Should Magnetic Island have its own regional council?

Magnetic Island has much prestige and tourism dollars for Townsville. Does it then deserve its own political representation?

Tourists visit Alma Bay, which is one of the many beautiful beaches on Magnetic Island. The island supports a quarter of the region’s tourism jobs. Picture: Getty Images

Complaints of lack of representation from Magnetic Island residents has motivated Katter’s Australian Party candidate Margie Ryder to question if it is the time for Magnetic Island to have its own council.

But while Ms Ryder believes a separate council is a drastic solution, she believes the island should have its own voice within the Townsville City Council chamber given its economic significance.

According to a tourism master plan released last year the island draws in 290,000 visitors, supports 25 per cent of the region’s tourism jobs, and has 211 businesses which generate $380m in economic output.

It is part of Townsville’s diverse Division 3, which stretches from Bohle and Pallarenda, to South Townsville.

Ms Ryder attended a regular meeting of Magnetic Island Ratepayers and Residents Association (MIRRA) as part of her campaign this weekend, which she said demonstrated locals’ passion for the neighbourhood’s issues.

In the past month alone the council’s approach to issues such as a dredging storage site in Nelly Bay, legally challenging residents’ accommodation, and in digging up of the Telstra cable, has flared up the sentiment the community has been overlooked.

Ms Ryder, a former division 1 councillor, said there was a frustrated feeling from residents that they were not being heard by their local government, and they were looking to the example of their neighbour Palm Island.

“I’m listening to Bob (Katter) how they’re doing it in other places, and if they’re that determined that they then have a vision for their community they roll it out and they govern their own community and let them do it, if that’s what they want,” Ms Ryder said.

KAP Townsville candidate, and a former councillor, Margie Ryder has questioned whether Magnetic Island should run its own council.

“But I don’t know how easy it would be to break away and make another council, you’re probably better off doing what’s been suggested as a councillor just for here.

“Because by the list of their problems … I’m definitely a list person but that list is very, very long.”

Division 3 councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said separating the region’s “jewel in the crown” into its own council was an “interesting” question worth bringing to the attention of party leaders Steven Miles and David Crisafulli.

Day one at the 2024 Sealink Magnetic Island Race Week this year, which is another significant event drawing in tourists to the region.

But while the Magnetic Island community was independent and “parochial” it was also expensive to run a council’s administration.

Even a divisional restructure for Magnetic Island to form its own division have its issues.

“You’d have so many hoops to jump through, and I mean, the island itself is 2500 people,” Ms Greaney said.

“And if I look at Division 3 there’s over 19,000 people, so at the moment, from a council perspective, it probably doesn’t warrant being its own division.”

Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney represents many suburbs in Division 3 including Magnetic Island. Picture: Shae Beplate.

MIRRA attendee Angela Hallett, who recently raised concerns about dredging storage in her neighbouring property, said there needed to be more investment back into the community.

“Last year alone, Magnetic Island contributed almost $400m in tourism dollars alone to the Townsville economy,” she said.

“And yet the piece of the pie and the complete lack of reinvestment back into the community, it’s absolutely ridiculous.

“And I’m not saying we deserve it all, but there’s no investment back in it.”

Originally published as Should Magnetic Island have its own regional council?