January 29, 2015
The South Burnett Regional Council has received 45 applications for its vacant CEO position, Mayor Wayne Kratzmann told Wednesday’s general meeting.
The Council called for applications after the sudden departure of former CEO Ken McLoughlin in November.
The role is currently being undertaken by Council’s General Manager Finance Gary Wall.
Interviews will begin on February 16 and an appointment is expected to be made at the March 11 general meeting.
Councillors voted to appoint Mayor Kratzmann, Deputy Mayor Keith Campbell and Division 2 Cr Deb Palmer to the interview panel.
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South Burnett Regional Council portfolio reports will be included in future copies of the Council’s minutes.
Mayor Wayne Kratzmann, delivering his Mayor’s Portfolio Report at Wednesday’s meeting, said the Council’s new three-weekly meeting schedule was just one of several changes that would be introduced this year.
Written portfolio reports would be another.
To date, most portfolio reports have been delivered verbally at meetings.
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Council has approved the sub-division of a lot at 22 Bridget Carroll Road in Kingaroy into two smaller lots – one of 4520 sq m, and the other of 16.73ha.
The application for the sub-division was brought by owner Nikki Johnson.
Council officers supported the application because while the property was zoned as Rural, it had limited farming potential.
The excision of the dwelling house on the smaller lot formed a logical sequence of the development, they said, given the location of other rural residential properties in the immediate vicinity.
Councillors approved the application subject to a standard range of conditions and a $9223 charge for necessary infrastructure.
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Council formally adopted the South Burnett Economic Development Strategy 2014-2019 at Wednesday’s meeting.
The Strategy was developed by South Burnett Directions, and the first draft was released for public comment last September.
The final version was prepared after the close of submissions on November 28.
Copies of the strategy can be downloaded in PDF format from the South Burnett Directions website.
- Related article: Submissions Invited On Region’s Economic Plan
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Council will offer no objection to a proposal by the Department Of Natural Resources and Mines to permanently close a section of Corndale Road at Corndale.
The affected section covers 1.235ha and abuts Lots 185 and 186, approximately 6.2km east of Memerambi.
The resumed land will be amalgamated with the two lots, which are used for grazing.
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The South Burnett Regional Council will extend its Trade Waste Systematic Inspection Program by an extra three months.
The program, which aims to identify trade waste generators in sewered areas of the region, was first approved by Council in October.
The program is due to expire on February 13, but Council officers recommended a three-month extension to May 8 to allow all necessary inspections to be undertaken.
Infrastructure Manager Russell Hood advised councillors the current plan is to introduce a new, region-wide Trade Waste licensing program on July 1.
However, operators would be given 12 months to settle into the new system.
At present there are 89 Trade Waste permits registered with the Council, most of them in Kingaroy.
Officers anticipate a further 150 permits may need to be issued by the time the program is concluded.
Councillors approved the three-month extension.
- Related article: New Policy Will Tackle Waste
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A half-yearly review of Council’s 2014-15 Budget has determined that things are going to plan, Financial portfolio chair Cr Keith Campbell told Wednesday’s meeting.
The Council’s projected operating surplus had shrunk by $46,751 to $615,106 over the previous six months.
Cr Campbell said it was customary to undertake regular reviews of the Budget throughout the year to ensure that targets were being achieved.
Some variations in costs were to be expected due to inflation and similar factors.
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Applications for grants from Round 4 of the Mayor’s Community Benefit Fund will open on Monday, February 2, and close on Friday, February 27.
The Community Benefit Fund Committee advised Council that the criteria for Round 4 will be projects which support disadvantaged people in the region, with a particular focus on the aged.
$10,000 will be available in the grant round.
Councillors were also told the Benefit Fund Committee had decided to donate the proceeds of the Mayor’s Community Breakfast held at Kingaroy RSL on August 19 to the RSL’s 2015 Anzac Centenary commemoration.
The breakfast raised $465.
The Benefit Fund Committee also advised that it is considering holding two Charity Golf Days in 2015 after the success of an inaugural event held at the Kingaroy Golf Club in November which attracted more than 100 players.
The Committee said it intended that both 9-hole and 18-hole courses around the region could be used for future events.
Re new CEO: I wonder if the new person will be micromanaged (meaning: never employ anyone smarter than you) or someone who can do the job? (meaning: employ someone smarter than you)