First SMBI Communities Advisory Committee meeting: 13 July

9th July 2009

The newly created Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI) Communities Advisory Committee will hold its first official meeting on 13 July, 6pm, at the Council Chambers in Cleveland.

The new statutory advisory committee is part of Redland City Council’s framework for addressing strategic issues for the four islands – Karragarra, Lamb, Macleay and Russell.

It features 10 SMBI residents with a broad range of skills and experience, as well as Mayor Melva Hobson, with Division 5 Councillor Barbara Townsend as chair.

The committee will provide an important interface between Council and the SMBI communities, with a scope of interest including land use planning, social and civil infrastructure, environmental management, transport, economic development and community development.

The inaugural agenda includes reports on past documents, including the SMBI Plus 2000 Vision and State Moreton Bay Marine Infrastructure Plan, as well as a population and dwelling update, demographics update.

Councillor Barbara Townsend encouraged SMBI residents and other interested locals to attend the committee meetings, which would be held at least once every three months (holding every second meeting in Council chambers, with the other meetings rotating between the four islands).

“This committee will play a critical role in a new era of cooperation between Council and the SMBI communities,” Cr Townsend said.

“All our meetings will be open to the community, with agenda and minutes available online, and anyone interested in the discussion and decisions of the committee are free to come along and observe.”

The initial term of the advisory committee will be two years.