What the ???

Can they really be serious?  Next week the scheduled council meeting will be shifted to another day because Wide Bay Water decided they would hold the official opening of the raised Lenthall Dam on Wednesday.  Tell us seriously that no one at WBW stopped to consider the timing?

Last time we checked WBW was a council owned entity not the other way around so what gives them the right to schedule events in priority to council meetings? Tiny Tim might aspire to make it as CEO of the council one day but for the moment he is not and as such should not be allowing his organisation to take precendence over the council.  As one new contributor pointed out yesterday, WBW is a world leader with its technology and its operational staff do a great job but we’re not so impressed with its administration and Council would do well to reign them in.

Bring it on!

We’ve had plenty of feedback this week which is great to see..  We kick off today’s edition with John Neve’s thoughts on today’s council meeting then on to a few thoughts we’ve received from readers.  Cheers!

Planning & Development Committee Meeting No. 2
                             Wednesday 14 May, 2008
 
P&D 4 Officers’ Reports - Development Applications.
 
P&D 4.1  Community Centre and Community Garden
              10 - 30 Halcro Street, Pialba. Passed unanimously
 
Note       This is the old Telstra Depot under the now long gone
               towers. At the last count HBCC had 69 such halls!!
               All need maintaining and all need insuring, I asked
               some long time ago, how many days per week were
               they utilised? No answer. I asked could we not keep
               and maintain the best and sell the rest? No answer.
               Do we need another community hall? What is wrong
               with clubs sharing halls in the interest of cost
               effectiveness and efficiency?
 
P&D 4.2  Application for material change of use and operational
              work (tree removal), to facilitate 250 units and guest/
              residential facilities. 635 - 637 The Esplanade,Urangan
              Passed 10/1 Councillor Brooks voted against.
 
Note      This proposal does not fully comply with AS10.2,
             AS10.3, AS18.2, AS22.1, AS3.2, AS5.1, AS12.3,
             AS14.7, AS16.1, AS18.2 and AS22.1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
             These provisions cover parking, flora, vehicular access,
             sunlight and private open space, set backs, the list
             goes on. Once a precedent is set, it is very hard to
             deny others the same privileges and so our
             environment is destroyed.
 
P&D 9   Confidential 
 
P&D 9.1 Review of planning scheme policy No. 1 - Open space
             credit provisions.
 
Note      Any law or regulation that can’t or won’t be enforced is
             bad legislation and should be removed from the rule
             book or revised. Our council seem un-inclined to do
             either!
 
John A Neve  

–o–

Dear Bringbackstrewth,
 
  I am an investor in the Fraser Waters Development at Toogoom, as unpopular as it would seem with the locals. This was not the view presented to us when we invested to develop the site as we are not high flyers, but merely a group of mums and dads who thought they were being included in a once in a lifetime opportunity.   Unfortunately this has not been the case as the investors have received little return in relation to the 5 years that this project has been operating.
 
Fred Kleinschmidt,  the chairman of our little consortium has announced that Craig McDermott has been removed as a Director and Chairman of Fraser Waters and Maxen Developments, Craig McDermott`s Property Development company has been terminated from the project.
 
As shareholders, several of us have queried Fred Kleinschmidt about the reasons why McDermott has been removed, so far he has ignored multiple requests for this information, as a matter of course he refuses to answer most questions in relation to the project.   So, if anybody out there does know why McDermott was sacked, please let us know.
 
Pete.

Washout

Oh dear.  We’ve tried to avoid rumours but the one of WBW painting a huge version of their logo on the slipway of Lenthals Dam was doing the rounds a few days ago and just as quickly dismissed by another contributor.. one has to ask why? 

On the other hand, if money was irrelevant or it was being paid by a private entity one would imagine such an installation would be rather impressive.. and if that company where to be using it to highlight their business to potential clients it might in fact be a clever marketing tool. 

Here’s a thought for the clever folks at WBW.. why not use digital technology to put the logo on the spillway for your presentation videos and brochures?  Novel idea but as others have pointed out, its a waste of ratepayer funds that would be better used saving the precious resources we have.

Can they keep up?

Nancy Says 19

“Now the time is right for eyes from the outside” Nancy Says,
does one detect from this, that she is disappointed with our
council? Aren’t they by and large, her chosen ones? Aren’t these
the “steady hands”? Weren’t they going to make us “best”?
 
Our Nancy seems to feel they need help!!
Based on performance to date, I disagree. Maximum salary,
new cars, Three meetings a month, not four!! I’d suggest they
are doing alright. A backlog of Questions on Notice
unanswered, the Water Park in a state of limbo and a “NEW”
council logo that wouldn’t inspire a Warthog.
 
Come on Nancy, you got most of what you wanted. HELP after
only three or four weeks!! Still it can only get better, can’t it?
 
John A Neve

Weekend Edition

Several contributions have been received via email the first from Rosemary Skinner regarding a competition in the local rag and the second from John Neve regarding Fraser Island dingoes.

