December 5, 2024 • 22 mins
Here is the Mayor on Air 29th November edition
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Where's the week gone? We're already here at seven Excess
with the Mere on air for this week and joining
us now in the studio is our Mayor Shane Pitt.
Good morning, sir.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
How's your week?
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Ben?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Yeah, good morning? Go yeah busy.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
You caught a fish?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I heard I did catch too.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
This year at the fishing comp which is unbelievable. And
you know, I guess my average is up now normally zero,
so now I've got at least a couple. But yeah,
it was a great day on Saturday out at the lake.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
A bit of a bit of.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Rain, but our good week in out of the lake.
But Saturday was a really great turn up for the
fag in event as well, and the yeah it was
Brisbane Line AFL Premiership Cup coming to Queenstown and yeah,
a great turn up by the community. And and also
(00:50):
the free clinic for the children that was well yeah,
you know, with well over seventy I think might have
been close to ninety young people there at the clinic,
which is great. And you know, even the question set
that we're asked of Chris about his life that was
a great also.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
In the clubrooms and well done Toby on that one.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yeah, No, it's a great event and you know, I
would like to thank especially first of all the Queenstown
Council staff, great and change team there that helped assisted.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
With organizing this, So the a who organized all the.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Flights for Chris, and also the Crow's Football Club and
especially Sandy the secretary there, that Dnahella.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
She's an amazing workout. She does the same thing at
the Queenstown Junior Basketball Association. She is just a great
organizer and I think the president Peter is very happy
that she's there.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I think, yeah, it was a great event today.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
You know, it all come together in the end and
to you know, all parties to be part of that.
And also like to thank Grant for bringing Chris around
and he had his mum and and sistered along with him,
and you know, even the the folk of the ly
Wing had an opportunity to meet Chris and and had
(02:18):
photos with the cup as well. And he was able
to get back to his old the old school with
over there Saint Joseph. So thanks to Christie Reynolds for
opening up and showing Chris through the school as well.
So yeah, not a lot of people there involved in that,
and you know I'm glad that, you know, he answered
my letter when we sent it out to bring the
(02:39):
cup down, because you know, and it's shown that it
was something which you know, a lot of West Coast
and especially Queenstown and x West Coasters come back for
the event, and you know.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
He enjoyed that time of Chris.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
It was great. It was absolutely fantastic. Well done to everybody,
and particularly well done to you for getting them out
here in the first place.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, no, it was great. We need, you know, these things.
We need to promote a lot more for the West
Coast and it's great to see we had people from
other parts of the Tasminor and even the mainland. We
had a couple of people from Queensland come all the
way down.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Yeah. That was fantastic to meet them too. They were
great and they loved it, so it was really good.
All right, let's get to our questions. There are a
few this week. Great, Yeah, it's great, isn't it. We
can talk about other things all right now. The parking
lines in Queenstown are barely visible these days. When will
the council do some fresh parking lines?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So this will be scheduled for the completion during this
summer season. Okay, we need to wait to the fine weather,
of course.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
We've got a bit of roadworks going on as well
around the community, around the esplanat, et cetera. So we'll
make sure that they get emark to be done when
all that road ceiling project is over and we are
doing the road line marking as well.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
So excellent. Oh that's good news.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Then.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah, it's good to see that.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
You know, we've got some listeners out there that notice
these things and they bring them, bringing them to our attention.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
It's great to see that people are observant.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Yep, yeah, that's good. All right, Now, this isn't concerning
that the bus shelter in Andrew Street. Why has the
rubbish beIN been removed from beside the bus shelter? There
is rubbish everywhere in the shelter. Who is responsible for
the cleanup before it spills onto the street And will
there be a replacement rubbish bin?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I'll have to take that one on oas scurvy. But
I'm not sure why it was removed. There must there
would have been a reason. But you know, I think
we need to make sure that we're you know, a
bus shelter is probably where the kids may get Yeah, yeah,
well they're waiting for the bus to come up to Queenstown,
(04:52):
possibly for the high school students. But yeah, it certainly
looks like it needs have been there replacing.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
But I'll take that on notice.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
As the staff what's happening there and with regard to
cleaning it up. I'll also get mentioned that to staff
that they may need to whiz by there and clean
that area up.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Sure, Okay, our trees that were cut down months ago
and burned on the corner near the straw and Post
office setting to Dick's Clark Dick Clark's jetty, they are
still lying there into quite an I saw as well
as a fire, has it? Why have they not been
removed and the corner tidied up? And who's responsible? Whose
responsibility is it to remove the trees and tidy the
(05:33):
area up?
