On the agenda: Council's final meeting for 2018
DOUGLAS SHIRE COUNCIL
The Mossman Gorge Centre’s proposal to develop an 18-metre high monopole radio tower to facilitate radio connections from the remote areas of the locality to the visitor centre, will be among the key agenda items at the final council meeting of the year at Council Chambers in Mossman on Tuesday at 10am.
In papers presented to the councillors, they will be advised that the Indigenous Land Corporation is represented by the Mossman Gorge Centre who use the site as part of their cultural tour operations.
The site is accessed by one road with shuttle busses transporting patrons from the Mossman Gorge Centre to parts of the Mossman Gorge waterway and surrounds.
The locality is dense with remnant native vegetation and characterised by valleys and hills which make radio communications between the shuttle busses, tour guides and the Mossman Gorge Centre difficult to establish.
No mobile phone signal exists at the site and in the event of an emergency on the trails or in the waterway; telecommunications need to be made back to the Mossman Gorge Centre.
To increase the efficiency of the logistics and for day-to-day operations, communications from the remote areas of the site back to the visitor centre are necessary.
REQUEST FOR OWNERS CONSENT- FOXTON AVENUE ALLOTMENTS
Tropical North Steiner School Incorporated has made application for a lease with the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy over 78 Foxton Avenue, Mossman, known as the Girl Guides Association building in order to use the land as an educational establishment.
Douglas Shire Council has advised there are no concerns, but added that that the development application, when properly made, will undergo impact assessment and will be recommended for approval or refusal on the basis of that assessment at that time.
CYCLE NETWORK LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS PROGRAM - JUNCTION BRIDGE PROJECT
Under the Cycle Network Local Government Grants Program (CNLGGP), the Queensland Government and councils work together to deliver and improve principal cycle networks across the State to achieve the Queensland Cycling Strategy 2017-2027 vision of “more cycling, more often.”
And councils have been invited to submit applications for 2019- 20 funding by the 21 December 2018.
This report will seek Council’s endorsement of a proposed funding application for the Junction Bridge Cycle project and the detailed design of the Mossman to Newell principal cycleway.
The route between Mossman and Cooya Beach along Junction Road is marked as a Principal Route on the Far North Queensland Principal Cycle Network.
Councillors will consider:
1. Supporting a submission to the State Government's Cycle Network Local Government Grants Program 2019/2020 for $400,000 for the Junction Creek Cycleway Bridge Project;
2. If Council is successful in receiving funding from the State Government, co-contribute $400,000 in 2019/2020 towards the total project cost;
3. Supporting a submission to the State Government’sCycle Network Local Government Grants Program' for $120,000 for the detailed design of the North Mossman to Newell Beach principal cycleway; and
4. Delegating authority to the Chief Executive Officer in accordance with the Local Government Act 2009 to administer this matter.
REEF COUNCILS MAJOR INTEGRATED PROJECTS
Councillors will vote on endorsing the Reef Council Major Integrated Projects proposal as a prospectus for seeking external investment in priority collaborative actions by Queensland Reef region councils; and to allow the Local Government Association of Queensland to include its logo for the publication and promotion of the Reef Councils Major Integrated Projects.
The Local Government Association of Queensland’s (LGAQ) Reef Council Major Integrated Projects (MIP) initiative recognises the importance of local governments’ ongoing role in protecting the Great Barrier Reef (GBR).
The MIP focuses on improving water quality entering the GBR through the three proposed initiatives:
1. Wastewater Stewardship;
2. Fish Friendly Councils; and
3. Best Practice Erosion & Sediment Control for Unsealed Roads.
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2018
Key points from the period ended 30 November 2018:
• Operating revenue is slightly ahead of budget by $6m.
• Operating expenditure is under budget by $1m.
• Operating surplus is currently $2m compared to a budgeted surplus of $1m.
FULL LIST OF AGENDA ITEMS
1. Material change of use for dwelling house at lot 7 Stewart Creek Road – Refusal
2. Request for owners consent- Rex Creek Reserve, Mossman Gorge
3. Request for owners consent- Foxton Avenue allotments
4. Cycle network local government grants program - Junction Bridge project
5. Reef Councils major integrated projects
6. Financial report for the period ended 30 November 2018
7. 2018 - 19 budget review
8. Organisational report card for September to November 2018
9. Go Douglas! 2018 (late item)
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