City or Region? What your Councillor said

The decision to formally request City status divided Moreton Bay Regional Councillors today. 

Three of the 12 voted against the move to ask Queensland’s Local Government Minister to reclassify the region as a City Council.

Mayor Peter Flannery spoke passionately at the start of the debate about what he sees as a 'unique' opportunity.

Here’s where your Councillor stood in the council chamber:

Cr Brooke Savige (Div 1) said reservations she had at the start of the process had been confirmed and voted against the move.

She questioned reported confusion among federal politicians about where Moreton Bay Region was and said the region was receiving its fair share of funding.

Cr Savige said the aims of the Moreton Bay proposal could be achieved without becoming a City and the majority of her division did not support the move.

“I can’t support a proposal that doesn’t have clear community support,” Cr Savige said.

She questioned the use of social media to measure community sentiment and suggested dropping the word ‘Region’ and just promoting the brand Moreton Bay.

Cr Mark Booth (Div 2) highlighted the low participation rate in surveys and other measures to gauge community sentiment.

He said the silent majority were either happy with the proposal or did not have a strong opinion either way and they trusted council to make the decision for them.

Cr Booth said the decision to become a city was in the best long-term interest of the community.

Cr Adam Hain (Div 3) said he was ready to make the decision six months ago and if there is no additional cost, why not make the move to become a city.

He said it would create opportunity for businesses doing it tough in his division.

“We can’t teach everyone (why this is a good idea), that’s why we’re hired (to make decisions),” he said. “The best way to be surveyed is to ask the community when we’ve delivered.”

He said the business community supported the change and the community would see the benefits in years to come.

Cr Jodie Shipway (Div 4) said residents had asked if the move would boost Councillors’ pay or make the Mayor a Lord Mayor. CEO Greg Chemello said it would not.

The Deputy Mayor also said the cost would not impact council infrastructure spending and high rises would not emerge in rural areas.

Cr Shipway said she had explained the proposal to every community group she had visited in the past few months and once they understood the detail, they supported it.

“I hope to be able to show tangible outcomes in a few years’ time,” she said.

Cr Sandra Ruck (Div 5) questioned the need to give residents more time and said those against the proposal were unlikely to change their minds.

She sought clarification on the cost of becoming a city and was told it would be minimal.

Cr Karl Winchester (Div 6) said council “cannot rest on its laurels” as it faces great challenges with growth, infrastructure, services, the environment and housing.

He said the reclassification is important, but what’s more important is the lived experience in 10, 20, 50 years’ time.

“I support the reclassification, not as change for change’s sake, but because I think we will have a vastly better lived experience in the years ahead because of the strategic benefits that this new poly-centric-city approach will deliver for all of us,” he said.

Cr Barlow (Div 7) said this “polycentric approach is right for where we live”.

The growth in this area is presenting challenges and Cr Barlow said to meet this we must “make a vision of our choosing”.

Councillors were the decision makers and needed to make decisions now for the future.

Cr Barlow said to her colleagues: “This one of the decisions where you can show your true strength. Step up to the plate, be counted.”

Cr Mick Gilliam (Div 8) said he would be proud to live in Moreton Bay City.

He said many people still did not know there was a university in the region, and low community engagement on the city proposal reflected a broader challenge.

“There are people out there that don’t listen and don’t read and don’t care as long as we’re doing the right job.”

Cr Cath Tonks (Div 9) said the main concern raise with her had been the cost, which had been addressed, and fears the region’s identity and lifestyle were at risk.

She saw the proposal as an opportunity to boost employment, ease congestion and enhance the environment.

Cr Matt Constance (Div 10) said there had been endless consultation on the issue and council needed to think strategically for the future.

He acknowledged there had been legitimate concerns, but these had been addressed and they could not continue to act with a regional mindset in the digital age.

Cr Constance said making uncomfortable decisions demonstrated leadership.

Cr Darren Grimwade (Div 11) said iconic places were a brand and Moreton Bay needed a strong brand to become one.

He said residents had time and opportunity to comment if they were opposed to the move.

Cr Grimwade said the majority he had spoken to would not support it until they knew more and he was torn between making a decision now or at the next opportunity in 2025.

In his view, the community needed to be taken on the journey and needed more time and voted against the move

Cr Tony Latter (Div 12) voted against the move saying it was a decision he had struggled with and his division was similar to Cr Grimwade’s with a large rural component.

He has provided his community with information and many felt becoming a City would leave the rural region feeling more disconnected.