Council kick-starts Talwood’s master plan

A suite of new projects is set to get under way in Talwood to encourage tourism and improve liveability as part of the community’s master plan for the town.

Goondiwindi Regional Council endorsed a number of activities outlined in the Talwood Community Consultative Committee’s (CCC) plan until 2023 at its Ordinary Meeting in Inglewood last week.

Council also agreed to contribute $20,000 towards the projects prioritised by the CCC for this financial year. These approved projects include:

• Landscaping improvements at the Talwood Recreation Grounds and railway station
• The installation of a new shade at the Talwood playground
• Improved signage in the town.

Deputy Mayor of the Goondiwindi Region and Chair of the Talwood CCC Cr Rob Mackenzie said Council has been working closely with members of the Talwood CCC since April to develop the master plan.

“This is great news to have the first two rounds of projects approved as it means we can get the ball rolling and start work on key activities as chosen by the community,” Cr Mackenzie said.

“We wanted to develop really specific action items in this master plan so we could work towards particular outcomes in the town,” he said. “For example, the first-year projects have a particular focus on wayfinding and visitor information to further encourage tourism in what is already a very attractive and visitor-friendly town.”

Cr Mackenzie is encouraging Talwood community members to get involved and have their say in the projects outlined for 2021-22.

“Council is really trying to work with the community on these projects, because locals know best about their town,” he said. “So we’re seeking community input on everything from where’s best to install new power points, to the content and design of new information signs in the town.

“This consultation also enables the community to identify key projects for Council’s new Capital Works program, which can then be prioritised as funding becomes available. For example, one item already raised as a result of our CCC meetings has been issues in drainage within the township. Council’s engineering staff are now working towards possible long-term solutions as part of the town’s master plan.”

Council has committed to providing Talwood residents with a variety of ways to provide their feedback, including face-to-face meetings with local community groups and individuals, so residents will have many more opportunities to get involved with the project going forward. Community feedback will then be presented back to the Talwood CCC, who will have the final say on which community projects the master plan will prioritise.

The Talwood master plan follows the success of a similar model developed in Yelarbon last year, where Council worked with the Yelarbon CCC to develop, streamline and prioritise their wish list of projects for the town. The Yelarbon community achieved an impressive suite of works delivered in the plan’s first year.

“We’re now calling on the Talwood community to help us achieve similar success,” Cr Mackenzie said. “This is all about encouraging visitors to stop in town and support local businesses, while also improving Talwood’s liveability for locals.”