The Mayors of South East Queensland, including Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie, will this month embark on a 10-day mission to meet with global leaders and examine legacy opportunities that will help keep South East Queensland moving now, during the 2032 Games and beyond.
The whirlwind mission will take place in Singapore, Manchester and Paris, with mayors to meet with global leaders such as Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, the Lord Mayor of Manchester Paul Andrews and senior officials from the Singaporean Government including technology leaders; Chew Sing Bin, Chief Information Officer, NCS Group and Sean Chiao, Group CEO, SJ Group.
The delegation will examine transport, urban renewal, housing and waste management opportunities, as well as emerging examples of legacies delivered through major infrastructure and events such as the Paris 24 Games.
It will also seek to strengthen partnerships with Asia Pacific economic powerhouse, Singapore, which is one of Australia’s largest two-way trading partners and was responsible for A$141 billion of foreign direct investment with Australia in 2023.
This includes how these city-regions have successfully leveraged public-private partnerships to support infrastructure delivery programs. For example how Singapore has accelerated the rollout of world-class digital connectivity and water security, Manchester’s proposed redevelopment of Old Trafford Stadium District, as well as catalytic public transport investments that are now connecting more venues and cities and communities across the Paris region.
Objectives of the Mission include:
• Examining regional and coordinated approaches to managing growth, housing affordability, sustainability, waste management and resource recovery (including the management of residual waste).
• Investigating how local governments are becoming more financially sustainable and responding to growth through innovative funding approaches such as city deals and public-private partnerships.
• Reviewing how local governments are improving regional mass transport outcomes through the adoption of new smart mobility solutions and mass movement of people and goods.
• Exploring strategic funding and policy outcomes to enhance regional connectivity and digital infrastructure.
• Investigating how city-regions leverage major events to create a compelling global identity, promote trade and investment attraction and deliver economic and urban renewal.
• Examining innovative solutions to enhance our region’s sustainability and resilience, focusing on waste management, circular economy and water security.
• Exploring plans for the rollout of advanced air mobility (AAM) infrastructure in other global regions, following work being undertaken in SEQ.
• Engaging with global leaders to develop strategic relationships that will generate strong social and economic outcomes for each city.
Past missions undertaken by the Council of Mayors (SEQ) have helped support critical partnerships with other levels of government and the private sector, including the Mayors’ pursuit of the $1.8B SEQ City Deal, the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, advanced air mobility, as well as the SEQ Public Transport and Mobility Strategy which is now a key Elevate 2042 Games legacy commitment and deliverable of the new Brisbane 2032 independent delivery authority – GIICA.
“As our region continues to grow it’s important we engage with other global cities to understand how they are addressing both the challenges and opportunities of growth,” Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.
“The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to secure a lasting legacy that will keep our region moving now and into the future.
“Whether it’s better transport, investment in local jobs and industry, urban renewal or waste management, we’re keen to learn world-leading practices so we can help deliver them here at home.”
Council of Mayors (SEQ) Deputy Chair, Mayor Peter Flannery a key reason the South East chose to pursue the Olympic and Paralympic Games was to deliver critical transport and infrastructure, and boost opportunities for trade and investment.
“The delegation will seek to strengthen partnerships and opportunities for future investment and trade between the South-East and Singapore,” he said.
“The mission will explore Singapore’s world-class public transport network, and how they are using intelligent transport systems and Ai to boost the efficiency of their city networks and services.
“Singapore is well advanced on its journey towards a circular economy, and provides a blueprint on what we can expect as we work to implement the South East Queensland Waste Management Plan and transition towards zero waste.
“This includes understanding their experience with solutions like energy from waste and we’ll explore their newest facility which is now diverting up to 800-tonnes of waste from landfill daily.”
Key engagements in Singapore will include marking the 60th anniversary of Singapore’s independence hosted by The Australian High Commissioner, visiting Keppel Seghers Waste to Energy Incineration Plant and the Changi Water Reclamation Plant, the world’s largest wastewater treatment plant.
Manchester is home to the first City Deal, and recently secured its seventh generation deal focussed on supporting Greater Manchester’s strategic growth and driving net zero initiatives, housing, and employment outcomes.
