October 14, 2015
Kingaroy Office Central’s new owners Susan and Brendon Robertson hosted October’s Meet’n’Greet for the Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The couple took over the business from Cherie and Stephen Carr on July 1 on a walk-in walk-out basis.
“It’s been going great,” Susan told southburnett.com.au, “we always seem to be busy”.
Regular customers of Kingaroy Office Central won’t notice many changes, even employees Joy White and Lorraine Klein are still serving behind the counter.
And there are still a string of posters for upcoming South Burnett events hanging from the ceiling.
“We aren’t changing any of the community things that Stephen and Cherie did,” Susan said.
The only big change at the business is the electronic Point Of Sale system; previously all receipts were written out by hand.
About 45 local businesspeople attended the Meet’n’Greet.
Guest speakers were Rod Murray, from AusIndustry; Bonnie Davidson, from TAFE Qld South West; and Cr Damien Tessmann, from the South Burnett Regional Council.
Mr Murray spoke about assistance programs available via AusIndustry, while Ms Davidson spoke about the importance of customer service.
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Cr Damien Tessmann, who was representing the South Burnett Regional Council, updated KCCI members about recent Council projects.
The failed Memerambi Estate – Cr Tessmann said he had voted against the “benefitted area” motion, however it was now in his portfolio.
“It has gone out to tender for the work to build the roads and do the drainage,” Cr Tessmann said.
“It is on track for a January drawdown. There will be movement at the station by March / April next year.”
He said negotiations were continuing with the two residents in King Street who have been included in the benefitted area.
“We haven’t quite finalised that but it is looking promising,” he said.
The future of the South Burnett Private Hospital – Cr Tessmann said Mayor Wayne Kratzmann had “worked his guts out” to try to find an operator to take it over, but with no luck.
Cr Tessmann said Pulse Heath had been “really good” in holding on to the licences for Council.
Independent consultants Ernst and Young were now doing “due diligence” on the proposal for Council to take over running the hospital.
Cr Tessmann said councillors were awaiting the findings of this report.
“If it is going to be a drag on the ratepayers I assume Council will act accordingly,” he said.
He said the Queensland Treasury Corporation would also “look over” the proposal.
“I won’t make a decision one way or the other without the Ernst and Young report,” Cr Tessmann said.
“When we get it back, it’s going to be one heck of a council meeting!”
Other topics covered:
- A former CEO comes back – Cr Tessmann said Balonne Shire Council CEO Peter O’May would be taking up a senior position at the South Burnett Regional Council. Mr O’May was CEO at Wondai Shire Council at the time of the Council amalgamations in 2008. After this, he worked as CEO at Boulia and then Balonne councils.
- Bridge program – Cr Tessmann said a steel bridge would be built to replace Campbells Bridge which would be “miles cheaper” than concrete. “We have been able to get four bridges out of what we had budgeted for three,” he said.
- Roads – The $3m yearly reseal progam would start next month. “All of our towns have got a good guernsey over the past four years; now the rural roads are getting a go,” he said.
- Taabinga Downs development – “I voted against this, too” Cr Tessmann said. “I still don’t think there’s a need for a relocatable home park in Kingaroy.” He said developers had been meeting with Council.
