Mayoral Minute - August 2025

Published on 27 August 2025

Since the July Ordinary Meeting, Mount Isa has had many memorable milestones.

We’ve had the first Mount Isa Mines Rodeo under the stewardship of the new community committee. We have seen the underground copper mine closure, with many community members finishing their decades-long careers with MIM, and we have seen the re-establishment of the Rodeo Queen Ball, now presented by Zonta.

In January this year, I was very concerned they may not be able to put on a rodeo, but teamwork prevailed. With the support of our local State member Robbie Katter, and the support of the Queensland Government – in particular Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie and State Tourism Minister Andrew Powell – we were able to overcome adversity, and the new committee was formed.

On behalf of Mount Isa City Council, I’d like to acknowledge and sincerely thank all the members of the Mount Isa Rodeo Committee, back in community hands. Each one of you was chosen for good reason – your history of sponsoring, volunteering, fundraising, and getting things done.

I’d also like to make particular mention of our own Mount Isa City Council representative Councillor John Tully, who put in an amazing amount of work in the lead-up to this event and during the event itself.

I’d also like to thank the community for supporting the new committee, embracing the event, and turning out in droves – from the Zonta Rodeo Queen Ball; the Street Festival on the Wednesday night organised by Mount Isa City Council; and the Mailman Express on the Thursday night hosted by the Mount Isa Race Club.

Mount Isa City Council took on the approach of doing more with less, and I’d like to thank the councillors for their support and wisdom in taking this approach. We'll be sending a letter to the Isa Hotel to thank them for their cooperation with us with the Isa Street Festival, for putting up the stage and supplying the entertainment.

Some of the money saved from the Street Festival budget was able to be redirected to the rodeo to help support the Today Show, which was widely hailed as a success.

I’d like to thank the councillors for their courage in supporting this when public opinion was to the contrary. However, your vision and conviction are to be congratulated.

Since the last meeting, I went to Canberra as part of the TEL (Townsville Enterprise Limited) delegation to advocate for the continuation of the Mount Isa copper smelter and Townsville refinery.

This trip has been considered a success, however that is probably a premature judgement. Although we were well received by politicians from all sides of politics as well as the media, the proof will be in the final outcome, and at this time it remains uncertain.

I am of the understanding that the right people are in the room for the negotiations, but the expectation has been that if there is to be a national smelting strategy, it will take time to develop. So I remain confident while the negotiations continue.

The “A Man with a Pram” fundraiser is coming up in conjunction with Park Run on the Father’s Day weekend on Saturday September 6, so I’d encourage everyone to join. Head down to Tharrapatha Way for the 7am start and check out the new culverts and path repairs. Council is also providing a sausage sizzle at that event.

Last week, the CEO and I were in St George for the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils meeting. Mayors, ministers and the opposition were in plentiful supply. I was able to present on Mount Isa’s Future Ready Economy Roadmap, in conjunction with Juliet from the Flying Whales initiative. This presentation was very well received.

There was also a presentation by Jessica Reid, the Chief of Staff to the President of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organising Committee.

This was a terrific opportunity for our own Mount Isa Rodeo to become an exhibition event and we’re looking forward to setting up future discussions.