Cr Rick Baberowski was able to shed light on the late withdrawal of SC Airport Management from attending our AGM.  Cr Baberowski explained there had been a major restructuring of Airport Management aimed at giving Council better input into decision making.  New senior staff have been employed to accommodate the re alignment of responsibilities.  There was a misunderstanding on who can and who can’t speak at Public Meetings on the new Management’s behalf.  This misunderstanding has now been clarified and BeCA expects Airport Management to attend a 2020 Public Meeting.

All AGM requirements, adoption of reports, official election of Management Committee members, a report on BeCA’s Finances and an overall report on recent activities was provided by the President. BeCA welcomed new Management Team member Steve Whitfield.

Documents covering these reports and elections are available on the BeCA website.

Cr Baberowski provided updates on procedures now available to better monitor the speed, height, identification and noise level of aircraft using local airports.  The monitors are portable and can be moved from one area to another.  So hotspots for aircraft behaviour complaints can now be better serviced to confirm any unacceptable noise concerns.  Early indications indicate recorded noise levels are within an acceptable range.

Cr Baberowski will monitor the condition of bushland behind Bellcarra Retirement Resort as a possible fire risk to residents there.

The recent Youth Behaviour Forum has seen Working Parties meet to further discuss the issue.  The Forum will reconvene later in 2019 to discuss recommendations to ensure the behaviour of some younger members of the community is reasonable.

Trampolines in the Violet St park will be replaced with safer “Play Stations”.

Following some community consultation, the half court basketball court proposal for Gracie Canavan Recreational Park will not be proceeded with.

Work is about to commence on a new sports precinct to be constructed by Council on land opposite Corbould Park on Caloundra Rd.

Questions to Cr Baberowski mentioned the behaviour of motorists around schools at drop off and pick up times.

Local State MP Member Mark McArdle began his report by stating as a resident living near Meridan State College this concern was not limited to schools at Bellvista and Baringa.

Mark went on to say that residents who take pride in their area and report inadvertent dumping of rubbish such as cigarette butts will always lead to a cleaner and more proud community environment.

Mark then flagged the imminent water shortage which may affect SE Queensland if there isn’t substantial rain over the next 12 months.  Mark urged residents to be vigilant on their water usage now rather than waiting for the shortage to become a possible crisis in 12 months time.

The traffic problems affecting Caloundra will only worsen if action isn’t taken now.  As suburbs such as Aura and Harmony grow, the road crisis for this area will only worsen.  However the plan to ‘resume’ areas such as the R.S.L.’s Memorial Garden for roadworks is not an answer that the community should accept.

Future planned areas with further population growth such as Beerwah East will put further pressure on the condition of the Pumicestone Passage.  Relevant groups with a vested interest in the future of the Passage will be required to work together to ensure that population growth does not have a detrimental effect on this waterway.

Mark praised the work of local community members and organisations which fought for the provision of services for their communities.  He highlighted the work of residents in having the Meridan State College school bus service extended to Baringa and BeCA for its work in having the six closed bus stops re opened with a new dedicated bus service.  Mark denounced the idea that Translink believed it was OK for elderly residents be made to walk over a kilometre to catch a bus at a bus stop which was previously just a few metres away from their home.

He urged local residents and organisations continue to fight for the needs of their community members and ensure they had a fair and reasonable life style.

Mark finished his presentation by detailing a project he is currently involved with as a State Parliamentarian.  He is currently on a Working Party discussing the possible introduction into Queensland of a new Palliative Care and Euthanasia policy. There was overwhelming support from those present at the meeting that access to Euthanasia was a right they could exercise.  The Working Party will require much more discussion on the issue which would not go before parliament until sometime in 2021.

Mark will not be standing for re election at the next State Poll due for late 2020.

At the closure of the meeting many stayed back for wine and nibbles kindly supplied by “The Positive Property People.