Times

First Ingham Show

SARI RUSSO

HAVING just attended my first Ingham Show with my husband and my daughter I feel grateful to be able to share a photo of a special moment.

SARI RUSSO

AFTER wearing the sash, Ingham Showgirl 2022 (representing the Herbert River District), Ms Jessie Gofton attended the North Queensland Sub-Chamber finals in Tully and took out the title.

“In early August I will be travelling to the Ekka to represent the North Queensland Sub-Chamber,” said Ms Gofton, “To be able to represent, not only my local district, but the entire North Queensland SubChamber is an opportunity for me to give back to a community and the district that I love. I grew up in Ingham, it is my home.”

“It an honour to be a part of the Show Girl movement.”

Volunteers at the Ingham Show shared their enthusiasm that the Ingham Show for 2023 had the best Thursday night, which has generally been a slow night, they had in several years. They sold more of their product than expected. The local sugar mill was closed due to the weather, and those who attended the show felt grateful for this opportunity. Members of the Hinchinbrook community would like to see the sugar mill close down for the Show weekend yearly.

Mr Wayne Forden shared how grateful he was that the community had come out in force despite the rain to enjoy all that was on offer at the Ingham 2023 show.

After Mr Forden’s speech, Karisa List, former Sub-Chamber secretary for 15 years, was presented with a gift from the Ingham Show committee. She handed over the role in December last year and came to Ingham to enjoy a holiday with her children. She felt overwhelmed by the gratitude displayed by the

Ingham Show Committee for her service in the Sub-Chamber.

Community members commented that they enjoyed Ingham Show having more rides and activities on offer than last year. There was a lot of fun on offer around the show for all the different ages, with Airtime FMX Motorcycles, The Duck and Pig Races, Show Jumping, The Exhibition Hall, Poultry Judging, Sugar Cane Judging, A Dog Show, Stud Cattle, Caged Birds, Army Jazz Band and Fireworks. People travelled from as far afield as Mackay and Townsville to enjoy the community atmosphere at the Ingham Show.

Council Adopts 2023-2024 Budget and Operational Plan with a focus on Managing for Sustainability

Council

Plan

Adopts 2023-2024 Budget and Operational

with a focus on Managing for Sustainability

At the Special Budget Meeting held on Tuesday 11 July 2023, Council adopted the Budget and Operational Plan for 2023-2024.

The Budget details Council’s $40 million worth of projects and activities for the next financial year.

This includes a $10 million dollar Capital Works Program. This has been a difficult Budget to deliver having regard to the environment currently faced by our community.

High cost of living pressures, affordability and supply issues have made a profound impact on residents.

Council is itself subject to similar pressures and must as a necessity, and in the interests of the long term sustainability of our community, continue its programs to maintain assets and provide the services that the community needs to function and prosper.

With that in mind, Council has delivered a Budget with a general rates increase by 5.48 percent.

Mayor Jayo indicated that rates payable by individual landholders will fluctuate around 5.48 percent, as Council endeavours to balance a significant increase in property valuations across the Shire with an average increase in property valuations of 26 percent.

In dollar terms, this will see an average general rate increase of approximately $3.70 per month for residential properties.

Whilst we have managed to limit the general rate increase below inflationary measures and the local government cost index increase of 6.9 percent, the budget will see an increase of 6.6 percent with respect to utility charges in view of the increased costs of wages, materials and other inputs necessary to provide such services.

We have absorbed as much cost as possible in attempts to minimise the financial impact on our residents and ratepayers without suffering diminution in service.

This budget has been developed to balance our desire to maintain the lifestyle we enjoy in the Hinchinbrook Shire while acknowledging the economic challenges we have been facing, and as a community, continue to face.

Some of the major Capital works highlighted in this Budget include:

• Continuation of works on the Warrens Hill Landfill and Resource Recovery Centre Cell One Capping;

• Replacement of Waterfall Creek Bridge;

• Rehabilitation of the footpath along Herbert Street;

• Improvements to Forrest Beach Drainage;

• Rehabilitation of the Ingham, Forrest Beach and Macknade Pumphouses;

• Reconstruction of Hawkins Street;

• Replacement of Copley’s Road Bridge;

• Drainage works at the Ingham Airport;

• Roof Top Solar installation on various Council buildings;

• Replacement of the Kerb and Channel along Cockrell Street;

• Road profile improvements to Macrossan Street;

• Rehabilitation works on the Water Tower at Forrest Beach;

• Rehabilitation of the water mains along Lannercost Street and Davidson Street;

• Rehabilitation of the pavement along Pappins Road;

• Widening works along Cooks Lane; and

• Relining of the stormwater drainage along Scott Street.

The 2023-2024 Operational Plan identifies priority programs and actions to achieve corporate strategies, and links Council's long term strategic direction as set out in the 2021-2025 Corporate Plan.

Works Notice

The Operation Plan is funded through the 2023-2024 Budget.

To view the 2023-2024 Budget and the 2023-2024 Operational Plan, please visit Council's website, Corporate Publications and Reports page.

Congratulations to the Herbert River Farmers League Scholarship Recipients

Members of the Herbert River Farmers League gathered together recently to honour the 2023 Herbert River Farmers League Incorporated Bursary recipients.

Scholarships are awarded to graduated Year 12 students who attend University after completing their Secondary Schooling.

This years' recipients are:

• Hayley Gangemi, enrolled in a Bachelor of Physiotherapy at James Cook University;

• Sarah Buckman, enrolled in a Bachelor of Psychological Science at James Cook University; and

• Eryn Reinaudo, enrolled in a Bachelor of Agriculture at the University of Central Queensland.

Since 1977, the Herbert River Farmers League have invested $356,000 in Bursaries towards the education of young local students.

WATERFALL CREEK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

Council wishes to advise residents that works to replace Waterfall Creek Bridge, located on El Alamein Road Abergowrie will commence from Monday 17 July 2023, weather permitting.

An onsite temporary detour will be constructed to accommodate traffic during the construction period. During the detour construction and bridge removal works, a temporary road closure will be in place. Traffic will be required to detour around the bridge via Tarakan Road and Tobruk Road.

Council would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding for the duration of works.

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FREE WORKSHOP DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, INNOVATION AND SPORT

Join the Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport for a free workshop at 5.15pm on Tuesday 18 July 2023 at the Hinchinbrook Shire Library.

The informal information session will share the following topics:

• An overview of the department’s programs and services for clubs;

• Funding opportunities; and

• How and when to prepare for funding applications.

To RSVP, please contact Council and nominate a club representative who will be attending.

4776 4600 council@hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au

Hayley, Sarah and Eryn are amongst 114 students from the Herbert River district to receive a Herbert River Farmers League Scholarship.

Photographic artist William Debois

Join photographic artist William Debois as he presents an artist talk in response to his current exhibition Sacrifice, at 10.00am Saturday 15 July 2023 at the TYTO Regional Art Gallery.

Stay on to learn about the process behind this beautiful social history project and how it evolved into a touring exhibition. Immerse yourself in the stories portrayed while engaging directly with the artist. For further information, please contact the TYTO Regional Art Gallery.

B A L A N C I N G A C T