Hervey Bay Gossip

Does the Fraser Coast Regional Council have its priorities right? When it comes to spending $3.25 million on a new regional art gallery Jim MacKellar doesn’t think so.

$3.25 million for a new Regional Art Gallery is in extravagance the people of the Fraser Coast can ill afford.

Especially in light of the fact that we have just spent over $1 million on stage 2 of the Art Space project in Maryborough. Would it not be more reasonable to therefore move the Regional Gallery to this location, where it will be central to the entire region?

There are two major drivers which should influence Council’s decision making at this time. We live in one of the most economically challenged regions in Australia and we are many years behind in the construction of suitable infrastructure for our ever growing population.

How does the decision to spend over $3million on an art gallery help to alleviate either of these two urgent problems?

Would $3million spent on economic development not yield a better result for the citizens of the Fraser Coast? How much additional, urgently needed, infrastructure could we obtain with this money?

The mayor says that rates will have to increase. But $3million represents approx 5% of the rates income. It may be fairly said that if the $3million is not spent on the regional Art Gallery then there will be no need for a rate increase this year.

Will the ratepayers of the Fraser Coast Region benefit more from a new art gallery or benefit more from not having to pay an increase in their rates yet again.

Its all a matter of priorities and it must be asked, do our Councillors have theirs in the right place?

Now I know we elected them but seriously, you have to wonder whether the councillors on  the Fraser Coast Regional Council are proving to be a little past it.

Here we are still facing tough times with tourist numbers down … a mountain of coal that could end up at the bottom of Hervey Bay threatening the whale season for years to come, the lack of employment opportunities etc. etc. etc.  and what do our councillors discuss?

A kiosk at the seaward end of Urangan Pier. Yes, I’m sure that’s just what we need … I mean it’s obviously what we need right now and we sure don’t have enough fast-food outlets at the other end of the pier do we? And then there’s all that wasted space out their on the pier isn’t there? What better way to fill it up than put a kiosk out there … right at the very end … just like a pimple on the end of your nose.

But wait, the kiosk could do more than just sell food … it could act as passive surveillance to keep all those rowdy people who want to wet a line under control … at least that’s what one councillor thinks. Really?

What is the kiosk person going to do if someone gets a bit rowdy … rush out of their kiosk and bring the offender under control by hitting them over the head with a cucumber sandwich?

Fair dinkum! Is it too much to hope that our highly paid councillors might come to council meetings with their brains actually switched on and working and ready to wrestle with the real problems that Hervey Bay faces?

Girl Clock! opens in Hervey Bay tonight at the Hervey Bay Big Screen Cinemas with a special Girls Night Out.

Girl Clock! is a totally independently financed, produced and distributed film made by women, for women and about women; wholly made by Queenslanders, in Queensland. It has had a fabulous run in Brisbane – still screening after 9 weeks (a rarity for ANY film, never mind an indie!) – with excellent box office and fabulous reviews.

Girl Clock! is now spreading out to regional Queensland thanks to the support of many  independent cinemas  including the  Big Screen Cinemas.

There’s even some local colour to Girl Clock! for two of the main cast members come from Maryborough!

Girl Clock! will screen here in Hervey Bay for the next week and you can catch a trailer here