A round of applause began the Rockhampton Regional Council meeting on Tuesday as new Mayor Tony Williams chaired his first meeting.
Cr Williams paid thanks to the councillors, council staff and the community for their patience over the past month during the by-election and said he was eager to take Rockhampton to the next step. Mayor Tony Williams in the mayoral chair for his first official council meeting as mayor on Tuesday February 9, 2021.
Councillor Neil Fisher was thanked for stepping up into the role of Acting Mayor in the absence of former mayor Margaret Strelow.
Key issues:
Councillor Shane Latcham tabled a petition for a recreational park at Norman Gardens on the council-owned land near Nagle Dr, to be accessed from Springfield Dr.
Acting Premier and Minister for Trade The Honourable Dr Steven Miles
The upgrades to the Rockhampton Airport Terminal, including a new mezzanine floor and passenger lounges are on track for completion, thanks to $6.44 million from the Palaszczuk Government’s $200 million COVID Works for Queensland program.
Acting Premier and Minister for Local Government Steven Miles inspected the construction site with Member for Rockhampton Barry O’Rourke, Assistant Minister for Education and Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga and Rockhampton Regional Council Acting Mayor Neil Fisher.
“The new passenger lounges and mezzanine floor are looking fantastic and the terminal will be a tremendous first impression for visitors to this beautiful region,” Mr Miles said.
It would be the first of 16 years as mayor for Mrs Strelow. The well known identity sat down with
The Morning Bulletin last week for the first time since her sudden departure from the Rockhampton mayoral position in November. She spoke with fondness and pride about her successful and varied political career, sharing the highs and lows. Mrs Strelow first ran for a Rockhampton City councillor position in 1994 but was unsuccessful. She was, however, successful at the 1997 election and was voted in for the northside division, around Lakes Creek Rd and Elizabeth Park. I had to contest a Labor Party plebiscite to contest the division I lived in then, Mrs Strelow said of her first term in the council.
Where is she now? What life looks like for Margaret Strelow whitsundaytimes.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from whitsundaytimes.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
It could be any day now that the region will know who the new mayor of Rockhampton is. As of Wednesday afternoon 81.16 per cent of the vote has been counted with 45,359 tallied out of 55,885 registered voters. But with close to 2000 postal votes outstanding, counting has slowed.
Sitting councillor Tony Williams remains in the lead with 10,980 votes, accounting for 24.85 per cent. Russell Claus is next in line with 15.55 per cent of the vote from 6,873 votes. Chris Pineapple Hooper is coming third with 12.29 per cent of the vote, gaining 5,429 votes. According to Electoral Commission of Queensland data, 1828 postal votes are outstanding, which has slowed vote counting over the past few days.