In December 2018, the Granite Belt Community Association’s report, A new Granite Belt Council, a proposal to separate from the Southern Downs Regional Council, was submitted to Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) and Queensland’s Minister for Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs (DLGRMA).
Following this submission, SDRC completed a Management Review of the GBCA proposal for de-amalgamation before independent consultant, Grassroots Connection’s Greg Hoffman, was engaged to undertake an assessment of both GBCA’s proposal and Council’s Management Review.
Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) completed a comprehensive financial analysis in April, which was presented to Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) and the DLGRMA. The DLGRMA requested the Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) review the GBCA’s analysis of the financial viability of the proposed new councils and associated costs of de-amalgamation.
Following a comprehensive review process, SDRC will consider its support of the proposal. The DLGRMA will also complete a detailed analysis of the business case before providing a recommendation to the Minister regarding referral of the submission to the Local Government Change Commission (LGCC).
It is important all residents take the time to read all documents associated with de-amalgamation, including QTC’s report, and work out for themselves the consequences of de-amalgamation for their individual household, their community and for the whole region.
SDRC’s Management Review, QTC’s Financial Analysis, GBCA’s Response to Council’s Management Review and the Grassroots Connections assessment can be viewed below. There is also a link to the Granite Belt Community Association’s website where A new Granite Belt Council, a proposal to separate from the Southern Downs Regional can be viewed.