"This must change", says Mayor
Above: An artist's impression of the planned Olympic indoor sports centre at The Mill, Petrie.
Mayor Peter Flannery has called for State and Federal politicians to give “serious and realistic recognition” of the City of Moreton Bay.
With a new Queensland Government and Federal Election on or before May 17, Mayor Flannery wants “our fair share” of funding.
He says it is needed to support another 308,000 residents who will move to Australia’s third largest local government area by 2046.
With the lowest debt and highest council credit rating in South-East Queensland, Council is positioned well for growth, Mayor Flannery said.
“We can’t do it alone,” he says, “especially when the share of tax revenue we receive has not grown since the 1970s.
“As a City we have grown so much since then and future predictions have us booming.
“On a per capita basis, City of Moreton Bay is consistently one of the lowest funded South-East Queensland councils. This must change.
“We look forward to working with the new State Government and leading up to the Federal election, call for a serious and realistic recognition of our City’s growing prominence.”
It is part of Mayor Flannery’s 2025 Focus Statement outlining his goals for 2025.
These include next month’s planned expansion of the garden organics collections and seeing the CCTV network growing to more than 1900 cameras.
A new SES Depot is to be built at Deception Bay this year and there's $277 million for such as Youngs Cross Rd, Suttons Beach pavilion, Caboolture River Rd and Buchanan Rd upgrade.
The new Support Hub is to "open soon” at Redcliffe, for the Salvation Army and “other community providers who help those in need”, says the Mayor.
He is also keen to see Moreton Bay’s “shovel-ready” indoor Olympic sports centre at Petrie retained in the State Government’s 100-day review.
Having a major Olympic venue will help road funding, for such as the Bruce Highway Western Alternative and more bridges across the Pine River, the Mayor said.
Sights are also set on the new Moreton Bay Wildlife Hospital, more hotel accommodation and more public facilities for those who cannot use standard toilets.