From the Mayor’s Desk – 29 April 2025
Published on 29 April 2025
We’re now into the third short week in this run of public holidays, from Easter and Anzac Day to the upcoming Goondiwindi Show holiday and Labour Day. I encourage everyone to come down to enjoy what promises to be a fantastic Friday and Saturday at the Goondiwindi Show. The Goondiwindi Show P&A Society has put together a full and exciting program, showcasing the best of what Goondiwindi has to offer.
Anzac Day commemorated across the region
Friday marked 110 years since the landing at Gallipoli, and my experience as I visited Texas, Goondiwindi and Talwood, was that our appreciation of the sacrifices of the men and women of war is only growing in respect and gratitude. It was touching to see such large numbers attend the Anzac Day services last Friday - from dawn services across the region to the sundown service in Talwood, and everything in between. Thank you to all the dedicated volunteers and groups who spend months preparing these commemorations year after year.
YCCC meeting: focus on town drainage plan and Lovegrass control
It was great to see so many in attendance at the Yelarbon Community Consultation Committee (YCCC) last week. These meetings are an excellent opportunity for residents to discuss local issues and input into future planning. This group has guided community infrastructure enhancements across Yelarbon, and I strongly encourage all residents to come along and contribute.
As announced at the YCCC meeting, I have requested for Council to develop a comprehensive drainage plan for the Yelarbon township. This plan will assess how we can better address the water pooling in the area, given the incredibly flat topography of the land and the soil type. This drainage plan will provide expert guidance about how we address these matters.
Also discussed was the more recent challenge of African Lovegrass, which has only arrived in our region in the last 20 years and infests our roadways and other disturbed areas. It thrives in and around the harsh and sometimes hostile desert soils of my hometown of Yelarbon. Its invasive and ugly nature can make it challenging to maintain a tidy presentation - it is now an increasing problem and Council will be trialling treatment options.
Wild dog control on state land raised with Minister
I had an opportunity in the last fortnight to meet with the Honourable Tony Perrett MP, Minister for Primary Industries. On behalf of the Goondiwindi Region’s rural residents, I raised the issues that many livestock producers are having with wild dogs - particularly those coming from state reserves and national parks.
The increasing expectations on rural landowners through both state, regulatory and policy positions are unfortunately not, in my opinion, being matched by the state government on its own land.
It is important that the Queensland Government should lead by example, whether that be through fencing or other control measures. The Minister was open to exploring ways of improving the management of feral animals, and I look forward to providing further updates on this issue.
Councillor road tour showcases southeastern boundaries
Our most recent Councillor road tour took us to some of the outer boundaries of our local government area, which reaches to within 60km of Tenterfield. These visits are an excellent opportunity to keep track of our council roads and other local issues, especially in such a geographically vast region covering more than 19,000km2. Seeing issues firsthand greatly assists with the planning and prioritising of capital and maintenance funding.
Thank you to the residents of the Bonshaw area for coming along to the morning tea, and the Glenarbon residents who joined us for more discussions later in the day. These gatherings are always valuable opportunities to talk through a range of issues and ensure that community voices are heard in Council planning and decision-making.
Sing Australia gives warm welcome for Council’s Texas April meeting
Council held its April Ordinary Meeting in Texas last Wednesday, and a highlight for the councillors and residents alike was being serenaded by Texas Sing Australia during our community morning tea. Thank you very much for sharing your talents and adding a special touch to the day. As always, my fellow councillors and I remain committed to being a Regional Council, and serving on behalf of residents across all parts of our local government area.