Update on Toobeah Reserve Status

Published on 30 July 2024

Residents will be aware that there is an Aboriginal Land Application (ALA) to the State of Queensland for Crown (Queensland government) land (locally known as the Toobeah Reserve site) to be transferred as Aboriginal freehold.

The Queensland government has recently revoked Council’s Trusteeship of the Toobeah Reserve site. This revocation of trusteeship is a formal regulatory step for the Minister of the Queensland Department of Resources to consider the ALA and the future of the Toobeah Reserve.

It is important to note that this decision does not extend to the Toobeah Kindergarten and Toobeah Public Hall land; these sites are not subject to the ALA. Council remains the Trustee of the Hall land, and the Toobeah Kindergarten Association remains the Trustee of their land.

Council is committed to ensuring the ongoing operation of essential services and community benefits for the Toobeah community and businesses. To this end, Council has:

• lodged a formal easement application for part of the Toobeah Reserve site to secure the ongoing operations of the Toobeah water supply (this outcome has already been informally confirmed); and
• lodged a formal application to the state to purchase approximately 6 hectares of freehold land adjacent to the Toobeah township. This acquisition will double the existing Toobeah township area of 5.5 hectares, providing opportunities for growth and development. Supporting improved economic and community outcomes for Toobeah and the broader Goondiwindi region; and
• will continue to assist the Toobeah community in progressing towards the freehold purchase of the Toobeah Kindergarten and Toobeah Public Hall Reserve land, providing locals with control over the future of both sites.

The Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM, Mayor of Goondiwindi Regional Council, said, "Providing certainty to the Toobeah community about these sites, and securing the access arrangements, and ownership of land adjacent to the Toobeah Reserve has been a priority for Council for some time now. Council is committed to achieving the best possible positive outcomes we can.”

Council is working with the Queensland Department of Resources to ensure that these vital community assets will be available for use well into the future.

The Queensland government and the ALA applicant (Bigambul Native Title Aboriginal Corporation) are also working to establish access arrangements for local residents. The Toobeah Reserve has been designated for purposes associated with camping and watering of stock only for over a century. The potential new access arrangements will provide the Toobeah community with the first ever opportunity to legally access the site.