Sunny Coast Mayor

A blog about the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, by Mayor Mark Jamieson. "Our region is striving to become the most sustainable place on the planet, economically, environmentally, and socially."

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First published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on Tuesday 19 August 2014 Most of you I know will have been disappointed last Saturday to see the Pacific Pearl leave our shores before passengers could disembark and enjoy our hospitality. But for the captain of a ship of that size, with not only the safety but also the enjoyment of 1800 passengers to constantly consider, a lot of decisions have to be weighed up. Ships like Pacific Pearl have very sophisticated technology for gauging and predicting weather, and the captain has to consider not only the weather at the time of passengers boarding tender boats to come to shore, but also to make a judgement on the weather at the time the boats would return with the passengers later in the day. In this case, all indicators were that the swell – already tested by one of the tender boats and Whale One in the morning and proving difficult – would by the afternoon be too dangerous for the tender boats to bring passengers back to the ship. It has been made clear to me that P&O is extremely keen to put Mooloolaba on its destination map permanently, and that no-one was more disappointed than they were. I would like to say to P&O management that, having visited and spoken to many businesses immediately following the cancellation, it’s my view the community’s enthusiasm for more visits from Pacific Pearl and other ships has not waned in the least. And nor has mine. Many people came down to Mooloolaba for the day anyway and many traders reported a good day’s trading as a result, so all was not lost. I am very proud of the community’s understanding and resilience in the wake of this event. We all know the weather is the weather – and bad luck is just that. Let’s all look forward to the next visit. * My chosen charity this week is one of the most loved of all here on the Coast. The Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge is an independent, non-profit, charitable organisation and has a strictly regulated non-euthanasia policy. It also runs education programs on responsible animal ownership. All cats and dogs admitted to the refuge are vet-checked, vaccinated, wormed, de-sexed, micro-chipped and medically treated if necessary prior to being available for sale to the public. It has comprehensive terms and conditions of sale to ensure the animals are adopted into an appropriately loving home.

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Sunshine Coast mustn't pay for de-amalgamation

First published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on Tuesday 12 August 2014 I’m sure many of you would have read the stories about the full cost of Noosa’s de-amalgamation over the past few days. The Queensland Government Audit Office report and the subsequent parliamentary committee examination of that report show the real cost to be at least $10.2 million ($8 million more than estimated by Free Noosa) – with the potential for another $6 million on top of that. That initial figure is very close to the $13.6 million put forward by the Queensland Treasury Corporation prior to the de-amalgamation vote – which is same figure I used to explain the issue in the lead up to the poll. The Queensland Treasury Corporation also showed Noosa would receive about $40 million as a cash transfer when the council de-amalgamated. As it turned out, following the methodology set down by the de-amalgamation transfer committee – the final figure came in at just over $40 million. Does this matter anymore I hear you ask? Well it does now because Noosa has asked for an extra $20 million on top of the money which has already been transferred. Sunshine Coast Council has followed to the letter the de-amalgamation implementation regulation, the transfer committee’s agreed position papers and the QTC’s financial methodology. This attempt by Noosa to re-write the rules is simply not on. The Minister for Local Government quite rightly said before the de-amalgamation vote that the ratepayers of the Sunshine Coast wouldn’t have to pay a cent if the split went ahead. If this request for a $20 million donation to Noosa was approved it would cost every ratepayer on the Sunshine Coast $150. As you would know in recent columns I’ve shone the spotlight on worthwhile community groups and charities; this week I’d like to focus on Maroochy Waterwatch in Nambour. Maroochy Waterwatch is an award-winning, community-based organisation engaged in the protection and enhancement of the Maroochy River catchment. It’s involved in many strategic planning activities and has a strong volunteer workforce actively improving Maroochy River and surrounds. Its team of scientists, land managers and environmental educators deliver environmental programs which cover a broad spectrum of initiatives from flora and fauna surveys to Eco Safaris. All our waterwatch groups do a great job; their help is critical to our vision for the region to be vibrant, green and diverse.

