Dec12_COUNCILLORs COLUMN
by Cr Bob Millar
CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST UPON US
By the time this edition of the Grapevine is on the streets, we will be within a few weeks of yet another Christmas and I’m sure like me, you all wonder where the past 12 months have gone.
CHRISTMAS IS ALMOST UPON US
By the time this edition of the Grapevine is on the streets, we will be within a few weeks of yet another Christmas and I’m sure like me, you all wonder where the past 12 months have gone.
There is also no doubt that they seem to come around much faster every year. It has been another year of considerable achievement, much of which I have been able to report to you through my regular columns and my Millars Mailbag newsletter. I look forward to working with you all in 2013 to make our substantial part of the huge Moreton Bay Regional Council an even better place to live. As this is the last edition of the Grapevine before Christmas, I would like to take the opportunity to wish you and your families a holy, enjoyable and safe festive season and a hope that the New Year is kind to you all. Despite this busy time of the year, I hope to see some of you at Swaggies, which I am pleased to continue to support, to help offset the production costs. Access to Council services continues to be available over the holiday period on 3205 0555 (This number also contacts the Council’s Out of Hours Service for emergency matters).
COMMUNITY GRANT APPROVALS
Council recently approved more than $230 000 towards grant applications from 42 community groups around the Region. I’m pleased that 4 groups in Division 11 were successful in obtaining approval for such projects as an extension to the existing Narangba Girl Guides Den; replacement of a kitchen at the Samford Swim Club facilities; the installation of underground water supply at the Dayboro Community Kindergarten; and assisting the Samford Progress Association in undertaking a community engagement project. Grants to support worthwhile community projects and events are provided twice each year with applications for the next round opening on 1 February. Details are available from the website
COUNCIL APPOINTS TRANSFER STATION CARETAKERS
The contract arrangements for a number of Council Transfer Stations have recently come up for renewal and I’m pleased to advise that Barney from the Dayboro Transfer Station has been reappointed as the local caretaker. Many residents will know Barney and his helpful nature at the Transfer Station despite the many “challenges” with which, from time to time, he has to deal. Residents of Moreton Bay not only have the benefit of access to free domestic tipping but have a choice of 12 land fill or Transfer Stations sites to service their needs. By comparison the whole of metropolitan Brisbane are serviced by 3 transfer stations and 1 landfill site, the latter of which is not open to the public. Please ensure that you are familiar with Council’s recycling requirements and that you respect and respond positively to the guidance of our caretakers.
FLOOD MONITORING STATION INSTALLATION – OCEAN VIEW
Following the disastrous floods of January 2011, Council has undertaken a program to increase the number of rainfall and river monitoring gauges around the region. A number of gauges exist in the North Pine River which assist authorities in predicting flood levels in the river catchment system. An additional rainfall monitoring gauge is being installed at Highcrest Street, Ocean View which will provide valuable information as to the likely impacts on flows in Terrors Creek.
139 NEW AUSSIES FOR MORETON BAY
At the Citizenship Ceremony held last month, 139 residents of the Moreton Bay Regional Council area received their Australian citizenship at a Ceremony held at the Strathpine Community Centre. The candidates originally came from 30 countries around the world, with more than a third of them hailing from the United Kingdom. South Africa featured next with 25 candidates. Apart from receiving their citizenship certificates before an enthusiastic group of friends and relatives, the candidates were presented with a small tree by their respective Divisional councillors, as a token of “something new”. It is expected that around 1,500 Moreton Bay Regional Council residents will take out Australian citizenship over the next 12 months.
SADDLEBACK DRIVE SURVEY AND RESIDENT CATCH UP
One of the more pleasant tasks of my Councillor role is meeting with many of the 30,000 residents across my Division at the wide range of activities, sporting events and meetings that take place throughout the year. Recently I was able to catch up with many of the residents of Alcheringa Estate at their community Christmas gathering, kindly hosted by Lexie and Glenn, at which I was able to update them with my efforts to secure a pedestrian refuge to assist locals in crossing Dayboro Road to access the village. I am currently undertaking an updated survey to confirm the demand for this long awaited crossing before engaging again with the Department of Transport and Main Roads. If you live in the estate and haven’t yet completed the survey, please do so as soon as possible.
