JUNE
UPDATE
Customer Service 1300 COUNCIL (1300 268 624)
Western Downs Regional Council PO Box 551, DALBY, QLD 4405
www.wdrc.qld.gov.au
info@wdrc.qld.gov.au
NEW REGIONAL LOCAL LAWS Western Downs Regional Council is currently reviewing its local laws and subordinate local laws, as mandated by the State Government following amalgamation, to develop a suite of relevant and functional new regional local laws. Council currently administers 157 local and subordinate local laws across the region which will be repealed by the 31 December 2011 deadline. The proposed new suite of local laws will total seven plus 22 subordinate local laws, a significant reduction which Council envisages will not only streamline the administration of local laws across the region, but also assist with ensuring consistency for all Western Downs residents.
Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Ray Brown and Member for Condamine Ray Hopper met with State Opposition Leader Campbell Newman during a visit to the Western Downs last month as part of a state-wide tour.
The draft laws are currently undergoing a State Interest Check conducted by State Government Agencies. The next step is for Council to display the draft documents publicly and to engage the residents of Western Downs Region in a review of the proposed new laws by mid July this year. A set of helpful fact sheets will be made available to assist community members to review the proposed new local laws. Council values the opinions of its residents and looks forward to receiving your feedback in relation to the proposed new local laws once the official 21 day public submission period is announced.
WORKS PROJECTS JUNE
NEWS IN BRIEF
CHINCHILLA DISTRICT: Dalby Kogan Road - Intersection upgrade, finish
REGIONAL PUBLIC ART PROJECT
WATER DEADLINE APPROACHES
A public artwork created by a local artist from the Western Downs is set to become the centrepiece of the entrance to Council’s new corporate office, Western Downs on Drayton.
July
Various flood damage repairs DALBY DISTRICT: Bidstrups Road - Reconstruction, finish June Branch Creek Road - Reconstruction, finish June Moonie Highway (Stage Two) - Overlay and
stabilise, finish June
Myall Creek Pathway
construction, finish June
- New pathway
Pirrinuan Apunyal Road - Reconstruction, finish
June
MILES DISTRICT: Flood Damage - Maintenance TARA DISTRICT: Chinchilla Tara Road - Widening, finish June Kogan Condamine Road/Chinchilla Tara Road -
Intersection upgrade, finish July Kumbarilla Lane - Resheet and seal, start May 2011 and finish 2012 WANDOAN DISTRICT: Giligulgul Road - Resheet, finish June Waterloo Street - Widen and seal, finish June Woodside Road - Road upgrade, finish June
During all works traffic and pedestrian signs will be erected for public safety and residents are requested to follow the signed instructions at all times.Your patience is appreciated.
Water consumers are urged to pay their full water charges before the payment due date of 17 June 2011. A leaflet containing flood relief payment arrangements was sent with your water consumption notice.
MARBLE STREET REPAIRS Council has lodged a submission to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) for a $2.5 million reconstruction project to repair Marble Street, Dalby following extensive flood damage. Council advises that reconstruction will commence when the QRA grants approval and funding has been allocated. In the meantime the flood damaged section of Marble Street between Finks Lane and Patrick Street roundabout will remain closed to all traffic in both directions.
CHAPLAINCIES SUPPORTED
A workshop was held on Friday 20 May with artists from across the region joining members of the Regional RADF Committee to start the development of an artist’s brief for the project. To ensure the project is eligible for funding grants, conditions include that the artist be a resident of the Western Downs region and that the construction of the public art will include community participation. Council hopes that the regional pubic art project will help foster the community’s ownership of Western Downs on Drayton and create a unique identity for the refurbished building. Local artists are encouraged to look out for the call for expressions of interest that will be advertised soon. For more information please contact Council’s Regional Community Support Manager Carollee Murphy on 4679 4436.
FROM THE MAYOR’S DESK
CALL 1300 COUNCIL Council now has one number for all telephone enquiries regardless of where customers are located within the region. Customers now only have to remember one number - 1300 COUNCIL, that’s 1300 268 624 for all enquiries. It doesn’t matter where you live or whatever the Council service you require. The centre operates during normal office hours of 8am to 5pm each weekday.
BELL DIGITAL TV Conversion of analogue television retransmission services to digital for Bell residents planned to occur on May 24 has been delayed. Analogue signals in Bell will now cease transmission in December. More information on the digital switchover is available from the Digital Ready website at http://www.digitalready.gov.au/ or by calling 1800 20 10 13.
DALBY READY TO BLOOM
COUNCIL MEETINGS
Residents can look forward to a colourful display in Dalby’s central business district blooming this spring with more than 4,000 seedlings planted this month by Council’s parks and gardens team.
Mayor Ray Brown made the donation to the Chaplaincy Committees at a ceremony in Miles on May 20.
The next Ordinary Meeting of Council will be at the Jandowae Customer Service Centre at 9.30am on Wednesday, June 15 and at the Dalby Corporate Office on Wednesday July 6.
Garden beds in the town’s centre will come to life in spring with a flower display of petunias, pansies, alyssiums, snapdragon, kale, calendulas and chrysanthemums.
RECYCLING
Western Downs Regional Council Spokesperson for Environment and Health Cr George Moore places recyclable material into the yellow-lidded recycling bin.
WDRC’s commitment to supporting the work of local charities has seen the Miles and Wandoan School Chaplaincies share in more than $2,000 raised at the annual Western Downs Mayoral Prayer Breakfast.
