Council Connections - 11 March 2020

Flying Fox Management Program

Council is aware that flying foxes have once again been landing in undesirable locations such as the Botanical Gardens. This can be expected as animals that have not been exposed to the recent activities return to the area.

Dispersal works, including the use of bird fright, will continue each morning, as required, between 5.00am and 7.30am to dissuade any animals from attempting to roost in undesirable locations and encourage them to join the existing roost at the TYTO Wetlands.

It is recommended that all pets are secured during the operation times.

Private landowners are reminded that if flying foxes land in your trees, you are allowed to dissuade them from staying, by use of non-destructive disturbance techniques including smoke, water sprinklers, visual deterrents such as imitation predators and bright lights and noise from various commercial or improvised products.

Please do not attempt to touch a bat with bare hands.

For further information on what you can and cannot do with flying foxes, please visit the Department of Environment and Science website at www.des.qld.gov.au.

Should you wish to report flying foxes that have taken up temporary residence in an undesirable location, or you require further clarification regarding the dispersal activities, please contact Council on 4776 4600 for the necessary assistance.

Rates Payment Incentive Scheme

Half Yearly Rate Notices were issued on 26 February 2020 and are due Tuesday 31 March 2020.

If you pay on or before the due date and have no rates in arrears, you will go into the draw to win $2,000 to be spent locally at up to five businesses of your choice!

The winner of the first Half Yearly Rate Payment Incentive Scheme prize, Mr Ross Woodbury from Allingham, could not believe his good luck in winning this great prize and nominated Helloworld Travel Ingham and Forrest Beach News as the local businesses that he would be spending the prize money between.

The winner for the second Half Yearly Rate Payment Incentive Scheme prize will be drawn at Council’s General Meeting on 28 April 2020.

The initiative is a great way to support economic growth in the Shire, whilst encouraging rates to be paid on time.

Council offers a variety of payment options including online, via telephone, mail or by visiting Council’s main office at 25 Lannercost Street, Ingham.

For more information regarding rate concessions and initiatives please visit Council’s website, Rates Fees and Charges page.

Call Monitoring

As part of its commitment to providing professional, respectful and friendly levels of service to the Hinchinbrook community, Council has recently implemented call monitoring software to ensure a high standard of customer service is provided.

Calls that are monitored will be reviewed by Council’s Corporate and Financial Services Team to assess the quality of interactions, with a view to continually improve standards.

When phoning Council, callers are greeted with an automated message advising that the call may be recorded for quality assurance purposes.

If you do not want your call recorded, please let one of our friendly customer service team members know.

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COUNCIL CONNECTIONS -  11 MARCH 2020