by Cr Bob Millar
WELCOME BACK
Welcome to my first column for 2012.  I hope that all the Dayboro Grapevine readers have had an enjoyable Christmas/New Year and that those of you who have had the opportunity to holiday are now refreshed and looking forward to the year ahead.

Over the past four years Council has delivered tens of millions of dollars in sporting infrastructure, community facilities, social programmes and arts and youth activities, much of this across my Division 11 including around Dayboro.  In so doing we have worked hard to deliver strong financial management and have managed to keep rate increases on the average owner occupied residential property over the whole 4 year term to less than the rate of inflation along with achieving operational savings of more than $100 million, all of which delivers value to our ratepayers.  Our residents can take comfort that despite the many financial and other challenges thrown at us since amalgamation, Council is in good shape to maintain and improve the services and facilities to take our 390,000 residents into the future.
ELECTION SEASON AROUND THE CORNER
By now the date of the State election is known to be 24th March 2012 and this has caused the date of the Council elections to be changed.  Council elections, instead of being on 31st March, will now be held on 28th April 2012.  I have had the honour and privilege of representing the more than 30,000 residents spread over the 600 sq kilometres of the Moreton Bay Regional Council’s Division 11 in diverse communities stretching from Mt Nebo to Burpengary. Despite what has been an extremely challenging period following amalgamation and the formation of the nation’s third largest local authority, I am looking forward to the opportunity to continue working with our communities to build on the achievements of the past four years that have seen the region increasingly showing its strengths as a desirable place in which to work, live and play. 
NARANGBA HARDROCK QUARRY
Council has received a development application for a quarry located in the Narangba Key Resource Area identified by the State Government in the State Planning Policy 2/07 'Protection of Extractive Resource". Public notification of the application under the provisions of the Sustainable Planning Act expires on 9th February following which an extensive period of assessment will be undertaken by Council and the relevant State Government Agencies under whose authority this resource area is designated. There are obviously, many residents whose properties are relatively close to this resource area which already contains a long established quarry and whose interests will be closely considered by Council during its assessment of the application. Whilst some of the land parcels contained in this application do border Dayboro Rd, the quarry site is in Neilson Rd, Kurwongbah and there has been no suggestion that there will be any quarry access sought to Dayboro Rd.  A press release that I have issued which also appears in this edition of the Grapevine, provides some additional detail and the application (DA/24996/2010) can be viewed by accessing the planning and development portal on council’s website at http://www.pdonline.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/
IT’S RUGBY LEAGUE TIME AGAIN
The keenly contested annual Pine Rivers Cup pre-season rugby league competition kicked off its 15th year on Saturday 4th February.  The first match was be played at Dayboro Sports Oval between Pine Rivers and Pine Central Holy Spirit, and between Dayboro and Samford.  The second round will be held at Pine Rivers Bears, Mathieson Park on the 11th February – the first match at 6.00pm is between Samford and Pine Central Holy Spirit and the second match at 7.30pm is between Pine Rivers and Dayboro.  The final will be played at Pine Rivers on the 18th February commencing at 6.00pm. Council is again pleased to be supporting this competition with $1,500 in sponsorship.  The Pine Rivers Cup competition over the years has built a strong following and provides spectators with a great evenings sporting entertainment so please put these dates in your diary and make a commitment to support your local club.
SADDLEBACK DRIVE TO DAYBORO ROAD PEDESTRIAN REFUGE
As part of my ongoing campaign and negotiations with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to gain approval to enable Council to construct a pedestrian refuge on Hay Road/Dayboro Road, Council officers will be undertaking a traffic speed audit on this section of road. This audit is planned to take place once school resumes so that accurate traffic data can be obtained and will be provided to the Department in the hope that they may accede to our longstanding request.
WILLIAMS STREET BRIDGE UPGRADE
I would like to provide an update on a project Council has been planning for some time to improve the drainage/flooding of the village area. This work involves the replacement of the existing bridge which has also reached the end of its functional life.  A part of these works, which will commence after Dayboro Day, will involve the relocation of the shelter currently located in Lions Park.  The shelter will be relocated to another site within the Park which has been discussed with the Dayboro Progress Association. Concept plans of the Bridge Project are on display at Dayboro Cottage.  The shelter will be relocated and refurbished towards the end of February 2012.
RODERICK CRUICE PARK GAINS NEW FLAG POLE
Following discussions with the Dayboro Progress Association and Dayboro War Memorial Association (DWMA), Council has agreed to install a new flag pole in Roderick Cruice Park.  This new addition will provide an improvement for hoisting flags during the different events conducted at the War Memorial which was relocated by DWMA last year. The existing flag pole will be modified so that it may continue to be used for displaying the community Christmas tree. Weather permitting, the new flag pole should be in place by the time you read this article.
CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY
Clean Up Australia Day which each year is sponsored locally by Council will be held on Sunday 4th March. I have worked closely with a number of community groups and residents across Division 11 for many years on this great environmental exercise and if you would like to register yourself or a Clean Up site go to www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au/ 
DID YOU KNOW?
That you can learn a little more about me and my contribution to Council and the residents of Division 11 by visiting my website http://www.bobmillar.id.au/ , following me on twitter at CrBobMillar  or joining me on Facebook “Bob Millar”

For all your general council enquiries call 3205 0555 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
If I can assist further please contact me.
Councillor Bob Millar
Independent – Division 11
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