E News August 2015 Issue 15

Mailing Address: PO Box 595 Charters Towers QLD 4820 Email: admin@charterstowerschamber.com.au Website:

www.charterstowerschamber.com.au

People working

together for a

strong community

Chamber News In reality running purposeful and participative meetings can be challenging.

The Management Committee is responsible for taking major strategic

decisions but the Chamber Members have to be a part of that decision

making, with discussions and information given at General Meetings.

Meetings are vital to the effective functioning of the Chamber and its ability

to carry out its role in the community. They are the means by which the

Management Committee exercises its collective responsibility for leading

the organisation.

There are many issues with running a Chamber which are not easily

addressed, but meetings can become more effective if they are well

attended, well planned with a clear purpose and focused on decision

making.

Productive meetings require the contribution of all members of the

Chamber working as a team and taking joint responsibility for ensuring that

issues are given due consideration and decisions are taken.

I hope to see you at the AGM on 13th August to ensure a diverse and

productive Management Committee is elected for 2015/2016.

Wayne Miller—President

2014 / 2015

EXECUTIVE

President: WAYNE MILLER

Vice President: ALISTAIR GORDON

Treasurer: JODIE COLLINS

Secretary: Dominique Everard-Shepley

Management

Committee: FERGUS TAIT

KELLIE BATTLE

DENIS BEAHAN

Chamber Meetings Dates 2015

We are only as strong as the voices that speak. Come and have your say at our monthly meetings!

General Meeting

Gold and Beef Rooms - Thursday 6.00pm Meet & Greet

13 August AGM Henry’s Restaurant 6:30pm

10 September

08 October

12 November

10 December

People working in partnership to build a stronger

future

Charters Towers Regional Council has had a very busy start to 2015, and

this has continued for the past six months. They engaged with the

Community as part of our review of the Corporate Plan and they now have a

new Corporate, Operational and Economic Development Plan. As part of this

engagement they also provided a report in relation to the issues raised,

where they are up to in processing those issues. A new Advocacy Action

Plan has been adopted by Council following the consultation due to the

advocacy matters raised by the community. All of these documents are

available on the Council Website under Corporate Publications.

These important Strategic Documents outline the opportunities for the

community and also what they are working on and planning for the future.

Council maintains active membership and engagement with the leading

Economic Development organizations in the Region and attends meetings

and functions and has input into the planning for this Region and its role in

the wider Region.

In relation to the Regional Economic Development Plan NQ2031 the

Charters Towers Regional Council has a stewardship and chairing role for

two of the economic themes within the Plan. This is an important

recognition of the benefits that Charters Towers can derive and have input

into these themed opportunities.

Charters Towers also maintains the Chairmanship and Secretariat for the

North Queensland Local Government Association and for the North

Queensland Regional Organisational of Councils. They have a significant

involvement in the wider Region when it comes to planning and economic

development.

The business community can rest assured that the Council has their

interests in mind when they seek opportunities for the Charters Towers

Regional Council communities businesses in the wider Region and also in

relation to the opportunities that may be presented as part of the broader

Development of Northern Australia.

Yeah for the month goes to Queensland Country Credit Union for

assisting Chamber in reaching their goal of promoting the town with

appropriate signage.

Would you like to show case your business to other businesses?

How about holding a Meet & Greet? They are a useful way of getting to know

other Chamber Members and are wonderful for networking.

We are looking for interested businesses to come on board to contact

Chamber for details at admin@charterstowerschamber.com

A FACT YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW

That ‘Hermes’ breeds crocodiles in North Queensland, thus producing the

skins here, then exports them to France. Where they have their own tannery

dedicated to saltwater crocodile skins. Once made the goods are exported

back to Australian. So they are value added all the way from an egg to a

product on the shop shelf.

Regional Business

News

Geothermal Energy Winton Shire Council in western Queensland said it could save $15 million

in power costs over 20 years. By using the heat from artesian water as an

energy source and will go ahead with a $3.5 million geothermal facility, it

would be a unique way to power council infrastructure said Clinton Parker

from Local Government Infrastructure Services.

