Cr Cheryl Gaedtke – Councillor Report – Ordinary Council Meeting 8 June 2022

 Cr Cheryl Gaedtke – Ordinary Council Meeting 8 June 2022

Agenda Item # 5 Matters of Public Interest

Congratulations to the Mount Kilcoy Sandy Creek Rural Fire Brigade who were supported by the Viking Breed SMC North Brisbane who organised a fundraising event on 21^st May 2022 with all proceeds generously donated to the brigade.  Viking Breed SMC presented the  brigade with a cheque for $15,274.00.  The donation was accepted gratefully by the brigade, to which the funds will enhance its capability and capacity to support the community.

The Palaszczuk Government is delivering a boost to Queensland’s racing industry, especially country racing, through a new sustainable funding model.  There are 125 racing clubs across Queensland.  The upcoming changes offer the industry, and the 6500 jobs it directly employs, greater certainty.  Providing longer term funding certainty means opportunities for increased prize money, enhanced infrastructure, and better training facilities – and the more the industry grows, the more revenue it will receive.  The changes include:

• a new 5 per cent racing levy added to the betting tax (also known as the Point of Consumption tax)
• broadening the betting tax to include free and bonus bets
• increasing the proportion of betting tax revenue that goes directly to the racing industry from 35% to 80%

The change from the current 35% share of the betting tax going back into the industry increasing to 80% also creates a single funding stream.  At present, a lot of the funding that goes to the racing industry is in the form of short-term government funding programs.

Agenda Item #24  Councillors’ Report

May

25          Ordinary Council Meeting – Esk

25          Council Workshop – Esk

26          Queensland 2022 National reconciliation Week Launch & Breakfast – Queensland Parliament

26          Kilcoy Recreation Grounds Advisory Committee Meeting – Kilcoy

30          Friends of Stonehouse Planning Meeting – Moore

31          Kilcoy Interagency Meeting – Teams

31          Official Opening Toogoolawah Community Gym

June

• Kilcoy State High School – Eat ‘n’ Greet Extravaganza

The Queensland 2022 National reconciliation Week Launch & Breakfast held at Queensland Parliament was well supported.  The event was a moving and caring experience with the attendance of Distinguished Guests, Her Excellency The Honourable Dr Jeannette Young, Dame Quentin Bryce, Deputy Mayor of Aurukun Shire Council Cr Craig Koomeeta, and many other special guests.  Guests were advised that on 27^th May a memorial to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women will be unveiled by the Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk in Brisbane’s Anzac Square.  The RSL Queensland’s Indigenous Veterans’ Ceremony will be held on 28^th May.  Guests were advised that many thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service men and women have fought for our country from the Boer War onwards. A common passion and love for this country is where differences were set aside and cultures were united.

Friends of Stonehouse met to further organise the Stonehouse Open Day being held on Saturday 23^rd and Sunday 24^th July.  Everyone is welcome to attend, and invitations will be forwarded to the Mayor and each Councillor.

The Kilcoy State High School students provided visiting community guests foods of the world at the high school’s Open Day Eat ‘n Greet Extravaganza.  There were many alluring smells and accompanying tastes, from countries such as Thailand, Mexico, Italy, England, Japan, Philippines, and Korea.  There were also school tours and displays from subject areas, i.e., the Agriculture Department, Art Show, English, Physical Education, Robotics and many others.  The students and teaching staff must be congratulated.