Technical Services Committee Meeting ‐ 19 June 2007

Killarney Streetscape Project

Funding is available from the Warwick Streetscapes budget. Council approval is sought to transfer this funding to the Killarney Streetscape Project.

Funding was allocated from Council and State Government for the Warwick Streetscape Stages 1 and 2. Construction of Warwick Streetscape Stage 2 was completed in July 2005. Some additional work has been carried out since including the reconstruction of the Town Hall crossing.

Warwick streetscape is complete and only regular ongoing maintenance needs to be carried out. However, an allowance of $70,000.00 may be required for a public address system in the future.

The Financial Services Coordinator has provided a report (attached) which indicates that a total of $217,377.98 remains in Warwick Streetscape.

Council has commenced work on the Killarney Streetscape Project. During 2006/2007, Stage 1 works were carried out. Total expenditure to date is $180,808.00. Ergon Energy have allocated $117,500.00 for the undergrounding of the existing overhead powerlines. This funding will be in the form of Works‐in‐Kind.

As part of the Works Capital considerations for the 5 Year Capital Works Program, the next Killarney Streetscape works are programmed for 2009/2010. The allocation is currently $150,000.00.

The anticipated cost to complete all remaining works for Killarney Streetscape is $335,801.00.

It is recommended that Council approve the transfer of $147,377.98 from Warwick Streetscape to Killarney Streetscape and that the works be carried out during the 2007/2008 financial year. The remaining $70,000.00 is to be set aside subject to further discussion for a public address system.

Corporate Services and Finance Committee Meeting 20 June 2007

Rural Fire Brigade Levy 2007/2008

The purpose of this report is to include the Rural Fire Levy in the 2007/08 budget.

Background Information

Council has received the 2007/08 funding request from the Warwick Shire Rural Fire Brigades, a copy of which is attached. Rural properties do not attract an Urban Fire Levy as they are outside the boundaries defined by the Queensland Fire Service. Rural properties in the Shire are charged a Rural Fire Brigade Levy to provide funds for the 15 rural fire brigades in our Shire. The amount of the levy is calculated after the financial requirements of each Rural Fire Brigade have been determined.

This financial year Council redistributed $55,000 to Rural Fire Brigades of the Shire. The total amount requested for the 2007/08 financial year is also $55,000. The required level of funding for each brigade is as follows:

• Allora $500
• Dalveen $500
• Freestone $500
• Gladfield/Maryvale $6,500
• The Glen $5,400
• Greymare $2,000
• Karara/Leyburn $5,500
• Killarney $1,200
• Leslie $500
• Leyburn Town $5,000
• Massie $2,000
• Pratten/Bony Mountain $5,500
• Swan/Emu Creek $500
• Wildash $2,000
• Willowvale $500
• Total $38,100

4097 properties pay this levy and it is proposed that the existing levy of $15 ($13.50 net of discount) per rateable property be maintained. This will give revenue of approximately $55,000.

The Warwick Group Rural Fire Service have a long term plan of purchasing a purpose built incident control vehicle which is fully equipped with communications, maps and satellite access for use by every brigade in the shire. They have requested that Council transfer $15,000 of the remaining levy raised to our trust account to be held until such time as enough funds have been raised to purchase this vehicle.

The Warwick Group Rural Fire Service have also requested that the $1,900 of the levy raised be given to the group to pay for incidental expenses that occur for training for all groups and expenses incurred from multi‐brigade fires.

If approved the revenue and expense of the Rural Fire Levy will be included in the 2007/08 budget. The levy has a nil effect on Council's budget as the revenue matches the expense.

Recommendation

THAT the report of the Financial Services Coordinator dated 7 June 2007 in relation to Rural Fire Brigade Levy 2007/2008 be received and that Council:

1. Include in its 2007/08 budget a charge of $15 on all rateable properties outside the urban Fire Levy Boundaries defined in maps by the Queensland Fire Service to fund the Warwick Shire Rural Fire Brigade services
2. Tranfer $15,000 into Council's trust account in July 2007 for the Warwick Group Rural Fire Service's purpose of purchasing an incident control vehicle