Council Ordinary Meeting No. 13

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

Council Meeting tomorrow July 13th

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!

Litigation gone mad, Tiaro and whales, and Big History.

June 26th, 2011

I can’t believe some of the decisions our legal system makes. Yesterday on the front page of the Courier Mail we read about a woman succeeding in having Telstra pay her medical and legal bills. At first glance I thought… just another story until I read that the woman fell down the stairs at her home, not once but twice, and that because she was ‘working from home’ Telstra is somehow responsible. Inside the newspaper I read of a similar case in the US of A! What is the world coming to? Does it mean that from now on if I am working from home, which I do a lot, Council will have to come to my home and check that it is safe? Honestly I just can’t believe this story and am hoping I wake up and find it was all a dream..

Recently I tripped up inside the Council Chamber and aggravated my ruptured achilles tendon prior to it being correctly diagnosed. While I briefly thought of claiming workers compensation once I realised I would need surgery and a considerable time of rehab I just as promptly dismissed the idea. Yes the electrical power lead should not have been laying across the floor but I should have been taking better care of where I was walking. Also the injury was already done via netball some weeks prior. I decided just to get on with my life and have done so, but now apparently if I trip over at home I could place a claim. I just find it all ridiculous. Surely it is up to us to ensure we live in safe houses and up to our private home and/or personal insurance if we injure ourselves at home?

Yesterday was a  busy day with the morning spent at Tiaro speaking to people about the introduction or not, of Council divisions. We all have till the end of tomorrow being Monday to Have Our Say on this important issue. Most people at Tiaro seemed to think a return to divisions would be beneficial. The day was superb. Good weather and wonderful stalls and great organisation by hard working volunteers. A credit to Tiaro. Then it was off to the Paddle Out For Whales event at Torquay. Another beautiful afternoon and a sensational event again put on with some hard working caring ‘volunteers’. Thanks to Vicki and Amanda for your dedication. Bob Irwin was inspirational and truthful and hard hitting. I squirmed when Bob described how turtles and dugongs are left to die slow deaths by way of ritual slaughter under Native entitlements. I wish all cultural groups would just simply reassess some of their habits and traditional practices. The slaughter of any animal should be done as quickly and humanely as possible. There is simply no excuse in my mind, why anyone would do anything different once one realises that animals suffer pain and have emotions similar to ours!

Lastly the weekend papers did also provide some good news. A seemingly totally sensible new approach to teaching subject matter is being launched at a couple of schools. The programme is called “Big History’which is a strange name I think but the content of this course is universally sensible. The aim is to teach the evolution of our planet and the human species in a thoroughly objective manner. It weaves science, history and geography etc into the content and aims to provide a much broader and hopefully bias free, method of educating students. Bill Gates is promoting the project and from the small amount of research I have done so far it seems very worthwhile. Imagine a course taught to all children across the world. A course that aims to unite all of us humans rather than divide us. I am encouraged by where this type of education could take us. Do have a look and see what you think http://www.bighistoryproject.com/

In closing just a reminder that Council is asking for feedback about divisions, about the Maryborough CBD and the Fraser Coast Airports Master Plans. If you don’t take the time to have a quick look and a quick say then it is difficult to complain after the plans are adopted. It is concerning to me to have to make decisions for this region when only 1-2% of you have responded to any given issue. I know we live in very busy times but……. please try and have your say. Take care and have fun, Sue

PS I have started a facebook page as Councillor Sue Brooks which I can update quickly and simply so feel free to join me there also.. http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Councillor-Sue-Brooks/171469812905823 or just do a search which works easily…

Footpath woes

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

Ordinary Meeting number 11

June 13th, 2011

Phew! Heaps to read for this weeks meeting so straight to it….

We are proposing to discuss many issues including the minutes of the most recent Economic Development Advisory Committee, our outstanding Council resolutions and our Quaterly Report on the implementation of our Corporate and Operational Plans. While many pages long this report is a good snapshot of which projects are happening and what their status is. We are asked to delegate powers to the CEO in relation to the Building Act and State Penalties Enforcement Act which is a procedural regular occurrence designed to empower staff to carry out their duties. We receive the report on the Bauple RV camping proposals and the Financial Report for May. We then decide on a proposed Facade Improvement Program and have a development application to decide. This is for the balance of the On The Beach Estate at Burrum Heads. The land is located adjacent Bushnell Dve and Orchid Dve and is currently zoned predominantly rural. It includes various types of housing etc.

