Bundaberg Council considers cutting councillor positions to save $1M

With the possibility of council divisions being reduced from 10 to eight, we want to hear from you. Do you think your divisional councillor has done a good job so far?

Bundaberg Regional Council is looking to cut two jobs.

Two Bundaberg Regional Council jobs could be on the chopping block, with a proposal to reduce the number of divisional Councillors from 10 to eight, sparking questions over who could be affected.
Councillors voted to seek community feedback on a reduction in the number of divisions in the Bundaberg Regional Local Government Area at its meeting on February 21.
Mayor Helen Blackburn said the decision was part of the Council’s commitment to supporting cost efficiencies within the organisation.

“We’ve spoken a lot about the need for Council to cut costs and this decision is evidence that we will leave no stone unturned to find the savings our community needs,” Mayor Blackburn said.

“This proposal would save Council about $265,000 per year which equates to $1,060,000 per Council term.”

She said it was considered a major change within the Local Government change process, and the next step would be to undertake consultation to confirm community sentiment in relation to the proposal.

Bundaberg Regional Council is looking to cut two jobs.

The 10 current divisional councillors — Jason Bartels (Division 1), William (Bill) Trevor (Division 2), Deb Keslake (Division 3), Tracey McPhee (Division 4), Larine Statham-Blair (Division 5), Carmen McEneany (Division 6), Gary Kirk (Division 7), Steve Cooper (Division 8), May Mitchell (Division 9), and John Learmonth (Division 10) — were elected almost a year ago.
The possibility of reducing divisions raises questions about which councillors could face losing their positions.
“Should the community sentiment be favourable, Council would require a further resolution so an approach could be made to the minister,” Ms Blackburn said.

“At that point the process is handed over to the State Government and Electoral Commission Queensland.
“In terms of a timeline these change processes take about 18 months to finalise which allows us time to implement this change in readiness for the next Local Government election should it receive community support,” Ms Blackburn said.

Originally published as Bundaberg Council considers cutting councillor positions to save $1M