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Okay, we'll have to take also take they want on
notice and find out whose land it is. It is
the responsibility of the landowner to remove the trees. I'm
not sure who's land that is, whether it's private land
or whether it is crown land or even counsel landed yep,
but I will investigate that and find out who is
(05:56):
responsible and make sure that it gets cleaned up. And
if we can't find out who the responsible owner is, well,
and if it is Crown Lands, we might have to
remove that ourselves and in back charge the state government.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
All right, take that on notes and find out what's going.
All right, we'll talk to you about that next week
as well. Something that you and I might need to
just sort of take or notice as well is the
final question is what is the West Coast Council doing
to eradicate to fox glove weed. The waste transfer station
in Queenstown is full of the weed.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Okay, well, yeah, as you mentioned, I'll have to take
that one on notice as well, but I certainly will
highlight that to staff.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
No doubt they know about it. I'm not sure whether
they've sprayed it as yet, but you know we do.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
We have got a weed campaign and we would be
waiting for fine weather. Fine weather's now here, so I'll
make sure that that gets on the list to be
eradicated during our spraying season.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
So yeah, okay, no worries. You can report it to
us back on next week's show about those then excellent.
This is the mayor on air with Scurvo and the Mayor,
Shane Pitt, delivering you the latest from the West Coast Council.
And we've had our questions which the Mayor will report
back on next week. But let's get to other council
information now. Of course, we had the council meeting last Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Yes, sur yeah, we did. It was we had one
lady in the gallery. Oh okay, which is good to see.
We had someone there. We had no questions though, but
that was fine. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
It was a great meeting with a lot of a
lot of discussion, a lot of debate on some topics
and you know, there's a couple of sponsorships that were
approved on the evening, so that was great part of
our initiative innovative fun sorry, and also a sponsorship fund.
(07:56):
So yeah, it's But so got our December council meeting
coming up earlier in December Scuba. So that's going to
be on Thursday, the twelfth of December. The reason why
that's a bit earlier is we need to get our
AGM in before the fifteenth of December. So our AGM
and general meeting will be held on the Thursday, the
(08:18):
twelfth of December, and of course that's open to the
public and you know, and also hope anyone has a
question without notice, they can also submit that to the
general manager up to midday on the twelfth of December.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Okay, great, all right, let's get on to the pool
opening out here in Queenstown at the pool have been released.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Yes, that's that time of the year again, Scuba and
they'll be opening the first December twenty twenty four all
the way open to the thirty first of March twenty
twenty five. So they will open from the first of
(09:02):
the twelfth to the twenty first of the twelfth Monday
to Friday from one thirty pm to seven pm, and
then Saturday and Sunday twelve pm to six pm. And
then from the twenty second of the twelfth to the
sixth of the second twenty twenty five Monday to Friday
from twelve pm to seven pm and Saturday and Sunday
twelve pm to six pm. And then from the second
(09:24):
of the sorry the seventh of the second to the
thirty first to the third from Monday to Friday back
to one thirty pm to seven pm and Saturday and
Sunday twelve pm to six PM and during the council
meeting also Scurve we asked there was a question asked.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
About the Zoom full.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Yeah, so they work on the Zoom pools are looking
pretty good to that failure that we has.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Been wrecked fives excellent.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
We've got the you know, we've got the pressure on
the guys to make sure that they've got that pool open.
It's not going to be open till February sometime, but
we've said we'd like to see it open early in
February if we can, or as early in February as
they can, so that at least the Zoom people have
at least a month of the pool being open.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Over there in Zoom. So yep, good, that's good. We'll
see how that pans out.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
But yeah, we have got the pressure on the contractors
to make them sure they get that work completed.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yep, in good time.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Alrighty now, we've had a bit of a discussion this
week actually around the traps about abatement and certainly after
our weekdays announcer Andrew had a snake in his backyard
and that can be all caused by Also it's a
two in one situation with obviously it being a fire
has it, but it also if you don't clean up
the space, you're going to have a snake in your backyard.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Certainly, mate, Yes, and it does highlight well, we need
to get rid of this long grass in there, especially
in our urven areas. You know, I'm sure that Andrews
living somewhere in Queenstown, so you know, it's highlights that
these reptiles do move into our urban areas and if
(11:14):
the grass is a bit long, it's you know, it's
somewhere for them to hang out. So you know, it's
we are looking at you know, the abatement season, so
we will be around looking at properties. But I guess
the main thing is if we need to make sure
that we're maintaining our fuel aid on our blocks in
(11:36):
our residential areas and even out in the rural areas.
