From the Mayor's Desk - 15 February 2022

Funding flows for flood-prone roads and some big wins for community infrastructure

This fortnight has been one of some big funding wins for our region. Firstly, the federal and state governments have announced $45.24 million in funding to upgrade the Wyaga Creek crossing on the Gore Highway. The upgrades will replace the existing culvert with a higher flood-immunity bridge and culvert structure, as well as widening the pavement and improving the approaches to the new crossing. The project is due to get underway next year.

As we saw time and again last year, severe weather easily leads to flooding at the Wyaga Creek near Kilbronae and causes massive disruption for freight and local traffic alike. While this is a big win for one vulnerable section of road, Council will continue to advocate to the state and federal governments for funding for solutions to other flood-prone roads in our region. We want more preventative works like the Wyaga project to engineer our roads to a higher standard – not just to wait for patching and repairs after the damage is done.

A further $2.2 million of federal funding was also announced towards 12 varied projects across the Goondiwindi Region. Council will prioritise this funding towards aging local water and sewerage infrastructure (particularly in Inglewood and Texas), as well as wild dog fencing, improvements to Talwood street drainage, new cycleway and footpaths, and improvements to the Goondiwindi aerodrome. I thank the federal government for this funding and know that all of these projects will be valuable to these communities for many years to come.

This fortnight, I also had the pleasure of joining the Hon David Littleproud MP for the official opening of Care Goondiwindi’s brand new respite centre. The three new units, self-contained with three bedrooms each, will make a real difference to local residents with a disability and their carers by providing short-term accommodation and access to services to local NDIS recipients. I’d like to give particular thanks to our local Freemasons lodge for their extraordinary financial contribution to this project through the Hand Heart Pocket charity. Thanks to this project, those in need will be able to remain closer to their family, friends and home while accessing the care they require. This is a substantial win for Care Goondiwindi, who do so much to assist those in need in our region, and I am pleased that this project will enable more people to have some well-earned respite.

I was also delighted to join Cr Lachlan Brennan to officially open the newly-named ‘Rotary Park Picnic Area’ last week. Council has agreed to re-name the existing picnic area at the Goondiwindi Natural Heritage and Water Park in honour of the Rotary Club, and in recognition of the great contribution that Rotary has made to the town over the years – including in the development of the park area back when the Water Park was first opened. The main Water Park name won’t change, but the area including the playground, picnic tables and barbeques will now be known as the Rotary Park Picnic Area.

Over in Yelarbon, I attended the Community Consultative Committee (CCC) meeting last week. I would like to congratulate the Yelarbon Men’s Shed group, who recently completed a wonderful new display at the Dingo Fence strainer post for the town’s visitors. I encourage all residents to drop in during their next trip to the town to see the brilliant new sculptures - and maybe learn some more about our region’s history. The Yelarbon community is now also pulling together the final details of new historical signage that will also go up around the town – and it’s all part of Council’s partnership with the Yelarbon CCC to deliver their master plan.

Finally, the Inglewood Aged Care Committee will meet again in the coming weeks – I will update residents of the outcome of that meeting in due course.