DID YOU KNOW?
That Moreton Bay Regional Council won the 2012 Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland Sustainable Cities Awards – Community Action and Partnership for the innovative and practical waste education program for schools and Early Learning Centres. Some 26 Schools and Centres have implemented positive waste practices with students driving the decrease of waste to landfill and increase of recycling and organic composting by up to 38 per cent of the centre’s total waste.
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
COMMUNITY GRANT APPROVALS
Council recently approved more than $230 000 towards grant applications from 42 community groups around the Region. I’m pleased that 4 groups in Division 11 were successful in obtaining approval for such projects as an extension to the existing Narangba Girl Guides Den; replacement of a kitchen at the Samford Swim Club facilities; the installation of underground water supply at the Dayboro Community Kindergarten; and assisting the Samford Progress Association in undertaking a community engagement project. Grants to support worthwhile community projects and events are provided twice each year with applications for the next round opening on 1 February. Details are available from the website
COUNCIL APPOINTS TRANSFER STATION CARETAKERS
The contract arrangements for a number of Council Transfer Stations have recently come up for renewal and I’m pleased to advise that Barney from the Dayboro Transfer Station has been reappointed as the local caretaker. Many residents will know Barney and his helpful nature at the Transfer Station despite the many “challenges” with which, from time to time, he has to deal. Residents of Moreton Bay not only have the benefit of access to free domestic tipping but have a choice of 12 land fill or Transfer Stations sites to service their needs. By comparison the whole of metropolitan Brisbane are serviced by 3 transfer stations and 1 landfill site, the latter of which is not open to the public. Please ensure that you are familiar with Council’s recycling requirements and that you respect and respond positively to the guidance of our caretakers.
FLOOD MONITORING STATION INSTALLATION – OCEAN VIEW
Following the disastrous floods of January 2011, Council has undertaken a program to increase the number of rainfall and river monitoring gauges around the region. A number of gauges exist in the North Pine River which assist authorities in predicting flood levels in the river catchment system. An additional rainfall monitoring gauge is being installed at Highcrest Street, Ocean View which will provide valuable information as to the likely impacts on flows in Terrors Creek.
139 NEW AUSSIES FOR MORETON BAY
At the Citizenship Ceremony held last month, 139 residents of the Moreton Bay Regional Council area received their Australian citizenship at a Ceremony held at the Strathpine Community Centre. The candidates originally came from 30 countries around the world, with more than a third of them hailing from the United Kingdom. South Africa featured next with 25 candidates. Apart from receiving their citizenship certificates before an enthusiastic group of friends and relatives, the candidates were presented with a small tree by their respective Divisional councillors, as a token of “something new”. It is expected that around 1,500 Moreton Bay Regional Council residents will take out Australian citizenship over the next 12 months.
SADDLEBACK DRIVE SURVEY AND RESIDENT CATCH UP
One of the more pleasant tasks of my Councillor role is meeting with many of the 30,000 residents across my Division at the wide range of activities, sporting events and meetings that take place throughout the year. Recently I was able to catch up with many of the residents of Alcheringa Estate at their community Christmas gathering, kindly hosted by Lexie and Glenn, at which I was able to update them with my efforts to secure a pedestrian refuge to assist locals in crossing Dayboro Road to access the village. I am currently undertaking an updated survey to confirm the demand for this long awaited crossing before engaging again with the Department of Transport and Main Roads. If you live in the estate and haven’t yet completed the survey, please do so as soon as possible.
DID YOU KNOW?
That Moreton Bay Regional Council won the 2012 Keep Australia Beautiful Queensland Sustainable Cities Awards – Community Action and Partnership for the innovative and practical waste education program for schools and Early Learning Centres. Some 26 Schools and Centres have implemented positive waste practices with students driving the decrease of waste to landfill and increase of recycling and organic composting by up to 38 per cent of the centre’s total waste.
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
