MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY MEETING OF THE TORRES SHIRE COUNCIL HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON TUESDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2009 PRESENT Mayor Cr. P. Stephen (Chair), Cr. N. Bin Tahal, Cr. B. Shibasaki, Cr. A. Ketchell, Mr. B. McCarthy (Chief Executive Officer), Mrs D. Yorkston (Director Corporate Services), Mr. R. Davies (Director Planning & Environmental Services), Mr. D. Wiseman (Director Engineering Services) Mr. D. Benjamin (IT Officer) and Mrs. N. Ward Page (Minute Secretary). The meeting opened with a prayer by Deputy Mayor Bin Tahal at 9.19 am. Acknowledgement: The Mayor acknowledged the traditional owners the Kaurareg People, upon whose land we hold our meeting. APOLOGY: An apology had been received from Cr. John Abednego. Min. 09/11/1 Moved Cr. Bin Tahal, Seconded Cr. Ketchell “That the apology be received from Cr. J Abednego.” Carried CONDOLENCES As a mark of respect, Council observed a minute’s silence in memory of: Rose Morrison, Gwen Uta, Mr Wailu, Mr Maigon Mareko, Abraham Mau & Rachel Pedro DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT: Nil CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES Min. 09/11/2 Moved Cr. Ketchell, Seconded Cr. Shibasaki “That Council receive the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of 20 October 2009 and confirm as a true and correct record of the proceedings.” Carried BUSINESS ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MINUTES Cr. Shibasaki General Business - Property at Muralug MAYOR'S REPORT Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council I will attend the Queensland Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal and Advisory Council meeting at Brisbane during 30th November 2009 – 4th December 2009. Prescribe Body Corporation Regional Workshop I have received an invitation to attend the PBC Regional Workshop at Mer 23rd – 27th November 2009. I will attend part of this workshop with Mayor Gela to present the Territory Governance Presentation and to provide feedback to native title representatives. Native Title concerns were a major issue raised during our community consultation. COUNCIL MINUTES ORDINARY MEETING 17 NOVEMBER 2009 1 MAYOR'S REPORT (cont’d) Citizenship Ceremony The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, has recently announced the inclusion of the Deputy Mayor within the classes of persons who can preside at Australian Citizenship Ceremony. Citizenship Ceremony provides Council the opportunity to welcome new citizens as new members of the Australian community and particular as members of the local community. I will liaise with the Local Officer in charge of Immigration to clarify local arrangements to support hosting any Citizenship Ceremony. Indigenous Employment Strategy At the last Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council Meeting and in the Torres Shire Council’s submission to the Queensland Integrity and Accountability Review, the Council highlighted Indigenous Employment as a key priority to be addressed. The Council tabled the concept to establish an Indigenous Ombudsman Office to address Indigenous Employment in the State. There is also a greater need to monitor and create career pathways (laterally and vertically) for Indigenous peoples, especially in State Government organizations. I received a letter from Desley Boyle, Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnership, encouraging local councils to follow the Cairns Regional Council’s lead in adopting its recent Indigenous Employment Strategy. The strategy incorporates progressive employment targets through to May 2012. The Minister is aware that many Local Governments throughout the State have actively promoted fair employment practices via employment policies and strategies which have opened doors for Indigenous Queenslanders. The Cairns Regional Council’s Employment Strategy specifically focus on recruitment processes which may have (unintentionally) diminished the likelihood of success for indigenous applicants and that will in turn ensure career paths in different areas of Council’s activities. I am aware of local and regional Training and Employment initiatives explored in the past as well as discussions around recent policies and strategies. I recommend Council adopt an Indigenous Employment Strategy which will lead, provide and facilitate transparent career pathways for our Indigenous constituents within this region. Min. 09/11/3 Moved Cr. Bin Tahal, Seconded Cr. Ketchell “That Council endorse the implementation of an Indigenous Employment Strategy through the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Staff and report back to the December meeting (15th )” Carried Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area Regional Plan Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) has proposed that Partners