Media Responses - August

Media Response – Carlo Point – 01/08/2019

Council was requested to perform a compliance search from the owner looking to sell the Rainbow Beach Holiday village at Carlo Point in March 2015.

Council completed this and found non-compliance issues within the park, this report was delivered to the potential owners who purchased the property in September 2015.

The new owners worked with Council, with the understanding that plans were in place to redevelop the park and time requested to allow this development which would address the non-compliance issues.

Council understands the property was then sold once again, and a property search was produced for the sale in 2018, including the compliance search. Again time has been requested to redevelop the site which will address the non-compliance issues.

Business decisions made within the park are those of the management/owner and not Council. However, it should be noted that Council have a responsibility to ensure the safety of its community.

Media Statement - ARC – 01/08/2019

Gympie Aquatic Recreation Centre (ARC).

 Gympie Regional Council have engaged specialists to commence work on the Gympie Aquatic Recreation Centre ceiling, following engineering and building reports to address the issue with the acoustic panels.

The indoor heated pool will unfortunately continue to be closed with work expected to commence next week, subject to available specialised equipment and will take approx. 2 to 3 weeks to complete.

Council apologise for the inconvenience as the ARC is a popular facility for the community, and will have the pool reopened as soon as possible.

Media Response – Planning and Motorbikes – 01/08/2019

As part of Amendment Package 2 to the Gympie Regional Council Planning Scheme 2013, Councillors identified the desire to facilitate a range of land uses in the Gympie region without the need for a development application if the land use was proposed to occur on an ad hoc or temporary basis. As part of preparing the proposed amendments, Council resolved to permit a ‘Motor Sports Facility’ to occur without a development application if it complies with particular criteria whereby it is deemed to be a temporary use. The proposed criteria states a Motor Sports Facility is to:

·       Be no more than two events per calendar year, with a maximum duration of four consecutive days per event;

·       Have no permanent provision for spectators;

·       For an event such as a motorcross or trail bike event, it is to be located in the Rural zone.

The following measures are also required to be implemented:

•         the organisers of the event have met with and implement the requirements of all relevant State emergency services with respect to traffic management, bushfire protection, flooding, policing and security for patrons, and the like;

•         any permits necessary for the event are obtained from regulatory authorities, including the Office of Liquor Gaming and Regulation and with respect to any food licences required by Gympie Regional Council;

•         any noise generated from the event is to comply with the Environment Protection Act, with respect to noise generated by an outdoor event.

If a Motor Sports Facility (i.e. event) is proposed and does not meet the above criteria, it is not considered to be a temporary use and will need an impact assessable development application to be submitted to Council. The proposed amendments relating to ‘temporary uses’ including Motor Sports Facility can be viewed in section 1.7 of the proposed ‘Gympie Regional Council Planning Scheme 2013 – Public Consultation July 2019’, located on Council’s website at https://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/proposed-amendments-to-the-planning-scheme.

Council is proposing to make further minor changes to section 1.7 ‘temporary uses’ to correct a drafting error following the close of public consultation. The ‘temporary uses’ drafted in section 1.7 of the Planning Scheme are proposed to be referred to as ‘irregular or infrequent uses’, rather than ‘temporary uses.’ Furthermore, it is proposed that ‘irregular and infrequent uses’ are then made ‘accepted development’ (i.e. not requiring a development approval and being exempt from the Planning Scheme), which continues to reflect the existing policy position established in the public consultation version of the Planning Scheme.

Amendment Package 2 to the Planning Scheme is currently out for public consultation until close of business 2 August 2019 and submissions are being sought on the proposed amendments. To find out more information about the amendments that are currently proposed to the Planning Scheme, and information on how to lodge a submission on the proposed amendments, head to Council’s website at https://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/proposed-amendments-to-the-planning-scheme.

Media Response – Motorists speeding through school zones in Gympie

Could a speed bump be implemented outside the school? Or could council investigate putting another speed sign to alert motorists on Lawrence St to slow down?

Media Request – Dog Baiting in Gympie Region – 08/08/2019

Council only offer the 1080 program when requested by land holders.

Gympie Regional Council offers private land holders and State Agencies a free biannual coordinated 1080 baiting service. This service is usually conducted throughout the region during April/May and September/October each year. This service is also available by request at other times to eligible land holders.

Private landholders wishing to participate are assessed by Council to determine their suitability for 1080 baiting, and must comply with certain conditions.

Council prepares baits for eligible landholders, however does not place 1080 baits on behalf of them. Any property that is participating in Councils 1080 baiting program must notify all neighbours that fall within 1.5klms and install signage to provide a warning, that declared pest animal control using poison baits will be undertaken at the described property.

Council have no plans to roll out the program on council land this calendar year.

Media Request – Central School – 07/08/2019

Gympie Regional Council is aware of this and will put it on the agenda of the next Traffic and Road Safety Committee meeting to advocate on behalf of the community. The Traffic and Road Safety Committee comprises of representatives from a number of organisations including Gympie Regional Council, Department of Transport and Main Roads and the Queensland Police Service.

Gympie Regional Council has no plans for additional parking at Central School.

