Mayor's Message - Council Connections 19 May 2018

Flying Foxes

The recent community survey indicated that there is significant community dissatisfaction with Council’s management of flying foxes.  The reason is simple.  The current legislation does not enable Council to manage the problem at all.  Whilst it is true that Councils do have the authority to manage flying fox roosts, what is not true is that Council has the adequate autonomy to act, given legislative constraints. The fact is that the use of approved mediums such as water, smoke and noise for limited periods of two (2) hours in the morning and two (2) hours in the evening does not enable successful dispersal actions.  Evidence of this very fact is Australia wide results indicating that from seventeen (17) dispersal attempts, only two locations have succeeded.  One location is the Sydney Botanical Gardens. 

The State Government however continues to be petitioned for assistance and / or change.

Botanical Gardens

Residents would have noticed that Council did take the opportunity recently to significantly clean up the mess that was previously our beautiful Botanical Gardens.  The opportunity was taken when it was noticed that the number of animals in the roost were quite low.  The presentation of the area has been a significant thorn in my side since election and now that tidying up has been undertaken; Council intends to maintain an acceptable level of presentation, notwithstanding the problem above, into the future.

 Image: Botanical Gardens after recent clean up

River Issues

In conjunction with the Herbert River Improvement Trust, Council recently held a meeting with the Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy to discuss issues concerning riverine protection and management issues. 

The meeting was called in consequence of concerns from property owners from as far as the John Row Bridge to Cordelia indicating that the recent 2018 floods, although quite smaller than previous flood events, actually recorded water levels higher than previous larger events and in some cases, flooding in places where water had not previously affected.

It is evident from the information provided that a significant amount of water escaped from the river in areas not previously affected.

A commonly held belief is that the build-up of large sand islands within the Lower Herbert reaches of the river is the cause and Council intends lobbying the State Government towards remedying the sand build up issues, including acceptable, realistic and logistically possible solutions to sand mining, which has previously been difficult to secure.

Beacon Signing

I was privileged to recently receive an invitation to witness the Ingham State High School’s Beacon signing event held on 9 May 2018.  For those not familiar with the Beacon Foundation, the Foundation actually works to create an environment that educates, cares, motivates and provides support for young people to successfully transition from education to meaningful employment.  Beacon assists with establishing connections between education facilities, industry and the community to create real life educational opportunities for engagement of young people during the transition process.

The students desire to embrace the opportunities on offer was clearly evident and the outstanding address by the guest speaker, Wade Chiesa, on his life experiences inspiring to the children.  The message that was clearly evident was, that at this stage in life you will always be uncertain as to what you wish to do in the future.  However this concern should not hold you back as whatever you decide to do on leaving school, it should not be considered a life sentence and you are still able and entitled to pursue a change or other opportunity that chance or future desires may bring you.  Remember children, it all starts with making your bed in the morning.  Congratulations Ingham State High.

Image: Year 10 students (from left): Carly Fracchia, Melise Fortini and Jayde Bosworth.

Cr Ramon Jayo

Mayor