3:01p.m. 17 March 2008

A day after new Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot expressed concern about further state interference in local government, Premier Anna Bligh has announced she will host a summit of all new mayors.

Ms Bligh said today she would extend formal invitations to all Queensland mayors to attend the summit, which will be held on March 27 at Parliament House.

"Queenslanders are now represented by larger, stronger councils that are far better equipped to take on the tough challenges ahead, particularly in the regions," Ms Bligh said.

"I congratulate the newly elected mayors and councillors on their victories and know they are all keen to get down to business as soon as possible.

"This is a significant reform and I want to work with every mayor to make the most of the opportunity.

"Reform is not without its challenges. This meeting will be an opportunity to bring state and local government leaders together to discuss immediate issues such as the integration of services across regions and other aspects of the transition process for merging councils.”

Ms Bligh said the newly elected mayors would also have an opportunity to be briefed on the next stages of local government reform, including the current review of the Local Government Act.

However, Mr Abbot, who was elected as mayor of the new Sunshine Coast Regional Council on Saturday after winning more than 70% of the total vote, is concerned that the state government will try to create more control over local government.

"I've got a great fear that the next attack on local government will be in the planning sphere and I think they (state government) need to look very closely at what the communities are saying about how they want to be managed in the future as regards to development,” he told a Brisbane newspaper.

"Any further attack on local government in the development sphere would create another Gold Coast highway koala corridor type fiasco for the government – and would bring them down."

Mr Abbot told the Sunshine Coast Daily that the new council would face many challenges, but he was confident those elected would be able to work together as a team for the good of the region.

Ms Bligh said the state government wanted to offer the new councils all the assistance it could to ensure the next six months went as smoothly as possible.

"For all councils, there are other important issues to canvass, including capacity building for councils and improving accountability to ratepayers through better performance management and reporting frameworks," she said.

Ms Bligh urged Queenslanders to be patient as the new councils worked through issues.

"This process inevitably will have its teething problems, and I encourage Queenslanders to have patience while it takes place.

"New mayors are charged with the task of bringing staff and organisational cultures together and this won't happen overnight.

"However, I have confidence the challenge will be met with enthusiasm and determination as new mayors lead councils into this new era."

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