SEQ City Deal – what is it, and why is it important for Brisbane?
Today a deal was sealed between the Federal Government, the State Government and eleven South East Queensland (SEQ) councils to transform SEQ over the 20 year period to 2042. The $1.8B project is expected to generate thousands of local jobs, boost digital and transport connectivity, and enhance liveability in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia.
Referred to as the SEQ City Deal, it will involve the following investment…
- $668M from the Federal Government
- $619M from Queensland State Government
- $502M from the 11 participating councils
- $75M from industry
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said at the signing “The economic impact of this major investment will be significant, with more than 30 projects set to generate more than 2,000 jobs, while ensuring that the state is in the best position possible to host a successful 2032 Olympics.”
Queensland Premier (who is also Minister for the Olympics ) Annastacia Palaszczuk said the cooperation between all levels of government would ensure that the region has the right infrastructure in place as the population grows.
She added “The City Deal provides vital infrastructure to plan for our growing population. That includes new transport links for the Gabba in time for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The winners are Queenslanders.”
Projects covered by the SEQ City Deal will include…
- $450 million for the Gabba Brisbane Metro Station, to deliver enhanced transport connections and support the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games
- $285 million for the SEQ Liveability Fund to deliver projects of social and economic priority for the councils
- $150 million for the SEQ Innovation Economy Fund to support capital projects that promote and grow the region’s innovation economy
- $105 million for resource recovery infrastructure to develop a region-wide approach to managing waste and progress the region to a circular economy
- $70 million for digital connectivity projects to support place based telecommunications infrastructure and improved digital connectivity
The signing of the deal today is in fact the culmination of planning that started in 2016 as a component of the Federal Government’s Smart Cities Plan and resulted in a 2019 document called TransformingSEQ – The SEQ City Deal Proposition.
Paul Fletcher, Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, referred to the lengthy planning process being worth it, saying…
“With three quarters of the state’s population already living in South East Queensland, it is vital that we plan and invest in the urban and social infrastructure that this region requires to support sustainable growth over the coming decades. The investments that we are making through this deal, in partnership with the state and local governments, will leave a lasting legacy on the region by providing improved transport links, important community infrastructure, and high quality jobs across multiple sectors.”
With the population of SEQ set to rise to 5.4M by 2041 Deputy Premier Steven Miles said “A new Gabba Metro Station will improve linkages between cross-river rail and the Brisbane Metro at the Woolloongabba Olympic venue that create long-term improvements to the public transport network and transformational city shaping opportunities.”
Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner, who is also Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair added…
“This deal demonstrates what great things can be achieved when all levels of government work together. There might not have been a time in our region’s history when such co-operation has been so critically important.
SEQ is experiencing significant population growth as more and more Australians discover our unmatched lifestyle and want to call our region home. We’re also a decade away from the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games which presents a unique chance to showcase our region to the world while establishing a legacy that can continue to deliver for the generations to come.
This City Deal puts us on a path to manage population growth, deliver the best-ever Games and, importantly, improve the lives of all of our residents through ongoing co-operation. We look forward to continuing to work closely with industry and the other levels of government to empower the SEQ City Deal to deliver the needs of our rapidly growing region.”
