Councillor Column Andrew Carr 27 January

Hello Hinchinbrook,

With Australia Day done and dusted, whether you are a local or a visitor, I hope you enjoyed the day in the Hinchinbrook Shire, as we offer a perfect mix of relaxation, adventure and community spirit.

I thought I would mention an area in the Infrastructure Portfolio which is very important for this time of year.

Stormwater is the run-off from rain that falls on a roof or paved area like a driveway, road or footpath that flows into a stormwater drain. Council maintains a complex stormwater drainage network which includes many different types of drainage structures such as unlined drains (including natural waterways) and concrete-lined open drains, underground pipes and culverts, and grates and other inlet or outlet structures.

A drainage easement is a portion of land that a property owner has granted to Council to enable the carriage of stormwater through to the main drainage system.

Illegal dumping of green waste and household rubbish in waterways, easements and drains increases the risk of flooding to properties and costs millions of dollars in property damage across the region.

Dumping waste, planting garden beds or building fences across the flow path are all examples of activities that can obstruct stormwater flow.

To request a service, make an enquiry or report an issue, please use the web forms under Customer Service on the Hinchinbrook Shire Council website here at www.hinchinbrook.qld.gov.au/our-council/customer-service/

Snap Send Solve is a free app that lets you report a problem to your local council using an iPhone or Android device. You can also make a general request or provide feedback. Visit their website here for more at www.snapsendsolve.com/snappers

Snap Send Solve allows you to quickly and easily capture and report common issues, such as illegal rubbish dumping or a street sign needing repair.

How Snap Send Solve works: Snap Send Solve determines your local council using your smartphone’s GPS location. It then sends you your council’s contact information, location and email contact. When you use Snap Send Solve, your request is sent from the app using your email address and phone number so that Hinchinbrook Shire Council can communicate directly with you to resolve the issue.

Once again, it is great to be able to pick up a copy of Hinchinbrook Life and read through what has been and what will be happening throughout our Shire. Thank you for the opportunity once again.