Regional issues to be discussed at ministerial forum

A profile of Sarina Shire will be on the agenda when the Ministerial Regional Community Forum for the Mackay Whitsunday Region comes to Sarina on Monday 26 March.

The Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries, Tim Mulherin, and the Minister for Natural Resources and Water as well as Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland, Craig Wallace, are scheduled to attend the forum.

Jan Jarratt MP, Member for Whitsunday and Regional Queensland Councillor for the Mackay Whitsunday Region, said the MPs would discuss the issues facing Sarina with regional representatives known as forum members.

The 26 March forum will be the first time that new forum members from the Mackay Whitsunday region will participate in the important event. Members include:

• Rebecca Andrews, Executive Officer of Whitsunday Development Corporation and Committee Member of Whitsunday Growth Management Committee
• Councillor Mike Brunker, Bowen Shire Mayor and Board member of the Mackay Regional Area Consultative Committee
• Ted Bussey, former forum member and member of Mackay Canegrowers Ltd
• Col Creighton, Chief Executive Officer of Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group
• Chris Connors, General Manager Proserpine Cooperative Sugar Milling Cooperative, and member of Proserpine Chamber of Commerce
• Hayley Finger, a trainee youth worker from Clermont and committee member for the Youth Action Group, Belyando Shire.
• Councillor Karen May, former forum member and acting Mayor Sarina Shire Council
• Mary Pitt from the Mackay Regional Council for Social Development who has extensive involvement in the Mackay Indigenous community
• Caroline Strickland, former forum member and regional coordinator for Hinterland and Community Care
• Councillor Greg Thompson, former forum member and Mackay City Councillor.

“I encourage anyone interested in local issues to attend as part of the public audience and listen to the views of forum members and the attending MPs,” Ms Jarratt said.

The forum will take place at Sarina Motor Inn, 22 Broad Street, Sarina from 9 am.

For more information and to RSVP contact the Department of Communities in Mackay on 4967 4420.

Media contact: Jan Jarratt MP, Member for Whitsunday, Regional Queensland Councillor for the Mackay Whitsunday Region, telephone 4945 3343.