COUNCILLOR SPOTLIGHT The State Government’s new cap on local government infrastructure charges, to be introduced on July 1, is set to simplify and standardise infrastructure charges administered by local governments and paid by developers when new dwellings and infrastructure are constructed. The proposed new measures should not affect the Western Downs region as greatly as other Queensland council areas as Council’s current charges are significantly below the recommended $20,000 - $30,000 range that is of concern. Council awaits more information to fully consider the impact of these reforms on the region. The lack of consultation with local government on these new policies and the resulting impact on ratepayers has been disappointing. Council is having extensive discussions with energy companies in the Surat Basin Province to develop a Housing Strategy in response to growing community concerns about housing and rental affordability in the region. Council has instigated The Housing Strategy Advisory Committee to work with energy companies to form a position on housing affordability. A Housing Strategy will be mandated as part of future environmental impact statements to address this issue. Regarding the floods earlier this year, Council is undertaking flood mapping for planning for major towns affected by flooding.
PLEASE RECYCLE ONLY THESE ITEMS
Paper & cardboard
Glass bottles & jars (no lids please)
Steel & aluminum cans & empty aerosols
Spokesperson for Planning Cr Ray Jamieson 0439 789 024
Recently, it was pleasing to welcome the Governor-General Quentin Bryce when she visited the Dalby State School in the lead up to their 150th Anniversary celebrations before meeting volunteers involved in the town’s flood response and recovery effort. Council has begun work on the 2011-2012 Budget and we will continue our push in both Federal and State Government spheres after recent Federal Budget announcements did not include the substantial infrastructure increases so desperately needed in rural regional Australia. The lack of support for the resourcing of critical infrastructure in the Western Downs was particularly disappointing. In the past couple of weeks our region has played host to visits from both sides of State Government. These opportune visits allowed Council to point out what our communities’ needs and concerns are. Lastly, I wish to acknowledge the loyalty shown by some long serving members of Council’s staff – Terry Smith who recently retired after 54 years service to the Miles and Chinchilla communities, Ron Schafer who recently retired after 29 years of service to Dalby and district and Ron Pain who will retire later this month after 45 years service to the Dalby rural community. Congratulations gentlemen and thank you on behalf of our Western Downs communities.
OPERA at Ray Brown JIMBOUR Jimbour House Amphitheatre OPERA OPERA at at JIMBOUR JIMBOUR Sat, 30 July 2011 Jimbour House Amphitheatre
Jimbour House Amphitheatre
Plastic containers & bottles from the kitchen, bathroom & laundry
Milk & juice cartons
Sat, Sat, 30 30 July July 2011 2011
WESTERN DOWNS EMBRACE RECYCLING Do Not Bag Recyclables
Towards a Waste Wise Western Downs
A new fortnightly recycling service rolled out across the region by Western Downs Regional Council six months ago has successfully seen residents move into the recycling fold. Since the introduction of the new waste collection service residents have already recycled 802 tonnes of recyclable waste. That is equivalent to one football field filled with recyclables to a height of two metres.
WATER RESTRICTIONS
DATE CLAIMER Dalby Campdraft Dalby 29 - 31 July Tara Festival of Culture & Camel Races Tara 5 - 7 August
For more information, visit www.qmf.org.au
Afternoon of Classic Opera
Customer Service 1300 728 500 www.wdrc.qld.gov.au
As always, I encourage prospective developers to arrange a pre-lodgement meeting with Council to reduce the time delay that may occur with unexpected issues that evolve through the assessment process. Finally, Council bids farewell to our Planning Manager Matthew Wilson who is moving overseas with his family and I wish them all the best of luck for the future.
During the last month detailed discussions have occurred in considering the options available for the future development of Dalby Saleyards. These are ongoing and the outcome will obviously affect the whole region as the livestock industry is an extremely vital sector of the Western Downs economy. At this stage all options are on the table.
LEVEL
1
6am - 10am
3pm - 7pm
All devices
Dalby
Level 3
Wandoan
Level 1
Chinchilla
Level 1
Brigalow
Level 1
Tara
Level 1
Dulacca
Level 1
Jandowae
Level 1
Meandarra
Level 1
Bell
Level 1
Kogan
Level 4
Warra
Level 1
Moonie
Level 1
Kaimkillenbun Level 6
The Gums
Level 1
5
Jimbour
Level 1
Glenmorgan
Level 1
WATERING DAYS
Miles
Level 1
Flinton
Level 1
Condamine
Level 5
Westmar
Level 1
LEVEL
3
2
6.30am 7.30am 5pm - 7pm
LEVEL
5pm - 6pm
LEVEL
Handheld hoses and drip systems only
LEVEL
LEVEL
Buckets only
4
6
7am - 9am 4pm - 6pm
All devices
5pm - 6pm
Handheld hoses and drip systems only
No outside watering
Odd and Unnumbered - Wed, Fri, Sun Even numbered - Tues, Thurs, Sat
NATION’S LEADING STARS For more information, visit OPERA www.qmf.org.au For more information, visit www.qmf.org.au OVER 200 PERFORMERS Afternoon of Classic UNIQUE AND HISTORICOpera SETTING Afternoon of Classic Opera MARKET STALLS NATION’S LEADING OPERA STARS NATION’S LEADING OPERA STARS OVER 200performance PERFORMERS “...this year’s promises to be OVER 200 PERFORMERS the HISTORIC most spectacular yet...” UNIQUE AND SETTING Conway, QMFSETTING Artistic Director UNIQUE Deborah AND HISTORIC MARKET STALLS MARKET STALLS Music performed by the Queensland Choir and “...this performance Brisbaneyear’s Philharmonic Orchestra.promises to be
“...this year’s performance promises yet...” to be the most spectacular OPERA at JIMBOUR is presented by Queensland the most spectacular yet...” Deborah Conway, QMF Artistic Director Music Festival, Western Downs Regional Council, Deborah Conway, QMF Artistic Director Jimbour Station and ERM Power. Music performed by the Queensland Choir and