Mayor & Councillors
The Councillors represent nine divisions, and each Councillor is elected by eligible voters in each division. Their key role is to plan for the future of their local community and put in place the strategies and policies to achieve those plans. In doing so, Councillors must make decisions for the benefit of the entire local government area, not just the interests of the particular division they represent.
The Mayor has the same responsibilities as other councillors plus additional roles including presiding over meetings and representing the Council at ceremonial and civic functions. The Mayoralty is decided on a majority popular vote across the entire local government area which has 117,585 enrolled voters (as at March 2024).
Queensland local government elections are held every four years, with the next election to be held in 2028.
2024 election results pending
The Local Government elections were held on Saturday 16 March 2024. We will update our Mayor and Councillor details once the Electoral Commission of Queensland has declared the election results for the Cairns local government area.
Enter your street address in our Property search tool (on the home page of our website) to find your Cairns Regional Council Division.
You can also check the interactive map on the Electoral Commission of Queensland website.
Printable PDF maps of each Division can also be downloaded from the ECQ Local Government maps web page.
The role of a local government Councillor is a demanding one. It requires knowledge of local government systems, an interest in people and a willingness to invest time and energy in serving the needs and interests of the local community.
Candidates must complete mandatory "So you want to be a councillor" governance training no more than six months before nominating for any election or by-election, even if you have completed the training before. The training provides information about accountability, decision-making and other matters.
The Local Government Act 2009 and Local Government Regulation 2012 determine how local government in Queensland is constituted and the nature and extent of its responsibilities and powers. It aims to provide a system of local government that is accountable, effective, efficient and sustainable.
Under the Local Government Regulation, Councillors must complete a Register of Interests of financial and non-financial particulars. Each Councillor's Register of Interests is publicly available and can be found on their Divisional webpage via the links below.
The Local Government Remuneration Commission is an independent body established under the Local Government Act 2009. Its functions include establishing the categories of local governments, deciding the category to which each local government belongs, and deciding the maximum amount of remuneration payable to the councillors in each of the categories. Councillor remuneration is reviewed annually.
As required by section 150DX of the Local Government Act 2009, Council has developed a Councillor Conduct Complaints Register. The register lists complaints made against councillors and the outcome of these complaints.
- View the 2023 - 2024 Councillor Conduct Register ( PDF, 0.1 MB )
- View the 2022-2023 Councillor Conduct Register ( PDF, 0.14 MB )
- View the 2018-2022 Councillor Conduct Register ( PDF, 0.28 MB )
The Councillor Conduct Tribunal is an independent body responsible for dealing with complaints of misconduct by councillors.
The local government quadrennial elections were held on Saturday 16 March 2024. The Electoral Commissioner has approved the following declarations for Cairns Regional Council:
Mayor Terry James
The Mayoralty is decided on a majority popular vote across the entire local government. Cr Terry James was appointed as Mayor by a majority of Councillors on 22 November 2023 following the resignation of former Mayor Bob Manning.
Division 1: Deputy Mayor Brett Moller
Division 1 extends from Bramston Beach and Eubanangee in the south to the southern part of Edmonton in the north, taking in the communities of Mirriwinni, Babinda, Gordonvale, East Trinity and Fitzroy Island.
Division 2: Rob Pyne
Division 2 focuses on Edmonton and Bentley Park, and includes part of Mount Sheridan.
Division 3: Cathy Zeiger
Division 3 encompasses Bayview Heights, Mount Sheridan (Forest Gardens), White Rock and Woree.
Division 4: Jeremy Neal
Division 4 includes Earlville, Kanimbla and Mooroobool, and parts of Manoora and Manunda.
Division 5: Amy Eden
Division 5 focuses on the inner suburbs including Cairns city, Cairns North, Portsmith, Westcourt, Parramatta Park, Aeroglen, Bungalow and part of Manunda. It also includes Green Island
Division 6: Kristy Vallely
Division 6 includes the areas of Brinsmead, Crystal Cascades, Kamerunga, Redlynch, Freshwater and Stratford.
Division 7: Max O'Halloran
Division 7 includes Edge Hill and Whitfield, as well as parts of Manoora, Manunda and Brinsmead.
Division 8: Rhonda Coghlan
Division 8 includes the areas of Barron, Caravonica, Holloways Beach, Machans Beach, Smithfield, Yorkeys Knob, and Trinity Park.
Division 9: Brett Olds
Division 9 includes part of Trinity Park and the suburbs of Trinity Beach, Clifton Beach, Kewarra Beach, Palm Cove and Ellis Beach.
Last Updated: 18 March 2024
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