By Jeremy Sollars
The Granite Belt Community Association (GBCA) has released a critique of the recent Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) report on the proposed de-amalgamation of Warwick and Stanthorpe.
The critique was prepared by the Finance Sub-Committee of the Granite Belt Community Association De-amalgamation Project Steering Committee, with advice and review provided by consultant David Spearritt.”
GBCA President Rev Alan Colyer said in its critique the association has “raised a number of serious concerns regarding the data that underlies the QTC report, especially in regards to the staff figures and costings of de-amalgamation”.
“We argue that the data provided by Southern Downs Regional Council management to the QTC authors is incorrect and exaggerated and hence does not in any way reflect efficient council operations, which is required under the legislation,” he said.
“One of the major issues of contention is that 180 people would be required to staff a new Granite Belt Council, when the previous Stanthorpe Shire employed 110.
“A letter was sent to each of the councillors prior to the council vote and not one responded with comment or explanation on the number of staff within the QTC report.
“A letter was also sent to council CEO David Keenan asking if the council agrees that the staff numbers adopted by QTC in its report are a fair estimate of what would be required for a new GBRC.
“To this day no response has been received.
“The exaggerated costing within the QTC report has enables councillors to use the excuse that our proposal was not financially viable and vote to not support it.
“A copy of the critique of the QTC report has been sent to Queensland Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and the GBCA has respectfully asked him to consider the critique in deliberations regarding whether the conflicting information contained within our GBCA report and the QTC report should be referred to the Change Commission for further assessment.
“At our recent public rally more than 1200 attendees raised their hands when asked if they wished for the Association to continue on with the proposal to create a new Granite Belt Council.
“I vow that we will honour the community’s wishes and continue our fight to be governed locally by a Granite Belt Council”.
The critique of the Queensland Treasury Corporation report: “Southern Downs Regional Council: Financial analysis of de-amalgamation proposal, 8 April 2019” can be viewed on the GBCA website at www.granitebeltcommunity.com
Southern Downs councillors at their April meeting formally voted against de-amalgamation but Queensland Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe will have the final say.
The Free Times asked Mr Hinchliffe for his current position on the de-amalgamation proposal and received the following response –
“The information I have before me requires detailed consideration, and the process for any change to occur has been crystal clear from the very beginning,” Mr Hinchliffe said.
“I’ve always said any proposal for change needs to stack up financially and have the support of the affected councils.”
Mr Hinchliffe did not indicate support or otherwise for de-amalgamation, nor did he provide a timeframe on when he will make a final decision.
