ROLLING COVERAGE: Year's last council meeting in Maryborough

Rolling coverage of the last Fraser Coast Regional Council meeting for the year in Maryborough

The last Fraser Coast Regional Council meeting for the year at the Maryborough City Hall. Picture: Jessica Lamb

1.50PM:

Council has moved into confidential business.

1.40PM:

Council has entered general business.

1.30PM:

Significant manufacturing investment opportunities within the Fraser Coast region were acknowledged and the CEO will develop and distribute a targeted investment prospectus to facilitate and encourage more investment into the region after a motion by Cr Truscott passed.

The Rotary Youth Driver Awareness program has been listed to be considered for sponsorship by council for three years at $15,000 per year as part of the 2020/21 budget after a motion by Cr Sanderson passed.

1.25PM:

Council will begin looking at whether to make rainwater tanks mandatory on new buildings.

Prior to 2013 it was a requirement under State Government legislation that new homes must have a rainwater tank.

On 1 February 2013, State Government laws that required the installation of rainwater tanks (or other supplementary water supply systems, such as greywater treatment plants) with a new house or a commercial building where the property was located in a reticulated town water area changed.

Rainwater tanks are now only required with new houses and/or commercial buildings where a local government has been approved to opt-in for it to be mandatory.

In order to opt-in the local government must make application to the Minister for Housing and Public Works.

The application must demonstrate that by opting-in to the mandatory requirement there will be a net benefit to the community of requiring rainwater tanks with new houses and/or buildings.

The motion for a report to be "provided on options and considerations for the implementation of either requiring or incentivising the installation of rainwater tanks to all new buildings" passed.

Cr Maddern said from her time as a property valuer, water tanks were problematic when they were mandatory in the past.

She explained it added to construction value and so people only add the smallest possible tanks which didn't much water.

Cr Maddern added incentivising might alleviate this issue.

1.20PM:

Council will consider ways to make their workplace more inclusive for people with disabilities after a motion put forward by Cr Seymour passed.

The motion sought to formalise policies and procedures that will help retain and recruit employees with disabilities in a report.

CEO Ken Diehm said council wanted to provide meaningful and engaging employment for people with a disability.

1.10PM:

A feasibility report for replacing the lighting in large trees on the property around Maryborough City Hall and lighting for larger trees on Lennox St with new fairy lights will be prepared after a motion by Cr Sanderson passed unanimously.

The CEO will provide a report on entering the well at Ululah lagoon on the Local Heritage Register and public consultation will be sought about the official name of the well after a motion by Cr Truscott passed.

Another report will also be provided about options for providing shade over the 25m pool at the Maryborough Aquatic Centre including but not limited to retractable shades similar to what is used at lawn bowls clubs after a motion by Cr Truscott passed.

12.50PM:

Pulgul Sewage Treatment Plant will proceed to the concept design stage for major capacity increase after a motion was pass unanimously.

The proposal also included proceeding to the concept design stage for a new outfall offshore from the Marina with the aim of decommissioning the current Pulgul Creek outfall.

A strategy for recycled water including nutrient management and guidelines for beneficial reuse investment will also be prepared.

12.40PM:

The council meeting has resumed.

Council confirmed that it had budgeted a $1,092,094 contribution to the Building Our Regions subsidy-funded River Heads Carpark and Boat Ramp upgrade and it is committed to delivering the project after a motion passed.

Council also confirmed the $1,572,534 budgeted commitment to the Maryborough CBD Revitalisation Building our Regions subsidy-funded project.

12.20PM:

The council meeting has taken a break for 20 minutes.

11.45AM:

A heated debate is taking place about a motion to approve installation of red benches in the Fraser Coast as part of the Red Bench Project to raise awareness for domestic violence.

Cr Seymour said he was open to a colour change after hearing from a community advocate who worked with domestic violence survivors during public participation this morning, who said local domestic violence survivors were opposed to the colour red and suggested purple instead.

Cr Maddern said she had spent time agonising over this issue as she supported domestic violence awareness but believed parks were places people went to unwind.

She said she believed domestic violence was part of a wider bullying issue in the community whether it be at home, work or school.

"To me, if I am in a situation where I am stressed, to me a park is a place of retreat and I like being able to go there without having things shoved in my face," Cr Maddern said.

Cr Taylor responded by referencing his time as a police prosecutor.

"Domestic violence is not a sub category it is one of the most dangerous cancers affecting our community," he said.

Cr Taylor said other levels and forms of governments had supported the Red Bench initiative including recently in Rockhampton and he supported asking the community about the colour of the benches.

Cr Lewis asked if red benches were the best the council could do.

He explained in his view the best thing would be to support family crisis support services and to help vunerable  children be raised better than they are at the moment.

"It is a long story and in my view we spend far too much imprisoning people and far too little investigating why these tings happen," Cr Lewis said.

He called for more information.

Councillor Paul Truscott said while he was vehemently against domestic violence, if this request was granted it could open to doors to a variety of coloured benches for different causes.

"I was reading in today's paper about person abusing a child- how many park benches are we putting up for the child victims of sexual abuse?" he said.

