Hi fellow members and affilliates
A couple of weeks back I had put a number of projects to members of the council as well as to others of interest with proposed developments in the Burrum District/Howard/Torbanlea area.
I had sought some imput from those that we have entrusted with planning our community structure and wisely spending/investing our rate dollars.
THIS LIST OF RECIPIENTS IS AVAILABLE T.A.P.
Perhaps published at a later date here in the web site.
This was intended to test the interest of those appointed to council for the development of the area.
Out of about 30 or so persons to whom the projects outline was presented
only one to date responded…Our mayor – Mick Kruger
His answer was however merely just a referral to his various departments.
At least he acknowledged the receipt of our letter email from the chamber.
Thanks for that Mick..
Early days for responses maybe as it has only been 2 weeks.
We all know and have experienced the reaction time of admin.staffers
I HAVE PUBLISHED THIS LIST OF PROJECTS HERE
The typos have been corrected for this publication from the one sent as the earlier one was forwarded in a hurry at the time.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Re:- PROJECTS HOWARD – TORBANLEA AREA
26th May 2009
Today I spoke to Mick Kruger at the community hall in Howard
about some projects we have in mind here in this area.
These projects are ones that I have in mind , some of which belong to my companies B-D-E
I am aware that other uses have been proposed for the railway land.- A.
These projects below do not represent all and other projects that may be considered for the area by other developers or community leaders.
The projects involve:-
A..Railway land adjacent train station @ Howard
B.. 300 modular homes project for grey nomads @Torbanlea
C.. Motel/Cabins complex on Bruce Highway/Burrum River Road
D.. Aged persons rental apartments complex in Annie St @ Howard
E.. Howard Trades Services complex Old Bruce Highway @ Howard
SOME OF THESE PROJECTS CAN BE VIEWED
ON THIS SITE [UNDER CONSTRUCTION]
http://www.realestate-au.info
Some comments on each are listed below with some relevant docs attached
A…Under cover parking @Howard Railway land
This parcel is owned by Qld Rail and there are some moves afoot to sell same to council for their use
There have some protracted negotiations on the land between council and Queensland Rail and discussions on other uses for this parcel with Mal Chard of the Burrum Chamber of Commerce http://www.burrumcc.org.au
The proposal being forward here is to outline another option for use of the site.
The site could be promoted as a destination for communities within a 50kilometre radius to use the station area for under cover parking whilst they shop in the area or catch the electric train into Brisbane or going north and leave their car in the car park.
The proposal is this:-
1…We lease the land [perpetual lease] from council at a nominal yearly rent
2…We construct an undercover parking facility at our expense
3…We install a complex of solar energy panels on the roofing structure and generate power via these solar panels to put into the electricity power grid.
4…We get the monies from the power company as a return on our investment
5…Council will own the land and we pay the rates to them and maintain the property.
6…Parking will be provide free of charge to users
7…Security cameras will be installed throughout the complex
8…Museum and historic buildings and kiosks perhaps incorporated into the project
9…All power requirements for the development would be self generated.with no reliance on the power authority for electricity.
These factors above are part of the concept for the development which would very eco based and put Howard and the Fraser Coast on the map with unique eco designed facilities.
Fraser Coast Council would be praised and be a role model for supporting
and encouraging such an initiative at no cost to them for the facility.
This project would be constructed by Howard based developers and business interests and incorporate the latest solar technology from the Silicon Valley in the USA and backed and engineered by one of the worlds largest suppliers of solar power equipment.
An expression of interest from council will trigger a draft proposal to be submitted for their consideration.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
B…Grey Nomad 300 modular home park @Torbanlea
The concept is to on a 60 acre site on the Bruce Highway Torbanlea.
Heavily landscaped with a lake, tennis court and small golf course, boat, van storage and washing facilities
Done in stages of 100 units at a time, the proposal incorporates a community centre and its own sewerage system and solar power generators with very little reliance on external power supplied by the electricity authority.
The frontage to the Bruce Highway is approx 1 kilometre and very little of the complex will be seen from the road because of the heavy landscaping and sound buffering. The structures therein would be positioned well back from the highway.
There is currently a road access to the property and would be upgraded to the requirements of the Main Roads Dept specs.
Water mains upgrade would be carried out at our expense for about 800 metres to the property from the Old Bruce Highway along Gympie St. Water usage in the development would be primarily self supplied from the natural catchment area therein and the lake.
Town water is to be used mainly as a drinking source and personal use. Recycling of water waste would be engineered for the project and
building structures would be ergonomically designed. to make best use of natural resources.
State government would need to be involved as it is currently zoned rural.
An expression of support from council will trigger a draft proposal to be submitted for their consideration.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
C…Motel cabin complex Bruce Highway & Burrum River Road
A 5 acre lot as part of a 12 x 5acre lot development currently zoned as rural residential.
A tourist based accommodation facility for Travellers along the Bruce Highway and gets them and coaches to stop here at the Fraser Coast area.
Use as a base for tourists and visitors to come to the Hervey Bay Fraser Island hotspots.
