Media Responses (16 August - 20 August)

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Published
6th September 2021

Media Responses (16 August - 20 August 2021)

CONTENT: Ask the Mayor, Clearing behind Groundwater Rd, Lake Alford Geese, Mary Street Trees.

Cooloola Bay Bulletin: 16 August – Ask the Mayor

QUESTION:
Do you have the dates for the September ‘Ask the Mayor’?


 ANSWER:
September’s ‘Ask the Mayor’ question submission period: 
Monday, 13 September until Sunday, 19 September.

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Gympie Today: 17 August – Clearing behind Groundwater Rd 


QUESTION: 
A resident in Groundwater Rd is concerned because there are currently four bulldozers behind her home clearing land she was led to believe is an environmental reserve.


Checking the Gympie Regional Council Town Planning map for the area, and selecting the Environmentally Significant tab, the area that is appearing to be cleared does appear to be, according to the map, zoned as of environmental importance.
I have attached a screenshot of the map taken this afternoon, along with a circle of where the earthworks are being conducted.


The resident in Groundwater Rd said she was advised; "Council said they are the trustees and have approved development there."
I've key word searched for Development Applications from Woodland Drive, and there were no results.


I also searched for Groundwater Rd, and aside from some road widening, there isn't anything there that looks like it relates to this instance in the past 12 months.
Please advise - is this a case of the map not being currently up to date or is this developer clearing areas that should not be cleared?


 ANSWER: 
Initial investigations have found the clearing is in line with the approved development application. The Environmental reserve as listed in the application has not been cleared. Information regarding the approved development application can be found on the Council website, DA’s online.

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Gympie Times: 19 August – Lake Alford Geese 


QUESTION: 
Just wondering if we could get a comment from the council in relation to the removal of the 'domestic' geese from Lake Alford. [Member of Public] said he has permission from council to remove them and we were wondering if this is true and what the decision was based on. 


ANSWER: 
Gympie Regional Council does not support the removal of wildlife at Lake Alford. If a person is concerned about the wellbeing or welfare of an animal, please contact the RSPCA on 1300 264 625


CEO Shane Gray

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Gympie Times: 20 August – Mary Street Trees 


QUESTION: 
Looking for fresh comments on the tree removal situation in Mary St. I'd prefer a comment from the Mayor or the CEO if possible please.
What is the council's response to the apparent majority of residents wanting the two leopard trees to remain in Mary St?


[Member of Public] communicated his wish to keep the trees to Mayor Hartwig and CEO Shane Gray last night. What is the council's response to these communications?


Why has this process been so quick? Why was there two weeks' notice of the removal given to traders in the CBD? How long has the council been planning to remove these trees?


An expert quoted in our latest story on the issue, from Landcare Gympie, says the trees will not cause any problems to the area with minor maintenance procedures. Why is the council going straight for removal without trying to maintain the trees first?

 

ANSWER:

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