Cr Kathy Duff - Natural Resource Management Portfolio Report - 19 September 2018

Coolabunia Saleyards

Fat and Store sales have been held on the following dates:

• August 14 – 303 head
• August 28 – 77 head
• September 11 – 127 head

Coolabunia has also hosted two special sales the Coolabunia Classic Charolais Bull sale with a total of 41 head and the Bunya Droughtmaster Bull sale with a total of 91 head.

Tick inspection and clearing is continuing.

Weed Management

Weed spraying is continuing with 379 hours of treatment on Lantana, Mother of Millions, Giant RatsTail grass and African Boxthorn. Two landholders have borrowed splatter guns and six landholders have borrowed the spray trailer unit.

Feral Animal Management

Councils Stock Route Officer has conducted 1080 baiting for Feral Dogs and Pigs at the following baiting stations:

• 10 September 2018– Wondai – Melrose Road & Wondai Clearing Dip, Bunya Highway
• 11 September 2018 – Proston – Boondooma Tip & Proston Clearing Dip
• 12 September 2018 – Nanango – Mt Stanley Dip & Broadwater Access Road
• 13 September 2018 – Murgon – Council Gravel Reserve, McAllister Street
• 13 September 2018 – Cloyna – Windera Park Cnr Murgon-Gayndah Rd & Bishops Rd
• 14 September 2018 – Kingaroy – Hodges Road
• 14 September 2018 – Kumbia – Bunya Mountains Road, Alice Creek
• 17 September 2018 – Ironpot – Chahpingah Dump – Ironpot Rd

A total of 57 landowners registered for the September coordinated 1080 baiting program with 124 properties baited covering a total area of 33,090ha.  2,001 wild dog baits and 1,428 feral pig baits were laid.

Baiting enquiries have also been received from Teelah, Taromeo, Corndale (Rabbit Baiting), Pimpimbudgee, Gordonbrook, Boondooma andAlice Creek.

Yallakool & Boondooma Dams

Councils parks & gardens staff have been continuing maintenance at both parks with tree pruning and washing of exterior walls and cleaning of gutters on cabins at Yallakool.  Refurbishments of gardens has been completed at both recreational dams and are looking fantastic.

Due to a collapsed sewerage line at the Yallakool Ensuite Caravan Sites an urgent upgrade has been undertaken and completed.  

Work is continuing on the Helipad at Lake Boondooma with an aviation survey currently being undertaken to identify trees needed to be cleared in readiness for operation of the Helipad.

Dam Ambassadors have been given access to Facebook allowing immediate posting of dam activities to be captured and shared – this has proven a huge success with Lake Boondooma Fishing photo reaching over 2000 people and receiving 332 engagements within 1 hour of posting.

Dam Managers have received numerous compliments from campers and day users on the cleanliness and appearance of both parks.

Airport

Council Staff have finalised the CASA Biannual Technical Inspections for the Kingaroy Airfield with the completed debrief following the Emergency Exercise and have made the required amendments to the Kingaroy Airport Manual.

Rail Trail

Counters are continuing to me monitored monthly with the figures for August as follows:

• Crawford – Technically Difficulties – no reading
• Wondai – 1138

Capex & W4Q

The following capex projects have commenced/completed:

• Capex - Boondooma Kiosk Access - Commenced
• Capex -Coomba Falls Toilet block project – Completed
• W4Q – Wooroolin Carpark – Specification and Design process for TMR approval