Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has asked for a report to consider moving from undivided to divided or multi-member divided electoral arrangements.
While any proposal to make amendments would first need to be approved by Council and then submitted to the State Government for consideration, TRC Finance and Business Strategy Committee Portfolio Lead, Councillor Kerry Shine said it was important to have the initial conversation.
“Toowoomba Regional Council was created in 2008 through the amalgamation of eight Councils into one,” Cr Shine said.
“Since then, there has been substantial growth and change in our community.”
There are 77 local council areas within Queensland which can be divided or undivided. In a divided council, voters from each division elect a councillor (or councillors in multi-member divided councils) to represent their division. In an undivided council, voters elect all the councillors they wish to represent their council area.
“When considering the growth we’ve experienced and the need for our regional areas to be represented, Council has requested management to prepare a high-level report outlining options and the pro’s and cons of representation by an undivided to divided or multi-member divided electoral arrangements.”
“It’s important to note that should a proposal proceed to the Local Government Change Commission, and should the Commission recommend change to the electoral arrangements, endorsement by the Governor in Council would not occur prior to the 2024 Local Government Election,” said Cr Shine.
The report for consideration is expected to be presented to Council by October 2023.
