Australian Local Government Association, National General Assembly 2023 – Canberra
Deputy Mayor Councillor Robbie Radel and CEO Ms Margot Stork attended the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) National General Assembly, which represents Australia’s 537 Councils, in Canberra from 13-16 June. With attendance at the convention of around 1100 delegates, it was a wonderful opportunity to discuss the challenges of local government and to exchange information and ideas with other senior staff and Councillors. Of particular interest were the sessions “Increasing Resilience to Natural Disasters”, “Investing in our Regions”, and “Connecting our Communities”, which all provided information from Federal Government Departments and/or Mayors from a variety of Local Government areas.
One of the most important parts of the ALGA Convention is to establish the advocacy strategy for the coming year. At this convention, three (3) motions submitted by North Burnett Council were adopted and a further four (4) motions were designated “associated motions of a broader motion put to the convention, with the broader motions also being adopted”. One I would particularly like to share is Motion 45;
“That North Burnett Regional Council QLD asks that this National General Assembly calls on the Australian Government to partner with rural and remote local governments to reimplement the rural and remote area television program, to ensure the provision of the necessary infrastructure to rural and remote communities, to guarantee the provision of free to air television services to all communities.” Council will continue to pursue this and all other outcomes with the Australian Government through the ALGA.
Council General Meeting 28 June 2023
Council will hold its General Meeting on Wednesday 28 June 2023, at the Mundubbera Board room from 9.00am. Members of the public are welcome to attend, or you can join online via a Teams link, which is available on the Council Meetings page on their website: https://northburnett.qld.gov.au/councillors/council-meetings/. Scroll down to View Schedule for 2023 and click on the link for the meeting. Following the General Meeting, there will be an opportunity to talk with Councillors at a meet and greet, from 12.00 – 1.00pm at the Community Hall. This is an opportunity to bring your ideas, concerns, or suggestions to your Councillors’ attention, as well as get to know your Councillors more.
Superpowered School Holiday Library Program
Do your children love their superheroes? These school holidays, our libraries will be hosting Arts and Crafts workshops in partnership with the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. Superpowered on Tour is an annual program that invites Queensland communities to empower and inspire children through art and activities developed by four Australian artists.
Join us for arts and crafts, filled with creativity, imagination, and boundless fun, whilst making superhero collages, creating power icon props and fashioning costumes and masks. No bookings required! See the schedule below for the Superpowered event at your local library.
Biggenden Library: Wednesday 28 June at10.30am Gayndah Library: Thursday 29 June at 10.00am
Monto Library: Thursday 29 June at 1.00pm Eidsvold Library: Friday 30 June at 10.30am
Mount Perry Library: Tuesday 4 July at 10.30am Mundubbera Library: Thursday 6 July at 10.00am
Food Licence Renewals Due 30 June 2023
Reminder to North Burnett Food Business owners with a food licence. Annual Food Business Licence renewals are due 30 June 2023, so with only one (1) week left, it is time to make sure your renewal application is submitted. Licenced Food Business Owners should have received a letter with BPay payment details in the mail. Please call Council on 1300 696 272 if you have not received your licence renewal, or if you need to talk to someone about payment arrangements. If you are a new business wanting to acquire a licence to prepare, cook and sell food, you can make an online application on Council’s website, which can be found at: https://northburnett.qld.gov.au/food-hygiene/
Disaster Recovery Expert Sessions in Mundubbera and Biggenden
North Burnett Regional Council is partnering with Australian Red Cross to bring David Younger, one of Australia’s leading natural disaster and recovery consultants, to facilitate sessions in Mundubbera on 28 June 2023, from 5.30-7.30pm and Biggenden on 29 June 2023, from 9.30-11.30am, to support disaster response, recovery and resilience groups and organisations. During these sessions, David will work with attendees to:
- Unpack some of the challenges you are experiencing in your role
- Discuss how best to support community members who are in the midst of recovery after a disaster or traumatic event
- Offer recommendations to manage your personal wellbeing and self-care and those of others.
Places are limited, so please RSVP to the Disaster Management Team by replying to this invitation by email: disaster@northburnett.qld.gov.au or phone: 1300 696 272 by Friday 23 June 2023.
Civil Works Update
Council’s construction crew used a jet patcher to complete some minor shoulder work in Faraday Street, Monto. Council would like to thank residents for their co-operation whilst these works were carried out. Council’s construction crew also completed some minor formation works and drainage improvements to the existing floodways on Dakiel Road, Bancroft. Council’s maintenance team have also completed a maintenance grade on Kariboe Road, Cania.
Council’s Water and Wastewater Manager attended the Qldwater Annual Skills Forum in Brisbane recently. The purpose of the forum was to learn how others in the industry are working to attract skilled resources, promote skilling up of existing work forces, and to share strategies that are working here for NBRC. The theme of the forum was working to make the industry more visible, to aid in attracting skilled people to this essential service industry.
This week, you can expect to see the grading continuing and commencing on the following roads:
– Maintenance Grading Zone 1 – Kariboe Road, Youlambie Road
– Maintenance Grading Zone 2 – Mount Margaret Road
– Maintenance Grading Zone 3 – Nogo River Road, Cynthia Range Road
– Maintenance Grading Zone 4 – Bania Road
– Maintenance Grading Zone 7 – Philpott Road, Shallcross Road, Lochaber Access Road, Glenrae Dip Road
– Maintenance Grading Zone 8 – Boundary Road
– Maintenance Grading Zone 9 – Eureka Road, Gospel Hall Road, Brandts Road
– Construction Crew North – Dakiel Road HF Grade (Floodway Repair), Faraday Street, Dalgangal Road (washout)
– Construction Crew South – Biggenden Mines Road – shoulder repairs
– Bridge Repairs – Wuruma Dam Bridge (Mt Eagle Road)
As always, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me directly on 0458 696 272, or cr.les.hotz@northburnett.qld.gov.au or your Divisional Councillor, if you would like to address any concerns. Our contact details can be found on Council’s website: