FNQROC Update - February 2013
By: Darlene Irvine, Executive Officer...
Welcome to 2013! I get so excited about what a new year may hold. Over the Christmas and New Year period I have done a lot of planning for the year and it is shaping up to be very challenging but exciting at the same time. The FNQROC Board has set its strategic direction which has given me time to reflect on the activities (both strategically and operationally) of FNQROC to meet this direction. As a result, the internal theme for FNQROC is "the year of consolidating our priorities". With the unforeseen cut in funding by the State Government on our road assets our budget has been significantly impacted. Some hard decisions will need to be made but this will ensure member councils continue to get the best return on their investment.
The strategic focus this calendar year which has been directed by the board includes:
1. Queensland Water Regional Alliance Program
2. Regional Asset Management and understanding our funding gap
3. NDRRA (Federal Guidelines and State Implementation)
4. Investigating Regional Waste Management
5. Alternative funding models for Natural Asset Management
6. Review and recommendations on the Vegetation Management Act
7. Regional Mountain Bike Strategy (and finding a home)
8. Street Lighting, and
9. Regional Bitumen reseal program.
Our operational support will continue with an assessment to occur in the first half of the year.
I also think it important to reconnect with some portfolios and councils. As I result I have made a commitment to spend one day per month in Innisfail and Atherton (I know it doesn't sound like much but it's a start) with visits to Croydon, Cooktown and Wujal Wujal throughout the year.
February Visits
21 February – Innisfail (I will be in the Mayor's/Counsellors' room, first door on the left on entering the office top floor)
22 February – Yarrabah (for the NAMAC meeting)
26 February – Atherton (Matt Hyde's office – if he's in Mareeba)
Annual Leave
I will be taking annual leave from 28 February to 9 April.