By Jeremy Sollars
State LNP member for Southern Downs James Lister is continuing to publicly distance himself from the Southern Downs Regional Council and Mayor Tracy Dobie, lobbing his latest salvo at the council over its controversial Invasive Pest Control Scheme (IPCS).
Mr Lister last week told local media farmers felt “offended” by the scheme as they had been controlling pest weeds and animals on their properties for decades, and felt the scheme was a big-stick approach and a money grab.
The MP also scoffed at a recent council press release which stated the IPCS had received a “show of support” from landowners, pointing out that a high return rate for IPCS paperwork to the council did not necessarily represent “support”.
But the barbs appear to be being traded over the IPCS behind closed doors as well.
The Free Times understands Cr Dobie and Mr Lister exchanged heated words at a meeting last week of the Warwick branch of the LNP, which the mayor is understood to have joined last month.
Sources say at one point, Deputy Mayor Jo McNally – who is also an LNP member – attempted to have Mr Lister shut down over a point of order after she took exception to his comments about the IPCS at the party meeting.
Cr Dobie reportedly told local LNP members at the meeting it would cost the council $15 million – or $1000 per ratepayer – to make the scheme “incentive-based” in the form of rebates to landowners who comply, as is the case with some other Australian councils.
As it is, the council issues ‘supplementary rates notices’ if landowners fail to comply with the ‘Control Works Forms’ they are required to submit annually, detailing pest plant and animal control measures they intend to carry out on their properties.
Unlike a fine, non-payment of a ‘supplementary rates notice’ means the council can forcibly take ownership of private property.
The minimum ‘supplementary rates notice’ is $500 but it is understood some landowners have been slugged up to $6000.
The mayor last week told the media the council had issued $125,000 worth of “levies” for non-compliance with the IPCS in its first 12 months, in the 2017-2018 financial year.
(SUBHEAD)
Petitions attract support
What is beyond doubt is that many Southern Downs and Granite Belt rural landowners continue to object to the IPCS, despite the council’s claims it is best practice and is accepted by the community.
A petition raised by the ‘Landowners Action Group’ is still circulating locally and has now been registered electronically with the Queensland Government, with hundreds of e-signatures already gathered.
“Queensland residents draw to the attention of the House the unfairness of and the flaws in the Southern Downs Regional Council’s Invasive Pest Management Scheme,” the e-petition states.
“We the petitioners believe that the current scheme, which is penalties-based through fines called “Supplementary Rates Notices” should be replaced by an incentive-based scheme which rewards landowners for pest eradication efforts on private and crown land.
“We believe that it is unfair to penalise landowners for their failure to control pests on their properties when nearby crown land controlled by the Southern Downs Regional Council and the Queensland Government is infested with pests.
“We further believe that drought-affected landowners who choose to retain tree pear and other edible species for cattle fodder should be allowed to do so.”
A similar petition with more than 450 signatures was tabled at the July council meeting.
Cr Dobie has said the council will “review” the scheme but has fallen short of stating it will be amended.
The paper petition can be signed at –
• Royal Hotel, Leyburn
• Olsens Produce, Lyons Street, Warwick
• Ray Bunch Machinery (opposite Olsens Produce), Warwick
• Darryl Evans Real Estate, 82 Palmerin Street, Warwick
For more information contact Robert on 0438 144 488 or Colin on 0412 230 630.
To sign the electronic version visit www.parliament.qld.gov.au and click on the ‘Work of Assembly’ and ‘Petitions’ links.
