Redland City has played host to the South-East Queensland Council of Mayors with the group’s first board meeting for the year being held at IndigiScapes in Capalaba last Friday.
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Hon. Leeanne Enoch, Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts also dropped in for the board meeting, which was a precursor to the Council of Mayors’ annual strategy meeting at Point Lookout, North Stradbroke Island on Saturday.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Friday’s discussions included a South-East Queensland City Deals funding model with the State Government.
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“The Council of Mayors heard from Treasurer Jackie Trad on the progress of this initiative and also discussed their Resilient Rivers initiative with environment Minister Leeanne Enoch,” Cr Williams said.
“This is a regional approach to our region’s river system, recognising that rivers across the south east connect to one another and what goes in one river may end up in another river or ultimately our beautiful bay.
“As the ‘end of the line’ in regards to the region’s river system, Resilient Rivers is of particular interest to the Redlands, so I want to ensure it is on top of the agenda for councils across the region, as well as the State Government.”
The regional mayors continued on to Straddie on Saturday to start setting their 2018 priorities.
Mayor Karen Williams, who invited the group to meet in the Redlands, said that having the strategy meeting on Straddie allowed her to put local issues – especially the challenges and opportunities ahead for the island as it transitions from sand mining – front and centre when determining regional priorities.
“We drilled down on topics started at the board meeting and also discussed a regional approach to internet connectivity, which again is of interest to the Redlands as a city with areas of very poor internet access,” Cr Williams said.
