Councillor Report 26 October 2016
Category : General News
Cr Cheryl Gaedtke – Ordinary Meeting 26 October 2016
Agenda Item # 5 Matters of Public Interest
29 October Billy Tea & Damper Big Breakfast & Bush Poetry – Toogoolawah Anglican Church
29 October Day in the Vines – C & K Kilcoy Kindergarten
03 November Craft Morning – Esk CWA
06 November Car & Bike Show – Fernvale
12 November Pig Races, Harlin Hotel
12 November Caboonbah Undenominational Church Annual Service
12 November Lowood Show Society Dinner Dance
Agenda Item #34 Councillor Report Meetings/Functions attended
13 October On-site meeting – Coominya
13 October Meeting at Kilcoy re: Funding opportunities for tourism
16 October 140 Years of Lutheran Worship Lowood
18/20 October LGAQ Annual Conference – Gold Coast
25 October Interagency Meeting – Kilcoy
25 October Meeting with Kilcoy RSL President
On-site meeting – Coominya
It was a pleasure to take part in the meeting which was well supported by Councillors and Town Planning staff. Potential business owners often need assistance and guidance to understand the processes required to obtain town planning consent.
140 Years of Lutheran Worship Lowood
The Trinity Lutheran Church Lowood celebrated 140 years of worship by offering a service and an unveiling of the Commemoration Plaque at the Lowood Cemetery (Bethel Cemetery) and a Holy Communion Service in the Trinity Lutheran Church Lowood. The ceremony was followed by a fellowship Lunch. The experience was most uplifting and many past residents travelled back to Lowood to take part in the celebrations. I wish to congratulate the commemoration organisers.
LGAQ Annual Conference – Gold Coast
The conference was well supported by Somerset Regional Council with five Councillors attending. The Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk MP opened the conference and there were many keynote speakers who had valuable information to share with the conference delegates. It was interesting to witness some of the debate that occurred around the motions submitted by Queensland Councils.
The draft South East Queensland Regional Plan was released at the conference, which unveils a 50 year vision for the South East, with a focus on community, affordable living, future jobs and maximising existing infrastructure. Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Jackie Trad said it was developed through extensive consultation with the region’s 12 councils, industry and the community. The SEQ Regional Plan reflects the values, needs and great ideas of the community and was developed in close partnership with the region’s 12 Mayors and South East Queenslanders.
Jackie Trad also announced the State would pay its 25 per cent share of the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) funding that is owed to councils in plant and equipment costs. Queensland councils will now ramp up pressure on the Commonwealth to follow the Palaszczuk Government’s lead and reimburse unpaid plant and equipment costs for disaster recovery works. It is estimated that the reimbursement is worth about $2.5 million to more than 30 councils from reconstruction works performed in 2014.
Somerset Dam to produce renewable energy for SEQ again
A major refurbishment of the Somerset Hydro-Electric Plant will increase Seqwater’s capacity to produce renewable energy for the state’s electricity grid. The plant, which first generated power in 1954, has not been operational since it was inundated by the January 2011 floods. The $11.6 million restoration, once completed, would increase the capacity of the plant from 3.2 to 4.1 megawatts. Hydro-electricity is the second largest source of large-scale renewable energy in Queensland.
