CEO's Comments
What a month August has been.
Early in the month Cr Cramer and myself attended a LGAQ workshop in Mount Isa on changes to the disaster
management arrangements. This workshop allowed us to
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Discuss roles and responsibilities for the council and the LDMG
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Identify ways to improve the local disaster management operations
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Share lessons learned and develop mutual support arrangements with neighbouring councils
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Identify issues for resolution at the state level to support your local needs.
I spent a couple of days in Longreach meeting with other RAPAD councils discussing a range of topics including a
regional financial review to be undertaken by QTC, allocation of TIDS funding to Council for roads through the Outback
Regional Road Group and a workshop on upcoming changes to planning legislation which will affect all councils and
communities.
The current Council hosted a dinner for former Councillors Garth Tully and Jody Barr who did not contest the local
government elections in March. Garth’s first council meeting was in 1990 and continued as a Councillor uninterrupted
since that time. This was an opportunity for formally recognise Garth's extended service as a Councillor.
The unseasonal rain has been a blessing and a curse, being very welcome for the benefits it brings to the rural properties
but impacting on our local events through its impact on the facilities themselves and road closures.
It was great to get to the Betoota Races which demonstrated the resilience of club members in getting the races up and
running following the rain.
I have been keeping tabs on the progress of the Telstra dozers ploughing and burying the optic fibre cable from Boulia
to Bedourie. At the moment they are south of the Georgina River about 70km south of Boulia. Contractors have been
in Bedourie cleaning out Telstra pits, locating services and doing underground boring work. Lets hope the wet weather
won’t hold them up too much. I understand that the project is ahead of schedule at the moment so lets hope this
continues.
A great effort to staff and contractors involved in getting the new public shower blocks up a running for the Birdsville
Races. I am sure they got a good work out.
Leon Love
Desert Yarns September 2016
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