COUNCIL DELEGATION MAKES ‘SPECIAL VISIT’ TO OUR SMB ISLANDS
Last month a special delegation from Redland City Council made a ‘special visit’ to our islands.
The tour and visit was organised and hosted by new Division 5 Councillor Shane Rendalls.
The purpose of the day was to bring some councillors and the council CEO and executive team up to date with the islands and to meet with islanders who had been invited to ‘catch up’ with the group.
The delegation included Redland City Council CEO Andrew Chesterman; Deputy Mayor, Julie Talty; and Councillors Tracy Huges; Jason Colley; Rowanne McKenzie and members of Council’s executive leadership team.
They had spent the day visiting Macleay and Russell Islands before meeting with locals at the Russell Island Resilience Centre for an informal meeting with the invited islanders.
The tour and visit was completely organised by SMB Islands Councillor Shane Rendalls.
The working lunch with SMBI businesses and community leaders was quite successful, where discussion focused on recent growth and future opportunities for SMBI.
Shane Rendalls told The Friendly Bay Islander: “I was eager to bring Council leaders to tour the islands; and for many it was their first visit.
“They could see the strong opportunities available here.
“Whether it was inspecting the new Macleay Island Arts Complex (MIAC) building or speaking to Islanders from local businesses, they all felt the growth and investment coming to the Islands and, the capacity to make this happen, is real and worthwhile.
The day proved to the delegation that the SMB Islands are not after ‘hand-outs’, but a hand-up.
The delegation agreed that money spent on the islands is an investment in the future of all of Redlands.
Another tour is planned for later in the year.
• The delegtion of council representatives and island business leaders at the luncheon on Russell Island.
Commentaires