FRASER COAST REGIONAL COUNCIL OCTOBER 2011 NEWSLETTER
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Airport master plan will attract investment | ||||
 |
||||
|
The Fraser Coast has set itself as a major player in the aviation industry with the adoption of the Fraser Coast Airport Master Plan 2011-2031.
The plan will guide the development of the airports for the next 20 years to ensure they are safe, competitive and attract development.
“This plan will allow the Fraser Coast to firmly position itself as an aviation industry hub for aircraft maintenance and refurbishment and aggressively pursue new business,” Fraser Coast Mayor Mick Kruger said.
Council estimates that if the airport precinct was developed to its full potential it would generate 1,432 jobs and inject $71 million into the local economy stimulating the construction industry; creating jobs; attracting new, technology based businesses to the region; and positioning the Fraser Coast as a front runner in regional development initiatives.
More information can be found at www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au.
| BOOST your business is here! | ||||
|
||||
Don’t miss the launch of BOOST Your Business, the Fraser Coast Opportunities small business package to take place as part of the Business Hervey Bay networking evening to be held on Friday, 21 October from 5.30 to 7.30 pm at the WetSide Cafe and restaurant.
As part of the BOOST Your Business package, Council asked businesses to offer services to new and established small businesses as they set about achieving their goals. Services available include accounting, legal, advertising, financial and banking, business coaching and mentoring.
The BOOST Your Business package is an ongoing initiative of the Fraser Coast Opportunities partnership and interest can be registered at any time following Friday’s launch by completing the webform located at www.frasercoastopportunities.com.au.
Business Hervey Bay fosters a strong sense of community, while providing a social atmosphere for business people to mix and mingle. It is a free service offered under the Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce. You don’t have to be a chamber member to attend and events are open to business owners, managers and staff. Entry is by gold coin donation.
More information can be found at www.frasercoastopportunities.com.au or www.businessherveybay.com.au.
| Work for Queensland mining & gas jobs expo | ||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
|
||||
The Work for Queensland Mining and Gas Jobs Expo is just days away and will be held at the Brolga Theatre in Maryborough on 28 October.
The expo is an opportunity to showcase to mining company executives the region’s capacity to service their industry with employees, goods and services and is being organised by the Queensland Government in partnership with regional councils and major mining and gas industry employers.
Major mining and gas industry employers will be on hand to provide job seekers with information on current job opportunities, the range of jobs and careers available in the resources sector; industry pay, conditions and lifestyle and future job opportunities.
Resources sector training providers will provide free training and career information and will outline the training options available to pursue a career in the mining or gas industry.
For more information on the Work for Queensland Mining and Gas Jobs Expo and the Work for Queensland initiative, visit www.skills.qld.gov.au
or call 1800 773 048.
The Fraser Coast is bustling with activity as work on the following projects progresses:
Chinese Garden:
Work has commenced on the construction of a Chinese Garden within the grounds of the Hervey Bay Botanical Gardens. The Chinese garden will be visible and accessible from Elizabeth Street and will be bordered by Dayman Street. The works are being completed internally by Parks Coordinator Glen Rae and his team. An order has been sent to China to supply authentic ‘Chinese’ components for the garden. These authentic pieces will be included within the main entry with dragon and phoenix statues, bluestone flooring and a feature wall. The contemplation court, fountain and moon gate will also feature the authentic Chinese pieces.
Hervey Bay Animal Refuge:
With the completion of the Maryborough Animal Refuge, plans are now underway to construct a new facility for Hervey Bay. This facility will be constructed off Cicada Lane and will comprise blocks of kennels similar to Maryborough, as well as a new refuge administration facility.
Hervey Bay Community Centre:
Construction of the new Hervey Bay Community Centre is progressing and it is expected to be completed late November 2011. The facility will be the home of the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre who will be managing the complex. More than 20 community groups will also call the centre home. The centre will give Hervey Bay another venue for functions. An accredited day care centre will also be housed within the building. The outdoor area of the facility will include a long timber seat that is being constructed with timbers recycled from the iconic Urangan Pier.
Maryborough Aquatic Centre:
Win Constructions Queensland, a local company, has been awarded the contract for the redevelopment of the Maryborough Aquatic Centre. A new 50 metre pool, new hydro therapy pool and a new children’s play area will be part of the redevelopment. Work will be done on the current heated 25 metre pool. All current dressing sheds and administration centre etc will be demolished and replaced with new modern facilities. Construction has commenced and it is expected the works will be completed mid 2012.
Tiaro Medical Centre:
Construction of the Tiaro Medical Centre is well underway taking over the site of the old Tiaro Shire Council administration centre. The centre will house doctors in general practice and will be used by associated medical agencies in consultant capacities. The centre is scheduled for completion in October.
