Deputy Mayor Rick Baberowski announces retirement from politics

In a surprise announcement on his political future, Sunshine Coast Council’s deputy mayor has warned of the need to limit urban development and protect the region’s environment.

Sunshine Coast Council Deputy Mayor Rick Baberowski has announced his retirement from politics.

There will be two new figures leading the Sunshine Coast Council following the 2024 election, with Deputy Mayor Rick Baberowski announcing his retirement from politics.

In a statement, Mr Baberowski said he would retire from politics at the 2024 local government election after 12 years, stepping away at the same time as Mayor Mark Jamieson.

“Twelve years ago, I built my inaugural speech around the question, if we are not the dreaded Gold Coast then what are we?,” Mr Baberowski said in the statement.

“My answer then and now is ‘we are a community of communities in the region of choice’.”

Cr Rick Baberowski

A staunch advocate for rural areas, Mr Baberowski said it was crucial to balance development while protecting the region’s natural assets and environment.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to say how immensely proud I am of the people of the Sunshine Coast, and of how strongly they value our remarkable region and the lifestyle choices we offer,” he said.

“We must, however, remain utterly determined to limit urban development to the capacity of our rural and natural environments – this is who we are!”

The self-described “arty councillor” listed highlights such as supporting the international submarine cable to Maroochydore and international runway at Sunshine Coast Airport, as well as advocating for measures in the planning scheme to protect regional towns.

Cr Rick Baberowski on a visit to the Gold Coast to search for urban design inspiration for upgrades to the Caloundra CBD.

“I’m proudly the ‘arty councillor’, but politics for me has always been about a pragmatic vision, standards and strategy leading to lots of results on the ground,” he said.

“Most importantly, I have done my level best to work with the community and staff to lock into the council’s powerful planning scheme, strong zoning and development controls that preserve the rural separation and character of our valuable country towns; that must be the greatest commitment from the next councillor.”

Mr Baberowski added he was proud to represent the Sunshine Coast as a councillor and deputy mayor.

“One choice made that I will be proud of for the rest of my life is to have served the people of the Sunshine Coast as Division 1 Councillor and more recently as Deputy Mayor,” he said.

“So I want to thank the community, my fellow councillors and my extraordinary family for the incredible level of support I have had over my 12 fabulously cram packed years in office.”

Mr Baberowski was elected to Sunshine Coast Council in April, 2012 representing the Division 1, with the hinterland electorate taking in suburbs including Beerburrum, Beerwah, Caloundra West, Coochin Creek, Glass House Mountains, and Landsborough.

Over the next eight years, he earned the respect and support of his peers to be elected deputy mayor following an unanimous vote at a post-election meeting in April, 2020.