26 November 2020
Southern Downs Regional Council will partner with key local organisations in the southern region to work collaboratively on issues of strong mutual interest after Council voted in favour of participating in the Granite Belt Alliance at this week’s Ordinary Meeting.
Council will enter into a strategic alliance with Granite Belt Growers Association (GBGA), Granite Belt Wine & Tourism (GBWT), the Stanthorpe & Granite Belt Chamber of Commerce and the Granite Belt Sustainable Action Network (GBSAN).
Appointed as Council’s representative to the group, Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi said coming together cohesively was mutually beneficial and he was looking forward to working with the parties to see the region thrive and prosper.
“By joining forces and sharing information with these organisations, we will achieve better outcomes for the region sooner,” Mayor Pennisi said.
“We all want to see the Granite Belt reach its full potential and it makes sense that we should work in unity for the benefit of our region.
“Together, we will identify priority issues that directly relate to the Granite Belt and use our collective resources to progress these.”
Along with Councillor Jo McNally’s suggestion that a similar collaboration would also be beneficial in the northern region, Mayor Pennisi is keen to engage with interested stakeholders and invites them to contact Council by email at mail@sdrc.qld.gov.au or call 1300 MY SDRC (1300 697 3720).
The alliance will remain active for the current term of Council and be reviewed in the next term.
It is expected the Granite Belt Alliance will meet quarterly.
A draft Terms of Reference has been prepared and circulated to the presidents of each organisation for comment.