Sunshine Coast Hinterland Times

Bob Abbot

Mayor of the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Bob Abbot, looks back on 2009, reviews Council’s agenda for 2010, and gives the Maleny community a pat on the back.

2009 HAS BEEN A BUSY YEAR FOR US ALL. The global financial crisis has given us a fair amount of heartache … significant reduction in interest on our investments; significant reduction in development application fees, and development contributions, and a significant reduction in some of our businesses, which is a real issue in the short term.

So the next budget will be tight again. We had to find $13 million savings in last year’s budget and we will probably have to do the same this year. But I think there’s an understanding out there that a frugal approach to budgeting is the best we can do to ensure that we get as much work out in the community as possible. And this council needs to get a better grip on its expenditure. We must try and reduce the amount of debt carried, and increase the amount of cash that we’ve got to deal with the ongoing needs of the community of the Sunshine Coast.

Looking back over the year the real achievement we have is a water company that covers the needs, outlooks and supply requirements of both Moreton and the Sunshine Coast. That’s been a great win for us, and by the end of June 2010 that company will be up and running and Council will no longer be responsible for the distribution of water supply and sewerage, in this region.

We have launched our economic development strategy about creating a vibrant, green and diverse economy. The kneejerk reaction or suggestion of a de-salination plant in Marcoola by 2017 I think was an inappropriate ministerial statement from a person in power. I think this community is astute in terms of its water use. In fact we have decreased our average from about 330 litres per head of population to about 245 litres, without any restrictions being put in place. This community understands that in not having a Traveston Dam we need a restrictive regime in place on water use, and we need to get right behind the campaign for demand management, water harvesting and re-use wherever possible, which is part of our policy.

I think Maleny’s effort in reducing its water usage late last year was actually a classic of what people on the Sunshine Coast are capable of achieving. Within 24 hours of asking the people of Maleny to reduce their water usage, they had gone down below our recommended level. So, an absolute pat on the back for the people of Maleny for that, and a fabulous indication again that the people of Maleny can lead the Coast community into a bright new future. It’s the sort of community cooperative thing that Maleny has being doing for years.

I am asking for a mid-term review in 2010 so we can gather our thoughts, see the things we’ve done, see the things we haven’t done, and plan an attack for the following two years.

I think we’ve got strong support in the community for the sustainability vision. We’re getting good feedback on the waste management strategy, the transport strategy, and all the other things we’ve got going. The feedback in the street, tends to be positive, and the Sunshine Coast Council is certainly on its way to delivering some fairly significant foundations for the future.