Gympie has say on council’s work ahead of Qld election in March

Readers have had their say on how they think the Gympie council and its nine elected members have performed this past term, including one which defines the phrase “love him or hate him”.

Readers have had their say on how they think Gympie council and its nine elected members performed this past term, including one which defines the phrase “love him or hate him”.

More than half of Gympie councillors have been given a passing grade by Gympie Times’ readers for their work over the past four years, although the council as a whole fell short of expectations.

These were the results when readers were asked to give each of the nine councillors a score between A and E, and the council itself.

The online poll, which ran for one week, was launched in the lead-up to the region’s voters being able to have their say officially at the March 16 local government elections.

It proved a good place for unhappy residents to have their say with many handing out E grades, showing their dissatisfaction with some councillors.

In total, about 38 per cent of respondents gave all nine councillors, the council itself, and CEO Robert Jennings, the lowest grade possible.

Councillor Bruce Devereaux received the highest number of As from respondents, which helped balance out a significant number of respondents giving him the lowest grade possible. His final results showed very little middle ground.

Bruce Devereaux graded out the highest of the nine councillors, of which four others were also given a pass (C or better) for their efforts and a sixth fell short by the narrowest of margins.

Mr Devereaux topped the list on the back of a performance which could define the phrase “love him or hate him”: The Division 4 councillor received the highest percentage of A grades (28 per cent) to balance out 42 per cent of voters rating his work an E.

Less than one third of respondents were rated his performance in the middle band, B, C and D.

Bob Fredman’s work received the second highest grade, with more than half of respondents rating him A, B or C, and only one third giving him an E.

Mayor Glen Hartwig, Shane Waldock, and Dolly Jensen all graded out at the same level with about half of respondents giving each a C or greater.

Council CEO Robert Jennings and Mayor Glen Hartwig were each given a passing grade (C or better) overall in the online poll.

Jess Milne was only a fraction behind, paving the way for a fascinating electoral fight in the lead-up to March 16, after being graded ahead of Deputy Mayor Hilary Smerdon.

Mr Smerdon, who won the Division 6 seat in 2016 and held it in 2020, only received a passing grade (C or better) from two in every five respondents.

Ms Milne and Mr Smerdon will be battling it out for the Division 1 seat at the election.

Dan Stewart and Warren Polley rounded out the list, their grades dragged down by the two highest volumes of Es from respondents.

New CEO Robert Jennings was given a pass for his work taking on the council’s top bureaucratic job about 10 months ago.

The council organisation was given a failing grade by half of those who voted.

The people’s choice of what needs to be the council’s primary focus in the new term was not a surprise either.

Roads not only topped the list of nine options, including other staples such as rates and transparency, it did so by an overwhelming margin: It was the choice for 43 per cent of respondents, with the next closest, rates bills, sitting almost 30 percentage points behind it.

Originally published as Gympie has say on council’s work ahead of Qld election in March