Local businessman and former Kingaroy Shire councillor Terry Fleischfresser has joined the growing list of candidates who will be contesting the March 2016 Council elections.
He announced on Wednesday that he intends to stand for Division 4 of the South Burnett Regional Council.
Division 4 covers the northern half of Kingaroy and is currently held by Deputy Mayor Keith Campbell who intends to vacate the Division to run for the position of Mayor.
“As I understand, the current situation for the upcoming 2016 South Burnett Regional Council election is that four councillor positions and the position of Mayor will change,” Mr Fleischfresser said.
“Five positions out of seven will leave a new council very short on experience.
“As a business owner for 40 years, a past councillor and current active board member on a number of regional and State health initiatives, I am extremely concerned about the depth of experience we will have on the South Burnett Regional Council.
“The issues facing our community are complex and require community leaders who have business experience, corporate governance experience and vision to dramatically lead our community to achieve strong economic and social growth.”
Mr Fleischfresser said he was passionate about contributing to the growth of the local community.
“I am confident that my experience over the past 40 years would be of significant benefit to the new council,” he said.
Mr Fleischfresser said he had been running his own painting contractor business, employing local people, for 40 years.
He served on Kingaroy Shire Council from 2000-2008 and had the portfolio of Health and Environment.
“During this time I was instrumental in the planning and acquisition of the Kingaroy Shire Council purchasing the private hospital,” Mr Fleischfresser said.
“I continue to be a strong advocate for health service needs within our community.”
He is currently a Board Member of the Darling Downs Health and Hospital, a role he has held for three years.
“Within these forums I continue to champion the need for a new public hospital to be built in Kingaroy,” he said.
Mr Fleischfresser said he was also a Board Member on Health Workforce Queensland (for eight years) and a past Board member (14 years) of South Burnett Jobmatch, including five years as chairman.
He had also been a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors for eight years and the Kingaroy Lions Club for 35 years.
“I have considerable experience in Local Government, corporate finance, statutory laws, corporate governance, town planning and good decision-making powers,” Mr Fleischfresser said.
“If elected I will retire from my business and devote my full attention to the role of Councillor.
“The South Burnett has sustained my family for the past 40 years and my dedication to this region has never waned.
“I look forward to the next chapter in my life as your serving Councillor for Division 4 within the South Burnett Regional Council.”
