A-Z of Council Services

A – Z of Council Services

Administration Building
Council’s administration office in Stephenson St. Yuleba is open Monday – Thursday 9 am to 5 pm and Friday 8:30 to 4:30 pm (except public holidays and between Christmas Day and January 2 each year). Bendemere Shire Council’s Chief Executive Officer is Frank McArthur and the Mayor is Rex Smith. All Council correspondence should be directed to the Chief Executive Officer. Phone: 07 46235155 Fax: 07 46235277 Email: bendemeresc@growzone.com.au

Building
The erection of buildings (and associated plumbing & drainage) on land is regulated by the State Government through the Integrated Planning Act, the Building Act and the Sewerage & Water Supply Act.. A "building work" permit is required for almost all buildings and structures and the works are to be undertaken in accordance with the Standard Building Regulation which calls up the Building Code of Australia.

Cemeteries
Enquiries about burial information and cemetery records may be directed to Council.

Citizenship
Citizenship ceremonies are conducted by Mayor Rex Smith. Citizenship Application forms are available from post offices.

Councillors
Click here for Councillors’ contact details

Council Meetings
Council meetings are scheduled each fourth Friday of the month commencing at 10:00 am at the shire office in Yuleba. Occasionally meeting dates do change. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

Development Applications
The Integrated Planning Act provides the framework for processing development applications. For more information, contact the Environmental Health Officer, Graham Tiffany.

Dogs - Barking Complaints
All complaints about noisy dogs must be made in writing to Council. All relevant information should be included such as the address, times and duration of barking and whether the owners have been spoken to or not. Council officers will then follow up the complaint.

Enquiries
All enquiries, in the first instance, should be directed to the Chief Executive Officer.

Freedom of Information

Applications for information under the Freedom of Information Act 1992 may be lodged with council.

Garbage Collection
Undertaken throughout the shire on Mondays. Bins should be placed on the footpath.

Immunisation

Bendemere Shire Council encourages the community to participate fully in immunisation schemes. Immunisation programs are conducted at the Wallumbilla Hospital.

Internet Access
Council has public access Internet terminals at all libraries (Wallumbilla, Yuleba and Jackson).

Library
Click here

Litter
Council encourages its citizens and visitors to maintain a litter free environment in the shire. While reluctant to do so, Council will take action against serious litter offences.

Livestock Impounding
Council under its Local Laws is required to impound livestock found straying on public roads and in public areas. Council encourages livestock owners to take care of their stock and their fences.

Noise Problems
Council has a limited involvement in solving noise problems. Most noise problems relating to vehicles, parties and the like are a Police matter.

Overgrown Lands
Council, under State Legislation, will serve notices on owners of property where the land has become overgrown and is possibly harbouring vermin and causing other problems. Failure to clear the overgrown land once a notice is served will result in Council having the work undertaken at the owner’s cost.

Rates
Rate notices are issued annually around mid-October and payable 30 days from issue date. To encourage the prompt payment of rates and charges, a 10% discount will apply for payment within 30 days of the date of the issue of the rate notice.

Council will allow property owners who are unable to pay their rates by the due date to enter into an arrangement to pay in instalments according to an agreed schedule, with no recovery action being taken while the arrangement is being maintained.

Council does not provide assistance by way of a remission of rates to pensioners. However, the State Government’s rate subsidy scheme is applicable.

It is Council’s policy to ensure that the interests of ratepayers are protected by discouraging avoidance of responsibilities for meeting rates and charges debt. To this end, Council will impose interest on rates and charges which remain unpaid at 30 June next following the levy of rates and charges. The rate of interest will be determined annually by resolution.

Council accepts payment in advance by lump sum or instalments. Interest is not payable on any credit balances held.

Revenue

Council’s revenue budget is comprised of rates and charges imposed by the Council, Commonwealth and State Government grants and subsidies, plant hire and interest on investments.

Regulatory Services
Council is charged with the responsibility of administering various laws to help and protect the safety and health of the Shire’s residents. Matters such as health, environmental protection, and animal control are dealt with by Council’s Environmental Health Officer.

Roads
Council has responsibility for over 883 kilometres of road, about 663 kilometres of which are unsealed. Maintenance costs are in excess of $900 000 a year. Council has a five-year road construction program, a Shire roads maintenance program and a reseal program for Shire roads.

State Emergency Service
The State Emergency Service (SES) is a volunteer organisation in which members are continually trained to assist with emergency situations such as restoring essential services and events arising such as flood, fire, or storm. People wanting to make contact with the SES should call the Local Controller on 0427 002920 or 0428 234328.

Statistics
Statistics about the Bendemere Shire Council and about local government in general can be obtained by calling the Council Office on 46235155.

Swimming Pools - Private
Prior to installing a swimming pool, the owner needs to obtain a "building work" development permit and such a permit will need to include details of the required fencing. Some information about the fencing, required by State Government legislation, is available from Council. For further information please call on telephone (07) 46235155.

Swimming Pool - Public
The swimming pool in Wallumbilla is owned by Education Queensland and managed by the Wallumbilla State School (www.wallumbiss.qld.edu.au ) Parents & Citizens Association. All enquiries should be directed to the Principal on 46234105.

Tips (Refuse)
Refuse tips are located near all towns in the Shire and are open 24 hours a day.

Tourist Information
Calico Cottage (Wallumbilla) is a great source of information for visitors to the Shire.

Town Planning Scheme
Most development on land usually requires planning permission. Depending on the development proposed and its location relative to Council’s Town Plan and Strategic Plan, an application for Material Change of Use (former rezoning consent) or Reconfiguring a Lot (former Subdivision) will be required. The aim of the Town Plan is to facilitate community, rural, and urban development to ensure that natural areas are protected and the growth of Council area is enhanced and sustained. When impact assessment development applications are advertised under the provisions of the Integrated Planning Act, the public have a right to comment or make submissions to such proposals. It should be noted that subdivision applications do not normally require advertising unless they are a combined application requiring Material Change of Use (impact assessment) approval. The submissions are considered by Council prior to making any decision on any proposal. Council may approve or refuse a development application based on an assessment of the planning issues related to each development application. Prior to making any formal application, enquiries should be made to the Council.