An annual review of committee representation and portfolio allocations of Bundaberg Regional Councillors has resulted in minimal changes.
Following the Local Government election in 2024 the Council group agreed that the appointment of portfolios should be reviewed every 12 months.
Mayor Helen Blackburn said Councillors felt that continuing in their allocated portfolios with some slight adjustments would be the best approach for the community.
“Councillors have spent the first 12 months of this Council term familiarising themselves with their respective portfolios and would like to continue to represent those areas which they have developed a strong understanding of,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“Importantly the annual review allowed us the opportunity to reflect and review the distribution of portfolios and ensure they were working well in practice.
“Save one minor adjustment – being the removal of asset management from the Arts and Heritage portfolio – the decision was that the portfolios should continue as they are.”
In addition to the portfolios Councillors discussed committee representation which remained largely unchanged.
“It is the intention to include representation on an agricultural committee moving forward however it was agreed that consultation with industry stakeholders should be the first step in this process,” Mayor Blackburn said.
Changes included Cr Larine Statham-Blair was appointed a Reef Guardian Council representative alongside Cr Jason Bartels and both Councillors were appointed representatives to the Local Marine Advisory Committee.
Council portfolios and committee representation:
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Division 1 representative Cr Jason Bartels | Natural Resources and Environment | Community Conservation Advisory Committee, Reef Guardian Council, Local Marine Advisory Committee |
| 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, Reef Guardian Council, Local Marine Advisory Committee |
| Division 6 representative Cr Carmen McEneany | Community, Liveability, Sport and Recreation | 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 (Chair) |
| Division 9 representative Cr May Mitchell | Governance and Integrity | Audit and Risk Committee |
| Division 10 representative Cr John Learmonth | Arts and Heritage | Regional Arts Development Fund Committee, Heritage Advisory Committee |
