Councillor Report – Council Meeting 22 March 2017

Cr Cheryl Gaedtke – Ordinary Meeting 22 March 2017

Agenda Item # 5 Matters of Public Interest

24 March             Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast – Lowood

25 March             The Ultimate Eagles Experience – Esk

25 March             Glenwood RCF Auxiliary Cent Auction

30 March             Esk Girl Guides AGM

01 April                 Easter Carnival – Glamorgan Vale Hall

01 April                 Kilcoy Show Ball

01 April                 Glen Rock Gallery/Kilcoy Courthouse Art Gallery New Exhibitions

03 April                 Esk Skate Park – Youth Week

04 April                 Fernvale Skate Park – Youth Week

05 April                 Kilcoy Skate Park – Youth Week

09 April                 Somerset Skate Championship – Esk – Youth Week

Agenda Item #63 Councillor Report

Meetings/Functions attended

08 March             Kilcoy State High School P & C AGM & General Meeting

18 March             Brieschke Breakfast for House Fire Victims – Mt Beppo Hall

18 March             Colours of Somerset Arts & Culture Festival – Lowood

18 March             Somerset Dam & Districts Progress Association AGM

20 March             Brisbane Valley Kilcoy Landcare Group Meeting – Kilcoy

The weather on Saturday 18^th March was just beautiful for the hosting of the three events I attended.  The Brieschke Breakfast was well supported and much needed funds were raised to assist replacing possessions lost in a recent house fire.  There was interesting art, miscellaneous displays and cultural exchange at the Lowood festival.   A great roll up was experienced at the local Somerset Dam group’s AGM.

Brisbane Valley Kilcoy Landcare Group Meeting

The committee addressed recommendations 1 to 5 of the summary of Fauna Survey of Yowie Park (2016) by Scott Burnett.  The remainder six recommendations will be discussed at the next monthly meeting.  The Fire and Biodiversity Farm Management Workshop and the Small Property Planning Workshop were very successful and well supported, with more workshops planned in the future.  The matter of lack of strategy and control of feral cats was discussed and it was agreed that the current situation requires urgent action.  The group is working with local high schools to provide district youth representatives to be nominated to the Queensland Youth Environment Council.  The council is looking for representatives from the age of 12 – 21 years.

Qld Local Government News of Interest

• The Census gives us a five-yearly snapshot of Australia, providing us with the richest and most comprehensive statistical resource to help plan for our future. Data from the 2016 Census will be released through a range of products in two main stages, June and October 2017, with a preview of Census information released in April 2017.
• North’s Women lead the Way – LGAQ witnessed the vision of five female Mayors in areas between Townsville and Mt Isa, which included seven councils along the way, all leading their councils in pushing for economic development, technology and innovation.  Tribute was also paid to the two male Mayors in this area as well, but it was instructive to see the different focus the women were taking, putting a high price on jobs, growth, innovation and community engagement.   They are all having a red hot go, indeed prepared to fail if need be rather than sit on the proverbial fence.  Tradition and past performance are not high on their agenda, nor is blame. LGAQ’s CEO said ”It was really good to be in the presence of such positive people, glass half full mayors”.

Qld State Government News of Interest

• The historic Mary Valley Rattler will charm the Gympie region once again following final approval of $4.7 million in funding through the $200 million Works for Queensland program.
• Regional delegates comprising of 11 Sunshine Coast; 9 Moreton Bay; 13 Ipswich and West Moreton; 10 Redland and Logan; and 10 Gold Coast reps, will be amongst 127 regional entrepreneurs to attend next week’s Myriad Festival in Brisbane, to connect with global investors and venture capitalists managing a staggering $10 billion in funds.
• An interim report was released on 10^th March 2017 by the Koala Expert Panel set up last year to explore ways to better protect koalas in the state’s south-east. As well as other strategies, the panel has supported the development of new koala habitat mapping between Noosa and the Gold Coast, as well as areas west of Brisbane.