Mayor’s message to Feds: Rail funding a good start. More needed
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Rosanna Natoli.
Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Rosanna Natoli called on the Australian Government to use the May 14 Federal Budget to address cost of living pressures, housing affordability and the short-fall in infrastructure investment in one of the nation’s fastest growing regions.
Mayor Natoli, pictured, said these were consistent themes raised with her during the recent Council election campaign.
“I am pleased to see we are off to a positive start with yesterday’s (May 13) announcement that the Australian Government is increasing its commitment to the Direct Sunshine Coast rail project from $1.6 billion to $2.75 billion to match the recent commitment by the Queensland Government,” Mayor Natoli said.
“I welcome this matched commitment by the Australian government as one of the most critical infrastructure investments that we want to see delivered for our region. An effective, reliable and sustainable public transport network is critical to the liveability of the Sunshine Coast and supporting the productivity of our economy.
Aging population, increasing numbers
“Our Council looks forward to working with the Australian and State governments on how this investment can be stretched to deliver this project beyond Caloundra – with our ultimate goal of securing funding to deliver the rail connection to Maroochydore.
“With an aging population and increasing numbers of young families, cost of living pressures are particularly pronounced for the many members of ouzr community who are on fixed and/or lower incomes,” Mayor Natoli said.
“I therefore urge the Australian Government to maintain a laser-like focus on providing relief now to those members of our community who are most vulnerable to cost of living pressures and those struggling to find affordable housing.
“The Australian and State governments have many more policy levers at their disposal than Council to alleviate the burden of rising prices and household costs and I encourage them to do everything they can in this space.”
Mayor Natoli said more support for pensioners, increasing subsidisation of medicines available on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, accelerating the roll out of the outcomes of the National Housing Accord or further taxation relief measures for those on lower incomes was needed.
“What is equally important for a community like the Sunshine Coast – which for nearly three decades has experienced one of the highest growth rates of any region in the nation and will continue to do so – is that we have the infrastructure that supports and accommodates that growth,” she said.
“Our Council’s ask is very simple. We want to see the Australian Government reinstate what we lost last November when the Australian Government revised its Infrastructure Investment Program.”
Mayor Natoli said she specifically wanted to see the following projects included in the Federal Budget:
· reinstatement of the $7 million in funding withdrawn from the Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade project
· restoring the critical $160 million commitment to jointly fund – with the State – Stage 1 of the Mooloolah River Interchange.
Paris 24 ‘too important to miss,’ says Mayor
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli will travel to Paris in July to learn and participate in an on-ground Olympic Family Program and has opted to pay for her own flights to the event.
Sunshine Coast Council ratepayers will fund $7500 for the Mayor’s accommodation.
Sunshine Coast Council CEO Emma Thomas said the decision to pay for Mayor Natoli’s accommodation was a business decision that would stand to benefit the Sunshine Coast community significantly.
“Council was originally advised that the Mayor’s accommodation in Paris would be funded as part of the Olympic Family Program,” Ms Thomas said.
“We were made aware that this is not the case following the April 25 Ordinary Meeting, at which it was voted unanimously that Mayor Natoli should participate in the program.”
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said her presence in Paris remained critical in securing a positive Games legacy for the region.
“Am I greatly disappointed that the accommodations cost will not be covered as we originally thought? Yes absolutely,” Mayor Natoli said.
“Having discussed with my Councillor colleagues and weighing everything up, we all agreed this opportunity is too important to forgo and that the value of my participation in the program will significantly outweigh the cost of my accommodation.
“I remain fiercely committed to maximising the opportunity to be on the ground at Paris 24 and using my learnings to guide our Games preparations in the coming years.”
The Mayor will be travelling alongside other Olympic Delivery Partners. In 2032, the Sunshine Coast is proposed to host nine Olympic and Paralympic events across four locations.