Council approves Goondir community project; Council meeting updates

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The Balonne Shire Council approved a community use development application for the former St George RSL Club site at 106-110 Alfred Street, St George at its regular monthly meeting yesterday.

Goondir Health Services intends to use the site to support communities within the Balonne Shire and beyond.

Specifically, the facility will consist of the reuse of the  existing 1381 square metre vacant building previously used for club activities as well as two single storey additions totalling 199 square metres to the south and east of the building.

A cold room extension addition to the south west corner of the existing building will comprise bulk dry store/processing, cold store, freezer, loading dock area and a bin/rubbish area.

A boxing ring extension to the north east corner of the existing building will comprise a boxing ring and a truck park.

Sixty onsite car parking spaces, including two dedicated disability parking spaces, will be provided as well as the maintenance of existing landscaping areas located around the perimeter of the property.

Council was told while the site was currently unoccupied its most recent permitted land use was for club purposes being the site of the RSL Club.

“The proposed development for community use is located on a property which has historically been used for commercial (RSL Club) purposes and accordingly, existing infrastructure connections (including car parking) exists on the property and can appropriately service the proposed use,” a report to Council said.

It is the second development application approved in Alfred Street in recent months.

The St George Family Dental Practice had also made a development application for a separate site, and will move to a new and improved facility at 112-116 Alfred Street once work is completed.

The new development will include a waiting/reception area, three consulting rooms, treatment rooms, staff and customer amenities (staff room and toilets), storage room and office.

Library on the move

The St George Library will be closed from Monday 23rd November as staff move the facility to a temporary new home at 14 Henry Street.

It will re-open at the former video store site on Monday 30th November.

Library staff are arranging to support special needs clients.

Mayor Samantha O’Toole said the relocation was necessary to allow for work to begin on the new library hub which is funded by the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) and will feature:

  • Collection and general reading areas
  • Age-specific areas
  • Quiet reading room
  • Public amenities
  • Makers space for innovation, creativity and robotics
  • Two meeting rooms
  • Storage area, and;
  • Installation of fixtures.

The Culture Centre Annexe will be refurbished to include two large meeting rooms, green spaces, a courtyard, façade, foyer Art Gallery and landscaping.

Council is also contributing to the building adding:

  • A Country Universities Centre educational hub
  • Spaces equipped with technology for virtual learning, training and connection
  • Hot desks and office hire, including virtual office hire and services
  • Business support programs and visiting consultant workspaces
  • Training and workshops via virtual connection, including spaces for Distance Education
  • 3D Print Hub for prototypes and new product development, including ag-tech and a;
  • Dedicated area for the celebration of local history and cultural representation

Council has appointed Complete Urban as the project manager.

 “The new library hub will be a real asset for the people of Balonne, and I cannot wait for the work to begin later this year,” Cr O’Toole said.

Community Christmas celebrations to go ahead

Council has shared the Christmas spirit with community groups in Bollon, St George and Thallon keen to celebrate the festive season.

It follows a $2000 donation to the Dirranbandi Pastoral & Agricultural Association for the family-oriented 2020 Dirranbandi Christmas in the Showgrounds event approved at the October meeting.

The St George & District Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Carnival, to be held at the St George Showground on Saturday 12th December, will receive $3000.

Council was told the event had been held annually for more than a decade with strong community support.

The Bollon QCWA Christmas Tree, which has received a requested $1000, is a long running event which is the highlight of the social calendar for the Bollon district.

It marks the end of the school year with boarding school children returning home and the Christmas spirit shared by all on the banks of the Wallam Creek.

Organised by the local Progress Association the Thallon Christmas Tree has become an important yearly tradition promoting social well-being and community connectedness.

Bitumen sealing for flood damaged Hebel-Goodooga Rd

Council has approved funding to enable a $1.81 million bitumen seal project to be undertaken on the Hebel-Goodooga Road.

A total of $667,460 in Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program Round Seven funding has been secured with Council providing $575,000.

Council will also redistribute a further $575,000 from the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme (TIDS) set aside for the St George-Noondoo Road and Whyenbah Road projects to the upgrade project.

Council was told significant flood damage around the Shire earlier this year had resulted in some of this year’s planned TIDS projects being disrupted by the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement works taking place in the proposed work location .

Some realignment work on unsafe corners identified by local community members will also be undertaken as part of the project.