Glenlee, Rockyview and Glendale: Livingstone Shire and Rockhampton Regional Councils fight for northern suburbs ahead of ECQ poll

A large Central Queensland council could become ‘financially unviable’ if it loses a three key suburbs in a proposed boundary change. Here’s what it means for you.

A large Central Queensland council could become ‘financially unviable’ if it loses three key suburbs in a proposed boundary change.

Livingstone Shire Council is at risk of losing 1266 rateable properties in Glenlee, Rockyview and Glendale if residents from Livingstone and neighbouring Rockhampton Regional Council vote to have the suburbs transferred to RRC.

The mayors of LSC and RRC have both launched campaigns respectively against and for the proposal, ahead of a public vote on the issue in June.

From June 13, the Electoral Commission Queensland will send a letter to every enrolled elector in the Rockhampton region, the northern suburbs, and Livingstone Shire.

The letter will have information about the upcoming poll, as well as a unique code that will be needed to vote.

Labelling the move as a ‘land grab’ by RRC, Livingstone mayor Andy Ireland said the boundary change would have ‘diabolical financial impacts’ on his shire.

“The State Government’s own financial analysis tells us Livingstone ratepayers will be $161 to $250 worse off each year, if the move is given the green light,” he said.

“Historically, the northern suburbs have always been a part of Livingstone Shire Council, except for the period of amalgamation, and don’t belong to Rockhampton.

“This is a total and utter land grab that will have dire consequences for our community. This boundary change will have diabolical financial impacts to Livingstone Shire.”

In Rockhampton on Tuesday, the state LNP launched a petition against the boundary change.

Local Government Shadow Minister Ann Leahy joined Small and Family Business Shadow Minister Brent Mickelberg outside Rockhampton’s Town Hall to launch the petition.

Ms Leahy said politics were driving the boundary change, rather than good outcomes for people, and it ‘must be stopped’.

“A report clearly shows that if this transfer went ahead, Livingstone Shire Council would be financially unviable,” she said.

“It means a $150 rate hike for more than 16,000 Livingstone families in the first year, which will then increase to a $250 a year rate hike by 2030.”

Mr Mickelberg said families were already doing it tough with high cost of living and could not afford the kind of rate rise that could occur if Livingstone lost the suburbs.

“They cannot afford another large bill to pay,” he said.

“It makes no sense for the boundary to be changed when it will negatively affect the lives of more than 16,000 families and small businesses.

“It’s time Livingstone locals had their voices heard and we are here to help them.

“We are calling on people to sign our petition and save the Livingstone lifestyle.”

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.

RRC mayor Tony Williams argued the residents of the northern suburbs were in the Rockhampton area every day and deserved to be part of the region.

“Two previous votes have indicated that the communities of those areas were wanting to be part of the Rockhampton Regional Council area,” Mr Williams said.

“The community believe they want to be part of the Rockhampton region, we want them to be part of the Rockhampton region, it’s our growth and our future.

“That corridor is the growth for our region. In 20 to 40 years’ time, we plan to see housing contained in that corridor.”

A report was conducted by the Queensland Treasury Corporation, considering the impacts of the suburbs transfer.

It found there were 1266 rateable properties in the three suburbs, 26 council properties (mostly open space assets like parks and one residential property) and $40 million in property, plant and equipment for roads, water and parks, including the transfer of the Mt Charlton Reservoir, water main, and other infrastructure servicing The Caves water scheme.

By 2024-25, the proposed transfer is estimated to increase RRC’s ratepayer base by 3.4 per cent and increase property, plant and equipment by 1.3 per cent.

However, on the LSC side, it would decrease the LSC ratepayer base by 6.7 per cent and decrease property, plant and equipment by 3.7 per cent.

Originally published as Glenlee, Rockyview and Glendale: Livingstone Shire and Rockhampton Regional Councils fight for northern suburbs ahead of ECQ poll