LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL

CR WINSTON JOHNSTON DIVISION 5 SUNSHINE COAST

Strengthening and repair works will be undertaken on Dalton Bridge spanning Mary River at the north eastern end of Eastern Mary River Road, Conondale.

The refurbishment and repairs to the timber and under-decking are necessary to extend the life of the bridge and ensure road users a safe crossing. Unfortunately, temporary road closure is unavoidable, due to the bridge being a single lane, closure of Eastern Mary River Road will be necessary from, 9am - 2pm Monday to Friday. I appreciate your patience and consideration while we deliver the works which are planned to be undertaken during the September school holidays.

• Council’s Community Partnership Funding Program has established 138 three-year partnerships with Sunshine Coast community organisations, investing more than $990,000 into these groups for this financial year. Through this program, Council develops strong relationships with sports groups, community halls, chambers of commerce, industry groups, coast guards, animal refuges, museums and cultural heritage groups, creative arts peak bodies and community centres. I would like to congratulate Division 5 groups including Old Witta School Community Centre Inc and Conondale Public Hall Committee Inc.

CR DAVID LAW DIVISION 10 SUNSHINE COAST

In late August I attended a fantastic workshop designed to explore how to incorporate cultural burning knowledge into planned burn practices at Tuan Reserve, Platz Rd, Kenilworth.

Traditional Owner knowledge and caring for country through fire management was showcased at this cultural burning workshop held on Kabi Kabi Country. Reps from Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Traditional Owners, Sunshine Coast Council fire crew, and Indigenous fire rangers from across SEQ (Warinya, Gardigal, Bunya Mts and Butchulla). Facilitated by the National Indigenous Firesticks Alliance.

This project was jointly funded by council’s operational bushland management program and the Bushfire Recovery Package for wildlife and their habitat. Tuan Reserve is a 200ha site which was acquired through council’s Environment Levy to support a broader plan to build a wildlife corridor that connects the Kondalilla National Park to the Conondale National Park.

• 19 environmental community groups can continue to focus on their core work of caring for our precious wildlife and stunning natural environment, thanks to a three-year grant from Council’s Environment Levy Partnership Funding Program. The groups will share in $610,000 each year for the next three years, subject to completing a yearly progress report and the adoption of Council’s annual Environment Levy budget.

I’m pleased to advise that Mary River Catchment Coord. Assoc. (MRCCC) has been approved for $201,000 across the next three years. The group aims to achieve an informed community with an ethic of care for exceptional land and water management by supporting the development of on-ground projects, providing activities/events/materials and sharing knowledge.

PROTECTING FAITHFUL CRIME-FIGHTERS

The Palaszczuk Government will introduce tough new laws to protect police dogs and horses and impose harsher penalties on those who attack the community’s faithful servants. Member for Nicklin, Robert Skelton MP said police dogs and police horses play a vital role in helping to keep the community safe.

“Under these proposed laws the government will establish a new offence targeting people who seriously injure or kill a police dog or horse. The new offence will be punishable by a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment. I wholeheartedly support this initiative,” Mr Skelton said.

Member for Nicklin, Robert Skelton MP

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said our four-legged heroes deserved to be protected with tough penalties. “Our police dogs and police horses work tirelessly alongside our officers to protect the community and they should be protected from anyone who tries to harm them,” Commissioner Carroll said. “The bond between a police dog and their handler is particularly special and together the crime-fighting partnership is extremely valuable to the entire Service. Anyone who tries to hurt our police dogs or police horses should be held accountable and face serious consequences.”

TED O’BRIEN MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR FAIRFAX

The good news is that as at 20 August, we’re making progress on the health and economic fronts in our battle against the pandemic. Our national vaccination program passed a major milestone with more than 50% of all eligible Australians having received their first dose and approval for 16 to 39-year-olds to start receiving Pfizer from 30 August should see the roll out continue to gather pace.

Meanwhile, on the economic front, the jobless rate plunged to a 12-year low of 4.6% in July as 2,000 additional jobs were added in the month. While this reflects an underlying strength in the Australian economy, I’m very mindful that much of the country is in lockdown and this will be felt.

For local businesses doing it tough, we struck a deal with the State Government and grants ranging from $1,000 to $30,000 are available at https://www.business.qld.gov.au/starting-business/ advice-support/grants/covid19-support-grants.

The bad news is that the Taliban has returned to power in Afghanistan and our prayers and thoughts are with the Afghan people. I wish to pay tribute to the men and women of the Australian Defence Force for their service during the 20-year conflict. They put themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedoms, our way of life and people in need. No matter what your view might be on this tragic conclusion to the campaign of the West in Afghanistan, let us all unite in honouring the fine members of the ADF.

On the Sunshine Coast, there was a fantastic turnout for a meeting I organised to discuss the formation of a Sunshine Coast Taskforce to ensure we make the most of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

• Finally, I thank all the Sunshine Coast Paralympians from Tokyo 2021:- swimmers Ruby Storm, Ellie Cole, Keira Stephens, Katja Dedekind, Lakeisha Patterson, Blake Cochrane, Ben Hance, Braeden Jason, Brenden Hall and Liam Schluter; 1500m runner Daniel Bounty; wheelchair rugby player Chris Bond; cyclist Alastair Donohoe; and wheelchair basketballer Hannah Dodd.

Ted O'Brien MP - Federal Member for Fairfax

Mary Valley Community News Assoc. Inc., publishers of The Mary Valley Voice since 1991, reserves the right to refuse inappropriate advertising and submissions for both print and website, and any opinions expressed in any published advertisements or submissions does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Association or its Editor. It also reserves the right to determine what is inappropriate for publication purposes. • ABN 61 781 267 568 • Mary Valley Community News Assoc Inc, PO Box 158, Kenilworth Q 4574