[sunnycoastmayor]

Singing from the same hymn sheet

First published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on 5 August 2014 This week I’d like to take you to church - picture if you will a choir singing in perfect harmony – every voice clear, as the group of individuals works as one. Then try and conjure the opposite experience – a dozen voices fighting each other to be heard, causing confusion and disharmony. I guess that’s how the expression “singing from the same hymn sheet’ came about. If you want to get your message across you need to speak with one voice – whether you are a business, a community group or a region. I’ll give you an example. The State Government has recently launched a website asking Queenslanders to nominate projects for funding from its planned assets sales. This provides the Sunshine Coast with a unique opportunity to get much needed investment in infrastructure. We’ll be competing with every region across Queensland to get our fair share of the $8.6 billion, which is why it’s so important for us to speak with one voice. The alternative is hundreds of different proposals with little to no chance of success. Council has identified five priorities which it thinks would bring the most benefit to the region and would love your support to try and get the State Government’s attention. They include: 1. The duplication and upgrade of the North Coast Rail Line between Beerburrum and Nambour. 2. The inclusion of the upgrade of the Bruce Highway to six lanes from Caboolture to the Sunshine Coast in the Bruce Highway Action Plan over the next decade. 3. Road network upgrades to the Sunshine Coast Motorway and Nicklin Way interchange and the Mooloolah River Crossing. 4. Implementation of the Coast Connect priority bus spine from Caloundra to Maroochydore with a future connection to Noosa. 5. A funding contribution towards delivering the entertainment, convention and exhibition centre in the Maroochydore Priority Development Area If you’d like to help the region speak with one voice go to council’s website. The organisation I’d like to shine the Mayoral spotlight on this week to raise awareness about all its good work is the Wildlife Volunteers of Yandina. Better known as WILVOS, this dedicated group of people devote their time and effort to rescue, rehabilitate and release precious Australian native wildlife across an area of approximately 6000 square kilometres, from Gympie to northern Brisbane and west to Kilcoy and Imbil. From all animal lovers, a heartfelt thanks and if you’d like to volunteer or make a donation go to www.wilvos.org.au

[sunnycoastmayor]

Strategy delivering for economy

First published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on Tuesday 29 July 2014 It has been nearly a year since the Regional Economic Development Strategy was launched – and there’s been significant progress on many fronts. Recent reports show the Sunshine Coast has the fastest job growth in Queensland and building activity is the best in three years. Last week, together with two fellow members of the Economic Futures Board, I released a report into the many activities which have taken place since the September 2013 launch. One major project is pressing hard on our agenda is the building of the airport’s new runway. Planned for 2020, the new runway will allow the new generation of wide-bodied jets to land at our airport. That’s why we have selected Royal Bank of Canada to assist us in developing a model to attract private investment into the airport expansion. It could recommend a number of options; lease-holding for a partner, shared ownership of the airport or even privatisation. The coming year will also see the board place a strong emphasis on the Capital Investment actions in the Regional Economic Development Strategy, given their significance in transforming the region’s economy and providing the foundation for establishing more enduring employment opportunities locally. We will also be working closely with the taskforces that are developing industry and investment plans for the seven high-value industries, so that these important plans provide the basis for local business and industry growth and encourage new businesses to invest in the region. ** In the last few weeks I’ve been shining the spotlight on some of the quiet achievers in our community – the people and groups who make a big difference with little fanfare. UnitingCare Community is an organisation that makes a remarkable contribution to the Sunshine Coast day in and day out, helping thousands of people on the Coast live better lives. Among the services it provides are the 24-hr Crisis Support Line, and programs covering domestic violence, community (disaster) recovery, youth and children's services, disability services, prison ministry, family and support programs, and registered training and workshops. UnitingCare Community first opened in 1982 as Lifeline Community Care QLD. It has since helped to make a difference in more than 370,000 people's lives. Today, it exists to strengthen the lives of individuals, families and communities – and I know the Sunshine Coast community is thankful for the helping hand.

[sunnycoastmayor]

