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Days dumped The operating days and hours of the Southern Downs region’s waste facilities will be reduced from next month, despite hundreds of objections from residents. Southern Downs Regional Council adopted a new Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan for 2021-24 at last week’s ordinary meeting that will see operating days at Allora and Killarney waste facilities change from Friday to Tuesday to Friday to Monday. Hours at the facilities will be reduced from 8am to 5pm to 9am to 4pm. More on page 9
Bail blast A petition launched by Southern Downs MP James Lister to combat “recidivist crime” in Warwick and Goondiwindi has attracted more than 2600 signatures ahead of its closing date on Friday 4 June. Mr Lister launched the parliamentary petition in March, asking that penalties for people breaching bail be reintroduced. “Our police and the law-abiding people of our great Queensland communities are sick and tired of repeat offenders being let straight back onto the streets on bail time after time,” he said. More on page 6
Condy plans revealed Major expansion works have begun at the Warwick Condamine Sports Club that will see the building nearly double in size, and the existing gaming, bistro, kitchen and function areas refurbished.
Club manager Stephen Domjahn said stage one of the renovations could be completed as early as October, but that is only the beginning of what’s to come. See full details of the works on page 3
Rates shake-up Southern Downs Regional Council’s ‘realistic’ 2021-22 draft budget is now open for feedback, with a heavy focus on capital maintenance and a proposed 1.3 per cent increase in general rates. The new budget proposes a record $50 million spend on repairing and upgrading ageing infrastructure, mostly in the waste and water sectors.
Of the total 112 projects put forward for SDRC’s consideration, 55 have been carried forward from previous years and 57 are new. Major projects include enhancing the Stanthorpe Art Gallery, upgrading Warwick waste facilities, repairing Connolly Dam, upgrading pump stations, redeveloping the Warwick Saleyards and replacing the coun-
cil’s fleet of vehicles. SDRC noted in its draft budget overview documents that individual ratepayers will see large variations due to the new land values issued by the Valuer-General. “Rates are calculated based on these values and the changes were not uniform across the region with particular variation in the val-
ue of land used for grazing and small crops,” read the overview. “These ranged from a reduction of 40 per cent to an increase of over three times. “This potentially means very large rate increases for some and a reduction in rates for others.” More on page 4
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