Councillor Report – 8th February 2017

Cr Cheryl Gaedtke – Ordinary Meeting 8 February 2017
Agenda Item # 5 Matters of Public Interest
It is pleasing to see that our region’s landowners have various opportunities to be informed about rural management matters. Various workshops are organised by council and our local land care groups, and I encourage our landowners to attend workshops when possible.
10 February Kilcoy Art Society Inc. – Artist of the Month, Kilcoy Courthouse Gallery
20 February Toogoolawah State High School – Student Leaders Investiture Ceremony

Agenda Item #26 Councillor Report
Meetings/Functions attended
26 January Australia Day Celebrations – Somerset Civic Centre
30 January Meeting with Ten Mile Rural Fire Brigade
2 February Meetings at Esk Office
6 February Brisbane Valley Kilcoy Landcare Group Meeting
6 February Meeting with rural residents
6 February Kilcoy Dance Group AGM

Australia Day Celebrations – Somerset Civic Centre
On a lovely, but warm morning the Australia Day Awards Presentation and Citizenship Ceremony was held at the spacious Somerset Civic Centre. Breakfast was very tasty and consisted of lots of choices. Congratulations to all involved with organising this fantastic celebration. There was lots of laughter, and it was a time for locals to meet up and chat about things since they last saw one another. Being nominated for these prestigious awards and the associated recognition is truly an honour and privilege. This accomplishment alone is an unforgettable milestone. I offer my congratulations to all nominees and offer special congratulations to the winning nomination of each award category. The Australia Day Ambassador, Lakeisha Patterson presented a thought provoking speech. I can hardly wait for next year’s event, to enjoy yet another professionally administered and heartwarming event.

Ten Mile Rural Fire Brigade
Three members of the Ten Mile Rural Fire Brigade met with me to discuss current Department of Transport & Main Roads’ procedures with burning off vegetation from TMR’s road reserves network. After discussing legal liability responsibilities with matters such as; feeding cattle on TMR’s roadsides, fencing of TRM’s roadsides, landowners slashing TMR road reserves and identification of hot spots on TMR road reserves, it was agreed that the Ten Mile Rural Fire Brigade would consult further with TMR about such issues for further clarification.

ABC Landline Broadcast
Landline aired “Window On China”, a special program analysing the economic powerhouse that is Australia’s biggest trading partner. The program recorded business interests from premium beef to high fashion, and offered the pitfalls and success stories of doing business in modern China. Two hundred & twenty local government and business representatives from Toowoomba made the trip from Wellcamp Airport to Beijing, China to discuss and learn more about future free trade incentives. Initiatives included clean and green, paddock to plate, E-Commerce with a platform of millions of clients. New Hope Group and its current business ventures were documented, with a very informative visual and oral presentation of Kilcoy and Kilcoy Pastoral Company. Local business identity, Duncan Brown was also interviewed.

Local Government News of Interest
As part of its Submission to the 2016 – 2017 Federal Budget, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), has asked for certainty the indexation of Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) will be restored.
The 2016-17 Budget should include a commitment to: • Immediately restore the indexation of the Financial Assistance Grants.
Beyond 2016-17, the Federal Government should commit to: • Increase the quantum of the base and reform the indexation methodology of the Financial Assistance Grants; and • Provide appropriate resources to aid in the prevention of cost shifting, including working towards a renewed Inter-governmental agreement.