From the Mayors Desk - 28 September 2021

‘Goondi-winning’: reflecting on our region’s achievements, from sports to multi-million dollar water infrastructure investments

I’d like to start my column this week in recognition of a number of recent ‘wins’ we’ve celebrated across our region.

Firstly, I have to congratulate the Goondiwindi Boars A-Grade team on their phenomenal win at the Toowoomba Rugby League Grand Final last weekend. To break a 16-year drought is such an achievement - well done to every single person who helped to realize that victory.

We had another win for our region last week with the Pony Club State Championships held at the Goondiwindi Showgrounds. We had an incredible turnout: competitors and their supporters travelled from as far away as Innisfail to compete in our region, and I was honoured to be asked to present trophies and blue ribbons to some of the winners. This was the first time the State Championships had been held at Goondiwindi, and we received some truly great feedback. It was a credit to all involved. It’s an honour to be chosen to host such major events in our region: special thanks and congratulations go to the Goondiwindi P&A Society for their ongoing commitment to developing our local showgrounds into a state-level facility.

This week, we will welcome the Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Minister for Water Glenn Butcher to our region to present the multimillion-dollar water infrastructure investments Council has made in partnership with the state and federal governments over the past few years. Council has invested more than $6.5 million to improve the region’s water security and better prepare our communities for future times of drought, including the installation of multiple new bores across the region. In recognition of the significance of this, Council will hold a small opening ceremony at the new Yelarbon bore this Thursday, when the Minister will formally open the facilities for the community.

Finally, last week also saw Council host its September Ordinary Meeting (OM) in Inglewood. This was the second time Council has held an OM in Inglewood since its commitment to hold meetings outside of Goondiwindi twice a year for the duration of this term. This commitment is about the representation of our region as a whole, beyond Goondiwindi, and returning local governance to local communities. Thank you to all those residents who joined my fellow councillors and me for morning tea after the meeting.

Invitation: Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast

On behalf of the Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce, I’d like to invite all local businesses to join us for a Business Breakfast tomorrow [Wednesday, 29 September], 6.30 am at the Queensland Hotel in Goondiwindi. I will be taking questions from guests as well as presenting some updates about the Goondiwindi Region, and I’m delighted to be joined by Justin Saunders, Executive Director of the Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation, who is keen to share plans of an initiative to benefit local businesses and the wider community. It promises to be another informative and engaging Chamber event, and I look forward to meeting many of you there (over a great hot breakfast prepared by the QL team.) To register, visit: https://goondiwindichamber.glueup.com/event/goondiwindi-chamber-of-commerce-business-breakfast-43541/

Inglewood Aged Care Update

The report on options for the former Casa Mia site was presented at the last Inglewood Aged Care Steering Committee meeting. Further discussions are now ongoing. Council is now in the final stages of its negotiation about transferring the lease of the former Casa Mia site to Council on behalf of the community - I will update the community again once we know the outcome of those discussions.