Council Connections - Mayor's Message 19 February 2020

Flying Fox Update

Council is pleased to advise that activities to dissuade flying foxes settling within the Botanical Gardens continue to be considered highly successful with the vast majority of the colony settling in the western section of the TYTO Wetlands.  

It was noted that there was an increase in the number of animals on the fly in on Saturday morning, meaning that new animals that have not previously been exposed to the dispersal activities of recent have arrived in town. Pleasingly, all new individuals joined the existing roost at TYTO without intervention.

It is still very early days in the process of ensuring that the flying foxes do not try and return to the Botanical Gardens. Biodiversity Australia staff continue to be highly mobile throughout the township as activities continue to ensure that the flying foxes do not settle in undesirable locations.

Council is hosting a Public Information Session outlining the Flying Fox Management Program on Thursday 20 February 2020, see below for further information.

Council staff have begun much needed maintenance works at the Botanical Gardens in order to return the park to a state of community pride.

 Methodology Review of Commercial Sewerage Charges

Council has resolved to undertake a review into the current methodology of charging for sewerage for non-residential properties.  The unit charge presently employed has been in place for many years and requires review to determine its appropriateness against current common practice to allocate cost on a per pedestal basis.

The review will entail an inspection of all commercial properties connected to the sewerage system to verify pedestals/urinals in use. Council has approximately 450 non-residential sewerage connections recorded. 

Commercial property owners will be notified of this inspection process. 

Sale of Land

Council has resolved to commence proceedings to sell four vacant allotments for unpaid rates.  These rates remain unpaid for more than four years.  It is an unfortunate necessity that Council must take this nature of action from time to time.  Unpaid rates, if not dealt with, become a significant burden on Council rating and this is an unfair practice to the majority of rate payers.  

Fire Management

Whilst we all hope that our bushfire season is over, there will always be another bushfire season around the corner. For people that live in bushfire prone areas, now is the time to undertake preparatory work, as our best form of defence is to be ready and protected.

Did you know that planning regulations were recently amended to simplify requirements for landholders to clear vegetation for firebreaks and fire management lines?

As of 6 December 2019, clearing for firebreaks does not require Local or State Government approval in certain circumstances including where –

• The clearing is to establish or maintain a necessary firebreak to protect infrastructure (other than fences, roads and tracks) to a maximum width of 20 metres or 1.5 times the height of the tallest adjacent tree, whichever is the greater.
• The clearing is necessary to create a fire management line, up to a width of 10 metres.

For further information, on fire management and permits please visit www.qfes.qld.gov.au or your local Fire Warden https://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/Pages/fw_finder.aspx

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COUNCIL CONNECTIONS -  19 FEBRUARY 2020