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Letters to the Editor

The facts on Council business
Over the past few months there has been a great deal of comments made in the media with regards to the voting patterns of certain Councillors and the day to day operations of Council.
I believe it important that the residents of the valley be provided with the facts surrounding the adverse media comments and, to a large extent, the misinformation being reported by news articles and letters to the editors.
The four Councillors regularly referred to as ‘voting together’ have not formed an alliance and do not blindly vote as a united bloc. These four Councillors also do not blindly support any matter placed before them – whether it be by the Mayor or another Councillor.
The fact is that over 90% of Resolutions of Council are unanimous.
Council has seven Councillors, including the Mayor, and each of these Councillors are equally charged with representing the Lockyer Valley community. The only difference between the Mayor and other Councillors, under the Local Government Act, is that the Mayor chairs Council meetings in accordance with Council’s Meeting Local Law and represents Council at ceremonial functions. As such all seven Councillors have an equal responsibility to represent the community and to vote in accordance with what they genuinely believe is in the best interest of that community.
It is the Council, and Councillors, role to develop policy, set strategic direction and allocate funds (a Budget) for the administration to implement that direction and those policies – much the same as a Board of Directors in a Company. Under the law, we as Councillors must not interfere with the day to day operations of Council and must not instruct any staff member in their duties.
It is absolutely critical for us to continue to vote as we genuinely believe the majority of our community would have us do.
I most certainly will continue to do that and I am certain that the majority of Councillors will do likewise.
Cr Graham Moon, Deputy Mayor, Lockyer Valley Regional Council

Council responds to incorrect media reports

The Lockyer Valley Regional Council was disappointed to see the coverage of the recent application to adjourn the court case regarding Lake Apex. Certainly it would have been preferable to see the matter finalised. The sooner it is dealt with so that the island can be rehabilitated the better for all concerned.
However, it needs to be clearly stated that contrary to the media articles:-
• Council did not plead guilty in the Gatton Magistrates Court
on February 2nd;
• Council has not lodged a written plea of guilty.
Unfortunately, this is just another example of the media publishing inaccurate and totally incorrect material which one suspects is all in an attempt to secure a sensationalist headline.
Relevant media outlets were advised by Council of the correct information but, disappointingly chose to disregard it in the interests of selling a few newspapers and holding a headline on the television.
The credibility of these organisations is now severely in question.
In recent weeks Council has spent considerable time attempting to correct inaccuracies in any number of print articles.

This practice is counterproductive as it only serves to prolong a debate built on inaccurate information. As such, future responses, when time allows, will be submitted via the Council web site.

Clearing of Western Island of Lake Apex
The history to the clearing of the island in Lake Apex is:-
• At the Council Meeting on 8th April, 2009 Council considered
a report on a proposal to clear the island and then rehabilitate it. This report came about following informal discussions within Council on the matter and with the distinct intention of improving the lake and the area in the immediate vicinity of the new Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre and following the receipt of advice from the relevant environmental personnel within Council.
• The vote was carried unanimously (5-0) by the Councillors present.
• The island was subsequently cleared by Council staff.
• A complaint was lodged with the Minister for Environment and Resource Management about the clearing and the Department investigated.
• Following the investigation the Department of Environment and Resource Management decided to
charge Council under section 332 (1) of the Nature Conservation (Wildlife Management) Regulation 2006 with “tampering with an animal breeding place that was
being used by a protected animal to incubate or rear the animal’s offspring.”
• Officers of the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts have also been involved in reviewing the action taken.
• On 2nd February, 2010, at the request of the Department of Environment and Resource Management and with Council consent, the matter was held over for Mention at the Gatton Magistrates Court on 13th April,
2010 which was agreed to by the Court.
• Discussions have been ongoing between representatives of the Department of Environment and Resource Management and Council Officers with Council fully cooperating with the department.
Further info is available on Council’s web site under the tab of Minutes. Refer to the following meetings:- 8th April, 2009 at page 8-10; 22nd April, 2009 at page 7-9; 9th June, 2009 at page 4-5; 10th June, 2009 at page 179-199; and 21st October, 2009 at page 131-132.