Media Request - regional cities becoming outer suburbs – 07/08/2019

Council and the community need to be aware of the potential population growth over the next 30 years.  Without a doubt we will see this growth, especially when you look at the statistics across South East Queensland.

Documents such as the Council Corporate Plan, the Planning Scheme and the upcoming Economic Development and Investment Strategy look at this population growth and put into place systems needed to support it.

We have also worked hard to deliver projects that support liveability and key infrastructure throughout the region.

We need to be brave and think now about how the Gympie region will look in 30 years. What we can’t do is be shy; we need to be bold in our thinking as this is what the statistics are telling us we need to plan for.

Mayor Curran, Gympie Regional Council

Media Request – Olympics – 09/08/2019

The ongoing talk about Qld and the Olympics, and with consideration of this latest comment by the Council of Mayors leadership group, what would this push to secure the event in 2032 mean for Gympie? The tourism strategy mentions this as a possible lever for a multi-sport complex – would this make such a project a guarantee for the region? Or would we still be fighting against heavyweights like the Sunshine Coast for infrastructure like this? Are there other ways securing the games would benefit the region? What will it mean if it is approved? Is there any other comment he would like to make?  

This would be a great opportunity for our community and the region.

This highlights the importance of the Fast Train currently being discussed for South East Queensland, this would allow residents better access to the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane to attend the Olympics. For tourists, it means better to access the region while attending the games.

Gympie may not have the ability to support hosting Olympic events, however with upgrades being delivered to key sporting facilities, the region would have the potential to host training camps for competing teams.

Although this is not a resolution from Council, I would personally support the 2032 Olympic Games coming to South East Queensland.

Mick Curran

Mayor Gympie Regional Council

Media Enquiry – Dog baiting in Gympie region-09/08/2019

What is the 1080 baiting program? What does it mean?

The 1080 Baiting Program is the provision of a fresh meat 1080 bait injecting service (council do not provide the baits), which is made available to eligible rural landholders within the region who are experiencing impacts from pest animals such as wild dogs, feral pigs and foxes. A coordinated program is delivered during two events each year and on an as needs basis. Landholders seeking help to manage pest animals on their properties can register their interest in participating in the program. Approved participants then meet with a Council-authorised person to have their baits prepared, discuss risks, collect signage, and sign paperwork. Once all the relevant paperwork is signed, landholders are then responsible for their own baiting on their own properties.

Are there any private land services set to happen in Sept/Oct this year? How many and where?

Council is offering a 1080 Baiting Program over two weeks in September. Registrations close 4 September 2019. Until all registrations are received, and each application assessed, council is unable to advise the number of participants or the program locations.

Why are there no plans for council-land programs this year? Is the wild dog situation considered to be in control at the moment?

The 1080 baiting program is just one of the ways that Council manage pest animals, including wild dogs. Council does not currently have any Council owned/operated land that requires the use of the 1080 Baiting Program. Other management methods, such as soft-jaw foot-hold trapping, complement baiting programs and help manage (not eradicate) wild dogs populations.

How many baits are prepared every year by council?

The number of baits prepared varies from program to program and depends on the number and location of participating landholders, the size of their properties, and the species being targeted. It also depends on the impacts that the individual landholders are trying to manage. Approximately 1,500 baits were used across approximately 60 rural properties as part of Council’s May 2019 1080 Baiting Program.

Is it illegal for private land owners to set up their own bait, or do they have to provide similar 1.5km notifications?

When private landholders request support from Council for the baiting of pest animals (outside of the council-coordinated programs), they must supply all bait material and a Council-authorised person will inject each bait with the regulated dose of toxin (specific to the target species). The landowner is legally bound by a variety of conditions for undertaking the baiting on their private land, this includes in the Gympie Region, a requirement to notify all neighbours within 1.5km.

Any legally obtained toxin has a label by which the conditions of use must be adhered to. This is the case for Council 1080 prepared baits and any other bait product that may be accessible commercially to landholders to manage pest animals. There are some manufactured bait products that may be available commercially (not provided by Council) to some eligible landholders; and these also have legal label conditions which must be abided by.

Media Enquiry - Pengellys Bridge – 06/08/2019

Pengellys Bridge is a state government asset controlled by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.  If directed by the state, council can perform minor maintenance activities, ie cleaning debris from the walkway (which we do as required), however major repairs to the structure itself including the damaged bridge rail is a state government responsibility.

Media Response – 13/08/2019

Proposed amendments to the Planning Scheme – currently under review following community consultation

 The recent proposed amendments to the Planning Scheme, one of which relates to the temporary use of a ‘Motor Sports Facility’, were included in community consultation on Amendment Package 2 of the Planning Scheme. At the end of the consultation period, which closed at 5pm on Friday, 2 August 2019, Council had received 69 submissions from individuals, businesses, and community-based organisations, some of which related to the temporary use of ‘Motor Sports Facilities’. Council officers are now carefully reviewing each submission. A full report, including copies of the submissions, will be presented to councillors for their review and feedback.

If substantial changes are made to the Planning Scheme as a result of the feedback received through submissions, Amendment Package 2 will go back out to public consultation, as per the state government requirements. If no substantial changes are made as a result of feedback, the proposed amendment package will be progressed to the state government for formal endorsement of the proposed amendments to be reflected in the Planning Scheme.

