The Sunshine Coast’s mayor has revealed how the pandemic united and empowered our community.
In a State of our Region speech, Mayor Mark Jamieson said that residents had risen as one to tackle the unprecedented challenge.
He said what was “most inspiring” was how people in the region had become more caring, resilient and connected.
The crisis also had put the Coast on the national sporting map as a season home base for NRL premiership winners, the Melbourne Storm.
“The Sunshine Coast community has proven to be our most important asset in the region’s response to the impacts of COVID-19,” Mayor Mark Jamieson (pictured) said.
“Our region had responded to a set of conditions never before seen in our lifetime and I know that 2020 will be a year well remembered for its unprecedented challenges – but hopefully also for some of the connectivity milestones that our Sunshine Coast achieved,” he said.
“What is most inspiring, however, is the way in which our community came together, acted in the best interests of each other and united to face those challenges.
“If this year has taught us anything, it’s that connectivity is vital to strengthening and supporting our community.
This year’s State of our Region was for the first time, hosted as a digital event and showcased the region’s achievements and milestones during 2020.
Mayor Jamieson joined council’s new CEO Emma Thomas, Huddle Insurance chief operating officer Andrew Carey, IFYS executive manager for community services Vicky Meyer and young biodiversity leader Ella Woodborne to discuss the events of 2020.
He said council had set a clear path to assist local businesses get back on their feet as the COVID-19 restrictions eased and achieved some significant milestones in its efforts to preserve the natural environment and the liveability of the region.
“Our region’s new international standard runway opened in June, Queensland’s first direct international data and telecommunications connection to global markets was commissioned in March and just last month (19 November) we announced an agreement for our new Maroochydore City Centre which will deliver $2.5 billion worth of private sector investment and over 15,000 jobs to the region over the life of that project.
“These three projects alone represent a substantial investment in the future prosperity, connectivity and economic resilience of our Sunshine Coast – both for the residents of today and for future generations.
“More than anything else, however, we have focused on keeping people safe, seeing our residents back into jobs, supporting our local businesses and community organisations to do what they do best and getting our Sunshine Coast back on track to being a healthy, smart, creative region.
“Sunshine Cost residents across the board have played a crucial role in community safety and in supporting the build-back of our local businesses and I want to offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in managing the impacts of COVID-19,” he said.
“I particularly also want to acknowledge the efforts of our frontline health, police and emergency services personnel who have been unfaltering in their efforts to safeguard our community.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, the COVID-19 impacts on our residents and on our region’s economy have been profound and that is why council moved early in March to respond to the public health directions and at the same time, introduce a wide variety of assistance and stimulus measures to local businesses, industry and community organisations.”
Mayor Jamieson also said hosting the Melbourne Storm had been a huge coup.
“Due to our council’s long standing relationship with the Storm, the club chose to base itself on our Sunshine Coast in order to participate in the 2020 COVID-19 NRL season,” he said.
“This decision alone has paid great dividends, providing the opportunity for our NRL loving community to see six fixture matches here at home on our Sunshine Coast.
“It also led to consistent promotion of the Sunshine Coast across Queensland and beyond and put our region in the minds of those people looking to travel when they are able to do so.
“Importantly, it significantly advanced our case to secure funding for the $68 million, Stage 1 expansion of the Sunshine Coast Stadium – with the Queensland Government committing the $20 million our council sought in the lead up to the recent State election.
“From hosting NRL competition matches to our Sunshine Coast Lightning team making the semi-finals for the fourth year – there have been some great sporting highs for 2020.”
Mayor Jamieson said council’s commitment to the natural environment continued to remain as strong as ever during 2020.
“The Sunshine Coast’s native vegetation increased to 124,872 hectares, representing 55 per cent of our local government area, which is a great achievement for a rapidly growing community like the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“Council now supports 9,118 hectares of habitat for conservation under council’s Land for Wildlife Program and through the expansion of our council conservation estate to more than 7000 hectares.”
To see a video of the Mayor’s speech go to http://youtu.be/5XBYQvrLLC8