This area is desperate for accommodation as none exists in this area outside of a caravan park and a few B & B’s.
Any functions that we try to promote here at the Howard community centre requires overnight stays for performers and visitors as well as business people who wish to do business in the area.
Family visits are often cut short because of the is severe absence of suitable accommodation
Our understanding is that council would support such a development under the latest town plan.
Does the Highway position present a problem to council?
An expression of support from council will trigger a draft proposal to be submitted for their consideration.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… D…Aged persons rental accommodation complex @ Howard
Currently zoned residential low density. Two titles on 13 acres in Annie St close to all amenities in Howard
Refer attached flyer for basic info. There is a grave need for such accommodation for the elderly.
Lakeside development is proposed to convert the flood mitigation problem into a highly prized asset-waterfront unit development for the elderly.
Refer flyer attached and web site info for more details.
An earlier application for 41 house lots to council by a previous party had not covered adequately the water issues.
Again the complex would have installed the latest in technology in waste management and effluent disposal
We had sent requests to council many months ago to town planning [Michael Ellery] for suggestions as to how best tackle the problem and make best use of the site, but after several attempts to get some answers we had heard nothing from them
An expression of support from council will trigger a draft proposal to be submitted for their consideration.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
E…Trades & Services zoning land Howard – Industrial Development
Situated on the Old Bruce Highway opposite the existing hardwood sawmill the site currently is proposing a 23 shed development with a homemakers centre.
The land at the rear of this 4acre lot is currently an old rail corridor zoned special services and is useless for anything other than converting to trades and services zoning.
With this application already in place with council , it is planned that when and if this parcel is zoned appropriately, then a larger development could take place on the amalgamated parcel of both lots.
This then would give the area more business tenants and employment opportunities.
The problems we have had to date and are still continually having are the continuous delays in the simplest of things by what seems to be red tape and bad advice.
We just cannot seem to make serious progress here.
We ask that the council hierarchy promptly assess the application and their relevant dept handling of our application so we can fix the problem as a matter of urgency.
If it is not the council then it must be our consultants ‘Bay Surveys’ where the problem lies.
We are playing a ‘he said’-'she said’ scenario between council and our consultants Bay Surveys
All our fees have been paid and the application lodged and completed to councils satisfaction.
We need answers now for this project.
So how about it people at council and Bay Surveys??????????
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
This region has the potential to grow and we need more timely pro active support from our elected representatives and bureaucrats employed with our rate monies.
We should be acting as one to provide services, housing and work opportunities to the people who fill the council’s coffers.
The longer it takes to follow and apply ‘due process’ the more costs are added to developments for the public to pay in the end.
Some of us are disillusioned with the expediency at which application progress is not being achieved.
Again we say why is it that we employ town planners and surveyors and engineers as well as others to know what to do in a timely manner on our behalf and for us to be embroiled in a slinging match between consultants and council. is not a good outcome
For a small application to be bogged down to such an extent tells a lot about ‘due process’so what incentives have we got in these trying times to bother to proceed with other bigger developments in this area if we are going to get similar delays or worse.
Why is it that a multimillion dollar development at Bay Central can be speedily processed in 5 months as claimed by council yet far smaller applications here in the Howard area take forever
Perhaps here we are regarded as ‘village idiots’ in the village of Howard
Again this email has gone to people in a loop who have some involvement, some interest or a responsibility in matters such as these.
Can the council and consultants respond to this submission in an informative way by giving us an indication of support for all or any of the above so we do not waste time chasing our tails by submitting loosely formatted and or misguided applications?
Some months earlier Michael Ellery of council town planning had given us an indication of due process for application submission for some of the above projects which was much appreciated, but we have had no indication of support or otherwise from council as to the probability of each of the above being successfully applied for.
What would be the success and support possibilities be for the above projects from council?
We know that any support from council is not set in concrete but at least we can format the applications that we feel have the best chance of success
Dart meetings rarely seem to promise to get new projects off the ground and rely on staid and conservative approaches to all proposals
We are aware of many of the issues that need to be addressed to satisfy council and relevant government agencies and depts.
Based on a probability factor of success applications can be lodged.
A blank check to council is not an option with applications nor is consultants advices as their knowledge of council’s actions, policies and or reactions to applications seem to be well tarnished, unreliable or lacking in many respects.
Constructive, informative comments on each of the above projects would be appreciated from any people wishing to do so that has been placed in the loop to which this email has been forwarded.
This email was sent in a constructive spirit in an attempt to fast track applications and removes the BS… that seems sometimes to plague council applications and consultants advices.
NOTE>
This email will be published in the Burrum Chamber of Commerce Blog web site as will all responses
We will furthermore be asking chamber members to make their comments and input heard as well.
http://www.burrumcc.org.au
Regards
Henry Sapiecha
PH-0741290152
M-0411896524
Publicity Officer
Burrum Chamber of Commerce
Director
Wide Bay District Developments Pty Ltd
Mearcon Developments Pty Ltd
QHL Queensland House and Land
41294859 
0419022003
0409 609 971
