Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson has been re-elected to lead the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) as its President for another four years.
Following the conclusion of the ballot – which took place on on the final day of the LGAQ’s 124th Annual Conference yesterday – Mayor Jamieson thanked the Association’s member councils for their support and for putting their confidence in him to represent their interests as their chief advocate through a second term.
“Over the last four years I have listened to, and worked with, my local government colleagues to find new opportunities, help resolve some pretty significant challenges and secure new funding and programs to strengthen our member councils” Mayor Jamieson said.
“I look forward to continuing this task, in what is arguably the most challenging time for councils and their communities in a century.”
Mayor Jamieson said there was no doubt that COVID-19 had thrown the local government sector a huge curve ball.
“We all know there is a long, hard road ahead, while we seek to bring our communities through the pandemic and the long economic recovery phase we are now confronting,” Mayor Jamieson said.
“What I recognise however, is that our intrinsic advantage is that councils get things done on the ground.
“We do so faster, more efficiently and more effectively than any other tier of government.
“That is our point of difference and it is our competitive advantage.
“This is what I will prosecute hard with State and Federal governments in the months and years ahead, as we seek to get a better deal for all Queensland councils – no matter what the issue may be.
“Now, more than ever before, the other tiers of government need our councils if they are to achieve their economic recovery objectives for our state and our nation.
“I also recognise that some of the challenges councils face existed long before COVID-19.
“Water security – particularly for our western rural and remote councils – must be addressed and it will have my laser-like attention.
“I ensured it was included in our Battleplan for Queensland Communities and it will be a major focus for me in the months and years ahead.
“Likewise, locking the state into a solution to address the looming water and wastewater infrastructure cliff is an absolute must and a core part of what I will seek to achieve on behalf of councils, as part of our broader water security agenda.
“The sustainability of our First Nation councils and their ability to pursue new opportunities for their communities is an area where I am determined to secure better outcomes.
“I also want to build on the extensive work we have done in the last four years on behalf of coastal councils to secure more enduring support for coastal hazards adaptation.
“This will be crucial, as our coastal communities face the daunting challenge of being able to respond to the impacts of a changing climate.
“Importantly, for all councils, finally getting some greater certainty from the Queensland Government – no matter who holds office after October 31 – on annual grant funding, is a nut that must be cracked once and for all.
“I will be pushing hard to make sure the new government locks this, so all our member councils can plan their future with some greater funding surety.
“As President, my highest priority is to listen to, and work with, our members to ensure the LGAQ is fulfilling their needs – and that is exactly what I will continue to do in this new term.”
Cr Mark Jamieson was first elected as President of the LGAQ at the 120th LGAQ Annual Conference in 2016.
Mayor Jamieson – a third term Mayor – has enjoyed an extensive career in chief executive and senior leadership roles in the private sector, with both strategic and operational responsibilities for customer satisfaction, staff development, business performance and shareholder growth, before his election as Mayor of the Sunshine Coast Council in 2012.
The President of the LGAQ is also chair of the LGAQ Board and Policy Executive.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah Vogler, Media Executive
Local Government Association of Queensland