COUNCIL ENDORSES KEY ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION AT CONFERENCE

Financial Assistance Grants, Works for Queensland Funding, the timing of land valuations and funding of the rabbit-proof fence have been nominated by Scenic Rim Regional Council for discussion at a landmark conference to be held later this year.

At its Ordinary Meeting yesterday, Council endorsed four motions for submission to the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) for consideration at its Annual Conference, which will be held on the Gold Coast in October 2020.

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the frequency of land valuations, Council’s eligibility for Works For Queensland funding and the calculation of Financial Assistance Grants, which were planned to be put forward as motions for last year’s LGAQ conference, continued to be key issues for the region.

“For a number of years, we have raised concerns over the formula used to calculate the Financial Assistance Grant and last year the Local Government Association of Queensland focussed its attention on increasing the total Financial Assistance Grant to one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue,” he said.

“This year, Council's focus is again on the allocation methodology, ultimately aiming for improved funding for Scenic Rim which, like many smaller councils, is disadvantaged by a funding model which has a number of failings.”

Scenic Rim has also been disadvantaged by previous lack of access to the Queensland Government’s Works for Queensland funding and is advocating for all Queensland councils to be eligible for the program which has been extended to 2021.

“This also has been a topic of previous motions as there were program eligibility restrictions which excluded South East Queensland,” Cr Christensen said.

“This month we welcomed the approval of a number of projects submitted under the Queensland Government’s COVID Works for Queensland Program and are grateful to have been included in this funding for the first time.

“Although we are a regional council we have been unable to access Works for Queensland funding until this special round in response to COVID-19 as we are located in South East Queensland.

"The impact on our ability to raise revenue by being excluded from Works For Queensland funding and our treatment under Financial Assistance Grants means Scenic Rim has to rely more heavily on rates income than other councils.”

Council again endorsed a motion that the LGAQ make representations regarding land valuations, proposing that these be carried out at least biennially, should there be exception to undertake annual valuation.

Cr Christensen said that Scenic Rim, like many other councils across Queensland, contributed annually to the Department of Natural Resources for valuation services that were received only once every two to three years.

“We recognise that annual valuations would better reflect current economic conditions and better manage any instances of economic downturn within the region than valuations being not carried for up to three years,” he said.

“However, a two-year period for valuations, as occurred this year, is preferable to three years.”

Council has also endorsed a motion that the Local Government Association of Queensland lobby the Queensland Government for a change to the funding model, which would require contributions from the State and other local governments in Queensland, to the Darling Downs Moreton Rabbit Board for the cost of maintaining the rabbit-proof fence.

Protecting crops and pastures from rabbits, the fence also acts as a barrier to wild dogs in a number of areas.

“However, this comes at a cost of approximately $18,000 to $20,000 or more per kilometre, depending on terrain and soil type,” Cr Christensen said.

“This is an issue that not only affects our region but also has a broader impact for Queensland’s agricultural industries and communities.”