Sunshine Coast councils asked to confirm status of internal boundaries

The three Sunshine Coast Councils merging to form the new Sunshine Coast Regional Council are being asked to confirm the status of internal boundaries drawn up by the Electoral Commission of Queensland.

Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said councils were being given the opportunity to accept the divisions or revert to an ‘undivided’ electoral system if they believed the divisions were not suitable for their region.

“I am aware some local governments may have reconsidered their preference to operate under divisions based on internal boundaries,” Mr Pitt said.

“Councils will have until next Wednesday – the 26th of September – to decide whether they accept the divisions and quotas determined by the independent Electoral Commission, or whether their preference is for an undivided council.

“Noosa Shire, Maroochy Shire and Caloundra City Councils have been asked to reach unanimous agreement should they wish to return to an ‘undivided’ status.

“The government’s intention in allowing divisions was to ensure communities with particular representational concerns could be assured their representation would be maintained.

“Therefore, where councils are being amalgamated, if one council believes their community is best represented by a divisionally-based council then the Electoral Commission’s arrangements will stand across the entire new local government,” Mr Pitt said.

Mr Pitt said the three Sunshine Coast Councils were among 60 councils statewide that were being asked to confirm the status of internal boundaries determined by the Electoral Commission.

Of the 24 proposed divisionally based councils in Queensland reviewed by the Electoral Commission, 16 were newly created regional councils, three were councils not impacted by boundary changes, (Boulia, Etheridge and Redland), and five had some boundary changes, (Ipswich, Gold Coast, Banana, Cook and Logan).

The Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council on Cape York and the Torres Strait Island Regional Council will remain divided on the basis of existing council boundaries.

“From 2008, Queensland will have a system of local government where boundaries have been drawn by an independent body, internal divisions have been drawn independently and the remuneration for elected officials will be determined independently,” Mr Pitt said.

“The release of the divisions is yet another milestone completed in preparation for the local government elections on 15 March 2008.”

Mr Pitt said the government’s commitment to local government reform remained steadfast.

“Councils across the state are now working hard to manage the transition process, and they are to be commended on this.

“Each of the 34 Local Transition Committees tasked with preparing the handover plan for the new council has been established and had at least an initial meeting.

“In addition, the appointment of interim chief executive officers is generally progressing well,” Mr Pitt said.

Maps displaying the internal divisions will be available on the ECQ website –www.ecq.qld.gov.au – on Friday 21 September. Larger scale maps will be prepared by the Department of Natural Resources and Water showing the divisional boundaries in greater detail.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819