Four Qld councils vote 'yes' to reform

RESIDENTS from four amalgamated former Queensland councils have all voted to break away and reform their old councils.

Those in favour of de-amalgamation of the old Douglas, Mareeba, Livingston and Noosa areas were celebrating as the results from Saturday's poll came in.

"This is a fabulous outcome, not only for our community and democracy, but also for our region," Yeppoon ward councillor Bill Ludwig, of the former Livingstone shire, told AAP.

"Our community has slogged away for two-and-a-half years to get this done."

De-amalgamation supporters say the decision - which will take effect from 2014 - will bring back smaller, more personalised councils.

Those against the return to the old structure, including Cairns Mayor Bob Manning, say the current set-up has been more cost effective and made regions more powerful.

Mr Manning says he fears the stark reality of state and federal budget squeeze, which is seeing less money flowing to local councils, will kick in and prove former Douglas shire residents' decision to be a retrograde step.

"There's a financial imperative here, and no one can hide from that," he said.

"I think it's going to be a long hard road."

Deputy mayor and Mareebra ward councillor Evan McGrath welcomed the result, saying his community had never wanted amalgamation.

"I'm glad now that we've got our council back," he said.

The number of councils in Queensland was more than halved from 157 to 73 in 2008 to save costs.

The Queensland's Liberal National Party government made an election promise to give councils a vote to reverse that 2008 decision.

An interim CEO will be appointed at all four councils, with new councils to be voted in at the end of the year.

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