May 2024 e-newsletter

Changes ahead for Cooloola Recreation Area

There are less than four weeks for the community to have its say on how the Cooloola Recreation Area is managed.

More than 18 months after receiving the consultants’ reports the government released on Labour Day public holiday its draft management plan for the area.

It shows how the government proposes managing camping and visitors to the region.

Any changes will have a major impact on the economy of the Cooloola Coast including Rainbow Beach, Tin Can Bay and Cooloola Cove.

These townships will bear the brunt of any reduction to visitors to the area.

As the gateway to Fraser Island, the principal source of Rainbow Beach’s economic activity is based on cheap, low impact family-friendly camping and adventure-based eco-tourism, and day trippers accessing local businesses.

Written submission can be sent to:

Email: ParkManagementPlans@des.qld.gov.au

Post:

Planning Manager
Management and Operations | QPWS and Partnerships
Department of Environment, Science and Innovation
PO Box 15187
City East Qld 4002

Submissions close at 5pm on 4 June 2024.

Gympie commemorates ANZAC Day

This year’s commemorations of ANZAC day were a wonderful testament to the value that Gympie residents place on the service given by our defence personnel over so many years.  It was a powerful reminder of the value we place on one of the most significant commemorative days on our annual calendar.

Attendances at services right across the region were bursting with locals wanting to commemorate those who have fought to protect our way of life in Australia.

While it originated from the landings at Gallipoli 109 years ago, Anzac Day is our special opportunity to show respect and pride, to give thanks, and to never forget.

Gympie showed it didn’t forget.

Adrian, Veterans Support

63 years young for Gympie Quota Club

While progress and times keep changing, over the past 63 years the Gympie QUOTA Club has remained a constant and active part of Gympie’s proud history of volunteering and fundraising in our local community and surrounding districts.

I was pleased to be able to attend, with my wife Michele, the Gympie Quota’s changeover luncheon.

When it started in 1961, Gympie’s population was 11,094 people and the Channon Street Bridge (or Kidd Bridge as we know it) was opened.

The world has changed a lot since then.

Australia’s population was just over 10 and a half million and Sir Robert Menzies was in his 12th year as Prime Minister.

President Kennedy took over from Eisenhower, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to orbit the earth, construction started on the Berlin Wall, the golf ball typewriter was introduced, the first electric toothbrush was produced, and the UK applied for membership of the EEC.

Imbil fire station

Since the original purchase in 2014 our need for a new station has increased.

Everyone has watched the fencing go up around the site and I’ve again pressured the government to ensure that there is funding in the Budget so that construction will go ahead.

Around the House – in Parliament

Links to the most recent Parliamentary Questions and Speeches.

Questions on Notice

• Water for future growth
• Timeline of Tin Can Bay Road roundabout
• Loss of power in Curra
• Home schooling in Gympie
• Overtaking lanes on Tin Can Bay Road
• Great Sandy National Park draft new Management plan
• Business case, approvals and timeline for Borumba Pumped Hydro Scheme
• Bruce Highway upgrade from North of Curra to south of Tiaro
• Asbestos in Gympie schools
• Traffic counts on Kidd and Normanby bridges

Speeches

• Cognate debate on Energy (Renewable Transformation and Jobs) Bill and the Clean Economy Bill
• Committee report  Vaping – An Inquiry into reducing rates of e-cigarette use in Queensland
• Agriculture and Fisheries and Other Legislation Amendment Bill
• Private Members Statement – Fireants – page 1504
• Environmental Protection (Powers and Penalties) Bill – page 1542

