Councillor Profiles
Mayor Eric (Rick) Britton
Phone: (07) 4746 3188
Email: mayor@boulia.qld.gov.au
Mobile: 0407 122 430
Eric (Rick) Britton and his photographer wife Ann, own and operate Organic & Non-Organic cattle breeding and fattening enterprises in Queensland’s North West. Both Rick and Ann are active in community groups and provide firsthand assistance and support to numerous events in the shire.
Residing just outside of Boulia at Goodwood Station, Rick is a long-term member of the region. Rick’s grandmother and father were born in Boulia and Rick and Ann have two adult children Thomas and Claire.
Rick entered local government as a Councillor in 2007 and has held the position of Mayor since 2008. In both his local government and business interests, Rick continues to actively pursue professional development opportunities, having already completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Media Training, Diploma of Rural Business Management, Governance for Elected Members courses, along with other short courses.
With significant demonstrated experience in public administration, leadership and governance along with his knowledge of primary production in some of Australia’s harshest climate, Rick is a passionate community advocate and through his role as Mayor he has developed an intimate understanding of the needs of communities, both rural and non-rural.
Along with his various commitments as a representative on regional organisations such as the Chair of Rural Financial Counselling Service North Queensland and Chair of Central West Regional Pest Management, Mayor Britton's Councillor portfolio representation also includes Economic Development & Planning, Rural Services & Environmental Management, Infrastructure & Asset Management (LDMG Chair) and Finance & Governance.
Mayors Message
Transcript of Mayors Message Image
Welcome to Boulia “Capital of the Channel Country, Land of the Min Min Light" and its 61,000 sq km of rugged landscape, open Mitchell grass downs and channel country.
The local Council, community members and land managers work hard for long term environmentally and sustainable industries within the shire, so the people in generations to come can see it in its most natural landscape. The Shire boundaries are the Northern Territory to the west, Diamantina Shire to the south, Winton Shire to the east and Mount Isa and Cloncurry Shires to the north. Council has, and continues to, meet the numerous challenges which face small remote rural Councils to ensure our community has a strong voice in both the Federal and State arenas.
Boulia being the centre hub for the Shire administration and Council depot, is on the banks of the Burke River, one of many rivers that flow through the Shire. Georgina, Burke, Wills and Hamilton rivers all flow in to Lake Eyre, making up part of the Lake Eyre basin river system and Great Artesian Basin in which the underground water is the life blood of communities and livestock industries.
Urandangi Hotel site is on the Georgina River to the north. Once a Drovers hub for livestock coming out of WA, NT and QLD to the Railhead at Dajarra. "Dajarra in its prime trucked more livestock by rail than any other railhead in the World".
Council is strongly focused on the economic development of the shire and its surrounding regions - Council lobby state and federal government, collaborate with regional working groups, work hard to obtain grants, and strive to provide residents with the best service possible. Ensuring the longevity of our shire and providing our growing community with a safe and happy environment is our number one priority.
Mark in your calendar one of many events through the year within Boulia or in one of our neighbouring shires and stay a day or stay a week. I encourage you to visit our beautiful shire and modern facility's, soak up the experience of open horizons, big skies and numerous stars in our night skies, beautiful sunrises and sunsets.
Take care when travelling on our roads and enjoy the experience the vast open landscape.
Eric (Rick) Britton
Deputy Mayor Jack Neilson
Phone: (07) 4746 3188
Email: cllr.j.neilson@boulia.qld.gov.au
Mobile: 0477 686 893
Deputy Mayor Jack Neilson is a born and bred local of Boulia and grew up on a cattle property called Two Rivers north of Boulia. After schooling through Mt Isa School of Distance Education and then boarding at Blackheath and Thornburgh College in Charters Towers, Jack returned to the Boulia area to work as a Contract Musterer. Jack is very passionate about the Boulia community and wants to see Boulia grow and develop as a hub for the west through job security, tourism and helping the Beef Industry which built Boulia town.
