Nov2012_COUNCILLORs COLUMN

For all your general council enquiries call 3205 0555 or email mbrc@moretonbay.qld.gov.au

If I can assist further please contact me.
Councillor Bob Millar
Independent – Division 11
bob.millar@moretonbay.qld.gov.au
office 3480 6455,

_{WILLIAMS STREET BRIDGE – NEARLY THERE}
This major project right in the middle of Dayboro Village which brought the first set of traffic lights (fortunately only temporary) to Dayboro and caused considerable disruption to traffic and nearby businesses, is almost complete.  The street and footpaths are scheduled to be fully opened by the first week of November, with the rock basins and landscaping to be completed by the middle of the month.  Landscaping will be quite considerable with over 1000 plants to be placed around the newly defined waterway including many advanced specimens of Melaleucas and other trees.  The landscaping will hopefully be all settled in before any significant summer rains and the reconstructed floodway will vastly improve, but not eliminate, the flooding in this area.  All those locals who have been very patient and tolerant as this work has been undertaken have my personal appreciation.
ALBERT THISTLEWAITE BRIDGE – CLOSEBURN
Council has been undertaking an ongoing programme of inspecting the many bridges across the Region to ensure that they continue to meet the service levels expected of them. One such bridge that has undergone deck repair work in the past and is now to undergo further remediation works is the Albert Thistlewaite Bridge over Cedar Creek at Closeburn.  A tender was awarded last week to Moggill Constructions Pty Ltd for $266,618 for works to protect the structural performance of the bridge throughout its remaining design life, and install rock protection to two of its piers and the creek embankment on the upstream side.
YOUTH ART AWARDS  
Last month saw another  successful Moreton Bay Region Youth Art Awards exhibition and once again, Division 11 entries have featured amongst the successful entrants. Lucy Wright from Samford picked up a second place in the Year 11/12 2D category with her drawing and the Mt Nebo State School continued its long record of success by this year taking out first place in the Years 4 – 7 collaberative category with their entry "It Takes a Village to Raise a Child – A Village Not a City".  Congratulations to our local entrants and their mentors on their success
COUNCIL HONOURS LOCAL HISTORIAN
Council recently resolved to recognise its long serving local history librarian, Leith Barter, who passed away three months ago, by naming the meeting room at the Pine Rivers Museum after him.  Leith had a 40-year career as a librarian, lecturer and researcher with some of his achievements over his 13 years with Council including mentoring the Dayboro District Historical Society and Samford  Museum members, authoring Pioneering the Pine and the production of the DVD, Two Centuries, a History of Pine Rivers.
PINE RIVERS CHAPLAINCY SUPPORT DINNER
Another successful Moreton Bay Regional Council chaplaincy dinner was held at North Leagues Club last month with former Rugby League great Steve Renouf doing a fine job in supporting us as guest speaker.  The evening was a great success and with ticket sales, auctions, raffles and donations raising a fantastic $21,011.45 which will find its way through Scripture Union to the Chaplaincy programmes at the Pine Rivers based schools.
COUNCILS SOCIAL MEDIA
Whilst social media attracts a lot of negative publicity and is poorly used by many people, it can play an important beneficial role in today’s society by providing an additional and speedy information channel.  Council uses social media via Facebook and Twitter to provide valuable information about events, library activities and most important of all, disaster management information which is activated at www.facebook.com/MoretonBayCouncil during times of emergency.  Other sites include  www.facebook.com/MBRC.events, www.facebook.com/MBRC.libraries and www.facebook.com/QueenslandStateEquestrianCentre with the latter providing details of both equestrian and other events at the Queensland Equestrian Centre at Caboolture.  Council also uses the Twitter feed www.twitter.com/MBRCdisaster  during times of disaster and residents are welcome to join these networks.  Residents are also invited to follow me on twitter @CrBobMillar or connect with me on facebook
HEALTHY AND ACTIVE MORETON
Grab your free copy of council’s new Healthy & Active Moreton brochure and explore the free and low cost activities and programs available to residents in the Moreton Bay Region.
The guide can be downloaded via council’s website www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au  or call 3205 0555 for a copy.
DID YOU KNOW?

Council recovers approximately 9,300 tons of ferris metal and 320 tons of non ferris metal each year through its waste facilities.  Not only does this contribute significantly to Council’s recycling efforts, sale of this material generates several million dollars each year.