Noise complaints

 The proposed amendments relating to the temporary use of a ‘Motor Sports Facility’ are still under review and are therefore not yet in force; until the proposed amendments are endorsed, any motorcycle events planned for the region require approval as per the existing Planning Scheme.

If the community is concerned about motorcycle noise on neighbouring properties, they are welcome to contact Council on 1300 307 800; Council will investigate the matter and take action as required.  

Media Response – Planning Scheme – 13/08/2019

As part of Amendment Package 2 to the Gympie Regional Council Planning Scheme 2013, Councillors identified the desire to facilitate a range of land uses in the Gympie region without the need for a development application if the land use was proposed to occur on an ad hoc or temporary basis. As part of preparing the proposed amendments, Council resolved to permit a ‘Motor Sports Facility’ to occur without a development application if it complies with particular criteria whereby it is deemed to be a temporary use. The proposed criteria states a Motor Sports Facility is to:

 Be no more than two events per calendar year, with a maximum duration of four consecutive days per event;

Have no permanent provision for spectators; For an event such as a motorcross or trail bike event, it is to be located in the Rural zone (as identified on the Planning Scheme’s zoning maps).

The following measures are also required to be implemented:

the organisers of the event have met with and implement the requirements of all relevant State emergency services with respect to traffic management, bushfire protection, flooding, policing and security for patrons, and the like; any permits necessary for the event are obtained from regulatory authorities, including the Office of Liquor Gaming and Regulation and with respect to any food licences required by Gympie Regional Council; any noise generated from the event is to comply with the Environment Protection Act, with respect to noise generated by an outdoor event.

If a Motor Sports Facility (i.e. event) is proposed and does not meet the above criteria, it is not considered to be a temporary use and will need an impact assessable development application to be submitted to Council. The proposed amendments relating to ‘temporary uses’ including Motor Sports Facility can be viewed in section 1.7 of the proposed ‘Gympie Regional Council Planning Scheme 2013 – Public Consultation July 2019’, located on Council’s website at https://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/proposed-amendments-to-the-planning-scheme.

Council is proposing to make further minor changes to section 1.7 ‘temporary uses’ to correct a drafting error following the close of public consultation. The ‘temporary uses’ drafted in section 1.7 of the Planning Scheme are proposed to be referred to as ‘irregular or infrequent uses’, rather than ‘temporary uses.’ Furthermore, it is proposed that ‘irregular and infrequent uses’ are then made ‘accepted development’ (i.e. not requiring a development approval and being exempt from the Planning Scheme), which continues to reflect the existing policy position established in the public consultation version of the Planning Scheme.

Consultation on Amendment Package 2 of the Planning Scheme closed 2 August 2019. Council received 69 submissions from individuals, businesses, and community-based organisations. Council officers are now carefully reviewing each submission and a full report including copies of all submissions will be prepared for Council’s consideration.

If substantial changes are made to the Planning Scheme as a result of feedback, Amendment Package 2 will go back out to public consultation, as per the state government requirements. If no substantial changes are made as a result of feedback, the proposed amendment package will be progressed to the state government for formal endorsement of the proposed amendments to be reflected in the Planning Scheme.

Media Response – Council cars and personal use – 16/08/2019

What is the council’s policy for staff using cars for personal business?

It is standard business practice in both the private and government sector for contract/salary packages to include items such as vehicle use. This can include commuter use (only using the vehicle to and from work) or private use (full use of the vehicle).  Recruitment can be competitive, with regional/rural councils or industry competing with metropolitan counterparts, which at times can offer larger salaries. Council does have the option to not include vehicle usage however this may then require a higher salary component in order to remain competitive in the market. The vehicles themselves are required during business hours for staff to undertake their work.

Contracts and salary packaging are based on the position held.

Council recruitment is a high priority to ensure the best outcomes for community.

If it’s allowed, who foots the bill for petrol and depreciation for wear and tear? Do staff get the car as part of their salary package, with all costs covered by the council? Or do they have to pay out of their own pocket – and how, then, is this monitored? And given the council’s continued claims of finding savings for ratepayers, how is this extra expense for personal use (if allowed by the council) justified?

The only vehicles driven out of work hours are part of a salary package. Costs are covered by Council. Vehicles provided for private use form part of the overall remuneration package, the total sum of which is generally dictated by the market.

2.            Are there any restrictions on how far outside the council region workers can take council cars for non-council business?

Approval is required for some forms of usage.

3.            Is there any other comment the council would like to make?

In regards to the complaint made to the Gympie Times:

The car photographed was driven by a council staff member with commuter use of the vehicle. The night the car was photographed, the staff member and their family were moving house and relocating the work vehicle to the new property, which Council was aware of.

On the way, the staff member and their family who were also relocating their private car stopped to pick up tea.

The staff member was questioned by the person taking the photo, and explained the situation. This person was agitated and did not wish to talk to the staff member. 

Council understands the interest the public may have regarding vehicle use, however council does ask the community to please treat council staff respectfully, as this staff member also had their children with them at the time.