Harlin Poultry Farm approved  
Somerset Regional Council has approved a poultry farm for development at Harlin.  
Situated on land at Kangaroo Creek Road and Apple Tree Creek Road, the development will include six poultry sheds and have capacity to house 11,500 birds in each.  
Council received more than 300 submissions about the application during the public notification period.  

Subdivision gets green light  
Somerset Regional Council has approved a subdivision at 115 Old Fernvale Road at Vernor.  
The development provides for one lot to be divided into 24 lots including creation of new road and drainage.  
Lots will vary in size between 3125sq m and 4,047sq m with one large lot of more than 1.5 hectares which contains koala habitat.  

QAO report highlights financial management issues
A report to State Parliament by Queensland Audit Office (QAO) has named Somerset Regional Council as one of only 43% of Queensland councils with no significant deficiencies in its financial management systems.
QAO Report 8 of 2023-24 reported that 57% of Queensland councils as having one or more “significant internal control deficiencies” in a statewide total of 157 significant issues found.
Somerset CEO, Andrew Johnson, welcomed the QAO report.  
“Council is required to be audited by a firm appointed by the QAO annually and we are pleased to confirm that the 2023 audit closing report which is available on our website showed zero findings or deficiencies – significant or otherwise - for the year,” Mr Johnson said.  

Excellence Bursaries awarded to Somerset sport stars  
Somerset Regional Council awarded five excellence Bursaries to residents recognised in sporting activities at a regional or state level.  
Hayden O’Sullivan was awarded $250 after being selected in the U11 Soccer team to attend the State Championships held at Redbank in May 2024.
Samantha Bremmer was awarded $250 after being selected as part of the Metropolitan West School Sport 16-19 years Girls Cricket Team to attend the Queensland School Sport Cricket State Championships at Amberley in March 2024.  
Jaxon Griffin and William Sharp were each awarded $250 after being selected in the U11 QCSA Westzone’s Soccer team to attend the State Championships at Redbank in May 2024.  
Ryder Cochran was awarded $500 after being selected to attend the Australian Junior Masters at Hunter Valley Golf Club in April 2024. 
The funds have been awarded through Council’s Community Assistance Grants program which provides financial support to Somerset residents whose pursuit of excellence results in a higher-level participation of their chosen activity.  The bursaries aim to help offset some of the costs associated with competing at events, particularly those outside the region.  

Esk Football Grounds receives upgrade
Upgrades to the Esk Football grounds, managed by Somerset Regional Council, have started.  
Works include the installation of an irrigation system, various field improvements and new goal posts.
The project, co-funded by the Queensland Government through its Minor Infrastructure Program, is expected to be completed in May.  

NB: Somerset Regional Council held its meeting in the Simeon Lord room at the Esk Library on Wednesday, 13 March 2024 at 9am.