Disaster resilience and planning regulations are among topics covered by 10 motions Redland City Council proposes to take to the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) annual conference.
To be held on the Gold Coast from 20–22 October 2025, the conference brings together government delegates, key stakeholders and media representatives to discuss the challenges facing local governments and their communities.
Mayor Jos Mitchell said that among Council’s motions were ones which focused on building resilience based on lessons learned during Tropical Cyclone Alfred earlier this year.
You may also like these stories
“These motions call on the Queensland Government to provide greater access for local governments to resilience building infrastructure funds, and to increase energy network resilience to improve reliable power supply during disasters,” the Mayor said.
In terms of planning regulations, the Mayor said Council proposed through the LGAQ to call on the Queensland Government to: merge the Queensland Housing Code and the Queensland Secondary Dwelling Code so that consistency in application can be achieved; streamline the planning scheme mapping amendment process outlined in the Minister’s Guidelines and Rules; and amend state planning regulations to require community residences to comply with local government building and design standards.
The 10 motions that Council will propose at the conference relate to:
- Disaster resilience funding
- Energy network resilience funding
- Strengthening human and social resilience through arts and cultural partnerships
- Increasing State and Federal government funding for active transport infrastructure
- Merge the State dwelling house and secondary dwelling code
- Streamline amendment processes outlined in the Minister’s Guidelines and Rules
- Amending State Planning Regulations to ensure Community Residences comply with local building and design provisions
- Streamline approval processes for foreshore protection works
- Increased utilisation of state-owned sporting facilities
- Improving integrity of the Councillor conduct complaint processes
Council voted at the 16 July 2025 General Meeting to propose the motions, all of which have statewide significance and align with objectives in Council’s corporate plan.
The Mayor said Council believes the proposed active transport infrastructure motion was especially timely for Council.
“Through the LGAQ, the motion calls on the Queensland and Commonwealth governments to significantly increase funding for active transport infrastructure to at least 10 per cent and five per cent of their respective transport budgets over the next 10 years,” she said.
“This is in line with recommendations from active transport peak bodies.
“Council currently is conducting community engagement on its Redlands Coast Active Transport Strategy 2025–2046 that aims to develop the future of active transport such as walking and cycling in the city.”
Engagement on the active transport strategy is open until 24 July, 2025, and more information is available at Redlands Coast on the move: Future access and mobility | Your Say Redlands Coast
LGAQ is the peak body representing local government. Councils are required to table proposed motions at the annual conference that respond to statewide needs and assist other local governments.
The motions must also identify opportunities for reforming or creating new policies, programs and legislation that supports councils to deliver for their communities.
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor Julie Talty will be Council’s official delegates at the LGAQ conference, with other Councillors able to attend as observers.
