100 days in… the first update.

We’ve just hit 100 days since being sworn in after the local government election earlier this year (today is actually 113 days). For those of you just joining us, the result at the election was really encouraging, growing our two-candidate preferred result in Division 9 to 71.1% in 2020 from the 2016 result of 64.6%. I’m honoured to be serving you again until 2024 and excited about the support for our ideas to grow and support our local community. In the face of COVID-19 and its impact on our community groups and economy, we’re getting on with the job and already embarking on delivering what we promised during the election and prior.

This report intends to keep you up to date on our work so far and what stage each of our major projects, and smaller projects, are currently at. While I won’t be mentioning every single project we’ve been working on, it’s a look at the top ten or so.

Major Projects –

1.     Firth Park Sports Precinct

– The 54ha property to the east of the netball has been purchased by Council and we’ve settled on the contract. We’ve met with council officers to discuss some of the preliminary site issues and the interface between sporting fields and open space areas. I’ve had preliminary conversations with representatives of AFL Qld, and local cricket and our junior AFL clubs. We’ve discussed with the netball association their preliminary plans for growth and the good work of the local rugby league club as they break into the senior grades and continue their growth of juniors. A Master Plan project has been allocated funding this year. Our objective is by the next budget process, a clear picture of staged delivery might be available to local clubs to leverage to attract grant funding.

2.     Mudgeeraba Show Society “Towards 2040 strategic plan”

– While COVID-19 has prevented the MSS from hosting a Show this year, the team of committed volunteers is already planning for a big event in June 2021. The Digital City fibre project has been scoped out and designed and will deliver nation leading internet and fibre service to the precinct to enable Wi-Fi and CCTV objectives in the strategic plan to be realised. Improvements to the eastern precinct to improve parking and reduce illegal access to adjacent parks have been delivered. The Mayor has conducted a site visit, co-ordinated by my office, and has expressed his strong support for a future multi-year agreement to deliver funding certainty to the Mudgeeraba Show for its objectives.

3.     Lower Beechmont community building project

– Local community groups have conducted their AGMs and elected new leadership. Those new leaders have been invited to participate in planning for the project to deliver a small community building in Lower Beechmont, most likely in Syd Duncan Park. The Bushfires Royal Commission may have commentary about the work conducted in the Gold Coast hinterland and some their recommendations will hopefully add weight to the expectation that a community building in that area might augment disaster preparedness and community safety and service in future. Funding has been provided in 3 consecutive forthcoming years, intended to deliver the project.

4.     Pacific View Estate

- We’ve continued to support delivery, and keep the community informed about, Pacific View Estate in Worongary, valued at an economic impact of over $3B over the coming decade. Applications are now lodged, assessed as generally in accordance with the state’s preliminary approval, and officers will review over the coming months. The display village for the first 6 stages (300+ homes) is likely by later in 2021. No one home site will be more than 400 metres from any public park in the development.

Smaller projects -

5.     A dog park audit for Division 9 has been completed and design has been commenced on some new marketing material to help locals know the local dog parks closest to them. This information will also inform scheduled community consultations later in the year to discuss possible improvements to local dog parks across the division. A small allocation for the popular Paws at the Park event in Mudgeeraba has been resolved by Council. An allocation has been to enlarge the fenced area inside Hinterland Regional Park, and provide some shade.

6.     Gilston’s Peter Mills Park playground stages continue, with shade funded and scheduled for delivery this year, and future improvements being designed.

7.     Park Improvement design projects for Lawrance Hinde Park in Worongary and Campbell Duncan Park in Mudgeeraba have been commenced.

8.     The Active Travel programs at Clover Hill State School, Mudgeeraba State School and Mudgeeraba Creek State School continue, with pathways and other infrastructure delivered and incentive programs for kids ongoing. Pathway projects around Hillcrest Christian College and design plans around Kings Christian College are also funded and commenced.

9.     Funding provided to kickstart our event economy again, with SWELL Sculpture Festival coming to Mudgeeraba in September 2020, and funding provided for Summertime Sessions in the Village later in the year. These smaller outdoor events will be the critical economic and social motivators to get our cultural economy moving again.

10.  Our office relocation plan, moving from Swan Lane to Firth Park, has kicked off as we assess the council-owned building at Firth Park for suitability and maintenance. Design will be next, as we organise to have community meeting facilities and room for our small office team in the upstairs space above the Hinterland District Netball Association and Mudgeeraba Redbacks Rugby League club.

There’s lots going on beyond this and we’re not letting up, but we will keep you informed as the year progresses so you can partner with us and cheer us as we make the Division 9 community the best it can be, and build up the hinterland as we recover from this COVID-19 season.