June2015_COUNCILLOR’S COLUMN
by Cr Bob Millar
COUNTRY SHOWTIME AGAIN
DAYBORO SHOW – July 4 & 5
SAMFORD SHOW – July 11 & 12
The Country Show has, for many years, been a part of the character of most rural communities and provides new and old residents alike the opportunity to savour a unique experience in the history of rural and semi-rural living. With Dayboro and Samford hosting their 2015 show on the 4th and 5th July and 11th and 12th respectively, residents of our region and further afield are fortunate to have these two unique events so close at hand. In recognition of the importance of the annual Shows to the Region, Council is again providing in excess of $5,000 to assist each of these Show Societies in staging their events in addition to other in kind and financial assistance. I am also pleased to continue my long standing contribution towards the increasingly popular wood chopping events and will again have a Council display/information stand at the Show. I look forward to many of you dropping by for a chat over these two weekends.
COUNCIL BUDGET TIME
On top of the myriad of day to day issues, your Council has been working hard over the last few months on the challenging task of preparing the 2015/16 Budget and in so doing, is facing many of the same difficulties as other levels of Government such as reduced non rate revenues and increased costs. With the need to provide well for our community through adequate infrastructure and services and yet contain the cost to ratepayers, we have been aided by the strong financial and organisational management that has been exercised over the last few years. I will be assisting the Mayor in delivering the budget on 5th June and will report in further editions on the main aspects affecting residents in Division 11.
SMOKEY FIRES
Many residents in the rural residential parts of the Region use fire from time to time to either warm their homes in winter, dispose of excess vegetation or to reduce undergrowth on their properties. Please be aware that there are Council Local Laws relating to nuisance caused by fire and these can be checked on the council website:
(www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au).
The fire must not cause nuisance to surrounding properties and if the material is more than 2 metres in any direction, a permit is required from your local fire warden. To avoid inconvenience to neighbours you should not burn green waste but wait until the material has dried. Council also provides a free facility at its transfer stations and landfill sites for the disposal of green waste which is then mulched. The local laws also regulate the use of fire for burning material less than 2 metres in size including the requirement for a 6 metre boundary setback and fires not being lit before 7am and requiring to be extinguished no later than dusk. Lighting or maintaining a fire outdoors is prohibited on an allotment of 3000 square metres or less unless the fire is contained in a properly prepared barbeque or similar cooking apparatus.
OUTDOOR EXERCISE EQUIPMENT AND PING PONG TABLE
By the time this edition of the Grapevine "hits the streets", an outdoor table tennis table will have been installed adjacent to the Skate Park and work will have been completed on installation of the outdoor exercise equipment in Tullamore Park along with an accompanying seat, shade tree and water bubbler. These two projects which I have mentioned previously are excellent partnerships between Council, Dayboro Lions and the Progress Association. The State Government and a private donor also contributed funds to the exercise equipment project.
DAYBORO RODEO REVISITED
– Sunday 14th June
The Annual Dayboro Rodeo which was postponed due to the impact of the huge weather event on Friday May 1 will now take place on 14th June and I am sure with a bigger and better spectacle in store than originally expected. It is always hard for the small team of event organisers to “back up” in these situations but I would encourage you all to show your support for this great local event by rounding up all your friends from the “big smoke” and coming along on June 14th. I also am looking forward to officially opening the new cattle holding yards and viewing stand which have been a major part of the rodeo arena’s redevelopment over recent years.
COUNCIL GRANTS PROGRESS ASSOCIATION SHED SPACE
Council recently gave approval for the Dayboro and Districts Progress Association to erect a shed in Roderick Cruice Park behind Dayboro Cottage. Funding and construction of the shed has been undertaken by the Progress Association in what is another great collaborative community project, will provide much needed additional storage space for the association’s Dayboro Day and other activities.
NEW FLOOD INFRASTRUCTURE FOR DAYBORO
I mentioned in my April column that following extensive investigation and design work, Council awarded a $777,500 tender for the construction of vital flood resiliency infrastructure between Heathwood Street and Louisa Williams Park.
Just a reminder that construction is expected to commence within the next couple of weeks and be completed by September, weather permitting.
DID YOU KNOW?
That 1,649 people have acquired their Australian Citizenship at the ceremonies conducted by the Moreton Bay Regional Council from 21 April 2014 – 20 April 2015 inclusive.
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 twitter.com/CrBobMillar and Facebook.com/bob.millar.92
