Business
Paper
General Meeting
Wednesday 26 February 2014
Roma Administration Centre
NOTICE
OF MEETING
Date:
25 February 2014
Mayor: Councillor
R S Loughnan
Deputy Mayor: Councillor
W S Wason
Councillors: Councillor
J L Chambers
Councillor
R J Denton
Councillor
P J Flynn
Councillor
W M Newman
Councillor
C J O’Neil
Councillor
M L Price
Councillor
D J Schefe
Acting Chief Executive Officer: Mr
Michael Parker
Senior Management: Mr
Cameron Castles (Director Infrastructure Services)
Mr
Rob Hayward (Director Development, Facilities & Environmental Services)
Ms
Sharon Frank (Director Corporate, Community & Commercial)
Officers: Ms
Jane Frith (Coordinator Corporate Communications)
Please find attached agenda for the General Meeting to be held at the Roma Administration Centre on February 26, 2014 at
9.00am.
Michael Parker
Acting Chief Executive
Officer
Maranoa
Regional Council
General Meeting - 26 February 2014
TABLE OF CONTENTS
L Late Items
L.1 Wallumbilla
Showgrounds - Camping/Hire/Use of Facility...................... 2
Prepared by: Fiona
Vincent, Coordinator - Sport & Recreation
L.2 Roma
Southern Road - Upgrade.................................................................... 4
Prepared by: Kylie
Fleischfresser, Specialist - Infrastructure Planning
L.3 Great
Artesian Basin Sustainability Project................................................. 6
Prepared by: Cameron
O'Neil, Councillor
Attachment : Work
to date & outstanding Surat & Easter - Recharge Zones 9
L.4 Regional
Waste Committee - Litter & Illegal Dumping Pilot Project.... 14
Prepared by: Margaret
Milla, Coordinator - Waste
Attachment : QMDC
& EHP - Littering & Illegal Dumping Pilot Project Draft Proposal................................................................................... 17
Maranoa
Regional Council
General Meeting - 26 February 2014
Officer
Report
|
Meeting: General 26 February
2014
|
Date: 10 February 2014
|
|
Item Number: L.1
|
File
Number: D14/7916
|
Subject
Heading: Wallumbilla Showgrounds -
Camping/Hire/Use of Facility
Classification: Open
Access
Name of Applicant:
Location:
Author & Officer’s Title: Fiona Vincent, Coordinator - Sport &
Recreation
|
Executive Summary:
As the redevelopment work at Wallumbilla
Showgrounds nears completion of Stages 1 and 2, governance details on the
site require due consideration by Council. These include items related to a
camping fee structure and collection of fees so campers, short term and
travelling, can be reintroduced to this area on 1 March 2014 in time for
commencement of the 2014 tourist season.
|
|
Officer’s Recommendation:
That Council consider and endorse the following to allow
camping to be reintroduced to the Wallumbilla Showgrounds:
· Set camping fees at $20/night –
powered site and $10/night – unpowered site
· Make appropriate arrangements in
regard to daily collection of fees and cleaning of the facilities
|
Body of
Report:
The redevelopment of the Wallumbilla
Showgrounds area has reached the stage where all ground works for Stages 1 and
2 are completed and governance and daily management processes need to be
considered so the site can be open for hire and camping. This is timely so the
area is operational for the beginning of the 2014 tourist season and for
community hire of the facilities for private and community functions.
Due to Council’s considerable distribution
of budgetary funds to this area over two years, cost recovery and allocation
of collected fees to this site would allow progression of Stages 3 and 4 of the
proposed redevelopment.
Areas for consideration:
· Camping fee
structure of $20/night for powered site and $10/night for unpowered site, to be
considered after viewing like camping areas within the region.
Mitchell
Caravan Park $30/night powered
$20/night
powered
Roma
Villa Caravan Park $33/night (only powered sites)
Bassett
Park $29/night powered
$12/night
unpowered
Big
Rig Tourist Park $33/night powered
$30/night
unpowered
Injune
– Possum Park $15/night powered
Surat Free,
unpowered only
· Collection of
the fees.
1. After meeting with Wallumbilla residents and members
of the user groups at the Wallumbilla Showgrounds at the recent Wallumbilla
Town Improvement Group (WTIG) meeting on Thursday 20 February, members of the
two not for profit groups, WTIG and Calico Cottage displayed no interest to
collect the camping fees or clean the facility when the site is reopened. All
agreed this was a responsibility of Council.