"Like Cr Lewis I would rather the reasons behind these issues be addressed than - perhaps benches might not be the answer."

Councillor Zane O'Keefe said he was broadly supportive of improved public awareness of social issues and referenced council's work with the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre on the Fraser Coast Community Social Plan.

He continued that he had never been a fan of attributing public assets or spaces to people or social causes  permanently.

Cr O'Keefe said he agreed with Cr Maddern that parks were places to step outside your reality and reflect.

"I feel we can achieve the awareness out comes better by using other channels. I note our officers also suggested we use lighting and change the colour of the seats using smart technology- to  support number of social issues. I think this is the best bang for buck."

Cr Seymour said many public places across the Fraser Coast were memorials or dedicated to social issues including the cenotaph at the Queens park Christmas Carols.

"I think parks are good place to recognise sacrifice and other issues," he said.

"There were hundred of people at the carols around the cenotaph and I did not see it impact their enjoyment."

The inital motion to install two red benches with an amendment for community consultation about the colour of the benches did not pass 5-6.

A second motion for the chief executive officer to prepare a further report with community consultation passed unanimously.

The second motion also included council's commitment to working with the community to help prevent domestic violence, support survivors and raise awareness for domestic violence.

Barney Point Skating Rink

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11.35AM:

Councillors have entered a passionate debate about the future of the Torquay Rd Skate Park.

Cr Taylor believes that the Torquay Rd Skate park is well within its lifetime and said he wants to embrace members of the community who use the skate park.

"Do we punish the skaters for the actions of just a few? Do we stop people going to Urangan Pier because of a few pier rats?" he said.

"Having been down there, I am amazed at the athleticism of the people who use the park. Imagine if we embraced them? Imagine if that kid doing flips down on Torquay Rd represented Australia in the future at the Commonwealth Games or Olympics?"

Councillors Everard and Light spoke to the amount of graffiti and anti-social behaviour brought to their attention by business owners and members of the public.

Cr Seymour said if people were so sure that people using the skate park were behind alleged crime and graffiti in the area, they should report it to the police.

Cr Chapman asked why council would spend money to pull down a perfectly good asset.

The motion to implement strategies to improve carried nine votes to two.

Councillors Everard and Light voted against it.

For more see tomorrow's Fraser Coast Chronicle.

11.25AM:

Council will form a Fraser Coast Inclusive Communities Advisory Team after a motion passed unanimously.

11.20AM:

A change to the schedule of fees and charges which included adding a community group fee reduction for development applications passed unanimously.

Councillors Daniel Sanderson and Darren Everard left the room for perceived conflicts of interest as they are members of a local church and surf life saving club respectively.

Solar farm fees have also been changed from 'utility installation' to 'renewable energy facility'.

11.10AM:

Voting on the proposal to use a marine and land based tourism infrastructure planning study for addition work across five key items has been delayed after it was passed councillors needed more time to workshop.

Council will also enter into a trustee lease for 30 years with the Boonooroo and District Sport and Recreation Inc. across a lot on Eckert Rd Boonooroo after a motion passed unanimously.

10.50AM:

A proposal moved by Councillor Rolf Light to enter a Sponsorship Agreement with the Queensland Rural Fire Service to provide funding for three years has passed unanimously.

The current Rural Fire Levy sponsorship of 424 applied to 13,670 properties will not longer apply from July 1 2020.

Cr Light said due to the urban sprawl and installation of urban fire stations in areas like Howard and Craignish, the number of properties who pay a rural fire levy and contribute to the Rural Fire Service's funding is decreasing however the need for the yellow trucks does not.

Cr Light said by removing the Rural Fire Levy and instead spread out a fire levy to every property owner on the Fraser Coast, which amounts to roughly $7 per property, would ensure the future of the first responders in the region.

Councillors Stuart Taylor, Anne Maddern, James Hansen and Denis Chapman all spoke in support of the motion.

For more see tomorrow's Fraser Coast Chronicle.

10.40AM:

Changes to the procurement guidelines for council have passed unanimously.

As explained to council by a staff member, the new policy would also include a quality to price ratio when considering tender applications.

10.20AM:

Mayor George Seymour moved for a review onto greater transparency in council.

In his address, Cr Seymour said he wanted council to be leading rather than responding to state government legislation about transparency.

The motion stated :"That the Chief Executive Officer be directed to undertake a review of Council's meeting procedures, in consultation with Councillors, and provide a report that identifies alternative meeting procedure options available to Council that would improve transparency of the Council decision making process, especially relating to the consideration of matters by Councillors before the formal Council meeting and the management of conflicts of interest."

He listed things like making round table meeting minutes available to the public as well as putting council's meeting agenda our earlier.

Cr Seymour said although council had done a lot in the last year there was always more to be done.

Councillor David Lewis spoke to being mindful of how declarations of conflicts of interest are dealt with and referenced a finding involving Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate.

For more see tomorrow's Fraser Coast Chronicle.

It passed unanimously.

10AM:

THE last Fraser Coast Regional Council meeting for the year has begun at the Maryborough City Hall.

There is standing room only in the public gallery.

The opening prayer was lead by Pastor Jim Hohnke of Maryborough's Unity Church.

All councillors are present.