February 20, 2018
The Murgon Business and Development Association (MBDA) will meet with Cherbourg’s elders soon to discuss crime prevention strategies.
The decision to arrange a joint discussion was taken at the MBDA’s most recent meeting and was prompted by a recent crime spree in Murgon led by a small number of juveniles.
Representatives from the MBDA recently met with Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington and police from Murgon and Goomeri over the issue.
“Deb is very supportive and will do all she can to assist,” MBDA president Leo Geraghty told the meeting.
“She has already written to Minister for Police and the Minister for Corrective Services requesting extra policing resources or specific intervention methods to help curb this current crime wave.”
Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff told the meeting she had informally spoken with elders at Cherbourg and they advised her that crime was a problem in that town, too, and they shared the MBDA’s concerns.
The meeting will be arranged at a time convenient to both groups.
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(Photo: Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff)
Arts coordinator Olivia Everitt told the meeting that work has been completed on a mural for the Telstra substation wall overlooking the skate park.
The project is a follow-up to last year’s mural at the South Burnett PCYC and was carried out by local artist Kane Brunjes and Bronte Naylor from Toowoomba.
“Bronte has been a huge help to Kane,” Olivia told the meeting.
“I’d also like to thank Sgt Rod Gelderblom and Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff for their help and support.”
Olivia said she’s currently in talks with the South Burnett Regional Council about painting Murgon’s Visitor Information Centre with a design geared to tourism in the Murgon area.
“I’m at the grant writing stage right now,” Olivia said.
“Community input on this project is also very welcome.”
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Murgon’s new CCTV system, which went live last September, is still not fully complete.
Cr Kathy Duff told the meeting workers are finding it difficult to install a final security camera on a water tower.
“There are really two problems,” Cr Duff said.
“The first is getting up to the top of the tower, and the second is getting power up there to run the camera.”
The meeting resolved to investigate whether the camera could be run using solar power and, if so, whether funding could be sourced to cover the cost.
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The MBDA will forward a letter to all Moffatdale wineries soon to get their views on revamping the Barambah Wine Trail sign.
The sign was erected almost 20 years ago and is owned by the MBDA.
The meeting was told the current sign was now looking “tired and sad” and was in need of a revamp.
It was suggested an upgraded sign could be used to promote individual wineries.
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Work on new footpaths for Murgon’s CBD is expected to commence next financial year, Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff told the meeting.
Upgrading the footpaths was originally planned to take place in 2014, but the project had to be put on the back-burner when urgent repairs needed to be made to Murgon’s ageing Jubilee swimming pool.
However, the Council has now allotted $260,000 from its second round of Works For Queensland funding to the project.
“The footpaths are being measured in readiness for their replacement,” Cr Duff said.
“Work will commence in the next budget period.”
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Potentially dangerous palm trees at the intersection of Gore Street and Angel Avenue are unlikely to see out the year.
The MBDA had raised concerns with the Council that the palm trees produce dangerous spines which had the potential to spear passing school children.
While the palm trees are surrounded with fencing and bollards to discourage pedestrians walking underneath them, the MBDA felt a better solution would be to remove them entirely.
The group will source two quotes to carry out the work.
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The Murgon Business and Development Association represents the interests of the businesses and community of Murgon and surrounding districts.
The group holds regular monthly breakfast meetings and new members are always welcome.
Its next breakfast meeting will be held at the Royal Hotel in Lamb Street at 6:30am on Thursday, March 8, and to help plan the catering RSVP’s would be appreciated no later than 3:00pm on Wednesday, March 7.
RSVP’s can be made by contacting MBDA secretary Margaret Long at Murgon Real Estate on (07) 4168-2922 or 0413-488-418.
