Leah Purcell
Leah Purcell, riding a skate bike, cuts the ribbon to officially open the new Murgon Skate Park last August; playground equipment from Rotary Park is now being moved to the site
Cr Kathy Duff
SBRC Cr Kathy Duff
(Photo: SBRC)

May 20, 2014

The Murgon Skate Park is in the process of being transformed into a family park, the Murgon Business and Development Association (MBDA) heard at its most recent breakfast meeting.

Cr Kathy Duff advised members Council is now in the process of moving playground equipment from Rotary Park in Krebbs Street to the Skate Park, and the project was progressing well.

The Council will also look at obtaining “RV Friendly” signs for the town and clarifying current signage at the Murgon Caravan Park, where coin-operated showers will be coming into operation soon.

Mark Smith – from Mark Smith’s Menswear – said that it was important for travellers to know about free camping facilities; those in Murgon are currently only known about by “word of mouth”.

He suggested that the MBDA investigate getting Murgon’s facilities listed in books that RV and caravan owners consult for trip planning.

The meeting also heard that some of the bench seating and rubbish bins in the CBD area have been relocated by Council workers to meet local concerns, and the MBDA advised they were happy with the new arrangements.

Lorraine Goodchild was congratulated on her work with the group’s Facebook page and website, and the MBDA will try to expand local listings for accommodation and wineries shortly.

Local police were also congratulated for their work combatting vagrancy.

Cr Kathy Duff advised that recent community Prayers For Rain also seemed to go well, with rain falling during services at Proston and Murgon.

Cr Duff then provided an update on behalf of the South Burnett Regional Council about local matters:

  • Shona Muckert Fundraising Ball: Congratulations to everyone involved in the Ball to raise money for Shona. It was a fantastic event that was a wonderful display of community strength and support
  • Indigenous Golf Championships: Murgon should be very proud of the record number of entries in the State Indigenous Golf Championship. For the first time, the winner of the net and the gross received an entry into the Queensland Golf Open Po-Am held at Broadwater. The event was a huge success and is already booked for next year
  • South Burnett And Cherbourg On Show: This will be held on the October long week-end. The MBDA are hoping to have street stalls and entertainment in the park again for Murgon, and maybe a shop window competition. There are over 60 events across the South Burnett planned for the week-end. Any other ideas would be very welcome
  • Men’s Shed: Paul Pfeffer and a group are hoping to start a Men’s Shed in Murgon. Cr Duff has been talking to Jeff Seeney’s office about the shed on the railway land across from Angels to see if it could be used, but nothing has been finalised at this stage. It is a great project and Paul is getting a lot of support locally
  • Murgon Pool: There are issues at the Murgon Pool with the bricks corroding and a possible leak in the pool. Council is hoping that it can be fixed without running into major costs
  • Door To Door Dog Checks: Over the next couple of months Council staff will be carrying out compliance checks for registered dogs around the town
  • Wondai/Murgon Transfer Stations: The opening hours are very popular but it is disappointing that the transfer stations – particularly Murgon – are not being kept neat. It is costing a significant amount of money to keep cleaning them up so Council is urging everyone to spread the word to try to encourage people to look after the facilities
  • Budget Talks: Council are heavily into Budget deliberations and are considering options with the Road Levy and rates. Council continues to be hit with cuts from both the State and Federal Governments, but are looking at everything possible to minimise costs to ratepayers while still retaining the service levels that are expected

Other reports were given at the meeting about activities the MBDA are currently undertaking or ideas currently under consideration. These included:

  • Lori Dwyer was congratulated on her new business Boutique 90 and welcomed by the group. Lori said that she’d decided to open in Murgon because “it had a nice feel”. She aims to provide affordable fashion for women with style that’s different to chain store options
  • At least 10 businesses have registered for a social media workshop which will take place at the Murgon RSL over three weeks in May; MBDA will pay the cost of venue hire
  • The month’s Outstanding Customer Service Award went to Carl Berlin from Angels Friendly Grocer; the award was presented by Cr Duff
  • The MBDA will consider running a photographic competition on the theme “What’s in Your Backyard?”
  • The first 2014 Murgon Christmas Fair meeting will take place in June, and MBDA members are invited to get involved. Some MBDA funds may also be used to help promote this year’s Christmas Fair
  • A Facebook suggestion box may be set up by the MBDA so that local residents can suggest improvements they’d like to see in the area – but for positive comments only
  • An end-of-fiscal-year Sidewalk Sale may be run in Murgon’s CBD on June 27-28

Further discussion of some of these ideas will occur at the MBDA’s next meeting, which will be held at Raj’s Cafe in Lamb Street, Murgon on Thursday, May 22 between 6:30am and 8:30am.

Breakfast is $15, and RSVPs should be made to Margaret Long at Murgon Real Estate on (07) 4168-2922.

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