Address by Cr Val Schier, Mayor of Cairns Regional Council

Below is the text of the official address given by Cr Val Schier, Mayor of Cairns Regional Council at the swearing-in ceremony held in Cairns on 3 April 2008.

"I would like to start by acknowledging the Aboriginal traditional owners of this land. I pay respect to their elders and their cultures and look forward to working in a constructive way with all the Indigenous peoples across our region.

On this historic occasion - the first meeting of the newly amalgamated Cairns Regional Council - I say thank you to the people who have placed their faith in the 10 councillors and in me to provide leadership of our region over the next four years.

This is a time of great possibility. It is also, for many, a time of sadness as both the Douglas Shire and the Cairns City Council - each with over a century of history and achievement - cease to exist.

I would like to personally thank Mike Berwick - who is unable to be here today - for his 17 years of commitment and integrity and for his thoughtful stewardship over all those years of the former Douglas Shire, the jewel in the crown of tropical north Queensland.

I also acknowledge the considerable contribution of Kevin Byrne who, as Mayor for two terms, presided over the Cairns City Council in a time of unprecedented growth and development. I wish him well in his future endeavours.

I thank also the councillors who served with both Kevin and Mike for their contributions over many years.

Former mayors Tom Pyne and Ron Davis have honoured us with their presence . . . . . and there is some of the spirit of another former mayor, the late Keith Goodwin, in the room with us today too, I think.

Thank you also to the staff of both Douglas and Cairns City Councils who have done so much behind the scenes to keep the business and services running, particularly during the uncertainties of the amalgamation process.

Today we form a new local government for the Cairns Region and will need to face up to the problems that come with no easy solutions and challenges that will require us to work in innovative and different ways.

I’ve met parents in Mooroobool who want their streets to be safer;
• teenagers in the southern suburbs who need more sporting facilities and things to do;
• beachside dwellers concerned about soil erosion and loss of animal habitats;
• hospitality workers in Port Douglas who find rents are too high;
• business people worried about the impact of an unstable world economy;
• engineers who offer advice on flood mitigation and
• residents in places like Babinda and Wonga who think their communities are going to miss out.

It is the duty of this Council to act on these concerns. And to act in a way that cuts across our political affiliations and diverse personal agendas.

Many people today feel disempowered by the political process.

Can I say to those people who did not vote for those being sworn in here today - we remain respectful of your opinions.

It is inherent upon us, as a part of a true and healthy democracy, to govern for all - and to do so in an open, transparent, accountable, and thoroughly professional way.

That means local government that gets potholes fixed; the noisy dog next door dealt with; the drains unblocked.

It also means we need to be actively involved with the major issues such as climate change and population growth, ensuring that developments and housing take into account the unique nature of our environment, our tropical heritage and lifestyle. We must remain vigilant in our care of the world heritage reef, and the magnificent rainforests on our doorstep.

Of course to do this effectively we will need to collaborate and work very closely with the two other levels of government - state and federal.

That is why it is particularly heartening to see Warren, Desley, Jason, Steve, Jan and Jim here with us today demonstrating an absolutely clear message that they want to work closely with this new regional council.

Election campaigns inevitably bring out issues that divide us as well as those that unite us.

In the aftermath of this campaign there have suggestions that this Council will be anti-business.

Let me assure everyone that this Council looks forward to working closely with the business sector – I have already held productive meetings with key groups - as we will also work with non-government organisations and community groups.

Some of you know that I come from a small hamlet in rural Tasmania. A community that helped form my strong value base and my lifelong desire to work with and serve the public.

My parents were good, hard-working people. My mother - who became terminally ill with cancer and died at the end of last year - endowed me with her high energy and the Schier determination to keep going in my goal to be mayor.

My father implanted in me a love of the land, integrity, a huge measure of common sense and thankfully . . . . a sense of humour.

These qualities - and my diverse life and work experiences - add to the mix of personalities, skills and passions that my 10 councillor colleagues bring to the table.

Among them of course is Kirsten Lesina – a person I am very much looking forward to working with.

At 21, Kirsten is making history as the youngest person ever to be elected to council in Cairns. She will be in the position to remind the rest of us daily that the decisions we make will also be for the young people of the region, our grandchildren and our shared future.

My hope is that we will have robust, energetic discussions - that we will build on the positives - on the things that have gone right - at the same time acknowledging and planning around those areas where we might have done better.

Importantly, we will continue to listen to the diverse views of locals and experts - among them the 12 people from Tropical North Queensland who are heading to Canberra for the 2020 summit.

There has been pain associated with the amalgamation process. However, last Thursday at the Summit of Mayors in Brisbane, Premier Anna Bligh talked about a new era in local government in Queensland and how partnerships will take us forward.

I met with Tom Gilmore from the Tablelands Council, Bill Shannon from Cassowary Coast, Peter Scott from Cooktown and Percy Neal from Yarrabah.

All of them are seeking to work in new ways with the Cairns Regional Council to grow our regional economy, to look after our environment and to care for all the people in our diverse communities, particularly the vulnerable.

We will be called upon during the course of the next four years to provide continuity and stability.

And also to be adaptable and creative as we plan to address the changes that are happening on an international, national and local level.

This Council will need to be alert and responsive to people’s fears as well as their hopes.

And there is hope in this room today; you can feel it.

We will endeavour to maintain this feeling as we engage with all the communities from Bloomfield to Bramston Beach.

I am honoured to be here today as your mayor.

I will do my utmost to serve the community over the next four years, to provide strong leadership, to work hard, to be approachable.

And, above all, with my fellow councillors, ensure the future well-being and prosperity of this most wonderful part of the world.

Thank you."