Exciting week for the region

First published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on uesday 15 July 2014 It’s been a big week across the region, and you don’t get much bigger than the approval of the development scheme for the Maroochydore City Centre Priority Development Area. Over the next 25 years this project will deliver a mix of residential, commercial, retail, civic and community uses to create a thriving and vibrant business district and city centre. It will complement and enhance Maroochydore’s existing business offering. Development of the Maroochydore City Centre on the current golf course site is undoubtedly one of the most exciting developments for the region. The golf course land was resumed by Council in 2012 facilitating the start of detailed site planning. Council fully appreciates the fact this is the only greenfield CBD development in Australia and investment in the future business centre will set it apart from other locations. The master planning process has also identified entertainment and convention facilities, community facilities and meeting spaces, parklands, walkways, recreation areas and waterways and an enhanced public transport network. This project has the potential to create thousands of jobs to support the construction industry, and ultimately Maroochydore will be home to many new businesses. Those businesses already on the Sunshine Coast will be heartened to hear the latest development figures which have provided the encouraging results in three years. Over the past year we have seen more development applications and approvals – and more projects getting out of the ground. The 1662 lots in 2013/14 was nearly double the number created in 2012/2013 (882) – this is significant for the region and the economy. The development numbers from the June quarter have reinforced the upward trend we have seen for the past 12 months; more lots have been approved, development and plumbing applications are up, there’s an increase in lodgements for multiple dwelling units and retirement village units, and more multiple dwelling units have been approved. This is a vote of confidence in the future of this region – and the timing couldn’t t be better In my last column I spoke about drawing attention to some of the region’s quite achievers; and this week I have turned the spotlight on Riding for the Disabled. Based at North Arm the Sunshine Coast centre is a not-for-profit organisations, run entirely by volunteers which helps hundreds of people through equine-based therapeutic and recreational riding and driving programs. If you’d like to volunteer, make a donation or find out more go to [email protected]

[sunnycoastmayor]

Kiwis CAN fly

First published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on Tuesday 8 July 2014 ki•wi: any of several flightless, ratite birds of the genus Apteryx, of New Zealand, allied to the extinct moas. Dictionary.com may have to change its definition of a Kiwi as a whole flock of them will in fact fly this winter. Thousands of New Zealanders are expected to travel north-west to the Sunshine Coast in the coming months with Air New Zealand resuming its mid-year flights. The new deal will provide 18,000 seats and a boost of $132 million into the Sunshine Coast over the next three years. Since the inaugural Auckland-Sunshine Coast direct flight in 2012, the flights have proven to be popular for Kiwis visiting the Coast and locals flying ‘across the ditch’. Due to success of the route, the length of the seasons and frequency of flights has steadily increased. The expanded 42 flight season has the capacity to see more than 7,000 people travel to the Sunshine Coast. The 2014 season will run until 26 October, with three flights a week during the peak periods (Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays). The remainder of the season will see two flights a week on Sundays and Fridays – which makes a great weekend trip away for both locals and Kiwis. There’s still more Kiwis coming here than Sunshine Coasters going there – but hopefully more of us will take advantage of this service in the future. Finally this week I’d like to shine the spotlight on a high-flyer of a different sort. The Compass Institute is a Sunshine Coast-based charity dedicated to providing real futures for young Queenslanders with a disability. In 2003 the CEO and Founder of the Compass Institute Davis Dangerfield, who is the current Sunshine Coast Citizen of the Year, followed his dream to develop a truly leading edge service for people with an intellectual and/or physical disability. The response has been overwhelming. Between 1991 and 2006 Compass provided Alternative Education programs to more than 7000 at-risk children and youth through local schools. Employing the principles of traditional martial arts philosophy and practice these unique experiential programs pioneered early intervention in Queensland. It was my great pleasure to recently meet Compass Institute team and it reinforced to me how many great people are doing great jobs in our community with little recognition. I’d like to change that by using this column over the next couple of months to draw attention to some of this region’s true quite achievers.

[sunnycoastmayor]

Confidence building budget

First published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on Tuesday 1 July 2014 If you want an insight into the values and aspirations of the Sunshine Coast – the recent Council budget is the perfect place to start. It’s much more than just a collection of numbers – it’s about people - it captures where we want to go, and shows how we’ll get there. It’s a budget which takes us significant strides closer to achieving our vision to become the most sustainable region in Australia. The timing is all important - we have three massive projects underway or in the pipeline which have the potential to transform this region; the health precinct rising in Kawana, the new city centre planned for Maroochydore and the international airport expansion. The momentum has started to pick up – and council must make sure it plays its part to keep the ball rolling. We owe it to our kids, our grandkids to get this right. I don’t want to be someone who looks back in ten years – and say “Gee I wish we had of done more.” We also need to think about where we have come from. Two years ago this council was elected to take the region in a new direction where the ultimate destination was a robust economy, more jobs, a healthy environment and a stronger community. We are well down that road; business confidence and building approvals are up, we had the fastest job growth in Queensland last year, we have purchased more than 400 hectares of land for future generations to enjoy This budget will continue us down that path. How? By investing in the future. Council’s $509 million budget includes $114 million for capital infrastructure; which means better and more roads and bridges, parks and sporting facilities. There’s more than $20 million for economic initiatives to help businesses already here, and attract new ones. Twenty-three million dollars has been allocated for the environment. There’s $36 million to maintain council’s parks and gardens, another $36 million will be used to maintain council’s roads, bridges and transportation network, and $15 million will go towards libraries, galleries, grants and partnerships. We’ve delivered those things while; keeping the early bird and pensioner discounts, restricting the general rate rise to 5 per cent and having no increase to the transport, environment and heritage levies. The region can’t afford council to take a backward step – it needs to lead the way - this budget will continue to build confidence for a stronger community.

