Douglas To Run For Division 2

Blackbutt resident Douglas Grant will run for Division 2 in March 16 elections (Photo: Supplied)

February 9, 2024

Blackbutt resident Douglas Grant has thrown his hat into the ring to stand for Division 2 at the South Burnett Regional Council election on March 16.

Division 2 covers Blackbutt, Benarkin, South Nanango, Maidenwell, Brooklands and the eastern portion of the Bunya Mountains.

The sitting councillor is Acting Mayor Gavin Jones who will be contesting the mayoralty at the election, leaving Division 2 vacant.

Douglas – a security consultant – began his 35-year working career as an electrician in Canada.

He began to specialise in CCTV security systems in 2000 when he gained certification as a Microsoft engineer, and after moving to Australia this expertise allowed him to work with many councils around Queensland, including the South Burnett Regional Council.

Douglas moved to the region with his wife in 2016 and built a house in Blackbutt after the couple “fell in love with the area”.

He also became interested in politics, standing as the One Nation candidate against sitting Member Deb Frecklington at the 2017 State election, coming in second place with 27.44 per cent of the vote.

Douglas was able to help secure Federal Government grants for CCTV installations in Murgon (2017) and Wondai (2019).

He recently retired and now works as an author, as well as serving as an expert witness in civil and criminal cases involving video evidence.

His hobbies include membership of the South Burnett Pistol Club in Kingaroy, and he maintains interests in political science and economics.

Douglas said he believes residents need Councillors who are reasonable, experienced people that are able to work together for the community.

“There is work to be done in many areas, and it’s also important that Council maintain and assist local businesses,” he said.

“Many people I spoke to during the 2017 State Election were telling me about local council issues they were concerned about, not realising the State Government had little to do with their complaints.

“The greatest number of complaints were about the Council’s neglect of road repairs and increasing rates.”

Douglas said he believed that if the Council could reduce expenditure and still run effectively as a not-for-profit business, it would reduce the need for ever-increasing rate rises.

Division 2 residents who would like to ask Douglas questions or assist with his campaign have been invited to email him

A second Blackbutt resident, Linda Little, has also nominated to contest Division 2.

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