2016 Election Commitments – Delivered!
In 2016, I committed to a comprehensive plan for the Sunshine Coast which seeks to –
- increase our employment opportunities
- invigorate and strengthen the social fabric of our communities and
- preserve and enhance our natural assets so they can be enjoyed by current and future generations
As we approach the end of that term, the results speak for themselves.
Continuing to build a new economy
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| Commitment | Status |
| 1. Progress the Sunshine Coast Airport expansion so it is completed by 2020 | Delivered - the first phase of the new runway will open on 21 May 2020, with the remainder of the runway completed by the end of the year. |
| 2. Obtain firm commitments from the private sector to deliver an international submarine cable to connect the Sunshine Coast directly with international markets | Delivered - the Sunshine Coast international broadband submarine cable came ashore in December 2019, with the international network to be in service in the first half of 2020. |
| 3. Secure a preferred developer for a premium hotel and convention, exhibition and entertainment centre in Maroochydore | In progress - the business case for the convention and exhibition facility has been completed and submitted to the Queensland and Federal governments for funding. Market interest in delivering a premium hotel in the Maroochydore city centre will be sought in the next term. |
| 4. Investigate the feasibility of establishing a major food distribution centre on the Sunshine Coast, which would provide local producers with a direct point of distribution to national and international markets | Delivered - the feasibility study formed the basis of a submission for funding to the Department of State Development in 2018. Options for the establishment of a food distribution centre continue to be explored. |
| 5. Complete the feasibility for, and gain commitments from government and the private sector to build a national standard stadium on the Sunshine Coast | In progress – the feasibility study was completed in early 2018 and a stage one development proposal is being submitted to the State and federal governments to seek co-investment. |
| 6. Continue to build the profile and reputation of the Sunshine Coast in key national and international markets as a leading location to live, work, visit and invest | Delivered - profile and recognition internationally of the Sunshine Coast has expanded considerably, with the region’s exports growing to nearly 18% of all goods and services produced and the region being the only location in the Southern Hemisphere recognised in the 2019 Top 7 Global Intelligent Communities |
| 7. Utilising Council’s existing landholdings, facilitate the development of a major arts and culture precinct with associated residential development in the heart of the Caloundra CBD. | Delivered - Caloundra City Centre Master Plan adopted by Council. Planning scheme amendments have been made. Detailed proposals now being developed for a new gallery and for a priority development site. Council and Federal Government have collectively invested $6.85 million in the redevelopment of The Events Centre at Caloundra |
Supporting a Strong Community
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| Commitment | Status |
| 1. Provide $30 million over four years to improve Council’s sport, recreation, performance and community facilities | Delivered - $63 million has been committed by Council across the four budgets adopted since 2016 to improve Council-owned sport, recreation, performance and other community facilities |
| 2. Work with the community and develop programs to encourage more residents to become volunteers | Delivered - 20.7% of the adult (aged 15 or over) population volunteered for an organisation or group, compared with a whole of State average of 18.7% |
| 3. Work with secondary schools, the University of the Sunshine Coast and TAFE to encourage more young people to pursue training or courses of study that will equip them for the jobs and careers that will be available on the Sunshine Coast | Delivered and ongoing - promotional activities focused on industry and employment opportunities, including employment expos, have been delivered since 2016 |
| 4. Support local communities to develop, share and promote their local heritage, values and characteristics. | Delivered and ongoing - in 2018-19 alone, Council allocated $1.8 million to assist a wide range of initiatives to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Sunshine Coast. |
| 5. Continue to lobby other levels of government for a fairer deal for the Sunshine Coast through commitments to improved road, rail and public transport infrastructure | Delivered and ongoing - Through my advocacy efforts – - Council has supported the development of the business case for a fast rail solution to Brisbane
- Commitments to the North Coast Rail Line duplication have been secured from Federal and State governments
- $7.8 million has been committed by the State government to develop the business case for the Mooloolah River Interchange
- $7.5 million has been committed as matching funding for the business case for a mass transit solution for the Sunshine Coast.
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| 6. Encourage community organisations to work with Council on new and innovative approaches to celebrate cultural diversity and the welcoming of new citizens into our community | Delivered - Council now hosts at least six citizenship ceremonies each year. New programs have been put in place to welcome new citizens to the Sunshine Coast including the Multicultural Hub and the Migrant Work Ready Program. |
Preserving our environment, lifestyle and natural assets
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| Commitment | Status |
| 1. Pursue the State Government to implement appropriate measures that provide enduring protection of the regional inter-urban break | Delivered and ongoing - for the first time, the Regional inter-urban break was mapped in the 2017 South East Queensland Regional Plan. Council continues to work with the State Government in assessing the significance of and measures to preserve this important regional asset. |
| 2. Convince the State Government to remove Halls Creek as an identified growth area from the SEQ Regional Plan | Delivered and ongoing - Halls Creek is no longer an identified growth area in the SEQ Regional Plan, with its status downgraded to “potential future growth area” with no commitment or implication that all or any part of the site will be made available for urban development. |
| 3. Increase by a further 10% the total conservation lands acquired by Council using the Environment Levy. This will mean that by 2020, the two Councils which I will have led will have acquired nearly one-third of the total conservation lands purchased by Council since the early 1990s. | Delivered - Since 2016, Council has increased by 20.75%, the total conservation land acquired using the Environment Levy. The two Councils I have led have acquired 31.53% of the total conservation lands purchased by Council since the early 1990’s. Council’s conservation estate now totals more than 6,900 hectares. |
| 4. Encourage an increase in the number of participants in the Land for Wildlife Program to over 1000 property owners. | Delivered - as at 30 June 2019, 1121 landowners are currently registered within the Land for Wildlife Program |
| 5. Examine the feasibility of seeking a UNESCO Biosphere declaration for the area encompassing the Pumicestone Passage, the inter-urban break, the Glass House Mountains and Blackall Range | Delivered - feasibility examined and Council resolved on 24 October 2019 to progress a nomination to UNESCO for the Sunshine Coast local government area to be declared a biosphere reserve. |
| 6. Encourage SCDL to develop and implement a dedicated marketing and promotion campaign for Hinterland experiences in key international tourism markets. | Delivered - Visit Sunshine Coast undertakes extensive national and international marketing campaigns. Council facilitated a dedicated program on Korea’s most popular travel program on visitor experiences on the Sunshine Coast, with a specific focus on the Hinterland. With the support of Council, the Hinterland achieves particular recognition through the new Curated Plate Culinary Festival. |
