MBRC Drops $44k in Budget - Is Graffiti Under Control?

A 4OUR investigation has revealed the Moreton Bay Regional Council has transferred $44,000 out of its graffiti budget into the Redcliffe 'Signature Project' (listen to the podcast below).

After being contacted by a Caboolture business owner fed up with graffiti attacks (click here to see video), 4OUR travelled around the Caboolture area and photographed a fraction of the scrawl.

-Is graffiti out of control? (comment below).

-See graffiti photos located on a Google map (click here).

Cr Chippendale talks about Splendour, Land Purchases and Graffiti

Cr Raedel talks about Splendour, Rail to Redcliffe and Dog Attacks

MBRC Continues to Monitor Floods

Moreton Bay Regional Council is urging residents to continue to plan and prepare for localised flooding amid predications the region will continue to experience moderate to heavy rainfall over the coming days.

Mayor Allan Sutherland said council and the Local Disaster Control Centre were continuing to closely monitor rainfall, dam release and flood information.  A Local Disaster Management Group meeting was held at 11am today.

"Although the rain has eased in some areas, the region is still on track to receive 50 to 100mm today – with more to follow throughout the rest of the week,” Mayor Sutherland said.

"Flooding has receded in a number of local catchments around Burpengary and Caboolture but the Stanley River around Woodford is continuing to rise slowly and we will be watching this situation very closely as well as possible impacts on surrounding roadways.

“Releases at the North Pine Dam have been wound back but Youngs Crossing Road is likely to remain closed for some time due to inflows from Sidling Creek.” 

Around 90 roads are closed while 50 roads are passable with care.

Mayor Sutherland said three further evacuation centres had opened at Caboolture, Morayfield and Woodford to support centres at Narangba and Deception Bay that remained open overnight.

“With plenty of wet weather still on the cards and a saturated catchment, we are continuing to make sure we have appropriate arrangements in place,” Mayor Sutherland said.

Mayor Sutherland said 264 requests for assistance had been received by the SES in the last 24 hours.

“Around 45 SES volunteers are in the field today mainly assisting with leaking roofs and sandbagging,” Mayor Sutherland said.

Preparing for flooding

Know the risks of flooding around your property – council has region-wide flood maps on its website www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/floodplains

• Be prepared with a household emergency plan about what you need to do if you are at risk of flooding.
• Your emergency plan should include a kit of emergency numbers, a battery-operated radio, food, bottled water and first-aid kit.
• Program your battery-operated radio to 101.5 FM.
• Stay tuned for regular updates.

 More advice about how you can prepare you and your family is available from www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/disaster

 Local residents are encouraged to monitor 101.5FM for weather updates, warnings and road condition updates.

For flood or storm assistance call the SES on 132 500 or contact council on 3205 0555.

Local residents urged to take care during King Tide

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor, Allan Sutherland is urging local residents and visitors to take care during this month’s king tide event.  

Lee Kernaghan comes back to Urban!

Update: Check out the 2005 'flashback' video and photos below.

Shannon Noll and Lee Kernaghan are set to shine brighter than rhinestone cowboys for Caboolture’s long weekend of Urban Country from May 4 to 7, 2012. 

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor, Allan Sutherland, said Lee Kernaghan and Shannon Noll would lead a star studded line up of 10 acts for the Urban Country Music Festival’s ticketed performances on Friday and Saturday nights. 

The stars confirmed for Caboolture’s 2012 Urban Country Music Festival are: 

·       Lee Kernaghan 

·       Shannon Noll 

·       Troy Cassar-Daley 

·       Adam Harvey  

·       Beccy Cole  

·       The Sunny Cowgirls  

·       Busby Marou 

·       Markus Meier 

·       Doug Bruce and the Tailgaters  

·       Jayne Denham  

Mayor Sutherland said the Urban Country Music Festival would also continue to support up-and-coming talent with the winner of Tamworth’s Toyota Star Maker contest also included in this year’s star line up of acts. 

“We’re kicking up our heels and rounding up some of the best names in the business for four days of hot country under cover at Caboolture’s Queensland State Equestrian Centre,” the Mayor said. 

“In addition to the ticketed concert events on Friday and Saturday nights, there’s a stack of free entertainment including the Urban Rodeo, Beaut Ute Competition, Bush Poets’ Breakfast, the Voice of Urban Country talent quest, Song Writers’ Café and the whip cracking action of the Stockman’s Arena. 

“There really is no excuse not to be a part of Caboolture’s 2012 Urban Country Music Festival – there’s something for everybody.” 

