Strelow tight-lipped on split
Strelow: THE woman who championed amalgamation of the Rockhampton Regional Council was yesterday tight-lipped about a push to split the Capricorn Coast into its own entity.
As the then Mayor of Rockhampton City Council, Margaret Strelow was a key player in the formation of the regional council.
Yesterday she declined to buy into the debate, saying she didn't feel it appropriate to comment at this stage with the result of last week's council election still to be determined.
Ms Strelow leads the race to become the next regional mayor.
Her position comes after Division 3 councillor Bill Ludwig this week said his re-election with a two-thirds majority was an endorsement of the community's call for a return of independence for the Capricorn Coast.
Local Government Minister David Crisafulli said yesterday the Queensland Government thought it important councils had the power to provide local solutions to local problems.
However, the state wouldn't be offering a "big wad of money" to councils.
"De-amalgamation is a very serious undertaking," Mr Crisafulli said.
"It's our view that communities should continue to try to make the amalgamations work and de-amalgamations should be viewed as a last resort."
But Mr Ludwig said: "The real question is what is it going to cost if we don't de-amalgamate?" Cr Ludwig said.