2. Consider making an offer to current Wallumbilla Pool
lessees, Darren and Kerian Thrupp to daily collect the camping fees and clean
the facilities, as this complements down time after the end of the swimming
season at Easter.
Consultation
(internal/external):
Robert Hayward - Director, Development,
Facilities and Environment
Tanya Mansfield – Manager, Facilities
Amanda Schneekloth – Council Buildings and
Structures
Ed Sims – Manager, Economic and Community
Development
Emily Rogers – Local Sport and Recreation
Officer
Wallumbilla Showgrounds sporting group
executive and members
Wallumbilla Town Improvement Group
executive and members
Council staff – water and sewerage, parks
and gardens, infrastructure
Risk
Assessment (Legal, Financial, Political etc.):
<provide risk details or state 'Nil'>
Policy
Implications:
<provide detail or state 'Nil'>
Financial
Resource Implications:
<provide detail and dollar value>
Link to Corporate Plan:
Corporate Plan 2009-2013 —
8.4.1(a) To proactively identify and encourage actions which facilitate the
sustainable development of the regional economy.
Supporting Documentation:
Nil
Report authorised by:
Edward Sims, Manager - Economic & Community Development
Maranoa Regional Council
General Meeting - 26 February 2014
Officer
Report
|
Meeting: General 26 February
2014
|
Date: 13 February 2014
|
|
Item Number: L.2
|
File
Number: D14/8769
|
Subject
Heading: Roma Southern Road - Upgrade
Classification: Open
Access
Name of Applicant:
Location:
Author & Officer’s Title: Kylie Fleischfresser, Specialist -
Infrastructure Planning
|
Executive Summary:
Maranoa has recently been advised that the LRRS Roma
Southern Road project: investigation and design of upgrade is ineligible for
TIDS funding. Therefore amendments to the recently endorsed LRRS work program
and budget are proposed.
|
|
Officer’s
Recommendation:
That:
1. $240,000.00
in current budget be allocated towards design costs for Roma Southern Road
(Duke St South) from Warrego Highway to Geoghegan Road.
That:
2. The
LRRS Works Program be amended to remove Roma Southern Road upgrade design and
investigation project ($250,000.00) and the Wallumbilla North Road widen and
seal project ($250,000.00) be included.
|
Body of
Report:
At the
meeting of 22 January 2014 Council resolved to endorse the LRRS work program (Resolution
No. GM/01.2014/07). This program included a $250,000.00 project to fund a
design of Roma Southern Road from Warrego Highway to Geoghegan Road. Council
has since received advice that stand alone design projects are not eligible for
TIDS funding.
The current budget includes $240,000.00 funding
for a drainage project on this road from Warrego Highway to Corfe Road. As
full design is required prior to this project commencing it is proposed to
allocate funding towards the investigation and design costs of the upgrade.
The completion of a full design (and
costing schedule) will also provide documentation to support submissions for
future rounds of Royalties for Regions funding.
The TIDS funding proposed for the design
project was originally allocated to the widen and seal project on Wallumbilla
North Road, chainage 21.00 – 22.20km and it is recommended that this project go
back on the LRRS work program.
Consultation
(internal/external):
South West Regional Road and Transport
Group Technical Committee – Gary Cook
Risk
Assessment (Legal, Financial, Political etc.):
Nil
Policy
Implications:
Nil
Financial
Resource Implications:
Nil
Link to Corporate Plan:
Corporate Plan 2009-2013 —
8.5.1(a) To provide professional and technical engineering advice and support
for Council in an effective and timely
manner.
Supporting Documentation:
Nil.
Report authorised by:
Kym Downey, Manager - Infrastructure Planning & Design
Cameron Castles, Director - Infrastructure Services
Maranoa Regional Council
General Meeting - 26 February 2014
Councillor
Report
|
Meeting: General 26 February
2014
|
Date: 19 February 2014
|
|
Item Number: L.3
|
File
Number: D14/10416
|
SUBJECT HEADING: Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Project
Classification: Open Access
Author &
Councillor’s Title: Cr Cameron O'Neil
|
Councillor’s Recommendation:
That Council:
1. Implore the Commonwealth Government to extend the Great Artesian Sustainability Initiative (GABSI) post
June 30th 2014 for at least two years (with funding allocated to
the partnerships with the State Governments) and a further commitment to
develop, fund and implement an additional 5 year partnership program.
