First order of business for first meeting of new Council
The Post Election meeting of the new Scenic Rim Regional Council.
The appointment of Councillors to key roles was the first order of business at the first meeting of Scenic Rim's 2024-2028 Council term.
The meeting saw Councillor Duncan McInnes OAM appointed Deputy Mayor for the next four years, Councillor Stephen Moriarty appointed Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group with Councillor McInnes as Deputy Chair, and Councillors Amanda Hay and Jennifer Sanders as Audit and Risk Committee representatives with Councillor Marshall Chalk as proxy.
Opening with a prayer by Reverend Dr Je Cheol Cook, the meeting also confirmed the recent local government election results from the Electoral Commission of Queensland and the adoption of dates for Council’s Ordinary Meetings for 2024.
In his brief opening address, Mayor Tom Sharp congratulated newly elected Councillors Stephen Moriarty (Division 3), who was elected unopposed, Kerri Cryer (Division 2) and Jennifer Sanders (Division 4), who served during the 2012 to 2016 Council term, as well as returning Councillors Amanda Hay (Division 1), Marshall Chalk (Division 5) and Duncan McInnes (Division 6).
"Thank you to the people of this region for your overwhelming endorsement of entrusting the governance of this region to us for the next four years," he said.
"With the election now behind us, the task ahead is to unite as a governing body to consider in unison the challenges of the next four years."
All Councillors were invited to make an opening address.
The following quotes can be attributed to the Councillors:
Cr Amanda Hay
"Being a Councillor means providing a service to not only Division 1 but to the broader Council area, as part of a unified team and as the conduit between Council, residents and ratepayers.
"It means careful and responsible management of the strategic direction of our Council, from which operational issues and core services are determined and prioritised for the benefit and betterment of our region.
"I will work towards achieving a balanced approach where infrastructure keeps abreast of development in both growing and established communities, rather than lagging behind."
Cr Kerri Cryer
"It is with great honour I accept the role of Councillor, to now be able to work for and represent my community and the Scenic Rim region.
"The support experienced from local community has been immense and I hope they too are as excited as I am taking on this role from this point in time.
"I congratulate the Mayor and all other elected Councillors and very keenly look forward to working with everyone, as well as with the Council executives and staff, as we navigate the best outcomes for our region."
Cr Stephen Moriarty
"My focus is to be part of a strong and united Council that puts the needs of residents and ratepayers at the forefront of every decision.
"It is my sincere wish to be part of a Council team that comprises not only the Mayor and Councillors elected by the residents and ratepayers of the Scenic Rim, but also includes Council officers and staff, the numerous volunteers that give tirelessly of their time and effort to upgrade Council assets such as sport and recreation facilities, the various Chambers of Commerce and various community groups who all make a valuable contribution to the fabric of our communities.
"I believe that a strong and united Council that engages with the community and responsive to community concerns, will be able to achieve much for our region."
Cr Jennifer Sanders
"As elected community representatives, we all want the best for our region and towns.
"We have a huge area, coupled with a growing population and a massive requirement for infrastructure that goes with the growth.
"Council must be frugal and strategic in order to find the best ways to help build community resilience and sustainability."
Cr Marshall Chalk
"As this term of Council has now started, I look forward to seeing through the initiatives we started last term.
"So much work went into what we wanted to do and I'm really looking forward to a second term to see through all those really important things that we either started or are progressing.
"I'm also looking forward to using my experience as a second term Councillor to guide the new Council and try to find new and exciting ways of enhancing the lives of our community."
Cr Duncan McInnes
"There are a number of projects that have been carried forward, our revitalisation plans and our sport and recreation plans that we've started, and there's a lot more work and a lot more money needed to follow those through.
"We do require the state and federal government with grants to stump up and help us there and I look forward to working with our state and federal members as we move forward.
"Our population's changing, and so have the expectations, and we have to be an adaptable Council in a strong financial state and make sure this continues."
The first meeting of the new Council term also saw the adoption of Wednesday Ordinary Meeting dates for coming months as follows:
- 17 April
- 22 May
- 26 June
- 24 July
- 28 August
- 25 September
- 30 October
- 27 November, and
- 18 December.
A recording of today’s Council meeting is available on Council's website www.scenicrim.qld.gov.au/2024-meetings/2024-meetings-1