NOW comes the hard part - getting the new Fraser Coast Regional council structure to work more efficiently than the four it replaces.
The voting is done and, regardless of any lingering ill-feelings from some towards the amalgamation process, (or the divisions or no divisions arguments - thanks Sue!) the biggest restructuring of local government in the Queensland’s history is now well and truly a fact of life.
The recent election was just the beginning. As soon as our new councilors have been appointed they need to hit the ground running. The mayor might have his ideas but it will be up to the remaining ten councilors to help steer the good ship Fraser on her maiden voyage.
The job involves much more than just sorting out the nuts and bolts. It also means trying to improve on what was already there, a task that will involve the State Government as much as council and its councillors. Our chosen representatives need to chase the funds to build on the past and to secure new opportunities that will make our region stand out above others, a driving force in the state with a careful balance of sustainable development and environmental sensibility.
Our council needs to nurture the Tourism and Manufacturing industries in the region that provide the jobs. Council also needs to look at harnessing the energies of the region’s youth to build a brighter future. They need to work to ensure a unified community with improved sharing of resources, improved transportation links as well as consolidation of council business units. Water should be brought in house again as an early priority to save significantly on duplication just as the 4 councils administrations have been brought together.. there is only one Fraser Coast Regional Council and water is still the responsibility of local government.
Development for development’s sake should not be embraced as it has previously, the new council needs to follow the State Government’s blueprint for sustainable growth and promote in-fill over new subdivisions. Above all, we need leadership and that is where we hope they will surprise us all.
According to the Chronicle (FCC 25/3), Gerard O’Connell has hit the ground running by encouraging us to get behind the Granville Bridge to Brolga Theatre Precinct and the Fraser Coast Enterprise Zone.
A lot of work has already been done on these projects and if you would like to bring yourself up to speed on the issues, you can find significant documentation at the following links:
http://www.fcez.com.au/ Enterprise Zones; and
http://www.fcez.com.au/ Brolga to Bridge Precinct
Happy reading.
Sorry wrong link
http://business.maryborough.qld.gov.au/index.aspx?page=72
Is the Fraser Coast Enterprise Zone a joke or are they (Fraser Coast Regional Council) serious. The “ZONE” is nothing of a kind as it incorporates industrial estates located all over the place.
Here is a tip for our new Councillors - when you use a word look up its meaning so you don’t apply it or use it incorrectly.
Meaning of “zone”:-
1. separate area with particular function - an area regarded as separate or kept separate, especially one with a particular use or function.
2. subsection of a particular area – one of the smaller, usually named or numbered sections that an area is divided into.
Notice the use of the word “area” as in singular, not “areas” as in plural.
If this is the type of clever marketing the Fraser Coast Transitional Committee think is how you sell industrial land and attract business I dread to think of the pathetic mess they are about to unleash on us ratepayers.
A brief mention was made tonight on 7 News that some sort of outcome was about to be announced regarding the plans and successful tenderer for perhaps the biggest and most important project in the Fraser Coast Region … the potentially massive expansion of the HB marina precinct!
Rumour is rife while we all wait to hear who and what has been successful! Some recent real estate activity might be an indication of what to expect? Meanwhile, we can all make do with that old mushroom feeling. Is anyone prepared to predict the outcome in advance?
The Granville Bridge to Brolga Theatre Precinct project is one of those white elephant all froth and bubble schemes that are the reason the citizens of Maryborough have been paying higher rates than the Gold Coast. Now there are more ratepayers so there can be more projects and everyone’s rates can go up. See the idea of a moterhome parking area for the next money sink.
If they want to re-invigorate the CBD in Maryborough they first need to provide a decent trafic system and sufficient parking spaces for the locals to be able to use the area again.
If you want to see the potential for effective urban development in Maryborough, check out Fremantle, in WA.
http://www.freofocus.com/main/text/default.cfm
As a place for tourists to while away some time, spend some money and have a memorable time, it works extremely well. It also serves the local population as a great place to dine out and have a family adventure.
However, it is simplistic to think that amalgamation is all it will take to achieve a similar outcome in Maryborough. Fremantle was the result of something of a “perfect storm” in urban renewal.
