Cr Kathy Duff - Natural Resources, Parks and Indigenous Affairs Portfolio Report - 16 November 2016

Weed Control

Lantana control has commenced at Boat Mountain, Cushnie and Tingoora Chelmsford Road. Mother of Millions have been treated at Carroll Nature Area and groundsel at Gordonbrook, Mondure and Kingaroy. Treatment of Giant Rats Tail grass has commenced throughout the region with treatment of all sites on Council roadsides and reserves.

Equipment Loan

Landholders have borrowed cat traps to be used on properties in the Greenview and Kingaroy areas.  Nine (9) traps were set at the Hivesville landfill with two (2) cats trapped and euthanased. Cat traps will be set at the Murgon landfill during November.

Splatter guns and a spray trailer for Lantana control were utilised by landholders in Hivesville, Maidenwell, Ellesmere and Malar.  Wild dog traps are in use by landholders at Wondai, Brooklands and Corndale, rabbit traps at Wooroolin and fox traps at Wattlecamp.

Wandering Livestock

Council’s stock route officer attended wandering livestock complaints at Inverlaw, Booie, Proston and Bunya Mountains.

Feral Animal control

170 kilograms of 1080 meat baits and 400 doggone baits were requested and distributed to landholders at Boondooma, Leafdale, Haly Creek and Tarong to assist with the control of wild dogs and feral pigs.

Activity at the Coolabunia Saleyards during October 2016 was:

Private Cattle

Dipped & Inspected – 1,120 head

Sale Cattle

Fat & Store 11/10/2016  -  269 head

Fat & Store plus Female – 1089 head

Currently doing general maintenance at the yards with rails and troughs ongoing.

A School Based Trainee has started one day per week learning the general day to day runnings of a saleyard.

Biodiversity activities for October include:

• General maintenance of new plantings.
• 10 advanced trees planted in northern end of Tessmanns Road
• Tree replacement and watering in Kingaroy Showgrounds
• Maintenance and watering in Nature Reserve in Kingaroy
• Vegetation management and identification advice provided to general public and internal clients
• Free tree program commenced – plants purchased. Advertising and distribution has begun with a positive response so far.

Christmas preparations have started and are under way with the ordering of Christmas Decorations, Christmas Mowing Programmes and rosters for Christmas Carnivals in all areas.

Kingaroy

• New plinths to be laid at Taabinga cemetery by next month
• 3 Funerals

Murgon

• Working on concept plan for Murgon Skate Park
• New playground equipment order – hoping to start in the new year
• 2 Funerals
• BP Dam- Mowing, Weedeating, General Maintenance

Wondai

• New Hivesville Toilet Block Officially Opened
• Working on concept for Dingo Creek Park
• A new refurbishment of bollards, tables and chairs, etc.
• 6 Funerals

Proston

• Brick Laying at Proston Cemetery Columbarium –  now complete
• Boondooma Dam- Mowing, Weedeating, Grounds Maintenance

Nanango & Blackbutt

In Nanango and Blackbutt this month we have:

• Removed the old annual gardens and planted all new season gardens
• Both town areas have been mowed, action requests up to date and turf establishment in Blackbutt is ongoing
• Maidenwell has had general maintenance.
• School based trainee on a Thursday going well.
• Cultural centre and Reg McCullum Park finished.
• 3 Funerals

Rail Trail

The Disaster Recovery Committee has been meeting due to the Swickers Fire and to speed the process up for Swickers, Council has released the contractor who has been working on the Rail Trail. Our contractor Aaron Connolly is now working to help Swickers with temporary accesses and other work. The completion of the rail trail will be delayed for up to three months and possibly longer. There will be sections able to be used when the road crossings and safety markers are in place.