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Election 2016: Redland City Mayoral Candidates to jointly address audience

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Redland City mayoral candiates

There are two candidates for the position of Redland City Mayor when the election is rolls in on March 19th:  the incumbent, Mayor Karen Williams, and Greg Underwood, who was General Manager for Planning at the Redland City Council from 2005 to 2011.

Ms Williams is serving in her first term as mayor and will be standing for re-election for the first time.

Both Cr Williams and Mr Underwood will each address the audience for 20-minutes, after which a Q&A session will follow.  It will be a great opportunity to ask both questions that matter to you in time for the election on Saturday, 19th March.

The event is hosted by the Redland Chamber of Commerce and will be held from 6:45AM on 16th March at the Gallipoli Room, Redlands RSL, 8 Passage Street, Cleveland.  Tickets are $35 members; or $45 non members. Register at https://goo.gl/APOnfK if you wish to attend this event.

Strategy predicts a decade of budget surpluses for Redland City

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Click report cover above to download report.
Click report cover above to download report.

Redland City Council today adopted a new Financial Strategy 2016-2026 that predicts a decade of strong financial performance and budget operating surpluses.

Mayor Karen Williams said the strategy also predicted ongoing annual CPI-linked rates increases that would continue to ease cost of living pressures on residents.

“This is the financial strategy our residents have told us they want – it is practical, fair and, most importantly, responsible,” she said.

“It continues to take us on the journey we began with election of the new council in 2012 when we stopped spending more than we could afford and started trimming our costs, identifying efficiencies and restricted rates imposts on residents.

“This has resulted in Council being in its strongest financial position for years. We have good cash balances and low household debt – a position that makes us the envy of other councils.

“We have delivered two straight budget surpluses after 15 years of deficits and are well on the way to a third this financial year.

“The good news now is that under our new Strategy residents can look forward to a decade of balanced budgets and now customary low rate rises.

“This has not always been the case. We have taken the tough decisions at the same time as ensuring our responsiveness to our residents has improved, as has our service delivery.

The long-term strategy predicts:

  • Increases in general rate revenue to generally be in line with the Redland City Council blended CPI
  • Stable cash balances throughout to ensure financial sustainability
  • An operating surplus for the life of the strategy
  • Low amount of borrowing and the costs of servicing these debts within relevant measures of financial sustainability.

“Our long term financial projections include total operating revenue rising from $254.7 million in 2016-17 to $345.4 million in 2025-26,” Cr Williams said.

“Total income for the same period is predicted to increase from $267.4 million in 2016-17 to $355 million in 2025-26.

“Most pleasing is that for every year our expenses are predicted to be significantly less than income.

“The Financial Strategy provides a clear indication of a solid financial position and performance for Council over the life of the Strategy and ensures plans are in place to achieve financial sustainability measures.”

Coochiemudlo Island and Victoria Point jetty projects

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Jetty

Redland City Council (RCC) is partnering with the Queensland Government to jointly fund the replacement of the Coochiemudlo Island Jetty and the demolition of the old jetty for an estimated cost of $4.6 million.

Dredging work is also expected to begin at Victoria Point in October 2014 in preparation for the Queensland Government’s planned investment of $2.6 million in the construction of a new pontoon and jetty improvements at Victoria Point Jetty. The
scope of works for the project has been extended to include the replacement of the decking material along the Victoria Point  jetty stem.

The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads is responsible for the investigations, design and work permits as well as construction of the new jetty facilities. When complete, the new facilities will become a Council-owned
community resource.

Collectively the proposed new facilities and associated dredging work will form one of the biggest infrastructure projects underway in the Redlands.

Onsite work on the Coochiemudlo Island jetty is scheduled to commence in late September 2014, starting with the jetty abutment and walkway. Piling for the jetty and pontoon is planned to commence in early November 2014.

Onsite work on the Victoria Point jetty is scheduled to commence mid-December 2014, starting with pontoon piling.

Both projects are targeted for completion by March 2015.

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