Development Applications (DAs): Setback: 10-14 Ohia Court (approved). Boundary realignment: 20 Ben Nevis & 30-32 Siganto St – survey plans – 2 into 2 lots (approved). Setback: 14 Moreton Bay Ave (approved). 122-128 Long Rd (Gallery Walk – Council-owned land) – the winery is now on a separate title.

Tuscany on Tamborine 87 Main Western Rd. Application for change of use REFUSED. Reason (in part): “The proposed development is not consistent with the Cottage Tourist Facility land use in that it has removed an integral component (dwelling house).”
Out and About: Scenic Rim Koala Forum held at Boonah – Working Together to Protect Koalas, following the uplisting of koalas as “endangered” in Qld in February 2022. Maintaining and improving koala habitat is essential for the survival of this most iconic Australian species. Koalas live all over the Scenic Rim, wherever their food trees grow. The forum covered preferred food trees, threats to koalas, breeding season and reporting koala sightings (form: Koala Sightings Form (scenicrim.qld.gov.au)) Threats include the fragmentation of habitat, linear infrastructure projects and invasive species including environmental weeds, all of which make life harder for koalas.
Opening of our new library: Please go along and have a look at the wonderful new library facilities and the expanded range of services available in our modern library. The official opening will take place on a date to be advised.
Tamborine Mountain Community Men’s Shed (Est. 2009): Jon Krause MP and I were fortunate to be invited for a tour and morning tea on 11 July 2023. This group provides a safe environment, where men can be men, and work on both personal and collective community projects, share skills, life experiences and yarns. The social component is considered as important as the projects the members work on. There are many familiar faces in the photos on their web page at Photos – TM Men’s Shed (tmmensshed.com) QR code at right
Other meetings attended: Tamborine Mountain Chamber of Commerce.
For information: Council has adopted a Cr Portfolio System and I am now the holder of the portfolio for Parks, Gardens and Open Space. Council Ordinary Meetings will now be live streamed via video rather than audio only from 18 July 2023. Public Question Time now forms part of each Ordinary Meeting and will be included on each Agenda. This is a far superior process to that which held Public Question Time separately. I encourage those who have burning questions and have previously been discouraged from raising these because of the previous process to now lodge their questions in accordance with the new policy.
Council Ordinary Meeting agenda 18 July 2023: Includes an application for a subdivision in Boonah, an update on the Strategic Land Purchase (Gallery Walk), review of Council’s procurement policy, and an OIA complaint against Cr McConnell. I can participate in these items however I cannot participate in the discussion and vote on 2 items as I have conflicts of interest: a development application for a function facility at Flying Fox (I was a submitter against this development application), and sale of land for overdue rates and charges (some affected landowners are personally known to me and I assisted with their Land Valuation objections).
Topics of concern raised recently: roadside stalls (read about these here: 9-3-13-roadside-stall-code (scenicrim.qld.gov.au); the water bore drilling rig on Gallery Walk (all OK); more graffiti; Shelf Road issues, concerns re the potential sale of Council-owned properties on steep land and the lack of Council facilities for the emptying of campervan toilet cassettes (no facilities proposed as all public facilities are currently pump-out only).
OIA Complaints… and the winner is… For those who took bets on how long it would be before a conduct complaint was lodged with the Office of the Independent Assessor against me, the answer is 65 days. In continuing the fine tradition set by my predecessors former Councillors Waistell and Swanborough, I assume that this will likely be the first of many complaints which originate from within Council. Whilst I had disclosed a declarable conflict of interest in an agenda item and left the meeting and took no part in the discussion or vote on the item, it was decided that there were “other relevant personal interests that were not disclosed” relating to the same item and which dated back to 2020. I have elected to have my name published on the SRRC Councillor Conduct Register against the decision in this matter. Had the OIA not have in place a 3-month amnesty in relation to complaints against newly elected Councillors (since the 2020 local government elections), I would have had my first upheld misconduct complaint. Good to see that my actions are being so carefully scrutinised – a shame other happenings at Council don’t attract a similar level of interest.
Next Community Consultation: Meeting room, Tamborine Mountain Library: 9-11.00am Thursday 27 July 2023. If you have a Council-related issue, please come along and discuss confidentially. Otherwise, issues can be raised via email to amanda.h@scenicrim.qld.gov.au or via phone on 0448 376 650.
Vale Jeff Higgs – a wonderful neighbour and great friend.
This week’s reading: Agenda Ordinary Meeting 19 July 2023: 242 pages; Cr & Executive Workshop 05 July Agenda: 190 pages.
“Do No Harm”
I can be contacted on 0448 376 650 or via e-mail at amanda.h@scenicrim.qld.gov.au
Cr Amanda Hay
Division 1