Get Involved – Have your Say, Grants, Prizes, Surveys, Events and Reviews

• Cooloola Recreation Area management plan – the draft has been released. Any changes to reduce visitors to the region will have a major impact on the economy of the Cooloola Coast, and especially Rainbow Beach. The community has until 4 June to have its say. The Draft Management Plan is available here. The  Draft Resource Information document is available here. To provide feedback either go to the online survey here. Written submissions can be emailed to: ParkManagementPlans@des.qld.gov.au
• Cost of Living Inquiry Petition – State government costs must be part of any inquiry into our increasing costs of living.  They must be held to account for their role. Join our fight to expand to the Cost-of-Living Inquiry to put State Government costs under a microscope.
• SwimSmart Vouchers – Vouchers up to $150 for tots -0-4 years to learn to swim. Round 1 applications close 31 May.
• Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Grants (MEEG) – Qld based manufacturers looking to increase energy efficiency. Grants of $5,000 to $25,000. Round one closes 30 June 2024.
• Gambling Community Benefit Fund – grants up to $35,000 for community groups. Round 3 closes 30 November.
• School Student Broadband Initiative – Free NbN connection for school aged students. Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
• Young people at risk of homelessness – grants up to $5,000 for essential goods & services to assist moving into accommodation or work. Contact housing service.
• Telstra Footy Country Grants – Grants up to $20,000 for AFL Clubs. Round 3 closes 13 June.
• Business Disaster Preparedness program – assistance for businesses to prepare for disasters.
• Deny Bail Petition – support the Coomera community to fight the impacts of crime. Closes 18 August.
• Mental Health Commission Sponsorship Program – up to $10,000 for one-off events that contribute to improving mental health and wellbeing. Quarter 4 opens 1 May and closes 31 May.
• Agriculture Disaster Impact Survey – survey to assess effectiveness of disaster recovery assistance.
• Women and Change grant – $50,000 grant for a charity assisting disadvantaged Queenslanders. Note the grant is not limited to women. EOI opens 1 July.
• Queensland Government Grants finder
• Women and Leadership scholarships – $1,000 to $5,000 partial scholarships to undertake leadership courses. Apply by 14 June.
• Queensland Youth Week Digital Art competition – open ages 12 to 25. Prize Apple iPad and Apple Pencil. Closes 20 May.
• Mental Health Week – grants up to $2,000 for community organisations, charities, local councils, sports clubs, P &Cs, and workplaces to host mental health events in October. Applications close 17 May.
• Consultation on State Planning Framework – Have your say on proposed amendments to planning, regulations, and assessments – Feedback closes 21 May.
• Bike Riding Encouragement Program Community Grants – Grants up to $25,000 for community groups. Not-for-profit & for-profit organisations, and local council for projects which encourage bike riding. Applications for Round 2 closes 24 May.

HAVE YOUR SAY ON BILLS BEFORE THE PARLIAMENT

• Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Bill – changes relating to psychiatric or psychological injury, mandatory standards, rehabilitation, return to work, scrutiny of insurers, providers, default payments, deemed disease for firefighters, compliance notices, information and coverage of gig workers, bailee taxi, and limousine drivers. Submissions close 13 May. Report due 7 June.
• Queensland Community Safety Bill – changes regarding youth crime and detention, firearms, knives, protection orders, penalties. Submissions close 16 May. Report due 14 June.
• Cheaper Power (supplementary Appropriation) Bill – electricity rebate for 2024-2025. Submissions close 8 May. Report due 17 May.
• Help to Buy (Commonwealth Powers) Bill – Transfer powers to the Commonwealth to enable the Federal government’s Help to Buy Bill to meet constitutional requirements. Submission close 20 May. Report due 7 June.
• Termination of Pregnancy (Live Births) Bill – to provide the same level of medical care and attention to babies born during an abortion as is currently available to other babies. KAP Bill. Submissions close 13 May. Report due 20 September.
• Criminal Code (Defence of Dwellings and Other Premises – Castle Law) Bill – lawfully responding to a home invasion which may cause grievous bodily harm or death. KAP Bill. Submission close 2 July. Report due 1 November.
• Mount Isa Mines Limited Agreement (Continuing Mining Activities) Bill – KAP Bill. Report due 1 November. Watch out for when it is listed.

Bills waiting to be reported on

• Economic Development Bill – enable Economic Development Queensland to deliver social, affordable, diverse housing. Report due 10 May.
• Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Bill – changes regarding bonds, entry notice periods, fees and charges, allowable changes to the property, annual rent increases. Report due 10 May.
• Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Bill – changes regarding transparency, meeting community expectations, and sustainability for residential park and homeowners. Report due 10 May.
• Police Powers and Responsibilities Bill – amending gendered language in legislation. Report due 10 May.
• Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games Arrangements Bill – To establish and Olympic Games and venue delivery authority. Report due 17 May.
• State Financial Institutions and Metway Merger Bill – conditions regarding the head office, staffing and reporting requirements after the merger of Suncorp and ANZ.  Report due 31 May.
• Minerals and Energy Resources Bill – changes regarding land access, issues regarding coal seam gas including impacts, assessments, monitoring, and rebrand Gasfields Commission to Coexistence Queensland. Report due 7 June.
• Resources Safety and Health Legislation Bill – competency requirements, information sharing, notifications, worker protection, court orders and enforcement proceeding regarding worker safety in mines.  Report due 7 June.
• Planning and other Legislation (Make Developers Pay) Amendment Bill – give local governments flexibility to charge developers for trunk infrastructure according to the cost of delivering that infrastructure. Greens Bill. Report due 15 May.