February 25, 2016
South Burnett residents have no need to fear contracting the Zika virus unless they plan to travel to countries where the disease is common, Cr Ros Heit told Wednesday’s SBRC meeting.
While it was true the Aedes aegyptii mosquito, which is now known to transmit Zika, has been found in the region, the only way it could transmit Zika is to feed on an infected person.
“There is no immediate risk of that happening in the South Burnett,” Cr Heit said.
Cr Heit said Council had been concerned with monitoring and controlling Aedes aegyptii mosquitos for some time because they’re known to carry Dengue Fever.
Council staff now carry out mosquito surveys and set traps for Aedes aegyptii throughout the region during the breeding season, which stretches from early January to the end of April.
So far the mosquito had only been found at Murgon and Wondai.
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The South Burnett Region Council will no longer offer the school-based immunisation program it has run ever since it was formed in 2008.
Cr Heit told Wednesday’s meeting that Queensland Health has recently decided to change the way it will provide the immunisation program to South Burnett and Darling Downs schools.
It had tendered for a single service provider to provide the service.
OzCare will now provide school-based immunisation services in the South Burnett and the Downs.
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Artists, community groups, and organisations providing drug and alcohol initiatives have been invited to apply for three Council grants programs … but they’ll need to act quickly.
Cr Heit said Round 3 of the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) opened on February 1, and applications for the round will close on Friday, March 4.
“RADF is a partnership between Council and Arts Queensland to support professional artists, emerging artists and arts practitioners living in the South Burnett,” Cr Heit said.
“It focuses on the development of quality art and arts practice in regional communities.”
The Council’s Community Assistance Grants program is also currently open, but will close on February 29.
This program provides grants to South Burnett not-for-profit community organisations whose events or projects benefit residents.
Finally, Cr Heit noted that Round 8 of the Mayor’s Community Benefit Fund is also open, but will close on Friday, March 4.
The focus of the current round is to support drug and alcohol initiatives that meeting the funding criteria outlined in the MCBF Guidelines, and $10,000 is available in the round.
Application forms for all three grants programs can be downloaded from the Council’s website.
