Qld election postponed after mayor's death

Council elections in Queensland's Lockyer Valley will be postponed following the death of Mayor Steve Jones.

Mr Jones' family made the decision to turn off life support on Friday after the 55-year-old suffered a stroke during a meeting with fellow southeast Queensland mayors on Thursday.

Local Government Minister Jackie Trad told parliament on Tuesday that council elections in the Lockyer Valley would be postponed until April 16.

However, she said residents would still have to vote in a referendum on four-year fixed parliamentary terms, which will take place on the same day as other council elections on March 19.

But to avoid sending residents to polling booths twice in a month, Ms Trad said the region's local government election would "take place as a full postal vote".

"Postponing the council election in Lockyer Valley is in the best interests of the community," Ms Trad said.

"At this sad time, the community needs the stability of their council and it will continue with business as usual."

Deputy Mayor Tanya Milligan will serve as acting mayor until the election.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg both paid tribute to Mr Jones in parliament, particularly for his leadership following the state's devastating 2011 floods, which claimed 12 lives in the Lockyer Valley town of Grantham.

"He was a community man first and foremost," Ms Palaszczuk said.

Mr Springborg added: "His untimely, his sudden loss in these tragic circumstances have really created a sense of sorrow and disbelief within the community".