1. Friday, January 16, 2009. 9www.qt.com.au
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WILLS | POWERS OF ATTORNEY | ESTATES
COUNTRY mayors say a
challenging year with big plans is
ahead of them.
Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve
Jones will complete the Gatton
Arts and Cultural Centre at Lake
Apex and move the Gatton
showground.
Cr Jones is hoping the cultural
centre will be
ready to open
in June.
As for the
present
showground
site, Cr Jones
said: “Before
too long we’ll
have the
consultation
under way
and then
we’ll start
work on the
master plan. Next we’ll start work
on the aquatic centre.
“We have sent out letters to the
possible users of the showground
and we have had almost 20 people
say they are interested in getting
into the new ground.”
The Department of Emergency
Services and the Queensland
Police Service have in the past
expressed interest in the site.
Cr Jones said the showground
would be moved to a 202ha site at
Placid Hills, north-west of Gatton.
The biggest challenge Cr Jones
predicted for the year ahead was
convincing the State and Federal
governments to commit to
building an electric rail network to
the Lockyer.
“We’ve been seriously lobbying
for about five years,” he said.
“We understand it requires big
dollars, but if they’re going to put
an electric corridor through, it’s
very important it happens before
there’s more development in the
western corridor.”
SCENIC RIM
SCENIC Rim Mayor John Brent
said his main priority was
delivering council’s corporate
plan.
“The delivery of our corporate
plan will give our direction and
establish a long term strong
financial base for the Scenic Rim
Regional Council,” he said.
“The pain of 2008 is a feature of
the past and we’re about to – with
the co-operation and support of
the community – look forward to
substantial
job growth in
the region.”
He said the
plan will get
the balance
right between
urban
development
and the rural
sector.
“I suppose
it (corporate
plan) is about
the Lockyer
Valley, Ipswich and Scenic Rim
having population growth in a
measured way that ensures the
look and feel of the area is not
lost.”
Cr Brent said a draft of the
corporate plan would be complete
by March and the final draft by
mid-year.
SOMERSET
REGION
SOMERSET Mayor Graeme
Lehmann said he wanted to work
with other councils to deliver
major services to the region, such
as an airport and motocross park.
“It’s very important we are
involved with the South-East
Queensland Council of Mayors and
look at the ongoing needs for the
region such
as trail bike
parks,” he
said.
“There has
also been a
regional
airport
mooted and
we’re having
a look at
that.”
Cr
Lehmann
said areas
between his council area and
Gatton would be suitable for an
airport.
“There are some areas on the
Gatton-Esk Road that may be
suitable – somewhere near the
prison,” he said.
“I believe if it was out here it
would suit people in Toowoomba
and it would be quicker for people
in Ipswich to travel out here than
it would be to the Brisbane
Airport.”
Cr Lehmann said he hoped to
create more jobs.
“We want to be proactive in
attracting development, both
commercial and residential,” he
said.
“We want to try and create some
jobs close to home, particularly in
our four major centres: Lowood,
Fernvale, Esk and Kilcoy.”
Mayors reveal agendas
Ambitious country leaders pledge 2009 goals
LOBBYING: Lockyer
Valley Mayor Steve
Jones.
PRIORITIES:
Scenic Rim Mayor
John Brent.
BIG HOPES:
Somerset Mayor
Graeme Lehmann.
Q150 PROJECTS
LOCKYER VALLEY
Gatton: $3 million Gatton
Arts and Cultural Centre
Laidley: Relocation of the
Blenheim Baptist Church
UQ, Gatton: Digital historical
collection of Queensland’s
first tertiary facility.
Whole region: publication
and mural of Lockyer Valley
legends
SCENIC RIM
Tamborine Mountain:
Restoration of Zamia Theatre
– an iconic 100 seat historic
complex
Beaudesert: Jubilee Park
Shared History Walkway
Aratula: Construction of the
Aratula Multi sports Complex
Running Creek: Naming of
bridge at crossing seven
SOMERSET
Esk: $490,000 Esk Library
ELIZABETH SPRY
elizabeth.spry@qt.com.au
PLAINLAND brothers Paul and
Peter Schulte are delighted an
updated version of the draft
South East Queensland Regional
Plan now includes their property
on the Warrego Highway and can
be developed into a commercial
hub.
Under the draft plan, the
brothers will now be able develop
their block of land with more
ease, bypassing putting
applications through council.
Peter Schulte said he had
remained hopeful that the draft
plan would include their site.
“It assures us that we can
invest and develop the area,” Mr
Schulte said.
“It now means we can build the
commercial buildings we had
hoped when we originally
purchased the land.
“We’ve got seven acres (2.8ha)
of prime positioned land that we
want to develop and with this
announcement and the change in
boundaries we are able to do
that.”
Mr Schulte said they had
worried they would not be able to
develop the land when it was
classified as rural but would now
be able to build more than 10
retail shops.
Besides Plainland, the draft
plan now includes areas north of
Gatton, Purga, and Withcott.
Submissions to the draft plan,
which can be viewed at
www.dip.qld.gov.au, can be made
until April 3.
After a review of the
submissions, an updated plan
will be finalised in July.
Plan helps
brothers
build future
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