“After being inspired by Manchester in 2014, South East Queensland secured the inaugural SEQ City Deal in March 2021, providing a 20-year commitment to support the region’s growth,” Mr Flannery said.
“The foundation SEQ City Deal included an initial investment of $1.8 billion over five-years and included a range of priority planning and business case projects.
“Almost three years into the SEQ City Deal and with just 7 years before the Brisbane 2032 Games, South East Queensland Mayors are keen to progress discussions with State and Federal governments on the next generation of funding and partnership opportunities for South East Queensland.
“The Mayors will seek to better understand Manchester’s journey and their work evolving their Deal to meet the changing needs of their region and successive governments.
“This includes how Manchester’s Deal is responding to transport needs, housing pressures and supporting urban regeneration including a new Housing Investment Fund that has unlocked almost AUD $600M to enable Greater Manchester’s councils to deliver over 15,000 new homes.”
The delegation will explore the urban renewal of UK Media City – an innovation hub built on the site of one of the world’s biggest industrial ports – Manchester Docks.
As one of the UK’s largest urban regeneration projects, Salford Quays is now home to 250 companies, including BBC, ITV Granada, Dock 10, and the University of Salford.
In just 10 years, this has become one of the world’s leading media and tech hubs and one of the UK’s leading innovation zones and boasts the highest concentration of creative, media, and technology businesses outside London. It was also home to the first buildings in the UK to achieve net zero carbon status.
MediaCityUK, Europe’s largest purpose-built digital hub, has also become a leader in immersive technologies such as virtual reality and gaming, and employs over 7,000 people.
With the 100-day Brisbane 2032 infrastructure review underway, the delegation will receive an update on Manchester’s regeneration of the Old Trafford Stadium District, and the work being explored to leverage investment in world-class sporting infrastructure to deliver social and economic benefits including mixed-use developments.
“There are significant efforts by Greater Manchester to improve its local public transport to London standards. This includes the rollout of new technologies that have helped to ease congestion and improve traffic flow by up to 23 per cent,” Mr Flannery said.
We’re keen to learn more about these pragmatic solutions which could be applied across South East Queensland.
Key engagements in Manchester include meetings with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Mayors of Greater Manchester and visits to MediaCityUK and SportsCity – the largest concentration of sports infrastructure in Europe including the English Institute of Sport, the National BMX Arena, the Manchester Velodrome, the Etihad Campus, the National Cycling Centre, the Rugby Football League headquarters, the Manchester Regional Athletics Arena, the Tennis Centre, the Manchester Aquatics Centre, and the National Squash Centre.
By 2030, the Paris region’s public transport network is expected to double in size with an ambitious expansion program that will include 350km of new lines and 139 new stations, enhancing the region’s capacity to support future large-scale events and providing long-term benefits to residents and visitors.
Mr Flannery said the delegation will explore a number of significant mass public transit initiatives, including upgrades prioritised ahead of the Paris24 Games which included a new metro line and improvements to suburban rail and bus networks.
“We’re keen to understand the public transport investment that is being prioritised in other global regions, and considering the 7-year runway to 2032, a stronger understanding of what could be delivered intime for our own Games,” he said.
“This includes the rollout of advanced air mobility infrastructure, with an update on plans to rollout vertiports across the Paris region in the coming years.
“The delegation will explore how regions around Paris have delivered long-term legacy benefits for their communities, including how councils and businesses successfully worked in partnership with Games organisers and other levels of government.
“We’ll meet with Mayors and senior officials across the Paris region and Saint-Denis to better understand city operations and opportunities associated with hosting the Games for local economic development, urban renewal and community outcomes.
“This will include exploring a number of comparable venues which are planned for Brisbane 2032 to better understand their immediate and surrounding legacy impacts, including Adidas Indoor Arena and The Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium (whitewater venue).
“We’re particularly keen to understand the experiences and learnings of Councils and communities during Paris24, including the scale and extent of impacts on city services as well as initiatives to reduce traffic congestion, extend bike lanes and unlock more space for pedestrians including urban parklands.
The delegation will also meet with the Mayor of Saint-Denis, the second-largest city in Île-de-France, receiving around 80 per cent of public investment, and was a key hub for the Paris24 Games, including Stade de France, the Aquatics Centre and Athletes Village.
