Whitsunday Regional Council reconsiders Havengrand

Mayor Jennifer Whitney has announced that Whitsunday Regional Council will be considering its options for Havengrand, the 96.05 hectares of land off Shute Harbour Road in Mt Marlow purchased for $2.1 million by the previous council as a site for a sports park. 

The mayor’s comments come after council resolved to invite tenders for the sale of the land, just weeks after it was announced that it would be inviting tenders for the lease of the land. Council has confirmed that the tenders received for the lease are on hold pending the outcome of the tenders for sale.

“At this stage, Council has not had the land revalued since it was purchased,” she said. “A report will go back to Council after the closing of tenders for further consideration and discussion on how best to move forward.”

When contacted by the Whitsunday Coast Guardian, former mayor Mike Brunker opted not to enter the fray; stressing that council is able to sell its own land.

“We were looking towards the future when we purchased the land,” Mr Brunker said. “But it is now council land, and it is council’s business what they do with it.

Community advocate Barb Adamson, who publicly opposed the Havengrand purchase in 2010 and used a council meeting last month to question why council couldn’t sell the land rather than lease it, described the mayor’s announcement as “good news”.

“Selling the land seems like a more sensible solution,” she said. “I’d rather see them sell it so we can get a piece of land that is accessible for everyone in the community.”

“Land was bought for a sports park at Carlo Drive ten years ago, before it was sold,” Ms Adamson said. “Then council bought this land, which was overpriced, and now it’s being sold, too.”

“The process has continually been halted over the years, and we’re still without the promised sports park.

“But from my perspective, this is good news,” she said. “I hope they go ahead and sell the land, so we can get outcome with which the community agrees.”

Mike Porter, Manager of CANEGROWERS Proserpine, said that the local farming community would welcome the sale of Havengrand, permitting that it was bought for agricultural use. 

“We would absolutely support any decision that succeeds in returning good quality agricultural land to the sugar industry,” he said.

“Whether the land is leased or sold, if it’s being used for agricultural purposes, which it’s zoned to do, then it’s a good thing,” Mr Porter said.

Tenders for the sale of the land close 4pm on Monday, 24 September.

Whitsunday Regional Council's road block to advertisement

A Whitsunday engineer, who designs electrical systems for mines, has hit out at council’s decision to reject his application to place a custom-built sign on private property fronting the Bruce Highway.

In a move local business owner Scott Bennett is calling "hypocritical" the Whitsunday Regional Council refused his application at their Wednesday meeting last week to place an "undefined advertisement" on Collingvale Station.

"It’s hypocritical, that’s what it is and I am going to fight it. On the very same day they approved Whitsunday Caravan and Camping’s sign – now I have absolutely no problem with them – it’s a great sign and they’re good business people and good on them – but they deny me mine … why?" Mr Bennett said.

Mr Bennett is an electrical engineer and his business is to build million-dollar plus electrical systems mainly for the mining industry. He reckons his best scope to get his message out is to target the traffic on the Bruce Highway.

"A few months ago I approached Malvin Deicke and asked him whether I could put a trailer on his property. He said no worries, we all know each other pretty well around here, and so I made the sign up. Honestly, it’s a solid steel structure so if council is worried about it going anywhere in a cyclone, then it’s just not going to happen. If that goes, there won’t be a house left standing in Proserpine," he said.

Furious with council’s decision, Mr Bennett told the Guardian how he had tried to "do the right thing."

"I had a call from some bloke at council who basically told me to move it or he will fine me. I said righto I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes and so I towed it way back up the paddock until it was sorted out. He sent me the form for an advertising licence and I filled it out and sent it away, thinking everything would be great," he said.

However at last Wednesday’s council meeting, even with Cr John Collins on his side, the majority couldn’t see it Mr Bennett’s way.

"The guy has a big red sign and it draws attention and that is what the ad is about. If Coca Cola puts a sign on the highway, are we going to tell them to change the colour of their sign because it’s red?" Cr Collins questioned.

Executive services confirmed it was a "grey area" with the actual report before council stating that; "town planning cannot regulate or control advertising devices that are on vehicles or trailers".

The fact that they actually have no jurisdiction over his sign is what has Mr Bennett most riled.

"They can vote all they want, as soon as the paddock dries out, I am taking my trailer back down there. My sign has the potential to bring millions of dollars into this region … look at the rest of the signs on the highway, KFC and such, what the hell do they promote?"

Mayor Jennifer Whitney said various criteria and public safety was taken into account before the decision was made.

"It was considered the advertisement on Collingvale Station, Bruce Highway, Gregory River, may cause reasonable distraction to vehicular traffic along the Bruce Highway with the speed limit in the area being 100km. It was further considered the advertisement does detract from the amenity and the natural features of the rural environment in which it is situated, primarily because of colour, design and sign presentation," Mayor Whitney said in a statement.

"The undefined advertisement for Whitsunday Camping and Caravan Centre however does not detract from the amenity and is consistent in colour and appearance, with buildings and natural features of the environment in which it is situated."

