WHITSUNDAY councillors’ workloads are such that they collectively deserve a 26% pay rise, according to a council submission lodged this week with the Local Government Remuneration and Discipline Tribunal.
Currently a category four council, the mayor’s position earns $120,226 per annum, the deputy mayor earns $75,141 and councillors earn $63,870.
The council’s submission said because of councillors’ workloads, the region’s burgeoning tourism market and “committed or proposed” Chinese investment approaching $2 billion, the Whitsunday Regional Council level should be increased to category five.
As a category five council, the mayor would be paid $142,769 per annum, the deputy mayor $93,927 and councillors would pocket $82,655.
Whitsunday Mayor Jennifer Whitney said as a category five council, the Whitsundays would be in a stronger position to seek government funding and deliver a wide range of services and invest in vital community infrastructure.
“Whitsunday Regional Council compares very favourably to other category five local governments in terms of size and population, and we think it’s only fitting that our region is given the recognition it deserves,” she said.
The motion was passed four votes to three, with Crs Jennifer Whitney, John Collins, John Atkinson and Jan Clifford voting for the submission and Crs Dave Clark, Peter Ramage and Andrew Willcox voting against the motion.
This week I take a look at our most wanted. Where we want to buy and rent, based on price growth and where we want to be, based on population movements. Our most wanted city (and suburbs) There really has been no suburb or city untouched by COVID accelerated demand. … Read more
This week, I take a look at the latest population movement data for Australia, as well as the growth in housing finance. There continues to be a tsunami of money targeting a declining number of properties for sale. Brisbane and Regional Queensland are attracting the most people Australia continues to … Read more