Toowoomba council to not proceed with plan to apply for divisions despite Kerry Shine motion, mayor Geoff McDonald’s new strategy endorsed

Any push to turn the Toowoomba region into a council with divisions appears to be dead after councillors voted not to proceed with the next steps following a heated debate.

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald and councillor Kerry Shine.

Momentum to create divisions or wards in the Toowoomba region appears to have stalled after the council decided overwhelmingly against pursuing the matter.

In a significant shift on the issue, councillors voted at Tuesday’s ordinary meeting not to continue work on developing a plan that would create an application for divisions to the state government.

The 11 officials instead unanimously pledged to push ahead with a proposal from mayor Geoff McDonald for a revamped community engagement model, which would see three councillors assigned to one of three zones every 12 months.

In a rare move, governance and legal services manager Bailey Garcha’s report on divisions contained no recommendations.

Councillor Kerry Shine. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Instead, Mr Garcha laid out the process required for an application to go to the Independent Local Government Change Commission and the local government minister, which are the ultimate decision-makers.

Mr Garcha estimated the entire process of councillors developing potential divisional maps and then getting feedback and data on public sentiment could cost as much as $1.4m to carry out.

This would include employing consultants at an estimated cost of $150,000 to assist councillors with mapping.

He also stressed the exercise would require significant time, effort and guidance from councillors, particularly when it came to getting community feedback.

“It is a councillors’ project, so if you are going forward, the community consultation would be at the highest level,” Mr Garcha said.

“I don’t think you can do it half-heartedly, and the amount of councillor involvement needed would be significant.

“Do I believe we could co-ordinate a project of this nature? Yes, but you need to understand your involvement in this project.”

While he disputed the estimated cost, long-time divisional proponent Kerry Shine put forward a motion to defer the matter until after the 2024-25 budget was announced.

“You’ll understand the issue has been put off, only because of the financial issues raised,” he said.

“In my observation, there is overwhelming support for change.

“On reading our report, one would be forgiven for thinking the process is too hard or expensive.

“Could we not piggyback and follow on Ipswich’s precedent (with its divisional change in 2019) rather than pay for expensive lawyers and consultants?”

Mr Shine suggested his ideal proposal would be five divisions with two councillors each, which would ensure at least two would come from the regions.

But colleague James O’Shea bristled at the idea of deferring the matter, with Mr McDonald’s upcoming motion clearly looming large on the minds of some councillors.

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald's new councillor engagement model, featuring the northern zone (purple and green), the southern zone (orange and yellow) and the emerging zone (blue).

“To vote in favour of deferral doesn’t give a strong commitment, all it does is delay the process,” he said.

“We can press go on (Mr McDonald’s proposal) ASAP … and I commend you mayor for proposing it — that is the most meaningful step that council has taken towards finding a way for councillors to represent the entire region.”

After Mr Shine’s motion was defeated 3-8 (with Rebecca Vonhoff and Tim McMahon supporting it), councillor Bill Cahill’s motion to take no further action was backed 9-2.

“Accessibility (to councillors) is the issue, and I don’t see a line on a map fixing that,” Mr Cahill said.

“Many of our voters don’t remember pre-amalgamation (before 2008), they don’t know what divisional representation is, and by and large I believed the voters are quite happy, with the reinstallation of all the people who chose to stand again (at the March election).

“I am focused on this initial model (by Mr McDonald) being put up as a model to evolve.”

Mr McDonald’s motion was then passed unanimously, a day after the mayor argued it could potentially be an answer to divisions or wards.