agree to a Launch of the Regional Plan on 20th November 2009. A letter will be sent to Minister Desley Boyle, highlighting Minister Jenny Macklin’s support and seek the State Minister’s endorsement for the plan. Furthermore, Torres Strait Regional Authority and Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships will co-host a Regional Planning Forum as a first step to formalising the Regional Planning Framework. This forum will see the establishment of seven groups dealing with COAG building blocks and Regional Plan goals. I am suggesting that Partners need to discuss, explore and implement LOCAL POLICIES to direct and guide Integrated Services Delivery in our region. In the absence of local policy, service delivery throughout our region will remain fragmented and justify the ‘silo mind set’ of those service providers responsible. The Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Regional Plan is an appropriate Instrument to set the policy and targets which will ensure resources are directed to the service at the community level rather than continue to support or justify exciting bureaucratic administration structures. COUNCIL MINUTES ORDINARY MEETING 17 NOVEMBER 2009 2 MAYOR'S REPORT (cont’d) Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area Regional Plan (cont’d) Min. 09/11/4 Moved Cr. Ketchell, Seconded Cr. Shibasaki “That Council discuss, at a future caucus meeting, the need for local policies to strengthen the Torres Strait & Northern Peninsula Regional Plan.” Carried IN COMMITTEE Min. 09/11/5 Moved Cr. Bin Tahal, Seconded Cr. Shibasaki “That Council go into Committee at 9.52am to discuss Territory Community Consultation.” Carried OUT OF COMMITTEE Min. 09/11/6 Moved Cr. Bin Tahal, Seconded Cr. Shibasaki “That Council come out of Committee at 10.34a.m.” Carried Torres Shire Council Territory Community Consultation The Mayor wishes to acknowledge the support of the Councillors, Executive and Staff for the promotion and documentation of community feedback from each of the four community consultation meetings at Port Kennedy, Prince of Wales Island, TRAWQ Community and Horn Island. The Mayor advised that Mayor Gela has provided a brief update regarding community responses from outer island communities. Min. 09/11/7 Moved Cr. Shibasaki, Seconded Cr. Ketchell “That the Mayor’s Report be received.” Carried Adjournment: The Meeting adjourned for Morning Tea at 10.35a.m. and resumed at 10.53a.m. with Snr Constable David Solonec & Sgt Alan Dewis of Queensland Police attending to discuss community issues. COMMUNITY ISSUES - Queensland Police & TSC Sgt. Alan Dewis addressed the meeting with the following issues: • Increase of break & enter and assault offences over the last three months has seen target patrolling to decrease these offences. Police and Elders are working together to deal with youth roaming the streets and other alcohol related offences. • Majority of non locals on Horn Island are NOT reporting crimes. – strategies implemented by using the media to stress the importance of reporting. Suggested Torres Shire also highlight this fact as calls for service for the QPS dictate budget for the QPS and other Government and Non Government organisations. • Noise has been an issue and exacerbated by the lack of complainants. – strategies implemented to utilise the media for affected people to report disturbances to Police and also report matter to the Dept. of Housing to highlight issues. • Street lighting issues - in particular the alleyway between Nawie & Outie Streets as previous identified as a trouble spot. Residents on both sides of the alleyway are constantly subjected to noise and property damage by persons congregating in this area. Highlighted to Council the safety aspects as a Pilot was recently assaulted in the alleyway by three offenders whom he observed jumping the fence to unlawfully enter a yard. CEO advised Ergon has promised to install street lighting by the end of December 2009. COUNCIL MINUTES ORDINARY MEETING 17 NOVEMBER 2009 3 COMMUNITY ISSUES - Queensland Police & TSC Cr Bin Tahal Queried traffic enforcement in particular youth not wearing helmets and non-local workers riding around in the back of utes. • Sgt Dewis advised that unfortunately due to other serious offences of assaults and break and entries, patrols had been prioritised from midnight to 8am in the morning. Also Police welcomed the community to report traffic offences as it also assists with determining the call for service and that they were happy to proceed with prosecuting offenders by tickets as long as people reporting offence were willing to go to Court if required as a witness, otherwise enforcement is mainly by Police detection. • “Getting on Program - midnight basketball every second Friday at the Ngurupai Sports Complex organised by Sgt Dewis to assist Police in building a rapport with disengaged youth and deliver