CEO Rachel Cooper, Mayor Rachel Chambers to exit North Burnett Regional Council in December
North Burnett Regional Council’s CEO has announced her bombshell resignation, just two months after the region’s Mayor made the stunning decision to also call it quits.
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North Burnett Regional Council Rachel Cooper has resigned in a shock move just months after Mayor Rachel Chambers stepped down from the top job.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the North Burnett and have forged some wonderful friendships with fantastic people,” Ms Cooper said.
“The Mayor and councillors are the most dedicated and passionate local leaders I have had the good fortune to work with.”
The outgoing CEO said it was time for her to make way for a new CEO after the resignation of Cr Chambers.
“The relationship between a Mayor and CEO is absolutely critical to the smooth operation of a local council, and I hope the next partnership is as professional and respectful as the one I have enjoyed with Mayor Chambers,” Ms Cooper said.
Cr Chambers resigned as Mayor in September quoting personal reasoning in a video posted to Facebook.
She said personal and “life-changing” events over the past few months had served as a “wake-up call as to how life needs to be lived” and forced her to rethink her priorities.
During the year, the council demanded action from the Queensland Government on an “existential threat” to regional councils, which forced the North Burnett council to cut services in the region to survive.
Prior to the release of council’s 2021/22 budget, Cr Chambers led the Between a Rock and a Hard Place community consultation tour across Gayndah, Biggenden, Eidsvold, Monto, Mundubbera and Mt Perry, which revealed grave budgetary concerns for the North Burnett region.
Ms Cooper, who took over from previous CEO Gary Rinehart in 2019, will serve her last day on the Council on December 16.
Cr Chambers’ resignation will be effective on December 11.
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