Community Consultations and Surveys

Council has many processes and activities that involve the public in decision, education or sharing of information. While it is not possible or effective to consult with the community on every issue, Burdekin Shire Council engages the community to enhance Council’s decisions and to facilitate well-informed community participation in policy, plans, programs and service levels.

For more information about Council’s community consultation and engagement please refer to our Community Engagement Policy on Council's Policies web page.

Burdekin Shire Council is committed to providing meaningful opportunities for the public to participate in the decision making processes on projects which affect the local community and the future development of the region.

Community engagement plays an important role in the planning and delivery of Council services and facilities and for shaping the future of our shire.

Please provide your feedback below:

Index

Past Community Consultation and Surveys

Long Term Flying-Fox Management Plan Survey

Burdekin Shire Council is developing a Flying-fox Roost Management Plan for various flying-fox roosts within the region. The Long Term Flying-Fox Management Plan Survey closed at midnight, Sunday 7 April 2024.

Flying-foxes, sometimes known as fruit bats, regularly visit Burdekin local government area. Council is preparing a Flying-fox Roost Management Plan to assist in reducing impacts of flying-foxes on Burdekin communities, whilst also conserving flying-foxes and their important role in the ecosystem (spreading pollen and seeds). The Plan will focus on known and potential flying-fox roosts that, at times, conflict with human settlement. These roosts are located at:

Kidby Gully – Home Hill
Plantation Park – Ayr
Llyod Mann Reserve – Home Hill
Arch Dunn Memorial Park – Home Hill.

Survey responses will be broadly summarised in the Plan.

Advertising Devices (Amendment) Subordinate Local Law (No.1) 2023

The consultation period for the proposed amendment to the local law has now closed.

Council has recently proposed to make advertising Devices (Amendment) Subordinate Local Law (No.1) 2023 (the “amending subordinate local law”)

The purpose and general effect of the amending subordinate local law is –

to regulate the installation, erection, and display of a temporary advertising devices as a permitted advertisement.
to prescribe as a permitted advertisement an advertising device visible from a road or other public place that is erected or displayed by, or on behalf of, Council;and
to extend the type of advertising devices that are included within a mobile sign, and to amend or prescribe additional criteria for a mobile sign.

Possible anti-competitive provisions have been identified in the proposed subordinate local law and are outlined in the attached documents below. Council invites written submissions by any person in support of, or objecting to, the amending subordinate local law commencing on Saturday 30 September and ending on Saturday 21 October 2023.

During the consultation period, Council will make available for inspection copies of the amending subordinate local law and a list of possible anti-competitive provisions at the Council Chambers and online.

Clare Transfer Station – Survey May 2022

The operation of the Clare Transfer Station has had a varied history in respect of its hours of operation and whether it has been manned or not.

From 2018 to 2021 the facility operated on an unmanned basis and was permanently open. Issues with waste disposal where signage and rules were not being followed occurred, which required Council staff and contractors to remedy at a cost. In addition, Council was unaware if commercial sources of waste were deposited at the facility.

The Transfer Station re-opened in a manned capacity on 17 October, 2021 from 10 am to 1 pm each Sunday for a trial period of 6 months. The trial ended on 17 April 2022.

The Transfer Station currently accepts sorted domestic waste, with bins for hard waste, general waste, recyclables, cardboard and scrap metal.

The Transfer Station does not accept green waste, construction or commercial waste, tyres, non-degassed white goods, oil, gas bottles, flares, lead acid batteries, e-waste and prohibited waste such as chemicals. Council has other sites to receive these items.

As with Council’s other waste facilities, most sorted domestic waste is free however unsorted waste will attract a charge.

Following the six-month trial, it is the intention for Council to assess the site and its usage to determine if continued domestic waste disposal will be provided.

To assist Council in its assessment you are invited to provide feedback by completing the short survey below.

The survey closed 20 May 2022. The Transfer Station will remain open under the current arrangements until further notice.

