As you may be aware we are now in a period of water restrictions. Please find below the link to the SCRC requirements during the restricted period:http://www.bellvista.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Sunshine-Coast-Water-Restrictions.pdf If we can be of any further assistance please contact this site.
The report below was taken from the News and Events section of the Bellvista Community Association website. The site can be visited at: http://www.bellvista.com.au/
A small but active group met at the main Bellvista Lake rotunda for a Christmas Public meeting. The onset of Christmas and associated events meant the number of Committee Members and residents was down on previous gatherings.
There were brief reports on The Web Page, The Airport Forum and a Landscaping Sub Committee update. The Airport Forum has produced a process where Bellvista Residents will be able to voice concerns of inappropriate aircraft behaviour over our estate directly to Airport Management. Look out for this when the ‘official’ minutes of the meeting are posted here.
The Landscaping Committee reported the Lake had been cleaned again, the Do Not Feed signs were in place and steps were in place to address graffiti in the main park area.
Our Councillor has recently had treatment on an eye so her work for the BeCA was currently on hold.
The meeting was then opened for residents to raise concerns:
1. The playground equipment in the park on the corner of Nebo Street and Northbrook Street is not suitable for under 5’s. This park is popular with local residents with the BBQ area there frequently used, However the installed playground equipment seems to be for children above 5 years of age.
2. There is a need for a Keep Clear area on Bellvista Blvd where it intersects with Bellcara Place. At Unity College pick times it is extremely difficult for residents to make a right hand turn from Bellcara Place into Bellvista Blvd as traffic can be backed up down from the roundabout at Caloundra Rd.
3. A Fund Raising Monster Garage Sale was suggested. Details will be passed on to the Secretary.
These issues will be placed on the agenda for the next BeCA Committee Mtg early 2010.
The Chairperson wished all residents the best for the new season and closed the meeting.
This hefty looking machine recently was put to work in clearing some unwanted growth from the lower Bellvista Lake. A closer inspection of the top lake showed it was fine and that no clearing was required. BeCA spoke with an SCRC representative onsite who reported she was very happy with the condition of the lake.
She went on to say that it appears residents are taking note of the No Feeding signs now around the lake as the number of birds has not increased and birds no longer follow or swim up to people as they approach the water. She seemed extremely pleased with the community response on this issue.
This will hopefully assist if and when we have another rain storm similar to the one we had earlier this year when some storm water made its way into the sewerage system. The work will take at least a week or two and road closures are expected to be minimal .
That’s the message during National Recycling Week, 7 – 14 November.
To help spread the word, council is hosting a series of monthly recycling workshops as well as tours across the Coast.
Over the coming months, council is holding 12 free workshops with demonstrations on how to recycle organic waste using a worm farm or compost bin.
So come along and have all your questions answered—you’ll even get the chance to win one for yourself.
The first workshop is at the Beerwah resource and recovery centre on 7 November. To book into a session near you, call council’s customer service centre on 5475 7272.
But the recycling fun doesn’t end there!
On 14 November, take a bus tour of your local resource and recovery centre and discover what happens to the contents of your bin once it leaves your house—you’ll be amazed at what people throw away and hopefully also learn something new.
Thanks to a lot of work from our web site sub-committee we are pleased to announce that our official web site has now been commissioned. Les Thomas has spent the last few days fine tuning and updating the site, a special thanks to Les for the long hours behind the computer.
The council is well on the way of removing the unsightly growth in Dumbarton Drive. It will be replaced with mulch and in time a more durable ground cover. When this work is finished is should make the roundabouts at both ends Dumbarton Drive safer. Living around lakes
If you notice anyone disturbing wildlife on the lakes, please contact council on 5475 7272. Reports of children throwing rocks at swans and other wildlife on the lakes are of great concern and under the Nature Conservation Act is considered an offence.
Please refrain from feeding birds. This simple act of apparent kindness creates a number of problems as birds may be fed multiple times each day. Human intervention of this nature can cause an increase in the lakes nutrients, aggressive bird behaviour and a reduction in the bird’s natural resistance as well as encouraging over population of certain species.
