Council Connections - Mayor's Message 19 June 2019

Groundwater Licence

Landholders who take groundwater for purposes other than domestic or stock watering supply in the Lower Herbert Management Area have until 30 June 2019 to notify the Department of Natural Resources and Mines if they intend continuing use of the water.

If you fail to notify, you may lose your existing rights to take water pending a new application for water licence. You can notify the department by lodging a ‘Notice of Works” Groundwater Form by 30 June 2019. A copy of this form can be found by searching www.business.qld.gov.au.

Flying Fox Discussions

A meeting was held with Department of Environment and Science representatives to discuss progress of the Department’s study into practical solutions to flying fox roost management studies.

In case you are not aware, Department of Environment and Science, in collaboration with CSIRO, is undertaking a $900,000 project at Charters Towers designed at finding practical solutions to flying fox management issues.

Council called for a meeting to be updated on progress being made.  No definitive strategies or solutions have been determined at this stage.

Council re-iterated that our community was not seeking solutions on how best to manage the problem in situ, but rather how best to remove them from the urban areas of Ingham.

The situation remains that current lawful and authorised means are not effective in dispersal activities.

Whilst Council has the ability and capacity to lift the bats from current roosts, what it cannot do is control where they might go.  They will definitely end up infesting another area in someone else’s backyard.  We do not want that to happen.

Council has advised the authorities that it needs two things to happen from the strategy.  The first is the identification of suitable alternate roost sites to which flying foxes will be attracted and want to go.

Secondly, determination of permissible means to actually guide and encourage the flying foxes to those chosen places.

The technology is there but remains unacceptable for fears of causing animal harm

We have asked the State to consider doing some trials and testing in Ingham, rather than all in Charters Towers, given the different environments that exist.  They agreed to consider the matter.

Army Exercise

Exercise Sea Raider 2019 is set to commence this weekend with Exercise Control establishing at the Air Cadet Depot Ingham Airfield on 22 June 2019. Soldiers will be deployed throughout the Ingham township and beyond and will be visible throughout the streets.

Please welcome the soldiers as they go about their rounds.

Various activities will be taking place throughout the Shire until 4 July 2019, this may include some evening activity. Specific areas include Forrest Beach, Lucinda, Ingham Township, Abergowrie, Halifax and Taylors Beach.

The purpose of the exercise is to test the Australian Defence Force, Amphibious Forces in their ability to land people and equipment/vehicles from the sea on to land, to then practice providing protection and security to the civilian populace. Ships will be seen off Forrest Beach from about 24 June with troop shore landings expected to occur from 26 June onwards.

The community should not be alarmed or concerned, you are more than welcome to approach any forces that you see, but understand that at various times you may be asked to move to a specific location for safety. At no time do the Army intend to enter or exercise on private land, and if any forces should accidentally do so, they will move immediately once it has been identified.

Throughout the exercise, the community can expect to see a number of military personnel and equipment moving around the Shire including CH-47F, MRH-90 and ARH aircraft and a number of vehicles; M113, LAV, 40M, HX77, G-wagons, LARC-V and Dozers. There will also be LLC, LCM-8 Aus Connectors and two Amphibious Ships.

If you have any concerns regarding the exercise, please contact exercise personnel on 0418 682 656 or Council on 4776 4600 for assistance.

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COUNCIL CONNECTIONS - 19 JUNE 2019