Dare to be different in the Diamantina

In short, it has many of the usual State and federal-operated facilities less remote regions take for granted.

But in the Channel Country, if the 1500 residents and the Diamantina Shire Council don't make it happen, it generally does not happen.

The Diamantina Shire region includes noteworthy cattle-fattening operations - recently famous for the organic beef status that attracts customers from as far away as New York City - and its two iconic outback towns, Birdsville and Bedourie.

The 'ghost town' of Betoota is the other township in the region, which has an official population of none following the closure of the local pub by the area's sole resident, Simon Remienko, in 1997.

Always working against the odds, there has been some real success for the people of the district during the past two decades, with funding secured to seal almost half of the 540km State government roads across the council district (Cr Dare says sealing the remainder of these roads should be completed sometime in the next decade), upgrades to the Bedourie and Birdsville airport terminals, two residential subdivisions and a strong increase in tourist numbers.

It has seen a more than 200 per cent increase in the council's annual budget (from $23m to $73m) in the past five years, due to flood funding from the federal government, council-managed trust funds, and council being the preferred supplier to the State government for roadwork machinery during the aforementioned road-sealing program across the district.

The council only receives about $500,000 in rates each year.

And that, according to Cr Dare, is the secret behind running a remote council - you need to have the money in the bank to enable council to get the ball rolling on infrastructure projects, and then try to entice State and federal governments to kick in some cash.

After eight years in office and more than 25 years working in some capacity for the council, Cr Dare plans to retire as mayor of this unique corner of the state after the local government elections in March.

He has sold his roadhouse business in Bedourie, which he built up from a humble six by six-metre iron shack in 1988 to a seven-acre roadhouse and caravan park in more recent years.

Cr Dare plans to relocate to Toowoomba, where he has a pool table, bar and well-shaded barbecue area on a quiet block just outside of town.

Cr Dare is not the only mayor planning to retire. With local government elections set for March 31, a total of 17 Queensland mayors - about one-fifth of the State total - have announced plans to retire at the election.

The Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) called this an "unprecedented amount of corporate memory going out the door", with outgoing Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot brought in by the LGAQ for a new role advising and mentoring novice mayors across the State.

For Cr Dare, it has been a unique journey from a humble council storeman to mayor in 15 years at Bedourie.

Cr Dare first rolled into town as a contractor, travelling through western Queensland in a caravan with his young family, installing windmills and tanks at various stations.

When his children came of school age, he took a job in town at Bedourie where he has remained ever since, taking on the role of mayor in 2004.

But before he hangs up his ceremonial robes for the last time, Cr Dare has one last crusade - to see his region be included in the national broadband network (NBN).

The south-west corner of the State has been left out of the current rollout, with Boulia serving as the end of the line.

Teaming up with Barcoo Shire Mayor Bruce Scott (also retiring at the next election), each council will contribute $1.4 million in funding, matched with $2.8m of State government funding, to entice the federal government to provide the additional money required to roll out about 900km of fibre-optic cable from Boulia to the rest of the south-west corner.

If the scheme is successful, these two councils will be the only ones in Queensland to contribute ratepayer funding to this federal program.

Telstra will provide a quote for the cost of the 900km rollout in the coming weeks, but Cr Dare said he estimates it will be at least $12m.

From enabling X-rays to be emailed to doctors in metropolitan centres to removing the delay and weak signal inherent in the existing landline phone infrastructure to reliable internet service for the local police officer, Cr Dare said the NBN will assist this remote region grow economically and socially during the 21st century.

"The governments should all realise that we would not come to them unless we felt it was a real issue - we have better things to do," he said.

"We cannot grow unless we can attract a workforce and private enterprise, and we need the same living standard as the rest of the State to achieve that."

In an effort to address the difficulties felt by councils across Queensland, the LGAQ has announced a 10-point policy plan calling for whichever political party that forms the new State government in the coming months to increase infrastructure funding to address the liveability and long-term financial sustainability concerns of resource communities.

Key features of the plan include the adoption of a state population strategy, reduced State interference in local planning schemes, and a commitment to ease cost of living pressures for Queenslanders.

LGAQ president Paul Bell said a major rethink on infrastructure funding was needed so councils could properly plan for future growth, particularly in regions affected by the resources boom.

"Successive State governments have slowly starved councils of the funds and support they need to properly respond to their communities' needs," he said.

"We think the size of the task requires a five-year, $150m-a-year fund to help council building programs keep pace with the changes brought about by the resources boom.

"Decisions that affect local communities must be taken locally, not by bureaucrats ensconced in offices in Brisbane."