Message from the Mayor

Congratulations Redlands Coast! The way you have continued to rally to keep our community safe since COVID-19 emerged six months ago is quite exceptional.

How we have cared for each other through practising social distancing and complying with health directives, as well as accepting and supporting measures to restrict the spread of coronavirus, really is a hallmark of the Redlands Coast way of life.

As recently seen, the pandemic is far from over and the effects will last for some time yet.

People have lost their jobs and businesses have suffered as a direct result of the coronavirus and your Council is now working to repair that and restart our local economy to provide new opportunities.

We are urging everyone in our community to “buy local” and wherever possible support local businesses to protect and create local jobs.

As one of Redland Coast’s largest employers, we are taking up the challenge by ensuring that we spend locally to create local jobs.

That’s why Restarting Redlands Coast is at the heart of Council’s record $327 million budget for 2020-21 which provides a $3 million safety net for those most impacted by the pandemic. While Council’s finances have taken a multi-million-dollar hit, this year’s budget includes an expanded $80 million capital investment in the city aimed at generating and preserving local jobs and adding to and sustaining vital community infrastructure and services. A significant part of this record spend is thanks to the strong financial reserves that we built for a situation such as this.

Council’s $3 million COVID support packages have already benefited close to 100 businesses directly with grants topping $370,000 and many more indirectly via business advice and assistance in accessing state and federal support packages from Council’s dedicated business support officers, who have also been helping social enterprises, community groups and sporting clubs.

We are also working compassionately with residents, businesses and clubs seeking financial relief.

The full impacts of the COVID pandemic won’t be known until after support such as the Federal Government’s Job Keeper program have ended, which is why as part of this year’s budget, Council adopted a deliberate strategy of putting $1 million aside to provide relief when that need is better understood. This may be through rates relief, further business support or grants to the community; we will keep an eye on the impacts and have that money on hand to respond when and where it is needed most.

Along with our local chamber of commerce and business groups, we continue to work with the state and federal governments to bring forward shovel-ready projects for Redlands Coast. That effort is already proving fruitful and we want as much of this work as possible to go to local firms and local workers.

The likelihood is that domestic travel, particularly to Queensland, will be in vogue for some time yet and we are well placed to tap into that market with Council launching a major campaign, Reconnect on Redlands Coast, to attract visitors to our naturally wonderful city, especially from the greater Brisbane area.

Councillors are united in their deep commitment to steering us through these times and I have no doubt that, by working together, buying local together and continuing to care for each other the way we have, we will emerge stronger and even more resilient.

Regards,

Mayor Karen Williams

E: mayor@redland.qld.gov.au