Budget Quality Cars owner Ronnie Surch wants council to address a rise in the number of backyard car dealers operating around Warwick.

BACKYARD car dealerships are springing up across Warwick and local businesses want an end to the unlawful practice.
Budget Quality Cars owner Ronnie Surch said he had discovered dozens of illegal backyard sales operations.
“You only have to drive around Warwick on a Saturday to see these backyard car dealers,” he said.
“They’re using Facebook and ebay to trying to sell these vehicles, which is making it hard for legitimate operators who have to pay thousands of dollars for licensing, property leases and taxes.”
Mr Surch is now calling on Southern Downs Regional Council to put an end to the backyard traders.
Cars piling up in backyards covered with “for sale” signs could be a dead giveaway that a backyard dealership is in operation, said council’s Director of Planning and Environment Ken Harris.
Mr Harris said council was aware of the issue and was working in conjunction with a State Government body to carry out property inspections.
“There may be multiple cars in the yard, multiple cars with for sale signs on them on the weekend, different vehicles over an amount of time, vehicle parts and people coming to the house,” he said.
If caught, offenders could face court resulting in hefty fines and the possibility of a criminal record.
Mr Surch said he was not against people selling their own personal cars.
“But some people are attempting to sell half a dozen, even a dozen cars from their backyards, with no licence or regard for local businesses,” he said.
Anyone wanting to report an illegal backyard car dealer can phone Southern Downs Regional Council on 4661 0300.

An amateur car yard that has been springing up on Saturdays at the corner of Wood and Wallace streets.

Stanthorpe and District Naval sub Branch naval cadets in the recent Stanthorpe Anzac Day march.

By Casey O’Connor

On Saturday evening a distinguished group of currently serving and retired naval officers will join US Marine Colonel John Mayer representing the US Ambassador, Canberra, and US Consul General, Sydney, Lieutenant Commander Mark Tandy, Executive Officer Navy Headquarters, South Queensland, and Commander Wendy Davey and the Southern Downs mayor Peter Blundell at a “Tribute to the Coral Sea Battle” dinner hosted by Stanthorpe and District Naval Sub Section.  Hosts for the evening Norm Gale and his wife Helen along with a committed band of volunteers with a Naval background has been instrumental developing the Stanthorpe Naval Sub Section branch.
A host of other distinguished guests with Naval credentials will be attending the dinner held to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea.
There are now only three remaining Australian Survivors of the Coral Sea Battle which was fought from 4-8 May, 1942, and is recognised as thwarting the Japanese intention to occupy Port Moresby and perhaps a northern Australian invasion.
The series of Naval engagements fought off the North Coast of Australia between the USA, Australia and the Japanese fleet was the first naval conflict fought entirely by carrier-borne aircraft in which opposing fleets did not meet.
Each year since 1946, Coral Sea Week has been celebrated in Australia by service personnel from both Australia and the USA, and official functions for visiting American dignitaries. Saturday’s dinner honouring this occasion will be held at Websters’ function room in the Central Hotel, Stanthorpe.  Further information is available from Norm Gale.

What does the future hold for Tenterfield Shire Council, amid concerns that council’s democratic resolutions are not being enacted.