So will we certainly, and we have recently highlighted to
State Growth that will be sending out abatement notice to
them if if any of the state areas become overgrown
to a fire risk situations. So you know, we certainly
(12:01):
will be taking it with some great vigor this year
that is supposed to be a fairly high fire. Yes, season,
so we need to make sure that we don't have
what happened a few years ago.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
And yeah, that's right. Well, there have been quite a
few burnoffs that have been happening. I think they've been
fire you know, burnoffs in relation to just stuck. The
Tasmania Fire Service doing all that.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Yeah, Parks, my Wildlife and Task Fire Service have been
doing a fair few burnoffs around the Zoone area, but
you know that's they haven't done any around Queenstown. And
you know we're looking queens down every year. The trees
are getting denser.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Well that close, aren't they really? They're sort of they're
all around.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Us, they are.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
And you know when you look back in the past,
and we shouldn't bring up the past, of guess, but
there was some firebreakes. You know, we're put in years
ago around Queenstown to mitigate the fire risk, but you
know they're overgrown now and we have been continually onto
the state government around that and tas Fired to see
(13:10):
what you come up with some proposals to how they're
going to mitigate the fire risk.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
But yeah, leaving Gormanstone probably needs to be looked at
as well, because that could be wiped down in minutes
up there.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Well exactly.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
You know, the trees are growing back on our hills,
even up around Gormston. They certainly has been an increase
in how our trees growing back up in them hills.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Yeah, all right, well let's move on. We'll go to
the Community Plan twenty thirty five engagement sessions now. Is
there one being held tonight at the straw And Market.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Yes, make yes.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
This has went on from four thirty pm to six
thirty pm, So that's the next one on the line
for people just to review the if they have reviewed
the draft or if they want to review the draft,
that to pop up an opportunity for them to know
to if they've got any suggestions or any feedback, to
pop into that strong Twilight Market pop up and yeah,
(14:08):
discuss it with the team there. And yeah, it's one
of the things we need to get feedback. If people
aren't happy with the community plan. Now it's the time
to give the feedback, because there's no use giving the
feedback once we've it's just gone live.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
So yeah, that's right. It's good that the council is
getting out and about with these events.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
And we've also got a couple others well, one more
coming up also the Queenstown Market on Sunday, the eighth
of decep from.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Eleven am to one pm.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Another opportunity for residents there to feedback some information on
the draft community Plan yep.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
And we'll finish off with the Annual Plan for community
input which is also needed.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Yeah, so that that closes Monday, the third of February,
So a little little while off yet, but you know,
it is an important document for counsel because it does
guide us over the next financial year and sets the
resources allocations that Council needs to provide to for projects
(15:14):
and priorities. And you know that people in our community
have got priorities as well. You know, we understand that
the staff have got priorities, counselors have got priorities, but
you know, the main people that have got priorities also
as our residents, and we need to hear from them
what their priorities are. It may not get into this
year's annual plan, but at least you know we've got
(15:36):
it there and we can try and fit it in
in a budget in the future if we can't accommodate
it in this next year's plans. But you know, it's
one of these things that good things come from our
residents and we've seen, you know, some really good things
have come up in the past, and a lot of
these projects that are ongoing at the moment.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Have come from.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Residents that have put some missions into the anal plan.
And that's how we come about by, you know, doing
a lot of these projects that we're doing from feedback
from the community.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Absolutely what okay, I'll ask you a question off the
cap here, but what's what would you like to see
to be a priority for looking at next year?
Speaker 2 (16:20):
First of all?
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Over everything else? Do you think?
Speaker 3 (16:22):
I guess the main thing that I want to see
is the existing projects that we've got ongoing completed into
a high standard and then also work through, you know,
some of the assets that we've got, we need to
get get them up to a standard that.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
That is acceptable.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
We've still got a lot of you know, we've got
some new building, and I guess that's why we're building
new buildings. As in the strong gym that's to replace
the old hole down there. The zoo gym has been
renovated because the gym itself needed to be updated. It's
also fits into the pool and accessing the pool and
(17:03):
upgrading the pool and the parks. Well, you know, the
playgrounds we've all upgrade up have to update because of
safety concerns with the equipment, et cetera, and the age
of the equipment they're normally they've normally only got a
ten year life speed playgrounds. So yeah, but I guess
(17:25):
making sure there are assets in our communities are improved
and kept to a good standard.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Yeah, that in.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
The you know, into the future, that will assist us
to make sure that we can, you know, try and
keep keep our costs down to as minimal so that
we can, you know, try and relieve some of the
stress on our rate payers without avingue to increase our
rates exactly, and you know, trying to find it efficient
(18:00):
is all the time. I think that's one thing that
we need to continually do, is keep finding efficiencies.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Yep, exactly. That's a good point. And I suppose if
you get the feedback from the community, hopefully that's the
collective of lots of people majority that will say this
is what's being needed now, so you have a good
idea of what the priorities are from the community as well.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Oh, exactly, right, and that's what we mentioned here earlier.
