Bay Island residents say state vote depends on candidates’ commitments

Most Southern Moreton Bay Islanders (SMBI) say their votes in the coming state election will depend on the commitments of candidates and political parties to helping resolve the chronic infrastructure backlog on Russell, Macleay, Lamb and Karragarra Islands.

Redland City Council recently commissioned a survey of islanders’ views about the state government’s role and performance in meeting their needs - and how these might influence their votes in the state election.

The survey is part of Council’s long term lobbying campaign on island issues which began before the last state election in 2009. The survey results highlight the importance of commitments by parties and candidates to partnering with Council to deliver the massive infrastructure needs of the Bay Islands.

Redland Mayor, Melva Hobson said the survey results are tangible evidence that the community is clearly looking to the state government to step up and do its part.

“We look forward to hearing how the major parties and candidates respond to these revealing responses,” Mayor Hobson continued.

Council will be asking political parties and candidates to declare their positions and make commitments to address the future needs of a community that has demanded state government support for so long.

These survey results will be provided to all major political parties and local candidates shortly and formal responses sought.

Key survey results:
• 96.7% of respondents said it was either “very important” (92.7%) or “important” (4%) that Council and the state government plan for and address the needs of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands.

• 45% of respondents said they were either “not satisfied (25.7%) or “not satisfied at all (20%). Another 25% said they were undecided about the Government’s performance.

• Top priorities for future state government funding for the islands were:
- delivering affordable transport to the mainland (88.7%)
- dealing with the backlog of roads and other missing infrastructure (71.7%).

• 87% of respondents said their vote in the upcoming state government election would be influenced either “strongly” (54%) or “will be a factor” (33%) by candidates’ commitments to plan for and address future needs of the SMBI communities.

• 58% were “not confident” (30%) or “not confident at all” (28%) about the likely level of state government commitment over the next decade.

Mayor Melva Hobson said the survey reinforced Council’s pledge to continued advocacy for a willing state government partner to help solve the long standing inequities faced by island communities.

“In the last three years Council has demonstrated its commitment to the SMBI community by:
• Completing SMBI 2030 Community Plan
• Completing SMBI Integrated Local Transport Plan
• Reforming island rating and showing island revenue and expenditure transparency
• Budgeting $3.2 million for the sealing island roads and $4 on capital projects in the 2011-12, as part of Council’s ongoing investments in island infrastructure.

“We certainly welcome the current state government responses to funding requests – particularly for marine infrastructure, island recreation facilities and the recent $750,000 for the Russell Island Sport and Recreation Park.

“But it’s a drop in the ocean when you consider it would take hundreds of millions of dollars to bring island infrastructure up to community standards because of the neglect of past state governments.

“If the island populations grow as predicted, Council has no hope of funding their infrastructure needs because we have no other revenue options to cope with the enormous financial burden,” Mayor Hobson said.

Divisional Councillor Barbara Townsend said Council knows that every year an extra $9 to $10 million is needed to meet the shortfall in SMBI operational and capital projects.

“This state election is vital for the SMBI community and the broader Redland Community.

“It is an opportunity for SMBI and Redland voters to seek genuine commitments from candidates and future governments, and to look past the political rhetoric for signs of a real interest in funding and improvements for the island communities.”

Market Facts (Qld) Pty Ltd carried out the telephone survey in December 2011. In total, 300 people were surveyed with 42% living on Macleay, 41% living on Russell, 7% on Karragarra and 10% on Lamb Island.