By JONATHON HOWARD

A BACKLOG of un-actioned resolutions from Tenterfield Shire Council – some believed to be dated before 2010 – has raised community concerns as to whether councillor’ votes are being enacted.
Several residents are calling for an urgent audit of Tenterfield Shire Council’s resolution records, dating back as far as 2008 or earlier, to determine the magnitude of the issue.
Several concerned Tenterfield residents approached the Free Times last week to express their worries and break the issue wide open for the community.
Some of the residents said several folders, dated from February 2010 to February 2012, allegedly contain “many” un-actioned resolutions.
Under the NSW Local Government Act, motions which are put before council, and those which are adopted or carried by councillor’ votes, are to be enacted or be in a state of action.
The Free Times made repeat attempts to contact Tenterfield Shire Council’s General Manager, Lotta Jackson, to explain the situation – but no response was provided before the print deadline.
Mayor Peter Petty was available for comment and said he did not know the number of un-actioned resolutions before council.
“These documents are always available for councillors to view, by appointment,” he said.
“I have not seen these documents myself, as I am dealing with current council matters.”
Mayor Petty said that councillors and council staff had been “extremely busy” since taking office last year in September, and while the issue of un-actioned resolutions was a serious concern, he said he was confident in council’s general manager and directors to handle the matter.
“Some of these resolutions could have been delayed due to the availability of proper resources, and the need for more funding, or further decision-making, before they can progress,” he said.
“I have full confidence in our general manager and directors to carry out these duties.”
The Free Times will continue attempts to view the folders once contact is made with Ms Jackson.
Meanwhile, Tenterfield Shire Councillor Blair Maxwell said he was concerned that the issue of un-actioned resolutions was not being made public, and what effect this could have on council.
Council agendas revealed that Cr Maxwell had made several attempts to gain more information provided to councillors (and the public they represent), on these issues and address council decisions from the recent past – which prompted the Free Times to contact him.
“There’s no easily accessible record of where council is currently in relation to these motions,” he said.
“These folders should be made public, or at the very least a short one-liner list of motions and the council should come clean on the number of resolutions requiring action or further action.”
Cr Maxwell said the “lack of Tenterfield Shire Council’s transparency and response was raising serious community concerns”.
“There needs to be a better tracking system in place to determine at what stage each council resolution is, and whether more needs to be done, such as digitalising through computer programs that then could go to online tracking, to ensure that transparency is maintained,” Cr Maxwell said.
Mayor Petty said Tenterfield Shire Council was grappling with mounting debt, but was maintaining a “good position” for the future.
His comments were made despite Tenterfield Shire Council being found a high risk of unsustainability by the NSW State Government.
There are also fledgling plans to raise Tenterfield rates by up to 50 per cent over the next four years, to pay for the mounting debt and pull Tenterfield Shire back from the precipice.
Tenterfield Shire has also been noted in a Fairfax newspaper as being in the lowest 10 socio-economic areas in NSW, and bottom 20 in the country.
Questions are now being raised over how Tenterfield Shire residents will pay for the mounting loans.
“We’re meeting all our repayments,” Mayor Petty, who was the deputy mayor under the previous council, said.
Mr Petty admitted that more money would be needed in order to raise the Tenterfield Dam wall, continue investment to improve waste management facilities, improvements to roads and bridges following recent floods, and the Main Street Master Plan – which could all cost well in excess of $10 million in further loans and grants.
Mayor Petty said the council had a lot on its plate, but vital projects were progressing.
“There is a need to be stringent, but there’s no reason to suggest that any of these projects cannot progress,” he said.
Mayor Petty also fended off suggestions that the struggling Glen Innes Severn Council and Tenterfield Shire Council amalgamate, to form one local government.
“There’s no point in two struggling councils merging to form one struggling council,” he said.
“I’ve spoken with the Glen Innes Severn Council mayor (Colin Price) and he is of the same view.”

One of the prize Angus bulls will go to the highest bidder during the Tenterfield On Property Angus Bull Sale next month.

