
'Very happy': Mayor responds to listening tours
SOUTH Burnett Regional Council Mayor Keith Campbell said he was 'very happy' with the attendances at the first two legs of this year's council listening tours.
So far, council representatives have hosted events in Nanango and Blackbutt and Cr Campbell was impressed with the attendances.
"We had 22 residents in Nanango and 28 at Blackbutt," he said.
"There were lots of great questions."
Cr Campbell said the first two events generated great discussions and relevant questions.
"We were able to inform residents with council updates as well as discuss issues that people wanted further information on," he said.
"Matters discussed included roads, rates, issues with swimming pools and the budget process."
In relation to the budget, Cr Campbell advised residents it wasn't something that is just done on a whim.
"Our budget process starts in October and we continue to work at it at a progressive rate and then we have it adopted in June."
Cr Campbell indicated to rates payers just because certain interest groups are not utilising various facilities does not mean they can eliminate those services just because they don't use it.
"The South Burnett ownership is for all rate payers collectively," he said.
"When we as a council talk to people we represent a big audience."
The remaining listening tours will be held in Maidenwell, Kumbia, Kingaroy, Murgon and Proston.
After last year's poor attendance at the Kingaroy leg of the listening tours, Cr Campbell invited Kingaroy residents to make their voices heard this year.
"We are putting a bit of a call out to Kingaroy, we would love to see them in droves and having their voices heard," he said.
Alternatively, if residents couldn't make it on the night, Cr Campbell said there was an alternative option.
"One of the ladies in Nanango had a series of questions that had been passed on by friends," he said.
"Residents don't have to wait for a public meeting to lodge their concerns," he said.
"They can do that any day of the week through our customer service centre or discuss with your local councillor."
Details of remaining listening tours are below:
Maidenwell / Bunya Mountains
Venue: Maidenwell Town Hall
Date: Wednesday, October 3
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm start
Kumbia / Burrandowan / Ironpot
Venue: Kumbia Memorial Hall
Date: Thursday, October 4
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm start
Wondai / Tingoora
Venue: Wondai Town Hall
Date: Monday, October 8
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm start
Kingaroy / Wooroolin
Venue: Kingaroy Town Common Hall (Oliver Bond St)
Date: Tuesday, October 9
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm start
Murgon / Cloyna
Venue: Murgon Town Hall
Date: Thursday, October 18
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm start
Durong
Venue: Durong Hall
Date: Monday October 22
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm start
Proston / Hivesville
Venue: Proston Hall
Date: Tuesday, October 23
Time: 5.30pm for 6pm start