Roads funding is high on his agenda as he feels with better roads we can attract more people and investment into our shire - either through easier cattle cartage options or easier roads for tourists and industry to travel.
Deputy Mayor Neilson's Councillor portfolio representation: Economic Development & Planning; Rural Services & Environmental Management; Infrastructure & Asset Management; Finance & Governance.
Councillor Sam Beauchamp
Phone: (07) 4746 3188
Email: cllr.s.beauchamp@boulia.qld.gov.au
Mobile: 0448 863 162
Elected to Council in 2004, Councillor Beauchamp is one of our longest standing elected members. Primarily a beef cattle producer, Sam has a strong family history in the shire and is an electrician by trade.
He is an active member of the community, always willing to provide assistance at local events and ceremonies - a characteristic which is reflective of his 2006 Boulia Shire Council Citizen of the Year award.
Councillor Beauchamp's portfolio representation: Tourism & Events; Rural Services & Environmental Management; Infrastructure & Asset Management.
Councillor Jan Norton
Phone: (07) 4746 3188
Email: cllr.j.norton@boulia.qld.gov.au
Mobile: 0427 463 101
Born in Charleville, raised in Augathella and having spent the majority of her life living in Boulia, Councillor Norton was elected to represent Boulia in 2020. Over the years she has experienced the trials and tribulations of living in this little remote area, and has been in the background of many organisations doing the legwork and taking photos.
Alongside her role as Councillor, Jan is currently the Manager of the Boulia Community Support Services and is totally committed to Boulia Shire. She believes that she can make a difference as part of a team and represents the Council on a number of committees.
Councillor Norton's portfolio representation: Communities, Housing & Public Open Spaces; Tourism & Events.
Councillor Julie Woodhouse
Phone: (07) 4746 3188
Email: cllr.j.woodhouse@boulia.qld.gov.au
Mobile: 0409 233 225
Councillor Julie Woodhouse has spent almost half her life in the Boulia Shire. After experiencing life on the land here for five years in the eighties, Julie and her family moved to Cloncurry for a six year period before returning to Boulia in 1996. Julie feels they have raised their children here in a safe and supportive community.
Councillor Woodhouse has been heavily involved with all organisations as she believes in giving back to the community which welcomes you. Alongside receiving a Boulia Shire Citizen of the Year award, Julie was also the first female president of the Boulia Camel Races.
Prior to becoming elected in March 2024, Julie worked for Boulia Shire Council for 23 years. She is passionate in wanting better opportunities for families to live here, such as child care and housing. Julie has made Boulia her forever home now and so wishes to see Boulia grow and prosper.
Councillor Woodhouse's portfolio representation: Communities, Housing & Public Open Spaces; Tourism & Events; Finance & Governance.
Councillor Portfolio Representation
Council has adopted a portfolio system where each Councillor has been assigned as a representative for a specific portfolio. The portfolios are focused at the strategic level of Council and is a way of spreading responsibility and profile across all Councillors. Further information regarding Councillor Portfolio Representation can be found in the Portfolio Representation Policy (Policy 164).
Click here to view Councillor Portfolio Representations(PDF, 317KB)
Councillor Register of Interests
Under the Local Government Regulation 2012, a register of interests of Councillors must be maintained and available for inspection by the public. The register is updated annually or throughout the year as required.
Download Councillor Register of Interests Updates 2024-2025(PDF, 2MB)
Download Councillor Register of Interests 2023-2024(PDF, 5MB)
In addition to the annual Register of Interests that each Councillor must declare, the Local Government Act 2009 stipulates that Councillors must declare if they have a Prescribed Conflict of Interest or a Declarable Conflict of Interest on a matter to be discussed at an Ordinary Meeting of Council. Declared Prescribed Conflict of Interests or Declarable Conflict of Interests by Boulia Shire Councillors are reflected within our meeting minutes. Copies of completed declaration forms relevant to a particular Council meeting can also be viewed on our meeting minutes page.