We also receive answers to Questions on Notice, two of which were asked by myself. The issues include rubbish facilities and seating at the Urangan Pier and mowing regimes at Pt Vernon. Another question raised by Cr McNeven is answerd in relation to drainage enquiries. We also receive the amended Mangrove Mangement Strategy. Then in confidential we discuss compliance and drainage issues relating to a specific area in Howard and decide several contracts for the supply and delivery of new equipment, the result of the EOI re the Economic Development Strategy Project Delivery, Harland Carpark drainage works and Nissen St roadworks. Not forgetting that while some discussion of the confidential items takes place privately Councillors vote publicly. Councillors also speak to or against the recommendations publicly and can put forward amended recommendations at this time. In other words no decisions are actually made privately they are all made publicly.

Because today is a Public Holiday I expect the agenda will be available early tomorrow via the Council web site. The meeting is in Maryborough on Wednesday starting at 9.30am and the public is always welcome to attend.

Last week Council voted to approve the new solar farm on WBWC land on Hebblewhite road. This should be a good thing for our community and I am keen to find out how much power is produced and the saving we can expect to make on power bills. Wouldn’t it be good to become a self sufficient power producer on a regional scale!

Personally… I am off the crutches but still hobbling a fair bit and if I do too much hobbling my foot swells up considerably. It looks like the 6 months rehab everyone tells me is needed will be a reality so I am keen to visit my new physio tomorrow arvo and get on track so I can take long walks once again.

Lastly on Saturday we travelled to Nudgee to collect 6 new rescued battery hens. They have survived the change to a more normal life really well and are settling into their new home scratching the ground, flapping their wings and hopefully learning what a nesting box is for! I can’t buy non free range eggs ever and wish we could change they way we farm animals. Factory animal farming is just awful. Once again if we had several free range farms throughout our region I am sure we could produce our own eggs from much happier chooks. http://www.ecoeggs.com.au/ Yes it is profitable to farm chooks free range as this site demonstrates.

Hope you all had a safe and happy long weekend and isn’t it good to have sunshine again…

Budget time again.

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..

Footpaths and Council notes

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.

Maryborough CBD and Bay Esplanade upgrades. What do you think?

May 8th, 2011

A very Happy Mothers Day to all the mums and a happy day also to everyone else.  

Council as always is a busy place but it seems that once again we have several issues that we want community feedback on. First on the agenda last week was a proposal for upgrading to the central or core Urangan, Torquay, Scarness and Pialba sections of The Esplanade in Hervey Bay. The intent is to provide for more pedestrian friendliness in these areas while still enabling good traffic flow. There is considerable debate about what is most important.. people or cars! I believe both are equally important and that both vehicles and pedestrians can be accommodated together. While one lot of thinking is trying to steer non tourist traffic off the Esplanade I would be saddened if I was dissuaded from cruising the “Nade slowly and peacefully as a means of getting from my end of town to Urangan. You see I simply love driving along The Esplanade and am never in a hurry when I do so. But I agree that service vehicles and other non-essential traffic should use alternative routes. I also want pedestrian safety and ease of crossing the road to be improved. But, as always, it is not my wishes that matter. It is your wishes that are the ones I need to represent and am interested in your thoughts about the proposed plans. Yes while there is always a cost to implement anything it is envisaged that Council would stagger the works over several years and that alternative funding, other than just rates income, would be sought.

Secondly Council is also placing 4 different options for future Maryborough CBD works out to the community for comment. Some of the options include some limited one ‘waying’ in and around the CBD. All options are also dependent on funding and including in future programmes. I don’t frequent the Maryborough CBD as often as Maryborough residents do so your input is anticipated and needed. I am not generally a supporter of one way streets but maybe in some circumstances they are of benefit.

Thirdly the Fraser Coast Airports Master Plans are out for comment. While I believe we can make good use of our two airports the plans are focussed on future growth of both sites. One of the issues that troubles me with the plans, is the acknowledgement that air traffic will increase and that fly friendly options are desirable. The trouble is Council has no power over flight paths and I don’t believe Fly Friendly agreements can be enforced. Happy to be corrected if I am wrong, but if I am correct then it is obvious that growth of aviation will mean more planes flying more frequently over our houses. So once again public input is needed regarding these plans.