Limited release tickets are still available for the concert events at the discounted price of $45, but only for a short time. 

To secure your tickets or for more information visit: www.urbancountry.com.au

Dangerous to swim or fish, Centenary Lake. Algae Bloom – Centenary Lakes.

Moreton Bay Regional Council is urging local residents not to fish or swim in Centenary Lakes at Caboolture. 

A council spokesperson said a blue-green algae bloom had been detected at Centenary Lakes with investigations now under way to help pin-point the cause. 

“Residents and visitors should continue to enjoy the parklands at Centenary Lakes with confidence, but should avoid coming into contact with the water from the lake at this stage,” the spokesperson said. 

“Centenary Lakes is an artificial water system and was never designed for fishing or swimming, although some have continued to use it for those purposes.  

  

"The algae has been treated and is expected to be effective in eradicating the infestation, but as a precaution council is advising people to stay out of the water and avoid coming into contact with fish from the lake until the bloom has completely cleared and the cause of the outbreak is known.” 

The spokesperson said signage would be erected at Centenary Lakes advising it was unsuitable for swimming and fishing.

Six new rainfall gauges for the Moreton Bay Region #4OURnews

Moreton Bay Regional Council will install six new river-height and rainfall monitoring gauges within the region, as the weather bureau reveals 2011 was one of the wettest years on record.

On the Airwaves Again

We’ve Got It All in the Moreton Bay Region and we’ll again be letting South East Queensland know about it in coming weeks. 

Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Allan Sutherland said the summer phase of the We’ve Got It All campaign would be rolled out over four weeks from mid January on metropolitan television and radio. 

“From the coast to the hinterland, the next instalment in the We’ve Got It All campaign will help to consolidate the Moreton Bay Region’s profile, as well as highlight the many attractions and experiences we have to offer,” Mayor Sutherland said. 

“The timing of the campaign has the potential to introduce South East Queensland’s interstate and international visitors to the Moreton Bay Region for the first time, and encourage them to pay us a visit. 

“It also coincides with the final weeks of the school holidays. 

“We’ll be letting parents know We’ve Got It All in the Moreton Bay Region with plenty of new experiences and places to visit to keep the kids occupied before school returns for 2012.” 

Look out for the We’ve Got It All campaign on Channel 7, Channel 9, 4KQ and 97.3FM from mid January to mid February.

MBRC Keeps Rescue Chopper Airborne

Moreton Bay Regional Council is helping to keep the region safe this summer with a $50,000 donation to the AGL Action Rescue Helicopter service. 

Calling all buskers, bush poets and Beaut Utes #4OURnews

Whether you’re a busker, a bush poet or you have a Beaut Ute, it’s time to use the Christmas break to start planning your entry for 2012’s Urban Country Music Festival. 

MBRC comes out against Meryl Dorey and anti-vaccination #4OURnews

Moreton Bay Regional Council does not endorse the views of anti-vaccination campaigner Meryl Dorey, nor her planned appearance at the Woodford Folk Festival later this month. 

-Related article by Mamamia (click here)

Council is a committed supporter of the Immunise Australia Program and has this year alone immunised more than 13,000 people against a host of preventable diseases at local immunisation clinics and high schools, free of charge. 

The council is not a sponsor of Meryl Dorey, as claimed today on Sydney radio, and is not associated with Ms Dorey in any way.

Timely Reminder for Christmas Clean-up #4OURnews

Moreton Bay Regional Council is reminding local residents to get their homes ready for storm season.

Time is Running Out for Community Leaders #4OURnews

Time is running out for community leaders to register for free skills training in 2012. 

Mayor Allan Sutherland said those wishing to be part of Moreton Bay Regional Council’s Community Leaders program had until Friday, December 16 to lodge their expressions of interest. 

“We’re offering 30 places to leaders in community groups and organisations who are active in youth sector, community services, the environment, sport and recreation or cultural fields,” Mayor Sutherland said. 

“The 2012 program involves six days of intensive leadership training, spread over several months.  

“It will cover a wide range of skills and knowledge including disaster recovery, strategic planning, group problem solving, event management, promotion, understanding and managing growth, and recruiting and retaining volunteers.” 

Mayor Sutherland said that graduates from this year’s program found they picked up vital leadership skills and developed a network among themselves that has continued to provide support. 

“We’re hoping 2012’s program will be equally successful,” he said. 

Council is offering the Community Leaders program in partnership with Volunteering Queensland and Regional Development Australia – Moreton Bay. 

Expressions of interest can be lodged online at www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/communityleaders or phone council during office hours on 3205 0555 for further details.