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By HARRY CLARKE
CONTINUING to push for an ambitious regional dam project and attracting new resource development potentially in the pipeline, including nuclear energy, are part of a long term vision for the newly minted mayor of Queensland’s bustling Western Downs region.
Western Downs councillor Andrew Smith is among raft of new faces now at the helm of local government in regional Queensland, as the March council elections marked the retirement of some veteran mayors and the toppling of others in polling day upsets.
The Queensland Electoral Commission confirmed that two-term Maranoa mayor Tyson Golder has been outpolled by councillor Wendy Taylor in a shakeup which has also seen four new councillors elected to office in the Roma-based administration.
Longstanding Southern Downs mayor Vic Pennisi has been beaten by first-time independent candidate Melissa Hamilton, who won 47 percent of the vote over Pennisi’s 37 percent.
“I sensed at the outset that voters really wanted a different style of leadership and the mood for change was obvious from conversations I had during the campaign,” Hamilton said.
“I would like to thank Mr Pennisi for his 20 years of service on council. This is a long commitment not only from Mr Pennisi but also from his wife Sharon and his whole family in serving our community.”
Residents in the South Burnett region voted for experience in electing 20-year political veteran Kathy Duff, who will be officially sworn in as the region’s first female mayor. Duff takes over the role following the departure of former mayor Brett Otto.
After an extremely tight contest in the west, former Barcaldine mayor Rob Chandler will return to the region’s mayoral office having secured 45 percent of the vote over Gary Peoples’ 42 percent.
Chandler previously served as Barcaldine mayor for 16 years from 2004 to 2020. The mayor who replaced him, Sean Dillon, has vacated the role to run for the seat of Gregory in the October state election, paving the way for Chandler’s return.
Final results in the Western Downs election were declared only this week but the result in the mayoral race never seemed in doubt, as Councillor Andrew Smith held a comfortable lead throughout the counting period and finished with 76 percent of the vote.
Smith’s elevation to Western Downs mayor follows the departure of high profile two-term leader Paul McVeigh, whose tenure included a period of rapid renewable energy construction, a series of natural disasters and the horrific Wieambilla shooting in 2022 which put the region in international headlines.
Smith, from a proud Condamine farming family which also owns the town’s local pub, said it was imperative for his region to continue embracing new opportunities in the energy and intensive agriculture sectors.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank our two outgoing councillors and of course the former mayor, Paul McVeigh,” Smith said.
“Paul’s done a wonderful job and I think we are benefiting from his leadership throughout the last term. He has been inspirational and I want to see the good things that we’ve been doing as a council continue.
“The leadership role is purely about leading – not only your community but leading the boardroom. I like the challenge of getting a boardroom together as a united team.
“It’s not only about solving problems but it’s also about growing our communities and then making sure that we take full advantage of the opportunities come out that come our way.
“I guess that’s what’s driven me towards wanting to be leader because I see those opportunities and I don’t want our region to let them slip by.”
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The Western Downs region has experienced rapid growth since the mid 2010s in line with the development of the coal seam gas industry, which in recent years has paved the way for the rollout of renewable energy projects.
The Dulacca Wind Farm, the Coopers Gap Wind Farm and the 400MW Western Downs Green Power Hub solar farm are among some of the larger renewable generators in the region which are now operational. Several other assets are under construction or in the planning stage.
As the debate over the suitability and viability of nuclear energy in Australia gains momentum, Smith said he’d be open to welcoming the industry in the Western Downs if opportunities presented themselves.
“There’s a lot of opportunity that’s going to come our way in regards renewables and we need to make sure that we take advantage of anything that’s good for our region,” Smith said.
“We don’t play a large role in renewables in regards to setting targets – that’s for the state and the federal governments – but our role is to take advantage of what’s happening, or what can potentially happen, in our region.
“We have a reputation for embracing all opportunity. Are we the experts in nuclear energy? No. Do we have a full understanding of what it might bring to our region? No. But the Western Downs embraces opportunity and if nuclear energy was good for our region then we would have certainly have a look at it.”
Smith said the Western Downs Regional Council would also be continuing to advocate for progress on the proposed Nathan Dam and Pipelines Project, which would see a 888ML dam built on the Dawson River along with a 220km pipeline to feed water throughout the Dawson, Callide and Surat Basin regions.
“One of the biggest issues that we see coming our way would be water,” Smith said.
“We’ll be advocating very strongly, as the previous council has, around bulk water and that will be with regard to Nathan Dam. That’s in our sites. We’ve had already some good conversations, we’ve delivered a pre-feasibility to the minister and they’re moving forward with that.
“There’s lots of industry in the wider region now that needs water and can use water. It’s not only about coal.
“We’ll certainly discussing regularly how we can get Nathan Dam in the spotlight and hopefully one day delivered for our region.”