COUNCILLOR’S COLUMN June 08

After many years of dodging them, sometimes unsuccessfully, residents and visitors to Dayboro will be pleased to farewell the deep roadside drains of Williams and Bradley Streets.  This significant undertaking which will be finished once the Bradley Street project between the Williams Street intersection and the community hall is completed, after Dayboro Day, will bring to a close one of the major projects that had been on my “hit list” since being elected to Council.

I recently inspected progress on Councils largest infrastructure project which, when completed in late 2008, will be treating some 4,000,000 litres of waste water per day via a new state-of-the-art polishing plant located at Murrumba Downs.  The water will then be piped to the nearby Amcor Carton Board Mill at Petrie.  The quantity of water saved will be equal to that used by around 28,500 persons or over 9,500 homes on the basis of the current level 6 restriction.  That’s good water strategy and is another example of both Local Govt & Qld Govt working together.  Council instigated the initiative under its water saving agenda and paid to get it going but will be reimbursed when the State Government takes over the plant under the water reform arrangements introduced last year.
MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITY (MRF)
Council early last year awarded a new waste collection contract to Thiess Services with the arrangements commencing in July 2007.  As part of these arrangements, Thiess has constructed a significant new MRF on property owned by AMCOR at Petrie (aka the Petrie Paper Mill).  The facility was jointly opened by our Mayor, Allan Sutherland and Dave Saxelby, Managing Director of Thiess Services on 21st May.  The state of the art facility is almost fully automated and will process all the recyclable materials collected from our region.  Waste paper comprises the bulk of the material processed with the location of the MRF right beside the paper mill which uses the paper, contributing to minimal cartage costs and therefore a very environmentally sensitive solution to waste management.  The MRF is already processing around 1,000 tonnes of recyclable material per month of which about 600 tonnes is paper product.  Provision has been made in the facility for regular school education programmes to be conducted.
DAYBORO DAY MAKES THE PINE RIVERS FESTIVAL
By the time the Grapevine hits the streets another Dayboro Day will have come and gone and the hundreds of locals who have contributed either on the organising committee or with one of the many community organisations involved in the event, will be recovering from their valiant efforts.  Having now attended my 9th Dayboro Day as your councillor, I am pleased to have been able to facilitate Council’s ongoing support and to see the event continue to grow as part of the Pine Rivers Festival and help contribute so strongly to the local community.  Congratulations to all who have made this year’s event such a great success.
DID YOU KNOW?
That the Pine Rivers sixteenth Annual Art Awards will be open for public viewing at the Pine Rivers Regional Art Gallery (Mecklem St, Strathpine) from Saturday 4 June to 5 July (Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 4pm).
For all your general council enquiries call 3480 6666 or email pinerivers@moretonbay.qld.gov.au
If I can assist further, contact me.