Outcomes – November Council Meeting

At the Council meeting held 25 November, Council: 

• Received a question from a member of the public in relation to a petition submitted about the concrete wall in Strahan –   the General Manager acknowledged receipt of the petition and advised that under legislation he has 21 days to respond to the petitioner and that the petition is scheduled for inclusion in the December Council meeting agenda.

 

• Received a question from a member of the public representing the Queenstown Amateur Swimming Club seeking confirmation of swimming pool opening hours given their programs are scheduled to commence 2 December and the Club has not received any communication from Council around changed hours – the General Manager and Director of Infrastructure & Operations advised that announcement of opening hours would occur soon, with staffing being finalised.

 

• Received a question from a member of the public asking if a traffic management plan existed for the Strahan Waterfront Redevelopment Project and if that plan could be seen by the public –   the General Manager advised there is a plan, which he will source and follow up with the member of the public to advise of how/where it can be viewed. 

 

• Carried a motion on notice from Cr Iwanicki regarding Neighbourhood Houses, with Council resolving to write to the Premier and the appropriate Minister in support of Neighbourhood Houses Tasmania’s request for increased and adequate funding to provide for the surge in demand for their services.

 

• Carried a motion on notice from Cr Hamer regarding the Lift the Tone campaign introduced by the Local Government Association of Tasmania with Council resolving to endorse the Lift the Tone campaign. 

 

• Received a Motion on notice from Cr Hamer to invite Frank Barta to review his report on Council’s financial position which was delivered 12 months ago. The motion failed. 

 

• Received a question without notice from Cr Hamer asking if gym equipment had been installed at the new Strahan Gym & Multi-Purpose Centre – the General Manager advised this was due to be completed by the end of November. 

 

• Received a question without notice from Cr Hamer regarding poor telecommunications services and if there was a known problem with infrastructure, siting risks associated with not being able to reach emergency services – the General Manager will follow this up with Telstra 

 

• Received a question without notice from Cr McKay regarding banking services in the region, noting at the recent LGAT conference Westpac representatives discussed their recent strategic shift to reinvest in regional areas, asking if the General Manager could reach out to Westpac and commence discussions around a possible regional service centre on the West Coast – the General Manager advised this could be completed, with the Mayor noting that Council is also waiting to meet with Bank of Us. 

 

• Cr Iwanicki sought clarification around hire of the Rosebery Soccer Ground and cost – the General Manager took this on notice to investigate 

 

• Noted the usage data for the new Unlock West Coast/SmartLock application for facility access, asking if statistics for use of the swipe card system could be provided to allow comparison, and if there was a timeframe for the Rosebery & Tullah gyms to be added to the new system – the General Manager took this on notice to confirm 

 

• Noted the community group and commercial leases, with clarification sought regarding the craft group lease and Strahan Wharf/Gordon River Cruise lease – the General Manager took this on notice 

 

• Noted the photos of storm damage on the Hogarth Falls Walking Track, seeking clarification and an update on who manages this facility – the General Manager took this on notice 

 

• Noted the installation of electric hand dryers in public toilets at Hedley Faull Park, with the Mayor asking if these would be rolled out to other facilities – the General Manager advised there would be a strategic roll out based on other equipment ran out/needed replacing. 

 

• Cr McKay noted there has been a decrease in kerbside recycling year to date which will hopefully turnaround once the recycling sorting shed is operational and a proactive campaign to reengage the community to recycle in underway. 

 

• Noted a Financial & In-Kind Assistance Policy acquittal report from the Rosebery Development Association & Rosebery Neighbourhood House for their Haunted House event on 31 October. Councillors noted how well the event was attended and the positive move in funds raised from this event to be put towards future community events.  

 

• Endorsed a report recommending the date of the Annual General Meeting move from Thursday 11 December to Tuesday 9 December 2025. 

 

• Noted a report and community feedback received in response to the West Coast Swimming Pools Opening Hours survey, with Councillors pleased at the level of community participation and the detailed summary, also noting that the Aquatics Facility Strategy & Business Plan 2017 should also be referenced. 

 

• Received the final audited Roads to Recovery Program report from Audit Tasmania for the period ending 31 December 2024. 

 

• Approved $1000 Event Sponsorship, under the Financial & In-Kind Assistance Policy, for the 7XS Queenstown Lions Ladies Fun Day Event to be held at the Queenstown Recreation Ground on 14 December 2025. 

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A recording is available via our YouTube channel. Please note the audio is poor quality this month.