The Mayor and Councillors have had new-look portfolios assigned with a focus on heritage, integrity and renewable economy and the introduction of a planning and development committee.
Mayor Helen Blackburn said careful consideration had been given to the distribution of portfolios and committee representation.
“We have a number of new faces around the Council table and each elected representative brings their own unique set of skills and experience,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“Much consideration has gone into how best to utilise these skills for the advantage of our community.
“Residents will notice a new look to the portfolios where we have tried to find synergies between different areas and highlight matters which the community is telling us are important to them.
“In particular I have ensured that under this new distribution of portfolios that heritage and integrity have been included as areas of responsibility because I know those are two key issues our community has told us need to be addressed.
“Renewable economy is another area which has not before been represented within a portfolio.”
Committee representation also saw the introduction of new committees focussed on planning and development as well as heritage.
“Councillors are elected by residents to represent the community’s best interest and involvement across these committees ensures robust and transparent decision making.”
Committee nominations and portfolios assigned
| Councillor | Portfolio | Committee |
| Mayor Helen Blackburn | Regional Development and Economic Policy | Planning and Development Committee, Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils, Wide Bay Burnett Regional Planning Committee, Local Disaster Management Group (chair), Audit and Risk Committee |
| Deputy Mayor and Division 4 representative Cr Tracey McPhee | Community Resilience and Connection | Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils, Public Safety Consultative Committee (an Advisory Committee of the Bundaberg Safe Night Out Precinct Inc), Sister City Committee (chair) |
| Division 1 representative Cr Jason Bartels | Natural Resources and Environment | Community Conservation Advisory Committee, Reef Guardian Council |
| Division 2 representative Cr Bill Trevor | Roads and Infrastructure (rural) | Wide Bay Burnett Regional Roads and Transport Group, Traffic Advisory Committee, Planning and Development Committee |
| Division 3 representative Cr Deb Keslake | Finance | Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council |
| Division 5 representative Cr Larine Statham-Blair | Roads and Infrastructure (urban) | Wide Bay Burnett Regional Roads and Transport Group, Traffic Advisory Committee, Planning and Development Committee, Local Disaster Management Group, Heritage Advisory Committee |
| Division 6 representative Cr Carmen McEneany | Community, Liveability, Sport and Recreation | Reef Guardian Council, Planning and Development Committee, Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council, Sister City Committee |
| Division 7 representative Cr Gary Kirk | Water, Waste and Renewable Economy | Bundaberg Landfill Facility Community Consultation Group, Coastal Burnett Groundwater Area Advisory Committee, Bundaberg Irrigators Advisory Committee, Planning and Development Committee |
| Division 8 representative Cr Steve Cooper | Tourism, Airport and Information Technology Services | Information Services Steering Advisory Committee, Bundaberg Tourism, Hinkler Hall of Aviation Trust, Sister City Committee |
| Division 9 representative Cr May Mitchell | Governance and Integrity | Audit and Risk Committee |
| Division 10 representative Cr John Learmonth | Arts, Heritage and Asset Management | Regional Arts Development Fund Committee, Heritage Advisory Committee |
- Other news: Ronald Parry’s WWII service honoured
Why is it necessary to still have a SISTER CITY. Maybe I am wrong, but isn’t this in China and the way things are in this tangled world maybe this should not be.
Congratulations to you all. Glad that you are in charge of the Rural Roads and Development portfolio Bill. Your experience will be so valuable in that portfolio.
I hope the new roads portfolio Councillor is more accessible than the last.
Please come out to Doughboy Rd, 9 Creek crossings, and all disintegrating.
No other way out as it’s a dead end road.
So who is responsible for parks and gardens
Why does Council need a domestic and family violence prevention council? Surely State and Federal Governments take care of this?
Why does Bundaberg need a Sister City, sounds like we could save money on the “holiday” to visit this City.