LGAQ Annual Conference begins: housing and roads high on the agenda

Hundreds of Council delegates from across Queensland have kicked off the The 126th Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Annual Conference at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Delegates from 75 of Queensland’s 77 councils, as well as observers from Weipa and Norfolk Island, have joined the event, which started on 17 October, with the Indigenous Leaders Forum and the Roads and Transport Forum.

The official opening of the conference is set for 18 October, where presentations will be held on topics including the housing crisis and climate resilience before the Annual Conference culminates on 19 October, with a debate on motions canvassing issues of critical importance to councils and their local communities such as roads, housing and renewable energy.

Among the 857 attendees are 69 mayors, 333 deputy mayors and councillors and 68 Chief Executive Officers.

LGAQ President and Sunshine Coast Mayor, Mark Jamieson, said the conference was a great opportunity to share ideas and solutions with fellow councillors.

“While some of the challenges we face are unchanged, new ones continue to emerge, particularly in the form of the rising cost of living for our residents and our communities,” Mr Jamieson said.

“Arguably, one of the biggest challenges we are confronting as the level of government closest to the community is the housing crisis.

“While this is the focus of a dedicated session on the conference program, I have no doubt it will feature in wider discussions a number of times during our time together in Cairns.”

Cairns Regional Council Mayor, Bob Manning, welcomed colleagues from local governments throughout the state to this year’s host city.

“After more than two years of operating under the cloud of COVID-19 restrictions, I am happy to say that the green shoots of recovery are now blossoming as visitors return to our city,” Mayor Manning said.

“This annual event is a critically important forum that can help us find better ways to serve our communities through the collective sharing of our ideas, challenges and achievements.”