AUG2013_COUNCILLORs COLUMN
by Cr Bob Millar
Councillor Bob Millar
Independent – Division 11
Office 3480 6455.
Follow me on @CrBobMillar
or Connect with me on Facebook.
DAYBORO SHOW
Another July has come and gone and two of the most popular events in my Division, namely the Dayboro and Samford shows have once again been very successful and luckily dodged the weather that threatened in days around both events. Congratulations to the hard working Dayboro Show committee and their many volunteers who keep turning up each year to bring this significant icon of our rural heritage to life.
OCEAN VIEW WINERY SCORES AT 2013 TOURISM AWARDS
I had the pleasure of recently attending the 2013 Moreton Bay and Islands Tourism Awards ceremony held at Cleveland and was even more excited that in the Tourism Restaurant & Catering Services category for which I had been called upon to present the award, our popular Ocean View Estates Winery and Restaurant came up victors. Not only did Kate and Tom yet again collect the category award for the estate, the win also built on past successes and took Ocean View Estates into the Hall of Fame. The Moreton Bay Region was well represented at the Awards with Mary Ann’s Cottage at Upper Caboolture, and The Abbey Museum
TRAIL BIKES
Illegal motocross and trail bike riding is putting riders in danger, upsetting people in our communities and causing damage to our environment. Motocross riding is not permitted in many State forests, forest reserves, plantation forests and national parks. Find out about the best places to ride by visiting the Queensland Government trail bike site at:
http://www.sportrec.qld.gov.au/Outdoorrecreation/TrailbikeridinginQueensland.aspx and let’s be considerate to our neighbours and the environment.
IMMUNISATION
Some residents may not be aware that Council provides a FREE immunisation service for residents with children up to 8 years of age. Parents are able to bring their children in to Council’s community immunisation clinics for free vaccinations against a range of serious infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough and meningococcal disease. Residents over 65 are also eligible for free flu and pneumovax vaccines. No appointments are necessary, but please bring your child’s record book and Medicare card. The MBRC immunisation clinic timetable is available on Council’s website at: www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/immunisation
DAYBORO TENNIS COURTS FENCING
Folk passing through Roderick Cruice Park or playing tennis will have noticed the seriously odd angle of some of the court fencing. It is unfortunate that the post have been positioned so close to the edge of the concrete surface apparently when repairs were done after the 2011 floods, however the problem has been drawn to the attention of Council officers and corrective action is being planned.
SOCCER GROUNDS DRAINAGE WORKS
Over recent weeks, Council crews have been undertaking some drainage works between the clubhouse and the playing pitch to reduce the incidence of water lying in the swale drain. Catchpits have been installed and an improved access through the gate to the field has been constructed. The planned carpark construction works to commence this financial year will also improve drainage around the clubhouse precinct. With a number of council officers, I recently undertook an inspection of the problematic wet area of the field to the west of the northern goal square to consider how the problem can best be given a permanent repair. More than a six figure amount has been provided in this year’s budget to deliver the desired outcome, although I noted that the field is currently looking in good shape.
BARKING DOGS
Barking is the most common animal behaviour problem Council is asked to deal with. All dogs bark, but some barking dogs become a real neighbourhood nuisance – greatly reducing the quality of life for their neighbours. Ongoing barking is often a symptom of another problem and taking time to understand what makes dogs bark, especially your pet or other dogs in your neighbourhood, is the first step towards solving this problem. Council has a ‘Managing Barking in our Community’ information pack which contains information and ideas to assist and deal with barking dogs and is available for download from the website:
www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au
SEQWATER RECREATION REVIEW
I recently met with officers from Seqwater who provided a briefing on the Recreation Review being undertaken to explore opportunities in and around its lakes to deliver a suite of management plans. This review provides a significant opportunity for those interested to have their say about sustainable recreation on and around the lakes and feedback is currently being sought for Lakes Kurwongbah and Samsonvale. Detailed information about on-line feedback and forums being conducted is available on the website www.yourseqwater.com.au/projects/seqwater and I would encourage you to have your say.
CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Recognising local governments and their communities in the Australian Constitution is something that has been receiving increasing attention across the country. Constitutional recognition is an important step in providing funding certainty for local governments. Funding certainty means local government can continue to deliver the things that matter to their communities – now and into the future and some of the irrelevant emails about Sharia Law and too much power to Canberra can be ignored. The Australian Local Government Association has been pursuing this for some years and taken advice from some of the nation’s leading constitutional lawyers. With almost unanimous support of members of both sides of politics in the Senate and House of Representatives, widespread community support for the referendum item will be critical to the long term future of Local Government in our Nation and we await advice as to whether this referendum question goes ahead with the upcoming election as previously proposed or at another time.
DID YOU KNOW?
That Council operates 2 Treasure Markets at the Dakabin and Caboolture Waste Facilities.
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
Office 3480 6455.
Follow me on @CrBobMillar or Connect with me on Facebook.
