June 14, 2018
The Murgon Business and Development Association (MBDA) has asked the State Government for strong action to solve recent crime problems in the town.
The final parts of the town’s 54-camera CCTV and LED lighting system were installed recently.
They were officially launched at Thursday morning’s monthly MBDA breakfast meeting by Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien.
Mr O’Brien had made an election commitment to get CCTV for the town, and last year helped secure a $369,000 grant to pay for it through the Federal Government’s Safer Communities grant program.
In April, the MBDA sent a letter to Queensland’s Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women Di Farmer to raise the issue with her, and received a reply soon afterwards.
The MBDA reviewed the Minister’s reply at Thursday morning’s meeting and members decided they were unhappy with the government’s response.
A second letter will now be sent to the Minister requesting a meeting between the MBDA and State Government representatives to look at the problem.
* * *
Work on building new signs to promote wineries and other attractions along Barambah Road is progressing well.
In January, the MBDA voted to ask Barambah Road businesses if they’d be interested in replacing worn-out, dilapidated signs promoting the Barambah wine trail.
The 20-year-old signs are located at both of Moffatdale’s highway entrances, and are owned by the MBDA.
At Thursday’s meeting, members heard positive responses to the idea had been received from Moffatdale Ridge Winery, Hidden Gold Homestead, Dusty Hill Winery and the Barambah Bush Caravan Park.
The MBDA also hopes to include Yallakool Tourist Park on the new signs, and is awaiting a response from them.
In the meantime it will seek quotes for the work, and hopes to erect new signs later this year.
* * *
The MBDA is pushing ahead with its plans for a Rail Trail Festival during this year’s October long weekend.
In February, the MBDA applied to have the festival classified as a Regionally Significant Event under the Council’s new Community Grants policy.
Had the application succeeded, the Council would have contributed $22,500 in seed funding over the next three years to help the event find its feet.
Instead, Council gave the festival a $3000 grant, but this has not dampened the MBDA’s support for the concept.
The group has engaged AAA Racing – a firm with 11 years experience organising trail and track ultra runs – to arrange the festival’s marathon and related footraces, and expects to have several hundred runners from all over south-east Queensland take part.
Other features of the festival – such as market stalls, children’s entertainment, live music from local performers, displays and amusements – are also being booked.
Last year, Murgon’s celebrations for the official opening of the South Burnett Rail Trail drew several thousand people for what turned out to be the town’s biggest event of the year.
* * *
Other local community groups did well from the Council’s community grants scheme this year, Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff said.
Apart from the Rail Trail Festival, local organisations which received $3000 grants included the Murgon Men’s Shed (for a men’s health project); Murgon Hospital Auxiliary (for a Health Expo guest speaker); the Murgon Music Muster; the Mondure Hall Committee (for kitchen upgrades) and the Proston Lions Club (for a labyrinth).
The Bjelke Petersen Dam Fish Stocking Association received $2750 towards their Inland Fishing Competition, and the Proston Golden Spurs Campdraft received $2000 for panels.
* * *
Long-awaited repairs to Murgon CBD’s footpaths are expected to get underway in the coming financial year.
Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff said money for the footpath upgrades would be included in the Council’s next Budget, which would be handed down on June 25.
The MBDA began agitating for the footpath upgrades in 2014, but the project had to be put on the backburner when urgent upgrades had to be made to Murgon’s Jubilee swimming pool complex.
After the pool re-opened it was hoped work on the footpaths could proceed.
Cr Duff said the Council now has $270,000 set aside for the project, thanks to the State Government’s Works For Queensland program.
This will be used to attend to urgent repairs in front of Murgon Tyre and Auto, and the remainder would be used to plan further works.
* * *
Capital works have been keeping tradies very busy in Murgon over the past two months, Thursday’s meeting heard.
Murgon Tyre and Auto has undergone a refurbishment, the Bunya Wakka Wakka Cultural and Heritage Aboriginal Corporation and another CBD building both have new awnings, Target has undergone a re-fit and Cornett’s IGA has unveiled a much-anticipated expansion.
Betta Electrical has new signs; the Australian Hotel has carried out some major work on its verandahs; the Snack Shack has reopened; and a new kitchen has been installed at the golf club.
New murals at the Visitor Information Centre have been unveiled, and Lions Park has had a sealed car park installed and long-standing drainage problems fixed as a Lions centenary project.
The Council has also chipped in, with new footpaths to the schools and at the skate park; an upgrade to Yallakool’s swimming pool; and repairs to Murgon Hospital’s footbridge.
Two new columbariums and extended shade shelters were also erected by Council at Murgon’s cemetery, in partnership with Murgon RSL.
* * *
The Murgon Business and Development Association represents the businesses and community of Murgon and surrounding districts.
The group holds regular monthly meetings and new members are always welcome.
The MBDA’s next breakfast meeting will be at Murgon’s Royal Hotel in July.
Breakfast is $15 and coffee an extra $4.
More details about MBDA membership and meeting dates can be obtained by contacting MBDA secretary Margaret Long at Murgon Real Estate on (07) 4168-2922 or 0413-488-418.
