Somerset Regional Council has welcomed Queensland Government support for taskforce recommendations on depreciation costs for councils. Mayor Jason Wendt said the reforms recognise councils' long-term responsibility for community infrastructure. Upcoming council events include a free Somerset Farmers Dinner featuring Warren Davies on 12 November, a Community Development Conference on 7 November, and further Free Tree Days in Kilcoy and Esk. A wild dog baiting day is set for 9 November, and a First Aid for Seniors session is planned for 11 November.
Harold Alford, known as the pink man, is a well-known figure in the Queensland town of Kilcoy. The 85-year-old wears pink to raise awareness of breast cancer, a cause driven by the loss of his wife Gladys to the disease. He was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and has chosen not to undergo treatment. Through Pink Up Kilcoy, the town has raised about $30,000 for McGrath Foundation cancer care nurses. Alford says regional patients need nurses who can care for them at home.
Somerset Regional Council has completed a two-year river restoration project on reserves along the Mid-Brisbane River. Works included pest weed treatment, revegetation and upgraded river access ramps and stairways. The Federal Government has dropped a proposal to cut disaster recovery funding, which the council says would have placed heavy costs on ratepayers. Community feedback on Kilcoy Streetscape designs has been gathered, and the 2026 Christmas Lights Competition opens on 26 October.
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Somerset Regional Council will remove the remaining seven cadaghi trees from Yowie Park in Kilcoy in April 2027. The council began removing the trees in October 2024, as the species is classed as an environmental weed in south-east Queensland. The trees can damage infrastructure, compete with native plants and produce a sticky resin that has left black soot on footpaths, play equipment and picnic seating. The works were scheduled after summer to avoid the hottest months. Replacement trees will be planted throughout the park shortly after the removals, and visitors will still have several shade options.
