Council Approves New Dental Clinic Development In St George
COUNCIL APPROVES NEW DENTAL CLINIC DEVELOPMENT IN ST GEORGE
Balonne Shire Council approved the construction of a new dental clinic at 112-116 Alfred Street, St George, at its ordinary meeting yesterday.
The proposed development accommodates the relocation of the existing St George Family Dental practice into a new and improved facility which will continue to provide dental services to the community of St George and the wider Balonne Shire Council region.
It will include a waiting/reception area, three consulting rooms, treatment rooms, staff and customer amenities (staff room and toilets), storage room and office.
There will be no change to the existing building footprint or significant changes to the external appearance of the building.
Five onsite car parking spaces will be provided.
The clinic will operate between the hours of 7:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday and 8:00am to 1:00pm on Saturdays.
It will employ up to nine personnel including practitioners, dental assistants and administration/reception staff.
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Council will continue to lobby the State Government to accept ownership of both the St George-Noondoo and Noondoo-Thallon Roads.
Currently Council has responsibility for one of the roads and Transport and Main Roads the other under a Memorandum of Understanding due to expire shortly.
Council has argued that its current financial position – exacerbated by being in its seventh consecutive year of a 100 per cent drought declaration – does not make it economically viable for the Shire to maintain either road and it wants TMR to assume control and responsibility.
Mayor Samantha O’Toole said for many years Council had been rated as financially unsustainable given its reliance on agricultural output and this parlous situation was only exacerbated by having responsibility for either road.
Cr O’Toole said Council continuing to be responsible for either road will lead to a long-term decrease in the level of service it could offer its entire road network given the limited funds available for maintenance.
To date TMR has not agreed to the request.
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The Shire will seek to gain title for its 3000 ML allocation from the Jack Taylor Weir given the escalation in usage charges over the last decade under a Term Allocation contract with Sun Water.
Since 2010-2011Council’s total cost per megalitre has risen from $72.62 in 2010-2011 to $117.07 in the current financial year, an increase of more than 50 per cent.
Council currently pays a term allocation fee in addition to allocation and usage fees.
Gaining title for this allocation would offer long-term budget and water security benefits to Council.
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Council has approved $19,395.68 in annual rate concessions for sporting, charitable and community organisations.
The allocation was slightly up on the $16,000 anticipated for 2020/2021.
Organisations eligible for support under the program include those which are based in the Shire or are able to demonstrate that their project, program or activity will directly benefit local residents, are an approved charity or an incorporated not-for-profit organisation, pay general rates or sewerage and cleansing utility service charges to Council and do not receive operational funding from the State or Federal Government.
ENDS
For more information:
Nigel Tapp, Corporate Communications Co-ordinator-Balonne Shire Council
T: 07 4620 8804
M: 0476 660 047
E: nigel.tapp@balonne.qld.gov.au