INCOMING Councillor for Division 4 Jim Madden said he will be going into the job fighting for the region to get its share of funds.
While votes were still being counted for Division 4 as the Moreton Border News went to press, Mr Madden was well in front of other candidates.
“The issue of Division 4 not getting its fair share of funding isn’t just about the amount of money in the Budget, it is the amount of money that the Council gets from the State Government that they are either moving to another Division or they are delaying the works,” Mr Madden said.
“Division 4 was allocated half a million dollars for a new transfer station and ultimately those monies were used in other Divisions.”
Mr Madden said he would also be calling on the council to review the decision to delay the traffic lights at the intersection of Keswick and Wulkuraka Connection roads.
“Council applied for a grant in 2023. They got it early in the year and in August they wrote to the State Government to delay the works until March 2025. I want that decision reviewed.”
With 54 percent of the vote counted in Division 4, Mr Madden was way ahead with 31 percent of the vote. David Cullen was looking to claim the second councillor role with 26 percent, ahead of incumbent Russell Milligan on less than 23 percent of the vote.
Mr Madden said he was happy with the response from voters and hoped there would be a change in the council.
“I want to see a council that is more democratic where it is a majority of votes of the council that decide issues,” he said.
“I want the council to be a true council where the mayor as chair of the council … motions are voted on and there should not be any concerns if the mayor’s views are not accepted by the majority of the council.
“She should actively support the majority view of the councillors with true democracy.”
