The council currently spends $1.5 million per year cutting a total of 3200 hectares of grass growing on roadsides, sports ovals, parks and other open areas across the region.

A reduction in roadside mowing was one of 20 proposed cost-cutting measures outlined in a report produced by the council’s Service Review Panel, following an initial audit which revealed that many sites currently mown by the council were being dramatically over-serviced.

The Service Review Panel, which scrutinised all grass mowing operations across the region in order to identify more cost-efficient ways of providing the service, indicated that full implementation of the 20 proposed measures contained in the report could save the council up to $311,000 per year, according to CCRC Manager of Parks and Natural Environment, Paul Devine.

“In light of this report, the council intends to reduce the frequency of mowing road verges – the area between the kerb and channelling and the bitumen edge – in Tully and Cardwell, to bring these areas into line with the urban roadside mowing program in the northern part of the region,” he said.

“At present, council workers are mowing the verge areas in Tully and Cardwell at the same frequency as they are mowing the parks there. In future, they will only mow the verge areas when the grass reaches a height of 200 mm.

“This may mean that instead of being mown every 10 days during the wet season, the verges are mown every three weeks.”

Mr Devine emphasised that pedestrian safety would not be jeopardised under the new mowing program.

“For example, road verge areas commonly used by children walking to and from schools will continue to be closely monitored,” he said.

In mid-November, the council – with funding support from the State Government’s Department of Communities, Sport and Recreation Services – will begin a $60,000 works program to upgrade and raise the level of the oval.

Cassowary Coast Mayor, Bill Shannon, said the works project aimed to prevent the oval from turning into an unusable swamp during the wet season.

“Those familiar with this oval know that it was originally located in a very low spot, which has made it unusable for the duration of the wet season,” he said. “Even routine maintenance such as mowing has been difficult.

“About 4000 cubic metres of fill will be added to the oval surface during the project, and laser levelling will be used to build up the oval to a uniform, desired height.”

The Frogs Hollow project will be underway on 16 November. Due to the amount of work involved, including surface stripping, re-surfacing and re-grassing, the oval and surroundings will be closed until at least mid-January next year.

“During the construction phase, the Community Hall and the access road to the Hall will remain open and available for use,” Cr. Shannon emphasised.

“However, the oval, car park and surrounds will be formally closed to public access, with barricades and signs in place.

Cr. Shannon advised visitors to the Community Hall – particularly during working hours – to park their vehicles on the road verge of South Mission Beach Road and to be aware that heavy plant and equipment could be in use in the area.

Council Parks and Natural Environment Manager, Paul Devine, said a number of coconut trees now classified as unsafe, would be removed as part of this process.

“A number of coconut palms along the Cutten Brothers walking track and the Ulysses walking track at Mission Beach are now too risky for our tree specialists to safely climb and de-nut, so they will be removed,” he said.

“This practice is in-line with the council’s Coconut Management Strategy and will enhance the safety of walkers and cyclists who use these popular tracks.”

Mr Devine emphasised that the council’s Vegetation Management Strategy recognised the important role played by coastal vegetation in erosion control and biodiversity management, and that any coastal tree removed for safety purposes would be replaced by another tree in the same – or a more appropriate – location.

“Some of these coconuts that have been removed will be replaced with dwarf coconuts, which reach a more manageable height and do not present anywhere near the same safety risk as the common coconut,” he said.

The 2009 Mayor’s Christmas Appeal aims to provide the Cassowary Coast community with the opportunity to ensure that everyone within the community is touched by the magic of Christmas, according to Mayor, Bill Shannon.

“Many people are experiencing difficulties for many different reasons, due to the global economic downturn, loss of employment and the diverse ramifications of the share market crisis – all these are a major influence on the household income,” Cr. Shannon observed.

“Christmas is not always a time of joy and hope for everyone, but rather a time of trepidation and uncertainty.”

“The Mayor’s Christmas Appeal provides us with an opportunity to reach out and bring joy to the lives of less fortunate people – to children, families and the elderly – and make sure Christmas is a special time for them as well.”

