07 4661 9800
Darling Downs Insurance ABN: Brokers 17 054 206 656
or ONLINE at
Paul Munson 4661 7244
www. freetimes .com.au
70 Grafton Street Warwick For ALL Insurance Needs
EP41708 1143342-PB27-14
Pty Ltd
Week commencing Thursday, 6 August | 2015 | Edition 791
Scott’s stepping down
They’re e off and racing
Hard yards for a cure e
Local sports wrap
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
PAGE 7
PAGES 22-23
WOOD HEATERS
All they want is a fair go
TheOriginal NectreMK1 •Highheat output& eficiency •Clean burning •FREE in-house measure &quote
209 P h : 0 7 4 6 8 1 1r oppe Hot C pperaustralia.com www.hotco erfield rpe-Warwick-Tent Servicing Stantho
BLINDS
CA$H FOR $CRAP CAR BODIES REMOVED
Awnings - Shutters - Rollers Panel Glides - Verticals - Venetians
Also Buying Old Farm Machinery
Warwick Scrap Metal & Recycling
Phone Neal Simpson and Lou Ots on
07 4661 9835
Stanthorpe
Denture Clinic Also servicing Tenterield Dental Clinic, 1 Nass Street Tenterield FOR YOUR COMPLETE DENTURE & MOUTHGUARD SERVICE
Professional experience and care Quality Dentures by a qualiied Dental Prosthetist/Technician Ask about implant retained/supported overdentures
43 PROGRESS STREET - WARWICK
BUSINESS 4661 7922 MOBILE 0412 116 897
ber of factors went into the forecast. “The report itself is based on 4 per cent rates, based on dropping the number of staff by about another 20, based on all these other factors coming into line. That sees the debt being paid off over that period of time,” he said. He also mentioned that any additional borrowing would no longer be the council’s choice. Continued on page 3
QBCC1197750 NSW237076c
Greg Moffitt 46 Wood St Warwick 1300 307 065
157 High Street, Stanthorpe
www. andersens.com.au/warwick
Phone 4681 2219 1179467-ACM14-15
Licensed Plumbers, Drainers, Gas Fitters & Plumbing Supplies •Plumbing&GasFitting •PlumbingSupplies •Backhoe&TipperService •WoodHeater Sales&Installation •Pumps-Sales&Service
•MasterDaveyDealer •MiniExcavator&Bobcat •GasSuppliesLPG •SheetMetalFabrication •StainlessSteel
1194290-HM32-15
utilities reflect full cost recovery” and if “council maintains a consistent ratings increase of 4 per cent per annum.” It was calculated with repayments being made over the next 10 years and with no further loans intended. Under the plan, debt would be reduced by around $2 million a year with a forecast of a $10.2 million debt in 2025. Southern Downs Regional Council CEO David Keenan said a num-
1136024-FA22-14 EP43840
1125178-FA12-14
IN a report presented at the last council’s general meeting, the true amount of Warwick and Stanthorpe’s debt before amalgamation was revealed. Warwick Shire Council’s debt was $11.2 million and Stanthorpe Shire Council’s was $2.8 million, combining for a total of $14 million at the time of amalgamation. That number has now blown out to $29.9
million as of 30 June 2015. Warwick’s Aquatic Centre contributed the largest single amount of debt at amalgamation with $2.4 million while the Stanthorpe TAFE set them back $1.1 million. Council’s long-term financial plan was also presented at the meeting. According to the Southern Downs Regional Council’s budget breakdown, the forecast was completed, assuming “new borrowings are not undertaken and charges for
Specialising in Commercial, Industrial and Domestic Sheds. Made from Bluescope Australian Steel Full service - Slab, Erection & Councils
1180085-PB15-15
Warwick
No loan council By DANE LILLINGSTONE
SAVE $200 1194285-ACM32-15
OPPOSITION Leader and Southern Downs MP Lawrence Springborg met with frustrated volunteer firefighters Graeme Davis, Chris Wren, Nev Winter, John Boucher, Roni Bau and Trevor Crisp to discuss the ALPs new proposed Bill that would require volunteer firefighters to attend a large amount of fires over a short amount of time to be covered for certain cancers in the future. For the full story, turn to page 5. 142616
Servicing Stanthorpe, Warwick, Tenterfield & surrounding areas.
Ph: 4681 1000 Fax: 4681 2265
62-62A Maryland St, Stanthorpe
Email: adminmwf@mwfplumbing.com.au
QBCC: 1273359
GRANITE BELT DENTAL Medibank Members Choice and HCF preferred providers Get your regular check up and clean for low or no out of pocket expenses, plus a range of other benefits. 9 BAKER STREET STANTHORPE 96 PERCY STREET WARWICK
4681 1238 4661 4188 1125183-CA12-14