The Whitsunday region encompasses a total land area of 23,862 square kilometres, which includes the 74 Whitsunday Islands and major townships of Airlie Beach, Bowen, Cannonvale, Collinsville and Proserpine, with numerous rural and coastal communities and residential areas scattered throughout the area.
The Bruce Highway is the major transport corridor running north-south through the region, to Mackay in the south and Townsville in the north.
The Whitsunday region is home to approximately 35,500 permanent residents.
Due to the strength of the local economy, the region’s population is expected to grow at an annual rate of 2.3 percent over the next 20 years, which exceeds the State average of 1.8 percent.
Renowned for its relaxed lifestyle, the region boasts beaches, rainforests and large tracts of national parkland.
While the region is rural and coastal in its nature, residents and visitors alike enjoy access to contemporary facilities including museums, art galleries, cafes, hotels and restaurants, entertainment facilities and cinemas.
The diversity of the region being the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the magnificent 74 Whitsunday Islands makes the region special.
The Whitsunday region also has one of the fastest growing populations in Queensland.
Boasting a strong and diverse economy driven by the agriculture, construction, mining and tourism industries; the Whitsunday region has the potential to become the economic powerhouse of North Queensland.
26 years in local government.
I have been involved in local government in the Whitsundays throughout its various incarnations for more than 26 years.
I joined Proserpine Shire Council in 1984 as an employee, and then served two terms as a Councillor on Whitsunday Shire Council.
Upon the amalgamation of the former Bowen and Whitsunday shires in 2008, I was elected to the newly created Whitsunday Regional Council as a Divisional Councillor.
I was sworn in as the region’s first female Mayor on May 11, 2012.
As Mayor, I am dedicated to securing funding and support for the agriculture, construction, mining and tourism industries that underpin the region’s economy.
I am committed to improving the livability of the region, partnering with business and industry to deliver positive outcomes for the community, providing open and transparent leadership and ensuring Whitsunday Regional Council achieves organisational excellence.
I enjoy taking my grandchildren to the Airlie Beach lagoon, the Bowen water park and enjoying the wonderful parks and playground.
I am in partnership with my husband in a small agricultural business.
This keeps me abreast of issues facing small businesses and is a true reality check.
Demanding challenges.
The key challenges for our Council are being financially sustainable and meeting the demanding challenges that confront Councils today.
Over the past few years we have had some challenging economic circumstance with a legacy of debt and over investment in capital projects.
However, due to the difficult decisions made in this term of Council and the stringent financial management we have put in place, the Whitsunday region is now looking at a much stronger financial future with less debt.
We still have further costly infrastructure to deliver for our community.
Women tend to have more demands on them and finding the time for the job can be challenging.
There are still some circumstances where it is a man’s world, however this is changing.
The most difficult part of the role has been bringing about amalgamation particularly in the boardroom.
One of the successes has been turning the financial position of Council aroundwhilst still delivering costly infrastructure.
My greatest achievement has been keeping Council in control of the Whitsundays.