In the 1960’s, a large Mediterranean population had purchased many of the shops. So although it was not yet trendy, it already had a distinct culture, including good food and wine, a famous football team, ships plus some neglected historical artefacts.
In 1972, Fremantle had some amazing grant application writers who made hay in that crazy, wonderful, Whitlam summer of community development. By 1980, it had some excellent cultural facilities which when combined with a huge number of hotels and the local dining, made for some memorable national conferences.
In 1987, a second huge wall of private money hit Fremantle in connection with the America’s Cup. This money transformed Fremantle from a hippy haven into a relatively affluent address capable of attracting some big projects such as the local construction of a replica of Cook’s Endeavour, as Allan Bond’s Bicentennial gift.
To my knowledge the main thing the local government did was to bring in a conservationist planning policy (eg 3 stories max, when Perth had skyscrapers). They also employed a network of community workers who were able to attract the voluntary efforts of a large array of skilled people who loved the city. These are the sort of skills Barb Hovard exerted in Maryborough, without much thanks from the local commentators.
The other miracle in Fremantle is that most of the things that they bought and paid for, actually found a use.
It is very easy for councillors, anxious to have something to show at the next election, to be seduced by a mentality of “just build something, and keep the paper off my back”. It is important that functional usefulness leads ahead of concrete form.
As a resident of Granville, I guess it would be nice to have a walking/bike path down Kent Street. However, while you are down there, how about extending the footpath into our suburb; and could we also have some kerbing and a stormwater drainage system, so we don’t get flooded out every time we get a good thunderstorm?
And if money is a bit tight, well maybe you could start the capital works from our end and give us some drainage first up. lol.
And of course, while you are looking after Granville, don’t forget Howard, Aldershot, Nikenbah….and so on. If amalgamation actually speeds up this process, I will be utterly suprised.
I agree with some of what Jim MacKellar says but not most of it.
For instance, Gold Coast has cheaper rates because of the small rateable area vs the number of rateable properties. If they had 600 km roads to maintain with 6,000 properties paying $400 general rates per year then it might be comparable. It is not. They have hundreds of millions of dollars to maintain a few square kms.
The State Government favours the Southeast [Brisbane and the Gold Coast] excessively and always has. The rest of us have to fend for ourselves. Please stop comparing ourselves to the capital cities and surrounds unless asking for equity from the state and federal government. When was the last time the State govt paid for a major inner city road in Hervey Bay or Maryborough?
If we are serious we will compare ourselves with the likes of Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay, Townsville and Cairns for starters.
Boat Harbour Drive. Insidetrader if we compare Maryborough rates with those you would prefer then it looks even worse. For example Mackay is in the middle of the mining boom and have values far in excess of M but their rates are only 66% of those I consider excessive in Maryborough. Why are Maryborough rates so much higher than HB but Maryborough still has a worse debt position than HB? And, most probably, a worsr infrastructure position.
With respect to the roads issue, I was referring to any new roads that the state govt has constructed. Doing long overdue repairs/widening on Boat Harbour Drive hardly compares to the great gifts the government bestows on Brisbane such as new ring roads, new bridges etc. Sure the Brisbane council contribute some and the feds do some but the principle is the same.
For instance, they still won’t take responsibility for the River Heads Road, even though the HB council eventually embarrassed them into making some contribution. I am sure there are just as many examples of underfunding/non-funding in Tiaro, Maryborough and Woocoo.
With respect to the rates issue. Can someone provide some fair and unbiased data on comparing rates? Not just make an ambit claim of 66%. The value of real estate has little if anything to do with how much money a council needs to raise to provide services, or how much each property needs to contribute. I believe Mackay’s minimum general rate is $700. But they also have a roads levy, Environment levy, etc. Perhaps Jim MacKellar or someone else could do a comparison sheet of what it costs someone to live in each city. Not a simple comparison of a minimum general rate, but what it costs in total for water [average consumption] sewerage, road levy’s fire levies, environment levies, etc. Different councils hide their total charges in different ways. This sort of data would provide interesting and more useful statistics.
By the way Jim, Mackay has been in the middle of a mining boom for 40 years.