That's where we get all ours for the annual Plan,
you know, is they come out of the feedback from
the community, so you know, and the things in the
Annual Plan need to fit in with what our Community
Plan twenty thirty five will bring forward as well, so
(18:43):
you know, it is one of the things that you know,
will continue to work with state government as well for
funding and we'll try and we'll continue to advocate for
more funding for the West Coast. And you know, we
haven't give up on royalties for regions yet, but you know,
we've got a hard task, but will continue to fight
for more for the West Coast. It's one of them
(19:05):
things that certainly passionate about is making sure that the
state government knows that the West is provides a fair
bit of income for the State of Tasmania. For the
West Coast, the state would be in a lot worse
position than what they are.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
At the moment.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
So and this is what worries me if people or
politicians or whatever shut down the Sama farm. We've said
this before in the mines, what happens to the West Coast,
what happens to the state. We're not We're not. I
don't think we're talking about that enough.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
No, exactly. And you know, we can't live on tourism. No,
tourism is great, and that's one of our economic developments
in especially on the West Coast. We rely on tourism
as well, especially down there at Strawn and not only
Strong but Queenstown and and Tyler. But yeah, we can't
(20:01):
just rely on tourism. I guess that's why we've over
the you know, the past few years, probably going all
the way back to probably twenty fourteen, more or less,
that we've diversified our economy in such a way that
we're not relying on any one industry to carry the
West Coast. It's everyone's there. You know, arts and culture
(20:24):
have moved into the community, tourism, adventure tourisms. So we've
even banced our tourism arm out to now offer for
the younger people as well as the older people in
our community and also tourists and offer something for the
children as well, families that come into the tour around
the state as well. So you know, we're certainly, you know,
(20:48):
one thing we're probably missing that would be great if
we could at some stage down the track is some
manufacturing industry, but it's not something that lends itself to
the West Coast. But still never know what's around the corner.
So I think, you know, we need to continue working
and advocating for the West Coast. And you know, you've
seen recent articles from the Hydra about what they do
(21:10):
for the West Coast, but we believe that they can
do some more and we've been in discussion with the
Hydro regionally and they certainly you know, they appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
And yeah, there will be some a lot closer.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Ties between Council and the Hydro here on the West
Coast because yeah, you know, twenty five percent of Tasmania's
power is generated.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Exactly West coast. That's it, that's it.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
We need to get a little bit back from the
rest of Tassy for sure.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
All right, well we'll leave it there. Times marching on.
We've got to go to news shortly, so thanks for
your time as always, Mayor Shane Pitt And are you
off to tell are you going to go into Taller
tomorrow for the Wee Georgie Wood centenary celebration.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Now I'm off to win your tomorrow. Sorry, No, Devenport, No,
Devenport after well after I'm finished here and I'm off
winged on on Saturday. So okay, we've got meetings in
wind on Saturday, so I can be there all day,
all day Saturday, and yeah, so.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Okay, well I'll be down there. I'm going to take
part for the afternoon. So I'm looking forward to that.
It's a great, great day for the for Tulla, with
the with the with where Georgie would centenary.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Yeah, no, it will be a great day and you know,
I wish it all well and but yeah, no worry.
That's okay, meetings all days.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
But maybe you're on the way back Sunday and.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Yeah, all right, no worries. Okay, well we'll talk to
you next week. All the best, Okay, thanks, thanks mate.
There we go. That is me Shane Pitt joining us
from here on air for this week. Back again next
week here on seven Excess
Where's the week gone? We're already here at seven Excess
with the Mere on air for this week and joining
us now in the studio is our Mayor Shane Pitt.
Good morning, sir.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
How's your week?
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Ben?
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Yeah, good morning? Go yeah busy.
Speaker 1 (00:13):
You caught a fish?
