The nearly full hall at the Stanthorpe deamalgamation information evening bore testimony to the strength of interest in starting the process of deamalgamation and organisers were heartened by offers of help from many in the audience.
Most came to see what was involved in the process and many went away determined to assist in any way they could.
The Warwick attendees took home petitions and there are now at least seven petitions circulating in the northern end of Southern Downs region.
Comments on the night came from business people and residents disadvantaged by the amalgamation.
Bob Johnson made the point, “The SDRC budget/forward estimates five years ago projected an operating deficit at 30/6/09 of $4.27 million, and that we would be in surplus by $0.4 million in three years. But the budget/forward estimates in 2011/12 forecast we would still be in deficit by $2.5 million in June this year and only return to surplus in 2015. That uncertainty is what amalgamation is still costing us and will continue to cost us into the future.”
Bob Johnson, Mary Rofe and Lionel Lindsay-Smith attended a special interview with Boundary Commissioner Col Meng in Brisbane on Friday morning.
Mr Meng has been appointed by the Local Government Minister, David Crisafuli, to oversee and guide the applications for demergers in Queensland.
“The Commissioner and his staff have been very helpful in explaining the process and advising on priorities,” Ms Rofe said.
“We spent over an hour with them and gained many useful insights in how to prepare the supporting documents.”
Organisers urge all those wanting to help, to contact one of them now, as they have only three weeks to finalise the documents and put in a proposal in favour of this demerger.
Two-thirds of the required signatures have been gathered now and an online petition is being investigated. This will help overseas residents to have their say.
Contact Mary Rofe on 0427 617 679 or Bob and Sue Johnson on (07) 4681 0871.
