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Fraser Coast Regional Council divided over CBD plans.

Melbourne to Fraser Coast flight negotiations were cleared for takeoff and the future of two key Maryborough CBD sites led fierce debate in this week’s council meeting. VIDEOS, DETAILS.

Seymour Interview

Plans for the future of two key sites in Maryborough’s CBD led to fierce debate in this week’s council meeting where councillors also debated everything from Christmas decorations to caravans.

Here’s some of the highlights from the meeting held at Town Hall.

‘At a loss’: Fiery debate over future of ex-admin site, baby building

A debate over whether to apply for funds to progress both the Fraser Coast Sports Precinct and a masterplan for a key part of Maryborough’s CBD erupted mid-meeting.

All Queensland councils have the opportunity to apply for grants out of the one scheme.

David Lee and George Seymour argument.

While all councillors agreed they should apply for funding for the stadium section of the precinct, in line with their recently agreed upon ‘priority projects’ list, several councillors believed they should also apply for money to plan the future of the Maryborough former clinic known as the “baby building” and neighbouring green space formerly occupied by the council headquarters.

CEO Ken Diehm told his councillor colleagues local leaders were “at a loss” over what to do with the 1924 nursing mother’s clinic, which was to be demolished before an 11th hour heritage listing change.

Jade Wellings speaks on why she doesn’t want to spend $1million on a plan that might ‘sit on the shelf’.

While ideas for the building include a tourism information centre and/or cafe there’s never been a decision about what should and should not happen with it.

Whether the plans for this area should be the subject of a grant application given it was not on the priority project list for the next year, sparked strong debate between many councillors but none more than the mayor and David Lee.

The latter claimed the former had wrongly suggested that should the funding grant be approved and used alongside the State Government’s Works for Queensland funding “the entire project will be funded at no cost (to the council)”.

David Lee and George Seymour argument.

Mr Seymour strongly rejected this claim, telling Mr Lee “you deliberately misunderstood what I said and telling him he “was the only one who thought that”.

David Lewis urged council to finalise the plan for the application saying “if we do not get this (funding) somebody else will”.

The decision to progress only with the stadium funding grant went through 6 -5, with James Hansen, Paul Truscott, Jade Wellings, Denis Chapman and David Lee voting in favour of it.

The future of the two Maryborough CBD sites remains up in the air.

The mayor later addressed this outside the council meeting.

Seymour Interview

Why new Melbourne to Bay flights are one step closer

Low-cost airline Bonza is rumoured to be in negotiations with the FCRC over a planned Melbourne – Hervey Bay route.
Low-cost airline Bonza is rumoured to be in negotiations with the FCRC over a planned Melbourne – Hervey Bay route.

The council unanimously approved a move which gives Fraser Coast CEO Ken Diehm to negotiate a business contract with airlines regarding a new flight service between Melbourne and Hervey Bay.

It’s understood these arrangements could be made with budget start-up Bonza, which last month flagged an interest in the area, as well as other airlines.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, the mayor said, “the council are really excited for the future of aviation in Hervey Bay, and it will help families within the area stay connected”.

Mr Seymour said “the council had been in discussions with numerous airlines” and the passing of regulation “empowers” Mr Diehm to “settle on the deal”.

If and when the deal is confirmed, it would mark the biggest breakthrough for Hervey Bay Airport since 2006 when the Sydney route was first opened.

Currently QantasLink operates daily flights between Brisbane and Hervey Bay, with Jetstar running a Sydney – Hervey Bay service three times a week.

Caravan change: Neighbour comfort ‘sacrificed’ for tourism claims councillor

The humble caravan was the topic of much discussion at the FCRC monthly meeting.
The humble caravan was the topic of much discussion at the FCRC monthly meeting.

New local laws which would allow caravan owners to place their vehicle on the front yards of family or friend’s homes for a period of up to four weeks divided councillors.

This is separate to a recent change to housing crisis rules and relates only to tourists and visitors staying in the area.

The existing regulation prevented caravan owners from doing so unless the property they were on was longer than 6 metres.

Division 10 representative Zane O’Keefe rejected the proposal.

Mr O’Keefe said “the amenity of the local area” would be affected by caravans.

Division 6’s Dave Lewis echoed O’Keefe’s thoughts warning “you cannot sacrifice the amenities of the neighbour” for the benefit of tourism.

The new rule passed.

It’s beginning to look like Christmas … except in this town

Christmas decorations are back on the Fraser Coast.

The council committed $22,000 Christmas and New Years decorations in the Fraser Coast.

In news that will please many Hervey Bay locals, the Christmas tree which last year was moved away from the Esplanade is likely to be returned to the Seafront Oval in time for the Carols by Candelight event.

When it came to a discussion on the Tiaro Chamber of Commerce being given a Christmas tree to display in the highway town, a lighthearted debate between Denis Chapman and Phil Truscott over whether Mr Chapman’s hometown of Bauple or Tiaro was in most need of the tree unfolded.

Mr Chapman argued Tiaro was already lit up like a Christmas tree thanks to the permanent fairy lights which featured in the town’s centre and “Bauple only has streetlights” and nothing related to the festive season for local children.

A “friendly amendment” to redirect the tree from Tiaro to Bauple however failed with only Mr Chapman voting in favour of it after councillors agreed Tiaro’s highway location and the thousands of visitors who passed through it made it the natural fit.

MORE COUNCIL NEWS:

Sara Faraj to run for election to Fraser Coast council

Councillor Jade Wellings will not contest Division 5 in 2024

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/fraser-coast/fraser-coast-regional-council-divided-over-cbd-plans/news-story/a74a3f3789211dda2106a9ac2d142336