Mayor and Councillors
The elected Mayor and six Councillors play an important role in improving the liveability of our community by providing many of the services and facilities used in everyday life.
The position of Deputy Mayor is being shared among four of the six Councillors and each will have a term of 12 months. The order of rotation for the role of Deputy Mayor is: Councillor John Woods, Tony Goddard, John Bonanno and Sue Perry, noting that Councillors Ted Bawden and Uli Liessmann indicated that they are unable to undertake the role of Deputy Mayor during the current term of Council.
Scroll down to learn more about the Mayor and Councillors and to view their Register of Interests.

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Mayor Lyn McLaughlin is a primary school teacher, who is serving her third term as Mayor of the Burdekin Shire Council. Lyn had previously served six years as a Councillor from 1994 to 2000. Throughout her involvement with Local Government, Cr McLaughlin chaired and was a member of numerous State, North Queensland, regional and local committees including the Queensland Local Government Grants Commission, Queensland Reconstruction Authority, North and North West Queensland Regional Development Australia, The Townsville Hospital and Health Service Board and Burdekin Local Disaster Management Group. Lyn has also served as president, secretary and treasurer of community, educational and sporting organisations. |
AddressBurdekin Shire CouncilPO Box 974 AYR QLD 4807 PhoneCouncil Office: (07) 4783 9800Mobile: 0439 787 312 |
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Councillor Sue Perry is a school teacher, who is serving her first term as Councillor of the Burdekin Shire Council. Cr Perry took on the role of Deputy Mayor on the 5 April 2019. Councillor Perry is highly involved within the local community and has been heavily involved in numerous sporting organisations over many years. During this Council term, Sue has developed a keen interest in tourism promotion and economic development for the Burdekin region. Sue has previously been a small business owner in the Burdekin and is married with three adult sons. |
AddressPO Box 569AYR QLD 4807 PhoneMobile: 0409 835 836 |
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Councillor Ted Bawden is a retired paramedic, who is serving his second term as Councillor of the Burdekin Shire Council. Cr Bawden was first elected to Council in 2012. Councillor Bawden is still involved with the Local Ambulance Committee. He is a sports fanatic, and closely follows the NRL being a great Cowboys supporter. Ted also enjoys fishing in his spare time. Ted is married with three children (two daughters and a son) and has eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. |
Address45 Cox StreetAYR QLD 4807 PhoneMobile: 0408 985 032 |
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Councillor John Bonanno is a small business owner, who is serving his first term as Councillor of the Burdekin Shire Council. Cr Bonanno took on the role of Deputy Mayor from the 5 April 2018 to the 4 April 2019. Councillor Bonanno was born in Ayr and has lived in the Burdekin all his life. John enjoys playing and watching sport and spends most weekends with his children, family and friends either riding quad bikes, fishing or having a barbecue. He is often seen at the local beaches, parks and the impressive Burdekin River. John is married with three children. |
AddressPO Box 1HOME HILL QLD 4806 PhoneBusiness Hours: (07) 4783 1214Mobile: 0439 828 005 |
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Councillor Tony Goddard is a retired police officer, who is serving his first term as Councillor of the Burdekin Shire Council. Cr Goddard took on the role of Deputy Mayor from the 5 April 2017 to the 4 April 2018. Councillor Goddard has been a member of the Rotary Club of Ayr for around 25 years and is a Past Rotary District Governor for Northern Australia. Cr Goddard is also secretary, player and referee at the Burdekin Touch Association and the Burdekin Sports Club. He is the longest serving radio announcer on the community Radio Station 97.1 Sweet FM in the Burdekin. Councillor Goddard is also interested in road cycling and motor cycle riding. He is an avid North Queensland Toyota Cowboys supporter (since day one) and a keen supporter of many sports in the Burdekin. Tony is married with three adult children and seven grandchildren. |
Address79 Wilmington StreetAYR QLD 4807 PhoneMobile: 0407 027 757 |
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Councillor Uli Liessmann is a small business owner, who is serving his second term as Councillor of the Burdekin Shire Council. Cr Liessmann was first elected to Council in 2012. Councillor Liessmann completed his education and trade qualifications in the Burdekin and works in Liessmann and Sons family business in Home Hill. Cr Liessmann is committed to the betterment of the Burdekin Shire and all its residents focusing on potable water quality, sewerage, drainage and roads with an emphasis on constantly improving or replacing essential infrastructure. Cr Liessmann has a varied set of hobbies and interests including membership of the Ayr Anzac Memorial Club, Burdekin Art Society, Burdekin Machinery Preservationists, Home Hill Choral Society, Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Townsville, RSL Home Hill Sub Branch and Umbrella Studio Townsville. Uli is married with two children. |
AddressPO Box 10HOME HILL QLD 4806 PhoneBusiness Hours: (07) 4782 1203Mobile: 0439 822 064 |
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Councillor John Woods is a home handy man who is serving his first term back on Council after a twelve year break. Cr Woods previously served sixteen years (five terms) on Council including three terms as Mayor. Cr Woods took on the role of Deputy Mayor from 5 April 2016 to the 4 April 2017. Councillor Woods is heavily involved as a community volunteer taking active roles in many organisations including the Burdekin Singers and Theatre Company, Home Hill Rotary Club, St. Helen's Anglican Church, Friends of the Theatre and Home Hill Harvest Festival Committee. John is married with four adult children and six grandchildren. |
Address33 Charlotte StreetAYR QLD 4807 PhoneMobile: 0418 711 887 |
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Councillor Conduct Complaints
On 3 December 2018 the Local Government Act 2009 (the Act) was amended requiring Council to maintain and publish a Councillor Conduct Register under section 150DX. This replaced a requirement under section 181A to keep a record of written complaints about councillor conduct or performance.
The Councillor Conduct Register records matters set out in section 150DX(1) relating to unsuitable meeting conduct, suspected inappropriate conduct, decisions about misconduct, conduct complaints dismissed by the Assessor, and decisions by the Assessor to take no further action.
"Subject Councillor" information is only included if the local government or Councillor Conduct Tribunal decided that the Councillor engaged in inappropriate conduct or misconduct, or otherwise where the Councillor agrees to their name being included in the register (section 150DY of the Act). Information about a complaint which may be part of a public interest disclosure under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010 is not available for review in the public register.
This is a record of eligible complaints received for the 2016-2020 Council term received from 3 December 2018.