Agnes and Ecstasy – vol VII     APRIL 2006

Anzac Day Special click here

There are world shattering items I want to write about in the April Chronicles, however the incredible, possibly notorious, issue of the Agnes Water gymnasium comes first cos it has me between a rock and a hard place and that's no place for a lady.

I am a law abiding citizen, I never break the law, cheat or steal (I do sometimes lie but why should I have to tell every one I am sixty this year?). To me, anyone bucking The Law is A Baddie and needs sorting out or doing in. The Law means not just what Constable Plod enforces but it spans all the way from the only religious words that need writing ie Do unto others as you would have them do unto you & Honour thy Mother and thy Father through to the policies of the Local Council.

But that's just me.

It's definitely NOT the view of a diminutive, passionate, very fit woman we will call Yvonne (mainly cos that's her name) who just up and built a bush fitness centre (see below photo) to keep Agnes fit and fun filled. But she expended all this money and effort on her 8 acres without any permits from Miriam Vale Shire Council. Who did she think she was - Nike?

In my book, Yvonne is A Baddie no matter how justifiable her cause or honourable her intentions. The Law hands down very clearly what you can and what you can't do on your rural acreage. And if you want to go outside that, then you submit a Material Change of Use (MCU), fork over your dollars then go work at IGA until The Word comes down from The Mount. Well that's not strictly true. If you are a local you know there are plenty of illegal 'cottage' industries on the acreages (no MCU applied for) but providing the neighbours don't kick up a stink then Council's one lone Enforcer has enough to be going on with, without worrying about businesses that don't ruffle the neighbours feathers.

For Yvonne's gym, neighbours did complain. And to ensure they did, then some Greek chap (well it came from A. Nonymous which sounds Greek to moi) wrote them a letter reminding them to get their objection in by whatever date. So this Villainess of our tale, Yvonne, moved the road, moved the car area, fixed the sound etc etc. But didn't stop operating her bush centre. The way she put it to me was "Four of our eight acres are taken up with the running track, the fly-fox, the canoe area, the volley ball court, the boxing sand pit and of course the massive open exercise deck and the gym shed - where could I fit that down town?".

It must be said that, to many others, Yvonne is a Heroine rather than a law breaker and I went to find out why.

Yvonne is fit - seriously fit. She held the Nth Qld Bicycle Road Champion and Track Champion, Australian Power Lifting and entry to World Power Lifting and broke the Qld record for weights. Whilst working in the Townsville gym she meet her husband and they moved to Agnes Water a couple of years ago. She holds James Cook University certification from Fitness Queensland as a Gym Instructor and a Group Fitness Instructor. She is also a certified Systemised Personal Trainer. She worked extensively with Miriam Vale Shire Council in the preparation of their Healthy Living program.

Our local physio Dave Lucas sends his clients to her with prepared exercise routines; this week she has about four doing their recovery programs at her centre. Di, (pictured) who was there during my investigative visit this week, said 'Without this place, I would have no where to go to do the exercises I need'.

The aqua aerobics classes and therapy, that were conducted at Kahuna's pool, had to close some months ago and prospects of an Agnes Water community pool remain a long way off. Yvonne told me that she was receiving an introductory visit the following day from the chap who sets up the tenders for the Vet Affairs 2 day a week Government funded Heart Health Program for Veterans which the Agnes Water RSL apparently wants instigated for our many Vets. Only her Fitness Centre can, uniquely, provide the equipment, structure and certified instructor to bring this program to Agnes.

There is a boot camp conducted by the Council at 1770 and Miriam Vale on public land and there is a personal trainer at 1770 at $40 per session I understand. Yvonne's Agnes Water Fitness Worx charges either an annual membership fee of $350.00 for unlimited use of the whole centre or $10.00 for one all day usage. I noted some old looking exercise bikes and stretchy-pully things but otherwise all the equipment appeared brand new and housed in a well ventilated unlined shed with three massive fans. Big investment without an approved MCU !

Community Need?

Did Yvonne take the risk because, in her heart, she believed there was a strong community need for this Centre? Could such a need be demonstrated to the Council Officers who will be making their recommendation to the Councilors this month? Should the bush fitness centre be closed forth-with until such time as either an MCU is approved or Yvonne moves it to another location which does have approval for such a use? I am told that the neighbours complaint has been withdrawn although only after the objection date closed so it cannot be considered. But I ask myself how would I feel if my neighbours decided to set up say, a dance studio or a small learn-to-swim pool with clients in and out and activity all day. I would become splenetic and look for persons to hunt down, because we left the city to come to the soft hushed environment of our little acreage on Josefski.

But that's just me.

Final Note: VOTING CLOSED tonight 17th April 2006. Everyone was invited to vote by email. A summary of voting appears below.

Summary:

During the voting period, this page received 1846 hits, for an average duration of 2+ minutes. 

62% of visits were from Internet service providers located within Queensland.

93% of AGAINST voters allowed it to be known they were from the Miriam Vale Shire; 2 overseas (one from Russia) and 1 from Melbourne also voted AGAINST. All AGAINST voters gave reasons for the way they voted. 

9% of FOR voters allowed it to be known they were from the Miriam Vale Shire.  And those same voters gave reasons for the way they voted.  The remaining FOR voters provided no reason or location reference.

Summary of AGAINST reasons can best be encapsulated in one of the voters’ emails (reproduced with permission):

I have the strongest objection to ad hoc development on any block of land that is under the umbrella of a Council authority.

The end definitely does not justify the means in this case.

An early application to Miriam Vale Council for a long term lease on a block of land to develop this potential community asset would, I suggest, have had to be met with serious consideration.

I would trust that it is not too late to seek such an application and appropriate Council help to resite the existing facility.

Summary of FOR reasons is limited (see above) though encapsulated below  (summarised with the permission of the voter):

There are no other choices in Agnes Water for a retired senior person, like me. 

It is very important at my age to be able to work out at my own pace without intimidation or competition and to a well planned programme such as Yvonne carefully prepares. 

The peaceful and beautifully maintained surroundings are a benefit to our health whilst exercising – there is no stress.

Total votes emailed in:   FOR            24
                                    AGAINST    31

-----------------------------UNDECIDED 1