Who’s Who in 22, Government Gurus: Matt Constance

This year, Moreton Bay Regional Councillor Matt Constance (pictured left) has delivered funding for environmental initiatives, road upgrades, infrastructure improvements and better amenities in Division 10.

Council’s 2022/23 Budget included a major program to protect koala habitats and the natural surrounds, with plans for new fauna crossings in the division in the coming years, including koala underpasses to reduce the risk of wildlife from entering the road corridors.

It will also invest in driver awareness signage and environmental line marking to reduce driver distraction and, ultimately, wildlife-vehicle collisions.

The Yarral-yarral Reserve and the Bunyaville Conservation Park are two of the region’s most important conservation reserves, so Council will be investing heavily in fauna crossings along Bunya Rd, The Jinker Track, and Samford Rd at Ferny Hills to make sure wildlife can move freely between habitat areas in search of food.

The Budget also included millions of dollars in roads funding including $1.17 million on resurfacing in The Hills district to fix potholes and improvements.

The Plucks and South Pine roads intersection at Arana Hills will undergo a $2.6 million transformation, which aims to improve the flow of traffic and safety with new lights, anti-skid surfacing, and drainage.

More than $4 million will be spent on upgrading sporting precincts, which residents called for in the Moreton Says survey.

James Drysdale Reserve’s soccer fields are getting a $2 million overhaul for a regulation-sized pitch, a new community space and building fit-out with assistance from the Federal Government.

Also budgeted for is $1.3 million for the Albany Creek Skate Park, in partnership with the Federal Government

In November, Council announced The Hills District Community Place, a combined project that will ‘give consideration to’ the Leslie Patrick Park Precinct Plan and The 303 Dawson Pde Project.

The announcement was made during a Community Council Meeting at The Hills District Community Centre.

Council is investigating opportunities to revitalise the civic heart of Arana Hills by bringing the Hills District Community Place to Leslie Patrick Park. There have been many ideas for what this multi-function space could include such as landscaped areas, connecting pathways, a library, sports facilities, meeting rooms, a café and plazas.

During the planning phase, Council will determine ‘built structure requirement’, before presenting a business case and concept designs in 2023/24.

About Matt Constance

Matt Constance was elected to Moreton Bay Regional Council in 2016, replacing long-serving councillor Brian Battersby who retired.

He was a Ferny Grove electorate officer, responsible for office management during the term of the LNP’s Dale Shuttleworth from 2012-15 and worked in freelance consulting and contract tracing until 2012.

Previous roles included emergency medical dispatch for Queensland Ambulance Service and the QEMS Co-ordination Centre.

Cr Constance is also an authorised marriage celebrant.