CQ councils in battle for the burbs as vote nears

Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |

Pic: Livingstone Shire mayor Andy Ireland (centre) has led a campaign to retain the suburbs

A long-running dispute over which council should control three central Queensland suburbs has escalated as a decisive vote on the issue approaches.

Rockhampton Regional Council and its northern neighbour, Livingstone Shire Council, both lay claim to Glenlee, Glendale and Rockyview.

The suburbs are currently part of Livingstone Shire, but Rockhampton mayor  Tony Williams claims even Livingstone’s own survey shows residents support a change of region.

“It’s been shown three times now that residents in Glenlee, Glendale and Rockyview want to become part of the Rockhampton region.

“Enough is enough. The message is loud and clear that these residents want to be part of the community they identify with. It’s time to bring them home to Rockhampton.”

But Livingstone Shire mayor Andy Ireland says a change could lead to higher rates and reduced services.

“It’s an issue that impacts the entire shire, not just three suburbs. Council values all areas of the shire equally. We will have a stronger economic future together.

“The Rockhampton Mayor says a boundary change is fairer for all. It’s not. It only advantages Rockhampton. It’s certainly not fairer for our residents who are going to experience the financial impost of this blatant land grab.”

The disputed suburbs originally belonged to Livingstone Shire, which formed in 1903.

They became part of the Rockhampton region after the then Queensland Labor government ordered the merger of 153 councils into 73 larger entities in 2008.

Livingstone Shire returned, and regained control of the three suburbs, when the LNP government de-amalgamated local councils in 2014.

Many residents of the suburbs work in or are socially connected to Rockhampton, and previous votes favoured a return of control to Rockhampton Council.

A new vote will be held in the coming weeks, with the State Government expected to resolve the matter before the end of the year.