COUNCIL: 13 things you need to know from today's meeting
FROM dam levels and cricket pitches to financial figures and library upgrades - this morning's meeting of the Toowoomba Regional Council was jam packed.
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FROM dam levels and cricket pitches to financial figures and library upgrades - this morning's ordinary meeting of the Toowoomba Regional Council was packed with information for residents.
All six council departments handed down their monthly reports charting the progress of new projects, operational costs, results from the latest council events and infrastructure upgrades.
Here are some of the highlights:
1. COUNCIL LOBBY OVER WATER PRESSURE
THE Toowoomba Regional Council will send a letter to the State Government urging a review of the minimum water pressure guidelines for new housing developments.
The development came after council officers last week revealed they could not enforce standards the TRC has issued on new residential and commercial estates that require water connection.
The State Government's guidelines require a minimum of 22 metres of head at the reticulation main, but the council wants water pressure increased to 30m for new residential developments.
Cr Nancy Sommerfield, who moved the motion this morning, said water pressure was a constant problem for residents.
2. COUNCIL'S FINANCES TRACKING WELL
THE Toowoomba Regional Council's income and expenditure accounts are all within 5 per cent of budget estimates for September, according to the latest findings.
Finance and Business Strategy general manager Arun Pratap handed down his monthly financial report, showing the council's operating income was more than $600,000 above budget, while expenditure was $2.8 million below estimates.
3. TILL BOOSTER WORKSHOPS BRINGS IN CUSTOMERS
THE council has reported positive results from a new workshop designed to attract customers to retailers in three regional towns.
The Till Booster Workshops, which ran from September 18-20 in Oakey, Millmerran and Goombungee, brought in David Engwitch from Creative Communities to discuss with business owners on how they "could make the most of their location in the street to attract customers."
"The sessions were well attended and each participant received a guide to conducting an audit of their shop front and making improvements," the report from the Planning and Development Group said.
4. ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM ACROSS SOUTH-WEST
AS PART of a partnership with Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise and councils across south-west Queensland, the council will run an entrepreneurship program in Toowoomba, Dalby, Roma, St George and Goondiwindi over three years to foster the growth of new small businesses.
The project is funded through the State Government's Advancing Regional Innovation Program and will involve annual hackathons and mentoring programs.
5. DAM LEVELS CLOSE IN ON HALFWAY MARK
THE Toowoomba region is still more than a year off needing water pumped from Wivenhoe Dam, despite water supply levels dropping to just over 50 per cent.
Toowoomba's three main dams, Cressbrook, Perserverance and Cooby, have a combined volume of 54.4 per cent according to the Water and Waste Services Group.
Total storage levels must drop to below 40% before water is pumped from Wivenhoe to Cressbrook, which is not predicted until October 2018 (barring rain events).
6. NEW WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN REVEALED
MORE than 20 dumps and transfer facilities will be upgraded over the next five years as part of the council's new Waste Infrastructure Plan.
Portfolio chair Cr Nancy Sommerfield said the upgrades of the facilities were needed to keep pace with the region's growing population.
The first three centres upgraded - Cecil Plains, Cooyar and Evergreen - will be finished by June next year.
Opening hours will also change to better cater for peak periods when residents use the dump, such as on weekends.
7. NEW GOLF COURSE CYCLEWAY PROGRESSING
THE new cycleway that will run past and through the City Golf Club is nearly halfway to completion, according to the Infrastructure Services Group.
Stormwater drainage has been installed on Winifred St, while the bikeway construction works on South St have also finished.
The project still needs boundary fencing finished, electrical work done and the path completed.
It is one of 17 construction and maintenance jobs finished or in progress with the ISG.
8. UPDATE ON MORT ST
ONE of the major elements of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will be the upgrade of Mort St, which a report indicates is progressing nicely.
Stormwater piping has been installed under the Queensland Rail corridor at the Fiveways Intersection and a tunnel boring machine is being used on the next site north of Griffiths St.
New parallel parking is now available outside the Fiveways pub, while water main replacements works between Black Gully and Thackeray St are underway.
The upgrade is one of 14 special projects underway with the Infrastructure Services Group.
9. LIBRARIES CLOSED FOR SYSTEM UPGRADES
ALL libraries in the Toowoomba region were closed between September 30 and October 4 to allow a major upgrade to the Spydus management system.
The council also made modifications to City Library's automated materials handling and sorting system, increasing the number of bins from five to nine to allow for faster processing.
10. THOUSANDS PACK OUT TOOCON
THE Garden City's premier pop culture convention, TooCon, attracted more than 5500 people in one day in early September, according to the council's latest report.
The Environment and Community Services Group declared the celebration of all things nerdy at the Toowoomba City Library a "huge success".
11. QUEENS PARK UPGRADES CONTINUE
THE council has made more progress on Stage Four of the Queens Park Master Plan, including demolishing the Central Amenities building and erecting temporary toilets prior to the Carnival of Flowers.
Design works for the part of the Master Plan have completed, and at least one of the construction tender packages has also been sent out.
12. COUNCIL REVEALS SOCIAL MEDIA RESULTS
THE Toowoomba Regional Council enjoyed some of its highest social media interaction in September, unsurprisingly because of the Carnival of Flowers.
The council's Facebook page reached more than 16,000 people last month, and its Twitter account has nearly hit 5000 followers.
13. COUNCIL CALL CENTRE TOO SLOW TO THE PHONE
THE Council's customer service team is on average too slow at taking calls from the public - by 14 seconds.
In a sign of the TRC's high standards according to council general manager Arun Pratap, the latest report found the call centre took an average of 44 seconds to answer the phone, above the target of 30 seconds.
DO YOU have a story about the council you'd like to share? Send an email to tom.gillespie@thechronicle.com.au or call 4690 9307.
Originally published as COUNCIL: 13 things you need to know from today's meeting
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