Speaker 2 (00:14):
I heard I did catch too.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
This year at the fishing comp which is unbelievable. And
you know, I guess my average is up now normally zero,
so now I've got at least a couple. But yeah,
it was a great day on Saturday out at the lake.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
A bit of a bit of.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Rain, but our good week in out of the lake.
But Saturday was a really great turn up for the
fag in event as well, and the yeah it was
Brisbane Line AFL Premiership Cup coming to Queenstown and yeah,
a great turn up by the community. And and also
(00:50):
the free clinic for the children that was well yeah,
you know, with well over seventy I think might have
been close to ninety young people there at the clinic,
which is great. And you know, even the question set
that we're asked of Chris about his life that was
a great also.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
In the clubrooms and well done Toby on that one.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yeah, No, it's a great event and you know, I
would like to thank especially first of all the Queenstown
Council staff, great and change team there that helped assisted.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
With organizing this, So the a who organized all the.
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Flights for Chris, and also the Crow's Football Club and
especially Sandy the secretary there, that Dnahella.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
She's an amazing workout. She does the same thing at
the Queenstown Junior Basketball Association. She is just a great
organizer and I think the president Peter is very happy
that she's there.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I think, yeah, it was a great event today.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
You know, it all come together in the end and
to you know, all parties to be part of that.
And also like to thank Grant for bringing Chris around
and he had his mum and and sistered along with him,
and you know, even the the folk of the ly
Wing had an opportunity to meet Chris and and had
(02:18):
photos with the cup as well. And he was able
to get back to his old the old school with
over there Saint Joseph. So thanks to Christie Reynolds for
opening up and showing Chris through the school as well.
So yeah, not a lot of people there involved in that,
and you know I'm glad that, you know, he answered
my letter when we sent it out to bring the
(02:39):
cup down, because you know, and it's shown that it
was something which you know, a lot of West Coast
and especially Queenstown and x West Coasters come back for
the event, and you know.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
He enjoyed that time of Chris.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
It was great. It was absolutely fantastic. Well done to everybody,
and particularly well done to you for getting them out
here in the first place.
Speaker 3 (03:03):
Yeah, no, it was great. We need, you know, these things.
We need to promote a lot more for the West
Coast and it's great to see we had people from
other parts of the Tasminor and even the mainland. We
had a couple of people from Queensland come all the
way down.
Speaker 1 (03:18):
Yeah. That was fantastic to meet them too. They were
great and they loved it, so it was really good.
All right, let's get to our questions. There are a
few this week. Great, Yeah, it's great, isn't it. We
can talk about other things all right now. The parking
lines in Queenstown are barely visible these days. When will
the council do some fresh parking lines?
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So this will be scheduled for the completion during this
summer season. Okay, we need to wait to the fine weather,
of course.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
Yep.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
We've got a bit of roadworks going on as well
around the community, around the esplanat, et cetera. So we'll
make sure that they get emark to be done when
all that road ceiling project is over and we are
doing the road line marking as well.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
So excellent. Oh that's good news.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Then.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah, it's good to see that.
Speaker 3 (04:04):
You know, we've got some listeners out there that notice
these things and they bring them, bringing them to our attention.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
It's great to see that people are observant.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Yep, yeah, that's good. All right, Now, this isn't concerning
that the bus shelter in Andrew Street. Why has the
rubbish beIN been removed from beside the bus shelter? There
is rubbish everywhere in the shelter. Who is responsible for
the cleanup before it spills onto the street And will
there be a replacement rubbish bin?
Speaker 3 (04:30):
I'll have to take that one on oas scurvy. But
I'm not sure why it was removed. There must there
would have been a reason. But you know, I think
we need to make sure that we're you know, a
bus shelter is probably where the kids may get Yeah, yeah,
well they're waiting for the bus to come up to Queenstown,
(04:52):
possibly for the high school students. But yeah, it certainly
looks like it needs have been there replacing.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
But I'll take that on notice.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
As the staff what's happening there and with regard to
cleaning it up. I'll also get mentioned that to staff
that they may need to whiz by there and clean
that area up.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Sure, Okay, our trees that were cut down months ago
and burned on the corner near the straw and Post
office setting to Dick's Clark Dick Clark's jetty, they are
still lying there into quite an I saw as well
as a fire, has it? Why have they not been
removed and the corner tidied up? And who's responsible? Whose
responsibility is it to remove the trees and tidy the
(05:33):
area up?
