LETTERSto the editor VOCAL Email editorial@theexpressnewspaper.com.au
Congratulations on Rail Trail decision
I WISH to congratulate the TRC Council in formally adopting the Rail Trail Advisory Committee Management Plan at their meeting on Thursday 23 February. With the adoption of the Rail Trail Management Plan community groups volunteering their time in tree planting and maintaining the trail will have confidence that the TRC Council will consult with the community in the event of changes and/or businesses looking to annex Rail Trail land. The decision to stop tree planting on the Rail Trail between Manthey and Beantree Road at Tolga Industrial Estate may well have resulted in a positive decision, to plant, if the TRC Councillor's had consulted with the community particularly when the council officers recommended that planting go ahead. I would urge the TRC Councillor’s to revisit this decision, accept their council officers recommendation in this case, to plant, await any business proposals to annex and/ or push back the Rail Trail behind the Tolga
Industrial Estate and if government/private funding is indeed available to carry out any capital works that would be required to push back the Rail Trail. After all, in this event, with a big if in the forseeable future, the few trees that would have been planted and those in the way may be removed. Ray Francis ATHERTON
Correct outcome by TRC
THE correct decision was made (by TRC on 8 February) and the four councillors who voted to holt the planting of trees on the eastern side of the industrial properties should be commended. Incidentally, from my observation, these four are the ones always asking the right questions and continually hold the TRC organisation to account in both financial matters and creating outcomes for the greater good of everyone and not just particular groups. It appears that the tree planters got a win and the trees already planted are allowed to stay.
I just hope that in years to come when these species of trees grow large and the aggressive root systems penetrate into the council’s infrastructure that the people who planted them and the council engineers who accepted them are around to foot the bill for repairs. Not the poor old ratepayers. Secondly, the four councillors have upheld the principles of local government and proper consultation should commence between the affected businesses and ratepayers. There is an outcome that could be beneficial for all. However when some groups don’t get their own way they make personal attacks on the decision makers and lash out at successful businesses people like Mr Hedley who I hardly know but seems to invest heavily in our community creating employment and opportunities for a lot of people. Well, there’s and election in 12 months’ time. Maybe put your names down and see if your agendas are what the silent majority want. Owen Byrnes TINAROO
Handling rental increases BY KRISTYN LENNON
WITH rising interest rates and the cost-of-living squeeze, we are hearing concerns from Queenslanders about the impact of rental increases on household budgets. In Queensland, there are rules around when and how rent increases can occur, depending on what type of lease arrangement is in place. Any rent increase – no matter what the rental agreement – cannot be excessive, but there are no laws that specify an amount or percentage rent increase that would be classified as excessive. If there is a fixed-term rental agreement, rent cannot be increased during that term unless it is specified in the tenancy agreement. Landlords must give tenants at least two months’ notice in writing, and it needs to have been at least six months since the tenancy started or since the last increase. If there is a periodic agreement, rent can be increased if the landlord gives the tenant at least two months’ notice in writing, and it has been at least six months since the last rent increase or since the tenancy started. It is common for rent to go up when a fixed-term lease ends and a new one is offered. In this scenario, a landlord doesn’t need to give notice of the increase, but it must be at least six months since the last rent
increase. If the landlord and tenant can’t come to an agreement and the fixed lease term expires, the lease will revert to a periodic lease at the lower rent, and the landlord can then increase the rent with two months’ notice. If you’re a tenant and have been given notice of a rental increase that you think is excessive, you should first raise it with your landlord. You should prepare a detailed letter that sets out why you think the increase is excessive, and include any supporting evidence, such as rental details for comparable properties. It may be worth highlighting your value to the landlord as a secure and reliable tenant, as well as suggesting a reduced rental increase. If you’re not satisfied with the response, you can apply for dispute resolution through the Residential Tenancies Authority. You can also apply to QCAT for a decision – but this needs to occur within 30 days of the notice of rent increase (for existing agreements) or 30 days of a signed new agreement. Kristyn Lennon is a Cairnsbased lawyer who heads Maurice Blackburn’s Tablelands office. This legal information is general in nature and should not be regarded as specific legal advice. If you have a legal question you would like Kristyn to answer you can contact her at klennon@mauriceblackburn.com.au
PAGE 18 The Express, Wednesday, March 1, 2023
LOCAL
News that the Atherton RSL is in receivership and the building will be sold produced a lot of comments from locals… What a complete waste of government money should never been built after the first one went broke. - Gregory Noel Ferris It was a restaurant with big prices, not an RSL. The government should have just updated the old RSL where the returned soldiers could meet, enjoy a beer together and a reasonably priced meal. - Robyn Williams The menu wasn't to my taste as every other RSL I had been to always at least had a choice of different roast dinners. This RSL to me seemed to have had more restaurant meals which I don't go for personally. I would think that veterans don't have big money to eat out and would have preferred more down to earth meals but that is just my opinion. Having said that it's such a shame this has happened. - Renelle Hopkinson All these people with negative comments… maybe you should have supported the RSL a bit more, might not be in this situation. - Cal Baker It started out so well, with a wonderful chef, great menu and entertainment, so busy you had to book on the weekends. Then it just all went bad, so disappointing as it's a great venue. Hope Hedley doesn't buy it and put screens on every available wall space, and repeat the same standard pub food you can get anywhere. - Heather Dusting So many opinions however at the end of day it is a loss for the RSL whom I have so much respect for and a loss for Atherton. Loved the venue. - Judy Vermeer So much work involving many voluntary hours over many years went into re-establishing the Atherton RSL. This is a crying shame. - David Anthony I went there in December for a volunteers lunch and the food was lovely. At that time, it had been broken in to at least 3 times. The lowlifes smash the big glass windows at the back. - Jenny McGrory Such a shame they’re closing again. - Denise Smith What a shame. All the years it took for the two people that worked so hard to get it up and running. - Jodi Cozens Terrible to hear, that a service to the community has gone. - Matthew Eckhardt
PHOTO OF THE WEEK Storm clouds over Mareeba PHOTO BY JULIA HOWARD
Enter your photo on Facebook at the Tablelands and Surrounds Photography Group page
The catalyst for the financial demise of the new Atherton RSL premises can actually be sheeted back several years to when certain persons on the then-Committee were hell-bent determined to push ahead with their pipedream idea of a new building, to be constructed somewhere in Atherton on cost-free land. The original concept of premises containing meeting rooms and facilities for SubBranch members and guests only, became altered along the way to become a concept of premises involving a restaurant, kitchen and bar facilities open to the general public. The pipedream kept getting bigger. Govt-owned land was obtained on a long-term peppercorn lease, the building constructed, and by the time the premises opened for trading, the Atherton RSL had 3 main problems to contend with; no financial assets left, large sums of money borrowed and owing because of poorlymanaged cost blowouts, and several well-established and popular local businesses to compete against on the same playing field. Add-in staff on wages, other necessary overheads and it was not rocket science, the completed project was doomed to failure from opening day. The incoming Committee of fresh faces was then left to carry the bag. And whilst they, subsequent Committees and management obviously made mistakes, they were pushing uphill all the way. This project was a festering sore just waiting to burst - and it has. Easy to blame the current Committee, as some have already done, but again, the core of the problem goes back much further. Call me a pessimist if you like, I am really an optimist, but I could only see this project sending good money down the gurgler. If that is being pessimistic, well, so be it, but the chooks have come home to roost. - Trevor Sorenson
The Express posts news stories on our Facebook page every week. We appreciate your comments which may be used in this column. www.theexpressnewspaper.com.au