Third time’s a charm
It was the third time the proposed agreements for the sale of recycled water between the Southern Downs Regional Council and Stanthorpe irrigators had come before the council for approval.
But at the meeting on 17 July, councillors finally signed off on the agreements and approved contracts only being offered to current irrigators.
The proposed agreement had been presented at meetings where multiple amendments were suggested, drawing out the process over months.
This time the council passed the motion unanimously, citing the significant risk for council if it could not successfully dispose of the treated effluent.
As the Mayor said, “It’s good to have that one finally approved and not coming back again.”
Pound no longer open all hours
Impoundment boxes for dropping off animals at the council will only be open during the Southern Downs Regional Council’s business hours while the council undertakes a six-month trial of reduced hours.
Despite some concerns, Councillors unanimously endorsed the trial for the Warwick and Stanthorpe pounds to close after hours.
In a council officer’s report a number of issues were raised.
Reports had been received of people travelling from outside the region to drop animals at the pound as the SDRC was one of the few councils with impoundment boxes available all hours.
The boxes did not promote responsible pet ownership as they were used not just for strays but also to abandon animals, and rehoming the animals was more difficult because essential information was often lacking The welfare of the animals also had to be considered, the report said.
Cr Cynthia McDonald said while she would endorse the trial, she had concerns that there was a danger of animals being dumped instead of dropped off at the pound.
“It could backfire,” she said.
“I am concerned that we may find ourselves with more feral animals running around the streets.
Mayor Melissa Hamilton said her concerns centred around feral cats not being able to be dropped in after hours. She said staff had advised that of the 250 feral cats brought in last year, less than one-fifth were dropped off after hours.
She said the staff suggestions in relation to feral traps was to hire a council cat trap, which would allow the cat to remain in the trap overnight then it could be brought in during business hours.
