In confidential we will discuss the Local Heritage Register Stage 2 places. Another somewhat contentious issue so I do hope the outcomes meet community expectations. Property owners worry about the possibility of restrictions being placed on their properties but once again I remind everyone that Council is obeying State Legislation to adopt this register and I don’t believe it will be an impost on anyone and provide for the preservation of some important places.
The agenda should be available live on the Council web site. Cheers, Sue
PS I hate this cold so glad to see the sun shining now. Makes me appreciate summer much more and the fact I chose to come and live in sunny Queensland. How I ever survived Ballarat weather astounds me these days… Cuddle up and keep warm and see you out and about one day soon. I’m walking on the beach again and enjoy it so much even if it is chilly. We really are lucky to live here and I am so glad to be able to walk around again. I vow to try and take care of my body as well as I can as I don’t enjoy it when I break bits of it!
Sue Brooks June 20th, 2011
I am saddened that given the opportunity to ensure that a developer builds footpaths, Council continues to not mandate footpaths. Many of us grew up being pushed in our pushers to the local shops along concrete footpaths. We rode our tricycles, furiously pushed and peddled our peddle cars and wobbled our way uncertainly onto two wheels when learning to ride a bicycle. We gained the odd scabbed knee but we didn’t have to contend with cars.
My elderly father still takes a walk with his trusty canine companion, safely down the very same footpath that I grew up using. This pathway has required but one upgrade in the 50 years or so since it was built!
Why is it that in our ever faster and busier residential neighbourhoods no child will get to safely experience playing on a smooth footpath separated from the cars? Surely we should be incorporating footpaths into every new development on the Fraser Coast.
Recently I voted against the new Development Control Manual because it does not require developers to include footpaths in new developments. I tried to amend this manual but failed. I also asked Council to include footpaths in the recently approved final stages of the ‘”On The Beach’’ development at Burrum Heads to no avail.
I don’t want to walk on a road where cars and trucks whizz past. I don’t want to drive home and have to dodge young children ‘playing’ on my road. They have to use the road as there are no footpaths where I live.
So if you agree with me and want footpaths to be included in new developments now is the time to tell Council. It is never too late to ensure we build safer communities for the children of the future and for ourselves also. After all one day we will all be more frail and less inclined to want to play dodgem with the traffic!
AMENDMENT ( Brooks / – )
That Condition A-51 of the motion be amended as follows:
A – Condition 51
Construct a minimum 1.5m wide concrete footpath and associated pram crossings be provided on one side of each internal road within the development site and Volute Way to link with the existing footpath infrastructure within Barramundi Drive.
LAPSED FOR WANT OF A SECONDER
Ord 11/669/06/11
Sue Brooks June 1st, 2011
Council formally adopted our budget for 2010/2011 today. First we had our Ordinary meeting which contained mostly routine decisions including a report updating us on Heritage Committee doings. We also discussed the future of the old building on the land purchased in Maryborough at 84 Gympie Rd, Tinana. Community consultation will proceed to help Council decide how best to manage the Tinana Reserve. It is possible that a lease could be entered into but we believe the building requires considerable work so that requires investigation also. Council also voted to use a Community Service Obligation process in relation to the Water Park in Hervey Bay to ensure that the water park operation is best managed between Council and WBW Corporation financially.
As a result of the confidential section of the meeting Council decided to progress activity in relation to the provision of a roof over the Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre 25m outdoor heated pool, make minor amendments to the Woocoo Planning Scheme, purchase plant including trucks etc and slightly change the organisational structure to better reflect current requirements. In General Business a motion was put by Cr Muckan to provide a full discount to a group wishing to use the Maryborough Town Hall. While the majority of Councillors supported this I didn’t as I was not aware the motion would be put and I didn’t believe it was proper process to make such a decision on the run without information in relation to Council policy. I believe all people and groups should be treated equally so I am personally loathe to provide discounts simply because they have been asked for. It is a difficult issue as there are so many worthwhile and hard working groups who deserve to have access to Council facilities free of charge, but I do want all these users treated equally.
