SCENIC Rim Regional Council has stepped up its advocacy for the region in the lead up to the federal election, with the Advocacy Statements document including a country university.
Focusing on 12 key points, the document has been developed to gauge the support of political parties and candidates in addressing critical issues facing the Scenic Rim.
Scenic Rim’s Economic Development Portfolio Councillor Marshall Chalk said transport connectivity, community amenity and ongoing financial sustainability to support services and infrastructure were the focus of Council’s advocacy.
“With a population estimated to grow to 67,000 by 2041, the key challenges will be meeting the expectations of current residents as well as future residents, attracting new businesses to provide employment opportunities and assisting existing businesses to expand,” he said.
“In the coming decade, Council will need to allocate funds to renew, replace and maintain more than $1 billion of community infrastructure as well as create new infrastructure to meet the forecast population growth.
“Rates alone will not be able to fund the needs and expectations of the region’s local communities and federal budgets currently do not address the need for infrastructure which is vital for economic prosperity and community wellbeing.”
To improve access to educational opportunities, the Advocacy Statements propose establishing a Country University Centre in Beaudesert to offer tailored learning and study spaces that provide greater access to higher education.
This would operate similarly to centres at St George, Roma, Mount Isa and Cooktown but would require improved internet connectivity and reliable telecommunications.
The need for reliable telecommunications was highlighted following the 2019-2020 bushfires, with the Australian Government identifying 145 mobile blackspots in the Scenic Rim.
A passenger rail service from Salisbury to Beaudesert is a major project for which Council will continue to push.
This follows the 2024 announcement by the Australian and Queensland governments that further planning work would be progressed to protect the future rail corridor between Salisbury and Beaudesert which runs through some of the most rapidly growing areas in South East Queensland.
The 12 key issues detailed in the advocacy statements are:
Salisbury to Beaudesert Passenger Rail, extension of the Rail Trail, roads, Coulson Road Upgrade, Kooralbyn to Boonah Connection Road, improved social and supporting infrastructure for tourism, Bromelton State Development Area creation of a Country University Centre, establishment of a Beaudesert Police Citizens Youth Club, establishment of a business accelerator/incubator in the Beaudesert Enterprise Precinct in Partnership with community-based organisation, Traction, strategic waste management, and the disposal of Australian Rail Track Corporation land to local government, reliable telecommunications and internet connectivity.
