South-east Queensland mayors have largely backed a proposal to split the state in two time zones, although some still held reservations.
brisbanetimes.com.au contacted the mayors of all council areas proposed by independent MP Peter Wellington yesterday to join New South Wales and Victoria in daylight saving unity.
Gold Coast Mayor Ron Clarke said it was "a nonsense" that Queensland be out of kilter with the rest of the east coast and the entire state should embrace daylight savings.
"In Coolangatta/Tweed, one side of the street's on one time zone and the other side of the street is in another time zone," he said.
"All the businesses have to cater for residents from both cities and have to pay their staff a couple of hours extra to be open in time and to be closing in time."
Cr Clarke said Premier Anna Bligh's Twitter consultation on the issue was a "waste of time".
"We've had enough polls and surveys to show that everyone in south-east Queensland want it badly and the people out west and up north don't want it," he said.
"Twitter, operated by a government, is only going to give an opinion they want themselves.
"If you're going to seek some sort of independent review, it's got to be independent - those people who can be bothered getting on to Twitter and telling you about it, they're extremists anyway."
Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale also said there was no need for a referendum.
"At the end of the day, I think they've got to do what they did in Western Australia and just give it a go and trial it for a couple of years and see how we go," he said.
"I still can't see what the dangers are - the curtains aren't going to fade, the cows won't get confused - and if you look at the temperature in Queensland, we're probably better suited to daylight saving than any other state."
Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said he would support a referendum for daylight saving in south-east Queensland.
"I think the benefits to Brisbane of daylight saving are quite marked," he said.
"The Premier has the broader state interest to consider."
Moreton Bay Mayor Allan Sutherland was very enthusiastic about introducing daylight saving to the south-east corner.
"Bring it on," he said.
"I love [daylight saving] - it is so good for everyone of all ages, for working families, elderly people wanting to do things in the cool of the evening, it's great for families to be able to enjoy that extra time."
Cr Sutherland said splitting Queensland into two time zones made more sense than the entire state adopting daylight saving.
"I do feel sorry for the western towns - I actually voted against daylight saving [in 1992] even though I wanted it, because I couldn't bring myself to vote for something I would like, knowing it was at the expense of others," he said.
"This is a great suggestion to have a zonal arrangement - I know it might be tough for some businesses, but they'll get used to it."
Logan Mayor Pam Parker said it would have little impact on her personally, but would be interested in "what the families of Logan have to say" on the issue.
"It's dark when I leave for work and it's dark when I get home, so it really makes no difference to me," she said.
"I'm not sure about the implications of dividing the state."
But John Brent, mayor of the Scenic Rim region, said he was non-plussed about the debate.
"I'm happy to run with the view of those in the community, and I think there was a strong [anti-daylight saving] view last time in the old Boonah and Beaudesert Shires," he said.
"I think there are more important issues to deal with at this time and I'd like to deal with some of the infrastructure issues rather than get sidetracked on issues like this."
Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot and Redlands Mayor Melva Hobson could not be reached last night.