Draft Burdekin Shire Council Corporate Plan 2022-2027

In accordance with provisions of the Local Government Act 2009, Council have prepared a draft Corporate Plan for the financial years 2022-2027. Council undertook the development of the draft Corporate Plan by conducting a series of workshops to review the elements of the plan and determine the strategic direction of the organisation for the next 5 years. Council’s previous Corporate Plan has served as an effective tool in moving the Shire forward and many significant projects have been delivered in accordance with the objectives of that plan. The draft 2022/2027 plan is a similarly forward-looking plan which builds upon the positive position of the organisation and identifies the strategic priorities, objectives and key actions required to deliver appropriate services and facilities to the community. To ensure the plan aligns with community expectations, it is important to seek feedback from residents within our Shire.

Feedback closed on Friday, 28 January 2022. Thank you to all who had their say!

Animal Management (Amendment) Subordinate Local Law (No. 1) 2021

Council has recently proposed to make Animal Management (Amendment) Subordinate Local Law (No. 1) 2021 (the “amending subordinate local law”).

The purpose and general effect of the amending subordinate local law is to regulate the keeping of a horse (including a racehorse), mule, ass, donkey, cow, bull, buffalo or camel in the local government area of Council by prescribing prohibitions, approval requirements and minimum standards for the keeping of the animals.

Council invites written submissions by any person in support of, or objecting to, the amending subordinate local law for a 21 day period, commencing on Thursday, 22 April 2021 and ending on Thursday, 13 May 2021.

During the consultation period, Council will make available for inspection copies of the amending subordinate local law at Council Chambers, Ayr Library and Home Hill Library.

Feedback closed on Thursday, 13 May 2021. Thank you to all who had their say!

Burdekin Water Park Public Consultation

Building a water park in the Burdekin has been on the public agenda for some time. In 2019 following a period of community consultation, Council included a water park concept in the footprint of the Ayr Swimming Pool complex as part of the ANZAC Park Precinct Master Plan.

Since the adoption of the ANZAC Park Precinct Master Plan, Council staff have been undertaking preliminary planning for the facility.

The size and scale of the water park included in the Master Plan is relatively small compared to similar facilities in other Council areas. The existing water play concept would only be suitable for toddlers and young children.

Further discussion and anecdotal feedback have confirmed there is an opportunity to increase the scale of the proposed water park to cater for a broader demographic (toddler to adult) and offer a unique and iconic recreation zone which will not only cater for local residents, but draw patronage from throughout North Queensland.

However, the potential increased scope would come with significantly higher upfront capital and ongoing operating costs.

Council is now considering either a medium-sized water park at a cost of $2.5 million, or a medium-sized water park with water slides for $3.6 million.

The $3.6 million option, with two large water slides, would be suitable for an older age bracket and transform the water park from a Burdekin social hub to a significant regional attraction.

Both indicative costs only include capital works for the immediate water park area, and do not include ongoing operational or maintenance costs, or further addition to the surrounding Ayr Swimming Pool amenities.

While it is proposed funding for the construction of the water park would be sourced from State and/or Federal agencies, Council is mindful that the proposed increase in scope of the water park would result in higher operating costs, over and above those contemplated when the smaller-scale park was included in the ANZAC Park Precinct Master Plan.

Similar to other local governments who operate medium-scale water parks, it is Council’s intention to recover some of the costs associated with the ongoing operations and maintenance of the water park through a fee structure. Therefore, in addition to seeking your views on the two proposed options, Council is seeking community feedback on potential pricing structures for the pool, water park and slides.

Feedback closed on Thursday, 30 April 2021. Thank you to all who had their say!

Community and Environmental Management (Amendment) Local Law (No. 1) 2021 and Community and Environmental Management (Amendment) Subordinate Local Law (No. 1) 2021

Council has recently proposed to make:

Community and Environmental Management (Amendment) Local Law (No. 1) 2021 (the “proposed local law”); and
Community and Environmental Management (Amendment) Subordinate Local Law (No. 1) 2021 (the “proposed subordinate local law”).

The proposed local law is to provide for the regulation of the maintenance of the appearance of buildings in designated areas so that the appearance of a building in a designated area does not detract from the appearance of other buildings in the designated area.