2. Write to the Commonwealth Minister
for Environment, Parliamentary Secretary for Water, Deputy Prime Minister,
Minister for Agriculture, local members & Queensland Senators indicating
our support for this initiative to continue.
|
Background:
The Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative (GABSI)
was first established in 1999 under the Howard Government and governments of
all parties both at the state and federal level have provided ongoing financial
support. The latest GABSI phase is scheduled to conclude in June 2014 with the
former Gillard/Rudd Government determining a finishing date of June 30th.
At the conclusion $140 million will have been allocated from the Commonwealth
in its 15 year partnership with the Queensland, New South Wales and South
Australian State Governments.
The Abbott/Truss Government is yet to make a determination
on whether they wish to invest or not in this unique yet fundamental program to
the sustainability of Australia’s natural wonder the Great Artesian Basin, but
time is running thin.
GABSI fast tracks much needed repair work on the
uncontrolled artesian bores along with the replacement of open earth bore
drains with piped water reticulation systems, making wasteful use of GAB water
history. Refer to supporting documentation that illustrates the work that has
been completed and yet to be completed works across the Surat and eastern
regions of the GABSI.
The Maranoa Region relies on the Great Artesian Basin for
our potable water in all our towns and on the majority of rural properties for
domestic and stock use. Due to the importance and reliance that we place on the
GAB it is imperative that we support the continuation of initiatives like
GABSI, that work towards securing a future for the much needed natural asset.
GABSI Zones
Consultation:
Mayor Robert Loughnan
Great Artesian Basin Advisory Council
Policy
Implications:
Financial
Resource Implications:
N/A
Supporting
Documentation:
|
1View
|
Work to date & outstanding Surat
& Easter - Recharge Zones
|
d14/12341
|
|
Attachment 1
|
Work to date & outstanding Surat & Easter -
Recharge Zones
|
Work
to date and outstanding in the Surat and Easter-recharge zones
|
NUMBER OF
BORES REHABILITATED
|
|
|
|
|
ZONE
|
Eastern
|
Surat
|
TOTAL QLD
|
|
Bores
rehabilitated 1989 to 1999 (Pre GABSI)
|
3
|
12
|
312
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
99/00
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 1
|
|
4
|
40
|
|
00/01
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 2
|
|
|
17
|
|
01/02
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 3
|
|
1
|
15
|
|
02/03
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 4
|
|
3
|
36
|
|
03/04
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 5
|
|
5
|
31
|
|
04/05
GABSI Stage 1 Carryover
|
|
2
|
12
|
|
Bores rehabilitated
under GABSI Stage 1
|
|
15
|
151
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
04/05 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 1
|
|
|
8
|
|
05/06 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 2
|
|
1
|
14
|
|
06/07 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 3
|
|
4
|
28
|
|
07/08 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 4
|
|
3
|
19
|
|
08/09 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 5
|
|
3
|
21
|
|
Bores rehabilitated
under GABSI Stage 2
|
|
11
|
90
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/10 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 1
|
|
1
|
20
|
|
10/11 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 2
|
|
|
27
|
|
11/12 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 3
|
|
2
|
22
|
|
12/13 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 4
|
|
1
|
26
|
|
13/14
|
|
2
|
26
|
|
Bores rehabilitated
under GABSI Stage 3
|
|
6
|
121
|
|
Total bores
rehabilitated all Programs
|
3
|
44
|
674
|
|
Work to do
|
1
|
10
|
185+
|
|
% to do
|
25%
|
18%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NUMBER BORE
PIPED
|
|
|
|
|
ZONE
|
Eastern
|
Surat
|
TOTAL QLD
|
|
Bores piped 1994 to 2001
(excluding GABSI)
|
|
2
|
66
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
00/01
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 2
|
|
|
13
|
|
01/02
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 3
|
|
6
|
26
|
|
02/03
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 4
|
|
2
|
26
|
|
03/04
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 5
|
|
6
|
48
|
|
04/05
GABSI Stage 1 Carryover
|
|
5
|
7
|
|
Bores piped under GABSI
Stage 1
|
|
19
|
120
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
04/05 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 1
|
|
|
11
|
|
05/06 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 2
|
|
4
|
23
|
|
06/07 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 3
|
|
5
|
27
|
|
07/08 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 4
|
|
3
|
15
|
|
