September 18, 2012

A push by residents in the former Rosalie and Crows Nest shires to form a breakaway shire has failed.

Local Government Minister David Crisafulli announced this morning that he would refer de-amalgamation proposals from five former shires to the Boundaries Commissioner.

The submission from Crows Nest / Rosalie to de-amalgamate from Toowoomba Regional Council was not amongst them.

The successful proposals are from Douglas, Isis, Livingstone, Mareeba and Noosa councils.

“Over the next two and a half months, Boundaries Commissioner Col Meng will be working with Queensland Treasury Corporation to closely scrutinise the financial and logistical aspects of each proposal,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“This was always going to be a difficult process but if a proposal stacks up, the community will make the final decision at a referendum.”

Mr Crisafulli said he would use the information gathered by the remaining groups to help Councils and communities heal the wounds from the forced amalgamations.

“Far from being a waste of time, this has been a great exercise in democracy by giving communities a chance to voice the concerns they were denied five years ago.

“It was always going to be more difficult years on from the initial amalgamation to build a case to operate separately, because there’s already been a lot of work and money spent on unifying the former shires.

“But this proves the embers of de-amalgamation still burn and I want the Councils to use this information to address some of the concerns.”

Each group had to meet a set of strict guidelines including a strong, evidence-based, community-backed submission based on the pre-amalgamation local government boundaries.

They had to provide a detailed estimate of the potential financial costs and include a petition signed by at least 20 per cent of the voting population that showed an understanding of all the cost implications.

Petitioners also needed to demonstrate an understanding that the former shire wishing to de-amalgamate would have to meet all costs involved, including their own, and those of the Council they wished to break away from.

Mr Meng will provide a detailed report, including recommendations, to the Minister by November 28, 2012.

NB. Mr Jeff Close, from the Crows Nest & District Tourist & Progress Association, had indicated previously that if the application was unsuccessful, the group could have another strategy up their sleeves.

He believed an application could be made by the Toowoomba Regional Council under the Local Government Act to divide into three areas: Northern Downs, Southern Downs and a central Toowoomba area.

Mr Close was not available to comment today.

* * *

Mr Crisafulli vowed today to work with Toowoomba Regional Council to heal the wounds from the forced amalgamations.

He said submissions from Crows Nest/Rosalie, Clifton, Millmerran and Pittsworth to de-amalgamate from Toowoomba didn’t address the long-term financial viability of each shire or accept that any de-amalgamation would be along the pre-amalgamation local government boundaries.

Mr Crisafulli said he would be calling on the Council to address the concerns raised in each submission.

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