New Texas footpath to support local tourism

Mayor of the Goondiwindi Region the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM commended the completion of a new footpath in Texas during his visit to the town earlier this month.

The new walkway connects the popular Dumaresq free campground to the Texas CBD, encouraging visitors to walk into town and support local tourism operators and other businesses.

The new footpath joins the existing path outside the Texas Historical Museum and runs down Flemming Street towards the Dumaresq River rest area. The 2.1-kilometre pathway is primarily constructed from gravel, with 360 metres of concrete at the northern/town end.

Goondiwindi Regional Council allocated $100,000 from the Australian Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program Grant towards the project in October 2020.

Council prioritised the project in consultation with local community group Texas Queensland, Inc. (TQI), who had lobbied for some time for the construction of the new footpath.

“I think it will be a real benefit to the town,” said the President of TQI, Peter Worthy, at the time of the project’s announcement. “We really hope that the new walkway will encourage those campers to stroll into town and explore some of the wonderful local shops and businesses we have here in Texas.

“Camping has already proved so popular at the Dumaresq site, and it’s such a pleasant walk into town from there.”

Speaking during his visit to Texas, the Mayor said the new footpath would be an asset for the town’s growing tourism industry.

“I’m very glad for the chance to get across to Texas and especially to see this project completed,” he said. “This is an important piece of infrastructure for the town and one that will hopefully support tourism and associated businesses in Texas, as anticipated by TQI.

“I know both Council and the local community have invested significantly into growing the tourism sector in Texas in recent years,” Cr Springborg said. “We have already seen how the Dumaresq River rest area in particular is increasingly becoming the location of choice for campers and domestic overnight visitors.

“Council is doing everything it can to support domestic tourism in the Goondiwindi region, and to encourage visitors to stay an extra night and explore what our local towns have to offer.”

Texas is recognised as an ‘RV Friendly Town™’ by the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA). Towns must meet a list of strict criteria to gain and keep their accreditation, including the provision of short–term low–cost overnight parking for self-contained recreational vehicles within a reasonable distance to the CBD.

The Dumaresq River rest area is a free overnight campground with plenty of riverfront grassy sites. The site is a popular local fishing spot.

Council engaged local contractors and a local supplier during the construction, which was completed earlier this year.