Mayor commends Yelarbon community on success of town’s ‘master plan’ projects

Mayor of the Goondiwindi Region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM has commended the Yelarbon Community Consultative Committee (CCC) on the success of the first year of projects in the town’s ‘master plan’.

Goondiwindi Regional Council has been working closely with the Yelarbon CCC since August last year to create and implement a plan for the town’s beautification and development. Council agreed to allocate additional funding towards the CCC’s first-year projects, and the CCC was also able to use its profits from the sale of the Australian Silo Art Trail’s Silo Art Calendar 2021, which featured the award-winning Yelarbon silos on the cover.

The projects included various works across the town as well as some finishing touches to the Yelarbon silo viewing area:

• New shade shelters at the silo viewing area and Railway Park.
• A new audio sign that shares the story of the Yelarbon State School song, which was recorded with Josh Arnold in 2020, at the Yelarbon silo viewing area.
• A new historical display by the Yelarbon Men’s Shed at the Yelarbon silo viewing area, including new signage, gates, and solar lights.
• Improvements to the historical weighbridge at the Yelarbon silo viewing area.
• A new ANZAC soldier sculpture and several poppy sculptures at the Yelarbon Memorial Park.
• New dingo sculptures and replica fence installed by the Dingo Barrier Fence strainer post.
• New signs around the town that inform visitors about the Desert Jewels Biodiversity Walk and historical sites like the railway and rabbit works.

Cr Springborg said the success of the master plan was attributable to the CCC and wider community working together.

“The improvements achieved by the Yelarbon CCC’s advocacy and their proactive engagement in the consultation process is a great demonstration of a community working together to achieve fantastic outcomes for their residents and visitors,” the Mayor said. “With Council’s contribution and the CCC’s income from the Silo Art Calendar sale, the committee has been able to deliver nearly $40,000 worth of projects for their community.

“I know a lot of residents have also volunteered their own time to work on projects across the town and have given up their weekends to improve its presentation. I think this is greatly appreciated by visitors and fellow locals alike, and I really commend them for their efforts.

“Yelarbon has experienced quite a positive transformation in the past couple of years, with the award-winning silo art now a premiere attraction for the Goondiwindi Region as a whole. I think anyone would agree what an amazing difference these most recent projects have made to the town, and I look forward to seeing what the CCC will achieve as it implements its plan.”

Council is now working with the Talwood CCC to develop a similar Talwood ‘master plan”to support local tourism, collate local priorities and improve the town’s liveability and appearance. All Talwood community members are encouraged to get involved and to contact the CCC directly for more information, as there will be many more opportunities to contribute to the project going forward.