Mackay Regional Council takes shape

Local Government Minister Warren Pitt today met with representatives of the Mackay Regional Council Local Transition Committee to get a first-hand picture of how the transition planning is progressing.

Mr Pitt said the visit to Mackay also provided the opportunity to present the Mackay Local Transition Committee with $240,000 in transition funding.

“This funding will help the Mackay Regional Council LTC to establish its operations and commence the transition planning,” he said.

“I am really pleased with the progress made so far and the commitment of the LTC members to date. It is testament to the level of professionalism of everyone involved.

“The Queensland Government remains committed to reform and as such, our focus is now well and truly on working with councils to implement the new boundaries.”

Mr Pitt said planning during the next five months would be critical to ensure the new Mackay Regional Council was ready for changeover.

“There is a lot of hard work ahead, particularly with the development of the Transition Action Plan,” he said.

“This work will lay the foundation for the integration of budgets, planning schemes, merging of financial systems and staff structures, and other operations imperative to the smooth running of the new council.”

Mr Pitt said funding of $8.75 million had been allocated to help Local Transition Committees across the state as part of an overall funding package of $27.1 million to assist the transition process.

He said the Mackay Regional Council would get another $500,000 to use at its discretion once the new council was formed after the local government elections.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819