Mackay councillors split on divisions as community has its say

A Mackay councillor warned re-introducing divisions would be a “step backwards” and called out state MPs for interfering. But not everyone agrees.

Deputy Mayor Karen May speaking at an ordinary council meeting in 2024 Picture: Contributed

A councillor has warned a decision to overhaul Mackay’s 17-year-long electoral system would be a “step backwards” and has called out state MPs for interfering with consultations.

Cr Marty Bella, who said he had no vested interest because he is not running in the next election, said he feared councillors would not be held to account under the proposed system.

“You’re not going to be advocating, especially for your regional councillor, for a diverse range of individuals,” he said.

“If something ends up in your division, then it doesn’t really matter to me.”

It comes after state MP Glen Kelly invited journalists to a press conference announcing his support for divisions, a move which Cr Bella described as unnecessary and an “easy win”.

“It is not his arena,” he said.

Mackay deputy mayor Karen May and councillor Martin Bella both warned against reinstating divisions. Picture: Mitch Bourke

Deputy Mayor Karen May, who led Sarina through amalgamation with Mackay City and Mirani Shire councils in 2008, was one of three councillors who voted against the preliminary consultation program during the March council meeting.

She said that the online survey which will close at the end of the month was very “one sided” and risked not “giving people all the information that you need to make an informed decision”.

“The comments that I see — it’s more about de-amalgamation than about divisions. De-amalgamation is a totally different thing,” she said.

“If I look at the demographic spread across our region — the old Sarina Shire, the range, Koumala, the township of Sarina, that’s not only 12,000 people — you’d have to be looking to push the boundary of the old Sarina shire out as well to make up the numbers for one councillor,” she said.

“There is just not enough population to get people that councillor that they’re hoping to get for the particular area.”

Councillors speaking at a meeting.

Cr May said one of her main concerns was how Mackay’s capital works program — which is responsible for the construction, upgrade and renewal of council managed infrastructure projects such as the Northern Beaches Community Hub — would be impacted by the move.

Currently decided on a priority basis across the entire council area, Cr May said under a divisional system, infrastructure projects and services would be segmented into divisions.

“It creates sides within our council where people become very territorial and they’re not making decisions with the best interests of the whole community.

Mayor Greg Williamson said that he wasn’t for or against divisions and though it would be “crystal ball gazing” to see how much it would impact council projects in the future.

“The speculative answer is it would be a much more challenging environment to work in but one would hope, even in a divided council, that priority projects that are going to do the most for the region would get up.

“It’s it’s impossible to answer that now because it’s entirely speculative”

Cr Alison Jones put forward the motion in the March ordinary meeting before saying that she been had been wanting to reinstate divisions for the past 16 to 17 years.

Cr Peter Sheedy said he agreed with the concept of a divisional council saying that if the population were to favour a divisional council, he wouldn’t hesitate to follow suit.

Cr George Christensen said the previous system of divisions made people feel supported.

“Back in 2004, divisions meant every part of our community had someone in their corner—local voices were heard, and every area mattered,” Mr Christensen said.

“Now we’re being asked to choose: do we want that again, or stick with a system that treats the whole region the same?”

Councillors Heath Paton, Nathenea MacRae, Ash-Lee Johnson and Belinda Hassan were also contacted for comment.

Originally published as Mackay councillors split on divisions as community has its say