SPECIAL FORUM TO LOOK AT ISLAND LIVING

SPECIAL FORUM TO LOOK AT ISLAND LIVING. The South East Queensland Island Forum is to be held on Russell and North Stradbroke Islands at the end of February. Inspired by the inaugural Australian Small Island Forum held on Lord Howe Island in 2012, Redland City Council and Southern Cross University are sponsoring a similar event. It is to highlight the coastal islands of Southern Queensland and will look at aspects such as tourism, transport and local economies. Redland City Council's principal advisor on strong communities, Frank Pearce, is helping to co-ordinate the event to be hosted by Mayor Karen Williams and Division 5 Councillor, Mark Edwards. The objective of the forum is to provide a opportunity for Islanders and people who are enthusiastic about Islands to come together; learn from each other; discuss common issues; discover ways of working together; and return home enthused and empowered to make a difference. It will be held on North Stradbroke Island and Russell Island from Monday 24th to Wednesday 26th February, 2014. The venue on Russell Island will be the Russell Island Recreation Centre. Exact times will be announced in the February edition of The Friendly Bay Islander. Topics will include: • Sustainable Islands Tourism • Transport - Crossing that crucial gap • Cultural Tourism • The economics of autonomous islands - can you make it alone? • Islands and Indigenous Business Opportunities Keynote speakers will be: Jayne Bates the Mayor of Kangaroo Island; David Thomson, General Manager Transit Systems; Dr Michael Kortt, Economist specialising in local government economics; Karen Williams, Mayor of Redland City Council; Zane Trow - Manager of arts centres, festivals and arts programs For more information about the form, email. seqif@redland.qld.gov.au or telephone (07) 3829 8775