MOUNT ISA NEWS JUNE 2019 Your community newsletter Phone 07 4747 3200 | email [email protected] | www.mountisa.qld.gov.au | www.facebook.com/MountIsaCityCouncil/ MAYOR’S DESK... Can you believe that we're almost exactly halfway through the year already? June has flown by and there has been so much happening throughout Council and Mount Isa this month. Firstly, I'd like to extend my sincere thanks and gratitude to those in the community who go above and beyond to volunteer their time to community events. As anyone involved in event planning will know, it is an incredible amount of hard work and dedication over a long period of time, and it is also a very selfless, and thankless job. But without these people in our community, our social fabric begins to unravel, and there are fewer opportunities for us all to engage in social, cultural and sporting occasions. The end of May and the beginning of June saw MineX 2019 converge at Buchanan Park. Events such as these are vital for the ongoing growth, development and improvement of the mining industry - and, by extension, our community. This year saw more than 90 exhibitors, covering everything from mining products and services to major mining and engineering companies, including Glencore and Sandvik, which reinforced the confidence that businesses and industries still have in the mining sector in our region. I congratulate Commerce North West President Travis Crowther and his capable team for coordinating another successful event. In June we also saw the incredible 2019 Mount Isa Eisteddfod at the Mount Isa Civic Centre, which is the region's biggest and most diverse youth performing arts challenge, running over 10 days. Attracting more than 500 competitors from across Queensland, this year the Eisteddfod in its 53rd year saw an impressive range of high energy dance, moving drama, beautiful music and literary works. The community was also offered events throughout June including the Mount Isa City Council QLD Day event Beef, Beach and Beats which saw almost 1000 people enjoy a family friendly day out, the annual Mount Isa Race Club's Isa Cup, and the ever-impressive Gecko Outdoor Sports Duchess Dusk to Dawn 100km Run. One of the highlights every year for Mount Isa, is of course the annual Mount Isa Show. An incredible amount of work by a small team of selfless individuals, who put together a show for the whole community, year after year, with the hope of community support and participation. Local shows are important events on local calendars for any community. It brings people of all ages and from all walks of life together annually. While the young and young at heart look forward to the fairy floss, show bags of goodies and the thrills of rides and fun of sideshow alley, while other people enjoy the exhibits, entertainment or night-time entertainment. Joyce McCulloch Mayor of Mount Isa [email protected] Phone 4747 3200 (Office) Councillor Phil Barwick (Deputy Mayor) Portfolio Finance & Administration Email [email protected] Councillor Jean Ferris Portfolio Beautification & Library Email Many in the community of course are involved as [email protected] exhibitors, entrants or judges in show competitions. I encourage anyone with the time or interest, to join the committee or offer support to the Mount Isa Show in future years. A sincere thank you to this year's Councillor George Fortune committee for a wonderful show. Portfolio Development & Land Use Here at Council, we've been working towards many Email goals, including work at the Animal Management [email protected] Facility, and the implementation of the Waste Levy on July 1. We've held community information sessions to best inform on the changes and we thank Councillor Peta MacRae everyone for their participation. Portfolio We also handed down the 2019-20 Budget this week. Community Development, Youth, The adoption of the budget is one of the most Sport & Recreation Email important and considered responsibilities we have as [email protected] elected representatives, to lead our community and plan for its future. It is a product of thorough and meticulous collaboration between Councillors and staff and reflects the commitment and dedication to Councillor Paul Stretton the community by Council as a whole. Portfolio Environmental Management Coming up in July, we have our NAIDOC Week event Email - a free community concert, and singing workshop [email protected] for local kids, with Isaiah Firebrace - on July 9 at the Civic Centre; the Queensland Music Festival event, "The Mount Isa Blast", on July 25, 26 and 27 at Councillor Mick Tully Buchanan Park; and our free seniors' morning tea and concert, Morning Melodies, at the Civic Centre. Portfolio I hope to see you all out and about in the community Works & Camooweal enjoying some of these of these wonderful events. Email [email protected] Her Worship Joyce McCulloch Mayor of Mount Isa CEO’S DESK... This month