In my last column, I made you aware of Council’s decision to purchase land on Tamborine Mountain for Gallery Walk parking. I expressed support for the need to do this and has been my view now since as early as 2008, during my first council term.

I did not vote for the Council motion on this occasion because I believed the risks were too high for all ratepayers in the Scenic Rim. 

My fears are unfolding in the current economic climate. The Courier-Mail and Gold Coast Bulletin last weekend reported on Brisbane and Gold Coast suburbs that have fallen in value over the last three months, and the trend is continuing as the economy slows. For Tamborine Mountain, the reported fall (based on 201 sales) in the median house price is 14.5 per cent. That is not good news for property investors who purchased a house and intended to divest property in the short term. It could mean that if you purchased at the top of the market, the loss per million dollars could be as much as $145,000. It is not yet known what the likely fall in other categories of real estate is likely to be. It could be less or even more. 

Major policy change for Scenic Rim Regional Council 
At the Ordinary Council meeting on 7th June, I proposed the following notice of motion because, after two years of our current meeting system dominated by confidential briefings, a majority of Councillors recognised our meeting system shortcomings and the strong voices of their constituents calling for change. The motion was as follows. 

1. That Council, in the interest of enhanced public transparency, commit to the transition of its present two weekly meeting system, comprising one Ordinary meeting per fortnight and one Confidential Briefing over two days, per fortnight, to a committee system to include a Planning and Development Committee and other committees as decided. 
2. Confidential Workshops be retained but limited to the formulation of Strategy and Policy and other matters defined as confidential under the Local Government Regulations.
3. That a new meeting system implementation workshop group be established to be chaired by the Deputy Mayor.
4. That the CEO be requested to immediately commence consultation with the Executive and Councillors participating in the implementation workshop group to deliver a workable and agreed transition plan, including all policy, procedures, changes to delegations and meeting schedules for presentation to Council for consideration of a formal resolution before 4th October 2022.
5. That the new meeting system as resolved commence at the first meeting cycle in January 

After two hours of questioning and comments (debate or discussion is not allowed under our Council’s standing orders in Ordinary meetings), Crs McInnes, McConnell, Chalk and myself voted in favour of the motion, with Mayor Christensen, Crs West and Enright voting against. The vote was carried by a majority of four votes to three. 

This represents a major step forward. A committee system will be open to the media and public to facilitate openness and transparency, decision making in the public interest, and is completely in accordance with principles of Local Government defined and envisioned by the Queensland Parliament.

All Scenic Rim residents and ratepayers should applaud our Councillors who voted for this decision which will represent enormous efficiencies and a better working, accountable democracy for the common good. There is still more work to be done, and our aspiration is that our new CEO, when selected, will better guide the organisation’s future from a workable foundation based on transparent processes, meaningful consultation and putting ratepayers and residents first. 

TMSA's new master plan adopted unanimously by Council
Congratulations to Mick Angus and his Board for presenting a new master plan that supersedes 2018. The new plan ticks all the boxes for me and is very professional, and as such, I think it will remain relevant for the long term, but at the same time, there is flexibility built in to adapt to changing circumstances. 

I note the comments for and against on social media, so let me put some issues into perspective. This facility is a regional facility that will be an A-grade standard. It will service a population on the east of Scenic Rim and potentially the west of GCCC. That regional population is greater, around 20,000 persons (my estimate) from Beechmont, Canungra, Boyland Tamborine Village to Wonglepong, Guanaba, Mt Nathan and Clagiraba. 
It will take many years, even decades, to be fully realised as funding becomes available.

A new site is identified for a 50-metre indoor aquatic centre or some other iteration, a new adequately sized shared clubhouse able to accommodate individual space for sports clubs, indoor courts for basketball, soccer badminton and emerging indoor sports etc., a new full-sized sports field,,,,, space for BMX, running and horse-riding trails, future accommodation for athletes using the facility, more parking, and space for markets and community fundraising. 

It all may not happen in my lifetime, but without a proper plan, nothing would happen, and grant funding would be difficult to source. 

It is estimated that an integrated sports facility such as the TMSA, even in its current configuration, would reasonably cost of the order of $250,000 per year to run and maintain adequately. There is an argument that just as libraries are funded by ratepayer contributions, so also our major sports facilities servicing our regions should also receive ratepayer funding for their operations and maintenance costs. This is my position in current budget considerations and is likely to be front and centre in our forward financial plans. 

Derek Swanborough
 Councillor. Division 1
 derek.s@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
 Ph 0436 351 567