BURDEKIN ELECTORATE EXPANDS TO INCLUDE CHARTERS TOWERS

Under the new boundaries, Burdekin will gain the Charters Towers area from the former Traeger (now Flinders) electorate, including the Charters Towers township (pictured). Photo: Shutterstock.

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The Burdekin electorate will expand west and north to absorb the Charters Towers local government area and southern parts of the Townsville local government area ahead of the 2028 Queensland state election.

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The Queensland Redistribution Commission finalised its electorate redistribution last month, stating the changes would “unite areas which share a community of interest and improve enrolment in the district”.

Under the new boundaries, Burdekin will gain the Charters Towers area from the former Traeger (now Flinders) electorate, including the Charters Towers township, while also gaining Wulguru, Roseneath and parts of Stuart from Mundingburra.

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In exchange, the electorate will lose parts of the Isaac local government area, including Nebo, Coppabella, Moranbah and Clermont, to the Mirani and Gregory electorates.

The redistribution follows a submission from Charters Towers Regional Council which pushed for its inclusion in the Burdekin electorate.

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Charters Towers Regional Council Mayor Liz Schmidt welcomed the result, saying the decision would allow Charters Towers to “further strengthen regional partnerships with the Burdekin”.

“One of the key opportunities is the potential to further strengthen regional partnerships with the Burdekin on issues that affect both communities, including water security, transport infrastructure, agriculture, economic development, workforce attraction and emergency management,” Mayor Schmidt said.

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“There is already a strong relationship between our regions and this change has the potential to build on that foundation.”

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Mayor Schmidt acknowledged the differing views on the redistribution, citing concerns amongst residents who identify with inland communities about how their interests will be represented.

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However, she said the finalised boundaries ultimately “reflected existing regional connections.”

Member for Burdekin Dale Last also supported the change, calling it an opportunity to “rekindle” his relationships with communities set to join the electorate.

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“My working life has revolved around supporting people throughout regional Queensland as both a Police Officer, a Councillor on Townsville City Council and then as the Member for Burdekin,” Mr Last said.

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"I’m fortunate to have worked previously in the areas that have been added to the electorate, and I look forward to rekindling positive working relationships with those communities and building new ones.”

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Mr Last also noted the redistribution was required to address projected population changes, with the Commission finding Burdekin would fall outside the required enrolment range under its existing boundaries by 2032.

“The calculations undertaken by the Redistribution Commission showed that change was needed,” he said.

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“Whilst the new areas are not added to the electorate of Burdekin until the next election, I will be taking a keen interest in the issues that affect those areas and offering them my assistance, where needed, to ensure they receive the representation they deserve in the Queensland Parliament.”

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