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It has been an exciting few weeks for our region, and I am honoured to represent the Whitsundays on the Host Mayors Advisory Group for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
With the Whitsundays confirmed as the host for Olympic sailing, this appointment gives our community a seat at the table as Queensland prepares to welcome the world. It means we can help shape the planning and delivery of an event that will bring long-term benefits for regional Queensland, not just for the southeast corner.
The Advisory Group is chaired by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and includes Mayors from across the state who will work together to make sure the Games deliver real value for our communities. It is about more than sport. It is about building stronger regional connections, creating economic opportunities, and leaving a legacy that will inspire future generations.
For the Whitsundays, the 2032 Games are a once-in-a-lifetime chance to showcase our region on the global stage. We will see investment in transport, tourism and community infrastructure, but just as importantly, it will highlight our incredible natural setting and the spirit of the people who live here.
Last week I also joined Councillors Jan Clifford, Clay Bauman and John Finlay, along with our CEO Warren Bunker, at the annual Local Government Association of Queensland Conference on the Gold Coast. It is always a valuable opportunity for councils to come together, share ideas and tackle the issues that affect us all.
We took part in discussions on service delivery, housing, technology, and the challenges of cost shifting from other levels of government. Councils also debated and voted on more than one hundred motions aimed at improving how we serve our communities.
Events like this remind me how much energy and innovation exists within local government. It is often said we are the level of government closest to the community, and that is true. Every decision we make has a direct impact on the people who live, work and raise families in our Whitsundays.
I left the conference confident that, together, we are helping to shape a bright future for the Whitsundays and for regional Queensland.