May 4, 2022
The long-term future of Nanango’s Ringsfield House may become clearer soon.
At last week’s South Burnett Regional Council General Meeting, Councillors resolved to set up an Advisory Committee to guide the future of the historic complex “as a matter of priority” – an idea first proposed almost a year ago.
The decision to make a move on drawing up plans for Ringsfield was prompted by recent requests the Council received from two groups.
One was from the Nanango Reunion for Past and Present Residents committee which wants to use Ringsfield’s grounds later this year for their annual reunion.
And the other was from the Dalby branch of the University Of The Third Age (U3A) which wants to lease office space at Ringsfield House for an initial period of six months to look into the possibility of forming a local U3A branch.
The group said they would also like to engage with Ringsfield’s Advisory Committee, once one was established.
With demand for use of the complex clearly rising and a potential long-term occupant in the wings, Councillors resolved unanimously to move forward with the formation of an Advisory Committee as quickly as possible.
- Related article: New Plan For Historic Ringsfield
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Council will ask the State Government to fund a parthenium treatment program covering the South Burnett and Cherbourg.
At last week’s General Meeting, Councillors were told that warm, wet conditions over the summer had led to an explosion of parthenium in both Council areas.
They also heard that if the problem was not addressed before next Spring, the pest plant was likely to cause even greater problems for the region’s agricultural industry next year.
Councillors resolved to work with Cherbourg Council, Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington and an industry stakeholder group to gain a commitment from the State Government to fund the treatment program.
If successful, this program would be in addition to existing weed treatment programs both councils already run to combat pest plants.
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Bunya Mountains Community Association Inc’s (BMCAI) plans to build a community centre on land owned by Western Downs Regional Council will be supported by the South Burnett Regional Council.
At April’s General Meeting, Councillors were told BMCAI want to build a community centre to provide a much-needed public space for meetings and community activities.
BMCAI have identified two blocks of land owned by Western Downs Regional Council (WDRC) that would be suitable, and WDRC have indicated it is open to the concept.
However, WDRC has asked BMCAI to prepare a feasibility study on the project before they consider the proposal.
BMCAI estimated this could cost $24,000 to $60,000.
And while WDRC has a grants program that could meet part of the cost, the maximum grant they could receive would be $10,000.
The group wrote to the SBRC to ask for their assistance with preparing the study, and Councillors agreed unanimously to allow SBRC officers to liaise with WDRC officers to identify the requirements of the feasibility study and define the scope of works.
- Related article: Community Centre Hits Hurdle
