Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley, Western Downs council elections 2024: The races so far
Geoff McDonald may run unopposed, the Greens have endorsed their candidate and Tanya Milligan now has a challenger. Here is what the races look like in Toowoomba, the Lockyer Valley and the Western Downs council elections:
Toowoomba
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Geoff McDonald could potentially walk back into the role of mayor unchallenged, with no mayoral candidates revealing themselves during the first week of the campaign.
With nominations open for a week, just two Toowoomba official candidates have been confirmed on the ECQ website.
It comes after Lockyer Valley incumbent Tanya Milligan was revealed to have a challenger for the mayoralship, with a number of current councillors and new candidates also nominating.
Meanwhile, there is no formal nominee yet to replace outgoing Western Downs mayor Paul McVeigh, who announced his retirement
Here is a wrap on the Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley and Western Downs races so far:
Toowoomba
Geoff McDonald may run unopposed as mayor unless a challenger makes their presence known soon.
Mr McDonald, who is the incumbent after taking over last year from the now-retired Paul Antonio, is the only known candidate for mayor a full week after he launched his campaign.
Despite having just six months in the job, the 12-year councillor and small business owner could be handed the reins again to a $5bn organisation handling the public infrastructure for nearly 180,000 people.
While there are 15 people who have indicated they are running for the 10 council positions, at this point just two — real estate agent Trevor Manteufel and academic David King — have lodged their nominations.
The Toowoomba branch of the Queensland Greens this week endorsed Ellisa Parker as their nominee for the election.
Ms Parker, an academic and Oakey resident, said her campaign would be based on five key areas of homelessness and housing, public transport, banning coal and gas, energy efficiency and supporting resilient rural communities.
“Ellisa has a longstanding passion for advocating for clean air and water, healthy soils, and resilient rural communities,” the party said in her announcement.
“She will not cower to corporate or developer bullies and tirelessly advocates for people/communities before profits.”
Ms Parker was previously a Greens candidate at the 2022 federal election for the electorate of Maranoa and also applied for vacant councillor position last year following the retirement of Paul Antonio.
At present, she is the only known new female candidate in the election.
It comes a few days after Crows Nest police officer Chris Brameld announced his candidacy.
Mr Brameld said water security and public infrastructure would be key priorities if elected.
Mayoral candidates: Geoff McDonald (incumbent)
Sitting councillors running again: Megan O’Hara Sullivan, Kerry Shine, Bill Cahill, Carol Taylor, Edwina Farquhar, James O’Shea, Tim McMahon
Sitting councillors unconfirmed: Rebecca Vonhoff, Melissa Taylor
Sitting councillors retiring: Nancy Sommerfield
New candidates running: David King, Trevor Manteufel, Eakraj Adhikari, Andrew Reeson, Scot McPhie, Ellisa Parker, Nathan Essex, Chris Brameld
Lockyer Valley
Mayor
A Gatton small business owner will challenge mayor Tanya Milligan for her position at the upcoming local government election, declaring it was “time for a change” of leadership.
Kyle Burnett, a tertiary-educated businessman with roots in the Lockyer Valley, has put his hand up to lead the region for the next four years.
Mr Burnett said he wanted to see the Lockyer Valley Regional Council return to focusing on its core business of rates, roads and rubbish before looking outward at other projects.
We’re a region in between two international airport, and if we don’t provide a good economic plan we’re going to lose our identity as a rural community,” he said.
“We’ve got a major highway running through it, but we should have a strategic plan so we’re not relying on it (as an economic driver).
“First and foremost, we’ve got to go back to the basics — we’ve got to fix our roads, they’re really bad.
“We’re running out of space in our tip and we’ve got to fix our rating systems.”
While he wouldn’t elaborate yet on what priorities the council had gotten wrong, Mr Burnett believed he was suited to the job because of his experience in business and working in a team.
“In my past, I’ve operated big box retail and businesses that earn more than what the council has,” he said.
“I understand culture, team work, unity, visions and values — I’m tertiary-educated in economics and business.
“I haven’t been employed by the council before, but it’s about leading the team in the right direction.”
When asked about the approach he would take with the ARTC over the controversial Inland Rail project, Mr Burnett said he didn’t agree with the council’s current strategy.
“If they do decide to come through the valley, we need to embrace it (the right way),” he said.
“It’s going to happen, so we shouldn’t fight it, but definitely influence where it’s going to go.
“It’s going to upset a lot of people, but is it for the best for the shire? I think it is, but we still need to have those conversations with the (ARTC).
“We shouldn’t be stopping conversation, which is what the council is doing now.”
Ms Milligan, who is seeking a third term as mayor, said the region needed a stable hand during a period of economic instability.
She also pointed to the reduction of council debt during the period of her mayoralship.
“Every four years is our public performance appraisal (and) I think our council has done a great job,” Ms Milligan said.
“We had almost $40m in debt (when I became mayor) and that will be gone this year, so I think the community is in a good position.
“There are some things I’d like to continue advocate and lobby for, like health infrastructure.”
Ms Milligan said she wanted to advance land acquisition plans for residents in flood-prone communities, arguing she had developed good relationships with the upper tiers of government.
“Our council did allocate $2m for land acquisition in the last budget, so it’s no secret that we’re focused on flood mitigation in that Laidley area,” she said.
“We have been talking with the ministers about our flood mitigation and we’re saying ‘we’re not coming to you with a problem, we have a solution’.”
UPDATE: A third mayoral candidate for the Lockyer Valley has been revealed, with Helidon’s Maree Rosier throwing her hat in the ring.
Ms Rosier describes herself online as an “educator, designer, facilitator and innovator”.
“Her work focuses on community based solutions that facilitate community-imagined and community-directed regeneration as a means of nurturing better outcomes for all,” her biography said online.
Councillors
Three sitting councillors are among the six confirmation nominees so far for the Lockyer Valley’s six positions, with more expected to be announced this week.
Councillors Michael Hagan, Chris Wilson and Brett Qualischefski have all lodged their nominations with the ECQ as of Sunday.
Mr Qualischefski last year was reprimanded for engaging in misconduct after the councillor conduct tribunal was told he acted inappropriately by taking photographs of a woman while she exercised.
Mr Wilson’s brother and financial broker Anthony Wilson will also look to join him on council after submitting his forms.
Other new candidates for the Lockyer Valley include paralegal and community organiser Julie Reck and prominent farmer David Neuendorf, who has run for previous elections with Katter’s Australian Party.
Gourmet mushroom farmer Ben Ryan has also thrown his hat in the ring, along with community organiser and committee member for the Lockyer Valley Billy Cart Association Alan Willson.
Western Downs
The large regional council of the Western Downs still has no formal mayoral candidates, with the race to replace outgoing mayor Paul McVeigh still a mystery.
Mr McVeigh called time on his decorated local government career late last year, having been in the role since 2016.
In the councillor race, incumbent Peter Saxelby has lodged his nomination form but it is unclear which of his eight other colleagues will also be recontesting.
New candidates for 2024 include Chinchilla consultant and training adviser at Shell Robert Ries and retired council officer David Carvosso.
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