The proposed subordinate local law is to prescribe requirements for community safety hazards, and in particular, a building or structure on premises the construction, design, or state of repair of which is dangerous or attracts vermin, or has caused, or is, in the opinion of an authorised person, likely to cause personal injury, property damage or a negative impact on the amenity of the surrounding area; and, designate an area for the purposes of the building appearance provisions in the proposed local law.

Council invites written submissions by any person in support of, or objecting to, the proposed local law and/or the proposed subordinate local law for a 21 day period, commencing on Thursday, 8 April 2021 and ending on Thursday, 29 April 2021.

During the consultation period, Council will make available for inspection at Council Chambers, Ayr Library and Home Hill Library, copies of the proposed local and subordinate local law, and a public interest test plan for the proposed local law and the proposed subordinate local law.

Feedback closed on Thursday, 29 April 2021. Thank you to all who had their say!

By resolution dated 25th May 2021, Council made the proposed local and subordinate local law, and adopted consolidated versions of each.

A copy of the Public Notice can be found here and copies of the amending and consolidated local and subordinate laws can be found below:

Our Coast - Our Lifestyle

Will the Burdekin coast and lifestyle you love today be the same in the future? Help Decide….

The Burdekin Shire coastline holds a diversity of landscape features. These include networks of creeks, floodplains, inlets, estuaries, marshes, wetlands, and sandy beaches. The coastal zone supports a range of cultural, economic and environmental values. Traditional Owners, local communities, and visitors all value the coastline.

Community input has an important role in shaping Our Coast - Our Lifestyle. We'd like to know how you use and what you value about the coastline, estuaries and waterways of the Burdekin Shire. We’d also like to learn more about your past experiences of coastal hazards. The results will be used in technical studies to inform future management of coastal hazards.

Feedback closed. Thank you to all who had their say!

Watson’s Green and Memorial Park Home Hill Master Plan

Burdekin Watson’s Green and Memorial Park Home Hill Draft Master Plan includes a youth activity hub at Watson’s Green, as well as screening of the War Memorial in Memorial Park and more.

The Master Plan was conceptualised by Queensland recreation, open space and sport planning specialists ROSS Planning following consultation with Council and all users in the two parks.

One goal of the Master Plan is to offer both formal and informal recreation opportunities for people of all ages and to create safe access and integrated movement through and to the parks.

Community consultation ensures the feedback of the community is taken into account prior to future Master Plans of the parks being finalised.

Feedback closed at 5:00 PM on Friday 27 November 2020. Thank you to all who had their say! To view the final plan click here.

Draft Customer Service Standard – Water Wastewater

As a registered service provider of water supply and wastewater services Burdekin Shire Council is required to review the Customer Service Standard – Water Wastewater at least every five years pursuant to the conditions of Section 120 of the Water Supply (Safety and Reliability) Act 2008.

If when reviewing the customer service standard, we amend the content of the standard, we must abide by the provisions of Section 115 of the Act by publishing the proposed standard on the internet to allow customers and other interested parties to view it and make submissions about the proposed customer service standard.

Feedback closed at 5:00 PM on Friday 29th May 2020. Thank you to all who had their say!

Anzac Park Precinct Master Plan

Burdekin Shire's Anzac Park Precinct Master Plan includes an SS Yongala themed water play space, an outdoor stage, a pump track for skate and cycle enthusiasts, a beach volleyball court, fitness equipment circuit and more.

The Master Plan was conceptualised by Queensland recreation, open space and sport planning specialists ROSS Planning following consultation with Council and all users in the 17.5 hectare precinct.

One goal of the Master Plan is to offer both formal and informal recreation opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels, which has been achieved through the expansion of existing amenities - such as the indoor basketball court - as well as the introduction of some brand new exciting features which have never been seen in the Burdekin before, such as the proposed water play space and pump track.

Community consultation at this early stage ensures the feedback of the community is taken into account prior to future Master Plans of the Precinct being finalised.

Feedback closed at 5pm on Friday 25 October 2019. Thank you to all who had their say! To view the final plan click here.