Croydon’s Bush Telegraph A word from our Mayor…… Trevor Pickering Hi All in Incredible Croydon, Wow what a busy month September has been for Council with all the usual work that’s been going on for this time of the year. We had to plan not one but two State Government Ministers visits only a week apart and their itineraries are all over the show right up until they land here, and even then we don’t know how long we have them for, so you would appreciate that the logistics around these visits can be a nightmare especially when they cancel at the last minute which has hap- pened before with the Minister for Main Roads and State and Federal members. So moving forward to a phone call I received from a Darrel Jones to say that Hon Mark Bailey, Minister for Transport and Main Roads would like to fly in for a visit and naturally I said that I would make myself available for a meeting with him anytime, but that’s when the problems start because he couldn’t tell me when and what time they would be coming. So I said to Darrel that I’ll believe it when I see it as I have been actively lobbying through Council and the Far North Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (FNQROC) to have him visit us for the last three years. A couple of days of yes and no and back to plan b, c and a night time three way phone call with Darrel and Warren Devlin (Mayor of Etheridge Shire) we had our plan sorted. On the 11th of September, after one could say was three years in the planning, our airport was honoured with the landing of the Queensland Government (tax payers) Jet, this is the first time in memory that this has happened but that’s beside the point. I picked the party of four up and took them to the Council boardroom for a cuppa and a sandwich with Deputy Mayor Bing Chew. After a quick chat and a walk through the heritage buildings we loaded them into the cars and a quick trip around town showing the Minister what we had planned for upcoming projects and to get permission to use the States road. I asked him to help us and to champion our planned cutting and widening of the sharp and dangerous corner in Samwell Street, at the bottom end of the Council Works Depot, and as the Deputy Mayor said to me we couldn’t have timed it better as we met a roadtrain right there. So then up to the Gilbert River Bridge we go, Wayne in one car and I’m driving the Minister and ‘Warren Devlin’ (that’s a story for another day) in another. I discussed with him on the road about possible channel and kerbing in and out of town and again to get permission to do work on his road, he was fine with that. I also talked about the old and narrowing bitu- men around Ventures Creek (thanks to the Works Manager for the infor- mation) and the Deputy Mayor took the lead with that issue as he is highly experienced in this area. Cr Wayne Bing Chew, Mayor Trevor Pickering, Hon Mark Bailey Croydon’s Bush Telegraph Edition 9 - September 2019 T: 4748 7100 E: [email protected] W: www.croydon.qld.gov.au On to the Gilbert River Bridge where we all inspected the deteriorating asset and discussed at length how to go about it, costings and who should be paying for it. I was heartened to hear talk and their opinion on the cost of a raised two lane bridge because it was obvious that they had been at least talking about it even though their costing was a bit outrageous compared to ours. All in all it was a great day for Croydon and all of the Gulf Country, I am very confident about the future of this project and I will keep the pressure firmly on now that I have smelt blood. No sooner had we said our farewells to Hon Mark Bailey when another Mark was on the phone wanting to visit. On the 13th of September old Croydon boy Brett Murphy and I started the same process as the last visit, so by the 20th we had a plan and the Minister for Agricultur- al Industry Development and Fisheries, Hon Mark Furner and his crew flew in on the 24th. I only had the weekend to ring every property in the Shire of Croydon to invite them to have lunch with the Minister and to bring any griev- ances they had to do with his portfolio. In true bush style we covered problems in the modern world, but the most important ones were about land rights and mining companies, water security, the lack of support after cyclone Nora, tree clearing laws, more so the ridiculous one size fits all laws that stops landholders trying to mitigate the effect of drought by growing some fodder of their own (but that might be too much like common sense for city people). All in all another great day for the people of Croydon and l am already in talks with Brett Mur- phy about a return visit early next year. I am also in the very early stages of inviting the Minister for State Development , Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Hon Cameron Dick to visit us, I have had several phone calls with his people in the last couple of weeks and one with Cameron himself so I think it’s nearly time to drop it on him. Cr Jonathan Evans, Hon Mark Furner, Mayor Trevor Pickering, Hon Mark Furner, Mayor & Councillors, Rural Landholders Cr Kim Gaynor, Cr Wayne Bing Chew Council will be attending the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Annual Conference in Cairns from 14th to 16th Octo- ber where we have two motions up for debate. One about the community housing management in rural and remote Queensland (lack of housing in Croydon) and the other about Queensland Disaster Resilience Fund (Betterment program works of flood damage roads). We have our FNQROC Western Councils Forum in Karumba at the end of the month, so busy times ahead. As you would all know the Poddy Dodgers Festival has just finished a couple of days ago and a great time was had by all (well I did any- way). Well done to all involved in running the event, I know that it is very time consuming and usually a thankless job so please accept a big thank you from me on behalf of the people of Croydon and the visitors to our home for this weekend. Another congratulations to all those that were involved in the Gulf Schools Basketball and Hockey Carnival in Karumba, especially the competitors you are doing yourself and your community proud. Well that’s enough from me for this month but I’ll leave you with something to think about - we are in prime bushfire weather with these hot and windy days so please be careful. As usual talk to me if you need help with anything. See you in the next Tele. Cheers, Trevor Mayor Trevor Pickering Croydon Shire Council COUNCIL MEETINGS COUNCILLOR CONTACT DETAILS In accordance with Section 277 of the Local Government Regulation 2012, Croydon Shire Council advises that Mayor Trevor Pickering Ordinary Meetings will be held at the Council Chambers, 63 Mobile: 0427 456 188 Samwell Street, Croydon commencing at 9.30am unless otherwise notified, on the following dates: Mobile: 0409 456 235 Email: [email protected] Thursday 17 January 2019 Deputy Mayor Wayne Bing Chew Thursday 21 February 2019 Ph: (07) 4745 6287 Thursday 21 March 2019 Mobile: 0488 454 678 Wednesday 17 April 2019 Email: [email protected] Friday 17 May 2019 Thursday 20 June 2019 Councillor Kim Gaynor Thursday 18 July 2019 Ph: (07) 4745 3536 Thursday 22 August 2019 Mobile: 0409 913 150 Monday 16 September 2019 Email: [email protected] Monday 21 October 2019 Thursday 21 November 2019 Councillor Jeffrey Norman Friday 13 December 2019 Mobile: 0438 155 101 Meeting agendas and minutes are available on Email: [email protected] Council’s website www.croydon.qld.gov.au Councillor Jonathan Evans Mobile: 0429 577 603 Email: [email protected] Early Childhood Teacher Working with the Croydon Child Care Centre NEWS ITEMS FOR CROYDON’S BUSH TELEGRAPH Croydon Shire Council is seeking the services of If you have any news items for our newsletter please email to an Early Childhood Teacher to work with the Croy- [email protected] don Child Care Centre. 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