Who’s Who in 22, Government Gurus: Peter Flannery

For Moreton Bay Regional Council Mayor Peter Flannery, 2022 has been a year in which he and his team responded to a flood disaster, launched programs to support the region’s businesses, adopted a record Budget and led the push for the region to become a city.

Torrential rain, which led to flooding across the Moreton Bay Region in late February/early March, prompted an emergency response from council and the activation of the Moreton Army.

The group of volunteers helped affected residents and business owners clean up their properties.

In a bid to help businesses struggling after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and a string of other challenges, the mayor and council launched the Caboolture Made campaign in March and the Moreton Money gift card program in September.

He delivered a record $816 million Budget for 2022-23, in June, which included an average rate rise of 5.6 per cent as council grappled with rising supply and construction costs.

A key component of the Budget was a record $259 million capital works program, with no projects cut despite rising costs challenges. There was a focus on road upgrades and sporting facilities, with $30 million to be invested in this Budget to build a bridge over Youngs Crossing.

Construction is due to start in the 2022-23 financial year in partnership with the Federal Government.

Also in 2022, Mayor Flannery spearheaded a push for the Moreton Bay Region to become a city holding public consultation and information sessions before making a formal submission to the State Government.

The Electoral Commission Queensland has started its own public consultation and aims to provide a report to the Minister for Local Government in March or April next year.

In November, council’s city proposal won the 2022 Local Government National Award for Regional Growth.

Mayor Flannery was part of a Council of Mayors’ (SEQ) delegation to Canberra in September lobbying the new Labor Federal Government for infrastructure funding and partnerships with local councils to deliver much-needed projects.

Their message was that investment in projects was particularly vital in the lead-up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Mayor Flannery went into bat for Griffin residents facing housing resumptions as the State Government’s Transport and Main Roads (TMR) department revealed plans to upgrade the Bruce Highway in October.

He is vehemently opposed to the proposed changes and has told TMR to go back to the drawing board.

In November, Mayor Flannery led a delegation of Moreton Bay Region business leaders to New Zealand. The trade mission investigated new investment leads for the region.

It included meetings with more than 70 business leaders, an investment lunch organised by Trade and Investment Queensland with key business leaders and financiers in New Zealand, and a presentation at the Auckland High Performance Building Centre to a range of leading New Zealand architects and designers to showcase Moreton Bay products and opportunities.

About Peter Flannery

Peter Flannery was elected Mayor of Moreton Bay Regional Council in 2020 as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic started to escalate in Queensland.

He was first elected to the then Caboolture Shire Council in 2004, after serving in the Army, working as a taxi driver, a high-rise window cleaner and council officer.

He had a break from serving as a councillor from 2008 but was elected to represent Division 2 of Moreton Bay Regional Council in 2012, holding the position until he successfully ran for mayor.