Advocacy plan calls for candidates' support for community priorities

Scenic Rim Regional Council has stepped up its advocacy for the region in the lead up to the federal election, endorsing its Advocacy Statements document at yesterday’s Ordinary Meeting. 

Focusing on 12 key points, the document has been developed to gauge the support of political parties and candidates in addressing critical issues facing the Scenic Rim, including improved services and increased infrastructure needed to keep pace with the region's population growth and which will depend on funding from other levels of government.  

Scenic Rim's Economic Development Portfolio Councillor Marshall Chalk said transport connectivity, community amenity and ongoing financial sustainability to support services and infrastructure were the focus of Council's advocacy.  
 
"With a population estimated to grow to 67,000 by 2041, the key challenges will be meeting the expectations of current residents as well as future residents, attracting new businesses to provide employment opportunities and assisting existing businesses to expand," he said. 

"In the coming decade, Council will need to allocate funds to renew, replace and maintain more than $1 billion of community infrastructure as well as create new infrastructure to meet the forecast population growth.  

"Rates alone will not be able to fund the needs and expectations of the region's local communities and federal budgets currently do not address the need for infrastructure which is vital for economic prosperity and community wellbeing." 

A passenger rail service from Salisbury to Beaudesert is a major project for which Council will continue to push. 

This follows the 2024 announcement by the Australian and Queensland governments that further planning work would be progressed to protect the future rail corridor between Salisbury and Beaudesert which runs through some of the most rapidly growing areas in South East Queensland. 

To improve access to educational opportunities, the Advocacy Statements propose establishing a Country University Centre in Beaudesert to offer tailored learning and study spaces that provide greater access to higher education.  

This would operate similarly to centres at St George, Roma, Mount Isa and Cooktown but would require improved internet connectivity and reliable telecommunications.  

The need for reliable telecommunications was highlighted following the 2019-2020 bushfires, with the Australian Government identifying 145 mobile blackspots in the Scenic Rim. 

The 12 key issues detailed in the advocacy statements which aim to enhance the region's transport and communications connectivity, improve community amenity and unlock the Scenic Rim's economic potential are the: 

• Salisbury to Beaudesert Passenger Rail 

• extension of the Rail Trail 

• roads 

• Coulson Road Upgrade 

• Kooralbyn to Boonah Connection Road 

• improved social and supporting infrastructure for tourism 

• Bromelton State Development Area 

• creation of a Country University Centre 

• establishment of a Beaudesert Police Citizens Youth Club 

• establishment of a business accelerator/incubator in the Beaudesert Enterprise Precinct in Partnership with community-based organisation,Traction 

• strategic waste management, and the disposal of Australian Rail Track Corporation land to local government, and 

• reliable telecommunications and internet connectivity. 

"We know from our community consultation which helped frame Council's 2024-2025 Budget that the roads and transport connectivity are key issues for many, both business operators and residents, in the Scenic Rim," Cr Chalk said. 

"As we approach the federal election, Council will be seeking the views of candidates and political parties on the issues which concern our region and sharing their feedback to help members of our community make informed decisions in casting their votes."