As a resident of the Burdekin Shire, you are invited to participate in the development of our Community Plan.

Please take this opportunity to contribute to our shared vision for the Burdekin as we move forward over the next 10 years.

Community Plan 2012 - 2022

Have your say!

About the Burdekin Shire Community Plan 2012 - 2022

The Local Government Act 2009 requires that all local governments in Queensland prepare a long-term community plan that:

• outlinesthelocalgovernment’sgoals,strategiesandpoliciesforimplementingthelocalgovernment’svisionforthefuture of the local government area, during the period covered by the plan

• coversaperiodofatleast10yearsafterthecommencementoftheplan

Minimum requirements for the community plan and the community planning process are established in the Local Government (Finance, Plans and Reporting) Regulation 2010 (‘theRegulation’).

The community plan is developed in accordance with a comprehensive community engagement process and expresses the community’svision,itsaspirationsandkeypriorityareas.

The community plan provides the basis and context for:

• Council’s input to the regional planning process• Council’s strategic land use planning and priority infrastructure planning in accordance with the Sustainable Planning

Act 2009• Council’s corporate plan• Council’slong-termfinancialplanandsustainabilitystrategy.

TodeveloptheBurdekinShireCommunityPlan,CouncilisundertakingthefivephasesdescribedintheRegulation.Thephases are:

• Intelligence Gathering• Community Input• Community Visioning• CommunityValidation• CouncilPolicy

Thissummarypaperistheresultofthefirstphase-IntelligenceGathering-and,inadditiontoaseriesoffocusgroupmeetingsandtheformationofaCommunityReferenceGroup,theattachedsurveyrepresentsthesecondphase-CommunityInput.CouncilwillusethefeedbackreceivedduringthisphasetodeveloptheCommunityVisionandadraftCommunityPlan,whichwillbemadeavailableforfurtherfeedbackintheCommunityValidationphase.ThefinalphaseinvolvescheckingthecommunityplanagainstCouncil’sotherlong-termplanningdocumentsandformaladoptionofthefinalplanbyCouncil.

Council’splanningframework,includingtheCommunityPlan,isshownbelow.

Shire Profile

Local Government BurdekinShire

Area 5,058km2

Location Latitude19°35'south,longitude147°24'east,approximately80kmsouthofTownsville

Population 18,431estimatedresidentpopulationasat30thJune,2009.(2006Census)

Status RuralAgriculturalVeryLarge(RAV)-AustralianClassificationofLocalGovernment

Rateable Properties 8,640asatJune,2010

TheBurdekinregionislocatedintheheartoftheGudjudanation–thelargestnationofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderpeopleinNorthQueensland.BurdekinShireacknowledgesthetraditionalownersoftheland,andpaysrespect to their past, present and future involvement in the developmentoftheregion.

FirstsettledbyEuropeansin1882,thetownofAyrwasnamedbythenPremierofQueensland,SirThomasMcIlwraith,afterhisScottishbirthplace.

LargenumbersofItaliansmigratedtotheregiontoworkin the sugar industry in the period following World War I tothe1930s,andagainafterWorldWarII.ResidentswithItalianancestrycurrentlyrepresent17.6%ofourpopulation-asignificantlyhigherpercentagethanQueensland(2.7%)andNorthQueensland(6.0%).TheregionisalsohometoScottish,German,GreekandSpanishcommunities.

TheBurdekinregioniscentredontherichBurdekinRiverdelta.Ourwatersupplyincludesahugeundergroundaquifer,themightyBurdekinRiverandtheBurdekinFallsDam,whichholdsfourtimesmorewaterthanSydneyHarbour.Thisabundant, year-round supply of good quality water - the region’snumberoneasset-underpinstheconfidencethatlocal farmers, business people, residents and investors have inthiscommunity.Inadditiontoourvastwatersupplies,fertilesoilsandanaverageof300daysofsunshineperyearhaveresultedintheBurdekinbecomingoneofthestrongestagriculturalregionsinAustralia.

The main commercial centres of the region are the towns ofAyrandHomeHillwithsmallercentresofBrandon,Giru,Jerona,Alva,Wunjunga,Clare,MillarooandDalbeg.

Economic Development

StrengthsTheAgriculture,Forestry&FishingsectoristhebiggestemployerintheBurdekin(21.8%oftheworkforce)andcroppingrepresents96.7%ofallagriculturalproduction(byvalue)intheBurdekinregion.