This is the very important link to the feedback section of the Council web site. Bookmarking may be a good idea… 

http://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/web/guest/have-your-say

Lastly I would like to comment on the Pier Kiosk proposal. While many people took the time to sign a petition against the development of a kiosk on the pier the issue is now a non-issue as no expressions of interest were received during the period of time for this to happen. While I still believe improvements to the Pier could make it more accessible and people friendly I acknowledge the concerns that existing businesses have on any increased competition to their businesses. My personal vision was not for a take away type of kiosk but for a facility for sitting protected from wind and sunshine while being able to snack on non take away style fare. Tea and scones come to mind… although my waistline would say no! I would like to see rubbish better managed and much more seating for visitors to the Pier so regardless of the outcome of the “expressions of interest’ process I will explore other ways of achieving this. Bins placed on the pier are difficult to access for emptying and are invariably used by fisher people for fish rubbish so they become smelly and fly attracting very quickly. But a solution needs to be found and I am open to suggestions. As always a cost is involved to patrol or remove rubbish very regularly.

Also ongoing processes in relation to the development of Local Laws and Coastal protection is happening and Council has submitted applications for increased sand pushing. The application process has cost nearly $20k already so I have my fingers crossed that they will be successful. Sand pushing is limited in its ability to combat erosion and I still anticipate the finalisation of the long and drawn out SEMP (due June) to better inform us of other strategies that may be viable to protect our coastline.

So please do take the time in the next few days to visit the Council web site and Have Your Say! Your feedback is important as I always worry when I am basing my decisions in Council on a very small sample of public feedback.

Take care, enjoy each and every day and hug your loved ones. Many local families have lost loved ones recently and my heart goes out to you. We are lucky to live in such a beautiful place but the caring and love of our family and friends in times of need, is what makes a place a true home. Keep safe, cheers, Sue

This one’s all about me….

May 1st, 2011

Life on crutches post my Achilles tendon repair surgery last Wednesday evening. Day 4..

 Firstly…. It is quite scary. You worry you will fall. Then your hands ache and your shoulders chime in also as neither your hands or arms or shoulders were designed to carry your entire body weight! But they are capable of it and can do it. For me so far, venturing forth with my trusty sticks is done in short bursts. I don’t think I can go very far without resting. A trek to the beach is not even under consideration at this time…. Might have to hire a wheelie chair so I can get down to the sand at least….

Secondly… Your hands are now fully occupied operating your crutches to relocate your body from place to place so you can’t use them for their main purpose which is to hold and carry stuff! So how often in a day does one hold and carry stuff from place to place one might ask? Heaps says I! Making a cuppa now involves a trusty travel mug with a lid which prevents spills and burns and I can hold it with two fingers while still grabbing the crutch on my good side! Getting the milk from the fridge is another two finger job using a smaller milk container than normal with a screw lid…

 Thirdly… You have to plan ahead. Graham has now got many more jobs to do and keeping the floor clean and clear of mats and trip hazards is a priority. He also has been asked to ensure a full roll of toilet paper is at hand at all times at both loo’s in the house and he either prepares a meal for my lunch before he leaves or I stick to cup a soup! Hence the treasured multi purpose lidded travel mug!  I have a small carry bag that I can tie to the crutch on my good side and a shoulder bag or bum bag is on the list for tomorrow. Carrying stuff is the biggest challenge after simply moving from one seat to another seat is mastered…. But thank God for my ipad. It is a such a relief to be web browsing, emailing and playing games from anywhere so easily. I even used it in the hospital after my op to tell Graham and friends I was OK.

 But the worstest thing is needing to be helped and assisted in nearly everything. It is very difficult to not be able to drive and to be asking Graham to take me places and bring me stuff constantly. I am so lucky that I have a partner who is willing to be my servant for a while but it isvery hard to be so dependent on someone else. I feel like a constantly demanding child….. Could you get me this, can you bag up my leg for the shower, can you make a cuppa, hang out the washing after doing the washing… and so on and so on…

So day 4 post surgery sees me in much less pain and the black torture boot becoming considerably less torturous! In otherwords my surgery wounds aren’t hurting a lot and my foot seems to be adapting to the various rubbings and pressure points and funny fitting of the boot. I am concerned however that my foot isn’t staying in the correct position within the boot so it being a long weekend I will just have to tough it out till Tuesday. I am sure no lasting harm is being done but ankle angle is important and my foot wants to sit up off the bottom of the boot and I think this is wrong. Will get it sorted on Tuesday.

