Planners line up to attend first day of state conference in Gladstone
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More than 150 planning professionals will attend today’s (Sep 19) Planning Institute of Australia Queensland State Conference at the Gladstone Entertainment Convention Centre.
The two-and-a-half-day conference is the first to be hosted in the Gladstone Region by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing planning and the planning profession.
The conference’s theme, Fuelling the Powerhouse, recognises the host city’s dynamic industrial sector and the significance it holds for the local, state and national economies.
Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said drawing the conference to Gladstone represented a vote in confidence by PIA in Council’s Planning team and processes, with several Council staff members among those presenting and convening the event.
“Planning plays a huge role in forming our future and the importance of getting that right is evident in the Gladstone Region where we must balance industrial growth and economic development with maintenance of a healthy natural environment, while retaining the enviable lifestyle our residents enjoy,” Councillor Burnett said.
“It is great that some of Council’s knowledgeable Planning team members will be presenting at the conference which will explore topics including state and local infrastructure, community engagement, smart cities and useful technology, housing and climate change.
“While in Gladstone, delegates at the conference will also participate in a Gladstone by Lights Tour, including visits to One Tree Hill, developments such as the Memorial Park pump track and Lions Park, and also a harbour cruise to showcase harbour development and the role of a major port.”
Cr Burnett said hosting the conference would also provide a welcome boost to the local economy with delegates spending money on accommodation, food and drinks, entertainment and other items during their stay in Gladstone.
“We are fortunate to have one of the best entertainment and convention centres in Queensland, enabling us to host conferences such as this one which deliver major economic boosts for our region,” Cr Burnett said.