THE CENTRE IS NEW TEMPORARY FACILITY FOR COUNCIL MEETINGS

Yesterday Council voted for Ordinary meetings to being conducted at The Centre, Beaudesert as in interim measure while COVID-19 social distancing restrictions remain in place.

Mayor Greg Christensen tabled a Mayoral Minute nominating The Centre as an alternative meeting location to achieve necessary separation distances and overall capacity to accommodate attendance of Councillors and required Council staff.

In the Mayoral Minute, Mayor Greg Christensen said this term of Council had commenced under unusual circumstances due to the COIVD-19 health emergency.

"Specific to local government, there have been urgent amendments to the Local Government Regulation 2012 (via the Local Government Electoral Regulation 2020) to provide for remote Ordinary meetings via the use of digital technologies that would otherwise not be allowable.

"The Queensland Premier, supported by the expert advice of the Chief Health Officer, has recently indicated a series of stepped opportunities for reducing some of the current restrictions applicable in Queensland.

"Outside of the current amendments to regulations previously mentioned to allow remote meetings, Council is required to hold its Ordinary meetings at its offices. To accommodate the need for ongoing social distancing and prepare for the opportunity to return to face to face Council meetings will require us to access a larger suitable space than is available within that office.

"To access an alternative location that will meet the suitable space requirements, requires a resolution of Council to nominate that alternative."

A full audio recording of yesterday's meeting is available online https://youtu.be/VQdF9NN6q9U