Councillor Report – Council Meeting Monday 14 November 2016
Category : General News
Cr Cheryl Gaedtke – Ordinary Meeting 14 November 2016
Agenda Item # 5 Matters of Public Interest
16 November Healthy Waterways – Report Card Kilcoy
19 November Glamorgan Vale Hand Crafted Market Day
19 November Linville Bush Dance
20 November Linville Community Church Service
Agenda Item #40 Councillor Report Meetings/Functions attended
27 October Kilcoy Chamber of Commerce & Community Monthly Meeting
28 October 54th Annual Awards Ceremony – Kilcoy State High School
31 October Agforce Meeting – Toogoolawah
2 November Kilcoy & District Village Committee General Meeting
3 November Brisbane Valley Heritage Trail Committee Monthly Meeting
6 November Fernvale Car & Bike Show – Fernvale
7 November Toogoolawah Ambulance Committee Special Meeting
8 November Tourism Advisory Committee Meeting
9 November Somerset Region Community Enterprises Ltd Annual General Meeting – Lowood
11 November Remembrance Day Commemoration – Kilcoy
13 November Artist of the Month Exhibition Opening – Kilcoy Courthouse Art Gallery
Kilcoy Chamber of Commerce & Community Monthly Meeting
Correspondence will be forwarded to the respective government Ministers advising of the very intermittent mobile coverage in and around Kilcoy areas. I requested that a copy of the correspondence be cc’d to Somerset Regional Council for information purposes only.
Domestic Violence Measures
Following the formation of a special committee, the Palaszczuk Government has committed a record $198.2 million over five years in this year’s Budget to continue to implement the response to Not Now, Not Ever.
Key achievements include:
- releasing the 10-Year Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy;
- opening of 72-hour crisis shelters in Brisbane and Townsville, which have helped more than 1000 victims escape violence. Since the six-month report, a further $8.7 million has been allocated for regional shelters in Charters Towers and Roma;
- trialling of a specialist domestic and family violence court at Southport. To build on the trial, the 2016-17 Budget included $42.4 million over four years to roll out more specialist courts;
- a suite of laws including amendments to the Penalties and Sentences Act to make domestic violence an aggravating factor and laws to make non-fatal strangulation a separate offence;
- the development of the Respectful Relationships education program for all Queensland schools to counter attitudes and behaviours that underpin violence later in life. The State Government has also included introducing an Industrial Relations Bill, and once passed, will provide to up to 10 days of domestic and family violence leave per year on full pay.
Queensland Country Women’s Association Conference
A landmark vote was made at the annual state conference on the 26th October 2016, allowing men (over the age of 18 years) to join the previously exclusively “women only” organisation as support members.
Awareness Campaign – Property Fire Risks
Given the event of out of control fires to the east of Kilcoy during the month of October, I would like to suggest that council consider educating its residents of the need to judge the fire risks of their individual properties, and become more “Fire Ready”. This strategy could be supported by collaborating with Community Education Officers. Brisbane Valley Kilcoy Landcare Group in conjunction with local Rural Fire Brigades and the South East Qld Fire and Biodiversity Consortium will be holding a fire management planning workshop on 25th February 2017. Council could assist this serious situation by raising awareness of its residents.
Queensland’s Heritage Grants
Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Dr Steven Miles has advised that 99 applications were received under round one of the ‘heritage’ category and 18 successful recipients would share $701,944 in funding. Congratulations to local recipient, Your Archives Pty Ltd submitting a project that aims to prepare a Condition Assessment report and undertake urgent stabilisation work at the historic Stonehouse at Moore for a grant of $50,000.
Emergency Vehicles to get priority in neighbouring Toowoomba Region
I was interested to learn that the Emergency Vehicle Priority (EVP) system is an innovative technology that provides fire trucks and ambulances priority when responding to emergencies. The EVP system provides a green traffic signal to approaching emergency vehicles fitted with the technology, when safe to do so. Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio commented that council is happy to see this system being implemented in the Toowoomba Region.
Somerset Region Community Enterprises Ltd AGM
The meeting was held at the Lowood Golf Club on Wednesday 9th November. I was overwhelmed by the achievements of this organisation. Total holdings after acquiring the Toogoolawah Bendigo Agency on 1 November is now $100 m. The organisation has now reinvested around $326,000 back in to the community over the last six years. Congratulations to everyone, past & present who have been involved.
