It is exciting that our Council will have three Councillors acknowledged for their service to Local Government at the Qld Conference in October.
Over the next three weeks, we will recognise each Councillor starting with Division 3 Councillor John Collins for over a decade of service to his community.
John, or Sarge as he is known to locals, embarked on his journey in politics at the 2012 Qld Local Government elections, easily winning election with over 40 per cent of the vote against four rivals.
He was re-elected convincingly at the 2016 and 2020 local government elections and each term he has increased his majority vote, recording a massive 88 per cent majority at the 2020 election.
Serving as Deputy Mayor several times and armed with a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by his community and the opportunities for future economic growth, Cr John has consistently demonstrated an enthusiastic commitment to community progress.
His impact extends well beyond council chambers. His dedication to the Whitsunday and Proserpine community has delivered countless projects and events that have improved the liveability for his constituents.
With Cr John as a strong advocate, Council completed Stage 1 of the Lake Proserpine Master Plan in 2019 creating a revitalised camping area, including waterside bush camping sites, new public toilets and showers, designated fire pits, upgraded picnic facilities and three new fishing pontoons to improve access for boaties.
Cr John was proud to be the key driver behind continued development of the Lake Proserpine Recreational facilities with on-site caretakers and paid camping introduced in 2021. Lake Proserpine is now another jewel in the crown for the Whitsundays with recent figures showing it boasts an average annual economic injection of $7.95 million to the region.
Other key catalyst projects under John’s watch include the Proserpine Main Street upgrade, the construction of the popular Proserpine Water Park and the $20 million rebuild of the Proserpine Entertainment Centre.
However, his proudest moment during a decade as Councillor was being a part of the Disaster Management team and being Chairperson of its Recovery Team after Cyclone Debbie in early 2017.
It was through this role that Cr John’s care for his community stood out as he spent countless hours advocating for and assisting many locals with their dealings with the major Insurance companies and helping them sort their insurance issues.
Thank you, Councillor John Collins, for a decade of exceptional service.
Publishers Indemnity. Any individual or entity that places advertising, supplies copy material, or submits editorial content to Core Life Publishing agrees and undertakes to ensure that all such material:- Does not infringe upon any copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property rights;- Is free from any content that could be considered defamatory, libelous, or slanderous;- Does not infringe upon any rights related to privacy or breach of confidence;- Contains no obscene, indecent, or otherwise unlawful material;- Complies fully with the Trade Practices Act and all other applicable laws, regulations, or statutes.Furthermore, by submitting or placing such material, these individuals or entities agree to indemnify and hold harmless the publisher, Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd, and/or its agents from and against any and all investigations, claims, demands, liabilities, damages, costs, or judgments arising out of or in connection with the material provided. All material is believed to be accurate at the time of printing and remains the copyright of Core Publishing and Events Pty Ltd.
© 2024 Mackay and Whitsunday Life Pty Ltd.
