Hinterland horse trails still under a cloud:
The future of horse-riding trails in our region is still uncertain after nearly a decade of lobbying the government, and community consultation with a passionate and committed group of hinterland riders. With the Mapleton Forest to be designated as National Park next year, the government has passed a Bill (The Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Amendment Bill no 2), which will allow the continuation of horse riding on existing trails in the region (including Mapleton Forest) until a new a advisory committee investigates and reports on the impact of horses on the forest. This committee has the next 15 years to report on the outcome of their investigations. The Minister advised me he doesn’t expect any initial reports for at least three years. I told the Government I believe this is unreasonable – the horse riders have been riding these trails for many years with no detrimental impact.
I am disappointed that after years of government consultation with the horse-riding and other interest groups, the Government was not prepared to make a definite decision on the future of the horse riding trails in south east Queensland.
For more information about riding trails covered by this legislation in the region, visit www.epa.qld.gov.au.
Mobile Home Park legislative changes due:
I met with a group of mobile home residents at Parliament House to discuss a range of issues involving agreements between residents living in a mobile home resort/villages and management. The Minister’s office has advised that amendments are currently being prepared to the legislation which regulates activities in manufactured homes in residential parks. Copies of the draft amendments are expected to be released for public comment later this year. I will organise copies to be available from my Nambour office once they come to hand.
Seeking Queensland Icons:
I was pleased to be invited to join an all-party committee which will select Queensland’s top 150 icons as part of the state’s 150th celebrations next year.
The State Government is seeking suggestions on our state’s icons, for example, the Big Pineapple, lamingtons and the Fourex Man. Suggestions from throughout the state will be collected and a final list of 300 icons will be presented to Queenslanders in March 2009 for a public vote.
I would love to get your ideas, especially on well known local icons. Categories include: state shapers; influencing artists; sport legends; locations; natural attractions; structures and engineering feats; defining moments; inventions and innovations; events and festivals; typically Queensland. Send your list of ideas to me at PO Box 265 Nambour 4560 or drop them into my Nambour office at 51 Currie Street. The closing date for nominations is January 30, 2009.
For more information visit www.q150.qld.gov.au/index.aspx.
Minister inspects Kenilworth district roads:
This week I met with Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt at the site of current roadworks on the Kenilworth-Eumundi Road. He was able to inspect the condition of the road and the progress of the current roadwork first hand.
We then travelled to the Kenilworth-Maleny Road to inspect a section of the road which was the subject of petitions I presented to Parliament during the last two sittings.
Earlier this month I lodged a petition from 925 petitioners requesting the House to commence the upgrade and widening of the Kenilworth-Maleny Road between Conondale and the Bill Waldon Bridge at Little Yabba. Over recent months I have presented several petitions to Parliament, all focused on the need for the upgrade of the Kenilworth-Eumundi Road.
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