Gympie ex-mayor Mick Curran contests Division 4

Throwing his hat back in the ring for a seat on the Gympie council, former mayor Mick Curran runs for Division 4. Vote in our exclusive reader poll on this development:

Town planning, sports grounds and keeping council staff are on the top of the list for councillor candidate Mick Curran in his bid for the seat of Division 4 in the March 16 council elections.

After taking step back from politics after his loss to Mayor Glen Hartwig in 2020, Mick Curran is back “still wanting the best for Gympie” in the contest for the most in-demand division.

Born, raised and educated in Gympie, the former police officer was elected as Division 7 councillor in 2012, became mayor in a by-election in 2015, and won the vote as mayor in 2016 to serve the next four years.

Currently a human resource officer at Nolan’s, Mr Curran said the main reason he put up his hand was the experience that he would bring to the table.

“I believe in the philosophy of not ‘win and lose’ but about winning and learning,” he said.

Gympie ex-mayor Mick Curran contests Division 4 in the March 16, 2024 Council elections. Picture: Christine Schindler

In reflection in his time as councillor and mayor he said they had a lot of achievements.

“I was fortunate enough to work with a very good council team,” he said.

“We had the Rattler up and running, and while it was very contentious around costings and funding, not only was it a major tourist attraction for our region, especially in light of the bypass that is about to happen towards the end of this year, but also around our heritage and our history.”

He also mentioned the “construction of the equestrian centre at Kilkivan” and major upgrades to sporting fields.

Moving forward, he said there was a lot of work to be done around planning and development and keeping Gympie open for business and focusing on liveability projects such as entertainment, restaurants and the effect cost-of-living is having.

“I honestly believe that councillors have a role to play like any other level of government and to reduce costs wherever you can for the benefit of those who are contributing to the rates,” he said.

Other things, he said, included a planning scheme that “builds to the future”, reducing council staff turnover and “retaining the best people for the job,” and “open new sporting fields”.

He said sporting fields could happen “within the first six months of the new term of council”.

“It’s only a matter of negotiating with the right people to bring those ovals into play,” Mr Curran said.

Originally published as Gympie ex-mayor Mick Curran contests Division 4