Speaker 3 (05:33):
Okay, we'll have to take also take they want on
notice and find out whose land it is. It is
the responsibility of the landowner to remove the trees. I'm
not sure who's land that is, whether it's private land
or whether it is crown land or even counsel landed yep,
but I will investigate that and find out who is
(05:56):
responsible and make sure that it gets cleaned up. And
if we can't find out who the responsible owner is, well,
and if it is Crown Lands, we might have to
remove that ourselves and in back charge the state government.
Speaker 1 (06:09):
All right, take that on notes and find out what's going.
All right, we'll talk to you about that next week
as well. Something that you and I might need to
just sort of take or notice as well is the
final question is what is the West Coast Council doing
to eradicate to fox glove weed. The waste transfer station
in Queenstown is full of the weed.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
Okay, well, yeah, as you mentioned, I'll have to take
that one on notice as well, but I certainly will
highlight that to staff.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
No doubt they know about it. I'm not sure whether
they've sprayed it as yet, but you know we do.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
We have got a weed campaign and we would be
waiting for fine weather. Fine weather's now here, so I'll
make sure that that gets on the list to be
eradicated during our spraying season.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
So yeah, okay, no worries. You can report it to
us back on next week's show about those then excellent.
This is the mayor on air with Scurvo and the Mayor,
Shane Pitt, delivering you the latest from the West Coast Council.
And we've had our questions which the Mayor will report
back on next week. But let's get to other council
information now. Of course, we had the council meeting last Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Yes, sur yeah, we did. It was we had one
lady in the gallery. Oh okay, which is good to see.
We had someone there. We had no questions though, but
that was fine. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
It was a great meeting with a lot of a
lot of discussion, a lot of debate on some topics
and you know, there's a couple of sponsorships that were
approved on the evening, so that was great part of
our initiative innovative fun sorry, and also a sponsorship fund.
(07:56):
So yeah, it's But so got our December council meeting
coming up earlier in December Scuba. So that's going to
be on Thursday, the twelfth of December. The reason why
that's a bit earlier is we need to get our
AGM in before the fifteenth of December. So our AGM
and general meeting will be held on the Thursday, the
(08:18):
twelfth of December, and of course that's open to the
public and you know, and also hope anyone has a
question without notice, they can also submit that to the
general manager up to midday on the twelfth of December.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Okay, great, all right, let's get on to the pool
opening out here in Queenstown at the pool have been released.
Speaker 3 (08:41):
Yes, that's that time of the year again, Scuba and
they'll be opening the first December twenty twenty four all
the way open to the thirty first of March twenty
twenty five. So they will open from the first of
(09:02):
the twelfth to the twenty first of the twelfth Monday
to Friday from one thirty pm to seven pm, and
then Saturday and Sunday twelve pm to six pm. And
then from the twenty second of the twelfth to the
sixth of the second twenty twenty five Monday to Friday
from twelve pm to seven pm and Saturday and Sunday
twelve pm to six pm. And then from the second
(09:24):
of the sorry the seventh of the second to the
thirty first to the third from Monday to Friday back
to one thirty pm to seven pm and Saturday and
Sunday twelve pm to six PM and during the council
meeting also Scurve we asked there was a question asked.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
About the Zoom full.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
Yeah, so they work on the Zoom pools are looking
pretty good to that failure that we has.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
Been wrecked fives excellent.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
We've got the you know, we've got the pressure on
the guys to make sure that they've got that pool open.
It's not going to be open till February sometime, but
we've said we'd like to see it open early in
February if we can, or as early in February as
they can, so that at least the Zoom people have
at least a month of the pool being open.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Over there in Zoom. So yep, good, that's good. We'll
see how that pans out.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
But yeah, we have got the pressure on the contractors
to make them sure they get that work completed.
Speaker 2 (10:27):
Yep, in good time.
Speaker 1 (10:29):
Alrighty now, we've had a bit of a discussion this
week actually around the traps about abatement and certainly after
our weekdays announcer Andrew had a snake in his backyard
and that can be all caused by Also it's a
two in one situation with obviously it being a fire
has it, but it also if you don't clean up
the space, you're going to have a snake in your backyard.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Certainly, mate, Yes, and it does highlight well, we need
to get rid of this long grass in there, especially
in our urven areas. You know, I'm sure that Andrews
living somewhere in Queenstown, so you know, it's highlights that
these reptiles do move into our urban areas and if
(11:14):
the grass is a bit long, it's you know, it's
somewhere for them to hang out. So you know, it's
we are looking at you know, the abatement season, so
we will be around looking at properties. But I guess
the main thing is if we need to make sure
that we're maintaining our fuel aid on our blocks in
(11:36):
our residential areas and even out in the rural areas.