marks the end of the financial year and our teams have been busy completing a number of projects prior to 30 June. A snapshot of the various initiatives we have been working on are highlighted in this month's update. Engineering Services have been busy working with the Queensland Police Service to install an additional 12 new CCTV cameras, various road, footpath and drainage works which include Rebecca Street, Alice Street, Sunset Drive and Fourth Ave. Our bush crew have also completed the Flood Damage works along May Downs Road which included $200,000 of restoration works involving re-sheeting, formation and wet grading. If you drive past the Animal Management Facility you will also see that construction has commenced for the new buildings with the estimated date of completion in September. Infrastructure works to the Waste Management Facility have also progressed and there is now a designated Resource Recovery Area to accept recyclables. Further, the position of the gate house has been moved to ensure that our traffic management plan meets the requirements of the Waste Levy from 1 July 2019. The container exchange program is proving to be a great success, with our waste facility having received 2 million containers and approximately $200,000 returned to residents as at June. Across Council, we have continued to progress our focus on Workplace Health and Safety. Both Jardine Lloyd Thompson and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland were on site this month and the discussions across the organisation supported a number of changes we are implementing to ensure we are meeting our obligations. Our Corporate team had been working towards a new website by the end of June; however we have made the concerted decision to push this delivery date back. This will now allow our team to incorporate community feedback, with a recent survey being released which can be accessed through out current website; along with dedicating additional time to explore the various features the new platform can support. This pre-work is vital to ensure that we successfully meet our objectives in this project delivery. This month, the Splashez team have commenced the adult swim fit classes on Monday afternoons and we have amended the trading hours for winter. On a separate note, I participated with Mayor Joyce in the State Development North West Minerals Province Strategic Blueprint Meeting and we are now drafting a submission in response to the economic diversification plan which is due by 26 July 2019. I would like to thank the Council staff for all their hard work specifically with the implementation of the waste levy and the required budget works. We adopted the budget one month earlier this year to allow us to have a number of policies and processes in place ready for 1 July and the commitment shown by the teams has been incredible. Sharon Ibardolaza Chief Executive Officer PROUD to be your Council Stephanie Buckingham Say hello to Stephanie Buckingham, one of the administration officers at Council's Animal Management Facility on Richardson Road. Stephanie has been working at Council since August 2016, and has lived in Mount Isa since 2011, after relocating from Townsville. Her responsibilities as part of her role as Administration Officer include looking after animal registrations; applications for the temporary use of footpaths, park hire and fireworks; and rehoming animals for private adoptions or rescue groups. She has always loved animals, and has had Geraldine Hollyman animals her whole life. She also has a Meet Geraldine Hollyman, Council's GIS (Geographic background in dance - particularly in jazz and Information Systems) and Asset Management Officer. funk/hip-hop. Geraldine is a born-and-raised Mount Isan, and recently celebrated her 10-year-service anniversary with Council! As part of her role, her responsibilities include maintaining the city's mapping system for Council's assets and infrastructure - including underground pipes, roads, facilities and properties - as well as ensuring data is up-to-date, producing maps, and supporting the Engineering Department. Outside of Council, Geraldine enjoys being involved in the Mount Isa Theatrical Society, and discovering other local community groups. Mariah Willis Meet Mariah Willis, the Laboratory Technician at the Mount Errol Rogers Isa Sewer Treatment Plant. Say hi to Errol Rogers, the Assistant Plant Operator Originally from Maryborough, Queensland, Mariah has at the Mount Isa Sewer Treatment Plant. been working at Council since July last year, and has been Errol has been working at Council and the living in Mount Isa for more than two years. treatment plant for almost 11 years. She has undertaken previous work as an assistant A born-and-raised Mount Isa man, Errol looks technician, while she was studying for her Bachelor of after the maintenance of the treatment plant, Environmental Science degree.