Water security is set to be a hot topic in the local government elections on March 28 for the Wide Bay-Burnett area.
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It has been a turbulent time in Bundaberg and the North Burnett, with the local government election playing out against the backdrop of the state government's proposal to lower the wall of Paradise Dam by five metres.
North Burnett Regional Council Mayor Rachel Chambers is returning for her second term unopposed. A field of 16 candidates have nominated for council across six divisions.
It is a three-way race for mayor of the Bundaberg Regional Council, with Helen Blackburn and Kirt Anthony challenging current Mayor Jack Dempsey.
Cr Dempsey is running for a second term as mayor and was formerly the police and community safety minister during his time as the LNP's Member for Bundaberg. It will a tight council race as well, with 24 candidates throwing their hat in the ring across 10 divisions.
South Burnett constituents will have plenty to consider on election day with Abigail Andersson, Brett Otto, Toni Ralph and Keith Campbell vying for mayor and 10 others running for councillor positions. Keith Campbell is the current mayor and has served on council for two decades.
It is a two-horse race between current Mayor George Seymour and Jannean Dean for mayor of the Fraser Coast Regional Council. Meanwhile, 33 candidates are running across 10 divisions.
In the Gympie region, Glen Hartwig and Timothy Jerome have entered the mayoral race against sitting Mayor Mick Curran. Twenty-seven candidates are running for a seat on council.
