Mayor Belot and Member for Keppel welcomed Queensland Governor

Published on 08 April 2026

Livingstone Shire Mayor Adam Belot and State Member for Keppel Nigel Hutton MP yesterday welcomed Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland, and Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD to Yeppoon, describing the visit as a valuable opportunity to showcase the strength, growth and liveability of the Capricorn Coast.

The visit included a formal luncheon attended by community leaders, with guest speakers including local school leaders and Australia Day Award recipients. Key discussions focused on youth and education, community connection, and the vital contribution of volunteering across the region.

Mayor Belot said the visit highlighted both the opportunities and challenges facing one of Queensland’s fastest growing regions, while also acknowledging the important role played by the Governor.

“The Governor’s role extends well beyond ceremonial engagements. Her Excellency plays an important part in listening to communities, championing public service, and using her influence to highlight both local strengths and emerging challenges across Queensland,” Mayor Belot said.

“We were honoured to welcome the Governor to Livingstone Shire and to share firsthand the stories, aspirations and priorities of our community.”

Mayor Belot said Livingstone Shire continues to experience significant growth.

“Livingstone Shire was identified as the third fastest growing local government area in Queensland, and the fastest growing region outside of the south‑east corner,” he said.

“With that growth comes opportunity but also challenges that require the support of other levels of government.

“Not only do we need to address the housing shortage in our region, but we also need better access to health services, urgent upgrades and new investment in social services and community infrastructure to keep pace with growth.”

Mayor Belot said recent community feedback reinforced both the strengths of the region and the priorities residents want addressed.

“Our Community Views Survey highlighted strong liveability across Livingstone Shire. Residents told us they feel safe, value their strong sense of community, and appreciate access to our natural environment — all of which contribute positively to quality of life,” he said.

“The survey also clearly identified affordable housing and better access to health services as the key issues our community wants Council to advocate strongly for.”

Following the luncheon, Her Excellency visited the Capricorn Coast Hospital and Health Service, where she heard firsthand about the challenges and opportunities facing health services in a growing regional community.

State Member for Keppel Nigel Hutton MP said the visit reinforced the importance of continued advocacy for the Capricorn Coast.

“It was a pleasure to welcome the Governor to Yeppoon and to showcase the people, services and community spirit that make the Capricorn Coast such a special place,” Mr Hutton said.

“As our region grows, ensuring families can access affordable housing and timely, high‑quality health care is critical.

“I am committed to continuing to advocate strongly on behalf of our community to ensure Keppel receives the investment and support it needs, now and into the future.”

Mayor Belot said visits such as this help strengthen understanding across all levels of government.

“Opportunities to engage directly with the Governor are invaluable in reinforcing the importance of collaboration to support sustainable growth and strong, connected communities,” he said.