The documents were approved by current councillors at last Thursday’s monthly meeting.

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The State of the Region report sums up the achievements of the past two years and nine months, which was the term of the previous Council.

It shows that 87 percent of the 1500 items listed for action in Council’s Operational Plan were delivered according to the priorities and expectations of its Imagine2050 Community Strategic Plan (CSP).

Mayor Adam Roberts welcomed the results.

He was a councillor during the previous term, as were re-elected councillors Lauren Edwards, Rachel Sheppard, Nik Lipovac, Lisa Intemann and Danielle Maltman.

“Fundamentally, good government is about listening to, engaging with, and delivering on the expectations of our community,” Cr Roberts said.

“It is about ensuring we are prioritising the needs of our community and recognising that our CSP is the gold standard.

“I want to thank Councillors, and the organisation more broadly, in collectively achieving such a significant amount of work in what was a challenging period for all, highlighted by a number of major flooding events and a pandemic.”

Meanwhile, the Annual Report, which reviews Council’s actions over the 2023/24 Financial Year, shows it delivered on 88 percent of 508 actions against the CSP.

CEO Dr Clare Allen said the organisation was well positioned to continue building on its successes.

“Despite a term of increased cost pressures and natural disasters, we’ve remained on track to deliver high-quality services to our community with the shared goal of moving towards becoming Australia’s most liveable, sustainable and innovative place,” Dr Allen said.

“We’ve advanced major infrastructure projects, including the $111 million Ocean Drive upgrade and the $250 million Cowarra Water Supply Scheme and Thrumster Wastewater Scheme – all crucial for supporting our growing community.

“Additionally, we’ve launched our Integrated Transport Plan to help reduce traffic, replaced thirteen high-priority bridges, expanded sections of the Beach 2 Beach Pathway, and developed inclusive playgrounds and sporting facilities such as the Rainbow Beach Sporting Fields and Bain Park Playground.

“We’ve also adopted comprehensive strategies to tackle key issues in housing, water security, and the environment, including the Waste and Resource Recovery Strategy, Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy, and Living and Place Strategy.

The documents can be viewed by going to Council’s website and searching for “annual reports and statements”.

By Sue STEPHENSON