Rockhampton has made the Top 100 locations in Australia to invest in property as compiled by “still Australia’s most trusted and widely read property investment magazine” (their quote) Australian Property Investors (API).
“Rockhampton is mounting a comeback after a couple of years in the doldrums. It has appeal as an important regional city with a diverse economy and affordable real estate”. This is a quote from the website hotspotting.com.au.
Good news on the national scene, something Rocky doesn’t seem to getting much of locally, more particularly the Council with the urgency to get the books looking better for the Livingstone less future. I applaud Mayor Strelow for standing up to tell it how she sees it at the Community Budget meetings without any Councillors or Council Managers to support her or provide bureaucratic long, boring answers. The focus is to cut costs. Something I’m sure most like to hear, except maybe when you hear where the cuts are to be made. The possible sale of the airport is a very sensitive issue however it would be irresponsible of Council not to investigate its real market value and the effect a sale would have on Rockhampton’s future.
The concern from the meeting was that suggestions put forward for community feedback where all regressive. Cut back times, temperatures, maintenance, animals, budgets, etc., the quickest and measurable action to better balance expenditure with income. However without progressive strategies how does Rockhampton achieve greater growth; economically, culturally, socially? As Mayor Strelow said Council takes on responsibilities private enterprise would not, as they are difficult to make profit from, responsibilities that go to the DNA of a community. Do we accept that Rockhampton’s days of being a major regional city are on the slide unlikely to rise and as a consequence expect less in community assets or do we pay more rates just to maintain what we have? Perhaps there is another strategy, change the image of Rockhampton to a region keen to do business. API went on to report about Rockhampton Top 100 listing, “… but its council attracted an average rating and criticism for its attitude to developers. The council needs to overhaul its development processes and be amenable to subdivision”. Potential to grow is evident by comments from API and Hot Spotting, we’ve however got to re-look and change how Rockhampton positions itself to make the most of the opportunities available.