Cr. Shannon said the agencies and church groups which distributed Christmas hampers, food vouchers and toys to those in need, relied on the continuing generosity of the Cassowary Coast community.

“Their work is only possible due to the continued kind support of groups, organisations, firms and individuals who financially contribute to the Appeal,” he said. “The success of the Appeal directly affects the level of assistance they provide at Christmas.”

Cr. Shannon urged Cassowary Coast organisations, businesses and individuals who have supported the annual Appeal in past years, to maintain their support, despite the myriad of other causes seeking donations.

“I appreciate that someone is always appealing for some kind of financial assistance and we all have had to face difficult times, however, there are no more difficult times than now for the needy. So please, support the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal.”

Monetary donations and toys will be collected for the Appeal at the following key events, which will take place around the region in the lead-up to Christmas. Donations can also be made at the council facilities listed below.

Carols by Candlelight:

• Cardwell – 6th December
• Tully – 13th December
• Innisfail – 11th December

Street celebrations:

• Annual Charity Bike Ride – Cardwell to Innisfail, 5th December
• Cardwell Water Front Markets, 5th December
• Town-wide Christmas Shopping Spree, Innisfail, 5th December
• Mission Beach Village Green, 10th December
• Tully Street Party, 23rd December

(The Annual Charity Bike Ride will start in Cardwell and travel through Mission Beach and Tully before finishing in Innisfail, the site of the Town-wide Christmas Shopping Spree. All bikers are welcome to participate in the Ride. Contact Don Fuller on 4061 6163 for further details.)

Donations:

• Monetary donations and toys for the Appeal will be accepted at the Mission Beach Library, Cardwell Library and both the Tully and Innisfail council offices.
• Donations will also be accepted by cheques mailed to Mayor’s Christmas Appeal, PO Box 887 Innisfail 4860. Please make cheques payable to the Cassowary Coast Regional Council.

Measures introduced to protect guests from weather-related disasters such as tsunamis and cyclones have already become a marketing feature for a number of major resorts and hotels in south-east Asia, according to Cassowary Coast Regional Council Disaster Manager, Carola Washbourne.

Ms Washbourne was a guest speaker at last Wednesday’s (14th October) Accommodation Providers Disaster Preparedness Workshop, organised by the council, in collaboration with a number of government agencies and businesses, including Emergency Management Queensland, the Queensland Police Service and the Building Services Authority.

Held at Mission Beach, the workshop attracted tourism industry professionals from as far afield as Bedarra Island.

Guest speakers at the event looked at key issues confronting accommodation providers during and immediately after a disaster, then outlined a range of strategies and tactics designed to help them deal with those issues and enhance their ability to keep their businesses afloat.

Mission Beach-based regional and community development consultant, Tracey Wilson, discussed the importance of developing a business continuity plan to minimise disruptions to business operations.

She “walked” workshop participants through the necessary steps to implement such a plan, including the production of a risk management plan, business impact analysis, incident response and recovery plans.

Ms Wilson also offered practical advice on how to assemble a business-related emergency kit to enable a business to continue operating off-site, in the event of damage to normal business premises.

“You need to include documents such as contact lists for customers and suppliers, emergency services and utility providers,” she said. “Other essential documents include a copy of your building site plan, insurance details and the latest stock and equipment inventory.

“Make sure you also pack computer back-up disks, spare keys, a mobile phone with credit available and charger, and a disposable camera to photograph damaged items for insurance purposes.”

Tully-based general insurance broker, Karen Hardy, tackled “the burning issue” of maintaining adequate levels of commercial insurance protection. She also identified potential ‘minefields’ in insurance policies, such as delay clauses and general exclusions.

“Know your policy,” she stressed. “Sit down, go through it, if you don’t understand something – ask. It’s too late after the event.”

Several guest speakers, including Council Tourism Coordinator, Sheila Lawler, emphasised the value of networking in times of disaster.

“Networking with other businesses, key suppliers and service providers, as well as visitor information centres and tourism organisations can help to minimise disruption and financial loss, maximise resources, hasten the recovery process and present a positive united profile of the region,” she said.

