A regular feature, this month we have interviewed two Councillors from Queensland.
Mayor Julie Boyd, Mackay City Council, Qld
Q. How long have you been involved in Local Government?
I was first elected to the Mackay City Council in 1988 and served for two years before moving across the river into Pioneer Shire. When the Councils were amalgamated in 1994, I stood and was elected as a Divisional Councillor. I stood for the Mayoral position in 1997 and was re-elected in 2000. I have served five years as a Councillor and seven years as Mayor. Local Government elections will be held this year at the end of March and I will be standing again.
Q. What are some of the key attributes of Mackay as a regional city?
Mackay is a wonderful city to live and raise a family or retire to. Like many people who have moved to Mackay, we came here in 1986 with the intention of staying for a year, but chose to make it our home. Mackay is a coastal city, with residents having a number choices in regards to which beach they will swim. The recently established marina is world class and residents and visiting yachties have easy access to the Whitsunday Islands. Families have access to good schools, the Mackay campus of Central Queensland University, beautiful parks, an award winning art gallery, many sporting facilities, one of only two blue rivers in Queensland and a fantastic climate all year round. It has a diverse and growing economy and is the service centre to the northern Bowen basin coalfields. Sugarcane and cattle producers are the major agricultural drivers. The Eungella rainforest and the Finch Hatton Gorge are beautiful, cool and relaxing spots all year.
Q. Describe the population of Mackay. Are the demographics changing?
The population of Mackay is approx 78,000 and has been growing at average rate of 1.7 per cent per annum. The population is younger than the State average with a high proportion of families.
Q. What are the major issues facing Council and the local community?
Infrastructure provision in keeping with a growing residential population has been a challenge for the Council. The replacement of existing liquid and solid waste facilities are major projects being undertaken over the next two years. The replacement of the main sewerage treatment plant with a new plant to the south of the city and subsequent effluent re-use for cane irrigation will see approx 4,000 hectares of cane being irrigated. The State Government, in conjunction with Council, will be calling for expressions of interest for a convention centre and associated hotel development earmarked for land beside the river. The State has committed up $38m towards this project. This development along with a River walkway construction and City Centre revitalisation project will put a greater emphasis back to the river.
Q. What are some of the challenges you have faced?
When I first elected as Mayor, I found that gender was issue for some people who had preconceived ideas about being a Mayor. That has changed dramatically, and is certainly not an issue now. I have had to balance family and political life but, in doing so, it helps me to focus on the important issues.
Q. What have been the most rewarding aspects of your involvement?
The thing I like most, and that I find the most rewarding about Local Government, is the interaction with the community. I enjoy working with and for the community to make Mackay a better place to live. The decisions we make at Council impact immediately on our residents, unlike the decisions of the other spheres of Government. Those decisions need to be taken from an informed and considered basis. My Council has been fortunate to have excellent staff who work well with the elected representatives in implementing the Council’s Corporate Plan.
Q7. How do you see the role of Local Government changing over the next 20 years?
Local Government in Queensland changed dramatically in 1993 when the new Act was introduced. In the ten years since then, it has had to contend with more and more responsibility, with less and less resources. The idea of Council’s sticking to the core of Roads, Rates and Rubbish is so far removed from reality as to be somewhat of a myth now. Triple bottom line reporting, accrual accounting, Enterprise bargaining, the Integrated Planning Act and the Environmental Protection Act (to name a few) were introduced, with Councils having to increase staff, improve IT systems and associated resources, and still keeping rates within CPI increases. The reporting and accountability increases have gone hand in hand with these changes. In the next 20 years, I see Local Government taking on more responsibility from the States and an eventual processes of creating regional Governments either by amalgamation or by Councils working in greater collaboration by resource and infrastructure sharing. Some may say that is happening now, but I think the level will intensify. As a community’s expectations change, so too will the changes to Local Government.
Mayor Tony Mooney, Townsville City Council, Qld
Q How long have you been involved in Local Government?
27 years. Elected Mayor in 1989.
Q What are some of the key attributes of Townsville as a regional city.
Townsville has one of the strongest regional economies in Australia and is fast becoming a city of choice for a growing number of families. Located 1,300 kilometres north of Brisbane, Townsville is a flourishing port city that serves as the commercial, administrative, and industrial capital of the North, and home to the biggest army base in Australia. Townsville’s major advantages are its diverse economy, a fact gaining increasing recognition among national and international companies and investors, and wonderful lifestyle. The city has experienced strong growth and expansion over the past decade. A key factor in the city’s success has been Council’s strong role in improving the lifestyle of local residents and attracting sustainable development. Townsville has one of the most extensive parks networks in Queensland that features the nationally recognised Strand redevelopment on the city’s foreshore and the Ross River Parkway.
Q Describe the population of Townsville. Are the demographics changing?
The population of the Townsville region increased from 133,000 to 146,000 between the 1996 and 2001 Census, a 10% increase making it one of the fastest growing areas in Queensland. The projected population by 2020 is almost 200,000. The region is culturally diverse with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders amounting to 5% of the population and 11.5% of residents born overseas (Social Atlas 2003). The current Townsville population continues to be younger than for Queensland and Australia, with 62% being aged less than 40 years compared with 56.8% for Queensland and 56.6% for Australia. Family type has continued to diversify in recent years in Townsville, with the percentage of single parent families slightly higher in Townsville compared to Australia and Queensland. The traditional two parent family type is still the major group (46.6% of family types).
Q What are the major issues facing Council and the local community?
As major provincial coastal city in close to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, a major challenge is to create opportunities for future growth through sustainable development. Balanced development with good environmental outcomes is our fundamental aim. Obviously, the challenge for Council has been to upgrade and maintain our public infrastructure to meet current and future environmental standards. As a result we have embarked on major programs to rejuvenate our waste water treatment facilities, drainage networks, and undertaken a range of environmental projects to protect local natural areas. Another major issue for Townsville is the universal problem for Councils – the devolution of services from State Government. New laws and legislation provide significantly more regulatory responsibility on Councils with out the opportunity to generate revenue to cover the cost.
Q What are some of the challenges you have faced in Local Government?
Typical of northern communities, Townsville has had a constant fight for State and Commonwealth funding. From a very early stage in Local Government I have been an outspoken critic of governments of all persuasions on the issue of regional development. Townsville is at the centre of extremely important economic region and lobbying for government support for public and private sector initiatives is a high priority for my Council. This hasn’t made me the most popular Mayor on the block but fighting for our fair share is part of the job.
Q What have been the most rewarding aspects of your involvement?
The reward is when you see Council programs or services that are making a difference, improving the lifestyle for local residents and attracting families to our city. The Strand redevelopment is a great example. It has encouraged Townsville families to enjoy the outdoors and that’s what living here is all about. Other good moments are when we successfully lobby government for funding for local initiatives or attract major new industries or employment opportunities to the city. And I get a great deal of pride and satisfaction when our community celebrates. No city does it better than Townsville.
Q How do you see the role of Local Government changing over the next 20 years?
Local Government right round Australia faces great change and challenge. The devolution of many responsibilities from States to Councils is placing enormous pressure on Local Government. Put plain and simple, Local Governments are facing a funding crisis in meeting the growing needs of their local communities as the fundamental role of Councils continues to change. Local Government must maintain a strong voice to challenge government and get a better deal for our communities.
