I would like to welcome new Councillor Amanda Hay to Council. Amanda will bring a wealth of knowledge from her personal careers and her experience in planning and development. I look forward to working with Amanda for the duration of this term.

Lifting the lid on Eat Local Month
The recent launch of Scenic Rim Eat Local Month was more than enough to whet the appetite, with more than 130 events to be staged across the region from 1 June to 2 July. For the first time, Eat Local is being celebrated for a whole month and Canungra, Beechmont and Tamborine Mountain will feature in the first of three flavour-focused weekends. The delicious menu of events on the weekend of 2 to 4 June has something for every taste and budget close to home. Keep an eye out for a copy of the Eat Local Month program or download it from the eatlocalmonth.com.au website.
Expanding nature-based tourism
Council recently adopted the Scenic Rim Nature-based Tourism Strategy 2023-2032 to ensure the region’s natural beauty can be protected for residents and visitors to enjoy. The strategy is about achieving greater value for our region from the growing demand for nature-based tourism experiences rather than increasing visitor numbers. It recognises the negative impacts that excessive tourism can have on communities and natural areas as well as the benefits of sustainable tourism for our local economy. Our proximity to Ipswich, Brisbane and the Gold Coast and the Scenic Rim’s spectacular natural environment means the region is well-placed to become a leading destination for nature-based tourism. Council is grateful for the funding from the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund Community Investments Stream Round 3 which supported the strategy’s development. 
Draft budget consultation
Thank you to everyone who attended the Draft 2023-2024 Budget community consultation sessions. This is the first time we have gone out to the community to seek feedback on our financial planning for the year ahead and there is still time for you to have a say. Council welcomes all feedback and hopefully you have submitted your feedback by Wednesday 3 May. We understand the cost-of-living pressures facing members of our community and have aimed to ensure we continue to deliver services and programs that provide best value for money. Once all feedback has been considered, the final 2023-2024 Annual Budget will be prepared before being tabled at a Special Meeting of Council scheduled for Wednesday
14 June.
Regional Prosperity Report Card
Top marks to the Scenic Rim for its significant economic achievements despite the pandemic and disaster events which have impacted our region. The Regional Prosperity Annual Report Card 2021-2022 was presented this month and outlines Council’s achievements in meeting the objectives of the Scenic Rim Regional Prosperity Strategy 2020-2025. The strategy supports the creation of valuable jobs for local people and our region’s economic growth. I encourage you to read the full report on Council’s website, scenicrim.qld.gov.au/rps
Road reseals across region
Works have been carried out by Council this month at Tamborine and Tamborine Mountain as part of a major program of bitumen road reseals at 36 towns and villages across the Scenic Rim. The reseals have been part of a three-stage program being carried out on some 49 kilometres of the 1800km of the region’s road network.
Quote of the day -
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson