Mayor and Councillors

Mayor IrelandMayor Andy Ireland

Portfolio holder of Economic Development and Regional Advocacy and Intergovernmental Relations.

Mayor@livingstone.qld.gov.au I Mobile 0459 101 130

Mayor Andy Ireland is a local of the Livingstone Shire region, having grown up in both Rockhampton and Yeppoon and living in Yeppoon since 1980. Although working in different places throughout Australia throughout his career, Mayor Ireland has always considered the Livingstone Shire region as his home.

With a professional background in management accounting, governance, change management, and local government, Mayor Ireland also has undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in accounting and management, is a Fellow of Certified Practicing Accountants Australia, and has completed the Australian Company Directors course. Over the past 20 years Mayor Ireland has consulted to local government or been directly employed within it, having held various positions such as Chief Operating Officer, General Manager, and Chief Executive Officer. Since retiring from local government in 2016, Mayor Ireland and his wife purchased café, Whisk Yeppoon, which his wife and children now run.

Mayor Ireland is committed to encouraging investment into the region in order to stimulate the economy and create more jobs, which ultimately increases council’s rates base and allows downwards pressure on rates. He is passionate about Livingstone being one shire where all localities receive equal consideration and attention from council.

Mayor Ireland is also committed to transparency in council, and ensuring community engagement becomes a natural part of how council operates.

Cr BelotCouncillor Adam Belot, Deputy Mayor

Portfolio holder of Organisational Performance

Adam.Belot@livingstone.qld.gov.au 
Mobile 0427 311 430

Councillor Adam Belot is a firm advocate for small and large business development and is involved in multiple sporting clubs and community groups across the Capricorn Coast.
He has studied teaching, taught at Central Queensland TAFE and successfully runs his own small business.

Cr Belot is a strong, caring and empowered Councillor committed to transparency, innovations and sustainability.
He works to cut unnecessary costs, reduce waste and stimulate growth for the region.

He is raising his family in this community and wants to see it thrive and prosper for a healthy, rich and sustainable future.

  

Clint SwadlingCouncillor Clint Swadling

Portfolio holder of Planning and Strategic Infrastructure 

Clint.Swadling@livingstone.qld.gov.au
Mobile 0447 526 100

Councillor Clint Swadling was born and raised in Rockhampton and has worked within the Rockhampton and Capricorn Coast region for many years. Finally settling in Kunwarara in 2003, Cr Swadling and his wife Kaylene raised their four children Ryan, Adam, Matt and Cloe on the family property.
Cr Swadling began his working life working for his family painting business, before moving to Brisbane where he took a role as an Assistant in Nursing. He then moved on to a role with Corrective Services, graduating as a Correctional Officer and was posted back to Rockhampton.

After a decade with Corrective Services, Cr Swadling moved into Local Government with Rockhampton Regional Council and Mackay Regional Council, followed by a move to WA Shire of East Pilbara as The Manager of Community Safety, before returning to Barcaldine Regional Council as the District Manager Alpha and Jericho, for a short period.

After a brief 12 months break assisting his brother in the family business, Cr Swadling returned to Local Government with Rockhampton Regional Council.

In 2018 Cr Swadling joined the RFS (Rural Fire Service) as a volunteer in Kunwarara establishing a truck brigade in 2020 as the First Officer. Cr Swadling was given an opportunity to work with the RFS in the Central Region.
After a successful tenure, he was appointed as an Emergency Management Coordinator in QFES and was attached to the North Coast Region for a short relief period before returning home to the Livingstone Shire region. Cr Swadling is also a proud member of the local Marlborough SES group.

With a professional background in local government, Emergency and Disaster Management, Change Management, and Fire and Emergency Service, Cr Swadling is committed and passionate about community, highlighting the importance of its diversity, strength, and resilience.
Cr Swadling is a firm believer that the primary focus of local government is on providing the best possible outcomes for residents and the wider community. He is committed to working towards providing a sustainable future for Livingstone Shire’s community, and helping support the region's growth as it continues to become one of the best destinations to live, work and retire within Central Queensland.

Cr EastwoodCouncillor Pat Eastwood

Portfolio holder of Healthy and Inclusive Community 

Pat.Eastwood@livingstone.qld.gov.au
Mobile 0437 410 833

Councillor Pat Eastwood is well known in the Capricorn Coast community as the owner and operator of Capricorn Coast Learn 2 Surf for the past 12 years, as well as School Chaplain at Yeppoon State High School for the last 17 years.

Moving to the Capricorn Coast in 2001, Cr Eastwood and his family fell in love with the region and he is dedicated to seeing it continue to flourish while keeping its coastal charm.

From hospitality, including managing a successful restaurant to policing where Cr Eastwood’s interest and concern for youth started and led him to help establish a PCYC, his passion for community has always been at the forefront of his work.

Cr Eastwood has a strong focus and passion for youth, disability and aged care services and promoting our region’s beauty to attract further tourism and enhance our local economy.

Cr MatherCouncillor Glenda Mather

Portfolio holder of Transport (Roads, Drainage, Pathways)

Glenda.Mather@livingstone.qld.gov.au
Mobile 0437 647 573

Cr Mather has earned a reputation as a passionate, free-thinking maverick and a hard working Councillor for her constituents.

Cr Mather first became a Councillor for the Livingstone Shire Council in 1988 where she served until 2000. After a term out of office she returned as a Councillor from 2004-2008 before being elected to the Rockhampton Regional Council in 2008 and 2012.

Cr Mather works tirelessly for a better deal for rural residents and has been known to challenge a range of State Government regulations. She is a believer in strong financial control, a fair rating system, strategic land management, nurturing business acumen, addressing youth employment and establishing environmental awareness in our community. 

Cr Mather's vision for Livingstone Shire Council is for it to be clean, green and growing, with a flourishing tourist trade.

Cr FriendCouncillor Andrea Friend

Portfolio holder Water, Waste Management and the Environment

Andrea.Friend@livingstone.qld.gov.au 
Mobile 0459 392 411

Born and raised in Brisbane, Councillor Andrea Friend relocated to Yeppoon in 2004 where she met her husband, spending the last 16 years enjoying our regions beautiful beaches, rural settings and friendly community.

Being an active member of the community, Councillor Friend has been a member of several not-for-profit organisations including the SES Yeppoon from 2011 -2019, Community Radio Keppel FM and The Yeppoon Choral Society.

In her first term as Councillor for Livingstone Shire Council, Councillor Friend believes consistent and timely provision of service and maintenance, containment of rate rises, encouragement for growth in new business and optimum use of current council facilities are just some of the important tasks that need to be achieved to improve our Shire’s liveability.

She has a mature outlook and energy to communicate with people from all walks of life and is thrilled to be serving the Livingstone Shire region.

Cr Rhodes Watson

Councillor Rhodes Watson

Portfolio Holder of Vibrant Community (Tourism, Arts Culture).

Rhodes.Watson@livingstone.qld.gov.au
Mobile: 0448 403 243

Cr Rhodes Watson is a Livingstone Shire local, living in Kinka Beach, Emu Park, Bangalee and Rockhampton since 1976.
He completed a cadetship as a journalist and photographer with his parents publication, Capricorn Coast Mirror. When the business was sold to The Morning Bulletin, he transitioned to the Capricorn Coast Mirror and eventually became chief photographer. Cr Watson also taught photography at CQUniversity.

Among other achievements, Cr Watson has operated a signwriting business on the Capricorn Coast, worked as a bus and taxi driver, managed a training college, and established and opened a new training college. Cr Watson is also the owner of Hyper-Local Snippets Newspapers, delivered in Rockhampton.

With a strong focus on improving liveability for residents of Livingstone Shire and the wider Central Queensland region, Cr Watson established a local solar bulk buy group that put the Capricorn Coast on the list of most rooftop solar panels per capita in Australia. By working together as a not-for-profit group, the scheme made solar affordable for all. Rockhampton Regional Council awarded him an Australia Day Medal.

Cr Watson also discovered the need for a food relief group on the Capricorn Coast which opened its doors in April 2019,  ensuring local families have affordable food on their tables.

When cars lost roof gutters, he invented, patented and manufactured on the Capricorn Coast, a portable roof rack system called Stik Rax to carry surfboards. They were sold across Australia and overseas. As one of the founders of Surf Rider Capricorn Coast, Cr Watson published an environmental surfing magazine to raise funds to protect The Big Dune located at Farnborough Beach. 

Cr Watson is passionate about turning ideas into reality, with one of his most recent ventures aimed at removing disposable plastic bags from the environment. He designed a canvas bag with 7,500 manufactured and sold at cost. The bags feature the names of every locality in Livingstone, highlighting the Shire’s region’s diversity and unique charm.