Mackay, Isaac Whitsunday
In this edition:
- Message from the Premier
- The Queensland Plan - a 30-year vision for Queensland
- Queensland Week
- Arts for all Queenslanders
- Saving money for small business
- School-based partnership goes to the top of the class
- Local residents to have more input into state schools
- Better services for Queenslanders
- Building, renovating and buying a home is now cheaper!
- Influenza update
- Discover the wonders of Queensland’s national parks
- Indigenous business directory launched
- New cardiac services for Mackay Base Hospital
- Have your say
Message from the Premier
Welcome to the first edition of your Queensland Government community newsletter.
Queenslanders have told us they want to hear more about what we are doing and how the Queensland Government is making a difference in your day-to-day lives. This newsletter will play an important role in keeping you informed of what is happening at both a local and statewide level.
Delivering this information in a newsletter format, direct to your door, rather than through more expensive traditional advertising is a far more effective way of communicating with Queenslanders.
Every month, this hand delivered newsletter will feature statewide and local programs and projects and will also help ensure your voice is heard by giving you the opportunity to have your say on government programs that affect you.
For the tech savvy, we’ll be bringing you news on how the government is making leaps and bounds in the digital space through new websites, blogs, social media pages and useful mobile applications.
I hope you enjoy the first edition and look forward to your views on how we can make Queensland an even better place to live and work.
Best wishes.
Campbell Newman
Queensland Premier
The Queensland Plan - a 30-year vision for Queensland
The journey begins: what will Queensland look like in 30 years? Now’s the time to share your thoughts and help shape the future of our great state.
No matter who you are or where you live, every Queenslander’s invited to contribute to The Queensland Plan–a plan that will outline our long-term vision and aspirations for the state’s future.
This Plan will be created by Queenslanders, for Queenslanders.
More than 400 Queenslanders joined together recently at a summit in Mackay on 10 May to determine a series of questions we all need to address in planning to make Queensland a great state with great opportunity.
We invite you to answer those questions online and encourage you to continue the conversation with family and friends.
But the summit was only the start of the journey in developing The Queensland Plan. Over coming months, activities will be happening in your local community to find out what you think is important for Queensland’s future?
In October, a second summit will then be held in Brisbane to discuss Queensland’s collective response and decide how to use this information to help shape The Plan. The Plan will then be released back to the community in late 2013.
It is vital that every Queenslander who has an interest in the future of our great state contributes to this process. Now is the time to reflect on where we’ve been and work together on where we’re going.
It is now up to you, as Queenslanders, to build your vision from the ground up.
Join the journey. Visit www.qld.gov.au/queenslandplan.
Queenslander, Queenslander
Become The Ultimate Queenslander!
Enter the competition to be crowned The Ultimate Queenslander and find out how you can win a year’s supply of Di Bella Coffee by celebrating Queensland Day in your office. There will be heaps happening around the state to celebrate Queensland Week during 1–9 June so why not attend an event in your local community?
Communities around the state will come together to celebrate our state’s official separation from New South Wales.
This year marks 154 years since Queen Victoria signed the Letters Patent, authorising Queensland’s separation, and confirming its status as an independent colony.
For more information about the competition and events happening around the state visit www.queenslandweek.qld.gov.au or like ‘Queensland Week’ on Facebook.
Arts for all Queenslanders
photo: Atmosphere Photography
What’s more important to you when it comes to the arts in Queensland?
We’re developing a strategy for growing the arts sector in Queensland and have begun talking to the community about what they want to see focused on in the strategy.
This has already seen the opening of two great initiatives, the Super Star Fund and Playing Queensland Fund – Boost to Touring.
What we’ve done so far:
Consultation began in February when Queenslanders were asked to comment on a draft overview where Arts Queensland received 288 responses.
Next, we will be consulting further on the discussion paper and asking Queenslanders what they want from arts and culture for now and generations to come.
For more information visit www.arts.qld.gov.au or the AQ Blog www.arts.qld.gov.au/blog email aqpolicy@arts.qld.gov.au or call (07) 3033 0762.
The Arts for all Queenslanders strategy will be released in December 2013.
Saving money for small business
Small businesses will save money and time thanks to simpler environmental licensing laws that have reduced green tape.
The changes to environmental laws mean:
- The number of small businesses required to apply for an environmental licence has been reduced by 70 per cent.
- Around 9400 small to medium-sized businesses will save $6.18 million each year in annual fee payments.
Now, Queensland’s 5000 motor vehicle workshops, and other businesses such as commercial printers, welders, steel workers and small opal and gem miners no longer need to apply for an environmental licence, pay an annual fee or submit an annual return.
While green tape and costs have been streamlined, these businesses will still have a duty to make sure their activities do not cause environmental harm or nuisance.
Find out more at www.ehp.qld.gov.au.
School-based partnership goes to the top of the class
The Queensland Police Service Adopt-a-Cop program graduated to the next level in March with the launch of the Adopt-a-School program.
Adopt-a-Cop sees local police officers volunteering their time to educate young children on a number of issues, including how they can keep safe in a range of environments.
Building on this service, Adopt-a-School creates positive relationships between the local Officer-in-Charge and all levels of schools in the community, to address community-wide policing issues.