08/09 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 5
|
|
4
|
18
|
|
Bores piped under GABSI
Stage 2
|
|
16
|
94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/10 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 1
|
|
4
|
13
|
|
10/11 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 2
|
|
3
|
15
|
|
11/12 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 3
|
|
1
|
19
|
|
12/13 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 4
|
|
|
20
|
|
13/14
|
|
3
|
37
|
|
Bores piped under GABSI
Stage 3
|
|
8
|
104
|
|
Total bores piped all
Programs
|
|
48
|
384
|
Work to do
|
2
|
5
|
215
|
|
% to do
|
100%
|
9%
|
|
18%
|
|
|
|
|
KILOMETRES OF
BORE DRAINS REPLACED
|
|
|
|
|
ZONE
|
Eastern
|
Surat
|
TOTAL QLD
|
|
Total kms of drains
replaced 1994 to 2001 (excluding GABSI)
|
|
63
|
1843
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
00/01
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 2
|
|
|
529
|
|
01/02
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 3
|
|
465
|
1156
|
|
02/03
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 4
|
|
162
|
606
|
|
03/04
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 5
|
|
514
|
1378
|
|
04/05
GABSI Stage 1 Carryover
|
|
976
|
1105
|
|
Total kms of drains
replaced under GABSI Stage 1
|
|
2117
|
4774
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
04/05 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 1
|
|
|
174
|
|
05/06 GABSI Stage 2 Yr2
|
|
412
|
900
|
|
06/07 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 3
|
|
596
|
1234
|
|
07/08 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 4
|
|
436
|
920
|
|
08/09 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 5
|
|
515
|
985
|
|
Total kms of drains
replaced under GABSI Stage 2
|
|
1959
|
4211
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/10 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 1
|
|
215
|
492
|
|
10/11 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 2
|
|
141
|
498
|
|
11/12 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 3
|
|
80
|
488
|
|
12/13 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 4
|
|
|
377
|
|
13/14
|
|
237
|
1371
|
|
Total klms of drains
replaced under GABSI Stage 3
|
|
673
|
3225
|
|
Total kms of drains
replaced all Programs
|
|
4812
|
14053
|
|
Work to do
|
37
|
155
|
5,540
|
|
% to do
|
100%
|
3%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LENGTH OF PIPE
INSTALLED
|
|
|
|
|
ZONE
|
Eastern
|
Surat
|
TOTAL QLD
|
|
Klms. of pipe installed
(excluding GABSI)
|
|
74
|
2698
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
00/01
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 2
|
|
|
618
|
|
01/02
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 3
|
|
581
|
1452
|
|
02/03
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 4
|
|
312
|
948
|
|
03/04
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 5
|
|
897
|
1979
|
|
04/05
GABSI Stage 1 Carryover
|
|
1212
|
1401
|
|
Total length of pipe
installed under GABSI Stage 1
|
|
3002
|
6398
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
04/05 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 1
|
|
|
260
|
|
05/06 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 2
|
|
484
|
1191
|
|
06/07 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 3
|
|
823
|
1689
|
|
07/08 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 4
|
|
475
|
1352
|
|
08/09 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 5
|
|
|
0
|
|
Total length of pipe
installed under GABSI Stage 2
|
|
1782
|
4491
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/10 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 1
|
|
373
|
767
|
|
10/11 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 2
|
|
204
|
686
|
|
11/12 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 3
|
|
132
|
731
|
|
12/13 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 4
|
|
|
473
|
|
13/14
|
|
tba
|
tba
|
|
Total length of pipe
installed under GABSI Stage 3
|
|
709
|
2656+
|
|
Total length of pipe
installed all Programs
|
|
4858
|
13587+
|
|
|
|
|
|
WATER SAVED
(ML/a)
|
|
|
|
|
ZONE
|
Eastern
|
Surat
|
TOTAL QLD
|
|
Total water saved 1989 -
2001 (Pre GABSI)
|
548
|
1738
|
69175
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
99/00
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 1
|
|
241
|
3401
|
|
00/01
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 2
|
|
|
7507
|
|
01/02
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 3
|
|
3223
|
10671
|
|
02/03
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 4
|
|
1564
|
10984
|
|
03/04
GABSI Stage 1 Yr 5
|
|
3096
|
16174
|
|
04/05
GABSI Stage 1 Carryover
|
|
2648
|
4989
|
|
Total water saved under
GABSI Stage 1
|
|
10772
|
53725
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
04/05 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 1
|
|
|
2584
|
|
05/06 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 2
|
