Residents in Townsville's southern suburbs are likely to head back to the polls to elect a councillor for division 10, following outgoing councillor Les Walker's appointment as the state member for Mundingburra.
It comes after the Palaszczuk government announced they would swiftly move to amend the Local Government Act, repealing a provision mandating the automatic election of the runner-up if a mayoral or councillor vacancy occurs within the first 12 months of the term.
Local government elections were held in Queensland on March 28 this year.
Under the current act, that would have seen Fran O'Callaghan, who received just 18 per cent of the vote, projected into the Townsville City Council chambers.
But following the shock resignation of Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow, which would have seen colourful Greens activist Chris 'Pineapple' Hooper parachuted into the beef capital's top job, the government will change the act to instead require a by-election to be held.
Local Government Association of Queensland president and Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson welcomed the change and implored the government to ensure any retrospective changes applied not just to mayoral vacancies but to all councillor vacancies within the first 12 months, whether from divided or undivided councils.
"We welcome the government's announcement of a swift resolution so the people of Rockhampton can choose their next mayor via a by-election," Cr Jamieson said.
Townsville City Council's division 10 takes in parts of Railway Estate, Oonoonba, Idalia, Wulguru and rural areas including Alligator Creek and Woodstock.
