Former deputy mayor: ‘I had two death threats’

THE previous deputy mayor of the council has revealed she received death threats while helping to push through flood mitigation for the region.

TRC council, first meeting of new council members. From left; Carol Taylor, Rebecca Vonhoff, Bill Cahill. April 2020. Photo Bev Lacey

THE previous deputy mayor of the Toowoomba Regional Council has revealed she received death threats while helping to push through flood mitigation for the region.

Cr Carol Taylor made a candid speech at the first council TRC meeting while seeking a second term in the role.

While she was highlighting her local government experience, Cr Taylor said her work to build flood resilience across the region was met with threats against her.

"We received a global award at Helsinki for our work in flood recovery," she said.

"I've chaired infrastructure (since 2008) and had two death threats over detention basins (in that time).

"We've built as a council and our teams, flood mitigation and resilience in our community."

Cr Taylor also flagged disunity within the council, after she called the past four years "disappointing".

"I've just completed four years as deputy mayor in what was a very disappointing term for me," she said.

"I went in there bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and was going to join council as a team, but my enthusiasm didn't result in a united team, and that was a great disappointment to me."

Cr Taylor was ultimately unsuccessful in her bid for deputy mayor, with Cr McDonald winning the role.