|
2414
|
6577
|
|
06/07 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 3
|
|
1906
|
13305
|
|
07/08 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 4
|
|
1968
|
9393
|
|
08/09 GABSI Stage 2 Yr 5
|
|
2927
|
8801
|
|
Total water saved under
GABSI Stage 2
|
|
9215
|
40661
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/10 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 1
|
|
1022
|
5861
|
|
10/11 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 2
|
|
497
|
5126
|
|
11/12 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 3
|
|
421
|
3548
|
|
12/13 GABSI Stage 3 Yr 4
|
|
50
|
6939
|
|
13/14
|
|
738
|
14433
|
|
Total water saved under
GABSI Stage 3
|
|
2729
|
35907
|
|
TOTAL
water saved all programs
|
548
|
24,452
|
199468
|
|
Work
to do
|
423
|
2,318
|
76,038
|
|
%
to do
|
43%
|
8%
|
|
Maranoa
Regional Council
General Meeting - 26 February 2014
Officer
Report
|
Meeting: General 26 February
2014
|
Date: 25 February 2014
|
|
Item Number: L.4
|
File
Number: D14/12709
|
Subject
Heading: Regional Waste Committee - Litter &
Illegal Dumping Pilot Project
Classification: Open
Access
Name of Applicant: N/A
Location: Regional
Author & Officer’s Title: Margaret Milla, Coordinator - Waste
|
Executive Summary:
Queensland Murray Darling
Committee (QMDC) and six local Governments (Balonne, Maranoa, Southern Downs,
Western Downs, Goondiwindi and Toowoomba Regional Councils) have recently
formed the Regional Waste Committee (RWC) with the aim of collectively
addressing waste issues across the region.
QMDC are proposing that the six
local governments participate in a pilot project with the Department of
Environment and Heritage Protection. The projects seeks to address littering
and illegal dumping along the major highways within the six local government
areas and would be managed by QMDC on behalf of the RWC.
|
|
Officer’s
Recommendation:
That Council provide a letter
to QMDC offering to support :
· The provision of in kind resources of signage and barricades for
road side clean ups, for up to two highway locations in the Maranoa region;
· A commitment to provide a report in relation to litterers
identified through the camera surveillance component of the project.
|
Body of
Report:
In late 2013,
the Queensland Murray Darling Committee and six local governments including
Balonne, Maranoa, Goondiwindi, Western Downs and Toowoomba Regional Councils
formed the Regional Waste Committee (RWC). The purpose of the RWC is to
collectively work on various waste issues to ensure regional and cost effective
practices are addressed.
QMDC together
with Qld Government’s Department of Environment and Heritage Protection have
worked on a project proposal to address littering issues along major highways.
The draft project proposal includes the following components:
1. Installation of surveillance cameras
at littering hotspots and subsequent compliance by Councils
2. Market research to help understand
community attitudes towards littering
3. Litter Audit of six sites as a
benchmark and basis for future monitoring
4. Community roadside clean up
5. Development and delivery of an
education/awareness campaign across the six local government areas
The State
Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection would like to make an
announcement regarding the project partnership with DEHP, QMDC and the six
local governments of the RWC on Saturday 1 March in conjunction with Clean Up
Australia Day activities across this coming weekend.
In order for
Minister Powell to make this announcement, QMDC and DEHP are seeking an in
principle agreement from the six Councils on the project for:
· Provision of in kind resources of signage and barricades for road
side clean ups, for one or two highway locations in each Council region;
· A commitment to provide a report in relation to litterers identified
through the camera surveillance component of the project.
To date there
has not been any discussion regarding financial or resource commitments from
Councils and given the tight timeframes proposed by QMDC and DEHP it is not
possible to have these discussions prior to providing a commitment from Council.
At this stage,
it is recommended that Council provide a letter offering to support the in-kind
services and provide a report on the outcomes of the camera surveillance in
support of the proposal.
Consultation
(internal/external):
Risk
Assessment (Legal, Financial, Political etc.):
No financial commitments at this stage
Policy
Implications:
Nil
Financial
Resource Implications:
Provision of signage and barricades for
road side clean ups only
Link to Corporate Plan:
Corporate Plan 2009-2013 —
8.3.3(a) To undertake Council’s regulatory function in relation to the
administration of Environmental Health legislation and associated regulations
in a consistent and responsible manner in the interests of maintaining
community standards and wellbeing.