Debate before Whitsunday Regional Council portfolios passed

Mayor Jennifer Whitney’s portfolio motion was finally passed at a special council meeting last Wednesday with her Deputy Peter Ramage and Division 5 councillor David Clark continuing to oppose the proposal.

The portfolios will be divided up in a similar fashion to how ministers in the state and federal governments are handed certain packages including water and sewerage, rates or land and development etc.

"Given the geographical aspect of the region, I fail to see how this can work. I am yet to find a regional areas where its has worked," deputy mayor Peter Ramage said. "It is not compulsory, it is not in the act and I think it will be very hard to do something like this in a divided council.

Cr Kevin Collins disagreed.

"In our recent training it was made very clear to us all, which surprised me, that we are councillors for the whole region not just the division. And as far as I can see we cannot be across every single aspect of the council so I say let’s have a crack at it, and if it doesn’t work within six months, we’ll come back to the table with it.

Cr Clifford brought Bundaberg council into the argument saying their boundary covered an even greater geographical area than the Whitsundays and reiterated her support for a united council.

Cr John Collins entered the debate saying he was the newbie on the block and since being elected he’d been contacted by several constituents outside his division already.

"I am willing to have a crack at it, let’s give it a go and as Kevin says if it doesn’t work out we’ll revisit it in six months," Cr Collins said.

The mayor said the portfolios would be instrumental in getting over the massive hurdle of amalgamation which Cr Ramage argued there simply hadn’t been enough research put into the project.

"I don’t think it has been done democratically but I can see which way it is going to go and I am not in favour of it at all," deputy Ramage said.

In a show of good faith to her comrades, the mayor let the debate continue well past protocol.

Cr Kevin Collins took the floor.

"Some old bloke called me the other day about a dirt road. Now I know nothing about dirt roads and I am sure when he hung up he said to his wife "that guy’s an idiot" and he’d be right. If I could have said to him hang on I will put you on to someone who is an expert in that field, we’d all be a lot better off!

However it was the wishes of the majority that the motion be passed and so it was four to two with Crs Ramage and Clark voting against it, and Cr Andrew Willcox absent.

Special Whitsunday Regional Council meeting to discuss portfolios

A special meeting of the Whitsunday Regional Council will be held this morning at the Proserpine chamber to discuss the mayor’s motion to provide each councillor with a portfolio.

Early into her new term, Mayor Jennifer Whitney announced she would be preparing a portfolio for each councillor, similar to what a minister in the state government would be given.

"The idea of the portfolios is part of the package for one region. Each portfolio will come with a list and charter which will tell the councillor how they conduct themselves in each role and how they can speak with the press," the mayor said at last Wednesday’s council meeting before Cr David Clark interjected.

"I think it should be tabled until we understand the cost and the implications … it should have been workshopped," Cr Clark said.

Cr Kevin Collins called for the mayor to be allowed to finish her speech before they considered their vote.

"There won’t be any additional costs. There is nothing to be worried about inside the folios but as paid councillors the community expects us to be seen to be involved and this is more in keeping with the state and federal governments. The person in this new role will feed that information back to council at regular meetings."

Deputy Mayor Peter Ramage was in favour of the motion being tabled, saying there had been no information and no workshopping.

"We can work out what this really means to all our individual lives," he said.

Cr Jan Clifford said she found it highly amusing that "they don’t want to play when they don’t know what they are playing with".

Mayor Whitney said she would have dearly loved to have gotten the motion through however, she would vote with the majority.

"I don’t have a secretary, which the CEO is looking into for me … and I have had to do all this up myself and it has been a lot of work," the mayor said.

Her deputy Peter Ramage said it wouldn’t only be an educational process for the councillors, but for the community too.

"We’ll get calls from constituents who want to talk about roads or sewerage, and we’ll have to tell them, sorry it’s not me you need to talk to, even though I am the one you voted in, you’ve got to go to so-and-so and give them a 4945 number," he said.

The tabling was supported by all councillors except Cr Jan Clifford who wanted the folios handed down that day.

Mayor Whitney said of this morning’s meeting she dearly hoped the councillors would accept each of the roles she had chosen for them which are ....

Cr Peter Ramage - water and sewerage, waste health and regulation

Cr Jan Clifford - planning and development, businesses and housing

Cr Kevin Collins - tourism and economic development, airports, festival, events, the arts and grants

Cr Dave Clark - roads and drainage, quarries and jetties, boating, river trusts and pest management

Cr Andrew Willcox - finance and technology, rates, disaster management and fleet management

Cr John Collins - sport, recreational facilities, parks and the environment, community development and libraries, pools, lagoons and caravan parks.

Mayor Whitney embraces new role

Challenging, exciting, daunting with a hell of a lot of obstacles in the way. That’s how the Whitsunday’s first female mayor describes her first month in the top job.

"It hasn’t even been a month! But it has been totally enjoyable. Obviously there are people putting obstacles up out there but I don’t see them as obstacles … instead I grab hold of them and use them as a learning curve," said Mayor Jennifer Whitney.

