FNQROC Update - September 2014

By Darlene Irvine, FNQROC Executive Officer...

It is with great pain that I write my part of this newsletter, having recently completed the Spartan Hurricane event near Ipswich. Unbeknown to me, Commando (from The Biggest Loser ) led my group so you can imagine 3.5 hours with him would not be easy. And it wasn't! Two days later I am still struggling to dress myself with little clothing fitting me due to the swelling.

Last month was once again a big month:

We met with Senator Jan McLucas and the Shadow Attorney General regarding NDRRA. Our eyes are peeled for the draft Productivity Commission report; this is a critical point for us.
The Planners met prior to the Local Government Infrastructure Plan Workshop. We have another two new Planning bills out for consultation to review – the main one being the Planning and Development Bill to replace the Sustainable Planning Act.
I had been working with Councils on a proposal from SAI Global to access all the Australian Standards, approved international standards and WHS monitor. Unfortunately, we could not get this proposal over the line, but what it did allow Councils to do is assess their needs in reality to make informed business decisions; this is never a bad thing.
The FNQROC AGM and Board meetings were held in Atherton on 11 August, followed by the FNQ RRTG meeting, a two hour workshop with Ergon Energy, finishing with a joint dinner with the FNQ&TS RDA Board. I think everyone slept well that night.
Cr Bill Shannon (Mayor, Cassowary Coast) was returned as the Chair of FNQROC for the next 12 months, with Cr Peter Scott (Mayor, Cook) being returned as Deputy Chair. With respect to the FNQRRTG, Cr Peter Scott was returned as Chair with Cr Shannon being returned as Deputy Chair.
The Regional Mountain Bike Strategy received a sudden kick start with the shortlisting of funding from DSDIP. We are in the process of sourcing quotes and finalising the application.
With Advance Cairns, we commenced advocacy work on this region's priorities for the State Elections next year. Advance Cairns has developed a priority regional infrastructure list (eight in total) and priority policy list (10 in total). NDRRA is one of the priority policy areas. Meetings have been held with current State LNP members.
The cross regional Reef Urban Stormwater Management Implementation Group (Cairns to Bundaberg) met to finalise the project in which we have been involved for the past 18 months. We will continue to work with Healthy Waters in SEQ to ensure Councils outside of SEQ can benefit from products associated with erosion and sediment control, water sensitive urban design, etc.
Councils and RDA Boards met in Mt Isa to progress the prioritisation of inland road networks to lobby State and Federal Governments. There are clear north-south and east-west networks which are a priority for our agricultural and grazing industries in reaching markets in a timely and cost effective way. While I have been on the interim working group we have now handed over to the Queensland Western Roads Action Plan working group which will be run by the RRTG Chairs – thank you Cr Peter Scott!

This is on top of the efforts of our coordinators so please make sure you keep yourself updated with their work as well by reading further.

Later this month our staffing levels will be minimal as we all try and catch our breath and prepare for the months to come. Amanda currently is on leave visiting her family in the UK, which she needed to do after deciding to remain living in Australia for the foreseeable future. Steve and Sandra also will be taking some time off during the month as well.

On a final and very sad note, this week we say goodbye and good luck to Daniela Gambotto. Dani leaves us to move to Newcastle to be nearer to her extended family. Dani commenced with us in 2010 with the planning portfolio. She then moved into the sustainability portfolio and completed the FNQROC Greenhouse Gas Strategy (Managing Risk in a Carbon Economy). This then led to her focus on energy and street lighting. In the past month alone Dani's work saved Councils more than $250,000. She also held the cross regional/council events portfolio and developed the guide for Councils and event organisers to refer to. We will miss Dani's banter in the office and sincerely wish her and her family all the very best.