I have been eagerly cutting out the little coupons in the Chron. that say “WE’LL PAY YOUR RATES!”.   I thought we might be eating chicken instead of sausages through those months when we normally are flat broke because we paid the rates bill.  Alas!  Today I read the fine print.  Someone at the Chron must think rates for our ordinary suburban block are still only $1000.  The fine print says “The prize will not exceed $1,000.”  My rates bill last year was just over $1700. So I guess this year it will be at least that again.
Damm it!  Guess there’ll be sausages on the dinner table all too frequently again till we pay the $700 shortfall even if I win.
Could someone please update the Chron. on the reality of the rates bill. 
I wonder, too, if all councillors realize how much we pay here in the Bay.  If you know a councillor, will you mention it to them please. They may think harder before being inclined to increase it.
 
Hopeful Sausage
 
Rosemary Skinner

–o–

I am dismayed at some of the comments people have recently
made about both the Dingos and Fraser Island itself.
 
Fraser Island is both a national park and a world heritage
designated area. All flora and fauna is so covered and belongs
where it is. Fraser Island was not created to rip a fast buck out
of unsuspecting tourists. That was man’s idea.
 
If we are fair dinkum, we remove the “fence”, restore the area,
cap the number of tourist aloud on the island at an one time.
Place a levy on all businesses on the island and use the money
to sustain the flora and fauna.
 
Suggested reading, Erskine Caldwell’s “God’s little acre”, in
essence it tells how, given time, man will stuff everything up.
 
Happy reading,
 
John A Neve

Ouch!

Reports this week from the Sunshine Coast suggest that the Sunshine Coast Regional Council is about to embark on the search for a new CEO.  Nothing unusual in itself but how about the cost?  Information received suggests the process will cost that council in the vicinity of one hundred thousand dollars and that is not to mention the potential cost of paying out the 3 former CEOs.

It is a scary thought and one has to wonder what other councils are paying to recruit CEOs.  Not a bad lurk if you are in the business of corporate recruitment but not so good for the ratepayers who foot the bill! 

– 0 –

Here’s some thoughts on today’s council meeting courtesy of John Neve:

Fraser Coast Council’s Ordinary Meeting No. 2, was just that, ordinary.
 
Public Participation:
Three members of the public spoke in support of REST, seeking an extension on time for their operation. It will be interesting to see if councillors heed their cry.
 
I put a number of Questions on Notice, relating to the HBCC’s “flawed town plan”. The $150,000 ratepayers apparently will have to cough up in legal costs. I also questioned whether it was true that ongoing developer challenges could cost ratepayers millions of dollars.
 
There are a number of questions still outstanding, regarding the ex mayor and councillors actions in relation to the confrontation with the ex CEO. These related to legal costs, council’s actions and authority to engage lawyers.
 
Items of interest:
 
Ord 10.1  Councillors Superannuation, councillors can receive twice their own contribution up to 12% of salary.
 
Ord 10.2  Corporate Governance Portfolio Terms of Reference.  This I believe will replace the current Code of Conduct, but suggest you read it for yourself.
 
Ord 14     General Business:
 
This was interesting as Councillor MucKan asked if the Water Park cost $12 million, where would the extra $7 million come from? Mayor Kruger suggested this would be better answered in confidential!!
 
Ord 15     Confidential:
 
Ord 15.1  Chapel Rd Rehabilitation and Widening.
Ord 15.2   WBW Quarterly Report for March 2008; and
Ord 15.3   Water Park - Hervey Bay.
 
Unfortunately I cannot comment as result is unknown.

Strewthisbackwrites: It is very disappointing that council chose to discuss the Water Park issue behind closed doors.  The question Cr Muckan asked is a valid one and many of us would love to see council publicly debate this issue. 

 

Damage Control

Oh dear.. who would have thought a little fence would have caused such a fuss?  The dingo fence on Fraser Island has suddenly hit the radar again.. this morning we read a report of a local who hurt herself trying to cross the line and now they’ve bulldozed sacred sites!

Now we’re a bit sceptical too but how is it that none of the government blokes thought to check the proposed alignment of the fence with the traditional owners?  Eh?   In the rush to bang it up before anyone had time to properly assess the idea, the state government might have really stepped in it.

Is Federal intervention really on the horizon?  Andy Pandy is in denial on that one and we can’t wait to see what smoke and mirrors the Bligh Government pulls out this time.  The fence is not only an eye sore but it will only ensure the dingoes remain hungry.  Either remove the animals from the island or provide a sustainable food source to ensure they are fed. 

A different view point

Well it had to happen, resident council watcher and sceptic John Neve wonders if we are being told the full story on the REST saga.  One would guess we aren’t but from all reports we are hearing, the organisation does make a good contribution to the community in supporting many varied causes.  There is always two sides to the story and as is the case with many volunteer run groups, it isn’t always plain sailing and sometimes unforeseen circumstances (in this case amalgamation) arise that they do not have an strategy to overcome.

