Shock as mayor quits

AFTER nearly six years heading the North Burnett Regional Council, Mayor Rachel Chambers has made a shock resignation announcement in an emotional video posted to Facebook.

Ms Chambers (pictured) said personal and “life-changing” events over the past few months have served as a “wake-up call as to how life needs to be lived” and forced her to rethink her priorities.

The resignation will be effective on December 11.

“I have loved being able to fiercely advocate for outcomes on your behalf and while my passion and determination hasn’t wavered, my attention has shifted,” Ms Chambers said. “The role of mayor is a 24 hour/7 day a week gig. To do justice to the position you need to throw everything you’ve got at it, which of course leaves little for anything else.”

Ms Chambers demanded action from the Queensland Government earlier this year on an “existential threat” to regional councils, which forced the North Burnett council to cut services in the region to survive.

Prior to the release of council’s 2021/22 budget she led the Between a Rock and a Hard Place community consultation tour across Gayndah, Biggenden, Eidsvold, Monto, Mundubbera and Mt Perry, which revealed grave budgetary concerns for the region.

Ms Chambers also addressed speculation she was leaving to run for the state seat of Callide, which she had previously considered.

“I’ve decided once and for all, that even though I believe I would have made a valuable member of parliament, I’m too much of a delinquent for party politics,” she said.

“As I’ve told both sides over the years, if I didn’t believe in something, I’d cross the floor more times than a vacuum cleaner.”

Ms Chambers said while she was disappointed to be leaving many goals unaccomplished, this is the right decision for herself and family.

“I walk away with some disappointment, knowing I have left a great deal of unfinished business. Biggenden, Coalstoun and Coranga Water, a regional university hub, Substation 99, Perry Pumped Hydro, the sealing of state roads, minerals development and our project cutting red tape to name just a few,” she said. “I would have loved to have seen these through to the end. And of course, there is still so much more debate to be had regarding Local Governments sustainability across QLD.

“I walk away however, with my head held high, knowing that I have given my all to North Burnett.”