Council lobbies major parties for Island commitment

The Southern Moreton Bay Island now has a population of over 5,500 and growing rapidly. It has no sewerage, no public transport and most of the roads are without curb and guttering. Redland Council is looking for commitment to fix the issues because the land was subdivided when under the control of the State.
Redland City Council is calling on all major parties in the forthcoming state government election to commit to partnering Council and the community to meet future needs of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands (SMBI).

As part of its recently adopted framework for addressing strategic issues for SMBI, Council is asking for a commitment for the state government to meet its responsibilities to the islands, regardless of which political party wins power

Redlands Mayor, Melva Hobson, said Council was seeking commitment to a long-term special funding program to specifically address the civil and social infrastructure deficiencies on the four islands (Karragarra, Lamb, Macleay and Russell).

“The state government subdivided and sold land on the islands in the 1960s without providing infrastructure. In the early 1970s, it handed responsibility for the islands to the then Redland Shire Council” Cr Hobson said.

Cr Hobson said Council wanted to work in partnership with the state government to address the long-standing issues, which continued to impact SMBI communities.

The masthead promise on the Springborg.com site..but the Redland Mayor asks if this promise is it good for the Bay Islands.
“We need to have a state government that pitches in and works side-by-side with Council and the community in a secure and committed partnership, to help provide long-term and substantial funding for the islands,” Cr Hobson said.

“Council is committed to addressing the challenges, but we can’t do it alone. We want to know that whoever wins government at the 21 March poll is willing to partner with us.”

Cr Hobson said the island communities had been clear in letting Council know about their future needs, but added it was now time to let the state government know that it must also pull its weight