|
Of course, we want to live in this type of community. He went on to expand on a 10 point plan which would secure our bold future. Exciting ideas like pushing forward with tourism-boosting concepts such providing incentives for attracting international airlines to Toowoomba, the Quarry Gardens, the V8 super track and being part of the 2023 Olympic bid. He also mentioned higher investment in education and health, ensuring our proposed new hospital is funded and security in jobs like the space industry and defence.
The challenge put to the Toowoomba community that may impede this plan was the predicted slowdown in population growth and the lack of investment in entrepreneurism. The call went out to develop a cohesive plan to address issues around our population growth and to seriously foster a culture of entrepreneurship.
I cannot argue with any of this logic but the question I wanted to ask was what happens to our most vulnerable residents in this vibrant growing city? I don’t really know, but I suspect as we build hubs fit for a prosperous economy, attracting knowledge workers with higher pay and alluring lifestyles, we create rising rents and a scramble for housing that places disadvantaged citizens in deeper crisis.
That does not mean we shouldn't ‘go for it’ but it does mean that the social stresses of the new growth should be on our radar. We have a homelessness challenge in our beautiful city now with 531 experiencing homelessness on any given day and 130 of these are our young people.
It is critical that future policies consider the impacts on our vulnerable citizens and what they need to be safe and well. When you ask our homeless community that question, the dominant response is housing and shelter: the need to have permanent accommodation and stability first so as to address other issues. However, most participants also express needs going well beyond housing. In particular, the focus on employment, belonging, having meaningful relationships, health needs and safety.
With an innovative, prosperous and driven community like Toowoomba surely we can have both – a safe place for 531 citizens and a future that embraces the 10 point plan. That to me is the big, bold, ambitious and confident city that I would be proud to live in.
|
