I recently attended our FCPIA AGM and Infrastructure Workshop, where Davendra Naidu (Director of Infrastructure Services at Fraser Coast Regional Council) shared an update on the planning and infrastructure projects shaping our region.
Like many people I expected to hear about roads, traffic and future growth. Those topics were certainly discussed but one of my biggest takeaways was gaining a greater appreciation for the breadth of work involved in managing a growing region.
It’s easy to think of Council in terms of the projects we can see but behind every road upgrade, park, public amenity and piece of infrastructure is an enormous amount of ongoing work. Maintaining roads, footpaths, parks, drainage, water and wastewater networks is only part of the picture. Regular vandalism and damage to public facilities also requires Council resources, time and funding that many of us probably never think about.
One aspect I found particularly interesting was the discussion around the different responsibilities of Council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR). A good reminder that responsibility for roads and infrastructure is shared across different levels of government and not every project sits with Council. Understanding who is responsible for what provides important context when discussing road upgrades, funding and future infrastructure projects.
The workshop gave me a greater appreciation of just how broad that responsibility is. It was encouraging to see so many FCPIA members and their staff attend the workshop, ask questions and gain a better understanding of the planning and infrastructure that supports the continued growth of the Fraser Coast.
If you weren’t able to attend this workshop, I’d encourage you to consider joining FCPIA. Throughout the year we host workshops on a wide range of topics relevant to our local property industry. They’re a valuable opportunity to hear directly from industry experts, ask questions and gain a broader understanding of the issues shaping the Fraser Coast.
