Council Snapshot - 30 October 2024
Council Snapshots provide a brief summary of each Council Meeting to highlight and summarise the issues discussed.
Residents can see the full agenda for each meeting, as well as watch Council meetings here.
Among the topics discussed at its meeting on 30 October were:
Roma Rural Student Hostel – Retaining Surplus Funds
During the previous term of Council funding of $35,000 was approved to upgrade the bathrooms at the Roma Student Hostel. These works were completed under budget. Following a request from the Hostel, Council approved the remaining $7,600 to be reinvested to complete further repairs and maintenance at the facility.
Host Site Agreement – Campbell Park Reservoir – Switch FM
Council has agreed to a further five-year term to broadcast Switch FM radio station from Campbell Park Reservoir Roma.
2024/25 Q1 Progress Report I Operational Plan
Council received the first quarter report outlining progress towards delivery of the 2024/25 Operation Plan. Under the Local Government Act (2009), Council is required to present written assessments of progress towards implementing the Annual Operation Plan at intervals not exceeding three months. The 2024/2025 Q1 report can be found here on Council’s website.
2023/24 Annual Financial Statements
Council endorsed the audited Annual Financial Statements for 2023/2024 as presented in this week’s meeting. The Annual Financial Statements for the year ending 30 June 2024, including the General Purpose Financial Statements and the Current Year Financial Sustainability Statement, have been audited and certified by the Queensland Audit Office (QAO) on 16 October 2024 with an unmodified audit opinion, indicating a ‘clean bill of health’. They will be included in Council’s upcoming Annual Report.
Council amended the fees and charges schedule for public entry to the Big Rig from Thursday, 17 April to Monday, 21 April 2025 during the annual Easter in the Country. Over the Easter weekend in Roma, the Big Rig experiences an influx of families visiting the visitor information centre and at this week’s meeting approved the amendment of fees and charges for entry to the Big Rig Tower and Treewalk and Express Night Show Experience. A full list of amending fees and charges will be available via the Big Rig Visitor Information Centre page.
Request for Council Representation on RCAT Workforce Strategy Stakeholder Working Group
Roma Chamber and Tourism (RCAT) has been successful in securing a grant to develop a Workforce Strategy, funded by Jobs Queensland under the Grow Your Own Regional Workforce Program. Council elected to nominate Portfolio Chair for Economic Development & Events, Councillor Joh Hancock, to act as the representative on the stakeholder steering group for the development of the RCAT Workforce Strategy.
Applications through Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) Program 2024/2024
Approval of a $2,255 grant was made from the Regional Arts Development Fund to local group Maranoa Artists Inc that will see the group engage professional artist Rod Moore to conduct a landscape workshop in November. The workshop will be open to both experienced and beginning artists. The Regional Arts Development Fund is an important program that Council administers with state government funding to increase arts and cultural experiences in our region. More information regarding the RADF program can be found here.
Application for Community Grants I Round 1 – 2024/25
Council considered a number of applications for Community Grants under round one of the 2024-2025 program. Counsel endorsed five applications under the Senex small grants category and nine community and major grants that will support a range of local and regional initiatives. A total of $86,351 was approved to fund these projects and activities from local organisations. A full media release will outline the successful applicants and the projects that have been funded.
Nomination of Projects for Regional Airports Program – Round 4
Council has endorsed an application for Round 4 of the Commonwealth Government’s Regional Airports Program for the Roma Airport. Council has committed to nominating a project to improve the general aviation apron at Roma Airport. Council look forward to a positive announcement from the Commonwealth Government in due course.