Various Items of Interest from Council meeting (Malanda)

Council has first look at new Malanda Falls VIC

Tablelands Regional Council was yesterday given their first view of what the new Malanda Falls Visitor Information centre will look like.

The $1.3 million project was outlined by architect Charles Wright who told Council the design was inspired by the local landscape and indigenous heritage of the region.

"The new design provides for a world class innovative and sustainable interpretive facility," he told Councillors.

The volcanic history of the Tablelands, the Malanda Falls and indigenous stories of the "Seven Sisters" feature in the façade design of the project which will replace the previous building that burned to the ground in April 2010.

The new facility will feature state-of-the-art interpretive displays whilst providing a “real-time” direct interaction with the rainforest canopy which is home to tree kangaroos.

Council approved the conceptual design, and will move ahead with the detailed design and costings, with a view to having the building completed by October next year.

New set of Local Laws adopted

Tablelands Regional Council has adopted a new set of Local Laws to cover the entire region.

The new Local Laws come into effect on 1 January 2012 and replace the 152 existing local laws from the four previous shires which expire on 31 December 2011.

Local Laws address a wide range of issues and activities such as how people can utilise parks and reserves, car parking, advertising signage, outdoor dining, the keeping and control of animals, overgrown allotments, pests and weeds, and nuisances such as noise and dust.

Water meter reading program to start in new year

Water meters throughout Tablelands Regional Council's 20 water supply scheme areas will be read as part of a program from 4 January until 2 February 2012.

The water meter reading program collects information for the billing of water usage in the second round of rates notices which will be mailed out late-February or early March 2012.

Council to support Cycle Classic

Tablelands Regional Council has agreed to support the Australian Cycle Classic through funding for the next three years.

Tropical Tablelands Tourism has been in discussion with the Hickey Sports Marketing (HSM) Group board regarding the possibility of hosting the Australian Cycle Classic in Far North Queensland rather than in the South East as originally planned.

The event would be branded the “Tour of the Tropics" - a one-of-a-kind event within Australia for spectators and participants. As it develops, the event has the potential in the future to be part of the UCI World Tour, with major events (sanctioned by the international cycling body, UCI), planned to attract European professional teams to Australia.

The Tour of the Tropics will be centred around a one-day cycling classic, showcasing a road cycling track spread over the three regional Council areas of Cairns, Tablelands and Cassowary Coast. The intention is to develop a week-long festival of cycling, with a range of associated cycling events (come and try days, workshops etc), local races and cycling activities for children.

It is envisaged that the Tour of the Tropics will take place in early November, immediately following the Crocodile Trophy race.

Council agreed to assist in funding the event, approving $16,668 each year for the next three years. The funding will be provided on the basis of both Cairns and Cassowary Councils pledging a similar amount.

Animal inspection program to start in new year

All properties within the Tablelands Regional Council area that do not currently a cat or dog registered will be systematically inspected next year under a six-month program aimed at ensuring pets are registered in accordance with the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.

A report to Council stated that since amalgamation, it was estimated that there were approximately 1000 dogs that have not had their registration renewed. Currently Council has approximately 4595 dogs registered and approximately 273 cats registered.

Based on Council having approximately 28,000 rateable properties and a population of approximately 46,000 people, it is estimated that the total number of dogs and cats could be around 20,000.

Wednesday's Council meeting was told that the majority of complaints attended to by officers involved dogs or cats that were not registered.

Year to date figures show that Local Laws officers have dealt with:
• 360 barking complaints
• 111 complaints involving cats
• 165 complaints related to dangerous or aggressive dogs
• 123 dog attacks against another animal or a person
• impounded 452 dogs and 210 cats;
• and have been forced to euthanise 267 dogs and 184 cats.

Under the inspection program, all properties that do not currently have registered animals will be visited for inspection, starting with rural residential properties in the Mareeba and Atherton townships moving into the residential areas, then the rest of the region.

When a dog or cat is identified as not being registered, a warning letter will be issued to the person responsible for the animal to register the cat and or dog within 10 days of the date of the warning letter. Owners of the animals that have not been registered within the time frame given will be issued a Penalty Infringement Notice.

Tablelands Mayor Tom Gilmore has urged pet owners to do the right thing and register their animals now.

"It is the responsible thing to do and it will assist our officers to return wandering animals to their owners and reduce the number of dogs and cats having to be put down."

The cost to register a desexed dog or cat is $12 a year, or $66 for a whole dog or cat.

Council was also told that Local Laws officers are currently designing an education program that will be introduced into Tablelands schools with a view to educating children about the responsibility of having a pet.

The inspection program is scheduled to start on 9 January 2012 and be completed by 31 June 2012.

Water pressure and flow rate to be boosted

Water pressure and flow rate will be improved within the old light industrial area of Mareeba after it was found that it did not meet current fire fighting requirements.

The area bound by the Chewko rail line to the west, Costin Street to the south and James Street to the east has been tested against both the Queensland Fire and Rescue Service and the Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils standards, and found to be non-compliant for fire fighting flows necessary to address a commercial premises fire.

Two options for increasing the water pressure and flow rate were investigated, with the construction of an inter-connecting pipeline the most cost effective solution.

Council approved the allocation of $50,000 from the Mareeba area water supply scheme reserve fund to pay for the works which involves installing 360m of 150mm pipeline from the junction of Costin and James Streets to the end of the 100mm main on James Street.

Financial and In-Kind support to community groups

Council has approved financial, in-kind assistance and remittance of fees totalling $4,237 to community groups, organisations and individuals.

A cash donation of $2000 was approved for the Mutchilba Community Centre to assist in bringing the facility's kitchen up to health and safety standards; $398 to Chillagoe Alliance to assist with re-vitalising of the Old Court House into a Police Justice Museum; $500 to the Queensland Police Legacy Scheme to assist with publishing $10,000 books to be distributed to all Grade 7 students; $200 to the Australian Agricultural College Corporation; and $100 to Lachlan Ford to compete in the State titles for the Under 12 Far North cricket team.

In-kind assistance of $690 was granted to St Vincent de Paul Ravenshoe to stage its Christmas lunch event; while remittance of fees was granted to Rotary Club of Mareeba ($259), Meals on Wheels ($15) and Atherton Catholic Parish ($75).