January: Mayor’s message to the business community
Mayor’s message to the business community
Happy New Year to Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce members and partners. Thank you for the pivotal role you each played in keeping our community healthy, employed and prosperous. May 2021 bring you new opportunities and successes.
A decade on from the 2011 floods
Monday, 11 January 2020 marked ten years since floods devastated parts of Ipswich and areas across South East Queensland. These were tremendously tough times, and my memories are of Ipswich coming together, people helping each other wherever possible, and the city fighting the brown tide to get back on our feet. Having said that, my heart goes out to the residents and businesses fighting 10 years later for adequate compensation for their pain, suffering, and loss of home and property.
Council is committed to playing our role to prepare for and manage future flood events, with the Ipswich Integrated Catchment Plan set for adoption this year. The plan builds on a significant body of consultation, research and technical analysis regarding the catchment, and is set to shape council’s actions and future investment in a number of areas, including land use planning, new infrastructure, community awareness and waterway health. Our vision is for a city that is responsive and ready to mitigate the impacts in the event of a future flood.
Adapting to COVID-19 the new norm
On behalf of Council, thank you to all Springfield businesses for assisting our residents to adapt to the evolving restrictions under the three-day lockdown. You supported families with meals, beverages and essential items in the recovery from the Halloween storm, and in the first days of 2021 you’ve shown generosity and community spirit again. It’s been fantastic to see the Chamber and Springfield businesses sharing hundreds of face masks during the lockdown, and I’d like to thank you on behalf of Ipswich for supporting those in need.
A number of restrictions are still in place, and I encourage you to monitor the Queensland Health website for further updates. Ipswich has shown our typical courage and resilience in the face of the pandemic, and we can help stop the spread by adhering to the restrictions as they evolve, wearing our masks and backing each other to get tested.
Small business support in 2021
It’s our priority to keep supporting local enterprise this year, and Council welcomes your feedback on making it easier to do business in Springfield. Council is providing over $2 million in COVID relief support for local businesses and community organisations, and in 2020 we partnered with the Chamber on a major advocacy campaign for Ipswich and sponsored the Marquee Business Awards, where Neil, Leila and the team at the Chamber did an amazing job of bringing us all together in unprecedented circumstances.
There will be more events and training programs this year, as Queensland’s first Small Business Friendly Council continues to build on our partnership with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.
We are currently working together to plan exciting programs for 2021, and I look forward to making further announcements over the coming months. If you have any questions about Council support, please reach out to our Local Business and Investment Team at business@ipswich.qld.gov.au
On behalf of Council, Happy New Year and I wish you a prosperous 2021.