The Charters Towers Region will become part of the State electorate of Burdekin at the next Queensland State Election, following the Queensland Redistribution Commission's final determination, marking a significant change to the region's parliamentary representation.
As part of the redistribution, the existing State electorate of Traeger has been renamed Flinders, with the Charters Towers Region no longer included within its boundaries.
The independent redistribution has been undertaken to ensure Queensland electorates remain balanced as population numbers shift and grow while recognising communities with shared economic, social and geographic interests.
Mayor Liz Schmidt stated the decision acknowledges the strong existing connections between Charters Towers and the Burdekin while ensuring electoral representation continues to reflect the changing population across Queensland.
"While electoral boundary changes can be unsettling for communities, they are an important part of maintaining representation across Queensland, and the Commission has recognised the genuine links our region shares with the Burdekin through agriculture, mining, transport, water infrastructure, emergency services and our regional economy", said Mayor Schmidt.
The Queensland Redistribution Commission is required under legislation to regularly review electoral boundaries to ensure each electorate contains a similar number of enrolled voters while considering communities of interest, communication and transport links, physical features and local government boundaries.
Throughout the redistribution process, submissions from councils, organisations and members of the public presented both support for and concerns about the proposed changes, with supporters highlighting the strong economic and regional connections between Charters Towers and the Burdekin, while others expressed concerns about preserving the region's inland identity and maintaining a strong voice for rural and remote communities.
“Council's focus would now be on working closely with the future Member for Burdekin to ensure the Charters Towers Region continues to receive strong advocacy and investment regardless of electoral boundaries.
"This decision marks the beginning of a new chapter for our region, and Council is committed to working proactively with our future State representative to build a strong and productive relationship.
"Our focus will remain on ensuring the needs, opportunities and priorities of the Charters Towers Region stay front and centre as we continue to advocate for better infrastructure, essential services and economic growth for our communities”, emphasised Mayor Schmidt.
The region will now transition from the electorate of Flinders to the electorate of Burdekin for future Queensland State elections.
Residents can view the updated electoral boundaries, including detailed maps for both the former Flinders electorate and the Burdekin electorate, via the Electoral Commission of Queensland’s interactive mapping tool: Final electoral redistribution | Queensland Redistribution Commission
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