A Message from the Mayor

Cr. Barry Moyle

It is with pleasure I present to you Johnstone Shire Council's 'State of the Johnstone Shire - Year 2000 Benchmark'.

This report is a snapshot of the Shire in the year 2000 and will provide benchmark data against which future comparisons can be made.

The State of the Shire Report is an initiative of the Council, not a legislative requirement as in other states. Council is committed to continue its State of the Shire reporting, with annual updates and a new report produced every 4 years.

Evidence has shown that overall, the Johnstone Shire is in good condition, however further data is required in some areas. Whilst the report found that there are areas requiring improvement such as effluent discharge from the sewage treatment plant, the report has also proven there are many outstanding accomplishments being achieved such as surpassing composting targets and wet waste reduction. It is my hope that the report will be of use to decision-makers, policy makers, planners and members of the broader community alike.

I thank the technical committee representatives who gave freely of their time and knowledge to assist with the report's technical papers and to the community as a whole who provided invaluable input and assistance into all phases of the reporting process. Without your help, this report would not have been possible.