New challenger emerges in Toowoomba’s mayoral race
A FORMER council employee has announced he will run against Mayor Paul Antonio in the upcoming election.
Toowoomba
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A FORMER council employee has announced he will run against Mayor Paul Antonio in the upcoming election.
First-time candidate Douglas Doelle is the third person to join the mayoral race, after incumbent Cr Antonio and returning candidate Lindy Eising.
Mr Doelle said his platform would focus on improving services and infrastructure in regional communities outside Toowoomba, saying there weren't getting a fair go.
"All money seems to be going to Toowoomba and not the small towns," he said.
"I'm going to go around to all the small communities and find out what they want."
Mr Doelle said the price of water was also a major issue for him and other residents, taking aim at the cost of the water access charge.
"I want to find out why the water is so high and why we're paying this pipeline fee," he said.
"That pipeline loan should be paid by now.
"Why hasn't (the cost) dropped down? They're just using the ratepayers as cash cows.
"The price of water per megalitre here is more than anywhere else in Queensland."
His comments come after Cr Mike Williams said this week the ideas that the council increased the access charge in 2009 to pay off the pipeline and that the pipeline was paid off was "a myth", something Mr Doelle disagreed with.
Mr Doelle said he also wanted to see council depots remain in smaller communities, rather than centralising services.
He said he planned to head out to regional communities to discuss their problems in greater detail.