MORE than 40 prime bulls will go under the hammer as part of the Annual On Property Outcross Angus Bull Sale on Saturday, 1 June.
Colin Keevers and Lisa Martin operate Alumy Creek Angus on their property ‘Coldawinda’ at Tenterfield, where they offer a terrific draft of 40 two-year-old Angus bulls.
This year’s outcross genetics bulls are very consistent, showing plenty of length, muscle and thickness, according to Mr Martin.
Alumy Creek bulls are known for their paddock reared easy doing ability, great temperament and affordable price.
Mr Martin believes this year’s draft includes some of the best bulls bred to date.
“These bulls perform in the paddock with Alumy Creek sired weaners again performing very well at this season’s sales from Longreach down to Tamworth and locally at Stanthorpe, Tenterfield and Glen Innes sales,” he said.
“Leading the draft are 11 sons of TC Aberdeen, sire of the 2012 Australian record priced bull, offering a complete package of low birthweight, calving ease, excellent muscling and growth.
“The new season sire and US docility trait leader Sydgen CC&7 sons in the sale are commercially orientated exhibiting extra muscling and growth.
“The SAV Pioneer sons deliver great temperament, powerful performance and phenotype in a very easy doing thick meaty package.”
Some of the oldest Australian sons of new sire Connealy Impression are standouts in the draft for calving ease and tremendous growth.
Several sons of popular sires Mohnen Dynamite and Connealy Thunder again appeal for their consistent style, calving ease and weaner performance.
The sale bulls are available for inspection at ‘Coldawinda’ on Saturday, 25 May, and Sunday, 26 May from 11am- 2pm or by prior arrangement.
The catalogue is available online at www.alumycreekangus.com.au or by request from the agents Alford and Duff Tenterfield or George and Furhman Warwick or by contacting Colin on 0429 431 900.

From left, parents Kerry and Ray Zorzi with their 11-year-old son Blake Zorzi, new Rocks Restaurant manager Tiia Dunbar and head chef Timo Kent.

THE Rocks Restaurant in Stanthorpe will host a special dinner to raise funds for 11-year-old Blake Zorzi tomorrow night (May 17).
The Spanish-themed dinner will feature a three-course meal, fashion parade, lucky door prizes, raffles and a wine auction.
Parents Kerry and Ray Zorzi said they were delighted with the support from the community so far – but were still about $20,000 short of their required target.
“It’s going to be a great night and will help us get even closer to our goal,” Mrs Zorzi said.
The family are attempting to save for a specially modified vehicle that allows easy access for Blake, who was born with cerebral palsy, and reduces the risk of injury to Mrs Zorzi’s persistent back injury.
“The support so far has been amazing and we hope it can continue through community events such as these,” she said.
The Rocks Restaurant is also under new management with plans to include a lunch menu, themed nights and steak specials on Sunday.
Blake’s dinner will cost $35 per person and starts at 6pm.

Members of the Queensland Nurses’ Union during a protest against State Government cutbacks that led to thousands of job losses.

MEMBER for Southern Downs and Minister for Health, Lawrence Springborg, has labeled a Queensland Nurses’ Union (QNU) advertising campaign, which claims that the State Government plans to privatise public hospitals, as a lie and political point-scoring exercise.
The $300,000 ad campaign will run for the next two weeks on selected networks.
QNU members told ABC Radio that the Newman Government had “failed to come clean” on the matter to privatise hospitals, so the QNU decided to do it for them.
Mr Springborg immediately hit back at the campaign, calling it an excuse to spend union members’ money to boost the ALP before the federal election.
“I think Queenslanders will actually see this for what it is – political argy-bargy on the eve of a federal election,” he told the ABC.
“There is no proposal to privatise any existing hospital in Queensland and that has been said previously.”
Mr Springborg also called on Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, to hand back more than $100 million taken from the Queensland health system, which Mr Springborg says caused systemic job losses.
QNU spokesman Des Elder said Mr Springborg was in denial.
“We don’t believe for one minute that they have any view other than the privatisation of our hospital system,” Mr Elder said.
“We have seen them make commitments and promises about not axing frontline staff, frontline services, and they have done exactly that.
“We don’t trust for one minute that they will not attempt wherever they can to privatise the public hospital system.”

From left, Marty Power and Paul McKeown from Gympie chat with other pilots at the ultralight fly-in hosted by the Lions Club of Inglewood at the Inglewood Airfield. Paul and Marty are both pilots with Virgin Airlines. They also conduct a recreational flying school at Gympie and flew their ultralight Drifter to Inglewood for the occasion. They were among the many pilots who paid tribute to well-known pilot and friend Wayne Fisher, who lost his life while test flying an aircraft in Lismore NSW in March this year.

