From the Mayor's Desk - 18 August 2026

Published on 18 August 2026

Inglewood hosts energy information forum – locals get info from the source

This fortnight, I was invited to attend and speak at the information forum in Inglewood about current and proposed energy development in the region, hosted by Coexistence Queensland. It was an important opportunity for local landholders and community members to get information and ask questions directly from the source.

More than 80 people attended, including local landholders, community members, and representatives from state government, agriculture, and energy. I was pleased to see locals raise good discussion points about the challenges and opportunities of these projects in our local government area.

The forum was an important milestone, but it’s only one part of an ongoing conversation. As energy development continues across the state and region, it’s essential that residents remain engaged – and I think the strong turnout demonstrated the community’s commitment in this regard.

Solar and wind projects are state-permitted developments assessed and approved by the Queensland Government. While local councils like ours have no authority to approve or refuse these projects, I encourage residents to continue to actively participate in consultation opportunities and understand what these projects may mean for them. Council will also continue to advocate for impacted communities to receive direct benefits and long-term economic uplift.

August Ordinary Meeting to be held in Inglewood – all welcome to attend

I’d like to remind residents that Council will hold its August Ordinary Meeting in Inglewood on Wednesday 26 August, at the Civic Centre (18 Elizabeth Street). I invite all residents to come along and join myself and councillors for a 9 am start, followed by a community morning tea at 10.30 am (no need to RSVP).

I particularly look forward to welcoming school leaders at this meeting, giving students an opportunity to observe how our local council meetings are conducted and how elected members contribute to the decision-making processes.

Council has committed to holding an Ordinary Meeting in Inglewood and Texas on rotation for the duration of the four-year-term. My fellow councillors and I are proud to represent the Goondiwindi Region in its entirety, working for the residents across the 19,000-plus square kilometres of our local government area.

A reminder that I regularly work from the Inglewood Civic Centre (fourth Friday of the month) and the Texas Cultural Centre (second Tuesday of the month). I welcome appointments during these visits, and appointments are also available in Goondiwindi and Talwood - please call 07 4671 7437 to arrange.

Council invests strongly in community infrastructure, parks and lifestyle for 2026-27

On behalf of our community, Council continues to prioritise the maintenance and improvement of community infrastructure that enhances liveability across the region. Council’s investment for 2026-27 will include $1.97 million towards local sports fields and swimming pools, $1.16 million towards our historic cinema, community halls and museums, and a further $533,000 for library services across our three libraries.

At a project level, this means $250,000 for a new playground in Yelarbon and $200,000 to finalise the Inglewood Macintyre Sports Complex's new gym. Also in Inglewood, $30,000 is marked for a new mountain bike track, while in Texas, we have allocated $40,000 towards replacement picnic shelters and tables at Apex Park and the free campsite in Texas.

Additional projects include $90,000 for upgrades to the accessible toilet and parents’ room at the Goondiwindi Cultural Centre, $40,000 to retile the Goondiwindi toddler pool and $10,000 towards Tarawera Hall floor repairs.

Local road advocacy remains a priority

This fortnight, I had the opportunity to speak with RACQ Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer David Carter about the condition of the roads in our region. In particular, I wanted to highlight that many of our local roads have become a preferred route for state and national highway users because of the condition of those highways and the number of high-priority repairs outstanding.

This increased through-traffic results in more wear and tear on our local roads, shifting the burden of inter- and intra-state traffic onto local government and ratepayers. Addressing this remains a top priority for our community. Council will raise the issue directly with Cabinet Ministers at the upcoming Community Cabinet in Goondiwindi at the end of this month.

Supporting local business: Texas QLD Inc

I was delighted to attend the recent business consultation workshop hosted by Texas QLD Inc., where local Texas businesses gathered to discuss shared challenges and opportunities, and explore how Texas QLD Inc can further support their growth.

It was great to catch up with members and hear their valuable suggestions. Texas is fortunate to have such a dedicated and engaged group supporting the business community and serving the wider Texas area, including operating the Rabbit Works Museum.

I look forward to hearing the outcomes of these discussions and continuing to work together to support the Texas business community.

Congratulations to Blask Engineering

Last week, it was wonderful to see local business BLASK Engineering recognised at the Darling Downs Queensland Training Awards, taking home the Small Employer of the Year Award.

For more than three decades BLASK Engineering, led by Brad and Lynda Johnson, has been investing in the future of our region by giving apprentices and employees the opportunity to develop valuable skills and qualifications while gaining hands-on experience.

Their commitment to training and developing local people is a great example of the contribution our local businesses make to building a strong and skilled regional workforce. A big congratulations to the whole BLASK Engineering team.

The ‘Gundy 500’ races to success

A big ‘congratulations’ is due to the committee, competitors, volunteers, and landowners who made the ARB Gundy 500 a resounding success this fortnight. The event delivered action-packed excitement through the melonholes outside Goondiwindi, strongly supported by a crowd of local and visiting race fans. One thing that’s really impressive is how much this event has become a true family occasion - a great weekend out for all ages.

Council is proud to be a long-term supporter of the Gundy 500 through its Tourism Event Grant. For more information about this and other available council funding programs, please visit: https://www.grc.qld.gov.au/News-and-Community/Donations-and-Grants

I understand that 2027 will mark 50 years of the event – there is no doubt that it has become a major favourite of the Goondiwindi Region event calendar over the past half-century, and I look forward to seeing what the club has planned to mark the milestone next year.

Lundavra tees up success at Annual Golf Day

Congratulations to the organisers and volunteers of the 2026 Lundavra Sports Club Annual Golf Day held this past weekend. From friendly competition on the green to lively evening entertainment, this was a wonderful celebration of the Sports Club and local community.

Council is proud to support this event through our Community Donations Program, and a special thanks is also due to the other local businesses whose generous support helps to make events like this possible.