Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council Community Meeting September 2017

1. Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council Community Meeting September 2017

2. Welcome from the Mayor

3. Welcome from the CEO - Purpose of the meeting Thank you to all community members and staff who have made the time to attend. • Purpose of this meeting: • To provide an update to community members on Council’s projects • To seek the community’s view on our next Corporate Plan • To provide an overview of the Premier’s visit • For community agencies to provide updates • Questions and Answers

4. Program for today • Council: update and questions and answers 5.15pm – 6.00pm • Community Agencies: update 6.00pm – 7.00pm • BBQ

5. How we will achieve this We may not have answers to all your questions – but if we can’t answer a question straight away we will commit to contact you after the meeting to provide a response. • Being respectful of each others views • Being respectful of the presenters • Working together for the future

6. Actions from last community meeting • Display Councillors Portfolios – available today • Set up of the meeting – extra microphones • Communicate funeral fund – Sport and Recreation are responsible, invoices to be sent to be sent direct to them • Cattle company - update • Contractors – update on local employment and cultural training

7. Key Activity – our Council leadership • New Corporate Structure

8. Councillors Portfolios • Colin Lawrence has now left his Councillor seat • Council is working with the Electoral Commission Queensland to organize a By-Election. This will take place in the next three months – once a date is confirmed Council will let community know. Mayor Michael Yam - Overall Deputy Mayor Territa Dick – Housing Cr Wendy Wust – Health and education Cr John Fry – Roads and Infrastructure Vacant – Land and Sea

9. Key Activity - Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, (NDRRA) • The works involve light grading or gravel re-sheeting to all roads outside of the community and pothole patching and re-surfacing of areas of road within the community (including Kowanyama/Dunbar Road). • Council, through Black and More, advertised a tender for a contract to undertake the works. • Following an assessment process Council awarded the contract to R&K Plant Hire on 10 August 2017 • The aim is to have all works completed by 22 December 2017 (however this will be weather dependant). • R&K Plant Hire will be set up in the Contractors Camp on Shelfo Road in the coming days. • R&K Plant Hire will be looking to employ local trainees and labour during construction. • Should community wish to speak with R&K Plant Hire direct they should contact David Kitchener (Old Crow).

10. Key Activity – Working For Queensland (1) • Skate Park – Concrete to be completed this week, components arranged and bolted into position. Expected completion this week. • BBQ & Playground Area – Construction of BBQ gazebos has commenced and due for completion this week. • Swimming Pool fencing – posts have been installed for remainder of fencing, chainmesh and security wire early next week. • Football field - Building erection has commenced on change room. Survey of field for shaping and drainage completed. Fencing set out has commenced with post hole to be dug this week, install posts to commence next week. Removal of redundant light poles to commence late this week. Connection of services, electrical, water & Sewerage will commence on completion of building base slabs, which is programmed 26 September. Construction of grandstands to commence early next week. Turf laying to be scheduled 3rd week in October • Rodeo Ground • Building setout has commenced on Kiosk & toilet block. Fencing set out has commenced with post hole to be dug this week, install posts to commence next week. Portable lighting towers due 3rd week September. 

11. Key Activity – Working For Queensland (2) • Airport Carpark – Civil earthworks to commence 23September, to be completed over weekend so as not to disrupt scheduled services. • Airport drainage works – Earthworks to open drain to commence 3rd week September, concrete lining to commence end of September • Roadworks • Farm Access Rd to commence Monday next week, with gravel deliveries to start the week following • Pindi St shoulder repairs to commence late next week • Bitumen sealing by end of October, will happen same time as NDRRA town street repairs. Will include seal to: airport carpark, carpark at workshop & stores, slaughterhouse to Pindi St grid • New accommodation have partially been purchased with 2 temporarily set up at the football fields for contractors, footings for 1 unit at Training Centre has commenced with sewer/water connections to commence this week. Expected relocation of accommodation to site end of this week or early next.

