COUNCIL RECAP: Highlights from last meeting of year

The last council meeting of the year is underway

The monthly meeting of the Fraser Coast regional Council is underway.

IN CASE you missed it, here is a full wrap of the highlights from the final council meeting of the year, held at Maryborough City Hall this week. 

EARLIER: The last council meeting of the year is underway in Maryborough.

A number of issues will be discussed in today's meeting.

Rolling updates of the meeting will be provided here.

10.10AM:

The Fraser Coast Regional Council has backed Toogoom residents' call for a floating pontoon to make the local boat ramp safer.

Residents raised the need for a pontoon in a petition presented to the council by Cr Jade Wellings, with Council today resolving to ask the Department of Transport and Main Roads to build the facility.

10.20AM:

The council is discussing a request for new leases from the Burrum Heads Progress Association.

The two leases would be extended for 10 years.

That was carried unanimously.

10.25AM:

An amended expenses reimbursement motion is before the council.

The motion asks that the policy be amended for IT equipment to be provided to councillors for a home office setup.

The motion was passed unanimously.

10.30AM:

A motion to lease the lower level of the former Tiaro council building to the Tiaro Chamber of Commerce is before council.

Several councillors have spoken in favour of the motion, with several important developments, including the Tiaro bypass, impacting on the township in the near future.

Concerns about disability access to the building have been raised by Councillor David Lee.

The motion passed unanimously.

10.40AM:

A request to lease the Tiaro Recreation Grounds has been approved with an amendment.

The Tiaro Pony Club requested the lease, but given the land was close to where the Tiaro bypass would be built, the council allowed the lease for three years instead of 10.

The motion passed unanimously.

10.45AM:

The council is discussing the removal of African tulip trees.

The proposal before council calls for the staged removal of the trees, with the priority based on risk and proximity to native bee habitats, which the trees can impact on.

The removal of the trees by landowners would entitle them to a voucher that cane be redeemed at the community nursery.

If the trees are cut into small pieces, they can be disposed of for free at council waste facilities.

The motion passed unanimously.

10.50AM:

The council is discussing how to spend the money raised by the former Hervey Bay City Council's environmental levy fund.

The fund has been so far been used to purchase seven environmentally significant properties, with $257,000 remaining to be spent.

A proposal has been prepared by council officers as to where the remaining money should be spent.

The includes extending the the term of the current Land for Wildlife program, appointing a natural environment project officer and developing an environment strategy.

Councillor Jade Wellings said more time was needed to discuss ideas about where the remainder of the funds should go.

Councillor Denis Chapman said it was a considerable amount of money and time should be spent considering how to spend it wisely.

The motion to immediately allocated the funds was voted down four to six.

An alternative motion moved by Cr Wellings will allow further deliberation on where the funds will be spent.

It passed unanimously.

11.15PM: 

The council has given preliminary approval for a major residential development in Hervey Bay after recommendations of a park and larger land allotments were included in a new plan.
  The recommendations for the changes were made at council meeting in August.
  The site, at Beach Rd in Urraween, is being developed by the Hervey Bay RSL and will include 50 residential lots, reduced from 57 which was part of the original plan, and a park.
  The changes came after council officers met with the developers to discuss the application for the site.

Read full story here

11.25PM: 

One of Hervey Bay's busiest road intersections looks set for a major upgrade when the $56 million Bunnings development on the corner of McLiver Street and Main Street goes ahead.

At its meeting today, Fraser Coast Regional Council considered a report on traffic issues at the intersection and resolved to consider funding a new left turn slip lane into Main Street and a signalised pedestrian crossing as part of the 2021/22 capital works budget.

The motion was passed in the council meeting on Wednesday.

11.30AM:

A motion that recommended against expanding the waste collection area to Owanyilla has been endorsed by council.

A report into a possible waste collection service at Ownayilla found there was not overwhelming support from residents for a paid waste and recycling collection service to commence. 

11.35AM

A late motion will soon be put forward to the council calling for the urgent removal of the mesh foreshore fence at Pt Vernon. Follow the story here 

11.40AM:

The discussion of the provision of hardship rate concessions is being discussed by the council.

It comes after a difficult year, with many people struggling financially due to COVID-19.

12.30PM: 

The council is discussing a motion that would allow councils to have informal meet and greets with the public.

It would allow for councillors to connect with people and hear about various issues.

12.35PM:

A motion aimed at removing the fencing from the Esplanade at Point Vernon, which was erected after vegetation was deliberating poisoned, has been withdrawn at the last minute.

Instead the council voted to review its existing policy when it came to sites where vegetation has been deliberately damaged.

Councillor David Lee, who moved the motion, said the fence was punitive and the residents at Mant St were being unfairly targeted merely because they live across the road from the site.

He said the value of their properties had been impacted and the fence was discriminatory. 

Cr Lee said the fencing was disproportionate and the council's policy needed to be overhauled.

But the first part of the motion, which called for the fence to be immediately taken down, was ultimately removed.

The council voted on a comprehensive review of its fencing policy when it came to sites were vegetation had been deliberately damaged.

Mayor George Seymour said he felt the policy should be reviewed.

But he felt the community sentiment was that the council needed to respond strongly when trees were poisoned on a mass scale.

The council has voted 9-1 in favour of the amended motion.

The fence will remain standing at the Point Vernon site.

1PM: 

The council has voted unanimously to request a report on council roles and responsibilities when it comes to the management of dead trees on the region's beaches.