Toowoomba council elections: Where to vote, all the candidates
Here’s the latest from the Toowoomba council election campaign trail as candidates scramble to secure enough votes for one of 11 positions on the council.
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Most of the Toowoomba region will cast their ballots over the next three days, as candidates scramble to secure enough votes for one of 11 positions on the council.
Here is the latest from the campaign trail:
Pre-poll numbers soar across region
More than 20 per cent of the Toowoomba region has already voted, as pre-polling and postal voting remains popular across the massive local government area.
The Toowoomba early voting centre in Newtown has been a highly-trafficked site, while residents have also been voting at booths in Pittsworth, Oakey and Crows Nest.
On top of the 21,000 ballots already cast in person, the Electoral Commission of Queensland has received and verified 5600 postal votes out of a possible 13,300 ballots sent out.
The high popularity of early voting and limited number of open booths has made them ideal targets for candidates trying to capture large numbers of voters with limited resources.
Essex’s bizarre arm wrestle claim amid no-show claims
Anti-woke council contender Nathan Essex has claimed he could beat “every candidate in an arm wrestle”, after the interstate truck driver revealed his opposition to e-scooters and why he hadn’t attended any of the community forums.
A prominent presence at pre-polling booths and on the sides of roads across Toowoomba, Mr Essex and his running mate Adam Carney were no-shows at the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce’s forum last week.
He also refused to answer questions in-person when asked twice by News Corp, instead sending responses to questions via email earlier this week.
Mr Essex, described the Toowoomba forum as a “talkfest, watched predominantly by people who have made up their mind already”.
“While the rest of the candidates talked between themselves for four hours, I was out in the community and on the roadsides listening,” he said his statement.
Mr Essex also further clarified what he believed was “woke” about the council, accusing the TRC of promoting books about transgenderism among other issues.
“I have said on lots of interviews, including local radio and national television the woke direction of council,” he said.
“This includes children’s books about transgenderism and race relations in our libraries, renaming Tabletop Mt to one decided by “registered Aboriginal parties”, favouring “sustainable development” which would see our children growing up without a back yard – the list goes on.”
Mr Essex took particular issue with the use of e-scooters, despite there being no active plans by council to roll out hire vehicles in the Toowoomba region.
“E-scooters are stupid because they just highlight how on the wrong track TRC are with their priorities,” he said.
“They are nothing but eyesores, which would put our hospitals at more stress with dumb injuries.”
It comes as Mr Essex claimed on social media he’d beat all candidates in an arm wrestle, because “I’ve had to work with my hands”.
Vonhoff defends stance on public candidate opinions
Toowoomba deputy mayor Rebecca Vonhoff has defended her decision on refraining from making her stances public on a number of issues and projects.
The popular councillor, who is a favourite to win re-election on March 16, told the audience at last week’s Toowoomba Decides forum that candidates could find themselves with potential conflicts of interest if they indicated their support or dissent for projects or ideas that later went before the council in the next term.
Her comments came during a quick-fire round of questions at the forum, where candidates were given a paddle with green and red sides and were instructed to hold the side up that reflected their view to a series of statements and future projects.
These included the introduction of wards or divisions, the Quarry Gardens project, the Railway Parklands and the idea that water security was the most important issue for council.
“I know you really want to see this or this (green or red), and the thing is, when you’re in council under the Local Government Act (LGA), if we show our support one way or the other, and then there comes a vote, we have prejudiced ourselves and we have to get out of the room and not participate in that vote,” Ms Vonhoff said, after asking for microphone.
“So if you see people reluctant to do that, it’s not because we don’t have an opinion and we don’t want to express it, it’s because we want to express it when it is actually time to vote.”
As a result, Ms Vonhoff only raised the paddle for one of the topics, and kept it down for the rest of the segments.
Ms Vonhoff’s comments, which she says were based on legal advice received from council, were contended by the University of Queensland’s Law Professor Graeme Orr, who argued the LGA didn’t preclude candidates from giving their opinions on potential issues or policies.
“Nothing in the Local Government Act suggests candidates can’t be put on the spot about whether they favour a policy or issue,” he said.
“Nor are they bound by a position if they later learn more about it.
“The Code of Conduct just requires them to explain their votes on council with public interest reasons.”
When presented with Prof Orr’s comments, Ms Vonhoff said many of the topics or projects listed in the quick-fire round were either before council or had been the subjects of information sessions.
“People want us to do our jobs and work for them. We can’t do that if we’re not allowed to be in the room when it comes to a vote,” she said.
Ms Vonhoff also provided the legal advice presented to her by the council, which argued public opinions or posts about a subject prior to a vote occurring might suggest the councillor had a predetermined position.
