To date, we have seen only one new face from Stanthorpe as a prospective Southern Downs Regional Councillor. The rest are returning and recycled councillors used to governing a Shire not a region which is a very different task.
For a start, the latest Local Government Act has reduced the power of councillors to an advisory body to the CEO. There is limited scope under current laws for councillors to work directly with paid personnel on projects and for councillors to speak and listen to the ‘real’ staff. The next Council needs to lobby State Government to change legislation back and in the meantime get actions in drainage, road works and economic development actually happening on the ground. Council needs to keep the workforce focused, stable and happy and to get the system working smarter, not harder.
Secondly, the amalgamated region is now twice the size with half the number of councillors who are expected to know the detailed history and geography of the entire region, every road and bridge name and be at every community gathering. It is an increasingly difficult task to properly represent the whole area and be up-to-date with local details across the region, especially difficult for those councillors who are not based in the urban area of Warwick. Divisions will rectify this and held to diffuse the current feelings in Killarney, Allora and Stanthorpe of being left out.
There is nothing stopping the next council from dividing the workload into divisions so that elected representatives are spokespersons for defined areas or for the outside staff to work predominantly for one section of the region. Returning autonomy on local issues to Stanthorpe, Allora, Killarney and areas in between would help to put the ‘local’ back into local government.
Thirdly, Warwick and Stanthorpe are no longer the ‘yolks in the centre of the eggs’ like their former shires. There is now one whole region with a series of centres of different sizes, looking more like a piece of Swiss cheese than a double-yolker egg. Every centre in the region needs to be nurtured for appropriate development. Why can’t there be incentives for housing estates in each existing locality? This is better surely that ad-hoc development at Cherribah contrary to the town plan and with no services.
Despite the apt description of ‘Warwick and Stanthorpe Shires being like oil and water’, the next as the region’s Mayor as the leader needs, with councillors’ support, to get Stanthorpe and Warwick working together, not in competition.
Warwick has its black soil plains, history, sandstone architecture and State Government agencies as an attraction as a place to visit and reside and Stanthorpe has complimentary attractions with granite country, farm produce and a touch of Italian style. Then there are the mountains and waterfalls to the east.
Tourism with icon signage, welcoming entrance statements and promotion in target markets needs to be a priority for the next Council, especially fixing the road to Woodenbong as a major inter-regional link between Toowoomba and Lismore to connect us with Byron Bay. In its current state, it’s holding back the whole region.
De-amalgamation needs to be discussed but is unlikely, even though it would not be as expensive as suggested by the current council. Until there is de-amalgamation and/or divisions, I appeal to voters in the next election to choose good candidates who act with the whole region’s small and large communities in mind.
The next councillors need experience as decision makers to apply legislation simply, practically, fairly and efficiently. As a local resident, beef cattle producer, ratepayer and town planning consultant, let’s hope at the next election that we have some fresh and sensible new councillors who can think regionally and act locally with drive, ability and direction.
Jamie R. Mackenzie,
Killarney
