Council accused of bias

A LAIDLEY resident has had enough with what he calls the "Gatton-centric nature" of the Lockyer Valley Regional Council.

Laidley resident David Leatherbarrow is running for Lockyer Valley Council in the upcoming council elections. David is calling for less 'Gatton centric' policies and is pushing for improved infrastructure and drainage in Laidley. . Picture: Claudia Baxter

A LAIDLEY resident has had enough with what he calls the "Gatton-centric nature" of the Lockyer Valley Regional Council.

After unsuccessfully running for Lockyer Valley mayor in 2008, David Leatherbarrow will run for a seat on the council this year.

"I just don't think anyone is standing up for the old Laidley shire," Mr Leatherbarrow said.

"The Lockyer Valley is totally Gatton centric.

"It's almost as if Laidley has become a suburb.

"I think the council needs to realise there are people living in other areas; the former Laidley shire has just been ignored."

Mr Leatherbarrow said he was also concerned the people of the Lockyer Valley were given only a narrow political perspective to vote for in council elections.

"In the Lockyer Valley we have Liberals, Nationals, the Katter mob and the LNP though fewer and fewer; and yes we even have some long-time supporters of the Joh Nationals still here," he said.

"I'm a member of the ALP; I'm happy to state that.

"While there are no party politics in local government elections in the Lockyer Valley, and political parties have no input into these elections, candidates who belong to political parties still run as candidates at local government elections."

Mr Leatherbarrow said he believed voters needed to be more informed regarding the policies and political persuasions of local government candidates before voting at the upcoming election.

"When I first moved to the Lockyer Valley I had no idea who these people were, who I was voting for," he said.

"So if you have moved into the Lockyer Valley in the last few years will you be voting these people into council?"

Local government elections are scheduled to be held on Saturday, March 31 across Queensland.

The electoral roll for the elections close on January 31, after which people not enrolled or still enrolled in an old address, will not be able to have their say for the next council term.

Visit www.aec.gov.au.

Originally published as Council accused of bias