Heres what John had to say:

I have read much about REST over the past few weeks,
and I was present when their CEO addressed council about
renewing their lease. Let’s not allow emotion or sympathy
to cloud what should be a business decision. What our
new council must decide, is what is in the interest of the
region as a whole.
 
REST is reported to make $500,000 from their recycling
efforts. Is this their only source of income?
Who benefits from the $500,000 and is it all spent in
Maryborough?
REST claims all the work is done on a voluntary basis, is this
correct?
REST states they had no prior knowledge of what is taking
place, is this true?
Did REST not go through the same process/situation a few
years back?
Most importantly, are we the public getting the whole story
regarding REST and it’s recycling contract?
 
Let’s not condemn our council based on emotive newspaper
reporting.

That goodness its Friday!

Well things have been quiet on the home front.  A tiny snippet in the daily today points out that there will be no Tourism Levy from Fraser Coast Regional Council.  It is also great to see Cr O’Connell standing up and telling the nosy minister to keep out of local affairs.

We’ve removed a post today at the request of a certain King & Company Solicitors of Brisbane.  It was old news anyway.  Here at Bringbackstrewth we’re aiming at keeping the public informed and give you a space to share your thoughts on current issues.  We will continue to do that but as always, we’ll try to stick to the facts and steer clear from gossip.. we’ll leave that to someone else.

And back on deck is this latest comment from John Neve..

Nancy Says (18th Edition)

 
“Why aren’t they at school?” Nancy Says and it’s a good question.
She is of course talking about truancy and it’s causes, one of the
causes given is bullying!  Little changes in our world, there was both
bullying and truancy when I went to school. Although I believe the
reasons were different. Based on memory, in my day (quill pens
were still in use), boredom and scrumping were the main reasons.
Today it appears rebellion and fear are the reason given.
 
While an interesting topic, that is not why I’m writing. It’s Nancy
change of heart that has me intrigued. Her paper is quoting from
an “anonymous blog”!! Based on the wording, the quotes appear
to have been written by adults and are obviously selective
(violence is highlighted). Little if anything, seems to come from the
students! I would have thought a constructive article would have
started with the school children, but what would they know?
 
At least it’s a step in the right direction, our Daily drawing it’s
information from an “anonymous blog”.
 

Yes Minister

Well, well, what have we ‘ere then aye?  Tourism Minister Des Boyle jumped into action this week and bunged out a reply to all those ‘orrible letters to the estemed ed rejecting calls for a Tourism Levy.  Not ‘ere dessy luv.. we aint don’t want it n we aint don’t need it. 

Darl, get with it.. the guvmint gave us amalgamations and told us its for our own better good.  It’ll save money thay told us.  Save on duplications you will.  Ok, sounds great but within a month of it all going down what do we have?  Increased tips fees within seconds and then hints of this new levy.. with a bit longer until budget time what else will they try and sneak on us? 

The message we send is clear.  We don’t want it!  Feedback both in the print media and online blogosphere has been unanimous.. make them use the funds they already have.  Cum on guvna give us a break aye?

Note: Strewthisback is taking a few days break but Standinman is here.. we’ve had technical difficulties accessing emails as well as an overload of spam which may have seen some legitimate comments wiped out.. 

From AAP sources the following article was released today:

One of Telstra’s US chiefs has taken aim at Australia, saying its democracy is sick, its politicians too powerful, its taxes too high and its “she’ll be right” attitude is mere complacency.

Telstra’s outspoken group managing director of public policy and communications, Phil Burgess, also put Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on notice, saying the telco will not hesitate to start more public stoushes with the government if it feels the need.

Dr Burgess said Australia’s civic order - businesses, the media, religious organisations, think tanks, service clubs, peak industry organisations - are tepid, timid and beholden to government.  Instead of trying to spark and influence public debate, Australia’s civic institutions try only to influence Canberra, usually behind closed doors.

“If we do a health check on Australian democracy, the economic organs are doing really well. The political organs are dominated by government and the civic organs are in atrophy,” Dr Burgess told AAP after the lecture.

“To have a healthy democracy, especially when you’re going through rapid change like we are … we need to have everybody involved.”  He also complained about the “enormous power” of government ministers in Australia, saying it limits the “give and take” that make for good policy-making.

Dr Burgess, who has lived in Australia now for almost three years, said civic institutions were also suffering because they struggled to find independent, non-government funding.  “I would say the biggest problem is taxes are so high here the government gets all the money,” he said.

Dr Burgess said the lack of public debate helped nurture a ‘She’ll be right’ attitude which, he said, was one element of the Australia’s ethos he rejected.  “You can do the ‘She’ll be right’ all you want, but there’s a problem,” he said.  “There’s a problem when complacency is so high that people say ‘Hey, what’s wrong? Everything’s fine, why worry about it?’”