2008 Press Release

PR327

Joint Media Release

HISTORIC MEETING OF THE TORRES STRAIT AND NPA ELECTED LEADERS

Joint press release with the Torres Shire Council, the Torres Strait Island Regional Council, and the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council.

For Immediate Release 02/09/2008

 At an historic meeting on Friday 22 August 2008, Torres Strait elected leaders committed themselves to working together to achieve integrated planning development and service delivery in the region.

Attending the meeting were TSRA Chairperson Toshie Kris, Torres Shire Council Mayor Pedro Stephen, NPA Regional Council Mayor Joseph Elu, Torres Strait Islands Regional Council Mayor Fred Gela, and the local Manager of the Queensland Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (ATSIP), Ms Luisa O’Connor.

The first stage in achieving an integrated plan will be to consult with local communities about their needs and priorities. The results of this process will then be the focus of an integrated plan that will define each organisation’s roles and responsibilities. This will reduce gaps and duplication of services and make the most of the region’s resources.

TSRA Chairperson, Mr Toshie Kris, is pleased that the meeting has agreed to start on something very big with potential to be of great benefit to all people of the region.

“The integrated plan will contain measurable outcomes so that elected officials can monitor the performance of services and give regular reports back to communities,” Mr Kris said.

Torres Shire Council Mayor, Cr Pedro Stephen, said that there is now an opportunity to develop a plan that will not only involve all peoples and agencies of the Torres Strait, but will also influence and hold accountable all other planning for the region.

“The plan ultimately developed will be designed to unite our peoples and must be measurable and encompass land, sea and air – the highways to and from the region,” said Mayor Stephen.

Councillor Fred Gela, Mayor of the Torres Strait Islander Regional Council, acknowledged the historical moment with all key players committing themselves to work together for a common purpose.

“The development plan ultimately completed for the region must address priority needs and contain milestones and outcomes that must be achievable,” said Mayor Gela.

Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council Mayor, Cr Joseph Elu, said that once the development plan is completed the region can then ask the various levels of government for funding to implement it.

“The NPA Regional Council already has a separate consultation process underway with the five communities for which his Council is responsible and any issues arising from that process would be worked through,” he said.

At the conclusion of their meeting the elected leaders commented on the importance of putting past differences aside and working together to develop an integrated plan that will address community and regional issues both now and in the future.

“The new partnership needs to take one step at a time and not lose sight of the commitment to work together now and in the future,” Mr Kris said.

The elected leaders believed that while their activities were subject to different legislation, there was no impediment to developing a partnership and working together to assist local communities in planning for the future, setting goals, and identifying desired outcomes.

Teams comprising representatives of the Local Government Councils, TSRA and ATSIP are planning to visit communities over the period 6 September 2008 to mid October 2008 to begin the community consultation process. TSRA staff will be contacting communities to make arrangements for community visits.

ENDS
TSRA Media Contact: Kerry Shegog Ph: 07 4069 0700
www.tsra.gov.au