Petitioning Council

What is a petition?

A petition is a way to seek action from council when all other means to resolve the issue have failed. It is a drawn up request used to lobby a law-making body such as council. A petition involves a written request with a list of at least 10 signatures of people who support the request.
 

What types of matters would I want to petition council for?

Members of the community may lodge a petition about a matter in which they have an interest. Petitions may request:

  • the alteration of a policy or application of a policy
  • the reconsideration of some administrative decision
  • redress of local grievances.

 

What if it relates to a Development Application?

A petition can be used as a form of submission on active development applications during the public notification stage. This petition would not be included in the petitioning process set out below.

The “Get Involved with Development” provides more information on the development application process.

 

What is the petitioning process?

A correct petition (see 'preparing a petition' below) will be added to the Council meeting agenda and received by Council at an Ordinary Meeting.

The petition matter will not be debated at that meeting. It will be referred by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the relevant council directorate for action and response.

Council will notify the petitioner within 10 business days of receiving the petition.

We will contact the petitioner with the outcome of the petition within two months of its presentation to an Ordinary Meeting of Council.

 

Preparing a petition

Your petition should follow certain rules and ensure the message is brief and to the point. Petitions must:

  • be an original document (photocopies are not accepted)
  • be legible, written or typed without erasures or alterations
  • contain at least 10 signatories with names and addresses. These must be written or printed clearly, not pasted or fixed or transferred in any other way
  • worded in acceptable terms, be proper, respectful and moderate in its language
  • refer to a matter on which the council has the power to act
  • contain the reasons for the petition and a request for action by Council at the top of each page
  • must contain the name and address of the lead petitioner, who will receive all correspondence about the petition. If there is no lead petitioner, the document will not be considered to be a petition and will not be presented
  • not exceed 250 words in total.

A person cannot sign the same petition more than once.
 

A sample petition template is available to assist.

 

Lodging a petition

Please follow the above information and forward your petition to your local divisional councillor, or post to:

The Chief Executive Officer

Gympie Regional Council

PO Box 155

Gympie Qld 4570

 

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