Mayor Mark Jamieson on biggest challenges for Sunshine Coast Council

Outgoing Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson has revealed where he would like to have made more progress while on council, highlighting it as one of the biggest challenges the council faces.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson has highlighted the biggest challenges for the new council. Picture: Sam Turner

Outgoing Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson has revealed he would like to have made more progress on transportation needs while on council, highlighting it as one of the biggest challenges the incoming council faces.

After 12 years at the helm of Sunshine Coast Council, Mr Jamieson announced his retirement from council politics in November last year.

“I think that’s enough for anyone in public office, if you can’t get what you want to get done in that time then you’re wasting time,” he said.

While he overcame many challenges during his career, his largest was arriving in the role in the aftermath of the global financial crisis and restoring investor confidence in the region.

“There was no confidence, nobody was doing anything, nobody was investing, so, to come in with that backdrop, you know, I certainly had an imprimatur from the community to get on with it,” he said.

Mayor Mark Jamieson was elected to Sunshine Coast Council in 2012.

The council, under his tenure, delivered major projects including a new runway at the Sunshine Coast Airport, the Maroochydore city centre, the international broadband submarine cable, Blue Heart and the solar farm at Valdora.

However, he highlighted mass transport as an area where he would have liked to have seen more progress during his time on council.

“We still have got considerable transportation needs,” he said.

“It’s with great regret that I see the Mooloolah River interchange effectively scrapped, I mean that’s a very poor decision.

“Our public transport is still way below a standard our region should expect.

“Connectivity between Brisbane and Maroochydore by rail, there’s still a question mark over that in terms of a lack of commentary from the state government.”

Mayor Mark Jamieson announced on November 10 of last year that he would not be running in the 2024 council election.

He said that delivering a transport network befitting of the region will be one of the biggest challenges for the new council.

“Transport will be a challenge for the next council to take on,” Mr Jamieson said.

“There is still a lot of work to be done, but hopefully most of that is done by the time we are a key delivery partner for the Olympics.”

He also highlighted preparing for growth as another major challenge for the new council.

Mayor Mark Jamieson said it is crucial for the new council to focus on growth and improved transport. Photo: Elizabeth Neil

“As we look ahead, we’re going to continue to deal with that growth,” he said.

“We’re going to need a new water supply, or add to an existing water supply.

“We still don’t have a signature entertainment centre, there are still plenty of things that we need here.

“We’ve got to continue to provide jobs and opportunities for young people.”

Mr Jamieson said the new council, which will feature a new mayor and at least three new councillors, will be expected to deliver from the outset.

“The challenge for the new council is they will need to make a very firm commitment to one another that they’re going to continue to deliver,” he said.

“You don’t have to necessarily like one other, but you’ve got to be prepared to work as a team.

“You’ve just got to grasp the opportunity and get on with it.”