A LOCAL councillor is highlighting the urgent need to improve social and hard infrastructure, pointing out that it’s struggling to keep up with the community’s rapid growth.
Division 2 Councillor Peter Mitchell identified health, transport and housing as the biggest challenges facing the Redlands community.
Cr Mitchell said the island communities were particularly at risk, calling for major reforms in government practices and taxation to address what he described as an unfair and unsustainable situation.
“Underpinning this is Australia’s national culture of not planning and paying forward and extreme systematic cost shifting by state and federal governments onto councils and communities,” he said.
“Our major parties and governments are like Scrooge McDuck, controlling 97% of the wealth, but ratepayers shoulder a massive 75% of infrastructure costs via rates.”
Cr Mitchell highlighted three upcoming projects: supporting Raby Bay Residents Association’s volunteer efforts in local parklands by January, partnering with Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce to unite Cleveland business stakeholders and council, and collaborating with Stradbroke Chamber of Commerce to strengthen its engagement with council and government.
He reiterated his eagerness to advance major projects like Weinnam Creek, Capalaba Centre development, and Birkdale Parkland, including a public lagoon and multi-purpose whitewater infrastructure.
“I am passionate about the Redlands Coast Sporting precinct at Mt Cotton that delivers gold-class playing fields, but crucially also starts to unlock superior sporting, event and economic opportunity at Pinklands and Cleveland Showgrounds,” Cr Mitchell said.
“Increasing ease and availability of better-targeted grants and sponsorships to community groups and projects is in play as we speak.”
Cr Mitchell emphasised his commitment to enhancing icommunity safety, focusing on two key areas.
“First is leading policy change, collaboration or infrastructure delivery in championing pedestrian safety for all ages and abilities – eg pathways, access ramps and lighting,” he said.
“Second is my ongoing work with the community, police and all levels of government on crime prevention cooperative partnerships.”
Cr Mitchell noted that a third focus would be on the economic development of North Stradbroke Island and Cleveland.
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