Supporting Documentation:
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1View
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QMDC & EHP - Littering & Illegal Dumping Pilot
Project Draft Proposal
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D14/12711
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Report authorised by:
Sandra Crosby, Manager - Environmental Health, Compliance
& Waste
Robert Hayward, Director - Development, Facilities &
Environmental Services
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Attachment 1
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QMDC & EHP - Littering & Illegal Dumping
Pilot Project Draft Proposal
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Regional
Waste Committee - Litter and Illegal Dumping pilot project
Project Overview
Illegal dumping and littering is a
growing and ongoing environmental problem within the Queensland Murray Darling
Basin (QMDB). Community groups and individuals are increasingly identifying
the presence of rubbish as an issue, particularly throughout the network of
highways across the region. The increase in the transient population along
with the increase in traffic along these stretches of road has resulted in
significant deterioration in the state of the roadsides.
The most visible areas of illegal
dumping and littering across the region appear to be on highways which are
shared by multiple local governments. Long term solutions require coordination
across multiple local governments.
Littering and illegal dumping
behaviour is a common issue across the region’s local government areas and is
not particular to any one local council area. Some of the key organisations or
sectors of the community or business that are the source of littering are also
spread across the region or contributed to by the transient community. This is
not easily solved by one council working alone.
There are efficiencies in undertaking
waste audit data collections, surveillance and market research in a
coordinated, collaborative approach rather that individual local governments
designing their own systems.
Queensland Murray-Darling Committee
(QMDC) and 6 local Governments (Balonne Shire Council, Maranoa Regional
Council, Southern Downs Regional Council, Western Downs Regional Council,
Goondiwindi Regional Council and Toowoomba Regional Council) have formed the
Regional Waste Committee (RWC). The RWC was formed with the achievable vision
of collectively working on various waste issues to ensure regional and cost
effective practices are addressed.
A significant outcome of the first
RWC meeting held in Dalby in December 2013 was that a joint project be
developed to address littering across the region. The joint project managed by
QMDC on behalf of the six councils would be a pilot project with the Queensland
Government’s Environmental Protection and Heritage Department.
This project will improve the
compliance to littering laws, improve the community’s awareness and
understanding of these laws and improve the environment and amenities of our
major transport routes across the region.
QMDC will manage the project in
partnership with the local governments within the region and local community
groups.
This project will:
· improve the compliance to littering
laws,
· improve the community’s awareness and
understanding of these laws
· improve the environment and amenities
of our major transport routes across the region.
Project components
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Project Component
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Budget
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1. Compliance – installation of surveillance
cameras, analysing the data, and forwarding to local councils for follow up
on breaches to laws ( includes cameras, installation, monitoring, reporting
over a 3 month period at 6 hotspot sites , subject to individual councils
application to current grant funding).
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28,300
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2. Market research will be undertaken to help
understand community attitudes towards littering and assist in developing
further strategies.
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To be supported through a
state level project
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3. Litter Audit to be undertaken at 6 sites as a
benchmark and basis for future monitoring.
· Initial highway assessment – conduct transect
assessments of the 6 main highways within the region (New England, Gore,
Warrego, Leichardt, Carnarvon and Moonie Highways)
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3,000
40,500
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4. Road Side Clean up – this component will
comprise the undertaking of a community clean-up of selected highway sites
across the QMDB (identifying hotspots, permits, planning, communications,
undertaking 6 clean-up activities), identified sites will be a collaboration
of QMDC, local government and Department of Transport and Main roads ensuring
additional areas are included.
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18,200
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Phase 1 total
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$90,000
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5. Development and delivery of an
education/awareness campaign (using social media, signage, print media …)
targeting the community across 6 local government areas (Goondiwindi Regional
Council, Maranoa Regional Council, Toowoomba Regional Council, Western Downs
Regional Council, Southern Downs Regional Council, Balonne Shire Council)
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To be determined
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Project Activity Details
Project Component 1 - Compliance
Compliance and enforcement are
integral tools in littering and illegal dumping management. One of the barriers
to compliance being an effective tool is the need to install equipment and the
need to have dedicated personnel to analyse data. This project component will
demonstrate the value and role of proactive compliance on litter reduction by
procuring and installing surveillance equipment and the installation of this
equipment in strategic positions, analysing the data and forwarding the
information to the relevant authority for follow up action.
