Southern Downs Regional Council portfolios unveiled following first council meeting

The new crop of councillors have revealed what they will be focusing on after being sworn in to their portfolios. These are the issues they will be focusing on.

The Southern Downs Regional Council was elected in March. (Photo: SDRC)

Teamwork and co-operation serve as the cornerstones of the new look Southern Downs Regional Council as they sign onto their portfolios this week.

At the Ordinary Council Meeting on April 19, councillors were appointed to nine portfolios. Additionally, they unanimously adopted the policy that will guide the framework for the successful implementation and continued effectiveness of the portfolio system.

Southern Downs mayor Melissa Hamilton welcomed the appointments and said portfolios allowed each councillor to demonstrate their leadership across strategic issues that are important to the progress and prosperity of the region.

“This council recognises that the best way to make real progress on the issues affecting the region is through teamwork and co-operation,” Ms Hamilton said.

“Reinstating the portfolio system allows each councillor to identify opportunities and advocate for our region. Our portfolios are based around what we want our communities to be: vibrant, liveable, connected, secure, productive, healthy, active and inspired,” she said.

“This will let us get the most out of every councillor, and we can harness their skills, experience and passion for the benefit of the whole community.”

PORTFOLIOS

MAYOR MELISSA HAMILTON – Vibrant communities

Mayor Melissa Hamilton (Photo: Michael Hudson)

Our new mayor will take up the job of maintaining and overseeing economic development, governance, regional advocacy and intergovernmental relations.

Speaking on what she would accomplish early in her term she said it was time to go back to basics.

“We need to agree on what our priorities are. One thing I really want to focus on early is getting the basics done better, that’s something the Southern Downs needs to know they have been listened too,” Ms Hamilton said after being elected.

“In terms of the basics, I want attention to parks and gardens, communal spaces and a big focus on road maintenance, which are an issue in the community and we’ll need a concerted effort to deal with that, but in the short term I think council needs to know the community wants attention on that.”

SHERYL WINDLE – Liveable communities

Sheryl Windle is ready for another four years (Photo: Michael Hudson)

Mrs Windle will be covering tourism, visitor information centres, parks and gardens (including cemeteries), active recreation areas and trails and community engagement.

Alongside her bid to lobby for affordable housing, Mrs Windle said tourism and water security were also high priorities.

“(I will) continue to advocate to the state government to prioritise funding to repair the five rail bridges between Stanthorpe and Wallangarra, which were destroyed in the bushfires,” she said earlier this year.

ROSS BARTLEY – Connected communities

Ross Bartley has signed on (Photo: Michael Hudson)

Mr Bartley from Warwick will oversee roads and transport as well as footpaths and cycleways.

CYNTHIA MCDONALD – Resilient communities

Cynthia McDonald is on for another four years (Photo: Michael Hudson)

Returning councillor Cynthia McDonald will be tasked with disaster planning and response, disaster community recovery, mental health, disability community as well as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

JOEL RICHTERS – Secure communities

Joel Richters is excited about the new council, and said he felt like a new council with a different demographic will bring some new ideas to the table. (Photo: Michael Hudson)

The Warwick councillor will oversee issues of housing, planning and development as well as urban design frameworks.

“One of the things I want to do is regarding Camp Leslie Dam (as a solution to the housing crisis) and vote for a freeze the general minimum rate, because it’s the right thing to do,” he said earlier this year.

“The things we talk about in council should reflect a growing and prospering community that is no longer stagnant, and is moving forward in leaps and bounds, and after four years if that’s the place we’re in then we’ve been successful.”

CARLA PIDGEON – Productive communities

Carla Pidgeon is ready to make her mark on council (Photo: Michael Hudson)

Ms Pidgeon from Allora will be handling issues in agriculture, water, the Warwick Saleyards project as well as biosecurity and pest management.

SARAH DEANE – Healthy communities

Sarah Deane is ready for her first term as councillor (Photo: Michael Hudson)

Sarah Deane will be covering wastewater, resource recovery and waste management, circular economy as well as the natural environment, climate and sustainability.

Mrs Deane said in March, if elected she would ensure honesty and transparency remain reflected in all aspects of council.

“As a public representative I think we should model behaviour we expect from our community, at the end of the day we are only human and we will also make mistakes, but we should do our diligence to rectify the situation,” she said.

A lot of feedback from the community has given Mrs Deane a sense there was still a number of people who don’t feel heard by council, and feel as though they remain unaware of what’s happening in their own backyard.

RUSSELL WANTLING – Active communities

Russell Wantling from Stanthorpe is over the moon to begin his term on council (Photo: Michael Hudson)

Mr Wantling, from Stanthorpe, will be tasked with overseeing finance, audit and risk, community halls and progress associations as a councillor.

He will also be look after sporting groups and associated facilities and camping facilities for SDRC.

Before being elected, Mr Wantling told News Corp focusing on tourism and collaboration would be a major pressing point he would like to focus on.

Mr Wantling said the recent success of the Apple and Grape Harvest Festival at Stanthorpe showed how popular the region was, attracting visitors from across the region and state who spent big.

MORWENNA HARTLETT – Inspired communities

Morwenna Harslett is keen to get started (Photo: Michael Hudson)

The Stanthorpe councillor will be handling youth projects, education, art galleries, libraries and events across the region.

Ms Harslett said earlier this year she also wants to work on the imbalance in funding and infrastructure within the arts locally, and aims to see the council be more encouraging of community arts groups.

Originally published as Southern Downs Regional Council portfolios unveiled following first council meeting