Paint collection numbers
At the 13 March council meeting it was reported that the Southern Downs Regional Council’s Paintback Program, implemented in December, had already made strides in the environmental stakes, with 1.5 tonnes of unwanted paint and paint packaging being diverted from landfill through the program.
Councillor Stephen Tancred said the first collection was a great outcome.
“We weren’t sure how this was going to work when we kicked it off six months ago, but the residents are obviously separating their paint. I notice that we’re going to be treating the leachate ourselves through our sewerage system, so it’s a great environmental outcome,” he said.
Boat ramp loos on the way
The long-awaited ablution block near the Leslie Dam boat ramp is a little closer to reality, with the design and construction contract awarded and building work now under way. The $327,000 project is expected to be completed before 30 June.
On the Granite Belt, $795,000 is being spent on similar projects. The new toilet blocks at Dalveen, McGregor Park and Brock Park in Stanthorpe should also be completed before the end of the financial year.
Timelines for projects
Work on the Stanthorpe Regional Art Gallery and Stanthorpe Library refurbishment project is planned to start again after Easter. The project has been on hold since the contractors went into administration.
The Warwick Saleyards project is moving ahead, with visible progress every day, according to Customer and Organisation Services Director Leon Love.
“And the Allora Hall works have commenced on that site. But yesterday we discovered a septic tank we didn’t know existed, so there will be some variations happening on that project as we address those issues,” he said.
Housing response
The Southern Downs Regional Council decided to make a submission regarding the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation proposal for the construction of social and affordable housing on land at 9 Law Road.
It was decided the submission, which had to be presented by 15 March, would cover the subjects of infrastructure servicing, building design, car parking, waste storage and collection, connectivity, flood hazard overlay and transport.
Tancred says sorry
In the last piece of business for the final statutory meeting of the Southern Downs Regional Council’s term, Councillor Stephen Tancred offered an apology for raising his voice and for speaking before being acknowledged by the chair during a council information session late last year.
He made three apologies.
“Mayor, I’d like to apologise to you, as chair, for speaking out of turn before being recognised,“ he said.
“Additionally, as this is the last meeting, I’d like to take the opportunity to apologise to my councillor colleagues and any staff who heard me speak out of turn, with a raised voice, and had any concerns with this,” he said.
“Thirdly, I’d like to direct words of apology to a member of the public who was present; I apologise unreservedly for unsuitable behaviour by violating the councillor code of conduct.”
Mayor Vic Pennisi said he was sure there were others on the day who had not spoken through the chair. He accepted Cr Tancred’s apology.
The matter had been referred to the Office of Independent Assessor.
