OBI OBI HALL

On 31.08.2011,  an application for a grant of $50,000.00 to fund the rest of the cost of the renovation of the Obi Obi Hall was made by the Association to Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC), this grant application was made in case our grant application with  Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund (JCCBF)  is rejected (the outcome of this application expected sometime in September).

Sunshine Coast Regional Council offers help to the community via their Community Grants Program offering both major grants – from $2,000.00 to $50,000.00 twice a year with applications closing at the end of August and February with notification of results three months later, and minor grants – to $2,000.00 four times a year with applications closing at the end of August, November, February and May, results two months later.

The application was made  easier with most of the information required transferred from our JCCBF application, with the tone of this application varying as a result of the differing questions asked; both grant applications were made online with SCRC’s web site proving much more user-friendly, much to the relief of the applicants as memories of the many previous unsuccessful  attempts to upload the JCBF application with only  hours left to the closing deadline still brings back painful flashbacks (each failure to upload meant that all the information required had to be re-entered) .

Our building consultant EBIS has been asked to amend our hall renovation  working drawings to incorporate various structural improvements that resulted from our discussions with builders during the tender process. When these changes are confirmed by EBIS the re-stumping of the hall will go ahead.

PLEASE NOTE

Fire Danger Period Declared

The Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) has declared a Fire Danger Period resulting in new rules on the lighting of fires.
The Fire Danger Period means Queenslanders will not be allowed to light a fire, regardless of the size, without a permit from midnight Sunday 4 September to midnight on Sunday 1 January 2012.
It is common practice for QFRS to implement a Fire Danger Period during bushfire season as a step towards preventing fire from escaping and potentially putting lives and property at risk.
A Fire Danger Period is not a Fire Ban. It simply means that you may need to receive a Permit to Light Fire for fires where a permit is not usually required, however there are still some types of fires that can be lit without a permit during the Fire Danger Period.
I want to light a fire – what do I do?
1. Contact your local Fire Warden (Obi Obi & Kidaman Creek areas only – phone 54469252) to complete an Application for Permit to Light Fire.
To find your Fire Warden, visit the Fire Warden Finder on the Rural Fire Service website (www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au)
2. Complete the Application for a Permit to Light Fire with your local Fire Warden. You will be granted or denied a Permit depending on the conditions, applicable local laws and your ability to control the fire.
Which fires are exempt from requiring a permit during a Fire Danger Period?
• A fire lit for the purpose of burning the carcass of a beast;
• A fire lit at a sawmill for the purpose of burning sawdust or other residue resulting from the operation of a sawmill;
• A fire lit outdoors for the purpose of cooking and warmth, if enclosed in a fireplace so prepared as to prevent the escape of fire or any burning material.
What is a properly prepared fire place?
A properly prepared fireplace means an area cleared of flammable material around and above the area, so as to prevent the escape of fire or burning material.
Regardless of the type of fireplace, it is the responsibility of the person lighting the fire to ensure all precautions are taken to contain and control the fire.

Is a Fire Danger Period a Fire Ban?
No, however a Fire Ban can still be implemented during a Fire Danger Period.
A Fire Danger Period identifies a time of the year during the fire season when uncontrolled fires can be dangerous.
A Fire Ban would be imposed during this period when conditions are such that fires would be difficult to control and pose a danger to communities.
You should always check if a Fire Ban has been implemented in your area prior to lighting any fires.
Information regarding Fire Bans is available on the Rural Fire Service website, or by calling the Fire Ban Information Line on 1800 020 440.

After a concerted effort by the Management Committee the following has occurred.

1. A builder has been selected for the renovation, Murray Peterson of Maleny.

2. On 31.05.11,  a grant application asking for $80,000.00 to supplement the renovation was  made to Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund. Six expressions of interest and three Sponsor’s letters of support were attached.  It will be 3 to 4 months before a decision is made on our application.  The Management Committee has decided to proceed with the re-stumping of the existing hall separate to the rest of the renovation.

3. Our Association now has 59 members consisting of 39 ordinary, 3 special and 17 associate.

4. There was a relaxation of the footing specifications under the existing hall by our building consultant EBIS. Apart from the perimeter(load bearing) footings, the depth of the internal footings has been reduced to 900mm, this will reduce the work required and the resultant cost – quoted $35,000.00.

5. 22 truck loads of road base (at no cost) delivered to the Obi Obi hall property. This will be used to stabilize the soft areas around the hall, which will enable all weather access for the restoration.

The continuing Tender process.

As of 11th April, after an extension of time for two Builders, three tender responses with a mean cost of $330,000.00 have been received. All the remaining Builders registered either contacted us, or were followed up by the Management Committee, with all deciding not to quote because of other commitments.

