The COVID-19 virus continues to wreak havoc across the globe and our elections were not immune.

By the close of polling, north of half of all eligible voters in Queensland will have cast their ballot paper.

The focus now must equally turn to the economy and providing stimulus to both protect and create jobs and to help mitigate the impacts of this evolving pandemic.

Ensuring that the community see our levels of government are working constructively together has never been more important.

Nominations have closed and the candidate lists are in with more than 1570 Queenslanders putting their hand up for this month’s local government elections.

The devastating bushfires over summer destroyed thousands of hectares of koala habitat in the southern states, increasing the importance of ensuring Queensland is doing everything it can to protect koalas here.

The LGAQ and the State Government this week joined in condemning the Commonwealth’s refusal to extend its $1 million in bushfire grants to all fire-affected Queensland councils.

The 2032 South East Queensland Olympics certainly has a ring to it. Especially when you know its benefits will also be felt far outside the southeast corner of the state.

After another week in the trenches, my mind turned to what it must look like to those on the sidelines, or even just a few metres away from the grind of the ruck.

The LGAQ has doubled down on our support of the so-called ‘Trad Amendments’ currently before Parliament

Happy 2020 to all our friends and followers in Local Government and welcome to the Weekly Wrap for the first time this decade.

This week, we had wall to wall coverage on the drought and the importance of guaranteeing rural towns a reliable quality water supply.

As you know, here at the LGAQ we have a drought strategy, a water security strategy and today I’d like to talk about our plan for the reef – our 7th wonder of the world and a true Queensland icon.

I wanted to share with you some positive news stories in the hope it’ll put a smile on your face.

A big call out and thumbs up to the magnificent mayors, councillors, local council disaster coordinators, police, volunteer firefighters, and Queensland Fire and Emegency Service (QFES) staff who have been fighting 70- plus fires across Queensland.

This week’s drought funding announcement from the Federal Government came as heartening news to communities across Queensland.

There was some great news this week friends; according to the venerable Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Queensland councils cracked $1 billion on capital and recurrent spending on sport and recreation for the first time for the financial year ended 30 June 2018

It has been one of those weeks when all the planets aligned. As many of you would be aware the major media companies on Monday launched their Your Right to Know campaign in all forms of the media.

Here’s the story of the 123rd LGAQ annual conference in Cairns by the numbers: 700 delegates, observers and exhibitors, 85 motions carried (16 unanimously), three motions withdrawn, one minister with some good news, 97 indigenous councillors in attendance and about $3 million pumped into the local economy.

There are 101 good reasons to be at the LGAQ Annual Conference in Cairns next week.