Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald, councillors sworn in after 2024 local government election

Mayor Geoff McDonald has pledged to unite his new council and batted away criticisms of the organisation’s financial position ahead of a difficult term. Here is his 100-day plan:

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald says he “couldn’t be more excited” for the new term, as he prepares to unite 10 councillors to tackle growing financial pressures and discontent among regional voters.

Mr McDonald and his colleagues both old and new were officially sworn in as the Toowoomba Regional Council for the next four years on Wednesday, at a special ceremony at City Hall.

Councillors were surrounded by friends and family for the special event at the Annex, a far cry from the Covid-19 affected ceremony in 2020 that limited the occasion to a small room at City Hall.

At the swearing-in ceremony for the new Toowoomba Regional Council representatives for 2024-2028 is mayor Geoff McDonald with council chief executive Brian Pidgeon.

The new council includes eight incumbents and two new councillors — developer and business identity Gary Gardner and real estate agent Trevor Manteufel.

Among the TRC’s first major actions within the first 100 days will be the delivery of the next budget, which is expected to be seriously impacted by the cost of the $270m Cressbrook Dam spillway upgrades.

Speaking outside the ceremony, Mr McDonald said he was optimistic ahead of what many of his colleagues had tipped could be a difficult term.

“I couldn’t be more excited for this term — I’m pretty excited about the opportunities,” he said.

“We’re going in with our eyes wide open, we know the challenges but we also know there are plenty of opportunities.”

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald with the 2024-2028 councillors outside City Hall.

Mr McDonald also batted away criticisms Mr Gardner had made during the campaign about the council’s financial situation, where he argued the TRC was at risk of “going into administration” if it took on too much debt to pay for the Cressbrook upgrades.

“We have an extraordinary team of staff in council and our financial services team — I shouldn’t say it, I’m a bit biased — they are probably the best in the state,” he said.

“We’re one of 77 councils across Queensland, and we’re seen as a shining example of how to manage funds, how to budget, how to make sure our ratings system is accurate and where we need to be.

“Our staff have actually been presenters at local government conferences because of the high regard they’re held in.”

Among his other priorities for the first 100 days, Mr McDonald said he was preparing a proposal to address frustrations felt by residents living outside Toowoomba around the level of council service they got for rates.

At the swearing-in ceremony for the new Toowoomba Regional Council representatives for 2024-2028 is mayor Geoff McDonald.

“We heard it through the campaign that people across the 13,000km of our region felt that they were in some ways disadvantaged because they were in a remote part of our community,” he said.

“That is not the case, but we need to do better at that to make sure they (don’t) feel that.

“They feel as though they’ve been left out and under-serviced by councillors, so I’m pleased I’ll be bringing a model to councillors for consideration.

“That will be done over the next few weeks to see if by the May meeting, whether we can settle on a model that will give councillors more opportunities to be in those more remote areas of the region more regularly than they would have been.”

The leadership team will also remain stable, with previous deputy mayor Rebecca Vonhoff reappointed by the new council to the role for the full term at the subsequent meeting on Wednesday.

Ms Vonhoff said she was “humbled” by the appointment and promised to keep addressing water security in the new term.

“The deputy mayor position is an important role for our community, and I want to assure our residents I’m focused on continuing to deliver for residents of the region,” she said.

“As councillors we are in such a privileged position where we get to represent this wonderful community and I’m grateful to be able to continue serving our residents as deputy mayor.”