Council to speak up at 125th LGAQ annual conference

Redland City Council will advocate for key issues on behalf of the community at the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) annual conference, to be held in Mackay from 25-27 October 2021.

The 125th annual conference will bring together delegates from all tiers of government, external stakeholders and the media to consider the challenges facing local government and their communities.

Mayor Karen Williams said the motions to be tabled by Redland City Council at the conference were:

She said domestic and family violence was exhibited in many forms and took an enormous toll on individuals and communities, with greater funding needed to help combat the issue.

“It is vitally important that we see sufficient funding directed to programs that can assist with the prevention of this crime, and also to education in managing adverse behaviours in perpetrators, both men and women,” Cr Williams said.

“We will also be advocating for the recognition and support of prevention support groups to the same level as victims of domestic violence groups, as well as recognition of associations and programs for perpetrators.

“It is so important that sufficient funding be allocated in these areas along with the assurance that funding to victims will not be reduced.”

Cr Williams said Council would also be advocating for more commuter car parking at Queensland railway stations.

“With south-east Queensland being one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, enormous pressures are being placed on our road network,” she said.

“All areas of the south-east need to be encouraging the use of public transport, but insufficient parking for rail commuters is little incentive for people to use this form of transport.

“Another issue we are seeing is that overflow parking is placing unnecessary burden on what were formerly quiet, neighbourhood streets.

“More funding directed to Queensland railway stations for vehicle parking, even if this means purchasing more land for parking, would encourage a greater number of people to travel by rail and would also help reduce the impacts on nearby residents.”

Mayor Karen Williams and Division 6 Councillor and Deputy Mayor Julie Talty will be Council’s official delegates at the LGAQ Conference, with other Councillors able to attend as observers.