12. Key Activity – Topsy Creek • Council are working with AbmElgoringAmbung Aboriginal Corporation (PBC) to progress the Topsy Creek project. • Council is currently negotiating the Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) which sets out the responsibilities for the land being used, such as cultural heritage

13. Key Activity – New Community Grants (1) • Part of the Council’s role is to promote the social, cultural, sporting, recreation, leadership, capacity development and environment of Kowanyama community members. To allow this, in the 2017-2018 Budget, Council allocated $20,000 towards Community Grants. • Individuals can apply for $500 per year and Organisations can apply for $5000 per year. • The individual or organisation would need to demonstrate that: • The project or activity is taking place within the Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council local government boundary, or the project or activity will benefit Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council residents. • The grant is in line with Council’s vision, values and strategies as noted in our Corporate Plan and Operational Plan.

14. Key Activity – New Community Grants (2) • The applications would be grouped into four categories: • Social and cultural (for example art programs) • Sporting and recreation (for example travel to attend a sports carnival) • Leadership, capacity development and young people (for example to attend a conference or training) • Environment (for example a community led “tidy town” award) • The grant applications will be assessed by a panel chaired by the Grants and Business Manager, who would then prepare an assessment report for Council’s consideration. • The applications would need to be provided by the 1st Tuesday of each month ready for consideration at the Council meeting. Once endorsed by Council, payment would be provided within three working days. • The full Community Grants Policy and Application forms will be available from the 21 September. They will be available on our website or they can be collected from our office.

15. Key Activity – Changes to GSL (1) Removal of the General Service Levy and Introduction of Tenancy Agreements and Utility Fees • For many years Council was charging a “General Service Levy” to staff and community members. In 2017 this charge was $80 per person per week. • Council has reviewed this charge and has replaced it with new charges to cover the water, sewerage and garbage costs, as below: • Tenancy agreements for staff using council accommodation (or as per their contract): 2 bedroom house = $120 per week, 3 bedroom house = $140 per week, 4 bedroom house = $160 per week • A utility charge of $51.19 per week for households who do not already have tenancy agreements with the Department of Public Works and Housing • There is now only one charge per household, rather than multiple charges for all occupants • The household will need to arrange for how the payment will be made to Council

16. Key Activity – Changes to GSL (2) • Example of how this may impact you: • In most cases these new charges will result a reduction in charges • Council recognizes that for a single staff member in a 2 bedroom house the charge would be more, so in these cases council will cover the difference in cost for the duration of the staff member’s contract. • Council’s housing team will be sending letters to households and arranging visits so they are aware of these changes • Staff members can direct queries to Chris Delaney Executive Manager Human Resources • Community members can direct queries to Cameron Unwin, D/CEO & Executive Manager Community Services

17. Key Activity – Premier’s Office

18. Key Activity – Corporate Plan There are three key documents that Council needs to have: • Five Year Corporate Plan – which sets the direction of Council over the next five years • Annual Operational Plan – which details what Council will be doing over the next year • Annual Budget – which details how Council is going to pay for the activities in the Operational Plan • The most important document is the Corporate Plan, we need a new plan by December. • We would like to work with community members to create our new five year Corporate Plan

19. Corporate Plan – what would you like to see over the next five years? Questions In our previous plan we had these outcomes – do we want to keep them the same? Health, wellbeing and lifestyle. Safety of children. Promotion of family unity. Education. Strong leadership. Commitment and determination. Accountability and transparency. Business development. Employment opportunities. Training and capacity building. Maintaining culture

20. Katter Leases • Tracy Board, A/Manager Home OwnershipDepartment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships will be visiting Kowanyama on the 24thand 25th October to meet with community members talk about Katter Leases. • A community meeting on Katter Leases has been scheduled for 24 October 5.15pm -7.00pm

21. Thank you from Council and Question Time Thank you for your time today - we look forward to working together. Are there any questions or comments? If we are not able to respond today please provide us your contact details and we can respond after this meeting