Educational signage with these messages will be installed in the coming months.
Fishing, while not prohibited, is not encouraged in any council managed lakes. Discarded fishing line and hooks can cause danger to birds and other animals in the area.
If you have any concerns about the lakes or require more information please contact Councils Customer Service Centre to speak to the Lakes & Wetlands Technical Officer- Kate Mackenzie
Are we loving Lake Bellvista to death? There is a evidence that the residents of Bellvista just love their lake too much. In fact, if current practices continue, the lake could become an environmental disaster being heavily polluted and over populated by birds. The numbers of birds living on the lake are driving it to extinction. One island used for nesting is already overcrowded causing other birds to nest on, and in turn, overcrowd other islands. What can we as residents of Bellvista do to help? It is easy!
Stop feeding the local wildlife at the lake! Birds and other wildlife are attracted to the lake by the bountiful supply of food, some of which is supplied by residents. If residents stop feeding the birds, not as many birds will come to the lake and it won't become overcrowded. Overcrowding of the lake will inevitably lead to pollution problems. Signage will be erected shortly to fully inform all lake visitors on appropriate behaviour to maintain this glorious spot.
We all need to be vigilant and ensure the wildlife at the lake can survive comfortably. Broken fishing lines left by unthinking anglers are a major cause of death to birds when ingested.
Dear Anna and Chris
Our three community associations - Kawana Island Residents’ Association (KIRA), Kawana Forest Residents’ Association (KaFRA) and Bellvista Community Association (BeCA) met recently to explore our common ground around landscaping and amenity in each of our communities.
As Stockland projects that have been handed over to Council in recent years, we continue to be concerned about the sustainability of our landscape and open spaces. It is generally accepted that the standard of landscaping approved by Council and applied by the developer, is not within the realms of the standard budget of Council’s maintenance services.
KIRA has had the most long-running discussions with Council. While gains have been made in terms of opening up dialogue, to date much relies on individual relationships rather than relationships built on some basic structures and protocols.
Individual committee members within KaFRA have developed linkages with operational staff in relation to landscaping. Progress and creativity are stymied due to the level of the relationship and the limitations of budget and formal process.
The community at Bellvista is on the cusp of realising the impacts of the changes in service levels.
Collectively, our focus is on keeping our communities clean and tidy - amenity that fosters lots of use, passive crime prevention and community pride. Clean and tidy parks with weed free grass, and key lawn areas that are routinely mowed are our priorities.
The creation of highly liveable communities is effected by the presentation of our key areas.
We see that there are some very clear opportunities that could foster positive relationships between our communities and Council to produce great, sustainable outcomes.
Also, there has been a degree of confusion as to Council’s intent in relation to the provision of community facilities in each of our communities. Council staff have indicated that the provision of facilities in both Kawana Island and Kawana Forest are priority issues. Following on that, our individual organisation inquiries have not resulted in any clarity. Bellvista is very unsure of the future facility that may emerge from the existing Stockland Sales Office.
Chris and Anna, as our issues are shared and collectively we represent the interests of 4000+ households in the community, we would like the opportunity to meet with you both to explore the issue of sustainable landscape and amenity outcomes for our communities. We are particularly focussed on developing solutions and working together to establish productive working relationships between our organisations and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council.
Organising diaries may take a little juggling! Can you please suggest 2 or 3 alternatives that are agreeable to yourselves and we will seek to co-ordinate ourselves to work in with one of those. We’d envisage that from each of our organisations we’ll aim to bring the Chairperson and Landscape Sub-Committee representative to the table. This will keep the meeting to a reasonable size and allow us to have an informed discussion.
We look forward to meeting with you soon
Regards
John Edds Michael Walsh Phil Williams
This sign appeared recently calling for leases for the new shopping complex on the corner of Lomond Crescent and Rawson St here on the Bellvista Estate. We can only assume the liquor licence has been obtained for the proposed Tavern too.
Bellvista Community Association had been invited to join the Community and Aviation Industry Forum by the Sunshine Coast Airport General Manager Peter Pallot. The purpose of the forum is to:Other community groups attending:
There will be representatives from the Aviation Industry, Airport Management and Local Government.
