​​​Denis Chapman

Our region has it all ... tourism, fishing and boating, primary production and farming, Maryborough's rich heritage, and a picturesque coastline. It's an amazing region that's being run by a Council with little regard for the voice of the people - the ones who elected them, pay their wages and pay for their bad decisions.

 

Council needs to work smarter to deliver core services to its rural and urban community and bring about equality for all its residents. Money is being wasted while basic services still aren't being adequately delivered.

MY GOALS FOR COUNCIL

Value for Money

Reduce the ever increasing rates burden on ratepayers by:

• Eliminating the spending waste and mismanagement within Council;

• Concentrating on providing cost-efficient basic services;

• Eliminating spending on 'pie in the sky' wasteful projects with limited ratepayer benefit;

• Removing duplication, ie Fraser Coast Opportunities with its own CEO and Board;

• Abolishing discounts on developer headworks that ultimately are paid for by ratepayers through increased borrowing and higher rates.

 

Transparency & Accountability

Those who are encouraging me to stand for Council are telling me they are tired of the "political spin" from the current Council.  We've all heard the statement from the current Mayor about being  "open and accountable" and yet this Council fails to comply with the most basic reporting requirements under the Local Government Act. As an example, view the December 2015 monthly Financial Report under the guise of "CEO Performance Report" which is available on Council's website at www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au (Ord Meeting No. 1, 20th January 2016 - Item No. ORD10.6).

 

Sports Precinct

Planning for future growth is vital and we all understand that. I am not a  supporter of the Sports Precinct being a priority now and considering the land has already been purchased, enough has been done at this stage to secure the future of the project.  I am very interested to know why Council is pushing blindly ahead to commit large amounts of money to this project now. What's the hurry? It's part of a 30 year plan with a $55 million dollar price tag. I would think the lack of infrastructure surrounding this development like providing basic quality roads should be a priority.

 

Traffic Congestion & Road Quality

It's well known that residents are frustrated with traffic congestion and inadequate road networks.  I mention on my home page that one of my goals is to increase lobbying the state government for local issues.  Roads would be on top of my list but on a local note, the only entrance to/from Eli Waters is totally inadequate. So much conjestion could be removed from that intersection if an additional lane was built solely for traffic turning left into town from Eli Waters. A right turning arrow on the traffic lights for exiting traffic from Eli Waters would also be a welcomed addition.

It's obvious to me that future planning should also include lobbying State Government for an overhead bypass, as seen at the Sunshine Coast,  for traffic turning right from the Hervey Bay Maryborough Road onto the Hervey Bay Burrum Heads Road.  Overhead bypass construction has been extraordinarily successful on the Sunshine Coast and considering our population explosion should be considered in future plans for this area.

Woods Road at Nikenbah is an ideal alternative route into Hervey Bay to alleviate pressure off Booral Road and the Hervey Bay Maryborough Road. In fact, considering Woods Road will be one of the main roads into the proposed Sports Precinct, I would think it would make pefect sense to upgrade that road now.