Subordinate Local Law No. 4 (Local Government Controlled Areas, Facilities and Roads) 2014 supplements Local Law No.4 2014 (Local Government Controlled Areas, Facilities and Roads) to protect the health and safety of persons using local government controlled land, facilities, infrastructure and roads and preserve features of the natural and built environment and other aspects of the amenity of local government controlled land, facilities, infrastructure and roads.

Under Prohibited activity is the following: “Any activity not in accordance with the purposes or objects for which such park / reserve is held by Council. Any act which is likely to injure, endanger, obstruct, inconvenience or annoy any other person. Organize or play a game which is likely to interfere with the safety or comfort of the public, or likely to damage the park / reserve or anything appertaining thereto. Discharge a firearm or other weapon in, over or across a park / reserve provided that this prohibition does not apply to archery, pistol, gun or rifle shooting conducted in a park / reserve pursuant to an approval issued by Council under Section 11 of Local Law No. 1 (Administration) 2014. Throw or discharge a stone or other projectile in, over or across a park/ reserve. Damage or interfere with vegetation.”

In Cloncurry the number of vehicles, boats, trailers, horse floats etc. that are parked on footpaths is astounding.

I see children who have no choice but to walk on the road to and from school. Who cops the blame if they are hit by a vehicle? But sometimes it is safer on the road than a footpath as occurred to myself a month ago when a vehicle driving onto a footpath nearly ran into me.

I find people who park on footpaths to come under an act which is likely to injure, endanger, obstruct, inconvenience or annoy any other person.

Another problem also occurs due to vehicles running over infrastructure such Water service valves, Telstra and NBN pits. How much money is spent repairing such infrastructure?

Another act which is caused by council workers themselves is gouging out footpaths when they are flushing water mains. There is no way I would walk down some footpaths after dark.

So why don’t councils act on their own bylaws?

Michael Jardine, 

Cloncurry

Child Protection Week was a reminder we all need to play our part to keep children and young people safe.

A recent study funded by Act for Kids found one third of Australians would not immediately tell someone if they thought a child was being abused or neglected.

One quarter said they did not know the signs of a child being abused or neglected.

Queensland Child Protection Week raised awareness and helped educate and inform ourselves on what to look for and how to respond when we think a child or young person may need of protection.

The survey reported, 78% felt the public could do more to intervene.

Child Protection and our responsibilities around it are now more widely discussed than ever but we need to remain vigilant and aware of what action is needed.

We all have a part to play in protecting children and young people.

I urge anyone in need of support or knows someone who needs support to contact 13Family (13 26 64).

If you suspect a child is at risk of significant abuse and neglect contact Child Safety Services (1300 706 147).

Shannon Fentiman

Minister for Child Safety