For some schools there may be concerns about road safety in their school zone. For others, there may be a need to develop strategies to respond to, and support young victims of personal violence and abuse.
The Adopt-a-School program enhances the Adopt-a-Cop program through the added support from local police.
The Adopt-a-School program is accessible to all schools, not just those who have adopted a police officer.
To find out more contact your District Crime Prevention Coordinator at your local police station.
Local residents to have more input into state schools
Communities across Queensland will have a greater say on how their local state schools operate under the new Great Teachers = Great Results plan.
The plan to invest $535 million of additional funding in Queensland schools will focus on improving teacher quality by rewarding top teachers and placing them in the classrooms where they’re needed most.
Schools will have greater autonomy and principals will have new discipline powers, all in an effort to give young Queenslanders the best possible start in life.
Find out more at www.dete.qld.gov.au/great-teachers.
Better services for Queenslanders
The Queensland Government recently released A Plan – Better Services for Queenslanders, its response to the Independent Commission of Audit.
The commission’s final report sets out a new role for government as the enabler, rather than the ‘doer’ of services.
The Independent Commission of Audit was established in 2012 to review the Queensland Government’s financial position.
Find out more at www.qld.gov.au/betterservices.
Building, renovating and buying a home is now cheaper!
Since March 2012, a list of red tape building requirements have been eliminated for homeowners, local governments and the building and plumbing industries.
Fast facts:
- Rainwater tanks and energy efficient hot water systems no longer required. Saving around $5000.
- Sustainability declaration no longer required. Saving up to $50.
- A plumber/drainer can now carry out more work without a local government permit. Saving up to $1600 on fees.
- More pool fencing work can be done without a building application. Saving up to $900.
- Flexibility introduced for building approvals on relocated houses. Saving up to $500.
- Stamp duty concessions. Saving up to $50.
Influenza update
Close to 1000 cases of influenza have been recorded so far in 2013, which is higher than the average number of notifications for this time of year.
Queenslanders are encouraged to be vigilant when it comes to personal hygiene this flu season.
For more visit www.health.qld.gov.au/flu.
Discover the wonders of Queensland’s national parks
Looking for something to do on the weekend or on your holidays? Look in your own backyard!
Visit one of the numerous national parks in the Mackay, Isaac, Whitsunday area.
The area’s national parks offer scenery of contrasts—from secluded beaches to ancient rock art, towering rainforests to open eucalypt forests and sweeping grasslands, rocky shores with fringing reefs to dramatic cliffs and peaks—making it a veritable playground for lovers of the outdoors.
The recreational opportunities on offer suit all interests—whether it’s boating, camping, bushwalking, snorkelling or fishing, there’s something here for everyone.
Choose from easy short walks to longer full-day hikes, or even multi-day camping and hiking on the Whitsunday Ngaro Sea Trail or Conway National Park’s Whitsunday Great Walk.
Discover the islands of the magnificent Whitsunday archipelago by boat or kayak—either your own or hired— and stay on a different island every night, exploring the many habitats and watching the wildlife. Meet the residents of our coastline’s fringing reefs and encounter many different coral and fish species, as well as dugong grazing in the shallow seagrass patches.
For more great recreational ideas visit www.nprsr.qld.gov.au.
Indigenous business directory launched
There’s now an easier way to tap into the knowledge, goods and services available from Queensland’s Indigenous businesses with the launch of the state government’s Black Business Finder. For the best place to find the expertise you need or to advertise your own Indigenous business, go to www.bbf.org.au.
New cardiac services for Mackay Base Hospital
More people living in Mackay soon won’t have to travel to Townsville or Brisbane for life-saving treatment thanks to a new cardiac service in Mackay.
Life-saving cardiac procedures and diagnostic tests will be performed at Mackay Base Hospital for the first time when a multi-million dollar Cardiac Catheter Laboratory opens in the second half of this year.
The new service will mean nearly 500 people per year will no longer have to travel to Townsville or Brisbane for life-saving treatment.
The Cardiac Catheter Laboratory will provide diagnostic angiography and therapeutic angioplasty.
Angiography is medical imaging that shows the inside of the heart chambers, arteries and veins, highlighting abnormalities. An angiogram can diagnose heart problems including aneurysm (abnormal ballooning of the heart wall), heart arrhythmias (irregular heart beat) or birth defects, such as a hole in the heart.
Stay tuned for further details coming soon.
Have your say
Visit the Get Involved website at www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au to provide us with your feedback on any of the below community consultations:
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Have your say on solar
Have your say on a proposal to simplify the rules for installing roof mounted solar collectors on homes. Visit the Get Involved website or contact Building Codes Queensland on 1800 534 972 for more information. Closes 17 June. -
Draft State Planning Policy
Comment on the Draft State Planning Policy – replacing the current planning policies. Closes 12 June. -
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games legacy plan
Tell us your ideas on how the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games can deliver a lasting legacy for the Gold Coast and Queensland. Closes 31 May. -
Safer Streets Crime Action Plan – Youth Justice
Tell us your ideas on how to tackle issues relating to youth crime. Closes 30 June.
Call 000.
Call 131 444.
The $15,000 Great Start Grant helps first home owners get their newly built home sooner.
Find out if you are eligible at www.qld.gov.au/greatstartgrant