In particular this project will:
· Install surveillance cameras in 6
hotspot sites
· Analyse surveillance camera data over
a 3 month period and provide reports to relevant authority for follow up
actions
These actions align with the
Queensland Litter and Illegal Dumping Action Plan (in particular with action R5
and R6)
This project component will result
in:
· Increased numbers of prosecutions for
illegal dumping and littering
· Increased community knowledge of
litter and illegal dumping laws
Note: Availability and offer of
surveillance camera’s is subject to individuals councils application under DEHP
current grant round for surveillance cameras.
Project Component 2 – Market
Research
Market research will be undertaken to
help understand community attitudes towards littering and assist in developing
further strategies. Understanding the many underlying motivations and barriers
leading to the unwanted behaviours is a key to effectively combatting the
issue.
Specifically, this project will:
· Conduct market research that will
build knowledge about the behaviours associated with litter and illegal
dumping.
· Develop a target market analysis to
better understand the sectors of the community most contributing to illegal
dumping and littering
This information will be made
available to the Queensland Government. These actions align with the
Queensland Litter and Illegal Dumping Action Plan (in particular with action D3
and D4).
This project component will
result in:
· Building better understanding of, and
deliver methods to better manage litter and illegal dumping
Project Component 3 – Litter Audit
A Litter Audit to be
undertaken at 6 sites as a benchmark and basis for future monitoring in
accordance to the National Litter audit methodologies.
In addition, a Highway
assessment will be conducted via regular transect assessments of the 6 main
highways within the region (New England, Gore, Warrego, Leichardt, Carnarvon
and Moonie Highways) at each major town centre.
In particular this project
will:
· Identify hotspots for littering and
illegal dumping across the region through litter audits (in alignment to the
methodology of the National Litter Index)
· Defined sites 1 km, 5 km, 20km from each town
· 200m long, 10m wide
· The audit will use the National litter index methodology
· This audit will inform the location
of the surveillance cameras outlined in Project Component 1
· The information from the audits will
be recorded in a database and will be made available to the Queensland
Government
This project component will result
in:
· Providing information to the national
litter index
· Identify hotspots to target with
additional clean-up activities
· Identify a potential site for the
truck stop improvements
· Enter information into a database whose
information is available to the Queensland Government for informing future
actions
Project Component 4 – Roadside
Clean-up
This component will be informed by
the litter and illegal dumping roadside/highway audits and will comprise the
undertaking of a community clean-up of selected highway sites across the QMDB.
This project component comprises these activities:
· Identify specific sites (in
conjunction with project partners, Dept Main Roads and community groups, local
governments and informed by the litter audits and highway assessments)
· Sites identified will be in addition
to local government and Department of Transport and Main roads responsible
sites.
· Develop procedures and processes for
volunteer management and work place health and safety including site risk
assessments
· Develop communications/promotion
activities for each site
· Purchase equipment and resources
required
· Conduct 6 roadside clean-up
activities 1000m2 at each site (conducted in association with
partner organisations and waste is to be recycled where possible)
· Publicise the results of each clean
up
· Report to local community groups, local
governments
This project component will result
in:
· 6 roadside clean-up activities
involving project partners, other key organisations, community volunteers,
· Improved community knowledge and
understanding of littering and illegal dumping and legislation surrounding this
Project Component 5–
Education/Awareness Campaign
This project component aims to drive
behavioural change through awareness raising, sharing information and
communicating to a wide audience about littering and illegal dumping. The
project will undertake this through addressing the social aspects of illegal
littering and dumping to empower the community to respond to littering and
illegal dumping, provide consistent messages across the region to reduce
confusion yet be locally relevant. This project component will address recent
findings in research undertaken on behalf of the Beverage Industry Environment
Council.
The Educational component will
develop:
· 1 x Communications plan
· Social marketing campaign
· Signage for roadside clean-ups/truck
stops
· Print and radio media
· Collaboration with transient
industries across the region to better inform staff
These activities align with
Queensland’s Litter and Illegal Dumping Action Plan on page 13 (Action E1, E2,
E3).
This project component will result in
1. Increase in number of reports of
littering and illegal dumping from community members
2. Increased understanding of
littering and illegal dumping laws across the region
3. Decrease in levels of littering
and illegal dumping activities