Minutes of this meeting will be posted on this blog.
Here is our draft response to the Caloundra South Paper:
Community groups and individuals interested in applying for funding under Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s Grants Program or the Regional Arts Development Fund can attend both free information sessions and application clinics beginning in August. Council’s Grants Program provides a range of grants to community groups and individuals for various programs, projects and events.
Additional arts development funding is available to locals through RADF – a partnership between council and the Queensland Government to support the development of quality arts and arts practice in the region.
Council is running a series of free information sessions on both programs from 4 to 13 August at Landsborough, Cooroy, Nambour, Noosa,
In addition, grant application clinics will be held at Nambour, Noosa and Caloundra from 24 August to 2 September. Potential applicants can give themselves the best chance of success by making a booking to meet with a council grants officer and work through their application.
The next funding round for both programs closes on 15 September 2009.
The previous round of council’s Grants Program provided funding for 86 projects around the region.
For more information visit the “For Residents” section on council’s website at www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au or call 5475 7272.
As seen by the photo above the Council have started pulling out our gardens and replacing them with mulch. They say it's a safety issue, but why has it become a safety issue only now when the council have taken over the maintenance for Bellvista. Is this to become the norm? Is this going to happen all around Bellvista as a cost cutting measure? Do we want the gardens or are we happy with the mulch.
Construction is well underway for the new Staff Car Park at Unity College. With an expected enrolment of 1200 students, any addition to the available parking is very welcome.
t the AGM coming up in September all positions on the committee will be up for election. If you would like to nominate for a position you are required to submit a nomination form to the Secretary 14 days prior the meeting. Nominations close 7:00 pm Monday the 24th. August 09.
ood news, I have just received a letter from Ron Piper accepting our invitation to address our AGM. Ron is the Project Director- Urban Development for the SCRC. he will bring us all up to date on the Caloundra South project.
Our new web site is just about finished and should be commissioned in a week or two. Our only interim site you may view at the moment is:Caloundra South Proposal
BeCa was invited to attend a briefing at the Caloundra Council Offices on the “Caloundra South” proposal.
The meeting was attended by 6 people, 3 SCRC representatives, 2 from BeCA and one from Golden Beach Progress Association.
Here is the link to the
http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/sitePage.cfm?code=caloundra-south&pv=1
Copies of the Caloundra South Position Paper and maps can be downloaded from the links below:
These maps (downloaded from the above links) show the area for development, the flood levels, the environmentally sensitive areas and the proposed development areas. There is also a lengthy 'Fact Sheet" and a feedback form. During the briefing some time was spent going through the flood and environmental maps. Flood and environmental concerns means 40% of the proposed area is unsuitable for development.
It will be completed by 2050.
(1) A member of the management committee may only be elected as follows -
(a) any 2 members of the association may nominate another member (the candidate) to serve as a
member of the management committee;
(b) the nomination must be -
(ii) signed by the candidate and the members who nominated him or her; and
(iii) given to the secretary at least 14 days before the annual general meeting at which the
election is to be held;
(c) each member of the association present and eligible to vote at the annual general meeting may
vote for 1 candidate for each vacant position on the management committee;
(d) if, at the start of the meeting, there are not enough candidates nominated, nominations may be
taken from the floor of the meeting.
(2) A person may be a candidate only if the person -
(a) is an adult; and
(b) is not ineligible to be elected as a member under section 61A of the Act.
(3) A list of the candidates names in alphabetical order, with the names of the members who nominated
each candidate, must be posted in a conspicuous place in the office or usual place of meeting of the
association for at least 7 days immediately preceding the annual general meeting.
(4) If required by the management committee, balloting lists must be prepared containing the names of
the candidates in alphabetical order.
(5) The management committee must ensure that, before a candidate is elected as a member of the
management committee, the candidate is advised -
(a) whether or not the association has public liability insurance; and
(b) if the association has public liability insurance - the amount of the insurance.
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We will keep you informed on developments as they come to hand
