Council Connections - 2 December 2022

2023 Australia Day Award Nominations Now Open, Christmas Light Competition and Community Christmas Events

2023 Australia Day Award Nominations Now Open

Council is now seeking nominations for Australia Day Awards to be presented on Australia Day 26 January 2023.

Categories include:

• Citizen Award for a person 27 years or older on Thursday 26 January 2023;
• Young Citizen Award for a person under 27 years on Thursday 26 January 2023;
• Junior and Senior Sports Awards, senior category over 18 years, junior category under 18 years;
• Senior and Junior Cultural Awards;
• Community Event Award; and
• Individual Achievement Award for a significant contribution to a local community group/s either as an official, coach, office bearer or in some other official or volunteer capacity.

Any resident in the Hinchinbrook Shire during 2022 is eligible and their contribution or performance may have occurred during 2022, or over a number of years.

Further information regarding Award categories as well as Nomination Forms are available on Council’s website, Australia Day Celebrations page under Community and Environment or from the Council Office, 25 Lannercost Street Ingham. 

Nominations are to be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer, Hinchinbrook Shire Council, PO Box 366, Ingham, by 5.00pm Wednesday 4 January 2023, to allow judging by a local selection panel.

Coconut Palms De-nutting and Reduction Strategy

Consultation for the Coconut Reduction Strategy closed on Friday 28 October 2022, allowing the community and potentially affected residents to seek nominations for removal and/or negotiate maintenance on Coconut Palms.

The final Coconut Reduction Strategy for the 2022-2023 financial year is now available to the public and can be accessed via Council’s website, Public Consultation page. No further consultation or negotiations will take place this financial year.

Coconut Palm removals and de-nutting works commenced Monday 28 November 2022 with completion anticipated by the end of the year.

It is envisaged that removal works in accordance with the scheduled Coconut De-nutting Program and Reduction Strategy may take a couple of years to achieve the desired outcomes due to budgeting and resource constraints.

For further information, please contact Council’s Public Spaces Team on 4776 4740.

Donation for Kennedy Regiment Library

Tom Exelby Junior of Gatton Queensland, donated a Certificate of Discharge belonging to his late grandfather Tom Exelby, who served in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) during WWII.

The certificate details that the Stone River man entered the AIF in June 1942 and was in full time service in Australia for six hundred and twenty days before his discharge on 9 January 1945.

This item will add to the historically, valuable collection of books, ephemera and other materials preserved in the Special Collections room.

Tom Exelby presented the certificate to Felix Reitano, who accepted it on behalf of the Kennedy Regiment on Monday 14 November 2022.

The Kennedy Regiment Library along with local history items and historical memorabilia make up the Special Collections at the Hinchinbrook Shire Library.

Donations of historical significance from members of the public are always welcome at the Hinchinbrook Shire Library, people feel reassured that their historical items, not necessarily valuable in monetary means, hold true value to the Hinchinbrook Shire as they piece together the history of the Shire and will be preserved for the future.

Works - NBN Fixed Wireless Upgrades

Work is expected to begin on the Forrest Beach Fixed Wireless Tower upgrade from Thursday 1 December to Friday 16 December 2022.

There may be outages during this upgrade window, with more intensive works to follow into 2023.

Locals can register for updates here https://bit.ly/3F1LP8y.

44th Hinchinbrook Art Awards Exhibition Opening Night

Join us for the Opening Night of the 44th Hinchinbrook Art Awards.

Date:       Friday 2 December 2022

Time:       6.00pm

Where:    TYTO Regional Art Gallery

Live music, canapes and a cash bar will be available on the night.

Semi-formal attire required.

Roadworks Notice - Bruce Parade Lucinda

Council wishes to advise that drainage renewal works on Bruce Parade Lucinda have commenced with completion anticipated by Friday 16 December 2022, weather permitting.

For further information on current roadworks, please visit Council's website, Roadworks page or contact Council.

Council would like to thank you for your cooperation during this necessary phase of works.

Hinchinbrook Blue Light Association Lower Herbert and Beaches Christmas Light Competition

Hinchinbrook Blue Light Association are hosting a Christmas light competition involving Halifax, Cordelia, Braemeadows, Bemerside, Macknade, Lucinda, Taylors Beach and Forrest Beach.

Judging will take place on Saturday 17 December and Sunday 18 December 2022.

To enter, simply text 0481 249 644 with your name, best contact number, address and reference "Christmas Light Comp" before Thursday 15 December 2022.

Save the Date for 2022 Community Christmas Events

• Forrest Beach Carols - Friday 9 December 2022;
• Taylors Beach Christmas Party - Saturday 10 December 2022;
• Trebonne Action Group Christmas BBQ in the park - Saturday 10 December 2022; and
• Lucinda Carols - Wednesday 14 December 2022.

Need to print the Council Connections page? Click on the link below for the printable version. 

COUNCIL CONNECTIONS - 2 DECEMBER 2022