COUNCIL: Fraser Coast Opportunities to be split
FRASER Coast Opportunities will be split with councillors voting to bring the economic arm of the entity back to the council.
Making up the majority of the entity, the tourism and events section will continue, but three staff in the economic investment section face an uncertain future.
The decision was endorsed 7-4 by councillors at the Fraser Coast Regional Council's meeting in Hervey Bay on Wednesday.
Reader poll
How do you feel about the split of Fraser Coast Opportunities?
This poll ended on 05 May 2016.
Current Results
It had to be done, I am all for the split
64%
It isn't fair on the staff who may face job losses
17%
I don't believe it was the right decision
13%
I am unsure at this stage
4%
This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.
It drew praise from the entity's interim general manager Leigh Bennett.
"We're delighted with the decision - it makes sense and allows us to maintain some continuity with some urgent funding matters that need to be attended to," he said.
A three-year funding extension to FCO was also granted.
Mr Bennett said with the funding issue now sorted, the entity would "shift its focus to running major events".
"This decision is the best one to achieve what we all want, which is to keep everything going and moving forward," he said.
The decision to split the organisation came after three years of instability and uncertainty at the organisation which saw seven managers and board members resign.
Mr Bennett and FCO chairman Paul Cotton will not continue in the organisation after June 30.
This will mean that replacements for the top FCO positions will now have to be recruited.
About $600,000 of FCO's budget is likely to be cut as a result of the decision to bring economic investment back to the council.
Other options for the future of the entity included; a funding renewal with no change, shutting the organisation or moving events and economic development back to the council.
Rolf Light pushed to close the organisation.
