Summary of Ordinary Council Meeting Thursday 24 September 2026

Tablelands Regional Council met on Thursday 24 September 2026 to consider a range of strategic, operational and community matters affecting the region. The meeting was chaired by the Mayor, Kevin Cardew.

Mayoral Minute

Mayor, Kevin Cardew opened the meeting and acknowledged it being his first Ordinary Council Meeting as Mayor and took the opportunity to thank the community for putting their faith in him to lead Council for the remainder of the current term.

The Mayor reaffirmed commitments made during his election campaign to enhance transparency on Council business and decisions and stated that in his first weeks in office he had requested that:

Pre-agenda meetings traditionally held before Council meetings to discuss the content of council meeting agendas be suspended to allow questions, discussion and debate to occur during Council meetings for transparency.
Council meeting agendas to pass through the Mayor’s Office for perusal before being made public.
The removal of acronyms in reports and Councillor Information Sessions for ease of interpretation.
Tenders to be brought back into the open session of Council meetings for openness and transparency.

The Mayor also proposed a resolution regarding the appointment of a qualified person to act as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) if the CEO position is vacant, or if the CEO is unable to exercise any existing authority or delegation relating to their appointment as CEO. This resolution was not endorsed by the Council.

CEO Report

The CEO’s Report noted the Electoral Commission of Queensland declared Kevin Cardew as the new Mayor of Tablelands Regional Council on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, and the CEO received Mayor Cardew’s Declaration of Office on Wednesday, 2 September 2026.

Mayor Cardew’s appointment leaves the seat of Division 1 Councillor vacant creating the need for a subsequent byelection. The CEO wrote to the Electoral Commission of Queensland 1 September 2026 to advise the vacancy and requested a Full Postal Vote for the Division 1 by-election. The CEO verbally updated that Electoral Commission has since confirmed the Minister has approved a Full Postal Vote and the Commission is expected to announce details about the upcoming byelection next week (Week commencing 28 September).

The CEO also noted the Artisan and Farmers Night Markets were held on 4 September at Priors Creek Parklands, seeing vendor numbers almost doubling and strong attendance. The September Creekside Cinema screening of The Lego Movie on 12 September also attracted strong numbers, despite uncertain weather. Upcoming events include the next Night Markets on 2 October and The Addams Family screening on the following night, 3 October.

PM & LM Langtree – Reconfiguring a Lot (1 Lot Into 3 Lots)

Council approved a Development Permit for reconfiguring a Lot (1 lot into 3 lots) on land described as Lot 56 on RP808543, situated at 67 Seamark Road, Tarzali, subject to conditions specified at the meeting.

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Exemption Notices

Council considered three exemption notices relating the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Grain Harvest Management Scheme) Mass Exemption Notice 2026 (No. 1).
Australian Defence Force Class 1 And 3 Heavy Vehicle (Defence Assistance to the Civil Community) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1)
Queensland Class 3 Additional Mass Limits Exemption Notice 2026 (No. 1)

It was noted that Council does not have sufficient information about the condition and carrying capacity of all bridges, culverts and other infrastructure across its road network to safely support unrestricted access for the heavier vehicles covered by the exemptions and determined not to consent to the proposed exemptions.

Community Project Request – Tablelands Outdoor Recreation Association Inc, Rail Corridor Upgrade

Council approved Community Project Request CRM/26/03109 from Tableland Outdoor Recreation Association Inc. to utilise funding from Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. The works include resurfacing a section of the Rail Trail corridor between Grove Street and Main Street in Atherton and to undertake landscaping and tree planting works adjacent to the Rail Trail. These works are subject to conditions as specified in the council report.

Group and Committee appointments

Council appointed Deputy Mayor, Cr Dave Bilney to the Audit, Risk & Improvement Committee.
Council appointed Mayor Cardew as Chairperson of the Tablelands Local Disaster Management Group.

Senior Executive Recruitment Policy

Council resolved to adopt a Senior Executive Recruitment Policy, with agreed changes reflecting that all Councillors will be on the panel for Chief Executive Officer recruitment and the title of the policy is to be amended to ‘Chief Executive Officer and Senior Executive Recruitment Policy’.

Grant Program Policy Update

Council noted a recent review of TRC’s Grant Program Policy and recommended amendments to provide greater clarity around the administration of the Grant Program and eligibility requirements for the Youth Excellence stream of funding. Council resolved to adopt the amended Grant Program Policy.

Financial Assistance Grant

Council received and noted a report on the status and impacts for TRC related to the Financial Assistance Grant distributed annually to all 77 Queensland councils, by the Queensland Local Government Grants Commission (the Commission).

Council’s 2026-27 Financial Assistance Grant allocation is $5,992,635, comprising a General-Purpose Grant of $1,993,687 and an Identified Road Grant of $3,998,948. It was noted that The General-Purpose Grant allocation has reduced by 52% since 2022-23 (from $4.16 million to $1.99 million) because of a change to the Commission’s allocation methodology. It was noted the CEO has written to the Chair of the Commission raising this issue ahead of the Commission’s next methodology review.

Council Corporate Reports

Council received and noted the following reports:

The Capital Projects Monthly Report for August 2026.
The Financial Report for July 2026,

As part of the receiving the Financial Report, Council endorsed the payment of the Emergency Management Levy Return due on 14 October 2026 for up to $1.4m, noting the final amount payable will be determined at the time of payment, based on levy payments received by Council up to that date, and approved updates presented for Council fees and charges, including:

Removing the Building Miscellaneous fee 65 – Queensland Development Code (QDC) Siting Dispensation – Application & Assessment, with the applicable application fee to instead be captured under the Concurrence Agency Referral fee.
Adding Local Laws – Overgrown & Unsightly Premises & Nuisances fee 209.1 – Removal of Prohibited Items, at actual cost plus a $233.00 administration fee per infringement notice.
Adding Planning and Development – Operational Works Fee 260.1 – Electrical & Lighting Design – lodged separately to an Operational Works application, at $800.00 per application.

Tenders and Contracts Awarded

Council endorsed Tenderer 2 as the preferred tenderer for contract T00428 for the 2026/27 Regional Bitumen Reseal Program for $787,611.03 excluding GST.
Council endorsed Tenderer 3 as the preferred tenderer for contract T00345 for Ball Road pavement rehabilitation 2026/27 for $895,656.01 excluding GST and approved a budget reallocation of $200,000 excluding GST from project C001035 RDS Pavement Rehab Program 2026/27 to the project C001033 Asphalt Overlay Program 2026/27, reducing the Ball Road project budget from $1,706,080 to $1,506,080 excluding GST, with no change to the overall 2026/27 Capital Works Budget.
Council endorsed Tenderer 1 as the preferred tenderer for contract T00354 of the Asphalt Overlay Program for works at the Ravenshoe and Tolga Depots for $567,347.87 excluding GST, and approved budget reallocation of $200,000 excluding GST from project C001035 RDS Pavement Rehab Program 2026/27 to project C001033 Asphalt Overlay Program 2026/27, increasing the project budget from $571,524 to $771,524 excluding GST, with no change to the overall 2026/27 Capital Works Budget.
Council endorsed Tenderer 2 as the preferred tenderer for contract T00403 for the supply and delivery of a Street Sweeper Truck for $470,645.86 excluding GST.

Agendas, Minutes & Next Meetings

Next Meeting — The next meeting of Council will be at 9am on Thursday 29 October 2026, at the Coordination Centre, Atherton. Meetings are open to the public, live-streamed and recorded.