Showgrounds upgrades ready to welcome all to Goondiwindi Show

Visitors to the Goondiwindi Show will notice some new facilities on-site at the Goondiwindi Showgrounds next weekend, with several upgrades set to be completed before the fun starts on 30 April.

The upgrades include six new toilets and seven new showers, which also include disabled access. The new block has been installed opposite the McColl Pavilion and replaces the previous, smaller block of toilets in front of the Flower Pavilion, with the old facilities being relocated within the Showgrounds. A new pump station has also been installed at the grounds, which will improve how on-site waste is collected and disposed of.

Goondiwindi Regional Council received $120,000 towards the upgrades from the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund (QRRRF), which is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments. Council also contributed $50,000 towards the work.

Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud said it’s great to see communities utilise funding and look towards how they can better prepare for future disaster events.

“With these upgrades in place the community can rest assured that they have the facilities and infrastructure to support them when disaster strikes,” Minister Littleproud said. 

“We know that building resilience provides the best long-term outcomes for communities and these upgrades will provide practical assistance when it’s needed the most.”

Cr Rick Kearney, who holds Council’s Portfolio for Local Disaster Management, said the new facilities would better prepare the site for use as an evacuation centre, helping to ensure more people can seek shelter in the event of a natural disaster.

“Ensuring the necessary infrastructure is in place across the region’s evacuation centres is extremely important because, as we’ve just been reminded recently, disasters such as floods do happen,” Cr Kearney said.

“Fortunately, the levee bank once again protected the town in this past instance, but the Goondiwindi Showgrounds have had to serve as our evacuation centre in the past and they are now better prepared to protect the community should they be needed again.

“Council worked with both the Goondiwindi P&A Society and the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services in the lead-up to this project,” Cr Kearney said. “I’m extremely pleased that this work will also directly benefit the many community groups and organisations that use the Showgrounds for numerous events and activities throughout the year.”

Council proudly supports the 2021 Goondiwindi Show through its Community Grants program. Robert Mackay is the President of the Goondiwindi P&A Society and said the new facilities would improve the accessibility of the Showgrounds for all users.

“This collaboration with the Goondiwindi Regional Council and State and Commonwealth Governments is greatly appreciated,” Mr Mackay said. “The improvements to the facilities, particularly the disability access in this area of the grounds, is going to be well received.”

“We’ve had a great start to the show season with the Inglewood show last month, so I’d like to invite everyone to come along and show their support at the Goondiwindi Show next weekend, and save the date for the Texas Show to top things off at the end of July,” Cr Kearney added.

The upgrades at the Goondiwindi Showgrounds will complement a recent project at the Inglewood flood evacuation assembly point, which was jointly funded by Council and the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments under the Natural Disaster Resilience Program. The Inglewood upgrades included the construction of a designated helicopter landing pad, a new 5000-gallon poly water tank, mobile generator, mobile toilets, and a mobile catering trailer.