EXCLUSIVE - George Seymour Pledges to Follow the Community on Torquay Caravan Park and Confirms 2028 Mayoral Run

FRASER Coast Mayor George Seymour has confirmed he will re-contest the mayoralty at the next local government election in 2028, telling The Hervey Bay Advertiser that he remains deeply committed to ‘a vibrant, healthy, active community’ and wants to see through key projects that will shape the region’s future.

‘I love the job’ Mayor Seymour said.

‘By 2028 I will have been Mayor for ten years, and I still feel there is a lot more we can do together, to make the Fraser Coast a great place for people of all ages’.

In an exclusive interview with the Hervey Bay Advertiser, Seymour gave an undertaking that his vote on the future of the Torquay Beachfront Tourist Park will follow the outcome of community consultation.

‘I will vote exactly as the majority of the community says. If the feedback comes back that more people are in favour of retaining the caravan park, then that is what I will support’.

Whilst he acknowledged that the feedback so far has been very strongly in favour of retaining it as a caravan park, Seymour said he expects a range of opinions to be expressed via the Community Consultation.

‘I am sure there will also be people with a different view. We want to hear from everyone. The higher the number of people who respond to this question the better’.

Reflecting on how the debate began, Seymour noted that when Councillor Zane O’Keefe first moved the October 2024 motion to review the future of the Torquay and Pialba caravan parks, the vote to proceed with a review and community consultation was unanimous, not because councillors necessarily supported any change, but because they recognised that the community must not be excluded from having a voice in such an important decision.

‘I voted to support taking it to the community, albeit unenthusiastically, because I believe in anything that increases democracy,” he said. ‘When that motion came up, everyone supported going out to the public. It’s hard to vote against asking people what they think, that is the bedrock of engagement’.

Official meeting transcripts record that Seymour supported the motion at the time, noting his position was taken ‘unenthusiastically’.

‘I voted to support taking it to the community, because I believe in anything that strengthens democracy’.

‘When the motion came up, everyone agreed to seek public input. It’s difficult to vote against asking people what they think, that’s the foundation of genuine community engagement’.

‘We should always be looking for ways to increase participation in civic affairs. Democracy should be much more than voting once every four years’.

When asked whether some residents might feel there were other priorities more deserving of Council’s attention, Mayor Seymour acknowledged that sentiment.

‘I understand that perspective’ he said.

‘There are always alternative priorities, for example, investing further in sporting facilities or other community assets would also be worthwhile subjects for consultation. But once the motion was on the table, the proper course was to ask the community. That was the correct and transparent process to follow’.

Pressed on whether the consultation process had been intended to quickly deliver the removal of the caravan park, Seymour said no outcome could be delivered hastily.

‘Any future change would still need to go through the usual budget and planning processes. Nothing could happen in the short term; any works would be well beyond the next election’ he explained.

Questioned about whether councillors who voted against retaining the caravan park might face electoral consequences in 2028, Seymour remained suitably measured.

‘That’s a question for down the track and is ultimately for the community to decide.”

Seymour said he understood why advocates saw the financial case for retaining the Torquay Beachfront Tourist Park as compelling.

However, for him, it was about much more than just finances but acknowledged that keeping the site as a caravan park provided an ongoing income stream and infrastructure that would not need to be replaced as soon as parkland facilities.

Whilst Seymour indicated his personal preference was for the site to remain as a caravan park, his larger view was about democratic decision-making.

‘There is a real question here’ he said.

‘This land could be open space parkland, and it could remain as a caravan park. There are arguments and justifications for both sides. Whilst I favour it staying a caravan park, I want to hear what the community says. I trust the community to make the right decision, and whatever comes back in the consultation is how I will vote’.

‘I want to see more informed debate about important issues in our community, and this is an important issue. It is an important and special place on the Esplanade and we should have a considered and informed debate about its future. This should be just the start in how we open up local democracy’.

Beyond the Torquay Caravan Park debate, the Mayor spoke about long-term projects he believes will secure the Fraser Coast’s future, particularly the expansion of the University of the Sunshine Coast’s Hervey Bay campus. “We are working closely with the university and other levels of government to achieve that,” he said.

He also touched on the evolution of the Hervey Bay CBD and his hope that recent investments will spark renewed vitality in the city centre.

‘Once people start seeing a library that’s fit for the 21st century, with a podcasting room, maker spaces and a proper public hub, I think sentiment will change around the new Council Administration Centre’.

‘It’s similar to what happened with the sports precinct. At the time, it was divisive. Now people want more facilities there. The same will happen in the CBD once the community sees the outcome’.

Throughout the interview, the Mayor was measured and reflective, speaking with evident affection for the region he calls home. His passion for the Fraser Coast runs deep, a sentiment that underpins both his decision to remain in local government and his commitment to serve the community directly, where he believes he can make the most tangible difference.

Seymour said his greatest satisfaction comes from seeing the results of local decisions translated into real benefits for residents, new footpaths, community facilities and the kind of civic projects that improve everyday life.

He also spoke of the importance of maintaining balance and remaining close to his young family, saying that staying in local government allows him to contribute meaningfully without losing that connection.

He brushed off any suggestion of a future in state politics, insisting his focus remains firmly on his home community. ‘This is where my heart is. I love this region and the people in it, and I want to keep giving back right here on the Fraser Coast’.

As he looks ahead to another term, the Mayor’s guiding philosophy remains unchanged.

‘My focus is, and always will be, on building a community that’s vibrant, healthy and active. I am enthusiastic about democracy. We shouldn’t just set and forget every four years. The more ways we can involve people in decisions, the better the outcomes’.

The Hervey Bay Advertiser is publishing a series of articles relating to the Torquay Caravan Park debate. All comments attributed to elected representatives reflect their personal views and not those of the Fraser Coast Regional Council as an organisation.