TheBurdekinisthemostproductivesugarcanegrowingareainAustralia,withabout80,000hectaresoflanddedicatedtothecrop.Burdekinfarmersproduceanaverageof120tonnesofcaneperhectare–wellabovethenationalaverageof80tonnesperhectare.

TheBurdekinalsoboastsstrongfruit,vegetable,beef,commercialfishingandaquaculture industries with well established producers of mangoes, capsicums, zucchinis,corn,melonsandprawnsandemergingsectorsincludinggrains,cotton,legumes,achacha,grapesandcassava.Around2500hectaresoflandintheBurdekinisdevotedtothecommercialproductionofmangoes,withapproximately400,000treesharvestedeachyearandanestimatedincomeof$40million.

TheBurdekinisalsowellsituatedinrelationtonearbylargescaleminingandinfrastructureprojects.

ChallengesThetopfivekeychallengesfortheBurdekinShirewereidentifiedintheNQ3Report,preparedin2008. They were:

• attractingmorepeopletolivelocally• anagingpopulation• retentionofskilledworkers• retaining youth, and• increasingcommunityservicesandcontrollingcosts.

TheBurdekinhasahigheraverageagethantheNorthernStatisticalDivision(NSD)andthepopulationinthe45to85agegroupisincreasingatafasterratethantheNSD.Thepopulationinthe15to34agegroupisdecliningsignificantly.

In2020,forthefirsttimeever,itispredictedthattherewillbelessyouth(residentsaged<25)thanresidentsaged65+intheBurdekincommunity.Inordertomaintainourcurrenteconomicbaseandlifestyle(asat2008),weneedthe25to64agegrouptogrowby9.7%overthenext20years,howeverthisagegroupispredictedtodeclineby23.9%overthattimeperiod.

OpportunitiesSeveralemerginginvestmentopportunitieshavebeenrecognisedfortheBurdekinShire,including:

• sugarcanevalueadding(ethanol,fibre,juice),• aquaculture, • lifestyle business and industry, • nature based tourism, • agriculture(diversificationandhorticulturalprocessing),and• aregionalfarmers’market

Councilhasrecentlyapprovedadevelopmentapplicationfromalocalcanegrowerfortheconstructionofa$200millionethanolandcogenerationplant.

ThreatsNaturaldisasters,suchasTropicalCycloneYasi(February2011)andunseasonalrecordrainfallsinthesummerof2010/2011,canhaveasignificantimpactupontheagriculturalproductionoftheBurdekin.LowerthanexpectedreturnsintheAgriculture,Forestry&Fishingindustrywillbereflectedinotherindustries,particularlymanufacturingandretail.

TheBurdekinisheavilyreliantupontheAgriculture,Forestry&Fishingindustry(anddownstreammanufacturingassociatedwiththisprimaryindustry)foremploymentandeconomicoutput.Withthemajorityoftheregion’spersonalincomeseitherdirectlyorindirectlyderivedfromtheseindustries,thefirstpriorityforeconomicdevelopmentintheregionneedstobetobroadenanddeepentheseindustriesandtoretainalargerproportionoftheireconomicvaluewithintheregionaleconomy.

Theminingboomhascausedashortageofskilledworkersintheregion.Manyfarmersarenowreliantuponunskilled,short-termworkers(includingbackpackers)tocompleteplantingandharvesting.Theresultingincreasesinrecruitmentandtrainingcosts,alongwiththedeclineinthepriceofsugar,haveanimpactontheprofitabilityoftheindustry.

Environmental ManagementStrengthsBowlingGreenBay,includingmorethanhalfoftheShire’scoastline,isincludedontheRamsarConventionListofWetlandsofInternationalImportance,whichlistssitescontainingrepresentative,rareoruniquewetlands,orthatareimportantforconservingbiologicaldiversity.Thesewetlandsystemsaremanagedthroughriparianagreementswithlandownersandacommitmenttoreducingtheimpactofdevelopmentonourcoastalecosystems.

InvolvementintheReefGuardianProgram,implementationofathree-binwastemanagementsystem,supportforcogenerationandthein-housemanufacturingofsolar-poweredlightsforCouncilfacilities,arejustsomeexamplesofCouncil’scommitmenttoenvironmentalstewardshipandimplementationofenvironmentalpolicyatalocallevel.

