Otto slams poll seeking feedback on council 2022 performance

The results of a poll of South Burnett residents on the performance of the local council and its councillors in 2022 have been criticised by Mayor Brett Otto.

Councillor Gavin Jones was voted the best performing councillor of 2022, receiving a grade of C or higher from 80 per cent of those who participated, while Kathy Duff was the least preferred, with 35 per cent of participants giving her a C or better.

South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto has fired back at a recent poll encouraging residents to rate the council and individual councillors’ performance for 2022.

Mr Otto said the results were unlikely to reflect the sentiments of the broader community.

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Results reveal 69 per cent of participants voted the council’s performance a grade C or better - a good result for the South Burnett Council compared to its neighbours.

This is how Gympie council council went in the poll of its voters.

This is how Fraser Coast council went in the poll of its voters.

Councillor Gavin Jones was voted the best performing councillor of 2022, receiving a grade of C or higher from 80 per cent of those who participated while Councillor Kathy Duff was the least preferred, with 35 per cent of participants grading her a C or better.

Mr Otto said he had not taken much notice of the poll and did not believe a simplistic poll with such a small number of non-specific responses was any credible indication of Mrs Duff’s performance and popularity.

Councillor Gavin Jones was voted the best performing councillor of 2022, receiving a grade of C or higher from 80 per cent of those who participated, while Kathy Duff was the least preferred, with 35 per cent of participants giving her a C or better.

Mrs Duff had dedicated some 19 years to local council and was highly respected within her local community and division, he said.

“With only 0.13% of our residents responding, it is highly unlikely to reflect the sentiment of our broader community.”

Mr Otto said individual candidates could not make promises as the decisions of council were a matter for the full council of elected representatives.

“A review by any media outlet of the long list of media releases issued over the past two plus years will clearly demonstrate how active this council has been and how much the South Burnett has progressed,” he said.

“I travel the breadth of our region extensively and speak to hundreds of residents every week, it is from this that I gain a first-hand and real understanding of our community’s feelings, concerns and aspirations.

“I am always available to any residents who wishes to speak with me about any matter relating to council and am very committed to serving the people of the South Burnett.”

Mr Otto said the weekly council meetings were always open to the public and the media.

Originally published as Otto slams poll seeking feedback on council 2022 performance