By STEVE GRAY
THEY didn’t save the shire, but they are hoping to restore local representation to the Southern Downs Regional Council.
Save Our Shire Stanthorpe has battled on since their demand for de-amalgamation was rejected by the Queensland Government, and has responded to its call for comment on a local government election discussion paper.
The group now claims to be the principal ratepayers’ representative group in the Stanthorpe area
President Bob Johnson is urging the Newman Government to return democracy to local areas by allowing them to be represented by their own councillors.
Mr Johnson said the loss of democratic voices in council has become increasingly obvious since amalgamation in 2008.
During its meeting with Local Government Minister David Crisafulli at a Cabinet meeting in Toowoomba in November, Save Our Shire urged the implementation of local councillors as opposed to the current undivided council.
The group claims there is a lack of committed council representation evident since the forced merger of Stanthorpe and Warwick, and blames this on the inequities of an undivided council.
At present, voters list the eight councillors they most prefer from those standing for election and their preference for mayor. Save our Shire wants to revert to a ward system which would allow voters in each ward to elect their own councillor(s).
The delegates told the minister that Stanthorpe has experienced a sudden removal of council business from the town as the demands of centralisation prevented local businesses from tendering for contracts they once held.
Save Our Shire delegates reminded Mr Crisafulli of his statement that introduction of divisions would be on the table for discussion and that this was one way in which local agency and advocacy could be returned to Stanthorpe.
Minister Crisafulli signalled that with evident community support this was a viable proposition, the group said.
