Moreton Bay votes to put City on the map
Published 20 July 2022
Moreton Bay is one step closer to becoming a city, with Council today voting to ask Queensland’s Local Government Minister to reclassify the region as a City Council.
Mayor Peter Flannery said he hoped the Electoral Commission would understand the rationale behind Council’s request and help to put Moreton Bay on the map as a city with multiple centres.
“By definition we are already a city, our population is already bigger than Canberra, but we are missing out on funding because politicians have mistaken our region for being a regional centre,” Mayor Flannery said.
“The growth challenge ahead here is real, it’s here, and as much as we might like to pretend it’s not happening - the truth is that ignoring reality won’t make it go away.
“We all know the poor planning that continues to plague Paramatta as the bit between Sydney and the Blue Mountains, I will not stand by and allow the same to happen to us between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
“At this junction in time the best thing for the people of Moreton Bay is to really think strategically about the future and speak with one voice, so that Council is in the best position to campaign for your taxes to be reinvested back here by the State and Federal Governments.
“That said I want to acknowledge that there were some legitimate concerns raised about recognising our region as a city, I want to assure those people that we will always be a region given our size - but we can’t continue to act with a regional mindset in the digital age.
“I think that’s why you’ve seen 71% of business and community leaders strongly supporting this initiative, while the community response was split roughly 50/50 on the reclassification.
“The polling results clearly show that the name change is not front-of-mind for most people, but for those who strongly support the move they just want Council to get on with it and stop talking.
“I thank everyone who went out of their way to provide us with their feedback.
“This is not the end of the conversation, it’s the start of a journey to redefine what a modern Australian city can be after the disruption of covid and in the digital age.
“That’s why our proposal articulates a new city concept that embraces our many existing communities and towns to spread opportunity and reduce traffic to one central location, to create Queensland’s first subtropical ‘polycentric city’ with many centres.
“This will create more job opportunities locally, better traffic flow, more greenspaces, and a better connection to our beautiful existing environment.
“I thank the Councillors today for voting with a sense of ambition and purposes, rather than the status quo, because our region needs to evolve if we’re going to protect the character and lifestyle we love.”
For more information visit Council’s website: https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/News/Around-The-Region/Moreton-Bay-City-Vision