We are quickly approaching the Christmas season and soon after that Council will go into Caretaker mode until the Local Government Elections are held on the 16th of March 2024. Before all the electioneering begins, I just wanted to take the time to do a recap of what has been achieved in my last 2 terms as a Councillor for BRC.
There were many reasons why I put my hand up for Council back in 2016, but the 2 main reasons were: 1. Not much was getting done around the place & 2. Rates were out of control.
On the first point, I’ve ensured that a lot has been done in my time on Council. Over the last nearly eight years, Division 1 has had the construction and development of major infrastructure across all areas, as has the region. Division 1 has over this time, seen improvements & upgrades to roads, bridges, parks, community facilities, foreshores, water & wastewater infrastructure, waste facilities, boat ramps and parking areas, footpaths and playgrounds.
Many drainage issues throughout the division have been addressed and where possible fixed. Many kilometer's of new pathways have been installed and the overall amenity of the division has been improved to make the area a more livable and attractive place to call home
And the planning has been done to continue with the roll out of further infrastructure improvements, with many major projects funded and underway or ready to commence ie Aquatic Centre, Anzac Park Redevelopment, Booyan Rd and MPB Master Plan works Stages 1,2 &3 funded and ready to go.
On the second point, Rate increases, in my time, these increases have been kept minimal, and the increases are at a much lower rate than what was experienced previously. The prior 8 years of BRC 2008-2016 had an average Rate increase of 7.54% every year. The average Rate Increase for the Council I have been part of from 2016-2024 has been 1.45% every year, way below inflation.
I am proud to say that I am part of this Council that continually delivers lower rates, upgraded and essential community infrastructure across our region, services that are envied by other Councils and on top of all that, our budgets have been in surplus every year for the last 7 years giving us money in the bank to continue to deliver the needs and wants of all our communities.
Division 1 and the entire Bundaberg Region has improved and advanced greatly since I was elected to Council in March 2016 and under the watch of this Council. Due to the ongoing hard work put in by Council advocating and promoting the regions potential, the region is not only growing, it is starting to thrive.
This term of Council has had unprecedented interruptions and it feels as if we have been cheated out of being able to achieve all that we set out to do, Covid occupied and took up most of the first half, and the repercussions of the pandemic are still creating delays with the delivery of projects and vital infrastructure. The last 4 years have just flown by so quickly, a lot has been done and there is even more planned to be done, we are so close to achieving everything that we have all been working towards. I want to see all that we have planned through and completed to ensure that my communities, Division and the Region continue to be looked after.
That is why, I will be contesting the election in March 2024 and putting my hand up to hopefully be re-elected for another term as your Councillor.
Talk soon Regards Jason.
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