December 16, 2013
Blackbutt resident Cheryl Kneipp has launched a petition pushing for Blackbutt and Benarkin to be excised from the South Burnett and added to the Toowoomba Regional Council area.
Ms Kneipp told the Country Focus news magazine this week that she had met with Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio in Yarraman recently to discuss the option.
She has now drafted a petition to Local Government Minister David Crisafulli to consider the request that properties be transferred to the Toowoomba Regional Council “for all rates and welfare purposes”.
Ms Kneipp said the move would re-establish the historic shared heritage between the “timber towns” of Blackbutt, Benarkin and Yarraman.
Ratepayers would also “gain a more equitable return and allocation from rates and charges currently levied”.
Mayor Antonio has previously told southburnett.com.au that although he was happy to meet with anyone, he did not expect any breakaway move to be successful.
He said the decision on Council boundaries was entirely up to Mr Crisafulli who “has no appetite at all for changing boundaries”.
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