ChallengesStormwaterandgroundwatermanagementischallenginginsomepartsoftheShiredueto:

• Lackofgradelimits-itisdifficulttomanagestormwaterdrainageeffectivelyaslandintheregionisgenerallyveryflat.• Lackofpollutioncontrolonexistingstormwatersystems• Lackofsecondaryortertiarysewagetreatmentinsomecoastalsettlements

Environmentalmanagementintheregioniscomplicatedbythefollowingfactors:

• Difficultyinattractingskilledenvironmentalprofessionalstothearea• LackofStategovernmentenvironmentalrepresentativesinthearea• StategovernmentcontrolovermajorEnvironmentallyRelevantActivities,e.g.sugarmills• Twoindependentwaterauthorities–LowerBurdekinWaterandSunwater--manage99.8%ofthewaterusageinthe

region• General apathy in the community about climate change and other environmental issues

OpportunitiesTheenvironmentalperformanceofBurdekinShirecouldbeimprovedbytakingadvantageofthefollowing:

• 300daysofsunshineeachyearmakestheregionanexcellentcandidateforlarge-scalesolarenergyprojects• Utilisationofadditionalwaterresources• Productionofawaterbalancemodelforouraquifer• Sustainabilityratingschemeforinfrastructure,whichisbeingdevelopedbyAustralianGreenInfrastructureCouncil• Protecting,preservingandprovidingappropriateaccesstohigh-valueenvironmentalassets• Implementationofnewwastelegislation–encouragementforindustryandcommunitytoreducewasteandimprove

practices• Innovativefarmingpracticestoreduceenvironmentalimpacts• ImplementationofWaterSensitiveUrbanDesigninnewdevelopments

ThreatsThehealthoftheenvironmentwithintheBurdekinShireisthreatenedby:

• Therisingaquiferandpotentialsaltintrusionoftheaquifer• BlanketStatelegislationthatisnotapplicabletoouruniquearea• Alackofcontroloverourentirewatercatchment• Foreshoreerosionandothereffectsofnaturaldisasters• Rising sea levels, climate change and storm surge• Riskofdetrimentalimpactofincompatiblelandusesonthenaturalenvironment• Thepotentialforillegaldumpingasaresultoftheimplementationofnewwastelegislation• Managingstormwaterrunoff–intensityofSummerrainfallevents• Invasive species of plants and animals in our waterways

Social Wellbeing

StrengthsBurdekinShireiscomplementedbyavarietyofeducational,healthandsportingresources.TheShirehasthreehighschools,numerousprimaryschools,anddaycarecentres,aswellasaTAFECollegeandtheproposedNorthQueenslandCentreforTropicalAgriculture(Burdekin).

TheShireishometotheBurdekinTheatre-awellrecognisedculturalvenueinQueensland;theBurdekinMemorialHall;amodernwell-equippedLibrary;andactivelocalartsandculturalassociations.TheShirealsooffersfabulousrestaurantsandnighttimeentertainmentforallages.

AmajorredevelopmentoftheAyrHospitalwascompleted in 2005, providing the region with a modern facilityofferingarangeofgeneralandspecialistmedicalservices.

AnewBurdekinYouthCentrehasrecentlybeenconstructedinAyr.Thenewpurpose-builtfacilitybringstogethertheBurdekin’sexistingyouthsupportorganisationsunderoneroof,aswellasseveralvisitingyouthservices.ThecentreismanagedbythePCYC.

AdditionalspecialtystoressurroundingColesandanexpansionoftheWoolworthssupermarketareprovidingadditionalshoppingchoice.

GeneralStrengths

• Multiculturalism–largeindigenous,Italian,Greek,Scottish,SpanishandSouthSeaIslandercommunities• BAYWatchProgram–communitysupportforindigenousyouth• Goodbroadbandaccessforthemajorityofthepopulation• New community housing development• Inspectionprograminplaceforhighriskpremisestoensureappropriatehealthstandardsaremet• BuildingSaferCommunitiesActionTeam(BSCAT)–“acollaborativecommunitypartnership…utilisinganevidence-

basedapproachforearlyinterventiontopreventcrimeandtobuildasafercommunityforall.”

Education

• Wide range of public and private schools within the region• BarrierReefInstituteofTAFEcampusinHomeHill• Proximitytohighereducation(JamesCookUniversity-Townsville)• ShalomChristianCollege–anewruraleducationfacilityforindigenousyouthopeninginJanuary2012atwhatwas

previouslytheAustralianAgriculturalCollegesiteinClarewithaninitialintakeof60students• AustralianAgriculturalCollege-nowlocatedjustoutsideofAyr

Sport&Recreation

• AnzacParkAllAbilitiesPlayground• BurdekinRiver,creeks,tributaries,reefandbeaches–fishingandotherrecreation• Developingnetworkofcycleandwalkingpathways• Varietyofrecreationalgroups–BurdekinRoadRunners,craftgroups,CWA,etc• Widevarietyofsportingopportunities.Strongsportingcommunity.• BurdekinBeActiveCommittee–providesfacilitiesandprogramsthatpromotephysicalactivityandindividualand

communitywellbeing.