So will we certainly, and we have recently highlighted to
State Growth that will be sending out abatement notice to
them if if any of the state areas become overgrown
to a fire risk situations. So you know, we certainly
(12:01):
will be taking it with some great vigor this year
that is supposed to be a fairly high fire. Yes, season,
so we need to make sure that we don't have
what happened a few years ago.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
And yeah, that's right. Well, there have been quite a
few burnoffs that have been happening. I think they've been
fire you know, burnoffs in relation to just stuck. The
Tasmania Fire Service doing all that.
Speaker 3 (12:29):
Yeah, Parks, my Wildlife and Task Fire Service have been
doing a fair few burnoffs around the Zoone area, but
you know that's they haven't done any around Queenstown. And
you know we're looking queens down every year. The trees
are getting denser.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
Well that close, aren't they really? They're sort of they're
all around.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Us, they are.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
And you know when you look back in the past,
and we shouldn't bring up the past, of guess, but
there was some firebreakes. You know, we're put in years
ago around Queenstown to mitigate the fire risk, but you
know they're overgrown now and we have been continually onto
the state government around that and tas Fired to see
(13:10):
what you come up with some proposals to how they're
going to mitigate the fire risk.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
But yeah, leaving Gormanstone probably needs to be looked at
as well, because that could be wiped down in minutes
up there.
Speaker 2 (13:24):
Well exactly.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
You know, the trees are growing back on our hills,
even up around Gormston. They certainly has been an increase
in how our trees growing back up in them hills.
Speaker 1 (13:35):
Yeah, all right, well let's move on. We'll go to
the Community Plan twenty thirty five engagement sessions now. Is
there one being held tonight at the straw And Market.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
Yes, make yes.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
This has went on from four thirty pm to six
thirty pm, So that's the next one on the line
for people just to review the if they have reviewed
the draft or if they want to review the draft,
that to pop up an opportunity for them to know
to if they've got any suggestions or any feedback, to
pop into that strong Twilight Market pop up and yeah,
(14:08):
discuss it with the team there. And yeah, it's one
of the things we need to get feedback. If people
aren't happy with the community plan. Now it's the time
to give the feedback, because there's no use giving the
feedback once we've it's just gone live.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
So yeah, that's right. It's good that the council is
getting out and about with these events.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Yeah exactly.
Speaker 3 (14:30):
And we've also got a couple others well, one more
coming up also the Queenstown Market on Sunday, the eighth
of decep from.
Speaker 2 (14:37):
Eleven am to one pm.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
Another opportunity for residents there to feedback some information on
the draft community Plan yep.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
And we'll finish off with the Annual Plan for community
input which is also needed.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Yeah, so that that closes Monday, the third of February,
So a little little while off yet, but you know,
it is an important document for counsel because it does
guide us over the next financial year and sets the
resources allocations that Council needs to provide to for projects
(15:14):
and priorities. And you know that people in our community
have got priorities as well. You know, we understand that
the staff have got priorities, counselors have got priorities, but
you know, the main people that have got priorities also
as our residents, and we need to hear from them
what their priorities are. It may not get into this
year's annual plan, but at least you know we've got
(15:36):
it there and we can try and fit it in
in a budget in the future if we can't accommodate
it in this next year's plans. But you know, it's
one of these things that good things come from our
residents and we've seen, you know, some really good things
have come up in the past, and a lot of
these projects that are ongoing at the moment.
Speaker 2 (15:59):
Have come from.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
Residents that have put some missions into the anal plan.
And that's how we come about by, you know, doing
a lot of these projects that we're doing from feedback
from the community.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Absolutely what okay, I'll ask you a question off the
cap here, but what's what would you like to see
to be a priority for looking at next year?
Speaker 2 (16:20):
First of all?
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Over everything else? Do you think?
Speaker 3 (16:22):
I guess the main thing that I want to see
is the existing projects that we've got ongoing completed into
a high standard and then also work through, you know,
some of the assets that we've got, we need to
get get them up to a standard that.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
That is acceptable.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
We've still got a lot of you know, we've got
some new building, and I guess that's why we're building
new buildings. As in the strong gym that's to replace
the old hole down there. The zoo gym has been
renovated because the gym itself needed to be updated. It's
also fits into the pool and accessing the pool and
(17:03):
upgrading the pool and the parks. Well, you know, the
playgrounds we've all upgrade up have to update because of
safety concerns with the equipment, et cetera, and the age
of the equipment they're normally they've normally only got a
ten year life speed playgrounds. So yeah, but I guess
(17:25):
making sure there are assets in our communities are improved
and kept to a good standard.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Yeah, that in.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
The you know, into the future, that will assist us
to make sure that we can, you know, try and
keep keep our costs down to as minimal so that
we can, you know, try and relieve some of the
stress on our rate payers without avingue to increase our
rates exactly, and you know, trying to find it efficient
(18:00):
is all the time. I think that's one thing that
we need to continually do, is keep finding efficiencies.
