Nominate someone you know

THE council has called for nominations for the 2016 Australia Day Awards in the following categories:

• Citizen of the Year
• Young Citizen of the Year
• Community Event of the Year
• Sports Person/Team/Group of the Year
• Junior Sports Person of the Year

Nomination forms are available online here or from the Council Chambers in Circle St, New Norfolk.

New planning scheme nearly here

THE Minister for Local Government and Planning last week declared a new planning scheme for the Derwent Valley municipality. The new scheme will take effect on December 16, 2015, replacing the New Norfolk Planning Scheme 1994, and will be available at www.iplan.tas.gov.au on commencement. More information about interim planning schemes is available on that website. Public comments on the new scheme will be invited.

Time to clean up credit card mess

FOR the third year in a row, the state's Auditor-General has drawn attention to weaknesses in the management of credit cards at the Derwent Valley Council. This concern was first expressed by the Auditor-General in his Report on the Financial Statements of Local Government Authorities in 2012-13 and was repeated in the report covering the 2013-14 financial year.

In his latest report to Parliament last week, the Auditor-General said: "In respect of Derwent Valley Council, weaknesses in the management of credit cards reported to Council each year since 2012-13 remained unresolved. The matter related to a lack of adequate supporting documentation for credit card purchases. Our recommendations again included:
• all credit card expenditure should be supported by adequate documentation
• a reconciliation of purchases from transaction statements to supporting documentation and certification of expenditure by the cardholder be undertaken
• a review of the above reconciliation should be performed by a person independent from the cardholder."

He concluded: "We continued to remind Derwent Valley Council of those matters and increased the associated audit risk to high."

The report includes the following response from the council's new general manager: "In relation to the credit card matter ... additional administration protocols have been implemented to address the matter raised."

The new protocols referred to above have not been reported to councillors, nor do we have information about exactly who has a council credit card. It was only last year that I became aware the mayor had a council credit card but I do not know how or when that was approved and what conditions there are on its use.

It is time to clear all this up and not have a fourth "must do better" rating from the Auditor-General.

Council meeting this Thursday

THE monthly council meeting for November will be held at New Norfolk this Thursday night, starting at 6.30pm and you are very welcome to join us. If you would like any assistance or information about the meeting, please do get in touch.

The meeting agenda is available online and in hardcopy from the council chambers. The agenda document has taken on a new format under the new general manager and will undergo some fine tuning in the coming months.

 The council meeting roster for the rest of the year is as follows:

• 19 November 2015 - New Norfolk Courthouse 6.30pm
• (Monday) 14 December 2015 - New Norfolk Courthouse 6.30pm

Public advice: Peppermint Hill burn

PUBLIC NOTICE

In conjunction with the Parks and Wildlife Service, Tasmanian Fire Service and the Derwent Valley Council, the Peppermint Hill fuel reduction burn will occur this Saturday (31/10/2015) and Sunday (1/11/2015), providing weather conditions as predicted for the weekend don’t dramatically change.

The Peppermint Hill refuse site will be closed to the public on Saturday and may re-open at midday on Sunday. Public access to the Peppermint Hill reserve will be restricted. Please comply with directions from staff or on any signs. Tracks in the Peppermint Hill Reserve will be closed.

 

This burn may occur under suitable weather conditions and will generate smoke and flames. Residents should not be alarmed. Thank you for your co-operation.

For any enquiries please contact:

Mt Field Visitor Centre: 6288 1149
Southern Region Office: 6165 4056
Derwent Valley Council: 6261 8525

Meeting at Maydena

THIS month's meeting of the Derwent Valley Council will be held at the Maydena Community Hall (behind the old primary school) this Thursday. A community forum will be held at 6.30pm, providing an informal opportunity for residents and ratepayers to ask questions or raise matters of concern.

The council meeting will follow at 7pm. The agenda can be downloaded here. Please join us - and if you would like any assistance or information about the meeting, please do get in touch.

The council meeting roster for the rest of the year is as follows:

• 15 October 2015 - Maydena School Hall 7pm (community forum 6.30pm)
• 19 November 2015 - New Norfolk Courthouse 6.30pm
• 14 December 2015 - New Norfolk Courthouse 6.30pm

Fuel reduction burn

Peppermint Hill Spring Fuel Reduction Burn

In conjunction with the Derwent Valley Council, the Parks and Wildlife Service intends to undertake a fuel reduction burn, this spring, within the Peppermint Hill Reserve as shown on the map below. 

This is part of the Statewide Fuel Reduction Program aimed at reducing the bushfire risk to help protect lives and communities.

During burning operations the Peppermint Hill Refuse site will be closed and public access to the Peppermint Hill Reserve will be restricted.  Tracks in the Peppermint Hill Reserve will also be closed.

This burn will occur at short notice under suitable weather conditions and will generate smoke and flames. Residents should not be alarmed. Please comply with directions from staff or on any signs. 

A copy of the Peppermint Hill Operational Burn Plan will be on display at the Council Chambers in New Norfolk.

For any enquiries please contact:
David Bradford, Municipal Emergency Management Coordinator, phone 6261 8525 or email dbradford@dvc.tas.gov.au

or contact
Mt Field Visitor Centre 6288 1149
Southern Region Office 6165 4056