Having many years’ experience in local government, including three terms as a councillor, the mayor says her role is a lot more "hands on" than she thought and was pleasantly surprised so many people wanted to actually speak with the mayor.

During the past four weeks, Mayor Whitney has been meeting with delegates from mining and rail companies, receiving updates on all the major developments projected for the Whitsunday region.

Council meets in Proserpine on Wednesday, June 13 where it is expected the mayor will hand out a portfolio to each of the councillors.

"This is a whole different style of government and I hope people embrace it and move with us. These portfolios will challenge the councillors in a way we mightn’t have been challenged before. They won’t necessarily be in their comfort zone but the community has an expectation that we as paid councillors work for our money. I am not saying we haven’t done this in the past, but we will now be accountable," she said.

The mayor also touched on boat ramps, the controversial block of land Havengrand and de-amalgamation.

"We need an all-weather place for our boaties. We are such a huge boating area "Our registrations prove this but at the moment we have no pontoon at VMR which the boaties want. I believe the rock wall study is almost finalised so we will be looking at that shortly but at the moment the best option is getting Port of Airlie boat ramp up and running as soon as possible," she said.

The mayor touched on Havengrand saying it simply hadn’t been discussed yet by the new council but the matter would be put on the agenda with a view to leasing it out.

"It wouldn’t be viable at the moment to sell it, because we paid far too much for it in the first place ... but at least we should look at leasing it out. By having someone on the land it will help with the maintenance," she said.

And finally de-amalgamation.

"There has been the rumour of de-amalgamation but the decision will come down to the minister and any area that wants to de-amalgamate will have to prove it is able to support itself.

"The people in Collinsville haven’t even given this new council a chance."

Mayor Whitney met with the Guardian in her Proserpine office on Monday morning.

"There has to be an acceptance by management that I am the mayor, and that we need to go on this journey together, to create change for the betterment of the community, for the whole region. I have been voted in to bring about that change.

"This means the region wants a change to the way we do business … which means more consultation, better communication and a more open and accountable council," Mayor Whitney said.

Whitsunday Regional Council sworn in

The region’s new team of leaders was sworn in on Friday morning, with Jennifer Whitney officially becoming the region’s new mayor, and Cr Peter Ramage being elected the deputy mayor.

Taking the oath of office for the second time were Jan Clifford, Peter Ramage and Dave Clark, who were all returned in their respective divisions, and freshmen Councillors Kevin  Collins, who ousted Rogin Taylor in Division 2, John ‘Sarge’ Collins, who succeeded Cr Whitney in Division 3, and Andrew Willcox, who has replaced former councillor Mark Gaudry in Division 6, who did not re-contest his seat.

If Cr Whitney was suffering from first meeting nerves, it certainly didn’t show as the long-term councillor and former local government employee confidently opened the meeting and proceeded through the agenda with ease.

The first hurdle emerged when Cr Whitney called for the adoption of a rotational system of electing the deputy mayor, suggesting that the Council reviews the position every 12 months and either elects or re-elects the deputy mayor.

Following a short discussion, in which several councillors sought clarification over Cr Whitney’s proposal, the position of deputy mayor was declared open, with councillors Clifford and Ramage emerging as the two contenders for the coveted role.

During the discussions Cr Willcox had indicated an interest in the role, but did not contest the position.

“If we don’t put our hand up today for deputy mayor, does that mean we can’t nominate in two or three years’ time?” he asked.

“No, not at all,” Cr Whitney responded. “As I said, the position will be reviewed every 12 months, and the process will begin anew each time.”

Councillor Clifford was nominated by Cr Kevin Collins, and seconded the nomination herself. Councillor Ramage was nominated by Cr Dave Clark, and seconded by Cr John Collins.

The mayor provided both candidates with an opportunity to make a pitch to their colleagues, with Cr Clifford claiming she was without baggage and Cr Ramage stating that he had the experience required to excel in the position.

“I am a product of the amalgamated Council, with not baggage from the former Whitsunday or Bowen shires,” Cr Clifford said. “I love the whole region, and while I love representing the people of Airlie Beach, I do not possess some myopic view that Airlie Beach is the centre of the world.”

“I have no small children that would take my away from Council,” she said. “I have a husband and a dog, who manage quite well without me.”

 “In fact, I think they quite like the arrangement,” she joked.

 “I have never missed a council meeting,” she said. “I am honest, reliable and hard-working and I work well with Jennifer.”

Councillor Ramage took a different approach, stressing his experience first on Bowen Shire Council and now on Whitsunday Regional Council.

 “My experience goes back 12 years,” he said. “I have been through the amalgamation process, I know how much Council has bled over this, and I know it has taken a long time to heal.”

 “This is my fourth term in local government, and I know I’m up for the job,” he said.

While Cr Clifford managed to gain Cr Kevin Collins’ vote, Cr Ramage, who enjoyed the support of Councillors John Collins, Dave Clark and Andrew Willcox, won the ballot.

This morning council meets in Bowen.