Hervey Bay Cultural Centre:
The tender for the construction of the Hervey Bay Cultural Centre has closed and the tender assessment process is underway. At the completion of this process the successful tenderer will be announced and construction of Stage 1 will commence almost immediately. Stage 1 will include the Regional Art Gallery and Interpretive/Discovery Centre. The facility when completed will sit opposite the new Hervey Bay Community Centre.
Maryborough Special Needs Centre & Toy Library:
Construction has commenced on the redevelopment and extension of the Maryborough Special Needs Centre & Toy Library in Lennox Street Maryborough. The redevelopment will give much needed extra space for the centre with the construction of a large storage area. The new area will have complete PWD access. Local construction company, Metcalfe Constructions, was awarded the contract.
| BUSINESS PROFILE: Whale City Butchery | ||||
|
||||
 |
Gary Richards, Hervey Bay Business Awards 2011 Retailer of the Year and sole owner of Whale City Butchery is leading the way in embracing new opportunities for existing business.
Recognising the need to develop your business as the economic climate and ways of doing business change, Gary has recently added an online ordering facility to the factory and 2 shop fronts operating under the Whale City Butchery banner.
This unique facility is supported by free delivery for orders over $50, and includes delivery to homes outside of Hervey Bay once per week.
Despite never having gone online or been one to send emails, Gary works on the basis that, “you’ve got to try anything and everything to try and survive”.
In addition to opening a new avenue for his customers, Gary has spent the past 12 months exploring the opportunities that exist for him as the resource sector booms on the doorstep of the Fraser Coast.
In early September 2011, Gary attended the Surat Basin conference and personally experienced how other industries can leverage and benefit from the boom in the resource sector.
“It was eye opening to see for myself how things operate on a mine site and I would encourage other business owners and stakeholders to do the same thing” Gary said.
Gary is continuing to research how his business can become involved in supplying meats to the mines and hopes to soon add them to the list of testimonials he has received as a result of supplying locally to the likes of the Torquay Hotel, Kingfisher Bay Resort and Wide Bay Institute of TAFE.
The recent accreditation of Whale City Butchery as a member of the Industry Capability Network (ICN) is sure to help Gary as he continues to work towards ensuring the continued sustainability of a local business that has been in operation for the past 23 years.
More information:
Contact the Whale City Butchery on 4128 3841 or see their website www.hervebaybutchers.com.au.
| Current opportunities to tender | ||||
|
||||
|
||||
There are currently no opportunities to tender.
More information:
Go to www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au to monitor opportunities that may arise.
Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
CALLING CONSTRUCTION TENDERS FOR NEW PROJECTS IN THE FRASER COAST
| Current opportunities to tender | ||||
 |
||||
 |
||||
|
||||
 Building Construction Services Maryborough Special Needs Centre and Toy Library Redevelopment and Extension Project. Tenders close on Monday 5 September. More Information: Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
|
||||
FRASER COAST INCENTIVES FOR NEW BUSINESS
| Initiative to back new business | ||||
|
||||
|
||||
|
||||
 New businesses will be offered a package that includes key contacts and discounted services in an initiative to be launched by Fraser Coast Opportunities. Existing local businesses are being encouraged to offer their services to encourage small business growth on the Fraser Coast. The response to the small business package to date has been extremely positive and it is refreshing to see the support the Fraser Coast business community is demonstrating to fellow businesses. Over the coming weeks the Fraser Coast Opportunities team will be preparing promotional collateral and finalising processes to ensure all eligible businesses are aware of the opportunity to take part in this initiative. A range of services have already been put forward including accounting, legal, advertising, financial and mentoring services, as well as business and life coaching and office productivity assessments. Thank you to those businesses who have already nominated services on offer. More Information: To nominate services available from your business or to provide feedback on the Small Business Incentive Package, email us at: opportunities@frasercoast.qld.gov.au Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
|
||||
FRASER COAST COUNCIL SAYS DEVELOPERS ARE HAPPIER BECAUSE OF INCENTIVES
| Incentives pay off for larger developers, but what of the smaller operator, who is still very nervous & reluctant to move. | ||||
|
||||
 |
||||
|
||||
Council’s Infrastructure Incentives Policy has been designed to attract investment and encourage innovative and sustainable development – and developers are already reaping the rewards. “The incentives will stimulate the development industry,” Mayor Mick Kruger said. The incentives will apply to development that meets one or more of the following categories:
Cr Kruger said that developers were already benefiting from the incentives which could equate to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The policy is designed to attract investment, especially in the Central Business Districts, in-fill development, small lots and medical centres and applies to existing approvals and new applications. Click here to view the incentive categories and related subsidies. Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
|
||||
FRASER COAST APPOINTMENT OF NEW CEO @280K PER YEAR LISA DESMOND
Lisa our first female CEO
28th April 2011
New Fraser Coast Council CEO Lisa Desmond.
