Bring power back to the council: Crisafulli
SOUTHERN Downs Regional Council helped drive some of the biggest local government reforms in a generation.
Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said suggestions made by the SDRC contributed to amendments to the Local Government and City of Brisbane Acts that will change the way councils do business.
"During a meeting with the SDRC, councillors said community plans were costly, time consuming and duplicated information already contained in financial and corporate plans," he said.
"They also said conflict of interest provisions were too restrictive and prevented them from voting on issues related to local sporting and community groups if they were a member.
"The previous Act made councils less responsive to their communities and we're restoring their power to act."
SDRC mayor Peter Blundell said it was pleasing to see that the Mr Crisafulli acted upon advice from the council.
"The changes...will result in the community being able to better determine the direction that it takes, and to shape the community for future generations, rather than have direction determined in a capital city many miles from the regions those decisions affect," he said.
