Rockhampton and Livingstone boundary review survey results released

After an intense campaign by two Central Queensland councils, the results of a proposed boundary realignment survey are in. Here’s how the people voted.

After intense campaigning by two Central Queensland councils, the results of the voluntary survey for a proposed boundary change are in.

Of the people enrolled to vote in the Rockhampton Regional Council and Livingstone Shire Council areas, 32.2 per cent participated in the survey asking whether Glenlee, Glendale and Rockyview should stay part of LSC or move to RRC.

It was run by the Local Government Change Commission.

According to the survey results almost 55 per cent of residents who participated in the survey supported the three suburbs staying in Livingstone, while more than 45 per cent wanted them to move to RRC.

Rockhampton region councillors are pushing for the northern suburbs residents to be joined with Rockhampton Regional Council. Left to right: Cherie Rutherford, Neil Fisher, Shane Latcham, Donna Kirkland and Tony Williams.

The results, which are available on the Electoral Commission of Queensland website, showed 58 per cent of survey participants living in the three affected suburbs supported moving to RRC.

The website also shows almost 78 per cent of people from RRC who participated supported the northern suburbs joining the council.

Meanwhile in Livingstone, 95 per cent of participants said they didn’t want the proposed boundary change.

Rockhampton region Mayor Tony Williams said the results showed the northern suburbs wanted to be part of RRC.

“This is four times now in less than a decade that these residents have voted to officially be part of our community,” he said.

“This it time for the minister to make a decision now, and do what those people have been asking not once, not twice, not three times, but four times now.”

Mr Williams said while it would still be some time until an official decision on the boundary change was made, he believed council's plans for the suburbs, should they join RRC, would benefit both Rockhampton and Livingstone.

Councillors and Livingstone residents officially launched the Leave Livingstone Alone campaign outside of Rockhampton Regional Council City Hall on May 30, 2022.

“We do genuinely believe that the development we have planned for these suburbs will ultimately benefit everyone across both local government areas by creating more jobs, businesses and opportunities,” he said.

“We’re still willing and able to meet with Livingstone Shire Council to talk about compensation and a path forward from here, it’s something we’ve always been ready to do and something that not necessarily needs to impact the coast ratepayers to the degree that’s been said in the campaign.”

Livingstone Shire Council Mayor Andy Ireland said the results “speak for themselves”.

“Deputy Premier Steven Miles insisted that we proceed with the boundary change survey in June and the results are loud and clear – ‘Leave Livingstone Alone’,” he said.

“Twenty-two per cent of Rockhampton respondents sided with Livingstone in opposing the change, so the results speak for themselves.

“As more time passes from when the idea of a boundary change was originally discussed by the former mayors, residents have begun to realise that there is no need to change the boundaries.

“There are no winners from this boundary review exercise, but maybe these survey results are a win for common sense.”

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the proposed boundary realignment was now with the independent Change Commission for review.

“The Change Commission will consider the financial assessment, written submissions, survey results, and other available information that relates to the proposed change,” he said.

“The Change Commission will then prepare a final determination report and make a recommendation to Government.”

A decision on the boundary review is expected by the end of October.