Council Tackles Cross-Border Service Gaps with New Mapping Project

Published on 29 October 2025

Goondiwindi Regional Council has commenced a comprehensive service mapping project aimed at improving service delivery across the region, with a strong focus on at-risk youth and their families.

Proudly funded by the Queensland Government, the project, undertaken by O’Connell Advisory, seeks to identify existing services in the Goondiwindi Region.

The aim is to gain a deeper understanding of the current service landscape and identify opportunities to enhance the coordination and effectiveness of services in the Goondiwindi Region, particularly given the complex jurisdictional challenges involved.

Mayor of the Goondiwindi Region, the Honourable Cr Lawrence Springborg AM, said the initiative will promote improved collaboration and outcomes for our community.

“This is about doing the work to understand what’s happening on the ground and making sure that government funding is aligned to meet the needs of our unique border community,” Mayor Springborg said.

“I’ve been advocating for a long time for this mapping to be undertaken.  There is no use in government agencies handing out more funding without a comprehensive understanding of where the needs are, and what models are working and not working for our location.  I thank the Queensland Cross-Border Commissioner, for funding this important work and prioritising an evidence-based approach to addressing youth challenges in the region. This initiative represents a significant step forward in Council’s ongoing commitment to cross-border advocacy and regional well-being.

“We’re grateful to those who have already taken the time to share their feedback. Council’s long-term goal is to highlight to the state and federal government agencies where to allocate resources more effectively and with an absolute focus on outcomes.

“The need for service mapping was first recognised during cross-border crime meetings jointly chaired by Goondiwindi Regional Council and Moree Plains Shire Council. These discussions highlighted the difficulties faced by service providers and agencies in delivering practical and consistent support to residents along the Queensland-New South Wales border,” he said.

“It’s about showing our community exactly what services are being delivered and where,” Mayor Springborg said. “As a regional border community, our residents and broader community often fall through the cracks when it comes to accessing state-funded service delivery. These services can sometimes overlook our youth and families due to interagency gaps, and disconnected models like drive-in, drive-out services only deepen the divide.”