There isn’t a council in Australia that would be powered by geothermal

energy, this would definitely the first. Australia is the only country and

continent that hasn't really exploited its geothermal energy and we have got

some really good resources under the ground in Winton. There has been a

lot of interest from other small rural councils pursuing the technology. About

10 other councils are in the pre-feasibility stages of looking at geothermal.

One other council has now progressed to the design phase, realising there's

an opportunity for them to make some savings similar to Winton.

The Windorah Development Board stepped in after the local post office

went on the market but no buyer could be found. The community group

bought the town’s post office license to save the local service. It has also

purchased an old cafe in Windorah and volunteers are working to convert it

into a new post office.

It does mean that the community needs

to support the post office now and into

the future so that it can survive, but it is

believed that the community will, and of

course a lot of the pensioners can't get

anywhere to utilise a post office unless

there was one in the town.

Spokeswoman Marilyn Simpson said it

was crucial the mail service was

retained.

The West

Chamber is looking for support in sponsorship to continue to give a high

level of services to the local businesses. We would like to hold various work-

shops of value to the Businesses in the Community as well as bring

speakers to the town to help improve the running of business so that we

continue to grow and keep up with the current economic environment. If you

are interested in supporting the Charters Towers Chamber please contact:

Wayne Miller on 0448 871 588

If the Government has it way, all goods bought on line will incur GST.

Internet shoppers will be forced to pay GST on goods bought online under

$1000 for the first time, in order to boost the Federal Tax revenue. The

Federal Government will be discussing this issue with the States in August.

Thousand of dollars are being spent on fashion and books etc. without a

cent staying in the nation’s economy. This loop hole needs to be blocked,

Small businesses are suffering as people continue to look online for

cheaper goods, according to Hon. Joe Hockey MP.

Chamber is proudly supported & sponsored by

Chamber is Committed to assisting the local business community.

The Charters Towers Regional Council Community Grants Programme proudly supports local sport,

art and culture.

Contact Council for more details.

The Queensland Budget A total of $151 million has been announced to expand social housing in the far

north, there is nearly $10 million to tackle Panama disease that is threatening the

banana industry and there is $13 million for new classrooms. A total of $40 million

has been allocated to complete the Cairns Hospital redevelopment and $13 million

to widen the Bruce Highway to six lanes on the southern entrance to Cairns in

conjunction with the Commonwealth. Cairns Mayor Bob Manning said this was not a

"great deal'' for Cairns in the budget but it is what he was expecting. Cairns Council

look forward to working with the Government, as they get their feet under the table

and become more aware of the key financial targets they have to achieve and the

restraints they have.

The promised subsidise airfares in the far north would be dramatic for the Cape

York and the Torres Strait in this budget.

The Hinchinbrook council has welcomed continued funding for flood mitigation on

the Bruce Highway south of Ingham. $6 million will be spent this coming financial

year to bring that planning process to a finalisation.

The budget focused on health and education in north Queensland. This year's

budget sets aside $10 million to buy land for a new school at Burdell in Townsville,

along with millions more to upgrade the region's existing schools. More than $9

million has been committed to build social housing for Indigenous job trainees in

Townsville. The Government's reaffirmed $100 million commitment to a Townsville

stadium. Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill says it was a fair budget. "There is some good

opportunity here in growing employment in the region," she said.

In north-west Queensland, the $48.4 million in extra drought relief funding

announced in the budget was welcome. There is also $14.4 million for an upgrade

at the Alpha Hospital and $3.4 million to upgrade infrastructure at the Longreach

Pastoral College and the Emerald Agricultural College. It was positive the hospital

and key road projects were funded, the Jundah-Quilpie road, the Landsborough

Highway and including the Clermont-Alpha road.

However the Member for Mount Isa, Rob Katter, said the Government's focus on

reducing state debt was holding Queensland back. He welcomed the

announcement of the $40 million western roads package, including $25 million for

the Flinders Highway, $5 million for the Cloncurry-Djarra road, $5 million to upgrade

the Bedourie-Boulia route and $3.4 million for Hulbert Bridge near Richmond, but

he thought the Government could have dug deeper, if we're really going to get

ahead out here in the outback.

In the south-west, Cunnamulla has received $465,000 towards a youth technology

centre, $350,000 towards the replacement of the fire station and road upgrades to

the Mitchell Highway and another $100 million for the Warrego Highway.

www.charterstowers.qld.gov.au