Mayor: “stronger focus to overcome shortfalls of the past”
One southeast Queensland council has thrown down the gauntlet to candidates running in the 2019 Federal election. HERE’S WHAT THEY WANT TO KNOW
Redlands Coast
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Redland City Council has thrown down the gauntlet to all candidates running for the coastal seat of Bowman in the lead up to the 2019 Election.
Council is seeking responses from all candidates regarding key infrastructure and service projects ranging from support to secure a university facility in the region to e-health services on the Redlands Coast islands, which they will then share on their website.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said council would be sending its advocacy document, which contains the core list of priority projects, to all candidates in this year’s Federal election and their respective political parties.
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In the advocacy document council outlines that it is seeking “a commitment to the following projects from all candidates”.
The list of projects includes the acquisition of Commonwealth land at Birkdale, improved mobile and internet connectivity across the city, major transport infrastructure, improved funding for the Redland Hospital, establishment of telehealth or e-health services on Redlands Coast islands, assistance in growing the local economy, attracting a university of other tertiary education facility and increasing Federal Assistance Grants (FAGs) to councils.
“After speaking to the people, Council has prepared a list of projects Redlands Coast residents see as their priorities for future investment by government,” Cr Williams said.
“While we acknowledge the support of the Federal Government and thank current and former Federal members and candidates for their support, there needs to be a much stronger focus if we are to overcome the funding deficiencies and shortfalls of the past,” she said.
“Council has been lobbying government for years and it is now time to ‘come on Canberra’ and invest in these priority projects.”
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In response to the challenge, Federal MP for Bowman Andrew Laming said projects like the Birkdale land acquisition remained in negotiations and “requires agreement on price”.
He outlined that with NBN rolling out “in every mainland suburb, except Sheldon now” connectivity would be addressed and reiterated that two new towers for the islands (North Stradbroke and Russell) had been funded.
In Council’s advocacy document, Council points out that funding for the towers was secured in 2017 but a site for both had not yet been decided.
Mr Laming said he supported funding for Redland Hospital – “that’s my campaign also ... (against State cuts)”.
In a letter received by Mr Laming yesterday Queensland Health Minister Steven Miles invited Mr Laming to meet with Deputy Director-General Health Purchasing and Systems Performance Nick Steele to discuss the “interplay between State and Federal government (health) contributions”.
Mr Laming has previously accused the State Government of cutting funding to the Redland Hospital and Metro South Health Budgets, while Minister Miles also accused Mr Laming and Prime Minister Scott Morrison of pulling funding from the Redland Hospital.
Last week Cr Williams called on both levels of government to work together to solve the Redlands Hospital funding crisis.
Mr Laming said the provision of e-health services on the Redlands Coast islands was a “matter for the two medical practices.”
Regarding assistance in growing the local economy, Mr Laming said he was “happy to look at proposals”.
“Attracting a university or other tertiary education facility – I’m working in this area but attracting a University can be a range of activities, not just undergraduate tuition,” he said.
Cr Williams said a commitment by candidates to increase FAGs alone would deliver an additional $4 million to council.
“If we are lucky enough to secure extra Federal Assistance Funding on behalf of the community we will use it to provide the services and projects our community needs,” she said.
“This could be anything from upgrading our great parks and open spaces, through to investing in our roads and footpaths.”
“We won’t know the final use until we go through our budget process which looks at what is a priority for the city.”
Cr Williams moved a Mayoral Minute at the January 16, 2019, General Council Meeting, to advocate for an increase to secure extra FAGs.
“The Mayoral minute resolves to advocate to the Federal Government to restore Financial Assistance Grants to at least one per cent of Commonwealth Taxation review,” she said.
“This is in line with Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) federal election advocacy plan and the Local Government Association Queensland’s (LGAQ) federal election campaign.”
The Mayoral inMute advises “local government manages 33 per cent of public assets but collects only 3 per cent of total government taxes to manage these assets”.
In contrast, the Minute says “the Federal Government collects 80 per cent of taxes and manages 11 per cent of public assets”.
Cr Williams said the Federal Government had provided FAGs to local government for a number of years and “while the provision of FAGs has been consistent the proportion of the grant allocation relative to Commonwealth taxation revenue has reduced considerably over the years”.
“Council estimates that increasing FAGs to one per cent of Commonwealth taxation revenue would deliver an increase in the order of $4 million to Redland City Council and approximately $400 million for Queensland councils”
“We need the support of Federal politicians and would-be politicians if this is to ever change,” Cr Williams said.
“A logical step would be to have all election candidates commit to joining Council in the ongoing fight for funding for essential transport and other projects for Redlands Coast.”
“I call on all candidates to give that commitment today.”
Top Five Priority Projects
Birkdale Commonwealth Land
Council is committed to ensuring this strategically important land is used to benefit the community and is not used for housing. Given this commitment, Council has been trying to acquire this land from the Federal Government, off market since 2015. In 2018 the land was identified for divestment in the Federal Budget and earmarked for housing. Council is now asking all candidates to commit to Council acquiring the land and working with Council to ensure the land is used to benefit community
Internet/mobile connectivity
The Redlands Coast has significant mobile connectivity issues. These issues create significant challenges in terms of economic opportunity for local business. They also create significant community safety concerns, particularly for our island communities where isolation can be dangerous. The Federal Government announced in 2017 new mobile phone towers for North Stradbroke Island and Russell Island, however to date a location for these towers has not been announced.
Transport Infrastructure
Redlands Coast has a deficit in transport infrastructure ….. As a city of islands, marine infrastructure plays an important part in our transport needs, prompting Council to seek commitments from Federal Government regarding this infrastructure in particular. We are looking for a commitment to the duplication of the Cleveland rail line.
Redlands Hospital
The Redlands Hospital has a significant deficit of beds and specialist services, resulting in patients having to travel outside the city for medical treatment. Redland City Council is seeking a commitment from all candidates to be a part of this process (improved health services and health precinct) as well as providing funding for specialist medical services including oncology and birthing services.
Tele-health services for islands
RCC is looking for a commitment from candidates to establishing telehealth or e-health services for the islands as a way to connect residents directly with health professionals without having to leave the island.
Source: Council’s advocacy document.
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