[sunnycoastmayor]

Billion reasons to be confident

First published in Sunshine Coast Daily on Tuesday 24 June 2014 Sometimes people say to me: “Give me one good reason why I should be confident about the Sunshine Coast’s future”. Well today I’m going to give you a billion reasons – more in fact. The recently released national economic indicators for local government areas for 2012/2013 reveal that this region had the highest dollar value for building approvals in Queensland – outside of Brisbane. The $1.5 billion worth of approvals was up by nearly 10 per cent on the previous year – and was $200 million ahead of the Gold Coast and nearly double Moreton Bay’s result. The new Sunshine Coast hospitals helped us get there – again showing how important they are to our economy – but thankfully the approvals aren’t restricted to just Kawana - there have been strong results across the region. The more recent figures are even more encouraging and would even bring a smile to even the most determined pessimist. The region is looking particularly strong in the housing sector - as of May 31 the value of Residential Building Approvals on the Sunshine Coast for 2013/14 was approximately $653 million. If the figures remain strong this month – we could see the highest residential building approvals since 2009/10. There are many factors at play here, but I think Council can claim at least some of the credit. Over the past two years it has put a real focus on creating the right conditions for attracting investment and creating jobs. That’s included the launch of the region’s first truly collaborative Economic Development Strategy. Council is now busy implementing that strategy, along with other stakeholders, and the upcoming budget will be about harnessing that momentum. Many assume budgets are all about numbers, but in reality they are about people, and what you can do for the community with limited resources. Although I can’t say too much about the details I think it’s safe to assume Thursday’s budget will continue to take us towards a more sustainable economy, sustainable environment and sustainable community. That means continuing to seriously invest in infrastructure, protecting our environment and helping our community of communities be the best it can be. It’s a real balancing act but I think we have got it right as there’s a real emphasis on building confidence for a stronger community. Another reason to be confident about the Sunshine Coast’s future.

[sunnycoastmayor]

Action, not words

First published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on Tuesday 17 June 2014 Now it’s action, not words. On Wednesday I had the great pleasure of attending the official opening of The Work Shop, a one-stop shop for employment in the construction of the Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital. Some 11,000 people will contribute to the building of what will be one of the largest training hospitals in the Southern Hemisphere – and the recruitment process for these workers is now being turbo-charged, with close to 350 jobs coming up for grabs between now and August. We have talked for some time about the jobs bonanza that will flow from both the construction of the hospital and its opening in late 2016, when 3500 people will be on staff. Now it’s no longer words – its action. Contracts are now coming through seeking carpenters, plasterers, electricians, scaffolders, plumbers, concreters and hoist operators, and the Work Shop is now matching skills with opportunities. Some 1400 people have already registered but you can too. Visit www.myworkshop.net.au Apprenticeships are also available, where you might be able to complete your entire apprenticeship on one site – the hospital. It has been council’s aim to develop a world-class workforce here on the Coast to meet the demands and challenges of the New Economy we are building – and the hospital is the first major project to help achieve that. Down the track, there will be additional demand as Maroochydore city centre begins to emerge – and at some stage, expansion at the airport will be taking place as we ready it for greater international traffic. This is a wonderful beginning to a new chapter of prosperity, the like of which the Sunshine Coast has never experienced. On Thursday I addressed the Youth Sector Change Drivers Group, a collaboration between council, the Department of Education Training and Employment, the university, school principals, partnership brokers, training providers and other agencies. This hard-working group integrate career considerations and learning pathways with students long before they are due to leave school, and they have taken on board the vision of the Regional Economic Development Strategy to help develop the kind of workforce required for the seven high-value industries we are seeking to attract and develop here on the Sunshine Coast. The collaboration ensures everyone is on the same page and students are given the advice to direct their ongoing learning toward a future career here on our Sunshine Coast.

