admin May 19th, 2008
Hello again everyone. Time I put fingers to the keyboard and sent out a bit of news I think. Before I start can I welcome new comers and explain that yes I do collect email addresses when people take the time to write to me and I then try to send out an email at least monthly with some news about council related matters. So if this is your first email from me welcome to the group but please remember if you don’t want to be included simply reply and insert the word ‘remove’ in the subject line. No I won’t take offence as I realise that not every one wants to hear from me regularly.
So what has been happening in Council? It seems we are as busy as ever but that meetings agenda’s don’t seem very full or are not yet full of new and interesting policy related items or controversial developments etc. I think that we are all working to finalise our Council structure and get everyone comfortable in their seats. By this I mean both staff and Councillors. It has been a huge exercise bringing 4 Councils together and I must give thanks to Andrew Brien who quietly and with little fuss seems to have managed to keep things ticking along very well.
I personally want to see the CEO position finalised and some more tweaking and adjusting done to our Councillor portfolios asap. Yes Council decided to advertise for a CEO so that process will have to be completed before I feel ‘properly’ settled. Council did decide on the final structure of Council which means some certainty in terms of reporting structures and who does what but until the CEO position is finalised I still personally feel slightly unsettled.
Now everyone has been busy as ever ringing and writing about issues for Councillors to deal with. I haven’t received much correspondence from residents from afar but plenty from Bay residents. If anyone knows of a woman down Doolong South way who rang me about litter from a building site in Doolong Sth road please ask her to call me again. I accidentally deleted her message and feel terrible as I cannot track her number and she must think I’m very, very rude! So please realise I do make mistakes and if you don’t hear from me please try again….
This is the link to familiarise yourselves with what Councillor does what at this point in time. http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/council/councillors.shtml
I have been busy trying to highlight, what in my mind, is an uninformed decision to erect fences around Happy Valley and Eurong to exclude Dingo’s. I have recently spoken with Kingfisher Resort staff who happily tell me of the Dingo’s that frequent that Resort. The Dingo’s have nicknames and have learned many tricks to broach the fence surrounding Kingfisher. A fence that does not do what it was designed to do. I believe the destruction to the environment around both townships and the lack of community consultation and reliance on rumour and innuendo has resulted in a hastily made and very badly implemented plan. I feel so sorry for the townspeople who have tried to argue their case against the fence but so far have failed. Council has formally asked for a meeting with our Local Member Hon Minister Andrew McNamara to discuss the fences and I hope some positives may come out of our meeting.
Of course Traveston is still also an issue and the Greater Mary Assoc have worked tirelessly to keep the media focus on this travesty also.
The issue about Councillor cars is a complex one. I was quite determined to retain my own car as I don’t owe money on it etc but was advised that over 4 years the cost to Council is less not more if I do use a Council car. It is very complicated trying to decipher the information relating to how it is all costed out but as my car is now 7 years old and will be 11 years old in 4 years time I decided to opt for a Prius. It will be interesting to see if this car does live up to the hype of being a ‘green’ car but I look forward to driving around for a thousand k’s or so between fill ups! I will let you know what I think of the car once I get it. I have to keep a log book for 3 months which I am rapidly getting used to and pay back Council for the private travel I do. This was why I didn’t want a Council car but at the end of the day I am travelling many more kilometres than I used to so hopefully my decision is a sensible one for both myself personally and the community.
R.E.S.T. is another complicated issue that was a Maryborough City Council decision prior to amalgamation. As a new Councillor to the FCRC I could find no reason to try and reverse a decision made by the previous Council. While I personally applaud the very hard work and dedication that members of charity organisations provide to our community I also am aware that financial rigour must be applied fairly to such organisations. As a Councillor I must be sure that public monies are expended in a very responsible manner and I support decisions that uphold this principle.
A Tourism Levy has not been raised in Council but the media reported information incorrectly by quoting some comments from some individuals. I hope that our local press can remember to differentiate between a Councillor’s personal comments and opinions and those made by a Councillor speaking as representing Council. There is a big difference and I will ask Council to release prompt press releases to ‘set the record straight’ when needed.
On Saturday Graham and I took a day off and flew over to Lady Elliot Island for the day. This island is right up there as my top holiday spot. We had magnificent calm sunny weather and after hiring ‘shorty’ wetsuits both of us enjoyed 3 snorkels and still had time for a lazy lunch and a quiet afternoon drink and read before flying home. I didn’t spot the elusive Manta Rays but did see two reef sharks and a huge turtle. Every time I visit the island I see something different. The coral and fish life defy description and I highly recommend you take the trip one day soon. I think we take our local attractions too much for granted sometimes. We honestly live in a truly magnificent natural wonderland.
Enough from me. Hope I haven’t bored you and take care.