Controlled entities

Council is committed to openness and accountability. In line with legislative requirements, we publish information about controlled entities and their audited financial statements.

A controlled entity is one where a local government can influence financial and operational policies. For the year ended 30 June 2025, Central Highlands Regional Council had one controlled entity: Central Highlands Development Corporation Limited (CHDC).

CHDC is the region’s economic and tourism development agency, delivering programs, events, industry initiatives, and promotional activities that drive growth across the Central Highlands. It is classified as a controlled entity due to council’s representation on its board and ability to guide strategic direction.

Under section 213B of the Local Government Regulation 2012, when a controlled entity’s financial statements are audited under the Auditor-General Act 2009, council must:

• Obtain a copy of the audited financial statements.
• Present them at the next ordinary council meeting; and
• Publish the statements, or a link to them, on the council website within 14 days of presentation.

 Council received the 2024-25 audited financial statements of CHDC at its general meeting on 26 November 2025.

An entity is a controlled entity if it is subject to the control of the local government. Control means the capacity of the local government to dominate decision making, directly or indirectly, in relation to the financial and operating policies of the entity.

On 30 June 2024, the Central Highlands Regional Council (council) had one controlled entity:
Central Highlands Development Corporation Limited (CHDC)

CHDC was formed in 1997 and is the lead economic and tourism development agency for the region receiving annual operational funding from council to help fund the delivery of projects and initiatives. CHDC is considered a controlled entity of council due to representation by four councillors on the board as directors (one acting as the chair and one as an alternate director).

Section 213B of the Local Government Regulation 2012 requires that if the financial statements of a controlled entity of a local government are audited under the Auditor-General Act 2009, then the local government must:

• obtain a copy of the audited financial statements; and
• present them at the next ordinary meeting of the local government; and
• publish a copy, or a link to the copy, on the local government’s website within 14 days after the financial statements are presented at the meeting.

• obtain a copy of the audited financial statements; and
• present them at the next ordinary meeting of the local government; and
• publish a copy, or a link to the copy, on the local government’s website within 14 days after the financial statements are presented at the meeting.

• Central Highlands Development Corporation Limited (CHDC)

An entity is a controlled entity if it is subject to the control of the local government. Control means the capacity of the local government to dominate decision making, directly or indirectly, in relation to the financial and operating policies of the entity.

At 30 June 2022 council had two controlled entities:

• Central Highlands Development Corporation Limited (CHDC)
• Central Highlands (QLD) Housing Company Limited (CHHC)

CHDC was formed in 1997 and is the lead economic and tourism development agency for the Central Highlands region. The company has a chief executive officer and seven directors consisting of the mayor, two councillors, council’s chief executive officer and three independent community members.

CHHC was formed in 2012 with a principal object to provide affordable housing in the council region. Directors of the company at 30 June 2022 were the mayor, three councillors and three invited community members. On 12 September 2022 the company entered members voluntary liquidation and a liquidator was appointed to take control and manage the wind down and de-registration of the company.

Section 213B of the Local Government Regulation 2012 requires that if the financial statements of a controlled entity of a local government are audited under the Auditor-General Act 2009, then the local government must:

• obtain a copy of the audited financial statements; and
• present them at the next ordinary meeting of the local government; and
• publish a copy, or a link to the copy, on the local government’s website within 14 days after the financial statements are presented at the meeting.

The audited financial statements of CHDC for the year ended 30 June 2022 were presented at the general council meeting on 25 January 2023.

The audited financial statement of CHHC for the year ended 30 June 2022 were presented at the general council meeting on 9 August 2023.