Boundary debate heats up with Livingstone Mayor Andy Ireland attacking Rockhampton Regional Council

A Central Queensland mayor has launched a stinging verbal attack on a neighbouring council with a proposed boundary change causing tensions to rise to new levels. Here’s what was said.

Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams and Livingstone Mayor Andy Ireland. File photo.

The gloves are definitely now off as Livingstone Shire Council fights desperately to stop three crucial suburbs from being lost to Rockhampton.

Livingstone Mayor Andy Ireland has launched a stinging verbal attack on Rockhampton Regional Council saying it has made “a completely disingenuous compensation offer in its attempts to poach” the three Livingstone suburbs of Glenlee, Glendale and Rockyview.

Mr Ireland said Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams “frequently comments” in the media about a compensation offer to acquire the three suburbs and all stakeholders should be made aware of its nature.

“Without categorically stating it, the implication could be drawn that Livingstone Shire Council is somehow being uncooperative, and perhaps belligerent,” Mr Ireland said.

“RRC offered to pay LSC 50 per cent of the rates for the three suburbs for the next ten years.

“Why would we accept 50 per cent of the rates, when we could continue to receive 100 per cent?

“RRC said it would write to the Queensland Treasury Corporation to have $10 million of LSC’s debt waived.

“This is like your neighbour promising to talk to your bank about getting a discount off your mortgage.

“This is mind boggling in its naivety, as this is not their debt to wipe in the first place.”

Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams and Livingstone Mayor Andy Ireland.

Mayor Ireland continued his attack on Rockhampton Regional Council saying the compensation offer was flawed.

“It doesn’t stack up in a commercial sense, and the QTC component is simply astounding,” Mr Ireland said.

“LSC considers it a completely disingenuous offer and rejected it out of hand.

“There is no disputing that Livingstone residents will be financially worse off if the suburbs are transferred.

“The QTC’s own report estimates our rates could rise between $161 to $250 per property, per annum – or alternatively, services would need to be reduced.

“I fail to see how this is ‘the fairest thing for everybody’, to paraphrase RRC’s slogan.

“Livingstone hasn’t made up these figures to scare people.

“The same report also clearly states that the transfer would have a ‘negative impact’ on our financial profile and a positive impact on RRC.”

This publication offered Mayor Williams an opportunity to respond to Mr Ireland’s comments, however before any response was received, Rockhampton Regional Council called a media conference for 11.30am on Tuesday.

In a written statement released prior to that conference, the council revealed it had written to the Queensland Government “once again stating Rockhampton Regional Council’s unwavering support for a public vote to be held on the transfer of the Northern Suburbs back to the Rockhampton Region”.

“Council received a letter from Deputy Premier and Local Government Minister Steven Miles last night seeking its position on the Change Commission process given there is no current agreement between Councils,” the Rockhampton Regional Council statement said.

“Mayor Tony Williams and councillors are calling on the State Government to honour the commitment they have made and see the process through.”

Rockhampton Regional Council Deputy Mayor Neil Fisher (pictured second from right) had previously slammed a petition that was started to stop the vote on the Rockhampton and Livingstone boundary change.

At the media conference, Mr Williams reinforced his council’s position that a vote had to happen.

“Rockhampton’s position is clear,” Mr Williams said.

“Our community needs the vote to happen and we expect it to start in two weeks as it’s meant to.

“The State Labor Government took this as a promise to the last election and we have made it clear in no uncertain terms that we expect them to honour this promise and see the process through.”

Mr Williams also addressed the compensation talk.

“I know there has been a lot of commentary around the compensation Livingstone is seeking and that they have rejected our offer.

“But given how important this decision is for the future of both of our communities, my message to Livingstone Shire Council and the State Government is this - let people have their say.

“Politicians are elected to represent communities - it is the heart of what it means to be in the public service.

“It is the right thing to let the vote continue. A promise was made and it needs to be kept.

“An independent process is now underway and we do not want to see any political interference stopping this vote.

“Once this process has finished, it will then be up to all parties in this matter to sit around a table and agree on the compensation.

“That has been in the Queensland Treasury Corporation assessment all along.”

Rockhampton Regional Council says its position on the boundary vote hasn't changed and councillors stood outside Town Hall on Tuesday, June 7, with these signs.

Further, Mr Williams took a shot at Livingstone for changing its mind.

“I want to make one more thing very clear,” he said.

“Livingstone Shire Council originally agreed to this process and then changed their mind.

“They let the State Government know about their new position before Local Government Minister Steven Miles provided further instructions to the Change Commission on the review.

“Nothing has changed since then. Let our communities have a say in their future and then let’s sort out the compensation after.”

Mr Williams said he had personally spoken to Deputy Premier Steven Miles and invited him to mediate that process.

Historically, the three suburbs have been part of the Livingstone Shire Council, except for in the amalgamation which was from 2008 to 2014. The residents were transferred to LSC after de-amalgamation in 2014.

In 2014, a vote was held and around 60 to 75 per cent of those who responded voted to return back to Rockhampton Regional Council but nothing ever progressed any further.

From the boundary of Ramsay Creek near Edenbrook Estate it is 12kms to Rockhampton’s City Hall, compared to 40kms to the coast.

Mr Ireland said his shire was strongly urging every enrolled voter in the community to “vote no” to the boundary change when they receive their ballot in the mail from the Electoral Commission Queensland from June 20.

“The people of Livingstone should not be financially disadvantaged over a blatant land grab by our neighbour,” he said.

More to come.

Originally published as Boundary debate heats up with Livingstone Mayor Andy Ireland attacking Rockhampton Regional Council