Mayor Beresford’s June 2024 Council Meeting Wrap-up

Mayor Beresford’s June 2024 Council Meeting Wrap-up

The June Council meeting was held at the Civic & Community Enterprise Centre in Cunnamulla on Tuesday 18th June, 2024.

Correspondence

Council resolved to request the appointment of Friday 15 August 2025 as a show Holiday for Paroo Shire Permission was granted to sign a Location Release Form for Prospero Productions to film on Council land at Yowah when filming Season 8 of Outback Opal Hunters. The Minister for Seniors & Disability Services has advised that Council will receive a grant of $2,000 towards Senior’s month events/celebrations in October 2024.

Community Grant Applications Approved

NAIDOC Committee – donation of $2,000 towards catering for the Seniors Luncheon on 12 July and waiver of hire fees for John Kerr Park and the Shire Hall complex from 7 – 14 July for NAIDOC week. Cunnamulla & District Diggers Race Club – waiver hire fees for mobile cold room for race meetings in June, August and October, 2024. Budjiti Aboriginal Corporation – donation of $2,000 towards catering including Elders luncheon and waiver of hire fees for Eulo Hall and mobile cold room from 8 – 12 July for NAIDOC week.

FSG Connectivity Project

Under Building our Regions 4, Field Services Group are establishing fixed wireless access towers from the western side of the Paroo Shire, connecting with towers established in Bulloo Shire through to Cunnamulla and two further towers are being erected in the south-east of the Shire towards Noorama. FSG have advised all work should be completed by the end of August 2024.

Local Disaster Management

Following the recent major flood in the Warrego River, Council staff met and held a debrief on the event. The meeting identified several suggested changes to procedures prior to and during future flood events as well as some extra resources that need to be obtained such as lighting, signs and pumps. The LDMG Council Flood Procedures will be updated accordingly, and the additional resources procured.

Governance

Council adopted the Model Meeting Procedures as provided by the Department of Local Government following revision of the procedures by the government in March, 2024.  Council adopted new Acceptable Request Guidelines for Councillors.

Both these documents can be found on the Council’s website in the June meeting agenda.

Roadworks

The Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) road construction for 2023/2024 will be completed this week with bitumen sealing on the Eulo-Toompine Road. Work is continuing on the re-sheeting project on the Hungerford Road. Slashing of road shoulders on the Mitchell Highway south from Cunnamulla as well as on the Balonne Highway have been completed and work has commenced on slashing the shoulders of the Bulloo Developmental Road. Work is due for completion within two weeks. Repairs to the Jobs Gate Road south of Bundaleer were carried out with medium and heavy formation grading. Under Roads to Recovery, plans are being prepared for submission to do works on the Waverley-Mintaka, Murra Murra, Munda Munda, Yaralla, Cuttaburra, Pitherty and Mt Alfred Roads. Grading of the Mt Alfred and Pitherty Roads is currently in progress.

Cunnamulla Swimming Pool

The pool is due to re-open on 14th September 2024. Council will be advertising shortly for a pool lessee/manager for the 2024-2025 season and the shade sails will be installed prior to the pool re-opening.

Selective Inspection Program

Council approved a selective inspection program under the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act to allow authorised persons to enter and inspect selected properties in all the township areas within the Paroo Shire. The purpose of the inspections is to monitor compliance in relation to registered and regulated dog provisions of the Act. The program will commence on 19 July and conclude on 11 October, 2024.