General News
7 September, 2020
TRC meets in Herberton
The Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) hit the road last month for their first ordinary council meeting outside of Atherton.
TRC meets in Herberton
The Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) hit the road last month for their first ordinary council meeting outside of Atherton.
TRC councillors, officers and the Mayor met at the Herberton town hall on August 27 to go through the agenda as well as take a walk through the town.
Mayor Rod Marti said it was important that council get out of the office to see other parts of Tablelands
“These communities through amalgamation feel disenfranchised, so this is an opportunity to have a meeting in the smaller towns and then after the meeting, all councillors will do a tour around the town.”
On the agenda was a request from the Department of Transport and ain road (TMR) to endorse the roads that they had selected for upgrades for a bicycle route.
According to council documents “The Far North Queensland Principal Cycling Network Plan (FNQPCNP) is a Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) transport planning document, which provides a vision for the principal cycle network in Far North Queensland,”
“The plan was recently reviewed and this report requests Council endorsement of the updated Priority Route Maps relevant to the Tablelands Regional Council local government area prior to publication on their website”
Mayor Rod Marti mentioned that he had reservation about approving plan without any community consultation. “This is how the state government deals with things, they send it to the council and if the council endorses it then they can tick off community consultation as they are not going to talk to anyone else here except council,” Mr Marti said
“As a cyclist I think some of the road shouldn’t have cyclists on them, if they put in a 2 metre bike lane, then OK. But TMR aren’t going to spend money on that.
“There is a section of the Gillies that they have identified as a potential bike network; it’s crazy if they think that will be safe for cyclists.”
Despite Mr Marti’s misgivings about at the TMR plan, the proposal was passed unanimously.
During the meeting, Councillor Dave Bilney brought up the topic of paying creditors within 14 days as opposed to 30 days.
"Are we still paying our creditors within 14 days or have we reverted back to 30-day payment cycle?” he asked.
CEO Bob Owen's response to Cr Bilney's question stated that Council could pass a motion to retain 14-day payment terms until Officers could bring a report back to Council for further consideration about longer-term impacts on finances and resources. CR Hodge then moved the motion which Cr Bilney then seconded and the motion was passed unanimously.
Other items on the agenda that were passed unanimously was the demolition of toilet blocks in Ascham and Grigg Streets in Ravenshoe.
Council also declined Atherton RSL’s request to credit rates paid and exempt future rates and charges for their property at 7–11 Railway Lane in Atherton.
In a written statement TRC wrote, “The TRC supports the work of the Atherton RSL but believes this request is not in the interests of the wider community.”
