In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that the six areas amalgamate, asserting that there were "inefficiencies with having six local governments to manage the economic and community interests of a relatively small geographic region which has a static population of just over 10,000". It believed amalgamation would offer potential for both strategic planning and improving the quality of governance and decision-making, as well as allowing one of the towns to emerge as a regional centre for the area. Queensland Treasury had rated all of the councils for financial sustainability, with all except Perry and Biggenden attracting a weak rating. Each of the councils apart from Gayndah opposed the Commission's model, with several suggesting either amalgamation with one or two other shires, or with local governments outside the region (in particular the Shire of Kolan and Gladstone/Calliope). In the end, its proposal was unchanged. On 15 March 2008, the Shires formally ceased to exist, and elections were held on the same day to elect councillors and a mayor to the Regional Council.