I WRITE in response to the continual and incorrect assertions, allegations and assumptions made by one of your online contributors, Mr Darryl Evans. These allegations refer to me not living in the municipality, among other things.

I am disappointed these assertions continue to be published without checks or scrutiny.

I have been employed as the chief executive officer at Southern Downs Regional Council for approximately six months.

In taking on the role, I moved to Warwick with my son and my wife and daughter will move at the end of the year.

My son is enrolled at The Scots PGC College and is completing Year 9, with a view to concluding his education at this school.

Both my son and I play in separate teams in the Wednesday basketball competition at WIRAC, run by the Warwick Basketball Association, and recently we played off against each other in opposing teams in the grand final.

I am actively involved with the Warwick Relay for Life committee and hope to be involved in the Redbacks AFL Club, should there be an under-16 team fielded next year, as a coach or in another role.

I believe I am present and involved in the community.

Two of the three directors employed at Southern Downs Regional Council reside in Warwick with one of these directors making a substantial voluntary contribution to the scouting movement across the region.

Each of these directors has put their children through local schools and been actively involved in the community.

I am disappointed in Mr Evans's continual assertions that all senior staff do not reside in the municipality.

This is simply incorrect and wrong. One of the directors lives outside the municipality and that is their own choice and right.

During the past six months I have attended as many business and chamber of commerce meetings and functions as I have been able to, both in Warwick and Stanthorpe.

I have actively listened to business owners and operators to determine what council can do to improve the opportunities to facilitate investment and employment. I have not seen or met Mr Evans at any of these events.

At present, there are a number of businesses that I and other staff are dealing with directly that are either considering investment or expansion in the Southern Downs region.

A number of these businesses have gone online to undertake their due diligence investigations and have asked me if Mr Evans's comments represent the thoughts of the community.

I have assured them his view is not the view of the general community. I will continue to encourage these businesses to consider investing in the Southern Downs region to create employment.

Consistent criticism and commentary by Mr Evans of the performance of the mayor, councillors, council staff, marginalised members of the community does nothing to promote Warwick, Stanthorpe and the Southern Downs in a positive light to businesses or people considering a move to the region.

Mr Evans may have his own reasons for his continual criticism and negative outlook but I would ask him to please get his facts right and think carefully about how his comments present the Southern Downs community to those thinking about investing in the local economy.

Mr Evans, please feel free to arrange a time to come and discuss any issues or the performance of the organisation with me and I will seek to have them resolved.

- David Keenan, CEO Southern Downs Regional Council