Qld flood disaster mayor in fight for life

A Queensland mayor who led his community through its darkest days after the deadly 2011 floods is fighting for life in a Brisbane hospital.

Lockyer Valley Mayor Steve Jones suffered a major stroke during a meeting with other southeast Queensland mayors in Ipswich on Thursday.

He's in a critical condition at Princess Alexandra Hospital.

Those fellow mayors together passed on their "thoughts and prayers" and wished him a speedy recovery on Friday.

"Mayor Jones has always been a strong advocate for the Lockyer Valley and communities of SEQ," said Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, who chairs the SEQ Council of Mayors.

"He is someone who speaks his mind and stands by his convictions, and most importantly, we know he is a fighter.

"We know the situation is serious but we're all praying for Steve to keep fighting and make it through this."

Mr Jones has played a vital role in rebuilding communities devastated by the January 2011 floods, including Grantham where 12 people died.

First elected as the inaugural mayor of the Lockyer Valley Regional Council in March 2008, he was seeking a fourth term as mayor at local government elections to be held next month.

The council says Deputy Mayor Tanya Milligan will act as mayor until further notice.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath also said their sympathies were with the family of Mr Jones, who had put his heart and soul into the recovery and reconstruction of the Lockyer Valley.

"My sympathies are with them and I hope that Steve pulls through," Ms Trad said.