PERFECT Autumn weather set the scene for more than 50 aircraft and pilots to attend the 24th annual Ultralight Fly-in at Inglewood on 27-28 April.
Pilots from as far away as Gympie, Caloundra, Boonah, Lightning Ridge and Moree flew in for the event, which was hosted by the Lions Club of Inglewood.
Traditionally the fly-in was held during the May Labor Day weekend but, with the change of the Labor Day holiday to October, it was decided to hold this year’s fly-in on the Anzac Day weekend.
Inglewood Lions Club President Stuart Parker described the weekend as a success.
“The airstrip was in excellent condition and facilities had been upgraded,” he said.
“Lions club members had provided hearty breakfasts and lunches for the visitors, while the usual three-course evening meal on the Saturday night had catered for 80 guests.”
Lion Parker said the function was organised by Roy and June Petzke in conjunction with volunteers from the Bracker Creek Rural Fire Brigade, SES and Lions Club members. Lion Parker congratulated and thanked the volunteers for their assistance.
He said the meal included a wide variety of delicious, mainly home-made sweets and had been thoroughly enjoyed by the visitors.
“The 2014 Fly-in would also be held on the Anzac Day weekend and if the comments from those present were any indication, it would be even bigger and better than 2013,” he said.
During the evening, tribute was paid to the late Wayne Fisher who, in recent years, had attended many of the Inglewood Ultralight Fly-ins.
He was a well-known and respected pilot and a friend to many of those present.
He lost his life in March this year in his home town of Lismore, NSW, when test flying a friend’s new plane.
Over a number of years Wayne had not only been involved in the development of ultralights, but had built 230 of the aircraft.
It was noted that he had been a leader in this field and would be sorely missed.

Southern Downs Steam Railway president and fitter John Brady, Murray Sondergeld and Garry Summerville were among many members who worked tirelessly on the C-17 steam engine.

MONTHS of hard work has paid off for members of the Southern Downs Steam Railway, who drove a four-carriage steam engine into Toowoomba from Warwick recently.
The journey was the first of its kind for the group and Warwick resident Bob Keogh was given the honour of driving the train from Warwick to Clifton.
The train, a C17 -971, was considered one of the most versatile steam engines in the Southern Downs from 1920 to 1970.The journey followed many hundreds of man hours working on the old engine to ensure it was up to the challenge.
The train ride was a part of Mother’s Day and attracted more than 120 passengers eager to experience the train’s maiden voyage to Toowoomba.
Passengers said they were extremely happy with the journey.
The train will travel from Warwick to Wallangara on Sunday, 26 May, at 8am.
To book tickets, phone 4661 3530 or 4661 9788.

Blankets needed: Warwick Red Cross volunteers Narelle Lowry, Jenny Stark and Christine McKinny are calling for warm items to help everyone pull through another cold season.

MANY families will experience cold nights this winter and Warwick residents are being asked to help out by making a heart-warming donation.
Warwick Red Cross is one of many places where residents can drop off any blankets or warm clothing to help ensure we can all fend off the dreaded flu.
Warwick Red Cross team leader Jenny Stark said the need was growing and shelves were bare.
“We always welcome donations from residents, particularly those warm blankets and warm clothing, which are in huge demand – we sold two blankets this morning,” she said.
Ranging in price and quality, Mrs Stark said the Warwick Red Cross offered good prices and each product was screened for quality.
While Red Cross prices have increased slightly during the past five years, Mrs Stark said help for those who needed it was still available.
“We assess each case individually,” she said.
“If someone is in a desperate situation, without money, we can offer help and guidance, but this is assessed case-by-case.”
Volunteers, as part of Volunteer Week this week, are also being urged to offer the Red Cross a helping hand.
“We always welcome new volunteers,” Mrs Stark said.
“You can gain a lot of retail sales experience, as well as customers services skills; making new friends and giving something back to the community.”
To make a donation visit the Warwick Red Cross at 2 Grafton St. To find out more about volunteering phone 4661 9916.