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Click here to find out more16th June 2018
Doing Business with Council
Council has made changes to its procurement processes towards preferencing local business as part of its commitment towards ensuring business stays local for our community’s economic benefit.
One change has been the establishment of procurement panels. If you are registered on the panel for delivery of a particular product or service, you will be automatically notified in the event that Council seeks to purchase such goods or services.
Council regularly calls for registration onto the panels through the Herbert River Express, Council’s website and social media. You must avail yourself of this opportunity and complete the registration process, otherwise you may miss out on opportunities to tender or quote as they arise. Notifications will only go to businesses registered on the panel and failure to register cannot be used as a legitimate excuse going forward.
Please check to make sure you are registered, and if not, attend to registration as soon as possible. You may check or receive assistance in registration by phoning Council on 4776 4600.
State Budget
It was disappointing that the State Budget failed to deliver any major projects for our district. However, it appears that a few buckets of money are to be made available for various programs and we will definitely be applying for same as they become available.
These include:
A further two passing lanes are proposed by Department of Transport and Main Roads for the Yuruga / Bambaroo area and we will be petitioning the Minister to ensure local content / employment opportunities are a prime criteria that must be met by tenderers.
On a sourer note, the increasing costs being driven by State policy, including such things as insurance, electricity and registration are making it difficult to contain costs.
No commitment has been made by the State towards the flying fox issue. The Local Government Association of Queensland has been petitioning the State Government, on behalf of its 77 Council members, to take leadership of the problem.
Harvest
It is good to see our annual harvest is off and running. Good luck to all the crews in the harvesting, milling and farming sectors and may you have a productive and incident free season.
Image: Overlooking the Lower Herbert District by Megan MacKinnon
Off Road Vehicles on Beach Areas Survey
The Off Road Vehicles on Beach Areas survey has been completed, with a clear majority of survey participants voting for vehicles to be allowed. This survey was instigated by Council to determine the public’s views on the matter after much community complaint and concern of nuisance activities occurring.
Comments received with the surveys also indicate that permission should not be carte blanche, but that restrictions towards designated access points and designated zones should apply, in the interests of environmental stewardship.
Based on the indicative community attitude, discussions will now be progressed with the relevant State agencies on matters pertaining to the Queensland Coastal Plan and Environmental Protection Policies with a view to determining an environmentally appropriate and acceptable way forward.
Cr Ramon Jayo
Mayor