The workshop highlighted the importance of communication, including communication plans designed to enhance the safety and peace-of-mind of in-house guests, those planning to leave and guests scheduled to arrive in the wake of a natural disaster.

“Guests should be provided with appropriate information, including evacuation procedures,” Ms Lawler said. “They need to be kept informed and advised what to do.

“You need to make guests feel more confident. If they have been badly frightened, they will probably never come back.”

District Disaster Coordinator for the Innisfail region, Inspector David Tucker, provided common-sense advice on security measures and also stressed the importance of maintaining adequate guest records to assist emergency workers.

However, self-reliance was the recurring theme throughout the workshop. Inspector Tucker and the other guest speakers all contributed to a disaster preparation list of essential items and equipment designed to enhance the ability of workshop participants to fend for themselves in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

“Following a major disaster, you may very likely have to cope on your own for three to seven days, because resources will be so stretched,” observed CCRC Disaster Manager, Carola Washbourne.

“The more you can do for yourself, the better off you will be.”

For further information on the workshop contact Carola Washbourne on 07 4043 9180.

Earl Robert Ohnesorgen, who appeared before Magistrate Janelle Brassington, pleaded guilty to breaching a restraint order placed on him by the Planning and Environment Court in Cairns in November 2004.

The restraint order, issued under Section 505 of the Environmental Protection Act, prohibited Mr Ohnesorgen, (formerly of Mundoo Towing and Auto Wreckers), from running a metal recovery business – including a scrap metal yard and auto wrecking operation – from premises on Aerodrome Road at Mundoo.

However, Mr Ohnesorgen ignored the Court order and continued to dismantle motor vehicles and operate a scrap metal yard in such a manner as to pose a real risk of causing environmental harm and nuisance to neighbouring residents in Mundoo, according to CCRC Environmental Services Manager, Geoff Wilson.

“Practices at his business included dismantling vehicles and draining fluids such as oils on an unsealed surface, resulting in the release of those oils and fluids onto bare earth,” Mr Wilson said.

“Partially dismantled vehicles left on the roadway also disrupted the flow of traffic in Aerodrome Road, and frequently blocked neighbouring driveways.

“Other unacceptable practices included storing old batteries and waste fluids in an unroofed and unsealed area, which resulted in a real risk of contaminated run-off during heavy rain.”

Mr Wilson said council environmental officers had made repeated attempts over the years to work pro-actively with Mr Ohnesorgen to encourage him to comply with environmental requirements.

“But he continually refused to comply or cooperate, and as a result, the council was left with no choice but to prosecute him for breach of the Court order,” Mr Wilson said.

In the course of her sentencing remarks, Magistrate Janelle Brassington made reference to the fact that the offence had involved a complete disregard for an Order of a Superior Court and that any penalty imposed must involve both personal and general deterrents.

She fined Mr Ohnesorgen the sum of $20,000 and ordered him to pay $6,837 towards the council’s legal and investigation costs. Mr Ohnesorgen was given six months to pay the fine and costs. In default of payment of the fine, he faces four months’ imprisonment. Failure to pay the costs will incur two months’ imprisonment.

Mr Wilson said the magnitude of Mr Ohnesorgen’s fine indicated that the court had taken his offence seriously.

“This result vindicates the efforts of council officers to prevent Mr Ohnesorgen from continuing to jeopardise the environment,” he said. “It also acknowledges the impact his actions have had on neighbours.”

The Australian Government, Queensland Government, Cassowary Coast Regional Council, and Tully State High School P & C Association are partners in the building project, which will provide facilities for community events and functions, school, indoor and outdoor sports, and the performing arts in the grounds of the Tully State High School.

The Project Control Group, which includes representatives of the Council, Tully State High School, P & C Association, Government agencies and community representatives, has approved the amended concept plans developed by Suters Architects, for the $6.1 million project.

Cassowary Coast Mayor, Bill Shannon, said the Project Control Group was keen to ensure that key project roles were filled by the end of the year.

“The project manager, GHD Pty Ltd, and Suters Architects have now been authorised to finalise the detailed plans and specifications and complete the necessary documentation to enable tenders to be called for the construction of the centre” Cr. Shannon said. “If all goes according to plan, tenders for the building construction will be invited in mid-November and the contract for the work will be awarded by the end of December.”