[sunnycoastmayor]

Sticking your neck out

First published on 10 June 2014 There’s a few theories about how the origin of the expression “to stick your neck out”. One version dates to Shakespeare’s Henry V, where Fluellen says “let his neck answer for it” when he believes a soldier has been treasonous Another take has it linked to a turtle because when it sticks its neck out it become vulnerable to predators – but its head must leave the safety of its shell to eat. Whatever the source I think it’s important for all of us that we do put our necks on the line from time to time if we are ever going to succeed. Sure it may be more cosy to stay in your comfort zone – but how much will you achieve if you never have the confidence to lay it on the line? In some ways I think Sunshine Coast Council has stuck its neck out with the release of its Corporate Plan 2014-19. It’s not that it has one – every local government is supposed to – but the fact it is so prescriptive about what it will do over the next five years. It identifies five corporate goals: a new economy, a strong community, an enviable lifestyle service excellence, and to be a public sector leader. Council will hold itself to account on delivering these key priorities and invites you to do the same. Each goal will be assessed against specific and simple measures and reported in the annual report - they will be there for all to see – as they should be. People talk about openness and transparency a lot in regard to politics – well you don’t get any more open and transparent than this document – and I’d encourage you to go to council’s website to take a look for yourself. From first page to last it outlines what council will do, and how it will do it, and all within a tight timeframe. For example, under “new economy” council commits to progressing the expansion of the airport by; finalising EIS, determining financial strategy and conducting an expression of interest process. Clear, concise, and measurable – and there are dozens more just like them – now in political terms that really is “sticking your neck out”. Oh and I forgot to mention one other theory on that expression – some date it to the French Revolution – now that’s more than enough motivation to deliver on the plan.

[sunnycoastmayor]

It's all about teamwork

First published in the Sunshine Coast daily on 3 June 2014 In this column nine months ago, shortly after the launch of the 20 year Regional Economic Development Strategy I spoke about the importance of teamwork. That blueprint for the financial future of the Sunshine Coast was a truly collaborative effort, drawing on the energy and expertise of business and industry leaders, along with Council and the University of the Sunshine Coast. The goals for 2033 are ambitious but achievable, almost tripling our economy to $33 billion, increasing household incomes above the state average, nearly doubling the export of goods and services to 20%, increasing high-value jobs to 100,000. We have already had a good start with the fastest job growth in the state and dramatically increased development applications and approvals. But early success does not guarantee long term victory which is why the appointment of six key Australian business leaders to our new Economic Futures Board is so important. We had a good team – now it’s even better. The board will provide expert advice to guide the implementation of the economic development strategy. It will guide the transition to, and help build the identity of, the new economy of the Sunshine Coast. The members contribute the right balance of skills, expertise and networks to help the region’s economy grow and prosper. The board has strong expertise in foreign and domestic commercial markets, finance and investment strategy, as well as in industry innovation, overseas market development, education and commercial communication – and all members have a connection with the Sunshine Coast. They also all have the ability to open doors to new markets, new opportunities and new contacts. The Board includes; Robert Jones, Queensland Chairman, KPMG ; Jude Munro, Co-owner and Director, Jude Munro and Associates and former Chief Executive Officer of Brisbane City Council; Katie Bickford, Strategic Business Development Advisor, John Holland Group; Andrew Pitcher, Senior Vice President of Financial Services and Head of Strategic Industries, SAP in Asia; David Foster, Director, Seaside Consulting and former Chief Executive Officer, Suncorp Bank; Adrian Johnston, Vice President, Microsoft Business Solutions Dynamics, Asia. I congratulate my fellow members on their appointment and thank them for their commitment to the future of our region - I know the Sunshine Coast will be well supported by a board of this calibre. I’ve already chaired the first meeting and I’m excited about what this team will be able to achieve.

