Somerset Regional Council Highlights – 5 December 2025

Published on 05 December 2025

Fernvale Visitor Information Centre volunteers Sue Eaton, Leanne Mitchel and Wendy Harrington celebrating International Volunteer Day at The Archer Retreat, Mount Archer.

Cool down with Council’s Summer School Holiday Program

The summer school holidays are right around the corner and Somerset Regional Council has activities galore at its libraries and swimming pools.

Beat the summer heat with free entry to Council’s Pool Movie Nights across the region, with gates opening from 3pm on the following dates:

• Friday, 12 December at Kilcoy Aquatic Centre – Despicable Me 4 (PG)
• Wednesday, 17 December at Toogoolawah Swimming Pool – Paddington in Peru (G)
• Friday, 19 December at Lowood Swimming Pool – Despicable Me 4 (PG)

The Pool Movie Nights also include a free sausage sizzle and a special visit from Santa.

Join Somerset Libraries for a range of Christmas activities perfect for kids of all ages from Monday, 15 December to Friday, 19 December.

Then, from 5 to 23 January, have a go at hand themed craft, badge making, Lego creations, paper spinners and more activities at Somerset Libraries.

For more information on Council’s School Holiday Program, visit somerset.qld.gov.au/SHP

Volunteers enjoy Mount Archer adventure

Somerset Visitor Information Centre volunteers celebrated International Volunteer Day with a journey to Mount Archer on Wednesday, 3 December.

International Volunteer Day, held 5 December, is a day for acknowledging the spirit and proud work of volunteers across the globe.

Somerset Regional Council Mayor Jason Wendt said Council’s Visitor Information Centres were supported by a strong team of volunteers committed to putting Somerset on the map.

“Our volunteers do an incredible job, helping people who visit Somerset and showing them our region’s great tourism offerings,” Cr Wendt said.

“A number of our volunteers have been active for a long time, and we’re so grateful for their dedication.”

The volunteers spent the afternoon touring The Archer Retreat in Mount Archer, before heading to the Kilcoy Visitor Information Centre for a presentation from Cumquats Australia.

After dinner, Council held a Service Recognition Awards ceremony for Carol Joyce, Peta Lister, Peter Hoff and Margaret McDonald, who have been active volunteers for more than five years.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Council on 5424 4000 or mail@somerset.qld.gov.au

Kilcoy volunteer Arthur Kundy and Fernvale volunteer Neil Walker enjoying the view during the volunteer tour.

Somerset lights up for Christmas competition

The annual Somerset Christmas Lights Competition is in full swing, lighting up communities across the region with Christmas cheer.

Somerset Regional Council’s annual competition invited residents, businesses and community groups to register their Christmas lights displays with a $3,500 prize pool up for grabs.

The 2025 Somerset Christmas Lights Trail is now available on Council’s website.

Somerset Councillors Brett Freese, Michael Bishop and Deputy Mayor Helen Brieschke began touring Somerset’s lights on 1 December.

“We’ve been blown away by the passion and creativity of Somerset’s Christmas lights,” Cr Freese said.

“With more than 30 entries vying for a prize, it’s going to be a difficult job picking our winners this year.

“Thank you to everyone who nominated in 2025, you’ve made this competition one of the best yet.”

Winners will be announced on Thursday, 11 December.

To download the lights trail, visit somerset.qld.gov.au/ChristmasLights

The Aston Park Precinct carpark works are nearing completion.

Carparks coming along nicely in Kilcoy and Lowood

Somerset Regional Council is making strong headway on two carpark projects in Kilcoy and Lowood.

The Aston Park Precinct in Kilcoy is taking shape with contractors undertaking a primer seal with asphalt at the start of December.

Works on the Seib Street Footpath were completed at the end of November.

Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt said Council expected the project would be completed by the middle of December.

“The new carpark in Aston Park is coming along nicely and will really activate this space in town,” Cr Wendt said.

“Landscaping works will follow in due course, creating an attractive precinct for both residents and visitors to Somerset.”

In Lowood, the new Station Street Carpark is also progressing well with concreting of footpaths, property access and drainage.

Cr Wendt said the project was likely to be completed early in the new year.

“The 36 new parking spaces afforded by this carpark will make a huge difference for the Lowood community,” Cr Wendt said.

Council received $1.66 million through the SEQ Liveability Fund for the Kilcoy Streetscape Revitalisation and Lowood Futures Strategy carpark projects. The projects are funded by the Australian Government, Queensland Government and Somerset Regional Council and form part of the SEQ City Deal.

Council has also received $550,000 through Queensland Hydro’s Community Benefits Program to deliver the Aston Park carpark, road works and other projects as part of the Kilcoy Streetscape Revitalisation Master Plan.

Somerset Regional Council meetings enter a new age

Continuing to modernise how residents engage with Council decision-making, Somerset Regional Council is set to introduce a new online platform for meeting minutes and agendas for the final Ordinary Meeting of 2025.

Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt said the new platform will make it easier than ever to access information about Council’s Ordinary Meetings.

“Where previously our minutes and agendas were uploaded as large PDF documents to our website, the new platform will make it easier to navigate agenda items, view resolutions and to listen to Councillor comments on respective items,” Cr Wendt said.

“The platform is more accessible, transparent and works in real-time, allowing residents to better understand Council’s decision-making process.”

Cr Wendt said the upcoming software upgrade was just one of many recent initiatives being delivered to modernise how residents access information and engage with their Council.

“In September this year we launched our brand-new website, followed shortly by our new, streamlined online Customer Service Request system,” Cr Wendt said.

“The new meeting agenda platform will go live ahead of our final meeting for 2025 on Thursday, 18 December.”

Nominate now for the 2026 Somerset Australia Day Awards

Somerset Regional Council is calling on the community to help celebrate the outstanding contributions of local individuals, groups and events by nominating them for the 2026 Somerset Australia Day Awards.

The annual awards shine a light on the people and organisations who make a positive difference across the region.

Award categories include Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Arts and Culture Award, Sports Award, Community Group of the Year and Event of the Year.

Residents have until 5pm, Sunday 4 January 2026 to nominate an unsung hero.

Nomination forms are available from Council’s website:  somerset.qld.gov.au/AustraliaDay