Fraser Coast council to host meetings in Hervey Bay and Maryborough in 2023
Fraser Coast council is stripping back its meeting roadshow after having only one attendee – a journalist – at its last special event.
Fraser Coast
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The roadshow of Fraser Coast council meetings will soon be limited to just two cities.
Ordinary council meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of every month, with members of the community encouraged to attend.
While each meeting is live-streamed on the council’s YouTube channel, and often held at Hervey Bay Council Chambers, outside meetings are also hosted in different communities throughout the year.
However, with destination meetings proving not to be drawcards for residents, council meetings are only scheduled at Hervey Bay and Maryborough in 2023.
In 2022, council meetings have been held at Hervey Bay Council Chambers, Maryborough City Hall, Toogoom Community Hall and River Heads Community Hall.
Councillor Denis Chapman told his colleagues on Wednesday that outside meetings had not been successful for attracting residents.
For those reasons, and to save costs, Mr Chapman said council had gone back to alternating meetings in Hervey Bay and Maryborough.
Mayor George Seymour said no River Heads locals attended the last meeting which was held at the community hall on Ariadne St in September.
“I like having meetings out in communities, but I think it should be a bit more targeted,” he said.
“All we did in having the River Heads one, was making the Chronicle journalist go out there.”
Mr Seymour said the council’s meeting schedule needed a “refresh”, and suggested to only hold outside meetings if issues related to specific communities.
Mr Seymour highlighted the council meetings held in previous years Burrum Heads and Glenwood which attracted quite the crowd.
Mr Chapman noted Hervey Bay Council Chambers had good facilities and access for people to sit in and listen.
The first council meeting in the new year will be held at Hervey Bay Council Chambers on January 25, 2023.
All councillors voted in favour of the meeting schedule for 2023.
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