Somerset Regional Council Meeting Highlights - 23 July 2025
Published on 24 July 2025
Somerset Councillors Sally Jess, Mayor Jason Wendt, Michael Bishop, Deputy Mayor Helen Brieschke, Brett Freese and Tiara Hurley in Kilcoy.
Decision-makers welcome Kilcoy community
Somerset Regional Council welcomed Kilcoy community groups for a special Council Community Meeting on Wednesday, 23 July.
Council invited representatives from Kilcoy State School, Kilcoy State High School, Mt Kilcoy State School, the Kilcoy District Progress Association, Kilcoy RSL, Kilcoy Art Society and QLD Hydro for an informal chat over morning tea prior to the Ordinary Meeting.
Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt said it was encouraging to see so many people in the community taking the opportunity to engage with Council.
“Somerset is a vast and decentralised region, and our Council has a duty to represent and deliver services for everyone, no matter where they live,” Cr Wendt said.
“This was our first trial Council Community Meeting, something which my fellow Councillors and I campaigned for during the 2024 election.
“This meeting allowed the community to speak directly with Councillors and Directors, ask questions, and learn about Council’s decision-making process.
“We look forward to our next Council Community Meeting, which will be advertised within the community in the coming months.”
Somerset Regional Council Director HR and Customer Service Kerri-Lee Jones and Councillor Tiara Hurley speaking with Kilcoy residents.
Council CEO Andrew Johnson speaking with Kilcoy Art Society secretary Brian Wallace.
Kilcoy RSL president John Robinson speaking with Mayor Jason Wendt.
Council calls for SEQCSP to become a permanent program
Somerset Regional Council is calling for the Queensland Government to commit to funding the South East Queensland Community Stimulus Program (SEQCSP).
The Queensland State Budget confirmed the SEQCSP would not be continued beyond the current funding period, due to end 30 June 2027.
While the SEQCSP is not being extended, the State Government has committed to making the Works for Queensland (WFQ) program permanent.
Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt said Somerset would not be eligible for WFQ funding, despite similarities to other regional councils.
“The SEQCSP has been a critical source of revenue for our Council, with an allocation of $4.69 million for capital works and an additional $5.5 million in competitive funding secured for the Toogoolawah Swimming Pool Upgrade Project and the Kilcoy Indoor Sports Centre Upgrade,” Cr Wendt said.
“It’s vital this funding continues for our region, so we are submitting a motion to the 2025 Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Annual Conference calling for the SEQCSP’s continuation.
“We have liaised with Lockyer Valley Regional Council, which is also preparing a similar motion.”
Cr Wendt said the program’s end posed a risk to Council’s future capital works planning.
“We will advocate heavily with the LGAQ, State Government and our fellow councils to see this program continue,” Cr Wendt said.
Tender accepted for new Aston Park car park
Somerset Regional Council has accepted a tender submission from Attain Civil Pty Ltd for the construction of a new car park at Aston Park, Kilcoy.
The new car park and the Aston Park Precinct is the first major piece of work in the Kilcoy Streetscape Revitalisation project.
Kilcoy Streetscape Advisory Committee Chair, Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt, said the $690,000 tender represented the best value for money tender.
“Council has received $830,000 through the SEQ Liveability Fund to build a carpark and landscaping improvements to the Aston Park Precinct, with construction to take place in 2025-2026,” Cr Wendt said.
“The new precinct will make an inviting rest stop area for people visiting Kilcoy.”
This project is funded by the Australian Government, Queensland Government and Somerset Regional Council and forms part of the SEQ City Deal.
Somerset Regional Council has accepted a tender for the construction of a new carpark at Aston Park, Kilcoy.
Community called to support QPS investigation
Somerset Councillor Tiara Hurley has encouraged the community to come forward with information following the recent theft of brass vases and reserved plaques from the Kilcoy Cemetery.
Cr Hurley raised the matter during the Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday, 23 July.
“The act of taking items from graves for personal gain is disgraceful and shows a troubling lack of respect for the deceased and their loved ones,” Cr Hurley said.
“This disrespectful act has understandably caused distress for many families, and our thoughts are with all those impacted.”
The matter has been reported to the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
“We encourage anyone with information to come forward,” Cr Hurley said.
“By working together, we can support the QPS in their efforts to ensure those responsible are held accountable for their actions.”
Kilcoy Global Foods to expand food processing site
Somerset Regional Council has approved a development application from Kilcoy Global Foods to expand its food processing facility in Coominya.
The Coominya Connection Road site will expand by about 1,800sqm to include a modern office, training facilities, worker amenities and more cold storage space.
Rural Fire Levy delivers critical funds to Somerset brigades
Somerset Regional Council has approved $371,000 in funding through the Rural Fire Levy to support the Rural Fire Brigades (RFB) in Somerset.
The funding request was prepared by the Somerset Local Area Finance Committee, which is responsible for ensuring the levy requests reflect the financial needs of the region’s brigades.
Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt said the money would fund critical operational expenses and capital works.
“Council levied the Rural Fire Levy special charge to assist RFBs with upgrades and maintenance so they can continue providing a rural fire service to our communities,” Cr Wendt said.
“Together with the Queensland Fire Department (QFD) and Rural Fire Service Queensland, our RFBs provide specialised firefighting and bush fire prevention, and assist other agencies across Somerset.
“The brigades support the QFD’s ‘All Hazards’ service delivery approach to fire and emergency service response, including severe weather events.
Council to support Fernvale Country Fair
Somerset Regional Council has approved a Country Fair to be held on Saturday, 9 August between the Fernvale Visitor Information Centre and the Fernvale Rural Fire Brigade.
The event, organised by the Apostolic Church of Queensland, Brightview, will include stalls for baked goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, gardening goods, crafts, children’s entertainment, an animal farm and food vans.
Council will assist the organiser by providing access to power, water and community bins.
The event will run from 7am to 12pm on 9 August.
Next Somerset Regional Council Meeting
Somerset Regional Council will hold its next Ordinary Council Meeting at 9am on Wednesday, 13 August in the Simeon Lord Room at Esk Library.
Council asks the community to contact council and provide 24 hours’ notice if they plan to attend council meetings.
NB: Somerset Regional Council held its Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday, 23 July 2025.