From the Mayor's Desk - 19 May 2023

Yelarbon Rural Fire Service

Following community consultation last year, the Queensland Rural Fire Service (QRFS) has organised an open meeting to provide members of the public with information about the recruitment process for the formation of the new Yelarbon Town Rural Fire Brigade. QRFS staff will be present to answer any questions and sign up interested individuals. This is a great opportunity for anyone in the community who is passionate about fire safety and wants to help make a difference in the town.

The meeting will be held at the Yelarbon Anglican Hall located at 26 Burrell St, Yelarbon at 6 pm on Wednesday 31 May 2023, and will be an excellent opportunity to learn about the roles and responsibilities of the members of the brigade, the equipment used, and the training involved.

Grief, Loss & Trauma Support Group

Accompanied by Cr O’Shea, I attended the launch of the Grief, Loss & Trauma Support Group last week at the Goondiwindi Hospital. The focus of the group is to provide initial and ongoing support to individuals who have experienced grief, loss, or trauma and come together to connect, share their experiences, and receive emotional support and coping strategies.

During the launch, we heard how the group aims to provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals where they can share their stories, learn from one another, and develop effective coping methods for healing, and we were informed about the goals and expectations for the group.

Morning tea followed, where I was privileged to talk to members of the group on an individual level.

The Group will meet every fortnight on Tuesday from 10 am. The location will alternate between the Goondiwindi Botanic Gardens and the Goondiwindi Waterpark. For more information see the Facebook page – Goondiwindi Grief, Loss & Trauma Support Group or contact Sheree at sheree.greg83@yahoo.com.au

The Bigambul Elders Dinner

I also attended the recent Bigambul Elders gathering and dinner and it was encouraging to hear the Elders talk about the efforts and initiatives they are actively working towards to create positive change within their own and the broader community.

The Bigambul People are officially recognised by Federal Court order as the prescribed native title holders over the majority of our Council area under the provisions of the Native Title Act, and Council enjoys a positive relationship with their representatives. This positive relationship enables us to work constructively on areas of mutual interest, including community infrastructure such as roads, where we are bound to consider cultural heritage issues during construction.

Also, over the last fortnight, The Bigambul Career Expo highlighted employment opportunities for young people. Council had the opportunity to participate in the youth-targeted program, hosting a stall, that aimed to encourage career pathways and promote or progress career opportunities through in-depth conversations with young people and in many cases their family members.

National Heavy Vehicle Queensland Trucking Association

Last week, I spoke at the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) networking dinner held here in the Goondiwindi region. I had the opportunity to catch up with numerous representatives from local transport businesses and other industry stakeholders. During the event, the QTA presented its strategic advocacy plans and discussed how they are working to influence decision-makers for the benefit of the road freight industry, which is often underappreciated.  The trucking industry is a major employer and economic driver in our region and during times of natural disasters, we have all come to understand what happens to almost every facet of our lives when trucking movements are disrupted.

With five highways intersecting at Goondiwindi, our region continues to be a major freight route, and transport and logistic hubs are essential to the State and National economy.   Indeed the interstate highway crossing to NSW from Goondiwindi is the busiest freight route into and out of Queensland. Quality roads are essential and Council continues to advocate for increased funding from the State and Australian government to support safer roads for all motorists in the region.

Waste Management – Insights into Our Region’s Waste

Across the region general waste going to landfill is around 450-500 tonnes per month. General waste includes materials that are not recyclable such as soft plastics, clothing, and other household waste. The Queensland government has a fee for waste going into general landfill and this is at a cost to ratepayers. This is a significant amount of waste and we encourage every resident to look for ways to reduce this through waste reduction, recycling, and composting initiatives. Waste management is one of the biggest challenges for local governments across Queensland and will only likely become more so in the future.

Kerbside recycling is another important component of the Council redirecting waste from landfill sites.  This service is available to town-based residents across the region, and on average, we collect between 20-30 tonnes per month.  To date, this service is cost neutral to ratepayers with the actual service charge for kerbside recycling covering the associated cost.