Somerset Regional Council Meeting Highlights – 26 November 2025
Published on 28 November 2025
Somerset Regional Council’s 2025 Mayoral Gala Charity Ball raised more than $55,000. Pictured: Somerset Councillors Brett Freese, Sally Jess, Mayor Jason Wendt and Michael Bishop.
Mayoral Gala Charity Ball raises $55,000 for Somerset charities
Somerset Regional Council’s 2025 Mayoral Gala Charity Ball, held Saturday, 13 September at the Somerset Civic Centre in Esk, was successful in raising more than $55,000 for charitable organisations in Somerset.
Since 2017, the Mayoral Gala Charity Ball has raised funds to support Somerset charities which assist people living with disability, homelessness, trauma, abuse, food insecurity or neglect in the region.
Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt thanked the community for supporting the event.
“We had a great turnout with about 260 attendees at the 2025 ball, supported by 15 incredible sponsors and another 15 local vendors providing entertainment, food and equipment,” Cr Wendt said.
“After finalising revenue and expenses from the event, the community managed to raise a total of $55,273 for the Mayoral Gala Charity Ball Fund.
“Council opens the Fund twice a year for applications, and we encourage our local charitable organisations to apply for the next round in March 2026.”
Council backs agritourism in 2026 Legends of Beef sponsorship
Somerset Regional Council, through its tourism arm Experience Somerset, will support the 2026 Legends of Beef, a key agritourism event hosted by Splityard Social at the Toogoolawah Showgrounds in March next year.
Economic Development and Tourism Committee Chair, Mayor Jason Wendt, said Legends of Beef championed Somerset primary producers.
“The organisers do an amazing job promoting our beef producers with high quality videos and an incredible beef dominated menu produced by chef Jason Peppler and some of Brisbane’s top chefs,” Cr Wendt said.
“We’re glad to sponsor the 2026 Legends of Beef with $10,000 in funding.
“The event aligns closely with Council’s Tourism Strategy 2021-2025 through our Experience Somerset brand.
“It also provides direct funding for the next generation of farmers with funds raised supporting Toogoolawah State High School’s agricultural program, which has sharply increased its enrolment since its association with Legends of Beef.”
Lowood Swimming Pool smashes attendance record
Record-breaking attendance at the Lowood Swimming Pool has been welcomed by Somerset Regional Council as it progresses upgrades to other recreational facilities across the region.
Somerset Deputy Mayor Helen Brieschke said Council recorded strong attendance at its libraries and recreational facilities in the Corporate and Community Services Monthly Report - October 2025.
“We had record attendance for the month of October at the Fernvale Indoor Sports Centre, Kilcoy Indoor Sports Centre, Kilcoy Aquatic Centre and Lowood Swimming Pool,” Cr Brieschke said.
“On top of this, Lowood Swimming Pool broke its all-time record with 7,253 attendees to the facility in October, more than double Council’s attendance average.”
Cr Brieschke said building and pool refurbishments done between 2022 and 2025 have attracted more users to the Lowood facility.
“We try not to say ‘build it and they will come’ but the community has certainly proved it in this case.
“We’re excited to see similar increases in attendance at the Toogoolawah Swimming Pool when it reopens after its own upgrades.
“I’ve stood at the fence of the Toogoolawah Swimming Pool and watched the progress and it looks incredible.
“Tiling and concreting works are complete and Council is planning to open the pool in time for Christmas.”
Somerset Regional Council received $2.64 million from the Queensland Government through the 2024-27 South East Queensland Community Stimulus Program towards the Toogoolawah Swimming Pool Upgrade.
Somerset embraces new Customer Service Request system
Somerset Regional Council’s new online Customer Service Request (CSR) system has received almost 50 submissions within one month of its official launch.
Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt said the new online CSR system made it quicker and easier for residents to report issues and request Council services across the region.
“This new online system gives residents a fast, simple and transparent way to contact Council,” Mayor Wendt said.
“It’s about making it easier for people to connect with us and ensuring issues are dealt with promptly and efficiently.
“As expected, the majority of CSRs we have received relate to road or footpath issues and waste, however residents can also report issues concerning drainage, fallen trees, compliance breaches or animals.”
Cr Wendt encouraged more residents to try submitting a CSR online.
“Somerset is a very large region and our crews can’t be everywhere all at once,” Cr Wendt said.
“We don’t know where all the potholes are, we don’t know if a tree is causing an obstruction and we don’t know if your kerbside bin is damaged, unless you tell us.
“By making a CSR you’re helping us help you.”
To lodge a CSR, visit somerset.qld.gov.au/CSR
Councillors applaud emergency services during stormy November
Somerset Councillors took a moment to applaud the efforts of emergency service teams across the region during a trying month of stormy weather.
During Somerset Regional Council’s Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday, 26 November, Councillor Tiara Hurley thanked emergency service teams including the State Emergency Service (SES) and Energex.
“The last few days have been a pretty busy time for them,” Cr Hurley said.
“Even during this meeting, some community members are without power, and we know Energex is working hard to repair outages.
“The Somerset Region SES Unit has had a long November with the hail storm in Esk earlier this month and we’re glad to have such a strong team of volunteers ready to activate when they’re needed.
“Council’s own outdoor crews did a fantastic job, responding quickly to clear debris, remove fallen vegetation and restore safe road access across the region.”
Councillor Sally Jess echoed the comments.
“Many residents are still feeling the recent events,” Cr Jess said.
“We’re expecting more stormy weather this season so we encourage residents to plan ahead and to visit Council’s Disaster Dashboard for the latest updates.”
Visit the Dashboard: disaster.somerset.qld.gov.au
Lowood Scout Group’s lease renewed
Somerset Regional Council will enter a new ten-year lease agreement with Scouts Queensland for its site on 2 Haslingden Park Drive in Lowood.
Somerset Mayor Jason Wendt said Scouts Queensland have been operating in Lowood since 1931.
“The Scouts are a longstanding not-for-profit which provides a recreational meeting place for young people to empower them to grow into confident, self-respecting and responsible community members,” Cr Wendt said.
“We’re grateful to be able to work with Scouts Queensland and the Lowood Scout Group to facilitate a range of recreational opportunities for young people in Somerset.”