Speaker 1 (18:06):
Yep, exactly. That's a good point. And I suppose if
you get the feedback from the community, hopefully that's the
collective of lots of people majority that will say this
is what's being needed now, so you have a good
idea of what the priorities are from the community as well.
Speaker 3 (18:22):
Oh, exactly, right, and that's what we mentioned here earlier.
That's where we get all ours for the annual Plan,
you know, is they come out of the feedback from
the community, so you know, and the things in the
Annual Plan need to fit in with what our Community
Plan twenty thirty five will bring forward as well, so
(18:43):
you know, it is one of the things that you know,
will continue to work with state government as well for
funding and we'll try and we'll continue to advocate for
more funding for the West Coast. And you know, we
haven't give up on royalties for regions yet, but you know,
we've got a hard task, but will continue to fight
for more for the West Coast. It's one of them
(19:05):
things that certainly passionate about is making sure that the
state government knows that the West is provides a fair
bit of income for the State of Tasmania. For the
West Coast, the state would be in a lot worse
position than what they are.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
At the moment.
Speaker 1 (19:23):
So and this is what worries me if people or
politicians or whatever shut down the Sama farm. We've said
this before in the mines, what happens to the West Coast,
what happens to the state. We're not We're not. I
don't think we're talking about that enough.
Speaker 3 (19:39):
No, exactly. And you know, we can't live on tourism. No,
tourism is great, and that's one of our economic developments
in especially on the West Coast. We rely on tourism
as well, especially down there at Strawn and not only
Strong but Queenstown and and Tyler. But yeah, we can't
(20:01):
just rely on tourism. I guess that's why we've over
the you know, the past few years, probably going all
the way back to probably twenty fourteen, more or less,
that we've diversified our economy in such a way that
we're not relying on any one industry to carry the
West Coast. It's everyone's there. You know, arts and culture
(20:24):
have moved into the community, tourism, adventure tourisms. So we've
even banced our tourism arm out to now offer for
the younger people as well as the older people in
our community and also tourists and offer something for the
children as well, families that come into the tour around
the state as well. So you know, we're certainly, you know,
(20:48):
one thing we're probably missing that would be great if
we could at some stage down the track is some
manufacturing industry, but it's not something that lends itself to
the West Coast. But still never know what's around the corner.
So I think, you know, we need to continue working
and advocating for the West Coast. And you know, you've
seen recent articles from the Hydra about what they do
(21:10):
for the West Coast, but we believe that they can
do some more and we've been in discussion with the
Hydro regionally and they certainly you know, they appreciate that.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
And yeah, there will be some a lot closer.
Speaker 3 (21:24):
Ties between Council and the Hydro here on the West
Coast because yeah, you know, twenty five percent of Tasmania's
power is generated.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Exactly West coast. That's it, that's it.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
We need to get a little bit back from the
rest of Tassy for sure.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
All right, well we'll leave it there. Times marching on.
We've got to go to news shortly, so thanks for
your time as always, Mayor Shane Pitt And are you
off to tell are you going to go into Taller
tomorrow for the Wee Georgie Wood centenary celebration.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Now I'm off to win your tomorrow. Sorry, No, Devenport, No,
Devenport after well after I'm finished here and I'm off
winged on on Saturday. So okay, we've got meetings in
wind on Saturday, so I can be there all day,
all day Saturday, and yeah, so.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Okay, well I'll be down there. I'm going to take
part for the afternoon. So I'm looking forward to that.
It's a great, great day for the for Tulla, with
the with the with where Georgie would centenary.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
Yeah, no, it will be a great day and you know,
I wish it all well and but yeah, no worry.
That's okay, meetings all days.
Speaker 2 (22:32):
But maybe you're on the way back Sunday and.
Speaker 1 (22:34):
Yeah, all right, no worries. Okay, well we'll talk to
you next week. All the best, Okay, thanks, thanks mate.
There we go. That is me Shane Pitt joining us
from here on air for this week. Back again next
week here on seven Excess
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