10th MAY 2012
IMPORTANT MEETING CHANGES
It has been established that trying to meet twice a week is too much under our present accommodation arrangements.
Consequently it has been decided that we will meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month. Start time will still be at 9am and a simple morning tea will be available. These arrangements start with effect Tuesday 5th June.
If necessary we will operate sessions for project groups as and when the need arises. These specialist groups could basically meet at their own convenience.
The Land Survey/Call to Arms!
There have again been “administrative delays”, but we are getting closer! Please keep your eyes on this space. It could be quite soon. We hope to be able to give you 48 hours notice of Wayne Say’s surveying visit. When this happens we want as many members as possible to roll up to the site near the skate board park. Please come armed with large tools; saw, hammer, axe, etc. We want to make this a media event to show just how seriously this community is taking the efforts to establish a Men’s Shed here in Woodgate.
Appeal for Timber
We have been approached by one of our local residents, who works at Kalkie State School, to build the school frames on which the students can do some silk screen printing. We are looking for Meranti or Kwila timber in 30mm X 30mm any length. (OR timber we can cut to size)
Shed Projects underway
As well as the silk screen printing frames for Kalkie SS we have another project that has begun.
A team has been formed who are building a lectern for the Community Hall. This will be available to all users of the Hall and will be quite a substantial lectern, with a sloping top, a shelf under, a light and wheels to make it mobile. Phil Nelson has the planning well in hand.
We are open to requests, like the two above, from any local community based group. Please contact us if you think we could help, but please remember we are not here to take jobs away from the local tradesmen.
Shed Training Sessions
Wood Turning
We thank John de Merlo of Redridge who has given us two very good sessions in regard to woodturning. John was very practical in passing on his skills with a wood-lathe and those who attended learnt a lot from him. At each session the members, under John’s tutelage, turned up a wooden mallet. Both have gone into the Shed’s tool box. Of interest the head of the mallet was made from Western Australian Jarrah and the handles were turned up from timber that came out of the old Gregory River Bridge.
Biscuit Joints
In the near future Phil Nelson will be giving demonstrations in the art of making biscuit joints. No, this is not about making biscuits! It is about a method of joining two pieces of timber! Keep your eyes on this space for more details.
SES Presentation Ceremony
A reminder about the awards ceremony, to be held on Saturday 19th May. If you are attending as a representative of the Men’s Shed, I need to know ASAP so we can give numbers to SES for catering purposes. The SES has been a strong supporter of us in our endeavors, both publicly and with Council/DERM matters, so if you can attend, please let me know.
Council Roundup !
We have experienced, as you probably know, far too many delays which have been caused by bureaucratic mismanagement within the BRC. The following outlines one of those stories – this one which has again surfaced, is over the confusion of whether an approved plan for the Woodgate Recreation Reserve exists or not. The problem in this case may not be the fault of the BRC bureaucrats, but the delays it has caused are. I thought you might like to read the saga to date. Surely the plan either exists or it doesn’t !
At a public meeting on 2nd March 2005, held in the Community Hall, the future of the Reserve was discussed. A total of 37 people, including the Isis Shire Deputy Mayor, a number of Isis Councilors, Isis Council’s Deputy CEO, Representatives from the Department of Sport and Recreation (Qld Govt.) and representatives from EDAW Gillespies (consultants). Representatives from various Woodgate Community Groups included the Fishing Club, Tennis Club, Fitness Group, Tourism Assn, Residents’ Assn, Rural Fire Brigade, RSL Sub-branch and the Bowls Club were present.
A document entitled “Woodgate Recreation Reserve. Management Plan. August 2005” and bearing the crests of the Queensland Government (Department of Sport and Recreation) and Isis Shire Council and the name EDAW Gillespies / Design, Planning and Environments Worldwide is in existence. According to the Introduction of the report:
- “The purpose of the report is to describe the Management Plan prepared for the Woodgate Recreation Reserve at Woodgate Beachfor Isis Shire Council.
- The Management Plan has been prepared for consultation with relevant stakeholders, including community groups and government agencies, as well as Isis Shire Council, and the local Woodgate community, residents and visitors.”
(Management Plan Page 3)
The objectives of the Management Plan clearly state:
- “To identify clear objectives for the management of the Woodgate Recreation Reserve that reflects the needs of the community, visitors and the environment.
- To effectively communicate the management objectives to the community.
- To identify initiatives, ongoing management and maintenance measures to be undertaken to ensure the resources of the reserve are maintained,
- To identify future capital works requirements.
- To establish priorities for capital works expenditure for inclusion into Council’s budgeting and grant seeking processes.”
(Management Plan Page 3)
In the vision statement for the “western Zone: the Sports oval” it states:
- “The sports oval and the large open areas which surround it, provide the opportunity to accommodate a variety of new recreational facilities in this part of the reserve.”
(Management Plan Page 8)
In the Management objectives & Strategies section:
- “Ensure recreational facilities meet the needs of a variety of ages and interest.
- Maximize flexibility of recreational facilities to accommodate for peaks of demand throughout the year, and allow for expansion of facilities over time.”
(Management Plan Page 16)
There must be an Isis Council paper trail for this rather expensive looking 30 page document. Our questions that have been put to Council are;
- Was it ever adopted by the former Isis Shire Council ?
- Can a search of the Council minutes be ordered to establish what happened to this plan ?
Max Emery
Secretary