This ratepayers group grew out of the widespread dissatisfaction following the amalgamation of Warwick and Stanthorpe Shires. It first took on the challenge of submitting a proposal for deamalgamation under the flawed process set up by  the Newman LNP government and when that failed, as was expected, it sought to become an organisation to fight for the rights of ratepayers across the Southern Downs. Its prime aim being to bring the council back to viability and put our communities first.

SOSRatepayers and Residents now has members from across the SDRC area and takes an active interest in all that concerns the people of this area.

We believe in economic and  effective government and have rather adapted their tactics to challenge the blatantly uneconomic local council which now inflicts the people of Southern Downs Regional Council area.

It is a long game but one worth fighting because local government is the closest form of government to the people and therefore the one which has the power to change the conditions we experience every day in our immediate environment.

Rates and roads and rubbish - how we wish it could be so simple again! Now it is loans for grandiose projects, overdrawn budgets and falling services that are the common identifiers of local governments.

People can make a difference if they unite and work together - we are doing that and intend becoming a stronger force for progress and common sense in Southern Downs.

We will let you know if councillors or council candidates are espousing principles which match ours and urge you to keep that in mind when voting in the next election.

A lot of the inertia, and debt, has been brought about by re-electing the same people, rather than looking for for fresh ideas and new blood.

We meet monthly and all supporters and members are welcome.