THE Fraser Coast Council’s first female CEO kicked up her four-inch heels yesterday as one of her most eagerly awaited days came to an end.
Former Director of Corporate Services Lisa Desmond, who has been acting chief since Andrew Brien packed up for Western Australia last year, was officially handed the top job in yesterday’s council meeting.
There were 56 applicants for the position, six of whom were short listed, but ever since the position was declared vacant Ms Desmond has been the hot favourite.
Still, the relief and joy was obvious on Ms Desmond’s face when mayor Mick Kruger re-opened the confidential section of the meeting and announced she had been the successful applicant.
When the meeting was over Ms Desmond was embraced by fellow directors Wayne Sweeney and Peter Smith and the 10 councillors present.
For almost 20 years Ms Desmond has been crunching numbers in council departments and has put together countless budgets.
While council officials have never been drawn on the exact salary the former CEO received, the position reportedly fetches about $280,000.
Ms Desmond said she was proud to be the first female to take on the role and hoped she would be a positive role model for young women in the region.
“It’s a privilege to be one of the few senior females in local government in Queensland,” Ms Desmond said.
“I hope I can live up to the expectations that go with that.”
Sourced from Fraser Coast Chronicle by Henry Sapiecha
******************************************************************
Comments to the editor of the FC chronicle
We hope that the number crunching by our newly appointed Fraser Coast Council CEO Lisa Desmond differs from days past as it did not work for this area as of late.
Are we in for more of the same or what is going to be so different.
What is she going to do that is going to change things?
Will she change things for the better prior to the next local election?
Councillors have been privy to Lisa’s arguement why she should be appointed but not us the public. So since they made the decision for us, they will have to answer to the public at the next local elections if Lisa Desmond does not deliver the goods before the election
If not , then the current councillors who supported this appointment will be facing the polls and the people.
Women are great people and they play a very important part in business & governments throughout all regions. One must however note that they now over dominate the FC councillor numbers in addition to this very important appointment.
Council records past decisions by women councillors have indictaed a support to increase development charges with male councillors voting against increase of developers charges.[One is told]
There are currently 7 female and 3 male FC councillors.
Is this appointment going to continue such an approach to increasing charges & squeezing dollars from developers already on the edge or moved out of the area.?
The shovel ready approach by council appears merely to be a band aid approach and has serious flaws, but sound in concept nevertheless.
The new CEO needs urgently to mean business when it comes to attracting developers back to the region as well as fast tracking applications, where jobs are at stake
What part was played in the past and or input had by the new CEO Lisa Desmond in the developers crisis that mushroomed here & is still here @ the Fraser Coast???
We elect our representatives carefully as the councillors should elect the CEO carefully.We all hope that this decision is the right one and wish her success working for the people who pay her and the Councillors. This appointment would not have been an easy task for the council, but it had to be done.
CONGRATULATIONS LISA & ALL THE BEST WITH YOUR NEW APPOINMENT
The persons from council on the appointment committe.Mick Kruger, Julie Arthur & Dave Dalgleish are competant persons and we all hope have made the right choice for the future prosperity of the region.
Our newly appointed CEO Lisa Desmond will certainly be under intense scrutiny during the following several months leading up to the next local elections.Was she just a safe bet for the councillors, better the devil you know etc., or did she present an outstanding arguement to the appointment committee
The voting public should be aware of the imbalance of sexes in council at the next local election perhaps or if happy maintain the staus quo.
The above comments are open for discussion generally and correction if information herein is deemed to be inaccurate or misleading
Fraser Coast Commerce & Industry Web site
HERVEY BAY RUNNING A ‘SHOP HERVEY BAY’ CAMPAIGNE
Dear Members and Supporters, Become a ‘Shop Hervey Bay’ AmbassadorWhen residents support a local business, they are not just supporting the business owner, they support their suppliers, staff and help them to spend more money locally. Our family, our friends, our neighbours, every dollar spent helps our local economy. It also helps to create jobs and make Hervey Bay an attractive place to do business, and that helps everyone in our community. The Hervey Bay Independent, with the support of the Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce, is launching the biggest citywide marketing campaign ever launched to rebuild consumer confidence and our vibrant business community and more importantly to spread a strong positive message. We invite you to become a part of this great initiative and take the pledge to support local business. Please download a registration form (click here) and a flyer (click here). Registrations close on Friday 29 April, 2011. Regards Bernard Whebell, Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
|
INVITATION TO ATTEND OPEN FORUM ON ALDERSHOT MINING OPERATION SHORTCOMINGS
This corressponce & invitation was forwarded to us
ALDERSHOT AND DISTRICT AGAINST MINING
Pres. Steve Harding-Vice.Pres. Brian Linforth-Sec.Sue Crickitt
Tres. Col Renyolds
72 Smelter St. Aldershot 4650
Tel 41221011—e-mail brisue@dodo.com.au
14/03/11
Chambers Of Commerce Fraser Coast
The committee of our organization invites you to a very factual and informative documentry film regarding COAL SEAM GAS EXTRACTION.
