Midge Point Progress Association call for Mackay council electoral divisions

Residents of a small fringe town say an overhaul of the council’s electoral system could bring back their community’s voice.

Dedicated members of the Midge Point Progress Association say they’re patch has been neglected by their local council.

A community reeling from a devastated coastal beachfront say years of neglect has left them feeling “forgotten” by their local council.

But members of the town’s community group, the Midge Point Progress Association, said a change to their local government’s electoral system could grant them a voice they lost more than 15 years ago.

It comes after a petition was put forward during last month’s council meeting by the group urging for the Mackay Regional Council to address the issue of liveability in the town.

The once buried geobags remained exposed as storm surges and high tides tore through the Midge Point coastline. Photo: Gina Passfield

“Liveability, as far as I’m concerned, has fallen down the wayside,” group secretary Colleen Birtwistle said.

The petition called for a revival of their beach front, as geobags used to mitigate beach erosion after cyclone Debbie had become fully exposed as storm surges chipped away at their coastline.

The document presented to council also mentioned ageing playground infrastructure had become unsafe for use, drainage issues risked flooding residential areas, and boat ramps became unsafe for seasonal use.

The town’s main beach access on Bundesen Ave remained closed for up to 12 months after high tides tore through the shoreline.

In response to the issue of liveability in the small residential town, Director Infrastructure and Operations Simon Taylor said council was investing heavily in the Midge Point township.

“Council has recently completed the major Midge Point Water Network improvement project, which has seen more than $3m spent on improving the Midge Point water supply since 2021,” Mr Taylor said.

He said council had also awarded a $649,600 contract to revitalise Stan Camm Park in Midge Point, with works under way and due to be completed next month.

Cr Alison Jones put forward a motion to allow Mackay residents to have their say on whether they support transitioning from an undivided to a divided electoral council. Mackay Council. Photo: Luke Lay

But Ms Bertwistle said a proposition by Mackay councillor Alison Jones to bring back electoral divisions to the region would greatly benefit communities like Midge Point

“Who do we talk to? There’s ten [councillors] for the whole region. We would like to see allocated councillors for a start (s0) they turn up to our meetings,” she said.

“We’re a small community, we’re at the pointy end of the council, but we still spend our rates.

“You only have to visit any playground closer to Mackay.”

After attending several meetings at the Midge Point community group, Cr Jones said she had been wanting to reinstate divisions for the past 16 to 17 years when the mayor at the time, Deirdre Comerford, saw that rural areas were feeling like they were missing out.

Drainage issues at Midge Point were raised by the Midge Point Progress Association. Photo: Gina Passfield

“Previous terms of council have not provided me with the opportunity to be able to raise the matter,” she said.

“It’s this term of council that have been considerate enough to want to understand the issues of the community and are willing to start looking at the matter.”

A survey asking Mackay region residents if they wanted to bring back electoral divisions in council began on Sunday, May 4 and will run until Sunday, June 1, which will be aimed at gauging public perception on the issue.

The preliminary consultation program described as “low-cost” was given the green light during the March council meeting.

The debate has attracted state attention with Mirani MP, Glen Kelly coming forward in support of divisions after he said residents were “hitting [his] office hard”.

The member for Mirani had met with Cr Jones before announcing his support for the consultations.

A playground in Midge Point residents claim are inadequate and at substandard May 13, 2025

Speaking at a press conference at which journalists were invited through his MP email, he said the debate “wasn’t political”.

“When you’re dealing with multiple councils, the people of this region need a spokesman and I’m being elected to do that and if I wasn’t to stand up for them what do i stand for,” he said.

“There is a cost, but at least it gives the constituents of these regions some say through a representative of their patch.”

Under the current undivided system, 10 councillors and a mayor represent the entire local government area while under a divided council, councillors are elected to represent divisions in the region.

Dedicated member of the Midge Point Progress Association, Gina Passfield, said the divisions could give residents like herself “a point of contact within the council”.

“I think it’s a brilliant idea actually and we feel that’s when it all went to dirt when people were not looking after certain areas. It’s too easy to pass the buck,” she said.

Originally published as Midge Point Progress Association call for Mackay council electoral divisions