[sunnycoastmayor]

A plan fit for Picasso

First published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on Tuesday 27 May 2014 Can I make it clear from the start that I don’t consider myself a great artist; in fact if I was to paint your portrait you may well be left feeling somewhat offended. So I quote Pablo Picasso this week not because I consider myself to have any obvious connection to him, but due to the fact I think he had a good point when he said: “Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.” Picasso may not have been thinking of our region when he offered this advice, but we have followed it anyway. Last year Council along with business and industry groups, the university and community delivered the region’s first truly collaborative economic development strategy. Since then our jobs figures have improved dramatically and confidence continues to grow – this was our “vehicle of a plan” and it seems to have us on the right track. I think a similar conclusion will be able to be drawn next year about the new Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme which was launched last week. It strikes the right balance between a sustainable economy, environment and community and is a key tool to help council provide the right conditions for business to prosper on the Coast. It delivers one plan for the region—giving the property industry, investors and residents one clear set of rules for development. Importantly, the scheme has also been aligned to the goals of the regional economic development strategy I mentioned earlier – this has been done to encourage the right businesses to operate in the right locations. One of the ways we’ve achieved this is by altering assessment levels for a range of uses to make it simpler and cheaper to set up a new business. Many new uses will have a lower level of assessment compared to the existing planning schemes. There’s also more flexibility. For example, if a shop closes down, an office or food and drink outlet could be set up in its place, without lodging a new development application to council. This gives business more freedom to meet different market and community needs. Our new planning scheme may not be a piece of art, but I think this new direction will safely guide us to Picasso’s “route to success”. If you are interested in more information about the new planning scheme go to http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/sitePage.cfm?code=sc-planning-scheme

[sunnycoastmayor]

Good first half

Originally published on 13 May 2014 in the Sunshine Coast Daily The half time spray has become famous in sport, particularly in rugby league. The one Wayne Bennett gave to his St George-Illawarra players in the 2010 grand final is the stuff of legend. The Dragons left their choker tag behind to build on a 2 point half-time lead to beat the Sydney Roosters 32-8. I mention this because the Sunshine Coast Council has reached the half way mark of its term – and if I was going to give a spray, now would be a good time. But I won’t – because to be honest I think our first half has been pretty good – our game plan is working and we are headed in the right direction. Why do I think that? Let me explain. This Council was elected to create business confidence to encourage more investment which creates jobs – but not at the expense of our environment or community values. To do this Council worked with business and industry to create a new Regional Economic Development Strategy. This strategy was designed to plot new economic pathways to encourage new industries to deliver high-value jobs, while continuing to support our traditional industry sectors. It’s now starting to pay dividends. In 2013, the Sunshine Coast has created the largest number of jobs of any region in the state. We have also received more development applications in the last three months than we did for the whole previous year. The soon to be launched new planning scheme also brings more certainty to business and provides a clear path for council’s direction. The environment has also received a big boost through Environment Levy purchases of land for future generations to enjoy. Nearly 400 hectares worth $5.79 million has been bought in Mt Ninderry, Verrierdale, Cambroon and Ilkley. We’re are also building a major solar farm at Valdora, which will reduce the amount of non-renewable fuels council uses for electricity – and ultimately halve council’s energy bill. Council has also spent $326 million with local businesses, representing close to 70% of all its active purchasing power. So no half time spray from me – although I want to see us lift the intensity in the next 24 months so we continue to deliver wins for the region. If we do that I might be able to quote another of my favourite coaches Jack Gibson to describe this term of Council: “Played strong, done good.”

[sunnycoastmayor]

More applications - quicker approvals

Originally published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on Tuesday 6 May 2014 There’s been a lot of talk lately about the increase in development applications and approvals – and rightly so, these are good signs for confidence, our economy and jobs. What hasn’t received as much attention in this space, but I think is just as important, is the dramatic improvement in turnaround times for development approvals. I don’t like to use too many stats but I think these numbers tell a really interesting story. In the last quarter 96% of Material Change of Use, Reconfiguring a Lot and Operational works applications were decided within the regulatory timeframe of 40 days. An overwhelming majority of those (83%) were decided within 20 days. This follows the introduction of the Fast Track processing system six months ago to provide streamlined timelines for low risk applications – the turnaround is now just 10 days. All this has been done while maintaining the high standards and close scrutiny that everyone rightly expects. It must be acknowledged that not everyone is happy with every decision – but that is inevitable in any situation where you have opposing views. The most important thing is for a process which is clear, consistent and engenders confidence. I think that is happening – and now faster than ever before. This provides me with a great deal of personal satisfaction as improving the approval process was one of%2

[sunnycoastmayor]

“You'll never find a rainbow if you're looking down.”