So the last 2 nights I didn’t need pain killers (hooray) and think they won’t be needed at all anymore which is excellent. Sleeping is easier as I have worked out better positions for the leg with boot using pillows etc to rest it on. Not forgetting that I am under strict instructions that my leg MUST be elevated all of the time! So I am trying to do this and getting a numb bum is a commom occurrence from all the sitting! A trip to the loo becomes an adventure to look forward to as it is a good excuse to move around a bit..

The main lesson for me so far is to care for this prescious body of mine a lot better. It has never failed to operate to this extent, ever before, so I am much, much more aware of how vital to happiness is our good health. I am apologising to my body for stupidly trying to return to netball when a less physical sport would have been more appropriate (at my age…)! And I am now aware that aerobic fitness and good strength are nothing without muscle fitness! So yoga and stretching exercises, here I come. Having a flexible and fit body is what we need and one without the other is no good!

Lastly my wonderful local surgeon Sean managed to get my tendon ends back together somehow so I should be able to function normally again. I honestly don’t care if I can never run again but just to be able to walk long distances free of pain will be such a joy. Remember that saying…. You don’t know what youv’e got till it’s gone? So true, so true…

PS Thank you to Graham and all my friends for their care and concern. I really do appreciate it.

Happy Easter… and the next meeting!

April 23rd, 2011

Work never stops it seems but this long Easter weekend is providing us with wonderful weather (so far). It is also a time to have a rest and mix with family and friends. We also remember our war dead by remembering them and quietly thanking them on Monday at the numerous ANZAC services throughout the district.

So to next week. On Wednesday we will participate in a recreation of Local government 150 years ago in Maryborough. It will be a special day and do travel to Maryborough Town Hall and join in. At 1pm we will conduct our Council meeting and it is a reasonably full agenda. Items include -

Receipt of petition report re the toilet block at Poona.  It is recommended that Council support the recommendation to preserve this public facility. The election of the Deputy Mayor for the final months of this Council is also due. We receive reports from our EDAC and EAC committees. EAC has made two recommendations to Council about Arkarra tea gardens and the foreshore. Other items include a report on attendance at conferences that Councillors have attended and a report requesting a Councillor to accompany the Mayor at the National General Assembly of Local Government in June in Canberra. An important conference where delegates do get one on one time with Federal ministers etc.

Then we have a request for leases at Burrum Heads and Bidwill on behalf of community groups, our Financial report, a report on the Mary to Bay Trail proposal, receipt and adoption of our Tree Management Policy, a request to lease 6000sqm of Council owned land in Denman Camp Rd for a respite centre on behalf of Kal áng Respite Care Centre Aboriginal Corporation for 20 years at $1 per year, the Community and Culture quarterly report, a report on the Complete Sports marketing Program and a report on Fees at the Hervey Bay Aquatic centre. Lastly in confidential we discuss several contracts and an airport lease and electricty supply tender. Lastly we discuss the appointment of the new CEO. Just a reminder that while these last items are discussed privately we always make the decisions by voting publicly. I sometimes think that people forget that last bit of business is always done publicly.

The agenda for this Council Meeting is available via the Council web site now so happy reading! Lastly there are two issues causing continuuing community concern. One issue is the proposed Optus facility to be located adjacent the water tower at Straits Outlook, Craignish and the other is the issue of overnight camping at Bauple. Two difficult problems as in the case of the first the mobile facility is a minor installation and is more than likely able to proceed regardless of Council or community objections and secondly the Bauple community is quite divided on what it wants to see happen within its township in relation to overnight RV facilities. I will endeavour to provide updates on these issues and others via this site when new information is available .

 I am walking on the beach each morning thankful that I can. This coming  Wednesday I have surgery to reconstruct my busted achilles (an injury sustained in February and misdiagnosed as a  muscle tear), and will be unable to walk for a few weeks afterwards. A challenge I’m not looking forward to. Also our beautiful 4 legged Becki has a ‘luxating patella’ or plainly speaking – a dislocating kneecap and she may require surgery also. But these minor bothers pale into insignificance when I learn of the health challenges facing some very special colleagues and senior members of our community. My thoughts are with you all.

So in closing have a safe and happy Easter, don’t eat too many hot cross buns or Easter eggies and take care of your health by staying fit and maintaining happy relationships with those family and friends with whom you share your life. Have n Eggscellent Easter, Sue

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