Policies

Professional and accountable financial assessment and management will underpin and provide the basis for all Council operations, including:

• Benchmarking against current Local Government best practice for all costs and services, to ensure optimal functioning and minimum costs for ratepayers
  
• Designing fair and equitable differential rating policies, consistently applied across the whole Region, phased in over time and, if practicable, achieved during the first term
  
• Keeping rates down by maximising the State Government Amalgamation Assistance Package and by improved efficiencies
  
• Fighting for adequate compensation from the State Government for the very serious error made by State Treasury in wrongly viewing $23.5m of one-off Cyclone Larry payments as being recurrent funding to the region
  
  

Planning

A consistent planning code will be introduced across the Shire, developed in consultation with the community, allowing for appropriate, phased, sustainable development, including:

• Releasing land for considered, sustainable growth, based on forward population projections, not ad hoc approvals
  
• Re-assessment of sub divisional codes, for example road widths in new subdivisions, to ensure adequate access, parking and safety for residents
  
• Ensuring development risks are the responsibility of the developer, and that cost over runs for development infrastructure are not borne by the ratepayer
  
• Expecting appropriate developer contributions
  
• Protecting our unique Wet Tropics environment, with development to be appropriate to our Region and its irreplaceable World Heritage surroundings
  
  

Governance

The emphasis and expectation will be for proper procedures and efficiency, including:

• Strictly applying the Councillor Code of Conduct for Local Government, currently being upgraded by the Queensland State Government, to ensure efficient, proper functioning of Council, with expectations of respectful behaviour and a good work ethic
  
• Providing strong chairmanship to lift the standards of governance and debate in Council meetings
  
• Ensuring that Council and councillors actively participate in providing strategy and broad policy directions
  
• Expecting all department heads to be accountable for the services delivered by their departments
  
  

Infrastructure and Development of Facilities

The development of facilities will be well planned, and guidelines will be set up for future project tendering. As Mayor I will take responsibility for all Council’s major projects.

Infrastructure works will be prioritised and delivered before crisis point is reached, accounting for future growth needs, including:

• Timely upgrading of services in consultation with senior staff, including plans for Innisfail’s future sewerage and water needs and Cardwell township’s sewerage
  
• Examining residential urban areas in relation to channel and kerbing, prioritising to address backlogs, and ensuring all future subdivisions include an appropriate developer service contribution
  
• Addressing the critical shortage of industrial land
  
• Reviewing the plans and budget for the proposed Multi Purpose Centre (Tully Hall) at Tully High School
  
• Reviewing and updating the existing feasibility studies for the proposed Mission Beach Pool
  
• Overseeing the Bruce Highway upgrade, with the expectation that it is completed as planned, to budget and on time
  
  

Conservation

We must act with awareness of the need to protect our Wet Tropics environment and its unique biodiversity, recognising both the intrinsic and economic value of our environment, including:

• Working in conjunction with a conservation strategy based on the FNQ 2025 vision – the Queensland Government’s regional statutory planning process
  
• Reviewing of current regulations regarding threatened species
  
• Developing an energy and resource conservation strategy for the region
  
• Ensuring wherever possible the council’s vehicle fleet use ethanol and bio-diesel fuels
  
• Introducing a user friendly recycling program across the Shire
  
• Assisting applications for solar power and water wise rebates.
  
  

Industry / Agriculture / Tourism

Council can assist the survival and sustainability of our vital industries, by:

• Maintaining local government’s awareness of the serious issues facing our region’s agricultural industries and seeking positive, sustainable solutions
  
• Facilitating the uptake of industry best practices, in co-operation with industry bodies
  
• Fostering economic development throughout the region by encouraging new industries, technologies and initiatives
  
• Working with tourism operators and small businesses to ensure Council consistently assists and supports survival and growth in these sectors
  
• Improving co-ordination of regional tourism bodies and Visitor Information Centres within the Shire, to gain the best possible exposure for our unique attractions. For example maximising the opportunities that will arise from the completion of the Ma Mu Canopy Walk.
  
• Reviewing and improving facilities available for visitors
  
  

Community Services

The new Council needs to value and upgrade its Community Services, recognising that local government today goes beyond the 3 r’s (rates, rubbish and roads) and rightly includes well being and quality of life issues, including:

• Improving medical services, particularly in the smaller population centres, by lobbying State Government and advertising the benefits of practising here
  
• Promoting a new social unity for our amalgamated Shire, while preserving and valuing the differences in the individual communities that will make up our new Region
  
• Reviewing and updating the Cultural Policy to adequately reflect our cultural life and the need for cultural development. This will assist in attracting valuable potential arts funding to our area
  
• Further developing opportunities and positive outlets for youth
  
• Promoting services and facilities for the aged to live well and comfortably
  
  

Communication

Ratepayers and residents have a right to know how their Council is performing and what is planned. As Mayor I will encourage a culture of open communication, including:

• Improving links with the community to facilitate two-way communication between the public and councillors on issues of concern to residents. For example, by introducing a regular newsletter to ratepayers and upgrading the Council’s website to include an interactive community forum
  
• Rotating Council meetings to the main population centres of the Shire