South East Queensland’s local government leaders will gather in Brisbane today to discuss some of the region’s burning challenges and opportunities ahead of the October State Elections.
Around 100 Councillors and CEOs from south east councils will join the Council of Mayors (SEQ) forum held at The Star Brisbane Queen’s Wharf Precinct to collaborate with colleagues across local government boundaries.
Councils are feeling significant growth pressures as they prepare to support 900,000 new homes, 1 million new jobs for 6 million people living in South East Queensland by 2046.
The forum will provide an opportunity to hear from the State Miles Government and State Opposition on their priorities for the south east ahead of the 2024 State Elections including opportunities to strengthen partnerships with councils to respond to transport, infrastructure and housing pressures.
Editor of The Courier-Mail, Chris Jones and David Lutteral, co-hosts of the Towards the Games podcast, will provide their take on Paris 2024, and share their observations and lessons-learnt for local leaders ahead of Brisbane 2032.
CEOs from The Star Brisbane and Trade and Investment QLD will discuss the global spotlight on the region, and how councils leverage trade, tourism and local business benefits across SEQ.
There will also be a focus on the digital economy with heavy hitters like Microsoft ANZ helping to shine a spotlight on opportunities for South East Queensland to work together to drive new innovation, business growth and cost savings for communities and ratepayers.
Quotes attributable to Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair and Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Cr Adrian Schrinner:
“We know our communities are better places to live when south east Queensland councils come together and work together.
“We’ve seen it first hand through region-shaping ideas like a Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the $1.8 billion SEQ City Deal.
“South East Queensland is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions and we need genuine partnerships with all levels of government to help keep our region moving.
“Our region is one of the best places in the world to live and by bringing local governments together we can help make it even better.”
Quotes attributable to Council of Mayors (SEQ) Deputy Chair and City of Moreton Bay Mayor, Cr Peter Flannery:
“When SEQ Councils work together as one region, we have the strength to partner with and influence the decisions of our State and Federal colleagues.
“And there are many projects and initiatives supported through Council of Mayors that are positively transforming the way our cities and regions operate.
“Collaboration that is supporting how we manage waste and invest in the health of our rivers and bay, how we build global partnerships that deliver new investment and jobs, and how we respond to housing and transport pressures.
“Collaborating with our neighbours ensures that we can address problems like the protection of our waterways and wetlands, which flow across boundaries.”
Council of Mayors (SEQ) includes Brisbane City Council, Ipswich City Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Logan City Council, City of Moreton Bay, Noosa Council, Redland City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Council and Toowoomba Regional Council.
Speakers at the forum include:
- CoMSEQ Chair, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner
- CoMSEQ CEO, Scott Smith
- Minister Grace Grace MP, Minister for State Development and Infrastrcutre, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing
- Mr David Crisafulli, The Leader of the Opposition
- Chris Jones, Editor, The Courier Mail
- David Lutteral, Breakfast Radio Host, Nova Entertainment
- Justin McGowan, Chief Executive Officer, Trade and Investment Queensland
- Daniel Finch, Chief Executive Officer, The Star Brisbane
- Dan Parsons, Infrastructure and Regulatory Affairs Manager, Wisk Aero
- Neil Glentworth, Managing Partner, DunneMedforth
- Cameron Evans, Chief Executive Officer, Indara
- Sarah Pearson, Non-Executive Director Board Member RACQ, Royal Flying Doctor Service and Foreign Investment Review Board
- Sarah Carney, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft ANZ