Community & Business
2 July, 2024
Mayor wants rural zoning
Toowoomba Regional Council has taken the first step towards a new approach to regional representation for Councillors.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Cr Geoff McDonald said the beginning of this new Council term was the right time to review how Councillors engage with the region’s diverse population.
“We need to continue to value and understand the uniqueness of our townships and villages throughout the region,” the Mayor said.
“The proposed new model which Councillors agreed to examine further today, is aimed at addressing community sentiment on regional representation across the region,” he said.
“There are now 11 Councillors covering the same footprint that was served by 68 councillors’ pre-amalgamation.
“Developing a model that ensures everyone feels represented is always going to be challenging.
“Today is the first step in finding a model that will ensure better engagement and access between the community and Councillors.”
Mayor McDonald said the next step would be a workshop for councillors to fine-tune the terms of reference.
Under the new model, Councillors will continue to engage across the whole region, however, Councillors will also be assigned additional areas of interest where they would act as a conduit for residents into Council.
Three zones have been proposed with three councillors to be aligned to each zone for one year.
Councillors will then be re-allocated to zones for the next year.
“During the year each Councillor is allocated a zone it is expected that they will visit schools, attend various events and utilise space in Council’s service centres to hot desk and meet community members in their zone,” the Mayor said.
“This new model is aimed at reinvigorating community-led conversations which will lead to more inclusive decision-making.”
The new model is expected to begin on 1 September 2024 following a Councillor workshop to discuss the terms of reference.
The three zones include:
North: Cooyar, Crows Nest, Geham, Goombungee, Haden, Hampton, Pinelands, Ravensbourne, Yarraman, Acland, Biddeston, Bowenville, Jondaryan, Oakey, Mount Tyson, Kulpi, Maclagan, Quinalow, Peranga.
Emerging: Cabarlah, Cambooya, Charlton, Gowrie Junction, Highfields, Hodgson Vale, Kingsthorpe, Kleinton, Meringandan, Meringandan West, Wellcamp, Westbrook, Wyreema.
South: Brookstead, Cecil Plains, Kooroongarra, Millmerran, Millmerran Downs, Millmerran Woods, Cypress Gardens, The Pines, Wattle Ridge, Forest Ridge, Condamine Farms, Pampas, Back Plains, Clifton, Greenmount, East Greenmount, Felton, Nobby, Pilton, Pittsworth, Ramsay, Southbrook.
In a separate proposal, also addressed last week, Cr Kerry Shine’s electoral division proposal was blocked by Councillors.
Cr Shine was spearheading an electoral arrangement review which could see divisions brought to Toowoomba Regional Council, potentially providing areas outside of Toowoomba with their own Councillor or Councillors.
As a recommendation was not provided by
Council officers, Cr Shine moved a motion to delay a decision until after the upcoming budget, which was defeated by eight votes to three.
Only Cr Shine, Cr Rebecca Vonhoff and Cr Tim McMahon voted for it.
In response, Cr Bill Cahill put forward a motion to
take no further action, which passed nine votes to two.
Cr Cahill said it was his view that divisions would not necessarily lead to better rural representation.
At a TRC meeting in October last year, Council resolved to engage a qualified consultant to prepare, by June 2024, a Divisional Election Arrangement paper for Council to consider, i.e. electoral divisions (a mapped area), and number of Councillors to represent the electoral division.
A report presented to Councillors last week, authored by Bailey Garcha, Manager Governance and Legal Services, said management has not engaged a qualified consultant at this stage as it is not the consultant’s views Council is seeking on Electoral Divisions and Councillor member representation.
The vote looks set to shut down Cr Shine’s proposal to have two Councillors directly elected by the voters of rural towns such as Oakey, Goombungee, Pittsworth and Crows Nest.
