The results are in, and Council will soon be publishing them. The Mountain has answered the call and responded in a show of force. I want to thank everyone who lodged a submission. The sheer relative weight of responses to the consultation simply says how much we care for, and value our Mountain.

I can’t share the detailed results yet, but my observation is that the common messages to Council are unequivocal. It will be a test now to see what comes out of the process and what weight the Mountain’s views are given. From my perspective, having lived here for 36 years and been at the centre of the business of multiple elected Councils during this time, I can say categorically that the values and aspirations of the Mountain have been consistent for decades and are evidenced in more recent times in many Community Plans and Blueprint consultations. I don’t expect they will ever change in the coming decades unless we let our guard down. 

It is a very strong argument that most of the Mountain’s community of interest is with Gold Coast. This inevitably leads to a mismatch of aspirations and needs with those who govern us. The one-size-fits-all policy objective of the Scenic Rim has a heavy downside for the Mountain.

 We are profoundly different to the rest of the region in so many ways.

Let’s hope that the Mountain’s strong views that there should be no more policies, mechanisms or planning scheme amendments to increase our population, which is contrary to the SRRC’S views expressed in the Growth Management Study, is listened to and acted upon. 

FOOD TOURISM
Did you know that in Southeast Queensland, we have scores of food trails? The question that is hardest to answer is what Council area in SEQ doesn’t have any. If you are interested in this type of Tourism experience, you should visit the Council of Mayors’ website, where you will find 51 trails listed involving 490 businesses. See South East Queensland Food Trails - Home (seqfoodtrails.com.au). You will find details there and on the Council’s own website of Scenic Rim’s Eat Local Week. 

VALUATION OF LAND
Everyone by now will have received their new land valuation in the mail, which was dated as of 1st October 2021. Land values have increased for different categories and locations across the region. Tamborine Mountain’s has gone up around 20%. This does not necessarily mean the General rate will go up by this amount. Setting the rate works in a backwards process. The defined amount of income desired is identified first in a budget, and then the rate in the dollar is calculated to achieve this when calculated across all new valuations for all rateable properties. The largest impact is if the valuations in one area change relative to other areas. This could well see increases on Tamborine Mountain if any such increases are not compensated for by increasing the flat separate charge infrastructure for each property. Council still has other methods to delay the initial impacts of big swings in valuations by capping rates or averaging valuations. 

COUNCIL MEETINGS
It is hoped that the media and public will soon be let back into the public gallery to observe and scrutinise in Council decision making after the lifting of restrictions. There should be some announcements around this in the coming weeks. It is a pillar of our democracy that Local Government decision making is open and transparent. 

Like everyone, I am looking forward to some bright sunny days after several weeks of persistent nuisance rain. 

 With the lifting of Covid restrictions, I am preparing to return to some Saturday morning face to face opportunities to meet with you on Main Street opposite the bakery. I’ll keep you posted. 

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