Apart from the possible income from these wells we believe it is in your members interest to be aware of the potential damage the proliferation of this form of mining can have.
The attached brochure gives details and we hope to see some of you there.
REGARDS
BRIAN LINFORTH
VICE PRES .
Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
MELBOURNE TO FRASER COAST FLIGHT SUPPORT MESSAGE FROM FRASER COAST COUNCILLOR MESSAGE
Melbourne Flights Update
Dear Maybe Melbourne Supporter
Firstly, let me thank you for the incredible support that this campaign has generated. We received over 3600 emails or letters in support of a new air route to be established between Melbourne and Hervey Bay.
At this stage, I do not have anything super positive to report. We have been in constant negotiations with the airlines and they are still very keen to explore the establishment of a new route when the economic climate is more stable. Whilst we missed out on the summer scheduling, we are by no means out of the race.
Please be assured that I will continue to give this project my energy and dedication, and hopefully in the future, we will all be able to fly to Melbourne on a direct flight.
Once again, your support is not only much appreciated, but critical to the cause.
Kind regards
Anne Nioa
Cr Anne Nioa
Fraser Coast Regional Council
Received & published by Henry Sapiecha
DEVELOPERS CONCERN ON FRASER COAST COUNCIL LIFESTYLE PROJECT PROCESSING TIME DELAYS
“One of the shortcomings of the draft plan is the omission of the site for the proposed Hibiscus Gardens Community Lifestyle Village at St Helens,” he said.
The urban footprint allocation stopped 80 metres short of his site, despite the plan predicting Maryborough’s population to double by 2031 and the majority of development happening in the St Helen’s area.
“However because the application for Hibiscus Gardens was lodged in July 2007 the final assessment of the project is underway in the Fraser Coast council’s planning department after receipt of final approval from Main Roads for the road entrance design.”
He said the council’s approval for Hibiscus Gardens was still possible, however the project stood a greater chance of success if it was included in the regional plan, due for release next year.
Mr Sprake urged the council to give its “robust support” to his submission for the project’s inclusion in the final plan.
“The council now holds the fate of Hibiscus Gardens in its hands.”
Mr Sprake said the 300-lot project for the 27-hectare site on the corner of Hibiscus Street and the Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road would bring to the Heritage City a style of residential living for over 55 year-olds, already available in Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Noosa regions.
“When developed the village will be a long-overdue residential lifestyle option which will be of significant community benefit to Maryborough and go some of the way to meeting the anticipated 12,000 homes needed in the city over the next two decades.”
Hibiscus Gardens will include recreation and community buildings, swimming pools, a tennis court, bowling green and golf practice areas as well as a pedestrian and bikeway network.
Meanwhile, property valuer Anne Maddern called all residents to review the State Government’s draft regional plan for Wide Bay and complete submissions before December 24.
For plan details and/or to make submissions online, log on to www.dip.qld.gov.au/widebayburnett
HERVEY BAY MARINA DEVELOPMENT SHELVED
| Neville Slams Shelving of Marina Development
|
| Wednesday, 27 October 2010 |
Federal Member for Hinkler Paul Neville has slammed the State Government’s decision to shelve the Hervey Bay marina redevelopment, saying Labor’s incompetence had delivered a crippling blow to the entire region.
“I cannot believe the breathtaking cynicism of the Premier and then-State Member and Minister Andrew McNamara taking the political credit for the project at the time, and then have the Premier blithely walk away from it,” he said.
“The Fraser Coast is now reaping the bitter harvest sown by Labor, losing the jobs, growth and prosperity which would have flowed from the marina redevelopment, all because Anna Bligh and her colleagues have mangled Queensland’s economy.”
Mr Neville said the Hervey Bay area had a relatively constrained industry profile, with few medium and large industries to rely on.
“Surely the State Government realises that the Wide Bay’s unemployment levels are amongst the worst in Australia.
“In October 2007 the region’s unemployment rate was 3.4 per cent – now it is 9.3 per cent.
“The entire region would have benefited enormously from the marina redevelopment.
“This is a lifestyle, seachange and tourist community and the project would have raised tourism to a whole new level of activity, with a flow on effect to other related businesses.
“What the State Government has offered in place of the redevelopment is piffling by comparison.
“Quite frankly, if the Bligh Government is only prepared to carry out relatively small upgrades to recreational boating facilities, it should look immediately to improving facilities at Burrum Heads.
“The existing small boat facilities are little short of dangerous. The relevant State Government department knows about this because it had officers sitting on a committee chaired by Chris Foley which was investigating the issue.
“If we can’t have progress, let’s at least have safety.”
Sourced & published by Henry Sapiecha