Kirstie Schumacher discusses housing, mental health and renewable energy

Mayoral candidate and a current South Burnett councillor has spoken out about the housing crisis hitting the region, mental health and the newly approved solar farm near Blackbutt and why she voted in favour of it.

Cr Kirstie Schumacher is running for mayor of the South Burnett Regional Council in 2024.

Current councillor Kirstie Schumacher doesn’t believe she is better than anyone else running for mayor of the South Burnett Regional Council.

But she does believe she has different skills to offer and one distinct advantage that others don’t.

When explaining why she initially ran for councillor, the 36-year-old small business owner said she found herself with ideas for the region but unable to do anything, so she asked herself one question.

“You can sit on the sideline Kirstie, or you can get in the arena and have a go, what’s it gonna be?”

“I guess I chose to get in the arena … I had some skills and I thought I could bring them to the table and maybe inspire some positive change,” Ms Schumacher said.

Her two young children, Decklan, 14, and Grace, 10, like to voice their opinions about how the regions towns look and feel, especially when it comes to parks and playgrounds.

“They are possibly my biggest supporters … they keep me really honest.

“I think it gives me an advantage in council … being a mother to two young kids living in the region. I have a solid understanding of things that matter to that next generation,” she said.

Cr Kirstie Schumacher celebrates her Bachelor of Communication and Media with son Decklan, daughter Grace and husband Wayne Schumacher. Picture: Kevin Farmer

One issue that appears to have no end in sight, is the current housing crisis that has hit the South Burnett hard.

“It is an area I’ve been working on in the regional development portfolio,” Ms Schumacher said.

She said the rising infrastructure and civil costs are making it difficult for developers to open up new land.

“That combined with the holding time and the limited number of banks that would actually loan money to developers means that in so many ways the outcomes that we need aren’t being achieved.

“I’ve got no magic wand and I can’t make any promises, but I am committed to doing the work and to chipping away at that problem piece by piece … there is so much more to be done,” she said.

Mental health is one issue Ms Schumacher holds dear to her heart, having personally experienced the impact it can have on others.

“I’ve lived first-hand as a child, in a house with my mother who suffered terrible mental health challenges and I understand first-hand the impact to not having access to services,” she said.

“I think, as a region, collectively we have to get together, we have to be advocating for better. I think we deserve better services in our region and I can see that council can play a role in that,” she said.

Ms Schumacher is grateful to Head to Health who will be soon establishing themselves in Kingaroy, which she hopes will help with the issue.

“I guess I want to build on those things, those connections … I want to be a strong voice, a leader and an advocate for our region,” she said.

Cr Kirstie Schumacher is running for mayor of the South Burnett Regional Council. Photo/Holly Cormack.

One controversial issue that recently surfaced is the newly approved Tumuruu solar farm which will be built near Blackbutt. Ms Schumacher explained why she voted in favour of it and discussed the future of renewables for the region.

“That proposal had the highest level of planning scrutiny that our council could possibly enforce and at the end of the day we still hold the right to enforce action if they are not responsible operators and do not meet the needs of that development application.”

Ms Schumacher said the state had already made the decision regarding how it would be powered and the switch to renewables would happen regardless.

“I would rather see our community being part of that conversation than being left behind.

“I fear if we ignore it and don’t put appropriate provisions in place, it will happen without us and we’ll have no control or no ability to influence better outcomes … I’m just not willing to take that risk,” she said.

A major solar farm was approved last week by the South Burnett Regional Council. (Photo by MED LEMINE RAJEL / AFP)

Councillor Kathy Duff was the only councillor who voted against the new solar farm. When asked if Ms Duff was wrong, Ms Schumacher declined to discuss issues currently before the council during her campaign, but did say she respects Ms Duffs decision.

“I respect diversity of opinion and the decisions of council and I think everybody has a right to speaking their mind and sharing their thoughts and representing their community the best way they know how,” she said.

Ms Duff is also running for mayor. When asked why she is the better choice, Ms Schumacher said she doesn’t believe she is better than anyone.

“I don’t believe I’m better than anybody, I genuinely don’t believe that. I just offer different skills and people will decide.

“I know in my head and in my heart I’m up for this and that I would absolutely do the very best job I could to serve and support my region during what is going to be a very turbulent couple of years,” she said.

The local government election will be held on March 16, 2024.