General News
26 November, 2024
Cloncurry Shire shines a spotlight on Dajarra
Mayor Greg Campbell says the state government needs to step up and provide more support to the community.
Cloncurry mayor Greg Campbell has called on the new Crisafulli government to play a more proactive role in assisting the new Jimberella Co-Operative Society board at Dajarra to clear the organisation’s debts and improve community housing.
Cr Campbell told North West Weekly that Cloncurry Shire was currently expected to do the heavy lifting when it comes to servicing the Dajarra community and that liveability in the township could be vastly improved if there was a more prominent contribution from other government agencies.
A convoy of council staff and elected office holders rolled into Dajarra last week for the annual council meeting at the Jimberella Community Hall, where the township of less than 200 people has faced ongoing struggles with housing infrastructure.
Adding to the woes, debts owed to Cloncurry Shire for rates and services by the Jimberella Community Cooperative grew well in excess of $500,000 in recent years, which resulted in its board being replaced in April.
With more than 89 per cent of Dajarra residents renting their homes through government provided housing or the Jimberella Cooperative Society, Cr Campbell said there was a very small rate paying base in Dajarra, which meant Cloncurry Sire council was forced to draw on monies raised outside the township to provide basic services.
“The people of Dajarra are just as important as anyone else in our shire – but we have faced challenges getting support from the majority of elected officials at times – the fact is Dajarra does cost us money to service and that’s largely because the state government does not pay general rates to local government and that’s half the housing in Dajarra. A lot of the other houses are owned by the Jimberella Corporation and they have not been paying anything (rates),” he said.
“We have a mechanism to recover (any rates we are owed) and that is to sell those properties – but there is no real market – and then there is also the real issue that the people inside those homes get displaced and that is totally against the core purpose of council, which is to look after people, especially those who are disadvantaged.”
Cr Campbell said he believed the Crisafulli government should work with the new Jimberella board to provide a sustainable financial pathway for the betterment of the affected community.
“I would like to see the state government pay general rates, but they never will because they do not anywhere in the state,” he said.
“But I think the new state government should actually step up and work with the new Jimberella board to help get the housing up to scratch and clear the debts owed to council to support this community.
“There is currently a community led initiative to collect and recycle cans for Jimberella, which has probably resulted in hundreds or thousands of dollars being collected to help, but I would prefer to see that money spent on assisting improving the community – so it means state government intervention may be necessary to assist with these debt issues.”