At a Management and Building Committee meeting on 11.05.2011, feedback from the Builders was considered and the Tender responses analyzed.  The responses varied as a result of deviations from our Scope of Works due to interpretations relating to their own building standards. This caused complications for the Management and Building Committees in coming to a decision.  The Builders will be contacted for clarification of parts of their quotes. The re-stumping requirement for the existing hall and extension (concrete footings 350 mm wide x 1500 mm deep) was a common and expensive difficulty with two Builders estimating that re-stumping would cost from $30,000.00 to $60,000.00. Another re-stumping quote will be obtained by the Management Committee to enable a more informed judgment.

Funding the renovation.

At the meeting the funding of the renovation via the process of a grant application to the Community Benefit Fund was discussed. Three sponsors are required to support the application. Our State MP Peter Wellington and local Councillors Paul Tatton and Jenny McKay will be asked to sponsor our application.

The application requires us to substantiate our communities need for a community hall with a written submission by the Association, supporting letters from other organizations willing to use the hall, plus facts relating our membership numbers and recent uses of the hall.

Note: our current financial membership currently totals 23 members consisting of 19 ordinary and 4 special members.

Because of our Not for Profit status we are eligible to claim back the GST component of the renovation’s cost. The Management Committee is going through the process of registering for GST with the Australian Taxation Office. This will place extra work upon the Treasurer as registration requires us to submit regular BASS statements but registration should save 10% of the renovation cost.

Our 2011 Annual General Meeting

On the 30th of March, Obi Obi and Kidaman Creek District Community Hall Inc held their 2010 Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Kenilworth Hall. According to our Model Rules our AGM has to be held within three months of the close of the financial year (31st December). The AGM is dependent upon the completion of an Audit of the Association’s financial affairs by an accountant, which is the result of our Treasurer collating and verifying the year’s financial accounts.

Another requirement is that the holding of the AGM must be advertised a minimum of one month before that date.

The business of an AGM is to review and endorse the activities of the Management Committee and members during the previous year and to elect a new Management Committee. This process allows the actions of the Association and the Management Committee during the previous year to be legally recorded as a result of the lodging of the Audit along with the AGM Minutes with the Queensland Dept of Justice and Attorney-General.

The meeting was addressed by the retiring President who summarized the activities of the Association over the last year and raised several matters

• Extra funds are required to complete the renovation, possibly via Gambling Fund grants and community fund-raising by the Association, but because of our public liability insurance, the Association is unable to use the hall or its grounds for functions.

• Competition for funds from communities in flood damaged parts of Queensland will have a bearing on our application.
• A larger membership base would add to the credibility of grant applications with an appeal for members to canvass for extra members and to consider ways to raise funds.

• That the Association is presently unable to use the Obi Obi Hall for meetings, and with most members having access to the internet , the official office for the Association will be Associations Blog, with a plea to members that as it is interactive, to use it for feedback.
• That during the year, all of the Management Committee’s time and focus has been on the hall restoration with one General Meeting held during the year updating progress with the hall renovation.

The review of the year’s activities of the Association (incoming and outgoing correspondence and the Treasurer’s Report) was dutifully carried out with the members paying attention to every detail.

The retiring President then declared all management positions vacant after thanking members of the Management and Building Committees for their efforts.

Election of the Management Committee.

With the previous Management Committee nominating to continue in current positions and with no other nominations received, the meeting decided to re-elect the previous Management Committee members as the Management Committee for the 2011 year.

The previous Building Committee was also re-elected.

After the conclusion of the AGM an update of the Tender process and the Grant application was given, noting that in preparation to obtain grants, the Association had applied and received from the Australian Taxation Office a Tax File Number (TFN),  an Australian Business number (ABN) and registration with the Community Benefit Fund to start the application process .

LAPSED ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP?

An internet bank transfer payment of the $10.00 membership fee for lapsed Ordinary Members can be made to the Association’s bank account in the Association’s name using  BSB – 064 424  Account number – 10526185. This payment method will only function properly if confirmation of a payment is made directly to the Treasurer. With the Treasurer unable to internet access the Association’s accounts and only able to view paper bank accounts monthly, without email confirmation, confusion over payment may result. All other methods of payment are still accepted.

You could be interested

Obi Obi Hall

Two bands have recorded music videos  at the Obi Obi Hall, which they have  placed on YouTube, see the links below.

http://youtu.be/xMYQr0ZvL0s

and

http://youtu.be/l2yhr-Ni1kw

Myrtle Rust

Myrtle Rust (native to South America) is a new invasive fungal disease which may have serious consequences for native plants in our area. See the link below for more information

http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/4790_19788.htm