Challenges• Accesstospecialist/alternativemedicalcare• Shortageofaged-carefacilities,limitedhigh-carefacilities• Ageandconditionofpublicswimmingpools• Lackoflocalsportspsychology/nutritionanddieticianservices• Lackofpolicepresenceafterhours–inabilitytorespondtocommunityexpectations

Opportunities• Needtochangefocusofpublicfacilities(i.e.pools,showgrounds,oldjuniorsoccergrounds)tomakethemmore

economically sustainable• Strongmulticulturalandsugarindustryhistorycouldbeusedasthebasisfortouristattractions• Largeblocksincloseproximitytotowncentreprovideopportunitiesforin-filldevelopment–mediumdensity

developmentwouldprovidebetteraccesstoservices• Seasonalemploymentopportunities• Roomformoreintegrated/coordinated/preventativehealthprograms

Threats• Natural disasters• Highmaintenancecostsforpublicfacilities,i.e.publicpools• Closure of small schools within the region• Highincidenceofvector-bornedisease• Highincidenceofskinandothercancers• Lossofyouthtomajorcities

GovernanceStrengthsRetainingitsindependenceinthe2008localgovernmentamalgamations,BurdekinShireCouncilisinagoodfinancialpositionandimplementationofourassetmanagementsystemiswelladvanced.

CouncilhascooperativerelationshipswiththeotherNorthQueenslandcouncilsaswellasourStateandFederalmembersandhasastrongrecordindisaster management due to:

• anexperiencedCouncilandLocalDisasterManagementGroup•a resilient and well-educated community

ChallengesMeetingtheexpectationsofthecommunitywhilecomplyingwiththestatutoryrequirementsofStateandfederalgovernmentsisanongoingchallengeforalllocalgovernments.

Inadditiontothis,beingasmallregionalshirepresentsitsownchallengesincluding:

• Limitedresources-thislimitstheimprovementsthatCouncilcanmakeintheregion• Difficultyretainingtechnicalpersonnelwithexperiencedstaffmembersretiringandyoungerstaffmembersbeinglured

awayby“bigcity”livingandprivatesectorsalaries• Thelackofpopulationgrowthintheregionresultsinastaticrevenuebase,whichcanonlybeincreasedthrough

increases in rates, fees and charges

OpportunitiesIn2008theQueenslandGovernmentpreparedanIndustryDevelopmentStrategyforhorticultureprocessingintheBurdekin.Counciliscurrentlyworkingwiththenewly-formedStrategyWorkingGrouptocompletetheactionsidentifiedinthestrategy,includingidentificationofpotentialbottlenecksinthedevelopmentapprovalprocessfornewprocessingfacilities.

OtheropportunitiesthatCouncilcouldtakeadvantageofinclude:

• Regionalpartnershipswithothercouncilstotakeadvantageofeconomiesofscale.• Partnershipswithlocalcommunitygroupsandotherlevelsofgovernmenttoimproveservicesandfacilitieswithinthe

Shire.

ThreatsThecosttoCouncilofcomplianceisincreasingasnewandamendedStategovernmentlegislationisadopted.EachchangeoradditionalregulationhasanimpactonCouncil’spolicies,proceduresandpractices,i.e.howwedobusiness,andresourcemanagement.

Difficultyinfillingkeytechnicalpositions,particularlyinEnvironmentalHealth,putsCouncilatriskofnotcomplyingwithlegislativerequirementsandextendsapprovalprocessesfornewbusinesses,whichhasadetrimentalimpactontheeconomicdevelopmentoftheregion.

Burdekin Shire Council wants to hear from you!Everystakeholder—betheyresident,ratepayer,business,governmentorcommunitygroup—isencouragedtoprovideinputintotheCommunityPlanningprocess.

To be involved in guiding the future of the region, you can:

• Completetheattachedsurveyandreturnitto

Post: BurdekinShireCouncilPOBox947AyrQLD4807

Dropin: 145YoungStreet,AyrFax: 0747839999email: burdekinsc@burdekin.qld.gov.au

OR

• Completethesurveyonline.Alinktothesurveycanbefoundonourwebsite:

www.burdekin.qld.gov.au