Colleague Kerry Shine, who has been vocal about a number of projects and initiatives like the Quarry Gardens and used the paddles during the forum, disagreed that giving his stance on an issue would preclude him from being able to vote on them if they came to a vote.
“It’s far removed from a conflict of interest, these are broad issues and to limit councillors from expressing a point of view would be astounding and silly,” he said.
“This is a different kettle of fish if we’re talking about something specific like a subdivision before council.
“At the last election I was in favour of the Quarry Gardens and kerbside collection, so people knew what I stood for (and) I would be really surprised if that would mean (I couldn’t vote on them).
“The system would be unworkable.”
Mayor Geoff McDonald was contacted for comment.
Candidate attacks Manteufel’s aerodrome idea
Two first-time council candidates have clashed over the future of the Toowoomba aerodrome, after it was suggested the land could be sold off to create housing.
Real estate agent Trevor Manteufel’s idea for a new use of the aerodrome in Wilsonton at last week’s Toowoomba Decides forum sparked significant discourse among both candidates and residents.
“Do we, long term, look at maybe closing it down, the council doing a housing development,” he said.
“Or do we put the stadium there?
“I think long term it will probably have to be relocated or moved. I don’t know whether all the hangars there are being used at the moment, but we’d need to do some feasibility studies on it.”
The idea drew a strong rebuke from fellow candidate and disability advocate Paul Wilson, who told News Corp he couldn’t see any alternatives to the vital services stationed at the site.
“While housing is of the upmost importance, I do not support this,” he said.
“As a candidate, I have been listing to the people of the region and will be heading out to the Aerodrome to have a tour and listen to the people who work and run businesses from there.
“At this point however, I’ve not seen alternative options based on substantiated case studies to suggest the pros outweigh the cons of repurposing the aerodrome.”
Mr Manteufel’s comments also drew a response from outgoing councillor Nancy Sommerfield, who urged all candidates to go and meet with tenants at the aerodrome.
“Council is currently doing a review of its operations there,” he said.
“It’s important that costings of Toowoomba aerodrome are not also consuming the Pittsworth and Millmerran aerodromes.
“If one aerodrome has to be financially positive, then all three should be, otherwise it could very easily be interpreted to be biased.
“If council is running it at a loss then perhaps they should consider outsourcing management to a more efficient model.”
Gardner says council ‘at risk of administration’
Toowoomba businessman Gary Gardner has taken aim at the council’s plan to potentially reach debts of nearly $300m in the next term, arguing it was on the path to administration.
Mayor Geoff McDonald last month revealed the council was likely to hit its debt-borrowing limit with the Queensland Treasury Corporation to help pay for the Cressbrook Dam spillway upgrades, which could cost upwards of $270m.
Mr Gardner, who has run an extensive campaign for a seat on council, released a statement warning residents could be faced with significant rate hikes if the situation wasn’t remedied.
“With our treasury at its limit, we are at risk of administration if our debt ceiling is not brought under control,” he said.
Mr Gardner compared this to the neighbouring Western Downs Regional Council, which alleged had a “surplus of $300m”.
“Western Downs is an example of a council with competent leadership that collaborates effectively with residents and businesses,” he said.
While the WDRC does not have a $300m operating surplus, it is currently carrying no debt and has close to $300m in cash and investments.
Mr Gardner suggested “proactive measures” to attract new businesses to the region, but did not go into further detail about how the council could avoid a “financial crisis”.
The Chronicle’s reader survey revealed residents would prefer cutting services, delaying projects and taking on more debt to pay for Cressbrook over raising rates.
Campaign expenditure cracks $140,000
Candidates have now spent more than $142,000 on their campaigns so far across the Toowoomba region, with two new candidates dropping huge amounts to secure a place.
With just two days left until voting day, councillor Kerry Shine has topped the expenditure table with more than $19,000.
He is followed by real estate agent Trevor Manteufel ($16,123) and businessman Gary Gardner ($15,063), with councillors Tim McMahon and Edwina Farquhar the only other candidates to crack five figures so far.
Candidates have some time after the election is finished until they have to lodge all receipts, meaning the final figures won’t be known for some time.
Council candidates are capped at $30,000 in campaign expenditure, which must include corflutes or signs they are reusing from previous elections.
Former mayor endorses real estate agent
Paul Antonio is the latest former mayor to weigh into the council election, endorsing Trevor Manteufel for council.
In a video posted to Mr Manteufel’s social media, Mr Antonio said he was “delighted” to support the real estate agent for a position on the next council.
“He understands the regional aspects of the Toowoomba Regional Council — Trevor brings a lot to the table and he’s well worth supporting,” he said.
It comes just weeks after former Toowoomba City mayor Di Thorley endorsed current TRC officer Robert Relvas for council.
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