A separate tender for the Bulk Earthworks associated with the building platform has been invited and will close on 12 October 2009. This work is programmed to be completed within five weeks of awarding the tender.

The building project is being jointly funded by the Australian Government Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program ($2.1m), Education Queensland ($1.176m), Cassowary Coast Regional Council ($1.4m) and Queensland Department of Sport and Recreation ($1m)

An additional $200,000 is expected to be raised through public and corporate donations. The council and Tully High School P&C jointly funded the $32,000 feasibility study and business plan for the project, which was completed in 2006.

Cassowary Coast Mayor, Bill Shannon, said the $21 million Cardwell project was moving ahead, following the recent final approval of a $15.2 million subsidy under the State Government’s Smaller Communities Assistance Program (SCAP) which funds sewerage and water projects in smaller communities.

“I believe the provision of the SCAP subsidy – which is only available to communities with less than 5000 residents – is also in line with a State Government objective to sewer coastal communities in Queensland within a specific timeframe,” Cr. Shannon said.

Council CEO, Terry Brennan, said the council had already received an initial five percent of the subsidy payment and funding for the project was included in the council’s 2009/10 Budget.

“Council staff and engineering consultants are currently working through the more detailed design aspects of the sewerage project, as well as looking at how to meet EPA requirements for the plant,” he said.”

The Innisfail Water Treatment Plant and the Innisfail Sewerage Treatment Plant, which are next on the council’s priority infrastructure list, are not eligible for SCAP funding. (Innisfail’s population is over 5000.)

The estimated cost of the water treatment plant is $15.9 million, while the sewerage treatment plant in Innisfail will cost approximately $33.4 million.

“The Innisfail Water Treatment Plant and Sewerage Treatment Plant projects would normally attract a 40 percent subsidy under the State Government’s Water and Sewerage Program,” Mr Brennan said.

“However, no new funding for this program was provided in the last State Budget. A new program will not commence until 2011 and details of the program have not yet been finalised.”

Cr. Shannon said the council would continue to seek funding for the Innisfail water and sewerage plants, but the current lack of funding options for these projects should not be allowed to delay the Cardwell Sewerage project.

“The Cardwell Sewerage project already has funding approval and it will proceed,” he said. “The people of Cardwell have been waiting long enough.”

If you have attended an Accommodation Providers Disaster Preparedness Workshop, you will already know how to minimise the risk of physical injury to your guests and damage to your property during a disaster, and maximise the ability of your business to bounce back afterwards.

The Cassowary Coast Regional Council has joined forces with a number of government agencies and businesses to organise just such a workshop for accommodation providers in this region, prior to the beginning of this year’s cyclone season on 1 November.

The four-hour workshop, to be held on Wednesday 14th October at Wongaling Beach, will provide crucial information on a range of topics and issues which confront accommodation providers at the mercy of adverse – sometimes catastrophic – weather conditions, as well as other types of disaster.

“Planning and preparing before a disaster happens could mean the difference between staying in business or closing your doors,” observed CCRC Disaster Manager, Carola Washbourne.

The workshop program includes segments on cyclone preparedness, insurance, security of property, the Queensland Disaster Management System, support networks, building after a cyclone, and business continuity planning (to assist in business recovery).

Workshop facilitators will include representatives from Emergency Management Queensland, the Building Services Authority, the Queensland Police Force, Working Visions, ACME Insurance and the Cassowary Coast Regional Council.

“Accommodation providers are an important part of the business community in this region,” Ms Washbourne said.

“We want to supply them with the necessary information to strengthen their resilience in the face of disastrous events.”

For further information on the workshop contact Sheila Lawler on 4068 2288 or Carola Washbourne on 4043 9180.

Works is expected to commence on Monday, 21st September 2009 with the road being closed until Friday, 25th September 2009.

Council apologies for any inconvenience this work may cause however, if you have any concerns you are asked to contact Civil Works Supervisor, David Kaurila on Ph 0437 447 899.