First published in the Sunshine Coast daily 29 April 2014 “You'll never find a rainbow if you're looking down.” These words by Charlie Chaplin to describe a pessimist provide another reminder of how important it is to look for the good, rather than the bad. And there were plenty of positive signs for our economy this week if one made the effort to stop staring at the ground. For example, did you know the Sunshine Coast Council approved 528 development lots (mainly housing) in the first quarter of 2014. That just three shy of all the housing lots approved last year. The new lots include the release of new stages at “Pelican Waters“, “The Ridges” at Peregian Springs and “Creekwood Stage 9A” at Meridan Plains. This is a great vote of confidence in the region; more investment, more jobs and another step towards council’s vision for a sustainable economy. The rainbow gets even brighter when you look at the rest of the figures for the quarter. There was also a nine per cent increase in the number of development applications lodged with council compared to the same quarter in 2013 – 2262 in three months. The quarter also saw 1147 building applications approved with an estimated value of construction of $230 million. That’s a 10% growth in application numbers, and a 30% growth in construction value, when compared to the same quarter in 2013.

[sunnycoastmayor]

“The most important thing you can wear is your expression.”

First published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on 15 April 2014 When someone is described as “John Cleese on speed” it conjures images of appalling, yet hilarious behaviour by Basil in Fawlty Towers. So it may appear a bit odd I point to the subject of that description, a baker from Beechworth in Victoria, as someone who can teach us a lot about customer service. Tom O’Toole turned a failing little bakery in a dying country town with just 3,000 people into a company with a $12 million turnover and a million customers. His original bakery has become one of the highest earning single bakery retailers in Australian history – and he now has five more in Echuca, Albury, Healesville, Bendigo and Ballarat. What makes his story so compelling is that he started as a young man broke and illiterate, but managed to turn his life around to the point where he is now a successful businessman and one of the most sought after motivational speakers in the country. I was lucky enough to see him (and I say see rather than hear because it was an incredibly physical performance) at the recent breakfast put on by Hot Business Events. He didn’t just explain how he managed to make it to the top – but was generous in his advice about how we too can walk that that path. As you may know I’m an enthusiastic collector of quotes, and here are a few I think anyone involved in customer service could take for themselves: “The most important thing you can wear is your expression.” “When you work together you win together.” “If you train staff they may go, if you don't they will stay.” “Culture is caught NOT taught. It must come from the top.” And my favourite: “Attitudes are contagious, are yours worth catching?” Could you imagine what effect it would have on the region’s businesses if we all adopted these simple sayings? It starts with you, and if attitudes are contagious as Tom says then your staff members are sure to catch them as well and that can only result in better service for your customers. So this Easter holidays when we have many visitors to this region – visitors we desperately want to leave happy, and return again and again, why don’t we all see if we can tap into the recipe of success first cooked up by a humble baker in Beechworth.

[sunnycoastmayor]

Incredible, extraordinary and awesome

First published in the Sunshine Coast Daily on 25 March 2014 I think we’d all agree there are few words at the moment which are being so overused they have lost all sense of their original meaning. Words like incredible, extraordinary and awesome. The one that most annoys me, and is also often used in the wrong context is the word: unique. Too often it’s ascribed to something unusual, rather than being the solitary example of something. So when I say the Sunshine Coast has some unique opportunities at the moment – I am not using the word in a general sense, I am being specific. In particular, the Sunshine Coast is in the unique position of having the only greenfield CBD development in Australia. This in turn provides the region with a rare opportunity – and council is keen to ensure we make the most of it. So I was pleased to see such a positive response to our community consultation on the proposed development scheme for the Maroochydore City Centre Priority Development Area. Hundreds of people visited the display office at Horton Park Golf Club, and just as many attended information sessions. I’m told the feedback from submissions is heavily in favour of the project and the creation of a dynamic city heart – and council will now consider those responses. I’d like to thank those who have done the ‘big picture’ planning and design of the precinct, including the highly regarded consultant Urban Design. The team included some of the country’s best architects, urban designers, landscape architects and engineers – and had a strong connection to the Sunshine Coast. It must be remembered there are many layers of detailed design to follow – and that’s when we’ll start to see the new city really start to take shape. I’m excited by the potential of this project, especially when you consider there will be 40 per cent set aside for public space, and look forward to seeing what ideas are put forward in the coming months and years. The Maroochydore City Centre is not the only project which offers once-in-a-generation opportunity for this region. The Sunshine Coast University Public Hospital is the first hospital to be built from scratch in more than 20 years in Australia, and our push for a new runway at the Sunshine Coast Airport could see it become Australia’s next international airport. Put those three projects together and you truly have something which is incredible, extraordinary and awesome.