North Burnett Regional Council discusses amalgamation rumours

‘Ongoing, damaging rumours’ around the amalgamation of North Burnett Regional Council were a hot topic at the council’s first meeting of 2023.

The North Burnett Regional Council has addressed “ongoing, damaging” rumours of boundary changes after concerns were raised about the council’s financial sustainability rating.

The North Burnett Regional Council has addressed “ongoing, damaging” rumours of boundary changes after concerns were raised about the council’s financial sustainability rating.

The NBRC was amalgamated into its current form in 2008, and has faced rumours of amalgamation or de-amalgamation with neighbouring councils since September 2022.

Reports circulating through council staff and the broader community have cited the council’s low financial stability rating as the main reason for a possible reallocation of NBRC land to other councils.

A document presented at Wednesday’s council meeting stated the rumours had arisen from “residual opposition to the original council merger which created North Burnett Regional Council”.

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So convincing were the rumours that a January 2023, meeting agenda document stated the situation was “impacting the health, wellbeing and sense of security of staff” and was “counter-productive to the achievement of the ongoing work required to move North Burnett Regional Council toward greater financial sustainability”.

The North Burnett Regional Council has addressed “ongoing, damaging” rumours of boundary changes after concerns were raised about the council’s financial sustainability rating.

The council has reached out to Local Government Minister Steven Miles was clarification and was assured the state government had no plan to amalgamate or de-amalgamate the NBRT.

A report to the council on the issue suggested financial support would help ease the regularity of the rumours and “it was noted that the Queensland Government is looking at ways that it might provide additional support (training) to councils who face unique financial sustainability concerns”.

The council has also partnered with Queensland University to “deliver a Service Planning Course for elected members,” which would offer council members a better understanding of “council’s services, service levels and costs”.