What community leaders want discussed when the Premier is in Hervey Bay
As the Premier and Cabinet head to Hervey Bay this week, local leaders have spoken about the big issues they want front and centre.
Fraser Coast
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Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the Queensland parliament Cabinet will hit Hervey Bay this week to discuss local issues and projects vital for the continued benefit of the community.
Local community leaders in the Fraser Coast City want the cabinet to discuss the ongoing housing crisis, job opportunities, infrastructure, business concerns and community concerns.
For Fraser Coast Property Industry Association President Glenn Winney, the ongoing housing crisis is a priority discussion topic.
“We have a crisis, we’ve got low vacancy rates and the poorer end of the market is hurting the most,” Mr Winney said.
“The region has changed dramatically because of Covid-19 and it’s probably going to get busier once the lockdowns end in Sydney and Melbourne.”
He said building industry issues of lack of materials; price increases impacted the housing crisis due to slowing availability of housing and high housing demand.
“It’s good for the State Government to see first-hand that places like Hervey Bay are booming … we don’t want to be forgotten as a region,” Mr Winney said.
For Hervey Bay Chamber of Commerce president Sandra Holebrook, the cabinet coming to Hervey Bay is an opportunity for the business community to connect with the State Government.
“Business will still be looking for support through the Covid pandemic, understanding what the next 18 months will look like,” Ms Holebrook said.
“I think a lot of the discussion will be about how businesses will travel through the next 12 to18 months with Covid … our travel industry will be very keen to tell the cabinet how hard they’ve been hit.”
Ms Holebrook also raised the issue of employment, saying there had been many employee resignations and that the region was not able to house workers from outside the Fraser Coast.
“We have a business community ready to grow but it needs support step by step,” she said.
It’s not just housing and business community leaders want discussed, but community issues as well.
Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre CEO Tanya Stevenson said he major issues and concerns we are aware of and involved in are unemployment – particularly youth unemployment.
“The availability of jobs is part of the issue, but it’s also important that we invest in our young people and helping them overcome the barriers in their way. This includes job skilling and training,” Ms Stevenson said.
“This meeting will be an opportunity for our state representatives to see what is happening on the ground and understand what support they can offer that will really make a difference.”
Community leaders hope these issues will be discussed, recognised and that the cabinet will deliver strong, meaningful solutions.
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