Leaders to discuss whether bigger is better
The question of whether bigger is better will be discussed in detail at the fourth annual State of the Region Summit to be held at the University of the Sunshine Coast on Thursday 6 November.
More than 200 business and community leaders and government department representatives will take part in the summit which will assess how well the region has fared since the local council amalgamations in March, and consider what the future is likely to hold.
The 2008 St George Bank State of the Region Summit Sunshine Coast has been sponsored by St George Bank, Investa, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Munro Thompson Lawyers and the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Summit coordinator David Gration said the event would feature the presentation of up-to-date data concerning the region’s demographic and economic trends, as well as the release of new research reports on the Coast’s economy and infrastructure needs.
“The summit will be a highly-focussed, one-day event that generates practical pathways for businesses and governments to solving some of the significant problems the rapidly-growing region faces.”
A highlight of the summit is set to be a panel discussion of the hypothetical question, “How Big Can’t We Go?”.
The panel will include Sunshine Coast Regional Council mayor Bob Abbot, Caloundra Ratepayers’ vice-president Peter Bryant, Sunshine Coast Environment Council, USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas AM, Consolidated Properties Group co-founder Don O’Rorke, Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network president Sue Willis and Deacon’s law firm partner Ian Walker.
Mr Gration said the panellists would be asked to comment on issues relating to the region’s growing pains, the possibility of population caps, and what sustainable development will really mean for the Sunshine Coast.
“The panel will be challenged by a variety of realistic scenarios to test their positions on the future population growth prospects and opportunities for the Sunshine Coast,” he said. “This session is likely to spark some entertaining, informative and lively debate.”
For more on the conference program and registration information go to the Summit website at <www.stateoftheregion.com.au>.
— Terry Walsh