At 11am we held the Special Meeting to adopt our budget. The vote to adopt the budget was a unanimous one. I believe Council has acted responsibly in light of the current economic climate that sees living costs rising and rising. While Councillors don’t always agree on any given issue we all agreed that we had to reduce the burden on our ratepayers and residents. While this budget does include rises in fees and charges and rates and all of us would prefer there was no rise to anything, we have tried very hard to keep all increases at a minimum. We have reduced spending and continued to reduce our own operational costs. There is still a big emphasis on roads as this is the biggest capital works item that the community wants to see improved. But the costs of running Council continue to rise just the same as the costs of running our households does. I am very concerned about our future economic health, both as a region and as a Council which must continue to provide adequate services and infrastructure for our community.
Not all Councillors will be pleased with every single thing within this budget, I imagine, as the budget process is one of compromise. Overall I do support this budget as it is a responsible and sensible one. It would be highly presumptious of me to think that every single thing I personally desired could be included within such a complex and lengthy document but that is what democracy is all about. I am glad that the hard work is done and with a bit of luck it will stop raining now so we can catch up on outside works and get that road programme going full steam ahead.
Lastly during public Participation time we heard from several residents who are keen to see the Arkarra Tea Gardens preserved. We also received a petition about this which contained approx 1100 signatures. I would like to acknowledge and thank the hard work that community members do when they see a need to do something within our community. It is quite time consuming and daunting to write and circulate petitions and to come and speak to Councillors formally at a Council meeting. But it is an important avenue with which to communicate with Council and I am glad that many people use the opportunity. The speakers today were concise, respectful, professional in their approach to the task and I am thankful that they care about their community and take the time to get involved. To all of you my heartfelt thanks.
On a personal note I am still on crutches and wearing my big black boot some 5 weeks after my achilles repair surgery. I return to my surgeon next Thursday so i hope I can ditch the crutches than. I have a whole new appreciation of how difficult life is with reduced mobility. I hate asking people to fetch and carry for me and can’t wait to regain my independence. The lesson is to look after these bodies of ours. We can’t exchange them if we break them!
PS Just quickly you may have noticed some weeding and mowing activities along the foreshore in the Pt Vernon area. I believe that the changes within the management of our Parks contingent are starting to provide us with positive outcomes and a more effective management of these open space areas. Let me know what you think in the next few weeks… as long as the ground doesn’t get drowned again as mowing stops when the ground is soggy..
Sue Brooks May 15th, 2011
Last week Councillors adopted an updated Development Control Manual. This manual lays out the required designs etc for roads, drains and footpaths etc. It stipulates what Council requires in terms of basic infrastructure provision specifically for new developments etc. It is comparable to a design manual in some aspects and brings together the entire Fraser Coast under one set of rules. In other words it means that a drain or road design will be the same throughout the Fraser Coast and is a step towards uniform rules post the 4 previous Councils. The manual includes footpath requirements and I am sad that footpaths are not mandated for smaller or so called access streets and access places. One of the achievements I was proud of was that Hervey Bay City Council had started to regularly condition developments to include footpaths throughout the development on one side of each street as a minimum. This will now not be the case.
Apparently the State Government doesn’t support this for access streets as per its manual called Queensland Streets and developers prefer not to have to build footpaths in the smaller streets. I attempted to amend the manual but did not receive support from Councillors so the amendment failed. I believe every household should have acess to a good footpath network and will continue to plead for this to happen. But as with everything footpaths are expensive to construct and then to maintain so I fear it will be a long time before we do become a footpath prevalent region.
Last week we also received a report that shows the Fraser Coast Regional Council is processing development applications better than average when compared with other coastal high growth Councils. While I do believe the development assessment process is a bureacratic complex beast, it is important that development occurs in an orderly way and within the constraints outlined under the relevant planning schemes. I believe we are performing well in this area and hope that the report will dispell some of the criticism we have received about delays etc. Yes some development applications are withdrawn and some small percentage are refused but this is usually because the application does not meet the required criteria.
This week Council meets in Maryborough and the agenda should be available online tomorrow afternoon.