Kelly Vea Vea throws hat into the ring for the Isaac mayoral race
After serving as the deputy mayor for the Isaac region Kelly Vea Vea has announced she now wants the top job
Mackay
Don't miss out on the headlines from Mackay. Followed categories will be added to My News.
After five years of service as the deputy mayor of the Isaac region, Kelly Vea Vea has announced her candidacy to run for the top job.
A long term Moranbah resident, Ms Vea Vea first started serving the public as the Moranbah Action Group’s chairperson and sought to tackle the issue of the fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workforce in Isaac.
When she ran for councillor in 2012, her platform had expanded beyond FIFO to include promoting affordable housing and sustainable growth.
In her tenure as councillor Ms Vea Vea advocated for education and investment into local communities.
“Access to skills and training for existing and new industry jobs should be out here and leaving shouldn’t be the only option for kids who want to go to university,”
Serving as deputy mayor since 2018, she collaborated with former mayor Anne Baker to address these issues and together they introduced the Strong and Sustainable Resources Communities Bill.
During her time as councillor and as deputy mayor, she has helped secure funding for a number of projects ranging from the Clermont Showgrounds to the Moranbah Hospital.
In her campaign for mayor, Ms Vea Vea made her priorities clear, support for local, more funding for community and infrastructure projects, as well as the goal to open Country University Centres across Isaac to deliver on her promise of education and training for those who want them.
“Our roads were never built to handle the sheer number and weight that they do,” she said.
“The Peak Downs Highway is one of our priorities.”
On average, one person dies every year on the Peak Downs Highway and at least six others are seriously hospitalised.
Ms Vea Vea wants to also focus on smaller local roads stating “We also need to get the basics right.”
“Road maintenance funding needs to be increased and is long overdue.
“We have a number of local roads that we need to focus on.
“The Isaac region is 58,000 square kilometres It’s bloody huge.”
Ms Vea Vea is running independent of any other councillors or local politicians and is currently unopposed.
More Coverage
Safety questions after Bruce Hwy explosion that killed twin unanswered
The companies involved in the crash that killed a 21-year-old twin and blew up part of the Bruce Highway have failed to answer key questions about another recent near-disaster in Central Qld.
Firm’s ban on lung testing of miners lifted
A Queensland medical provider suspended for substandard lung tests will be allowed to resume full operations. See why the ban was lifted.