General Business - December 18 2024 Ordinary Meeting

Published on 13 January 2025

Councillor John Doyle

In the last couple of months or so, we’ve had the finish of a lot of programs in the youth sector.

It’s been really good to see the participation, and also the kids that have been joining in and completing those courses. I was involved in the Community Corrections with Coralie Oehlrich.

She’s doing a really good job with people that have just been released from jail and are trying not to go back, some substance abuse, domestic violence – I was involved with that, and it was really great to see the support that they’re getting, in terms of trying to rehabilitate themselves and get back into being a positive impact in society.

I’ve been talking to Mount Isa Youth Education Precinct representatives and having meetings with them about strategies for 2025. What we finished off with this year and what we’re coming to in 2025, it looks like we’re going to have some really good things and some positive things moving forward for our schools and for our youth programs, even the sporting stuff.

I know there’s a bit of conjecture here and there about funding and different things, but it just means we’re moving forward as a community – everybody’s starting to get on board with a lot of things and starting to support a lot of things.

The Mount Isa Rugby League and QRL are coming together for an age group 13 to 17, so that’s going to be fantastic. There’s already a buzz about it, a lot of positivity – Neil Henry’s going to be involved with it. He’s a great coach at the top level, so our Mount Isa youth, 13s to 17s rugby league, are going to have him instructing them, and guiding them on how to play the game, and behaviours and disciplines.

We’ll also have the Black Hawks coming out and being involved, and the North Queensland Cowboys as well.

I’ve spoken to those guys, and they’re coming out to be involved and to impart their knowledge and wisdom.

There’s a lot of stuff moving forward for 2025 that I’m excited about, and I can’t wait to see.

I love our community and I just want to see our community and our people get better and better, and get more positive and more growth.

Councillor Travis Crowther

I hope everyone stays safe. If you’re driving away for the school holidays, be safe on the roads and come back safely to us, because we want to see us all back here in 2025.

A special shout out to the Emergency Services and Jacob from MOB FM for helping Megan and myself do the Christmas Lights Cavalcade. I think we had about 130 cars, and it took us about three hours to do about 30km around the streets. There were some great lights and it was good to see a lot of people getting involved, and the Emergency Services teams did a great job. So did the Harley Owners’ Group (HOGs) – they had Santa and Mrs Claus on the motorbikes, and the Emergency Services had a Grinch, and a few others all dressed up, so we had a good bit of fun there.

Don’t forget, the Australia Day Awards are coming up. The awards celebrate the worthy people for Mount Isa.

Special thanks to the staff for their support and hard work over the past year and for doing the Chambers up. It was good to see the bit of Christmas spirit in here and also out on the forecourt there, with the big Christmas tree. It’s always good to see, and people do appreciate that Christmas cheer through it.

I just want to thank my family and the staff for all of their support over the year. Without them, we couldn’t be doing what we do in the Chambers, so it’s good to see that they’re always there supporting us.

I just want to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Rod Wilkinson. Rod passed away on Saturday, December 14. He was a prominent figure for Mount Isa, both in business and sport, and he’ll be greatly missed.

Councillor John Tully

I’m on the Mount Isa Water Board (as a Council representative) and I’ve been meeting with them – they seem to be going along really well this year.

I’m still a bit new to it, and there’s a lot to know about it, but we’re looking forward to having a good year with the Water Board.

With Emergency, I’ve had meetings with the Mines, I’ve had meetings with all of the local executives recently. They seem to be all over any emergencies that may happen in the next two months, which is the time it floods. And if it stays dry, we may even have early fires again, because it is still a long way ‘til wintertime.

I would just like to thank all the councillors for the year, and the CEO, executives, and all the staff. Hopefully we can just have a better year in 2025, and try and get twice the amount of work done as what we got in 2024.

Councillor James Coghlan

I wanted to give the Zonta Club of Mount Isa a big shout out. This is an organisation that’s been around for a long time. Cherry Brosnan’s been one of the driving forces, and Rod Wilkinson was her brother-in-law, so I’m sure they’ll rally around Cherry. But what they do for the community is understated, and they’ve stepped in now to do the Isa Rodeo Queen Quest.

But if there are men out there who want to volunteer as well, just contact Zonta, because even though you’re a male, they volunteer and do things all over the place, and sometimes a bit of muscle helps. They may know other areas that you can help in.

I know they’re looking for help in 2025. They’ve been asked to do coffees and that at the rugby league for the primary school carnival, and I think they’re going to struggle with numbers, because it’s during the week. So if you’re a bloke and you can handle a coffee machine and you like a chat, put your hand up.

I wanted to thank everybody for their support during the year. I’m looking forward to the New Year, because this has been the worst year in my life, so hopefully we can have a good one in 2025.

Deputy Mayor Kim Coghlan

I would just like to remind people over the Christmas period and into the New Year that if you’re in parks and in public places and there are people that aren’t acting how they should be acting, ring Triple 0 straight away, because it’s a crime happening now.

Or you can ring the Mount Isa Police Station on 4744 1140, or you can ring PoliceLink on 131 444. But when you ring PoliceLink, don’t let them tell you that you have to go and put it online, because you can actually give a report over the phone to PoliceLink. And if you do have any trouble, I’d love to hear from you.

I was incorrect in my statement – it’s not a $5 dump fee, it’s a $6 dump fee.

I have spoken to a member of the family of Rod Wilkinson, because Rod was a councillor with Mount Isa City Council for many years, and he’s got three beautiful daughters and a great family connection to Mount Isa. I would just like to say that I hope they hold together. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family at this time.