Monday (Morning Edition)

Are we ready for a busy week?  Due to increasing interest with the blog and a number of hot topics coming to a boil, we’re looking forward to an exciting week.  We’ll get into it with a letter from John Neve:

Aren’t we precious?
 
Councillor Brooks in her “Latest News”, 17th May 2008,
responded I believe, to Bring Back Strewth and me in particular.
However, she failed to address my concerns, HBCC had/has 69
community halls at the last count. As per the last council meeting
it will have another one!! Councillor Brooks “defends its right to
do so”. Please answer my questions councillor, how many days
per week are they used? Who insures them? Who is responsible
for the maintenance? Why can’t clubs share the use? How much
per year do they cost ratepayers? Couldn’t a lesser number of
halls provide the same standard of community involvement?
 
I thought amalgamation was about efficiency and better planning,
not maintaining the status quo.
 
Note: Rather than name us, our councillor referred to us, as a
         “current Blog site”.
 
John A Neve

Strewthisback responds: John, it is no surprise the local rag and others have gone quiet on “a certain blog”.  We might be surprised Ms Brooks did not name BBS but then again she’d do well not to if she’s to keep onside with the rest of the team.  We haven’t gone out to be popular and we’re not apologetic for letting people share their thoughts on how our councilors do (or don’t) their jobs.

We might suggest, to balance your argument, that many of those 70 odd halls you refer to could do with the Dean Bros treatment.  There is a clear need for amalgamation, renewal or reconstruction of halls across the region.  Like has been done in Tinana with the Scout Hall cum Soccer Club House, there is plenty of scope for this to happen.

–o–

We’ve noticed an increasing amount of personal negativity between contributors as well as an increase in the size of many contributions.  We’d remind you all to keep your posts factual, to the point and respect that everyone has their own views.  The blog is heating up again unlike the weather and we’d love to see that continue.. lets “keep the B^$+^&$ honest” and work towards a better community for one and all.

Weekend Edition

What are the facts?
 
Our daily advises “Ear, nose, throat doc may head elsewhere”!!
 
However it fails to tell us why! We are told the majority of doctor
referrals are to the public sector in Brisbane. But why? Is it the
quality of the doctor? Is it cost? If a patient is referred to
Brisbane who pays the travelling costs? If it’s payed by the tax-
payers (us), would it not be cost effective to be treated locally?
If it’s payed for by the patient, can they not ask to be treated
locally?
 
At a time of congestion on Brisbane’s roads, fuel costs, the
patients time and inconvenience. Would it not make more sense
for Queensland Health to utilise a local specialist?
 
But the real point of my writing, why half a story? Why doesn’t
the journalist ask the right questions? Why doesn’t the reader
get the whole story?
 
Come on Nancy, lift your game.
 
John A Neve

What the ??? (Ok so we got it wrong - we’ll admit it!)

A big thankyou to Sue Brooks for indirectly advising us that the decision to hold the opening of the Lenthalls Dam crest gates was made by State Government departments and not WBW as we incorrectly assumed.  We just hope council has sent a grader out there to fix the road as it is an absolute disgace!

While on the subject we might like to ask why the dam had to be closed to the public for this opening?  Was it to prevent anti-Traveston Dam protestors from attending?  We’d encourage any anyone with spare time on Wednesday morning to grab your anti-dam posters and head out to the entrance to the dam to welcome the visiting dignatries. 

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.