Local Shires
The Gulf region is governed by 5 local authorities, with between 5 and 12 elected representatives on each Council. Doomadgee Council along with all other Community Councils in Queensland, is in the process of transition to full Council status. The populations are small ranging between 350 and 2000 people resulting in a low rates base and limited resources, making governance over vast areas difficult.
Increasingly both state and federal governments are using the local government tier to deliver programs in a range of areas placing an even greater load on small Councils.
Under the Department of Local Government and Planning’s Regional Collaboration and Capacity Building Program, the three Shire Council members of Gulf Savannah Development will be undertaking a review to determine the most appropriate governance model for the region.
While local government is traditionally viewed as being the best advocate for a local population is it is difficult for an elected representative to keep pace with a rapidly changing and developing information base and to keep in touch with constituents, particularly where that individual is still running his/her own business.
In the past Council activity concentrated on the roads, rates and rubbish (and in the case of Queensland, sewerage). This is changing and the Hawker Report (Commonwealth Government 2003) lists a growing number of functions such as health, alcohol and drugs, community safety and transport infrastructure with an increasing regulatory role in planning, public health and the environment.
